OOC NOTES: This plot series will be running for as many lessons as it takes, but I ask anyone who joins the first one to please continue with the entire series (I’m going to guess 10 Lessons, Total). During these lessons we’ll be learning to handle and train hawks. Enjoy the series, if it’s successful, then I might follow it with a second series of hawking lessons (I’ve got an idea for a series on hawking training that would include some vet stuff that would run for 5 lessons… Or I might run a lesson on breeding as a sub-subject of Vet Medicine… But we’ll see…) Lessons in this series will be posted every Tuesday. Looking forward to seeing everyone at them all! -+- Timestamp : Tria 31 81378 Turrush stood before his assembled class as he prepared to address them. “I welcome you all to Professional Hawking 101. In this class, you will be learning to not only train birds used for hunting, but to hunt with them, and to care for them. You will learn the ins and outs of these creatures." He glanced across the assembled Pendragons. “Each of you will be given the care of a small species of Hawk called a ‘Trisk’. These birds are one of the most common species kept as pets, due to their small size. You will be responsible for training them first in the basics of manners and simple behaviors that make handling easier for both you and bird." He paused, staring over the class one more time. “The Trisk you will receive is one that I have bred personally, from my own stock. We’ll start the lesson with a Question and Answer session about the Species and Basic Handling, followed by the introductions of each of you to the Trisk that will be yours. Fellian, Kyna." A small bird whose body is covered in a mottled pattern of Silver and White feathers with pinion feathers of gleaming gold flew out to land on his hand. “This is Fellian. Now, Class, it’s your turn to ask questions. Feel free to ask anything about hawks and hawking."
<span style='width:100%;font-weight:bold; font-size:10px'>Out of Character</span> <table class=ooc><tr><td> Eka Tsyjn, Female, 1200Just a suggestion, but I don’t think that we will finish each class in a week. Maybe ever 3 weeks or more?</td></tr></table> Eka stood with the rest of her class mate in the one of the out door class rooms. She had never been in one before so it was a little exciting. But what also was exciting was what she was here for, hawking lessons. For the past few days she had been doing lost of thinking and had spent lost more time a lone. She had realized that she didn’t like being a lone, she needed a companion. Not someone to talk to, just some one to be with. Not another ‘dragon but an animal. The black striped small pendragon watch as the teacher spoke and called down his own hawk. She was amazed by how simple it looked. But then again bonding with any kind of animal can take lots of time. They probably have been together for a long time. Eka didn’t really have much animal experience. Sure she had dealt with a few small things but nothing with wings. But that was a reason she had wanted to come as well. To learn a little bit more. She raised her paw in the air. <span style='color:green'>“Sir, what would you like us to call you by?"</span> She knew it wasn’t a question about the creature or the class but if he had given his name she had missed it. She always felt better if she knew the name of her teacher, fellow students as well. But she hadn’t really had the chance to get a good look around and see who was here yet.
OOC : I plan to play it by ear, mostly, with 'Tuesday' as a general rule. If we're not completely done by Tuesday but close, then I'll make the next post. If we're clearly a whole long ways from done, I'll give it another week, don't worry. -+- He cleared his throat, tilting his head just slightly so that the grade marks on his cheek faced the class. "Sorry about that. You may address me as either Professor Sjoahaujs, or just professor. Any other questions?" He looked around the room, hoping that he would be able to move the class along befor anyone noticed his blunder.
Salme stood at the edge of the assembled class, near the front. It was nice to have a class outside, but she felt a little uncomfortable not being about to sit down and relax. Her twin tails twitched slightly, as if in agreement with her. She let out a small sigh and adjusted her olive green cap that sat backward on her head, holding back her brownish hair. This was not a class she particularly felt she needed to take; this was just something she was doing for herself. Sort of a break from actual schoolwork, despite the fact that she actually enjoyed a fair bit of the learning experience. She watched as the teacher called his own bird to him. It may have looked simple but she knew that it most likely took quite a while to ge tthe bird to resond that fast and obediently. She shuffled her feet and raised her paw timidly. "Will the birds be with us the entire time, or do you keep them between lessons?" She wanted to know just because she had been thinking about getting a pet. A bird seemed a good enough idea as anything. She wanted to take the bird to her dormitory and see if she and it got along, and if she would be able to easily take care of it. And of course she would have to see if a bird would not disturb her roommates.
