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Post by Shadow Sharpfang on Mar 22, 2017 23:53:04 GMT -4
Hidden within the thickest tangle of leaves was a small nest. Inside, two birds lay, unconscious. The pair were a spitting image of Shijin himself, and another bird, who happened to be perched just outside as she kept careful watch over them. She looked up when Shijin arrived and gestured to the nest with her wing. "They're due to wake up in five minutes." Then she looked at Arethusa. "Hello, so you're the high-advisor? I'm Thalia, currently working as a sage and using my position to assist in an uprising."
"Yes, she's my favourite minion," Shijin joked as he poked at the sacrificial lambs with his beak. "Hm, their breath still smells of valerian. I don't know how well-versed Rosy-beak is with herbs, but if he happens to recognize the scent it might make him skeptical."
Thalia lifted her head. "I figured that would happen and plan to treat them to a small meal when they wake up, while they're still too drowsy to care."
Shijin bobbed his head approvingly. "Good. Well, we have some time on our hands. Anything you'd like to talk about, Milday?" His eyes twinkled with amusement as he addressed Arethusa.
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Post by Wolfstar on Mar 23, 2017 0:02:31 GMT -4
Arethusa shook her head. "No, because I'm pretty sure I wouldn't understand a think you'd say if I asked. Do you have any questions for me though? Seeing as you found stand-ins whose lives will be taken instead of yours."
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Post by Shadow Sharpfang on Mar 23, 2017 0:36:45 GMT -4
"Nah, nothin' of the sort," Shijin answered with a shake of his head. "I'd rather not know, anyway. Sacrificing a life in place of your own is no light subject."
Thalia nodded slowly, eyes focused on her talons with a sombre look about her.
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Post by Wolfstar on Mar 23, 2017 0:41:39 GMT -4
"I'd agree. Sadly where I'm from, killing was how we survived. Seeing it before I even grew feathers scarred me." She mumbled the last part to herself, straightening up and rolling her shoulders.
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Post by Shadow Sharpfang on Mar 23, 2017 14:25:07 GMT -4
Shijin nodded and sighed. "Yes, we live in a harsh time. Ah, how I miss ol' Diuras. A cooky bird, but a dang good leader. I wonder who shall lead us next. No matter which way things go, an itch in my plumage is telling me that Rosy-beak's reign is short-lived." He hopped onto the next branch up and peeped at the sky through the thick swath of leaves. "I smell the daffodils. They say a daffodil represents new beginnings, you know." He winked at Arethusa, then hopped back down.
Shortly thereafter, the stand-ins began to stir.
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Post by Wolfstar on Mar 23, 2017 16:32:43 GMT -4
"Not sure if that's good or bad in terms of my life," she whispered. When she spotted them stir, Arethusa found a spot to stay hidden. They stand-ins would panic if they saw her, she was sure they would. It would be better to wait for now.
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Post by Shadow Sharpfang on Mar 23, 2017 16:51:37 GMT -4
Thalia rushed to work, making sure the pair of hostages weren't reacting strangely and would wake up normally. Once they started to show signs of full consciousness, she offered some insects she had collected earlier to them. "Here, you must be hungry. Eat up."
The bleary birds took the food without complaint, mumbling their thanks. As they chewed, a wakeful light slowly returned to their eyes.
"Where are we?" one asked.
"You both were injured. You two knocked right into each other while flying, apparently. Watch where you're going next time, don't make your peers worry. And say your thanks to that crow, he's the one who caught you both," Thalia replied, gesturing toward Shijin.
Shijin smiled over at them. "Aw, no problem, just doing my duty." Then he hopped to where Arethusa was hidden. "Thalia's gonna give them a little talking to to prep them up and make sure they won't overreact when they see you. She'll signal us when it's okay for you to step in and lead them away. She's a crafty liar, that one."
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Post by Wolfstar on Mar 23, 2017 17:12:19 GMT -4
"Of course, that's why I hid. You two are pretty crafty," Arethusa turned her gaze to him. "I'm getting quite curious as to how smart the two of you actually are."
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Post by Shadow Sharpfang on Mar 23, 2017 17:40:30 GMT -4
Shijin shrugged and clicked his beak. "Most of us sages are a lot sneakier than we seem, and we can get our claws on a lot of special resources. But let's just say I was head of the army's sages for a reason." He glanced back at the nest with the stand-ins to keep an eye on the progress. "Ah, I miss the army."
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Post by Wolfstar on Mar 23, 2017 17:56:00 GMT -4
"Then that hummingbird is hiding a lot about himself, maybe." Arethusa sighed. "I'm sure you'll get your role back by the end of this. I'm leaving after this is over."
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Post by Shadow Sharpfang on Mar 23, 2017 18:14:22 GMT -4
"Leaving?" Shijin asked. "Where to, if I may ask? Going to embrace a life of solitude? Or, who knows, could be more birds like us out there, living together life family."
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Post by Wolfstar on Mar 23, 2017 18:38:58 GMT -4
"I'm not sure. I'm a predator, so there's not many places that'll welcome me. Solitude might be the only choice." She shrugged. "I'll figure it out when the time comes."
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Post by Shadow Sharpfang on Mar 23, 2017 18:43:49 GMT -4
"Well, hey, birds of prey stick together. Find other birds like you and I'm sure you'll lead a - "
He interrupted himself when he noticed Thalia flare the pink crest on her head for a brief moment. "Ah, there's our signal. Introduce yourself, Milady. They're all yours."
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Post by Wolfstar on Mar 23, 2017 18:59:29 GMT -4
"Thank you both." Arethusa stepped forward, glaring at the two stand-ins. "The two of you are coming with me. Flee and expect my talons in your wings." At this, her talons tapped against the ground. Even if she didn't like fighting, they haven't been sharpened in awhile.
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Post by Shadow Sharpfang on Mar 23, 2017 19:27:17 GMT -4
The stand-ins were startled by the advisor's sudden appearance, but didn't argue. As far as they understood it, they had been selected to perform a special job for the high-advisor in Rose-singer's name, and while that wasn't completely incorrect, what they didn't understand was that this job would cost them dearly.
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Post by Wolfstar on Mar 23, 2017 19:40:08 GMT -4
"Come along now." Arethusa walked away, waiting for them before taking off.
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Post by Shadow Sharpfang on Mar 23, 2017 21:29:32 GMT -4
The pair of slightly intimidated birds flew off after Arethusa, and Shijin and Thalia waved them farewell.
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Post by Wolfstar on Mar 23, 2017 21:38:44 GMT -4
Arethusa landed outside of Rose-Singer's nest, hoping he was here. "Aurestra Rose-Singer, are you there?"
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Post by Shadow Sharpfang on Mar 23, 2017 21:50:38 GMT -4
Rose-Singer's head twitched at the sound of his name being called and he fluttered to the edge of his nest. "Ah. Arethusa, is it? I hope you're here with good news, preferably about those two devious birds you informed me about yesterday." He landed on the rim of his nest and held his head eye, face ever covered by the mask of the Aurestra.
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Post by Wolfstar on Mar 23, 2017 21:54:28 GMT -4
"They're right here." She stepped aside, tilting her head towards the two stand-ins.
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