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Chapter 37: Griffin Guard

He was running through a thick dark forest and his paws were making a steady rhythm as they hit the forest floor. Stopping in a clearing in the forest he panted catching his breath and sniffed the air with his long muzzle and smelled an unfamiliar, yet, familiar scent. Scanning the edge of the clearing Ty saw a fair wolf that had light brown fur with darker lines down her back. Before she was always with her mate, a large grey and white wolf, but tonight she was alone. Ty look a few steps forward and started to wag his tail. A single word escaped his maw in a bark, "Mom?" The brown she wolf lifted her head and howled and Ty shuddered. As the last note of her howl ended she turned and started to leave the clearing, "Don't go." Ty pleaded. Red eyes appeared around the clearing and closed in on Ty. Panicking he ran after his mother, he could see her in the distance. The eyes were following Ty and gaining but all he was concerned about was the she wolf ahead. Weaving between trees and under brush and foliage Ty kept her in his sight. Something from behind him bit him but that was far from his mind, the trees started to clear and Ty could feel his body shifting into something less of a wolf and more of a man. The shadowy figures that belonged to the fiery eyes clamped onto his body but Ty could not feel it. His body now resembled more human than it once did but his body still had some feral characteristics to it. The forest cleared to reveal the edge of a cliff with his mother running towards it. A cry of something bestial escaped from Ty's mouth as he bolted forward to stop his mother and as he reached her she jumped. Extending an arm to grab her he jumped after her and was mere inches from touching her soft fur but he started to fall. His mother hovered in the air and faded into mist. Ty looked where he was falling and saw a sea of shadows that wanted to tear and break him with their claws and teeth.

Ty shot up with a cry, "Mom!" and the pain in his shoulder knocked him back down.

"Easy boy," Said an elderly woman's voice, "you'll reopen you wounds if you haven't already."

Fighting through tears Ty saw a woman with a wrinkled face and long boney fingers sat next to him. She had grey white hair and tired old grey eyes. Ty sat up slowly this time and winced from his wounds. It was then that Ty first noticed that he was bandaged all over his body; his right fore arm, right calf, left thigh, his entire left arm, almost all of his torso save for his right shoulder, his left arm was also in a sling. Feeling with his free hand Ty felt his face and felt a large bandage on his left cheek and above his brow was a bandaged that felt like a headband. Ty realized that he was in his room, a plain room with a dresser, bed and window on the far side of the room. The old woman was sitting next to his bed on a chair, "How did I get here?" Ty finally asked.

The old woman sniffed, "A few of the stronger lads from around the castle brought you here at my request. You were found in your father's glade and were badly wounded," The old woman sniffed again, "much like your father when he was younger." Ty tried to sit up straighter but only found pain, the bandages on his left shoulder started to turn crimson. "Now look what you've done." The old woman scolded, "Now we have to change them." Ty winced as she removed the bandages from his shoulder.

Once his shoulder was uncovered he saw that around his wound was some sort of design. It looked somewhat like a wave but also like teardrops. Also Ty noticed that the wound was half the size it was last night. "What's that?" Ty asked gesturing to his shoulder.

Never looking up the woman replied, "It will help you heal faster, even for a werewolf." Ty shirked back as he heard venom on the last word, "Don't mind me, I'm just remembering all of the times you father was sent to me barely clinging to his life." She looked up, "And he had that glimmer in his eyes that said this won't kill me, I won't allow it. The same glimmer you have." She looked back down at Ty's shoulder and reached for a brown leather bag.

"Is this magic? Are you a Mage?" Ty asked.

The woman sniffed, "Magic yes, Mage no. I am a Charm Caster. This is but a simple healing charm." She pulled out a brush and a vile. Taking the brush in hand she dipped the it in Ty's wound and earned a sizable yelp from him, "Now I don't want to have to see you in my care again for something this grave again." She dipped the brush then into the vile of liquid and began painting runes around Ty's wound, "Got that?" She pressed hard around the wound and Ty felt agonizing pain.

"Yes, yes!" Ty said though pain, "Nothing this grave."

