- Dα΄Κ 08: TΚα΄ SΚα΄α΄α΄ | feat. Amalie | Location: Ironfist Mountains | Words: 516
"Come on, shortlegs! Before we get caught!" Ivette Ironfist whispers fiercely over her shoulder. A red faced, seventeen year old Amalie stumbles behind. "Hold!" They both freeze, the strange leather saddle slung over Ivette's shoulder jingling in the early morning quiet. Amalie's pale eyes widen, the leather halter in her hands creaking as footsteps fade. Both girls sigh in relief before they're on the run again.
"W-what makes you so sure this-this will work?" Amalie stutters out, panting as they flee between the village tents.
"Didn't you see Blue, yesterday? He was eating out the palm of your hand!" Ivette laughs over her shoulder. Her red hair is as wild as she is, and twice as hard to tame as a griffin. "Saddle works, bridle works! Today we fly!" the girl crows as they trek up the mountainside.
The first tendrils of dawn stain the inky sky as they come upon the nesting beasts. Chirps from small griffin cubs greet the pair. A darkly plumed older beast rumbles at their disturbance, lion-like tail lashing grumpily. A canary-yellow female with sunset-tipped wings chatters to another pair of griffins. A trio of larger brutes take to the skies to escape the annoying two-legged creatures, their feathers ruffled with disturbance.
Amalie whistles, a soft sound that echoes in the mountains. A pile of pale blue feathers ruffles, two golden eyes snapping open. The bluejay plumed griffin stretches, chattering to himself, and approaches the pair.
"Hey Blue," Amalie coos to the beast as he moseys over. The blue griffin preens at her hair, mussing the strands into disarray. Ivette lowers the saddle carefully across his back as the short girl scratches under his chin. Blue purrs. Several buckles are latched around his girth and chest, Ivette making quick work of the tedious task. Amalie slips the modified bridle over the griffin's ebony beak, over his feathered ears and under his chin.
"Now for the real test," Ivette murmurs with glee. She cups her hands together and motions to the shorter girl. "Come on! Hurry! If your Da catches us, I'm dead!" Ivette hisses. Blue's wings unfurl and nearly smack the redhead to the dirt.
"M-me?" Amalie balks, cheeks reddening abruptly. "N-n-no! You go- you go first!"
"Nah. Come on, shortlegs! You're so small he won't even notice! Up!" Ivette boosts Amalie in the saddle and quickly snaps the straps over her legs. Blue's head swivels and he stares one golden eye at the pair tinkering on his back. His wings flap and Amalie squeals as the griffin turns. "Hold on! Almost"- the last strap clicks into place-"done!" Amalie is grinning so brightly that Ivette is frozen. The griffin hops a step towards the cliff's edge, shaking his head and screeching a challenge into the air. Amalie's laughter is nervous as she looks to the red haired Ironfist girl.
"You're the best friend ever!" Amalie laughs just as the griffin jumps.
And then she's flying.
Ivette is frozen, face crestfallen as Amalie touches the sky, her laughter like bells.
"Yeah, friend," Ivette scoffs, and kicks a rock off the edge.