Training Morning
"Good, now fly with that around the guild house. No need to fly high, the point of the training is to get both of your arms and leg stronger first."
”That’s it?” Easy enough. Too easy. But sure enough he got his branch in his claws, his legs looking much more bird like with his shorts on, puffy brown tan feathers coating his skin down to his knees and then they took a more segmented kind of texture before bending again for his legs to form grasping claws and wide feet. He circled the building, no worse for wear, though he felt an ache in his shoulder from yesterday. No problem.
And then.
”Raawwrp!?!” The branch got heavier as Yang jumped on. While she wasn’t the heaviest he’s ever carried, it was pretty big adjustment. Immediate panic began to set in as he had to flap his wings faster just to stay aloft.
"Keep flying! Don't stop! Your leg may be strong but your arms aren't! You need to be able to not only lift people but soar high like an eagle with it!"
Inevitably, his wings would give out and he could feel his shoulders and arms beginning to throb. In retrospect he should have paced himself but he burned himself out all too quickly. He was panting, his lungs screaming, he began to droop, lower and lower, and suddenly Yang was the one pulling him.
"What the-YIPE!". Now he was flapping his wings just to keep from colliding with the ground. Honestly it was not only exhausting, surprising, it was scary too. The imminent threat of bashing his skull against a rock.
"If you drop to the ground, you practice your grip!" Yang started to laugh maniacally in between her run. "Try not to let go!"
He kept trying, but an onlooker would swear he was more swiming and flying, his arms kind of going wild.
"WHAT HAVE I DOOONE!?" He said realizing this was just the beginning of a difficult road.
One Hour Later...
The tired harpy waved his hand, not picking his head up.
"Take care Sensei Yang..." She seemed more chipper this morning.
Nagare
Nagare turned to the young owl boy, who just declared what quest he wanted to take. Sensing fatigue from him, she couldn't help but feel concerned.
"Hello Ozzy. You've been a member of the guild for a little while now but I don't think we've had the chance at a proper introduction. I'm Nagare and it's a pleasure to meet you! Um, if you don't mind me saying, you look very tired. I imagine that you had a long day yesterday, I don't mean to overstep my bounds but don't be afraid to rest if need be. We'll all here to help, so try not to push yourself too hard."
Ozzy tried to quickly pick his head and posture up in order perk up for an introduction. This was quickly thwarted by the soreness of his arms and legs. Still he fought through the discomfort offering her a tired but genuine smile. Ozzy had been meaning to talk to her, and for the most part was only gushing from afar. Not only was she ethereally attractive, she was an honest to goodness dragon! He felt that pang of inferiority. What was a harpy compared to a dragon? And two essential gods! He felt like wasting their time with his stupid questions was wrong somehow.
But she broke the ice (pun intended) and it did much to set his mind at ease. It reminded him that they were in this together. And for that matter he should apologize to Morgan and Titanica for treating them differently... atleast in his mind he did.
"Something I blame myself for." He was quick to add. Honestly things could get crazy, it was hard to get a few minutes with anyone if you didnt go on a mission with them.
"Honestly Miss Nagare, the pleasure is mine." He was about to raise a hand, but he bowed back, something very common among those that range from far away lands.
She mentioned he looked tired, and yeah, he did. Feathers and unkempt hair and the remains of sweat from the morning. He raised a hand, his wing screaming at him, he waved the palm at her as if to show her its no big deal. He chuckled.
"I know how it looks, and it's sweet of you for noticing." Honestly he got a little red faced, but that might be exhaustion. Her concern for him was heartwarming. Another oddity from what he little he knew of dragons.
"Sensei Yang offered to help me get a little stronger, so I just experienced Day One. Besides, I got to be useful to everyone somehow." Cooking didn't count apparently.
"But personally, I would really love to talk sometime, Maybe after-"Then came the scuffle outside, drawing a crowd of people to go see the commotion. A new challenger had come and boy was Titanica pissed. Morgan, Nagare, Ditsy, all of them ran off to chase down this threat. Ozzy made a split decision, wanting to fly to his friend's aid in case they needed... anything he supposed.
"Wait! I'm coming too!" He unfurled his wings, flapped them two or three times.
CRASH Ozzy face planted on the road....
He experienced muscle failure and his wings just wouldn't carry him as fast as he needed, they members leaving him behind. He sighed, feeling utterly useless.
Haley the Siren flew next to you. "Let me come with you on this one, Ozzy. Two harpies are better than one, right?"
Picking himself up again and getting the dust off him, the bright speckled and cheery Siren Haley
"Huh?" Seeing a smiley face, hair a shade of violet and cerulean wings, he returned her suggestion with a big grin and near tears of gratitude in his eyes.
"Sure! You bet they are!""Say..." She then leaned close to whisper, out of earshot of everybody else. "I haven't really thanked you properly for standing up to Bart to protect me, have I?" She pulled back and returned to her normal tone. "So thanks! We bird monsters gotta stick together." Haley patted you with a wing.
Her whispering in his ear, her getting so close did do alot to get him a little flustered.
"Th-thank?" It sounded almost provocative, but he returned to normal when she pulled back to pat him. He scratched his messy hair as he grinned back. It was nice to be among familiar company.
"No problem. You were right after all." He side stepped her.
"Be right back, just gotta grab my stuff."While disappearing back inside, then back out, passing the fire demon, Neil, the twins, he thought about how many people here he would love to be friends with. He wished he could go on adventures with all of them one day. Same with Haley, and now was his chance to make a good impression with a fellow harpy.
"Ready!" He got his second wind, got his backpack and began to fly with her.
"Was hoping to get a chance to hang out with you. How did you start with the guild?" He asked taking to the air, trying to avoid the pain in his arms.
"Seems like you're really close to Neil and Bart?"
Vixere