<span style='width:100%;font-weight:bold; font-size:10px'>Out of Character</span> <table class=ooc><tr><td>Fester Lovcat Scorpium Shatz Aged 16 Primary Trade: Space Ops.</td></tr></table> Festy was, as per usual, a tad late. She had been in her room listening to music, and had forgotten that there was a new class in her schedule. With a few highly offensive swears, she tore off the dirty sweatpants and gray sports bra she had been wearing and hauled on a pair of thick but tightly-fitting work jeans. With those she put on her usual army boots and a clingy gray-and-maroon ringer tee with "yellow fever" printed in mustard writing across her breasts. Then she was off, out the door, slamming the lightswitch off with a strong paw as she went. She stalked out to the school fields, her mind screaming Fuck hawks, fuck classes, and fuck you, but she kept moving, adding a Fuck Rainu for good measure. Rainu was her guidance counsellor. "You need to widen your horizons," the soft slate-blue female had told Festy. If you major in space ops, there's got to be other things in your life as well. And no," she had said saucily, seeing Fester's mouth open to defend herself, "your History and Physics of Flight lessons are NOT enough." So, after a quick word with the schedule writer, here Fester was, walking stormily out up to the class's location. There were already two students there. The dark-gray lupine's teeth clicked together sharply. There was a 12-year-old kid there. A kid. A kid who'd never even hope to see what Fester had seen, who'd never felt or seen battle... a kid who'd not partied, who'd not even lived yet. Festy wanted to turn tail then and cut class. It was a tempting addiction, a flame she'd fed quite a bit recently. She'd cut her Physics class twice in a row this week... "Don't turn back," she reminded herself. Usually she went by this principal in the battlefield, and not so much the schoolyard, but something pushed the slightly ratty she-wolf onward. She knew what it was the instant she quietly joined the group: it was the Trisk itself. The bird was crafted with more skill than the finest of ships; its gleaming feathers were of finest gilt and argent upon a creamy canvas of snow. Instantly Festy knew what the shipmakers were trying to recreate with their chipped, feebly glowing metallics: the feral, unpolished magnificence of nature itself. Instantly Fester felt like slapping herself for letting such cheesy thoughts roam her head. She still loved ships and drank and swallowed and inhaled them like they were her lifesblood, lifesbread, and oxygen. But O! she was caught up by far in the tangled web of the Royal Sport of falconry, already. They were like miniature space vehicles, only with a simple and magnetized mind of their own. Fester did not know then what a Trisk would feel like on her arm, what their sharp talons would to to bare hands, how warm their toes were as they burrowed into her skin. But she was soon to know of this and much more. Festy, for once, felt tenderly. She wanted to care for another life. Hell, it was far from taking care of a niotie, but for the first time, Scorpium's passion could be construed as responsibility. Could be molded into responsibility. So Fester just contented herself with watching the bird and listening to the questions of her classmates. True, she did feel a pang of disdain at the youngling's respectful query, but even this did not bother her so much. She wanted to fly a falcon. She wanted to learn, and for Fester, that was an acheivment.
<span style='color:gray'>OOC : Posting order in this thread will be pretty simple. Don't post if you posted two students ago, otherwise let someone else talk. Posting order won't be Formal in this thread, just make sure everyone gets a turn. Too much of a line will prevent questions from getting asked and the thread really moving along.</span> Letting a hand trail along the smooth feathers of the bird on his forearm, Turrush looks carefully not only at the young one who asked the question, but the student who was just wandering into the area near the small aviary. “You will each have full care of the birds you’ll be training. The relationship between Falconer and Hawk is more than just that of a Child and its Plaything. These birds are intelligent, and you will become able to sense their moods as they sense yours. You will find that the Trisk is beyond just a hunter to be at your command, instead they are companions and friends. When you respect the Trisk, it will respect you. Treat it with disrespect, and he will never return to you with his kill." With a smooth and practiced gesture, the tiny hawk was moved from hand to a leather padded section of his shirts’ shoulder. “Fellian has been my friend and hunting partner for 5 years, and I expect him to be with me for another 4 years at least. The level of training and communication he and I have is something that you will not achieve for a great deal of time. In an effort to achieve the required relationship for training, you will need to not only see these birds during classes, but to live with them and care for them yourselves. Any further Questions?"
