Kieshra Shapeshifters

[Cara]

Legend has it that Enkil created the Kieshra, the shapeshifters. These people were graced with the ability of shape shifting into a certain animal form. Enkil is their true "god", but each race has their own animal guardian.
Shapeshifters in their full forms are different from normal animals. The first sign is by their shear size. Shapeshifters that have shifted into their full forms are much larger, and Shapeshifters actually can't understand other animals. If they wish to speak while in their shapes, they must mind to keep their vocal chords human. This is difficult, and is only mastered later in life.

They can change into their animal form at will, and in certain degrees. It is also common to see someone in the half form, or their Demi form. There are certain races that have rose to places of power and rule whole cities and kingdoms. The predator shapeshifters tend to run in the royal families.
Shapeshifters, when in their human form, can be recognized by distinct features set to their animal form.

Demi Forms
There are different stages of Demi too. Some can change into a more advanced Demi, closer in apperance to their animal state (this is much harder to do and takes practice and time), which others can only take on small features (like hair color, eyes, teeth...).
Example of the normal Demi:

Example of an Avanced Demi State:


Mixed Marriages & Children
There are not many "mixed marriages" but they are becoming more common. Still, it is almost a social taboo to marry too far from your kieshra. The child will be mixed in appearance, but usually with stronger traits towards one parent, and will only shapeshift into one of the animal forms. It's always interesting to meet someone who is from a mixed marriage, and the parent who the child takes after is always very proud of that fact.

For the falcons it is not only illegal, but impossible. Falcons have been so isolated, an their magic so strong and sometimes unpredictable, that any child conceived often kills the mother, dies in the womb, or dies young. Within the White City, Farce, and The Burning Plains they have laws that will have the child of such a union killed. Within the White City, even such a marriage is illegal, punishable by death.



The Eagles and other Birds
One of the largest kingdoms are ruled by the Golden Eagle shapeshifters. They reside in the capital city, Hawkra. It is immense and is a large mixing pot for all kinds of people, though it is most commonly populated by other birds, with many of the lords and ladies and courtesans being other strong birds of prey shapeshifters. The only birds of prey that are not apart of the Hawkra are the Falcons.

Because of everyone's diversity and the immense population of bird shape shifters, people vary in color and features. The royal family of the Golden Eagles are recognized by their golden hair and ice grey eyes, flecked with blue and gold. The bird Demi form, is similar in appearance to an angel. They have full wings, much larger than what their full animal size is. Sometimes they choose to walk about with talons exposed as well. Birds tend to have very narrow, lean faces and petite bodies.


The Falcons
They are one of the most powerful groups of the birds. They live in a separate kingdom, and rule from The White City. They are known for their potent magic and spell weaving. The High Queen, Circe, rules and commands all. Their capital city is filled with crystal spires of ancient magic, and white marble. Circe is known for her personal guard, called the Queen's Mercy. They were said in legend the first be created by Enkil. They are respected by all, and feared.

Falcons usually can recognized in human form by the streams of violet that run through their silvery blonde-white hair. They are a very fair-skinned people. Their eyes are sharp and silvery-purple, almost violet, and they walk with a beautiful grace and move with a savage quickness. They are known for their apathetic and cool personalities. They are a very refined people, also usually arrogant as well.


The Serperntine
They are ruled by the royalty of the Cobra. They live in the city of Skarine.
Their Demi form is a strong mixture of snake and human. They have bright green eyes and black hair. For the Cobra royal family, they have dark red eyes. They have fangs in their demi forms too. They are poisonous in both Demi and Full forms. They are a very free people, being very carefree and almost wild in culture.


The Wolves
The wolves travel often, and were in old time, nomadic people. They are scattered in "tribes" throughout the Forest of Teeth. Many are hired mercenaries. They are ruled by an Alpha Male and an Alpha Female as their pack leaders. They are known for their fighting amongst themselves and other packs. They care not for the war of the birds and snakes. They have their own culture and rules. They travel from kingdom to kingdom, place to place. They may stay a while if they like it at a particular area. They are known for their violence. They fight a lot amongst themselves and the Karr is the name of the alpha leader. But he can be challenged in a fight for power anytime. They traditionally wear their hair long and untrimmed down their backs in a braid. When one looses a battle, their braid is cut. It is seen as shameful to not have your hair long enough to braid. And it is a sign that you are weak.
The other higher families think the wolves uncivilized people, savages.
The Wolves, like to keep to themselves and not bother with anyone, especially with the Falcons, who they fear and hate. They dislike the political squabbles of the court amongst the other shapeshifters.

Their demi form is strange. They have fangs, but that is about it in their demi forms, and of course their strengths, speed (ect) is increased. Wolves usually in their human form have white, black, brown or red hair. It can also be any combo. Their eyes are usually a silver or gold color. They are the hardest to tell what they are, and use that to their advantage to blend in with where they are.


The Lions and other Cats
The lions are the royal family, known as the Lanasters. They live in the far west, in the city of The Vail. They are known for their forges and metal work. The large cat people put a high value on family. Although they are a very sexist group of people, with males being the dominant gender, and females being submissive. It is not unusual for a male shapeshifter to have many consorts, but only lions of the royal families can have multiple wives.

They are recognized by their strange pale gold hair and bright eyes, which appear in both demi and human form. In their culture they wear their hair long, even the men.


The Bears
The bears live in the far north, in the Sepeter Mountains residing in the main city of Aliaska (The Refuge of the North). The bears are fierce and prideful, known for their strength and ability for stonework. They have their own city and kingdom to the west. They are sometimes referred to as "The Guardians of the North" because it is a myth that in ancient times they helped keep out the Humans.


The Horse People
The horse shapeshifters are one of the only peoples who were able to establish themselves and build small kingdom. They might be perhaps because they live to the far south, across the Narrow Sea, in the Burning Plains. They are a people of the dessert and are more nomadic like the wolves.


Other Shapeshifters
There are many other kinds, but not as powerful or established as the ones listed above. Other common people are the other large cats, the bats, the foxes and coyotes, the deer, and many others.


The Humans
There are humans, which the Kieshra call the White Walkers. They have lands far to the north, and very few have made it past the Sepeter Mountains (named because there's a holy place there where they have statues of their Scepters) into the world of the Kieshra. The few that have have in the past been killed. To the humans, the Kieshra are myth, legends and monsters.... Few have heard of them, and even fewer have seen one. Barely none have lived to tell of them.
The humans are myth to many Kieshra too. They hear of people who canncot change and think it horrible. It's a curse, they believe, that Enkil put on the people because they were disloyal.

Right now the Golden Eagles of Hawkara and the Serpetine are at war (The Falcons are not included with them), as they have fought for thousands of years. There is tension between the Lion Lanasters and the Wolves as well, but not full out war.
They Kishra all respect the God's Wood, which is the center of the land, with the Heart of Enkil, a giant Blood Tree. It's a sacred place of magic and power. The Keepers reside there from times of old.

Character Bio:

Name:
Gender:
Type: (Bird, Snake, Wolf, Lion...ect)
--- Specific Species:
Age:
Abilities: (if applicable)
Appearance: IMG URL[/img]
- eyes:
- hair:
- skin:
- other:
Personality:
History:
Other:

>>> copy the code below and paste as format for your own bio <<<
[b]Name:[/b]
[b]Gender:[/b]
[b]Type: [/b](Bird, Snake, Wolf, Lion...ect)
[b]--- Racce: [/b]
[b]Age: [/b]
[b]Abilities:[/b] (if applicable)
[b]Appearance:[/b] [img=]IMG URL[/img]
[b]- eyes: [/b]
[b]- hair: [/b]
[b]- skin: [/b]
[b]- other:[/b]
[b]Personality:[/b]
[b]History:[/b]
[b]Other:[/b]

[Cara]

Name: Elmyra Peregrine
Gender: female
Type: Falcon
--- Species: Peregrine Falcon
Age: 19
Abilities:
Appearance:

Hair & Hair
- eyes: Deep violet flecked with silver
- hair: Pale silver/white, streaked with deep violet and dark hues of blue purple
- skin: pale
- other:
Personality: She is adventurous and headstrong, but kind and curious. She is always being lectured about something the people of her race call the Avian Reserve. It is a mask that will let no emotion through. The "Stone Face" she calls it. She is the second-oldest daughter of the Falcon Queen, Circe. Among the Falcons, it is a woman who rules. Her sister, Saena, is five years older than her and is in training to take the throne. She has always looked up to her sister. Elmyra loves to dance, especially the ancient falcon dance of her people. She is more interested in the craft of song weaving and dancing than ruling a court.
History: She grew up in the White City, and has never been apart of the activities of the other children, as she was royalty. She has no real friends her own age, and long to see the world too.

