Steady.
Steady.
Hold steady, damn it!
The parents are still enough, but the gryphlet is giving me a headache.
«C'mon, bud! You don't want to be remembered as a blurry mess, do you?!» I whisper as I desperately try to resist the mosquitos feasting on my legs.
Finally, as the wind stops blowing, so do the leaves it was rolling around, leaving the chick with nothing to chase; disappointed, he lies down, waiting for another prey to appear.
Perfect, now they are all in focus.
But as I'm about to take the picture, a butterfly flutters over his head, and by the time my finger pushes the trigger, his pupils have triplicated in size.
In the blink of an eye, he jumps three times his height, determined to show the poor insect the brutality of an apex predator with a sweep of his talons.
Fortunately (for the butterfly), he misses, making the target change its course, unfortunately (for me) towards my position.
«No, wait!-» I plead, but it's useless since the merciless beast runs me over immediately after, yelping with confidence as he jumps and victoriously retreats in his mother's fluff.
A gryphon his age weighs pretty much like a sixth-grader, so I lay in the grass for a few more seconds, groaning, while even the mosquitoes are concerned over my health.
I check the picture, and sure enough, it makes it look like the gryphlet broke through space and time with that jump.
I sigh and look up at his father, who has come to check on his son's work, perplexed and concerned.
After scooping myself up, I decide to change the subject once again.

Fifteen minutes of walking later, I find the alpha resting under the shade of a tree next to a river.
He must have just had his lunch, judging by the scattered fish bones piled beside him.
«Hello there. Would you like to pose for me?» I greet him, holding the camera in front of me.
He barely opens his eyes, looks at me and my device for a little more than a second, then goes back to sleep, unfazed.
«Uh... could you at least look at me for a little longer?»
As a response, he starts snoring like a trombone.
Considering how scary he made himself look back when I got off that bus, he could at least glare at me!
Frustrated, I let out a deep breath as I leave.
In the span of a single afternoon, I got splashed by two griffins wrestling in the water (and thank God the camera survived), almost crushed by the log of a dead tree another one was uprooting, tripped by a few chicks playing tug-of-war, trampled by that gryphlet, and now I'm being ignored by their leader.
And all of this for three university credits.
I need a Snickers.

I walk for a few more minutes, all the way to an empty clearing with a fallen log, perfect for a tired photographer to sit on.
I sigh in relief as I take my backpack off my shoulders, from which I extract my well-deserved snack.
While I struggle to open the packaging, I consider my options;
Maybe the guides could give me some advice on how to convince the griffins to collaborate with me.
Or maybe I should focus on one griffin at a time, find out what their role in society is, and then decide whether they are worth following or not.
I need more sugar to be able to scheme any further.
I use my teeth to snap the chocolate bar in half as I take out the cleaning cloth, and I begin to clean the lens from the pieces of grass and dust.
And suddenly, the leaves rustle.
I lift my head up with the bar still sticking out of my lips, focused on locating the cause.
I'm pretty sure it's a griffin, but I try to move as little and as gently as possible nonetheless.
I turn on the camera, and for a second, the only sound in the area comes from the lens extending.
All movements seem to have stopped, so I get back to cleaning the device, still wary of my surroundings.
My eyes sporadically dart to the spots where the foliage is densest until I notice a pleasant, fresh smell, a lemony one... lemongrass, maybe?
I narrow my eyebrows, trying to figure out from where the aroma is coming from.
Then I flinch when I see a movement in the corner of my eye, which makes me lose my balance and fall off the log.
It's a tail dangling from above.
I look up and discover a gryphon resting on a low branch right above me, looking me in the eyes with a cocky smile.
I quickly stand up and back away while taking a picture of the newcomer, who doesn't seem too bothered by my actions.
Judging by the lack of fluff and the toned muscles, it must be a young male.
When he hops down, though, I start worrying, maybe due to the primal instinct of seeing something approaching like a lion on the hunt.
Despite my growing fear, I manage to take the opportunity and snap another picture as he menacingly closes in.
At least they will know what happened to me.
My heart skips a beat as I let out a surprised squeal when my back hits a tree, startling me.
I look back at the predator, still calmly moving towards me, grinning.
I heavily breathe as I stare into his emerald eyes, locked on mine.
His red mane and feathers wave in the wind as his dark brown eagle forearms carry him closer and onto the log I was sitting on, his lion tail still dangling in amusement behind him.
The feathers on his head make him look like a hybrid between a kestrel and a cardinal, but those smooth, sharp talons are a reminder that he's much more than that.
He stops about a meter away from me, where he starts sniffing the air, curious.
Maybe the chocolate attracted him?
Hesitant, I raise my arm, offering him the other half of the chocolate bar.
He closes the distance enough for me to feel his breath on my hand, and he lowers his head to look at the snack, thoughtful.
When I think I got away with it, his cocky smile reappears, and he moves past my arm until we are face to face.
He's not that big for a griffin, I'd wager between 220 and 250 centimeters tall, but he's still an imposing presence to a human.
I stop breathing.
«Tasty.» he says, speaking that word above a low sound resembling the mix of a parrot's croaking and a deep growl, then he barely opens his beak and inches closer. I close my eyes, unable to do anything else.
I feel something being pulled out of my lips, and when I look back at him, I see him pull his head back with the half I forgot I had in my mouth, which he proceeds to swallow.
«Thank you, pretty.» he says with a grin, and he hops back onto the tree and from one branch to the other, running towards the depths of the woods.
«Wait!» I call him once past the initial shock, but he's already gone.
I didn't even know they could imitate human speech.
Still shocked, I make my way back to the main building, where I will hopefully find a guide on their break that can shed some light on what just happened.

As I'm making my way back, my ears pick up a distant shriek, followed by several others, pretty much in regular intervals.
It doesn't sound like any sound I've heard a griffin make before...
Maybe it's a hen laying her eggs?
I can't miss out on that scoop.
I move as fast as I can, avoiding dry leaves, sticks, and other things that may announce my presence and taking advantage of the favorable wind, which is also carrying the screams... and thuds?
I reach a small hill covered by Convolvuli, and behind it -judging by their intensity- is the source of the noises.
In total, beside the painfully high shrieks and the odd "thuds" - which sound more like slaps from up close-, I can clearly hear some low grunts and the snapping of branches.
This doesn't sound like a hen laying eggs.
Two griffins wrestling, maybe?
Perplexed, I crawl up the hill, preparing the camera.
When I finally get to the top, my jaw drops.
At the base, there are two gryphons, one on top of the other, facing away from me.
The male on top of the female, to be precise.
He's holding her by the hips as he's pounding into her, clearly enjoying himself, as his happy grunts seem to suggest.
She's probably having even more fun, judging by how high she's keeping her rear for him, by all of her talons digging into the ground, crushing everything that ends up under them, and most importantly, by her wide open drooling beak with the tongue dangling out and blissful distant gaze.
Either she likes it rough, or this rooster has taken a liking to the sound of his crotch slapping against her muscular cheeks.
Speaking of which, now I wonder how the males keep "them" hidden under their tail feathers all the time; his balls must be the size of large melons, and while I can't see his Willie, I can guess that it matches them, seeing her reaction despite his lack of technique.
Or maybe he's the Michelangelo of rutting, what do I know.
Well, I can't use my camera here, or the sound of the trigger will alert them, so I pull up my phone and start to record them with it.
He begins panting soon after, but judging by the vapor coming out of his beak, I assume he's trying to cool down rather than to catch his breath.
She spreads her legs further, closing her eyes while emitting small, almost pathetic peeps as if she was begging.
In response, he clamps the back of her neck, making her yelp;
Then he lifts her up on her hind legs without stopping his relentless thrusts.
The squelching of her insides can be heard from my hiding spot, and soon after, her fluids start to pour on the leaves below them, ticking like raindrops.
Guess you hit the spot, bud.
Still, I feel weird about this.
It might just be the same awkwardness that you feel while watching two animals mating in a documentary, but I'm not entirely sure.
A louder yelp calls me back on the action: apparently, he clenched harder on her neck, making her cry in pain.
However, she doesn't seem to want to fight back; in fact, she tries to push back against his pounding.
He closes his eyes and speeds up, giving her walls their final punishment.
He shrieks, stopping suddenly, and pulls her closer, slowly rocking back and forth a few more times, letting a decent amount of semen splatter on the ground, until he lets her neck go and falls with her, resting at her side while keeping his rod inside to prevent his fluids from escaping further.
She has some blood on her feathers where he bit her, they're both panting between the flowers, but they seem satisfied.
Once he starts to lick her wound, I decide to take my leave before post-nut clarity hits and they notice their peeping Tom problem.


