Lunch had been a brief, chaotic and unsatisfying affair. The food at the Tower was both nutritious and plentiful, it was also boring and plain in many ways. He liked meat, he really liked meat. Still eating the same meat every day was starting to lave him thinking that all other animals must have mysteriously died out and fallen into nothingness. He was probably being too harsh but then he was exhausted also, it might have mad something to do with his odd mood. Normally care-free and if not jovial then hardly black of thought he found himself feeling drained. As such he had turned to that greatest of healers - nature. Or the closes thing - the gardens of the Grey Tower. It was a pretty place and he fancied he could visit more often if he had the time but mostly it was quiet. There were no expectations of him as he lay there, looking upwards and inwards, breathing the fragrances of the earth with appreciation. His arms ached abominably and his back felt like it was trying to rip itself out of his body. Every so often he would shift shoulders and an involuntary groan would be brought forth. “Lucky no one cares to watch me, I’d never live it down. An Arafellin brought to the floor where his bells can’t even ring. One day I’ll outrank someone and I’ll bloody well…well…” the words died. It was a righteous thought for a tick but truly he wasn’t stern enough to put anyone through anything. He sighed and closed his eyes, brining his hands to cushion his head and concentrated upon his breathing and the gentle sounds around him. He was there to try to get some energy back not to complain. It had been his own fault for letting standards in the armoury slip. As such he had been forced, and watched, to scrub, buff, oil - and everything else under the Light - until the breastplates gleamed and the leathers shone in sun. It had taken him several Bells and though he had been excused classes for this punishment he would be making the time up in what should have been his free evening, all week. He groaned aloud with a tinge of frustrated despair. Can’t be a Gaidin if you can’t do things right. Nyer nyer nyer! he mocked internally. It brought a snort of derision and a brief flash of amusement. His ears caught the sound of flowing water, the rustle of leaves and at times even the wind itself. Laughter rippled from somewhere off to his right, a crunching as of footsteps upon gravel over to his left. A deep breath and a relaxing, melting almost so that it felt like his skin were buzzing and alive. A happy place, removed from the rest of his life and current circumstances. A memory of long ago, of mischief and a time before rules and expectations. A smile to his lips and a releasing of the senses. He wouldn’t hear if anyone came to drag him for another chore, or anything else, for a few moments he could suspend himself into nothingness. |
Time Out Amidst the Leaves
Forum rules
Welcome to the Gardens: one of the most tranquil areas of the Tower Grounds. Birds sing in the trees which line the wide paths between beautiful flower beds and serene lakes. There are benches to sit and listen to the waterfall, and there is neatly trimmed grass to lie on and rest. Novices and Soldiers as well as Warders in Training can be seen, sweeping the stone paths as Accepted and Dedicated study from books and relax under leafy trees.
Welcome to the Gardens: one of the most tranquil areas of the Tower Grounds. Birds sing in the trees which line the wide paths between beautiful flower beds and serene lakes. There are benches to sit and listen to the waterfall, and there is neatly trimmed grass to lie on and rest. Novices and Soldiers as well as Warders in Training can be seen, sweeping the stone paths as Accepted and Dedicated study from books and relax under leafy trees.
- Andy
- "A Crown of Swords"
- Posts: 611
- Joined: February 4th, 2017, 11:16 pm
- PC: Alrim Farshera Gaidin
- Location: UK
Time Out Amidst the Leaves
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Arafel Will Rise, Kick Matty's Butt & Be Totally The Most Awesome Land Evar
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Arafel Will Rise, Kick Matty's Butt & Be Totally The Most Awesome Land Evar
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- "The Path of Daggers"
- Posts: 1079
- Joined: February 21st, 2016, 10:03 pm
- PC: Avyra *bloody* Moeryr - Accepted
Re: Time Out Amidst the Leaves
Tempest
the gyrfalcon
Avyra
She was following Avyra around, eager to hunt and eat. Well, she knew she'd get food even if she didn't make a kill, but a kill meant a full crop, and a full crop was a happy bird. Landing in a nearby tree, she watched Avyra move off the path a bit to beat some brush. Nothing. Come on! Let me chase something! She then paused, looking over to another form on the ground. What was that human doing?? He was just laying there, not dead. She knew because even from here, she could hear his heart beating. So she took wing, landing about ten feet away, then waddled over to inspect him further. She stopped inches from his head, leaning down and tilting her head, sharp beak almost touching his forehead. |
Avyra