Name: Mersena Alaster
Gender: female
Type: half falcon, half wolf
--- Species:
Age: 18
Abilities: she cannot shapeshift
Appearance:

(girl on left)
- eyes: Deep red eyes
- hair: Black/auburn hair
- skin: pale
- other:She wears a pendant (IMAGE)
Personality: She is usually quiet around many people, withdrawn. She is seen as an outcast from those who know who she really is. She keeps to herself, never able to play any of the games of the other children. This was because she could never shapeshift.
History: Her appearance is very unique, even among the many different shapeshifter communities that she has lived in. She has eyes that are blood red, something that no avian usually posess, and it is even rarer among the wolves. She has her father's hair, but the lithe and petite build of a falcon. Her mother was a falcon and her father was a wolf. He traveled from city to city, and when he was in the White City, he met her mother and they fell in love. Now, the reason there are not many "mixed marriages" is because there never can be any children. It is almost a social taboo to marry too far from your kieshra. Wolf and falcon was unheard of. For some reason conception is nearly impossible between different races, and if a child is born, often they die young from problems, or there are other things that go wrong. Within the White City, Hawkara, Farce, The Burning Plains, and Aliaska, they have laws that will have the child of such a union killed. Within the White City, even such a marriage is illegal.
For some reason Mersena was born and lived, but she was never able to shapeshift. Mersena's parents kept her a secret, traveling often. Her mother wished to return to the White City, her home that she hadn't been to since she left with her husband, but it's very dangerous, especially for Mersena.

Name: Dallion Changra
Gender: male
Type: Lion
--- Species:
Age: 22
Abilities:
Appearance:

- eyes: Dark brown eyes
- hair: Dark hair with golden highlights
- skin: golden skin
- other:
Personality: He is carefree usually, and many people assume he is silly and seriousness, but when threatened he can become serious and quite dangerous. His personality can change in an instant, but he is quite charming.
History: TBD

Name: Hengi, The Kings Bloody Hand
Gender: male
Type: Serpentine
--- Species: Black Adder and Cobra
Age: 24
Abilities:
Appearance:


- eyes: Blood red eyes
- hair: jet black hair, long, usually worn in a pony tail down his back
- skin: pale skin
- other:
Personality: He is strong-minded, and loyal. He can be cruel too though. He hates the birds, especially the Golden Eagles, who rule true. Like all other people, he fears the White City. It is a large place of commerce, but he still distrusts it.
History: He is the bastard son of the King. Because of this, he does not have claim to the throne, but is known amongst the upper class of the Serpentine. His nickname is known as the "King's Bloody Hand". He is a spy and an assassin. He works usually for the royal Cobra family, but that last part is not usually too known. He does have a bad reputation amongst the non-Serentine, but is regarded as a hero amongst his people.
Despite all this, is very loyal and protective of his friends and family. One of his closest friends is Tosha. They make a strange pair, but they have been close since they were children. It was Hengi who stayed loyal through all Tosha's times of illness.

MINOR CHARACTERS:

Name: Saena Peregrine
Gender: female
Type: Falcon
--- Species: Peregrine Falcon
Age: 27
Abilities:
Appearance:

- eyes: Deep violet flecked with silver
- hair: Pale silver, almost white, streaked with deep violet and dark hues of blue purple
- skin: pale
- other: She wears a circlet of woven silver and blue Sky Stone, to signify she is the Crowned Princess of the Falcons
Personality: She is the model of a perfect Falcon. She is reserved, cold, and even cruel, while being logical and calculating. She is only warm with her sister.
History:

Name: Micken Sky (the last name given to slaves of the White City)
Gender: male
Type: Songbird
--- Species: Black-capped Chicadee
Age: 19
Abilities:
Appearance:

- eyes: Dark brown eyes
- hair: Black hair
- skin: pale
- other:A simple silver ring adorns his middle finger
Personality: He is hopeful, but is quiet and respectful. He has always had competeing emotions about what he is. Being a slave, he hates and fears the Peregrines, but at the same time he has always admired them. He has a dream to one day join the Queen's Mercy, which being a slave, can never be.
History: He grew up with his father who was a smith. His father's work was so good that his father ended up leaving the city and traveling around the world. Then they were attacked by slavers. His father was killed during transportation to Hawkara. Micken took his father's wedding from his finger and wore it on his own, to remind him of his father. He was 11 then. He was sold to merchant who sold him to the Queen's service in the White City. Since then, he has been a slave to the Falcon Queen, Circe.

[Galadas]

Name: Tosha Renner
Gender: male
Type: Serperntine
--- Race: Monocled Cobra
Age: 23
Abilities:
Appearance: fc06.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2011/227/0/f/uhm__me__by_kneyte-d46ltgn.jpg [/img]
- eyes: dark green eyes
- hair: pale brown hair
- skin: very pale
- other:
Personality: Tosha Renner is a boy with remarkable skills, he has brown hair and dark green eyes. He’s a Rebel, but his intelligence and ambition cry out for more than just that. When he was born, people feared that he might not live to see his first name day, yet the boy survived, ending up with hair that had been brushed pale by the sickness. All his fellow Serpentines have black hair, yet he stood out, even his eyes mismatched with his shape. He’s a Cobra, strong and giant, muscle all over, and warrior in his blood. Most elders dislike the strange appearance of this boy warrior, but few see the worth in him, having no demi form, nor strong serpentine features, allowing him to travel freely despite the war.
History: His mother died giving birth to Tosha, and for a while it seemed that the boy wouldn’t survive either. For weeks the child lay abed without moving or making a sound, but his father couldn’t give up on him, he wasn’t going to lose both his beloved wife and the child they had made together. The boy lived, though still with the fear of being plucked from life at any moment. He was given many healers to help him, his frail body was restored to normal, his hair, eyes and skin never took back their color. At age eleven his best doctor died, so his father gave him a new one: a woman who had learned the art of healing though she was a lion. The king had to get her from Hawkra soal, this alone was an act of war. She proved much better than others, changing the sickling into a strong man with warrior skills. When of age, his father decided to use his eldest son to talk with all the other creatures in their world about the war between them and the Eagles. Whether he was challenging the Eagles or crying for peace, Tosha never came off as a bloodthirsty Serperntine because of his strange appearance.
Other: from time to time, Tosha is known to creep back into his sickness. Most healers have called it a strange state of frail and his early birth – he was born a month and a half before his time – and because they were unable to state what exactly was going on with the boy, he never completely healed. At times he turns weak, and loses all his strength, causing him to need rest for days or weeks at a time. Side effects sometimes are: loss of speech, heavy breathing, and headaches. But when not in this state, he’s strong and rested.



Name: Daravf (pronounced ‘Dar-rav-ef’, but also known as Dar or Rav) Measters
Gender: male
Type: Bear
--- Race: Brown bear
Age: 22
Abilities:
Appearance:
- eyes: brown
- hair: Reddish brown
- skin: pale
- other:
Personality: Daravf Measters is a boy with brown hair and a brain that outmatches that of many others. He wants only to achieve and life, and hopefully one day meet the one. He has a set of sharp teeth at the left upper side of his mouth which mark his shape shifting form: bear. He’s the second son of the king, but does not want to pursue on that path himself. He’s secretly in love with Elmyra Peregrine, having been to court a couple of times to speak for his father, but knows that the second son of the king of the Bears might be a little enough for her. He’s nervous and timid, spending most time reading books and inventing weaponry as well as simple home tools. He has a brother named Oluk, who he loves but who’s company he doesn’t appreciate.
History: Daravf was born five years after his older brother Oluk, and attracted all the attention once he started speaking and writing at the age of two. It soon became clear that he was far smarter than other children, and it made his father proud. Since his fifteenth name day, Daravf has been traveling between the White City and Aliaska in order to establish a solid friendship and mutual understanding between the two kingdoms.
Other:



