Completed [Kelvic Research Institute]Let the Bidding Begin

[Yonega]

Timestamp: Spring 7, 513

The semi-annual sale had finally arrived, a much anticipated event for some such as the Kelvics who were caught in the foray of scientific research within the institute. The winter had been an over-productive season with the pleasant weather that persisted throughout Ravok and many prospective purchases were on the slate.

Most were ungulates, hard working but otherwise not ideal for what some of the scientists had in mind. Many of the equestrian breeds, in particular, proved a bit slow witted and some even looked a little lame from some of the experiments they endured; and though these particular ones were no longer of use to the Institute, they still showed promise of use as labor sources for those interested.

There were a handful of predator breeds as well. One particular was a handsome sandy furred cat with large ears and eyes. It was smaller than some of the others, but its attributes suggested a keen nocturnal ability, ideal for keeping mice out of the barns. Of the larger species, there was a leopard or two with cunning eyes and shiny teeth, young by the looks, and ready for action. Whatever the researchers were looking for, though, was clearly not found in these handsome cats.

There were very few marine mammals, and an enormous number of rodents and small mammals, their rapid breeding ability but low lifespan making them perfect for disposal, and thus sale to those interested. Only the avians were truly lacking, their annual breeding cycle genetically set and unalterable.

Of these, there were a couple winged hunters, fine raptors with fine feathers and faces, perfect for travelling with and use in the field; ideal for hunting companions. But mostly, it was song birds. Some were beautiful, others a bit ragged around the edges. They were clearly marked with their identification number and call-sign (the name some of the researchers used to refer to them); they also sported their age and a black and white sketch of their human forms profile. Most of the song birds were quiet and watchful, even a little fearful. What bird wished to sing when caged?

There was one, however, that would. A most unusual bird, nearly as large as some of the hawks. The square and cross-barred cage indicated she was female, Serial Number 2119026, and answered to the call sign "Yonega". The black and white sketch depicted a youthful, teenage face with raven hair and large, dark eyes over round cheeks. The species indicated she was what the researchers called a 'Brown-necked raven'. The name was obvious.

Inside the cross-barred cage perched a handsome black raven, just under 20 inches in length with a large, slightly arched black beak and bright brown-black eyes. The feathers surrounding her nape and part of her chest were dark chocolate and earthy in tone. The feathers at the top of her head glinted dark green when she turned to look about, shimmering iridescently whilst her wingtips seemed almost deep purple or amethyst. It wasn't magical, only the classic sheen of a well-groomed raven. Her legs were bare from the knee to the foot of the ebony feathers, a plain metal band with her ID number attached to her left leg for easy identification. Unlike the song birds and some of the raptors, this particular Kelvic's cage sported a sturdier lock that could not easily be picked, or at least not be particular birds.

The raven-Kelvic inside the cage was a noisy thing, that arching bill open to release raucous kraa's and clicks, much to the disapproval of the handlers. Their distaste was accentuated from time to time by a sharp CLANG of a hand against the cage to try and shut her up, which of course only encouraged the boisterous shifter.

Her price was clearly marked on the front as "300 gm". Like with the other surplus Kelvics, this one was available at discount if purchased with at least five.

The auctioneer announced bidding for the non-predator, non-songbird species would begin shortly and all those interested should gather at the displays now.

[Cosmo Diaz]

