Tension (original) by Keenthedragon

Tension (original)

Keenthedragon, Dragon, Dragons, Griffin, Griffins, Gryphon, Gryphons

Recommend reading it here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jPR1JQz4coa85_2iJjLQ2x_fDnC7msAT3_C2ZP6esPM/edit?usp=sharing

I recomend reading it here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jPR1JQz4coa85_2iJjLQ2x_fDnC7msAT3_C2ZP6esPM/edit?usp=sharing

"Hawk! Stop it! You don't know what you're doing!" A gryphon shouted to the other.

"I do, brother, it's kill or be killed! It has always been that way! I will be the one to quell you!"

Hawk lunged forward, talons outstretched as he harried his brother, slashing across Zuberi's shoulder and snapping his beak at his neck, pulling out a feather and spitting it to the side.

The older gryphon pulled back, bashing him with his wings and pushing away "Stop! How would Mother feel seeing us like this? And what about father!"

"They're dead Brother! No longer with us. A relic of bygone times. There's nothing we could have done, even if we tried."

"Do you think they would be proud to see what you've become? A selfish being, only ever interested in his own affairs. Not even you could brother to be so kind as to catch Ryker a mouse."

"OH shut up! I don't care!" He snarled, flaring his wings and going in for another attack, running forward and lunging.

Zuberi threw himself to the ground dodging him but his brother's claws managed to nip his back, warm blood drooling out into his feathers.

"I've been training for years, I know how to fight, and you do not, so just give up!"

"But-"

"Just give up!" Before he could stand Hawk leapt on top of his back digging his unsheathed digits into Zuberi's shoulders and he raked them down over the muscles of his wings and tearing up the flesh, claws stained with the blood of his own.

Zuberi groaned in pain, crying up to the sky. "Stop it!"

"Join me, brother, join the dark side, I can heal you, I can take away all your pain, or I'll steal your soul!"

"I'll never join you!" He hissed.

"Then I don't need you..." Hawk said, clawing his nape, digging his claws deep into his flesh and ripping it up, tearing talon-fulls of blood and flesh, splattering it everywhere. Satisfied, he stood, stepping off. Scanning the room he grinned as his favourite weapon came into view. A barbed sword laid on the floor only a tails-length away. Hawk stalked towards it, picking it up in his talon. The male examined it for a few moments, running a paw-pad over the blade, letting it pierce his skin slightly. He examined its ridges, admired the handle. Soft leather wrapped around it but as it grew higher, it became a deadly ridged iron blade, polished, sharpened and ready for battle. Slowly, he turned back to the other gryphon and spoke, I bid you farewell... my brother..." He pushed him over to his back, raising the sword and thrusting it down, straight into his chest, digging it deep, wiggling it around a bit, letting the ridges catch him. The sword begins to glow green and it pulsed once and flashed. "Your soul is now mine... trapped in my sword... forever..."

***

His feathers prickled as a shadow passed, small clunks and clicks of talons against the wood as two dragons marched down the hall.

Ryker sunk further into the wall holding his breath. He didn't know how far they were ahead or what they desired, but what he did know was he didn't want to run into one.

He needed Zuberi. He needed to find him. And Hawk. Maybe. His brothers needed to know.

Zuberi would protect him as he always had... right?

It had been awhile now... no dragons had passed.

The little gryphon scanned the room for a few moments then stood, venturing out and peeking his head into the hall.

How many hours have passed? He wondered.

Ryker made his way over to the window, standing on both legs and peering out.

It was ought to be past dawn now, the skies outside the manor dark, littered with stars. .. His gaze fell into the courtyard and he frowned.

Dragons! He realised. One, two, three! Three of them. As well as the ones inside the building already'.

He jumped down, turning to look down the end of the hall, eagle eyes scanning the area. He felt a little tug of his heart, almost telling him to go that way so he did, trotting one paw after the other.

Creeeak.

He gasped slightly, muscles tensing, ears perking and his gaze scanning the passageway for possible threats. They didn't hear. He realised and his wings drooped with relief.

Click, click, click.

He'd spoken too soon. The gryphon rushed, searching around for somewhere to hide.

As a muzzle came around the door, he dived into a room and slammed the door behind him. They couldn't get to him there.

Just as that thought crossed his mind the door burst into flames and he leapt back looking for another exit. Another door, There was another door! He rushed to it, reaching up to the handle and ripping it open.

Another hall? Why are there so many!

The whelp made his way to the nearest room and jiggled the handle. Locked...

"You let him go? You useless mushroom muncher!"

Ryker perked his ears to a harsh snarl followed by a yelp. His feathers prickled and his muscles grew tense. He shuffled further back into his corner, holding his breath as a wedge-shaped head came around the left but to his relief continued walking. Then stopped, raising its head, nares flaring, sniffing the air.

Had it picked up his scent? He wasn't going to stay and find out.

While the dragons back was turned, he leapt up, threw his wings to the sides and ran down the hall, stepping on the drake's tail in the process. Ryker stumbled forward, tripping across the floor and landing on his beak. The dragon roared behind him, raising its tail and slamming it on the ground, just missing the gryphon's wing as he pulled it into himself. A rush of adrenaline waved through him. He tucked in his wings in and rolled as the tail came down upon him for the second time. As it raised for the third attack he managed to get up and dodge again. He spun around and harried it, digging his beak into his tail, drawing blood with ease.

