Behind a Blade of Grass (Sam)

[Ariel]

Ariel smiled as she took a moment to look up at the sky. There weren't any birds that she could see, despite its being relatively clear. "Well that would be nice. If they'd let a pycon have one of their precious birds anyway," Ariel replied, before growing quiet for a moment. "It should be quite nice to fly. To feel the air flutter around you, and try to dry your clay. It would be nice... to see the world from way up high. See what they see. They probably see us as so very small, much like you do when you look at me and Rafael." There was another slight pause, "yes, I should like to tame a bird. Of course, it wouldn't be likely that he or even she, and Rafael would get along though." Ariel's smile widened as she tilted her head back down, and then looked up into Sam's eyes. "Perhaps then, Wind Reach would be a good place to travel to. But, the trip will be dangerous, and take so very long to get to. After all, it is so very far away." OOCOhhhh... perfect foreshadowing for the next part of Ariel's adventure!

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

"Well, we have trained birds of prey here, but the Inarta ride birds... so theirs would probably be better for that, you know? I suppose Rafael could always be your mount around the city itself, and you could fly a falcon elsewhere. A different mount for different purposes, you know? You might be the first fun-sized eagle-rider." He chuckled and headed back toward where he had found the little clay woman and her feline companion. There were no plans to purchase an animal just yet, but he would return here again eventually. He had a pavilion to build, bit by bit, and that included animals.

[Ariel]

Ariel giggled. "Perhaps," she said simply. "If the Inarta bother to look down at the ground. So few people do you know, when they walk. They always look ahead, never listening, never truly seeing. They never noticed when a pycon comes along with a kitten for a mount." There was a slight pause, "do you know how many times unobservant people have nearly stepped on the two of us?" she inquired. She would wait for Sama'el to say something before replying, "you know what, I don't know either. It has been so many, it was simply too easy to lose track of them all!" There was a slight pause as Ariel looked down at the ground, they were right back where they had started. He will probably set you back down on the ground soon, and let you be on your way. "Perhaps though, it will be better on the back of a bird. Then, humans have to look up at you and notice, otherwise, they may wind up with sharp talons shredding their face." The pycon gave a little smile, "don't you think?" she asked, as she waited for him to say good-bye and put her back down.

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

"I don't know how I would feel about flying so high above the ground, but I suppose the birds like it..." He smiled dubiously. When he was riding Dohaina across the prairie, he felt like he was flying anyway. Wind in his lengthening hair, cooling his skin. "Anyway, cats are fairly good at tripping people when they want to, and getting out of the way when they need to. They yowl like bloody murder if their tail gets stepped on. Not that I've ever done so. On purpose." He eyed Rafael, who looked innocent enough now, but had claws and knew how to use them. "Don't tell Rafael," he said quietly. "I'm not sure he's entirely sure of me yet." It might have been easier to set her aside, speak face to face, but he continued to glance sidelong at her on his shoulder there. So far so good; she had no reason to stick a needle in his ear and poke around at his brains.

[Ariel]

"That is true," Ariel commented, before adding, "don't worry your secret is safe." There was a slight pause, "even though it would not matter if he overheard, considering we don't speak cat, and he doesn't speak Common or Pavi. It seems unlikely that he should understand what we are saying either," she continued, scratching her head absently with her right hand before placing it back in her lap. "Much like it seems unlikely that we shall ever so much as understand the language of cats." Ariel stared down at Rafael thoughtfully, watching him walk around steadily, his muscles rippling beneath his fur with every step. She could see that even past his tiny saddle. She allowed herself to admire the strength her kitten possessed for a few moments before finishing with, "well we'd best be on our way. Thanks for showing us around Sama'el, but it'd be best if you set me back down now so that we may be about the rest of our day. Surely you have things to do as well." There was the slightest of smiles upon her tiny clay lips.

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

Sama'el was rather sure his attempt at humor had fallen flat with the clay woman, making him feel shorter than she was, but he just smiled and nodded. "Yes, of course. There is that. Although I hear the Myrian Tigers can understand humans, so perhaps the Myrians can speak cat, too. Anyway, I don't want to keep you. I hope you've enjoyed the view." His hand came up, offering a platform for her to stand, his thumb jutting up as a little something upon which to steady herself. Then he set her down beside her little cat whose muscles were hidden from his eyes behind thick fur, but their scales were different, so it was to be expected.

[Ariel]

Ariel stepped lightly back down to earth. "Yes, it was quite lovely. Thank you for showing us around," she told Sama'el as she walked over to Rafael. When she reached him, she raised her left foot to the stirrup, allowing it to settle into the silver, before pushing up against the ground with her right foot. Slowly, she swung her right leg over Rafael's saddle. When she had, she laced her right foot into the remaining stirrup, and grabbed the leather reins which had ridden up Rafael's neck. She held the reins in each of her hands, and looked up at Sama'el, "it really was nice meeting you Sama'el," she called up to him, before allowing her gaze to fall back towards what lay right before her and Rafael. "Come on Rafael, let us go," Ariel called, as she gave him a swift kick in his side, digging the stirrup's lightly into the kitten's flesh as she flicked the reins. Nothing happened. "Uh Rafael, you're supposed to move forward now," Ariel muttered, as she gave him another kick with both legs, and flicked the reins once more. Again, the kitten failed to move. Ariel sighed, as she kicked him even harder with both legs, and then flicked the reins. Still nothing. She flicked the reins more wildly, and shouted, "go! Go! Go!" The kitten did not budge, it didn't so much as blink. Ariel groaned, "maybe the next time you meet us Sama'el, Rafael will be a little more obedient." OOCFeel free to wrap it up, or send the thread in as is. P.S. Ariel is getting some riding exp, for both humans and kittens. Woot Woot!

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

END

[Lariat]

Sama'el

Experience:
Observation: 2
Animal Husbandry: 3


Lores:

A good one eh?
Being careful around a ball of fur
Offering a helping shoulder
Giving Advice to a unlikely acquaintance
Appeasing Rafael
Ariel (Basic)
Pycons like to be called "fun-sized"

Ariel

Experience:
Auristics: 3
(Kittens) Riding: 5
(Humans) Riding: 3
Observation: 3
Intimidation: 2
Meditation: 3
Animal Husbandry: 2

Lores:
Wake up lazy
You aren’t going to squish me?
A shoulder's eye view
Testing out a drykas muscles
Observing a herd from on high
Sama'el (basic)
How to scold a kitten into doing something

Thoughts: Wonderful thread guys, was a pleasure to read. I gave xp where I saw to, if you think I forgot anything let me know.