Dormatories - Fort Crag
Much longer than it is wide, this is one of a series of barracks that have been recently organized. Sleeping around the fort is no longer permitted - each gryphon is assigned a nesting ledge to rest and a small storage space to keep their belongings. Everything is neat, and the central aisle way (large enough for five gryphons to move abreast) is kept clear of debris at all times. Here and there Shkrill who are off duty can be seen resting on their ledges, or cleaning their fighting equipment quietly. There is the low hum of gryphon conversation here at all times of day or night.
Vestige steps in from the lower level's main chamber.
Vestige has arrived.
Kosamiargi is settled in a comfortable spot. Though he doesn't exactly look comfortable. He gazes at the other gryphs lounging around within the dorms, himself the only one with out a chevron...
Vestige enters, padding in from the courtyard as she returns from the hunt. Her beak and claws are bloodied from a fresh kill and judging by the way her feathers are bristled, she hasn't completely calmed down yet.
Kosamiargi barely looks over the hen just returned from the hunt, being as she's just another form in this mass. He's being left alone, pretty much, though the way he's curled and very alert may be notion that the black drake had a fun night.
Vestige gapes her beak, running her tongue along its jagged curve. She senses something amiss... Something, different.
Kosamiargi settles his head down again, trying to just stay comfortable. He's (luckily) occupied one of the unused ledges, thus the reason he isn't ten times as beat up as the nippings he received came to be.
Vestige 's head snaps in the direction of the lone drake. Aha. A broadwing. She springs like a kitten leaping up after a butterfly and clambers up from ledge to ledge, never taking her eyes off him.
Kosamiargi finally starts feeling comfortable, when his sex sense lights up again. He lifts his head, and but a moment passes before he spots the hen. One he hasn't seen yet, and she's obviously looking his way. His eartufts lower again, expecting another irritable nipping....
Vestige reaches the ledge opposite him, also unused. Even though she's just eaten, she's still hungry for flesh and blood...be it prey or otherwise. Unlike many of the other Shkrill, this hen is a little more cautious. She flits an eartuft and grins, as best her beak will allow. "Greetingss."
Kosamiargi shifts just a little, watching in return. "Greetings." He's obviously unsettled again...
Vestige raises an eyeridge, more curious than she is bloodthirsty...for the moment. She snorts, nostrils flaring as she hisses and takes in his scent. "Grylra." It is not a question.
"Soon to be marked as Shkrill..." He lets off a slow breath, trying to ease up again, which works slightly...
Vestige chuckles, obviously very amused. A shiver ripples over the hen's feathered forebody as she stretches out lazily. "Mrr...and how iss that?"
Kosamiargi "Followed after another. To be trained. Training means marking, and being Shkrill myself." He lets his eartufts perk up, listening the soft murmur, somewhat again, though yet unsure of whether or not he's going to get the night's treatment again... Grylra? Certainly not Kirrta.. Perhaps it was Talkeenta, or Khasra? Hmm.. "Tell me your story, Ebonfeather," she rumbles softly.
Kosamiargi tilts his head ever so slightly. "What is it you wish to know?"
Vestige chrrs, eyes fluttering shut as she settles down to listen. "Everrrything."
Kosamiargi murrs ever so slightly. "Little to tell. Arrived through the gate but a month ago, and was found by Stormdancer. I've lived in Grylra since then, until yesterday. Even had a lover. Taught to fly there, taught to hunt by a tailraiser not far from there, in the woods east, and spent the rest of my time lounging. Now I come here to learn to fight, and likely to be here forever..."
Vestige nods, looking quite pleased. "And who was it that has taken your under their wing?"
Kosamiargi lowers his beak down, gazing at the ground for a moment, in thought. "Talkeenta."
"Talkeenta," the hen echoes quietly. She chuckles again, a quiet, rasping sort of sound. "Then you and I ssshall be hunting together.
"Kosamiargi looks to the hen again. "Together? Erm..." He blinks, rather quizzically. Obviously he has yet to be taught anything, except the nippings come easily to those unmarked.
Vestige extends her talons and rakes them across the ledge of her perch, leaving deep gouges. "I am also Talkeenta's charge," she says. Slowly, she spreads the length of her narrow wings. They too, are unmarked.
Kosamiargi looks to her wings a bit, noticing this fact. "Charrrrrge..." He rumbles the word a bit, then gives a nod. "Then so it is."
Vestige folds her wings over her back and sighs, voice quivering. "Don't let the otherss have their way with you," she chirps after a moment. "If you give them that pleasure now, they will always take it from you, fully-fledged Shkrill or not."
Kosamiargi sighs softly, a thin snort following after. "I don't know how to defend myself. I've the fighting skills of a simple flower, unpoisoned, but picked." He shakes his head, and growls quietly. "Grylra took too long to train me. Stormdancer was far too busy, as were many others. Thus why I followed Talkeenta to come here. To learn..."
Vestige chrrs, "You have come to the right place to learn those ways."
Kosamiargi nods once. "I know..." He sighs. "Though I wish that I could lay in comfort with my ma...lover, within our cave..."
Vestige flits an eartuft. "Which of the two matters more to you?" She motions to the other gryphons nesting in the large cavern-like room with her wing. "This?" Lowering her wing, she asks, "Or your mate?"
Kosamiargi gazes to the hen for the longest time, before he answers. "This." He lays his head down, as even he can hear how unconvincing that is, given who is truly more important...
Vestige nods once, then casts her gaze away to watch the other gryphons of the dormitory go about their business. She had come up here to rough him up but now...she's not so sure what to do.
Kosamiargi glances toward the others, as she does. "They didn't let me sleep, either....I won't dare try to preen again, as the last time only brought three to rough me up again...."
Vestige rouses, the feathers of her breast and shoulders ruffling as she does. "I'll stay with you," she says and cranes her neck back to pick at a few stray feathers for a moment. "Perhaps then, you can get some sssleep."
Kosamiargi lifted his eartufts a bit more, rather amazed, yet doesn't question the act of kindness being offered by the hen. He settles his head back down to the ground, and closes his eyes...
Vestige simply keeps watch for now, forelegs hanging over the ledge. Every now and then she glances back at the drake and then to the entryway down below.
Kosamiargi gives a sigh, and finally falls under the holds of sleep. His feathers settles and smooth, the few that are broken more obvious. His tail curls and settles along his flank...
Vestige senses this new drake's descent into sleep. Only now does she realize that never caught his name. "Skies," she grumbles under her breath. No matter. There is no doubt in her mind that she will learn soon enough.
Kosamiargi uncurls finally, and stretches his hind legs out. A secondary breath of a sigh, and then he stills once more, finally comfortable.
---A few hours later...
The black drake stirs, after a few hours of peace and sleep, slowly raising his head, eyes closed. The effects of sleep still cloud his mind, and he noses for his lover a moment, eyes still closed to the Shkrill world about him. He rumbles softly, irritable that 'she had left without waking him again', as the mutter goes...
Vestige has not moved. She stares, unblinking, at the waking drake but does not say anything. Her eartufts stand on end, swiveling toward the least sound as she keeps her silent vigil. What /is/ he grumbling about?
Kosamiargi sighs, and stretches his forelegs, beak opening in a yawn. He shakes his head, as he flares his wings high, momentarily catching the gaze of a couple others. He raises his eartufts as he opens his eyes slowly, which are 'glazed-over' from sleep. He blinks a few times to clear, and looks around at where he is...which is followed by just the faintest of creels, one of utter despair, having forgotten...
Vestige quickly looks off to give the drake some privacy. Besides, she doubts that he'd be very comforted awakening to her predatory stare. She flits her wings as she stretches out the kinks in her muscles there, feathers bristling. "Did you sleep well?" she asks.
Kosamiargi snaps his head toward the hen, having completely forgotten her presence, and having been looking the opposite direction at the time. "...Yes...well enough, at least..."
Vestige rises from her crouch and takes a moment to stretch each of her hind legs separately. Then her fores, and talons. She's not used to staying in one position for very long. By nature, she's a very fidgety gryphon. "Good."
Kosamiargi stays where he is, watching the hen but a moment, then gazing around to see where the others are...
Many of the other gryphons have gone, replaced by others as they return from their patrols and hunts. It would seem there is always a balance here.
Kosamiargi sets his head down again, deciding not to leave 'his' ledge.
Vestige chrrs, "Well?"
Kosamiargi blinks. "What?"
Vestige shrugs a wing. "Are you just going to lay there all day?" she asks with a chirp. "I won't be able to stop Kirrta from ripping ears if she catches you." The hen chuckles, only slightly amused by the thought. It /does/ sound like something the gryphon in question would do.
