FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

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Chapter Twelve

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Focused on his prey, the gryphon slunk through a mountain forest made lush and verdant by summer's warmth. Impenetrable swaths of thorny bramble stretched between the white-barked trunks of ancient aspens. Towering stands of emerald ferns with fronds as large as his wings grew in the shade between immense blue-green fir trees. The air was heavy with the scents of pine sap and wet earth.

The gryphon stalked from shadow to shadow, every step silent and careful. He set a gray-furred forepaw on a patch of loamy earth. He stretched a pale, golden-brown hind leg to a patch of moss away from dry leaves. He tucked his wings tight to avoid letting the wind rustle his black feathers.

Closer and closer he drew to the prey he'd first spotted from the air. He'd drifted amongst the clouds as a ghost keeping watch on the earth. He glided in, landed silently some distance away, and then stalked his target. He tilted his head, turning his beak to the breeze, inhaling. Wood smoke mingled with his prey's scent. He swiveled tufted black ears towards the sound of crackling flame.

The gryphon's prey was human and armed. No sense giving up the element of surprise. The hunt was slow but the gryphon was patient. Step by silent step, he closed in upon the trespasser till he glimpsed him through the forest. The man sat on a tree stump in a small clearing, tending a fire. Packs stuffed with gear lay up against one tree, weaponry and armor against another. The breeze shifted, and though he doubted the human could smell him, the gryphon moved to stay downwind.

The human stood, and the gryphon froze, willing himself to be smaller. He flattened his feathers back, crouching in the darkest area behind a long-dead tree now shrouded in ivy vines. The man glanced around the clearing and kicked a rock. He scratched his chin stumble, then wiped his hands on his dirty green tunic. The breeze ruffled his unkempt red hair. The intruder fetched a canteen from his pack and returned to his stump.

Once the human was settled, the gryphon returned to stalking him. When the breeze died he crept forward, intent on bringing the trespasser down in a single pounce. The gryphon took the last few steps towards the clearing. He gauged the distance, wary of the fire. He waggled his haunches, ready to spring his trap.

"I know you're there, Ka'vrill." The human took a swig from his canteen.

Ka'vrill blinked, hissing in frustration. "Ass."

"How am I an ass?" The man set his canteen down and gazed into the forest. "You're the one stalking me."

"You're ruining my fun." Ka'vrill padded into the clearing. He flared his pale gray crown feathers, displaying their blood-red tips. "I'm still going to pounce you, Dharal."

"Don't even think about it." Dharal rose and backed away.

Ka'vrill clacked his beak. "Fine. I'll just do this, then."

The gryphon bounded after Dharal. He put a gray-furred forepaw to the man's chest and shoved him over. Dharal hit the earth, coughing. Ka'vrill flopped onto him, pinning him in an instant. Dharal wheezed and wriggled beneath the gryphon, grasping at gray belly fur.

"Get off!" Dharal's head stuck out from beneath the gryphon's belly. His voice was strained. His face reddened to match his hair. "I can't breathe!"

"Liar." Ka'vrill stretched himself out as if luxuriating upon the smaller creature. "You've barely even felt my weight."

"You...fat bird!" Dharal wheezed again, probing for purchase. "Yer...crushing me!"

"Only a little." Ka'vrill glanced back at him. "I haven't even felt a rib snap, so I can't be crushing you that badly."

"I'll...crush something of yours!" Dharal's hands wriggled down Ka'vrill's underbelly.

Ka'vrill smirked. "You couldn't fit them in your hand."

"Just getta offa me, you rotten vulture!"

"Oh, very well." Ka'vrill gave an exaggerated sigh as he pushed himself up. "Humans just can't take a joke."

Dharal crawled out from under him, rubbing his ribs. "Crushin' me ain't a joke!"

"And I ain't a bird." Ka'vrill clacked his beak. He perked his ears, twisting the flexible back half of his beak into a smirk. "How've you been, Dharal?"

"Aside from bein' crushed under some fat bird's ass?" Dharal grimaced, then fetched his canteen and took a drink.

