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 Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 8:42 pm
The night was warm and a breeze wafted through the more southern reaches of the Deep Woods territory. It seemed to preen along Foxfeather's feathers, only he did not seem to relax and enjoy the spring night.
He was a watcher, and so watch is what he was doing. Only he did no see anything out of the ordinary and his mind was wandering, anyhow.
He had not heard from Sly or Stormbringer lately, so he could only imagine how the "Plan" was coming along. Perhaps he would pop by their meeting tree soon. It couldn't possibly hurt to check in with the two that he did not despise; the two who were like minded.
He shut his beak tight and the corners turned downward gravely. His eartufts flattened and his eyes narrowed.
"Spring is here... Food is scarce... That thing is still breathing and growing and eating the clan's food... The harbinger of rain and wind relieves me none." He hissed quietly to himself.
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Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 10:43 pm
 Though Foxfeather wasn’t enjoying the warm night, there was someone else nearby who was getting enough enjoyment for two Sentinels.
With a silence unusual for the young Wildtype, Cliffside coasted on the breeze, dipping over and under branches on his way home. If asked what he’d been up to, he would insist that he was visiting a client. In reality, he’d been to the distribution platform to drop off a fairly generous donation. He’d never admit it, but it made him feel good to help out.
Reveling in the sense of accomplishment, Cliff might have startled as a flash of white dropped from the air above, but the creature in question -- his lead chirop, Speed -- had chirped a warning before coming alongside.
“One ahead,” the skin-wing told him. “He-Sent’nel.”
“Do we know him?” Cliffside asked.
“No-no. Introduce?”
“Yes, and make sure we’re not trespassing in his territory. Try to speak clearly this time.”
“Will!”
And with that, the white chirop flew on ahead, preparing to greet the grim-looking Watcher.
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Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 9:14 am
Foxfeather's sharp eyes noticed he white chirop before it's arrival and for a brief moment considered the possibility of a snack...
But of course, chirops were a bit harder to breed, so this one must of been a companion of sorts, which only added to his damper mood. No free snack, it seemed. Food was scarce and he would hunt for himself later. Instead, he smirked as the little winged mammal approached him.
His own chirop, painted to match his master's markings, peered curiously out behind Foxfeather's eartufts.
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Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 2:38 pm
Speed knew he had been seen, and pulled up a safe distance away. Flitting back and forth to hold his position in the air, he called out to Foxfeather. “’Lo, Sent’nel! This yer terr’tory? Friend Cliffside coming. Us can pass?”
Further back from where the chirop was, Cliffside landed on a branch with a sigh. “Should’ve brought Bee,” he muttered to himself. She was far more eloquent.
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Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 5:10 pm
"Friend Cliffside? Well. Tell your Master that he is welcome to pass. This is not my territory. He is welcome, however, to sit and hold a conversation with me, if he so wishes."
The invitation was an odd one. Usually Foxfeather was content to listen to the quiet of the night, but what harm would it do to speak to another of the society. If was to be a watcher, then he might as well do his job.
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Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 6:58 pm
On his branch, Cliffside’s eartufts lifted in surprise. He hadn’t expected such a cordial reaction to Speed’s near-incoherent speech. He’d have to go introduce himself personally. It would be a shame to pass up the chance to score a potential client, besides.
Cliff stepped off the branch and flapped his way over to the Watcher’s. After landing at a polite distance, he inclined his head in greeting. “Thanks for the invitation. Cliffside’s the name, Catering’s the game. What’s yours, friend?”
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Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 9:35 pm
The pompous deep woods male regarded the wildtype with a nod. Not a friendly one, but not one that was callous either. "A pleasure, Keeper -- Caterer. I have herd of your mus, all good things I assure you." The watcher spoke in his calm, cool, and somewhat uncaring voice.
"Foxfeather, Watcher, before you."
At a mere glance, the young Deep Woods, for he was young despite his calm and collected demeanor, could tell that there was not much of an age difference between himself and the self proclaimed caterer.
