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 Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 10:30 pm
Fjord held his beak while Sequoia spoke. He wanted to protest and defend himself, but would do so only once Sequoia had said his piece. To interupt would only further enrage him, the aberrant knew that much. Once the sentinel seemed finished, the bard began to try and defend himself at least for a moment.
"I told it for the fledglings. Mine was a cautionary tale to try and dissuade them from going above... And I recieved the strange feeling that Char did not like it when he landed beside me, though he did not voice his oppinions... The Above is a dangerous place... I just don't want to see more fledglings venturing up there." He knew very little of Sequoia or his unfortunate past and was slightly confused by the fact that he was saying the plays were too specific.
"Char set you up, you say?" From the artisan's anger, he figured it was safe to assume that something related must of happened.
"Forgive me if I seem clueless... But your anger... Directed towards the bards... I am afraid I am a bit... Uneducated."
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Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 8:06 am
“…that might be so, but it was completely ruined by having a story that said you could. What way is it to jumble someone’s mind? There wasn’t even someone saying to not do those things at the end. He should have known how impressionable children are. Not even that, young Sentinels. Adults who might feel that if a fledgling can go to the above, why not a experienced adult. It’s not safe up there! Sentinels have died! Is that something to make a tale about? Aren’t bard’s suppose to entertain and educate, not make us all prey!” Sequoia huffed, finding that the anger directed at all bards was quickly being deflected away from Fjord and more to Char. “You should have told him. Someone should have hit him right over the head, nipped his feathers, pulled his tail for saying such a thing. I have half a mind to do it myself for what he said to me. Come to the Theater he said. I’ll make you my apprentice he said. Well I don’t need to be taught by someone who needs a few lessons himself. And he’s suppose to be the best and all the other bards where praising him. Yes, for being good at words, it’s how he tricked me, but not for the content. He’ll cut the clan in half with his stories.” He huffed, feather’s afluff as he found himself moving on his perch, too riled up to stay still.
As he moved, he noticed Fjord still held that confused air. He had said he didn’t know, but how could he be sure? He thought Char was nice, oh so very nice to him, but he turned around and did that play in front of him, knowing he would be in the audience. How could someone be that vindictive? “….Char…he didn’t speak a word to you about the play he was going to do?” He asked, his voice greatly smaller than before. The worming taste of guilt was working into him. What if Fjord was not in on the scheme.
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Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 6:09 pm
"Nope... I actually found it quite bothersome, though I'll admit I was in the wrong for not trying to stop him..." His eartufts drooped against his skull and the edges of his beak tugged into a frown.
His usually fluffed feathers were slick against his frame and his orange eyes were gazing at his talons, which were picking at the bark of the limb unconiously. "I was not a particularly adventurous fledgling, but others I grew with were, and I rember well them speaking of doing such things. Fortunately, they did not. It wouldn't take much to encourage today's youth."
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Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 8:15 pm
“That’s just it! What stops them from flying up? They can leave their mother’s side, they can fly from their minders, and if they don’t know how to fly, that idea grows until they learn to and then it’s just one straight shot up. Then what? They all …..th…just disappear…” Sequoia went somber, chocked up by the idea, both for future deaths and the open wound from the past. Turning, he brought his back to Fjord, breathing as he tried to regain himself.
“A.Aa-as B-bu-bards, you all sh-should talk to one another. Ch-che-check stories to see iff they arrree sa-say---safe.” The words where pressed to be formed. Basil hop up to the entrance of the hollow, looking out at Sequoia and ready to assist if he failed to speak again. He gave a little tweet to know he was there to help.
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Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 8:33 pm
"You're... You're right." The already small male seemed to be smaller as he shrank from the stuttering artisan. His orange eyes flicked nervously from the back of the painted sentinel to the parus, then to the entrance of the fortress.
There was a flash of golden eyes glaring sharply.
"I'm sorry..." He murmured meekly.
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Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 9:25 pm
Basil had moved to be at Sequoia's chest and there was some whispering between the two. After a moment, Sequoia turned about. "It's n-not your fault. I should ne..not be putting this all on you. You told th-the truth. I'm sorry."
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Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 10:28 pm
The meek bard tilted his head and lifted his ear tufts slowly. He felt unsure of himself and in his bag of cheery topics and comebacks he found nothing.
"I... Ehm... Well, I didn't want to come and upset you further... I, eh... I caught this for you." He relinquished the still warm skurri from his talons, as he could think of nothing else to do for the artisan.
