Blodwen Pefhlawae's page

:You're family, Keehaar. There's no need to be so formal.: She said, her mental laughter bubbling over.

:And a nice little vacation sounds lovely, dearest. I love our nestlings, but the whole lot of them can be a bit exhausting at times.:

She smiles as she sees Sky's expression as he speaks with the wind.

She turns to Keehaar, still smiling. :I am glad you have come back. You need to remember to visit more often,: she said, ruffling his hair fondly. :I worry about you when you are gone too long, little brother.:

She's using the term brother in a fairly generic sense here, since they're not blood relatives. Well, probably cousins but you get the point.

"I can't complain, it's been nice. After the trouble Aidan had, things were quiet. I was thinking about taking Blodwen(leaving the nestlings in the expert care of the Eyrie's occupents) on vacation to see the World Ash before the Servants showed up."

And if we can get a dragon chewing on Yggdrasil's roots, we have a set up right out of Norse mythology! Hey Blodwen, have we told the Eyrie about the newest addition to our family yet?

Ooh, cool. Especially since so much about this world was inspired by Norse mythology. :)

As for the new addition, I can't remember. I think one or two people knew, but I don't remember them making any announcement about it.

Frost nods as Sky arrives. "Hello, Cloudgather. I'm told that these mites wish to seek refuge here? I am as of yet neutral, but I am curious.
"The Servants are enemies. The only difference now is that the Servants are substantially weaker, and have reformatted their system to a less strict one. As far as I'm concerned, as long as one Servant remains the Servants as a whole will as well. Why do we not obliterate them?"

:Oh, I am all for obliterating. Those bastards attacked our home, threatened our young. They do not deserve to live after that. But I think that you hit the nail on the head there,Frost. As long as one remains they all do. Are we sure that's all of them? As the saying goes keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. At least if they are here there schemes are not likely to escape our notice. And they are not likely to try to obliterate the place where they live, giving us another added measure of safety.:

Blodwen Pefhlawae wrote:

:I think that it's probably going to be easier just to go over this once. Basically round up a representative for all the different groups and go from there.:

:It was fun watching him hit his head like that every time I spoke,: she added mischievously.

:So an Eagle, a Starhawk, possibly Frost, you, me, and Djuhah? Do you want to sweep the upper or lower parts of Eyrie for the representatives?:

:And yes it was.:

:Hlawith will probably be the one to represent the Starhawks. So, I'll talk to her and Frost while you figure out which of the Eagles they wish to appoint. Meet in the central temple in an hour?:

:We'll be back.: Sky thinks to the goblin as he flies off behind Blodwen.

:So my dear, do we talk to the Eyrie as a whole or see what Djuhah thinks first?: He asks Blodwen as he enjoys the feeling of wind again.

:I think that it's probably going to be easier just to go over this once. Basically round up a representative for all the different groups and go from there.:

:It was fun watching him hit his head like that every time I spoke,: she added mischievously.

She nodded in agreement.

:Yes. You should wait here. We will go back to the Eyrie and discuss this. You are considered under flag of truce until a decision is made,: she added grudgingly.

She shrugged. :Perhaps because he was Lynora's high priest. Anyhow, he seems to be quite suited to it.:

Blodwen Pefhlawae wrote:

Blodwen also shifted back to her human form.

:If we let you in, I am not sure that we can guarantee your safety inside. You made many enemies here. It is a difficult problem.:

The goblin shakes his head, seeming surprised and irritated at the voice. "Yes, quite--" He slaps his forehead, like a fly has landed on it. "--understood. We doesn't--" He hits his head again. "--need protection, fact that we's nearby Eyrie will--" He starts swinging his head around and around, looking rather ridiculous. "--be enough." He stops shaking his head, the 'buzz' apparently gone, and looks up curiously. "Out of curiosity, how is barriers remaining after false goddess is dead?"

:She wasn't a false goddess. And she isn't dead. She just gave up her powers to someone a little more suited to running the cosmos, someone with a few less mortal distractions. This is Djuhah's temple now.:

Her lips twitch with amusement at his reaction to her telepathy.

Blodwen also shifted back to her human form.

