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 Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 10:52 am
[RP is "backlogged" and happened before the Gryphon's attack, so it's fall, not winter. 8D]
She had traveled for a long time now - a month, perhaps? Without having to constantly monitor the well-being of the Flock made it easier to travel through the vast forests and rolling hills of the Kawani land. Hunting was also less complex, finding shelter was easier... In fact, travelling time was greatly reduced - she could see the mountains they had to leave behind from where she was standing, a smile on her lips. There, she would finally be able to meet up with an old friend again; she had missed her terribly during the time they were separated... If there was anyone Aviania dared to bear her heart to, it would be her, the Flock's Oracle.
The mountains were brightly colored, the leaves on the trees growing at the foot of the mountain had already turned orange, red and brown... It reflected the brown Harpy's mood as she galloped through familiar surroundings, kicking up crisp, fallen leaves as she made a beeline towards the temple that sat high in the mountains, possibly built centuries ago by humans who had later abandoned it... It had became a place for the Flock Oracle to speak with the spirits when the first Harpy Flock made the mountains their home, and had been that way ever since... Now, it is the only place on the whole mountain where a Harpy still lingers...
"Aylin, darling, answer if you hear me," She called out softly, eyes quickly adjusting to the dimmer interior of the structure as she tried to find the one she had came to search for. While she had told her Commanders that this trip was to confirm what the spirits had to say, it was also for her to catch up with what Aylin had been up to while the Flock was gone.
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Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 11:02 am
 Her ears flickered as she heard a familiar voice at the entrance of her temple. Aylin turned quickly, making her way from the shadows at the end of the temple. Her eyes set in quickly on the silouette in the doorway. A broad smile crossed her face as she recognized the scent of her dearest friend, her Queen. "Aviania!" she chirped happily as she came to a stop in front of the brown mare. She greeted the mare in a most informal manner, nuzzling her neck as sisters would do. "You have been gone too long!" she pulled back looking at Aviania. "It is good to see your face, my Queen..." she bobbed her head quickly. "How are my sisters?"
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Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 6:25 pm
"Aylin! I would have visited sooner, but our move hadn't been as smooth as expected." She smiled upon seeing the Oracle, returning the nuzzle as she took a moment to truly relax, knowing that there is no need to carry herself as she normally does when its just the two of them. She flicked her ears as she too, pulled away, giving the mare a nod, "There is no need for formalities, darling... Today, its just us in this old temple." A light chuckle escaped her lips as she beamed; if only Aylin could come live with the rest of them!
"The Flock had settled far from here, at the base of a mountain range in the East. As you told us, we headed East until we saw 'the sun wake upon the rocks' - the sun rising from behind the rocky mountains. It is an area full of giant oaks, perfect for us to build our nests in. There is also a nearby source of water, and full is plentiful. However, that was the second move we had to make after our move from here..." Aviania paused, a sigh escaping her before she continued, "I interpreted your words - the spirits' words - incorrectly the first time, and settled where another herd had already claimed as the borders of their territory. If we were our full numbers, I would have stayed and fought, but alas... We had to preserve our already small numbers."
Just thinking about that incident made her troubled; was her judgement that off without Aylin? Or was that just a genuine mistake? She looked up at the Oracle for her opinion, and any comments she might have - the spirits seemed restless, after all.
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Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 7:34 am
"Sometimes the spirits aren't so clear on their intentions, you know that, Aviania." she chuckled and beckoned her friend further inside the temple. She had heard the spirits whispering as of late, but she had not been able to make out what it was they had been saying. Perhaps now, with the help of Aviania, she would be able to interrupt more clearly. Until then, she stayed silent about her uneasiness that had settled upon her in the last few days.
The temple had become even more decorated since the flock had left. Aylin had gathered a few trinkets here and there, and some had been offered as gifts for her services. She walked over to a small pile of unusual objects, some where adorned with jewels and gems. "I've gathered these for you and the sisters," she motioned toward the pile. "Gifts from those seeking my services...and items from my meals."
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Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2010 9:13 am
"You always know just what to say, Aylin," The brown Harpy chuckled softly as she followed the Oracle further into the structure. Looking around, she chuckled again at the sight of several new decorations, her tone suggesting that she was half-teasing the Harpy as she spoke again, "And it seems to me like you had been rather busy in our absence!" She gestured to some of the decor in the newly "furnished" temple, impressed with the loot she had gathered in under a year.
"Oh! Darling, how am I supposed to transport these back to the Flock without drawing attention to myself?" Aviania laughed as she lowered her neck for a closer look at the various trinkets, clearly impressed with the collection.
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Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2010 2:33 pm
"You can always send some of the sisters for them once you return from your visit. I just wanted to you know that I thought of you all in your absence." she smiled and watched as Aviania sifted through some of the trinkets.
"Those of non harpy blood that come to me, they must pay for my service. It has turned out to be quite...rewarding..." she laughed and looked over the riches. Between herbs to gems, food to two legger items, Aylin had collected a mass.
In the mist of her conversations, she fell silent, the spirits were whispering to her. It was hard still, to understand, but it was getting more clear. It was a warning, but it was still to early to be alarmed.
"Aviania, how are the sisters, truely?" she couldn't put her talon on what the spirits were warning of. Perhaps if she got some more information of the current situation of her sisters she could piece it together.
