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 Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2006 6:43 pm
Rain slumped against a tree, letting loose a huge sigh. Her legs were hurting from the amount of walking she had put them through, and every inch of her sore limbs wanted to just sleep. Asriel and Aleraya had gone up ahead to find prey and some water, and Rain was now wishing she had chosen to go with them Rain wiped droplets of sweat from her forehead, flicking them into a nearby hedge. She quickly rummaged through her bag, pulling out her sleeping furs. It was just midafternoon, and yet she felt as if it should be much later. Rain curled up inside her furs, instantly falling asleep.
Asriel cocked his head to the left, scanning the meadow for the buck he had been stalking. He circled closely, screeching his hunting cry before diving down to his prey. The deer didn't know what hit him, and in seconds had died. Asriel stood with one large talon on his prey, screeching a triumphant cry. Aleraya circled above, landing next to him. Her leg hadn't completely healed yet, so her landing wasn't as gracefuly as it should have been. But Asriel didn't notice. He bowed his head , backing away from his prize. It was a show of affection, so let the female dine first. Asriel sat respectivly as Aleraya ripped open the hide of the deer.
Aleraya knew that Asriel fancied her. It didn't really bother her, but made her nervous. He was a very nice looking gryphon, but she didn't know if he could be reckless. And he was attached to the Naming Mistress. Aleraya had come to calling Rain this, since Rain had done the job of giving her a fitting name. Aleraya chirped to herself as she chewed a nice large piece of meat. The deer was very tasty, and she had to make sure not to eat to much of it so that Asriel would have enough to eat.
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Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2006 6:59 pm
Iris emerged from the trees with a rather exhasperated sigh. She had come out to these hills to get some fresh air, and yet, all she seemed to find was trees. Now, however, a lush meadow with a few scattered trees greeted her and caused a much-needed smile upon her lovely face.
An adult griffin walked beside her, clicking his red beak in observance of this meadow. His striped wings of different red hues ruffled as he walked beside his master, glancing at her with red eyes every once in a while. She laid a hand on his head, making him coo' in response, before lowering his beak to snap off a few pieces of grass a they walked. He was glad to be out of the forest, only because his size made it difficult for him to move easily, at least with his master in tow.
He let out an indignant squawk and a large flap of wings as his companions burst out of the woods behind them, causing both he and his master a bit of irritation. The adolescent Ma'at and even younger Sekhmet romped ahead, squawking in play. The older, tan-colored griffin cast her blue eyes back only once before surging ahead, flapping her wings in an attempt to gain an advantage over her younger 'sibling'. Sekhmet, the young black griffin, simply leapt and landed just on the shoulders of her friend, sending them both tumbling...tumbling in the direction of the feeding griffins. Elrok called out in warning.
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Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2006 7:07 pm
Aleraya gave a feeble sqwuack, trying desperatly to hop out of the way ot the tumbling gryphons. Her leg prevented her from just leaping into the air, and from running to the side. Asriel noticed the problem quickly, pushing her out of the way then leaping into the air to avoid collision. He let go an indignant screech, beating his wings. His fury all escaped in that one angry cry. Aleraya whimpered, rising from where she had been pushed. She felt bad that Asriel had put himself in harm's way to protect her, but was glad at the same time.
Asriel landed next to Aleraya, his feathers rising. His tail was swishing back and forth, and his wings were raised, reading to flap at a moments notice. He puffed up his breast feathers, raking the air with his front talons to show that he didn't apreciate being disturbed.
Rain was instantly awoken by the screech. Her heart was beating fast, and all her tiredness and pain disappeared in her worry for her grypons. She threw her blankets into her bag and tore across the meadow toward the source of the screech.
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Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2006 7:14 pm
Ma'at and Sekhmet barely recovered at the sudden anger of one of the two griffins, the other whimpering from an apparent injury. Both of the young birds lowered their heads and coo'd in apology, slowly backing away. Elrok, always protective, soon ran forward and also raised his wings and puffed out his chest, ears back as he squawking in defense of his younger charges. They hid behind his great red and maroon wings as he stared at this strange griffin, taking only a bit of notice of the blue one. Hmm..she seemed to be hurt. That was fine, but he couldn't let anyone hurt his master's other children. Even if they did deserve it.
Iris cursed under her breath and ran forward, following the other apparent griffin owner. Nearly out of breath when she reached the scene of what could turn into a fight - though Elrok probably would do no more than defend in this case...he was a good judge of situations - she put a hand to her chest as she spoke to the other owner. "My sincerest apologies...those two don't quite know when to stop." she said, smiling lightly.
