Approaching Winter (rybs)

[Fin]

Cold, northern winds battered the Great Tree, but the huge structure held it's ground. Though branches may bend, and even snap off, the tree was totally unaffected by the strong winds. That was not the case for the owls of the tree. Already a Ga'hoology class had been held off due to not being able to explore the island, but then again, it was always useful experience for the other chaws.

Surveying the distant, churning ocean, sat a tall great-horned owl. His chest was puffed out against the cold, his wings tight against his side and his tail feathers fluttering in the wind. He sat in a crevice of the tree, his head swivelling gentle as he looked around. His home was the same, as always, and with that peace of mind he dove off the branch straight into a current of air that drove his now-outstretched wings at an angle. Unfazed by the torrent of the air, the male owl flicked his port feathers and made a sharp right, whizzing beneath a wide branch.

His long ears upon his head were in a lazy fold as air passed over them. He had almost completely done a downward spiral of the tree, circling around it at such an angle that he softly landed on one of the bigger branches nearer the base of the tree. Quickly stepping inside, the tall owl passed few smaller owls, greeting them with politeness before making his way to the Parliament Hollow. He had arranged for the fellow rybs to meet at this time of day, when the sun was close to falling. Not many owls would be up at this time, and he always liked early starts to the night.

Pushing the round door open, he greeted a nest-snake on the way in, stopping to ask her to keep the doors shut to anyone other than the parliament. She nodded her approval, slithering over to the door to keep it in check. With one powerful down-push of his wings, he lifted himself into the air and toward his perch on the highest point of the long, curved branch. He noted the appearances of all of the other rybs, one or two missing for reasons he knew of. Clearing his throat, he began.

"Welcome, all. I know it is early in the night, but how are we to get anything done if all we do is sleep?" Arctus said, his voice lined with a sympathetic humour to it. "Now settle down everyone," He said slightly firmly, hushing the movements and voices of the owls around him before continuing, "We have matters to attend to." He added grimly.

His long ear tufts now raised, the lone male owl sat on his perch fit for two alone, speaking to his parliament. "Winter is approaching fast - the food from the tree will need to be harvested before it is ruined, and we will need more hunting parties to deal with the lack of food. The forgery is unusually low on coals, I will organise a trip to the volcanoes soon. Even though this weather is good practice for the weathering chaws, the search-and-rescue chaws, I don't want to hear of any groups going out further than Cape Glaux on a training expedition. Who would like to speak next?" He asked around, casting his amber gaze over each of the members, sat perched on the branch.

[◦myth ♫◦]

Elhana was cold. And by cold, she was coooooooooold. Being such a small owl really was a blessing and a curse - her size meant small spaces were no problem, but she easily succumbed to the cold weather. She sat to the left of Arctus, kind of the tree, her feathers fluffed up, eyes flitting through the crowd as they listened intently to their king.

"I will speak next." the little owl hooted, fluffing up her feathers more as a cool breeze drifted it's way through the Parliament. She flitted up to a higher branch so the owls could see her - damned size. "The weather, as you can see, is deteriorating at a quicker rate that I have anticipated. My chaw is getting better, however we need to act fast before the prey is spoiled and it is too cold to leave alone. I have read the weather and though it looks fine today, I believe the first hailstorm is on it's way here." El hooted, flitting back down. She nodded her head. "That is all."

[/blockquote]

[Ruby]

When Arctus entered Pyry kept her eyes on the king. He got the rest of the ryb's attention and then the bad news came. Pyry liked the idea of winter but it seemed to bring nothing but hardships down on them.

When Arctus had finished she was about to speck up when Elhana spoke up. Pyry closed her beck and listened to what the smaller owl said. 'More hardships...' Pyry thought as she took in what was said.

She notice when Elhana fluffed up her feathers. 'It's not that cold is it?' She took in the temperature of the room and couldn't see how the small owl could be cold. 'Maybe it's because I'm a snow owl...?' She decided that was what it was and returned her attention to what was being said.

When Elhana finished Pyry fluffed up her feathers to gather courage. "I will speak next." Her musical voice seemed to bounce around the closed space.

"Despite the change in weather the stars are properly aligned for the time of year and navigation is as it should be. The only affects by the weather are flying in the harsh winds is taking a toll on us but it is good training for them. That is all for Navigation Chaw."

With this she gave a slight nod to Arctus and let the next owl speak.

