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 Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 4:04 am
“Now, now. No need to argue in front of a lady.” Chase said lightly as he moved closer to Vinch until he sat right next to the deep woods, turning to him with quick undertone. “It’s not worth it. Whatever you do, don’t let him get to you.” Because he’ll win, Chase thought to himself as he remembered how the shadow had managed to turn the friendly Fjord into an irate individual spouting angry outbursts. The hidden meaning behind the shadow’s words, the cunning teasing, the wicked eloquence... Chase wasn’t equipped to deal with that sort of behavior. It bothered him beyond recognition (maybe even offended him) that he would probably have been easily fooled by that curtain of politeness. But he knew better now.
He was buying time, of course, thinking up an appropriate answer for Sly as he returned the unyielding gaze. “Fjord?” Chase said softly, with vivid memories of the animosity between the shadow and the aberrant bard. Wait… is Sly teasing me?, Chase felt a surge of distress fill his body. Nervous for reasons that escaped him, the painted shadow kept his eyes on the unpainted equal and not without letting small glimpses of curiosity and doubt run through his expression. Chase had something on him! Well, it wasn’t much but wouldn’t a normal individual attempt to avoid him, avoid the situation or at the very least keep a low profile for a while… So why was he being the one pinned down with a deadly stare and secretly belligerent words? Don’t let him get to you!
“I’m afraid I know just as much as you do. I spent the storm with Vinch and Clover and I’ve been looking for the injured since we dropped her here.” Like you care Sly… “I’ve also been asked to go back to gathering for a little while so I can’t stay for long. I have to take this to a minder’s territory.” Chase said as he turned his head backward until his beak touched the gatherer’s pack. “I also promised the medics that I would let Clover rest so…” he took a few steps towards the shadow and felt the warm body of the female edging nearer “…so I have to go. I just wanted to make sure you were recovering well, Clover. I must get back to work. Sly…” he eyed the male with an unexpectedly pleasant smile “Can I have a quick word with you in private? I promise I won’t take too much of your time, I’m sure you’re quite busy yourself.”
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Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 7:08 am
Vinch tried to softly nudge Clover into a more reclined position. "Event? That's gonna be quite a sight. Well, if a Sentinel like me is allowed to watch. You're gonna need plenty of rest for that, though. You've gotta be in top condition to lead 'em all. " Vinch nodded warmly and hoped her drugged logic would agree with him and go to sleep.
At the same time, Vinch was very interested in what was between Chase and Sly. He was a little miffed that Chase wanted him to back off, but Vinch respected Chase's opinion. He obviously knew more about Sly than Vinch. Hopefully, Vinch could meet up with Chase later and get the back story on this Sly-guy. Vinch nodded silently to Chase.
He listened to Chase and remembered his own orders. "Yeah, soon I'm going to have to go further out to look for more stragglers. Everyone seems to know someone that's missing." Vinch was just thankful that he saw his father when was around Deep Woods and found out that he and his mom were at home during the storm and were now safe.
"I'll leave in a few." Vinch watched as Chase moved toward Sly. Vinch didn't want to let him go without any back-up, but he wanted to keep an eye on Clover while she was in the process of being knocked out by the drugs. Vinch narrowed his eyes meaningfully as he spoke to Chase. "Good luck with your duty, Chase. If you need anything, you know you can find me. We should meet up later, when things've cooled down. We can just relax some together. Friend to friend, you know."
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Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 12:54 pm
Sly watched with some confusion as Clover started to hush, leaving her sentence dangle. His eyes went to her for a moment, watching her and expecting her to finish her sentence when it dawned on him that she had indeed falling asleep. No doubt the Medics had placed something in her food. That was the reason Sly would never allow himself to go near a Medic. They poked, prodded, and drugged. He wasn’t about to let himself become a dependent on another. Then again, it probably wasn’t Clover’s fault for being harmed. The storm was fierce that even he had trouble navigating and the shelter he was in had nearly fallen upon him. The second one he found wasn’t even a shelter as it was a very cold and wet perch. Clover probably just had worse luck during the storm, because an Elite would surely not do anything recklessly.
