After some discussion, the process of ferrying the Samanayrs who couldn't make the journey back to the Hotsprings began. Halcyon would hunker down as low to the ground as she could while Arrow, Rider and, after a while, Glint would help the exhausted passenger on, strapping them in firmly. The Samanayrs that were still able to walk under their own power wandered away in dribs and drabs while Glint made an effort to thank each one personally. To his astonishment his earlier attempts to remember each individual by name were more or less successful.
The Hotsprings weren't too far away by air, and it not yet evening when Halcyon returned to the path. Glint had stayed there with the remaining Samanayrs, but he was alone as Halcyon landed in the warm light of late afternoon. Rider looked over her shouder at him, not dismounting.
"Can you make it back, or do you need our help?" Rider called to Glint.
The Kirin, now feeling much improved after the ministrations from the Healer and a long rest, bristled a little at the implication that he couldn't make the journey back on his own. "I'm fine now, it was just a little tumble, but thank you for the offer." He hesitated a moment, then said, "And, well, thank you for saving me."
"Thank
you for finding the creature for me," Rider said with a laugh. We'd almost lost the trail, and it likely would have gone into hiding if you fine folks hadn't drawn it out."
Glint wasn't sure how to take this comment, so he said instead, "How long will it be before you return with the bounty?"
"Shouldn't be more than a few days." The Rider glanced at the sky. "In fact, we'll be off now while there's still daylight left. See you soon!"
The falcon took off as Rider whistled to her, diving from the edge of the cliff and then rising in a spiral as she caught a thermal with Arrow following behind. They headed south while Glint stood watching, until they were just a dot on the horizon.
It had certainly been an interesting day. Glint heaved a sigh, wincing at the lingering soreness in his ribs, before continuing up the path. It would probably be best to talk to the Song of High Ice before he headed back. Although he was bone-tired and felt as though he could sleep for a week, there was still work to be done.
- - -
As promised, Rider returned several days later in the midst of a gentle snowfall. The shadow of Halcyon swept over the Song of the Rainbow Hotsprings, and although Glint was glad to see that the Samanayr had kept his promise he wished he had picked a warmer day to return. With a sigh, Glint heaved himself from the warm hotspring, shook as much water as he could manage from his coat, and then trotted the short distance to the Expedition HQ.
Arrow was just undoing the last of the buckles on Halcyon's harness when Glint arrived. The white stallion cried a greeting to him, leaping gracefully from Halcyon's back when he was free of the harness. The falcon eyed Glint and made a quiet muttering noise.
"Success!" Rider cried, "We claimed the bounty for the creature. Granted, it wasn't much, and with the split between us and you it won't keep food in our bellies for too long.. but it's better than nothing!"
Arrow appeared at his side clutching a small sack that appeared to be bulging with coins. Glint, who didn't have much experience with money, stared at it, not certain what he should do.
"We also got you these!" Rider whistled something at Arrow, and the dragonet darted back to Halcyon. After a brief flurry of activity, Arrow returned with another small sack and delicately untied the drawstring with its paws. The dragonet withdrew an item from the sack and held it up for Glint's inspection.
It appeared to be a small metal replica of a bear claw tied into a leather lanyard. From what Glint could see, the sack was full of them.
Rider chuckled at the Kirin's confused expression. "Just a little souvenir of our adventure together. The townspeople were happy to make them up for me when I explained how you'd assisted me. There should be enough in there for everyone. Those aren't the real bear claws, of course, they would have been much too large."
The dragonet cheeped inquiringly, holding the necklace towards Glint. He hesitated, then nodded, and Arrow draped it over his head. The Kirin angled his head down, trying to look at his new prize, and he thanked the other stallion.
"I'll leave you to distribute the coin and tokens to the others," Rider said, looking pleased that his gift had been well received. "First, there are some things we need to discuss.."
The door of the HQ suddenly opened, and a silver Sharian stepped out. It looked surprised to see the large falcon standing just before the porch, but its reaction was nothing compared to Halcyon's and Rider's. The falcon screamed as she had during the battle with the bear-creature, mantling her wings and postitioning herself between the Sharian and Rider.
The stallion, on the other hand, turned tail and ran, quickly disappearing down one of the paths. Once he had made his escape, Halcyon took off after him, still calling down insults to the bewildered Sharian. Arrow continued to sit calmly before Glint.
Glint and the Sharian stared down the path where Rider had disappeared for a minute, then looked at each other. "Any idea what that was about?" the Sharian asked him.
"None," Glint told her, craning his neck to try and see further down the path. "But that is the Samanayr I had told you about, and his falcon."
"Would you try to find them?" the Sharian asked him, looking down at the Samanayr from her much more substantial height. "We would like to speak with him."
"I'll try." Glint looked at Arrow. "I don't think he can go too far, not with his dragonet still here. He needs those nimble hands to work the buckles."
Snow continued to fall lightly as Glint started down the path Rider had disappeared down. He knew this part of the Hotsprings very well, and knew that this path would eventually lead to a dead end. At least Rider had made himself relatively easy to find - but what had prompted that reaction to the Sharian?
((Ack, sorry to take so long getting this last post finished XD; I was hoping to get it done last Friday or Saturday, but typing when you have no furniture isn't very easy.. In any case, this is the end of the Great Bird Hunt! This plot's going to be continuing soon, although I'm not sure if it'll be a story or another RP.
As for Rider, he's staying with me for the moment because he features in the next plot. He'll probably be finding a new home after that, though!
I don't have a 'coin' item, because Samanayrs don't actually use money, but I could come up with something if you'd like XD Everyone who participated does get a Bear Claw Necklace, though!
You can equip it to any Samanayr that you own. Right now it just looks like a regular accessory, but who knows if it could have an effect in the future.. You don't have to equip it to the Samanayr that participated in the RP, but remember that once you've equipped an item you won't be able to equip it to a different Samanayr!
I'll be adding the items to everyone's inventory either later this evening or tomorrow
Thanks so much for the fantastic RP fun!))
