|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 6:12 pm
"Syz, is this true?" Rune questioned sternly, glaring down at the small Pica. Syz was simply beside himself with anxiety, and Rune knew exactly what was flashing through his mind. Of course he knew where it was. Bending lower to face him she spoke seriously, "Syz, I know you think I'll be angry if you say you stole the crystal, but I promise to forgive you if you let us know where you put it."
Letting out a saddened caw, Syz's defense faltered. "I- It was a surprise! For you!" He was unsure of what to do next, not used to being caught so red-handed. "But it fell!" He quailed at Rune's seething emerald eyes, "I'll find it, promise!" His gaze was carefully considering Lute and Rune, not sure of who to fear most now. "It's in that bush!" He offered, poking his beak in the right direction.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 6:31 pm
Lute took a deep breath. "See? Telling the truth doesn't always hurt. But you have to pay for gems of mine." he said, giving himself a quick preen. "Even if your intentions are good, the circumstances turned out to be not so good." he said in a fatherly way. He no longer seemed angery. "Let's go find it, then, please."
Although he spoke smoothly, Lute feared the worst. The gem was thin and glasslike. Being dropped at high speed could cause a scratch...or even worse, it would have shattered!
He dove for the bushes. "Don't worry...the floor isn't so bad. Its sparse around here..and there are only berry bushes. Shouldn't be..." he paused, his beak gaping. He saw a glint of light...two! He hopped off the bush and saw a spider-webbed crystal half and a series of crystal flakes sprinkled all over the ground. He sighed. "No need to look for it..." he said.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 7:23 pm
When Syz dove down to examine the shattered crystal, he was as heart-broken as Lute. Anything that sparkled held a special place in his heart, and this loss hurt. "I-" She stammered, "I didn't mean to!" He worried the shattered pieces, nudging them into a neat pile with his beak as if willing them to regain their form.
"Syz, come here please." Rune spoke softly. She couldn't be too hard on him, it would break his heart. Still, a lesson needed to be learned. He fluttered up to her with a defeated look, "I think you owe Lute and apology."
Syz turned reluctantly, head hanging low and eyes downcast, "I'm sorry." Nothing went right for him today. He had even tried to tell Rune the truth, but that hadn't helped either. He was sure he'd be in trouble now.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 7:56 pm
It seemed Lute's spirit had crumbled like the crystal. He shivered all over and gave himself a quick preen. "Its alright.." he said. "You can have the fragment, its useless to me now." he said. "But you have to work it off now for me. You will be going on gathering missions with Senri..and the face value of the gem is worth about five mice and two voles." he said. "Please...do not let this happen again. Besides helping me find a new one, if I catch you, Pica, in my territory again, I'll kill you."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 8:41 pm
Rune thought this punishment was fair, however she couldn't afford to be without her companion for that amount of time. "Might I offer an alternative solution, Lute? You would understand that I cannot spare my companion for that length of time. Besides, I think you would find Syz to be a rather poor gatherer." She weighed her options, the price was high for the crystal, trust Syz to grab the biggest and most expensive item he could get his beak around. Yet she knew she had an impressive collection of her own, with many gems of even greater value.
Though she didn't want to part with any of her collection, she found this to be the best way, "I own a rather large collection of crystals myself, perhaps you would be willing to trade?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 8:49 pm
Lute looked up at her. He wondered, for a sliver of a second, if the Pica had stolen all those crystals...but no. The other sentinel would not keep them if they'd been stolen. He nodded. "Yes..that solution is satisfactory." he said, then let out the same screech as before. Senri was there in a second.
"Yessah." he said quickly.
"The gem is lost, but we are going to replace it. I want you to guard the territory while I'm gone."
"Yessah." The parus bowed and then, with a flick of his rudder tail, flew off again.
Lute flapped his wings, lifting off. "Well now, Miss Rune, where are these treasures?" He circled, waiting for her.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 9:41 pm
Pleased that her alternative was fitting, Rune stretched her wings once more. They were still in the Deepwoods, and therefor not far from her own territory. "I keep my collection in my own territory, as do you. It will be a journey, but I'm sure you will find the trip worth your while." She was prepared to give up any crystal in her collection, the only ones truly holding special value decorating her feathers.
