===Jasmine===

I'm so scared, I have no idea how I'm still conscious.
Just as anxious, Jonas pulls me up the griffin's back, holding me still as he instructs her to run.
It's been almost six months since Loki entered The Well.
Ulthane has made many attempts to enter the shining cave, but as he feared, the roots sealed the entrance, immediately growing back every time he tried to cut his way through.
Given that the Alpha and most of his predecessors had taken half that time to "win", we had all lost our hope.
But eventually, he felt something move in his dreams, and he rushed to the place where we last saw my rooster.
I hold Lucas closer; he's still sleeping, unaware of the events surrounding his father.
Whenever I look into his emerald eyes, I am reminded of him, of his cocky smile, and of his bold and loving personality.
After what feels like hours, we finally reach the cave.
We stop at the withered roots that were making up its entrance, now torn to pieces and resting at its base.
Jonas dismounts faster than the griffin can crouch, and after he's helped me down, he tells the hen to wait there.
We rush together towards the end of the dark tunnel, my phone's flashlight revealing the intricate network of dead roots holding it together.
The smell of mold and rotten vegetables grows as we go in, especially near the patches of shriveled flowers that used to give the place its supernatural beauty.
The ground is muddy, viscous with the mixture of the cave's humidity and the putrid remains of the fluids that The Well's inflorescence produced.
Finally, we reach the room; where once was the lake, now there's just barren clay descending into a large, deep hole, from where a ghostly white glow is ascending all the way to the ceiling.
Ulthane and Titan are frantically pacing around The Well, trying to spot Loki.
«Ulthane! Any signs of him?!» Jonas asks.
The Alpha shrieks in despair as he watches the foul liquid bubbling below, hoping for my rooster to appear.
I rush towards the hole myself, gagging as I lean forward.
«Isn't this shithole dead?! LOKI!!!» Jonas yells down The Well.
Please...
Please..!
Give us a sign..!
Suddenly, a crimson set of talons tries to grasp the rock wall, but slips back down as something else tries to emerge.
«Holy shit!» Jonas exclaims.
Soon after, both of his hands try one more time to gain some height over the surface, and now, after months of worry and fear, I see Loki's face.
The griffin is desperately fighting to keep his beak above the liquid, screeching and gurgling in a blind panic as its depths try to take him back.
«A rope..! We need a rope! We have to pull him up!!!» I plead.
Ulthane puts his hand down the Well, trying to see whether he could climb down himself, but Titan pulls him back, starting an argument between them.
«Call him! Tell him to keep going! I'll go get something!» Jonas orders, rushing back.
However, Loki loses his grip again and sinks beneath the surface, out of our sight.
«LOKIIIII!!!» I scream his name as I watch his bubbles reach the surface.
Until they suddenly stop, causing my heart to almost follow suit.
Lucas start crying, probably from of all the yelling.
«My god..! No..!» I whimper, falling on my knees.
Even Ulthane is staring at the fluids, shocked.
Then, the surface of The Well explodes.
A flash of red jumps from wall to wall, faster than I can blink, until he hits the ceiling of the cave and falls back down a few meters away from us.
I turn towards him, in silent disbelief.
Jonas screeches to a halt.
The first one to break free from the surprise is Ulthane, who instantly moves to push his hands onto Loki's chest.
After vomiting a large quantity of The Well's fluids, the red griffin lets out a desperate scream, trembling on the cold floor with his eyes wide open.
I can hear the old Alpha softly chirp at the rooster, trying to comfort him as the latter alternates between screeches and coarse breathing.
Then he turns towards me, and he gestures for me to come closer.
«Loki!» I call him.
As he tries to breathe, his ears perk up over the new crown of feathers on his head.
Now that I can properly look at him, the changes to his body are more quite obvious; physically, he doesn't seem particularly more muscular nor taller than he's supposed to, contrary to what happened with Ulthane, but the shape of his plumage is completely different.
At first glance, I thought he had six wings, but now I realize it's just a row of flight feathers sticking out of his now fluffy arms and legs, reminding me of an ancient sapeornis.
Furthermore, the crest on his head now looks more like a harpy eagle's, rather than a cardinal's.
Also, looking closer at them, I think his talons have changed as well; now they seem to have "servo-hooks" throughout their inner length, making them jagged like a saw.
Judging by the sheer speed and agility he climbed up with, it's safe to say that something must also have changed under the hood.
Aside from all of that, he looks pretty much like the same griffin that took away my sleep for the last half-year.
«Loki, can you hear me?» I gently call him, kneeling next to his head.
His ears move around, following my voice.
«It's me, Jasmine.»
«Is... Is this another dream..?» he finally croaks, his eyes still lost in the distance.
Hesitantly, I move my hand closer, but Ulthane warns me against it.
«No, my love. You made it..!» I reply, completely overcoming my disbelief.
«I feel awful... Where am I..?» he wonders, still disoriented.
«We are inside The Well's cave; do you remember when you jumped?»
Ulthane barely manages to sidestep another burst of vomit, surprisingly without grumbling.
After he's done, Loki chirps something between himself, probably cuss-words, judging by Ulthane's silence.
«Loki, are you feeling better?» I try again.
But he does not reply; instead, his eyes move around, taking in the environment.
Chances are, he still thinks he's inside the Well.
The Alpha tries to shake him as gently as he can, repeatedly calling his name in their language, but he seems completely detached from reality.
«How long did it take you to recover, Ulthane?» Jonas asks.
The griffin shrugs, but answers.
«"He not like me. All different. I about half an hour before escape."» the guide roughly translates.
Then Ulthane looks at me, and adds something.
«"All make it, even weakest." He's reassuring you.»
I sigh.
«Thank you, Ulthane.»

Eventually, Loki's head drop to the side, towards me.
His breathing seems to have stabilized, but he has yet to talk to us.
His gaze looks distant, too, so I'm not really sure on whether he's actually looking at me.
«Blue eyes... Jasmine...» he whispers.
My eyes widen.
«Yes! YES! I'm here, Loki!»
«Calm down..!» Jonas holds me back.
«Right... she was so worried when I went in... I wonder what our son looks like...»
I glance at Lucas, who seems to have calmed down, and is now asleep.
«Wait... what is this awful smell? And that light..?» he wonders, finally blinking.
Ulthane tries to talk to him again, and this time, the rooster seems to actually hear him, since he replies with the Alpha's name.
They go back and forth for a while, until he actually makes eye contact with me.
«Jasmine..? Is that really you?»
«Yes, my dear!» I reply, offering him my hand.
He stares at me as he smells it, in disbelief.
Then, he rests his beak on it.
«I can't believe it..!» he whispers as I hug his head.
«Neither can we!» Jonas agrees, happier than I've ever seen him. «Welcome back, you little fuck!»
«I... How long was I gone?»
«Six months! We thought you were gone!» I reply, sobbing.
The rooster studies his talons, noticing the changes.
«Six months..? That means...»
When he finally sees the baby in my arms, he falls silent and stares at him, in utter shock.
Since the silence feels like it's going to last forever, I turn around to have the father look at his son's face.
«This is Lucas, Loki; he's our child!»
After another eternity, he comments «He's... small.»
Ulthane groans and smacks him.
Titan seems to point something out.
«It's true; he does have your eyes.» Jonas agrees.
«He's less than three weeks old; that's why he's so tiny.» I explain, moving Lucas closer.
«He has no smell..!» he adds, surprised.
«That's probably your stench covering it.» the guide retorts. «You should consider bathing as soon as you have the chance.»
Ulthane grumbles something, lifting Loki up on his feet.
The rooster trembles, but he eventually manages to take a few steps forward, hesitant.
Then he turns back around to look at me and Lucas again.
After seeing his eyes on just his tiny child, I had forgotten how big he actually was from up close.
«I still can't believe it.» he whispers, studying him.
I offer him the child.
«Ah, Jasmine, w-wait! I don't think I can hold-»
Almost out of reflex, he opens his rugged hand to accept him.
Like clockwork, Lucas opens his eyes and looks at him.
Neither of them utters a sound, each looking into the other's emeralds in disbelief.
«I... I don't feel well.» he concludes, overwhelmed.
After giving me back the baby, he moves next to Ulthane.
«I... I'll be right back. I'll go to the river to feed and clean myself.» he reassures me, stumbling away.
«He seemed... upset.» I comment, worried.
«Well, he fought against death for six months straight. He's probably already surprised that he got out alive; being reminded that he's a father must have been a bombshell.» Jonas points out.
Titan adds something else.
«"A lot of pressure. You know he very caring, and he had no dad when chick."» the guide translates.
«That's also true. Just give him some time.»
I nod, cradling Lucas.
I hope they are right.


===Ulthane===

«You were scared.» I confront him.
«I can barely stand, Ulthane; I was afraid I would have dropped him on the stones below, or of accidentally crushing its tiny limbs between my fingers.» he deflects, getting his beak out of the water. «Don't get me wrong; I'm over the moon, even if I'm not showing it, but...»
He hesitates.
«But?» I probe him.
«I'M NOT READY!» he bursts, falling into a coughing fit immediately after.
«Easy. "Not ready"... for what? Becoming an Alpha, a father, or both?»
He nervously chuckles.
«Who gives a shit about the Alpha..! I survived, so with your help, that part is pretty much a given!»
«More or less. But anyway: it's about Lucas, then? Why do you feel "not ready"?»
He falls silent again.
«Take your time; think as you bathe, if you need to. You're a grown-ass rooster; I will listen to you, but I'm not fishing the words out of your beak.»
«It's just- he's actually there! I thought it would have felt ready for him, but..!»
«Again with this "ready"; what do you mean by it? Were you training to become a father? Was there going to be a point where you were "ready"?»
«Don't give me that wise-ass shit, Ulthane! I have no clue on how to raise a human!»
«You're saying you know how to raise a chick, instead?» I question him.
«Oh, fuck off! How hard can it be?! It should come natural!»
«No, it fucking doesn't!» I raise my voice, trying to shut him up.
Then, I take a deep breath.
«Do you know how old I am, Loki?»
«What does that even..?!» he goes to protest, but a discrete glare keeps him in line.
«Urgh..! Uh... Umbra mentioned that she was a fledgling when they celebrated your fiftieth birthday. I guess you're around... sixty..?»
«Fifty-eight. That means I had Umbra in my forties; I became a father at more than twice your age. You know why that is?»
«You were too busy running the colony?»
«I was afraid, Loki. Of many things.» I correct him.
«I did have a colony under my ass, but that never stopped me from keeping in touch with my family, all the way to Titan's litter. Maybe it's partly his "fault", if you can call it that; no matter how strong and confident I grew, his caring and loving nature seemed unobtainable to me. I feared I would have neglected my chicks. If you had told me I would have become a father, I would have just insulted you and moved on.»
«That's...»
«... Ridiculous, yes. Not too far from this tantrum you're throwing.» I agree. «A more reasonable concern was the influence of The Well; I didn't know what that would have implied for Acacia and our eggs. Would they have fallen under its control? Gotten hurt? Poisoned? Killed? It was too risky, so I made up something about human drugs to convince her to avoid taking that chance.»
«And what made you change your mind? A memory from a past Alpha?» he asks, getting out of the river.
I grin.
«That's the point: I didn't.»
Loki stops right as he's about to shake the water off.
«Yes: no matter how careful we had been, it happened just like that, out of the blue. And after a few months, there I was; holding Umbra in the palm of my hand, just like you did with Lucas.»
That memory brings a smile to my face as I hold that very hand up in front of me.
«I had never seen a chick that small, Loki. I am not known for my light touch, so I was reasonably afraid of hurting her. That fear went away after her first fall from a tree, but that's beside the point.» I add, chuckling at the end.
I put my hand down.
«We did get some help from our parents, but nobody taught us anything better than her. She was a harsh teacher at times, but those ended up being the best lessons, all things considered.»
«But we have nobody else..!» he replied, worried.
«Oh, thanks for that..!» I grumble, insulted. «Also, have you noticed those little featherless birds that walk around you every day?! They kind of look like Jasmine and Lucas, don't they?! Maybe you could learn something by looking at them! Hint! Hint!»
He does not seem convinced, but at least he's calmed down.
«Also, you're assuming Jasmine is not going to be enough; you should know better than me that woman has the might of a hen.»
«What am I going to do while they are away..?»
«Wait. Follow some of my footsteps. Jerk off. Make some real fucking friends. Again, you're a grown-ass rooster; it's ultimately your choice. Also, humans have had the means to talk to each other from distant lands for decades now; ask Jonas to help you with that.»
Loki looks upset, but he shakes his plumage in silence.
I sigh.
«What else is eating at you?»
«How will we tell Lucas? About me, I mean? This whole human-gryphon spawn thing has to be kept hidden, right?»
I raise my brows, gritting my beak as I think.
«Hmm... Human children are terrible at keeping secrets, that's true.» I comment. «I believe you should plan something with Jasmine. I suggest you wait until he's... eighteen? If I recall correctly, that's when they become adults. Few get actually responsible, though...»
«Eighteen years?!» he exclaims.
«Yeah, it's going to be a hard pill to swallow for the small human. A lot of time for you to prepare, though.»
Loki lies down, overwhelmed.
This is looking way too fucking familiar already.
«He's going to grow up without a father.» he comments, with a thousand-yard stare.
«In his eyes, yes.» I agree.
Then I place my hand on his shoulders.
«But that doesn't mean you won't be there.»
He sighs, looking down.
«I feel abandoned already.»
I flick his ass with my fingers, making him stand up with a gasp.
«FUCKING-!!! That hurt!»
«Feeling less abandoned now?» I tease him.
«You missed tormenting me, didn't you?!»
«Hmm, a little bit. Since you can stand now, it's high time you go back to your family.» I comment, turning around.
And punctually, I get flicked back.
When I look behind me, I find him exactly where I left him, "strangely" tending to his feathers.
«Aren't you quick.» I comment, amused.
«I don't know what you're talking about.» he denies, looking at his reflection in the river.
«Sure...»
I give him my back once more, and sure enough, it happens again.
I take a deep breath.
«You don't want this fight, chick.» I provoke him, knowing full well he's going to do it again.
He fails to hide one of his cocky smirks.
«Do I?»
«Forewarned rooster, forearmed rooster.» I conclude, before turning one last time and swinging my tail at dumbass height.
«OW!!! FUCK!!!» I hear after I hit something solid.
«Told you.»
«Are you made out of stone, or something?!» he complains, massaging his eye.
«The Well should have put some meat on your bones, while it was at it.»
«Do I really have to spend eighteen years like this..?»
«...and some patience, too.»


---18 years later...---

===Lucas=== February 8th - 10:30

I sigh.
«Do you want to put some music on?» mum asks.
«Eh, what's the point; we'll be there in ten minutes, anyway.»
«Don't even start, Lucas.»
«Oh, now I don't even get to complain about not having a choice on where to celebrate my eighteenth birthday?» I comment, annoyed.
«Did you have any other plans?» she retorts, already knowing the answer.
«What if I had?» I insist.
«You should have said so earlier.»
I huff.
«C'mon! What's so bad about this?»
«Oh, gee; could it be that we visit that goddamn Oasis every holiday?!» I exclaim.
«It's the last time, remember?» she reminds me. «Today, at exactly 13:03, you will officially be a man; after that, if you so wish, you can even go back home on your own and never set foot here again.»
«Yeah, yeah..! Thank God!»
She lets out a sigh.
«You're lucky your father can't hear you...»
«HE's lucky he gets to skip the Oasis.» I retort.
The car screeches to a halt.
«What was that?!» I exclaim, hanging onto the handle to avoid the whiplash.
I turn towards her, and I find myself staring into her glare.
«You think he wouldn't want to be here with you?»
«That's not what-»
«He loved this land almost as much as he loved you. He wished he could have taken you through it himself, one day. Once a man, he would have asked the griffins to accept you as one of their own.»
«The last part kind of confuses me, but...»
«Lucas.»
«Yeah..?»
She sighs.
«Please. Just this one time. Humor me this one, last time.» she calmly concludes.
I roll my eyes.
«Alright, fine. Not like I have a choice, but... Fine.»
She gives me a tired smile as the car starts moving again.
«Thank you, my little gryphlet.»
«Again with that fucking nickname..!» I grumble, rolling my eyes.
«What's so wrong with it?»
«Shouldn't I be a fledgling, or pretty much a rooster, at this point?» I reply.
«Oh, very good!» she compliments me. «But it's more of a tease for a smaller griffin..!»
«I'm bigger than you!» I retort, flexing my bicep.
«Just as buff as your dad.»
«Am I wrong, or you're opening up about him?» I notice. «You used to always shut down any kind of conversation...»
«Well, today is the big day. Small things like that are not a problem. I will tell you the big ones later.»
«Was he in the mafia, or something? I've met a couple of orphans, and they already knew everything about their missing parent...» I ask.
«Yes.» she firmly replies.
«For fuck's sake..! What difference are a few hours gonna make?!» I protest.
«Lucas..!»
I groan.
«YES! YES! FINE! "Humor me", or whatever! God fucking..!» I comment, bumping my head against the window.
«You know you shouldn't swear like that. Especially when you will be around gryphlets.»
«Uh-uh... Say, was he dumb?»
She narrows her eyebrows.
«What makes you think that?»
«I suck at math and I'm pretty much dyslexic. You're a scientist, so...»
«Well... He technically did not finish high school, I'll tell you that.» she comments, unconvinced.
«Ah, wonderful.»
«He wasn't dumb, though! Just... built differently..? He did learn English incredibly quickly-»
I see her curse under her breath before biting her lip.
«He was not a native?» I ask, surprised.
«Er...»
She pushes the play button on the radio, blasting some eurobeat song from thirty years ago.
«Really..?» I comment as she starts singing along, annoyed.
The parking lot appears in the distance.
«OI!!! I GET IT!!! I'LL WAIT UNTIL LATER!!! TURN IT OFF!!!» I scream over the radio as a couple of griffins in the distance turn their heads towards us, perplexed.
Weird, though; as far as ethnicity goes, I look indistinguishable from most of my classmates.

As soon as I get out of the car, I recognize two very familiar fledglings approaching us.
«Look, it's Apollo and Artemis!» my mother confirms it. «Do you want to go with them? We can take our bags later.»
I shrug. «Sure.»
Then, in the opposite direction I notice Loki, the Alpha's apprentice, staring right at us.
«You going with him?»
«Yep! We have a few things to discuss... See you later!» she says, marching towards him.
«Later...»
I turn back towards my friends.
«Hey, Lucas! Happy birthday! How are you doing?» Apollo bumps his fist against my arm, pushing my back.
«Hey, thanks. Hi, Artemis. I'm good, you guys?»
She shrugs.
«Aside from the horde of grasshoppers at the end of august, everything is pretty much as it's always been.»
Apollo grins.
«Except for one thing...» he croons.
She glares at her brother.
«No. Absolutely not. I already told you to forget about it, several times!»
«What's this about?» I interrupt her, shifting my weight from one leg to the other.
Apollo circles me with his arm, like a salesman trying to sell me his dumbest and most expensive gimmick.
«I found a small treasure that's just waiting for someone to take it home...»
«I heard them first! And grandpa is going to kill us if HE gets hurt!» Artemis exclaims.
«Just tell me what it is.»
«Can't; too many ears around here! We'll show you!» he retorts, moving back towards the forest.
I sigh.
«How much am I going to regret this?» I ask his sister.
«It depends on how much you let him drag you into it. It involves a lot of stingers, to give you an idea.»
«Ah. Honey?» I lower my voice.
She nods.
If I recall correctly, beehives are considered pretty much like dragon's dens by griffins: their content is as valuable as it is dangerous.
This is going to be interesting...


===Loki=== February 8th 10:40

«Hello there, pretty.» I greet her.
«Red boy...» she smirks.
«"Boy"? I'm not that young anymore...»
Jasmine hugs me, burying her face in my plumage.
«Shut up. You have just stopped growing.» she retorts, trying to massage my shoulders, but her arms can't quite reach them, as always.
«You're too small, honey.» I comment.
«Hey! Come down here and say that to my face, chick!» she protests, bumping her fist against my chest.
I lower my head, meeting hers in a gentle kiss.
I kind of miss being a little more than two meters tall; our difference in size has more than doubled since then, preventing us from getting as... "close".
«How are you feeling?» she then asks.
«Nervous. Scared, even.» I reply.
She caresses my cheeks.
«As long as you will give him enough time to adjust, there is a chance. Of course, expect an outburst; you know how he is.»
«Eh. I'm more worried about ruining everything.»
«That's why I'm here, love.» she reassures me, giving me another kiss on the tip of my beak.
I sigh.
«Thankfully, yes. How have you been?»
«I fought tooth and nail to bring Lucas here, but at least it wasn't for nothing. So, I'm good. What does the real Alpha have to declare, aside from his nice, fluffy pecs?» she replies, caressing my chest.
«Not much. Ulthane has been harsher than usual, lately; he has trouble falling asleep.»
«Uh. That's not a small problem, especially if he wants to access the memories of The Well. What about you?»
I shrug.
«Since he does mostly the same stuff all the time, he rarely sees them; it's not that big of a deal. As for me, again, nothing. I'm perfectly fine. Although... I do have to fetch the grouchy grandpa from the vet, now that I think about it.»
«Do you want me to come along?» she asks.
«Ah, don't worry; he just need one griffin listening to his grumbling to be happy. Well, "happy".»
She chuckles.
«Right. So, meet up at the usual place?»
«Yep. Tyler and Umbra should already be there. Jonas will likely be late.» I reply, moving forward.
Suddenly, she slaps my rear, and sighs.
«I missed that; seeing it fills an ass-shaped hole in my heart.»
I grin.
«Don't get me excited, Jasmine; I have to walk among kids to get there!»
She returns my smile.
«Eventually, they will have to go to bed...»
«Bad girl. I will deal with you later.»
I sigh as I receive another slap before getting out of her range.
«If only you were larger...»
Then I look at the main building.
«Well, time to salvage the old oaf. Or what's left of him.»

As I approach the entrance to the vet's room, I can already hear her scolding "someone".
«...and you have to eat less venison and more fruit!»
«Whatever, you damn hag..!» Ulthane grumbles back.
«Don't you grumble at me, mister! Being the one in charge doesn't make you smarter than the doctor!»
«In fact, it takes much less than that..!» he retorts.
I knock on the side of the entrance.
«Doctor, can I come in?» I ask.
«Ah, Loki. Of course, of course; come in and take this brute out of this ambulatory, before I chase him with a broom!» she jokes.
«You do that, and I'll make sure the broom reminds you what it's like to have a husband..!» he continues.
I chuckle as I follow him.
«What did he say, this time?» she asks, writing something on her computer.
«That he does not like being chased with a broom.» I lie. «Goodbye, doctor.»
«Goodbye, dear. And you'd better eat those fruits, you hear me?!»

«Urgh! What a pain in the ass..!» he comments, stretching. «And a waste of time as well! This is why I never go there!»
«So, what did she say, aside from the fruit thing?»
«I'm fine; she was just grasping at straws.» he yawns.
«Could it be another Well?» I suggest.
«Oh, no! The shortest time before an appearance and the next was about... thirty years. We should not see any more of that for a while, luckily.» he concludes, clicking his beak.
«Hm. So...» I start with as I think about it.
I have no idea, so I might as well fuck with him a little bit.
«Humans change their sleeping habits as they age; maybe that goes for griffins too.»
As expected, he glares at me.
«My instincts are warning me, you cretin.»
«Don't be like that; it will happen to all of us, grandpa.» I cheekily reassure him.
«How dare you..! I've always carried my age like a mountain, getting better by the day! YOU, on the other hand, are almost forty years old, and the only thing that has changed since your son was born is your plumage!» he scolds me.
«Hey now! That's not true.»
«Really?» he comments, unconvinced.
«Really.» I confirm.
Then I point at his cheek, making him lean away.
«That gray feather wasn't there, back then.»
He groans.
«Great Mother, give me strength..!»

Luckily, today is a wonderful day; despite Spring being still far away, there is not a cloud in sight, and Jonas assured me that the good weather will last for the entire week.
There are some chilly gusts every now and again, though.
As we walk towards the meeting spot, we cross plenty of visitors exploring the web of gravel paths coursing through the oasis; adults and younglings stop to take pictures of us, while small children pause their games to look, uncertain on whether to approach or not before their mothers call them back.
«Speaking of little brats: today is the big day, right?» Ulthane asks, bringing me back in my body.
I sigh, and he chuckles in acknowledgment.
«Do you have a plan?»
«Jonas will try to let us have some privacy, and Jasmine will be there to support me.» I reply, feeling the usual pressure of his interrogations creeping up.
«Of course, but how are YOU going to tell him? You're dropping a boulder on the boy.»
«Jasmine told me to give him space to process it.»
He groans, irritated.
«For fuck sake! Are you going to improvise or did Jasmine tell you what to say?!» he growls.
«I'll wing it; there is no way I will be lucid enough for a speech. Do you have any tips to share?»
«Fucking finally..! I cannot say you're wrong, but I would at least prepare the key points to go over. Like, "it's okay to be angry; let's blame Ulthane together for suggesting to hide it from you". That always seems to get everyone together.» he comments.
I chuckle, but I'm not sure whether the last part is actual advice or if he's just messing around to cheer me up; Ulthane has always had a weird sense of humor.
«Since he's fully grown now, you should be able to teach him how to ferment berries.» he then comments.
«If he doesn't escape when he learns about me... and if Jasmine doesn't find out.» I reply, grinning as I consider it.
«Ulthane! Loki!»
We both turn around to face the rooster as he catches up to us.
«Jonas has asked you to reach him immediately! He said it's urgent!»
«Where?» Ulthane asks.
«On the east side of the main building! He was approached by a bunch of strangers, but he needs you to deal with them!»
«Is he in danger?» I probe him.
«No, but... I think he believes they could spell trouble!»
«Eh. If they have no weapons, they will not be able to pull off anything. But if Jonas says it's urgent, we have to see what this is about. Let's go, Loki.»

Once I emerge from the woods, I immediately spot Jonas and the man dressed in black who's talking to him.
Behind the latter, a small group of people with similar clothing are listening, every now and again turning their heads to keep an eye on the griffins around them.
What's happening here..?
As soon as he reaches me, Ulthane groans.
«Are you deaf?! I told you to slow down three times!» he scolds me.
«By the Great Mother..!» the rooster exclaims, panting. «How does he run like that..?»
«Sorry, I got distracted. There they are, anyway.»
As he sees them, Ulthane freezes up.
«Oh, no..!»
I don't think I've ever heard him utter that seriously; that's extremely worrying.
«What's wrong?» I ask, unsettled.
«The last time I've heard of something like this happening... Death and tragedy followed.» he grimly comments, anger growing in his gaze as he looks at them.
«Hunters?» the rooster asks, worried.
«No; hunters don't dress like that. You've done well; now move along. We'll deal with this right now.» Ulthane dismisses him, with a hint of bitterness at the end.
The young one bows his head in respect and leaves.
Ulthane immediately moves forward.
«Get ready to be my interpreter; you're less literal than Jonas, so they should get the message faster.»
«Okay, these are the Alpha and his apprentice. Repeat it to them, if you want, but be concise; we all have places to be.» Jonas tells the man in front of him as we approach. «But don't expect a different answer.»
Despite his role, he's never really been a people person; still, seeing him this annoyed is rare.
What could they possibly want?
«Uh... Can he understand the legal and economical side of the matter..?»
«Probably, but he won't care. Keep in mind that his authority is superior to mine, when you speak.»
«Oh. Well, I'll just get straight to the point, then.» the man comments, before clearing his voice.
«We have come to acquire a griffin juvenile, or a cub, for a client from another country. They are willing to pay-»
He flinches when he sees Ulthane's talons audibly dig into the soil as his legs tremble in anger, and he takes a few steps back.
«This shit again..!» the Alpha quietly growls.
«No.» I tell the man. «Our kind is not for sale.»
«Tell them that if they dare set foot here again, I will hang them with their own intestines..!»
Jonas raises his eyebrows, surprised by the extent of Ulthane's threat.
«Please, leave and do not come back; people like you are not welcome here.» I mediate.
The guide shrugs.
«Welp, as expected. You heard them.»
«Ah... Isn't there any other way we can reach an agreement..? Our client is more than just wealthy...»
Ulthane pounds his fist on the ground, sending a shock-wave through our legs.
«Shit..!» I quietly curse.
Even Jonas closes his eyes in discomfort, moving his feet to recover.
At least the bunch must have gotten the message, since they are leaving with quite the pace.
«Well, now I know those ground-pound attacks in video games are accurate. Also, that was a VERY strong answer, Ulthane. Even for you.»
«It was an adequate response to the threat. This is not the end of it..!» he retorts. «I will put the hunters on high alert! We will be patrolling the Oasis all night!»
«Ulthane, calm down! I know this is bringing back Serena's fate, but they will not pull anything with this many people and griffins around!» I exclaim. «We can take a detour to let them know, since they're all eating near the tables. Jonas, if you're going to our meeting spot, can you warn the others?»
«Eh. I still have a couple of problems to solve, so I think you will still get there before I do. And I left my phone in my office, so I also have to pick that one up. Great. Well, I have the food, so they will have to wait nonetheless.» he replies, thinking out loud. «Go do your thing, I'll try to make it quick.»
I nod.
«Alright. Let's go, grandpa.»
«Do not call me that.»


===Lucas=== February 8th 11:20

«Holy shit..! Is this buzzing..?»
«Yep! I told you it was massive!» Apollo nods, excited. «C'mon! It's just a hundred meters from here, behind those trees!»
Artemis sighs once again.
«Lucas, don't get too close; you have no feathers to protect yourself with from their stingers.»
«No need to tell me!» I reassure her.
And then, I see it; a huge mass of wax hanging from an high branch, covered by an ungodly amount of bees, who are diligently patrolling its surroundings.
«Imagine how much honey they are holding in there..!» Apollo comments, trying not to drool.
«Imagine how many fucking bees you're looking at..! Why can't you just get a job and earn yourself a jar?» I ask, starting to lean towards Artemis's side. «I heard some rabbits move below the ground as we came here; any chance we could get those instead?»
He glares at me.
«You don't have the faintest clue how much honey is worth, do you?»
«No, I don't, but I think it's cheaper than getting stung to death! I can hear a lot more of them crawling on the inside!»
«Well, lets just say that it's given as a prize to the WORTHIEST MEMBERS OF THE COLONY!» he exclaims, ignoring me.
«What we will not be able to eat, we can trade for literally ANYTHING!»
«Including common sense?» I retort.
«Oh, for fuck's sake! Fine! If I can't convince you, I'll do it myself!» he comments, squatting down, ready to jump. «At least watch out for snoopers!»
«Hey! What the fuck! You can't just kamikaze head-first into their hive!» I stop him, grabbing his arm.
«Why not? They won't even know what hit them!»
«They don't need to; if as much as one gets you, the rest will instantly follow her.» Artemis argues back.
He relaxes his limbs.
«All of them?»
«Ever heard of the term "hive-mind"?» I add.
«Not really. Uh. I thought they would just panic.» he comments, before approaching the tree.
«Then, I'll just have to be stealthy about it!»
Having said that, he hooks his talons into the bark.
«If your sweet weight shakes the tree...» I start.
«Zip it already! It's got to be at least 50 years old! It probably resisted a hundred storms without any effort; what's a streamlined fledgling such as myself gonna do to it?!»
«But how are you going to reach the honey INSIDE? The problem is still there.» Artemis observes.
«I'll just wait for them to move their fuzzy microscopical asses away from a section before cutting it! Get ready to catch it!» he says, moving up.
«You just don't get it, do you?!» I exclaim, grabbing the idiot by the tail.
«Hey, I need that to balance! Let me go!»
«Come back down, you moron!» I insist, trying to pull him down.
«Fuck off! I said I'll do it all by myself!»
«No, you won't!»
Despite my strength, his talons keep him safely anchored to the tree; I need help.
«Artemis, I know the temptation of becoming an only daughter is strong, but I can't drag him down on my own!»
«Artemis, take him off me! My tail has probably grown twice in length by now!»
«Lucas has a point, you know.» she retorts, approaching me.
«Oh, for..! Lucas, last warning!» he concludes, getting ready to jump further up.
«Don't you dare..!»
Ignoring my threat, he dashes upwards, dragging me with him.
«Get off me, damn it!!! Grab onto the tree!» he yells as I dangle around, cursing every time I slam against the trunk.
Thank God I'm not afraid of heights.
«Lucas, hold on! I'm coming to get you!» Artemis exclaims, climbing up after her brother.
«Could you move FASTER?! He's blocking my circulation!» he exclaims.
«It's your own fault; you know that, right?!» I retort. «And I'm not letting go until you do the same with your stupid idea!»
But as Artemis climbs up after us, the tree starts to lean, silencing us.
«Lucas, get on my sister.» he states, frozen in place.
I place my feet on her chest, and after I wrap my arms around her neck, she slides down the tree, safely reaching the ground.
The plant wobbles slightly, before going back to its original position.
«That could have gotten ugly.» Apollo comments.
«Maybe you are not as "streamlined" as you thought.» I suggest.
«Tell that to Artemis; it was fine with just the two of us!» he retorts.
Surprisingly, his sister does not reply.
«Haven't you heard him?» I ask her, perplexed.
She seems busy scraping something off the tree trunk.
«Hey, you good?»
«Shit!» she curses, before quickly calling his brother in their language.
«What's happening?» I wonder, starting to get worried.
«The tree is marked! The moss covered it, but it's there!» she explains, showing an asterisk-like shape carved into the bark.
«What does that mean?»
«It means a carpenter has to remove it as soon as a certain condition is met!» she explains.
«It must be because of the bees, but looking at it more carefully..! APOLLO!!!»
«It's safe! It's probably just hogging space from some other plant!» he retorts, annoyed.
«I'm almost there, anywa-»
The second he touches the branch to lean forward, it instantly falls off, sending the gargantuan hive straight to the ground.
I don't even have the time to blink that Artemis has grabbed me and pressed me against her chest, sealing me away with her wings as a cloud of bees takes over the area, looking for the culprit.
«Mushrooms were eating the wood! Keep your eyes closed and your mouth shut..!» she warns me, barely opening her beak.
«And for the love of the Great Mother: stay still..!»
God help us.


===Jasmine=== February 8th - 10:50

«And how are you doing, Tyler?»
He shrugs while he keeps caressing Umbra's head.
«Could be better, to be honest; the new boss doesn't seem to like me.» he admits, thoughtful.
«Oh. Do you fear for your job?»
He sighs.
«Apparently, I will have to start training a new hire; his resume is impressive for someone his age, so the math doesn't seem to be adding up in my favor. Even worse, accountants are barely needed anymore, unless they come with a very specific set of skills and training, wasted on older guys with an high school diploma.»
«It may not be much, but my offer still stands, honey.» Umbra comments.«If it comes to it, I will share my nest and prey with you.»
He rests his head on top of hers.
«I know, love. Thank you.» he reassures her, unconvinced.
«What about you, Umbra? Your English is pretty much spotless, at this point!» I ask her, trying to change the subject.
«Thank you! I don't think I will ever surpass Loki or my chicks, though.»
«You improve every time I come back; they won't be at the top for long!» Tyler encourages her.
She smiles.
«Everything else is fine, too. Well, my father has had a few problems with his sleep lately, but nothing too serious.»
«Yeah, I've heard of that; did it happen out of the blue?»
«Yes. He calls it "his instincts" and gets grumpy about it, but I managed to convince him to go to the vet.»
She sighs.
«I doubt it will help, though.»
«It'll take more to kill that old rock, love. Don't worry about it.» Tyler comments. «I would worry more about Loki and you, Jasmine.»
«Well... I tried to reassure him, but I won't deny it; I'm just as scared of losing Lucas. As time goes on, I feel more and more like hiding it from him was a mistake.»
«My instincts tell me he's going to run into the forest to be alone.» Tyler replies.
«Please... I've had enough "instincts" to deal with...» Umbra grumbles.
«Then you could get Apollo and Artemis to nudge him to try and get to know Loki better.» he continues.«At least, that's how it would probably go down if I had learned something like that.»
«That almost wouldn't be too bad.» I comment. «But he's always been so distant... I'm afraid he would just cut us out of his life, with the risk of ending up in a downward spiral... maybe drugs and alcohol...»
«Mama Jasmine, you're kind of making a mountain out of a molehill; with the wages of a part-time summer job and no driving license, he will not go too far. And by the time he fixes that, he will have been able to think it through properly.»
I sigh, trying to take his word over my own thoughts's.
«Ugh... Damn it! Where is Loki?! I'm in desperate need of a comforting griffin-hug..!»
«Don't worry, Jasmine; he's probably just being held hostage by my father. And also...»
Umbra winks.
«I've noticed a few handsome roosters roaming these parts...»
«Uh- Excuse me?» Tyler lets out, displeased.
«I'm kidding...» she innocently replies, rolling her eyes with a cheeky grin.
Eventually, her smile brings out my own.
«I mean, I could use a smaller griffin; you know, mechanical issues.»
«Never had them.» Tyler comments, cockily studying his nails.
Umbra rolls her eyes again.
«Of course, dear.»
«I'll give him ten minutes; after that, I will steal your hen, Tyler.»
He instantly raises his head, taken off-guard.
«Hold up!»
«Well, she probably knows how to touch a female.» she plays along.
«Ah, well, so do I!» he says, reaching somewhere behind him to pick something up.
«With the biggest stick I can find! Hands off me wife!»
«Alright, alright; wouldn't want you going full ooga-booga.» I comment, before sneaking a "call me" to Umbra.
«But seriously; where the hell is he?!»


