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Spring 25th 514AV
Una was frowning as she walked into the marketplace once again. The Frosthawk was due over 10 days ago but with the rain and storms it was no surprise they were delayed. She had been looking through the market place everyday since the trader had told her they would arrive. It had been a year since she had vowed to repay Lavira with a Frosthawk and had been delighted to finally make good on the debt. The Marketplace was a cacophony to every sense and her skin shivered. The air was warm at the high elevation leaving a permanently parched sensation in her mouth, this was easily dulled by the marketplace.
Every other day she had skipped into the ring-like arrangement, excited to see the Frosthawk who had caused her so much trouble in Avanthal. Today she walked slowly, staring at her feet. She had been looking for Lavira since arriving but the mountainous city was difficult to navigate and learn and she hadn't tracked the Falconer down. Frustrated she had asked several citizens before finding someone with enough common to bumble through a conversation. Though it wasn't eloquent nor detailed she gathered that Lavira was dead.
Una approached the marketplace this day with dread. She wasn't experienced with birds and had barely managed to feed the beast without having her fingers bitten off, how was she to manage it here? Perhaps she could sell it she wondered. They were pests in Avanthal but certainly such a large and ill-sought bird rarely made it to Wind Reach. She would have no trouble finding a buyer she reasoned. However, as realistic as it sounded she was hesitant to part with the last piece of Avanthal she had been allowed to bring with her. Having left the city under the conditions she had she couldn't imagine ever being allowed to return.
Glancing up she was so caught up in her own troubles she almost tripped over several shoppers and didn't notice the lush goods set out on each of the stalls. At least, not until she heard the familiar Ho of the trader. "Ho! Young lady of the sea!" Turning, forcing her lips to curve upwards at the corners she beamed at the trader. She was genuinely glad to see the man, if not deal with the creature he carried for her. "Ho!" She copied, "How was your travels." "Oh you know, you know." He waved his hands dismissively though Una knew his travels were much harder than he was letting on. Travels always were.
"Hows Veek?" Una queried peeking into the caravan. "Quite a noisy troublemaker miss!" The man chortled, "Had to sleep miles away from the bird to get a wink." Una didn't understand everything he said but laughed politely anyway. "Well, I should get Veek off to the aeries to be cared for after such a rough trip but I would be delighted to help you set up your shop when I'm finished and here about your travels." "Oh yes Miss! As I would like to hear about yours." Una couldn't help but grin. Round and perpetually smiling one couldn't help but be put in a good mood near the old man. Even his helpers were joking in the background, as easily as all Vantha were. Feeling a pang at the thought Una turned her attention back to the beast.
Nearly the size of her Una wondered how she would get the creature to the Aviary without any trouble. After Lavira's demise she had hunted and found it after much effort, but it wasn't an easy place to get to even without the heavy beast in her arms. Disrupted from her thoughts by the whistling trader Una glanced from the bird to the young man approaching. Broad shouldered, and towering over her she instantly recognized the red haired Inartan who had accompanied the trading party in Avanthal. "Help the young lady with the...Veek?..." He glanced at Una and she nodded assuring him he had named him correctly, "Wherever she wishes to go." Easily lifting the bird from the caravan Una released a sigh of relief. "Thanks." She said through a genuine grin having forgotten just how helpful the Vantha were already. Handing over the hundred gold Miza Una nodded to the Inartan and let him follow her as they walked through the heavy marketplace crowd.
Una struggled not to turn back as the climbed the narrow path the Inartan grunting and panting behind her. Long, steep and narrow it was a struggle to carry the weight alone but the wide crate made it impossible to get an easy grip. The end of the crate hung dangerously over the edge of the pathway making Una repeatedly and anxiously warn the man to, "Be careful, be careful.". More to assay her own fears as it had no real impact, the man was being as careful as he could. "Shyke! Will you stop twittering!" The man scolded. In Nari, Una couldn't understand what the man had said but the annoyance in his voice was unmistakable.
Biting back several other comments as they continued up the path Una began to feel dizzy from the height. Her chest laboured to get oxygen from the high elevation. Wondering if they should stop and rest soon Una quickly decided it was a bad idea. There was nowhere for the man to set the cage while they rested nor anywhere to sit without dangling ones legs over the edge which made Unas stomach swim with fear.
Just when Una was sure she was going to be sick they found the platform with the low railing. Several falcons and ravens turned to peer at them but quickly resumed their sunbathing or napping positions. None of them ate fish so though Unas smell doubtlessly intrigued them it certainly didn't remind them of food which was fortunate for Una.
The white floor made Una smile to herself. Everything else in Wind Reach was grey or brown and the familiar luxurious colour eased the blossoming anxiety in her chest. How much was this going to cost? Would they take such an unusual bird? Could they get enough fish to feed him?
Entering the large cave Una wrinkled her nose. The smell of ammonia was rank in the heat. Taking a few steps back, and almost bumping into the Inartan, she jostled him as he set down the cage. Grumbling at her he quickly moved away to sit down and rest for the long trip down with the travelling cage.
