[2000 winter festival index]
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Winter festival of 2000, day one.
Keereth:
Keereth is a rather young gryphon, small and dainty looking. She cocks her bullet-like head a little and chirps an uncertain greeting from her notched black beak to you. Black tear markings streak down her face from her dark eyes. The vertical lines of the markings run through her eyes, and her cheeks and chin have white patches. The top of her head is blue with a rusty cap. Her underparts are a more uniform orange-red, barred with black. Her wings are a rusty color, along with her back, all marked with black barring. Her forelegs are unfeathered. Her cougar's hind half has short, thick, reddish-brown fur which lightens subtly to gray-brown at her sides, until finally her underside becomes a white color. White also rampages on the inside of her hind legs. Her tail is black tipped, and that tail is used for balance. She walks on her toes rather than the soles of her paw feet, and the claws are retractable which makes her a little silent when she walks. Her body looks as if it has a potential for tremendous leaping power, because her hind legs are longer than her unfeathered forelegs.Arravinn:
Plain from a distance, a nearer view brings her truth into clearer definition. The honey-gold hue is nearly metallic in its gloss, melded with amber and aged gold flecks. Iridescent glints from head to tail in plumage and coat seem vaguely coppery. Her sharp, wary, yet patient head from which emerald-toned eyes spark brightly out best resembles a golden eagle's. Her ear tufts almost meld with the almost-crest of gold feathers faintly rising upon her head. Well-sharpened, adept, onyx-shaded talons support her lithe, mid-sized frame-the leonine smoothness of her body nearly that of a jaguar. The broad wings' pattern checkers and darkens in rich ebony and mahogany with amber and gold until the tips are solidly black. A tail that darkens from coppery gold to black constantly twitches and sweeps from side to side in varying speeds. Beyond grace, power, and plumage, she could go unnoticed-she is largely average.
No longer panicking or terrified, she now looks slightly bedraggled and less well-groomed than she should. Nevertheless, her composure is regained.Aubri:
Aubri is a large, handsome nonmorphic gryphon. His foreclaws are scaled and yellow like an eagle's below the elbow joint, feathered above it, with four long talons on each claw. His body is feathered in golden brown back to his wings, where the feathers fade into fur of the same shade. His neck has a wash of iridescent golden feathers on it. Aubri's face ends in a fiercely hooked beak, over which his sharp, brown eyes notice you looking at him.
His wings are broad with rounded ends, hawklike. They are folded neatly to his back when he is on the ground, but spread for flight his wingspan looks to be over thirty feet. His large padded hindpaws have shiny black retractable claws in them, the tips of which are always showing on his toes. His smooth, tight rump is thickly muscled and marred only by a long scar running from shoulder to hip, long healed over.
Kohrr:
Base of the Pyramid - Shrilk Crossroads
Black and grey as a storm, few glints of color exists on this sleek, athletic drake apart from the emerald-bright green of his eyes and the iridescent highlights in the black portions of feathers and fur. There can be no doubt that he is a swift runner on land, and his great broad wings should be a marvel in flight. Silken grey sharply turns to black so that his forelimbs, head, part of his back, and his wings are iridescent ebony but the rest is that odd, smooth grey. A long, slender tail drifts like a pendulum behind him. His talons are adept, his poise that of a hunter and fighter, ever-wary and seething power, grace, and agility. Overall he lends the impression of a shadow or a ghost, fleeting, exuding a strong presence yet in his stealth capable of remaining entirely unseen if he wishes.
This is the east side of the base of the mighty obsidian pyramid created by the Core computer. From this vantage point you can barely make out the glittering portal at the top. There is a small clearing surrounding the pyramid, and it is increasingly filled with gryphons. Hundreds of them, of all sizes, colors, ages and dispositions.
What is normally a quiet area has now become only barely organized chaos, with the beginnings of a massive festival under construction. Tents, booths and tables are being set up all about, with flyers (struggling in the unstable magic) bringing in food, drink and all manner of goods.
Beyond this chaos lays dense trees... though there are a number of gryphons setting up sleeping areas, along with what looks like some sort of crude medical facility.
Rutted dirt paths run in three directions from here, one east, one north and one south.
Contents:
Trishka
Zekavyl
Jenna
Tent of Silk
Obvious exits:
Fly North East South West Climb the Pyramid
Jenna cocks her head a little, a soft chirp coming from her as Zekavyl sits back
Zekavyl nuzzles into his breast and preens himself a bit.
Jenna giggles a little and hops twords Zekavyl, fluffing her white feathers
Zekavyl nuzzles his beak deeper under him as he preens.
Jenna giggles at you, skiding to a stop right near to him, then cocking her head and chirping softly
Zekavyl tries to ignore you, studying intently at his feathers.
Jenna says, "Whatsa matter? Don'tyou like Jenna?"
Jenna pounces you just because
Zekavyl acks.
Jenna giggles a little and hops clear of you
Zekavyl pads away a bit and settles down quietly by himself.
Jenna giggles at you
Zekavyl shakes his head to himself and slumps down.
Jenna shakes her head a little, crouching and stalking slowly twords you again
Zekavyl tenses a bit as he watches you with caution.
Jenna flicks her tail slowly from side to side, watching you closly
Trishka walks carefully down the pyramid and steps onto the path.
Trishka dips her head in greeting
Jenna bobs her head a little
Stormdancer appears from around the pyramid, shrilling instructions to a group of gryphons attempting to put up a cover over what will be a long, wide tent. The job is made more difficult by the unpredictable air - more than once a gryphon attempting to take wing simply cannot get the sky to hold her.
Jenna is half crouched in the grass, stalking a rather confused looking new one, upon hearing Stormdancer she starts a little, and turns to him, moving in his direction.
Stormdancer lends a beak, claw, and wing to the raising, and eventually enough of the heavy fabric is draped over the frame that the rest of the work can continue from ground. Stormdancer turns and pads along his way, noticing the snow-white Windhaven hen attempting to stalk through dirty snow and grass. He gape-grins, and calls "Hi, Jenna... glad you came along."
Jenna bobs her head a little, "Jenna came because Jenna should probably go back to Windhaven and let them know where Surukk is and make sure home is still there and ok."
Stormdancer muhrrs, nodding his head. "I think you're turning into a gryphon I may become proud to know, Jenna. That's a considerate thing to do, to pass along that information."
Jenna shrugs her wings a little, "They don't know that Surukk is staying in the core, I think, and Jenna is tired of the core, want to see if there is still a home to go to.
From above comes a faint sound, as if from a small, relatively harmless bird squacking in alarm way high above. Within moments, however, the sound grows in volume until it sounds similar to the voice of a gryphon, although the words are unintelligible from here...However, as the dark shape above comes closer, the words become clearer, but no less unintelligible...Finally, as you recognize the form of Tseara plummeting out of the air with her stupid wings flapping uselessly, you make out her saying, "HOLY MOTHER OF KEVICTUS RESSSUMANTARRA CLEAR BELOW I'M GONNA CRAAAAAASHHHH!!!!" shortly before she dives headlong into a (thankfully large) pile of soft snow.
