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The Gift Richard's FA Intro, Part 2 copyright comidacomida 2018

He rose up as he pulled back, standing on leonine hind legs like a person would, and I saw that he had leather pants-- not the normal kind, but the ones you'd expect to see in some Camelot movie. With a sword at his hip and large, partially unfurled eagle wings, he made quite an impression, and I couldn't help but think that I was hallucinating. Regardless, taking in a steadying breath, I noticed that a faint trail of golden energy connecting my mouth to his beak trickled down to a faint shimmer as he pulled back.

Even more noticeable was how the glow faded completely by the time I'd exhaled. "What-- what's going on? Who are you? WHAT are you...?" after a moment I realized that the third question might have been a little insulting, so I quickly added "...doing here?"

The feathers all along his head and neck were puffed up and his eyes were wide as he took another step back from me. "Tis most unbelievable... thou hast gained the Sight, my boy? How is it that thou mayest see me now? Be-est thou able to hear me as well, lad?"

Rather than answer his inquiries I was ready with more of my own-- but about that time I realized that all we'd been doing was showering one another with unanswered questions. I figured the least I could do was take the first step toward understanding. "Yes, I can see you, and I can hear you... but--"

His wings extended again in response to me speaking to him, almost reminding me of my mom when she saw spiders. He recoiled, beak wide in disbelief, pupils dilating as he brought his eagle-like talon hands to his face in what almost resembled abject terror. "Fie on me... what have I done?"

I couldn't really help with an answer-- I only had more questions. "What DID you do?"

Before he could answer a strange, rippling pulse rolled through the bathroom. It looked almost like the shimmering sheen of heat wafting up off a street during the summer but it also had an almost physical sensation to it-- like standing up to your waist on the coast and being hit by an incoming wave. The stranger thing was that there was no real force to it-- just the impression of it. At least, that was how I perceived it; the Gryphon-man was knocked right off his feet.

He stood again a moment later, the sword that had been at his hip was in a talon as he turned back to regard me. "I... I will explain what I can when I can. Please, Richard... I beg of thee: wait here for my return, and follow me not until I call out to tell thee that it is safe."

Not even waiting for my response, the otherworldly creature dashed out into the hallway. There were a number of 'strange' things going on, that much I could tell, but what struck me as particularly odd in that moment was the fact that he went straight through the closed bathroom door rather than opening it without impact or collision. I slowly got to my feet, using the edge of the counter for support. The floor was still wet and I was still completely naked; making that realization I reached out and grabbed the towel I'd had waiting for me. I can't recall a time it was ever more difficult for me to get my arms and legs to listen to my commands.

Even as I tried to steady myself I felt exhausted. My arms hurt and my legs hurt; my head hurt and my chest really hurt. I was shaking all over and I felt like ice, but, thankfully, that sensation was fading quickly as warth continued flooding into me. Just as I was starting to get a hang of standing again I heard the sound of what I could only compare to an axe glancing off a piece of firewood... and it came from my living room. Despite having heard the Gryphon's request, I was in no way compelled to listen to a strange, mythical creature's orders and I wrapped my towel around myself, opened the bathroom door and stumbled out into the hall.

The sound repeated again as I supported myself on the wall; it came from down the hallway and to the left-- the living room. I took a few shaky steps, wiping my still-wet hair out of my face as I emerged the middle of what I could only describe as 'a duel'. It may sound strange, I know, but I was the audience for a fight between the armored Gryphon from my bathroom, sword-in-talon, and a black-furred humanoid canine wearing what looked like some kind of pharaoh's robes and wielding a hardwood staff.

Framed by tassels of gold, silver, and opals, the newcomer had the distinct look of a jackal and, having done a report on ancient Egypt only a few months before graduation, I could tell there were certain 'similarities' between the creature and certain legends. The man or, rather, the Jackal man was staring down the Gryphon, and his deep purple eyes, framed by what looked like golden eyeliner and golden mascara were burning with vigor. It was a stark contrast to the Gryphon, who appeared exhausted, almost to the point of collapse. Raising his staff high, the Jackal instead launched out a kick, catching the Gryphon in the crook of his ankle and knocking him off-balance.

I really didn't know what was going on but the moment the Jackal tensed to follow up with a savage strike from the staff I called out "Hey!"

The black-furred visitor turned immediately to me and our eyes locked. It took me by surprise just how otherworldly I found his gaze; instead of whites to his eyes they were pure black like his pupils, the almost-glowing purple being the only break in the midnight hue that was his face. The Jackal cocked his head to the side as if confused, and, surprisingly, he took a step back as if HE were the one seeing a monster. His muzzle parted and, like the Gryphon, I heard words come out in English-- though the canine obviously seemed to have much more difficulty figuring out what he was going to say, and his accent was very foreign and very thick. "You... no die...?"

