|
Post by Stevie Copeland on Nov 27, 2007 16:48:23 GMT -5
Stevie stepped forward, a bit slowly though, he didn't want to scare the birds. He didn't mind getting wet. He'd probably run it off. It may not get him fully dry, but he'd have a blast doing it. he listened to her question and the dead beetles. He'd be sure to bring two, one for each of them. Stevie said in an equally low voice,
"The feathers aren't getting wet." He looked with interest at the birds' feathers, before heading to the barrel, getting two beetles, and feeding them to the two birds. One could say Stevie's a teacher's pet, but that someone would be saying a complete lie. It wasn't STEVIE's fault he loved this class. Much to his enjoyment, a few other students did the same. He carefully caressed the bird's back, grinning, the same few students doing the same. Soon, everyone wanted in, but it was anything but a commotion.
|
|
Shellivia Nos Taronin
Wizard
Care of Magical Creatures
Not all magic is wisps of smoke and flashy bangs...
Posts: 125
|
Post by Shellivia Nos Taronin on Nov 27, 2007 17:09:40 GMT -5
Shellivia smiled again at Stevie. "Excellent! Five points for Gryffindor. The feathers repel water and these birds will never get wet, not even if you were to hold them underwater." The birds crooned in a low mournful tone and munched on the beetles happily, the many students keeping them well fed. The feathers were soft, though slightly oily and the water on the hands and fingers of the student who stroked the feathers literally rolled away in the opposite direction, even up the arms defying gravity. The birds after a few moments took off of their own accord and went to join the rest of teh flock. Shellivia then moved up next to a nest and pulled apart a space in the branches carefully. Inside the nest was dry and free of thorns. The walls floor and ceiling was completely lined with soft grasses and feathers. In the center of the nest was a small chick who seemed to be half the size of the other birds. It cooed in a disgruntled fashion, annoyed that it's sleep was interrupted. "The parent birds don't live in the same nest; partners tend to make nest on the same branch as one another. When the chick is grown it will fly to a nearby place with food and make it's own home. The birds take almost two years to fully mature." She reached in gingerly and scooped out the fledgling. It was completely almost bald and had blackish greenish skin. It cooed for some food, and sounded rather like a Hollywood style ghost. She fed it a few beetle pieces from a small pouch around her middle it settled down contentedly and closed it's eyes. "The strange thing about these birds, is that they don't migrate south during the winter. How do you suppose they survive during the winter?" She looked around hoping some of the students would try an answer.
|
|
|
Post by Stevie Copeland on Nov 27, 2007 17:34:29 GMT -5
Well, that was an easy five points. Only pay attention and he could answer everything that came his way. Plus, that made it extra easy. He loved this class already. Though, this one was a hard one.
"Are their feathers more heavy than other birds?" He had a couple other guesses, but he thought this one made the most sense. He thought it made more sense than anything if these birds' feathers were heavier than others, giving them more insulation during the winter.
|
|
Shellivia Nos Taronin
Wizard
Care of Magical Creatures
Not all magic is wisps of smoke and flashy bangs...
Posts: 125
|
Post by Shellivia Nos Taronin on Nov 27, 2007 17:59:07 GMT -5
Shellivia listened to a few guesses from some students before she continued. "The way the nests are built provide ample warmth, and because of the way their feather repel water, it also repels snow, making it so they don't freeze. After all, flying is very hard work and they stay quiet warm simply by flapping their wings." she stroked the little birds head but it didn't wake up and merely puffed out it's few feathers even more making it look like a dilapidated pin cushion, or a horribly mauled pillow. "But when all the bugs are gone, or buried beneath the snow, how do you suppose they find anything to eat? What else besides bugs do they enjoy?"
|
|
|
Post by Stevie Copeland on Nov 27, 2007 18:05:16 GMT -5
This one, Stevie didn't even have a guess to. What was there to eat in the winter besides snow and trees? Well, probably other things, but he couldn't think of any right now. But still, he couldn't help but smile at the small bird, puffing out. If Floyd were here, and not sleeping in a bundle of Stevie's clothes... He'd probably be doing all he could just to get some attention. Which wouldn't turn out very well.
|
|
Shellivia Nos Taronin
Wizard
Care of Magical Creatures
Not all magic is wisps of smoke and flashy bangs...
Posts: 125
|
Post by Shellivia Nos Taronin on Nov 27, 2007 18:36:17 GMT -5
A few students offered answers like twigs, bark, and snow, but she simply shook her head. "Unfortunately no. Though that would make things all much more simple. Besides insects, Augureys eat fairies. They are they only source of food for them during the winter, though they have also been know to eat pixies if they can catch them. Many philosophers have speculated whether or not that because Augureys eat magical creatures is the reason why they have magical properties themselves. Nothing has been proven yet, and they are usually quite stuffy about doing the research; most of them don't seem to like to get wet." She smiled a bit and replaced the puffy bird back into it's nest. "In any case, most of these Augureys are beetle fed, and they seem to resist water like all the others. Now, if you would like, all of you can try to lure in an Augurey; just stand still and hold your arm out straight and your other hand palm up with some beetles. They usually will fly right up if you quiet enough. After that, please make a sketch of a nest; I'll open another if you want to draw the inside as well. Hand the sketch in with a list of the different materials you found that the nest was made of at the end of class. You'll be graded on it, so please try your best. I'll be here if you need any help." With that she took out a few more beetles and cooed again. A few Augureys flew up to her and they began cooing back and forth as if they were talking. She
|
|
|
Post by Stevie Copeland on Nov 27, 2007 19:06:09 GMT -5
Stevie nodded and immediately set out to work, so far enjoying this class.
(...Very sorry for the post. My muse seems to have died along with my freezer >>)
|
|
Shellivia Nos Taronin
Wizard
Care of Magical Creatures
Not all magic is wisps of smoke and flashy bangs...
Posts: 125
|
Post by Shellivia Nos Taronin on Nov 27, 2007 19:32:56 GMT -5
Shellivia went about helping out various students and opened a few nest for them. She talked with a few of the second year students about how the summer had been, and how their studies were going. She checked on each student, looking at the sketches and giving encouragement until the spell wore off and the birds quickly scuttled back to the safety of their nests. Looking to the students who had broken down into various groups of social cliques, she cleared her throat. "Alright everyone, class is nearly done, so make sure you leave you sketches on the bench by the fire pit on your way out. If any of you need to talk or would like some help, my office is always open to you Monday through Thursday. Just ring the bell and I'll come as quickly as I can. Be prompt for next class please, there will be no homework today."
She continued to wander around and speak to some students, and offered everyone, individually, an invitation of tea. Upon reaching Stevie, she smiled. "So is everything alright? Did you enjoy the class, Stevie?"
|
|
|
Post by Stevie Copeland on Nov 27, 2007 19:52:07 GMT -5
"Yeah!" Stevie said, finishing up the sketch. He wasn't that good of an artist, but he was good enough to make things distinguishable, and know what they are. He quickly got up, and walked to where the stack of papers are, and laid his on top of the pile, adding his name at the last moment. He gave a short wave to Shellivia, and started toward the path out.
|
|
Shellivia Nos Taronin
Wizard
Care of Magical Creatures
Not all magic is wisps of smoke and flashy bangs...
Posts: 125
|
Post by Shellivia Nos Taronin on Nov 28, 2007 6:49:58 GMT -5
Shellivia smiled at him him and waved good bye to the class. "Everyone have a good day, my offer of tea is always open." As the last student left, Shellivia went around the grove cleaning up and setting up for her next class.
|
|