[SpringsSong]

She stood on the ledge of a cliff, looking out over the landscape.  This mountain had always been her home; at least, as long as she could remember.  There was something about it that was soothing, like it was where she was meant to be.

She took in a deep breath, closing her orange eyes as she spread her wings.

Then, she leapt up into the air.

[SpringsSong]

Her leap took her decently high into the air, and then, she clasped her wings to her body.  She arced over backwards, holding her claws close to her body as she began to descend.  Her descent began to increase in speed, and she started to spiral.

She had seen this trick performed many a time by Sygriffs who had come into the area.  At the last possible second, she spread her wings, letting them catch the air sharply.

[SpringsSong]

The air catching under her wings was a bit of a shock, but that did not jar the Soveris much.  She merely went into her next trick, flying in a perfect loop-de-loop before making a sharp turn to spiral upwards, the sun catching on the glimmering star-marks on her pelt and wings.

Just a little more... she thought to herself.  I've almost got this.  I'll surely get an invitation to the Tournament of the Sky-Dancers for sure this year!

[SpringsSong]

It was something that the Soveris had always envied.  She had seen many Sygriffs compete in a grand competition where they would perform trick after trick, as though it were an expertly-choreographed dance.  Sometimes, a select few Paragon would compete in the competition, but mostly, she had seen Sygriffs and Tengumis, and a few other Soveris.

There were, however, a species of other beings that the Soveris had seen compete in the Tournament.  They were small, had wings and back legs, but no front legs--and she could swear that she saw two of them flitting around on the wind.

[SpringsSong]

Note to self: the Sanguine Kitrell is a female, and the Bloodwing is a male.

"You've GOT to keep up, Brother!" said a dark red Kitrell, and the brown-and-red one sighed as he looped around.

"I'm doing my best, Sister.  I really am," he said.  "You've just really made the choreography for this year's entry difficult!"

The Soveris was trying her best not to hover, but she couldn't help it.  She hadn't seen many Kitrells around the mountains--and these were the first ones she'd seen that were actually preparing for the Tournament as well.