<span style='width:100%;font-weight:bold; font-size:10px'>Out of Character</span> <table class=ooc><tr><td>Nafel Isunari Age: 17 Sex: Female Primary Trade: Elemental Sorcery, Apprentince Secondary Trade: Creating Music, Aprentince</td></tr></table> Nafel hadn't spoken to anyone in the class yet, really. She had waved slightly to Eka, knowing her from a few other classes (plus, since she was young, Nafel was less threatened by her). Other than that, though, she had kept mostly to herself. She was in her bipedal form that day, which probably contributed to her silence. She was uncomfortable on two legs, she felt awkward and unbalanced, more so than when she was quadrupedal. <span style='color:#00cccc'>You need this. Luthano needs this. You can't handle a hawk in quadrupedal form.</span> The turquoise femme knew this all to be true, but it still didn't stop her from having her arms crossed and her head downward, mostly avoiding eye contact. She was listening, intently, to her teacher's speech, however. She heard him say that the hawks were intelligent. Before Nafel could think about her actions enough to dissuade herself, she raised a tentative hand. <span style='color:#00cccc'>"Sir, you said they're intelligent. But... how intelligent? Almost at the level of a Pendragon? More?"</span> Nafel knew she sounded scared, but it was more because of the fact that she was in a new, large, group of people then because of the birds. Nafel actually liked birds, since she herself was winged and had a Spirit-form that was a hawk. That was half the reason that she wanted to take this class. She wanted to know if, perhaps, she could communicate with the hawk through Luthano. It seemed possible in theory, but she wanted to try. <span style='color:#00cccc'>Plus, I want a pet. Admit it, girl, you're lonely.</span> And lonely Nafel was. Her mate was gone half the time on things related to his Spy work, and Nafel was tired of an empty dorm room. She wanted another living thing in the dorm room, preferably not a plant. She didn't do well with plants, never had. They tended to die when in her care. Animals seemed to do well, though. She had had a pet when she was little, and living with her uncle. Nafel thought about what the teacher had said. The hawks, according to the teacher, would live for nine or ten years. Though it was a long commitment, Nafel liked the idea. She wasn't too fond of things with one-two year life spans. They tended to die too quickly. <span style='color:#00cccc'>Hamsters are boring, anyway.</span> She laughed slightly at the comment, but not enough that anyone not looking for it would have noticed. Nafel hoped she wouldn't attract much attention, at least not for the moment. She was sure she wouldn't, being both quiet and still. She concentrated on remaining that way while she looked at the teacher. It almost looked like she'd stopped breathing, but she was still alive. At least, for the moment.
The small pendragon had waved back and grinned seeing Nafel come to class. She didn’t know that she would see her here so it was a nice surprised. She enjoyed seeing ‘dragons she knew. Eka couldn’t help but stare in aw as she watched professor Sjoahaujs talk about the hawk. It was a beautiful creature elegant and proud, why she never wanted one before was beyond her. At the sound of another student approaching Eka’s green eyes turned towards the other female. For a while she didn’t seem to happy to be here. But then her expression changed, it must be the bird. Eka was quite exciting to hear that they would be keeping the hawk. It was just what she wanted and needed. Her two ‘dragon room wouldn’t go to waist with her sister…gone. She swallowed, she would not let the sorrow through today. Today would be a good day, she could feel it. She gripped her paws into fist then let go and extended her figures. Watching the winged avians made her wish once again that she had wings. Wishing for that freedom of the open sky that so many other ‘dragons had. She had experienced it once before, when her sister had taken her for a flight. It’s something that can’t be described in words. Knowing that the class would probably mean some activities that meant moving around Eka tied back her silver green tipped hair into a pony tail. It used to be short but she had let it grow long. At the sound of some one else asking a question Eka’s eyes drifted down to Nafel then to the teacher waiting for an answer. It would be nice to have an intelligent pet, not just something that would walk around into walls. Thinking about having them as a pet, one main question was sitting at the back of her head. She rose her paw again. <span style='color:green'>“Professor, do we get to name them?"</span> She knew there was a good chance that they had names already but she didn’t let her hopes down just then. She would love any name that was given to her companion, no matter who got to choose it.
