Because of his fascination with the humans, and with him often noting how most of his kindred's nguage and knowledge has human roots, he became shunned by his schorly peers. Eventually leading him to continue his work far away from the central capital. An unusual accommodation, possible only due to Maker's intervention to allow the most precious of books to be packaged and sent far away, directly to Nikoos.
He released a deep sigh while spreading his fingers against the wind.
Scarce birds and leathery-winged craklers, diminished in numbers by the autumn, were starting their secret symphonies—so lost in thought Nikoos was, he didn't even notice. The adorable chirping of the tiny, pale red blushes, each slightly smaller than a fingernail, resonated through the crisp air of Carcassona's melting night. Not to be outdone, a few smooth-skinned craklers, used their long, narrow, spear-pointed beaks, to rapidly click-cck, as if speaking in a secret nguage known only to them and others of their breed. There was also the pleasing whistling of occasional pufferpie. They resembled extremely bloated fish that can somehow levitate in the air. The dark-green floating balls even had wings that looked closer to fins than anything feathery-leathery. They were helpless and slow creatures—if one ignored the fact that their flesh is highly poisonous and could melt your stomach away. A rooster could be heard in the distance prociming something he instinctively knew was coming.
Murky reddish dawn, simir in shade to his red skin, was breaking the eastern horizon. The fire is probably out by now, he thought.
Every now and then he begins to gnce northward. In the distance, the scenic violet, topped with pure white snow of the Xanadu mountain range, consumes the vista. I hope the winds were kind to him. He tugged slightly at the sides of his hood—protecting his bare smooth scalp from the winds.
There was something in the distance. A giant bird was rapidly moving toward the cottage. Welcome, old friend, he thought. He then smiled and began to wave at the oncoming regal shape.
The sleek, air-cutting, chestnut-brown form of the feathered creature began to nd gently on the roof. Nikoos' bck with red trim silken cloak swayed and protested the gushing winds made by its mighty wings. After contracting them the rge hawk lowered his head and Nikoos roughly rubbed his fingers across the top of it.
''Hope no storms were daring to come across your path.''
The creature straightens up, silently regarding him. Not intelligent, perhaps, but there were many forms of intelligence and Ganbold was a clever Winged nonetheless.
Nikoos untied the package from the hawk's right leg. There was a metal chain on top of the box for easier hold during flight—the leg bond was just a safety measure. The rge hawk was never used as a mount. Ganbold would transport smallish packages but the creature refused to have a rider.
Nikoos had spread a thick yer of straw over a third of his roof—covered with a big cotton bnket and edged with rocks holding it in pce—so the Winged could rest for a while after its long journey.
Ganbold is rger than a horse and can be a fearsome sight to soak in, especially with his wings fully unfurled. Nikoos patted the beast some more and talked to it as one might to a child before heading inside. He opened a hatch and went downstairs with his package.
This shipment contained several, centuries-old, human tomes—gems of Vantium's great library. Many old human books of science which survived their fall were considered to contain ''junk science,'' as one of his peers had said. While the vast percentage of human knowledge was taken for granted, only newer works of kindred schors were truly appreciated—sometimes even to the detriment of scientific facts. He had no love nor hatred for humans for he understood that emotions have no pce in scientific pursuits. Except...maybe there was room for passion toward such things as learning and always questioning. While he was holding lectures in the capital he would say to his students, ''The day you stop asking questions is the day you need to retire.'' He would teach them to question everything—especially themselves.
