#pinxiety

             A red griffin sat with many shadows shifting around him. He looked up at the top of the ledge to see his father staring down at him with those condescending eyes… They burned into Roman as he could feel the disappointment emitting from the others in the Judging Hall.

               “Dad, please…”

               “No, Roman this is the final straw. I can’t have you challenging me like this.”

               “I take it back! I-I’ll go to the Tree Spirit!”

               “I don’t care! Just leave. You’re banished. Never thought you would end up like your brother.”

               “Oh… o-okay…” Roman choked back tears. “I love you, dad…” But the golden griffin had already disappeared from his ledge.

               Eyes of hate fallowed him as he slowly made his way out of the grounds… Three pairs of eyes stuck out…

               Three griffins before him turned into a wolf, dragon, and snow leopard, but their expressions didn’t change.

               “G-guys?” Roman called, but they didn’t even bat and eye.

               “Disgusting.”

               “Annoying.”

               “Full of himself.”

               “Stupid.”

               “Childish.”

               “Trash.”

               Their voices filled his head, each word a stake in his heart. His vision started to blur as their shouts became louder and louder, shaking the whole world around him.

               “Roman! Wake up!” Virgil shook him awake.

               “WHA- ah…” Roman instinctively flinched backward when he saw two worried purple eyes in front of him.

               “Why were you crying in your sleep?” The dragon sat back, face perplexed.

               It was late morning, and Virgil and Roman were the only ones in the clearing. The sun glistened off the melting snow as Patton’s complaints about being hungry were heard in the distance.

               “Wh-where are the others?” The red griffin looked around.

               “That’s not the issue… why were you crying in your sleep?” Virgil pressed, knowing the bird-lion was hiding something.

               “Like you would care.” The griffin retorted and started to fly, even though the colder climates made it dangerous for him to do so.  

               “Roman, WAIT! You can’t fly!” The dragon called after him, but Roman didn’t want to hear.

               Soon enough, his wings started to stiffen and he couldn’t bring himself to flap his wings to keep himself in the air, not matter how hard he tried. A small sound of terror escaped him as he started to plummet down towards the mountain.

               “ROMAN!” Virgil rushed to the spot he knew the griffin would hit and at the last moment, hurled himself at the falling mass and both went tumbling through the thin layers of snow.

               “Roman, what the HELL are you-” Virgil cut himself off as he looked down at the red myth.

               Tears were constantly filling and spilling from his eyes, small whimpers muffled by his beak which was screwed shut in a wobbly frown. His whole body shook with sobs and his pleading eyes reached deeper into the dragon the longer he looked at them.

               “What the HELL happened to you?” Virgil asked, his voice much softer than before.

               “I- I just remembered… why I got banished… Whenever my ego gets a bit too high… I’m reminded of how much the world hates me with… little nightmares… Roman’s voice was smaller than squeak as Virgil sat back, shocked that such a creature acting so bravado just the day before was now crumbling in front of him.

               “I-it’s a curse… That keeps me in a constant loop of over egotistical attitude swings to keep me from plummeting, and then having to swallow more of that tough medicine that tells me the ugly truth, causing me to raise myself even higher to avoid it. I don’t even know why you’re here listening to me. I know you hate me.” Roman’s gaze dug into the dragon as he took a step back, guilt making his chest heavy.

               “R-Ro… You know I don’t hate you, right?” His voice was barely heard over the howling wind, but it was loud enough for the prince to hear.

               “Why?! I’m an annoying piece of shit! I attacked you twice, and constantly put you and the others down! You have no reason to not hate me!” The purple creature stumbled backwards as the griffin suddenly started to scream, tears pouring down his face, creating two waterfalls of agony as his eyes narrowed to slits and his chest heaved.

             “Roman…” Virgil suddenly took a step forward, surprising both of them.

               “T-t-t-t-that’s right! Come closer! Hit me! Hit me hard!” Roman winced as the dragon took another step toward him.

               He surprised to find two hind legs wrapped around him.

             “I’m not going to hurt you.” Virgil murmured, warmth glowing deep in his chest. “You’ve been really messed up, Roman. Come on. Let’s get you out of the snow. You’ll feel better in the Howixy Forest. It’s a little more humid there, and you’ll be able to fly.”

               “I’m not sure if I can…” The griffin sulked, finally starting to calm down after his storm of sadness. “My wings were still stiff when I hit the ground… They hurt a lot… I think they might be broken…” The griffin attempted to move his wings just for a stab of pain to stop him dead in his tracks as he sucked in a short gasp.

               “You’ll be fine. Let’s just get you out of here. Come on, you can lean on me if you need to.” Roman blinked, his blank expression said it all. No one has ever done this for him.

               As they walked in peaceful silence, Roman’s thoughts started to race. Why was Virgil, the dragon who DUG HIS CLAWS INTO HIS ARM the previous night suddenly being so caring towards him?

               “I’m sorry about last night.” The dragon suddenly murmured, as if he could red Roman’s thoughts. “I was staying vigilant since I’m sure we’re being followed. But you weren’t the enemy. I shouldn’t have treated you like that.”

               “It’s fine. I was making you uncomfortable.” Roman found himself consoling the creature he once thought scary.

               “But I shouldn’t have dug into your FUCKING LEG.” Virgil stopped walking and faced the griffin. “I shouldn’t have dismissed you so easily either.”

               “I tried to brawl you, I had it coming.” A smile somehow made its way onto Roman’s face. “Plus, you’re really cool, I don’t mind- well maybe the drawing of blood is a little rough- but I don’t mind losing a brawl with a strong creature such as yourself.”

               The dragon found himself smiling as well as they continued walking down the mountain where Logan and Patton were waiting for them.