Fantasy Skyheart (1 slot open)

[SilverFlight]

Kari frowned, Serik made a good point, it was what she had been fearing on the mountain...suddenly a pang of homesickness shot through her heart, she clenched the fabric of her trousers tightly.
The exchange with Gerel had become heated, and Kari's feelings were still a swirling torrent. She was glad he liked the gift though and her face burned.
"Yeah well, I'll try and think before I jump into stuff...and don't you go ripping this one, deal?"
She got up quickly and moved, suddenly having the strong desire to flee, but not entirely sure where to go until she heard a muffled scream. Marylka was venting her frustration at the situation in her own way, slowly Kari went over to sit by her, she reached out, hesitating for only a moment, before putting a gentle hand on the back of Marylka's head, stroking her hair, like her mother did when Kari was upset. They were in this together, after all. Kari wanted to let her know she was there.
"We'll get back to them Serik." Kari reassured him, glaring back at Matthias defiantly, as if daring him to contradict her.

Ord watched everyone in the room, and though he didn't exactly seem like the type, he had been measuring them carefully.
"Keshka's learned as much as she can, if she is confident she can remove their ability to track you, then I believe her." He glanced over his shoulder at the door, knowing full well that the fabric of the tent couldn't hide their voice from her.
"She has given more to the academy than any of us, with your help...we may even find a way to stop the deathborn for good..the key must lie in our missing memory."

Ord rose slowly, before harsher words could be spoken. He walked right across the center of the tent, drawing eyes and attention away from what had been said.
He folded himself down and sat right in front of the big Northarian, smaller than the man by a fair bit, expression placid and warm.
"Matthias." He said the name with a gentle respect. "What do you see, when you look at me?"

Lioness075 SleepyCreamy AncientBird kase9187 YumenoTsukishiro Naberius Elenion Aura explosiveKitten Saturn_moon

 

[AncientBird]

Gerel placed hand on Serik’s shoulder, assuring him that they all would definitely go back home to their love ones, like a big brother to his younger one. His face looked firm and placid, but from his tone Serik knew he wasn’t any different than he was... Nervous and fear for their fate.

Then Matthias, sitting quietly for sometimes, spoke up. “Don’t give the boy hope.” He said stoically with no sympathy in his tone.

Aldaf quickly replied that disheartening word.

"Matthias, what would we hold onto if hope were to die? Would you deprive us of the thought of a happy ending?"

Hope... The only single word that used to encourage, to soothe when all seem difficult and bad... But that’s all it does, soothing not assuring.

Kari came to aid with another kind word to cheer Serik up, but just like Gerel... She also had some concern in her tone. She turned to stroke Marylka lying in her bed near by. Marylka made a groan in her sleep which could be her injury... But perhaps she overheard the conversation and wanted to vent out her frustration as well. Serik wanted to soothe her but he was in no way to help anyone psychologically at this moment.

“I... I will go get some air...” He said. He sounded like a liar. He didn’t need any air, he just went into the tent like some minutes ago... Still, Serik got up and walked out anyway.

The sun was already higher up from the mountain line and its morning light softly touched the ground and Serik’s face as he looked up to the sky. The young man sat down next to a tent pillar. He gave out and long sigh and took out something... His letter. In the time like this, he wished they were here with him... The family. He wished his parents could be there to soothe him, to tell him that all would be fine, wished that his grandmother would storm in and cheer him up... Wished that his little cousin, so young and innocent, would cry for a play to distract his feeling... But they weren’t here and it seemed as he wouldn’t be seeing them anytime soon...

A single tear ran from his eye but was quickly wiped away when he felt something large walking right next to him.

“Hey there... Have you rested enough?” Serik spoke to his skybeast coming to check him up. Valkyrie looked at him, silently she stood and not a single voice came out of her. She had sensed Serik’s feeling.

“You probably know how I feel...” Serik said... “Sometimes I wonder if your kind have the fear of losing someone... I think not, right? Your kind always fight for your own survival... No need to worry about someone you love. Sometimes I envy that.”

Valkyrie stood still looking at her rider... Something flickered in her eyes...

...Devastation... Everywhere...

...Walking the land of ash, looking for any glimpses of hope...

...There she saw it, the body that could hardly be recognized... But she knew it in her sense... It was him....

...Crumbled to pyre, nothing left... Under his part of commitment, hope and dream they built together, all gone along with him...

...Beak to beak rubbing, a sight of affection. Something rarely seen in her kind. There was no reply... And never will be again...

...Wings flapped, the past got further and further behind. Go west... Something told her, go west to the land of peace, where new hope and dream shall be forged or so it told her... There was nothing else left to lose, so there she went... Followed the blind promise... Not knowing if her life would be the same...

Serik suddenly felt the rush of sorrow surging through his heart. It wasn’t his... It’s far greater...

“Valkyrie...” Serik looked at his skybeast. “I am sorry, I didn’t realize...” He said with soothing voice and sympathy in his tone. Reaching out to her beak, he was about to pat the beast when the stork drake suddenly moved away.

Valkyrie walked pass Serik and headed out for the tree line, not looking back at her rider. Serik looked after her... Suddenly, his concern seemed to be outweighted and his sorrow wad made to look like a little hay in the pile of metal spike.

Featuring: YumenoTsukishiro SilverFlight Elenion Aura kase9187 Saturn_moon

 

[Lioness075]

Name: Leandra LaFrae	Nicknames: Lea, Firefly
Clan: Sudenta	Clan Job: Huntress
Equipment: Knapsack, Medicinal Pouch, Bow, Quiver (3/10), Twin Daggers

Spoiler: Momo's Appearance

Spoiler: Falarion's Appearance

With the chaos of the fight lessening and everyone finally being able to catch their breath, Leandra heaved a sigh of relief. She slowly got back up from the ground and dusted off her pants, wincing when she felt the throbbing come back to her injured bicep.
When Caliban came to her side and offered his usual kind words, Leandra half smiled at him and merely nodded. She was not sure how she could answer that question now. Their lives had been flipped upside down since they all woke up in the tent together and Leandra felt a rising fear when she considered what may have happened back home during her missing year. She quickly squelched the fear and shoved it deep in her mind, cramming it behind an invisible gate. Now was not the time for a casual breakdown.

Nearby, Falarion whined when Barran flew off with her kill and Valkyrie wandered off, neither paying any attention to his presence.
Leandra felt the lonely ache resonating from Falarion and quietly walked over to him before kneeling down to put a hand in-between his shoulder blades. It was a familiar ache, one Leandra was starting to grow accustomed to.
Looking down at Falarion, Leandra whispered, "Don't worry, Fal. I'll always be here for you."
And with that, Falarion slowly rose up from the ground and moved forward as if to nuzzle her, but then decided against the move as he remembered his blood-soaked muzzle and shoulders. Now that he was standing again, he shuffled his front paws, feeling tiny bone fragments stuck in his paw pads.
Leandra did not even need their Bond to recognize the expression of pain on Falarion's face.
Gesturing for him to follow her, Leandra said, "No worries, Fal. They're setting up a new tent for us and healers will come to aid us. Come on."
The pair quietly followed after the group to their new destination.