Name: Nima Leason
Gender: Girl
Type: Fox
--- Race: Red Fox
Age: 23
Abilities: (if applicable)
Appearance: fc08.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2011/054/9/5/shelter_by_andrea_h-d3a8gxe.jpg [/img]
- eyes: Bright green eyes with pupils that are more grey than black.
- hair: Red-brown hair that hangs over her shoulders.
- skin: Very pale and with freckles.
- other: She has a pair of ear warmers that were given to her by her first boyfriend, who was killed during a mining explosion, she never wants to let them go. She also has a few scars on her neck, her back and legs, due to a mining accident.
Personality: Nima is kind and enthusiastic. She dreams of flying, always having been jealous of the people who could shift into birds. Her biggest fear is to be alone, which resulted from the mining accident, where she was trapped in a collapsed tunnel for twelve hours. She hasn’t recovered from the damage it did to her face and her legs, and it is why she has never gone back to the mines.
History: She has lived in Aliaska since she was born, there she grew up in the mining business, as a fox she, her mother and her father easily found deadly gasses and could warn the miners. She never liked it, but knew it was that or starve. One day she and her boyfriend went deep into the mines where unmistakably the most scary thing happened. One wall collapsed and crushed the boy, leaving her stuck underneath the rumble. She cried for hours until they came to rescue her. It took her a year to recover mentally, but she never again went into the mines. Instead she began serving dishes for the royal family Measters, being small and swift. She travels along with Daravf Measters, and has a certain fascination for him.
Other:


Secondary Characters:


Name: Oluk Measters
Gender: Male
Type: Bear
--- Race: Brown Bear
Age: 27
Abilities:
Appearance: fc09.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2011/290/b/a/rst_fll_by_sumaeris-d4d3rku.jpg [/img]
- eyes: Brown
- hair: Dark reddish brown
- skin: pale, yet a bit colored
- other:
Personality: He’s ambitious and cunning, sailing on his father’s successes, but dreaming about his own adventures. He’s a brown bear, heavily in love with the mountains and his own strength. His biggest ambition is to become the King and unite the Bears, who live in different tribes alike the wolves. There are two things in his way: the other nobles chose his brother Daravf over him because of his intellect, and his father, who’s close to giving to task to his sons, supports the Falcons in their war. He and Daravf speak as their father’s representatives, rallying the nobles and the Wolves to their side in the war. Their pride for fighting makes them willing to risk the war.
History: Oluk was born heir to the bear throne, and willingly enjoyed the attention. He spent his first years being trained into a warrior, until his little brother was born. From then on he seemed to be the least interesting thing to his father, who enjoyed intelligence above strength, and Oluk wasn’t as smart as Daravf. Since then he has been hoping for a chance to show his skill, and retake his father’s favor.
Other:



Name: Hillmya “Hill” Saourf
Gender: female
Type: Lion
--- Race: white mountain liones
Age: 31
Abilities:
Appearance:
- eyes: dark green/blue eyes
- hair: golden blond hair
- skin: pale and strong
- other:
Personality: She’s most thrilling and adventurous, but gets packed with responsibility by her parents. Her biggest dream is to run away and live a life always at the edge of danger. She’s a lion, blessed with golden blond hair and an athletic body. In her family the female have the bigger voice, though the male rule, meaning she’ll have find a man that can listen as well as lead. To her parents her wedding and future children are the most important thing. Hill lives her life to those standards, though she has no parents around her anymore, it is as if it is all she does in love, beside her job.
History: She was born eldest in a family of five, she being the only female. She grew up constantly under pressure of finding the right suitor. When fourteen and engaged, she ran away from home and joined a covenant in Hawkra, where she stayed in secret and learned all about the magic of healing – which to her had little magic than she had believed herself – which became her main source of work. At age nine-teen, she joined the other nurses when the king of the Serperntine gave them a brief visit, as he was looking for a healer to cure his little son. The boy, no older than eleven, had been given a rare disease at a young age, and looked nothing like the other Serperntines. They choose her – against her own will – because of her ability to shift into a lion, and though it seemed most strange to have a Lion protect a Snake, she proved herself by keeping the boy alive until the day. Tosha Renner was the boy’s name, and when older, he became more than a sickling, given the task by his father to travel to distant kingdoms, and talk of peace and war. She never liked it, but she felt responsible for the young prince, and will protect him with her life.
Other:

[Cara]

(Let's get this party started! hehe)

Micken stretched his wings, relishing the feeling of them fully extended. He looked around nervously. It was illegal for slaves to walk in their Demi forms or to shapeshift at all. The Falcons had never clipped his wings because he was a royal slave, but that didn't protect him if he was found in his Demi form.
He folded them back into his body, feeling them become smooth skin once again.
"Micken! Boy!" A deep voice yelled. Micken jumped up, making sure that not a feather remained before rushing downstairs. His boss stood there, sour and mean. He wacked Micken on the head with his staff. "You are late, sparrow," he said, even though he knew that Micken was a chickadee. "Her Lady Elmyra has summoned you."
Micken picked up the tray of food and made his way into the royal chambers.
Elmyra was sitting there, her long beautiful silver wings folded down her back. In the light of the sun, the violet and streaks of deep blue looked like amethyst and sapphire.
"My Lady?" he said, standing.
"Oh hello, Micken," she said, smiling. Micken thought she had a beautiful smile. Elmyra was dressed regally in deep violet satins, that brought out the violet of her features even more. They shifted like wind silks around her as she moved. She looked to her hand maids and gave a curt nod. They left, closing the door. She turned to Micken, her eyes bright. "I need a favor."


The wind was cold and cool against his skin as Amer made his way through the city streets. He stretched his wings, feeling them pull against his body as the soft wind caught them. He folded them against his back again. It was late afternoon as he patrolled this section of the city of Hawkara. This was the worst section of the city too, where the peasants ran through the streets with no uniformity to how they wore their Demi.
Amer's head jerked up as he heard a commotion near by. He took to the air, his strong wings giving one flap and lifting him into the air to gain a better vantage point. Only the guard was allowed to fly here.
He landed only a short distance away. A fight had broke out. Amer pulled his long sword from his scabbord. The ring of steel made the men who were fighting freeze for a moment before resuming, paying him no mind. Amer assessed the situation, his eyes narrowing as he saw who it was. Three snakes against a deer and a songbird, it seemed. One man, a viper, had the sonbird around the throat. Amer felt his fingers shift to claws as he ran in and grabbed the white viper about the throat and dragged him off the songbird. A woman, another viper, cried out.
"No! Do not hurt him, m'lord!"
Amer whirled about at her, hitting her down with a wing. She fell, clutching her face, crying.
He narrowed his eyes, looking at the man. The other two men, the songbird and the deer stood back, brushing themselves off. "What is the meaning of this?" Amer growled. His hand was still clenched about the viper's throat. Of course it was the Serpentine always starting the fights!
Amer threw the man away from him. He landed hard, and the woman that had been crying ran over to him and helped him to his feet.
"Good lord," the songbird started. "I was just trying to sell my wares when this snake came and tried to steal from me. Thankfully my guard here," he continued, motioning to the deer shapeshifter, "helped me."
"LIAR!" The other viper screamed. "You would not let us buy your wares. You said you would not sell to the likes of us!" He turned to plead to Amer. "Sir, are we not free people here in Hawkara? We mean to just buy our daily bread and food."
"Thieves!" the sonbird snapped back. Amer looked the man over. He was plump with dark hair speckled in grey. Amer wondered, amused, if the man could even lift his weight off the ground, he was so round. The three vipers were thin with corded muscle over bone, their amber eyes dark in anger. The one that Amer had grabbed, rubbed his throat where thin points of blood appeared, where Amer's claws had pierced the skin.
Amer wanted nothing better to side with the merchant songbird shapeshifter, but if his wife heard of this, he would not hear the end of it. He glared at them both. "Enough," he growled. It was said so that nothing could be argued against it. "I am here to keep the King's Peace, and if either of you prevent me from doing so, I will take blood from both of you. It ends now."