Kosamiargi tenses at the name, before the sentence is even finished. He snaps his head around, looking for her. "Where is she?" He growls softly. Seems the drake has had at least one run-in already. "Skies, I don't know anything about this place, except how to get out of here..."
Vestige shakes her head. "Not here," she rumbles. "Mrrrr. Likely out with her mate and chick." Slowly, she spreads her wings and springs off the ledge, gliding to the one below. "If out is the way you wish to go, then we shall."
Kosamiargi glances toward the few others...then decides a chance away from this place would be nice. He gets up, and pushes off the edge, following after easeasily. "Lead..."
Vestige makes her way down, hopping from ledge to ledge until she thinks it safe to drop the rest of the way.
---A moments flight from Crag...
Small Clearing by a Pond - Forest of Shadows
A large pond fed by a trickling creek predominates this clearing, though there is a small area large enough for a gryphon to land towards one side of the water. The water looks clean and drinkable, though a few toadstools grow in it. Around, the forest is bustling with life, birds in the trees the occasional crash of a larger animal bustling through the thick underbrush of the forest. A small path leads into a dense thicket to which there is only a small opening...
Vestige backwings as she lands, touching down on two points and then on all four.
Kosamiargi flares low, giving a slight glide, before he thrusts a couple of time, landing lightly. He flicks his wings, then snaps one to his back, as he finally preens the other, removing the broken feathers and fixing the others...
Vestige crosses to the water's edge and dips down, kneeling on her forelegs to drink. Even with her head lowered, her eartufts remain tall and erect...listening. She's learned to keep an ear out for the slightest sound. Ambushes are uncommon, but the hen's paranoia is gnawing at her. After several moments, she raises her head and licks several stray water droplets from the edge of her beak. "Better? Yess?"
Kosamiargi finishes with the wing, barely giving a "Yes." before starting on the other...
Vestige stares intently at the pond, eyes following an unseen shadow that passes under the water's surface. She watches it glide in close to the bank before flitting its tail and vanishing into the depths once more. Fish.
Kosamiargi rumbles quietly, finally taking the time to preen his chest feathers...
Vestige decides it's not worth the risk of getting wet to go after such little morsels. The fish of the river are larger and far more filling. "Ssso," she chrrs, turning away from her reflection in the water. "How long were you in Grylra?"
Kosamiargi lifts his head, after finishing with the plumage. "A month..."
Vestige clicks her beak. "Do they know you have left?"
Kosamiargi shakes his head. "Nay."
Vestige huffs, puffing up into a ball of fluff as she rouses. "They will not be pleased, I think."
Kosamiargi turns, looking to the hen. "It'll be a while before they even look for me, if at all. My mate would have been the only one to look, I'm sure, and she won't come this far..." He sighs quietly. "Not a worry for any of you..."
"Not a worry for Shkrill," murmurs the wild-feathered hen. "But perhapsss, a worry for you?"
Kosamiargi looked toward the pond. "I'll handle it. Their freedom was my freedom, and equally my freedom to come here. They won't be happy, but there is little they can say..." He leans forward a bit, taking a short drink. "...And once I am marked, little they, or I, can do..."
Vestige considers this for a moment, watching the rustling of the leaves in the surrounding trees as they are caught by the wind. She knows what the drake says is true, but why surrender his freedom for unhappiness? Shaking her head as if to clear her mind from these strange thoughts, Vestige snorts bitterly. "Well, it could be worse," she grumbles, senses finally kicking in. "You could have been a Windhaven flowerchewer."
Kosamiargi snorts loudly. "And have every drake in sight try and mount me? Anyway, I came here to learn how to fight, not how to grow trees or play in politics." A thin growl settles in his chest...
Vestige 's shoulders heave as she's overcome with laughter. "Oh yesss!" she chortles. "A wise decision, that!" It takes the hen several moments to recompose herself, gasping for breath all the while. She shakes her head once it's stopped. "Did they teach you how to hunt, at Grylra?"
Kosamiargi says, "Well...I was taught to hunt by a Windhavener visiting Grylra..."
Kosamiargi seems to wince, as he says that. "I need to just say I learned at Grylra..."
Vestige chrrs, "What was it that you learned to hunt?"
Kosamiargi says, "Ground hunting. Nothing to do with flying, but I'm sufficient, so it wasn't a worry.""
Vestige nods once, curtly. "Of course." Eartufts swiveling toward a large patch of shrubs, she turns to watch for a break in the trees. "Care to ssshow me?"
Kosamiargi glances to the patch for a moment, then nods. "If you wish..." He turns, and moves toward the trees quietly...
A small buck feeds peacefully on the other side of the greenery. No more than a yearling, he is completely oblivious to the two gryphons taking shelter in the pond's clearing. The stub of his tail flicks once and he raises his head to take in scent that the wind carries him.
Kosamiargi slows cautiously, even as he catches sight of the young buck, his steps having lightened more and more as he drew closer to the edge. His eyes lock on to the prey, and he lowers quietly, flanking...
The buck freezes, coal-black eyes fixed in their sockets as he catches sight...or scent of something. And yet, he does not bolt. Instead, he slowly turns to rub his antlers over the bark of a nearby tree, their spear-like ends leaving deep gouges in the wood. No gryphon would want to find himself on the wrong end of those prongs.
Kosamiargi watches carefully. Even as he sees the buck freeze, he moves to use a tree as cover, still slow in movement to keep from the bucks attention. He raises his head a moment, sensing that he's up wind, and on the wrong side...
Swinging its head in Kosa's direction, the buck snorts, rearing back onto its hind legs while the front pinwheel madly in the air. With a panicked squeal, it takes flight through the dense foliage. Its not moving as fast as it could be, hooves tangled in the creepers of the forest floor.
Kosamiargi growls. "Damn thing..." He moves quickly, but not directly after. He moves down a few yards, and works forward, flanking again. Determined not to let this buck go, like he did the last, he uses his wings here and there to keep his steps as light and quiet as possible. Not that they can be as easily heard, given the movements of the buck...
Trembling with fear, the buck slows as it enters a patch of bushes. Neck-high in twigs and leaves, the buck feels that it is safe enough to pause and look around. The scent of gryphon has come and gone. Now, it smells nothing but the familiar forest greens and the water of the nearby pond.
Kosamiargi flicks his wings a moment, knowing the landing like this would be far too noisy. Instead, he plants his hind paws against a tree trunk, and flicks his wings again to let himself down far more lightly on a clear path of ground. He settles down again, listening, having momentarily lost sight of the buck...
The buck trots forward, pushing its way through the bushes and caring very little for the twigs that snap and crumble under its hooves. Snorting again, it swings its head from side to side, harrumphing as it goes. Kosa can see the flash of tawny fur as it passes through the trees alongside him.
Kosamiargi settles down a moment, watching carefully. He waits until it is a bit closer, before he jumps to the side a little, and moves forward, straight at the buck. Thus, he makes sound, but is close enough to give chase efficiently, that the buck even gets a chance to run.
The buck does just that, as any terrified creature would. The thundering of its own heart drowns out the sound of the drake streaking toward him.
Kosamiargi lets off a skree, as he once more makes use of his wings on occasion. He closes enough that he can give soft reaches with talon, scratching at the buck's flanks...
The buck's strangled cry is cut short as talons meet flesh and dig in. Tumbling to the ground, the buck's front legs are crushed under its body as it doubles over, still kicking.
Kosamiargi uses his own weight, and shoves hard against the buck's rump, pushing him down further. The black drake digs his talons in hard, as he forces himself forward, practically looking like he's trying to mount the buck. Talons dig in yet again, and wrench hard into the shoulders, meant to weaken them...
Blood sprays Kosa's chest feathers as the buck's shoulders are torn out of their sockets with a loud pop! Its bones crackle as it sags onto all fours, wildly thrashing under the weight of the gryphon.
Kosamiargi pulls off, and moves forward again at the buck's side. Talons take hold of one antler, making sure to keep it from coming at him, and pushes it forward to keep the buck's head stuck. He reaches under the yelling buck's throat, and digs in hard with talon, tearing out skin and throat viciously...
The buck's struggles abruptly cease as its windpipe is torn wide open, liver-colored blood spilling out onto the forest floor and blackening the soil. The tongue rolls from its gaping mouth and then...all is still.
Kosamiargi gives a sharp skree to the hen, unsure of where exactly she is, before he rolls the buck over, cleaning his talons clean of blood and flesh. Afterward, he leans down, and feeds on the gaping throat, having been hungry for a while...
Vestige emerges from the trees after a several moments, having watched the hunt from a considerably safe distance.
The eyes of the buck glaze over with death; bloodshot, wide and fixed on its executioner as he feeds.