By the time they all got to the new tent, Leandra had briefly wandered to their old tent to retrieve her two daggers that she had thrown. It was a short side trip and she was relieved to find them. She was not entirely certain of how she would have gotten a new pair if she had truly lost them.
Rejoining the group in the tent, Leandra was relieved to see a healer nearby with Falarion, who was lounging on his side with his paws out. The young man was quick and precise, cleaning out the bone fragments from Falarion's paw pads. He purred each time the man was successful.
Finding the group gathering around the mystery man who had shown up with the mystery woman, Leandra sat down nearby just in time for one of the other healers to sit beside her. The older woman smiled at her and Leandra smiled back, relieved to know she was finally getting help. With practiced ease, the woman removed Leandra's bloodied bandages and then began stitching her wound for her.
Listening in on the conversation, Leandra's emotions went up and down, left and right, as she tried to process everything she was learning. Just as Kari had suspected before, they were a danger to anyone around them now. They were beacons for...despair.
Just as she thought this, Matthias spoke up and Leandra felt her heart sink even lower at his words. She saw Serik abruptly leave the tent and she felt a mild comfort in knowing she was not the only one feeling this way, if that was even a comfort at all.
The woman finished stitching her wound and Leandra was relieved when she finished wrapping fresh bandages over it. Her right arm was racking up a good scar count at this point. She quietly thanked the woman and then slowly lifted her right arm to survey the damage from the fight the previous day. The outside of her arm was now mottled with tiny scars from the rock burn she had endured. Most of the scars were not obvious unless viewed up close, but she knew the bicep scar would be obvious.
Dropping her arm to her side, Leandra stood up and surveyed the scene, Kari comforting Marylka, Matthias brooding, Aldalf and Ezekiel together nearby, Ord trying to give them helpful information while soiling everyone's spirits in the process.
Quietly, Leandra stood up and left the scene, heading outside the tent.

It only took her a few steps outside of the tent to see where Serik had sat down. She could see Valkyrie wandering off, but had missed any interaction the pair had before her own appearance.
At this point, Leandra was at a loss for words. She could not think of anything comforting to offer Serik and she felt like words really were not enough right now. Instead, she sat down beside him, giving him some space in case he needed it. She brought her knees up to her chest and hugged them, resting her chin on her forearms.
What a day.

SilverFlight AncientBird

 

[Saturn_moon]

Marylka startled when she felt a hand gently pat her on the head. Looking up, she found Kari by her side. “Sorry,” She sheepishly apologised as she moved to sit up. “It was just a lot to take in and I felt like I needed to get something out…”

Matthias then spoke, his words hitting everyone like a pile of bricks. Aldaf and Kari immediately attempted to counter his negativity but Marylka stayed quiet. Ironically, Matthias’s words had done the most to settled the noise in her head. They were based on facts and logic, not blind faith, and gods knew logic was something that had been severely missing from their lives since they woke up in the tent four days ago. She understood why everyone else found it hard to agree with his point of view of course, agreeing with Matthias made it seem like they had given up on their families and everyone they cared about, but she felt that it was hardly the case. She read his words as a call to not rely on hope but to rely on themselves. To become stronger so they could, with their own hands, put an end to all this madness and stop it from reaching the people they cared for.

She watched Serik suddenly leave the tent under the disguise of needing air. Throughout their journey, no matter what had been thrown at them, Serik had managed to weather through it with an unwavering amount of hope even sharing it with the rest of the group when it was much needed. To suddenly see him so disheartened and downtrodden was concerning. He’d always been willing to offer a listening ear to anyone in need and even if he didn’t have an answer, he’d do whatever he could to help in that moment. She was about to get up when she noticed Lea silently excusing herself from the tent as well. Serik would be in good hands then. Still, it was the first time she’d come realised how much support Serik had given to all of them and made a note to properly thank him when she got the chance.

Lioness075 SleepyCreamy AncientBird kase9187 YumenoTsukishiro Naberius Elenion Aura explosiveKitten SilverFlight

 

[YumenoTsukishiro]

Matthias' words roused anger within Gerel. The last thing anyone of them needed was pessimism added to an already bleak prospect. But that wasn't even the main reason why Gerel was angry. It was because in his heart of hearts, Gerel understood where Matthias was coming from. He couldn't speak back to him like Kari and Aldaf did. He didn't have the heart for it. He couldn't even look Matthias straight for the doubts gripping at his heart.

So he sat down next to the healers, watching one of them look over his sprained ankle with a brows creased in worry. Of course it had swollen more than it should. He pushed himself too hard, much like Aldaf always did. Much like Kari did. In many ways, he was a hypocrite. So he merely stayed silent as the others exchanged verbal blows, watching the healer work on his sprained ankle with care.

Lioness075 SleepyCreamy AncientBird kase9187 Saturn_moon Naberius Elenion Aura explosiveKitten SilverFlight

 

[Elenion Aura]

Matthias ​

Matthias kept his silence, weathering the flurry of sharp retorts lobbed across the tent his way. He had spoken enough. He'd said what he'd meant to say, and to him that was enough. He'd certainly heard enough from the likes of them. From those who believed, and who thought that it was enough. Kari and Aldaf could wax optimistically until they turned blue. Not a word of theirs would change their reality. He didn't watch Serik get up, or Leandra, or Gerel, but he did note them as they left. He'd offered nothing more than truth. It was all he had to give. If they'd rather live in a world where hope counted for anything, then perhaps they should have stayed sleeping in that tent the night the Deathborn came for them. Through gritted teeth beneath pursed lips, he folded himself up tighter and held his ground. If he was unpopular, so be it. He could shoulder their scorn, and shrug off their disdain. Matthias would let them wash over him like water over stone. He felt their eyes on him, though he did not meet their gazes. Until one of them forced his way into his line of sight. Matthias was not so juvenile as to pretend not to see the man now.

It was Ord. Glimmering. Come to defend the weak of heart, like a noble protector from some ill-begotten children's fantasy. Come to teach his wayward charge a lesson that there was always hope. Matthias had no good will left for that kind of thing. Matthias met the man head on. He was not going to give in to this stranger. To this magician from some faraway, alien land where witches practiced death magic under the auspices of academia. Matthias had his pride in tact. Matthias was Northarian. Matthias knew himself. He knew the world for what it was, not for what legends and stories of heroes and valor made it seem to be. He would not bow to this man, no matter what platitudes he planned to throw his way. Then Ord spoke.

What do I see? Matthias thought. His question made no sense. Matthias saw what his eyes showed him, nothing more. Matthias did not know what the question meant at first, let alone how to answer it. This was some kind of trick, he thought. It must've been. He did not like double-speak, or turns of phrases. Speak plainly., Matthias thought. He knew already without having to hear it that he would not like what came next, that he was being set up for some lesson. Still, he answered truthfully, though his voice was rough. "I see a man." He offered no more than that, the truth as he saw it. Nor did he take his eyes off Ord. If this was a challenge, he would not be the one to back down.

