Kestrels' flight (open)

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Nikarii

Flying high above the jagged mountain range Nikarii fought with the winds, her short wings seeking any advantage to remain in control. Her dark brown orbs looked frantically for a place to land among the rocky spires, seeing a thin ribbon of blue winding around the rock, Kari folded her rusty red wings and angled into a dive aiming for a slender willow branch. As she decreased altitude, the wind became less fierce until she calmly alighted on a branch that swayed gently in the breeze. Ruffling her feathers and then smoothing them back down, Kari basked in the sunlight, letting the rays soak into the black barring on her back and wings.

Although she wished desperately to close her eyes and sleep her instincts kept her awake in this new and possibly dangerous area. Her cranium swiveled around, pointing her sharp, curved beak this way and that. A small, quick movement brought her attention to a cluster of rocks a few feet away from the riverbed. Staring intently at the spot, Kari's wings lifted slightly as she started to shift her weight forward. Another tentative movement caused her to completely tune out all but her prey. As the small rodent broke its cover to make a mad dash for the water, Nikarii leapt off her branch and dived down to snatch the mouse from the ground while her strong feet and talons quickly despatched the unlucky creature. A small cry of triumph escaped her before she remembered that she wasn't sure if she was in a safe place or not, so she quickly retreated into the trees that lined the bank. Casting her eyes about for any unwelcome visitors Kari cautiously began to tear at her meal , but her hunger caused her to quickly devour it while tuning out everything else. A contented sigh escaped her as she began her post meal preening. She couldn't remember the last time she had rodent, not that she had starved because of it. She was perhaps one of the most perfect species for survival in the M. American kestrels eat a wide variety of food, from grasshoppers to small song birds when she could catch them. The only problem was her insignificant size as a predator. If she isn't careful she will soon find herself being ripped to shreds.

Shaking that thought from her head, Kari fanned her wings and sent out a shrill call out, inviting any other retros from the Lawaii flock to come and join her. She had been without intelligent company since her father dies when she was still just a chick and was eager for a conversation that didn't revolve around food.

OOC: Bleh :P First post with her, so it should get better, I'm still working on getting a feel for her personality so please feel free to throw anyone at her retro or not!

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[atrb=width,500,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][bg=71322D] Despite the fact that Lien-Hua was in fact suppose to be working on a specific assignment at the moment, the retro had no true desire to complete said task at the time. The warmer months had returned, though the heat of this land was unlike that of her homelands. The sun that bared down onto the flock was foreign to her, unusual. At her nest, the sun would appear, but only between the small spaces between the clouds that would cover the sky. The summers were always brought the rains and a nice day was considered to be a time when only white clouds covered the sky. But, here it was quite the opposite. She wasn't used to the sun constantly being revealed and it hurt her eyes even. But, she was gradually becoming accustomed to the unforgiving rays of the sun. It was the heat, though, that was killing her. Lien-Hua found herself getting dehydrated much quicker than she ever had before. The crane was constantly looking for water, using every advantage she could to find a drink and now was such a time. Hardly even hesitating with approaching the rushing waters of the river, the retro female felt a sense of relief wash through her as her wide-spread feet entered the cool waters. Chirping quietly to herself, Lien-Hua pulled her neck back into herself, her chest puffing out as her feathers ruffled out before she quickly changed her position, instead stretching her neck out as far as she could, shaking her form. Her wings lazily hung from her sides for only a brief moment before she pressed them back against her sides. Her red eyes glanced around her for a moment, hoping none of the others from the flock were around to try to get her back on track of her assignment before dipping her head down. Her beak scooped up a generous amount of water before she tipped her head back, her neck ripping with the faint movements of her muscles as she swallowed the cool liquid. Clicking her beak together, she began dipping her head back down once more before a shrill screech reached her ears. Snapping her head up, she twisted her neck from one side to the other, her unblinking eyes searching for any source of movement. But, it did not take long to find it. With a small ruffling of her white and grey feathers, Lien-Hua stared up at the rather small bird that sat on a branch not too far from her spot, its back turned to her. For a time she thought of simply staying where she was or even trying to sneak off. But, if she continued to do such a thing then she never would have the chance to make a new friend of which she currently had none. So, after a moment of simply standing there, staring at the new bird, she finally took a small, hesitant step towards it. She remained quiet for a time, lingering behind the small creature before daring to speak. "...I have not seen you before in the flock, small one."

