Studying a Scroll

[kyran]

[Nymphadora/Nyra]

Nymphadora looked into Ardi's eyes. This could really work. But, maybe moss wasn't strong enough. An idea sprung into Nymphadora's head. She had to tell Ardi! A new light shined in her beautiful eyes. "Ardi, maybe moss isn't strong enough. I have found some new materials to make battle claws with. The material is strong but very flexible. We could use that for sails! It would work much better and it won't tear!" she said proud of her new idea. "We have to try to make this on our own before we go to the guardians. What if they think we're using this for evil? What would happen then. I have an idea. Let's go to some grog trees in the next couple of days and hear some tipsy owls talk themselves out. They could give us some good information that might really help. I know quite a few places where we could go." she said. "We are two very good slipgizzles, I'm sure we can find something promising." Nymphadora flew out of the hollow and came back with some parchment in her talons. "Here's a map of all the grog trees in the Southern Kingdoms. Here are 3 in Silverveil and here are two in Tyto." she said pointing to each one with her talon. "I'm sure we can make this work all by ourselves." she said with confidence.

[ardikus]

[Ardi]
Ardi watched as Nymphadora scrambled about. "We'd have to make a smaller prototype to start, no reason to waste any materials or time" he pointed out matter-of-factly. He studied the map for the grog trees. "Just two questions" he announced. "Firstly, is this material you speak of light?" he asked, if it wasn't light, it would weigh down the 'float device', which wouldn't work to any advantage. "And secondly, what would a tipsy owl know that could ever help us?"

[kyran]

[Nymphadora/Nyra]

Nymphadora looked at the great horned a bit shocked. It seemed this owl didn't know much about the tipsy rogue smiths. She would have to explain. "As a matter of fact it weighs only a few pounds and also, tipsy rogue smiths will be a great way to find out information. They boast about there best techniques as they have their bingle juice. If you ask them a few questions, well, you can squeeze out of them how they make these great techniques come into action. I myself have learned a lot listening to those tipsy old fools. Of course, I never drink. I stay sober so that I may remember what they said. Plus, I hate the stench of that disgusting juice." she said. "Of course, you're right about us making a prototype to start. By the way, have you ever been to the Middle Kingdoms?" she asked.

[ardikus]

[Ardi]
Ardi churred at the question. "Im all for studying these winds, but Im not near crazy enough to try and find the river of wind, if you miss it, your dead" he responded. Backtracking to her explanation of rogue smiths, he raised another question. "What would their techniques do in helping us build this? We already have a Smith", Ardi gestured to Nymphadora.

"I think for now", Ardi paused to construct this next sentence in a formidable way, "We should study the design details and figure out what we can do to make out prototype, perhaps there are more uses of your forge". He hopped over to the design on the scroll, "Or maybe we will think of more materials we could use"

[kyran]

[Nymphadora/Nyra]

Nymphadora eyes lit up. How long it had been since someone besides herself had called her a smith. The last owl who had called her a smith was...was... "Baltic." she said quietly. She dimmed down to an almost emo seeming owl. She had to be strong though. She looked up with a fake smile. Then she looked back into Ardi's eyes. Something about their glow seemed to give her comfort. "More materials?" she asked, finally responding to Ardi's last sentence. "Maybe we should make a list of the materials we need first and then we'll set out to find them. After that we can start thinking about how to put things together. I have many ways that I use to put things together. I don't just make weapons, I specialize in many fields of work." she said. Nymphadora then looked at Ardi as he studies the parchment and scroll. "And Ardi?" she said. She paused for a moment. "Call me Nyra." she said.

[ardikus]

[Ardi]
Ardi glanced up from the parchment for a second before returning his focus to it, "Odd choice, considering the last owner of that name, but alright" he said quietly. He looked down at the scroll, "Well, wood, definitely, and then your light material for the 'sails', good term, just noticed that the names of these things are written on the back last night" he said, turning it over and pointing. "Sails, hull, mast, and a few others that are the smaller branches off the mast". He was amazed by the fact that the others had been able to sail the seas, but then again, they couldn't exactly fly over them, now could they?" he churred softly to himself. Ardi looked back up at Nyra, "Any idea how we can attach all these parts? Especially the hull, which is the base, it is hollowed out for storage space" he muttered, it was genius.

