Western Path - North of Faelrah Mountain Cluster
The path seems to have widened out a bit at this point, spreading to occupy more space as the forest gives way to plains and clusters of trees. Its reasonably dry here, and the temperature hangs around twenty seven degrees centigrade. The land around seems almost savannah like, dry long grasses with little bluffs of forest scattered about at seeming random where there is enough water in the soil to support more than grass. The grass rustles constantly, whether with wind or the movement of animals it would be impossible to tell.
Thaliara circles slowly overhead... this close to Windhaven there are always at least a couple of gryphons in sight in the sky, even though that may be quite distant. The thermals are not quite so enjoyable as in summer, but soaring is its own pleasure for a gryphon, whatever the weather may be.
It's late afternoon, and the sunlight is beginning to fade as the lone Kasandoran trudges along - wrapped in a jacket and wearing snowshoes on her hindpaws. She is ever alert, yet her mind occassionally wanders ahead to the warmth she knows that awaits her once she reaches the Windhaven aerie. She moves along as quickly as possible, part of her already hearing Stormdancer's curses once he finds out she left without the promised guard.
Stormdancer had only this morning discovered that Mika had left the previous day. After roundly berating the guard who HAD been assigned to her for not following as they had been told, he takes wing again. It's a long flight, especially since he flies fully to the pyramid, before following along the track he suspected she would take.
Thaliara is no huntress, she spends long hours tucked away in the library or council quarters... but she is a gryphoness, and though not as sharp as a warrior, her eyes have little difficulty spotting a lone figure trudging through the snow up the twisting, backswitching paths that form the ground route to the mountain city. She broadens her circle a touch, watching curiously for a few minutes before some recognition comes - this one has visited Windhaven before, she thinks. Or another of her kind.
Mika pauses alongside the boulder, pulling a waterskin around her side and opening it to sip from the liquid within. Shaded eyes are turned towards the pass where, she figures within a few hours, she shall reach Windhaven. Turning her head upwards, she watches the few gryphons glide along the thermals, almost envying their ease of movment. Pushing away from the boulder, she swings the 'skin around, adjusts her packs, and begins to walk once more, black-tipped ears swiveling around, listening for the slightest sound that doesn't belong in the quiet snow-laddened afternoon. Surely, she looks familiar to Thaliara, for while this is her first trip to Windhaven herself, there has been a meeting between her 'boss' and other couriers.
Stormdancer's broad, dark wings stroke powerfully, ceaselessly, following the spotty trail in the patches of blown and fresh snow. The kilometers sweep by underneath, and finally, at long last, he spots the tiny dark speck in the distance. He allows himself a few moments of simply gliding as relief sweeps over him. Maybe she's safe after all.
In the woods, not far distant a dark shape stretches, rising from her afternoon nap tucked away amidst the trees. The other pair of hunters have not checked in with her - it bodes ill for their mission. She had thought it was too convenient, that the two heretics had fled west onto the plains... she had scouted that direction before, and found the interface there sealed... there was no reason for them to travel in that direction, that she could imagine. No. They will come back here, eventually... and it is much easier to hide, here in the mountains. But hunting this close to the winged-things city is scarce... and she has in the past few days been given to foraging for creatures normally beneath her notice. Now, she moves to the edge of the woods, to watch what seems a far tastier morsel making its way up the path... She crouches, slowly, hidden behind foliage and long evening shadows...
Thaliara stays relatively high, feeling for the moment no particular need to dive down and greet this stranger... She'll arrive at Windhaven soon enough, and no need to frighten her by stooping on her...
Mika slowly makes her way towards the shadows and trees, heading for the pass through the mountain. Snowshoes leave strange tracks behind in the soft snow, but keep her from sinking into the powdery flakes, making her walk slower than she normally would. As she reaches the shadows of the trees, she pauses, paws reaching up to once more adjust the pack, head bowed as she fools with the strap that stretches across her belly, her breath coming in puffs of white that hangs in the air for a few seconds before slowly disappearing. Her tail, banded black and silver, slowly flicks back and forth near her ankles as she grumbles softly in her native language, perhaps cursing the stupid latch on the strap...
Stormdancer searches the ground immediately near to Mika, and spots nothing... then searches the sky, just out of ages-old instinct and habit. Ahhh... a Windhaven is on the wing nearby as well. Excellent... they have plenty of reason to be wary of the Raigaa as well. He resumes his flight, dropping in a long, long glide down toward the distant Kasandoran. His gaze still flicks from shadow to tree to bush, scanning a widening area around Mika... even if nothing's hunting her, there might still be something tasty to kill for a meal, since he hasn't eaten since that brief stop for water, a couple of hours ago.
The huntress crouches... watching with those fierce, alien eyes as the creature comes near... so temptingly near... but she bides her time, ignoring the growl of her stomach... glancing upwards at the sky to check for others... two specks she notices... but both seem too distant to be a threat... she can drag this one off into the woods quickly, before they have time to see what has happened. As Mika twists around to adjust her pack, she strikes, erupting from the shadowed snow at the edge of the forest out onto the path, three leaps to her target, the first two vanish in as many seconds... despite her speed, she moves very quietly in the soft snow, her broad paws acting almost as her own built-in snow shoes...
Thaliara continues to circle above - her attention has wandered from the strange creature, as she considers her votes in the upcoming council meeting... only to have her gaze drawn back when she catches swift motion out of the corner of her eye... gryphon's being especially sensitive to just such movement in their hunting instincts... A huge shape, a... goddess! She SKREEEEEES at the top of her lungs, hoping its loud enough to carry to wherever nearby patrols may be in these mountains, tucks her wings, and begins a plummeting dive that is far faster than she has done in years.
Stormdancer curses, giving three savagely hard strokes of his wings before half-folding them. It's a shallower stoop than he'd like, but it will have to do. He, too, SKREEEEs savagely... then catches the sound of the Windhaven doing the same. He spares a moment's glance to the other... she's stooping too... excellent. It's Thaliara? He blinks, sliding his nictitating membranes shut against the rising rush of the wind. That's unexpected! But better than nothing...
Mika finally loosens the pesky latch on the packs, just as the shadow detaches itself from the treeline and attacks. Instincts honed by years of training leave the Kasandoran in a crouched position, pack already thrown off, and flashing daggers in hand. She might not be as fast as the swiftly approaching Raigaa, but she is trained nonetheless. Turned to face the threat, she can't help eyes widening somewhat as they see the blurred shape of the Raigaa, a silent prayer sent to the Goddess of her sphere that she fight well this day. The skrees of the gryphons are heard, and ignored, her attention solely upon the attacking creature. At the last moment, she throws herself to the side in hopes of avoiding the sharp claws, feeling one paw connect and run down her back, daggers flashing above her head in a move that will hopefully catch the Raigaa offguard. As she rolls, she looses one snowshoe, and is up, balanced on the reamining one, daggers still in paw - she bids her time - the next time the Raigaa charges, the daggers shall be thrown - she has another pair hidden away that can quickly be drawn.