===Lucas=== February 8th - 11:55

I can feel them walking and buzzing along my legs.
Artemis and I are pretty much face to beak under her wings, trying our best to remain calm.
«Any griffin wisdom that gets us out of here?» I ask, tense.
«The wisest move would have been to let someone who actually knows how to harvest honey deal with it. Apollo?»
«I'm still on the tree, with my eyes, ears, and beak shut, hoping they don't try to crawl down my nostrils.» he mutters in response.
«Alright, so there is nothing in front of us. That gives us a shot, Lucas! Not a good one, but it could be better than staying here.»
«Go on..!» I incite her.
«Tilt your head forward; I will grab your hoodie with my beak, open a gap between the bees by flapping my wing, and then I will take you away with a jump and get us some distance!»
«Can you actually carry me like that?»
«Uh..! Look, it's either this or-!»
Suddenly, a strong gust of wind pushes her wing against me.
Immediately after, a second one joins it, followed by several others.
«...or we get saved by someone else.» she concludes, annoyed.
Judging by the distant sound anticipating each gust, they are coming from someone's wings.
«I think the bees were blown away; I can't hear them anymore.»
Artemis opens her wings, proving me right.
«So. Whose brilliant idea was it?»
This voice...
Ulthane and Loki and standing at the edge of the trees, staring us down with a displeased look.
The Alpha vocalize his thoughts; I have no idea what he said, but he sounds pissed.
Apollo tries to reply, but a glare quickly shuts him up.
The red griffin seems indecisive, as if he would like to add something, but for some reason he's unable to.
«Leave. It's lunch time, anyway. We will talk about this later.» he finally concludes, looking... defeated?
Ulthane looks at him, stern, but does not reply.
Artemis and Apollo lower their heads, and we all turn around and start walking away.
As I glance back, my eyes connect with Loki's for a few seconds, until the Alpha calls him so they can leave.


===Jasmine=== February 8th - 12:40

«Aaah! Fuuuuuck..!» Loki comments as he covers his face with his fingers.
I pet him, trying to reassure him.
«Don't worry; the plan is still in place.»
«Yeah, but I couldn't say a damn thing! I can't do this!»
Ulthane scolds him, but my rooster tells him to zip it, judging by his tone.
«I told you; I will be right there with you.»
«But I want to make a good impression! He knows I can speak your language! What will he think of me if I can't even talk to my son?!»
Ulthane grumbles something that sounds like a life lesson.
«"Through my actions"?! More like through my ass!»
The Alpha rolls his eyes and shakes his head.
«Loki..!» I scold him too.
He sighs.
«Sorry. I can't think straight right now.»
«That's because you're hungry, boss.» Tyler intervenes.
«To fix that, we should focus on finding out WHERE THE HELL JONAS WENT WITH OUR FOOD!!!»
«Oh boy, he's about to go into a frenzy.» I comment.
«As a protest, I will eat a griffin!»
Having said that, he gets up and grabs Loki's hand, to then bite it.
«Why is it that every time you do something, marching against Ulthane still looks smarter?» the rooster replies, annoyed.
«Plus, you already ate a griffin today; remember?» Umbra casually adds.
Tyler accidentally blows a raspberry on Loki's fingers as he laughs.
After that, Loki and I follow suit.
Ulthane, on the other hand, looks like he's trying everything in his power to unhear what his daughter just said.
«What a terrible day to have ears, right, Ulthane?» I tease him.
His expression does not change.
«Are you still biting me?! Fuck off!» Loki exclaims, trying to shake Tyler off.
«BlooF for the blooF god!» the other retorts, hanging on with nail and (mostly) tooth.
«You bitch!» Loki growls before biting his head.
«Ah, yes; "Ginger and tanned eat each other out while wives watch": an all-time classic.» Jonas comments, dragging a small cart filled with supplies.
«Hey, Jonas! How are you?»
«Judging by most of my workdays, I think God is mad at me because I didn't die in my sleep; aside from that, I'm good.» he replies, turning around to get things off the cart.
«I am not asking you back because I can see that the wait has made you hungry and horny, and therefore angry. Before the situation escalates any further, I can assure you that I have brought all that you needed.»
Ulthane asks him something.
«No, the vet said no meat for you. I did bring you a nice apple, though!»
As the Alpha is about to get up with the unbothered gaze of a mother that is about to ignore the public's opinion and beat the shit out of her annoying child, Jonas quickly corrects himself.
«It's a joke! It's just a joke!!! I have a couple of deer for both of you!!!»
«And my oranges?» Loki asks.
«You would have dyed my balls orange and eaten them if I didn't have them; they're the first thing I grabbed!»
As I am about to add something to pressure him, he anticipates me.
«You two puny fellow humans are way too small to have any physical way of threatening me, so you get what you get, end of the story!»
«My husband does, though; does that get me anything good?» I politely retort.
«My boss is not far off from doubling his height, and he has... more or less a ton of advantage. So no.» he comments, pointing at Ulthane.
The latter grumbles.
«I didn't say you were fat!»
«My wife is fairly tall and has the most perfect weight in the world; could I get something nice?» Tyler adds, being very careful of what he says.
«Alright, alright, I'm already done with you lot. Come here and grab your things.» he concludes.

Suddenly, Ulthane chatters something to Loki, starting the umpteenth squabble between the two.
«What's wrong?» I ask him.
«He told me not to eat too much, since we have to stay vigilant tonight.»
«Why?»
«Long story short: earlier a bunch of corporates came to buy a chick. Ulthane almost sent their knees up their throats and now he fears they're going to steal one while he's not looking.» Jonas explains.
«Uh. That's not good.»
The Alpha adds something else.
«Yes, dad, we all know about your instincts.» Umbra groans.
«Still, given what we're about to do, my stomach isn't particularly greedy today.»
«Ah, right. I told the other visitors that a few boars were spotted in the southern woods, so nobody should be there aside from a few of our trusty hunters.» the guide adds.
«Thank you, Jonas.» I tell him, putting down my plate.
«Are you ready, love?»
Loki hesitates.
«We have your back, boss.» Tyler reassures him.
To my surprise, Ulthane surrounds his shoulders with his arm and gives him a little shake as he chatters something.
I'm not sure if out of amusement or nervousness, but the red griffin actually giggles.
Then, he gets up.
«Alright. Let's do it.»


===Lucas=== February 8th - 13:15

As I put the fork inside my empty plate, Apollo suddenly stands up.
«You know what? Fuck that! I'm going back and getting that honey!» he exclaims.
«Are you serious?»
«Yes! I found it; I climbed the tree; I made it fall; I will pick it up! Grandpa has no right to take it away from me!»
«He's the Alpha and our elder; he HAS a right.»
«You can't just-! Lucas, your mother is close to Loki; can you ask her to ask him to ask our grandfather to rethink his decision?»
«That's a big ask...»
«Lucas.»
I turn around, and I find both of the aforementioned standing a few meters behind me.
«It's time.»
With the whole bees shenanigan, it had completely slipped my mind.
But why is Loki here?
Did he know dad?
«I'll be back; it's extremely important.» I excuse myself.
«No worries; take your time.» Artemis comments, strangely tense.
«Yeah. We'll worry about the honey later.»
As his sister smacks him, I face away from them to follow the red griffin and my mother.

The air is surprisingly chilly under the shade of the woods.
The humidity doesn't help at all.
I look around: there is nobody else.
Just trees, bushes, and a few birds staring at us from both the former, chirping every so often.
A couple of wrens cutting Loki off seem to break the silence.
«So, uhm... how are you, Lucas? Enjoying your birthday with your friends?» the griffin asks.
«Uh, I'm good. You..?»
He sighs.
«I'm about to find out.» he almost whispers.
«And... at school?»
«I'm still on Summer break.» I remind him, wondering why he's so awkward... and so personal.
«Oh, right. Right...»
My mother glances at him.
After a few seconds of silence, he starts again.
«You were in quite a pickle back there, uh?» he chuckles.
I sigh.
«When I was your age, I can tell you I got my good dose of stingers myself; maybe that makes you feel better!»
«Hm-mh...» I nod, trying to read them. «Say, where are we going?»
«We need a quiet place for our talk, far away from any unwanted listener.» my mother finally says something.
«Really. It's that bad?»
«Just... Not something you can say out loud. You'll see; we are nearly there.»

At the end, we find ourselves in a small, sunny meadow, with a fallen log in the middle.
«This is where Loki and I first met; I felt it was a really good place for this.»
«Was dad there too?» I ask, as curious as I'm nervous.
My mother falls silent, and she looks at the red griffin, who swallows some saliva.
Is he... trembling?
«Er... Lucas, you may want to sit.» he says, pointing at the log.
My first thought goes to Loki attacking and killing my father, but that makes no sense; my mother would have not forgiven him.
She precedes me and invites me to her side by patting the moss.
«Okay..?» I agree, following their instruction.
«Are we watching a movie, or something?»
She grabs my hand into hers.
I look at her, puzzled.
She's holding her breath.
«Your mother promised to tell you all about your dad. Eh..!» Loki says, with a nervous chuckle.
«But truth be told... I'm probably the most qualified for that..!»
Finally, he looks into my eyes, trying to smile through his apparent fear.
«Because... your dad is... me..!»
I blink, perplexed.
«I... don't think I followed.»
«Uh...»
«This is something you cannot tell anyone about, Lucas.» My mother adds.
Now I'm downright confused.
«Wait, what does that mean? What can I not tell?»
«Gryphlet, breathe.» she continues.
«I am calm! I just don't get what you're trying to tell me!» I retort, annoyed.
«Just... Cut the shit, and say what you have to say in a clear, understandable way!»
Loki falls silent.
«Love, don't give up. Tell him again, with more confidence.»
«"Love"..?» I register after a second.
Loki takes a deep breath.
«This is indeed that very spot. I had been following your mother for a while; hens were never truly my... "favorites", perhaps because I wasn't exactly well-received by our world.» he starts, with a faint smile.
«She was taking pictures of our kind, so I did my best to get her attention.»
He looks up at a tree.
«That branch must have long fallen off, but you could easily imagine me sneak up on her as she fed.
I gave her a good scare, but judging by the results, I left quite the mark on your mom.»
There is no way I understood that right.
«Well, after some... cat and mouse -I think that's how you say it-, we found out we... did not "dislike" each other. At all.»
Then he looks back at me.
«A few months passed, and while I was becoming an Alpha, your mother brought you into the world.»
I remain silent, my eyes darting left and right as I try to find any other meaning in what Loki said.
«I am your father, Lucas.»
My heart barely remains inside my rib-cage.
«This is why your senses are so sharp, Lucas. And why you are both really strong and have trouble staying still; part of your genome is designed to make you survive in the wild.»
«What..?» I finally manage to croak.«That- That's impossible! In SO many ways!!!»
As they are about to reply, I interrupt them.
«IF THIS IS SOME FUCKING SICK JOKE, NOW'S THE TIME TO STOP!!! BECAUSE IT'S NOT FUCKING FUNNY!!!»
«It's the truth, dear.» Jasmine replies, defeated. «You are part griffin.»
«DON'T. Don't you dare "dear" me. No "love", no "gryphlet", no "son". You fucked an animal! You are a sick fuck! You BOTH are!» I retort, standing up as I rip my hand away from hers.
She holds her chest, hurt.
«Fucking hell! Just say that you slept with someone! Anyone! At any point!»
Both of them just give me a blank stare.
«I am done with you. Just get the fuck out of my life.»
I finally utter, leaving.


===Loki=== February 8th - 14:00

«Shit...» I finally let out as my son disappears into the woods.
«Jasmine..?» I call her, seeing her motionless.
And finally, she breaks into tears, holding her mouth and chest, as if she were just stabbed in the heart.
I bring her close to me, and she buries her face in my chest.
As I close her within my arms and wings to try and soothe her, I spot Ulthane approaching in the distance.
He nods in the direction Lucas went, asking if he has to follow him, but I shake my head.
Right now, we all need some time to recover.


===Lucas=== February 8th - 21:15

There is no fucking way that's true.
She could not have done it with Loki.
It is physically impossible.
But then... no; she wouldn't lie about something like that.
Not after making a promise; she has never broken one, ever!
But I can't accept it; the amount of shit this implies..!
Every time she went off with him...
The meetups with Tyler, Umbra, and-
Wait... did they know?
Someone is here; three griffins, by the sound of it.
«Lucas? Are you here?» Apollo's voice calls me.
«He's definitely been through here; I can see footprints...»
I sigh.
«I'm here.»
The twins circle around the tree I'm resting against, popping up from both sides.
«Yep, I was right.» he comments, proud of himself.
«I literally just said-» Artemis goes to retort, but I interrupt them.
«Guys, I'm REALLY not in the mood.»
Umbra calmly takes the long way around us, and sits in front of me.
«Are you alright, Lucas?» she asks.
«Fuck no!» I chuckle hysterically.
She waits in silence for me to stop.
«Do you want to talk about it?»
«No.»
She sighs, and stands up.
«You cannot stay here; it's cold, and this part of the forest is not safe at night. Wolves and bears can travel through here-»
«I am not going back there.» I firmly reply.
«Did you have a fight with your mother?» Artemis asks.
I glare at her.
«That might be a yes.» Apollo points out.
«Let him be, children; his anger needs to die out. Help him up, instead.»
It's already gone; I am simply devastated.
I just want to lie down and forget all about it.
«You can stay with us for the night, if you wish.»
«I am a griffin.» I finally let out.
Nobody utters a word.
«After they came to pick me up, my mother and Loki brought me into the woods, and they told me that he was my father.» I utter, on the verge of tears.
«What the fuck..!» I break down immediately after.
«A human... and a griffin?» Umbra mutters, surprised.
I feel Apollo's and Artemis's beaks trying to move my hands from my knees, forcing me to raise my head.
«Whether it's true or not, you are still... you. I wouldn't give it too much weight.» Artemis comments.
«What are you on about?! That changes everything! And it's fucking disgu-»
Umbra stops me with an insulted stare, her eyes glowing in the dark.
«What is "everything"? You haven't grown wings or a beak; you walked all the way here on two legs; you still look like the same child I saw in your mother's arms almost twenty years ago.» she says.
«The only thing that changed is your perception of things.»
«Yeah, too bad that involves everything I know!» I retort. «What else did they lie about?! Santa is real or some shit?!»
«If it's true, I think they just wanted to prevent anyone from finding out about it, most likely to protect you and everyone involved.»
Something's not right.
«"Everyone involved"? Who else knew?!»
«I... think she means us griffins. We'd probably be taken into labs for who knows how many experiments.» Artemis replies.
«I could have kept that secret..! And who the fuck would have believed a child, anyway?!»
«They clearly did not want to take any chances. In your eyes, they made a big mistake, but in theirs, they were just doing their best to protect you.»
I stare at her, studying the glow inside her eyes.
«Umbra. You seem awfully calm about such a world-changing revelation; did you know?» I finally ask her.
As she opens her beak to reply, she shrieks in pain.
«Mum?» Apollo calls her.
Umbra rips something out of her neck, which is soon revealed to be a large dart.
«Shit..! Hunters! RUN!!!» she orders.
Apollo immediately pulls me up with his head, bringing me onto his back before bolting.
Immediately after, though, Artemis yelps as well.
«It's poisoned..! My shoulder is going numb..!»
Her brother stops abruptly, almost launching me forward.
«Then... Mum!»
«Apollo! We don't know how many there are! We need to find Ulthane-»
I am interrupted by the angry shrieks of a fighting griffin, followed by human screams.
He grabs my arm and drags me to the ground.
«You two try to get help! I'll take them by surprise!» he insists.
«Apollo..! Don't go..!» his sister tries to warn him, but he does not give us the time to stop him.
«Fuck!»
What do I do?!
If I go, they might take them both before I reach Ulthane.
If I follow him, I could get shot as well!
«I can't let him go alone! The hunters will kill him!»
«Then we follow!» I finally decide, going back myself.
«Someone must have heard the fighting; they will warn Ulthane themselves!»
Artemis hesitates, but nods.
«Let's go with that..! Quickly, I don't know how long I have left..!»

I prevent her from carrying me; stressing her body is only going to make it worse!
Suddenly, I start hearing snaps under the screams, similar to bowstrings being released.
Crossbows?
That would explain why we did not hear gunshots..!
Immediately after, I recognize Apollo's shrieks, and new screams follow soon after.
Not long after, I spot flashlights flailing in the dark.
Every now and again, the sounds of bones being broken echo through the trees, followed by screams.
I can smell blood.

«Lucas, I can see dead humans in the dark; this is your last chance to bail!» she whispers, panting.
«No, I won't. Separate them, if you can! I'll try overpowering one!»
«Fine, but pick your prey carefully!»
Trying not to think about the overwhelming smell of viscera and the wheezing of those that were not killed on the spot, I make my way through the bushes.
Soon enough, Artemis silently charges a couple of hunters, sending one flying with a devastating backhand.
The other one, though, manages to land another dart on the hen, who yelps again before crushing him, stopping for a second immediately after, probably from the disbelief.
Holy fuck..! His ribs..!
As I hold the vomit in, I realize that there is one that through panic got farther away from the others.
Without thinking any further, I rush straight towards him, and I end up taking him through the floor before he even notices me.
A few seconds later, I get on top of him, and after ripping off his balaclava, I start hailing punches on his face.
«ARGH!!! HELP!!!» he yells, struggling as he's unable to defend himself.
Despite Apollo and Artemis wrecking havoc with whatever strength they have left, a light shines in my direction, and my flank is quickly pierced by a dart.
Out of reflex, I break the guy's nose with a particularly strong punch.
After I steal his crossbow to prevent him from using it, I rush towards my attacker.
Another dart flies towards me, but by holding the weapon as a shield, I am miraculously able to deflect it.
Before he can load another one, I throw the crossbow against him, stunning him enough to drop his own.
I am about to charge him too, when I see him pull out a knife.
I screech to a halt.
«Yeah, not so tough now, are you?!»
«We'll see when a griffin guts you!» I automatically reply out of stress.
My entire chest feels numb, and my heart feels like it's trying to escape it.
I instinctively pull out the dart, and I realize that it could work as a small spike, large as the needle is.
He goes for a stab, so I step back.
We circle around for a short time, holding tight onto our weapons.
Suddenly, I feel another two needles in my back.
My spine straightens like plywood, and he takes the opportunity to attack again.
My griffin side must have awakened for a split second, since not only does my body sidestep the attack on its own, but I also manage to firmly grasp his offending wrist.
With all the strength in my body, I drag him by the arm in a half-spin that ends against the first tree I can find, sending him right through it.
Soon after, though, another dart hits me behind the knee, making me fall on the latter.
I hear someone running behind me, but I am barely unable to turn to block the strike against my head.


===Loki=== February 8th - 21:20

This voice..!
«Shit! WITH ME!!! FOLLOW THE SCREAMS!!!» I order my group, going first.
I scream back, passing the message to the other groups.
Why does the old cock have to be always right?!
I pray to every human deity that Umbra is alright, or Ulthane is going to bring about an amount of bloodshed unseen since the Great Wolf Hunt!
And her chicks?!
They were probably there with her, looking for-
Lucas!
Tell me you have left this side of the forest, you stupid little brat!
A cold breeze rises, bringing the smell of human blood and the sound of machines whirring.
«Loki! How do we approach this?!» one of the hunters asks me.
«We will cut their retreat down south! We will force them to go back through the Meadow and feed them straight to Ulthane and the others! Sirocco and Mist; go around from the east! Autumn and Briar, follow them from a good distance and then cut straight south! Leave them enough space between you! Spear and Ivy; turn right and cover the west! I'll go straight for the middle! Mind your sides!»
«Be careful!»
Fear claws through my muscles, making me wary of every falling leaf.
Without the hunters, I can move three times as fast, but I'm also wide open for an attack.
The smell of blood is overwhelming.
I can see flashlights in the distance!
My hands start to quiver, ready to fight.
Past a patch of bushes, I barely manage to jump over a corpse.
I drag all of my claws through the dirt, trying to stop myself as soon as possible.
I gaze back at the dead human, almost in disbelief; by the looks of it, his chest was punched in.
Not too far, I spot another one lying on his own guts, right next to a headless corpse.
The more I look around, the more I see, and the worse it gets.
Ten... Eleven... Twelve dead humans.
How... How are we even going to deal with this?
As I struggle to look around, I finally spot Umbra next to a tree, motionless.
My blood freezes in my veins.
«Umbra!!!» I call her, quickly navigating through the gore.
Her hands and beak are completely red, and there are several darts sticking out of her body.
I rest my ear next to her nostrils; she is still breathing.
Feeling a sparkle of relief, I shake her.
«Umbra!!! Umbra!!! Wake up!!! UMBRA!!!»
Her eyelids barely twitch.
«My chicks...» she barely mutters. «Where...»
Suddenly, I hear engines start close by.
«No... Come back...»
And it clicks.
«FUCK!!!»
I scream with all the breath I have in my lungs, calling off our maneuver, and I resume my chase.
As soon as I reach the road, five large vehicles speed right past me.
A faint scent of pine reaches my nostrils.
I start sprinting towards them, when a hunter with a missing eye leans out the window with a gun in his hands.
I dash into the other side of the woods, squinting to protect myself from the splinters the bullets are ripping from the trees around me.
He's bound to run out, at some point..!
Hopefully before the forest ends, or I will lose what little cover I have!
As his aim seems to improve, he goes back inside, probably to reload.
This is my chance!
I burst out of the trees, ready to slash a tire, when another hunter pops out with an even bigger gun.
For a second, I feel time stopping as I stare at the barrel just a couple of meters in front of me.
But at the last second, something clashes full force against them.
The gunshot blends with the van crashing through the trees, grazing me.
Ulthane stops to look at it, panting.
«Not this time, you pieces of shit..!» he growls. «Are you injured, Loki?!»
«No..! But-»
«Stay back! There is no guarantee they are all down!»
«The others are getting away!» I then realize.
«We can't reach them. This one will have to do!» he continues, his anger overflowing into his voice.
Then, he marches towards the smoking wreck, where he begins to carefully inspect the broken windows.
In a split second, he rips off the door, and someone starts screaming inside.
By the clicks in the pauses, either the gun broke, or he ran out of bullets.
The Alpha drags him out by his legs, cutting away the things he desperately tries clinging to.
Once he's upside down in Ulthane's hand, the latter seals his mouth shut with his finger.
«WHERE... ARE... THE CHICKS?» he growls in their language, with a monstrous inflection.


===Lucas=== February 9th - 3:30

Someone is talking.
The ground is rumbling under my ear.
There is something blocking my mouth.
I instantly open my eyes, finding myself staring at the back of a seat.
What happened?
I vaguely remember charging a guy; the rest is all a blur, and the back of my head is killing me.
My shoulders and legs are sore as well, but when I try to move them, I am unable to.
Right..!
I must have been attacked from behind, and now I've been tied up!
As I instinctively try to move, though, I feel a slight pull on my ankle, and something metallic tips over, rolling near me immediately after.
That must have been an alarm, because one of the hunters looks over the seat.
«He's awake..!» he says, getting up. «Stop; we are getting rid of him.»
«What the fuck?! He's just a kid!» another one retorts as the van slows down.
«He saw our faces. We are in enough shit as it is; we don't need more loose ends!»
«Just give him another hit on the head! He'll forget even his own name!»
«Dude! DUDE!!! Look, we get that you're stressed-»
«Stressed?! We lost half of our fucking people to that bitch! And she's probably still alive, too!» the first exclaims.
«What..? Nah, she's probably got his weight in Fermax in her veins; there's no way she's walking away from that one.»
«Oh, really?! And him? Why the fuck is he still alive?! How many needles did he get in him?! Three? Four?!»
I hear a click, and the trunk starts opening up.
«Why. Was. He. There? Why? Does he live with them? Does he eat the same shit as those fucking animals? Is he immune to poison now?!»
«Man, relax! Who cares about that? Just take him outside, give him another bump on the head, drop him behind that pile of snow, and let's get going.» someone else insists.
«We have two griffins, so they are going to pay us double.»
The first guy gets out of the vehicle and starts to quickly walk around towards the trunk.
«Triple, even; they're a male and a female, right? They can make as many as they need!»
I struggle, but I can't prevent him from dragging me out by the feet.
Then, he pulls out a knife.
I remember that thing!
I was fighting that guy!
«If they were traveling together with the older female, they are probably siblings.»
«Eh, they do it with dogs all the time; what's the big deal?» they continue.
«I am going to free your feet; if you kick me, I will cut them off and feed you to a polar bear.»
Wait... Polar bear?
Where are we?!
Once he cuts the rope, he brings me up and pushes me away from the car.
Fucking hell, it's freezing!
And the wind is so loud..!
Snowy glaciers are towering over us, glistening in the moonlight as they are surrounded by whitened hills and boulders.
How far away is the Oasis?!
«Move. We're going behind that snow pile.»
He's going to cut my throat!
I must fight back, but the others might shoot me again!
Maybe I can take him hostage?
I need that knife..!
I start pulling on the rope around my wrists, trying to tear it.
«Quit it! You are not breaking that!» he says, pushing me.
Come on!
My muscles are already hurting.
«Fine, fucking hell! You'll get tired, eventually!»
I feel like I am about to burst a vein.
Come on!!!
«We don't have all day! Just hit him already!»
COME OOOOON!!!
As a low growl escapes the depths of my throat, he moves in front of me, perplexed.
«What the fuck are you-»
And suddenly, the rope snaps.
Before he can even recompose himself, I give him the strongest right hook of my life, sending him straight to the ground.
«What the fuck?!» someone exclaims.
Suddenly, after spitting some teeth, he draws a small gun.
«DON'T SHOOT-»
But as the first bullet leaves the barrel, grazing me, a low rumble echoes through the ground.
As the second and third do the same, I realize that the hunter was completely messed up by the hit.
Given how much my arm hurts, I'd say that's the bare minimum!
Without any notice, a large block of ice falls on him, crushing him on the spot.
The glacier!!!
The gunshot must have caused an avalanche!
I rush towards the van, and I barely make the jump into the trunk as it starts moving again.
«FUCK!!!»
A white wall crashes against the windows and flips us over, filling the vehicle and bringing back the darkness.


===Loki=== February 8th - 23:40

«Alright, they're here.» Jonas tells the hunter.
«Look man, you can call God himself down here; I told you I don't know the name of the buyer!» he retorts.«These things are handled by middle men!»
«I don't care! We want to know where the fledglings are being brought too!»
«You are not gonna get them in time! And even if you do, they are gonna shoot all of their furry asses dead!» the man nods at us.
«I asked for something simple-!»
«Jonas.» Ulthane interrupts him. «Let us handle this. Direct the hunters and keep the visitors away while we do.»
He takes a deep breath, but nods.
«Word of advice: answer, period. No remarks, no comments, no nothing. Just what they ask for; you have no idea what happens to people like you around here...» he concludes, leaving the room.
He's visibly more nervous, but remains quiet.
«That was good advice. Especially after your people shot his daughter and took away his nephews.» I comment, pointing at Ulthane.
«Now, you will tell us what we want to know.»
«They... they will go overseas.» he replies.
«So they will reach the sea. Where, exactly?»
«I don't know! In the middle of nowhere up north!»
«Tell him to choose one of his fingers.» Ulthane comments with a hint of hatred in his voice.
His tail is shaking, and he's tapping his talons.
«Ulthane, we can't risk him bleeding out..!»
«Do as I say.»
I hesitate, but deliver the message.
«He says you have to pick one of your fingers.»
The hunter chuckles hysterically as the Alpha approaches.
«Fucking really?!»
«Yes, really. Do it quickly.»
«L-little finger...» he says, trying to curl up into a ball despite the chains.
«Which one?» Ulthane continues through me.
«Please..!»
«WHICH. ONE?» he repeats, letting himself be understood.
«Left...»
«Tell him that if he avoids my questions any longer, I will rip it off and use it to scoop his eyes out. Then I will break his legs and abandon him in the middle of wolf territory.»
«Ulthane..!»
He glares at me.
As I repeat what he told me, the hunter shivers.
«WHAT THE FUCK!!! HE'S INSANE!!!»
Suddenly, Ulthane twists his finger, making him scream.
«No, I'm just very, VERY angry right now. As you were told, my daughter's life is in danger and her chicks are gone. Considering what other Alphas have done in the past, this is pretty tame.» he makes me translate.
«My fucking finger..!» the human whimpers.
«If you want to keep at least its flesh attached, tell us where they're headed. IN DETAIL.»
«Wait..! The lighthouse..! That place has a lighthouse!!!»
«That's not very detailed, is it now?» Ulthane retorts, angrily breathing as he reaches for another finger.
«It's the most... fucking something lighthouse in the continent! THE NORTHERNMOST!!!»
It clicks.
«Wha... Whalepoint..?»
«YES!!! Yes..! That one!!! With a submarine!!! ONLY SUBMARINES GET THERE!!!»
«How do you know that? A memory?» Ulthane inquires.
«Jasmine mentioned it. She could have gone there instead of here, that time, but she hates the freezing cold..! Hey!»
I address the man. «Did you bring a human with you?!»
«I-I think so! He wasn't in our car!»
«No shit!» Ulthane growls.
«WAIT!!! YES!!! Someone attacked us back there! They took him with them!»
«We have to get to Whalepoint! Immediately!» Ulthane exclaims, letting the human fall to the floor. «Warn Jonas! Tell him to get us ready! There is something I must close before we depart..!»


===Lucas=== February 9th - 4:00

What a strange smell.
Warm and slightly musky, but not unpleasant.
Every now and again, a cold sting pierces my clothes, eventually bringing me back to my senses.
By moving my limbs, I can tell I am surrounded by an ocean of fur, belonging to someone really big, with a heart powerful enough to be heard through what must be an ungodly fast wind.
My whole body hurts and burns as if I had just been run over by an entire football team, but I still try to lift myself up.
Stupidly.
I can't even hear myself curse when the shower of white pebbles forces me down into a deep layer of snow.
It's so cold, I can feel my eyelids freezing shut!
Then, something big and firm wraps around my torso, picking me up.
The loud chirp I hear over the blizzard, although unfamiliar, makes it obvious that I am dealing with a griffin.
Soon after, I hear someone reply in the same manner as the heat of the fur comes back.
I try my best to bury myself as deep as I can.
How fucking up north am I?!
I have never felt this much cold in my life!
The fur around me is white; are these some kind of snow griffins?
Where are we going?
Is there an oasis for them too?
With people?!
After pulling up my hoodie, I place my freezing hands under my body, trying to warm them up.
«Mum... I'm sorry..!» I mutter.
«If I make it back, I...»
Yeah, what will I do..?
We can't go back to normal; what will I do with Loki?
I glance at my trembling fingers.
"You are still... you."
Why is this so difficult?!
Why did it have to happen to ME?!
Suddenly, the griffin's talons step on something solid, and the blizzard seems to weaken.
Is it over?
As I am about to take my chances and peek out, the large hand lifts me up again, and it holds me in place.
Holy fuck, they are big.
They are pretty much shaped like your average griffin, if you don't count their aforementioned size, the thick, white fur and feathers, and their large hands and paws.
Their ice blue eyes are... intimidating to say the least.
I realize that we are inside some kind of structure, made up of ice, metal beams and panels, ropes and chains, and countless other man-made materials.
The males keep on coming in, shaking the snow off their manes as they gather in a semi-circle.
I spot a few females of various ages among the "crowd", somehow even fluffier and wary-er.
To steal the title of fluffiest from the latter are the three chicks that wander out of their mother's fur, like little curious cotton balls.
All of the griffin's gazes are fixated on me.
Then, the one holding me chirps something, and the giant male that comes through the door replies, shaking the snow off the door with every step.
When I realize he's headed straight for me, my heart starts racing, and my legs start trembling, trying to look for solid ground to run away on.
Look at the size of those talons..! They could probably wrap around my chest!
However, he stops about three meters away from me, and he reaches for something inside his folded wings.
One after the other, he lays down two large masses enveloped by technical blankets.
When the gray taloned hand slips out, I realize what I am looking at.
An audible gasp leaves my mouth, and I start to struggle.
«APOLLO!!! ARTEMIS!!!» I desperately call them.
How could I forget about them?!
The large griffin lies down, picks them back up, and places them under his mane.
Then, he gives an order to the one holding me, and the latter lets me down.
I really want to check on them, but that fucker is scaring the shit out of me..!
Are they even alive?!
He taps his talons on the floor, getting my attention.
Our gazes cross; despite not there being any aggression in his demeanor, his eyes are... there is something sinister in them..!
Wait...
I get it now!
These are not like the griffins back at the oasis; these are straight up wild animals!
That's what I'm seeing: he's not sure what to do with me; they are not used to humans.
I think he's wondering if I could be used as something other than a quick meal.
The griffin points at the center of this room, where a large circle of stones filled with wooden debris.
A bonfire?
I look back at him, but his expression does not change.
I force my legs towards it, carrying the weight of their hungry eyes.
Once there, I notice a couple of beaten up rocks, about the size of a fist, both having deep dents all over them, as if someone had tried to stab them.
Are these flints..?
Did they try to make a fire?
Where did they learn that?!
Is there a human settlement nearby, after all?!
Wait, how am I going to light it? There is no kindling here!
Those damn idiots just piled up some wood and prayed!
Fuck..!
How do I-
In the corner of my eye, I notice a red spot in a corner, which turns out to be a canister.
Could it be..?
I rush towards it.
Please be full! Please be full! Please be..!
There is something inside it!
I unscrew the cap, and the smell of gasoline brings me new life.
After coughing a few times, I bring the canister back to the woodpile, and I pour some liquid around it, trying to save it for other times, just in case they decide to spare me.
Then, under their perplexed and unimpressed gazes, I move the container away and pick up the two rocks.
I don't know how or why, but I still remember that one time when Jonas showed me how to do it.
I hit one of them against the other a couple of times, and eventually, a spark comes out.
Obviously, I fall on my ass when a blaze explodes upwards, scaring me.
I look back at the big griffin, who's studying my work; eventually, he lets his eyebrows rise for a second, seemingly satisfied.
Then, he stands up, leaving Apollo and Artemis uncovered.
They are moving!
A chirp from him, who at this point I'm positive is the boss around here, and a couple of younger griffins drag them closer to the fire, glare at me, and go back to their spot.
«Apollo! Artemis! Wake up!!!» I incite them, shaking their cold bodies.
A weak chirp comes from the hen's beak, followed by her brother's soon after.
In the meantime, the leader of the white griffins seems to be giving a speech; his "people" seem content, but not overjoyed.
Except for three of them, about my friends' age, who have very different reactions; the male looks... intrigued, but the two females next to him seem respectively irritated and worried.
The more I look at them, the more they stand out to me; the male is particularly streamlined for his kind, as the annoyed female, who looks as fierce as they get.
The last one is pretty much hiding inside her own abnormal mass of fluff, meekly looking down.
Hopefully those are reactions to him keeping us alive...


===Ulthane=== February 9th - 1:30

As always, the stars are still shining above, uncaring of our troubles.
I take a deep breath out of the cold air of the night, trying to calm my nerves, to no avail.
Jonas is still making preparations for the journey ahead, so I must let them know NOW.
I have no doubts I will find Acacia and Titan there, even at this hour; but Serena?
Will she leave the eggs out of her sight to listen to me?
I'll find out soon enough; the clinic is right behind the corner.

I get through the door, and to my surprise, all three of them are there, right next to my wounded daughter.
«Ulthane..!» Acacia meets me in an embrace, trembling out of desperation.
«I will fix this.» I reassure her, hiding my fear.
Loki had a better foresight than me: there is no way I could have followed a script.
Titan looks at me with the eyes of a mourning rooster, but does not say anything.
«Ulthane.» Serena calls me after a short while, stepping forward.
«Needless to say, you have my condolences for what happened to your family. Although, I fail to see why you would have called me here, of all people.»
«Loki and I are going to chase the hunters; we might not make it back, so I want to let you all know my will.»
«We will come with you..!» Titan utters.
«No. If something happens to Loki and me, I want you to take care of the colony.»
Serena raises an eyebrow.
«I also need you two to watch over Umbra.»
«Anything else?» the Elder Nurse adds, clearly uninterested.
I sigh.
«Yes. Something that you all must know.» I start, looking down into my hen's mane.
«Sixty years ago... it was me.»
With all the strength I have in my body, I lift my head up.
«I killed Lance.»
Nobody utters a word.
«When he was about to finish me off, I lost control, and I slaughtered him along with five of his followers.»
I try to look at Serena.
«Horus took the blame.» I continue. «I know he never got over the loss of his only nephew, and because of that and his wish to protect the cause of the Alphas, he sacrificed himself for me.»
Her breathing gets heavier as her talons scratch the floor.
«For you..!» she seethes. «Because you were "worthy"!»
«Ulthane, this is...» Titan tries to interject, but she roars over him.
«HE WOULD HAVE NEVER ABANDONED HIS FAMILY TO PROTECT A MURDERER!!!»
«He knew he had already lost you. When you sealed yourself in the Nursery, your mother lost what was left of her will to live.
She aged rapidly, and her strength and sanity waned with each passing day.
He felt powerless, defeated; the knowledge so many lives were traded for could not save him.» I tell her.
«In the end, he had nothing but one wish and one regret.»
Her furious eyes seem to be looking through me, unsure of where to point.
«The wish to save his kind with the help of human blood... And the regret of not being able to see you one last time.»
I can see denial fight against remorse through her blank stare.
«I am sorry, Serena; those memories presented themselves to me.
For many years, I thought he was a deranged monster, but with time, I understood that he was just another victim of the Well, like Loki and me.»
She grits her beak as her talons move further across the floor.
«So, in the end... It was me.» she utters, shaking.
Then, a hysterical laugh escapes her beak.
«If only I had stayed longer with the humans... 
My son... My little, sweet chick... He would be still alive.
He would have probably been a grandfather by now.
And my father... My mother...»
«No, it was not your fault. Nobody knew but Lance.» I retort, but she has already moved towards the exit, her legs trembling at every step.
«Serena...»
«It changes very little to me.» Acacia grabs our attention.
«Lance tried to kill you multiple times, and we know you were not the only one on his list; he had to be stopped.»
Our eyes lock.
«Whether it was Horus, you, or whatever the Well did to you, the outcome would not have changed.»
I stare at her, in disbelief.
«I guess... she has a point. It's still so hard to believe, though...» Titan adds.
«It must be the long time it took for this to re-emerge. Sixty years... yeah, it really was that long ago. Just like when you tried to tell us about the Well, we probably would have not believed this either.»
Then he sighs, and he gets up.
«Be it as it may, you HAVE to come back.
No "if", no "but".
You will pick up the chicks and come back, carrying them with your beak, if needed.» he commands unexpectedly.
«After that, you can go back to crying yourself to sleep, if that's what my brother is truly like."»
He sounds so... pompous.
I can't help but chuckle, taking them both by surprise.
«My love, my brother... thank you.»
«Ulthane! Jonas is almost ready!» Loki enters the room.
I nod, and after I kiss my hen and hug my brother goodbye, I turn towards the rooster.
«Look after him, love!» Acacia tells him.
«Or you will end up another tree!» Titan reinforces.
Let's hope I will get to see that.


