In Memory [ Kat ]

[winged]

The sun had begun to sink in its predestined arc, the fat underbellies of fluffy clouds splashed with intensifying shades of color. Shadows had lengthened into bolder tendrils that crept across the manicured length of the Eyrie's gardens, blurring the lines and angles of the day's clarity. Twilight was naturally a quiet time of day, and in the almost abandoned gardens it was doubly still. Luckily, the day's warmth still held, although the crisp bite of night was not far behind - I'dou didn't mind either way, it'd been a strenuous day and the chill would perhaps help to settle her troubled thoughts.

They'd snuck out here, the two of them, once Laraph had had her evening meal. The Gray lay stretched beneath the ever-darkening shade of a tree, languidly enjoying the breath of wind as it rippled through her downy feathers, eyes lidded as she gazed out on the world with a pleasant laziness. Her belly was full, I'dou was beside her, and they were here enjoying the vibrant (though subdued) colors of the garden. It was a favorite place of hers, one almost as colorful as the landscape of her own fancies.

As always, I'dou cut a severe contrast to her placid simourv. Unreasonably tense, her gray-blue eyes seemed fixated on some distant point, one hand restlessly stroking Laraph's neck as she worried her bottom lip, as she worried the distressing thoughts turning over and over in her head. Laraph couldn't discern much, beyond that it was brooding and that it made Hers uncomfortable, perhaps even sad. It wasn't hard to figure that out, however, even to one who wasn't privy to I'dou's thoughts - you could skim it off with just a glance.

One word seemed most prevalent, and it was that that Laraph focused on - it was something she'd heard before, from Dionyph's, but she'd never gotten an answer. What did it mean? It was somehow attached to a strange image of a man in her rider's head.

'Mine...' Sleepily, Laraph shifted her head so that she could gaze up at the young woman, who was now staring down at the Gray, momentarily torn from her daze. "What is it?" I'dou's voice was uncharacteristically soft.

'What's sick?' Curiosity quickly faded to concern as I'dou seemed to grow visibly wearier, and a great deal older. She cast her forlorn gaze aside, as if she couldn't meet Laraph's eyes. She must've been thinking too loud again - thinking about her father; he'd died around this time, that one year. The exact day she never remembered, only that she felt miserable that particular week, this particular month. Everything else was still muzzy from hurt and sorrow.

The simourv could feel I'dou's hesitance alongside her sadness, and chirped quietly, nuzzling the girl's thigh as comfortingly as possible. Whatever it was, it'd hurt Hers.

[Kat]

Even though Dionyph’s romp in the pond had been hours previously, Ri’ley could not abandon his anger and fear about the incident. He had been so worked up, so frightened, nervous, and frustrated, that the emotions still radiated off of him from his tense posture and stewing expression. The longer that Dionyph’s feathers took to dry, the more Ri’ley became upset, as he felt as if he might never be able to save his simourv from the danger of the water and the weight of wet feathers. What if Dionyph caught a cold? What if he caught some illness more sinister than a cold? Ri’ley knew that cold weather did not actually cause illness, that the two variables were only correlated, but that cold weather did not cause sickness, but the facts his mind processed did not still the irrational workings of his emotional response. If Dionyph was cold, his immune system might become less effective, Ri’ley rationed, and therefore the hatchling could still catch an illness because of his pond adventures. Besides, what if Dionyph had drowned? He could have drowned. So many things could have happened to his hatchling, and the longer Ri’ley had to sit next to the wet creature, as Dionyph lounged comfortably with his feathers puffed to increase the volume of feathers kissed by the sun’s rays, the greater period of time Ri’ley had to think of all the negatives, all the difficulties, and the problems which could go wrong. Ri’ley had not spoken to Dionyph since they had left the pond. They had sunned in silence, with Ri’ley pressing in a conflicted manner against Dionyph’s body, clutching onto the black hatchling, while trying to remain angry and tense towards the creature—his creature, but also needing to be as close to Dionyph as possible, because the thought of separation was immensely frightening and painful. Ri’ley stretched his own body out on the rock in the canyon which Dionyph chose to dry himself on, so that large swatches of his skin were exposed to the sun.

