|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 1:32 pm
Journal Entry 16 - Personal Discussions About HomeKe'rehl's POVEntered - 30 July 09Well, it has been long time since I be writing in here, but this is an important thing to discuss.
Me and Jiao'lan have decided our parents need know they are to be... grandparents (I have bought a... d-i-c-t-i-o-n-a-r-y. It tells me how to spell things!) It was hard decision. We know they are to be unhappy with us, but we feel they should at least know we are safe.
Jiao'lan is upset to have run, but knows it for best. I feel same, though my... mother... she is dead. She was killed by snow-bear, so I only have my father to see. She has a whole large family in the south. I hope I can find them.
We have decided I leave now, before baby is ready to be born. Hopefully I will be back in time for birth, but we are not sure I will make it. The flight alone takes about a half-month, and then finding the tribes will be longer, even more if I am withheld and imprisioned - especially by my own tribe. They will be not happy. Not happy at all. I am thinking I will take my spear with me, and fight my way out if caught. I tell my father and leave. Jiao'lan's parents... I know not what it will be like in their tribe. I have never been.
Jiao'lan is hopeful. If I mention her, they may not kill me. She is hopeful they will accept, and want to see baby. I... I not so sure of it. We both know the rules, and we broke them all.
Souls and Sky, look after our baby, and let me be back soon to see it!
Expectant Father,
Ke'rehl Shan'ro
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 8:26 am
Journal Entry 17- Personal Discussions About HomeJiao'lan's POVEntered - 14 Oct 09I must be admitting to you that I am afraid. I am always telling Ke’rehl that I am hopeful about his journey, but I am not so sure.
I am praying to the gods and goddesses every day that he will return to us.
If he is to meet my father I am unsure how things will go. Shan’ro males are always making him see red. But he is smaller than Ke’rehl and I am sure he will be able to get away from him without any blood shed. Or at least this is what I am hoping is to be!
I can not make myself write about this anymore!
Signed,
Jiao'lan Ban'ku -Expectant Mother
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 8:48 am
Journal Entry 18- Week Forty of PregnancyJiao'lan's POVEntered - 14 Oct 09I am done. I am wanting to wash my hands of this. I love my haju’ri but I am so beyond big that it is bordering on being obnoxiously silly. I am tired. So, so, so, so tired.
I am so miserable that I can not even draw!
See?!
It is horrible!
Do not get me wrong, I love you, my little haju’ri, with all of my heart. You are just getting so, so, big and heavy. I am also afraid for when you are to be born.
Signed,
Jiao'lan Ban'ku -Expectant Mother
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 5:03 am
Journal Entry 19 - Solo RP Of Ke'rehl's Trip Home...Ke'rehl's POVEntered - 11 May 10The day had been set, and Ke'rehl was ready. His spear was sharp, his belly full. He would not be able to stop on this long journey, so he needed to be as full of food as was possible without slowing him down. The sun had barely graced the tips of the trees in the distance, and as he looked out over the houses and trees of their little village through the bedroom window, he felt a sadness. This was a VERY dangerous thing for him to be doing so close to the birth of their baby, but he needed to get it done, for both their sakes, so they could cut off from that island entirely, and be free... Free to enjoy their lives together.
Ke'rehl hoped, almost selfishly, that both tribes denounced them as not-live. At least then, if he were to appear, they would not see him as Ke'rehl, but as some strange male they had never seen before, or some unusual Shan'ro, intruding on the territory known to be forbidden to the Northern Tribe. He hoped... He knew he hoped too much, and turning from the window to look at his mate, heavy with child, he knew he hoped in selfishness. She wanted her family to know. She wanted them to know there was a baby to be born between the two of them, something that had always been told as being impossible. Well, they had proved them wrong.
He crossed the room, careful to keep his long fighting claws from touching the ground and clicking. He wanted to leave her asleep, so that when she woke, she would not cry. She knew what he had to do, and he did not want her to change her mind after he had prepared himself. Kissing the bump, and then her forehead, Ke'rehl smiled, and then turned, picking up his sharpened spear and rucksack, and leaving quietly.
