"Siberia, December."

It was a few days before Christmas eve, his family had traveled to Siberia like they do every year to help one of Azrael's mother's friends out.

She's struggling with finding a job and has been struggling even more to buy gifts for her kids, so... Azrael's mother, Azrael's father and himself travel to Siberia a week or two before Christmas eve to help around and make it as easy for his mother's friend as physically possible.

But right now? He's outside in the middle of the night, he enjoys the cold... especially when he gets to sit beneath a tree with no one around, darkness enveloping everything around him, when all of a sudden-

A big, Arctic Owl landed on the tree branch right above Azrael's head...he wasn't startled, after all- it wasn't strange to see owls up and about at night, especially in the forest.

Instead, he slowly and calmly looked up, his big, round eyes mirroring the owl's unblinking gaze as it stared down at him intensely.

They remained in some sort of weird staring contest for what felt like several minutes until said owl finally blinked, ruffling it's wings as it slowly titled his head to take a better look at Azrael...

Azrael has never been this close to an owl before...let alone have a staring contest with it in pitch darkness- it was a miracle he even managed to see well enough to realize it was an owl, but the light coming from the town nearby helped a little bit- although it was still pretty dark.

He had no idea what to do, so he did the first thing that came to mind and slowly pulled out a Sandwich he had made for himself that night, quietly snapping a piece of bread off and reaching up to offer it to the owl.

Said owl leaned down slightly- as I'd hesitating for a moment before quickly snatching it and scurrying back higher up the tree to eat it.

Azrael tilted his head slightly, his unblinking eyes staring up as he squinted- managing to catch sight of the owl as he shrugged and stood up to leave for the night...

Only for the owl to glide down and land on on the snowy floor, making a low hoot and staring up at Azrael- Azrael assumed the owl simply wanted more bread and gave the rest of what was left to it...only for the owl to nudge it aside and start following after Azrael.

He didn't even blink as he simply allowed it to, and both of them slowly made it back to the small town Azrael was staying in...the owl extending it's wings and hopping along to keep up with Azrael's pace through the thick snow.

And soon enough- they made it to the small cabin Azrael's family was in, his father pausing as he opened the door- the owl had flown away and into a nearby tree, but it was clearly watching... Azrael's father didn't question it, after all- Azrael has always been strange and worked in his own ways, so he never really found any answers to whatever his son did regardless of how well Azrael tried to explain it...then again, Azrael never gets in trouble or does things he shouldn't so it's not something to worry about- at least not too much.
______________________§___________________days passed that way, all up until December 23- by now, the owl had quickly grown accustomed to Azrael's presence and would routinely follow him around- either for food or just because it wanted to.

It came to the point where it started flying inside Azrael's room and just hanging out by his window... sometimes even landing on his shoulder.

And by the time it was time for them to head back for Christmas? The owl was already way too attached to leave it behind.

And Azrael's parents didn't seem to mind the new member of their family...at least someone can finally match Azrael in unblinking stares.

And what did he name it? Ravenna.

The name he had been secretly keeping to himself in case he ended up having kids...or a pet, he doesn't care which one, he just likes the name.

Reducio

Word count: 700