She had heard Tempest fly off somewhere else; maybe the pure white falcon had spotted something, but when she turned she saw her looming over an innocent Drin, laying in the sun. She rolled her eyes. "Tempest. I'm very proud of you, you caught a sleeping drin. Do you want an award for that?" She looked over at the Accepted and smacked her beak. "No you can't eat him, bird brain." |
- Andy
- "A Crown of Swords"
- Posts: 611
- Joined: February 4th, 2017, 11:16 pm
- PC: Alrim Farshera Gaidin
- Location: UK
Re: Time Out Amidst the Leaves
Oneness, that’s what he sorely needed but never seemed able to achieve. It wasn’t like he didn’t try, he tried every day before sleeping. He was lucky, he had a room to himself mostly though there was space for another, apparently they didn’t really want to bunk with him so spent as little time there as possible. He felt sure it would come soon, it would be his kind of luck that they would slam the door shut as he was about to get there. Just his luck. Dark One’s own luck the black thought intruded momentarily before skimming away into the relaxed nothingness. What he was currently doing was as far as he had managed to take it, a state of mind and body that reminded him of water, pouring into whatever mould there was around. It was easy now and he took advantage as he always felt rejuvenated afterwards, if in spirit and not always in body his aches reminded him. It was when he tried to form that flame that the trouble began, it flickered but it shattered the…whatever the peacefulness was supposed to be. Bubble maybe? he mused. It was as if he could only deal with emotion and relaxation one at a time, there was no mixing the two. He could sit in serenity for days but he couldn’t move with it, couldn’t use it. It enraged him more than it should which ironically when fed into the flame actually worked but briefly. He had an easy going manner for the most art but his patience was wearing thin on this matter for once. He didn’t know how to deal with it. So busy was he with the internal mechanics that he heard nothing as the bird of prey came closer, close enough to touch. Only when he felt the insistent tugging did anything become known to him. A small jingle and a sound like wind moving, a sneezing screech came from directly next to his ear and his eyes flew open and the rest of him caught up with reality. He almost jumped off of the ground in surprise and got a neat little peck for his trouble. Rolling away he came to all fours, heart pounding and composure trying vainly to restore itself. “Where in the Light did you…what in the…” he blinked and shook his head. It was going to be one of those days. Coming to his knees, hands upon thighs he looked around and saw an Accepted approaching. That was all he needed, to have embarrassed himself before her so neatly. “Well, that’s one way to wake up,” he tried to turn it into a jest as he nodded at her. It was better than being angry about it, laughter was forgotten quicker, “this your bird?” |
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Arafel Will Rise, Kick Matty's Butt & Be Totally The Most Awesome Land Evar
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Arafel Will Rise, Kick Matty's Butt & Be Totally The Most Awesome Land Evar
~
-
- "The Path of Daggers"
- Posts: 1079
- Joined: February 21st, 2016, 10:03 pm
- PC: Avyra *bloody* Moeryr - Accepted
Re: Time Out Amidst the Leaves
Tempest spread her long, thin wings in suprise as he made a shocked sound and rolled away, and she voiced her opinions about that in a high pitched trill. Avyra made her way to the pair, frowning at Tempest. "Well, when she acts like this, she's a wild bird." The tiny Accepted then held out her gloved hand, tapping it once while giving a whistle. Tempest looked back and hopped onto her hand, trilling again about how her quarry dared get away. "Yes I know. You caught him fair and square. He was all yours. But I can't give you a reward for that." She looked to the drin, then held out a hand to help him up. "She didn't get you, did she?" The drin didn't look hurt, but with raptors it was always good to make sure. One slice with a talon was almost guaranteed to be infected, considering what they usually did with their talons. "I'm Avyra, by the way. This goofy ball of puff is Tempest. She's a gyrfalcon," Avyra continued, locking the bird's jesses into her fingers. |
- Andy
- "A Crown of Swords"
- Posts: 611
- Joined: February 4th, 2017, 11:16 pm
- PC: Alrim Farshera Gaidin
- Location: UK
Re: Time Out Amidst the Leaves
Well, you do find yourself in strange company these days. Cross-dressing rebels, heron tattooed Gaidin, mute helping hands…now a falcon wielding Accepted…what in the Light did you do Alrim, what it the… the thoughts came unbidden and continued silently in his skull for a while. It was not that these encounters had been bad for him, quite the opposite as far as the balance of things went. It was just that they were all so surreal. He had no normal days. He remembers how he used to long for an interesting, romantic life. He cursed his past self, he blamed him for this. The flaming, wool-head. He checked himself over, he thought he was okay. No bells were missing, clothing wasn’t torn. When he got to his cheek his thumb came away with the colour red. It wasn’t excessive though so he didn’t count it as an injury. “Cut cheek, no real harm done. More my dignity scattered,” he responded slowly, beginning to see the humour