[Shadow Da Smiffster]

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[atrb=background,http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p30/shadowolfdemon/TopAndBottom.jpg] "I'll speak next," Strix Streiter announced, his voice rough and impatient. The last thing he had wanted to do today was go sit in parliament with the older Rybs. Though he was treated with respect on a day to day basis, in here, his opinion was almost always cast aside by the other Rybs, or at least, that was how he felt. But what did they know about his experiences and how he'd learned from them? Eventually they'd one day know to stop taking half measures in times like these. "I have nothing to say about my Chaw, except that everyone is progressing well," he started. "But I do have a matter I'd like to discuss. The Tree isn't doing enough--" he was cut off by a hoot of disdain from another owl sitting close to him, but he didn't turn to see who. Instead, he puffed out his feathers and continued. "I don't have enough solid evidence to tell you for sure, but there are owls in danger out there... and if our duty is to protect the innocent, why do we only send Search and Rescue out once a moon for a routine check? Why not twice? Why not stretch our search for others? I may be young, but I'm no fool. We've all avoided the topic for long enough; dark times are ahead, and I'll be damned a life in Hagsmire if we don't do something about it! So respectfully, King Arctus, I disagree that our training should only be restricted to Cape Glaux." He let it be quiet after that, wondering how the other owls would react to his blatant disapproval of the King's orders. But he knew in his Gizzard that he could be doing so much more... so why couldn't they?

[Fin]

Arctus leaned back into his perch, the ear tufts upon his head relaxed against his head. His amber eyes trailed to where Elhana had perched, trying to make herself seen. He remembered when he made her the Ryb of her chaw - such a great moment, another example of how no matter what kind of owl you are, you can do anything. Hailstorms could prove dangerous to the lesser-able flyers of their tree, like the trackers, and he made sure to notify them after the meeting. Clicking his beak twice when she finished, he nodded to her a thanks before looking over to the next owl to speak, Pyry.

"It is a shame that these crisp, clear night skies are thawted with freezing temperatures. Alas, our young talent will not go to waste - we have books that need to be updated, constellations to be studied." Arctus said when she had finished, his tone both authoritative and sympathetic for the Ryb. He assumed it would be just like having no coals to collect, or any forest fires to dive into. "The Ga'hoologists will provide you with all material you need to update or read." He said finally, his ear tufts flicking.

Next stood young Strix Streiter, one of the newest Rybs. He was a smart owl, Arctus would grant him that, but the Great-horned could clearly tell from the bird's body language and speaking manner that he assumed they wouldn't listen. What king of leader would he be if he didn't? Arctus leaned forwards a little, now standing higher, ear tufts raised and amber eyes upon the owl. Almost as instantly as he began, the owls in the room shifted uncomfortably and a ripple of small murmuring echoed around, but with a stern glare across the room, they were silenced.

Allowing a moment for the rest of the Parliament to settle, Arctus stood thoughtfully, taking in the Battle Ryb's words. A quiet awkwardness rumbled in the hollow, all eyes flickering from Arctus to Streiter.

"Are you suggesting I do not consider those in danger? Don't tell me you've forgotten the crux of our meaning." The King began, his tone deeper now. Any other owl might have snapped, claiming the Ryb knew nothing, that his experience aligned with the Kings was minuscule, but the Great-horned only looked on with little emotion drawn on his face.

"Are you suggesting, Streiter, that I lack empathy? That I lack any quality necessary of being King?" Opening his wings wide in one swift movement, he flew across to where the Ryb was sat and lighted down hastily, folding his wings almost as quickly as he landed standing tall in front of the owl, before continuing: "The trouble we face will have nothing to do with species, age, experience or intelligence." He spoke to all in the room, turning to face them all with a disappointed look upon his features, amber eyes holding sadness.

"So, noble Strix Streiter," He said, turning back to the owl, "Are you suggesting we send out groups of our owls out into the uncertain weather, possibly never to return? What would you do, with so many lives in your talons? I know you're smart enough to understand we cannot save every owl in the Southern Kingdoms, but don't be silly with me Streiter - you know we do our best."

With a final, slow glance to the young owl's eyes, Arctus returned to his perch, avoiding the nervous looks from the other rybs. "If you have anything else to say on the matter Streiter, I will see you in my hollow at First Light, tomorrow. Now, who's next? Ah yes, Leonidas, step forth." A subtle change of conversation was instructed by Arctus, and soon the tension in the room evaporated. He looked over at the nervous looking Great Grey on the far right of the hollow, beckoning him.

Clearing his voice in a surprised manner when Arctus chose him, the large Great Grey straightened himself on the perch, his feathers a little ruffled. Glancing over at Arctus, then to everyone else, he began.

"The chaw is set for a training course to Silverveil, Cape Glaux, as told. The younger members will benefit from the short but vital experience, and the older members will too. There will be two scouting patrols, one before the Milkberry Festival and one after. Both will take a day and a half as we will circle the North and East in the first, and the South and the West in the second. Be assured that all areas will be covered." He spoke quickly, but clear enough for all to understand. It was true what the King had said - he would hate to have to compromise his younger, inexperience members with having to fly out in terrible conditions.

Not the best time to mention the patrols or the Search-and-rescue chaw generally, straight after that argument, but Leonidas felt a little better afterwards. The Great Grey moved back a little into the shadowy part he was in before he was summoned. Risking a glance, he looked over at the battle Ryb, hoping he hadn't offended him.