#elsewhere

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They are in GREAT Luck as they arrive in a forest clearing. The heat is .. noticiable

"I.. had a picnic here with a special someone" the Fiona explains

The forests in Oregon were once ancient, with cedar groves that approached thousands of years of age... Once. Most of what is left from clearcutting and simple human 'progress' is in patches throughout the state, but still enough to house wildlife.

In the dry eastern regions, even old-growth ponderosa pines and hundred-year-old Junipers may only stand up to 20 or 30 feet tall.

Even for a so-called 'dry' region, the heat is stifling. Sun baking down from overhead shows that the flickerflash may have stolen a bit of time, and instead of a rich loamy soil underfoot, the trails are covered with dry, crackling leaves and pine needles.

"My... our mission here, shall be twofold. The first is to find the nestlings that have dropped already. Their nests, " She explains to Doomwind, and Bachdion if he stays to listen, "are at the top of the trees with no shade to protect from the baking heat. The unfledged eyases are falling from their safety in the desperate search for relief from the sun."

"Firstly, we must find these flightless ones, and where possible, return them to their nests. Azora is nimble and deft with her talons - lightly wrapped, she can return them unharmed. That is, the ones who survived the fall." A grim pause.

Bachdion did stay and nods

"My house can talk to forest creatures, this hsouold qualify" Doomwind nods

"Dame Doomwind, you must -" She delicately pauses to rephrase, "It is imperative that they understand that they must stay in their nests. Else our mission will be doomed as soon as we start." A deep frown.

"The second step will be to provide some relief. I have created some small charms that store Winter magic. It will not last long, not in this heat, but it should cool the nests long enough for the hatchlings to finish fledging, which should only be a few weeks away. By then, they will be jumping out of their nests anyways... but with much happier results." She touches a satchel hanging at her side, which gleams of glamour.

"I took have.. some assitance to offer," Sir Sergei says "I can bend the weather... skycraft... i maybe able to wyrd some cloud cover if you wish?"

A look of some surprise, and her eyes light up. "That would be invaluable. The other issue here is the potential for fire. There have not been any in this region for a long time. Perhaps too long. When mortals prevent small fires for their convenience, the mast.... that is, this layer of dry leaves and such... grows too thick. Little blazes that would have run through and burnt off the mast and scorched the underbrush leave the old growth intact. When it grows as deep as this, that means that if a fire does start, it may not be stoppable, if it manages to reach the crowns of the trees."

She pauses, feeling everyone's gazes on her. "My mentor in the winter arts taught me of this. The best way to learn, she said, was by necessity, as I was left in the path of a forest blaze to remain unburnt, if my magic and will were strong enough." She straightens up a bit. "They were."

"Sergei, your cloud cover may be the key to keep us safe. It will be far less unpleasant with the sun dimmed, to be sure."

"Harsh classes taught at House Ailil" Bacdhionn observes "With Wayfare mastery comes the options of flight. Shall I cast it i upon anyone in particular?"

It seems they are defering to Calannthe in this operation

"If you have not the will to manage for yourself, you have no business ruling over any other." Her eyes gleam eagerly at the idea of flight... but after a moment of longing, she she shakes her head. "Not I. It would be best for the Dame Doomwind, if she would. Snowfall will help guide you to of nests still occupied, if you can speak to the nestlings to make sure they do not add to the casualties below."

Doomwind nods "I thought much the same. I am best on a horse, but that is not practical now"

Bachdion touches Doomwinnd's shoulder, and chantts softly.

Sergei calls out "Spirits of the sky. I am Varich, the sun, over you, above you. Heed my word or heed my lash. Gather the clouds, collect the wet in the air ...make it if you must... and obscure the light"

Calanthe is distracted by her covetous glance at Doomwind gaining falcon's flight... to watch Sergei gather his power... and finds something else in him that she can long for - and far more obtainable.

And the clouds gather.. Sergei inhales as he wyrds them, so the Autumn World is not spared. It is not as dark as he would like.. but yes, they have some time with cloud cover. "I do not knnow how long that will last"

Yet a change is felt already

Dernhelm nods and speaks to Snowfall

asking for direction annd aid

A touch of jealousy there as well, as Calanthe sees a two way communication with her own gyrfalcon that she can only approximate with cantrips. And yet, abilities aside, Sir Sergei is hers, and that makes up for much.

Snowfall screeches and cries, taking to the air. Between the two of them, they are able to find nests, and speak to the hatchlings within. Already, they start to recover a touch, beaks relaxed from the heated panting and able to settle back down into their beds of down and fur, twig and bone.

To Sergei, "Can your hound help track the fallen ones?"

"Yes, Nimrod here is a bloodhound, and a fae one, sire to Glass. His name, I'm told , is comical, but his gift is..unsurpassed" A look to the Fae Bloodhound "Nimrod, search for the birds on the ground"

Nimrod lifts his nose and takes the wind to it

"Nimrod, the mighty hunter. Perhaps once a more respected name, ere a cartoon rabbit got to it." Wryly.

The ground is dry and crackling with leaves, and the scents of the visitors, as well as the wildlife. Rabbits and stoats, squirrels and wood rats, fox and even wolf - though this last is faint, as the predators have gone north, seeking the deer that sought cooler green pastures.

Here, and there, the keen eared hound can near the weak pipping of birds that should not be on the ground, and smell them as well!

A baying, and off Nimrod goes

Snowfall meanwhile guides Doomwind

Calanthe looks to Bachdion - no, 'Sir' Bachdion, and offers him the bag. "If you would be able to help affix these charms to each tree that has a nest? Out of sight, if possible - they will otherwise cause temptation. Indeed, much glamour is felt from within..

