Gryphonheart- Love and Freedom

I did not know what to make of the peculiar dream I had that night. Little did I know that this dream would be the beginning of something so extraordinary, I would never fully come to grasp the implications of it, and the life I would come to live afterwards would be unlike anything I had ever known!

My dream, in context, was surprisingly similar to the manner of Peter Petrelli's memories of his father Arthur, in the Heroes episode 'Eris Quod Sum', as in mine playing out by use of the psychic static from my telepathy.

I was climbing slowly up through a maze of rocky crags and icy cliffs on Mount Logan, Canada's highest mountain, while on a vacation in the Rockies. I did not mind the fact that I was all alone here, and strove to reach a suitable spot for a much-needed rest. I could never have known that something extraordinary was about to happen, starting with my discovery of a cave high up on the mountainside.

Discovered quite by accident, I didn't know what to make of it. I never even dreamed of how an encounter with a strange crystalline mineral would change my life forever, and little did I know what was in store for me.

I reached up to grip the large rock crags jutting out of the mountain, breathing deeply to relieve my headache from exposure to the harsh summer sun. After a few seconds of judging the cliff above me, I continued climbing, slowly making my way to the top of the massive rock wall. My efforts and perseverance soon paid off, as I finally climbed up over the last rock face, crawling up onto the warm, flat ground, two thousand feet above the valley from where I'd begun.

The sun was lower in the sky now, and I was hungry. Unstrapping my large pack, I sat down, unzipped it, and took a big drink of cold spring water from my canteen, splashing some over my head and neck. Moving well away from the cliff edge, I unpacked my small camp stove, lit it with one waterproof match, and made myself some wonton soup. Afterwards, I explored. The edge of the mountain face was smooth rock, but about five metres back, was a large area of soft green grass and a few pine trees.

Extending over the top of the mountain as far as I could see, was a vast pine forest. I soon came across a narrow rift in the mountainside, about fifty feet north of my campsite. It was growing cooler as the afternoon wore on, and I figured the cave would be a suitable place to sleep, out of the wind and safe from danger.

Climbing down into the cave, I called out for anyone. When nobody answered, I continued my descent. A few minutes later, I came upon a smooth sandy floor in the middle of a massive underground cavern. Huge stalactites, most lost in the gloom of the dark ceiling, hung down like massive spears ready to drop on unsuspecting trespassers. Some still dripped water at the cave edges, but that wasn't a problem for me.

Soon growing tired, I spread out my sleeping mat on the warm sandy floor, before undressing and slipping into my night attire. The sand, warmed by many long years of sun filtering into the cave, served as a perfect sleeping surface. I laid atop my mat, and was asleep almost instantly. A few hours later, I awoke to a strange sound. At first I thought the wind was playing tricks on me, but as I listened, the sound continued; a low, gentle humming noise. I ignored it at first, and tried to go back to sleep, but then, suddenly, the humming sound spiked to a very loud, deep level.

Jerking awake, I looked around, at first seeing nothing. I got up upon suddenly noticing a faint green glow emanating from a narrow crack in the far wall. Intrigued, I slowly walked over to examine it. The glow seemed to be coming from a cavern behind the wall. I found the crack to be just wide enough to easily slip through when I turned sideways. Emerging into the small cavern, I found something I didn't think I would ever see.

Along the walls of the cavern was a long, continuous vein of brightly-glowing green crystalline mineral, that I instantly recognized as chrysolite! For a few seconds, I just stood and stared in astonishment, unable to believe I'd found something that I had always wanted to see!! I also could not have known that the chrysolite was also a form of 'charm energy', in a solidified form!!

I suddenly stopped, staring in astonishment upon noticing several tiny pebbles had risen off the ground, and were now slowly hovering in midair around me!!

Glancing around, I found nothing else here that was being affected. I racked my brain trying to figure out just what was happening, even catching some of the stones and releasing them, finding they still floated!!

I theorized that there was some kind of energy affecting the physical matter around me, just as a magnet affects metal.

I then thought of an impossibility. 'Is this thing releasing...TELEKINETIC energy?!?'

Against my better judgment, I reached out to touch the crystal, feeling soft touches on my arms as floating stones gently brushed past me!! The chrysolite felt cold to the touch, like ice, but then I suddenly felt a tingling sensation flow into my hand. A few seconds later, it spiked into a burst of pain that shot up my arm and through my body, as I screamed.

