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Red's Rebound

The rain was coming down hard now. Not that he noticed at all. The rain only proved to point out his own sadness of the events that had occurred. He was soaking wet, with tears streaming out of his eyes to blend with the rain, yet he didn't care. All Red cared about was that he had just been stabbed through his heart.

It had started like any other normal day. Red had gotten out of bed that morning, his feathers a mess as always. He had quickly jumped in the shower, washing himself thoroughly before stepping out, dripping wet as the fur dryers came to life. It was hot air that passed through his feathers, seeming like a hot day's flight he loved. Looking towards the mirror, he looked himself over.

He was a gryphon, a mostly dusted brown-orange like color. His hands and feet were a dark shade of grey with black talon nails. His yellow beak went well with his red neck and chest. His tail spade was of a darker shade of red. His wings folded around him as his ear tufts lifted a bit, his piercing light gray eyes looking back at him. With a deep breath, Red wrapped a towel around his waist and left the bathroom.

Walking back into his room, his cell phone started to ring. Reaching to the side table beside the queen sized bed, he snatched the phone and opened it. Pressing answer, he spoke into the phone. "Hey babe."

A feminine voice spoke through the phone, Red's girlfriend. "Hey Red. Listen, I'd like to meet you today, in the park in an hour."

Red had been a bit puzzled but responded, "Alright, I'll be there soon."

Closing the phone, it started to buzz again. This time, he saw it was Alex. Flipping the cover back open and pressing the call button, he brought the phone up to his ear tuft. "Hey Alex, what's up?"

Alex's voice floated through the phone, accompanied by the usual static interference of phone calls. "Nothing much, just wanted to know if you would like to hang out today."

Red cracked a grin. "Sure, but first I have to meet my girlfriend at the park in an hour. We could go after that though; she probably just wants me to comment on a new outfit."

A soft chuckling could be heard from Alex. "Alright, I'll see you at the park later."

There was a click as the line disconnected and Red flipped his phone shut. Unwrapping his towel, he used it to brush his head a bit before throwing it into the hamper near the bathroom door. His wooden dresser stood opposite of the bed and he went over to it. He pulled a drawer out and grabbed some boxers, slipping them between his legs and pulling them up to cover his waist.

Closing that drawer, the gryphon walked over to a door in the wall and opened it. Inside, his jeans were hanging up. Grabbing at a pair with a tear between the knee and foot, he pulled them off the hanger and put them on. Zipping them up with the button done, he walked to his door and pulled it open, stepping out into his small living room.

It wasn't much, just a two seat brown couch, a small desk with a lamp on it, a low table with a tablet and laptop on it, and some small knickknacks placed around to decorate. The kitchen nearby was neat, no dishes in sight with the fridge close to the wall and the counters had a gleam. Walking by the couch and table, Red grabbed his keys and opened his front door. Shutting it before turning and locking the apartment, he stuffed the keys into his pocket and walked down the hallway to the stairwell.

Living on the third floor had ups and downs. One up was that he got a bit of exercise every time he went out, what with the elevator only used for packages and moving. One down was that his lower neighbors loved to party. After the two flights of stairs, the gryphon decided to walk to the park. Stuffing his hands in his pockets, Red made his way down the street.

While he could fly, he didn't want to have so much extra time left over. A few blocks away, he came to his favorite store, an art supply depot. It contained an artist's dream supplies. It had tablets, laptops, paper, easels, paint, crayons, markers, pens, you name it. The bell rang as he opened the door to browse the shop. He immediately went to the drawing tutorial section to read up on some skills.

Red's phone beeped as he was reading on anatomy of felines. It was his fifteen minute reminder. Sighing, he closed the book and replaced it, walking out of the store to continue on his way to the park.

The leaves stir as the breeze blew through them. The gryphon shivered and looked up as he walked. Black clouds were forming already. Shaking his head, Red wished he had learned the news for this morning. Too late to turn back, the avian continued into the park.

There she was, on a dark green park bench made of metal. She was a white spotted deer with a ponytail of black hair. He approached her and she stood up.

"You wanted to see me?" Red asked.