“I’m telling you, your idea is ridiculous,” Cosmo said a bit more heatedly than perhaps the circumstances warranted. But he was tired from a long night’s work, and secretly, worried. Serret’s idea wasn’t exactly inspired. But it had planted a kernel of anxiety in Cosmo’s chest, as he tried to suss out his friend of many years, - and, as importantly his employer’s, now – motivations here at the sale. They were roaming about the various pens, indifferently looking at the horses and donkeys and a really large elk. But Serret had no eyes for such creatures, no. They were just in transit, as it were – heading over towards some cages that held creatures more along the lines of what he was looking for. A beaver, perhaps. Or an otter. A seal would have been perfect, though the fresh water of the lake might not have been very healthful for a marine animal. What they needed, Serret had explained, was a set of eyes that could see under the water. What better way to locate the fish they were after? Serret had seemed quite pleased with himself with the idea he had concocted. Cosmo wasn’t so sure. Once they were out on the lake, at night, what would keep a kelvic from just slipping away? It wasn’t as if anyone could guarantee that, if he found something that would fit the bill, the creature would necessarily bond to the fisherman. These things couldn’t be forced. Yes, many if not most of he kelvics in Ravok were slaves, and thus had no choice but to serve their owners. But here, Serret was proposing to simply let the thing loose, in the lake, in the dark. Cosmo personally felt like that was just as good as throwing your hard earned mizas right in the drink. Serret insisted that Cosmo was too cynical. Cosmo said there was no such thing as too cynical – after all, this was Ravok. But of course, it was Serret’s money and he did own the boat, and pay Cosmo’s wages. So Cosmo could hardly tell his friend not to pursue this crazy idea. In truth, much of the opposition the younger man felt stemmed from a feeling of insecurity. If Serret was successful in locating a likely specimen, and having enough to purchase it, it might turn out that in human form the kelvic would be a big, strapping lad, or man, who could easily do the work that Cosmo now performed. If that were the case, what need would Serret then have of Cosmo’s services? Why pay a man when a kelvic slave would do? It was this more than any real concern for Serret’s money that prompted Cos to argue against the plan. His dark eyes looked around, hoping that perhaps Serret would be out of luck, and there wouldn’t be any of the types of animals here that he searched for. Fingers crossed…. “Look, if you’re going to be so negative about this, then just go chill out over there.” Serret waved his hand vaguely in the direction of some cages that looked to be holding mostly birds. “Make yourself useful – see if there are any… cormorants….or fishing eagles. Maybe that’s what I’ll buy next…” The older fisherman’s voice trailed off as he moved towards the cages holding smaller animals. Cos grimaced, watching him for a moment, and then went in the opposite direction. He was too unsettled to actually see Serret lite upon that otter he so vehemently wanted. Without really noting where he was going, Cosmo wandered, lost in thought. Absentmindedly, his gaze traveled over a few raptors, a plethora of oddly silent songbirds, a few other non-descript birds, and then…. “Rawwwwk!” The ungodly loud noise, which sounded like it was right in his ear, nearly made him jump out of his skin. Alarmed, his head shot to look at the sturdy cage he was just beside, and its occupant, just as a fist slammed against the bars of said cage with a loud clamor, accompanied by a gruff, “Shaddup you!” The bird – big, black, and handsome – did not seem too bothered by the reprimand, and merely tilted its head a bit. Cos could almost fancy that she was looking at him – giving him a once over – just as the potential buyers were giving the goods up for auction a close scrutiny. He knew it was a female from the little placard attached to the bars of the cage, and his gaze traveled to the unadorned sketch which showed her human visage. Cosmo had stopped in his purposeless stroll, and stood looking at her, his eyes switching back and forth between the bird and the sketch. Brown necked raven huh? He wasn’t familiar with that particular species, though he was well enough acquainted with ravens in general. They were scavengers, and flocks of them hung out around the docks. But they were perhaps some of the most clever birds he had ever observed, well able to pick locks and take lids off of cans and get into almost any type of container devised to hold rubbish. They were personable too – what he would call cheeky – with their bright eyes and curiosity and boldness. For no particular reason, Cos just stood there, his mind preoccupied with Serret’s plan, even as he looked at the bird, and it appeared to be looking back at him. He saw the name and said it under his breath. Yonega. What kind of name was that? And it struck him to wonder why she was for sale – in what way had she fallen short of the researchers’ standards or goals? Finally, his eyes went to the small tag that listed a price. 300 gold mizas! Cosmo’s eyes widened and his eyebrows shot up. He looked squarely at the raven, as he muttered, “My you are the pricey one aren’t you my darling?” At that moment, the auctioneer announced the soon to commence sale of the rag tag collection of odd birds, and Cos’s eyes lifted to look towards the sales platform. He didn’t think Serret would be involved in making any bids for such as were about to be sold off. His gaze came back to the raven and he raised one knuckle to the bar of the cage, saying softly, “Well, good luck to you, Miss Yonega. It seems you are no longer needed – here’s hoping you find a good position elsewhere.” He chuckled quietly. “If someone needs a slave with a good set of lungs, you’re in.”

[Yonega]

What on earth is he staring at me for?

That was the initial thought of the raven in the cage as she canted her head this way and that, head and neck feathers ruffling disarmingly. She stepped closer to the side Cos had paused at, clicking her beak in what could've been conversation.

"Whatcher fingers, sir." The handler that'd told Yone' to quiet down initially said to Cosmo as he lingered. "Wouldn't want yer to lose a nail." This seemed to be contradicted by the rather comical display of the noisy bird as she grabbed the edge of the cage with one foot and 'walked' onto the ceiling of her containment, ending up suspending from the top by the leg that held the band on it. That arching bill was poked through the bars once more, nearest the lock, and had begun tasting the device again. Whether that particular Kelvic had any skill as a lockpick or not, the awareness in those twinkling eyes was unmistakable: she'd figure it out, given the time.

