Fowl Play

The full episode can be watched here.

*Previously on... the Portals of Brae*

After a fantastic rehearsal the Koukouvaya Krashers are transferred into the Aviary, an enclosed community where all of the Tree Toots “Tootletes” are stationed prior to the big event. The group turns in with hopes of a peaceful night’s rest.

Those hopes are dashed by the early-morning screams of Pollyanna Cracker, who’s discovered the dead body of Misheryl Crow. As the other Tootletes appear, Spinhead Blinkeybird calms the gathering crowd. Talon steps forward and points out the events as they appear: Misheryl was lifting too heavy a weight, her hollow arm-bone broke, the weight hit her head and broke her neck. Spinhead agrees with Talon, calling it a great tragedy. Talon continues: Without a fourth member on the team, the Koukouvaya Krashers can no longer compete. Once again, Spinhead agrees.

BUT THEN… Pollyanna Cracker has a change of heart! She’s quitting the Kalabing Klaws and changing teams! Talon is furious and warns Pollyanna that this would mean giving up her entire career, but the beautiful Owlin dancer rejects him and joins the Krashers anyway. The other teams clear out to prepare for the show, but Cypress quickly investigates the scene.

Misheryl didn’t die by accident, she was murdered. The broken arm and the broken neck were both executed after the death, which was actually caused by a deadly poison called “Pen’s Tonic.” A stain on her shirt shows a spilled green liquid, but the cup is missing. The only folks with access to this room were those inside the Aviary… so this was done by someone directly involved in the Tree Toots.

Spinhead approaches the group and informs them that the other teams will gather soon in a communal pre-show event, but that they’ll be excused so they can prepare their newest member.

…A perfect time to snoop.

The group divides and explores the various nests of the different teams. Near Talon’s belongings: a heavy hammer, which could have potentially been used to break the arm. In the belongings of Birdo Nightfeather: one of the ingredients to Pen’s Tonic. And, in the belongings of Susie Birdface, the missing cup from the crime scene.

They head back to the party to interrogate the suspects. Birdo is elusive and seems to hold a grudge against Owliver for stealing the spotlight from him. Susie breaks down and admits that she stole the cup, but claims she only did so because she wanted to keep a piece of Misheryl, with whom she shared a complicated relationship. Talon shows off some of the best goddamn dance moves anyone has ever seen. And Spinhead, it is revealed, wrote an article about how the Tree Toots were bad for Koukouvaya.

Time is up. The event is starting. The group prepares.

The performances are fierce, the competition is steep, and the audience is screeching, but the group performs admirably and places second place in the preliminary rounds, which means they’re moving onto the finals alongside the Kalabing Klaws (and Talon.) Spinhead ushers the finalists offstage and speaks to Owliver.

He thanks Owliver for everything he’s done, but he must ask one more favor. The Kalabing Klaws are cheating and using a substance called Honeysuckle Dew, and Spinhead knows that they’ll win unless the Krashers do the same. Spinhead offers a bottle to Owliver, but Owliver rejects him, refusing to cheat. Spinhead grimaces. “You should have taken the potion.”

With a signal, a small army of termina soldiers appear and attack the group. They’re outnumbered, but they manage to turn the tide with the help of double Druids and Pollyanna, who is quickly able to mesmerize Spinhead and keep him from fighting. After taking out half the troops, the remaining terminas flee back into the forest, and the group stays to interrogate Spinhead.

As it turns out, this is Spinhead’s last year on the council. He’s being forced to retire. Spinhead has always seen the Tree Toots as a terrible burden upon their culture, and this was his last chance to free his people from their obsession with the sport by forcing them to cut ties. He kidnapped the Krashers and has been keeping them under the council chambers in cells that haven’t been used in years. He didn’t plan on killing Misheryl, but she saw him coercing with a termina and he couldn’t risk her revealing his secrets, so he poisoned her protein drink.

The group has heard enough. Despite his pleas to stay anonymous, the group marches him onto the stage and calls the attention of the audience.

But as they start to decry Spinhead, an explosion erupts in the audience, soon followed by another. Owlin begin to fly away in every direction, but nets spring out and yank them down to the ground. Dozens of termina soldiers appear. And fighting alongside the humans, 2 familiar faces: Inara and Aramaya.