Nanananananananana Bird Man!

[Deleted]

Raymond gathered his things, making sure to have food for him, some food for the birds, and his bow and arrow, just incase things got messy, which they tended to do out and about the small village of Riverbed. The small town had been created, well in truth he had made the village! Granted it was only a few small, splintery log cabins with a tree-topper and a small creek when he made it. He still thought of himself as the founder. Since then, the village had brought hunters and people just trying to get away from the city life to move in and live in the homes surrounded by nature.
The arrival of more people helped the wilderness situation, making it so less wild animals ventured near the village due to the people. But it was still very easy to find wildlife right outside your home. Raymond had been doing several things to make sure when his cousin returned things would be ready, he sanctioned of private hunting grounds, although at the moment very public, and had helped in making the small few houses into an actually village.

The young boy exited the small cabin and left the village, entering into the hunting grounds that he was in the process of sanctioning off. He didn't bother locking the door, the people out here lived off of the wilderness, there wasn't anything to steal if there were thieves around.

Raymond continued through the forest, today was a bit different, he hoped more than anything he would be able to befriend a bird and learn to tame it, after seeing Seth shift into a giant hawk, he wanted one, but decided he should start small first. Mostly because be had no idea where to find the bigger species.

After a few hours of looking around, marking places for survey and looking around for creatures to catalog, he stopped by a small creek to refresh himself.
The young man scoped up water to drink, and looked around to hopefully spot a friendly bird.

[Deleted]

Carefully, lilith stepped around the trees of the hunting ground she just stumpled across. She drew her bow, and positioned an arrow on the string. She just moved to avaleur, and already she was off to a bad start. To be honest, lilith had nowhere to go! So she was forced to live out in the wilderness, especially because she had no money. Nearby, lilith could hear a creek. A small smile danced across her lips as she put her weaponry away. She had been wandering for long, and havent had anything to drink for awhile. There were birds flying around from time to time, but strangely enough, no chirping.

Shrugging, Lilith made her way to the creek, scooping up some of the clean water and sipping carefully. carefull not to fall in, she examined the area. Downstream she could see a teen male around her age with blonde hair and grey eyes. He looked friendly, and as if he too was living off the land at the moment. But lilith frowned, knowing that she should probably avoid being seen or coming into contact with him. Transforming into a small chickadee, Lilith watched him from a distance. Some birds perched beside her, chirping back and forth about the human by the creek.

They didnt seem to mind him- in fact, they almost admired him!

[Deleted]

Raymond had drank until he was fully refreshed, and just as he began to stand up, he heard chirping! Finally, after the long walk through the forest he had heard chirping. Before now he had to think that the little feathered creatures were toying with him. Remaining silent so that he felt he would never even see a bird.

Raymond followed the sound with his eyes and saw a few birds on a tree branch in the distance, much too far for him to reach or even tell what species the birds were.
The boy smiled but then turned white, what if they saw his bow and arrow? Would they think he was to harm them?
Slowly, Raymond took off his bow and quiver and set it down on the ground. He took a few slow steps away from it and toward the birds. With his hand, he grabbed a small handful of seed to feed the birds with and held it out toward them.
Was this it? Was he actually going to hold one?! His face showed a fit of emotions. "Come on over little guys, I wouldn't hurt you. I just want to be your friend." his voice was shaking and nervous.

[Deleted]

Lilith tilted her head, examining Raymond as he held out a handful of seeds. You could see him shaking, even from the distance that they were at. The other birds hesitated and watched with judging eyes. ' This is madness...' Lilith thought to herself as she made the first move. She flew over to raymond, landing on his pinky finger. It was probably a shock to him, but she chirped loudly, bringing the other birds over. as soon as the other birds came over to feed on the seeds, Lilith flew off. Unfortunatly, in mid air, a Kestral falcon colided with her, knocking her to the ground.

She was sure it was an accident, but she transformed back into a human and ran over to the grounded bird. It was only a bit shaken up luckily. wasnt happy though, thats for sure. "Hey... its okay..." lilith whispered to it, examining to make sure is wasnt injured. It appeared to be a very docile male. She could be wrong though... Looking over in raymonds direction, she thought for a moment. If he was looking for a birdie companion, this bird would be perfect. If not, then this bird could always just stay with her. If it wanted of course. After an attempt to speak to the bird, lilith sent it away in raymonds direction.

