Peachpit is a dumb stupid jealous baby

“We should just cook it up while it's still fresh,” Peachpit said, dragging his feet into the den behind Songbird. His coat was disheveled with the general wear of battle. Songbird rolled his eyes as he shut the door, cradling a hidden lump under his wing. “Make an omelette, boil it,” Peachpit gasped, “Make a set of the largest deviled eggs peleides has ever seen!” Songbird frowned, stepping away to put his body between the evidently starving Peachpit and the egg he had stowed beneath his wing. “We aren't eating it, you monster!” he snapped, winning him a groan from Peachpit. 

Sunspot greeted them, walking in from the kitchen. “Hello my lovelies!” he chirped, “how'd the hunt go?” Songbird and Peachpit responded with conflicting answers, Peachpit frowning and flicking his ear irritably as Songbird excitedly showed Sunspot his prize. He reacted in delight, “Wow! That came from the rampaging owlcat?” Songbird nodded, “it was probably just protective, poor thing, it set up its nest too close to a mainroad and-” Songbird began, abruptly cut off by Peachpits own interjection. “It was a violent beast, spare the pity. That thing mauled multiple luminites just trying to make it to town.” He said haughtily. “There's a reason we were asked to get rid of it, egg included,” he continued. 

“Well, I’m keeping it.” Songbird huffed, passing the egg off to Sunspot to keep warm. “It's just an innocent baby caught in the crossfire.” 

“Your ‘innocent baby’ is going to grow up to be a beast just the same,” Peachpit scowled. “It's probably not even gonna hatch. Itd serve us much better in a breakfast burrito with some nice prime meadowmoo brisket.” He took a few steps towards the egg before Songbird shoved him back, splaying a wing out over it and Sunspot protectively.

“I like the idea of hatching it!” Sunspot chimed in, peeking over Songbirds wing. “I've heard folk do raise these things up as pets in some parts, I'm sure it would be a welcome addition to our den!” He said in his overly-optimistic tone that never failed to irritate Peachpit. “Besides, I think it's got a pretty good chance! You did a great job keeping it warm, hun,” He said, sweetly nudging Songbird with his nose. Peachpits frown found room to intensify. 

“You can't take care of this thing, you hardly even know what it is!” He prodded songbird.

“Good thing we have a wonderful local library,” Songbird replied calmly.

“This isn't something you can do on impulse! It's a stupid decision!” 

“I've got the both of you to help me!”

Peachpit growled. “You've got the dog, I want no part of this.”

Songbird frowned, ignoring something Sunspot tried piping in with. “You're seriously this upset over an egg?!” 

“Hey guys-” sunspot interjected again, ignored again. “Yes! Yes I am! It's a stupid, worthless thing we don't need to waste our time on!” Peachpit dug his claws into the floor. 

“How could you say that! It's been orphaned, Peach! It will need all of us to grow-”

“Spare me your bleeding heart,” He groaned, “You didn't even see what that thing was capable of- you were too busy rummaging through the bushes ignoring the violent fight! It's an animal! A pest that I am regularly hired to eliminate! A bloody big monster who will not love you or care about you and will rip you to shreds without a damn thought!” Peachpit grew louder, his nose scrunched up with a snarl and his ears pinned flat against his head. 

“Sounds a lot like someone I know!” Songbird spat back, ears flat and teeth bared in turn. Peachpit stumbled back, looking hurt.

“Uhm- sorry- this is heated i can see but- guys- the egg-” Sunspot stumbled over himself, breaking the tense silence. Before he could finish what he had been trying to tell the squabbling luminites, a small peep sounded from under his chest. As the two had been fighting, the egg hatched! A goopy, sopping wet, sad little beast emerged from Sunspots ample fluff. Its fur slicked down flat with egg white, its eyes too large for its skull, the thing could barely lift its wobbly head up. Songbird was enamoured instantaneously, scooping up the little bundle of bones gently to get a better look. 

Peachpit saw red. His fur stood up on end, He bared his teeth and growled, blinded by rage, he leapt forward without thinking and snatched the infant owlkit up in his jaws. Songbird and sunspot gasped as he fled to the wall. Peachpit sat with the thing in his mouth, growling around it as he looked back and forth between the others. Songbird and Sunspot looked horrified, their mouths agape and ears back. The owlkit continued to peep softly, barely audible over Peachpits growls. His face softened from rage into distress as he realized what he had done. He put the small creature down, he didn't look, afraid to see what he had done, and fled the scene, running out the front door.

The freshly hatched owlkit was unharmed, it was so new to the world that the whole ordeal didn't even register to it. Songbird carefully, gently, checked it with his paws to be sure, and sighed in relief when he found no wounds. It peeped gently as Songbird tucked it under his chin. Sunspot checked over him with concern. “Any idea what that was about?” He asked, gently putting his paw over Songbirds shoulders. He sighed, leaning into Sunspots chest. “I don't know… He was antsy the whole way home…” 

Sunspot hummed, closing his eyes in thought. “What happened during the fight?”

