Keehaar nods
It will be okay Blodwen. I had a dream that the vampire girl came back to life and was just a girl again. Do you think it's true?
Keehaar nods
It will be okay Blodwen. I had a dream that the vampire girl came back to life and was just a girl again. Do you think it's true?
:I don't know, Keehaar. I hope so. I think that would be the best thing.:
Sky slowly glides into the Eyrie, shaking his head before Blodwen or Keehaar can ask anything. He settles near the chick, smiling grimly, and takes his eagle form. He places his head under his wing and says nothing.
Blodwen watches the survivors fly into the Eyrie, looking for someone in particular. She begins to grow increasingly upset as she does not see them.
:Hlawerry,: she calls out, seeing at least someone she knows. The older starhawk flies down and lands on the balcony.
:I am sorry child,: Hlawerry says sadly. :They fought bravely, but I am afraid your parents have already flown on to the fields beyond.:
:No! Nononononooooo: She doesn't know how to even begin to express her grief. She wants to scream, but she cannot. She ends up shifting into human form just so that she can cry. She lays there on the balcony huddled up and crying as Hlawerry flies away to her own nest.
Azuri'ith flies in wearily, carrying the young air genasi with him. He watches below as yet more scenes of grief are acted out as those left behind mourn those who will never return. He brings the girl to the chamber that had belonged to his granddaughter.
"You will be comfortable here."
"Thank you, Azuri'ith," she said politely. She looked around the room. It seemed like a very nice place.
"Oh, look. I found a shiny," she said happily, stopping to pick up a glimmering star from the chamber's floor. For some reason when she picked it up she felt happy and peaceful.
Frogskin flies in, carrying a small star.
"Where's an 'Azurith'?"
Frogskin flies in, carrying a small star.
"Where's an 'Azurith'?"
"I am here, raven," the air elemental says, flying out to greet the visitor. His suspicions about the girl seemed to be true, and these stars were likely the pieces of his granddaughter. When he saw the star the raven is carrying his eyes light up.
"You have brought a piece of her back."
Frogskin flies in, carrying a small star.
"Where's an 'Azurith'?""I am here, raven," the air elemental says, flying out to greet the visitor. His suspicions about the girl seemed to be true, and these stars were likely the pieces of his granddaughter. When he saw the star the raven is carrying his eyes light up.
"You have brought a piece of her back."
"Yes, but I have some bad news. One of the Yugoloths spotted two nymphs taking two of these stars somewhere, and decided to tell me about it."
"Yes, but I have some bad news. One of the Yugoloths spotted two nymphs taking two of these stars somewhere, and decided to tell me about it."
The elder air elemental curses under his breath. "Thank you for telling me this. It is very bad news. If they are the nymphs I think they are, I have been banned from ever entering that realm again. Arielle will have to go. And the child is only a few hours old."
"Yes, but I have some bad news. One of the Yugoloths spotted two nymphs taking two of these stars somewhere, and decided to tell me about it."The elder air elemental curses under his breath. "Thank you for telling me this. It is very bad news. If they are the nymphs I think they are, I have been banned from ever entering that realm again. Arielle will have to go. And the child is only a few hours old."
"I could go, I still have some spells left and she'll need some help."
"I could go, I still have some spells left and she'll need some help.""Yes, but I have some bad news. One of the Yugoloths spotted two nymphs taking two of these stars somewhere, and decided to tell me about it."The elder air elemental curses under his breath. "Thank you for telling me this. It is very bad news. If they are the nymphs I think they are, I have been banned from ever entering that realm again. Arielle will have to go. And the child is only a few hours old."
"Yes, I think that would be best, as long as you are willing. There are many there who would try to take advantage of the child's innocence."
:No! Nononononooooo: She doesn't know how to even begin to express her grief. She wants to scream, but she cannot. She ends up shifting into human form just so that she can cry. She lays there on the balcony huddled up and crying as Hlawerry flies away to her own nest.
