A Wing's Span (Aurum)

[Aello]

Summer 68, 512 AV Garbed in a simple white dress, stained with the occasional clod of dirt, Aello seemed to draw many eyes. Some of their owner's gazes were fleeting, no more than a cursory glance that wrote her off as one of the poor and the weak. Others lingered a little longer, she supposed those were more curious in the curvature of her body, leading her into their beds, or why in the world she'd allow herself to leave the comfort of her home looking like that. Her hair tossed onto one shoulder. The frayed ends tickling her flesh, jostled against her skin as her body moved into each of her measured strides. Her fist tightened around her bow each time they looked, and her dress swished around her ankles. And her eyes lingered on them too, but it wasn't a curious gaze, as much as it was a hardened look intent on getting a simple point across: that everyone was to back off. The girl was on a mission that day- to find herself some new arrows, considering how her older one's points had grown dull, and encrusted with numerous clods and bits of dirt. Aello supposed it wouldn't be all that difficult a task to complete, considering how she new precisely where to look from her previous excursions into the heart of the city. The thought filled her with a greater sense of vigor, as her thumb idly danced over the soft slope; the curvature of her father's old bow. Her lips curled into a delicate smile that mirrored it as her ears began to prickle- beginning to pick up the sound of not only a larger throng of people nearby, but a bird. The aurist shot a cursory glance at the sky, only to find a sparrow coming near. A sparrow that soon slowed, and settled on her right shoulder. Now comfortably perched on a bed of cotton cloth, chirped. "Well hello Yune," Aello whispered as she wove in and out of the bend, around various people, who at this point, seemed to pay her no mind. "Nice of you to come back for a bit of sport," she added, as the sun flitted through the bird's feathers, and settled on her more barren back. "Shopping in the market," Aello finished, as she turned another corner, and found herself facing numerous stalls and shop fronts. Some of which, may be offering that which she sought.

[Aurum]

The Hunter's eyes picked up every little detail, almost a mile away. A dirt stain on a lady's corset while she flirts with a man with a small piece of straw in his hair. A mouse chewing on some wheat near a sleeping cat. Even a small sparrow landing on a woman's shoulder. The woman's shoes was very dusty. Man, was the Hunter hungry. A shreik from above, another eagle. A shadow dances on the ground so light only a eagle could see. It was circling the woman. If the other eagle tried to get that sparrow, the woman could get really hurt. The Hunter shrieked to the other. This was her town and she wasn't looking for a mate. She dived down and grabbed the sparrow of the woman's shoulder and landed. She held it down to the ground until the shadow pasted. Then she removed her claws and the sparrow's head popped up. He whisled nervously then flew away. The Hunter flew into an alleyway. There was a bright flash. Aurum walked towards the woman, an apologetic look on her face. Then she explained what happened and why she did what she did. "...And I had to hold him to the ground 'till the loner past and got out of my territory. He must have been really hungry to wander so far from the mountains."

[Aello]

Aello's brow rose into a high arch as her dark eyes settled on slits for a moment, before casting a cursory glance at the bird now in hand. At the end of the tail feather she had torn off during the creature's dive. Now buried underfoot, tendrils of soft fabric splayed and fading into the wood, worn smooth beneath her step. Her dagger sending tendrils of ice through her flesh as it began to prickle angrily, spurring her body into attention. Muddied eyes glimmering menacingly now; rose. They settled on paling lips, as a thumb idly strummed the supple curve of her father's old bow. Brow falling into place as blood-stained lips parted. "And one had been led to believe your kind didn't sing," the aurist growled as the velvet petals curled into a smile that did little to mask her penchant for cruelty. "Pity; it's so much more fun when one has to work to loosen a tongue. Even one as thin, and marred by scratchlings as your own." The girl paused as fingers danced over feather, working to calm a thundering heart. "No matter, even though your help wasn't necessary, and you've terrorized my pet, you could still be of service. Come, if you don't want the strings severed, Kelvic," she hissed, before pushing forward. Past her and into the throngs. "Sing if anything seems sharp enough," Aello called, as she pushed herself through market stalls, inspecting each hastily. For none bore what she sought. She grit her teeth in frustration as she continued along. "For when we are done here it's to the Wildlands. Perhaps you can make yourself of use as a hunting partner. And if not that, then you can carry the catch back." There was a pause. "And if you're any good, perhaps you can have their skins as a prize... or perhaps a squirrel if luck should favor you." The woman glowered as she danced along, weaving in and out of the multitude of people, who refused to get the petch out of her way. She jostled them irritably. No one touched her bird.

