It stood on its hind legs, searched its surroundings then went back to eating.
"If we get a little closer, we might be able to place a few arrows into its neck." Shaz said.
Serin put out her arm in front of his chest as he rounded the back side of the tree.
"What?" he whispered.
"Two more, over there."
He nodded and whispered, "I'm going up."
Shaz crept around the boulder several feet. Light on his toes, he ran toward the boulder. He shoved off using his momentum to carry him upward. Serin flicked her hand, sending a small blast of air under him. He shot up and nearly leapt over the branch but gave her thumbs up. Serin lifted herself off the ground with an air spell. When she reached the height she wanted she pulled out her bow and arrow and stood ready. Shaz drew his bow, strung it and pulled out an arrow. He pointed to the neck just above his collar bone to tell Serin where to aim. She pulled back the arrow making the string taunt, and took in a deep breath.
"On three" Shaz whispered
Serin steadied her nerves as the forest greens and tans disappeared from her view and all she saw was the gentle heaving of the gryphton's feathers.
"Three" Shaz said slightly above a whisper.
Their arrows whizzed through the air. The beast reared backward at the sudden sense of pain as its body became paralyzed. Shaz scooted back on the branch into the cover of the shadows. Serin dropped to the ground and slipped behind the boulder. The beast managed an ear-piercing screech, alerting the others, who dropped their carcasses and leapt into the air. Bright green and ruby red feathers sent radiating glints of color as they moved. They carried swords and wore leather armor on their human like chests, forearms and shins.
The green one landed in front of the copper one. Serin squatted but pulled another arrow.
The bright green gryphton grabbed the arrows and broke them from his comrade’s neck. He crushed them in his grip. The stone in Shaz's stomach turned to a lump in his throat. He pulled another arrow and took a few steps out on the limb. Serin slipped out around the boulder just enough to find her mark and waited for Shaz to give her the cue.
He whistled a soft bird call and they each let go of another arrow. Shaz's arrow penetrated the leather and settled deep into the copper gryphton's heart. Serin's sunk into the soft flesh of his throat just above the armor. He fell back dead, thumping against the hollow rocks. The other gryphtons flared out their massive wings and leapt into the air. Hovering for a few moments confused, the red one moved closer to the tree line.
Yavo’s Second Hunt
A strong odor wafted into the air as the two gryphton soldiers flew over the last battle with the Ebonhoards. Heaps of smoldering remains plagued the landscape. Broken and shattered long blades, shields and battering rams protruded from the ground. A fierce battle, one in which they had been successful in driving the Ebonhoards back into their own lands, for now.
A soft breeze eased the stench as they crossed the last few yards. The soldiers slowed under the waning pressures of fatigue. Last they had heard, Yavo was making his way through the outskirts, interrogating residents of the King’s lands. They were nearly there and pushed hard just to keep to the sky. Small prides scattered the open grasses roared as they crossed.
One pointed to a landing and they banked hard left. In the distance, they heard a commotion. Yavo drug an elderly gryphton from his cave. His family roared and snipped at him.
“You will tell me where he is, or else,” Yavo growled.
“Sir, he’s in the forest,” the soldier interrupted.
Yavo gripped the neck of the old gryphton and shot them a glare.
“What?”
“Azrak, we saw him on our way to the secret-“
The second gryphton elbowed him in the ribs and interrupted, “Toward the gorge.”
“When?”
“We came straight here, no stopping,” the soldier said.
Yavo’s eye lid twitched with anger. He squeezed even harder as the old gryphton gripped his paw to release him. The old gryphton opened one talon and sliced the top of Yavo’s paw. Yavo growled in pain and jerked away. The gryphton fell to the ground. Yavo searched their eyes and found them to be telling the truth.
“Well then, I best go hunting.”
