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Eclipse gracefully winged his way between the dense trees of the Deep Woods, his black wings silently gliding on the air. His companion Chipper followed, though not nearly as quietly. "Ah cana see why i' is we be leavin' fer here." Chipper's heavy accent, and badly strung together words, made it hard for some to understand his exact meanings, but his longevity with Eclipse made it easy for the Shadow Sentinel pick up on the feelings the Parus was trying to convey.

Although stoic-faced, Eclipse was actually quite worried. There had been talk of Citrine, one of his fellow minders, and problems with her adoptive fledgling. He was on his way to go comfort her, despite his Parus' want to stay in their own territory. He wasn't quite sure what to expect, none of the gossip had been too clear, but none of it had sounded good.

Getting closer to the Hollowed Red Oak territory of the minder, Eclipse angled his wings back a little to slow down, and eventually came to rest on a branch near the entrance of Citrine's home. He side-stepped cautiously closer before announcing his presence. "Citrine?" Chipper let out a little squawk as he touched down near Eclipse.

Eclipse bobbed his head respectfully in acknowledgment, saying, "Thank you," before walking in to her abode. Chipper, much less tactful, simply took a few flapping hops inside.

Eclipse could instantly feel the change in temperature, and ruffled his feathers a bit to release the cold and let in the heat. He glanced back to Citirne, "So how are you faring?" He was going to wait for her reply, but a chirp from Chipper caught his attention instead. "Ehya, wha' be this'in'?" Chipper flap-hopped over to the nest, his head bouncing quickly from side to side, taking in the hatchling at all angles.

Eclipse took the time to notice the hatchling in the nest now. He noticed the lightly colored feathers at first, then started to take in all the parts that were very...not-Sentinel, was the only way he could describe it.

He let his wings open just slightly to walk over to the little hatchling. His head tilted to the left as he found the big hatchling eyes staring up at him. That alone melted him. He could never resist the cute little fluff balls with their adorable eyes, despite the fact that he was different than any hatchling Eclipse had ever seen. Still he was a bit odd-looking, wasn't he?

" 'Es got ah flat fes, yea?" Chipper hopped around behind the hatchling, getting a look at this creature he'd never seen before. It was true, he was missing the Sentinel's distinguishing feather horns, and the face was very flat.

"Citrine..." Eclipse looked back over at her after a moment. Although his facial expression hadn't changed at all, he was a bit confused, yet enamored at the same time. "What's his name?" was all he asked.

Hmm....Tempest, a very powerful name. I hope he grows up to live up to it. He thought warmly, though when Citrine made the comment about little Tempest being different, the only thing he could reply with was, "Indeed."

Eclipse moved back a little to allow Citrine some room to nest back with her fosterling. Eclipse was about to reply to her question when Chipper piped up. "Ehya, 'e's out 'n ta col' be wantin' be speakin' wi'h ya." Chipper hopped back to stand beside Eclipse. That always frustrated Eclipse. Chipper was able to speak Eclipse's mind so easily.

"Er...yes. I've been hearing rumors, about the Brigadier, and some of the other higher-ups visiting you. There hasn't been much of a good word going around, so I was a bit worried how you were. Though..." He looked down at the nestling, "I wasn't quite expecting this..."

"Big Guy, 'e's sayin' li'tle flat fes be cute whi'fim big gogly googly eyes, yea." Chipper took another hop closer to the nest. Always on the move, that little guy, and always with his mouth aflapping, either with words, songs, or screeches.

At the comment, Eclipse pulled back his face as it flushed. Of course, he thought Temptest was cute, but it was somehow embarrassing when someone else said it. He shuffled around a bit, unsure what to do with himself.

Eclipse's head was as far scrunched down as he could possibly make it, as if he was trying to retreat completely inside a non-existent shell. He debated giving Chipper a whack over the head at a later time, but it seemed as though his comment had loosened up Citrine a bit. He hadn't realized how tense she'd been until she finally relaxed.

He fluffed himself up a little to get rid of the embarrassment and returned to his normal stature. "Actually, I don't have any right now..."

"Been a re-al in them down dumps, yea." Chipper's way of expressing Eclipse's feeling of loneliness. Still, at least Eclipse had Chipper to keep him company. Eclipse was one of the few Sentinels that didn't like solitude most of the time, and preferred a screaming hatchling demanding food every 5 seconds to being alone in his tree. It might just have been ebcause he was still young, and wanted to use his energy on helping raise the next generations.

After thinking for a moment, Eclipse started, "...Perhaps..." but then stopped himself. It was a stupid idea, and Eclipse berated himself for even thinking it. It was far too selfish. However, even with just that word, it seemed Chipper already knew what Eclipse wanted.

"Eh wa'? Ah no! No no no! We is finally rid a' dem screechers, ah not be wantin' fer this flat fes 'ere. Not in 'he Col' taime." Chipper got all up in a huff and made a few pecking motions at Eclipse, none of which were intended to actually hit him, just to get his point across. Although Chipper liked Eclipse well enough, and liked helping him, he still liked his vacations from the young screaming sentinels. And from what he was feeling form Eclipse, was that he was going to volunteer to help take care of Tempest.

"That's very kind of you to offer Eclipse. As much as I would be greatful of the assistance...I would like to raise him on my --" She let her words cut off at the sound of another pair of talons scraping against the ledge to her hollow.

Citrine fluffed up protectively over the nest as the newcomer glanced into her domain. "Yes it did." She was suspicious of the interest, but then wasn't it better for others of the clan to come to her to see for themselves rather than going by others opinions alone? She settled her feathers and stood so that the female could see the sleeping form of Tempest beneath her. "He gets cold easily so forgive me if I do not move any further."

Shaking out she turned her attention back to Eclipse. "I would love to have you assistance from time to time though. I think my biggest problem will come from having enough supply through the winter to where I need not worry about hunting...and it's nice to be able to spread my wings occasionally."