[-Isabella-]

To adopt you must either have a founder and be level 1. Or, you can adopt this one as your founder!

This is a full-blood Griffin, not just resembling one! They can breed like any other member of your pride.

Edits: Griffin Wings/Talons, Mane Shape Edit, Ear Shape Edit, Minor Snout Edit

It can fly yet has no wings, it can kill yet it is harmless....

This Griffin has some kind of time telling device around their neck. To win them, tell me/show me, is it just an accessory or is there some significance to it?

For this contest you have up to 2000 words and/or 3 art pieces to answer the prompt! This is the maximum to give room for creativity but I will be judging on quality not quantity!
You may pretty up with borders, coding, etc. it will not count toward your limit or increase your chances of winning.

Code: Select all

[b]Username:[/b]
[b]Lion name:[/b]
[b]Lion Gender: [/b]
[b]Link to pride: [/b]
[b]Pride Status: [/b]
[b]Prompt:[/b]

Ends December 19th - 5 P.M. EST

[Kitten-Girl-500]

Username: Kitten-Girl-500
Lion name: Novak
Lion Gender: Male
Link to pride: Summitfall Pride
Pride Status: Healer
Prompt: Dropping out, good luck everyone! :>

"Careful, Novak. That's your father's timekeeper."

Novak ran a talon over the golden locket that his mother had draped around his neck, gently tracing the intricate carvings. "Mom, what does it do?"

"Even I do not know exactly. Your father has never revealed its secrets to me." The older griffin's eyes shone in the firelight that flickered along the earthen walls of their den.

"Why is he giving it to me?"

"If I'm being honest... I'm not completely sure." She cast a glance over her shoulder at the sunlit ocean. "He should be home from patrol anytime. Once he's back, I'm sure you could--"

"Are my ears burning?" A smoky gray face peeked into the den.

"Daddy!" Novak launched himself at his father's talons. Even though he was eight, almost nine, he still enjoyed time with his father.

"We were just talking about you, Andal," Novak's mother purred.

"Oh ho ho. I'm guessing your mother gave you my little gift, then?" Andal said, walking inside and sitting down beside the fire.

Novak immediately plopped down between his father's talons. "What does it do? How do I use it? Is it magic?"

"Woah there with the questions," Andal said, tapping his son on the nose to stop the incessant flow of questions. "If you're talking, how can you listen at the same time."

Novak obediently snapped his mouth shut, staring up at his father with nothing less than complete adoration.

"This is my timekeeper. It's not a toy, Novak. You need to be responsible with it."

"What does it do?" Novak blurted. Realizing that that was indeed a question, he wrapped both talons around his muzzle. It was hard to shush when there were a whole flood of questions inside you, waiting to be let out.

"It's a powerful relic that can be used to better or worsen the lives of others, and yourself. There's great power in that locket. Only you can decide when to use it."

"Is it dangerous?" Novak's mother said, narrowing her eyes.

"Not if he uses it wisely." Andal leaned down and lifted the locket with one claw, tapping it three times with the other talon. Immediately it swung open on its hinges, revealing a strange-looking clock.

Novak immediately forgot his vow of silence and asked, "How does it work?"

"With this dial"--Andal pointed to a ring around the clock, with twelve different notches around the outside--"you can add or subtract days from someone's life. Simply whisper the name to the timekeeper and rotate the dial. Turn it to the right to add days, and to the left to take away days. One full turn in either direction is a year."

He tapped the clock. "If you tap the clock twice and whisper a name, it will tell you how long that griffin has left to live."

Andal tipped up his son's chin. "Novak, this is not a toy," he repeated. "You can end someone's life with this. I need you to promise that you'll be responsible with it, alright?"

As Novak nodded, his mother suddenly interjected, "You're not just going to leave him unsupervised with it."

"That's exactly what I'm doing, Liora." Andal ruffled the beginnings of a mane on Novak's head. "He needs to learn responsibility."

"Not like this," Liora protested.

"Novak, go play outside," Andal said. "Go on."

Novak ran outside, not giving a second thought to conversation behind him that was quickly turning heated.

- Band of griffins invades
- Patrol leader goes up against Andal and fatally wounds him, but Andal manages to drive the intruders out
- Novak sees that his father is about to die
- Novak gives five years of his own life to his father so that the colony won't fall into chaos

- Novak ages five years in the span of five seconds
- Novak is now a young teenager
- Andal brings Novak into their den
- Andal is angry that Novak's wasted five years of life on him
- Andal tells Novak that he needs to learn to control himself, and not act on impulse

"How was I supposed to realize that it would have a physical effect on me?!" Novak shot back, shoulder bristling.

Andal opened his jaws, then stopped. He let out an annoyed sigh. "I must have forgotten to mention that," he said through gritted teeth.

- Novak's mother is about to die, giving birth to a younger sister
- Novak gives them each ten years of life, aging himself twenty years
- Afterward, Andal asks if Novak would give the timekeeper to his younger sister when she's old enough
- Novak says that he was given this for a reason
- He realizes that he's tethered himself emotionally by keeping this life he's been given to himself

- Novak goes around, bringing as much peace and giving as much life as he can
- His life hasn't been that long, but he's grown up quickly
- He's learned that sometimes it's worth being selfless to bring hope and joy to others

[AwkwardAnxiety]

Username: AwkwardAnxiety
Lion name: Epoch
Lion Gender: Male
Link to pride: Spirit's Dawning
Pride Status: Time Spirit
Prompt:
It has been three centuries since Epoch last took form. Two and a half since they'd been awake. All the spirits had settled into Long Sleep, the world progressing without them. It would have been far longer still if the surge of wrongness hadn't flooded the world. All the spirits simultaneously awoke and cried out.

