The Wild Series: Reign of Ashes (Main Page/Pridelands)

Wildwing wrote:Just as Agathar finished speaking, Abanak soared into the room. He bowed after he landed.
"My teams have been informed of three hawks who have reason to be suspected of treason. Some have already left to search for information on the whereabouts of those three," he reported.

Jaystep wrote:(*cheering* it's like the beginning of a TV show, all these different scenes all around the world!  )

---

Kale looked again at the tracking disk, pausing to hover with his wings in midair. It continued to blink and buzz as if he were right on top of a Rift, yet all he saw below him was snow. With a frown and the shake of his head, he dove downwards again in search. The wind howled in his ears on the way back down the mountainside. It had taken all of his courage to come back to another mountain after the last time.

He was somewhere North, but that's about all he was sure on. The Falcon had made his way up the Pridelands and into the snowy Northern Mountains region, following a valley that used to hold the Snow Wolves' territory up into the mountainous forest above it. When the tracking disk had initially went off, it took Kale almost a full day to understand it there were so many different Rifts all appearing at the same time that he did what all intelligent minds did when there was no logical answer: he guessed. This Rift was somewhere just North of Drellan's old camp and birthplace. If he and Najmah were ever going to appear, this would make the most logical place. So he set off, arriving at the site only to discover a thick blanket of snowfall obscuring the mountainside. On his way out of the Pridelands, some of the other Rifts had started to appear on the tracking disk. He made note of two in particular; One on the Island of Storms that particularly moved him, and the one near the wolves' current camp. If Drellan wasn't here, that would be his next choice.

The Disk buzzed and flashed as if he had arrived, but he could not see anyone or any sort of area that might reveal a Rift. To add to it, whether it was new fear of large mountains or something else, the whole area was thick with dread.

The Falcon felt it in the air as he landed on the snow-covered branches of a nearby fir tree. Perhaps the wolf isn't on the surface? Maybe there is a cave nearby?

Jaystep wrote:

Wildwing wrote:Just as Agathar finished speaking, Abanak soared into the room. He bowed after he landed.
"My teams have been informed of three hawks who have reason to be suspected of treason. Some have already left to search for information on the whereabouts of those three," he reported.

Agathar gave only a rumble of approval as Abanak spoke, while Zarrock simply nodded. As instructed, the Harris Hawk stepped back several feet, having been the only one in the room to hear about how deadly the Kahiir was. After a moment of thought and a glance at the other Shades, he stepped back even more.

"Now we are ready... earlier we spoke of several problems to solve, here will be the answer to some of them. This creature is a hunter, and does not stop. I'll call him Spindle, after a pet of my father's... but you will know his a Kahiir. A rare find from my land. They grow double their size in days, and they emit a poison so potent it can cause even Dragons to hallucinate. We will loose it on the Hawks, and then on whatever comes from the Rifts. At the same time, Zarrock has prepared a solution to drawing Rinka out... A very special, small team of Shades will be sent to her city at nightfall. That is all you need to know."

As Agathar spoke, he ran his tail over the egg several times, investigating for cracks. Satisfied, he brought both of his front wings to the table, using the small claws at their joint to steady the egg while he lowered his muzzle down to it. He closed his eyes and opened his jaws, and for a moment nothing happened. The Dragon breathed in deeply, and a small flicker of black fire appeared at the back of his tongue. 

Dragon magic. Zarrock noted as he watched, having seen it only twice before.

The black fire rose from his jaws and began to swirl around the egg, gaining speed until it seemed a solid orb of black fire. Agathar moved his wings out of the way and let go of the egg, letting them swirling fire do it's work.

Wildwing wrote:

Jaystep wrote:(*cheering* it's like the beginning of a TV show, all these different scenes all around the world!  )

---

Kale looked again at the tracking disk, pausing to hover with his wings in midair. It continued to blink and buzz as if he were right on top of a Rift, yet all he saw below him was snow. With a frown and the shake of his head, he dove downwards again in search. The wind howled in his ears on the way back down the mountainside. It had taken all of his courage to come back to another mountain after the last time.