:If we let you in, I am not sure that we can guarantee your safety inside. You made many enemies here. It is a difficult problem.:

Privately to Sky, :I don't like them. But I wonder if they might be redirected now that their leaders are gone. We might let them camp in the valley for a while. Until we can decide what to do with them.:

She shifted herself as she jumped after him, making sure to leave enough room for the transformation, her large black wings spreading wide to catch the wind.

:No need to worry there. You know I will not take any unnecessary chances with our little one.:

They glided down towards the group approaching the gates.

:We should go down and meet them. I do not trust them at all. But we should still try and listen to what they have to say. After the losses sustained during their last siege, I do not trust my kin not to strike first and worry about questions later. I'm not sure they're wrong, but prefer to alter the order of events,: she said, wryly.

Sky Cloudgather wrote:

That's it, I'm sending word to the Guardians right away...

Those books were actually okay before the movies messed with them.

"Bah. The Servants are here. I count thirty of them, and they look a bit battered."

:Yes, I suppose that would qualify as important.:

:Sky, my beloved, you should ask Hlawith or one of the others to watch the nestlings for a bit,: she called telepathically. :We seem to have visitors, and last I checked we were left in charge of dealing with such things. Frost says they are Servants, but they look a bit the worse for wear, not that they don't deserve it.:

Blodwen is on her way back to the nest from the kitchen where she had gone to grab a quick snack when she saw the dragon.

:I suppose this is some sort of emergency?:

Blodwen Pefhlawae wrote:

:mmm. From what I've seen of Starsong's troubles, I think it invites more trouble than it deters. Let's keep it secret for now.:

She looked up at him with a smile. :I happen to know that there is an unoccupied cave just over there. And we have people to watch the fledglings until morning...:

More than a hint of amusement sneaks in with his thought.

:Oh, you tricky little starhawk! That was your plan all along wasn't it?:

A bit of sarcasm follows his next words.
:Well, who are we to deny people the pleasure of drop-cloth changing?:

:Yes, returning too early would most certainly deprive them of the full pleasure of the experience of watching younglings,: she said, her eyes dancing with amusement as she led him over to the cave.

Fade to Black

Good to see my ability to distract is still working. I was worried when Aidan couldn't distract everyone and get away...

:Never again.:
He opens his mind to her, allowing her to pass through barriers other couldn't even dent. He lifts his left arm.

:What about this? Should our divinity remain a secret to use against our enemies, or should it be know to all so as to deter attacks?:

He kisses her again.
:Or should we just not care right now?:

:mmm. From what I've seen of Starsong's troubles, I think it invites more trouble than it deters. Let's keep it secret for now.:

She looked up at him with a smile. :I happen to know that there is an unoccupied cave just over there. And we have people to watch the fledglings until morning...:

:Your right my nighwing, as usual. But I do worry. Now more than ever since I am only LJ's herald in title. Now that I realize enemies seem to be coming from everywhere. Now that I realize enemies from my past, so distant the world now seems so old, may still be around to distroy the life I've carved out here.:

:But you are right, no matter what happens, we'll handle it together.:

He leans in and kisses her lightly.
:No matter what.:

:No more trying to do everything alone,: she says, relaxing into his embrace, her anger fading away. :There's strength in numbers, remember, and yes, there are a lot of enemies to face. But you're not alone anymore. And power isn't always the answer to everything. Just, please, don't shut me out again, eranoyeh.:

:I didn't lie, not entirely. I told you the Ritual would allow me to fight three times as much as I could before."

He shudders.

:I guess I thought I was protecting you... and myself. Everyone I trusted or loved ended up being horrible or dead. The parents I never knew? Dead. The family that took me in? They were nice until I told them about my lycanthropy. My tribe? Dead, because I unknowingly led a giant to out home cliff, and it came back a week later with it's clan. I knew you wouldn't be horrible to me, so what did that leave for you? What did it leave for me if you did die? Death because I did something or told you something!:

The feeling of great loss and terrible suffering accompanies his words.
:I didn't want to lose a fourth family and I didn't want our little ones to grow up with no real family.:

:Sky, that's...completely insane! I'm not going anywhere. You aren't going to lose me. How could knowing the truth about what you did lead to my death! Look at me.: She put her hands on either side of his face and looked up at him intently. :You have got to stop letting this fear rule you, eranoyeh. I am here. I am with you. I am not going anywhere. We have a nestful of younglings who we love and another on the way, and we are both going to raise them. Together. You can't push your family away from you because you're afraid of losing us. You can't lose me. I'm part of you, and you of me. Let go of this. Please. Whatever happens we can face it. Together. Both of us. The past doesn't have to be the future, Sky. Please.:

He takes the slap well. "Just like Shamaness Osprey," he thinks to himself.

