“What in the world is that thing?” Those where the first words I spoke when I saw it. I knew something strange would be found amidst the ruins centuries old which we delved into, but I wasn’t expecting something as strange as this. Recently, I had discovered the location of a long lost ruins deep within the dead zone. Of course we had to investigate, Afterall a trove of hidden knowledge potentially awaited within. How could we not? The difficult part wasn’t getting there, while hordes of bandits patrolled the area they where easy to allude, instead it was what to do once inside. A common trend in ancient civilizations seems that they had a tendency to guard their fortifications and structures with very elaborate and impractical means of defense. Old fashioned trip wires and pressure plates littered the place and the door was particularly warded. Enchanted it was too, for it was entirely made of glass with no opening mechanism. Well, none but the iron frying pan we found nearby and used to break it open. The place itself was strange, it seemed to be riddled with exotic paraphernalia long degraded to the grasp of time. Furthermore, strange beast stalked its halls. Scavangers mostly, but not those without danger for even a scavenger can have a taste for flesh. With all the troubles getting here, yet alone the beast ridden tunnels which twisted and turned within, I never expected to find anything like this. Within one of the chambers of the twisting labyrinth we found ourselves in, was a strange creature standing behind a sheet of broken glass. It was not like the many foul ones we found earlier in our journeys either. Nay, instead it was a bizarre beast riddled with feathers. It stood on two yellow legs which lead to a rather plump body covered in blueish grey feathers. Two minuscule wings that hardly looked capable of carrying its body adorned its sides, and it had a large craning neck on which its strange head sat, adorned with a large black and yellow beak. It looked similar to the many chicken you could find around any farm and hamlet, yet it was taller and stranger indeed. Two green eyes sat on either side of its head, casually looking around as if nothing was amiss. Perhaps the creature itself did not realize it was within an ancient dungeon untouched for centuries, however unlikely it was. The strange creature seemed not to notice my party and instead stood around the empty room occasionally emitting a slight chirping sound. “I have never seen a creature like that in all of my lives.” Came a voice from behind me, the voice of one of my companions. A warrior woman who was standing head to toe in metal plates, and perhaps the best friend I have ever had. “Nor have I.” I stated, “The archives state nothing of this, unless it’s in some tale I am forgetting.” “Do you think it could be dangerous.” The warrior pondered, typically assessing threats. “Hardly. That beak doesn’t look sharp, and its wings don’t look functional at all. In all honesty, it looks kind of cute.” “Looks can be deceiving.” My cautious companion warned. “Should I touch it?” “Why would you do that?” “Because, why wouldn’t I? It doesn’t look harmless.”
 “If your only defense is why not, then perhaps it is not something you should be doing. After all, you know what happened last time.” “I’m going to touch it.” “Perhaps we could call Casper over instead, he could asses the creature with his knowledge.” “Nay, tis not important enough for him. Plus, if it is truly dangerous, we don’t want the scribe to be on the front lines.” “Fair enough. I just don’t think….” She began, but at that point I wasn’t really listening. I began to walk forwards towards the creature, crouching down so I could be closer to its level and sticking my right hand out towards it. Though my other arm reached towards the sword sheathed on my back, just in case it was as dangerous as my companion feared. Reaching out towards the creature, I quickly stroked its feathery plume almost rebelliously. To my disappointment, the creature didn’t respond. Only then was when I noticed what it really was. “So I guess we are touching it.” My friend sighed, truly a strange sound but that’s okay. After all, she was still learning. “Its not real.” I stated with disappointment. “What do you mean by such statement.” The metal warrior asked. “It hasn’t responded to anything. Our dim torchlight created a mirage of movement, while the noise came from somewhere else, it’s a replica of something but not an actual creature.” “I see. Then the glass in front of it must have been a defense mechanism, along with the traps. Perhaps it something they wished to defend, maybe some symbol they held dear?” “Or perhaps it’s something they didn’t want to forget. After all, why else make a replica of it?” I supposed, slowly nodding in agreement to myself. Why they wanted to remember I knew naught, but whoever built this place wanted to remember the creature. Why else build a monument to it? Its the same thing one does when singing songs of the past, trying to make that past yet live on in the present. Protecting its values while learning from its flaws, and perhaps that was the same thing with this mock creature. “Shall we continue on then? After all, there is much still to explore.” My companion asked and I nodded in agreement. I quickly scanned around the room to see if any hidden secrets yet remained, but my keen eyes fought naught. Quickly, I plucked a single feather from the replicas body before turning to follow my friend. A reminder of the long lost past not fully forgotten, before heading out to see what else could be explored.