Delicacy-Gypsy-

[Sagittar]

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[atrb=background, i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd415/Somatra1/SBAKC.jpg] "Speaking" Sagittar had arrived in Wonderwhy early that morning, having followed the air into the beautiful land as miles upon miles of unique terrain stretched out beneath his long toes and talons. He had quickly come to realize that he needed to correct his course and head south to avoid the cold air that shrouded the northern territories, intent on reaching the comfort of the ground and finding some food to satisfy his hunger. His keen eye sight surveyed the passing mountains and watched as the ground finally levelled out and the air grew softer and warmer, the sun beating down to heat his black tipped wings. Below him stretched what appeared to be plains, much like the one he had been raised in and he could only hope to find something tasty in the long grasses that flowed like a golden ocean below him. Sagittar’s second soul the secretary bird Serpentius, spoke up in agreement, “Yes, and perhaps we might chance upon a delicious snake dear Sagittar.” Nodding softly in approval he began his descent, circling above the land until he found the perfect spot to land. Opening his wings wide to act as a buffer and slow his descent, he touched ground upon an old fallen tree trunk, long toes gripping the rough dry bark as his talons clawed at the surface. With great fluidity he folded in his wings to survey the land before him, blood red eyes staring in shrewd cunning at the weaving grass. Above him a bird took to the sky, believing the danger to be passed but he let it go, a bird was not what he hungered for today. “There,” screeched Serpentius, “he moves to the grass!” And indeed the deep green snake did indeed seek to pass by unnoticed, sensing the danger to his person in the vicinity. Jumping off the log, Sagittar flapped his wings to help give him speed and ran towards the snake, wings open to allow better manageability. The common snake slithered with increased fear toward the approaching safety of the long grass but Sagittar caught up, grasping the snake by its tail and jumping into the air to fly upwards and let the long creature fall towards the ground, the body landing with a thud. Flapping to stay in the air without any breeze to help him he dove back towards the snake and repeated this step a couple times before the snake finally stopped moving, stunned from the continuous falls upon the earth. Dipping low Sagittar approached the snake cautiously, watching for any signs of movements. Seeing no sign of life he trotted up closer, long elegant tail feathers curled in satisfaction until Serpentius yelled out a sharp warning and he had to dance backwards to avoid the rapid lashing of the snake’s fangs. It was not uncommon for his meal to play dead, and when he moved back he seemed to dance, his movements fluid and graceful as he narrowly avoided the outstretched grasp of the snake. Damn fool, he thought as he grabbed the snake with a long talon and proceeded to quickly slice it open, waiting for its shakes to pass before bending down to tear at the soft white meaty flesh greedily. "Delightful.” He said to no one in particular, his deep voice ringing out as he licked his maw, eager to find some more sustenance. By his very nature he was a hunter, and his second soul consistently urged him to hunt and find food and for the last several hours Sagittar had silenced his second soul in his haste to reach Wonderwhy by the morning. Now however Serpentius came back with a hungry vengeance, nagging and harping on Sagittar to find more food. “Come now, get a move on, I grow hungry again!” Serpentius nagged even after just having received his fill of snake. “Patience!” Sagittar reprimanded, scanning the horizon for any other prey for he too was still quite hungry. “The territory is unfamiliar to us, we must exert caution friend.” He walked along the ground, his double pointed tail swishing languorously out behind him as he sniffed and pawed at the ground, running his talons through the earth. A couple beetles scurried out with his diggings and he hastily proceeded to lap them up, crunching their stark shells with relish. The day was already bright with a few deep red rays lingering to caress the plains, the stillness palatable and entirely soothing to his ears. A far off screech of what sounded like a large bird reached his ears but he dismissed it, unaware that there might be danger far off. For now he was intent on foraging and hunting, the vivid mask upon his face highlighted by the warm light of the sun. He had lost his teacher in the past few months; it was through him that Sagittar had been saved from his own violent self-destruction and by the Eremus’s teaching that Sagittar had found a degree of peace that would allow him to survive his own terrible guilt. Sure, he wasn’t healed and still felt the oppressive weight of his sister’s death and the slaughter of his pups on his shoulders, but it was a bearable weight that he could live with carrying around to seek penance for having failed his family. S a g i t t a r' s . S o n g

[Gypsy]