Kosamiargi doesn't seem the slightest bit horrified or troubled by the buck's gaze, purring softly as he feeds on the warm blood and fresh meat...
Vestige settles opposite Kosa, simply watching him devour his kill. If her belly weren't so full she'd be right there beside him to help strip the buck's bones of its flesh. "I'm impresssed," she purrs.
Kosamiargi purrs a bit louder, but whether that's in answer, or just happiness of his kill/getting the chance to eat, it can't be quite said.
Vestige stretches out atop the bloodstained earth to take a moment to preen. Even though she's wild-feathered, she often enjoys picking through her jagged tufts.
Kosamiargi moves, beak tearing into a forelegs, ripping the meat clean. He doesn't worry about the skin this time, deciding to do that next time. Right now, he's far too hungry...
Vestige laughs softly, a shrill, hissing sort of sound. "Did they starve you in Grylra?" she asks as she raises an eyeridge.
Kosamiargi lifts his head but a moment. "No, but I havn't eaten since I came into Fort Crag. And I've hunted for myself since but a week and a half after I came here." He leans back down, continuing to feed, eyes closed in this small bit of bliss...
Vestige flicks her wings, trilling softly as she returns to her preening.
Kosamiargi strips the bone of meat, before taking it in talon, and snapping the bone in half with his beak. He licks into the marrow, using his beak to dig a bit, removing the tender meat within.
---Elsewhere...
Eastern Interface - Shrilk
This is a trampled clearing just inside of Shrilk. There is dense
forest on three sides, north, south and east. Though a winding dirt
track winds off eastward. You can see the border line, and across
it, quite clearly, into the rolling hills and open pastures of Mythrayel.
This area clearly sees a lot of use, covered in rutted wheel tracks,
hoof and claw prints. There is a scattering of feathers churned into the soft earth as well.
Dove fluffs her wings out as she walks on the path from the east, obviously just returned from Mythrayel. She looks behind her to see if her companion has caught up yet.
Stormdancer slips through the shimmering curtain of the interface, glancing back over his shoulders as he does so. He shakes out his feathers as the tickle of the barrier tingles his skin, and chiurfs. "As built up as ever," he grumbles, "If not morrre so."
Dove nods at Stormdancer's words, "We have our problems and setbacks here in our home and the rest of the worlds seem to just pass us by." She reaches over and nuzzles his beak with hers, "At least we still *have* a home."
Stormdancer chiurrrs softly, and nuzzles back, rousing his feathers. "A fine and strong one. Stronger, for all that has happened to it." He hrrfs softly... knowing his words are only partially true. For Grylra is still battered and weak from the Krrzn'tai invasion, and the bad hunting afterwards. "Ssstill... negotiations with the other spheres seem so slow. As though they can't believe we're ready to ascend to greater skies again." He looks skyward, and gapes his beak. "And sspeaking of which, let's make our way back home. Wiiith... sssome excursions over forest, puhhrrhaps? I could do with a drink, and we might spot some game."
Dove looks up at the skies and nods, "I am quite hungry. I don't care what they say, but the Centaurs have it all wrong, burning their meat like that. Ruins the rich warm taste of fresh blood." She stretches her wings out, flexing them from the confinement that the Centaur sphere puts on them. She looks to him, nodding. She's ready when he is.
Stormdancer laughs, and nips beneath the hen's widespread wing, before trotting ahead a meter or two, and shaking out his own broad span. He nods as he gives his wings a stroke or two to limber up and stretch unused muscles, "Cooking and spicing is fine, for a special occasion, I sssuppose. Some rituals even call for it... but... no, I want to dig my beak into muscles still hot from the chase, and let fresh blood down my throat!" He flicks his tail sharply at the thought, then gives a sudden skyward leap, thunderous strokes of powerful wings, and he is airborne, working his way above the treetops, and heading mostly southward.
Dove pumps her own white wings and is quickly airborne, following behind easily. She notices the terrain and where she's at so she knows how dangerously close in Shkrill territory both gryphons are at. She skrees her defiance to the winds! It's time to hunt and let anyone in her way be damned!
Stormdancer wings his way into the air.
Stormdancer has left.
Sky Above Eastern Interface - Shrilk
You are soaring and gliding over top of the interface where Shrilk
joins with Mythrayel, keeping carefully to this side of the border.
There is no visible 'divider' between the two spheres, but it is
easy to estimate more or less where the one becomes another, particularly from the location of the centaur guard posts to the east that you can look over from this location. Down below is a large clearing, and further into Mythrayel over the small trade town of Auybourne.
Stormdancer continues along southward, near to the oddly spongy resistance of the sphere 'wall'. It's been years since he's been in this area, but little has changed, and soon he recognizes a modest lake some distance ahead. With hunting-sign, he indicates the desire to land there... to kill if there's anything available, or to drink, if not.
Dove glides close enough to the 'wall' of the sphere, a faint trail left in her wake that fades away within seconds. She grins at the simpleness of it all. She looks to where Stormdancer signs and nods, pulling away from the wall to fall behind in hunting formation.
Stormdancer rouses, and gives a firm shake in mid-flight... ahhh, skies, how GOOD it feels to be on the hunt with Dove again. To be true to all he holds dear about his kind again - to be GRYPHONS! A fiercely predatory gleam comes to his eyes, and he hopes something big and strong will be there to take down, and enjoy together. He drops closer to the treetops, and times his wingstrokes just perfectly, to take advantage of the gaps in the towering ancient wood. And then, gliding, wind whistling across his face, he falls over the edge of the clearing, intensely alert for any possible prey to take!
Stormdancer wings his way southwards over the forest of shadows.
Stormdancer has left.
Sky Above Forest of Shadows
This is the hunting grounds of the Shkrill - the Forest of Shadows.
Obviously a secondary or tertiary growth forest, it is dense and
tangled, it's difficult to see through the thick foliage of the
tree cover. Only the smallest and nimblest of gryphons can hunt
here without serious injury. Scattered about are small clearings,
but these are hard to see unless you are directly overhead, and
usually are caused by small ponds or regions too rocky to support trees.
Stormdancer picks out a small clearing next to a pond and wings down towards it.
Stormdancer has left.
Small Clearing by a Pond - Forest of Shadows
A large pond fed by a trickling creek predominates this clearing,
though there is a small area large enough for a gryphon to land
towards one side of the water. The water looks clean and drinkable,
though a few toad stools grow in it. Around, the forest is bustling
with life, birds in the trees the occasonal crash of a larger animal
bustling through the thick underbrush of the forest. A small path
leads into a dense thicket to which there is only a small opening...
Kosamiargi takes no notice of any gryphons above, as he rips back into the bucks side, still eating gingerly, stuffing the still hungry stomach with a purr of content...
Dove follows Stormdancer close behind, skimming the treetops with her small white body. She keeps her eyes alert for any signs of prey near or at the pond. She sticks close to Stormdancer, yet gives him enough maneuvering room. She knows that when you see prey, you don't take time out to talk about it. You just go for it!
Vestige 's eartufts perk as she hears the wind whistling over two feathered forms above the clearing. Her head snaps upward as she scans the skies, fiery amber eyes narrowed. "Ebonfeather," she hisses, voice both sharp and shrill. "Ebonfeather!"
Kosamiargi raises his head, and blinks, looking at the suddenly alert gryphon. He looks up, slowly following her gaze before he catches sight of said gryphons. "Oh, skies....its Stormdancer..." He lowers to the ground, all thoughts of hunger or the buck gone. "If we move, they'll spot us, I know it..."
Stormdancer hrrrs disappointment to see no prey in sight around the pond, and arcs in a tight, fast circle around the edge of the clearing, scanning the edge of the wood for prey... or hunters. Shedding his speed quickly, he glides down over the pond, and alights near it's edge, his back to it, and stares intently into the woods. There are hunters here... that's why it's so quiet.
Dove remains airborne for a few minutes after Stormdancer lands. She sees the stance he is in and understands that they are not alone and it's not the prey that they had been looking for. She tries to look around from above to see if she can see anything from up there, but between the dancing shadows and the glint from the water, she can't tell if she sees anything, so she lands off to the side of her companion, keeping an eye out from there.
Kosamiargi watches the two beings disappear past the edge of the canopy, and looks to Vestige. He's tense as can be, as he gets back up. "What should we do?" His voice is kept down, not wanting to be heard, if he can help it.
Vestige rises from her crouch, spotting the two Grylran gryphons from the other side of the trees...their winged forms obscured by the twisted greenery. She glances to Kosa and snorts, nostrils flaring. "You know them, yess?" she hisses under her rasping breath.
Kosamiargi nods just slightly. "Stormdancer. The drake..."
