Aela rolled over and looked around the room. The healers were gone, and so to was the young boy that she had saved from the angry mother. Somehow, they didn't seem to matter anymore, as she pulled herself to sit up on the bed again. It took her a moment, as reality returned to her, finally forcing her to move off the bed in the infirmary. She took careful steps at first, lightly planting her feet firmly on the floor, as if to cater to injuries that she remembered having, but no longer felt. The healers had already taken care of her wounds, which were now only scars in her mind. Aela made her way outside, having no desire to bother or see if there was any news about the young boy. The day had moved on, and the sky was bright, filled with the vivid reds and yellows of the late evening. Aela stared off into the distance, a serene calm came over her, one unlike that of any who had just returned from such trauma. Something had changed within her, a question had been answered. An epiphany of sorts to something that she had been searching for her entire life it seemed.
It was all so clear to her as she stood at the foot of the infirmary. She understood what she had to do, and there was nothing or anyone who could stop her this time. Turning back, she glared at the structure behind her, emerald green eyes flickered a fiery passion more powerful than any she had ever felt before. There were no words spoken, or even subtle twitches in her features, the young Avora simply turned away and headed back to her room. She made quick pace and entered her room, not wasting any time as she readied herself. She removed the simple brown Vinati and Bryda, likely given to her by the healers to replace the torn and blood soaked shreds of cloth that she had wore when she first arrived. Pausing for only a tick, Aela reached around her bare back, fingers feeling for the scars left by the the eagle's talons. She could easily feel the stitches son into her flesh, and the wound that covered most of her back. It had been a close call, and if not for the quick work of the healers, she wouldn't have made it.
Aela moved into her wardrobe and redressed herself in a red Vinati and black Bryda. Kicking off her sandals, she sat on the end of her bed and strapped on her boots. Standing up again, the teen moved back to her wardrobe and pulled out a medium box from the corner. She quickly ripped the top off and looked inside. A Studded Leather armor piece laid inside. An heirloom left by her family. She would have never thought that she would need it, or even remembered that it was there. However for the task at hand, she needed all the protection that she could get. Taking a few ticks, she shifted the armor over her slender body, and tied the straps in place to hold it to fit her form. Once that was done she took up her quiver and flipped the strap across her body along with her backpack, and lowered her bow into place as she usually did when hunting. The last piece of weaponry to be added was a talon sword that she had bought recently. She hadn't had the chance to practice with it much, but she figured that it could come in handy.
The little huntress then moved toward the covered cage and removed the thin black cloth. Skye, her falcon stood inside perched on the small rod attached to the cage. Their bond was still fairly new and Aela hadn't practiced with him as much as she liked, however she knew that he would do well for the task that she had for him. Her fingers trailed from the cage and down onto the table where the sontav laid. She placed it around her arm and fastened the scraps into place. Glaring down at the bird, a non-verbal communication took place, as if to say that it was time for the falcon to prove it's worth. Taking the cage into her arms, Aela headed out of her room. The walk to the Aeries seemed shorter, as her mind was focused, and nothing else mattered other than proving herself. Her ambition was stronger now than ever before, and she could feel a new energy surging through her body, unlike anything that she had ever felt in her life.
She entered the building, feet stumping forward, and her eyes gleamed something similar to Ivak's own fiery gaze. The room where the mother eagle nested with her egg was empty. After the commotion from before, everyone had left and none had yet returned. Aela stepped inside, her gaze immediately meeting with that of the mother eagles. There was no fear in her, and she didn't waver, even as the giant eagle's voice echoed through her mind, in protest of her visit. The deadly talons scraped and clattered against the floor, it's beak clacking, feathers puffed and ruffled as it started towards the teen. Aela quickly lowered the cage to the floor, and flung the cage door open. Skye dashed out of the cage, he flapped his wings quickly, trying to catch the wind beneath them, as he darted towards the eagle. The falcon closed in on the mighty eagle, clawing at it's head and eyes. A loud and thunderous shrill escaped the eagle as it craned it's neck to avoid the attack, and quickly snapping it's beak in retaliation.
