featherborn | Returning to Land

Returning to Land

The eagle circles one final time over the trees, wings stretched to their full. Freedom at its best. There is a slow spiralling dissent onto a tree in the middle of the forest. Moments later the eagle vanishes, and there is blond woman sitting in its place. Katya settles down on the study branch, swinging her legs while she reaches for the backpack she left there earlier.

She ties her hair back and slides the old faithful baseball down shading her face. Well, back to be landlocked for another day or so. She rips open a Mars bar with her teeth and toasts the skies and spits the wrapper to the ground cursing her employers at the circus.

If she could have her way, she would live in the forest where she could fly every day and ignore the rest of the world.

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"Ha! No, not a pigeon." He grins and shakes his head, entirely amused by the question. "A fair bit smaller, actually. You, um, don't get any predatory instincts to go with your wings do you, Eagle-Eyes?"

Intriguing, small and unobtrusive. Her smile sharpens, "Only when someone pisses me off." And then you really do have to watch out for her. "You are safe for the moment.

Her eyes are full of curiosity. "Is it a bird that sticks out or that blends in so easily it vanishes?" She hasn't forgotten he took off on her before!

"Only for the moment? Oh dear, well, I guess that's reassuring." Still all smiles and all amusement with the light teasing.

He lifts the blue feather, studying it as he spins in between thumb and forefinger. "Let's just say that not only is this too big, but also far too colorful."

"Well I don't know you very well yet," she counters, enjoying this encounter. It is nice to meet someone who can understand one aspect of her life.

"As small as a starling? Hold that though." She turns politely to answer a few questions, and pose for another photograph. They get a brighter, faker smile. She turns back.

"Well am I close?"

This really isn't the most relaxing place to talk, but he waits patiently while she tends to the adoring crowd.

"You're getting there," he admits once she's turned her attention back to him. He takes a step closer and offers her his free hand for a shake. "Actual introductions, maybe? I'm Casper, and I'm but a simple sparrow."

She takes it and shakes it firmly. "Katya, it is good to meet you properly Casper." Her hand drops away and she smiles softly. "I am fond of sparrows. They remind me that birds can survive in the city."

She glances at her watch. "I will be free from my duties in twenty minutes if you would like to buy me a coffee."

Indeed, sparrows can even thrive in a city. That was why he chose that form for himself, many years ago.

He's by no means been lethargic throughout this exchange, but he perks up visibly at the mention of coffee. "Now you're speaking my language." He flashes her a grin. "I'll just go wait outside then. Come find me when you're done."

She grins back, "I won't be long. Don't disappear on me, again." This is her least favourite bit of the evening. Too many people, too much noise and claustrophobia. The second her time is up she excuses herself and slips off to get ready.

When she emerges to join him on the street, she is neat and tidy but not wearing anything that would draw attention to herself. She turns in the small crowd, eyes darting restlessly looking for him.

This time he hasn't disappeared. He's just nearby, perched on a section of railing, idly spinning the blue feather between his fingers as he waits. When he notices that she's arrived he hops down and approaches. "Good to go?"

"Good," she agrees, her shoulders relaxing as she spots a route that sees them weaving through the crowd for only a moment. "Lets get out of here. I know a good spot."

Her fingers shift restlessly and she hides it, shifting them to draw her hair up into a bun. "So, did you choose the sparrow or did someone else choose it for you?"

Being fairly observant he does notice her restless hands. But her being such a new acquaintance, he decides that the best he can do is probably to just turn a blind eye to it.

"I've spent a lot of time in cities," he begins as an explanation. "Sparrows just melt into the background noise, you know? No-one would pay me any attention. Besides, I would not give up flying, not even for a day."

"I hate the days I cannot get out of the city," she admits as she turns down a side street to a small cafe. "They make. No that is not correct English...ask that I do the matinee on a Saturday."

She tilts her head skywards. "I could stay up there for days looking down on the world."

"Yeah..." There's a dreamlike quality to his voice there, that says very clearly that he knows exactly what she means. While he's never been a stranger to just kicking back in a couch to watch a god movie, he's always spent much of his free time up in the sky. Even before.

That earns him a very warm smile. Katya is beginning to see him as a kindred spirit when it comes to shape shifting. When they reach the counter she puts down enough to cover both. "My treat," she says firmly. It seems only fair since he waited around for her.

And he can always return the favour another time if he cares to.

He was prepared to pay, but he's smart enough not to argue the issue. If she wants to pay, she can pay.

Having gotten their coffees - his black and unsweetened and strong and plenty of it - they find a table out of the way. "So what about you, then. Was the eagle a conscious choice?"

"No," she says briefly. "I am not sure what I would have chosen, I only know I would have picked a bird." She wraps her fingers around the mug and blows on it. Even though it is still too warm she welcomes the burning sensation of the hot liquid as she swallows it.

"Though I would never want another form now."

He recalls then what she had asked him, if someone else had chosen for him.

"Was someone else involved in the decision?" He can't quite imagine something like that, but the world is a strange place, and though he honestly knows more than most about that, he doesn't know everything.

"Yes. In Russia...." She pauses. "You must serve a couple of years in the army. They like long ranged birds to spy. To find bogged down soldiers." She shakes her head clearing the memory. "I left the country the second I could afterwards."

The laugh that follows is quite light. "You could say I ran away to join the circus."

He responds to that laugh with a warm and friendly smile. He looks quite young but there re some wrinkles around his eyes that suggests he does smile a lot.

"Quite literary. Well, I'd chose the circus over the army too, any day."

"That is because you are a free spirit too." Her accent is not that noticeable, she has spent enough years here to loose the thickness. "I do admire those who serve. It does suit some personality types."

She sets the mug down. "What is your day or night job?"

He makes a vague sort of gesture, pausing for a sip of his steaming black coffee before answering. "I bounce around a bit, but I've mostly done various forms of social work. A fair lot of counseling, I guess you could say. I like working with people, and helping those who need it, in whatever way I can."

"I can see that," she says gently. "You have made it easy for me to talk, and I have barely spoken to you for more than few hours. And I am not generally....how do you say it....a people person?"

"Hence enjoying getting out of the city and up in the sky?" And him choosing a form that makes it easy to remain in the city as well and going out from it.

She nods. "When I get holidays, I go camping. Somewhere with no civilisation in sight. Those days flying, they are best, and at night I can see the stars." Proper stars. "Personal question but what is the longest you've spent in Sparrow form without a break?

"Not so long. A day, a day and a half, perhaps. I do enjoy it, and I love the freedom of flying. But I also enjoy being human, with all that entails. Lazy Sunday mornings, coffee, playing and listening to music, spending time with people..." He smiles warmly. "You know, those little things."

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