It was roughly a week until the caravan arrives with new specimen. Solas had been called down to the front gates to help move the large wagon into the decently sized holding ground. A small patch of land was going to be used for it, building a more accommodating cage to observe and study this new creature. A tall barred cage was built around the tree close by. Many bystanders gathered to watch the men push the fully armored wagon into the new cage. Solas spoke with one of the men as they prepared to release the creature into its new home.
"We've managed to drop in some sleep powder inside to doze it off. We should take it out before it wakes up."
"Understood, have your men prepared for any hostility." Solas ordered. The man nodded before calling out orders. They held up their shield creating a barrier around the wagon.
"Alright men! At the ready!"
Everyone stepped back as they pulled open the heavy doors of the cage. Solas, staff in hand, approached the entrance cautiously.
There huddled in the dark corner, a mass of feathers. Limbs twitched and he spotted sharp talons curling and withdrawing under what looked like folded wings. It was letting out a low growl and shifted its wings a bit. He spotted the head peeking out, a crest of feathers and pointed ears.
Solas began to cast a weakening spell onto it and it groaned out louder. A collective gasp coming from the crowd outside as they heard it. The creatures managed to lift itself a bit. Wings sprawled out wide, too big to fit in the cage. Then it turned it's eyes up wide and vibrant in the dark. It glared daggers at him, but he could feel the tiredness in those eyes. He took a step back and held up his hand, "Come, falon." he coaxed in soft elven. If these creatures proved to be from the tales of Arlathan it could aid him somehow in his plan.
The creature seemed to respond to that and crawled weakly towards him as he led it out of the darkness of the cell. The crowd all quietly marveled as they watched the creature stumble out. Solas led it to a small barrel that held water. It chirped weakly and lunged to the barrel burying its face in with a splash.
"Have your men fed and given it water throughout your journey back?" Solas called out to the scout.
"No, sir! We haven't dared try to let it out after the last time."
"Get some dried meat from the kitchen. It's starved and thirsty." Solas ordered as he watched the creature still taking as much water as it could drink. His eyes followed the long tail feathers trailing from its lower back to almost a few feet away. Its legs were bent like that of a birds, the upper thigh covered an ruffled feathers and trailing down, there is a bent backward and then forward to the scaly muscled thighs and taloned claws. The talons were a sharp ebony that curled wickedly as the creature crouched to quench its thirst in the water barrel. It managed a small moment to gasp for breath before diving back into the water, its back was mostly bare, bony spine visible as it was bent over the barrel. It's wings seemed to be its arms, the bend is just were its claws were, gripping tightly at the rim of the barrel.
The crowd was also marveling the creature in awe, when the Inquisitor arrived, "Solas! What it do you think you are doing?" three men marched in with crates of dried meats for the harpy.
"It has not fed or drank throughout the whole journey here, Inquisitor. We must nurse it back to health before we can properly examine it" Solas called, his weakening spell slowly withdrawing as the harpy remained docile for now. Once the crates were set down, the wagon and the men all all pulled out of the large cage, leaving Solas inside with the harpy. It lifted it's head sniffing eagerly catching the scent of the meat. It stumbled from the barrel and towards the crates of meat and began to devour every bit it could get its claws on. Solas watched still, hearing it chirp and grunt in what he assumed was satisfaction, finally getting some food and water into itself.
"Wow, look at those claws!"
"So sharp!"
"It's harpy! A real life harpy!"
The crowd whispered in amazement
Never have they thought a creature from fairy tales would have existed.
"Solas," the Inquisitor called, "I want you to leave those shards alone for now. Figure out what they wanted with this beast, is that understood?"
"Certainly, Inquisitor." Solas absent-mindedly answered as he focused on the harpy. Once the Inquisitor was gone, he released the weakening spell from the harpy letting it regain its energy.
It's stilled. Finally able to feel it's muscles. No longer did it feel the numbing ache of being cramped and suffocated in the dark cell. Its pointed feathered ears perked up, and eyes turned towards the elven mage. Pupils sharp and keen to find an escape route. There was a sudden stillness in the air, as the crowd silently watched.
A loud screech echoed stunning all of them. It pounced up flapping it's large wings, aiming to fly away, only to crash into the nearby tree. It cawed and chipped urgently. Feathers ruffled as its head darted back and forth in distress.
Solas had managed to duck before it could claw at him and took a few steps back, watching it try to fly and gripping at the thick bars of the giant cage. When it couldn't go any further, it cawed and screeched in distress which scared the people that stood around.
"Master Solas! Get out! It could attack you!" Called one of the guards, but Solas remained calm and cautious. It dropped down from the tree, landing on its sharp talons. It hissed and growled looking to the crowd of frightened people. It's feathered crest lifted high as it became more hostile, wings tucked protecting it's chest and abdomen. It growled and snarled spotting Solas and cautiously stepping to him. He held his ground and tightened his grip on his staff.
"I will not hurt you, falon." He stated in elven. Once again he noticed it perked at the language of his people. Only for a brief moment did it stop to look up at him.
Solas held out his hand, palm up, slowly bending down to the harpy's crouched height. It hissed a bit at him, but calmed as he lowered to its height, "You are safe." He assured once more.
The harpy stared at him with vibrant red eyes before it reached its clawed hand to his. Chirping softly and cautiously, it's crest lowering to flatten on its head.
"That's it, falon. I mean no harm." He smiled gently, taking in every detail of the majestic creature so close to him. It was indeed half bird and half woman. The torso and face was entirely woman in all aspect. How these prude Andrastian followers were able to watch this exposed creature without a blush was beyond him.
He finally felt the harpy touch his hand, it's sharp nails gently caressing his palm before it pulled back tucking its arms and wings against itself. He watched as she looked around the cage again and wandering around the area they had prepared for it.
He took this moment to step out of the cage safely, hearing a sigh of relief come from the watching crowd.
"What a marvelous creature." Solas commented to himself.