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Scales and Honor: Darkened Skies

Chapter 35: Gryphon's Reward

The wind whipped bitterly through Athenais' feathers as the gryphon drifted over the many snow-covered rooftops of Struport's outer town in near silence. She was nothing more than a passing shadow to any below, hastily swooping overhead. She angled a wing, bringing them around towards their intended prey. Krotos, the blue gryphon guard from Entis.

She'd protested at having been sent here rather then keep her claws within Garroth striking distance, but the wizard had been confident and rather insistent that they abide by his plan. He would handle the dragon and the construct; she'd handle the gryphon and Garroth the knight. She'd made sure to shove her claw in the warrior's face, reminding him of her threat from before. “Remember." She'd chirped with as much distain as she could muster.

Soggu shifted on her back, the shaman weaving a spell in the air around them as she neared a roof that overlooked the streets. One that would help them blend in more with the clouds above, keep them hidden until they were ready to pounce. For the gryphon lay below with his dwarven companion, helping people out the back of a tavern all before the construct could lose control.

The blue gryphon tore open the wooden door of the inn, flaring his wings with a mighty cry as he directed people to start moving. At first, they were stumbling out at a snail's like pace, looks of stupor upon their red faces. Half of them were giving the gryphon a questioning looks, like he might be the crazy one here. Clearly, they didn't believe him. Though when a metallic roar sounded split the night like a sword they bolted, wide eyed and screaming. They definitely believed him now.

How the construct had gotten here was yet a mystery to the huntress as they circled a chimney, squeezing her talons in and out. But one that would have to wait until after they had secured the feathered guard. It seemed occupied with the red dragon and would act as an excellent distraction to keep him and his companions separated. Their prize was ripe for picking. They landed on a roof, her feathers changing to match the whites and greys around her. She eyed her siigonis companion, nodded once and whispered her thanks. Crouching low she waited at the roof's edge, heart all aflutter with what was to come. The thrill of combat bubbling about her paws like a pot to the stove, flicking her tail and nearly dragging her down. But she'd done this before. Charging in only got you in trouble. With a squeeze of the snow covered shingles below her she took a long drag of the crisp night air.

“Come on lads! Ya got weights tied to ya feet?" The gryphon's dwarven companion shouted, thrusting her hand out towards the streets like a sword. “Or do ya need me ta hold yer hands?" Another spine-tingling shriek from the metallic dragon drained color from her face, even as she continued to prod and push people forward as if they were cattle to be herded. “I said ta keep movin!"

“Patience." Athenais' whisper soothed the tingling in her spine, like little drops of water running slowly down her back. Silently she thanked the dragon was facing the construct and not they. “Patience." Her tail dragged against stone as her haunches wiggled, ready for the pounce that was to come. “Ready?" She tilted her head, eyeing the stoic looking siigonis on her back. To ease her heart, he nodded.

“When he'sss away from the dwarf." The lizard slid from her back, silently clasping his claws together. He rolled his shoulders, shook his head and snapped his jaw a few times at the air. His feathers on his leathers ruffled slightly in the breeze as he uttered the words she wanted to hear. “Then we hunt."

But when would that be? She rolled her eyes with an irritated chirp. She was about to tell the shaman that they might not get a chance to do that when the dwarf shouted a curse before running into the tavern.

“What in bonnie blazes are ya doin? Yer goin the wrong way!"

“Now!" Like an arrow loosed from a knocked bow the gryphon pounced to the air. Feathery wings carried her with a flap, sailing towards the rather handsome male gryphon. She'd have to not hurt him too badly_._ People hurried below her like terrified deer, stampeding away as if chased by a pack of wolves. Her claws extended as she neared the blue gryph, eager to sink into him with each passing second. Around his legs the snow rose up, swirling to catch and ensnare his limbs in a chilly embrace.

Krotos squawked in panic, snatching up his hinds before the snow could fully grasp him. He freed himself with a slice of his talons, leaping up to avoid the rest. He'd just got out a curse about magic snow when his ear twitched his head tilted, and Athenais' slammed the bulk of her weight into him.

