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 Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 5:52 am
Seekers, minders, friends, neighbours... and now family. As the nights have passed, so has Wildcraft's private little investigation progressed. While he already had the advantage of knowing a few more details about the truth of the situation (he is family, after all, and as an Elite its only natural that he would be informed 'just in case'), his queries have taught him something far more important - through them, he's discovered what any determined outsider could learn.
That revelation is what has brought him here, to the outskirts of Bushfire's territory. He hasn't announced himself yet, as he is perched silently. Waiting, thinking, and trying to decide just how involved in the situation he wants to be. The Elite is so distracted by his thoughts that he doesn't even realize that he'd cut through someone else's territory on his way here, or that the tree he's in borders not only on Bushfire's realm, but another Sentinel's as well.
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Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 3:14 pm
With more and more Sentinels nosing about Bushfire's territory, Emery was starting to get more than a little edgy. They all had questions, so many questions...while they wanted answers, what they needed was to just go away and leave the object of his (distant) affections alone. At least, that's what he thought. And when a Sentinel finally perched too close to his own territory, he had the perfect excuse to ask one of them to leave. Not much, but for Emery, it was a start.
With a challenging hoot--well, about as challenging as Emery could get--he took flight, winging his way towards the stranger.
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Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 8:32 pm
His contemplations are cut short by an unwelcome interruption. What's this? He tilts his head to the side, brows furrowed as this new development is considered. Male. A challenging call. And not from Bushfire's territory. How curious!
While most other Sentinels would be at least a little concerned by an unexpected challenge, Wildcraft is just... curious. He turns himself about to face this newcomer to the scene, and waits in calm silence. If Emery is particularly observant (and/or familiar with the habits of combatants) he'll notice that the Elite's stance is deceptively casual. Wildcraft did not come here looking for a battle, but holds himself ready to fight if needed.
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Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 10:12 pm
Unfortunately for Emery, the most he'd seen of combat was the fierce ousting of any challengers to Bushfire's territory. Not only did he not realize that Wildcraft was doing anything more than simply sitting there, but he hadn't the faintest idea what to do past his initial 'greeting.' At a loss for what else to do, he settled for swooping down onto a perch near the Elite. "This is...um, this is my territory," he stated, some of his courage deflating. "Do you have business here?" He definitely didn't look like a Bard.
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Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 6:34 am
"No," the Elite replies simply, his expression bland and clear of any malice or amusement, "that is your territory." He gestures with a wing, to a branch between himself and the other wildtype. "My perch is part of a thoroughfare, and is not owned by you or your neighbour."
Almost imperceptibly, Wildcraft relaxes his ready stance. It's only taken the briefest of inspections to determine that this would-be challenger is no challenger at all. He's definitely not a combatant. Most likely not a Minder, at this distance... perhaps a Teacher, or a Crafter? Ah, it doesn't matter regardless. All that matters is that this young wildtype is not a threat, so the Elite can settle down. And perhaps learn something from Bushfire's neighbour, as well.
"I do have business here, but I haven't decided if I will trouble Bushfire at this hour. Has she had many visitors recently?"
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Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 5:26 pm
And there went the rest of his courage.
Thoroughly deflated, he shifts from one foot to the other before answering. "Yes, she has," he answered reluctantly, still feeling the sting of being so neatly put in his place. What had he been thinking, anyways? He was still just...himself, however moved to 'courage' he might be at the moment. "Why do you want to know?" he asked, a faint spark of defiance flaring up.
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Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 7:56 pm
"Too many visitors," Wildcraft voices the words he imagines to be unspoken, nodding once to himself, "but it's hardly surprising given the circumstances." He pauses to idly preen at his wing, collecting his thoughts and taking the moment to observe Bushfire's neighbour. It seems that he doesn't feel any need to deflate the other wildtype still further, even if the little defiant burst is somewhat amusing.
"And I want to know because I want to know. Why do you want to know why I want to know?" Answering a question with a question is one of his favourite (and most infuriating) habits. The Elite continues to preen his wing, the very picture of unconcerned calm that borders on boredom.
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Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 3:30 am
"She...she has enough to deal with," Emery retorted defensively, fluffing ever so slightly. "If it's not absolutely neccessary for you to see her...couldn't your business wait until some other time?" True, he'd resorted to pleading rather than demanding, but he'd be plucked if he didn't at least try to make things easier for Bushfire. "She needs what rest she can get," he pressed in a plaintive tone, hoping to ignite some spark of caring in the other male.
