Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay
The gentle crashing waves were the only sound he heard, and the scent of salt water was the only thing he could smell. Sitting at the edge of a small dock, he let his hind paws dangle over the edge while he leaned back to be supported by his front talons. He looked across the water, seeing the land across the bay, the islands that dotted the water, and the boats that floated along the surface. The gentle breeze tousled the feathers on his head and wings. It was a slice of paradise, seemingly carved out solely for the griffon.
“This is nice,” the blue griffon muttered to himself, “a nice little break from reality.”
He laid his back against the wooden dock, facing upwards to the clouds and the sun above. Closing his eyes, he hoped to get lost in his own thoughts and let the world fade away. However, he was interrupted by a familiar voice.
“Friend Gallus?” the voice asked.
Opening his eyes, Gallus saw his yak friend, “Yona?”
“What friend doing? Friend Gallus looked like they died,” the brown yak explained.
“I’m not dead,” Gallus replied with a bit of an attitude.
“Could have fooled Yona!” she said back with a smile.
Gallus rolled his eyes as he sat back up.
“So what friend Gallus doing on dock and not enjoying school trip to San Franciscolt?” Yona asked as she moved a little closer to the edge of the dock where Gallus was sitting.
“I am enjoying myself,” Gallus insisted.
Yona tilted her head in puzzlement, “Really? But Gallus didn’t go with friends Smolder and Silverstream to Colt Tower. Friends say it has best view of city.”
Gallus glanced over at Yona, “I’ll get to it. We do have a few days here, so I got some time.”
“What else does Gallus want to see in San Franciscolt?”
“I don’t know. Obviously the Embarcadero is on my list,” Gallus said, “See those seals. And maybe Alcatrot, Sandbar and I wanted to visit that.”
“Friend Gallus will have to pull Sandbar away from Ocellus for that,” Yona had a little giggle in her voice.
The griffon wasn’t surprised to hear that. “Where are those two now?”
The yak had to recall for a moment, “Friend Ocellus wanted to look at local bookstores before visiting Presidio.”
“Guess I’ll be visiting both of those places solo later then,” Gallus stated.
“What about museums?” Yona asked.
A small laugh escaped from Gallus, “Museums? Me? Maybe if they have something cool in them.”
Yona quickly objected to the griffon’s snarky comment, “Museums are cool! Museums have art, history, and science! So much good things are in museums!”
“Those aren’t really selling points for me,” Gallus smirked.
Yona couldn’t help but giggle at Gallus’ remark. “But if Gallus excited for visiting San Franciscolt, why Gallus sitting here at dock?”
The griffon didn’t answer right away. Instead, he looked down at his dangling paws and then to the passing boats, “Just enjoying the scenery, I guess.”
Yona sat down next to Gallus. She took note of a number of things: his posture, the tenseness of his muscles, his expression, and so on. She then asked, “Is Gallus okay?”
“I’m fine, really,” Gallus was quick to answer. He forced a smile to the yak.
With an examining eye, Yona disagreed, “Yona can tell when friends lie to Yona.”
A small chuckle escaped from Gallus, “Can’t hide anything from ya, can’t I?”
“What bothering friend Gallus?” Yona asked warmly again.
With a sigh, the griffon started talking, “I know this is supposed to be our big ‘graduation trip’ and we’re here to have fun and one last hurrah for the graduating class for the School of Friendship, but….I don’t know, I recently got to thinking and….” Gallus trailed off. He looked to Yona, hoping she would just drop the subject. However, when he saw the yak, she had a look of sincerity and concern on her face. “I guess my thoughts are just getting the better of me.”
Yona asked gently, “In what way?”
“About how this might be the last time we are all going to be hanging out together, or how after graduation, who knows what might happen to us,” Gallus’ words were as quick as his thoughts. “I mean, I know I’m barely getting by on grades so I know I’m going to be freaking out about trying to join the Royal Guard. Not to mention, if I do get in what the boot camp would be like. And I heard that one slip-up and it’s all over, no matter how close you are to finishing. Which means if I do fail, all that time would be wasted and I would have nothing to show for it.”
Gallus stopped himself to catch his breath. He looked at Yona, who still had the same expression of warmth and compassionate concern on her face. It caused Gallus to stop himself from continuing on his rambling thoughts.
“I guess it’s just all the uncertainty of life,” Gallus looked off to the land across the water, staring at nothing in particular, “It’s something we all dread, even if we think we know where we are going.”
“Yona understand friend Gallus’ worries,” Yona spoke as she readjusted herself to sit similarly to Gallus, allowing her hind hooves to dangle from the dock. “Uncertainty can be scary, but it also fun.”