~~~~~
Outside was fresh and chilly, perfect flying conditions with barely a headwind. The Keikancho-Jin was already high in the sky, and around him, the clouds were glowing a soft white as the sun rose to its peak. He had been in the air for hours. it was going to be a hard flight. At least fifteen days flight, with little to no chance to stop. Gliding was taking the majority of the flight time, saving muscles that were already tired from so long not using them as wings. They were strong, but they had not been used in this manner, nor for so long, in a long time.
Below, the land was giving way to sand and water. The ocean. This was it. The last chance to stop, and he by-passed it. There was no time for stopping, not now. He must continue, and he must do it quickly. There was a baby on the way, a haju'ri. He must hurry...
~~~~~
So very tired. A number of times he had nearly fallen from the sky. So many days, he could barely remember. His arm-wings burned with exhaustion, but still he continued. He could feel the air changing around him. Changing to something more familiar. Its very essence was one of secrecy and disruption, so tangible that it stifled the air. Yes, he was close...
~~~~~
Land!
It was the first land that he had seen in weeks, and it was a welcome sight. Wings screamed for some relief, and as they were slowly tilted to gently dive the Keikancho-Jin down, Ke'rehl could taste the world he had left behind. How lucky they had been to find Gaia. They could have been killed so easily in their flight, but it appeared, just as all hope was beginning to wane. How delicious that sight had been, land at last! Below, the sandy shore they had left from all that time ago raced up to meet him. His ribs were protruding from his skin, his feathery down was limp and lacking its usual lustrous shine. His eyes were dark, skin taunt. He was the vision of a weary traveller.
Reaching out his claws to land, he misjudged his speed and tumbled forward onto his face. He quickly un-shouldered his spear, and threw it down as he collapsed with exhaustion. His rucksack, filled with only wrappers of food items he had managed to eat on the way, remained on his back. Its hemp material scratched at his thin skin, so slowly he shrugged it off, still laying with his face pressed against the sand, legs curled up under him. Sack off, he rolled onto his back and looked up at the sky, heaving huge breaths. He was so tired!
Sleep took him quickly. Such a lack of sleep as he had experienced had nearly driven him insane. He curled a hand around his gear and let sleep take him, pulling the spear across his chest.
~~~~~
Waves lapped gently at the prone body that still lay upon the beach. Two days had passed, and Ke'rehl had only woken twice, once to ward off some large cat creature that had thought him dead, and the second time to relieve himself. He sat up, stretching, and looked about, bleary eyed. He was on the south of the island, that much he could tell by the din of birds and wildlife within the jungle trees at his back. His tail was sodden, the waves coming up to just below his knees where he lay. Dragging himself to his feet and shouldering spear and rucksack, he turned his thin back to the water and looked at the forest of trees. A few coconut trees stood out to him, and he made his way too them. His arm-wings refused to lift his weight, so he had to shimmy up the old-fashioned way, and knocked free a number of nuts.
Their flesh was tough, but Jiao'lan had always preferred to buy these strange food items as close to their natural state as possible, husk and all. Using his spear edge, he cut through the husk and released the kernel within. A bit of pounding released the sweet liquid within and he drank copiously from all three he had knocked down, before splitting them apart and scrapping out the white flesh. Appetite heightened by this teaser of food, Ke'rehl wished he'd waited to eat till he had something with more sustenance. He growled at himself, and left the nuts where they were, and entered into the forest. At least he had gained some strength from the sweetness of the nut, though it did not appease his carnivorous nature, unlike that of the Ban'ku's herbivorous side.
Spying some of the strange fruit Jiao'lan often tried to get him to eat, and he would refuse unless frozen, Ke'rehl knocked a few down and forced them down, gagging on their texture, but still more strengthened by them. A little while later, he was lucky to come across one of the spotted-cats that Jiao'lan had warned him of, eating its fill of a warthog kill. It was tough, but Ke'rehl drove it off, stabbing it a few times with his spear. He was used to driving off larger animals, from his time in the Tundra, with the snow-bears. Eventually, the cat became bored of this strange, pale version of the bird-men it had seen in its trees, and slunk off, nursing deep welts in its side and neck. Licking the blood from his spear point, Ke'rehl dove upon the fallen beast and ate his fill.