===Lucas=== February 9th - 4:45

Well, not only we get to live, but we were also given some fish.
I mean, I'm not sure how well it was conserved, but I hope that's better than how it was cooked; this is clearly the first time they use fire, as it's almost raw in the middle, and burnt around the edges.
All of this on a piece of fish the size of my palm.
Apollo and Artemis's are considerably larger, but I've seen them eat far more than that and ask for seconds.
I think they messed up our proportions, too.
«That is not nearly enough, Lucas. Have some of mine.» Apollo tries to offer.
«No, it's fine. You're still recovering; you need it more than I do.» I retort.
«Plus, I'm not even sure this is safe for me to eat.»
«If you're anything like us, you should be fine; it doesn't smell bad...» Artemis comments.
«I know, but I'm more concerned about parasites.»
«Try cooking it some more; maybe they won't notice you.»
Easier said than done.
The snow griffins are huddled up together on the other side of the fire, eating their share and sharing their heat.
Maybe they will actually pay me no mind...
The second I think that, the first two rows raise their ears and glare at me at once.
The hint is clear, but my hunger does not want me to back away.
I show my fish, trying to explain myself, but they don't seem any calmer.
Nor any angrier, though.
Making myself as small as possible, I advance towards the fire like an ape, walking on my hands and toes.
The silence between the blizzard and the fire is unnerving.
Finally, I manage to rest the two halves of my fish on one of the rocks surrounding the flames without angering them.
As the fish starts to cook properly, most of the glares turn into occasional side-eyes.
Will I ever be able to go home?
Is this where it ends?
I don't know what's worse: the freezing cold, the constant gaze of the hungry snow griffin, or the knowledge of being trapped by the former two.
Not even Apollo and Artemis can protect me, here; those fuckers would tear them to pieces.
As I see the fish smoking, I start to quickly tap it away from the fire, trying not to get too burnt.
Eventually, it falls to the floor, where I let it cool down for a few seconds.
Is this all I'm going to eat from now on?
Fruit and vegetables are probably unknown here.
Aside from the meat of a few sporadic animals, this must be it.
How long can I go on like this?
There is nothing but ice out there, with no real company aside from my two griffin friends.
I nervously chuckle under my breath; who's going to get me first?
Illness, insanity, or the griffins?
Suddenly, I feel a vibration travel through the floor.
I turn my head, and I almost fall into the fire when I see the large white mass in the corner of my eye.
It's the fluffy hen from before, the one who looked all shy during the big one's speech.
Fucking hell..! How did she even sneak up on me like that?!
The hen lowers her head, almost to my level, and she puts down something she was holding in her beak.
It looks like... more fish? And a few strange pebbles..? No, they look more like... berries!
Where the hell did she get something like that this up north?!
Then, she nudges it all towards me, making sure the strange orange berries roll towards me.
Seeing them up close, they remind me of raw blackberries, but their faint tangy smell clearly sets them apart.
The thing is: is she sharing them, or does she want me to roast them for her?
She sits down, waiting for something; not sure if for my reaction or for her food.
In doubt, I tear her fish in half and place it by the fire.
But now I have the berries; do I dare eat one?
Are they even edible, now that I think about it?
I glance at her expression: she's probably the only one of her kin who hasn't given me the stink eye so far.
Watching her reaction very, VERY carefully, I pop one in my mouth.
It's... kind of sour, like an orange, with an almost sweet aftertaste.
It reminds me of a better, more natural take on a cough medicine I used to take when I was sick.
Overall, it's good.
And it does not seem immediately poisonous.
Furthermore, I did not get split in half by an angry hen, so I take it she offered them to me.
I try giving her my fish, since it's ready, but she pulls her head away.
Alright, so she's giving me the whole thing.
But why?
Why is she being... "nice" to me?
They don't seem as expressive as the griffins back at the oasis, but judging by her eyes darting away every now and then, I think she's not particularly tough, personality-wise.
Maybe the others don't respect her because of it, so she's looking for someone else to "befriend".
I dig into my fish, which isn't ideal after the taste of the berry, but I can't really afford to be picky, as things stand.
Suddenly, a gust of glacial wind stabs me through a hole in my hoodie, making me shiver.
The hen gently chirps and chatters her beak in her strange language, slowly inching closer.
Another shiver runs through my spine, this time out of wariness.
I feel her breath move my hood, and soon enough, I feel her beak rest on my opposite shoulder; is she trying to cover me?
Well, it's working, mostly; the heat of her fur feels like indistinguishable from the fire in front of me, but that's probably my messed up thermal perception.
She's a bit too heavy for comfort, though.
«Lucas?» I hear Apollo's worried voice.
The hen immediately stands up, taken by surprise, and as she notices them coming closer, she backs off into her kin's rank, where she stares at us from a distance.
«Are you alright?» Artemis asks, worried.
«Yeah, just a bit weirded out.»
«What did she want?» he asks.
«No clue. She offered me...» I remove the fish from the fire, now ready, and I show them the berries.
«...edible stuff.»
«Well, hopefully they are not fattening us up for dinner. Not that this would do it, but still...» Apollo comments.
«Uh. Never seen anything like that.» she comments. «But that means there are more food sources out there.»
A small alarm sounds in the back of my brain.
«Likely; and?» I push her.
«Since we have no idea what they are saying, we don't know what their intentions are, and you must have realized how awful the situation is here; we have to escape.»
«Not while the blizzard is going on; you two almost died while inside a thermal blanket and their fur. Plus, they are constantly keeping their eyes on us.»
«We'll have to wait for an opportunity.» she concludes.
«Or for a miracle.» I retort, crossing the hen's gaze.


===Jonas=== February 9th - 3:00

If they stop us, we are pretty much fucked; the trailer isn't designed for two griffins.
I glance at the rear mirror: Jasmine and Tyler are asleep, while Loki seems lost in thought.
Ulthane, on the other hand, is glaring at me.
«Can't this thing go any faster?» he asks, visibly irritated.
«Not with your asses inside of it.» I dryly reply, focusing back on the road.
«I could outrun you without reaching my full speed!» he retorts.
«Be my fucking guest!» I then exclaim, pressing the button that opens the back, pissing off the truck's safety system as the sound of the wind and the engine start roaring.
After a few moments of glaring at each other, I close the door again.
Surprisingly, the two parents haven't woken up; they must be devastated.
Just like the Alphas.
I sigh.
«Look, Ulthane, it's been several hours,  and if they were driving as fast as you said, those vehicles were heavily modified; they might be well past the border by now, maybe not even on solid ground anymore.»
«Jonas, if you're going to feed me this shit, pull this pile of metal over and open that door again; I am not losing more chicks to some pieces of shit with oversized firearms, even If I have to chase them to the ends of the Earth. Otherwise, you can shut your mouth and get us moving as fast as you can.»
So, silence descends, and the engine's rumble eventually pulls me back into autopilot.
«Be straight with me, Jonas: do you think they're still alive?» Loki's voice breaks through, snapping me back to reality.
I hesitate.
«Apollo and Artemis are most likely alive, since they're the merch.
It's Lucas I'm worried about.» I admit. «If we're lucky, they went easy on the kid and knocked him unconscious to leave him on the side of the road, hopefully not too far north for him to freeze.»
He swallows hard and turns his gaze away, trembling with distress.
«I mean, if I were in their shoes, I would have done that. Their faces were masked, so it's not like he could have identified them or anything. Killing a child is...»
«Enough.» Ulthane interrupts me.
«Focus on not slamming against something; your pace is wobbly at best and drunken at worst, and I want to reach those little fuckers so I can look them in the eyes before I carve them out.»


===Lucas=== February 9th - 7:00

«Lucas. Wake up, Lucas.» Artemis shakes me.
«Wha- What..?» I manage to reply, still half covered by Apollo's fur.
«The blizzard has subsided, and the snow griffins have all gone out; it's our chance to leave!»
«Wha- Where are we even going?!» I retort, slipping out.
«Earlier, I woke up after the sky had already cleared, and I think I saw a lighthouse in the distance!»
I stand up, hopeful.
«There must be a settlement; that's where they saw bonfires!»
«Are you sure they are all away?» Apollo asks her.
«They all left at once. I don't know how far they went, but not having them around is enough for me! C'mon, let's go!»
Once at the door, we notice just how deep the prints go into the snow; I think it goes up to my belt.
Not to mention that it's still cold as shit.
Also, I can actually see the lighthouse in the distance, but it's several kilometers away!
«Artemis!» I whisper. «This is insane!»
She turns around, ready to retort something, but her eyes widen instead.
I instantly realize why, but my body can't react fast enough to avoid the large hand.
Holy fuck..! This asshole is going to squeeze the soul out of my body!
Apollo instantly charges the snow griffin, but his talons seem to barely make it past his thick fur, and their difference in size is almost ridiculous.
«Go..!» I croak.
Desperate, Artemis goes after her brother, but the snow griffin sends the latter against her with a single backhand, knocking both down.
About to pass out, I put the last of my strength in a kick, which hits his chin.
He retracts his head, probably more out of surprise than pain.
In fact, seconds later, he's growling at me like I hadn't even touched him.
Suddenly, though, I hear a frantic chirping quickly approaching us, and we turn towards it; it's the streamlined griffin from earlier, the one who seemed particularly invested in the big one's speech.
The larger griffin scoffs at him, but he seem to insist as his tone grows more controlled.
The former glares at him, but since the newcomer doesn't give any sign of backing down, he eventually drops me into the snow, where I leave a hole in my shape.
I hear the large griffin make his way through the snow, leaving the scene, and the younger, smaller one coming closer, until he looks down at me, and chatters something between himself.
Then, he chirps at someone else I can't see, and he fishes me out of the freezing hole to place me on his back.
His fur isn't as thick as the others, but it's probably the softest I've ever felt on a griffin.
Before I can realize it, we are back inside the structure, in what must be a deeper side-room, which is completely covered in pelts.
The griffin leaves me on of the latter, and points at me with a commanding look, reminding me of an owner telling their dog to stay put.
I watch as two other burly griffins place down my friends next to me.
Is he ordering them to do all this?
Is he to that big griffin what Loki is to Ulthane?
After that, he gives us one last look, and as soon as a hen enters, which I quickly recognize to be the angry one from last night, he takes his leave.
After a sigh, she starts approaching us with her usual glare.
Then, she stops at Apollo, who she looks down upon with additional disdain before starting to feel his ribs.
He chirps, surprised, but she keeps inspecting him, not caring in the slightest.
«Well, that went horribly wrong.» I comment as I try to figure out what she's doing.
She's not attacking him, that part is certain.
«I didn't notice.» Artemis retorts, visibly annoyed. «We must find another way out.»
«How? Say that by some miracle we manage to slip past them: do you really have the stamina to waddle in that sea of snow? Hoping that a blizzard or a wild animal don't surprise us? Or that they just let us go? We still have no idea what they want from us! Sure, okay, the small human is good at making fires and he doesn't eat much, but you two? You're weaker than them and can't withstand the cold, so you can't hunt nor gather; you're basically just extra mouths to feed!» I exclaim.
«That's true, but to be honest, I care more about seeing my mother's face again. And finding out if she's still alive.»
«For fuck's sake, my ribs are not broken, hen!» Apollo suddenly exclaims as she tries to flip him over to check his chest.
She grumbles, leaving him to approach me.
Is this hen some kind of nurse?
She looks more like somebody that would send you to one...
The hen is about to cover my entire chest, with her paw, raising her eyebrows in some sort of satisfaction.
She's probably relieved that there isn't as much to inspect on my body.
But suddenly, she stops when she smells the air.
I imitate her, and I think I got a small whiff of it too: blood.
She retracts her hand, focused on Artemis.
Now that I can a better look at her, her fur is stained on the cheek.
«You're wounded.» I observe.
«It's nothing. It happened when that guard sent Apollo flying.» she blows it off while the other hen carefully studies the wound.
«I was absorbing the hit.» her brother quickly corrects her.
«I'm not in the mood, Apo-»
As she's about to reply, the nurse licks her cheek, taking her aback.
The hen goes on for a short while, gently holding her chin steady as she does.
Is she disinfecting her, or..?
Throughout the whole process, Artemis does not move a muscle, stunned, not even when the hen retracts to lick her beak, satisfied.
Her expression tells us that our hen has gained an admirer.
Maybe something a little more than that.
Suddenly, a chirp from right behind the entrance breaks the silence, and the hen's eyes widen before her anger returns with a growl.
The lean rooster comes back in, amused.
Then, he adds something that sounds like a tease, irritating her further.
Barely keeping herself from screaming at him, then hen replies accordingly, and leaves.
After one last remark, he turns to us, shrugging.
After that, he slowly places his hand on his chest, and slowly chirps a few syllables of his language.
Then, he points at the entrance with his thumb, and imitates the angry screaming of the hen before giving a few more syllables.
Once done, he points at Apollo.
«I think he gave us his name and the hen's.» I suggest. «Tell him yours in your tongue, Apollo.»
The snow rooster straightens his ears, attentive.
Apollo answers, holding his chest in the same way.
The latter nods, half-closing his eyes as he quietly repeats it.
Then he does the same for Artemis, who seems still taken aback by what happened earlier.
After a few seconds of hesitation, she replies.
He nods again, repeating the sounds fairly accurately.
And finally, after a sigh, he turns towards me.
«Lucas.» I tell him.
He raises his eyebrows, skeptical, but tries nonetheless.
«Rrryùkàhsss...» he utters, focusing on voice control.
He exhales, tilting his head for a second as if to tell himself: "close enough".
I nod, impressed.
He reciprocates the nod, but then turns to the side, leaning to look behind a corner before scoffing.
I follow his eyes, and I end up spotting the fluffy hen spying on us from another entrance.
The rooster calls her over, more tired than angry, as if that were a common occurrence.
The hen meekly approaches us.
He quickly repeats my friends's names while pointing at each of them, until his index ends up against me.
He gives me a discrete glare, and flicks his hand up, probably to say: "speak up".
«Lucas.» I repeat.
«Ryukàss..?» she shyly utters, much more accurately than the rooster.
He rolls his eyes (probably a bit salty), and turns around, ready to leave.
On his way out, he waves at us, and winks just before disappearing out of our sight.
The snow hen is now alone with us.
Wary of my friends, she expectantly stares at me.
«She's quite a scaredy-cat compared to him, isn't she?» Apollo whispers.
«Yep. They are all pretty... interesting, in here.» I agree.
«Sure are.» Artemis comments, absent-minded.
«Do you think the first two are siblings? They look and smell similar...» I observe.
«I would not be surprised. Also, now that I'm repeating their names in my head, they kind of sound like some words from our language. That rooster kind of sounds like "frost", or "fully covered by ice and snow". That pissed off hen sounded like "warm touch", "cuddle", or "ember", which definitely compliments her personality.» Apollo comments.
«Uh. Maybe at some point your language split with your people. That's what happened with us.»
«Could be. Also, hers would be the most straightforward: "rime".»
«As in, the one you'd find in a poem?»
«Pretty sure that one's spelled differently, and no. I'm talking about that thin layer of ice you would find on grass on a Winter morning.»
I stand up, and make my way towards her with my hand up, being very careful not to startle her.
«What are you doing, Lucas?» Apollo then asks me.
«Might as well make a friend, since we're stuck here.»
As soon as I'm within reach, she touches my hand with her beak, curious.
I caress it, trying to gain her trust.
At first, she seems unsure; I don't think she ever experienced this before.
I offer her my other hand, with which I scratch her chin.
A low chatter leaves her beak as she closes her eyes.
"Rime", then?
Now that her head is lower, I can reach its top.
After emitting a whistle of delight, Rime lies down and fluffs up, pushing her skull against my hands.
She's a needy one.
Where else do griffins like to be touched?
Her cheeks?
After the first few scratches, the hen pretty much drops her head in my hands, almost bringing me down with her.
«Now I'm almost jealous.» Apollo comments.
«Your fault for not being as fluffy.» I retort.
«I thought you'd be one for leaner hens, to be honest.»
I glare at him.
«I am not like my mother, Apollo.»
«I was joking.» he retorts, before falling silent. 
I have the ugly sensation that it's not going to last.
«But even if I wasn't, why are you still so mad about it?» he adds, as expected.
I sigh, irritated.
«Imagine that, one day, your mum pulls you aside, and you find yourself in front of a human; then, she says "look, Apollo, this is your daddy"! And then he goes "Hi, Apollo! Back in the day, I fucked your mom, jizzed inside her, and here you are! Ain't that wacky!"» I reply. «How would you feel?!»
«Surprised... Confused... But not this fucking paranoid!»
I turn towards him, taking my hands off the hen.
«"Paranoid"? How so?»
«Accusing my mother of hiding it from you; worrying about what this means for you; treating it like it's going to give you a disease..!»
«Would you fuck a human, Apollo?!»
«What the fuck are you on about?! What does that have to do with anything?!»
«Would you?! 'Cause you're making it sound like you're with Loki on this! Is this a thing all griffins have?! Some weird evolution thing?!» I exclaim, moving towards him.
«Just shut the fuck up! Accept who you are and move on, for fuck's sake!»
«YOU'RE AVOIDING THE QUESTION, APOLLO!!!» I shout.
«That's because it's a fucking stupid one!!!»
«Then why don't you humor me, since you're in the mood for such great jokes such as "lol, fuck the griffin"?! I'm sure-»
«YES!!!» he finally interrupts me, shaking the floor under my feet.
«Yes. I would court one, if I felt attracted to them.» he continues. «Because I see our species as equal. At least on the last part, do you agree?»
A nervous laugh escapes me.
«Fucking hell..!» I say, bringing my hands into my hair.
While walking around, I meet Rime's gaze, who hasn't moved or peeped throughout the whole exchange.
She seems worried as her eyes dart between the rooster and me.
I sit down next to the hen, ignoring the cold biting my ass.
«I mean... "equal" is a big word. We are different. You win in some things, we win in others. "Equal"...»
«Let me rephrase that: am I just a smart, talking animal to you?»
Rime timidly closes her wing on me, covering my body like a thick, warm blanket as I think in silence. 
«No, definitely not; you are my friend.»
He nods.
«So, I am on your par.» he continues.
«Yes..?»
«Loki is smarter than me. Maybe even of Artemis, back here. You could have said something, you know?!» he says, directing the last part towards his sister, who seems to finally return to her senses.
«But...» I try to retort.
«And your mother is smarter than him, trust me on that.» he says. «They are not "sick"; contrary to what my mother said, I believe they made a mistake by not telling you immediately as well.»
«"A mistake"...» I repeat, bitter.
«Yes. A big one too, as it is the ONLY thing fucking you up right now. Trust me on that.»
«Yeah, not me being a freak; that's totally fine!»
He chuckles.
«Arty, do you want to get beaten up by an angry human too?» he says, giving her a nervous smile.
She looks at him for a second, just as confused as I am.
Then she seems to realize what he means.
«If he doesn't kill us in our sleep, our parents and grandpa will.»
«We might die, here..!» he reminds her. «Might as well..!»
She sighs, defeated.
«We are sorry-» she starts, but her brother takes over.
«Between us "freaks"; it's not as bad as you think.»
The image of Loki giving me a vague confession collides with my brain head on.
«I mean, I think there were a few trade-offs here and there; like, I probably will never be able to uproot a tree to swipe away a pack of wolves from my nephews like my grandfather did, but I guess I'm slightly better at math than him..?»
«Apollo, I swear to fucking God: if you're giving me a piece of life-changing information through an unnecessarily convoluted story, I will end you!» I explode.
He hesitates for a second, rearranging his thoughts to survive my hands.
In the meantime, I ponder on his first sentence: "Between us freaks"...
And even before that, Artemis: "our parents", plural; I was told their father died of disease.
Don't tell me..!
«You know Tyler?» he then goes.
«Yeah?» I nod, hanging by his beak.
«He's our dad.»
My eyes widen.
«WHAT?!» I scream, spooking the snow hen, who finds a way to fluff herself up even more.
«See, that's why I was padding that out!» he retorts.
If I weren't so overwhelmed right now, I would strangle him.
«So you... your dad...»
«We are half-human and half-griffin. Just like you.» Artemis concludes.
«Jesus Christ..! How long have you known?!»
«Since... forever; I remember when your mother told us about her possibly having a gryphlet, when we were chicks. I just took it as a part of life, being so young; a luxury you were not given.»
«Why didn't you tell me?! At least you!!!»
«They were all adamant about it, and we made the mistake of believing in their plan, too.»
I let myself sink in the ocean of warm fur around me; aside from being really soft and comforting, it faintly smells like those berries its owner gave me earlier.
Her slow, deep heartbeat is extremely soothing as well...
Being the first pleasant things I've had in a while, they even manage to clear up my thoughts a little bit.
«You know what? Fuck it. Fuck all of it. You assholes are right; there is nothing I can do about it.» I conclude.
«What if I didn't know? Fuck that too! I'm so over all of this, I'm going to-»
The floor starts shaking.
«Lucas..!» Artemis calls me.
As I reemerge from the ocean of fluff, I find myself facing the giant griffin once again, who's staring down at me.
«The fuck does he want now..!» I mutter, still angry.
In response, he drops the flints I used earlier between my feet, alongside some fish.
I look back at him, and he nods towards the other room.
Then, he chatters something to the snow hen, who uses her wing to help me up before standing up herself.
After that, the griffin turns around and leaves without adding anything else.
The hen chatters the twins's names, and gestures at them to follow.
Hesitantly, they stand up.
«Be careful..!» I warn them.
«You too.» Apollo retorts, moving out of the room with the hen, who glances at me right before she turns the corner.
I pick up the flints, and I start walking towards the fire myself.
However, when I step outside, I notice the massive pile of fish resting next to the latter, already curated and ready to be cooked.
By the looks of it, they brought home at least four times my weight in food.
«Are you fucking kidding me..?»


===Jonas=== February 9th 8:00

«Did we really have to stop?!» Ulthane exclaims, finally forcing the hatch open.
«We've already covered over 900 kilometers, and the fuel gauge is whining. If we end up stranded between two stations, you will have to pull the truck forward like an ox.» I retort.
«Here you go, Jonas.» Tyler calls me, handing me a cup of coffee.
«Ah, thanks.»
«Jonas! They passed through here! The owner mentioned a few black vans refueling last night!»
«When exactly?» Ulthane makes me ask.
«Around 1 to 2 AM!»
«What kind of vans were they driving?! That's like, 250 kilometers an hour! Why didn't anyone try to stop them?!» Tyler exclaims.
«Late hours and road to bumfuck nowhere. If they can handle black ice, nobody will be there to care. And if that's the case, they reached Whalepoint long ago.»
«Enough. While you're feeding this metal trap, let's think of a plan of action.» Ulthane interrupts us. «They've got plenty of weapons and three hostages, while we only have two Alphas and three guns.»
«We do?» Tyler asks, surprised.
«Three rifles and fifty griffin-sized tranquilizers.»
«Oh.»
«The latter will stop your puny human heart three times over if you get stung by their needles.» I add.
«OH.»
«So, don't get stung.»
«I'm fine with taking a few hits while you thin their lines. You're a good shot, Jonas.»
Loki emerges too, shivering from the cold but clearly irked.
«No, no, no!» he shivers angrily. «I know what that means! You're just going to dive in head first and end up like a sieve!»
«I don't know what a sieve is, so you don't need to worry about that. Be ready to reach the kids instead.»
«Stop being a dickhead, Ulthane!»
«And you be quiet, chick!»
«Will you fucking calm down?! We need you alive!»
Ulthane glares at him, but remains silent.
«Are you sure this isn't about what happened to Serena back then? That this isn't some sort of personal vendetta?!»
«Yes, I'm sure. I just want the fledglings back and to ensure they won't come after us again.»
«Very convincing. Your exposed hind claws are telling a different story, though.»
«Loki, be quiet and go back inside.» he coldly utters, barely containing a growl.
«And let you repeat what happened after you emerged from the Well?»
«This is different!»
«How so? Because this time you'll do it on purpose?»
In the blink of an eye, Ulthane swings his talons towards his apprentice, stopping just centimeters away from his cheek.
Loki doesn't even flinch.
«You are better than this, my Alpha.» he concludes, going back inside. «Try to remember what your family told you before we left.»
Ulthane's hand slowly falls back to the ground.
In all my years, I can't recall seeing that expression in his eyes. Nor in Loki's.
I remove the nozzle and return it to the pump.
Hopefully, they'll reconcile during the remainder of the journey; or even better, Ulthane will change his mind.
I turn around, down what's left of the coffee, and signal the others to get back inside.
Let's get this over with.


===Lucas=== February 9th 9:40

God. Fucking. Damn.
At this point, I feel like I've cooked half an ocean.
I have pretty much become a samurai with the stick I'm using to flip them, and there is still a large pile left.
It doesn't help that this job is as boring as they get; the only thrill comes from avoiding burning myself when the wind shakes the flames.
I sigh.
I wonder if Apollo and Artemis had more luck.
I turn towards the door, where the snow is being carried in by the wind; no, they're probably freezing their asses off out there.
Hopefully there won't be another blizzard today.
Suddenly... What the hell did Apollo call him again..!
"Frost" waltzes inside, followed by Rime and... "Ember", if I recall correctly.
And right behind them come the twins.
I furrow my eyebrows.
«You guys okay?» I ask.
«Yeah. We were fishing like our mother taught us when we were fledglings, and the big griffin was impressed.» Apollo replies.
«But then, someone rushed up to him, and he left in a hurry with nearly every rooster in the colony, heading who knows where.» Artemis adds.
«I hope he told them to help me with this shit, because I'm at my wit's end here!»
Just as I finish saying that, Rime settles right behind me, swiftly pulling me into her fur.
«Hey! Easy!» I exclaim, caught off guard.
Then, she leans forward, gazing at me upside down.
I can hear her heartbeat once again, and this time, it's notably faster.
Meanwhile, I notice Frost and Ember turning to face Apollo and Artemis, who immediately tense up.
Then, the snow rooster nudges his sister, who lashes out at him, but without any effect.
Clearly annoyed, Ember shifts her attention to Artemis briefly, before redirecting it to Apollo.
In an instant, she seizes his arms and twists him around, causing him to fall onto his back.
As Frost advances, he captures Artemis's attention by lifting her chin with his fingers.
Following that, he playfully nibbles at her neck, making her flinch.
What the hell is happening?!
Rime calls me back with a chirp, and out of nowhere, she closes her beak around my mouth, pushing her tongue inside it.
My mind and body have just disconnected.
Something is awakening inside me.
Something inexplicable, almost primal.
Apollo was right; it wasn't degeneracy.
This must be just how things are.
My hands move to my groin on their own, working to remove its constraints.

===Jonas=== February 9th 9:40

«What the hell?!» Tyler exclaims.
«An avalanche! Shit..!» I follow.
I bring the truck to a halt as soon as the icy road allows it, and the three of us step out.
There are people down there, working to clear the snow; we need to gather information from them!
«Hey! What's going on?!» Tyler asks the first rescuer we encounter.
«A glacier has collapsed. The snow is still unstable, so please, keep your distance!»
A lingering fear starts to coil in my spine.
«Were there any casualties?»
«It's too early to say! The road will be blocked for a while, so if you can, please turn around! There's a turn for White Hall about forty kilometers-»
«Please, someone we know came through here!» Jasmine pleads.
He hesitates.
«Were there black vans among the vehicles you found?» I dare to ask.
He sighs, casting his gaze toward the thousands of tons of snow.
«Yes. Only black vans so far.»
«How many survived?»
He shakes his head in silence.
«None.»
If I felt that punch in the gut, I can't even imagine the impact on Jasmine and Tyler.
I'm too scared to look at them, let alone face Loki and Ulthane.
«Were there a young man, around 18, and a couple of griffins around them?» I ask, pulling him aside.
He shakes his head.
«No, all grown men.»
«I see. Do you-»
«Are they the parents of the boy?» he interrupts, raising the question.
«Yes. It's... a long story. Not that it matters now.»
«To be honest, we might not be able to retrieve all the bodies. Maybe not even his.»
«Why?» I inquire.
«The snow was already disturbed when we arrived. There have been reports of arctic griffins in these parts. Nasty fuckers.»
«So they might have sensed the bodies and gone after them?»
«Hard to say: I've heard of a few feathers being found here and there, but-»
Suddenly, a freezing gust of wind changes direction, sending snow flurries our way.
After it subsides, the back of the truck starts shaking.
«JONAS!!! LET HIM OUT!!!» Loki's voice pierces the air.
I rush back to the truck and open the hatch, from where Ulthane bursts forth, nearly dragging the red griffin out with him.
The nearby rescuers pause to watch as he relentlessly ascends a steep slope.
Once he reaches the top, he declares, «I CAN SMELL THEM!!! THEY WERE HERE!!!»
«I can smell them too!» Loki confirms. «It's extremely faint, but we're on the right track!»
Then, Ulthane turns around and disappears behind the ridge.
«That's a risky path! There are polar bears around here, and it's even colder than down here!» the rescuer warns.
«I've seen him toss a grizzly into a river with his bare hands; he'll be fine. And thanks for the help.»
Finally, I turn to face the newfound glimmer of hope amid the parents' tears.
«Put on the snowshoes; as soon as I gather the supplies, we're following him.»


===Ulthane=== February 9th 9:45

The snow is fresh, but in a few nooks and crannies, their scent lingers.
There were many of them, at least eight.
They are clearly different from us, but there is no mistaking it: I am tracking a group of griffins.
I have to keep my ears down to protect them from the cold wind, which is unlike anything I've ever felt in the Oasis.
Every time I blink, my eyelids feel like they are being frozen shut, and my nostrils sting as the snow hits them.
At least it will carry their fresh scent...
My body freezes on the spot.
The scent..!
Sweet, warm, and far too inviting.
There's no doubt about it: a Well is lurking nearby.
I turn towards the wind, letting it guide me to my target.
A hundred steps later, my perspective shifts slightly, enough for me to notice a crevice in the ground, nearly obscured by the snow.
As I make my way towards its source, the scent grows stronger and sweeter, to the point where it becomes almost nauseating.
Suddenly, the ground creaks underneath my talons, and I realize that directly in front of me, there's a thick layer of ice instead of solid earth.
It must be just below.
I move away just enough snow to reveal the roof of the cavern, and I clench my fist.
I raise my arm as I study the small cracks below the surface, mentally preparing myself to challenge the monster once again.
One deep breath of the freezing air convinces me to get it over with; after the deafening sound of my fists subsides, cracks shoot out from the impact point, dislodging shards of ice that crash below.
As I withdraw my hand, I peer into the hole: a mysterious warm light emanates from the far end of the cavern, which seems to be roughly twice my height in depth.
Enough for a massive griffin to fit through.
I dislodge more ice, widening the entrance enough for me to drop through.
As soon as I land on my feet, a gust of warm air engulfs my feathers.
I look at the light source, and the sight perplexes me:
the Well is in fact there, but it's completely different from any of the others I have seen.
Rather than a series of tunnels covered in vines and flowers, in the middle of the room lies a relatively small patch of bushes filled with large, almost luminescent clusters of orange berries, surrounding what looks like a decently sized pond of steaming hot water.
It's as though Summer itself has hidden in this very cave.
The latter, as expected, is shimmering.
But where is the central hole?
It seems very much "alive", so I think it has yet to seal someone in.
This could give humans a chance to study it.
I turn around, ready to climb out, when an eerie, foreboding sound emanates from all around me.
I recognize it: it's the "song of the ice"; I heard it in a past Alpha's memory while he was standing next to a glacier.
Calming down, I turn my attention back to the hole in the ceiling.
However, another noise takes its place immediately after, and this time, a chill runs down my spine.
Something just breached the surface of the pond.
I turn around, ready to face the threat, but its nature causes me to freeze in place; the radiant white plumage, the silver beak... the golden eyes.
I instantly recognize her: she's the hen who lured me into the Well sixty years ago.
The sparkling fluids flow off her feathers as if they had a mind of their own, leaving her in perfect condition.
And eventually, she notices me.
Initially, she appears disoriented, as if struggling to remember me.
Suddenly, the pond flashes, and after a brief, vacant gaze, she smiles.
«Hello, Ulthane. I did not expect to see you here.» she greets me.
My body trembles.
I am not sure if it's the cold, the anger, or the tension, but that smile is summoning all of my darkest emotions.
The wariness in her eyes does not help.
But at least now I know she wasn't an hallucination, even if that only raises more questions.
That also means I can hurt her.
«You look healthy. How is Loki?» she inquires.
«This time, there are no chicks to trick in here.» I ignore her question, approaching with caution.
Who knows what she might be capable of.
She narrows her eyebrows, still mildly disoriented.
«Chicks..? Where..?»
But in an instant, she regains her composure.
«Then we can talk like adults.» she finally retorts.
What was that..?
«I fail to see why you would have come this far north; you are not one for sightseeing...»
«None of your business. Now wither and die, before I uproot you.»
She raises a brow in response, skeptical.
«Maybe there is still a chick left, after all.» she scolds me.
«Talk all you want; I know Alphas are immune to the Well's influence.» I retort, stopping a few steps away from her.
«Are you sure about that? Have you seen it in the memories of your predecessors, or is it just what you have chosen to believe?» she teases me.
My instincts are yelling at me: despite her strange torpor, I am in serious danger.
The glowing things in the water seem restless; I can't let her bring me into the pond, no matter what.
«Who are you, exactly?»
«I asked you something first, Ulthane. I might be able to help you, if you let me.»
For a second, I consider my options.
I despise the Well and everything it brings, but its knowledge his pretty much limitless; it might have information on the arctic griffins I have yet to obtain.
«Hm... For the Alpha to leave his colony to his apprentice, it must be something incredibly important. I learned from Loki that you have a daughter to whom you're extremely attached; is it about her?» she wonders in the meantime.
«But no; that was almost twenty years ago, so she can surely handle herself now... Ah, wait; maybe her half-human children ran away from home? But it's so far away...»
«Enough!» I interrupt her.
No, I can't trust her; the more I look at her, the more I doubt I'm even talking to a real griffin.
«I hit the nail on the head, didn't I? Or I got close enough, at least.» she comments. «Thinking about it, I find it hard to believe they ran all this way on their own; humans carried them here, same as you, or you would be in a way worse shape-»
«Are you done?!» I finally growl, my plumage standing up on its own.
She smiles in response, trying to hide her tension.
«Sorry; I got carried away. I just like finding things out; it's what kept me alive all this time, after all. And what will ensure my survival.»
«Don't count on it.» I comment, starting to think on how to get rid of her.
Despite barely reaching my shoulders and keeping all of my movements under scrutiny, her stance is open and confident.
Those shiny, translucent feathers of hers might be hiding some kind of weapon; touching her might be dangerous, too.
Making the cave collapse would take too long; she would just vanish back inside the Well.
«Why all the hostility? Have I not been helpful to your colony?» she retorts, giving me a look of disdain.
«Even if you could kill me, it would not give you back the Lost Ones-»
Right... It was her..!
Before she can utter another word, I rip a large ice spike out of the ground, and I hurl it straight at her.
Despite being pissed beyond belief, I still notice the unsettling calm and stillness she displays as the sharp projectile reaches her body, splitting her skull wide open.
She doesn't even attempt to dodge.
Her legs buckle, and her body descends into the shallow pool.
But the most chilling part, is that there is nothing inside her.
No blood streaming down, no brains spilling out.
Just glimmering fluid coming out of weird materials vaguely reminiscent of flesh and bone.
Now I'm scared.
«Don't you dare talk about them as if they were currency..! I don't know what kind of monster you are, but I will protect my successors from you, even if it costs me my own life!» I growl despite the paralyzing dread coursing through me. «As soon as I get the chicks back, I will have the humans turn this deathtrap into a pile of ashes!»
Suddenly, the ice beneath her carcass starts to melt, revealing a deep, dark hole, apparently bottomless.
«Don't leave; this discussion isn't over. Allow me to bring someone you will listen to...» she comments, finally sinking out of sight.
Once her glow disappears into the depths, the entire pond starts boiling.
I ready myself for the fight, my eyes pointed towards the figure who's about to emerge.
Another white griffin breaks the surface of the water.
A male, I would say we'll past his hundreds.
His golden crest distracts me long enough for me to recognize him, almost stopping my heart on the spot.
When I manage to peer into his gray eyes and to see the glowing of the Well in his pupils, I finally find the voice to call him.
«Horus..!»