Tags: SilverFlight Naberius Saturn_moon YumenoTsukishiro explosiveKitten kase9187 SleepyCreamy AncientBird
Lioness075
​

 

[Naberius]

Caliban Lupei

Caliban sat quietly through the tirade of comments, anger, sadness and disdain and waited. Lea, Serik and Gerel didn't stick around but he refused to move. Matthias had earned his respect when he ran to Katja's aid, and with his actions over the course of the past few days. Regardless of how little he spoke, and what he said when he in fact did speak, it seemed to Cal that the older man cared more than he wanted to admit out loud or even to himself. But finally, he could sit quietly no more.

"What would you have us do, then, if not hope? Quake helplessly before some undefined 'fate'? I, for one, will be going to see my family again some day, and so will everyone else. It's as simple as that. Because we refuse to accept any other outcome as a possibility. When you eliminate failure as an outcome, the only thing that remains is success. Who says this can't be done, we haven't even tried yet. The future has and will always be written by those brave men and women who dared to tempt fate and do the impossible. We stand here being given a choice that could very well determine a path for the very future of everyone we know and love. And yet despite that, defeatism still flows like a waterfall. Why? We've already overcome things that no one has any right to have survived. Or did you forget the giant skeleton monster already? Because I certainly won't forget flying into its ribcage anytime soon. We will succeed because we dare to believe we can. That's all there is to it."

There was no anger or bite to his words, just the warm and cheerful optimism he so often wore, but it was tinted with the unmistakable hint of a will and determination that would brook no other alternative. He fully believed his words.

SilverFlight Elenion Aura Saturn_moon YumenoTsukishiro explosiveKitten kase9187 SleepyCreamy AncientBird
Lioness075

 

[SilverFlight]

"Hey," Kari said, "we all feel that way right now." She watched as Serik left and then Leandra too, each person dealing with things on their own. It didn't sit right with Kari it felt too...lonely, but she kept her peace. She simply sat beside Marylka, and tried not to let her sadness show on her face.
Caliban's speech helped. She looked up as he spoke, smiling to herself more than anyone else. Caliban was someone she could see being a good friend.

Ord gave a little half smile, eyes turned down. He nodded. "I see a man." That was a fair reply.
"I think I can help you a bit:" He met Matthias' gruff anger with a look of calm acceptance. "I am a man, come to turn your world upside-down, to tell you to go where you do not wish to go, tell you of things you don't want to exist, and to threaten you that if you do not go, your families will be in danger."
Kari grit her teeth. He'd said it so plainly, she felt an anger that she hadn't even realized had been growing.
"You are angry because you feel powerless. Things have happened and they have taken your control from you...I won't tell you to hope, I can't, if you don't want to."
Something changed in his eyes, it wasn't sympathy, closer to regret, perhaps for something he was about to do.

"My turn," Ord said softly, and leaned in as if studying the other man with a careful eye.
"I see a confident, strong warrior, proud of where he comes from, and who he has become...but, I also see someone who has never been asked to leave the comforts of routine, the safety of the known. I see a man used to controlling his destiny and his future...and who has suddenly been cast from all of that."
He looked around to the others now, and Kari had a feeling he was using Matthias to make a point for all of them.
"Being angry is natural, no one can tell you you shouldn't feel, but your integrity, your own value to yourself and to others, that hinges on what you do about it."
Kari was listening now, what Ord had said made sense.
"In the short time I have watched you you have all shown incredible courage, you have faced the unknown and stared it down."
He looked back at Matthias, he spoke to all but it seemed, as he met the man's eyes the message was especially for him.
"You have so much potential...to be greater than you have ever dreamed..."

Ord rose, he was nearly finished.
"Your fastest way to realizing that potential however, is to rely on one another. Support and help one another."
Kari had a feeling Ord had done this before, and thinking on it, he was a teacher, at a school where every student had been asked to give up everything they knew, to go to a strange place and learn strange things...if anyone knew about adjusting to new realities, it was probably going to be him.
Whatever the others did, Kari decided to take the advice to heart, for her, it made sense anyway.

"Try and rest a little," Ord finished, his voice always gentle, "Keshka and I will stay and watch over you."

Lioness075 SleepyCreamy AncientBird kase9187 YumenoTsukishiro Naberius Elenion Aura explosiveKitten Saturn_moon

 

[SleepyCreamy]

Zeke's eyebrows raised in interest as he waited for Aldaf's answer, but after a few minutes, his smug face soon held nothing but pure smugness, which managed to irritate Zeke's curious nature. Since Aldaf decided to ignore his question, Zeke decided to do the same to and hold back in indulging Aldaf with an answer of his own. It seemed that Zeke timed it perfectly as he caught Gerel's last few words, which were something about promising to go home. It was at that moment that Zeke just realized how lucky he truly is. Not only did he survive a stab wound that caused him a near-death experience, but he is also lucky enough to go straight to his home, whilst others must endure internal conflicts of their own. And Zeke pitied them at that lone fact.

If Zeke were to be in their position, he would've neglected any type of connection he had with any of these guys and go straight to his mother.

If he were the hero type, then he'd have no problem charging into battles without fearing the inevitable.

If he were perfect, he wouldn't be in this situation.

Zeke closed his eyes to clear his thoughts and breathed through his nose. Just like that, Zeke felt numb as he sat there with an empty bowl in hand. He placed the bowl down. Just as he did that, Matthias spoke a few words that made his eyes widen as he just realized something. He would've reacted the same way Matthias did if the circumstances were reversed.

He silently watched the interaction between everyone and Matthias, Aldaf gave Zeke a weird look that Zeke couldn't decipher at the moment as he himself was having an internal conflict within him. After Matthias spoke, Serik soon left the tent and was followed by Leandra. Zeke's attention soon shifted to Caliban who has finally spoken a word, his words held nothing but pure hope and positivity. He also noticed Gerel looking a bit cross, and he understood their reasoning and decided to not dwell on their actions any further. For now, he figured he should focus more on the Sudenta, named Ord, asking Matthias an odd question. Zeke listened carefully to his tone as a jolt of memory came into him. His gentle tone simply reminded him of his caring father and the way he consoled Matthias was almost identical to how his father would cheer him up or get something through to him. Zeke couldn't help but compare Ord to his father as he soon realizes that they both share a kind and gentle tone that would make any naughty kid fess up.

"Try and rest a little," With Ord's final words, Zeke found himself leaning backward and covering his forehead with one arm. So much has happened just this morning, and Zeke would already be ready to sleep once again. He soon found himself to be smirking at the gracious amount of luck the gods have provided him.

If Zeke weren't in this position, he wouldn't be blessed enough as it is.

If he weren't the hero type, he wouldn't be as calculative and sharp.

If he weren't perfect... then so what?

Today it will be different... I sure hope so.