Yavo’s eerie swagger and ruffling of his feathers was a signal that he is not to be trifled with. A trickle of blood dripped from the back of his paw before he leapt to the sky. Yavo flew through the night. His chest exhilarated with renewed energy. He ran through his mind the last several seasons and tried to peace the puzzle together. The trails went in circles. Yavo spent so much time combing through the finest details. He spent many days following each trail only to find they overlapped. He thought of every exercise Azrak had taught him and retraced his paths.
He followed every trail and non-trail he found, back and forth all over the country side, he covered every inch of the land. As fall turned to winter, Yavo slowed his search, having to wait until the snow melted. He took his search into the lands to interrogate prides. He even took it as a chance to settle a few scores. He left his mark on the land and frightened the creatures that lived there. Once the snow melted enough, he returned and again retraced all the trails.
One night he was in an old run down eatery. A mysterious gryphton approached him. The gryphton wore an unusual cloak and ornate jeweled necklaces. He asked him if he were interested in a mission for a very wealthy payment. Yavo dismissed him. Before the gryphton left, he spoke in Yavo’s ear and told him a powerful necromancer could use his unique talents. Yavo was too obsessed with Azrak to think more of it.
Yavo prided himself with his even temperament but the last few seasons pushed him to his max on more than one occasion. Prides began guessing as to why he would be searching for him there.
Soon rumors surfaced that Azrak had outsmarted Yavo. Story tellers told stories of Azrak having extra ordinary powers to the young ones. They said Yavo was losing his mind and couldn’t hunt a ribbard. They said he had gone deaf and blind with furry and had to beg for food. As the rumors spread they became less afraid of Yavo and some even laughed at him. This drove Yavo to greater depths of furry. He felt at times he couldn’t make sense in his own head. He ended up having several conversations with trees or rocks.
There was no logical explanation. He shook his mind clear and dismissed them. A small part of his mind wouldn’t let go, however, of the thought that Azrak must have some extra ordinary powers.
A snap up ahead alerted his senses and he stopped. Yavo lowered to the ground and hunched under a thicket. He listened, but didn’t hear anything more. He hadn’t realized the darkness creep into existence. He spotted a large thicket and slunk underneath.
Without the rain it made it easier to cover greater distance. He failed to find any Oil of The Creeping Dewberry which added to his delusional state. Yavo kept low to the ground, searching for clues. He spotted marks on the bank of a river, he hadn’t seen before, and circled in the sky a few times before landing. Yavo prowled around the area, sniffing for information. He studied the other side of the bank and found tracks he hadn’t seen before.
He flew over to the other side, half-flying-half-crawling, and followed the trail. He lost it at the rock slide and slammed his paws on the ground. He chided himself to get a grip. The energy that surged into his bosom was almost more than he could take and he breathed heavily. His eye lids sagged under his blurry black eyes. Yavo ran his paws over his face. He stared into the distance without emotion and recalculated his steps. The trails he had followed, the marks he had found, the scents he examined. Still, nothing seemed to measure up.
“He’s toying with me.”
Yavo went back to the river and leapt back to the other side. He moved slower, making sure he didn’t miss anything. He gazed into the tree tops for signs that Azrak had used the canopy. Several lengths down, he discovered another set tracks. He leapt across and followed them up the side of the gorge.
A thought came to him as he recounted the soldier’s message.
Where were they going? To a secret what? What is out here that Groargoth would want? After I catch Azrak I will be sure to find out
.
The wind shot over the top of the ridge with intensity, breaking his concentration. Yavo pulled out his looking glass. A bright red form emerged from the corner. He twisted the levers and Azrak came into focus. He closed the magnifier and landed on a branch just under the canopy.
Azrak’s emotions were all over the place. Sadness, anger, regrets and frustration rippled through his body in confused patterns. A sharp sting in his jaw jarred him from his misery. Yavo shot out from the trees and landed his closed fist on Azrak’s jaw. For a second Azrak didn’t know what hit him. Yavo’s hunter green and brown feathers shot past him. Azrak banked hard left as Yavo twisted and bent at the waist. Yavo whipped his blade from its sheath. He swung with an upward thrust toward Azrak who threw out his hind legs. With one he smacked Yavo’s paw and with the other caught Yavo on the side of the head.