Manners were important to Rune, and she would have offered to have the crystal delivered, but doubted Lute would trust her companion to that task. The decision had been made for her, he could have his choice of the crystals, even those more valuable than the one that had been lost today. This was only common courtesy to her, to make Lute travel out of his way, it was the least she could do. "When we arrive you may have your choice of my crystals, I'm only sorry that you have to take your time to retrieve it."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 10:25 pm
Lute nodded. "Most gracious, madam." he said. He might have felt guilt taking such valuable crystal..then he remembered the chase, the lies, the confrontation, the shattered gem and now the long journey. All his guilt shriveled and melted away.
"You're rather large for a sentinel...i'd never guess you were a mystic. Maybe a brawny warrior, but not a mystic." he said in bored flying conversation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 12:19 pm
Runewig had done her best to remain civil despite Lute's lapses in etiquette, but if there was one thing she disliked most of all was to be called... "large." Or anything that implied fat. "Perhaps you shouldn't be so ignorant as to assume Sentinels by their size. Though I suppose I can see your point, when I look at you, I know you wouldn't stand a chance as any combatant task." The words came off icily, Rune barely keeping herself from clicking her beak in disapproval.
Well, that was aside now, Rune could already see they were nearing her territory and quickened her pace. Her territory consisted mainly of dense forest, a trait of the Deepwoods. However, half of the tree she had chosen was struck down by lightning, its skeletal branches providing nothing aside from a place to hang her baubles and chimes. They would echo eerily throughout her territory, and as she neared, she could already hear their soft melody.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 1:39 pm
Lute's ear tufts flattened. Had he hit a nerve...? She had gotten tense and the feeling hung in the air like a bad smell. He followed a little behind her now, letting her enter the territory first. He heard the odd chimes and gulped when he saw the eery dwelling. "A lovley home.."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 2:19 pm
Not many visited Rune and her roost, The Eclectic, the eerie feeling Lute was experiencing not uncommon for those passing through. "It provides me with peace in which to... practice." She arched through the trees, folding her wings to avoid scraping branches before landing. They were approaching from the densely shaded side, and even the light of the moon, now high in the sky did not penetrate the branches.
"This way," Rune called, hopping from perch to perch until they were at her hollow. "I do not keep my charms hidden as you do, Lute. My collection decorates the Eclectic," She spread her wing to indicate the entire oak, the chimes singing in the breeze, "you may choose whichever you like."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 4:35 pm
He perched and looked all over the oak with his eyes. He saw nothing he liked...some too long, others too wide..some were chipped, others too small. One looked too big to be a gem...but then he saw a perfect stone hanging almost directly before him. He grabbed it in his beak and gave it a small yank to show he wanted it. "This one."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 9:50 pm
"Ah, a good choice." Rune focused her Will lightly on the string that held the gem, the tie loosening effortlessly. She lowered it to drift in front of them, now allowing Lute to take the crystal in his beak. It had been hanging on its own tie, so there was no need to separate it like some of her chimes, making the task all the more simple.
She bobbed her head in confirmation, sending a severe look towards her unusually silent companion. Syz hadn't said a word throughout the entire journey, flying behind the two Sentinels dejectedly. "I hope it suits you, and again, I apologize on behalf of Syz. It won't happen again."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 10:42 pm
"I can only hope so, Miss Runewing." he said, placing the gem into his talons. "Because I stick to my earlier warning. If I ever catch him in my territory again, unless he is accompanied by yourself or a token of consent...like, say, one of your feathers, then I will not hesitate to tear him wing from limb....capisce?" he asked, giving his wing a quick preen and glaring down at the Pica dangerously.
He then brightened. "I do, however, hope to see you again, miss Runewing! Maybe you can come by for a nice spot of berry juice and crushed walnuts?" he asked.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 12:47 am
"Yes, perhaps when I am in the area again," Runewing agreed, weighing the seriousness of Lute's threat. She would need to give Syz a serious talking to, this sort of thing needed to cease. She knew his intentions were good, he just had to realize that certain things were off-limits. No matter how shiny.
The small Pica had disappeared since Lute had finished talking, and Rune had a good idea as to his whereabouts. "If you don't mind, Lute, I hope you'll understand that I have some business of mine to attend to. Until we meet again, then?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
