#anywhere

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The Hawking contests are watched mostly by those who love falconry as a sport, or birds as an animal. Hunting targets are put out and the falconeer must direct the bird . A few are mobile, some are just stationary but half concealed. Loss of control of the bird is , obviously , a good way to get zero marks.

This is a new event, so the rules are a bit more informal than Calanthe likes, but she IS given a moment when many gaze at her in amazement as she strides up with bird on gauntlet, and her name is announced, as is the name of her bird.

There are mumurs of appreciation, whispers of praise and louder open comments. What a wonderful specimen of a raptor. What magnificent carriage!

the judges begin to make notes already

Veritas swoops, banks, and seems to almost turn on a dime in midair. Up he flies into the sun - it's hard to see his position without squinting at the glare - until suddenly he comes seemingly out of nowhere to skim just over the crowd, with a wave of heat in his train like the baking summer sun, a reminder of the Season just passing into Fall. Skreeeeeeeeeeeee!

Polite applause from those that understand how sensitive these creatures are, sadly, the peasants ARE allowed to observe, and some of them whoop and holler.

Veritas is not fazed by such, and Calanthe may take even the unwashed masses praise as her due. Her skills are shown to their best here

The judges direct her to send Veritas after the targets positioned on some poles, made to resemble morning doves

A piercing whistle from Calanthe, and she flicks a hand out, directing attention with a slender wand that she points to the indicated target.

And Veritas strikes, one target! Smooth catch and 'kill', then another! To some, Calanthe might seem like a conductor with a baton, and Veritas her instrument for the Ode to the Hunt!

By the time her round is done, Veritas and her handler have a nearly perfect score! and Veritas returns to her gauntlet smoothly, and now, NOW folks may cheer!

Calanthe bows her head and sweeps her arms out (carefully), and Veritas spreads his wings as well in a practiced motion. A smile of satisfaction on her face, and the hawk preens likewise, and is granted a small gobbet of meat in reward as she retreats back to allow the next contestant to approach.

The next contestant is a Satyr in service to House Gwydion. Alas for her, while her bird takes the first target, a squirrel nearby leaps from a tree to another branch, sending the falcon into a hunting frenzy and it chases after the wrong target for it's second strike. The fact the satyress wears Gwydion colors might (MIGHT) add sauce to those enjoy embarrassment

Calanthe has a carefully schooled polite expression, but her eyes gleam and her lips twitch at that disgraceful lapse.

The next contestant,a sidhe, does much better. His House Fiona means it might be hard for her to take him seriously, but his peregrine is a fine example of the breed!

But not quite ALL the targets are taken.

And so it goes. Calanthe remains unchallenged, but at least she hears the names of fellow hawkers and falconeers, she makes some polite contacts of those with common interests. After feeling relegated to a hermitage, this might be pleasant. And, only a few folks are left- the prize is as good as hers.

or is it?

She does socialize and is even pleasant. When things are going her way, she can be quite friendly and sociable.

"Teesha DeBuke, of the DeBuke farm hold, and her Blue tailed hawk chimera, Teagan!" An announcement comes up.

She has heard of the DeBukes, somewhat infamous yokel trolls in.. iowa or something. So she is surprised not to be a blond farmgirl but rather an african American troll of mahogny skin

"Oh, a purely chimerical beast. Well, certainly that's an option, but I do enjoy the true challenge of the hybrid nature of fae creatures. Not unlike ourselves, they are." She comments.

Curiously examining the DeBuke. Shouldn't she be at a county fair calf scramble, or something?

Some folks nod, others shrug. Fae falcons are not merely dumb beasts, so the advantage of intellect belongs to both. one fellow says "if it came with her, whose to deny the Dreaming?"

For herself, Teesh ignores the comment IF she heard it, pulls out a smart phone, and starts up .. a music score?

Then releases Teagan to the hunt!

Teagan is a hawk, not as small or nimble as a falcon, at least, that's how it's SUPPOSED to work, but as Sabatoge plays the soundtrack of his work, he gives a cheographed and syncronized SLAUGHTER of targets, even pulling fighter jet like moves to match Veritas! And the crowd eats it up

Calanthe watches, and frowns slightly. For her, the silence of the woods, the whisper of wings in flight, it's almost a kind of communion. This blast of music is jarring and seems better suited to a blue angels display than the elegance of hawking.

In the crowd, Briar and Gwen watch this with... well, Gwen can't speak for Briar, but damn, the music is catchy and that bird is a beast (in a good way)

"GO! Go! MURDERBIRD!" Briar yells!

Gwen winces and hopes that Calanthe doesn't know who said that .If they're caught cheering for a rival..yikes.

To Gwen, "Some of these old folks songs ain't half bad."

"Yeah, that one's got energy... probably why she chose it" Gwen admits "Damn, they're good."

As the 'airshow' ends, Teesha 'snaps' her gloved hand, a clear reference to a more recent pop culture movie, and Teagan Lands on it, and trollish might allows her to raise the fist and wing spread bird in a pose of pure triumph!

The judge get out their scoring....

Talk "Superior carriage..." "But the hawk had some manuevers the other did not pull off" Oh but what of that dive?"

"This is ridiculous, the winner is obvious..." "To you, maybe"

soft whispers

To Calanthe, this debate maybe unforgivable. Taking far too long!

She resists the urge to stride over and demand a decision... and just paces a bit instead.

Briar is disappointed. "They should have put a goat out there and whichever bird can kill it wins. Like those big eagles in the mountains..."

Not enough blood for her in this competion.

"Maybe there's a goat pooka who protested?" Gwen says then whispers softly "I think the DeBuke girl won.. but I'm not a judge"

"Goat is good eating." She comments, eyeing the satyr contestant. Coincidentally, to be sure.

Well, the DeBuke troll waits too, seeming too cool for the room, even though it's actually out doors.

"What's taking so long?" Briar complains, eager to move on. Calanthe would be mortified to realize they have the same thought for a moment.

Then the head judge rises "The final judgement, after some deliberation , is made.. there is a tie for first place! It is to be shared by "Lady Calanthe Falkoner ap Ailil of Silverwolf, with 'Veritas'! and... Teesha DeBuke of the DeBuke Farmhold, with Teagan!"

Applause breaks out,which might muffle any outrage from either party some what