It took a moment for me to realize that it was a question, but also somehow a statement at the same time. The Gryphon, who was still down on one knee used the opportunity to fall back but, rather than retreat, he got back to his feet and interposed himself between me and the Jackal. "Aye... Richard be living still-- and mayest have him not."

As if ignoring the Grphon completely, the Jackal took another step forward, but his staff was no longer held as a weapon. He moved first to the left, and then to the right; I tracked his movements carefully with my eyes, which seemed surprising to him. "You... see me? You... hear me?"

The question gave me a flash-back to the same way the Gryphon had looked when I encountered him in the bathroom. Before I could answer, the sword-wielding beast held out a talon and motioned me backward. "He is here to take thy life essence, Richard... please, keep distance-- if he but touches thee--"

The Jackal's objection almost sounded like a bark, but it was a very distinctive "No."

My eyes remained on the black-furred creature even as the Gryphon tried to urge me backward. I challenged the newcomer. "You don't want me to move away, or you aren't here to... take my... uh... soul?"

His fur rose on end and his muzzle parted, falling open as if he'd just seen something that surprised him beyond any sense of reason. The Jackal's paw released the staff it held and I watched in disbelief as it fell toward the ground but dissolved into nothingness before reaching the carpet. By the time I was looking back to him he had closed his mouth, but opened it again tentatively, and lowered his head, bowing forward at the waist in what almost looked like supplication. As he moved his balled-paw to his chest the word he spoke was one I didn't recognize. "Hem-netjer."

Even though the Jackal didn't seemed to be armed any longer the Gryphon was still on guard. I could see that he was breathing heavily and... translucent? I paused before addressing him. "You-- I... I can see through you."

The Gryphon raised a talon so he could look at it without breaking his focus on the Jackal and he stumbled to the side, hitting the wall with the grunt. Despite how big he was, I was surprised that the Gryphon's impact didn't make a sound. Without even thinking I moved to the furred-and-feathered creature immediately, grabbing hold of the arm that wasn't holding a sword to help steady him; he was surprisingly light, almost as if he wasn't there. He tried to shrug me off of him, but I helped lower him to the floor instead. He gnashed his beak in what translated in my mind to self-disgust. "I cannot protect thee, Richard... if he tries to take thy soul--"

The Jackal interjected immediately "I no take soul."

From his spot on the floor, the Gryphon scowled-- at least, I thought he was scowling. "Tis what YOUR kind does... scavenger. Richard... trust him not, lad-- thy life is in grave danger still."

My eyes went to the black-furred beast man, who remained standing right where he had been when I first emerged from the hall. His ears moved expressively and his eyes flitted left then right; despite his face being taken up by a muzzle his expression still came through clearly: he was frustrated. His muzzle opened and closed several times as if seeking out the right words-- it was readily apparent that his grasp of English was not that of a native speaker... nor even that of a casual linguist. "I.... you--- you no dead. I no-- I no hurt... Hem-netjer."

The Gryphon spat out an objection. "You broke an Accord, Jackal."

The canine shook his head. "No. Human die. I come... but-- Human no die."

"Accord? What?"

Sitting up, no longer refusing my help, the Gryphon set the tip of his sword into the floor and hoisted himself up to a kneeling position, addressing the Jackal's last statement instead of mine. "Because I brought him back."

That was a surprise to me and I knelt down beside him. "You brought me back? You mean--"

The Gryphon finally turned to look my way. "I have known thee since thy birth, lad. Tis my duty to protect thee from all harm, but I could not halt man's lightning. Thy heart had stopped, Richard, and so I gave of myself to keep thee tied to thy mortal coil."

I didn't know what to say; more than half of what he said made no sense. "Since my birth? Mortal coil? I-- I died?"

The room went dark for a moment and I felt suddenly dizzy. The Jackal spoke, reaching out a paw. "Hem-netjer... need sleep."

The Gryphon had his sword at the ready again in a moment, but he seemed almost as unsteady as I felt. "Stay back. Thou hath no right to touch Richard, scavenger!"

The canine's expression was unreadable, but severe. "He no die, but he no living... yet. He need... ah... he need..."

The Jackal's statement faltered at that as he sought for a word. I interrupted. "I just need some rest... it's been a long day and-- I... think I died?"

Nodding, the Jackal stepped forward. "Yes. Rest. Hem-netjer need rest."

I still had no idea what the word meant, but it felt weird to be called something I didn't understand. "My name's Richard, not him-net-year."

The stoic expression remained, but I was given the impression of a cordial greeting as he touched his chest with an open paw. "Anapa."

I looked at the Gryphon, who was still staring daggers at the Jackal. "What about you? Do you have a name, uh... sir?"