Yavo nearly dropped his sword but regained control. Azrak pulled his sword and hovered a few lengths away.
“It’s about time you found me.” Azrak said.
Yavo’s lower lid flinched, a growl escaped his throat. Yavo tightened his grip and lifted his arm. He swung downward as he lunged toward Azrak. Azrak pulled in his wings and lowered twisting like a siphon. Yavo fell into thin air and spun back around. Azrak opened his wings catching the under tow and pulled away.
“I’ve waited too long for this.” Yavo growled.
“You never were good at waiting. I knew it would somehow drive you mad.”
“Mad, mad, you think me mad? I’m not mad, I’m furious.”
“And delusional.”
I’ve had enough.”
Yavo lunged again, his blade out straight. Azrak engaged his sword with Yavo’s. He twisted his wrist and rolled his paw around Yavo’s. He yanked his sword, but Yavo kept a tight grip on his blade. Yavo brought up his elbow and smacked Azrak in the side of the head. Azrak released his talons and struck Yavo on the side of the face. He pulled his talons through his flesh.
Yavo pulled back and roared with pain. Bright red gushed from the long gouges. Azrak lifted his hind legs and placed his paws on Yavo’s chest. He shoved him with fierceness flinging Yavo. Yavo rolled uncontrollably for several lengths. Azrak pulled his sling and loaded a rock. He flung it toward Yavo but at the last second the sling snagged on his belt and the rock sored over Yavo.
Yavo laughed and shot back toward Azrak. Azrak swerved sideways and came in from behind. He sliced at Yavo’s wing, but Yavo pulled it in and dropped a length. Azrak reset as Yavo rolled upward and hovered.
“What makes you think you can defeat me?” Azrak asked.
“Because I’m better than you.”
“You may be strong and quick, but you are not stable. You have always let greed and self-gloating get in your way of truly becoming what you could have.”
“What are you saying? That I’m weak?” Yavo sneered.
“Yes, weak minded.”
The words stung Yavo’s heart. An uncontrollable anger surged to the surface. Yavo’s face turned red with furry. His chest heaved heavily as he contemplated his next move. Yavo shot toward Azrak, his beak fixed on Azrak’s jugular. He could see the vein pulsing.
Azrak saw the discord in his face and knew he had lost it. Azrak lifted his arm and embraced Yavo’s neck as he engaged. Azrak rolled his body and lightened his grip around Yavo in a neck hold. Azrak was about to break his neck when Yavo stabbed a dagger into his side. Azrak roared with pain but didn’t let go. He squeezed tightly around his neck but couldn’t muster the strength to snap any bones.
Yavo squirmed free but Azrak slashed his blade through Yavo’s wing tendon. Yavo yelped and staggered. Without his wing he sank from the sky. Azrak gripped his side, and winced with the pain. Azrak dove after Yavo. He remembered the rift and knew this was his chance to return without leaving a trail. Now that Yavo couldn’t fly he could get to the rift and escape without running the risk of him finding it. Azrak pulled his paw away and saw a lot of blood. He pulled out a cloth from one of his belt pouches and wrapped it around himself, then flew toward the rift.
Scouting Party
'Blast, no more arrows
. Shaz thought. Serin only had one left herself. He rested against the tree and looked into the sky through the thinning canopy. Serin made her way back and Shaz jumped down.
"Now what?" She asked.
"I'm working on it"
She was about to chide him for his shortness when he interrupted her thoughts.
"Can you make the wind blow chaotic so that they have to land?"
"I can try." she said.
"If we can keep them from flying, then I can take them out."
"But there are two of them!"
"We don't have much choice."
"I can help." she said.
