exit light; [talia]

[SUNIL]

Deep into the island. Farther and farther still, he ran. Mountaintops became sheer cliffs down into the center where a deep valley lay, giant trees towering jaggedly up into the heavens. A black streak danced across the shaded floor, going past any average speed in such a dangerous decline, but if anything he only went faster as time went on. Sapphire eyes glinted in the darkness, the momentary flash of long, dangerous fangs, and enormous paws extended so that each individual claw left its own engraving in the rock he bounded over. All around him, the sound was getting louder.

The heartbeat.

At first, it was pounding somewhere in his subconscious, somewhere in the back of his mind behind the sound of his own stride. But now, now that he was getting closer to the very center of the island, the whole world around him drummed to that unmistakable sound. No one could explain where it had come from, or why it never stopped, but all agreed to its existence. Sunil had learned to become a part of it, to harness it, to embrace it. With ever crescendo of sound he was able to exert himself a little bit more, push a little bit harder, and the black aura of shadows that exuded from him grew larger.

But then, he reached the center. The magnificent wild cat skidded to a stop all at once, the screech of claws on stone ringing out almost as loudly as the Heartbeat itself. His eyes turned skyward momentarily. It was here that he would wait for a certain companion of his; one he had met with innumerable times. Perhaps it was sadistic of him to choose the most difficult places for her to reach on her avian wings. His feline lips curled back in a grin just at the thought of it. He always enjoyed challenging others, even when it caused them to be short with him for his rash decisions. The citizens of Ombra had learned to accept him and set aside some of his childish impulses. His capability as a leader was unmistakable.

Impatiently, he began to pace. His shoulders hunched and his head held low, his elegant, long tail slowly wound back and forth. Sunil could be patient at times, but it always depended on the given day. Today, he was eager to break the constant solitude with just about anyone’s voice, be it Talia’s or his deceased father or any other member of the Ombra. He spent much of his time alone these days, keeping an eye on the boundaries of the Great Island, just waiting for the opportune moment to attack.

[Ziger]

Two days, she's been flying back carrying a leather bond book, it's weight now seriously affecting her balance. She lets out a screech seeing she was finally at the meeting spot with the leader of the island she calls home. Doing a few tight circles around the area to find the best angle to land, upon doing so she began a narrow dive down the the pitch black mountain lion. However "the beating" has always affected her more harshly than others becoming confused by her own ability to make others confused she hits a rouge pocket of air and throws her to the ground rolling to the feet of her king. The book landing a few feet away.

"Talia" she called to herself in her head "get up", struggling to her talons she regained her balance and did a light hop in front of the king the quickly bowing before him, her wings completely extended out. "my lord Sunil forgive me" words she said holding her breath taking a few steps back. "I've found something that might interest you"

[SUNIL]

Time was passing, and the usual never-ending patience of the cougar was slowly running out. He paced on, back and forth, his turquoise eyes narrowing further and further with each turn on his haunches to face the similar trees towering over him that had been before. Even his round ears were starting to flatten back, and at least once or twice, his lips curled back to flash those ivory fangs of his again. Where was she? Sunil had known full well that her flight would take multiple days, and waiting a full two rising and settings of the sun had been easy enough, but now that the hours were dwindling into minutes, and those minutes into monotonous seconds, he could hardly ebb the impatience rising within him. His muscles tensed, and at last he stopped altogether, sitting down on his haunches to stare upwards with a scrutinizing glare.

Of course, it had always been hard to meet the expectations of the young man. He was handsome, charming, demanding, and cruel. His companions spent a lifetime attempting to convince him of their loyalty, and it was always in vain. Sunil Iredell expected great things and rarely shared open gratitude. What he demanded was simply something to be obeyed. On the mainland, that ideal had made him an outcast, but here… here was entirely different. The other criminals, thieves, the insane, and any other individual who had also been deemed unworthy of the Great Island turned to look at the young man with doting eyes. For, no matter how ruthless his reign could be, the vision behind those black pupils was unmistakable, and every single one of them wanted to be a part of it. Were a part of it.