"I considered a lot of things before I performed the Ritual of the Three. I considered what would happen if I didn't do and you died because I couldn't fight well enough to stay alive defend you, our home, and our little ones. But what I considered most of all, was how much I love you. That was what made me do what I did. People do stupid things, Blodwen, when thier in love."

He looks at the sky above them, and Blodwen can hear the remorse in his next thought.

:I wanted to make sure there was a chance the little ones had someone take care of them, should I die. Someone who would tell tham about me, teach them to read the winds and make sure they could survive on their own. Someone... who loved them:

:None of that excuses lying to me about it! How could you do that? Did you think I wouldn't find out? Did it never occur to you that even if part of you dies that it would still damage me? Because it would. And I'm no good to our children if I end up as a living ghost. But you didn't trust me enough to tell me the truth.:

Blodwen Pefhlawae wrote:

When Sky returns to their nest Blodwen is waiting for him with a meaningful, :We need to talk.:

:Well now, for a moment I thought you were Shamaness Osprey. Gave me a bit of a fright there. Should we be outside the wards for this? I have the strangest feeling I may be slapped.:

He pauses for a moment.

:Understand, I did what I had to in order to protect our family. You shouldn't be so worked up considering your condition.:

The 9 Layers of Hell hath no fury like an angry shape-shifting lady starhawk who is pregnant and possesing a myriad of powers! ;)

She glares at him. :You wanna take it outside the wards? Fine.:

When Sky returns to their nest Blodwen is waiting for him with a meaningful, :We need to talk.:

His next message, almost a whisper, is sent to Blodwen only.

:I want you to stay with the little ones. If by some horrilbe luck they get past us and the wards, the little ones will need protecting. Do not worry about me... I'll be fine:

Something about those last words worries Blodwen

[ooc]This battle may very well cause his little "I can't shift" secret to be revealed.[/i]

:You had better be, eranoyeh. In case you had forgotten, my life is tied to yours. Do not take unnecessary risks with all three of our lives. Stay safe.:

:Sky? Tristan's doing something with spirits, you may want to get down here in case something goes wrong or someone tries to interfere.:

:... Fine. I'll be down once I finish shielding this last nestling, I don't want people sharinf emotions like that.:

Once he finishes, Sky floats down and stands about 35ft behind Tristan, waiting and hoping he was only there as a precaution.

Wow. No one has noticed that Sky has only ever changed shape once since the day he accidently unlocked Blodwen's powers? I find confidence just swelling up inside me as I imagine the next Good vs. Evil battle. ;P

Only one who would be likely to notice is Blodwen, and she's been preoccupied what with nestlings and pregnancy and all. :)

Blodwen groaned, the headache from too many emotions and inadequate shielding almost unbearable. It looked like she was in for a few more hours of practice. She grimaced. Telepathy was the most difficult thing for her, even worse than shaping. Maybe she should ask Allura for help. Later, obviously. Allura was busy helping Tristan right now.

:Well, I have one idea, if the child's a girl. But I think I'll wait before I commit to a name. As for what the baby will look like? A little like you, a little like me, and a little like out ancestors. At the rate the nestlings are growing, they may not even be in the nest by the time the baby arrives. You can ask Hlawith about ways to make the pregnancy easier, and you can say you just want to be ready when the time comes, since you are sharing a nest. It will be my first baby too, technically, and I know less than you do.:

Sky looks up and smiles, because Freefall is back with a young stag in his talons. He places it in front of Blodwen, and bobs his head in congratulations. He settles down next to the little ones, and watches as Notin shifts in her sleep.

:Oh no, Devlyn's going to want to buy me drinks...:

Boy, is he going to be surprised when he logs in the morning! ;)

She laughs. :Somehow I think you'll manage. Neutralize Poison works wonders for that I hear.:

She shifted back into her starhawk form and neatly and thoroughly devoured the deer.