Lioness075 SilverFlight AncientBird kase9187 YumenoTsukishiro Naberius Elenion Aura explosiveKitten Saturn_moon

 

[Elenion Aura]

Matthias ​

Matthias said nothing, though he, noticeably, let his eyes drift until they were no longer forced to look into Ord’s, until they found that familiar patch of nothing once again, far enough skewed to one side that they only perceived the outline of the man before them. There they stayed, transfixed, until the shape of the man just outside their vision moved on. If there had been a contest to see which of the two would break eye contact first, Matthias would’ve lost. Matthias did not like to lose, and yet losing felt preferable to carrying on that way. Why? Was it shame that kept him from holding the man’s gaze, or something else?

Matthias felt some clarity, the kind that comes after the swell of anger has receded, and with it came a small pang of guilt. He wanted to talk to Serik, to explain himself. No, to apologize. He had been wrong to let his despair out like that in front of them. He’d have to do a better job of shouldering the burden of that weight from now on.

Tags: SilverFlight Naberius Saturn_moon YumenoTsukishiro explosiveKitten kase9187 SleepyCreamy AncientBird
Lioness075
​

 

[SilverFlight]

Kari

Ord refused to even prepare to leave until all of the youths were in flying condition. It made Keshka even more irritable than she normally was, but she relented quite easily.
It was late afternoon by the time they had packed their things into the new saddle bags provided for them.
They had been brought to the edge of the camp. For the most part, people treated them as they would have any other day. There were rumours spreading of course, about how the deathborn had been after the proven, but the overwhelming sentiment was this: clan was clan, and looked out for each other.

Kari stood with her gear and the new saddle (a borrowed one, while her custom saddle was being made in Estendor) stuffed into her arms. Zephyr gave her a dubious look.
"Trust me gryphon, you don't want to carry me for hours without this between us." She held up the saddle.
It took a few minutes of chasing, and more than a few breathless curses, but Zephyr finally stood for Kari to put the saddle on. It was tucked between his wings, and Kari's legs could fit snugly behind them, lying against his shoulders, which would reduce drag.

Ord was tightening the saddle girth on Pasha while Kesh was putting the last of her new supplies into Storm's saddle bags.
"We fly due west until sunset, and then head Northwest and hour more, there's a small island with good cover on all sides. That's where I'll set up."
Keshka announced this to them just when they were ready to leave. The spell, she had explained, would likely draw attention, and this was the sort of magic that did not need attention. If it worked, the deathborn would no longer be drawn to them, and if it didn't...well, Keshka didn't have a plan beyond it working.
"Why not wait until we get to the academy?" Kari asked, "More resources there."
Keshka rounded on her, "and risk an entire building of unproven children with no skybeasts for protection? No, we won't be doing that. We'll stop on a deserted island, where no one can see so if it does go belly up, at least we won't drag any innocents into it."
Keshka finished packing and swung herself onto the back of her beast.
"Ready?" She called?

Kari swung into her own saddle. Zephyr flexed experimentally and then shivered and squawked irritably.
"You'll get used to it." Kari reassured him. If the gryphon glanced over his shoulder, and Kari swore he was giving her the dirtiest look.
This was it, their first inter-island flight. Kari felt excited and scared. There would be a lot of nothing underneath them for a very long time. It was a sensation Kari wasn't used to.

Lioness075 SleepyCreamy AncientBird kase9187 YumenoTsukishiro Naberius Elenion Aura explosiveKitten Saturn_moon

 

[kase9187]

Aldaf helped Spica put on her saddlebags, much to his difficulty. Spica never seemed to want to stay still long enough for him to get it on.

Spica looked at her saddle with a bit of irritation. It didn't fit right in places and Aldaf had to reach to try and get it fit.
"I'm sorry, girl. We don't have the good one, so we gotta go with this."

Aldaf saddled on Spica, and tied a rope from his midsection to Spica's saddle, allowing him to stand up without risk of falling off. Spica rattled her scales and looked at Aldaf on her back.
"We're ready to fly! Just give us the word!"
Aldaf called out, patting Spica on the head.

SilverFlight SleepyCreamy AncientBird explosiveKitten YumenoTsukishiro Elenion Aura Saturn_moon Naberius Lioness075

 

[Saturn_moon]

Sleep came to Marylka in pieces. Despite Ord’s assurance that he and Keshka would watch over them, she found herself jumping up and reaching for her kindjal at even the slightest sounds. By the time late morning came around she’d entirely given up on trying to get any rest, feeling more tired than she’d been before. She let out a huge yawn and looked around at the figures of her sleeping companions. Just four days ago she’d woken up in a similar position surrounded by strangers. Today, she found herself surrounded by people she might even consider friends. She thought about all they had gone through, all they were about to go through, the bundle of worries each one of them carried in their hearts, and she suddenly felt an inclination to run up and give all of them a hug. Adversity sure had a strange way of bringing people together.

Once everyone had rested and packed up, they were each handed a saddle and brought to the edge of camp. When Archimedes caught sight of her, the hippogriff bounded up excitedly. He moved to nuzzle her but then hesitated, glancing down at her side. Realizing that Archie was worried about aggravating her injuries, she pulled up her tunic to show him that they had more or less completely healed. All that was left of the nasty slash in her side was a long, pink, shiny scar. Although she had already expected it, it still boggled her mind as to how it was so. The hippogriff visibly relaxed then rubbed his beak affectionately against her cheek.

Marylka laughed. “I doubt you’ll like me as much once I get this on you.”

She held up the saddle in her hands and showed it to him. Archie cocked his head curiously and sniffed it. He had no idea what it was. They did say ignorance is bliss. He remained perfectly still as she placed the saddle on his back and started to adjust the straps. It wasn’t until she tightened the girth around him that Archimedes started to fidget, spinning around to try and buck the saddle off and even attempted to bite through the straps. When all of that failed he huffed at her, appalled and annoyed that she would subject him to this contraption.

“Sorry Archie, I know it isn’t the most comfortable but bareback isn’t going to work for the journey that we’re about to take.” She empathized. “You did fight off a swarm of deathborns to protect me, surely getting used to a saddle isn’t going to be so bad.” Archie let out another huff but stopped his fidgeting.

As she climbed on to the hippogriff's back, Keshka called out to check if they were ready. Ready for what though? To take flight? To go to the academy? To fight off more deathborns? Marylka stopped herself from overthinking but at the same time she also realized that she was ready. Or least, as ready as she could ever be for whatever was in store for them.

Guess there’s no turning back now. She thought as she watched the others mount their own beasts. She would be lying if she said that underneath all her concerns she wasn't feeling the slightest bit of excitement, the thrill of adventure beckoning.

Lioness075 SleepyCreamy AncientBird kase9187 YumenoTsukishiro Naberius Elenion Aura explosiveKitten SilverFlight

 

[explosiveKitten]

“Barran don’t look at me like that.”

The large owl had been complaining about the saddle since the moment it had been affixed to her, pecking at the straps and squawking angrily at it, squirming and shrieking the entire time.

“Look I can imagine that thing isn’t comfortable, but come on! I cannot keep flying around with only fistfuls of your feathers to keep me on your back. Do you LIKE me tugging on your feathers?”

The owl clacked her beak indignantly.

