Open The Simple Joys of Falconry (Trill)

[Glacient]

Glacient was surprised at Yuri lowering her head. She enjoyed attention, she was born to be the center of it all, but physical contact was not something she did often. He watched as the girl stroked her head, and was alarmed when he saw tears form in the corners of her eyes.

Did he miss something? Had Yuri bitten her? He yanked his arm away to find the girl un hurt. Then why the tears?

The girls question gave him his answer. So, she loved the birds this much. . . She reminded him of himself when he was younger. Still, how should he answer the question.

"Well, my father was a falconer, he wasn't an expert or anything, but he was good at it. He carried around two birds with him wherever he went. Rin, his pergrine falcon, and Yuri, his gyrfalcon. He had trained them since they were chicks, raising them and teaching them to hunt. Eventually it came to the point where he could use the two birds in combat, not only taking down big game like deer and smaller bears, but humans if he was attacked.

I was fascinated with my dad's art, and he taught ne what he could. He let me train with Yuri, since she was the more difficult bird to handle. He said the toughness would make my learning harder, but produce better results. I practiced daily. Taking Yuri out with me, trapping small mice and signaling her to go in for the kill, we bounded well. I guess it was because she was so use to taking down deer that the tasks I asked of her were too easy.

Any way, i guess the best way to answer your question would be to say that I got into Falconry because of my father. . ." He trailed off.

His father. The memories pained him, it was not often he thought of this. Yet here this little girl was, bringing out emotions he struggled to keep in.

[Trill]

Glacient abruptly yanked Yuri away from her. "Hey-" Trill exclaimed, then saw the look on his face. Concern. Well. She hadn't seen that look in a while. Mollified, she listened with increasing interest to Glacient's story of his father. He was a talented man. She wondered idly what had happened to Rin, seeing as Yuri had fallen into Glacient's care, but thought it best not to ask when Glacient's voice faded. "He sounds amazing," she said softly, beginning to understand Glacient's pain. She had never known her parents, but she had seen others experience the sharp sting of loss, and thought she recognized that same pain here. "I wish I'd known him." Trill paused, then added, "Well, it seems you've taken up his role. Now you're getting me into Falconry!" She grinned just an icy draft snaked across her body, making her skin erupt into goosebumps again. She shivered. "Um, let's go inside and get something warm," she suggested cheerfully. "I think it'd be good for both of us." She reached out for Glacient's hand. "Is that okay? I'm freezing!" She said the last part with emphasis, no longer especially worried about her pride. Making sure Glacient was all right had suddenly become her top priority... alongside moving someplace with more comfortable temperatures. "I can show you my school, if you'd like!"