Vena yawned sleepily, her eyes pricking occasionally with the booms and cracks of the storm. She would have been near the entrance of the dragon keep, but she hated to get her feathers wet, so she stayed underneath her mothers wing, dry and comfortable.

At a particularly loud boom of thunder, she heard the quick tapping of talons and claws on stone. She smiled to herself; her brother must have gotten startled. She nuzzled her beak into the plumage on Sevena's shoulder to keep it warm.

Her eyes drifted shut after a few moments, and she was almost asleep when she heard the beating of wings. Her head shot up. She squeaked softly, pushing her beak, followed by her head, out into the open. Father was back, and probably with food.

The obsidian black gryphonling scampered over to Fletcher as he flew into the dragon keep and set down a deer leg. She looked around for her brother, then padded over to Sevena's other wing. She peered underneath and grinned at Tas, her emerald eyes sparkling.

Come on, Tas, aren't you hungry? she chirped to him, then ducked back out and bounded to the meat. Her tiny stubby beak couldn't take big pieces like she wanted to, so she contented herself with tearing chunks off and swallowing them whole.

Once she felt full - which was quickly because she was still so small - she padded over to her father and rubbed her head against his foreleg. Thank you, Papa. she chirped, purring lovingly in her throat.

- - - - - - - - - -

Sevena blinked open her eyes when she felt something wriggle its way underneath one of her wings. She smiled warmly and huffed, lowering her head to peer at her son. She hummed soothingly at him, her green-flecked-with-gold eyes gentle.

Don't be frightened, Tas. Though it may sound as if it might be able to come get you, I guarantee that it will not. she purred. She lifted her head and yawned, blinking to clear her vision of sleep. She glanced toward her other wing, chuckling to herself as she heard Vena yawn.

The female gryphon looked up at the sound of wingbeats and relaxed with relief when she saw her mate. She had worried for him since he left with Violeta. She got to her feet and padded to his side. How bad was it while you were out? she asked quietly as she preened at some feathers on his shoulder.

Vena chirped at her father in reply, her emerald eyes glittering at him, then padded over to her brother and laid down beside him. She preened into the tiny feathers on his neck.

After our food has settled you wanna explore around the monastery again, Tas? she asked eagerly, nudging his shoulder gently with her beak.

- - - - - - - - - -

Sevena sighed and shook her head. I've never seen a storm like this, not even back home during the winter months. she said, gazing out into the pouring rain. She longed to stretch her wings and soar through the sky - she'd been cooped up for days and hated it - but caring for her little ones came first, not to mention she wasn't that fond of getting wet.

Vena shivered and looked warily at the rain that came down in almost literal sheets. No, we don't. she assured her brother, and got to her feet. She glanced at her parents and nudged Tas. Come on; let's go while they are distracted. she said.

She checked one more time to make sure they weren't looking, then scampered forward out of the dragon keep. Once they were out of sight she grinned at her brother. Piece of cake. she said primly, her feathers ruffling.

She padded forward to an entrance that led deeper into the monastery, sniffing curiously at the floor as she walked.

- - - - - - - - - -

Sevena snorted softly as Violeta came in. Her pupils narrowed playfully at the lightning dragoness. She'd been envious of that ability since she saw it. It could come in handy. Rainforest is inaccurate. It should be called Drenchforest. she muttered.

Vena snorted quietly in agreement. She scurried past him, brushing his flank gently with an extended wing tip. Tag, your it, Tas! she exclaimed, and put on a burst if speed. She looked at him, her emerald eyes gleaming with mischief. Race you to the kitchens! she called back.

OOC:
Short. >.<

I'm not sure. Tas said, walking onward. There was a door at the far end of the corridor and a staircase leading down halfway down the hall. The door at the far end of the hall had a sighn above the entrance that read "Dormitories".

Tas turned to Vena. Vena, which way do you think we should go?



OCC: Short. Sorry.

Vena tilted her head at the door at the end of the hall. She scampered over to it and sniffed at the floor. This way. she chirped. She waited for her brother to catch up to her, then she padded forward through the door. She caught a familiar scent, but she couldn't put a name to it.

Tas, you smell that? she asked curiously, lifting her head to sniff as she gazed around.

OOC:
Meh, I'm short too. >.<

Vena's ears perked straight up. I wonder what he's doing down here... she mused to herself. She peered around the corner underneath Tas, too curious to help herself. I don't know. Let's watch. she encouraged her brother.

OOC:
Short.

Tas followed his sister as they made their way back to the dragon keep. He hoped that their parents wouldn't be angry at them for wondering off.

Tas was not sure what to make of this human girl. He had never interacted with any of the monks before.

Zara quietly followed the two gryphonlings up to the dragon keep.


OCC: Short. Sorry.

Sevena watched Mir sadly, silently cursing the humans that hurt her. The female gryphon huffed and looked outside at the pouring rain. I wish this rain would stop. I want to stretch my wings without getting my feathers soaked. she said, scowling.