Seeing the conversation over due to unconsciousness, Sly started to ease away from Clover’s side, taking care to make sure she would not topple over incase she was leaning against him. He was still slightly worried she would topple in her sleep, but she seemed well perched and her grip was strong, so she left Clover to her own devices. The Medics would probably usher her inside if they felt need to.
As one conversation dropped, another was becoming intriguing. From Chase’s locked gaze, Sly knew that Chase knew who he was to some degree. Fjord wouldn’t have been so reckless as to not warn his associates (he would warn the entire colony if he had a perch high enough and a voice that could ring out to the far reaches of Noctua if he could). It was probably after the Longest Night that Fjord alerted Chase. The thought made Sly envious that he wasn’t there, lurking where he could not be seen. Instead, Sly could only envision Fjord fuming with anger for being made the short-fused fool, curing Sly’s name and telling Chase about him. How much he hated him. Loathed him. It made Sly smile as he took great pleasure in making Fjord’s demeanor fall apart to barbaric anger. It always made Fjord look like the villain while Sly remained the saint, which always worked to Sly’s advantage later on.
The Shadow became defensive when Chase neared Clover and himself in turn, and watched as he gave his farewells on the case of having business and Sly was reminded that he had work to do. Of course he did! Why was he dallying about when he should have been working?! Remembering his task, he was about to make the same announcement of departure when Chase asked to have a private word. Private? Probably not. Friends tended to warn others and word got around. No words where ever private. However, Sly’s curiosity was perked. He did not know Chase, so he did not know what to expect. “I quick private word would be fine, since we all have urgent business to attend to.” He said, noting that Chase did have his cargo to drop. Turning, he looked at Vinch and then at Clover. He guessed he could leave now and let the female rest. Sly made a nod to the other Sentinel to show that he would be going and proceeded to follow Chase to a private spot.
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Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 6:21 pm
Clover pinched her eyes shut, trying to block out the conversation. Now, it wasn't that she wanted them to leave. She'd like very much to have some company, but she was far too tired. Chase wanted...something. Vinch was leaving...? And Sly...He sounded vaguely upset, she thought. Of course, it might just be his feathers being ruffled...or he was hungry...or something. She stretched her neck out, eyes still closed, and began to groom his feathers back into place, nibbling and chewing, never mind that Chase had asked him to 'step outside'.
Preen the feather. Smooth it down. Find the next feather. Preen the feather. Smooth it down. Find the next feather. Her actions were repetitive, and she slowly blinked open her eyes. She watched the males interact blearily. A medic hopped by, and she caught his eye, perking and doing her best to look alert. If he saw her being tired he'd likely shoo her friends. The medic paused, then started her way. She hurriedly finished the feather she was on and shot an 'I'm fine' look back. The medic slowed, then sat back, obviously waiting for the crowd to thin.
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Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 5:42 am
Vinch’s meaningful words were unfortunately lost on Chase who only saw them as a friendly invitation to a future meeting. But even if his mind was filled with worry, he turned to the deep woods with a wide smile, grateful for the kind invitation that seemed to suddenly lift his spirit up. “That would be great! I’ll look forward to it. Clover, I’ll be going now but I’ll check back on you later, okay…? Vinch, will you stay with her until the medic comes…oh, I guess there’s no need to wait.”
He eyed the new arrival with mild curiosity before his eyes turned briefly to the mist female. He stepped away from Clover stretching his wings, readying himself for flight but as she began to preen Sly, Chase’s wings dropped and his dark feathers stood on end. For an instant, there was suddenly a murderous almost disgusted expression when his eyes met Sly’s. “I’ll be going ahead of you…” he said quietly with contained emotions. “Clover, Vinch… I’ll see you soon.” And after a quick bow, he rose in the air, flapping a couple of time before settling down on a more private perch.
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Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 7:41 am
Vinch glanced between the two other males as they were leaving until...Clover?!
