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The Cohen Icosahedron

Chapter 25

copyright comidacomida 2022

Traveling with two quadrupedal companions who didn't have to bother with clothes meant that getting ready to depart was a very quick process for Kaiden, especially since Haklys never bothered taking the Human's luggage off of the rack he wore on his back. Both of the young man's companions checked to make sure that he was ready for the journey and, before he knew it, he was being guided up onto the dragon's back; Kaiden was half-way surprised that Vetlyk didn't mind his adopted brother carrying his Takket.

Even as they got ready to depart, Kaiden thought back to the dreams he had the prior night. Although 'weird dreams' weren't completely unknown to him, the young man rarely remembered his dreams and, when he did, they were almost always contemporary and usually had something to do with him driving somewhere and forgetting something important. His focus on his dreams did not go unnoticed; Vetlyk addresed it even as he assisted the Human in climbing up onto the Ilsit's back. "You seem distracted, Takket. Is something wrong?"

Feeling no reason to keep any secrets, Kaiden, nevertheless felt a little weird talking about his dreams. "Well... I had a really weird set of dreams last night..."

Haklys and Vetlyk shot a glance toward one another and the Ilsit urged him onward. "In what way were they 'weird', Kaiden Wilson?"

The young man elaborated. "Well... I know they say that flying dreams are common, and all that, but they aren't the usual kinds of dreams I have... and, in this case, I was dreaming of flying over a landscape... like... a medieval kingdom or something, and--"

The dragon interrupted him "Classical period."

The interjection caused Kaiden to pause. "Huh?"

Vetlyk ground his beak, fluffing out his wings as he prepared to take flight. "Haklys has been studying Human history ever since he joined us at the Unity Centre. He is just showing off now."

Haklys likewise spread his wings, shaking them out as he followed the gryphon out to the cliff face. "And he is a sore loser because he owes me a Zofra heart."

Kaiden sighed. "I'm confused."

The Ilsit elaborated. "You did not have a dream, Kaiden Wilson... you were experiencing an ancestral memory. They are common among Ilsit Majors and Royals."

The Human didn't quite understand. "That's great and all... but I don't know what that is and, besides, I'm not an Ilsit."

The discussion was put on hold as gryphon and dragon leapt from the layover site and into the warming morning air. They took a few minutes to get up to speed, at which point Haklys continued. "My kind are able to exchange more during sexual intercourse than genetic info... our seminal fluids contain small snippets of memories that stuck with our ancestors, and were passed down from generation to generation."

Kaiden had a hard time believing what he was hearing. "So... when you have sex... you share memories?"

Haklys let out a rumbling chuckle. "Yes and no, Kaiden Wilson... the recipient of Ilsit Major or Royal semen will obtain memories from the bloodline of the contributor. If such a coupling results in offspring, then the offspring will receive memories from both their mothers and their fathers. In the case of another male receiving semen then the memory will go no further, and females are able to pass their ancestral memories to offspring."

The Human was surprised. "So... you mean... I got Ilsit memories?"

The dragon was patient in his explanation. "You are not an Ilsit so you do not receive them as clearly, Kaiden Wilson, but it is evident from the description of your dream that you did indeed obtain an impression of one. Such a thing was not unheard of almost one and a half millennia when Ilsit last visited your Earth. And, foolish Vetlyk, did not think it would still work."

Vetlyk cawed in the Viddin language so he could be heard over the rush of the wind. "Humans have changed much since then!"

Kaiden found the thought fascinating, but it brought up another question. "So... what about Viddin? Do you share memories with Viddin during intimacy too?"

Both brothers spoke in unison. "No."

Haklys went further in the explanation. "It is considered disrespectful to our ancestors to spill seed in a way that would not share the wisdom of the past. Ilsit Majors do not use Jiyjah as Viddin do; we do not mate with those who cannot share in our genetic memories; if ever we self pleasure we limit it to satisfying ourselves orally... which is as much meditation as it is... satisfying carnal needs."

Vetlyk swooped in a little closer, flicking the tip of his wing against the dragon's chidingly as he added "Haklys calls it 'meditation', anyway."

Kaiden didn't miss how much more relaxed Vetlyk seemed around the Ilsit, especially when nobody else was present. The Human liked it which, perhaps, was another reason he himself had taken to the dragon so quickly. His consideration of the gryphon ended when Haklys pulled the topic back to slightly less hedonistic talk. "Although it is not at all unusual for an Ilsit to go a year or more without sexual gratification involving another, a decade, I admit, is a little longer than what may be considered standard."