Stormdancer glances skyward at the increasing racket... then winces, and does a quick estimation of where she's going to land. "Uhrf... I don't think she's got a good grip on gliding and slowing gracefully..." he chiurps, stating the obvious. He (and a few others) trot rapidly towards the fallen hen, head lifted high in curiosity.... did she survive that?
Other gryphons come and go, the chaos slowly beginning to settle into order. And almost by the hour, the flying seems easier and more predictable. Either because of real changes in the aether, or simply practice on the part of those taking wing.
Jenna blinks and cocks her head a little, looking at the falling gryphon as well, she shakes her head a little with a slight giggle, "Jenna never did anything like that when I was growing up."
From the middle of the mound of exploded snow that the gryfalcon's hindquarters are sticking out of comes a rather pissed-off sounding grunt and a massive sneeze, which blows away the rest of the snow, leaving the poor Tseara sitting there, supported on her shoulders and staring up rather dazedly at her tail flopped on her nose...(For those who care about such things, she's supported behind her by the /rest/ of the snowbank...)
Tseara mutters to herself, "...Gotta work onnose landings..."
Stormdancer draws up short, and grins. "She's alright," he chiurps, and most of the others go back about their work, though one of the healers sticks around to watch for sprains or dislocations that might show up. "Welcome to the festival, Tseara... interesting arrival! You need to work on those... "
Tseara blinks and looks over Stormdancer's left shoulder before her eyes re-focus, and she smiles weakly up at the gryphon. "...Hi. Whatcha doin' upside down?"
Stormdancer shakes his head bemusedly. "I just like it this way... lets the blood rush to my head. That looks cold, and wet. And uncomfortable."
Jenna shakes her head a little, starting to stalk the dozing newcomer she was pestering before Stormdancer made it here, though she does glance at him and the fallen hen once in a while
Tseara mrflegrumphs as she slowly rights herself. "Yeah, I heard monks on Mount Cithaeron usedta do that a lot. Never liked it myself." She finally gets back up, shakeshakeshakes herself, and smiles at Stormdancer again. "...What'd ya think?"
Stormdancer shakes his head bemusedly. "Dramatic, but potentially pretty damaging. You could hurt some innocent rocks and trees with a crash like that.
Bloodstorm arrives from the southerly path.
Tseara nods, still smiling. "I'll work on that. Don't wanna hurt any trees or anything with my hard head...Anyway, I heard you were here, an' wanted to show you something."
Jenna stops in her stalking, then chirps up, "She coulda hurt a lot more than rocks, if she hit the tent she coulda hurt many people. Thats a lot more than a few bushes and stuff.
Tseara looks over at Jenna, and her smile fades... She looks away and mutters, "...I'm sorry...I thought I had better control, 'til I hit that warm-air pocket...I'm sorry..."
Bloodstorm dashes in, looking to be in somewhat of a hurry. He wanders through the hundreds of gryphons before finally locating the group with Grylra's leader. He trots over and nearly falls down. "Did I miss anything??" :>
Tseara looks up. "...Not really."
Stormdancer shrugs his wings slightly. "Giving a warning cry like that was good... it alerted us all to your.... mrhrrr... 'arrival'." He shakes his head at the breathless arrival of Bloodstorm. "Only a day's work. The real fun starts this afternoon."
Bloodstorm beaktouches briefly with Stormdancer. "Good, I had duties to attend to.. It looks like it's going to be quite a festival."
Jenna bobs her head a little, "Yes, the warning helped let people get away from where you where going to land, though, you should learn how to land, its not that hard.
Bloodstorm looks at the one Jenna's speaking to. "Who's your friend..? So many gryphons I haven't met."
Stormdancer looks around, and nods. "Better than I had expected, really... hopefully the other aeries will be bringing more. There's already some, but mostly just individuals coming in with their own things."
Bloodstorm says, "I was just a bit late.. bringing some more fish here."
Keereth glides downwards from above to land near the base of the pyramid.
An older hen half-runs, half-flies over to Stormdancer, asking for guidance about how to allocate wood for the fires - apparently another group has volunteered to go pull drywood out of the woods.
Keereth stoops down out from the sky, her wings mostly folded for speed, then her wings flare wide, her dive turning into a long glide, wingtips nearly brushing the tops of some of the structures, a rather dangerous gamble with the magic so unsteady, then with a flurry of wings she slows and finally drops to the ground.
Stormdancer ponders a moment, then tells her "S'kori... I trust you with it. If it were me, I'd start a third fire tonight, between the other two... make sort of a triangle... and then save the rest of the wood for just making all three of them larger. It'll encourage folks to gather close, and share warmth."
Bloodstorm watches almost in awe as he sees the gryphoness land nearby. He hasn't tried his wings very much lately, and definitely no stunts like that.
A group of six gryphons, apparently one of the tiny independent family aeries, tentatively approaches the northern edge of what have become the festival grounds. It's not long before they're greeted by both a Windhaven and Grylra, who encourage them to stride in and join the event.
Keereth stands still, her wings still partly spread, panting just a little, she holds her pose, letting all admire her, and doing the best she can to hide the pain her stunt has put her through, wing muscles pulled, at the lest.
Bloodstorm steps over and dips his head to Keereth, looking quite impressed.
Stormdancer shrills a greeting to Keereth... a bit pleased by the graceful (if foolhardy) display.
Bloodstorm turns back to the small group after chatting with a Windhaven gryph for a couple minutes, giving Jenna a brief nuzzle.. but not too sure about the new drake. "So everyone's just preparing now?"
Keereth carefully folds her wings, wincing almost imperceptibly as she starts to stalk towards Stormdancer, her tail lashing slowly from side to side, she gives Bloodstorm a look, secretly pleased at his admiration.
Stormdancer grins, flicking his tail as a flirty young hen drags herself along his side, then bounds off to be lost in a clutch of gryphons arguing about where to put the meltwater pots and fires. "Oh, still preparing... this is about as organized as I think we'll get, this time. Moving it to the pyramid has made things a lot harder, but... I think it'll be worth it. Hope sssso, anyway."
Bloodstorm tilts his head, peering up at the pyramid. "Why here? Just because it's a central meeting place? We aren't going to have any Shkrill here.. are we?"
Stormdancer arches his head up, and chiurrups, "Well landed, Keereth... you could give inssstruction to Tseara, to good effect."
Keereth nods slowly, "I saw a little of her fall, and I felt that someone should show her the right way to do it." she steps up closer to Stormdancer, closer than most would consider safe to have a Shkrill.
