Talon's Perch

Every season, it seemed that those of us riders found more and more machines docking at Belltower Landing, and in turn, less riders, our own kind. Such was the state of the world, where a zeppelin could turn the tables on such a renowned profession as beast riders.

Skrie never felt comfortable around such devices. Her feathered mane bristled, wings flattened against her back, and clawed paws dug into the wood at dock when the massive airships arrived. The noise of their propellors with the menacing shadow engulfing our paddock all caused her such unease that, at times, her temper would flare and strike fear into the dockworkers who diligently unloaded our packages. She has a menacing roar, you see. It mattered not that her mannerisms were a result of the intimidating presence of such a monstrous contraption.

Some of the young workers developed an aversion to her, and whispered gratitude at the concept of machines replacing her kind. Thus was born a truly cruel irony. She could be so scared of these devices, and the common folk used that fear as a reason that these machines must replace her. She had no way of knowing she was hastening her own demise.

I will always be proud of our speed and agility, as pride in our work had kept Skrie and I flying above the gears and machinations of change. I fear that we cling to a lost time, however. It is true that these machines move much slower, but they carry so much more. More than we ever hoped we could achieve.

While our work required such skill and discipline, we could only watch as the devices of the new world outpaced our abilities. Speed and flexibility were being outmatched by sheer volume, and now the winds of change are upon us. I am now an old man, and I only hope that our noble work will survive until Skrie and I can retire.

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Matt