He was somewhere North, but that's about all he was sure on. The Falcon had made his way up the Pridelands and into the snowy Northern Mountains region, following a valley that used to hold the Snow Wolves' territory up into the mountainous forest above it. When the tracking disk had initially went off, it took Kale almost a full day to understand it there were so many different Rifts all appearing at the same time that he did what all intelligent minds did when there was no logical answer: he guessed. This Rift was somewhere just North of Drellan's old camp and birthplace. If he and Najmah were ever going to appear, this would make the most logical place. So he set off, arriving at the site only to discover a thick blanket of snowfall obscuring the mountainside. On his way out of the Pridelands, some of the other Rifts had started to appear on the tracking disk. He made note of two in particular; One on the Island of Storms that particularly moved him, and the one near the wolves' current camp. If Drellan wasn't here, that would be his next choice.

The Disk buzzed and flashed as if he had arrived, but he could not see anyone or any sort of area that might reveal a Rift. To add to it, whether it was new fear of large mountains or something else, the whole area was thick with dread.

The Falcon felt it in the air as he landed on the snow-covered branches of a nearby fir tree. Perhaps the wolf isn't on the surface? Maybe there is a cave nearby?

XD It's awesome, isn't it?

---

 "Crap it's cold!" the male falcon gasped, backing back into the cave as a gust of wind blew flakes of snow into his face. He continued backing up until his back hit a wall. He wings were wrapped tightly around his form, but even that, along with his feathers completely bristled, didn't feel like enough to warm the bird.
"Why's it so cold?" he shivered, "I don't remember there being snow! I... I don't remember..."
He paused in his shivering, now very confused.
"...Where am I? ...How did I even get here?"

The adult Peregrine felt as if he had woken up from a long nap, but without the the post-sleepy feeling. Grogginess was the word!
He felt disoriented, as if he lost all sense of time. He also had trouble remembering anything right before he woke up, which was what usually happened whenever he napped. So he'd remember everything in just a moment, right?

"I remember my name, so it's not like I have amnesia," Finnican churred to himself, "And before now..."
He stood there for a full minute, thinking hard in an effort to regain the memories that alluded him. And just like that, he remembered.
"...That's right. I...I committed treason against his majesty, didn't I?" Finnican whispered with slumping shoulders. As he said those words, his gaze grew distant and his voice took on a somber tone. "There's...no way I can go back, is there? The entire Roost will know by now. There's no way they wouldn't, right?"
Finnican slid to the cold, hard ground. With a long sigh that turned his breath into plumes of faint steam in the cold air, he lifted his ching and rested the back of his head against the wall. The corners of his beak pulled back in a soft smile as he gazed at the raggedy ceiling in sorrow.
"Sorry little sis," he chuckled with a heavy heart, "I left you behind again, didn't I? Some older brother I am, huh?"

It was for the best anyway, As long as she wasn't with him, then the Roost would accept and love her in his place. He probably would never see her again, but... He'd made his choice. And so he was reaping the consequences.

The smile not leaving his face, Finnican closed his eyes and pictured his younger sister. He...couldn't recall what she looked like. He knew she was growing into a beautiful young she-falcon, but her face was a blue. It hadn't been that long since he'd last seen her.

"Ya," he muttered with a bitter smile, "Some older brother indeed."
His poor little sister. She hadn't done anything to deserve having a sorry exuse of a brother like him. He would miss her, but she was better off. He wished he could have stayed with her a little longer.
I'm sorry I never got to tell you before everything, but I love you... ...

Her name would not come to him. It took a moment to realize he did not know it. His snapped wide open and he jolted straight up. Finnican could not remember his sister's name. Forgetting his sister's looks was one thing, but forgetting her name? How was that even possible?!

It was then that Finnican began looking over his past. He remembered the hollow he grew up in. It wasn't a clear picture, but he did remember growing up in it. ...With...hawks?
He remembered...fighting, hunting, racing. He remembered doing those things. ...Why did he do that again?
There was something a few years ago... Something horrible happened. It had caused so much heartache and grief. What was it that happened?
As he rattled his brain for his memories, and uncomfortable feeling settled in his chest and only grew stronger the more time he spent thinking back on his life. A life that he could only recollect through bits and pieces.

"...Maybe I have amnesia afterall..." Finnican shakily whispered to himself.

Wildwing wrote:Nykoru flinched, his heart jumping and his eyes flying open at the sharp gasp. The organ in his chest pounded as he lay beside Syrune and his sister, now wide awake. The young Falhawk normally slept soundly, and apparently could sleep through thunder storms, but he'd noticed over the past years that he would wake up when he needed to. For example, on several occasions he would suddenly wake up without any obvious reason, and then only moments later his sister would be at his side to get him up.

