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The Cohen Icosahedron

Chapter 1

copyright comidacomida April 1st, 2020

As a Human, Kaiden was born on Earth or, rather, one version of it. Two generations before he was born people thought that it was the ONLY Earth, but famed theoretical physicist Dr. Nathan Cohen discovered a gateway connecting the Earth Humans knew with another one-- one where cetaceans and not primates evolved into the dominant species. If that wasn't enough, a few years after he was born Dr. Cohen's research team did it again, discovering yet ANOTHER Earth, one where a lupine race rose to evolutionary superiority.

Both of Kaiden's parents had spent their late teens and early twenties as participating members of the Unity Programme, the inter-species coalition designed to help the various different beings from the alternate versions of Earth coexist. His mother had focused on learning about dolphin-like Phins and his father had studied the wolf-like Oolau but, eventually they each returned to the Human version of Earth to work as intake specialists for the other races who chose to visit; they met in the immigration office. A year and a half later they were married, and Kaiden came along about a year after that.

The young man had been raised among the other species and, as the son of two Unity Programme graduates, it was all but a given that he would eventually join himself. It didn't take long and, shortly after he completed a preparatory introduction to the Programme in elementary school, he was transferred to the Unity Centre, a site where he would learn about both Phins and Oolau. He spent the next six years picking up knowledge about all races, including a fourth race which Humans had only just been introduced to via the Phins: the Ikali, a mustline species of humanoid Otters which came from a version of Earth connected to the Phins but not to that of the Humans. By the time Kaiden had completed the Unity Programme's equivalent of high school, he was familiar with all of the 'alien' races... or so he thought.

Although Kaiden's knowledge of xenobiology and xenosociology came second nature to him, he was not approved for advanced classes among the elite Tier 7 team. Instead, he was hand-picked for a special assignment, in which he, among just five other Humans, six Phins, six Oolau, and six Ikali. The reveal to the 24 students that the four Earths were not all that was out there came as quite a shock but, more than that, was learning that they would all be traveling to the new version of Earth to learn about one another alongside gryphons. Like the four species, the gryphons were sentient, sapient, and quite intelligent but, unlike them, the new species was four legged, which would assuredly make things difficult.

As it turned out, it did exactly that-- and for a number of reasons. Not only were the gryphons four legged, but they had strong instincts, including a predatory drive, meaning that the smaller Ikali students had to be recalled. That left only 18 non-gryphons in the Unity Programme class on what was dubbed Plateau Earth. Complications with the Oolau tribunal meant that half of the Wolf-people had to return to their own version of Earth, knocking the number of 'foreigners' down to just 14. From there, one Human and one Phin pulled out of the Programme for "personal reasons" which meant that a class in which each gryphon was supposed to have a non-gryphon partner suddenly meant that there were two natives for every visiting student.

At first, teachers thought that they could have two gryphons per non-gryphon partner but turned out to be a poor solution since gryphons were highly competitive in a one-on-one situation with othrs of their own kind, meaning the only other alternative would be to maintain singular partnerships with most students, and give the most promising Unity Centre graduates a collection of gryphon partners. A young Oolou woman named Narii was chosen to handle a team of 7 gryphon girls, while Kaiden's obvious expertise with 'other races' netted him 7 males. In a large group, they were surprisingly well-behaved... except when they weren't.

The first week with the new set up turned out to be exceedingly exhausting, not just because it was Kaiden's job to help keep everyone up-to-speed on everything they needed to learn, but because as the only member of the 8 partner team with opposable thumbs, he was the 'chosen one' when it came to assisting with the numerous tasks required for easy operations within the Unity Center. The original plan of one gryphon partner per student would have minimized the problems arising from half a team not being able to grasp doorknobs or handle a food vending machine, but when only 1/8th of a team had to manage it for everyone then things became so much more complicated.

By Friday, Kaiden was exhausted, and couldn't wait for the weekend to arrive. Fortunately for him, unlike his prior experiences in the other versions of the Unity Centre, all students had their own rooms, which meant that he would be completely free for the next two days. Although his partners flew home for the weekend they each also had a dedicated room at the Centre, but most preferred to be away from the confines of a building that required manual dexterity to traverse with ease. They were discussing as much during the Friday afternoon study session... at the expense of classwork.

