Several of the crewmembers cheered as a few of the larger men pulled on ropes that stretched tight over the edge of the ship. They huffed as they pulled their load slowly over onto the deck. As it landed on the deck with a thud, a creature tangled in a large net thrashed about in a flurry of talons and feathers. The group descended on the creature in a commotion, yelling for more rope and to watch the beak. Several cursed as they exited the fray, holding various gashes that bled bright red. By time Fen and Mara crossed the deck, the men stood in a circle around their prize.

“Watch it,” Mara said as she shoved two men out of the way to make room for her and Fen.

In the center of the circle a large creature laid on the deck, its legs and wings bound tightly, the net in pieces around it.

“What is it?” Fen whispered in wonder.

“It’s gryphon,” one of the men said.

The gryphon strained against the ropes, its eyes flitting from one person to the next. Fen could feel its anxiety like a thrumming in her chest.

“Mighty rare,” said another. “I bet we could fetch quite the price for it once we reach Linara, or even Sorol.”

“Better prices in Sorol,” Drigs said. “Though this ship isn’t built for livestock”

Ferrul pulled out a knife and took a step towards the creature but was stopped as the group, including Mara, began to argue what to do with it.

Fen took a step into the circle, unnoticed by the others. The gryphon focused on her. Its chest rising and falling quickly as it continued to work against the restraints. With each step she felt the thrumming in her chest, the anxiety and fear in its large brown eyes.

She knelt beside it and reached a hand towards its neck. The gryphon flinched as she placed her hand in its feathers. They were slightly moist on the outside, but warm and dry underneath. As they touched, the thrumming focused into a point on her chest.

Fen slowly pulled the necklace from under her shirt. She could feel it vibrating at the end of the cord. One hand still resting on its neck, Fen palmed her father’s stone. She cried out as a rush of pain and emotion washed over her. Fear, anxiety, and adrenalin flooded her mind as her eyes met the gryphon’s. In that moment, Fen realized they were its emotions as tears began falling from her face involuntarily.

“What’s the meaning of all this!” Boran shouted as he began separating the crowd, though Fen could barely hear him. His voice quieted as he broke into the circle, seeing Fen beside the gryphon.

Just noticing, Mara knelt beside Fen and shook her.

“What are you doing?” she asked. “It’s not safe.”

She tried to pull Fen back but was shrugged off. Fen couldn’t leave the gryphon. She could feel its desperate need.

“What she think she’s doing?” Drigs said, pointing at Fen. “That’s our catch.”

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Fen felt another surge of fear coming from the gryphon as Drigs stepped forward.

“No!” Fen cried as she threw herself over the large neck of the gryphon, the stone in her hand. “Stay back!”

Mara stood between the Drigs, just taller than him. He faltered until Ferrul approached. More shouting broke out between the men and Mara.

“Enough of this!” Boran shouted. The men quieted and Drigs gripped the knife he had never sheathed. “The captain has final say on all disputes of property.”

Boran moved beside the gryphon and gave a nod to Mara, who took off towards the captain’s quarters. The group stood in silence and Fen felt the gryphon calm slightly. It was all she could do to keep from curling up beside it and whimper. A sharp, unexplained pain in her shoulder was the only thing keeping her from being overcome by the swells of emotion.

“What’s all this?” Captain Maolen said as she approached the crowd. The rest of the crew that hadn’t been initially involved had gathered to watch the commotion. She hesitated for a moment as she caught sight of the gryphon but quickly recovered. Boran spoke first.

“A dispute of property, Captain,” he said. “Between these men and Fen.”

“I see. Of the gryphon, I assume,” she said, stepping beside Boran. Was that excitement Fen felt as she approached, or more fear?

“That’s right, captain,” Drigs said, his knife put away. “We netted it earlier and were discussing the best route of selling it when that girl decided it was hers.”

“That girl is a crewmember and has a name,” Maolen said flatly. She looked to Fen. “Explain.”

Fen’s thoughts raced. Her concern mixing with the gryphon’s fear was overwhelming. She couldn’t think straight.

“Please,” Fen finally said. “It’s so scared.”

Maolen studied Fen for a long moment before turning to the crowd.

“This is a dispute of property,” her voice carried effortlessly across the deck. “As far as I am concerned this is a living creature, not some compass or knife, and therefore can not be considered property. My final decision is to release the gryphon and award neither party ownership.”

Drigs cursed and pulled Ferrul behind him as he walked away. Maolen nodded to Mara and walked back to her quarters. Boran began shouting, getting the distracted crew back on task. Mara turned to Fen and knelt, pulling a small knife from her side. Immediately the gryphon began to squirm and fight. Fen gasped at the sudden shock of emotion.

“No,” Fen said. “Let me.”

As Mara handed her the knife, the fear subsided and was replaced by anxiety as the gryphon stilled. Slowly, Fen cut the various ropes holding the gryphon down. She returned the knife to Mara as they stood up.

The gryphon quickly rose and looked across the deck. It was taller than Fen had realized, its shoulder coming up nearly to her chin. The gryphon eyed her for a moment before it turned and began to run along the deck. It stretched out its wings and beat them as it leapt into the air. Fen clutched her shoulder as the mysterious pain throbbed and the gryphon crashed to the deck.

Maolen stopped just outside her door as the gryphon tumbled to the deck in a mess of wings and feathers. Drigs opened his mouth to say something, but she held up her hand.

“If the gryphon can’t fly by the time we reach Linara, then I will reevaluate this dispute,” she said as she gave Fen a slow nod.

Fen ran to the gryphon as it gathered itself up, surveying the deck for another take off.

“Wait!” she yelled.

It stopped an looked at her, holding one wing out slightly, the same side as the pain in Fen’s shoulder. Fen slowly reached out and touched its neck again, its large eye watching her. She ran her hand down to its wing. It flinched as she pressed against it.

“It’s hurt?” Mara asked as she approached.

“I think so,” Fen said.

“You’re an idiot,” Nubs said from distance, watching gryphon cautiously.