Sky slowly shifts to his human form and moves to comfort Blodwen.
:"I know the terrible loss you are feeling now, having felt it twice myself. I.. I think I should try to ease everyone's greif.": He takes his rowan flute from his pack and glides softly down to the Eyrie's floor. Soft winds seems to carry his words to all.:"Please do not be alarmed by what I'm about to do. Do you remember when my family flew through the Eyrie? This I will do again for those of the Wind.": Yet again, an eerie tune flows throughout the Eyrie and slowly figures can be seen flying around. When the can be clearly seen, those who died alight next to their loved ones. Though they are see through, many embrace the spirits. LJ is not with the spirits.
"Yes, I think that would be best, as long as you are willing. There are many there who would try to take advantage of the child's innocence.""I could go, I still have some spells left and she'll need some help.""Yes, but I have some bad news. One of the Yugoloths spotted two nymphs taking two of these stars somewhere, and decided to tell me about it."The elder air elemental curses under his breath. "Thank you for telling me this. It is very bad news. If they are the nymphs I think they are, I have been banned from ever entering that realm again. Arielle will have to go. And the child is only a few hours old."
Frogskin nods."Alright, I'll go when she's ready. Where is she? More importantly, who is she?"
Blodwen embraces the spirits of her parents as best she can, tears still streaming down her face.
Frogskin nods."Alright, I'll go when she's ready. Where is she? More importantly, who is she?"
"She is inside. As for who she is, I cannot say for certain, though I have my suspicions. I think you will understand why when you meet her. Her memories begin only a few hours ago, at the moment when her m- ahem, excuse me. At the moment when the Star Song died. She appears older than she is, but underneath she is still an innocent newborn."
Frogskin nods."Alright, I'll go when she's ready. Where is she? More importantly, who is she?""She is inside. As for who she is, I cannot say for certain, though I have my suspicions. I think you will understand why when you meet her. Her memories begin only a few hours ago, at the moment when her m- ahem, excuse me. At the moment when the Star Song died. She appears older than she is, but underneath she is still an innocent newborn."
Frogskin nods. "Can I talk to her?"
Frogskin nods. "Can I talk to her?"Frogskin nods."Alright, I'll go when she's ready. Where is she? More importantly, who is she?""She is inside. As for who she is, I cannot say for certain, though I have my suspicions. I think you will understand why when you meet her. Her memories begin only a few hours ago, at the moment when her m- ahem, excuse me. At the moment when the Star Song died. She appears older than she is, but underneath she is still an innocent newborn."
"Of course. Follow me." Azuri'ith leads Jay Frogskin to the chamber where he left Arielle.
Arielle appears to be an air genasi of roughly ten years of age, except that her expression has no guile whatsoever and makes her seem younger. Her face looks familiar, but by no means identical to LJ. She is holding a sparkling star close to her. Her face lights up with a smile as she sees the star in Azuri'ith's hand."You found another shiny!"
Frogskin nods. "Can I talk to her?"Frogskin nods."Alright, I'll go when she's ready. Where is she? More importantly, who is she?""She is inside. As for who she is, I cannot say for certain, though I have my suspicions. I think you will understand why when you meet her. Her memories begin only a few hours ago, at the moment when her m- ahem, excuse me. At the moment when the Star Song died. She appears older than she is, but underneath she is still an innocent newborn.""Of course. Follow me." Azuri'ith leads Jay Frogskin to the chamber where he left Arielle.
Arielle appears to be an air genasi of roughly ten years of age, except that her expression has no guile whatsoever and makes her seem younger. Her face looks familiar, but by no means identical to LJ. She is holding a sparkling star close to her. Her face lights up with a smile as she sees the star in Azuri'ith's hand.
"You found another shiny!"
Frogskin nods.
"So he did. And we need to go on a journey to find more shinies. Okay?"He looks at a small watch.
"Oh, crap. I have to go, Azurith, I'm sorry. Can the trip wait?"