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[atrb=background, i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd415/Somatra1/gback-2.jpg] "Speaking" The day was dawning, crisp and cool that came with early spring. A dark, lithe from stepped her was gingerly through the swtichgrass, despite her long legs the grass came up to her chest. Bright blue wings fluttered softly on her back, the colors catching the early rays. She had needed a break from the cold Taiga. It had been more than dull since her pack relocated to the Enclave's territory. She had hoped being around a pack of mostly males that she would have had more pleasurable entertainment, but no luck. So she opted to go wandering around again. Her alphess was safely settled in, and Gypsy didn't have any pressing duties to tend to as beta, so she went to go amuse herself. She found herself in the plains, a nice respite from the frigid snow. The early signs of spring were around, a few wildflowers, greener grass, and her main reason for seeking this place out, eggs. She knew that game fowl laid eggs about this time, she had already succeeded in finding a quail nest and indulged herself to a couple of them. She didn't want to eat the entire nest, partially because she had a bigger entree in mind. In her many years of travel she had found, on a few occasions, the rare delicacy of avverian eggs. Giant eggs from giant birds that were to die for. Well, not quite die for, but they were worth the risk of injury at times. The trick was to find an unguarded nest, which was just as rare. She was feeling lucky this time though. Maybe she could use this grass cover to her advantage. She would have to observe the area to see if she could even find a nesting pair of avverians. Her silky black fur rippled across her lean, shapely body. The blue baubles of her antenna bobbed up and down above her cold, blue eyes. The weather seemed to prove fair for the day according to her instincts. Her eyes did catch some movement a ways off. A white and black from was flying up and down. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. What was that? She got a little closer, and folded her wings together so the blue no longer showed. It was the brown underside of her wings that were visible as she tried to keep a low profile. The color combination was visually appealing, so she kept watching until he didn't come back up. She snorted a little in derision. She glanced back down at the ground and saw another nest of small quail eggs. She bent her neck and crunched one open before licking out the contents. As she was snacking she noticed that her pelt that she worked so hard in keeping up had gathered a few burs. Glaring at the slight to her beauty she sat down and began picked them off with her teeth. Her long, white-tipped light weight tail seemed to float up behind her as she worked her grooming. She supposed this was one bad side to trekking through the long grass. Once she was satisfied with her grooming job she stood up and shook out her dark pelt. She gave a confident smirk and opted to keep on her way. A sound in the distance caught her attention. Her triangular ears twitched toward the call. An averra! That was where she could start her dangerous egg hunt. She began trotting toward the noise, trusting that the distance was too great to worry about stealth just yet. However it didn't take her long to realize she was not alone. She stopped her trot and turned her head toward the dual toned....myou that was a few yards away. She didn't say anything, she just set her emotionless gaze on the male, wondering if he would attempt to attack her.

[Sagittar]

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[atrb=background, i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd415/Somatra1/SBAKC.jpg] "Speaking" Sagittar looked up from his grazing, sensing he was not alone in the vast plains, his blood red eyes seeking and finally connecting with dark aloof ones. Perking an ear forward he raised his head and contemplated the wolf before him, she smelt like a female and there was no doubt that that stature was all feminine. Her sleek black body was complemented by intricately adorned wings and antennas that spilled out soft light so characteristic of Sennyos. Why was she staring so, he wondered? “Shove off and push on!” Serpentius demanded, still hungry and looking forward to perusing the rich land. Shaking his wings Sagittar ignored his second soul for the umpteenth time, returning the female`s gaze. Where her eyes were cool and distant his blazed with inner vibrancy, like blood diamonds alight and hungry for life. Sagittar did not hide emotions so much anymore; he embraced them for his teacher had taught him that withholding and stuffing them would ultimately result in choking. Raising a brow questioningly he spoke from a distance, his voice unusually deep as though it vibrated from within his soul though his words were not eloquent, “Good morrow, do I tread upon your hunting grounds lass?” His r`s seemed to roll of his tongue roughly as he approached the sennyo, his movements full of a fluid casual grace, much like a dancer’s. The double tipped black feathers of his tail swept out behind him, long in length they swooped elegantly upon the ground. Supposing he could certainly gather some information from the lass if she was a local he gently questioned her, “Are ye from this area lady, for I seek fair game and would be much obliged if ye might direct me to a place I could hunt without impeding on another`s gaming land.” It was an inquiry to see how canny this wolf was, for he had not smelt any other wolf`s scent upon his descent and did not suspect her to be proprietary about this land. No, Sagittar was simply giving her the common courtesy of the doubt given he could not disrespect a dame as all males had an obligation to assist the other gender and treat them with due respect. In the distance another odd call sounded off, pulling his attention away for a brief second as a light frown crossed his face. What kind of a beast made such a noise, he wondered? Hunger came to gnaw at this stomach once more, reminding him of why he was here. In the grasses nearby something rustled and scurried off, a meal that could have been his no doubt. Sennyos were an odd lot, he mused, he had yet to meet one that qualified as anything approaching the norm, which really did not bother him at all, twas but an observation. His mind distantly recalled the advances of one bright green female, she had been a treat to lay his eyes upon but nothing more than a night had come of it. Sagittar seemed incapable of becoming attached to others, he had lost so many in such a short period of time that he had shielded his heart from building any lasting relationships. To what end if he could not keep his mate and brood safe? A male was supposed to be able to care for his family, to offer strength and resilience for them in difficult times, failure to meet these requirements was a sin in the least. Sagittar still mourned losing his pups and his mate, they would have been happy together but he had not been able to save them anymore than he had been able to save his sister. And so he forced himself to remain politely distant from females, offering simple respect and occasional chivalry, but in reality he was no hero, simply a mercenary floating on the breeze. Besides, any female that recognized him as her other half would be forced to live with his shady past as well, and Sagittar would not wish that upon anyone but himself. Serpentius remained quiet in the wake of this admonition, the second soul was not one that enjoyed dwelling in emotions despite Sagittar`s pledge to experience all but love. S a g i t t a r' s . S o n g

