<div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: impact;"><strong><span class="bbc_u">The Valkyrie &amp; The Hawk</span></strong></span></span></div><br/><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;">The front door entrance whined as a dark armored maiden with a shapely frame and a hawk on her shoulder entered the establishment. A winged visor adorned the woman’s head that was practically abditive for her eyes, and long heliotrope tresses tumbled past her shoulders that appeared almost weightless. Her sabatons made soft thuds as she walked across the floor, and with movement that was relaxed yet poised, causing her lengthy skirt to ever so gently flow. Her eyes, behind the visor, scanned the room of its patrons while she made her way to the bar counter. The barkeep, seemingly recognizing the woman, smiled and gave her a nod before he began filling a teacup on a saucer. The woman approached to take her drink and slid some coins across the counter to pay for it. <br/><br/>After their brief exchange, she gave a nod back to the barkeep and was careful not to spill her drink as she made way to one of her self-proclaimed seats near the fire, choosing the armchair on the right of the three to sit down with her tea. The dancing, mesmeric flames reflected against her polished black mithril armor, and the light illuminated her fair skin, while also casting an aliferous shadow formation on the floor behind her. She listened to the crackle of the burning wood and felt the comfort of its incalescence on her skin as she allowed herself to settle in her surroundings. Quieter moments like this were much to her preference before the bustle of other folks could accumulate within the tavern lobby. She raised the fine porcelain teacup to her lips, but would momentarily inhale the exotic blend of ginger and turmeric that was ameliorated with licorice root, and orange peel, and black pepper. Upon taking a sip she tasted the playful mixture of sweet, citrus, and spice on her palate. The tea had a warming effect inside her body that was pleasing as she continued to drink its contents.<br/><br/>The hawk on her left shoulder was exceptionally clean looking. The front of the body was quite leukos in the light. The back and tail feathers may have seemed gray from a distance but at close range the color was rather a clair de lune with an almost nacreous iridescent sheen. Dark spotting ran down the mantle and back that turned into a striping pattern along the covert and tail feathers. His eyes, though seemingly brown at first glance, were actually a deep maroon.</span><br/><br/>(https://ucarecdn.com/c49e3c79-a7a7-432f-ba7f-6da3ffc710b6/clarencesmall2.png)<span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Clarence:</strong></span><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;">“Kerrr…”</span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;">The hawk made a low noise in her ear.</span><br/><br/>(https://ucarecdn.com/dd49d66c-5e22-4be9-88e6-ef44d9feeeb5/odysmall3.png)<span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Odysseia:</strong></span><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;">“Yes, but you need to wait until I am finished.”</span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;">She replied in a calm and quiet voice before continuing to sip from her invigorating drink.</span><br/>