"Wasn't my ass that crushed you." The gryphon warbled laughter, settling onto his haunches. He curled his tufted tail around his mismatched paws. "It's good to see you, Dharal."

"Woulda been nicer if you'd just said hello." Dharal glared at him and took another swig. He wiped something golden from his mouth. "Good seeing you too, though. Been too long, ya feathery bastard."

"That isn't water, is it." Ka'vrill tilted his head.

"Rum." Dharal closed the canteen and tossed it to the gryphon.

Ka'vrill snatched it out of the air in a forepaw. He unsheathed a single claw and pulled the stopper. Then he tilted the canteen to his beak. Sweet, spicy caramel warmth coated his tongue and soon warmed his belly. He poured more of it into his mouth, gulping it down.

"Hey!" Dharal strode over and snatched the canteen away from the gryphon. "That shit ain't free, ya know. I didn't buy enough to booze up some oversized tomcat with a beak."

"Then you should have bought more." Ka'vrill warbled again, licking his beak with his thin, dark tongue. "How'd you know I was there?"

Dharal replaced the canteen's stopper, and walked to his packs of gear. He crouched down to put the canteen away, glancing back at the gryphon. "I knew you'd try something. You always used to pull some shit like this whenever we'd meet up. And I saw ya in the sky."

"Aw, hell." Ka'vrill pinned his ears back, scowling. "Shoulda waited till nightfall."

"Just too eager to see me, huh?" Dharal brought a log back and set it in the fire. A flurry of sparks erupted. "It has been a long time." Dharal sat back down, gazing at the gryphon. "You look good, though."

"Do I?" Ka'vrill flared his black wings a little, looking himself over.

"Yeah." Dharal smirked. "All grown up."

The gryphon ruffled his feathers. "I was grown up when I met you. ...Mostly."

Dharal picked up a long dagger off the ground, poking at the fire with it. It crackled and spat a swirl of embers. "You've filled out. You're bigger, too. Hell, you've gone all the way from scrawny to lean."

Ka'vrill chirruped, grinning. "That had better be the compliment I'm taking it to be."

Dharal leaned back on the stump. "You look healthy, Ka'vrill." He smiled, his green-grey eyes flickered in the firelight. "I'm glad to see it."

"Thank you." Ka'vrill folded his wings back against his body. "You look...like an old tree. You were always ugly, but now you're also creased and weather beaten."

"Hey!" Dharal laughed, shaking his head.

"Why the stubble?" Ka'vrill waved a paw at him. "Looks like you've got a face full of red fungus."

"Hides the brand a bit." Dharal rubbed his face.

"Either grow a beard or don't." Ka'vrill set his paw down. "Don't stop halfway."

Dharal pulled a knife from his belt and scratched at his stubble as if considering shaving it then and there. "Yeah, yeah."

Ka'vrill clacked his beak, glancing from the knife in Dharal's hand to the longer one the ground. "How many blades are you carrying?"

"Not enough." He waved the knife, grinning at the gryphon. "Healthy as you look, you must be eating well now." He tucked the blade away again. "I guess you your looter friends must be doing alright for yourselves."

Ka'vrill unsheathed a few claws and cut ruts in the earth. "We're not looters."

Dharal quirked a brow. "No? You birds stop stealing stuff?"

Ka'vrill flared his red-tipped crown feathers, tilting his beak in a wicked grin. "Of course not. But we're no more looters than your people are marauders. You only hunt down those who deserve it and we only steal what's rightfully ours. Mostly."

"Works for me." Dharal shrugged. "I was just saying, you must be doing well."

"We are. A lot more prey than in that damn tundra." Ka'vrill smiled, then gazed away. His wings drooped. He fluffed his feathers. A sudden chill settled beneath his plumage and sink to his heart. "Wish I'd found the others earlier. Maybe I could have gotten her out of there."

Dharal rose up and walked to the gryphon. He set his hand on Ka'vrill's head. "You did right by her, Ka'vrill. No one could ask you for more."

