[sapphirelion]

Username: sapphirelion
Kalon Name: Feyrah
Prompt (up to 500 words):

March 4
Today a small bird stuck around and watched me during my training. It was odd in the intensity of its eyes as it tracked me. It didn’t even make a single peep. I’m not sure what to think about this creature.

March 5
I looked up the bird since it came back today, it is called a wren. Huh, Wren would be the perfect name for my new little buddy. I wonder how long he’ll stick around...

March 8
I...I don’t know how to start this entry...

I heard something the bird?
Let me start at the beginning I guess... I went about my day like I normally would, starting with some training to get the blood pumping. Wren was there as usual. I started with some sword practice today, but no one was available to spar with so I just fighting with an imaginary Kalon. All of a sudden I heard a voice start commenting on my stance and how I need to better block my abdomen from future attacks. But when I looked around no one was there. Wary, I went back to sparring and more comments sprung on me. I spun really quick to try and catch who was speaking. But it was just me and Wren in the area. At this point I was very jumpy but determined to practice. As soon as I heard another word I looked in the direction of the speaker. Wren has his mouth open and was telling me what I was supposed to be doing! He was speaking, not like a bird should be. I...I need some time to process this...

March 11
I really despise Wren. I feel like he is the annoying older sibling I never wanted. He’s always looking over my shoulder. It doesn’t help that I can hear every word he says, and understand them. While others would hear the sweet twittering of an innocent bird, I have the unfortunate fortune of hearing each excruciating criticism Wren has to offer me. Each and every day.

I’m going to have to look up things that will repel this type of pest before I go insane.

March 13
My searches for a repellent have been unsuccessful so far.

Wren decided to give me his input during my training this afternoon, again. I started by working with my tree climbing skills and he had the gall to tell me that I shouldn’t be using the handholds I was using if I were in the middle of fighting someone. (Like he knows how to fight someone, yeah right) And then he dived at me! If he had injured me I wouldn’t be able to keep myself in top condition so I’d be ready to take a job when it comes to me.

And no it doesn’t matter that the handholds I’d been using slowed down my time of getting up the tree to get out of the way because he could have hurt me badly!

Extra (if applicable):

3 song playlist

[kanadensis]

Hey guys!
This comp will be extended 1 week, until April 21st @ 23:59 CS time!

[Ethulai]

┏─────────────────────────────────────────────┓
Username: Ethulai // Kalon name: Oriole // Gender: Female
┗─────────────────────────────────────────────┛

She had forgotten her cloak. As Oriole ran through the forest behind the manor, fleeing the other servants and their hurtful laughter, her mother's words drummed through her skull;
"Never let them know. Never let them see. They will not understand. They will not let you be!"

Her tears blurred her vision but still she ran until she was exhausted, until the sharp pain of rejection twisted into a dull ache, and the small stings of slapping branches and pulling vines overshadowed it.

Heart loud in her ears, she slowed, stumbling into the middle of a small clearing where the sun's rays turned the dewy grass into glittering green jewels. Oriole heard an angry chatter in her ears. Blinking, she looked around and noticed a wren hopping on the ground awkwardly. She thought she heard his birdsong but underneath that a frustrated grumbling. She slowly crouched down near the small bird and said softly; "Oh you poor thing, are you okay?"

"Do you think I can't see you, you great, big, fuzzy sapling?"
Oriole gasped and looked around the clearing.
"How dare you say such a thing!" she cried indignantly, seemingly to no one.
"Big and loud and perhaps a little unhinged too," the voice retorted.
Oriole looked back at the wren, who was watching her, his head tilted.
"Are you talking to me?" she whispered, looking into his eyes.
"Err...you can't actually understand me can you?" the wren responded sheepishly.
Oriole touched her second set of ears subconsciously.
"What if I can?" she asked, wonder creeping into her tone.

The wren hopped closer and now Oriole could see that one of his wings was significantly smaller than the other.
"Sorry" he peeped, "I get sick of everyone assuming I can't do things on my own just because I'm different"
"I'm different too," Oriole responded sadly, gesturing to her second set of ears. "I usually hide these"
The wren managed to flutter up to her knee, "Why?" he asked. "Different doesn't mean wrong".
And with that small but significant statement, Oriole felt the weight of the world lift off her shoulders.

She told the wren what had happened that morning, the poisonous laughter of the servants that sent her fleeing.
"Those bad eggs!" he shrieked, "I'll give them a piece of my mind!"
She giggled at his indignant tone. "You think I need a keeper?" she asked.
"If you can't stand up for yourself, someone else has to," he responded.
"If I accept that I need a friend, shouldn't you accept it's okay to need help?" she questioned.
He fluffed up his feathers, looking like an angry, feathered hedgehog.
"Wise words from a fuzzy sapling" he eventually conceded.
"My name is Oriole," she cried, "not 'Fuzzy Sapling'!"
"Mine is SpiralFell," he responded unperturbed, "pick me up I've always wanted to ride a walking tree."

...

From then on, Oriole and SpiralFell were inseparable, bound by their understanding that different doesn't mean wrong and asking
for help is a sign of independence. [500/500]

Art by Snowflakette, please click for full-size!

[kanadensis]

Just a heads up this ends tomorrow! No more extensions!

[avaloafe]

best of luck everybody! this kal was so much fun to draw and write about omg - so many wonderful forms as well! good luck to kanadensis with the judging as well. winner may keep my art as well <33

[kanadensis]

Oops, this is closed! No more entries or edits please ^^ I'll have the winner posted asap

[kanadensis]

Hello everyone! I'm so sorry for the long wait, things have been super hectic irl lately.
I'd like to start off by thanking everyone for their unique entries! I really enjoyed reading through them and seeing how you worked out the two's relationship within the word limit ^^

HMs will be awarded to the following:
SilhouetteStation
.kaede

The winner of the Oak kal is:
Ethulai!
I really enjoyed their little back-and-forth and the way you tied Oriole's second set of ears in to her story. Congrats!

I'll also be making a runner-up for Stormowalf!

[suneater]

congrats!! <3

[avaloafe]

ahhhhh oh well... congrats ethu! as I said before, you may keep the art I made on my form.

[✦ nemuri]

dfkljsgdkjg congrats ethulai !! the win was well deserved -- their dialogue and interactions were super fun to read! you may keep my art if it suits your purposes :0
congrats to stormowalf on the ru and silhouettestation on the hm, too! your forms were wonderful to read as well.

thank you kanadensis on the hm!!