[Gypsy]

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[atrb=background, i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd415/Somatra1/gback-2.jpg] "Speaking" Her shielded gaze hid the contempt that was welling up within her. She was biased against a number of creatures, those that could fly were one of her least favorite. The male that stood before her could clearly fly, she recognized the stark contrast of his pelt from the beast she saw earlier. He also smelled of wolf and fowl, a myou. Myou's held a special place in her cells of loathing that held grudges for decades. For now though, her ears twitched as his voice made her focus on him. he had a pleasing tone to his voice, she had to give him that. Foreign, not from around here. To the question, she answered with cool courtesy, "They are not my hunting grounds....they are unclaimed as of last summer." She gestured toward the remains of the scorched earth in the not too far distance. Scars from a wild fire that the land was just now recovering from. Some areas had been spared, or bounced back quicker than others. But the evidence of the fire was still around. "No, I am not from this specific area. But I am searching for a type of game myself." She looked over his form, taking in his fitness and appraising his worth to her for the rest of this conversation. The call seemed to come right on queue. She turned her head toward the sound and smiled lightly, "If you like eggs, I think we can arrange something that would mutually benefit us both." She did not flinch away when he came closer, instead she stood her ground. Her ear also twitched at the movement in the grasses. She followed his gaze briefly before stepping closer and closing the gap between them. She looked up at him, only falling short of him by a few inches. Her tail twitched a little as she demanded his attention again with her body language. "I trust you heard that sound? That comes from a giant bird that roams this area. They may be nesting about this time and they have four pound eggs." She gave him a dangerous look, tempting him to accept her offer. "They are not easy prizes, but if you can manage to get one they are delectable." Without waiting for his answer she started toward the sound, allowing her tail to linger near his nose as a lure to pull him with her. She glanced over her shoulder after a few strides and looked at him once more, "I could use a strong male's help." She gave him a coy smile, she knew that many males liked to feel wanted and needed. So why not throw him a bone. As long as she was feasting on giant eggs tonight, she didn't care what she had to do. Her love for this dish was pushing aside her bias. (((Urg....sorry for the crappy post))

[Sagittar]

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[atrb=background, i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd415/Somatra1/SBAKC.jpg] "Speaking" Well she wasn`t the most warm of lassies, Sagittar thought, though he could hardly expect an abundant greeting from a total stranger now could he? He was really starting to wish he had gone after that thing in the bushes, his hunger had returned and with it Serpentius`nagging had increased. He might certainly have left the wolf standing on the spot had it been a male, tact and caring around them was not a concern of his, but this was a female and it would not do well to leave so abruptly. Tearing his hungry gaze away from his would be prey, Sagittar listened to her speak, pleased that these were no one`s lands. That would have been the final straw and conclusion of the matter for the Myou and he raised his voice once more to give his farewell. “Very well, my thanks madam, tis a good day when one happens upon unclaimed lands and so I bid you...”However his farewell was cut short when she spoke once more. Eggs? Oh yes, he certainly enjoyed eggs sometimes even more than snakes and his mouth began to water greedily at the thought."See what she has to say, we may very well have a meal ticket!” Serpentius noted excitedly. Nodding his assent, he decided to stay and listen to what this vixen had to propose, ears twitching in the direction of the call. What bloody bird makes such a racket, he wondered? His gaze returned to rest on the female before him, direct and naturally intense he put force a fierce disposition without much difficulty and had anyone alive known his true personality they might have identified him as passionate in his life occupancies. His teacher had found him to be a very clever and cunning student, quickly taking to being a mercenary and enveloping himself with his lessons with a fervour seen by few in the field. His mate might once have described him as ardent and attentive and any small affairs since then would have labelled him as intense. It was all a matter of perception, and Sagittar simply did what his instinct helped to direct him to do. When the sennyo broached the gap he had set he did not move, impassable and at ease with the close proximity and he met her gaze with a mildly curious one of his own. The long black feathers adorning his neck rising a bit with his curiosity and he resisted the urge to cluck in impatience for his teacher had instructed him that the greatest power was that of patience. "Fickle fettle", Serpentius huffed," I want those eggs Sagittar, can`t you get her to hurry?" "Be silent fool, Sagittar commanded, "your quickened response will cause us the loss of this good hunt." Sagittar saw the look she gave him, however he payed no attention for his training had given him a shrewd sense of calculated thinking and his mind was at work debating her proposition. For all he knew she could very well be an agent from one of his enemies, sent to act as a lure given her enticing appearance. His gaze hardened slightly, for her sake he hoped she wasn`t for his wrath would be harsh no matter what gender the ones that thought to conspire against him were. Either way he would agree to partake in her venture, he would gain a meal, or she would gain a dangerous foe. In a mildly amused voice he responded, “That so? Well nothing good ever came easy, couldnae hurt to put a wee bit of energy into this I expect.” He gave her a conspiring wink, though there was nothing suggestive in his gaze. He would certainly relish in lapping up some eggs, and the thought of having four pound eggs at his disposal brought a light to his eyes. Twould be a good feasting for sure, he decided, and he moved to follow the female. “Twill be an equal split lass, though you may take the extra should the number prove to be odd, does this suit you?” He said while moving, oddly silent for his odd shape, however the myou was at ease in such an environment, it was his practice to hunt in similar grounds. S a g i t t a r' s . S o n g