:I guess I was hungrier than I thought,: she said porting the bones and hide away away from the nest to the community trash pile.

She shifted back to human and yawned. :And sleepier.:

Blodwen curled up and fell asleep almost immediately. She didn't even wake up when Amiri rolled over in his sleep and kicked her head. or when Nodin decided to use her arm as a pillow.

:It also means I'm going to have Freefall stay close to you when I can't. And that I'm going to make you take naps at least once a day.:

He hasn't stopped smiling since she fainted the second time. He looks at the still sleeping nestlings.

:I really couldn't have asked for a better place to raise them all, and soon they'll have a new little brother or sister. It does mean we need to think off a new name though, and when we're going to tell anyone. Oh, I almost forgot, Freefall says congratulations. He went out to find a plump deer for you, he didn't think the bear meat would be enough.:

He leans in closer.

:I think he just wants to show off so we'll name the baby after him.:

She laughed and shifted back into her human form. She hugged him, bubbling with happiness now that her initial panic was past.

Sky shakes his head, smiling. He pulls some of the bear meat from his pack, glad to see the spells that keep the food fresh are still working. He then holds true to his promise, and water splashes down on Blodwen. Before she can even start to talk, he holds up a hand.

:Don't worry. Don't talk. Shift. Eat.:

He cuts her off as she tries to speak up again.

:The baby will be fine, even if you shift. When you shift, an egg shifts around it. Pregnant lycanthropes shift all the time, and the babies are always born healthy. Eat.:

She seemed hesitant to shift, but the smell of food was so enticing. She shifted slowly, focusing on what was happening to the baby as she did so.

:You're right,: she said, surprised. :The baby doesn't seem to have a problem with shifting at all. I didn't realize. Starhawk babies aren't usually so accomodating. Shifting while pregnant is usually disastrous.:

Obviously much calmer and happier now she devours the bear meat in record time.

:I guess I'm going to have to be more careful now about skipping meals,: she said sheepishly.

:If you faint again I'll use the create water spell to wake you back up. Calm down eranoyeh.:

He searches his memories, and chooses a recent one. He takes the feeling he got while flying above the Eyrie with a child on his back, and shares it with her.

Tristan can be so helpful.

:What were you thinking about that caused you to react that way?:

She takes several deep breaths trying to calm down.

Her mental voice still feels pretty shaky.

:I've been so busy with the fledglings that I haven't been particularly aware of myself lately. I barely remember to eat and sleep seems to be something that happens to other people. I just need to stop and figure things out before I panic. But I'm making no promises about not panicking later.:

She leans her head against his shoulder and closes her eyes. Her breathing slows down as she goes into a meditative trance. She stays like that for a few minutes before her eyes fly open and she looks up at him completely terrified.

:I...we...baby...how did this...I should have paid more attention....oh gods...I could have...you're not supposed to shift when....:

She blacked out again.

:Yeah, and got a small bump on the head as a reward. Congratulations! Hm, you had a weird dream too? I don't the one I had was mine, but it made me feel warm and safe. I could hear a steady rhythm, like a heartbeat. So are you okay?:

:A steady....like a....heartbeat? And I....: He can feel rising panic in her mental voice as she tries to process things. If she doesn't calm down soon she'll probably pass out again.

Eight, they have eaglets set to be their animal companions, remember? Glad I didn't go back to sleep though! Hm... total darkness+high places+fainting=not good... Or have we not implemented the magical darkness yet?

He sends wind throughout the Eyrie, using them as his eyes, searching the lower levels first in case she had fallen, but he found her halfway back to the nest from the bathroom on this level. He moved quickly to her side, wooried. He healed a small bump on her head, and realized she had fainted, but why? He carries her back to the nest and tries to talk to her again.

:Blodwen, are you okay? What happened? Is the ba.. Is there anything wrong?:

D'oh! I can't believe I forgot to count the eaglets! Also, we never implemented the magical darkness.

:Sky? Wha-? What happened?: Her mental voice sounds muzzy and confused as she returns to consciousness, growing clearer and more aware as she fully wakes up.
:I was on my way back to the nest. I had a strange dream, but I can't remember...I got up to go to the bathroom, and on the way back I felt funny. And then..Did I faint???:

Blodwen woke up feeling disoriented. There was something funny about her dream, but she couldn't remember what it was. She stumbled out of the nest doing her best not to disturb anyone else's sleep and headed for the bathroom.