The largest and loudest of the gryphons was a massive, nine-foot-long tiger/condor mix named Tral. Originally a partner for one of the Ikali, he was quite a handful and often went off-script during study time. He was happily talking about his plans for the weekend, including visiting his parents, possibly rough housing with his dad, and beating down his little brothers so they wouldn't try to disrupt his place in the family during his absence.

The group's class clown, and also the smallest of the bunch, was Nittik, an ocelot/kestrel who was misplaced when his Phin partner had to leave the programme. Slightly larger than a Great Dane, he tended to sit closest to Kaiden, and sometimes on him. That evening, however, he was situated right next to Tral, and even leaned in closer to his enormous classmate so he could squawk in a not-so-subtle manner. "And mess around with your jiyjah?"

Kaiden had heard the term before, but wasn't familiar with it, beyond the fact that it was specifically a personal-needs item that all young gryphons had and not usually discussed in polite company. Judging from the way the feathers around Nittik's beak were puffing out in a cajoling way, it was no doubt brought up to embarrass Tral. It didn't work. Beak parted in pride, ear-like fur tufts rising confidently, the large gryphon announced in pure alpha-male fashion "Obviously."

In every group Kaiden had ever been part of there was usually one group member who was a stickler for the rules, always wanting to toe the line and make sure things went smoothly. That student among the gryphons was Vetlyk, a more traditional lion/eagle gryphon that came to mind for most Humans. Neither particularly large nor distinctly small, Vetlyk was about the size of a lion and usually spent his time in quiet contemplation and obediently listening in class, but he usually spoke up when there was a problem, such as with Tral and Nittik's discussion. "You know you're not supposed to talk about that around zfielt."

Despite being quiet, Vetlyk's words always carried a weight with his fellow gryphons; apparently his species was considered nobility among the natives to the new earth and their caste system was unyielding. Though they both fell silent, Tral was quick to add "Nittik brought it up, not me."

Nittik's feathers puffed out and he shook his entire body, taking a different response to the reproach. "He's here to learn about Viddin, isn't he? Then he may as well learn about everything."

Viddin was the term the gryphons used for themselves and, while Nittik had a point, Kaiden also knew that the 'powers that be' had very specific requirements when it came to social norms and overstepping pre-approved boundaries. He opened his mouth to try and get everyone's attention back into focus when the rest of the gryphons in the room erupted into a chorus of arguments. One of many talents the Viddin had were that the speech centers of their brains were capable of listen and talking at the same time, and often to and from multiple parties, so for them there was no problem, but the Human just couldn't butt in.

It took almost ten minutes before the other students calmed down and, by then, it was almost time to close up for the night. Prirn, a lynx/falcon gryphon eventually called everyone to order; he was always such a time-keeper. "Okay! I think that's it for today! Everyone say goodbye to our Human and let's go. My mam promised that we'd be having zofra tonight and I don't want to miss out!"

Zofra, Kaiden knew was a kind of cold-weather elk, possibly similar to caribou from his own native Earth. He had no idea how Prirn's family could have hunted any up so far south, but he wasn't particularly interested in getting between the small stampede of gryphons and the door to stop them and ask. One by one they made their way out, physically jockeying for position.

In most cases Vetlyk would have been first among them but, for whatever reason, he let each of them pass, lingering long enough to be able to walk up to Kaiden without anyone else in the way. The gryphon stared at him, saying nothing, so the Human struck up the conversation. "You're not eager to get home too?"

Vetlyk gave his beak a decisive click-- the equivalent of shaking his head. "No. My sire is busy negotiating a land rights accord with another roost and my mam is busy with a new clutch. I would just be in the way."

Kaiden knew that story well; apparently most Viddin who came of age didn't spend much time at home. "So where are you going instead?"

The gryphon looked his way. "I plan on staying here. You promised to lend me a 'book'."

Vetlyk was careful to pronounce the word; it was not one that the Viddin were taught seeing as the archaic form of information storage was not widely used since data pads were so much more common. If there was one thing Kaiden knew that Vetlyk didn't like it was to mispronounce things and he was doing incredibly well in mastering English, German, Italian, Tagalog and Farsi. The gryphon, Kaiden also knew, had trouble asking for things Smiling, the human picked up on the purpose of the statement. "You'd like to borrow one?"

As expected, Vetlyk responded indirectly. "If you have one to lend, I shall return it in the same condition as to which I receive it."

Still smiling, Kaiden nodded again. "Alright. I can bring it by your room tonight after dinner."