The spirits watched with horror as prides squabbled like petty children. None of the wondrous magic and magnificent inventions of ages past.


WIP

[Clementine Cloud]

Username: Clementine Cloud
Lion name:
Lion Gender:
Link to pride:
Pride Status:
Prompt:
Mark!! AAAA

[QueenOfWyrms]

Username: QueenOfWyrms
Lion name: Khronos
Lion Gender: "Father Time" Timiel
Link to pride: PoB
Pride Status: "The first god"
Prompt:

“Father Time was the first of the gods.”

Timiel sat at his desk, sketching something and scratching his greying tawny beard. The elaborate timepiece on his right wrist chirped, odd, for that not even the seconds seemed to pass on it.

“From him came the stars and the heavens.”

He set down his graphite stick carefully, every movement calculated not to smudge the paper he had been drawing on.

“His daughters brought forth the land and the sea, and all that lives within them.”

Timiel stood up and left the desk, pausing fondly as he passed pictures of beautiful young women with intricate patterns drawn onto their faces.

“He set into motion the sun in the sky, and placed the twin moons into orbit.”

In the hall, he passed his hand over drawings of scenery, from rivers to caves to a large landscape of the sky, almost-familiar constellations marked lightly.

“Time itself is like thread in his hands, waiting for him to mold and stitch the lives of us all.”

At the end of the hall stood a glass case on a pedestal. There he stopped, lifting the glass from over the leather-bound book inside. A metal-wrapped quill sat beside it, it’s canister of ink half full. With little effort, he opened it to the last written page. He picked up his timepiece off his wrist and extended the chain, laying it around his neck. Twisting some pieces on the sides, it began to move.

“It is he who whispers the true name of a child into the mind of it’s mother
And he who calls us home at the end of life.”

Timiel picked up the metal quill and touched it to the half-done page. His body vanished, the pen he held with it. Only the timepiece remained, with a fluctuating pulse.

And the page began to continue its story.

[minifun990]

Username: minifun990
Lion name: Pathnik
Lion Gender: Male
Link to pride: Mystic Isles
Pride Status: Tbd
Prompt:

The stream is crystal clear, twinkling in the daylight as it flows gently past talons and paws with little more than a soft laugh. It's a sweltering day, making Pathnik wish he had time to lay down in the stream and let it wash the dirt and sweat away.

But he is no longer a hatchling that can spend his time splashing in the water until the sun starts to sink. He has a job to do, and barely has enough of a break to fly to this stream.

But the flight is worth it. For a moment Pathnik just closes his eyes, listening to the stream, to the birds singing, the wind caressing the trees and bushes, he listens to the world and for a moment he feels like part of the lush environment.

Until the wind pauses for a moment, and in the distance, Pathnik can hear the clanging of hammers on steel, the chimneys that forge, belching hot smoke that Pathnik imagines for a moment that he can smell, even across this distance.

The dark behind his eyelids becomes claustrophobic, becoming winding tunnels like the mines he works in, day in, day out. Letting out an undignified little squark Pathnik opens his eyes as quickly as he can, blinking at the brightness, at the open and clean environment.

It is dangerous to dawdle. Even during breaks.

Pathnik steps forward, scaring away small fish that had gathered around his talons. His sharp eyes dart across each pebble, every twig snapped off from their branches. It is a soothing task, even if he finds nothing.

A glimmer catches Pathniks attention. The light? Shimmering and reflecting? But there - a flash of gold. Smiling a little, Pathnik investigates, scratching at the mud a little with his claws to dig out the object, wiping mud from its shiny surface. It is curved, with a small clip on the side, part of some ancient contraption?

Yet it isn’t dented nor rusted, if it’s old it had been taken care of with dedication and respect. It was an unusual find for Pathnik, but the time was ticking on, so he simply stores the golden fragment away, and prepares for the next shift.

Over the next few weeks he finds more, more curved pieces, gears, clock hands.

Back in his home, Pathnik started to rearrange the pieces. It was certainly a time telling device of some sort, but it wasn’t like any pocket watch or clock Pathnik had ever seen.

He attempted to piece it together, a gear here, a spring there but it was a pointless task. He knew little about machinery, and lacked the patience needed to repair such a complex device. He was just a lowly miner, slowly trying to earn a better life.

After one arduous day of work Pathnik became infuriated while tinkering with the device. Snatching it up he threw it as hard as he could, glaring at the sound it made as it split apart. He wasn't getting anywhere, nothing ever changed except his age.

Nothing in his life moved forward except time.

Suddenly his paw stung and Pathnik’s eyes watered with the pain. He had stepped on a rather sharp piece of the device, a drop of blood shimmering on its golden surface. Angrily Pathnik kicked it to the side, towards the rest of the pile of his broken hopes and hobbies.

Sadly, he slumped into his tiny bed, folding his wings tight against him, before drifting off to sleep.

Pathnik opened his eyes, or perhaps, he didn't. Either way he found himself standing in a huge sandy stretch, empty as far as he could see in front of him. And behind him? He turned before flailing backwards. A creature, if it could even be called that was right there, gazing at Pathnik with hundreds, perhaps even thousands of eyes.

It was huge and yet tiny, it had no mouth and yet Pathnik could hear it whispering words, planning things.

“I did not expect you.” It said, radiating curiosity. Pathnik shook his head and laughed a little hysterically.

“I didn't expect something like you either.” He said gaping at the entity. Surely this was a dream. The entity blinked slowly.

“Perhaps not, but I am Fate, and you.” More eyes focussed on Pathnik and he shivered. “Are simply a mortal. I do not often get surprised, let alone in my own realm.”

