Griffons Meet
H06: Fate's Spire, Hayatient Aerie
It's Ceriday, Callem 25 21:05:58 1020. The full moon isn't up. The tide is low and ebbing. The night is warm and sultry, and dark clouds hide the stars in patches. Elsewhere they shine brightly. Dew forms on the ground.
Down the mountainside a bit, a fire burns brightly in the dark. A makeshift camp has been made, using a large boulder as an anchor, a fence has been built in a loop around the center, where the fire burns. Several little leantos have been build inside the walled off area, including a large one, where a wing'd beast reclines. Above her, on the boulder that makes up about a quarter of the camp's fence, two figures can be seen in the light cast by the fire.
"And then the poor guy ran around the lamppost til the leash was so tight, it pulled him to the ground face first." Murder giggles cheerfully and squeezes the Egalrin beside her. "Wilfred is recovering at Alba's farm near the Felwood."
Erakirak chuckles, leaning into the hug. "That's quite a story! We'll have to introduce Wilfred to Silvie," he observes, indicating the silver-winged griffon lolling reclining nearby, enjoying the fish he is occassionally tossed. The griffon is clearly still recovering from severe wounds, but on the mend."
Ga'Elian is riding Erithamiel to a landing just this side outside the Aerie. He spreads his wings wide and cries out loudly with a shriek that pierces the sky. Once the beast touches down, the elf looks down at the campfire in the distance and the levity echoing from it. He turns the griffon and approaches.
Murder's ears straighten as the Elf's griffon calls out. She sniffs at the air and looks below, the giffon below the two sitting up and taking notice of the other griffon. "Hmm, that sounded like another griffon." The Gobbo's pupils dilate widely, swallowing the red of her irises. "Ga'Elian!", she calls out after a few moments of looking out into the darkness. "He is out and about with Erirthamiel, his griffon. Oh, I hope the two play nicely together, that could be hard." She wiggles free of the embrace and closeness she was enjoying, and jumps from the boulder, spitting out a word in Goblin-talk, and a moment later her fall is arrested, and gently drops to the ground inside the camp.
Silverwing the Griffon immediately is on all fours, her fur bristling, and replies with a roaring caw that only a feline avian could replicate, and which manages to convey without words the clear message "MINE."
Rak jumps up as well, suddenly tense, then relaxes a bit at the names. He whistles and gestures to the griffon, who seems to relax as well, and joins her with a gently talon on her flank.
Ga'Elian rides Erithamiel up to the fence and says, "Hi, Murder. Hi, Rak. Who's your friend?" As he points to Silverwing, Erithamiel stands as if showing off his trained discipline, but he does thrum with a deep purr.
The Goblin will also move to Silverwing's side, running her hands along the beast's fur. "Hello Ga'Elian! It's good to see you. If you like, you can come in." She gestures to the opening at the side, where a gate lays open for now. "You'll have to get Erithamiel to hop over the fence, but I am sure he can manage that well." Murder looks to Silverwing, and then Erakirak. "If you've not yet met him, Erakirak, this is Ga'Elian and his griffon Erithamiel." She gestures to the Elf. "Ga'Elian, this is my mate, Erakirak. The griffon is his, so he can do that introduction."
Erakirak seems a bit tongue-tied, and is relieved by Murder's introduction. "We've met once or twice," he says to Murder, then to Ga'Elian "I don't know if you'll remember though, sir? And, oh! This is... <Wings In Moonlight> (auran)... or Silverwing, in the Trade speech."
More shyly he adds "I'm not sure if she's _mine_, exactly, but I... we found her in a cave, not far from here, and, well, I'm taking care of her. We do seem to get along well, though," he admits, and the pride and pleasure is obvious in his voice.
Then, to the griffon "<This is Ga'Elian, renowned among the Rangers, PLEASE don't embarrass me?>". It's clear from his manner he doesn't expect anyone to understand him.
The griffon is clearly still mostly wild, not well trained... but equally clearly is responsive to Rak's mood, and willing to accept his friends as her own. She walks over to the elf curiously.
Ga'Elian pats Erithamiel on his feathery neck and says, <sildanyari>"Silverbeak, this is<auran>Wings In Moonlight,<sildanyari again>a new friend. Be friendly." He then dismounts in a graceful hop and strolls in through the open gate, leaving the griffons to become acquainted. He looks at Murder and asks, nodding to Erakirak, "Your mate? Congratulations."