"Yes, Red, I did."

"What about?"

"We're over Red."

Red froze, his mind refusing to process what just happened. "Whaaaaaaaat?" slipped from his open beak.

"We are done Red, I found someone else."

She opened her umbrella and turned to walk away. The rain started to come down at that point. Red fell to his knees as he felt tears flowing from his eyes. His sobs came as a crack of thunder came after lightning split the sky, the rain pouring now. He was being soaked and he didn't care. It felt good after the pain he was given.

The rain unexpectedly stopped. There was a thumping sound as the gryphon looked up to see his sergal friend Alex. His white face surrounded by black fur looked at him with sad blue eyes. He extended his free hand for his friend.

Smiling weakly up at Alex, he took the pure white paw with his own and stood. Red wrapped his arms around his friend and he felt his friend's hand on his back, rubbing between his wings. He cooed softly before letting go, wiping his eyes.

Alex said, "Come on, let's get out of here."

Nodding, he walked a little bit to the sergal's right and behind him. They walked slowly so they both could share the umbrella Alex had. It was a little while before the two of them saw the apartment complex Red lived in. The two flights of stairs to the third floor were covered, so the umbrella closed with some trouble, collapsing into itself.

Pulling his keys out, the avian unlocked his door and the two friends walked inside. Red immediately sat on the couch, the springs protesting under the strain again. Alex took his time to hang his coat and umbrella in the closet near the door. He padded over and sat next to the gryphon.

They just sat there quietly for what seemed an eternity. Eventually, Alex spoke up in a whisper. "You are better than her. She didn't deserve you."

Red sighed. "I'll be ok Alex. I just need to vent." He swiped his tablet up as walked over to his desk. Sitting, the gryphon began to draw. Alex frowned a bit but stood up and set out on the task of preparing a late breakfast.

Opening the fridge, the sergal got out eggs and milk. The cabinet held the quick-mix pancake batter and another one held the measuring cup with glasses. Grabbing the cup and two glasses, he set them on the counter and leaned down to open a lower cabinet and pulled out two pans. Above the stove, Alex grabbed some vegetable oil and set to work.

The avian's paw was smoothly crossing his tablet as he watched what he was doing. It was a scene between a deer and gryphon, one walking away with the other on his knees with a hurt expression. It was his outlet and he did what he did best.

Soon, however, the smell of cooking food bought the gryphon's attention. "Hey Alex, what are you doing over there?"

"Making you breakfast, otherwise you would probably skip it."

"Too true." Going back to his drawing, he started with his outlining in clean lines. It wasn't long before he started to assemble his color palette. That done, Red began coloring in his picture. A plate set near him as well as a glass of milk drew his attention again as he looked up at the smiling sergal.

"Thanks Alex."

"No problem, eat."

Nodding his consent, the gryphon brought his plate in front of him and started his meal. From the clanking behind him, he knew Alex had started eating as well. Drinking the last of his milk to wash the meal down, Red stood and put his plate in the sink. He turned the water on and started scrubbing his plate and glass, as well as Alex's used glass and plate. Setting them to dry after rinsing the soap suds off, he returned to his desk.

He continued with his drawing as the sergal stood behind him. In a matter of minutes, he threw his stylus down. "This is hopeless."

"It looks pretty good to me."

"It is terrible."

Tilting his two colored head, Alex thought to himself before grabbing Red's arm. "Come on, we're going out."

The avian was dragged out of his apartment before he could protest. Sighing, he dug his keys out again and relocked the door. Following Alex down the stairs, he wondered where the sergal had in mind for a destination.

Rounding corner after corner and going crisscross on the streets, Red felt as lost as lost could be. Eventually, he saw a statue of a panther and realized where they were going. The big buildings double doors became visible soon afterwards and he was dragged inside.

There was little noise in the room, and it did seem to be a bit dusty. The light that shone in showed all the dust in the air and rustling of books turning came from all around. The gryphon grinned as he looked at the library.

