If you stood on top of the tallest tower in Canis you would hear a sound. Scratching and tapping. Like stone being carved with stone. peck, peck, peck, you would hear. before a crack. and the sound of stone shattering as it hit the ground before a shadow flew from the shards falling from the ceiling to the side, only distinguished by a black spot, flitting between the shadows cautiously, making its' way between them down the wall and towards the bone fortresses. Wings silent. Grim started his life as it always would be. Silent. He perched in a crack between two towers. Silent. Staring out into the bones.

@Toevij

Toevij was awake. Ever since the lights had come back on, they hid somewhere to sleep. They missed the darkness, missed the silence of the caves. But it seemed all were awake now, so they too woke up. A sound caught their attention as they were about to take flight. Was someone hatching? It certainly sounded like it. Their head swiveled, trying to find out where it was coming from.

Soon, they realized it was nearby. Very near, in fact. This became apparent as the gem shattered and hit the ground, leaving a shadow to flit around. They watched it, yellow eyes fixed on whatever was moving. Despite having just hatched, they were soundless. They likely would not have even seen the creature if they hadn't heard the gem breaking. Finally, it landed on a crack between two towers. Toevij watched it, waiting to see if it would do anything, but it didn't. It just stood there, staring out.

Toevij flared their wings open and flew down to it, on a perch in front of the creature. He was similar to them, also a bird, but clearly a bird of a different type. While he stared out, Toevij did the same, waiting to see if anything would happen. And if not, well. They had patience.

@Grim

Grim saw the owl the instant it started flying. His eyes widened as he stared at the larger bird in front of him. His eyes remained blank, seeming to glow in the darkness. He stared at the shadows around him, gathering them in a way to himself, flying through the crevice down around the fortress, flying down to the bottom just around the corner to stare at the owl. Just watching. Hearing his heartbeat and seeing every twitch of movement.

@toevij

To no surprise of the owl, the other left. At least, Toevij assumed he did. He felt a slight whoosh of air from wings flying past him, but everything was silent. The bird seemed to bring shadows to himself, and flew out of sight. Well. Fine. If he was going to be that way, then so be it. They wouldn't waste time looking for him. In fact, they very much wanted to go back to sleep. This was exactly why they didn't meet others. It always seemed to end in silence, or the other leaving.

Before going to sleep, however, they decided to wait. They wouldn't move. They wouldn't look for the bird. They'd sit here and see if anything happened. And if nothing did, then they'd leave, go back to their original perch, and go back to sleep. Pretend all this didn't happen.

@Grim

The bird didn't fly, he used his feet and talons to slowly creep up to the other bird, getting closer slowly. Eyes cracked as to not show much light from them. the only sound, his talons scraping against the bone. Most wouldn't notice as he crept up almost to where he was, he hopped back into the crack once he decided the other bird wasn't any danger to him. He made a creaking sound with his throat when he tried to speak. Stopping short in confusion as he kept trying, not being able to speak. The only sound coming out being the air rattling in his throat.

There was a very faint sound, the sound of talons scraping against bone. It was so faint Toevij wasn't even sure if they were really hearing it. Soon, a being seemed to emerge. Where once he was cloaked in shadow, he appeared again - though he still looked like a shadow himself. They almost didn't notice the other bird as he perched back where he was before. Their yellow eyes turned to focus fully on them, eyes large and wide as they always are, different from the other's.

They watched as he tried to speak, stopping short in their confusion. Toevij didn't move, still watching. As he continued to fail, they opened their own beak. "So you can't speak." It wasn't a question, rather, a statement. It was clear the other couldn't. All that could be heard was air. They didn't say anymore, instead waiting to see if the other would make any kind of sign that he understood what they said.

@Grim

The falcon blinked at the other bird Why the hell can they speak and I can't?? He hopped up to the level of the larger bird, hopping around him quietly, clicking his beak as he examines him slowly. He eventually settled down. Perching sulkily next to the larger bird. Grinding his talons against the bones, scratching lines in them as he looks at the larger bird.

@Toevij (Sorry forgot to tag you and it won't let me edit my post?)

Toevij watched, head turning while his body stayed the same, as the bird circled him. When he settled, their eyes were still on him. Clicking their beak slightly, they opened it. "You are wondering how I can speak, and you cannot." They paused, gathering their thoughts. Their gaze flicked to the bones, the bird's talons scratching lines. They looked back at the bird.

"It could be because you are newly hatched. Or perhaps you just don't have the ability to speak." They stopped at that, opening their wings and shaking them slightly before bringing them back to their body. They didn't say anymore, going back to their previous silence.

@Grim

Grim hadn't thought of that, the idea of never being able to communicate terrified him. He ruffled his feathers and stretched his neck out, looking at the bird, his eyes beseeching him to say it couldn't be the case. He scratched at the bone he was perched on, trails of bone chipping and scratching away as he breathed heavily, even audibly.

@Toevij