GRYPHON GUILD: THIRD WAVE
Sparhawk was doing some early-morning work when Crystal burst in on his office. He swivelled in his chair, pen sticking out of his mouth, dripping ink on the desk; another was stuck out at an odd angle from behind one ear. The golden female banged the teleson down in front of him.
"They found them, Spar!"
The weregryph grabbed at his desk in an effort to keep himself upright. "Are you sure?" His deep bass voice trembled.
She nodded, crest bobbing over her beak. "Talk to Jalalith," she said, eye glints indicating the device.
"I don't know how to --"
Crystal picked up his taloned hand in her beak and placed it on the large half-globe of amber. "Here; focus your thoughts through the teleson. They'll reach her."
Sparhawk gave the immortal a sidelong glance before doing as she told him to. Crystal was a very dominating person when she wanted to be. **Jalalith?** he tried uncertainly.
**Sparhawk? Oh, Spar! We found them, but they're in real bad shape. Can't seem to find Stormy or Xolaris.** The flying she-wolf's reply was clipped and very abrupt.
**Where are you?** The zerg-infested weregryph asked, meeting Crystal's flat grey eyes. She thrust her beak in the teleson's direction and tapped her temple with a wing claw; she was listening.
**Somewhere in the Cetnes,** came Raena's mindvoice. **We located the place where they rested and there was a cave in the back. It had some sort of tunnel or passageway; well, we followed that, and ended up here. Though I can't tell you where "here" is, Spar.**
**Does anybody know you're there?** Crystal wanted to know.
**Everyone's sleeping or doing something, Crys. We've been here a looong time and no one's picked us up -- physically or mentally.**
**There were pepple crawlin' all over in baggy robes an' crap,** put in Acyd tentatively. **I think we need us some reinforcements.**
Sparhawk ran his taloned hand over his forehead. **I can't keep sending out single parties, Acyd --**
**Then send out two!** was her terse reply. Sparhawk shot Crystal a startled look; the female Phoenix shrugged. "She's right," she said quickly, turning back to the mental conversation.
**Stay where you are, guys. I don't want anything done until we think of something. Understand? I want information as soon as something happens!**
**Will do, CP,** Jalalith affirmed and cut the connection.
" 'CP'?" Sparhawk rocked back in his chair, tentacles and talons behind his savage head. One of his tails reached up and began to toy with the paper on the desk, smearing semi-dry ink in the process.
Crystal stood straighter. "Yeah. Got a problem, Spar?" She arched her eye ridges, lifting her head and peering down at him from behind her huge meathook eagle beak -- a beak that was half as large as the weregryph's. "I seem to recall you signing your name, 'SH' and no one calls the name police on you!" She tapped the parchment with a wing claw, puncturing it next to the signature. "Eh, it's ruined anyway," she said, referring to the ink stains.
Sparhawk grabbed a rag and began blotting the page and desk area. He tossed the debris in a nearby trash can. "Thing is, Crystal, no one says it aloud because it sounds like you're saying shit!"
She cut him off. "And your point?"
"Yours sounds like urination."
Crystal's eyes bugged and the feathers around her neck and face began to rise. Sparhawk scrambled and dove under his desk, only to be seized by huge black talons and silver claws. Crystal picked him up by the scruff and bent to his level. "Urination, huh? Would you like to be the first weregryph to fly -- without wings?" She threw back her head and began to laugh, letting him go. "You know I wouldn't do that, you old fogey!"
"Old?" Sparhawk raised his eye ridges incredulously. "This coming from a girl who likes to boast she's over 100,000?"
Crystal smiled coyly. "At least you said 'girl'! Actually, I'm only 1,158 -- so there!"
Sparhawk smiled in return, pushing in his chair. When he turned about, his face was serious. "We have to speak to Tser." He rose upon his hind legs, making a few pelvic adjustments before walking towards the door.
Slicking her crest back to normal level, Crystal picked the teleson up and placed it in her ever-present neck pouch. "So what's the plan?" she asked as they walked down the hall.