The mineral suddenly turned from green, through yellow, to brilliant fiery red, shifting from one colour to the next too fast to perceive, as I was struck with a sharp pain through my entire body!! I staggered, collapsing to my knees; blood suddenly oozing from my left nostril, before I collapsed facedown onto the ground with a groan of agony, as one hand fell to slap down hard right on the ice-cold mineral; the brilliant light of the transformed chrysolite shining throughout the cave and turning everything fiery red, as I suddenly felt a gentle nudge, like the sensation of two equal magnetic poles repelling one another, surround my body, as I was slowly pushed back across the cavern floor; my back gently hitting the far wall, before I blacked out!!

...

I jerked awake with a strangled cry, bolting up in bed and sweating bullets.

It was 2:45 am.

I couldn’t go back to sleep, so I got up, dressed in jeans, sandals, and my plain white t-shirt, before heading downstairs, and going out. I was home alone tonight, knowing my brother had left a few hours before to sleep over at a friend’s place, and my parents were both away at work.

Or so I thought.

Later, as I was walking down the road by the school, I glanced up at the soft amber glow coming from the fire hall’s outside lights.

But as I passed the building, I noticed it was quiet.

Too quiet.

Running over, I lightly knocked on the door. No answer. I called my dad’s name, with still no answer.

Checking the door, I oddly found it to be unlocked, and pulled it open.

Darkness. Complete and utter darkness.

“Hello?” I called; my voice echoing eerily in the building. Still no answer. Going in, I flipped on the switch for the main lights. Both the red and yellow fire pumps were there, as was all the gear. I ran inside, quickly but thoroughly searching. The hall was empty, as if it had been abandoned.

Then, suddenly, I noticed something on the floor leading from the back of the yellow truck, toward the room that housed the firefighter’s gear. A chill went down my spine when I noticed the liquid was dark.

Like...

Sudden terror gripped me, as I ran, following the trail toward one gear set.

I nearly screamed when I saw bloodstains on my dad’s boots and jacket!!!

A sudden sound like the gentle scrape of claws on the concrete floor startled me, as I spun, running back out to the open area.

With the scratching came a soft breeze, followed by eerie, indecipherable whispers, and a low, chilling laugh that echoed in the building, even though I was alone.

Or was I?

But I forced down my fear. ”Help me, God!!” I prayed silently, looking heavenward. ”Give me strength!! Salvum mihi ex malo!!”

A sudden loud, though distant, rumble of thunder startled me, as I spun toward the door, just before the sound of rain reached my ears.

I couldn’t bear to stay here any longer. I had to get home even through the storm.

Little did I know that I would never make it.

A sudden gust of wind brushed past me...even though the door was closed tight.

I swallowed hard, ran to the door, flung it open...and dashed out into the storm.

I ran nonstop through the driving rain down the road until I reached King Street, and turned toward home.

Little did I know everything would change forever in a few seconds.

Intent on reaching my home to seek shelter from the storm, I never saw the lightning...

CRACK!

I screamed, instinctively dropping to my knees, falling over into a fetal position, waiting for the inevitable end...

BZZZZZZZZZZTT!!

I pried my eyes open, and very slowly looked up to witness an unbelievable sight: The lightning I thought had struck, was instead hovering around me; the initial bolt about a meter above, while around me was a sort of ‘bolt cage’, like a dome!!!!!

I forcibly slowed my breathing, then suddenly heard the flapping of huge wings, followed by a thump!

“Are you alright?” a soft female baritone voice asked. Looking up, I saw a griffin...a real, living, breathing, flesh-and-blood GRIFFIN!! Her forequarters were identical to a peregrine falcon’s.

With a quiet hum, the lightning instantly dissipated from around me...and the first thing I did was slowly get back up, and hug my rescuer, who chirped softly as she tenderly returned the embrace.

I looked up at the griffin, and nodded, not caring to wipe away my tears. She smiled warmly, doing so softly with the tufted tip of her leonine tail.

I suddenly noticed I was no longer wet, nor was the griffin, but she seemed to read my mind. “I have telekinesis!” she replied with a wink. “I couldn’t bear to see you get hurt, so I knew I had to help you!”

I swallowed, but my friend smiled and nodded knowingly. “I can take care of you now, I promise!!”

I smiled, not at all surprised that she’d read my mind and discerned my predicament. “Thank you!”

Smiling, my new friend extended a claw. “I’m Rhonu!”

I nodded, shaking her claw. “Charlie!”

Rhonu bowed graciously, before helping me climb astride her, before she spread her massive wings, and took off, heading west.

