Jigano croaked aloud in surprise and pleasure at the sight of the vulture-turned-girl he recognized, "Kiada!" the raven called aloud, flying to a lower branch, and Isuma awoke, blinking from her nap to chirrup a greeting to Auni. He had known that by posting his intentions to the notice board that strangers might join them, and he still struggled to use his telepathy even among close friends, but for the sake of the mission he had come to the conclusion that he would have to put aside his pride and fear and trust that the mental shielding exercises he had done with Caiside would suffice.
You are most welcome, he greeted Kiada in her mind, his voice far more stilted and distant than it had ever sounded aloud. The little ones should be safe here to play together. Amalia...
He hesitated, looking to the leopardess, who whined and seemed too distracted to hear him. He was worried for her, wanted to fold his wings around her and protect her, but she was already prowling forward. Jigano looked around one last time, hope fading that Caiside would be joining them - his friend, the first he had invited on this mission - but the great black stag was nowhere in sight, and Amalia would not be caged any longer.
Let's fly in flanking formation, he suggested to Kiada with a rough caw of worry for Amalia's impatience. Far enough apart that if we run into a trap or trouble, it only catches one of us, and not all three. So saying, he leapt from the branch and beat his wings, angling to the leopard's right side as she crossed the line and he followed - and then flew a little ways ahead, breathing deep of the fresh, green, living air. He flew slowly, circling widely around the large tree trunks at times so he didn't outpace their four-legged companion, and used his sharp eyes to examine everything that he could see, from songbirds to flowers to fresh green leaves unfurling in the warmth of Flowerbirth.
It was incredible to see such vibrant life again, after his months spent in the Hollowed Grounds, but it felt right, too.
Alright, Kiada, let's fly up-- his suggestion was cut short as the trees ahead of them thinned and, as they approached, revealed a five foot wide scar of black earth on the ground, and two small companions bouncing happily around each other on the other side of it, where the foliage was decidedly drab and sickly in comparison to the area they had just traveled.
Jigano squawked and made an awkward landing on a branch, clinging in shock as he looked from the vulture to the snow leopard - and then back the way they had come. In a straight line. They had definitely come in a straight line and yet here they were, as if they had turned around halfway and found themselves back at where they had begun. That... shouldn't have happened... he thought slowly to both of his companions. Amalia, can you follow your scent back and find where we got turned around? Kiada, can you follow her - and use your beak to score marks on the trees behind her? I'll wait here and keep watch. I'll follow Kiada's marks if you aren't back in ten minutes and catch up with you, he decided carefully, shifting from foot to foot with unease.
Amalia, use your nose!
Kiada, blaze the trail!
Posting Order for Round 2 is:
1.Amalia
2. Kiada
The PQ will be moving on in 48 hours or when everyone has posted
You are most welcome, he greeted Kiada in her mind, his voice far more stilted and distant than it had ever sounded aloud. The little ones should be safe here to play together. Amalia...
He hesitated, looking to the leopardess, who whined and seemed too distracted to hear him. He was worried for her, wanted to fold his wings around her and protect her, but she was already prowling forward. Jigano looked around one last time, hope fading that Caiside would be joining them - his friend, the first he had invited on this mission - but the great black stag was nowhere in sight, and Amalia would not be caged any longer.
Let's fly in flanking formation, he suggested to Kiada with a rough caw of worry for Amalia's impatience. Far enough apart that if we run into a trap or trouble, it only catches one of us, and not all three. So saying, he leapt from the branch and beat his wings, angling to the leopard's right side as she crossed the line and he followed - and then flew a little ways ahead, breathing deep of the fresh, green, living air. He flew slowly, circling widely around the large tree trunks at times so he didn't outpace their four-legged companion, and used his sharp eyes to examine everything that he could see, from songbirds to flowers to fresh green leaves unfurling in the warmth of Flowerbirth.
It was incredible to see such vibrant life again, after his months spent in the Hollowed Grounds, but it felt right, too.
Alright, Kiada, let's fly up-- his suggestion was cut short as the trees ahead of them thinned and, as they approached, revealed a five foot wide scar of black earth on the ground, and two small companions bouncing happily around each other on the other side of it, where the foliage was decidedly drab and sickly in comparison to the area they had just traveled.
Jigano squawked and made an awkward landing on a branch, clinging in shock as he looked from the vulture to the snow leopard - and then back the way they had come. In a straight line. They had definitely come in a straight line and yet here they were, as if they had turned around halfway and found themselves back at where they had begun. That... shouldn't have happened... he thought slowly to both of his companions. Amalia, can you follow your scent back and find where we got turned around? Kiada, can you follow her - and use your beak to score marks on the trees behind her? I'll wait here and keep watch. I'll follow Kiada's marks if you aren't back in ten minutes and catch up with you, he decided carefully, shifting from foot to foot with unease.
Amalia, use your nose!
Kiada, blaze the trail!
1.
2. Kiada
The PQ will be moving on in 48 hours or when everyone has posted