"No, you need to stay under cover and protected. I can't fight them and keep you safe at the same time. I need you to keep them out of the sky." He said.
"Alright, I’ll try." she said.
Serin slipped her bow onto her back, lifted her arms half way and closed her eyes tightly. She cleared her mind and focused on the air around her. She pulled at the invisible force with her thoughts and sent her magic into the air. The tops of the trees swayed back and forth rustling leaves about. Shaz made his way to the edge of the trees. Serin raised higher and placed one foot behind her. She bent her knees, dipped toward the ground, and threw her arms up. A gust of wind crashed through the trees. Leaves and debris whipped through the air. Serin dug in deeper and the wind gusts became strong enough to blow the gryphton's around.
He opened and closed his grip around the hilt of the sword as he waited until they touched the ground. The green gryphton pulled in his wings tightly and scaled several rocks. A dark cloud moved in front of the sun casting a cool shadow on them. Shaz felt the adrenaline in his body as he closed the gap by about twenty feet before the gryphton's sharp eyesight saw him. The gryphton reached for his sword as Shaz ran right for him, but fumbled it in his grip.
Shaz leapt off a small rock, flew through the air and twisted, shoving the blade into the enemy’s neck. Shaz's eyes met the gryphton's, wide with fear. He felt the resistance against the blade cutting through the bone. It severed the spinal cord before piercing the lungs. A feeling of power came over Shaz, a feeling that he liked, powerful, strong, the feeling of control.
He felt a hint of guilt that he enjoyed killing the beast. He yanked his sword out quickly as he continued through the twist. He came full circle and ran through the motion behind the beast. The gryphton’s knees buckled and he fell face down on the ground. The other gryphton bore down on him. Shaz spun on his feet. The gryphton raised his sword and ran with long powerful strides.
Shaz leapt out of the way and fell into a somersault. Shaz lifted his blade in an upward strike. The tip struck the gryphton’s shoulder. The gryphton grimaced but followed through with his attempt to knock Shaz over. Shaz side stepped the punch and slammed the butt of the hilt into the side of the gryphton's skull. Off balance the gryphton tried to open his wings. Shaz circled around the back. It spun on its heels and blocked his thrust with a counter strike. Shaz slipped on some loose stones and tumbled to the ground. He rolled to the side and came to his feet, half crouched.
The gryphton followed through his strike, and seeing he missed, stood up and squared his shoulders. Shaz stepped over a fallen tree trunk as they circled each other. The gryphton lashed out in an upward strike across his body. Shaz blocked and countered with a side strike. His blade sliced through the gryphton's hip. Shaz felt the winds decrease and knew Serin wouldn’t last much longer. He stepped into an upward thrust. Slashed through the leather armor and cut deep into the beast’s skin.
Blood and splintered feathers flew into the wind as the gryphton fell backward. Shaz, coming out of his spin, tried to stab him straight through the heart but the gryphton lifted his leg and kicked Shaz in the chest. Shaz soared through the air and slammed into a tree. Serin fell to her knees and the wind died to a gentle breeze. Shaz scurried to his feet and reached for his blade. Before he could grip it tightly, the gryphton leapt into the air and feebly flew away.
"Blast" Shaz cursed and ran to Serin.
Serin knelt on her knees while she gripped her shoulder, "I'm sorry, I just couldn't keep going."
"Why the tears? You did magnificently." He said. Bright red blood trickled through her fingers. "You’re hurt." He slipped the sword into his sheath and gripped her arm to give more pressure. "Hold it tight until I get back." He jumped up and sprinted toward the horse. He returned with the satchel and grabbed the small jar of ointment and a cloth. "Let me see." he said.
Serin removed her bloody hand from her skin and felt it peel against the wound. She winced and bit her lip.
"The last one got away." she said.
"It won’t get far, it’s wounded pretty bad." Shaz said as he wiped the blood and studied the wound. "How did this happen? Something ripped your skin.”
