Honor the Fallen (Closed)

[Tiaue'a]

42 Winter 511 A.V. The Courtyard of the Sky, The Tomb of the Fallen It had been two days. The sky had let loose its flurries of the winter season over Wind Reach. The light winds were blocked by the mountain side, and the snow fell in soft flutters to the ground. In the courtyard, the Inarta of all kinds did gather. The Endal, above all, who had the time to spare, were in great attendance. The Chiet and Avora followed suit as well. The Yasi, though discouraged, were peeking from the corridors. Even the dek stopped by during their chores and stared a while during their chores, at least until they were shooed away. The city was quiet in the courtyard as well. There was that sense of being caught up in the moment, being utterly stunned by what was being seen than to actually speak of it, think of it. The Wind Eagles, above them all, were the most attentive to the happening, and biting to those who dare disturb the peace. In the center, members of the upper castes gathered and prepared the sacred remnants of the fallen wind eagle. The investigation had been ongoing since the body had been recovered. No one spoke of it aloud. One might as well confess to the murder with the hype it caused; the eagles wouldn’t be picky as long as there was justice. What fool would slay his own protector? The body had been cleaned and was now being dressed in linen and incense. Broad straps, much like those used on the saddles, were laid underneath and extended into large handles fitted for the eagles. Leaders of the community were nowhere to be found, busy working as always. They might make a guest attendance at the later ceremony, as was the usual, if they could make it. Although the eagle’s death was an unexpected one, it wasn’t something unnatural. The world was filled with death, and the living did their best to make that transition easy going. Six grand eagles, four of which gave wings to Endal, began to land near the handles to the straps. The body of the slain eagle had been secured, and the pieces came together in a massive casket. It seemed they were preparing to transport the ceremony to the Tomb. They were known to be brief, but still, it was always an honor. *** Tiaue`a had heard of the tragedy moments following the body’s discovery. Immediately, as she recalls, she was flooded with rage and confusion. Who would dare…who could even think of such an atrocity? How many lives were sacrificed for this gift, these protectors, and still people spat upon them? The dek, perhaps…it must have been a dek. Ti`ue had only contempt for even the most responsible of the dek, but this, this was a reflection on them all. It justified the scorn they received as a whole. They, the dek, deserved every bit of suffering that came their way. Even the hopeful ones, much like Neis who passed through her mind on occasions as she caught glimpse of the little dek at work, had suddenly seemed to disgust her all the more. She wished that by some means she could pick the assassin’s petching eyes out of his damned skull, but that right was clearly someone else’s. She did not know the eagle, nor if there ever was an Endal for him. If an Inarta did take up that bond of brotherhood, she’d surely find out at the Tomb. Odds were he was among the eagles and Endal that now prepared for the ride to the Tomb. She saw those priests mount eagles of other Endal as well, and they left ahead to prepare themselves at the Tomb of the Fallen for the ceremony. Ti`ue thought of this moment. Who would she have to mourn her if she were to pass into the Ukalas? It saddened her, even more than her present condition. She stared down into the courtyard like her brothers and sisters as the Inarta wiggled around to get a better look. Some Endal were retreating to their eagles and preparing to leave as well. No more than two inarta boarded the backs of the eagles, to keep the pace. They would leave with the body as one and honor their fallen brother in due time. Ti`ue had no one to take. She’d soon be asked to tend to any of the priests or spiritists who needed transport to the Tomb if she wasn’t already occupied. The castes tended to melt together in such an occasion. Naturally, there are still figures of greater importance. Friend, family, they took priority. Even then, deks were still pushed aside for others. Yasi were further discouraged, but some kind fledglings were foolish enough to take them as well. Ti`ue tried to recall if she had heard of bond mates coming together in this way. The touching moments did wonders sometimes.

[Tiaue'a]