“‘Fun’? Forgive me if I don't share the same definition of 'fun' as you." The griffon gave a small laugh as he turned to tease Yona, "As I recall, your idea of fun involves lots of smashing and destruction."
The yak smiled and nodded, causing her braids to bounce. “Sometimes good things can come from the uncertainty, like how Yona learned that favorite ice cream flavor is strawberry.”
“I….don’t think that counts,” Gallus commented before asking, “But aren’t you afraid of what might happen?”
“Of course. But Yona go with flow,” Yona answered, “It worries Yona, but that fear can lead to strength.”
The griffon looked down at the water below his hind paws, “Strength, huh? Then where is it? Then why does it sometimes feel hard just to keep going?” His words sounded as if they were a soft, pleading prayer.
Yona quickly and firmly responded, “Gallus not a failure for struggling. It can be difficult, but struggling proof of not giving up.” She placed a hoof on Gallus’ shoulder in an effort to assert her point. Her eyes met with Gallus’, who saw that her words were both genuine and full of understanding.
Gallus felt choked up by Yona’s words and actions, however he couldn’t help but snicker at himself, “I feel stupid.”
“Friend Gallus not stupid,” Yona protested.
“Well, I’m mostly stupid.”
Yona couldn’t hide a smirk and a small laugh at Gallus’ self-deprecating comment.
As the laughter between the two friends died off, Gallus mused, “It’s hard to find the light on a long path filled with darkness, but I guess it’s less lonely with good friends along the way.”
“Yona agrees.”
There was an air of silence between the two friends as they sat on the dock. The bay water continued to sway up and down, the gulls continued to make their presence known, a few clouds slowly drifted by, and the tang of the salt pierced through the air. Yona closed her eyes and soaked in the entire atmosphere.
“Now Yona see why friend Gallus chose this place to think. The bay is beautiful.”
“It has its moments,” the griffon joked.
Yona gave a light and playful shove to Gallus, causing both of them to smile and laugh.
A moment passed before Gallus softly spoke, “You know, when I first met ya, all I could really say about you is that you were loud, and that’s about it. But now, I can say that I like ya, Yona. You’re kind, open, and not afraid to be honest about….well, anything. You tell it like it is and while it can hurt, it's a breath of fresh air compared to being in Griffonstone.”
”Griffonstone not honest?”
“Everycreature in Griffonstone is always backhanded, petty, and they always thinly-veil their hate. But you, you’re honest, and I thoroughly love that about you.” Gallus stopped for a moment before adding a sarcastic addition, “A little rough around the edges, but that just adds to you, ya know?”
Yona snickered at Gallus’ last statement, “If friend going to say, then Yona will also say something.” It took Yona a moment to stop her chuckling before she spoke again, “Yona think Gallus good creature, too. Yaks have old stories of griffons, painting griffons as rude, greedy, selfish, and mean. But Yona know that not true, and that thanks to Gallus. Friend Gallus really nice creature.”
Gallus’ face grew flushed at Yona’s words, “Geez, I’m not that nice.”
“True, Gallus still can be rude, greedy, selfish, and mean,” Yona joked.
“Great, now you’re starting to take after me,” Gallus laughed.
Yona also shared in the laugh, “Gallus can be bossy, but Gallus also knows how to look at problems in ways other creatures not see. But Yona also see that Gallus have trouble seeing what Gallus can do. Gallus focus so much on limitations that Gallus can’t see potential,” the yak’s eyes met with the griffon’s as she continued, “Gallus need little work, but Gallus good leader.”
Almost tripping over his words, Gallus spoke, “Th-Thanks, Yona. That means a lot.”
Yona smiled, “Will Gallus believe that Gallus can do good things?”
“Something tells me you won’t leave without me saying ‘yes’,” Gallus joked with a glance toward the yak. The giggle from Yona confirmed his suspicions as he continued, “Well, I’m getting stronger everyday, so I’ll believe it sooner or later.”
“Friend Gallus is strong, both in body and heart,” Yona insisted with her smile.
Gallus looked across the water again, “Grandpa Gruff always said I wasn’t the smartest griffon, but he did, in his own way, say I had a good heart.”
“Wise griffon.”
“He also said I wasn’t much to look at,” Gallus added, “which is funny considering how he looks.”
“Wise indeed.”
“You don’t have to agree on that!” Gallus said with a shove at the yak. However, he quickly realized that his push had no effect on Yona.
Yona laughed as she looked out on the bay.
“What about you, Yona?” Gallus asked, “How are you holding up?”
“Hmm?”
“How are you doing with graduation on the horizon? I know you said you go with the flow, but how are you holding up?” Gallus looked over at the yak next to him.