That had been the answer she had hoped for. She smiled an awkward smile and dropped her head, looking intently at the lush grass that covered the ground. She was glad she would be able to spend time with her bird. It gave her a sense of freedom. She would be able to put in as much work as was needed into this class, during lessons and out of them. If she was only able to do the work while in class she would have panicked. But this way, if she fell behind she could still put in extra hours to catch up. She took a deep breath, bliss emerging on her face. The very perfection of it, it was a perfect level of balance and freedom she needed to fly by this class without to much difficulty, as she did with most others. She was a very bright student and caught on quickly, she did tend to drift off though. As she thought about this she noticed that was exactly what she had been doing. With a surprised jolt she looked up from the grass, her hazel eyes loosing the blissful glaze before them. "Darn what was it he said?" She heard the question of a pendragon in the class, it was something about intelligence of the bird. Good, she had not missed anything that would not be cleared up by the answer of this question. She looked around the class and saw a younger pendragon waving to another. She looked around for anyone she knew. No one she recognized was there, then again she knew about two other pendragons in this entire school. The chanced that they would be in this class was not extremely great. Nonetheless she continued to scan the crowd for familiar faces but none came. She started to drift off in to thought again. Wonder if anyone is exited about this class as I am. Oh man, I am a nerd. She was aware of her uncanny like of school, a fondness that most other pendragons did not even dream of possessing. There might have been others in the crowd for all she knew that were more exited than she. But she knew how many pendragons enjoyed school in general and this was not going to be a walk in the park. Certainly there would be homework and studying. Something that would most likely put the fans of the class in a lesser state of excitement. She looked up and once again remembered that she was still actually in the class. She hit herself in the head and focused her attention on the teacher.
Another question that made him smile. He spoke softly but clearly to the class. "They are not near as intellegent as a pendragon. They can't speak, Telepathicly or Vocaly, But they're smart, for animals. They can learn more than just to do behaviors of thier species on command if you put the time into helping them understand what you want. They're one of the animal worlds problem solvers, a skill that was bred into them for thousands of years in the wild. They are capible of learning who individual people are by name, and delivering messages, so thier memories are quiet good." He slid his hand back underneeth the Trisk and transfered him back to his hand. "They are smart enough that they resent too much time spent locked in a cage, without a chance to spread thier wings." Then, the next student spoke, asking about the name of the birds they would get. "Since the birds you're receiving are already trained in a few simple commands and are beyond nest age, they do have names. Unfortunatly, I don't have many choices for birds avalible for this class, so you'll not have much choice in the Trisk you choose to work with. Any last questions? I'd like to get onto introducing you each to your Hawks soon. We'll need to go over care and pass out equipment befor we're through."
Nafel nodded at the teacher's reply to her question, content that it was answered. She perked her ears at his next comment, the one about the birds being trained in basic stuff already. Nafel was happy about that part, she didn't fancy having talons embedded in her hand any more than was needed. Nafel shifted slightly, her legs hurt. She never was fond of standing for any longer than she had to. So, taking the easiest way out, she sat down. Nafel figured it wouldn't hurt, for the moment. She tucked her knees under her chin, staring with mis-matched eyes up at the teacher. Her ears were pricked, as she was listening intently to the instructions for the care of the hawks. Nafel didn't want to miss a thing. Since the teacher wasn't speaking for the moment, Nafel turned her gaze to the hawk. It was a beautiful creature, finely sculpted. It was lean, made for what it did best, hunting. Even though Nafel was no huge fan of meat or hunting, she admired anything, machine or creature, that was built for what it did. <span style='color:#00cccc'>Animals are interesting... They've gotten to be the way they are by evolving, they're at the pinnacle of perfection. That's why I like them.</span> She smiled, reminding herself not to go into a daydream, like she might otherwise.