Vetlyk let out a cawing chuckle, actually singing out what sounded almost like a childish limerick in the Viddin language, making fun of Haklys. The words were far more playful than biting and, despite not rhyming in English, had a very catchy, sonorous bounce to them, and concluded with "and there is no one else with whom I'd share our Kaiden".

The entire, seemingly uncharacteristic view of Vetlyk was beyond heartwarming; Kaiden realized he was falling in love with an entirely new aspect of the Viddin-- the joy Vetlyk seemed to exhibit around him when they were free from the yoke of expectations social standing made him practically glow and, when Kaiden was the recipient of one of those radiant smiles, the Human almost found himself tearing up from basking in the soul-warming glow of such unrestricted happiness.

The banter continued for over an hour-- light hearted verbal (and sometimes physical) jabs exchanged back and forth but, through it all, the two were very careful to make certain that their mid-air hijinx didn't cause any discomfort or safety issues for Kaiden. He ultimately got caught up in the play, alternating between joining Haklys' fight and swatting at Vetlyk when he got too close, or taking the gryphon's side and accosting the dragon by scratching or tickling the warm, smooth skin between where scales intersected.

The levity, sadly, came to an end with a dour statement from Vetlyk. "The Roost stones... we are drawing close to the Aerie."

It was as if a switch flipped as the two returned to a much more subdued, somber flight plan, ceasing their aerial acrobatics and one-upsmanship in favor of getting from Point A to Point B. Kaiden felt the loss of the joy immediately, and would have felt cold because of it if not for the fact that the day had warmed significantly with the sun shining down on them. Vetlyk broke formation with a curt "I will fly ahead to announce our return."

Kaiden was mindful of watching Vetlyk's trajectory; his classmate was picking up speed and it didn't take long for the Human to see the Viddin's destination. The gryphon was heading toward a massive cleft between two large mountain peaks, upon which stood a veritable field of structures Kaiden had come to know as Viddin homes. The construction was simple, consisting of large stones stacked atop one another to create roughly square frames which were placed at the entrance to naturally occurring (or sometimes dug out) caves to add extra square footage of covered area.

The Human didn't speak again until Vetlyk folded his wings far ahead and dove down toward the plateau. "Is Vetlyk's father really that-- I mean... people seem to think that his sire is... ah... uh... what do YOU think of him?"

Haklys' response was just as official and disconnected as the change in his attitude since Vetlyk's departure. "When you meet the Holruk you should be obedient, respectful, and attentive. Remember, Kaiden Wilson: Holruk Sakloslin is a powerful Viddin, and deserves his position."

Little more was said as the dragon descended, bleeding altitude in the same way he'd done so with Kaiden during their first flight together the day they transferred dorms. As with their prior landing, Haklys touched down amidst a large landing zone using far less space than a Viddin might. In the course of touching down, Kaiden found himself surrounded by Plateau Earth architecture as he sat atop the Ilsit's back, gazing at a panoramic view of an honest-to-goodness Viddin city. It was mind-blowing.

The landing area took up the vast majority of the plateau and, as Kaiden stood there taking in the sights, there were no less than a dozen Viddin taking off or landing at any one time; 'city center', as it appeared to be, was carefully divided into airfield-like paths, each clearly dileniated for either departing or arriving aerial travel, and the gryphons went about the activity with clean efficiency, much like the way a throng of people might cross the street or come to a stop depending on the pedestrian signals.

His Ilsit companion let out a soft rumble, addressing Kaiden in surprisingly skilled Viddin. "We should clear the path, Zfielt... this spot is for Majors and provides both the take off and landing position. We do not wish to hold up travelers."

Almost as if to illustrate the importance of making way, a second Ilsit Major approached; the newcomer's scales were a ruddy brown, just slightly more subdued than red brick. As the new Ilsit approached, Kaiden was surprised when it spoke with a surprisingly feminine (but still deep) voice in the Viddin tongue. "Welcome back, Brother Haklys."

Haklys inclined his head. "Sister Krykj."

Realizing the many filial terms in the Viddin language didn't always translate exactly, Kaiden knew that the words they selected for Brother and Sister (Solhuu and Dolhuu respectively) suggested that they were not related by blood. Despite the fact that Vetlyk and Haklys referred to one another as Soltyr, considering they were not genetic brothers they too should have used Solhuu; it left Kaiden confused.

The female (confirmed with certainty by Haklys' use of the feminine form of sibling) glanced to Kaiden. "This is the Zfielt then?"