[aakesh]

The sweet, round moon glistened in the atmosphere, shedding her glow upon all creatures of the night. The sound of the nightingale resounded strongly in this forest of darkness, the cicadas singing their summer harmony. A soft breeze blew lacksadasically through the woodland, the trees sighing in relief as the cool gale comforted their sweating bark. The rippling tide of a nearby field seemed to replicate the churning water of the ocean. A faint aroma of blossoms and flowers traveled with the wind, accented with the smell of life itself. Such beauty was abundant in this land, such a peaceful world that sheltered her.

Light shadow crossed the land, crossing o'er hill and dale like a phantom. Soft wingbeats were barely audible, surprising for an owl of her size, like a whispered rumor spoken of by the wind. Intense gaze scanned the ground, the Great Gray haunting the area like a ghost, searching for the slightest indication of prey. Wise Athena, the survivor of many a fight, flitted gracefully with the breeze, like a ballerina being carried by her prince. Soft summer ambience sung its lullaby to her, coaxing her to find a hollow to tuck into so early in the night. Nay; she could not succumb to the peace. Her belly growled with anticipation of a feast, and war had taught her not to trust any indication of slumbering threats.

The large titan panned her senses out, searching and looking for her desired meal. Nothing would throw her off the hunt, not the slightest indication of enemies, nor the gale breathing into her ears words of warning. The moon seemed to be in a blessing mood, for light shone done angelically upon the clay red soil. The undergrowth shifted, the sound echoing in her eardrums, eyes fixated upon the unfortunate animal that should fall victim to her might. Athena, graceful and cunning, dove down like the mighty falcon, talons spread open as they prepared to embrace her prey tightly. There was no time for this plump songbird to be caught, no longer singing in its lovely voice. The shrill cry stirred her senses, bringing her back to the haunting memories of war. Elegantly, she swooped away into a nearby tree, perching in order to swiftly deal a painless death to such a treat.

Sharp, curved talons squeezed tight to restrain the bird, ensuring easy delievering of fatal blow. Beak drove itself into the creature's neck, cutting flesh from flesh, bone from bone, successfully severing cranium from neck. Muted thud decreed execution completed, allowing Athena to retract and enjoy her meal of avian flesh. Yet, destiny forbid that the titan feast, for something of more interest seemed to appear from nothing. Voices; yes, these were voices. A question was raised by one, still unanswered by the other. Wise owl would leave carrion meal for the buzzards as she flitted down to another branch, closer to where the sound had first resounded. Curious, was she, to know what spoke her language, thus causing those amber eyes to sweep across the scene in search of what it was.

Ah, there they were. Two owls, of varying height, perched some distance away. A cry was with-held, for she knew not of their allegiance, and would promptly consider as to how she would approach this. Athena, wise and cautious, would answer this question that the male posed, voice even and warm like melted, liquid chocolate. She would say, "In my long travels, I attempt to fashion nails, wooden and metal. A hammer, like that found within the Great Tree or in the possession of a smith, will help you attach broken pieces."

[kyran]

[Nymphadora/Nyra]

Nyra looked at the Great Horned. "I realize about the last owl who had this name and she was a first-class fool. A name should not be disgraced because some foolish owl who made some idiotic mistakes. A name is a name and that's how it is." she said in a matter of factly voice. Then she calmed. She had to focus on what was important and that was helping Ardi. She pondered over his question a bit and then came up with an answer. "It depends on what kind of materials we're putting together. You see, if we're putting two of the same kind of material together I have quite a few ideas but if we're putting together different materials then I'm at a loss of words. Let me explain. If we try to connect the sails which are of the light and flexible metal and the wood from well, actually, quite a few places we might have a problem." she said. Then slowly she went to the opening of the hollow and came back. "I think we're being watched." she whispered to Ardi. "Had someone heard what they were talking about? That could be troubling." she thought. "Lets keep our voices down." she whispered.