<span style='color:gray'>OOC : Since no one else replied in about 25 hours, I'm going to move things along and make it more entertaining. If you've been meaning to join and havn't, join in soon. Feel free to join in as if you've been in class the whole time. It works best that way... Unless You WANT to get in trouble fo rbeing really late...</span> <span style='color:purple'>"Now,"</span> The professor called the class's attention back to himself. <span style='color:purple'>"We have a few things to pass out, but I'll explain what's in these boxes,"</span> He indicates a small table with several boxes on it, and a small stack of something made of leather underneeth it. <span style='color:purple'>The first thing you should take is your Falconers' bag. they're designed so that you can get to any of the gear within quickly and one handedly, meaning you can handle the bird and get things out of the bag efficiently." "Next is your bell, and the leather straps to attach it to your birds' leg. This is so that you can hear where they are on the hunt. They're small and quick, the bells are an imporant tool for helping you to keep up with them." "Then it's on to the Hood. This will be your most Infrequiently used tool. it is only to be used when required, in situations that would otherwise upset the bird, such as being in a large crowd of unruly pendragons." "Then you'll need a 'Jess' and Anklet, it's just a small peice of leather that goes around the leg of your bird and gives you something to hold. This will be used durring training only. Once you have the trust of your bird, it will not be required. The same goes for your lead, which is just a long leather strap that passes through the slit at the end of the Jess." "If you'll please come up and take your equipment, start with the bag and put everything into it. that'll be most efficient."</span> He steps back, waiting for the class to collect their gear. <span style='color:gray'>OOC : Illistrations in this post borrowed from http://www.northwoodsfalconry.comNorthwoods Falconry</a>. Images hosted by http://www.nekokaburi.netNekokaburi.net</a>.</span>
<span style='width:100%;font-weight:bold; font-size:10px'>Out of Character</span> <table class=ooc><tr><td> Kitsufox have you ever had a chance to try falconry before or are you just book smart on the subject? To me falconry is a dream job and you seem to know what your talking about^^</td></tr></table> Eka was a little disappointed in not being able to name her hawk. But sheÂ’ll love it all the same. She listened intently to the answers of the questions and she hung on to every word that he said about the equipment. Now they were getting some where, she was hoping that she wouldnÂ’t forget what each thing was for once she had them in her paws, that could be embarrassed. So there was the bag, the bell, the hood, and a piece of leather. Wait, it had a name o yeah the Jess. She was pretty sure she had it down packed. She walked over to where the teacher had pointed and started to go through the boxes. She found the Jess easily enough and also the hood. She hoped it was one size fits all. She then went over to a different box and pulled out a bell, she gave it a little shake to test the sound. She would have to learn to recognize it well. Now these items had been fairly easy to find but a bag might be a little harder. She started going through some. She was small for her age so she needed to find a size she could handle. Finally digging down a little deeper she was able to pull out a smaller one. She guessed that it would work well. And as instructed she started to put all the other tools inside. When she was pretty sure she had everything she carried the bag back over where she had been standing before. Just this time she had her proper equipment.
Salme looked up exitedly. She had actualy been listening to this part. Now they were getting somewhere. She loved to get equipment and things for some strage reason, it was like a sign of trust of the teacher to his students. Funny how human trust is two way, if they can trust you, you can trust them. But for animals it does not matter if you trust the bird, only if it trusts you. She smirked slightly, animals were always more intelegent that people made them out to be. She started walking towards the front. She got her bag first, they all seemed the same so she just picked up the first one on top. She opened it up and then went to the box with the bells. She wondered that if in time they would learn to do witout these too. She put one in her bag and grabbed a hood and Jess and a lead as well. This would be a great class she could already tell. She placed the rest of the items in her bag and steped out of the way of the rest of the pendragons still waiting to get their things. She went back to her former spot and examined all of the things. She did not like the look of the hood. This will certainly be my least used tool. She thought, throwing it into the bag once again. She would have no trouble remembering the bag, the bell or the hood, they seemed pretty self explanitory. The only thing she knew she would have to implant in her brain was the Jess and lead. She put her bag down next to her leg on the grass and looked up. Soon they would get their birds, she had been wanting to name hers. But she figured it was for the best that they already knew basic comands.