Bloodstorm unfurls his wings slightly and would attempt a short flight, but he fears making a complete fool of himself..
Stormdancer seems utterly unconcerned, and steps foreword to touch beaks with the Shkrill hen. "I'm glad you've come... I'm hoping that equal numbers from all the aeries will come, this time."
Bloodstorm tries to blend in and look for other familiar faces, not finding too many.
Keereth nods just a little, glancing about quickly, then whispering to Stormdancer, "I need to get a healer to look at me, I think I hurt myself. Its been to long idle." she shakes herself, fluffing up her feathers a little to hide her wince of pain.
Bloodstorm sighs and returns to the small familiar group after attempting to flirt with a young hen and failing miserably.
Stormdancer ahhs, and nods. "That way," he gestures with his beak, "most of them are set up near the woods over there. It was a lovely landing... hope it's nothing serious. Some of the simpler magic healings are even working, now, so you should be fine, quickly."
Keereth bobs her head a little, "I think its nothing." she whispers to Stormdancer. "But I need to be able to fly out of here." then she chuckles softly and adds in a more normal tone of voice, "After all, I do have an image to maintain."
Bloodstorm flicks his tail. "There aren't many here that I know.. So crowded here, and I assume the crowd will grow. Just few familiar faces.."
Stormdancer gives Keereth an unabashedly lustful looking-over, and nods. "And sssuch an image, mrhrhrrr!"
Stormdancer gape-grins, and nods. "Last years festival was several thousand, but it was almost entirely Grylra. We probably won't have so many this year, but at least we'll get people from everywhere. I hope, anyway..."
Keereth blinks and looks at Stormdancer, rather clearly surprised, she colors a little and ducks her head a moment, then says softly, "Perhaps I should let you have an opportunity to get a closer look...."
Bloodstorm listens to Storm and Keereth with a flicked ear, pretending to pay attention elsewhere. He's trying to learn how to impress the females with words. :>
Stormdancer cackles and grins quite broadly. "I'd like that..." he chiurps, flicking his wings slightly. "I'm sure you'll find many a drake here who'd have great appreciation for your skills and strengths!"
Keereth chuckles softly, "Perhaps, though how much of that will be because I am Shkrill...." she shakes her head a little, "Perhaps if one can prove to me his worth I will even let him try."
Bloodstorm pads over to Jenna and gives her a brief nuzzle. "Hey there.. You're rather quiet. Just watching everything as well?"
Jenna bobs her head just a little, "Yes, watching everyone running around, hoping that Surukk will come, but I do not think he will, I will go home, alone again."
Stormdancer grins, and bobs his head. "I'd never accuse you of being an easy catch, I'm sssure. Any drake worth accepting would have to catch you first, I'm sssure!" Another runner comes to his side, with yet another minor problem of where-to-put-what, and Stormdancer casts an apologetic look to Keereth, then goes about dealing with the crisis-of-the-moment.
Bloodstorm awws softly to the albino hen, offering a quick and shy wingpreening. "I'm sorry to hear that.."
Keereth nods to Stormdancer as he runs off to deal with the problem, slowly she makes her way to the healers, though she tries to make it rather round about course, she just pulled a muscle, one of the healers who was impressed with her display tends to her, the healer's kindness something she is rather unused to.
Jenna nods slowly, "Jenna is used to being alone, Jenna has lost parents before."
Bloodstorm nods. "At least you've had parents.. I don't remember mine from my old life. I know how it is to be alone though.."
Stormdancer deals with the moment's worry, and then chiurps an aside to Jenna, "You should find someone here who's interested by you here... especially when things get flying strong in the night..."
Natreann walks carefully down the pyramid and steps onto the path.
Jenna bobs her head a little, "Jenna hopes so, I have been alone far to long."
Bloodstorm nods and gives Jenna a light wingsnug, looking around for other arrivals..
Rakintaa glides downwards from above to land near the base of the pyramid.
Jenna nods to Bloodstorm, "Its ok, I will survive."
Rakintaa circles down slowly, then folds her wings and drops straight down, flaring them into a brake at the last moment before she hits the ground.
Jenna shakes herself, then starts going up to each of the booths, seeing what they have, and spending time talking to the ones within.
Stormdancer shoo's a young drake away, telling him to be creative about solving a problem for himself. He mutters afterwards "I may regret saying that, but... I need SOME peace for myself!"
Bloodstorm follows suit and wanders to explore the booths, though he's not sure how he would pay for the items and services..
Stormdancer lifts his head and shrills in delight to see the aged Windhaven matriarch arrive, and lifts up into flight to cross the space between them. "Well met, Rakintaa!" he calls, as he flares his wings to land.
Keereth is still at the healers, trying not to be seen as the one young healer treats her pulled muscles and chides her gently for showing off, even as he mentions how much he admired it.
Rakintaa pads slowly through the festivities, not taking part as yet, but seeming pleased that the others are. She approaches Stormdancer as he disposes of the youngster, and says dryly, "I'm very sorry. Perhaps I should come back at a later time."
Jenna is doing more than looking at goods, having finally gotten over most of her grief she starts doing something, attempting to find what the various people would like to have, and what they would pay for it, already she knows a few things that she can trade, as ideas of being rich start growing in her.
Bloodstorm finds someone in a booth selling a few old scrolls, perhaps copies of something from a library, perhaps not.. He looks through a couple choice ones and gives payment, tucking the scrolls into a small pack.
Stormdancer lifts his head and shrills in delight to see the aged Windhaven matriarch arrive, and lifts up into flight to cross the space between them. "Well met, Rakintaa!" he calls, as he flares his wings to land.
Stormdancer shakes his head. "Not at all, not at all... come and take your pleasures early!" he chiurrps, grinning.
Rakintaa inclines her head slightly. "Letting yourself be pestered by younglings? You're getting older, Stormdancer."
Keereth returns finally, trailed by the young healer who was treating her, though the young healer soon gives up in admonishing the Shkrill to caution.
Stormdancer chortles and shakes his head. "For some reason a lot of the younger ones forget everything about their mentors and trainers, and feel they should run to me for everything. They'll learn... most of them will learn by the end of this festival!"
Bloodstorm sits at another booth, trying his best to pose regally as someone makes a small stone carving of him.
Rakintaa chuckles a bit and nods. "I'm sure they shall."
A smallish young drake and hen fly overhead, indulging in vigorous (if dangerous) acrobatics, rejoicing in the pure pleasure of flight once again.
Rakintaa smiles. "To be so young again," she chuckles, watching the pair.
Stormdancer shifts up alongside Rakintaa, and encourages her to join him in sampling some of the food and drink. "The spices are always an interesting treat... not something I could stand all the time, but... it's fun for something different," he chiurps. He smiles at her comment, and rouses. "If they're not a little careful, they may not live to your age... or mine! There's something to be said for survival, mrhrrr?"