He was quickly dragged by the sergal into an aisle of books shelves high, entering a cross section and going through another aisle. A few turns and rows later, they came to the art section. Rolling his eyes, Red started to browse while Alex went looking for him too. Coming back with a few books, and having some of his own chosen, the gryphon began to read. Alex cracked open a few books himself.

A few hours later, Red stretched and yawned. He had been reading about all sorts of great art techniques and now he wanted to try some. Alex, however, grabbed his arm again and dragged him out of the library.

Another little while of twists and turns in the small town, they came to the movie theater. Red's ear tufts fell down as he saw it but he couldn't stop with Alex's grip on his arm. He was dragged inside the theater. After getting the tickets to an action movie and some popcorn and soda, courtesy of Alex who wouldn't let the gryphon pay for anything, they headed into the cinema.

Another few hours later, the two walked out of the theater to a sun sinking towards the horizon. Red let his ear tufts droop again as he realized that the day was almost over. Once more, he felt the paw of his sergal friend, but this time it was in his own paw. For some reason, Red blushed at this and was pulled along down the road again.

The ice cream parlor came into view soon enough. Pushing open the door, Alex led the gryphon inside and up to the counter. The cashier asked lazily, "How may I help you?"

"Two please, one chocolate and one strawberry."

The sergal paid for it after turning down Red's money once more. Picking up the two ice creams once they were ready, the walked back outside and started back towards the apartment. Red was purring softly as he ate his dairy treat. Though he didn't see the color at all, it was red and it was good. Devouring the cone as well, he licked his fingers and beak.

Looking up again, Red saw his complex come into view. His stomach growled, causing Alex to laugh. Blushing lightly again for some reason, the avian climbed the stairs and produced his key. Inside the unlocked apartment, he locked it and jumped onto his couch. The sergal rolled his eyes and went to the kitchen again. More clanking and more cabinets swing shut.

Red sat up and was about to get off the couch when Alex spoke up. "Stay put, you are not working today."

Sighing, Red answered back with, "But it's my place, I should be treating you."

"Shut up and enjoy yourself."

Again, a blush came to his face. He watched the sergal a bit as he made one of his favorite meals. Standing, he grabbed his laptop and tablet and sat back down to draw. While Alex mixed all the ingredients for the cherry pie, he got to work on a new piece.

Red was so engrossed in his new project that he startled when Alex jumped the couch and landed next to him. Clutching his tablet to his chest, he looked at the sergal. Smiling widely, Alex commented, "Stop being so jumpy. The pie is in the oven and it will take a little while."

The gryphon just nodded his head and brought his feet up. Placing his tablet on his bent legs, he held it while dragging the stylus across the screen. Alex started to slowly bend over to take a peek. Red pulled his tablet up a bit to hide it from the prying sergal. Pouting, Alex sat back.

After a time, there was a ding from the kitchen. Alex jumped to his feet and rushed in there. Red had to let out a soft chuckle as he watched his friend. Being bored annoyed the sergal beyond measure. An inviting smell wafted to him after a minute and he wiped some drool from his beak. As he put the finishing touches on his piece, a plate of pie and a glass of milk were set on the table.

Setting the tablet down, he picked up the plate and began eating with enthusiasm. Alex watched his friend devour his pie before getting up and going for more. Looking at his own, he noticed the tablet and with a smirk, picked it up. With the light on, his smirk dropped.

Red came around the couch as he saw his friend looking at his tablet. Nearly dropping his plate, he set it down and tried to explain. "Al-Alex, it isn't what it looks like."

The sergal put the tablet down and looked at the gryphon with accusing eyes. "What is it then?"

Red sat slowly, silenced without an answer to say. Alex used a finger to pull the avian's face towards him with the other's beak. Looking at his friend's eyes, he started, "Alex, please don't b-"

He was cut off as a furry muzzle slipped between his beak and he felt a rough tongue rub his own. The gryphon's eyes went wide before closing, bringing his arms around his best friend. More than best friend now. Pulling away, he watched the sergal with lidded eyes.

Alex just chuckled a bit. "You have a cherry tasting beak." Red just blushed.

"I like that." Alex dove back into his friend's mouth as the second kiss of their new relationship started.