"Yeah" Rayek gratefully stated, jumping off the camel and on to the ground. This was where the favor ended; he once rescued this camel from marauders in a desert sun village a few months back. He knew that desert pirates just beat or sold all animals or elves with little to no mercy. Now that Rayek had been around the desert and woods a bit, he continued to hone his strength and stamina. He was determined to enter the jousting tournament even though it was unheard of that walking nomads ever entered nobility.<br/><br/>Taking some dates out of his tunic, he reached up and gave some to his friend. Rayek said, "It's okay; we got to take care of you. Besides, I might not ever see you again." The camel sniffed the dates and seemed to slowly appreciate what was given her. "I know you" Rayek continued "that you'd be willing to wait for me. But that's not fair to you, you have your own family and journey. I'm just happy these woods where I have a temporary place was on the way in your pilgrimage."<br/><br/>It was mental recognition; Rayek was good at receiving some thoughts from empathetic creatures which was a gift of some elves: to 'recognize' or give and receive signals. But Rayek was not good with telepathy with elves or animals. But he could receive their thoughts if he had a good connection. "Haha, dromedary! I don't have any family. Suppose it will always be that way. I won't ever forget you."<br/><br/>Rayek gave the camel a last pat on his head and the camel seemed to try to show affection. He then began walking into the woods expecting this to be the parting; but the camel let out a little squeal, hard as it took. "Now, now" Rayek said. "Let's not make this harder than it is. We were there for each other, but now our paths diverge." The camel looked blankly at Rayek. Rayek's demeanor stiffened. "I can't promise I'll meet someone else just so *she* can ride on your back. You are a very friendly camel, aren't you?" Rayek briefly walked back up to it and petted its nose. "You don't belong to me; no animal does. I'm grateful for all you did; but I want to become a knight of justice, especially since most of the knights that are there now aren't very just. I don't know how long that will take, if ever. No point in making you promises I can't keep."<br/><br/>Just then, Rayek looked up and beheld the majestic bird of the morning sun circling above him. It certainly was a bird of his tribe, when his tribe was still in existence. The eagle seemed to be showing off his 7 foot wingspan, the feathers a nice brown. It could be hidden easily in the woods or arid desert if need be. The eyes were piercing; he couldn't tell exactly what color it was even as it slowly descended and landed squarely on the hump of the camel's back. Rayek stood in awe; then he lifted an eyebrow at his camel friend. "Ehh? You are giving me this bird? How did you become friends with an eagle? Oh, never mind. I'm not sure I want to know."<br/><br/>Rayek wasn't sure what to do; he extended his finger for the bird to perch on, but instead it startled him when it landed on his right shoulder. "You know I can't own animals, right? That's not how it works. You are giving me a gift? Didn't I say we shouldn't owe each other anything?" But the camel did nothing more but nuzzle a little against Rayek's spare shoulder. It tried to be careful; Rayek understood the camel probably didn't know its own brute strength.<br/><br/>"I don't know if I could communicate with this eagle, but I thank you for introducing me since his kin is the center of my old tribe." He planted a gentle kiss on the camel's left cheek. Rayek wished he could be this friendly to elves or humans; but it was hard trusting them.<br/><br/>"Thank you my dear friend; I must go now. The tournament is only a few short days." The eagle looked at him and then looked away as if half expecting Rayek to start getting interesting. So, Rayek walked into the woods to find the hollow of the large tree he carved out for himself. He wondered how much of his food had been eaten from the forest animals; he wondered if the outside festival for the nearby town had been prepared; he wondered if he would be good enough to even become a squire or servant of the Queen on her first day. He wondered  the most if his application for the tournament had even been accepted, or would he have to fight his way through the other incoming hopefuls?  He pondered: was capturing and anonymously delivering one of the most notorious local robbers at the doorsteps of the royal castle a little overkill?