Massive, with several birds of various sizes there was none present as large as the Dire hawk within the cage. Two feet tall, it could only have come from Taldera and would be an enormous burden to the aeries she realized.
A man approached almost immediately, not hiding his interest he grinned widely at Una obviously recognizing her species since no confusion dizzied his eyes.
"Una Tanta." She offered her name and her arm. Clasping her forearm in a shake he nodded, "Opolo," He offered in return not taking his eyes off her even as he nodded to the crate, "What have you brought me?" Una couldn't help but blush at his attention, it wasn't very often someone stared with such obvious lust that even she would notice. "O-oh uhm, a Frosthawk." Wrinkling his brow he finally looked away from her to crouch down and peer through the bars "Oh my!" He exclaimed, "She's massive..." "She?!" "Oh yes...she is a she." Una grinned, "Well Veek is a silly name then."
"She is a dire hawk." Una explained, "U-uhm...she eats fish mainly, how much would it be to keep her here?" She asked quietly. "Well...she must eat a massive amount at that size. We can provide her with what we have at 1 gold miza a day but only if you supply her with the other half of her diet." Una nodded trying to keep the horror from her face. She was glad they were willing to keep Veek, but the price was debilitating. She couldn't afford to keep the creature here for long and would certainly have to sell the beast, much to her dismay.
"Alright." She had a hood and jess with Sizzles silver bells sewn into the edges to keep her calm during her travels but it had obviously been removed every once in a while to give her a chance to look around. "I have a hood and jess for hi-her. I'd like to keep her here for a week or two." She suggested offering the man seven gold miza.
Raising his eyebrows Opolo nodded slowly, "Sssssure. We can get her set up, I think the largest of our stands should hold her. Is she relatively tame?" "Not when I last handled her..." Una warned. "We don't normally allow potentially dangerous birds to stay here, especially ones as large as her." The gleam in his eye made her take an involuntary step back. The sun at this height made her white body glow attracting more attention than she wished from others moving about the area.
"I can train her for you...for something in exchange." He offered. Una frowned in response, "I'll teach you and her to work together if you take me for swimming lessons. Deal?" He offered a hand, the smell of the brine wafting into Unas nostrils. Relaxing Una offered her own hand agreeing easily. He may very well be getting twice the benefit, getting to work with a bird like Veek as well as getting swimming lessons but Una didn't dare argue for fear he would revoke the offer. Handling Veek would be integral to selling her or even keeping her if she could be convinced to catch her own food and still return to Una.
OOCFeel free to respond to all this and also to progress the story of him getting you settled and etc.
xUna was frowning as she walked into the marketplace once again. The Frosthawk was due over 10 days ago but with the rain and storms it was no surprise they were delayed. She had been looking through the market place everyday since the trader had told her they would arrive. It had been a year since she had vowed to repay Lavira with a Frosthawk and had been delighted to finally make good on the debt. The Marketplace was a cacophony to every sense and her skin shivered. The air was warm at the high elevation leaving a permanently parched sensation in her mouth, this was easily dulled by the marketplace.
Every other day she had skipped into the ring-like arrangement, excited to see the Frosthawk who had caused her so much trouble in Avanthal. Today she walked slowly, staring at her feet. She had been looking for Lavira since arriving but the mountainous city was difficult to navigate and learn and she hadn't tracked the Falconer down. Frustrated she had asked several citizens before finding someone with enough common to bumble through a conversation. Though it wasn't eloquent nor detailed she gathered that Lavira was dead.
Una approached the marketplace this day with dread. She wasn't experienced with birds and had barely managed to feed the beast without having her fingers bitten off, how was she to manage it here? Perhaps she could sell it she wondered. They were pests in Avanthal but certainly such a large and ill-sought bird rarely made it to Wind Reach. She would have no trouble finding a buyer she reasoned. However, as realistic as it sounded she was hesitant to part with the last piece of Avanthal she had been allowed to bring with her. Having left the city under the conditions she had she couldn't imagine ever being allowed to return.
Glancing up she was so caught up in her own troubles she almost tripped over several shoppers and didn't notice the lush goods set out on each of the stalls. At least, not until she heard the familiar Ho of the trader. "Ho! Young lady of the sea!" Turning, forcing her lips to curve upwards at the corners she beamed at the trader. She was genuinely glad to see the man, if not deal with the creature he carried for her. "Ho!" She copied, "How was your travels." "Oh you know, you know." He waved his hands dismissively though Una knew his travels were much harder than he was letting on. Travels always were.
"Hows Veek?" Una queried peeking into the caravan. "Quite a noisy troublemaker miss!" The man chortled, "Had to sleep miles away from the bird to get a wink." Una didn't understand everything he said but laughed politely anyway. "Well, I should get Veek off to the aeries to be cared for after such a rough trip but I would be delighted to help you set up your shop when I'm finished and here about your travels." "Oh yes Miss! As I would like to hear about yours." Una couldn't help but grin. Round and perpetually smiling one couldn't help but be put in a good mood near the old man. Even his helpers were joking in the background, as easily as all Vantha were. Feeling a pang at the thought Una turned her attention back to the beast.