Nafel listened intently to the teacher's speech, her ears pricked up. As he motioned for them to get their equipment, she pulled herself to her feet. Her arms and legs were a bit stiff, but she chose to ignore it, since she wanted to get her equipment. She was excited about it, she wanted to learn how to use it. Nafel walked, as Salme had, to the box with bags in it first. She was also on the small side, so she chose a bag that was a little larger than Eka's. She tried it on, it seemed to fit well enough. Nafel walked next to the box of bells, shaking hers experimentally before it went in the bag. She took the hood without examining it much, there was nothing to do with it. She moved on to the next box, and grabbed the jess and the lead, examining how they went together, then put them in the bag with the rest of the equipment. She sat back down, checking out the way the bag was built. She was as curious as a Terran cat. Nafel wondered what she would keep the bird in. She didn't think it would take horribly well to being in a cage, at least not if it didn't have anything to stand on. She wondered if it would need a log for a perch. She didn't ask the teacher, though, she figured that it would all be explained to the class if they needed to know it. Sorting through her items and putting them in separate pouches, Nafel mentally went over what each was called and what it was used for. <span style='color:#00cccc'>Ok... The bell is used to keep track of the bird. The hood is for... well, you use it like a hood, but only when you have to. And the jesses and lead are for keeping the bird with you, until you gain its trust. Afterwards, though, you don't usually need them.</span> Satisfied that she knew everything that the teacher had told them about the equipment for the moment, she put her bag down and looked up at the teacher for the next instructions.
<span style='width:100%;font-weight:bold; font-size:10px'>Out of Character</span> <table class=ooc><tr><td>In answer to the 'Have I tried Falconry' question. It's no. I've just done a lot of reading on the subject. I'm book smart.</td></tr></table> "Now that you're equipped, I'll go over a few basics with you." Little Fellian was transferred a perch on the end of the table. "Gather around, and I'll demonstrate the use of your Jess. This thick part is wrapped around the leg, and the pointy part of the thick end is passed through the slit in the leather. then the skinny end is passed through the slit in the end of the pointy end. I'll demonstrate. Fellian, Lad." With practiced hands, the Jess was quickly fastened around the leg of the little hawk. "you'll note that the birds have been taught to respond to commands in old Ramathian. Now, The lead has a stop on one end, you connect the lead to the Jess by passing the end of the Lead through the slit in the end of the Jess. Then, it's on to care. The birds will be given to you in cages, though these cages are far to small for them to be kept in at all times. Daily, they should be permitted to splash in a dish of water. In addition, they require daily feeding. The primary food of a Trisk is Flitter. Each day, you will be able to come down here to the Aviary and pick up a live Flitter from me. We'll be feeding live food to encourage their hunting instincts. I have a laminated sheet here" He pointed to a small stack of laminated sheets hidden on the end of the table behind the perch. "First you'll come over here and get your Hawk. Names are written on the tags on the cages, so you'll know what they are. After you have your bird picked out, and your sheet with care instructions and commands on it, You may leave. Your homework is to take excellent care of your bird and make friends with it in the few days until our next class. You are to arrive at our next lesson with your bird on Jess and lead. <span style='width:100%;font-weight:bold; font-size:10px'>Out of Character</span> <table class=ooc><tr><td>Your care sheet includes the following information: Daily Feeding: 1 Live Flitter. Flitters may be gotten from Professor Sjoahaujs at the aviary. Daily Bath: Fill a pan with lukewarm water in a draft free area and permit the bird to splash in the water. If the bird does not want to, do not force it. Jess attachment instructions Commands already known: Lad – “Leg" Instructs bird to present it’s leg for Jess to be Attacked. Og – “Up" Instructs the bird to step up onto your hand.</td></tr></table>
Salme paid full attention to this part of the lecture. She got a little closer to the desk to see the demonstration of the Jess. It looked a little complicated but she would be able to remember. She repeated the process in her head a few times. Large end in slit, skinny end in slit. It seemed simple enough. Live food??? She thought, a little astonished. She had never had to feed anything that required live food. She had seen a snake eat a mouse once but she did not actually watch, she had turned and left the room. How would she be able to feed live prey to her Trisk? Get attached to the Trisk not the prey, then it will feel worse to let the poor bird starve. She shivered slightly. That would be her plan, although she knew she would end up naming a few of the flitters on her way to feed the trisk. She could set up a large dish next to her bed for the trisk. Her roommates still did not know anything about the new guest she was bringing back, but they would not be able to say no now, she needed the bird for a class. I hope they donÂ’t make to much noise. She thought. The trisk that the instructor had seemed to be silent, but that could just be good training. She let out a sigh. She might be way in over her head here, live prey and all. She took a deep breath, as if she were plunging in to cold water. This was it, she was getting her own Trisk. She had been wondering before what it would look like, what its name would be, but now it didn't matter. Even if she got the ugliest one in the class, it did not matter; she was getting a trisk of her own. She walked up to the instructor.