[Aurum]

What? What?!?!? SHe just saved the woman's bird and the lady is acting like she own's Aurum. No,no,no. Only Marcus could do that, because he was Aurum actual owner. Aurum was an Eagle, a free flying bird, she is not going to let just some lady push her around. That is not what Aurum does. SHe will not take sass because of her race. Kelvic. Stupid parents. "What makes you think I'll listen to some bum off the street that talks to song birds.You don't own me. I only have to listen to my master, who sure as rain is not you. I did you a favor. That other hawk would have maimed your shoulder catching that silly little bird i was kind enough to save for you. THis is the thanks I get? An order? By you? My master is a member of the Black Sun. He is hunted by the Knights. You are just some silly girl trying to make orders like a grown man." She spat at the woman's back and turned away. "I should go, find and eat that bird of yours, I am a bit hungry." Her black dress swished as she stormed towards an alleyway to change to the Hunter. Silly girl, she should buy a slave if she wanted to order people around like servents.

[Aello]

Aello chuckled. "Dear girl, how little you know of the people on the streets. While you are a Kelvic by another master, you are not free. You ARE a slave. You follow orders, whether you like it or not." Her eyes danced over the stalls, and found easily enough, that she had been left wanting. "And if you don't, most everyone here sees you as disposable enough. One could kill you, and it would mean nothing. Perhaps then, you should consider yourself lucky for having your life spared, after such a ridiculous offense, followed by a plethora of your stupidity. And yet, how can one be surprised, when your brain is but the size of a pea?" Aello shook her head, as she shrugged her shoulder, allowing her pack to fall down her arm. She placed Yune inside and closed the top, only to find that the Kelvic had gone. Good riddance, Aello thought, as she jostled her way back through the crowd, and towards the outskirts of the city. Sections of dock worn so smooth by the multitude of people who had tread over them, that she was left to wonder if the wood had ever cast a splinter into those wary of shoes. One can hunt on their own anyway, she thought, I always have, her mind added, as she headed to the farthest section, and pulled up her hooded cloak, before gesturing to one of the men to take her across the lake. He nodded as he ran to untie his vessel at her command, as she lowered herself in, and made herself comfortable. "Whenever you are ready," Aello called, as he finished his work, grunted, and then stepped in with her. Before proceeding to lift his oars, and draw her across the lake, into the forest.

[Aurum]

The Hunter flew behind the gondadla, staying out of sight. Pea sized brain. She contomplated pooping on the woman but decided to she what she was up to. Maybe she could destroy her plans, without the woman noticing the Hunter. The woman walked into the forest after the boatman rowed away. She followed swiftly on silent wings, darting in and out of tree tops, staying out of view. The woman began to hunt in the cool dark shadows when the Hunter noticed something lurking in the shadows. A pair of great green eyes. A bear. The Hunter flew down for a closer look. The bear was thin and looked hungry, it was smaller than most and probably had fought another bear over a female and lost. It probably was driven out of another's territory. And it was hunting. The woman it looked like. Bears don't usually hunt people but desparte times call for desparte measures. The law of the wild. It started to lope towards the woman and the Hunter did the only thing she thought she could do. She dived down and ripped at the bear's shoulder. It turned and snapped it's great jaws at the Hunter, but she was too quick, She soared up and slashed at the bear's back. Soon the bear was over wlemmed and lopped away back into the forest, snapping one final time at the Hunter and caught a few feathers. The Hunter looked over at the woman and landed on a branch. She tilted her head at the woman, waiting for a response to her actions.

