Custom Golden Noktoa
Chrysariel
Chandalar is happiest when it's sweater weather.
He takes a running start down one of the access branches of the Happy Hollows Tree Apartment complex, swooping over the serene waters of Veta Lake and nearly bursting with pride as he puts his newest fashion crush on display for anyone with eyes on the sky to see and admire. The tree has put on its own lovely autumnal coat as if to compliment his latest find, a chic and cozy leaf pattern in shades of gold, blue and green that subtly compliments his wispy feathers and wide blue eyes.
He makes three circuits around the lake; his standard morning exercise routine after a nutritious breakfast of Granny Noktoa's Owling Good Granola Bites. He adores how the falling leaves settle on the water, creating natural bridges for the insect minions trying to scuttle from one end of the lake to the other in their quest to fortify nests and lay aside plenty of food before the long winter to come. Winter in Veta Lake doesn't have the bite of Arctic Frost but there are always at least a few weeks of frosted trees and a thin layer of frost on the lake's surface. Great if you like ice skating, not so much if you rely on the lake's bounty as your food source.
Two of his neighbors are perched on their entry stoops when he swoops back in. They're sipping snowberry tea (a local flavor favorite) and discussing the rather blustery winds of late. Smallfeather nods to Chandalar. Courtesy is the rule among noktoas, though they are not ones to waste words. His companion is Prettywing, a rather petite and totally elegant arid noktoa who makes up for her rather small stature by flashing her collection of diamond jewelry in the rising sun.
Along with being exceedingly polite, noktoas are notorious collectors.
It can be baubles or bobbleheads, plushies or paper clips. You'll find it's a rare noktoa that doesn't channel their ever-burning thirst for knowledge through a small private collection of some sort. In fact, you can often tell a noktoa's occupation by the items they keep in their personal stash. Rocks and pebbles are evidence of a geologist. Pencils from every known corner of Subeta are the pride and joy of an aspiring author. Then there are the... less innocent groupings. I'd suggest keeping your minion on a short leash if your new noktoa friend offers you a view of shelves full of tiny animal skulls and if you happen to see a necklace made of finger bones...
Run. Unless maybe you're a tutani.
The other residents of Happy Hollows may give Chandalar inquisitive glances out of the corners of their eyes or mutter a muted comment to their partners in nesting but they can hardly criticize his chosen collection. He's so sweet-natured that not even the sourest tree dweller has anything to say about him and while some of his sweaters may be hard on the eyes, he has nothing more sinister than a Merry Melody sweater with flashing Luminaire bulbs.
His sweater collection has an impressive assortment of chunky knit sweaters, hoodies, cardigans, and turtlenecks. Among his favorites are those ideal for playing in the leaves all day and cuddling with his minion at night. Autumn is ideal sweater weather, after all.
Cashmere is his best friend and fashion consultant. Though the Bubo's tastes run more to pom-pom hats and fun scarves, she has her own collection of tiny sweaters that were knitted by Chandalar. He's still working on his cross-stitch but he's quite proud of the colorful and cheerful minion-sized sweaters he's completed. He secretly has a dream of starting his own line of minion fashions. Hats and little raincoats and galoshes... and of course, sweaters of every variety.
Maybe he'll make it big in the fashion industry someday but for now he's content to snuggle up in his cozy sweater, dipping his beak into a mug of hot apple cider and watching the newest episode of Closet Catastrophe with his best friend.
