Niira left the city early that morning, wandering to the hills that overlooked a forest beyond the western gate. Everything was soft and misty in the gray dawn light. Suddenly, she gave a sharp two-note whistle. It echoed across the still countryside. She sighed and scowled. She wished Albert hadn't forced her father to come along. The king always had a reason for the things he did, but she couldn't figure out this one.

Well...he does know his way around Serdio. I suppose that's helpful. And I guess it'll be nice to have an extra person around when we finally find the Seventh...

"You're calling the gryff?" Marach had walked up behind Niira during her inward conversation.

"Why not? It's better than leaving him with Reezy."

The guardsman snorted.

"Actually...I just thought he might be useful. At some time. You never know."

"If you say so."

But the forest remained silent as they waited for Lavitz to arrive. Again Niira frowned. She hoped the beast hadn't wandered off and terrorized some poor nearby village.

The First Knight walked up to them at last, his armor covered in the early morning mist. He nodded a greeting at the Northlanders. "Let's go then."

Niira glanced at Bead Pouncer. "I'm going down to the forest to see where Kitty got to. I'll catch up to you when I find him."

"You do that."

She trotted down the hill towards the forest. I'm never going to hear the end of it if he's gone off and done something... As she neared the forest edge, she slowed. Come on you dolt, where are you? She was about to give the whistle again when she heard something moving around in the trees. Then she found herself staring into the round, feathered face of her gryff.

"Rrrnk?" He focused his multiple black eyes on her. For a creature bigger than a horse, he could move around with surprising silence.

"Why didn't you come when I called for you?" Niira muttered, more to herself than Kitty. She reached up to scratch the feathers on his neck. He clacked his beak a few times in pleasure. "Well, let's go. Time to do some hunting."

They had caught up with the other two before long. Marach was rather non-plussed by the new addition to their group. Lavitz, however, had a different opinion. "Niira, what is that...that thing?"

"It's Kitty."

"You named that thing 'Kitty'?" He stared at the gryff; Kitty stared back, waving his long tail slowly back and forth.

"Hey, I was an eight-year-old girl, he was a kitten, what else do you expect me to name him?"

"Nreek?" the gryff whistled.

"If that thing eats me in my sleep..."

"Oh, don't worry. He knows better than to eat people. Doesn't man he won't pretend to, but..."

"That is somehow not very comforting."

-----

Later that day, a young night stood at the stood at the gates at the opposite side of the city. Unlike Lavitz, though, he wore nothing to identify him as a knight of Serdio. In fact, he had little more with him than the necessary provisions, as well as the light leather armor that he wore, and his sword. In one hand, he tightly gripped the reigns of his horse as he watched the sun near the horizon. So...they had better get here soon. His still features did not give away his racing heart. Why is this responsibility mine?

His horse suddenly turned its head to look behind. Taking the animal's cue, Coen turned as well. To his surprise, Reezy and Alakyl were walking up to him, a sandy-colored horse in tow. The two young men regarded each other silently. Reezy finally spoke. "Well, we're here. Let's go have an adventure."

"I was beginning to think you wouldn't show up." Coen couldn't believe how relieved he was. Setting his hands on his horse's shoulder, he pulled himself up into the saddle.

Reezy did likewise; Alakyl was not suited to riding horses and would have to walk. "I did too. But we figured if Niira ever found out we didn't help on something like this, she'd never forgive us."

I don't think I would, either. But he didn't say that to them. Instead, he dug his heels into the horse's ribs, and the beast started northwards. If they moved quickly, they might just make it to the foothills tonight. There were a few small settlements there...

"Besides..." Reezy's voice interrupted his thoughts. "I have a feeling we'll end up seeing a lot of each other in the future anyway. Might as well get to know you."

"Really. I'm not that interesting."

"Wuff!"

"You don't have to be so enthusiastic about agreeing with me."