The Human's companion draped the first joint of his wing downward to separate the young man from the other Ilsit. "This is Kaiden Wilson... a guest of the Holruk."

Despite the number of times Kaiden had heard his name spoken within Viddin dialogue, something about the dragons with him speaking the gryphon language and his name popping up felt almost surreal. Regardless, Kaiden tried his best to contribute to the conversation, using words he knew would come across well with Human vocal chords. "Hello. I am pleased to meet you, Krykj. Yes. I am Kaiden Wilson."

The female laughed in response, eying Haklys as she passed by. "He will have to work on his pronunciation." She remarked over her shoulder "Kydyn Wylsyn... a strange name for a strange creature."

It was a rather tepid dismissal, especially since she didn't so much as regard Kaiden herself. Feeling a flare of heat run up his neck to burn either cheek, his stress manifested when he refused to hold his tongue as he responded to her in English. "It's 'Kaiden Wilson'. You can work on your own pronunciation too."

He felt immediately self conscious as numerous Vidden in the area paused, glancing his way. Having spent enough time with Ilsit to recognize a reptilian smirk, Krykj said nothing else and simply sprang into the air, pushing down with her wings to create all of the lift she required-- and she was off, leaving Kaiden on the ground with countless aquiline staring at him. Haklys ushered him along, giving his back a guiding bump with a foreleg, wing still draped down protectively as he spoke quietly in the Viddin tongue "Only the native language is spoken here, Zfielt."

The statement, along with the dragon's preference for the word 'Zfielt' rather than his name when not making introductions suddenly made sense. The many Vidday passers-by eventually went back to their own business; Kaiden was almost overwhelmed by the number of gryphons he saw casually meandering about. He realized he shouldn't have been so surprised, considering Plateau Earth was their native home, yet, even during the time he spent at the Plateau Unity Centre he'd never seen more than perhaps a hundred gathered together; the White Tail Aerie seemed like it was as busy as Toronto during mid day.

He willing let himself be guided by gentle insistence from Haklys, mind bouncing around numerous thoughts regarding the Viddin city, the Viddin themselves, and also Krykj. Something struck him as odd as he settled on that name. He tried his best to get the question across with poorly pronounced Viddin. "Haklys-- something strange. Krykj's name is right for Ilsit. Others-- Zithing, Kalsig, Sogig... others. Not the same."

It was difficult to convey what he meant, especially since he was trying to note that, based on what he'd come to understand, Ilsit didn't use vowels-- all of which were replaced with an almost air-gulping sound best represented in English by a 'y'. Krykj was the first Ilsit he'd met whose name didn't include a vowel. Despite the simplistic way Kaiden phrased the question, however, Haklys seemed to get the rough understanding. "Most Ilsit here have adopted names that fit in among the Viddin-- either new names, or their names modified to be spoken more smoothly by our hosts."

Kaiden didn't forget that Haklys' name included a vowel as well. "And your name, Haklys? That also sounds like--"

The Ilsit Major spoke over him. "Quiet now, Zfielt. Vetlyk has returned."

Kaiden looked to where Haklys had gestured with his snout and, just as the dragon had indicated, the young man's class mate was indeed approaching. The casual strolling of Viddin picked up pace or stutter-stepped to a stop, leaving plenty of room for Vetlyk to make a straight line for the two without interruption; Kaiden also noticed that the gryphon was accompanied by two other Vidday; they each had an 'official' look to them and, as he was quickly intimidated, the Human wondered how something as menial as an official air made a difference between 'thugs' and 'body guards'.

Vetlyk's earlier easy-going demeanor had been replaced by his much more familiar formal countenance though, in Kaiden's estimation, it was laid on even thicker than usual. Kaiden liked to think he knew his classmate well enough at that point to notice little cracks in the unshakable facade; despite making a good show of it, Vetlyk was worried... and that made Kaiden worry. Regardless, the Vidday spoke with practiced confidence and an unmistakable sense of authority as he spoke in his native tongue. "It is good you have arrived. The Holruk is ready to receive us. Soltyr Haklys, you may leave us here and roost."

The Viddin word 'Huu'ur' as used by Vetlyk was a verb and, in that case, wasn't an exact one-to-one translation for the word 'roost', rather, it was more of a request for a guest to make themselves at home-- more specifically, was an almost direct translation of "What's ours is yours.". Kaiden was thankful for his understanding of Viddin which, despite not being up to the level of native, did help him from feeling completely lost.

