The Systems Challenge

Jonas looked at the bird that somehow reminded him of a little child. A child that loved to talk. While it looked like it was made out of flames, the trees that it was standing on didn't catch fire, which made Jonas wonder if maybe the image of a fiery bird was just because of a quality of the feathers the bird had.

"What are you?" Jonas asked, wondering if he should instead be focused on how to try and get out of here, even though he had a feeling that it was going to take at least a few hours.

Possibly even days as far as he'd be aware, considering how long it seemed to have taken for Elin when she was stuck in here for merely a full day.

"I'm a-" the bird started to say, but then stopped. As if it realized something. "Sorry, mother said not to say. That I shouldn't tell anyone outside my family. Or those that my family trusts."

Jonas nodded as if this was what he'd expected. It was a roadblock, but at least it was one that made sense. Especially if it came from a child.

"Well, I have a friend who said that they have a sister is in here," Jonas replied, hoping that Ember was the bird's real name and not just a moniker that it used to keep their identity a secret. "Their name is Ember."

The bird turned it's head to the side, as if it preferred the view of Jonas that way. "But I don't have a brother or sister named Ember. My brother's name is Grisha and my sister's name is Elysia.," the bird said.

"What's your name?" Jonas asked, wondering if he was just given more information than this bird was supposed to give out. As actual names could be easier to work with than exactly what kind of creature this bird was.

"Oh, I'm Etaina. My father said that it means 'she who shines.' Isn't it beautiful?"