~~~~~
Time passed slowly in this thick, cloying trees. He felt sick to his stomach of the heat, something he had gotten somewhat used to in Gaia, but here, it was ridiculous. He felt constantly faint, but he powered on. He was still dirty from eating the raw meat, and had yet to come across any water source to clean his skin and feathers. It was at that point that a peal of thunder rang out. Stopping and looking around, confused, Ke'rehl felt fear creep up his spine. What had that been? That spotted-cat had yeowled, no rumbled!
Rain came in a torrent, and soaked the Keikancho-Jin from head to foot in moments. His dirtied red chest and face became pink and then white once more, and he felt, altogether, better. Her opened his mouth and let the cold water fill his mouth before swallowing. Rejuvenated somewhat, though still sickly thin, Ke'rehl continued to press on, soaking wet but at least happier. These trees were impossible to fly in at his size, though still small and compact. It was no wonder Jiao'lan was so tiny.
~~~~~
This part of the forested was uncharacteristically quiet... Ke'rehl didn't like it. The birds stirred only a little, and there was very little bug noise. He crept forward carefully, pupils large, to take in as much detail as he could in the forest gloom. His spear was readied, and he was crouched low. His pale colour suddenly started to make his conscious that he was in the arena of his race's sworn enemy. Yet, he would then think of Jiao'lan, and knew that he was here with a purpose.
He slowed, noting a tree was bent nearly in half, its tip attached to a snare. He tripped it, and watched the tree fling back, its cord pulled tight around the twig he had used to trip it. A light tinkling resounded out. Some way of identifying that it had caught something, perhaps? Maybe there would be Ban'ku here soon... Looking around, he found a tree he could easily climb, and shimmied up it, wedging himself securely behind some leafy cover. Hopefully he would not be spotted.
Taking from his bag what meat he had not been able to eat from the spotted-cat's kill, he started to chew contentedly, still not keen on this unfrozen mess, but still, it was better then nothing!
He settled in to wait...
~~~~~
Below, chattering voices reached Ke'rehl's ears. He had been dozing, having been in the tree for a total of three days now. He had been pleased with his find a scant few days back, but now, bottom sore and stomach growling, head and mind sleep deprived, he was getting impatient. Opening pale eyes and looking down, there were a bunch of brightly plumaged male Ban'ku standing around their trap with the caught twig. They looked highly confused, and were looking around. Ke'rehl carefully drew up his feet and tail and balanced on the branch on which he sat. Failing to see whatever prey had originally set off the trap, the Ban'ku moved on.
Ke'rehl stayed still for a few hours after their departure. He would follow their tracks back to their main den, and try not to startle them too much. He clambered down, and was about to shoulder his rucksack, spear in hand already, when a fierce crack to the back of his head sent sparks flying in his sight and a darkness to descend.
~~~~~
A mass of pain swelled from the back of Ke'rehl's head as he came too, bleary eyed to see himself strung up like a common pig to a spit-roast stick. He screeched angrily, and tried to shake himself free, but the bindings around his wrists and ankles were done up fast, and despite his struggles and trying to twist his fighting claw around to pick at the cords, he was still stuck. From behind him, a small child giggled, and he turned his furious glare to the small haru'ji. He hissed, and lunged against his bindings, sending the small child screeching away. More gruff laughs came from his other side, and looking around, a male that looked much like Jiao'lan stepped forward, fingering the shard point of his spear, stroking the snow-bear fur around its hilt and looking it over.
"Ve'y nii'e..." He muttered in heavily accented Shan'ro. He had clearly been practising, in preparation for such a meeting. His heavily scarred and tattooed torso and face suggested to Ke'rehl that this male was possibly the chief lead. "Yo'r?" He pointed the long spear tip at Ke'rehl's face, who nodded solemnly. The Chief Lead chattered a little to those behind him, and another laugh broke out.
"Ple'a, fre'r?" Ke'rehl pleaded to them. "Ai 'e ahb'ou Jiao'lan!" Silence descended the small group, and a few children at the back chattered. A screech erupted from somewhere near that back, and an older woman, the spitting image of Jiao'lan, only somewhat older, with more red patterning, ran forward to try and scratch at him. She was dragged back by a younger male, also very similar in appearance to Jiao'lan. The Chief Lead looked Ke'rehl over and frowned, chattering at the woman in their own language, clearly telling her to quieten as she collapsed to the floor, looking at Ke'rehl with the utmost hate.
