[Kabrin Road] Birds of a Feather [Ethan]

[Hadrian]

More flight feathers began to grow out of his arms, dark, almost black like his hair. He stood up, a strange bird-man now, and turned around to inspect the long tailfeathers growing out of the last bit of his spinal column, the vestigial tail that all humans hid. The colors were aping his own coloring, pale down where pale skin lived, dark flight feathers on his head and accenting him otherwise. They were useless on his human body, but certainly a step he was accomplishing toward flight. "I think this is about all I can manage right now," he said, suddenly sitting down, careful not to damage his tailfeathers; they felt like they would be tender whether they were working tailfeathers or not. "I'm really not that accomplished a Morpher yet. Claws, feathers, all right. Even some cosmetic stuff to make me look like someone else... But real transformations, those are beyond me." As he relaxed, the feathers began to recede, slipping back into his pores in reverse motion to be reabsorbed by his body as it reverted back to its natural state. He wondered to what lengths Marcus Kelvic had gone to make the transformations of his creatures so stable and so swift to shift. "But next time you go hunting, if you kill any sort of birds, bring them to me? I'd like to study the anatomy of their wings... Although..." He turned his Auristics upon Ethan and blinked, shocked by the detail he was getting. When he concentrated, it was like he could see through the lammergeier, layer by layer, as feathers became translucent, then skin, muscles, bones. He laughed in amazement. "By the gods... I can see your heart beating!" His heart swelled with this newfound dimension of his Auristics, right on the heels of unlocking the secrets of various sorts of feathers, and discovering that he could manipulate earth. All his long years of study and training and self-discipline were finally bearing fruit out here in the wilds of Sylira, far from the ivory towers of the University, figurative though they were. Most of the time, Hadrian Aelius was a bit of a cold fish, aloof, self-contained, but he sat on this boulder in the middle of a stream, dappled by sunlight and leaf-shadow, innocent in his nakedness and joy in discovery, his pride, and the sense of growing security in his ability to protect the people that he... loved.

[Ethan]

Hadrian stood and started to examine his numerous feathers. More primary feathers sprouted out of his fore arms and some even sprouted out of his lower back to make mock tail feathers. Despite his almost skinned look. Hadrian made a beautiful bird. Dark around the arms and head, light around the body. His happiness and enthusiasm made Ethan want to smile Hadrian was so... attractive when he was happy. It was something he needed to do more often. In fact it was something Ethan needed to do for him more often. Self accomplishment was what drove him. Much like his own need to learn. "I think this is about all I can manage right now," He sat down a little awkward, scared to wreck the new feathers he made. Ethan would have to remind him if the feathers didn't bend and give. Then they shouldn't be on his body. They must be able to fold into themselves. "I'm really not that accomplished a Morpher yet. Claws, feathers, all right. Even some cosmetic stuff to make me look like someone else... But real transformations, those are beyond me." Strange... It was a childish thought but Ethan always assumed Hadrian was a master in everything. The idea that his teacher was almost god like. Still clung to his mind, but he didn't mind. Ethan only cawed in mock reply a few times. Letting the other peak and stay in his happiness. This was a big day for the man. He didn't want to ruin it. Ethan looked at his teacher as the feathers and down slipped back into his skin. How did morphing even work? Djed was such an amazing thing and to feel it in a person showed just how powerful it was, but the idea that it could shape water and earth. Form feathers and create wings? It always seemed so impossible. It also made Ethan feel bad for having doubt in his heart. About the magnificent force of his own soul. Ethan's thoughts were interrupted by Hadrian's request of birds the next time he hunted.... Ethan didn't exactly hunt and he was surprised how many people thought this because of his size. That he must be a predator. It was an interesting thought though... Could he become a hawk or falcon? Swifting piercing threw the sky to prey on smaller birds or fish that got too close to the water? Logically his wings weren't built for that kind of speed and swiftness. They were wide and thick. Built to carry bones. Also his stomach wasn't really capable of eating too much flesh. Almost all of his long term nutrients came from bone marrow. So Ethan's fantasy of being a sky hunter. Was squashed quickly by the impracticalities of his own body, but he would definitely bring his teacher some birds. Fighting and killing eagles and hawks should be and interesting feat. In fact he could always sense their Aura as he killed them? Death's Aura would be useful to have. "By the gods... I can see your heart beating!" Hadrian was so excited about his new ability it scared the young Kelvic out of his thought process. Ethan flapped and squawked in fright. Accidentally creeping back to far and falling straight into the shallow water around the boulder. His feathers were soaked instantly with piercing cold water. This only caused more fright and floundering. When he finally got back onto the boulder he mentally cursed himself for always being so deep in thought. He didn't see what was in front of his face.. His quizzical nature would be the death of him some day. Quickly shifting into his human form. Ethan feverishly started wiping the water off his bare skin and rubbing his now freezing body. He hated the cold things with a fiery passion. ”Fucking hate rivers!” Ethan jumped out of the cold water quickly and latched onto Hadrian's warm dry body. Don't you dare move Hadrian, let me warm up! He laughed loudly into the others neck as he hugged his friend. He felt silly and ridiculous but at least it was warm, and that's all that mattered at the moment. After some of the warmth gathered back into his body. Ethan let his beleaguered friend go and gave a wicked smile. ”I did that for warmth. Don't get any funny ideas.” Ethan laughed and slapped his teacher on the arm playfully. ”First, teaching a Kelvic magic. Second, taking on a whole new element. Third, becoming an amazing feathered human, and now being able to see heartbeats with Aura's! ” Ethan was ecstatic for his friend and mentor. ”This has been a very busy time for you hasn't it? I am proud to call you my hatchling!” Ethan laughed and clapped his teacher on the back. ”Pretty soon I will be a master of all magic and you the strongest quickest, smartest bird in all of Mizihar!” Ethan was soaking up the happiness of his friend. It was a bright day, a good day, a day that made him forget every other miserable day til now. It was a day he could be proud of. ”Petching happy you met me aren't you?”

[Hadrian]

Hadrian was a little surprised by the affection, even if it was clear before Ethan told him so that he was merely sucking up warmth. He relaxed, his anthropological training giving him an intellectual basis for understanding even if he still had his cultural hangups. Once Ethan had warmed up a bit, Hadrian twirled his finger in the air, creating a slow moving doughnut of res that sucked at the chill waters that still clung to their bodies, drying them off at the very least. It was Summer, but there was still snowmelt in some of these streams. It was a minor use of his power, but he quickly directed the gathered water back into the stream, not wanting to spend the rest of the day and probably the next all grouchy from an overgiving headache. "Indeed," he said. "Quite glad." Still ignorant of the rest of what Ethan was thinking, he glanced over his slender shoulder in the direction from which he had come. Innocent or not, he was glad that Kendall wasn't there to possibly get upset. One never knew what went on in a woman's head, especially when she was stuck in a man's body and probably more confused than ever. "Shall we head back?" he asked.

[Secret]

THREAD AWARDS Hadrian   Skills Skill Gain Notes Morphing 3 Reimancy 1 Auristics 1 Swimming 1 Observation 1   Lores Reimancy: Geomancy (Basic) Morphing: Fine Tuning One's Feathers Auristics: The Heartbeat   Notes Well done, an enjoyable read. Ethan   Skills Skill Gain Notes Observation 3 Auristics 2 Teaching 1 Swimming 1   Lores Hadrian: Aura of Feelin' Good The Possibilities of Morphing   Notes Well done, I enjoyed every post.