"Alright." Kirin says as he starts the fire. He smiles at how easy his magic comes to him now, at least with the simple spells. He pulls out some of the preserved food he had bought with him and chews on it. He just lets his mind wander. He can't help but be excited. He never thought he would leave the valley he had grown up in. Though a small part of him is a bit scared, what with not knowing what to expect.

Sniffing for any scents on the wind, Larissa caught the whiff of a herd of grazing deer nearby. Eager for something to fill her own belly, she spread her wings and leaped into the cool evening air. Pulling herself higher and higher, she soon was circling overhead. Spotting the group nearby, she tilted towards them so that she would be able to go into a dive. Targeting an older one, she tucked her wings in and fell from the sky.

Kirin watches her go, still in awe of how she moves. He knows he'll have to replenish his own stock, but he has enough to last till they get in town. He will offer his services as a mage, in turn for food, and perhaps shelter. He wonders what the humans in the town will be like. What if they aren't accepting of mages. He pushes theses thoughts away. They aren't good to have.

Sinking her talons into the old doe, she felt it's body crushing beneath her. Victory soared through her as she went to enjoy her meal. Warm flesh and blood went down her throat in hearty shreds. Leaving little beyond bones left, she settled down to clean herself up. Eating was a rather messy affair. Once certain that all traces of blood and gore was cleaned from her feathers, she leaped into the sky to return to camp and her little one.

Kirin is bathing in the brook enjoying the coolness. He is floating on his back. His eyes closed, he is lost in thought. So much is on his mind and he finds that meditating helps him deal with his busy mind. He doesn't always meditate floating on his back, but it is nice. He is trying to keep the doubt over the people he will meet at bay. He just has to trust that they will be accepting, and if they aren't he does know Larissa will protect him.

Flying in, she saw Kirin floating in the water in a relaxed way. She smiled and changed where she was planning on landing. What could be more fun than a little practical joke on her charge. Turning in towards him, she came in for her landing. Bracing her talons out in front of her, she let the splash of her entry into the cool water to fly straight at Kirin with more following the first initial splash as her wings thrashed to also break her landing.

Kirin senses her approach and just manages to get a shield around himself before the wave hits him. He laughs as the force of the water moves him down the brook. He smiles at Larissa as he swims over to her, after the second wave of water is over. "Did you get plenty to eat?" He asks when he gets to her side. He knows if he can't manage to get any food in town he will have to have her bring him some game for him to preserve, but he is going to hold out hope for the town.

((Or, really trying to not be knit picky... maybe leave out all the "he"s... there are a lot...))

Larissa smiled as the taste of her last meal was still recent. "I had a really yummy meal, thank you Little One." After an hour of gentle banter, they made their way to the fire to dry off and rest. She fell asleep with the stars shining overhead and the sound of the fire popping. As sleep stole over them, the moon made it's way across the sky and the night birds chirped their gentle tunes. Near dawn, before the sun's rays peeped over the horizon, a jolt surged through her like a lightning bolt. Alarm flew through her causing her to spring up with wings spread out. The orb inside of her was throbbing. Someone was in trouble nearby and the orb's insistence was enough to make her sick.

(alright will do)

Kirin slept well nuzzled against Larissa's side. His sleep had been peaceful until Larissa woke.. Kirin gasped as he is jolted awake. Kirin was filled with worry for his friend. "Larissa, what's wrong?" He asked. He didn't know what he would do to help her, but if there was away to help he would. Kirin tried to approach his friend but he couldn't get close with her flailing wings. "Larissa!" He called out trying to get her attention.

(Did you have an idea for what was wrong cause if you didn't I did.)

Unsteadily, she shook her head. She had to go. Now. Refusing, or even hesitating, was making her nauseous. Crouching down, she got ready to spring into the air. Spreading her wings out to their fullest extent on each side, she let her instincts guide her for take off. Her mind was clouded and senses dulled with only that one thought, someone needed help.

(You better jump on her before she takes off or you are walking. Whatever is wrong is in your court. Where do you want it? In town? Just outside of town? The main road? A nearby farm? You decide. Go ahead and decide where she is flying. Controlling her a little at this point isn't going to change much since she is only flying in to rescue someone ;) )

Kirin jumped on Larissa's back as she takes off. He held on tight scanning for what was amiss. He knew that orb had sensed somebody in trouble. Soon he spotted what the trouble was.


Maria ran along the river bank. Her clothes were torn and she was dirty. She had been captured by bandits on her way into the village. They had tried to have their way with her, but she had managed to escape. But they were in hot pursuit. She was so scared.

Kirin spotted the men chasing the young lady. "There!" He hollered pointing to the bandits. Larissa soon headed that way. Kirin hoped they could make it in time to save the young lady.

Larissa was way ahead of Kirin. She was aiming for an aircurrent that would allow her to speed faster. Twisting into it, she plummeted in a dive towards the ground. Crashing into the ground just behind the girl, she tumbled over in a heap, barely registering Kirin flying off her. Springing to her feet, she snarled while expanding her wings and lifting her pounding head high. The men had fallen backwards at her crash landing. They were just now coming to their senses. In the early morning light, she glared fiercely down at them.