Then again, maybe those instances he could recall were simply coincidences? Maybe 9 times out of 10 he was sound asleep when someone came to get him and then just let him be? He wouldn't know, he would've been asleep at the time.

But now Nykoru was awake and he did not move a muscle. He quickly steadied his breathing and listened to the sounds of his aunt shifting beside him. Then, as she moved to sit up, his eyes shifted to watch her, but he still remained silent. He briefly considered closing his eyes, feeling somewhat paranoid that Syrune would be able to see them open despite the darkness of the hollow. Then he decided that there was no point. If she could see them open, she would have noticed by now, or would notice right before he closed his eyes.

After considering his options, which were a) Pretend to sleep and hope to actually fall back to sleep in the process, b) Stay awake but mind his own business, c) Let Syrune know you're awake, Nykoru chose what felt like the option that wouldn't be a waste of his time. He waited a moment before stretching out his wing and gently placing it against her's.

Jaystep wrote:

Wildwing wrote:Nykoru flinched, his heart jumping and his eyes flying open at the sharp gasp. The organ in his chest pounded as he lay beside Syrune and his sister, now wide awake. The young Falhawk normally slept soundly, and apparently could sleep through thunder storms, but he'd noticed over the past years that he would wake up when he needed to. For example, on several occasions he would suddenly wake up without any obvious reason, and then only moments later his sister would be at his side to get him up.

Then again, maybe those instances he could recall were simply coincidences? Maybe 9 times out of 10 he was sound asleep when someone came to get him and then just let him be? He wouldn't know, he would've been asleep at the time.

But now Nykoru was awake and he did not move a muscle. He quickly steadied his breathing and listened to the sounds of his aunt shifting beside him. Then, as she moved to sit up, his eyes shifted to watch her, but he still remained silent. He briefly considered closing his eyes, feeling somewhat paranoid that Syrune would be able to see them open despite the darkness of the hollow. Then he decided that there was no point. If she could see them open, she would have noticed by now, or would notice right before he closed his eyes.

After considering his options, which were a) Pretend to sleep and hope to actually fall back to sleep in the process, b) Stay awake but mind his own business, c) Let Syrune know you're awake, Nykoru chose what felt like the option that wouldn't be a waste of his time. He waited a moment before stretching out his wing and gently placing it against her's.

Syrune froze at the touch, having hoped the young bird was still sleeping. She waited an extra moment before moving, savoring the friendly touch. She pulled away, self-loathing keeping her from enjoying the kindness for very long. The hawk quietly cleared her throat and began shuffling her feathers as she stretch awake. 
"Good morning." She whispered, a small smile across her beak.

Ambyra however remained quietly sleeping throughout the exchange. She often had a habit of sleeping far too much than she needed.

Wildwing wrote:

Jaystep wrote:

Wildwing wrote:Nykoru flinched, his heart jumping and his eyes flying open at the sharp gasp. The organ in his chest pounded as he lay beside Syrune and his sister, now wide awake. The young Falhawk normally slept soundly, and apparently could sleep through thunder storms, but he'd noticed over the past years that he would wake up when he needed to. For example, on several occasions he would suddenly wake up without any obvious reason, and then only moments later his sister would be at his side to get him up.

Then again, maybe those instances he could recall were simply coincidences? Maybe 9 times out of 10 he was sound asleep when someone came to get him and then just let him be? He wouldn't know, he would've been asleep at the time.

But now Nykoru was awake and he did not move a muscle. He quickly steadied his breathing and listened to the sounds of his aunt shifting beside him. Then, as she moved to sit up, his eyes shifted to watch her, but he still remained silent. He briefly considered closing his eyes, feeling somewhat paranoid that Syrune would be able to see them open despite the darkness of the hollow. Then he decided that there was no point. If she could see them open, she would have noticed by now, or would notice right before he closed his eyes.

After considering his options, which were a) Pretend to sleep and hope to actually fall back to sleep in the process, b) Stay awake but mind his own business, c) Let Syrune know you're awake, Nykoru chose what felt like the option that wouldn't be a waste of his time. He waited a moment before stretching out his wing and gently placing it against her's.

Syrune froze at the touch, having hoped the young bird was still sleeping. She waited an extra moment before moving, savoring the friendly touch. She pulled away, self-loathing keeping her from enjoying the kindness for very long. The hawk quietly cleared her throat and began shuffling her feathers as she stretch awake. 
"Good morning." She whispered, a small smile across her beak.