The gryphon clicked his beak, signaling agreement. "That is acceptable. I will be dining some time after 6. You are welcome to bring me the book upon my return."

The Human agreed readily. "Sure. Any book specifically?"

The Viddin appraised him with a single eye, head cocked to the side. Several seconds passed before he answered. "I will leave that up to you, classmate."

'Classmate' was not an uncommon way for Vetlyk to reference someone; he, like most gryphon elites had issues using names.

* * * * *

Kaiden picked out "The Count of Monte Cristo", an old classic his dad used to read to him. It was a long book so Vetlyk wouldn't manage to get through it in a single weekend, but it was also engaging enough that it would be quite the page turner. He hoped enough of the societal differences (not to mention physical form differences) would be minimal enough that the gryphon could enjoy the story without too much confusion; the attraction to the story in the first place was the character interaction and that kind of thing would hopefully be universal.

Sharing it with Vetlyk would be a joy; he loved the idea of exposing the Viddin to literature from his Earth, and he even had a plan: the gryphon was going to dinner at 6, so he could swing by his room and drop it off, then they could go eat together! Tucking his book under his arm, the Human strode down the lengthy hall that connected the north and south sides of the Centre until he found the side hall leading to Vetlyk's apartment.

All gryphons had an access card that would identify them to the sensor on their room's door; the door would pop open at the occupant's approach, making it easy for them to enter. Whether planned that way or due to a design flaw, the sensors only worked when the gryphon was outside in the hall, meaning that the door would not open automatically for them if they were on the inside. Due to the oversight, most of the rooms were also equipped with a pressure pad so that the inhabitant wouldn't get trapped inside.

Universally, however, Viddin were not particularly concerned with privacy so most chose to leave their doors open while they were home. As Kaiden approached Vetlyk's room he saw that to be the case so he invited himself in. The apartment was much the same as his own but, Kaiden noticed, the living room lacked an armchair and instead had a second loveseat, which made sense considering the size of the gryphon inhabiting it.

Kaiden had been into Vetlyk's apartment before, but it was only briefly and, as he stood at the threshold, he took a moment to look around. The gryphon was nowhere to be seen, most likely further back in the adjoining bedroom, but his scent was unmistakable. Male gryphons had a very distinct odor-- a powerful musk that tended to be obvious in their presence, but even stronger once they'd occupied an area long enough. Most of the common rooms and study areas had excellent ventilation so it wouldn't be a problem, but the overwhelming aroma in the apartment screamed feral beast.

The Human was just about to call out for his friend when he heard a shuffling from the back room, followed by a deep grunt, and then a grumble-squawk in the native Viddin language, which Kaiden was getting better at understanding. "I was hoping you would like that..."

Although the Human didn't understand the context, he definitely recognized Vetlyk's voice. Taking another step into the apartment, the young man set the book on the kitchen counter and moved in further. Opening his mouth to call out, he almost choked on the heady thickness of the air; it practically tasted like pure gryphon. Barely managing to avoid coughing, he froze in his tracks the moment he heard Vetlyk speak again, though it was in English. "I've been waiting for you... human."

At first Kaiden thought that Vetlyk was addressing him, but the gryphon went back to murmuring in his native language, and the continued motion within the adjacent room led him to believe that the occupant still didn't realize that he was present. The human decided that he was just going to take a quick peek to assuage his curiosity; if Vetlyk was busy then he would just see the gryphon at lunch. What he saw, however, stopped him in his tracks.

Back when Kaiden was young and his dad way away from home a lot, his mom had body pillow she'd use for cuddling; she said it helped her fall asleep at night. Vetlyk was laying a similar cylindrical cushion or, more correctly, he was mounting it. The gryphon's leonine body was astride the padded, drum-like pillow, wings half-spread, back arched with his hips pressed up against the end and, as the human stood there, he watched Vetlyk's hips heave forward before relaxing, undulating in rhythmic fashion. Suddenly the extra strength of the aroma made so much more sense.

The Viddin's beak brushed across the fabric as he spoke again in his native language. "This is just for you... no one else, my little zfielt... just you, Kaiden."

There was no doubt in the human's mind what was going on, and he took an involuntary step back in surprise. When he did so, his foot banged into the doorway. Vetlyl's ear tufts were up in an instant, and his head rotated around immediately. The two each froze in place, staring at each other for so long that Kaiden wondered if perhaps time had actually frozen... or perhaps his heart exploded from fright and what he was experiencing was where his life should have flashed before his eyes, but it happened so fast he was just on permanent pause.