Haklys' wing finally unfurled, leaving Kaiden exposed to everyone present. The Ilsit Major dipped his head, tilting his wings in a Viddin bow. "Yes, Brother Vetlyk. Please give my regards to the Holruk, our father."

Again, Haklys' filial term referred to blood lineage rather than adoption or loose-relation, leaving Kaiden with many questions he knew were not right to ask in that moment. Instead, the young man remained silent, realizing that there was something decidedly uncomfortable about being stared at by dozens upon dozens of Viddin eyes silently judging him for breaking a social more. He knew plenty of the Viddin language, but he would make a fool of himself trying to speak too much of it.

The vulnerability of being without his Ilsit guardian was quickly dispelled as Vetlyk moved immediately to Kaiden's side, the gryphon's own wing half unfurling to provide the same 'cloak' of protection as Haklys had offered. Although he was no less official and proper, there was a noticeably softer tone in the Viddin's voice. "Come, Takket. It is time for you to meet with my Sire. He is expecting us."

Kaiden was honestly surprised at Vetlyk's use of the intimate title-- not just in public, but under the watchful eyes of the imposing Viddin accompanying them. Their lack of a response made Kaiden feel marginally better but, rather than create a scene or risk causing some other disruption to the social norm, the young man remained silent as he was led toward a large, boxy stone structure with a large opening at the base leading toward what appeared to be a multi-leveled cave built right into the cliff face at the far end of the wide plateau. The caves themselves looked to run all the way up inside the mountain with enormous openings and cliffs at ever level, culminating in what appeared to be a large open area at the top.

Several times on the way into the building Kaiden thought of some question he wanted to ask but each time he quieted himself. Vetlyk was obviously distracted and, the young man could tell, concerned. He rested a hand subtly against the gryphon's chest, whispering almost silently "It'll be okay."

Although he felt his classmate's taut muscles slacken just a little, Vetlyk was still at attention and his body felt as though he were on high alert. Almost as if to reinforce that perception, the gryphon lowered his head, speaking quietly in English "Be respectful and obedient with my Sire, Kaiden."

They headed up several ramps, which had a slow but consistent rise. Vetlyk maintained a quick pace, but just slow enough that they didn't come across as rushed or frantic. Despite how stressed his classmate was, Kaiden admired the way that the Viddin managed to hold it together in sight of anyone who wasn't able to feel how high-strung he was by walking next to him within the 'grip' of his wing.

Their path upward terminated after at least two or three minutes, resulting in them stepping out onto a wide, flat stretch of mountain. Shoulder-high walls were built all around the central area of the level terrain and, after a moment, Kaiden realized why: at such a high altitude the wind was fierce, but, within the lee of the structure it was much more manageable. They finally came to a stop, however, at an archway built into the wall leading to the space within the square, roofless structure.

Vetlyk gave him a gentle nudge forward through the opening, leading the young man into only what could have been considered a throne room-- granted, not precisely the same was what a Human might expect out of one. It was like a throne room in that, toward the far end there was a large raised section of ground with a piece of furniture on it, only the furnishings were limited to a lounging sofa rather than a throne. The lack of a ceiling, or other adornments made Kaiden realize that it was also very much not like a throne room, but he didn't have any more time to compare and contrast as Vetlyk came to a stop.

Pausing, Kaiden looked up and over his shoulder as his classmate spoke in the Viddin language, projecting in a loud, clear, official tone. "Holruk'im Hoklas Sakloslin of the White Tail Aerie."

The Human had been so caught up taking in the sights of the room that he completely missed the fact that a figure had been looming behind the lounging sofa on the dais. Kaiden gasped when he saw the massive figure move around to its front. Although the picture perfect epitome of a Vidday, the Holruk was nearly as big as Tral, and a Viddinire sized Vidday was not an easy thing to come to terms with; the young man remained staring as Vetlyk's father straddled the lounging sofa and lowered himself onto it casually before rolling onto his side so he could position himself regally to stare back at them.

The Holruk's gaze was steely both in countenance and will, but also in color; if Kaiden weren't so caught up in the heart-clenching grip of the massive Gryphon's attention he may have found the grayish irises almost hypnotizing. In the end, it felt like an hour before he spoke up though Kaiden's more logical mind suggested no more than a minute. When the Holruk did speak, his voice was somehow gravly and smooth all at once, but held the unmistakable tone of someone used to being obeyed.

His words were in the Viddin tongue, and he had a much stronger northern accent than Vetlyk as he directed his statement to the Viddin who had been flanking Vetlyk since they met up. "You may leave us."