===Lucas=== February 9th 9:45

Despite our massive difference in size, Rime is just as "excited" as I am.
Can she sense that I'm half griffin?
I can't think of any other explanation to why she would be licking my neck and face so relentlessly, constantly chirping like a needy chick.
As soon as I feel her talons sting my belly, trying to get past my jacket, I instinctively fight to lift them.
The spot where her tongue touches my abdomen feels on fire compared to the cold air around us, making me eager for its stroke.
Despite everything, my dick is harder and larger than ever before, already leaking fluids.
Sure, I'm a virgin, so I'm not surprised my reaction is this violent; but to a griffin?
That's not dependent on my nature; if Apollo told the truth, this happened to Tyler as well.
So then, why was Umbra attracted to him in the first place?
Has it something to do with imprinting?
Is there a deeper reason, which also explains why we could have children?
I flinch when she finally moves to my glans; her tongue must have the same small hooks as a cat's, because its texture is somewhat coarse.
Once she's had enough of my pre-cum, her large fingers quickly envelop my body, and she turns me around to force me deeper into her fur, towards her groin.
After that, she turns on her back, letting most of her fluff fall downwards.
Four hills form on her abdomen, which must be her breasts.
I'm kind of curious on how they feel, but my arms are trapped...
An extremely warm liquid touches my tip, reminding me why she pulled this maneuver in the first place.
The hen looks at me expectantly, and she opens her thumb, now covering my body rather than constricting it.
I manage to take a small step back to check the situation; I move the fur around her hindquarters, and to no one's surprise, she is leaking.
Christ, I thought something like this could only happen in porn!
I stop to actually understand her anatomy; aside from it's unmistakable shape, her... femininity looks nothing like I've seen before.
Aside from its size, large enough to comfortably fit my hand in, her pinkish lips are thick and slightly protruding from her groin, gradually becoming redder towards the... hole.
I should have paid more attention during sex ed.
Well, it probably wouldn't have helped me finding the clitoris in here... 
Wait, could that be it?
Right above what must be... Uh... the urethra?,
I try stimulating the skin around it with my fingers, and she chirps in surprise, dangerously moving her clawed paws around me.
Christ..!
If I'm not careful, she will destroy me!
Still... its smell is oddly inviting, like a faint mixture of those orange berries and white moss.
As I finally caress it with my tongue, she trembles as she slowly falls back, chattering out her pleasure as her hind-paws contract, revealing her huge claws for a few seconds at a time.
Her fingers repeatedly grasp the air, falling back onto her chest every time.
Wait... Is she playing the piano?! Like a house cat?
The only thing missing from the picture would be-
Before I can finish thinking it, an earthquake travels through my skull as she starts purring.
It's so loud that it even made Frost and Ember turn around.
The latter seems almost jealous when she realizes what's happening.
Well, it could be because Apollo looks like he has reached an higher plain of existence, so she's pretty much just riding him on her own, unimpressed to say the least.
The fact that she's some kind of doctor doesn't help, as it probably means that's she's seen plenty (and bigger, given the difference in size between the two species).
She might have "taken the opportunity" with some of them, too, given how nonchalant she is about the whole thing.
Rime takes my attention back by loudly chirping and humping, pushing my head away.
That must have been enough foreplay for her.
Well, here goes nothing...
I climb onto her belly and cling onto her fur, trying to line myself up with her hole as I wonder how the hell I'm going to avoid the classical "sausage in a hallway" situation.
After a little bit of searching, I find myself inside her; if geysers were made out of flesh, they would be Rime's walls: wet, soft, and BLAZING HOT.
It's also pretty much as wide as I expected, but judging by how much it's pulsating, I think I've actually landed on the right spot.
Continuing my lucky streak, I manage to rest my feet on her legs, so I can start moving without destroying my abs with fatigue.
I guess we are set.
Damn..!
«Alright, girl. As long as the big man doesn't eat me afterwards..!» I comment, pulling back out before pushing my rod in.


===Ulthane=== February 9th 9:46

«Stay away!!! I'm kidding; come closer, Ulthane! RAAAAAAAH!!!» Horus contradicts himself, clawing his own face.
«How... How are you...»
«It's not... me..!» he growls, slowly getting over himself.
«I am just memories stuffed inside an imitation..!»
This feels just like when he first told me about the Well; I am shocked and in total disbelief.
«Listen to me! The Well is busy preparing itself to face you; this is the only reason why I'm able to speak almost freely!» he continues.
«Do not touch the Well's blood, or anything that's inside it! For no reason whatsoever! Listen to what I have to say, then leave as fast as you can!»
«Is it that hen? What is she?!» I ask, hoping he knows her weakness.
«Borea, the first victim of the Well; the first Alpha..! Or what's left of her..!» he exclaims.
«It devoured her lost chicks and lured her in..! Now listen..!»
My ears are straightened, but my eyes are focused on the bushes as they rapidly wither.
What's happening? Is it giving up on this hiding spot?
«The Well... The Wells are nothing! They're just the surface..! They're just its flowers!!!» he exclaims, as if going mad.
«This... This monster..! It's too big..! It has always been there! Everywhere!!! It cannot be killed! Not by griffin, nor by man!»
«What are you talking about?! What are we dealing with, Horus?!»
«It wants humanity! It NEEDS it! It's its real target!» he desperately growls the answer, twitching as if he had to force that information out of his skull.
«Keep them away from it! Protect the humans from it!»
«Why-»
«LEAVE!!!» he suddenly roars, shaking the entire cavern.
The roots must be hidden underneath the ice..!
«Lucas..! I need to get him out of here!»
Horus's eyes widen, and the blood vessels in his eyes start glowing.
«What have you done..! No..! ULTHANE!!!»
Before I can react, he dislocates his arm and launches it against my neck, letting his talons pierce through it.
My body..! I can't move! The Well has regained control!!!
«Of course..! Loki's child must have been born long ago! Being part griffin, he's the perfect human to start with!» it speaks through him.
Then it looks at me with a grin.
«Fear not, Ulthane; I need you alive! I'll make sure Loki knows what I want and where to find you!»
«I will... destroy you!!!» I growl, gritting my beak as my body fights to reamin on its feet.
«There is no need for that; once I get ahold of them, I will not need to lure you in anymore. You will just need to let me have some once the flower appears.» it retorts. «It shouldn't be a problem; after all, they outnumber you 900 to one.»
«What do you even need them for?! Horus said you're immortal!»
I have to at least know what it's plan is..! That way, it might end up in the memories of the past Alphas and reach Loki if I die..!
The Well sighs.
«He didn't say I was "immortal"; he said I couldn't be killed, which is true, as things stand. Unless you want to bring down most of this world with me...» it calmly explains, as if it owed me this information.
«Speak clearly..!»
«I'll let you have a look for yourself; that will be easier.»
As it's done saying that, my vision goes black, yet... I can see everything.
No; FEEL everything.
It's as if I was covered in an extremely thick layer of fur, preventing me from moving, yet allowing me to perceive the "touch" of what I know are the footsteps of a human and a dog, their weight, their pace and distance from each other.
I can also feel rain and hail trying to reach me, and the sun warming my covers.
Suddenly, a flash, and a dark sphere appears in front of me, decorated by a pattern I know I have seen before...
On the human maps! That must be the world!
A faint, glowing web spreads through the globe like a vine.
«I've been here a long time, Ulthane. Longer than humanity. Longer than your kin.» the Well continues inside my head.
«Even longer than life as you know it.»
A series of tastes start filling my mouth; I can tell it's supposed to be the meat of different creatures, but I'm pretty sure I have never even seen what they belong to.
«At first, it was easy; make a good smell, something falls in. Most ancient animals were idiots, so it was easy enough... Until they disappeared, which was not a time I fondly look back to.»
Eventually, a dreadful taste fills my mouth, one that I hate recognizing: griffin flesh.
«Then, you came. Griffins were geniuses, for the time. You and humans, but being so small, they weren't worth the additional effort.» it explains.
«I had to change my game; I started by luring gryphlets in, so that their parents would come in, looking for them. Calm down, Ulthane; I soon learned what you like, so I stopped. Mostly because you started to watch your cubs like you do today with your eggs, but that's not the point. You can thank Borea for that: she had an illness I had already seen on another animal, so she managed to "win".»
«Get to the fucking point, already..!» I think, but I have no voice to say it out loud.
«To think YOU told Loki HE needed to learn patience... But I'm almost done.» it still replies.
«You see, I had planned to use her as bait, manipulating her to bring the others to me, but as you can imagine, I failed.
Even today I can barely use her to her full potential.
However, without her illness, she regained her strength and speed, becoming able to better provide for her colony.»
The horrible taste turns to something close to a deer.
«Your ancestors multiplied. They lived longer and healthier. They thought they had been blessed. But Borea clearly didn't. She warned them about me, about my flowers, or "Wells", as you call them. And her gift was speaking to the heart of her people, so more than 200 years passed before another griffin came to me.»
The Well seems frustrated as it recalls.
«At about the same time, Borea died of old age, and the part of me I gave her came back. To my own surprise, it carried some of her memories. Not enough to do much with on their own, but they were a start.» it continues.
«After a few more attempts, a new Alpha was born, and with it, more griffins that would have eventually repaid my efforts.»
For a few seconds, the Well is silent.
«It sounds like I had won life, right? For a long time, I thought so.» it then breaks the silence.
«Make an Alpha, let it bring prosperity to its kin, get your share of unworthy ones, over and over again; simple and effective.»
"You are really... REALLY pissing me off..!"
«Right, sorry about that.» it gives an empty apology.
«Then, one of your predecessors learned something that shook me down to my roots: life on Earth will come to an end.»
For the first time, the monster seems fearful.
«Both him and the human he learned it from laughed it off; "a problem for someone who might never be born", they said. Two billion years... who can be afraid of that, if not a child?»
Then it whispers in my head «ME, Ulthane. I will be there when that happens. I will witness the end of the world. And that FUCKING scares me!» it exclaims, finally losing its cool.
«So, to finally answer your question: I want the humans to take me with them. They are already preparing to spread to other worlds. I can help them; with enough time, I can maintain thousands of square kilometers of forests for them. Help them spread and preserve their knowledge better than those awful contraptions of theirs.»
Suddenly, I am back in the ice cave, Horus's talons still inside my neck.
«All I ask for, is for a safe place to live, and for some food..! Am I really the villain here?!»
«Borea didn't ask for your help. Neither did Horus, nor Loki, nor me.» I coldly reply.
«You valued yourself over so many lives, I would not be able to feel pity for you even if I wanted to. For all I care, you can die tomorrow. And I sincerely doubt the humans would want you taking their children to get something they already know.»
The Well gives me an icy glare.
«We'll see about that, Ulthane. Now, to warn Lo-»
Before it can finish, a low thud echoes through the cavern.
As it turns around, Loki's talons run in front of me, slicing Horus's forearm clean off before kicking him back with his hind-legs.
«ULTHANE, MOVE!!!» he yells.
As if his will took over the monster's, my mind reconnects to my body, and I pull Horus's talons out of my neck.
«Run! Get to safety! No, please!!! Come back! Save me, I beg you!!!» Horus's words fight against the Well's.
As I help Loki up, I look back at the old griffin, who's slowly sinking back into the Well, with an apologetic look on his face.
«Your daughter is sorry for abandoning you.» I tell him.
«Rest in peace, my Alpha.»

«GO BACK!!!» I yell as soon as I see Jonas and the others rushing along Loki's trail.
«THERE IS A WELL IN THERE!!!»
But as we get halfway to them, a thunder echoes from behind us, and a swarm of shadows blocks the sun.
«TAKE COVER!!!» Loki screams.
A piece of ice bounces off my back, followed by a thousand others that pierce the snow all around us.
I protect my head with my wings, waiting for it to be over before I turn around.
And when I do, I find a cloud of snow and ice dust enveloping the area under which the Well used to be.
«What happened?!» Loki asks, in disbelief.
Suddenly, the ground briefly shakes.
And it shakes again.
And again.
And again, following a rhythm.
«Footsteps..!» I realize.
«The Well brought back something else!»
And when his figure appears through the mist, my beak opens on its own; the size of that griffin alone is intimidating.
Him being an Alpha makes him scary.
Knowing who he is makes him downright terrifying.
«Holy shit! He's huge! And what are those feathers?! They look like scales!» Tyler exclaims.
«Ymir, the strongest Alpha who ever lived. In his more than 400 winters of rule, nothing and no one, man or griffin, has ever defeated him.» I explain for Jonas to tell them.
«How do we deal with him?» Jasmine asks.
I shake my head.
«His crimson plumage is almost impenetrable, and his strength is insurmountable; if you end up between his talons, he will turn you into a bloodstain.» I explain.
«Luckily, he is fairly slow; Loki and I will try to hold him back while you get away.»
«But what if he gets YOU?» Jonas adds to the end of his translation.
«Ulthane! There is someone else!» Loki calls me.
As the snow settles, I see the two other figures he mentioned; a male and a female, one smaller than the other, especially when so close to Ymir.
But I know full well that they were also Alphas; respectfully, Zeus, the giant's predecessor, and Yara, his successor, and Horus's teacher.
«Humans, keep your eyes on the hen with the moss-like coat! Loki, do not let the rooster with the patchy feathers follow her! And don't touch him!» I say, rushing forward.
«HOW?!» the rooster exclaims.
How should I know?!
One mistake on my part, and Feathermane Oasis passes down to you; do not let us down, Alpha!
Unexpectedly, Ymir spreads his colossal wings, and he uses them to lift a cloud of snow with every flap.
The small blizzard he created makes moving through the snow even harder.
Furthermore, I manage to spot Yara and Zeus as they run forward, their lighter bodies having way less trouble in this environment.
I had figured that would have happened, but this only reinforces what my objective is; for now, I need to get out of Ymir's wind.
Covering my face with my hand, I spot a small path leading behind a long crown of rocks.
Without even turning around to check on the others, I bolt down that route, keeping myself low; I don't think the giant noticed me through the snow.
Even now, his wings are casting a shadow on me; how can I get rid of something so large?!
I see a particularly tall rock leading right in front of me; if I can get high enough, I could manage to take out his eyes.
That would be a start...
Once at the right distance to prevent him from reacting properly while allowing me to get a good running start, I jump on the rocks, freeing myself from the snow's vice.
He hasn't noticed me yet.
Or is he faking it? I am black on a white background...
No matter; I have to do it before he can charge the others!
A nervous chuckle escapes my beak as the tall rock draws near; is this what the others feel like when they're around me?
As soon as I step on the rock, Ymir finally spots me, and turns his head towards me.
I extend my hind claws as I get ready to jump, anticipating his wings before they move again and blow me away.
Suddenly, though, he closes his eyes, letting his armored eyebrows fall in front of them.
A roar filled with panic escapes my beak as I grab onto his massive head, trying to pry his eyes open with my talons.
However, they do not move an inch.
This is fucking unreal! His damn eyelids are more powerful than my arms?!
I pull with my whole body, but I'm just moving his head slightly back.
There must be more to them; it's physically impossible for his neck to be weaker than his eyes!
Ymir starts jerking his body back and forth, trying to shake me off.
I try striking him with my talons, but as expected, they just bounce off his scales without leaving as much as a scratch.
Maybe I can break the bone beneath?
I dodge his hand as it comes for me, and I stop right at the base of his wings; even if he rolls over, he shouldn't be able to knock me off or to crush me.
I rise on my hind-legs and strike his spine as hard as I can.
Ymir slightly arches his head back, feeling the blow.
I don't think I've caused any damage yet, but with enough persistence, I can definitely break it!
One more time.
The hit resounds through his chest, and his legs bend.
Before he has a chance to recover, I raise my fists once again.
I have to keep going! It's wor-
Unexpectedly, I find myself pressed against his back for a couple of seconds, and falling through the air for the next.
The fucker jumped despite all of his absurd weight! Is he really THAT strong?!
As he pulls back his wing, a chill runs down my spine as I realize what's about to happen, and I try to protect myself with my arms and legs.

First, it was the wind; the sheer pressure of the air he moved pushed me back before that wall of scaly feathers even reached me.
When it did, I think my mind was disconnected from the rest of my body, because I'm still unsure on whether I'm alive or not.
Had he hit me with the edge of his wing, I would have died on the spot.
For how long was I out?
My limbs are still aching from parrying that blow, but I don't think I have broken any bones.
I stand back up with the help of the rocks I was hurled against, and I look at the red giant standing forty meters away.
I notice that he's staring back at me, emotionless.
He knows I am about to try again; it's not like I have a choice.
But what can I do?


===Artemis=== February 9th 9:50

He's... he's massive..!
This is so weird..! It hurts, but it feels good, too!
Is this what mating is like..?
I can hear Frost's sweetly chirp in my ear; I'm not sure if he's courting me or just reassuring me.
His body is lightly pushing down on my own, enveloping it in his soft, white fur.
I feel one of his large hands cover mine as he gently licks my cheek.
Why is he doing this?
We barely talked to each other... he can't be in love.
Is it like mum? Started as curiosity and blossomed into attraction?
Are they trying to welcome us as their own? By-
Wait..! If he..! I will get..!
I manage to turn towards Apollo; he seems unable to even move as Ember... mates with him..!
«Apollo..!» I try to call him, struggling to even form his name.
He does not respond in any way.
Ember turns towards me, worried.
Frost slows down, probably concerned about my whimpers.
He's not doing it out of malice, or he would not be this caring.
I'm about to protest, but a strange, blissful sensation rapidly courses through my body, turning my words into a shrill chirp, and all of my muscles tense up at once, before relaxing immediately after as my insides clench his rod, letting me feel every detail of its shape.
My arms tremble and bend, bringing my chest down.
My raised rear feels wet, and it's now pushing back against him on its own.
For some reason, Frost's thrust feel stronger now, even if the pain is gone and he hasn't changed his pace.
My eyes are drawn towards Ember, who seems to be still staring at me intently.
Her beak is partially open, a sign that maybe she's come to enjoy Apollo, in the end.
Still, that look, combined with her lean, strong figure...
My mind keeps conjuring the warm touch of her tongue on my cheek.
That confident, satisfied look on her face...
I swallow a drop of saliva as I look at her.
Then, something between a grin and a welcoming smile shines on her beak, and she grabs Apollo's hind-legs.
After that, she begins to move forward, sitting up on her tail to drag him like a human with a cart, and she stops in front of her own brother, right above me.
For a few seconds, she looks down at me, making me feel pleasantly uneasy.
And out of nowhere, she lowers herself to my level, instantly crossing our beaks and tongues in one single motion.


===Loki=== February 9th 9:50

How am I supposed to beat someone without touching them?!
Suddenly, Ymir beats his wings, creating a thick fog around Ulthane.
Be careful, you damn old cock..!
I spot the rooster as he exits the fog, so I rush to intercept him.
With the corners of my eyes, I try to find the hen, but she seems to have disappeared inside the fog.
She couldn't have gone after Ulthane, could she?
Would she even be able to compete with him?
Ah! Focus, damn it!
The griffin has changed his trajectory, and he's clearly engaging me.
At first glance, I'm fairly taller and larger; is this an Alpha?
Ulthane seemed to recognize him...
Also, what's up with his feathers? Why are they so patchy-
No: what's up with his SKIN?!
We both screech to an halt, and begin studying each other.
Or at least, I study HIM; his grey eyes seem pretty hollow.
The stripes of uncovered "skin" - if you can call that rough, burn-like stuff that - run all over his body like veins, imitating the yellow streaks on his hazel fur.
For some reason, it looks oddly familiar...
"Do not touch him"...
Just what can this rooster do?
Thinking I'm no threat, he's about to resume his charge, when I swiftly swipe at his leg to stop him.
I immediately see stars, so I instinctively jump back, my entire arm feeling numb.
I glance at it, but nothing seems out of the ordinary.
Not even the shadow of a cut.
Fucking shit..! That REALLY hurt!
What did he do?! Was he faster than me?!
No, he has a deep cut on his leg; he would have easily avoided or deflected my talons, with that kind of speed.
At least now he's considering me.
I bend my limbs, growling as I prepare for the real battle.
This time, I have to pay attention to what he actually does.
As soon as he raises his talons off the ground, I anticipate him and strike his beak with the back of my hand.
This time, I didn't feel a thing.
Did I pinch my own nerve, or something?
To my surprise, the rooster opens up his stance, leaving more of his body exposed.
My entire body is chanting Ulthane's warning, begging me not to attack this Alpha.
But what else am I supposed to do? Have a staring contest?!
He's not nearly as fast as I thought; I can go straight for his throat!
But... Can I really kill one of my own people?
I step forward, staring into his soulless eyes.
No; this is not a griffin.
He's just like the monster who tried using me to drag Jasmine into the Well.
He... no, IT needs to die!
Finally, I extend my arm, my talons open and ready to tear.
But as soon as I pierce his flesh, the same pain hits me again, even stronger than before.
What's worse, is that it lasted way longer as well, leaving me vulnerable for one second too long.
The Alpha digs his talons into my arm, leaving an extremely deep scratch before I even manage to move it.
I scream in pain, pulling my talons back as I drag some of his weird skin with them.
I am bleeding profusely; I need to end this quickly..!
A weird stinging comes from the tip of my talons, where his flesh got stuck, but it's slowly fading.
Is he poisonous?
No, it wouldn't just go away without leaving a mark...
Wait..!
Now I remember; this skin looks just like that fish's, the one that uses lightning as a weapon!
Jasmine showed it to me once; an... "eel", I think..?
Well, if that's his trick, I've already made a step forward by discovering it.
Now, how the fuck do I kill him?
How do you stop lightning?
Right; you don't.
It has to fall somewhere.
But as long as it's not on me..!
Under an alcove behind him, I notice a line of massive icicles hanging from the rocky ceiling, the size of a grown man; I need to get around him.
I have to be quick; if I give him my back, he could either go for Jasmine and the others, or strike me with his power from behind.
Also, I need to find a way to stop the bleeding as soon as I can!
I swiftly drag my talons across the ground, launching as much snow as I can into his eyes.
Then, I bolt, dodging his blind swipes as he tries to follow the sound of my steps.
After that, I jump on the alcove and grab onto the first icicle that ends between my fingers, snapping it off with little effort.
I look back at the monster, who must have just recovered his sight, since he turns to face me just as I am about to run the spike through his side.
I shiver for a second when I feel the ribs between which it's traveling through crack, and again when the spike emerges from his back, piercing his wing.
I got at least one of his lungs; there is no way he's getting up from that!
As I let him fall to the ground, I study my surroundings; Ymir is still moving forward, and there is no trace of the hen or the humans.
Suddenly, I see Ulthane climb up a rock and jump the giant griffin, getting his attention with a roar.
Their difference in size is absurd; there is no way he can overpower him alone!
I move forward, watching my Alpha desperately pound his fists against Ymir's back, unable to reach him with his talons.
This is even worse than the other griffin!
I stop in disbelief when the red giant bends his limbs and lifts himself up in a jump, launching Ulthane up in the air with the momentum.
When Ymir hits the ground, a small shock-wave shakes the earth beneath my paws, tipping stones and moving the snow.
Ulthane has barely the time to curl himself into a ball that he gets hit by the former's wing, which flings him across the icy plain, out of sight.
«ULTHANE!!!» I call him, ready to go help him, when I hear Jasmine scream.
But as I turn around to check, I find my adversary holding the same spike I impaled him with.
«WHAT THE FUCK?!» I curse as I barely manage to push the latter away.
Instinctively, I block his backhand, which gives me another shock, almost preventing me from ducking to dodge a swing of the icicle.
As I glance at him, I see the background through the hole in his chest.
Is the blood loss affecting my brain?!
There is no blood, not on the spike, not on his wounds..!
This... What kind of monster is this?!


===Lucas=== February 9th 9:55

If girls feel like this, it's no wonder we are almost 9 billion..!
Her grooves pummel my glans every time I move, making me thank the lubricant they are coated by, as my dick would probably be sawdust without it.
The contractions are scarily powerful; I feel like she could squeeze my cock into a straw, if she wanted to!
Thankfully though, she seems to be enjoying herself; her beak is parted, panting out clouds of steam like a chimney, and her hands are back at playing the piano.
Is she going to come, eventually?
I am definitely not far from it; if our sizes were closer to each other, I would have definitely finished a long time ago.
Is she going to get mad if I beat her to it?
I'm pretty sure I would to have to take a break if I did, so that would ruin the momentum.
Maybe she would not kill me, but given how horny she is, she definitely wouldn't take kindly to it.
Maybe, if I aim for the clitoris again...
I feel my way down towards it once again, and as soon as I start to rub it, soft cries join the clouds of steam.
A quick series of pulses from her walls take me by surprise, and bring the beginning of my end as something slowly but steadily starts moving through the base of my shaft.
One final series of shrieks, and her walls seal my dick in, squeezing it repeatedly to hold me in place as I finally finish inside her.
«Christ..! Rime..!» I exclaim, but she is in her own world.
Did she actually come?
I guess I survived this one; but the next?
I turn towards the others, and somehow, I'm surprised when I see Artemis and Ember passionately making out.
I mean, it was obvious that the snow hen "liked" her, but to this extent..!
A sudden contraction from Rime brings my focus back on her.
«Alright, that's starting to hurt! I'm pulling out...» I let her know.
Once I actually do it, though, the bridge made by our fluids makes me realize that I just came inside a fertile hen.
With fertile eggs.
The twins's father is a human that came inside a fertile hen containing fertile eggs.
Exactly like I did less than a minute ago.
Oh, fuck..!


===Jonas=== February 9th 9:50

«Retreat! RETREAT!!!» I call Jasmine and Tyler, as I ready my rifle.
«We can't leave our backs unprotected! Get inside a crack in the ice!»
The hen has disappeared in the cloud Ymir lifted; that must be Yara!
My grandfather told me stories about her and her camouflaging abilities; if we let down our guard, she will pick us off one by one!
«How do we help our griffins if we hide?!» Jasmine exclaims.
Tyler grabs her hand as he runs, forcing her to follow.
«Not by being torn to shreds by an enemy one! Let's go!!!» he retorts, heading for the first shelter he sees, a small cave under a thick slab of ice.
As I run after them, I try to listen for footsteps behind me, or to notice new prints in the snow.
She doesn't seem to be following us, not from that direction, at least.
Having spent my entire life with them, I have always been thankful that they do not see us as prey; we would need the army to fight back.
Despite being one of the closest humans to them, I've always had that fear quietly lingering in the back of my mind, probably from seeing them butcher their prey as a child.
At least that mentally prepared me for this.
I slide into the cave, where I crouch, rifle still in my hands.
«Okay. Forget about Ymir; dart rifles are useless against him.» I whisper.
«What if you shoot him in the eyes? He won't expect it!» Jasmine retorts.
«From this distance? I'm good, but not THAT good. If Ulthane doesn't find a way to take him down, we are done for.»
«And "Scabies", over there? Can Loki deal with him alone?» Tyler asks.
«He will have to; as long as Yara is out there, the best we can do is keep her off their back.» I reply.
«Now be quiet.»
I close my eyes, trying to listen for footsteps through the sound of the ice and their breathing.
She has not given up; I can feel it in my bones.
But for how long can we hide from the greatest hunter the Oasis has ever seen?
I gather my thoughts; I have no idea who Zeus, the third griffin, is, but he was far smaller than Loki, and given the latter's speed and intelligence, he may actually have a good shot at winning.
After that, though, will he act on instinct an go after Ymir to save Ulthane, or will he track us?
Realistically, he could easily defeat Yara in an open brawl, but whether he comes to save us or not, the strongest Alpha is still the biggest threat, literally and figuratively.
As strong and fierce as Ulthane is, I just cannot see him win, even with Loki's help.
He might be able to take a couple of hits from the giant, but our only way out seems fleeing from him, and getting enough help to take it down would require way too much time, hindering our search for Lucas and the others further.
A soft crackling from above forcefully takes me back from my thoughts.
I lift my hand, calling for absolute silence.
I hold my breath, taking advantage of the few seconds of quiet to listen for more warnings, before my heartbeat takes over.
Was that just our body heat disturbing the ice?
I turn around to look at the others, when a white arm pierces the ceiling and starts searching around, its taloned fingers ending up clenching Jasmine's arm within one second.
Getting ahold of himself surprisingly quickly, Tyler grabs his shovel and strikes Yara's arm with its edge, digging the latter into her bicep.
However, out of reflex, the griffin clenches, and a snap loudly echoes inside our hideout, immediately followed by the woman's deafening scream.
«THE THUMB!!!» I shout as I pull her back, trying to expose the finger he has to aim for.
Luckily, Tyler strikes true, and Yara's thumb bends backwards, no bone left to keep it closed.
I quickly lay Jasmine on the ground, out of the griffin's reach.
Tyler strikes her hand again, chopping her thumb clean off with a growl.
As I push him away from a swipe of her talons, I immediately notice the lack of blood from the severed finger.
Her lack of a reaction to her wounds is also unnatural; is this another power of the Well?
Of course, I certainly did not expect them to be back from the dead like Jesus Christ himself, but this is straight up terrifying!
And what's worse, the ice is slowly caving in; at this rate, she will crush us!
«Tyler, give me the shovel and immobilize Jasmine's arm! Use the kit in my backpack!» I order.
As he passes it to me, I crawl out of the hole, praying she isn't waiting for me at the entrance, and I run around the cliff with my head down, hoping that Jasmine's cries will cover the sound of my footsteps.
Whether she can feel pain or not, if I manage to break her neck, she should at least stop moving.
If that fails, striking her limbs seems the only way out, but the more I consider that option, the more it feels like a childish hope.
The first thing I see is her tail, swaying as she brings her body forward to reach back down the hole she made.
I take a deep breath, calming my mind before striking the prey, like Ulthane taught me long ago.
Focus.
Lock onto your target.
Show mercy: one single strike to end it.
Without any more hesitation, I charge Yara.
Once I dodge her tail, I jump onto her back, holding the base of her wing tight within my left hand and her sides between my legs, trying to prevent her from unsaddling me.
By the time her reflexes properly kick in, I have already struck the spot where her spine and skull meet twice.
There is no doubt about it: she does not feel pain.
The huntress begins shaking wildly, jumping, and rolling into the snow, but this isn't my first time wrestling a griffin, so I manage to hang on.
When I push on it, her spine moves under her skin; I broke it, yet she's still going!
What the fuck!
Her neck is way too thick for me to cut through; do I really have to get her limbs?
«LOKIIIIII!!!» I desperately call him.
Yara seems to be having trouble moving her head, but her body is still twisting and turning wildly.
I strike her shoulder, but the bone is too resilient for me to effectively damage it.
There is no way I can reach her elbow to hit that weak spot!
«LOKIIIIII!!! HELP US!!!»


===Artemis=== February 9th 9:52

This is..!
It shouldn't feel this good..!
As Frost moves back and forth inside me, I feel "hungrier" for Ember.
I never thought a hen could make me feel like this..!
I have plenty of female friends back at the Oasis, but none of them has ever come close!
She faintly tastes like those berries Rime had given Lucas last night, and she smells of moss and clean feathers.
Every now and then, we hear of couples of the same sex back home, and of how they are allowed to adopt chicks that lost their parents.
To think it could be me..!
Suddenly, I hear Apollo peep in a way I've never heard before, which distracts for the second it takes for Ember to grab the back of my head and pull me closer.
I chirp as I do the same thing, following my desire.
Her hands course through my plumage, caressing the skin below.
I tremble as she squeezes my breasts, carrying a strangely pleasant tingling throughout my whole body.
But out of nowhere, Frost thrusts his flesh deeper inside me, hitting a solid wall, almost making me faint from the sensation alone.
Ember is pretty much holding me up, but judging by the wet sounds I hear every time she pushes down on Apollo, we are pretty much in the same situation.
After one final squeal, my brother's limbs contract incoherently, as if by their own will, and soon, a white puddle starts to spread underneath Ember.
Is that-?!
Frost rests part of his weight on me, pinning me down as his limbs start shaking.
His rod is still throbbing inside me, striking my walls slowly but with great strength, and warming me up with his soft coat.
And finally, he stops, letting out a low growl as a hot liquid courses through my depths.
I shriek in surprise; he actually did it..!
I'm going to carry his eggs..!
What is going to happen from here?!
Am I his hen, now?!
Will he want more chicks?!
Ember holds my beak up, taking me out of my thoughts, and she rests her beak on top of mine.
Right..! She will lay Apollo's..!
Eventually, she stands up, letting my brother's fluids pour to the ground as she seems to readjust to something.
And after she pulls me towards her, taking me away from Frost's penis, I understand what she felt; the feeling coming from my insides relaxing as the flesh retreats is nothing short of amazing, despite the strange cold left once his seed starts to escape.
But as I am about to awaken from it, Ember gently but energetically pulls me to the ground, taking me by surprise.
Then, she walks over me, crouching down to offer me her lips, still coated by fluids.
I let out a shrill shriek once I feel the warmth of her tongue move across my own.
I should return the favor..! But that's Apollo's...!
...Then again, she's cleaning up after her brother, too...
Hesitantly, I pull my tongue out, and I slowly run it across her warm opening, trying not to think about what I'm licking off.
This is so different from being mounted by Frost..!
Ember is so delicate and precise, touching all of the right spots without missing a beat..!
Can I do something even close to that?
Probably not, but that won't stop me; I try to find the same spots she is stimulating on me between her lips, even if I'm going only by guesses and without any proper technique, but I still get a small, yet visible response from her walls, who give a slight contraction.
Despite her purrs and her barely noticeable thrusts towards a male that isn't there, she does not waver in the slightest, continuing her work without hesitation.
Until, eventually, the same sensation from before spreads out from my femininity towards each of my extremities, followed by a warm yet wet sensation at its source.
Ember's counter-thrusts have become more pronounced, to the point where I'm struggling to keep my tongue on her.
I try to hold her by her sides, but to no avail, as she is far stronger than me.
Then I remember of how she squeezed my breasts, and through some feeling around in her fur, I find them; I'm not sure if it's a difference between our species or just the two of us, but I feel like hers are quite... "plumper" than mine, to the touch.
A soft cry leaves her body as she appreciates my efforts, licking my fur clean in return.
As I continue, more follow as her tail and wings rise higher with her pleasure, until her back finally arches as a discrete amount of fluids coats her insides, eventually letting a few droplets escape.
As we finally get to relax, I realize both that I've actually licked off most of the fluids that were covering her rear, and that the two roosters have been staring at us the whole time, unsure of what to do.
Ember licks her beak, and after glancing at them, she marches towards my brother, who starts to back off, worried.
The hen grabs him by his mane and pulls him back next to me, ignoring his protests and calling her brother on her way.
In the end, we are back to back, each facing her respective partner.
Frost stares at me, just as perplexed as I am, until Ember slides under him, taking his entire shaft through her beak.
I don't know who is more stunned in the room; Frost, who is probably wondering why his sister is so... "talented", Apollo, who is extremely close to being swallowed whole, by the looks of it, or myself, who has just realized that I will have to do the same with an even larger rooster.
I swallow a drop of saliva as I timidly glance at his imposing rod, just as stiff as before.
To think mum always told me not to swallow fish whole...
But as I am about to crawl under him, he stops me by gently placing his hand on my shoulder; I meet his gaze and he calmly shakes his head, chattering a few words.
Ember grumbles something back, her throat still filled with flesh, and Frost responds accordingly, before returning to me and continuing.
Is he giving me the option to not do it? Or does he just not want it at all?
The white rooster puts his hand back down, but does not change stance nor takes his eyes away from me.
I didn't really pay attention to it before, but he is... quite good-looking, actually.
A soft, well kept fur; nice lineaments; beautiful ice blue eyes... and a well-proportioned, muscular frame with fairly wide shoulders, but not as "excessive" as his peers.
Sure, his scent is a bit plain, but it's not really his fault, and not bad at all.
And most of all, I like how gentle he is.
I lick his chin as a thank you, but I lean down nevertheless, crawling under his surprised look as his mane warms me up and caresses me, until I find myself face to face with his malehood.
Can I really take it..?
Just in case, I start by licking it, which also allows me to explore its texture and shape; it's fairly long and thick. with a pointy tip and several fleshy rings circling its length.
Every time I touch one of the latter or the point's edge, he lets out a short chirp; those must be his "weak spots".
Suddenly, I feel his fingers around one of my glutes, caressing and gently squeezing it.
Enjoying the encouragement, I take a deep breath, and I open my beak as wide as I can, letting his tip rest on my tongue.
It's still slightly salty due to our fluids, but it's more than bearable.
I think I can fit a little bit more inside..!
But as his rod lodges inside my throat, I start coughing as my gag reflex kicks in, instinctively trying to expel it.
Alarmed, Frost starts chirping as he backs off, eventually pulling out.
I just keep coughing, almost falling to the ground from the strength of the fit.
He quietly groans to himself for a second, but he immediately tries to comfort me.
I look back at Ember and Apollo, who have not stopped but turned around to face me, worried.
«I'm good..!» I finally reassure them.
My throat is already sore, though.
How does Ember do it?!
Suddenly, though, I feel a tongue run across my lips, taking me by surprise.
I look back, and I realize that Frost is trying to return the favor.
Well... In that case, I guess I could continue what I was doing before I almost choked myself to death...


===Loki=== February 9th 9:54

Now Jonas, too?
I manage to intercept the spike mid-swing, and after locking it between my talons, I pull, almost ripping his fingers away alongside it.
Without the element of surprise, his only advantage is his skin!
Thinking about Jasmine, I muster all of my strength, and bash his head with the icicle.
Despite almost falling straight to the ground, he give no sign of pain.
As soon as he tries to stand up, I hit him again, but this time, I don't stop.
My vision blurs as I speed up, but I can tell his skull is progressively losing its shape with every subsequent strike.
Further taking away my focus are the ice constantly trying to slip out of my hands, the burning sensation from my wound, and the sound of bones crunching under the spike.
Eventually, though, I get tired enough to notice that he's not moving anymore.
The ice spike is pretty much touching the ground, despite being right where his head should be.
Have I done it?
Is it dead?!
Clenching my beak, I lift the spike, revealing what's left of him; it's not pretty, even without the blood.
At least it won't give us any more trouble.
Trying to convince myself that I did not just kill one of my kin, I drop my weapon, but as I'm about to lift my arm to turn around, he lounges towards it, almost planting his talons into my flesh.
HOW THE FUCK IS HE STILL MOVING?!
I jump back from the sheer strength of the shock; it's like it's getting more powerful as time goes on!
I'm getting dizzier by the minute: if I don't tend to the wound, I will pass out and die!
Fuck! I also have to save Jasmine and the others! And Ulthane!
The monster stands up, letting most of the remains of its head fall off its neck, fully exposing the inside of its throat.
This is something out of a nightmare..!
However, it remains almost still, until it spreads its wings and begins to rotate them around, up and down, left and right.
Is it feeling its way around?
I slowly step away, keeping my arm deep inside the snow to try and slow down my circulation.
All of its remaining limbs, tails included, are searching for me, carefully touching the ground.
It has lost me!
This is my chance to reach Jonas!
Alright..!
Think: if I run, I'm going to bleed faster; would I be able to take down the hen in time?
If I don't, I may get there too late.
Fine, then..!
I turn around, headed for the direction of the screams.
This will be all or nothing; I will give everything I have, but if Jasmine and the others will not be able to heal me, I am done for.
Lightheaded, I dash forward, hearing nothing but my own heartbeat as it starts counting down.


