you call me [Rule Breaker] but i'm a [Risk Taker]

[Narí]

He shouldn’t be there, it’s true. But life is only so interesting when you have to stay in a designated area. He knew Ithilian lands by heart, and could fly them with his eyes closed. This – this was new. Birds spoke of Nobeast’s Land, but it all seemed to be rumors or myths, for only loners ventured there. He wanted to see for himself. Sunlight reflected blindingly off the pale sand and the endless expanse of blue-green water. The Beaks rose up in a jagged line, dividing this lifeless land from the flocks.

Vanaríon circled high above, only the mountain peaks reaching farther into the cloudless sky. He glided out over the water, watching its continuous movement, as if a being alive. Venturing farther and farther from land, soon it was only a stripe of color on the horizon, even to his farseeing gaze. Knowing better than to get out of sight of safety, the Merlin began to head back, drifting idly on the air currents.

When a sudden shape crested out of the water, the young bird gasped. That had to be the biggest fish ever! It was as long as a sapling is tall, and a pale gray in color. Two more broke through the waves, and then another. Beneath the surface Narí could make out their blurred shapes. There seemed to be five or so of the big fish, and they were headed toward shore. He followed in the air, fascinated by the sleek forms. Soon they vanished, to his pang of disappointment. Slowing, he circled over the spot he had last seen them, hoping for one last glimpse. Suddenly the water began to roil, disturbed by movement below. Small, silver fish thrashed near the surface, and Narí had the distinct impression that they were being trapped from below.

Feeling reckless, the falcon folded his wings and went into a steep dive, then sapped them open at the last second. The strong scent of salt washed over him, and his talons dipped into the chilly water. He flapped, rising back into the air, a slippery fish in his grasp. Vanaríon stretched out his awareness as he skimmed the water, and life glowed in his internal vision. Each fish was a splash of light to represent its energy – there were hundreds of them. Father below, in the cold darkness that was the water, blazed the big fish. Narí pulled a bit of energy from one of them, just enough to refresh himself and not enough to be noticeable the fish. They had a huge amount of energy, more than he had ever encountered in a single being, the exception being large trees. It was different, though. The energy of trees was slow, unconcerned, apathetic, and unaware, but powerful. The big fish were vibrantly alive and interactive, as they dove and darted among the group of smaller fish, and full of bright life that filled his vision. Then he was pulling away, back into the sky, burdened by his catch.

Amazed by what he had just seen, he rose back into the sky on a thermal and angled toward shore. Flying by a pattern of rising on a thermal and gliding for a ways, Vanaríon meandered back to the shore. He spiraled down lazily to the sandy earth, to a twisted driftwood tree that had washed up, and settled on a smooth branch. The young Merlin began to tear at the cool flesh of the fish, considering the strange taste. He rarely ate freshwater fish, as it was only to be found in rivers and ponds. Glasswater, where most of the fish was to be found, was Anorean land. Saltwater fish was different all together – it was, well, saltier.

620 words
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