The First Emu War

30th July 1932

After making my way to Australia, I found myself with the farmers. Plenty of space, so I don't need to be in bat form all the time. Though, I am finding myself more and more to be enjoying staying in my bat form. It also just hurts to change - apparently, that's not normal, but when was I ever normal?
  Anyways, although there aren't that many people around, I have made a new friend. Well, I found someone I want to be friends with. I do not know their backstory, but they seem to be a literomancer. They run around a lot more than any other human I've seen. And they can shapeshift into an emu. Yeah, the shapeshifting was what really tipped me off.
  They are often outside, doing chores. And getting more chores to do. And then running around as an emu because they finished everything due to their speed.

16th August 1932

They have started to make race tracks in their far-off fields for the emus. Only once have I seen them lose a race and that was because they got distracted in a conversation. They talk a lot, and just about as fast as they run.
  Also, the bats around me have heard that her name is Mags.

2nd September 1932

I thought it was weird that Mags didn't write much, but then I flew high one day (the reason for that is a story for later). And saw her running. And then watched her run - not in circles, but words. Yeah, she wrote by running through the fields of grass, and stone, and dirt. She mostly runs through the dirt between farms, making paths as she runs, words written from the paths. It's mostly legible. I think.
  Mostly, she rants. About her parents and siblings. About the weather. About not being able to talk to her friends 'cause 'emus aren't friends'.
  I wish I could talk to her, but I think I've forgotten how to shapeshift back into a human.

14th September 1932

Mags’ rants are quite entertaining. Maybe I just miss being able to talk to others. I have an idea though. What if, get this, we brought The Cavern to Australia? I mean, I don't know how we could. But, maybe we could? There's a lot more land than people here. No one would know.

27th September 1932

Okay, so I've talked to the bats here. They think my idea is good. We could all live together in The Cavern. Becky just to make sure there are some trees she can roost in. We just need to bring it here. Someone has the literomancy for that right? Surely. Maybe something in the forbatten archives?

3rd October 1932

The writing by running is getting neater. Practice makes progress they say. Or, Becky said that Betty said that who heard it from Mark who overheard the human Sheila say that.

14th October 1932

And it got worse. A lot worse. The legibility of Mags writing, that is. Her speed, on the other wing, is much faster. Particularly when she is mad and she seems to be mad a lot these days.

19th October 1932

So, I have managed to decipher some of Mags’ writing, and it seems that her family is mad that she is spending so much time with the emus. But, her family don't want to be seen with her cause they think she's weird so who else is she supposed to be with? Ah, I wish I could talk to her. Becky, Tailor and I had a whole conversation about the differences between bat and emu communication last week. The result from our analysis is that if we had The Cavern, we could write some translators into the walls and then we'd all be able to communicate better. How is moving The Cavern to here going, by the way?

30th October 1932

Ooh, someone's done it now, I think. Mags is quite upset. From what I can tell, her family thinks she is purposefully bringing the emus in to eat the crops. She isn't, she rants, but then it gets messy and I haven't quite managed to decipher what she's said.

31st October 1932

Ah - I deciphered it! "If that's what you think, then I will bring them here!"
  Oh.
  That could explain the increase in emus overnight.

2nd November 1932

Um, the military was called in? Well, a few guys with guns from the military. at least.
  I hope she will be okay.

3rd November 1932

The emus are outrunning the bullets. Or, running around them. Those races my would-be friend made up earlier in the year? Yeah, basic training for the war.

4th November 1932

Who called it a war? Ah, right, the human general. From here in the tree, there is quite clearly seen a mockery of the humans by the emus. Becky has started a bet on which emu can run the most laps around the humans. It's a nice teatime pastime.

5th November 1932

Never bet with Becky. You will lose everything.
  Never bet with Becky.

6th November 1932

The emus are way better than the humans. They run as a large group, then split up into smaller groups and just annoy the heck out of the humans.
  It's hilarious.
  When The Cavern comes here, we can bet on emu races - just don't tell Becky.

7th November 1932

The humans gave up. The emus ran them ragged and they ran out of bullets. Their ammo was wasted, Becky heard from Steve that they said. It was an interesting time, watching Mags lead the emus around.
  It was funny watching her run even faster than the others, chatting with team leaders and then letting them decide who to annoy. There were no human deaths, though one guy tripped and ripped the pants over his knee.
  A few emus were hurt, though more earlier on in the week when they hadn't sorted their running yet and got in each other's travel path causing the other group to dodge closer to the bullets.
  One emu tried to get close to Mags. Ricky (Becky's rival) said that he trying to court her, but Mags didn't seem to be interested in anything that didn't involve talking his head off, or annoying the human ex-military guys.
  Even though I've never spoken to Mags, I feel as proud of her as if she were my own true friend.
  We should invite emus to The Cavern too.

8th November 1932

The humans have left for sure, and Mags has let a bunch of the emus go back to their own turf. Ricky went to go make fun of the emu who failed to court Mags, and Becky started a new bet on whether Ricky will come back alive.

10th November 1932

What do you mean that The Cavern won't appear in Australia when I am the only one here? Just make everyone else move! The Queen will like it here, the quiet, the long winter nights, the tea time games. There's plenty of space to fly - it doesn't even need to be this part of Australia.

20th November 1932

Look, I can go find some caves. I'll scout out the best ones so The Cavern can attach itself there.

10th December 1932

But, we even have gems here! The Queen likes shiny rocks, right? She has a few crowns or something, doesn't she?

30th December 1932

I found a number of caves so far - I'll be able to get a full list to you next month, so don't tell me to stop asking, okay? I'll get a place ready first, if that's what's needed.

12th January 1933

If you didn't know the mechanics of the Cavern moving, tell me when I first asked.
  ...
  I'm still prepping a place though.