I exit the forest just in time for dinner, judging by the guests gathering at the tables.
I guess asking the guides will have to wait.
I take a seat at the first free table I find, where I start reviewing the pictures while I wait for my food.
«Blurry, blurry, out of focus, cut off, blurry, boring...» I grumble to myself, swiping left harder than gold diggers on Tinder.
I sigh, running my hand across my face.
In the end, what isn't blurry is pretty much uninteresting or has other issues, except for two of them.
The red gryphon resting on the branch came out pretty nice.
The picture has character, great lighting, and contrast thanks to the color of his feathers, and he's looking straight at the viewer, too.
«Looking good there, red boy. Your picture too.» I comment with a half-smile.
Then I realize what I just said and look around to make sure none heard me.
«The fuck was that comment?..» I ask myself, moving to the second picture, the one where he's approaching me.
Again, it has character, he's looking at the viewer, and it's pretty dynamic.
It is a bit off-center, but that's an easy fix.
And he's got quite the physique.
Still, one griffin isn't enough.
Suddenly, two gryphlets with a kitchen cart place a dish in front of me, smiling.
I quickly photograph them, pet them, and let them resume their duty.
«Thank you!» one chirps.
So he's not the only one who can talk.
Still, three griffins are not enough either.
I could ask the friendlier ones to pose, but the pictures would lose their character.
I'll have to think about it with a full stomach.

Suddenly, a sudden creaking from a nearby tree almost makes me choke on my food.
I turn towards its source and find out it was none other than the red gryphon landing on a branch with three of his friends in tow.
I capture them on camera; you never know.
After exchanging a few looks with his buddies, he jumps down and makes his way to my table.
It looks like he's carrying something in his beak, a flower of some kind. 
It does not seem to be just your regular daisy.
He leaves it on my lap, and I immediately inspect it: it's fairly small and pearl white, but the hexagonal shape of its petals and their odd iridescence makes it feel almost alien, like its twisted double stalk.
Nevertheless, it's beautiful, so I stick the stem through my shirt.
It must be an apology for the scare he gave me earlier.
«Hi, pretty.» he then greets me with the same cocky look from before.
«H-hello there! Aren't you a big boy..!» I timidly return the greeting, hesitantly raising my hand to pet him.
He rests his head on it, allowing me to caress his chin.
He closes his eyes, enjoying the pets.
Well, he's not so bad.
But without warning, he reopens his eyes and instantly gets closer by putting his forearms on the stone bench, surrounding me with them on both sides and presenting his chest.
I'm starting to think he's not that apologetic.
He must be acting cool for his friends on the trees.
I roll my eyes and run my hand through his mane.
Then he starts flexing his pecs, tough like hard rubber, contrasting with the softness of his fur and feathers.
As I go over his abdomen, he seems very satisfied with himself when he starts purring.
Unexpectedly, he grabs me around my waist, making me flinch.
I look up at him, and find his face getting closer and closer to mine.
Taken aback, I can't do anything but smell the scent of lemongrass coming from his coat.
I look away, and my gaze lowers right on his nether regions.
I cover my mouth as I stare at his massive fluffy balls and sheath, otherwise hidden by his fur and feathers.
I think I'm blushing.
Before this could escalate any further, a growl gets his attention, and when a visibly displeased Ulthane marches towards him, his friends take off, and after giving me one last look, he follows them.
Once the "thugs" have disappeared into the forest, the alpha stops to rest under the same tree the red griffin came down from, grumbling as if to say: "Damn brats".
Then he looks at me until a guide passes by, followed by a dark hen with a scar on her cheek and two small gryphlets, to which he moves his full attention.
Maybe this is the right time to ask a few questions.
I stand up, and the huge griffin turns back to me as I approach the guide.
The two chicks immediately take shelter under their mother but keep staring at me, curious.
He turns to face me, and when he does, he looks surprised.
«Sorry about that.» I apologize for scaring the little ones.
«...Oh, don't worry, it's fine!» he reassures me, getting over his confusion.
«They have to get used to people anyway. So, how may I help you?»
«Well, I was wondering if you could tell me more about a red griffin that I've met a couple of times. He's a young rooster, about this tall...» I gesture.
His expression becomes sour, and he sighs.
«I imagine you're talking about Loki. He's what us specialists call "a little shit". His father came from the east one day, fell in love with a hen, and we ended with a cocky gryphlet and an absent parent, which explains why he turned out to be such a "gentleman". He didn't give you any trouble, did he?»
«Oh, no. He just showed up, pulled a couple of harmless stunts, and left.»
I notice that Ulthane has quietly gotten closer and is carefully listening to our conversation.
«Well, that's a relief. He's really not dangerous, just a hothead.
He was probably just showing off his strength to the umpteenth guest that had the misfortune of crossing his path.
If you ever get tired of his antics, call for help, and one of the adults is more than likely going to hear you and come to teach him some manners.
Once, Ulthane's brother straight up tossed him up a tree when he got fed up of his trash-talking. The troublemaker got ever-so-slightly wiser since then.»
«Wow, that's a feat.» I comment, imagining the scene while looking at the tree where Loki appeared from.
«Yeah, old Titan has always been a natural when it comes to problem-solving!» he agrees, chuckling.
«Well, thank you very much. You've been really helpful!»
«My pleasure. Oh, before you go, can I ask you a quick question?» he stops me.
«Uh, sure.» I agree, wondering what he may want.
My phone number, maybe?
«That's a really nice flower on your shirt. May I ask where you found it?»
«Oh, Loki just gave it to me. I thought he was trying to make it up to me, but I guess he just wanted to impress his friends.» I answer.
He thoughtfully nods as he looks at Ulthane for a few seconds.
«I've never seen anything like it. Do you know what it's called?» I then ask.
«Uh, no, sorry. That's actually why I asked. It looks fresh, but I really don't know where that would grow.»
«Oh. If he shows up again, I'll try asking him. And by the way, why does he speak English?»
«He does? He must have been snooping on the lessons, then.» he comments, surprised.
«We found out a few younglings mocking visitors they didn't like, and noticing they got pretty close with their imitations, we tried teaching them and whoever was interested a few words. Some turned out to be better speakers than others, but they were all pretty good at it.»
Fascinated, I nod and thank him again before going back to my meal.

In the evening, I start exporting the pictures to the poor excuse of a laptop I was given, hoping that Photoshop will not melt it.
Ten minutes later, I'm struggling with the application of filters, and trying to remove the blurry messes with the clone stamp turns the program into a Powerpoint presentation.
As I wait for the computer to unfuck itself, I pick up my phone and start chatting with a friend back home.
However, when I'm about to send her a picture, I notice the video of the two mating griffins in my gallery.
I lower the volume and play it.
That same feeling I had while I watched them the first time hits me again when I see the male thrusting into his mate with animalistic fury, making her squeal in delight, pleading for more...
By the time I get to the bite part, my hand has already reached my groin.
I'm envious.
I wish I had someone fuck me hard like that... 
A big, strong male...
My mind goes back to Loki's muscles bulging under my hand, to his cocky, dominant gaze, and to his massive balls.
Then the video ends, leaving me to stare at my reflection on the dark screen.
Once I come back to reality, I let the phone fall back on the table, shocked.
Did I just...
I rub my eyes, tired, and look at my computer.
All of the operations seem to be complete, so I export all the open projects.
After a bit of hesitation, the fan starts spinning like a jet engine, and the program warns me that it's gonna take a few hours.
I sigh as I raise the back of the laptop with a book, leaving it more space to suck air from, praying that it won't pull a reactor 4 on me while I sleep, then I jump on the bed.
I close my eyes and quickly fall in the arms of Morpheus.

Loki is towering over me, resting his arms on the wall behind my back, surrounding me on both sides.
He starts licking my cheek, closing his soft, furry chest to mine.
I caress his sides, and suddenly he's on top of me.
His feathers are tickling my breasts, sending shivers throughout my body.
I can feel him pushing his member inside me, screeching loudly in pleasure as I quickly reach an orgasm.

I suddenly wake up to a loud beeping.
I look at my hand, then at the wet spot between my legs, and realize I rubbed one out in my sleep.
I sigh as I look for a new pair of trousers, wondering what the hell is happening to me until I see the pop-up on the computer screen: Photoshop crashed mid-render.
Since it's 3 AM, I make the huge effort of resisting the urge to bash the laptop against every wall in the building as I curse in ways unknown to man.
Instead, I change the wet clothes and put on a hoodie: I need a walk.
I don't bother taking the camera with me since it's still charging, and it has no low-light mode.
In silence, I traverse the corridors of the building, encountering a few younger griffins roaming around, from which I receive suspicious stares until I reach the entrance, where I find the guides chatting in front of a drink.
Then they notice me.
«Is everything okay, miss?» one asks.
I nod, a bit sleepy. «I just need a walk to calm down a bit.»
«Okay, but do be careful. Don't stray from the paths, and keep in mind that hunters or patrolling adults might follow you or stop you to confirm your intentions.» another warns me.

Moths are swarming around the lamps delimiting the gravel roads, the flutter of their wings losing only to the crickets in the fields and the pleasant cracking sound of my footsteps on the pebbles.
I manage to spot the eyes of a couple of griffins studying me just outside the cone of light, but they don't seem troubled by my presence.
Taking a deep breath of fresh night air, I gather my thoughts:
Am I a zoophile?
I have owned pets before, some even on the larger side, but none has ever made me feel like this.
Is it morally wrong?
Thinking about it, Loki is the one that approached me first...
But maybe he didn't mean to show me his junk.
Then again, he did seem flirty when he offered me his pecs.
Should I try to ask him to spend some time with me so I can figure myself out?
That would mean finding him first, and I have no idea where he lives in the forest.
But if he's brave enough and actually interested in me, he should show up again, right?
Suddenly, a gentle breeze blows, carrying a hint of lemongrass.
I immediately stop walking and turn towards the woods.
Could it be..?
I look around, trying to spot any sentinels, and make a b-line for the trees as soon as I determine the coast is clear.