Dionyph could not understand his bonded’s worry; he did not understand why Ri’ley was upset, but he knew that the man did not want to talk. In fact, Dionyph felt all of Ri’ley’s emotions; the young hatchling did not understand why his bonded had them and what all of them were. After the hatchling had dried enough, the pair finally relented to Dionyph’s inexorable hunger. Even as he fed Dionyph, Ri’ley remained silent, stewing as he butchered a goat, and cut the meat into long, thin strips. Perhaps because of the stern quiet of his bonded, or maybe because of his newly washed feathers, Dionyph ate carefully. He ate more slowly than usual, eating the pieces meticulously. Only a little bit of blood trickled down Dionyph’s beak and onto his sleek, black feathers, which showed no blemish against their glossy sheen.
Mine, let’s go to the garden. I want to watch the sunset.
Dionyph broke the silence with a simple request, and in response, Ri’ley only nodded his head, shrugged his grand shoulders. Either way, the pair would in a similar position if they stayed outside or returned to their barrack. Ri’ley stomped towards the gardens, and Dionyph followed behind him, with his chest held high and his head positioned upwards, watching his bonded’s back with his white eyes. Because of Dionyph’s earlier excited bath, his feathers were glossy and clean. As he was darkly colored over most of his body, dust and dirt ended to make the hatchling appear dull and gray, and not a lustrous silver color like his queen, a dirty, dim color. Now, the hatchling shone, bright black, with an iridescent glisten to his feathers, some of which were still stuck to each other, in small tufts. Ri’ley tried not to look at Dionyph, as the sight of the hatchling made the man fret over what he had almost lost. He liked his position in front, as Dionyph was close enough to cast a physical mass in the air, but not close enough to be seen out of the corners of his brown eyes.

As the pair approached the pond, Dionyph made a small, cooing sound, a simple mew, as he tried to comprehend Ri’ley’s conflicted emotions.
”Mine, why are you still so upset. I can feel that I bothered you, but I do not understand why you cannot get over the emotions I caused.”
Ri’ley turned around to look at the hatchling, walking backwards a few paces, before he spoke to Dionyph. Ri’ley’s silence had been self-imposed. He had known that as soon as he started talking about the problems, he would erupt with anger. Ri’ley had wished not to speak, so that he did not yell at Dionyph, so he did not explode at the hatchling to whom Ri’ley never wish to raise his voice.
”Dionyph, you could have died. Didn’t you hear Canph tell us not to get you wet? And what if something had happened? What if you had gone too far I, and had been unable to get out? You could have died. And I didn’t have a blanket. What if you had been cold?”
The words were angry, a gruff roar of language and sounds, and also almost frantic, surprisingly so for a man who was usually so controlled. His eyes blazed wildly, flashing about with frustration and fear, and lacking their usual cool shine. His lips were tight, his jaw tense and strained, and his thick, black eyebrows tightened into a glare. Even the man’s heart rate increased, pounding against his chest, which made his breath storm from her mouth, his breath heavy. Dionyph was only mildy surprised before by his bonded’s outburst. He had felt the fit building in the man’s mind all day, the emotions twisting, turning, and weaving together into an unreadable, opaque rage.
”If something had happened to you, Dionyph, I don’t know what I would do. I don’t think I would survive. You have to listen to me, because I only want you to be safe. I only want you to be here with me.”
They had reached the gardens now, and from within the area, the entirety of Ri’ley’s outburst would have been audible. Dionyph bowed his head, ashamed and apologetic He had a wonderful time that afternoon, splashing in the water with beautiful, wonderful Laraph, but he felt bad for upsetting Ri’ley so, even if Dionyph knew Ri’ley was being silly. The simourv understood that the emotions Ri’ley expressed as anger were less fury and more fear and anxiety, and that Ri’ley did not meant to yell at his hatchling. The large man wiped a few tears from the corners of his eyes, which he then ignored, and tossed away with a flick of his wrist.

At the thought of Laraph, Dionyph realized that he felt a familiar presence in the gardens. The beast turned his head, and his light gray eyes scanned the area until they settle on Laraph and her bonded. While usually, Dionyph would have been thrilled to see his queen, he was currently rather upset. Ri’ley’s head turned at the same time as Laraph, his head pivoting slowly on his neck and his eyes floating slowly towards the other pair. As soon as Ri’ley realized that he was not alone with Dionyph, he began to become humiliated and calmer. He did not want anyone to know about his temper; he hated people hearing that he possessed volatile emotions, that he could become so upset and so angry. The man spent a long time trying to control his anger, and for the most part, he succeeded. For I’dou to witness his anger, was a humiliation Ri’ley could barely handle. He blushed, but the physical change was suble on the man’s face, as his skin was already a deep pink color for his earlier sun exposure, and he bowed his head, stalking towards the other pair slowly, his eyes downcast. Dionyph immediately approached Laraph, his head also down, but his eyes lifting towards the silver hatchling almost sheepishly.
I’m sorry you had to hear that, but mine is very upset. I scared him, I think, and he doesn’t know what to do about it. He’s being positively silly. I had a wonderful time with you today. I’m so glad we had the chance to swim, and I hope that one day you will grace me with your presence for another similar activity.
Dionyph explained to Laraph, making sure that she was the only creature who could hear his mental words. As he spoke about Ri’ley, Dionyph’s eyes moved to look over his bonded, and he shook his head, almost as if he found his bonded childish or impossible. Dionyph then moved closer to Laraph, so that he could nuzzle against her neck.
I hope you don’t mind if I sit here next to you. I don’t want to bother your or over step my boundaries.
Dionyph added, and after his welcoming nuzzle, he backed away so that she could allow her to say if she wanted him to be with her or if she did not want him to be with her. Laraph was always the boss. She always had to final say.

