the darkest nights produce the brightest stars
Fennick found an odd sort of peace in the Field. He loved his home with a near hunger, but some days the weight of responsibility settled heavily on his shoulders. In the Field he could talk to people who didn’t know him, and do his duty by the Valley without feeling like he could fail.
No, not all recruitment attempts would end with a new horse in the Valley, but they mostly ended in valuable conversation. That was close enough to success. You couldn’t be a perfectionist with these things. Not every situation, but certainly in this one, Fennick employed the “A for effort” theory.
Wings made his trips easier and he feet less sore when he got there. The Field was far enough from the Valley to be prohibitive for all but the most determined. He had been in that category before his appointment as Högerhand, but he wouldn’t lie and say Demian’s gift hadn’t been very timely and much appreciated.
They didn’t, however, make him any more graceful. He landed with enough ruckus to wake the dead. Huge, massive wings unfurled in the air, only to recollect on his back, inky primary feathers long enough to trail on the ground. He was still getting used to them, and it would take some time.
Fennick usually made some attempt to ensure he didn’t have a audience for his landings. So, when he heard a muttered, “idiot.” He cringed visibly. Had it really been that bad? He turned around slowly, to see a faintly orange girl. He looked at her carefully, then smiled.
She hadn’t been talking to him, thank god.
Her companion he did recognize. He had met Magnus in this very place not too long ago. He smiled faintly and made his way to them. A little sheepish for his interruption.
“This sounds like my kind of gathering.” Namely, a gathering of idiots. If any group was to suit Fennick, it would probably be this one. Another self deprecating grin he introduced himself to the girl and nodded in greeting to Magnus.
“I’m Fennick.” He said simply. He’d learned overtime that occasionally his jokes fell flat, and it was better to wait to make them until after introductions at the very least.