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Ashton had a little accident involving his mother’s smelly stuff tonight... Nothing broke, but he made a huge mess and is currently hiding in the hopes of preening away the evidence before she finds him. He’s not far from the maple he calls home, but he has managed to fly-hop-glide a few trees away. The sticky and smelly liquid tastes funny and is difficult to preen out of his feathers, but he’s making some progress.

Ashton's home, where the river meets the lake, is not that far from the mysterious Mystic enclave. The strange Sentinels are rarely seen, but once in a while one will travel trough the area. Rune is one of the few Mystic’s who have chosen to live outside the enclave, teaching young ones to use their Will and keeping a keen eye open for Mystic level Will talents in hatchlings and fledglings.

Tonight Rune has business in these parts of the woods, and Ashton will soon see the biggest Wildtype he has ever seen. She’s huge, and perhaps just a tiny bit frightening.

Specific details: Ashton can actually be smelled from a distance in his current state. It’s a pleasant fruity smell that’s slightly eye watering up close.

Amberglow may join this roleplay.

Runewing maneuvered deftly through the trees, avoiding erratic branches that jutted into her flight path. Syz, her Pica companion flew ahead of her, his painted feathers cutting a clean path through the maze of flora, his smaller form finding gaps between the branches big enough for Rune to follow; in this way, their progress with quick. She had business with the Enclave to attend to, her large silent shape knowing the way to the secret territory reserved for the Mysitcs as if a beacon was lighting her way. Reports were to be made on the events outside of the Enclave and Rune was their informant. She gave another strong beat of her enormous wings and sailed forward, eager to be back to what she considered her true home, and to be with her colleagues to learn of their own business.

Suddenly, Syz stopped short ahead of her and dove lower and away from their path. Cautious, Rune eased up and perched lightly on the next tree, the branch only barely moving in response to her gentle landing. She squinted her eyes and with a slight push of her wings, hopped to the next branch.

“Rune! Rune, Rune! You gotta smell this!” Syz was barreling towards her and she immediately became peeved at herself for thinking anything serious would have caused his deviation.

“What is it now Syz?” She reluctantly asked, wondering why the Mystic’s companion of choice was a Pica in the first place.

“Come on, look, look.” He hopped up and down, bobbing his head excitedly. He was flying again in seconds, three branches away before Rune gathered herself and flew over to meet him.

It took only a few seconds before Rune knew exactly where her companion was headed -she could smell it. “Oh goodness…” Was all she managed, alighting on a nearby branch and neatly folding her wings as she peered down at the preening fledgling.

"See!?" Syz exclaimed, finding the simple pleasure of this discovery extremely amusing. He hopped down to perch next to the colorfully fragrant fledgling. "You smell!" He beamed to Ashton.

Syz, the joyous, bubbling companion, always preferred fun to fight. However, this reaction from Ashton was not completely new to him. After all, he'd stolen baubles and anything that sparkled, and those who possessed them didn't always take well to being pillaged. Not to mention the robin eggs that he found to be so delightfully tasting. That always created quite the fuss. So despite all the fuss he was constantly leaving in his wake, Syz had never really come to face any true danger; which was due mainly to the dark silhouette always just within reach.

True to his form of carelessness and disregard for his privately secured safety, Syz pushed Ashton further. "What is that? Worst smell of my life!" Of course, Syz was never intentionally rude or goading, it was just his way. He was curious, so he asked questions; it was really only that simple.

Rune was watching idly, knowing that there was no way she could drag her companion with her until his curiosity was quenched. She preferred to keep a low profile, so she waited with a bored expression, her sense of smell advising her to stay where she was unless absolutely necessary.

Syz was amused further by Ashton's angry replies. "Oh! Hiding?" A favorite pastime he played with Rune whether she was willing to play or not. But then Ashton continued and revealed he wasn't hiding so much as seeking. "Looking for berries?" Syz was no gatherer's companion, but anything that had caught his eyes before he remembered for later pillaging. "Go back to where I came from? But we're going to-"

"Syz." Rune sharply interjected. She gave Syz a severe look and stepped from the shadows. She had to be careful that her companion was a bit more social than she was. He would never give their secret away, but it was best to be careful with words around anyone who didn't have to be included in her private business.

