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 Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 6:20 pm
 Alas for Cloverfield, no new recruits had been found at the recent graduation. Ah well, business was booming enough, and there would be other graduations. Today she had decided to pay a visit to a certain male she'd met at the event. Sly was his name, and she had been surprised to find that not only was he well known but that no one...NO one was really willing to tell her where to find him. On the contrary, they had looked at her like she was quite crazy. Well...she'd just find him herself then.
Out of her usual habit she'd left all but her Sharp at home. The matching parus was twittering happily as he flew along with her. "Now Sharp...this is a different visit. We're not advertising, so no singing, okay? You remember Sly, right? From the graduation?"
"Big serious. Sly." The companion twittered back, dropping it's song in a bit of nervousness.
"Now then...don't be jittery. Sly will be fine if you act polite and keep quiet." With that the pair slowed, flapping down to land on a branch. "That is...if we can find him." If she was Sly, where would she be?
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Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 7:05 pm
 Clover had probably been one of the few, if not the only Sentinel that sought out Sly’s company, which was clearly unusual. Sly knew this and usually didn’t make himself available in that routine manner that some Sentinels where at one place at certain times or followed a certain path to each day. No. Sly surprised others as he appeared out of nowhere and was ghostlike in being gone just as quickly. Aside from this was Sly’s profession as a Hunter which he too very, very seriously. He ventured far and worked diligently both to impress and uphold his position. He had only now been reinstated as a Hunter again as there was no need for Watchers or maybe, with the recent ratio of very few combat Sentinels from the graduation, needed Sly back to duty. Then again, even Sly knew he was not forced into being a Watcher as it had been more of a low-grade punishment. A ‘cooling period’. There was no direct reason why he was asked in a firm tone to just take some time as a Watcher, but he knew that some people didn’t like him and where so suspicious that they made mountains out of mole hills.
The moment Sly returned to his former job, he went back in his workaholic swing and had been out in the woods for most of the day. Not making his usual rounds to seeking out conversation, he had returned to his territory, tired but feeling fulfilled. He still had the Graduation on his mind and that fatal moment where the Brigadier had looked his way. If he had been noticed and was now being watched, he wanted to make sure he was only showing his best. Better than that!
Still, it didn’t mean he tired and after dropping off his cargo from his recent hunting, was resting in his territory, two maple trees that merged into one like Siamese twins near the Swift River, one of the sister trees dead, burnt as it was hit by lightning long ago and now twisted before turning and dipping into the river. Sly was sitting on this, letting his eyes rest, his plumage sleek as it soaked up the cool shade. Nearby, his Serpe, Dayga, was resting on a branch where a sliver of half-sunlight allowed it to get warm. It had not been a recent addition as he had tricked a unknowing Keeper to gaining one some time ago. Most Keepers would have warned the others of Sly, but there were still others that had yet to get that bit of information. All he needed to say was he was a hunter, who needed one, smooth the Keeper with a few, well placed words, and he was already heading home with the pet. It wasn’t that he wanted one. He decided that, to better gain an edge, he would use the tools available. Still, the Serpe was biting at his nerves. He had left it at home most of the time to protect his home as it chewed on his limited patience to carry it about. It was that reason that no one knew he had a companion and he liked to keep it that way. Sure, he knew his companion was not here to keep him company. He disliked its presence. It was a tool in all aspects, but most people would consider his a hypocrite for having one, or would think he had fallen in some heart-induced kindness to be finally swayed to want a companion for its company. Surely not! It was too much of a headache to bring the Serpe out. That and if Keepers saw him with one, most would go start to argue that it should be taken away from him on the gossip that he had eaten his previous companions. (They had no proof and he was still going to say that they all had their own misfortunes, being the stupid creatures they where.) It was too much trouble to deal with and he had more important things to deal with.