“I get it, it’s not really MADE for you, I think it’s a... thunderbird saddle? And it’s too small, and has extra straps but it’s all we have, okay?”

Katja looked up into Barran’s yellow eyes and yawned rather loudly. Unsurprisingly, she did not have a very restful sleep. In fact, she didn’t sleep at all. She sat awake for the rest of the night, unable to even close her eyes and TRY to sleep. She was waiting for one of those things to crash in and try to skewer her again.

Nevermind that she had been thinking about the whole situation. Going to Westeros. Having been to Westeros previously. Staying in the mages academy? Did she have magic? What kind of magic? Would it even be helpful?

She looked up when Keshka called and asked if everyone was ready, then back at Barran, whom was awkwardly smooshing herself down to allow Katja to climb into the saddle. Which she did.

Who knows what we’ll find when we get there. She thought tiredly as Barran rose up, feathers fluffed and wings shaking in preparation to launch.

Lioness075 SleepyCreamy AncientBird kase9187 YumenoTsukishiro Naberius Elenion Aura Saturn_moon SilverFlight

 

[AncientBird]

“Valkyrie, come back here!” Serik called out as he was chasing the stork drake around. In his hand holding a large leather saddle.

With such an awkward gait, Valkyrie didn’t fit well with normal saddle for equine body type. Serik’s first attempt to put one on ended with the stork drake running around, refusing to cooperate. One of the academy staff helped Serik looking for another saddle. Eventually they found one that is designed to be used with elongated bodied skybeast like feathered serpents. This saddle, the user has to lie parallel to the beast’s back instead of sitting up right... The only problem was that Valkyrie would not take another chance at getting these alien object strapped to her back...

“Oh Valkyrie! Come out! I have this... Dead fox over here. You can have it if you help me put this harmless saddle on you!” Serik called out to the stork drake who decided to hide in the thicket. His hand held a smelly dead fox which the staff found as they were chasing the stork drake around the tree line. The fox was stink and fulled with maggot, Serik had to closed his nose with his other hand in disgust, yet this is a fine meal for a stork drake.

“This is taking forever... I will flush her out and you can jump her.” The staff said. “Be careful, she doesn’t take kindly to any people beside of me.” Serik warned the staff. “Who said I am going to face her myself... Korray, Hades!”

With the staff calling out his skybeast, Serik stood face to face with one of the weirdest skybeast he ever thought could exist, aside of Juju that’s it... A winged wolverine the size of a bear, with one eye and was drooling like a rabid dog.

“Go Hades, chase her out!” The staff said. Without hesitation, Hades leaped into the thicket. Loud noise of growl and screech broke out and soon Valkyrie ran out, screeching with the winged wolverine followed suit, nipping at her heels. Even the towering stork drake was terrified of the rabid looking beast...

Serik waited until Valkyrie ran his way and once she got close enough, he jumped and grasped around her neck. Pulling himself up, he clang tightly and tried to calm Valkyrie down.

“Be calm... Be calm! Valkyrie! You are making scene greater than it should be!” Serik said and pulled the beast’s crests to halt her. “Stop freaking out! Nobody is going to hurt you.”

Valkyrie stopped thrashing and bucking then realized that Hades had stopped chasing her and returned to its owner for a head scratch.

“Give the saddle another chance alright? Trust me, you are not going to like it if I have to ride your bared back all the way to Westeros...”

Valkyrie finally listened and stood still as the staff handed Serik the saddle. Serik quickly strapped the saddle on her back and tightened it up, securing it. In the meantime, Valkyrie turned to her reward left on the ground and gulped down the dead fox whole.

After packed up his belongings and secured them right behind Valkyrie’s saddle. Serik thanked the staff for his aid and with his new saddle, mounted on his skybeast. “Alright, now all we have to do is to pass this letter to one of the messengers...” Serik said to Valkyrie and both headed off toward the tent that other people bunked together after the attack last night. He’s not sure if any messengers would still be up to work, but he really need to send this letter to his family... They need to know...

Featuring: Lioness075 SleepyCreamy Saturn_moon kase9187 YumenoTsukishiro Naberius Elenion Aura explosiveKitten SilverFlight

 

[SilverFlight]

Despite all that had happened, and all that was promised to come, sitting in her saddle, on her own skybeast brought a feeling of excitement and no small amount of pride.
"Feel like a real warrior yet?" She asked Aldaf ( kase9187 ) with a grin. Kari was getting better at speaking in thoughts and feelings through their bond and Zephyr tossed his head, his excitement growing too.
She thought about the gryphon stepping to the side and she felt his shoulder dip as he did it. It made her imagine them flying, fighting in the air, no difference between her thought and his movement. They would be one entitiy.

 

[SleepyCreamy]

Zeke found himself in the middle of empty space, everything was pitch black and darkness ingulfs his senses. His feet were bare and he felt coldness through the soles of his feet, it was as if he was standing in a piece of thin, cold ice. He didn't bother to move as he felt his feet being dragged down deeper like quicksand. His heart spiked as the more movement his feet would release, the faster he got dragged down. It soon reached his mid-thigh. Zeke was panicking at this point as he fell into the crippling feeling of being vulnerable. All this time, he has been thinking about being vulnerable mentally, he hasn't thought about what would happen to him if he were to be physically vulnerable... Just like when he was impaled by that creature's tail.

And with that thought in mind, he saw something that he thought he'd never want to see. Suddenly, a purple light shone in front of him, and there stood the very creature that almost cost him his very life. It was a Deathborn. The creature crawled slowly with its tail hung up high, like a scorpion's, ready to strike. The very position sent chills down his spine as the cold quicksand finally reached his waist. Zeke finally took hold of the sinking ground beneath him and helplessly tried to wriggle his hips, but it only made it worse as his hands were now glued to the cold substance.

Once the creature's in front of him, Zeke held his breath as he tried to release himself helplessly. Zeke's lower lip shivered at the cold feeling his legs were feeling, by now, they were numb and the tips of hair were slowly being covered with frost. Zeke looked up with pleading eyes as the Deathborn's tail snaked forward to Zeke's forehead, the sharp tip almost grazing his forehead, it was as if it was pointing at his mind... his memories. Zeke soon felt his chest and shoulders being swallowed and he found himself gritting his teeth in fear. The skeletal creature then recoiled its tail back, recalling the memory of him being impaled by that very thing. "Zeke?" A voice called out to him. Before it did make contact with his skin, darkness welcomed him with its ebony embrace.

III✦III
{With Permission of kase9187 }

"Zeke? Wake up!"
When Zeke opened his eyes, he was sweating bullets and he felt his heart thumping loudly in his chest. That was by far his worst nightmare. Zeke clutched his aching head as he got himself up. Zeke noticed the make-shift pillow behind him and the coat on his lap. "Yeah, yeah. I'm up." Zeke abruptly stood up and used Aldaf's shoulder to get himself up, letting the coat fall to the ground. "I'd have to go and fix up Spica for our journey. You should do the same thing too, with yours." Aldaf advised as the two stood up, and Zeke took note of his Skybeast's name.
"Yeah, Azurine would love that. Uh, thanks for the make-shift pillow." Zeke knew he'd be the only one in that tent who would care enough to do such a considerate thing for someone like him. "I guess I'll see you around." He said as he exited the tent in a hurry, not wanting to discuss his nightmarish dream. He was pretty sure of himself that Aldaf saw his worried face and thumping heart-beat, which could only be concluded as the aftermath of a nightmare.