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CHARACTER BY VIVIAN | LAYOUT BY IRONCHILD

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So absorbed in eating, Nikarii completely failed to notice the strange white bird that had flown in behind her to drink from the water. "...I have not seen you before in the flock, small one." Her initial shock at being addressed by someone completely unknown to her changed to indignation at being called small one. Ruffling her feathers, Kari turned to face the newcomer with flashing eyes, intending to give them hell for calling her little. Her anger faded quickly as she choked back her words at the sight of the oddest bird she'd ever seen. Her neck was elongated and held the elegance of a swan, but seeming more slender and delicate. A long, dangerous looking beak extended from her head were he proud red eyes presided.

Shaking off her initial daze, Kari twitched her tail and turned her head to the side so as to keep one eye on the other retro and the other on her new environment. "Well if I'm so small it would make sense that you've never seen me, big one."Her irritation at being called petite was obvious, even if it was true. "However it's probably more due to the fact that I have just recently joined the Lawaii. My name is Nikarii, who are you?"

Kari kept her eye trained on the other bird, unwilling to take her axe away from someone who could easily be her predator although the beak looked more like it was meant for water creatures, and Kari could easily outmanuever that large and awkward body in flight. Feeling a little more at ease with the situation, the little kestrel alternated her time between rubbing off specks of blood from her kill off her talons and watching her surroundings.

The flicker of iridescent wings and long body soon stole away her attention from the white bird to the dragonfly and she wiggled her shoulders in delight. Launching herself into the air with no explanation, Kari gained height quickly so as to hover above the insect who was completely unaware of his impending doom. Folding her wings together witha soft snap, Kari barreled towards the dragonfly and was rewarded witha soft crunch when her talons closed. Happy with her success, Kari flew back to the other bird and perched on a branch with what could only be described as smugness at her achievement. Holding out the bug to the bigger bird, Kari spoke. "You want it? I just like catching them and I'm already full" It didn't occur to her that she had just behaved rather rudely simply because she was more bird then shifter and she quite simply had never been introduced to the concept.

[blade]

It was the voice of the crane that woke him from his doze. Blade slept lightly, and had become accustomed to interruptions by other Lawaii, to his dismay. The hawk slit one eye open, lazily, and removed his beak and face from his wing. When he heard the sound of another voice his head snapped in that direction, cocking at an angle to assess the birds through the trees.

When he saw the small kestrel, moments before her attack on the insect, Blade's thoughts cataloged her as prey. The crane, less so--lest he was in his human form. He shifted his talons on the branch where he was positioned, edging down the length of it to get a better view of them through the forest, to the edge of the water. Hunger gnawed at his stomach, and he was aware that his hunting shift would be soon, but perhaps--

He reminded himself that fellow Lawaii were not prey (not any more than his sister had been) and from the sound of shiftertongue both of these birds were retromorphs. The Ferruginous hawk pondered whether to remain where he was, hidden and half-asleep, or if he should interact. Before he could put more thought into it, curiosity led Blade to launching himself from the branch, with a breathy kree--a, kree--a!

It only took a few seconds for him to close the space between himself and the kestrel. He landed on the branch beside her, talons sinking heavily into the wood before he shifted his weight and ruffled his wing feathers. He turned to gaze at her with attentive, intense hazel eyes. Then his gaze flicked to the crane. "Lawaii?" A simple question, delivered with a sort of sharpness. He shifted again, eyeing the smug kestrel a second time.