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Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 9:25 pm
After a few moments regaining their bearings, the pair of Sentinel and parus set off once more. There was still a great deal of forest to cover, even having the slight hint that this was the general area of Sly's home, and the both of them were unfamiliar with the terrain. It was quiet though, far more than any patch of woods they had seen before, and while slightly unnerving, it was rather helpful when it came to finding someone. Any sounds of movement or conversation would be instantly noticeable, making their path much easier to set. Of course she'd also heard that his employment had also recently changed, which could make things difficult. If Sly happened to be out hunting right now, she could fly past his home and never know. They could only hope that he would be home, or be found amidst the forest's trees. And if not...well there was always another day. She wasn't out for business so much as pleasure...and maybe a little business.
As it had turned out, a recent breeding attempt with some of the more southerly stock she'd acquired the past winter had gone awry. The colors were wrong for one, and only a paltry number of the numerous chicks had any musical talent. True the few that did sang like gods themselves, but the rest...well she really had no need for them. After a short time asking around and finding that no one was currently looking for any of the traits displayed in this batch she'd decided that they would have to be done away with...and who better to help but Sly? They could make a feast of it, if they wanted.
As Clover dodged around a tree a bright patch caught her eye. Th bright underside of scaly skin winked between branches at her, and she banked sharply to investigate. Aha...a serpe! Wondering what such a refined specimen was doing so far out and seemingly with no one around, she decided to take a better look. As she shooed Sharp into hiding nearby her eyes drifted to the patch of solid blackness nearby. Huh. That was odd...wait...that blackness had just seemed to ripple in a rather glossy way. It was feathers! She only knew of one Sentinel with such sheen. "Sly!" She called out, hovering to land nearby. "There you are."
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Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 11:02 pm
If anyone had asked him at that moment what he was doing, Sly would say he was deep in thought. In reality, he was napping. Well, more like dozing off. Since no one entered his territory, either in fear of being targeted by Sly, hatred for his personality, or general dislike, he felt comfortable in sleeping out in the open. It was relaxing to listen to nothing aside from rippling water that the twisted sister tree rippled as it’s dead branches dipped into the river nearby. Sly had actually had to fight for this territory from a Bard who also had their eye on it, who would no doubt ruin his stay by making ridiculous musical nonsense.
He usually would be the type to pick it based solely on functional location, though this did have that perk, but he liked the river. He chalked it up to living near a brook when he grew up as a hatchling. If anything, the Swift River was a guilty pleasure. And really, wasn’t it best to be well rested and comfortable when returning from working hard so that you could be energized the next day and be more efficient in your duties? Exactly.
That as an excuse, Sly hunched his wings, lowering his head deeper into his body as he adjusted his muscles in his state of half-sleep. Dayga, in the same state of sleep, only slowly opened her eyes and let her slotted pupils slide to look at the visitors, letting her tongue slip out as a silent confirmation that she knew there where visitors. Unfortunately for Sly, it didn’t help informing him that he was not the only Sentinel about.
At the shout of his name, he broke out of his dazed trance, eyes wide and lurching forward enough that he nearly fell from his branch. Puffed, he flapped his wings to regain balance before breathing deep, turning his head to look about. Clover was an easy sight to see in the dense deep woods that made a backdrop of darkened green that was used to hide Sly and his shadow plumage. Especially in such vivid dyes. It was that perplexing state of surprise that someone was visiting, more so a officer like Clover, that he found his beak become agape and his body remaining in its ruffled state. Well, a mix of surprise and not fully waking. Shaking his confusion off, he hastily preened his plumage down with brutal force that he cringed at plucking a glossy feather that was not meant to be plucked as of yet. Wincing off the pain, he looked up, turning and gaining a ‘respectable’ stance. Awake, alert, and well cared for. He hated to have his plumage ruffled. He adored his heritage of being a pure Shadow and more for the fact that no Shadows could rival the sheen that he obtained from birth and from care.
“Miss Clover. This…..is a surprise.” What could he say? Who visited him? If it had been anyone else, he would have been annoyed that they had just waltzed into his territory without any caution to who he was, taking it for an insult that he wasn’t intimidating. That and for ruining his nap. Still, with the graduation event sparking his hopes at a promotion and with Clover being higher ranking, in some way he had yet to know, he had to seize any opportunity. Naps could wait.
