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 Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 11:48 am
"I remember, I remember..." Ossie sighed as Breeze prepared to go into the rather uncomfortable lesson that she had taught both the Mist and the Deep Woods what felt like forever ago. Yes, Ossie remembered. That was why the topic (and the possibilities of the future) felt so distressing to the young Scout. She was not accustom to being a worry wort. In fact, she rarely ever doubted herself and her decisions, until now.
There were words that Ossie left unspoken. Breeze might of noticed this during the lecture, because the Scout was not at all that hard to read when something was bothering her, and because after spending so much time with certain sentinels, a teacher is bound to pick up on little ticks and movements here and there that give away thoughts.
Weren't Ghosts considered aberrants for a while?
Aren't they a mix of Shadow and Mist?
They can be strong, too! You're strong!
These thoughts threatened to leak out of her sharp beak, but she kept it firmly closed lest she regret something she would say. She didn't come here to upset her former teacher and she was certain if she voiced them, Breeze would be an unhappy sentinel, indeed.
So instead, she broke into another grin. "Of course, of course! I didn't mean to turn a visit sour, not at all! It's a touchy subject and it was rude of me to bring it up." She dipped her head to her chest and preened thoughtfully for a moment. Did she have any frivolous gossip? She had spent so much time working she couldn't really remember anything recent.
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Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 4:40 pm
“No, no, dear! Not rude… it’s a topic that is not often rationally discussed and maybe it should. I suppose it will… with all the mixed type couples that seem to…” Oh, there was that little gossip about the fling breeding that produced more than half a dozen aberrants but there’d been some trouble finding minders for them… that part was not very funny. Perhaps that wasn’t the most appropriate thing to say at the moment.
She did noticed some form of hesitation on Osprey’s part as if she was holding something back and she did recognize it as something atypical to the young confident mist. It bothered her a little that her student might not feel comfortable enough in her presence to discuss whatever was on her mind. The teacher wondered if the young mist’s response could be caused by some protective reaction towards her new questionable acquaintances or even if one of her favorite former students was actually interested in a male… of a different type. She froze, red gaze piercing Osprey’s as a light tremor moved through her body from talons to tufts.
“We’re moving towards a more acceptant society. Even Liana already benefits from it. And seriously, what harm can come from mixing the blood of a deep woods and a wildtype, the two oldest types…? Or say if you were to mate with a ghost from a family closer to mists, carrying the typical thick plumage… honestly, what would be the harm in that? To me (and most will disagree for various reasons) as long as one is thinking of the good of the Clan and their own children they should just be left alone. Still, with all those eggs... oh well. Did you… want to tell me something?” her last words were a tentative question formed as the teacher looked away in an attempt to ease up the pressure from her former student. Truth be told, deep down inside she really wasn’t as acceptant as she was trying to be… but at least she was trying.
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 7:49 pm
Breeze's red gaze seemed to boar into her, causing the usually so sure Mist to feel a little more discomfort... But she kept that same and rather mischivous grin. Breeze's words sounded rather comforting, but she wasn't about to confess her every desire, especially if what she was saying wasn't all that truthful.
"Nah... I guess Im just trying to make sense of it all. I feel sort of bad for Fi, 'cos she really likes him. It's a sad thing; to fall for someone and not be able to be together just 'cos of type. Not that it was really somethin' I ever thought about much, not til I met them...
Would it still be so bad if they were responsible and took the time and effort to raise their chicks themselves? So it wasn't a burden to the clan? Couldn't a wildtype benefit froma little Mist plummage now and then?" It was more halfhearted musing in an attempt to "hopefully" see if there would be some possible reasoning in the future...
Either way, she was too headstrong to just "go with the flow" if her heart was telling her otherwise. Service to the clan was top priority, of course... But she couldn't disregard her own feelings completely.
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 5:43 am
“Yes, poor girl… it is unfortunate…” especially with that male. But she wouldn’t say that last bit out loud.
The teacher laughed wholeheartedly when her former pupil started to - what was the most appropriate way to describe it…? - negotiate what could be considered an acceptable mixed type mating and her tone was suddenly much lighter.
“A Wildtype and a Mist… let’s see. I suppose it’s only the aesthetic perspective on that one… some of their children might end up looking like they have the white sickness… but I suppose they can get some feathers dyed if the bullying gets too unbearable. I’ve seen worse matches.”
While they were still on the same topic, the mood seemed to have completely changed for the teacher. Ally was quite content, hiding under Osprey’s feathers with only her bushy tail out for everyone to see, seemed no notice some sort of agitation or missing heart beat but Breeze didn’t seem to be worried so she wasn’t either… besides, she was too busy ignoring the mus.
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 9:24 am
Ossie's eartufts lifted slightly as Breeze laughed. She found it amusing, apparently, and this seemed to cheer the Mist up considerably.