From across the way, the auctioneer called again that bidding was now beginning for all non-predator, non-song bird species. Those interested should gather at the stage now.

As Cosmo began to turn away, and the murmuring din of the crowd drowned out the first hawking cries of bidders, the dangling bird spoke. It was a gruff sounding thing, harder to produce without the more sophisticated structures of a human throat, but it was definitely a word. Or perhaps words.

"Dah-ing." It sounded like, the ruffle of feathers as the bird righted herself piercing the immediate surroundings. She'd straightened up and now sat staring at Cosmo once more, repeating that single word again. "Dah-ing."

Now, it was a well-known fact that given time, a raven and some crows could be taught to speak words. How intelligent those words were remained to be seen; more likely they were just simple copies of the things the individuals heard in their day to day life, like a mockingbird and the sounds of its world. Yet, knowing this one was a Kelvic, one couldn't help but wonder.

The large, dark chocolate of those round eyes fixed on the man, silently willing him to turn around, to look at her again, to reconsider. The opportunity at freedom could not be missed just because she wasn't exactly what he was searching for. She could adapt! She could help! He could find something, ANYTHING for her to accomplish, assist him with. Overlook her noisome nature and do it. BUY her.

[Cosmo Diaz]

The Kelvic’s antics had diverted Cosmo’s thoughts for a few moments, and he recalled a friend from his boyhood that had managed to tame and train a crow fledgling that he had found injured on the docks. They were smart birds, and entertaining, and as Yonega hung upside down and tapped at the lock on the cage door, he wondered idly how the girl was – did the human form of this Kelvic retain that same curious intellect? That same innate problem solving ability? This made him wonder once more what the intended purpose of the raven kelvic had been, from a research point of view, and how she had come up short of the mark – for otherwise she would not be here today, being sold off. Still, he had no use for such a creature and more importantly, he did not have 300 mizas in his pocket – and if he had, he wouldn’t be throwing them away on something he didn’t need. So with a small shrug, mainly to himself, he turned and began to leave her to her fate. The auction was starting and he had a friend to find. ”Dah-ing” Cosmo paused in his step, cocking his head at the sound. It was far from a perfect imitation of his voice – and the word he had used casually when addressing the raven. But it was damn close. He looked back over his shoulder, and saw the Kelvic, no longer hung upside down, staring in his direction. Staring at…him? The kelvic had ruffled herself up and seemed sort of…proud…of her attempt at mimicry. Cosmo hadn’t ever been around a Kelvic whose animal form could “speak”, or at least emulate human sound, such as a parrot, or Mynah. So for a moment, he was a bit skeptical, doubting his own ears, but then… ”Dah-ing” This time, he smirked and turned fully back around, tilting his head somewhat, as humans will do when interacting with a bird or animal which does the same. Gods, she was a quick study! he thought, taking a step back towards the cage, out of simple curiosity. He tried to recall if he had ever heard tell of ravens being trained to talk, but he couldn’t summon any such recollection or knowledge to mind. But surely, they must have some mimicking ability – for if this raven Kelvic was unique in her talent, no way would the facility here be letting her go. So it was that he stood there, mulling all this over, still without any purposeful objective in mind, when he felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise - his primordial response to the individual who was just then stepping over to the cage, bending a bit from his tall height to inspect Yonega. Cosmo’s dark eyes widened at the…tattered…appearance of the male looking creature. He would not go so far as to call it a human, for the skin was a muddy grayish hue with blushes of bruised looking purple mottling its face and the exposed hand that stretched towards the cage to pluck at the placard. The rest of this unhealthy looking specimen was cloaked from neck to toe in a long rusty-black robe, almost as patched and necrotic looking as the thing’s face. It was reading the Kelvic’s stats, and, to Cosmo’s further disdainful glance, it turned to a colleague that was also now coming up from behind the other and stopping to look piercingly at the raven. “Here’s one,” the first Nuit intoned – for Nuit it was, clearly. Though not the most common sight in this city of high intolerance, it only made sense that a sale such as this might induce some to crawl out from under whatever slimy rocks they lived under, or lived on was probably more accurate – that rock being the ancient island fortress and magical research facility of Sahova. Cosmo, like any Ravokian, had some knowledge of where many of the Kelvic slaves bred here in his city wound up – in the cells and pens of that infamous island. Sahova seemed to have an unquenchable thirst for new blood, in the form of creatures upon which the mages conducted their experiments – and it stood to reason this sale of superfluous Kelvics from Ravok’s own lab facility would draw some of those mages from its much more notorious counter-part. It was also well know that predominant among the races that practiced their dark arts on that island were the Nuit. The two now standing before Yonega’s cage were definitely in need of a jump into new bodies – and soon. Perhaps they fell into the category of those Nuit who weren’t too picky about the state of decay they’d let their physical body fall into before jumping ship into something more recently dead. In any case, Cosmo had the typical prejudice, and some small amount of fear, of such creatures and his lip curled to see them here, and so close up, and so close to that cage. The other Nuit, similarly garbed but being quite short and stout, and with a greenish hue to her female features, nodded and read the placard with the Kelvic’s stats as well. Her fat and fraying fingers went out to the little sketch and she perused it for a long moment, pursing fat, blistered, brownish colored lip. “Yessss….” She wheezed out a sibilant affirmation, nodding her head. “Shhhhhe’ll do very well. Mordrine will be pleassssed. He sssssaid a Corvid would do nicccccely.” Cosmo would not have been surprised to see a small forked tongue come flicking out from between the moldering front teeth the Nuit exposed while speaking. He thought with an internal shudder of the tales he’d heard about the members of this race being forced to inhabit the bodies of animals from time to time, if no human corpse – or living human – was handy when needed. Perhaps this one had co-habited with a snake at some point. It might explain the loathsome accent. The tall Nuit nodded too, but then flicked a filthy and cracked nail to the tag that listed the price. “300 – it’s steep. But perhaps the bidding will be light.” The fat Nuit looked smug, and was just replying with, “I’m sure there’s little demand for such an…” when one of the facility staff – the one who had banged on the cage a few chimes ago and told the bird to shut up, stepped up to the cage and grabbed it by the handle on the top. “Sorry. Excuse me gentlemen. Er, and miss.” The man nodded hesitantly towards the female Nuit. “This one is in the lot that’s being auctioned off right now. If you’re interested,” he appended, as he walked away, Raven in hand. The Nuits, who had been seemingly oblivious to Cos’ presence up to that point, gave him a bleak and dour look, before moving off in the wake of the staffer, and the raven.

