Stryx Advent Scraps: Advent 10

Published Jun 14, 2022, 6:02:39 AM UTC | Last updated Jun 14, 2022, 6:02:39 AM | Total Chapters 5

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short stories and snippets done for dracostryx. originally from december 2016.

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Chapter 2: Advent 10

The crest of the royal Corva was flattened as he dove off the cliff, his rider firmly clinging to his neck with her eyes shut. The dive was always the most nerve-wracking part, and even years later, she was still getting used to the sensation. The whistling wind made her clench her teeth as she felt it run through her fur. After her Stryx leveled out in a smooth glide over the ocean, her green eyes opened and she sat up slightly, giving the Corva a slight pat.

“Nice work as always, Gula,” she said, looking down at the deep blue water as they sped over it. This was just a standard fishing trip, getting supplies to prepare for the changing seasons and the very hungry Stryx back home. Dipping his talons into the salty water, he very nearly seamlessly grasped a fish, Kida feeling just a slight jostle upon his back as he went through the motions.

The cat’s ears twitched as she felt like they were being… watched. She looked around, but saw no other Stryx or their riders as Gula flew just a few feet above the water, steadily rising away from it. Then she realized the sun overhead was no longer warming her fur, and saw the silhouette of wings on the water from the corner of her eye. She glanced up, spotting the shadow of a rather large, dark Stryx.

“Gula, up, now!” She yelled, tugging lightly at his neck feathers. The Corva let out a surprised caw and did as he was told, looking up upon hearing a piercing screech from the strange bird. He shifted his flight path to sharply turn and dive before ascending again, the other Stryx diving just past them and disrupting his flight slightly. After compensating with more strength in his movements, he kept a steady path, circling around the new Stryx to keep his cyan eyes focused on them.

Bright green interrupted the shadow’s form as they flapped about, turning to face Gula and his rider. Their fluffy, curly feathers were not the most aerodynamic, so they had a slight bit of trouble keeping up with Gula’s turning speed as he circled above them. They let out slight screeches of protest as they struggled to keep their eyes on the smaller Corva, who responded with loud clicks and grunts. As they continued to circle the bird, the feline rider was able to catch more glimpses of the bird, spotting eyelets on their flapping wings and… red berries and leaves on their neck?

Kida squinted as she observed the bird, whose red eyes seemed focused on the fish in the Corva’s talons. “They’ll probably leave us alone if we just give ‘em that fish,” she muttered, signaling to her mount to turn towards the Harpia and drop the fish. Gula protested but followed his rider’s instruction, letting go of the fish as they passed over the stranger. “Don’t worry about it, we’ll catch plenty more.”

The feline rider looked back as they flew away, seeing the Harpia catch the fish in their beak and leave in the opposite direction, not bothering to look back at them. The bird must’ve been looking for a quick and easy meal. “What an odd Harpia,” she commented, guiding Gula back down to the water’s surface to collect more fish to return home with. “I’m sure that’s not the last we’ve seen of them. Why the hell were there leaves stuck between their neck feathers?” The Corva let out another disgruntled caw, begrudgingly dipping his talons back into the saltwater to claim more fish for himself.

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