The skrees echo across the valley - curses, the two bird-creatures were watching more closely than she had thought, or hoped... but that doesn't mean she doesn't still have time to grab her quarry and be gone before they can arrive... if she can just grab it by a limb or neck she is large enough to simply drag it off somewhere, perhaps to the bottom of a river somewhere where it will drown. She is surprised by the swiftness of the creature's reactions, she had not expected it would be quite so alert, she veers her head slightly to avoid those swinging daggers, which forces her jaws to miss her initial grab, and the best she can manage is a swipe of claws across the creature's back in her first pass, shredding clothing, and she hopes, dragging some burning welts along the creature's back. She twists, changing direction, she can see the two daggers... familiar with how such weapons are used, she simply charges, counting on her thick layers of muscle and tough hide to protect her, and the speed of her attack to prevent her opponent from having the opportunity to aim.
Thaliara curses inwardly as she dives, she hunts... occasionally, for rabbit and the like. This is an awful lot bigger than a rabbit, but she has no intention of engaging it with her claws, she's already fishing in her pack for a rune tablet... the pair are far too close together for her to risk activating the spell on the Raigaa itself but maybe it can be startled... She squeezes the tablet, feels that prickle of energy that makes her whole body tingle... And suddenly as she casts the tablet downwards, deliberately missing the pair by two dozen feet, the tablet turns into a fiery meteor as it descends... and explodes in a wave of snow and soil as it strikes the earth, sending a booming shockwave through the landscape... if the skrees didn't raise the local Windhaven guards, that certainly will! Even at that distance both the Raigaa and Mika are surely pelted with fast moving pebbles and earth.
As Stormdancer's speed picks up, he needs less and less wing... the closer they are folded along his back, the faster he goes. A slight arch of his back shifts his course, bringing him more nearly horizontal for the last moments... then he flares his wings suddenly at the last moment, as Thaliara's rune explodes upon the ground. The sweep of his wings shears up a wild stroke of wind, swirling snow up off the ground to join with that falling from the explosion, as his talons dig savagely for the Raigaa's back and shoulder. But he is there for only that tenth of a second, before letting his momentum carry him past and over, not daring to stand and fight with one of these powerful beasts.
Mika would wince from the long, and possibly deep scratches down her back, but she's too focused on the creature that turns and charges her once again. Unable to take careful aim, she still throws her daggers with skill, one intended for the chest, then other the Raigaa's face in hopes of piercing one of the large eyes. Once the two are tossed, her second set of daggers are in hand, readied for the Raigaa's attack. Crouched upon the remaining snowshoe, she waits, mind carefully planning her next move - she knows she can't allow the Raigaa to get ahold of her, or pin her down, so she'll be working to keep that from happening - whatever it takes. Surprise flits over her face as the flaming meteor descends from above, paws raised to cover her face and protect her eyes from the flying pebbles and dirt. Knowing she might never get another chance, she takes that moment to dive for whatever cover is nearby...missing Stormdancer's swooping attack, and hoping the Raigaa misses her escape.
The raigaa bats the air with one paw, she is swift... faster almost than could be believed for a creature of her size... One of the blades is literally smacked out of the air and sent spinning into the snow, uselessly, the other thunks into the side of her neck... but only barely penetrates her thick hide... such puny weapons are all but useless against a creature of her size. She closes rapidly on Mika... lunging - and almost certainly would have managed to seize her in her jaws if a thundering explosion, combined only fractions of a second with a heavy impact on her back didn't distract her, sending her rolling for cover... partially blinded by the flying debris... She staggers - and makes a very swift change of mind, three on one now, and they have weapons she had not anticipated. The portion of her hunters mind dedicated to computing the odds of victory has just finished crunching its numbers, and come up with a figure that is not in her favour. She will have to go hungry for another day. Her next leap is a total change in direction, back into the cover of the forest, ignoring the bloody scores along her back. There is a deep glacier carved lake not far from here, she vanishes under the thick canopy, headed for it rapidly, sticking close to tree trunks where obstructions to aerial attack are thickest.
Thaliara pulls out of her stoop, grunting at the pressure against her wings, wobbling a moment in the air, heart thundering as she almost skims the snow before pulling back up again, that was far closer than she had intended... She banks, braking by angling upwards steeply, looking down just in time to see the creature vanishing into the woods, she doesn't bother reaching into her pouch, she usually only carries one combat totem with her. Being attacked well inside the security of Windhaven's borders is not something she usually thinks about! She peers down at Mika, checking to see if the stranger is all right...
The muscles and tendons stand out markedly along Stormdancer's back as he flares his wings after the dive, arching powerfully backwards, up and then over in a tightly banked loop. Long before the maneuver is finished, his head is fixed on his target again, and a long, savage scream of anger echoes from the snowy ground as the Raigaa charges off into the woods. He charges after, over the treetops, battering them with his wings... to give the impression of intent to chase and kill. But he knows better... to fight the Raigaa alone in such a place would be certain death, and he soon raises up high above the trees again. He searches for signs of her path, and curses... gone, already. Banking to his right, he winces a bit as he shifts his shoulders, drawing his bloodied talons up to his chest again. A scrap of fur, a bit of blood... but not the nice wedge of flesh he would have liked to have drawn.
Mika is curled, wedged against another boulder, daggers held before her. She is unable to see the fight from her position, but is ready if she Raigaa should try to attack her again - it won't be easy to get her out of this nook! Blood soaks her back, proving a few of the scratches are deep, yet the cold of the stone pressed against the wounds numbs them for the moment. Ears listen to the gryphons skrees as they charge after the fleeing Raigaa, yet she still stays where she is, not wishing to come out just yet - right about now, Mika is wishing she /had/ listened to Stormdancer's advice, that you can be sure!
The raigaa, injured, moves as quietly and quickly as she can. The lake - at last, the shorelines are frozen, but she only needs to run a short distance before breaking through the ice, plunging into the cold water, and diving down, vanishing beneath the surface...
Thaliara is close enough to see the Raigaa emerge from the woods, onto the lake, and dissapear into it... She glances up - and sees a fan of specks in the distance, Windhaven warrior wings closing in, but they will still be the better part of a candlemark in arriving, she estimates. She banks again, slowly... eyes back on Mika, the creature appears to be injured... but alive. She bites back a soft groan - she pulled something in her wing in that dive, she's fairly sure. She alters her course slightly, angling down towards the strange creature, cupping her wings and landing awkwardly in the snow, stumbling a bit... Then winces on folding her wings, one goes, the other hangs out awkwardly, too painful to fold.
