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 Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 2:44 pm
"Odd, Odd. Culls done, gone Lute, not home, why?"
Moth's tiny voice peeped through the still night with a sort of worry. Odd did not wander often, for obvious reasons. His sight was bad and his territory was desirable. It was best to stay put both for health and for home. Even the tiny brain of his companion seemed to understand at least that much.
The ghostly chirop drifted before the beak of her equally ghostly master as the moved through Deep Woods, carefully avoiding the territories of others.
"Just enjoying the night, Moth. There is no reason to worry, we'll be heading home soon." Odd replied in his soft, quiet voice. "It's just a 'roundabout way home. I didn't want to settle in just yet." But I have to be back before dawn starts to approach. He thought the last bit silently to himself and all the while cursed his pale eyes, partially the reason for his careful, lonely life.
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Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 3:10 pm
Rowan was relaxing in his territory, his hunting had been successful, the night was beautiful and he was feasting on a still warm squirrel.
Well, feasting was a generous term to apply to the Wildtype as he methodically tore the squirrel to bits with his talons and brought them up to his beak slowly while his small Mus companion napped on his head.
While looking out through the forest surrounding him, Rowan caught sight of something very, very white glimpsing through the trees and was intrigued. He hooted out a call.
"Hello?" He called out. His hoot woke the mus, who perked up.
"What wrong, master?" He then also saw the white. "What is that?"
Rowan did not reply, waiting to see if the... Whatever it was, would respond.
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Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 3:31 pm
"Hello?"
Odd winced as a voice sliced through the calm night, much louder than that of his meek companion. He was sure he had not trespassed into someone else's territory, but it seemed he had failed again.
But he would not be completely rude and shrug the intrigued greeting off completely. He perched on a thick, wide limb of an oak and hooted in response, introducing himself into the territory properly.
Moth landed against his thick layer of feathers and practically blended in, save for the pink bands on her face and wings.
"Not good." She whispered shakily. She wanted to go home and even her master agreed silently with her sentiments. His feathers fluffed out and his eartufts laid back, though not tightly.
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Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 3:55 pm
The indistinct white had settled on a branch a short distance away from Rowan, who could not see Odd properly yet. He had, however, heard his hoot and realised that it was a fellow Sentinel.
"Hello, stranger!" He called out, "What brings you so close to the borders of the Deep Woods?"
Odd had not trespassed on his territory per say, but the intriguing color of his feathers, plus the fact that Rowan had not seen another Sentinel that night, held the Wildtypes attention. The Mus, Berr, settled on his head and looked towards the white Sentinel.
Suddenly he realised that he might have interrupted the Sentinel on some important flight or errand. He decided that either way, it was a good idea to be polite.
"It is such a splendid night, is it not? May I offer you a snack?" Not sure if the other Sentinel's eyes could spot him, Rowan dangled the squirrel carcass in front of him with his talons anyway.
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Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 10:52 am
Odd was a large fellow, but his current worry about confrontation had his feathers sleeked tight, making him look somewhat smaller than he really, truly was. While he was worried about meeting this new sentinel, he would not be rude, so he hooted back in yet another response; still unaware that he had not flown into Rowan's territory.
"I'd rather not impose on you and I am sorry if I've accidentally crossed into your territory. This mind of mine might of been a bit more foggy in relation to borders than I suspected."
He lifted silently from his perch to move a few limbs nearer to the wildtype and his equally white chirop fluttered anxiously near his head.
"The night is certainly nice, I agree. Fortunately the weather has been kind to us as of now... Er, I'd rather not impose." He fluffed his feathers and leaned from paw to paw uncomfortably. He was afraid of getting any nearer to this fellow.
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Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 7:08 pm
At this point, Rowan gets his first clear look of the white Sentinel and his response is both dramatic and anti-climactic. His feathers sleek a bit and he takes a step back, but then the dramatic thing happens: All of Rowans feathers fluff up, he looks away and for a few seconds he looks angry, this moment passes, though. And his feathers sleek for a moment before he fluffs himself up comfortably. He too takes off and lands a few limbs closer to Odd.
When he speaks, it is as if the ordeal never took place, his voice is cordial and friendly.
"Oh, you're not imposing at all, fact is that you're not quite in my territory yet. I saw movement and decided to see if it was something I needed to be concerned about. My name is Rowan, this is Berr." The Mus peeks up from between Rowans eartufts.
"Hi!" Is all the companion on Rowans head offers, accompanied with a polite nod.
"What's your name?" Rowan asks as he begins to preen his wing a bit. His Mus clinging to his eartuft. "And what about that snack?" Rowan dangles the dead squirrel again.
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Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 9:50 am
Odd shrank back slightly and scooted down the limb a few paces. At first Rowan's reaction seemed typical and the aberrant nearly launched himself into flight, in fear of being ran off violently.
Then suddenly his demeanor changed almost instantaneously, which confused the aberrant further.
"Odd. Odd Winter. And this little chirop is Moth. It is a pleasure to meet you, Rowan and Berr."
The large, strange sentinel fluffed his sleeked feathers in an attempt to settle himself, and began preening. His pale pink eyes rested on Rowan while he did so and fortunately the light filtering through these trees was not too terribly bright for him.
As a rule he did not accept food from strangers, but this fellow seemed to be friendly enough and he certainly did not want to seem rude, though looks could always be deceiving.
"I hate to pass up food, but I'm afraid if I eat another bite I'll fall to the forest floor." He lied with ease and chuckled softly. "I'm a keeper, which fortunately provides plenty of sustenance."