"It was a branch or something from the wind I guess." she said.
She closed her eyes as he smeared a glob of the goo onto her skin. He wrapped the cloth around her arm and tied it tightly.
"There that should do it until we get back to the village." He said, "The horses aren't far, let’s get going before we get rained on." He helped Serin to her feet. "Wait, I'll be right back"
"Where are you going?" Serin asked.
"Getting proof"
Serin shivered and made her way to the hoses. Storm clouds continued to darken the sky as they returned to the village. The sky opened and rain pelted the dusty road as they entered the village.
"Where are all the people?" Serin asked.
The village was quiet and Serin felt a certain uneasiness. They could hear muffled voices before rounding the corner of one of the meager buildings. Shaz halted his horse. He climbed off and untied the gryphton's head from the saddle.
"They're back." called a villager.
"This is what was killing your flocks. Not this woman." Shaz said holding up the head. Jagwynn hissed at the dead creature.
"What is it?" a woman called.
"A Gryphton." an old man said.
Villagers let Shaz through but muttered amongst themselves.
Shaz peered at a man standing next to the woman.
"Untie her.” He turned to the wrinkled, leather like face of the old man and asked, "How do you know what this is?"
The old man’s crinkled finger bent back and forth. "I have seen them before. Come, we will talk. My daughter will tend to your wound my dear." He said to Serin. “Bring your cat.” He invited them into his house on the edge of the square. Jagwynn decided to lounge outside the door. "Sit. Reanne, come help this young woman" he said. The mostly unfurnished room was dark and held little attraction. The walls made of old pine timbers had a thatched roof that needed mending. Gentle drips fell from a hole in the center of the room as the rain increased.
"How do you know about the Gryphton?" Shaz asked.
"Patience my boy." The old man said and poured some hot tea.
A gently aged woman came from the other room of the small three room house. A small table sat in the center of the adjacent room with two chairs nestled under it.
"Oh, dear." Reanne said. Serin’s arm was numb from the pain and the blood had soaked the cloth. "Come with me dear." She took Serin into the kitchen.
The old man sat in his thatched rocking chair, "Now, I'll tell you. I have met one. He called himself a Gryphton and he's not from this world. He lives deep in the shifting woods."
"The shifting woods?" Shaz asked
"Deep in the forest is a place unlike any other. Trees move tending to the needs of the earth."
"How did you escape?"
"Escape?" the old man laughed "No, need to escape. We talked and he pointed me in the right direction to get back home when I was lost."
"You mean he didn't attack."
“No, he was quite friendly. I tried to tell the villagers that the creature taking their flocks was a gryphton but they think I'm a crazy old man." He sipped his tea. "Maybe I am." he smiled with only a few white teeth left but it was kind and sincere.
Shaz covered his mouth and thought. The fang tingled his skin.
"How do I find him?"
"The Gryphton?"
"Yes"
"Why?"
"I just need to talk to him. Can you tell me how to get there?"
"I have a map around here somewhere." he said as he struggled out of his chair. He wobbled over to a small chest. Fiddled around and pulled out an old map. "Ah here." He held the faded and torn map in his shaking hands. "Now, keep in mind this is an old map and like I said, the trees don't stick to one place."
Shaz studied it for a moment. "Is this red x where he is?"
"Oh, no, that is where I buried my treasure." He said setting his fragile frame back into his chair.
Shaz's brows twitched and he scrunched his face. He wasn't sure if the old man was teasing or not.
"May I?"
"Oh, yes, I'm never going to use it again, it might as well go to someone worthy to have it. This is a special map you know" he said, his eyes twinkling in the faded daylight.
"What do you mean?"
"I think you know what I mean." Shaz slipped it into his pocket. "You can stay the night here." the man said, "Besides I would like to hear all about your travels."
It seemed like he knew about them, maybe even things Shaz didn't. Shaz agreed and then excused himself to tend to the horses.