===Lucas=== February 9th - 9:56

After she's had enough of watching the others, Rime looks at me, annoyed, and she lifts me up.
«Oi! I told you to go easy on me!» I protest as she sits up.
In response, she grumbles as she brings my cock to her beak, which she starts to energetically suck, likely out of spite.
«Rime! Your beak! Ow! OW!!!» I exclaim, trying to pry it open up to let her understand before she accidentally chops my dick in half.
The hen's touch becomes ever so slightly lighter, but she doesn't seem intentioned to let go or slow down.
The worst part is that she likely won't feel satisfied any time soon, since I'm not as "filling" as Frost or Apollo.
Despite that and her tongue's texture, though, the latter feels incredibly soft and delicate as its blazing hot touch envelops me, rubbing the edges of my glans in particular.
I think she's figured out that's the most sensitive spot, and that she's more focused on beating Ember at her own game than enjoying herself.
«Rime, you're going too fast!» I try to convince her, but she either isn't listening, or just not understanding me.
This is useless; I'm not even ready to cum again yet!
«I am not a real griffin! I can't just go fifty times in a row like them!» I insist.
No response whatsoever.
At some point, I get so accustomed to the heat, I can barely feel her tongue anymore.
But suddenly, her ears perk up, and she lets go of my cock to turn around.
Out of nowhere, she shrieks as Ember pulls her back, taking her down.
The hen almost launches me forward as she falls, but her attacker his quick to snatch me away before that happens.
Rime angrily protests, but as she's about to get back up, she yelps as Frost drags her away towards a shocked Apollo.
Soon after, Artemis joins Ember.
«What... is happening?» I ask her.
«I don't know..! I thought she just wanted to make her listen to you, but...» she replies, just as confused.
Ember quietly studies me, starting from my eyes and quickly descending to my groin.
Unexpectedly, she reaches for Artemis, pulling her close to share my weight with her.
After a look of sufficiency, her beak inches closer to my shaft, until it gives it a slow, thorough lick.
After gauging my reaction for a couple of seconds, she turns towards Artemis, to which she chirps something, before nodding in its direction.
As the poor hen stares at me, we exchange a flabbergasted look.
«Look, Ember, Artemis and I have been friends since... forever? I don't think she wants-»
The snow hen gives me another lick, before moving in for a short kiss with my friend.
Nervous and unsure of what to do after Ember moves back just enough to let her turn her head, Artemis's gaze repeatedly moves between her and the ground, until it eventually stops on her, and she finally returns the kiss.
After a slow start, their tongues begin to twist together with a growing speed while they bring me closer as they instinctively try to hug, until they remember that I'm here.
Despite how short it was, I... I actually enjoyed that, and judging by Ember's soft grin, it probably shows.
The snow hen brings her beak back to me, nudging my dick towards her partner.
After a few more seconds of hesitation, Artemis gives me an apologetic look as she runs her tongue across it.
Hers feels slightly smoother than Ember's, which joins in immediately after, going from my balls to the tip, where she nibbles my foreskin, teasing me.
The warmth of their breaths... their soft feathers as they rub against it... the touch of their tongues..!
Rime chirps in anger as she aggressively sucks Frost off while angrily staring at us, completely ignoring Apollo as he mounts her.
In response, Ember makes me gasp by intensely rubbing the edge of my glans while glancing back at her, visibly enjoying her reaction.
I'm starting to think she's just trying to spite her back.
Still, the snow hen clearly knows her way around sucking a cock, as she's quickly leading me to a climax despite it being her first time with a human, all while counterbalancing Artemis's work.
As my breath grows heavier, I can hear the rooster groan as steam clouds begins leaving their beaks.
But unexpectedly, Rime kicks off Apollo and quickly spits out Frost before charging Ember with an angry shriek, but the latter instantly pushes away Artemis before throwing me at the fluffy hen.
«WHAT THE FUCK?!» I can only yell in surprise.
Despite the short time to react, the hen manages to catch me and slide on her back, cushioning the impact.
After checking my body for injuries, she glares at Ember, who maliciously grins before going back to finish off Apollo, while Artemis apologetically returns to Frost.
Aware that I'm close, Rime does her best to wrap her tongue around my shaft, effectively jerking me off with it as she keeps the others under control.
Despite her stronger grip around my waist, she is being way more careful with her beak, targeting my sweet spot while making sure she doesn't even touch me with its tip.
And eventually, my face must announce my imminent finish, since Rime seems to speed up.
Finally, with a groan, I release my load inside her beak, which she instantly swallows with greed as her eyes dart around, probably scared that Ember will return to steal it out of her throat.
With the stakes lowered, Rime lightens her talons around my body, and the touch of her tongue grows more delicate as she starts to clean the fluids off my skin.
Suddenly, Apollo's shriek startles us; Ember has the entirety of his cock down her throat, and judging by the white droplets streaming down her beak, she is one step away from swallowing him whole, too.
Unexpectedly, the next one to scream is Artemis, as she starts to cough out Frost's cum right after it comes out of her nose.
But in her desperate retreat, a second jet hits her right in the face, making her lose her balance as she trips on her own tail.
As soon as he comes back to reality, Frost moves to help her up, and he start to clean the fluid off her eyes with Ember's help, to at least let her see where she's going.
Thankfully, she doesn't look hurt.
Apollo, on the other hand, is completely KO, resting on his back, wings spread like feathery carpets, while the rest of his sperm trickles down his abdomen.
After grabbing my attention with a lick across the cheek, Rime brings me deeper inside her luscious, warm mane, which she then insulates with her wings.
I have to say: between all that insufferable work on the fish and this whole ordeal, I could use a nap, and she just happens to be more comfortable than my own bed...


===Ulthane=== February 9th - 9:54

«BRING IT ON, THEN!!!» I growl against the giant.
«DO NOT BOTHER.» Ymir talks back, shaking the ground with his voice.
In the few memories of his I've seen, that wasn't so apparent.
I guess now I know why he used to speak so little.
«THANKS TO THESE GRIFFINS' SENSES, I NOW KNOW WHERE TO FIND THE MISSING CHICKS. LOKI AND YOU ARE NO LONGER OF USE. ONCE I UNDERSTAND HOW TO TURN THEM, JONAS, TYLER AND JASMINE WILL BE MY FIRST REAL ATTEMPT.»
A puppet.
The Well is using the past Alphas as puppets.
«I WILL RIP YOUR HEAD OFF!!!» I roar.
«GOOD LUCK WITH THAT; YMIR'S BODY IS MY BEST WORK.»
No shit..!
«Using someone the rank of Ymir as a brute... You have a lot of nerve!» I growl, studying the target.
I recall the memories of that Alpha, all sharing the ways he helped those under him.
Due to his size, he broke through the egg too early, which prevented him from growing a healthy coat of feathers, but he was loved by the colony for his kind and caring demeanor, and respected for his strength and endurance, so much so they offered him the pelts of their prey to cover himself with.
When he won against the Well, at twenty years of age, he was already larger than I am right now.
His rise happened after he rescued a kidnapped chick from a human fortress, demolishing a good chunk of it with his sheer strength, but sparing anyone who would flee or refuse to fight him.
Titan with a pinch of my personality and more than both of our strengths combined, in a few words.
I should have let him come; maybe we would stand a chance.
Setting my legs in motion, I focus on the present; I cannot beat Ymir's body, not in stamina, resistance, nor strength, obviously.
He wouldn't be a mastermind, but that's the Well's "brain" in there, so wits are out of the question, too.
The only thing I can do for now is buy time for the others.
«Oh, please! That was all his own; all you did was color some fish scales red and attach them to his body.» I comment. «Also, Loki's shade is better.»
The giant does not move an inch.
«YOU WILL NOT ANGER ME, ULTHANE.»
Damn, Ymir could have beaten my mother at calling my name in a scary way..!
«TAKE THIS AS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO FLEE.» it concludes, resuming its march.
As a response, I charge him.
The Well stops and braces itself for impact, but at the last second, I slide under Ymir, easily ending up on the other side.
After putting down its talons, it stares at me.
«ARE YOU TRYING TO DISTRACT ME?»
«And it's working.» I observe, taunting it.
«REMEMBER, LITTLE GRIFFIN: I HAVE NO LONGER A USE FOR YOU; YOU ARE PLAYING WITH FIRE.»
Having said that, it turns away.
This time, I launch myself against Ymir's hind-leg, causing his body to lose its balance and loudly hit the ground.
«AS YOU WISH. BUT JUST SO YOU KNOW: LOKI WAS HEAVILY INJURED WHEN HE WENT TO SEARCH FOR YARA; I WOULDN'T COUNT ON HIM REACHING HER.»
Then, it lifts a wave of snow with a kick, momentarily blocking my vision.
I barely dodge the other paw in time, whose claws audibly cut the air a feather's length from my head.
That lets me notice that the underneath of Ymir's feet is not armored; if I manage to slash them open, his body might just lose the ability to walk.
Now it has already gotten back on its feet, but I should be able to find an opening, if I'm quick enough.
As I see it turning around, I run forward and spin in the air, cutting through the palm of its hand right before it hits the ground, and I quickly push myself out of the range of the other one with the strength of my arms.
The Well stops to study the wound.
«THAT'S NOT NEARLY ENOUGH.»
Having said that, it immediately unleashes its wing against me.
I jump, but the snow slows me down enough for my limbs to be grazed, sending me rolling across the giant's scales as the red wave passes under me.
Out of instinct, I manage to land on my feet.
As soon as I get my bearings, I charge the arm I believe is carrying the most weight while his wing is extended.
However, the Well must have seen me coming, because the second I hit my target, I hear Ymir's talons clench the rock beneath the snow, locking themselves in place.
«FUUUUUCK!!!» I yell, straining all of my muscles to try and expose his weak spot again.
I'm trembling, and not due to fatigue; I know for a fact that the Well has already moved the other hand.
It's too late to escape; even if I dodge, Ymir will mow me down with his wing, and it's unlikely he would miss again.
Is Loki really that injured?
Is Jonas still alive? And Tyler? And Jasmine?
Fucking hell..! Umbra..! Acacia..! Titan..!
In a desperate attempt to escape him, I push against his locked limb with all the power I can muster, hearing Ymir's talons close right above my head.
As I land in the snow, I see the white wave leaving the ground as the giant wing runs through it with a deep rumble, headed straight for me.
I don't have enough time to get up and avoid it!
Surprisingly, at the last second, it lifts up, raising a cloud of snow alongside a violent gust of chilling wind and ice powder.
The Well studies its surroundings, its ears perked in surprise.
Half-buried in the snow, I raise my head when I hear it too: an odd, but unmistakable griffin battle cry.
Someone is coming.
And they are not alone.


===Jonas=== February 9th - 9:55

«ARGH!!! FUCK!!!» I curse as the tip of Yara's talons scrapes the side of my head.
I'm still disoriented by the fall, but thankfully she's not as fast as she's supposed to be.
Either the Well is focused on Loki and Ulthane, or severing her spine actually did something.
Still, once lost the element of surprise, there isn't much I can do; her reach and strength are far superior to mine.
Her features start to blend with our surroundings again, when suddenly, Tyler appears from behind the hill, rushing to her side with something in his hand.
Taken aback, Yara turns towards him, reverting her colors and getting her muzzle covered in flames in the span of two seconds.
Rubbing alcohol?
He quickly backs off when the griffin starts swinging blindly.
«Jonas, are you alright?!» he asks, covering his mouth immediately after he sees Yara's ears follow his voice, compensating for what little is left of her eyes.
«Yeah, just skin-deep stuff!» I exclaim, getting her attention back.
She opens her wings; a common defensive strategy for overwhelmed griffins.
One of their swings feels like getting hit by a small car; I speak from experience.
«How is Jasmine?» I ask, signaling him to walk in a circle around her.
We can't let her pinpoint our positions.
«She got it together and told me how to deal with it properly! She's still hiding!» he replies.
As Yara goes for his voice, I growl at her, redirecting her attack, which I promptly avoid.
That's a gryphlet's reaction, not an experiences hunter's.
So the Well IS distracted.
Still, approaching her is dangerous.
If we move quietly, maybe we can leave her behind?
And out of nowhere, Yara raises her ears and tracks Tyler's position with split precision.
«How the hell-?!»
They don't have the time to react that Loki jumps over him from behind the hill, landing on the other Alpha with a roar that would have made Ulthane proud.
Yara collapses under his weight, and the rooster's superior strength and speed immediately make themselves apparent as he squeezes her forearms, breaking the bones within with ease.
Dear God, he's hurt!
He must be running on sheer anger and adrenaline!
I pull one of the torniquets I had kept on me just in case, and I ready myself to use it on the griffin.
Within seconds, one of her arms lands near me, making Tyler fight back vomit.
The other one looks too broken for her to be able to pursue us anymore.
Still, Loki does not seem done; since he's arrived, I've only heard incoherent griffin swearwords and frantic screaming from him. 
Now I'm not sure stopping the bleeding will be enough, or even manageable.
Helpless, we wait for him to finish as he slashes his way through her.
And eventually, after almost a full minute, he slows down to a stop, gasping for air.
«Loki!» I call out, cautiously approaching him, hoping he's returned to his senses.
He seems unresponsive.
Despite the risks of getting so close after a fight, I tighten the torniquet around his forearm, shivering at the size of that cut.
Somehow, the artery seems to have sealed itself.
Is this an Alpha thing? I have never heard of something like this in a griffin before.
Or perhaps it's just him; maybe the Well sped up his natural healing, too.
«I'll try to see if I can spot Ulthane..!» Tyler almost gags again.
I soon realize why: Loki pretty much split Yara in half.
There is no blood aside from his, but it's still gruesome to look at.
Yara's eyes still trying to move under her scorched eyelids don't help.
I decide to focus on our griffin, for both his sake and my own sanity.
«Jonas!» Tyler calls urgently.
I stand up, hoping that Loki is no longer in danger, and I rush to his side.
«He's in trouble! He can't hurt Ymir!»
I immediately spot the two griffins as they "fight"; Ulthane is pretty much just annoying him, as expected.
«He's buying us time..! Try waking Loki up!» I order Tyler as I descend to get Jasmine.
«From a distance; he might still be in fight or flight mode!»
We have no choice but to flee, for the time being.
Also, I have a feeling that Ymir is not as slow as he seems; I've seen heavy griffins reach considerable speeds, given enough space and time..!
Dear God..! He would be unstoppable!
«Jasmine!» I call her.
«I heard Loki scream..!» she replies with a hoarse voice, still lying down.
«He'll live! You? Can you walk?!» I rush her.
«Yeah! Did they do it?» she asks, hopeful.
«Loki killed the other two, but Ulthane is still trying to hold Ymir back; he's risking his neck for us! We have to run away!» I exclaim, helping her up.
«But Lucas..!»
«I know! But it's the only way!»
«JONAS!!!» Tyler exclaims again, almost yelling.
«COME OUT!!! LOOK!!!»
While I'm helping Jasmine out of our shelter, he continues with «HOLY FUCK!!! THE CAVALRY IS HERE!!!»
I turn my head around to see what's happening, and my jaw drops when I manage to spot the pack of white griffins effortlessly moving through the snow, giving Ymir a reason to be worried.
«Quiet! Those are not like the griffins you are used to; they are wild and unpredictable. It's not guaranteed they will help him.» I tell him, trying to shut him up.
But I really hope he's right.


===Ulthane=== February 9th - 9:56

We are surrounded.
I take advantage of the situation to stand up, readying myself for...
I have no idea; I genuinely thought that was the end.
And I have no clue of what their intentions are.
Keeping the corner of my eye on Ymir, I study them: I can see six roosters, all considerably taller, and even more so robust than most of my kin, the latter accentuated by the thick white coats covering their entire bodies.
All of their ice blue eyes seem mostly focused on my opponent, even if I receive a wary look, from time to time.
For the first time, Ymir starts growling, shaking the earth as if it shared his rage.
As I check behind me, I spot the one who must be their leader; his height is considerably superior to mine, same as his muscle tone.
He still seems small in front of the strongest Alpha, though.
A few seconds later, he screams, starting the battle as he charges.
Ymir stands up on his hind legs, shaking the air and the earth with a roar as he spreads his wings.
The griffins bravely ignore the threat, effortlessly piercing the cloud of snow he lifted up.
To my surprise, the leader intercepts one of the giant's hands, roaring back in pain as he holds him up by himself.
Three of his kind jump Ymir, pushing him down before starting to fight against his limbs to keep him still.
Then, he commands the other griffins to join the fight and to aim for his head.
How did I understand that..?
He wasn't speaking in our language...
Seeing Ymir's talons close in on him, I join the attack and push back the incoming arm.
«Block his limbs!» he orders his roosters.
Then he looks at me.
«You! Go with the others on the neck! Break it!!!» he orders.
I jump on Ymir's body, and I barely manage to push a rooster away from the giant's beak, saving his arms from getting bitten off.
Then, I study the neck in question; there is no way we can twist it from this angle, not without getting dangerously close to his mouth.
I look around, desperately trying to find a solution.
In the distance, I spot Loki and the humans, all still alive, even if injured; we need to hurry, before Ymir gets free again!
Their leader wavers for a second, but manages to catch the giant's hand just in time.
«FASTER!!!» he orders.
If only the Well hadn't given him that armor..!
Then, a desperate idea spawns inside my mind; he wasn't the only one who received a gift.
Last time I used my own...
It wasn't pretty.
But then again, I was just defending myself, and it was a lifetime ago; would I be even be able to use it on my own?
One of the roosters whines as he gets kicked, rolling back ruinously for several meters.
Time to find out..!
Planting my hind-legs firmly into the ground, I hook Ymir's eyelid and a scale on the back of his neck.
I take a deep breath, and I start pulling with every ounce of my strength.
My experienced muscles are already warning me of the impossibility of the task, like when I used to play tug of war against my brother, in the games of the first day of Spring.
But this time, I can't let go!
The other griffins try to help me, as desperate as I am.
«WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! SHUT HIS BEAK AND LEVERAGE ON IT!!!» the leader yells, visibly tired.
How did I do it back then?!
What triggered my rage?!
I'm just as helpless as I was that day..!
Right, Lance was threatening to rape Acacia and my mother..!
Was it the anger alone, or the fear I felt for them?
Ymir starts shaking his head, but for now, we manage to stand our ground.
Alright, think..!
No, feel!
Feel Loki's despair as he's watching us lose..! Jonas's! Tyler's! Jasmine's!
The Well is going to take them all away for its own unspeakable horrors!
A spark lights up in my stomach, and my arms resonate with it.
Feel the fear of Apollo, Artemis and Lucas as they lay alone somewhere in these icy plains!
The Well is going after them next!
Do it!
FUCKING! DO IT!!!
The scale bends back as I pull, and the Eyelid creaks, but it's still not enough.
«I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE AFTER, ULTHANE.» it says.
«EVEN IF YOU WERE TO SUMMON YOUR RAGE, YOU WOULD STILL HAVE TO RESCUE THE FLEDGLINGS WITH WHAT'S LEFT OF YOUR ALLIES.»
«WHAT'S YOUR FUCKING POINT?!» I yell, getting angrier.
Looking at the giant speaking in front of me, I remember just how many more were taken by that monster.
Zeus, Ymir, Yara, Horus...
Loki and I... And... Borea, that poor hen; I recall the mothers mourning their missing roosters back then, when my Well was taking lives.
It turned her into its accomplice, killing countless chicks after she tried to save her own.
«I CAN BRING YOU THERE. WITH YMIR'S STRENGTH, IT WILL BE A JOKE. I WILL EVEN LET YOU ALL GO. ALL, BUT LUCAS.»
I have to double take that sentence.
«YOU CAN KEEP THE FLEDGLINGS. NO LIES, NO TRICKS; JUST THE HUMAN BOY FOR ME TO STUDY. HE MAY EVEN WIN!»
«Shut the fuck up.» I hiss, as my talons clench harder.
«SHUT! THE FUCK! UP!!! YOU DISGUSTING!»
The fire spreads through my flesh.
«WRETCHED!»
My talons dig into his armor.
«MONSTEEEEER!!!» I roar, ripping off his armored eyelid, breaking what must have been the "locking system" that kept it shut, and a large cluster of scales.
His flesh is unprotected.
I dig the entirety of my talons in his neck and into his eye socket, hooking up his vertebrae and his skull, and I breath in with a low growl, turning off every thought that does not involve destroying the Well.
I jerk his head back, pulling is entire body towards me.
I can barely hear the arctic griffins cuss as they try to regain control of Ymir's limbs.
«ULTHANE. YOU WILL REGRET THIS.» the Well says.
I give another strong pull, and after a loud snap, his neck feels suddenly looser.
I keep roaring as I slowly inch back, the pain in my muscles indistinguishable from my anger.
The vibration from Ymir's scales snapping out of place reaches my palms, irritating me as it prevents my mind from focusing properly.
Break!
BREAK! 
JUST FUCKING BREAK!!!
One final snap, and I suddenly lose my balance, falling on my back.
Disoriented, I stay down for a while, waiting for my eyes to focus.
Eventually, I find myself staring into Ymir's, his head lying still several meters forward.
Finally, I stand up, but when I turn around, I find the arctic griffins standing in a line, either wary or scared of me.
Their tension is palpable.
As I scan each one of them to try and predict their next move, I meet their leader's gaze; his ice blue eyes are weighing me.
Instead, I glance behind me; two of his roosters are missing.


===Jonas=== February 9th - 10:00

«How..?» Tyler whispers, bewildered.
«I have no idea! Yara and Zeus are no longer moving either, so it must be over!» I suggest, preparing the rifle.
«Keep your eyes on them! They see HIM as the danger now!»
«Too late.» Loki gets our attention.
He's struggling to stand in front of two arctic griffins, both clearly understanding how little of a threat he poses in that state.
I drop the gun.
«Jonas..?» Tyler calls me, worried.
«Put down the shovel.» I reply.
«Even if I hit one, the other is going to reach us before I can reload.»
As soon as he complies, the two roosters walk forward, herding us towards the rest of them.
They don't seem to have bad intentions; I just saw one of them help Jasmine get down a steeper drop while the other prevented Loki from losing his balance.
Despite being so isolated from everything else, they are quite socially developed.
I look at who must be their "Alpha" as he talks with Ulthane.
I heard him scream during the fight; he doesn't speak the same language as our griffins.
Did Ulthane learn it through the Well?
They must have guessed that he isn't an ordinary griffin, by now.
Will that be enough to make them leave us alone?

===Ulthane=== February 9th - 10:00

Eventually, he takes a few steps forward.
«Odin, be careful!» one of them warns him.
"Odin"; that's a start.
«You surely haven't come all the way here for the thrill of it.» he begins, with the voice of a griffin who has been through way too many winters.
Now that I can have a good look at him, I realize that he's way older than I had anticipated; in a way, he reminds me of Horus, with his tired, yet attentive eyes, and his proud stance in front of the danger.
He must be well on his way to his two hundreds.
I bet that's quite a feat, in this shitscape.
«You smell a lot like him.» Odin comments, pointing at Ymir's body. «Well, the sweet stench of that... "thing" is nowhere near a strong, but it's obvious this wasn't the first time you clashed with it.»
Then, he sits down, glancing first somewhere in the distance, then back at me.
«Are you a real griffin? With blood inside your veins?»
«I am.» I simply reply, more focused on listening.
He stares at me for a short while, thoughtful.
«What's your name?» he then asks.
«Ulthane.»
«Ulthane. I couldn't understand that thing's words; who taught you our language?»
«Can I ask you a question, instead?» I try to take some degree of charge.
He slightly tilts his head.
«I am looking for two chicks and a young human. Have you seen them?»
He grits his beak, looking down as he thinks.
My instincts are certain he did.
«Two chicks... And a young human?» he repeats, avoiding my gaze.
«Were they... Close to you?»
Him speaking in the past triggers a small alarm in the back of my mind, but I'm positive he's trying to bullshit his way out of it.
«The two chicks are my nephews. The human... Is a friend of theirs.»
He slowly nods.
«Hm. I see.» he concludes. «They... did not make it.»
You shitty, fucking liar.
I remain silent, just to see where he takes it.
«We dug them out of the avalanche, but they were already gone. We buried in the ice plains, before a blizzard could prevent us from doing so.»
«Where?»
«Hard to tell, now. The snow has erased all tracks, and now it watches over them.» he says, turning around. «We will leave you to mourn in peace.»
«Odin.» I call him.
He turns his head.
«I did not tell you why they are here, nor what we have been through up to this point. I will spare you the tale, since we both clearly have better things to do with our time; but I will NOT let you get away with that shit.»
He goes back to facing me.
«There isn't a single one of you that has their smell on them.»
«The ones that handled your young are back home to rest; digging through that much snow is not easy. Especially while the sky throws it back at you.» he retorts, insulted.
«ODIN.» I repeat myself, with a barely audible growl.
The roosters tense up.
«Where. Are. My. Chicks?»
As he's about to open his mouth, I anticipate him.
«I'm not going to buy it. Tell me the truth; I don't want violence any more than you do.»
He's weighing his options, when Loki calls me.
«Ulthane..!» he says, as he stumbles towards me.
«Easy..! Easy!» I exclaim, but he ultimately falls to the ground, exhausted.
Jonas, Tyler and Jasmine join me as well, all wounded, but not fatally.
Odin smells the air, and his face fills first with perplexity, then with confusion, and finally with disbelief.
Then he collects himself.
«Fine, fine. Yes, I do have them.» he finally admits.
«I can see taking your kin with you, but why all these humans? They can't all be his parents.»
«A guide and the child's parents, who want their kin back; what use do you even have for him?»
«"Why I need them"... Eh.» he repeats. «Things are dire here, Ulthane; every year, there are less and less of us gathering in the Spring.»
This sounds familiar.
«To put it shortly, we need new blood. And your nephews are good chicks.»
«Ulthane... what are you saying..? I can't understand you..!» Loki comments.
«I'll explain later. I'm trying to get him to give them back.»
«Lucas..? HE took them?» he says, trying to stand up.
«Calm down.» I tell him.
Then I go back to Odin.
«I understand where you're coming from, but my daughter is worried sick, and it's too dangerous for them to stay here.»
«Fear not; I will not let them get to the plains. They are safe in our home.» he retorts.
«That will not be enough. The cold will make them ill. They will not survive here.» I reply, starting to see how this is going to end.
«If you're so worried, you must be used to encountering dangers yourself. You weren't planning on protecting them for the rest of their lives, were you?»
«Do not spin this like you're not kidnapping them!» I exclaim, starting to lose my patience. «And what justification would you have for the human, anyway?! Surely you are not hoping to stick him inside a hen and spawn a new litter, aren't you?!»
Tell me you don't know about that..!
He chuckles.
«Ah, if only!» he exclaims.
«But now that you mention it, I had another question for you, regarding the boy.»
He tilts his head.
«Why does he smell like a griffin?»
A chill runs down my spine.
A soft grin appears on his face.
«Not like your nephews, mind you; compared to his, their trace on him is abysmal. That is just how he is!»
I hesitate.
«Has the cold frozen your brain, you old cock? Or have you never smelt a young human before? Because I did, and I still do, and very often at that; they're pretty terrible on that regard.» I manage to retort.
«No need to be rude now, Ulthane. That rooster's eyes already gave it away; they're the same as his, like the smell.» he concludes. «Is that female the mother? Impressive.»
«Odin. I know what you are planning to do; there is no need for this. You can leave this dead end; come with us. Resources and partners are abundant.» I offer him.
«I am sure they are. But that is not our place; due to our white coats, we would not be able to hunt there, and the heat would be too much for us to handle.»
«The humans have solved worse problems. And you wouldn't even need to hunt-»
«Yes, we DO. It is not just a matter of hunger for us, Ulthane. It's a matter of pride.» he interrupts me.
«Back in the day, I had no trouble feeding my elders when the time finally came. But seeing that look in their eyes... the belief of being nothing but a burden... I don't want that for the younglings.»
Then, he gives me a piercing glare, reminiscent of Horus's.
«Not mentioning the fact that we are not well seen by your bipedal friends. Speaking of which: hand them over, Ulthane; as you said, there is no need for violence.»
«Are you sure you can best me in a fight?» I remind him, glancing at Ymir's body.
The roosters nervously turn towards him.
He just keeps staring at me, inexpressive.
«Let's say you kill us all. That is a likely scenario, given your feat. But what then?»
I have heard these words before.
It did not end well back then.
«Maybe you can follow our tracks back to our nest, if a blizzard does not erase them. Maybe you can take a hostage, and get taken there regardless. But once you get there, will you also kill our hens? Our chicks as well? They will fight you, Ulthane; you are not avoiding that, if you go down this path.» he provokes me. «I know you have killed before; I can see it in your eyes. But I can tell you regret it, too.»
Then he nods at the two roosters who brought here Loki and the others, who nudge the humans forward.
«I don't blame you for hating me. But you must know what it means to be willing to do anything to protect your kin, and those who are dear to you.»
«Ulthane..? Where are they going? Where..?»
«Stay down, Loki.» I order.
«Go home, Ulthane.»
«Are they-?! ULTHANE, STOP THEM!!!» he yells, standing up in an instant, before falling back down after a couple of meters.
While he's on the ground, I pull him back by his tail.
«STOOOP!!! YOU MOTHERFUCKER!!!» he yells at Odin as he disappears behind the cliff.
«ULTHANE! LET..! GOOOO..!» his growls grow weaker as he tries to kick me.
«Fighting them here is pointless. We need to understand where they are going.»
«For what fucking reason..?! You think they don't know we will follow them?»
«Yes. But at least we will know what we are really up against.» I retort.
«Furthermore, those hunters were visibly scared of me; they are extremely young, and if their colony is that small, they probably have never been in a real fight.»
«If you're planning to fight them, why not just do it here? We could have gotten them together..!»
I groan.
«Get your head out of your ass, Loki; you are in no position to stand, let alone to fight. We would have not been able to protect the humans, and Odin would have definitely taken that opportunity.»
«"Odin"? The big one? How did you even know what he was saying?»
«The usual way we learn this kind of thing, I guess. Now show me the wound; I can see you were medicated.»
He extends his arm, revealing what must have been an extremely deep cut, given the amount of blood on his fur.
Yet, in the spot the latter parts, there is only a long scar, not wide enough to justify his state.
«What..?!» he mutters, in disbelief.
«Interesting. I guess your speed applies to every aspect of your body.» I suggest.
«If that's the case... Poor Jasmine.» I then add, trying to distract him with a tease..
«Fuck off.» he grumbles. «Just tell me your plan.»
«I only have a few ideas for now; in the truck there should be some other human trickery that could come in handy, if you can figure out how to use it. Hopefully your wife's teachings were not wasted on you.»
«I can't use a rifle, if that's what you're referring to.»
«No, and we would be better off with our talons, anyway. Still, I will need to scout the place to make up something concrete. For now, let's find you some shelter and food.»


===Lucas=== February 9th - 10:45

For some reason, my first instinct when I hear the heavy footsteps enter the building is to pull up my pants.
It might be out of habit.
Rime pretty much forces me on my feet when she stands up to meet her Alpha.
He stops to look at the puddles we made, and after a deep breath, he comments something, sounding fairly irritated.
Ember casually retorts something, only to receive a discrete glare.
On the other hand, Frost is looking down in shame, while Rime is trying to disappear inside her own fur.
He groans, limping forward.
I narrow my eyebrows.
Was he wounded?
After him, a few more griffins come inside, just as mindful of the fluids; some of them seem to be carrying something inside their mane...
And suddenly, they reach inside the latter, carefully extracting... people..!
Who are they?!
Are-
The shortest among them - a woman, by her complexion - cries out when the griffin grazes her broken arm, held still by her scarf and an old stick.
My heart skips a beat when I hear her voice.
«Mum..?» I let out, in disbelief.
She freezes as she turns towards me.
«Oh, my God..!»
After that, she rushes towards me, and I do the same.
Being careful to her arm, we finally hug, tearing up.
«I'M SORRY!!! I'm so sorry..!»
«No..! This was our fault! Had we been honest with you from the beginning..!»
«Dad!» Apollo calls Tyler, ready to go for him.
«Wait! This place smells like a griffin orgy, and the cum stains on the ground don't do it any favors; Lucas, what exactly happened here? Why are your clothes in disarray?!» Jonas asks.
I avoid their looks, but I think they already know the answer.
«Lucas..!» my mother exclaims, I'm not sure if offended or in disbelief.
Jonas groans.
«So they know about you..! There is no other reason they would have let you join them!»
«Then there is no point in hiding it!» Tyler retorts, finally embracing his son.
But when he sees the state his daughter is in, he freezes, and she looks away in shame.
Ember chatters aggressively, trying to get his attention.
«I have no idea what you're saying, and frankly, I don't care.» he retorts, clearly irritated.
«Dad, I'm-»
To her surprise, he brings her head to his chest, next to her brother's.
«It will be alright. WE will be alright.» he reassures them.
«Did you come here on your own?» I ask, hoping for reinforcements.
«Your father and Ulthane were with us.» Jonas replies. «Loki was wounded, so I guess Ulthane didn't want to risk fighting all of them alone.»
«So, that means that the big man and his sidekick will eventually come here to save us, right?» Tyler suggests, just as hopeful as me.
«It's not that easy; we are pretty much hostages in here, and they have an advantage in terms of climate, maneuverability, and numbers. Remember that it's the latter that overpowered Ymir and let Ulthane finish him off.»
«Who's Ymir?» I ask, confused.
Jonas glances at me for a second, but as he's about to reply, his eyes widen.
«Did you tell him about the Well?» he asks my mother.
I raise my arms, only to let them fall back against my sides.
«Let me guess; another piece of life-changing information?!»
The big griffin pounds his hand on the floor, getting our attention.
First, he says something to Ember, Frost, and Rime, who all change expression in a range from insulted to ashamed.
Then, he points at us, and then at the fish.
«Fucking really?!» I exclaim. «Again?!»
As a response, he glares at me.
«Lucas, you may not want to piss him off..!» Tyler urges me.
«Ulthane is going kick his ass from Monday to Sunday, anyway!»
I'm not sure if he recognizes the Alpha's name or he really isn't in the mood for shit-talking, because he starts to menacingly advance towards me.
«LUCAS!» my mother tries to shield me.
Suddenly, Rime comes screeching and stands in his way, making him actually stop to look at her.
After some frantic chirping and pointing at herself, mixed with some bows, she stops, nervously waiting for his response.
With a deep exhale, he glares at me one last time, and turns around, giving one last command before going deeper inside the structure.
After that, Rime glares at me herself.
«Ryùkas!» she scolds me.
«Is she...» my mother goes to ask.
«Yep.»
Then the hen approaches us, curious about my mother.
«She's... friendly-ish. Her name's probably "Rime".»
«"Rime". That's a cute name. How did she tell you?» she asks, offering her hand to the griffin.
«Apollo inferred it by sound.»
«So I did hear some similarities. What else did you learn?»

While the three snow griffins begrudgingly clean up the mess we made, we sit around the fire, ultimately curating fish like the big asshole told us.
As we do that, we fill each other in on what happened since last night, which seems impossible for it to have brought all of these events.
«Wait, so, let me get this straight: there is some... eldritch monster-plant thing that eats griffins.»
«Yes.» Jonas confirms.
«But it turns some of them into super-griffins.»
He nods, taking a bite from a cooked fish.
«That big fuck will beat your ass if he sees you!» Tyler warns him.
«I'm surprised he still has a spine after taking Ymir's weight head on; I don't think he will be coming out anytime soon.»
«Ah, right, it can also raise and control the dead; almost forgot about that part!» I comment.
«So it would seem.» Jonas agrees.
«Cool! Anything else?»
«Not that we know of.»
«Will it come after me? And Apollo and Artemis? We are half-griffins, after all.»
«Ulthane told me that a few of the past Alphas were part human; so they will have to be careful.»
«Well, that explains why grandpa always got mad when we approached caves and holes in trees or in the ground.» Artemis comments.
«You are one of a kind, on the other hand. None of your father's predecessors were as daring as him, or met someone like you, as far as we know. So your fate is uncertain.» he continues, facing me.
«You sure know how to comfort people, Jonas.» I grumble.
«You're in good company, as thing stands.»
«Jonas?» my mother calls him.
«Yes?»
«Shut it.»

Is it getting dark already?
I mean, the sun doesn't seem to have come up today at all, so there hasn't been all that light so far, but it almost feels like night again!
I sigh, tired.
At least we are almost done.
For now, that is.
Ember, Frost, and Rime are laid down in a corner, quietly keeping watch on us.
As I'm about to pick up the umpteenth fish, a cacophony of shrieks and growls takes us aback.
The three snow griffins jump on their feet, worried as more griffins seem to get involved.
«I would recognize that anger everywhere.» Jonas comments, standing up.«Be on your guard; things are about to get messy!»


