The Gryphon's Goal: Chapter 2, Part 3
#7 of The Gryphon's Goal
Larry has an unexpected (and very unwanted) encounter with Courtland.
It took Larry longer than usual to change into his gym clothes; his wings just didn't want to cooperate today. Such was the difficulties of being a winged creature with all of the disadvantages and none of the advantages. Why am I the only one in the family who can't--
His thoughts were interrupted as someone shoved him forward against the locker. "This is for not letting me cheat on the English exam, pussy bird," Courtland growled.
Courtland let Larry go, who turned around to face him, the ruff on the back of his neck rising. "You didn't ask to cheat on my paper."
With crimson fur and a golden mane of curly locks and eyebrows that gave him a horned appearance, the foo dog looked more like a demon than a guardian lion. "I don't need to ask," Courtland smiled, his fangs gleaming in the fluorescent lighting.
"Leave me alone, Courtland." Larry tried to walk past the foo dog, only to be pushed against the lockers a second time.
"You don't get to tell me what to do, pussy bird."
Larry's temper rose, and he raised a fist in front of him at Courtland. "Leave me alone, you butt!"
As soon as the words left his beak, Larry regretted them. Courtland's ocean blue eyes were wide as saucers, and the dumbfounded look on his face would have made the gryphon's day under any other circumstances. For a moment, no one spoke, until Courtland finally broke the silence with a whisper. "You dropped the m-bomb," he said. "Man, are you gonna be in trouble."
"Wait, no..! I didn't say mutt!" How did the situation go from bad to Time for a Gryphon Beating worse? He tried to come up with a coherent explanation, only to find any solution passing through his brain like water through a grate.
"I heard you call me a mutt." Courtland's paws were now balled up into fists. "You crossed the line, and I'm gonna pound you into the floor for that."
"I don't think so, Courtland," came the gravelly voice of Coach Bowling. Broad-shouldered, barrel chested, his black hair in a short and tight crew cut with eyes the color of steel, Coach Bowling was rumored to be less human and more demigod-like. Even if the rumor were false, no one could deny he didn't look like he could take on a demigod and win more times than not. In this case, a foo dog didn't stand a chance.
"But Coach..."
"Zip it, Courtland," Coach Bowling said as he entered the locker room. "I heard everything, including Larry calling you a butt. Which is an understatement seeing as how you're a bully."
"He called me a mutt!"
"You've been bullying Larry all semester," Coach Bowling said, ignoring Courtland's protests, "but I never actually caught you in the act until now. It's all been hearsay." He jerked a thumb over his blocky shoulder. "Principal's office."