Was this bird really egging him on? Could this be true? He passed her and for a few seconds he felt accomplished. He bathed in it for a moment. Who said birds were faster than people anyway? He ran, ran to try and keep his lead. But his body was running out of fuel…wuickly. He had pushed hard just like every other morning before now. Every single morning pushing harder for faster times to the stick that marked where he felt he needed to be. And once he reached the time he wanted he would put the stick out further and then time himself to that one. His legs burned, just as they always did. His lungs were on fire breathing the cool air. It felt like an intruder to him burning away at his innards as his body screamed for relief. That would come eventually when he reached that stick…which was the half way point in his little adventure.
Where had his ghost gone. He had affectionately referred to the bird as a ghost in his mind. The bird was white, quiet and seemed to just come and go as it pleased, but for now it was fixed on him for an odd reason. Maybe it found him as interesting as he found it. Yes that had to be it…and just like that his lead was lost. Completely as his silent competitor flew on ahead. It seemed to know where he was going. This was clear by how it had aligned itself with his trail. It was plainly visible in the sand before him. Like a big marked trail that the bird doubtlessly saw. Almost with predatory instincts the bird stalked that line and flew on up ahead.
There was no way he could push himself any harder than this…he couldn’t without really really making himself uncomfortable. And he still needed some energy to get back to the sanctuary in one piece. If he pushed much harder he wouldn’t be able to keep himself upward much less make any kind of effort back. SO he resolved to just trying to limit the distance between him and that ghost who was now soaring ahead of him. Seemed he underestimated the bird…the ghost. It had indeed taken the lead and was going to keep it, plainly without contest. He would be the loser in this little race. But that was ok with him. Maybe one day he could fly and the bird could run. And they would see who won that little competition.
It didn’t take long for the bird to make it to the stick he had pushed into the sand. And just like his hand the ghost descended and took a landing on it. Gracefully even, he would’ve admired it more if the bird had not won by such a lead. And then taken to gloating of all things. But he was too tired by the time he got there to hold a grudge. No, the ghost had won this fair and square. No way he was going to chastise it for the obvious win. What would be the point anyway?
The ghost cawed and clipped as if to laugh and egg him on. He couldn’t help but think that this motion was somewhat adorable. Especially coming from a bird of whose likes he had never seen before today.
“Yes, you won. Fair and square.” He admitted openly as he laid down on the ground staring up at the sky.
His body had beads of sweat across it and his legs seemed to be weakened from the run. Trembling some in the sand which only made him try and stretch them out to avoid them cramping up all together. That would be unpleasant to say the least. If they stayed in any one position too long they would start to really burn up and get uncomfortable. He winced as exactly that happened, he hated it when his legs cramped. He had indeed pushed himself too hard in the last leg.
“You beautiful ghost. You showed me that it is better to fly than run.” That was odd…the word between you and ghost…it seemed different than all the others. No…it was likely not a word she had heard before. Different...yes another language maybe? He had thrown in a word he wanted to use more. It was Kontinese for beautiful. He found it slightly more endearing than the common word. It flowed easier, was shorter and well when broken on either side by common it stood out more than usual. This would likely prick her interest…but Serrif didn’t know that.
“It is fair to say flying is far quicker than running.” He reflected on just how easily the bird had beat him out of his position. Had it done that on purpose? Now that would be mean, but not completely unlikely.
His body radiated heat which the quick ocean wind whisked away. However the sweat stayed with him. Clinging like little rain droplets to his body. Hanging on until they either evaporated or were blown off his skin. His shirt was sticking too much to his body so he wrestled with it for a few seconds almost like he was too tired to care before he was able to force it off his chest and set it aside. Sweat seemed to collect in his scars, turning them into shimmering pools of a kind. Valleys, brilliantly vivid valleys all over him. But they told a story; maybe Dust knew how one could obtain scars like these? Maybe she had met someone?
“You…we will have to do this again sometime. Maybe you will grant me a fair head start?” He seemed to almost be pleading with the ghost to make things fair…but in all he was glad the bird had come along. It forced him to push his boundaries. And along the way he had learned something new. Not everything was as it appeared.
No he was sure by this birds behavior now that it was indeed Kelvic. But what would it look like in its human form? He couldn’t really imagine all that much. Maybe it had white hair, and eyes much like the ones it had now. Maybe long white hair like a Konti, or maybe short? There were nearly endless possibilities but he would never know until it decided to show him. And in a way he liked the mystery, it gave his mind space to imagine. Space to breathe and just create something. That was if this bird was a Kelvic. He had never seen a bird take a seemingly fascination in him. None of Raiha’s raptors ever had. No those birds wanted to injure him; likely because Raiha had trained them to do so.
But this bird seemingly wanted to play; wanted to do something fun. And wanted to win…then gloat some. Which he did not mind, the bird had worked hard for the victor it obtained. Gloating was well within its rights.
