These l o n g Hours [Open]

[Cam]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,400,true]

[bg=black] Wings stroked silently as a white form floated down through the branches of the Hoole tree. Yellow eyes glanced around, taking in and dodging every branch, but a close observer would notice that his head was kept at an odd angle to accommodate one eye that was noticeably damaged. There was no particular speed to his flight, although each stroke was sure and powerful, and as he arrived at the main area of the tree he settled softly to his feet and looked around again. He stretched a bit and started to wander aimlessly, occasionally pausing to inspect something meaningless or watch another owl, singing quietly to himself under his breath. Cameron had some downtime, and had been planning on going to the library, but he had decided against this plan when he realized that he had nothing in particular to read, and even if he did he would be too restless to pay attention for long. So, in a fit of boredom, he had bid his hollow goodbye and went to see if there was anyone planning something he could help with, or perhaps some owlets about, or even a nest-snake that needed a hand - anything, just for something to do. OOC // I can and probably will do better than this, I haven't done a public forum RP in a while so give me a chance to get my gears greased up.

[aakesh]

The waning hours of the day had summoned the King from his resting; the moon's arrival announced with the sounds of owls communicating far below. He had been enjoying his rest, for it seemed like it had been some time since he had been able to spend time with his Queen. Stirring, his muscles twitching slightly as he began to move once more, Aakesh would glance towards his mate and produce a sound much like a "purr". The noise rumbled in his throat as the air was pushed through his vocal chords, showing his love for this lovely young lady. Her slumbering left him feeling peaceful, and that was all he needed to fulfill his night. Brushing his head lightly against hers wishing her farewell for tonight, he would walk towards the edge of the hollow and stretch his wings. The elegance! The poise! The moon bathed his feathers in a haunting, yet regal, silver light. With his powerful wings, he would push himself off his perch and begin his night.

Aakesh seemed to fly effortlessly in the night-time sky, features blocked by the beauty of the moon's light. The air currents carried him above the Ga'Hoole tree as he patrolled, keen eyes searching for anything that should prove as a threat to his kingdom. Time passed slowly for him as the air howled in his ears and as eyes continued their inspection of the airspace above his "palace". Cloaked in full battle armor, the King would flex his taloned feet; gold glinting in the night sky as he soared. His shadow seemed to race in a circle about the Great Tree, like a dog chasing its tail. He had to be extremely sure that no foul creature would sneak its way into his haven! The sound of merriment was barely audible over the air's howl, and the King could not help but crave for some social interaction with others.

This sudden desire took control of him, and thus he soared down towards a nearby guard; a curt nod being exchanged before the King fully retired his shift. As he neared the tree, an excited "brreeep" sound was emitted from the owl, showing how he was truly thrilled to be getting a break from patrolling and the likes to better socialize with his citizens. He landed in a deserted "hallway" of the tree, storing his armor into a nearby hollow so as not to frighten any young soul. The Eagle Owl then proceeded to moving into the center space of the "town plaza". As he gazed cheerfully over the heads of his citizens, his amber eyes caught sight of the singer, Cameron. Stern look crossed his face, and he waddled over to the Snowy, displaying his new found expression.

Eyes looked down the character's body swiftly, returning once more to the owl's face when Aakesh's coarse voice sounded softly to the singer, "My, my. Quite the sullen-looking face you have there. Got nothing to do? No place to go?" That stern look dissolved into one of excited expectation, eyes widening slightly as he whispered, "Care to play a card game with the young'uns? I hear they love a good gambling game." Ah, Aakesh. You never fail to pass up a good gambling experience.

[Cam]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,400,true]

[bg=black] The half-blind Snowy had been expecting to find a companion in the form of an idle owlet or, dare he venture towards the infirmary, an injured - and potentially extremely bored - colleague. But when he turned his good eye towards the appropriate 'hallway' he caught a glimpse of the one owl most familiar to everyone in the tree. He had just started to turn towards him when he noticed the severe look on his King’s face, and Cam had a passing notion that perhaps he was about to be lectured for not having any work to do. The white owl took a second to fluff himself, not wanting to look like a mess in front of Aakesh, and then dipped his head in the greeting appropriate for the King. He held the position through the angrier-sounding portion of the Eagle Owl’s words before making a graceful return to an upright position. Turning his head ever so slightly to focus on his face, Cam was surprised to see that it had morphed from its previous strict appearance to an almost eager one. Unexpected, to say the least, considering he had been readying himself for a speech on the evils of laziness. At the mention of children, Cam’s face began to take on the King’s own expression. Anything for the chance to play with the younger generation of owls. He nodded his agreement, his own voice coming out in the warm, soft hoots typical of the singer. “Of course, I’d love to.”

