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 Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 11:16 am
This shelter consists of two trees that are growing so close together that they almost seem to be leaning on each other for support. There is enough space between them to fit two adult Sentinels and it's a well known and often used shelter in Deep Woods. A fledgling could squeeze in with them if they don't mind sitting close to each other. The intertwined branches provide shelter from rain and winds.
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Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 5:06 pm
"Lively, now, lively." Twilla sang in her soft voice. She was far from a bard and such lifestyle did not interest her, but she had a soft spot for fledglings and the little aberrant that she happened across tugged at her heartstrings. If she were to leave the little one behind, she would surely of been decimated by the storm.
"There is a place right up here..."
The blue painted gatherer guided Nica into the space the twin trees offered. Rain was pelting down on them, now, but she struggled to keep the worry from her voice.
"Oi! Rain comma fast, inna shelter now. Wanna home inna willow..." Auze complained, only to have a sharp n** delivered to him from the skurri that sat in the gather pack with him.
"Nah, hush hush." The skurri scolded.
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Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 8:29 pm
“Just my luck.” He huffed, flapping his winds and maneuvering with every sharp blow of wind that hit him that made his flight erratic at best. Any other Sentinel with less experience would have a hard time. Sly wasn’t happy either. The rain got to him. It always did. It reminded him of the past and how his unsavory name came about.
“Owwww….it’s cold out!” The little fledgling whined, beak wide as he looked up at the sky above and was met with a large drop of water that hit him on the head. Fluffing up, Rainbowchaser moved down the branch and closer to the protective warmth that was his mother. Rosemary smiled, reaching a large wing to encircle her son and looked up. “Now now. Just wait a while. The storm is almost done.”
“It’s sure taking it’s time!” Rain huffed, looking out as the world around became drenched in the thinning, spring shower, though taking great comfort in the encircling heat of the wing about him. It made things bearable, but only just. Close to chest, he felt a vibration that moved through his small frame and looked up, taking noticing that his mother was humming. She liked singing when it rained, or when no one else was about, aside from him.
Feeling lethargic, he nudged closer in the darkness of her wing. He wasn’t use to being out when it was daylight out. He should be sleeping. They all should. His father was probably snoozing away right now.
“The rain is stopping!” His mother sang, her voice bursting in excitement, awakening Rain as he looked about. Tired, he looked about, eyes up at the skies.
“I don’t see anything.” He said, yawning.
“Oh, just wait. You need the clouds to part.” She stated, her eyes wide as she looked up.
Sleepy-eyed, Rain looked up, just in time to see the dazzling array of colors that started to form in thin air. A rising feeling started to push up from his core as his eyes went wide.
The wind hit Sly’s underbelly and he cursed, tilting his body to regain his center before he sent his eyes above. The shelter was in his sights.
Flying over, he neared in time to see the branches occupied. He had hoped that everyone would be someplace else. Sly would have left, but he had no options. All other shelters where too far off and he didn’t want to risk it. Landing, he had to almost slip in place, winds dripping off his glossy plumage as he let a shiver race up his spine.
His eyes immediately fell on what he now saw where 2 others, a painted Shadow and an aberrant fledging. Of all the Sentinels to be here, he was stuck with a crossbreed child and a mucked up Shadow.
Now saying a word, Sly simply looked out to the side, trying to find more space but finding there was none. He hated being close. He couldn’t even preen too much here. DRATS! HE HATED THE RAIN!
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Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 9:19 pm
 Nica floated wobbily behind the gatherer. The aberrant was usually quite swift and light on her wings for a fledgling; however the recent weather proved to be quite troublesome on the little Sentinel. As Twilla singing echoed, the fledgling attempted to speed up, although this ultimately resulted in failure, and in the end, only slowed her down.
"Right behind you!" The little one trilled between gasps for breaths. She had encountered rain before, and knew it wasn't the greatest for flying. But this was worse than anything she had ever seen, and all the adults seemed sure it was going to get even worse. All she knew was that the sky was darkening, and flying was only getting worse.
As the twin trees came into view, the fledgling's heart seemed to beat a little less. It had been the first time since she fled that she had felt somewhat safe.
"Here! We are here!" Shadowbreeze chittered in excitement, bolting ahead and diving into the shelter, cheeping wildly until Nica was beside her. The small creature began to preen itself before being promptly pushed out of the driest spot to join the other companions.