Frogskin nods.
"So he did. And we need to go on a journey to find more shinies. Okay?"
He looks at a small watch.
"Oh, crap. I have to go, Azurith, I'm sorry. Can the trip wait?"
"Yes, I believe it can. There are likely more pieces still left to find in this realm before that one must be braved. Here, child," he says, handing Arielle the star in his hand. She clutches it too her, humming a little song that sounds very much like the tune that used to emanate from LJ.
"Yes, I believe it can. There are likely more pieces still left to find in this realm before that one must be braved. Here, child," he says, handing Arielle the star in his hand. She clutches it too her, humming a little song that sounds very much like the tune that used to emanate from LJ.Frogskin nods.
"So he did. And we need to go on a journey to find more shinies. Okay?"
He looks at a small watch.
"Oh, crap. I have to go, Azurith, I'm sorry. Can the trip wait?"
Frogskin nods, distracted, and vanishes.
The tune slowly comes to an end and the spirits fade as it does. Sky has to lean against a spire as he shakes with exhaustion.
The tune slowly comes to an end and the spirits fade as it does. Sky has to lean against a spire as he shakes with exhaustion.
Blodwen reluctantly watches her parents fade away from her. She turns and sees Sky's state. She walks over to him and does her level best to help him over to the nest where he can rest.
"Thank you, Sky," she says softly. "For giving us all a chance to say goodbye."
The tune slowly comes to an end and the spirits fade as it does. Sky has to lean against a spire as he shakes with exhaustion.Blodwen reluctantly watches her parents fade away from her. She turns and sees Sky's state. She walks over to him and does her level best to help him over to the nest where he can rest.
"Thank you, Sky," she says softly. "For giving us all a chance to say goodbye."
:"It was the least I could do": he says with a crooked smile on his face. He falls asleep and Blodwen thinks she can hear him say :For you...:
:"It was the least I could do": he says with a crooked smile on his face. He falls asleep and Blodwen thinks she can hear him say :For you...:
She can't bear the thought of returning to the nest she used to share with her parents, so she stays here, sitting nearby and watching Sky and the chicks sleep. She cries a bit more, but eventually she drifts off to sleep herself, curled up on the floor beside the nest.
"Child, I think we are going to have to make some sort of pouch for you to carry the shinies in. It's very important that we collect all of the shinies. If even one is lost then we cannot use them. When we have found them all we are going to take them to the biggest tree you can imagine. It's called Yggdrasil. And when we take all the stars there, they'll all go back together and being back someone very special, someone I think you will very much like to meet. Will you help me look for the stars, Arielle?"
"Of course I will. I like them. They sing me pretty songs, and I feel happy when I hold them. I can't wait to see who they turn into," she says with a happy smile.
She watches with interest as the elder air elemental fashions her a special bag to hold the stars.
"Oh, goody, it's pink. I love pink. It's my favoritest color."
Djuhah returns to the Eyrie. He is saddened to see that less than half of those who flew into battle have returned. So many lives cut short. He searches out Azuri'ith in order to check in. He is surprised to find the air elemental speaking with a small child. And air genasi by the look of her, but there was something else about her, something strange.
"Hello, Azuri'ith. I have returned and wished to see if there was anything further I could do to be of help. And who is this?"
"This," Azuri'ith said, laying a hand on the girl's shoulder, "is Arielle. I found her, or rather, she found me on the battlefield with no memories beyond the last few hours. She is going to help me collect the pieces of the Star Song so we can put her back together. Isn't that right, Arielle?"
Arielle nodded enthusiastically, holding up her bag to show that she already had two pieces.
"See. They're so pretty and shiny, and they sing me happy songs."
Sky sleeps restlessly, tossing and turning as he murmurs something about his 'first family'.