With the eagle focused on defending itself from Skye, Aela removed an arrow from her quiver and slipped it into her bow. She took aim, raising her bow, the arrowhead pointed at the eagles head. There was no hesitation, only the focused in mind needed to make the shot. She fired, the arrow soared through the air and missed the eagle, who continued to move about as it fought off the tiny falcon. Pulling another arrow from her quiver, Aela loaded it and readied herself, before taking another shot. The arrow slipped through the air and sank into the eagle's upper chest. The massive bird squawked loudly, the sound eerie, crashing through the lands of earth and mind alike. Suddenly the eagle turned it's attention back to Aela and started towards her yet again. She moved back, pulling another arrow from her quiver and placing it against her bow. She fired quickly, hoping to wound the eagle before it came closer. However in the quickness of the shot, the arrow slipped just over the eagle. But the determined teen wouldn't not to be put off, and quickly loaded another arrow.
The eagle was faster though, as it quickly dashed forward, closing the distance between them, and forcing Aela to turn and run. She raced as fast as she could towards the exit, with the eagle right behind her snapping at her whenever it felt close enough to do so. Aela continued to run, but escape was not an option. She had come back to take what was rightfully hers, and she would not fail. Once she reached the exit, she turned on her heels, swinging her shoulder around just as she lost her footing and landed on the ground. She slid only a few feet backwards, nimble fingers bringing the arrow back into the bow as she raised it up again. Another loud, ear piercing squawk came from the eagle as it craned it's neck downward, deadly beak opened to snap. Angry golden eyes fell upon fiery red embers, the string of the bow vibrated violently as the arrow was launched clear, cutting through the air with an almost silent whistle, as it disappeared inside the eagles gaping beak.
The squawk became a soft shrill, a whimper of pain as the bird whirled back. It was wounded, although she couldn't tell how badly. Skye returned, a quick dash, talons slicing across the eagles eyes as he hurried toward Aela. The wounded eagle cried out again, suddenly turning back into the room and heading back to it's egg. The mother instincts of the beast kicked in, and as it felt itself fading, protecting the egg was all it could think of. Pushing herself up, Aela hurried behind it as she pushed another arrow into place. She aimed her bow, steady hands to guide the arrow as she fired it. The twirling arrow made it's home deep into the back of the eagle. The pain barely struck the giant bird, only causing a soft grunt as it moved back to it's nest. Another gush of wind blew past her shoulder as Skye dashed towards the eagle again. The eagle snapped it's beak towards the tiny falcon, wings barley expanded as it tried to make itself even bigger.
Aela pulled the talon sword from it's sheath and raced toward the eagle, her arm swung out as she thrust herself into the air, bringing the talon's blade into the lower back of the eagle. The bird shrilled louder, an earth shaking cry filling the room. The once great and power eagle, was now heavily wounded, and only able to see out of one of it's eyes. It twisted and hopped, shrilly and horrid sounds echoing across the room as it scurried about the room. Aela held on as tight as she could, white knuckles turned red as she squeezed the glass handle. The eagle continued to thrash around, trying to fight off the falcon and the sharp pain growing up it's back. Finally with a sharp spin, the little Avora was sent free of it's back and landed in the nest beside the egg. Another cry echoed across the room, followed by a loud crash as the eagle finally lost it's balance and tumbled over in front of the nest.
Looking up, ambition raging eyes stared upon the egg in front of her. It was so beautiful and even more so the potential inside it. She wanted it so, needed it more than life itself. She had to have it, and to do that, she had to finish what she started. Pulling herself up, Aela stepped out of the nest and moved behind the fallen bird and pulled her sword from it' s back. Raising a talon of her own into the air, she violently stabbed the eagle in it's chest. An emotional grunt slipped from the teen's mouth as she whipped the sword back out. Blood gushed forth, covering everything in the single path including the egg. A hollow shrill escaped the birds dieing breath as it laid motionless on the floor. Aela stood over it, watching, panted breaths echoed from her parted lips as her chest heaved heavily.
