Soaring

The morning arrived bright and clear after the fierce storm that had rolled through the night before. The air had a chill bite to it that Eirlan could feel even through her thick scales. But rather than encouraging her to remain in her warm, sandy nest, the brisk air, combined with the brilliant sun streaming in through the windows carved into the side of the cave wall where she made her lair, called to her in a way she could not resist. It was going to be a beautiful early spring day and she wanted to make the most of it.

As she rose from the shallow depression that served as her bed, Eirlan noted that the sand that lining the bottom of the hollow would need to be replenished soon. Another reason to get an early start on the day, she thought to herself. The winter just past had been particularly cold with more snow than she remembered falling in many years this far south. If it hadn’t been for the stockpile of sand the Clan had gathered before the first snows, she and many others would have been sleeping on bare stone by now. Thinking of her Clan mates, Eirlan turned toward the tunnel that connected her chamber to the greater lair complex winding its way through the hollow mountain. Her acute hearing detected the sounds of talons clicking against the stone floor and the faint brush of wing sail against scales indicating that she was not the first to arise this morning. But instead of going to join them in the communal central cavern, Eirlan turned continued to the protected mouth of her own lair and soon stepped into the brilliant morning sunshine.

Eirlan turned so the light of the sun sparkled along the length of her body, her sapphire scales glinting brilliantly as she did so. She then spread her great emerald wings to warm them just a bit before taking to the air. The ledge outside her lair was high enough that when she was ready, all she needed to do was step off into the void and catch the currents that rose along the flanks of the mountain.

Normally she delighted in flying with her Clan mates, taking turns chasing one another across the wide river valley that spread out from the base of the mountain. Today, however, she wanted to enjoy the peace and beauty of the morning by herself. Heading toward the rising sun, Eirlan soon found herself soaring over the blue ocean waters that lay to the east of her home. The swift, north flowing currents brought warmer waters and warmer air with them and she turned to catch these ocean born thermals. Eirlan pumped her wings to gain altitude and soon the islands that dotted the coastline shrank beneath her, green gems sparkling in ocean waters as blue as her own scales. The observation amused her immensely as she compared the scene below her wings to her own jeweled coloration and she soon began an impromptu sky dance to celebrate the harmony she felt between herself and the world around her.

Tucking her wings close to her sides she dove towards the water, delighting in the feel of the wind rushing past her scales. As she reached the point where an observer would fear she was doomed, Eirlan snapped her wings open and pulled out of the dive to skim just above the surface of the water. Snaking her head around she peered behind her and watched the wind of her passing creating interlocking ripples that spread out in her wake. She then pumped her wings again and rose once more into the sky. As she continued to climb, she pulled one wing in close and gave a last down stroke with the other resulting in a vertical spin that in combat would allow one to escape an enemy attack. But in this case it was purely an expression of the joy found only in flight. Once she reached the apex of her climb, Eirlan cupped her wings suddenly, caught an updraft and came to a hover. The serenity of the quite morning had just been interrupted by a silent “cry” for help.

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