Ambyra however remained quietly sleeping throughout the exchange. She often had a habit of sleeping far too much than she needed.

"Well...There've been worse, so... Ya. Good morning," Nykoru replied with a wry smile of his own. He pulled his wing back as Syrune moved. The smile disappeared and, after a moment, shifted so that he lay on his chest rather than his side.
"...Are you okay?" he asked quietly, glancing at her from the corner of his eye, but keeping his face tilted away so that she would not have his face directly in her's.

Jaystep wrote:If it is a cave, I should try flying lower to the ground, but that means getting snow-clogged at the wings.


Kale frowned, deciding the extra half hour it would take to preen the snow from his feathers was worth the sacrifice in order to assemble a team to save the entire world. A world he still cared little for. Despite the small decision-making, the falcon descended from the treeline down the mountain, searching with eyes and ears for any sign of a large enough cave for a wolf.

Jaystep wrote:

Wildwing wrote:

Jaystep wrote:

Wildwing wrote:Nykoru flinched, his heart jumping and his eyes flying open at the sharp gasp. The organ in his chest pounded as he lay beside Syrune and his sister, now wide awake. The young Falhawk normally slept soundly, and apparently could sleep through thunder storms, but he'd noticed over the past years that he would wake up when he needed to. For example, on several occasions he would suddenly wake up without any obvious reason, and then only moments later his sister would be at his side to get him up.

Then again, maybe those instances he could recall were simply coincidences? Maybe 9 times out of 10 he was sound asleep when someone came to get him and then just let him be? He wouldn't know, he would've been asleep at the time.

But now Nykoru was awake and he did not move a muscle. He quickly steadied his breathing and listened to the sounds of his aunt shifting beside him. Then, as she moved to sit up, his eyes shifted to watch her, but he still remained silent. He briefly considered closing his eyes, feeling somewhat paranoid that Syrune would be able to see them open despite the darkness of the hollow. Then he decided that there was no point. If she could see them open, she would have noticed by now, or would notice right before he closed his eyes.

After considering his options, which were a) Pretend to sleep and hope to actually fall back to sleep in the process, b) Stay awake but mind his own business, c) Let Syrune know you're awake, Nykoru chose what felt like the option that wouldn't be a waste of his time. He waited a moment before stretching out his wing and gently placing it against her's.

Syrune froze at the touch, having hoped the young bird was still sleeping. She waited an extra moment before moving, savoring the friendly touch. She pulled away, self-loathing keeping her from enjoying the kindness for very long. The hawk quietly cleared her throat and began shuffling her feathers as she stretch awake. 
"Good morning." She whispered, a small smile across her beak.

Ambyra however remained quietly sleeping throughout the exchange. She often had a habit of sleeping far too much than she needed.

"Well...There've been worse, so... Ya. Good morning," Nykoru replied with a wry smile of his own. He pulled his wing back as Syrune moved. The smile disappeared and, after a moment, shifted so that he lay on his chest rather than his side.
"...Are you okay?" he asked quietly, glancing at her from the corner of his eye, but keeping his face tilted away so that she would not have his face directly in her's.

"Hmm? .... Yeah." Syrune answered, almost automatically. Her eyes were pointed towards the light outside, but her gaze was somewhere much farther than that. She blinked back into reality after a pause, and turned just enough to check on Ambyra, who was still heavily sleeping. 

Syrune wriggled her talons one by one, stretching each foot out and stretching to her full height. "It's your turn." she tried to joke, nodding towards the other falhawk.

Wildwing wrote:

Jaystep wrote:If it is a cave, I should try flying lower to the ground, but that means getting snow-clogged at the wings.


Kale frowned, deciding the extra half hour it would take to preen the snow from his feathers was worth the sacrifice in order to assemble a team to save the entire world. A world he still cared little for. Despite the small decision-making, the falcon descended from the treeline down the mountain, searching with eyes and ears for any sign of a large enough cave for a wolf.

"..."

Finnican let out a long sigh, another cloud of frost leaving his beak. No amount of wracking his brain would give him what he wanted: solid memories. Even just one clear memory of something from his past would be enough. What did he have to do to get it? What a little bit? Find someone who knew him to explain everything to him? Where could he even find such a bird? Where even was he?

