(2024-08-01) Birds in Flight

Details

Author:	Luridel
Summary:	Mordecai flies over to Aviana's shrine to meet up with Caspis, who gives him a tour. And then a test flight. Mordecai is not scared of heights and hippogryphs might be the best, actually. ~3700 words.
Rating:	T for Teen

Arc: Season 14

Caspis stands under the clouded twilight sky, watching birds in flight. He has been standing this way for quite some time.

Mordecai recites a prayer for Colson and says goodbye, watching him walk off with Thisalee Crow.

"Oh, wow…" Mordecai stares up at the shrine.

Caspis's ear twitches toward Mordecai's voice. He keeps his gaze on the sky, though, as he says quietly, "Is it not beautiful?"

Mordecai startles and moves on over. "It really is."

Caspis looks over and down at the young priest, a faint smile barely touching the corners of his mouth. "Hello," he says warmly.

"Hello, Caspis." He smiles, shy and hopeful. "Colson told me that Aviana might be… reforming?"

Caspis's ears lift, and his eyes brighten visibly. This is not a metaphor; they are literally luminous with joy. "Yes," he says. "I am so, unutterably grateful that I have lived to see this day."

Mordecai's smile gets bigger. "So it's truly happening? That's wonderful."

"No one will say for certain that she is returning, but I know it in my heart, to an absolute certainty. I cannot remember the last time I felt so certain about anything, aside from Anareline."

Mordecai presses his gloved hands to his cheeks. "Would you, um. I was wondering if you'd want to give me a-a tour? If I'm allowed to see the inside?"

"Of course. I do not believe anyone will object to your presence, and if they do, I can explain who you are." He says this as though it is understood that Mordecai Is Someone.

Mordecai follows after Caspis, fidgeting with his fingers. "All right. Thank you."

Caspis leads him into the main shrine building.

Mordecai looks around at the basins of shimmering water, at a large shallow bowl with candles floating in them…

"This area is the most visited by the public," Caspis explains, gesturing around. People come here to trade, or to study." He gestures to the bookshelves. "Most of these are written in Darnassian, and deal with the finer points of druidic magic and lore."

"It's lovely," Mordecai says quietly. "Are druids taught here?"

Caspis nods. "Normally you would find a great many young druids of the talon settled here around this font - but there are not so many of us these days." He sighs sadly.

Caspis sorts through a pile of books on the bench, clearly all recently read and discarded there.

Mordecai looks at the tauren nearby. "Are there books in, um. Their language as well?"

Caspis stares at the books in front of him. "All in Darnassian… a kaldorei student must have been here recently." He smiles at the idea, then turns back to Mordecai. "I do not believe I have seen any. The Tauren… do not tend toward books."

Mordecai nods. "I see."

"I know little of them, but from what I understand they have more of an oral tradition, save for a few legends they write down on decorative hangings for all to see."

Mordecai looks too shy to speak to any of them directly. He sticks close to Caspis.

"Through that doorway is the room where the leaders tend to congregate and discuss matters, or hold audiences. It should be all right for us to enter."

Mordecai bites his lip. There doesn't seem to be a meeting going on right now, though, and Mordecai relaxes when he sees that.

Caspis bows to the female tauren at the back of the chamber; she is staring into space. A kindred spirit? She doesn't even notice them.

Caspis seems unbothered by her inattention and, continues up the ramp at the side of the room.

Mordecai quietly admires a set of planter boxes from a safe distance.

"Here some of the more rare tomes are kept." Caspis gestures to the bookcases in the small, quiet room.

Mordecai sticks his hands in his pockets. He's not touching anything. "It's so peaceful. In the Cathedral in Stormwind, we have reading rooms that are a little bit like this as well… on the lower level."

"Though none of the tomes here are in your language, if you wish to study or meditate here, I am certain you would be welcome. It is the quietest spot in the shrine."

Mordecai gives him a shy smile. "Thank you."

