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Hearing a loud commotion outside, the snow leopard chakat slides out of bed..

Still in bed, one of his mates stirs. "Tyrin, what was that?" she sleepily asks.

"I don't know, but I want you and Sessa to go back to the harem, just in case." She nods, so he grabs his bow and quiver and heads out the door. As he passes a pair of guards, he motions to his room. "Make sure they get to the harem safely."

They nod and head to his room as he continues outside. There he finds several guards surrounding a small, collapsed shed. The guards part and let him approach.

As he nears, he hears the sounds of someone crying. He shoulders his bow and waves the guards back. They retreat, giving him some space.

He carefully moves the shed wall only to find a small bird-girl. From her coloring, he knows she's a quetzal, a now rare and protected people from the highland forests. From the look of her wings, they've been clipped, and she's thin, too thin. Realizing she's crashed here and is no threat, he gently extends his hand. "Let me help you," he softly says.

She recoils and tries to shield herself from him.

He backs away a few steps, then signals the guards to relax. The chakats among them sit, while others stand at ease.

After a moment's thought, he points to a guard. "Wake the kitchen, have them prepare a meal for this young lady, make sure they know she's a quetzal."

He points to another. "Fetch the healer." He then looks around. "Esral!"

A younger, much smaller female lynx chakat steps through the guards. "Sir?"

"I want you to see if you can gently coax her out. She's afraid of me."

Esral balks. "Me? But I..."

He smiles at her. "You're good with the animals, and as scared as she is, she needs to hear a soft, caring voice."

Esral sighs and nods, then slowly approaches the shed.

Tyrin looks at the guards. "Back to your posts." The guards all nod and quietly disperse, leaving the three alone. he sits and watches Esral from a distance, hoping she can do this. She's had so much trouble finding something she's good at, calming people and animals seems to be it.

When the healer arrives, Esral's managed to get the girl out of the collapsed shed. They can clearly see she's wounded.

Tyrin nods to the healer and she slowly walks towards the girl. When she gets close, the quetzal cringes into Esral's arms. Esral hugs her close, and does her best to help the healer check her over. Slowly the quetzal relaxes, and lets the healer address her wounds.

Tyrin lays down on his underbelly and sets his bow and quiver aside as he watches.

When they're done, they lead the quetzal girl over to him. He can tell she's still scared, she's still clinging to Esral.

He stays on the ground as he bows to her. "Welcome to Thiesran," he softly says. "I am Tyrin, lord of this stronghold and its territory."

She looks blankly at him for a moment, then quietly says, "Nissa."

He again bows slightly. "It is nice to meet you, Nissa. There's a meal waiting for you in the dining hall. Esral here will take you there so you can eat. She'll also show you to a guest room so you can rest. We'll talk about why you're here in the morning. For now, know that you are safe."

She nods to him, and Esral escorts her to the kitchen. He then quickly collects his things and heads to the harem.

This room is only for his mates, even he does not enter, so he knocks. When the door opens, he's looking at his first mate, also a snow leopard chakat.

He bows to her. "Mae my love, we have a new guest."

"At this hour?"

"She's a quetzal, and her wings were clipped."

She saddens noticeably. "Poor thing."

"The healer has seen to her. Esral has charge of her for now."

She tilts her head for a moment, studying his face. "What is it?"

He sighs. "The way it was done. I think...I think he's back."

She sighs, steps out to him and wraps him in a hug. "I had hoped we were rid of him last time."

He hugs her close. "So did I."

Morning comes, and before his family and guests gather for breakfast, Tyrin pays a visit to the captain of the guard.

The captain stands as he enters. "Morning sir."

"Morning. Captain, I have a feeling that we're going to get a visit today."

The captain nods. "Regarding the girl from last night?"

He looks out the window at the road. "Yes."

"Are we to expect trouble?"

He nods. "If it is who I think it is, there won't be anything else."

The captain becomes noticeably agitated. "You believe it's him?"

Tyrin nods. "I've seen too many wings clipped to mistake his work."

The captain nods and quickly commands a runner to spread the word among the guards. He then turns back to Tyrin. "Is there anything more sir?"

"Send for me if I'm right."

The captain nods. "Very well."

Tyrin turns and head back to the dining hall. Once there he stays standing as everyone at the head table sits.

He claps his hands, getting everyone's attention. "During the night we had a visitor drop in on us." He gestures to his left, where the quetzal now sits. "Nissa will be our guest while she recovers."

Being more relaxed, but embarrassed at the attention, she blushes and nods.

Tyrin lays on his under belly and begins to fill his plate. "Now then, what would you like to tell me about your escape."

She sets her fork down and hangs her head. "Was it that obvious?"

He nods. "Your wings are clipped, sloppily I might add, and yet you were still trying to fly. I have a pretty good idea who it was, but I'd like to know why."

She sighs and flexes her wings a bit. "He said he claimed me, that I was his."

