Born to Ride

Chapter 5: Ouch. Really. Ouch.

The next morning after we ate breakfast and I once again goggled at how good it was, we started to pack up camp.
"Des, go scout the area with Samira" Deren said, and Des lifted up a weird thing that looked like a big saddle with many straps. He took the saddle thing and started to attach it to Samira. After it was attached Samira layer down and spread her wing out for Des to climb up. Wait, what the? Was he riding the griffin? "Wait wait wait, are you riding the griffin?"
I asked astonished. Des looked at me like I was dumb,"yes Agate, that's why we are called griffin RIDERS."
"I-I-I know but but is it safe? I mean.." I said stuttering so much. "It is perfectly safe Agate" said Deren coming up beside me. "Of course a griffins back is not the best to ride without a saddle, the spine of its lion part and the ridge of its wings can leave you quite unbalanced. Some riders have although mastered it of course. We build saddles that help you hold on your griffin. " Deren took my arm gently and walked me up to Samira, showing me two handholds in the saddle, and other places to make sure you don't slip off easily. "And of course, a large part of flying with your griffin is telepathically being aware of each other. It's much easier than using brute force on the creatures" I was still boggled that you could ride a creature as large as this, but these two days have just been so weird, I figured, this was just another thing to add to the weird. "Oh another thing when you fly with your griffin is, you have to make sure that the griffin feels ready to fly DES" Daren said as Des forgot this fact and was thrown off by Samira. I heard her telepathically chuckle. "Hey! You were ready!" Des shouted 'ahh, but I didn't hear you telepathically tell me. How do you know if I was?' Samira retorted, letting everybody around hear their conversation. "You put down your wing so I could climb on!" Yes but what if I was just stretching? Des shook his head like 'I don't know what I'm going to do with this obnoxious creature'. Samira just made the purring sound and and put her wing down for Des to get on again. Des carefully climbed up again and settled in the saddle, watching Samira's face for any sign of mischief. When she didn't throw him off again he said. "Ok i-" suddenly without warning Samira stood up and took off flying straight towards the sky, followed by Des's screams slowly echoing into the distance. " they are still developing their bond. And Samira is still a very mischievous pup." Deren sighed. I felt something hot on my foot. I looked down to see Kai breathing fire onto my foot!
I screamed and jumped away but my pants had caught afire. I ran around trying to beat out the flames when Kai opened his mouth and water came gushing out onto my leg, dousing the fire. I had a look of bewilderment on my face and looked at Deren who looked satisfied which I was learning was a pretty normal reaction from him. The guy was just so satisfied about everything. "I see your griffin has learned of his power over the elements." Deren said and my jaw dropped. "Elements? Wha-wit- whaaaa?" Deren smiled and said. "All griffins can learn to use three of the four elements, earth, fire, and water. They can't control air because they are creatures of the air. But each griffin has its own special talent to make up for that element such as healing or something of that nature." I nodded and said. "Okay, griffin rider, power over the elements, actually riding the griffins.... wake up now Agate!" I started to pinch my arm really hard. Owwww. I didn't wake up. " can things get more weird?" I asked, and Deren said. "They can and they probably will" with that he stood up and walked off. Was that supposed to make me feel better? I let out a frustrated sigh and laid on my back. Right there on the forest floor. A big paw landed on my chest and a worried pair of ruby eyes came into my line of view. Kai had a worried face on and he whined. It was like he was trying to say sorry for singing my pants, and my heart completely melted. I sat up and lifted Kai from under his arms on my lap. I just sat there and hugged him until he started to squirm. When i sat back to look at him I gasped. He had grown to about 3 1/2 feet now! By the end of the week he would be as big as Samira! I stroked his feathered head while he purred and gazed at his colored wings. They were every shade of red and orange and yellow, with little white feathers here and there. His lion part of him was a comforting shade of chocolate brown. He was absolutely beautiful. I gazed into his eyes and felt a tug in my gut. A reminder of our bond we shared together.
