March 15th, 2011 Iya

A gryphon is a mythical beast, the front half being like a huge eagle (the head, forelegs and shoulders, so it includes the wings) and the hind end of a lion (from the waist to the tail). Ren is a trainee Gryphon Rider from Graphha with her partner gryphon, Sangold. Graphha is currently at war with Drathonis, the dragon kingdom. Scorth is the desert nation ruled by mages and whose Riders ride enormous scorpions. Ren should be fighting in the war, but her final exam was put on hold by the start of the war and she has not been able to retake it. Ren's mother was a Lunar Priestess and a Seer with a recurring vision of Ren's twin brother, Silver, uniting the races of the continent of Tyrondais when he grew up. However, the worldwide plague, known as The Sickness, killed the mother and Silver and left the father bedridden. Ren does courier and search missions for the nobles to pay for the healers for her father and the only power she inherited from her mother is the ability to see in darkness except during the new moon.

"Three days before the new moon…" I said to no one as I stared at the white stone of the

ceiling. "I wish night would fall faster."

I had given myself most of the day to get used to the way sound echoed down the tunnel,

but with little success. The walls took the noise and flung it at your ears, like the air was

attacking you.

"I definitely like the sky better." I said over my shoulder, expecting a feathered ear to

listen. The silence was killed as footsteps shot down the corridor at me. I was on my feet with

my hands on my hilts long before the source came into view.

"Oh, not another one." the woman complained as she stopped. She fingered a strange

wooden contraption attached to her hip and looked me up and down. "Can't a girl catch a break

around here?"

"Do you need something?" I asked bitterly. There was no doubt that this stranger was

female, she flaunted it with a vest that barely covered anything and only pushed her chest further

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together. She would freeze if she crossed into the Graphhean mountains or went more than one

height in the air.

"I need you to get out of the way actually." she shot back, glancing over her shoulder.

"I don't see why I should."

There was a pause as she regarded me, sizing me up. My makeshift camp felt too

obvious at that moment.

"Come now, mister…" she said, her tone calmer. "I'm sure I can make it worth your

while." She ran her fingers though her hair and smiled.

"I doubt it."

"Now, now." she replied quickly, moving closer. "Don't be so hasty. It looks like you've

been down here a bit. With no one to talk to but yourself."

"I make better conversation than you'd think." I joked, uncomfortable with her advance.

"But isn't it about the companionship?" she asked, leaning forward to display the low

neck of her vest.

"I'm sure I'll make due." I replied shortly.

She peered up at me through her hair in a way she must have felt was sultry. I didn't use

that word often. "But you don't have to."

"That's enough of that, thanks." I snapped, tightening my right hand on my hilt.

She straightened instantly and frowned. "What in sands is wrong with you?" she snarled.

"Scorthion, I see." I countered, recognizing the curse.

She set her hand on the handle of her contraption and narrowed her eyes. "Problem with

that, Graphhean?"

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It wasn't that hard to figure out my origins, the uniform in the customary green and silver

colors tended to give it away.

"It depends on how long you plan to annoy me."

"I wouldn't underestimate me just because I'm a woman." she snapped.

"Never crossed my mind." I replied honestly.

"That's to be expected for a bird-brain." she said with a sneer.

"I'd expect a bug-lover to sink to insults first."

"Why you sick ba—"

I drew my swords, each held in a back-handed grip. She took a step back, realizing the

danger of getting much closer.

"I don't really care how you ended up here," I explained with an edge to my voice. "But

I'd suggest you backtrack."

"You hardly look like a challenge." she boasted. "I can handle one a lot easier than

seven."

"With that device?" I probed, pointing a blade tip at it.

She snatched it from its case and held it out at me, the end hollow like a tube. I admit I

was impressed with the speed she drew with.

"A new mage contraption." she explained, growing in confidence. "Fires faster than a

crossbow and kills far more often. They call it a gun."

"Still fires straight." I countered.

She started laughing. "There has to be something wrong with your head!"

I stayed silent, lining the tube up with one eye. It wasn't a thrown weapon so it wouldn't

curve. Even if it worked like a bow or a crossbow, it was too close for the path to change much.

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"Do they grow men funny in the head up in the mountains of Graphha?" she asked

cockily.

"I wouldn't know. I grew up in a valley." I replied casually.

"No man can resist this body, thank you." she snapped.

"Are you finished then?" I asked, impatient. "I'd like to get more rest before nightfall."

"Nightfall?" she echoed. "Oh, I see. A Graphhean behind enemy lines! You're a spy."

"I wouldn't be a good spy in a uniform, now would I?" I said in annoyance.

"Good point." she admitted. "So you're a dumb spy."

"Do I look dumb to you then?"

"Well, you are a man."

"No, I'm not."

The tube aimed at me lowered slightly as she stared.

"What's you name then?" she sputtered.

"Ren." I replied instantly, then though a moment. "Well, technically it's Silvia Renais."

"How do you even get Ren from that?" she asked in doubt.

"You go by your family name in the Riders," I explained hurriedly. "Mine was shortened

to Ren."

"So you just dress like a man to mess with people?" she asked, putting her free arm

across her chest. Her face began to turn a brighter red.

"The female uniform has a skirt." I replied dryly. "Have you ever tried flying in a skirt?"

She didn't reply as she choked on her embarrassment.

"Well," I continued. "I don't plan on trying it out."

"No one makes a fool of me like this!" she protested, still digesting her pride.

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"I hardly did anything." I said dryly. "You flung yourself at me."

"I did n—" she started, then raised her gun level with my head. "I believe in using

everything at my disposal."

"Including your cleavage." I interjected.

"Shut up!" she shrieked, the sound flying down both ends of the tunnel.

"No," I stated evenly. "I think you're the one who should be quiet now."

We stared at each other in stalemate and she seemed to be weighing her options.

"So, where is your canary?" she asked, trying to anger me again.

"Not here. Which you should be thankful for. He's got a bit of a temper."

"So he got all the emotion of the pair?" she asked. "Of does he try to dress up as a female

gryphon somehow?"

I flexed my fingers while they gripped my sword hilts. "If you are trying to get me to cut

you down, then please—continue insulting my partner." I warned.

She glanced back over her shoulder, considering her options again.

"Why don't we make a deal then?" she asked. "Woman to woman."

"I don't see why."

"Look, you obviously don't want to be found," she continued quickly. "I'm the same. Let

me stay a bit until those pigs blow over and I'll keep quiet."

"You'd be quiet if you left." I countered. "Or if you died."

She took a step forward with the gun aimed at me again. "This'll make a huge noise,

even if you do somehow survive it." she threatened. "You don't want to make me use this."

"Maybe I do."

"No, you don't." she replied quickly, growing nervous.

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"I can't think of too many reasons for a bunch of men to chase someone," I continued.

"Unless you stole something. Something strange and unusual."

Her eyes darted behind her again and she took a nervous step to the side.

"How about I make you a deal." I offered, slowly sheathing the sword in my left hand.

"I'm listening." she replied warily, eyeing my other sword.

"I'll let you by." I explained. "No gun, no fight and no staying."

She bit her lip and shifted her weight between her feet over and over.

"Best hurry," I prompted. "I have time, but you need to choose quick."

"Fine!" she said, lowering the gun. "And if you follow me, I'll shoot."

"I won't follow." I said as I sheathed the other sword.

She sighed in relief and put her contraption back into its case. We eyed each other for a

moment, then pressed against opposite walls to let the other through. When she was on the other

side, she smiled and saluted me horribly.

"Just go already." I grumbled, sitting beside my pack again.

She flashed me a grin and hurried off, the sound shooting ahead of her.

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