Solo Messengers Everywhere

[Jasmine Stormblood]

60th of Spring 517 A.V.

Jasmine woke up stretching out with a sigh. Everything had been going well for her when it came to work and the pavilion. She was not used to waking up without hearing someone screaming her name in anger. There was still much for the young stormblood member to learn about being in a normal family again. Maximus had never been a kind ankal to the woman from the beginning. It wasn't until the blonde that she pinned down her mother for answers that she finally found out the truth. Sitting up the girl still felt like she didn't know herself and would never know because her father's pavilion had been wiped out during the pirate raids. Rubbing her face the blonde pushed the thoughts out of her mind knowing that dwelling on the memories would do nothing but hinder her day. With the birds back up on her rotation of jobs, the blonde needed her focus on what needed to be done.

“Alright Jasmine time to snap out of it,” the woman said and shook her head before getting dressed.

It was not long and the girl walked out of her part of the pavilion into Syna's light. She loved her goddess, but the heat was becoming more and more of a nuisance to the people of Endrykas. Sighing gently, the woman walked towards Chaser with a soft smile. Clicking her tongue twice, the blonde raised her hand letting him nudge her. Grabbing the yvas, the woman got him ready for the short ride between the Stormblood Pavilion and the Predator's Post. Mounting up, Jasmine allowed the stallion to leisurely walk towards the business while her mind drifted off into the distance again. That day would prove to be difficult for her to focus on without some kind of help. Though she hoped it would be nothing more than getting to work, that would help her focus more. Upon arriving, the woman dismounted and went inside to start her day with the birds.

“Morning Tomma. I have Reggie this morning yes?” Jasmine asked walking over to the man as he stood before the birds.

“Actually I would like for us to work with the Ekytol Owls today. They can be just as important as the hunter birds. Messages between our people are often short and confusing to outsiders, so we need to keep them worked as well. So long as the birds know to come back here, we can deliver them to their pavilion that has bought them,” Tomman explained.

Jasmine nodded listening before following the man to get their gear on. Even messenger owls needed arm guards on to protect from their talons. The blonde tied up the leather straps before walking out to the cages and letting one climb up her arm. She smiled gently seeing the pure white wings spread out as the creature walked before enfolding against its body once more. Closing her hand gently around it's feet, the blonde followed the man outside into Syna's light once again. Wiping her upper brow the girl watched as he attached a blank small piece of paper to the bird's leg before releasing it into the air.

[Jasmine Stormblood]

The blonde watched as the bird circled around in the air and flew off. It took about about half a bell before it returned. Jasmine was confused as to where the bird had went on its travels before returning. There had been no designated destination from what the woman could see with her own eyes. Everything in the girl wanted to use Syna's gift to watch the creature and understand what it was doing beyond their sight before returning. The blonde took up her stance with the feet of the bird still lightly grasped in her hand. She allowed it to step on to one of the crates, before tying a blank piece of paper to it's ankle. Once it was equipped, the girl let it step back on to her hand. Lowering her arm, the girl jerked it up and let go of the avian's feet. With a good bit of flapping the bird took off into flight, the woman watched slightly covering her eyes as the bird disappeared into the distance.

“So how far does it go before returning?” Jasmine asked looking at Tomma.

“I have trained them for the moment to go about a hundred yards before turning and returning. Their radius can be expanded any time we need to,” Tomma explained to the young Drykas.

Nodding the woman held her hand up when the white owl came back down. She covered her eyes some as the creature folded its wings in while resting on her arm. The girl gently pet the bird as it closed its eyes. The avian walked up her arm as if looking for some kind of treat. Tomma showed a special looking cracker that he made at his home. Holding it up the bird cawed and turned quickly opening its wings before taking it from him. Jasmine laughed as it flapped over to the crates and ate the item in peace.

“What was that?” Jasmine asked looking at the man.

“That is a cracker treat that we feed the birds. Every knew owner gets a small bag with them in it to help the birds transition,” Tomma explained.

Jasmine nodded and asked for the recipe so that the man did not have to be the only one making them. He agreed to show her how to make them last on in the season when he got another round of ingredients. The blonde was so excited to hear that the man was willing to show her one of his secrets. Walking over to the cages, she allowed the bird to slowly climb off her arm on to its perch. It was amazing to watch the creature just leisurely walk into the configured metal and relax with no care in the world. Closing the cage door she turned back to Tomma in order to see what he wanted to do next. The man motioned for her to follow him towards the back where all the chests were at.

NaNo Count499

[Jasmine Stormblood]

The girl moved quickly not wanting to make her boss second guess her. Jasmine stopped for just a moment and loved on the dogs as she passed by before loving the on the cats next. Tomma cleared his voice catching her attention. The woman blushed brightly and headed towards him a little embarrassed that she had gotten distracted so easily. She tried her hardest while there to stay focused on her job and not just on playing with the animals. Several times, the girl had come in on her days off and just spent time playing with dogs and petting on the cats. She wanted them to trust her and the only way for that to happen was to show them that the woman cared.

“At least I know you are just as concerned about their safety as I am,” Tomma said with a smirk.

“Sorry. I normally try and keep the loving part to my visits that way I do not become distracted while working,” Jasmine explained with a blush.

