Howl in My Deep Beautiful Soul

Howl in My Deep Beautiful Soul 7

We followed the shopkeeper out of the small hospital like rooms and hallways. She walked outside and to the back, we continued to slowly walk after her towards a huge, what looked like a two story barn. I gaze up at it, this is where they kept the Griffins. I smiled, I hope its just like riding a horse.

The shopkeeper pushed on one of the two wood doors it creaked and slid across the cement. She tells us to hurry inside, we follow her instructions and when we get inside, I stand in awe as about 3 dozen Griffins swoop about. The second level is open and it gives the Griffin's room to fly a little. Hay is scattered everywhere as we saunter through the barn. Almost as if we were in an actual horse barn handmade saddles and bridles lay on the right wall. She reassures us that they won't hurt us. I nod respectively and she starts to explain the Griffin. The shopkeeper tells us that the griffin is an extremely smart and clever animal. Once they feel that their master is going to be or is being harmed they become very protective. She says that their part lion and part bird.

I look about the room and notice that each Griffin has different markings and colors. I blink and shift uncomfortably, Bryce seems to consider me and asks, "How does she get the perfect Griffin?"

She nods and explains, "He/She will pick you."

"How?" I inquire, speaking out for the first time since the interview.

"The griffin will come to you and bow respectively."

Selena perks up and asks "How do you know it will be a boy or a girl?"

"There is a pink and blue ribbons on their tails."

I turn and walk down the long hall looking up at all of the second story stalls. Griffins lay and stand in their stalls, I smile and turn my attention to a griffin in front of me. I look for the ribbon and see that its pink. Her feathers are light brown and her fur is dark brown. She stares at me then takes off soaring to an empty stall. I jump back at her sudden retreat and keep slowly walking. I get stopped a couple more times but none bowing. I even encounter a mother and her 3 babies but still not one of them bend recognition. Until a jet black male approaches me, he gazes at me from afar for a long while. Almost making it impossible to tell if he was going to be mine. He made a small noise from the back of his throat. The griffin walked closer and bent one of his scaled first legs, his claws scrapping against the cool cement. He arched his head and closed his eyes.

I heard a delightful gasp come from the shopkeeper, "Wonderful!"

"What am I supposed to do now?" I asked the gleeful shopkeeper through gritted teeth.

"Oh right, bow back."

I did as she told me to and in return the griffin straighten up, grinning.

"Wha-" before  I could ask, the griffin turned his head towards his flank and gently pulled the blue ribbon from his lion tail. He held the strand in his beak, I put my hand out slowly and he dropped it. The ribbon sailed into my palm. Letters slowly started to appear and formed a name in cursive, Lucian.

 I starred at the ribbon in amazement, "That's your name. Lucian."

Yes. I am your griffin now.

Lucian stepped forward and let me stroke his feathers on his neck and wings. His jet black feathers ruffled under my touch and he shifted his weight. Lucian's yellow beak matched his eyes, watching me carefully as I turned towards the shopkeeper, Bryce and Selena.

Bryce walked forward and Lucian tensed. "Sorry to hurry you along but we got to hit the road."

I nodded and reassured Lucian with a tender smile. "Alright."

"Okay!" The shopkeepers cheerfulness  made me jump, " Let's go. Oh! We need to get you set with some gear. You are going to Bairolin?"

"Yep" Selena awnsered the shopkeeper.

"Well they will teach you how to ride and fly."

Fly. I am going to fly.

She walked over to the mess that was a small tack spot in the busy barn. I thought back to the questions she asked me in the white room. What were they for if the Lucian picked me?

"Excuse me?"

"Hmm?" The shopkeeper replied still rummaging

"What were the questions for?

"To see what kind of an owner you will be."

I nodded but then realised she wasn't looking at me. I looked over at Bryce who was already starring at me, I smiled lightly. Then turned my attention back to the shopkeeper who made a 'awha' noise letting us know that she had found what she was looking for.

"This is something I have had saved up for your griffin, if you haven't noticed he is the only black adult male in our barn." She paused and I looked around to notice that she was correct, "Besides the little one over there."

She pointed to the second level of the barn, a mother huddled around her ebony baby. "Lucian has no relative affiliation with her; we found him alone as a pup and kept him here ever since. We didn't know who he was going to go to but we figured he would only pick someone special."

The shopkeeper winked at me then turned her attention towards the saddle and bridle she held securely in her hands. The saddle was a butter-cream leather with a velvet dark brown top, the bridle matched perfectly.

"This is wonderful." I grinned and took them in my hands. "Thank you so much."

"Sorry but we really must be going," Bryce pleaded.

"Oh sure sure, right this way." the shopkeeper lead us out and back into the main building. "He will be shipped to you immediately."

 We left the pet store and stood outside, the cool breeze picking up my hair. I looked up at the blue sky and took a deep breath.

"Alright so how are we going to get to school?" Selena asked Bryce.

He grinned, "By subway. Not just any subway, a magical subway."

I rolled my eyes, Oh sure.

I contacted Selena. Woo, a subway. I looked at her and she smirked.

Hey I'm not crazy about it either.

"Hey you guys I'm part of this journey too," Bryce whined.

Our eyes drifted to him and laughter bubbled out of me.

"C'mon. Let's go catch that magical subway," I winked at Bryce.