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Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 11:51 am
Rowan is, like most Wildtypes, rather big. But this Sentinel was bigger then him, he realised. And decided to pay it no heed. However, there was something with this... Odd Winter that told of discomfort. While thinking, Rowan tore out a shred of his squirrel and devoured it. Well, no wonder he's uncomfortable, but what to do...
"Are you sure, Winter? Mind if I call you that? Anyway, you sure? If you don't want meat, my companion probably has some berries and nuts stockpiled." Rowan's voice was friendly and warm, or at least he hopes so. Berr yanks Rowan's eartuft at the mention of his stash, and Rowan begins flicking it at him. A kind of tug-o-war ensues on his head with the Mus pulling the eartuft down and Rowan flicking it back up, the Sentinel can't help but smile in amusement.
"Anyway, you're a Keeper? What's that like? I'm kinda between tasks right now."
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Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2008 11:38 am
"Very sure, but thank you for your kind offer. Perhaps I can repay it some time." As if sensing Rowan's discomfort, for they were all uncomfortable when being around him, he tried to make himself appear smaller. His feathers were flattened an dhe was hunched slightly, yet a soft smile played on his beak.
His pale eyes watched thsi strange little eartuft tug-o-war silently for a moment before responding in the same soft, slightly cheery tone that it held earlier.
"Oh, yes, I am a keeper. A keeper of chirops. It's pretty busy, what with keeping them all behaved and in line. I do my best to have them all up to par before they find new homes. What sort of task are you thinking about taking on, if I may ask?"
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Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2008 12:37 pm
"Uhm..." Rowan shifts a little and his Mus wins the tug-o-war, crying out in a small voice of triumph before settling back on Rowan's head lazily. His master ignores him.
"I'm not sure what task to choose, really... Maybe Hunting or Scouting... Or maybe I'll be a Minder or a Teacher... Or maybe I'll kep Watching and begin to take it seriously... I have a hard time trying to decide." He smiles again.
"And, if you're sure about the snack... Well, it's your loss really. Though I'd hate to see you 'fall to the forest floor' due to overeating." This statement is followed by yet another smile.
"Chirops, eh? Is it good busy or bad busy? And how did you decide that was what you wanted to do?" Once his question is finished, Rowan tears another shred of squirrel and devours it neatly.
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Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 9:04 am
"Watching is an important, often overlooked task..." The larger sentinel commented softly as he let a small grin slip into the edges of his beak. "The Clan needs her Watchers to keep her safe and protected. Often times they are the best source of information for others of other tasks."
He dipped his sharp, pale beak to his feathers and began to preen and place them carefully. This fellow seemed alright.
"Hnn? Oh, it's good busy. They're a talon full, but are such good companions. My little Moth, here, she's provided me with so much help..." His words trailed off and he grew silent for a moment.
"I wanted to try and breed chirops similar to her, to help the rest of the Clan." He finished softly, but cheerily. He was dodging the topic of why she was so much help.
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Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 5:34 pm
"Hehe, I know." Rowan lets out a very small, jovial, chuckle. "I'm just not sure Watching's for me, you know? But I dunno..."
Seemingly contemplating, Rowan finished off his squirrel and listened closely to what Odd had to say.
"Oh? Yeah, I like helpful companions, though I only keep mine around for emergency dinner." Rowan smiles jokingly, the Mus on his head tugs at his eartuft, and the tug-o-war begins again.
"I jest, of course. Berr's my extra eyes and ears in all I do." The tug-o-war continues, though. "Maybe I should work as a Keeper... I never really thought of that... I mean, all the food you can eat!" Rowan pauses. "Oh, and helping the clan and all that."
Rowan cracks a proper grin, waiting to see if his antics would eclit some mirth from his guest. He had a very strong feeling this one did not smile often and while making people laugh was not one of Rowan's most prominent skills, he was trying. Hard.
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Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 6:39 am
The aberrant shook his head as he watched the Watcher and his mus play their little game of tug-o-war, but it was not out of disdain. He found the situation highly amusing and was thanking Noctus that this particular sentinel was not one who would try and tear him up on sight.
"They make for good bartering tools, too. Either a smart, useful companion or a delicios snack. You can always contribute to the clan with culls, too, to feed the hatchlings, fledglings, and minders. It's quite good, though not really considered combative or supportive as far as tasks go."
Moth finally dared to venture from her master's side. The little white and pink streaked chirop flitted about the aberrant's head for a moment before dipping closer to Rowan and Berr.
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Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 11:46 am
Rowan grinned in victory, however small. He could tell Odd's amusement. His eyes then followed the small companion that seemingly appeared out of nowhere.
"Mmm... That's a good point." Rowan was distracted as Berr climbed around on his head to greet what he deemed to be his new playmate.
"Hi! I'm Berr!" He called and waved his paw at the Chirop.
"Uh... I'm guessing that's your personal companion?" Rowan said and eyed the Chirop again. "It appeared out of nowhere... And the coloring matches you perfectly." Rowan had already eaten and was not tempted by the small flyer.
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Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 11:52 am
"Moth, Moth. I am Moth." The little white and pink chirop squeaked enthusiastically as she flitted about Berr and Rowan. Most of her focus was on this friendly new mus and she was happy to converse with something other than the legions of chirops that Odd and she often shepherded about.
"She is. She was given to me as a gift seasons and seasons ago. Smart and sueful little thing." His feathers fluffed and he seemed to beam with pride as he spoke of his favorite little companion, his seeing-eye chirop.
"She often clings to me when I am not flying, for safety reasons, you see. Fortunately she blends well enough that she often goes unnoticed...
Berr seems well trained and smart. His speech seems rather developed." The aberrant complimented.
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