It was not the first time the blond had embarrassed herself in front of the man. Such a thing happened often while learning her role as their care taker. Popping her neck, the girl entered the area with him and looked at all the chests. She was shocked that no one had broken into the tent and stolen any thing, though there was a heavy price for such actions. The drykas looked over to see her boss opening a chest that appeared to have several food ingredients. Walking over, she cocked her head to the side not sure what he was showing her this time around. Tomma moved over some and took out several bags and different kinds of foods he had foraged for and kept a supply of on hand.

“What is all this?” Jasmine asked and knelt down in front of him and the items.

“These are what I use to make most of the treated here. Of course depending on breed and species there are slight differences in the making,” Tomma said with a smile.

“Let us step out back and I will show you some treats for the birds first,” Tomma stated and lead her out.

Jasmine quickly followed him out of the area and through the back flap. She sat down across from him as a box sat between them. The male grabbed a bowl from near by and placed it in the middle of the box so that he could mix the ingredients together. He took out what appeared to be some eggs, honey, different types of berries, and some nuts. The man cracked the egg open in a separate bowl and crushed the shells into a fine grit in the first bowl. Confused some, she watched as he separated yolk from white and had her put the white into the bowl with the shell. Putting the second bowl back down, he returned the yolks to it and wiped his hands.

Taking a moment, he stirred the mixture together before using a knife to cut all the fruits up small and easily eatable for the avians. The woman put them in with the egg yolks before coating them lightly. The man crushed up the nuts before adding them to the first bowl and mixing once again. The blonde added one piece of fruit at a time before cleaning her own hands. Tomma then had her slowly add the honey as he mixed it. Once happy with the thickness, the pair rolled some balls and put them on a plate and flattened them. Soon after the plate was left in place so that the treats could harden in Syna's rays.

[Jasmine Stormblood]

The blond cleaned her hands and looked over when he called her back. She returned to her spot and waited for his instructions. The man moved every thing over in front of her and instructed her to make them next. Shocked, the blond sat there for a moment trying to figure out which to do first.

Slowly, she grabbed one egg and broke it open before crushing the egg shell into grit. At least that's what the girl called herself doing. Tomma stopped her before she moved on and had her continue to grind the egg shells. It took another several chimes before he was pleased with how ground up the shells had become. Once that was done it was time for her to move on to the egg white.

“Now hold the yolks very gently. If they break we will have to use them for something else understand?” Tomma said gently.

“Yes, sir,” Jasmine answered nodding.

The blond gently put her fingers under the two yolks and lifted them. She allowed the white to drain off as much as it could before sliding them from from hand to the other getting the yolk fully separated from the white. Holding her hands still, Tomma took the bowl and added the egg whites to the shell. The girl quickly put the yolk back in the bowl and wiped her hands off.

She was not sure if she would ever get used to that kind of feeling. Putting the second bowl to the side, Jasmine mixed the first bowl till everything seemed to be evenly spread out. Nodding, the woman then took the nuts and crushed them up first; she allowed the man to look at them and smiled when he approved. Cupping her hand, the blond slid them into her hand before placing them in the egg shell and egg yolk.

She then proceeded to take several pieces of fruit and cut them into little pieces. While the blond was doing that her teacher got up to go check on the batch that he made. Tomma gently pushed on them seeing that they still gave way. He returned just as she was dredging the fruits in just a hint of the egg yolk. Jasmine was trying to concentrate on exactly what she was doing so that nothing went wrong.

Blue eyes were stuck going between the two bowls not worried about the honey at the very moment. Once that was done, she cleaned her hands and moved the bowl out of her. Reaching over, the blond took the honey jar in her hands and poured a little at a time while stirring. She wanted to prove to Tomma that she knew what she was doing.

[Jasmine Stormblood]

The blond put the jar completely down and stirred the contents within the bowl. After several chimes of stirring, she let Tomma look at it to see if he approved of what she had done so far. It was rather nerve racking to wait for either his approval or disapproval. He reached in and took some in his hand and made a strange face. The woman's heart sank seeing the look knowing she had either put too much honey or too many fruits and nuts in it. Tomma looked at her face for several ticks before smirking; he could tell the girl knew she had done something wrong.

“Do not be upset Jasmine. It is an easy fix,” Tomma stated and dug out a new container.

Jasmine watched wanting to know exactly how to fix what she had done wrong. The man was pleasantly surprised to see her taking such an interest to it. He had tried to show other workers, but most of them had just rolled their eyes and watched him. The man took out a spoon and twisted the container open. He let the girl clean her hands and get just the tiniest bit on the end of her pinky finger. Trying it she was shocked to find it had a sweet flavor to it.

“This is some sweet yogurt from the Dawnwhisper pavilion. It will help make the treat sweet and not so thick,” Tomma explained and took just the smallest bit and put it in the mixture.

Jasmine stirred it and stopped so that he could add another touch or two of it. Mixing the ingredients again, she saw that it had loosened up all the honey. The girl presented the new batter and smiled brightly when he nodded his approval. It did not take long as the pair had rolled another batch and put them out to bake as well. Testing the others, she was very happy to see that they were hard and ready for the birds to enjoy after having a good training session.

“Now let us go and feed them shall we?” Tomma said with a smile.

Jasmine smiled and nodded walking in as there was plenty left over. The two walked over and gave each of the messenger owls a treat first. The girl moved over to Raptor and Reggie next giving each one. Tomma got her to keep her fingers outside of the cage when it came to the vulture. She was glad he did as the bird snatched it some her hands. The drykas was sure that it would have been her fingers otherwise.