Sly watched as Clover landed and made a general attempt to look pleased, if not mustering up a smile. It was, well, a odd looking smile to say the least. Let it be said that genuine smiles that were not ones born from seeing someone injured in a comical fashion or from a witty insult where few and far between. He hadn’t had that general practice at it that most Sentinels learned when they where fledglings. “What brings you about these parts? ” He asked. Namely, why was she visiting?
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Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008 1:54 pm
Clover disregarded Sly's own attempts to perfect his look, preferring instead to spend a moment cleaning her own feathers. Something had felt slightly off as she'd landed, and she picked at her wing a moment, seeming to ignore the shadow across from her. Upon finding (and thereon devouring) a small insect that had mysteriously entangled itself in her plumage she finally looked up, eying Sly in what to her was an appraising manner. No, she really couldn't see why so many found him of 'foul taste'. Insofar as she'd known him he had been nothing but a perfectly upright individual. Perhaps a bit serious, and not without his own unique opinions, but there was nothing wrong with that.
And thinking of which, it was his particular ideals that had brought her here. With a flick of the head she hopped closer, making some small movement to subtly signal Sharp to stay behind. The parus fluffed a moment, nervous near the unfamiliar serpe, but did as told, rooting to the spot like it was made of the wood the tree grew.
"What brings me about these parts?" She sighed, turning to regard the river a moment, basking in it's watery babble a moment. "Business of sorts, and pleasure. You see," She faced Sly again, smiling serenely. "I have recently come into some...surplus parus. Unfortunately, they're nothing worth redistribution, or for and too undisciplined to be trained for any purpose." She fluffed, obviously irked by the dropping of such a useless pack of birds on her. "The only thing to do is dispose of them, but it would be a waste just to turn them loose or cull them without anyone around to help me. And so I was wondering..." And here her smile crooked oddly, "Would you like to join me for dinner?"
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Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008 5:52 pm
There were a lot of confusing words that Clover gave out. Well, not confusing in the way that he didn’t know their meaning literally, but they seemed to conflict with a lot of things. One was that she was talking about happening upon surplus Parus and could not be trained. Sly, suspicious as always, wondered how Clover, not being one who seemed to hang about Keepers or show a fond liking for them, was being given a group of Parus. Tying it with a officer, he wondered if a Keeper just wanting to rid their tainted cargo and was given them to her in return of either good favor or to impress. His eyes did wander to the Parus behind her. Clover seemed to hold the same belief that companions where only good as tools and held a high standard for them. Naturally expected from someone who took their job seriously and seeing as she probably had to be doing many things at once, the Parus seemed to be the messengers of her work. A tiny workforce that was her word on tinier wings. For this, she would have to know Parus in case any of hers died in combat to maintain her workforce. Using that as a plausible deduction, he continued with the rest. Namely, Dinner.
What was more foreign than someone entering his territory to visit was being invited to dinner. The entire suggestion broke his mind in the same form to formulate reason. One was the fact that what was being implied. Dinner had many suggestions to it. Friendly dinner, further talk of business, a need to rid herself of Parus that most people would been to sympathetic to eat, or…
Though the idea of freely eating Parus without being prosecuted was a intriguing idea, there was an wavering undercurrent that strummed on his nerves like a inexperienced bard strumming on a foreign instrument. Sly was not ignorant not to know that Clover was female, relatively the same age wise, and even though he was under the impression she was a very level-headed and a no nonsense Sentinel, it WAS mating season. Even Sly saw the change as he did last season, where Sentinels chased after potentials and hid away in private areas that where far from prying eyes but caught with a curl of disgust when Sly was hunting. The very idea of it seemed to race a unsettling current up his spine. Did…surely not. He had no time for such things. He had a goal in mind to be an Elite and in that, there was no room for anything else, as all else was a clear distraction from his goals. Still, he had to play it delicately, as being cold and clear might be seen as insulting where, if he was wrong about his assumption, Clover would be insulted and be no use to him later on if a new team opened up. That or she would become stern, jumping to denial even if it was true to protect herself from the force of reject and then sabotage him later on. He didn’t need anyone working against him.