The humidity is making the place quite chilly despite my heavy clothes.
I pull up my hood and put my hands in my pockets.
Maybe feathers are more effective in here.
When I catch another whiff of the lemony herb, I quicken my steps.
«Loki!» I call him loud enough to be heard in a short distance.
My heart is racing.
Sure, I'm well aware that even if the hunters find me in here, they aren't going to eat me or anything, but being in a forest at night knowing that you're not alone must trigger something hardwired in the human brain.
The place being pitch black doesn't help either.
Can gryphons see in the dark?
I mean, they're big cats from the chest down, but-
Something moves in the foliage, sending a chill down my spine, and I freeze.
«Loki?»
The thing slowly comes out of the bushes, emitting a low growl.
The moonlight gives me a glimpse of it, and I almost eject my dinner in my new pair of pants: it's a bear.
Fuck.
FUCK.
FUCK!!!
Is it black or brown?!
I can only make out its silhouette, and it's fucking big!
Fight back or lie down?! Is it hungry or just passing by?!
«B-Back off!» I exclaim, trying to be loud.
Hopefully, it's black.
It growls back, moving closer.
«OIIIII! OOOOH!!! FUCK OOOOOFF!!!» I scream, panicking as I back away like an idiot.
The beast stands up, pretty pissed off, and roars at me.
Then something roars back, and the bear gets pushed back by a fast attacker.
It's a relatively small gryphon, but it looks as fierce and as fearless as they get.
The bear gets back on its feet but hesitates, shocked, and the griffin hits him with its wing, letting a loud crack echo through the trees, making its opponent lose ground, stunned.
Even when it stands up again to swipe with its claws, the bear gets evaded and outsped by the griffin, which makes it moan in pain with a slash of its talons.
Understanding its situation, the predator runs back into the forest, limping because of the wounds.
The gryphon screams, just to make sure the message is clear, then turns towards me.
«You're welcome, pretty.» it says.
«Loki..?»
The moonlight shines on his ruby feathers and emerald eyes, revealing his unmistakable figure.
Surprisingly, he doesn't sound as arrogant as he should.
«T-thank you...»
I hesitate, but I still offer him my hand to at least pet him as thanks for saving me.
He looks at it, thoughtful, but then he gently closes it within his own.
«Follow me.» he says, and he starts walking in the direction I came from.

After a few minutes, I see the lights of the gravel paths.
«Be good there, too much scary for small human here.» he orders me, pointing at the main building as he moves back a few branches to let me through.
I stare at him, amazed.
Is this even the same gryphon as before?
He looks so responsible, and mature, and protective... and hot.
If he were to stop trying to impress his friends, he could definitely have the hen of his dreams in his nest.
I need to be that hen.
«You're right, but I lost the keys to my room, so I'm out of a bed.» I lie.
«Is there any chance I could crash at your place for the night?»
He looks at me dead in the eyes, thinking about it.
When I start to fear he's going to refuse, he smiles, not with arrogance, but with the confidence of someone who knows something others don't.
Between those others, there's me.
He nods.
«Follow me.» he repeats, and we head back towards the heart of the forest.
I want to think that we have the same plan, but who knows with him.

Either he's going by memory and scent, or he actually has night vision, because I've already tripped three times while he's happily cruising through the shrubbery, offering me his tail to get back on my feet every time.
Finally, he stops and looks up, then crouches down and turns to me.
«Jump on and hold strong.» he says, pointing at his back.
I'm surprised and a bit scared by his proposal, to be honest, but I comply.
His feathers are softer from up here, like a warm pillow.
He chirps to warn me, and I firmly grasp his mane as his muscles tense up in preparation for the jump to the branches above.
He walks with a clear direction in mind, perfectly holding his balance with indifference towards my added weight, until we reach what looks like a small hut made out of logs and foliage, where I can sense a faint smell of resin and lemongrass.
Once inside, he crouches again, letting me down on the floor made of various dried leaves and grasses.
I spot some pieces of dried meat hanging from a branch of thorns stuck just above a window, a few plastic bottles filled with water resting in a shadowy corner, probably once forgotten or thrown away by visitors, and a selection of blankets and rags folded on the floor.
Loki shakes his fur and stretches, yawning as he moves to a small depression in the floor, where he turns around once before lying down.
Finally, he curls up in a donut shape as he turns to look at me.
Timidly, I move right in front of him, but his tail curves around my chest, trying to pull me back.
«I don't eat you...» he jokes.
Embarrassed, I join him in his sleeping spot, entering the donut he made with his own body and resting my back against his abdomen.
He's still looking at me with that glint in his eyes.
It almost feels like he's waiting for something.
Suddenly, a large owl stumbles through one of the windows hooting like a madman, probably attracted by the dried meat.
Taken by surprise, I push myself deeper into his feathers while Loki screeches at it, immediately scaring it back out.
Then he turns to me, amused.
«Not scary, just one bird.» he comforts me, partially covering me with a wing.
I can hear his deep, slow heartbeat from inside his toned chest, sending its relaxing vibrations to my body.
Finally asleep, his deep, warm, lemony breaths warm up my legs, enhancing the already nice smell inside the hut.
He's so beautiful.
As he adjusts his body, I once again feel his muscles tensing up around me, gently moving me around, and the weight of the wing resting on me.
The image of the mating hen comes back to my mind one more time.
I swallow my saliva and look at his face to make sure he's actually asleep.
I turn around to look at his other half, trying to see his privates, but they seem to be covered by his legs and tail right now.
I'm about to give up, disappointed, when he suddenly stretches in his sleep, giving me a glimpse of his balls at first and of his sheath when he straightens his body, moving back one of his legs.
My eyes widen.
I check on him again: he's still asleep.
Now, most of the good stuff is visible.
Since he's not nearly as big as the other rooster, they are obviously much smaller but still a sight to behold for a human.
In fact, I'm pretty sure I would not be able to close my hands around them.
I still feel a bit ashamed about my feelings, but I've gone too far to give up now.
Especially because those balls look like the softest thing in the room.
I would say they are even cute, but I'm not sure Loki would take that as a compliment.
Actually, I'm still not completely sure he would be fine with me even looking down there.
But I really want those things on my face...
He almost makes me jump when he clicks his beak a couple of times in his sleep, but I was too focused on my own thoughts to move at all.
I swallow my saliva once again, and I slowly move closer to my objective.
I raise my hand and close my eyes, hoping for the best.
Then I touch one, and I open them again;
Its short fur feels lovely on the hand as it moves between my fingers, and the organ itself is not even that heavy.
The sack perfectly accommodates the movement of the single orb as I gently fondle it, salivating.
Instinctively, my free hand goes to my crotch.
I'm already wet and incredibly sensitive, so I have to bite my lip in order not to moan.
I wonder if the "main attraction" requires his permission, though, since it has not given any signs of life so far.
His balls must be pretty insensitive, or by now he would have definitely wok-
«Like it, pretty?»
This time I straight up jump from his abdomen onto the floor, a good meter away.
I look at him, mortified and expecting anger, but he's cheekily smirking instead.
At least he's not mad.
Then he raises one of his fingers, showing the keys to my room hanging from his talon, and makes them clink together.
«Lost?» he jokingly mocks me, passing them back.
Now I really feel like shit.
I look away, but he tickles my legs with his tail and whistles.
When I turn back to him, my soul and body hit the brake: he rolled on his back, giving me a full view of his manly bits.
«Have fun, pretty.» he invites me, pleased with himself.
My jaw drops, and I feel myself heating up as my heart rate accelerates.
This is it.
«Don't be afraid, I don't talk to anyone.» he promises.
I hold his beak in my hand, and I timidly kiss him, making him purr softly.
He licks my face in response until I let his tongue inside my mouth, inviting him for a french kiss.
As I massage my own crotch, I can feel him trying to remove my hoodie.
He retracts his tongue to focus on his quest to see me naked, leaving a saliva trail between us.
Given that I had more than a chance to see his goods, it seems only fair to me.
After I remove my shirt and my hoodie, I finally unhook my bra under his eager gaze.
He hungrily stares at my breasts for a few seconds, enjoying the view, until his eyes move first to my own, then down to my crotch, and he licks his beak with greed.
But before finishing his prey, he decides to toy around with it, so he lowers his head and runs his tongue on my belly, making me shiver.
I put my hands on his cheeks, instinctively trying to push him away, but he firmly grasps my bottom and pulls me close, slowly but steadily moving up towards my breasts, then past them and on my neck.
«P-please...» I beg, moving my hand back to my groin, but he stops me by grabbing it.
«Don't touch. Mine.» he commands, grinning, then nibbles and flickers his tongue on my nipples.
I protest with a whimper but in truth I love it.
Enjoying my pleas, he unchains his creativity as he runs his tongue around my areolas, following unpredictable patterns as he tries to get more out of me.
«Loki... I beg you!..»
«More loud!» he orders.
«PLEASE, TAKE ME!-»
He sticks the back of his talon in my mouth, silencing me.
«Too much loud, pretty.» he comments, amused.
Then he picks me up, and he places me on his chest, my legs spread open.
He nudges my groin with his beak, sniffing my wet slit through my trousers.
«Open your fur, I want in.» he commands as he pulls on my belt with one of his talons.
«Please, be gentle...» I beg him.
«If you be good, maybe...» he croons in response.
I open the buckle and pull my belt off, tossing it in a corner, and I try to stand up to pull down my trousers.
However, I lose my balance and end up falling back on his abdomen with my legs up.
«Messy girl.» he comments, pulling me back towards him.
«W-wait! I'm not done yet!» I protest, but he doesn't seem to care.
«I help.»
He wraps his strong fingers around my chest to hold me still while he tugs on each leg of the trousers, slowly taking them off.
Once he throws them to the side, he locks his eyes onto my wet panties, licking back in some rogue drool.
The way he's looking at me...
Since he's sniffing it, the wet stain made by my fluids must have expanded .
«Move pretty fur. Smell tasty behind.»
Fighting my own desire, I do my best to remove it slowly just to tease him.
With the corner of my eye, I see his tail dangling about with impatience, a sign that it's working.
This time I'm the one that grins.
Or so I thought, because he immediately returns the smirk.
«Messy AND bad?» he comments, faking disbelief.
«I guess no gentle then.»
By the time I process his words, my lips are already exposed to the feral punishment the griffin is about to give them.
He grabs the panties and treats them like the rest of my clothing, leaving me completely naked, then he pulls me even closer, enough for him to close his beak on my nether regions.
I barely hold in a scream when his tongue parts my lips, licking the fluids off them as he runs its full length on my clitoris.
It feels so good I almost tear up. 
Going up and down, left and right, stimulating every nerve that crosses its path, that tongue sets its domain on my vulva.
My hands autonomously reach my breasts as I already feel an orgasm coming.
Suddenly though, Loki stops, and I feel his tongue retracting.
I look at him, irritated by the sudden halt, and by his expression, I can tell that my reaction must be pretty entertaining.
Then he pulls me up out of the blue to make me sit in his beak, holding me still with his hands.
Before I can recover from the surprise, his tongue parts my lips and enters my vagina with a light squelching sound.
I let out a reflex moan as my eyes widen, after which I melt from the pleasure.
His hot, wet appendage gently caresses my walls, studying my reactions as his lemony breath warms me up.
«I love you so much...» I whisper.
My heart hopes it was that phrase that made him start purring, transmitting the vibrations through his tongue and into my hole.
I bite my lip, lightheaded.
My vision blurs as my eyes stop responding, soon followed by the rest of my body as it relaxes, almost going limp, until it contracts all at once.
I let out a quiet high-pitched scream as my fluids pour onto his tongue and into his mouth.
Once I'm done, he pulls out and licks off any remaining droplet before letting me down, finally swallowing with a single audible gulp.
«Yes, tasty.» he declares as he licks his beak, satisfied.
I lay down on his feathery abs as I try to remember how to function, and I end up looking at the tip peering out of his sheath, leaking droplets of precum.
«When you can, do you want my tasty?» he asks, smugly resting his head on his hand.
«Who knows...» I reply, since teasing him worked well for me last time.
«You like sweet tasty, so I eat strawberry for you.»