Perfect.

His body crashed to the street beneath her as satisfaction coursed through her veins. But it was short lived as his weight shifted with her. Like lightning his talons lashed out, grabbing hold of her sides and pulling the hunter with him. Momentum carried them both, tumbling across the hardened ground with a series of grunting squawks. Her talons tried to find purchase in his hide but his feathers were suddenly more slippery than an eel. As if they'd been soaked in oil. They shone with blue light before his hinds found her stomach faster than she could react, and with a solid kick she was send tumbling through the snow, crashing into the side of a wooden cottage that shook the poor thing's wall.

“Stupid." She hissed, shaking off the surprise and pushing herself to all fours. How could a guard have those kinds of reflexes? Had he been training with a rogue?

“Flattered." Krotos mirrored her, flaring his teal tipped wings out briefly before pinning them at his back, “I don't get enough hens trying to tackle me." He bolted with a smirk and she tried to follow. Getting a door to the face as some poor woman emerged from her cottage to see what was going on.

“Soggu!" Athenais snarled, shoving the door and the woman back where they'd come from. The blue's tail swished mockingly in front of her blurry vision. She ignored the piercing shriek that pinned her ears and gave chase to her elusive prey. Though she didn't have to rush too much, her siigonis companion already had her covered.

From the ground came walls of towering stone, cutting off the blue gryphon's escape with a thunderous crack. They shook free snow, displaced any scattered carts and circled the blue gryphon in a heartbeat.

“Hah! You think a wall could stop me?“ He bounded into the air with a flare of his wings and happy chirp. Though as he went to cross the wall, the air screamed and he was met with gale force winds. He was sent crashing back to the stone below with a pained groan.“Okay, maybe it did."

The spell ended as she surged forth, only meant to knock him off guard. Before he could shake off his intimate meeting with the ground Athenais was there, tearing up stone in her struggle. He tried to lash at her with his talons, but he must have been shocked or woozy cause his swing was so bad she thought he might be drunk. She leaped back, returning to swipe away his hinds, getting him better acquainted with the cobblestone.

“Soggu get the rope!" Like a cobra she pounced, tackling the grounded gryphon pinning him to the ground despite his struggles. “Don't worry. He's ours." She flared out her wings, giving any onlookers a stare filled with daggers. “A criminal. Don't worry." Though some gave her questioning looks, they didn't do anything. Too scared to lift a finger or not willing to risk getting hurt. Just like they'd been all those nights ago. Thank Bebeen people were so predictable.

“Who are you?" Krotos panted, wriggling beneath her like a captured snake.

“Hunters." She pressed down on him further, like a vice holding him tight. “You're wanted by Lumara. For quite the bounty I must admit. Pissed someone off."

“But they make mana stones made from people!"

Her blankness seemed to trouble him or at least they splayed his ears. “Like I care blue? Only thing that matters to my friend over there is the payday awaiting your capture." He tried to thrash again but she pushed further. “Is that what you're afraid of? Being turned into one of those things? I hear the reward for being a traitor is not kind." She felt him quiver beneath her, giving a desperation filled whine. Then he looked to her with those big brown eyes, and her heart skipped a beat. He had the same eyes.

The ones her brother had done to those gryphon's from years ago. The thieves that had taken his life in their fear. She swallowed down the throb, increasing her weight till he was silenced. “Come on lizard!" She snarled. “Is this another trick to test my patience? Cause I can tell you I'm not in the mood!"

“It might be." Soggu replied calmly, striding with his claws outstretched and draped in thick ropes. “That wasss alwaysss your problem." He smirked smugly when she flashed him swords, ears splaying on either side of her head. “To be patient. Nutambar rewardsss thossse that wait."

“Yea, yea." She rolled her eyes at him. “Just tie him up and stop trying to be cute. You're really bad at it.""