“I… don't know…” Songbird admitted sheepishly, “He's right. I was distracted the whole time.” 

Sunspot quirked his head. “Didn't you go with to keep an eye on him?” 

“Yeah, but he's fine! He fights all the time, he doesn't need my help. He dealt with the rampaging owlcat like he always does.” songbird said, stroking the kit, its fur fluffed up into a little puffball as it dried. 

“Hmm,” sunspot thought, resting his head on top of Songbirds. “I'm going to go talk to him, make sure he doesn't do anything drastic.” He said, patting Songbirds shoulder as he got up. “You shouldn't have compared him to that beast, you know.” he added before opening the door. Songbird hung his head. “I know… that was uncalled for… of course I love him- i think he's amazing and strong and brave but- He was just being so awful!” Sunspot tilted his head. “I mean… so were you. I'll be right back okay?” He said with a wave, leaving Songbird to tend to the hatchling. 

Sunspot found Peachpit behind their den. He was slumped against the wall, brows furrowed as he stirred up the loose soil with his claws. Sunspot approached him cautiously. “Hey Peachy, you doing okay?” He asked gently. 

“Get the hell away from me,” Peachpit bristled, turning away. Sunspot was not deterred. He approached, walking around to sit in front of the pink lump of a luminite. He dipped his head to Peachpits level, meeting his piercing gaze with kind eyes. 

“Songbird got a little cruel back there,” Sunspot observed.

Peachpit pulled a clawful of dirt into a pile. He opened his mouth to say something, but couldn't find the words. “It's not the egg that's got you in a tizzy, is it?” Sunspot asked, Peachpit flinched away from his light and sighed. 

He lifted his front leg, turning it to show a fresh, unbandaged wound, seeping with stardust and blood. Sunspot frowned, holding Peachpits paw in his own as he got a closer look. 

“I got hurt during the fight. She got me real good just before I got the killing blow, and Songbird didn't even notice. He was too busy scolding me for orphaning that stupid egg.” Peachpit mumbled, his voice hardly a whisper. 

Sunspot leaned over to give Peachpit a comforting kiss on the forehead, “You're so silly, you know that?” He laughed lightly.

Peachpit took offense, fur standing on end again. “Are you making fun of me?” He growled, getting a soft paw to his forehead in response. 

“Did you even tell Songbird what happened?” sunspot asked with a quizzical smile. 

Peachpit pouted “well- no- but he was supposed to be looking out for me!”

“He thinks you can hold your own, he knows how strong you are, you know.” 

“He thinks I'm evil for doing my job. He thinks I'm no better than a monster.” Peachpit tucked into himself, pulling his paw away and sulking. Sunspot frowned.

“Peachy, songbird thinks the world of you. I think the world of you!” Sunspot pulled him in for a hug. Peachpit relaxed into his warm fur, his shoulders fell. “He said some things he regrets. You did regrettable things too.” Sunspot rested his chin on Peachpits head. “You're both too stubborn for your own good. Just tell him you got hurt next time, okay?”

Peachpit pressed his face into Sunspots chest. “Okay. yeah. Okay.”

“And you're not a monster.” Sunspot added for good measure. At the lack of a response, he pushed further, playfully shaking Peachpit by the shoulders. “You know you're not a monster, peachy! You know we love you, our little ball of peachfuzz! Fuzzybutt! Fluffball! My ripe little novapeach!” He continued with an exaggerated kissy face, shaking Peachpit till he was laughing too. He pushed sunspot away with his good paw while he giggled. “Okay! Okay! I get it, you goof!” 

Sunspot pressed his nose to Peachpits cheek. “Lets get inside and get that cleaned up, okay?” 

Returning to the den, Songbird was shocked to see Peachpits wound. He scolded him, very gently, for being so stupid and hiding such an injury. Apologizing for being stupid himself as well, as he bandaged his arm and prepared some smores for them all to share. Peachpit held the hatchling all the while, finding it a bit nerve wracking to hold something so fragile. It didnt even seem to remember the incident in the slightest, cooing contentedly in his gentle paw. Regardless, Peachpit passed it off to Sunspot as soon as he could. He explained to Songbird everything he knew about young owlettes, what they eat and what they need to thrive, what it may enjoy and what to expect as it grows, his knowledge coming from years of working with such beasts, albeit in a much more violent manner than simply raising a small kit. His advice paid off and worked well, producing a healthy young owl gryphon. The Owlet largely remained Songbirds venture to raise, it took after him excitedly, enjoying the company of Sunspot and Peachpit as well.