[Yonega]

The man did not speak. But, her vocalizations did make him stop and turn to her again. Relief flooded the morphling in that instant and she opened her beak to caw at him once more, all of her feathers now ruffled and her wings half cocked as if in preparation to fly. Few had paused at the cage already, Yonega knew for she'd kept count, ticking a toe subtly against the barred flooring for every patron that stopped. She was up to four, not including Cosmo. Not a good sign. If a Kelvic could not be sold at the auctions and was no longer useful for research, there was only two other options the facility might incur to save on finances...Neither of which the raven thought were particularly joyful.

She was about to hop closer to the locked cagefront when two strange creatures came near. The putrid flesh and smell of them alone was offensive, and their alien nature set the Kelvics nerves aflame. She began to cluck violently at them, hopping to the back of the cage quickly and bobbing up and down, her beak pointed at the pair. Such vile things should not exist! Her reaction was justifiable, at least, for the Kelvic had never met or seen a Nuit before! First impressions were important, and neither side seemed keen on making the right one. Besides, how they talked about her just wasn't right. Was she to be food to them? Ignorant of their culture, Yonega's thoughts could not be blamed.

Her head now turned back to Cosmo, who still lingered near the cell, and began trilling at him. Her flustered state could not be missed and the avian was determined for it not to be ignored, even by this one. Her inability to fully communicate to him, however, was even more frustrating as she craa'd pleadingly for his intervention. How could he stand by and let those...those things take her?! -RAAWWWKK!!-

But before either company could do more, a little-savior came and lifted her from her place amongst the others of like type, telling both that she was up next and if they were interested, to head to the auctioneer. Yonega could only hope that Cosmo might free her...and if he could not, then find a means of keeping those Nuit from taking her. Such foul creatures could not be allowed to take her! What if they ate her for pete's sake?! -RAAAWWKK- She called one last time, swaying slightly with the momentum of her cage as the handler carried her to the stage.

Of all the things....surely he'll show mercy. He must! I don't wanna be dinner; come on man, you gotta help!! She was no mage, no djed known within her, but if sheer will could've projected her thoughts to Cos, she would have sent it then. -RAWWWKK!! CR-RUH-RUUHKK!!- I'm beggin' ya man!

But the crowds were closing in and with her anxiety of these strange creatures, now came the fear of their proximity. The cage she could handle because she could easily see her surroundings and the spaces beyond; but this- this was ridiculous! Yonega began clacking her beak noisily once more and pacing violently in her cage, beak venturing to the top to poke between the squares at the handle and hand holding it. Travel from the display to the stage probably took less than a minute, but it was more than enough to set the avian in panic mode.

