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 Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 11:12 pm
On one of the out-of-the-way cliffs of the Irken Elite flock dwells a peaceful little creature known as Priprikan. Many would say he seems a bit out of place among these people...if you were to ask him, he just may agree with you...
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Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 11:14 pm
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Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 11:16 pm
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Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 11:16 pm
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Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 11:24 pm
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Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 11:25 pm
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Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 11:53 pm
There had been hundreds of gryphs born before him, and no doubt there would be hundreds of gryphs born after him as well. But for the moment, it was as though this little chick was the only one in the world. Smelling of newness, he cuddled close to the warmth of his mother, eyes and ears still tightly closed.
She smiled down at him, frightfully proud of him. He was her first...not to mention her only. Her smallish body had not been built for bearing and the other denmothers had gently explained that she shouldn't expect to birth more than one or two chicks. As it was, there had been only this one. Her little Priprikan.
And that was good enough for now.
In the private cave she'd selected for herself as her labor had drawn nearer, she felt that she and her baby were safe from all. She was loathe, really, to have to return to the lower cliffs to introduce her child to the others and allow the denmothers to take over. They would, of course, do a good job and she would be able to take him back whenever she liked, but it would not be the same to know she was being helped.
Perhaps....perhaps they would just stay here, then, she mused as she lowered her head to wash her tongue softly over the baby chick's silken down as he gave a faint grunt and curled a little more tightly against her. She had done all right for herself so far, after all, how more more difficult could it become?
"Aylos?" called a voice from the mouth of the cave, making her flinch as she recognized the voice of one of the sentries.
"Yes, Bandra?" she asked, trying not to sound annoyed at the intrusion.
"The others have worried you are not well...its been far too long since you separated from us to birth."
"I'm fine." she assured him, lowering her wing to hide her baby from him possessively as the sound of his footfall drew nearer.
"Then you ought to return." he replied. He didn't need to see the child, he could smell him quite plainly. The scent of newborn chick and the heady musk of recent birth still hung thick in the cave's air. "The others wish to welcome your little one."
"Yes, of course..." she sighed heavily, knowing that the moment was now forever-ruined. "Tell them I'll bring him by and by."
"Of course, Aylos." Bandra smiled. "And warmest congratulations." Saying so, he departed without further ado, and was gone in a flapping of wings.
It was a long moment before she rose from the floor of the cave, stretching her cramped muscles as the chick gave a shrill squeak of confusion at the sudden absense of his mother.
She lowered her head to nuzzle him in reassurance, revelling in their solitude for one last moment before gently taking the scruff of his neck in her teeth and padding toward the cave entrance. With a practiced leap she caught the air with her azure wings and began to delicately spiral downward toward the flock's main cliffs.
Despite the oddness and sheer uncomfortableness of the frigid wind, the chick remained silent as his mother made the journey back to the main cliffs. As long as she was here, some inner voice assured him, he was safe. She would protect him from everything.
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