The two watched each other for a moment, unsure of how to precede. What does one do when faced with a god-like being? And what does a god of all possible pathways do when surprised.

Apparently it smiles, mouth filled with fangs, and eyes crinkled at the corner.

“You know what, I think you and I could help each other. Go, and be guided by me.” The sands started to fade, and with it so did Fate.

Pathnik shot out of his bedroll, sweaty and gasping. He had never had a dream so vivid before. Never seen anything like that.

Pathnik doesn't believe in gods. Surely there would be some sign. But could there be any other explanation? He gazed around his den, disliking it for staying stationary when it feels like everything has changed, except… Pathnik saw a golden glimmer in the dark, and there was the clock device he had spent days slaving over, trying to get even a single cog in place.

And it was whole, ticking a long as if it had never been broken into hundreds of pieces.

Slowly Pathnik crept forward, turning it over in his talons. It wasn't a clock face as one might traditionally see. Instead it was counting down, to what Pathnik wasn't quite sure.

Shaking a little, Pathnik placed it down gently onto his bed before quickly sprinting out the door. For once he was glad to head to work, eager for the chance to get away from whatever he had accidentally stumbled into.

But there's a problem with time. It doesn't care how much you want it to stop, to give you longer to think or panic. It marches onwards until you find yourself staring down at a countdown, knowing that you can't avoid the deadlines soon approaching.

5

4

3

2

1

Ding. The device chimes, softly but insistently in Pathniks talons. He flinches, as he hears the whispering. Whispering exactly like in his dream.

“Place my gift around your neck mortal.” Fate said, slowly, as if Pathnik was a fool. Pathnik glanced at the glittery chain that the timepiece hung on. Perhaps he was just a fool, he thought as he set it over his head. But how can a foolish mortal resist the instructions of a god?

“Good. Follow the necklace and be at the right place at the right time, you shall be rewarded.” Pathnik started to question, but the god was already fading from his mind, and the necklace was tugging him to the left. Pathnik glanced down at it, feeling the blood drain from his face as he saw how long he had.

Three hours.

Pathnik had no idea where this was going to lead, no idea what he would be required to do. He reached a claw up, about to rip the device away, wanting no part of this mess when he paused. The god had/[i] promised a reward.

What if that reward could change Pathniks life for the better? He deliberated for a while, feeling the time click away. He paced his room, looked at the meagre possessions he had.

Two hours.

Pathnik leapt into the sky, following the necklaces pull as fast as he could, hardly noticing as the scenery changed in odd and unusual ways until it only pulled straight down. He landed, suddenly noticing the creatures in front of him.

They were strange. Like griffins, yet they had no wings, and their faces were strange and rounded. But it was their front legs that were especially odd, they had no talons, only paw pads like their back legs had been duplicated wrong onto their front.

Pathnik wanted to run from the strange beings, scared of their strange appearances. But the necklace chimed and he could feel Fate again, telling him to hold steady and proud.

“It is a god! Here to endorse our new king” One of the creatures said. (A lion said Fate.)

“No.” Pathik said, following Fate’s instructions. “I [i]am your new king.”

The lions gasped, before some bowed down to Pathnik. He wasn't sure how he felt about this reward. He still was hesitant even as they led him back to his new ‘kingdom’. That was until he saw his new den. He gaped.

“This is all for me?” He gasped, staring at all the glittering gems and velvety pillows. The bed was large enough two griffins could spread their wings and they would only just overlap. The lion (lioness, this one is female Fate informed) nodded.

“Is it not enough, your highness? We may not be able to replicate the heavens but we will try our best.” She asked shyly, Pathnik just shook his head.

“No, no this is-” He grinned a little. “This is perfect.”





Pathnik settled into the role of king comfortably. He had great advisors, Fate included and so all he generally had to do was lay in luxury and pretend to be a god. It felt like a dream, so much so that Pathnik didn't mind when his necklace started to pull at him again. In fact he was almost excited to follow his god’s instructions. After all, all his necklace had brought him was good fortune.

He found himself in front of a lioness unlike any he had seen before. She reminded him of a griffin in her strength and the way she held herself. The device chimed and Pathnik prepared himself for instructions. Was this to be his mate for forever? Another prize just for finding the pieces of an abandoned device?

Fate spoke, but for once it was just static. All Fate could say, would say was that Love was simply an illusion. But when she spoke it sounded like angels singing. Her name was Makena and Pathnik was falling fast.

She was unknown in this kingdom but Pathnik helped her climb up the royal ladder, and she quickly became an influential figure. She was intelligent and strong, loyal to a fault. But she was also so mysterious. Pathnik took her on countless walks across the kingdom, trying to learn everything about her. Her past was light on details and her family was a mystery. She seemed to have many siblings and yet she never invited any over.

The device was ticking on. But this time it was ticking down to something much darker than love or power.

It was ticking down to the collapse of an empire.

It chimed, as the palace collapsed, civilians, flooding in and slaughtering all. It chimed once more as Pathniks last advisor was slain. As Pathnik’s riches were stolen and he was exiled.

It chimed as he found himself face to face with his love in the forests he used to own. He wept, asking her why she did it. She shook her head and told him it was simply the rise of democracy.

He tried to rip the necklace from his neck, to tear it into pieces as it had been before. But it wouldn't move. And Fate simply laughed at him.

“You fool.” It said. “I am not done with you.” Pathnik tugged more frantically at the necklace. He wanted no more of this device and its fickle god. But eyes once opened do not easily close, and Fate spoke once more.

“I suggest you listen more carefully.” Fate growled in Pathniks mind, instructional fear filling him. “And don't you dare let love cloud your mind again.”

