I think we can work with that. I agree that Braviary is perfect for Valor (although it would indeed have to begin as a Rufflet).

Here's what we can do for this. We like your idea that she and Valor, a Rufflet, had been interacting a lot when she was a child. When you intro, go ahead and do a player plot request here. Due to the rarity of a Rufflet, we will additionally require an Intensive Search on it as well. When you complete the player plot, the Rufflet will be the quest reward, as it were.