Song of Reamere: Ch 1

Published Apr 15, 2022, 11:29:57 PM UTC | Last updated Apr 15, 2022, 11:29:57 PM | Total Chapters 1

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Andriel is preparing for a new adventure but Bastien is ill and has gone missing!

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Chapter 1: Ch 1

Andriel finished tightening the straps on their satchel and dropped it on top of the other luggage. “What else are we missing, Bastien?” The large Harpia in question perked his head up from preening his chest where a vein of red glowed ominously from beneath his feathers. He chirped in a friendly enough manner before returning to his ministrations. 


Andriel observed him warily for a few moments before pulling a roll of parchment from their back pocket. Unrolling it, they muttered to themself as they scanned it. “Rations, medical kit, Maja’s meds for you, clothes… clothes… Oh!” They released the scroll, which promptly rolled itself back up before it was replaced into Andriel’s back pocket. “Almost forgot, I need to pick up the jacket I ordered.” Saying this, they stepped up to Bastien who once again paused in his grooming to stare at his rider expectantly. His great talons scraped on the cobbled stones beneath him, the sea breeze ruffling his developing crest. As they stared at each other, the golden light of his eyes flashed red momentarily, causing him to blink and turn away. Andriel sighed and patted him on his unmarked shoulder before stepping away to grab her wallet. “I’ll be back in a bit, Bastien. Stay here and I’ll come back with dinner.” Bastien clacked his beak in acknowledgement and settled down into an avian loaf, tucking his head under a wing to nap. 


Andriel hurried through Sol to the tailor’s shop, hoping they would arrive before the shop closed. On the way they stepped into the Stryx Feed shop to order a whole bullock to be delivered to the barracks in an hour. Luckily, the detour didn’t take long and they arrived at the tailor to pick up their waterproof coat in time. 


Upon returning to the barracks, they discovered Bastien, however, had gone. Only the gouges in the stone told of his departure, though of course there was no way to know where he’d gone from the ground. Before they could panic though, the flapping of leather wings signaled a new arrival and Andriel looked up to see a golden Tyrian descending. “Sierra!” Andriel cried out in surprised releif. Seeing the young noble, Sierra landed, snuffling and grumbling in satisfaction that she had found one of her charges. “Sierra, have you seen Bastien? Or can you track him?” For her part, upon hearing the ill Harpia had flown off, a sense of foreboding settled in her belly. “No, but I can track him. I can still smell him in the air.” She answered, lowering herself so Andriel could climb to the join of her neck and shoulders. 


Once settled, Sierra leaped into the air again, pumping her great wings to gain altitude. Her canid nose quickly picked up Bastien’s scent and they angled away from the barracks on his trail. It turned out to be a quick flight, as Bastien had been lead to a field to be fed his bullock, the butcher having delivered it earlier than scheduled. With a sigh of relief, Andriel directed Sierra to land, though the command was useless as she was already descending. “Excuse me!” Andriel yelled as they jumped off of Sierra, who joined Bastien. 


“Yes?” the young shepherd asked, turning toward the newcomer. “I take it you own this Harpia?” “I do. Why was he taken from the barracks without me or even a note?!” It was hard to keep the frantic tone out of their voice, after all, Bastien was a large Harpia and was corrupted, the magic barely held in check thanks to Maja’s potions and magic. His moods were volatile and he wasn’t always the same gentle giant he used to be before their battles with the corrupted Rhakos several months ago. The shepherd scratched her head ruefully, “Sorry, mam, he didn’t really give me a choice. He picked me and the bull up and brought us here hisself.” Andriel blinked and then blushed, “Oh.” Unsure what else to say, they glanced back at the Harpia and Tyrian who were now sharing the rest of the bull. “I don’t blame you for being in a state, mam. I’d have been surprised too if I had a stryx fly off on me. Specially one were sick like he is. You got that blight under control?” 


Andriel considered before answering and then nodded. “Well enough you don’t need to worry.” The shepherd girl nodded, looked back at Bastien and Sierra, and then scratched her nose. “Well, now you’re here, I guess I’ll be getting back to my home. No need to clean up out here, we’ve got wild dogs that come and feed on the scraps.” Andriel nodded, watching the girl take her leave. When she was gone, Andriel took a seat on the top bar of the fence to wait until their stryx and father’s tyrian were done eating and cleaning themselves of the gore. 


“You two ready to return to the barracks now?” Andriel called when they were done. Bastien hopped to his rider to nuzzle them. “Whoah!” they cried, grabbing the stryx by the beak to keep from falling backwards. He lifted his head and set Andriel on their feet on the ground before gently pushing them toward his unmarked shoulder to mount up. “I take that as a yes.” They chuckled, doing as indicated. Once mounted, the two of them, stryx and tyrian, took to the skies, though they refused to return to the barracks immediately, preferring to go for a playful game of aerial tag, Andriel forced to hold on for dear life as they spun, dove, and looped about. As dangerous as the ride was, it. was also exhilerating and reckless laughter soon escaped the young noble’s throat. Their only regret was leaving their flight gear back at the barracks, or they would have jumped off, using the tight membranes beneath the arms along the sides to fly alongside Bastien and Sierra. 


When they returned to the ground, Andriel’s hair was wild and tangled, clothes rumpled, and stomach growling. Bastien and Sierra left the noble to their meal while they went to settle for the night in the shelter built large enough for Gryphs, both comfortable for the night. 

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