"Yes I see," he said looking back and forth between Azuri'ith and Arielle, clearly puzzled. "Or rather I don't see. But I trust you Azuri'ith. I assume this is the part where you're going to ask me to look after the Eyrie while you're gone? Yes, I can see that it is. Well then, I will endeavor to keep the place from falling apart while you are away," he said dryly. "Do not hesitate to call on me if you find you need a little extra assistance. Azuri'ith," he gave a nod of farewell. "Little lady." he added, giving her a small bow as he took his leave and returned to his own quarters.
Sky sleeps restlessly, tossing and turning as he murmurs something about his 'first family'.
Blodwen wakes up to the sound of crying chicks, awakened by Sky's tossing and turning. She blearily gets up off the floor, a little stiff from sleeping in such an uncomfortable position, and does her best to comfort them and soothe them back to sleep.
Sky sleeps restlessly, tossing and turning as he murmurs something about his 'first family'.Blodwen wakes up to the sound of crying chicks, awakened by Sky's tossing and turning. She blearily gets up off the floor, a little stiff from sleeping in such an uncomfortable position, and does her best to comfort them and soothe them back to sleep.
Sky wakes from a dream, drenched in a cold-sweat. When he sees Blodwen trying to calm the chicks he moves closer, pulling some meat and milk from his pack.
:They are probably hungry, I don't think they've been fed since before the battle. And this one needs to be changed.: he says , picking up the elven baby with light brown eyes. He reaches into his pack again and pulls out a fresh 'drop clothe' and proceed to change her.
Sky wakes from a dream, drenched in a cold-sweat. When he sees Blodwen trying to calm the chicks he moves closer, pulling some meat and milk from his pack.
:They are probably hungry, I don't think they've been fed since before the battle. And this one needs to be changed.: he says , picking up the elven baby with light brown eyes. He reaches into his pack again and pulls out a fresh 'drop clothe' and proceed to change her.
Blodwen sleepily helps to feed the chicks, a little awkwardly when she first tries to pick up the elven ones, but she gets the hang of it fairly quickly.
:Sorry. I would have taken care of it, but I didn't know you had more food for them in your pack.:
Sky smiles. :It's is partly my fault really, I should of told you my pack is spelled to have what's needed. I'll alter the spells to allow you in.:
Sky smiles. :It's is partly my fault really, I should of told you my pack is spelled to have what's needed. I'll alter the spells to allow you in.:
:Thanks: She yawns while she feeds the soft-skin chick. :Chicks are definitely not conducive to sleep.:
She still looks sad, but she's doing her best to keep busy.
Keehaar twitches in a restless sleep next to the chicks
Wet ... danger ... sharks ...
He ruffles his feathers
Blodwen looks at Keehaar oddly.
:That fledgling has the strangest dreams.:
:There, there: she projects a feeling of calm as she smooths his feathers. :It's alright. No more nightmares now.:
She looks back at Sky, dismay evident on her face as she realizes something that should have occurred to her earlier.
:His mother never came to get him. Do you think that she - :
Blodwen cannot even make herself finish the sentence.
Blodwen looks at Keehaar oddly.
:That fledgling has the strangest dreams.:
:There, there: she projects a feeling of calm as she smooths his feathers. :It's alright. No more nightmares now.:
She looks back at Sky, dismay evident on her face as she realizes something that should have occurred to her earlier.
:His mother never came to get him. Do you think that she - :
Blodwen cannot even make herself finish the sentence.
:"Sadly, it may very well be the case. It is not how I would wish the chicks to have an older sibling, but it could be unavoidable.": Sky shifts to his eagle form to place Keehaar under his wing. After only a few moments though, Sky moves away slowly, eyes open wide. :"Are none of the young I care for going to grow up normal? I'm not sure those are dreams Blodwen, but I have no idea what else they could be...":
:"Sadly, it may very well be the case. It is not how I would wish the chicks to have an older sibling, but it could be unavoidable.": Sky shifts to his eagle form to place Keehaar under his wing. After only a few moments though, Sky moves away slowly, eyes open wide. :"Are none of the young I care for going to grow up normal? I'm not sure those are dreams Blodwen, but I have no idea what else they could be...":Blodwen looks at Keehaar oddly.