She felt a little odd, but chalked it up to lack of sleep. She headed back to the nest to go back to sleep, but about halfway there fell down unconcious.

Nothing's wrong. Fainting is a perfectly normal thing at this stage of pregnancy. Blood pressure changes and all that. Stress makes it worse and for some reason caring for four fledglings seems to be a pretty stressful job. ;)

And at the rate our current nestlings are growing(despite their Elven blood) we may have four(technically 8) babysitters before long. Must be all the divine magical lightning sparking their growth...

Children at the Eyrie do seem to age at a particularly rapid rate. :)

Clue: Once is enough.

o.O

I'm getting the distinct impression that there are yet more diapers in their future. ;)

I have a question. Is it possible for others related to the bonded pair to be able to share the Dreamsharing?

EDIT: I have a legitimate reason for asking this.

It would be highly unusual. Almost unheard of. But not impossible. And we seem to have a lot of the highly unusual going around.

Allura wrote:

Allura and Tristan join the others gathering in the Hole in the Wall. Allura does a quick headcount.

"Where's Arielle?"

"I didn't see her in the sparring court."

A very flustered Blodwen looks up.

:I can search for her if you can keep the nestlings occupied for a few minutes.:

Once she's sure that the little ones are properly distracted she starts a telepathic sweep of the Eyrie.

:I can't find her,: she says, sounding worried.

Working together, Sky and Blodwen manage to get the all the young ones in their care down to the Hole. The younglings in a makeshift nest guarding them with solid wind.

:I have to meet with Djuhah, my love, to think of a way to keep these invaders out of the Eyrie. I'll talk to you later.:

Sky flies of to meet Djuhah.

:Take care, eranoyeh.:

She turns back to the curious fledglings.

:Now, as for you lot, you're just going to have to stay in the nest for a bit little ones.:

Blodwen starts organizing the celestial eagles and Starhawks into patrols based on whether it's day or night. It's hard to concentrate on her telepathy while trying to keep four (well, really eight) little fledglings in the nest, but somehow she manages.

Blodwen did her best to calm down the overly curious nestlings while Sky went to deal with whatever was wrong.

Blodwen Pefhlawae wrote:

:There may be charms that can suppress all powers when worn, which would at least be better than tampering with their minds. We could ask Djuhah to make some for us just in case.:

:That's what I meant by dampeners. Something to weaken there powers for a while. As the little ones gain more control over the power, the dampener weakens a little, and allows more power to be used. It's a good training method for little ones.:

Blodwen looks relieved now that they've come up with a viable alternative to placing mental blocks on the children.

:You can thank LJ for the solid winds, I asked her if she could put some around the nest and she gave me the power. I wouldn't dream of putting a block on any of our children, you're not the only one I know who used or is using blocks. But... if any of our little ones show a gift for something potentially dangerous...:

He turns to look at the little ones, all of which are now enjoying shifting, and feels a pang of guilt at what he is thinking.

:We may have to put dampeners on them. I hate the thought of doing that, but what if Amiri became pyrokinetic? Or Nodin and Notin began to turn their dreams into reality? All we can do is hope and pray...:

:I truly hope that it does not come to that. I'm not sure I could even do it. After what happened to me, the very thought repulses me. The truth is any power is dangerous at such a young age. There may be charms that can suppress all powers when worn, which would at least be better than tampering with their minds. We could ask Djuhah to make some for us just in case.:

:Remember a long time ago, when I was worried about them growing up normal? I never even thought they'd manifest powers. We'll have to watch the others for new abilities.:

:Agreed. I didn't think that it was quite normal for were-eagles, but I wanted to check and make sure. That solid wind trick could become very, very handy indeed. Telekinesis can be pretty dangerous for a little beginner like Lark. We'll have to watch her carefully to make sure she doesn't hurt herself or someone else. I don't want to put a block on her. You know how well that didn't work for me.:

Blodwen Pefhlawae wrote:

:I need to talk to you for a moment, eranoyeh.:

:What is it Blodwen? Did one of our little ones talk today too?:

:Not...exactly. Er, how common are powers for were-eagles? Because this one started to try using telekinesis a minute ago...:

Blodwen Pefhlawae wrote:

Blodwen is dealing with a bit of excitement of her own as Notin has also figured out how to shift and keeps trying to jump out of the nest when her back is turned. Nodin is obligingly trying to distract her so this is quickly becoming an exercise in being in two places at once.