"Ple'a! S'ee ai maa'te. S'ee w'iit ai haru'ji." A gasp rang out through the group. Haru'ji had meaning in all corners of this island, and it was clear that this had come as a shock to all. The female screeched again and scratched at the earth; the Chief Lead simply looked him over in disgust.
"Ao'?"
"Sci'nes. Maa' sci'nes." He implored to them. "Haru'ji ii' g'ir." He looked at them all, wanting them to believe him. "Ai maa'te s'ee. Ai haru'ji. Ple'a, fre'r! S'ee w'aa 'o kn'aa, s'ee wi'el!" He smiled at them, and they withdrew a little. He forgot they did not have as sharper teeth as he, and he quickly withdrew the smile. "S'ee wi'el! Haru'ji wi'el! Bo'rr s'oo!" He opened his hands, and looked at them and then to his spear point. "Ple'a! Fre'r!"
The female Ban'ku that had screeched so, now looked to him with tearful eyes. "S'ee... wi'el?"
"Ei! Ei! S'ee wi'el! Ra'ill wi'el! Ai pis'ur!" He motioned with his head toward a younger male of bright blue and red who had ahold of his rucksack. "Lu'! Lu'!" The young male looked at the Chief Lead and offered him the back. The male took it, and opened each pocket in turn until he came across a photograph. It confused him at first, but then dropped the bag as he realised it was Jiao'lan in the image. Excited chatter rang out through the crowd. Ke'rehl closed his eyes, his head beginning to ache from being upside-down. It was at that moment that he felt his bindings give and his head thumped to the earth, hard, his hands freed, and then his feet. He curled up, clutching the back of head and whimpering a little, feeling the huge lump from the whack earlier, and now the pain renewed from hitting the earth.
More excited chatter as they found more photos. Then silence as Ke'rehl sat up and looked at them. They had found the first scan that clearly showed their haru'ji. He stood, and realised just how small, for the first time, all of these Keikancho-Jin were and walked forward. Many of them fled back, but the Chief Lead, image in hand, stood his ground. Ke'rehl bowed his head to him, and used his clawed finger to point out the baby's head, feet and back.
"Haru'ji." Was all he said. The Chief Lead looked at the image a little closer, suddenly recognising the image for what it was and leapt about, offering it to the female that had screeched prior. She simply began to cry harder, clutching the image of Jiao'lan and the haru'ji closer to her chest. He smiled, though without showing teeth, and watched all the excitement. Ke'rehl backed up quickly as the Chief Lead started toward him, but all he did was throw down the spear and give the Shan'ro a huge hug, much like Jiao'lan always used to when they first met up after so long apart.
"Jiao'lan!" Was all he said.
~~~~~
The time spent with the Ban'ku had been somewhat fun. They had stated, clearly, that they wished the two of them luck, but that they would not be accepted within their Tribe, baby or not. They were still an abomination of the Tribe Laws, and were seen as a possible omen upon their families, but this did not stop them being excited. It was clear that the Ban'ku really did value family, but Jiao'lan was, pretty much, dead to them. This small snippet of her new life had pleased them, but she was still no longer of their Tribe. She had run away, and with a Shan'ro no less. No, it was loved to know she was ok, but she was still not permitted back. They had to uphold tradition.
They had given him back his stuff, as well as a few things they wanted Jiao'lan to have; her hammock, her fruit dagger, and some gifts from the children. Leaving them on pretty good terms, they had showed Ke'rehl to the boarder of the jungle, and now he headed north, over the plains and into the tundra.
~~~~~
The cold was so welcome that Ke'rehl nearly rolled in the snow. He grabbed handfuls of the stuff and wiped it over his chest and face, along his arms and into his hair. The clean scent of snow and ice made his heart swell, but he knew here, more then back in the jungle, he was in danger. These Keikancho-Jin would recognise him, know him as a deserter... Here, he had to be extremely careful.
He knew this place like the back of his hand, and it didn't take him long to find his old haunts, nor the place he had left his father all that time ago. There was no sign of a dug-in, so Ke'rehl started the search. He knew the route his father usually took, the places he stayed. This shouldn't take too long.