“Isss that what you th-“

The cold around them suddenly was whisked away, replaced with what seemed to be that of a summer's day. Silence seemed to encroach around them like an imposing army. Then it was shattered with the crack of wood and glass. The tavern's doors blossomed outwards in a shaft of near blinding white light that brought wicked life to the darkened street. The ground rattled; the stone walls shattered like pebbles and metal dragged against metal with an ear twitching shriek. An unnatural wind nearly ripped her feathers from her as she pressed and held onto Krotos for dear life. Her eyes sealing shut to stop the intense stabbing of her eyes. Sound didn't exist except for the deafening screech around them, leaving the hunter drifting along in a white haze with little for reference. For a moment she thought she might have died, but then came the ringing, the smell of burning wood, the racing of her heart, and the terrified panting of the gryphon below her.

Had that been the construct? She blinked away the green after image, gasping on the smoky air as fresh screams whirled around her like a horrible choir of terror. When she glanced up the tavern was in near shambles, a giant gaping wound right through the center of it. Wood was burned and still smoldering parts glowing an eerie orange, all the glass shattered and scattered about the floors. The second story was creaking, desperately trying to hold onto what it could. What wasn't glowing had sprouted red flower's, slowly starting to spread and catch the rest of it flame.

Get the gryphon back the boat. The rendezvous point the mage had told them about. More of his connections within the city. The boat with a red and white eye painted on its hull. That was their ticket to safety.

“I have friends." Krotos smirked bravely, but she heart the crack in his tone. “They'll hunt you down. Yup. Can't wait till they come looking. I have a dwarf whose going to be awfully sore you handled me poorly." Soggu ignored him, crouching to wrap up his limbs but still the gryphon resisted, squirming and kicking his legs. “I don't like ropes! Can we not try cuddling first?"

She pressed down onto his windpipe. “This isn't a game blue." She hissed, snaking her beak mere inches from his own.

“Maybe to you."

She pressed further until he was wide eyes, struggling to breath. Her voice as deadly as a sword. “We can do this the easy way or the way you get more hurt. Maybe we go about turning you into a girl." She gave his fur a rough squeeze with her talons to drive the point home. “And did you see that beam? With that metal dragon around, whose going to come looking for your pathetic ass? Now stop your squirming before me and my friend here work you over."

The twang of an arrow, the grunt of her friend, and a stream of dwarven curses lined with threats. All these things the warrior gryphon didn't need to hear right now. Too bad all of them came one right after the other. Like a curse from Hades himself.

“Get of me gryphon ya limp wristed, soggy headed canary!" The red-haired maiden stood before her, the raging fire of the inn a mere campfire to the blazing green eyes staring her down. Her ivory bow was held firm, arrow already knocked and trained on her. Soot clung to her cheeks, a single droplet of blood oozing down but going ignored for now. “Unless ya want yer friend dere ta end up like a porcupine!"

They could take her right? Bow and arrow versus spells would surely end in their victory. She merely scoffed, grinding her talon into Krotos' throat. She whispered the activation word for her ring, letting electricity trickle around her talons, her eyes lighting up like a darkened thundercloud.

“Oh no ya don't ya dirt chewin pidgeon!"

The ground beneath Athenais hinds shifted green, a large vine sprouting up that was at least as big as she was. Like a mongoose it curled around her body, wrapping her up with the strength of a giant and messing with her aim. The lightning bolt she was going to toss went wide, exploding feet from the dwarf's head, showering the ground with more burned timbers.

She struggled and squirmed, slashing at the vine with a savagery akin to an enraged troll. This thing had strength it shouldn't possess, never tiring despite ripping literal chunks out of it. She couldn't even properly process how the blue prey slipped away from her, issuing his thanks with a few coughs. Then the vine curled around where her limbs met her torso, pulling so tight she felt the air began to squeeze from her lungs. But then strength found her, like a fire had been lit in her forge. Like she was a gryphon four sizes larger she grabbed hold the vine and easily ripped it off. She caught the glowing eyes of Soggu as he danced and swatted away arrows with blasts of magically bent wind. She'd thank him later. With a keening cry she bound after her blue feathered prey. He wasn't getting away.