Micken looked at her, suspicious.
"Please, Micken," she said. "I trust you."
"I am here to serve, my lady," Micken said formally. This wasn't good that Elmyra was here, alone, with him, a slave. And she was asking him a favor. Yes, not good.
Elmyra sighed. "Can I trust you?"
"I am at your command. Give it and I am yours."
Elmyra turned, her skirts whirling. "I'm going for a flight," she said, airily "Alone." She glanced over her should to see what his reaction was. Micken held his face still. It was well practiced not to react. Elmyra and all the other Falcons were well versed in that skill called the Avian Reserve. Elmyra used to giggle when she was younger and call it her stone mask. That was what it felt like now.
"My Lady Elmyra, that is unwise. You know you are not allowed to fly alone. What if you get hurt? You are princess of the White City," Micken also didn't wish to say that she wasn't allowed to leave the borders of the White City.
"Please? I just need you to cover for me. Besides, all they care about is my sister. She's Crown Princess."
Micken shook his head, unsure. He liked Elmyra, and he knew that she treated no other slave or servant this way. They had been more friends than master to slave. They had grown up together. He had covered for her in the past, but if she got caught, it was he who was always beaten. Then again it was Elmyra that had in secret taught him to shapeshift. He owed her that much, and she never let him forget it.
"Fine."
Elmyra laughed and grabbed him in an un-Falcon-like hug. "Thanks!" she said, as she ran to the window and pushed it open. Micken felt his chest tighten, seeing nothing but blue sky behind her. He might have been able to shapeshift into his Demi form, but that did not mean he knew how to fly.
"Be careful..." Micken said, stepping to the window sill where she stood. Elmyra gave him a wicked grin before falling backwards out the window. Micken ran forward just in time to see her plummet to the earth. He wanted to shout, but then someone might hear her. He heart jumped into his chest as Elmyra's Peregrine wings snapped out to catch her fall and send her swooping away from the deadly earth. She shot up past him, giving a shout. Then she was gone, like that, disappearing into the clouds.

[Galadas]

His whole leg was aching when the crown prince of Skarine pushed himself off the chair, his father glanced at him with a helpless gaze, but no one was allowed to help the sickling to his feat except for his schooled healer, Hillmya, who ran to his aid when she saw him pushing himself up.
‘M’lord, it is not wise to look frail in your father’s company,’ she said, taking his arm. ‘An advice I’ve been trying to get in your head for years.’
‘Yet, better to be frail than to pass out in his company, don’t you think?’
‘True enough,’ Hill answered. She pressed her lords body against her own, keeping him from the floor. These days it was far less known for Tosha to sit out his sickness in his own chambers, he was the crown prince nonetheless, it was expected of him to get air of the business his father was discussing with his high lords. She just made sure his time was as comfortable as possible, his seat soft, his food small, and every so little time she rubbed his aching muscles and noted down anything that seemed out of the ordinary. The only thing Tosha did, was decide for himself when he wanted to go to bed or stay and listen, but she knew all too well that he found the talking more exhausting than practicing in the yard. His brother and sisters, all five of them, stayed though, and in the morning at breakfast they would tell him everything he had missed. They were all far younger than Tosha, the eldest only fourteen, all by the kings second wife, and it had taken a long time before the king dared to marry again.
The prince waved the company farewell, and made his way back to his chambers. She wasn’t surprised to find him taking one last stop at the watchtower. ‘Have you seen Hengi lately, Hill?’ he asked, eyes hazy and distant. ‘I wonder, sometimes, whether he’s coming back, it’s a responsibility thing I guess. Just once a while I wished I could join him, or do something useful,’ he added, gazing at her.
‘That would be unwise, m’lord,’ Hill answered simply. ‘Your condition aside, you’ve not been trained for combat.’
Tosha shook his head. ‘I do believe I have, in the simplest of terms.’ He smiled, but it was unlikely his best. The sickness was sinking in deep these days, though they both hoped for a fast recovery. The could not have him resting in bed on his nameday. According to his father they could not have that any day, he was needed. Meanwhile Tosha kept on insisting that his younger brother, Nigel, could do better as their father’s heir.
‘If you say so.’ Hill returned the smile, rubbing the tension from his neck.


Daravf moved forward in the row, edging his horse around the carts and townsfolk. Nima followed him on her feet, dragging her own backpack along, as she greeted everyone with a kind smile, her red hair blowing in the morning wind. She had no trouble keeping up with the horse, the lordship’s son was not really a brilliant rider, he and the horse had some understanding issues.
‘Brother,’ the Bear prince said with an incomparable smile to his brooding brother, ‘what a beautiful day for a trip, don’t you think?’
Nima had to admit she understood why Oluk was always so irritated around his little brother, for one he was far more interesting to their father than the eldest, and also, he was indeed very irritating. She mostly laughed when the older brother would glance at his younger sibling with that frustrating smile on his handsome face. Where Daravf would scratch his hairy beard and push the brown hair from his face, Oluk had a few hairs on his face and would only have to push his hair back for it to be perfect.
And even though she admitted he was a very able crown prince, she also saw his little brother as the best choice. For a Bear, Daravf was the smartest they had seen in the past two-hundred years or more.
‘If it was merely a trip, maybe,’ the older one said. He seemed distracted by something in the distant, but all there was, were trees and a path.
‘How far are we from the White City?’ the boy asked, he neither had eyes for his sibling, his were in the trees, with the birds and insects.
‘Far, we haven’t even passed the heart of Enkil,’ Oluk snapped.
Nima understood that as well, Daravf was supposed to be the smartest of the two, but whenever they headed to Hawkra he turned into a different kind of person. He wouldn’t pay attention to anything anymore, he would ask questions that seemed unprepared, and speak up when silence was wished.
‘If we ride fast we might make it by noon tomorrow,’ the boy said, to make up for his previous words. ‘These horses are strong and fine, we have enough provisions, and dad said that he wanted us to make haste, at the least.’
Nima giggled silently. She loved her prince, and always wondered when he would embark on his next subject. Today was not such a day, she knew what he was thinking about, he would talk about it to her in secret, as if he was just a boy younger than he might look. He thought about her, the girl from the White City, the princess. Nima just couldn’t help thinking of their love as some beautiful fairy tale with a prince and a princess. She couldn’t help pushing Daravf to make some kind of contact, but he was timid. ‘He did said so.’
Oluk laughed. ‘Sure did, but I rather trade the company of the Falcons for the night skies and scary lights. Those birds get to your head, brother. We will only be there for a couple of days, good as that.’
‘Harsh words, brother. They’ve shown us nothing but kindness, which of course is strange, the Falcons are… well, considered to be self-sufficient.’
‘Talk of something else, pray. You must have some time to rest your mouth or put it to sleep.’
Now Daravf laughed, and took Nima aside. He would leave his brother alone, and talk to her.

[Cara]

Elmyra closed her eyes, as she felt her hands skim the air. She couldn't imagine never being able to fly! There were so many people who could never know such pleasure. What is even worse were those who Clipped, never again to be able to fly. She thought of the day she would learn that ancient magic. To have the ability to lock away someone's Demi Form... She shuddered at the thought. Only her mother, Queen Circe and the head the Mercy, had that ability.
From this height, the glistening spires of white marble of her home were tiny. The mountain they sat on was even small below her. The rivers were threads and the fields and farms just squares in the land.
Up here, she could think, be free...


Hengi leaned back, so that his chair sat on the back two legs. He twirled the knife easily between his fingers. A young maid came by and looked at him through ducked eyes. "Would you care for another drink?"
Hengi only nodded. "Make it a strong one..." he said, never taking his eyes off the surrounding bar. The woman nodded, took his empty glass and left. Hengi felt the smooth stretch of skin and teeth, as his fangs slipped down to press against the back of his lips. A group of men sat on the other side of the room, taking quietly. They did not notice him in the corner, dressed in black, scaled leather. Hengi watched as a fifth man walked in to join the table. The men greeted him as he sat down.
He watched, his eyes missing nothing. Five men: two snakes, one crow, one bear, and one wolf. A pretty fierce bunch, but he only needed the two snakes.
Hengi stood and slowly walked over. They looked up as he reached them.
Three of them immediately recognized them and jumped to their feet. A chair clattered back on the floor. "The King's Bloody Hand..." one said, pale. Suddenly the two snakes picked up the table and threw it at Hengi. Hengi jumped over the table changing into his Demi mid leap. His clawed hand slashed out, slamming one man into the wall. With incredible agility he grabed the wolf and crow and slammed them into each other. He heard the ring of steel being drawn and whirled around. He just missed the blade as it swung past his face. Reaching past the man's hand, he grabbed the elbow and twisted. He heard the snap, as he kicked the man's knee out.
People screamed as one of the men flew across the room, slamming into a table.
Hengi looked at each of them. Two were unconscious, one was moaning on the floor. He had the other's throat in his hand. Where was the fifth? He suddenly saw the man dart out the door into the busy street. Hengi swore. He slammed the man's head into the table, knocking him out. He turned on a heel as he raced after the man, leaving the stunned bar owner and patrons staring after him. He saw the man try and vanish into the crowd. He would come back for them later; they weren't going anywhere, but he couldn't let this one get away!