Surprisingly, despite it still raining fairly heavily, not one drop hit either of us, but I knew my friend was helping me to stay dry, and thus warm.

We travelled over the next few days, and about a week later, finally reached the west coast, coming to land on a beach.

Rhonu glanced back at me and smiled, before her golden eyes glowed; a gentle force suddenly lifting me and moving me aside, gently lowering me foot-first to the sand!

“Thank you, Rhonu.”

The griffin wrapped a gentle wing around me as she walked me to her cave just up the beach. Surprisingly, it was big and very spacious, similar to the dragon Elliot’s cave from ‘Pete’s Dragon’(2016)!

There were many smooth ledges, some with thick, soft animal pelts, and others stacked with nuts, fruits, herbs, and other kinds of foods. There was even a large azure spring at the far end of the cave!

I found I was somewhat hungry, so freely took an apple to eat.

“I’m glad I found you, Charlie.” my friend said warmly, as I glanced up at her, and smiled.

“I don’t know if I’d be here if not for you, Rhonu!” I replied with honest gratitude. Smiling, the griffin laid down next to me, and held me close with one talon, being careful not to hurt me.

“I felt it was my duty to help you, Charlie, my friend!”

I smiled, looking into her gentle amber eagle eyes. Chirping softly, Rhonu leaned down to lovingly nibble my ear; I giggled as I felt the tickling sensation.

“Want to see something neat, Charlie?” I nodded. Rhonu then glanced up at a fairly large pebble on the cave floor a few feet away. At first nothing happened, but then a barely-audible humming reached my ears as the stone trembled, then began to rise off the ground!!

My jaw dropped.

It suddenly dropped, as the griffin chuckled behind me. “It’s a natural talent I’ve always had!”

I smiled. “Reminds me of ‘Chronicle’!” We both laughed.

“One of my favourite movies, my friend!” she replied with a wink.

“No way!” I laughed.

Rhonu grinned, focusing as I suddenly felt a gentle force lift me off the cave floor to about 2 meters in the air!! I burst out laughing as my friend winked again.

I slowly turned in midair, then did a somersault, as she giggled.

I felt myself sink to land foot-first, then went to get a drink of water. “How did you get this telekinetic power, Rhonu?”

She smiled. “My family and I were a race of extremely rare griffin creatures known as ‘Shifters’; we naturally possessed the power to alter physical aspects of our surroundings at will. Marc found us while exploring the Sierra Nevadas with his friends, and was so jealous of our gift that he proceeded to hunt us down and either kill us or try and take our telekinetic power for himself. Suffice to say, it didn’t end well for us, and now I am the last of my kind. I never did defeat Marc, despite successfully killing his friends. Afterward, I searched for a place to call home, and found this cave, where I’ve been living for the past 20 years!”

I sat back, mulling over the tale.

Looking up at my friend, I sighed. “I guess it could be said the same is true for me.”

Rhonu didn’t have to ask about my remark; she already knew. Now we only had each other.

After a moment of silence, Rhonu finally broke the ice and spoke up.

“You look tired, Charlie.” It was true, all that running, along with the whole ordeal and the complete shock of it all, had proved to be quite draining. This whole time I’d been running off adrenaline, but now it was finally starting to wear off and I was starting to feel the effect.

Rhonu sat down and offered me to join her, and without much hesitation, mostly due to the fact that I was exhausted, sat down against her. In less than a moment, I could feel warmth engulfing me and in even less time, we both fell fast asleep.


A few weeks later, in the coastal forest...

Marc pushed aside the bushes blocking his path, and called out to his friends.

“Guys! You out here?! I’m back! Pft, turned out that robbing that bank was easier than-” but he stopped short upon realizing no one was there.

“...Guys?”

But nobody answered, and nobody came.

Marc inspected the area, getting slightly annoyed, but after going a bit deeper into the forest, and tracking the nearby footprints, he finally found them. Or what was left of them, anyway.

To Marc’s horror, his friends were all dead. Their corpses lay on the ground, partly covered in blood; every one of them was accounted for, leaving no possibility for survivors.

Marc did not move, only staring, his eyes wide as saucers, but clearly filled with anger and fury. Instead of checking their wounds for any possible reason for their deaths, he had already made his assumption…

“...Charlie…” his face turned into a snarl of rage. “when I find you, I will make. you. SUFFER!”