[Gypsy]

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[atrb=background, i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd415/Somatra1/gback-2.jpg] "Speaking" She herself didn't have any interest in seducing this male, today at least. She was much more interested in using his strength and supposed skill to help her get something she wanted. She allowed an amused look to cross her face as he stood stone still when she came up to him. Well well....he would be a tough nut to crack....could be fun She raised a brow as she watched his mind change from farewell to acceptance. She was curious at his hardened gaze, did he think she was trying to lure him into some sort of trap? Cute. Perhaps he had a different past than most young wolves she ran into these days. She suspected he might be fun to tease mentally if she liked how this hunt turned out. She also suspected he might be a smidgen dangerous to mess with like that. That in itself was appealing as well. If anything it would be a fun conversation for her if that chance came to pass. She continued moving away from him, pausing to hear him as he set up the arrangements for their hunt. She herself was trying to figure out the logistics of what was going on. She flapped her wings lightly and kept stepping over the high grass, expecting him to be following. "Depending on how many birds we see...one of us might be needed for a distraction. I suppose we will see which one of us can get the most attention." She gave him a shining smile, that was laced with mischief. She was getting excited for the hunt, considering she didn't usually cooperate with others in a hunt, nor actually hunt. She kept a pretty good clip as she wove through the taller of the grasses. She paused now and then to listen for the calls of the birds. When ever she did hear one she would modify her trajectory slightly and continue moving. She trusted that the male knew how to keep a low profile and keep up, he had long legs and didn't seem to be out of shape. Soon the grass started thinning slightly and she could make out a relativity packed down area. Perhaps a herd of ungulates had been by. She scanned the ground for nests quickly. It didn't take long for her jewel like eyes to catch a scratched patch of dirt. She recognized those claw marks. She stopped moving and glanced silently over her shoulder at the male. She said nothing, but her gaze told him to be quiet. She gestured him closer to show him the mark that marred the ground. While he looked she gazed around for the anomalies that marked where nests were. She couldn't see any from this angle and lowered herself to hide in the grass as she began to slink around the edge of the clearing. Having a dark pelt made stealth hard for her, but she made due with what she could. She listened again, suspecting that the birds were close by.

[Somatra]

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[atrb=background, i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd415/Somatra1/SBAKC.jpg] "Speaking" Sagittar wasn`t certain what to make of this sennyo, she was a rather odd type coming up to him with such confidence and proposition such an agreement without getting to know his person. It caused the mercenary in him to double his guard, suspicion lacing his intense eyes as he tried to unravel the puzzle that was his new acquaintance. However the male in him simply wanted to accept the bargain for what it was; a chance to hunt and gain a damn fine meal as a result. “Giant eggs, you must be touched in the head to even have to debate the matter! Giant eggs Sagittar, go get them for the love of Great Spirt!” Serpentius groaned in exasperation, his second soul a little less restrained in his needs than Sagittar. Wishing he could kick his second soul into submission his long back feathers rose, increasing his height and marking his annoyance. With a smirk on his face, the male noted dryly, “Depends, are we making reference to flamboyancy or skill? Because I think you will not find me wanting in either.” His smirking turned to a challenging grin, the myou was known for possessing flair and adept abilities, but which would prove more useful was yet to be seen. Well there was nothing to it except to follow the saucy female into whatever lay ahead, be it great eggs or a great trap, either way the experience would be interesting. Already the sennyo had advanced into the long grass, her shapely legs moving with ease and silence as she hunted with graceful movements. Amused, Sagittar could not suppress the smug smile that he would take the rear and therefore be able to monitor her body language. His wings folded in tight to his body, draping it in an odd monochrome cape as he crept along behind her, long legs permitting him to almost dance through the grass in a similar silent fashion. His head feathers were plastered against his neck like long ebony serpentine shapes as his blood red eyes pierced brazenly through the grass, trying to see what the female was looking for in her search. As the grass rustled or a bird called out the sennyo would change directions, moving with expert ease through the swaying ocean of dry vegetation. Sagittar wasn`t the type to consider females to be without strength, though he had the tendency to treat them with a certain degree of finesse, and he could not help but admire the way this one hunted. Certainly he had no interest in this female beyond a casual hunt, given he simply could not get past his own guilt to really feel in such a manner for a female, but all the same her techniques led one to admiration. With a lean and hardened body Sagittar did not attempt to follow her ways, he simply used his own that he had tailored to suit his purpose, gliding through the grass like a fish through the reeds. His longer toes allowed him to almost move in dance-like movements, completely at ease in his own body there appeared to be a calm rhythm as he stalked. When she turned to indicate something she had found on the ground he moved closer, leaning in to sniff at the odd scratch marks on the ground. No doubt this was a bid bird to have made such marks and Sagittar memorized the unusual scent to memory, hoping this if this catch turned out bountiful he might repeat similar proceedings in the future. The grass here was thinner and Sagittar had to crouch lower to remain obscured, tail feathers curling at the end in anticipation. Surely they must be close now given the scent was fresh? Feeling less that he was being led on Sagittar nimbly followed the female as she began to circle the makeshift clearing, his deep red eyes scanning the grass. With a bird of prey`s enhanced sight he was more at an advantage and as another rustle in the nearby grass reached his ears he paused to scrutinize the area where the sound had originated. Through the thick stalks of grass a rough and thin leg was visible, if only barely, and with a sharp inclination of his head Sagittar directed the sennyo`s gaze to his find. Unsure of what type of bird they faced he moved with considerably more caution, almost flat on his belly as he wiggled his way closer to try and spot these so called giant eggs. His eyes fell upon 4 large oval shapes lying in a nest like formation, visible through the long creature`s leags. His eyes burned brightly as he almost caressed them with his gaze, what a delightful meal they would be, but what now? Turning his head to the female he gave a silent question with a teasing grin, would she prefer to be birdy bait given he could transport the eggs with more ease, or would she want him to serve as a bait while she made off with the prize? S a g i t t a r' s . S o n g