===Ulthane=== February 9th - 14:00

As I expected, they are heavy and they scream loudly, but most of them are way too young to know how to fight properly.
Judging by their faces, most are not even twenty.
Three of them try to come together to boost each other's confidence, but Loki finally manages to fire a flare right in front of them, quickly bringing them in disarray.
I glance back at where I left him to make sure nobody tries to reach him; those weird hairy deer I managed to catch did seem to give him back most of his strength, but I'd rather not put him in danger.
An older griffin tries to charge me, but I manage to strike his head with my wing, distracting him long enough to grab his arm and throw him to the ground.
I can't waste time here; the humans must be inside, and if Odin comes out to lead them, he will be able to use them as hostages.
If things come to that point, it will get bloody..!
Where the fuck is the entrance?!
Another fledgling tries to jump me from the roof, but by rolling down with him, I am able to push him away and to get back on my feet.
A strong smell of roasted fish reaches my nostrils just a few seconds before I see a light shine through the doorway.
The ice almost makes me slip past it, but my talons and claws are so fidgety I instantly clasp on the floor, and I take the opportunity to leap inside.
Since I know that griffin is still following me, I use the momentum to turn around and throw a punch, which happens to hit him on the side of his head.
With a yelp, he loses his balance and slips out of the light, where he remains, out cold.
Finally..! I must be quick, before one of them finds Loki!
I look inside, and there they are; I can barely contain the happiness of seeing my nephews alive and well..!
«Ulthane!» Jonas calls me.
«Yeah, I'm here! I have your shit!» I blurt out, dropping a wrap containing what we were able to retrieve from the truck and where we fought the Well.
«Now hop on, before-»
As I turn to the other side of the room, I immediately see the three arctic fledglings staring at me, trying to hide their fear as they face me.
«Frost, what do we do?!» the particularly fluffy hen asks, probably the most scared of the three.
«Odin is hurt! Ember, we need to hold him back! Rime, call the others here!»
«I cannot let you do that.» I retort.
Their shock as they understand me is palpable.
«I'm here to bring them home. Stay out of it, and I will not hurt you.»
«We can't let you either! We need them! There are way too few of us already!» Frost replies.
«Then why are you so intent on facing me? Back off already, chick!»
«NO! LEAVE!!!» he growls, stomping the ground as a threat.
I glare at him.
«Make it quick, then.»
«Ember, flank him!!! Rime, wait for an opening!!!» he orders, charging me.
For fuck's sake..! I know you are not just going to crash against me!
As soon as he spins on his front legs to kick me, I reach for the fur on his chest, by which I hurl him against the wall.
«Grandpa! Don't do it!» Artemis calls me, almost giving the hen a chance to hit me immediately after.
I dodge her swipe, and I break her guard as she tries to protect herself from my backhand.
I received a few very light cuts where her talons intercepted me, but she definitely got the brunt of it, since she's struggling to remain on her feet.
«Ember!» the last hen calls her.
«Go..! Wake up Odin!» she orders. «We won't be able to hold him! Quickly..!»
Suddenly, a scream startles me; the griffin I knocked out a few minutes ago has dragged himself to the entrance.
«HERE!!! INSIDE THE DEN!!!» he screams, still groggy.
Before I can shut him up again, Ember and Frost jump on my back, piercing my skin through my feathers.
«LEAVE THE OTHER ONE!!! COME HE-»
A shot is fired, and a dart reaches the griffin's shoulder, taking him aback.
«Ulthane, get them off! If I hit you, we're all done for!» Jonas warns me, reloading.
However, another rooster gets in, and after a second of panic from seeing me, he makes his way towards the human, before a second shot hits him in the middle of the chest, stopping him in his tracks.
«DON'T COME IN ALONE!!!» he manages to yell before falling on his knees, the poison already taking effect.
«Take them off!» Tyler urges me, reloading.
By the way they are pulling, I think they are trying to make me lose my balance, as they must have realized that their beaks alone will not be enough.
I try to reach for their legs, but they are careful enough to pull themselves up at every attempt.
If I roll, I will crush them; should I have the humans take the risk and shoot them?
But out of nowhere, all of the griffins I saw outside barge in almost at the same time.
«Fuck! Shoot them, Tyler!!!»
My fingers start trembling.
Can I get Apollo and Artemis to take them off?!
No, they would just obstruct the humans's aim, and I doubt they would be strong enough in the first place.
Lucas has grabbed the third rifle in his mother's stead, but it will not be enough; there are at least sixteen of them, and the humans can only fire three darts at a time.
I feel cornered, and scared; not OF them, but FOR them.
I can't really judge how much they can take, so I risk holding back too much, like with Frost or that griffin from before.
Rage is already brewing inside me.
Can I do it?
Am I really ready to trade these fledgling's lives for my own's, if it comes to that?
I look back at the humans, taking aim for their dear life, and to my nephews, ready to fight right next to them.
No.
As thing stands, there is only one who has to face the consequences of his own actions.
With that in mind, I face the wave of white fur and talons heading for me, and my beak opens first in a growl, and then in a roar.
«ODIN!!!» I shake the building with my voice, trying to reach him.
«ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE YOUR CHICKS FIGHT ALONE?!!»
I say, striking the first one's side with my wing, taking the air out of his lungs.
«THIS IS YOUR FAULT!!! STOP HIDING AND LOOK AT THE FEAR IN THEIR EYES!!!» I continue, waiting for three shots to fly past me before striking another two in a row.
I might have broken some of their ribs..!
Fuck..!
But I have to lure him out, or it will end in a massacre!
«WHERE IS THAT PRIDE YOU WERE PREACHING ABOUT?! IF YOU DON'T WANT TO LET US GO, COME OUT AND FIGHT!!!»
«RIME!!! BACK OFF!!!» Ember screams.
After another strike, I glance back to see the fluffy hen try to pull her friend away from me.
«Just let him go!!! Let THEM go!!! He's too strong for us!!!» she pleads.
«SHUT IT, YOU DAMN COWARD!!!» Frost yells back. «Remember what's at stake!!!» he says as he climbs on my back and jumps against the back of my neck, talons first.
I growl in pain as they pierce my flesh, but I finally manage to grab his hands before he can clench any further, and I repel another griffin with my wings, barely pulling the latter back before some of them can grab it.
While their force has been pretty much halved, they are definitely starting to weaponize their desperation.
Choking a scream, I pull out Frost's talons, and I hurl him against the others will all of my strength as I temporarily lose control, knocking a few over.
«FROST!!!» Ember calls him, finally letting go to try and help him.
«EVERYONE, PLEASE!!! LET THEM GO!!!» Rime tries to scream over them.
And finally, one voice silences all the others.
«ENOUGH!»
Everybody stops.
The humans, the griffins...
I turn around to stare at the old griffin as he enters the room with a slight limp.
Odin's eyes give off many emotions: contempt... anger... fatigue... and understanding.
«Welcome to our humble establishment, Ulthane. Sorry if it doesn't live up to what you're used to.» he calmly greets me. «I didn't think your subordinate would have recovered so quickly...»
«Stay the fuck away from my people.» I stop him in his track, growling.
He glares at me.
«Hurting them would harm us both, at this point. And we've already determined that you want this to be between us.» he retorts.
Then, he takes a deep breath as he looks down.
«Frost, lead the pack in my stead. And listen to your sister.»
«Odin..!» the rooster calls his name, shocked.
I start walking towards him, studying him.
Is there really a point to this?
Those were the words of a dying griffin; he's sure he will lose.
The fight against Ymir took a toll on his body, and he took unnecessary risks throughout it; he is not an experienced fighter.
Is it really all his pride?
If I spare his life, will he survive it?
«Odin. I called you to force you to stop them; I don't actually want to kill you. You still have the option to let us go and end this here. For your people.»
«I wish that were still true.» he mutters. «This is worth more than just your nephews, Ulthane.»
He raises his head, studying me back.
He's even larger from up close.
Chances are, he's actually stronger than me, despite his age.
His fur his quite thick, too; if I'm not careful, my talons might even get tangled in it.
I will have to rely on technique and speed to keep him at bay.
Judging by the way he limped, I think he hurt either his back or his hind-legs; that should limit his movements.
I still have plenty of strength and adrenaline in my body, so my odds are favorable, for a change.
«Are you really so afraid of their judgment that you would rather throw your life away?» I ask.
«This is not about pride, either.» he coldly replies.
«What is it about, then? What could be so important to make you leave your colony in the hands of a fledgling?»
«It's best for everyone if I keep that to myself. I hope you'll excuse me, but I think the time for words is over.» he concludes with a hollow glare.
«Very well.» I conclude.
The silence in the room is so strong, it almost blocks out the wind.
Jonas is urging the others to back away, while the arctic griffins are conflicted between stepping in and taking shelter.
The following three seconds feel like time has stopped to let us stare into each other's eyes.
And in a heartbeat, he spreads one of his wings, ready to strike.
I take the opportunity to dash towards him, just too close for it to reach me, and I punch him in the middle of the chest, pushing him slightly back.
I duck, avoiding his massive talons as they move towards my head, taking the opportunity scratch his arm with my own, as swiftly as I can.
Odin tries again, striking repeatedly as I keep stepping back.
He's slow and predictable; is he holding back, or is this really as fast as he can go?
As soon as he puts down his hand to lift the other one, I lounge forward to block it, and I strike his head with my wing, stunning him long enough for me to throw him on his side.
His free arm immediately goes to protect his neck as he instinctively curls, stopping half way with a quiet cry because of his back.
His chest and abdomen are wide open; I have him in my talons.
I stare down at him, hesitant.
He takes the opportunity to try and reach my arm, leaving even his neck unprotected for a split second.
But I just can't do it.
I take away my hand and jump in front of him, hitting his head instead.
The strike echoes through the building.
«Surrender already, Odin! This is pointless!» I exclaim.
But instead of listening, he does is best to stand up as a few droplets of blood fall from his beak.
The cut I made in his arm has already started to stain the fur around it.
«We've been through this, Ulthane. It's too late.» he croaks.
«FOR WHAT?!» I growl, done with his secrets.
«Let them know why you want to die so badly!»
«Artemis might be waiting for my chicks.» Frost answers in his stead.
I turn around, not believing what I just heard.
«FROST..!» Odin growls.
«And I Apollo's.» Ember adds.
«And... Lucas... if that's really possible...» Rime concludes with a whisper.
«QUIET!!!» Odin tries to silence them. «You have no idea what this griffin is capable of!»
What the fuck..!
I turn towards the chicks, in disbelief, and the realization that I understood the situation makes them look down in shame.
My legs feel so weak that a single shift in the ice under the structure shakes my whole body.
«Did you abuse my nephews? And the human fledgling?!» I ask, piercing the floor with my talons.
«No! We were... forward... and excessive... but we did not hurt them! I swear it on my life!» Rime exclaims, approaching me.
«Rime! Stay away! It was my decision, Ulthane! They are the youngest adults here; I chose them for the best chance of an healthy offspring!»
«Don't you dare talk about them like they're your breeding stock!» I growl.
«Ulthane, whatever you choose to do with me, spare my people.» he says, walking away from the others, trying to make himself the target. «You're right: it's my fault; not theirs. They are barely more than chicks.»
Suddenly, I feel another shift beneath us.
I am trying to focus on the old fuck in front of me, but my instincts are warning me about something else.
Something wrong.
Something really, REALLY wrong.
Then, through the same talons I stabbed the floor with, I finally understand what it is: I can barely feel it, but there's no doubt about it; the ground is definitely vibrating.
«Odin.» I call him. «What's beneath this place?»
«Nothing..! Just a thick layer of ice, and the ground... Why..?»
I walk towards a transparent spot on the floor while trying my best to keep the snow griffins in the corner of my eye, filled by a strange sense of dread.
Judging by the complete and utter silence, the others must have felt it as well.
«What is this..?» I finally hear someone ask.
«Is the ground moving?»
«Are we safe in here?»
Something has started glowing underneath, several dozens of meters below us.
A shiver runs through my entire body as the light grows colder.
And when I realize what it is, I use what little time I have to turn towards everyone else and yell one single word: «RUN!!!»
Then, the first roots start breaking through the floor all around us, piercing the roof faster than the blink of an eye, until the ice lights up like the sun before exploding under our feet.


===Loki=== February 9th - 14:10

Shit! I can't hear them fight anymore!
What happened?!
Did Ulthane get him?
Or was he defeated?!
Where did the others go, if not to help Odin?
Did they overwhelm him?!
My fingers start trembling, making me drop the tiny flare gun.
I really want to go there and see for myself, but what if Ulthane was captured, or... worse?
He would need me hidden!
But... fuck it! They already know I'm out here..!
Might as well fight until the end! For Lucas!
I jump down the small cliff, letting the snow cushion my fall.
However, as I'm about to move, I feel something move beneath my paws.
Did I crush something?
No... it's... underground?
Whatever! I must reach-!
Suddenly, the earth starts to shake violently, tipping huge boulders and creating small avalanches all over the place.
«An earthquake?! Now?!»
As soon as I'm done saying that, the roof of the building explodes in a colossal tower of vines, which spreads out as soon as it reaches its full height.
I stop immediately, paralyzed by shock and disbelief, but when one of them falls right in front of me, as thick as a centenary tree and as long as a river, I start moving again.
What happened to the others?! They were in the middle of that!
«JASMINE!!! LUCAS!!! ULTHANE!!!» I try to scream over the rumbling of the earth.
Soon, pieces of the structure start falling all around me as more clusters start sprouting everywhere; no signs of living creatures.
They must have been pushed aside, or I would have seen them flying!
Inside the snow..! I must reach the base of the roots! They have to be buried near it!
Something starts rising from what looks like the center of all the roots; something vaguely reminiscent of an egg, but tens, if not hundreds of thousands of times its size.
A strange, bittersweet smell fills the air as several glowing lines spread from its top towards its base, which has finally revealed two giant intertwined stems joining at its base, much like-
By the Great Mother..!
Once it has lifted itself high enough, its shell opens up, freeing the six-sided petals it was protecting, and lighting up its surroundings like the sun.
At its center, where its pistils should be, lies a large opening, almost like a gaping mouth, from which a torrent of shining water starts falling, raising a cloud of steam as it encounters the cold snow.
Those petals..!
Is this what a Well looks like?!
How is it even moving?! It's a fucking plant!!!
And why is it just out here?! Was it chasing us, or-
No, wait..! Ulthane said it was interested in Lucas..!
Did it somehow track him down?!
If that's the case, I have to take him away before it finds him!
A luminescent fog starts to spread as I finally get to where the building once was.
On the opposite side from where I came from, between the vines and the snow piles, I see a few snow griffins digging their friends out in a panic; judging by the trouble some of the rescued have to stay awake, they must have been shot by the humans.
Maybe, if I help them, they will help me back..!
After spotting me, some of them stop for a second, unable to decide who to focus on.
I need to make them understand my intentions; I have to find someone!
But how do they do that under meters of snow?
The smell of the Well is covering everything, and the vines traveling underground are blocking every other possible vibration from below.
Are they simply going in blindly?
Just as desperate, I start digging, too.
Where could they be?!
Where was the fight taking place?!
The more snow I remove, the colder the air around me gets, making it even harder to continue.
Being buried inside it must be even worse.
I can't do this forever!
I look back at the snow griffins, and I try to remember the shape of the structure relative to them; if they are there, then the others must have been on the opposite side!
As I am about to move, one of them screeches in fear as it gets dragged away by something.
What the hell?!
I stare as the others grab him to pull him back, trying to figure out what is happening, until I feel something graze my leg.
I jump back, striking whatever follows me past the snow, and a long piece of vine falls in front of me, bleeding the Well's glowing fluid.
Shit!!!
I rush towards them, and once in front of the trapped griffin, I firmly grasp the vine and pull it out of the snow, severing it immediately after, freeing him.
«The rocks!!! Get on the rocks!!!» I yell, pointing at them as I pray they understand.
Once they see the glowing vine tied around the griffin's leg, and the snake-like shapes moving in the snow, they seem to get it, as they start running towards them.
However, halfway through they all get taken, and this time the Well does not hesitate, as I barely manage to dodge multiple myself.
I bury my hands through the marks on the snow to cut them free, but for every vine I get rid off, another one is already there to take its place.
As I see the first griffin start to disappear under the snow, screeching and digging to save his life, I move to rescue him, but that only accelerate the descent of the others.
I can't protect them all on my own!
What do I do?!
Suddenly, they all stop sinking, and they finally manage to dig themselves out at about the same time, right before the snow explodes with a roar, letting a bloodied Odin emerge with dozens of ripped off vines in his hands.
He's still on his feet after fighting Ulthane?!
This guy is built like a fucking mountain!
A suffering growl echoes as the snow breaks again, and a shivering Alpha struggles out of it, his feathers still coated by ice powder.
«Ulthane!» I call him, running to his aid.
«Loki..! You're alright..!» he mutters. «The others..! Take them to safety..!»
«Where were they, Ulthane?! The Well is already searching the area with its damn roots!»
«They were behind me, close to the walls. We must dig them out, before-»
As we speak, larger tendrils cross the sky and pierce the snow, reaching for something underneath.
Are the big roots an answer to Odin's strength?
Did it really adapt that quickly?!
After a few seconds, it rips out another snow griffin, one with the thickest fur I've seen on anything ever.
Odin is the first to call the hen, who seems to be holding something between her arms...
Lucas..!
My heart almost stops on the spot.
«LUCAAAAAS!!!» I scream, sprinting towards the vine as it rises.
«DAAAD!!!» Lucas yells back, almost giving me a heart attack.
The hen screeches as well, and she starts to struggle within the vine.
«RIME!!!» he calls as he starts to slip out, until he finally falls in the snow beneath.
Before the Well notices, I pull him out and put him on my back, ready to run away with him.
«Loki, stop!!! We can't let her die!!!»
«I don't know who that hen is, but you are our priority! I won't risk your life for them any more than I have to!» I exclaim.
«THEY SAVED ME!!!»
«THEN MAKE THAT WORTH IT!!!»
«If you don't help me, I will do it alone!» he says, ready to jump off.
«AND HOW-» I'm about to retort, when I turn around see another root planted right next to her path.
I must be going mad.
Could we actually save her..?
Now I know I will regret not trying..! Damn it!
«Alright, fine; we have one shot. Hang tight!» I finally agree, snapping myself around on my hands, before launching my body forward. «I'll climb and cut the vine holding her; you keep watch on the other branches coming in!»
Thankfully, I am way faster than the Well, so I cover the distance with a small advantage, and I quickly climb up.
«Get ready: we are about to jump!»
But as the hen is about to pass me by, the root we are hanging on raises up, and starts swinging wildly.
«FUCK!!! LUCAS!!! DON'T LET GO!!!»
My barbed talons are resisting, but my hind legs are not as secure, so we keep twisting and turning at the monster's whim, unable to keep a sense of direction, let alone to rescue the hen.
«I AM GOING!!!» my son suddenly announces.
«FUCKING WHERE?!» I yell back, but as the Well swings forward, he lets go of my back, and I barely make him out as he manages to latch onto the other vine.
«LUCAAAAAAAS!!!» I scream as I feel the plant crumbling around my fingers, flinging me back through the air.
Once I reemerge from the snow and get my bearings, I spot him right in front of the hen, trying to rip the vine with his bare hands while the she desperately shrieks at him.
«LUCAS!!! LET GO!!!»
I have to reach him!
But how?!
The other vines are too far apart, and-
Suddenly, he lets out the loudest roar I've heard a human emit, and in just a few seconds, the vine is split, and the two fall down the depression caused by the Well.
«NO!!!»


===Lucas=== February 9th - 14:16

«LUCAS!!!» Loki calls me as I try to dig myself out of the snow that cushioned our fall.
Rime shrieks to reply in my stead while she helps me.
«I'M ALIVE!!!» I finally manage to scream back.
«I'M COMING- Argh! Let me GO!!!» he gets interrupted by the big griffin, who pulls him back just before the ice collapses under his feet, revealing more giant roots.
Does this damn thing grow indefinitely?!
Where is it even getting its nutrients from?!
Its glowing fluids have melted the snow in the entire area, creating a disgusting, nauseating mush that smells way too sweet, like overripe fruit.
That must have been the lure for the griffins..!
I look up towards the edge of the cliff: just an almost vertical wall of ice and snow; no climbing out without a good set of talons.
Suddenly, I hear something digging through the molten snow, and Rime chirps with urgency, warning me of the slender green tendrils sprouting all around us, which quickly begin to grow countless identical branches from their sides, intertwining like nets.
«THIS WAY!!!» I call Rime, who loads me on her back before rushing towards the ice wall with all of her claws ready for the fastest climb of her life.
However, the ice begins to reflect a growing source of light coming from behind us; I turn around, and I discover that the tendrils have began flowering smaller versions of the Well, which are flooding the area with their own liquid, accelerating their growth exponentially.
Shit, they are already almost as fast as Rime!
At this rate, they will encase us before we can even reach the wall!
Rime peeps in fear as she sees the vines sprout just a few meters behind us.
There would be way too many for us to cut through, and they are almost twice her height already! 
«Faster, Rime!!!» I push her, patting her back.
She chirps desperately in response, anticipating the sound of flowers opening their petals.
Their light is almost blinding me just by bouncing off her plumage..!
But unexpectedly, a small piece of ice falls off the wall, revealing two people crammed inside; Tyler and my mother.
«Holy- LUCAS!!!» my mother screams, immediately understanding the situation.
Then, she searches for something towards her feet, and drags it out with her one hand: it's the gas canister I used to light up the fire.
«Tyler, help me! POUR IT BEHIND YOU!!! DOWSE THE AREA!!!» she says, as they try to coordinate a throw.
«Three, two, one, THROW!!!»
The red canister flies through the air, until it lands a few meters in front of Rime, who picks it up on the fly with her beak, and swiftly passes it back to me.
I turn around, sitting backwards, and I unscrew the cap as I squeeze my eyelids shut to block the light.
I have no idea on what she means exactly by "dowse the area", so I start swinging the canister from side to side, spilling the fuel inside in large arcs.
As soon as the canister stops pouring, I throw it away, not wanting to risk getting the residues on myself or on Rime, and I almost fall off in doing so, as she jumps immediately after to cling to the wall.
We both start screaming when we see the Well rapidly create a ceiling with the vines to try and trap us in, but Tyler fires a flare behind us, igniting the gasoline at once.
Surprisingly, the vines curl, starting to fall down as if their "power" were suddenly rerouted.
«Hey Rime! Come here!» my mother calls her, putting out a climbing rope.
The griffin quickly climbs towards them, and grabs the rope with her beak.
My mother points up with her finger. «We need help getting out of here! Can you take us up?»
Rime seems to have understood enough, and once gotten a better grip on the rope, she resumes her climb, making sure Tyler is actually able to hold my mother between himself and the rope.
I look back at the vines, who seem to "shed" the parts engulfed in flames to try and cut their losses, all while their flowers pour more of their fluids in an attempt to put out or push away the flaming gasoline.
The Well is still towering above everything, ominously shining its light everywhere as its many limbs search for more victims.
Can we really get out of this one?


===Acacia=== February 9th - 14:11

«You are already on your way to recovery; worthy daughter of your father.» I reassure her, caressing her head.
«If I were, there wouldn't have been any left to take my chicks away...» Umbra mutters. «If only they hadn't come back for me...»
«Don't say that. Loki and he are going to save them, you'll see.»
Umbra remains in silence for a short while.
«Are we in trouble? About the dead humans, I mean?»
I sigh.
«It's... hard to say.» I admit. «The last time something like this happened, it was under your father's predecessor.»
«The tragedy of Serena's chick?»
I nod.
«Admittedly, only one of the three hunters was killed. In a far worse way, though. Still, in both cases, we were protecting ourselves, and the humans's law does not punish griffins, as far as I know.»
«What about our humans?»
I hesitate.
«I am not sure. Hopefully the enforcers will understand the situation once again. And they won't find out how your father learned where the hunters were headed.»
«Oh! Umbra! You're awake! That's a relief..!» Titan comments as his head turns the corner.
«Uncle...»
«Don't push yourself, dear! The vet said you've already pulled a miracle by surviving that!» he exclaims. «Speaking of, did she say anything else?»
I shake my head.
«Hm. And from Jonas?»
«Nothing yet.» I repeat, letting a hint of my discouragement show.
Truth is, my hopes of seeing my nephews again are waning further with every minute without news.
I wish I could truly mean what I said about my faith in Ulthane, but I did not express myself because I know I wouldn't have been able to stop him even if I tried.
Unexpectedly, a large finger lifts my beak up, and I find myself staring at Titan's hopeful smile.
«My brother is a force of nature; the thing that will stop him does not exist yet.» he confidently whispers. «And if he has to swim after those humans, he will! I told him to!»
I can't help but smile back.
«Thank you, Titan.»
Suddenly, the tools on the shelves start rattling, grabbing our attention.
Immediately after, the entire building shakes around us, taking some of them down and triggering a few alarms.
«An earthquake?!» Titan exclaims.
I can hear griffins screaming outside, maybe a few scared fledglings.
However, when the ground finally quiets down, the terrified shrieks do not.
After Titan and I exchange a puzzled look, we take a few steps outside to see what's going on, and I takes me some time to understand what I am seeing.
A ghostly glow has taken the place of the usual shade of the forest, and something is peeking above the trees, like... giant branches?
But... they're moving!
«Titan... What is that thing?» I ask as a strange feeling of dread grows inside me.
«I... I don't-»
Then, he stops, and his eyes widen.
«Wait..! That glow! And this scent! That must be-!»
Before he can finish, the ground shakes again, letting out a deafening rumble as cracks start to appear around the Meadow, from which rises a continuous wall of tendrils, even taller than the human buildings.
In the middle of the forest, a large cluster of them rises, covered in glowing... warts?
No, flowers?
«The Well!» Titan concludes. «It has awakened?! Now?!»
That... mess? That's a Well?!
Why is it above the ground? I thought it would hide inside caves to lure griffins in!
And we already have two Alphas-!
No...
That cannot mean...
Ulthane..! Loki..!
«Maybe I can uproot it..!» Titan suddenly suggests.
«What?! Titan, it's way too big!» I retort.
«The whole thing, yes, but maybe that large lump is the main trunk! Maybe, if I cut it, it will die! Or just retreat!» he continues, undeterred. «Watch over Umbra, Acacia! I will take care of it!»
«It's way too dangerous to go alone! You are not an Alpha! It could take you away!»
«It could do the same to my chicks and nephews, and with the two of you. Also, Ulthane told me to take care of the colony while he's gone; I would be an hypocrite if I didn't follow through with his request!»
«Mum, please, follow him! He's just as insane as dad!» Umbra pleads. «Uncle Titan, please, let her come with you! She can handle herself!»
«I have no doubts-»
«The more you argue, the more time the Well has to hunt us!» she suddenly exclaims.
«Oh, fine, damn it! Let's go for it, Acacia!» he says, sprinting forward.
«Be careful..!» Umbra mutters.
I run by her to lick her cheek.
«We will. Rest easy, sweetheart! Your mum will protect you.»
With that, I rush after my brother-in-law.
«Please, come back alive..!» I barely hear her say.

This is already out of our control.
I stop to help the chicks out of the rift that opened in the ground, while Titan cuts down one giant stem after the other, freeing a couple of griffins stuck between them.
How many are in the same position?
The hunters and the guards are probably already doing their best to rescue those that they can find, but just moving around has become dangerous; between the tripping hazard from the low vines spreading on the ground and the falling branches from the trees strangled by those roots, we already risked several injuries.
And for some reason, the sweet scent emitted by their flowers unsettles me.
It may be because I know of the Well, or how much they are trying to distract me from the task ahead.
Hopefully, the other carpenters will start to fight back for their trees.
«Fixing all of this is going to take months!» Ulthane grumbles. «How does this damn weed grow so fast?!»
«Titan, we should be getting closer to the Well! Watch your step!»
As expected, the massive tower of intertwined vines peaks out of the foliage, closer than ever.
The flowers are getting larger and denser as we move towards the center, covering the small meadows and trees throughout the woods.
And finally, we find ourselves in front of it.
«Ah..! That's... that's even bigger than I thought..!» he comments.
The green glowing pillar stands above us, more than twice the size of the tallest tree in the oasis, and four times as wide as Titan's body is long.
«But it's not indestructible! I'll hack it off one vine at a time, if I need to!» he continues, stretching his limbs.
«I'll do what I can to help you.» I offer, approaching it with him.
However, a few seconds later, the vines start moving again, curving near their base as if they were about to birth something.
An almost blinding light filters through them as they actually open, letting a faint shadow out before slowly closing again.
Once it is possible to look at the Well again, we jump back at the same time: something... no, someone is standing right in front of it.
It looks like a large griffin, only slightly smaller than Ulthane, but..! 
But it has four wings!
One pair above the other, with bone spikes sticking out of them, like fangs!
And it has four eyes!
Yellow eyes..!
And that silver plumage..!
And that grin..!
«Well, if this isn't a small forest.» he comments with a voice that sends a shock of fear through my body.
«Acacia. Titan. It has been a long while, hasn't it?»
My legs are trembling as his eyes study me.
I am barely able to mutter is name.
«Lance..!»


===Ulthane=== February 9th - 14:18

«YOU MOTHERFUCKER!!!» Loki yells, struggling. «STAY AWAY FROM ME!!!»
Odin ignores him, and keeps holding him down instead.
«Get up, Ulthane! That demon finally came out of the ice! We have to take it down now!»
«Do you have a plan?» I ask, still struggling to remain on my feet.
«When you ripped that giant's head off, you had the strength of at least twenty griffins! We just need to find a way to reach it!» he replies.
«Wait..! You want to just... chop it down like a tree?!» I exclaim.
«I have no idea what that monster did to you to make you like this, but if it took your people like it did for us, you should know this is our chance to get rid of it! And YOU have the power to do so!»
«Fuck off, Odin! We have too much to lose!» I shut him down. «Take your people and run! I will find the chicks and do the same!»
«LOKIII!!!» Jasmine's voice calls him.
In a spike of adrenaline, the rooster manages to free himself from the snow griffin's clutches.
«JASMINE!» he yells back.
With her, I recognize Tyler, Lucas, and Rime.
«Rime! At least you made it..!» Odin exclaims.
As they run forward, more ice starts to collapse with the rumbling of a storm, followed by the rising of a large knot of flowering vines, pulsating like a heart.
Unexpectedly, the latter unties itself on the ground, letting Borea's body walk out, visibly displeased.
«It's high time you regretted making this personal, Ulthane.» the Well comments. «It's over, both here, and back at the Oasis.»
A chill runs down my spine as she says that.
«I was still constructing that flower, but at this point, it's clear that I can't afford to pull any punches. As we speak, the lives of your people are in my hands. Titan and Acacia are futilely trying to hold back my vessel.»
A barely perceptible grin appears at the corner of her beak.
«For him, though, it's going to be some poetic justice; back then you took his head, so now he will take your family.»
I feel like my heart fell inside Ymir's grip.
How..?! He wasn't an Alpha!
«Lucky him for being buried near one of my roots. But enough about that.» the hen concludes before flapping her strange wings a couple of time, spreading an almost invisible mist.
Suddenly, Odin starts coughing, and blood falls from his beak onto the snow near his feet.
«Enough about you all.»
Rime falls down in a fit as well, bleeding from her nostrils and beak.
«Rime!» Lucas exclaims.
«It's a gas! It's poisonous to them!» Jasmine exclaims.
«Odin, take her and leave while you can! This mist is deadly to regular griffins!» I exclaim.
«It's pointless; what was the name of the chick you were training to take your place? Frost?» she continues, switching to Odin's language.
His feathers rise up.
«How do you know?! WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM?!» he growls, despite the blood drenching his tongue.
«Oh, nothing yet. But at some point, I will find him, and he will finally get to join his parents inside my veins.» 
The ice cracks under his talons as his bloodshot eyes widen.
«Don't do it, Odin. Save Rime.» I try to convince him. «That griffin is not the real Well; killing it is pointless. Focus on protecting your family.»
«Frost is his nephew, Ulthane; he has already failed at that.» the Well retorts, almost amused. «And once he finally dies, either of old age or from his injuries, his colony of leaderless, overgrown chicks will have no escape.»
In the blink of an eye, Odin lunges forward, ready to kill, but not even halfway there, a vine the size of a centenary tree flings itself up from the snow, flipping him back several dozens of meters with a single strike to the chest, where he remains.
I could hear his ribs crack..!
Blood streams down his beak, blending with the snow.
«ODIIIIIN!!!» Rime shrieks with all the strength she can muster.
«Hush! Hush! Don't look, girl!» Tyler tries to help Lucas push her away. «Son, find a way to comfort her..!»
«I can try telling her that she can come with Lucas, if you'd like.» the Well switches to his tongue.
«How about you just go back to hell and stay there?!» Jasmine replies, taking a step forward.
Borea's body raises an eyebrow.
«As a biologist, you should be fawning all over me. I have pretty much marked the beginning of intelligent life itself; I have an unthinkable amount of knowledge that your people would kill to recover!»
«You fucking suck.» Jasmine retorts instead.
The Well has to double take, confused.
«I beg your pardon?»
«It's obvious that you are prehistoric; you probably span across the entire continent, or even beyond that, and all you can muster is the intelligence of a reasonably smart human. In one minuscule spot at a time, to top it off.» she continues. «The rest of you is just an overly specialized version of a carnivorous plant.»
The Well glares at her.
«You glossed over-»
«Your knowledge. Yes, I've heard you, and I'm not going to sacrifice humanity for some pointless information on an extinct bacteria that fed on its own shit and died because an extra grain of salt ended up in its puddle.» she interrupts him.
«Everything else you've learned, you've learned from a griffin. Either that griffin learned it on their own or through his kin, or we told them. In either case: not only you suck as a living being, but you're also fucking pointless. Worse than even a tic or a mosquito, because at least those are food for someone else.»
«Are you done?» it hisses, irritated.
«No, I want you to keep wasting your already limited energy through that hen's body. Hard to do all of that without muscles, uh?» she comments, glancing at me for a second to see if I am listening.
Limited energy?
Borea's body growls instinctively.
«I see, doctor. But I think I will have to ask your peers to review your thesis.»
Having said that, a web of vines instantly raises up from the snow and launches itself towards the humans.
But before it can reach them, Loki puts himself in front of them, and cuts it up in the blink of an eye, before charging Borea.
«TAKE THEM AWAY, ULTHANE!!! SHE'S ITS EYES!!!» he roars as he moves forward, dodging one attack after the other with otherworldly reflexes.
«LOKI!» I call him, but he has already reached the hen, and before she can utter a word, he tackles her, falling down the chasm she created, ripping off the limbs she must have rooted into the ground to resist the impact.
«Fuck!»


===Acacia=== February 9th - 14:17

«Despite your age, you're still adorable when you're helpless.» Lance comments.
Those words send a shiver down my spine, and burning hatred through my body.
«Ulthane already taught you that lesson..!» I retort.
«Oh, so he confessed to you too. The Well didn't tell me that.» he comments. «I'm curious: how did you take it when you learned that your... rooster was an even worse monster than me?»
«We know exactly what happened;» Titan intervenes. «don't try to play the victim.»
His grin widens slightly.
«Titan talking back? Now that's unexpected.» he ignores the reply as he moves forward. «Next you're going to tell me that you will hit me?»
As soon as Lance gets in his range, Titan unleashes a devastating right hook, audibly crushing the monster's skull in an instant.
His body rolls all the way to a large tree, which gets toppled down on impact.
«I should have done this long ago; we would have all been better for it..!» Titan states, with a mixture of anger and regret.
Ulthane had told me his brother was even stronger than him, but I thought that was just one of his insecurities.
His calmer demeanor and the fact that nobody has ever seen him hit another griffin reinforced my belief.
I'm glad I was wrong.
But before I can say anything, the flowers around the body start... bleeding some strange water, filled with a mysterious glowing dust.
«What's happening?»
The water climbs up his body, gathering on his deformed head, until it... restores its shape, allowing his eyes to look back at us.
He stands up, grinning as the water washes off his cheek, leaving him completely unharmed.
«A surprise after the other, uh?» he comments.
How..? Did the Well do this, too?!
«But this is as far as we can take our banter. Ulthane and his companions are being a bit too feisty for my employer's liking; they could use fewer reasons to live. After that, I can start harvesting some humans for it without trouble.»
He spreads his spiked wings, stretching.
«In other words... you have to die.»
«How about I beat the shit out of you faster than you can heal, instead?» Titan retorts, preparing himself to fight.
I'm scared.
This is not a normal griffin; I don't think he can be beaten that easily.
But I can't let him get to Umbra, either.
Our people, the chicks... the humans and their children.
The sheer thought scares me even more.
The same way it enrages me.
Lance chuckles.
«You are welcome to try, old cock.» he retorts.
Then he leans forward. «But you'd be better off just laying down and closing your eyes.»
Titan charges him, but as he's about to tear him apart with his talons, Lance outspeeds him and deflects the strike, stabbing him repeatedly with his four wings immediately after, and he finishes by pushing him away with a punch to the head.
I stop on my track once the monster's head snaps in my direction, his four eyes studying me with a sadistic glint.
«Well? I'm waiting.»
The sound of something being torn takes us by surprise.
«Seriou-» he goes to comment right before Titan crushes him under an entire tree.
The way he's panting..!
«Titan! Your injuries!»
«That's nothing..! But they are burning..! I think those claws are infected, or something like that..!»
Out of nowhere, the log gets split in half, and Lance emerges in between, healing in front of our eyes.
«Did your boss not teach you anything?» he comments, clenching the two wooden halves. «Waste of a perfectly good tree..!»
Titan screams for the guards and the hunters, but no reply comes.
«You can call even the human gods, if you want! Nobody will save you!»
«Acacia! Run to find them! Get away from here!» Titan exclaims.
Chances are, the Well cut them off from this side of the oasis.
There is no one that can help us.
The only way out is to hope for the humans outside to see this and to save the others.
So...
I attack Lance.
If he lets go of the tree, Titan will attack him again, and if he uses his legs, he won't have as much grip to resist him; he can only use is wings and tail; both have a limited range of motion, so I can use a blind spot to wound him.
But the flowers are going to heal him..!
I start slicing and crushing the latter as I go, but I have to stop almost immediately; that liquid they are oozing burns on my skin like live embers!
«Damn it..!»
I slide under the upper wing, and I dodge the lower one, drawing a deep cut across it, before extending it to his whole side.
After ducking under the swing of his tail, I chop it off, and since I'm here, I slice off something that should have been removed long ago.
«Ouch! That one was personal, wasn't it?» he comments, amused.
«Titan!!! He doesn't feel pain, either!!!»
«I'm afraid so.»
Having said that, he lets go of the tree, letting Titan fall forward.
The latter ends up intercepting Lance's hands and lower wings.
Before he can attack with his upper ones, I jump on his back and slice their muscles as fast as I can, giving Titan a chance to fight back.
With a roar, he pulls on his opponent's arms, tearing his tendons, and with a second struggle, he straight up rips them off.
Finally, he slams both of his hands against Lance's head, shattering his skull once more.
We keep slicing and crushing his body as much as we can, but I can already hear the flowers working to cure him.
Soon after, a wave of liquid engulfs my limbs, burning me and forcing me to jump off.
«Shit! He's going to heal again!»
«I won't let it happen..!» Titan growls despite the fatigue.
The poison must be taking its toll..!
One after the other, he still manages to uproot the surrounding trees and boulders, tossing them on top of the monster even long after he has vanished under their pile.
«Titan! Titan!!!» I call him, trying to stop him as he's about to lose is balance.
«Is he gone..?»
«That... might have done it! Even if he regrows his limbs, there is no way he can move all of that away!» I reply, hopeful.
But who knows what the Well has in store for us..!
A rumble shakes the earth.
«Not again..! More roots?!» Titan exclaims.
In a heartbeat, everything the strongest griffin in the colony had placed on the monster gets flung away by a gigantic vine, which rips itself off from the violence of its own movement.
«All in a day's work.» he casually comments with his usual grin.
Great Mother... what can we do..?