The gryphon's craw vibrated; it was just like a Human clearing their throat. "Ah... erm... classmate. I was... not... expecting you."

Moving away from the pillow, Vetlyl turned to address him, but froze at the audible sound of a 'pop' when he pulled back; it dispelled any question in Kaiden's mind as to what was going on. Futher, the gryphon sat down sheepishly on his haunches, providing a clear view of the long, pink shaft that extended from between his hind legs. As if suddenly realizing that, Vetlyk laid down, and winced at the result.

Kaiden tried several times to talk before he managed to make a simple declaration. "I... brought the book."

Vetlyl recovered much faster than the Human. "I do not see it in your hands."

Thankful for the opportunity, Kaiden used his answer as an excuse to turn around and point toward the kitchen. "I left it on the counter."

Despite the gryphon's incredible size, Vetlyl was very dexterous, graceful, an adroit; he was suddenly behind Kaiden before the Human knew it. A sharp beak hung so close to his ear. "I am not used to being interrupted when I plan to spend time with my jiyjah."

Hearing the word suddenly brought everything together and offered Kaiden some clarity; the Viddin didn't talk about the jiyjah with outsiders not just because it was a personal matter, but because it was a PERSONAL matter. As far as 'personal needs items' it made perfect sense and, before he could stop to think about the statement, the words had already left his mouth. "I guess that makes sense for a species without hands..."

Vetlyl bumped him from behind, his large size immediately so much more obvious once he was up close. "It is a private matter, but you've interrupted me."

Turning around to face the gryphon, Kaiden found himself with his back against the wall. Vetlyl rose up onto his hind legs, leaning with a talon on either side of the Human. The Viddin's stance meant that his erection couldn't have been more obvious. Suddenly sweating profusely, Kaiden offered up his only excuse. "I... thought you called me."

The gryphon immediately disengaged, pulling back as he stepped away, feathers puffing out as the skin around his nostrils immediately reddened. "Well... having you hear that was NOT part of the plan. I was... using my jiyjah."

Not exactly sure what prompted him to press Vetlyl in that regard, Kaiden asked nevertheless "You were pretending it was... me?"

The Viddin shot him a dirty look. "You are a human, and not used to our ways. I am... not used to not getting what I want."

Kaiden was playing with fire, but he still had a hard time believing what it was he was hearing. "And... what DO you want?"

If the human had thought it impossible for the gryphon's gaze to get any more severe, he was proven wrong. "It is not obvious, zfielt?"

Whether it was a death wish or some temporary insanity, Kaiden found it intoxicating to rile up the usually impossibly stoic gryphon. "YOUR little zfielt?"

The question made an obvious impression on Vetlyl; the gryphon closed his amber eyes and all of the feathers on his body stood on end. He shook them out, letting out a hissing breath through his beak. "You are not MY zfielt... I must share you with six others. Besides... even I were your only Viddin partner, you are not mine how I would want you to be mine."

Kaiden was convinced that he had to be suicidal because the conversation was continuing and-- and when and WHY did he start approaching the gryphon?!?! WHY was he still talking?!?! "How... would you want me... to be yours?"

Vetlyk shot him a look as if the Human were a half-wit. Rather than respond verbally, he first hefted a hind leg, revealing a lengthy, firm erection still dripping in precum and two orbs hanging heavily within their sac. "I would have thought that obvious, zfielt... or is your kind unaccustomed to the act of rutting between those of the same sex?"

For as long as Kaiden had known Vetlyk, the gryphon never made his desires clear; he always made indirect demands and didn't come forward to ask for anything. Despite their many differences and the aloof nature which, until that night left the human wondering what the Viddin thought of him, Kaiden actually did like him... he just didn't know if it was THAT way. "No. My kind knows all about that."

The gryphon's eyes narrowed accusingly. "Then is it just you who are ignorant to it, or are you purposefully making my position difficult?"

He was so far into the deep end and that point; Kaiden couldn't stop. Taking a seat on the bed near Vetlyk, the human asked "And what position is that?"

Growling out an indignant squawk, Vetlyk lifted his hind leg again. "I would have presumed that it was obvious, zfielt."

The fact that Vetlyk continued to avoid using his name should have concerned Kaiden, but he realized that most gryphons turned to formality when they were feeling intimidated or uncomfortable; there was something about seeing the usually in-control Viddin on the defensive that made the Human feel like, for once, he might have had the upper hand. He pushed even further against his usually unyielding fellow student. "Yes... I see... but what does that have to do with me?"