1988/2000

[Tiger♥Bear]

⧖ ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞ ⧖ ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞ ⧖ ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞ ⧖ ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞ ⧖
Username : Tiger♥Bear　　　　Lion Gender : Agender　　　　Lion Pride : Pekee Pamoja　　　　Pride Status : syd alqadr
⧖ ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞ ⧖ ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞ ⧖ ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞ ⧖ ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞ ⧖

SPACE"Today is the day."

SPACEI'timad raised his head. Nimat approached the young griffin with a warm smile. "It... it is?"

SPACE"Indeed. Come. I have something special for you." I'timad quickly got to his feet. The older, darker griffin led them out of the den and started to unfurl his wings. Taking the cue, I'timad did the same. Nimat took to the sky with his protege following closely behind him. The longer they were in flight the more I'timad came to realize where it was they were heading. The roost. It was a unique location accessible to only those griffins granted the ability to manipulate the masir, a relic used to determine fate. It was a prestigious honor to be a syd alqadr, for a Master of Fate had a great role in the way of life. His heart raced as they neared The Roost and only pounded harder when they landed. "Still with me I'timad?"

SPACE"Yes, sir." The young griffin looked around. He had never been here before, only hearing the stories of what happened here. Griffins could be seen everywhere around here. Some flying out to start their work, some fluttering to the higher branches which he could only assume were personal work spaces, and even a few walking about conversing with colleagues. "But...what are we doing here?"

SPACENimat gave a warm chuckle. "As I said- today is the day. Come." I'timad was still unsure what that had to do with him or explain why they- why he was there, but followed along behind the older griffin anyway to what appeared to be a reception area. Several griffins stood as receptionists. Nimat approached one of them who then asked for his name. "Nimat the Blessed. I will be accompanied by I'timad the Reliant for an orientation."

SPACE"Of course. Welcome back, Nimat. And a warm welcome to you, I'timad. I suspect we'll be seeing you around more often after today. Good luck." She smiled at the two, Nimat was also smiling and I'timad was still trying to wrap his head around the orientation comment. There wasn't time to question it as they were moving off to allow others to speak with the receptionist.

SPACENimat continued to lead I'timad around The Roost and eventually up to one of the branches. He stood back allowing Nimat room to work though inside he was still wondering what this was all really about. He wasn't a syd alqadr. He wasn't anyone special. He was just I'timad. A griffin. Perhaps there was something about him. After all his father is a syd alqadr. But he knew a lot of griffins that were given the title. There were a great number of creatures that relied on their unique talents of dream weaving and memory accessing.

SPACE"I'timad." The call of his name pulled him from his thoughts. "Please, sit. I'm sure you have questions."

SPACE"Of course I have questions." He moved to sit before Nimat. "Orientation? I'm not a syd alqadr. I don't have-"

SPACE"I'timad."

SPACEHe fell silent at his name being called again. Perhaps he was getting too carried away. Or too hopeful.

SPACE"You must understand. Syd alqadr is merely a title. A role. When a griffin is assigned to be one, they are given a masir which is used to enhance ones natural abilities."

SPACEI'timad was confused. "I thought the masir was a unique relic that told ones fate?"

SPACE"Not quite. You see, all griffins have the innate ability to access another's memories and dreams. Some have it stronger than others, the strongest of which are assigned to be syd alqadr. A masir is merely an accessory to a syd alqadr. Think of it as a device that helps fine-tune your abilities. Alone the masir is merely an astronomical clock. When it is paired with a griffin, it can be used to tell more than just dreams and memories. It can tell you their fate. Hence the title- Master of Fate." Nimat gave a warm smile. "I suppose your information is half right. While the masir can tell fate, it can only do so in the talons of a griffin."

SPACEThe young griffin let the words sink in. "So. Any griffin could be a syd alqadr?"

SPACE"Potentially, yes. But only those with a strong affinity for manipulating fate are given the title." Nimat stood up and moved to a shelf. "You, I'timad, are one of those gifted a strong ability."

SPACE"How can you be sure?"

SPACE"Please," he chuckled. "Give your old man some credit. It may not be a hereditary trait, but I've seen your fate. You have the gift and you will be the greatest syd alqadr yet to come."

SPACEHe couldn't believe it. A syd alqadr? Him? It was uncommon for his father to address himself as such and even more so to have used his masir for personal use. Not that it wasn't allowed, just wasn't the intended purpose of the tool. Nimat came back with something clutched in his right talon.

SPACE"I had this made the day after you were born. It took three years to complete and, if I do say so myself, it is the finest misar I've seen." Nimat gingerly lay the device before I'timad. It was indeed an intricately designed astronomical clock. Golden numerals depicting the hour circled the outer edge of the day cycle dial. An inner ring containing the zodiacs to help determine the time of year. Hands to show the position of the sun and the moon as well as the time. The colors were a range of blues from navy to sky, a few dashes of gold and silver laced into it. "Go on. Take it."

SPACEWith a slow claw, I'timad reached out and picked up the masir. At the touch, he felt what he could only describe as a hum course through his body. A gentle talon traced over the glass dome which encased the delicate clock workings. He flipped it over to see two things. First it was engraved. Syd Alqadr I'timad the Reliant was etched elegantly around the top curve. Second there was an impression of what looked like a toe pad. "What's this?"

SPACE"That is how you can tell another's fate. With a touch, the masir will help you focus."



SPACE'I..." I'timad delicately ran a claw over the clock again. He couldn't believe it. This was his. He was going to be a syd alqadr. "I don't know what to say."

SPACE"Well, first, why don't we get you accustomed to how to use it, huh? We'll start with a memory. The past is easier to access as it has already happened and can't be changed. Usually," Nimat added under his breath. I'timad tilted his head and raised a brow inquisitively. "But that's another matter. Even with the help of the masir, if you don't know what you're doing, it can be difficult to conjure the right information. Now. I want you to place your toe on the back of the masir. Right over the impression."

