The crisp morning air of the Vale bit at Kella Templeton’s cheeks as she adjusted the leather gloves on her hands. A bright sun hung in the sky, casting long shadows over the rolling hills of Ninestars. Her falcon, a sleek female peregrine named Ash, perched confidently on her gloved arm. Around her, her friends and companions—Lord Reynald Bellmore, the squire Alistair Royce, Lady Maera Redfort, and others, chatted as they prepared their own birds.

"Careful, Alistair," Kella called with a teasing grin, watching the young squire struggle with the hooded kestrel on his arm. "It’s not a wild goose. Don’t treat it like one."

Alistair shot her a sheepish look, his face reddening as he readjusted the bird's hood.

"Don’t let her get the better of you, lad," Lord Reynald chuckled. "If she can tame a hawk you can handle a kestrel."

Kella smirked and nodded as she looked at the distant ridge where her father’s keep stood. "The birds do the hard work, not like its draining for you to let him fly."