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As Darvalo continued his jouney, he started to explore himself and where he came from. For the first time he realized that was doing something, something new, something that was individual. The meedsof the group didn’t matter and his needs had no group to support him. He had to hunt for himself. He had to cook for himself. He had to be himself. Darvalo had never realized how difficulties he might face and the adventures he might have.
Darvalo had always had fears but in his heartbreak over the thought of never seeing Jondalar again
had been more passionate than fear. Darvalo had a natural sense of adventure that was nourished by Jondalar during the years he spent with the Sharamudoi. However, Darvalo’s mother, Serenio had a deep sense of xenophobia which only communicated itself subtly to her son. Darvalo had been afraid of the dark too, but that was when he was Darvo. Darvalo had no idea what the deep feeling in the pit of his stomach
was. He didn’t know he was scared of meeting new people Besides Jondalar and Ayla, few new people had passed through that were not Sharamudoi.
His head filled with thoughts of happy times with Jondalar. He had even learned to speak some Zelandoni. He had listened in on conversations that Thonolan and Jondalar had had. He had learned a few words in other languages also, enough to survive on this journey.
He crossed open grassland and in his musings almost didn’t notice the ridge. The steep grade with sliding gravel and boulders looked almost impassable, but after a few minutes he found a path that looked like it had been travelled only recently. He started up and it didn’t seem as difficult as it had looked. He had no trouble climbing the grade and when he got to the top, stopped to enjoy the view. To his left the rocky crevice had outcrops and
indents and to Darvalo’s suprise, it looked like some birds nests. Curious,
he investigated.
Looking into, but not disturbing the nest, he observed the feathers of a falcon. The nest had recently been abaondoned. Darvalo knew the habits of birds of prey. Although not a fisherman, he had
observed the fishing of Carlono’s dock. When the guts were left, the prey birds would swoop down and have their fill. Darvalo had often admired the falcons. For some reason he always felt akin to them.
While observing the nest and its surroundings, Darvalo heard the faintest bird chirp he had ever heard. On the ground, a few feet away lay a tiny falcon. On its attempt to leave the nest the poor baby had fallen and broken a wing.
The nest was so warm and cozy. I had tried out these wings before with my brothers and sisters. It was fun sailing on the air! But this time was different. Cheep and Chirp were teasing me that I couldn’t get out unless mom pushed me. Well, I was gonna show them. I couldn’t do it. For some reason, I couldn’t get that flappy thing down. And down I went. That was early this morning. Mom came back and they all left. Cheep and Chirp
didn’t even tell her what happened.
I’m so hungry. What am I going to do? Oh no! What’s that? It’s an animal. Mom told us about them. Until we grow up, we are defenseless. Help, Help.
Darvalo could see that the little falcon was hurt. But he was smart enough to stay away from the baby just now. He knew the mother might come back, but he doubted it. He watched the skys for a while and then went to pick up the defenseless creature. He held back. What am I going to do with a bird? What can I feed it?
Ayla said something about baby animals. They can eat the same food it’s mother does, only softer. That’s how she nurtured Wolf.
It picked me up and I had been afraid. I tried to hurt it before it would hurt me. But it was warm and its wings were comforting. It fed me something I never had before but tasted really good. Mom gave me the name Talon and for some reason it calls me Talon too. It’s comforting. Somehow reminiscent of feathers. It started moving and all of a sudden I felt vibrations too and I cocked my ear to hear strange sounds. I think his name is
something like Dvo. Not sure about that. It fixed my wing though. That fall had been nasty. It feels better though. Wonder if I’ll ever be able to fly.
Talon rode on Darvalo’s shoulder. Darvalo had enough layers on to insulate him from the cold and the sharp talons of the falcon he came to call Talon. It was fun to talk to the bird. He knew the bird didn’t understand, but to talk to nobody is feels foolish. At least he was talking to the bird. He hadn’t seen any other falcons.
This day had dawned overcast and gloomy, but Darv trudged on. He still wanted to see the Great Waters, and maybe, just maybe he could catch up with Jondalar. After all he had only left a short time before. He was travelling west through a series of loess terraces that fell of from the mountains. He had a good pace as was soon suprised to see a small settlement.
The men were glad to welcome him until they saw Talon. They became very afraid! The holy man, what Darvalo thought was a shamud came up to him and asked him a question in a strange language. Darvalo said that he did not understand and then the man started to speak in Sharamudoi.
“Why have you brought this evil symbol amoung us? What evil have we done to you that we deserve this?”
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