Stormdancer quickly returns, though his beak is gaped, panting from the long flight, and the exertions at the end... over-worked muscles burning fiercely, now that the adrenaline of the moment has faded. He watches Thaliara's landing... clumsy and stumbling... frowning as he watches her try to fold the strained wing. He backwings sharply, slowing... then glides in for a simple, undramatic landing. "Mika!" he calls sharply, as he pads toward Thaliara. "You alright?"
Mika blinks as the gryphon alights before her, eyes staring up at Thaliara for a moment before she begins to try and uncurl from her position. Wincing, she inhales sharply as muscles pull the scratches, making them bleed more. "I am.. fine.. Stormdancer.. though not without ya'lls help." Crawling free of the small hole, she braces herself, head bowed, daggers still in hand to catch her breath before trying to stand - she doesn't get all the way up before pain drives her back to her knees in the snow.
Thaliara glances over at Stormdancer as he lands, "Ssstormdancer." She rumbles softly, then coos and gives a shake of her head, her own skinny flanks heaving a touch at her exertion. Her wingtip drags in the snow as she moves closer to Mika, "Our warriors will have healers with them, I expect..."
Stormdancer growls angrily in Mika's direction, dipping his head and ruffling his feathers out in a display of irritation... then slicking them again as he looks to Thaliara. "Thank you," he rumbles simply, lifting a claw to touch lightly at the leading edge of the drooped wing. "Lay down... let me tuck this up against your side..." His beak remains gaped, his sides still heaving powerfully. He's been on the wing for hours now, and is about at the limit for his endurance.
Mika hears Stormdancer's irritation, even if he doesn't curse her - yet. In some respects, his baring reminds her of her father back home in Kasandora - he was always irritated in some way over Mika's stubbornness and wish to do as she pleased. "I am sorry I did not listen to you Stormdancer.." Once more, she attempts to gain her feet, and this time, succeeds though if one could see beneath the silver and black fur, they'd find her quite pale. Padding the short distance, she stands, "Is there something I can do to help?" Perhaps if she ignores the wounds on her back, they'll go away?
Thaliara pauses, wincing at Stormdancer's touch... "Our visitor's wounds are more grievous, I think." She murmers softly, but then... Stormdancer is already at her side, and she's holding things up. She lowers herself into the snow, trying to relax her muscles to let Stormdancer tuck her wing in as promised, she speaks quietly to Mika, "I hope you will not take offense to sssuch a ... greeting to Windhaven's territories."
Stormdancer carefully eases Thaliara's wing upward, knowing exactly where to touch, and to press, to give the least discomfort. He actually growls at Mika as she comes closer, but not terribly convincingly. "Skies, Mika... you could have been killed," he hisses, tail thrashing and flicking.
Thaliara flinches again, making a soft whistling sound through her beak as she sucks in a breath when Stormdancer folds her wing, despite his care, it still hurts... but that fades to an aching throb once its back in the correct position. She gives a soft cluck of gratitude to Stormdancer, and rises again slowly, brushing beaks with him. "Let's see those wounds." She murmers, "I'm no healer, but we can bind them, at least, so you don't bleed more than you must..." She listens to Stormdancer's own words to this creature... they know each other, rrrrm? And there is no mistaking the hint of patriarchal affection in his voice, even in chastising the kasandoran.
Mika shakes her head to Thaliara, though she winces again, "It is not Windhaven's fault that I was attacked. I am grateful that you were so close.." Ears lay back as Stormdancer hisses at her, even going so much as unconsciously taking a step back. "Again, I am sorry.." Her tail flicks, curling around her ankle, her whole form taking on a submissive stance while the tattered remains of her jacket and shirt flutters around her back. She lifts her head, nodding briefly as she turns, allowing Thaliara to see the ragged scratches that line her back from shoulders to near waist. Four lines - the middle two being the deepest and steadily bleeding while the others have started to clot after matting her fur with blood.
Stormdancer sighs, and nods slightly... then steps foreward, thumping his forehead firmly against Mika's chest. "Jusssst listen next time, mrhrhrr?" he growls. "So that there will be a time after that." He lifts his head up and nuzzles her cheek for a moment, then surveys the tatters of Mika's clothes, and the wounds along her back. "Mrhrhr... uncomfortable, but not threatening. Not so close to healers." He glances to Thaliara again... "Are you good with wounds?" he wonders.
Thaliara tsks softly, bobbing her head at Mika's words, "Thank you." She murmers softly, then examines her wounds, "These are deep, but not too serious... Our healers may even be able to prevent scarring." As she speaks - other gryphons are setting down nearby, the first wing of warriors has arrived from Windhaven. Thaliara glances over her shoulder, "Kherik, over here." An elderly gryphon hurries over - he's already opened his carry pouch, a poulticed cloth is drawn out, Thaliara moves aside.
Kherik rumbles, "Keep as still as you can." Gently the medicated cloth is applied to the deepest of the wounds, a light pressure to keep them on and stop the bleeding, it burns a little... the medication is to prevent infection, not to ease pain.
Thaliara steps back, more safely out of the way now that Mika is in skilled claws, "Not as good as Kherrrik." She murmers softly.
Stormdancer mrhrrs, and nods, also stepping aside respectfully for the healer, though he stays very close against Mika, flaring his feathers a bit to let some of his warmth wash from his feathers for her. "You flew well... for such an old hen," Stormdancer chiurps with a hint of a grin on his features.
Mika sighs, a paw reaching up to scritch the gryphon as Stormdancer nudges her chest, head bowed as she listens to Thaliara speak. Before long, the other gryphons have joined them, and she's turned over to Kherik's care, a sharp breath inhaled as the poltice is applied to her back, muscles jumping before settling again. Standing as still as she can, one can see she's not all that steady upon her feet as she weaves just a little from side to side. She half listens to Storm and Thal speak while the healer works on her back.
Thaliara snaps her beak, "Old hen, hrrrrf." She snorts softly, then sighs, "I am not much of a huntress, anymore, it isss true." She admits, grudgingly.
Kherik murmers, "Sit down, if you would, it will make this easier... We will stop the bleeding, and then get you to the treatage at Windhaven where we can do better work, in more comfortable conditions." Mixed among the poultice are herbs to help the blood coagulate, and it helps of course that Mika is young and healthy. He keeps steady pressure on the bandages.
Stormdancer snorts sharply, moving a bit closer to Mika, paws and talons squeaking slightly on the snow. He settles down onto his belly, blocking at least some of any winds that might swirl around her... both for her comfort, and for the healer's convenience. "You can lean foreward onto me," he murmurs softly to her. He may be angry at Mika, but it's obvious he cares for her. "Hunter enough," he rumbles to Thaliara. "Without your ... strike... I would have had to catch her up in my claws to fly her to safety. And that wouldn't have been very far, given how long I've been on the wing already today."