in the situation, “I’ll recover. Get worse in the Yards these days. My fault anyway” Now that he was recovered he looked over the pair. The gyrfalcon was a falcon, that was about as much as he could say for it. He had not knowledge of their breeds or qualities, couldn’t have said if it were a decent one. It looked well tended, feathers in tact and it was obviously happy enough to be a playful sort. To woman though, she was shorter than most around. He guessed that mad it likely to be Cairhienin though it was never a certainty. She was pretty enough for all that she wore the same Accepted dress that lent nothing towards the imagination. Brown hair and green eyes were an unusual mix but not unwelcome. H wondered, idly, if there were rules that hadn’t been made aware of. As if there were a viewing room with secret windows that the full ranks looked through and laughed at them all. Never in three lifetimes would he have thought falcons would be flying through the Gardens. Otherwise he’d have brought a shield to shelter under. Well, no matter, it was rude to dwell and not introduce himself. “Alrim, Alrim Farshera,” he told her his name, “Drin’far’ji and general dogs body. can’t say as I’ve seen yourself or the…gyrfalcon…Tempest…before. didn’t even know they had them actually. Or did you bring her here? Do you bring her here often?” he asked warily, eyeing the bird as if it were about to dive for him. |
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Arafel Will Rise, Kick Matty's Butt & Be Totally The Most Awesome Land Evar
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Arafel Will Rise, Kick Matty's Butt & Be Totally The Most Awesome Land Evar
~
-
- "The Path of Daggers"
- Posts: 1079
- Joined: February 21st, 2016, 10:03 pm
- PC: Avyra *bloody* Moeryr - Accepted
Re: Time Out Amidst the Leaves
At first glance, one could say this man was ordinary. He wasn't too tall as far as people in the Tower came, still well above her height but thus was to be expected. A bit big in build, but with a friendly face. However, what really stuck out to her were the bells he had in his hair. How odd. She would have to ask about those later. Tempest shuffled a bit, opening her wings slightly. "Its a pleasure to meet you," Avyra said, watching the falcon a bit before holding up her hand, letting the white bird spread her wings fully and play in the wind from her fist. She looked back to Alrim. "She's mine, yes, but I didn't bring her here. I started to read up on falconry, seemed cool so I decided to try it. She's not my first bird; that would be Kyella, my golden eagle. I trapped her last winter. She'll be going back to the wild soon, actually." She laughed, not really of humor, though. "I'll miss her, that's for sure." She paused. "But as for taking her in the gardens, I bring all my birds here often to hunt. But usually they won't bother people. Tempest is just a silly sort." |
- Andy
- "A Crown of Swords"
- Posts: 611
- Joined: February 4th, 2017, 11:16 pm
- PC: Alrim Farshera Gaidin
- Location: UK
Re: Time Out Amidst the Leaves
What would it be like to be a bird? That was what he pondered, the concept of being able to go where you pleased upon the winds an appealing one to him. Absolute freedom, no cares or concerns beyond where the next meal came from. Animals, he thought, had a better deal than humans. Sur they couldn’t think or reason but that just meant there were no expectations. They could, for the most part, do as they chose. Even milk cows could spend the day eating grass after the morning’s milking. Though they’re throats are slit when they’re useless. So there is that. Still… he told himself privately. “Yes, I can see how it would be,” he looked the bird over again with a fonder eye this time, “never been one for animals myself, never had to deal with them. But if they’re happy and looked after I guess they can be decent companions” He stepped closer slowly, he didn’t want to cause the bird to attack him of feel that he was aggressive. He managed to get within a step or so from Avyra until there was a slight complaint, the suggestion of implied threat but no physical action taking place. Fathers ruffled slightly and wings opened as the beady eyes fixed upon him neatly. He hoped it hadn’t developed a taste for his blood. He stopped briefly before stepping again, now almost next to her and watching the bird as it watched him back. “Do you only keep them for a certain amount of time then? Do they not like being here or is there another reason you let them go?” he asked, genuinely curious if still a tad nervous. He went to reach out to Tempest and got a noise in response and paused in the act of beginning to try to pet her. Perhaps, he reasoned, they only bonded to certain people or to those who caught them? “I don’t think she likes me” he tried for a wry smile but only managed a half-grimace before turning his attention back to the Accepted. “Tel me about them, about how it’s done - the capturing and so on. Never seen it before really” he asked, politeness was valued and sometimes learning something new might help you down the line. He saw no harm in indulging a woman with a dangerous bird strapped to her arm, it was better than annoying her. |
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Arafel Will Rise, Kick Matty's Butt & Be Totally The Most Awesome Land Evar