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Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2010 9:27 am
"Ah, maybe after winter is over," She nodded with a small smile, knowing how dangerous it is to travel during the cold season; at least in spring, they would have plenty of food to go by. Looking up from the heap of treasure, Aviania paused, a slight frown on her features, "Although, tell me, darling... Do you get enough to eat and drink even with the payment of outsiders? If not, do know that you're always welcomed to join us, even if it is only for a season!"
She paused again at Aylin's question, sensing seriousness in the Oracle's voice; the way she was acting... And that pause from before. Aviania knew her friend enough to know that it meant that the spirits had been whispering something - and that something was not favorable to them.
"Had the spirits spoken, Aylin? Did they speak of something ominous?" She asked before letting out a soft sigh, closing her eyes, "The sisters are well, I do not lie... But recently, there was a winged male who had been lingering around the Flock - we exchanged blows but he got away. It... Was disgraceful." She paused, opening her eyes as she looked at the Oracle, "After that incident, I kept hearing the spirits whisper something into my ears... But without you, I was unable to interpret it. Soon, the whispers stopped, but before I left, I placed them on high alert..."
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Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2010 10:04 am
Aylin shrugged off the question of food, it wasn't as important as the well being of her sisters. She listened to Aviania tell of a winged male and recent combat. The whispers continued, but they were weak still.
Aylin took a moment to try to listen, but she could not. She looked to Aviania, "Come. We will have a gathering with the spirits..."
Moving to the middle of her temple, Aylin approached some dry grasses and twigs, it was her ceremonial circle. She had learned years ago how to create sparks with rocks to make a small fire within the circle. Once the fire was made, Aylin gathered a few items from here and there. A broken piece of two legger artifacts that she used to boil water in...she dropped in a few twigs wtih herbs and several different leaves. The mixture soon started to create a smoke that rose to the two mare's noses.
It was a ceremony they had done many times when conversing with the spirits. The ingredients that mixed allowed their minds to become more open to hearing what the spirits had to say and more connected to one another. Aylin began a chant in the ancient harpy language and soon the whispers began to get louder...
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Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 6:51 am
In the temple, the Oracle stands above the Queen, among the spirits; there are secrets passed down to the Oracle that even the Queen is unaware of. It had been like that for generations, and helped balance the physical and spiritual health of the Flock. Silently, Aviania nodded, sensing the graveness of the situation as she followed Aylin. She watched as her friend prepared the ceremonial circle, and calmed her own heart to aid in listening to the voice of the spirits.
When the fire was lit and the mixture begun to heat up, she deeply inhaled the smoke from it, closing her eyes as Aylin begun to chant in a language she could not understand. They had performed this ceremony countless times, but it was still as fascinating as the first time... The Harpies - they are the children of the Great Mother; she was sure that there is no other herd as grand as theirs!
"Spirits, please let your whispers be heard," She spoke in her heart, trying to focus on what they are trying to say, waiting for Aylin to be the interpretor.
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Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 7:29 am
Aylin's eyes were closed, but she could smell the sweet aroma of the mixture rise to her nose as she continued to chant. She was still, very still as she waited for the whispers to clear.
After several minutes had passed, the whispers began and Aylin's voice ceased. Her ears flickered randomly as she was catching voices in all directions.
"Danger on the horizon..." her voice almost didn't sound like her own, the messages would only be in bits in pieces as she caught them.
"Birds of a feather" she paused, her head tilting one way, then the next. A puzzled look on her face as she continued to listen.
"Not of the flock... Duo...." she opened her eyes, looking over to Aviania, "Great Beasts,"
She shook her head, the omen of the spirits was not good. Danger was coming in the form of great birds. Birds?
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Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 7:37 am
She could not really hear what the spirits were going on about, but she could hear the voice of Aylin loud and clear. Her eyes still closed, she made a mental note of every word that escaped the Oracle's mouth, knowing that every word is precious and noteworthy. She tensed at the word 'danger', fearing the worst; if the spirits were this agitated, there must be a huge battle coming up!
"Birds? Great beasts?" Her eyes snapped open almost simultaneously with Aylin's as she tilted her head, a frown on her features, "Aylin... Remember how I told you about my encounter with the stallion that caused me worry? He had wings like a bird, and the tail of a lion... Could he be the Flock's future aggressor?"
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Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 8:31 am
Aylin took a moment to dump the mixture of herbs into the floor, the smoke ceased to continue rising. She was silent for a moment as she listed to her dear friend speak.
"It could be so, Aviania..." the creature she described would make for a great bird like beast, "I would keep keen eyes out for him..." She pondered a moment longer.
"Aviania, they said duo...two...Are there two that you know of?" she questioned with Queen for any further knowledge. The thought of danger befalling her sisters lay heavily on her heart and mind.
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Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2011 9:36 pm
"I should have ripped his wings out and nailed him to the ground that time, if I knew that he would be such a danger to the Flock!" She looked rather frustrated as she frowned, a sight that she would only show to someone close to her, "However, if this was something that had been set in motion at that time... I need to return quickly and warn them! Aylin, please return as well; we'll need all the help we can get."
She then paused to think before shaking her head, her frown deepening, "No... That one male was the only one I saw. However, I wouldn't be surprised if he belonged to some sort of a nest? A herd? I would send someone to scout, but I'm afraid I have no idea where his base is..."
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