"There certainly could be worse matches... I guess a Shadow and a Mist could be rather unfortunate at first... But it wouldn't be too hard to migrate to another section of the forest." She was talking more to herself, now, but she also seemed more like her usual self. Breeze seemed much more comfortable, which caushed Ossie to relax a great deal.
"Oh, you know. I think I heard some chatter about a theif at the drop off platform. Happened a little while back. Don't know who the culprit was, though."
Mus peered at the skurri curiously and approached with caution. She sniffed at Ally's puffy tail and was little confused about the bushy tailed rodent that took her usual spot.
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 5:19 pm
“A Shadow and a Mist is the most ridiculous one possible. And I should know, I’m a Ghost…” Breeze was still smiling and looking rather content. “Truth be told, some Ghosts shouldn’t even mate with other Ghosts… just the other day I saw the silliest couple: she was as fluffy as a mist as almost just as light. He was as sleek as - if not more than - a Shadow. Obviously, they were having some fights as to where they would raise their chicks… I believe they settled for the Deep Woods but they’re having a little bit of trouble finding a territory. I wonder how their children will turn up.”
Ally sensed something behind her and flicked the fluffy tail with an abrupt movement as if she was trying to get rid of a stubborn fly.
“Oh, I heard something about that as well. Apparently the Elites were involved. Meat is a little scarce, we all know that… but to steal from the Clan…! It’s just unacceptable. By the way, what do think? Any signs of recovery from the prey population? Oh, and do you remember Odd Winter? The Medic with the white sickness that I taught? You must’ve seen him once or twice. He turned Keeper. Apparently he was lacking costumers but I suppose it was to be expected.”
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 6:45 pm
"Poor things... Well, hopefully they will turn out well enough, right?" Ossie tried to be upbeat as she thought of the Ghost couple. Finding mates, raising young... It all sounded so complicated, and it really, really was! She was just graduated so she really wasn't expected to settle down just yet, thankfully. Maybe the next spring after...
The mus backed away and tilted her head funny, before trying to wiggle in beside the skurri.
"Hmm, it's hard to believe one of our own would be so counterproductive." She huffed. "It wouldn't surprise me if it was that Specter, if he were old enough yet. I haven't heard if they caught the culprit or not... It's hard to think of that, though. The young need ever scrap of meat we can provide." She listened a little while longer and her eartufts lifted slightly as breeze spoke of the genetic aberrant.
"Oh? He's the one who came to visit while Holly and I were practicing, right? Yeah, I think I remember him? Huh. Hard to be a medic if you're sick yourself, I guess." She knew very well to watch her beak, as Breeze had been rather protective of her former student the time he came to visit.
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Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 11:15 am
A little hesitant at first (or perhaps just a little possessive), Ally slowly made room for the mus making quiet sounds of contentment.
“It’s a shame the disease didn’t affect just his feathers. With a mind like that and his skills, he could’ve done just about anything. He’s the only case I know where the sickness took over his entire body.” She didn’t mention which part of the aberrant was affected even if was rather obvious to anyone who’d spoken to Odd personally. “Anyway, he seems happy enough.”
The topic change made the teacher rise into a much more attentive posture and her eartufts perked up. Even the red eyes seemed carry a new inquisitive glow.
“The specter? Now that’s a word I haven’t heard in a while. Storm… no, Tempest. Yes, I believe that’s his name. He’s been oddly quiet… hardly any rumors on that one. He should be an adult by now but I doubt he’s been stealing if that minder of his is still guarding his every move.” She sounded rather sarcastic and the wicked curiosity of someone who expected the strange creature to have failed at just about anything was hardly contained in her voice. “Did he graduate..? Was he taught by a teacher…? Oh, you really got me thinking about that one now. I have to ask around.”
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Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2008 8:41 pm
Ossie felt her curiosity peak as Breeze spoke. His illness affected more than his feathers? She could only recall a very, very white sentinel in the distance, as she had remained behind and Holly had been the one speaking to both Breeze and Odd at the time. Her eartufts lifted slightly and her golden gaze was set firmly on the Ghost that she so admired, but she did not ask about the strange white aberrant.
She felt a great deal more relaxed now that the conversation was shifting more from the matters pressing the young Scout and to general forest gossip and news.
"I haven't 'eard anything about him, really. Never even saw him while I was at the Enclave and I can't help but to wonder... I'll keep an eye and an ear out and I'll let you know if I hear anything... If you get any news, I'll definitely have to get it from you." She mused as she absentmindedly preened a few chest feathers.
"I can't imagine a teacher would willingly take him, the fiend."