SPACEThe young griffin did as instructed. The humming he felt surged when he placed his toe upon the pad impression on the back of the clock. "Is it...normal...to feel a, uh..."

SPACE"A hum like sensation? Yes. It's the connection you have with the masir. Don't worry, you'll get used to it. Now for the tricky bit. You'll need to think of a memory. Since this is a first-run trial, a strong memory is best. Think of what was happening. What did you see? What did you feel? Was there a certain scent in the air? A particular taste? Any detail you can recall will help." I'timad closed his eyes, focusing on concentrating. The first memory that came to him was when his father showed him a masir. More specifically, Nimat's personal masir. "Have you got the memory?"

SPACEI'timad nodded his head gently. "Yes."

SPACE"Good. Now I want you to hone in on the memory. Feel your mind slip back into the memory as if you were really there."

SPACEHe took a deep breath then slowly released it as he fell into the memory, letting it consume him. Something...strange was happening. He could feel himself being pulled but not in a physical matter. The voice of his father saying "don't fight it" pushed through his thoughts. Allowing himself to fall deeper, it ended almost as soon as it had started. His eyes opened but rather than seeing his father in his personal office in the roost, he was back in the den. His father was showing him a trinket around his neck.

"This, I'timad, is a masir. It is a very unique astronomical clock. A beneficial tool to my work."

The young griffin stared in awe as if he was reliving the moment. But it wasn't reliving the moment. It was as if he had been transported back in time. He wasn't himself but rather a younger version of himself. Details he might have missed before now stood out to him. How proud his father looked sharing this special accessory with him. How loved he felt in the moment. Small things he didn't really notice as a young griffin. Once the memory came to an end, he fell back to the present. He reopened his eyes to see his father smiling brightly.

BREAK
BREAK
BREAK

SPACE"Good. Very good, I'timad. I think you'll pick up on this just fine." Nimat nodded his head in approval. "Now. Let's access a dream. And I don't mean overnight thoughts or visions. No, I'm talking about potential dreams for the future. This is a little trickier than accessing memories. The easiest way to get accustomed to tapping into dreams is start with something small. Something fresh with a high chance of happening."

SPACE"Alright. What would you suggest?"

SPACE"How about your first assignment as syd alqadr?"

SPACEI'timad took a moment to think about it. "I suppose that will work."

SPACE"As before, place your toe on the impression. You'll feel that humming sensation again. As before, you'll feel a sort of tugging. Don't fight it. Just let it take you."

SPACEI'timad took a steadying breath and closed his eyes, his toe gently resting on the impression as before. As expected, the humming surged again and that pulling feeling started coursing through his mind. But it was subtly different. He could tell it was being pulled forward and not backward. "Remember to focus," his father prompted. He cleared his mind, focusing on what his assignment could be. Where it would take him. Just as before, the sensation of "falling through time" ended almost as soon as it had started. When he opened his eyes, he was among tall grass. A pride of lions stood gathered around a pond. The breeze he felt was cool so he assumed it was fall or possibly early winter. More than that, the lions didn't startle at his presence. They acted as if he had always been there. Was this really in the near future? As his thoughts wavered, the dream started to ebb away. Before he knew it, he was slipping back into the present. His father gave him a small smile.

SPACE"It's alright, I'timad. As I said, the dreams are a little harder to access. With more practice, you'll get the hang of it."

SPACE"I could see it, I just... it didn't seem likely to happen so soon."

SPACENimat looked thoughtful. "What did you see?"

SPACE"There was a pride of lions. It was autumn or possibly winter. They gathered around a pond. They were...comfortable with my presence. As if I had been there for a while."

SPACE"Well." Nimat smiled brightly. "It seems I was right after all. You, my dear son I'timad, have a destiny to fulfill. Remember. The masir is merely an accessory to a syd alqadr." Stepping forward and taking the masir from I'timad, he leaned back and gingerly placed the intricate clock around his sons neck. "I'timad the Reliant. You will do great things. I have seen it. You are a syd alqadr, master of fate."

Word Count: 2,000

[Runnersback]

Username:Runnersback Lion Name: Unyoya (Swahili for feather) Lion Gender Fem Pride Link:x Pride Status:Shaman

Plumes... Soft creamy, velvety, shimmering plumes suspended in midair as a small creature made its first appearance.Chirping and purring with cerulean glaciers for eyes, the small cub batted and biffed at feathers gliding in the warm sunlit rays slowly becoming enamored with the sanctuary treat.

“Unyoya... Unyoya, where are you my sweet girl?” Chrisalee called out with a vice silkier then satin.

The small cub biffing feathers stopped and turned to hark a calling voice. But it had stopped as a feather landed on the tiny griffiness’s nose. With one hearty sneeze the tiny griffin shot up into the air flapping her wings before doing air zoomies.

Chrisalee had heard the small sneeze coming from her little one and chuckled seeing her flying about,“Unyoya, come here my little love bug.”

“Yes momma!” Unyoya chirped as she crash landed into the clouds right next to her.

“The flock and Taa Safi beckons us, it’s time for you to go through the ceremony of growth, something that hasn’t happened in a long time for our flock. Maybe even centuries!” Chrisalee explained to her little as she swatted the clouds that had broken loose from out of her face.

Unyoya nodded softly before following her mother along to the massive giving tree in the middle of the sanctuary’s grove. While she was pattering on the cub’s tongue was brimming with questions,“Momma, what’s a century? Why hasn’t this ceremony been done in centuries? What’s going to happen to me? Will I always be a cub? Will we always be together? Why did our flock come to this sanctuary? What was our old home? What’s the mortal realm like? Why is the goddess of life-“ The cub was finally cut off from her near crashing off the plane of calm and into hyperventilation.