Stormdancer loves hunting with someone like this... who knows his every move, understands the dangers... and opportunities. "Sssee them?" he chiurrs to her, searching the tree line. He's making no attempt to conceal the fact that he knows there is someone there... ahhh, a rustle of branches counter to the wind. There.
Dove holds one claw up, balls it into a fist and looks at Storm, as if asking, 'yes?' Stormdancer knows what she is capable of doing with that fist, but the unknowns probably do not.
Vestige nudges Kosa with a soft snarl, urging him to out into the clearing. "Go! And say nothing of Talkeenta."
Stormdancer glances to Dove, and then shakes his head slightly, chortling soft. "No... it is their land, after all. And they may not know you, my dear fierce one... best to let them believe they ahhrrre ssafe."
Dove tries to hide a smirk as she opens her hand and shrugs. "You say so." she says softly back to him. She looks intently at the forest and asks quietly to Storm, "So, should we just wait for them to show themselves, or ask them to come out?"
Kosamiargi shivers slightly. "And what do I say of myself?? That I just happened to be here, hunting in Shkrill territory, when I know full well it's bad for Grylrans to come here?! He knows full well what happened between Khasra, Kirrta, and I, and knows me well past smart enough not to have come here again....He'll know instantly!" He growls, though his voice is still low, punctuating the point. "That would be far past stupid! Think of something!"
Stormdancer grins broadly to Dove. "They would have come out by now, if they felt they had the upper wing." He begins stalking closer to where the hidden pair are, chiurring, "We go to them. Puhhhrrhaps they have a kill we can ... encourrage them to share."
Dove ruffles her wings more comfortably on her back and pads up alongside the massive black broadwing, her diminutive size almost hidden from the other side of him if it were not for her feet being seen.
Vestige circles the clearing, keeping low to the ground as she slinks...skulking. The hen knows very well this is Shkrill territory and will not stand for this intrusion. Skies, if only Khasra or Kirrta were here! "Grylra!" she snarls from behind them, finally having come full circle.
Kosamiargi lowers to the ground, hiding as a fledgling would, hoping Vestige can keep them off....
Dove blatantly sits down, her back obviously to the rather aggressive voice. She says almost casually, "Yes?" as she looks forward for the other figure she knows is there.
Stormdancer positively radiates an arrogant confidence that might, to those who don't know him, seem excessive. He continues his advance, looking back over his shoulder to Dove... knowing she will watch his back, just as by this glance he looks past her, to the hen who emerges from the woods. "Ahhh, they rrrrecognize ussss... how flattering," he chiurrrs at a level somewhat above conversational.
Kosamiargi listens intently, eartufts raised. He -just- barely moves, taking a more shaded position to hide a bit better. He glances to the partially eaten buck mournfully, hunger just barely teasing him...
Vestige emerges from the trees, feathers bristling and hackles raised. "You are dishonoring the treaty between our clans!" Talons extended, she closes the distance between them quickly and without fear. "Haven't you your own hunting grounds?"
Dove does not look over her shoulder, confidant that Stormdancer is watching her back and the hen back there. She keeps an eye on the hidden form she can just barely make out hiding just beyond the foliage before her. She does answer the hen's accusing question with one of her own, "Who says we were hunting? We can still fly around here. We can still slake our thirst at this pond." She knows that is lying, they were both out hunting, but the Shkrill don't need to know this.
Vestige stops, just short of the Grylra drake and hen. Unlike some of her clan-mates, she is not quick to violence. "Either way," she rumbles and leans back on her haunches. "Be certain that Elizarraraz will hear of this."
Kosamiargi keeps utterly still, finally, even his breath short and shallow, his sides barely even making a notion of the breath...
Stormdancer gives Dove a quick smile... the very answer he would have given, in fact. "Surely the great Shkrill clan can weather the flight of two Grylra, mrhrhrr? And in their legendary generosssity, give up a beakfull of water or two, mrhrhrr? Sssurely to be as generous as Grylra, in our offerrings of the Tyber, and the huntings that take place near it's banks?" Of course Grylra is aware of the Shkrill poaching there... how could they not be? He has continued his advance towards the woods, knowing that this separates him from his partner, but... suspecting strongly that this Shkrill hen approached as she did to KEEP him from the woods.
Dove grins, very slowly sinking down on her front paws, her hind legs almost imperceptibly lifting up. She's almost ready to pounce as she says very casually, "Oh do give our love to dear Eli. I'm sure she'll *never* forget meeee...." Just a few more seconds before she's ready to pounce Kosamiargi.
Vestige digs her foreclaws into the earth. She's already ready to spring...skin pulled tautly over her haunches as her muscles ripple with tension. The Shkrill hen isn't liking this situation one bit.. However, she does not spring.
Kosamiargi even cuts his breathing, hoping somehow he doesn't get caught....
Vestige snarls softly, eyes fixed on the cowering drake's position. She's tempted to give away his position herself. Why is he hiding?
Stormdancer senses the tension behind him, and pauses right at the wood's edge, to look back at the two hens. "Ssso defensive!" he chiurps. "What are you guarding here, Shkrill, that you would have so much fear of us finding?" The piercing gaze of her eyes... it seems to be on himself, but it doesn't -feel- like it is... and his own golden orbs narrow slightly. No single Shkrill would behave this way... so obviously there's another in the woods. Someone injured, perhaps?
Dove knows nothing about Vestige readying herself to pounce, so focused on her own pouncing of the hidden gryphon. She trusts Stormdancer to watch her back. She finally says in a soft voice to the woods, "Come out, come out, wherever you are...I see you little one." She's ready to pounce in a heartbeat.
Kosamiargi mentally warns his body not to tense, and stays ever so still. He can only pray that the hen is merely trying to get him to move, and she doesn't actually see him...
Vestige moves up alongside Dove, keeping her distance from the smaller hen as she flanks. "Don't," the Shkrill hisses under her ragged breath. "Leave him be." Her voice is not pleading, nor is it menacing...rather, something in between.
Stormdancer's gaze remains quite fixed on Vestige. This is very strange. His own manner shifts subtly... ever the statesgryph, he gentles his tone, and cocks his head as he wonders, "What is it. I think you would rather tell usss, than have us discover, mrhrr?"
Kosamiargi barely flicks an eartuft upward, listening closely... Dove looks sideways at the other hen, hearing the words and the tone in her voice. She thinks for a moment and after hearing Storm's words she sits back down abruptly, facing Vestige. She says casually again, "If it means so much to you, then fine."
Vestige shifts her wings slightly, flitting her jagged feathers as she speaks. "What is in the woods does not concern you," she rumbles softly. "You are both well aware you are on Shkrill hunting ground, yessss? Why?" Her voice is even, emotions carefully guarded from these two Grylrans.
Dove looks calmy at Vestige and answers directly in a casual way, "We told you already. We were just flying by and wanted a drink to slake our thirst. Do we need a better reason than that?"
Vestige mrrs softly, shaking her head as she does. This answer makes very little sense to her. "You have your own river to drink from," she says, rather simply. It is not a question.
Stormdancer rouses slightly, nodding agreement to Dove's words. "We are not hunting. And we do not hide. If we were of ill intent, would we simply sit here and talk with you, so... casually? And yet... I am most curious," he chiurrs, turning his head back toward the woods. "Perhaps there is one there who is injurrred, to whom we could render aid? A gesssture of Grylra's kindness to the great Shkrill..."
Dove answers Vestige's comment with the same manner she did before, "We had just come from Mythrayel. Word has spread of their advancements and we were checking on them ourselves. It wouldn't do for all gryphons if centaurs suddenly became aggressive to us and had the power to back it up in our home territory, now would it?" Her casual look almost challenges Vestige to disagree with her.
Vestige sighs, a ragged, hissing sort of sound resounding from deep within her throat. She's not in the mood to argue with the Grylrans. "Very well. 'Slake your thirst', as you sssso put it." She turns her back to the albino hen and her companion with a bitter snort. "As soon as you are through, please leave this place and return to Grylra. The one in the forest needs no help from either of you."
Vestige saunters out, leaving Kosa behind.. If he's to hide, then he shall deal with the consequences.
Vestige works her way into the dense thicket.
Vestige has left.
Kosamiargi can't rightly see, and doesn't know Vestige has left...
Stormdancer inclines his head, an exaggerated bow. "Your kindness is as we have come to expect from the Shkrill," he says carefully, then frowns as she stalks off. "Take a look, Dove... she may be off for reinforcements." As the hen vanishes into the dense thicket at the tree line, his pose is again one of the warrior and hunter, tautly alert, and scanning every inch of the woods, and the skies beyond. There are distant Shkrill fliers, but then... there always are, in this part of the sphere.
