literature

SV-RPG Ch 5.2: Finale

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In the end, Mac persuaded the gryphons that they simply couldn’t take all that treasure home. Even when the clan leader offered several saddle bags made in the same manner as Bran’s satchel, Mac politely and diplomatically declined. The gryphoness didn’t seem offended, for which Mac was grateful. Still, they were going home with more than enough treasure which would undoubtedly sustain the farm for several years.

They were really, really rich.

The hard part was saying good-bye to Bran. Although he was only a week old, the little hybrid had grown so much in their short time together. And all three of them had grown inordinately fond of him, too. Since there was no way to determine if he had been a gryphon kit warped by shadow magic, or an entirely new being, a suitable foster family had been found. In order for Bran to be comfortable in his new surroundings, Mac and Kan stayed the night in the gryphons’ aerie—an exercise in flight neither would care to repeat. Ossie wisely stayed below, bunked down in a makeshift stable fit for a queen.

When it came down to actually parting ways with the little gryphon-dragon hybrid, Bran surprised them all. They stood at the edge of the spire with Bran’s foster parents and Clan Leader Hrunga. Kanorlan stepped forward first, giving the kit a good lick on the cheek before nuzzling him under the chin. Bran squealed and pawed at Kan’s heavy ruff, earning him another, longer nuzzle from the fenwolf. Quickly, Kan backed away, looking at anything but Bran. Ossie moved in to take his place, pressing her muzzle gently atop the kit’s feathered head.

“Be good,” Mac heard her murmur. “And remember—don’t play with fire.”

“Mrrp!” Bran exclaimed, his big eyes searching her mane and forelock for a lick of flame.

“Exactly,” Ossie agreed, touching her muzzle to his beak. Lifting her head, the big Nordanner mare turned and walked back to Mac and Kan, nostrils twitching. She refused to meet Mac’s eye, instead gazing out over the valley below the mountain.

Then it was Mac’s turn. She knelt before Bran and held out her arms. The kit jumped up on his hind legs, tiny feather-and-leather wings beating. Carefully, Mac wrapped her arms around his tiny body, pressing her cheek against his downy-soft head.

“You be good now,” she murmured, struggling to form the words as her throat closed with emotion. “Don’t go running off and climbing trees—and just like Oss said, don’t play with fire.”

Bran stared at her with those big, wide eyes. “Mrrp?”

“No fire,” Mac repeated, tapping him lightly on the beak with two fingers.

“Mrrp!” he cried out, his long, draconic tail slapping the stone.

Before she turned into a blubbering mess, Mac carefully detangled herself from Bran’s scaled foreclaws and stood up. A slow tear trickled down her cheek, which she quickly wiped away with the edge of her sleeve. Bran’s foster mother reached out and drew Bran to her side, throwing a wing over his body. He turned immediately towards her, burying his head into her feline haunches.

It was their cue to go. Mac bowed to the clan leader. “Thank you so much for your hospitality, Clan Leader Hrunga.”

The gryphoness smiled in her avian way. “Thank you, McKenna, for bringing Bran home. We will ensure that he knows the tale when he is old enough to understand. Perhaps, one day, you shall meet again.”

Mac bowed again. “I hope so.”

Each of the gryphons inclined their heads. Mac turned towards Ossie and mounted the Nordanner mare, swallowing hard as she settled in the saddle. Tossing her braid over her shoulder, Mac clucked to Ossie. The dunalino mare struck out, Kanorlan at her side. Down the mountain they went, leaving the gryphons and their aeries behind.

--Finis.

Horse's name: A823 ECr Odtsetseg
Rider's name: McKenna Hansen
Link to tracker image: Summer Voyager Tracker
Prompt # or Extra #: Chapter Five: The Gryphon Mountains
Extra Prompt #2: Bye, bye, bye
Collaboration: No.

:iconsummervoyager-rpg:

<< SV-RPG Ch 5.1: Rewards

Word count: 641
Story (c) me
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