The gryphon leaned into the human's touch, grateful for the comfort. He shivered, ruffling himself. "Some days I still feel the wind, like ice that cuts to my bones even in the baking sun. Other times I still feel hungry even when I eat. I feel guilty for having so much, and pass my food to Lyrekka."

Dharal leaned against the gryphon, wrapping his burly arms around Ka'vrill's neck. "You did all you could, Ka, and you know it."

Ka'vrill made an irritable chirr at the hug, but he did not pull away. "Yeah, I know." He lifted a paw and patted the human's back. "Thanks."

Dharal grinned. "Of course." He ruffled up the gryphon's ebony neck feathers as he pulled back.

"Hey!" Ka'vrill flailed his wings, pulling away. "Stop that!"

"Made you feel better, didn't it?"

"Made me feel like a mess." Ka'vrill clacked his beak. He twisted his head and preened his feathers.

"Speaking of Lyrekka, where is she?" Dharal folded his arms, gazing around the clearing. "When I got word from you, I expected to find your whole merry flock of looters waiting for me."

"Hardly a flock." Ka'vrill pulled a loose feather and spat it out. "And I came back here on my own. Easier to avoid being spotted that way."

"Lyrekka kicked you out of the nest, huh?" Dharal fetched his rum canteen and took another swig.

Ka'vrill flicked out his wings, flaring the crimson-tipped edge feathers. "We don't live in a nest. And...no, but..." He stared at Dharal a moment. Damn human had only just put that canteen away. "How much rum have you had today, Dharal?"

"Not enough." Dharal smirked and gestured with the canteen. "You put an egg in Lyrekka yet?" Dharal settled back on his tree stump, grinning.

Ka'vrill jerked his wings back. "That is hardly your concern!"

"The hell it isn't." Dharal gulped some more rum. He wiped his mouth with his sleeve. "You two hatch yourself a little brat, I expect you to name it after me."

Ka'vrill laughed, lifting his crown feathers. "Gods, if I'd even suggested naming our son after a human..."

"So do you have a kid." Dharal smirked.

Ka'vrill blinked, then turned his head away, scowling. "...Hatched a few seasons ago."

Dharal's voice softened. "Then why aren't you home, Ka'vrill?"

The gryphon swallowed, staring off into the distance. "We don't have a home."

"You've got..."

"I am tired of living in ruins." Ka'vrill hissed, snapping his beak. "Tired of skulking in shadows, tired of stealing back what should be ours. We should not have to live as vagabonds, as mongrels chased from place to place. I don't want my son to grow up traveling from scrap of food to scrap of food. I want my son to have a real home, Dharal. Lands that are his." The gryphon unsheathed his claws in the air, his red-tipped crown feathers rising. "I am here to take back my people's home. For my son."

Dharal scowled and let out a long sigh. "How's Lyrekka feel about that?"

"She doesn't know." Ka'vrill set his paw down, slicked his feathers back again. He traced a circle in the dirt with a single claw tip.

"That's hard to believe." Ka'vrill didn't reply, and Dharal grit his teeth. "She's a smart gryphon, Ka. Even if she doesn't know yet, she'll figure it out. I don't think she's going to like it."

"Why do you think I'm here by myself?" Ka'vrill snapped, rising with a flourish of his wings. He lashed his tail. "I don't want to talk about this right now, Dharal. Later. Why don't you tell me how your people have been doing? Looks like you've got some nice armor there."

Ka'vrill ground his beak as he strode across the clearing. Some of Dharal's armor lay against the white trunk of an old aspen. The cuirass was layered in thick, overlapping green scales. Ka'vrill brushed his pads across them. The scales felt a little rough but the armor was well cared for. A few gouges marred it here and there. Ka'vrill unsheathed his claws, and dragged them along the lay of the scales, hissing to himself.

"Is this what I think it is?"

"If you think it's dragon hide, yeah." Dharal walked up beside the gryphon, staring down at his armor.