Still, the…thought of that possibility. “I..see..” Sly was rethinking about the visits and was now set on the fact that he preferred being left to be than having others stop by and bringing up these situations. “Well, I don’t see why we can’t just kill them off and bring them to be distributed to other Sentinels…..though, I suppose that there are a few of the distributors that would feel unnerved with those. What a waste. ” Sly was talking out his reasoning. Thinking. There was no way he could decline and be polite about it. Saying he just ate meant she could postpone the da….dinner! To when he felt hungry again. Saying he didn’t like Parus was not true. Clover knew he would eat a companion and he also said it was best to eat ones that where of no use. A Parus was just another meal in the end.
He became aware of that movement she made later on to draw closer, and not being insulting, naturally moved to make sure the space was what it was before. Sentinels never valued space. “ I see your dilemma and I’m not one to let food go to waste and have no moral issues stopping me from enjoying a meal. It will be nice not to have to after a hunt for my own meal. It means whatever I catch can all go The Matron. Yes. I’ll attend dinner with you.” He stayed away from saying he would be ‘happy’ to attend. Just as Clover preened to put on the demeanor that she could care less either way, Sly placed his own sense of an aloof nature.
Luckily, Dayga saved him from any unsettling silence afterwards. The Serpe had left her branch and was slithering in the direction of the Parus. “Dayga. No.” He said both words firmly and clearly, without panic for the Parus’ life. He had to use simple words as Dayga, as most companions, was an idiot. The Serpe, who had its mouth open, closed it as it stiffened, before turning lax as it regarded Sly and then started to move back to it’s branch, looking aggravated.
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Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 6:26 pm
"Indeed." Clover nearly drawled in response to Sly's realization that not everyone would appreciate a donation of companions as food. As he thought she continued to preen, seemingly utterly at ease while he battled himself for an answer. His posture was tense again, she noted from the corner of her eye. He seemed to have a habit of shuffling ever so slightly when he wasn't sure what to do, and indeed he was at it now. Unsure as to what might be causing his delay in giving an answer she too set to thinking.
Sly seemed a fit young male, determined and ambitious. A successful hunter with plenty of experience (even if some of the reports on him were less than positive). Distantly she wondered if he was mated, though all signs read no. regardless, he seemed an acceptable sort. Not that finding a mate was in her intentions at all.
She ceased her grooming when Sly commented that he would be joining her after all. "Excellent." She puffed a bit, her ear tufts flicking up once before settling. "Shall I meet you then, or are you prepared now?" She tilted her head slightly and smiled, and with a quick shift of her weight placed a very well-taloned foot between the creeping serpe and her Sharp. Without looking away from Sly, her smile widened when the serpent retreated at his command. "You've trained her well I see. I would expect that of you, I should say. The ability to train those beneath you to high standards that is."
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Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 9:51 pm
Now?! This entire thing was suddenly dropped upon him and he didn’t feel any urgent rush to meet it. If anything, he had been devising ways to finding a way to excuse an absence from it entirely, as if on urgent business and to make his seem less available for the future, but who was to say there would be a repeat? Then again, if there was, he had to consider it. He could either make it so that dinner appointments like this where no longer a common occurrence, putting a stop to it, or he could make it a welcoming idea. If he gave the impression that he was desirable company, then he could later use that ‘friendly atmosphere’ to play out favors or information. A ‘friend’ in any case was good as anyone in your corner pocket was. Accumulating valuable allies was important. Still….the idea of what else it could lead to made his unnerved.
Still, flattery did get you to many places and the comment on how well he handled Dayga did not go unnoticed. It only further enforced the idea that Clover could pick out quality, was observant, and saw the way he dealt with those beneath him. If he continued and she was to go on observing his fine attributes, then a good word later on to any elites in her circle was close to being guaranteed. Sly weighted the pros and cons, the only con being…well that other thing, and decided that it was in his best interest to attend.
“ I have no plans at the moment.” He wasn’t about to say he didn’t have any and make himself look lazy or unimportant. “ Dinner now will be fine. ” He continued, watching as Dayga slithered her way back to her branch. She’d look out for his territory and relay any observations or messages. It was about the only use she had, the pointless addition she was.
