The posters were well made. Coloured, laminated against the weather, and stapled tight to posts and boards. The MISSING text was clear, with her name and number, picture accurate albeit a little fancier than her usual hairstyle, from a wedding maybe.
Tearing them down was very satisfying.
And frankly unexpected. Her Pa had warned her that the Director of the Ranelk Anomalous Settlement Area expected her assistance for the day. But he was going to work on insulating the garage she slept in, so she went with Exi, the big handsome grey woman with six arms and five hands to take down the missing posters plastered all over Ranelk. Karen focussed on finding the interior ones; she knew the shops and bulletin boards better than the newcomer, including this final one, Conelly’s Hardware.
“Shouldn’t you be at school?” The old man was behind the counter, bald head sweaty under bright lights, hands deep in the copper intestines of some device.
“No, not yet,” Karen strode to the poster board, “Mind if I take this down? She was found, got home on Sunday, don’t want people to think Karen’s still missing.”
Sceptical narrow eyes looked up at that, taking in her short caramel hair, pale freckly skin, blue eyes, nothing like the tan teenager in the picture. “That so? Good to hear. Why’s that grey one involved?”
“She seems to like lending a hand,” Karen shrugged and ripped down the poster. It was satisfying.
“Very funny. Be careful near it.”
“Oh yeah, wouldn’t want cursed or anything,” She rolled her eyes on the way out. Exi was impressively muscular- but hardly dangerous. Especially while wearing a six armed woolly sweater and collecting removed staples in a little jar. Her hard features softened as she spotted the teenager.
“That’s the last street- did you get everywhere?” Exi boomed.
“Yup, Mrs Gallacher said she’d send Karen a fruit basket,” Karen wrinkled her nose.
“You didn’t tell her you’re carnivorous now?”
“She’s like eighty! If I tried to explain… this,” She waved a hand over herself wearily, “To every biped in town we’d be here till next week. So, yeah, that’s everywhere I can think of- can I go fly now?”
“Truth always prevails, kid, better tell them sooner than later.” Exi unlocked her pickup truck, stowed her staples, and checked her watch. “Two thirty so… ninety minutes left of Veil? Then I’ve got two more errands. Want to ride inside or on top?”
“Fine, up top,” Karen tutted, hurdled onto the bed, and held tight, held tight as Exi rumbled down the wide low streets of Ranelk. It was bumpy and boxes slid around, but wind in her hair was far better than sitting in such a tight space. And soon she could spread her wings. That was the deal.
They drove south out of town, winding between scraggly woodland, and golden fields until they reached one farmyard in particular. A big blue barn with a long lean to and a humble timber house preceded a storm of barks as a collie dog took to bounding and yipping around them rabidly.
“Shush, get lost, mutt!” Karen snarled, slinking higher up the truck in case it leapt.
Her driver on the other hand, got out without fuss, and knelt the pet the stupid loud quadruped with big beefy hands. “Aw, hey there- hey again. I know, you ain’t a fan of her, sorry.”
“Will this take long?”
“Depends on you, kid.” The director stood, raising a hand to holler, “Yo, Mr Willingham?! You home?!”
“Sasha, back, here now!” A sharp voice thankfully drew the canine away to a short old man who tottered in thick welly boots. “Ah. Director. What d’you want?”
“Keeping my word, Mr Willingham. Here she is!” She offered a hand, and Karen quizzically hopped off the vehicle. “Karen’s here for a proper apology about friday night.”
Friday? Vague memories clicked like lightning, and the girl hissed, “What?! HE SHOT ME? He’s tiny!!”
“Ah. Yer the beastie, eh?” The old farmer mused, “Ain’t so big yourself. Well- go ahead, ain’t got all day.”
Karen fumed. Exi’s emerald eyes watched her expectantly. The dog was tense, hackles raised. And the man was…
“N- no, he shot me! Me say sorry?! Look at my damn shoulder! Where’s his remorse!”
“You slaughtered four of my flock. I was defendin’ myself.”
“Four sheep-they’re food anyway!” She snapped, “And I didn’t mean to- I was out of it. Not right mind. Probably would’ve settled for two if someone hadn’t SHOT ME!”
“Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe would’ve gone for Sasha or me next.”
“No.” She glowered, “You’d be dead if I had.”
“An’ you’d be-”
“Enough, enough!” Exi boomed, hands spread like stop signs, “Karen. Calm down. We’re not here to bicker. We are here to reconcile.”