Back on the beach, I decided to go for a bit of a walk, just leisurely strolling along the shore while Rhonu had gone to go grab some food for the two of us later; seeing as our supply was starting to run short. Normally I would have gone out and fetched it myself, but Rhonu had insisted that I stay behind, and so I did.

Standing upon the edge of the shore, the waves just barely reaching my toes, I smiled as I felt the cool and pleasant breeze of the Ocean.  I started to wonder more and more about that dream I’d had. Ever since Rhonu let me stay with her, I’d been having that dream almost every other night.

Sighing wearily, I figured that there were some mysteries that would require more time to solve. My thoughts were suddenly cut short as a cold and familiar voice pierced my ears!

“CHARLIE!”

I spun around to see Marc himself, his eyes blazing with hate, armed with a sword in hand. My own face twisted in anger upon seeing my enemy, “What do you want, Marc?!” I demanded.

Marc spat at the ground, “Don’t play the innocent card, Charlie! Did you really think you could murder my friends and get away with it? You will pay for what you’ve done!”

I didn’t have a clue what he was talking about, but nevertheless, I stood my ground, raising my fists.

“If it’s a fight you want, Marc, then a fight you’ll get!” I spat. Marc then ran at me, sword raised and yelling insanely! As he got close and was about to make the first swing, I quickly stepped aside as his blade came down, just missing me.

Marc whirled around to face me again, and I gave him a smirk. “What? Did you really think I was just going to stand there and take it?”

He snarled again and ran at me, this time making sure to track my movements. He slashed his blade at me, but instead of dodging, I suddenly grabbed a clump of sand and threw it into his eyes the moment he was inches away! My enemy grunted in pain for a few moments, staggering backwards.

“Charlie!” A new voice called out. I turned to see Rhonu in the distance, flying as fast as she could to reach me. I smiled for a second upon seeing her, but then her eyes widened!

“CHARLIE! LOOK OUT!”

I quickly spun, but it was too late. Marc had finally managed to land a blow; I had tried to move out of the way, and had failed to hit anything too vital, but he still managed to thrust his blade right into my stomach!

With a final burst of speed, and with an ear-piercing screech, Rhonu rammed her head into Marc’s chest, causing him to be thrown several feet away; the impact was so strong that it knocked the wind out of him and knocked him unconscious. The griffin was about to finish him off, but then her gaze turned towards me, her eyes suddenly filled with worry, and quickly ran to my side.

I had pulled out the sword from my stomach and tried to keep pressure on the wound, but I couldn’t stop the bleeding; I fell flat on my back and started to cough up blood.

“Charlie, listen to me! You’re going to be alright, you hear? I-I won’t let you die!” Rhonu sniffed. I gently brushed my hand over her head-feathers, and tried my best to speak.

“R-Rhonu...you’ve...Been a t...true f-friend to me, and...For that... I… I thank you.”

I gave one final ragged breath, managing to whisper, “I...love...you…”, before finally giving in.

Rhonu began to weep quietly, completely caught in her sorrow, as she held me close. This pain was too much, and she didn’t know what to do. “I...love you too, Charlie, and I will never forget you!” she wept.

Without her realising it, a stray tear fell from her face, directly onto my wound, sinking into the fresh cut.

Rhonu held my body close, not intending to let it go, but when all seemed lost, a gentle voice spoke out to her.

“It’s far from being all over!”

Rhonu’s head shot up faster than a bullet, and looked around frantically! “Who said that?!”

Her sharp eyes continued to search, and as she was doing so, my friend failed to notice my skin beginning to glow a strange golden hue.

”Have no fear, child of the shifter-winged. I give my word, his future…will always be in safe hands!”

The voice was strong and powerful, yet distant and soft like a whisper. Rhonu finally caught sight of what was happening to me as the light had spread to the rest of my body, its brightness increasing to the point where it simply wasn’t possible for it not to be noticed!

Upon seeing this, the griffin instinctively jumped backwards, and could only stare in shocked confusion with a slight touch of awe as the the light caused me to completely dissolve into the air, and the light suddenly transformed into a brilliant golden fire!

The flame danced and flickered brightly, then started to change shape until it appeared to grow stable; if Rhonu looked close enough, she could still see the particles that my entire being was comprised of. Finally, the particles had begun to pull themselves together and reform! The flame had become more and more stable, up until the point where the particles and the flame were both the exact shape!

After one final flash of light, one so bright that Rhonu had to shield her eyes for a second, there stood before her another griffin! My appearance was similar to her own in terms of size, but I was covered in golden feathers and dazzling white fur; like a combination of a golden eagle and a white lion, whereas Rhonu’s hindquarters were of an ordinary lion’s!