Vinch was dumbstruck by her actions. He wondered if her drugged mind realized what she was doing. She couldn't possibly like this jerk THAT much, Vinch thought to himself. It's gotta be the drugs, yeah.
Still, drugged or not, Clover was preening Sly. Vinch was at a loss as to what to do. He couldn't think of a single thing to say. He shuffled around nervously and averted his eyes to his feet. Vinch thought that this was a good time to leave, but he wanted to watch over Clover, but that Sly character and...ugh. Vinch was stuck there, staring at his claws until Sly got offa Clover. Nevermind that she's on him. The blame in Vinch's mind was totally on Sly since he doesn't like Sly at all so far.
Hmm, staring at your claws is pretty interesting. Hey, is that a nick on my talon?!
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Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 7:54 pm
[Sly made ready to step away, to fly after Chase and find what this little meeting would include, as unexpected as it was. However, what was more unexpected was that just as he was about to step out, seeing Chase lift his wings to fly, there was a small tug to his side. A soft tenderness that he could feel brush between his slightly crinkled plumage. Alerted, his eyes moved to his side and watched with new awe at the fact that he watched Clover lean against him, her eyes fluttering in half awake status and her beak slinking from feather to feather in precision and automatic practice. There wasn’t a reaction to this sort of situation in all of Sly’s already preset reserves. He knew how to handle each situation, no matter how sticky, though, what where you suppose to do in times like this?! There was a moment, a glimmer, of himself dismantled, a preset demeanor quickly evaporating in the midst of something foreign, and Sly was left momentarily stunned, curious, and conflicted. Unsure. Sly was never unsure.
His talons curled and his feathers fluffed slightly, which only made them more accessible to Clover’s meticulous preening, and his eyes searched with a new sort of dependence to the others to pick out what would have been done. However, the expressions he saw where of no help. Vince looked mortified, as much or as equal to what Sly probably appeared, and as he looked at Chase’ gaze, he was instantly met with pure aggression. Though Sly did not know Clover’s status with the other, Chase’ gaze seemed to say, ‘don’t touch what isn’t yours’, as if it was HIS FAULT! Probably for the few rare times, Sly was innocent!
Finding no help, he knew that he had to reach out, gather pieces, and smooth over the situation. However, ….his mind was blank. Utterly, completely, blank. Well, aside from the receiving sensations of Clover’s beak over his feathers. One preen. Two preen. Three preen. Four. That and a fastly beating heart.
IT seemed everyone reacted more quickly than he did, as Vinch twiddled with his toes and Chase flew off. Clover decided on her own to stop and looked out at a passing Medic. Unsure, he wondered if this occasion to leave. Should he seize it now and go after Chase….was he even that important to leave…..preening…
What was he thinking?! “Clover, don’t cause the Medics any trouble. I’ll return when I can.” He said…stepping away…”get…some rest.” She had to be drowsy to do that. Stepping away, he nodded to Vinch but rushed to be out of his sight. The tension was thick and not in the way that Sly usually had tension for saying something unacceptable. Spreading his wings, he took off, noting a few recently preened feathers, and landed on the perch where Chase sat.
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Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 5:48 pm
Clover gave the departing Chase a thankful look, not for his leaving, but for visiting to start with. It was nice to have such good friends...She felt a little off when Sly left shortly after, but felt strangely relieved at the same time. Of course, she didn't know the two were off to talk to each other.
Across the way the medic seemed to clear his throat. Clover immediately turned to Vinch, shuffling close and babbling enough small talk to throw the waiting bird off. "Is something interesting on your feet, Vinch?" she bent, inspecting them. "They look fine to me. Thanks again for visiting...I feel bad for keeping you from your tasks though. Can you stay much longer?"
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Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 3:28 pm
“Asking about Fjord was a nice touch.” He said distantly as Sly joined him. Get to the point… As he sat comfortably on the branch, lifting himself up to his full height, Chase stared into the other shadow’s eyes while a wave of ruffled feathers travelled swiftly through his body.
