don't test me {Open!}

[vae]

The lakes, the infamous lakes sparkled like a miracle beneath him. Surreal and well-known, he was curious and of course he had to see them for himself. In the back of his mind, he remembered a tale his mother used to tell him about a place he thought was like the Mirror Lakes. He couldn't remember exactly, but she said something about Lotus flowers and people never wanting to leave once they arrived. That was what the lakes were like.

Really they were spectacular. The moonlight, playful and endless, danced joyously off the waters; it teased every owl that dared fly past without a closer look. Come, just take a quick peak, they seemed to beckon. You'll be right back on your way, just come a little closer. He could almost laugh, they were so sneaky and diabolical in their grace. He had to wonder, what did they gain from ensnaring innocent owls of weak gizzard in their psychological trap?

He wondered how many owls were around him, trapped by the beauty of the lakes. How many lost souls would reamin here forever, never feeling the quiver of a gizzard drawn by adventure to new lands of less dizzying beauty; lands where grace wasn't a given, where you had to reach out and grab it with both talons before it could get away from you.

Whatever. He had come to see them, to see what all the fuss was about. If he were less informed, he admitted, he might have some trouble leaving too. He knew, though. He never understood what that fellow in his mother's stories had been up to, tying himself to the mast (whatever that was) so he could hear the deadly voices of the monsters who wanted to lure him to his death. He knew now.

[Cleef]

Cleef had decided to take a scenic route on his never ending journey to aid injured and innocent owls. He now found himself flying over the beaks and the mirror lakes. "So again I see the mirror lakes." He said to himself. "I remember having to save myself from it's beautiful illusion." He looked away from the lake as not to fall into it's trap once again when he saw an owl looking down at it curiosly. He flew up to this owl and said to it "I wouldn't keep staring at it my friend. This lake may seem beautiful but holds a lot of danger".

[Sompom]

Tinker landed on a branch and started pecking at his fresh vole. He was already starting to put on weight, although he had only been here a few-- Actually, he thought to himself, he couldn't remember how long he had been here. He had arrived after being mobbed by crows, a stupid mistake. The moon had been nearly full shine. But now?
He looked up. The moon was just hidden by a bank of clouds.
As he was surveying the sky, he saw one owl fly up to another and begin speaking. Thinker couldn't hear what they were saying, nor make out what species they were. He took off for a closer look, vole forgotten.

[Cleef]

As Cleef awaited an answer from the owl beside his gaze wondered to the opposite flank of the owl he flew beside. He saw a sooty owl flying towards them. Cleef thought to himself that he may have just flown to the right place at the right time because it now appeared that he may be saving not one but two poor souls that the beutiful but dangerous mirror lakes was lying to. Cleef flew under the owl he was flying beside and positioned himself on the opposite side of the owl. Ready to greet the newcomer.

[Sompom]

As he neared, the smaller of the pair, a Burrowing owl Tinker now realized, turned to face him. Most of the owls he had seen since being here conversed as if they had rocks in their head and flew about as well. As he flew closer, Tinker hailed the owl. "Good tidings, my name is Tinker of Ambala, how are you this evening?"

[Cleef]

"I'm good this evening." answered Cleef to the sooty owl whose name was Tinker."How are you and, I know it may be none of my business but, how long have you been here at the mirror lakes, Tinker of Ambala?"

[Sompom]

"As far as I can tell, I have only been here for a few days; however, I am not so sure." Tinker answered. "What is your name, curious owl?"

[Cleef]

"My name is Cleef of Kuneer" Answered Cleef. "It is very easy to lose track of time in this place. It pulls owls in with it's mirror lakes and great food populations of the fattest juiciest meals you may ever catch. This I suppose would be a great place to stay and would be highly populated. There's just one problem with it. Most owls that are pulled into the lake's illusion lose contact with the rest of the world and are almost never return, But if you are an owl with a strong gizzard you are not able to be tricked. I know a few owls who feel into the lake's trap and came out with the help of a nest maid snake."

[Sompom]

Tinker eyed the other owl skeptically, "I think you have been misguided, Cleef. I have seen nothing wrong with this place, just a bunch of owls with no common sense. You are correct, though, it has been bothering me for some time why other owls have not made this place their permanent home."

[Cleef]

"Well like I said before, The owls that come here lose contact with the outside world. Once they come they never want to leave. Unless of course they are strong of gizzard, like you my friend. You seem to have a strong gizzard for you see the truth. The owls here have lost there common sense and have forgotten of there loved ones in the other regions of the kingdoms." the trio of owls were now flying over the mirror lakes itself. Cleef saw there reflection in it and said to himself and whoever was listening "It is cool to see your own reflection so clearly, But it's not something to do all day. Hey I could see my reflection at any lake maybe not so clearly but a reflection is not what matters in life. I'd rather keep saving owls." Cleef churred.

[Sompom]

Tinker looked away, possibly ashamed, possibly thoughtful. "You say this, and I cannot help but see some truth in he." He murmered. He then looked back at the small owl. "You speak of saving souls, but what do you do, then, if an owl does not want to be saved? If you come here often you must have seen hundred of owls who would stay here until they died, and those who loved those owls who will not leave them behind. Your task seem a difficult one."

[Cleef]

"What you say is true my friend. That is why I look for the newbies or owls flying about like the one on my other side. I know that some owls do not want to be saved. Also it is not only here that I save owls. I search all around the kingdoms to save owls. Some days I may be around Ga'hoole and other days you find me flying amongst the pure ones. I try to help as many owls that need and want help, but if they truly have there gizzards set on not being healed or aided or rescued then I will leave them to it. Unless I think they really need it" OOC Check my bio for more info on this topic.

[vae]

Narcissus blinked, suddenly aware of two other owls near him. Wary, he realized the lakes had despite his best efforts, lulled him into a reverie of sorts and he hadn't even noticed the other two owls. He thought back, and remembered what the owl had said to him. Blinking a few times, he approached the other two. "Sorry about that," he apologized. "Oh, I know all of the danger of the lakes. It's what brought me here in the first place actually. I suppose I had to see for myself."

Blinking his bright, intelligent eyes, he noticed that the owl who appeared to know much about the Lakes, in the way that he had the plump and hypnotized look of those owls he had seen around here.

Despite the fact that he thought both birds were a smidgen annoying in their own ways; the burrowing owl seemed a little high on himself and his "quest to save souls" and the sooty was just another easily led owl trapped by the mirror lakes. They were both talking in a bizarre fashion, he realized. So overly formal. Maybe it's an area thing," he justified, not wanting to think so negatively.

He stayed out of the debate, not wanting to rub anyone the wrong way, just listening politely while casting his line of sight to each respective speaker. He pitied the sooty owl, he realized. He looked so blissfully naive. It must be a dreadful existence to not question anything.

[Cleef]

"I see you've snapped out of your reverie owl. My name is Cleef and this is Tinker." Cleef gestured with his wing towards the sooty owl. "What is your name? if I may ask?