Calm Before the Storm (Open)

[Tiaue'a]

92 Winter 511 A.V. Throughout Wind Reach, The Court of the Sky Think of the time when it seemed like tome froze all around you. The falling rain drops became wet pebbles in the air you could lick up with your tongue. The bird in midflight hovered endlessly in the air staring down its prey. The clouds ceased to move. But you didn’t notice these things. There was a greater reason it seemed time stood still. It was the anticipation, and that pause in space was just time slowing down to such a fractional speed that it had the illusion the world knew equilibrium. Your heart races, your lungs fill, your mind flutters all in preparation for what comes next. You know it’s coming, you know exactly what’s coming. You imagine every variance of the occurrence at every time of day. You think of how you’ll react and the infinity possibilities even then, desperately trying to select the most probable and favorable. In the interim of your thought, you still find yourself as still as the moment to come, frozen in place by thought of what comes next. The sun had set perhaps thirty chimes ago, and Ti`ue had retreated to her aerie as per usual. The gentle rolling breeze created from the convection currents of the volcanic vent were stirring over the highest ledges. Her feathers fluttered lightly in the wind. She felt it swirl over the thinner spread near her beak. It was a cool wind, probably warmed by the volcano she noted. That was a plus to living in Windreach, it was generally warm, even in the colder seasons. Snow still managed its way on the highest peaks, of course. She was tired, and it was easy to focus on such things. It put her at peace, it just wasn’t enough. For perhaps the past few hours she had this sense that something was stirring out in the world. She didn’t really know where, east, west, north, south, up…down… It was vexing, and utterly interfered with her plans for the coming day. It wouldn’t wait for her. She’d need her rest for the hunt to come. She looked down at the hustle’n’bustle of the dek. Some would be hard at work throughout the night. Others were up too, but it wasn’t enough to tell them apart. The eagles who still looked on with her also sat outside their aeries looking downward. For some reason it seemed familiar. The crater was always filled with the eagles at one time or another. If they were to all to hunt at once, the lands might be bare. Still it felt empty. She blinked a bit before settling herself a bit more in her spot. She was inward enough to fall asleep if she wanted. She promised herself she’d make her way to her nest soon to rest though. She just wanted a few more minutes to watch the torch lights die off and the city to be in total calm. Calm… it already seemed awkwardly calm.