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Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 5:39 am
"Oh, has she been ill?" A touch of concern can be heard in the Elite's otherwise crisp tone, and he tilts his head to the side. "I hadn't heard that, I hope she's made arrangements with her Corporal to explain her failure to meet quota."
Preening done, he lowers his head to give himself a slow scratch behind the eartufts with one talon. As he shifts his stance, the dyed chevrons on his wing become more plainly visible - if Emery had not already noticed that the Sentinel he is speaking with is an Elite, he certainly would now. "My business is somewhat pressing, unfortunately, and it is likely better that I conduct it rather than leaving it for someone else."
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Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 1:35 am
"I, ah..." At the sight of the double chevrons, Emery visibly wilted. s**t. What had he been thinking, talking back to an Elite? Bushfire or no Bushfire, you simply didn't talk to an Elite that way. Feathers sleeked and shoulders hunched, he finally managed to stammer, "I-I'm sure she has a g-good reason. I should let you get on with b-business." He didn't leave, however, instead shuffling nervously from foot to foot on the branch as he waited for a dismissal.
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Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 6:49 am
"I'm sure she does, as well." A little frown touches his beak then, and he narrows his eyes. Emery's nervous antics do confuse the Elite for a brief moment, and he even looks around to see if something has startled the other wildtype. Dismissing the strange behaviour, Wildcraft shrugs and settles back into a calm resting posture.
"So what can you tell me about Bushfire? Or, perhaps more importantly, what can you tell me about her visitors? You seem to be awfully aware of the comings and goings around her territory, for some reason." Sorry, Emery, you're not getting away that easily. "Oh, I forget myself. I'm Wildcraft. And you are...?"
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Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 1:01 am
Had it been even remotely possible, Emery would have paled. He became--somewhat--still as he realized no dismissal was forthcoming anytime soon, though his gaze still occasionally flickered here and there. "Emery," he answered, voice quiet. "The usual business, I think...but others as well, that leave with nothing. She's seemed very troubled..." He trailed off into an awkward silence. He watched Bushfire sometimes, yes, but not that closely. She deserved a little privacy. Of course, when an Elite came to call, you told him what you could.
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Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 8:07 pm
"I see."
Sometimes being an Elite is more trouble than it is worth - this tentative close-beaked behaviour that so many Sentinels revert to is something that Wildcraft has never quite gotten used to, and unfortunately he's not yet found a way to make others snap out of it. Telling them to calm down never works, nor does yelling, being friendly, or any other tactic he's tried. So he simply ignores it, and behaves as if he hasn't noticed that the Crafter is obviously uncomfortable and nervous.
The stalker-like admissions are a little odd, but not so odd as to prompt any further questions. Some neighbours are closer than others, of course, and Wildcraft isn't close enough to his distant relatives to know the inner details of Bushfire's life (even if it would be somewhat uncharacteristic of her to tolerate a stammering nervous wreck like this Emery).
Unfortunately, he's been rather silent while he mulls over this information. Silent, and gazing thoughtfully at Emery. Is he waiting for more, or is he just considering the situation carefully? It's so hard to tell, behind his impassive gaze.
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Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 12:32 am
As the silence stretched on, Emery wracked his brain in an attempt to remember anything that might actually be useful to the Elite. He couldn't think of anything, except...well, it wasn't that useful, but maybe it'd be something. "I visited her a few days ago," he offered at last. "I brought her a chime in trade for some...berries, I think." He'd been too nervous then to truly pay proper attention, and it was a minor miracle he'd even remembered the item he'd received in trade for what he'd meant to be a gift.
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Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 8:19 am
Ah, a Crafter. Secretly pleased that his initial guess hadn't been far off the mark, the Elite allows a slight grin to appear. "A chime for some berries," Wildcraft repeats after the flustered would-be admirer, "sounds like you aren't much of a haggler." There's a shocker, he continues inwardly, and then chides himself for the uncharitable though.
"And you have nothing else of interest to share?" While he doesn't say it outright, it's pretty clear that berries and chimes aren't the sort of thing that an Elite should be worrying about.
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