"So you've been successful in your travels." The gryphon's voice softened.

"We have."

"Wiry little Dharal, gone and killed himself a monster." Ka'vrill clicked his beak. Then he raised his crown feathers, his tone sharpened. "It was a monster, wasn't it?"

"Wasn't a young one, if that's what you're worried about."

Ka'vrill glared at him, topaz eyes glittering even in the shade beneath the shade beneath the tree. "Dharal?"

"Yeah, it was a monster." He reached out and stroked the gryphon's crown feathers back down. "Price on its head and everything. Tore up a trade convoy and all the guards assigned to it."

Ka'vrill pulled his head back from the man's hand, hissing. "Don't pet me like some fledgling. How many monsters have your people killed, anyway?"

"Two." Dharal crouched down near the tree to pick up a sword. "Wounded and drove off three more, got half the bounty. While back, some of my people got paid to help transport some captives, too."

"Impressive. So you'd say your people have plenty of experience fighting them now." Ka'vrill settled back onto his haunches, tilting his head.

"You could say that, yeah." Dharal chuckled and rose up, holding the sheathed sword in both hands. "Not exactly the sort of numbers our ancestors had, but better than nothing. Lost a few men, though." He ran a hand back over his crimson hair. "Been doing a lot of other bounty hunting, too. Tracking down bandits, some mercenary work. We moved into a little village well outside any unfriendly influences."

"Good." Ka'vrill chuckled. He inclined his beak towards the dusky blue scales lining the sword's scabbard. "You kill that one, too?"

Dharal shook his head. "Nah, we didn't kill this one. We got the green one I had the armor made from. I bought the sword. Hefty price, but worth it. Hell of a blade."

Ka'vrill took the sword in his forepaws. The scales coating the scabbard were finer than those on the armor, perhaps from the dragon's limbs. The cross guard was made of dragon horn, light gray and still a little ridged, while the hilt was inlaid with spirals of bone. The gryphon eased the sword a few inches free. Frozen ripples marked the dark steel.

"Very nice." He pulled the scabbard back in place, and handed it back to Dharal.

Dharal set it back next to the rest of his gear. "Old, too. But been well cared for. They said the dragon it came from was a real terror, supposedly from around here."

"Oh?" Ka'vrill cocked his head, and gave an interested chirp.

"So they said, anyway. From our people's old lands." Dharal shrugged. "So that's what this is about, huh? Taking things back?"

"Later, Dharal." Ka'vrill grinned and rose to his paws. "I've been flying all day. I'd like to relax before we talk business. Is that hot spring still around?"

"Haven't checked."

"Well let's go find out." Ka'vrill pushed past Dharal, flicking his tufted tail into the human's belly. "You could use a bath. You smell terrible."

Dharal grunted, rubbing his stomach. "That's only cause you smothered me with your bird-stink!"

"Liar." Ka'vrill stepped over a rotten log layered in blue-gray shelf fungus. "Gryphons don't sweat and yet we still bathe every day. We always smell nice."

"That's not what Lyrekka tells me when I lay with...wait." Dharal scratched his head as he followed the gryphon. "This is easier when I'm talking to another human."

Ka'vrill warbled his laughter. "Oh, by all means, Dharal, proposition her. Hell, show it to her if you're that confident. I'd enjoy hearing her laugh at you for the rest of the day."

"Yeah, yeah." Dharal grunted, kicking aside a stick. "Squawk it up, bird."

"I intend to." Ka'vrill glanced over his wings at Dharal, splayed out his red-tipped tail feathers. "I hope you're not too shy about bathing with me now. You can keep your clothes on if you feel inadequate."

Dharal scooped up a clump of moss and tossed it at the gryphon's head. Ka'vrill squawked and ducked, flaring his wings. "You sound more and more like the rest of the gryphons every time I see you again."

"Is that good, or bad?"

"Good. Better smug and sharp-tongued than bitter and shy."

Ka'vrill flattened his feathers, rustling his wings. "I was never shy."