[The Creature Account]

The morning had been cool and breezy, nothing was really stirring as the sun touched the dry grasslands. When the rays reached a small clearing, the warmth brushed over the feathers of a pair of large birds. The male was beginning to stir, he lifted his great head off the ground, his keen eyes blinking lazily in the sun. His golden plumage seemed to blend with the sun kisses grasses. He quorked a morning greeting to his sleeping mate, who was encircled around the other half of their nest together.

She opened her eyes quickly and lifted her head to look around suspiciously. Her light brown pelt seemed to match the shadowed grasses around them as well. She peered over at her mate and bobbed her head in greeting before laboriously getting to her feet. They were both young and inexperienced, every sound was a potential threat to her clutch. She clucked her beak together to return to greeting and began to preen herself. She found herself quite hungry so she began to poke around in the grasses for potential furry morsels.

Her mate struggled to his feet as well, their bulky bodies make it awkward for them to stand up and down. He flared his wings, one of the golden primaries brushed over one of the eggs, moving it just barely. The female whirled and screeched at him. Her voice echoing over the plains. He backed up, raising his bright blue crest in defiance as he screeched back at her. They hissed and bickered for a moment, then the male slunk away head low and apologetic.

For the next few moments the stalked the rushes occasionally coming up with a bite of rodent, but all in all not too much prey was to be had this close to the nest. The female would constantly look back at her nest, while the male seemed aloof to the dangerous shadows that seemed to be haunting his mate.

The male soon stumbled upon a burrow and called loudly over to female to get her to help him dig and look for escape holes. The excavated for what seemed like an hour soon the female pulled her head up with a squirming prairie dog and shook it to kill it. She began eating greedily. Her strong mate came to get his share, but only received a hiss and snap. He screeched his displeasure at her, then carefully stalked in, pretending not to want any. When she was distracted by a sound he snapped up the morsel and ran off with it.

Having lost her prize she chased after her mate scolding him with screeches and clucks. She chased him for a few yards then stopped at the edge of the clearing. She clawed the ground in displeasure and stalked back to the nest area. Her scaly legs cast shadows on her nest as she waited for her mate to come back. He was making a wide circle around the area she watched him with renewed interest. She knew he would keep hunting, and by all power in her she would take his morsel. The wind made the grass make funny noises, but for the moment she didn't care. She called to her mate, the thinly veiled threat there. He called back and kept hunting. She took a few steps away from the nest and kept watching the moves of her mate so many yards away.

[Gypsy]

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[atrb=background, i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd415/Somatra1/gback-2.jpg] "Speaking" She glanced at the male, her cold gaze answering his smirk with a calculated stare. She measured him again. He was stronger, and the eggs that she finally saw were big. Her delicate jaws could not grasp them quickly or firmly enough to get out unscathed. She was fast and light on her feet. She looked at him, then to the nest, then back at him. She hoped that the command was clear. 'Get the eggs.' She stepped wide and began moving away once more. She had been lucky in the past to find unguarded nests. On a few occasions she had played a clever trick to distract the lone sentry. She planned to use that same trick now. To play on how curious the massive avians were. Get their attention and get them away from the nest long enough to come back and snatch one. She had recalled hearing two birds, but at the moment she only saw the one. She looked up out of the tall grass and saw the towering bird not far off. She had to keep it interested. Instead of drawing attention to herself all at once, she would draw the bird away bit by bit. She moved diagonally away from the nest and wide enough to be out of the direct line of sight. She stood a little higher, attempting to keep herself mostly hidden beneath the grass, save for her wings. Her jewel like eyes watched the female bird. Quickly she flicked open her wings, exposing the bright blue for a second before snapping them together again so only the mottled brown showed. She made sure her antennae were smoothed down her neck, hiding the blue of that as well. She ducked back in the grass and moved a few feet quickly away and did it again. She would flick her wings open to attract the attention, then move on. It was not long before she could hear the heavy foot falls of the curious bird as she began to move further and further from the nest. Now and then she would lift her feather-light tail up so the white tip would get the attention. She knew that the bird would catch up soon. Finally she lifted up her head to see if the bird running toward her. That was when she saw a second bird in the distance. She hoped it would not notice the lurking egg thieves as well. If she was lucky, she would keep the attention of the one bird while he winged companion took care of at least two of the eggs.