Dove nods to Storm and goes back to looking at the woods. There. The form she saw before. She takes a tentative step towards it, not sure if whatever it is will attack her. One claw is up, ready to step down as she leans forward for a closer look.
Stormdancer plants his left paw and right foreclaw firmly, glancing over his left shoulder to watch as Dove slips deeper into the forest...
Kosamiargi barely takes notice of the hen, just barely able to see her. He shivers slightly, before jumping up, and quickly moving further into the forest. He figures he's going to be chased none the less, and tries to pick harder ground to follow on...
Dove simply grins and stands her ground, not moving forward any further in pursuit. She knows how to take care of this...in her own personal way. The claw that was raised up closes in a fist and pounds suddenly into the ground at the feet. In the heartbeat of a flash, a solid wall of rock six feet high and wide suddenly springs up before the fleeing form. As soon as that happens, Dove is off like a flash, dashing towards her prey, in case either it somehow dodges the attack or to catch it before it gets up.
Stormdancer's curiosity is well and truly piqued at the sound of another gryphon retreating further into the brush! Why under all the skies would one do this? Injury is the only reason he can think of, and it would seem to fit well with the hen's bold comment that there was no injury. He spins, and joins Dove in her deeper exploration of the deeper underbrush, flanking wide from her as she releases that surge of magic, and then races deeper, just as he would in the air. Just as he knows she expects him to.
Kosamiargi skrees, and slides to a stop, barely nudging against it. He looks at it, then back, seeing the hen right there. He stays put, figuring this had to be that magic he had once heard, and knows it likely that he'd have no chance of running, anyway, at this point...
Dove closes in, walking slowly now that she's close enough to see her prey. She says casually to him, "You don't look hurt. You're obviously not worth protecting by the Shkrill. What clan are you?" She sits down, holding a claw up as if scratching her chest feathers idly.
Kosamiargi looks to Dove, feathers roused, tail flicking. He stays silent, yet unable to find words, looking about, knowing the other gryphon is near...Stormdancer...
Stormdancer slides through the dense brush like a shadow, expertly picking his way closer. From the sound of it, Dove has caught the quarry without a fight... and soon enough he confirms this, stepping through a gap created by the suddenly risen stone wall.
Stormdancer's features go from curious, to surprise, and then quickly to anger. "Kosamiargi," he growls, his hackles bristling. "You choose... interesting companions, given your ties in Grylra."
Dove looks over at Stormdancer and asks, "You know this one?"
Kosamiargi looks to Stormdancer, and he lowers slightly. Not in a pounce like state, but one instead that wants to hide and get away...
Stormdancer nods barely, not taking his eyes off the other. The sign of submission brings only a slight flaring of the wings, an angry growl, and a fierce stare. "He came through the gate some days ago... and seemed," he pauses, lingering pointedly on the word, "to have chosen Grylra as his aerie. To have taken a cave, and a lover there, at the very least."
Kosamiargi backs up slowly, still silent as could be. His gaze is set completely on Stormdancer at the moment, though the hen is not out of his mind...
Dove turns to the submissive gryphon and asks coolly, "Is this true? Did you chose Grylra as your new home and even taken a lover there? Answer me truthfully, for I don't take kindly to anything else." She means business here, but also seems to want to be fair to this new one.
Vestige squeezes out of the dense thicket.
Vestige has arrived.
Kosamiargi rumbles softly. "Grrrylrrra wasss my home, yesss....I am Shkrrrrill now, howeverrr." Which is punctuated with the amazing amount of...utter cowardess....
Dove looks back over her shoulder where they had all just bounded through and says casually again, "Seems the Shkrill don't think you are. Are you sure you still wish this?"
Kosamiargi hurrs quietly, making it to the end of the wall. "I have my reasons..." He turns, and runs again, trying to avoid this...
Dove sighs as she senses his tension and shakes her head as the drake makes a run for it. She looks over at Storm with a look that clearly asks if it's worth following him or not.
A sudden sharp stroke of the wings and thrust of powerful hindquarters, and Stormdancer is atop the wall, then leaping down from it, to intercept the fleeing drake. He means to find out what those reasons are... be they good seen in the Shkrill, or more especially... bad perceived within Grylra.
Kosamiargi doesn't skid this time, instead turning as sharply as possible. Given lack of speed, he does well, and starts toward a downed tree...
Dove shrugs as Stormdancer has already made his decision. She skirts the wall in a flank, opposite of the chase the first time. She sees Kosamiargi running for the tree and knows exactly what's going to happen. Her fist goes up and slams down hard at the moment she sees him jumping up to leap the downed tree. This is going to hurt unless she was wrong about him.
Vestige skrees angrily from above. The Shkrill hen has returned and isn't about to stand for this...this abuse...! What right do these Grylrans have attacking Ebonfeather? At least, that's what it /looks/ like they're doing. With an enraged shriek, Vestige springs from her treetop perch, talons extended, flashing menace as she swoops down at Dove.
Stormdancer is not as young as he was, nor as small and nimble as the Shkrill. But he is well experienced. One wing shoots upwards and strokes hard out and down, the hindquarters lift, strike firmly into a tree as the drake goes sideways, and then push with such force that leaves and twigs come showering down in the aftermath. The end result of this sudden turn and push is a brief arcing leap, and then Stormdancer comes down firmly on Kosamiargi's shoulders, driving his chest into the rich leafy soil, as Dove's fist of stone strikes upwards just ahead of him. "Ssstay," he growls angrily down at the pinned drake. "And answerrr me two questions."
Kosamiargi skrees again, as he's taken down, wincing a bit as he slides in the dirt. He tries to catch his breath, as Stormdancer growls into his ear, and doesn't fight. Not that he could...
Dove turns suddenly at the sound of the screech behind her! She tries to jump sideways to avoid the attack, but Vestige was too fast and close enough for her to get out of the way completely! A strong claw rakes its way down Dove's shoulder and side, leaving bloody gashes in their wake. Her immediate instinct is to swipe sideways at Vestige as she jumps, hoping to score a mark of her own on the hen!
Stormdancer's claw tightens on Kosamiargi's shoulder as he hears the Shkrill hen's attack. Damn! This gambit has not paid off... and may go more poorly yet. "All I want is simple. Why did you leave Grylra. Was wrong or harm done to you there?"
Kosamiargi shifts as best he can. Stormdancer is going to have to wait. "Vestige! Don't attack! That hen is magically inclined!!"
Vestige catches Dove's swipe across her exposed throat. The Shkrill hen parts her beak in a strangled cry and slides off her 'prey', slipping sideways as the wind is knocked from her lungs from the sheer force of crashing into the albino. She does not however, release Dove from the piercing grip of her foreclaws. The gash across Vestige's throat is nothing life-threatening, though the blood that pours from the wound is more than just an inconvenience.
Dove cannot attack with her hurt arm as it is still being pinned by the attacking hen. That does not stop her other paw or her beak however. She screams out, "This is none of your concern, now leave or sufferrrr!" She punctuates this with an overhand slap intended to hit Vestige's beak downward, away from her own throat.
Stormdancer glares angrily down at Kosamiargi, knowing that Dove will call out if she truly needs his aid... and knowing that she's a very accomplished warrior even without her magics. "Will you answer me that sssimple question, Kosamiargi?" he growls, staring angrily down at the other, "Or have you so little courage and strength that you must let your Shkrill master speak for you?"
Kosamiargi growls quietly. "She is not master, nor do I have one..." He tries to shove forward, tensing hard to the pinning. "I left because I..." He hurrs loudly, settling again. "No, I wasn't wronged or harmed."
Stormdancer nods sharply, and releases the other drake, stepping back warily. "And did you do wrong, or do harm there?" he growls, his wings mantled impressively, tail thrashing sharply back and forth. "Answer true, for I will know the truth in time."
Kosamiargi raises slowly, looking back to the Grylra leader. "No."
Vestige 's beak is indeed knocked away from Dove's throat, head snapping back. The Shkrill shrieks angrily, claws raking down the albino's shoulders and back, extending the gashes from her initial attack and deepening them. There's no way she's about to leave her clan-mate here with these Grylrans!
Kosamiargi turns, and glares at Vestige. "Stop! Get off of her, Vestige, or I'll head back where I belong!"
Stormdancer nods sharply.... starting to turn away... then pauses at that strange comment, and blinks. More quietly, he wonders, "Are you here of your free will, Kosamiargi? I will get you back, if you wish it..."
Kosamiargi glances to Stormdancer just slightly. "Of my own free will, and of my own wishes, Stormdancer." He looks toward the fight again. "I'll see Skyler again, someday, but now wouldn't do well for her or me..."