Bloodstorm twitches his tail impatiently.. hopefully the carving's tail won't look so wild. Finally he stands and admires the finished work before stuffing it in as well..
A small fire is started... from the huge mound of wood nearby, it looks as though it will become a great bonfire when the night sets in. Young gryphons run in great circles around it, chittering and squawking to see such a potential excitement.
Rakintaa smiles, taking a small dish and holding it out for some wine. "Possibly you are thinking of a saying about old, bold fliers? I shouldn't worry.... Youthful exuberance."
Jenna glances at Stormdancer and Rakintaa, moving off to another booth, grinning a little, having caught Stormdancer's comment, spices are something that most of the dealers wish, and dyes, already she has a trip to Kefetiu planed in her head.
Stormdancer gape-grins, and bobs his head vigorously in agreement. "That's the one," he laughs, slipping a carved wooden bowl (just acquired today) out of a pouch under one wing. "A good way to break this in," he says to no-one in particular, holding it up for the same wine.
Keereth stalks towards Stormdancer, after nodding again to the healer, reassuring him that she will come by later, then she moves as if to join Stormdancer and Rakintaa.
Bloodstorm checks his pack.. not much left to trade with, and he's still hungry. He checks out a few vendors selling spiced foods, trying to decide.. finally spending his earnings at a single place. Should have brought more!
Rakintaa takes a slow sip. "Mmm. Good batch," she purrs. "Now, tell me about this spice you were mentioning, hmm?"
Jenna grins suddenly, and walks over to Bloodstorm, "Hey! I have an idea, would you perhaps be able to help me with a little trip? Its not really that short a trip, but I can possibly get you some good trade goods for the trip, maybe a clawfull of cinnamon, or fresh pepper?
Bloodstorm tilts his head slightly. "I think I could help you. What do you need, Jenna?"
Stormdancer nods, taking a drink of the delicious beverage, letting it slide warmly down his throat. "Mrhrr... I puhrrhrrsonally think this pair here..." he chiurs, leading across a broad open space towards a lean-too with a small fire inside, "... has the best. Esspecially good on the young lamb, but the goat is very good, too." He chiurrups introductions between cook and Matriarch... the preparers of food seem to be more impressed to meet the matriarch of Windhaven than they are to have Stormdancer speaking well of their wares.
Jenna bobs her head, "Yes, just to carry a few packs for me on a trip to Kefetiu? Like I said, I can handsomely reword you."
The first sun vanishes below the horizon. The second sun chases after, huge and bloated as it hovers near the treetops, and the distant peaks of the Mangarth mountains, to the east.
Jenna plans to raid her stash of goods, and the goods that Surukk has left, then see if she can make a good trade and start the trading empire that Surukk had up again.
Bloodstorm looks a bit nervous.. "Well, I...I've never been outside of Shrilk, actually. I could follow though."
Rakintaa smiles slightly. "I think I will have some of each. You know, Stormdancer, I do want to thank you... This is an excellent idea."
Jenna grins and bobs her head a little, "Oh its easy, Jenna has done it several times, there are plenty of nice places to see in Kefetiu, and it should not take too long, we fly to the interface, then take the gates that they have to where we are going.
Stormdancer rouses, and dips his head slightly. "It occurred to me that we'd never build trust between the aeries if we couldn't even share meals without a fight. We don't have to love each other, and we don't have to give up what we believe in... but great skies above... we should at least have FUN together sometimes!"
Bloodstorm blinks. "Fly..? Err.. yes, I see.." He hasn't been on flight longer than a minute since the magic left.. his wings are somewhat out of shape.
The cooks quickly sear and spice up the meat, the fine aroma mingling with those of a dozen other food stalls, spice merchants, perfumists, candlemakers, and more.
Keereth shakes her head a little, finding a place to settle a moment, several drakes, and even a few hens ply her with food and beverage, she tosses a grin off in Stormdancer's direction.
Jenna nods slowly, "Yes, fly, its not that bad, the packs will not be that heavy.
Rakintaa nods. "Of course, I agree entirely..."
Bloodstorm says, "Alright, just go slowly.. it's been a long time since I've flown so far. Lead on, and I shall follow."
Jenna nods, "Not now, after the festival, that's why I was talking to everyone, I know who wants what now, and what they will give me for it.
A flight of four gryphons drifts in from overhead, skree-ing for a space to be cleared for them to land. The crowd shifts away quickly, and two heavy thuds echo - the split remains of a very large deer is dropped, and then the four hunters land alongside it, eagerly accepting trades of goods and favors in trade for the food, hide, and bones.
Bloodstorm ohs..he's good at misunderstanding others. "Come fetch me later then.. I'm going to go see if there's anything else I can afford with what little I have to offer." He turns and then fades into the crowd..
Jenna nods, and goes to see if there is anything she might be interested in what the hunters brought in, after a moment she blushes and back away a little, confused by what one wanted to trade.
Rakintaa watches interestedly as the food is prepared, occasionally drinking from her bowl of wine.
Stormdancer leans his shoulder companionably against Rakintaa's, watching as well, his beak gaped to catch the enticing taste/smells. He bobs his head happily as a large platter is set before the Windhaven matriarch, and another set for him. "Thanks, Tachia... it's always a treat," he says to the drake who delivers the food, who simply smiles and nods, before trotting off to serve another pair of gryphons who've been drawn by the sight and scent.
Rakintaa rumbles softly. "Shall we make room for the others?" she says playfully, picking up the platter and moving back towards where Stormdancer had been earlier.
Stormdancer nods in agreement, carrying his platter in one foreclaw as he easily three-leggeds along. "There's a good dry space near the base of the pyramid," he says, leading the way, "The snow was blown away from it by the winds earlier."
Rakintaa follows, nodding. "Certainly."
A second and third fire are started, forming a huge triangle, the legs of which are roughly twenty wingspans. A very faint powdery snowfall begins, but is largely ignored by the gathering crowd. For once it truly seems that all three aeries, and a number of independents, are managing to coexist relatively peacefully.
Stormdancer finds a quiet spot on a small hillock at the pyramid's base, and sets his platter down, turning so his back is to the ebon monolith. "Ahhh, and a good view of the festivities," he chiurrs.
Keereth moves over to one of the fires, turning a little as she settles to present one side to the heat of the flames, there she settles, glancing about to watch what happens.
Rakintaa settles beside the host. "Indeed." She rips off a chunk from her meal, then adds, "I shall have to look at the wares, later."
Jenna returns to her wondering among the stalls, talking to the various peoples, and promising them things already
Stormdancer nods, watching the fires build as more wood catches... the shadows of the forest dancing between the light of the fading sun and the flames. "There's more than you might believe, to be seen. Some of it probably -shouldn't- be seen..." he adds with a laugh, before tearing into his own meal.
