Wingless - Chapter the Second

Wingless - Chapter the Second

 

>You come up from your roll sprinting, the goal is right in front of you.

>You hear the sound of wind passing over feathers and instinctively dive to the side.

"Not makin' this easy...."

>You are breathing hard as you get up, making a final mad dash.

>This time there are two distinct sounds of wind passing over feathers.

>You let them build up speed.

>Suddenly you stop and fall backwards onto your back.

>The two diving Griffin nearly slam into each other in their dives.

>Before they can recover you get to your knees and dive, both arms out and wrap around the necks of both Griffin.

>You roughly pull them to your chest and keep them there in a strangle hold as you make your way to the goal.

>The both of them are patting your leg, giving the sign that they need air.

>Smirking you hold them both a moment longer, their patting becoming frantic, before you release them.

>The two of them fall to the ground, gasping for air as you grab your pants out of the tree they were hanging in.

"Hah! Maybe next time you can get help from someone who KNOWS what they are doing. Or just give up and crown me victor."

>Teeva and Gilda both stand up and throw their wings out and flap a couple of times to make sure none of their flight feathers are astray.

>You see that both of them have messed their feathers up.

"Well... I suppose now that I won't have to hunt for two nights that I will have plenty of time to realign the feathers of a couple helpless Griffins."

>The both of them just grumble under their breath.

"What was that?"

 

>".... My feathers are quite rustled...."

>"I suppose I can get you touch my glorious wings."

>You take a deep breath, the crisp evening air feels great before you turn your back to the two Griffin.

"If no one wants me to realign their feathers then I suppose I'll just go to sleep."

>You start to walk off, towards your tree with your single branch on it.

>"Wait!"

>"Stop!"

>You turn, eyebrows wiggling.

"Yes?"

>The two of them share a look and a sigh.

>"Will you please realign our feathers...."

>You look up at the setting sun, back to the Griffin and smile.

"I would be happy to... I just might get good at it with all this free time I have."

>The two of them grumble under their breath and you laugh.

>You walk up and wrap your arms around both their necks, putting all your weight there and letting your legs drag behind you.

"The usual spot?"

>They smile mischievously.

"This was a bad ide-"

>Your words are cut off as the two of them take off at the same time, tethered together by your arms and you dangling between them.

>You have a blank look on your face as they fly you up to the top of a protrusion of rock.

>They drop you off and circle a couple of times before landing next to you and falling to the stone floor.

>"Where were we?"

>You lie down and Gilda spreads one of her wings out over you.

 

>You put your hands behind your head and stare at the sky.

"Sure is beautiful up here, you can see the stars better than anywhere else... 'cept maybe the 'sea.'"

>Gilda lets out a dejected sigh.

>"Will you please realign my feathers."

>Teeva snickers and lays down over your legs, effectively pinning you under Gilda's wing.

"I would be happy too.... One of those head rubs would be amazing though."

>Gilda grunts the affirmative and shakes her wing a little.

>Teeva just laughs.

>You begin to run your fingers through the feathers, making teeth with your fingers.

>You hum a merry tune as Gilda puts her head down on her talons and join in, humming along with you.

>Teeva just watches the two of you and smiles.

>You look into her face and she just shakes her head before closing her eyes and resting on your knees.

>With her eyes closed you can clearly make out the three scars over her left eye, feathers long since stopped growing along those scars.

>You take this time to think, remembering everything you've been through.

>The night that Nou was left along as Nest-Mother being foremost amongst those.

 

>Tears are flowing freely in your eyes, Nou has not called either of you out from your room.

>You hear the hushed voices of other Griffin in the nest.

>Griffin did not enter into another Griffins nest unless something was terribly wrong.

>Teeva has long since fallen asleep, curled up in between your legs, her head resting on your stomach as you found a more comfortable position a long time ago.

>Soon the sounds of the other Griffin fade and you are left with just the sound of Nou crying.

>You would rather have the other Griffin muttering quietly.

>The Nest-Mother crying can only mean one thing.

>You close your eyes and take a deep, calming breath.

>You hear a strange sound.

>Nou coo's, asking for permission to enter.

>You are shocked into silence.

>She must think the both of you are asleep as she doesn't enter.

>You coo in response as you hear her turning from the entrance to your room.

>You look into her eyes as she enters and you know it to be true.

>You attempt to smile, try to covey that everything will be alright, but fail.

>Your smile fades and you just stare into her face blankly.

>Tears flow freely down her face as she climbs next to you, and lays down.

>She puts her large head on your chest and wraps her wing over both you and Teeva.

>You are both her responsibility now.

>To care of and to train for the trials.

>Added with the responsibilities of Nest-Mother, she has quite the load.

>You kiss the top of her head good night and close your eyes for sleep.

 

>You open your eyes to find both Griffins asleep, Teeva over your legs and Gilda's wing over your chest.

>Looks like someone didn't have to finish aligning feathers.

>You tell yourself you will later.

>You put your hands behind your head and look at the moon.

>There seems to be something black in the center of it.

>It also seems to be growing.

"No.... Gilda! Teeva! Wake up now! We have to get back to the Rookery!"

>You shake the both of them awake as the black thing at the center of the moon dives.

>Straight into the center of the rookery.

>The two Griffins yawn as they come around, looking at you with confusion on their faces.

"Dragon! Dragon in the Rookery! We have to get there NOW!"

>The word 'Dragon' brings them both to alert instantly.

>They stand and turn to the Rookery just in time to see trees burst into flame everywhere.

>You look in shock as one single Dragon sets the whole Rookery aflame.

>You have a hold of both Gilda and Teeva as they spread their wings to fly.

"S-stop... it's g-gone."

>Gilda turns on you in anger, tears streaming down her face.

>"Don't say that! There might be survivors! We can't just... we have to.... Something"

>She falls to the stone floor as sobs rack her body.

>Teeva just looks at you, her eyes as dry as yours.

>The both of you promised each other you wouldn't cry again until Nou flew into the sky.

 

>You sit down and start to gently run Gilda's neck.

>She ignores you and continues crying.

>You and Teeva watch as the dragon bash's down trees and burns everything in sight.

>Teeva lies down and puts her fore legs on your lap and lays down on them.

>Your other hand falls to her neck and stays there, bringing comfort in touch.

>Gilda continues to cry, and you continue to rub her head.

>She soon drifts off to sleep, rolling over and pressing her back against your sides.

>You sit there for... you don't know how long, as you watch the dragon ravage your Rookery... your home.

>You don't remember falling asleep, but you remember dreaming.

>You took your first steps, Nou coo'd softly as you made your way towards her sitting form, hands outstretched, attempting to grasp her face.

>Every time you got close she was suddenly further away.

>Your infant legs quickly tire and you fall to the floor.

>When she sees you unable to reach her, she grows angry.

>"Anonymous, you will get to Mother. Now!"

>Nest-Mother stood behind Mother, her face a blur, she died before you got to know her, but her head is shaking in disgust.

>Teeva watches you, her eyes gleaming as she judges you unworthy.

>Fire starts to grow along the walls.

>Nest-Mother, Mother and Sister all stare at you, their unforgiving eyes judging you unworthy as the flames lick their feathers.

>"You are not wanted here."

>Mother says, and with that you are cast out, an unknown force pulls you from the nest and you fall.

>Darkness all around you as your nest collapses in on itself, flames shooting into the sky.

>And still you fall.

 

Continued in Chapter the Third.