Wolfs Heart
After accidentally hatching quite a number of harpy eggs, Lannister's life at the swan sanctuary became busier than he had ever intended. As overwhelming as a bunch of young harpies running around had been, Lannister was a hard-working pae and did what he had to do. The real swans were always his first priority though since they were his true mission. Now that the harpies were grown it was almost like he had his own little village of sorts, it was strange to him how his little swan sanctuary could have grown to this.
On this particularly morning, there was a layer of fog hanging over the large pond, making the world seem quieter and more mystical. Lannister headed out from his hut, setting to do his morning walk around the pond. He stopped at the first swan be stumbled upon, offering it some blueberries from his pouch and stroking its head feathers as it ate.
On this particularly morning, there was a layer of fog hanging over the large pond, making the world seem quieter and more mystical. Lannister headed out from his hut, setting to do his morning walk around the pond. He stopped at the first swan be stumbled upon, offering it some blueberries from his pouch and stroking its head feathers as it ate.
Menelie
Almadelago, or Alma as her sister swans called her, had grown up at the sanctuary among both her harpy sisters and the true swans. Once they'd all reached adulthood, many of the harpies had left. Too many of them in one spot did make for chaos, after all. But this was Alma's home. She didn't want to leave.
This morning, she yawned and stretched in her nest, which she'd built in a tree a few yards back from the pond. She'd lined it with her own feathers, and those she'd found discarded from the swans, so it was soft and downy inside. She flew down from her nest, but froze when she saw Lannister. She'd been avoiding him, worried that he'd make her leave. She tucked her wings and hid behind her nesting tree as he approached.
This morning, she yawned and stretched in her nest, which she'd built in a tree a few yards back from the pond. She'd lined it with her own feathers, and those she'd found discarded from the swans, so it was soft and downy inside. She flew down from her nest, but froze when she saw Lannister. She'd been avoiding him, worried that he'd make her leave. She tucked her wings and hid behind her nesting tree as he approached.
Wolfs Heart
The swan Lannister had been feeding had noticed the harpy fly down from her nest and reached its neck up high and flapped its wings in response as the harpy hid behind the tree.
Lannister, always had a sense about the swans and understood them better than he understood any pae. His head tilted at the reaction the swan gave, and he was sure it wasn't in response to him feeding the swan a treat. Lannister glanced over his shoulder and studied the forest for a moment, but saw nothing.
Something had gotten the swan upset though. Lannister gave the swan one more blueberry before putting the rest of the handful back in his bag and then cautiously walking away from the swan, towards the forest.
Lannister, always had a sense about the swans and understood them better than he understood any pae. His head tilted at the reaction the swan gave, and he was sure it wasn't in response to him feeding the swan a treat. Lannister glanced over his shoulder and studied the forest for a moment, but saw nothing.
Something had gotten the swan upset though. Lannister gave the swan one more blueberry before putting the rest of the handful back in his bag and then cautiously walking away from the swan, towards the forest.
Menelie
Alma was caught between two instincts as Lannister got closer. On the one hand, she really didn't want him to see her. On the other hand, she felt compelled to defend her territory. This tree, with its nest, was hers. Once he got too close for comfort, she came out from behind her tree, trying to strike a balance between intimidating but not too intimidating to be allowed to stay. Her wings fluttered behind her, ready to take off if needed.
Wolfs Heart
Lannister breathed a sigh of relief when one of the large harpies came from behind the tree. She was one of the ones with orange markings. A few of the harpies had orange markings near there eyes. If she had been an actual swan, Lannister would have had no issue identifying her despite their being similar looking swans. He would have known the tiny differences in the way she held herself or felt the small differences in her character. Lannister couldn't do that so easily with a harpy though. He would just not use her name since there were 3 possible names she might have.
"Hiding behind the tree made the swan feel like you were hunting her." Lannister noted gently. "Why are you hiding?"
"Hiding behind the tree made the swan feel like you were hunting her." Lannister noted gently. "Why are you hiding?"
Menelie
Alma stepped backward, taken aback and offended. "I wouldn't hunt the swans, they're my sisters," she said, folding her arms over her chest defensively. Lannister's next question, however, made her uncomfortable. It wasn't like her kind to hide, unless they were stalking, so maybe he did have a point there. "Most of the other girls have left," she observed. "But I don't want to." She lifted her chin a little, like she was daring him to defy her. "This is my home."