"Good." The rest of the strokes were gentle and she put the brush and vile back in her bag and began rewrapping Ty's shoulder, "Now that should hold it closed until it heals. I made it extra strong, if your anything like your father you'll get yourself into some kind of scrap before the day is gone." She grabbed her bag and began to walk out of the room.

"Hold on." Ty said, "I never got your name."

The woman paused and looked at Ty, "Well it looks like your not completely without manners." She paused as if remembering what her name was, "You can call me Nana, that is what your father called me when I took care of him so you might as well too."

"Thank you Nana." Ty said awkwardly.

Nana nodded, "You are very welcome." She then continued out of the room and the door closed behind her with a click.

Ty sat back and sighed, When did dad first came to the castle? It couldn't have been that long ago but yet Nana sounded like she new him for longer than I've been without him. Ty thought then sighed again. It was then that he realized that he was completely naked under the sheets and his face turned crimson.

Ace stood up from his chair, this intruder was unknown to him but yet his face looked familiar. "I'm king, who are you and what right do you have to barge in."

The man in the stunning silver and gold armor saluted holding Ace's crown under his left arm, "I am Vladimir Dos' Vallen Captain of the Griffin Guard."

"Lies!" Brad shouted standing up, "The Griffin Guard died over three thousand years ago."

"And that is not the king." Vladimir pointed at Ace.

The world around Ace blurred and he was face to face with the supposed Vladimir Dos' Vallen, "Don't insult me in my home." Vladimir had a startled look on his face, "All of the Griffin Guard died thousands of years ago, their funereal was attended by everyone in the Kingdom. They were the last great heroes the world has ever seen. Don't insult the dead, especially not the Griffin Guard, may they sit forever in the High Court of the Ancestors." After Ace said the prayer he paused, "Get out of my home." He said keeping a cool tone all the while.

Vladimir paused and was a little pale, then a grin cracked on his lips and he started to laugh. Ace was taken aback and couldn't figure out why anyone would be laughing in Vladimir's situation, "Surely you jest your Majesty. I admit my companions and I were gone for a few years, maybe two decades, but not long enough for this story to hold any ground." Vladimir stepped back and held our his right arm, "You proved you are King, I will humor my Majesty and show him I am Vladimir Dos' Vallen, Captain of the Griffin Guard." Ace wondered what Vladimir was doing and then a small object on a golden chain bracelet on Vladimir's gauntlet caught his attention, there appeared to be a small golden figure of a griffin hanging from it. "I have sworn to protect those who are weak and destroy the unjust. I Vladimir of the Griffon Guard invocate Dawn Star." The area in front of Ace seemed to distort as a golden light surrounded the chain around Vladimir's wrist and the tiny gold griffin grew. It was mere seconds before the small golden griffin grew into a large creature with wings and head like an eagle and the tail and hind quarters of a lion. The creature had golden feathers on it's front half with black feather peppered here and there and the fur on it's hind quarters was golden as well, the tip of it's tail was black.

It was then that Ace realized that he had fallen backwards and was staring up at what appeared to be a griffin in startled amazement. A griffin! A real live griffin!

Vladimir held out a hand and pulled Ace up and grinned, "You act as if you have never seen a griffin before."

Ace was gaping, "The last griffins died out a thousand years ago."

"Come now your Majesty this joke has gone on long enough." Vladimir said un-amused.

"This is not a joke." Violet said, Ace was a little started that Violet has walked up next to him without him the wiser. "It has been written in all history book and the bards sing tales of the mighty Griffin Guard and their magnificent mounts and then their final battle."

The griffin behind Vladimir seemed to straighten up as if taking pride in these words. "This can't be true." Vladimir said unbelieving.

Ace stepped forward, "Captain Vladimir," Ace paused, "Let me sho…" Ace was cut off by shouts outside the room.

"I have important information for the King."

"I can't let you in there young man." The guard said.

"Do I look like some commoner or fool that would waste the Kings time?"

"I err…"

"Out of our way."

"You can't go in there!" The guard shouted.

The doors flew open and Lan walked through with Alexis behind him. "Ace we have important news…for…you…" Lan paused, "Is that a griffin?" He asked pointing at the golden creature.

"It would appear so." Ace said still unbelieving that it stood in front of him.

