[ P ] Birdsong Amidst the Breeze

It was about midday, and Kestrel thought he could hear the twittering of tree sparrows. Settling down beneath a large oak tree, he closed his eyes and gave a relaxed sigh of contentment. Today was one of those unusual days where he had actually managed to sustain himself quite well, and now he could finally take a break. At times like these, he loved little more than listening to the birds sing. Still, it wasn't quite perfect until he could see them, too. Whilst their songs were beautiful, it felt little different from listening in on a conversation as apposed to being involved. Glancing around, he was unable to find his elusive feathered friends. Kestrel rose to his paws, slowly making his way to the other side of the oak tree. The undergrowth was slightly thicker there, and the shade from the tree made it all the more tranquil.

It wasn't long before a bit of movement in a nearby tree caught his attention. He tried not to let his tail sway too much, fearing that it might frighten the birds. Gazing up at the tree expectantly, he was a little disappointed when he realised it was just a squirrel. 'So skittish..,' he thought, watching as it ran across the branches. Still, the birdsong remained ever-present on the gentle spring breeze, so he decided to remain where he was for the time being. Curling up beneath the oak, he basked in the small patches of sunlight that made it through the tree's canopy whilst he continued to listen to the birdsong. Perhaps they would come to him if he just stayed still.


@Lilith

W

ith the breeze gently pushing her along, Lilith made her way through the area. She hummed softly to herself as she moved along, careful to not crush the new blooming flowers that were scattered along her path. All life was precious and after the hard winter she was sure even nature needed a break.

The girl had no plans for her day, no task that needed completing. It was beginning to become the norm and though she didn’t entirely mind the rest, it wasn’t her usual self. The Knight longed for duty, to feel as if her actions had purpose and she was living for something other than herself. Coming to Melrose had a bit of that, to find the College of Eòlas that so many spoke of, but so far nothing had come of her wandering.

Another breeze shifted the fiery girl’s direction and soon she was skipping through the forest. Birds sang nearby, drawing her attention up to the sky as a smile formed across her lips. When she lowered her gaze it landed on another, taking the girl a back for a moment. Lilith didn’t let it faze her and before long she had lowered herself quietly onto the forest foliage. ”It’s beautiful, isn’t it? The music, I mean.” She whispered to the stranger across from her in fear of scaring away their company. It would be a shame to ruin the fun so soon.

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

@Kestrel

Kestrel closed his eyes once more, allowing himself to focus solely on the twittering of birds and the gentle rustle of the oak's leaves. He gave a small grin, unable to keep his eyes closed for long in the fear that he might miss something. He could hear some more rustling nearby and couldn't help but wonder if the squirrel was back. Unable to see very well from his current position because of his blind eye, he decided to sit up so that he could turn his head more easily. Suddenly, he heard a voice, causing his ears to pin back in surprise not long before his gaze fell upon a stranger. Whilst he wasn't expecting this kind of company, it didn't appear to be the bad kind. In fact, judging by her question, it seemed they both shared an appreciation for nature.

"It is," he responded quietly, glancing up at the trees once more. "I've been trying to find the source of the beautiful song. What brings you here?" His voice was curious as he returned his gaze to the stranger. Kestrel was unwilling to let his guard down just yet, but it had been so long since he had last met another wolf without chaos ensuing. It would make a nice change to have someone to talk to.


@Lilith

T

he Knight remained motionless as the stranger responded in the same hushed tone. A smile lingered at the corner of her lips as ocean gaze flickered upwards through the foliage of the trees. ”Perhaps these singers wish to keep their identity concealed,” It was a thought simply pondered aloud. ”Keeps the mysteries in life alive.” She couldn’t find the source of the music, but she didn’t need to. It was meant to be listened too, after all, not watched.

After a moment of further thought, Lilith registered that she’d been asked a question and her gaze lingered back down from the sky. ”Nothing in particular,” She commented with a soft shrug of her shoulders. ”I find myself drawn to places like these… Place where I’m not simply only hearing my thoughts, but perhaps the thoughts of Mother Nature herself. Places where I can have solitude without truly ever being alone.” It was a complex answer, really, something that couldn’t quite be summed up in a sentence. The girl laughed softly at herself for a moment as she shook her head in embarrassment. ”Simply put, I went for a walk and allow my paws to lead me here,” She corrected herself.

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

@Kestrel

As the stranger responded, Kestrel remained quiet, glancing at the nearby foliage. He could tell from the different twitters and chirps that there were multiple species of bird around, but some did indeed sound distant. As much as he loved mystery, his boundless curiosity could never be satisfied without answers.

It seemed that this wolf had come to Melrose for a similar reason. There was something truly special about being immersed in the wilderness, and it appeared they both shared an appreciation for it. He gave a light nod, followed by a smile as the wolf corrected herself. Kestrel could relate to allowing his paws to lead, except his paws usually just followed his ears whilst they tuned in on the various sounds of nature.

"Sometimes that is the best way to make new and exciting discoveries," he responded. He was beginning to feel like he could trust the stranger, at least a little. "Have you ever tried birdwatching before? There are so many unique species, and trying to identify them can be a lot of fun." Kestrel rose to his paws, tail wagging with excitement as he realised that if the birds wouldn't come to them, then they could just go to the birds instead.
"If you would like, I can show you."


@Lilith