715/Featherfall

Featherfall
Date of Scene:	31 May 2017
Location:	Unknown
Synopsis:	Is there life on Mars? Hard to tell, but Danny Wilde knows for sure there are bird-men in space. One of them just happens to fall nearby.
Cast of Characters:	Kian t'Kaeh, Greenjack

---

Kian t'Kaeh has posed:
    If you want to be technical about it, what happens actually started some six parsecs away, although no witness could possibly know that. Nor could the principal himself -- certainly Kian had no idea what was about to happen to him.
    All any possible witnesses could know is that first there is an intense blue flash, sharp and fleeting as a flash bulb, reflecting off the lake in the early evening twilight. And a small, blue-glowing dot, accelerating downwards.
    Nearly to the water, there is the sharp keening of a raptor, like a hawk or eagle but deeper in pitch, and the blue glow moves, pulling away from the surface of the lake just before impact.
    Almost.
    Something digs into the water's surface; at the speed it is moving, it hits the lake and skips once, twice, thrice and comes to a rapid and painful-looking stop on the shore, still half in the water.
    If anyone was there to see, at least.

Greenjack has posed:
But there was nobody there, and the pilot drowns, tragically.

The End.

No, wait, thats not the way it went. You would be forgiven for thinking that nobody was around- after all, the man leaning against one of the tall trees surrounding the lake almost blends into the bark. Danny Wilde had been communing with his 'kin', so to speak, taking a break from the busywork of the Summer semester that was about to start.

It's fortunte for whomever came down from the sky that he was there. A few seconds later, there is a green-skinned man with small horns and blue hair running to the edge of the lake, and two seconds later there are roots emerging from the soil itself around the lake as he taps into the root system in the area, accelerating its movement to create a lattice of interconnected roots that emerge and weave under that 'something', gently raising it out of the water...

Kian t'Kaeh has posed:
    Kian coughs and tries to pull himself the rest of the way out of the water, but he's too disoriented to manage much more than propping himself up on one elbow and wiping the sand and water out of his face with his free hand. "/Ai, c'Rhysw'yw... ash tyr'tai/?" He looks around blearily -- his eyes widen, and he breathes, "/H... okh h'tai/?" before collapsing in exhaustion again. And there he lays. A close observer may be relieved to see that he's breathing, at least.
    A casual observer would probably be more surprised by the fact that whoever he is, he has wings.

Greenjack has posed:
Danny Wilde is anything but a casual observer. In the ten years that he was part of the Wilde Family, he has seen many incredible things. Bird-men falling from the sky? Ok, a new thing, but not soething for which he lacks a general frame of reference.

The teenager wades into the lake as the roots push the unconscious alien towards him. Once he has him cradled firmly in his arms, they begin to retreat, shrinking back to their previous dimensions and returning to the ground.

He walks out of the lake and carefully lays the alien down on the ground. He has no bio frame of reference for what are normal vital signs for this particular species, but nevertheless he proceeds to check for anything that might sound like water in his lungs, resting a pointed ear against the other's chest.

Kian t'Kaeh has posed:
    It doesn't sound like there's any water in the birdman's lungs; his heartbeat is fast, but not dangerously so. The stranger is small, barely more than a meter and a half tall, and even for that small size, seemed lighter than he should have been.
    Kian moans softly, coming back to consciousness. And as he does so, a mental voice strengthens and clarifies: (/Oh, Gods... what happened? Where am I? Where is the ship?/) His eyes open, but do not focus yet. Fuzzily, the thought comes, (/You're not Eryk. He isn't green./)

Greenjack has posed:
Danny sits up after hearing a voice in his head. Or, rather, someone else's *thoughts* in his head. By doing so, he breaks the contact without realizing it. "You're awake... good Are you hurt anywhere? I can answer your questions as best I can, but I need to make sure you don't need medical attention first..."

Kian t'Kaeh has posed:
    Kian's eyes open wide when contact is broken. Then he closes them again, placing one three-fingered hand to his temple. "/H'teki'p'e/! /Cha'h'e teki'p'tai/?"
    He opens his eyes again and this time they focus, and focus sharply. "/c'Rhys'yw! p'Rio! na Eryk'e!/" His breathing is hard and fast, almost panicky. "/Ash'p'tai/?" he breathes, then more firmly, "/Ash'p'tai/?" He tries to move away, but exhaustion and water-soaked wings make a pair of lovely anchors.

Greenjack has posed:
Danny frowns. Great, now the alien was panicking. He reaches out and pushes him down, with his hands against his chest, gently. "Settle down, you're going to give yourself a heart attack." Provided he has only one heart. "Can you enter my mind again? Understand me?"

Kian t'Kaeh has posed:
    (/I can hear you again. In my mind./) Kian's mental voice is not exactly calm, but it's understandable. (/As soon as you touched me. I couldn't hear you before. I don't understand...!/) He closes his eyes and takes a couple deep breaths, and the jagged edges of the birdman's mind smooth out, but only a little.
    (/You're green/,) he tries again, demonstrating a mastery of the obvious. (/And you don't have wings. And it seems you don't have the mindtouch either. I don't...!/) Again, a couple deep breaths as Kian brings himself back under control. (/I was going to the Imperial University on the homeworld, but this is not Akiar, and it would have been several days before we would have got there. Who are you? Where am I? Why are you green? And what happened to me?/) The last couple questions rush together in an almost incomprehensible jumble; certainly there's more than a little fear in the birdman's eyes.