“You think you can escape that easily?" Her claws struck the ground as he flung himself to the right crashing into a sitting cart of filled with empty crates. He returned with a desperate slash of his talons, reeking with fear. Though his first attack missed her ducked head, the second scratched her hide. Sharpened points tore lines of blood through her hide. Not deep enough to stop her rebuttal. She struck back, catching him across the eyes and opening up thin rivers of crimson.

“Fat chance! I just have to wait for the dragon or my dwarf to best your friend!" He maneuvered through the street, topping over a water trough before smacking her right on the top of her head. “You have no idea how thrilling this is!"

“Then why do you smell of fear?" She hissed, shaking off the ache before shoving him into the side of a building, shattering the window above him. The wood gave a tortured groan, nearly breaking from his bulk. “You're only making this harder on yourself."

“I don't like to be dragged off by females darling. Not unless we get a drink first." He snatched shards of glass, whipping them at her face.

She snapped shut her eyes, raising a forelimb to block the sharpened debris. Typical move, disorient her and retreat. But yet again he surprised her. Like a charging bull the blue gryphon crashed into her, talons digging into her chest and tasting blood. His beak dug into her neck, deep enough to draw blood. That was it. Before he could retreat away she was on him with a flame rekindled. Like hell she was going to be bested by this wet eared fledgling. Her ferocity surprised him, enough to silence his clever little retorts.

Again, her claws dug into him, knocking the wily gryphon off his balance. She worked through the tiny needles dragging along her chest or the throbbing of her neck. She pounced, tackling him to the ground as he gave a startled cry. She grabbed his head with both claws, smacking his head to the cobblestone with a dull, satisfying smack. His whole form trembled before she did it again, trying to not get too much enjoyment from his weakened struggles. He sputtered something, a plea for her to stop but he had brought this upon himself. “Shouldn't have bit my fucken neck." She returned his face to the ground with enough force this time to carry him from the waking world. He went limp below her, yet breathing and still alive. She was left gasping, and spit on his resting fur.

“Could have done this the easy way, but you couldn't resist." She growled, snatching up the discarded rope and binding tight his legs and wings. It was a shame she had to mess up his face, the bloody marks of her claws fresh and gleaming wet in the firelight. Might even leave him a scar after this was done. It might be quite the haul for her to fly him to the boat, but she could merely ask Soggu for more of that strength.

Soggu!

She whirled around to find that the Shaman had not been a spectator. The streets were filled with sizzling, heated stone, sharpened spikes of ice, and a whole field of sharpened thorns keeping her shaman at arm's length from the bow wielding dwarf. Smoke billowed from holes in the ground, from her friend's spells or the ranger's she didn't know. Merlia launched another arrow, it glew white before splitting into at least twenty to seek the shaman out. Though with a slide backwards he slashed down, a force of wind splintering them against the stone.

“Stop yer fancy finger widdlin ya blunt nosed, boot-less spirit stealer!" She roared, a glowing arrow striking a stone section, electricity exploding outward and crumbling the wall like a catapult. Soggu was sent tumbling head over tail to the ground, only catching himself at the final moment When he rose, he slashed upwards, brushing away an arrow with a gust of wind but not unscathed. The projectile split into four, one catching the shaman in his open palm.

“Hah! Bet ya thought ya were real clever! Got to hand it ta ya."

Athenais didn't hesitate as the shaman gasped, squeezing his eyes shut. She was stampeding towards the ranger with a raging fire. Her beak shot for her throat but met chain saving the red-haired maiden's life. Before she could draw her next arrow the gryphon's talons met her side with as much strength as she could muster. With a surprised yelp the arrow wielding adventurer was tossed through the side of the still burning inn with an agonizing crack as the wood finally gave way. Whatever supports of that section cracked and crumbled, the whole second floor collapsing on her downed foe. Athenais was left gasping, talons trembling as she stared at the pile of mismatched debris. For good measure she activated the ring and let electricity be the final word of the battle. Let that serve as a good tomb for that annoying dwarf.