[aakesh]

As the snowy responded to the King's invitation, Aakesh was quite eagerly scanning the area for any gulible soul to fool with a good gamble. His eyes of liquid amber searched until he spotted a young child with a freshly caught mouse in his talons. A "churr" sound was produced as he indicated Cameron to follow him as he moved towards this young owlet. Perhaps it was not to be unexpected for a gawking expressioin to come across the young owlet's face as the King of Ga'Hoole himself came forth and stated in his charismatic, charming fashion, "Care for a game?" He displayed an acorn in his talons, as if offering it to the child, "There's a good chance you could earn double rations, young'un.

The king, with his feathers bathed in silver moonlight, floated like a phantom to a nearby "table", withdrawing three bowl-like objects from beneath it, indicating to the young owlet to place his dinner on the table. Placing the three "bowls" upon the table, he placed the acorn beneath one and instructed the young owlet with a single claw raised, "Now, simply tell me where the acorn is, and you get another morsel to eat. Simple, right?" Slowly, he shifted the position of the bowls on the table, clearly wanting the young one to gain confidence in his guessing skills before actually beginning to "cheat" him out of his dinner. He finally stopped the switching of the bowls, and indicated for the owlet to choose which one the acorn was beneath.

With the owlet guessing correctly, he hooted with great cheer and presented him with a vole, stating, "Now that was easy, wasn't it? Perhaps you'd like to play 'double or nothing'?" The child nodded eagerly, and thus Aakesh would begin his trickery; wings spread wide as the King elevated himself a tad bit from the earth, merely to begin moving the bowls about as rapidly as a creature like himself could. The astonished, panicked expression on the child's face amused him; encouraging the bird to continue his accelerated switching of the bowls. With a single hoot, he would take his roost once more, and indicate for the owlet to choose where the acorn was.

As the owlet guessed incorrectly, Aakesh eagerly snatched the child's meal from him, and gave a humored noise as he spoke, "Better luck next time, kid. Come back when you get something else to bet." His merriment was uninterrupted, even when the wide eyes of the owlet glazed over as it waddled away in sorrow. Ah, the duties of a King was to tax his people, and this was the best and most entertaining way to do it. What a great guy.

[iamontda]

((Don't mind me... Also can i play as the ripped-off owlet for a moment? Not really as, but...))

Tioren

Tioren preened her feathers. It was nice to know others would get food for her sometimes, but while thinking of this, she was slightly hit by a young owlet. The owl looked upset as he came by. "Hey, where's your food at?" The owlet looked at Tioren, spying at Tioren's vole. "Aakesh let me gamble. I got extra on the first turn, but I lost on the second."

He started to go, but Tioren stopped him with a wing. "Can you wait here for a minute? If I get it, I'll share with you." She hopped over to where Aakesh and Cameron were, inspecting the small area. "Is it okay if I try this?" She acted like an owlet, when really she would have been sharing the vole with the real owlet and going to train.

[Cam]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,400,true]

[bg=black] ooc // I don't mind at all Cameron produced a deep, rumbling sound in his chest, leaning forward to watch the King at his work. He watched the bowls shuffle about on the table with interest, trying himself to follow them with his eyes as they flew past, but shortly he was confused as well. When the owlet lost, Cam ruffled his feathers in slight aggravation. “He’s just an owlet, you couldn’t be a little easy on him?” Cam questioned softly, turning his head up to peer at Aakesh. He thought it low of the Eagle Owl to be taking food from the child, and he watched in dismay as the owlet slunk away. He would have offered him something himself, but he had nothing on hand at the moment - a rarity, considering he usually had some sort of goodie to slip to the young’uns. He nearly jumped out of his feathers at the voice of another owl, snapping his head around to lock his good eye on the newcomer even as he calmed his frazzled nerves. He hadn’t seen her approach, hadn’t even heard her. Cameron took a moment to compose his gizzard before responding with a simple “It’s not easy, you know.”

[iamontda]

Tioren gave a faint smile. "I just want to try. It sounds fun, anyways. This little guy over here already tried, but lost on the second try. If i get past the second, then I'll give him the extra food." She watched Cameron get used to her being near, as before he almost flinched when hearing her. "Do you mind, Aakesh?" She ruffled her feathers a bit and kept watching the Owlet, making sure he wan't eating her vole.