“Sly, I’ll be blunt. At the Longest Night many things were implied. You didn’t seem too happy when Fjord suggested going back for a quick visit to your old teacher. So until proven wrong, I will consider some of those things true. Clover’s a tough girl and I’m sure she can take care of herself. But even though I only met her during this storm, I already feel like she’s my friend. So I think you can understand my concern when I see you of all individuals being close to someone like her.”
Someone who would go as far as to attack someone’s companion has no business being close to a keeper like Clover…Chase took a second to breathe and spoke quite harshly as his talons pierced the bark.
”I don’t care about the nature of your relationship with Clover but I’m warning you... If you ever do anything that will compromise her task, I will make you regret it.”
Confident as he was in his size, Chase couldn’t help but feel he was getting into a bigger mess than he could solve. As if revealing the uneasy feeling in his chest, his talons gently released the bark as if preparing to take a defensive leap. From someone who worries so much about her parus… I won’t let you have any, Sly. Not one.
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Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 7:06 pm
Vinch watched as the other males flew away. Vinch couldn't help but wonder what was going on between those two. There was something very heavy there, and he couldn't wait to get to Chase to ask him about it. They had mentioned Fjord, but Vinch didn't know him. Was he one of the bards? Vinch's memory was fuzzy. Maybe Birch would know about this. All Vinch knew was that he had to find out what was going on, for Clover's sake and for his own sanity.
Vinch was broken out of his thoughts by Clover. He looked at the medic past Clover and realized that she was just grasping for more time. He felt that she needed the medic's attention though. She wasn't quite right and not in the best mind to make decisions like avoiding treatment. She probably didn't even know how bad she was. Vinch was very concerned.
"There's no need to thank me. I wanted to see you. You're my friend and I wanted to see for myself that you were gonna be ok. I don't know how much longer I should stay though. You have to get back up to full strength so we can go see that performance together with Chase."
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Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 7:45 pm
Resting on the branch, Sly watched with clear attention, though masked this concentration with a cool air, of the best he could perform under the previous encounter with Clover’s beak. He was still a bit rattled after it all. Still, he brushed it off, shaking the attached lingering touch off like morning dewdrops and resumed to the matter at hand.
Sly was very much intrigued when someone decided to call him over and he was pretty sure he knew what Chase wanted to talk about. Something that would cause him trouble. Private talks where never for anything other than threats and business as Sly was well practiced in both. For this reason, he kept his attention peaked and his demeanor aloof. It was times like this that you really had to gauge a person. Their mannerisms, words, emotions that fluttered out from the way they held themselves. Thus far, Sly predicted Chase to be a novice to the game. All where in comparison to Sly, a master of this art and something he was personally proud of, even if most people didn’t get to notice his craft.
As Chase spoke, Sly felt perplexed. What’s this now about a relationship? Sly looked vexed by the suggestion. What did Chase assume?! Finding that he was quickly becoming sidetracked when he should be paying attention, he went back to listening and found himself rewarded for it. Sly gave a smirk as if he found this all a very cute joke because to Sly, it was endearing. Chase’s attempt at threatening him was far too humorous. A fledgling’s attempt, though one that Sly would not ignore because it was a weak attempt at the art of manipulation.
“What’s this now, Chase? Are you threatening me?” Sly said, his voice now smooth and slick, far from the gentleman’s grace that he gave in the presence of Clover and the lingering medics. Private meant he could drop his little act as well. “ If you are, then I’ll tell you now, that you are poorly unequipped to threaten the likes of me. Do you think that I care about a worn out old bird such as Granny, who is no more than one breath from retiring on her perch? And to the likes of you, you expect your size to match against me? As you’ve seen from your little friend Fjord, who was seen as civil to the public, I was able to reduced him to a raving lunatic fit to be outcasted by those around him in just one encounter and I’ve known him longer. Do you think you, knowing less than he does, is better fitted? Now let me be the one to warn you…” Sly started to move to Chase, eyes narrow and beak gleaming. He might have been smaller, but he seemed to absorb the shadows about him and enforce himself with them as he moved closer to just be just one breath away from touching the other. “ …. Do not take me lightly. If you threaten me or get in my way, I will see fit to make your life and the life of all those around you a living hell that it will make you wish to live an eternity in that storm days prior than face me again. Do you understand, Chase?” He spoke Chase’s name in a similar air he had spoken out Fjord’s, though his rival still held more emphasis on his hatred.