<span style='width:100%;font-weight:bold; font-size:10px'>Out of Character</span> <table class=ooc><tr><td>Almost forgot this bit of description *snicker* Sorry Cages in Italics are gone. If we run out of cages befor we run out of players, I'll add a few more.</td></tr></table> The small line of cages that stand in the Aviarys' shed are plain metal affairs with a solid latch to prevent excapes. Cage #1: Gold w/ white pinions, Male, Named Fellsand (CB-DH) Cage #2: Silver, Female, Named Asirian (AA-DG) Cage #3: Silver & Gold Mottled, Female, Named Antirian (AB-EG) Cage #4: Gold, Male, Named Timalan (CC-DG) Cage #5: Gold, Female, Named Panik (CC-DG) Cage #6: Silver w/ White Pinions, Female, Named Inarik (AB-DH) <span style='width:100%;font-weight:bold; font-size:10px'>Out of Character</span> <table class=ooc><tr><td>First come, first serve on the birds.</td></tr></table>
Nafel closely watched the demonstration with the jesses. She had a nearly photographic memory, so wasn't too worried about forgetting how it worked. The part that surprised her most was the live food. She wasn't going to enjoy feeding the little Flitters to the hawk, but it didn't bother her unduly. <span style='color:#00cccc'>They've got to eat too...</span> What she was more worried about was getting the Trisk to eat the food without having it, say, run into a wall. She figured she'd just set the Flitter loose in the room with the Trisk, shut the door, and wait a few minutes. Seemed to be the easiest way to minimize injury. <span style='color:#00cccc'>I should probably ask the teacher, though... If it turns out that my way doesn't work, I can ask him when I pick up the food.</span> Nafel heaved herself to her feet and walked over to the cages. Once of the birds immediately caught her eye. It was silver, without any other coloring that she could see. It was the second cage. It seemed to be curious as to what was going on, and was looking towards the group of oncoming Pendragons. Since no one else seemed to want him/her/it, Nafel picked up the cage. It was sturdy, which Nafel liked. She didn't want the bird to learn how to get out, or anything. The bird tilted its head to look at Nafel. Nafel did the same to the bird, and they made eye contact. She could have sworn that the bird nodded before it turned away, but she was fairly sure that it wasn't possible. Nafel flipped over the tag to see what the bird's name was. <span style='color:#00cccc'>Asirian. A female.</span> Nafel walked over to the stack of laminated sheets, picking one up with her free hand and sticking it in her falconer's bag. Since the teacher had said they could leave, she began to do so, smiling. She would take the Trisk out of the cage as soon as she got to her dorm, to see what it would do. This would be interesting, a new experience indeed.
Salme walked over to the row of birds. They all looked daslingly beautiful. There was one that she particularly liked, it was silver with white pinions. She walked over towards it and stood infront of it for a moment. She looked around, as if she where doing something wrong by taking this bird. She looked at the tag. Hello there Inarik. SHe said with a cautious smirk. She carefully lifted the cage, feeling the cage wobble slightly as the bird shifted its weight. She carried it over to the laminated sheets and took one, looking over it breifly before stuffing it in the bag and walking away. This was going to be a very fun experience.