Hengi jumped up, his clawed hands digging into the sides of the buildings as he climbed to the roofs. He leapt nimbly from roof to room, his eyes watching the man. He crouched down, keeping out of sight, but waiting for the man to slow.
The man stopped, looking around nervously. He took a deep. It was then that Hengi jumped down on top of him, bringing his knee into the man's face. He gave a yell, his head cracking against the ground. Hengi pulled him up and slammed him against the wall. The man struggled, hissing, his fangs out. Hengi leaned close, barring his fags too, as his cut off the man's air.
"Under the authority of the King's Bloody Hand, you are under arrest. Resist and die."

[Galadas]

Daravf pulled his horse around that of his brother, who didn’t seem to notice it. They were some hours from the White City, Oluk had admitted to the young Bear’s idea of riding so they would make it there in the middle of the night, instead of the next morning.
The young prince loved the forest, the animals that lived there, the insects, the leafs, but he knew there were different things waiting for him in the city of the Falcons, and he would rather go there than stay unprotected.
Leafs brushed against his heavy cloak, the wind blew his brown hair backwards, which was something positive, because normally they would be a disadvantage to his vision.
The group stopped when they heard footsteps up ahead, Oluk and the two guards were focusing on the sound, their blades drawn. Meanwhile Daravf had picked up on something else, a small, black and white, bird, wavering past, looking down upon them with dark eyes. A peregrine falcon. The bird hovered over the forest, wings spread, the wind giving balance. He was somehow admiring the bird from a distant, enchanted by it, because not only did he find it the most beautiful thing in the world, he also overflowed with jealousy. Why couldn’t he fly?
The picture of the bird didn’t hold, instead an arrow ripped Daravf’s eyes away from his focus.
‘Get back!’ Oluk shouted, his horse turning round, riding towards his brother.
‘They’re after the falcon, Oluk!’ Daravf shouted back, jumping of the horse. He felt like protecting the beautiful bird, and he knew just how he could do that most impressively. His whole shape changed automatically, he only had to open himself up to his surroundings, his body flowing together with his animal shape. His hair growing all over, the power of his muscles ripping through his clothing, suddenly his whole experience of the forest had intensified a hundred times.
‘I don’t care, get back!’ But the older brother saw it was too late, his little brother had changed into his Demi form, and was now two times larger than him. He ordered his horse to get out of the way. ‘Dar! Get back!’
Daravf ignored his brother, his huge shape crashing through the forest grounds, keeping his eyes on the falcon that flew overhead, dodging arrows. He growled loudly, pushing a big tree out of the ground, in order to get to an open place, where a net was shot into the sky, capturing the bird. His growl grabbed the attention of the strange bowmen.
Not before long two arrows were shot his way, which he could easily dodge. He had taken the two by surprise, and his bear-form was to his advantage. He bit through the first one’s shoulder, breaking the bone. The second archer was shot in the neck by Oluk, who had managed not to take the chance of changing, and fought the bowmen with the weapons they carried. Daravf only had to press one claw into the warm flesh to end the life of the first bowmen, ending the short fight.
‘Damnit, Daravf, what were you thinking!’ Oluk yelled, running towards the big bear that had started feeding on his killed prey. One of the guards helped the bird escape from the net, while the other searched for a sign of more enemies.
The beer replied with a soft growl, his big teeth and brown fur sticking with blood.
‘Change back!’ Oluk demanded, kicking the beer against his stomach. ‘You’re a prince, damnit!’
It took a few more seconds before the beer became a boy, a naked bloody boy. Oluk took of his cloak, covering his little brother in it. ‘You’re an idiot.’
‘I saved the bird didn’t I?’ Daravf replied, shaking the cold away, and pushing the cloak against his body. He smiled proudly, normally his brother was the more impressive one.
Oluk snorted, turning around to see what his little brother was making such a fuzz about. He saw the same black and white bird as Daravf, but all he could think about was what it might mean for the boy’s reputation. ‘If you ever tell anyone you saw Prince Darafv Measters’ but, I’ll track you down myself and make a nice roasted chicken out of you!’

[Cara]

Elmyra was laughing. She flew over the miles of farms and houses. If anyone saw her... She couldn't let that happen. With ease, she shifted, changing from her Demi form - half human, half kieshra - to her full animal form. Her wings snapped open as she gained altitude. She had never flown this far from the White City before.

Suddenly an arrow flashed past her. She easily dodged it, her instincts kicking in. If she hadn't been in her full form, she would have died. Was that a blunted arrow meant to knock her out of the sky without hopefully killing her?
Elmyra was in shock. She had felt the arrows skim her wings! Her shock had withered to fear then to rage. She was so focused on dodging the blunted arrows that she didn’t see the net until it had tangled in her wings.
She started to fall. Elmyra shrieked, as she attempted to shift into her Demi form, but she could feel the material of the net slice through feathers and skin. It was touched with magic!
She hit the ground, her fall only barely softened by the trees. Pain shot through her wings and she could barely breathe. She clawed and screamed as two men came over with a dagger. Bears!!! What had happened!? Who had tried to shoot her? She couldn’t do anything, as they cut the rope off of her. What? She was so confused, but the pain was clouding her head.
With the net off of her, she was able to quickly shift back into her Demi form. It was unheard of for her to walk in her naked (human) form. She had learned the high art of totoforma, the art of shapeshifting with your clothes to reform with the body. It was developed by her ancestors of the White City, but still not many could do it. She felt the folds of her midnight blue gown settle around her in a warm layer over feathers, tender against her raw skin. Her wings stretched long down her back. She felt as she pulled her wings protectively against her body, that one didn’t sit well against her shoulder blades, and it flamed in pain as she moved it.
She felt her anger run through her. She knew it was dangerous of her to change like this. In the back of her mind, a warning went through her. She was unguarded, unprotected, far from home. No one knew where she was, only Micken, and he couldn't tell anyone... Her fear was raw, but her anger was stronger. She was the Second Princess Elmyra Peragine of The White City. She pushed the pain to the back of her mind and set her Avian mask. It was a trait that the falcons prided themselves on; being able to hide their emotions, even physical pain behind what they called the “Avian Reserve” or “Avian Mask”.
Oluk stepped back as he watched Elmyra shift into young girl before his eyes. He had never seen anyone shift with totoforma, it was almost unheard of. He had believe it a myth for most of his life. Who was this girl? Then it hit him. Falcon, so obviously from the White City, but she wasn’t just any falcon. She was peregrine falcon, which meant she was from the High Court and somehow apart of the royal family. It was evident now that he saw her rich dress and her silver hair streaked in violet that brought out the deep violet set eyes she had.
"Roast chicken?" Elmyra snapped. "How dare you insult me in such a manner. Do you know who I am!?" she demanded.


Micken paced back and forth by the window. What was taking Elmyra so long? She was testing her limits again. Suddenly there was a knock at the door. He jumped at the sound.
"Princess Elmyra?" a voice asked. Micken walked to the door and opened it. It was a messenger.
"She is not in," Micken said.
The young girl, a sparrow, frowned. "Oh, well...." she ducked her eyes. "I was told I could find her here in her room. Her presence has been requested by the queen."
Shit, Micken thought. "I will pass that message along." The girl nodded and stepped back to leave. Micken thought again. "Wait. May I ask why?"
The girl blushed. "Yes! I almost forgot. I apologize, sir...." Micken looked at her again. Sir? He didn't deserve that title, but he didn't bother to correct her. She was probably fairly new. He hadn't seen her face before. "Queen Circe is expecting royal visitors from Aliaska."
"Bears?"
The girl looked at him. "Yes. They are expected by evenfall, and the Queen wishes both her daughters to be present. Tell the Princess that we are preparing a bath for her now and that there will be servants to bring up the new dress that was finished this morning."
Shit! Where could Elmyra be? She hadn't meant to be gone this long. She would be missed!