[Sagittar]

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[atrb=background, i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd415/Somatra1/SBAKC.jpg] "Speaking" The secretary bird myou watched with keen interest as the scene unfolded before him, the two large birds were a curious matter to behold and their bickering amused him greatly. However the fact that there was indeed two of them posed a problem to their current objective, the stakes would rise if one had to distract both. Lucky for them their bickering resulted in the female scolding the male enough to send him on his way, reminding Sagittar much of the way many mates in different species interacted. And of course, once again, it was the female that got her way, things did not change all that much and a wry smile flickered onto his maw. Frankly he had never seen such large birds before, and as he studied he deduced they weren’t of the flying variety, their wings did not seem large enough to support such a grand body, but their legs indicated that on the ground they would be rather versatile runners. When the male was finally far enough away the female Sennyo moved into the grasses and away from the nest, beginning the process of captivating the bird’s interest. Sagittar nodded in understanding, he was larger and could carry the eggs off with more ease, however part of him wasn’t comfortable with allowing the female to take the risk of getting caught while he made off with the goods. Maybe it was his gallant nature, or his failure to protect the ladies he cherished so in the past, that had formed this manner of thinking, but either way he was left with a sour taste in his mouth. Still, his job wasn’t without risk, if the averians noticed he was the one that posed more of a threat then it would be his hide that they would try and tear into. The solution was quite simply; don’t get caught and the bounty was just too rich to allow for mistakes on his part. He crouched down lower in the grass as he watched the nimble sennyo flounce off, his vivid red eyes watching with interest as she used her assets to her advantage, drawing away the bird with the vibrant colors that graced her intricate wings. The bird fell for it with ease, perhaps this was a curious beast by nature, and it followed her through the underbrush, pausing when the sennyo would once again hide, only to speed up when she appeared farther away. His time was now or never, and with the male averian off Sagittar knew he had but precious moments to snatch up the eggs. He would have to fly to transport them, it would be tricky to take off and once in the air he would no doubt attract the large bird’s attention, but if he could get high enough his large wingspan would carry him well out of the bird’s reach, and the sennyo would simply have to follow him until he would deem it safe to land. Sizing the large eggs up he decided that he could only safely transport two, one would fit in his jaw and the other he would wrap one paw around, his longer than normal toes and extended talons would secure it in place. Naturally this meant he would be taking off with only three paws, but it was still manageable all in all, he was an adept flyer and trusted his abilities. Moving out from the cover of the long grasses he moved with lithe and confident steps, silent in his hunt as he glanced about for anything that would give his presence away. The female began to wander farther away, but he kept his ears trained for any signs that the other bird would return as he advanced, coming up to the large eggs that rested unguarded. Serpentius gleefully exclaimed, “By Gove, look at them, what a beaut’ of a meal, get your ass into gear, we gonna have us a grand feast!” The second soul’s enthousiasm was infectious, but Sagittar kept his focus, wrapping one paws securely under one egg he lifted it up and tested the weight, it was heavy, but nothing he couldn’t handle. Then he latched onto the other with his jaw and lifted it up, turning his head one way and the other to see if the cost was clear enough for him to try and take off. It still seemed relatively safe and so he began a lopsided canter, picking up ground speed through the long grass before finally pushing off with his hind paws and deploying into the air. The black tips of his wings beat with fervour as he slowly began to rise, the take off was not ideal for maximal speed. Grunting with his effort to not drop or crack any of the eggs he finally felt the wind rising to help him and he began to move steadily higher, using the growing currents to soar with increase manoeuvrability. It was time to rescue the sennyo from her pursuer and so he flew towards the distant shapes, flapping his wings so that the air cracked and drew the bird’s attention to him. From there he soared lower, displaying his catch to both his cohort and the bird and then with a coy wink, took off, flying with breathtaking speed away from the field for he knew that although the bird would try to follow it would not be able to keep up. He would double back and find Gypsy after the averian had given up pursuit to deliver her share of the catch. S a g i t t a r' s . S o n g

[The Creature Account]

Her gaze was taken from her mate to return to grazing. However she thought she heard another noise and hissed a warning to nothing in particular. Her golden eyes scanned the terrain. THERE! She saw the grasses moving, another prey item? No it seemed too large. She fluffed up her feathers and lowered her neck to stalk towards the noise. To her surprise a bright color flashed to her right. What was that? Her curiosity made her keen to figure it out. She turned away from the hiding wolf and trotted over to where she had seen the bright color. Where was it?