“He could’ve killed me.” She hissed, glowering at the man with a shiver running down her spine. It was insane. How could someone so innocuous hunt her? Hurt her? He was short, grey, wizened, even her human self could face him. She was grand, strong, fast, and he was boring and old and broken, but technology made even that a threat.
“Karen.”
“Fiii-iiiine,” She forced, turning back to the car, “I’m so sorry for eating your poor bullets and hurting your dumb sheep.”
The car clicked locked. Exi sighed, “That wasn’t sincere.”
“Well I can’t fake an apology, can I?!” Karen sneered, “The only thing I’m sorry about is I didn’t get to finish my damn prey. If anything I’d rather thank him for the meal and not murdering me!”
“Yer’ welcome, I’m too old for prison,” Willingham cracked a crooked smile. “Huh. Doubted you for a second, director, thought that kid might be anybody. But she’s the beastie alright. That ain’t a human brain.”
“What’s that mean?”
“I don’t want fed bullshit with some fake apology,” He snorted, “You ain’t regret it? Fine. The bigwigs shoving you critters up here out of the way? Fine. Question is, can you promise not to poach again? Now you know what happens.”
“Sure. Didn’t mean to in the first place.” She replied cautiously, “Did… you keep the mutton?”
The farmer laughed, wheezing and hooting. “Five days old meat? Nah, wouldn’t taste good, not even to a beastie. Now shoo, get, I got work to do and don’t want ya eatin’ old Sasha here.”
He stomped off, and Karen was so determined to slam a door that she found herself in the passenger seat as they drove off. The tight space was crammed with paperwork and trinkets, and Exi’s tough form herself as she deftly flicked five hands across the wheel.
“Well. Better than nothing I guess.” The director sighed, “One down, one to go.”
“What nex- oh no. No.” Karen grimaced, “Nooooo, Exi, you can’t make me apologize to Logan!”
“Teenagers.” She grumbled, “Aren’t you two pals?”
“Not since I stabbed him!” She whined, “I can’t- what if… like, okay, how’d you feel if whatever human took your hand rocked up out of nowhere to say sorry?”
“Confused. Didn’t lose this to a human.”
“What then?”
“That’s personal,” Exi snorted, “Look. You tell me why this is so hard, and I’ll give you storytime, kid.”
“Why? I thought you needed an assistant, but we’ve spent all day on my mess!”
“You mess is my business, kid. I’ve gotta help mystic folks settle in here, and within a week, we’ve got a girl vanish, a boy injured, and a mystic attack livestock,” She clapped her brow, two hands wide, “And all three were you! In one night!”
“All accidentally!” Karen wriggled, winding her window down, “I don’t know why I’m this now.”
“True. Fair. But either way, it’s a mess, I need to smooth over. We can’t let bad blood linger between humans and mystics. Things are tense, and there’s a big difference between thinking a griffin’s attacking people, and thinking a griffin might panic or have an accident. You see?”
“That makes me sound like an animal.”
“Maybe don’t act like an animal then. Animals don’t apologise. People do.” Exi glanced at her sidelong, green eyes concerned. “Apologising isn’t weakness. You were… a good sign, kid. You and Caleb, showing up to help folk move in? That meant a lot, it was a proper welcome, not some PR bullshit. Can you be that person again?”
The wing mirror reflected Karen’s unfamiliar blue eyes.
“Well. Anyway. My hand was no accident,” The director rumbled into the silence afterwards. “Four months ago, I was with the Revealers- working to show magic to everyone. Not that hard when you’re a gegenees like me, but opposition was tough. See, not all mystics liked the idea of living openly- some were involved in crime, espionage, holding a monopoly over magic, real nasty sorts. And they hired some muscle to hunt us down- a Wendigo.”
She frowned, “What’s that? Can it fly?”
“N- you don’t know? Kid. Right. Imagine a yeti, then make it twice as big, give it horns, and make it a serial killer. You think you’re tough but you’d look like a pigeon beside this thing. The more people they’ve eaten, the stronger they are.” Exi swallowed, her eyes on the road but distant. “It didn’t use the door. Came in veiled. Made a whole thing of unveiling itself to show that… that it was with us. Novel, but… encouraging, and then when it was shown, it was like the room held its breath. The humans, the newbies, they were just surprised. Others were doing the maths. I was… stupid. Hoped wendigos just had a bad rap, hoped it was as much a person as any of us.”
