Welcome to Gaia! ::

Ajax landed next to the Roman's left foot with a juicy lizard in it mouth. The white-tailed eagle started to rip and tear at it as the youth that was his travelling companion began to wine about his 'cursed existance'.
"You always were an idiot, Roman. You are always complaining. Look at me, I'm a damned bird."
The sixteen year-old looked over at the avian creature and seemed shocked at his companion's outburst. Although Roman had known that Ajax could speak a human tongue he had always looked at the bird as carefree.
"Sorry, Ajax! I didn't realise..."
"Well, like I said. You are an idiot. I can't exactly go back to my wife and kids anymore. They're long gone but at least you have a family to go home to. You should really rethink your strategy with those bullies as well. Most of your bad dealings with them is due to YOU!"
The boy started to cry. Roman had always been a sensative child but he had always gone elsewhere to weep. Ajax became even more annoyed but he wasn't going to waste time trying to deal with the 'useless child' when he held a tasty reptile between his clawed feet.

Octavius's feet began to ache half an hour into the journey but he had cried all that was going to for the day. Stomach growling, Octavius looked up at his grecian feathered companion gliding upon the thermals and other gusts. The boy wondered if he would ever be that free. Everybody talked about birds being free to roam wherever and whenever they wanted but Ajax would deny this talking about how he hated being unable to talk to others in human form. "It would have been different if Ajax had been a shapeshifter," the boy thought. "Then he would be able to both travel and interact with others normally."
Octavius, the eighth-born of a minor noble family, had always been the target of all sorts of immoral and childish hazing, had always wanted to see the world but his mother intended for him to become a royal scribe. The youth understood many languages but preferred to see other lands rather than translate into other tongues for bored high nobles. He felt annoyed. "Ajax, tell me how to be strong enough to go out on my own!"
The bird looked down at the boy. "My way is not your way, kid. Don't bother me about it," came the sharp reply.
"I can't be a simple scribe..." the boy pleaded, not knowing what to do if he didn't succeed in convincing the bird.
Seeing the boy's sudden determination, the bird felt happy. "Okay! I know that you will be 'heartbroken' if I don't help so I'll do it on one condition."
Octavius nodded, "What?"
"You will try to find a cure for my state."

>End of chapter #1. Now what will happen in chapter 2? This could be interesting.

uhhh... rolleyes repeat post, anyone? I thought we could just name him Roman sweatdrop
Chapter 2: Ajax's Story

Octavious stared at the bird a moment. It is one thing to see a talking bird, or know a talking bird, or be a talking bird's friend, but it is another to help a talking bird. Octavious didn't even know how Ajax had become...this Ajax.
"Hey, Ajax, how did you ever become a bird, I mean, all I know is you used to be human, you know, with a family an-"
"You can cut that 'being-humble-and-respectin'-my-feelings' crap. I'm over it now. But you know what? I haven't told anyone in so long, I don't know if I can even remember so long ago..."
So Octavious looked up and waited for Ajax to tell his story.

(We should change the title to make it more relevant. Maybe something like, "The Roman." That could be the first chapter too! I'm so resourceful...)