Giving the Academy a Rain-Check

Whether or not her sister was actually in a good mood, she made it seem that way. Avacyn’s greeting was a cheerful one, one that Mariah acknowledged with a half-sided smirk. And when she asked her sister for direction as to the next steps, she suddenly became aware of why the Matriarch was staring out over the lake. Not for the water. For the ravens. Following her sister’s line of sight to the sky, she saw them there. Intertwining with one another, dipping in and out of the cloud cover. Flight patterns that made sense to them, but seemed incredibly freeing to her.

Her sister called to the flock as a whole via whistle, before singling out a specific bird. Fina. The raven she apparently addressed was eager to answer, pulling away from the others, and closing in on the dock where they stood. The one that must have been eager to make a new acquaintance. By the looks of it, her sister’s pick was young, though she was clearly capable. Avacyn began a formal introduction, giving her a brief background on the corvid. Her own fledgling corvid. “Fina.” Mariah echoed, eyeing the young raven with interest. “The pleasure is all mine.” She quickly answered, her grin brighting as she shot a glance to her sister for a moment before returning her attention to Fina. “I’m sure she will make us proud.” Mariah projected, more to the open air than anything, but it was a genuine sentiment.

The girl hesitated a moment before seeking out Ava’s obsidian gaze. “Just as I hope to do the same. Thank you for the opportunity, Ava.” She had never really been one to praise others, but this was the first big moment of many to come, and she wouldn’t forget who had acted as a catalyst for her future. Which brought her to her next question. “Do you have any recommendations as to where to begin?” Mariah certainly wasn’t opposed to making things up as she went along, however, if the Matriarch had input as to the order in which she should pursue things, she would certainly consider her recommendation.

"Mariah Mendacium"