It was getting harder to keep Karkat's sleep in a stalemate. Despite many sloppily-made notes stating blatantly, "DO NOT 3NT3R" in bright red marker, people continued to intrude. These times didn't include only food and drink, oh no.
"Hello, Terezi. I hate to bother you, but do you know where Rose is?"
"Hey. Hey, Terezi. Hey. Listen to my rap."
"Honk."
This was repetitive and annoying. Her once wise responses have dissolved to a grunt and a finger pointing to the arch exit. When they still refused to move, she said clearly, "Go." Her voice, as the days went by, has grown into an unpleasant complaint within itself. It was groggy and tired. After what she had just done with Gamzee, she had felt overwhelming guilt - which is probably what her black-partner had wanted. More bruises were to be hidden, come the time when Karkat actually does awake.
Granted, it was getting quite boring sitting alone in a room. Well, not really alone, but not with anyone conscious. She would catch herself directing her snout the wrong way (toward the wall, for example) and think about her incompetence. Self-esteem levels lowering with every mistake. Ferocious dragons would brood their charges, instinctively refusing any entry from outsiders. Terezi supposed that she wasn't really good at being a stern, scaly reptile. Whether she was agreeable to the ideal or not is left unknown.
She started to think hard about her dancestor while alone. The horns that had created the noisy pile imitated valuable treasure - rubies, diamonds, gold; items that dragons build their nests with, as well as griffins. While a griffin is known as a creature symbolizing wisdom, the sun, strength, and salvation - the dragon is known for its greedy, havoc-ensuing, and savage nature, often banning them to deep caverns, caves, or dark groves in ancient tales told of the beasts. The historic background behind the two were completely different. Griffins were given gifts, praises, the ability to inhabit a royal person's domain if they wish. Dragons were given a bad name, flames to their solitary confinement, and, in the best of situations, a hillside to live in. It was as if it surprised folklore tales-men that the hazardous beings had presented such a rash attitude. On the new subject of egg differences, it takes a griffin's spawn five days to reach maturity and hatch (1 out of 5 the creatures are males). Though, depending on the element of the dragon, their eggs can take three-hundred to five-hundred years to burst. Dragons are rare, while griffins are common. However, they're more valued due to the fact that they bring only good fortune and the feeling of faith. Let's compare. Latula is the griffin. Terezi is the dragon.
[A SEPARATE STORY: THE DRAGON AND THE GRIFFIN]
The dragon remains in her grove. The night has thrown a dark veil onto the sky, endangering small animals to the natural nocturnal eye of the beast. There were no stone walls to hide her, and her footprints left quite an indention upon the earth - creating a loud thud with each step. The animals scurried in their trees, bushes, dens, and shelters once they had heard the gargantuan roar of their predator. The she-dragon hissed at their cowardly actions, hungry and frustrated. The creature hadn't eaten in weeks, as there was simply nothing to consume. Natural selection just wasn't fair. She didn't ask to be born a disgrace. Despite her inner arguments, she padded over to the jewels placed neatly into a giant triangle pile. She was close to making ten-thousand gems sit in this assortment. Her whole life was based around the idea of, "Find a jewel. Put the jewel in a batch. Protect the jewels. Collect more." That was all of her existence's purpose. Maybe, the dragon thought, I could steal something of value from one of the royals! I will hold it as a hostage for the rest of my life!
It's what she aimed to do the next morning. She awoke at four, confused for a moment by the darkness that stayed. Her wings took her to the kingdom that she had neighbored for years - the one that so rudely placed her in such a dreary land with forceful pitchforks and torches. The biggest building caught her eye. It was obviously the king's. Sleepily, the villagers ignored the changing wind currents in their slumber. Not so much later, as the dragon's tail swept over a tower, crumbling its roof and foundations. A frightened royal stared up at her, sure to run as quick as possible to the other side of his circular room. With the tip of her yellow-white clawed forefinger and thumb, the dragon carried away the prince.
"What do you want with me?" the royal would scream, falling out of shock when he was placed at the top of the pile. With the inability to speak, the dragon ignored his loud English.
Of course, the king was angered horribly. "I want warriors mounting griffins to defeat this despicable beast!"
Little to say, dragons aren't treated equally.