[aakesh]

The aerial master had been glancing over the profit he had gained from a single round of gambling, prodding the vole with a talon to ensure that it was a plump as he thought it was. He grew excited, eyes rounded as he gave a hoot of happiness at the thought of a fresh meal for the singer and himself. Just as Aakesh was about to toss a selected piece of prey to Cameron when an owlet approached him. The king's head twisted about sharply, stern expression now masking his face. A taloned-toe tapped against the wood beneath him as the owl inquired about playing the game, as Cameron answered with a question, and as the owl once more responded. So, this bird wanted to lose its meal, too? Fine with him. He and Cameron would eat till they could not fly.

With a flap of his wings, he gently lifted off into one of the nearby limb, promptly plucking an acorn from one of its branches. Gracefully returning back to the "ground", he presented the acorn on the table and chirped, "If you're sure, feel free to bet your meal. Remember, we aren't giving out extra rations." Three bowls were placed on the table, the king showing off the acorn once more as he chirped, "To convince you, how about I tell you the rules, fair citizen? It's pretty simple. Just simply guess which bowl is hiding the acorn after I switch it and you win." How exceptional. This should go in his next book. He released a screech, summoning a nesting snake with his book-in-the-making so as to record his emotions. Plucking a feather from his own body, he pricked himself with a talon to get ink to write with. Humming an old sea shanty, the king quickly wrote:

I wonder why some of my citizens fail to understand that this game is clearly rigged. Such a pity; I shall have to institute an intelligence exam prior to their graduation to ensure I get owls with a good head on their shoulders. I do enjoy gambling and an easy win, but this is simply too easy. Nay; I must do what I have just written. It shall be decreed soon, I suppose.

Promptly, Aakesh closed the book and sent the snake away. Once more, he turned to face his singer and his citizen, prompting the question, "So, you want to earn the meal to share? Such a valiant thing to do. I suppose, young one, I can let you do one for free, should you like."

[strixemerilla1000]

[Cam]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,400,true]

[bg=black] Cameron nodded quietly at the owlet’s reply, and was about to open his beak to return his comment when Aakesh explained the game. He puttered a bit, ruffling his feathers unhappily, not particularly enjoying the way the King was ripping off mere owlets - something about it didn’t sit right in his gizzard. But, he didn’t complain, kept his beak tight and his words tighter, instead moving back slightly to make room for the arriving owls. Cam clacked his beak in displeasure, watching another owl approach, and clacked his beak softly in distress. He felt as though he were somehow a part of this - yes, the owlets were loosing their meals in a game they knew they could loose; but the way Aakesh was playing was questionable at best, and it was no good for growing owls to go hungry. Mentally, he noted them down, and decided he would try to sneak treats to those who lost in this game. A few berries might not be the same as a vole or plump mouse, but it was better than nothing- right?

[strixemerilla1000]

[aakesh]

Such a profit he would make tonight! More and more owls seemed to take interest in his game, assuring that the hungry beast within him was fed. Of course, there came the sound of a female owl from close-by, and Aakesh failed to recognize it as the new-comer's voice. He had been so intertwined in his world, so far away from reality in this gambling game that it seemed like the Lady of the Lake was calling to him from some far off dimension. Like a deer in rut, he had been eagerly looking over the audience's members to see if any would be ensure an easy victory. The king had failed to recognize Cameron's distressed expression as he had begun his ancient art of ensured-gambling-victory, even more so failing to identify this lady's voice as Emerilla's. Slowly, with reality sinking in, the voice dragged him from the depths of his game-playing world and into the real one.

Mere seconds had passed since his explaining the game's rules to the young owl, while to him it seemed like a millennia. Head jerked upwards to better identify the voice's sounder, amber eyes focusing on the face of that Spotted Owl. Brain searched its hidden archives to recognize this bird, finally finding the "file" on Strix Emerilla. Charcoal toned beak closed tight as gaze intensified; eyes focused solely on her own. Intimidation was his ally in this fight, her anger fueling his own as she dare push out her feathers to increase in size. The care-free prince that lurked inside his soul left, only to be replaced with the stern, belligerent King. Aakesh's talons scratched the floor as he stared into that face of hers, brain recognizing her alone out of all the owls that had gathered. Her insolence was unbearable, her behavior was inexcusable, yet dare he make a scene here?

