Disclaimer Most of the characters and ideas belong to Mercedes Lackey, what you don't reconginze is my own orginal work. This is a rather old piece and the first fan fic I ever wrote so.. bare with the rough edges.
Zalanna could not believe her luck, she was going to Haven the capital city of Valdemar. Home to the Heralds and Valdermar's few Herald-Mages not to mention the Companions. She, a lowly little gyrfalcon, was going to meet Queen Selenay and her consort Herald Daren, not to mention Herald-Mage Elspeth and her mate Adept Darkwind; all who were walking, living legends. However, what made Zala squirm with anticipation was the fact that she and her partner Silverhawk along with another tow and four-footed team from the Silvers (that just so happened to include the incredibly handsome Savian) where going to be the honor guard for the great Treyvan and Hydona. Not that the Great Ones needed an honor guard; what the four Silver's were really going to Haven for was to become members of the Kaled'a'in diplomatic delegation.
Although why the Elders had chosen her and Silverhawk to travel with Savian and Nightsblade, Zalanna had no idea. It was a decision that set her gryphon mind to wondering. We have just arrived at k'Leshya Vale; we have no idea about who these Valdermarian's are other than the stories we have heard. Whereas Savian and Nightsblade have been a part of events here, sense the beginning of White Gryphon's involvement. Zalanna pondered as she flew through the air pulling the carry basket behind her. Savian, Nightsblade, and Silverhawk have done this kind of work before, where as I am new to the Silvers. I just know that Savian thinks I'm not good enough to be a Silver, let alone do this!
As if to emphases that fact Savian increased his flight speed, goading Zalanna into trying to keep up. Like a newly fledged idiot, Zala took the challenge. Idiot Gryphon! She cursed herself as she panted trying to catch up to the broadwing. You know you can't keep up with him, he is the fastest Gryphon in the Silver. Being frustrated at herself and frustrated with the male gryphon was not a conducive state of mind for flying.
"Hurry up, my little flying sail!" Savian's arrogant and taunting call floated back to her on the breeze. Zala did not bother to answer that, not like she had the breath to spare. "We're landing!"
Zala allowed the remaining air in her lungs to pass explosively out of her beak. She attempted to land with as much grace as her weary little body would allow, which unfortunately was not much at all. She managed to land in something that did not entirely resemble an over-exhausted heap, barely. She winced at the sound of the carry basket hitting the unforgiving ground with a jarring bump. She hoped that Silverhawk had not been to badly bruise by the landing. Savian had managed to land perfectly and was now watching her with a haughty disdain in his golden eyes. He caught her gaze long enough to make sure that she knew his displeasure in her performance, then dropped it with a huff. Zalanna hung her head in shame and she felt her nares begin to blush.
"Don't loose heart Sky Dancer," was the comforting murmur in her ear. Zala turned to find Silverhawk at her side removing the harness.
"I try Silverhawk, I really try. It's just that…." She allowed her voice to trail off, lost as to what to say.
"It's just that he doesn't care," Silverhawk began reasonably enough until Zala interrupted him with one of her rare emotional outbursts.
"And I am obsessing over him as a fledgling would with something shiny!"
"Oh," was all Silverhawk said. His expression, however, spoke volumes. For a gryphon, Zala was accurate at reading human facial expressions; and the sudden thoughtful expression that crossed Silverhawk's face pretty much guaranteed that something important occurred to him.
"What," she asked her curiosity piqued despite herself, "what's 'oh'?"
"Nothing, just a thought," he replied evasively.
"I don't believe that!" She accused.
"No, I didn't expect you to. Considering the fact that you are as curious as the cat you look like."
"Pardon me, but do you mean a flying mousetrap?" A delightful tenor asked. Zalanna and Silverhawk both turned around to find Nightsblade walking towards them. He had already finished removing the harness form Savian and had come to help Silverhawk. Savian meanwhile, had flown off to find his dinner. Silverhawk favored his lifebonded mate with one of his all too rare smiles.
"Yes, if that cat has wings," was his deadpan reply to his love's sally.
"Very funny you two," Zala said dryly, it was an old joke between the three of them.
"Oh, come now Zala," Nightsblade encouraged her, "all is not lost. My featherheaded partner will come around, eventually. Just as my lover has been telling you, all it takes is some time."
"Time I no longer have, we'll be in Haven tomorrow."
"So..?" Nightsblade asked.
"So, Nightsbalde if I make one innocent mistake Savian will rip my head off!"
"Oh, I seriously doubt that." Nightsblade said with a shrug.
"Come now Zalanna you are over reacting." Silverhawk chided her as he took the last bit of harness off. Zala took the time to fluff her feathers before replying to them
"Really," she finally said, "you think so?" She could not hide the irony in her voice.
"Yes!" They both answered forcefully. Zala rolled her eyes, then gryphon grinned at the two Kaled'a'in, a little levity would save the whole conversation.
"O, woe is me to be surrounded by such uncaring men!" They laughed at her then and she laughed along with them, trying to hide the fact that she did not entirely share their confidence in the matter.