"I think you're right about Acyd's idea. Two parties would be ideal."
"A Third and Fourth Wave, eh?"
"If you will -- yes."
"How will we convince Tser?"
"Talk to her, naturally; you don't have anything better, do you?"
"A few images of Lux that I got from Jalalith . . ."
Tser wiped the tears from her eyes and sat back, leaning against her own desk. The afterimage of Lux was still on her retinas. The black velvet dragoness nodded once. "Make the Waves," she told them, turning her head to gaze out the window. "However many as you see fit. I want them all home!"
Rumors soon flooded the Guild, and there was once again clamor and chaos. The situation was born out of desperation and the drive to get First and Second out of their predicament.
"Solarius-Almighty," Crystal swore, looking over the list of volunteers. She, Sparhawk, Tser, and FeatherStorm has set up several lists over the Guild in their search for helpers. Now, all four were crammed into the main Guild office reviewing the products of such an effort. The golden Phoenix was in her gryphon form, perched in a chair next to FeatherStorm. She ran a talon down another list that had every Guilder's stats on it and made some calculations. They needed well- balanced teams of fighters, mages, scouts and those with other psi-powers.
FeatherStorm was knee-high in the tactical information supplied on request by the local Forty-First National Army. Aeris' maps had been commandeered and now were tacked to the office's walls; battle markers, silver for Third and purple for Fourth, were pushed into various positions around the Cetne Mountains.
There was a knock at the door; Sparhawk rose to answer it.
"I need to get myself an anthro form," Crystal muttered to the metallic-copper gryphoness, blurring her eagle talons in the more dexterous gryfalcon. "Maybe I can ask Nambroth if I can study her while in gargoyle shape."
FeatherStorm giggled despite the situation. "I envy you shapeshifters, Crystal. To be able to change your form whenever you want -- and to anything!"
"Forms need to learned -- and mastered, FeatherStorm. My repertoire is pale in comparison to most."
Sparhawk brought the messenger in -- one of the newbies, Kyara Ralphsbane. The gryphoness was of the gryfalcon type, but her coloring and hind end was of the cheetah.
"I have a package for . . ." the young one glanced at her sheet of paper, ". . . an Ambassador Ythe Shekeira Eagle-Head?" She looked at the four in the room. "I've asked around, and no one by that name is here."
"That's because it's me." Crystal pivoted in her chair, reaching for the package. "Ythe is my true name. Shekeira is my Clan, and Eagle-Head is my type." Taking the package, Crystal scanned the note attached; immediately, she let out a whoop of laughter. Tearing apart the paper and the box, she lifted out two large gems: one of topaz, the other turquoise. She put them down and read the rest of the letter.
"What are they?" Sparhawk asked, picking one up. A bright beam of light shot high in the air and fanned out. An image wavered in the light, gradually becoming an elf-like female with long brown hair, canted grey eyes; her mouth was set grimly. Something shimmered behind her, looking vaguely like wings.
Seeing Sparhawk, she frowned. "I am Kalaki Moroko Shekeira -- where is the Ambassador?"
"Here, Kalaki." The form in the light turned.
"You owe me one this time, Ythe," Kalaki said, crossing her arms over her chest. "The latest in elven technology, one for each of your parties. Do you know the trouble I had to go through to get these at such short notice? The Tsuriethist wasn't too happy when I disturbed his sleep to have two of these things tuned in less than fifteen minutes -- and in the middle of the night! It's one o'clock here!" The faerie began to giggle. "You should have seen his face! Cost me a bundle in before-hour payment, but I have money to spare."
"Understandable," Crystal replied, unaware of the others' blank faces and blind stares. "Thanks a lot, Kalaki."
"Eh, no problem. These people would jump through hoops if I wanted 'em to. Comes with being rich -- either that, or they're afraid I'll 'go bird' if I don't get my way. I wouldn't do that to them, now would I?" One grey, canted eye winked. Both of them broke out in laughter at the private joke. With that, the beam faded.