Her knuckles tightened on the wheel, grey skin bleaching pale.
“It tore a gorgon apart first. Trickiest threat. Then two people. Gone. Bit in half. It was just chaos. I was this hand grabbing one of my friends- Lindsey- and I thought I could do something. Pull her free. It took my hand, I stabbed its eyes.”
“So you blinded and killed it?”
“Heh. I wish I was that badass!” Exi grimaced, “Nah. Noah got it. Huge lion mystic, he’d got hired by the same cronies but… betrayed them, thank god. Well, he scarred it up good, but the maniac got away- walked through a wall like it was tissue paper. Must have veiled, haven’t heard of it since.”
“And the lion- Noah? Is he at OAR?”
“That’s the guy. Realised truth prevails, realised he could live openly, or maybe he had a vendetta. Don’t know him that well.” She frowned, “There’s lots of monsters out there, lots of human ones too, but I doubt you’re one.”
“Thanks? Sorry about your hand.”
“That sounded genuine- now we’re talking!” Exi barked cheerfully as they wound up the familiar road to the big triangular lodge, chimney trailing smoke. “Just do that again, you ready?”
“As long as no dragons jump me.” Karen scanned the treeline cautiously, eyes lingering on the lodge's porch. It looked positively mundane, she’d expected some crimson blight upon the earth, but nature didn’t remember where blood was spilled.
“Sure, I’ll keep you safe. You’ll feel better afterwards.”
“I’ll feel better when I’m flying,” Karen pulled her rucksack from the back, and marched up to give the door two raps with her blunt knuckles.
Logan was well enough to open the door, albeit barely. The tall boy looked skinnier, features narrow and hungry, dark eyes hooded as he looked over her, and lingered suspiciously on Exi in the background. His hand held tight to the frame for support, breathing thin as he croaked, “Uh, can I help you?”
“Hey.” Karen stood tense, her mouth dry, “Sorry for Friday. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
His eyes widened on her, as if seeing through the Veil and he stepped back, but his voice barely changed, “Oh. You’re the griffoness?”
“Griffin. It was an accident, I was scared, I-”
“Sorry. For scaring you.” He whispered, staring at the floor, “Or whatever I did. It’s pretty blurry, my memory’s not so good.”
“No, no, you did well, I just forgot I had claws, didn’t mean anything...” She shook her head, “Could’ve done without the fear spell though.”
“Ah. Well, thanks, I guess I’ll see you around, miss.” He stepped back and closed the door.
Karen breathed. That was enough, right? She turned back, noting Exi, the woman seemed happy. She was done.
He hadn’t recognized her.
Of course not. Why would he? Her situation was ridiculous, she looked nothing like his friend. No drama. No betrayal. She was scot-free!
Except Maddie’s tearful face lingered in her head. That would just delay it. Make it cut deeper.
Her knuckles hammered the door. “Logan- wait, wait! It’s Karen!”
A muffled grunt, then the door opened, he peered out intensely. “What?”
“It’s…. I’m Karen. From the hawk.” She balled her fists, “I turned into a griffin that night, and… I’m sorry, I panicked, but… I’m still… it’s still me.”
Logan sank to his knees, fast enough she checked her hands case she’d stabbed him again. Then suddenly Matt’s basket-baller tall frame filled the doorway covered by a long apron and big gloves, “Logan!? What’s wrong- Miss Thomson, did you do this!?”
If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
“No- no, I’m just surprised.” The boy murmured, spidery hand rubbing his brow as he blinked rapidly, “She says she’s Karen. And the griffoness.”
“Ah, I see,” Matt stood before him protectively, “Are you adjusting well, Miss Thomson?”
“Uh, a bit. I’m going to try and fly now.” She glanced at her stretchy watch, “Well, in twelve minutes.”
“Uncle Matt.” Logan frowned, “You already knew. How? Why didn’t you tell me!?”
The lean man narrowed his eyes, taking in Exi in the driveway. “Deduction. Teenage girl vanishes. Teenage griffoness appears. But, you’ve had a tough weekend, no point in stressing you with that while you’re recovering.”
“I… okay… right… we can get your Veil, Karen, on the cheap and if you hold still I can try to figure out what happened, we can fix this,” Logan’s voice was weak, dry, “I’m so sorry.”