The male Peregrine lifted his head. He was in a cave, that much he'd realized. It was a dirty, cold cave that was dark, but he could see the exit due to the light from the outside pouring in. He was standing in the dark shadows of the cave, but it wasn't like there was anything to see where he was standing-

...The stone was glowing. No, that wasn't right. There were large marks, scouring the ground around him, the walls behind him, even the ceiling above him. It was these specific gouges that radiated a sickly violet.
Finnican clenched his feet, the sandy texture of the floor sifting through his talons. At that moment he realized that the crushing, prickling weight he had felt in his chest wasn't because of the cold. It was a feeling, one that he suddenly recognized as dread. A dread so intense that he suddenly had difficulty breathing. The image of being held underwater came to mind. Was that a memory, or was it his mind giving him a visual to what he felt inside?

Finnican's feet moved before he even realized he needed to leave. As he hurried for the exit, the falcon found himself stumbling across pieces of rock, kicking up the loose dirt as he repeatedly tripped. Finally, just as he was entering the light from the exit, he stepped right on top of a spherical object, one of his talons slipping through a hole of some sort. This sphere, now stuck on his foot, was the reason why Finnican fell over face first. He lay there for a moment, not even bothering to groan at the throbbing in his beak. Finally, after sitting up and shaking it off, the falcon brought his talon up to see what had caught on it.

Staring right back at him from where it sat on his talon was the skull of another bird.

---

Finnican's scream not only bounced against the walls of the cave, but it also bellowed out from the cave entrance, loud enough to alert anyone nearby of his presence. Seconds later, the falcon himself shot out of the cave and tumbling in the snow outside.

The skull was still skidding across the cave floor after having been thrown.

Jaystep wrote:

Wildwing wrote:

Jaystep wrote:If it is a cave, I should try flying lower to the ground, but that means getting snow-clogged at the wings.


Kale frowned, deciding the extra half hour it would take to preen the snow from his feathers was worth the sacrifice in order to assemble a team to save the entire world. A world he still cared little for. Despite the small decision-making, the falcon descended from the treeline down the mountain, searching with eyes and ears for any sign of a large enough cave for a wolf.

"..."

Finnican let out a long sigh, another cloud of frost leaving his beak. No amount of wracking his brain would give him what he wanted: solid memories. Even just one clear memory of something from his past would be enough. What did he have to do to get it? What a little bit? Find someone who knew him to explain everything to him? Where could he even find such a bird? Where even was he?

The male Peregrine lifted his head. He was in a cave, that much he'd realized. It was a dirty, cold cave that was dark, but he could see the exit due to the light from the outside pouring in. He was standing in the dark shadows of the cave, but it wasn't like there was anything to see where he was standing-

...The stone was glowing. No, that wasn't right. There were large marks, scouring the ground around him, the walls behind him, even the ceiling above him. It was these specific gouges that radiated a sickly violet.
Finnican clenched his feet, the sandy texture of the floor sifting through his talons. At that moment he realized that the crushing, prickling weight he had felt in his chest wasn't because of the cold. It was a feeling, one that he suddenly recognized as dread. A dread so intense that he suddenly had difficulty breathing. The image of being held underwater came to mind. Was that a memory, or was it his mind giving him a visual to what he felt inside?

Finnican's feet moved before he even realized he needed to leave. As he hurried for the exit, the falcon found himself stumbling across pieces of rock, kicking up the loose dirt as he repeatedly tripped. Finally, just as he was entering the light from the exit, he stepped right on top of a spherical object, one of his talons slipping through a hole of some sort. This sphere, now stuck on his foot, was the reason why Finnican fell over face first. He lay there for a moment, not even bothering to groan at the throbbing in his beak. Finally, after sitting up and shaking it off, the falcon brought his talon up to see what had caught on it.

Staring right back at him from where it sat on his talon was the skull of another bird.

---

Finnican's scream not only bounced against the walls of the cave, but it also bellowed out from the cave entrance, loud enough to alert anyone nearby of his presence. Seconds later, the falcon himself shot out of the cave and tumbling in the snow outside.

The skull was still skidding across the cave floor after having been thrown.

(Last RP post for the night, I gotta get to bed soon)

Kale had been gliding through the falling snow about two hundred feet away when he heard the scream. At first, his feathers poofed out in surprise, his eyes shooting open wide in shock. It was only when he recognized the sound that the panic set in. 

Oh no! What am I gonna do?! There's a little girl-hatchling in trouble somewhere down there!