I was brought out of the moment by the sound of beating wings. Samira's brilliant blue almost transparent it seemed glittering feathers and sky blue lion body with green mixed in all that, landed a couple feet away from us with Des looking happy considering their perilous take off. "It is amazing up there! Wait until you get the thrill Agate! It's amazing!" I giggled and Kai clambered off my lap over to Samira, again trying desperately to get her attention. I chuckled at his attempts. Deren announced it was time to leave and we cleaned up the campsite. When we were finished and ready to leave I asked. "But if someone finds this area they will know we were here." He smiled and said "harina"
The campsite grew weeds in seconds and everything grew. Everything looked untouched. Of course I was shocked and gaping. But if I asked I don't think I could take it right now. I just silently walked in the other direction.
The week flew by, and I watched in the time span of seven days, my little Kai, grow into a BIG Kai. He wasn't as big as Samira, but she was six months old. It was so fun teaching him how to fly and watching him flutter his little wings. On the seventh day when Kai grew Deren came up to me and said. "Well now that Kai's big enough, I think it's time I taught you how to ride him." "What?!" I shouted, Deren Just nodded his head and said. "In fact let's do it right now, Des prepare some dinner, I'm sure Agate will be hungry after learning to fly. Not to mention I'm feeling peckish myself." Des nodded and went straight to work. Even though it had been a week I was still amazed at how well the boys cooked. I had never lived this way with the rich and all. We walked over to Kai who was STILL trying to get attention from Samira. I admit she had given him a little attention as he grew more her size. But he really wanted her FULL attention. So currently he was on his back with his tummy exposed and his tongue lolling to the side. I thought I would die from the cuteness. Kai sensed us walking up to him and he flipped back onto his stomach, licking my hand with his forked tongue as I came up to him. I heard rustling and turned to see Deren rummaging through a bag searching for something. He then pulled out a gigantic saddle... I should explain how he did that. You see during this last week I asked him how he had done that thing to our campsite when we left. He said that Griffins didn't have the only powers and riders could ALSO do magic but this didn't come instinctually you had to practice it. I asked him to teach me but apparently he was taking me to a place where a rider suitable for teaching me would take me on as a prodigy, when I asked where he avoided the question. Anyway he put some magic on the bag and now it can hold infinity of stuff and it's a lot lighter.
He showed me how to strap on the saddle and said my mentor would teach me how to build a saddle from scratch so I could in times of need. Kai kept curiously looking back at us as we strapped the saddle on. Then I remembered something. "Wait! Deren didn't you say that talking telepathically was a big part of riding? Well I can't do it if Kai still isn't talking to me!" He nodded at this and tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Yes, I suppose this is a problem but- ah! I know. Des! Come here please!" He called. Des came running over. "Des, I can't have Agate go up in the air because she can't speak to Kai yet. What I want you to do, is ride Kai with her and have Samira fly in the sky next to you. Samira can talk to Kai, you can talk to Samira." He nodded at all of this an smiled at me. I had to admit he was hot, but he kind of felt like a brother to me. Well I was slightly more comfortable with this plan. Slightly.
For the next few minutes we tried to get Kai to lower his wing so I could get on, but to no prevail. Then I got an idea. I grabbed a piece of meat from the food bag and waved it in front of Kai's face. I went and stood next to his wing, making sure his eyes followed me. I then pointed to his wing and scrunched my arm up like what his wing was doing. Then i folded my arm out flat, bending down slightly to indicate down. Please let this work, please let this work. I thought.
I waved the meat at him and did this several times, until he got it! His wing slowly stretched out flat and I threw him the meat saying good boy! And cooing to him like a dog. Eventually after the boys clearing their throats and me saying 'bugger off' multiple times, I climbed onto the back of my griffin. My griffin. Des climbed on and sat behind me on the saddle. You know? I thought I would feel scared on the saddle, but when I felt Kai's strong compact body and muscles beneath me, and his wings stretched out beautifully on either side as he prepared to take off, I felt so safe. That is, until he lifted off.

(Shout out to MegaPotatoPower for being really sweet (that's right I've noticed you voting and reading my stuff) and supportive. And I stayed up till 2 am writing this cause I couldn't sleep so if it's a little weird or fast, that's why. Anyway have a good day, night, or afternoon! <3