He sets his food back down and sighs. For a moment he looks mad, then his face relaxes. "Did he force himself on you?"

"No!" she blurts, and then composes herself. "He...tried. That is why I fled." She again hangs her head.

He takes her hand and gives it a light squeeze. "I am sorry to have asked." Then seeing a guard wave to him, he adds. "No more questions. Please, enjoy your meal."

She nods and starts to pick at her food as he heads to the guard. Soon after, the guard leads him from the dining hall.

Tyrin stands at the front gate, the portcullis is closed. He watches as a party of 7 walk up road. The leader is someone he knows. Someone who looks a lot like himself.

"Open the cullis," he joyously shouts as he approaches. When they don't move he looks curiously at Tyrin.

"Why are you here, Nefan," Tyrin asks dryly.

Nefan tries to sound cheerful and friendly. "Why do you think? It's been three years since I've seen you, brother. Now open up."

"Nefan, we both know that is not the case. Truth, now."

His expression drops, and he growls, "You have something that belongs to me."

Tyrin scowls. "Something, or someone?"

Nefan grabs the portcullis and shakes it. "You do have her. Return her to me at once!"

"She is not yours," he calmly states.

"So you're keeping her?"

"No, she's free to choose her own way."

"She is mine! I caught her. "

"The law forbids keeping a quetzal."

"Since when?"

"Since your last foray into the highlands, three years ago. I warned you what would happen."

Angered, Nefan reaches through the gate at Tyrin. Tyrin merely backs up avoiding his reach.

"Get back here!" Nefan growls.

Having had enough, Tyrin sighs. "Nefan. You are guilty of kidnapping, slavery, and willful harm, all on a protected person. The penalty for what you have done is exile. To return here will mean death. Am I clear."

He stops trying to grab him. "But brother..." he whines, not believing his ears.

"You are lucky she fled before you could do more."

"You wouldn't kill your own brother?"

"That fact will spare you no more," Tyrin sadly states.

Nefan steps back in shock. "What are you saying?"

"You are no longer my brother." With that, he turns and walks from the gate.

Nefan sags and hangs on the gate. "Brother?" he asks weakly. His anger quickly flairs and he shakes the portcullis. "Tyrin!!"

A line of archers fill in behind Tyrin as he leaves, all are focused on Nefan and his group.

Nefan continues growling and shaking the gate for few more moments, and Tyrin hears the sound of a sword clearing a sheath. A yell. Then silence.

Knowing what just happened, he collapses to his underbelly and leans against a hitching post. His eyes fill with tears.

A small hand touches his. It's Nissa. "He was your brother? I am sorry," she softly says.

"It is not your fault. He made his choice years ago."

She hugs him, and they both start to cry.

* * *

Standing on the tower roof, she faces the wind. She hasn't been able to really fly for months. With her last molting though, most of the clipped feathers have been replaced.

She spreads her wings, stretching them out. They've filled in nicely. Her magnificent reds and metallic blue/greens shine in the sunlight. Only a close inspection would reveal the stress bands that most of her feathers have.

As the wind picks up, she lets it take her. Higher and higher she soars, enjoying the wind across her face. She looks down at the stronghold of Thiesran and smiles. With a laugh, she dives down and quickly finds her prey.

Swooping in low, she comes to a stop and wraps Tyrin in a hug, wrapping both her arms and wings around him. "I can't thank you enough."

He wraps his arms around under her wings and holds her. "Your happiness is more than enough young lady." It doesn't take him long to realize that she's softly crying. "I hope those are happy tears."

She pulls back a bit and smiles. "The happiest kind," she whispers. She then rubs her beak along his muzzle and passionately kisses him.

He starts purring, more by reflex than choice. "What was that for?"

She smiles and nuzzles into him. "It's my request."

"Request?" He's puzzled for a moment, then it clicks. "You want to be one of my mates?"

"Yes." She folds her wings and steps back. "I've already talked with your others. They are fine with me joining them."

He smiles. "You know what that means, right."

She nods. "I do. I talked with Esral after she chose."

He gently rubs his muzzle along her beak. "Then I accept you as a mate." She squeals happily as he picks her up. "I, Tyrin, of Thiesran, take you for my 7th mate," he states.

She nods, "And I Nissa, of the Northern Wind tribe, take you for my first mate."

He sets her back down and they kiss again.

Mae, followed by his other mates, approaches and hugs her. "Welcome to the harem, my dear. We already have a room ready for you."

she turns back to Tyrin. "Will you come see it?"

He smiles. "I am not allowed in the harem. It's only for my mates."

"That's why you never step inside the door."

He nods. "Whoever wants my company for the night, sleeps with me."

She smiles and nuzzles back into him. "Well, I know I'm sleeping with you tonight."

He again picks her up and kisses her. "We'll be doing more than sleeping, my dear."

She laughs and kisses him back. "I look forward to it."