The pacings and vocalizations reached a fever pitch before the handler had reached the stage, escalating into all out thrashing as she beat her wings against the confines, and even pecking at her feet as if it might free her from this nightmare enclosure. It was claustrophobia at its finest and just as the feet of the handler reached the first steps of the stage, it reached its zenith. As his weight shifted forward to carry himself up onto the stage, the raven in the cage collapsed, one wing tossed uncannily askew and her beak left slightly open. Both eyes were closed and the ruffled displacement of feathers made the illusion of death complete. It seemed the panicked bird had died of fright.

Well crap!

[Cosmo Diaz]

Cos stood, hesitating. He had seen the way the Kelvic raven had reacted to the verminous Nuits. Having grown up in Ravok, the sailor had given little thought to his culture that spawned slaves and traded in flesh with no moral compunctions as to individual rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of free will. But seeing how rattled the bird was as the Nuits hovered close - something was triggered inside him. The thought of owning another being wasn’t one that bothered him, though he had always been far too poor to even consider such a thing for himself. But the thought of those things buying the raven was…insupportable. It wasn’t even the further reality that the raven was actually a Kelvic – a being capable of taking on a form as human as his own – that upset him. At this point in their brief interface, Cos only really conceptualized ‘Yonega’ as a blackish brown bird – the sketch was…someone else, for now. Yet still, he could not see such a bright, precocious, personable creature being carted off by…those two. He didn’t think the raven fancied that idea much herself, given the way she practically cowered in the back of the cage, hopping about in a way that seemed half aggression and half fear. When she turned her head and fixed Cosmo with her dark eye once again, he felt it. She was asking him for help. She couldn’t speak. She couldn’t call to him with human words. But there was no doubt in his mind. She was upset, and she wanted him to do something! Every clack and quork and rawk, every bristling feather and confused flick of her beak, demanded – and pleaded – with him. Do something dummy! Quick! But what could he do!? He didn’t have 300 mizas! Serret might have that much but… Serret! But, no – there was no reason for the fisherman to buy…a raven! Cos could just hear his friend’s exasperated protests. They were here for some sort of animal to help them fish. Not a stupid bird, for gods’ sake! Or even a clever one – unless it was the type that typically had some skill to locate fish. Did ravens hunt fish? Cosmo tried to think desperately, as the staff person began to walk away with the cage and the Nuits shot him a dirty look. He didn’t know! But then – did it matter? Maybe if he could convince Serret that they did… Then what, idiot? Convince his friend – and employer – to waste his money on a useless bird? How brilliant was that. Maybe he could….what… think, man think! It was fairly amazing how a bird and its plaintive squawking could affect a man so. That and the fact that the Nuits were just…creepy…. Cos moved off at a fast pace. He had to find Serret, fast! He didn’t follow the research staffer who had a hold of the cage, though the two Nuits certainly were almost on the man’s heels. Cos broke into a trot, craning his neck this way and that, looking for his friend. Maybe Serret would loan him the money. What? Borrow 300? Was he kidding! Even if Serret would agree, it would take him a year to pay it back – or more. And what in the bloody hell was he going to do with a raven? No- correct that – a Kelvic – who happened to take animal form as a raven. He didn’t need a Kelvic! He didn’t want a Kelvic! But he’d be damned if he’d let those ghouls have her. The closer Cosmo got to the auction platform, the thicker the crowd grew and the harder it was to make headway through the throng. He still hadn’t spotted Serret, and his eyes flashed to the stage. Maybe they wouldn’t sell Yonega fir…oh, yep. Of course. Cos felt like he was moving in slow motion, as he watched the guy with the cage begin to go up the steps. Even above the noise of the buyers, he could hear her – rawking like a mad woman. He halted – it was too late – and he stood on his toes to see – close enough to catch the absolutely frantic beating of her wings and the flipping and flopping. He saw the sudden, annoyed look on the handler’s face as the bird jabbed one of his fingers. He saw the Nuits, now pressed right against the edge of the stage, putrid faces turned eagerly upwards, waiting, like vultures. Then beyond the stage, he spotted Serret – but he had his back to Cos and it was far too noisy for the sailor to get his friend’s attention from this distance. The screaming of the raven hit a high note and then…it stopped. The cessation of sound from the cage, as the man holding it finally set foot on the stage, caused no reaction from the crowd, not at first. But the whole tableau unfolded before Cos’ puzzled eyes, and he saw the handler’s face – the look of anger and then consternation that fixed there. He saw the subtle shifting of the two Nuits, as they craned to get a look into the cage. He saw the face of the auctioneer, pulled down into a frown of exasperation, as he bent to look too. With renewed effort, Cos shoved his way to the stage, literally pushing people out of his way, to an accompanying chorus of loud or muted protests. The auctioneer was waving a disdainful hand at the cage. The handler was bowing in compliance and stepped back to the stairs. The Nuits were having a hasty consultation, the tall one bent to speak in the short one’s ear. Cosmo got within ten feet of the stairs and he could now see into the cage – his eyes widening at the sight of the dead raven. What the hell?

