a blessing in disguise

It was a day like any other, or so it would seem from the start. The equine and avian would go about their business, unaware that both of their lives were about to be changed forever.

All day long, as the sun trekked its way slowly across the sky, the world seemed to hold its breath in anticipation. The sun couldn’t move fast enough, time couldn’t tick along any faster - but still Caligo begged Tempus to do his best, to bring the moment of finality closer. Nothing in comparison seemed quite so important nor so exciting as what the future held, all the day dulled in comparison.

The demi-goddess only wondered if Katniss could feel it too, could see how the sky had lost some of its blue and the sun some of its strength, how the flowers and grasses of the plains seemed to droop sleepily in the breeze.

Overhead an eagle flies, its arc through the sky lazy and confident, headed north towards the Arma mountains.

And just like that, the world seems to stiffen, the trees shake themselves to awareness, and all creation holds its breath impatiently.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The hour draws closer, and with it, Katniss will feel a tugging upon her soul. A voice whispers in her ear, begging her for her help, urging her to leave the Court behind and take to the mountainous border. Without words to guide her, Katniss wil somehow know to follow the same path as the eagle before her.

Every step in that direction will simply feel right, solidifying the faith that she will end up exactly where she needs to be.

Should she listen - as Caligo knows she will - the call will only become stronger with every step that she takes, as if narrowing its focus and making it impossible to turn back, even if she wanted to. The feeling that something is amiss will be strong; but the feeling that she is destined to help may be even stronger.

Meanwhile, the eagle will continue his flight to the mountains. The terrain below him becomes rocky and craggy, and he adjusts his flight accordingly. He looks upon the land with a sharp eye, seeing everything and missing nothing.

He isn’t yet sure what it is he’s looking for - but he’ll know it when he sees it.

A flicker of movement on the horizon catches his attention, a shadow darting through a cloud. He shifts his wings, drifting ever closer, close enough to make out the outline of another eagle. The clouds converge, darkening the once-clear sky.

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Katniss may see the bird falling from the sky, or she may stumble upon him already on the ground. Either way, it will be to him that she is drawn, to the way he tries and fails to take flight. The whisper in her ear is louder now, practically shouting: he’s the one, it’s him, it’s him. The sun breaks through the clouds, and both of them are washed in sunlight, a spotlight reserved for them and only them, an equine and her bonded.

When their eyes meet, a feeling passes between them - as if they know they should be wary, as if maybe they should run, these two strangers who were drawn together by fate. But they can’t help themselves when they throw caution to the wind and the distance between them shortens.

And as Katniss approaches, Finnick will wait patiently, knowing instinctually that this is one person who would never hurt him.

@~~Katniss~~ may feel restless all day, as if she is meant to be somewhere or doing something but she isn’t sure what. As the day progresses, she will begin to feel an invisible tug on her subconsciousness, pulling her towards the mountains, chasing after an eagle as he flies. It’s a fight with another bird of prey that will be his undoing, knocking him from the sky and rendering him earth-bound.

Katniss will find her bonded in the craggy peaks of the Arma mountains. He is hurt, and it will be a long road to full recovery - but they will take that journey together, and their bond will only strengthen because of it.

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~~Sorry for the wait on this! I’m so looking forward to seeing these two bond <3~~

Enjoy! -sid

RE: a gift from the sky - Katniss - 02-04-2019

The day had started like any other. It was nothing extraordinary, and Katniss had awoken at her usual time, grazed quietly along the banks of the lake. She had looked to the sky, wondering what was in store for her today. Another day of patrolling, she was sure. And once her belly was full, the draft set out to make her morning rounds. After all, someone had to keep Denocte safe from harm. According to Isra, there was no one left to take on such a task. And so, Katniss had accepted it with no complaints. She took her job very seriously. And yet, there was something about today that seemed different. She wasn’t quite sure what, but something seemed off.

She hears something and her eyes look upward, seeing an eagle on his way towards the mountains. It was a sight she had seen nearly every day, so her eyes lay back forward and off she travels.

But as she draws closes to the mountain range, something feels different. There’s something drawing her towards the mountains, something whispering into her ear that she must go. It’s a sensation, a story that she has never heard before, but there is a calmness to the voice. Somehow, it eases her fears and encourages her to keep stepping forward, to follow the path up the mountain. It is as if she is drawing closer to something, or someone.

With each step forward she takes, she feels that draw almost increasing in intensity. And instead of fear, she feels a sense of calmness and peace. It feels like she is supposed to be along this path today. Was there some event that Isra had planned? No, she didn’t think there was, not after the festival. And so she keeps stepping forward, eager to find out just why she feels the need to visit the mountains today.

But even as she urges her feet forward, she cannot help but feel that although her path feels right, something else seems chaotic. She feels as though someone needs her help. But who? She has more questions than she has answers. But even with the strange feelings and the skepticism, she continues forward. Like a moth drawn to a flame, she takes another step forward, her pace increasing almost as if a slower pace might cause some sort of harm.

As she nears the peak of the mountain, the sky seems to darken. Dark clouds cover the sunlight and a darkness seems to cover the landscape. But up ahead, Katniss sees something. It’s still too far away for her to see exactly what it is, but she steps closer. That pull that she’s felt all day only grows stronger. Whatever was up ahead, was that who she was supposed to help?

And as she gets close enough, the clouds seems to burst open and the spot she stands is filled with sunlight. She blinks back the rays of the run, the sudden light painful. But as her eyes adjust to the light, she looks down at the eagle who lay in a heap upon the uneven ground. He’s struggling to move, to fly. He’s hurt. She can see the drops of blood that surround him and she cans see the way he limps.

And then she looks the eagle in the eye. When their eyes meet, Katniss is unprepared for the feeling that washes over her. It’s hard to describe. It’s a feeling of peace, of purpose, of a sense of need to protect him. It’s almost like the feeling a mother has when she delivers her foal (A feeling Katniss had missed out on with her own twins, but she had witnessed it before). The eagle seems to stop his flailing and calms, as if he understands that Katniss will not hurt him.

Her feet draw her forward until she is hovering over the eagle. She looks at him curiously, wondering why she had been drawn to him. She doesn’t understand the draw, but she does not fight it. Slowly, her head lowers and she sniffs at the feathers at the top of his crest. And when her nose meets his feathers, there’s a sort of strange feeling that jolts through her body like a bolt of electricity. It is now that she understands the feeling, and it appears as though he understands it as well. Metaphor had a bonded once, a curious little fox. It was now that Caligo saw fit for Katniss to be given her own bonded.

She lowers herself to the ground, making herself as small as she could. It was hard for a mare as big as she to make herself appear so small. Nose is outstretched towards him, encouraging him forward. “Come, now…I won’t hurt you. Climb up on my back and I will lead you to safety.” He offers no complains and slowly works at crawling his way towards her and then hoisting himself up on her back. Once he’s settled, Katniss slowly rises to an upright position.

As her feet began to lead her back down the mountain and towards the court, she looks back at him. “What is your name, my friend?” The eagle looks to her and nods his head softly. “Finnick.” His words are spoken in the safety of her mind and it startles Katniss at first. She’d never spoken to a bird before. Her words had just been to make pleasant conversation with herself. And yet…the bird had spoken. But instead of fear, it feels right…like it always should have been. And so, the draft and her bonded scale down the mountainside, reminiscing about the past and planning for the future. It was as if they were always meant to be together, Katniss and Finnick.

@Random Events