"Maybe reserved is better." Dharal wiped his hands on his breeches. "You seem happier now. I guess putting an egg in your woman helps with that, huh?"

Ka'vrill stared down at his gray-furred forepaws for a moment, padding towards the spring. Curtains of steam drifted behind the distant trees. "It is...the most joyful and terrifying thing I can imagine." He glanced back, clicked his beak. "What about you? Any young, yet?"

"Nah." Dharal shrugged. "None I know of, anyway. A wandering sword's hardly the sort of life for a father. Maybe if I get to settle down, find the right woman."

"Settling down would be nice." Ka'vrill smiled at his friend, his tail flicking back and forth. "Once we have a home, I plan to settle down with Lyrekka and raise my son."

"And why aren't you doing that now?"

Ka'vrill pinned his tufted ears back, a cold knot settled in his belly. "I have to make things right for him, first. I don't want him to grow up like I did."

"He won't, as long as he has a father."

Ka'vrill came to a stop. He whirled on Dharal in an instant, eyes flashing, his feathers all raised in anger. He spread his wings, red-tipped edges on display. "Now you listen to me, Dharal!"

"Sorry!" Dharal held his hands up and took a step back. "Sorry, Ka. I didn't mean it that way. You know that."

Ka'vrill's anger fled as swiftly as it had arrived. He settled his gray and crimson crown feathers, and folded his wings. "I know. It's just..."

"I know, buddy." Dharal walked up and wrapped his arms around Ka'vrill's neck, hugging him before the gryphon could shove him away. "I didn't mean to get you all fluffed up."

"Yeah, yeah." Ka'vrill tolerated the hug, using the human's body to hide his smile and perked ears. "Alright, alright." He wedged a paw between the two of them and pushed Dharal away. "That's enough. You really do smell terrible."

Dharal laughed and smacked the gryphon on the shoulder. "Nice to see you too, Ka."

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Fear was all the fledging knew. His whole world was burning. The heat singed his tiny wings. Flames tinted the choking smoke that filled the air with flickering shades of ghostly orange. Screams in the distance. Demons dancing in the smoke. He coughed and stumbled and ran, cried for his mother. Burning walls splintered and cracked and fell. Stinging embers showered him and seared his downy feathers.

He stumbled through the smoke, and tumbled down an icy hill. Biting winds whipped snow against him, freezing him through his singed feathers. The smoke followed him down the hill, clutching at him with tendrils like coiling snakes. It burned his eyes, stung his throat, filled his lungs. He coughed and ran, but the smoke was everywhere. It grasped at him with every step. Another building exploded into flames. Another and another.

Everywhere was fire, smoke, and death.

The monster danced in the skies, rejoicing in the ruin he brought.

The monster's roars split the earth, and the fledging ran. Charred fingers reached for him from the twisted corpses of those who once brought him treats, gave him shelter. Blood and soot stained the snow. Screams filled his ears. The monster howled at the dying, calling down to them in the tongue of men, proclaiming their rightful fear. Till there was no one left to fear the monster.

There were only flames. Flames and ash and smoke and death.

In a blink, the fledging stood next to his mother. The heat from their burning home scorched his feathers, his flesh. The monster found them. Mother shielded him with burning wings, charred feathers drifted from her. Smoke poured from the monster's mouth and lashed at them with claws made of frozen ash and hatred. The hatchling wanted to push past her wings, to protect Mother. But the smoke was too much, the monster too strong.

Another blink and the fledging was half grown, curled in a cave in the frozen tundra. Mother shivered against him, curled beneath his sheltering wing. His toes ached from the cold. His belly had not known food in days. Even then the smoke haunted him, the monster's voice rattled in his ears. He trembled, his paws clenched. Smoke filled his cave. No, not here, not now. How could the monster know? How did he always find them?

"Ka'vrill."

The gryphon struggled. Smoke touched his feathers. He screamed and lashed out, striking at the smoke. He had to protect his mother.

"Ka'vrill! Ka'vrill, wake up!"