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Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 5:46 pm
Sequoia turned about to see what was caught and suddenly perked at teh sight of the skurri. "OH MY! Look at that. He's a big one." Sequoia's whole expression perked at the sight of the prey and he turned about, eartuffs up and walked over to look at the limp form. Smiling, he exaimed the caught animal and looked back up at Fjord. "You caught this ... because I made you feel guilty. I'm such a horrible person. I just exploded all on you, but look. You where the only one to show remorse. Even enough to catch something for me." He looked at the animal again, looking down. It was recently caught. It looked postively fresh. Sequoia just couldn't be too anger when someone went so far as to catch him something, even if it was his fault for making that person feel bad. Part of him felt justifed for saying what he did and another part felt guilty or unloading everything on Fjord. On all the bards. He should have just shouted at Char for what he did.
That was it. He had to do a fomal appology himself. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have took myself out on all the bards. I should have said what needed to be fixed. I should have walked right up to Char and told him what he did was bad. I shouldn't accept this. I wasn't your fault. I should be appologizing. Hmm. I can't catch things this big though. Do you like berries?"
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Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 9:20 pm
Sequoia's sudden and slightly cheerful outburst had initially caught Fjord off guard. His eartufts lifted under the weight of his rings and he tilted his head slightly to the side as Sequoia inspected the deceased skurri.
"Many things are said in the climax of anger that are not always meant... I shan't allow you to take all of the blame, for we were at fault for stirring up those feelings in you... Perhaps, if you ever feel up to it, we could approach Char about the matter at talon..."
He was silent for a moment, but Sequoia's question seemed to peak his interest. "I do love berries. Delicious little things... Perhaps we could have a little lunch of berries and skurri?"
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Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 7:01 pm
Sequoia only nodded in agreement as best he could, silent for a moment as he looked at the treat given to him. The words made him somber but he realized that if he let his mind be troubled for a moment longer, he would be stuck in it for several more days. Perking up again, he nodded again, whether he was agreeing more or simply shaking darker thoughts of, it was unclear.
“Yes. I think it’s best if I talk to Char. He should know what he did was wrong, and I should talk to him about what he did. I know it was wrong of me to shout at you in the heat of the moment, but I think I’ll be more level headed when I see Char, though I think I’ll have to think of what to say beforehand. Just in case. Though, I …do think I’ll need someone along and seeing as I don’t know too many people from the theater, …it’s probably good if you go with me? Only if you want! It’s just…with all that I said…I don’t know if anyone will listen to me now. I know a lot of people like Char and having just arrived and said those things, they might not listen to me. That and…well, I don’t think I’d be up to going onto the theater and having everyone against me. It was hard enough when no one knew me.” He didn’t like how massively large the theater was and now many bards where there. It was constantly busy as well. Sequoia gave a little hopeful gave to Fjord to help his cause before turning back to the matter of lunch.
“Yes. Let’s have lunch. A forgiveness affair. Oh, and you must met everyone. This isn’t my territory and we can’t leave out the lady of the tree. I’ll ask if it’s alright.” Turning, Sequoia briskly walked past, pausing to turn Basil about and nudge him over to Fjord. “This is Basil. He’s my companion. Basil, say hello while I find Rosin.” He said, turning and walking to the hollow of the tree. The Parus looked irked by being ordered to introduce himself but hopped over, looking Fjord up and down before taking his time to say a simple, “ ello.”
Sequoia entered the enclave to find Rosinweed. “Rosinweed. We have a guest. I was wondering if it’s alright if he stays. We can have lunch together. I’ll he here, so nothing bad will happen. He warned children of the Sky Fiend, so he’s smart and he brought us a gift. A big, fat, skurri. Wasn’t that thoughtful?”
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Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 9:51 pm
Fjord dipped his head after Sequoia spoke his piece.
"While the visit might not be all that fabulous or pleasant, I will most certainly attend the theater with you, so you can speak your bit with Char... It's difficult to be green, that is for sure... But you have grace and you have talent. I am sure you will be able to get your point across... Crow, here, often helps me to rehearse and memorize my acts and stories. If you wish, she would be willing to assist you in preparing for your meeting with him."
The little mus that had been hiding behind her master poked her dark head out and nodded. She matched the same markings that the pica held and they both matched the center feather on Fjord's necklace.
"I certainly would like to meet her, the Lady of the Tree. She has made an interesting piece of work with this formidable structure. I do hope she accepts." He added as Sequoia brought up lunch again. As the artisan moved towards the hovel entrance, Fjord turned his attention to the parus. "Hello, there, Basil. Pleased to meet you. This mus, her name is Crow. That chatterbeak is Feather." The pica did something of a bow that Fjord had taught him, though he quickly did an odd little hop as he inspected the parus.