[Deleted]

Raymond's heart sunk for a moment as he watched the birds seem to converse with themselves. Only giving him glances that promised nothing but an awkward stare between him and them.
But, to his astonishment, one leapt from the branch and flew right to him. He staid as still as possible and nearly jumped when it landed on his finger. He was doing it! He was actually doing it. From this close he could see it was a small chickadee. A cute little thing.
The boy did jump a bit when it proceeded to chirp loudly. And then, to his further surprise, the whole lot of them flew over!

Raymond smiled as he looked at the birds, he couldn't believe it! He had been trying for weeks and now finally it seemed like he was getting somewhere.
The birds stirred a bit and so did Raymond when he heard a thud a little ways into the forest, he couldn't see anything, and dared not move, not with his successes so far.

He felt like he could see something orange but before he could gaze at it any longer, he was distracted by the falcon that flew from the area towards him! The smaller birds jumped around, mostly taking to eat the seeds that had fell from his hand and onto the ground, giving the falcon plenty of room to perch on his forearm and peck the seeds in the young man's hand.

Raymond grinned widely. "H-Hey there little fella..." he continued to look at it admiringly. His thoughts went back to the orange he had spotted, he called out, trying to remain remotely soft with his voice, however a few birds flew away from the noise. "Is someone over there?"

[Deleted]

Lilith flinched in hesitation, not knowing whether to run or not. Either way, her orange hair wouldnt help with an escaped "shit..." she cursed under her breath, jumping to hide bbehind a tree. In the process, she stepped on a good sized fallen branch that snapped loudly. "domt come over here dont come over here- you cant see me-" she repeated over to herself as she stood still. The birds had been a great cover for her... until she was knocked back to her human form only thing that she could think of now was bail out. Running into clear sight, she lept into the air, transforming into an eagle sized Phoenix. she wouldnt go far, just far enough that she felt safe. too much transforming for one day... just when she thought she got out of sight, she had to make an emergency landing. she really didnt get too far.

[Deleted]

After hearing the loud checking from tree branches, he had thought whatever it was had run away... It was too bad, not every day that he saw something orange, at least not as orange as that was. He would be stuck forever wondering. Was it a person? A new creature to catalog? He sighed.
Just as his hopes had fallen, he saw the girl dash out a spring into the air, and if he wasn't speechless before, he sure was now as he saw her morph into a blazing bird. Judging by the quick glance it was a Phoenix.

Raymond stared in amazement, he tended to be easily astonished by anything magical. Just as it was about out of sight, the bird went down, rather clumsily... He only imagine the worst. We're they injured? If so it would be very dangerous to be so far out here, especially if they didn't know how to get to the nearest village of Riverbed.
He took out another handful of seed and tossed it to the ground to hopefully keep the birds lingering. Although he didn't want to lose the Falcon... He had to, someone could be hurt.

Raymond sprang up and picked up his gear just so he would have protection if he had seen incorrectly and it was some sort of beast. He dashed over the ground covered in rock, brush and other things that could easily trip him up. The training with the ELITE was really helping him with his agility and speed.
Eventually he came into sight if the girl.
He slowed down, "Hey, you alright?"

[Deleted]

Lilith pouted, picking herself up off the ground. 'note to self, limit yourself when transforming...' Her hair turning a vivid red, she summons her courage. "Thanks... im fine. Just tired." This was not part of her plan. Living in the wilderness wasnt as easy as she thought it would be. It took alot of energy!

Brushing the dirt off herself, she finally looked at raymond. "I uh.... Im Lilith."

[Deleted]

Raymond caught his breath for a moment but before he could say what he had wanted. He caught sight of her hair changing color and he just stared. He was completely taken by it.

"H-hey..." he continues to stare before snapping out of it and shaking his head. "That is pretty sweet!" he beamed out as he looked her over. "What else can you do? Breath fire? Grow wings? Can you shift into rocks?" Raymond wanted to know all he could, he was like a small child at this point.

FInally he regained his composure. "Uh-m sorry, never mind all that." he chuckled a little bit. "I bet that takes a lot out of you huh?"

[Deleted]

She stared at him as he started asking many questions. "Er...." lilith looked down, thinking. "Sorry, But I can't breath fire, or turn into rocks..." she didn't know what all she could do yet. She could do little things, like change her hair, and eye color. She could also transform into animals.

Looking back up at him, she frowned. "Yes, it does take a lot of energy. I'm not big on transforming into animals. " nobody has ever looked at her like this. People have always made fun of her because she was different.