«Wow, you really put in the effort, uh?»
«I do not like strawberry. Too sweet for me. I trade it with humans for oranges. I like oranges.» he explains.
«Uh. I like oranges too. And even if I didn't, you don't have to change for me. Or for anybody else.»
He does not reply.
«You are a wonderful rooster, Loki, but you undersell yourself. I understand that you're young and hormones are calling, but when you saved me from the bear and led me back to safety, I saw so much more than just the public nuisance everyone makes you out to be.»
After a few more moments of silence, he takes a deep breath and looks back at me with a smirk.
«Talk much. I guess you ready?»
I must have touched a sore spot.
«...Alright. Calm down now, you big scoundrel!» I tell him, putting off our talk.
I turn around and take a good look at it; the tip is salmon pink, but it looks paler in the moonlight, which is also making his precum glisten.
A bit worried about its final size, I touch it, meeting a hard, smooth, and moist surface.
I also scoop up some precum, which I bring to my mouth;
It does have a faint strawberry-like aroma, so at least his "suffering" wasn't in vain.
«Not bad. But until it comes out, it's not going to do anyone a favor!» I exclaim, moving forward to get face to face with his balls.
«For now, I'll just enjoy these.»
I rest my cheek between them as I grab one to kiss it.
He must roll daily in lemongrass or something, because the herb can be smelt here as well.
«Say,» I start, between a kiss and a massage.
«where does your scent come from?»
«Nice grass... Grow in forest, hard to find, but I know where... Keep bad flies away and smell good...» he tries to explain while his brain struggles to find the correct words, overwhelmed by a pleasure he must not be used to.
«You like?»
«Of course! It's nice and refreshing!» I reassure him.
«Happy...» he replies.
As I give his genitals the love they deserve, some of the precum that has been steadily leaking for a while streams down them, giving me something to lick and suck on.
Now the purrs are joined by low, barely audible groans.
«Someone's having fun~...» I comment, when suddenly something touches my belly.
I look down, and my jaw drops open; his willy just finished exiting his sheath, revealing itself in all its glory.
It has to be about half a meter long, thicker than my arm at its base, where it almost forms a knot, but seems much more manageable towards the tip, past the large but reasonably sized glans and the few small fleshy rings around its whole shape.
Overall, it's really pleasant to look at in its proportions, both on its own and when compared to the balls and the rest of the body.
He smirks when he sees me swallowing my own saliva.
«I guess you like.» he mocks me, but he looks even more aroused than me.
Without replying, I step back on all fours, licking his fluids of the length of his shaft, and suddenly his smirk disappears, replaced by a panting beak and two eyes struggling to remain open.
I nibble the edges of his glans, teasing him, until I finally run my tongue on the source of his fluids, making him screech as I start sucking his tip.
Purring out of his beak, he trembles as all his muscles contract at the same time.
His reaction is priceless, and I'm in love with his dick, but when I least expect it, he instinctively starts to hump, pushing against my lips, and before I know it, he's in my mouth, pleasing himself without even realizing it.
«HMMM! HMMMMMMM!!! Whoa!» I protest, managing to pull it out before it goes further in.
«Loki, slow down! You're way too big for me!»
He seems to regain awareness, and his ears lower.
«You hurt?» he asks, apologetic.
«No, but you startled me. Please, be careful with me; I'm not as strong as a hen.»
He looks at me, still concerned.
I sigh.
«Look, I'm sorry, but-»
He... pets me.
«You pretty and strong human. You go in dark forest for me. You come back when I stupid with you.» he replies, playing with my hair.
«Even if you small, weak, and messy, you special for me. I feel that first time I see you. I just too stupid to say this early.»
I'm unable to reply.
This feeling... he's not just a smart animal, like crows or dolphins;
He -No, his species- is our equal.
The humanity in the way he feels and behaves is both familiar and comforting, but somewhat scary, in some way.
Then he looks away, embarrassed but smiling.
«And you feel nice when we make eggs...»
Oh, yeah, he's on the same level as a human, alright.
Also, "making eggs"? With me?
Griffin sex ed has a long way to go.
I sigh and move his hand away.
«Alright, alright, enough with the fuss now. I'll try again, but you need to keep still.»
He nods and lies back down.
I study the rod; I think I can get half of it inside with enough time.
Hopefully, he will be able to restrain himself.
I stretch my jaw as much as I can and take the tip in.
He quietly groans as I let it slide a few more centimeters further but does his best to not move.
Good boy.
As a reward, I run my tongue along his rod as it approaches my throat, making him purr once again.
Now, this isn't my first rodeo, but his anatomy worries me: if he has a baculum, I will have to align myself perfectly since his cock won't be able to bend.
Well, can't stop and ask now.
I lay down on his chest, take a deep breath, and move forward.
He shrieks behind me.
I suck and gulp as his cock slowly conquers my throat, choking me.
He doesn't even seem bothered by my teeth; he might even be enjoying them, by the sounds of it.
Being built to go through a sharp beak must do that to you.
I wish humans had a similar advantage, like the ability to swallow street poles or something of the sort.
Can I even make it to the halfway point?
In doubt, I start jerking him off, stroking his smooth, lubed meat.
Every time my hand hits one of those fleshy rings, I can hear him whine in pleasure, begging for more as vapor begins to puff out of his beak.
I can feel his body getting warmer too.
Thinking he may be about to drown me in griffin juice, I step back as I continue to blow him, trying to protect myself from the coming eruption.
Suddenly, I feel his finger clench around my legs, followed by his tongue running between my lips.
The unexpected stimulation almost makes my eyes roll back, but I don't give up.
His resolve to not hump me must be on the verge of collapsing due to his imminent orgasm, so I brace myself.
I can tell he's drooling, too, judging by the amount of warm saliva coating my crotch right now.
Not that I mind.
Finally, he squeals, and an eruption of semen fills my throat, instantly overflowing back onto his balls.
I jump back and get showered by a second spray, which paints my face, back, and breasts in white.
The third one is not as intense, so it ends up mostly on my legs and on his abdomen.
Still, paired with his cunnilingus skills, that was enough to make me cum as well.
I swallow what was in my mouth and lick my lips as I turn towards him, letting him know I appreciated his gift.
Finally, I lay down on his mane, now covered by small stains of cum.
«How was that, big boy?» I ask.
«I like that. Nice, but no eggs.» he replies as he cools down.
«You sure are eager to have chicks.»
He raises his head to look at me, confused.
«You are not?»
«I mean, I'm not against it, but I still have plenty of time for that. You even more than me, if I recall correctly.»
He nods.
«Yes, you right. But I want to become good father. I want to teach chicks to fish, hunt, fight, and climb trees. I want to see chicks grow and love, give other chicks...» he explains, daydreaming with a smile on his beak.
«Did you get to do those things?» I ask, imagining where this wish originates from.
The spark vanishes from his eyes.
«Yes... but not good. Not fun.»
«I was told a few things about you... and your childhood.» I admit.
He sighs.
«Father do not stay, do not teach fighting or hunting. Mother not good enough alone, old and tired. I too different, hard to make friends, don't learn properly from older griffins. Alone and not good. Try to impress others with brave, but stupid in truth. Sometimes I get hurt, sometimes others do.»
I hug him tighter.
«I'm sorry, Loki.» 
He hugs me back, first with his arms, then with his wings.
«But in truth I want to be normal good griffin, with good hen like you.»
«I know. I already told you: you are wonderful; you just need to show everyone else as well.»
I caress his cheek, giving him a comforting smile.
«It's not too late.»
He licks my face, accidentally lapping some of his cum, which he coughs out with a disgusted chirp.
«Stupid strawberry!»
I chuckle, and soon after, he recovers his smile too.
We just lay there for a few minutes, until I notice his dick is still out and ready.
«Do you want my chicks?» he then asks, hesitant. «Not now, yes. Later? Much later?»
«Boy, your balls have way too much power over your brain!» I exclaim, faking annoyance.
«Sorry...» he apologizes, mortified.
«Yes.» I then agree.
His ears perk up in surprise.
«I am your hen. I would like to give you chicks at some point. The problem is, I'm also a human, and I don't think humans and gryphons can have a spawn together.»
He nods, thoughtful.
When he opens his beak again, I anticipate him.
«Of course I still want to try, dummy.»
This is the first time I see a gryphon being taken aback, and it's as adorable as it sounds.
«Now?» he asks.
«Your cock is still out and covered in fresh semen. I would say it's the perfect opportunity.» I settle it, standing up and walking on his abdomen as he follows me with his gaze.
«You say there is much time for it.» he points out. «Change your mind?»
I shrug.
«I do have time for kids, but not for big ones nagging me! Now be quiet and give me your hands!»
When I finally align his erection with my hole, I slowly start squatting, letting it split my lips.
«Be careful.» he warns me, worried. «If too much pain, I pull you up.»
«Just keep still like before, and I'll be fine.» I reassure him, feeling his glans pushing against my walls as it goes further in, twitching.
«Small inside...» he comments as his breath becomes more visible.
I clench my teeth as my vagina expands more than ever before.
At least the mixture of fluids on its surface is making this slightly easier.
He lets out a small cry when he sees the droplet of blood run down his shaft, and he makes eye contact, scared.
However, there is something else hiding in those dilated pupils.
It feels like he's getting harder, too.
Is it the sight of blood?
His hunting instincts must be kicking in.
He drools as he looks at my body, but he manages to keep still for me.
Great, so now he's horny AND hungry.
I'll admit, that's pretty scary to think about.
«Humans are friends, not food...» I moan, as my cervix and his tip finally meet.
I've taken in about 20 centimeters, give or take, but his girth makes them feel like kilometers.
I slowly get back up, enjoying the feeling of my insides relaxing as his dick slides out.
Still, the thin, spotty layer of blood coating it worries me.
Aside from his breathing, there is no response from the griffin.
He just hungrily stares.
«Loki..?» I call him.
He licks his beak.
«Do you want to taste it?» I dare.
He looks at me, surprised.
«You trust me that much?» he asks.
«Why wouldn't I?» 
He turns away.
«I am too young to help humans with their blood out. Scared of want to hunt them. When become strong like Ulthane and other hunters, maybe.»
I know he can do it; I just feel it.
I take it back inside, this time more easily.
«Then this is your initiation. Prove them your worth.»
«I...»
«Look into my eyes.» I command him. «Am I your prey or your hen?»
He stares, his eyes gaining back their soul.
«My hen...»
«What do you want, my eggs or my blood?»
«Your eggs..!» he replies as I start speeding up, getting used to his size.
I let him enjoy the ride for a short while before asking him the final question.
«Are you going to let Ulthane be better than you?»
He roars, overcoming his inner animal.
«I WILL BECOME THE NEXT ALPHA!!!»
I should start giving motivational speeches.
Judging by his face, I can tell my ovaries are about to end up like Atlantis, which is good because my knees are killing me.
Sure, it does feel good on the inside, but now that I know I can take him, he'll have to do more than holding still next time.
As expected, after a warning screech, my walls expand from the sheer pressure of the ejaculation.
Once I'm full, the cum begins spraying out of my lips and onto his crotch, much to his annoyance.
At least it washed away most of the blood.
I let his dick slide out, making the rest of the fluid pour -to which he rolls his eyes in response- and I finally lie down on his chest.
«Oof. I'm spent.» I announce.
«And I wet.» he grumbles.
«For someone who claims to be the next alpha, you're quite the complainer.» I mock him.
He snorts, annoyed.
«How does that work, anyway? Would you have to defeat other griffins in a fight?»
He looks away, uncertain.
«No... Great Mother choose one of her chicks to protect all. Elders teach that.» he explains.
My eyes widen; at first, I thought he was talking about some old wise griffin, but the more I process it, the more I'm convinced he's referring to a Goddess.
Gryphons have a religion.
When my disbelief subsides, I probe him for more information.
«The "Great Mother"? Who is she?»
«Uh...» he mutters, thinking how he can explain it with the words he knows.
«She be... all. She be rivers, trees, rocks... all. Maybe not really "She", but I do not know. She generous, give food, new feathers, dreams, and more! But she take too. Sometime greedy. Too greedy.»
Then he raises his head to meet my eyes.
«Humans don't know that?» he asks, perplexed.
I take a deep breath.
«We used to think like that. Then we began learning about the world, and as we did, it became smaller around us. Not in the way you think.» I reply, looking at the thousands of stars visible from his window.
He looks at me for a few seconds, then rests his head back down.
«There is more than I can't see?» he supposes.
«Well, yes!» I reply, surprised by the correct guess. «But it's so much we wouldn't be able to cover it before day breaks. I can teach you something if you want.»
«No, thank you.» he firmly refuses.
He sure isn't predictable.
«You generous, but I do not want forget Great Mother. If she want humans to chase stars for her, I do not argue, but I know griffins' place is here.» he concludes, following my gaze towards the sky.
After that exchange, we quietly listen to the crickets until I feel his breathing slowing down.
I smile as I close my eyes.
«Good night, my valiant rooster.»