Keereth moves away from the fire as it grows, the heat too much for her rather quickly, she moves to the group by the remnants of the deer, and after a shot moment of haggling grabs a fair chunk of meat and walks towards where Stormdancer and Rakintaa have settled.
Rakintaa says, "Oh? You think not? I've found that people will show most anything they want to."
Jenna leaves the area of the stalls, with a platter she did not have before, one heavy with food and a bowl of potent wine, rather quickly she finds a place to set, off by herself, for the moment and starts to eat, glancing around once in a while
Stormdancer grins, tossing back another chunk of the spiced meat, then chasing it down with a splash of wine. "Mrhrmmm... and sometimes will show what others might not want to sssee..." he explains. "But these are fun times... I think my favorites have been the glow-painted feathers, in the past."
Altair comes around the corner of the pyramid from the north.
Rakintaa says, "Oh, dear. I can only imagine..."
Rakintaa murmurs to Stormdancer, "And I can only imagine *where* some would want to be glow-painted."
Stormdancer grins, and nods back to Rakintaa. "Those I've ssseen in years past as well... very amusing, but a bit much, even for me.."
Altair walks in, looking for someone, after a moment she walks off t the side, joining a group of gryphons, she talks to them for several moments, then sags, one of the ones she was talking with point her in Stormdancer's direction, where she goes.
Stormdancer chortles, and nods. "I don't know if the mages are going to be up to creating such things this year or not, but they've been well-received in easier times."
Stormdancer's sharp eyes eventually pick out Altair among the throngs of gryphons, and he lifts his head, watching alertly as she approaches... wondering what causes her apparent emotional state.
Rakintaa says, "I should think simplicity will be the order of the day for some time. Magic should be used first to bring light and heat, and after that to bring entertainment."
A small fight breaks out near one of the fires, with much squalling and shrieking... but it's quickly subdued by those surrounding it, who are more irritated to be dislodged from their comfortable basking spots than they are eager to see a fight.
Altair walks up to Stormdancer, clearly tired, she does not even say anything, but gives him a brief nuzzle then moves away a little where se curls up to rest.
Stormdancer nods in agreement. "Believe me, I long for the day I can have a warmstone under my nest again!"
Rakintaa says, "Good evening, Altair."
Stormdancer chiurrrs, nuzzling his mate affectionately, then spreading his wing for her to take shelter under.
Altair nods tiredly to Rakintaa, and finally getting a word out, "And a good evening to you." she smoothes her feathers, and softly tells Stormdancer, "I just gave the mages all the magic I had, I am wiped out for the moment."
Stormdancer mhrrfs softly in concern, and nuzzles into Altair's crest for a moment before tucking her close to his side. If he has fear of her deathly abilities, he apparently has it under control... for he obviously trusts her implicitly, even in this drained state. "I hope they can make good use of what you gave, love," he chiurrs softly to her.
Altair nods a little, "Been doing that all week, when I have not been trying to get around and let everyone know that the festival was open to all and at the pyramid. I even stopped at Crag and made sure the Shkrill know.
Stormdancer smiles, and nods. "We've had a few of them show up already... some have been pretty quiet, but I think a couple are actually enjoying themselves. I hope Elizarraraz will grace us with her sweet and gentle presence."
Rakintaa shakes her head a bit. "Only as along as she does it without being sarcastic."
Altair nods a little, "If you don't mind, I am going to take a nap, I am just too tired to stay awake now."
Rakintaa nods.. "I understand, Altair. Good night."
Stormdancer says, "Sleep well, love."
Stormdancer stretches out a little, finishing off the last of his meat, then licking the platter clean. "Oh, she'll be bitter and hateful, I expect... able to find wrong and conspiracy in everything. But perhaps she'll also find fun and opportunity... and relax."
Rakintaa says quite innocently, "Would you care to place a wager?"
Stormdancer cocks his head sideways, a little surprised to hear such a thing from Rakintaa... and perhaps a bit delighted as well. "Ahhh? What sssorrt of wager?" he wonders.
Rakintaa gapes her beak. "I didn't mean it as a serious suggestion," she says, then asks, "Do you honestly think Elizarraraz would ever relax in the presence of her mortal foes?"
Rakintaa says, "Perhaps some of her underlings, yes..."
Keereth stalks slowly towards Stormdancer, nodding to one of the other Shkrill that has come, though she is walking with far less pain than after her dramatic entrance.
Stormdancer sighs, and takes a drink of wine before answering. "I think she still has too much to loose, in her own power. But she's devious and clever. I'm sure she can work anything she does here into something beneficial for herself." He gestures with his beak towards the approaching hen. "There's one of them now..."
Rakintaa says, "Mmmhmm. Hello, Keereth," she says in a carefully neutral tone. "Enjoying yourself?"
Keereth nods, weather to the greeting, or the question she does not say, perhaps both, her head tilts a little to one side as she looks the matriarch of Windhaven over, "Somewhat. More than when I got here at the lest."
Telgan slowly glides down near the outskirts of the festival, watching quietly before he jumps in...
Arravinn lands hard on the ground, looking more than a bit confused and quite exhausted from her bewildering flight. She's disheveled, looks like she's lost.
Jenna is off by herself, eating rather daintily from a large platter before her, occasionally pausing to sip from the bowl of wine she was given.
Rakintaa glances over at the female that arrives just behind her. "Hello," she says to her.
Stormdancer chuckles faintly, and nods. "Well, I'm glad of that, anyway," he says to Keereth. He smiles as still more gryphons trail in, the twilight sky lighting up in dark bloody purples and crimson as the suns vanish away for the night. The faint and sporadic snow seems to have come to a stop, for now.
Keereth nods a little, "I will have to make a point to spend more time in the sky, I am out of shape badly."
Rakintaa glances over at the female that arrives just behind her. "Hello," she says to her.
The three fires have grown into strong pillars of flame, roaring and crackling merrily, and doing quite a good job of driving off the cold. The throngs of gryphons that course through the night wander in and out of the bright yellow light, sometimes pausing to warm up, and sometimes simply making their way past.
Stormdancer nods. "We all do... despite my frequent encouragement to do so, very few have truly stayed in good shape. Even just spending a little while flapping was better than nothing."
Keereth chuckles a little and nods, "Easy to say we should do it, hard to actually do it. There are probably few who would be able to repeat my entrance, but it felt better than it hurt.
Kohrr wanders in, having heard rumors of a meeting here. Flicking his tail, he peers around, spots Arravinn, and immediately joins her company. His wing-exercise has hardly been enough to keep him *that* fit, so he looks somewhat weary from the long flight and running he was forced to do.
Rakintaa slowly stands up from her meal and turns to greet the pair that have just appeared from behind the pyramid, the base of which she and Stormdancer are sitting against. "Welcome."