~
Arafel Will Rise, Kick Matty's Butt & Be Totally The Most Awesome Land Evar
~
-
- "The Path of Daggers"
- Posts: 1079
- Joined: February 21st, 2016, 10:03 pm
- PC: Avyra *bloody* Moeryr - Accepted
Re: Time Out Amidst the Leaves
Avyra watched as he tried to bring his fingers close. "Careful, you might lose them," she said as Tempest ruffled her feathers a bit. "She doesn't care for being touched, in general. But she's a lot more accepting of it if you're the one holding her on fist." She looked at the bird, holding her up a bit to catch the wind in her wings even more. "However, I wouldn't say she doesn't like you, she doesn't 'like' anyone. Falcons aren't social animals. She sees me as an easier way to get food. Hunting with me is better than hunting alone. But this is still a wild bird, just one that has learned that I'm a good hunting partner. It'll take her about a week of not handling for her to return to a wild state." Tempest stretched her wings a bit more, and Avyra continued. "It doesn't shock me you've never seen a trap. There's a few ways to trap, but the general premace is putting a live bait of some sort in such a way that the hawk can't get to it, but tries, and gets trapped. "However, being an Accepted, I could just trap the bird using the One Power easy enough." Avyra laughed a bit. "From there its mostly getting the bird to trust you enough to come back. Its a delicate process." |
- Andy
- "A Crown of Swords"
- Posts: 611
- Joined: February 4th, 2017, 11:16 pm
- PC: Alrim Farshera Gaidin
- Location: UK
Re: Time Out Amidst the Leaves
“I see,” he responded, “I think. If they remain wild though then why hunt with them at all? Wouldn’t it just end up being sad, letting them go to never be seen again? Is it that they are a tool to learn other things, or are you just waiting for the right one to keep?” he asked her. He didn’t want to appear dude but it seemed a strange way to go about things, to catch something to then let it go. He supposed that there were moral reasons for doing so but he hadn’t really known morality to be applied to animals. Not universally. Hunting and war hounds sure, they were loved and respected by many. He was having a difficult time applying the same bond of feeling to a bird who would tear his finger off without second thought. “Maybe it’s just me, animals never really got on with me. Some hounds were alright but most cats and everything else usually want nothing to do with me” he shrugged. He reflected that perhaps Avyra was not one of those aloof and uncaring Accepted, h had met a few and they generally looked at him with upturned noses and feigned indifference. Until the Drin started taking their shirts off, of course, then they gathered like ravens around carrion. Which, now he came to think upon it, was probably more apt an analogy than was comfortable for him. He turned away from that and reconsidered the woman before him. She doted on the bird, almost talking as if it were a recalcitrant child at times. “Do you care about animals then Avyra? Is that what you would like to focus on when you are fully raised? I can’t say there aren’t worse things, though not as common as all of the politics and Shadowspawn hunting I’ve heard a lot of your fellows talking about” he asked, he liked to understand people and Avyra was not so easy to read at first glance. Perhaps he just couldn’t see the triggers for detail but being fair to himself he had been almost asleep before jumping out his skin. Given enough time he might come to see what she wanted, what she thought was important. He saw that as a reason to get to know her, too few people in his opinion really sought out as much knowledge as they could and he had already had his opinions changed by conversations with others. He had learned to seek out such changes where possible. “And are you allowed to use the One Power freely then? Or is it that you’ve got permission to do it for falcons?” |
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Arafel Will Rise, Kick Matty's Butt & Be Totally The Most Awesome Land Evar
~
Arafel Will Rise, Kick Matty's Butt & Be Totally The Most Awesome Land Evar
~
-
- "The Path of Daggers"
- Posts: 1079
- Joined: February 21st, 2016, 10:03 pm
- PC: Avyra *bloody* Moeryr - Accepted
Re: Time Out Amidst the Leaves
Avyra only laughed. "It will be sad. But its better for her and better for the wild if I let her go." She paused, reaching up and touching the falcon's beak, holding her finger there. The bird barely flinched. He then asked if she wanted to focus on that when raised. She merely shrugged, taking her finger away from that beak. "I could. But I probably won't. I want to do something that will actually mean something, but I have no idea what that would be..." She paused, stopping herself. "I guess I have some time to figure that out, but..." She shrugged. "I just hope it happens soon." She paused, looking at this odd man. If she was being honest, she had never seen a man like this before, to the point where she couldn't even place where he was from. She had never seen bells in hair before. "So," she continued. "What brings you to the Tower?" She didn't want to talk about herself anymore. |
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