Like his father and his friend the sea, the King would push his chest forwards to show off his power, to boast his position and how he was her superior. She'd memorize that with a stern-talking to. Low-tone covered his dark intentions, voice firm and unwavering as he spoke, "I heard you the first time, Strix Emerilla." Pressure was applied to his taloned-feet, sinking those ebony tips into the surface of the wooden "flooring". Monster inside of him roared with pleasure, the whip about to crack upon her back to make her bleed like he had done so long ago. He continued with his lecture, ensuring she heard every word, "Remember who's in charge here, lass. You are still a new-comer to this tree, and you should know how fragile your position as a ryb is. Yee be warned."

Swiftly, like the falcon, he turned away, facing Cameron as he searched for support. A soft hoot was given, exhale accenting the sound as sudden sternness and hostility melted away and left his being with that sole breath outwards.

[strixemerilla1000]

[aakesh]

((For reference, please look here.))

There she goes. Clearly the not-so-intelligent Strix thought that

Aakesh was some owl that would fall onto the ground and beg and plead for her to stay. He was the King of Ga'hoole, and quite frankly, this owl was over-staying her welcome. Body began to shake as she spoke with such untolerable disrespect towards him. An insult it was to say that she was superior because of her duties! How he longed to be in full battle-armor right then and there, so as to deliever the full extent of his rage unto her cocky head. Nay; battle armor wasn't necessary, for he still had his golden talons equipped, and it appeared that she had been slovenly enough to forget to wear hers.

Fury surged through his veins, eyes narrowing as he elevated himself to his fullest height. Battle plan was promptly coded into his brain, and with little warning, he would lunge at her; wings spread wide as the larger owl specimen released a battle screech to signify his prompt entrance into a mini-war. A duel? Nay; he was about to go to the fullest extent of beating. He was unlike his predecessors where they scolded with flint mops. He had decided long ago that owls learned best through pain and suffering, and this lass certainly deserved to lose an eye at least.

With talons extended outwards, the larger specimen of avian aimed to close his serrated-edged battle talons along her skull; aiming to hold onto and squeeze for as long as it took for her to beg for mercy and forgiveness. The longer it would take for her to plead, the more pressure would be applied to her cranium. As Eurasian Eagle Owls were known to have enough power to crush skulls inwards of other owls, this would certainly be very possible. With his speed and little warning as to his sudden burst of uncontrolled rage, the King would have an attack that was near impossible to miss. Sure, both would topple to the ground, but it would leave the Strix with a near impossibility of retaliating against him and being able to fight back. In fact, she'd merely be flailing like a lamb in a wolf's jowls, causing the grip to tighten futher and serrated-edges to cut into her flesh (and possibly her eyes and facial area) with more ease.

There was that possibility that she would dodge; however, the King had already plotted that, should he miss grabbing her skull, he'd attempt to collide his own skull into hers to daze the Strix while he himself would grab each of her wings in his grip and pin her to the tree's bark. In this position, he'd have a greater advantage, seeing as Aakesh would be on top of her and be able to peck and tear at her facial area even more easily. His aim would be to either crack the wing's bone, or to rip enough of her face off that she'd be "grounded". Ay, either way she'd be left with a nasty scar, and she'd be in a real pickle then. As the King was the more powerful and swift in the two, he'd leave her near defensless, and the Strix would be a sitting duck until he deemed the beating over. She would be left open after dodging his first seige and charge, making it a near-certain hit.

While this lass may be younger, and be even more cockier than Aakesh, she lacked the skill and experience that the King had. Perhaps this would teach her not to be a pompous fool or mess with a veteran. Mind you he had been beaten brutally for two weeks straight some time ago, and certainly had the scars to show it. The sight of his scarred face staring into her own would certainly startle the Strix, if not remind her of his own past. [/center][/color]

[iamontda]

(Is it good now? I'll edit again if needed)

Tioren stood near them, stunned. She could barely look over at Cameron other than gape at the two owls recklessly fighting. She stared at her claws, wondering if actually forcing her own leader to stop would work. It sounded a bit cruel to herself and maybe unpleasing to the leader, but Strix Emerilla was another person to look up to. "Aakesh... Leader, please stop! Emerilla hasn't said anything seriously insulting. Has she? It doesn't seem right!"

Stirring up a bit of wind, Tioren did her partially wrong flying and actually tried ramming into Aakesh. She then timidly stood right next to where Aakesh's claws were and Strix Emerilla's face was. She looked over to Cameron and silently and hopelessly sent a message by thought. Cameron, I don't want to use fore on my Leader. He might hurt me. I have gear I made myself, sharp and ready, but he'll hurt me... Tioren helplessly started hopping to different areas near Aakesh, trying to find weak spots without taking his full attention.