"Translation: I could use someone to keep me busy and out of your scales," Cadr teased.

Saif snickered. "If you want to look at it that way," he teased right back. "Or you could think of it as getting someone to keep your nest warm."

Cadr just rolled his eyes. His nest was plenty warm, thank you. He'd lined it with down himself.

"We'll see what I find," he said. He grinned. "Bet I'll find one better than yours."

"Ha! I doubt it." Saif snorted, clearly doubtful of that. He was pretty damn sure he'd gotten the best human of the bunch this time.

"I accept your challenge," Cadr said, grinning. It would be just like old times, when they competed with each other over who could find the better mouse, or the tastier rabbit.

Saif grinned. "Good luck. You'll need it to find a better human." He was already assured of his victory. After all, what more could he want in his human?

"I'll get one," Cadr said, grinning back. He stretched a bit. "So you really like yours?"

"So far, yes. I really do." Saif smiled. "She's fitting in nicely, so far. Although I do think I may have to find more things for her to do. Maybe I can get her to do something with those bolts of fabric I have lying around."

"You mean the ones you refused to touch at first because they were too feminine?" Cadr replied, grinning.

Saif scowled at him briefly. "Yes, those," he agreed. "She may as well do something with them, since I'm clearly not going to. And don't be so smug, you turned them down too."

Cadr snickered.

"But the colors suited you so much more," he teased. "Those golds and wines and pinks went well with your scales."

Saif rolled his eyes and hit Cadr, although not hard.

"Weren't you going to see about trying to find a woman as good as mine?" he prompted with a smirk.

"I will," Cadr replied. "No rush right now." He grinned. "I can just as easily start in the morning, while you're sleeping in and dreaming about snuggling into your human's bed."

"I do not want to snuggle into her bed!" Saif almost pouted. "Her room is just warmer than mine."

"You sure?" Cadr asked innocently. "Soft, warm-blooded girl all snuggled up in a blanket with just enough space for one more person?" He snickered a bit, ruining the faux innocence.

Saif rolled his eyes and casually shoved Cadr into a stream. Because the bird fricken deserved it. Then he snickered.

"Something got your feathers rumpled?"

"Oh shut up," Cadr retorted as he tried to shake off most of the water. Quickly, he stripped out of his shirt and tried to wring it out. "Thanks a lot."

Saif snickered, totally unrepentant, and kept walking.

"There's an idea," he said, glancing back at his friend. "Take off your shirt. I'm sure someone would follow you around for that."

Cadr snorted and punched Saif in the arm.

"Ass," he accused half-heartedly.

"And what a nice one it is, too." Saif smirked and kept walking, glancing over at Cadr. "So what will you do if you find one to your liking?"

"And how the tables turn, clearly," Cadr muttered to himself as he tried to straighten a few feathers. Louder, he added, "Not sure yet. I have to see what she's like if I find one."

Saif nodded. "Alright. Let me know if you decide you want help."

"I can do it by myself," Cadr replied. "I'm not a kid. You worry about finding the right excuse to snuggle up to your human."

Saif snorted and shook his head, but he didn't bother saying anything else for the moment. After a few more minutes, though, he got cold again.

"Night, Cadr. Good luck." Saif grinned at him.

"Night, Saif," Cadr replied, grinning back. As much as they tried to screw with each other, they were friends. As Saif left, Cadr let himself shift fully into his hawk form. Then he took off towards the village. Never hurt to start early.