"Is it always like this?" The white and black Sentinel asked, landing softly. "Does it storm like this a lot? Are we okay? Are we gonna get wet?" She shivered, having so many questions, she couldn't keep them bottled for any longer. Something about this whole thing wasn't right.
Nica's gaze shifted slightly as she noticed the shadow lurking in the distance. Was he to come in here too? Was there going to be enough room?
"…I think someone's outside…" She whispered to the Gatherer.
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Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 11:23 am
"Stay close now, little one." Twilla instructed and moved her wing out to cover the little aberrant. She dipped her head and preened an eartuft in hopes that it would provide some comfort. She had little experience with young sentinels, though she would have to learn if she and Jester were ever to raise an egg.
"Thunderbird is bringing us rain, it happens now and again. As long as you stay in a nice safe and dry place, you should not be eaten by it. We might get a little damp, but we should be alright, here." She said in an attempt to encourage Nica.
At her final words, Twilla's head snapped forward and her icy blue eyes traced over the entering Sly.
"As I said, stay as close as you can to me. Keep your parus at your talons, alright?" She whispered at the fledgling's eartuft.
"If you need to, you can take shelter with us. There is hardly a thing other than this." She told Sly and bustled back into the shelter offered by the intertwined branches and nudged Nica along with her.
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Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 3:01 pm
Sly was stuck in a rock and a hard place, or more specifically, a tree and a wet place. Despite the protection the tree was giving, the wind was still cutting through and the water would often times be taken with it, sprinkling his new perch. He had to go further where the two sister trees intertwined to get the provided shelter he needed. Unfortunately, it would entail sharing it with a painted Shadow and an aberrant fledgling. It was the worst case scenario, though it probably would have been just as worse if the female wasn’t a Shadow or if it was someone he knew. Like Fjord or that irksome gossiper, Iennta.
Still, it was wet, he was cold, and he debated for a great deal of time to either stand in the storm or move to the offered shelter. On one hand, he could go there and wind up being too close to a pair of Sentinels he rather not talk to, and on the other hand, he could risk freezing and getting sick and he wasn’t about to jeopardize his career by missing even one day of work. His work ethic won.
Turning, he grumbled to himself, the words lost by the howling wind, and slowly made his way over to the pair. He did take note of the companions that seemed to be surrounding the group. Great. Another thing he just loved. Now he had to sedate his disliking for the little snacks just to live another day. Nearing, Sly entered the small space that the two where nestled. The tiny fledgling was held close to the painted Sentinel and Sly wondered if she was the mother, meaning that her mate had to be some mixed other than a Shadow. What a grand way of ruining a bloodline. Still, he moved into the space, making a slow nod that indicated that he would take her up on the offer and moved to the only offered spot available and in this type of shelter, there was little space. This didn’t help Sly’s mood as he perched himself next to the pair, noticing his wing was brushing the other. He hated the lack of space. He wasn’t comfortable when people where too close.
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Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 4:26 pm
Nica shivered under Twilla, although she seemed to greatly appreciate the comforting gesture. Golden eyes closed as her eartuffs were preened, and she unsure whether or not she enjoyed it. The gatherer reminded her slightly of her own mother, or what little she knew of her, and that seemed to bring her slight comfort despite the rain, and wind. Maybe she even knew her…? The little fledgling made a mental note to ask later on.
"Thunderbird?!" She squealed, all relaxed feelings fled from the aberrant, and she squirmed slightly. There had been a few rumours spread among the fledglings about different creatures that resided in these woods, and the name sounded familiar…although she had been exiled from most of the these common gatherings.
"I don't wanna be eaten!" she squeaked to Breeze, gathering her close to her talons, and snuggling close to shadow. Nica than attempted to preen the parus's head tuff, imitating what the gatherer had done to her.
The tiny shivering parus seemed to ignore this, squeaking with shallow breath as Sly entered the small shelter. There was something about they way that hunter looked at her; something that made her feel like prey.
Nica on the other hand, seemed oblivious to any dangers that another Sentinel could pose. She watched him for a few minutes, however warmed to him quickly. The fledgling ignored her parus's instincts, and began to question Twilla's advice as time passed. Why was she so nervous? He seemed like a decent guy…
"Hello Mr." she squeaked in an attempt to break a long silence.
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Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 8:28 pm
Twilla winced as Nica spoke. Sly had taken her up on her offer, but why should he not? The shelter was not hers and where else would he have gone, anyways? There was no other shelter withint he radius that would protect him sufficiently from the elements. Although he had taken her offer, he said no words to her. She did not really wish to speak with him, either.