Stormdancer rises up as well, and nods his head towards the approaching pair. "Have you met?" he wonders of Rakintaa.
Keereth looks upon the newcomers, shaking her head a little, she settles near where Stormdancer and Rakintaa had been enjoying there meal
Rakintaa chuckles. "Not in the least."
Somewhere out in the crowds of gryphons a group has come together to drum and sing, the pounding rhythms and shrill voices meshing nicely in the crisp night air.
Telgan pads down among the vendors, looking around at the things for sale...
Stormdancer ahhs, and nods. "Arravinn, Kohrr, this is Rakintaa, honored matriarch of the Windhaven. A respected dignitary and pleasant converrrssationalist." He turns slightly to Rakintaa, and adds, "These are two relatively new arrivals in the sphere... doing quite well, after some... difficulties."
Arravinn looks too bushed to talk; she barely notices anyone speaking to her at all. Instead, she merely flops onto the ground. "Has . . . anyone seen . . . Kohrr?" she asks, more than a bit out of breath. She's gotta be exhausted.
Kohrr chuckles a bit at that question. He's tired, but he's not *that* tired. "Good to meet you," he remarks to the introduced. "I am present, Arravinn," he remarks to the silly gold one.
Rakintaa chuckles at Stormdancer's comments... "Flattery will get you nowhere, drake," and then nods to the other male. "And you."
Keereth just listens, close enough to do that for now, then she starts to eat of the chunk of meat she got from the hunters, taking her time to enjoy the meat.
Stormdancer makes a disappointed clucking sound, and flicks his tail. "Well, I do try...." he murmurs back, grinning broadly.
Rakintaa smirks. "I don't know why."
Keereth shakes her head a little, just watching for the moment.
Stormdancer tosses his head. "Oh, because I'm incorrigible?" he chiurrups playfully, briefly mantling his wings. He gives a little shake, feathers rustling into place as he resettles his wings upon his back.
Rakintaa says, "Huh. That's certainly true."
Stormdancer seems quite pleased and amused by that retort, and settles back onto his haunches, proudly watching the festivities spread out before him.
Keereth cocks her head a little, she has little real knowledge of Stormdancer, so she pays a little attention at the lest.
Kai'liai comes around the corner of the pyramid from the north.
Kai'liai slips quietly along, clad in layers of white cloth against the cold, walkingstick in hand. As she turns the bend and sees the full spread of all that has changed before her, she stops, stunned. She'd heard the noise for a while now, but never expected anything like THIS!Jenna notices the Unicorn, she lifts a wing, waving it at the unicorn, trying to attract Kai'liai's attention, her interest perked, a good start she thinks.
With night fully fallen, the festival seems to be in full swing now. More and more of the craft and food booths close down, their workers joining the crown chattering, singing, drinking, playing games and (in the way of gryphons) dancing.
Telgan seems to hover on the edge of things, enjoying watching, but not getting into it much.
Kai'liai is a little taken aback. She expected the festival to be at Grylra, not here at the pyramid! It does save her a good day and a half of walking, but... it's still quite a shock! It's also a little discomforting to be in open and fairly unfamiliar territory with so many beaks and claws about. Still, she gathers her nerve, and wades in, waving and smiling to those gryphons who stop and stare at her.
Stormdancer kicks idly at his side, just under his wing, with one hind paw. "I may go out and find myself someone to enjoy for the night," he chiurrups. "I've had some fairly nice places set up for sleeping, Rakintaa... for out of sphere visitors, and for both you and Eli, should she decide to come."
Rakintaa says, "That's very nice of you, Stormdancer... could you show me where you've set up for me?"
Arravinn has fallen either unconscious or asleep on the ground, sprawled out beside Kohrr a bit distant from the rest.
Aubri comes around the corner of the pyramid from the north.
Kohrr nudges at the sprawled Arravinn. "I shall hope she doesn't require a doctor in the middle of this," he remarks to whomever might hear him--which might well be everyone since he's speaking fairly loudly. "Shall someone help me deal with her?"
Stormdancer nods. "Of course! I won't even try to work my way in with you. Tonight, at least..." he teases. He rises up onto all fours and trots down from the small hillock he's been sharing with the matriarch, and guides her off to a group of tents that have been set up on the far side of the pyramid from most of the festival (even though the gathering has spread out around it a bit).
Keereth watches then go, her head cocking a little
Rakintaa says, "Ah. Thank you. I think I will go see what the festival offers, now that I know where to go afterward."
"It's quieter back here, at least," Stormdancer chiurrups to Rakintaa, showing her to the tent he'd had set up. "And well guarded."
Rakintaa says, "So I see."
Stormdancer nods, and stretches out languidly. "As will I. Enjoy yourself, Rakintaa... I'm glad you came."
Kai'liai roams slowly, starting to get used to this now... though the smell of all the gryphons, fires, and other things is a bit overwhelming. She pokes through stalls and tents and tables, amazed by all the things there are to see. She hopes to perhaps see Stormdancer or Altair, and confirm that she's still welcome, and that she can set up her own little craft tent somewhere.
Arravinn raises her head vaguely, blinking as though she isn't quite certain where she is or how she came to be there. A flicker of recognition finally flickers in her eyes, and she forces herself back to her feet, swaying a bit before she steadies once more. Kohrr may be present, but she is *not* going to lean on another for support, no matter who that other may be.
Jenna waves her wing franticly at the unicorn, then giving that up she stands and moves to approach Kai, her wings half closed.
The flames of one of the three great bonfires begin to shift and swirl, changing color and shape... the first halting attempts of long-unpracticed firemages to shape it to their will, for the crowd's enjoyment.
Kai'liai spots the thin albino fairly quickly... she stands out even in this crowd! "Hello?" she says in common, pausing in her wanderings.
Keereth urrss softly, shifting a little nervously as the fire starts shifting, her feathers rousing nervously as she slowly gets to her feet and backs away.
Jenna bobs her head a little, trying to wave the unicorn closer, she calls out in Common, "Join me for a moment? I would like to talk to you."
Stormdancer wades out into the great chaos of the heart of the festival, joining in dance, song, and the occasional mock-fight, before finally settling into a game of something very much like darts.
Aubri wanders through the milling crowd, craning his neck with interest at everything..
Rakintaa strolls slowly through the fair. She moves with a sure movement that seems, even outside her aerie, almost proprietary.
Kai'liai perks her ears to Jenna. "Well, sure... what did you have in mind?" She kneels slightly, getting a little bit more on level with the shorter gryphon.
Keereth moves half behind one of the structures, setting on her haunches and watching the proceedings as best she can.
Jenna grins a little and motions for Kai to follow her, "Come with me, I was hoping to ask as to the availability of dyes and spices in Kefetiu." she asks softly
Kai'liai frowns, laying her ears back briefly. This could lead to something really unpleasant, if it's a trick. But... well... it's just the one gryphon... and a shabby looking one at that. "Well, alright... but I don't know how much I can really tell you..." She follows Jenna.