[Yonega]

This was a nightmare, it had to be. It felt like one. It sounded like one. Like that awful period of perpetual darkness and confinement....

"What on earth do they think it will do? She's never been hostile; this...farse will not change that, you and I both know it."

"It makes no difference. Get her to change and put her in. They'll have their answer in time enough."

The increase of food that day was no surprise to Yonega as she settled on the perch of the enclosure; it was time for another experiment, one that did not involve her human form. Her general complacency with things was common knowledge to the researchers, as was her compliency, perhaps in ignorance of what it was they sought of her. One could hardly blame the Kelvic as she finished the evening dinner, wiped her mouth, and watched the bars where the other handlers waited. Within a few moments, they had what they sought, and on the perch was not the raven haired woman with knowing eyes, but the brown-necked raven, watching them keenly and expectantly for what came next.

One entered the enclosure and held out his arm, to which the Kelvic deftly flew, lighting upon the wrist and taking the offered snack without much care, even cr-rucking a bit as he toted her out of the small holding chamber. He was a lean human with pale hair and paler skin, inky eyes not unlike her own birdy ones, and large, slightly crooked teeth that gave him a crude overbite. This feature Yonega fixed upon keenly, tilting her feathery head this way and that in observation while still poking at the hand of the handler from time to time in boredom.

A few minutes and turns down the hallway later, they entered another room, sterile and white, almost painful to the eyes, save for the simple cage in the center. It was to this that the man approached, gathering the large bird against his chest with one hand to pin her wings down, and then placing her inside. It was a tight fit for the not-quite two foot long avian as she now half-stood, half-sat inside the glass contained with its modest vents. She rawked a bit at the handler as if in question, curious eyes now mildly concerned; but he just closed the opening and left. A few moments later, the lights went out and left the corvid in utter darkness.

-Perhaps it is a new sleep cell?- Yonega idly wondered, roosting over her feet and trying to see in the pitch surroundings. The feel of the glass against her body was strange, an abnormal sensation to one who wasn't accustomed to prolonged confinement. She shuffled her wings a little, tensing then relaxing the muscles just enough to flex but nothing more and turning her head to one side as much as the small cage allowed. She considered just going to sleep, but the damn walls made true comfort difficult, and she began to shift again in response.

-Okay, this isn't nice...- She blinked, but the sensation of absolute darkness was absurd and it could not be felt whether she had actually blinked or merely thought she had. How much time had passed? Already, it felt like days, but it couldn't have been more than minutes, right? The passage of time without visual cues was impossible to determine, and thus was why solitary confinment and sensory deprivation made for excellent torture tactics.

She squawked once. Then twice. But none answered...The discomfort wasn't ending and the nightmare was just beginning....

The "dead" bird twitched her feet slightly, spasmodic, muscle twinges that to the throng likely meant nothing. Some Kelvics simply went kaput during experiments, the researchers knew this from the beginning. Many of the rodent species lacked the physical ability to withstand what the researchers tried with them and simply keeled over mid-testing. Others developed severe phobias from what happened to them during these experiments: such was the case of the raven apparently dead in her cage.

Yonega could still subconsciously sense the crowds presence, but for all intents and purposes she WAS dead! A human losing consciousness was easy to determine; animals were a little more difficult. They postured differently and their fur or feathers often masked the subtle signs of life that could be detected in humans and their sub-race. That was the case now as auctioneer and handler argued.

There were words being exchanged again, muffled by the continued din of the crowd, about whether to sell the bird as fodder or something that could be used for someone interested in taxidermy, hell even food (if one were into that proximity of cannibalism). The pair of Nuits looking on at this were silent to others, though both still whispered to one another in low, unpleasant conversation. They must be discussing how useful the Kelvic might still be dead...or if they would say anything to the auctioneer should they see truly that she wasn't dead, only out cold.

But, at last, an agreement must have been made because the handler turned from the auctioneer finally to descend the steps once more, muttering something under his breath about not really being interested in working the billows that night...It sounded like incineration might have been decided upon! Better to not expose the healthy products anymore than they already had if this one was contagious. Afterall, the raven wasn't known for playing tricks on its handlers and researchers.