"As long as you stay in cover and safely tucked away, the Thunderbird should stay away from you, dear..."
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Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 10:23 pm
Darkened pupils slid across flat yellow eyes to look down at the small fledgling tucked too closely to his side, a wing from the present Minder curled around the young fledgling the only thing protecting the young female from the wind and the Shadow Sentinel that had arrived. His ear tufts made no movements to show any sign of emotion, aloof as his stance as look at her with a gaze that seemed to be prone to deep concentration and was considering her with the same attention. He studied her small frame, felt her shiver as the wind picked up and howled around the shelter and the look she gave to him, shy and cautious. It was one that most fledglings had, still dependent and unknowing where their place and their rank was in the world. Sly had it once, but it hadn’t lasted long.
At the mention of the fledgling’s worries, Sly felt his beak curl. The Thunderbird? Did they still give such ridiculous threats to children these days? His teacher had bashed all those frivolous ideas out when he was under his tutelage, instead correcting him on the meaning of what it would bring the dangers of the storms itself. He didn't entertain the ideas of the actual creator of storms to bother it's time in snatching fledglings. He heard the cooing reassurance the Minder gave and continue to feel his expression curl in mockery of it all.
“You should be fine inside. I've heard the creature can uproot trees from their roots and snatch up entire clans of Sentinels into it's greedy beak. Though a fledgling like you would hardly be a meal. I'd be more worried of falling branches.” Sly reached down to preen the corner of his wing as best he could. It was hard with such limited space but he felt filthy, even if the rain was sliding off his feathers, he knew some of was going to soak in.
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Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 12:00 am
Nica couldn't help but to notice the large hunter study her. She continued to shiver, and tried to not let it fester in her mind for too long. The little one had become accustom to the odd stares; she had received them all her life. She was just relieved that it seemed to remain merely a stare…for she had encountered much worse in her lifetime.
She could feel Twilla wince as she spoke, and slightly regretted her decision. Was there something she missed? Why couldn't she talk to the shadow? Her parus stirred slightly at all the commotion, twisting her tiny head to observe the hunter.
"Whaaaat?!" The aberrant cried. She seemed still terrified by such a creature, despite having most of her worries dismissed. The thought of falling branches didn't exactly help either. "Is the thunderbird angry? Is that why it is raining so hard?" She looked up through the few scattered branches, terrified as she saw a night sky so dark, you couldn’t even see the rain.
Why did I have to run…? Her mind echoed. If only I was stronger…if only I was pure…I wouldn't had had to hide, I wouldn't have to always be scared… She curled up closer to Twilla, wishing she could just escape from it all.
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Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 7:58 am
Twilla's eyes narrowed and she hissed softly at Sly's words, before trying to comfort the aberrant once more.
"No worries, no worries, little chick." Twilla cooed quietly and preened the top of Nica's head. "It is best to ignore what he says. We'll be safe here, as long as we stay put. The Thunderbird is bringing rain and it is heavy, but in time you will see it is a blessing of life..." She could not think of much to say to comfort the aberrant.
"Would you like something to eat, while we wait out the storm? I have berries in my pack..."
She had been out gathering that evening, before the storm had hit. fortunately, her pack was at least partially full.
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Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 9:38 pm
Sly didn't feel like holding back his tongue and watched the Minder frantically reassure the fledgling. My, was he that guilble at that age, and did he hold his emotions on his sleeve. Hardly not! Leave it to an abberant to be small of intelligence. If luck was actually on the clan's side, the little peck would have been thrown in the wind. Suck freak breeding should have been taken care of by the mythical bird that was waging war with the sky.
"My, the Thunderbird does seem angry. I wonder what it could be furious over. I’d say the poor state of our clan and it’s lack of morals.” Sly made a point to look at the fledglign and then the Minder, who he was making a point to indicate. It was another statement where he could not be held to it’s meaning but you could still take from it what it meant. That the fledglign by his side was a disgrace to the pure lineage of the Sentinels. To each their own, and that’s where it should have stayed.
Preenign another feather, he pretended not to notice what he said, as if what he just proposed has merely been something entirely. Maybe he was stating how things where getting tougher for Sentinels, or the woods where not looking their best. If the Minder spoke of this incident, he could brush it off as the painted Shadow jumping to conclusions and that he meant something entirely different. Then he could pretend to be harmed by such claims and come out the injured victim of slander. He knew how to play his part.
