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 Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 4:36 pm
If You Can’t Fly, You Can’t Hunt (Breeze, Osprey, Hollyhock and Sagebrush) A ghostly figure sat on the highest of three large platforms, looking… waiting. The only movement came from the intent red gaze traveling with tireless determination through the surroundings, a large territory in the old maple forest. She could hear the sound of the peaceful water in the creek just a few trees away, the waving trees whose branches danced in the cold wind and the soft wing beats of a teasing bat whose movements she occasionally followed. It was a peaceful night. Much quieter the one that had shaken the platforms and made the creek overflow with unusual violence just a few moons before.
The large ghost’s eartufts twitched when she suddenly detected movement but were quick to sink back to their previous position when a furry creature came into view. The shape of a light colored skurri dashed through the branch until it stopped right next to the female, silent, as if waiting for something. “Is everything ready?” the surprisingly deep grave voice of a female answered the companion’s silence. “Did you see anyone?”
“All ready. Not see sentinels. Only see bat.” A much softer voice replied as the skurri pointed towards the cheeky flying creature.
“Anyone can see that bat.” For a moment she considered having the annoying flying animal as a small snack but easily contained herself. There would only be one first impression and she’d like to be right up there when the first fledgling arrived. The look on the little ones’ faces as the red-eyed shadow pierced them from above was usually enough to instill a silent respect for a few good weeks. Noctus knew she would need it after agreeing to take three fledgling at the same time but she couldn’t refuse to teach a promising young lady that had shown so much potential on a previous occasion.
A small mischievous smile curled around her beak as she noticed how the bat changed directions abruptly as if spooked by something. “Ally, I think I heard something.”
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Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 7:27 pm
A young mist fledgling moved as silently as she could manage through the boughs of the maple forest. She was clearly putting a great amount of care and effort into her movements, though there was plenty of room for improvement. Despite her smug and determined expression, she was clearly tiring out, but there was some improvement now that she had had time to build up some strength into her wings.
She had put up a bit of a fuss on the way to Breeze's territory. Really, all she had to do was peer up at Twistumbler with her large, golden eyes, snuggle up against him, and request that he let her finish the journey on her own. That was almost all the fuss she ever had to do, unless her Ghostly clutchmate happened to be around. It wasn't far left to go, but Osprey was determined to show that she was tough. She was not about to let Songbloom's harsh words get in the way of her becoming what she wanted to be, skilled and slightly feared. She had a constant desire to be on top, just as she had when she was still nestbound with her favorite minder.
"Awmost there..." She mumbled to herself as she moved from one limb to another with quick and heavy wingbeats, but little grace.
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Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:14 am
It was definitely a fledgling. It was impossible for any half decent adult to be this obvious. Breeze could hear the innumerous calls of preyed upon animals alarming every possible creature in the area of the potential predator approaching. Birds, bats, a small mouse… The whole forest life was awakening and the warnings multiplied like wildfire. Breeze could pinpoint the origin of the commotion so was quite unfazed by the appearance of a moving white shape in the distance. A mist. She could picture the tiny eyes that were certainly following it and the teacher released a quiet grunt that was most likely a contained chuckle. Thankfully, they wouldn’t be hunting tonight.
“An owl wouldn’t cause this ruckus.” But she was still smiling. Her first student had arrived.
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Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 5:16 pm
Osprey continued on her far from graceful journey until the she came upon that highest platform. She landed with just about as much ease as she had flown, but she was beaming with pride. The red eyed, red painted teacher still caused her to be somewhat afraid, but she could not help but feel somewhat accomplished and who else had it been to give her any tips? Only Miss Breeze.
"G'evn'in, Miss Breeze!" The little one greeted, but only after a moment's hesitation.
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Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 11:59 am
“Good evening, Ossie. Please don’t eat your words.”Came the stern voice from above “And I would rather if you called me Madam instead of Miss. Ma’am will be fine as well.” The large ghost moved closer to the female, pleased with the fledgling’s reaction. Taken aback, yes and a little hesitant… but quick to regain control and take action. It boded well for the future. “You’ve been practicing your flying, haven’t you?”
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Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 12:35 pm
"Y's... Yes, Ma'am. I been practicin' -- ing, every night." She tried to correct herself as she responded to her teacher. Her eartufts lifted as she studied Breeze for a reaction, any reaction. She did not seem to express herself as freely as Twistumbler did, which slightly confused her, but she was happy regardless. She had to keep her beak firmly closed, to keep it from running away, or else she would of continued to jabber on, probably something about Songbloom, Twistumbler, or Hollyhock.
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Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 12:49 pm
“It shows. Very few things can be accomplished without hard work. And one tends to discover that those things weren’t really what they were looking for in the first place.” The teacher’s gaze left the fledgling for a moment and travelled through the darkness and the dyed eartufts flickered a couple of times before settling back on the ghost’s back. “Are you ready to work hard, Ossie?”
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Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 1:01 pm
"Y's -- Yes, Ma'am!" Osprey chimed enthusiastically. For a brief moment, her gaze followed Breeze's into the darkness, but quickly returned to the ghost sentinel. If she had heard correctly, two of her friends would be taking lessons from Madame Breeze. She hoped this was true. She hoped that Holly and Sage would be along shortly, because she longed for their companionship. Her feathers fluffed up and she tucked her wings tightly to her sides. This would certainly be a different experience for the eager youngster. She loved Twistumbler dearly, but she longed for uniform tasks and instruction; anything that would prove that she was tough and not stupid, as Song often called her.