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Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2006 7:27 pm
Rain was breathing hard from her run, but nodded slowly. "I am sorry aswell. Asriel has quite a temper when it comes to Aleraya...." giggled Rain, reaching out her hand for the owner to shake. "I'm Rain," she introduced. "And Asriel's the red one, and Aleraya's the blue one."
Aleraya was sick of her pathetic walking. It was embarrassing for a full grown female to have to rely on a younger male for everything. Aleraya thrust forward, running the best she could. It was more or a hop and skip movement actually, but that didn't matter, it got enough speed for Aleraya to lift off. There she was, master of the sky, pumping her huge wings with her legs tucked under her breast. She gave a happy cry, circling the group.
Asriel glanced upward from his food, ripping a shread of meat of a rib. He swallowed it whole, leaping into the sky to follow the female. "Oh no you don't," muttered his mistress, tugging on his tail to keep him from rising. Asriel whimpered, slinking behind his mistress to await orders.
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Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2006 7:37 pm
Iris smiled and took her hand. "I am Iris, and it is a pleasure to meet you...lovely griffins, they are. Mine are a handful - the youngest black one is Sekhmet, the tan one is Ma'at, and my protector here is Elrok." she said, patting his head as he made a deep rumbling in his throat. "If I may ask..what happened to Aleraya? Is she ok?"
Ma'at and Sekhmet watched the other two griffins, cooing and clicking to each other every so often. Tired of sitting on the ground after seeing the blue one take to the skies, Ma'at squawked and lifted herself, attempting to pump her wings up to the height of the older female. Sekhmet coo'd sadly, as she could not yet fly...not that she couldn't bug Elrok, though. The black griffin turned a mischevous eye to her elder, who snapped his beak. Oh no, he wasn' going to be the chew toy right now..especially when he still felt as if he needed to eye this red griffin, who was being pulled down by his owner as Elrok sat obediantly beside his own.
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Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 4:07 pm
"Aleraya was once a wild creature. She was caught in a hunters trap, her leg was seriously injured. Lucky we found her...." Rain trailed off, shaking her head to rid herself of the memories. Asriel whimpered softly, nuzzling her hand with his beak affectionatly. Rain would always love her first gryphon. He was her little baby. Rain wrapped her arms around Asriel's neck, burying her face in his thick fur.
Asriel was terrible embarrassed. He realized with a deep regret that he had come across as an arrogant fool. Asriel lowered his head in shame. But he knew that his mistress would always love him, and hopefully, so would Aleraya. Asriel gazed up at the circling female with misty eyes.
Aleraya didn't want to land. The wind was her home during her injury, and she wouldn't dar leave it. Aleraya swerved to the left, beating her wings to stay even. Over the next couple hills, out of view of the travellers, was a small herd of deer, grazing. Aleraya's hunger had not bee satisfied with her last meal, so she decided she'd go for it. She tucked her front legs into her feathers, extending her paws back. Aleraya cirlced lower and lower, then pounced. The deer let out a warning cry before being crushed under Aleraya's bulk. Aleraya tumbled ontop of her prey, pinning it down. Her one leg screamed with pain, crumpling beneath her. Aleraya let out a long cry of anguish, rolling onto her back.
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Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 6:03 pm
"Oh, I see..." Iris said, watching the griffin circle overhead. Hmm. All of her griffins had been either bought or given to her...though, she didn't know if Elrok, the gift, had been wild caught or no. Regardless, she had never rescued one herself - living in Xuan City kind of forbade that.
"Well...I have a great many..." she said, pausing to decide what words to use, "special, potions and whatnot that can heal wounds, if you'd like some assistance." she said, smiling.
Elrok immediately took to the skies upon hearing the slightly distanced cry of the female. Always willing to help, even if the issue was not his own...which got him in trouble sometimes. Anyway. Pumping his great wings harder and harder, he managed to reach her rather quickly, landing gently a few feet away. He let out a few quiet coo's, as if to ask if she was alright
Ma'at squawked at the retreating form of Elrok, pondering over his departure for a brief moment before deciding to follow him..that is, until a sharp whistle from Iris made her pause mid-flap. Looking down, Ma'at caught the signals Iris gave to come down. She only obeyes them partially, by returning to her flying-in-circles instead of going after Elrok
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Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 7:02 pm
Asriel cocked his ears toward the direction Elrok had gone, perking them up to try to hear his wing beats. He didn't hear them, so he figured the great male had landed. But why? Asriel clacked his beak, leaping into the air. He was a strong flying, his giant wings pounding the air with huge strokes. Asriel tore across the sky, curiosity burning inside of him.
Aleraya rolled onto her belly, clucking in her embarrassment. Her leg was hurting very badly, and she had to fight to keep her tears in her eyes. She looked up into the males face, her eyes meeting his. Aleraya bent her head slowly, clucking as if to say that her leg pained her greatly, but the most hurt was not her leg, but her pride.
