Relighting the Fire (Fin)

[Fin]

Rolling lazily into a glide, an Osprey glided over the Sea of Hoolemere, that which he knew so well. To some, it was a vast amount of water - a obstacle, if anything. However to this Osprey, it was everything. Tilting his wings slightly, as he got closer to the surface, the fog that covered the land ahead slowly got thicker, and before he even noticed he was looking down at beach. Soon the beach faded into forest, and that was when he knew he was home - Silverveil!

White-and-brown wings spread wide, he sharply turned starboard, flying parallel along the beaches. It was a strange morning, looking down at the fog with the peaks of the trees popping out. Any bird with a lack of savoire faire would have difficulty here, swerving wildly to avoid trees, but the Osprey coolly glided through as he got closer and closer to the forest below.

Although it was his home, and he did like to spend time there, he was here for a particular reason. Through word of mouth, passed through bird to bird, he had come by the name of Nako Blacktail: a hireclaw, but with good intentions - apparently. His objectives? To try and gain his trust, and invite him to join the Talons of the South, for this Osprey was their leader. He wouldn't be hard to miss, but this fog presented a challenge.

Trying his luck at a higher altitude, he flapped his wings to gain height and then picked up speed quickly. It wasn't long before he noticed a figure flying below. He fell into a barrel-roll manoeuvre, diving at a high speed until he landed neatly beside the hawk mid-air. Turning his head to catch his eye, he flew a little closer, calling over the wind.

"Hello there! Are you Nako? I am Pisces - can we land somewhere?"

[Fin]

Pleased with the hawk's cooperation, the Osprey followed behind him, lighting down on the other end of the branch. Turning to face the hawk, the Osprey looked up and down, pleased with what he saw. This was definitely the hawk he was looking for - scarred, strong and with a wise gleam in his eye. Hopping along the branch, Pisces got closer to him, folding his wings.

"I have heard about you from many other birds. You are Nako Blacktail, correct? I am the leader of a band called the Talons of the South." He said proudly, straightening up, "We lack in numbers. I have come to find you, and to ask you if you would like to join us. We need strong warriors with good hearts, not murderers." The osprey had thought about his offer before, knowing that some birds take a lot more encouragement. "We live over by Silverveil, in a cave. It is our home - everyone has their own nests. We live together, and share prey. You would be a valued member, not just for your fighting skills, but also for your knowledge of the battlefield"

[Fin]

This guy is hard to please, Pisces thought to himself. Part of being a good leader was to understand all of your team-members, to know them like the back of your talons, and to be able to gauge what they would do next. This hawk... it was obvious he would like to join the band. Pisces listened to him talk about battlefields, shaking his head when he said that he hadn't seen that much "You still have the experiences." The osprey countered, knowing that any previous knowledge of fighting would benefit the hawk greatly if he was to join their group.

The tone of the hawk's voice changed - it was clear working and living in a group was foreign to this bird. The osprey was ready to speak more about the Talons, but the hawk had gotten closer. Holding his ground, however, the osprey stood firm. He was not one to be intimidated. As the loner spoke, Pisces became more infuriated. What didn't he get?

"Don't try the lone wolf crap with me - you don't form a band by sitting in the same spot waiting for birds to join you. I spent months on my own, hawk, searching for others like me. Okay, I'll admit it - when it comes to fighting, there is always going to be fatalities, but not always." The Osprey returned fire, squaring up to the hawk with his wings tight against his sides, "The remnants may be birds just like us, but they are murderers. I have saved families from destruction, owl or not. Fear is what grips these lands and tightens our hearts - oppression is making us weak. If no one is going to stand up to them, if everyone is just going to accept them and live under their rule, then I will be the only one to stand against it. I may not be making a good 'living' with fancy battle claws or helmets, but a true bird doesn't need such things."

Pisces was so angry. This hawk had no morals, it seemed. No discipline, no respect, nothing. Being alone for so long could do this to a bird, make him feel like no one is ever there for him, but he was so wrong. Owls controlled the land - they governed the world, it seemed, but free-fliers like himself still remained, and that was hope enough. Allowing the feathers on his chest and head to lay flat again, the Osprey composed himself.

"Are you suggesting we have a group of birds, flapping around frantically trying to form a plan? In that case, buzz off. How do you think the Guardians or the Remnants work so well? They have order. We are not mindless birds with only the taste for blood - we can formulate plans, give certain jobs to those capable, make the most of our talents." He paused, struggling to find words before calming himself, "I am not a leader for fun. It is stressful, and I am the one who has to pick up the pieces. A member dies, it is my fault. A family destroyed, it is my fault. Remnants destroying the land, it is my fault. I hope you understand that, sir."

Opening his wings wide, the osprey turned his back and hopped along the branch, taking off into the air. Swooping down below before flying high, Pisces called out: "If I changed your mind, it'd be best you follow me."

[Fin]

With a glint of happiness in his eyes, the Osprey paused in the air before circling, swooping in a wide arc ahead of the hawk. Below, the land of Silverveil moved further away as Pisces led them into a thin layer of clouds. Some would have questioned his sense of direction, but he knew exactly where his home was. Whenever away from it, he could always feel it in his heart. Far away, he knew the waves were crashing against the walls outside, the gentle flow of water escaping into the darkness of the twisting tunnels. Deep inside, his friends - no, his family. And soon this hawk was to join them.

"Not far from here, my friend!" He called over his wing, "It's a little hard to spot, but I'll show you how to get there." Turning his head back to face forwards, he dramatically tilted his whole body, moving his wings in a little to form a diving pose. With his speed increasing, he passed through the layer of cloud and was met with the sight of his home. Where Silverveil became the Barrens, there was a dip in the cliffs that overlooked the sea of Hoolemere. Curving, he flew in a semi circle, going down close to the waters edge for a few heartbeats. It felt good to be home, even if he was only away for a few days.

"Here we are." He called loudly over the sound of the waves below, his bright yellow eyes set on the cave ahead. It was a cliff, with grass on top of it, with a circular entrance. The sea ran into the cave like a small river, becoming gradually slower as they hit the walls of the tunnels. "Don't be afraid, the dark doesn't last too long!" The osprey called before heading into the tunnel. There was light, of course, but much less from outside and as they got closer to the centre, the light returned.

It wasn't long before the tunnel became a massive, dome-shaped cave. All around the interior, there were little holes, some big, some small - nests. In the centre of the cave, the waves circled around a pointed rock formation where a young bald eagle sat. It called a hello to both of them.

"He's on guard." Pisces informed Nako after calling out a greeting. He considered what the hawk had requested - a branch with privacy. They had recently constructed five nests, two of which inhabited, nearer the bottom of the cave with cracks in the wall. Pisces had come up with the solution for some of the birds that prefer to perch when sleeping to make them more comfortable. They had retrieved strong branches from Silverveil and rammed them into the cracks in the wall, filling the extra space with rocks to stop it moving. This would be perfect for his hawk friend.

Flying over to a cave that was a little way from all the rest, Pisces landed lightly on the entrance. They had put grasses and downing feathers down on the floor to keep the chill from the rock out. Folding his wings and walking around in the cave a little, his head about two mouse-lengths from the ceiling, he said: "Hows this?"