[Aello]

With her father's old bow hiked up the length of her left shoulder, and her daggers in hand, Aello tread through the forest. Her boots sinking into the earth, softened by recent rainfall. Dirt clods welled alongside the sagging suede leather of her traveling boots. Stray shards of grass clinging to the remnants of their beds. Crying out each time they were left behind, in but a partial imprint of the sole; the only indication that the girl had ever been, for she made a point to step highly, almost marching, in a rather deliberate manner, so as to cut back on the noise. She made a point to avoid the fallen- branches and debris, to step around the underbrush, lest she rustle the leaves and give herself away. Her ears prickling to pick up any sound that the colors did not betray. For she could see the bear following behind, the bird too. But she feared the bear not, for the aura didn't seemed to pulse angrily as had past threats. Nor did it hammer incessantly, as though it were in heat. The bird seemed less of a problem, a sort of fear welling in its aura. A strange billowing cast by a soft yellow, a bleached sun. With narrowed eyes she watched the encounter idly as she walked along, her hands tightening around the hilts. The bird seemed familiar. Of the same breed as she had encountered before within the confines of the city of Ravok. She wondered if it was the same, considering she couldn't be certain, as she had kept the colors at bay earlier in the day. Sighing, Aello kept on waiting until the bird had chased the bear away, and landed on a nearby branch. Smiling to herself as the creature seemed to cock its head as it stared at her, as though in consideration, she turned to face it. "You know little one, if you keep on attacking those larger than you, eventually their jaws will clamp down on more than tail feathers," the aurist called. "Not so sure you'd like that as much as drawing your talons over fur. Splitting skin, severing the ties that hold fresh, flowing blood in." The girl smiled wickedly as she tilted her head to the side, her long brown hair cascading over the length of her shoulders and towards the center of her back as her muddied eyes grazed over ruffled feathers. They were a shade so similar to the birds she had seen before. The spotting the same. The height of the raptor itself so close it could not be ignored. "You are one of the fliers from earlier, are you not?" Aello asked. "The Kelvic, judging by the lack of dark spots alongside your tail feathers. Funny you should have followed considering our previous encounter." The woman shrugged. "Unless you mean to take up the offer previously expressed," there was a pause as her gaze danced aside, "unless of course, you've come for revenge." With that the woman licked her lips, as though enjoying the taste of the word upon parched, shriveling rose petals. "Which would be foolish enough, considering how the experienced hunter never misses." Her eyes sparkled as they shot back up to her. "And your place, as a pet to one of them will not stop a blade from making its mark," Aello chuckled. "But, let us not think of that. I'm in no mood to fight anything aside from what may be born back. For money, for sustenance... and with the hour there is little time to waste before darkness rises, and shadow settles over the forest for a time." She nodded her head curtly as she turned back around. "So it shall not be wasted. Feel free to come along if you wish. But know, no matter how silently you try to take wing, your presence will always be known." Whether you want it to be, or not. OOCI have no idea how close you were precisely, so I played around a bit, hope you don't mind.

[Persona]

Thread Award! Aello: Skills: Negotiation +2 Rhetoric +1 Stealth +1 Extras: Possession Gained: Aurum’s Tail-feather Aurum: Skills: Observation +1 Rhetoric +1 Stealth +1 Investigation +1 Unarmed Combat +1 Notes: Be careful of Godmodding. Godmodding is a term used to refer to a character that describes an outcome of their own actions against another PC without giving the PC a chance to respond. Even though you may have been trying to help, snatching the sparrow off Aello's shoulder was technically an action against her that she should have been given a chance to respond to, before you automatically assumed success. Roleplaying this way slows the pace down a bit, but also allows for greater interaction between the players. If you feel this grade was unfair in any way, or would like to request changes to this grade, please feel free to PM me and we can discuss it.