Jenna nods just a little, "That's alright, I am not expecting too much. I am planing to make a trip to Kefetiu in search of rare spices and dyes.
Kohrr rumbles ferociously as someone wanders too close to his wobbling "charge."
Jenna says, "I was just hoping to get an idea of what the traders would be interested in." in common.
Arravinn bats ineffectually at Kohrr with one talon as he rumbles. "Don't," she remarks in a quieter-than-usual voice, struggling to drag her tired frame into the activities.
Kai'liai looks around a little, slowly lifting and setting down her cloven-hooved feet one at a time, trying to prevent cramps and soreness after her long day of walking. "Well, I don't really know. I do some diplomatic work with other races, and they like our artwork, music, and spices... is that what you had in mind?"
Jenna nods a little, "Sort of, I have some rather nice furs, and other things, some from distant spheres, I would like to get a good value of them in spices and good dyes that I can use for feather painting.
Kai'liai humms softly. "I don't really do any trading... I don't think I even know any traders. But from what I know, ethnic products are usually a good safe bet for starters. Are you a featherpainter? That's what I came here to do, this year!"
Aubri wanders in and out of the crowd, occasionally pausing to watch a game or a fight. He starts looking for feather painters..
Jenna shakes her head, "A trader, I am going to take over my ma's business
Kohrr follows close upon Arravinn's heels. She's too tired to be wandering into crowds. If she falls--well, he'll do something if she does. He'll have to, or she'll be trampled.
Aubri cocks his head at Kai'liai and Jenna, pulling up short beside them. "Did I heard you say you're a feather painter?"
Kai'liai says, "Well.... I could take your name back to the registry, and post a request? Then maybe someone who's really better at this could contact you somehow?" She shifts her shoulders, then drops her backpack and rummages for writing implements. "Ooof. Let me write down what I guess I need..." in common.
Arravinn stumbles, catches herself, rocks on her feet, and ends up near Aubri, Jenna, and the unknown strange creature.
Kai'liai blinks down at Aubri, flicking her ears to him, almost eagerly. "Uh... " she stammers. Eeep! A customer, maybe? Oh now what?! She nods, and then manages "Uh... yes, I'm learning to be... are you interested?" she adds hopefully.
Jenna nods, "I will be heading down there some time next week, I have the names of several of ma's contacts, hopefully they will deal with me.
Aubri bobs his head a little. "If you're not busy..." He grins. "Nothing fancy, understand.. "
Kai'liai gulps... "I... sure! Sure! Let me finish here..." she whickers, getting her writing instrument ready. "So what's your name, and what kinds of things are you looking for?" she asks Jenna. "I'll post it, and then when you come to Kefetiu, just go to the central gate, and someone there can help you find who you need to talk to."
Kohrr chases down Arravinn. "If you fall," he hisses, "you shall be trampled. Now find somewhere to rest!"
Jenna says something unintelligible.
Kai'liai flicks her ears, and looks apologetic. "Could you say that in common, please? My gryphon's really awful..."
Jenna colors a little and ducks her head, "Sorry, I forgot, I am Jenna, from Windhaven, and I am looking for spices and dyes."
Arravinn sways again, like a half-chopped tree, and falls right at Aubri's feet.
Aubri squawks softly and sidesteps away from Arravinn as she falls down. "Careful!"
Kai'liai scribbles quickly and accurately in the flowing script of unicorns. "Okay, I'll make sure to post this as soon as I get back." She looks at the huge black pyramid, and smiles. "One nice thing about this.... I can go home again in just a few minutes!"
Aubri looks up at Kohrr. "Oh, YOU. Is she drunk or something?"
Kai'liai blinks and steps sideways as Arravinn falls. "She OK?" she wonders.
Jenna bobs her head, then bows a little, "Enjoy the festival, and your customers, I would be interest, after I molt."
Kohrr cocks his head. "Someone help me get her up. She's too tired from the flight, I think she must have gotten lost."
Kai'liai bows back, touching her hands together. "Thank you, Jenna, I will." She looks again to the fallen gryphoness, and those around her. "Um.. can I help?" she wonders tentatively.
Arravinn forces her eyes open, trying once more to get to her feet. The attempt ends in a soft, defeated, whistling sigh.
Jenna nods, then moves through the crowed and back to where she left her stuff, thankfully its all still there, she finishes the spiced meats, and drains the dredges from her bowl of wine.
Aubri rolls his eyes and groans. "Why'd you let her GET like this?" he asks rhetorically, leaning down to help Arravinn up.
Kai'liai steps foreword and tries to help the much larger creature regain her feet. She's surprisingly strong for her size, but still... this is a gryphon!
Kohrr snorts. "*Let* her? Ha! She does as she wishes!"
Kohrr proceeds to add his bulk in assisting Arravinn to her feet, trying to position her so that she is slung over his back when she's finally hefted. She's quite a bit smaller than he is, and he's rather sturdy, even though he's also tired. He is not *that* tired, at least, he reflects gratefully.
Aubri hmphs. "Whatever.. Why don't you get her out to the sleeping tents.
Kai'liai helps as best she can, then turns back to Aubri. "Whew... uhm... so... wow! I haven't even had a chance to get set up! But sure, I'd love to do your feathers! Did you have anything special in mind?"
Arravinn tries again to stand. "No," she protests weakly, then more staunchly, "NO!"
Aubri chuckles a little, turning away from Kohrr. "Sort of.. Not really," he admits. "I'd like something that will match my natural feathers..."
Bloodstorm approaches a small group of familiar faces and chiurrs softly. He seems to be having a wonderful time here, his pack holding various items.
Kai'liai kneels to pick up her heavy and bulky backpack. "That would probably be best," she agrees, looking him over again. "Something that helps bring out the patterns... that maybe looks a little different when your wings are spread, too?"
Aubri cocks his head a little and nods...
Aubri says, "Probably in gold or something?.." in common.
Kohrr sighs and shakes his head. "Someone save me from this wretched brat!" he exclaims of the golden gryphon who has collapsed. Dramatics, truly. "Arravinn, lean on me and I shall help you somewhere so that you will not collapse. You can join in later, when you are not about to fall over."
Kai'liai reaches out to touch Aubri's wing, then pauses, fingertips just short. "May I?" she thinks to ask, before touching.
Bloodstorm looks over at the proceedings.. "Featherpainting?"
Aubri spreads his wing and chuckles. "You'd better, if you're going to paint them..> :>"
Kai'liai giggles, her muzzle and the insides of her ears pinkening. "I guess so! But I didn't want to be rude..." She runs her fingers down the lengths of the primaries, separating them slightly, and then the secondaries. "Brown and gold, with black edgings..." she says, thinking out loud. "... would that be alright? I have a really nice glossy gold I think you'll like, but ... I probably should be sparing with it, since it might be a little sticky in your feathers."
