Eternal Beasts

Shakedown

- Right. Time is short. - Jared pulled off his rain shell and dropped it to the ground to begin pulling off his hoodie. - By the way, do you know where Nikeera is? -

- Last I could tell, she had reached the Master Library, - the ancient entity replied. - Then there was a massive magical surge and I lost both you and her. -

Jared frowned at that, pausing in pulling off his t-shirt.

- You lost us? - he repeated. - For how long? -

- Approximately sixteen hours, - the book grimly revealed.

Sixteen hours?? That meant they only had ... seven hours to get to Tammen Gall from here!

- And the flight time from Findias to Tammen Gall? - he tersely asked, yanking his t-shirt the rest of the way off. Only to get butted from behind by Samantha, who apparently was enjoying the view.

- You're making me miss my nysim body, - she said morosely over the bond.

- Sorry, Sams, - he replied, pausing again to put an arm around her beak and give it a kiss.

- Flight time from Findias to the Arch is approximately six hours, - the book replied then, sending a galvanizing shock through the big man.

"Shit!" he snarled out loud, yanking down his jeans. Only to get another butt from Samantha.

- Sammy, sweetheart, you need to let me dress, - he said, turning back to her to look into her big, golden eyes. - We are running out of time! -

- Sorry, my Jared. I just miss you, - the griffon replied. - I miss how our bodies fit together, and how amazing your skin felt against mine. -

- Me too, Sams, me too. But we only have seven hours to get to Tammen Gall and it takes six to fly the distance. We need to get to flying! -

Reluctantly Samantha backed away enough for him to finish pulling off his Earth clothes and start pulling on the leather gear of a griffon rider. Which went on ridiculously easy, fitting as if specifically tailored to him, comfortable and granting full freedom of movement, the leather completely blocking the cold while remaining supple in the chill.

Shrugging into the coat, he scooped up the belt. But, as he was about to put it on, he saw the scabbard was also equipped with a broad strap that had a padded section, as if it were meant to be slung over the shoulder instead of hung from the belt. He nodded as he saw the design. It would allow the sword to rest across his back, more comfortable and accessible while riding.

Jared quickly slipped the scabbarded sword off the belt and, using the strap, slung it onto his back, securing it into place with a smaller strap that went under his arm to form a triangle with the scabbard. That done, the belt went on through loops in the breeches and he secured the ornate buckle by looping a knot of the flexible belt around the buckle and pulling it tight, He then closed the coat and threw on the cloak, which now revealed a slit for the sword hilt to stick out of as the sword now rode comfortably just behind his left shoulder, within easy reach and unimpeded by the cloak.

- Normally you would've put on a child's version of that uniform after you and the infant griffon bonded, which was custom at the height of the flight's power. Bonding that young allowed a lifetime to strengthen the bond - the book revealed. - But since the restoration was predicated on an adult's participation, the last Lord of Griffons made sure an adult version of the uniform was preserved along with the saddle and Samantha. -

- Oh, I don't know, - Jared said, turning back to Samantha and stepping close to run his hands through her neck and throat feathers, his touch making the Eternal Beast close her eyes with pleasure. - I think our bond is pretty strong already. -