“We’re ready,” said a voice from below her. His tone was solid. He was an Endal, and it was questionable at first why he addressed her, until she saw his company. Family, apparently. Ti`ue bowed her head. She gave her time for this, and whoever they were, they needed this. Beyond the demand of keeping them alive and transporting them to and from the Tomb, she wasn’t required to interact. Ti`ue was thankful for that. She wasn’t in a talking mood anyway in light of recent events, this one of course. Ti`ue lowered herself to their level when she was saddled. Her wings spread and her head shot towards the Endal putting it on. Every eagle was special in her own way. This Endal’s might not have minded his feathers being pulled or pinched by the saddle. It wasn’t something she ever thought of in thought of bonding. It was strapped on anyway, and she dealt with the discomfort. The passengers were on, and the Endal called to Ti`ue. He had the air of a flight leader about him. “On my wing,” he called across the courtyard. He needed to over the sudden increasing volume. Something was up. Oh right, time to go. Ti`ue watched as the linen covered form was pulled together under the straps. The body was left downward to symbolize that the eagle still flew with them. She doubted this when she saw the head of the linen droop just a bit more as the eagles began to lift. Each eagle had to synchronize his lift off so there wasn’t a mishap with the body. She saw them spread out, and another flight leader called to them. Soon the six were off the ground being led by a seventh. Ti`ue knew they were all older than her, she saw the experience in their wings, the patience of their stares. This was not their first time, not from many of them at least. The long lived eagles had the time to establish relationships comparable to most mortals, and it made their passing all the more difficult. The Endal called to Ti`ue again and she was off the ground. She felt the jerk in her harness as the passengers gripped for their lives in the take off. Ti`ue almost managed to deal to adjust to the feel of the saddle and forget her passengers. Whoever they were, they were light compared to any catch she had in her grasp before. The harness seemed to restrain some of her movements at first. There was truly minimal resistance to her flight abilities, but her mindset was another difficulty to overcome. She adjusted her flight to keep pace and keep steady. With each jerking of her body, she felt another in the opposite direction as the cargo pulled on her. Rather than fighting gravity the whole way, Ti`ue rolled her back to the flight. With each downbeat she curled her back and they tipped up, and then soared back down a bit as she reset. The living roller coaster ride would take the Inarta all the way to the Tomb. From her back, Tiaue`a heard the gentle sighs of fascination as the caravan gained some height over the city. The troop was bigger than she thought. More were lifting off from other parts of the city, other bond mates most likely. Everyone who knew the Endal or eagle would attend if work permitted. They’d make up their shifts that evening. “Daddy,” the voice of a young Inarta said, “The city’s so pretty from here.” Her words trailed off with that sensation of speechlessness. “That it is. That it is...” The father sounded a tad gruff. For obvious reasons he still would seek to comfort his daughter. Ti`ue fostered thoughts about who these people were, but fought to keep to her business. She tried to ignore them, blot them out from her mind and keep up with the leader of her wing. Ti`ue caught up to the Endal who commanded her and took to his left. She tried to stay above the man’s bond mate, just in case one of the passengers fell. She knew the one was a girl, and the other a caring father, or at least assumed that much. He had a firm hold of his daughter surely. “Look over there,” said the man, and he pointed. Ti`ue could only hear what was going on. She still had to focus on her flight. She felt the little girl shifting on her back and quickly adjusted. It would have the passengers jerking a bit. For all she tried to not care, she could do nothing but. “We’re fine back here, I have her!” The man spoke ahead to Ti`ue, well aware of her intent. Could it be he was once an Endal? Was he just one of those skilled gentlemen in the falconry art? Many possibilities swirled around Ti`ue’s mind. “Thank you for taking us!” A petit voice came over the wind. Ti`ue thought to welcome her, though she thought little of the girl. “She says we’re welcome, daddy.” The young voice was another faint sound in the air of their flight. Ti`ue heard a gasp and giggle, oddly placed among grown men. “She did, did she? Well, I am glad.” The caravan was nearly ready to take leave. They had been encircling the caldera since they took off. The hovering party that carried the remains hovered in the center briefly before they lead off toward the Tomb of the Fallen. Ti`ue sighed and followed her leader and the party. She sighed for what the girl was going to see.

[Tiaue'a]