Ri’ley, though, was less forward than his simourv. Of course, Dionyph and Laraph were closer than him and I’dou, who he only knew because of Dionyph’s loyalty to her bonded partner. He finally managed to overcome his humiliation and to look her in the eyes.
”I am so sorry that you had to hear that. I don’t usually get angry like that, and I thought we were alone.”
Ri’ley grumbled, his voice meek and almost timid. He was bothered by his outburst, and he was bothered that someone had heard his outburst. And to make matters worse, Ri’ley realized, all his interactions with I’dou had been apologies. She must think that he was the most irresponsible, horrible individual who possibly could exist. At that moment, however, Ri’ley realized that I’dou looked upset, and his expression changed to one of sympathy or compassion. He paused for a second, as he tried to think of some way he could provide her with some comfort. He was not the best person to comfort anyone. He struggled to deal with even his own emotions, but he felt he needed to say something. He was not the kind of person who asked stupid platitudes like—‘are you alright,’ as he found those statements to be annoying and redundant. If someone was visibly upset enough to warrant the question, then they were not okay or fine.
”Can I do anything to help?”
Ri’ley questioned, his tone suddenly soft and rather caring. It was certainly a contrast to his uncontrolled raging from only minutes before. Dionyph provided his bonded with a pleased, mental nudge, to show that he appreciated Ri’ley’s concern for Laraph’s bonded, before the black simourv turned his attention back to his gray sister.

[winged]

They'd sat their in somnolence, real in one case and sympathetic in the other, until Ri'ley's noticeable voice boomed out over the quiet gardens, disrupting any illusion of tranquility. The alarmed squawks of native fauna amidst the bushes and the scuttle of unfamiliar paws and claws as said creatures sought a quieter refuge somewhere else, with a long, reedy sigh from I'dou coupled with a concerned chirp from Laraph. The simourv turned to gaze at the intruders with as much chastisement as she could muster, tail lashing invisibly behind her where it trailed behind I'dou.

A chick and a human, both of whom the pair recognized. I'dou hadn't so much as batted an eyelash once she'd realized who was yelling, electing rather to rest her head against the trunk behind her, eyes squeezed shut as if to ward off an impending headache, or perhaps will their presence away. Her partner took a more active approach, rising from her previous sprawl and settling into a more formal sitting position while accepting Dionyph's nuzzle - but only that. Her attention seemed riveted, rather, on Ri'ley, while Hers continued to pretend that the pair wasn't present.

She stood as representative, listening as the tall man once again apologized for unseemly behavior. He seemed embarrassed, which Laraph supposed was good. He certainly did many silly things! Once he'd finished, the Gray responded with a calm chirp. She accepted his apology in I'dou's stead. Just as she was about to formally say so herself, however, I'dou's voice broke in, gruff and slightly unsteady.

"You're a little too late, unless you know how to cure death." A humorless smile twitched into place, a dull stare fixated somewhere around Ri'ley's navel. "You like apologizing, or are you just out of luck?" Judging by the way she'd positioned herself, devil-may-care attitude snapping effortlessly into place, she wasn't really that interested in the content of the conversation. But she couldn't help herself, either; keeping quiet was too difficult, when her thoughts all but drowned out what peace and quiet she might have salvaged. Laraph chuffed quietly to herself, almost chidingly.