===Loki=== February 9th - 14:20

I turn around to face the hen, but she's perfectly still.
By the looks of it, she fell head-first onto a rock; this is my chance to destroy her body!
But as I am about to move, a series of faint cries reaches my ears.
Behind me, at the base of the chasm, there is a tunnel from where two large vines have sprouted.
Following the sound and the movements in the shade, I spot an arctic hen trapped right between them, surrounded by three desperate chicks, who are doing everything in their power to free her.
I look back at the monster; it hasn't moved an inch.
The roots are large, but they don't seem to be reacting to the griffins; maybe I can slice them just enough for her to get through?
«Calm down, you three! I'm coming to get her out!» I try to reassure them as I approach.
The hen's breathing is laboured, but otherwise normal; I don't think her life is in immediate danger, but the quicker she escapes, the better.
Out of nowhere, I barely manage to raise my arms to prevent a third vine from bashing my head in, but it still flings me across the ice plain, right in front of the fake hen, who is waiting for me with a set of horribly deformed talons.
Despite me pretty much bouncing off the ground, I still get sliced across the face.
Shit..! It's a miracle I still have both eyes!
Even so, those talons burn like they set my skin on fire; just in how many ways can this thing make us suffer?!
Another vine blocks my way, and the Well lounges forward, stabbing it with its hell of talons right where I was a second ago.
I'm not that much faster than her, either!
More, smaller but nimble vines come after me, grazing me one after the other, followed by a charge from the hen.
I can't tell if it's my wound or not, but my surroundings are definitely getting foggier.
I almost lose my wing to a vine, but a second one manages to hit my back, knocking the air out my lungs.
I have no idea how I managed to intercept the monster's arms a couple of centimeters away from my chest..!
Thankfully, I'm still stronger than her, so I can at least hold her back!
However, a small web of vines grows out of the ground and wraps around my wrists, trying to pull me towards her.
Suddenly, the hen tries to hit me with her wings, but I can definitely hold my own on the front-
Fuck, they burn too! And they are spreading more of that-!
My eyes widen, causing my face to hurt.
The faint coughing I hear from the tunnel confirms my suspicion: my vision is not getting blurry; it's the gas!
It's down here as well!
I feel the tip of the talons pierce my feathers and touch my skin, scorching it just by nudging it.
That soft cough keeps distracting me.
But why are the chicks not affected?
Are they too low to inhale it?
Their squeaks are echoing all the way here, reminding me that I have to save their mother.
«Jasmine and Ulthane are right; you are the shittiest creature to ever live. Forcing a hen's body to go against its nature and doom chicks in danger..!» I growl. «I have heard of countless horrible humans and griffins, of all the pests in this world, and even of demons from others; somehow, you still manage to stand out among them..!»
«Where are you going with this, Loki?» it asks through her beak.
«Through your damn fucking stem, you asshole!!!» I exclaim, falling back to avoid her talons as I slice the web with my hind claws, before kicking her back.
Of course, she had rooted herself in place, so she ends up rotating on her hind legs and falling on her back, finally vulnerable.
Several other vines jump up to protect the body, but since she's still facing away from me, they can't properly understand where I am, so I dodge them with ease.
You're mine!!!
«GET AWAY!» the fake hen suddenly screams in distress.
For a second, my mind disconnects from my body, which jumps back on its own.
What the fuck was that?!
Her voice echoed through my entire being, as if it had free range over it..!
It didn't sound like the way the Well normally speaks, either..!
By the time I regain control of myself, it's too late for me to dodge all of the vines that are coming for me.
I must at least limit the damage, somehow..!
However, a large white figure places itself right in front of me, taking the hits in my stead.
«Odin?!»
The large griffin staggers, but remains on his feet.
His fur is stained with blood, his stance is wavering and his legs are visibly trembling; he is not in the condition to be here.
«You stupid fuck..! You will die if you keep going!!!» I yell at him.
He grumbles, but otherwise does not falter.
The monster, who has managed to get back on its feet, talks in his language with a derogatory tone, but this time, Odin does not seem willing to let its provocations get to him.
And suddenly, a shot echoes through the plains, and a single dart pierces her eye, taking her aback.
«NOW!!!»
That was Jonas's voice..!
Despite everything, a rogue smirk appears on my beak.
For some reason, I have lost every doubt that Apollo and Artemis are still alive.
The Well is trying to destroy our will, so it would definitely not kill them without making us watch!
Odin is almost on the griffin, but she yells again.
«DON'T COME ANY CLOSER!!!»
My muscles loosen up in an instant, stopping me almost immediately.
The snow griffin, however, holds out long enough to slash through her chest.
The Well's tone changes completely as it roars in frustration.
«I WILL SLAUGHTER YOU ALL!!! YOU USELESS MAGGOTS!!!»
The ground shakes again, and a dozen of sizable vines rises from the ground.
«CONSIDER YOUR KIND... EXTINCT!!!»
And with that, the green tendrils start moving erratically, signaling that we have officially pissed it off.


===Ulthane=== February 9th - 14:20

I hate this.
I hate that after surviving all of that, Odin jumped down to continue his insane plan.
I hate that since we are stuck with it, I can't go down there to protect Loki.
But not as much as I hate the Well.
I study the monstrosity towering over the land, trying to find a path to its main stem across its fields of green tentacles.
I am quickly regaining my strength, but I would rather not just dive in beak-first when the stakes are so high.
I turn around to look at the other humans, who are crafting strange head-covers for the snow griffins out of the stuff they managed to dig out of the debris, which Jasmine said might slow down the effect of the Well's mist as they dig for the last survivors.
Even Rime is planning go back in to dig for Apollo and Artemis, once she regains some energy.
I look back at my target; is it really all resting on my attack?
If I fail, Odin and Loki will die in vain, as fighting Borea's body is nothing but a nuisance for the monster.
How long will they resist..?
My nephews are still buried under the snow in this area; Jasmine said that the cold is the biggest threat to their survival, so every minute the Well takes away from us is crucial.
Are they still alive..?
The snow griffins have already lost their home, and I doubt Odin will live till sunset, as things stand.
But the Oasis?
Will killing this Well help my people in any way?
I don't remember the last time I felt like this.
Is it... hopelessness?
A somber chuckle leaves my beak.
"I will not let anyone die under my command..."
Yeah, had I foreseen this, I would have said it was a stupid promise myself.
Suddenly, I feel something tug on my mane, making me instantly turn my head down to face it; it's Lucas.
«Are you thinking about destroying that gigantic flower?» he asks me, shivering as the wind blows through the plain.
I nod, wondering why he came all the way here.
«Do you know how to get to it?»
I shake my head.
«Alright, cool. 'Cause I think I have an idea.»
I narrow my eyebrows, surprised.
Maybe he pulled some new human trickery out of his ass?
Or-
Are you shitting me..?
Loki, after listening to his meager, risky, and insane, yet genius plan, any doubts I didn't even know I had about this young human being your chick have entirely faded away.


===Acacia=== February 9th - 14:20

Despite jumping away, the spikes on Lance's wings still manage to reach and sting me again.
All the wounds he's inflicted me have been pretty much skin-deep; he's clearly toying with me.
It's getting harder to breathe, too.
It must be the strange mist that has enveloped the area as we were fighting..!
My entire body hurts..!
«You look tired, Acacia! Maybe you should just lie down..!» the monster mocks me, faking pounces and circling around me before stinging me again.
I try striking back, but I've become way too slow.
«Oh, dear; here we go again.» he suddenly comments, almost bored.
And immediately after, Titan charges him with a pointy log, stabbing through his arm, chest, and wings before impaling him against a tree.
«Acacia, just... just run!!! Please..!» he begs, holding Lance still.
«Nice try, but neither of these plans will help you!»
A flurry of smaller vines leaves his body, cutting through the log in an instant before wrapping around Titan's neck and limbs.
«Ti-»
But before I can call him, the same thing happens to me.
I couldn't even see them coming for me..!
Lance slides down the tip of the log, still stuck in the tree, and once he hits the ground, the flowers heal him again.
«Things are getting heated up north, apparently.» he comments. «So, where should I begin?»
Finally, he turns towards me, thoughtful, and he approaches.
«You know, Acacia? Despite everything, you aged well.»
He pinches my beak between his talons.
I try to growl, but there is barely any air in my lungs to keep me awake, let alone do that.
«How about you and I resume from where we left off?»
You filthy boar..!
However, his ears suddenly spike upright, and his eyes widen.
Then, he instantly snaps his body around, ready to slash a mysterious figure with his talons.
However, the new griffin jumps over his attack, and cuts through his face instead.
Umbra lands a few meters away from him, her wings twitching, her pupils dilated, and her plumage ruffled.
«Stay the fuck away from my family..!» she growls.
«Umbra..!» I manage to let out.
Once healed, Lance glares at her.
«Even if I had not seen you in the Well's memories, I would have no trouble telling that you are that worthless cock's daughter.» he comments, studying her.
Her heavy breathing...
That tensed up stance..!
How are you able to stand, Umbra?!
You woke up less than two hours ago!
In the blink of an eye, she bolts towards me and her uncle, cutting away our bindings.
Then she stops with the same stance, ready to jump him.
She was not as fast as Loki, but that was still unnatural!
Lance laughs.
«Wow! Just how many human concoctions have you consumed to end up in that state?»
«Enough to turn you back into a bad memory!» she growls, jumping him again.
Just like before, Lance is not even able to hit her, while she's able to cut one of his wings clean off.
«Umbra, was it? I will tell you one thing: the Well gave me special eyes to see EVERYTHING, including how "healthy" you are.» Lance explains as his wing gets reattached to his body. «And I have to say: you are in horrible shape. As in, your heart looks like it's about to explode.»
Umbra dashes past him again, cutting through is side, exposing the bones and organs within.
«And for nothing, too; you ultimately cannot hurt me in any way, shape or form.»
«If you are so sure about that, then why don't you come and get me?!» she provokes him, jumping on a tree.
«I don't have to.»
Having said that, more vines sprout from his body and begin chasing her around the trees.
«UMBRA!» I call her, trying my best to stand up.
«STAY WHERE YOU ARE!!! I'VE GOT THIS!!!» she stops me. «UNCLE!!!»
Titan looks at her, unsure, but ready for anything.
«PULL!!!»
As soon as she jumps next him, he understands right away, and traps the cluster of vines within his grip.
In a single movement, he uses is entire body to pull on the vines, straight up dragging Lance off the ground, much to his shock, pinning him between two thick branches.
Before he can free himself, Umbra climbs back up and cuts through the muscles of his arms, effectively making them useless.
«Look out, Titan!» I exclaim as I see the vines growing in his hands, giving him enough time to push them away before I cut them.
The flowers right under Lance start preparing his cure, but unexpectedly, he starts to desperately squirm to try and free himself from his own vine.
I would recognize that frustrated face everywhere.
«So it can only go upwards on his skin?» I realize, regaining hope.
«We've got him cornered! Help your daughter, Acacia! I'll hold him!»
I use all the strength I have left to join Umbra, who has already torn his face to shreds, and is now moving to his wings.
Gathering all of my hatred, I jump on his body and slash his abdomen open, letting his guts spill out.
«NOTHING NEW FOR YOU, IS IT?!» I roar.
Judging by how much he's trembling, Lance is seething with anger.
«AND BE THANKFUL ULTHANE ISN'T HERE TO GIVE YOU THE SECOND ROUND!!!»
Suddenly, a network of veins starts glowing under his plumage, rerouting itself around his wounds.
And unexpectedly, the loudest roar I have ever heard leaves his beak and shakes the earth.
After a few seconds, the flowers start shining like little suns, and the Well towering above us opens up in a shape vaguely reminiscent of an actual tree, shooting a blinding light through the sky.
Eventually, it erupts like a volcano, spreading drops of the glowing water everywhere.
«Umbra!!! Get down!!!» I exclaim as a jet hits our tree, dowsing Lance and healing him almost instantly.
«Fine, then!!! I'm done playing!!!» he growls as his shape starts to shift.
More spikes grow throughout his body, glowing with the Well's poison, and his talons grow longer and sharper, while his beak grows fang-like spikes.
Furthermore, his muscles seem to become more pronounced, glowing under his feathers, particularly in his lower back and legs.
Once done, he cuts free from his prison with a barely visible motion, landing on his feet.
To our dismay, he stands up on his hind legs, balancing on his tail, like one of the giant lizards that ruled the Earth that Jasmine told us about.
His eyes are devoid of any emotion, even of his sadistic self.
And instead of delivering another one of his arrogant lines, he lounges forward without any hesitation, cutting the air right where my head was a split second ago.
A sharp pain propagates from my right ear, followed by the feeling of blood trickling down my head.
A primal fear rises from within my body.
This...
This is what it means to be prey.


===Ulthane=== February 9th - 14:24

«I'm gonna puke..!» Lucas complains, hanging on my back for dear life as I dodge the giant vines trying to crush me.
«Then let it know you're here!» I growl, but he obviously can't understand me.
«ARE YOU SO EAGER TO DIE, ULTHANE?!» Borea's roar reaches me.
«OR ARE YOU SO SURE YOU CAN UPROOT ME ON YOUR OWN?!»
«HOW ABOUT YOU SAVE US THE TROUBLE AND DO IT YOURSELF?!» Lucas retorts.
The giant branches stop unanimously.
I doubt the element of surprise will last for long, so I accelerate, trying to cover as much distance as possible before the Well finds a way to get him off my back without killing us both.
«LEAVE HIM THERE, AND I WILL HAVE LANCE BE GENTLE WITH YOUR FAMILY!!! AT LEAST WITH UMBRA!!!»
Bargaining; that means it's trying to buy some time, too.
No, thanks; I don't buy it.
Umbra, though..?
It would have told us if Lance had gone past my brother and my mate; she couldn't possibly be already on her feet and fighting, could she?
I clench my beak, praying that was another lie.
«ULTHANE! LOOK OUT!!!» Lucas shouts, and I barely dodge a sweeping attack from a vine.
Are you shitting me?! Is it trying to unhorse Lucas?!
This might even be worse than when we started!
«C'MON, ULTHANE!!! WE ARE ALMOST THERE!!!»
«That's easy for you to say, you little shit!!!» I growl as I jump over another attack from behind.


===Loki=== February 9th - 14:24

I have no idea how Odin is still alive.
Nor myself, for the matter, but at least the gas doesn't seem to have that much of an effect on me, and I'm still faster than the swiping vines.
The fake hen, though, has only gotten better at it; I've already felt her disgusting talons between my feathers way too many time for comfort.
She has started to ignore Jonas's darts, too.
At least she hasn't screamed anymore, or I would have definitely been-
Right; why isn't she doing it?
Even Odin was affected...
Furthermore, that is not a power of the Well, is it?
When we fought Ymir and the others, it only used...
I glance inside the hen's eyes, and for a split second, I can see something different from the Well's rage.
Is she an Alpha, too?
Is that scream her gift?
Wait... Ulthane said that before I saved him from Horus, the same hen that lured him back in the day appeared in front of him; could it be her?
Borea, the first Alpha?
I dodge, making her chop off one of her own vines like a twig.
"The power to speak to her people's heart"...
That's one hell of a gift..!
Can it even be beaten?
Odin tries to crush her, but she moves away just in time, forcing me to step in before she can counterattack.
How did he manage to hit her, last time?
I jump, cutting off the tip of the vine as it passes under me.
"To speak to her people's heart..."
"Her people"...
Why does that include me?
Shouldn't Odin be the one affected the most, since they're the same species?
At most, if that means all griffins, we should be hit equally!
What else separates us that matters?!
Odin lifts a cloud of snow in her direction, enveloping her for a few seconds.
Borea jumps back, cursing against him in their language.
The language..!
I could actually understand her words when she screamed!
It probably hits in other ways, too, but maybe that's the reason Odin resisted.
Then..!
I charge the hen as she's doing the same towards the other snow griffin.
«ODIN!!! NOW!!!»
Please, understand me, you old fuck..!
And thankfully, he goes to strike her at the same time as me.
As she realizes, her beak opens to let out her fearsome power.
But this time, I scream my throat out as well, not only startling her, but covering most of her words.
My entire body shakes nevertheless, but this time it only lasted for a few instants..!
In disarray and overwhelmed, the Well can't decide what do in time.
In one single swipe, I slice her wing off and dig through her shoulder, almost severing her arm.
Before she can even recoil, Odin manages to impale her with his talons, and to casts her back against the rock with a raging roar.
Half of the vines around us retreat, but the remaining ones start to glow with a vein-like pattern.
In the following seconds, they go on a rampage, slamming and swinging everywhere, becoming almost invisible in the snow they lift.
I instinctively curl up in a ball, but I instantly find myself colliding against the ice wall at a frightening speed.
I can hear the chicks cheeping in fear as the frozen mass shakes from the impact.
I feel nauseous, and my surroundings appear blurred.
From time to time, I manage to catch a glimpse of Borea, still by the same rocks she was cast on, wounded but standing, and Odin, getting bludgeoned repeatedly by the Well's barrage.
I don't think even he can hold up long against that.
Jonas is cursing above me, as powerless as we are while the ice starts falling under is feet.
Ulthane... you're our only hope..! Take down that filthy fucking flower already..!
Trying to keep my balance, I make my way back towards the center of the battle.


===Acacia=== February 9th - 14:24

«Umbra..! Please..! You must leave..!» I plead as she gets Lance's attention away from us for the umpteenth time.
«HOW ABOUT YOU DO IT FIRST?!» she yells back, jumping up a tree to avoid the onslaught.
«Someone has to hold him back! And that's not you!» Titan retorts, trying to wield another sharpened log against him.
«I'M THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN FIGHT HIM!!! HIS POISON DOES NOT WORK ON ME!!!»
«Don't mistake your resistance for immunity; being an Alpha while you were conceived, your father might have passed something down to you, but that doesn't mean the Well can't regain control over it!» Lance corrects her, before tearing her tree apart.
As Titan is about to stab him, he turns around, hooking up the log between his talons.
But this time, the carpenter pushes instead of trying to pull back, taking Lance aback just long enough to stab him with it.
At that point, Umbra jumps out of the fallen foliage, and drives her talons through Lance's spine, stripping away his control on his own body.
Unable to make leverage anymore, Lance gets impaled again.
I catch something fly in the corner of my eye, which lands in the middle of the flowers, out of my sight.
Even Lance must have seen it, since he has already turned his head towards it.
Another one flies in the opposite direction; a squared object, the size of a small gryphlet.
«How many times do we have to go through this before you understand?!» Lance growls, before breaking out through his vines.
«NOT A SINGLE ONE OF YOU IS SURVIVING TODAY!!! THAT INCLUDES YOU POINTLESS INSECTS, HIDING IN THE WOODS!!!»
As soon as his spine heals, he prepares to lounge against Titan, when a sudden hissing startles us all, but not as much as the wave of bright explosions that follow.
Fireworks?!
After the initial blindness and shock, I realize that half the area is on fire.
Judging by the strong smell of gasoline, I think those flying things I saw were canisters being tossed.
The affected flowers start pouring their own water to try and put themselves out, but it looks like the fuel is lighter, so it keeps going back up without getting extinguished.
In a fit of rage, Lance kicks Umbra back into the flames, almost stopping my heart.
«UMBRAAAAA!!!»
Titan roars, and hacks off one of the monster's arms, but Lance is quick to strike him through the shoulder with the other one, forcing him down.
«No..!» I whimper as he charges me next.
But in an instant, someone tackles me, pushing me out of the way.
As the hen stands up, I recognize her.
«Serena..!»
«Get away from here.» she coldly orders.
«Serena!» two of her guards reach us, dragging my daughter forward, covered in small burns, but seemingly alive.
«Umbra..!»
«You were supposed to stay away and follow the rest of my orders.» she retorts.
«But..!»
«If she's still breathing, let Titan take her; he can still walk. After that, fuck off.»
Lance chuckles.
«Are you here to fight me, too?»
«No.» she comments as she watches Titan limp towards Umbra. «I'm here to make sure you pay for what you did.»
«Very well. But remember: you are not your father.»
Titan does his best to help me up.
«We must leave.» he whispers with a broken voice.
«But Serena..!»
Lance lunges against her, but she intercepts him by the arms and rolls with him, kicking him away with her hind legs.
As soon as he ends up back on his feet, he tries again, but Serena slides to his side as he slashes towards her, cutting through his leg on the fly.
The remaining flowers still manage to heal his wounds, although at a much slower rate.
The Well must be way too busy fighting the fire..!
«Titan, maybe we can..!»
«No. After that last attack, I can barely walk; Umbra is once again fighting for her life, and the poison has taken away your strength.» he insists, pushing me back. «I think... I think she couldn't handle the truth. But unlike Horus, she has no intention of running away.»
«MORE FIRE!!! DON'T STOP!!!» Serena yells, barely avoiding his talons.
From the trees and the bushes, another barrage of fire crosses the meadow, thundering across the Oasis as more canisters explode.
«Acacia!» he pushes me harder as a trail of fire races towards us, eventually cutting us off from the fight.
Despite the flames engulfing his plumage, Lance does not yield.
«So what if your dad taught you a few tricks?! You are going to end up the same way!»
«NEITHER OF OUR DEATHS WILL BE IN VAIN!!!» she roars, slicing his throat through an opening.
«ULTHANE WILL DESTROY ALL OF YOU FILTHY MONSTERS!!! HE WILL AVENGE US!!!»
But Lance lets his vines burst out against her, trapping her arm, and he slashes right through her face.
«Serena! Damn it..!» Titan cries out, forcing himself to look away.
She stumbles back, and before she can duck, the monster takes away one of her wings.
«LOOKING MORE LIKE YOUR CHICK BY THE MINUTE!!!» he roars.
Hearing that, Serena snaps, and charges him head on, trading blow after blow as they start tearing each other to pieces.
«DESTROY THAT FUCKING TREE!!! ALL OF THE FUCKING FLOWERS!!! I WILL BRING HIS HEAD TO MY FATHER!!! PROMETHEUS!!! YOUR MOTHER IS COMING, MY LITTLE CHICK!!!» she roars, tearing her lungs apart.
«SAVE OUR KIND!!! ULTHANE!!!»
Her screams get drowned out by a massive volley of fireworks, which leave nothing but a wall of fire through which two shadows shine as they dance to the death.
At our mental and physical limits, we escape through the forest, as fast as our wounds allow us.


===Ulthane=== February 9th - 14:26

I have no idea why, but the Well's movements have gotten sloppier and slower, allowing us to advance with way less trouble.
Did Loki and Odin find a way to destroy Borea?
Or maybe my people back at the Oasis are giving Lance and the other flower trouble..!
Either way, we are nearly at the main stem, where one last circle of towering vines is blocking our way.
«Any idea on how to get past those?» Lucas asks.
They don't look particularly mobile, and given the thorns poisoned by tiny flowers throughout their length, I think they are there simply to act as a wall.
I could just cut through them, with enough time.
I finally nod, and I head straight for the barrier, where I stick my talons; the fluids coating its surface are annoyingly slimy, but it's not particularly resilient.
Its thickness is far more problematic, given that it's far widen than my shoulders, but at this point, I've gone through way worse.
One slash after the others, I start hacking our way through.
The vines are not even trying to reach us here, for some reason.
Either they are all on the other side, waiting for trespassers, or the Well is spending its energy elsewhere.
«Do you think you can really do the same to the big one?» Lucas asks, worried.
I grumble, unsure.
To be honest, I didn't even think we would have been able to reach it, let alone destroy it.
Little by little, the vine I'm destroying is trying to regrow, but because of its size, it's way too slow to resist me.
But what of the stem?
Is it just like its branches, or will it pull another one of the monster's fuckeries?
«ULTHANE!!!» Borea's voice echoes through the plain, instantly making me turn my head around.
My heart almost stops.
Enveloped by two vines, the Well is holding Apollo and Artemis, who are trembling with their manes still coated by snow.
«G-grandpa..!» Artemis whimpers.
«GIVE HIM TO ME! OR I WILL CRUSH THEM TO A PULP!!!»
My whole body feels on the verge of giving out; it will not let them go, even if I leave Lucas behind.
Can I reach those vines in any way? Where are they coming from?
Shit..! They are too far apart!
«Ulthane..!» Lucas calls me.
I... I can't save them.
There is no way I can.
The best I could do would be to continue cutting my way to the stem, to destroy its core.
But I don't have the strength to turn away from my nephews.
«ULTHANE!!! MY PATIENCE IS RUNNING THIN!!!» the Well roars, squeezing the already suffering fledglings.
«YOU COWARD!!! LET THEM GO, BEFORE WE DESTROY YOU!!!» Lucas shouts back.
«YOU ARE IN NO POSITION TO MAKE THREATS, HUMAN!!! STEP AWAY FROM THAT GRIFFIN, AND MAYBE I WILL LET THEM-»
The two vines let go of the two as they seemingly fall down on their own.
After a couple of seconds of disbelief, I rush towards them, ready to protect them from everything the Well will throw at us.
«Old cock! Cut us a way in! We'll protect them!» Frost yells, coming from the base of one of the vines, followed by his sister, and finally by Rime, who must have found them under the snow.
«Rime, get the human! Inside your fur it will be harder for it grab him!» Ember orders.
As an arch of smaller vines appear around them, I secure Lucas to Rime's care.
Then, they grow something reminiscent of a maw, shaped like a bear trap.
These are too small for a fledgling; the Well is desperate for the young human.
And punctually, more, larger ones retreat from the distance and reemerge right behind the first row.
Shit! The Well must have moved its focus on us! What happened to the others?!
«Be careful, chicks! It's onto us!»
«You too! Ember, Rime! Move Apollo and Artemis on those rocks, before more appear under them! I'll try to keep it busy!» I hear him.
«Ulthane!!! Don't leave us hanging!!!» Lucas shouts.
I'll try my best, young man..!
And I'll make it enough, if it's the last thing I do!


===Loki=== February 9th - 14:27

I can't move.
I can barely breathe.
The vine constricting my body is slowly crushing me.
The only reason I'm still alive is because Ulthane created a bigger concern for it.
He must have reached the main stem..! But did he really bring Lucas with him..?
It doesn't sound like something he would do...
Was it my son's idea..?
Ah, no matter...
At this point, I don't think we could take its attention away even if we were able to free ourselves.
Odin is not looking good; his injuries must be finally catching up to him, if he's not even trying to free himself.
Jonas must be out of ammo himself, since he's just throwing rocks against the vines to try and distract them.
The sounds of the chicks is growing feebler as time passes.
I can't see their mother from here, but as long as I don't hear them cry for her, I will hope she is still alive.
But unexpectedly, they peek out of the tunnel, rightfully hesitant.
Go back inside!
Stay hidden until it all blows over!
I glance at Borea, who seems focused on something else entirely.
«O- Odi-» I try to call him so he can tell them off.
But before we have the chance to warn them, they notice the distracted hen, and they start exchanging looks, quickly moving from fear to anger.
And in the end, they lead their own last desperate charge, moving as one for their mum.
«Do- Don't do-»
STOP!!!
STOP IT, YOU DAMN FOOLS!!!
Their furious screeches seem to wake Borea up, who immediately turns her head towards them, her beak slightly ajar from the surprise.
The vines around her start to sway from side to side, ready to move.
Finally noticing them, Odin tries to roar with what little breath he has, struggling to free himself to protect them.
Once the difference in size becomes more apparent, the little one's confidence quickly fades, until they stop just a few meters in front of her, screaming and growling as they fluff themselves up to look more menacing.
Something is strange; the Well should be ignoring them, but Borea's body certainly isn't.
Her remaining eye is alert and staring right at them, and her beak is moving as if she were talking to herself.
Unexpectedly, she stumbles forward, scaring them back against a block of ice.
Until she eventually falls right in front of them.
Her eye closes as she whimpers, sobbing in their language.
What... what is happening..?
That... it can't be the Well; there is no reason to trick those chicks, nor to move towards them at all.
Suddenly, she inhales with an hiss.
«Monster.» I hear her mutter among the words in her tongue.
«Taking my chicks. My family. My people and their descendants.»
The hen looks up to me, her sapphire eye filled with regret and mourning.
«But I will not be part of this any longer. Nobody will!» Borea exclaims, her voice rising into a growl.
«WE ARE ENDING THIS!!! RIGHT HERE!!! RIGHT NOW!!!»
Her roar travels throughout my entire body like burning blood, washing away my pain and fatigue as her anger becomes my own; an anger different from any I have felt before: the anger of a wounded mother.
The Alpha's talons start glowing as they bleed the Well's usual liquid, and when she charges the nearest vine, piercing it, the vice holding me still immediately opens up, trembling as if run through by lightning.
I land on my feet in the snow, immediately followed by Odin, who manages to sustain the fall despite his broken bones.
«All of you who fell victims to this demon, heed my words.» Borea speaks, immediately grabbing my attention. «Your successors are ready to give their lives for the freedom of our kind.»
As she speaks, the vines that were behind her straighten up and immediately fall down on her, crushing her body underneath.
«Borea!» I try to call her, fearing for her.
«Lend them your strength. Fight back against your captor! You are all griffins, no matter your name, your time, or your home!» she continues once they lift back up.
«Wield your pride like you did with your talons in life, and let them finish it! We shall show it our might!!!»
Before the Well can attack her again, the glowing network of veins flashes, and beings to spread through the entirety of the monster, which slows down to a halt, before starting to shake violently.
«The way forward is open.» the hen continues, before looking at me.
For some unknown reason, gazing inside her eye fills me with hope.
«Your predecessor needs you, last of the Alpha. Our peers will try to protect you from the Well's evil, but the monster is still not defeated.»
Her body slowly but steadily begins to crumble.
«But you-»
«My body died long ago, Loki; don't concern yourself with this abomination, as it has done nothing but bring death and suffering through my likeness.» she stops me, looking at the chicks as they rush back towards the hole, from where their mother is crawling out.
Then, she gives me an encouraging smile.
«You did your best to help these chicks have their mother back; now, let my own have theirs.»
She glances at Odin, and nods in respect, and... grief.
The old griffin returns the gesture.
Borea lies down one last time as her chest starts to fade to dust.
«Now go. I will join the battle shortly.» the hen concludes, closing her eye as her neck disappears.
I look behind me: the mother is trying her best to climb back up the wall with her three chicks hanging on her back; she seems hesitant, but Jonas is coming down to guide her.
I turn back, and a gust of wind brings away the remains of the first Alpha, leaving only the glowing tear she opened.
«Come, Odin!» I finally order him.
Lucas, Ulthane..!
Hang on; I'm-
No, WE are coming!

 
===Acacia=== February 9th - 14:27

All of a sudden, every tendril in sight straightens up and starts convulsing.
When we turn around, we realize that the flames have begun climbing the Well, as it doesn't seem to be fighting them anymore.
«Did she do it..?»
«I don't think this was her doing alone; if that thing is somehow connected to what Ulthane and Loki are dealing with, they might have managed to wound it severely.» Titan suggests. «Either way, Serena did end up saving the colony from it and its horrors.»
After a few minutes of silence, broken only from the echo of the flames and the sound of the falling pieces of the Well, he continues.
«I will see if I can help coordinating the search for our missing people; you will stay with your daughter and rest.»
«Titan..!»
«You have done enough, Acacia. Rest.» he insists, unmovable. «I don't think I will be able to do much, either, if that puts you at ease.»
«Mum...» Umbra mutters, finally waking up.
«Umbra..! What you did was incredibly reckless!» I scold her.
«Look who's talking...»
«Stop it.» Titan interrupts us.
«What happened to that piece of shit..?» she then asks, after a few seconds of silence.
«He's gone. And soon, the Well will follow.»
«So... Dad will come back..?»
The forest's end is now in sight, and we begin to spot hunters trying to gather and organize people.
«There they are!» «Titan! What happened?!» «What do we do, boss?»
«I told you both: I never had a single doubt about it.» he concludes, before turning towards the griffins waiting for his response.
«The creature is on the brink of death; Hunters, continue your search for survivors; split into teams and have a carpenter and a healer follow you for assistance. The rest of you must help the remaining healers tend to the wounded; my other subordinates, try to cut down the walls of vines; guards, keep watch on the Meadow, just in case it decides to flop around some more. Finally, one of you that can speak human, go hear from them what's their situation, and if they can get someone to put out the fire once that thing is a pile of ashes.» he orders. «After this whole situation is over, we'll start cleaning up the place; Ulthane and Loki are about to come home.»


===Ulthane=== February 9th - 14:30

I don't have the faintest clue on what's happening, but I welcome it.
Aside from being stuck in an endless loop of spasms, the Well seems to have lost its self-healing abilities, too.
Unable to fight back anymore, the large vine I've been hacking off all this time finally begins to collapse.
To test the remote possibility of uprooting the main stem, I stand on my hindlegs, and I give it an energetic push, actually redirecting its fall.
The thunder it emits once it hits the ground startles the fledglings, who snap towards me.
«You did it! We can finally end it!» Frost exclaims. 
«I doubt it will be that easy; its size is a problem on its own, and we have no idea how it ended up like this.» I retort, before turning towards my nephews, who have finally began to stand up. 
«Apollo, Artemis! Can you move?»
«Yeah..!» Apollo replies, still shivering.
Damn it..! I can't bring them with me; they are clearly not ready to defend themselves yet!
But can I trust them to get to the others on their own?
What if the Well recovers while they are in the middle of its limbs?
«What are we waiting for?!» Ember finally growls.
«They can't fight nor defend themselves, and I will need all the help I can get to chop down that thing; I'm trying to figure out how to keep them safe!»
«I will scout ahead for a hole to hide them in!» Frost decides.
«The main stem is not shaking with the rest, so it might be still active!» I warn him.
«Only one way to find out!» he insists, running past me.
Obviously, the two hens immediately follow him with Lucas on one of their backs.
«Ulthane, I don't think they want to be "too" strategic about it!» he yells.
No shit.
I groan, and I rush after them before they get too far.
«Holy fuck!!!» I hear Frost exclaim from the top of the hill.
Once I reach them, I find them looking down the bottomless ravine around the main stem.
The latter is stupidly big from this close; just one of its two spirals must be at least twice as wide as the snow griffins den.
I could see Ymir pull this off, but twenty griffins?
It would take a miracle just to not get crushed.
«Well, this place looks calm enough for them to rest; if those tentacles could come out, they would have already done so.» the rooster comments. «It's also sheltered from the wind because of the giant wall. On another note, how do we-»
«How do we reach it?» Lucas punctually asks, clinging onto Rime's fur as he looks down.
«"We" does not include you, this time.» I retort, grabbing him.
«What are you doing?!» he exclaims, surprised.
As a response, I place him down on top of a rock and point at it.
«Stay!» I grumble to deliver the message.
Then, I turn around towards my nephews, who have finally reached us.
«You stay here and huddle together in this depression; warm yourselves up and wait.»
«Grandpa..! We will come-!» Artemis protests.
«Be quiet and do as I said.» I firmly conclude.«If everything goes right, you will see this thing fall down like an old rotten tree.»
Having said that, I test the ice near the edge as I judge the distance.
«You can't be serious!» Ember protests.
«If your people can fly, be my guest. We poor assholes cannot..!»
I tense up my limbs, and in an instant, I let them explode in a jump.
I hold my breath throughout it all, until I slam against the green surface, where I plant my talons firmer than into any prey I've ever hunted.
The Well, as per usual, bleeds some of its fluids, but otherwise does not react.
«Fucking..!» I curse, in disbelief.
I don't dare look down.
«I'm going too..!» I hear Frost announce.
«Be careful; it's slippery!» I warn him. «Keep your talons ready!»
Soon, he lands right next to me, but he hisses in pain.
«FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!!!» he curses repeatedly, continuing to groan as he moves his talons around. «It burns! Its blood burns!!!»
«What?! I don't feel anything! It must be like the fog from before!» I exclaim.
«Damn it..! Whatever! Let's just get this over with!»
Ember and Rime join us as well, both suffering from the Well's liquid.
Then I notice Lucas on the hen's back, and I growl at him.
«I'm strong too, Ulthane! I can help you take it down!»
I snort; I can't exactly go put him back on the rock.
Fucking human chicks..!
Urgh, no matter!
Now that we all made it, I can start the attack.
I lift my hand and swipe it across the Well's skin, letting a sizable jet of fluids spray out.
The snow griffins look at them flow down, discouraged.
«Climb up and jump back to the other side; Odin needs as much help as he can get.» I suggest, tearing through a chunk of green skin, exposing actual glowing veins.
«No.» Rime shakes her head with a broken voice. «We cannot really help him, can we?»
I hesitate.
«That's not what I meant; he might still be fighting that fake griffin with my apprentice. You could help them deliver the final strike, or to bring them here.»
«You two do as he says; I can endure it!» Frost bravely decides, swiftly cutting through the surface and moving away before the Well can splash him.
«So can I. And better, too.» Ember adds. doing the same right next to him. «Rime, maybe you-»
As a response, she growls as she jumps up, ripping off a good chunk of green flesh, cutting several veins open.
«THIS MONSTER TOOK EVERYTHING FROM US!!! DO YOU REALLY EXPECT ME TO BACK OFF?!» she roars.
«Then listen for a second!» I reply as the opening to my tunnel starts to take shape.«My brother cuts down trees for a living; he kind of taught me how to do it when I helped him with a big one. We can't just go in dick hard and pray!»
«Tell us your plan already!» Frost incites me.
«Normally, we would need to cut a tall section of the tree first; climbing up with the poison falling on our heads is insane, so you will dig off a diagonal down this side.» I think out loud as I dig.
Luckily, it's as soft a ripe peach, so it comes off incredibly quickly.
«I will dig a tunnel across it, where I will try to snap it!»
«You heard him! Let's dig ourselves a platform first!» Frost orders.

