Tales of the Forgotten: Prelude

Rain, rain, wash away the pain of tomorrow and yesterday.

July 22nd, 2017 7:23 A.M.

Ivory Rapids, Sayona

I leaned against the cave entrance as I waited for the gryphon to awaken from her slumber. I had been awake through the night and yet I felt no inclination to sleep or any exhaustion as I had chosen to stay awake to keep watch over her. She was clearly from the lunarclaw tribe from the north and if the rumors were true about how they treated the females I could clearly see why she had ran away. Zeke stood across from me at the other side of the entrance in the same position as I was with his arms crossed, leaning into the little indent with legs extended at an angle to keep us against the wall.

“What do you plan to do?” Zeke asked after several silent minutes of simply standing there. I sighed and shook my head at him; I had no clue as to what I was going to do. The sun was rising over the horizon slowly as the cloud cover from the storm had moved far over the course of the night with few clouds left to hover over the Sayonian plains.

“I know what I want to do Zeke, but not what I need to do. All I know is that she has come pretty far south and she wasn’t and still isn’t in the best condition.” I felt a pang of guilt for not being able to do much more for her but what I did last night for her would have to do for now. I pushed myself off the wall and walked back into the cave and poked at the near dying flames of the fire pit.

The gryphon gave a small groan of annoyance as she started to wake up, “Ugh, I feel like I was just hit by a train. What happened last night?” she groaned as if she didn’t remember anything. I gave a small chuckle as she looked at me in surprise before she tried to move her legs only to wince at the pain. “So it wasn’t a dream?” she whispered as I nodded my head.

“Morning sunshine, sleep well?” I asked jokingly as she glared at me.

“Who are you anways? And why did you help me?” she demanded to know as I looked at her flatly as I continued to poke at the fire.

“Someones not a morning gryphon I see. My name is Robert, as to why I helped you isn’t because I sought profit or any gain only to help somebody in need. Not to mention you were a part of the Lunarclaw tribe from North Sayona only gives me more reason to help you.” I responded as she looked slightly surprised and then down at her front claws as she laid down again with her head still held up. “May I ask what your name is ma’am?” I asked as she looked slightly surprised before responding.

“My name is Rainfeather, from the- I mean I was from the Lunarclaw tribe.” she looked down in shame at her claws. “I’m sorry for the way I reacted last night and this morning.” she apologized quietly as she looked up at me and I shook my head with a small smile on my lips.

“Don’t worry about it Rainfeather, I understand that it isn’t pleasant to have a wound cauterized as for the wing I can’t really say but I did just recover from a sprained ankle I got a few weeks back.

She nodded her head sheepishly before speaking, “You mentioned the my old tribe before I even told you, how did you know?” she asked.

I sighed, “Well suffice to say they aren’t exactly well known in good grace. At least that is what it seems from the rumors. Do you know what these rumors are?” I asked as she nodded in confirmation. “And are these rumors true?” I tried to further confirm but she hung her head low and seemed as if she was about to cry. “Then I guess I have my next destination, tell me Rainfeather, where is your tribe?” I asked.

She stared at me as if I was crazy, “Do you know what they would do to you? They woul-”

“I’m very well aware of what they could do to me, whether or not they greet me warmly will depend on what I will do to them.” I said calmly as she looked into my eyes to try and find something behind them. “Were they the ones who did this to you?” I asked further as she gulped and looked away before nodding.

“Y-yes...they are...but for good reason!” she started, “I disobeyed Chief Greycrest when he told me to...to…” she was on the verge of tears as I put my hand on top of her head as I stood up. She looked up at me with her mouth slightly ajar as I smiled down at her.

“Don’t cry Rainfeather, for every dark day there is a far brighter one on the horizon. Are there any others that have been excommunicated from the tribe such as you?” I asked as she nodded her head. “Where are they at?”

“They were captured and brought back to the tribe...and they’ll be...they’ll be...killed.” she broke down into a pool of tears as she wailed her heart out. She’s still young Robert, as young as you were when he died probably even younger. Will you allow that to happen? Zeke asked from the back of my mind as I felt anger surge through my body.

I knelt down to Rainfeather and gave her a hug before pulling back and holding out my hand to help her up. She stared at it for a minute then up to my face before taking it with her front right claw. I lifted her up to a standing position but she nearly collapsed as she put weight on her hind leg. “Are you able to walk without using it or do you need me to carry you?” I asked as she looked away embarrassed. I hefted her up into my arms, and exited the cave towards Sharptalon where we could get her the proper treatment for her wounds.