Kaiden couldn't take his eyes off the Holryk, tracking the departure of the other Viddin by the sounds of their talons on the plateau's stone surface. He could feel Vetlyk beside and behind him; his classmate's muscles had corded up again tightly. The absence of discussion remained for some time and Kaiden almost wondered if he was supposed to say something. Fortunately, the silence was broken again by the Holruk. "You, Zfielt, are not a Viddin, thus I am not your Holruk. You may speak to me as Hoklas."

If Kaiden had thought the statement was a gesture of diplomacy or kindness, any consideration to that end was dashed when he felt Vetlyk stiffen up even more discouragingly beside him. In his haste to try and develop some kind of dialogue, the Human spoke up before he'd bothered thinking anything other than reminding himself to try and speak in Viddin. "Your name sounds similar to Haklys."

Before that moment, Kaiden hadn't realized that Vetlyk was capable of tensing up even more, but he learned that quickly as his classmate did so, coupled with a sharp inhale through his closed beak. The Human realized well before then that he might have overstepped proper etiquette, let alone manners. Quickly faltering, Kaiden attempted to correct his earlier statement, but was so quick to do so that he spoke in English. "Oh! What I mean is-- I--"

Hoklas' eyes narrowed almost an imperceptible amount, but the effect was enough to silence Kaiden, leaving the Human feeling insurmountably cowed. The Holruk then turned his gaze to Vetlyk, who the young man heard gulp audibly. "The Zfielt is... wordy... is he not?"

Vetlyk nodded deeply, eyes focusing on the ground rather than the gryphon lounging on the sofa ahead of them. "Yes he is, Holruk." He then spoke directly to Kaiden, the lilt of his eye suggesting an unspoken apology as he stated "Takket-- speak only when you are spoken to, and do not use a Zfielt language here unless the Holruk grants permission."

Part of Kaiden felt betrayed by Vetlyk siding with his father over him but less emotional side of him realized that it would have been unfair (and probably insane) to expect his classmate to back him instead of his Holruk. A gentle squeeze from Vetlyk's front talon around his forearm, hidden from view by the gryphon's wing still draped over him also suggested another wordless apology and it helped Kaiden feel just a little better. That comfort, however, did not last long.

Holruk Hoklas' questions were intense and rapid-fire, leaving Kaiden very little time to do the translation in his head. The Human found it difficult to keep pace with providing answers to the questions. He'd originally wanted to make a good showing by choosing words he could pronounce easily in the Viddin tongue but, ultimately, he was forced to try to keep up with direct translations, meaning he was left feeling like he was a drunk hatchling, speaking not only with a youth-borne impediment, but also a dullard's slur. He felt beyond embarrassed, but pushed through, willing himself to finish it, not only for his own sake, but for that of his classmate-- friend-- lover.

After what felt like an eternity, the Holruk concludes his questions. Head spinning, Kaiden couldn't even remember the totality of the interrogation or specifically the questions asked; most of them seemed almost nonsensical or immaterial, such as where he grew up and where the equivalent was on Plateau Earth, while others felt more appropriate to ask a Viddin, such as if he'd ever killed prey on his own, the name of his Holruk, and the longest he had traveled. Despite himself, Kaiden answered the final one with some sass. "I have traveled to several versions of Earth, so I would say 'very far'."

Having apparently decided the Q&A was at an end, Holruk Hoklas immediately turned his attention to Vetlyk, all but ignoring Kaiden thereafter. "What do you see in this Zfielt, Son? Why this one?"

Vetlyk had obviously prepared for such a question and Kaiden could almost 'feel' his classmate turn on his political sense, speaking calmly, in a smooth, matter-of-fact tone. The reasons were spelled out clearly and showed the amount of thought Vetlyk had put into them. They all sounded incredibly reasonable when put into a political arena: Kaiden was a member of the Unity Programme and was well regarded by the faulty. He was a high performing student and the leader of their study group. He was not in line to become Holruk of any of his people and did not have powerful political ties himself, though adding him to the White Tail clan would, by his very nature, be an intelligent step in securing clout among the Zfielt. Vetlyk finished his argument with another, slightly more personal statement. "Plus, Holruk'im, you selected him as my Human partner, so he should meet your approval as a potential mate."

Still facing his son, as if Kaiden were already a forgotten accessory, the Holruk tapped a talon against the stone side of his lounging sofa. "You believe that I would approve of him as a mate just because I saw him as a good tutor for you?"