The falcon took a deep breath, put on his bravest face, and banked right over the edge of a nearby cliff to see if he could save the chick. He flew over the cliffside and scanned the ground below, spotting a wide cave entrance poking through the mountainside. He barreled downwards towards a shape struggling in the snow...and he finally saw it.

It was too late to freeze. Too late to turn around and pretend he heard nothing. Too late to run away. Why? Why in all of creation did it have to be Finnican in the snow?! Kale had absolutely no idea what to do. None of this made sense. He skimmed over the line of fresh snow to come to a landing a few feet away from the bird. The bird who ruined his life. He tried his best to stop the wave of memories and emotion from rushing back into his head.

Ugh, kill me now... 

Kale cleared his throat and did his best to fake a smile. "... Well hi! You are... not who was supposed to be here..."

Wildwing wrote:

Jaystep wrote:

Wildwing wrote:

Jaystep wrote:

Wildwing wrote:Nykoru flinched, his heart jumping and his eyes flying open at the sharp gasp. The organ in his chest pounded as he lay beside Syrune and his sister, now wide awake. The young Falhawk normally slept soundly, and apparently could sleep through thunder storms, but he'd noticed over the past years that he would wake up when he needed to. For example, on several occasions he would suddenly wake up without any obvious reason, and then only moments later his sister would be at his side to get him up.

Then again, maybe those instances he could recall were simply coincidences? Maybe 9 times out of 10 he was sound asleep when someone came to get him and then just let him be? He wouldn't know, he would've been asleep at the time.

But now Nykoru was awake and he did not move a muscle. He quickly steadied his breathing and listened to the sounds of his aunt shifting beside him. Then, as she moved to sit up, his eyes shifted to watch her, but he still remained silent. He briefly considered closing his eyes, feeling somewhat paranoid that Syrune would be able to see them open despite the darkness of the hollow. Then he decided that there was no point. If she could see them open, she would have noticed by now, or would notice right before he closed his eyes.

After considering his options, which were a) Pretend to sleep and hope to actually fall back to sleep in the process, b) Stay awake but mind his own business, c) Let Syrune know you're awake, Nykoru chose what felt like the option that wouldn't be a waste of his time. He waited a moment before stretching out his wing and gently placing it against her's.

Syrune froze at the touch, having hoped the young bird was still sleeping. She waited an extra moment before moving, savoring the friendly touch. She pulled away, self-loathing keeping her from enjoying the kindness for very long. The hawk quietly cleared her throat and began shuffling her feathers as she stretch awake. 
"Good morning." She whispered, a small smile across her beak.

Ambyra however remained quietly sleeping throughout the exchange. She often had a habit of sleeping far too much than she needed.

"Well...There've been worse, so... Ya. Good morning," Nykoru replied with a wry smile of his own. He pulled his wing back as Syrune moved. The smile disappeared and, after a moment, shifted so that he lay on his chest rather than his side.
"...Are you okay?" he asked quietly, glancing at her from the corner of his eye, but keeping his face tilted away so that she would not have his face directly in her's.

"Hmm? .... Yeah." Syrune answered, almost automatically. Her eyes were pointed towards the light outside, but her gaze was somewhere much farther than that. She blinked back into reality after a pause, and turned just enough to check on Ambyra, who was still heavily sleeping. 

Syrune wriggled her talons one by one, stretching each foot out and stretching to her full height. "It's your turn." she tried to joke, nodding towards the other falhawk.

Nykoru turned his head slightly to watch Syrune. He said nothing in reply.

The young falhawk turned to Ambyra at her aunt's direction and smiled, letting out a slow chuckle.
"You know I'm no good at this," he sighed good-naturedly, but even so, he got up and stepped towards his sister. He took a moment to stretch and yawn, shaking stares from his eyes, before leaning over Ambyra. He paused before stepping over her and leaning down even more so that he was right in her face.

"Ambyra...Wakey wakey before the tickle monster strikes again," Nykoru murmured with the most serious look on his face, staring intently down at his sister.

Wildwing wrote:

Jaystep wrote:

Wildwing wrote:

Jaystep wrote:If it is a cave, I should try flying lower to the ground, but that means getting snow-clogged at the wings.


Kale frowned, deciding the extra half hour it would take to preen the snow from his feathers was worth the sacrifice in order to assemble a team to save the entire world. A world he still cared little for. Despite the small decision-making, the falcon descended from the treeline down the mountain, searching with eyes and ears for any sign of a large enough cave for a wolf.