Caspis returns his smile, very faintly. "Let us see what else there is to see… Have you noticed that kaldorei always sleep on an upper floor, when possible?"

"I… suppose I'd never really thought about it," Mordecai says, "but you're right."

Caspis leads him up a pair of ramps. "Can you guess why there are no beds at all here?"

The uppermost floor is, indeed, only full of more books, and oddly, a bear trophy.

Mordecai pokes his fingers together. "Because there's a winding path up the tree? Maybe it's higher up? Or - or maybe everyone here sleeps in their bird forms."

Caspis smiles at his last guess. "Precisely. Most of the sleeping takes place upon the roof."

Mordecai looks up in the rafters. Nope, the birds are outside.

"Do you come in when it rains?" Mordecai asks.

"Rarely," Caspis admits. "As with the wild birds, we will simply take shelter in the hollows of trees, or under overhangs outdoors. Most would assume this building is the central place of worship, but the devoted of Aviana prefer to be in the trees, or in the skies." He smiles slightly. "However, the books do not agree."

Mordecai makes a faint noise of amusement.

"What most people assume is the main part of the shrine is actually more of our library and study center." Caspis leads him back outdoors.

Mordecai follows. "It must be really nice to just… fly whenever you want to."

"The true holy place for devotees of Aviana is there," Caspis says, gesturing up at the sky.

"To fly is not only exhilarating in and of itself, but it is a form of worship, for us. Well, for those of us inclined to reverence." He gazes after the direction that Thisalee went sneaking off after Colson to spy on him.

Mordecai looks up… directly into a lantern. He shades his eyes and looks past that towards the birds circling in the sky.

"Come," Caspis says, starting up a hill.

Caspis gestures over the edge of the sharp dropoff, where the air disappears into a purple haze. "This is the true temple of Aviana," he says solemnly.

Mordecai gets a little bit too close to the edge, then backs up to safety.

Caspis steadies him with a hand on his shoulder. "It is natural for most beings to feel a sense of fear, looking down here, hm?"

"Falling is a terrible way to die," Mordecai says. That wasn't quite what Caspis asked.

"It must be," Caspis says. "I remember the terror I felt when I lost my wings, in Northrend."

Caspis launches himself into the air, then, with a joyous little cry, and does a small circle, gliding effortlessly, before he returns to the hill and to his elven form.

Mordecai admires bird-Caspis.

[Caspis]: "The smoke from below only barely reaches us here, but its scent is unmistakable if faint. I hope we may restore this mountain entirely one day."

"If only my bird form were larger," Caspis muses, "I could give you quite the tour."

Mordecai smiles. "That would be fun."

[Caspis]: "Do you have any questions about Aviana?"

Mordecai nods. "How do Wild Gods reform…?"

[Caspis]: "A Wild God is… in some ways more of an idea than an animal. They coalesce into a physical form in this realm so that they may interact with their children," he begins to explain.

[Caspis]: "But those who spend a great deal of time in this realm, interacting with it, they come to feel at home here, though they are truly spirits of the Emerald Dream. Their souls attach to the bodies much as ours do."

[Caspis]: "And so in this way they can be killed, in a sense. Their spirit is torn from their form, and it dissipates into the Emerald Dream. They are no longer… conscious, or able to interact or affect either world."

Mordecai nods. "Har'koa said that Rhunok would return one day… So he's resting in the Emerald Dream now?"

Caspis nods. "It is not a certain thing, but it is possible, if a Wild God's will is strong and focused enough, that they can find their way back, and create a new form."

"Aviana died… so long ago. Does it usually take them so long?" Mordecai fidgets with his fingers.

[Caspis]: "In the Emerald Dream, time does not work as it does here. For her it may not seem long at all. The crisis has sharpened her focus, and she may not even be aware that any time has passed since she was last here in this realm."

[Mordecai]: "Well… then I'm really glad you've lived to see it happen."