With concern spreading through her veins she bolted towards her shaman, nosing at his wounded claw. While she was busy, he'd taken the arrow out and wrapped it tight with a bandage. Even now she could see the crimson stain on the off-white cloth, sending a tremor of worry through her chest. More than the usual. “Is that going to be fine? Don't want it getting infected. Last thing I need is a one handed shaman."

“Fine." He hissed, waving off her concern. “Grab the gryphon and let'sss go."

“Fine. Be all tough." She chuckled, rolling her eyes. “Going to leave a great scar, right?" Their eyes briefly met, the flames flickering in them like a treasured opal. “Just worried about you." With burning cheeks, she nuzzled him across the face, surprising herself and him nearly as much. Though it was even more so when he grabbed her softly around her beak, and nuzzled her right back, nearly making her heart leap from her chest.

“Thank you."

“Now." She pulled away with a chuckle and near trill. Feeling almost like she was a little gryphon once more pining over some crush. “Let's get out of here shall we? Lots to do, coin to get. Not out of this yet."

“Right." The shaman gave her a nod and a grin, an almost smug gleam in his slitted eyes.

“This doesn't mean anything." She gave him a playful shove.

“Sssure it doesssn't."

“It doesn't you slime scaled lizard!"

“Whatever you sssay patchesss."

“You'll pay for that one later." With a smirk on her beak the gryphon hunched herself over Krotos, getting a good talon hold on his unconscious form. Then came the strength enhancing magic from her friend, tingling sensations spreading through the marrow of her bones, like she'd drank too much coffee from one of Lumara's taverns. When the siigonis climbed up on her with a pained gasp she spread her wings,turning to ask him once more if he was ok. He growled, swatted her neck and told her to get going. She rolled her eyes and flicked her tail. He was going to pay for that too. With a flare of her wings and grunt she brought all three of them into the cloud filled sky.

It was as though the gryphon below her hardly weighed a thing. In a manner of wingbeats, they were high above the broken tavern and fire filled streets. She set her sights to the docks in the distance, never finding the darkened sky ever so inviting as it did now. She almost found herself laughing, an aura of cheer about her as snow clung ever so softly to her feathers. But then came something that pulled at her ears, bringing an end to what warmth she had. It came in the form of a dwarven shout. One filled with such anger that she thought the very air would be set aflame.

“Yer not getting away ya butt scratchin snot rag!" Merlia pulled her beaten body from the tavern with blood smeared upon her brow. Like a musician her fingers played them a song with her bow, unleashing at least the entire quiver in a manner of moments. Each arrow left the string, splitting into a whole swarm of angry wood and metal. Normally this would not be a concern to a gryphon flying away, but these ones were different. These ones followed like a school of hungry piranha.

“How durable is she?" She picked up the pace, beating frantically as the buildings passed below in a grey and black blur. “And homing arrows? You have got to be pulling my tail!" She laughed, trying to hide her concern for those pointed tips thirsting for her flesh. How crazy was she? Didn't she know if that she fell they all would die?

“Jussst focus on flying." Soggu shifted with a groan, claws already forming the required symbols in the air. Though with each one she could feel his shiver, the pain in his tone. She was just lucky that he could still deflect with walls of wind. Again, and again whole sections of the angry swarm were swatted away like mere insects caught within a hurricane.

“Can't let you do all the work!" The gryphon brought them lower after they passed the outer wall. Above streets she turned with angled wings, trying to lose any arrows to chimneys and towers that jutted from the numerous buildings below her claws. Some did with dull thuds or shattering wood, but not enough to rid her bones of their wicked chill. She pushed herself harder and harder, until her very wings ached in rebellion. The Siigonis' pain filled chants the only thing reminding her now that she was still safe.