At last, when it seemed as though hours had gone by, Sunil caught the sound of a break in the trees above him over the consistent beating around him. Talia, at last, and by the looks of it, their meeting place caught her not in her best of graces. She came tumbling to the ground, landed in a heap, and the book she was carrying in her claws bounced along the ground. An unmistakably amused expression came over the once brooding lines of Sunil’s face, and he let out a bark of laughter, somewhere in the mix of a snarl and a purr.

“Talia, so good to see you again.” he purred. His tail flicked from side to side behind his great, black haunches, and his luminous eyes pierced into her. “What have you found for me this time, my dear?” Such common courtesies, those he shared with the finer gender. By default, they all received his little, graceful chivalries. Something Talia should be thankful for.

[Ziger]

Taila breathed a deep sigh of relief quietly as she could and stood upright and tall. Being a barn owl was nothing special however she was one of the species that are a dark color a rare trait for bran owls now, she did a few stretch flaps to relax her herself before looking up at Sunil "it's more someone than something I should say" walking over to the book she dropped

She flashed back to how she got this book, Tygere's library has always interested her the marble, the sounds of pages turning, and over the last few years a new sound took place, a muddled whisper in one of the upper areas. This old owl they called Fableryb was here nearly everyday doing something rather it be teaching some younger ones some tale or reading about the islands past. She learned after a few trips that he wrote some very interesting tales. Curiosity drove her to look at one of his books she managed look at that someone left open.

An odd tale and little more than a old war story she thought, while browsing though the pages before she became intrigued with the some of the details that she lost track that she was well in plain sight. Before she woke up out of her trance the same owl was sitting in front of her giving her a small but curious smile. In a panic she rushed out before coming back the next day.

Giving a quick summery of her flash back to the lion she opened the book "I went back the next day and some how he caught me again, never has that happened before two days in a row getting caught, let alone by the same person" She puffed up a bit embarrassed before continuing "he just looked at me before leaving his perch where he was working on this" she flips though a few pages "I took it but, I think he wanted me too" Giving a bit of a puff "it's about some massive war in the west but it's not done, he's only got a few parts in it" Turning around and looking at Sunil "So either he's the most imaginative owl I've heard about or" she pauses looking at the book with partially done map "he's not from the islands. He apparently knows a helluva lot war, that's why I thought you might want to know about him. Unless you already do?"

[SUNIL]

Sunil was a man of bluntness. He spent little time worrying his mind over riddles and indirect answers. So, when he asked what Talia had brought and received an answer with a who, his eyes narrowed again and he hunched his shoulders. What perplexed him even more was that she still walked over to the book. After a brief pause, she finally opened it, which was admittedly an entertaining sight, watching an owl stooped over a book nearly the same size as her. That thought eased Sunil up again, and he relaxed. Talia had been loyal to him so far. Whoever this ‘someone’ was, he or she would probably be of at least some value to know about.

The mention alone that she had been caught struck a chord in the black mountain lion, however. His chief thief, caught by someone in a library, not once, but twice? An incredulous expression replaced the amused one. Her story had gaps in it. Who was this person who caught her? This was his book, Sunil assumed, but what did that matter to him? The monarch was hoping for information that could help him strike the Great Island, not some fairy tale story that came from the beak of an old, graying owl. The wild cat let out a sharp breath of air through his nostrils and stood up to his full height before approaching his companion, his animal form easily towering over thrice her size.

“What’s this bird’s old wives’ tales got to do with us?” he said somewhat sourly, scanning the page she had opened to with his bright blue eyes. It was a partially drawn map, unfinished, and was made up of lands he was not familiar with. “And there are many that come as foreigners to this continent, my dear.” He made a point to soften his voice somewhat this time, but the scornful chords were still noticeable. Sunil was never good at hiding his emotions. “Tell me what this individual can do for me, and your trip will not have been for naught.”