Rosinweed retreated into the depths of her tree as Sequoia approached. "Thoughtful... Yes, quite. Quite thoughtful... Warned? Warned them? Listening, are they?" Her worried golden eyes searched her dearest friend. Skurri sounded delectable, but the thought of a stranger was unsettling. But he knew and warned of It... So he had to be good, right?
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Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 7:21 pm
“Yes. Do not worry. He shows regret and even travels a long way here to apologize. It’s a sign of honesty and not one of overbearing pride. That’s always a good trait in a Sentinel. Not one that would easily harm someone.” He said, commenting the Sentinel who was out of earshot. Stepping in, he went over and gently preened Rosinweed’s ear, hoping it would melt some apprehension. “Do not worry. I’m here and this is your territory. If anything bugs you, you can ask our guest to leave. It’s always an option and nothing is an obligation. No one is forcing you to do anything. I’ll be here to make sure no harm comes your way. Not from anyone.” Sequoia muttled these words through a mouth of beak before stepping away, waiting to escort her to follow. “Come now. It’s a very beautiful day out. We can have fresh skurri with berries. Doesn’t that sound lovely?”
Basil hopped back as the other parus hopped his way and looked the bird over, more judgmental of another of his kind. “No train mus. I train. Sequoia mine. I teach.” Basil said, keeping his eye on Feather as he talked about Crow. Basil took his job seriously and always had. As a fledgling, Sequoia had found the Parus’ sternness annoying and something he didn’t want out of a companion. He felt jealous that all the other fledglings had companions for fun and friendship and felt cheated to have a Parus that only helped with his speech. However, they had both grown fond of each other and Basil grew protective if not more serious as a speech teacher. He would not let Crow take his place. Even for a second.
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Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 7:47 am
"Ah, I see." Fjord dipped his head at the little parus and grinned. "Well, you teach, then."
The soft voiced female mus looked somewhat dejected as she slipped off the feathers of her master and crawled up onto his talons. "You teach. Good, good, then. I help. Rem-think. Memory. Many song. Many story."
The pica, on the other hand, did not seem to care about the judgmental parus. He was more interested in the berries that Sequoia spoke of. "Berries? Like berries many much. Said we could get berries. I can berries? I can have berries?" He chattered on with excitement.
The preening did bring some confidence to Rosinweed, who had been crouched low. She lifted herself to her full hight, large due to her type, and peered about Sequoia to the stranger. "Lovely, lovely. Berries and skurri.... Alright. I go. He stay. For now."
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Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 6:39 pm
Sequoia was pleased. He knew that Rosinweed was usually stressed when a stranger came and that having someone suddenly come by was unexpected and probably a sudden shock for her, but he also saw it as another opportunity to ease Rosinweed to become more comfortable around people. On her own, Rosin would find little friends inside her home and most Sentinels either avoided this territory or because it wasn’t on the main flight paths. It was quite and peaceful, which Sequoia believed was one of the reasons Rosin picked it. Because of this, it was up to Sequoia to bring people to her, but only ones he trusted. Luckily, Sequoia was a very open and overly friendly person prone to preening strangers without a second thought so he was the perfect negotiator to make Rosinweed comfortable and also make sure no other Sentinels harmed her. He would not allow it of himself. If he found that Rosinweed was mistreated when he wasn’t around, he didn’t know how he would handle it or if he could. Not after not being there for Lilly.
Smiling, he let Rosinweed follow at her own leisure as he walked out, waiting for her to follow. He noticed Basil holding out a very puffed chest, probably not all too keen at the antics of Feather and Crow. “Basil, be nice to our guests. Manners.” He said, to which Basil even looked more agitated. “I manners!” He shot, hopping around to look at Sequoia who only raised his wings up in defense and that he meant no harm in what he said. It was odd to see a companion hold more authority than it’s owner, but none of them seemed to notice this quirk.
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Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 7:28 pm
"You manners! I memories!" Crow replied, repeating her usefulness. "Memories! Songs! Stories! I help. Good help."
"Yes, yes, you are useful, Crow, m'dear..." Fjord praised the anxious mus.
Rosinweed slowly moved out from behind Sequoia, but regarded Fjord with nervous golden orbs. "Mm, mm. Hello. Hello. Wel-... Welcome, Seq friend. Wel-hello." She dipped her head in a slight bow. Though she was echoing movements from when she was younger, but her moves were ridgid and unsure.
"Hello, ma'am. Thank you for allowing me to be here with you and your lovely friend..." Fjord bowed back politely.
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