Greenjack has posed:
Danny sighs, and shakes his head.
5r(/Deep breaths, bird boy. I'm green because I am a demi-god of nature, which sounds more impressive than it actually is. You are on the planet we simply call 'Earth', although 'Terra' suffices. I have never heard of Akiar... but still your mind. Are you hurt?) He reaches out and proceeds to gently bend the bird-man's arm at the joint, then another, then the knees, (/Does any of this hurt? I need to see if you need medical assistance first and foremost./)

Kian t'Kaeh has posed:
    The birdman catches his breath at 'demigod' and only barely registers the rest -- so much for deep breaths. (/Rhytak t'Erykh'Rhys!/) That comes up from so deep within, it just doesn't translate, but there's more than a little awe and reverence attached to it -- and, oddly enough, a little frustration.
    He concentrates, and actually does manage slower and deeper breaths. (/Forgive me, sir, I do not know of T-Tera./) Well, not bad for a first try. (/I am not in pain. In physical pain. I *am* in much confusion. Where are your wings?/)

Greenjack has posed:
Ok, so maybe that was the wrong thing to say. (/Relax, and don't call me 'sir.' There's nothing special about me outside of the fact that my mother is a minor spirit./) He smirks. If only he could see his mother dancing to her 'Lady Gaga' collection of recordings in her bathrobe and curlers, that reverence would fly out the window. (/We do not have wings on this planet as a rule. Those who have it, divine and otherwise, are the exception. I will now lift you, you crashed hard so it's not a good idea to try to walk just yet. You are soaking wet./)

He slowly lifts Kian in his arms, and begins to walk. Where? Towards his car, of course. (/I don't suppose there is anything left of your conveyance method that you might want to salvage?/)

Kian t'Kaeh has posed:
    The nature of mental contact being what it is, the birdman *can* see his rescuer's mom dancing to Lady Gaga in his mind, however dimly, and though it doesn't make a lot of sense to Kian, it *does* elicit a giggle and his first shy smile.
    (/Conveyance?/) He looks around as best he can, allowing himself to be lifted. (/I do not know where the ship is. When the tachyon drive engaged, that's when... whatever it is that happened to me, happened. I... remember watching from the main observation deck for the blueshift. It's so pretty to see. But I didn't see it. I saw a flash and the next thing I knew I was falling towards this lake./)

Greenjack has posed:
(/I don't know much about spaceships, my specialty is the supernatural, but it sounds like a mishap./) He arrives at his car and clicks open the door, gently laying Kian across the back. He has one of those spacious mini-van models, which should accomodate the wingspan. (/So... welcome to an alien planet. Right now all I can offer you is a home to stay at and to help you find your way here in any way I can.../) because he is a Wilde, and a Wilde never turns away from things like these. (/You're soaking wet and... not wearing a lot. You are probably freezing. Hold on./)

He doesn't have towels. Of course he doesn't have towls, he came to stargaze, not to swim. He takes off his shirt and hands it over to him, reaching to touch the other's chest to re-establish contact. (/Try to dry yourself with this as much as you can. It's not much, I'm afraid. I have more at home. You sure you feel okay?/)

Kian t'Kaeh has posed:
    Kian instinctively balks at the van -- large by human standards, impossibly small by his! He is, however, too weak to resist, and is gotten inside, though his eyes are screwed tightly shut and his shivering is not from the temperature.
    So his mental voice is a little shaky, almost a little queasy. (/If I am not in here long, I think I will be all right./) He tries to position himself so his wings aren't bumping up against anything, but... minivan. Not going to happen.
    Partly to distract himself, he peels off his wet clothes, drying himself off best as he can with the offered shirt, all without opening his eyes. (/I thank you,/) he 'sends shyly. (/I.../) he begins, then laughs once, softly. (/I am terribly rude. My name is Kian, of Rakh and Ari, of clan Kaeh. I am deeply in your debt./)

Greenjack has posed:
(/You aren't, this is the sort of stuff I grew up doing/) Danny tactflly averts his eyes. (/I am going to start driving now. If you need anything, just touch my hand. I'll try to make it as smooth as I can./) He was a good fifteen minutes from his apartment. He hoped it wouldn't be too long.

The van starts up almost noiselessly, one of those new fancy electric models. He turns on the stereo and selects one of his saved playlists- Satie's Gnossienes. He listened to it anytime he needed something to calm down. Maybe the alien's music tastes would be compatible.

He begins to drive, and pushes a button. The window tint on the outside becomes a little more opaque, but it doesn't affect inside visibility. He didn't want people to ogle into the van the moment they noticed there was a naked space manbird inside.