[Ziger]

Talia let out a little sigh flipping though some empty pages giving her story a little more thought "hmmm, I'm not sure you see what I see, there's pieces of this I'm picking up on. An old owl, away from his home lands, with stories that taken great interest in Tygere, He caught me twice, and now I remember something, he has battle scars." She pauses and looked at the towering feline "I don't know, I thought you might be interested in an foreign owl. He might know things"

With a small flap she stretches out her wings again, still uneasy being so close to the heartbeat. She knows she showing her weakness now, her mind was warped in a thousand thoughts and she couldn't sort out why exactly she came to see him. Closing the book she bowed again "I'm sorry if it felt like I wasted time, but there's something here I just can't put my talon on, something odd about that old owl. Like what you say I feel it in my gut" She let out a small yawn "I'll see if I can't remember anymore tomorrow, if I do I'll send a carrier your way or try to find you"

OCC: short post is short =p

[SUNIL]

It was obvious she was growing nervous, but Sunil paid no mind. He remained exactly where he was, looming over her, with his large eyes scanning the book. So far, it seemed as though Talia only had bits and pieces of information that might end up useful. If the old owl knew information about the secretive Tyrgere that no one else was aware of… then he could definitely be of some use. The neutral Kingdom would be Ombra’s best chance at conquest over the Great Island. If they could takes siege of Tyrgere, then only two more would remain…

The black cougar pondered this for a while, mostly tuning out his chief thief. To meet the already too-high expectations the young monarch held, one constantly had to deliver new and useful information. It didn’t take much to make him grow sour when there wasn’t a new, huge piece to the puzzle he was in search for. He sat down again, his long tail flicking idly back and forth while he thought. He could always just capture this old man for the sake of it. Take what information he had and then be rid of him… he probably knew too much already just by capturing one of Sunil’s kind in the Library.

And with that, his eyes flashed back to his companion. “Get some rest, Talia. If the old bird ends up becoming useful to me, you’ll have another long flight ahead of you.” he rose to a stand again, but this time Sunil didn’t stop there. His feline form hunched, and smooth like silk, he transformed to the shape of a slender, angular man. He reached down and took a hold of the book before tucking it under his arm. He wasn’t sure if Talia was planning on keeping it for herself, but if it had maps that he could use, he was going to keep it under his own person. Stealing from a thief. The irony. “I’ll keep this with me, while you think it over.” Those once blue eyes, now rings of almost pitch black, just dared her to utter disagreement.

[Ziger]

Bowing again Talia took off, at least she didn't have the book with her. Thoughts about the old owl still riddled within her head. Putting them aside she focused on getting back to her den, it wasn't far but she was exhausted both physically and mentally. Returning to her home, with shelves lined with rare stones, gold, and other valuable metals, and a couple wooden chests, and ironically a very cheap bed. Shrugging off her custom pick lock set before shifting into her human form. wasting no time she fell onto her bed, she'll eat later she told herself.

After her mind settled she quickly feel to sleep. Only to awake in her dreams to be falling, her wings iced over, trying to get across the sea before a full blizzard hit, she failed. Iced wings were a death mark to any avian who did not know how to compensate for the lack of lift they get per flap. This was the likely fate of her parents, and possibly her brother Maze whom is still missing. Her worst fears in flying in harsh weather, and drowning like her parents did, she's rather get caught and executed than to face a cold watery death.

In her dream however she did not hit the water, she awoke just before. breathing heavy she looked around and sighed looking at her wings spread out , she shifted into her owl again. Not caring she quickly relaxed and went back to sleep turning over to lay on her stomach, not wanting to sift again in the middle of the night she stayed in her owl form.

Her dreams, toned down to memories, Ombar wasn't always as dark as it seemed, there a few great memories she has of this place, bars, blacksmiths, there where good people here. Like the family that saved her almost 2 years ago.



The morning sun leaked into the small stone window of Taila's den, crossing over her eyes she quickly shook her head, the sun persisted finally awaking her. rolling over on her back and letting out a sigh. Taking a few minutes to collect her thoughts she instinctively remembered something important she left out last night with her meeting with Sunil. Quickly she picked up a small satchel of gold and swooped out of her den. Picking up a meal on the way of roasted fish from her favorite tavern. Taking a few breaks in between to eat, she finally returned to where she met Sunil the night before. "Sunil? you still around?"