Caspis smiles again, that slight ghost of a smile on his serious face. "As am I, beyond the words to express them. I feel blessed - but that word is used so casually in the Common tongue. I do not know a stronger one."

"I know what you mean, though." Mordecai nods. "It's true, not all blessings are equal in measure."

[Caspis]: "I was only a child when she died. I came to worship her as a martyr-goddess, and in some ways I aspired to the same. And yet… I survived, and survived, and never knew fully why. Until very recently, when I have rediscovered two things I thought forever lost - my shalan and my goddess - returning to me in such quick succession. I see the hand of Fate so clearly in my own life, now."

Mordecai smiles. "I'm glad. Um, I trust your squad to be able to handle the situation, but I'll pray for your success."

"Trust and prayer," Caspis echoes solemnly. "Yes, both are welcome."

[Mordecai]: "I was there when Queen Ysera… spoke to you specifically." Mordecai sounds proud.

Caspis's face darkens slightly, ears drooping with embarrassment, but he nods, something in his expression looking pleased. "I was surprised," he said. "Which is… perhaps an understatement, but again I do not know a stronger version of the word."

"Stronger than surprised… maybe 'astonished'?" Mordecai suggests.

"Astonished." Caspis tries out the word. "Yes, I think that is the right one. I have heard that word before, and it fits."

Mordecai nods. "Did you feel like your Queen saw something in you that you didn't know was there?"

Caspis considers, and then nods. "I have scolded myself for how long it has taken me to reach my potential, but… she lives in the Dream. She does not even see how long it has taken. She sees nothing wrong with me at all." His eyes glisten slightly with a watery light as they tear up a little.

"I don't either," Mordecai says firmly, smiling. "You are going to save your goddess. I know you can."

Caspis's ears droop and he lowers his eyes, but that smile touches his lips again.

Caspis looks up then, and studies him. "You have been well? I… find I am not certain how long it has been since we last spoke at any length."

Mordecai rubs his cheek. "Um, I'm doing better now. I… Colson and I lost our house in Stormwind to Deathwing."

Caspis blinks once. Twice. His ears go absolutely limp. "By the gods…" he whispers. "I am so sorry, Mordecai."

Mordecai looks down. "Thank you. It was difficult. We lost a lot of… personal belongings, mementos of the past, old letters and things we saved… And furniture, and our garden, and our first home. But we still have each other. And that matters more than the rest of it."

"Yes, that is right," Caspis says gently. "Where are you staying now?"

"We're staying in an inn in Outland, actually, in a place called Telaar. The two of us lived there for a time while Cobalt Company was working in Outland, and the same room was… available again." Mordecai looks up with a faint smile.

"Outland?" Caspis tips his head, birdlike. He seems to be trying very hard to understand this choice.

Mordecai nods. "It's still falling apart, but very slowly. It'll still be livable for the rest of my personal lifetime and probably many human generations after. The part of it where we live is beautiful, there are green fields and the sky has purple clouds. I work at the infirmary in Shattrath during the week."

Caspis's gaze goes distant as he pictures this. "It does sound lovely. I do not believe the Cenarion Expedition traveled to that part of Outland."

Mordecai runs a hand through his hair. It ends up messier. "I really am doing better, now. Being back on this mountain is good for me, I think."

Caspis gently, absently, attempts to order Mordecai's hair. "I believe that time in nature is good for anyone, not only druids."

Mordecai holds still. The chaos curls resist order, though.

Caspis frowns at them, seeming to realize that he is not certain what his goal here should be. This is not the sort of hair he is used to arranging. He lets it be.

Mordecai laughs quietly. "It always seems to end up a mess no matter what I do to it," he says, gesturing at his hair.

"Humans have such interesting hair," Caspis observes. "Such a variety of textures. "And always in autumn colors…" he observes. "Turning to winter with age…"

[Mordecai]: "…I'd never thought about it like that."

Caspis tilts his head. His expression clearly reads, isn't it obvious?

