[It is a bit related to
this picture I drew. But I still didn't decide if I will RP having one or not.]
She had been watching them for a while now. Curiosity was the reason why Jilata followed them to their nest. Actually, it wasn't just that. She also wanted to pass some time, because she didn't feel like returning to Hydlaa yet. Lately going back to the city was becoming more and more unpleasant.
Her eyes followed the falcon which circled above her head. Against the crystal it was impossible to recognize which one of the parents it was. It wasn't like she knew how she could distinguish the gender. But she decided that the more feminine looking one had to be the female falcon.
It flew another round before landing on a close tree. She always kept a distance from this tree, so she wouldn't disturb the breeding birds. Narrowing her eyes she tried to get a clearer view.
The fledglings weren't that young anymore. They already started to explore the world outside of the nest. A bit disappointed, Jilata realized that the grown falcon was blocking her view. She had hoped to see one of the young ones... There was a specific one that caught her attention.
It was the smallest of the three fledglings. But it was the one exploring the most. She had been lucky earlier when she got a good view of it. Usually they didn't leave their nest during the time they were alone. But that one time the small one did, despite the parents being away, hunting. The naive curiosity of that small bird had captured her. Not knowing of the betrayal in the world, not knowing about the dangers that lurk outside.
The adult falcon looked around, as if it knew it was being watched. Jilata averted her gaze so it wouldn't be intimidated. As long as the parent was feeding them, there wouldn't be a lot to see. It would take a few minutes till they finished... So she laid on her back and watched the clouds, enjoying the warmth of the crystal sun as she let her thoughts drift.
A memory came back to her... She was lying in the grass like always. Unlike her other hideouts this one wasn't located at a high place: It was close to the river near their village, hidden between two big stones. She knew that it wasn't going to take long until she was found by her friend. Not that she minded: That girl needed to get away from her books.
As if summoned a nolthrir girl came in sight, panting. “There you are Jilata. You are skipping lessons again!”
She grinned back at her. “And you are out of practice. Panting after such a short way.” The fenki patted the ground on her right side. “Why don't you rest a bit to catch your breath?”
The other girl stood with her hands in her hips. “You should go-”
“Oh come on, it won't hurt.” Jilata interrupted her. She pointed to the clouds and giggled. “Don't you think that this one looks like your mom?”
The nolthrir dropped to the ground next to Jilata and tried to find the cloud she meant. “I can't see it.” The fenki bursted out in laughter, seeing her friend searching for the cloud.
“You are mean. There isn't such a cloud...” She pushed Jilata on her shoulder, then started laughing as well.
She blinked slowly, returning to the present. It was unusual that she remembered something of her past in the village. Maybe seeing those innocent fledglings, who didn't know anything about the world, reminded her of the old days. When she was like them: Enjoying the world without knowing about the dark sides of it. How she wished to be like them again and not having any worries.
The fenki turned around and looked at the tree. It seemed like they had finished feeding a while back. The falcon was sitting on a branch of the tree, a bit higher than where the nest was located at. All three nestlings were on the branch close to the nest. The smallest was balancing along the branch, away from the nest and its siblings.
Slowly dusk swept over the daylight. She looked around, searching for the other parent. It was time for it to return. She narrowed her eyes, fixing a growing point at the horizon. There it was. She smiled, a fresher wind blowing through her fur as she followed the elegant flight of the falcon with her eyes. As it approached the covey, it flapped with it's wings a few times and landed gracefully on the branch the fledglings were standing on.
She admired those falcons. They were free: free to go anywhere they wanted to. They didn't have the restriction to stay on the ground. Or to have the need to use something to get into the air.
The dusk settled in and with it came the fog, slowly hiding the nest with the birds. She sighed as she got up. It was time to continue her travel. She grabbed her bag, lifting it onto her shoulder with a small groan. It was heavy, as usual after a hunt. A good one at least...
Jilata followed the valley into the direction of Hydlaa. It was time for her to go back. Not because she would be late. No one would care about whether she returned at day or night time. It was time, because she stayed too long in the wilderness again.
As she walked farther away from the falcon family, her worries and displeasure came back. It felt as if the increasingly cold wind blowing into her face was carrying it all back to her. This wasn't a time to be idling around: The lives of friends were in danger. Maybe hers as well...
He ears perked up, trying to catch every sound in the area. Reassuring for her, all she could hear was the familiar noise of the wilderness. She passed through the dark woods, setting her feet carefully to make no noise.
Without any disturbance she reached Hydlaa and walked through the gate, ignoring that forgetful guard who told her the same thing everytime she entered the city. She sadly glanced up at the iron tower as she passed by it, mumbling something to herself... Only three words, clear enough to be recognized by a passerby: “...to be free...”