When Zeke emerged from the tent, the warm afternoon sunlight calmed him as it reminded him of his home. The blue skies were slowly turning into orange and the colour reminded him of the desert, he simply can't wait to get to his home and finally see his beloved mother. Zeke spent that time preparing for his trip with the help of Stitt and Azurine. Zeke finally found his bag among the destroyed tent, where he was attacked. As he scavenged for his lost weapons, he saw the very bed where he laid. Zeke froze in his steps and quickly turned away. His palms soon became sweaty and he felt like he was being deprived of his own breathing. Zeke's face was a mix of frustration and fear. He quickly walked away from the scene, while Stitt and Azurine did the scavenging. He only watched from afar as he took his father's journal out of his satchel, looking at it as if it was going to give him some answers.

When Zeke looked up and eyed the two creatures from a distance, he was at least glad to have the two creatures with him. If it weren't for Azurine, he would've bled to death and if it weren't for Stitt handing him Azurine's summoning stone, then he wouldn't have been saved by Azurine. If it weren't for Keshka's phoenix tears, he would've been dead. He has been a liability all this time and he hated himself for that. And he vowed to change this way of living. As he battles with his own thoughts, he was approached by a young lady who was carrying what looked to be like a Dragon's saddle. After they've shared a few words, Zeke gave the young woman a nod and a brief 'thank you' for the saddle he has just received. Zeke then holds onto the large saddle and was too focused on observing it's material to notice the faint blush on the shy woman's cheeks. He tends to have that effect on a woman and once he noticed it, he quickly turned away and awkwardly left the woman.

Geez, He shivered at the awkward encounter as he soon noticed Azurine happily bouncing his way towards him. In the distance, he saw a Gryphon running away from Kari who was carrying a saddle above her head. Azurine and Zeke made his way over to the group as he watches the magnificent-looking owl peck its own saddle, whilst Katja scold the creature for doing so. Not so far from her, was Serik and his Stork Drake. It was no surprise to Zeke as he watches the stubborn Stork Drake run away from Serik and another stranger Zeke could only conclude as a member of the academy, due to his uniform. He, however, noticed that Marylka's graceful Skybeast was one of the few calm ones throughout the whole saddling process.

She's already representing Westeros, pretty well. Zeke smirked as he looked back at Azurine whose eyes were glimmering with glee and Zeke knew exactly why. He must've have been fed up with Zeke's constant pulling of his beautiful feathers. Azurine sniffed the saddle and inspected it at first, before giving Zeke a huff of approval. Zeke couldn't blame his Skybeast though, if he were Azurine, he would've thrown someone like him off of his back in order to keep his pristine pretty feathers intact.

Azurine didn't fight or even tried to flee, so Zeke had time to check twice if the straps are safely tight, across the beast's chest. Not too suffocating for Azurine, but it was comfortable and safe enough to both of the rider and the Skybeast's liking. Zeke also filled in some of the saddle pockets with some stuff from his satchel. So the only thing that was inside his satchel, for the time being, was his father's journal, his own journal and a couple of his throwing knives that he still has yet to use. Stitt even had her own pocket to rest on and Zeke simply fawned over at the cuteness Stitt holds.

Zeke soon found the courage to hop onto Azurine's back and he felt a whole new feeling overwhelm him. He was swept by an overwhelming pride and this made him smile as he realized that this was his first step towards Westeros. In just a few hours or more, he'd be in his mother's arms. When Keshka asked if they were ready to go, he gave her a quick nod and urged Azurine to post himself a few steps away from her and Ord.

Soon, I'll be home soon. He thought as he felt the afternoon breeze blowing through his hair.

SilverFlight Naberius Saturn_moon YumenoTsukishiro explosiveKitten Elenion Aura AncientBird Lioness075

 

[kase9187]

Aldaf grinned a wide smile as Kari asked him her question.
"You know I do! How about you?"
His face bore a smile and his voice was happy, but he couldn't help but think back to Zeke and when he woke him up. He'd seemed so flustered when he woke up and so distressed until Aldaf forced him back to the land of the conscious.
He had a nightmare. I'm sure he did.
Aldaf would speak to Zeke after they landed, see what was up.

SilverFlight SleepyCreamy AncientBird Saturn_moon YumenoTsukishiro Naberius explosiveKitten Lioness075 Elenion Aura

 

[YumenoTsukishiro]

It was late afternoon when Ord decided that everybody was well enough to travel. He was expecting to travel to Westeros, but Keshka wanted everyone on a deserted island. She explained well enough the reasons behind her decision. Experimenting on new magic could have unforeseen circumstances, and it was better if no bystanders were involved in the consequences. He and their party would perish in that case, but better that than wallow in hopelessness.

Caliban’s speech and Ord’s words left their impression on Gerel. He still understood where Matthias was coming from. Feathers of doubt still floated in his heart. But the fire of hope was there, bolstered by the excitement of adventure and the unknown. He felt a little guilty that he wouldn’t be able to fulfil the promise he wrote in the last letter he sent to his parents, so he made another one while the healer looked over his injury. In it, he poured everything that had happened these past four days, his turbulent feelings on the journey ahead, his confusing emotions towards a certain firebrand, and another promise that he would fly back to their arms as soon as he could.

The letter lay folded inside his sack. Right now he had other problems. After the two instructors told them to ready for the journey ahead, he gathered his provisions and equipment. So far he had a refilled food sack (goat jerky, dried berries, and some cheese), ten stone arrows, his other tools, plus… He held the embroidered tunic in his hands, a gift from Kari. He’d decided not to wear it until she was finished working on it, which meant they had to get to Westeros safely. Another reason to make sure that they survive whatever experiments Keshka had in mind.

Back to the problem at hand. Putting back the tunic inside his pack, he grabbed the saddle lying at his feet. It was a temporary one -- his specifications had already been sent to Estendor -- specifically built for alicorns and pegasi. Outfitting Jeff with it shouldn’t be a problem. There was no problem with the straps, the leather, or the fit. The problem was…

“Come on, Jeff. Work with me here. You expect me to ride bare on your scaly back for hours on end?”

The Kirin took one look at the saddle, huffed, then turned back to chewing on grass. Gerel felt an overwhelming sense of… puffed-up pride from the skybeast. It was as if the saddle did not deserve to touch his glorious body. With a sigh, Gerel tried once again. “Look, if you don’t wear this saddle, the likelihood of me falling off to my death is high. Plus, I want to feel my legs when we touch down on our destination. What do you say?”

A myriad of emotions ran through their bond. They were clear enough that Gerel could interpret their meaning; ‘I’ll catch you if you fall,’ ‘My scales are comfortable enough for your legs,’ and ‘How dare you try to subject me to such crude treatment?’