~~~~~
Three days had passed, and still there was no sign of his father. Sure, his mother had passed, killed by the giant snow-bears, but he didn't expect his father to travel quite so much now he was free of son and mate. Sure enough, though, it took a long week of searching before some semblance of Shan'ro life came to Ke'rehl's eyes. A glow from below an ice sheet, and some deep prints in the fresh snow. He called out, using the family's cry. A response, but a confused one.
From the snow came a pale blue creature, one Ke'rehl did not really recognise. His stripes were familiar, however, as shared by himself and his father. Had his father taken a new mate? Was this his father's new son? It was not unusual for a male Shan'ro that had lost his family to start a new one, but it was rare. His father was clearly one of these individuals.
"'Oo yai?" Was the call from the younger male.
"Ke'rehl, o' Haa'trih"
The younger male thought a moment, and then snarled, taking a spear to hand from the place he had risen. He yelled out a challenge. Ke'rehl had not expected such a sudden defence. IT was clear that the news had spread quickly of his desertion, and a call sent out for his death. The younger male lunged with his spear.
Ke'rehl quickly shrugged off his backpack and took his spear to hand and parried away the glancing shot of the younger male. He was not as strong as he appeared, and Ke'rehl quickly gained the upperhand, locking spears with the male and powering him down to his knees in the snow. The young male obviously had not been expecting the move, and tried to lash out with his horns, long, but thin, not yet the horns of an adult. Ke'rehl defended himself and lashed out with one fighting-claw, catching the male under the eye and dragging down. Red stained the pure white snow. The screech of pan was awful, but Ke'rehl had to continue to fight. This was now for his honour, the way of the Shan'ro so entrenched in its fighting ways. He allowed the other male to stand, swinging the butt of his spear to connect with the side of his head as he jumped back.
The young male stood, a little dazed, blood dripping from the cut in his face. He was wild with anger, and swung his spear with little premise for his safety, catching Ke'rehl sharply across the chest in a deep rivet, blood freezing before it fell from the gash. Ke'rehl hissed and lowered himself, driving forward. The younger male impaled himself on the tip. Hot blood ran over Ke'rehl's hands as he pushed the spear home. It froze quickly, but more blood pumped to warm it again. Ke'rehl let go quickly, and looked over the male. His eyes were glazing quickly, ice building on his dead stare. Ke'rehl grabbed some handfuls of ice and snow and wiped his body down. The male slowly fell to the ground.
Yanking the male's spear from his grip, Ke'rehl looked it over. I was heavy, far too heavy for this young male. Ke'rehl recognised the carvings and the ice-fox tails attached to the base of the long point as the work of his father's the spear that he had promised to his son when he were to die. Ke'rehl was sure, then, that this was the oldest male of the new family his father had created in his absence. Looking around the tundra, at the encroaching darkness and snow, Ke'rehl knew he must leave. Taking up his rucksack, and withdrawing a lone photo of himself and Jiao'lan with the bump clearly visible, he speared it onto one of the young horns of his half-brother.
"Ai so'ree." Was all he muttered to the male, as the snow collapsed about them. The spear sticking from his chest would show his place to their father whenever he returned. Ke'rehl would be long gone before then.
~~~~~
The warmth of the beach had quickly warmed the frost-bitten gash in Ke'rehl's chest. The pain was excruciating, but at least it was not dead flesh. Pain was good. It meant the flesh still lived and would heal. It had been a lucky strike, and Ke'rehl cursed his slow reflexes. He would need to wait for this to heal a little more before he could return.
As he applied a paste of sea-water and herbage he had found on his decent from the mountainous passes, away from the snow, he thought deeply of his actions. He had stolen from his father another eldest son; he being the first, and the male in the snow the second. He knew he would never be welcome in the tundra again, especially leaving the evidence he had of having mated with a Ban'ku. He was a deserter. From both sides of the divide, the young family was no longer welcome... It saddened him, but it was also exciting. Perhaps some of the Ban'ku young ones, wanting to see their missing cousin or aunt or whatever, would one day seek out Gaia. He had left them directions, so perhaps... one day... there may be a mate and other family members for their haru'ji to play with and develop with.
~~~~~
The flight had been a lot shorter on the way back. Perhaps it had been the joy of seeing his mate again, or else just knowing the route so well. It took three days less then he had been anticipating, even with his large gash that refused to heal properly. Tired but happy, Ke'rehl collapsed into the garden of his home, his flight tiring, and his legs wobbly. He sat for a little time, enjoying the feeling of the ground beneath his claws, and slowly made his way inside. There was no answer to his calls, but that did not surprise him. Jiao'lan may well have been out with her new friend, or else out shopping for the last time before the birth.
