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Kala cocked her head, emitting a noise that sounded curiously like the bleating of a lamb. She sized Rawiya up for a brief moment. Maybe the thing would like to run? Kala absolutely loved chasing things, despite the nature of the animals she was composed of.

Making up her mind, she struggled to her feet with dificulty (those long legs weren't meant for sitting on, after all) and suddenly lunged at the other Aerandir, squawking playfully.

Progolo, about to respond, jumped at Kala's abrupt movement. For a second of horror, he thought Kala was actually attacking the other Aerandir. She'd never seen another of her own kind before now...But, with relief, he noticed the playful glint in her yellow eyes.

Still, he shifted on to his knees, ready to spring to his feet if Kala caused trouble.

"So, what is her name?" he asked, hoping to keep his voice casual so that the woman wouldn't assume, as he had, that there was anything to worry about in Kala's behavior.

Kala was thrilled with the reaction she procured from the vibrantly patterned Aerandir, and voiced this with another happy caw as she persued Rawiya. Once again, she had assumed her awkward gait; legs stiff, head against her chest, and wings raised. She quickly found, however, that she couldn't keep up this way, and her knees hurt from doing this.

She skipped to a stop, frustrated. How did she move so fast? She watched Rawiya for a moment. Man, she ran strangely. Bending her knees, leaning forward, thrusting her head out ahead of her...

Hm.

Experimentally, she lifted one of her hooves by bending it at the knee. Then another, then the third...Huh, it felt almost natural...

Happily, she resumed her charge after Rawiya. Wow, it was a lot easier this way! She quickly fell into a rythm, taking advantage of her long legs to nearly catch up with the other Aerandir. She still couldn't bring herself to extend her neck all the way out, but, being part giraffe, it felt better to hold it out at a roughly 30 degree-tilt.

"Wark!" she cawed, informing Rawiya of how close she had come.

"Progolo D'Gagn," Progolo said, extending his hand. Then he nodded towards Kala's receeding form. "And her name is Kalarune."

His eyes, which had drifted over to Kala, now remained there. Ah, she'd figured out how to bend her knees! It didn't look nearly so comfortale for her, now.

Progolo's gaze reverted back to Ari, and he continued, "How long has--Rawiya, you said?--how long has she been in that form? She seems quite confident with herself."

Progolo glanced quickly over the letter she held, silently speed-reading. "I see...oh, you need feathers?" he inquired. "I've got tons of those stupid things laying around. How many do you need? Two? I can give those to you, if you like..." he said, looking thoughtful as he tried to remember what colors he'd picked up. Mostly they were down feathers, but occaisionally one of his gyphon charges would drop longer, prettier wing or tail feathers.

Kala was not nearly as graceful when turning, almost falling flat on her face before managing to change direction. Once she'd composed herself, however, it didn't take her long to catch up. Her knobby knees sure didn't look graceful when Kala was sitting or using them wrong, but in action, they were like liquid steel. Kala felt a warm spirit of pride and competetiveness welling up. As she drew closer to Rawiya, she stretched out her neck. She just needed...to get...a bit...closer...

With an excited squawk, she clamped her long looked beak down on Rawiya's tail. She hadn't bitten hard enough to hurt her, but it would definetly slow her down.

Kala did the wise thing and let go before Rawiya could snap her frail neck, dodging out of the way of her powerful kick. Yikes, this wasn't so fun anymore! Scrunching to the ground, she bleated plaintively, as if begging for forgiveness and explaining that it was just a game.

"I don't really have any with me...if you'd like to walk back to number 3 with me, you can choose your favorite colors?" he said, raising an eyebrow smilingly. "I raise griffins for a research organization...That's why I'm out here...Anyways, they shed their feathers all over the place--"

Progolo's eyes darted over to the Aerandir at the sound of the shriek, slightly alarmed. The zebra/macaw was thrashing about, and Kala was squatting in the sand, looking fearful. "Kala?" he called with concern, climbing to his feet.

Progolo jogged over to his charge, immediately assuming the worse.

She broke her neck, she broke her back, she's permanately crippled, oh, why wasn't I watching?!

He stooped and quickly examined her. To his surprise, Kala didn't even have a scratch, she just looked startled. Again, she called out piteously after the Aerandir she'd upset with an unmeldoic squawk.

"Huh...she looks alright..." Progolo mused, still scrutinizing her for anything he might have missed. He looked after Rawiya, frowning nervously.

Kala got to her feet, indicating that her legs were still in order, and trotted a few steps in Rawiya's direction.

"Cwaw?" she chirped. Come back... her voice and posture seemed to coney. Whether Rawiya would interpret it as such, however, remained to be seen.

Progolo fidgeted as Kala moved away from his protective hovering. "Maybe it was...just a misunderstanding?" he offered lamely.

(( Obviously Rawiya isn't used to other Aerandir being as outgoing as she is... xd ))

Kala decided that if Rawiya wouldn't come to her, then she'd have to be the one to close the distance. Squaring her shoulders bravely, she cautiously made her way towards the flighty Aerandir, gurgling in her extensive throat comfortingly.

"Maybe Kala hurt her..." Progolo said, sighing. He didn't want to believe it, but it was perfectly possible. "She can get a bit rowdy. That would explain the shriek. And the kicking."