Kian t'Kaeh has posed:
    Kian remains in the back quietly, although any little bump in the road will elicit a thin whimper. But for the most part he remains quiet in back of the van.
    The closest there is to an interruption is the sound of a little movement, then the smell of something kind of like when you just open a dryer door, of freshly warmed fabric. Then in the rear view mirror, Kian can be seen wrapping his kilt back around his waist. He looks around the interior of the vehicle just once, then covers his eyes with his hands and ducks back down to the floor again.

Greenjack has posed:
It didn't make a lot of sense to him that a creature advanced enough to travel in space would be so discomfited by his surroundings. There was something else at stake. He reaches back with a hand as he drives to touch him with a fingertip.

(/You ok there, big guy? We're almost there. Do you need to stop for... you know. Feel like you're going to throw up?/)

Kian t'Kaeh has posed:
    There's barely-controlled panic in the alien's mind -- and controlled only in the sense that it's obvious he's trying very hard to not hit his rescuer with all that he's feeling. (/I... do not like... enclosure/,) Kian 'sends tersely. There's your understatement for the evening. (/I feel more like I... I want to scream. If we are not nearly there, may I ask you to stop so I can get out for a moment? If we are nearly there, then I will take to the air as soon as you stop. I will not go far./)

Greenjack has posed:
(/We're almost there.../) He may be flooring it a bit. (/Focus on me. Tell me about the place you came from,/) he starts the dialogue, (/What is it like? Do you all have wings?/) And that tricy intersection.... and a turn to the left.... (/Do you have any favorite songs from your planet?/)

It takes a lot less time than it usually would, mostly because he's been driving a little on the risky side... but they are finally here. The paralell parking job he suddenly pulls is a beauty. He's never even done it before quite like that. The green teen gets out of the van and quickly rolls the door open, reaching inside to pluck Kian out. (/It's ok, see?/)

Kian t'Kaeh has posed:
    (/I.../) Kian can't get much further than that, between the driving, the mounting panic, and simply being unable to think of anything as mundane as his favorite song. In fact, all he can think of is the open skies -- his world or this, it doesn't matter.
    So when the door opens, his rescuer is lucky to not be bowled over -- Kian doesn't need help getting out of the van, and in fact his feet never even touch the pavement, he kicks directly into the air with a relieved, even joyous "/Kya/!!"
    He is as good as his word: it is a brief but impressive display of aerobatics. He touches down very lightly on the roof of the van -- almost as if declaring victory over it -- then back to the pavement. (/my wings are not fully dry/,) he explains, resting a hand on the green teen's shoulder, (/but you have no idea how much I needed that anyway./)

Greenjack has posed:
(/We're going to have to get you some underwear/) Is the first thought that Danny communicates after watching the aerial show, visibly impressed. (/Flying and kilts don't mix in a world where most people will be looking up at you./)

He guides the bird man to the entrance to his apartment and, having seen his reaction to the enclosed spaces, foregoes the elevator in favor of the stairs. It is fairly late, so the place is mostly deserted, everybody inside getting to sleep for the new day.

Danny's apartment is quite spacious, fortunately. (/My home. Your home. I can see you're not going to do very well with the couch, so.../) he leads him to the bedroom, which is of a decent size, and has a good window. (/This will now be where you will sleep. It should have enough room for your wings. I can pull out the camper bed and set it up in the living room. You must be fairly tired after what you've gone through/)

Kian t'Kaeh has posed:
    A little dazed, Kian allows himself to be led indoors and doesn't fully register being indoors until they are in the apartment. (/I don't want to put you out,/) he protests weakly -- and there is a sense of exhaustion in his thoughts, between the bad landing, the trip in the too-small vehicle, even the brief flight upon arrival. Weary or not, he looks up with a pleasant smile. (/You do have one thing I still want of you, though. What is your name?/)

Greenjack has posed:
Greenjack smiles. (/Danny. Danny Wilde. Sometimes I go by Greenjack, but that's another topic for tomorrow. You probably should sleep./) He reaches oer and quickly pulls the covers off. Kian can arrange them how he wants them, to accomodate his unique body shape. (/I will put water out for you in case you are thirsty. I will stay awake for a while, so if you need me, just find me in the room outside./) He starts walking away, and then he stops and turns around, reaching out to put a hand against the other's cheek, because it feels slightly less awkward than paying at the alien's bare chest. (/Welcome to Earth. I'm sorry it's been less than a red carpet welcome. There's a lot that you need to learn about this place and we'll start tomorrow as soon as you're ready. Don't be afraid to sleep in. You've just flown several light-years. Your wings must be tired./) A weak attempt at humor, but he seems to know it.

Kian t'Kaeh has posed:
    The birdman blushes slightly, and places his hand on Danny's. "/h'Qion, Dani/," he says aloud, with the translation simultaneously going mind to mind: (/My thanks, Dani/.) Even mentally there's a slightly alien twist of the name. (/I... don't normally need to sleep, but I think it would be good for me right now. I don't think the enormity of what's happened has fully sunk in yet./)
    He gives Danny's hand a squeeze. (/I will try to be as little trouble to you as I can, give you no reason to regret taking me in. I thank you again, Dani./)