Arravinn manages to shove to her feet, then sits on her haunches by a table to eat and drink, restoring herself. "Kohrr, I got here to find *you,* and I am *not* leaving until you do."
Aubri bobs his head and smiles.. "That sounds good.. Can you try it out on a few somewhere inconspicuous so I can see how it looks?.."
Kai'liai nods eagerly. "Of course! Uhmmm... here?" She runs her fingers along a pair of inner secondaries, normally hidden when the wings are folded.
Aubri nods. "That's what I would suggest."
Kai'liai turns to her pack, and digs around in it. "I was going to set up a little shelter, and a good place for gryphons to rest while I worked..." she says as she searches for the particular dyes and paints. "But I guess right here would be OK for now..."
Jenna just watches idly, her head cocked a little to one side
Aubri nods, "As long as it doesn't rain. I think this is fine." He gapegrins, laying down while she searches.
Kai'liai finds just the paintpots she was after, and gives them all a good shake, before setting them down on a little board she slipped out of the side of her pack. Brushes are quickly found, and she sits down in the dirt alongside Aubri, using her elbow to hold down one set of feathers, her fingers separating the two she wants to work on. She chews her lower lip a minute, thinking.... then sets to work. A loose geometric arc to fill in a pair of matching natural bars. First a dark brown, a very thin dye that soaks quickly and cleanly. Then the gold, which is thicker, and doesn't behave as well in the cold. She waits for a little bit, blowing across the area she painted, before applying an outline of glossy black, thicker along the brown edge, thin along the gold.
Kohrr rumbles satisfactorily now that Arravinn is doing something a bit healthier. "What are you doing?" he questions, wondering at the fuss with Aubri's feathers. He doesn't get it. Featherpainting?
Aubri twists his head around to watch with interest, churring quietly. "Very nice," he declares softly as she works.
Bloodstorm sits down nearby and watches the featherpainters curiously while reading a couple scrolls he purchased earlier.
Kai'liai smiles happily. "You really think so?" she asks hopefully. "You've got such pretty barring, I thought maybe highlighting it like this would look nice... I think the gold and black will pick up the sun really nicely, too... they did in the feathers I experimented with back home...."
Aubri trills happily and nods. "And it'll match my neck.." He grins, fluffing up his feathers a little.
Kai'liai blushes and dips her head a little. "You noticed! That's what I was thinking...."
Jenna sighs a little and watches, she would like a paint job, but later, when she has molted out her broken and lost feathers
Bloodstorm doesn't think he wants his feathers painted.. he's never noticed anyone, and no amount of paint is going to make him look nicer.
Kohrr sits and watches. Dying feathers? Not Kohrr's thing, he thinks. His grey and black suffice, especially as they are his natural shadowy camouflage. He seems to fade into invisibility--and perhaps he does fade, with magic returned--but it's probably only the illusion since he does seem to "fade out" frequently and well, even without magic.
Kai'liai hides a yawn behind her palm, and frowns. "Would it be alright if I set up my spot, and maybe got some sleep, before I started on your wings? I'm awful tired, and I'd hate to make a mistake. But I'd really like to try it!"
Bloodstorm wanders over and finally bumps into Jenna, giving her a light beaktouch. "Hello.. watching the painters too?"
Jenna jumps a little, then giggles and nods, "Jenna watches, someday get that done, but not now, after I molt."
Bloodstorm chuckles and nods. "Might be a good idea to wait, yes.."
Aubri churrs and nodsnods. "Oh, of course! You've had a long trip, I'm sure..." He folds his wings, grinning a bit. "I'll wear myself out with the rest of the festivities and meet you tomorrow."
Kai'liai smiles happily. "I look foreword to it! Oh! What's your name? I'm Kai'liai..."
Jenna nods just a little, "Thought it would be a good idea to wait."
Aubri laughs a little. "I'm sorry. Aubri."
Bloodstorm shakes shakes his head lightly. "I thought about it, but I don't want any paints on my feathers."
Kai'liai realizes, now that the rush of this wonderful wild strange place is dying down, that she's about ready to fall over and sleep right where she stands! "It's nice to meet you, Aubri!" she smiles, dipping into a low bow. "I'll look for you tomorrow...." She pauses, and looks out over the revelry. "Not /too/ early, though..."
Jenna nods, "Its your choice, if you want it or not."
Aubri laughs softly. "I won't bother you until at least midday, then. :>"
Kai'liai smiles. "I was thinking more of you.... I'll probably be up pretty early. Have lots of fun!"
Arravinn seems mostly refreshed after a sit-down and a meal, and she sidles up to Kohrr. "You ought to try that," she remarks to the unobtrusive presence. "Might liven up the plain grey and black," she grins. Yup, definitely back in order now, though she does still look droopy and lacking in energy.
Bloodstorm digs through his pack a bit.. "I already spent almost everything I brought on scrolls and this." He pulls out a foot-high carved statue of himself sitting and looking better than he really does. :>
Kohrr groans and shakes his head at Arravinn's comment, somewhat startled that he was noticed at all, even by Arravinn. Perhaps there are even yet some holdovers. "Thank you, but I do like my grey," he remarks.
Jenna nods, "Ahh, well, its defantly been interesting today.
Bloodstorm stretches and nods slowly. "That it has, Jenna. I'm a bit overwhelmed."
Jenna nods, "Well, time to sleep soon, I think.
Bloodstorm says, "I think sleep would be good at this point. It's hard finding someone to talk to though."
Arravinn flicks her tail and ambles less energetically than usual toward Jenna and Bloodstorm. "I like the idea of painting feathers," she remarks--as if there'd be much doable for a brightly-colored gryphon like herself.
Bloodstorm gryphgrins. "YOU? One could almost think you were already painted.."
Jenna nods to Bloodstorm, "I know a few good spots, just a momant." shw quickly returns the platter and bowl, only to find the ones who gave them to her wants her to keep them, she shrugs her wings a little and returns to Bloodstorm, "Well, ready I guess.
Jenna says, "Lets go find a spot to sleep, unless you want to stay here longer?""
Bloodstorm says, "Well, just a bit longer now that Arravinn's shown up. :>"
Bloodstorm says, "Assuming she's talkative that is.."
Kohrr chases down Arravinn. "Where do you think you're going, tired as you are?" he demands, though gently.
Bloodstorm snugs Jenna. "Perhaps I will go and sleep if you desire company.."
Jenna nods just a little, "I do, a little, I don't want to sleep alone tonight
Bloodstorm nods slowly. "I understand."
Jenna grins a little, "Follow Jenna." she says, then leaps into the sky
The end of the first day's festivial.
[2000 winter festival index]
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