“Shut up, I came here to apologise, not the other way round!” She snapped, “You get inside and heal up. Diana’s dealing with me, it’s fine!”
“No, it’s my fault- this has got to be related to my Veils! I don’t know how, but-”
“Then give her the recipes! Logan, if you’re right, then why would I want to deal with your magic more!?” Karen threw her arms wide, “Haven’t you messed up enough already?”
“Magic is a rather competitive business, Miss Thomson. We don’t share recipes, especially not with that demon binder.” Matt warned, voice low, “I’d recommend switching to us- I know your history better.”
“Mmm, no thanks! Her veil’s less painful than torture. If you want to help, help her.” Karen spun on her heel, stomping down the porch, “Good luck recovering, I’m off to fly!”
She left them in the dust and found the clearing easy enough. Mom would be furious if she kept shredding clothes, so Karen disrobed under a blanket, and counted the seconds. Five, four, three, two, one. Negative one. Negative two. Negative ten. How good was this watch?
Then the heat began. Fire flooded her nerves, burning static to cover the physical pain as her body reshaped itself. Bones shoved outwards, strong and light, her muscles swelled with feral power, and her skin pulled tight and tough. The growth of feathers and fur was a relief, her pelt kept the cold out as talons and claws scratched the ground, her beak thrust into a sharp point, and her wings and tail unfolded like a pop up book.
She managed to remain upright throughout, lashed her tail for balance as the changes slowed, and threw the blanket off with a great flap of her wings, eager for the sky!
“Oh, very dramatic.” Exi boomed. She had caught up during the change and lifted two hands placatingly, “Don’t worry- work’s finished. Just giving you pay.”
Oh yeah, she was getting paid for cleaning up her mess. That was good, money meant food. Karen bobbed and stretched as the woman packed her blanket, clothes and an envelope into the backpack and hung it on a tree. “There, grab it on your way home. And remember, no poaching.”
Karen rolled her eyes. How troublesome did Exi think she was? Still, it was good to have an audience, so she bobbed along, and positioned herself at the far end of the clearing, tail to tree. Then her hindquarters surged and she lashed off in a great bound, caught herself, leapt again and spread her wings, adding their power to the battle.
Most life lived under gravity’s rule. They jumped and climbed perhaps, but only for seconds, too weak to battle its tyranny. Yet with every beat of her wings, Karen felt herself best her weight, rise higher, cycle the muscles and repeat the motion quick enough before she fell to rise again!
She careened over the pines across the clearing, tucked her legs close as feathers felt the air around her, tail steadied her course like a rudder, and she flew. A cloud of little birds- fifty three, her brain counted- scattered in her terrifying wake, and Karen released a proud scream before swinging to bank back, eyes roaming over the forest. Exi cheered and lifted five thumbs as she passed, and she rose higher above Logan’s house, hoping the young flightless dragons could see her. And envy her.
Part of her brain kept searching for prey, flying was hungry work, but she reminded herself this was practice and she’d eat till satisfied afterwards. For now she just wanted higher, powering ever upwards! Her left wing shoulder ached with each strained beat, and even riding what thermals she could find was no rest. But with every minute, the world below shrank, the air grew thinner and colder, though her lungs and coat protected her easily.
Karen levelled out above the mountains, taking in the vast valley of Ranelk, the lake glistening like a mirror, the slopes of trees as fine as grass, and the vast curving horizon like a poorly made plate. Then with an eager shriek, she swooped back down, riding and twisting through the air like a rollercoaster. Her tail guided her and she span, banked around heavily and powered upwards again, trying to lean back, to flip and tumble.
She kept pulling out of such motions instinctively- the griffin in her disliked anything to her blind spot, let alone the world- but Karen grinned at the challenge. Like on the ground, every manoeuvrer took practice and effort. She would earn her grace, starting with a flip.
Her eyes tracked motion midway through her seventeenth attempt, and Karen levelled off to behold a rival. The avian was small as an eagle, bright crimson and gold with long tail feathers and a slender neck, familiar warm eyes meeting hers- so this phoenix was Diana’s true form! She shot up like a rocket and suddenly vanished, lingering in the griffins blind spot above her for too many seconds before darting away whistling.
Karen screeched back and chased her- was the phoenix really trying to show off to someone on their third flight? Still, she’d give the witch a taste of her own medicine, swoop down on her, if the little creature would hold still! The griffin winged in great powerful swoops, wings large as a glider, but every time she got close, Diana burst upwards on a fiery thermal, toying with her and trilling cheerfully.