Mika looks around, as if looking for a chair to sit on, and gives Stormdancer a grateful smile as he makes his offer. Leaning forward, she braces herself against his side, then hugs him close to allow the healer to reach the scratches on her back. "She might be old, but I think she's still a hunter - and a mighty fine one at that.." is mumbled softly.
Thaliara gives a soft click, gruffly pleased with the compliments... her wing has settled to a dull ache... she will be walking back to the city, and probably not flying for a week or two. At her age, muscles pull easily, and heal slowly.
Kherik bobs his head in approval as Stormdancer helps Mika squat down, "There." He murmers, the bleeding has slowed to a trickle. He removes, and discards the bloodied poultices, coming out with clean ones which are newly applied to the wound, "Thaliara, hold these in place, please?" When she obeys, he draws out thinner bandages, wrapping it over Mika's shoulder, around her like a sash, and then binding it tight to hold the poultices in place, tying it off. "That should hold until we reach the city. Can you walk, or shall I call for a carry net?"
Stormdancer gapes a broad grin. "I'd cover her..." he rumbles, dark golden eyes glittering... a comment that might well strike most non-gryphons as utterly outrageous... and a few of the sphere, as well. Including, quite possibly, the healer at work on Mika's back. He clicks his beak playfully, then nuzzles Mika carefully as Kherik's work is done. "I'll walk with," he rumbles. "I think it would be best. And my wings could use a rest, too."
Mika stands slowly once the bandage is in place. "I'll try and walk.. if my snowshoes can be found." That's right, suck it up and pretend you're not ready to fall flat on your face! Both snowshoes are easily found near the first attack, along with her pack. One dagger that was thrown may also be found, the other buried somewhere in the snow.
Thaliara chuckles softly, "I have no doubt you would." She murmers, half under her breath, but certainly meant to be heard by Stormdancer... in shrilkish though, so the stranger won't hear. "Are you certain you can walk? It is simple enough to arrange for a carry-net." The latter is spoken in common.
Mika sighs as she takes a step and promptly sinks to her knee in the snow. "Perhaps a carry-net would be best.." This is finally admitted after a bit of deliberation - she knows full well she won't make it across the clearing to the pass, much less the rest of the way to Windhaven - it's just not in her to give up so easily. Her race is a pretty resourceful and tenacious bunch.
Stormdancer shrugs his wings slightly, feathers tightening for a moment... skies he's going to be sore in the morning! He dips his head and bites down a few beakfulls of snow, just for the moisture, then chiurrs, "I can carry, if you get tired," he offers. "It's not like you're that heavy. And I doubt you're particularly looking foreward to the walk yourself, Thaliara, and I'll stay with you. The least I can do..."
Mika thanks Stormdancer softly, nodding her acceptance. "Only if you don't think my weight will bother you.." She can tell that he too, is just as tired, if not more so, after flying from Grylra after her. Knowing him, she's pretty sure he left straight after returning and didn't allow himself any rest.
Thaliara rrrms, "A carry net." She replies, firmly... she will be walking herself, but that doesn't mean Mika has to. She glances to one of the other guardsmen around - he doesn't need more of a hint, he takes off aloft, skreeing something to some of the guards patrolling overhead... One of them has a carry net already it seems, and he swoops down to a landing nearby, beginning to spread it out, several burly looking Windhaven's taking the three points of it. "Your rrride awaits." Thaliara chiurrs softly, a hint of amusement to her voice.
Stormdancer chortles, rousing a bit. "No good arguing with her," he rumbles to Mika. "It would be a lot better for you, anyway. You'll be nicely healed and rested by the time we get there. Besides... it wouldn't do anyone any good to have you chilled on the trip."
Mika nods, and turns, stepping up to the carrynet. Dropping to her knees, she crawls across it, laying on her stomach across it's length. Her pack is placed in the net as well, carefully tied down at her feet to keep it in place. "Then, I shall see you when you reach Windhaven.." is said to Storm and Thal as the gryphons prepare to lift her up and away.
The gryphons check, and double check all of the net's fastenings, closing it around Mika and her belongings... When they are ready, they nod slightly to one another before wings spread in unison... a moment later they are airborn... And Mika is lifted into the sky, swaying beneath them... She is lighter than an adult stag or deer would be, and they have little trouble carrying her up into the sky...
Thaliara lifts her head, watching the trio depart along with Mika, she takes a step or two, surveying the slightly blasted, blood splattered landscape, "Hrf." She rumbles softly, "Guardsmen - keep a watch on the lake east of here... perhaps we will spot the creature slipping from the waters." She sounds dubious, most likely it is long gone, but...
Stormdancer watches the ascent, then rolls and arches his shoulders, looking back down again once Mika is safely aloft. "We killed two more, yesterday," he rumbles. "If Rhenemet is right, this one is the last. Our scouts had been able to catch it's tracks now and then, but... now that it's taken to the river... mrrhhrrr... it's going to be very hard to find again. Great trouble, these creatures... definitely very strong opponents. Let's hope this is the very last of their explorations."
Thaliara glances at you with interest, "Ah? I knew he had left our city, to draw them off. I am glad that there is two less of the creatures now." She hrfs softly, and shakes her head, "If it hides in our territory, we will find it, sooner or later. And it will find little easy prey among our own now that the warning is out... hunting is done in groups, and all are advised against being out on the ground alone. Ill times, to have to give such an order to gryphons in their own territory."
Stormdancer nods sagely, a touch of a growl in his breath as he flares his wings a bit, letting the bitingly cold air up under his wings, to help cool him off a little. "Ill times indeed. We rained spears down on them... very effective. I think speardropping will come back from the idle sport that it has been in the past years, and return to being a part of regular training. Though I'd be quite happy not to ever have to use it again. Not a particularly proud way to fight... but sometimes..." He shrugs, and nuzzles the aged hen briefly. "And I would cover you, huntress," he chuckles. "You did well, and don't deny it."
Thaliara nods in response - "I can sssee how that might be the case." She grunts softly, "Perhaps I shall have the arsenal of fire spears opened again, and distributed to the scout wings... It should not take more than one hit from one of those." She fluffs up, nares flush a touch, and grunts gruffly, "A scrawny prize for such tender affections. You would find more pleasure in the subtle curves of our visitor, I think." But she sounds pleased, and amused.
Stormdancer lifts his gaze up to watch the gently swaying arc of the carrynet, his sharp eyes still able to make out Mika fairly clearly. "Mrhrhrmmm... as much pleasure, possibly..." he admits, rousing for a moment, then giving a vigerous shake. "Which should still count as a compliment, for she's delightful indeed," he rumbles, starting forth on the long walk. "Firespears? Mrhrhrf. I only barely remember those."
