Darkest Before the Dawn (Ayama)

[Gabjas]

Ankha folded her wings, inhaling paced breaths of the dawn air. She perched on a thick branch that wavered slightly with each passing breeze, causing the mildew-strewn leaves to shudder. The golden rain had brought the pleasant sight of honey-tinted berries to the branches of the Great Tree. She smiled as the warm light of the sun that cascaded over the land receded beyond the horizon and night painted the sky to signal the time of the owl's time to reign this world. As the owls of the tree awoke and slowly flooded into the Dining hollow, Ankha took one last breath before turning to join them for their morning morsel.

She shuffled towards a seat and thanked the nest-maid snake as she was handed her daily portion. Ankha perched at the table, alone and frowning at the plump vole that lay before her. She eyed a few other empty seats where other owls were conversing loudly and laughing, maybe she could join their conversation too, but she decided against it. She felt as if she needed to stay there, as if it may lead to a certain fate much more important then a chance to join in on the gazooling. So Ankha stayed and quietly ate her meal in silence. Waiting as the night flooded over the isle and the darkness enveloped her.

[Ayama]

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[bg=7cadbb][atrb=valign,bottom][atrb=width,120]	[atrb=repeat,no-repeat][bg=7cadbb] She preened her feathers a little, talons gripping one of the many branches of the Great Tree. The beautiful snowy watched as owls of all kinds flooded into the hollow in which they would receive their Tweener. A melancholy shine swam through her honey eyes and she wondered whether it would really be worth it to go in and have a meal the same way as everyone else. She was just so different from everyone else, and the Great Tree really wasn't her home either. She didn't deserve to receive the same treatment as everyone else. They were all so brave and strong, and they all worked so hard! She, on the other hand, was just someone who stopped by every once and a while when she wasn't on a mission and that was not a very wide space of time. Sighing, she stared at the owls as they passed, chatting with one another. A butterfly flew past her face and she turned her attention towards it for a moment, marveling at its beauty. It was so different from her, and yet so similar. However, another butterfly soon flew over to the first one's side, and within another second, they had both taken off together, flying side by side to somewhere far away from Artemis. She watched with unconcealed sadness as both creatures left. Her talons shifted on the branch ever so slightly as she readjusted her position. You have friends... she thought, as if still with the butterfly. Her attention returned to the hollow and almost on cue, the lovely owl's stomach let out a growl, begging her to go in. She didn't mind going hungry though. She'd catch her own food. She was used to it anyway. But still... A cold breeze ruffled her feathers, urging her to go on in. She shivered ever so slightly and thought for a moment more before spreading her wings wide. Fine, she'd go in. Maybe not for a meal, but at least it would be warm. Maybe Cameron will be there. she thought, churring a little and then pausing, embarrassed for a moment at her own thoughts. She always felt so odd when she thought about the singer. But it was a good kind of odd. With a small hop, Artemis took to the air and flew downwards, landing (for the first time) gracefully in the hollow. As she let her wings grow limp around her body again, the female walked in almost hesitantly, scanning the area for a place to sit. Everyone else was sitting with their friends and there was no space for her to sit, nor was there any welcome either. She had no friends after all. She was taken by surprise, however, upon seeing a burrowing owl sitting all alone at a nestmaid snake. Her liquid golden eyes glowed as recognition flooded her senses. Wasn't that the search and rescue ryb? Glaux, why would someone of her status be sitting all alone instead of with all the other rybs? Reluctantly, Artemis walked over to where the ryb was sitting. "Um... May I sit here?" she asked a bit awkwardly.
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[Gabjas]

Ankha fixed a slight frown upon her beak and regarded the empty space across from her. Her gaze fell out of focus and she stared towards the blurs that clouded her vision with a blank far-away look as if she were in deep thought. Truthfully there were only simple things that drifted in and out of her mind, her thoughts like the leaves shed from a tree and carried by the wind. As she was in this trance, a Snowy owl quietly approached her and spoke. Ankha was immediately pulled into reality and now peered at the young Snowy, desperately trying to register what she had said.

"Hmm?" Ankha grunted. "Oh! Yes, you may." she said, shocked that this owl would even want to speak to her and not hurry along to meet with her other friends. Then it struck her. What if she is as lonely as me? Ankha thought. Perhaps. It wasn't impossible, but Ankha had always taken to the idea that everyone else had much better things to do then commune with an old ryb. I suppose I am not all that old. She cleared these frivolous thoughts from her mind and pulled on a smile, patting the seat beside her with her wing. "Certainly." she beamed. "My name is Ankha."

"Perhaps you know me from Search-and-Rescue."

[Ayama]

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[atrb=repeat,no-repeat][bg=7cadbb] The snowy owl shifted her weight back and forth from talon to talon, awaiting an answer from the burrowing owl before her. However, it seemed that the ryb wasn't paying any attention to her. She had a sort of faraway look in her eyes, one that was starting to frighten Artemis. Then again, she was a bit of a scaredy cat on her own anyway so everything frightened her. A timid little owl, she was. How had she become a slipgizzle again? Who knew. Liquid golden orbs watched closely as the burrowing owl finally seemed to notice her, turning to her and peering at her a little oddly, to which Artemis responded to with a small gulp. "Oh! Yes, you may."

[/b] Her honey eyes sparkled with delight as acceptance washed over the pure white bird. She wouldn't have to sit alone!

Churring softly with joy, Artemis sat down beside the ryb, folding her wings more tightly into her body as she did so. Warmth had immediately flooded her heart when the female before her had patted a seat next to her with her wing, welcoming her further. Nothing made Artemis happier than a warm welcome. "My name is Ankha." The snowy smiled a little, bowing slightly to the Search-and-Rescue expert. "Ankha..." she repeated slowly. Then she looked at her companion with bright eyes and spoke, voice filled with sincerity. "That is a beautiful name. My name's Artemis. Pleased to meet you." she said, offering a claw so that they could shake talons. "Perhaps you know me from Search-and-Rescue."[/s][/b] The female tipped her head to the side a little and churred a little cluelessly.

"I'm sorry, I wouldn't know. But I was positive you were a ryb when I came over! Which is why... I was wondering... Aren't all rybs supposed to sit together at the table at the back next to where the monarchs sit?" she asked curiously.

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[Gabjas]

Ankha beamed at the Snowy owl; she could not help but note her brilliant golden eyes that shone with pleasure as she spoke. "Artemis..." Ankha murmured, the name ringing with familiarity, "Hmm...Artemis. Ah! You wouldn't happen to be a slipgizzle, would you? I recognize you from a Parliament meeting a few moons back."

Ankha gave a slight glance to the place where the monarchs and the rybs were seated, discussing meetings and important tasks. "Hmm. I usually join them, but today I felt like taking a break." she stated, pausing to whisper a 'thank-you' to the nest-maid snake as she passed her a small nooty filled to the brim with milkberry tea. "Had to get away from it all." Ankha smiled at Artemis, "But that doesn't really matter. And yourself? What brings you to meet with a lonely old ryb?" Ankha churred. She was actually much younger than Artemis, but many percieved her as quite a few moons older than she really was and she had come to deem herself in that manner at times.