Stormdancer frowns... but nods. "Then fly well and free in the skies you have chosen for yourself, Kosamiargi. Call off your clan-mate, and we'll take our drink, and then go. Just be wary of returning to Grylra skies... I cannot guarantee it will be a safe place for you now."
Dove is getting pissed at this. She's had her fill of pain. She plans to stop this one way or another. She slaps at Vestige's beak again, claws spread out to rake this time. She skrees out from the pain as Vestige slashes deeper into her wounds. She grits her beak and says menacingly, "I'll give you one last chance to leave!"
Kosamiargi almost seems to wince to Stormdancer's comment, but doesn't look back at him. Too many thoughts, too many emotions...But one fact that needs to stop, here and now...
Stormdancer turns fully from the other drake, and stalks out of the woods. "Ssstop this, now!" he snarls with brutal authority, expecting Kosamiargi to support this with his own words.
Kosamiargi merely nods. "This fight is pointless! Cut this!"
Vestige gives Dove's eartuft a sharp, little nip before releasing the albino from her hold. She won't admit, but Kosa is right.
Dove pulls back from Vestige, holding her good claw up to try stopping the blood flowing from her nasty wounds. Doesn't do too well. She hisses at the hen, "Nice way to treat someone who means you no harm. We were asking this Grylran why he left Grylra. If you want him so badly, all you had to do was let him answer and we would have been on our way! Be glad he wanted you safe."
Kosamiargi can't help it, and looks to Dove. "I want you safe, as well, hen. Don't think I'm heartless..." He growls quietly, bristled in anger at how this had turned out. "Off! Quickly! Get your drink, and go. Let's keep this violence to where it is, and you can stupidly kill each other another day!"
Vestige licks her wounds, grunting in pain from time to time as she picks her matted feathers from the bloody gashes across her breast and throat. "You ambusssshed him," she hisses under her breath. She squeezes her eyes shut and clicks her beak. Oh, how she wishes Kirrta were here. "You ambusssshed him with your magic!"
Stormdancer's growl rumbles deep in his chest as he eyes the crimson soaking Dove's pale feathers... but sees that she gave as good as she got. "We had thought the Shkrill had gone beyond such callous outrages as these attacks," he rumbles, moving close to Dove, and partially between her and the other hen. "There was no ambush, there were questions that were ... difficult to get answers to. But no violence done of it."
Vestige cries out incredulously, "No ambush! You chasssed him! Took off after him asss if he were prey!"
Kosamiargi growl turns into a sharp hiss. "Vessssstige! Enough! Let them go, and let usss return to the fort."
Dove looks Vestige in the eye and says coolly, "Our business was with the drake. You walked away. You didn't care what happened to him. Why the sudden worry? Afraid we'll hurt your little play toy? We stopped him, not hurt him. If I wanted to hurt him, he'd be dead right now. Now leave before I change my mind."
Stormdancer nudges his beak against Dove's shoulder. "Let's get our drink, and leave this place," he growls, as if disgusted to be sharing a piece of earth with the two Shkrill.
Kosamiargi just watches. He may not be able to do much, but he'll break it up best he can, if they get going again. He doesn't want Stormdancer or Dove hurt, and doesn't need panic in Crag if Vestige gets hurt more...
Vestige limps past Dove and Stormdancer, putting herself between her clan-mate and the two Grylrans. She's very protective of the drake, perhaps, overly so. "I'll be back for you, girly," she hisses bitterly at the albino and snorts. "You'll get what's coming to you, oh yes."
Vestige wings their way up to the sky above.
Vestige has left.
Stormdancer eyes Vestige... perhaps even smiling slightly, as she takes flight. "Your... protector?" he wonders of Kosamiargi, as he moves off toward the pond, to drink.
Dove stays put right now. That hen hurt her pretty bad and she knows she can't put her weight on her leg right now and the last thing she wants is to show weakness. As Vestige flies off, she whispers, "Oh yesss. Come and get me."
Kosamiargi looks toward the two. "...I'm sorry it came to this...." He sighs, and flares his wings, getting ready to take off. "And we both know I can't fight, Stormdancer...That's the reason....I'm there to train." he merely watches, keeping sight of Vestige...
Dove looks at Kosamiargi and warns him, "Take care when choosing the Shkrill, for they are heartless, callous and cruel. Once you are marked you are theirs. For life. Show weakness and you will die by their own claws. Think on that while you...'train'."
Stormdancer hrrrfs, shaking his head. "You know we've trainers... you had but to ask, and you could have easily found ones to teach you. I even pointed you to one." He sighs, and dips his head in the water, then lifting it up again, slaking his thirst. "But you've chosen this sky. I hope... you survive it, for Dove is absolutely right."
Kosamiargi merely nods. "Grylra is in need of those they have, as you are rebuilding still. And I already know of Shkrill ways." He gives his wings a flick. "I am not enemy, that I can help it, Grylrans. Fly well, that we meet ever on better circumstances." He leans down, and lifts off...
Kosamiargi wings their way up to the sky above.
Kosamiargi has left.
Dove shakes her head, "I wish him luck, Storm. For that child is going to need it. As for myself....whoo boy, she got me good. I can't put my weight on it. This is going to be a rough flight home..." The bleeding has not quite stopped yet and Dove doesn't look to good for it.
Stormdancer sighs, and nods, dipping his head to nuzzle carefully at her leg. "Caught you off guard," he chides gently. "Well... you'll get there, I know. We can pack a little mud on it to help slow the bleeding, and the flight will keep your weight off it anyway."
Dove sighs, "And I was just starting to enjoy the rest after all that crap with the interface closing..." She hobbles closer to Storm and the pond so he can help her out.
Stormdancer muhhrrrs softly, digging mud from the bank, and carefully slathering it across the bloodied patch. "Get a good drink, we'll get you home, healed, and laid down in a soft nest," he promises... then adds with a playful grin, "Yours... or mine..."
Dove grins weakly and nuzzles Storm's beak. She says playfully, "Oh, I don't know...whichever one I pass out in first. But we got to get there first." She stretches out her wings, wincing as it pulls on her newly hurt shoulder muscles. "This is definitely going to be rough...but I think I can make it."
Stormdancer nudges her beak. "You can make it," he says firmly. "I'll fly lead, you can catch my wind a bit, it'll help."
---Back at Fort Crag...
Main Courtyard - Fort Crag
Cleared of the debris and redecorated with several large cloth tapestries this courtyard has regained a lot of its original ancient splendor. It is a large, wide open area sheltered by a smooth rock ceiling at least forty feet above the ground. The acoustics here are very good, and the slightest whisper carries easily from one side of the courtyard to the other, making a gryphon giving an announcement or a speech to gathered gryphons sound all the more impressive. On two sides, ramps lead either down to the lower levels of the fort, or up towards the administrative complex embedded higher within the mountain's protective embrace. The dominant feature of the courtyard is a large, black rectangular slab of rock embedded in the ground, which sports a blood red chevron on the side facing the entrance.
The floor of this chamber has been returned to close to its original condition, interlocked bricks of grayish-blue color and rough texture for easy traction while mobilizing attack wings. At the entrance to the gates the Shkrill emblem has been painted, a bright red chevron that matches the one seen on the monolith. The gates are open, allowing anyone to walk into or out of the fortress.
Vestige snarls, "Skies! How could the patrols have missed those damned Grylrans?" She paces, feathers bristled and hackles raised as if she were to lash out at any time.
Kosamiargi watched the hen quietly, his head turning as she paced. "I was in the territories for a while before Kirrta found me..." He clamps his beak shut, knowing that was far too much to say, especially with the attitude she's in.
Vestige 's head snaps in Kosa's direction and she growls, the grating sound issued from deep in her throat...and rising.
Khasra has arrived.
Kosamiargi backs up just slightly, letting the hen have her room. He sighs just slightly, wishing he'd have thought of a BETTER thing to say than that..."
Vestige 's eartufts perk as she hears Khasra's approach.
Khasra enters through the main gate, closing his wings as he pads into the vaulted courtyard.
Kosamiargi could hear the drake's approach, as well, and turned to find his gaze settled on Khasra. The black drake instantly forced his body to settle, as it tried to tense. "Skies, this is a grand day for meeting gryphons, isn't it?"
Khasra cocks his head a little. "It must be. I'm Khasra."
The black drake blinks a bit. "We've met before, Khasra...Hunting grounds, Kirrta came after me, you and her taking one of my kills..."
Khasra ahhs, and nods slightly. "Of course," he says, inclining his head. "Decided that Grylra's hunting wasn't as good?"
Vestige looks nervous, fidgeting with the constant flick-flickity-flick of her eartufs. Her tail lashes out behind her while her foreclaws extend, leaving deep gashes in the ground as she rakes them across the surface. The hen is very upset about something.