“Dayga knows what happens to disobedient companions and I make sure to remind her of this. If she ever continues, them be sure that I would invite you to dinner when that happens.” He said, smiling in return. It was an ill joke that most Sentinels would find ghastly, but Clover probably would find the contents humorous to some degree and light in nature, though he was serious about it. “ You continue to prove your own skill with your companions. You Parus has yet to make a disturbance, is well mannered, and seems to know it does not hold the importance to interrupt or talk when Sentinels are talking unless otherwise ordered.” It was only manners to return compliments and though Sly scarcely tossed out compliments, he was working towards an alliance. Just with the same conviction he showed his job, he would make it a point to gain Clover’s favor for future exploitation.
“ Well then, I do not know your territory, so lead the way. ” He said, gesturing to his wing. If anything, once he was there, he might find some clues about her rank at her home...
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Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 6:28 pm
Oh dear, she'd gone and said something wrong. Was it that she had planned to eat directly, she mused, or rather that she was asking in general. While Sly debated his readiness she shifted back to face Sharp. With a flick of her eartuft she sent the parus wheeling away. The idea was that Sharp would gather all her acceptable parus and escort them (with the aid of Flat and Natural) to her parent's flock. They would do well to mingle with other types of companions for a little, and she had promised her mother to have the birds come and perform for her sometime soon. This would leave the failing birds behind in the tree. They couldn't fly regardless. As of yet they were only just old enough, but she had nipped their feathers to keep them there. Young and fresh, they'd be nicely tender...
"Ah, that's good." She chuckled heartily at Sly's comment about offering to serve her his serpe. "Thank you, I'll be sure to keep an ear out for that day." She was half sarcastic, leaving it in the air to if she thought he was being serious on either count. "My Sharp is well trained yet. He was my first companion, and has worked under me the longest. With luck half of my assistants received since would be a fraction as well off."
Seeing that Sly really was ready, she gave herself one final preen and nodded. "This way then." She piped, her voice almost-but-not-quite musical as she flitted off the branch, swooping easily around the trees. It was obvious to anyone with a sense of direction she was headed for the heart of Sentinel territory, the acclaimed deep woods. Silently she hoped Sharp had cleared the trees she reigned over, or would have done so by their return. A chattering hoard would not do today, no sir.
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Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 12:28 pm
Sly was momentarily hesitant, second guessing his decision, before giving a wayward look to Dayga. The serpe seemed to lift her head up, questioning its master’s mannerisms, and if Sly was the one to think in that sort of way, he would have thought Dayga knew what was going on in his head. Pft! Right. “Dayga. Stay.” He said, making sure the creature would not venture as far to get itself lost. He had seen the serpe leave it’s post from time to time, either disobedient or wanting to escape into the wild, none of which Sly would tolerate. The Serpe gave a simple ‘yes’, in return, as far as Dayga’s limited vocabulary would allow. It was one of the reasons Sly picked the serpe. It couldn’t gossip.
Turning, he adjusting his footing and took off, diving down before lifting up in the air and following after Clover. It took little to no time to catch up with her, as the other was taking a leisurely yet business-like flight pattern. As Sly approached, he gave a critical eye as he moved closer. There had been something that had been bugging him for some time, and that was Clover’s dye pattern. Such a vivid color made it hard to distinguish what task she held. Stealth was out of the question as she was easy to spot with her warm orange and yellow. Then again, he theorized that Clover could have had a job in any area and retiring, decided to be a teacher afterwards and changed colors for sheer pleasure. It was the only plausible explanation he had that still worked with Clover having a high rank. Worse yet, he couldn’t distinguish her type. It was hard to tell what was dye and what was natural plumage and with that, he could not tell if she was a shadow with white markings or a mist with black markings. Worse yet, he couldn’t tell if she was a mixture. An Aberrant.
Wondering if he would spot some feathers at Clover’s place to prove his assumptions wrong or correct, he took his place to fly beside her. At least she kept her feathers immaculate and her flight was well preformed.
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Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 6:39 pm
Oddly enough Clover was thinking on the feathers at her home as well. Her nest had been cleaned recently, but she'd left a little bit still hanging about...but of course, the parus moulted too, and the place was usually a mess of feathers. And with the ones she'd set for dinner being so young, they'd likely be right in the thick of it. She really should have cleaned up before asking someone as orderly and well kept as Sly over.