Hengi ignored the looks of people as they passed him, stepping far wide of him. The man struggeled under his finger tips. It was with much practice that Hengi knew how much pressure the skin could take before breaking under the weight of his clawed fingers.
He eased up his grip. The man took a gasping breath.
“Please, please... I have a family...”
Hengi tightened again, cutting off the man’s pleading. “And you still do have a family,” he threatened. “We wouldn’t want to change that, now would we?” he asked. The man paled and stopped struggling.
“For what you tried to do, I should gut you in the street and leave you for the carion.” Hengi felt the man start shaking. It smiled at this. He had orders that this man be delivered to the palace to pay for his actions. Oh how he wished he could have his way with him, but it wasn’t his orders...

Hengi lead the man through the streets, taking the back routes. He knew that the other guards in his party had managed to get the other four men that he had managed to disable.
He lead his prisoner deep into the bowels of the castle. The man had stopped trying to resist much earlier, resigned to his fate.
When Hengi entered the main chamber, King Renner was already there, the other four accomplices were there, tied together, on their knees. They glanced at Hengi and his prisoner in tow.
“Master Hengi, you have not failed me yet...” King Renner said with a smile, his white fangs flashing.
Hengi dropped his head in a bow. “I bring the fifth accomplice,” he said, kicking the man forward who stumbled to his knees.
Despite being King Renner’s bastard son, he had no ties to the royal house. In looks he took after father, with jet black hair, pale skin, and the ruby red eyes of the Cobrina. He had been teased and ignored by most of the court when he was younger. That was when he started training with the guards and quickly progressed, besting even the personal guardsmen of his father. It was his father who had given him the title of the Hand, which was a positioned created just for him, but it was only a few years later until people started calling him the King’s Bloody Hand. And Hengi had embraced the name fully. He enjoyed the respect that it gave him, something he had earned without any royalty to his name.
King Renner stood, looking at the five men. “You have been charged with murder of Lady Saran of the Third Court. How do you plead?”
“Not guilty!” everyone but one man said. “Guilty.”
Hengi turned to look at the man. It wasn’t the two snakes, but a bear. He wouldn’t have guessed that. Neither had the King. The bear was smiling, his fangs unhidden.
“Why did you do it?” Hengi couldn’t help ask. He was taken so off guard.
“You don’t listen, do you?” the man said, looking at the king. “You think your silly war with Hawkara is the most important thing in the world... You are so stupid and naïve!” the man, snarled, standing. Hengi drew his sword, the sound adding edge to the man’s words. “You fight the wrong people! The wrong people! Those birds are not your enemy. Lady Saran saw this and still was one of the largest endorsers of the war. So I killed her.” He laughed, its manic sound coarse against the marble of the room.
Hengi looked at the king. He knew that when the man was dead silent, he was at his angriest. All he had to say was one word: “Hengi”. Hengi stepped behind the man and with one quick, powerful stroke, lobbed off the man’s head.

[Cara]

(Ok, so I updated the Introduction Part, adding a little info about Mixed Blood, and more detail on the Demi Forms with some images to give an idea...Ah got to love DeviantART.
I also updated my character profiles, and added a new character I was inspired. Haha)

{2 Weeks Ago}
Mersena stared at her reflection in the pane of glass to make sure that her hair fell into her eyes. She pulled her hood tighter over her head. She jumped as she felt her mother place a warm arm over her shoulders. "I know you are nervous, Mersena..."
"Why do we have to be here?" Mersena asked, glancing around at everyone walking past her. She peeked up at the breath-taking spiral marble columns of the White City. They were beautiful, and she had never been to the White City before. She had only heard stories about it. She also knew her mother had a deep love for this place. It was her home, her ancestral home as well. She could see the happiness at returning to this place in her mother's face. She could see her eyes glistening with unshed tears. Her mother's tales were much different from the stories and rumors you could hear floating around the other cities though. The White City was dangerously beautiful, as were the falcons.
If anyone knew who she was, she would be killed instantly. And her parents? They would probably be exiled or arrested. Or even killed. She shuddered to think of it.
Her mother looked her in the eyes. They never understood where the red of her eyes were from. Her fathers were a chocolate brown and her mothers were the color of the sky in the pre-twilight.
"I need something. It is very important..." Mersena sighed at this. Her mother gave her a reassuring smile. "We will only stay for few days. Nothing more. I promise. Then we can leave and never return."
Mersena nodded, her mother's words not doing anything to ease her nerves.
They would be staying with her mother's old friend. Her father would stay in the house and help, as her mother would leave for a few hours and return. They made sure to not let Mersena hear anything that they were talking about. She was upset at this, but she knew it was important. It had something to do with her, she was sure too, which only made it worse.

[b{Present}[/b]

"OPEN UP!"
Mersena jumped up in bed. She could hear her parents' voices and their urgent whispers. It was dark, and she could hardly see anything through the window. It was still well in the middle of the night.
Her mother was before her in an instant, grabbing her arm and yanking her to her feet.
"Come, love. You must hide..."
Mersena, dazed and frightened, let her mother lead her away from the banging on the door and into the secret cellar. As her mother unlocked the secret trap door under the rug, there were shouts, protests, as a the sound of a wood shattering was heard as the door was kicked in. Her mother ushered her inside, throwing down two bags. There was a muffled grunt.
"Come with me...." Mersena pleaded, but her mother wasn't looking. She shoved the key to the door into Mersena's hand.
"I love you, dear. Remember that..." her mother said, in a rushed whisper. She yanked off her necklace and gave that to Mersena. "Do not come out, no matter what you hear. Lock the door from the inside."
Then her mother shut the door and Mersena was plunged into darkness. It wasn't a few seconds after she locked the door that she could hear her mothers voice through the floor.
"Are you Lady Katalai? Who else was here?!" a man demanded.
"No one. Just my husband and I." There was a sound of flesh hitting flesh, and her mother gave a whimper.
"Husband... Pah!" another man said. "Skafad (a horrible name to call someone who takes a mate from another race)."
"We have reports that there was a girl..."
"Only a street urchin that we hired while we were here to run errands for us....Please tell me, where is my husband? Where is Oloro?" her mother said, quickly changing the subject away from Mersena. There was a muffled sound, then a scream, followed by sobbing. "Why would you do this? Have you no mercy?" her mother pleaded. There was sounds of a fight.
"We are the Queen's Mercy..." a man replied coldly. "Lady Katalai, have you no honor? You are a citizen of the White City, despite having left for many years, you still are one of us. You know our laws and ways. And you will be punished for your actions!"
There was a creaking of floorboards, and Mersena stepped back away from the hatch. She could only hear what was happening in the room above her. She was terrified.
There was another scream, followed by what sounded like a short scuffle. Then silence. She could hear the footsteps leaving the room.

Mersena held her breath, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn't know how long she waited, but when she finally had the courage to unlock the door and push back the rug covering it, the darkness had already faded away to the pale of the dawn.
She looked around, seeing one body - her fathers. His head was lying far from the rest of his body. Mersena dropped to her knees, choking back a scream, as bile rose in her throat. She wretched until her stomach was empty. Only once she caught her breath did she fully assess what had happened. Her mother's friends who had opened their home to them were lying by the broken door, their throats cut wide open. The blood that covered the floor was black in the faint light.
Mersena fetched the few bags that her mother had thrown down with her. She looked at her father, bent over and closed his eyes. They would be back, she was sure. And once the town started to wake up, everyone would know that the Queen's Mercy, her personal guard, had been here. She had to get as far away as possible.

Mersena ran and didn't stop running until she was at least outside of the city limits. Thankfully, they hadn't stayed within the city walls, but around it. Now it was full morning, and she could see smoke rising from the roofs of the houses. She moved farther from the road, deeper into the forest. A small stream ran by. She dropped her bags, unsure what to expect. She hadn't bothered to look through them earlier. She had only sought to get out of the city. Now, she bent over and opened them up. One was her bag with a few changes of clothes and her traveling cloak. She looked at her hands, which were stained with her father's blood.
She let them sit in the water, watching them run clean. Mersena changed, discarding her bloody night gown. She took her mother's necklace and hung it around her neck, tucking it out of sight in her shirt. It was a pendant of a beautiful stone set in silver etchings of feathers along either side (IMAGE).
She looked in the other bag. It was the heavy one. When she opened it up, she wasn't surprised to see a small hip dagger and a long knife. She was well practiced with both, never having been able to shapeshift, she had spent her days practicing with various weapons. She attached both to her belt. There was also a book. Tucked inside was a slip of parchment with a few addresses and random names. She didn't recognize anyone. Her father's map and flute was also inside. She wasn't very good at it, but she tucked that into her bag, happy to have a piece of her father with her.
Now what? She couldn't stay here, and returning to The White City wasn't an option. She could return to wolf pack...but as her father had said, because she couldn't shapeshift, she would never have a place there, where power and rank was based off of being able to fight. She wanted to scream, but her father always had taught her to keep a level head. She could grieve later, once she was safe.

