THE GOD AND THE GRIFFON
The day dawns bright clear on the high mountain field, the golden grasses blowing in the wind like waves on the distant ocean. As the sky brightens and the songs of the many birds begin to fill the air, a dark shadowy figure glides high over the field, its shadow racing the wind as it circles. What few grazing animals there are in the field suddenly bound off in search of cover to hide from this flying predator before it decides to strike as its low pitched skree is heard.
On this fine day, another has decided to take to the sky. Horus, having roused early, has decided to take an early flight, to enjoy the view of the rising sun from the vantage of the clouds. He had been a flight some time before deciding to halt his progress, and greet the sun from this place. He had been in deep contemplation when he heard the cry of the other, so he takes a short moment to locate the source. Upon figuring the direction of its source, he waits, intent on seeing its owners activities.
The skree is heard again as the owner becomes visible in the light, cavorting through the clouds almost playfully. As the great winged creature draws close, the familiar outlines of a mythic griffon appear then it dives earthward, skimming the grasses before arcing back to the sky. The color of its feathers keep it resembling a shadow, only the golden fur of its leonine half tell otherwise.
Horus eyes the creature carefully, but cannot help but crack a small smile at its antics. A creature of the sky, enjoying the freedom of flight makes him feel a small sense of warmth and joy. He remembers how good the feeling of flight can be, and decides not to interrupt the happiness of the griffon. However, he does not remove his presence from the clouds, but rather instead decides to watch it for now from his perch in the sky and revel in, through the griffon, the joy of flight.
The griffon continues its flight, diving and soaring, pulling stunts that would make any pilot jealous to do. Though by far not a musical beast, the griffon skrees and chirps, bellowing in its version of a roar as it turns barrel rolls. Finally, as the sun makes its trek higher into the sky, the griffon lands with several beats of its great wings then settles in to preen its feathers while keeping a sharp eye out for any others approaching the field.
With a slight chuckle, Horus gives a quick beat of his wings, then begins a slow, measured descent towards the griffon. He has decided that a little conversation would be an excellent way to start the day, especially with this artist of the air. He waits till he has closed the gap slightly, before offering a light, unthreatening chirp, his eyes keen on the griffon. He extend his hands before him, open, and palm up, to show he has not hostile intent. He then waits at a comfortable distance, letting the griffon accept, or decline his company.
The griffon pauses in its preening at the sound of the chirp, only its dark eyes scanning the field before it returns to preening the long primary feathers. Its eyes once again scan the field, giving the avian being a quick glance while it settles its wings against its sides with a soft flutter. The mythic beast peers at him, giving its head a thoughtful tilt before shirruping in return, its attitude showing it doesn't mind the company.
With a show great courtousey, Horus offer a nod to the griffon before tilting his wings, and floating the rest of the distance down to the griffon's position. His talons make a slight click as come in contact with the ground, and a moment later, he flips his wings to his back, and looks at the griffon. He smiles, and offers a deep bow to the griffon. "I saw your beautiful flight. I am humbled to be in the presence of one as accomplished a flyer as you." he says, looking up to the griffon.
The mythic beast raises to its feet and returns the bow in its own fashion, opening its wings slightly as it dips its head low before chirriping. It doesn't speak much, but it understands what's being said, including the compliment to its flying ability. With an almost haughty shake of its head, it chirps again in thanks and dips its head.
With a chuckle, Horus turns to look at the sky a moment. "Such an open and free place, we celebrate it with our dance." he says, almost to himself. After a moment of silence, he turns back to the griffon. "So, what brings you out on such a fine day as this? Merely to enjoy pure light of the birthing sun and the azure sky? Or mayhaps something more?" he says, offering a soft smile to reassure the other.
The griffon tilts its head slightly while listening to the avian being then gives him a nudge with its beak while it chirps. Before it nudge again, the griffon raises its elegant head and looks around, surveying the field while flickings it wings and tail and appears to sniff the wind.
Horus looks at the griffon for a moment, and chuckles, slightly ashamed of himself for not realizing it sooner. "Ah, you hunt." he smiles and looks around. "Sorry, but I think the presence of two such as us has caused the grazing creatures to leave in haste." He looks around and takes a deep sniff of the air himself, seeming to take a moment to contemplate it. "I can't smell much, but I appear to be upwind." he says, thoughtfully, looking around for signs of life.
The griffon looks at him a moment then moves off a few paces, trying to catch a better scent of the wind before spreading its wings. It looks over its shoulder at him again then skrees as it leaps into the air with several strong beats of its great wings.
Horus nods in comprehension, and spreads his wings, stretching them a moment. Then, with a single forceful downbeat, he takes to the air, rising behind the griffon, following its course at a distance great enough to not crowd the hunter. At the same time, he casts his gaze over the surrounding landscape, looking for any likely looking spots that the griffon may try.
The griffon soars with the aid of the air currents rising high into the sky as it circles the field, watching it intently and the surrounding areas on the mountains. With the help of a thermal, it approaches the clouds in its flight, disappearing among them, only to dive out at an approaching wyvern.
Horus flys at a slower pace then the griffon, and backwings as the griffon dives out of the cloud towards the other creature. He remains a safe distance back, waiting to see what the griffon plans to do against such a foe. He was slightly surprised at its choice of targets, and now waits to see its strategy, strong flaps of his wings allowing him to hover in place just below the clouds.
The griffon screechs as it dives at the wyvern, claws and talons extended to make the first strike. Its wings buffet the small dragon while its claws slash at the tough hide with its first pass. The wyvern growls at the griffon and gives chase, following it in a headlong dive to the earth.
Horus watches the pair battle for a moment. He nods as he see's the griffon's tactics, that of hit and run. A good choice. As the wyvern dives towards the ground, following the griffon, Horus seems to teter for a moment, the falls fowards, his wings retracted as he follows the pair in a power dive of his own. He is, however, careful to keep his distance. This is the griffon's hunt, not his, and he does not wish to interfere.
The griffon turns at the last possible moment to return to the sky, leaving the wyvern barely enough time to catch itself and plow into the earth. It skims over a clump of brambles and sticks before turning and screeching at the small dragon, slashing at it as the wyvern takes to the air away from the mythic beast. With its tail lashing back and forth, the griffon lands near the bramble clump and watches the small dragon leave.
Horus back wings furiously a hundred feet from the ground, coming to a stop in the air and watches the wyvern make a fool of itself. However, seeing the wyvern leave, and the griffon make no move to pursue, he is a little vexed. He gently flits down to a bramble clump near the griffon, "Impressive, I must say." he says, and then looks at the griffon, humor draining away quickly "Though, I have to ask, why did you attack it? It was doing no harm to anything when you attacked it, and you obviously did not attack it for food. What was the purpose of that attack?" he asks, looking straight at the griffon.
The griffon watches as the dragon leave then quickly turns and eyes the avian being, snorting as he lands by the brambles. She lowers her head as she rises to her feet, lashing her tail while her wings spread to make her appear larger. She makes a single slow step toward him as a low skree is heard. Her whole attitude has seem to have changed, and not for the better.
Horus sighs, and looks at the griffon, "So, you attacked that poor dragon for no reason?" he says, looking at her for a long moment. He sighs again, and looks back to her. "The point of hunting is for food. The point of fighting is to protect. You were doing neither of those. To hurt another without just cause is beyond contempt." he says, eyeing the griffon warily. He is not intmidated by her posturing, but does not act rashly at this point. To do so would undermine his own words, words he believes with all his heart.
The griffon takes another measured step closer to the avian being, her posture showing she's close to pouncing as her tail whips back and forth. She edges closer to the brambles, putting herself between them and this avian. The feathers on her neck ruffle while she skrees at him again, then finally, after so long of saying nothing, her voice is heard amist her low skrees, "... Move away... "
Horus stands his ground, unflinching. "I misjudged you." he says, and extends his own wings, "We do not need to come to blows if you leave now." His voice is not challenging, but calm, offering an alternative to what the other plans, and his arms remain by his side, unthreatening, as though he does not plan to fight. "Let us part without incident." he says, his voice pleading with her not to do what he believes she plans to.
The griffon flicks her eyes towards the brambles, her posture remaining threatening as she skrees at him, ".. Move.. away... now.." She has her reasons for suddenly changing her mood, and sticks to them. As she turns her back completely to the brambles, another beast rises from it and peers out, large and covered in black scales, it makes her look like she's a cuddly little cub in comparison.
Horus suddenly realizes what is going on, and bows his head, backing up slowly till he is a good distance back of the nest. He then lowers himself to the ground, saying, without looking at the other, "I am sorry, I did not understand." he offers simply, knowing it is he who is in the wrong this day. "Forgive me."
The griffon snorts towards the avian then turns and hisses at the larger black creature as she starts to back away from it. The two beasts seem to face off as they glare into each other's eyes, only the griffon back away from it out of instinct. Her dark eyes flick back to him as she steps near, keeping her wings partially spread. She pauses for a moment, lowering her stance as she skrees, "Fly now... forgive later."
Horus rises and spreads his wings, and backs up a few paces but does not take to the sky, "No, we settle this now. My rashness has put me in the wrong, and caused much pain to you. I must make amends to you for my transgression. We may continue this talk elsewhere, but you must promise me that you will tell me how to make things right between us." he says, eyes still averted.
The griffon spares only a glance at the avian being and nods slightly before returning her full attention to the creature in the bramble nest. She watches the larger beast with wary eyes, keeping herself between it and the avian. At her moments inattention, it whipes its tail out to strike her, but she catches the movement in time to avoid it and snap at it.
Horus peers, and remembers something of his lore. He peers to get a better look at the creature "Wait, that is not another full grown wyvern, and I do not see another griffon nest around here." he says, looking around at the brambles, and seeming to come to a slow realization. "What is your business here?" he asks, this time in a firm tone, no trace of remorse left in his voice.
The griffon hisses and snaps at the creature then takes to the air, circling the nest just out of reach of its occupant while she skrees, "Its a great wyrm!" She leaves that as her only explanation as she backwings further away as the creature places its immense front feet on the edge of the nest.
Horus looks at the wyvern, and sighs. "Appearances decieve." he says, and takes wing into the air, looking down at the wyrm, and then up to the griffon. Something here does not make much sense, and he must make sense of it before it grows too late. He flys up towards the griffon, and calls out, "Why did you provoke beast like that?" as he evens out in the air with her.
The griffon looks over at the avian as he flies towards her then back down at the wyrm before finding a thermal and getting out of there quick. She spares no explanation until she's reached the edge of the field and lands.
Horus looks down at the wyrm, and thinks a moment. The wyrm will not have the answer he is looking for, so he follows the griffon. He checks the oath of the escaping creature, and moves quickly. Climbing a thermal a safer distance from the wyrm, he increases his speed to attempt and catch up to the griffon, his mind thoroughly unhappy with its current lack of information.
The griffon settles onto her haunches while she waits and preens her wings. For a moment, she ignores the avian, watching him out of the corner of her eye as she settles her wings comfortably against her back.
Horus slows his travel, then comes to a complete stop as he nears the griffon. He hovers in the air, and looks down at her for a moment, before touching down on the ground. He remains silent a moment, his gaze full upon her. Finally, he says, "What were you doing back there? I thought for a moment you might be protecting someone or something, but now, I'm not so sure."
The griffon regards him for a moment, clacking her beak a few times then finally answers, "I keep the unwary away from the great wyrm. Is dangerous when its in nest." Her answer is simple enough, though very wordy for a griffon of any sort.
Horus looks at her a long while. "You're actions would show otherwise. You attack a wyvern flying past it, driving it towards the ground near the wyvern's nest. At the same time, you acted very hostile towards me when I was near the creature's lair, as though I was causing a problem when a simple warning would have worked to get me leave. Either you have bad manners, or are not telling me all that there is."
The griffon snorts then replies, "Little dragon was flying near the nest. Had to make it leave in other direction before wyrm awaken." She peers at him as she falls quiet then continues, "You follow, you deal with consequences by following. Others leave when another turns to drive away."
Horus keeps looking at the griffon. "The attack on the wyvern may have been necessary to drive it away, but the threatening of myself was not. I had shown you that I was a being of logic. An utterance of 'Danger here' would have spurred me to go. Force is not the only option at all times. If the other is stronger, then force will not work. What do you do then?"
The griffon peers at him for long moment while she clacks her beak then finally answers, "WindStorm do what she think is right to make others leave before wyrm awaken." She slowly raises to her feet and flicks her wings.
Horus looks at her, then says, in a more calm tone, "You only desire to do your duty, but had I been of a more violent temperment, I might have struck out at you when you threatened me." he pauses, and looks at her a moment, then says, "You are gifted with speech, so why not warn with words first? Strength can be used to force those who don't reason, but words can deter those who do." he sighs, then says "You do an importnant job, and do it well. Why do you take that risk?" he asks.
WindStorm flicks her tail while she looks at the avian, considering her words carefully before replying, "WindStorm take risk." she says matter of factly then shrugs as best as she can, "Speach not alway work. Word be ignored, so use action. Smart animal leave when shown strength."
Horus nods, "Animals are one thing, Sentients are another. Speech might not always work, but but sometimes it does. There are many ways to vanquish a foe, and words are one. Why use energy on attacking when a foe can be turned aside with but a few simple words? You have such impressive strength, WindStorm, why not add another weapon to yourself in words?"
WindStorm nudges his shoulder with her beak as she answers, "You only sentient to come here in many year. Word not needed enough to make worth effort."
Horus looks at her, and nods. "And that may be a good thing. I guess you're right that it may that normal an occurance, but it can still happen. Why not just give it a try? It doesn't cost you anything, and may work. Heavens know that you can sound scary enough." he smiles at her.
WindStorm mmmrs softly in responce to the smile, as close as she can get, then looks towards the wyrm's nest, "Stay away from wyrm. WindStorm no leave till it go." She makes that her only and best attempt.
Horus nods, and smiles to her. "That will work, I think." says, and looks up to the sky, "I'm sorry that we couldn't understand each other earlier, and it nearly went bad in all ways. I guess my first instincts should be trusted more." he says, almost to himself, "But now, I'd like to say I'm sorry, and ask your forgiveness." he says, bowing his head to WindStorm.
WindStorm pads around the avian while she listens, nodding slightly then nudging him between his wings with her beak. If she knew what he was, she'd show more respect towards him, so she treats him as another avian. As she resettles herself onto her haunches in front of him, she nods and chirps as she answers, "Instinct good. They don't lead wrong." She pauses a for a moment, giving her tailtuft a flick before answering, "You seek forgiveness. You have forgiveness from WindStorm."
Horus nods, and looks up. He smiles, "I thank you for my forgiveness." he says, and looks towards the sky again. Having not revealed his true nature has gained him a valuable lesson this day, and he thanks his father for that lesson. Besides, it feels nice to not have titles and responsibilties for one day, and to be allowed, for one day at least, to be imperfect. "You know, the sky looks like an inviting canvas. I think may paint a picture of flight." he says, stretching his wings.
WindStorm parts her beak and tilts her head in a griffon's version of a smile while she nods, "Flight is good." Her eyes drift skyward, more watching the few birds flying by as she comments, "WindStorm need hunt soon..." then looks at him and mmmmrs, "What name?"
Horus smiles, and looks out into the sky, his eyes landing on a single bird, flying in a lazy arc back and forth across the front of the sun, receding into the distance. He doesn't answer for a long time, instead taking the time to enjoy the nature around him. Finally he responds, "My name...is Horus." he says in a soft tone, his eyes still following the single bird that flys towards the sun, not knowing it can never reach it.
WindStorm blinks her eyes once as she tilts her head, "You are Horus?" she says incredulously then folds her wings back and settles into a low crouch with her head bowed, "WindStorm did not know. Show more respect if know."
Horus looks over to her, and chuckles. "Rise, WindStorm. You have no need to bow to me, for you have taught me a valuable lesson this day. Besides," he smiles, "If I had wanted reverence, I would have told you my name earlier. As it turns out, you proved yourself to be greater then me." he smiles and turns back to the sky.
WindStorm rises to her feet, keeping her eyes on him for a moment then turns her gaze skyward as she comments, "You are not like others say."
Horus nods to her, "That may be the case, but judge me based on what you feel. Besides, what you know trumps all their beliefs." he says quietly. After a moment, he picks up a small stone, and tosses it up and down in the air a few times, and then looks to the birds again.
WindStorm nods as she turns her gaze back him, "WindStorm go by what she know. You prove be good avian, worthy of respect." then nudges his shoulder with her beak lightly while he tosses the stone.
Horus chuckles, and extends his free hand, and moves to place it on her shoulder. "You're a good griffon, WindStorm, you are worthy my respect, and thanks. I shall not forget this meeting" he says, stopping tossing the stone, then hurling it away.
WindStorm tilts her head slightly at the chuckle then looks at the hand resting on her shoulder before returning her gaze back to him. She nods slowly and clacks her beak then answers, "Horus need WindStorm, call. WindStorm hear and come." then looks skywards, "Need hunt soon."
Horus nods, and rises to his feet. "If I need help, I shall not forget your offer. Well, I've taken enough of your time, I shall let you hunt." he says, stretching his wings again, and looking off to the horizon. "And if you ever need help, be sure to call me. I will be there, on that you can count." He smiles, and offers his hand to WindStorm. "Good day, friend WindStorm." he says, smiling.
WindStorm looks at the hand a moment then places her taloned forepaw in it, "Good flight, Horus."
Horus nods, and with a flap of his wings, he is airborne. He turns to face WindStorm, and raises a single hand, in sign of farewell, then turns, and with a few more flaps, he ascends into the clouds, and is gone.
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