Vetlyk lowered his leg, rotating his body so he could face Kaiden directly. "I know I am not Human and you are not Vidden, but that does not stop me from finding you appealing... especially as you have interrupted my time with my jiyjah..."

Kaiden called him on his statement, repeating an earlier statement he made that the gryphon had evaded. "Even though you were pretending it was me?"

The Viddin ground his beak in obvious frustration, stamping both hind paws on the floor; the motion caused a copious amount of precum to splatter on the floor. "I can see you are making this difficult on purpose..."

The Human ever-so-slowly reached out a hand; rather than pull away, Vetlyk extended his wing, pressing the feathers into Kaiden's palm. Stroking them gently, Kaiden stated his position as clearly as he could, dropping all sense of chiding in his tone as he laid it out honestly. "I've... I've never been in a situation like this before, Vetlyk. I need to hear what you want if I'm going to be able to answer you honestly."

The gryphon let out a deep breath, broad chest working like bellows as the warm exhalation washed over the Human. When he spoke, it was short and to the point. "I am... fond of you... Kaiden."

The Human smiled, feeling his cheeks blush slightly, all the more when he realized that Vetlyk used his name. "Thank you, Vetlyk... and thank you for not calling me zfielt that time."

The gryphon's nares echoed Kaiden's flushing hue. "Despite how... difficult you can be, I am... comfortable with you... and you have seen me with my jiyjah..."

The statement made Kaiden blush even more. "I-- yeah..."

Suddenly Vetlyk seemed to have the upper hand, growing more confident as he spoke clearly. "You have seen me with it, and you have heard what I said while I was... interacting with it."

The Human felt his face reddening further still. "I did."

The gryphon took another step closer, his chest pushing against Kaiden's abdomen and forcing t he human to fall backwards into the bed, his spine cushioned by the soft mattress. Vetlyk rested his beak on the human's sternum. "I wish to explore the aspects of a physical relationship with you, Kaiden."

Kaiden swallowed past a tightness to his throat; although he knew what it was Vetlyk wanted he half expected the gryphon to refuse to say it. Instead, his classmate was being forthcoming and open. "You-- you mean... you want to rut?"

Vetlyk hefted the front of his body up by pressing against the mattress with his talons and, suddenly, he was looming over Kaiden, peering down at him. The gryphon let out a negative hiss through his closed beak; the Viddin non-verbal equivalent of a head shake. "I do not know if we could rut without harming you... but I do know that I want to be with you."

"How?"

It was a simple enough question, that much Kaiden knew, but there were any number of answers that could complicate it so much more. Oddly, however, Vetlyk had a very direct one. "Chris, the Human with red hair-- he was talking with the Ikali named Dord weeks ago. He said that male humans please themselves all the time with their hands."

Kaiden knew where the discussion was going and didn't think it was fair to force Vetlyk to admit it, choosing to address it himself instead. "You want me to... use my hand... on you?"

He was expecting any number of indirect ways for the gryphon to make the request. Vetlyk had numerous styles of inferring without actually coming out to say it. He was all the more surprised when the gryphon simply stated "Yes. I would like that very much."

Vetlyk was practically laying atop Kaiden by that point, leonine hind legs still touching the ground and eagle-like forelegs pressed to the mattress on either side of the Human's head. The gryphon's ample flesh was still hard, and still dribbling, beating in time with Vetlyk's heartbeat a scant two or three centimeters above the teen's abdomen; as he looked down at it a generous amount of clear, viscous fluid dribbled down onto his shirt. Two, tawny-colored, heavy-looking testicles were flopped out on the mattress, obviously overfull and demanding immediate release. It was an alien view but, at the same time, intriguing in an exotic way.

Theoretically, Kaiden knew how it would work, and, as the heady, musky aroma continued to swim into his nostrils, he couldn't deny that there was a certain appeal to it, especially since its owner's massive form was trembling with need and anticipation. Reaching out slowly with his left hand, the human ran his fingers through Vetlyk's shaggy chest fur. The gryphon shivered at the touch but Kaiden took it in stride as he reached down... down... down with his right. His digits slowly encircled the moist, throbbing flesh of his classmate's gryphon-hood; Vetlyn gasped and Kaiden stated his decision aloud. "...alright."