[Deleted]

Raymond continue to look at her in envy really. He wished he could do all that magical stuff.
"So you can fly?! Oh that must be so cool, someday I will fly, mark my words I will fly someday." he nodded and stood up straighter, "I am going to tame a giant bird and the two of us will soar through the air." he grinned widely.

It than occurred to him that he was being rather rude, "Um, do you have a place to stay, to recover your energy? If not there is a small village not too far from here. Very low key, simple."

[Deleted]

Lilith fought hard to not glare at him. She wanted to tell him so bad, that they will never be tamed, and that they take a lot of hard work. It bugged her greatly, to hear that he just wanted to use it so he could fly. It was selfish...

"I'll be fine... I have a little shelter I made up. I don't have any money for a place, and I don't want to bother people. But thaks." She didn't mean to sound cold at all, nor did she want to sound impolite. What did you say your name was again?" She asked, slightly tilting her head. She's never really had friends before.

[Deleted]

Raymond shrugged, if she wanted to try and survive in a small shelter out here with wild and dangerous animals... well he supposed he should just let her.
"Alright, well at least you know there is a place around just incase." he lowers himself in a slight bow, before offering his hand to shake, "Raymond Longfellow." he said it with pride. He liked his name, the name he had and the name he was starting to form for himself.

[Deleted]

Picking herself up and brushing the dirt off her clothes, lilith shook his hand. " I actually came out here to get away from home and learn archery. Well, and to hunt. Thought it would be a nice change... But its harder then it looks. I uh- I hope your bird search goes well. Do you know anything about birds?"

[Deleted]

Raymond's face lit up when she said archer. He was just about one of the best young archers in town! Although that was just about all he could do, a sword and he was about as dangerous as if it was a fork.
He wondered if she would want to be taught? Then she asked if he knew anything about birds? Oh his face got even brighter, although he didn't have a lot of first-hand experience with many creatures like birds, he was something of a creature expert. Before having to come to Avaleur and save his cousin, his goal on the island that he lived on was to be a sort of zoologist or some fancy professor writing stacks of books on creature behavior.

"Oh yes, I know a thing or two about both of those actually, archery and birds. I am sort of a creature expert you could say." he did give himself a little bit too much credit, there were many creatures that he had never seen before in Avaleur, he had only a general concept of many of those.

[Deleted]

Lilith's eyes lit up a bit... actually, they turned an even lighter blue coloration. Even the green around the pupil turned a lighter color. She had underestimated Raymond a bit, and she could tell he gave himself a bit more credit then he should of, but that didnt bug her too much. She was thinking of calling his slight bluff about being an expert, but it was for the best she didnt.

"Maybe you could show me a thing or two in archery. I would really appreciate the help... and in return, Ill help you with the birds." she grinned, raising an eyebrow.

[Deleted]

With the mention of the birds again, Raymond turned to look back to where he had come from. he hoped that he would have seen them and the falcon still around... but alas, they had left. Oh well, better luck next time he supposed.

"Sure, I can help you with your archery, you have come to the right man for sure!" he grinned, "What sort of bow do you use? Long, short, flat, self, recurve?"

[Deleted]

she bit her lip. "You mean theres more then one type?" now she seemed like an idiot. "I um.... im not too sure... its a bow." Lilith hesitated, thinking back to when it was given to her. "It just a plain wooden bow that my father got in a trade from a local hunter, in my town." getting up, she retraced her steps to find her bow. When she picked it up though, she frowned. It was slightly damaged. "here, this is it."

carefully, she passed it to raymond. maybe it was already time for a new bow, perhaps one that suited her better.

[Deleted]

Raymond took the bow and examined it closely, besides his preferences not being met it was a good bow.
"Looks like a Black Locust short-bow. I have never used or seen on in action but I have only heard good things. It has a little bit of wear and tear on it but not a huge deal really. It is a pretty sturdy bow. I also suppose it depends on what kind of a hunter you want to be, this will work fine at short to moderate distances, but you will want to get a longbow if you are interested in real big and dangerous game." he smiled as he handed her bow back. It was designed well and looked nice too.
"It is a real pretty bow."

[Deleted]

Taking the bow back, she examined it, her smile growing. "Thanks. For now, it will have to do. I dont have the money to buy a new bow, or the know hows to make my own... and i only need a bow for food purposes currently. Even if its only small game, like rabbits and other small creatures." Lilith admired the bow though, as it was from her father, and it was her first bow.

"I dont think ill be going up against anything too big or dangerous with a bow. But if i do... Well, id rather not think about that right now. Even when i get a new bow, ill probably keep this one as a backup, or i might give it to someone who needs it more then i do."