Yet still they were chased, with only half of their number remaining. How long would these stupid things keep following them? What magical weapon did that dwarf had that would do something like this? With her heart pounding in her ears she found the port district among the city streets, the docked boats looking more like a welcoming home with every panting flap of her wings. She entered a quick dive to gain some momentum, flaring out her feathers soon after to enter a glide. They were almost there; she could almost taste their victory. Then Soggu stopped his chants. His pain filled grunt like a dagger to her heart. Then one after the other she felt him jerk, like he was doing a strange dance that no one knew the movements save he. She didn't look back at first, too terrified to do so. But then what strength she had began to fade. Whatever spell the lizard had used was broken. Soggu had lost his concentration.

Like a stone she started to descend, pulled down by a ship's anchor wrapped around her talons. No matter how hard she flapped they continued to drop. She squawked, desperation filling her veins. “Soggu! You have to redo the spell, or I have to drop him!"

Drop him or die. But what kind of choice was that? If she dropped the gryphon, he could very well die. There would go the bounty they had on him. The very thing she was chastising Garroth for. But what good is the money if you're dead? She peered back at her shaman, begging him for the spell before she let loose their bounty. Yet despite the fear of death, she'd have rather that than see Soggu how he was now.

He was hunched over, blood pooling from his open maw, choking for air. One claw was pressed to her back while the other hung limply at his side. Arrows were jutting from each section of him. Stabbed through his armor, scales, he looked like a bloody pin cushion. The dwarf's promise bitterly sitting on her mind. “Don't drop." He choked, raising his one good arm not thoroughly stabbed with arrows.

She trusted him, even as she held onto the weight dragging her down. Looking away with a whine she squeezed shut her eyes, flapping like a mad gryphon to keep them aloft. Whatever he was going to do he better do it now. Like a storm had been summoned below her came a hurricane. It caught her wings, pushing up till they ached with blinding pain. She was almost certain they were going to be torn from her back. She screeched her agony as they continued to fall, crashing into the ground with an agonizing thwack. Her head hit the street with a flash of stars, her bones rattled. She lost hold of Krotos and tumbled her way down the cobblestone street. She was left on her back, gasping for breath, limbs all sore and lungs on fire. But, she was alive with nothing broken. The lizard had saved her. The one who'd been flung from her upon their landing.

“SOGGU!" She rolled to all fours, pushing herself up with what strength she had., nearly collapsing back down to the street as her limbs wavered. She limped her way to his crumpled form feet away, surrounded by broken arrow shafts. He was sprawled on his chest, eyes closed and red dripping seemingly from every part of him. Even now blood had begun to pool out of him, forming little lakes of crimson. With an aching heart she was beside him, talons trembling more than she'd ever had before. All the friends she had seen die over the years of adventuring, and nothing measured to this. Somehow, she thought it was just going to be them. Her eyes were misty, practically begging to drip. She couldn't speak at first, her beak merely mouthing nothing in silent heartbreak. Then like a dam had burst her tortured sob ripped free of her feathered throat, dragging her to nuzzle at his motionless snout. When the sky crackled with electricity and thunder she began to weep, large crystalline tears dripping down her beak at a near constant pace. It mixed with the cloud's rain plummeting down, getting lost on the street below. She remained for minutes, her beak pressed to him, whispering tales they were going to have. To see his stupid marsh, return the spirit the boy had, and enjoy each other's company till the sun set in the west. The gryphon shuttered, holding her dead friend close and whispering. “Not you too."

Until no tears would come, she turned bitterly to the unconscious gryphon. The one who'd cost her the best thing in her life. She surged over, kicking him roughly in the chest as hard as she could. He didn't wake, but it stopped how tight her chest felt. “Come on ass." She dug out some rope, forming a makeshift harness to wrap around her neck and tie around his bindings. Soggu wasn't going to have died for nothing. She was going to get paid. “You're not staying here. You're coming with me." With a mighty tug she started to drag her prey through the streets and towards the harbor. With every step her limbs threatened to buckle, her muscles screamed. But still she persisted. Even as glints of the bright future she envisioned teased at her thoughts, eventually fading away to leave the bitter cold sting of reality. Once more, she was alone with no one left to trust but herself. Somehow, she hadn't expected this kind of reward.