"Rune! Just telling-" He flipped his gaze back to Ashton, "Hey, what's your name?"

Runewing frowned at the young fledgling's impolite tone. She was a Teacher, and above all, a Mystic; and she was to be regarded with respect, if not fear. "Watch your tone, young one." She warned, her feathers calmly in place. This small Sentinel would not rile her.

Syz interrupted the mood by hopping up and down on his branch, intent on the answers to his questions. "What berries? What's your name? Berries? Name? Berries? Name?" He was speaking in time with his bobbing head. Rune meanwhile, was as silent and still as a statue again, her eyes not leaving Ashton. He would be the one regretting things if he didn't get better control of his attitude.

She admitted to herself that Syz was a bit of an annoyance, but his heart was in the right place, he always meant well. Besides, her companion was offering his help, and the rude little Sentinel couldn't even see past his own smelly situation.

Runewing was pleased that the fledgling had come to his much needed senses, and she relaxed, knowing there was no good in remaining severe. The young ones were only just learning, and Rune kept this in mind always. "I am Runewing, Mystic and Teacher of their ways." She drew herself up, her large imposing form becoming prouder. She left out her business venture tactfully, continuing with her greeting, "This is Syz, my companion." She glanced down her beak at Ashton and his sneezing, letting out a small chuckle before glancing at the moon and Syz.

Of course, Syz already had his heart set on one thing: Berry hunting. Sighing, Rune grumbled inwardly as the bouncing Pica turned his best pleading look on her. His small black eyes reflecting the moonlight with a playful twinkle; deflating her. "It seems my companion would like to help you find these berries," she drew herself up again as the breeze brought a bit of Ashton's unique scent to her, "If you would like."

Syz, who had been keeping his beak shut as he amplified his gaze upon Rune, burst into a joyous cawing. "A game, a game!" Ashton's warning about questions went unheeded, "Berries, let's find berries! Where to?"

[[We got an RP spotlight. heart ]]

Fledglings were always so stubborn. Rune glanced to the moon and considered the time; the night was still young. "Syz, do you know what berries to look for?"

Syz hopped fearlessly closer to Ashton and sniffed him, his eyes watering as he approached. "Good berries. Smell nice. You smell too nice!" He retreated to a more tolerable distance and considered Ashton's perfume. "Smelt before." The small Pica tapped his claws on the branch he was perched on. "Close... I think." He sniffed the breeze and sneezed before trying again. "Wait here. You smell to much." Syz flitted away instantly and left Rune with Ashton and an uncomfortable silence.

..Oh how Rune hated awkward social situations. She supposed it was merely fate that had paired her with her companion Syz. He always got her into these messes, but without him, she'd never put herself into much of any social situation.

"So..." She began slowly, "Ashton. How did you get in this mess anyways? Some one will certainly be missing-" She extended a wing towards his sticky feathers, "This..."

Rune accepted Ashton's story skeptically. His supposed action was quite the honorable thing to do: save your brother and risk getting yourself in trouble. The pieces just didn't seem to fit with Ashton, and by now, Rune was a puzzle master. However, she decided to go with his story and see if she could muster the truth out of him. Apothecaries spent their days preparing herbs and other concoctions, and she knew that even if Syz did manage to locate the berries, there was no way any of them could remake the substances currently clinging to Ashton.

"No, no, of course not, that was a very brave thing of you to do for your brother, Ashton." She paused slightly as if just coming to the next conclusion then and there, "And to think of all the trouble he could get in if you hadn't helped." She widened her eyes a little for added effect, "And what if you don't find the berries she used? Even I wouldn't want to be caught responsible for something like that. You must be really selfless." She nodded in approval, maybe that would get him thinking.