She didn't bother to make small talk as they flew, she wasn't they type for it and she knew Sly wasn't, and it wouldn't get them there faster. She did occasionally warble a 'Hello' or toss a nod to a passing Sentinel, which became more and more regular as they neared the deep woods. The trees seemed closer and not having the same sleek build as Sly, she had to duck a little out of the way of a few tight twists. Regardless they were not long in making it to her sprawling territory, and she fluttered to perch on a branch overlooking it.
"Here we are...There's a small depression of water from the creek nearby over in that large pine, on that lower platform. You can drink there or bathe if you'd like. The oak near that has berries and nuts in the large hollow, and a little ant colony in the smaller one if you'd like any of that with the parus. And dinner will be there, on the largest platform on the maple. I'm going to round up the food, feel free to do whatever you'd like until I have them there." She left the options open for the shadow, even so far as not telling him to not help. She really didn't mind either way, and took off again to find the dud birds.
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Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 8:31 am
Traveling through the Deep woods was not as hard as it was for Clover as it was for Sly. Practice in flight from an early age by a demanding teacher, determination before his apprenticeship started, and as a hunter and a short period of being a watcher, he was always flying. He prided himself on that one skill. He moved through the trees with tilts and glides, beating his wings when necessary, in a way that made it look like he should have been humming a happy tune while flying as his pace seemed leisurely and enjoyable to him. Though Sly wasn’t the one to hum, or one to take things leisurely.
Following Clover, he watched as she spoke quick hellos to passing Sentinels, a few perched or passing by. It was a weird play on their expressions to see them smile at Clover and give a hello before turning their attentions at seeing Sly and their expressions turning to shock, confusion, or even something of nervousness as they either drifted away or even halted all together in midair. He passed a few perched Sentinels who looked at the sight of both Clover and the following Sly and he knew they where wondering what was going on.
It wasn’t a offense. Sly rarely followed anyone, as he usually led, and he didn’t keep company. It was also more of a rarity for him to be invited as company. Even Sly couldn’t really pinpoint when he last was invited anywhere for supper. Probably not since he was very small and with his actual ‘family’, who where very friendly with the other Shadows and spoke on light terms, being social and well liked.
Frowning at the thought, he followed Clover until she landed. Following, he perched and looked about, examining the place as she told him what he could do while he waited and flew off, leaving him rather unsure of what to do. He did not need a bath, as he kept himself clean. He didn’t want to eat before eating with small things like ants and nuts, though he did prefer berries with most of what he had. (He did like sweet things as a sideway guilty pleasure, aside from meat.) Still, he wasn’t a glutton. He would have helped Clover, but he thought she would be offended if he came up and tried to offer help, as if she wasn’t capable. If she needed it, she would ask. He didn’t want to be at the platform just yet, looking impatient.
Instead, he started to meander around the branch, looking about at the territory. Well kept, in the Deep woods, a prime spot for Sentinels, and with ample resources. She did find a great place to set up camp.
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Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 8:24 pm
Clover meanwhile was busily working to get the little fuzzy parus together. Some distant part of her wanted to fawn over them, enjoy their cute little peeps...but then one tried to harmonize, and it all went to dirt. No, no musical breeding at all. Something had gone horridly horridly wrong. And well, if they were no use there, might as well put them to feeding a few hungry bellies. With fluttering wings she herded the oblivious chicks towards the biggest platform. It was good none had proven able to talk yet. Well, not really. It'd have made little difference in the end.
With the birds safely moved to their final home of sorts, Clover looked around. Oh, there Sly was...right where she'd left him. "Come on now, no need to be shy." She half teased. With a sweeping gesture of one wing she flapped to the berry depository and gathered up a few of her sweetest fruits. Yes, they would go nicely with the fresh chicks...
Not waiting on Sly to join her, she flew back to land on one of the parus chicks, pinning it easily. "You coming or not?" She bent down, moving to start the feast if he was coming or not.
