#v:folkloreverse

▪▪▪ Time passed by, seasons had changed, relationships had grown. Dmitriy, that sweet and peculiar little phoenix harpy, had been spending a lot of time with a certain kelpie dwelling in the river. It was a strange combination, a man-eating water horse man and a ‘spicy chicken’. Dmitriy hadn’t let that strangeness stop him from being friends with Alastair though.

When the weather grew cold, he did his best to make sure Alastair  stayed warm. Whether that was cuddling up on his equine back to  share the warmth he radiated to even getting him a lovely horse blanket  and scarf from the human village, he made sure he was kept nice and  cozy. That didn’t even include the meals and the shinies he’d bring him.

To Cornelius, hearing his son gush about his ‘friend’ and the things he did for him or the sweet actions Alastair would do in turn, it was obvious to him that this was more than mere friendship. His dear little son was absolutely smitten. His energy and will to move with the fatigue of their journey and the grief of his lost mate had needed a long while to recover, but now, at last, he was feeling better. And what better way to celebrate than by visiting the  river and seeing for himself the kelpie that Dmitriy spoke about so much?

In the clearing by the river side, the sky seemed to darken - not by a sudden  change in the hours but by the massive shadow cast by a thick body and huge wings. The heavy whump of an elk carcass hitting the ground was  almost deafened by the woosh of wings that made the trees bend and shake. As taloned feet hit the ground, a small but noticeable tremor ran through the earth, rippling through the water. The air felt full of static, the scent of rain and ozone heavy in the breeze. Silver and stormy grey wings folded as clawed hands came to rest against the ground. His feather neck extended as he peered over the surface of the water, ruddy brown eyes searching for the shape of the kelpie.

▪▪▪ The sound of water mingled with the birdsong from the treetops. The air was touched with a briskness, the distinct smell of rain on the breeze. Spring was slowly beginning to emerge from its rest, with the ice and snow melted and the first glimpses of greenery beginning to appear. It’d be time yet before the flora was in full bloom and blanketed the forest with a vivid sea of color. It was the quiet interlude between seasons, like a held breath before a singer’s performance. The one area of the forest where there was more liveliness this time of year was along the large river that wound through the trees like a massive serpent. Not too far from where a clearing around the river bank, a trio of harpies - a father and his twin sons - had chosen to nest. The area had plenty of food and shelter...and, as one of the twins would claim, plenty of entertainment.

Wings flapped as black, talon-tipped feet landed on a thick branch and gripped it tight, allowing the feathered flier to ease down and perch. At first glance, he’d seem like an oversized bird. He was on the shorter side compared to humans, but bore a humanoid shape and face still. His body was mostly covered in deep crimson and fiery orange plumage, with lightly sun-kissed skin along his face and stomach where the feathers didn’t grow. His wings folded as he drew his arms closed to him, avian hands curling together as he gazed down towards the river with ruddy brown eyes. He had been visiting this particular perch for just the past few days because of the entertainment. There was a certain amusement in the exchanges between the resident of the river and a satyr and he wanted to see if more would occur...and if he could possibly pester the water horse himself.

He felt the branch jiggle as another individual perched beside him. He looked identical to him, save for the fact that his plumage was fluffier and the deepest black and his eyes were a striking blue. He fluffed his feathers as he shifted and got comfortable, taking a similar stance to his brother as he watched and waited.

     │”Father warned you not to bother anyone.”│

          {{”It’ll be fiiiine, don’t worry, Dvoj.”}}

     │”If he tries to eat you, I’m not saving you.”│