The chase lasted minutes as Karen tried to flip and bank quickly after her, rising and falling, weaving sharper turns until with a great pantomimed motion Diana shut her wings and plummeted from the heavens. Karen dove after her, screaming as she pulled her own wings close, and found the world rushing up to greet them, the lakes waters as forgiving as concrete at this speed.
But Diana wasn’t pulling up, so why should she?
The little bird was more aerodynamic perhaps, even the griffins greater weight didn’t shrink the distance between them, her eyes picked out the gold of Diana’s reflections eyes, the patterns of her own wings, the individual hairs of her pelt rapidly approachi-
Diana opened her wings and shot out horizontal.
Karen opened her wings and screamed as if hit by a truck. The sudden change in momentum battered them upwards, sent her careening forwards, but her left wing shoulder was worse, gave too much and sent her off balance.
She plunged into the lake like a skipping stone, raising white foam as suddenly everything was wet, cold and horrid. Every limb flailed, how did she swim!? Her forelegs, her wings were almost useless, and only frantic kicking of her paws allowed her beak to breach the surface, panting rapidly for sweet fresh air.
The ridiculous phoenix circled overhead, perfectly dry, and whistled as she angled for the nearest stretch of shore.
Karen snorted and flailed her wings, but there was no taking off from water, so she kicked her hind legs in an undignified doggy-paddle that was nearly as tiring as flying. At least her wings had a rest, she spread them and felt nothing more than a dull ache from the shock- no new cuts or bruises at least. They were a horrible wet mess when she dragged herself ashore though, bedraggled pelt freezing, and glared as the phoenix dove towards her.
And exploded.
A cloud of golden flames suddenly engulfed the avian, the form shifted, and Diana’s biped form landed on the beach, irritably unharmed and somehow dressed in a flowing orange summer dress and her ruby choker. Her eyes were still avian, a grin on her cheeks as she cheered, “Wooo-hooooo! That was almost perfect, spectacular!”
Karen snorted and ruffled her wings, turning away.
“Oh, don’t be upset, that was… flight three, right? You were magnificent, and you can definitely swim best of us- we don’t like water.”
The griffin stood and flailed her wings at her, showering water droplets that hissed and evaporated before hitting the phoenix-witch.
“Fair, sorry for pulling a dive on you while you’re recovering. Your size and weight means you need to curve out of a dive gradually, not in a split second, okay? How about I teach you the colours while you dry off, hmm Karen?”
It was a tempting offer, but she nodded aloofly and sat down, curving wings up over the witch who seemed to radiate warmth like a small sun. Diana giggled and stroked her neck with hot gentle fingers, “Fantastic, so let’s see- this iridescence on your neck? Yes, that’s Teavalin. Then on the wings, it shows up mainly in blue and grey, like on the lake, this is Mauzine...”
It was almost enough to doze off, it not for hearing about Auguar and Sertaline in her wing feathers, the Wilvin in their eyes, and on her stomach traces of-
“Red Two.” Diana tickled her there, and scoffed at the confused screech, “Yeah, I’m serious, Sera named that one and it’s like a better red. Or blue. You get chatty when you’re happy, don’t you? What do you think is the lowest noise you can make?”
Karen chirped, trilled, then moved the vibrations further down her throat as she exhaled. The deeper noises were growls, then right near her lungs she could produce a deep low rumble.
“She can purr, that’s adorable!” Diana giggled, “And very useful, you can probably handle some language. Anyway, ready to try again?”
She was dry, but one issue lingered, so she headbutted Diana over to some sand and set to scoring lines in it with one talon.
“Oh she’s writing. Yes, that’s a good solution too.”
‘DO DIANA BIND DEMON’ she inscribed nervously.
The witch frowned then scoffed, “No, no, I don’t bind demons, oh my goodness is that what people say about me? No, no, I’ve got one friend who’s a spirit who helps me out. Happy?”
That made sense, rumours tended to get out of hand. She nodded.
“It’s like the dragons the Tohakens bleed, but she actually gives me a choice.” Diana added, “Now, do you think you can show me a successful landing? You know how? Great, I’ll see that, then we’ve got to get back to work, okay?”
