Chapter 2.

Koh's thoughts of Selfi lasted well into the evening. He'd had dinner with his family and had decided to hatch the griffon egg.

He stood rubbing the Blue shell with a towel as K-suke snored lazily, it was a good hour before the first cracks appeared, and fifteen minuets later, a small red-feathered ball of violence stood before him. He knew the look in its eyes; it was the same as the wild ones.

It said matter-of-factly "I could take you, if I wanted".

Koh jingled the blue collar, an invitation to try. It leapt at him and in one move; Koh slid the Tamers collar around its neck.

The Griffon who had been named Tyr by the big red prey learnt in the next hour that its hind legs were traitors

And would sit at the merest suggestion.

Went cross-eyed when he rolled over.

Moreover, spent twenty minuets pleasantly kicking himself with his back leg when the prey scratched his head.

It was a very upsetting day. His mood improved when a smaller prey entered the hut. Evil thoughts raced through his mind. His front talons flexed at the thought of disembowelling. He was after all, a monster.

Any second now he thought, any second and….

"I'll rip you to pieces." It was the other monster that had spoken, not inches from Tyr's ear.

He hadn't been certain of much that day, but the part of him that wanted to live, knew with an animals instinct, trying to harm the little prey would end him, painfully.

"Weedy! It's not safe in here, out"! The big prey was back, the same threat in his eyes as the other monster had spoken. Tyr lowered himself flat to the ground in submission. He didn't know why but he couldn't ignore the red prey.

"We do not hurt people." Tyr began panicking as he found his brain agreeing.

"We listen to me, and we fight enemies in the tower." Tyr agreed again.

"You want blood? You'll get it. I'm at the top of this pride, then him, then you."

It was well after midnight when red master went to bed, with Tyr suspended warmly in a pillar of light. He thought he'd done quite well for himself, food, a floating nest pride mates he could trust and the chance to maim monsters bigger than himself! And if he were good the little one would scratch his head!

K-suke smiled softly. The kid's got real talent as a tamer.

Koh settled into bed, Weedy had sulked with him, until Wreath found out why.

She'd been sent to bed without having a piece of pie.

Koh had later snuck some into her room for her.

He fell asleep with images of angry eyes becoming friendly. And a wish he had a photograph of Selfi flouncing away.

It was two day's later when Koh first took Tyr into the tower. He could feel the energy building in his newest ally, Koh would have felt sorry for whatever beast Tyr was loosed upon.

Nevertheless, he knew he'd receive no quarter from the tower. This left him less inclined to mercy. He wondered if Tyr even knew the meaning of the word.

After climbing the first floor solo and picking up nothing but a herb and a leather shield, Koh became anxious to clear the second floor and avoid either Selfi's jibes or wasted energy giving Ghosh another slap. Ok that he wouldn't mind.

The panicked voice coming from the far end of the large room caught Koh's attention immediately. He ran swiftly into the open space to see Selfi pinned under a Pulunpa.

He was nearly in tears laughing, watching the amorous little monster hump Selfi's leg. She called out for help, real fear in her voice. Koh opened the magic bag and almost instantly, the coalescing energy formed into a monster.

Tyr hit the ground running.

All Selfi could see was a monster crawling up her leg, common sense and her years of sorcery training vanished like romance at daybreak. She batted at its head, which seemed to make it more aggressive. She feared for her life and her last thought was of Koh, just standing there with his arms folded smiling. This image was then replaced by a red streak flashing over her. The Pulunpa was gone.

Tyr hit the creature square in its face, lifting it off the ground with ease. He rolled and with all his considerable might threw blue lady's assailant a good twenty feet.

It didn't get up.

Tyr trotted over to Koh with every evidence of glee. Its mind on the squishy sound its prey had made. He found Red master talking to blue lady. As Tyr understood it, she was confused, or wondering about eating Red master. Well let her try he thought.

He was ready for any challenge. Quickly thereafter, she ran away, he wondered if all humans ran like that. And if they did, extinction was near inevitable.

"Well done Tyr, you made quite an impression on her." Tyr's eye's lit up at his masters praise. He had resolved to do even better with his next victory.

The pair had reached the sixth floor as Tyr began to slow, his kills between three and five had been swift and brutal, now he was running on fumes. The magic holding his form wavering. Koh had decided to call it a day as Tyr pounced on a clown. His razor talons tearing purchase in its torso as he bit down on its neck.

Panting heavily as Koh wiped the blood from around his mouth. He saw approval in Red masters eye's, and then he realized they were the same. Their eyes were the same. Koh realized this as well, just how monstrous had he become.

And could he go back.