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Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 1:15 pm
“Good. I’ll hold you to your word.” The teacher’s voice sounded graver when she eyed the fledgling once more, as if Osprey had just accepted the terms of an unspoken contract. “I take it you didn’t fly all the way here on your own… didn’t Twistumbler accompany you?”
Ally remains silent a few steps behind the teacher. She knows better than to interrupt the first introductions. There will be plenty of time to get accustomed to the new fledglings and Breeze is sure to start her subtle testing anytime soon. That is… before the not-so-subtle testing begins.
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Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 2:34 pm
"Yess'm.. I mean, Yes Ma'am. He came with me most of the way. He let me practice on my own the rest of the way." She informed her teacher and a faint smile tugged at the corners of her beak, despite Breeze's suddenly graver tone.
Cain' be in'timdated, nuh-uh... She thought quietly to herself as she put on a brave face.
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Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 3:24 pm
“I see. I didn’t think he’d let you come alone. And by the way…” Breeze leaned forward. “I’ve been told you know your future class mates. Hollyhock and Sagebrush… do you know them well? What do you think of them?” Though her voice remains almost devoid of emotion there is a glimpse of curiosity in the teacher’s eyes.
The question is actually a small test at Osprey’s character as Breeze has already been informed about the basic characteristics of each student. Osprey’s answer will help determine how much Breeze has to work on the little mist’s personality traits. What will the fledgling say? Is there any sort of rivalry between three fledglings? Will they get along? And more importantly, just how much will Osprey say behind their back?
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Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 3:33 pm
"Oi, yeah! I know 'em. Them." Osprey bobbed her head in response to the teacher's question. "Er, well. I know Holly pretty well. I ain't been knowin -- ing Sage that long. He's nice, though, an' -- and sort of quiet." She explained in a rather matter of fact tone.
"Holly, 'e's -- He's my best friend. He's nice, too, but y'gotta be careful. Cos sometimes he eats things he ain't supposta, y'see? It c'd make 'im sick. Worries the minders sick, sometimes he does." She spoke evenly at first, but as she carried on her sentences, she began to eat her words again and sounded almost as if she were about to ramble. "B'he's my best friend ever. Both'th them wanna same as I do."
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Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 5:11 pm
Breeze waited until she was sure the mist fledgling was done speaking and pondered briefly on the fledgling’s words. “Don’t get too excited, Osprey.” The teacher’s voice was suddenly stern. “When one loses composure often loses reason as well. Please don’t forget what I have asked of you. I don’t like to repeat myself.”
When her confidence level rises, she tends speaks too much… but it’s easy to see what goes through her mind. She willingly gave too much information on Hollyhock… but apparently she doesn’t consider it too important.
Best friends… that might be a problem. It takes but a small fight for the two of them to turn on Sagebrush. Fledglings can be cruel. If there’s already a close bond between two of them, the third might have a hard time joining the group.
“Another thing, Osprey. As your teacher I expect to have your full confidence. However, if Hollyhock is really that close to you, it is your duty to keep his particulars traits and anything might be perceived as “unusual” or a weakness, to yourself. Think twice before you reveal that sort of information to someone you don’t know that well. Loyalty towards friends is a most admirable trait.”
She could feel the furry shape of her skurri nudging her softly in the back. Ally tended to do that when she feared the depressing effect of Bree’s speeches. The teacher glared at the tan creature before changing the subject. “So Osprey, what task would you like to perform in the future?”
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Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 5:23 pm
"Yes Ma'am. I just worry he might eat something really bad. You'll help watch, right?" She asked in earnest worry as she peered up at her teacher.
Breeze's words picked at the fledgling somewhat, but she could not help but be relieved. She wasn't calling her names or degrading her, but giving advice. It was far from what she got when she was in the nest. Not to say that Twistumbler did a poor job raising her. It was far from that. He just had the tendency to turn a blind eye when she and her nest mate were bickering.
"Task? Oh, oh, I want to be a Scout!" She fluffed her feathers and beamed proudly.
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Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 5:45 pm
Hollyhock was late.
Frightfully late. And he KNEW he was frightfully late, which made it all the worse. Flapping despondently from branch to branch, half-hopping in his slowly-improving attempts at flight, he was mumbling to himself. "Stupid stupid stupid stupid." He repeated the words like a mantra, hoping that the Minder he had finally found to bring him was keeping an eye on him. If he fell and died, it would be...embarrassing.
Finding a free Minder had been a task in and of itself, but the matronly female he had finally gotten to accompany him was nice enough, if not very invested. And she had the tact and foresight to allow him to flap to the platform first. It wasn't hard, especially with his mist friend Ossie (was she there already?) shining out like a beacon in the night. Alighting with a poor attempt at grace, he took a moment to compose himself, sleeked ruffled feathers, and inclined his head.
"Good evening, um..." he suddenly realized that he was at a loss for the Teacher's title. He tended to call minders "Papa" or "Mama," and any others got "Miss" or "Sir." He supposed there must be a more formal word for 'miss.' Madam, maybe? "Evening, miss Breeze, ma'am."
There. If he used both, that might help.
He felt, rather than heard, his chaperone land behind him. She gave a polite nod to Breeze, gently preened one of Holly's eartufts, and left as silently as she had come, abandoning Holly to the indignity of being preened by a Minder in public.
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