[Galadas]

Oluk's face turned all shades of red when the Falcon showed her true colors. A young maid with silver hair and a beautiful dress, but that wasn't the reason for his confusion. He staggered towards Daravf, grabbed his little brother by his ear and moved him into the direction of the princess. 'I'm sorry for my harsh words, milady, but you must understand how worried a man gets when his brother starts attacking two armed shooters on his own,' he spoke. Trying to sound somehow a bit friendly.
Darafv just stared at Elmyra with open eyes, not sure what to say.
'And here's your savior by the way, it would be lovely if he knew that trick you can do. He's not very good at seeming the consequences of his actions.' Oluk never had trouble talking, and he always made a reputation for himself. He walked back to the horses, looking for some extra clothes, while Darafv just stood there, keeping his eyes to the ground.
'Will you be joining us, Princess? We're heading for the White City, and we wouldn't mind if you would delight us with your presence,' Darafv said. He was quiet the odd boy, Oluk never talked to him about how he should be around the ladies, and all his father taught him was how to act in the company of a higher court, a lesson that Oluk clearly had skipped.
He didn't know however if Elmyra recognized the two Bears that had appeared within her city once before. That had been the first real meeting between the eager court of Alaiska and the Peregrine Falcons of the White City. It had been a year ago, and Darafv wouldn't be surprised if it turned out his father had been playing at an alliance ever since, it was now just merely a friendship.
'I'm Darafv Measters and that is my brother Oluk,' he said, holding his hand out towards the beautiful creature he had been dreaming about the past year.
Oluk shrugged.


Tosha woke slightly when he heard Hill turning around in her bed down the hall. She was loud when she slept, but she was also always there when he needed her. He opened his eyes, staring outside at the dark skies, he had gone to bed early, but the rest of the castle would still be running around.
With an almost mechanic movement, Tosha pushed himself from his bed. He staggered to the closet and covered himself in a fine linen morning coat, where he kept warm. Instead of waking Hill, Tosha left the room quietly and on his own. He never liked the fact that he was dependent, of help, of Hill.
He pushed his bleak hair back, straightening his back, and watching down the hall to find the next light. No one passed him as he made his way towards the main chamber. His legs were aching, but his head felt wide awake. It was never the case that his body moved along with his mind, mostly it was his muscles and bones that had the hardest days, while he could stay away for days at a time.
‘So I killed her!’
Tosha turned his head up to decided where the voice came from. He covered his chest with his arms when he heard the laugh, it was hysterical, almost frightening. He walked on, entering the main chamber just at the moment when a head came sprawling off a body and hit the ground, blood soaking the stones.
‘Hengi!’ the prince said amazed, trying to delete the sight of the head from his mind. Hengi and him had been friends for years, but their relationship had changed, a bit so because of his newest job. Yet, only Hill and Hengi ever made him feel comfortable. He covered his face in a sweet smile, ignoring his father, who would only be considering his son’s health.
‘It’s been long,’ he said, walking over to give his half-brother a strong pat on his shoulder.


Nima laughed at Broadens’ mention of her masters outstanding speeches, since they had prince to make fun off, they just used their memories. The carts were settled beside the road, tents were set up a bit more into the forest, and along the line fires had been made for the few servants that the princes had. Darafv nor Oluk were not there to tell them to head on, or to serve, so it kind of turned into a party.
People were joking around, dining together and there was no mention of orders. There were though, talks about the coming war.
‘The Bears are going to be on one of those sides, if you ask me,’ said Broadens when he heard two servant girls discussing the topic.
‘King Measters would never do such a thing,’ one of the girls replied.
Nima had met King Carvvol Measters in real life, he was capable of such a thing, everything to widen his horizon, but she wasn’t going to say that to the girls. She didn’t want to scare anyone, because to be honest, the idea of going to war scared her to death.

[Cara]

ELmyra pushed the pain to the back of her mind. She could assess if she had any broken bones later, though she was sure her wing was sprained if not worse, but she doubted that these bears could tell. In any other situation, she would have declined and flown home, but that was no longer an option.
"Ah, yes Thank you for that invitation; I accept. You are the sons of the King Measter," she said. Of royal birth, she was taught to know other diplomats and royalty, though she hadn't recognized these two at all. She noticed now that she had calmed herself, to see the crested bearclaw of their house and city. Otherwise, they were in travel gear, and the younger man wasn't even wearing anything at all. The silver circlet that he wore on his heard to assert his position, had fallen tot he ground when he had shifted. Elmyra bent and picked it up. It was beautiful craftsmanship; heavy and solid, like all of the metalwork of the bears. "I believe you dropped this," she said, holding out the circlet to Darafv.
Oluk took it from her for his brother, smiling. "Thank you, milady..."
She was still shaken, as she turned and looked at the men who had tried to shoot her. She picked up the fine net between her fingertips. She could feel the magic woven into the sharp thread of the net, yet she couldn't recognize what kind of magic it was. Her mother would have to look into it. Oh Enkil! Her mother! She would be poorly missed! How would she explain her absence? And the fact that she was coming back with the princes of Aliaska? Her well-trained mask almost cracked at this thought. Micken would be in such trouble....
"Who were these men?" she said, an edge to her voice. "How did you come by them?"

Hengi looked at Tosha, surprised. "Tosha!" he said, grinning. He gave him a confused look, before bowing his head. "I'm sorry m'lord. You shouldn't have seen this..." he said, glancing down at his sword, still wet with blood. He watched the two guards come to take the head and body away, blood still spurting from the gaping neck.
The king was standing. "Take the other prisoners away!" he commanded. "They will be kept for questioning..." As the other men were taken out, he stepped off the dais and looked at Hengi and Tosha.
"My Lord, should we have waited to hear what he had to say?" Hengi asked, quietly. He had wanted to know what the man, crazy or not, had to say. What did he mean that they were fighting the wrong people? But he knew from experience that it was better in such a situation to just do as the king commanded. To ask questions would mean punishment later.
"No. I tried him for killing a member of the royal court, and he was found guilty. And you executed him. End of all matters," the king said, briskly. He was a stubborn man, sometimes too quick to act. Hengi bowed again, "Of course, my Lord".

Mersena hefted her pack onto her shoulders, discarding the other bag and dropping it into the stream. It was carried away by the current. Would they be looking for her? She had never felt so lost. Her parents had done their best to keep her a secret, but that also meant keeping things from her too. She didn't know why her mother had decided to return to her homeland, even when it meant she could be caught and arrested. Her parents had been ordinary people. She knew enough that it was out of the ordinary for the Queen's Mercy to personally come. What had her mother done? Her father?
Perhaps she should find out? Her mother had said that it was because of her. What was worth dying for though? For her? And that would mean staying in the White City...

[Cara]

Mersena brushed herself off, looking over her appearance. Her clothes were worn and dark, dusty and torn from much use and travel. The White City was one of the richest cities, and the falcons prided themselves on their appearance. She would stand out more in these clothes than in nicer clothes. The city guard would notice her. While outside the main gates, she thought she would be alright, but if she wanted to enter the main city, she should be better dressed. And she had to show her Demi. Shit. She couldn't shapeshift at all, how was she suppsed to show her Demi?
Mersena sighed. No, going back to the White City was out of the question, yet there too many unanswered questions. No, she would head to Skarine, the city of the serpents. Out of all the major cities, they were the most...open. She would blend easily there. Unfortunately it was her red eyes that might get her into trouble. They were a unique symbol of the Renner family. She would have to take that risk. Where else could she go?
For an avian, it was a fairly simple task of traveling. The White City was one of the farthest regions away from Skarine, which lay far to the south, along the coast of the Narrow Sea. She would either have to make her away across the Blood of Enkil, at Farce, or go through the forest of Teeth. That was wolf territory. No, to Farce it was. Even on a good horse, it would be a long ride. She expected that if she did not deviate from her destination, it would take at least two weeks to get to Farce, and another two or three weeks to get from Farce to Skarine. Yet, she had all the time in the world. She shouldn't be a problem. Now, she had to steal a horse.