[Cosmo Diaz]

Well…that seemed to clinch it. As Cosmo watched the man with the cage approach, he felt…deflated. The adrenalin rush of a few moments ago was ebbing, and in its wake his muscles relaxed, fatigued, and his mind seemed unable to function at full capacity. The Nuits had turned their attention back to the auction platform. Apparently they had no need of a dead raven. Those around him seemed oblivious or unconcerned about the fate of the lone bird, and the man who carried it away from the heart of the sale looked only mildly annoyed. Cosmo’s eyes dropped as the man drew right abreast of him, the handler seemingly unaware or forgetful that this was the same scruffy looking person who’d been looking at the raven Kelvic just before he’d plucked up the cage to carry it away. As the guy passed with his now pitiful captive, Cos looked one last time at the one called Yonega – and his eyes widened in surprise. One bright, chocolate brown eye had flickered opened – just long enough to fix upon him, before it drooped shut again. Cos blinked, and then blinked again, staring stupidly as the man passed him, his mouth dropping open a bit. He was just on the verge of saying something entirely idiotic – like Hey, that bird’s not dead!, before he clamped it shut again. With a quick glance at the auctioneer, and then the Nuits – who were paying no attention whatsoever to anything but the sale – Cos slipped in behind the handler, following at a discreet distance, as the man walked towards the back of the large hall. Cos followed – it wasn’t difficult now that they were moving out of the throng about the sales platform. The handler soon enough reached a door that lead outside, and Cos trailed in his wake, stepping out into the bright sunlight, hoping that luck would keep the bird unconscious, or at least still. For he had no doubt – the Kelvic wasn’t dead. Random muscle spasms aside, that eye had opened and seen him. He was sure of it. Well, pretty sure. Not allowing himself to think of the insanity of what he was about to do, he just sped up a little, enough to come up behind the handler, clearing his throat and saying, “Excuse me. Um, hey – wait a minute.” The man did halt and turned, still looking annoyed but also clearly wondering who was hailing him. Again, there was at first no light of recognition in those hard eyes, but he did give Cosmo a grudging, “Yes? What can I do for you…sir?” That gaze took in the fisherman’s rough appearance and Cos would not have been surprised if the guy had sniffed with the disdain he was surely feeling. Cosmo was not one to let another’s opinions influence him too much, though. So he said directly and simply, “I’ll give you a gold miza for that.” He gestured towards the raven with a nod of his head. The staffer’s eyebrows shot up quixotically. This was clearly nothing he had expected to hear. “A miza? For a dead bird?” His voice too was incredulous and he looked at Cosmo as if he was mental – which, the sailor himself was sort of wondering if maybe he was. Why not just let this go? Why not just leave Yonega to her fate? He didn’t need her, or want her even. But…he thought of how she had called after him – it was probably just some flipping coincidence – but still… “Yeah,” he replied, in a neutral tone. “One miza – and you can slip it in your pocket for all I care. I just want the bird.” He felt a little insane, but he was trying to keep from looking or sounding like it. The handler didn’t reply immediately, and Cos hoped that idea – of sticking some coins in his pocket with no-one the wiser – was the thought running through the guys’ head as he looked at Cosmo. After a long pause he said suspiciously, “Why would you want a dead bird?” The clock was ticking and Cos expressly kept his eyes averted from the raven, hoping against hope that she would not choose this moment to come round and jump back to her scaly feet. He gave the handler a direct look, and said, “That’s for me to know and for you not to care about. Two mizas.” Ah – he saw it that time – the little light that gleamed in the fellow’s eyes. The handler glanced down into the cage, clearly pondering what Cosmo wanted with the Kelvic, and how much he could possibly gouge out of him. His eyes lifted then as he replied, “Twenty.” Cosmo snorted, derisively. “It’s dead.” His own eyes dropped ever so swiftly to Yonega. Had he seen that foot twitch a little bit? Trying not to appear rushed, he countered with, “Three. Take it, and have a better day – or go on. Bury it or burn it or throw it in the lake. Your choice.” The handler then looked about with a rather secretive air, but there was no-one around. He nodded swiftly and stuck his hand out. Cosmo fished in his pocket and pulled out the three mizas, and without comment, plonked them into the guy’s palm. The handler then set the cage on the ground and quickly, with another glance around, he pulled a key from his pocket and, bending, undid the lock. His fingers moved to open the door, but Cosmo intervened, saying in a low voice, “If it was sick, no point in you spreading the illness about. I’m sure no-one would thank you for that. I’ll get it.” The man, already having been told basically the same thing by the auctioneer, pulled back willingly and stepped away from the cage. Cos breathed a silent sigh of relief, thankful that there would be no chance for the staffer to pick up the raven and feel a heartbeat, or have the damn thing come squawking back to life in his hands. It might still happen, but Cos had already decided that, if nothing else, once he had his hands on the Kelvic, if she came round, he’d yank her out of the cage and let her go. Let her at least have her chance at freedom. With an inheld breath, he crouched down and opened the door and slid his hand in, placing it gently on the silky plumage of her breast.

