#baronyofthesilverwolf

"They are very dangerous, and very strong. If one of them gets mad, veil, and run as fast as you can."

A worried look "Sorry, snowthorn. Hopefully they're not big on horse flesh"

They continue on thier path

"Sorry I don't have Wayfare."

"They - they can rage like Gwydion. That's why you don't want to get them mad."

Snow falls lightly and twinkles in the light from the sun. It's early yet, and a lovely day for a ride.

Dagmar smiles. This is serious mission - but it IS pretty.

"I wonder if there are any inanimae out here? They can be allies."

"Ken now and then I guess?" She says

"Can't hurt."

"Maybe I'm not the best choice for this, but I've at least met a few of them."

"That's a few more than I've ever met. So I'm glad to have you." She says

"We'll find him. Get him home."

As they grow closer, the sun continues it's path, and the snow continues to fall. A screeeeeeeeeee! from overhead... the cry of a falcon. It circles....

Dagmar pulls Star under foliage - evading the falcon's gaze.

She hopes her veil works and holds

It swoops lower, and hovers, silhouetted in the sunlight. ....can falcons hover? Another cry, louder... a plaintive sound.

The edges of the peregrin's feathers seem to take on an almost golden luster in the light.

"Does Calanthe have a peregrin?"

"No. I don't think so. " She says "Mews isn't my scene but she shows them off enough"

"We might be being watched, then."

"Is that good or bad?" A whisper "And is it seeing through my veil you think?"

"Might be."

Another circle, and a cry.... and it flies - not rising to catch the effortless thermals, but flapping more arduously, and lands on a branch. Staring straight at them. Close enough for them to see it's eyes, which blink slowly, thrice.

Dagmar raises a hand.

"Well, then heck with it" she says and waves too

A wing raises, in return.

"Trying to hide from THEM would be dumb, pretty much."

And it hops off the branch, and flies - slowly, in swoops back around them.... off slightly from where their path was taking them.

"Do... do we follow?"

Another shriek from the bird, as if in answer, and it picks up speed - if they are to follow, they must do so, or risk losing sight.

She urges Star to the next gait.

"Ride after" she says and gives chase

Perhaps for courage, the satyr sings as they ride, "Look out new world here we come
Brave, intrepid and then some
Pioneers of maximum
Audacity whose resumes
Show that we are just the team
To live where others merely dream
Building up a head of steam
On the trail we blaze
Changing legend into fact
We shall ride into history
Turning myth into truth
We shall surely gaze
On the sweet unfolding
Of an antique mystery
All will be revealed
On the trail we blaze
Paradise is close at hand
Shangri-la the promised land
Seventh heaven on demand
Quite unusual nowadays
Virgin vistas, undefiled
Minds and bodies running wild
In the man behold the child
On the trail we blaze
The trail we blaze
Is a road uncharted
Through terra incognita to a golden shrine
No place for the traveler
To be faint-hearted
We are part of the sumptuous grand design
Changing legend into fact
We shall ride into history
Turning myth into truth
We shall surely gaze on the sweet unfolding
Of an antique mystery
All will be revealed
On the trail we blaze
On the trail we blaze"

It may be a trick of the light, but as they ride, the falcon becomes harder to see... and then wavers out of sight entirely. One final cry echoes in the air... they are on a deer trail, and there seems to be a clearing up ahead.

Dagmar pulls Star to a halt and looks around.

And a text buzzes

A creaking sound as wind blows through the trees, and the soft clank of metal. Hanging from a branch is a birdcage! A rather lovely thing. Exquisitely crafted, and shining as though wrought from gold, with a single wooden perch within. However, beautiful as it is, the animal inside is.... less so. Head hanging low, it appears to be a crow, much too large for the cage made for a sweet little songbird.

Such a pretty thing.

Dagmar frowns.

"Oh geez. This is one of those tests of wisdom or character or something?"

"You should not be caged. This is wrong." She kens the bird.

"Maybe. We can't leave the poor thing like that."

"Hold on.. " She tries to see if there's any sign it was part of the Mews back home. Was there a crow?

The bird is indeed a bird.... it is no fae, nor chimera. But it does have a feel to it that she recognizes. Both like, and unlike Lupe...

She clucks and takes Star closer to the cage - can she pull it down?

No crows in Calanthe's mews. Carrion eating common birds...

Dagmar grows closer, it comes clear that it's no crow, but actually a Raven! Even larger, but hunched low and wings held in tight... and it's black plumage is actually blackened. Scorched, not a proper glossy blue-black sheen, making it look even smaller. The head hangs low and eyes closed... not. Not closed... missing, with only scabrous wounds where they should be.

"Hayng on.. easy..." The satyr helps