#griffons

He looks at the pictures of griffons on walls and in books. He sees the awe in people’s faces when they look at him, hears the amazement in their voices, and feels the slight tremble in their hands as they stroke his feathers. He notices his dad puff up with pride when they do.

It is necessary to observe these things, because there are no big griffons left. That is why his dad has no feathers and walks on two legs, even though they share the same pointy ears.

Assan is a griffon. And griffons are important. He tries very very hard to be a good griffon, and do all the things the big griffons do in the pictures.

Even so, Manfred does not like his idea.

“No. Bad.” Manfred tells him, even though his hands are rubbing against each other like a restless halla stamping its feet. This is good, when Manfred moves his hands like that they are saying YES, even if his words say NO.

Assan screeches at him to convey his excitement, and Manfred screeches back. He is nervous. Manfred’s dad says NO a lot more than Assan’s dad does. And sometimes Manfred’s NO’s are actually his dad’s NO’s.

Assan croons, and rubs, and makes his eyes big, and Manfred hums nervously for a long moment before nodding. “OK.”

Manfred has no need to worry. Assan is confident. He has chosen a good spot. He and Manfred climb to the very top of his dad’s perching place and look down at the nest spread out below them.

Moving cautiously (his friend is so cautious) Manfred climbs astride Assan. His bones are light and slide neatly behind Assan’s wing joints. This is good. He fits very well there. And he will not be too heavy, like Manfred’s dad was.

When he is comfy, Assan screeches so that everyone below looks up, even though Manfred tries to shush him.

They all look so tiny down there. It is thrilling.

Assan climbs to the very edge of the perch, and Manfred’s fingers tighten around his feathers.

Below them the tiny figure that might be Manfred’s dad screeches loudly in what must be excitement. Good. He should be proud of Manfred.

You see, all good griffons have riders. And Manfred will be the first griffon rider in a very long time. Ever since the big ones were all gone.

Assan spreads his wings, as everyone below exclaims in excitement and pride. And then he jumps.

—

TWO griffons today, woah! Probably just heard a can or packet being opened

Unicorns in draconic myth are also sometimes known as the "opal stranger". With beautiful opalescent feathers and a dark, wise stare, they are said to find their way into towns and cities and mate with women within them. The children born of the unicorn are known to be just as mysteriously white and beautiful, and will return to the mountains where their sire retreated to.

Unicorns are seen as symbols of beauty in western draconic culture, but they have also been blamed for a multitude of heinous crimes. Real "unicorns", aka opal griffons, are an opalescent species of griffon that lives in the snowy mountains and only comes down to hunt for food during the harshest winters. They have symbolic folklore surrounding them across all of Cenara, varying from symbols of beauty and ferocity to symbols of humility and protection. Negative perceptions and superstition of opal griffons have led to their endangerment and near extinction.

Griffons are also hybrid creatures of cat and bird. You know who loved to create hybrid creatures? Who's whole deal is creating beasts and monsters? You see where I'm going with this.