[PRP]A Song On The Wind (Is Calling Me) (Ballad & Whistle)

[~Latonia de la Courtel~]

Ballad awoke with a song in his heart and a glow in his eyes that had not dimmed at all through his days. He had danced about the Magus and his fellow citizens with joy, reveling in the freedom of wind beneath his wings and a wide-open sky. He swept down to Below to hunt for survival and steal for the good of the Clan, and otherwise reveled in the wind over feathers and the bright sun above.

In the coming days, that had not changed. He gaily danced with the wind, raced the breeze, dove to the land like a falling star. He reveled in his youth and strength, the slip-slide of wind over feathers and the fierce burst of joy that came at the end of a successful hunt. He laughed at Riddle Mouth's unorthodox wisdom, challenged males to good-natured competitions and offered any passing female courtesy and respect.

But deep in his heart he knew something was missing, and he ached for that to change.

 

[~Latonia de la Courtel~]

Whistle woke quietly, her mind adrift in a sea of mist and half-formed images. She remembered things as if from a dream, or perhaps a dozen dreams mixed all together. But there were nightmares to. Flashes of darkness and danger amongst the soft contentment, brilliant joy and a love so deep it was fathomless. There were flickering moments of recognition, of being whole and safe and beyond loved.

In the light of day it was all gone, lost as she staggered into wakefulness, woven anew into this life. She knew there were things she had chased throughout time, through realms and lands and lives... But those things were a mystery at the moment, as she stood staring at her strange surroundings. She roamed amongst the mountains and soared down to below, and wondered what her purpose was in the tapestry of this lifetime. It did no good to ask the Magus, his words only served to confuse her.

'He who doubts his own heart will look for truth in all the wrong places. She who is patient in the hunt will return victorious over all.'

But she wouldn't give up either... Because she knew there was something missing... Some task she had yet to accomplish.

 

[~Latonia de la Courtel~]

Ballad laughed joyously as he folded his wings and barrel-rolled through the sky, spiraling in a blur of mist-blue and white. His tail curled tight, he let the wind tumble him as it willed, reveling in the freefall. All too soon it was time to spread his wings once more, the sudden snap of movement allowing him to ride the sweep of current back up into the blue once more.

He had long ago out-stripped those who had thought to dance the breeze beside him. Now it was only he and the open sky, a welcoming sprawl of patchwork colors below and soft-white clouds above. He startled flocks of birds when he got the chance, laughing as they scattered to get clear of his path.

Ahh, if only there was someone to share his spirits with.

 

[~Latonia de la Courtel~]

Whistle watched the streak of silver-kissed blue above, amusement brewing in her chest and lifting her heart until it threatened to disappear into the sky. Even down below she could hear his joy, the soft chuffing laughter he released as he spiraled and dipped. She longed to throw herself skyward, to race the male who cavorted and laughed high above her. To see if she was faster due to her slight frame or if the great blue wings would outstrip even her greatest efforts...

But his joy was not something she could bring herself to steal or share, it was for him and him alone. So she resettled her paws and curled her tail about them, squinting laughter-bright eyes up at him.

There was no harm in watching, she thought.

 

[~Latonia de la Courtel~]

Ballad righted himself again after another barrel roll, allowing himself a sharp bank upward before performing a dizzying downward spiral. The burst of wind and scent made his senses riot, and he drew a deep breath to catalog all the air could tell him. There was evidence of prey animals scattered all about, the distant scent of feathers from the flock he had playfully startled, flowers and the sweet-soft grass below.

And a scent on the wind of someone who was like him, a female feline that smelled of the wild breeze. He dipped a wing and spiraled lazily, expecting to see a shape streaking toward him. Perhaps one of the youngsters wishing to race or Sky Dancer wanting to speak to him about something or other. She was always ready to each him a lesson, after all... But there was no one there.

Instead he noted a shadow below, a dark bloom of color against the pale grass. 'Hello then.. What have we here?'

 

[~Latonia de la Courtel~]

Whistle could see when his attention was caught, noting an intent in the tilt of a wing and a faint weave of motion as he caught a scent. The fact that he altered his course back to a lazy, circling pattern while he tracked it was also obvious. There was a method behind the action now, not just a joyous freedom of dance. And there was the reason she hadn't soared up to speak to him, already she missed the wild freedom of his movements.

'Ahh, I almost wish you did not know I was watching... It seems a shame for such joy to be shuttered away too soon.'

She shifted faintly, preparing to uncurl herself and pace onwards. As her entertainment was gone, there was not much to keep her here at the moment. Still, the next moment she tensed, noting his attention focus on her. So then, she had managed to disturb him in spite of her care... And he looked like he was going to address the interruption, too.

'Such a pity...'

 

[~Latonia de la Courtel~]

Ballad drew a deep breath and tilted his wings, allowing himself a graceful spiraling descent. He didn't drop sharply out of the sky as of yet, but the lazy decrease in height allowed him to fix silver eyes on the distant female that slowly began to gain shape under his sharp gaze. She appeared to be sitting primly, her legs gathered beneath her and tail wrapped around her paws. Her gaze was fixed upward, as if she had caught sight of his antics and settled herself to watch the show.

'I rather like to think that says something about you, my lad.' He grinned to himself, throwing a sharp barrel roll into the midst of his spiral.

It threw him out of the lazy loop and swiftly westward, but he tilted his head to see if she was still watching. Maybe if he made just a bit more spectacle, she'd stick around to talk to him when he landed.

'Well... A bit more fanfare can't hurt a first impression too much, can it?'

He certainly hoped not.

 

[~Latonia de la Courtel~]

Whistle couldn't help but restlessly shift as she noted his progressing descent, unsure if she actually wanted to come face to face with this keen flying stranger. Still, it would be rude to dash away now that he had noticed her... And clearly he had, for he was spiraling her way.

Then again, in the midst of the descent he gave another joyous roll, spiraling away from her and making her laugh. The sound escaped her by accident, sliding out of her maw and dancing upward on the breeze. She was sure the sound would meet his ears any moment, and now she certainly could not leave. What if he assumed the worst of her laughter?

'Well it seems at the moment you have no other choice but to remain until he has landed... You can then compliment him on some fancy wing-work and be on your way.''

Somehow, she was less than thrilled by the idea of her departure.