Then a few feet away she saw it again. She clucked and followed after it. Her pace steady and determined, all thoughts of her nest was out of her mind. She wanted the pretty color. She chased the flashes all around the grassland. However, there was a flash of white at one point. Wait. That wasn't the same thing was it? It was larger than she had originally thought. She had assumed it was a wounded bird or something. She was beginning to grow suspicious. Then her fears were realized when the wolf showed herself. A black tall wolf. The one with butterfly wings! She screeched her rage and charged at the wolf.
--
The screech of his mate got his attention. He turned his head back to where he had left his mate and their nest. He was alarmed that she was so far from the nest and not even looking at it! What was she doing?! Then he saw a dark shape running from his mate. t had blue wings on it's back. A nest robber! He turned on a dime to go join his mate's pursuit. However he stopped in his tracks when he saw a larger form at his nest. He bellowed bloody murder at the white and black wolf and changed direction to go attack him. His head was low, ready to rip into the flesh of the thief. His large legs carried him quickly, however he had noticed too late. The other wolf had bigger wings....he was running to catch air.

The wolf had escaped the male. His massive neck swiveled to investigate his nest. Two eggs were missing. He hissed so low it almost sounded like a growl. The flyer was heading toward his mate. He stood as high as he could lifted his neck and made a guttural noise that sounded like a forceful coughing call that acted as an alarm call. Once he sounded the alarm he decided it might be best to go help her instead. He wasted no time, he broke out into a full run to help her attack the non flying wolf that was so near their nest while eggs were being stolen.

--
The female snapped at the wolf whenever she thought she was close enough to get a good bite. She would not tolerate any wolf so close to her nest. However, an alarm from her mate made her turn her head just in time to see a second wolf. WITH HER EGGS! She screamed in such a high pitched screech that any small creature in the area would have been petrified still. She took a massive clawed foot and lashed out at the sennyo before attempting to run after the wolf with her eggs. She was well muscled and one of the quickest tings on land. However a flyer was no match. She charged after him as far as she could.

Her rage was boiling inside her. She turned to see her mate continuing pursuit of the sennyo. Life for life! She turned to block off the escape of the female wolf. Closing the gap between the three figures as quick as she was able. Even though the averrians were primary scavengers, they knew how to hunt when the need arose. This was as good a need as any the young female bird knew.

[Gypsy]

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[atrb=background, i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd415/Somatra1/gback-2.jpg] "Speaking" Her maneuverability was all that was keeping her from losing a limb. She danced back and forth from the enraged female, trying to stay a hairsbreadth away. Her ears and antennae were now folded down, her wings were flashing now and then just to keep the bird from focusing. She needed to get out and soon. She could feel the percussive force of that toothed-beak snapping inches from her face. She needed to get away, and now. She was not as fast as the birds, but perhaps she could outwit them. Another bellow from further off made her heart sink. The second bird was aware of the situation now. Dammit. However the female hesitated long enough for her to leap away a few more precious feet away from the giant bird. Her gaze was drawn to the sky as her partner in crime swooped in low. He had the eggs, good, she could make a getaway. The female charged away after, sending clods of dirt in her wake. One hit Gypsy in the face and she had to stop to shake it off. Just as her eyes were clear she say the golden male bearing down on her. She darted the other direction, desperately seeking some sort of shelter. He was far enough away that she had a decent head start. However his long, powerful legs were closing the gap quickly. She jumped over an ant mound and could see the the female bird decided to intercept her. Dammit! She had to think quickly. The male was close the female closer. She had to act. She quickly changed her pace to charge straight at the female bird. She needed the bird to make a move to hit her. Her plan was to dodge around at the last second and hopefully cause the birds to either collide or ...she didn't know. Something. Her chance was coming. She snarled as if she was going to attack the female in front of her. At the last second she feinted left and ducked as low as her willowy legs would allow. She made for a dead sprint toward the trees. Her muscles were screaming and her chest was pounding. However deep down the thrill of the adrenaline was making her head spin. Even though this meal was a lot of work, it was something she always enjoyed. Flirting with danger was like an addiction for her at times.

