#$^^^,.... ---------------------------------------- ....,^^^$#
@##*--....  $ 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. ----- .......-*#
##$**-,,.. ---------------------------------------- ..,,-**$##
#@@#$*^-,. ------ . various dances performed ...... .,-^*$#@@#
##@#$*^-,. ............................... . ------ .,-^*$#@##
#@@#$*^-,. ---------------------------------------- .,-^*$#@@#
#@@#$*^-,. --------- later they will learn how to . .,-^*$#@@#
@$*-...... .. harvest blood from animals (think ... ......-*$@
#$*^^-.... ................... mosquito). --------- ....-^^*$#
#@@#$*^-,. ---------------------------------------- .,-^*$#@@#