Thaliara nods, starting after Stormdancer once he moves off, the mountains have gathered deep snows, its slower going than it might normally be, but at least the day is fairly warm. "Aye." She murmers, "We made many more of them during the Krrzn'tai invasion... Mostly too late to be of much use. I had the remainder sealed into a storage room so they might be used if the Krrzn'tai became a threat again. They were designed to penetrate the chiten of a Krrzn'tai... and sear its innards, I should think they would fairly cook one of these... Raigaa. Add a little salt, and rrrrm..." She cluckcluckclucks her beak, in the gryphon equivelent of smacking one's lips.
Stormdancer looks over at the hen, laughing heartily, arching his head over to nuzzle her shoulder lightly for a moment. "We fed the first one to our young," he chuckles, wading along through the snow. "They're really fairly tasty. The other two lay in the snow near the shield wall... we'll fly one back to Grylra today... the other, I'd be quite happy to leave for your people."
Thaliara hrrrfs softly, then chuckles, "I was jesting, mostly... But, meat is meat... I will send some warriors out to collect it and bring it back. These are scarce times." She lashes her tail, and gives a light beaktouch to Stormdancer.
Stormdancer chiurrs at the beaktouch, then grins, nodding slightly. "An injustice to let it go to waste," he agrees. "And some small repayment for the deaths they've caused. A few more young will live to see spring as a result."
Thaliara nods her head slightly in agreement.
The group retires to Windhaven's infirmary.
Infirmary - Windhaven
This is a large, immaculately clean room with bright magelights along the ceiling that provide bright, even illumination. The walls are lined with closed cabinets and low tables, suitable for a gryphon's height. A few instruments and bandages sit out on the table, waiting to be cleaned and put away.
Three low couches are evenly spaced about the room, for a sick or injured gryphon, or other creature, to lay upon and recieve treatment. Two very large tables, slightly cupped, are near the north wall. These appear to be used for much more serious procedures, as they have blood drains in the middle and along the edges as well as substantial restraints for holding the injured party.
A curtained exit to the east leads to a set of recovery rooms, while a heavily curtained archway to the south leads out of the infirmary.
It's several hours before Stormdancer at last makes his way to the infirmary. No question that the walk was exhausting, especially through snow that was at times more than chest deep. But he was true to his word, as he always is, and stayed with Thaliara to the last. Now, however, he's glad to be in warmer spaces, the caked snow melting slowly, spattering in a quiet, steady rain beneath him as he comes looking for his Kasandoran lover.
Mika lies on her stomach, stripped of her clothing, and resting it would appear. Paws are curled, head laying atop them as a sheet covers her from the waist down, leaving her back free so the healer's can work on it. Right now, there's a thick coating of salve mixed with herbs, other than that, they've left it unbandaged for the time being.
Stormdancer pauses in the entry, giving a brief shake before padding in. "Mika..." he chiurrs, keeping his voice low to avoid disturbing any of the other patients. He nuzzles gently at her shoulder as he comes up close. "How're you feeling?"
Thaliara steps out of a small sideroom of the infirmary... Her wing has not been bound up, but she is smelling very strongly of the mint-scented liniment that was used to soothe strained muscles, and she has been issued very... strongly worded instructions from the healer not to try flying for at least a week.
Mika rouses from her light sleep, head lifted from her curled paws to look at Stormdancer, wrinkling her nose at the smell of wet feathers and fur. "Better than you, I'm thinking." She doesn't move much from the belly-down position that he found her in, the sheet still draped across her hips, leaving her back bare. "Did you just get back in? How are /you/? Have you see a healer yet? And the other? How is she?" Question - lots of them - fly at the gryphon.
Stormdancer laughs softly. "I'm fine... just a bit chilled, and wet. She's doing... ahh, well, here she is, actually..." he chiurps, rousing a bit (albiet damply) as Thaliara is released again.
Thaliara moves closer, "I'm fine." She murmers softly, "I'll be stiff for a few days, but nothing that can't be mended." She clucks, "I don't believe we've been properly introduced. I am Thaliara d'Lyarra n'Ethrei."
Mika moves slowly to sit up, the sheet pulled to wrap around her waist, leaving her bare from there up. Nodding her head, she smiles, "I owe you greatly, Thaliara, for what you did this afternoon." Turning, she includes Stormdancer in her gaze, "Both of you.. if.." She leaves the rest unsaid, finally continuing with the introduction. "I am Mika Vumner, courier to the Kasandoran Ambassador Artus." Perhaps she might recognize that name.
Thaliara takes no particular interest in Mika's now bared upper body, save a brief curious glance at her different anatomy, to her being 'in the fur' is normal, as it were, and it is coverings that is strange. "T'cheh. Having you set upon in our own territory is embarassing enough. I am just glad you were not badly injured. Ahhh? Welcome then, courier." She bobs her head slightly.
Stormdancer rumblechuckles softly. "No 'ifs'. You're here, and healthy... it's fine." Obviously his definition of 'healthy' is a touch different from some people's. "Thaliara, I would trust Mika with my offspring, and have. She is a fine creature, and always a welcome guest at Grylra. Where, I'll remind her one last time, she should have stayed until her guard was ready to fly with her." He grins as he speaks the last words, setting himself down on his haunches... obviously not too annoyed anymore. His entire underside is coated with frosted ice, though melting... one would expect it to be rather... uncomfortable.
Thaliara nods her head at Stormdancer's words, "She is doubly welcome as a guest of Windhaven, then, to have such high compliments payed to her." She glances at Stormdancer and gives a soft hrrf of amusement, "Perhaps you should shake that off, outside... and go somewhere where there is a warm fire." She suggests, "That looks... cold."
It is cold... enough so that Stormdancer could possibly, in fact, be mistaken for a hen, from a distance. "Ahhh... a warm fire sounds most welcome," he agrees. "Shared with warm company could be even better. Two companies, if the healers are willing to part with you both?" He leaves that question hanging, for the moment, as he lifts up again, to go pad outside, and give himself an even more vigerous shaking-out.
There is a few minutes pause, and then Thaliara emerges, "Perhaps she will be able to join us later - the healers wish to change her bandages again in a little while. For now... perhaps you would care to join me in my apartments? They are more comfortable than the communal fire, I think. I have left instructions with our visitor on how to get to them, should the healers finally decide she is safe to release." She gapes her beak slightly in amusement.
Stormdancer kicks at his side with one hindleg, then reaches beneath himself to scratch and dislodge some of the more persistant ice and frost. Another vigerous shake, and he seems to be in much better condition. "Ahhh, that would be most generous," he rumbles, "And most definitely welcome."
Thaliara nods her head - "Then follow." She murmers with a soft chuckle, "A fire will dry you faster than shaking in the cold, I should think." She turns and leads the way out of the atrium.
Thaliara pushes her way out into the hallway to the south.
Thaliara's Quarters
A large decorated room, with a large mantle and fireplace at one end. Dozens of carpets cover every inch of the floor, and the walls are adorned with heavy tapestries, giving the stone room warmth and life. Shelves line the walls, holding both books and artworks.
