..-=\*$### ======================================== ###$*\=-..
.-=\*$#### $ in the end, it's ride or die. join or  ####$*\=-.
..-=\*$### ........  get integrated.  $  .......... ###$*\=-..
...-=\*$## .. $$ eventually they lay their eggs, .. ##$*\=-...
....-=\*$# . usually in warm, tasty places. it's .  #$*\=-....
.....-=\*$ .. bird elf custom to let others deal .. $*\=-.....
......-=\* ................... with the fallout. $$ *\=-......
.......-=\ ======================================== \=-.......
........-= $$$ $ before their juice harvesting .... =-........
.......-=\ .. organs start to cludge, and before .. \=-.......
......-=\* . their wings atrophy, and before their. *\=-......
.....-=\*$ . tails start to seek the earth... $ $$$ $*\=-.....
....-=\*$# $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ #$*\=-....
...-=\*$## $$$ these elves have no bell power, the- ##$*\=-...
..-=\*$### ..... fey bells are called by other .... ###$*\=-..
.-=\*$#### .......................... agitators $$$ ####$*\=-.
..-=\*$### $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ ###$*\=-..
...-=\*$## $$$ they feed mostly on plant nectar in. ##$*\=-...
....-=\*$# . their first years, relying on rains to #$*\=-....
.....-=\*$ ... filter through the vines of the .... $*\=-.....
......-=\* ............................ island. $$$ *\=-......
.......-=\ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ \=-.......
........-= $$$$$ $ they have built their largest .. =-........
.......-=\ . colony in the floating tree outside .. \=-.......
......-=\* of venezuela.  any  bird from  any house *\=-......
.....-=\*$ ................is welcome here. $ $$$$$ $*\=-.....
....-=\*$# $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ #$*\=-....
...-=\*$## $$$$$ there's a desert of fangs to be .. ##$*\=-...
..-=\*$### ........................ cast into $$$$$ ###$*\=-..
.-=\*$#### = the largest gathering of such elves .. ####$*\=-.
..-=\*$### ......... will be in the floating tree = ###$*\=-..
...-=\*$## ======================================== ##$*\=-...
....-=\*$# == although you could find a solitary .. #$*\=-....
.....-=\*$ .. bird elf hexing you for stepping .... $*\=-.....
......-=\* ... out of lane in your own garden, .... *\=-......
.......-=\ ..... .bird elves flock together ....... \=-.......
........-= ........................ if they can. == =-........
.......-=\ ======================================== \=-.......
......-=\* === they look like dark birds at first = *\=-......
.....-=\*$ ======================================== $*\=-.....
....-=\*$# ==== = some practice animal husbandry, . #$*\=-....
...-=\*$## .... especially monkeys and snakes ..... ##$*\=-...
..-=\*$### .......... (for fur or scales, ......... ###$*\=-..
.-=\*$#### ........... or quality of blood). = ==== ####$*\=-.
..-=\*$### ======================================== ###$*\=-..
...-=\*$## ==== the floating tree above ........... ##$*\=-...
....-=\*$# ......................... venezuela ==== #$*\=-....
.....-=\*$ ======================================== $*\=-.....
......-=\* ===== their claws are long ............. *\=-......
.......-=\ and root-like, and trail after them in . \=-.......
........-= .......................... flight. ===== =-........
.......-=\ ======================================== \=-.......
......-=\* ====== . various dances performed ...... *\=-......
.....-=\*$ ............................... . ====== $*\=-.....
....-=\*$# ======================================== #$*\=-....
...-=\*$## ========= later they will learn how to . ##$*\=-...
..-=\*$### .. harvest blood from animals (think ... ###$*\=-..
.-=\*$#### ................... mosquito). ========= ####$*\=-.
..-=\*$### ======================================== ###$*\=-..