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Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 2:08 pm
There was a commotion of high pitched chirping as Clover emerged from the inside of a nearby tree. Turning, Sly watched as gray little puffs where rolled and shoved out, little balls of light colors and gaudy bodies that stumbled, fell, and tumbled all into a collective heap into the center platform. Clover turned to look about, scouring no doubt for Sly himself, only to be surprised to see him right where he landed. It almost seemed like she disappointed by the fact he hadn’t even felt a buddy curiosity to move from his place and inspect the place, but chalk it up to him not wanting to be anything but proper in this situation that left him from letting his critique the place and give it a very hard judgment. He was trying to keep himself away from little material that could cause him to absentmindedly toss out a remark that would be downright rude in the presence of an officer.
He knew the protocol and he was taking it all from his former teacher, a stern hunter who had retired from the Elites due to old age but was too stubborn to allow himself to become a teacher or watcher, instead demanding it from his peers that he remained a contributing member of society. It was this purely driven will that Sly had been attracted to, along with a few others, and from a quirky story he’d rather not get into, he was allowed to be taken under his apprenticeship. From there, he was kept day in and day out to remain in a proper and strict mindset, minding what he said, how he acted, and if so much as a talon went out of line, a feather would be plucked by some tender area. Sly knew how to act around officers and was taking the same care he did with Clover.
"I'm simply taking my time admiring your home. You picked a very nice territory."
As Clover gestured, he flew over, a low glide up and upon the perch, watching as she already dived into the meal. They tiny parus she was eating had peeped into a loud fury before going silent. Despite this, the other birds had been oblivious to what was going on, peeping for the sake of being loud and clearly unaware of the fact that their lives would end in a matter of minutes.
As he approached next to Clover though enough to maintain space, he looked at her before dropping his gaze to the nearest little bird. It was mangly looking thing, with weak wings and bulging eyes, it’s body bobby and welfare dependent. It gave a curling peek that made Sly’s eartuffs flatten as he cringed.
”Oh look how softly it sings! My aren’t you just the most beautiful little Parus in all of Noctua. Such a lovely color, as if you flew right into a pool of sunlight.” Rosemary was downright puffed up in pride as he lavished over her parus, Oto, the bird now painted a fresh color of a blending color of bright cold to a melting color of orange and then tipped off with a tint of red. There was no other color of the companion’s original color. It seemed the Artisan had gotten the desired effect, having gone overboard on her color scheme to create yet another masterpiece of blending and shade and she made no attempt to hide it.
The tiny bird was drying but gave a sweet song, ready to please it’s mistress with a little teetering tune, just as puffed up with pride. It puffed up and made a flutter of its wings. “No. No. Oto. You silly thing. You’ll splatter your color.” The Shadow giggled, waving with her wings for the companion to calm down.
“Mamma? Mamma?” The voice was pleading, having called out for the third time for his mother’s attention, puffed up impatiently behind her as she fussed over her pet. His mother always had a lot of companions as she liked to use them to test out colors and designs and loved their company.
“What is it Rainbow?” She called back, smiling as Oto stepped back and forth, doing a tiny dance on his drying perch. She made no attempt to look over her shoulder as she watched the paint shimmer on the parus’ plumage.
“I did it. I went all the way over to the end platform to the birch tree. I glided for …like…a whole 10 seconds! It was WAY up there and THIS far away, but I still made it.” Rain was proud, beaming at the fact. He had practiced for 2 days straight on that platform and was finally was doing better than the little hops and flaps from one branch to the next. Next he’d try to fly up to the branch above the one he landed. Soon he’d be able to fly over WHOLE trees!
“Yes. Yes. That’s very nice dear.” She said, before turning and smiling. “Oh, I got a lovely idea. How about we paint your end feathers Oto’s color? That way you can match him?” She said, beaming at the idea. “It’s such a lovely color, even you can’t hate it. Please, just a smig,”
Rain fluffed up, frowning and letting his tiny brow furrow. She hadn’t so much as said anything about him flying! Sentinels twice his age wheren’t doing as good as he was! “No. I don’t like paint. I don’t want to match Oto.” He spat, glaring at the little bird. Stupid Oto. Who cared about paint? He saw what went in it. A whole lot of muck.
