Winter 39, 513
Vira had insisted that Kovac come with her today instead of hunting with Sira. The winds were rough and there was a light snow that had left the ground below creeping with swirling white when it wasn't swept away by the winds. Besides wanting her man to herself today, Vira had told him that she wanted to help the team up on the glaciers midway up Mt. Skyinarta on the northern face. They were melting water to fill the needs of the starving city and needed help getting it back down to the rest of the city. The trail up to that point had been ice and rock covered and none of it had felt stable.
So it was that Vira hurried through their home, grabbing some of her climbing gear which had been purchased on the 20th, her Katinu and hunting knife, and the steel staff. The young woman rarely left the aerie without it nowadays, training whenever she had time (though it was pretty limited right now).
"Will you check Qeeta's water please?" she shouted out into the Commons from the eagle part of their home to Kovac. "We may be out for a few bells; I don't want to have to have a Dek come up and check it. She's only just gotten used to me." Vira cinched the harness along Mohya's chest then looked up at the bird. "Mohya, could you please not puff like that? It's not safe to leave the harness loose like that."
The wind eagle ruffled her head feathers and glowered down at the Inarta working on her, speaking into her riders mind
~Well, I do not wish to go out today. The winds are too rough near the mountain and the mountain feels uneasy.~
Uneasy?
The eagle sent her an image of trembling rocks on the ground which made Vira shudder in memory, her face darkening and her hands tightening upon the harness. "Ah...All the more reason we shouldn't be in a cave right now, then. The water teams will be glad to have the help too if there's an avalanche risk. Now come on, let me tighten the harness please."
The little girl she had been taking care of was standing just inside the aerie and looking at Vira and the massive bird. Mohya churred slightly once she relaxed and let her rider finish the task, massive eye on the child whose face said all that was needed about the type of mind which was behind it. So far as any of them knew, the girl was definitely not meant for anything more than Dek work. Mohya's insistance at the moment, though, brought Vira out of the task to look towards the little girl.
She headed over to kneel in front of her, resting a hand on her raised knee and smiling gently. "Sweety, do you want a snack before we go out? I can make you something and ask a Chiet to stay with you until we're back." But the girl just shook her head, not speaking while looking at the young woman who had taken her in. "Are you sure?" Her answer came in the retreat from the eagle cave back into the rest of the home.
~Lavira, why do you keep her in the home?~
Where else would she go? The Yasi teachers all know she will be Dek, they have lost interest in her teachings.
~But you haven't the time to teach her either; why not let the Valintar handle the girl?~
You know I couldn't do that. There is something...different in her; perhaps less than I am making it out to be, but different nonetheless. I think maybe she's just scared and that's why she won't talk.
~Do you even know her name?~
No, but what does that matter in the end? She's still a person and deserves the same level of attention as any of us, the same level of care.
~It is just odd, child.~
"Well you're one to talk." Vira laughed, rubbing her fingers over the snowy chest. "Look who you chose for a rider?"
Vira had insisted that Kovac come with her today instead of hunting with Sira. The winds were rough and there was a light snow that had left the ground below creeping with swirling white when it wasn't swept away by the winds. Besides wanting her man to herself today, Vira had told him that she wanted to help the team up on the glaciers midway up Mt. Skyinarta on the northern face. They were melting water to fill the needs of the starving city and needed help getting it back down to the rest of the city. The trail up to that point had been ice and rock covered and none of it had felt stable.
So it was that Vira hurried through their home, grabbing some of her climbing gear which had been purchased on the 20th, her Katinu and hunting knife, and the steel staff. The young woman rarely left the aerie without it nowadays, training whenever she had time (though it was pretty limited right now).
"Will you check Qeeta's water please?" she shouted out into the Commons from the eagle part of their home to Kovac. "We may be out for a few bells; I don't want to have to have a Dek come up and check it. She's only just gotten used to me." Vira cinched the harness along Mohya's chest then looked up at the bird. "Mohya, could you please not puff like that? It's not safe to leave the harness loose like that."
The wind eagle ruffled her head feathers and glowered down at the Inarta working on her, speaking into her riders mind
~Well, I do not wish to go out today. The winds are too rough near the mountain and the mountain feels uneasy.~
Uneasy?
The eagle sent her an image of trembling rocks on the ground which made Vira shudder in memory, her face darkening and her hands tightening upon the harness. "Ah...All the more reason we shouldn't be in a cave right now, then. The water teams will be glad to have the help too if there's an avalanche risk. Now come on, let me tighten the harness please."
The little girl she had been taking care of was standing just inside the aerie and looking at Vira and the massive bird. Mohya churred slightly once she relaxed and let her rider finish the task, massive eye on the child whose face said all that was needed about the type of mind which was behind it. So far as any of them knew, the girl was definitely not meant for anything more than Dek work. Mohya's insistance at the moment, though, brought Vira out of the task to look towards the little girl.
She headed over to kneel in front of her, resting a hand on her raised knee and smiling gently. "Sweety, do you want a snack before we go out? I can make you something and ask a Chiet to stay with you until we're back." But the girl just shook her head, not speaking while looking at the young woman who had taken her in. "Are you sure?" Her answer came in the retreat from the eagle cave back into the rest of the home.
~Lavira, why do you keep her in the home?~
Where else would she go? The Yasi teachers all know she will be Dek, they have lost interest in her teachings.
~But you haven't the time to teach her either; why not let the Valintar handle the girl?~
You know I couldn't do that. There is something...different in her; perhaps less than I am making it out to be, but different nonetheless. I think maybe she's just scared and that's why she won't talk.
~Do you even know her name?~
No, but what does that matter in the end? She's still a person and deserves the same level of attention as any of us, the same level of care.
~It is just odd, child.~
"Well you're one to talk." Vira laughed, rubbing her fingers over the snowy chest. "Look who you chose for a rider?"