Rain watched as Asriel flapped away. "Bothing quite like seeing a gryphon in flight. The power, grace, beauty...." Rain ended with a deep sky. "Amazing creatures, really..."
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Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 7:11 pm
Iris nodded in agreement. Indeed..."Yes, and it's all the more better to see them in areas like these, open and wild....tell me, how long ago did you find Aleraya?" the dark-haired Egyptian asked, stroking the feathers of Sekhmet, who sat quietly - albeit restlessly - beside her.
Elrok cocked his head a little. Why was she embarrassed? It wasn't her fault that she was injured. Softly snapping his beak, he approached her and lowered his head to gesture t'wards her leg, squawking loudly and throwing his head up as if asking if she needed help, or if he needed to send for someone.
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Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 7:20 pm
Rain thought for a second. "It really wasn't that long ago....Probably a month? During that last big storm. She decided to stick around with me and Ace...." Rain remembered the night so clearly. The scariest storm of her life raging around her, cracking lightning, roaring thunder, and the thundering rain everywhere. Aleraya had been lucky she hadn't drowned in what could hav ebeen a flashflood.
Aleraya shook her head, tucking her injured leg beneath her and rising slolwy. She extended her wings for balance, her standing three legs wobbling. With two quick sweeps of her wings, she was up. With the two sweeps she went from cripple to a powerful being. She loved the feeling. With two quick clucks and chirps, she asked Elrok to join her in the flight.
Asriel saw Aleraya in the sky and quickly swerved around. Elrok was there. Elrok with Aleraya. Did Aleraya like him? Asriel was suddenly very jealous, even though Elrok and Aleraya were only talking, and Elrok was just trying to help her with her injury. Asriel flew away slowly, his head hanging.
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Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 7:29 pm
"I remember that storm...wow. It's a good thing you found her. I heard of quite a few griffins who were injured during that storm."
Iris glanced up, catching the slowly-approaching image of a red griffin, followed by two other dots. Hmm..that must be the three of them returning. "Well, it seems that all is well with whatever little outing they just had...something seems the matter with your red one, though."
Elrok opened his wings and beat them once against the air underneath him, lifting himelf into the air and joining Aleraya with another few beats. Casting his red eyes forward, he saw the retreating form of the other younger griffin...and squawked to him, purely because he could
Ma'at paused in mid-air and hovered in the sky, her sharp vision catching sight of Elrok. She coo'd happily, fluttering in circles before landing directly behind Sekhmet...who squawked in surprised and flapped her tiny little wings, nearly falling forward. Heh - that was for earlier, for making them both tumble.
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Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 7:36 pm
Asriel landed neatly next to Rain, burying his face in her skirts. "Ace, what are you doing?" she asked, scratching him behind the ears. He didn't purr, as he usually would, only gave a short whimper. Rain pursed her lips, looking up at Aleraya and Elrok.
Aleraya beat her wings. She gave a short cluck, then a longer coo. She wanted to race. It wasn't that much of a distance, but that didn't really matter to her. She merely wanted to show Elrok that she wasn't some weak cripple.
Asriel peeked up from his mistress's skirt, glancing at Aleraya. She looked happy, very happy. Her eyes seemed as if they were laughing, her tail swishing in a cheery mood. Asriel looked down again, at his talons.
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Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 7:44 pm
Elrok squawked and accepted the challenge, beating his wings to gain speed. He quietly wondered just how well an injured griffin could do against him..but didn't try to think that he was an automatic win. That was a bit too presumptuous and arrogant for his tastes.
Ma'at's beautiful blue eyes blinked at Asriel's reaction to...whatever he was reacting to. She supposed it was Aleraya, though she could only guess that jealousy was making him do such odd things. Lowering herself to lie on all fours, she snapped her beak and squawked in Asriel's direction, hoping to catch his attention.
Sekhmet ignored the doings of her 'sister' and her owner, deciding instead to approached this red griffin. Coo'ing softly, she nipped gently at his feathers, trying to induce him to play.
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Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 7:54 pm
Aleraya had powerful wings. Years of living a solitary life had beat the strength into them. With one sweep she was ahead, screeching a playful cry as she sped forward. She coo'd soflty, as if to say that her legs weren't needed to fly.
Asriel turned his head to the female, clucking his beak. He nipped her feather, following her. These sisters were kind enough, playing wasn't such a bad idea....He tumbled onto the peach gryphon, chirping playfully.
Rain giggled at the gryphons, who were in a jumbled heap, "playing" together. She missed the old Asriel that she could hold in her arms, and cuddle in the crook of her arms as she had done when he was a chick. But she liked the new Asriel as well. "Sorry, I didn't answer your offer before. Aleraya, I believe, would love some help with her leg."
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