The girl gasped as Larissa came in for a landing. Seeing Kirin fly off her back she rushed to him. "oh no," She says. Some how, though she couldn't say how, she knew that the gryphon and the man were a friends. "Are you alright?" She asked kneeling next him.

When Kirin felt himself being thrown from Larissa's back, he barely managed to get a protective shield up around himself. He laid there stunned a bit. He looked up when he heard a voice. "Yeah, I'm alright." He said sitting up. "Are you alright?" He asked taken in her desheavled appearance.

"I'm better now that you and your friend are here." She said with a smile that mad eher eyes sparkled. "But how are you not hurt?" She asked curious.

"I'm a mage." Kirin said watching her to gauge her reaction.

"That's amazing." She said with a huge grin.

((Another pointer for improving your writing, avoid "just knowing" things. It makes the character seem like a deity as well as takes away the intensity of the story.))

Swiping her claws at the first man who seemed to recover, she felt her talons tear open his skin sending a spray of blood flying through the air. Crouching as she threw the body over her shoulder, she lunged at the remaining men. Using her teeth to sever the head off of one and smashing another beneath her paw, she massacred them in seconds. The pounding in her head slowly eased and she turned, a vision of death with glistening blood splattered across her spread feathers and the snarl still upon her face. Larissa cast her eyes towards the girl who now bent over Kirin, trying to force herself to pull out of the hunter role faster than normal for his sake.

Kirin smiled up at the girl. "You know you are the first person to say that."

"Really what do most people say?" She asked tilting her head to the side.

"Most don't, they just don't talk to me at all." He said. "My name is Kirin." He said standing. He offered his hand to the girl.

"My name is Kassandra." She says taking the offered hand. "Thank you for saving me." She said with a smile.

Larissa stood there blinking as her mind cleared. Two people acting like they didn't have a care in the world. Her stomach almost ripped apart because of the girl. She growled at them angrily, turning and leaping into the air. She fly on, straining her muscles against the air currents. Sailing from view, she went hunting. Ignoring the deer, she set her sights on a wild mountain cat. Might as well go after something that would fight back, or try to.

Kirin gasped when he heard Larissa growl, had he done something wrong?

Kassandra shuddered at hearing the growl. She moved closer to Kirin. She stayed near him even after Larissa flew off. "You are the first person I've ever seen travel with a gryphon." She said.

"She is really nice." He said. Though he wouldn't be able to explain her growling at them. "She saved my life. If it weren't for her I would be dead."

Larissa moodily stalked the mountain cat from the air. Finally she dove down and savagely ripped him apart like a cat might a pesky mouse. Realizing that she wouldn't have much to munch on, she paused. Then sighed and sat on her rear. The orb was quiet for now. How come the orb reacted forcing her to save the girl, but not stopping her from hurting those men? She mused over them only a second before discarding the idea.

Kirin and Kassandra sat and talked. Kirin found it very nice to have another human to talk to. He told her a bit of his past and how the people in his village had hated him for what his father had done.

"Oh that's horrible." Kassandra said. "I don't see why they would do that."

"I guess they feared I would turn out like my father, since I was exposed to that darkness." He said with a sad smile. "Though I think it was because of his darkness I refused to let myself become like him."

Kassandra smiled at this.

Going back to camp, she left Kirin and the strange girl to fend for themselves. Carefully cleaning herself from her meal, she sat at the creek's edge watching her reflection. The sky was full of the sun's rays. The sun had risen sometime between them leaving and her returning. She turned and looked towards the settlement she had picked for today. Learning who those people were might be interesting.

"If you will excuse me for a moment." Kirin said to Kassandra as he saw Larissa returned. He had to make things right between them. He walked to the rivers edge and placed a hand on Larissa's side. He gently stroked her feathers, really didn't know what to say. After a moment of silence he whispered. "I'm sorry for whatever I did to anger you."

She looked over at him, relieved that he had gotten back to camp safe. Still a bit moody though, she snorted. However the gentle stroking felt good and she knew it was rather human of her to hold a grudge. Gryphons were supposed to be above petty feelings. Sighing, she rested her head down on her paws and said, "We were in battle for all intents and purposes. An easy one, but one nevertheless. When I finished off the men and turned around, it felt like I was at a tea party instead of a rescue mission."

"Oh," He said softly. "I just..." He chewed his bottom lip a bit trying to find the right words to say. "I guess I was just caught up in meeting another human. One who didn't fear me for being a mage."

Kassandra had followed him back to the camp and stands a bit back from them just watching the human and the gryphon. She was still amazed at the bond it seems these to share.

She nodded and tilted her head over so that her beak rested across his shoulder. "I'm sorry little one. Being human has messed me up I guess. I should never have felt or acted the way I did. Gryphons are mighty guardians of justice. We should monitor from afar and not create friendships with lesser species. I suppose I still have some of your human emotions still inside me needing to seep out." She glanced sideways at the girl. "Want to introduce me to her?"

Kirin's heart twinged at being referred to as a lesser species but he brushed it off. He knows, deep down that, compared to her, he is lesser. "Oh of course." He said smiling on seeing Kassandra. "This is Kassandra." He said smiling. He didn't know if Larissa would want her knowing her name so he doesn't use it.

"It's an honor to meet you." Kassandra said with a bow. "Thank you for saving my life."