#@§**:-^.. ---------------------------------------- ..^-:**§@#
@§**:-^... * 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). --------- .....^-:**
*:-^...... ---------------------------------------- ......^-:*