[Kat]

Ri’ley could tell that his disruption bothered both rider and simourv, and he felt Laraph’s brown eyes boring into him, a soft, strong gaze. I’dou placed her head against the tree, as if she was trying to pretend he did not exist. He understood that he had been horrible; that he had caused the pair to interact when neither wanted to interact, but Ri’ley had not meant to disrupt anyone. He had thought that the gardens would be vacant himself, and in fact, I’dou had witnessed an intimate, humiliating moment from Ri’ley’s own life, one he wished she had never seen. Defensively, in a small, submissive way, Ri’ley wrapped his arms around his chest, tightening his grip around his body. Since Laraph did not say that she wished to sit close to him, Dionyph moved so that he was sitting next to Laraph, even though she now stood. He straightened his body, lifting his form and squaring his shoulders until he sat rigidly upright. Dionyph, though, was by no means uncomfortable, and while he would have preferred to sit closer to Laraph. He respected her boundaries and her wishes, however. He would do anything Laraph requested of him, almost without question. He ensured that there was a sizable gap between him and the gray chick.

Laraph, though, seemed to accept Ri’ley’s apology, and immediately, Ri’ley’s posture relaxed. He looked far less uncomfortable, far less tense, and his arms unwrapped from around his body to hang relaxed by his side.
”Thank you, Gray Laraph.”
Ri’ley replied, and he bowed his head, a small, but respectful gesture. Ri’ley could not help but to raise the gray hatchling on a pedestal of respect, admiration, and awe, as Dionyph’s thoughts infiltrated Ri’ley’s understanding of the world, and manipulated the man’s own judgments. Laraph could be nothing but a goddess, a queen, in the man’s eyes, as Dionyph’s respect for the gray hatchling was unsurpassed, except, perhaps, by his respect for his parents, the great Eceph and Alianph. Dionyph chirped in a pleased manner at Ri’ley’s address of Laraph, as well as Laraph’s acceptance of Ri’ley’s apology.

I’dou’s explanation took Ri’ley by surprise. It was a very honest, very open response, from a girl that Ri’ley thought was quite closed off and cold. Her answer—was cold, he supposed, but it was honest, and Ri’ley found it somewhat refreshing. If they were going to talk, though, then Ri’ley needed to be seated. He disliked the fact that he currently loomed over the woman, and it made the conversation feel forced and uneven. Ri’ley dropped to the ground right where he stood, crossing his legs in order to sit upright with some degree of comfort. It was strange, how much being a winglet, being connected to Dionyph, and being responsible for the creature, had already changed Ri’ley. Less than three weeks ago, he had brought out a square of fabric to sit on, but now he sat in the dirt, without any hesitation. He had more important things, like Dionyph’s health and happiness, to worry about than the dirt on his pants. His pants could be washed easily, scrubbed until clean, and Ri’ley did not need to waste any of his thoughts on worrying about them.
”If I could cure death, I would be more than an apprentice surgeon, I would think.”
Ri’ley replied dryly. Even though he almost joked about the situation, the note of irony in his voice was faint, behind a wall of stony somberness. Ri’ley had been surrounded by death by an early age, but he still found it to be a serious subject. His life before Dionyph, well, before the Eyrie, had been a constant attempt to avoid and to cheat death, but death could not be cured. It was permanent, frustrating, and painful, facts Ri’ley understood quite well. The man did not smile; his lips remained still, a thin, tight line.

The girl’s next comment made Ri’ley blush, as he had hoped that she would not have noticed that Ri’ley always seemed to apologize to her. He shrugged his shoulders as he attempted to formulate a response to her which would not make him sound like an irresponsible idiot.
”I guess a little bit of both. I feel like my luck has only been terrible around your presence. I don’t usually need to apologize as much to other people.”
Ri’ley admitted. He wondered, as he spoke, if the reason he kept needing to apologize to I’dou had something to do with the way he had elevated her in his mind. She was Laraph’s rider, which meant that she demanded respect. Furthermore, if only for Dionyph’s sake, Ri’ley wanted I’dou to like him. He needed her to accept him as a person, because Dionyph needed to be around Laraph. Why, Ri’ley was afraid his hatchling would waste away and die if the gray hatchling was not present.
”You must think I am positively pathetic.”
Ri’ley added with a small, sad shrug of his shoulders. He leaned his own head back, despite the fact that he had nothing to lean on, catching his head in his large hands. His hair fell over his fingertips. It was getting far too long. Not only was he bumbling and irresponsible, Ri’ley was ill groomed. I’dou would probably never be able to take him seriously. The man’s gaze drifted from the girl’s face to Dionyph’s body, and he gazed apologetically at the black hatchling, who he was already failing.
Mine, you worry too much.
Dionyph replied, as he coo sympathetically to Ri’ley. The hatchling’s words, though, only provided a small amount of comfort.Ri'ley continued to be just as humilated as previously, as shown by his reddened face. The blush only intensified the pink tint of his sunburnt skin, so that his whole likeness turned the color of the sunset which had begun behind them, brilliant pink.