Valhala
Chapter 14
AJ, the gryphon, and Stormwind
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As AJ crossed the field swiftly he sighed inwardly "Why aren't I bonded yet? Everyone else is. It isn't fair" he said as he left the field and ventured into the woods on the far side. Suddenly he heard a loud flapping noise and looked up into the sky above him. He saw a large creature that could only be described as one thing. "A gryphon" he whispered as the creature landed in the clearing in front of him.
"Grrreetingsss ssstrrrangerr" the gryphon said hissing his s's and rolling his r's. He folded his wings and turned his head to look at AJ.
"Umm...hello...I'm...I'm...Al...Al...Alex" AJ stuttered.
"I'm Sssilverrrwing. You can call me Sssilver thou" the gryphon, Silverwing told him politely.
"You're a gryphon" AJ said still in shock.
"Ssso I'm told" Silver said with a laugh.
"I've never seen a gryphon before. I though you only existed in fantasy tales."
"Fantasssy tales hmm...?" Where are you from Alex?" Silver asked.
"Umm...I'm from another dimension so I'm told."
Silver cocked his head and was silent for a moment. "I sssee. Ssso what arrre you doing rrroaming arrround herrre?" he asked lying down in front of AJ.
"I needed to get away from my friends, I don't want them to see me like this" AJ replied softly.
"Sssee you how?"
"Jealous"
"Why arre you jealous?" Silver asked looking AJ in the eyes. "Ahh...I sssee now. You have not bonded with a companion yet and they have."
"Wha...how did you know that?" AJ asked astonished.
"It wasss the obviousss anssswerrr" he replied.
"I just don't understand why not" AJ said sadly.
"Maybe you arre not meant to have a norrrmal companion. Companionsss call out to therrre chosssen onesss. Therrre arrre differrrent companionsss besssidesss horrrsssesss, catsss, wolvesss, and birrrdsss you know" Silver replied.
"Who are you talking about?"
"I am talking about grrryphonsss. Sssurly Jakarrra told you about grrryphon companionsss" Silver said cocking his head slightly.
"Oh, she did but she said they were too powerful to be of use or something like that. She said it didn't work" AJ replied.
Silver shook his head "Ssshe isss wrrrong when ssshe sssaysss WE arrre too powerrrful. The onesss we've trrried to bond with have not been powerrrful enough."
"I don't understand."
Silver sighed, and a gryphon sighing through that beak is an interesting sight AJ thought. "We grrryphonsss arrre magesss Alex and we are strrrong magesss asss well. When Sssavrrril decided to trrry to starrrt bonding grrryphons ssshe didn't rrrealize that asss magesss, we have to be bonded with magesss and thossse magesss have to be Adept strrrength. Therrre hasssn't been any magesss of Adept strrrength sssince Ssstorrrmwind and he isss alrrready bonded."
"Oh, I understand now. You can't bond because no one is strong enough to hear or feel your call right?" AJ asked.
"Exactly...although I wonderr" Silver whispered softly.
Suddenly AJ felt a warmth spread from his head to his toes. It was like nothing he'd ever experienced before except for one thing, and he reached within himself to grasp that feeling and hold it close. He gave all he had to keep that feeling there.
"Ah...you arrre an Adept strrrength mage. I am yourrr companion now Alex. We will alwaysss be a parrrt of each otherrr, I will neverrr leave you, everrr."
AJ walked over to the gryphon and reached out to caress the crest feathers on his head. "Silver, you have to be the coolest creature I've ever seen" he laughed.
"Ahh, so you must be Alex" a voice called behind him.
"Huh? Who are you?" AJ asked turning around. He took notice of the man, probably in his late 30's early 40's. The most noticeable thing on him was those shocking blue eyes.
"I am Stormwind. You are Alex I take it. And you have bonded with a gryphon, Silverwing, the strongest gryphon-mage in residence here at the palace complex. Jakara will be most interested as it was her who said it couldn't be done."
AJ nodded "Silver said that no one has been strong enough to hear his call."
"Until you chosssen" Silver added.
"Yes, until me Silver" AJ agreed.
"Very well, I ask that you both follow me back to the field and your friends. They seemed quite worried about you" Stormwind said turning around and heading back towards the field.
"Come winged one, lets go" AJ said following Stormwind.
"Afterrr you chossen" Silver replied.
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