Kosamiargi looks to the drake a moment. "Grylran grounds were fine..." He couldn't understand how the other drake didn't remember, but looks back to Vestige, as though trying to get her to move forward to break this uncomfortable situation...
Vestige huffs angrily, feathers puffing out in all directions as her hackles raise. "Explain then," she grumbles under her breath. "Why there were Grylrans hunting in Shkrill territory!"
Kosamiargi blinks, looking at Vestige on that. "I thought we were on the same side, here! I don't know any more than you!"
Khasra cocks an eyeridge at Vestige. "Do you know something I don't?"
Vestige takes several moments to compose herself. Ohhh how she wants to rip, to tear, to /kill/... A shiver passes over Vestige's bristling body as the surge of emotion passes. "Poachers," she hisses. "Grylran poachers."
Khasra nods? "Where? When?"
Khasra sits on his haunches calmly, curling his tail around his foreclaws.
Vestige says, "The Forest of Shadows, by the pond. Two of them."
Kosamiargi looks from the irritable, obviously violence thirsty hen to the utterly calm drake...
Khasra clicks his beak softly. "Vestige, why do we fly patrols?"
Vestige glances up at Khasra, looking somewhat hurt. "To protect Shkrill territory?"
Khasra nods slowly. "Right. There's no need to be upset over one or two gryphons. If Grylra gets the idea they can come in and take whatever they want, that's different; but one hunt doesn't make any difference. Learn to pick your battles, and win the ones you pick."
Kosamiargi blinks, and settles back to his haunches, listening quietly...
Vestige lowers her gaze, fixing her eyes firmly on her foreclaws as she sheepishly rubs them in the dirt. "But," she murmurs. "Stormdancer."
Khasra lowers his head toward hers, eartufts perking. "You have something to say?"
Vestige chrrs, "It's jussst, there's a treaty between Shkrill and Grylra, correct?" She lifts her gaze to meet his again. "Their leader...even if he /is/ self-proclaimed...if..." A shuddering sigh. The hen is really grasping at words as they come now. "If their leader refuses to honor the treaty between the two clans, why should any of the Grylrans? Why should they honor any of it?"
Khasra waves his claw, "Oh, it was Stormdancer? Don't worry then. He'd probably been playing diplomat with Eli again or some such." He flicks his wings. "The powerful can often do things not allowed to most."
Vestige nods curtly. "Yes, Khasra, Sssir."
Kosamiargi looks to Vestige. In just the smallest way, he was sad to see her reduced like such, though everything that had been said was perfectly understandable, and Khasra was the only one likely in right mind between the two.
Vestige 's pride is wounded, but not by Khasra's words. She will abide by them. It is the way that the little albino hen taunted her from under the safety Stormdancer's wing that is gnawing at her. How, cowardly...!
Khasra runs a claw over Vestige's shoulder. "If you see something like that happening again, you SHOULD challenge them--or inform a superior if you don't want to face them alone--but as I said�pick your battles. Don't let such an incident upset you so."
Vestige nods. "I shall." She shifts her wings, letting them fall to either side of her body in a half-spread. "Thank you, Khasssra." A smile crosses her beak, as best it is allowed. Otherwise, her emotions are now carefully guarded.
Khasra murmurs somthing to Vestige, then glances at Koso. "And what of you? Have you decided to join Shkrill after all?"
Kosamiargi lifts his head, then glances about a moment. "...Yes...Something. Yes." He sighs.
Vestige 's eartufts perk at Khasra's hushed words, but the hen does not reply. She nods slightly, then glances back over her shoulder at Kosa and turns to face him.
Kosamiargi notices a still bloody claw, and momentarily cleans it. The only thing to get his mind off the attention he's now receiving.
Khasra cocks his head slightly?
Kosamiargi clears off the claw, and looks back to the other two slightly.
Vestige doesn't completely trust Kosa just yet, but that's to be expected. "Talkeenta has taken him under her wing as well," she says. "As a student."
Khasra ohs? at Vestige. "I hope she can handle the load..." He smirks slightly as he glances toward Kosa.
Kosamiargi looks toward Khasra in return, yet quiet once more...
Vestige chortles softly, "Talkeenta should. I don't think that we'll be much trouble." She flits a wing, working out the kinks in the muscles there. "Not yet, at leassst."
Khasra chuckles and clacks his beak. "I doubt you know how much trouble you can be," he grins teasingly.
Vestige grins wickedly. "Trouble for Grylra and Windhaven, perhaps," she murmurs.
Kosamiargi continues to merely listen to the conversation, eartufts down and feathers slick...
Khasra chirks and ruffles his feathers. "Now, now� we've got treaties. Remember?"
Vestige draws a single foreclaw across her chest. "Don't worry," she chrrs. "I won't go looking for trouble."
Khasra chuckles and flicks his tail. "No more than usual, you mean."
"But of coursssse," the wild-feathered hen purrs, the glances in Kosa's direction. He's being awfully quiet...then again, that doesn't seem to be unusual with this drake.
Kosamiargi blinks, and tilts his head just slightly, looking back to Vestige in return.
Khasra stretches and yawns softly. "Mrr."
Vestige says, "Tired, Khasra?"
Khasra grins, "Of course not. But I try to sleep as an example to you mortals."
Kosamiargi softly mutters. "I'm not tired, either..."
Vestige chirps placidly. "Pining over your mate?" she asks, not unkindly.
Kirrta approaches from the main gate.
Kirrta has arrived.
Khasra chuckles at Vestige and shakes his head. "Not exactly," he rumbles, giving the gryphoness a wink.
Vestige trills in greeting as Kirrta approaches.
Kosamiargi looks back up to Vestige's greeting to another gryphon, and spots the hen from before, as well.
Kirrta still has short flight duties, as she's a youngling to care for. But she still pushes hard, and flies her best. And, her flight over, she stalks into the courtyard, growling faintly for no apparent reason.
Kirrta nods sharply to Vestige, before lashing out in a brief fit of rage at a younger gryphon who dares cross her path. The exchange is lightening-quick and brutal, leaving the other suitably cowed, but relatively uninjured. Restraint is a new thing to Kirrta, and she practices it only occasionally. Her gaze returns to Vestige, and then to Kosamiargi... at which, her eyes narrow suspiciously.
Kosamiargi rumbles quietly, as the hen obviously recognizes him far better than the drake did. He watches her in return, not saying a word as he has been, wings giving a bothered flick...
Vestige wonders if perhaps, Kirrta had a run in with the Grylra as well? It would certainly explain her mood! She rouses, feathers fluffing out in every which direction as the hen finds herself composed and content once again...for the moment.
Khasra chirrrs in obvious pleasure as Kirrta announces herself in the outburst at the young gryphon, padding over to join her in her march across the courtyard. "Kirrta!" he croons, sliding up beside her.
Kirrta snaps and nips sharply at Khasra as well, but rubs against him in the same motion. "Khasra..." she croons, nuzzling and licking lightly where her beak lashed but a moment before. "You have playthingsss?" she wonders, tossing her beak in the direction of the other two.
Kosamiargi rouses his feathers, having heard that well enough. He rumbles a bit louder, not in the least bit happy being here in the presence of this certain hen, but continues to stay seated as he was...
Vestige doesn't seem to be bothered by the older hen's presence, or her behavior. She glances over at Kosa. It's /him/ that she's worried about. "Is something wrong?" she asks.
Khasra blinks a bit. "Not as such. They're both Talkeenta's charges now, it seems." He snaps his beak toward her once. "What's the matter?"
Kosamiargi says, "Our last meeting was not a good one..."
Kirrta snorts, taking the answering snap of his beak as perverse sort of comfort. She glares at Kosamiargi. "Long flight in bad winds," she growls... maybe as a curse at him, but somewhat as a reason for her mood.
Kosamiargi keeps his gaze set on the gryphoness that he knows could be twice, if not more, the threat Vestige ever was.
Vestige hisses to Kosa under her breath, "It is probably best that we do not mention Sssstormdancer and his albino hen. Khasra is a little more understanding than his mate." There's an understatement.
Kosamiargi just barely nods. "I know this well enough..."
Kirrta's eyes narrow as the new drake holds his gaze on her, and one near her could practically feel the energy of her anger crackle in the air. "Would Talkeenta be sssad, if she had one lesss to worry about?" she wonders in clipped tones.
Khasra rrrs softly and starts to preen at Kirrta's neck, gently comforting her.
Kosamiargi glances to Vestige but a moment. "Now you understand one of my reasons for not wanting to come here...."
Vestige says, "Yet you ventured to Fort Crag anyway."
Kosamiargi says, "Point that I am set on this idea..."