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[atrb=width,500,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][bg=71322D] Lien-Hua had never been one to take offense from others, but it was a bit difficult not to when the female above spoke in such a manner. Inwardly wincing at the tone and word choice of the small bird, the crane retro shifted her weight from one leg to the other. "I had met no offense by my words," she replied quietly, her beak clicking together. She had never been one to enjoy making others feel uncomfortable or inferior and she had meant nothing of the sort when she called the female 'small one'. It was simply something that was common in her home land. When one did not know the name of another, you spoke to them and referred to them by a description that was unique to them. But, it was obvious that such a tradition would not be taken likely here. Rolling her shoulders faintly, her feathers ruffling around her muscles, Lien-Hua lowered her head faintly in greeting. "Well, then I welcome you to the flock, Nikarii. I am Lien-Hua. It is a pleasure to meet you," she bowed, her neck sloping and stretching out as she gave her kind's friendly greeting before lifting her head up once more. Before she was able to say anything else to the bird, she was suddenly back into the air, throwing the crane off. Her head tilted sharply to one side then the other, watching the petite bird strike out at a small insect. It confused her as to why Nikarii had thought now was such an appropriate moment to go after the six-legged creature, but she said nothing against it. When it was offered to her, though, she chose to remain silent. She was not quite a fan of such creatures, having never had a taste for their dry skins and prickly appendages. No, she enjoyed her frogs and small fish and the occasional water beetle. With a shake of her head, she began to kindly reject the offer before another, somewhat larger bird flew beside the kestrel. He was much larger than Nikarii, though was not nearly as large as Lien-Hua herself. "I would hope you would be able to identify one of your own by now," she commented simply at the male's question.

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CHARACTER BY VIVIAN | LAYOUT BY IRONCHILD

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When the odd white bird apologized for her words that has caused so much offense to the little bird, Nikarii smoothed her ruffled feathers down and listened attentively until the dragonfly interrupted their conversation. Resettling herself on the branch, she conti used their conversation as if she hadn't just left to catch a bug. "Nice to meet you too Lien." Stretching her wings, the little kestrel was about to take flight, thinking that their conversation was over and any further communication would be unnecessary when the movement of something very large caught her attention.

A large hawk launched himself from a nearby tree and Nikarii barely had enough time to recognize him as a predator before he landed right next to her. The limb shuddered at his added weight and caused Nikarii's grip to slide. Finding herself hanging upside down at the mercy of the large bird, she frantically flipped herself right side up and shifted out of reach of the male. "Lawaii?" Nervously shifting her weight from foot to foot, Nikarii eyed him mistrustfully, not liking the way his fierce hazel gaze continued to settle in her. "I would hope you would be able to identify one of your own by now." Nodding in agreement with Lien's words, Nikarii kept her wings slightly outstretched, ready to beat a hasty retreat if need be. "Right! You wouldn't want to accidentally eat one of your own... Would you?" The last two words were spoken hesitantly as she eyed him up and down, prepared to take flight if he gave any indication that that was exactly what he was intending to do. Unwilling to give her name until she was sure that he didn't want to eat her, Nikarii stayed silent, carefully assessing the hawk.

ooc: Sorry for the crappy post, it'll get better as soon as I have access to an actual computer.

[blade]

His eyes snapped to the crane. He held her gaze, no emotion in his own, the feathers around the nape of his neck ruffled from his abrupt landing.

That brief gaze was enough to convey a few things, at least in Blade's mind. Firstly, that the crane had not distinguished herself as a member to Blade. He did not know her. He had not spoken to her. Secondly, that if she were not Lawaii, he would gladly eat her.

Then Blade's eyes flicked back to the kestrel, who seemed to be experiencing some difficulty. He shuffled his shoulders awkwardly, before craning his neck and glancing at the little bird just as she begun to right herself, wings flapping haphazardly. Blade just about got a face-full of feathers, and he hopped backwards.

Right! The hawk's head cocked. "Unless they were particularly irksome, I don't think I would eat anyone." His tone was forced humor, an attempt at a joke he didn't really know how to make. He shifted his grip on the branch again. "I am... Blade." With that, he dropped from the bough with a sense of ease. The hawk's wings jerked open with just enough time to spare, before he would hit the water below. He flew close to the crane, dragging a talon through the glassy surface of the water. "You are a strange bird," he said. "What is... is the purpose of... you." He didn't know how to phrase what he meant. She was not a predator, he didn't think. She reminded him of those weird birds that had been spliced.