8. The Forest Encounter #2
She forced her arm to stay still and not shiver, though her legs were feeling wobbly as jelly when the gryphon slowly strolled towards her.
Skylar felt a hard beak barely touching her fingertips. It was so big that it could easily bite her whole arm off with one snap. But the creature seemed to be relaxed now. It moved its big head up her arm, sniffing loudly and making squeaking noises, which didn't sound intimidating anymore.
"Woah, hey! That tickles!" Skylar gasped when the big head started prodding at her head.
She instinctively brushed her hands on gryphon's neck.
The feathers were silky smooth. She scratched it gently, and the creature made a contented rumbling sound.
"Oh, you like that, don't you? Have some more, you beautiful thing."
"Zephyr! Down!" a commanding voice shouted suddenly. The gryphon and Skylar jumped back at the exact moment when Gawyn ran out of the thicket. He looked from the woman to gryphon and back. "Are you all right, Skylar?" he asked, clearly out of breath.
"Yes, we were just getting to know each other."
"You were what?" he asked with a frown. "Zephyr didn't try to attack you?"
"Well, he did at first, but we talked it out," Sky said, and in response, the gryphon nudged her shoulder playfully.
"Incredible," Gawyn said, looking at them in awe. "He never allowed anyone outside the family to get close to him."
"Well, technically, I'm a family now, so...."
Gawyn came closer to them, and Zephyr started to jump around him like a puppy. And it looked particularly adorable because he weighed at least half a tone.
"Easy, boy," Gawyn said with a laugh and closed gryphon's thick neck in a hug, scratching its back. The beast rumbled with contentment and gently dabbed at his ear.
"Oh, he's the cutest." Skylar sighed. Watching this beautiful creature made her forget all her worries.
"So, how did you warm him up to you?" Gawyn asked.
"I used my charm?"
The General scoffed. "Is your sword named Charm? Because I can't see any other way for it to work."
"Ha, ha, very funny," Sky hissed. "Though insulting, it's actually a good idea. I'll give that name to my next sword. What are you doing here, anyway?"
She looked at him properly for the first time.
It seemed as if he had just got out of bed, his dark hair was uncombed, and he wore plain black trousers and a loose shirt.
His chest was still heaving a bit. "Wait, did you just run all the way here?"
"I sensed Zephyr was upset," Gawyn said, not looking at her and scratching gryphon's neck. "Everyone in the mansion knows better than to disturb him. You are the only person who could just stroll in here, even though I warn you not to."
"Oh, that's the south forest then?" she asked. Gawyn only raised a brow at her. "What? I wasn't exactly looking where I was going. I was upset, all right? So... you just came running here?"
"It would look bad if my gryphon killed my wife barely a week after the wedding," the General said, averting his gaze.
"Of course," Sky said with a smirk, surprised that he cared enough to do that. "How's your headache? You look better."
"It's mostly gone now. Stop smirking. You have no proof that it's thanks to your disgusting herbs."
"I didn't say a word," Skylar replied with a grin.
Suddenly, Zephyr started jumping all around her and gently poking her with his beak.
"No, Zephyr! We don't have time to play now," Gawyn said sternly, but the beast kept bumping into Skylar.
"Woah, there! You're going to topple me!" Sky protested, giggling.
"I said, no way, Zephyr!" the General repeated and tried to shoo the gryphon away, but the beast kept jumping up and down excitedly.
"If he wants to play, I can play with him," Skylar said, causing even more dynamic movements from the beast.
"He wants you to fly him," Gawyn scoffed, glaring at the gryphon with his arms crossed. "Like hell, I'm letting her go alone with you!"
"You could come with us then?" Skylar asked with a shy smile. She'd never even dreamt of flying gryphon, and she was not going to waste this scarce opportunity. Zephyr squeaked approvingly, staring at Gawyn with his eyes made of liquid gold.
"Fine!" the man scoffed. "But only one round around the city!"
Zephyr trotted in a circle in a triumphant dance and then lay on the grass at Skylar's feet. Gawyn jumped into the gryphon's back and offered Sky a hand, which she took and let him pull her behind him.
"Hold on tight, and whatever happens, don't let go, all right?" he said.
"All right," Sky said, gingerly putting her hands on his waist.
"You'll have to hold on harder than that." Gawyn laughed and patted Zephyr's neck. "Up, buddy."
The gryphon spread his wings and jumped into the air. The movement was so rapid and fast that it took Sky only half a second to wrap her arms around Gawyn's waist and cling for dear life. The rush of wind was so loud they had to shout to hear each other.
"Are you all right back there?"
"I'm sure we are going to die this time!" Sky managed to scream through her fear-clenched insides. Gawyn only laughed.
When Skylar's body finally got used to the up and down rhythm of beating wings, she opened her eyes and leaned back a bit to look down.
"Woah," she only managed to say while they sailed on the current high above the city.
"Impressive, isn't it?"
Zephyr squeaked his response.
"No, Zephyr!" Gawyn protested. "I don't think she can stomach any tricks today!"
"What tricks?"
"Like barrels and dives."
"Oh gods, please, no!" Sky instinctively tightened her hold on Gawyn. His body was hard and warm in the cold air. It felt unexpectedly good.
They kept circling the sky above the city, and it felt amazing when the gryphon was soaring.
"You seem to understand each other very well," Skylar said to Gawyn's ear to avoid constant shouting. She noticed the shiver run through his body when he felt her breath in his ear. "Sorry," she said, leaning back quickly.
Gawyn grunted. "No, it's all right. When we met, we were both mere children, so we grew up together. Sometimes I think he understands me better than anyone," he said, and there was loneliness and longing in his voice.
"I see." Skylar tightened her arms around him and leaned her head on his back. "I'm glad I met him then."
"We should go back now. Hold on tight," Gawyn said. "Zephyr, take us back."
Skylar thought she got used to the motion of gryphon's flight, but when he dived down and felt weightless, a panicked scream escaped her mouth. She felt Gawyn's hand covering her own and squeezing it tightly.
When the creature touched down to the ground, Sky's head was still spinning, and her body was trembling.
"We are on the ground already. You can let go now," Gawyn said, and there was an unexpected gentleness in his voice.
"Oh, right. Sorry," Sky said, forcing her stiff arms to let go of him.
The General jumped off the gryphon and offered her his hand, which she gladly accepted. But when her feet touched the ground, her legs just collapsed under her.
"Woah, there." Gawyn caught her in his arms. "Are you all right?"
"I don't know. My legs don't seem to work, and the whole world is still spinning," Skylar mumbled and looked up at him.
His face was so close she could count all the dark lashes surrounding his piercing grey eyes, now full of concern, which he so rarely showed.
She felt her heart thumping fast, and not because of the wild ride she just had.
It was because of those strong arms that were holding her so tightly right now. She felt her cheeks burning.
"It often happens after the first gryphon's flight," Gawyn murmured, but he also didn't seem to be focused on what he was saying. His grey eyes seemed to be drawn to her lips, which were now so close...
The loud and cheerful squeak from the gryphon broke whatever spell they were under, and they both blinked rapidly and turned away. Sky forced her legs to obey her will and finally managed to stand on her own.
"We should get back to the mansion now," Gawyn said, letting go of her.