As Chrisalee listened to all the questions she had to stop her sweet child so she could breathe before she answered them all,“Unyo, there will be things I will explain to you at this moment. But there will be some that you will have to learn on your own or your just not mature enough to learn about. So let’s start with what is a century, a century is a period of a hundred years... And in those hundred years times will change and so will we. Well what’s going to happen to you is that you will grow physically and mentally. No, my love it’s impossible to always be a cub.” She sighed softly as she wished she could provide more but she stopped in front of a trail of petals leading to the great tree.

Lions and Griffins alike had flocked together to the ceremony, hues of different pelts and bird feathers stood out brightly sitting beside the path the Polaris Guardian had lain out. As Unyoya was about to shrink back a sweet smelling breeze of strawberries from the guardian who doubled as the goddess of life beckoned her forward, her mind wanted her to take her time but her talons said otherwise.

The Guardian met her halfway before clearing her throat,“We are all gathered here today to present Unyoya the growth of life and the hope of time as her mother’s mother done for her, and her mother’s mother’s mother for her. Let us begin with the ceremonial growing. Safiri the pocket-watch carved with prancing deer over a churning brook please.”

Safiri gave a curt nod and picked up the pocket watch from the box of Pandora in his teeth. He softly placed it on Taa’s flower tendril before receding away from the limelight. But an eerie silence washed over the crowd as Taa placed the pocket watch around Unyoya’s neck. While the cub morphed into her adolescent stage the time telling piece dug into her fur soldering itself into place as her new heart. Unyoya shrieked in confusion as her talons tried to rip the pocket watch off, as her world she last knew rippled away.



“Brother, brother! Look I found a dead gryphon!” A small cub shouted as he poked Unyoya’s talons with a stick.

“Nobody move her! We need to give her some time to breath.”The brother called out as approached with a grimace at the horrible fall she seemed to have taken from the heavens. But he stood there watching over the stirring griffin as the pool of judging eyes all returned to their daily duties.

Maybe Unyoya was dead, no she hoped she was dead from that fall. Why would Earth Mother do this to her? She knew Taa Safi to be kindest guardian lioness around and that’s why the bubbly griffin would agree to anything her mother and the guardian would put her up to. But not this, definitely not this. Unyoya couldn’t shake the distressing thoughts as she slowly rolled to her talons, before blinking slowly at the vibrant colors ebbing into her senses.She was alive.

As the gryphon slowly made her way to stand she briefly ignored the gawking lions before staring into the mirror her talons had broken on her plight to the ground. She was a teenager now, and she was absolutely lovely. Unyoya chuckled before she darted around greeting every lion,cub, and prey before barreling into the brothers to give hugs despite them only giving her space. “Hello, everyone it is so nice to meet you-“

It was too late, the time piece acting as her new heart had activated and sent the gryphon scrambling back into time.

“Brother, brother! Look I found a dead gryphon!” A small cub shouted as he poked Unyoya’s talons with a stick.

“Nobody move her! We need to give her some time to breath.”The brother called out as approached with a grimace at the horrible fall she seemed to have taken from the heavens. But he stood there watching over the stirring griffin as the pool of judging eyes all returned to their daily duties.

Unyoya had became alert quickly by a few meager moments then the first time but she now had a bone to pick with the Earth Mother who tethered her apart from her flock, from her family with one painful time peace embedded into her life driving organ. As she righted herself, she clutched into her necklace and softly drew a talon over it before making the choice of greeting the two brothers.

“Who are you and why do you demand that I should not be moved when I am obviously not deceased? Why yell things more than once, when it is unnecessary!” She said with a huff as dropped the time piece interwoven with her heart.

The two lions blinked with jaws dropped before they shook their heads with confusion,“I’m Elea and this little guy is Inakera. And miss, your mistaken as we have only said it once. Please let us get you to the healers and then the shamans so they can give your mind a awakening of what happened.” Elea said as he picked up his annoying younger brother who was about to poke the griffiness once again.

“No- No! I don’t want any of that! I’m fine! I have wings and I didn’t fall that hard, seriously I’m fine but thank you Elea and Inakera... I just want to go back and speak to earth mother about this stupid accessory!” She shrieked as her talons curled up with irritation while a flock of birds irrupted from the trees out of trepidation.As the gryphon realized what she did, she got up and tested everything out before sighing glumly,“I’m Unyoya the curious, they liked to say. My mother is Chrisalee the brave, and my father is unknown. I am the last born gryphon,of the windsward talisman.”Unyoya offered to the creatures in front of her.

Inakera came over and walked around the griffin before curiously admiring the ticking pocket watch,“Say what’s the thing around your neck and what does it do!” He said as he jabbed at it multiple times.

As Unyoya was about to respond,the clock around her neck whisked her back to the spot she had landed in. This was starting to get irritating and it seemed like every wrong choice she made, she had to fix. Wait! Wrong choices! If this clock piece was controlled by her heart then her heart wanted her to make the right choices and made sure to restart her so she could love her best life! The small griffin groaned as her mind and heart taunted her with terrible notions that this would either take forever or she would be trapped here for all eternity.

She finally decided to get smart with her answers, as she remembered the correct ones to avoid restarting over the course of days. And boy had she learned a lot about Elea and Inakera,the machine, and what her heart wanted.Maybe this was Earth Mother’s warning she forgot to tell her with the time telling device. Or not...