“You….you push me. Maybe one day I will be able to outrun you. But that would take practice.” He closed his eyes and dug his body into the sand some. Knowing well that the bird would not respond with words he laughed. What a sight that would be, a talking bird. Oh now that would be a prize Raiha would be proud to see. Maybe that would put all those raptors she owned to shame.
Where had his ghost gone. He had affectionately referred to the bird as a ghost in his mind. The bird was white, quiet and seemed to just come and go as it pleased, but for now it was fixed on him for an odd reason. Maybe it found him as interesting as he found it. Yes that had to be it…and just like that his lead was lost. Completely as his silent competitor flew on ahead. It seemed to know where he was going. This was clear by how it had aligned itself with his trail. It was plainly visible in the sand before him. Like a big marked trail that the bird doubtlessly saw. Almost with predatory instincts the bird stalked that line and flew on up ahead.
There was no way he could push himself any harder than this…he couldn’t without really really making himself uncomfortable. And he still needed some energy to get back to the sanctuary in one piece. If he pushed much harder he wouldn’t be able to keep himself upward much less make any kind of effort back. SO he resolved to just trying to limit the distance between him and that ghost who was now soaring ahead of him. Seemed he underestimated the bird…the ghost. It had indeed taken the lead and was going to keep it, plainly without contest. He would be the loser in this little race. But that was ok with him. Maybe one day he could fly and the bird could run. And they would see who won that little competition.
It didn’t take long for the bird to make it to the stick he had pushed into the sand. And just like his hand the ghost descended and took a landing on it. Gracefully even, he would’ve admired it more if the bird had not won by such a lead. And then taken to gloating of all things. But he was too tired by the time he got there to hold a grudge. No, the ghost had won this fair and square. No way he was going to chastise it for the obvious win. What would be the point anyway?
The ghost cawed and clipped as if to laugh and egg him on. He couldn’t help but think that this motion was somewhat adorable. Especially coming from a bird of whose likes he had never seen before today.
“Yes, you won. Fair and square.” He admitted openly as he laid down on the ground staring up at the sky.
His body had beads of sweat across it and his legs seemed to be weakened from the run. Trembling some in the sand which only made him try and stretch them out to avoid them cramping up all together. That would be unpleasant to say the least. If they stayed in any one position too long they would start to really burn up and get uncomfortable. He winced as exactly that happened, he hated it when his legs cramped. He had indeed pushed himself too hard in the last leg.
“You beautiful ghost. You showed me that it is better to fly than run.” That was odd…the word between you and ghost…it seemed different than all the others. No…it was likely not a word she had heard before. Different...yes another language maybe? He had thrown in a word he wanted to use more. It was Kontinese for beautiful. He found it slightly more endearing than the common word. It flowed easier, was shorter and well when broken on either side by common it stood out more than usual. This would likely prick her interest…but Serrif didn’t know that.
“It is fair to say flying is far quicker than running.” He reflected on just how easily the bird had beat him out of his position. Had it done that on purpose? Now that would be mean, but not completely unlikely.
His body radiated heat which the quick ocean wind whisked away. However the sweat stayed with him. Clinging like little rain droplets to his body. Hanging on until they either evaporated or were blown off his skin. His shirt was sticking too much to his body so he wrestled with it for a few seconds almost like he was too tired to care before he was able to force it off his chest and set it aside. Sweat seemed to collect in his scars, turning them into shimmering pools of a kind. Valleys, brilliantly vivid valleys all over him. But they told a story; maybe Dust knew how one could obtain scars like these? Maybe she had met someone?
“You…we will have to do this again sometime. Maybe you will grant me a fair head start?” He seemed to almost be pleading with the ghost to make things fair…but in all he was glad the bird had come along. It forced him to push his boundaries. And along the way he had learned something new. Not everything was as it appeared.
No he was sure by this birds behavior now that it was indeed Kelvic. But what would it look like in its human form? He couldn’t really imagine all that much. Maybe it had white hair, and eyes much like the ones it had now. Maybe long white hair like a Konti, or maybe short? There were nearly endless possibilities but he would never know until it decided to show him. And in a way he liked the mystery, it gave his mind space to imagine. Space to breathe and just create something. That was if this bird was a Kelvic. He had never seen a bird take a seemingly fascination in him. None of Raiha’s raptors ever had. No those birds wanted to injure him; likely because Raiha had trained them to do so.
But this bird seemingly wanted to play; wanted to do something fun. And wanted to win…then gloat some. Which he did not mind, the bird had worked hard for the victor it obtained. Gloating was well within its rights.
“You….you push me. Maybe one day I will be able to outrun you. But that would take practice.” He closed his eyes and dug his body into the sand some. Knowing well that the bird would not respond with words he laughed. What a sight that would be, a talking bird. Oh now that would be a prize Raiha would be proud to see. Maybe that would put all those raptors she owned to shame.