Yona was suddenly quiet. It looked as if she wanted to say something, like that everything was okay, but she was physically unable to do so.
Gallus quickly pieced it together, “You’re starting to have some doubts, aren’t you?”
Without breaking her gaze out at the water, the yak simply nodded.
“I guess we can blame that on me,” Gallus joked with a little laugh. “But we can’t have you starting to second guess things, Yona. Because between the two of us, we only got one good working brain.”
A smirk and a chuckle escaped from Yona.
“Yeah, you got a great brain in that skull of yours, one of the smartest creatures at school. And you’re easily the strongest creature in a fifty mile radius,” Gallus used his talon to list off each item he mentioned, “Not to mention being quite a looker….you know, for a yak.”
Yona snorted, her face blushing pink, “Careful, or Yona might throw Gallus into water.”
Gallus also laughed, “I do mean it though, you’ve done some amazing stuff, Yona, more than any other creature I know. You’re amazingly strong, learned a whole new language before coming to the School of Friendship, have some of the best grades in said school, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg,” the griffon turned his whole body to face the yak, leaning against the dock piling. “You’re so amazing, being the first yak to attend the School of Friendship is pretty awesome. It's not like you’re lame like me, a living cautionary tale for other creatures,” the griffon ended with a quip.
Yona turned and quickly objected, “No! Friend Gallus not lame at all!” Her volume was loud, and the surprise caused Gallus to almost jump out of his skin. She turned her body to match Gallus, facing him with her back against the dock piling, “Gallus is amazing griffon. Gallus smarter than Gallus realize. Gallus also very brave to overcome fears. But most important, Gallus amazing friend to all.”
The griffon smiled as he bashfully looked away from Yona’s gaze. He then turned back to look at her, his face still tinted pink, “Thanks, Yona. And you know Yona, you don’t have to have all that weight on your own shoulders by yourself. If you keep ignoring all the pressure building, it can only get worse. It might not be all that much, but if you ever need to talk, just let me know. I got your back.” Gallus said with a bit of warmth to his voice.
“Thanks Gallus. Same goes for Gallus,” Yona beamed, “if there ever problem that friend needs help with, let Yona know, and Yona will help smash problem away.” She finished her statement by pushing her two front hooves together.
“Sounds violent. I like it,” Gallus smiled with a laugh.
Yona took notice of something, “Gallus looks different.”
“What? How?”
With her hoof, she pointed, “Gallus’ face.”
Puzzled, the griffon reached up to touch his face with a talon, “My face?”
“Yona likes how Gallus look with sincere smile.”
Gallus blushed at Yona’s words. It took him a moment that he still had a smile on his face. He didn’t panic or try to retaliate. Instead, an idea came to mind. With Yona looking on, Gallus used his talons to pull one of the blue-yellow feathers from off of his head. He gave a small yelp as it came undone, but the feather was free and in his talon.
Reaching across to Yona, Gallus slid the feather into Yona’s left braid hoop. It was snuggly secure in the braid and stuck out considerably. The yak was both puzzled and flustered by his action. “There, now you have one of my feathers,” he said once he was done, now sitting closer to Yona.
“W-Why friend Gallus give Yona feather?” Yona asked, tripping a little over her words.
“When griffons molt, we give one of our feathers to those that are closest to us and….well, you’re pretty awesome Yona,” Gallus said with an embarrassed smile.
Yona’s cheeks was blushing a deep pink, but her face had a wide smile. Without a word, she wrapped her front limbs around the griffon, giving Gallus a big hug.
This caught Gallus off guard, “Whoa, what are you doing?”
“Something Yona thinks we both need,” Yona softly said.
With a bit of a flustered laugh, Gallus spoke, “H-Hey, no fair, I-I wasn’t expecting this.”
Yona didn’t release the griffon, “Gallus could return hug if Gallus wants.”
It took a couple of seconds before Gallus returned the hug, his cheeks burning.
“How does hug feel?”
“I like it,” Gallus admitted, “I like it a lot.”
The two creatures broke their embrace after a few moments. The two then, in silence, sat back down against the dock piling and looked back to the water beyond the dock itself.
“So, still scared about future?” Yona asked.
“Yes, you?” Gallus simply replied.
“Yona always will be. But at least Yona know Yona have some great friends to help,” she smiled.
Gallus turned to look at Yona, “Thanks for everything.“
“Friend Gallus welcome.”
“No, not just this. Thanks for being one of my first friends. I don’t think I’m worthy of having your friendship, but I cherish it.”
Yona’s face beamed brightly as she looked back at Gallus, her hoof touching the blue feather in her mane. He returned the warm smile right back.
“Friend Gallus and Yona an odd pair.”
“But still best of friends.”
END