“Ohh. But you’d look so precious with accenting. Let mommy paint you.” She said, the slender Artisan smiling at her son. Unlike RainbowChaser, she had a dazzling mixture of color of that of a beautiful monarch butterfly. When she flew, she looked like a large and feathery creature with eyes on her wings. It was both beautiful and haunting, especially since her large black body made her look even more like a fluffy black moth.
Rain shook his head violently and Rosemary huffed. “Fine then. Hurt mommy’s feelings. Ohhh… my end feathers are colored gold. Must wash.” She said, looking at the ends of her feathers. She didn’t want to ruin her dye job, oh, but what an idea for when she molted. All gold! She turned and walked past her pouting son, leaving the enclave she worked in and kept her material to go find a puddle and wash up.
Quite, Rainbow looked about, looking into the large stone jars that held berries and plants that made dyes and colored sands and the many brushes that his mother used. Among this was Oto, who was chirping his annoying little head off. His father, Willow, was a dedicated bard and had continued to do lessons on the companions, just as much in love of the little ones as his mate was, who also shared a love of music.
Frowning, Sly looked around, before looking back at Oto. Spreading his wings, he lowered his body. “It was a cold and windy night and the great captain Sly had lasted weeks in the darkest, deepest part of Noctua….” Rain snickered at the idea. He took a step in the direction of Oto. “….It had been days since he last saw sign of his team. They where probably all dead by now without him.” He took another step towards Oto’s perch. “……..he had waited for days, not eating or sleeping, but waiting. And there, he saw it! The great beast. Pure gold, a monster of the wars. A feather menace. It had eaten even the greatest of captains. It was only down to him.” He grinned, and with a hop and a flap, fluttered towards Oto. The perch crashed, jars over spilled and golden paint splattered on the ground and around the walls, splattering as Oto flapped about.
Oto was on the ground, his wing askew and his feathers smeared and disfigured, his eyes large as his beak gapped for breath as Rain held it down, shushing it.” RAIN!” RainbowChaser looked up at the entrance of the chamber, seeing the gaping beak of his mother. Her eyes where large as they looked down at her son and the broken parus under it’s tiny fledgling talons. She swept over, brushing rain aside and out of the way as she started to inspect the parus. “Oto. Oh dear Noctua, Oto? What did he do to you?” She said, gapping as the little bird continued to squawk, breathing quickly. It’s tiny little heart was at top speed.
“I…I didn’t do anything.” Rain uttered, his voice a whisper as he cowered behind his mother. He was in trouble and he knew he was going to be punished.
She turned, looking at him only briefly, but there was a startling look to her eyes. “Rain…I …I can’t believe you’d do this? I…I can’t look at you right now. Go….I’ll have your father talk to you….I can’t look at you …I just..” Things went silent, Rain mute at he looked at the back of his mother. Slowly, he drew away and out the entrance, looking back at her morning over the parus. It had stopped squawking.
Sly breathed deep, letting his talons curl over the head of the tiny parus and muffled it’s cries before it went silent. Lowering, he started to eat though felt his appetite lessened.
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Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 8:47 pm
From the corner of one eye Clover caught the movement of Sly's cringe. She flicked her gaze up a moment, watching him watch the food with interest before noncommittally looking back down at her meal just before he seemed to come back to himself. He was eating after a moment more, though not with half the...reckless abandon...she had expected. She rolled the meat around in her beak, testing it briefly. No, it didn't seem to taste foul..a little gamy perhaps, but that might be from them being so small. Lots of little bones...They really seemed alright, their strict nut-diet lending a rather oaky taste...perhaps he would have liked a berry garnish.
Gulping down the chick she'd been on, she stood more erect, shuffling a little closer to the shadow male/ She nudged him gently, her face writ with the faintest traces of concern. Something was bothering him, and that bothered her. "Is everything alright, Sly? Would you prefer something sweet maybe, or another bird if yours isn't how you'd like. I fed them nuts before this, because that's what I like, but if there's something else you'd prefer I'm sure I can dig it up." She snatched up another small bird, culling it silently and efficiently, masking the main of her concern behind her chewing.
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