Blooding

Hex

The companions had travelled for hours deeper into the wastes. As they journeyed further, the temperature continued to plummet until they both were shuddering under their cloaks. Their progress was slow. It was impossible to tell the direction in a land with no discernible features. The flawless plane soon became nauseating and looking at the reflection of the sky churned the drake's stomach. Twice he had nearly heaved. The Griffon had travelled on his back, too weak to carry herself, but now she was beside him. Limping silently with her beak chattering. Her lips were purple and her feathers stiff. She had assured him that she could tell they were plunging deeper. When he questioned her, she simply answered that the temperature was lowering and when they diverged outward the air would grow warmer. By warmer, it simply meant it was slightly better than frigid. The colder the air, the further in they were.

The drake felt like he was wading through an ice-cube. He feared the air in his lungs might freeze. His breathing had become heavier and he saw that the Griffon was suffering too. But on her face, he saw steely determination, the same determination that had borne her out here after her flight.

They both agreed to stop and warm by the pyre. Their claw-covers, or 'shoes' that quadrupeds wore to warm their feet and talons, were frozen stiff. He removed the burner from the pack and lit it. The flame danced excitedly, despite the still breeze. It whisked and flicked high licks of fire. The Griffon stared at it, ruminating closely. She exhaled a shaky breath and basked in the heat. Soon hot air formed around them in a cocoon, her beak warmed orange again and the chattering faded away.

'The pyre is reacting here,' She said.

'What do you mean?'

She pointed, 'Look at it, its dancing in a non-existent wind. And can you feel the ice? It's cold upon my haunches, yet it is under the fire.'

'It didn't melt when I knocked the flame onto it.' Lusik said.

She nodded, 'Aya. That is because, Lusik. It is not ice.' The scholarly part of her pricked up in interest. To see the effects of something she had studied so closely was mesmerising. To be finally here. Not in the manner she had intended, fleeing from the villagers. Yet here she was, finally. However, that scholarly interest was tempered by her more primal instincts. Fear, 'This place, is a sort of...' She paused, her beak scrunching up, 'What's the word. Trapped spirit place? Um.'

'Limbo?' He said.

'Yes!' Her voice lowered, 'Limbo.'

Lusik shifted uncomfortably on his haunches, his muzzle a mixture of fear and apprehension, 'What does this mean for us?'

'Perhaps the Old Place, the old myths were half true. Or maybe even a quarter true. As all myths are. Mayhap the city whence I came, is not on the ice.'

'In the ice? Frozen?' He said.

'No, no. In the reflection.' As she said this her eyes wandered down, staring back up was a scarred griffon with alabaster feathers. A sooty sky with golden stains hung overhead.

It was here that her mind wandered to her miraculous escape. Every brutal scar inflicted on her body was replicated ten-fold on her attackers. Blood gushed. Tails thrashed. And Lusik's brothers screamed. Whilst she fled staggered and bloody, 'Are your kin dead?' She asked.

He was unperturbed, 'No, they bled hard but live.' His eyes grew hard and accusing, 'I saw. They laid their claws on you. Then wounds burst in the same fashion that they gave to you. Only, greater and far more threatening.' A small pause floated between them, 'You best tell me what you are.'

'I am a who. Not a what.' Anger sparked in her.

'If your soul is animal or drake, it doesn't matter. Not to me, I've seen animals with noble souls weighted more than drakes that assail Griffons.'