[Sagittar]

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[atrb=background, i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd415/Somatra1/SBAKC.jpg] "Speaking" For a moment he thought his interjection had worked to help Gypsy gain an exit, Sagittar flying just out of range as the mother’s beak came snapping at his tail feathers. Wouldn’t want to be loosing them, he thought with exaltation, might ruin my terribly good looks. He laughed from his position in the sky, the adrenaline coursing through his veins as the winds took him up higher and out of reach from the desperate momma and poppa birdies. He seriously enjoyed the thirll of the hunt, but more than anything he strived under the threat of danger, the higher the stakes the greater the high and right now his mind was soaring with the exalted joy. The mercenary was in his glory in such a scene, and although his practice was more among wolves, this glorified egg hunt was a lot more fun that expected. Already he was putting great distance between himself and the enraged birds, a smirk of satisfaction riding his maw as he dove and dipped on the air currents. In his mirth he almost failed to see the perilous situation in which his sennyo companion now found herself, it was the angered cry of the birds that drew his attention one last time and as he glanced behind his shoulder he saw with alarm that the averians had teamed up to dry and corner the wolf. It was apparent that they were on the war path of vengeance, and Sagittar could hardly leave the female to her own demises, it would lack gentlemanly decorum on his part. "But the eggs, we want the eggs!" Squawked Serpentius in disdain, more intent on the meal that lay ahead than the damsel that was left behind. Shut it, we will do both brother if you will give me a little more faith than that, Sagittar silently snapped back, his wings carrying him over some trees as his eyes desperately sought out a solution. There below him nested a hollow in one of the fruit bearing trees, one that would conceal their prize for the time being and he dove like an arrow for this precious hiding spot, depositing his charge with delicacy before tearing back up to the skies and towards his accomplish. Blood reds scanned the plains until he saw the birds, noting the female making a beeline for the female and he paused in his flight with incredulity, surely she wasn’t going to try and attack the bird, it was suicidal for a wolf of her size, never mind the fact that there was two of the beast trailing her. However at the last second he watched her dive to the side in a graceful arc of deception, once again her cunning side shining through, but would it be enough? Sagittar did not care to find out and evaluating his size against her weight he decided that the plan forming in his mind might just work, and prove to be amusing if not exhilarating for the male. Smirking with raw excitement he took a careening dive towards the running wolf, not slowing down and looking very much like a wolf aiming to see how much of his body he could spread across the earth. In reality he was executing a rather perilous motion of flight, used for kidnapping but that was now being employed for more ethical purposes. At the very last second possible he straightened his course so that his tails feathers touched the ground but his body remained in full flight, the speed of his decent sending him jotting with rapidity over the grass. His paws extended forward, their bird like shape would make this motion possible and as he neared the sennyo he extended the front one and latched on to her mid drift, beating his large wings to heave himself higher. Looking down at the sennyo with his vibrant eyes he said dryly, “Hello darlin’, how’d you feel bout a little flyin’ lesson? Just remember this miss, what goes up, must therefore come down...” He then gave an exhilarated cackled and turned his attention to the rapidly moving world in front of him. At this point he still flew low to the ground, the ascent was gradual, but it was more important to keep moving quickly than to gain height for the birds would be on hot pursuit. With a silent prayer Sagittar gave a final heave of his wings to gain altitude, hoping his scheme would work to save both their hides. S a g i t t a r' s . S o n g

[Gypsy]

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[atrb=background, i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd415/Somatra1/gback-2.jpg] "Speaking" ((OOC: For the purposes of the thread, I will just do the last bit with the birds in this post, since it is not that much)) Her feint worked. The male had made a last ditch lunge as the female had attempted to turn and snap at the wolf. With a massive thud, the pair collided screaming and hissing at one another as they fell to the ground. The scrabbled and snapped at one another, completely forgetting about their fight. Their cries and hollers echoed as Gypsy kept running. She was panting heavily now and losing steam. She took a moment to glance behind her, seeing in the distance the birds regaining their footing. She cursed under her breath a little. Then a shadow came upon her. The ice queen's heart skipped slightly, now a griffin was attacking? What a swell way to have the day go. However she glanced up to see her assailant, she was surprised that it was her accomplice. Was he doing what she thought? Hell no. However she did not have a chance to react before one of his oddly shaped forepaws encircled around her small waist and lifted. Her long flowing tail lashed in the wind. For being a wolf that envied those that could fly, she was not enjoying this one bit. Last time she was flying, she was grasping the back of a dragon. Now, she was just dangling there, like a mouse in an eagle's talons. His words did not help her, she gave a slightly growl and glanced up at him, "If I come down, I will sure as hell pull you down with me Feathers." However her fear seemed to ebb when he cackled, oddly enough. She gave him a sidelong smirk before turning her head to the world that was rushing past. The down-stroke of his wings made her belly drop, she tensed up slightly, hoping for the horns of the dragon to grip onto. She felt exposed as she tucked her legs up to keep them from scrapping the ground, despite the distance what was between them. The wind in her face took her breath away. She hated having to trust a stranger, or anyone at that. Her ears and antennae were flat on her head, her velvety pelt rippled in the breeze. Her wings were open only to keep them from brushing the belly of her captor. She attempted to glance behind them, glad to see only silhouettes in the distance of the great predators they had just robbed. "I think we lost them...." She called to him over the wind, the flight was exhilarating, but his clawed forward was uncomfortable around her midsection and she could feel it starting to bruise. She dared not to attempt to shift her weight for fear of falling to her death. Her eyes were beginning to water from drying out in the rush that was overtaking them.