I wake up to the rustling of leaves.
I open my eyes, and I discover it's Loki replacing part of the floor of his nest, where our fluids fell.
«Hello, pretty.» he greets me with a gentle smile when he notices I'm awake.
«Hi, Loki...» I return the smile.
He must have covered me with a blanket while I was asleep, probably to keep me warm and to clean with.
«How are you?» he asks.
I yawn.
«Sleepy. You?»
«Happy! I brought you food and water!» he chirps, leaving next to me a warm brioche and a bottle of apple juice.
«Thanks... I needed that.» I reply, taking a bite.
As I chew, I look for my clothes, which I find exactly where they were tossed last night.
I take a sip, relieved by the fact that they don't seem to have been reached by the cum.
Then I notice the flower he brought me yesterday, still pinned on my shirt, fresh as if just picked.
My eyebrows narrow as I study the rainbow reflection on the petals.
«Say, where did you get that flower? Not even the guides know what it is.»
He smirks and brings a finger in front of his beak.
«Secret!» he jokes.
«Have you ever seen it before?» I ask him, keeping serious.
His eyes dart away for a split second as he senses he might have messed up.
«No..?»
«Do you know what angel's trumpets are?»
His eyes repeat their last movement as his ears fall back on his head.
«They're one of the most poisonous ornamental plants you can get your hands on. How did you know that this unknown flower was harmless?»
He scratches his head.
«Well... I do not smell poison. Cave smell good. Many like that.»
«A cave? You found it in a cave?» I repeat, skeptical.
«Yes! I can show you.»
I sigh, getting up as I let the blanket slide under his very interested gaze.
«Is it far?» I ask, picking up my clothes.
«I can carry you if you tired.» he suggests.
«It's fine. Unless you need to run or make weird jumps, I can walk on my own.» I reassure him.
He smirks, giving me a skeptical look.
«Yeah, sure, I do need help to get down this tree! But then I will be fine!» I clarify, annoyed.