Thaliara's apartments are a bit of a clutter, but are fairly generously proportioned as suits a councilor of the aerie. Once you are inside, she closes the heavy door, and moves over to the fire which has burned down in her absence, adding more wood, stoking it up with a few prods of the fire poker, then setting it aside. The chamber smells lightly of incense, and half read, bookmarked books and parchments are scattered here and there along with dozens of wooden totems and talismans with strange runes carved in them, completed or partially completed spells... she probably wasn't expecting company.
Stormdancer rouses slightly as he slips inside. It's been some time since he's been here, and he spends a few moments re-acquainting himself with the space as you restore the fire. "How's your wing?" he rumbles curiously, coming over to join you... rearing up onto his hindlegs. He places his foreclaws high up along the wall, stretching out, groaning a bit as the motion flexes his spine and sore hindlegs. He relaxes again, but remains reared up, letting the growing fire warm his underside.
Thaliara glances at you as you rear... it does give a rather pretty view of your underside, one she isn't ashamed to take advantage of, nor hide that she is. "Rrrm." She murmers, "It will heal, in time... the liniment soothed the muscles, it is just a dull ache now. Hardly an injury worth mentioning."
Stormdancer mrmmsmmmmmms, starting to purr a bit as the frosty cold is replaced by pleasant glowing warmth... though his 'equipment' is still quite tightly tucked up against his underside. "I'm glad of that," he rumbles down to her, smiling a bit at her gaze... letting his own sweep along the still-attractive line of her hips. A bit bony, perhaps... but it's the firey heart in the chest that attracts him just as much.
Thaliara is such a slight thing for a broadwing, she may have been a runt as a gryphlet, its hard to tell... she's probably smaller than most shkrill, and certainly lighter with her lean body, but her 'frame' is that of a broadwing, not a longwing, despite her small size. She rrrms softly, "As am I." She chuckles, "I don't hunt for most of my own food anymore, but... I enjoy the wind under my wings as much as the next gryphon." She wanders over to the side of the room, fussing a bit before locating a long, kill-head equipped iron drop spear, hauling it over to show you... "A fire spear... our newer ones are reusable... they have four or five charges, and a mage can work to add more. They take a lot of effort to make, but... If we had had a store of these before the Krrzn'tai attack..." She squeezes the haft... the iron goes from black, to orange... to red... although not at the base of the shaft, where she is gripping it.
Stormdancer drops back down to all fours, feeling much better about things now that he's not quite so achingly cold beneath. "Mrhrhrrr... very effective... sorrrt of a variation on the simple warmstone?" he wonders drawing his head close to the glowing head, enough to feel it's radiant heat against the naked skin of his cere and around his eyes... then backing off again a bit. "Definitely a fiercesome weapon."
Thaliara nods slightly - it goes from red to white... her expression grows... focused a moment, and then it fades back through the color range to black again, slowly and steadily, "Along thossse lines." She agrees, tucking it up against the wall again, "Only trruly fearsome against ground dwellers." She murmers, "But there seem to be more... hostile ground dwellers among us, of late."
Stormdancer snorts irritably, and nods. "Just as we bring more peace to the sphere itself... more war drags in along it's borders. I'm not sure if I should be glad, or angry, about the timing." He gives his wings a quick shake and flick, shedding a bit of damp, before stretching out again, his tail curling slowly.
Thaliara flicks her own tail, she moves closer to the fire again, stretching herself out slowly alongside of it - though she shook off much of the snow and ice earlier, she is still wet along her underside as well, "We accept what challenges the world hands us." She rumbles softly, "The timing is not ours to choose. What worries me more is the great silence from the east, from neighbours who are not known for their... quiet thoughtfulness."
Stormdancer mrhrhrrs appreciatively at the slow stretch, then pads over to join you, laying himself down rather... boldly against you, his underside pressed lightly against your back. But he is warm, now... most of him at least. "Ahhh... I had wondered a bit at Windhaven's thoughts on that. Much better a foe who rants and rails, than one who plots in silence, mrhrhr? I hold hope tight in my claws that they have turned to solve their own troubles for a time, and that peace, if not actual friendship, could be possible. But... the one who brought some shred of sanity to their people has not been seen in the skies in over a year now."
Thaliara hrfs softly, a bit surprised by the... boldness of your touch, but she doesn't object, stretching out a bit further on her belly near the fire, rumbling softly, letting you settle on her back, if it pleases you. She nods slightly, "Eli... isss a strange one. She has changed the ways of her clan greatly yet... At the same time, I suspect she is even more ambitious than her predecessor. She may be the more dangerous of the two."
Stormdancer snuggles warmly, working his beak through your neckfeathers slowly as you speak. It's not exactly the pose of mounting, more of just curling together for company and warmth. "They were easier to deal with when chaos and bloodshed seemed their only real goal. And now, they trade with the centaurs for guaranteeing safe passage of their caravans... not something I find particularly... soothing."
Thaliara nods, leaning into you, she preens some of your neckfeathers as well, in turn, "Rrrm. This is true." She agrees, "We don't know what they are trading, either. We should have some of our own merchants travel in that direction, soon, to see what information they can pry loose."
Stormdancer mrhrrs, nodding. "They might have better luck than our own attempts." He relaxes for a time, enjoying the shared warmth slowly bringing his core temperature back up to where it should be. "The time may be coming for us to start using coin again," he mutters. "If we're to continue trading with other spheres."
Thaliara nods her head in agreement - "It isss... easier, to trade. But it if it is to have value beyond the value of the base metals it must be backed by a government that is viewed as having the stability to honour the coin's value."
Stormdancer nods... "And that's something we're unlikely to have, I suspect. The one great advantage of barter. Inconvenient, but... powerful, and universal." He seems quite cozy and comfortable upon her back, though he does make effort to keep most of his weight off her.
Thaliara rests her chin on her forepaws, staring into the fire for a long moment, "Perhaps." She murmers with a sigh, "We are seen... and treated as savages, because we cannot cooperate enough to be anything other than primal tribes."
Stormdancer shrugs his wings slightly, the long feathers rustling quietly. "Infuriating, to be treated thus, by spheres who have had their own wars, their own times of brutality and death. By spheres who have more 'cities' than we have aeries, all seperate, all seperately governed, all with their disparate interestsss..." He pauses, and looks down at you, finally thinking to ask, "Is thisss comfortable for you?"
Thaliara chuckles softly and nods, "Warm." She agrees, "And not at all unpleasant." She's still a bit chilled, and the presence of a warm gryphon against her helps the fire along in warming her up nicely, "Asss to your other questions... it is true, but then... we are hunters of nature, we have more to prove of our... civilization, than other species."
Stormdancer mutters irritably, though his foreclaw's touch along your shoulder is gentle. Indeed, the warmth of another is more welcome, and warms more deeply, than the simple radiant glow of the fire. "And yet, we've more of a civilization than the deer, mrhrhr? Hrrrf. The other spheres seldom truly make as much sense as they ssseem to think they do."