"..."

Finnican let out a long sigh, another cloud of frost leaving his beak. No amount of wracking his brain would give him what he wanted: solid memories. Even just one clear memory of something from his past would be enough. What did he have to do to get it? What a little bit? Find someone who knew him to explain everything to him? Where could he even find such a bird? Where even was he?

The male Peregrine lifted his head. He was in a cave, that much he'd realized. It was a dirty, cold cave that was dark, but he could see the exit due to the light from the outside pouring in. He was standing in the dark shadows of the cave, but it wasn't like there was anything to see where he was standing-

...The stone was glowing. No, that wasn't right. There were large marks, scouring the ground around him, the walls behind him, even the ceiling above him. It was these specific gouges that radiated a sickly violet.
Finnican clenched his feet, the sandy texture of the floor sifting through his talons. At that moment he realized that the crushing, prickling weight he had felt in his chest wasn't because of the cold. It was a feeling, one that he suddenly recognized as dread. A dread so intense that he suddenly had difficulty breathing. The image of being held underwater came to mind. Was that a memory, or was it his mind giving him a visual to what he felt inside?

Finnican's feet moved before he even realized he needed to leave. As he hurried for the exit, the falcon found himself stumbling across pieces of rock, kicking up the loose dirt as he repeatedly tripped. Finally, just as he was entering the light from the exit, he stepped right on top of a spherical object, one of his talons slipping through a hole of some sort. This sphere, now stuck on his foot, was the reason why Finnican fell over face first. He lay there for a moment, not even bothering to groan at the throbbing in his beak. Finally, after sitting up and shaking it off, the falcon brought his talon up to see what had caught on it.

Staring right back at him from where it sat on his talon was the skull of another bird.

---

Finnican's scream not only bounced against the walls of the cave, but it also bellowed out from the cave entrance, loud enough to alert anyone nearby of his presence. Seconds later, the falcon himself shot out of the cave and tumbling in the snow outside.

The skull was still skidding across the cave floor after having been thrown.

(Last RP post for the night, I gotta get to bed soon)

Kale had been gliding through the falling snow about two hundred feet away when he heard the scream. At first, his feathers poofed out in surprise, his eyes shooting open wide in shock. It was only when he recognized the sound that the panic set in. 

Oh no! What am I gonna do?! There's a little girl-hatchling in trouble somewhere down there!


The falcon took a deep breath, put on his bravest face, and banked right over the edge of a nearby cliff to see if he could save the chick. He flew over the cliffside and scanned the ground below, spotting a wide cave entrance poking through the mountainside. He barreled downwards towards a shape struggling in the snow...and he finally saw it.

It was too late to freeze. Too late to turn around and pretend he heard nothing. Too late to run away. Why? Why in all of creation did it have to be Finnican in the snow?! Kale had absolutely no idea what to do. None of this made sense. He skimmed over the line of fresh snow to come to a landing a few feet away from the bird. The bird who ruined his life. He tried his best to stop the wave of memories and emotion from rushing back into his head.

Ugh, kill me now... 

Kale cleared his throat and did his best to fake a smile. "... Well hi! You are... not who was supposed to be here..."

Kk!)

...Pfft! Little girl-hatchling! XD)


After thrashing in the snow, causing himself to get buried in the white powder multiple times, Finnican finally poked his head up with a loud gasp, clumps of white falling from his feathers. He then struggled with his wings, thrusting one out of the snow while clumsily tugging at the other. He was so busy trying to free himself that he did not notice the newcomer even as he landed.

"Well hi!" the newcomer said, causing Finnican to choke on a screa-shout. Manly...shout...

Finnican whipped his head to the other male falcon, his yellow eyes large and wide as he listened to the rest of what he had to say.

You are not supposed to be here, was what he understood. Immediately, Finnican's mind was thrown back to the cave he was just in, with the skull... Of course, the image of a bird's remains gave him the wrong idea about why the falcon was here of all places, confronting him with that awkward smile of his. A smile that, in Fin's moment of hyperactive imagination, looked downright menacing and hid murder.

"Look man, I wasn't in the cave with the dead bodies! I swear I saw nothin'!" Finnican spouted in his panic after letting out a horrified shriek, thrusting both wings in the air as a sign of his compliance.