After I finish my breakfast, he lets me on his back, and we safely reach the ground.
«Good. Now you can let me down.»
In response, he turns his head to give me one of his cheeky looks.
«Loki..!» I warn him, pointing a finger.
The curve of his smile becomes more pronounced.
«Hold strong.»
I shriek as he suddenly dashes forward, running through the bushes as he dodges trees at the last second.
«YOU MANIAAAAAC!!!» I scream, covering his laughter.
Eventually, he starts jumping up and down branches, sometimes letting them bend so much it feels like they're about to snap.
Somehow, he's still able to glide from one tree to the other despite my added weight.
At some point, I stop trying to make him slow down and bury my face in his feathers, praying that he doesn't fall or slam into anything, when he suddenly stops, almost making me slip off his back.
«You alive?» he asks, amused.
«If I find a single scratch on my body, you are not having sex for a week.» I mutter, still clinging to his body with all my strength.
«You be pretty like always. We there, too.» he replies.
I find the courage to look around, and as I do, a feeling of uneasiness arises.
The beauty of the meadow is almost surreal; the trees are flowering as if in the middle of Spring, spreading their petals and sweet aroma, attracting bees, butterflies, and other pollinators; rare plants, flowers, and insects are coloring the ground like a pointillist painting, covering the mysterious web of roots leading to what must be the cave.
«Pretty place, uh?» he comments, walking towards the cave.
«Loki, wait!»
He stops, confused.
«Something is not right here. This is... unnatural, to say the least.» I observe, looking around.
«And there is something in the air...»
«I do not smell danger...» he retorts, studying his surroundings.
«Just bugs and flowers.» he confirms, smelling around.
«Hmmm...» I mumble, unconvinced.
«Want leave?» he asks.
Just what is this feeling?
No wild animals are around, so that's not an issue.
Loki knows the area, and he would protect me from anything.
I look at the cave and realize that it's the source of my turmoil.
I don't want to enter, but my curiosity is overwhelming.
«No, show me the flowers.» I finally decide, still on edge.
The "cave" turns out to not be a cave at all; it looks more like the crater left by a fallen tree, with a pile of dirt, rocks, and weeds lifted up by the same web of roots that covers the rest of the area.
It still looks large enough for a way bigger gryphon to fit in, though.
Loki hops into the hole, dropping a few meters below.
In front of us there's a dark tunnel twisting downwards, concealing a mysterious light at its end.
Without hesitation, the griffin carries me down the dirt path, ducking under the occasional root hanging from the ceiling.
The silence is broken only by his steps and the inexplicable rustling of leaves in the unbreakable darkness.
The light is getting stronger, letting us see the foliage we are traversing: twisted double stems, hexagonal leaves, and a visible connection to the rest of the root system.
It's all part of the same, huge, unknown plant.
When I look back up, I finally see our light source: it's the flowers.
There are hundreds, if not thousands of them throughout the tunnel, coating the floor, the walls, and the ceiling alike, illuminating it like light bulbs.
«Wow...» I whisper in awe.
«I pick it from there.» he says, pointing at a stem on the ground, clearly missing its flower but otherwise unscathed. 
I want to examine them from up close.
Trying to not get my legs caught in his wings, I slide off his back and soundly hit the ground.
«Can ask to get down.» he comments, looking back at me.
I crouch to inspect the stem and take its flower from my shirt to align it, confirming its origin.
To my surprise, the flower slowly begins emitting light as if it had never been picked.
I try separating it from the stem, but the two seem to have merged back together.
«What the hell...» I mutter.
«Weird flower.» he says.
«You can say that again. It gets more incredible by the minute.»
«I talk about that.»
I turn to where he's looking, and I notice that the flowers grow larger and thicker as they go deeper into the tunnel.
The specific one he's looking at is further in, and it's the size of a hand; besides being among the brightest ones in the area, it's leaking something from its receptacle.
Hesitantly, I take the risk and collect a droplet on my fingertip; it's a cold glistening liquid filled with tiny star-like dots, void of any smell.
He goes to lick it off my finger, but I move it away.
«There might be an unknown bacteria in there. Touching it is risky enough.» I warn him.
«But it smell really good.»
I raise an eyebrow.
«I can't smell anything.»
«Humans can't smell like us.» he retorts.
«Yeah, but from this close, I would definitely still be able to feel something!» I insist.
«But whatever. Just don't lick them.»
He scoffs. «Eh. Want to see where cave end?»
«Have you ever been there?»
He shakes his head.
«Oh, well. We've come this far...»

As we move further down, the amount of leaking flowers increases, their light becoming almost blinding now.
They're also getting massive, some as wide as my chest.
«I wish I brought my sunglasses.» I comment, squinting.
«And an umbrella.» I continue, inspecting the wet spots on my clothes caused by the droplets.
«Look, ball flower.» he says, pointing at a bloated flower with its petals closed.
That starry fluid is dripping from it, creating a small river on the ground flowing towards the end of the tunnel.
«Could it become a fruit?» I wonder.
«Maybe big orange.» he suggests, hopeful.
«Or a big strawberry.» I tease him.
He snorts, disgusted.
«Strawberry not fruit. Just big sad.»
I chuckle.
He sits on his tails to stand and pet the flower.
«There. Be good shiny orange, yes?»
Suddenly, though, the petals burst open, spraying me with the liquid it was holding.
We stand still for a few seconds, shocked.
Then I take a deep breath, trying to keep myself from making the whole cave collapse with a scream.
He covers his beak, either to keep the laughter in or out of fear of my reaction.
I look down at my hoodie, drenched in flower jizz.
Then we lock eyes, and I nod as I resume walking, neither of us saying a word.