Thaliara nods her head slightly, "Perhaps." She murmers, "The fact remains... it would be useful to have more... collatoral and reputation with outsiders, it would do a great deal to further trade... and trade always brings fresh ideas, and renewed vigor to any culture. I very much fear the gryphons of this sphere need just such a breath of fresh air. We have been isolationists too long."
Thaliara slowly drifts off to sleep while Storm remains to share his warmth and enjoy the quiet fire.
Ja'hreet steps in from outside.
Ja'hreet has arrived.
Ja'hreet steps in, chiurring softly, and looking a little bit worried...
Stormdancer drowses by the fire with Thaliara, who seems quite deeply asleep at the moment. From the drape of their bodies it seems unlikely anything has occured between them. He lifts his head up and looks toward the door at the sound of entry. He frowns a bit, and yawns, slowly rolling up onto his feet.
Ja'hreet hrrrs, stepping forward. "Stormdancer. Greetings. Welcome back to Windhaven, I wish the purpose of your visit could have been pleasanter..." He gives a look to Thaliara, looking a little relived. "How is she?"
Stormdancer snorts bemusedly, stretching out, then padding over closer, so the sounds of conversation won't awaken her. "She's fine... just has a very sore wing. Mika... the Kasandoran ambassador... is in worse shape, but she's a tough little thing, she'll recover." He stretches his own wings upwards, and winces... definitely going to be sore for a couple of days, himself.
Ja'hreet frowns, nodding... "I haven't heard exactly what happened... The Raigaa once more," he asks, giving a glance to your wings, frowning a little bit. "And what of Mika? She's injured as well? And here at Windhaven?"
Stormdancer nods, scratching idly at his shoulder with one foreclaw. "We killed two of the Raigaa yesterday... and apparently Mika decided it would be safe to travel alone. Dessspite my specifically telling her to wait for a guard flight, she started her travel yesterday. And sssso... predictably... the remaining hunter found her. I only just caught up to her as it struck... and Thaliara was nearby as well, joining in." He glances over at the sleeping elder. "Good thing she did..."
Ja'hreet grinds his beak for a moment, and rrrms, nodding. "She was injured in the fight, then?" he asks, settling to his haunches... "And Mika is here, or...?
Stormdancer shakes his head. "She came in on a dive too steep, and strained it pulling out. Mika got struck by the Raigaa, before it fled. She's in the healer's, still... I think they just want to make sure they've got the wounds sealed well."
Ja'hreet frowns, "The third Raigaa got away, then? The wings are out after it, I should imagine..." He shakes his head. "Skies, this will do wonders for our diplomacy..."
Stormdancer snorts bemusedly. "Ours have been hunting it for quite a while. They were doing fairly well, but... it dove into the river, so... there's no telling where it'll come to surface again."
Ja'hreet nods quietly. "How long will you be staying here, in Windhaven, then? Long enough to rest for the night, and return in the morning?"
Stormdancer chuckles softly, shaking his head. "It seems to be what I do, lately, doesn't it? Yesss... I'd fly back today, but... I didn't do myself any good flying hard after Mika for half the day... then getting in a fight at the end."
Ja'hreet nods... he chortles softly. "Skies, I would have figured your visits would be to try to see Alexis. It's a shame they came of this." He shrugs slightly, and chirrups, "How are things at Grylra, and with your new hen?"
Stormdancer mrhrhrmms? "Alexis? Ahhh... the Rolarii. Heh... I wouldn't mind visiting with her, but I'm afraid I haven't managed a visit for pleasure in a while." He glances back at Thaliara, and rouses a bit. "Though...." He chrfs, and shakes his head. "Carteth's a delight! She has a lot to learn, but... she seems happy to do so."
Ja'hreet laughs, giving a sideways glance to Thaliara, and back to you... "She's..." He chortles. "Ah, I think you'd have more fun learning about her yourself," he grins, feathers ruffling out a little.
Stormdancer gape-grins, shaking his head. "We'll sssee..." he purrs.
This part is cut out for the adult discussions content.
Ja'hreet grins, "Aye, I can see that," he chirrus quietly. "Perhaps you shall have to introduce me to this Mika, once she's returned to Gyrlra, and better healed, he answers, stretching his hindlegs out as well, flopping half to his side.
Thaliara's eyelids flutter open, she must have drifted off by the fire... She remains still a moment, taking in what's going on, the soft murmer of voices having drawn her awake.
Stormdancer hehs softly. "I'll be happy to introduce you, though... there's never any telling what sssort of drake she'll favor. She's actually planning on sstaying in Windhaven for a while - she had some sort of official business, I believe. But she comes through Shrilk fairly often."
Thaliara can only assume the pair are speaking of Windhaven's latest visitor... there's quite a flock of them, lately, it seems.
Thaliara lifts her head slowly and glances around...
Stormdancer lays fairly near the door, in quiet conversation with Ja'hreet. His back is to the hen, though Ja'hreet is facing the fire, so should see her awaken... unless he winds up being called away for something, of course.
Thaliara clicks her beak lightly - enough to get attention, she's still lying stretched by the fire... a bit too close, actually, since she's feeling rather dehydrated. She stands and stretches, then moves over to where there is a large bowl of water.
Stormdancer arches his neck and turns his head, looking back to the fire, and Thaliara. "Ahhh... hope we didn't wake you," he chiurrs, slowly rising up onto all fours. Mmmm... a drink does look pretty appealing.
Thaliara dips her head in, drinking deeply, then stretches and turns back to the others again, "Rrrm, no." she shakes her head and chuckles, "How's that for an old coot, I dozed off, hrrrm?"
Stormdancer clucks amusement, padding over to her. "Good you did... sleep's the best way to recover. I dozed for a while myself. May I?" he wonders, gesturing toward the bowl with his beak.
Thaliara nods, "Help yourself." She murmers, moving a touch further aside - stretching again, though not her wings, she stiffened up a little lying by the fire. She twitches her tail, rrrfing as she gets some flexibility back.
Stormdancer dips his head and takes several drinks, lifting his head to let the cool water flow down his throat. He watches as she stretches out, muhrring softly in appreciation... then giving a slight shake.
Thaliara isn't doing it to impress so much as she just plain needs to after sleeping a few hours now. She twists her head back to straighten a few feathers with her beak, "Hrrrf, well, I've been a poor host." She chuckles. "I can send for some food, if you would like... its. Hrrf. It will be salted, smoked meat I think... unless the hunting parties are back with something fresh, we tend to keep a few weeks of stores, and we've been almost too busy lately to do hunting parties."
Stormdancer mhrhrrms, nodding. "That would be fine," he chiurrs, "I don't want to impose. If I didn't think I'd cramp up like a tree, I'd have flown back again directly. Seems I've become in the habit of spending the night here. In Windhaven, I mean..."