Tser, Sparhawk, FeatherStorm and Kyara all looked at her.
"What the hell was that?" demanded Tser, her ears pinned back in fright.
"My sister. She doesn't like her natural form, so when she was old enough, she went and joined the Faerie Council at the Elven Embassy. Keeps her happy, and plus she has access to all their psi devices and technology. She's been an irreplaceable asset to us!" Crystal shrugged and began to study the Tsurieth.
Kyara started to back out the door, uneasy in the company of the Guild leaders.
"Hold on a moment, child." The smooth voice stopped the gryphoness half in, half out. Crystal picked up the pieces of parchment she'd been studying and peered at them closely. "You're compatible for a Wave, fledgling. I don't know who put your name on, since it isn't your hand, but would you like to join?"
Kyara froze, unable to move or speak. She looked from one leader to the other, wide eyes darting. "I -- I --" Her beak moved, but no sound issued forth.
**Send to me, child. Do you want to go? You'd be the first on the Third Wave.**
Kyara locked eyes with the Phoenix lady in gryphon form. Yes, she thought in her direction.
**Good girl!** "You can go now to pack, Kyara. Thank you for the package."
Heart swelling, the young gryphoness bounded out the door, tail held high. Tser, Crystal, Sparhawk and FeatherStorm exchanged a brief, but lasting smile.
*~*~*~*
They were finalizing details the next day when there was a knock on the door. A heavy musky scent filtered under the door. Opening on its own accord, the threshold was filled with the presence of Malystryxx Blackmoon, DarkLady of Nightwings. At her side was Poison, a frequent visitor to the Guild when she was released from her guard duty in her mirror. The Nightshade dragon was in her passive griffon form: purple, lavender and electric blue -- a stark contrast to her hematite mistress.
"I was informed by Poison that you were setting up two parties?" Malystryxx asked smoothly.
"It has been our plan, Lady Blackmoon," Tser answered, inclining her head. Malystryxx was well-known for her army and wide range of followers.
" 'Maly' will do just fine, Guild Leader Tserisa," the dragoness told her. "Any friend of Crystal's is a friend of mine."
**Since when have you been pals with her?** FeatherStorm Sent on a Private Link.
**Surprised, aren't you?** Crystal's mindvoice was full of good humor. **I am the Phoenix Ambassador, Feather. Anyway, Maly and I've been acquaintances for a while now. It's good to have friends in high places, as my sister says.**
Tser nodded. "Since we are on familiar terms, you may call me Tser." Malystryxx grinned, showing off her long, gem-studded fangs; Tser returned the gesture with a more time-honored draconic one: bearing her throat. "As I said, Maly, we're in the process of finalizing the Waves."
"Have you filled all positions?" Malystryxx was being extremely curious about the Waves.
"Not yet. Are you volunteering?"
Maly padded into the room, humming to herself; Poison kept pace, a few steps behind. "That would be the nature of this visit." She turned and examined the parchments. "I have a reputation, as you are aware, of being a collector." She turned one of the Tsurieths over. "Elven?" she asked Crystal; the Phoenix indicated correctly. "Ah, I must contact your sister about getting a list of the latest, then. My communication gems are far too old for this day and age. Anyway," she said, returning to the conversation at hand, "I had a feeling that you might be in need of what I have to offer, since you are embarking on such a perilous mission. You were the last time, if I recall."
"True," Sparhawk rumbled. "You have been exceedingly helpful in the past."
Crystal picked up their roster. "We can fit her and Poison into the Third Wave," she told the zerg-infested weregryph. "That would bump Jooshie and Undine into the Fourth. Less positions to fill."
"Very good timing, Malystryxx," he told the dragoness, smiling, flicking out his forked tongue.
Maly's twin tails curled and waved behind her in amusement. "As always, Sparhawk." She turned and began to walk out the door, Poison not far behind. "I shall see you then, Leader."