Caspis suddenly seems to remember he is wearing his rather severe Bird Helm, and removes it.

Mordecai smiles.

Caspis's own long midnight-blue hair is an absolute disaster. He doesn't seem to notice. "I hope the helm did not make me seem unfriendly," he says. "It is so comfortable I often forget I have it on."

Mordecai shakes his head. "No. It felt… appropriate for the shrine."

[Mordecai]: "I've been thinking of purchasing a flying mount recently. I haven't needed to yet, because I'm not on the squad itself, but…"

Caspis studies him. "You are uncertain?"

Mordecai smiles a little shyly. "It's just a big purchase, and we don't have as much money as before, and I don't know what kind to get. I wish I could just turn into a bird."

[Caspis]: "The freedom that it would afford you, especially now that flight master licenses are available to all in Cobalt Company and others who serve the Alliance with distinction… I think you should most certainly acquire one. Even I have one, though I do not need one." He smiles.

Mordecai nods. "Where did your hippogryph come from?"

[Caspis]: "During my time in the Cenarion Expedition, I managed to make enough of a name for myself that I was granted access to the offspring of some very elite Cenarion hatcheries. She is a splendid animal."

[Caspis]: "But I understand humans are more inclined toward gryphons?"

Mordecai nods slowly. "In general… that's what I'm more accustomed to flying on." He does not sound particularly sold on gryphons as a pick.

"You could try riding my hippogryph and see if you prefer her gait?" Caspis tips his head. "I believe the Argent Crusade also breeds them."

"Oh." Mordecai smiles shyly. "I'd like that. I suppose I'm looking for a less aggressive mount, but not one that will spook easily…"

"Let me go and find where she has roosted." Caspis changes into a stormcrow and flies away.

Mordecai waits patiently by the cliff.

When Caspis returns, he is riding a splendid hippogryph whose feathers are all in shades of teal and vermilion and black.

The hippogryph tosses her head as she lands, then preens under one wing.

Caspis dismounts.

Though the forequarters of the hippogryph are avian like a gryphon's, something about the hind end being horselike changes the entire stance and bearing of the animal. Though its head moves in a birdlike way, it does not have the fluid predatory body movement that a gryphon does. Even its avian forelegs strike the ground in the more solid, straight way that a horse's do.

Caspis attempts to help Mordecai onto the hippogryph.

Mordecai accepts Caspis' help to climb on.

The hippogryph seems up for whatever, though it does take some time to stretch its legs. It might have been napping when Cas found it.

"How does that feel?" Caspis asks in his soft, deep voice, a soothing paternal tone.

"Precarious," Mordecai admits. He holds on.

"Start slow," Caspis advises. "Apply pressure with your knees when you wish to go faster."

"How do I direct her?" Mordecai asks. "Normally the rentals just sort of… know to follow the other flying creatures."

"Do you see the leather ring around her chest? If you reach under her feathers you will find the back of it. Pull it gently to one side or the other."

"Oh!" Mordecai does, and the hippogryph flies up.

Caspis turns into a bird to stay alongside.

They fly up along the trunk of a large tree that is also part of the shrine. Another trunk, or perhaps a branch, coils around it like a ramp.

Caspis flies close, watching sharp-eyed for any signs the hippogryph needs directions from him in birb language.

Mordecai seems to quickly grow more comfortable on hippogryph-back.

Caspis seems to relax, judging by the way he flies a bit farther away.

"How high can we go?" Mordecai asks.

Caspis does a very strange maneuver then, flying almost right up against Mordecai's back and shifting into elf form to gracefully slide into the saddle behind him. "As high as you like," he says.

Mordecai squeaks with surprise. "She's strong enough to carry us both?"

"She can carry up to three kaldorei," Caspis says, "in weight at least. They may have trouble finding space to sit."

Mordecai steers the hippogryph up.

And up.

[Caspis]: "Yes, there you have it. The ring is intuitive - you simply pull it in the opposite direction you wish to move. Press down to ascend, lift it to descend. You've got it."