The Gobbo takes on a very shy posture, moving to wrap her arms around one of Erakirak's. "I'm getting the better end of the deal, I think.", she says softly, a grin spreading across her lips. "So are you out patrolling, or returning somewhere and saw our fire in the middle of nowhere?" Her eyes stray to the two griffons, watching their interaction curiously. "We could breed ourselves some griffons.", she says idly.
Erakirak does the Egalrin equivalent of blushing, a color-change in his feathers caused by unconscious stiffening of his feathers. He smiles gratefully at Murder and adds "I was going to say that. But she's quicker than I am." Most of his attention is taken up in watching the griffons interact. Silverwing is not exactly _friendly_, but is being as civil as a wild creature can be expected to be... actually quite a bit more so than that. That said, Erithamiel seems to know how to approach her without causing offense, and after a few tense minutes Rak relaxes. "That.. ah... well," he says, unsure how to respond to that suggestion. "I guess we could, in season? If they're amenable."
Ga'Elian looks over at the griffons, "Maybe. Let's just see how things develop." Then he says, "Anyway, yeah. I just saw you folks when I landed and wanted to check things out, especially with as wonky as things have been going in the wilderness lately."
"Yeah, things have gotten strange. 'S'why I am not in Alexandria right now. Place is a tinderkeg, just looking for a match. Though, I hear Bludgun sent some diplomats. So hopefully some good will come out of that." Murder rubs at her cheek and then squeezes Erakirak's arm again. "Thank you for checking up on us, Ga'Elian. We've pleny of room and it's quite snug too, so you're welcome to stay the night, if you wish?" She stretches then. "Any news, then, Ga'Elian?"
Erakirak nods. "Ever since that... that monster attacked the Mictlan, it's been crazy. Do you know what's causing all of the corruption?"
Ga'Elian says, "I'm not exactly sure the cause, but the land is sick. Erithamiel and I will be flying to my tribe to try and persuade them to return hereabouts with us and perform an ancient ritual of my race to heal the land."
The Goblin lets out a heavy breath. "It's a long story, Erakirak. Remind me to tell you tomorrow, Erakirak. In the morning. When the sunshine can help make the telling not so depressing." She practically hangs from his arm, clinging tightly. "It would be good of you to do this, Ga'Elian. If you need any help, please let me know, I'll do what I can."
Erakirak 's eyes widen at the thought of a sylvanori ritual, and he wraps a wing tightly around Murder's shoulders. "If -- right," he says. "What she said. Are you sure we can't offer you a bed for the night and a hot meal?" He gestures to the nearby Aerie. "I promise, we're camping out here by choice," he adds with an awkward chuckle.
Ga'Elian says, "Thanks for your hospitality. I don't sleep, or course, but Erithamiel does, and he'll have to get a good night's sleep and then hunt before we head out north. As for the ritual, even if I do convince my tribe to come, I can't say how open they'll be to non-Sylvanori witnesses, much less participants, but you never know. They might."
"Well, I am willing to assist if they will have me." Murder rubs at one of her cheeks, barely visible now that she's ensconced in Rak's wing. "If not, I can behave myself and watch quietly from a distance. At the very least, I can keep an eye out for interlopers or others who might want to interfere. I am sure Erakirak would not mind keeping an aerial vigil, if he was asked."
Erakirak nods to Ga'Elian. That makes sense. He doesn't know too much about Egalrin magic... he's heard rumors about Aeries summoning tornados, but no doubt those are just rumors... but he supposes they'd be pretty closely held as well. Heck, he wasn't even sure _he'd_ be welcome, as a fairly new arrival to the Aerie... though to be fair, he's been gathering a lot more respect as the Explorer's Guild's payments have come into the Aerie's communal coffers. He nods again to Murder in agreement... not that he can actually fly yet, but he'd think of something if asked.
"Yeah," he agrees, "That would be AMAZING!" There are moments when the Egalrin's youth is far more obvious than others.
He is distracted by a ruffle of feathers as the griffons take flight... or, rather, Erithamiel does, helping the younger Silverwing up into the air, both cawing and yowling enthusiastically. Rak laughs at the sight and cheers them on.
Ga'Elian smiles. "Wonderful. All who would help to restore the health of Ea are a blessing, and the vein of your ideas is good."
Murder giggles, standing up on tiptoe to see Ga'Elian, nodding. "We're all in it, might as well do our part to keep it healthy."
- fin -