[Cara]

(ok, so while you are working on your posts for the rps, and while i am waiting to be able to use my other characters that are tied in with you, I'll work with Mersena ;D )

Mersena stood and looked at her long dark auburn hair. It fell long and curling to her lower back. She mother would always braid it for her.... She shook her head. No, she had to think clearly. She looked at her mother's amulet a moment. No, the hair had to go. A young girl traveling alone would attract too much attention. Though she was slender with a narrow face, if she cut her hair, it would at least make her less conspicuous.
She knelt, taking her dagger out of its sheath. With a sign, she bent to see her reflection in the water, and pulled the sharp blade across her gathered hair. It fell away, leaving jagged edges. She looked at her reflection again. It was so short, and totally messy, but it would do. She took a moment to attempt to chop her bangs back as well before standing. She had seen a horse farm a few way back. She would sneak back and maybe then at night take a horse...

Mersena pulled her hood tightly over her eyes as she trotted down the road. Still over her shoulder she could see the enormous spires of the White City. This road was not one of the main ones, but it was still used more frequently than she felt comfortable. So she would take precautions.
The stolen horse had been pure luck. She liked how he felt underneath her, and he was a strong horse too. He listened to her guiding reigns without hesitation. He was quite beautiful, she saw, but not too much that it would attract attention.
Her stomach growled. Her dad was the hunter. How could she expect to feed herself? She had no bow, and she knew not how to make any traps. All the money she had she wanted to save. Who knew when she would really need it? She had to see how far she could get. With luck it would take a few weeks to get to Skarine. What would she do there, she didn't know. She had only been there when she was a baby. Her parents had lived there after they had married. It was one of the most liberal cities in the world, and as long as you were not of Avian blood, there was no problem.
Perhaps she could find a job...or... It was her only option. She had to try... By two days she could stop in the smaller Falcon city of Amar.

[Galadas]

Darafv pulled his naked body in the few spare clothes he had gotten from one of their guards. He hadn’t thought to bring any himself, because what in earth would ever allow him to turn so swiftly. Female birds in need, probably helped more than he figured would, normally it was his brother that took on the dangerous things.
‘We rode out and found them attacking you,’ Oluk spoke, his face had turned back into the mask of annoyance that he wore always. ‘I have no idea what they are, or who they are, but they certainly weren’t prepared for Bears attacking, so fairly strong or prepared they were neither.’ The older brother signed his guards to take away the bodies, first of scanning them on hidden tokens or artifacts that might indicate their loyalty.
Elmyra did not respond, she only watched as the guards pulled the body Darafv had mutilated into the woods, and searched the second body.
Oluk walked back to his horse and took the reins, with heavy steps he walked over to the Princess, handing her his own horse. ‘I hope your mother won’t mind,’ he said. In words it sounded as a tease, but in truth the older brother never sounded more than constantly irritated.
Darafv knew that when Oluk handed his horse over to a guest, he mostly ended up behind his brother on his own horse, and that did always seem to annoy him. He rather rode himself, instead of seeming like a child. He made no remark whatsoever, not when around Elmyra, who seemed so stunning and strong though she had just been attacked.

( I have a hard time finding inspiration, but hopefully the others will follow)

[Cara]

(haha well I have a tentative plan with Mersena and Tosha, as well as an idea for the overall plan of the rp between the Falcons, Avians, and the Serpentine, oh and wolves.... )

Elmyra closed her eyes a moment. "Here," she said handing the net to a guard. "I want the bodies and all their possessions brought back to the palace," she said. "Perhaps more can be divined by our Seers there. This was surely not meant for me," she said, more to herself than to anyone else. "They couldn't have known..." She shook her head. "But this net was meant to capture a falcon, I can tell you that."
"We are ready, princess," Oluk said, as he mounted his horse. He looked expectantly at her.
Elmyra looked at the horse who's reins she held. She wrinkled her nose in distaste. "Uh..." she said, suddenly embarrassed. "I am sure I can fly..." she said. "I would hate to burden you, two men to one horse. Or well burden the horse," she said, dropping the reins. Oluk frowned, and dismounted. Darafv got off the horse too, relieved that he could have his horse back.
"Is that wise, princess?" Oluk asked, watching Elmyra. She nodded quickly, glancing back at the horse. She disliked such...beasts. They were so unlike the Kieshra form, yet too similar to the Horse people of the Burning Plains. Plus she always flew or walked. She had no idea how to ride a horse, yet she wasn't going to let these Bears know that.
Elmyra took a deep breath as she stretched her wings wide. She gave a silent hiss of pain as he left wing ripped with pain. The White City wasn't that far.... She could fly on a lame wing!
Oluk and Darafv's eyes widened as the sight of her giant wingspan. They had only seen her in full form or in her Demi with her wings folded close down her back.
Elmyra leapt into the air, her wings pumping. She wasn't twenty feet off the ground when the pain was too much. For an instant she through she could clear the top of the trees, but in a flash of blinding pain, the world spun and she was falling again.

Darafv had seen many birds fly, and the moment Elmyra had jumped into the air, he knew she was hurt. The left wing, as large as it was, seems awkward in its movements. No sooner did he notice this, he saw her start to lose altitude.
Without thinking he ran forwards, arms outstretched. The falcon let out a high pitched screech of a peregrine before landing in Darafv's arms, a tangle of limbs and feathers.
Darafy had expected her to be heavy, but she was so light that it almost surprised him. Light as a feather. By that time Oluk and the rest of their guard had ran over to where Darafv knelt with Elmyra in his arms.
Elmyra opened her eyes, and for a moment they reflected the light like the backs of mirrors, but those eyes were filled with pain and...something else. Shame?
"Princess Elmyra! Are you hurt?" Oluk said, ignoring Darafv. Only her pride, Darafv thought to himself. Elmyra sat up, bringing her wings towards her body. Her left wing hung now at a weird angle, as when she moved it, Darafv could feel her body stiffen in pain. Otherwise she didn't let the pain show.
"Yes, I am fine," she said, glancing at Darafv. She still sat in his arms. Suddenly embarrassed, he stood, helping Elmyra to her feet. He was careful not to touch her wings. Even injured, Elmyra seemed beautiful, regal and fierce.
"Come, we must get you back to the White City," Oluk said, worried. If Elmyra was hurt even worse on his watch, how would the Queen treat his envoy then?
Elmyra still looked at the horse and frowned. "I... I cannot ride, my lord prince," she finally admitted.
"You can ride with me, princess." Darafv heard the words come from his own mouth before he had registered that he had even said them. He looked from Elmyra to Oluk, who's expression was as sharp as it was angry, but he hid it quickly enough.
Elmyra, her face impassive, only gave a nod of acceptance.

Everyone was mounted again except Elmyra. Her left wing hung limply by her side, while her right was folded tight against her back. Darafv was mounted and reached down to give a hand to Elmyra. She didn't move, but only stared deeply past him.
"Princess Elmyra, you cannot mount with your wing so injured like that..." Oluk said. "Can you not change back to your first skin?"
Darafv was watching Elmyra carefully, and despite her overly resolute expression, he saw a small quaver of fear.
"Princess?" Oluk asked, unaware of Elmyra's discomfort.
Darafv was wondering what was wrong. She would be uninjured if she let her body absorb her wings and shapeshift from her Demi into her first skin, or human form. Then she could also ride a horse without difficulty. What was the problem? He was trying to think this over when he realized why Elmyra was so against shapeshifting into her human form.
"Oluk..." Darafv said, in warning. The Falcons were the first Kieshra, it was said. They were the closes to the magics of Kieshra and to the heart tree. And it was not only law, but honor that kept the people of the White City in their Demi forms. They believed that to walk in your human skin was to be ashamed of your right to the sky and to the birth of Kieshra. Many other cities people walked about in all manners of form, but for the falcons there was only their Demi of Full form. For Elmyra to show her "unpure" human form would shame her in the worst possible way.
"It's ok," Darafv said, looking at Elmyra. She looked at him, really looked at him for the first time. She gave him a sad smile, as she closed her eyes and pulled herself into the saddle. Darafv felt her tense, as a wave of pain came over her. She moved her wing so that it hung off the horse loosely. Elmyra would ride in excruciating pain over no pain and ease at all, for the sake of her pride and honor.
"Are you ready, princess?" Oluk said both with politeness and impatience.
She nodded.
Thank you, Darafv Measters, second son of Aliasak. Darafv blinked before looking at her in shock, the last of her words fading in his head. All she did was close her eyes, as blissful unconsciousness took away the pain.