[SUNIL]

Sunil did not have a home. He did not waste time with finding a place to hole up and take care of day in and day out; he was much more the type to find a new bed every night, perfectly content with curling up among a bed of leaves. That was the way it always was for the young man. He grew up a vagrant with his father and knew the ways of the wanderer. So, when Talia swept away, Sunil watched her go with those black eyes of his before turning around to search for somewhere to stay the night. It was late, the pregnant moon was hovering overhead, and while Sunil was oftentimes nocturnal, he knew a night’s-worth of rest would do him good. He brushed back a thicket of bushes and crawled among them after setting the old book down, transforming back into his feline form to get more comfortable.

He didn’t realize how long he had slept until a ray of sun danced right across the bridge of his nose. Squinting, his eyes opened to late morning, the valley of the Heartbeat alight with its momentary life. Down here, the sun rose late and set early. It already wouldn’t be long before the great sun passed the jagged mountains and the Heartbeat would be back in shadow again. The black cat stifled a yawn and stretched out his large paws. Only a moment of quiet fell over him before the familiar sound of wings came to his ears. Talia again? So soon?

She called out to him and he stretched out a little more, scooting himself forward to reveal the front half of his torso. He rested his chin atop his paws and watched her lazily, the effects of slumber having not quite worn off yet. “Yes, m’dear?”

[Ziger]

She smiled and let out a little chuckle, she's never seen him drowsy. Walking up to him on her talons she leaned down to his level "Rest dose has it's rewards doesn't it?" smiling by squinting her eyes she stood up again "I forgot something, probably should of been the first thing I should of told you last night" Pausing a second for Sunil to reset his senses "According to rumors I've heard that old owl Fable, is a master at flying in harsh conditions. thunderstorms, wind storms form the seas, and most impressively, blizzards." Taking a step back she looked up and thought of something else "He came during the first winter after the war ended, Somewhere in Aver some one did pick him off a beach and nursed him back"

She paused to take a breath "I know what your thinking, how could this help you. We are blind during the winter months, on occasionally the winds die down enough for some of us to get the the other island, but not often, what if we could change that?"

[SUNIL]

Round, turquoise eyes watched her lazily as she approached him. Sunil was not so used to being awakened by others, especially not when it came to being awoken to tend to business. He had spent a mere two years as a leader now, a Monarch to a chaotic island. Previous to that, he had been nothing. Not a single strand of nobility came from his family history, so he lacked the couth of a professional air when others came upon him at an inconvenient time. He slowly rose to his feet and stretched out, shifting to human form once again when he crawled out from his makeshift bed. His short, slate colored hair was a mess, and his over-worn black pants were ragged, but he paid no mind to his appearance. What his so-called people saw was what they got.

Talia had come with news of a purpose for this old owl. He had the strength to fly through the harsh winter winds, a feet not many avian shifters were capable of with such a long flight to get to the mainland. Sunil squinted and failed to reply at first, taking to running his hand though his unkempt hair instead. A scout that could see with his own eyes firsthand could be quite useful, but how easy would it be to use that skill of his? His alliance did not lie with Ombra, and it would be difficult to control a scout meant to wander far.

Sunil tapped his chin and finally turned around to face her again. “That could be useful, yes…” Of course, one could be brought to obedience in many ways… Sunil was well aware of many of the choices. Slowly, a grin curled at the corners of his thin lips in the arrogant way they tended to when he schemed up a devious plot. “How easy would it be for you to bring him to me, I wonder?” By implication, he expected Talia to be able to do it, no matter how difficult the task. She had made the suggestion, so by rights the duty should be hers. His black eyes flashed over her curiously. How could he pass up a chance to stir things up in the motherland a little?

[Ziger]

Hooting a bit she puffed up and smiled, "Well I'm sure I can get him to come, he's not native to Tyrgere and, I don't believe he's been to Ombar, or at least this far in, his curiosity I think will drive him to come." She brained stormed a bit. "Give me that book back, as much as I don't want to carry that accursed thing, I might gain his trust bringing it back.

