Second Feather ✪ [Video]

[sleepingvalkyrie]

Greetings, Union!


[ It's Gwendolyn! With a burbling Firesong the Fletchling on her left shoulder, and a shivering pile of Cherrim leaves poking over the right. She's smiling, trying her best to look as much the diplomat as possible, but it's clear that she's excited in spite of herself.

Dressed as formally as ever for the Valkyrie, there is one key difference in her appearance today - three feathers are attached to the left side of her hairband, a bright contrast to her silver hair: two yellow feathers flanking a longer blue one. ]


Some of you may have noticed some excitement amongst the Valkyrie and others from Citadel in the past few days. Well, that is because this coming week marks the start of the Citadel Games! These are an annual tradition throughout the months of Spring, where athletes show off their athletic prowess in a number of activities, and the preliminaries will be held at the Great Tree all next week!

You have everything from relay racing to Caldera rules rugby to wrestling to gymnastics, as well as an exhibition match of the Dragonite Races! Both humans and pokémon have their own events, in addition to traditional doubles and partnership matches, along with sports from both Caldera and Union being on display. And this year will also feature the debut of Griftorb as an official pokémon-only sport!

[her hands clap together before her, eyes shining with excitement] Rumour also has it that the annual endurance race, which is always held prior to the start of Summer, will be ending in Caldera proper this year. And the victor will be crowned on the Day of Fire! So that should prove exciting, if true.

Anyway, number of us are planning to travel there tomorrow to attend for the week. Should anyone else wish to go, you and your bond mates are welcome to travel with us!

Comments

[wishingalone]

Ah, the games are here! Splendid! I can't wait.

[Yes, Mami's quite happy about this -- especially all of the target shooting contests. She usually does very well in those.]

Do you plan to enter this year?

[sleepingvalkyrie]

Not this year. [there's the flap of wings audible] I don't want to overextend myself so soon after receiving a greater Windblessing. But my sister is participating in the Dragonite Racing exhibition!

[wishingalone]

[Oh, wings. Splendid! Mami smiles, just a little proud.]

Ah, yes! I'm very proud of you for that. But, best to get a feel for them first, I think.

Is she? I'll be sure to cheer her on!

[sleepingvalkyrie]

[ Gwendolyn beams, eyes lowered as she blushes faintly. She doesn't get many nice things said often, so when it's someone she knows so well and trusts, it means a great deal. ]

As our Pidgeot instructors used to explain, young wings need time to build up strength and muscle. I have managed some short hops but I tire easily. [silver head shakes] And Myris despairs at the adjustments that had to be made to my armor to accommodate them.

She will! I believe all of last year's finalists will have a chance to show off, though the real race won't be until Spring's end again.

[wishingalone]

Ah, yes. You'll get there, but you need the exercise first. At least we're in a good city for it -- instead of Refuge, for instance.

[Not much flying in Refuge, she imagines.]

Ah, quite! I imagine that's the one she's prepared hardest for.

[sleepingvalkyrie]

Indeed! The towers and Wall make for good points to land and take off from as well. Fortunately most of the armor adjustments are leather-related and don't require a trip to the smithy.

Mmmhm! Her Pidgeot will be one to watch for sure.

Do you plan on entering any of the events this year?

[wishingalone]

Quite so! I like them for that. My skirts and outfit are nice enough, too. Union's tailors deal well enough with those.

And I do. All of the archery and target shooting events. If they still allow guns.

[She winks.]

[sleepingvalkyrie]

They are certainly competent. And appreciate having the work to do. Construction is not going quite as quickly as the commerce district might like, I fear, but at least it is progressing.

Of course. Though I suspect they may insist in participants using weapons they provide, rather than bring your own. [Not that Mami would ever need such an advantage]

[wishingalone]

True enough. And someone, somewhere, will get left in the dust. I don't think the city can rebuild everything at the rate that everyone would like.

[Mami considers, then nods.]

I can certainly make do. I understand the limitation, besides. Some might think to cheat.

[sleepingvalkyrie]

At least it was the end of winter, and not the start. Even a spring rain is easier dealt with than the coldest frost, even if the winters here are mild compared to home.

They might! But using a basic weapon to put naysayers to shame is certainly a treat to watch for the rest of us.

[Gwendolyn is not a bad archer, but she's always preferred the spear]

[wishingalone]

That's true enough. We were as lucky as we could be, there.

[She cracks a smile, then she winks.]

And so I shall! I doubt half of them can manage the shots I can.

[Never accuse Mami Tomoe of humility.]

[sleepingvalkyrie]

[That earns a small laugh. Mami has every right to be proud of her skills!]

I will make sure to attend, so I might be witness to your victory then, my friend.

[wishingalone]

Then I'll look forward to it! And make sure to put on a good show.

[sleepingvalkyrie]

I look forward to it!