The griffin nodded and bounded back along the beach, spread her wings and shot upwards on the seventh leap. A flash of light preceded the reappearance of the phoenix, and she powered upwards, zig zagging and turning to keep the fancy avian in sight, a ruby still sparkling on her breast. It took a bit of searching to spot Logan’s house through the trees, but when she did, she found the clearing a little farther beyond, and circled it.
In retrospect, Karen supposed she had never had a completely successful landing. But Diana was watching, so she moved cautiously- angled herself with the longest edge of the clearing and swooped gently down, tail smashing needles from pines. Halfway down she dipped again, mere metres from the ground, and flurried her wings into quick, short weak flaps to slow her descent, swung her talons forward, and dove into the ground.
Talons were not the right answer.
They stabbed into the earth and she flipped forward to face-plant the grass, before quickly bouncing upright. It was too late, the phoenix landed perfectly on a rock, and bobbed pointedly at her hindlegs. Which was completely unnecessary advice so Karen turned tail, stomped over to the tree and plucked her rucksack up in one talon, before taking to the sky once more while Diana circled away.
Her heart swelled with pride as she swept high again, angling directly for Ranelk, all its big low buildings and gridded streets. Karen easily recognized the cafes and shops she’d removed posters from, stretching back to dumpsters and carparks hidden from view. The townhall and school loomed as two of the biggest buildings, empty this late in the afternoon, and she searched idly for Ollie as she angled for her own street.
Of course, landing presented another issue and she didn’t fancy trying to hit concrete with a backpack in one talon. Her own garden had her big trampoline and garage detritus in it, so she angled for the longest stretch of grass where two front lawns merged. Her eyes picked up some discarded balls and wrappers in it, but no hazards as she swooped down, flurried her wings, and swung her hindlegs forwards to land and stagger to a stop.
Perfect! Karen bounced joyfully, turned towards home and took the bags straps in her beak bef-
“GET AWAY!” A biped roared and charged her, one hand dropping a mess of posters, the other tight around a stapler. Her eyes took a second to recognize Caleb, his short brown hair coloured with Mauzine, furious eyes tinted with Red-Two? She dropped the bag and squawked a warning, scoring a talon in the dirt to write-
But he wasn’t stopping.
Instead the staple gun slammed into her cheek, squeezed and deposited a surge of pain alongside complete confusion as his shoulder slammed into her throat.
Caleb was big, first pick for football, built like a brickhouse. It had been years since she’d matched him in endurance or strength, not since they were little kids playing together. But a griffin was in an entirely different league.
A furious hiss escaped as Karen planted her paws and bowled him over in a single bound.
Then a hand yanked her tail.
“No, give her back!”
The griffin shrieked, stumbled, and kicked back only for the biped to lunge and side step it, still hanging onto her bloody tail! She staggered backwards, lashing it furiously, then dug her paws in, and pounced away to escape his grip.
Except he held on and her tail burned with the brutes weight as he was pulled into the air. Then gravity took over, she landed gracefully and he slammed face first into the sidewalk. His grip loosened, she slipped free and bounded two wingspans away, eying her lovely tail anxiously. Dammit, she needed home, she needed WORDS!
Except Caleb was blocking her house, staggering upright with the trampoline behind him and a great scrape across his square jaw. He blinked blearily as he felt the blood, looked at her, and seemed to finally register how outmatched an unarmed biped was. Good.
Then he ripped a supporting pole from the trampoline’s frame, and jabbed it out like a spear, “AWAY! You’re not taking anyone else! Not from here, not from anywhere!”
It punched into her left wing shoulder, and the griffin felt a fresh surge of agony course through her system. That was it. Three chances were enough, right?
She reared, frustration pouring out into a single great resonant roar, deep and primal as her prey jabbed forwards again. Her wing met it, a shield of feather and flesh while the other punched for his head. He was quick, ducked the blow but not fast enough to avoid her head slamming into his gut with a satisfying grunt. Then his hand scrabbled, grabbed her feathers and the prey tried to climb her!
The griffin ducked, hooked her head and a wing under his legs, before rearing again with a huge flap. The biped was heavy, but even so she threw him over her back, crunching off the ground, and pounced before he could recover. One talon trapped one arm with his stolen weapon, the other pinned his hand to his chest, long black claws tense against the throat. Victory was hers, a single thrust wou-
“KAREN!” A whipcrack shout came as her sire charged from the house, “OFF!”
She lunged off immediately, stalking around her Pa’s legs protectively, eyes locked on her prey.