Taking the book back she quickly gave Sunil a nod "I'll be back in a few days" and with that she took off again, having the full day would make this trip quick, she'll rest in a few hours and maybe she'll get to the island by late afternoon

Back at her takeoff point however some other creature was stirring in the shadows. "I see she still wastes no time in anything, good." Flapping down from the tree the form took shape for a fraction of a second, another owl, although he melded into the shadows he wasn't clearly there. "my Sunil my old friend, you don't look like a king"

[SUNIL]

Sunil scowled. The thought that others could reach his island so easily just out of curiosity aggravated him, especially with the nonchalant air in which Talia spoke about it. Was it really that easy to just fly overhead and see everything that took place on the shores of Ombra? And if it were, was it not the job of his scouts and warriors to keep them at bay? The young monarch’s frown turned sour, and his preoccupation with this new, niggling thought caused him to hand over the book without a word. She took off and he still made no reply, no farewell or otherwise. He would have to gather up his defense-line and give them a talking to.

Sunil paused in his mental antics, however, when a stirring came from where Talia had left. His black eyes turned to see a shadowy figure; not one so frightening or unexpected to give him cause to feel apprehensive. It was commonplace for Sunil to see the works of paranormal activity. He himself, the wielder of shadows, could feel no fear over something he controlled.

The shadowy figure took on the momentary shape of yet another owl, and Sunil’s thin lips twitched a little. A voice came from it, one that attempted to mock him. In response, his facial expression did nothing but stay exactly the same, unmoved by words that attempted to bite. He had heard it all before. “If you are an old friend, truly, then why do you hide?” He replied coolly back, ignoring the quip made about his monarchy. In honesty, he had no idea who this figure was, but with Ombra being such a new Kingdom, a stranger in its midst meant little harm to his plan.

[Ziger]

Stepping out of his cover the now obvious owl came into light, battered, scared, and with blood red eyes. "Mazguard my lord" bowing in typical style of his family wings all sprawled out in display. He knew he looks far worse than when he left the place. "I apologize for my absence for about the past year, I got sucked into a vortex somehow got me out of the little trap our islands are stuck in." leaning back up and showing a weak limp in his motion closer to Sunil

"I got lost trying to find my way back and somehow went to far north, ran into some waring clans of snow people of sorts." pausing a second to recap his memories, then I went east from what I could tell, found a place that was nothing by ash, finally I found some owls who nursed me and gave me shelter for the rest of the winter, that and most of the year." pausing he looked up at the king "most peaceful months of my life and I hated it" Shaking his head a bit with a sigh

"Killed them, left, got followed been trying to get back here for over 3 months and as much as I hate to admit it I nearly got my tail cut off twice." shifting into his human form he toppled over on his knees, it's been well over a month before Maze was able to safely turn back into his true self, "gurra....ahhh dam the elementals..." leaning up, in battered and torn cloths "worst part yet I don't know if any of those damned owls where shifters" grabbing his chest and looking at his scars one split open bleeding a bit "and my powers are weak out there being so far from the heartbeat"

[SUNIL]

Finally, the owl stole away from the shadows, no longer seeking refuge among them. Sunil recognized him even as an owl. Like his sister, they both seemed quite overly fond of remaining in avian form. This time, the young monarch stayed in his own human appearance, taking instead to looking down at him with a scrutinizing gaze. The owl bowed before him, but to that he paid no mind. Mazguard would get no warmth from him. The man was older than he, and he often made the switch from mocking to respectful so quickly that Sunil was especially distrustful of him.

Mazguard went into a monologue about how he had disappeared for such a time, to which Sunil made no reply. Of course, he did look even more hellish than the last time he’d seen him, but Sunil was never one to excuse an absence where it was not already allowed, no matter what the circumstance. He found himself amongst other lands unrelated to theirs, where owls seemed to control most of it. Sunil stopped listening after a time, his black eyes only flickering back over to Mazguard when he shifted back into human form and toppled over.

To which, of course, Sunil laughed. He was not exactly the most caring of sorts.

It was obvious that Mazguard was haggard and worn out from his journey, whether he was telling the truth or not. Sunil glanced over him and sidestepped towards him before reaching out a hand to help him to his feet. It wasn’t often that the young monarch made any notion of nurture. Of course, to say he was acting nurturing would be misplaced. “Perhaps you should get yourself cleaned up.” By nature, the words were concerned, but none of it lingered in the tone of his voice. “Should anyone come this way, they’ll be sure to be taken care of.”

Perhaps it was the panther in him, but Sunil couldn’t bring himself to be afraid of owls.