Thaliara nods, she moves over to the door, pulling it open and stepping half into the corridor... a few soft clicks and squawks to the runner stationed not far from where the councilor's homes are, a young recruit of the Windhaven guards, usually, who drew the short end of the straw. She closes the door again behind her as she turns around, "He'll be back soon."
Stormdancer nods slightly, spending a few moments stretching out himself, groaning faintly at the burn that remains in his wings, and the faint 'clchk' from his shoulder. "Skies, those things are solid... I hit it hard enough to shatter a deer's spine and shoulder... and came near to breaking my own instead."
Ja'hreet discreetly excuses himself, claiming he still has some errands to run.
Stormdancer nods quietly, scratching at the side of his neck with one foreclaw. "I suspect they will... either here, or to Grylra. One of the dropspears went a bit wide, and drove down through the male Raigaa's leg. He can still walk, a little, but... he's going to need to spend some serious time healing."
Thaliara quirks an eyeridge, and chuckles huskily, "Oh? He was not... too upset by that, I hope."
Stormdancer grins, shaking his head. "I'm sure he was less than pleased, but... it's probably less of a wound than he might have gotten, had the two managed to attack him cleanly."
Thaliara nods her head slightly, "Good." she agrees and chuckles, "I'm not so sure I would want him back as a guest of our aerie if he was in an... ill temper." A husky chuckle, she's only partly joking.
Stormdancer laughs, bobbing his head. "Fine friends... wretched enemies. Much better to keep them content. Believe me, I took a few moments to make sure he was as well-disposed as could be expected, before pulling out the spear. I'm sure they both understood it was an accident, but... it was not a happy one."
Thaliara nods her head, "Rrrrm. So, there is one remaining now, we believe? Alone, and injured now... though minorly, I think. I confess I would rather find a way to make it now that it is the hunted... not us..."
Stormdancer nods firmly. "As do I... I would dearly love to spend a few hours attempting to find out more of their plans... if they were indeed a lone party, as Rhenemet suspects, or if there are more. However... capturing one alive seems to be even more of a difficulty than it was with the Krrzn'tai."
Thaliara clicks her beak, "But that was managed, with skill and thought..." She rumbles softly... "The best chance would seem to lie in luring it somewhere specific, where the scales are tipped in our favour. Of course... the Krrzn'tai were, individually quite stupid... I don't think the same could be said of these Raigaa. One mistake, and the game will be up."
Stormdancer nods, and eyes the firespear thoughtfully, dark golden eyes glittering... what an instrument of torture. "Drugging, or maiming, would seem the best approach. A truly skilled windmage could suck the air from it's lungs, but... I don't know how effective that would be. They're too fast for Dove's magic to work... unless she struck to kill. Though... we could possibly use her to wall one in... mrhrhrmmmm...."
Thaliara rrrms thoughtfully, "I could work on sssome magic, that might work." She thinks, "But, it would be hard to know how it might affect them... without one to experiment with. There are some mage-works that will induce sleep in a gryphon, I don't see why the same couldn't be prepared for a Raigaa..." She follows your gaze to the firespear, giving you a quizzical look a moment after.
Stormdancer chrrfs... then shakes his head slightly. "Just wondering how effective they would be at bringing one down... without killing it," he lies. He was more thinking about how effective it would be, shoved deep up into one's undertail or vagina, and heated... to drag out information.
Thaliara twitches her tail, again that quizzical look, "Rrrrmf. Not very I wouldn't think... It would probably be enough to cook one through." She ruffles her feathers, "I think we would need to knock one out, or somehow trap it in a cage... perhaps we can construct a stronger tangle-net."
Stormdancer nods. "They're very... crafty, though. Very clever hunters. It's going to be hard to trick one. I wonder, though... how long they can stay submerged. I'll have to ask Rhenemet and Nefer about that. I know she can hold her breath for quite a long time, but no idea just how long."
Thaliara nods, "That would be useful to know." She agrees, "It may not be necessary to trick one so much as lure it with Nefer... And have scouts ready with a modified, heavier tangle-net. With her agreement, we could even test it on Nefer first, to make sure it is strong enough."
Stormdancer hmmmms quietly. "That would be ... rather a gesture of trust. But... I think she might allow it. They're ... well, you saw how fast they are. It will take a skilled crew indeed, to capture it. Her, I think, from the glimpse I got of it's retreat."
Thaliara hrrrms, "A larger tangle-net?" She suggests, "Carried by several gryphons, it would be quite large when it dropped." She thinks about this, shaking her head a touch at your words, "She." She hrfs softly, almost a bit more than she wants to know of this creature.
Stormdancer nods quietly, understanding your reaction. "I don't like having to kill these," he says quietly. "But they've left us no choice in the matter, Thaliara."
Thaliara nods her head slightly, "Its true... and hrrf." She snaps her beak, "I saw what they did to our guardsman." Of course, no way to know the one that's left was the one that did that, but guilty by association... She glances at the firespear again.
Stormdancer rumbles quietly, "puhhrrrhapsss... when it's captured... that may be of use. For the capture, though... I'd suggest no less than three groups with tanglenets... to catch, and re-catch, and catch again, if need be. Once it knows it's being hunted, it's not likely to stick around anymore. And we don't dare let it out of the sphere."
Thaliara glances at you curiously, "Rrrrm?" She inquires, not sure how it would be useful after the capture, "How would you plan to use it? Yes... I can agree with that, as many groups as we can field to make sure it is caught, and stays caught."
Stormdancer is quiet for a time, before rumbling, "To induce it to talk, counciller. Not ssssomething you would probably care to know about."
Thaliara rrrmfs, and twitches her tail, then nods slightly... "Perhaps not." She ventures after a moment.
Stormdancer nods quietly. "Whatever it reveals... if anything... will be shared, of course. Presuming we can capture it alive... and it says anything at all. All I really want to know is... are they the last who will come."
Thaliara nods, fingering the spear lightly with her forepaw, as though still trying to imagine what might be done with it, she gives a little shiver, "Ah? I think that is the most important question certainly."
Stormdancer moves up closer, and nuzzles gently. "I think we've dwelt enough on unpleasantness tonight, Thaliara... we should both relax, and get some rest.... think on gentler, more pleasant things. There's cruelty enough on the morrow."
Thaliara rrrms and chuckles and nods her head, "Perhaps that's best." She murmers in agreement, waving a paw, "You are of course, welcome to share my quarters for the evening, or if you would be more comfortable, there is room in the guard quarters."
Stormdancer chuckles quietly, shaking his head. "I'd be more than content to spend the night with you." He mhrrrs, and rouses a bit. "However close you'd care to have me."
Thaliara brushes her beak against yours, and rrms thoughtfully, "It is good to keep warm, when the fire burns down." She murmers, simply.