“Mr Thomson, get clear!” the biped- Caleb- got up again, defensive and nervous. Didn’t he know when he was beaten!? “That’s the monster from friday, it’s a griffin, it-”
“Karen, get inside, get changed, now.” Pa barked, “Caleb, you’re bleedin’- put that away boy, you’re safe. Come in, we gotta clean that up...”
There were noises in the street, she saw doors opening, heard Caleb gasp “Karen”, but there was no arguing. She span and stormed into the house, aching tail held high, and tore her way into the garage. How could HE attack her?! On her own territory? She was too soft. If she’d started with talons she wouldn’t have been hurt at all.
But then Pa would be mad.
But Pa was mad anyway!
She found a flask and tugged it open, lapping up the stuff until the rest of her body hurt with the fiery change, and soon had lips and teeth and hands again. It was her mermaid self thankfully, and she pulled on a sweater before clawing, dragging and slithering into the lounge, shouting, “Pa that was not my fault!”
“Really?” the corners of his jaw were tense, moustache littered with sawdust as he sat, pouring through a big first aid kid on the table. Caleb clutched an eyepack to his chin at the kitchen table, eyes like saucers. “Well then will the pair of you explain what the hell that was?!”
“K-Karen? Why are you part snake?” He blinked and winced as a plaster was slammed onto a cut on his forehead, “I thought you said she was the griffin?!”
“It’s a Veil, you meathead. I’m the griffin you just attacked!” Karen snarled, baring fangs.
“Attacked? It slammed me into the pavement!”
“Yeah, because you stapled me, and pulled my tail!” Karen curled her tail close. Even as a mermaid it hurt. “What did you expect?!”
“To scare it off? I thought it- y-you… that the griffin had kidnapped you and was back to grab Ollie or someone! It- y-you just appeared out of the sky!” Caleb grimaced, brows heavy, “When did this happen? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Friday, and why would I?” She sniffed, “I’m not telling everyone.”
“And I’m just everyone!?” He winced, “I was terrified for you! You could’ve been dead, kidnapped or worse, I searched in the forest, made posters, asked aroun-”
“Oh those things I had to spend all morning tearing down because I’m not missing? Yeah, thanks, genius!” She hissed, “Did I ask for any help? No, you did all of that yourself, just like you attacked me, yourself!”
“Karen, calm down,” Pa placed a heavy hand on her head, “He has a point. I should’ve warned the neighbours. Let them know they’d see you around. Was a crazy couple days. You have my apologies Caleb, I’ll explain to your folks, Ollie’s already round there.”
“Don’t apologize Pa!” Karen whined, tumbling onto the couch with her tail coiled tight, “If he cared he would’ve checked here each day!”
“True, and I’m not done, Karen.” He stood to his full height, fists balled, “Caleb, this was completely unacceptable. You attacked my daughter, and even if not, you could’ve easily died messin’ with a massive mystic! What were you thinkin’!?”
“Not much,” The teen wiped his eyes, “Panic, trying to get her back, or avenge her, or-”
“Or murder me.” Karen growled.
“You’re not off the hook either young lady.” Pa warned.
“Do you see any claw marks on him!? I was perfectly restrained, all his blood’s from hitting the sidewalk.”
“That’s not good enough and you know it. Karen, think, what if someone armed panicked at the sight of ya? Again?” Pa leaned close, “You need to think about where you fly, and when. People ain’t used to you.”
“How will they get used to me if they never see me?” She headbutted him, gently, wincing at the metal stuck into her cheek, “This is home, I flew here Pa.”
“I know, you can tell me all about it over dinner, and we’ll get that cheek cleaned up.” He stood, glowered at Caleb, “Meantime, come with me, I’ve got some explainin’ to do.”
“Right. I’m sorry Mr Thomson. K-Karen.” Caleb mumbled and stood, pain in his eyes, “You know… I just wanted to save y-you.”
“Save me? Save me?!” She reared up on her tail, “Well, great news, bozo, I don’t need saved, I’m not your damsel in distress, I’m not weak! I can chuck you in the lake no problem- so next time you get the stupid urge to try and help me, skip that part and throw yourself in!”
All of the bangs and talons hadn’t done as much as her words. Caleb seemed to hunch over, pain in the blue and Red-Two eyes as he staggered out. Finally defeated.
Tearing him down was very satisfying.
Wasn’t it?