Redtail Rise The story of your little success

He only heard the end of the first call, having fallen asleep in a field of flowers presided over by a wayward Augur; the man had been on patrol and caught him there, and they'd lounged for a bit, but then the adult wandered off again and Reki had slept. He was rousing now, expecting to find company alongside him - but he saw the disappearing figure of his caretaker and let out a little yawn. The howl petered out, and he felt his ears pop.

The boy got up and shook off. He stretched his front half first, then his back, and frisked his tail, taking is time to get all the kinks out. Another call came — this one from the same direction as Ashlar's and in a feminine voice, one which Reki should have known. It tugged at a very deep, almost forgotten part of himself. It was familiar, sort-of, in a nameless way.

Reki was curious. That was all he thought, initially. He began to find his way. As he came upon the gathered group he heard the raucous sounds of many voices calling out — they were more noise than anything refined, and frighteningly dissonant, which gave him pause. They called for him, he thought; but also for someone else, using a name he did not recognize at all.

It was some time before his little legs got him within view of the gathering. He thought he could see Ashlar there — the only one he recognized with any great certainty, so he moved with great care towards the man, his posture quite low and his tail curled against his legs, overwhelmed by the many faces and reduced to his usual shy mien.

Reki didn't get too close. He didn't know these people, and kept looking to Ashlar as if to ask, what is this?