Making his tired way into the kitchen, he went straight for the freezer and pulled out the largest steak he could find, biting hard into it. Closing the door to the freezer afterward, he spied something on it, pinned there with a magnet, scrawled in Jiao'lan's typical handwriting and thick red crayon.
'COME TO HOSPITAL
HARU'JI HERE!'
The steak forgotten on the floor, all that could be heard was the slam of the front door as Ke'rehl ran for the hospital, weariness forgotten, appalling appearance ignored.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 3:49 am
Journal Entry 20- Mi'Ako is here...Ke'rehl's POVEntered - 17 May 2010She is here.
My little baby, she here. I sorry, those that read, for lapse in talk. I return home, to the Island. I revert back to speak of Tribes. Hard to return talk to words spoken here. Will return soon, I hope.
But my little one! She here. She so beautiful. You see this photo? This is my little one:
So beautiful. Like mother, like father. She perfect. Perfect completely. I not wish for more perfect daughter!
Jiao'lan to return to hospital soon. She needs... obs? Not sure what is, but it important. Some issue that may present later on - not sure what is, but doctors want her go in for long time, make sure she ok. Very sleepy all time, finds hard to function. My work, very lovely. They give me work do at home - making bead jewellery, carving equipment so they sell my wares. They pay well for each thing I make. I think I ask for this to become permanent. If Jiao'lan not so well, I need here stay.
They understanding, these Gaians. Jiao'lan's tribe much like them. They very proud of Jiao'lan, but still banish her. Is sad... I don't want to tell, but I have to. She can never go home.
I see improvement in speak here. My head must be revert back. Takes while, but it get there. Shan'ro speak very simple. Much simpler then this speak. I get there. Jiao'lan is very good. She took to it well. I not so. More quiet. Don't talk so much.
Mi'ako comes home tomorrow. I am excited. Jiao'lan is to come too, for a few day, help get Mi'Ako settled, then must return to hospital for tests and these 'obs'. I hope all is ok. So sleepy she is. Doctor said word I not grasp - lethargic. I look it up in dictionary. Still confusing, but I grasp it more. Something to do with blood. She lose it? Lose too much? I don't know. She need be watched by doctor anyway.
I await the day my family is one,
Ke'rehl Shan'ro - Father.
PS. It is good to write that finally.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 9:05 am
Journal Entry 21- Mi'Ako is hereJaio'lan's POVEntered - 03 June 2010After much blood, sweat, and tears she is finally here, in our arms, forever. So, so, cute. Ke'rehl was home late but I am very glad he is still alive. I do not want to go back to the Clinic tomorrow. I want to stay home with Mi'Ako! But, my health is not as it should be, they say. So I will go so I can be around for her, and my Ke'rehl, for many, many years still.
Birth is not fun. I do not want to do it again. Ke'rehl says I may change my mind later. This I do not know. I have heard that women forget the pain. Please do not think ill of me when I say I think these women may be stupid. Very stupid.
Mi'Ako is settled and sleeping. So I, too, will try to sleep. There is so much to talk about with Ke'rehl that I cannot turn off my mind! Motherhood. It is a scary yet amazing thing.
This entry is so short, and I am sorry but, I am still very tired.
Soon, our little family will all be together permanently.
Jiao'lan Ban'ku - Mother
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 4:20 pm
It looks like the time has come for the quickly-growing Mi'Ako's first molt, perhaps an occasion for a little celebration at this milestone.
... Unfortunately, living in an enclosed house which cannot be picked up and moved when needed means that her puffy chick feathers are now getting into everything. Despite Jiao'lan's best housekeeping efforts, problems with vents becoming repeatedly plugged arise, making the nursery grow warmer and warmer in combination with the warm summer sun. The increasingly uncomfortable temperature as well as the itchiness of stray feathers makes the poor baby rather unhappy.
It looks like the feathers growing in after this molt are fluffy and downy, rather like her father's insulating feathers, but still dark in color. Then again, there may be more molts in store before she gets her adult feathers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