For a moment, I laid motionless on the ground, but I slowly opened my gleaming amber eagle eyes, which had a gaze that was instantly fixed on Rhonu! The female griffin was utterly speechless! Could it really be?

“Hello, Rhonu.” I finally spoke. My voice was deep and rich, but other then that, it was instantly recognized by the female!

“C-Charlie? Is that… is that really you?” she asked, with a tone of shock and uncertainty. I gave her a warm smile, and nodded my great head. Without even thinking, Rhonu darted over to me, and hugged me tightly with her wings! Tears of joy started to stream down her face, and my tears began to fall as well, but there was no sadness to be found, instead, we were both utterly happy! My friend felt as though her heart was ready to burst with joy!!

A sudden cry of anger interrupted our moment. We both looked to see Marc, who had recovered from the blow Rhonu had dealt him. Rhonu let me go, and I telekinetically picked up the sword that he had used to kill me, and held it up with sheer mental force, the blade outstretched towards Marc. Teeth gritted, he darted towards me, anger literally seemed to burn in his eyes. At that moment, I then released my grip on the sword, but it did not fall; instead, it remained in the air, floating in place!

The sword then redirected itself so it was aimed right at Marc, as the blade began to glow subtly, and before our enemy realized what was happening, the sword shot through the air like a bullet, and drove deep into the man’s chest with a sickening thunk!

For a moment, he tried to stay standing, but simply couldn’t. He finally fell backwards onto the ground, but still tried to move, and even tried turning himself around so he could try heading towards me!

With the hate still clear in his eyes, it was almost as if he was determined to kill me, even with his dying breath. But at last, Marc finally succumbed; his scream of agony and rage resounding as his eyes blazed like the sun; his skin starting to crack as fire erupted from his eyes and mouth, slowly incinerating Marc from the inside out, leaving a horribly charred corpse moments later, that was, surprisingly, still whole and intact!!

At long last, Marc de Manthaeus was dead, for all eternity.

Without hesitation, I grabbed Marc’s charred body by the shoulders with my talons, and took off into the air with one powerful flap of my wings; Rhonu was right behind me. Together we flew far out into the Pacific, and dropped Marc’s lifeless corpse into the ocean waters, where it sank deep below to where it would never be found.

After reaching the shore once again, Rhonu rested her head on my shoulder and whispered, “It is over?”

I smiled, nodding and lovingly nuzzled her with my beak; at long last, we were free to live in peace.


...


Five years had passed, and my relationship with Rhonu had only continued to grow, up until the point where I had taken her as my mate. I stood proudly in our cave, giddy as a child as myself and Rhonu watched eagerly as the egg nested in the middle of the area, snug as could be, began to hatch! To our delight, a tiny male griffin hatchling burst through, and onto the nest floor.

We quickly ran over to attend him, and the little hatchling started chirping happily upon seeing us, instantly recognizing us as his mother and father.

Our new son suddenly brushed his new beak against mine, his eyes closed. I felt a tear of joy well up in my eye, and softly whispered his name.

“Godric...”


More years passed until our son had grown into a fine young griffin, inheriting his mother’s telekinesis, alongside powerful telepathic and clairvoyant abilities, and also vast healing powers.

Allowing us both to teach him to properly utilize his gifts, Godric would later become one of many great protectors of the Earth! His natural gentleness and benevolent nature allowed him to make many great friends in his life, and, in his twenty-fifth year, he even met another young female griffon named Aelia, and a few years after becoming close friends, they too, bonded as mates, giving birth to a young daughter, Eowyn, who swiftly became close friends with Rhonu and I, thus expanding our family.

My wife and I love to take the long trip over the coast to visit our daughter-in-law. My niece Aelia and I have become the best of friends as well. She loves to fly with us, and I’ve even helped her awaken and harness her latent aerokinetic ability, as well as her healing and telepathic powers, just like those of her mate.

All in all, I had been given a new chance at life, a new family, and friends, to call my own. To this day I still don’t know how or why this had happened, but I am happier than I have ever been, and wouldn’t take anything back.

In a way, the enemy allowed the greatest chapter of my life to begin...that started with Rhonu deciding to save my life.

Had that not happened, I don’t know if I would be here today. Rhonu is my one true love, and I owe her everything. We have a wonderful family, and I am happy...

And, having found my corner of the sky, happy I shall always remain.