Career: Prompt 3

Silk had finally laid a fertilized clutch, Left was so proud of the Raptor as they celebrated the eggs. She had rewarded Silk, seeing it necessary after what had happened previously. They had cared for the eggs together and she had watched Silk’s eggs closely. They were fertilized but she wanted to make sure everything after that went well. She didn’t want Silk to lose another clutch; she wasn’t sure how the Raptor would take that. The eggs were due to hatch and day now and Left was nervous, there were rarely any ever problems with the eggs hatched but Left was scared of Silk losing more babies. She entered the stable, checking in on the other stryx as usual but slightly distracted, she finally and quickly made her way over to Silk. She heard small chirping and sped up her walk, finding Silk feeding three new baby stryx. Left’s eyes widened at the small babies. She made her way to Silk petting the Raptor who cooed happily at the rider’s appearance.
“They’re so cute!” Left told the stryx, Silk responded but puffing up slightly in pride at the compliment directed at her babies. Left chuckled at Silk’s response as she took a good look at the babies eating what their mother was feeding them. She grinned happily at their small chirps and coos. She smiled at Silk.

“You did a good job.” She told the Raptor, proud of the hard work she knew Silk put in to make sure this clutch made it. Silk was so distressed after losing her last clutch, she was so gentle and careful with the eggs- worried about losing another clutch. But she had managed to raise a clutch successfully and was now sitting with three new babies.

 

It had been a few weeks since Silk’s eggs had hatched. It was time for the babies to find new homes. Silk was with Left during this process, wanting to overview and approve the handler her babies went to. Left chuckled as Silk gave the stink eye to whoever approached Left and the babies. Left gave Silk a gentle scratch under the chin.

“It will be ok, we’ll find someone good for these little ones.” She told the Raptor, who gave her a skeptical look. Left shook her head with a smile. Looking down at the baby stryx sitting in a small pen as they watched everyone who approached and passed them. Curious on what was going on. Left hoped that they would finally find someone Silk approved of, or else she would never find a home for the three. She watched as a young looking handler approached the pen the babies were in, cooing at the babies who watched her curiously. Left approached the handler as Silk watched them curiously.

“Hi! Are you interested in one of these three?” She asked the handler who looked at Left.

“Oh uh yeah! I’m looking for my first stryx- I’m a bit nervous though, I’ve never really been around many stryx before.” She confessed, Left smiled at her.

“Oh that’s alright don’t worry! In fact-” She pointed at one of the three. “That one is the calmest, they won’t be much trouble for you at all.” She told the handler who looked at the baby she was pointing at. At this point Silk had joined in on the conversation and was eyeing the handler.

“Oh! Hi!” The handler said nervously at Silk. Left shook her head.
“Don’t mind her, she’s the mom- she wants to make sure her babies find good homes.” She chuckled, as Silk nodded at the handler giving her approval as she moved to the side to get a better look at her babies. Left grinned.
“Well! Looks like she approves,” Left picked up the baby from the pen and handed them to the handler.
“Here, you can have them for free since it’s your first time, just take good care of them alright?” She said.
“Oh thank you so much! I’ll check in with you and Silk to show you I can be a good handler!” She said, waving as she walked off with the baby. Silk watched sadly as the handler left with her child, Left pet her soothingly.
“It’s alright, they’ll be fine.” She told Silk, who then turned back to watch her other babies. The rest of the night went well for Left and Silk, while the raptor was picky they managed to find good homes for the other two- the handlers both being intimidated from Silk’s fierce gaze, judging to see if the two were capable of handling her babies. Left laughed each time as they shrunk under the Raptor, shaking her head at the overdramatics of the stryx. As they handed the last baby to the handler Silk finally approved of, she pat Silk on the back.

“Well that’s that! You did good for your first time, I know you weren’t sure but I’m sure those three will be happy with their handlers. Let’s head back.” She smiled at the Raptor, starting to back up and then heading back to the stables. Glad the breeding season was finally over. She was exhausted.