(this story was made via polls on my Patreon Discord. participants choosing what direction the story goes in. You are seeing the results of the polls as the story unfolds)

link to Part 1


the following day, you hear a chirp. your mind swells with the thoughts of your internal struggle the previous night. another of you! could it really be?
in near desperation, you chirp back. searching. you must find them. you must. you must prove to yourself that you have not become a demon as well. you ARE a struthi. you are!
you run around the lake, calling, singing, chirping. at last they show themselves. and they are small. barely more than a chick.
how did they get here? such a small one. you call out but find no others.
the chick knows your call. it responds, running to you. you are the same. you must be its herd. you must be its safety.
even if it is just one, just one small chick, it is still one of you. you sing sweetly to it, your feathers ruffle as if you are its mother welcoming it home.
the chick accepts you.
you want to protect them. you have never wanted to protect something before. when your mind calms you remember your deal. you remember your Demon.

can you protect the chick?