OOC:
Shortness. >.>

Sevena sleepily blinked open her eyes and lifted her head. Something warm and golden was streaming into the dragon keep. She was so unused to it that it took her a moment to realize what it was; sunshine! She carefully got to her feet so she didn't disturb the children and joined her mate at the entrance. She prummed and leaned against him, looking about at the dewey surroundings. She looked up at her mate, tender love making her eyes glitter with warmth. Have I told you lately that I love you, Flit? If I have not, then I must remedy that; I love you. she purred to the male gryphon.

"Alright then, let's be off!" Fletcher said, spreading his wings and launching himself into the air.

It felt good to as the wind rushed over his wings. Fletcher flew along the treetops in the valley below the monastery, heading for the familiar meadow.

Now children, stay close by and do not wander off like last time! I don't want to have to ground both of you. he called to them mentally.


Tas flew alongside his parents, looking at the landscape below. He couldn't wait until he was full grown so he could explore on his own.

Yes father. he replied to Fletcher.
OCC: Sorry, short.

Vena flew on the other side of her mother. She dipped her head to Fletcher. Yes, father. she murmured. She beat her wings a few times to keep up with Sevena. She looked up at her father, her emerald green eyes lighting up.

Father, may I practice Telekinetic Thought while we are out? she asked eagerly.

OOC:
Short. >.>

Vena spluttered and surfaced, her entire body completely drenched. She glanced in dismay at her water logged feathers, then glowered at her brother. She raised a dripping wet wing and splashed it in the water, sending a mini wave toward Tas. She grinned at him, her emerald eyes glittering.

Vena glowered after her brother, climbing out after him onto the shore. She shook viciously, though her feathers were still soaked through. She snorted crossly; she hated getting wet. She settled down on the bank and went about drying out her plumage.

- - - - - - - - - -

Sevena soared silently just below the clouds, gazing about the world that had become her home. So much had happen to her that she thought never would. She'd never imagined herself leaving Iaras, but in the end she was glad that she had. She never would have been happy with him as his Queen servant.

She'd never imagined herself with children either. She loved Vena and Tas dearly and cherished them above everything in her current life, beat only by her love for Fletcher. her heart warmed in her chest at the thought of her mate.

She tilted her wings just a bit and dropped a few meters. Now she could see her children playing in the stream. She laughed softly as Vena tried to push her brother into the water and ended up getting wet herself. Evidently she had used her Telekinetic Thought to urge Tas into the water as well, but that backfired, too.

She shook her head at the antics of the two gryphonlings and smiled to herself. She also saw Fletcher soaking up the sun on a boulder by the stream. He had his belly up now. She smiled and silently drifted down until she hovered just above him.

She dropped down onto the boulder on top of Fletcher, prumming a greeting. The female gryphon nuzzled his shoulder, preening affectionately at the feathers there. Enjoying the sun? she purred.

- - - - - - - - - -

Once her plumage was reasonably dry, if damp could be called dry, she got to her feet and followed Tas's scent to the tree. She looked up at him, just barely spying him between the branches, leaves, and twigs. You know I can't climb very well. she complained, scowling at her brother, but her emerald green eyes twinkled with humor.

Vena muttered to herself, still staring up at her brother. Her eyes widened in horror as she saw him leap from the tree being pursued by a group of hornets. She squealed and spun, taking off at a sprint back to the meadow. She looked back at Tas.

Freeze them or light them on fire! she said, the whites of her eyes visible in her fear.

- - - - - - - - - -

Sevena prummed and let her body rest over his, preening slowly at his neck. I do suppose it is. she said with a slight smile. Suddenly she lifted her head and tilted it, her ears flicked forward to listen. Something's wrong. she said, her green-flecked-with-gold. She stepped off of her mate and scanned the trees. She heard buzzing, like a hive of bees.

Tas raced along through the air but the hornets were dreadfully fast. Finally with no other alternative, Tas focused his energy on the hornets. Several of them exploded like little fireworks in rapid succession. It would have been rather humorous if the swarm wasn't so intimidating.

Tas then focused his freezing energy on them and another large chunk of the warm froze solid and fell into the grass. Tas made sure Vena was keeping up with him and made sure that the hornets didn't get her.

"What in blazes have they gotten themselves into now?" Fletcher yelled as he leaped to his feet. Then he was the swarm, or what was left of it anyway. At this point most of the hornets were gone. Fletcher focused his mental screech on the remaining insects and let them have it, knocking them out of the sky.

Vena looked up at Mir and her emerald green eyes sparkled with eagerness. Yes, please. she chirped, sitting up from the laying position she had been in. Her tail twitched with excitement and her plumage bristled.

OOC:
Meh, short. >.>

Mirriana nodded and looked the gryphonling in the eye. Very well, let's see what you know so far. Try to break into my mind without me noticing.

Mir doubted Vena could do it. Mirriana has been using her abilities for years and was a mind breaking expert. She braced herself and readied for the test.

OCC: Short.

Vena nodded, noting the advice. She would have to find a happy-medium for her speed when she was slipping into someones mind. She shook her head at Mir's question. No, but I inherited mother's verbal screech. I've been practicing with it, too. Though, its so shrill that it even affects me. I can only keep it going for thirty seconds. she said, and tilted her head. Why? she asked curiously.

OOC:
Meh, short. >.>