The dragon dragged its tail back to itself as it managed to turn around. It opened its muzzle, Ryker ducked, fire blasting over his head. The wood behind him caught alight, and his gaze flashed forward, then back.

Ryker looked down at the ground, closing his eyes in defeat. "Do it then... end me... I-I'm not afraid of death..."

"I will not kill you... just yet... bow to me!" She hissed.

Slowly, Ryker obeyed, kneeling before her, wings splayed to his sides, the tip of his tail curled upwards and his beak to the ground.

She examined him for a good moment, walking around inspecting him, her snout brushing the browns of the feathers atop his head, eyeing the crimson that surrounded his eyes and breathing in his scent, packing away the gryphons smell in her mind. She moved to smell his cream-coloured chest, slowly working her way down his body before pulling her head back, standing tall above him.

"What's your name?"

Ryker summoned up courage from within, turning to lock eyes with her and parting his beak to speak. "M-my names Ryker..." He spoke softly, the end of his tail twitching and both wings pulled close to himself.

"My names Bacia," She said hissing slightly with her words. "You are young, yes?"

He hesitated then nodded. "Yes."

"Good. Where is your brother?"

"Zuberi is out hunting-- he'll be back soon... Hawk is with him."

As I thought... now you're coming with me..."

"W-what? No! Don't!"

She just smiled.

***

Hey, little brother... wake up...

Oh, Ryker... You're so cute when you're tired...

"Who's there?" He raised his head, blinking open his eyes and looking around but all he saw was black. Not a single light. The only thing he could see was himself. "A-and... where am I?"

You're here! With me, baby brother! It's Hawk!

"Where's Zuberi? Is he okay? I-I'm worried. There was a dragon a-and fire and she said she was going to take me a-and I was hiding. I even fought her, dear brother! I fought her!"

Yeah, and that was a big mistake.

"What do you mean?"

There was no answer...

The world around him began to shake, shift and flash, colours painting themselves across the sky.

A sharp pain hit Ryker in the back of the head; he fell to his knees and groaned. He moved a talon to feel where the projectile had hit but nothing was there. One moment the pain left, but then more came thundering in. He found a sword in his talons and blood splattered across the ground in front of him.

He raised his head and the world flashed. He found himself staring down at his brother, Zuberi, the sword he had held pierced through his brother's chest.

He screamed but made no sound. There was another flash.

He's gone now... Came Hawk's voice again. He had to go, Ryker, he had to. It's killed or be killed...

"NO! THIS ISN'T REAL! STOP IT GET ME OUT OF HERE! PLEASE!"

He closed his eyes, shutting them tight but through his eyelids, the image remained. The sword, the screams, the pain. Oh, the pain, he could feel it. It ran through him followed by a flame of anger

Kill or be killed. The voice spoke again.

"Ryker! Wake up! Please! It's not real! Wake up!"

"Zuberi? Zuberi!" He yelled.

The world around him returned to the darkness it had been before and then it disappeared, his eyes shooting open.

"Ryker! You're awake!" Shouted a familiar voice. Leaning forward he touched his brother's beak with his own and they Nuzzles for a few moments. The larger gryphon pulling the whelp closer into his embrace, moving his head to his little brother's shoulder and stroking the back of his head lazily with one paw. "You started talking... I-in your sleep... and then yelling, and I got worried and you would not wake up... I-I love you..." He whispered.

"I love you too..."

The two laid together in silence, cuddling, Ryker telling him what happened while his brother just sat there and listened, letting the fledge cry into his chest, leaving a small wet patch of tears there.

When he had finally finished he pulled his head back and gasped as he looked at his brother's face.

"H-Hawk!"

"Brother." He whispered.

The little gryphon ripped himself from him, rushing back and snarling. "Where's Zuberi? I want Zuberi!"

"Kill or be killed." He took a step closer while Ryker took one back.

"You tricked me! How?"

"Magic. The dragons have bestowed their gift on me. Ancient magic from the gods themselves my dear brother."

"Why?" Ryker screamed. "Why did you killed MY brother?"

"Our"

"MY! You are no brother of mine! I donor know you anymore! The magic has consumed you! Y-you're gone..."

He growled, the feathers along his back rising "Choose a side little brother, you're either with me... or against me... kill for me, or be killed. Kill or be killed. What'll it be?"

"I would rather die than serve you!"

"You'll change your mind brother... you will... sooner or later... I know it..."

He growled, the feathers along his back rising "Choose a side little brother, you're either with me... or against me... kill for me, or be killed. Kill or be killed. What'll it be?"

"I would rather die than serve you!"

"You will change your mind brother... you will... eventually... I know it..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

16/03/2018

~By Grrthesecond~

Wonder what happens next... Hmm

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So that's the end of this part. Dunno if there'll be more for a while but yeah! Hope y'all enjoyed!

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Big thank you to all the people that helped me edit!!!

Thank you toThe Furry Nexus and its wonderful members, quite a few people helped me out there and yeah!!