20 Lion Loin (1/2)
It was purely a reflexive act, as a biologist, Nelda told herself.Of course, with the gryphon lying on his own couch she had opportunity to notice a complete lack of external genitalia in the area of his lion… loin.
It was like when, as a student, she had been taught about operant training using a computer simulation of a rat.The program simulated a rat's behavior as you taught it how to press a lever and respond to different schedules of reinforcement.As a biology major Nelda could not help but note that, while the computer rat was always referred to as 'he', it had no testicles.A feature that is hard to conceal on a real rat.[Sniffy was definitely a Sniff-ette.]
Gryphon SmithGuild might also be a gryph-ette, or given the way things were arranged around here possible neuter, intersex, or some other kind of sex-gender-etcetera. She contemplated that fact that it was all really none of her business after she woke up around dawn.She had consumed maybe 6 [7?] glasses of wine [sherry?]and so had matching pains head and foot which made any c=kind of sustained contemplation quite difficult.
She had been provided a cozy ground floor room with a squishy bed and window with shutters—which were open--and no glass.She was sleeping in her birthday suit under a single sheet in the pleasantly warm and breezy room. It was all more or less… okay, until an unfamiliar gryphon burst into her room.
It grabbed her foot and declared enthusiastically, ”is this the broken one?”
No, that one's all right.”
”Are your sure?” the small chocolate-brown colored gryphon manipulated her foot up and down.”Is it meant to do that? What is this thick-skinned part for?”
”That's the bit that goes on the ground, like the pad of my foot.”
The female gryphon vigorously palpated Nelda's ankle.”But isn't this your hock.”
”I mean yes, more or less.But that's still how we do things.”
Her gryphon ran in belatedly.”Herby, I said I would introduce you. And that you should call at a civilized hour.” He wasn't wearing any of his natty gryphon clothes, but it was difficult to consider him naked.
”Smithy, my bonny darling.Dawn is a very civilized hour,” Herby she reached for Nelda's hurt ankle.
Nelda reflexively scrambled away, clutching the sheet to her chest.
”Are it's claws meant to look like that?” Herby asked.
”They are nails, and yes.” Nelda was starting to get defensive.
Herby clapped her bird-hands together.”Oh like, the centaurs.It has foot-fingers.How delightful.”
[The people are going to give me some kind of complex about my feet.]
Her gryphon pushed his sister from the room.”Wait in parlor, please.I will bring Lady Nelda in anon.”
[When did I get a title?]
He returned to find Nelda still clutching a thin sheet to her chest as Herby loitered in the hallway.