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I have a Fenthry.

How odd. I'm sure I passed the shop in the street at least ten times before even looking at it. Then, yesterday evening ... it was like a tiny voice spoke up in my mind and told me to go in ... and there, in a case in the shop, was The Feather. Silly of me to capitalise it. But that's how it felt. The moment I saw it, I knew I needed it. Her. The feather is female. She's so beautiful.

Louhi has allowed me to care for her. I've named her Ieta. Her feather is tied into my hair. It's brushing against my shoulder as I write - an odd but oddly natural feeling. One of the Fenthry children was standing in that same spot earlier, and I imagine Ieta will stand there often.

I feel odd, feeling this obsessively affectionate over her. It's rare for me to feel such an immediate bond to a pet - no, that's not quite right, is it? I don't really feel I own her. Maybe more the other way around. I think it's a good sign, anyway.

I was reading this morning, and it occurred to me that Ieta might like to read along with me - so all morning, I have been reading Shakespeare to a feather! I forget that it sounds ever so much better read aloud. I'm not quite sure how good my "voice acting" is, but I did my best to be dramatic and do the different parts properly.

Now and then, the feather seemed to wriggle slightly, particularly when I hit a particularly dramatic passage. ... It's probably my imagination. But I do think she's listening. Perhaps I'll read more to her. My voice is a little hoarse, but I've really been enjoying it.

We met the owner of Ieta's twin brother today - May, a nice girl who has one Fenthry already. Her Fen says he does not like hearts, and suggested hopefully that perhaps Ieta will have a maple leaf instead. I will love her either way, though.

I picked up a lava lamp that matches Ieta's red color today, and have set it in the study. I need to pick up a few more things for her soon. May said she thinks that the things that a Fen feather is exposed to help shape its personality when it comes out.

We are going to the beach-house for a few days soon; a kind of family vacation. Ieta will, of course, go with us.

Ieta has met a few other Fenthry now; she played a bit with Skyfire and Nightstar the other day, and today she met her brother while we were in the shop ... well. He's still a feather, but she gave him a kiss anyway. She seems to understand that they're related.

She likes sweets a great deal. I've had to lock up the drawer with the bag of candies in it. She ate a good bit of a Jaffa cake while we were at the shop, and now she won't go to sleep. Chalk that one up as a lesson on the effects of sugar.

She doesn't make sounds much. She has tried to speak once or twice, but only seems able to make faint "s" and "th" sounds so far.

She's not particularly shy, but she doesn't come out to introduce herself until she's taken a minute to assess the situation. She checks everything in a new place; so far she hasn't done as much exploring in the shop as she could, but she's been distracted by the people there. Me, I think she's really quite bright. I could be biased, though.

She wants my pencil now. I think I'll let her have it and see what she does with it.

Ieta is starting to speak now. She can say her own name, and is working on sounds. She seems to have a pronounced stutter, though. I hope this is not permanent. We'll practice. Perhaps Anen can help. He learned to speak very quickly when he became a kid.

Ieta made some friends in the shop last night. I knew mahii had a Fen, but I didn't know Perri did too. It's good to see some familiar faces. Perri's Fenthry, Nishan, draws - she has given him a little notebook and charcoal to use with it. He produced a lovely sketch of Ieta. I think I will see if I can find a small picture frame to put it in.

Speaking of familiar faces - Arri has a feather of his own now. A present. Ieta has examined it, given it a little kiss like she gave her brother Maine's feather, and keeps an eye on it when he is around.