Completed I Have A GyrFalcon! (Solo)

[Alori Sai]

Timestamp: 37th of Summer 512 AV Where: Common rooms Who: Aela, solo The sun rose again over Kalea, bringing forth another day to all who dwell within it's dangerous lands. For the Inartan, it would be another day of hard work, as the struggle for survival continued. The calls of the Wind Eagles could be heard off into the distance. Their Endal riders, strapping themselves in, ready for another hunt and hoping for good game. Inside the city, even in the early mornings, the crowds were starting to buzz. There was rarely a moments rest for the gingers of the mountain, and getting an early head start on their day was a must. Perith made his way through the common rooms, carrying with him a rather large cage. The fight that he had with his apprentice Aela, only a few days before still bothered him. It was normal for them to argue on occasion, but that fight was unlike any one before it. They yelled, cursed, and neither one would back down from their position. Although he still didn't agree with her on the subject, he didn't want to leave things as they were. The quarrel was over, left at a stalemate, but the tension was still there. He hoped that with the gift he carried in the covered cage, it would put an end to the bitterness. Standing in front of her door, he placed the heavy cage onto the ground, and stood up, knocking three hard times against her door. Aela was still asleep and hadn't planned on getting up for some time since it was her day off. The knock at the door only stirred her, and it took her a moment or so later to fully awaken. She pushed her body to the end of the bed, and stumbled a bit as she forced herself up and over to the door. She hadn't bothered to but on her bryda, as she sought to send whoever it was away and return to bed. She was surprised, as she peaked from behind the door, to find Perith of all people standing there. "Perith?...What is it?" She asked, almost hiding her face behind the door. He seemed in a much better mood, and even smiled as he spoke to her. Aela didn't have a clue as to what his unexpected arrival was about, nor had she noticed the large cage on the floor behind him. She moved her fingers through her disheveled hair, trying to keep her bangs out of her eyes, however while her hair was a mess, she had little control over it's fiery wildness. Staring at him more, emerald green flickered from within the darkened room, as she waited for him to explain. Perith held his smile longer as he looked at the little Avora, who was mostly hidden behind the door. He wasn't used to apologizing, or admitting that he was wrong, not that he thought that he was. Still, he could tell that she was angry with him, and the fact that she didn't come out to greet him, said as much. Just as that moment, he had a thought, and realized from her appearance that he had woken her from bed. "Were you still sleeping Aela?" He asked curiously, leaning in to look upon her closer. "Uhh...yea. So, what's this about?" Aela was curious, but even more so, she wanted to go back to bed. If he had come there to lecture her again, or to yell, she wouldn't hesitate to slam the door and walk away. But he was smiling, and it seem that he wasn't in a bad mood at all. "What is this about?" She thought to herself. She was already aware of the damage done to the crafts gallery the day before, so she knew he couldn't be there to talk about that. "I think this is the first time you've stopped by here...so?"

[Alori Sai]

"I didn't come here to argue with you again Aela." He stated firmly and continued. "I know things have been hectic lately and with the destruction in the gallery, we haven't had much time to talk. But none of that matters now. You know how much I care for you Aela, you're like a daughter to me. And I never...ever wanted to hold you back. " He paused, as if molding over the words before he spoke them. "You have a nature talent in the hot shop, and I just didn't want to see it wasted. But, I guess that was my dream for you, and not your own." He sighed, still holding his smile as much as he could and continued on. "I believe in you Aela, and I'm sure that you will one day make a great Endal." Aela was in shock, her eyes widen and mouth almost fell open. Was he being serious? She couldn't be sure and for a tick she thought that she must have been dreaming. She started to speak, but couldn't think of what to say or how exactly to react to his sudden change of heart. "So, If you're going to ride with an Eagle, I think it best if you learn to handle yourself with their kind first. " With a wink and something of a smirk, he turned and drew back the cloth covering the cage. Inside stood a Gyrfalcon, white feathers atop the crown and spotted black covering the length of the plumage. He raised the cage in his arms and turned around, showing it to Aela. "I-Is that for me?" she asked, her cheeks red and a gleeful expression on her face. Perith nodded, smiling as he raised the cage for her to take. The look on the young Avora's face was priceless, as she quickly flung the door open to embrace him. It was then, that she suddenly remembered that she hadn't dressed herself and was stepping outside in her under garments. A sharp yelp escaped her lips, as she realized and bolted back inside. Perith's sight had been partly blocked by the cage, but he saw enough to cause a blush to rise in his own cheeks. After clearing his throat, he called out to her again. "Aela?" "Just a moment.." She called out from behind the door. The slight embarrassment lasted only a tick, and was replaced by her excitement of having her own falcon. She quickly pulled on her bryda and returned to the door. "This is so sweet....wow." She smiled as she looked upon the falcon. It was big and probably one of the largest that she'd ever saw. Perith nodded, gently placing the cage into her arms. It was heavy, and Aela had to step back to regain her footing, before she ended up stumbling backwards into her room. "This is really mine? You're giving me a falcon?" She asked, her mind still trying to take it all in. "Yes Aela, this Gyrfalcon is for you. A present for the aspiring Endal." She smiled brightly, still holding the cage in her trembling arms. Even if she wanted to, she couldn't be angry with him anymore. He had given her a gift, and not just any gift, but a falcon. It was his way of apologizing, and letting her know that he had excepted her dream. Aela stared into the cage at the falcon, who stared intensely right back at her. She could tell that it was the beginning of something special, something wonderful. "Thank you Perith, this means a lot." She smiled sweetly to him, still holding tightly to the cage, although she felt her arms growing numb. "Why don't you take him inside with you. I'm sure that you're ready to get to know him." He said with a chuckle as he noticed her discomfort. "Oh and..take this." He finished and handed her a dark leather gauntlet. "It's better not to allow him to land on your arm." Aela huffed and took the gauntlet between her fingers. He didn't have to tell her about that, she could still remember when Vaas's hawk landed on her arm. The marks that it left, although mostly healed were still on her arm. "Thanks again Perith, I'll make you proud of me." He smiled and waved his hand towards her. "I'm sure that you will Aela. You've never let me down." With a final nod, he turned and started back down the hall. "I'll see you in the morning then." He felt better about the whole situation now. She wasn't angry with him anymore and they could resume their work as normal. In truth he had picked a rather dangerous falcon to give to her. In the hopes that the bird would prove too much for her, and maybe putting an end to her dreams of being an Endal. He didn't want any harm to come to the fiery teen, but her place was in the hotshop, not the skies.