I told her to make eyes in the back of her head. ;p

Just as Notin jumps again, a hand reaches up and gently knocks her back into the nest. Sky, Lynora-Jill, and Amiri step into the nest. Sky waves his hand and smiles as Notin tries to get out of the nest again, only to be gently placed back in the nest by an unseen force.

:So, I see their shifting sooner than expected. At least I can put in solid winds now to keep them in when you and Freefall aren't teaching them.:

He sets Amiri down and points out each little one as he names them.

"You already know Amiri. The brown haired boy over there is Nodin, and his twin sister, Notin, is this little eaglet here. The little one being good(for now) over there is Lark. Amiri, Lark, Nodin, Notin, this is Lynora-Jill."

Blodwen gives a shaky but relieved smile as LJ coos over the little ones. It was hard to keep track of four hatchlings at once, especially when they decided today was the day to learn how to fly. She felt sad because she couldn't go to her parents for help and advice.

Blodwen is dealing with a bit of excitement of her own as Notin has also figured out how to shift and keeps trying to jump out of the nest when her back is turned. Nodin is obligingly trying to distract her so this is quickly becoming an exercise in being in two places at once.

Blodwen Pefhlawae wrote:

Relief floods through her as she sees that Amiri is alright.

:He's with Starsong. He is trying to fly. Apparently our little one managed to glide out of the nest.:

Sky sighs.

:That means he shifted. Which means they'll all be able to soon. Think we should raise the edge of the nest?:

:Do you actually think that will help?: she asked with a trace of amusement. :No, eranoyeh, we're just going to have to find a way to teach them enough of what they're doing so that they don't hurt themselves. Would you like to go get Amiri, or should I?:

Relief floods through her as she sees that Amiri is alright.

:He's with Starsong. He is trying to fly. Apparently our little one managed to glide out of the nest.:

Meanwhile, back at their nest, Sky looks worriedly at Blodwen
:Blodwen, where's Amiri?:

Blodwen looks around and does a head count. Lark, Nodin, Notin....no Amiri. A cold ball of fear forms in the pit of her stomach.

:He can't have gotten far... I hope.:

She closes her eyes to help her concentrate and begins a telepathic sweep of the Eyrie, searching for Amiri's mind.

Keehaar flies back to the nest after an extensive time away. He has grown, shedding his juvenile pinfeathers. He looks as if he has gained a bit of quiet wisdom as well.

:I'm glad to see you back, lyssla. My goodness, you're growing up so fast! Really fast. Something to do with your being the reincarnation of that other fellow, I suppose. But you're always welcome here. So don't forget that,: she added with a grin.

Blodwen Pefhlawae wrote:

He was looking at her in a way that was making her pulse speed up, which was creating an odd effect as their heart rates tended to try to synchronize when they were near each other.

:Ummm, I'm guessing you have some ideas for that?:

Memories of chance sightings as a child rise in Sky's mind before he remembers their link and pushes them down.

:Yeah, I was thinking since we were alone, and um... husband and wife..:
Sky gets flustered and looks away, blushing. Caring for eggs hadn't left him time for other interests...

She blushed too. Now her heart was racing. And so was his.

Fade to Black

:Ah, blackberries. I remember them from the time my tribe took a trip down the mountain. Tasty, but I always got stuck by the thorns. So your full? Well,at least the little ones get to taste bear meat soon. Now,: he thinks thoughtfully, :how do we use up all the energy you got from those berries?:

He was looking at her in a way that was making her pulse speed up, which was creating an odd effect as their heart rates tended to try to synchronize when they were near each other.

He smiles.
:And you usually aren't so excitable. I see you managed to find sweets you can eat.:

:Mmm-hmmm. Blackberries. Would you like some? I picked some extra to share. I had a little trouble making a basket, but I managed it in the end. I had quite a few berries already while I was picking them, so feel free to have as many as you like.: