Just Another Day

Ah the waterfalls! She thought excitedly. Something about being so close to the falls gave her a rush and an energetic feeling. She forced herself to focus and look around past the rippling and bubbling water and the rocks that had been pounded smooth.

And there's the kid! Big fella, Shanku noted. She shouldn't have been surprised to see that the giant's pudgy child was easily taller than the Highlands. Rin happened to be there for her sizing comparison.

Rin's found the kid. Good. Rin had his wings flared before him and was standing between the upset child and three hissing sabrewing gryphons.

Gryphons circling. Bad. Shanku laid her ears back. And Rin can't get that kid off because of those featherheads. She looked up to the sky in search of any help. The next patrol is too far away. She looked back down at Rin and the child. With a sinking feeling in her gut, she crouched low to the ground. Oh, lucky me.

She quietly backed away from the stand-off between Rin and the gryphons to a nearby clearing where there was a break in the canopy. She took flight and climbed high into the air. You owe me, Rin!

Below, the gryphons continued their slow advance, pacing and writhing on the bank adjacent to Rin and their target. Their heads were low, their wings flared, and their bodies tense as if prepared to spring at any moment.

To Rin's surprise, the gryphon's behaviour suddenly changed quite a bit. They stood tall, their ears erect, and wings tight to their sides as they looked all around them, trilling softly in curiousity.

Suddenly, there was a flash of feathers as three gryphons squawked, scrambled, and fled as fast as they could.

Rin looked in confusion at the hastily shed feathers floating in the air to see Shanku laying where the gryphons had stood.