Frustrated to no end, Gerel resorted to his final tactic: sit down and stare at Jeff in silence. One of them had to break eventually, and no way was Gerel backing down first. This went on for about a few minutes while everybody else was successfully putting saddles on their skybeasts. Finally, Gerel felt Jeff’s tension ease. That was all the permission he needed to strap the saddle onto his back. The Kirin still didn’t like it, but it was better than Gerel’s sharp-eyed stare.

With that done, Gerel looked around for someone to hand off his letter to. He spotted Serik with a group of other people. Remembering what happened earlier, he walked up to the young Estendorian and patted him on the back. “Looks like we have the same idea,” Gerel said, pulling out the letter from his pack. He hesitated for a bit, before saying, “How are you holding up?”

Interaction: AncientBird
SilverFlight SleepyCreamy Saturn_moon kase9187 Naberius explosiveKitten Lioness075 Elenion Aura

 

[AncientBird]

Atop Valkyrie’s back, Serik reached to the tents that other civilians who came to visit central island bunked together after the attack. Most visitors were also packing and preparing to leave for their home after the traumatic experience.

Wading through mass of people, Serik could feel the frustration of Valkyrie began to shoot up. “Come now, be calm... we will be gone from here before you even get hungry again, and that’s like every five minutes.” Serik said and patted Valkyrie by the base her neck. The stork drake replied with a huff of air.

Serik saw many familiar faces, the hazelnut merchant was preparing to leave on her huge alicorn. The Nottharian boy who didn’t pass the proving could be seen with his parents, preparing to leave as well. Serik could then hear a familiar voice.

“Oh come on, mon. Cant ya be reducin da price for a bit? Juju be wantin a mini figurine of him for sometimes! I be shortin in da coins too!... Wut about I pay when we be back at Sudenta? ”

Krohal could be seen as in a heat of bargaining against a wood carving merchant (Adlaf’s mother). Serik didn’t go over to greet him as he’s further away but he smiled and shook his head at the man’s speech.

Serik tried to see if there was any messengers like the one he gave his first letter to, but there seemed to be none in sight. Suddenly, he heard someone calling him.

“Serik!!!”

Serik turned toward the call and he saw the two Estendorian girls that asked him for a dance rushing toward him.

“Oh hello, it’s you two...” Serik said. “Are you alright? We heard those monsters last night specifically chased the new proven youths.” One of the girl asked. “I am fine, how about both of you.” Serik returned the question.

“Oh we are fine, we brought lots of body guards, they helped distract the monsters as we got away into that creepy cave...” Another girl said.

“Bodyguard?...” Serik said but was cut by one of the girl. “Say what are you doing here alone?” She asked. “I am looking for a messenger to pass this letter to my family in Estendor.” Serik replied.

“Aren’t you going back?”

“Oh, I planned to but I got this... ‘business‘ to tend to first...”

“Hey, know what, we could be of help! Just tell us where to drop the letter.”

“Oh, do you happen to know the herdmaster of Ocris? He knows every herder families, he can get the letter through to mine.”

“The herdmaster? Of course! Our mother knows everyone in Orcis... The important ones to be precise. We can do it for you.”

Serik handed the girl his letter and nodded. “Thank you so much... Err...”

“Our names? Oh! Sorry, we forgot to introduce ourselves... I am Zaya and this is my sister Saran.” The taller of the two said and smiled at him. It was a beautiful smile but for some reason it made Serik felt like something was crawling behind his neck.

Suddenly, He heard a voice from behind. It was Gerel who was mounting on his Kirin, Jeff.

“How are you holding up?” He asked.

Serik was surprised to see him here but then he saw his letter in Gerel’s hand.

“Oh Gerel, I am fine... Thank you. Well, I am passing my letter to Estendor through these ladies...”

Zaya and Saran’s eyes widened as they turned to Gerel. “Whoa! Aren’t you Gerel Sarnai, the man who tamed the legendary Kirin!” They said excitedly, their eyes sparkled.

Featuring: YumenoTsukishiro kase9187

 

[YumenoTsukishiro]

Gerel raised an eyebrow at the two ladies crowding Serik. If he wasn't mistaken, their names were Zaya and Saran. He caught them saying it just as he arrived, and now he was the target of their attention. At the back of his mind he remembered his father talking the precocious ladies of Ocris, warning Gerel to watch himself around them. Now that he was in that situation, he saw the wisdom in his father's words. Objectively speaking, these women were beautiful, with colorful clothing to match. But for some reason, they reminded him of eagles circling a hunt.

He dismounted from Jeff (who clearly enjoyed all the attention) and smiled at the ladies. "Yes, that is me. It's a pleasure to meet you both," Gerel said, bowing once in respect and keeping his tone politely neutral. "If you can help us pass on our letters to our families, we'd appreciate it very much."

Featuring: AncientBird

 

[AncientBird]

Zaya and Saran smiled widely at Gerel's request. "We are glad to help!" Saran said as she received the letter from Gerel. She was the seemingly younger of the two, not much but it was hinted in her shorter height. "Say, are you also not going home too?" Zaya asked Gerel. "Yes, actually both of us is going together..." Serik replied in his friend's place, trying so hard not to reveal anything that he wasn't supposed to.

"Wow, that seems important... Anyway, we aren't going to pull you two here any longer, it seem you have some works to do." Zaya said. "Say, after your business done... Would you like to meet up with us? I heard you valiantly helped drive the monsters off and it would be a honor to have a meal or two with both of you." She added.

Zaya then turned to her sister. "Give them the pendants, Saran." She said. Saran came to Serik and Gerel and handed out two pendants. "For both of you as a gift... Well, if in case you decide to visit us, with these pendant, you will be known as our most important guests." She said and smiled.

Serik felt reluctant. This sounded really formal and not just an ordinary gift stranger would suddenly give to each other, but the girls were suddenly giving this to them. Serik looked at them and saw the very same smile, the smile that gave him discomfort despite coming from two very petite women.

"Sorry, but this seemed a bit too much? We didn't really do anything to deserve such prize..." Serik said. "Oh come on, why so stressed? If you aren't coming then at least keep them as souvenir!" The girls insisted. Unable to withstand the pressure, Serik briefly glanced at Gerel for support. He then looked back. "I... I am taking one then... Thank you." Serik said and recieved one pendant. It's shaped as a flying crane, holding a flower in its beak. The entire pendant was made with ivory and rimmed with small white gems.

"What about you?" Saran turned to Gerel holding another pendant, looking the same as the one Serik took.

Featuring: YumenoTsukishiro

 

[YumenoTsukishiro]

Serik's discomfort was palpable, and Gerel was only barely able to contain his behind a polite smile. He'd gone through a giant death wyvern, swarms of skeletal dragons, and the realization that more monstrosities were after them, but only now did he feel truly threatened. But his father's words came back to him with a specific warning.

'If girls from Ocris give you a gift, refuse at your own personal risk.'

