Gyrfalcon's Keep for the lives we've betrayed

yeah he does, haha. c:

 

As Kjalarr assessed her he became acutely aware that she was doing the same. It was to be expected, of course, they were strangers after all and they had to out of subconscious instinct alone. She gave a little noise that the Viking recognized as clearing her throat though for what purpose the Saltwinter beta could not be sure. Perhaps she simply had a tickle in her throat. She moved with grace, he watched, his eyes moving from her paws as she moved closer to her face once more. His posture did not tense, but he did rise to his paws at her approach — though not with the intent to flee. At her question he glimpsed down at the fowl betwixt his paws, partially bald from where he'd torn it's feathers free looking well quite funny at the moment before he looked back up at her.

The truth wasn't half so amazing sounding. In fact, the truth was just plain ironic. Catching the gyrfalcon had been literally as easy as it could have gotten: the bird had plummeted to the earth in front of him though he was unsure whether it had been it's death that had caused it's collision with the earth or the impact that had been the killing blow. Nevertheless, it had been there for the taking and Kjalarr was not the sort to turn his nose up at free food. Ideally, the the pallid sylph had laid the ground work for quite a tale, easily followed to make himself look like he'd accomplished the feat without circumstance intervening. Yet, that was not the truth and Kjalarr was arrogant but not enough to lie to that extent.

“Ah, no, I'm afraid not.” He admitted. “It fell from the sky and I grabbed it.” Lame, as far as stories went. Very lame. Not that Kjalarr considered himself lame by any means of the word. “I am sorry to disappoint you.” Kjalarr grinned and shrugged his broad shoulders. “I am Kjalarr.” He offered his name to her, glad that for the first time in a long time he did not feel the need to be hostile towards a stranger.

They passed a few more words before they parted ways, Kjalarr with his limp catch betwixt his jaws with the intent of taking it to one of Saltwinter's caches.

edited a conclusion on this so it could be archived.