One shot- random writing.

Story 1- The Phoenix

The prompt, from ServiceScape.com

Tradition states that mages in your kingdom are granted the companionship of a mythical beast when they reach their 20th year. The beast is said to reflect your future and the path you are destined to take as one of the few chosen at birth to wield magic. When your 20th birthday arrives, you are ecstatic. The ceremony begins in the evening as the sun is beginning to set. The ritual torches are lit, the sigil is drawn, and you step forward towards the Elder Crystal, placing your hands atop it, your family watching you eagerly. As the mages of old recite the birthright incantation, the ground shakes. The earth within the sigil cracks and falls away, allowing a pure, white light to erupt below. The light shifts from white to a blazing red as a horrible screech echoes through the hallowed woods. The phoenix rises, its flames blinding and beautiful, and sends a ripple of heat across the crowd. Everyone goes silent as the bird perches next to you, heat radiating from its feathers. This creature, thought to have been extinct for hundreds of years, has been prophesized to stand beside the mage who will bring forth the end of times.

Started; 11/12/24

finished; 11/22/24

Marie stared at the burning red creature perched beside her on the railing of the dias where the Elder Crystal sat. It gave a shake, and ash and golden embers slid down its wings to pool around the floor by her boots.

She glanced back over her shoulder as voices rose. Mages whispered behind large sleeves. Nobel knights stood in front of their charges. They were muffled, the words, the fears, as Gabriel pushed past the guards around the stairs, at her side in a moment. "Don't listen, just follow me." he cups her elbow and leads her down the marble stairs, her jaw set. His eyes were dark and hardened as they reached the bottom where guards had pushed in.

One of the guards, his Kelpie standing behind with glowing white eyes, puts his hand up. "Slow down, Reeds," he said, glancing back at Marie, who was hiding behind Gabriel. "Your sister has to-"
"I'm sure the elders can forgive us if we slip away now. It's not like it's a secret what a phoenix means it's an old story that I'm sure means nothing." Gabriel said. The bird had hopped off its perch and neatly sailed down to sit on Marie's shoulder. The heat made her wonder if her hair would burn off. "We'll register them tomorrow."
The guard started to say something but stopped as a shadow fell over them as Gabriel's dragon, Thunder, loomed over them. He and Gabriel had been companions for the last decade and was the only dragon-human in the capital. All the others had left to guard the outer borders.

Thunder huffed a cloud of steam down, the guard and kelpie rear back, and Gabriel helped Marie up to grab the rope ladder attached to Thunder's saddle.

"Gabe...I-I'm I...?" She couldn't finish her question.

He swings up behind her. Reaching around to lift the chair reins, he said, "No, that prophecy is a load of crap if you ended up with a phoenix. I can't even get you to kill a bug- you're not capable of ending all of time."

"Yeah." Marie grabbed the horn of the saddle as Thunder reared on his back legs, spreading his huge red leather wings. "You're right..."

"A Phoenix...Marie... How?"

Ryuu had been working late in the conservatory and hadn't been able to make it to the ceremony. He had come in, Marionette on her way to the stable to settle down for the night, with a bundle of MoonBulbs for Marie, ready to see who she had been matched with...And had found his brother and sister in the living room watching the burning bird curl up in the logs of the fireplace.

"I thought we guessed a griffin or a wyvern- a rideable flier like us?" Ryuu asked as he and Gabriel looked in the kitchen for what to feed the Phoenix. "What happened?"
"Not a clue," Gabe said as he pulled a pouch of nuts from the cupboard and opened the bread box. "I was betting on something small. Something Marie could carry around in her pocket."
Ryuu leaned out of the doorway. The Phoenix was about three feet long from its head to the base of its tail. It was slim, sure, but still as big as a small child. "Yeah... I don't think she can fit that in her pocket."