Chapter 26 Two Teens in a Demon World; Baby Griffin:
It was a cool afternoon in the Isles as Kai was packing up his stuff after a long Grugdby practice.
"See ya later, Kai," Skara said as she walked out of the gym.
"See ya!" Kai said as he grabbed his duffel bag.
He walked out of the front entrance of Hexside and headed home. A chirp came from above Kai's head and the redheaded boy looked up to see Blaze flying above him. Kai smiled.
"Hey, Blaze, what's-Woah!" Kai exclaimed.
Blaze had grabbed him by his hood and was now pulling Kai off the path he'd usually take home.
"Ack! Blaze, what's gotten into you?!" Kai asked as he was dragged.
Blaze didn't listen as he pulled his owner deeper into the forest.
"Blaze, suelta!" Kai shouted in Spanish.
Blaze released him. Kai fixed his collar as the phoenix palisman landed on his arm.
"Okay, something obviously has you all shaken up. What's wrong?" Kai asked.
Before Blaze could answer, Kai could hear something. It sounded like…an injured animal? Kai placed Blaze on his shoulder and followed the sound. As they walked, Blaze flew off Kai's shoulder and flew ahead. Kai sighed and ran after him. Blaze chirped louder as Kai came closer.
"So, what's the problem?" he asked.
A small whimper was heard from inside a small hollowed out tree trunk. Kai bent down and looked inside.
"Hello? Is there anyone here?" he asked.
He could see a small form huddled within the shadows.
'It's an animal' he thought in his head.
Kai got down on one knee and held his hand out.
"It's okay, little fella. I'm not gonna hurt ya," he said.
The creature seemed to curl into a tighter ball. Kai scratched his head before getting an idea. Reaching into his duffel bag, Kai pulled out a breakfast bar he had saved for grudgby practice but forgot to eat. He held it out.
"Hey, I've got a breakfast bar filled with oaty and fruity goodness. You wanna try some? It's really good," he said, trying to coax the small animal out.
The small creature hesitated for a bit before slowly walking out of the tree trunk. Kai felt his heart drop when he looked at it. It was a griffin, most likely a baby. It looked like most of the griffins in the Isles, gray feathers, orange feet, white wings, a tuft of feathers on her head and a gray beak. The thing that concerned Kai was the amount of scars, scratches and bruises the little one had.
'What or who could've done this?' Kai thought in his head.
He shook his head and focused on helping his little friend. Kai broke the breakfast bar in half and held it out to the little griffin.
"Here, little buddy," he said.
The griffin sniffed the breakfast bar before taking the half and climbing into Kai's lap as she ate the snack. Kai examined the little griffin as she snacked on the breakfast bar. There were scars on her little arms and legs and her feathers were matted with dirt and blood.
'She probably escaped from some kind of abuser or attacker,' he said in his head.
Blaze chirped at him. Kai nodded.
"You're right. We should go to Viney and see what she can do about this," he said.
He noticed the baby griffin shivering in the cool afternoon air. Kai unbuttoned the cowl around his shoulders and wrapped it around the little griffin's shoulders. He scooped the griffin into his arms.
"Okay, you chonky little fella, let's get you some help," he said.
Blaze turned into his staff form and Kai climbed on, making sure to keep a tight but not too tight grip on the small creature in his arms.
"Blaze, yip, yip," Kai said.
Blaze took off and flew over Bonesborough. A short flight later, Kai landed in front of Viney's house. Kai shifted the little griffin into a more comfortable position before knocking on the door. It only took a few minutes before the door opened showing Viney still dressed in her school uniform.
"Hey Kai, what's up?" she asked.
"Okay so, I was walking home from school after grudgby practice and Blaze came to me squawking like no tomorrow and he took me into the woods then I heard a noise from a tree log and found this little fella inside," Kai said.
He motioned to the small griffin in his arms. Viney looked at the little critter and frowned when she saw the scars, scratches and blood.
"Okay, I'll get the medic supplies and you bring her inside," she said, running off.
Kai nodded and walked inside the house. He sat down on the couch as Viney went to her bathroom to grab the medical supplies.
"Your mom and dad aren't here?" he asked.
"Nah. Mom's working with a client and Dad's working late," Viney answered.
Kai nodded as Viney came back with some bandages and healing glyphs. She bent down to the griffin's level. The small griffin flinched and Kai gently rubbed the little griffin's head.
"It's okay, Viney's the best healer in the Boiling Isles. She's not gonna hurt you," Kai said.
Viney blushed slightly at being called "the best healer" but shook it off as she started to heal the griffin's wounds. After a while, Viney was done dressing her wounds. Kai ruffled the feathers on their head.
"See? That wasn't so bad was it?" he asked.
The griffin let out a small chirp and licked Viney's face. Viney laughed.
"You're welcome," she said.
Viney stood up and looked at Kai.
"Her feathers are dirty so we have to give her a bath," she said.
Kai nodded.
"Okay. How hard can bathing a griffin be?" he asked.
Later:
"I take it back!" Kai said.
He and Viney were currently chasing the small griffin around the backyard trying to give it a bath.
"How is something so chunky so fast?!" Viney exclaimed.
Kai grunted as he managed to tackle the griffin into a muddy puddle. Viney stopped and put a hand to her face to stop herself from laughing. Kai sat in the mud while the little griffin rolled in the mud puddle. Kai wiped the mud off his face.
"That's just gross," he said.
"She seems to enjoy it," Viney said, giggling.
Kai looked at the griffin as she rolled around in the mud and huffed.
"You're lucky you're cute," he said, smiling.
He picked the little griffin up as he got to his feet.
"So, what are we going to do about her once she's all taken care of?" Kai asked Viney.
"I can keep her. My parents won't mind and Puddles will get a baby sister," she said.
Kai nodded.
"Now she just needs a name," he said.
Kai thought about it for a few minutes before coming up with an idea.
"How about…Muddy?" he asked.
Viney snickered.
"Muddy?" she asked.
"Yeah, she likes playing in mud and since Puddles is going to be her big sis it fits. Muddy and Puddles," Kai said, grinning.
Viney rolled her eyes fondly.
"Okay, Muddy it is," she said.
Kai smiled and looked down.
"How about it? You like the name Muddy?" he asked.
Muddy let out a chirp as she licked Kai's face.
"Haha! I think that's a yes," he said.
(A/N: I got the idea from a MoringMark comic. Hope you enjoyed this short!)