:That fledgling has the strangest dreams.:
:There, there: she projects a feeling of calm as she smooths his feathers. :It's alright. No more nightmares now.:
She looks back at Sky, dismay evident on her face as she realizes something that should have occurred to her earlier.
:His mother never came to get him. Do you think that she - :
Blodwen cannot even make herself finish the sentence.
:What is not normal about these other chicks?: she asks indignantly. :And what do you mean that they are not dreams? You think he is having visions?:
:And you are not the only one who is caring for them either, so you just get used to that.: she adds fiercely.She sits on the edge of the nest, head hung despondently.
:This is all the family I have left now.:
Realizing he has made a mistake, Sky sits next to her. :"I.. I'm sorry Blodwen, I forgot I'm not alone anymore. If they are visions I want to know why he's having them, or who is sending them. As for the chicks? How can the possible grow up normal? They will never know their parents, br raised by one of the most powerful divine casters living and his shape-shifting starhawk wife, and to top it all off, I was the Herald of a God! The chicks don't even have names yet!:" He holds his head in his hands and seems to grow weary as he sits ther. When he notices Blodwen staring with Wide eys hedoesn't seem to understand why. :"What? Why are you looking at me that way?":
Realizing he has made a mistake, Sky sits next to her. :"I.. I'm sorry Blodwen, I forgot I'm not alone anymore. If they are visions I want to know why he's having them, or who is sending them. As for the chicks? How can the possible grow up normal? They will never know their parents, br raised by one of the most powerful divine casters living and his shape-shifting starhawk wife, and to top it all off, I was the Herald of a God! The chicks don't even have names yet!:" He holds his head in his hands and seems to grow weary as he sits ther. When he notices Blodwen staring with Wide eys hedoesn't seem to understand why. :"What? Why are you looking at me that way?":
She reaches out hesitantly, touching the side of his face gently. :You wish me to be your wife?: she says, almost afraid to breathe. If she does she might wake up and find this to be all a dream.
She reaches out hesitantly, touching the side of his face gently. :You wish me to be your wife?: she says, almost afraid to breathe. If she does she might wake up and find this to be all a dream.
:"If you want, yes. But think about all the danger that I- we would have to face before you answer. I don't want you thinking you made a mistake after a few years.": He shifts uncomfortable, hoping he didn't ask to soon...
She reaches out hesitantly, touching the side of his face gently. :You wish me to be your wife?: she says, almost afraid to breathe. If she does she might wake up and find this to be all a dream.
:"If you want, yes. But think about all the danger that I- we would have to face before you answer. I don't want you thinking you made a mistake after a few years.": He shifts uncomfortable, hoping he didn't ask to soon...
She smiles at him. :Foolish, Sky, it is not the way of my kind to shy away from danger. I would face danger no matter what. I would like nothing more than to face it with you. I - : she looks down shyly. :If you want me, then I am yours. I would be honored to be your wife.:
Sky smiles like a mad man as he says, :"I'm not sure my pack was spelled for engagement and wedding rings.": After glancing to make sure the chicks and Keehaar are still asleep, he kisses Blodwen, then moves quickly away. :"Catch me if you can!": He jump off the nest's edge, laughing before he shifts to his eagle form and flies around the Eyrie.
He can hear the sound of her laughter in his mind as she shifts into her starhawk form and flies after him. She is *fast* and he has to work pretty hard to keep away from her. She is also totally silent, and blends in with the night sky. If he couldn't hear her telepathically it would be very difficult indeed to know where she was. More than once he finds her flying directly above him, swooping across his path and forcing an abrupt direction change.
:Exactly how long do you wish this chase to go on?: she says with amusement.
Eventually they both tire of the game and return to the nest to check on the chicks and to get a little sleep.