Unyoya encountered a morning with a snuggly warm Elea by her side,and a new found blush creasing her jaw. She hadn’t meant to curl up with him and fall asleep at the picnic he had prepared for them, but the constant restarts of her life left her exhausted. As the lion stirred next to her, she smiled up at him with a nuzzle before she let out a wild shriek in agony as a stabbing pain entered her heart. “What’s happening to me! Elea,help! Help me get this device off! I can’t do this anymore earth mother!!!” She chirped in agony resulting in the lion to panic.

Elea stood stunned before he tried pulling it from her neck, but it was of no use as he continue yanking a vision of death came upon the shaman which sent him reeling back,“Unyo- your the shaman of time! That’s why your restarting,it’s bringing you through different times and circumstances! If I rip out that piece,I’ll kill you and you’ll become the shaman of death!” He shouted back.

Unyoya croaked and shook her head violently,“No- No, I don’t want this! This was supposed to be a growing up ceremony,I wasn’t supposed to become a shaman! I wanted to live my life and love you Elea! I can’t keep restarting or watching you grow old while I live on forever! It’s not fair... Just pull it out or I’ll do it myself!” She shrieked.

Elea’s desperate disposition grew thoughtful as he responded,“Is that what you really want, Unyo? You will never be the same if you do!”

Unyoya nodded,“This is what I want for you and for me. We will make it work when I’m the harbinger of death, I can’t keep reestablishing our like this. I want you!” The griffin yelled through her increasing agony before she clutched the time piece herself. Her heart palpated in rhythmic motions as she breathed in one last time, for one last run of her beautiful youth. And then the shaman of time was gone with her smoke and mirror show leaving only ashen hearthe as well as a weeping lover.

Unyo never appeared again, and as for the time piece it was never an accessory to be toyed with. Binding heaven and hell together,it formed death from time, a death that doesn’t discriminate between the sinners and the saints, it takes and it takes and it takes.

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Image count: 1

[Mercuré]

Username: irockwaffleking
Lion name: Mnemos (first m not pronounced)
Lion Gender: male
Link to pride: The Pantheon
Pride Status: Clio, a historian
Prompt:



Mnemos had 134 years 42 days 7 hours and 9 minutes roughly left of his life according to the small golden clock that hung around his neck. It was a long time, much longer a lifespan than many of the lions he'd meet. Still was it enough? Mnemos asked himself this often especially during moments like this. He was perched upon a great cliff as he watched as the sun dipped below the horizon, bathing the mountains and savannah with a light so uniquely orange and gold. Mnemos sighed. At some point a sunset would be his last and would he had done enough? Unwilling to answer that he leaped into the air spreading his wings flying west towards home.

The clock had been a gift. Mnemos holding it in his claws as he studied it. No lion could have made it. It had been a gift from a demigod more specifically a daughter of time. The face held many different hands and some smaller parts to shows centuries, years, months, weeks, hours, minutes, and seconds. The back had a panel that could pop out and revealed an identical but not moving face. Mnemos had never understood what it was but guessed maybe a back up of sorts? It was definitely a unique gift. Mnemos stopped pondering and instead turned to his parchment.

Mnemos was dedicated to the archiving of history. Writing was a difficult task for lions but with his bird claws he could grip a pen. Because of this Mnemos took it as his responsibility to write as much history as possible. Spoken word accounts could die or change but ink and paper could last a while, especially if well preserved. His cave was overflowing with book and scrolls. His plan was to take over the larger one nearby and open it up to any lions who wished to enter (with oversight of course). Time was slipping like sand between his fingers but maybe Mnemos could capture some grains for future generations.

All night he flew from pride to pride in the area asking for any interesting accounts of the day. Kualii's pride was heading towards rebellion so that held interest but other than that it had seemed to be a quiet week. Feathers and fur now thoroughly stained with black ink he returned to his cave to sort out the new parchment.

"Mnemos" a voice called. It was Sylléktis, the only lion he allowed himself to grown attached to. He had once allowed himself to connect to others but unfortunately Pothos, the last lion he had lived with had discovered something about the golden clock. It wouldn't just tell him his lifespan, it would display the lifespan of whoever wore it. He remembered Pothos jokingly putting it on to imitate Mnemos and the expression on his face as he watched the hands of the clock spin rapidly before coming to a stop.

2 months.

Mnemos couldn't remember any of the other numbers after that and he didn't want to. He only remembered grabbing the necklace back as if he could take back what they saw. Pothos was so young! Why would it have been so short... They made it last. They had to. Down to the last second Mnemos promised it would be the best two months and it was. But still, as Mnemos cradled Pothos' body for his last sunset he felt tears running down his face. He didn't need to look down to know he was dead. Each night for the last week once Pothos had fallen asleep he had stared at the damn clock. It was so elegant, all polish gold with a thin chain but in his eyes it was ugly. He had stood at the edge of that same cliff and felt an itch in his claws. He imagined tossing the clock over the edge and watching it fall. The moon would shine on its golden surface as it felt and glint off of it once it was in pieces below. But he couldn't bring himself to do it. Mnemos coudln't get rid of something so important. It wasn't the clock's fault they found out it was his. And nothing would've stopped Pothos' death. He would remain alone, working, writing and recording. Some lions had not much time at all, he wouldn't be ungrateful and waste it.

Admittedly this mindset meant much of Mmemos' life became secondary. Alone he worked each week flying out to record more of history unfolding. Alone until Sylléktis. A young bird who had been transformed into a lion by a god and craved knowledge. They were a perfect pair really, both not fully lion and both with an appreciation for information and acquiring it. Sylléktis was much more carefree though. Maybe that's what happens when you don't know how long you have left Mnemos wondered to himself. He had originally tried to push Sylléktis away but when they had repeatedly snuck in to read the scrolled Mnemos allowed him to stay. Of course with one rule, never touch the clock necklace. Mnemos had to give some info so Sylléktis wouldn't be too interested but not so much that he would be curious about his own death date so Mnemos had vaguely explained it was dangerous. Besides, Mnemos almost always wore it (save for a few exceptions) so he figured Sylléktis would never be at risk.