*~*~*~*~*
Sparhawk held up his tentacled hand for silence. The common room fell into quiet. "When I call your name, I want you to come up and receive your collar. Third Wave on my left, Fourth on my right. Third Wave: Tyreenya, Jaejoria, Maly, Poison, Kyara, Xiii, Talaisan, Tigress."
One after the other, those of the Third came up and took their collars.
"Fourth Wave! Undine, Jooshie, Amethyst, Alan, Rikiji, SilverMoon, Kreatyl, Raekkenyia."
While FeatherStorm attended to the Fourth, Crystal took the Third. She looked them over -- a good combination of talents. There was tiger-striped Dark Empress Tyreenya, a magess equal in power to her own; Jaejoria, the grey dracogryphoness who'd done so well in the fight against An'masazi; Kyara, the fledgling who was just coming into her own; shapeshifter Xiii, energetic enough to be a good scout; human Talaisan, a Master Warrior who ran his own training school on the outskirts of the Guild; Regal Tigress, a fearsome tiger shapeshifter, who was best friends with Tyr and a magess to match; lastly, Maly and Poison, each with deadly knowledge and breath weapons to boot.
But who to give the Tsurieth to?
"Tyr."
The tiger-gryphoness turned, her tail fanned. "I'm going to show you how to use this, so watch closely." Intently, the magess watched as Crystal went over the Tsurieth's instructions.
"I'll take care of it, CP," Tyreenya promised as she tucked the Tsurieth into her harness pouch.
"I'm not doubting you, Tyr," Crystal replied, smiling. "It's my sister I'm worried about!"
Tyr laughed and patted the Phoenix's golden thigh. "We'll protect you!" They both laughed at that.
Final preparations were made; equipment checked and double-checked. Talaisan readied himself in Jaejoria's saddle, adjusting his sword No-Dachi in its black leather scabbard. Maly was named Third Wave leader (for various reasons), and was now going over battle plans with Fourth Wave leader Jooshie.
All too soon, Crystal's farewell send-off met their ears: "Al'kchoktal Semir Tourn'dae!"
For the final time, the massive Guild doors were opened. Fourth Wave flew out first, headed north-east. They would scout for First Wave's exact location, providing back-up for Third, who would follow the same route as Second and team up with them.
Jaejoria labored upwards, burdened with Talaisan.
"Damn -- you're heavy!" she called back when they were clear of the Guild. Her eyes rolled back, zeroing in on the heavy padding under Tal's cape. Something was fishy about those "pads." "Hey! I thought Malystryxx told you to lose those before we left! No cannons!"
Talaisan shrugged, further upsetting the dracogryphoness. Poison soared above them and latched her talons into the warrior's cloak, careful not to pull at his waist length black plait.
"When the Mistress says 'No', it is no," she told him calmly. With a wrench, the pads came loose.
"Hey!" Talaisan shouted, grabbing at his cloak. With a heavy heart, he watched his investment plummet to the forest floor. There was a pop and suddenly rocket fire everywhere.
"Very nice, Tal!" Xiii shouted as one rocket whizzed by her, narrowly missing her haunch. "Are we trying to have New Year already?" With a grumble, the gryphoness dug into her harness pouch for some cheese puffs, munching loudly while avoiding the missiles.
Tigress flew by and pulled Kyara out of the way of another rocket. "Careful, fledgling," she said with a grin.
Kyara looked back to see the rocket explode yards from where she was. "Thanks," she breathed, sweat beading on her cere.
"Had to save our only Healer, you know!"
Kyara shot Tigress a shocked look. "H-How did you know? Nobody knows that!"
Regal Tigress waggled a foreclaw at the cheetah-gryfalcon. "My dear, I'm a magess -- we pick up on similar energies." She eyed Kyara. "You've not had proper training, then."
Kyara's wingbeats slowed and she locked them into a glide. "No. Not really." She gazed up into Tigress' face. "I'm just so shy -- I could never bring myself to ask for training!"