“I think even a gatherer like you can comprehend that.” He said, turning about and walking down the perk.
“As for Clover, I knew her before the storm and whatever you might be thinking, as I can’t even guess what rolls in that empty head of yours, I’ll say this. Clover is a person of too high of a position of respect and as you have said, very intelligent. It won’t be long till she sees you for the dull fluff of weakling feathers that you are and bores of your presence. I can only assume she feels indebted to you for the storm and is only entertaining you by being polite because of it. Don’t misinterpret her kindness as friendship. Like you said, you only have known her since the storm. I’ve known her longer.” With that, Sly adjusted his form and then took off, leaving the branch shaking in his wake.
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Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 8:02 pm
Clover drooped a little when she realized Vinch was right. She couldn't avoid the medic forever, and she'd be no use to her parus or her customers if her ears kept aching so...She had to do the smart thing, and besides, she was feeling sleepy again...With a huff she nodded to the medic, who hurried to her side, offering a grateful look to Vinch.
"I'll keep an ear for you once I'm better then, alright? I don't want you to get into trouble for staying so long with me. But thank you, and tell Chase that too when you next see him. Visit again when you have time, yes?" Her words were muffled as the medic took to inspecting her, all the while slowly herding her to one of the covered platforms to sleep, much as a minder would a wayward hatchling.
((I guess we're about ready to wrap up, huh? Or did you guys have anything you wanted to happen?))
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Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 8:16 am
“Old bird”… “raving lunatic”… “the life of all those around you a living hell”…”gatherer.”
Chase watched quietly as the hunter left him without allowing a reply. To be perfectly honest, he might have not been able to offer one. He was hardly pleased to have been right about the cunning shadow. Those nasty words… it felt absurd that someone could actually mean them. Chase’s eyes dropped to the branch as his talons scratched the bark with short methodical movements. One could say he felt confused. It took a very long time for him to break the silence with what appeared to be some sort of reply to the long gone sentinel.
“I’m not a gatherer… I just… am just… gathering right now…” Chase mumbled under his breath, eyes fixed on the scratched bark.
Sly was a scary fellow, he decided. Not just cunningly wicked but dangerous as well. False and yet enticing if one has not been warned beforehand. Still, in regards to Clover, he didn’t seem to harbor any kind of hostility towards the keeper.
Too high of a position of respect…? Possibly, it was true Chase didn’t know the mist that well… ah, didn’t she say the Elites enjoyed her choir…? That was probably what Sly meant even though it seemed odd that he valued that sort of thing… maybe he just valued her influence. Either way, he didn’t seem to be planning anything against Clover and that was a small relief for the shadow watcher. He would have to have a talk with Vinch to explain his sudden departure… perhaps at the next Crownleaf performance. There were a couple of things he’d like to ask of Fjord.
The large shadow turned and readied himself for flight when a sudden wave of irritation crept up from his core, ruffling every single one of his feathers as he let out a quick loud outburst.
“Sly! So help me Noctus, if you ever do anything to hurt her, I will destroy you. I’ll talk to your teacher, I’ll find out what RC means, I’ll find every bit of dirt on you and spread it all through the four corners of Noctua. I’ll even set Iennta on you if I have to. And I have talons too… I don’t know what your task is but if your intentions are anything below what she deserves, you might as well start considering how you’ll perform without an eye. And don’t speak for Clover like that!”
Taking a deep breath while feeling rather embarrassed, Chase’s beak opened in a silly smile before his expression closed in quiet determination. “Yes… I should’ve have said that.” he sang softly as his talons left the bark.
(this will be my last post!)
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