His plan worked like a charm, and he let himself bask in a moment of pride before Kiada began to dive and he had to reevaluate his life choices on the fly - so to speak. There was a moment of panic while he thought she meant to scrape him off against a rock or tree, and it was enough of a worry that he had already begun loosening his grip before she came to an abrupt slow down in the air above him--
--and he continued to fall, talons slipping loose at the sudden change in speed. He had to scramble inelegantly to flip himself over and fill his wings with air again, flapping a madly steep ascent as he tried to make up for in agility what he lacked in mass. The tree branches worked in his favor as he slipped his smaller profile through them, trying to get high enough above Kiada that he could drop - not on her tail this time, but aiming for her shoulders, to engage in the time-honored tradition of raptor-surfing - and to give her head a gentle tap with his beak, if he managed to stick the landing.
Isuma was perfectly happy to investigate the world from her new home, and she balanced herself at Auni's warning, chirruping excitedly as he rose and gave her a better view. She leaned forward a little, encouraging him with little peeps and gentle pats of a talon as they began their trek to find their silly companions, and join in their game.
--and he continued to fall, talons slipping loose at the sudden change in speed. He had to scramble inelegantly to flip himself over and fill his wings with air again, flapping a madly steep ascent as he tried to make up for in agility what he lacked in mass. The tree branches worked in his favor as he slipped his smaller profile through them, trying to get high enough above Kiada that he could drop - not on her tail this time, but aiming for her shoulders, to engage in the time-honored tradition of raptor-surfing - and to give her head a gentle tap with his beak, if he managed to stick the landing.
Isuma was perfectly happy to investigate the world from her new home, and she balanced herself at Auni's warning, chirruping excitedly as he rose and gave her a better view. She leaned forward a little, encouraging him with little peeps and gentle pats of a talon as they began their trek to find their silly companions, and join in their game.