[ardikus]

[Ardi]
Ardi pondered the possibilities available. "Mostly wood and wood" he responded quietly. "But we would have to figure out the sails as well" he scanned the forest view from the hollow. "Perhaps, we should seek out this nearby owl's allegiance" he muttered in a quiet tone. Ardi quickly summoned a few ideas and narrowed them down. He looked from the forest and then to Nyra, "Would you like to play a game with our visitor? It will be quite useful if cet owl is within distance of hearing us" he whispered, moving closer so as to be able to lower his voice further.

[kyran]

[Nymphadora/Nyra]

Nymphadora churred. "I like the way you think. Now, how do we 'play'?" she asked. This would be fun. This visitor wouldn't stand a chance against two slipgizzles. "We can weasel out information from any owl." she thought. She churred again. "Do you think she'll catch on?" Nyra asked with only the slightest bit of worry.

[ardikus]

[Ardi]
Ardi looked out to the forest, "Just follow my lead, we will see who this owl is with." he whispered to Nyra. He leaned towards the entrance to the hollow slightly. "Don't worry, there are no PURE ONES OR ST. AGGIES THUGS around here!" he said in a loud and boisterous tone. Ardi then raised a talon to his beak to signal for silence, listening for any sign of wingbeats. If the owl flew away or closer, it was probably not either group mentioned.

[kyran]

(Sorry for the short post but there wasn't much to write about.)

[Nymphadora/Nyra]

Nyra watched as Ardi signaled for silence. "Could this owl be a pure one or a St. Aggies thug? If so it would probably be too scatterbrained to even care about what he said. Maybe this owl is on the Guardians of Ga'Hoole's side." Nyra thought. Just as she was thinking this she thought she heard something.

[ardikus]

[Ardi]
Ardi redirected his eyes to Nyra following a noise, "Not good" he muttered sarcastically. Ardi rolled up the scrolls and parchment and picked them up in his talons, "Shall we go to work then? We shoul start by finding a tree we can harvest wood from easily" he said, noting it mentally. Ardi calculated, as always, the odds. Would they make it out without this owl attacking or tailing them? If it did, they could probably lose it. More so, they had done no wrong, they were in fact, doing a research for the good of the owl world.

[kyran]

[Nymphadora/Nyra]

Nyra looked at Ardi and nodded. "I'll go out on a short flight to see if there are any good trees. You stay here and... keep studying the scroll or something." she said and flew off before Ardi could make a sound. She flew around the Shadow Forest looking for a good tree to make wood from. There it was, the perfect tree. It was an oak tree and from the looks of it, it had some very strong wood. Nyra flew back into Ardi's hollow. "I found a really nice tree. You know where the constellation of the Golden Talons is? It's north by northeast of there. It's a very big tree to so it can provide us with a LOT of wood." Nyra said. "I'll cut the wood with some of my tools. You pick it up and take it back to the forge. It's the perfect place to assemble it." she said and flew down to her forge, grabbed a tool almost like a saw, and went off to cut the tree.

Once Nyra got to the tree she cut it into the shapes that she remembered on the scroll. It took a lot of effort but she finally finished. When she was done she flew back to Ardi's hollow and told him that she was done. She signaled for him to come and pick up the wood so that they could get started.

[ardikus]

[Ardi]
Ardi lifted off and followed Nyra to the tree. "Alrighty, lets get to work then?" he asked her. Opening the scroll, Ardi compared the drawings to the pieces in front of him. Perfectly shaped, they were. There was but one problem so far, "We still don't have anything to connect them ready" he said. They had to have something that they could use to put these together. It would be pretty hard to do anything with this until they solved this problem.