And… up. All the way to the top of the tree.

"Oh, she's wonderful," Mordecai says. He holds on firmly and peers off the side. "Oh, wow. I can hardly see anything down there."

"There is always a bit of a haze up this high," says Caspis. "We are nearly in the clouds."

Mordecai laughs with delight. "Wow! Oh, it's cold up here. Hold on, I'm going to have her dive!"

"As you wish," says Caspis, and holds onto him.

Mordecai does not appear to be afraid of heights.

The hippogryph does a steep dive down. Mordecai grins broadly, holding on tight, and slows the mount's descent as they get closer to the ground, bringing her in for a careful landing.

Caspis lets out a strange sound, a single bark like the very serious version of a laugh. "Oh," he says. "She enjoyed that. Do you hear that sound?" Indeed the hippogryph is making a barely-perceptible little chrrrring sound.

"I seldom dive with her that way. I think I bore her." Caspis gives her a little scratch behind the vermilion feathers that frame her face.

Mordecai gives a breathless, exhilarated laugh.

[Caspis]: "I know that your shalan is well thought of in the Argent Crusade. Perhaps he can convince them to sell you one of theirs?"

[Caspis]: "You could borrow mine until you have one of your own. I can use my own wings in the meantime, hm?"

Mordecai twists around in the saddle and looks at Caspis as if he has just been given a pony for his birthday. "Really?"

[Caspis]: "It would be good for her. I do not make nearly as much use of her these days. She was not bred to sit idle."

"That would be wonderful. I'd like that very much." Mordecai attempts to dismount and finds that his legs have become jelly. He sits on the grass.

"You will grow more accustomed to it," Caspis says gently.

Mordecai looks at his gloved hands. He was holding on to the strap so tightly that there's a faint imprint.

"That was… really fun," Mordecai says, smiling up at Caspis.

Caspis smiles very slightly. "You did well."

[Mordecai]: "I did? Oh, that's a relief. Thank you."

Caspis rummages through his pack for an absurdly long time, finally locating a carved wooden whistle in the shape of a hippogryph. "Here," he says, handing it over.

Mordecai takes it. "Thank you. This is to call her…?"

[Caspis]: "Blow it to summon her. It is very loud, so do not blow it while standing next to another. To release her, you simply give her a light slap on the flank. And she will roost somewhere nearby."

Mordecai stands a little shakily, reaching out to Caspis for balance as he steadies himself. "Thank you. Um… what's her name?"

"Hippogryphs lightly nip one another on the flank as a signal to take flight, and so this— name?" He blinks.

Mordecai nods.

Caspis helps steady Mordecai on his feet, and then just stares at him seriously. "Ah yes, some of the Sentinels name theirs, I suppose…"

Caspis seems to find this a bit silly, judging by his tone.

"She has no name, and so I do not impose one upon her," says Caspis. "She is a hippogryph, not an elf."

Mordecai nods. "All right. Thank you." He pats her flank. Maybe not hard enough.

The hippogryph indeed seems not to notice.

"Remember," Caspis says, "they are used to a nip from a beak. So give her a good slap or she will not notice."

"Can I pinch her?" Mordecai asks.

"I doubt she would feel your small soft fingers," Caspis says. "Hippogryph hide is very thick."

"Shall I show you how it is done?" Caspis peers at Mordecai.

Mordecai looks at his gloved fingers. He nods. "All right."

Caspis gives the hippogryph a confident, rousing little slap on the rump, the way one might a locker room buddy or a saucy lover. The hippogryph raises her head and then takes off, seeming delighted to be dismissed.

Mordecai smiles, pressing his hands to his cheeks. The whistle is now safely in his pocket. "Thank you, Caspis."

Caspis bows. "I am pleased to have brought you happiness."

Mordecai nods. "Of course. I, um, I'm going to see if Colson's back yet."

Caspis smiles a little… and wanders off.