Daytripping

The bird fluffed her feathers briskly, hovering just out of reach of the young one's reach. If he chose to nip at her - as excited pups often did - she would be sure to keep her tail-feathers just inches from his longing jaws. As much as she adored pups she was not keen on losing any feathers to one. The boy posed a lesson he'd learned as a child - to avoid the large mountain birds. Ah yes, mountain birds could definitely be pesky avians. No child, I can't say I've ever eaten a wolf before - but I would be lying if I said I'd never carried one around. She clicked her beak, flapping her wings to keep afloat. This slow pace was not easy on the eagle's wings, but she liked to linger near to Gerhardt and his companions. I have bitten a wolf before, and I assure you that you taste no different than anything else I've fed upon - except perhaps a fish. She craned her head downward momentarily. Have you had fish before, Cross? Some wolves turned their noses up at fish, while others lived primarily upon them. She was glad that Gerhardt fed on them from time to time, for she enjoyed hunting for him on occasion.

As Crusade fell in beside him, Gerhardt found his mood growing more chipper by the minute. With Robin there to occupy the child, he could get in a few words with Crusade - not that he planned on alienating the boy entirely. "He sounds like Maverick in that regard. Did I ever tell you that Mav wandered off to the battlefield when he was barely six months old?" Six months might have even been a stretch, he reckoned the boy had been even younger when he'd been lucky enough to come across Insomnia in the battlefield. "In fact, it was your Insomnia he was lucky enough to meet. I shudder to think what would have happened had he run into a less than kindred soul." He had been ready to kill the boy then and there for frightening him so, but had restrained himself for pure love's sake. With his anger long since passed, Gerhardt could look back on that day and chuckle - and he did so this very minute as she commented on what Cross was likely to do in reaction to the cows. Oh, this would be interesting. His brow raised slightly. "Riding one is something I would certainly like to see." His jesting tone could not be missed by even the deaf.

He began to slow his pace as they grew near, wanting to give them both a bit of a warning before the cattle came into view. Before he could say anything, though, she queried about his sons. "Maverick is doing well, he just got married - actually. He was set to marry Chrysanthe Adravendi this season, but plans were changed and he married her sister: Epiphron. Turns out the two were star crossed lovers from the start, who would have thought!" He paused, hardly wanting to mention Valkis at all, but it was necessary. "Valkis I'm afraid has taken his leave of Seracia, and Alacritia if my assumptions are correct. He chose his own path in life, I only hope it is working for him. My daughter Kamala is well also, and stands as our Grand Duchess." There, that was all the catching up she needed, right? He tilted his head toward Cross. "Cross, here's what I've been waiting to show you." He gestured toward the meadow and took a few steps forward so that they could see it through the thicker line of trees. "Somewhere in that meadow is a pack of creatures called 'cows'. They are big and a bit intimidating, but they are neat to watch. Tread carefully around the ones with horns though, they can be fierce." He'd since discovered that the ones without horns were not as foreboding, though he wouldn't mention that to the boy just in case he got too brave. Amethyst eyes sought out the rogue bull - the impulsive black one that plagued his thoughts. He looked to Robin as he did this, nodding his head brusquely. The bird took off through the trees, soaring in search of the very same bull. She had been prompted earlier to find him and keep an eagle eye on him in case he caused trouble.

"Speech"

Robin speech