Africa, let’s hunt some birds

{Ivory Coast, December 2nd 1999}

I saw as I quickly started reaching a coast, "Slow down, slow down, slow down!!" I couldn't help but yell as I saw the quickly approaching land.

The water continued pushing me at top speed without slowing down even the tiniest bit at my yells, I finally reached the coast the currents pushing me out of the ocean sending me spiraling out of control rolling through the sand.

I rolled on the ground, when I finally stopped rolling through the sandy coast, I stood up slowly my head slightly dizzy from the journey. "Ughh, I hate sand." I huffed while patting the sand off my clothes and hair.

"Well I guess I should it's time to start hunting for these birds." I said with a resounding sigh while thinking of different possible ways in which I could find the flock of black kites and therefore the flock of Stymphalian Birds.

I received weird looks from the people on the coast so I decided to envelope myself with Mist so as to not stick out.

Within a 30 minute walk I reached the city of Abidjan, I thought of trying to find a place for migration birds or bird spotters yet I couldn't help but slightly lose hope, since I found no clues of any kind.

With no beginning clues to go off I decided to do call someone I started forming a rainbow from the Mist in front of me and threw a golden drachma into it.

"Ω Ἶρις, θεά τοῦ Ἰριδος, παραδέξου τὴν προσφοράν μου. (Oh Iris, goddess of the Rainbow, please accept my offering.)" I prayed to the goddess of the rainbow and thought of my father at the camp.

An image of my father practicing his archery quickly appeared, "Hey Dad." I said to the image of my father with a huge blue aura surrounding him. "Hello son." My dad said as he let his bow down.

"Dad I was thinking do you know of anyways or people that could help me find the black kites here in the Ivory Coast." I asked my dad

He started scratching his beard probably thinking of something that could help me he then responded to my query "If things haven't changed in the past 600 years the Pygmaioi tribe should still be over there, as for where exactly I am not really sure with how things have evolved they could have changed places but if they are in the Ivory Coast they should definitely beat Abidjan since that is the center of Ivory Coast."

"Hmm, thanks dad." I said while trying to think of where the tribe could be nowadays. My dad cancelled the rainbow call and I started thinking of how I could try finding the Pygmaioi I walked aimlessly around the city trying to think of a way or if I should just search the entire city.

The sun was setting, casting a golden hue over the bustling city of Abidjan. The streets were alive with the sounds of evening traffic and the air was thick with the scents of street food and ocean mist. I wandered through the city, my mind racing with thoughts of the Pygmaioi tribe and the elusive black kites.

The information from my father was a start, but finding a tribe that had potentially moved locations over centuries was like searching for a needle in a haystack.

As I walked, I noticed a peculiar bar tucked away in an alley. It was an odd place for a bar, away from the main streets and the lively crowds.

The sign above the door was old and faded, but I could just make out the name "Le sabot caché", the words on the sign started changing forms and letters into Ancient Greek; ὁ κρυπτὸς ὄνυξ.

"The Hidden Hood" I translated that is a pretty weird name I couldn't help but think.

I pushed open the door and was immediately struck by the contrast between the outside world and the interior of the bar. It was dimly lit, with a warm, inviting glow that seemed to welcome me in.

The people in the bar seemed to be huge muscular men as I opened the door they all turned to look at me, then I noticed something the men aside from having an orange aura around them, had the Mist slowly swirling around them.

I concentrated and dispelled the Mist surrounding the men.The tall men, who had seemed like giants at first glance, now stood no taller than one and a half feet.

Their skin was dark, they all were one and a half foot tall, yet the thing that showed their identity was their leather jackets which spelled Πυγμαῖοι (Pygmaioi). It was obviously the Pygmaioi tribe.

The bar was filled with laughter and the clinking of glasses too big for their small hands.

At a side of the bar motorcycles which seemed to go off sporadically roared, but they also had Mist surrounding them I dispelled it and what I saw was an even weirder scene goats with saddles beating sporadically.

Which I realized where the previous roars from the motorcycles "Well isn't that funny." I said aloud while looking at the goats which almost reminded me of Amalthea the goat accompanying Thalia.

I approached the bar, trying to appear nonchalant, and ordered a drink. The bartender, a Pygmaioi with a knowing smile, handed me a glass filled with a shimmering liquid. "What is a kid like you doing in a bar like this?" he asked in a voice that was deep and melodic.

"I may be a kid but I am at least taller than you," I said with a slight laugh.

As soon as my words left my mouth all the short men in the bar stopped their drinking and laughter a slight red aura tinging them as they looked at me fiercely.

"What did you say, kid." The bartender asked me with a smile that didn't seem to be a happy one. "Nothing much, just the truth, but still even if you are short I can't deny your myths." I replied trying to calm the tribe down before this ended in a bar fight.

The bartender's eyes twinkled with mischief. "Ah so you know of us, do you?"

"I have been informed about you, yes." I replied as the other members of the tribe slowly approached me.

"So you must know of our customs then, to receive our help if you wish it you must prove yourself worthy of it." The bartender said as the mischievous smile on his face spread from ear to ear.

"Well I guess I should do so." I replied a small smile forming on my face as the tribesmen pulled out short weapons which were concealed in their clothing and I summoned my spear from my tatoo while still being seated, looking at the bartender in front of me.

*Author Note: Would anyone be cool with me making a patreon, no then I guess I will show myself the door."