[Alori Sai]

Aela watched as her mentor disappeared down the hall, descending the stairs as he left. There was a change in him, a gentler side that he was now showing her. It was nice, surprising, but nice and she could see them getting along so much better. It meant a lot to her, to finally have his support. With her parents gone, and no other family in the city, he became the closest thing she had. Once he was out of sight, Aela returned to her room and sat the cage down on the table. "He's huge.." She looked over the bird more, and rubbed at the soreness in her shoulders. Looking at the beautiful creature, Aela couldn't help but to smile, and even did a little dance. She now had a pet, a falcon. So long she had wanted one, seeing many others, including her friend Vaas with their own. She moved closer to the cage, being sure not to allow her fingers to slip inside. She'd seen Wind Dancer bite Vaas enough times in the past to know better. "What should I call you?" She wasn't sure before, as she had seen the bird from a short distance, but it was even bigger than Wind Dancer. "Maybe I'll call you.." She was suddenly cut off as the falcon made a loud screeching sound as it glared at her through the bars of the cage. He also looked meaner than Wind Dancer, though a lot calmer...which was creepy. The screech had been loud and sent a shiver through Aela's body. "How about Va..."Again she was cut off as the bird screeched loudly, puffing out it's feathers and spreading it's wings a bit. "Woah! No good huh?" Aela stood back, wondering why the falcon was being so hostile. "Maybe...you want out?" She asked glancing at the bird. Turning away, she looked to the gauntlet that Perith had given her. She knew that if she wanted to bond with the falcon, that she couldn't do it while it was in the cage. Still, the bird didn't know her yet, and she worried that it might fly off. "Alright, I'll let you out..Just don't fly off...or try to kill me." Taking the gauntlet and wrapping it around her arm, Aela pulled the clasp together underneath and adjusted the straps. "Alright, there.." She smiled as she opened the cage door. Not even a tick after she pulled the latch, the falcon sprung into action. He dashed forward, flapping his wings and carried himself onto her gauntlet. "Woah..hey! " She smile happily surprised that the bird decided to come to her the moment she released it. "I'm not so bad at this." She giggled as she stared lovingly at her new pet. The falcon however, had other plans. Titling it's head curiously as it stared at her, the falcon suddenly began flapping it's wings wildly into her face before it took off and flew across the room. "Oooh petch." She huffed as the bird went into a fluttering frenzy, before taking off to explore the room. Aela spun around, and around again, as the bird continued, only settling down for a tick before taking off again. "Oooh! Come here you!" She watched in frustration as the falcon flew back and forth across her room. Each time that she reached out for it, a fluttering of wings welcomed her, before it took off again. "Come here now!" Aela demanded as she held out her covered arm. The falcon stood atop a shelve on the wall, staring intensely at her while twitching it's head. "I said now!" She called out again, sending the bird into action. It lifted off it's perch, wings expanded as it whooped down, talons spread and landed on the gauntlet. "Hey..Hey, enough with the wings." Aela whimpered, turning her face away from the wild fluttering performance put on by the bird. Once the falcon seemed to have settled down, Aela turned her head back slightly, still wary of another possible burst of feathers. However, once it settled it didn't seem so bad. The weight of the bird was something she'd have to get used to, but that was the least of her worries. Still, in that moment, standing there as she stared at the falcon, emerald green poured into almost solid black. Aela felt that she could do this, she was ready for it. "Maybe...It's better if we stay inside for the day."

[Sphinx]

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Epilogue: As the cloth lifted from the cage,the bird began to stir as though from an enchanted slumber. Upon setting its eyes on Aela, it fixated on her, instinctively selected her as its mother, and bonded as an infant would with its mother, although Aela had no idea of this at the time. It's duty done, the enchantment that had affected the bird was no more. It was Aela's gyrfalcon now.

Character Name: Aela Calder
Skills: Falconry +2
Lore: A Special Surprise, A Gyrfalcon Gift


Notes: You have received a sontav and a gyrfalcon! Due to an enchantment placed upon the cage, the bird has chosen you as its mother and is easier to tame because of this. It will answer to simple commands and cam be trained to perform more. You have sole control of this gyrfalcon, but a Storyteller reserves the right to control it as needed. If neglected or mistreated, the bird will run away.

If you have questions, concerns, or comments about my grading, please don't be afraid to PM me.