A tuft of feathers arose from either side of his head; they almost looked like ears of a curious dog when they did so. He looked at me, something unspoken in his eyes for just a moment before he looked stared at the Jackal and finally got the rest of the way to his feet; although he stowed his sword he still appeared to be at the ready. "When more mortals could see me they named me Jack... I have known no other name since then."

Despite the lengthy explanation I got my answer, and so I tried to diffuse the tension between the two beast men. "Okay... Anapa and Jack... Anapa-- you said you don't want to hurt me?"

The Jackal nodded succinctly. "Yes. No hurt... I help Hem-netjer. No hurt."

I then turned to regard Jack. "And, Jack-- if Anapa doesn't plan on hurting me, that means he's not a threat... right?"

The Gryphon's beak moved as if he were chewing on something, but his 'ear-like' feathers slowly lowered and he let out another breath. "Richard... thou knowest not the way of spirits... we are all dangerous, and tis my--"

I interrupted him. "He said he wants to help, not hurt... right?"

Jack turned to stare-down Anapa. "Swear it. Thy trespass is not forgiven, scavenger... give to my ward thy word-- make an Accord, and I shall forestall my doubt of thee."

Anapa blinked. "...why?"

The Gryphon's talon went to the hilt of his sword again and his beak opened in a sneer. "If thou hast reason to hesitate then--"

I laid a hand on Jack's forearm, surprised that the chain mail covering it was warm and not cold, but I focused on the task at hand rather than dwelling on the armor. I addressed Anapa. "It would make Jack feel better, and we could get past all of this confrontation."

The Jackal's amethyst eyes remained on me, save for a split second when they shot to the Gryphon then back to me. He obviously didn't understand half of what I said, but he was able to summarize it in a way that obviously meant something to him. "It... make YOU feel better, Hem-netjer?"

I honestly didn't know what to make of the situation, but I realized that whatever was being suggested was probably the only way to calm them both down and keep one from killing the other. I said as much. "It will."

Anapa nodded, bringing his paw back to his chest as he began to speak. I didn't understand a single word of what was said but, as an otherworldly wind began to disturb his strange toga-like garb and ruffle his fur I could tell something of some significance was happening. Jack's feathers and fur were likewise tussled by the wind, and yet I didn't feel a thing. As Anapa's chant-like monologue came to an end a strange, inner-light behind his eyes flashed vibrantly, causing them to glow for just a moment before the burst of illumination was echoed by the paw against his chest. The Jackal brought his paw away and within its palm was a purplish crystal. He held it out to me, saying only one word. "Accord."

At Jack's nod, I reached out and accepted it; the crystal was warm to the touch in a way similar to the Gryphon's armor. Without knowing why, I realized with complete clarity that Anapa would cause no harm to me while he was a guest in my house. At the same time, a strange sense of clarity came with that understanding-- I felt it with the same natural acknowledgement of realizing that the sky was blue or that fire was hot; it seemed so basic and so fundamental. These two creatures were spirits and, just like humans had our sets of universal laws to follow, so too did the spirits. For them, their laws were as immutable as physics or gravity were to me.

The Jackal repeated calmly. "I no hurt Hem-netjer, I help."

There were so many questions flooding through my head and I wanted answers to them all but, more than curiosity, I was overcome with fatigue. It was well past midnight and, if what Jack had said was to be believed, I needed sleep. One question DID make it through the haze of exhaustion. "Do... um... I mean... I know I'M really tired but... uh... do spirits.. uh... sleep?"

Jack shook his head. "Nay-- not in the same way as humans... but we do need rest, Richard, especially after--"

He let his statement fall off into silence and it didn't take much for me to finish the sentence. If he really had 'brought me back' then he was probably exhausted even before trying to fight off the Jackal. I looked up to Anapa. "I think I'm going to go sleep... will you be okay here? Oh-- you can stay on the couch."

I had to pantomime and gesture; a lot as what I was saying apparently didn't register well with the Jackal. Eventually I think he figured it out, and he motioned my way. "I stay with Hem-netjer."

The Gryphon let out an indignant squawk, his wings unfurling slightly. "Like hell you will, Scavenger. Richard is my ward. Tis MY duty to watch over him-- my Pact."

Anapa's expression gained a hint of severity to it. "You no have power. You no help him. I help Hem-netjer. I help... Rich-ard. You sleep, matoy. I help."

It felt a little uncomfortable having two strangers fighting over who'd get to help me-- or, more accurately, a Gryphon who was a complete stranger to me but who had apparently known me my whole life, and a Jackal who had shown up to take the life essence from my dying body but who had suddenly and inexplicably decided that he wanted to be my... friend? Guardian? Bosom-buddy? I honestly didn't know... but what I did know was that I--