Out of nowhere Gerel remembered asking his father about an old scar on his side. The old man dodged the question, while his mother had a look that straddled amusement and frustration. Did he get that because he refused a gift from Ocris girls? Were all girls from big cities like this? How could he refuse a sincere gift from two incredibly beautiful women?

There was nothing to it, right? It was a gift and nothing more. Right?

With the polite smile frozen on his face, he grabbed hold of the other pendant. "Thank you for this gift. It's... beautiful. The craftsmanship is exceptional..." Gerel's words trailed at the end. He had the sinking feeling that he'd just thrown himself off a cliff. And somehow, the embroidered tunic inside his pack weighed heavier than it did a second ago.

Featuring: AncientBird

 

[AncientBird]

The two young women looked really happy that both had taken their pendants. "Thank you for consideration. We have to go now, our mother is waiting." They said and walked off, waving back at the two young men as they arrived at what seemed to be a large traveling group. In the middle, a large phoenix stood there. It's the most beautiful bird Serik had ever laid eye on. The bird had bright orange plume and ring and stripe pattern decorating its entire body. The tail was long and bright golden in color. Atop its back, sat a middle age woman, covering in expensive fur and other decoration, waiting for the 2 girls. Zaya climbed on the phoenix and sat with the older woman, while Saran rode a large grey dragon with a large man sitting in the front.

Serik felt his hands cold and weak. He turned toward Valkyrie who looked at him with frustrated eyes, she didn't like that at all... "It's just a gift but why do I feel like I made a deal with the devil or something like that?..." Serik spoke to Gerel. "I hope this will not come back and bite us like snake later..." He added.

Just then that he remembered that the band was probably waiting for them, Serik lifted himself up Valkyrie. "We should return to the others... They are probably waiting." He said and directed Valkyrie back to the camp where his teammates were preparing to leave. The pendant, Serik put it in his bag, the deepest corner of it to be precise. He thought he recall seeing the crane with flower symbol before in Ocris but he couldn't remember, not that he ever paid any attention to such things before. After all, he was always just a herder boy who went to the city to sell pelt and shop for tools and equipment...

Featuring: YumenoTsukishiro

 

[Lioness075]

Name: Leandra LaFrae	Nicknames: Lea, Firefly
Clan: Sudenta	Clan Job: Huntress
Equipment: Knapsack, Medicinal Pouch, Bow, Quiver (3/10), Twin Daggers

Spoiler: Momo's Appearance

Spoiler: Falarion's Appearance

After spending much of her time sitting with Serik, Leandra flopped into her bed with a groan. Mostly because she was exhausted and her arm still ached, which her flopping did not help with at all. She welcomed sleep graciously and for the first time since they all woke up together, she slept soundly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As they all got ready to leave, Leandra found herself armed with a simple saddle for Falarion while the group had to wait for their special saddles to be made for them back home.
Leaving the tent, Leandra glanced around for Falarion, feeling a strong sense of happiness emanating from their Bond. She wandered over near the tree line that Valkyrie had been hiding in and found Falarion standing over a deer he had hunted this morning. Seeing his bloodied muzzle, Leandra just felt relieved that it was from a kill and not his injuries now. He was missing some fur in tiny patches where he had been cut up last night, but they injuries were all healed now and the fur would grow back in time.
Leandra's arm had also healed fairly well. She had a raised pink scar along her bicep, but she had learned over the years to massage her scars on a daily basis to help reduce their appearance in general. It was usually part of her nightly routine, though she had been just collapsing into her bed each night these days.
Sensing that Falarion was not full yet, Leandra set the saddle down nearby and then sat down beside him. She was used the to smells of a fresh kill after all the years of hunting, so it hardly bothered her to be so close to it. Even seeing the fresh kill just brought back fond memories of hunting.
Falarion continued to gorge himself on the meal while Leandra looked back at their tent and saw a number of the group wrangling their Skybeasts to put on the temporary saddles. Leandra laughed at Serik's especially difficult efforts with Valkyrie, amused when he had to go so far as to tempt her with a long-dead fox. Leandra was pleased to know that she had one of the seemingly tamest Skybeasts of the group.
Falarion paused briefly in his eating to sniff at the saddle, mostly emanating curiosity, and then he moved back to his kill to finish eating.
Leandra was confident she would have no trouble getting the saddle on him and she did not feel like the group was in a particular rush to leave just yet. She saw Serik and Gerel wander off from the group and knew that Caliban had not left the tent quite yet.
Taking in the peace and quiet of the moment, Leandra lay back on the forest floor and put her hands behind her head. She looked up at the canopy above, watching some birds waking up and flying about the trees. Listening to the bird song was something she had grown used to hearing when she woke up back home and it was comforting in its own way.

Soon enough, Falarion was content with his meal and let out a low yawn before wandering over to join Leandra. He sniffed at the saddle again and Leandra narrowed her eyes at him.
"Hey, can we please not get blood on the saddle we're borrowing?"
Falarion looked at her pensively at this and then huffed in response.
Leandra grinned and stood up, picking up the saddle, and moved to Falarion's side. It took her a few minutes to get the straps just right for him and to ensure nothing was restraining his movements before she was satisfied with it. She took a step back and admired her work.
"I'm sorry it's not exactly perfect, but we'll have the awesome saddle when we go back home later on."
Saying this, Leandra realized belatedly that they wouldn't be going to Falarion's home necessarily. She had to wonder where his home was. She knew Skybeasts gathered at the mountaintop, but surely they did not all live there together their whole lives.
Leandra's thoughts were interrupted, as Falarion moved around to get used to the saddle and even flapped his wings to briefly catch some air and then glide back down to the ground. He huffed at her again and Leandra rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, yeah, I know it's going to be uncomfortable. Just remember it's only temporary, yeah?"
Falarion looked as if he was about to huff at her again and Leandra stuck her tongue out at him for it. He instead walked towards her and then playfully butted his head against her side. Leandra laughed at this and scratched him behind his ears.
Looking back at his kill nearby, Leandra tilted her head to the side and then said, "Hey, I can preserve most of what's left of your kill for you. I can pack it in the saddlebags and then you can continue to eat it as we travel. How does that sound?"
Following her line of sight, Falarion purred and rubbed his head against her side once more. Leandra smiled and took this as his agreement for her to do it.

While the others continued to get ready for the day, Leandra got her hands dirty and bloodied while she cut up and prepared the rest of Falarion's kill for travel. She mindfully packed it so it would not smell terribly for the others and then the pair walked out of the tree line. Leandra knew how rough they must look to anyone with her bloodied hands and the front of her shirt had even got some on it while Falarion's muzzle and front paws were soaked with blood once more. Leandra led him over to a washbasin near their tent and the pair cleaned up while Falarion splashed water on Leandra, who laughed and splashed back at him.
Once they were finally clean and Leandra felt thoroughly soaked, she went back into the tent to retrieve her gear and the sleeping lemur from her bed.

SilverFlight Naberius AncientBird YumenoTsukishiro kase9187 Saturn_moon explosiveKitten SleepyCreamy Elenion Aura