Wingless - Chapter the Third

Wingless - Chapter the Third

 

>You awake, sweating and screaming.

>Arms out, reaching, grasping for the ephemeral strands of your dream.

"Mother, PLEASE!"

>Teeva is there at your side, her talons digging into your shoulders, holding you down.

>Gilda stares at you blankly, her eyes red and puffy.

>You are gasping for breath as you look around.

>Everything comes screaming back at you.

>The Dragon, the fire and the falling.

>You look at the Rookery, as far as you know, the last home of the Griffin.

>The Dragon is still there, digging in the ground... looking for something.

>Hatred burns in your eyes as you stare at the gleaming azure scales of the Dragon.

>You let your head fall, pressing the palms of your hands into your temples.

"Once th-that... Dragon leaves...."

>You take a deep breath to calm yourself.

"We should go look for... something... anything... that can help us. Our only option is to cross the 'Grass Sea.'"

>Teeva and Gilda stare at you, faces aghast as you even mention crossing the 'Sea.'

>"But.... There are terrible things in the 'Sea.'"

>You shoot a look at Gilda, silencing her further.

"There is nothing... NOTHING to fear over those rolling plains."

>You throw your hand wide as the Dragon screech's.

"The only thing in there are the prey that have fled the forest and hidden there cause all of Griffin-kind fears it."

>The Dragon holds a single claw to the morning sky, something grasped there.

 

>It breaths a small stream of fire over the object.

>You can see the glow from here.

>The Dragon screech's again and takes to the sky, the object in its hand still glowing.

>You watch it fly away, heading over the 'Grass Sea.'

"There."

>You point after the steadily shrinking Dragon.

"We are following it."

>Teeva and Gilda share a concerned look before nodding.

>"We can't just leave you to your own devices."

>"Someone has to look out for you."

>The three of you smile.

>You drape yourselves over the two Griffin and together the three of you fly to the burning ruins of the Rookery.

>The two of them drop you off in the center of the Rookery and you see firsthand the destruction wrought.

>You idly kick a plod of dirt, hands clenching and un-clenching at your sides.

>You look at the place where your home, your nest, used to stand.

>There is nothing left but a blackened finger, pointing into the sky.

>You make you way over and you kneel down at the base of the tree.

"I will miss you Nou, I just hope you know you were loved."

>You press your forehead against the tree and close your eyes.

 

>You didn't mean to fall asleep, but the next time you open your eyes you feel the warmth of the sun on your back.

>You gently remove yourself from the tree, your legs not working after having been kneeling for so long.

>You  attempt to get up, but your legs are unable to hold your weight and you crash to the ground in a heap.

>You start to massage your sleeping muscles as you look around for Teeva and Gilda.

>After a minute you start to get feeling back into your legs.

>You get up and start to wander around the remains of the Rookery.

>Without thinking, your feet led you to the elder's nest-tree.

>This was the spot that you got accepted into Griffin society as a son, and not just a pet.

>You smile as you remember the ensuing arguments.

>Most Griffin were neutral about the whole thing, but others were vehemently opposed to the idea of a 'Wingless Biped' being allowed into Griffin Society as an equal.

>Nou would have none of it and screeched their ears off until they agreed to it.

>You were smiling to yourself as Gilda slammed into your back and knocked you to the ground.

>Teeva was right behind her and the two of them pinned you to the ground, their faces mischievous.

"Oh-ho? You two ready for round two?"

>That stops them in their tracks.

>Teeva snickers as Gilda's feathers get rustled.

>"Y-you don't get to talk! We have y-"

"Then maybe you should actually learn a proper hold."

>You easily break their hold and wrap an arm around Gilda's back, pinning one wing down and missing the other.

>You lift her off the ground and pull her in, cradling her against your chest.

"Awww.... Just look at the cute wittle babby."

>You make soft cooing noises and tickle her stomach.

 

>Teeva is laughing uncontrollably and Gilda is just staring at you, shocked, with her face flushed.

>You just stare at her, cooing the whole time.

>"Ge-get off me!"

>She struggles, but you have her held down, her one free wing flapping wildly.

"Awwwww... you're so cute when you have a little tantrum."

>She continues to struggle, but Teeva and you just continue to laugh at her.

>Finally, she calms down and relaxes before taking a deep breath.

>"Will you please let me go?"

>With a smile on your face, you release her.

"Fly free, my feathered friend!"

>Teeva attempts to hold her laughter at Gilda's expression.

>Gilda rolls out of your arms and stalks away, her feathers quite rustled.

>You share a quick laugh with Teeva.

>"Thanks, Anon, we needed to laugh."

>You bow your head at Teeva and take a deep breath before sighing.

"We need to move on, we've probably lost the Dragon."

>Teeva walks over to you and presses the top of her head into your shoulder.

>"Then let's go. I'll go get Gilda."

>You lean in and kiss her forehead, and the both of you share a smile.

>Teeva takes to the sky and leaves you on the ground, staring at the churned dirt.

>You put your hands behind your head and start to walk towards the 'Grass Sea.'

>You don't notice the bit of log poking out of the ground and you trip over it.

 

>You roll over and sit up, rubbing your head.

"Well that sucked.... Oh?"

>You see something sparkle, half buried under the dirt.

>You bring yourself to your knees and crawl over towards the sparkle.

>You move a few clods of dirt and see it.

>A teardrop shaped clear stone, an orange flaw in the center of it.

>It slightly resembles a flame encased in a teardrop.

>You wrap your hand around it and hold it to your chest.

"As a memory. Thank you, Nou... Thank you."

>You close your eyes, your hands held to your chest as you whisper thank you's to Nou.

>You turn your face to the sky and smile a sad smile.

>It is in that position that Gilda and Teeva find you.

>"You... okay?"

>You take a deep breath, quickly stuffing the stone into your pants.

"Yeah I'm fine. Let's go then. I'll walk if the two of you will hunt and bring me food every day."

>Gilda just gives you a blank stare, while Teeva just shakes her head.

>"As if!"

>"Don't worry, you can just ride one of us, then help the other hunt while the other rests from carrying you all day."

>You pretend to think about it for a moment.

"Oh alright. If you think you are strong enough!"

 

>Teeva and Gilda look at each other again, while you just stand there, yawning.

"Well? Waiting on you now, who's up first?"

>"I'll take first."

>Gilda speaks up before Teeva has a chance to say anything.

>You nod and approach her, hand outstretched and place it on her neck.

"We are the last of the Griffin, let's not let their memory down."

>You never left the hunting grounds surrounding your Rookery, as far as you know you are the last.

>You coo softly, even now protocol must be observed, it's engrained on your actions.

>She coo's softly in response granting you permission to climb on her back.

>You lift one leg and drape it over her neck, positioning yourself at the base of her wings.

>"You good back there?"

>You lean forward and wrap your arms around her neck, eliciting a quiet chirp from her.

"Waiting on you."

>If you could see Gilda's face, you would see it crimson in color, but only Teeva gets to see.

>Teeva smirks and takes to the sky, Gilda and you not far behind.

>With one final circle around the remains of the Rookery, Gilda and Teeva circle in the air, going higher than necessary, reluctant to fly across the 'Grass Sea.'

"It's okay! Nothing will hu-it's not that bad."

>You pat Gilda's neck reassuringly and she wings out towards into the 'Sea.'

>Teeva circles one final time, saying farewell to Nou, before winging towards the both of you.

 

Continued in Chapter the Fourth.