"Though I have heard a few unhappy keepers speak of you."
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Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 10:28 am
Cliff let out a laugh, pleased that his reputation was known by this stranger. “I don’t know why they’re so offended.” His tone had a casual insolence to it, not quite arrogant, but certainly hinting that he felt his ways were just the slightest bit superior than the rest. “Companions are probably the best source of food we Sentinels have. Why not take advantage of the bounty?” His beak split in a brassy grin. “Anyway, nice to meet you, Foxfeather.”
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Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 10:28 pm
"Mmm, likewise." While he did his best to display little emotion, he could sense in the wildtype's voice the same air of superiority that he often carried. That must mean like minds. Perhaps he could gain the trust of this keeper caterer. It could possibly prove to be useful in the future and the Deep Woods needed others to voice for he and his two associates.
"You are right, there. Only the utmost useful should be around and working. The rest are burdens, eating food that we ourselves could be eating. Isn't that right, Tick?"
The chirop nodded silently to his Master's question.
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Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 5:57 pm
“Speed thinks so too, don’t you, Speed?”
Cliff’s white chirop’s answer was highly enthusiastic. “Yayaya! Stoopie mus eaty!”
If Speed wasn’t such an important tool, Cliffside would have eaten him then and there out of sheer embarrassment. He had to settle for giving his companion a warning look. When he turned his gaze back to Foxfeather, Cliff cleared his throat stood up straighter. “Like I said, companions are either workers or food, not friends to take the place of other Sentinels.”
His words had come out smoothly enough, but inwardly Cliff was racking his mind for a way to change the subject.
“So, Watcher… Has anything interesting happened in the area lately?”
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Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 8:52 pm
"Thieves, for one! Or rather, so I have heard from other Watchers. Could you believe that some sentinel would actually have the gall to steal from the drop point? And in such a time of need, what with the storm and our society still getting back on their talons!"
The Deep Woods let the words tumble from his beak, as if he had been waiting to dump his complaints, only the right sentinel had yet to come along. While he and Cliffside had only been speaking for a brief moment, he felt secure in the fact that they would more than likely have similar views.
"Probably some rotten aberrant, no doubt."
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Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 9:24 pm
Cliffside’s neck feathers rose in surprise. “Someone stole from the stores? You’re kidding!”
But he could see that Fox was not lying. His golden eyes glared at nothing in particular as he fully absorbed the Watcher’s story.
“An aberrant… It’s a shame they have no choice in their ancestry. I doubt many would choose to be less than pure. All the same, no matter the type, it’s better they offer themselves to the Above than resort to stealing.”
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Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 9:39 pm
"Indeed... Indeed... It's a pity. A pox on the ones who chose to mate across types to create them. Hopefully whoever was stealing will be apprehended and exposed for the useless bags of feathers they are. " Fox responded warily. By now he did appear to be slightly more relaxed. His feathers fluffed and his eartufts sat back and at ease.
"It is a good thing to meet one of like minds. You must be proud to have wildtype ancestry."
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Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 6:22 pm
Cliff had begun to puff up with pride. “Sure, I’m proud of my family. There’s lots of combatant and even a bit of Elite in my blood.”
The young Wildtype, of course, had neglected to mention his parents, who were both companion-loving keepers. He was unlike them in that respect, but he didn’t want their particular qualities to rub off on his reputation.
“And how about yourself. Foxfeather? Surely you must have a refined ancestry.”
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Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 10:45 pm
"My father served as an Elite until he passed." The Deep Woods fluffed his feathers, but in a more relaxed fashion. "Our family has served the clan in combatant roles for generation after generation." He had no shame in his parents, though he rarely was with them due to their busy ranks. His father was an Elite, his mother was a Ranger, and he was often left with his aunt or a minder. Though he was more often than not in the care of his aunt, as they were most determined to mold and shape little Foxfeather into thinking as they did and acting as they did.
Unfortunately for many aberrants, they succeeded.
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