Hokai!
Ulilohi watched the birds curiously. So, these were the things that would enable her to communicate across the south without travel? Clearly, they were fragile things, probably easy prey for larger predatory birds and anything that could catch them on the ground. It was good that there were three: she would have two unique pairings from which to breed eggs, and it would take some trying and failing to get it right. She knew some birds could only lay eggs so and so often, for she had had hatching places to seek for egg snacks in the Great Tribe, but she did not know how often pigeons laid eggs. X'yrin reached for her arm and Ulilohi willing gave it, paying close attention to the tutor's words and her instructions.
They cooed uneasily as the other female tried to convince them that her arm was safe for them. When the male finally moved over and almost investigated her arm in the process, Ulilohi could only smile at it in fascination. The sensation of their feet on her arm was one she had never experienced: was this what it was like to have a bird spirit guide? With a sharp sting to her guilt, she thought of her own lack of such a crucial element of AniWayan life, but it quickly passed as she reminded herself that it would show itself when it was time. For now, she could focus on these creatures. Intellect or no, they were very fascinating to the brown-pelted woman.
Listening to instructions, Ulilohi observed X'yrin's actions carefully before attempting to repeat it. "Like this?" she asked uncertainly, before speaking the safe word clumsily and lifting a claw to her nose and then pointing it back to the arm which the male pigeon was now sitting quite comfortably on. He seemed to relax more and more, eyeing the others almost curiously. Ulilohi wasn't sure if these birds could even feel curiosity, but it sure looked like it. The councilwoman repeated the action for many loops until one of the other pigeons seemed to become restless, and finally joined the male on her arm. Pausing the activity, Ulilohi straightened her back and smiled broadly. Such a feeling of accomplishment just from making a bird move by its own accord!
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