***ADDIE'S POV***
As I watched the sea of bird shifters before me, I thought about what I needed to say to them. I knew that, just because these people were closed off, didn't mean they were impossible to get along with. And I knew they would listen to me.
I'm not sure how I knew they'd listen to me. Perhaps it was because they were already assembled here. Maybe it was because Fenix introduced me the way he had, so willing to tell his people that I'm here to help. But mostly, I think it had more to do with the sense of security and safety I felt here.
Closed off or not, these people didn't seem hostile to me. They just seemed like the type of people who didn't want to be around the others too much. And in truth, isn't that how most birds are? Especially birds of prey.