Nearly the size of her Una wondered how she would get the creature to the Aviary without any trouble. After Lavira's demise she had hunted and found it after much effort, but it wasn't an easy place to get to even without the heavy beast in her arms. Disrupted from her thoughts by the whistling trader Una glanced from the bird to the young man approaching. Broad shouldered, and towering over her she instantly recognized the red haired Inartan who had accompanied the trading party in Avanthal. "Help the young lady with the...Veek?..." He glanced at Una and she nodded assuring him he had named him correctly, "Wherever she wishes to go." Easily lifting the bird from the caravan Una released a sigh of relief. "Thanks." She said through a genuine grin having forgotten just how helpful the Vantha were already. Handing over the hundred gold Miza Una nodded to the Inartan and let him follow her as they walked through the heavy marketplace crowd.
Una struggled not to turn back as the climbed the narrow path the Inartan grunting and panting behind her. Long, steep and narrow it was a struggle to carry the weight alone but the wide crate made it impossible to get an easy grip. The end of the crate hung dangerously over the edge of the pathway making Una repeatedly and anxiously warn the man to, "Be careful, be careful.". More to assay her own fears as it had no real impact, the man was being as careful as he could. "Shyke! Will you stop twittering!" The man scolded. In Nari, Una couldn't understand what the man had said but the annoyance in his voice was unmistakable.
Biting back several other comments as they continued up the path Una began to feel dizzy from the height. Her chest laboured to get oxygen from the high elevation. Wondering if they should stop and rest soon Una quickly decided it was a bad idea. There was nowhere for the man to set the cage while they rested nor anywhere to sit without dangling ones legs over the edge which made Unas stomach swim with fear.
Just when Una was sure she was going to be sick they found the platform with the low railing. Several falcons and ravens turned to peer at them but quickly resumed their sunbathing or napping positions. None of them ate fish so though Unas smell doubtlessly intrigued them it certainly didn't remind them of food which was fortunate for Una.
The white floor made Una smile to herself. Everything else in Wind Reach was grey or brown and the familiar luxurious colour eased the blossoming anxiety in her chest. How much was this going to cost? Would they take such an unusual bird? Could they get enough fish to feed him?
Entering the large cave Una wrinkled her nose. The smell of ammonia was rank in the heat. Taking a few steps back, and almost bumping into the Inartan, she jostled him as he set down the cage. Grumbling at her he quickly moved away to sit down and rest for the long trip down with the travelling cage.
Massive, with several birds of various sizes there was none present as large as the Dire hawk within the cage. Two feet tall, it could only have come from Taldera and would be an enormous burden to the aeries she realized.
A man approached almost immediately, not hiding his interest he grinned widely at Una obviously recognizing her species since no confusion dizzied his eyes.
"Una Tanta." She offered her name and her arm. Clasping her forearm in a shake he nodded, "Opolo," He offered in return not taking his eyes off her even as he nodded to the crate, "What have you brought me?" Una couldn't help but blush at his attention, it wasn't very often someone stared with such obvious lust that even she would notice. "O-oh uhm, a Frosthawk." Wrinkling his brow he finally looked away from her to crouch down and peer through the bars "Oh my!" He exclaimed, "She's massive..." "She?!" "Oh yes...she is a she." Una grinned, "Well Veek is a silly name then."
"She is a dire hawk." Una explained, "U-uhm...she eats fish mainly, how much would it be to keep her here?" She asked quietly. "Well...she must eat a massive amount at that size. We can provide her with what we have at 1 gold miza a day but only if you supply her with the other half of her diet." Una nodded trying to keep the horror from her face. She was glad they were willing to keep Veek, but the price was debilitating. She couldn't afford to keep the creature here for long and would certainly have to sell the beast, much to her dismay.
"Alright." She had a hood and jess with Sizzles silver bells sewn into the edges to keep her calm during her travels but it had obviously been removed every once in a while to give her a chance to look around. "I have a hood and jess for hi-her. I'd like to keep her here for a week or two." She suggested offering the man seven gold miza.
Raising his eyebrows Opolo nodded slowly, "Sssssure. We can get her set up, I think the largest of our stands should hold her. Is she relatively tame?" "Not when I last handled her..." Una warned. "We don't normally allow potentially dangerous birds to stay here, especially ones as large as her." The gleam in his eye made her take an involuntary step back. The sun at this height made her white body glow attracting more attention than she wished from others moving about the area.
"I can train her for you...for something in exchange." He offered. Una frowned in response, "I'll teach you and her to work together if you take me for swimming lessons. Deal?" He offered a hand, the smell of the brine wafting into Unas nostrils. Relaxing Una offered her own hand agreeing easily. He may very well be getting twice the benefit, getting to work with a bird like Veek as well as getting swimming lessons but Una didn't dare argue for fear he would revoke the offer. Handling Veek would be integral to selling her or even keeping her if she could be convinced to catch her own food and still return to Una.
OOCFeel free to respond to all this and also to progress the story of him getting you settled and etc.
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