Sly shook himself a moment, finding that preening was hard to do in such confined space and feeling the other wing from the Shadow and her ward aggrivating him. Why must people be too close? He could actually feel their combined heat radiating towards him. He didn’t need that! His eyes went to look outside and he wondered once again if he could brave the storm to find another place, but he knew that with this storm, only a few shelthers would do and they where all out of his reach.
His eyes went back to the fledgling. Peculiar. How far was the Minder’s Enclave from here and wasn’t Granny’s or any other teacher territories farther off from here. This shelther was not in the same range or passing flight path. “You sure appear to be a caring minder. Why is your ward out in this storm to begin with? Is someone doing something immoral?" he asked, smiling at the minder as if she would be going out to dispose of the bird in the woods and changed her mind. He also felt aggrivated by his predicament, which left him nastier than he usually was.
Turning, he looked out at the storm. “Little mixes like her should be tucked away with the others.” To what others meant, Sly was leaving out in the open. He even went so far as to make the word 'mixes' sound alluring, as if cooing the word as something elegant. If anyone asked, he just would say it was how he showed endearment to such 'lovely' fledglings, though he would have to practice not to gag when saying it. He was more the mix being with other mixes and hopefully being left to their own devices, being lesser than pures, and resulting in nature taking it’s course. However, seeing as the minder was protective and feeding the abberant, he assumed she was keeping her away from the other fledglings or they where going somewhere. Hopefully to the wide open to drop the little fluff off.
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Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 5:51 pm
Golden eyes watched the hunter with growing fear. Shadow-dipped eartuffs folded back tightly against the fledgling's head. She attempted to shrink as much as she could, as if she was smaller, he would forget about her. Sensing her discomfort, Breeze cheeped encouragingly, although this was quickly dampened by a small wing that covered her face.
"Not now, not now," Nica whispered to it so softly, she could barely hear it herself. Her eartuffs raised slightly as Twilla cooed the encouraging words. The berries sounded like a delightful idea. Anything that could take her mind away from the current happenings, sounded more than pleasant.
"Yes please" the aberrant squeaked, turning her head to listen to Sly's words. Immoral? What was this shadow talking about? Nica understood his apprehension around her, being an aberrant she was quite use to such. However, she couldn’t understand his malicious attitude towards the gatherer.
"I came here on my own," she muttered, eyeing the openings of the shelter as if she considered escaping. The fledgling had never been one to stand up for herself, finding life easier when she just ignored her problems. However Twilla had done nothing wrong, in fact, she went out of her way to ensure her safety. The least she could do was to shift some of the heat away from the gatherer.
Nica shuttered at Sly's last comment, forcing herself to dismiss it. Perhaps it would all just go away if she forgot about it it…
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Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 6:53 pm
"I've just met her out here. I am no minder. I stick to the below. I'm a gatherer." As she spoke, the skurri and mus in her pack began to unload some of the plump spring berries.
Auze and Tikki placed the berries before Nica and her parus quietly, both frightened of the male with the strange glint in his eyes.
Twilla's tongue was tied. She was furious, but did not want to upset her little charge any more than she already was. The storm had to be frightening enough, but Sly was making it worse, for sure.
"I found her while I was filling my pack. I couldn't leave a little fledgling to the elements."
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Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 7:38 pm
While Twilla and Nica held their tongue, Sly was enjoying his own freedom by talking away. Most people held their tongue because they feared saying something that would anger someone else and where usually bold and straightforward when they did say it. Sly was relaxed on the other hand, because he learned how to speak most of everything he wanted without necessarily saying anything at all and didn’t have any qualms with angering others. He was use to it and enjoyed the reacts of the rest of the world who had to hold down their emotions and seethe in silence to remain civil.
“No. You couldn’t just leave the fledgling alone. That would be such a shame.” Sly said, his tone flat as he didn’t even bother looking at the pair, watching the storm outside the small entrance. He shuffled in place again, trying to find some decimal of comfort but finding none. His eyes went to the companions, who where scurrying, delivering food to the fledglings.
“It’s clear you’re not a minder. They’d have more practice to know not to reward a fledgling who ran away on her own.” He said, jabbing at the gatherer and also looking at Nica down his sharp beak. “So why did you fly away?” He said, looking at the fledgling. He wondered if all the other fledgings where picking on her for being a mix. If so, well, he’d do his own damage to that.
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