"Then why did you join?"
"I -- I wanted to feel important. Needed . . ."
A scaled paw touched her under her chin. "Child, we're all important in one way or the other." Kyara looked up into a pair of bright green eyes framed by a mane of emerald hair. Maly reached into her own harness pouch, drawing forth a Healing talisman. "When Crystal told me what you possessed, I raided my vaults and found this. It's very old -- a symbol of all that Healers stand for." With skill, the dragoness looped it about the fledgling's neck, tucking the chain carefully about her feathers and setting the pendant over her war collar. "None harm a Healer -- 'tis back luck," she chuckled.
Kyara turned the talisman over so she could see the design. Wrought in pure silver and overlaid with bits of bronze and gold, it was a work of art. It was circular, with a many-branched tree whose leaves stretched to a stylized sun set in one corner. Tiny forest animals play at the tree's roots and clung to its branches. The mark of the Healing Guild and several ancient runes decorated the bottom edge.
The gryfalconess dashed tears from her eyes. "Thank you so much, Lady Blackmoon!" She clutched the talisman fiercely. "I'll repay you!"
Malystryxx clucked her green tongue. "Nay, child. Freely given warrants no return." Cupping her wings, she rose to chat with Poison and a singed, but stuffed, Xiii.
The shapeshifting gryphoness batted at her right flank, bag of puffs tucked into her collar. "Rrr," she grumbled. "Of all the indignities!"
Poison allowed herself a laugh. "He should be grateful I didn't just chuck him off Jaejoria completely!"
"He will learn that bigger doesn't always mean better -- and explosive isn't always the best approach." Maly angled herself next to the two. "Who made those anyway?"
"The Eastern Elven Nation," Talaisan replied sullenly. "I paid a month's salary for 'em, too!"
"They should learn to make them lighter next time," Jaejoria told him crisply, still trying to balance them out. "At least I can carry you now! Oh, why couldn't you have been born an elf? They're so slim and --"
"Are you implying I'm fat?"
Jaejoria chuckled. "You could stand to lose a few more stones!" She clamped both forepaws over her beak to stifle her laughter. Her efforts jostled Talaisan, so that he bounced up and down in the saddle like a bronc-rider.
The gryphoness' and Tal's efforts were met with more laughter from the entire Wave. Finally, Talaisan gave up and laughed along with them.
After a moment, Tyr parted ways with the group, taking Kyara with her. She enjoyed the young one's company and proved it by showing her the land.
"As soon as we clear Shalshi Forest, we'll turn east," Tyreenya told her charge. "You see over there -- that's Silvertop Range, and a little ways to the left is Cetne. That's where we'll be headed in an hour or so."
"Where's the ocean?" Kyara asked, fingering her medallion.
"Just beyond Cetne. When we get there, I'll take you to the peak of Mt. Cetne and show you."
"We have Guild picnics there every summer," Xiii said, coming up from behind, sipping on a juice box. "It's wild -- especially when Sparhawk puts on his trunks and sings karioke. The funniest damn thing I've seen in years!"
They all took turns telling Kyara and Talaisan stories of past trips, putting everyone in good humor. During that time, they turned east, and soon were skimming the Cetnes.
As they circled the peak of Mt. Cetne, something stirred. Coal black and red spiky hide, blazing red eyes and gargoyle wings, topped off by a jackal-like head: Doomhound!
"Bloody friggin' hell!" Tyr swore as she swung Kyara out of the way. The Doomhound spotted them and let off a hackle-raising whine: a cross between a howl and a yodel. It bunched its muscular hind legs and pushed itself off the peak.
"After it!" Malystryxx commanded. "Don't let it get back to its base!"
Without another word, Poison shot forward, blurring between her griffon and dragon forms; change complete, and her fuschia eyes blazing, the battle-enraged female charged after the Doomhound.
There was a hiss of steel as No-Dachi was pulled free from its scabbard. The sword shone like a thousand suns, even in the fading light of day. Dragon and gryphon war cries rent the air as the rest of Third Wave gave chase.