Vestige mrrs, flitting her wingtips. Kirrta is looking more bloodthirsty than usual this evening. "You are certain?" she asks the black-feathered drake.
Kirrta is definitely in need of calming, and another gryphon might have their throat opened for daring to touch her so. But this is Khasra, and she rouses, dipping her head slightly, though holding the blackfeathered drake in her angry gaze, visions of cruel dismemberment flickering behind her eyes.
Kosamiargi looks back to the Kirrta. "Things could be worse. I could be a Windhaven flowerchewer...
Vestige chortles softly, "Didn't I tell you that earlier?"
Kosamiargi snickers ever so quietly. "I was just reminding both of us..."
Khasra snerks softly at Kosa and runs his claws through Kirrta's feathers, pressing his body surreptitiously between her and the black-feathered drake.
Kirrta growls softly at being deflected from such a very tempting target... but at last she relaxes some under Khasra's touches, and flops down onto her belly. "I hope she flies the wings off him," she growls.
Vestige takes several steps forward on her forelegs, leaving her hinds in an extended stretch. "Perhapsss it is best that I retire for the evening," she mrrs, more to herself than the others. "I'm no good to anyone tired."
Kosamiargi blinks. Grand, being left alone in the company of THESE two... "Sleep well, Vestige. That I'm alive enough tomorrow hopefully Talkeenta will be around to train us both..."
Khasra nods and wingwaves to Vestige. "Good night..." he wishes her,
Vestige nods to Khasra, then to Kirrta and Kosa. "Thank you," she purrs. "Night all."
Vestige follows the downward ramp.
Vestige has left.
Kirrta nods slightly to Vestige, then leans closer against Khasra, nibbling up at the underside of his throat.
Kosamiargi looks back to the two at hand. The other gryphons seem rather willing to stay away, thus he doesn't feel -too- bad having her around. Better that than having them mess with him, given he's unmarked....
Kirrta seems pleased that Vestige is gone, leaving the blackfeathered one relatively alone. But ... enjoying Khasra is more attractive. For the moment. Especially since she can imagine crushing and twisting Kosamiargi's shoulders....
Khasra strokes his claws down Kirrta's neck, as though holding her down.
Kosamiargi simply watches the other two, once more quiet. He can, in a way, sense the hen's feelings, thanking the skies Khasra's here, but knowing he'll have to handle her, someday, with out the drake's protection.
Kirrta rouses, arching her shoulders and leaning her rump against Khasra, lifting her beaktip and hisssing in a manner that might almost be called seductive. Or terrifying. Or, for some... both.
Khasra growls over Kirrta's hiss, biting her neck and tugging her downward again as if indicating this little one isn't worth the effort.
Kirrta rrrrrs... not exactly submitting to Khasra, but... acknowledging. "I won't kill it," she grumbles at last. "If it's taken in, I won't even maim it." She licks her beaktip. "Permanently."
Kosamiargi growls softly. Even he has a bit of dignity....Yet, he doesn't say a thing, just holding it in...
Kirrta growls, and rolls her shoulder, then hisses up to Khasra, "Bite....", and rubs a spot at the base of her neck, "... here..."
Khasra arches his neck over Kirrta's shoulders and bites at the indicated spot, closing his beak over her shoulder, feeling the tense muscles beneath feathers and flesh with his tongue..
Kosamiargi glances about, deciding to take a look about the courtyard. He'd yet never had the chance, only getting glimpses...
Kirrta hisses, arching, her talons clenching tight... then slowly relaxes... an absolutely sexual expression of pleasure on her face at the sharp pain, and the easing of the ache that it gives.
Kosamiargi rumbles quietly. Even with this very freakish bit of togetherness, it reminds him of the mate he left behind....
Khasra worries the bite for a bit, grinding his beak along Kirrta's shoulder, one claw reaching to the other side of her neck for a less unusual form of massage. He can't help but grin at Kirrta's expression, and the reaction of the new drake.
Kosamiargi finally decides he's getting a bit impolite about watching, and turns, gazing elsewhere...
Kirrta growls low, the tone softening, even as the muscles under her mate's beak give way under the fierce, perfect pressure. Her beaktip remains lifted up, partially gaped, and the tongue flutters from the lower half. She's probably enjoying this too much.
Khasra lifts his beak and chuckles softly, nudging Kirrta's neck as he pulls away. "I'll take Hokuten off Darkmoon's claws," he tells Kirrta. "See you later."
Kosamiargi blinks, and turns....Grand...
Kirrta nuzzles up into Khasra's shoulder. "I'll be there sssoon," she croons, rousing at the thought.
Khasra nudges the hen. "Be good," he coos, nodding his beak vaguely toward Kosa.
Kirrta huffs slightly, and grumbles good-naturedly. "I won't hurrrt him much. Can't teach him to fight, if he's broken."
Kosamiargi just looks on. He's not dodging a conflict, if one arrives, it is obvious.
Khasra pads up the ramp with a flicker of his wing, waving good night..
Khasra follows the upward ramp.
Khasra has left.
Kirrta gets a very unpleasantly pleased expression on her face as she looks at Kosamiragi. She rises up slowly onto all fours, as if to approach... then lays her hind-end over, spreads her legs, and begins to clean herself. Intimately.
Kosamiargi watches Khasra leave, before settling his gaze to Kirrta, in return. He just watches quietly...
Kirrta doesn't linger on the chore, just recovers from her enjoyment of Khasra's biting massage. And tormenting the drake, to see how he'll react. Apparently appropriately, as she remains moderately relaxed, when she rolls back up onto all fours, and does begin to stalk closer.
Kosamiargi lifts himself up, as well, watching adamantly, but not backing off. It's not like there's anywhere to go in here that he can truly get into that she can't follow after, so what would be the point?
Kirrta looks you over with an appraising eye. "Ssso why did you dare try to join the Shkrill?" she rasps, "And how did you get anyone to consssiderr you for it?"
"I joined to learn to fight." He rumbles quietly. "And Talkeenta considered me, on hhherrr own, without me asking or trying to persuade her."
Kirrta rrrrrs, lifting her head high, suspicious of this. "You will learn to fight," she promises with sinister sincerity. "If you do not make Talkeenta proud of your skills, you will suffer for it. If you do not earrrn my ressspect... you will suffer for it. So do not fail."
Kosamiargi says, "I've yet to fail at anything I've tried to do, Kirrta..."
Kosamiargi finds it slightly strange that, as yet, still not a single one of theses Shkrill, besides Talkeenta, has asked him his name...
Kirrta doesn't think it worth knowing your name, until you have proved yourself to her. Something which, it may (or not) surprise you to discover you are still far from doing. She snorts contemptuously. "How could you, your wings are barely fledged. But there will be a firrst time," she promises. "And a second. And more."
Kosamiargi rumbles quietly, once more. "And I plan to let those failures come a far time from now, if I can help it. I'm no less infallible as anyone else. In Shkrill, in Shrilk, or in any other sphere."
Kirrta smiles cruelly. "Arrogant drake," she sighs, shaking her head. "When otherrrs have taught you some basics, I will fight you. But if you are Talkeenta's .... then I will not simply kill you. You will learn that."
"Be it that I can help it, or not, I don't wish to fight you, Kirrta, nor anyone else. We both know you'll win, and I won't be a threat."
Kirrta's smile grows less aggressive, and slightly more ... approving? "Which is why I won't waste my time on you, ssso early. You would not learn consstructively," she croaks. "When you are taught, you will not be a threat to me. Only a threat to othersss."
Kosamiargi tilts his head. "Strange that you take such interest in me, and don't work to...'train' another that's been Shkrill far longer." He merely means this as an outword thought, with nothing hidden behind. "But if that's how it will be, then that's how it will be. To a future of hopefully decent spars with you, Kirrta, and not merely my blood letting."
Kirrta snorts. "I have other favorites I train," she growls. "Don't think you're the only one. I just want to hurrrt you. But if you're to be Shkrill... then at least it should do you sssome good."
Kosamiargi rumbles softly. "Why hurt me?"
Kirrta grins wickedly. "Because I don't like you," she says plainly. "You would do well to change that. Now, I'm going to my mate, and my young. Think hard if you want to be Shkrill. We don't take well to betrayal."
Kosamiargi snorts. "I left a mate and easy living to come here. I haven't stayed two days, thus far, through night nippings, and your presence, just to run like a beaten fledgling." He turns, heading for the lower regions. "Goodnight, Kirrta, and enjoy your cuddle time."
Kirrta rrrrrs, nodding slowly. Maybe there is promise in this one. "I will," she croons, "I will."
Kosamiargi pads down into the lower areas, ignoring completely the nips and shoves he receives.
---Thus, to another night of irritable nippings and nudgings...