Lan shook his head, "As interesting as that is we have some important new for you." Lan stepped aside and let Alexis step forward.

"We have seen the scale of Nexus's army." Alexis said timidly.

"What do you mean?" Vladimir asked, "How did Nexus escape?"

Ace raised an eyebrow, "You know of Nexus?"

"Of course I do." Vladimir said proudly, "I was there when the Griffin Guard and I placed the seal on him in another dimension, along with the help from…some friends." Vladimir paused, "That seal was unbreakable, I have no idea how Nexus broke free."

"Then you can be all the help we need." Katar said, "Come, let us tell you of our plan."

Vladimir walked over to the map table and gazed over the edge, "It looks like I owe Martin an apology, as well as a lot of money."

"Who is Martin and why do you owe him money?" Owen asked.

Vladimir looked up and stared at Owen for a while then shook his head as if degrading a thought, "This idea of liquid metal that forms small figures, it was his design. I never actually thought that it would actually work though."

"You mean Martin of the Griffin Guards is here as well?" Brad asked. Vladimir nodded, "Then how about Tear?"

"Yes he is still with the Griffin Guard." Vladimir replied, "He said that he was going to find someplace to 'polish his skills.'"

Brad pressed, "Do you know where he could be though?"

Vladimir nodded, "He probably went to the training ground, if the castle hadn't changed that terribly much in three thousand years."

Brad clenched his hair, "Not my recruits!" With that Brad ran out of the room almost as if he was being chased by death.

"What got into him?" Spyro asked.

Ace turned to Spyro, "Tear was a great warrior and the stories say that he can be a bit extreme at times."

"Just how extreme are we talking?" Spyro asked.

"Like he charged a fortress on foot by himself just so the rest of the Griffin Guard and I could sneak through the aqueducts to get inside the keep." Vladimir laughed, "When we actually got into the keep Tear was sitting in the keep waiting for us."

"I thought that was just a legend," Roland said, "it sounds to unreal."

"Like I said," Ace began, "the Griffin Guard were the last great heroes of the realm. And Brad has always idolized Tear, so it is only natural that he would want to meet Tear. Although Brad is all to aware of Tear's extreme behavior."

"That is all fine and all but we have more pressing matters." Lan interrupted. "There is an army on the march towards the castle and it is massive."

Alexis tapped the pool of metal and the spider tower moved to the center of the table and tiny figures surrounded the tower, the figures covered the entire table. The tower actually shrunk by about half to make the scale of the army more startling.

Ace shook his head, "This is unreal."

"He also told me to give you a message." Alexis said to Ace, "He said that there is no force that can stop him, not even death. And that the Lunar Amulet will be his and that his revenge will commence. Also all who imprisoned him would be destroyed and all that they love."

"The second coming." Vladimir said.

"What?" Ace asked.

"The second coming." Vladimir repeated, "It was the term he used when we imprisoned him. He said the there will be a second coming and that he would lead it." Vladimir paused, "I never actually thought that I would live to fight his army twice." Vladimir wiped his forehead with the back of his gauntlet, "Alright, You said you have a plan? Well let me hear it."

After a half a hour of lying in bed Ty decided to try and go walk around the castle. As he sat up his shoulder burned and felt tight but he pushed himself up and swung his legs over the bed and onto the floor. His feet felt something soft and fuzzy and as he looked over the edge he saw a large grey wolf and Ty stumbled back on the bed. The wolf groaned and stretched it's body alongside the bed.

"And I was having such a nice nap." The wolf yawned.

"Where have you been?" Ty asked, "I haven't seen you for…"

"The past couple days?" Boe asked, "I know."

Ty leaned forward out of bed, "Well where were you?"

Boe growled, "I was stuck in Owen's room. The idiot forgot to leave the door open so after the first day I had to jump from balcony to balcony until I found a room with a girl in it and she went screaming out of the room. Lucky for me she left the door open."

Ty laughed, "Well that explained how you got out, but how did you get in my room?"

"I followed you here." Boe began, "I was the one who found you and brought that woman to you who then got others to bring you to your room."

"Oh." Ty paused, " Thank you Boe." Ty got up out of bed and walked over to his dresser.