"Of course, Dame. " He takes it "When it comes to beast aid, I trust to you and Sir Sergei"

She is a little taken aback, but she nods. Returning to Sergei's side, she helps gather up the fallen birds they find, while shelving in the back of her mind that feeling to explore later. It's rare, she muses, for someone to give her their trust. But it feels... pleasant.

Bachdion will find that he has been quite entrusted as well, as he opens the bag to find it filled with delicate jeweled charms - a man of his years and tastes can recognize quality when he sees it, and these snowflake shaped ornaments are wrought in silver and each have a tiny gem set in the center - a diamond. Not a large diamond, but precious none-the-less. Coupled with a feather from Calanthe's own mews, the Satyr can feel a coolness centered in each charm that will find it's way to the nest above, once hung upon each tree.

the satyr's speed is well suited to racing between trees to afix

Sergei handles his hound expertly, confident and commanding. And yet, there is suprising gentleness as he gathers this bird or that. And his heather balms on the worst of them restores them

Another art she may not have know he had.

More and more impressed. Calanthe remarks quietly to Sergei, "I came prepared to do what I must for injured hatchlings that could not be expected to recover. You have saved them, and saved me that unhappy task. There is more to you than meets the eye, my lord."

"I am a private man, and a practical one. Clear skies when I wish it, and healing my animal charges... I do not boast of either, but you have I think a Da'an given knack for ... finding me, she dragon. My core. I would be disturbed were I not also so intrigued" he whispers as they gather another

Calanthe cups her hands around it carefully, and then laughs as it snaps at her finger. "This one is still feisty! Fierce, and strong. As it should be. People name lumbering lizards as the dragons of the modern world, but they are mistaken. These raptors are the closest mere mortals today will find a dragon, outside of their dreams. Perhaps in seeking hawks, you sought a dragon all along."

As she carefully passes the fierce hatchling up to Azorca, and the goshawk carries it swiftly back to the heights."

Meanwhile, Doomwind finds her work cut out for her, as she closes in on a nest with three pipping babies in it - but before she can speak to them, there is an ear-splitting shriek - a hawk is dive bombing towards her in defense!

Doomwind speaks in the hawk's tongue "Be at ease, mother..." She gets behind the tree, "It is your children we seek to aid. Look at me, know me, I am no mortal but rather an old spirit" She invokes the wyrd, manifesting Sidhe beauty

The hawk banks, and turns before she can strike. A deft landing on a branch instead, and the female's eyes gleam a deep red, the color of an adult who has survived many seasons.

"The young are blinded by the heat. Many have lost their eggs. You would aid us?" Her beak clacks curiously as she peers in at the nest. "You smell of old forests and winter, and wear the sign of the Wise Hunter." Noting the owl on her insignia.

"I and the others of us, old spirits bound in the flesh of men and women. Your children must not jump prematurely. This you know. We patrol to help those too soon grounded. We strive to keep others up here. We bring cold and water and shade as best we may. Spread the word to other hunters of the air. It is the best chance for your people to survive this."

Below, Sergei smiles "Some of these are fine specimens. It would be an honor to raise them ,but we must have the trust of the mothers"

This she considers, and then holds her head high. "We will spread the word. You have my word, that of Bloodtalon, and my mate, Sharpsight. Though we may feud over territory and prey, we must be better than the ground dwellers, and work together than our race survive."

A flutter, and a smaller hawk perches next to her, this one turning his head to peer at Doomwind - as one of his eyes is missing - but he still looks strong in spite of it.

Sharpsight warbles a little softer than the harsh call of his mate. It is as the Wise Hunter says. The spirits lift hatchlings in their talons and return them to the nests."

He chirps low, and adds, "They do not know that Longclaw flew south when her chick was thought gone, broken onto the ground. It was made whole, but no tiercel will feed another's eggs."

"Sharpsight, if there are young who none would claim, lead me to them. I have two that would be as members of the same ayrie iwith them, who would join them in hunt. I know that they each honor the sky lords and ladies. They would not mistreat"

Bachdion follows the clues of the others, plants the crystals where they are needed

This is considered, and the Female speaks. "There are those who would claim it as their dinner. We Barred Hawks, of long tails and short wings, of quick turns and capture in flight, are hunters of the air. Any smaller than ourselves is our rightful prey."

"Bloodtalon speaks true. I won her as my mate by flying better and stronger. Had I failed, she would have taken my flesh and not just my eye." A fierce pride there from the male.

The two exchange looks again, and respond, "If you would claim the young, you may have it. You have gained for us more than the worth of a single meal."

With that, Sharpsight leads Doomwind to a nest with just a single chick within it. It glares up at them, baring it's tiny sharp beak and flapping arms that are more fluff than feather - prepared even now to fight!

Doomwind is glad she wears riding gloves "Hold little one. I come not to dine upon you, but to help you to a new ayrie where you might one day fly strong and be the hunter . "

It may be more her sidhe majesty than the words that convince the small one to settle down, and she is able to scoop him up under Sharpsight's watchful eye. "We will tell the others, and tell them to tell others still. All in our forest shall know."

"One time, we were like gods" Dernhelm tells them "And I could have promised you miracles. Now the only gods are Father Time, Mother Nature, and Grand Mother Fate. Forgive us our fall"

And she takes the little one down below to Calanthe "This one is abandoned, and if left will be food. A future maybe found with hood and hope"