Surprisingly, everything seems to go smoothly, aside from the curses flying when they get burnt by a pierced vein.
After a few minutes, we already have some sort of a plain to work on, all while the Well is still seemingly inactive.
At some point, while I'm digging myself the tunnel, Lucas pops out from under my mane, taking me by surprise.
«Hold on..!» he says as he grabs the "gore" I cut out, freeing some space around my legs.
I decide against stopping him; I could really use that kind of help in here, and it doesn't seem like the Wells poison has any effect on him, as he's completely drenched in the stuff and still going strong.
Sturdier than a regular human, and with all of their immunities; I guess Horus was onto something.
«Ulthane, I don't think the others are alright!» he warns me, appearing again. «Frost is constantly looking around, sometimes raising his arms as if to protect himself from something; Ember's legs tremble every time she crouches, and she keeps rubbing her eyes; Rime's coat is holding more of this stuff, and it's affecting her balance! I pushed her towards the middle, but I don't think she will last much longer!»
Damn it..! Of course it wouldn't be so easy!
I nod, pointing at my eyes and then in their general direction.
«"Keep my eyes on them". Got it..!» he understands, unconvinced.
Judging by the distance I've dug through, the other side should not be far.
«ULTHANE!!!» the human's voice yells my name.
That's not good!
Compressing my body against the walls to turn around in the tunnel, I get a disgusting amount of fluids in my fur, but I manage to move out almost immediately.
Once out, I immediately spot Rime lying right near the entrance, unconscious.
Lucas is desperately trying to pull Ember's body up the slope they dug, but they are both slowly descending towards the abyss.
Frost is still barely on his feet next to them, but he's completely out of it, judging by his eyes.
Furthermore, he is erratically moving around, so he risks-
«ULTHANE!!! HELP!!!»
Without further ado, I go for the boy, but as I'm about to get there, the rooster trips, and a small section of the floor collapses under is feet.
Out of reflex, I reach for him, but I find myself in the Oasis.
The river... The small meadow in the woods...
Am I shorter..?
Wait..!
This place..!
This is where I fought Lance!
«S..Stop..! Please..! I'm begging you..!»
Acacia!
I instantly turn around, and the display in front of me freezes the air inside my lungs; Lance...
Lance is..!
«There is no point in struggling... Soon, you will be carrying an ample clutch of strong, healthy chicks..!»
«YOU MOTHERFUCKER!!! I WILL TEAR YOU APART!!!»
As I roar, he just turns his head around to look at me with his usual grin.
I clear the distance between us with a jump, dragging my talons across the air as I aim for his vulnerable neck.
But the strike does not connect.
Somehow, he is unscathed, as if I had missed.
I try again with my talons, my wings, and everything else I've got, but it always feels like we are kilometers apart.
«Did the fall hurt, spirit? I hope so.» he comments. «Still, definitely not as much as seeing this..!»
He closes his eyes and clenches Acacia's sides, making her scream in agony as he pushes one last time.
I go to grab his wings to tear them off, but it's no use.
«ACACIA!!!» I yell, powerless.
«Ulthane... Save us... Save me...» she barely manages to breathe out.
«Why do you still concern yourself with the living, Ulthane? Why do you hold onto your powerlessness?» he provokes me. «Why not just give up this worthless endeavor?»
«THIS IS NOT REAL!!! I KILLED YOU!!!»
«Did you? Because I seem to be still here.» he continues, before showing off a white feather with a golden tip. «And so will our people, now that I have gotten rid of that old cock.»
What the fuck happened?!
Is this the Well?!
But it feels so real..!
«Let me out of here. You know you have lost!» I try to confront him.
«It doesn't look like it to me. Who is going to stop me? That dickless fool of your brother?» Lance retorts. «Also, what do you mean by "letting you out of here"? Are you lingering because of me, by chance?»
He smirks.
«That would be hilarious. Having to watch me destroy all you hold dear while I save our people, that is.»
«You demon..! I know this is you! This is your poison!» I realize.
«Hm. I guess you don't have a throat to get sore, since you no longer have a real body.» he comments, annoyed.
«Acacia, this won't take long; I'm off to pay a small visit to a certain mourning family.»
«If I don't destroy you, Loki and Odin will!»
Lance finally stops.
And after a few seconds, he chuckles.
«Really now? Pray tell: how? You were the only one left with a chance to sever my stem; as soon as I solve all the problems that bitch has created, I will finish off you and those little pricks you carried with you. That includes Lucas and your nephews, obviously.»
When Lance turns around, he shows Horus's feather one more time, before crushing it in his hand.
«You are just fertilizer; all of your lives are nothing more than my harvest.» Acacia adds. «That's the first thing you should have learned from those memories!»
Lance's hand bursts into flames, immediately crumbling into ashes.
Their eyes and beaks open up in shock.
«ULTHANE!!! IT'S NOT OVER YET!!!» a very familiar voice encourages me as a warm light shines through the woods.
Finally, Horus appears from them, glimmering like the sun, and he reaches Lance before he can even raise his hands to defend himself, instantly cutting his head off with a swipe of his talons.
As soon as he crushes Acacia's, both start crumbling, just like the the woods around us.
«Wake up! As long as you resist its lies, the Well is powerless!» my Alpha orders me. «We will hold it back while you finish it!»
«ULTHANE..!» a faint voice calls me from the distance.
«Save your allies, Alpha! And don't waste my daughter's sacrifice!» he concludes, fading into his own glow.
I smell blood.
It's coming from my talons; Lucas is holding onto one of them, crying in pain as he holds Frost's with the other.
«ULTHANE..! PLEASE, WAKE UP..!»
I immediately reach the griffin, but in the corner of my eye, I see Ember's legs dangle off the precipice as she slips further down the slope.
Shit! I'm not going to make it in time..!
«NO!!!» Lucas yells as she runs for the hen, but it's too late for him, too.
The same can't be said for the red lightning that speeds past us, leaning down the abyss and almost getting dragged down with her.
«Loki!»
«Urgh! ULTHANE!!! ODIN!!!» he desperately calls for help.
Once Frost is safe, I slide down to carry them both up.
«Loki! What happened? Did you defeat Borea?!» I ask him.
«It's a long story! Focus on taking this damn thing down!»
Odin groans in pain as he barely makes it onto the platform.
«Why is this thing-?!»
He stops when he sees Frost and Ember.
«Can you stand?» I ask him.
«Just tell us what we have to do..!» he mutters, struggling to lift his own body.
«Chop it! Hack it! Weaken it for me! And watch out for the Well's poison and hallucinations!» I summarize, getting back inside the tunnel.
«Loki! Tell your son to try to keep us in check, and to warn each other if we fall victim to the its illusions!»
«"Illusions"?!» he yells back, worried.
I start cutting and chopping as fast as I can, butchering the monster and digging my way to its long-awaited demise.
Still, I can't help but think of that vision; was that really Horus?
His memories, like the ones from earlier?
How did he save me from the Well's attack?
Has it somehow lost control on the memories of the Alphas?
No, are those actually just memories, or are they something more?
Finally, I reach the other side of the spiral, and I go for the sides, intent on completing the hinge that will guide its fall.
«DAD!» I hear Lucas's voice.
Shit! Already?!
I turn towards the tunnel, but I'm inside a shining cave.
«DAAAAD!!!»
My eyes widen.
Umbra..!
No, this is just another hallucination!
A few meters to my side, my daughter is being dragged away by roots, towards the Well's pond.
This is not going to work twice, you bastard!
«DAD!!! PLEASE!!! HELP ME!!!»
Yet, her cries are like talons straight through my heart.
This looks way too real..!
Can Horus save me again?
Maybe if I distract the Well..!
«HANG ON, LOVE!!! YOUR FATHER WILL SAVE YOU!!!» I scream back, trying to play along.
But as expected, the roots are as hard as stone.
«Too bad nobody will save YOU.» Umbra suddenly comments.
In an instant, the tendrils leave her and wrap around my limbs.
«I may have little experience in brawls, but I am an uncontested master at this; it's going to feel so real, you will actually drown!»
I plant my talons in the ground, but it's useless; the vines are unstoppable.
The heat of the Well is already scorching my hindlegs.
«Fuck..!»
«It's useless! Stop struggling already!» it exclaims through Umbra's image.
«WE COULD SAY THE SAME TO YOU.» a deep voice shakes the earth.
The Well's eyes quickly widen with mad rage as it recognizes him.
«BOREA, YOU WHOOOOORE!!!» she roars, before all the roots covering the cave start moving along the entrance tunnel, squirming as if in pain.
It's like a blanket being pulled from a human bed..!
Umbra's fake starts tumbling down, eventually bursting into ashes as it falls against me, taking my bindings with it.
Eventually, the uprooted Well curves, launching me off-course until I roll to a stop on my own.
As expected, Ymir shakes the ground as he approaches me.
«IT FEELS ANGRY.» he comments, letting out a small chuckle. «IT'S A SORE LOSER.»
His real, chestnut eyes are as gentle as they are proud.
«GO ON, YOUNG GRIFFIN; YOU ARE CLOSE TO WINNING YOUR BATTLE.» he continues, as the Well he killed fades into dust. «WE ARE RIGHT BEHIND YOU.»
The woods and the flowery meadow disappear as well, leaving us in an undefined yellowish void, similar to the monster's glowing water.
«AND GOOD JOB RIPPING MY HEAD OFF.» he concludes with before fading away, amused.
«Ulthane..!» Odin's voice calls me.
Something doesn't feel right.
When I see the abyss right below me, I realize what: one half of my body is off the platform, while the other is being held by its wing.
With his help, I immediately climb back up.
«Good timing...» Odin croaks, letting his hand fall to the floor.
Droplets of blood are trickling down his beak.
«I can't go on much further. The red rooster is down, too; the human is trying to wake him up.» he comments. «You can't afford to fall again; I don't think I have the strength to pull you up anymore.»
«Hold on some more, Odin; just one side left!»
«Dad!» I hear Lucas call him.
«What the fuck! Borea actually made the Alphas of the past fight on our side!» Loki exclaims. «Yara saved me from a bear, and Zeus protected me from the Well posing as Jasmine!»
So that's what's happening..!
"The power to speak to the heart of her people".
Or as the Well would see it: "how to fuck yourself twice".
«I will cut open the other side; that much I can manage. You get ready to push.» Odin concludes before leaving.
«Let's keep close, so we can-!»
As Loki tries to reach me through the tunnel with Lucas on his back, a hidden vein breaks right under his feet, bringing him straight to the ground as he slips on the wet surface, falling head-first in a puddle.
«SHIT!!!»
I immediately pull him out, but as soon as I touch his wet fur, I find myself back in the Oasis, more specifically, in the vet's office.
Loki is right next to me, but when he notices, he jumps back, ready to fight.
«It's me, Loki! It's really me!»
«Fool me once, fucker!!!» he retorts, swinging at me.
I barely move my head away in time just to get his talons through the skin on my shoulder.
Fucking..! They hurt way more than they should!
I can see this as another one of the Well's tricks; but which one is it: is it going to make us fight, or is it going to make me believe that?
In other words: is this actually Loki or not?!
As he moves again, I flip the vet's desk, trying to create distance.
«Don't! That's the trick!» I try to convince him. «The Well is trying to get us to kill each other!»
He hesitates, but does not lower his guard.
«Think about it! If I were here to kill you, it would have made me invulnerable!» I add, showing the cut he made.
«What if that's a trick, too?» he observes. «A fake chance at victory..!»
«Okay..! How about this, then? We just wait for one of our predecessors to free us like the other times, without tearing each other apart!»
«Already more reasonable; but what if it can fake that too? It seems to have no trouble creating anyone's image; should I wait for it to make another Alpha for me to deal with?» he confutes again. «I don't think so!»
I cover my head and neck with my arms, and my wings deflect his talons just in time as he speeds next to me.
«Loki, stop this!!!» I exclaim, turning around to strike him in mid-air, predicting his move.
He crashes against the wall, destroying the shelves, but he still lands on his feet.
What could he know that the Well doesn't?
«Which one of the chicks did you save?!» I try asking.
«What?!»
«Apollo and Artemis! Which one of them did you save from falling?»
«Neither, you fuck!!! I pulled up-»
«Ember! Her name is Ember! You came with Odin and pulled her up as I was-»
«Who says you didn't syphon that out of my head when I came in here?!» he interrupts me, enraged.
He goes to rush me again, but Borea bursts through the entrance and intercepts him.
«Enough! Don't fall for its lies so close to the end!» Borea exclaims, strangely calming me down on the spot. «I have finally reached them all! We will keep it occupied!»
Suddenly, the ambulatory starts to fall into pieces. 
Not far to our side, a endless row of griffins stares at us.
«EARN YOUR FREEDOM!!! PROTECT THEM!!!» she roars. «ULTHANE!!! LOKI!!! FOR HUMANITY AND THEIR JOURNEY TO THE STARS!!! FOR YOUR LAND AND YOUR ANCESTORS!!! FOR YOUR CHILDREN AND THEIR FUTURE!!!»
Is this her gift?!
I feel like I could crush a mountain with my bare hands!
«SAVE US ALL!!!»
I immediately stand up, coughing up the Well's fluids, who are now raining from above as it squirms.
Loki joins me immediately after, and he starts looking for his son.
«Odin!» I call him.
«I'm here..!»
We find him around the corner behind us, opposite to the slope; he is drenched, holding the unconscious snow fledglings and Lucas under him, protecting them from the burning fluids with his wings.
«I couldn't cut all the way through..!»
«You did enough, Odin.» I commend him. «We are taking it from here!»
With that said, I stand on my hind legs and firmly plant my talons in the green ceiling above me.
«LOKI! WEAKEN THIS SIDE AS IT TENSES UP!!!» I order him.
One final deep breath to focus on the rage Borea awakened inside me, and I begin to push.
Both surfaces bend slightly under my strength, but judging by the resistance I feel, I'm actually putting pressure on it.
«IS IT MOVING?!» I ask, hopeful.
The glowing torrent running down my face and body is making it impossible to see.
«SLIGHTLY!!! KEEP GOING!!!» Loki confirms it.
I can hear him slash through the Well's flesh under the downpour.
Focus..!
All of the Alphas..!
Acacia..!
Umbra..!
Titan..!
It's moving! I can feel it!
I'm really tilting it forward!
Fluids are starting to stagnate around my feet as they both rain and erupt from below.
Suddenly, I hear a loud snap close to me.
«It's tearing..!» Odin tells me.
However, the Well quickly grows heavier.
«ULTHANE!!! WHAT'S LEFT CAN NO LONGER SUSTAIN THE WEIGHT!!! IT WILL CRUSH US!!!» Loki yells, coming to me.
Fuck..! I hate being right!
We won't be able to take the fledglings to safety in time..!
Loki places himself under me, trying to leverage on my arms to help me push.
We are both groaning and growling from the effort, but it's useless!
What's worse, the stem will fall out of control, possibly on Apollo and Artemis..!
«Ulthane, don't give up!» Borea's voice reaches me.«Resist! You are almost there!»
I roar, at my limit.
Despite her voice dampening the agony, my muscles are screaming at me.
«Don't push! Just hold it!» I hear Horus instruct me.«And brace yourself!»
Suddenly, the ground shakes, and one of the "pillars" that was holding this spiral up burst in a wave of glowing water, like a broken artery.
Loki gets pushed against Odin from the burst, and I can hear him curse under his breath as he struggle to hold himself in place with the fledglings.
But suddenly, the floor seems... softer, until it grows like a hill, pushing us against the ceiling as the weight of the spiral shifts.
«WHAT THE FUCK!!!» Loki yells as he hooks onto the ground.
But after a long series of snaps and a lot of changes in shape, the ceiling starts moving away from us, finally sliding down the slope we dug, pushing our stump against the wall of the abyss, where it starts sliding down.
Since it's still intertwined with the other spiral, it's also leaning, forcing us to remain attached with our talons.
I glance at Odin, who is still barely hanging on with all of the fledglings and Lucas between him and the green flesh.
«GRANDPA!!! LOKI!!!»
The tip of the fallen vine I took down earlier falls right next to us.
I glance up, and I see Apollo and Artemis desperately looking back down.
«CLIMB UP!!! QUICK!!!»
«Loki! Odin needs help with the others!» I tell him, climbing down towards the old griffin.
«Ulthane, take them..! I don't have the strength to climb up that..!» he pleads, barely holding his eyes open.
«Just get to the vine, and I will pull you up!» I tell him, grabbing Frost and hanging him onto my wing.
After I get Ember, Loki grabs Lucas and Rime.
«Go first, Loki! Make sure it's stable! Odin, get a move on! You can't leave your nephews with that half-assed farewell!»
With a bitter chuckle, he looks up at me.
«Ah... fair enough.» he comments, starting to move up with a painful groan. «What's a little more suffering for something like that..?»
«ULTHANE!!! IT'S SAFE UP HERE!!!» Loki shouts.
A thunder echoes through the abyss, shaking us further.
It's the flower; the spiral we cut has slammed against the other side!
I rush up the stump, and then up the vine, which actually holds my weight and the two griffins's.
I look down at Odin, which has finally stuck his talons into the tendril.
«ALL OF YOU: PULL!!!» I order, dragging the tip of the vine back.
Pretty much limp, Odin's body leaves the stump, and starts to ascend.
«Ulthane..! The Well..!» Lucas warns me.
I glance at it, and my heart almost jumps up my throat; the other half of the stem is glowing like the sun while the flower slowly straightens itself, rising once again.
«Damn it..! KEEP PULLING!!!» I incite them.
Did it defeat the Alphas?!
The vines outside are no longer shaking!
Eventually, we manage to pull Odin up, who starts crawling back towards the snow fledglings.
«Frost..! Ember..! Rime..!» he whispers, reaching for them. «I am sorry..! This was all my fault..!»
Suddenly, the light on the stem flickers, until it finally turns off.
Something appears along its side, like many tiny bugs crawling through its surface, making the entire spiral tremble as it tries to hold its balance.
«Are those... talons..?» Loki squints.
He's right: thousands of arms are tearing through it from the inside, bursting its veins and arteries as they scream and roar in anger.
They were not defeated; the Alphas are defying death itself!
Soon, a waterfall of glowing fluids coats the stem, until it finally collapses under a victorious shriek, too damaged to resist.
Eventually, the light of the flower dims as it loses its balance one final time, shaking the earth as it crashes down against the border of its own abyss, finally separating itself from its body as the two spirals fall back down its depths.
«You have no idea how much many poor souls you saved today...» Borea's voice faintly whispers. «Thank you... from all of us.»
Eventually, the inflorescence fully hits the ground, making us jump on impact, and causing small avalanches all around.
Nobody utters a word.
However, another series of thunders startles us; it's the wall of vines the Well had erected to protect itself, which is now collapsing without its head to hold it up.
«Odin..?» Frost mutters, finally waking up.
«Frost... you made it..! I'm glad I could at least protect you..!»
Soon after, both Ember and Rime start moving as well.
«Odin..! Please, don't leave us..!» he mutters, dragging himself towards the dying griffin.
«Grandpa, can we bring him to the humans? Can't they save him?» Apollo asks, disheartened.
I shake my head.
«We are not at the Oasis; even if rescue would come for him, they would take too long.»
«Be strong, Frost..! Be strong for your people..! Guide them as you see fit..!» Odin encourages him, holding his hand.
«I can't..! We can't..!» Frost retorts, in quiet desperation.
«Ember... Are you there..?»
«Grandpa..?» she weakly replies, pulling on my heartstrings.
«I'm here. You did it..! The monster is gone..!» he praises her as he struggles to keep his head up.
Borea's gift must have completely faded away.
«Your brother doesn't believe in you two, though... Can you help him..?»
«I... I will try.» she mutters with a broken voice.
A faint smile curves Odin's beak one last time.
«Thank you...»
Frost looks at his grandfather's hand as it lets his go.
«Odin..? Grandpa..?» he tries to call him.
«Frost.» I try to grab his attention.
«Grandpa..! No..!» he whimpers. «I am not ready..!»
I think about calling him again, but ultimately, I decide against it; the last time I heard someone say that, my reply almost caused a tragedy.
«We will wait for you outside of the fallen wall. Take your time.»
I glance at Ember, who is trying to move her attention on the other snow hen, only now regaining consciousness.
«Is it really safe to leave them alone?» Lucas asks.
«We must let them mourn their loss.» Loki replies. «I don't think Ulthane wants to face their people just yet.»
I nod.
«That will be their duty; Odin appointed Frost as his successor.» I reply.
Loki lowers his gaze.
«I sympathize with him.» he comments.
«So do I.» I conclude as we finally pass the wall.

Frost and the others haven't said a word the entire time.
I spot Jonas and Tyler as they help Jasmine up a small hill, where the rest of the griffins are waiting for us.
The growing unrest among them is obvious as they don't see their leader among us.
At least, judging by their numbers, I'm pretty sure everyone was able to get out, despite their wounds.
The griffins start chirping in happiness as they see them, but the constant glances at the horizon show their concern.
«You're alive!»
«Did you kill it?!»
«Where is Odin?»
«Odin is dead. His injuries were too much even for him.» Frost coldly answers.
The mood quickly changes for worse.
Some of them glance at us, but Frost continues.
«It's not their fault; the previous fight was nothing compared to this one. He fought fiercely to protect us all, but the monster was just...»
«Can we at least recover his body?» someone asks, somber.
«They already helped us with that. He is resting near his last prey.»
After a few seconds of heavy silence, someone else asks «What are we going to do now?»
Frost remains silent.
«Odin passed his role to you before the fight...»
He shakes his head.
«I...»
«Frost.» I interrupt him, getting everyone's attention.
«When I met your grandfather, he mentioned some of the troubles afflicting your people. I offered him a place to stay back where I come from for all of his people, but I suppose he did not trust me enough at the time.» I tell him. «Since your family and my own are bound through you, your sister, and my nephews, as the leader of my colony, I am extending you the same offer.»
Frost stares at me, in disbelief.
«But how can we travel that far..?»
«Give me a second. Jonas!»
The human turns around to stare at me.
«How do we carry them to the Oasis?»
His eyes widen.
«Excuse me?»
«You've heard me. I offered them a place to live. Both of our people need new blood, Artemis, Apollo, and Lucas are tied with them, and the Well will be on their asses too, if it recovers. Now use your smart little heads to solve the problem.»
Jonas explains the situation to the other humans, and while surprised, Jasmine suggests «Since I was going to call the university to come get the Well's corpse, I could try to propose an experiment to compare their genome and behaviors when introduced to Ulthane's subspecies. They could be the sample to be inserted in the Oasis.»
«That's a lot of funds, though.» Tyler comments. «The Well is going to make them shit their pants, but are you sure they'll agree to hire twenty trucks for a thousand kilometers and back to move a few griffins? That equipment does not come cheap.»
«You talk like you have a plan.» she retorts.
«Back in my day, I happened to be pretty good at my job; so, I earned a few... "favors" here and there. Especially in logistics and transportation.» he confirms. «So tell them you've got someone to help you.»
«Aren't you guys forgetting something? Like, explaining why you're in the arctic with three forest griffins and an eastern one, and how the giant flower fell to the ground?»
«Vacation.» she retorts.
«"Vacation".» he repeats, skeptical. «For all of us? Including the griffins?»
«Why not? They aren't regular animals.»
«What if one of your parties refuses?» he insists. «And you still haven't explained the Well! »
«We load your truck with supplies and one of us Alphas guides them on foot. We'd probably be faster than paperwork and wheels. It would require a large amount of meat, though.» Loki then suggests.
«That would save us a lot of trouble...» Jonas comments. «We could reserve just a few trailers for the wounded.»
«And nobody says we saw what happened; we heard it fall and came here to look.» Jasmine then adds. «And here it is.»
«It will be more troublesome with the Well at the Oasis.» I also add. «If it did not retreat on its own, they must have found a way to kill it; so its body might still be there.»
«With the FUCKING WHAT?!» Jonas suddenly exclaims.

After a short explanation, and with the newfound gloom once I realize what Horus must have meant with his "daughter's sacrifice", I explain to Frost and the others what the near future might hold for us.
«Well... It's worth a shot.» he agrees.
«Knowing humans, we might have to run all the way there; can your people actually do it? It will take days.» I warn him again.
«If they can actually take care of the wounded, and one of you can guide us, we should be able to cover the distance; given that we are used to running through snow, our endurance will allow it.» he reassures me. «Once given our final farewells to my grandfather, we will try to salvage some food from the remains of our home.»
I nod.
«The humans have their machine next to where you found Lucas and the others; we will be waiting for you there while they see what they can do for the injured.»

Eventually, we get back to the truck, where the humans are finally able to communicate with the Oasis.
Needless to say, I interrupt Jonas to ask about my family, and relief gives the final blow to my limbs when Acacia finally answers.
She tells me that Titan and Umbra have suffered serious injuries, but they are not in danger, and that more and more griffins are being rescued as time goes on.
As I suspected, though, Serena died taking down the Well.
I hope your family can convince you it wasn't your fault, Elder Nurse; and thank you for saving our people.
Tyler and Jasmine also get in touch with their allies, with varying grades of success; he is actually capable of securing a mean for the injured to reach our home, but he says that it's not "exactly designed for griffins, but still usable".
Better than nothing, I guess.
Jasmine, on the other hand, gets praised for about ten minutes for the "discovery", and while I don't really understand the dynamics, she gets permission to "take the arctic griffins home", as long as she also takes part on the study of the Well and how it affects them.
And after a while, the snow griffins come back carrying a large amount of fish under the untrusting gaze of the rescuers from before.
Ultimately, we decide that I will be the one to guide them to the Oasis, since they would not be able to keep up with Loki, and only I can understand them.
Just to make sure we can make it, Jonas has put a tracker on me, which is surprisingly not that irritating, as human contraptions go.
«Are you sure we can go? Is the poison gone?» I ask Frost.
«Ember, Rime and I threw up a day worth of food on the way back, but I think we'll manage.» he confirms. «Any news on the help?»
«A few hours and they'll be here; the humans will stay behind to wait for them.»
He nods.
«Jonas!» I call him. «We are leaving!»
And so, we take off towards our home.


===Lucas=== February 9th - 15:10

I would have never believed a truck's seat could be so warm and comfortable.
I still can't wrap my head around it; we made it.
We survived two kidnappings, an avalanche, this climate, a pack of apex predators, and a plant demi-god.
I lean against the backrest, about to fall asleep as the tension finally unwinds once and for all, but a tapping on the window wakes me back up.
Loki is just outside, staring at me with uncertainty in his eyes.
I roll down the window just enough to hear him.
«Hey.» he greets me. «You good?»
«Yeah...» I barely answer.
The silence between us weighs like a boulder.
«I'm sorry I-» we start and end with at the same time.
«I'm sorry I... I yelled, and insulted you. And called you an animal.» I anticipate the silence.
«As much as it hurt seeing your mother cry, I can't say you were completely at fault; it was stupid of us to hide it from you.» he replies. «I am sorry, Lucas; you deserved better.»
«So did you.» I retort. «I can't say I have fully come to terms with it, but... I'm glad it's you.»
He furrows his brows.
«I mean, looking back on it, it could have been some good-for-nothing bum. But it turned out to be a hero.»
He chuckles. «Really now?»
«Not counting Rime, me, and mum, you saved... how many of them? How long did you fight off that fake hen for?»
«What can you do; all part of hanging out with Ulthane.» he jokes.
«But seriously:» I interrupt him. «the part of me that has accepted it is proud of you.»
He tries to play it off with a cocky glance, but I can tell that smile is genuine.
«Speaking of pride; I've heard you've met a hen.» he comments, leaning against the truck.
I wish the seat could swallow me like Rime's fur.
«Or rather, she met you. And "met" is an understatement.»
«Yeah.» I admit.
He sighs.
«So you ran away and made me a grandfather. A strange way to be petty, but I've probably gotten away with worse.» he grumbles. «Her name's "Rime", no? The fluffy young one?»
I nod.
He tilts his beak for a second.
«Definitely the charm you got from me; that and her good taste.»
«You're not mad?» I ask him, surprised.
He shrugs.
«I'm more mad about the fact that you stayed in the woods for the night, to be honest. I can't really fault you for the rest, mostly because they probably pushed you into it, and then your mother's side awakened.»
«Those last words were not something I wanted to hear.» I comment, somewhat disgusted.
«Still holds true. Either way, the arctic griffins have come back from Odin's burial; I think I see Rime looking for you.»
«I did try to befriend her, but I don't really know her...»
«Yeah, we are a bit more "forward" than that; it's kind of a "jump in the lake and then learn how to swim", rather than the opposite. Especially with potential mates.»
«So... what should I do?»
«Well, she's going to find herself in an unknown land; you could try reassuring her, for starters.»
«But what if it doesn't work out?»
«Well... she might still make it on her own, or find someone else.» he speculates. «My mother tried the first as much as she could, but because of her illness, it didn't last.»
Then, he stands up.
«Look, Lucas. I know you're young and this feels daunting, but I can guarantee you that it's way easier than raising a human.»
I glare at him.
«Okay, that one didn't come out as well as I thought.» he admits. «Still, what I mean is: you just need to be there when you can; Tyler did that, and Apollo and Artemis love him. And I can assure you that he did not hunt nor fish for them. Aside from that one time, but the doctor advised him to not try it again.»
I smirk at the last remark.
«So please, at least talk to her.» he ends with.
I nod, and I open the door.
«Alright. Thanks, dad.»
He nods, barely containing another joyful smile.
«If you need me, I'm hard to miss around here.»
Just like he told me, I spot Rime smelling the air in my general direction, probably uneasy about the large human presence in the area.
After taking a deep breath, I start making my way towards her, and soon after, she does the same.
She is visibly sad, but when I raise my hand to caress her head, she still accept my offer.
«I'm sorry. You did not deserve any of this.» I mutter.
Suddenly, she moves forward and wraps me into a hug, whimpering.
Unable to even reach her sides, I limit myself to stroking her chest to try and comfort her.
«Go for it, girl; let it all out.»
I can feel the weight of her head on my shoulder as she holds me closer.
I wonder why she finds me so... huggable.
Is it my voice? My size?
Or is she really that willing to have me as her mate, despite having already carried out Odin's will?
Speaking of which, how will it end for Ember and Artemis?
They seemed more interested in each other than in their mates...
How will they handle their chicks?
Suddenly, Ulthane shrieks, getting everyone's attention.
Reluctantly, Rime lets me go.
Still, when she looks at me, the hen seems somewhat relieved.
«Have a safe trip, big girl. I'll see you at the Oasis.» I wish her.
Unexpectedly, she leans forward and gently licks me across the lips, before rubbing her cheek against mine, taking me aback.
In return, I give her a kiss on the side of the beak, which seems to mildly improve her mood as she walks towards the others.
Once the group is ready, Frost gives an order, and the griffins finally take off.
I look at the familiar ball of fluff as she keeps up the pace, disappearing behind the curving road.
«Damn. I forgot it was so cold.» I comment, finally walking back to the truck.



In the end, while my mother's university was more than happy to study the Well on their own, the same coudln't be said about the government, who decided to throw in some funds to buy at least some discretion (and some exclusivity about any findings), since they probably would have not been able to cover the whole thing up.
Though, they didn't seem too interested on its effect on the griffins at all; maybe they are more worried about a giant carnivorous plant appearing out of nowhere?
Either way, after putting its "sap" under a microscope and comparing it to blood samples taken by Loki and Ulthane, mum said that it might be possible to develop some kind of "vaccine" against the Well's mind control.
Speaking of the Alphas, Rime told me that Ulthane taught Frost a lot during their journey, including some tips on how to carry his weight around.
Yep, the big furball is learning how to speak; she still doesn't know many words, and she has to juggle that with the local griffin's language, but she is making the effort.
Furthermore, as Spring came, we discovered that arctic griffins grow a darker coat when it gets particularly hot and sunny; apparently, due to the extreme climate in their specific region, they had no idea that was a thing.
Still, that probably made them feel more included as they helped repair the damage caused by the second Well (much to the joy of Tyler, who was hired by Jonas as an accountant for the Oasis), and maybe even beyond that, since I've seen a few fluffier griffins trying to "jump in the lake" with their local counterparts.
Rime looks good in soot gray, too.
In regards to Apollo and Artemis... Well, they are alright, all things considered.
Ember and she have decided to grow all of their chicks together, obviously letting Frost and him be part of it.
As for me...

«Don't be scared; everything is fine!» my dad reassures me as I enter the nursery.
«Jonas said she's inside the third one.» my mum directs me.
As I look inside the room, the first thing I see are Rime's eyes.
The second one are the four eggs peaking out of her fur.
I immediately look away, unable to believe it.
«Congratulations, Rime!» my mother praises her.
«Yeah, a quartet is not something you see everyday.» Loki adds, surprised himself.
«Do you think at least one will be red?» he then ask to my mum under his breath, but she slaps his shoulder instead of answering.
«Thank you!» she replies. «Ryùkas..? Are you okay?»
«I'm... I'm alright. It's just...»
I turn back towards her, finally finding the courage to get closer.
«You... That's a lot.»
She takes my hand, and gives me a brave look.
«We are going to make it!» she exclaims, with her people's trill in her voice.
Then, she guides me towards one of the eggs, placing my hand right on top of it; it's warm and smooth.
A light purr leaves her chest to emphasize how proud of her work she is.
I meet her gaze again; she is still beaming with confidence.
At this point, I can't help but return the smile.
She's right; I'm gonna make it.
WE're gonna make it.
And suddenly, something bumps against the inside of the shell, reaching back for me.

=== ===





---200 years later...---

Finally tired, the gryphlet lets go of the rope, bitter from defeat.
«Don't worry, Kvasir. One day you will defeat me; I have no doubts about it.» the old Alpha encouraged him before offering his toy back.
«Hello, Loki.» the gray hen greeted him, startling him.
«Umbra! Don't surprise me like that! My heart doesn't have that much left..!» he scolded her.
«Odd: my father said the same thing just yesterday.» she commented. «But we both know weeds never die out, don't we?»
«The old bugger will beat Ymir again...» he grumbled back, before noticing the chick was still there.
«Go on, little one; return to your mother, before she gets worried!»
«It's incredible how they still get your eyes, even after this many generations.» the hen commented as the gryphlet picked up speed.
«What can I say; I'm way too handsome for that trait to die out!» the little one heard last before getting out of range.
His parents trusted him to get back on his own; that part of the forest was way too close to the Meadow for wolves and bears to prawl, and the path barely had any turns to make.
The mossy tree... the flower patch... the robin's nest...
All familiar landmarks for him, all seen so many times that they were almost one with the road itself.
But what he didn't recognize in that instance, was that odd, sweet scent.
He stopped on his tracks, and he raised his little ears, curious.
What could it have been?
There was no buzzing; it couldn't have been another flower patch, or a beehive.
Unsure on whether to leave the path or not, his gaze darted between the two possible directions.
Ultimately, curiosity had the better of him, and he stranded from the way home to explore the unknown.
As he went deeper between the trees, the aroma grew stronger.
Until he found himself in front of a small hole in the ground, from where a few, strange roots where peeking out, resting on the dirt around it.
Seeing that, the chick grew a bit suspicious of the aroma, and he considered leaving as he glanced back at the way he came from.
But his eyes could see through the darkness; the tunnel didn't go that deep, and he wasn't sure about it, but he could have sworn something was glimmering at its end.
Maybe something he could have traded for a few walnuts or some rabbit, or maybe even some honey?
Eventually, he placed his rope near the entrance, counting to be out before birds could start tearing it apart for nesting materials, and he began climbing down the hole.
To his thrill, there was actually something glowing at the end of the tunnel!
Excited, the chick rushed towards it, hopping over the roots spread across the ground.
However, once he got there, he was surprised to find a small patch of glowing flowers next to a deep, shimmering puddle of bubbling water, from where the strong scent was coming from.
In awe, he looked at the little stars swimming inside it, wondering if it held some secret magic.
But a sudden splash of water from one of the flowers struck him, making him jump back with a scared peep.
Once calmed down, the chick shook the strange liquid off his feathers, but overcome by curiosity, he still licked a droplet.
After a small cough, he recoiled, disgusted by its unexpected bitterness.
Apparently, there was nothing valuable in that cave; just some prank by the Great Mother.
Spiteful and disappointed, the gryphlet dug some dirt and showed it against the flowers and into the strange puddle to return the insult, before sprinting back out to recover his toy.
Happy that the rope was still where he had left it, he rushed towards his nest, trying to make it in time before his mother could have scolded him.
And little did he know, for the first time in eons, a single petal fell from one of the same flowers he scoffed at.

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