"Where are you going?" Boe asked, "You are suppose to be resting."

Ty pulled out a pair of undergarments and struggled into them, "I'm not getting any better lying in bed, besides, Nana put a charm on my shoulder so I should be fine."

Boe snorted, "I never liked magic, even before…"

"Before what?" Ty paused pulling his leg though his pants.

Boe shook his head, "Nothing…its nothing."

Ty walked over to his nightstand and belted his dagger so it was resting on his left hip, and put on his coat only putting his right arm through the sleeve and leaving his left in his sling. "Alright, lets go."

"What, don't want to flaunt you wounds?" Boe asked humorously.

Shacking his head Ty replied, "No, I think it would be hard to explain how I got them."

"I suppose it would." Boe said knowingly.

Ty opened the door and walked out into the hallway with Boe following right behind. No sooner than Ty closed the door did he hear his name being called out and he winced. Oh no, why now?

"Hey Ty. Where have you been."

Ty tuned around and sighed, "Hey Kim."

Kim gasped when Ty turned around, "What happened? How did you get hurt so much?"

Ty grinned and scratched the back of his head with his free arm, "I fell down the stairs."

"I don't believe you." Kim objected.

"I didn't ask you to believe me but that is the answer that you are getting." Ty replied cheerfully.

Kim was wearing her black tight fitting clothing under baggy grey cloths that hung off of her body and seemed to flow with her. "Well whatever happened you should probably get some rest."

Kim started to guided Ty to the door but he pulled away, "No, I'm fine."

"But you should get some rest." Kim pressed.

"You are not getting me in there." Ty said forcefully, "I may be hurt but it is nothing that I can't put up with."

Kim looked like she was going to protest more but then her ears drooped on her head and she sighed, "Alright brother."

Ty saw that something was bothering Kim other than his injuries, "Hey Kim what's the matter?"

Ears still drooped Kim glanced up at Ty, "It's just that," Kim paused, "I don't know. I thought that we could all be together for once, you know, as a family."

"So that is what it is." Ty nodded, "I want that too but you know as well as I do that dad has an important thing he has to do.""I know," Kim sighed, "but it still would be nice."

Ty put his hand on Kim's head and began to rub it, "What has gotten into you? Constantly with the griping and complaining, you are starting to act more and more like a human."

Kim smacked Ty's hand away, "I am not!"

Ty put his hand back on Kim's head and rubbed harder, "Sure you are. You started to become more and more of a human since we have gotten to the castle; you eat like them, talk like them, and even attended 'one of those silly little dances' isn't that what you use to call them?" Ty mocked.

Kim gave two quick jabs to Ty's stomach, "I don't act like a human!"

Ty staggered back and laughed, "There's my old sister." Ty placed his hand on her head again but didn't rub, "So you say you don't act like a human right?"

"Of course not!" Kim barked.

"Then why have you fallen in love with one?" Ty asked with a grin on his face. Kim's face turned red and Ty laughed, "I though as much." He felt a sharp jab to his gut and staggered back a bit.

Kim flexed her hand, "You don't play fair."

Ty grinned, "It is not like your relationship is a bad thing."

"I don't know what you are talking about." Kim said, "We're just friends." Ty opened his mouth but Kim cut him off, "Don't you say it."

"I have no idea what you are talking about." Ty said sarcastically.

Kim growled, "Are you just going to stand there all day? Because if you are you might as well go back into your room."

Ty nodded in agreement, "Your right." Turning on his feet he started to walk down the hallway Boe following behind.

"Where are you going?" Kim called.

"To the training ground." Ty replied and heard footsteps running after him and then Kim grabbed his hand and he stopped. Turning Ty face his sister, "Don't worry, I'm just going to watch."

Kim started to button up Ty's coat, "You just make sure you don't get into a fight."

"I'll be fine, I know that I am in no condition to fight." Ty replied reassuringly. Placing his hand on her head he said, "Now you should go see your friend to make sure he has some company."

Kim punched Ty in the gut again and scolded, "You just be careful." and turned down the hall away from Ty.

"She is a piece of work." Boe said.

"No kidding." Ty agreed and continued to the training ground.

I am really starting to hate snow.