They had gotten along much better than Mnemos had expected. His social skills were a bit rusty because of disuse but Sylléktis didn't seem to care. The young lion seemed excited about everything. At dinner he'd babble about whatever had piqued his interest whether it be something as complex as theories about what stars were or something as simple as a pretty butterfly. Sylléktis also began adding his own scrolls to the collection. They were more about science and philosophy but Mnemos couldn't care less, he was happy to share his goal with another lion.

One night asked Mnemos if they could talk.

"Of course. You've never asked before?" Mnemos said slightly puzzled.

"Well it's a bit serious," Sylléktis admitted swishing his tail back and forth. Mnemos knew it meant Sylléktis was nervous but he couldn't figure out why, "Why is the clock dangerous? Why can't I touch it?" Sylléktis must of noticed how Mnemos' expression had turned sober when he added in a quick, "I'm sorry" before fleeing back to his room to continue writing. Mnemos felt bad but he couldn't bring himself to explain the pain he had felt. Why the clock felt less like a gift and more of a burden than hung heavy around his neck.

Time shifts and the bliss of working side by side with Sylléktis eventually had to be interrupted. Even though he knew it wouldn't last forever Mnemos was not prepared for the sudden shift. He had been limping and his chest had a wound. Poor brilliant, smart, amazing, but stupid Sylléktis. He had been wanting to study a school of fish for his new writings. So completely captivated by them he had stepped into the river and had been attacked by an alligator. He was lucky to live... if he continued to live that is.

Once again Mmemos' world came crashing down. Once more someone he cared for was suffering. Quickly he tended Sylléktis' wounds and left him to sleep, praying nothing would happen. This cycle went for days. Cleaning Sylléktis wounds as he lay in pain and praying to the gods he'd be alright. Sylléktis wasn't recovering properly though. He needed a medicine but it was obscure and would take long to find. He didn't want to leave because what if Sylléktis died? All alone in a dark cave.... Please not again became his daily mantra. He couldn't handle it again. He eyed the heavy clock as he held it in his paws. No! I can't!

One night he stayed with Sylléktis who had become sick as well. His injuries sapping his body of his strength and leading him more vulnerable. Please not again. Sylléktis seemed to mesmerized by the way light flickered off the clock. Mnemos sighed deeply, Sylléktis deserved to know what it was. If these truly were his last days he didn't want keep anything secret. Mnemos explained everything. From meeting the daughter of time himself to Pothos slipping on the necklace and wanting to destroy the clock forever. Mnemos felt his eyes water as he finished and looked at Sylléktis, the lion had the same curious expression that Mnemos loved and Mnemos wondered if this would be the last time he'd see it.

Mnemos spoke slowly, "You can say no to this," he paused, "I know I said i'd never do this again but can I have you where the necklace?"

Sylléktis' eyes widened as he realized what was going to happen. He gave a quick nod and adjusted his neck so it was easier for Mnemos to put on the necklace. Once the golden chain was latched the clock hands began to whirl. Quickly Mnemos watched the hands move to a smaller and smaller time than his own until it finally read:

16 hours

His throat was stuck. No. No! It was unfair! Why did the best it seemed die young. How come whenever he became close to someone tragedy seemed to befall them. Mnemos should've gone with him! He would've been able to see the crocodile and he would've... Mnemos realized Sylléktis had his eyes closed tightly.

"What does it say? I don't want to look."

Mnemos felt his throat collapsing inwards. Sylléktis opened his eyes and stared at Mnemos face, one look and he knew. So Mnemos made Sylléktis as comfortable as possible and quickly found food for his last dinner. The sun began to set as Sylléktis' last hour began. The two lions embraced each other for strength, Sylléktis still wearing the clock. Mnemos using his claw held it up so he could look at it. Sylléktis had popped off the back accidentally and Mnemos wondered what it did. The empty face taunting hi-

And suddenly the hands on the back face began to move. Quickly they whirred to reveal Mnemos' time till death. It felt like a sick joke to see how long he had when Sylléktis was running out of time so so quickly. As he stared at it he realized the time was dropping at a faster rate than usual and that rate was increasing the longer he held on. At first minutes but now hours were dropping from his time. Panicked Mnemos jumped backwards. Once his claw had been removed the time seemed to go back to normal. Why had that happen? Nothing had ever changed his lifespan before.... Sylléktis! He suddenly panicked. What if his time went down as well! Quickly he flipped over the clock to see that he had ... more time? Confused he flipped the clock back and forth. It dawned on Mnemos right then and there, the time he had lost had been given to Sylléktis. Quickly he put his claw back on the other side and watched his time drop.

"What's happening? Why are you suddenly super happy?" Sylléktis asked him. Quickly Mnemos rushed out an explanation breathless from the discovery.

"I can make you live longer Sylléktis! I can transfer some of my time to yours and-"

"But I don't want you to die earlier because of me" Sylléktis said softly, "Are you sure?"

"I've never been more sure in my life." Mnemos said with a massive grin on his face. And despite the worry Sylléktis had before he couldn't help the smile that had taken over his face as well.

Although the rate of transferred time would increase the longer you held the clock it still took a while to transfer years. By the time Mnemos had finished the sun had begun to rise. Maybe one day he'd see his last sunset but at least now he knew it wouldn't be alone.

[SilentMelody]

Dropping out, good luck to everyone!!