200 Chapter TWO HUNDRED. YAY! - Crowning a Griffon (1/2)

Errant stepped out from the bounds of The Camp, trotting calmly along the packed trail that led towards the Rift, aiming to get out of the Camp's Interdictions.

A large winged creature with a dark head spiraled down out of the sky ahead of him, clearly aiming to intercept him at the edge of the safe zone. The Griffons of the Stormcrest Crown were helping the allies here with patrols and other things, occasionally swooping into a fight with flying Warp mutants to vent their ire upon them.

They had a great deal of experience with Interdiction zones and knew how fearsome losing the ability to fly could be, and very wisely shirked their limits. Errant was heading out to meet one personally he had been referred to in Marktell, a proud young griffon called Darkbolt, who prided himself on being the fastest of his Crown, and whose wing had been saved a few weeks back by Sama.

He was waiting as Errant stepped out of the Interdiction, a saddle and a couple other things piled up on his Disk as he walked fearlessly up to the haughty eagle-headed, lion-bodied creature.

”Good morning. My name is Errant, and I'm a Heavenbound Warlock. I'm here to request your services as a mount in the service of Heaven.”

Wrath burned up around him, golden glory suffused with the power of the celestial realms. Despite himself, Darkbolt's golden eyes widened at the nonesuch sight and power of it, an ancient calling burning in his soul.

”Griffons are the sacred animal of Aru. When the greatest knights of Aru ride to battle, they call for griffons, no lesser steeds.” Errant looked up the darkly feathered eagle's head above him. ”I would like to show you why griffons ride with Heavenbound.”

The griffon's head tilted sharply in a birdlike manner, and almost despite himself, shrilled a curious assent.

”I am going to saddle you.” He jerked a thumb at his own back. ”As you can see, I'm wearing a pack, for the exact same purpose. It's a more comfortable way to carry something. I'll take the saddle off when we're done, and I'll also show you how to take one off.” He picked up the oversized saddle, as the griffon was significantly larger than most horses, and the griffon watched closely as he set the blanket on, dropped the saddle, and cinched it tight with the griffon's reluctant approval.

He also fixed two greaves along the raptor-like forelegs of Darkbolt, who chirruped unhappily at them, while Errant's Disk folded up in leaves and went back into his Masspack.

”Say 'lion',” he said calmly, stepping back and crossing his arms.

Darkbolt chirped something, and there was a flowing golden light. His raptor's forelegs transformed into the muscular legs and paws of a great lion, matching those of his hindquarters.

Darkbolt squawked in alarm, bouncing up and down, lifting up one paw, then another in surprise and fascination.

”Try running and jumping around. You'll find them much more comfortable for walking then talons,” Errant said patiently.

Darkbolt did just that, prancing back and forth for a few minutes, sprinting fifty yards, leaping to and fro, dodging back and forth, finding the experience interesting. Indeed, it was much easier to get around like this on the ground.

”Say 'eagle',” Errant told him, and a shriek later, his talons were back as they were before. Chirps and shrieks interchanged as Darkbolt watched his forelegs change back and forth.

”Now, let me get up on you.” The griffon didn't move as Errant fluidly set himself up into the saddle. ”Now, I'm going to speak a terrible truth to you, which you already know.” He pointed back to The Camp. ”Griffons can't fly.” The griffon looked back at him with a turn of his hand. ”If you don't believe me, go forty yards that way. Nothing that uses magical means to fly can stay airborne... not griffons, not pegasi, not dragons, not manticores, giant bats, or whatever. But a simple, ordinary bird has no problem flying there.”

Darkbolt protested the unfairness of it, but looked away. All the Griffons had experience with the fields, Sama had insisted they know what it felt like to be in one of them. It was frightening being forced into a power glide that barely slowed their descents...

”What this means is that you are magical, especially your wings. And Heavenbound can share their Whim with their mounts.” Errant shifted his position as he concentrated, sending a flow of Wrath down his tailbone.

Darkbolt jumped five feet into the air at the sensation, his great dark wings snapping out in alarm... and they were sparkling with golden light in between his feathers.

”First application of Angel Walk, Light as an Angel. Jump for as much height as you can.”

Darkbolt obligingly tensed down, and with a shriek bounced for altitude.

The shriek became a little wild as he shot up, nearly weightless, over a hundred feet above the ground in only a second, far, far higher than he expected, in only a single beat of his wings.

He felt like he weighed nothing. Shrieking in glee, he beat his wings, and his body bounced around like a fledgling.

-Come to a halt, and put your feet down,- Errant /told him calmly in Marktell, now that they were touching. The Marked griffon looked at his mental image, and there was a ripple in his mindset as he beheld the burning purity of a Senior Heavenbound. Errant wasn't Sage Sama, but there was something both grim and glorious behind him that she didn't have.

Heaven...

He looked down, his dark wings aglitter with gold, and found himself standing on the air, faint golden mist curling away from his feet. Hesitantly, he paced forwards, and found his progress sure and easy, the air like a steady road under his claws.