[Yonega]

And still, the raven did not so much as flinch. The muscle twinges had stopped, and the illusion of death became so complete, one could almost believe the god himself was hovering over the birds immobile body. Not even her feathers ruffled as she lay there. The bribe between handler and buyer was not even acknowledged, and likely not heard, still lost in the infinite that was the unconscious mind.

She did not feel the calloused hand that slid across her feathered frame, or the impatient clearing of the handlers throat. She did not see his hand waiting for the miza's so promised or the baited breath Cos held as he prepared to remove her from her confinement, her mind held within the memory of perpetual darkness...

-I'm gonna die!- She thought after what felt like days in this obscene trap. -They've killed me, I'm certain of it!- The raven had begun to rawk and kraa noisily after the first hour of exposure to the pitch chamber and tight cage. The avian ingenuity she sported just couldn't get past this and see the truth for what it was! They wanted an intelligent, problem-solving creature, investigative. And while Yonega had been documented as wielding higher than average intelligence and observation skills, she was not like her brother had been.

Nataniel had been his name and he'd been born from the same two Kelvics that had birthed Yonega. However, the failure of the one before his birth and the two (including Yonega) following, left the researchers befuddled as it often did. Nataniel had been a dire marten with a high level of aggression. He was agile and intelligent too, and an ideal candidate for continued breeding to try and reproduce his species again, and if not then sell him to Ebonstryffe for military use. But that was some years before Yonega had been born, both her parents having been long-lived base animal forms.

No, Yonega was nothing like Nataniel. Intelligent, yes, but not a mammal for one, and very farm from aggressive. And her sudden panic instead of figuring a way out had lessened her chance of continued use in the projects for redundant species production. She was not ideal for what the institute wanted in the field of experiments she'd been born into...

[Cosmo Diaz]

With a gentle grip, Cos lifted the surprisingly light body, sliding his other hand rather awkwardly into the cage as well, to support the Kelvic by the back. Carefully he drew her from the cage, the handler looking about agitatedly, with an imprecation to get on with it. Pulling the raven to his chest, Cos didn’t even bother to acknowledge the guy. Undoing a few buttons on his shirt, he slipped the bird under the material, trying to hide her as best he could, given her size. It certainly looked odd, the large lump, with only the tip of her black tail feathers poking out. Still, he was entirely grateful that she remained somnolent, and with arms cradling her to his body, he walked swiftly away. The path to the lake side dock, where Serret’s small fishing vessel was moored, took only five bells or so. The whole time, Cos feared that the Kelvic would come to and take back up with its wild squawking and flopping about. One hand inside his shirt gripped the yellow feet firmly, just in case. Those claws were well able to slice his abs up if the bird panicked. As he walked, his pace hurried, he thought about what he should do next. Serret was still inside the building being used as a temporary sales pavilion. Sooner or later he would realize that Cosmo was not amongst the crowd, and possibly come looking for him. So if he should simply wait at the boat, the two would be reunited at some point. On the other hand, he knew Ser would not be overly thrilled by hanging about, wondering where he was, and possibly waiting for an extended time for him to show up. Cos gave some thought to just leaving her once he had reached the boat, and then running to try to find Serret, explain what had happened, and try to convince him to come back with him so they could get the hell out of there. Because there was always the possibility that someone might tumble to what had just happened – Cos realized that technically, his ‘purchase’ of the supposedly dead Kelvic was highly irregular. If anyone should have seen that transaction, and followed him, he could be in big trouble – especially once Yonega came back to consciousness. Speaking of which… He wished he could place his hand on her chest again, to make sure she was in fact still breathing. She was so still. But then he’d have to let go of her feet, and he was reluctant to do that. The boat was even now coming into view, and hurried the more, practically trotting down the wooden pier. With an agile leap, he was aboard and ducking into the sole forward cabin, closing the tiny hatch behind him. It was quite dim inside and he had to crouch to avoid the low ceiling, He sat on one of the two bunks that ran along inside each bulkhead, and extracted the raven from his shirt. Gently he laid her on the rough blanket, bending over the inert form to try and see any further signs of life. He placed his fingers on her chest, feeling for a heart beat. In many ways, he thought to himself, it would be a far easier thing if she had actually expired in transit.