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Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 1:14 pm
Fiend…
Breeze seemed to linger on the word a bit longer than usual. It sounded harsher when said out loud even if her thoughts were very similar to Osprey’s on this particular matter. It seemed ruthless to speak of a child like that… not that the outsider was one anymore. Or was it…he? Who knew if the things developed slower than sentinels? Which was exactly the point… they knew nothing. Nothing about the creature, where he’d come from or who had laid the egg and ditched it into their talons. Would they ever come back for him? Had they assumed the egg to be lost to a predator? And who were they? Few in numbers and fighting for survival or an army waiting in the darkness?
“I wonder… where he came from.” Breeze wasn’t eyeing Osprey as a student now, as one of her children. She saw her as an adult, a proud combatant and her equal… otherwise she’d never push this conversation any further. The teacher felt those feelings slowly changing as she spoke and for some reason, there was an immense pride swelling inside her as she eyed the young adult. “Who laid the egg? Will anyone come looking for him? Was the egg lost, abandoned or … sent? There is so much we don't know.”
As for who’d teach the outsider… well, she knew exactly who wouldn’t.
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Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 11:42 am
"So much..." The young combatant echoed and shook her head quietly. "But in the stories we almost wiped them out! They couldn't be in great numbers yet... Right? Regardless, I'll be ready to defend the clan when the time comes." She couldn't help but to scratch a talon at the bark beneath her paws as she dwelled on what might possibly be lurking at the borders of the sentinel territory.
Where there more?
Would they risk trying to fight the sentinels again?
The Mist remembered all the stories she had heard when she was a bit younger and the thought of another war was something that made her shudder. She'd of been crazy to look forward to fighting, but she knew she would be there if needed.
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Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 5:37 pm
“And that’s exactly the right way to think.” Breeze said approvingly. “Tempest is a minor problem if one at all if he’s alone. And even if there’s more of them out there somewhere lurking in the shadows, if we’re prepared for everything… well, not a thing in this world shall ever threaten the Clan.”
She paused for a second, with an unusually gentle smile pulling the corners of her beak.
“Still… don’t be too eager to fight or to prove yourself.” The red-eyed Ghost said softly, slipping back into the teacher’s role once again. “There’s nothing more precious than this…. this night… a peaceful night … being able to take a small break from your work to visit an old teacher or friend… knowing that everyone you know is safe and that everything will be exactly the same tomorrow. This peace and comfort is something we should treasure. That’s one of the most important things the old stories can teach us.”
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Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 7:13 pm
Osprey listened quietly and contently as a chilly winter breeze brushed past her, ruffling her lightly hued feathers. Breeze was right, and wasn't she always? Ossie couldn't even recall an instance where her beloved teacher had been wrong. And of course she would be right in this instance; nothing in this world would even dream of threatening the Clan.
She roused her feathers comfortably and returned Breeze's smile with one of her own. "There's nothing I treasure more, nothing at all."
And that was the truth. In another night or so, she would be with her best friend and the two would watch the leaves change. In a time of war, that thing would not be possible, especially according to the stories.
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Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 4:03 pm
Breeze’s smile lingered during the comfortable silence until the large dark fledgling she was watching seemed to complete a particularly difficult exercise. Even if he didn’t look like an easy character to read, it would be impossible to miss his pleased expression as he stood on the branch, eying the teacher expectantly.
“Good, Crow. That felt just right didn’t it? Don’t forget that feeling. Rest for a little while and then we’ll see if you can do it again.” Breeze raised her voice to the small Shadow before her eyes returned to Osprey. “Not bad, huh? He would’ve given you a good run for your feathers had you been students at the same time.”
It wasn’t exactly truthful. There was hardly any student she regarded with more pride than Osprey. Well, Osprey and Holly. The two came as a pair and their friendship had been a major influence on their development both physical and character-wise. She missed those days but Breeze was also happy that Osprey was not only doing well, but also finding enough time to return to the teaching grounds and pay her a visit. She wondered if she’d come back with Holly one day. That would be just perfect.
Actually, nothing those two did could ever be less than perfect in her opinion and it was a shame Crow’s success had marked the beginning of the end of this little visit.
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Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 7:21 am
Ossie eyed the little Shadow with a mock expression of insult and hurt, but gave him a nod.
"Really, now? Bah, I doubt that! The little mite is rather good, though, especially for his age." She praised with good humor and her thoughts drifted to the nights that both she and Holly had toiled under the stern red gaze of the formidable Ghost. There was hardly any other that she looked up to as much as she did her former teacher and Ossie felt as though Breeze was her mother, just as much as she did Twistumbler as her father. The entire Clan was her family and she would, and maybe always be, loyal to a fault.
"Maybe next time we've got some time off, I can drag Holly up here, too. I know he would love to see you again, as well!" She spoke with a broad grin plastered to her beak and gave her former instructor a brisk nod. Maybe by then... Well, who knew what the future had in store, huh?
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