The single droplets turn into a light rain, as all of the flowers pour their contributions into the starry river washing over the floor.
«Where do you think it all goes?» I ask, staring at it.
«There.» he immediately answers, looking at something just past the curve.
When I catch up to him, I find myself facing something reminiscent of a pool, surrounded by massive flowers constantly refilling it as they light up the entire room.
The roots, now as thick as a century-old tree's, seem to begin within its depth.
The room is warm, almost hot, which is weird for a non-volcanic area like Feathermane Oasis.
Is the fluid radioactive?
That thought hits me at the same time as a spray from another flower.
«Oh, for fuck sake! This is beautiful and all, but it would be even better if the place wasn't such a fucking rainforest!» I exclaim, taking off my wet clothes.
Well, I guess I would be showing symptoms of radiation sickness if that were the case, but we both seem to be fine.
«But now you look shiny and smell really good.» he comments, licking his beak as he savors my body with his eyes.
That's some sudden horniness.
«Loki, I'm still sore from last night. Also, this isn't exactly the comfiest place on Earth.»
But as I'm taking off my shirt, his fingers wrap around my chest and pull me away.
«Hey!» I protest.
He moves me into an alcove where the rain can't reach, and there he positions himself behind me.
He's already fully erect.
«Lie down, pretty. I give back for last night.» he warmly nudges me.
«Have my wing.»
He extends one of his large wings, which he bends to cover the ground in front of me.
I look back at him to express my concerns, but he kisses my neck, caressing it with his tongue as he helps me get down.
«Oh... Alright, just a quick one...» I mutter, unable to resist his warm breath.
His feathers massage my back as he walks forward, his forepaws stopping right next to my hands just as his shaft touches my rear.
«Remember to be gentle, big boy.» I remind him, worried.
«Yes, my hen. Guide me, please.» he gently replies, sending shivers down my spine as his chest vibrates to pronounce those words.
I uncover my lips and point his tip towards them.
Strangely, it's already throbbing.
He's definitely not in "predator mode", or he wouldn't be so courteous. 
Are these flowers affecting him in some way..?
I gasp as his girth stretches my insides once again.
He moves slowly but smoothly as if he was already lubricated.
Looking back, I see his balls rocking back and forth, countering his movements, and his tail dancing hypnotically behind him.
The wing is not as soft as his chest; it's pretty rigid, in fact.
Still better than the cold hard ground, though.
As he slowly picks up speed, he looks back at me the same way, smiling, and offers me a kiss.
I welcome his tongue in my mouth, where it begins to rub against my own, mixing our salivas.
Once he feels the wetness of my insides, he stops accelerating, which is an unexpected move from someone so unexperienced.
It works, though, because I'm getting close.
As if he senses it, he retracts his tongue and clenches his beak around my neck, holding me still.
This is exactly what I dreamed of.
I grasp his feathers as I coat his dick with my juices, lubing it as he goes.
I can hear him grunt in pleasure right behind my head as his saliva washes down my nape, when he bends his limbs, pinning me under his weight.
I moan when I feel him slam against my cervix, harder and faster than ever.
«Breed me..!» I moan, almost screaming. «Fill my pussy up!!!»
His glans and the fleshy rings around his cock send my nerve endings into overdrive with every thrust, as he literally fucks me silly.
Finally, he screeches, and when his legs shake from the orgasm, I can feel my walls stretch to their physical limit to accommodate the ocean of seed that flooded them.
After a couple more sprays, he lies down, fully blocking me under his body.
«That was definitely something.» I comment, catching my breath.
«You even made me forget that we are still in this rainy hole in the ground. A bit more foreplay would have been nice, but I did say to make it quick. Nine and a half out of ten.»
He does not reply.
I try to look at him, but his mane keeps falling on my face.
«Well? No snarky remarks?» I try to get his attention.
I wait almost a minute, but he still doesn't utter a sound or move a muscle.
«Loki? Are you awake?»
Then I finally notice it: he's barely breathing.
«HEY!!! LOKI!!!» I call out to him, shaking his hands.
No response.
I try my best to crawl out of him, but his shaft is still buried deep inside me, slowing me down a great deal.
I moan as a reflex when I finally free myself, but I manage to keep it together even when all the cum spurts out of my gaping hole, leaving a lake on his wing.
I stand up, fighting the soreness, and look at him from up close; he's still breathing, but his pulse is low.
What the fuck do I even do?!
I hold his beak up, and when I lift his eyelids I fall back down, screaming: the black of his pupils is filled with tiny star-like dots, like the liquid produced by the flowers, and his sclera is bloodshot.
I need to call for help.
I'm naked and covered by his fluids, but that doesn't matter right now.
I start sprinting the way we came in from, covering my nose and mouth to lower the chance of the fluid entering my body, even if I'm starting to think that whatever it is, it targets only gryphons.
«Where are you going?»
I freeze on the spot, as stiff as a corpse.
I slowly turn around, and I find him standing where I left him, with a welcoming smile on his beak contrasting with the same bloodshot eyes I've just seen.
I slowly take a few steps backwards.
I have never heard Loki conjugate a verb before.
«I'm sorry I scared you. I just didn't eat much this morning and ended up passing out!» he explains, almost chuckling at the end.
I tremble, trying to hold the tears in.
That isn't Loki.
Then his expression changes, probably as it understands it isn't fooling me.
«Hmmm... You're right. This place is pretty bad; we should leave.» it comments, opening his stained wing.
«But could you help me clean this, first? That waterhole should be fine if we don't drink from it.»
He points to the pool.
If it wanted to get rid of me, it could have just used Loki's talons, so it's clear that killing isn't its main goal.
«Please, I can't show myself like this! It's going to be quick!» he pleads, coming closer.
«STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM ME!!!» I scream, finally breaking.
Loki looks hurt by my reaction.
«I don't understand... Are you alright?»
«WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU?!! LEAVE HIM!!!»
«Hey! Hey..! Calm down, pretty!» he whispers, giving me a warm smile.
«I just need a quick bath, that's all! Then I'll be all yours!»
I want to run away, but I can't leave Loki alone, or it will take him inside the pool.
But I can't stop his body if it decides to take me by force.
«HELP MEEEEEE!!! SOMEBODY, PLEASE!!! HEEEL-» 
He dashes forward and puts a talon on my lips, drawing blood with its tip.
«Shhh... The cave might collapse if you're too loud.»
Without losing that unnatural smile, he grabs my hand and starts walking towards his goal as I make futile attempts to break free by punching and scratching his arm. 
«LET ME GOOOOO!!!» I scream, hysterical.
«Oh, don't be like that! A bath has never hurt anyone!» he chuckles as he relentlessly moves forward.
«And nobody ever comes until it's too late, no matter how it ends.»
«Please... Loki... I beg you...» I sob with a ruined voice.
«If you win, you will never have to beg again!» he cheerfully retorts.
I don't even have the strength to question what it just said.
How can I save him? How can I save myself?
What the hell is even happening?
Suddenly, heavy footsteps echo through the whole tunnel.
Loki stops, he lets go of my hand, and he turns around, smiling.
«Welcome back, Ulthane.»
A massive, rugged hand closes around his head and hurls him against the wall.
Ulthane roars, shaking the entire room with his rage.
Then he looks at me and points towards the entrance.
«Long time no see, uh?» Loki comments, getting up as IF nothing happened.
«I still remember it as if it were yesterday. Well, it's not different from all those that came before you, but still...»
Ulthane growls, rending the ground with his talons.
«But look at you, though. He could be next. You would finally have a chance to rest.» he retorts.
As the alpha charges him, I start running.
I feel sick if I think that I'm leaving Loki behind, but if Ulthane can't save him, I don't know who can.
The roars and steps subside behind me as daylight starts to brighten the path ahead.
At the entrance, I find another massive chestnut griffin, even bigger than the alpha, which I recognize as the one that almost crushed me by accident under a dead tree.
When I reach him, he picks me up and extends his body to place back on the surface, where I find myself in front of the guides and the elite hunters.
The guide that told me about Loki fakes a cough and looks away.
One of the griffins covers my naked body with her wing, being careful not to touch me.
«What is happening..?» I ask, feeling lost.
«That's a good question. One of many.» the guide replies, stern.
«After Ulthane picks up your boyfriend, he'll have to answer for many things.»
I look away, mortified.
«God, I'm such a moron. It was right in front of me. I even considered it, but no, "there's no way that a sausage in a hallway could work"! Who cares if magical steroids are a thing! Fuck me!!!» he curses.
«Jonas, we talked about this. None of us expected it.» Another one tries to calm him down.
Jonas takes a deep breath, then turns back to me.
«Don't touch the griffins. Not until you've been scrubbed from head to toe.»
Suddenly, Ulthane emerges, holding Loki by his nape, visibly beaten up.
The other griffin grabs him out of the alpha's beak and pins him to the ground.
He's not moving.
I feel like my heart stopped.
Nobody utters a word.
«You didn't win, and you know it. If he survives, he's bound to come back and finish it. Until then, I will be waiting...» he suddenly speaks.
«Good luck...»
After that, his smile vanishes with the stars in his pupils, leaving place to agony.
Loki screams his soul out, forcing me to cover my ears.
«THE INFIRMARY!!!» Jonas orders, somehow making himself heard.
«We'll take it from here! Deal with them!»
Jonas and Ulthane stop as we let the muscular griffin carry Loki with the guides and the hunters escorting him.
The gryphon stares at the ground.
The guide offers me his jacket, to then walk towards the alpha.
«So. Where do I even begin?» he starts.
The griffin sighs.
«Oh, you're sorry! That definitely makes it better!»
Jonas grabs Ulthane by the mane to pull him down, much to my anxiety.
«Look at me, you old oaf! You knew about Apollo and Artemis, didn't you?! You knew that their father is a human!!!»
I feel like I've just been punched.
Is he talking about griffins?
That would mean...
«That little piece of information would have been really helpful, just saying! Maybe your daughter would have still gone through with it, but at least she might have not been stuck with an absent father!»
Ulthane glares at him.
«Condoms are a thing, you know! And so are Nurses!» he keeps going.
Then Jonas points at me.
«You know what may come next, right?! How the fuck is she going to pull that off?! WHY THE FUCK DIDN'T YOU TELL US?!!»
He then takes a deep breath and sits down.
«You know what? I don't even care about what's down there. Seriously. You want to keep that shit away from everyone else? Sure, judging by what happened to Loki, it doesn't sound like a bad idea.» he comments.
«But what hurts the most is that you lied to me, Ulthane! I helped Umbra squeeze out of her eggshell! I did the same with her chicks! We are friends, for fuck's sake!»
The alpha doesn't reply.
Jonas lets him go and paces in a circle, thoughtful.
«So that's why you were so worried about her when she escaped that night. You were afraid she would find it.» the guide suggests, but I have no idea of what he's talking about.
Then he sits on a log.
«That's what happened to you, I imagine. I was told you disappeared at some point when you were young, and Titan spent weeks looking for you, his fragile little brother. But when you came back, you were completely different. Did you end up like Loki?»
Ulthane grimly nods and growls with grief.
«Yesterday, Loki told me that the alpha is a griffin chosen to protect all the others.»
«Yes, by the Great Mother. That's what they tell their children, but there must be more than that.» he confirms.
«The flower Loki gave you is the same one that was found stuck on Ulthane when he came back. His were withered, though. I may actually need to know what you saw down there to piece things together, in the end.»
The griffin looks at me threateningly, but I still tell Jonas my side of the story.
«Damn, alright. I guess that liquid causes some kind of metamorphosis in griffins. But it's not a given because he is not the only one who disappeared back then; just the only one who came back.» he concludes.
Then he turns to the alpha.
«But why just you? Why didn't anyone else vanish after you?»
Ulthane finally chirps something.
«"Flower dead after I awake".» Jonas translates. «Well, that just raises more questions.»
He stands up again.
«I only know that this hole is fresh, and it can't stay unguarded.
And that should be the end of the magic flower ordeal, at least for now.»
«But what about Loki?!» I exclaim.
«Yeah, I was just about to get to that: you are in trouble. Big, BIG trouble. Don't get me wrong: I don't blame you; working here for more than a decade has taught me that griffins are better than most people. But as you may have guessed when I mentioned his nephews - the two chicks you saw me with yesterday - our species seem to be able to produce healthy offspring together.»
Then he locks eyes with me.
«You get where I'm going with this, right?»
I nod, still in disbelief.
«Now, I hate to ask you this, but we need to know:»
He closes his eyes as he takes a deep breath.
«Did you two actually... you know, got the plug in the socket?»
I nod again.
He nods as well, more impressed than anything.
«Alright. I mean, not really, but... Oh, fuck it! Did he finish inside?!»
«Twice.»
«Urgh... Shit.» he mutters. «Alright, come with me. Ulthane, you too.»
«Where are we going?»
«To meet someone with whom you have something in common.» he replies, looking at his watch.
«But I want to check-»
«Yes! Yes! I know! The first thing the vet will do is pump him full of painkillers, praying that he doesn't-» he suddenly stops, thinking about what he's about to tell me.
«Well, it will be a while before he's ready to see you. Plus, you're naked, and there are kids around. Watch out for thorns and nettles on the way.»