They arrived soon after; the thin pillar of black smog reaching for the skies marked the destination, the Tomb of the Fallen. Even though they were only arriving, Tiaue`a saw at a distance the grounds were already being prepared for something greater than a disposal. Her sharp gaze peered out to the other eagles around her, their formation not yet breaking. Ti`ue touched down outside of the ceremonial grounds with other eagles. She had pitched her wings up if she could to slow herself and glided down to the earth, warm vents of air easing her down. Beating the air under wing, the eagles kicked up a small storm of ash, surely the remains of the dead rising back up from the Tomb to nourish the earth. These were the ones that did not get far, that didn't fly again. The little girl coughed under the soot cloud and her seeming father, or mentor or overseer of some kind, guided her along with the other Inarta to the high grounds of the Tomb, their flowing garments shifting in the gusts like wisp robes, now coated in black. Ti`ue didn't want to think of why the youth was being brought here. Perhaps tradition, perhaps… it wasn't her concern. The eagles, herself included, began to take off in their spreads as to not smother one another any more than the ash cloud did. She felt her talons drag into the blackened soil, nails like hooks folding through the ash like sand before it met soil some feet down and posed resistance. She kept her gaze forward and upward, bent over and took off from the low dead lands. The eagles were to keep watch and at the least admire the ceremony. Some chose to stay on the ground and observe closely, those who knew the eagle as a friend and carried him here now. The rest of them encircled about the pillar, low enough to keep a close look at the ceremony and watch further outward in all directions, moreover to keep an eye on the vent. Swift eagle wings would swoop down and take the land goers away at first sight of activity. Above all, they were protectors, weren't they? From no high, Ti`ue watched the ceremony commence, and only hear their voices even in thunderous booms as whispers from the sky, or rather she chose to. Her orbit around the vent has become second nature, the gliding just requiring her proper tip inwards, the heat pillar doing most of the work even on her magnificent frame. She was thinking of what kind of protectors they were that this wind eagle, one of their own, could have fallen so easily. That was what had happened, wasn't it? Some man, perhaps, had taken the eagle's life? Perhaps, even she, would rest her head after today and not wake up tomorrow. Perhaps, perhaps… Ti`ue kept to her path and passively watched the duration of the ceremony, however long it was. She did not know. The eagles carrying the corpse, the bird prepared and well-seasoned for the oven of the earth, rose up from their stations and with them the malformed cloth was risen. That was the signal, and at once the eagles crashed from their formation and returned to the guests on the ground. They remounted, the little girl in helpless tears now, the man stoic as far as he would let on and doing what he could to remind the young one of strength and dignity, to hide her tears. Ti`ue saw strength and a lie, though the latter was not worth mentioning. They were liars, after all. Once more the eagles took wing and rose as one, now more than before, a wider formation taking shape. The eagles disappeared briefly into the smoke, a moment of pause, their forms outlined in the darkness, and they watched the body fall, bindings and all, down into the flame. The Tomb splashed up, the force of the eagle only half breaking the lava, the cloth quickly overtaken in flame forever sunken beneath the fire and melted to nothingness, and that's all they were in the end, nothing. Ti`ue held her path, but closed her eyes and thought to look away. The signal sounded again, the flight leaders changing their course. The eagles gathered in a dense cloud around the vent to get lift. Mount Skyinarta, greatest of peaks, would be no easy destination to reach on wings alone on such a gloom day. Ti`ue listened to the tears of the girl the while home, felt her confusion and pain, if only but a vague idea like the faint stench of wet wolves wafted in by the breeze, just barely noticeable. The company broke apart over the mountain, flight leaders commanding the eagles as they went, their Endal equally helpless to command. Ti`ue followed with the crowd, landing back at the Courtyard of the Sky. They glided in and hopped to a stop, then parted ways for the others to land, a circle over the twin lakes forming when they could not land fast enough. Their orchestration was genius. Tiaue`a landed and let her company go, seeing the last of the red in the girl's eyes, yet no more tears, and the man's hand firmly on her shoulder, tucking her close. He was intent - it seemed - on raising the girl to join these Endal. Ti`ue watched the riders slide down from their mounts, a brief conversation ensuing. The Endal who had lost his eagle quickly came to rage, incoherent shouting echoing against the ice coated stone. The blatant crack of a hand on cheek echoed across the Courtyard, a Dek struck down like a plaything, having only been a victim for his presence and command to shovel the snow. His tantrum continued as he exited the court, cursing the murderer and swearing vengeance. Disgraceful of him, a disgrace to even us, for we had chosen him at some point. Ti`ue absently thought aloud. Would you not wish your rider mourn you so dearly? We'd be mistaken to judge him solely on his darkest day. An eagle adjacent her overheard and cared to comment in the Endal's defense. This is true, but I only wonder what he was like that he chose a man so fiery? A creature of passion, I'd think. Where there is such fire there is sure to be life, and with that comes life's loves, and when those loves fade we see wrath, and death, and those who loved that which has died continue down this path if they are able. We could speculate as we please, but let it be known an enemy of eagles lurks in Wind Reach, and should we find him first, we will peck his eyes from his skull and tongue from his muzzle. No such sentience in Wind Reach who would slay that which brings life to our city deserves to be called a man, for he has no honor or shame. Well said, I must agree. I suppose my lack of attachment with any rider of my own makes me distant from the thoughts. Still, I would not underestimate this threat and hope he suffers dearly. Aye, your perspective is one unhindered, but that will change in time. Your plumage is vibrant even in this plain white winter. Spread wing and let them come to you. As for suffering, that seems to be that which causes this cycle to go round. I'd much prefer justice and truth so that this should never happen again. If it has happened once, it will happen again and again afterwards. It is winter, the food is scare, it is cold, and the Dek are desperate. Let's hope we're not the one to become victims again anyway. Let us pray. No, hope. Prayer has done little for this city in comparison to we eagles who hunt and harvest. Speaking of which, we'd best return to the hunt before the Dek resume their search for crude meats and dare to commit such sacrilege again. Your words are ironic, fellow guardian. Your own choleric exceeds that of the Inarta you'd dare to subject to lecture. I wonder what passions you hold inside. I wonder what wrath you would permit. Let us hunt.

[Whimsy]

Tiaue'a

Experience	Lore
+2 Flying	Funeral Befitting a Wind Eagle
+2 Observation	Disdain for the Dek
+1 Philosophy	The Tomb of the Fallen
+1 Rhetoric	Telepathic Communication

Comments
A lovely description of a mournful day in Wind Reach's history. I liked your description of flight. While you did not technically break the lore, don't forget that children are rarely raised so closely to their family. PM me with any questions or concerns.

.