Xiii, Poison and Tigress circled the beast, keeping well away from its claws. Suddenly, it whipped a short spear from a shoulder holster and twirled it around expertly. The three dodged its first attack, closing in as the Hound looked about for more. While Xiii and Tigress diverted it, Poison rounded about and struck it from behind. The Doomhound's head snapped forward, but the force wasn't enough to break its neck or spinal cord. In one motion, the Hound pivoted and lashed out with its spear. The weapon struck the Nightshade dragoness square between her electric blue horns with a resounding smack.
Poison crumpled, her venomous fangs inches away from the beast's neck. Xiii spun away while Tigress remained to draw its attention. The gryphoness dove, folding her grey, falconiform wings close to her body. Stooping, both foretalons outstretched, she sought Poison's falling form.
"Kreeeaaahhhhhh!!!"
A snap of pinions and the slap of paw against talons heralded her success. Xiii beat her wings forcefully, holding onto Poison by her middle.
**Wake up, Poison! This is no time for a nap!**
Poison's crooked tail began to twitch, and she opened one blazing eye. Blinking rapidly, she squirmed in Xiii's grasp. "Let me go, fool! I can handle myself!"
The gryphoness had no choice but to do so. The dragoness' wings beat unsteadily, but soon she regained her rhythm and was flying strong. Xiii sighed and joined Jaejoria and Talaisan; she wasn't the only one who preferred Poison in her griffon form.
The Doomhound struck out again with its spear -- aiming for Tigress' head. She spun about, clamping her beak onto its muscular forearm. At Maly's order, Jae and Tal flew up, and the warrior hit the beast upside the head with No-Dachi. Its head rocked back and so did its eyes. The leathery wings crumpled and it fell.
"I want it alive!" Maly called out, circling.
"Silver Bind!" Tyr shouted, talons outstretched. Glittering ribbons of magic shot forth from her palms, streaking toward the Doomhound. Tigress echoed her offensive move; together, they heaved and stopped the beast from its deadly plummet. They lifted their unconscious foe to the First Wave's ledge and dropped it. Maly zoomed in and snapped her fingers in front of its face. Coal-red eyes jerked open, and the maw of the Doomhound yawned wide.
"You are mine, beast!" the hematite dragoness chanted, weaving her head back and forth like a King Cobra. She muttered a few spell words before letting it free. With a salute in her direction, the Hound sped off towards Nightwings.
Kyara advanced on Poison, still in her dragon form. "Can I help you?" she asked timidly.
Poison rounded on the poor child. "I need no one's help!" she snapped, baring fangs that oozed.
Maly's twin tails lashed out, striking the dragoness. "Change!"
The Nightshade shuddered, but obeyed. "I have a terrible headache," she confessed. "Can you make it go away?"
Meanwhile, Jaejoria and Talaisan went inside the cavern. They found the hidden door easily enough -- the Second Wave had left it slightly ajar. Because of the sudden constant use, the hinges were in perfect working order, and the door was able to be opened fully without much effort.
Xiii stuck her head inside the cave. "Jae, Tal -- Crystal's on the Tsurieth. You'd best hurry!" She popped back out, juice box in hand.
Tyreenya had propped the Tsurieth on a flat, raised stone; the others were already gathered about it. Talaisan and Jaejoria took spots and watched as the beam of light spread. The Phoenix's golden visage and half of her neck were visible; her grey diamond-shaped eyes were narrowed.
"Good. You're all there," she said, looking about. "This is it, guys. I have to inform you that the Fourth Wave has broken through."
Back to Index | Chapter One | Chapter Three | Chapter Four | Final Wave
© 2001 Crystal Shekeira. All Guilders are copyright themselves; all other characters, places and events are copyright MH; Kalaki Moroko and all other related events are copyright TH. The Gryphon's Guild is trademarked to Tserisa Supalla. Do not copy, distribute or alter.