As we walk, my mind keeps playing the last events in repeat.
«Did you really have to hurt him that much?» I accuse Ulthane, who promptly ignores me.
«We get it: you're the biggest and meanest motherfucker in the house. Could you kindly stop being an asshole now?»
He grumbles, but otherwise he doesn't react.
«Don't bother; both in the good and the bad, he shows no remorse.» Jonas comments. «Nor any other emotion, to be honest.»
For a while, the only sounds we hear are the crinkling of leaves under our steps, the occasional grumble from the alpha, tired of having to slow down to let us keep up with his stride, and a river flowing in the distance.
«This someone... who is it?» I then ask.
«Oh, it's no mystery. Just the mother of those two chicks. His daughter, Umbra.»
«How exactly did it happen?»
«Oh, uh... Well, she kidnapped the guy once... I guess he was into big ladies... Maybe a pinch of Stockholm syndrome as well...» he explains.
«Has he ever reappeared?»
«He said he's working on it, but his job is screwing him over. We did offer him a free room, in case he manages to slip out.»
I nod, knowing that I will have to do the same.
At least it will be easier for me, being just a student.
Then I realize that I might have to give birth to a griffin.
«Was she alright? With the eggs, I mean.»
«Starting to see the problem, uh? She did great; the eggs came out just fine, same as the two chicks. We had no idea before the DNA tests, in fact.»
In the distance, I see the dark hen by the river catching fish with her talons.
When we get close enough, I notice the two chicks studying her catch, striking it with their tiny paws from time to time.
«Hello there, mommy.» Jonas greets her, bowing his head.
The two chicks hide under the hen, spooked.
Umbra turns around and smiles, nodding back at him.
«Is grandma around?»
She quickly nods at a marbled chestnut griffin resting under a distant tree, quietly observing us.
Then she gets up and calmly approaches.
«Ah, good. Be respectful; you might need her help.» he whispers the last part.
«Might?»
«I don't actually know whether it works both ways, but it's best you're prepared for it.» he replies. «Acacia, it's nice to see you! I got your husband to show up as well!»
The older hen nods back and beams at both of them.
Even Ulthane's stone heart shows a crack when he weakly smiles back.
Then she looks at me, perplexed by my nudity and semen stains, and turns back to Jonas.
«It's not mine!» he clarifies. «It's Loki's.» 
She sighs, rolling her eyes.
«Yeah, tell me about it.»
Then he gestures towards the river.
«Umbra is done fishing. You can go wash.»
I give his jacket back and make my way to the river, trying to listen to him as he keeps talking to Acacia and Ulthane, unsuccessfully.
I enter the water, and I barely choke a curse when the gasp reflex hits me.
At least the stains are fresh enough to wash away with the current.
The guide seems to be still talking; judging by his gesturing, he must be explaining his ideas.
He could at least wait for me.
Then he scratches his head and turns in my direction.
I look away and begin washing my hair, when I notice the two chicks, Artemis and Apollo, spying on me from under a bush near the riverbank.
I stare back into their eyes, not too different from the ones of a curious child.
Finally, I smile at them as I get closer.
They shyly look back at their mother, either wondering whether they could make it back to the hen or to ask her for instructions.
«Hello.» I greet them, resting my arms on the shore.
«Hi, miss...» Apollo greets me.
His voice is almost indistinguishable from a kid's, much to my surprise.
«Are you scared of me?» I ask, teasing him.
«No...» he grumpily lies.
«Why do you walk on two legs?» Artemis suddenly asks.
Umbra scolds her from the back.
«To be better at taking away naughty chicks.» I reply.
Apollo slowly retreats deeper under the bush.
«I'm joking, silly. Still, you are pretty good at speaking like me.»
«Jonas reads us stories every night. Why are the dragons always bad?»
I think about it, taken aback by the question.
«Well, because humans don't know them. And humans are scared of what they don't know, so dragons make for good villains.» I reply.
«Their weird hobby of kidnapping princesses doesn't really help them either...»
She stares at me, skeptical.
«Have you been hiding from me just for fun, or is it because you don't know what humans are?» I observe.
«Dad is a human!» Apollo exclaims, and he gets immediately silenced by his sister.
«It's a secret, stupid!»
«You're stupid!» he retorts, getting ready to jump her.
As Umbra chirps a warning, they flatten against the ground, scared.
«I know.» I say.
They look at me, surprised.
«I might have a chick too, one day.»
«Humans can have chicks?!» Artemis exclaims in disbelief.
«I guess so.»
Before they can ask me anything else, their mother joins us, placing a few slices of filleted fish on the ground.
The two chicks happily eat their meal while Umbra sits down to rest.
Then she gives me a friendly smile as she offers me a piece.
«Thank you, but I can't eat that raw.» I politely refuse.
She eats it instead.
«It must be hard, being on your own.» I comment while the two are fighting over the last slice.
Umbra cuts it in half with a strike of her talon, sending them both rolling back.
The griffin groans but doesn't lose her smile.
«I guess it's just natural for you.»
She points at me.
«Hm?»
She nods, keeping her finger in place.
«Me.» I try to guess.
She nods and indicates her chicks.
«Gryphlets. If I really am going to have gryphlets too?»
She smiles.
«I don't know. Do you think your mother could help in raising them?»
She points at herself.
«You would like to help?»
She replies affirmatively.
«Wow... thank you, Umbra.»
«Making friends already?» Jonas comments as he approaches.
In his hands, there is a pile of clean clothes and on his face a grim look.
«What's with that face?» I ask, accepting the outfit.
«We were thinking on how to deal with the eggs if they will ever appear. You surely can't hatch them alone.» he explains as I dress up.
«So? What's the plan?»
He gulps, hesitant to tell me about it.
«We will need to ask the Elder Nurse for help.»
«Okay..? So, she will use an incubator?»
«Their eggs can't be hatched artificially, for some reason. Also, she's a griffin. The other nurses and her take care of those eggs that can't be looked after by their parents.»
«So it's all-natural. Alright! Why do you speak like it's a problem?» I ask, giving the clothes the last tweaks.
«She also doesn't like humans, to put it lightly. We might have to trick her, if that's even possible.»
«Why? What have we done to her?»
He remains silent, until he avoids the questions by saying
«Either way, you are going to stay here for at least a month. You will take a pregnancy test a day and have weekly ultrasounds with our vet.»
«That's a lot to take in...»
«And to take out, if those eggs are within the regular size. There's also a griffin dick joke hidden somewhere in there, but I'm almost above that. Also, since the mood is lightening: the griffin that brought me these clothes told me your beloved is stable. A couple of broken ribs and a cracked humerus, but you should be able to see him by 6 P.M.»
A weight falls off my heart.
«Well, you are free to go. Around the oasis, that is. Also, don't utter a single word about this or the chicks. If the wrong people find out, we're beyond fucked.» he finishes as he's about to leave.
I look back at Umbra, who stares at me with worry.
I sit next to her and sigh.
«We are not the best at making life decisions, uh?»

It's been a surprisingly uneventful week;
The day after he received his wounds, Loki was already able to walk out of the infirmary.
I guess griffins are tough like that, uh.
However, he didn't recall anything after entering the big cave with the pool.
He was horrified when he learned that he tried to take me into the fluid with him, but I reassured him by saying that there are plenty of ways to make it up to me.
He still struggles to walk properly, but he's getting better as the days pass.
Thanks to his help, I also took plenty of great pictures for the university.
I could even consider selling some of them on my own.
We also cuddled a lot.
No sex, though; big brother Ulthane and his henchmen are always watching, and again, Loki is still kind of out of commission.
I haven't heard any news about the cave since it was blocked off.
I did notice the alpha getting closer to my rooster, taking him away for a few hours at a time, and when the latter comes back, he states that the elder taught him something new.
I guess the old man is really thinking about hanging up the sheriff star for good.
I'll admit that it's hard for me to picture Loki as a big grouchy griffin, but who knows.
We are cuddling in my room as I'm waiting for the seventh pregnancy test to give its response.
«Is the chick line there?» he asks, heeding to my English lessons.
«Good. But no, it will take a few more minutes.»
He huffs, annoyed.
«Stupid line.»
«Ulthane needs to teach you some patience, not how to make fermented berries!» I retort, still mad about it.
He smirks.
«He is not that bad.»
I sigh, but part of me is happy that he finally has a fatherly figure to look up to.
«Just don't drink too much, okay?»
He confidently nods, raising his fist.
«I is good dad! I don't get bad from old fruit water!»
«"I am", Loki.»
«No, that is me.»
A chill runs down my spine as I slowly turn to face his shit-eating grin.
Holy fuck, he's already making dad jokes.
We're doomed.
«Alright, time's up. Great timing, given that I've already had enough of your shi-»
I stare in disbelief at the two lines on the display.
«Pretty?» he calls me back to reality as it collapses around me.
I'm tearing up.
«L-Loki... it's positive.»
His ears perk up as his eyes widen.
«Run to vet, quick! I join you later!» he exclaims, getting up.
I barge out of the room, getting the attention of a gryphon resting in a nearby dead-end.
«Please, it's an emergency! Tell Jonas to find me to the infirmary.»
He stands up and bolts down the hallway.
I rush into the vet's office, the test still in my hand.
The second she sees it, she orders me to uncover my abdomen while she gets ready to fit me through the ultrasound machine, despite it clearly being designed for griffins.
After a few minutes, Jonas and Loki enter the room.
«I came as fast as I-»
The guide stops, and the vet takes a few steps back as they look at the screen.
Loki looks worried and confused, probably not knowing what he's looking at.
«Is that...»
The woman nods.
«It's early, very much so, but there is no mistake:» she confirms.
«That's a human embryo.»