Ka'vrill blinked, opening his eyes. It was dark, but he was not in a cave. It was not cold. He was in the forest, a warm summer evening. A lingering fire smoldered nearby. It took him a moment to collect himself, his eyes slowly focused. When he realized his claws were extended, he retracted them. Dharal stood nearby, staring down at him. Concern glowed in his eyes, illuminated by the embers.

"You alright?"

Ka'vrill pushed himself halfway up. He looked at his paw, then jerked his head up. "Dharal! I didn't...I didn't hurt you, did I?"

"Nah." Dharal gave him a lopsided grin. He reached out and stroked the gryphon's neck feathers. "I know you well enough to watch out when I'm trying to wake you from a nightmare."

"Still." Ka'vrill sighed, easing back down. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be." Dharal stroked his neck again. "Wasn't sure if you still got them."

"Always will." Ka'vrill closed his eyes, taking comfort in his friend's concern, his touch. He leaned in, sighing. "Sometimes I go for weeks without a nightmare. Other times I get them every night." Ka'vrill swallowed, shuddering. "They were gone for a while, but they always come back. They've been getting worse since my son hatched."

"Is that what this is about?"

"Yes."

"Thought it might be." Dharal's hand went still on the gryphon for a moment. "You really want to do this, Ka'vrill? This isn't just...some monster. This one's different. Lyrekka wouldn't want you to take the risk."

"I hurt her, Dharal."

"What?" Dharal leaned back.

Ka'vrill opened his eyes, turning his head to gaze at his friend. Long smoldering embers burned in his topaz eyes. "In my sleep. She tried to wake me, and I...in the dream, I thought it was him! I was...protecting my son. I struck her, Dharal, with my claws, and I...I..."

"Oh, Gods, Ka. I'm sorry." Dharal put his arms around Ka'vrill's neck, stroking his feathers. "Is she alright?"

Ka'vrills voice went flat. "I scarred her face. She's fine, she wasn't even angry, but...I did not think I could possibly feel worse. Till I saw the fear in her eyes when she clutched our crying son." Ka'vrill's throat clenched. Hot tears brimmed in his topaz eyes. "Dharal, he's still so frail. If it was him I struck my sleep..."

Dharal sharpened his voice. "Ka, you can't let yourself think like that."

"Dharal, I could have killed him! Do you...do you have any idea..." Ka'vrill's stomach twisted till it ached. He turned his head away. He blinked away tears that wet the black fur of his face. His body shuddered, his feathers fluffed. He took a deep breath, squeezed out a few words. "Do you think...? Do you think your men are up to it?"

"Maybe." Dharal eased back, sighing. He ran a hand through his hair. "Put us all together and we've got a lot of experience. But still..." He gazed into the remnants of the fire. "Even if they are, it might not stop the nightmares, Ka."

"I know." Embers burned in Ka'vrill's eyes, smoldering and hot. "But I have to try, Dharal. The least I can do for my son is give him somewhere safe to call home. Even if I cannot share it with him."

Dharal move to sit up against the gryphon. He took a breath and patted Ka'vrill's forepaw. "Alright, Ka'vrill. Alright. I'm with you. I'll send for my men."

"Thank you, Dharal." Ka'vrill lay his head down against his forepaws, sighing. "This has been a long time coming."

"I know." Dharal leaned his head against the gryphon's side. "You really think we can do it?"

"Someone has to free this land. Someone has to save our homes from the monster that seized them with blood and fire." Ka'vrill stared into the firepit, his topaz eyes a smoldering orange mirror. "Yes, I think we can. We are going to kill Galvarys the Wrathful."

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And on that note...this is where we leave off. I'll be back to posting VM soon enough, but for now, that's the installment.

So! If you've enjoyed Volunteer Maiden so far, please hit the FAVE button...and now would be a wonderful time for you to leave me your comments and your thoughts not only on this latest development and on Ka'vrill, but on the story as a whole so far!

Let me know what you've thought!

Thank you so much for reading!