All of the perceived confidence and poise in Vetlyk deflated with that simple question; Kaiden felt immediately crestfallen, but remained steady, giving his classmate another gentle squeeze of reassurance. That simple gesture must have made a difference as Vetlyk stood up straighter. "This Zfielt is good in both cases, Holruk'im. He--"

The Holruk interrupted him and, rather than Vetlyk continuing to speak as he would with any other Viddin, Kaiden's classmate shut his beak immediately as his sire stated "When you are to take a mate, my son, your chosen must be able to help you continue our bloodline. You will be expected to sire chicks, and you know this."

Vetlyk gave a singular click of his beak in acknowledgement. "Yes, Holruk'im... and I shall, when my Takket is ready."

Holruk Hoklas' chiseled features did not seem suited to emoting, and so his intimidating, unreadable expression aimed at Kaiden even as he spoke to his son. "I am doubtful that this Zfielt will be capable of having your offspring when that time comes, Vetlyk... I have, in fact, many doubts about him."

Kaiden felt his heart skip a beat as the enormous Viddin rose, coming to his full height once again as he got off of his lounging sofa and began descending the steps, approaching the two of them. Although his altitude decreased as he came down the stairs, the Holruk was even more intimidating as he got closer, really driving home the size difference-- next to Vetlyk was one thing, but how incredibly insignificant he felt as a Human next to the massive Vidday really increased his discomfort at the situation. Even worse, the Holruk then addressed him directly. "Well? what do you have to say for yourself, Zfielt?"

Kaiden felt suddenly cold and isolated under the gaze; the sensation got even worse as Vetlyk pulled away, taking two steps back in response to a dismissive wing-flick he received from his sire. The Human felt the faintest moment of hesitation from his classmate, almost as if Vetlyk didn't want to leave him-- he didn't know whether that was more reassuring or distressing. Pushing those thoughts away, the young man attempted to address the situation as well as he could in the Viddin tongue. "Yes. It can be done, Hoklas. I can carry Vetlyk's chicks. There is a--" he paused, not knowing the right word for 'procedure' and not being able to get anywhere near close to being able to pronounce 'alteration' in the Viddin tongue. In the end he settled for "a 'change' that we can make using knowledge from--"

The Holruk silenced him by speaking over him, the non-Viddin word coming out of his beak with decided difficulty "Yes. I know of 'Cetacacian', Zfielt... but I speak of the mechanics of it. I am aware you know of Xys, but I have my doubts as to--"

Something inside Kaiden snapped. Despite his fear and his reservations and Vetlyk's obvious deferment to his sire, the Human, as Hoklas had already acknowledged, was NOT one of his subjects. The Viddin words came out of him quickly and, thankfully, they were all relatively easy to pronounce for a Human. "Vetlyk is my Takket. We have already mated, and we can and WILL again!"

Kaiden had only heard Viddin scoff a few times-- most often it was Vetlyk. He found the sound to be partly infuriating and incredibly patronizing, but, from the Holruk, both of those impressions were dialed up to the max. Haklas gave another flick of his wing and Vetlyk obediently backed up another few steps as his sire strode forward; he was less than an arm's length from Kaiden, gazing down at him. "You are a male, and he is a male, Zfielt... you have not mated-- you have rutted. You are little different at this point from a Jiyjah, Kaiden Wilson."

The Holruk's beak was not skilled at pronouncing a Human name, but that wasn't what hit the young man the hardest; he was not used to the kind of dismissive scorn he had heard with that simple statement, and hearing the resulting, heart-breaking squawk from Vetlyk behind him hurt. A lot. "I--"

The Holruk didn't let him finish the statement, extending a colossal wing in one smooth motion; the sheer volume of air displaced by its back beat struck Kaiden like an invisible wall, knocking him off balance. A moment later the enormous Viddin's weight struck him and even the gentle bump was enough to send him sprawling onto his hands and knees. Behind him, Vetlyk's sire's voice rumbled with pure predatory danger. "Before I give my consent, I am going to find out just how suitable you are... Zfielt."

Kaiden made to stand up, heart beating rapidly as thousands of thoughts ran through his mind; was he thinking what was happening the case? "I don't--"

The Holruk's talon pressed down on the back of his head, forcing his face down against a section of carpeted floor. Kaiden tried to offer up some resistance but he may as well have been a lamed mouse trying to escape a cat. The young man saw Vetlyk out of the corner of his eyes, staring, aghast, and frozen in place even as his classmate's father spoke from above and behind him. "Spread your legs for me, Zfielt... you do not want to have me do it for you. If you are worthy of bearing my son's chicks, I will accept nothing short of proof."