A Meeting of Horns and Feathers, a Firebringer Trilogy + Summer King Chronicles Crossover fanfic

Okay, I wasn't even halfway done with the first book of the Firebringer Trilogy when I came up with this—but I had started it right after finishing A Shard of Sun, and as both have gryphons, I thought "why not?" Besides, Shard would be the sort to just randomly start chatting up a unicorn (thank you, Stigr, for instilling that quality in him).

So the last I touched this was April 2, 2016—not sure why I never got around to finishing it until now, it only took two paragraphs to do so. In other news, did in the interim finish the main books of The Summer King Chronicles—now to 1) track down the rest of the Firebringer Trilogy and 2) contemplate a crossover that also involves Fire Bringer by David Clement-Davies. Seems the thing to do. X'D

The thunderstorm had passed, and had blown in no gryphons.

Jan had spent the time before the storm standing watch with Tek, she watching for gryphons, he watching the fantastic shapes the clouds made before the storm had forced them to seek shelter.

Now, with the storm gone, Jan galloped up a rise, intending to watch the tattered edges of storm blow away in the wind.

"Hail!"

Jan skidded to a halt, cloven hooves digging into the wet ground, glancing about—he saw no other unicorns—

And then a dark shape came to earth.

Jan reared up in alarm—he recognized the feathers and fur, the body shape—a wingcat. A gryphon.

One had come through.

It flattened itself to the ground. "I am Rashard, son of Baldr, from the Silver Isles," it said. "And you are?"

Jan dropped to all fours, backed up, presenting his horn—he had been bewitched by gryphons before. He wouldn't have it again.

Except….

He had to blink at the odd color of the gryphon. Gryphons were supposed to come in blue and gold or green and gold. This one was black.

"What kind of gryphon are you?" Jan had to ask.

One of the gryphon's ears flicked and it backed up, not quite in pouncing position, but definitely able to get away if need be. "I am one of the Vanir—we hail from the Silver Isles, although some have travelled far on the winds….I suppose, by your tone, that you have not seen any pass this way?"

Jan backed up farther, keeping his head low and his footing sure. "The only gryphons I know of are the ones that steal colts away and kill unicorns in their homes."

Again, that ear-flick, this time with…not an amused look….Like the gryphon had been there. "You might have met some of the Aesir," it said. "Those uninitiated in the proper ways of hunt, who do not listen to all who speak and speak to all who hear."

Now it was Jan's turn to flick an ear. "I…don't follow."

Now both ears were pricked up. "The Named…and some who are not," it said, casting an amused glance far and beyond, as though envisioning something beyond the horizon. "Through names, we know ourselves, and can speak." It looked at him now. "Unicorns…is that what you are? Forgive me, but I've never seen anything…quite like you before."

Jan resisted lifting his head in surprise—it would expose his throat too much. "Yes," he said slowly, finally, warily. "I am a unicorn, of those blessed by Alma, children of the moon."

The gryphon raised an eyebrow. "Alma? Is that what you call the moon?"

Jan stamped a hoof in irritation. "Alma is the mother of all! She isn't just the moon!"

The gryphon nodded, an expression like understanding crossing its beak. "Most of those I know refer to her as Tor, mate of Tyr, the sun." It tipped its head up—perfect shot, right there…so why wasn't he going for it? "Tyr and Tor chase each other across the sky, and watch over us." It scratched the ground. "And then the dragons say that the world is an egg, encircled by Midragur, as a mother dragon encircles her egg, and then that one day, that egg will hatch, and end the world."

Okay, he'd heard of dragons, but that was new. "You've spoken with dragons?"

"I have—and I've tried to speak with wyrms—"

Jan danced away at that, alarmed. "You've consorted with wyrms?"

"No," the gryphon said. "I tried to talk with them, but they were so blinded by their anger that they would not speak to any—simply kill any gryphons they come across, and drive all to nameless fear."

Jan paused. "Those…don't sound like our wyrms."

Ear-flick. "Your wyrms?"

Jan nodded, forgetting himself in the conversation. "Our wyrms—we also call them wyverns—they're small, crawl along the earth, and are stealthy. They tricked us out of our homeland." Probably shouldn't be telling a gryphon this, but maybe if they knew…they wouldn't be so quick to anger at them for encroaching on their demesne.

The gryphon tipped its head. "Ah….Those I refer to as wyrms are big—much bigger than anything you may have ever seen, winged and scaled, with long tails….You would know them if you saw them," it said, dropping front paws it had uplifted in an attempt to grasp a proper definition.

Huge winged monsters—Jan had the mental image of one digging up their home with just one paw and shivered at the thought. "They aren't…nearby, are they?"

The gryphon shook its head. "I've flown quite a ways from the Windrost, so I doubt it…where is this place?"

"This is the Great Plain, the back of Alma."

The gryphon made a pensive noise. "And yet you have gryphons so many days' flight from the Windrost—I may have to meet them, try to clear up any misunderstandings between them and the unicorns." It lowered its head, looking half-pensive, half-downcast. "That would take a while."

Jan stamped, a little uncomfortable. This was a gryphon. Gryphons were dangerous. And yet…he didn't feel this one meant harm, as dangerous a thought as that was.

"I…I'm sorry," Jan said finally. "I didn't catch your name."

It looked up at him again. "Rashard," it said—and this time Jan noted it was male. "But you can call me Shard." He smiled. "All my friends do."

Uh…huh. "Rashard? You give your truename so freely?"

Shard's ears pricked forward. "Truename?" he echoed.

"The name only a foal and their dam are to know. The usename is the one you give."

Shard bobbed his head, considering. "I think it's safe to say that gryphons and unicorns have different customs."

"Yes….But you still eat meat," Jan added, eyeing him sharply.

Shard bobbed his head again in agreement. "Not like a wild beast, though—and you have nothing to fear," he added, apparently sensing Jan's discomfort. "I mostly eat fish." He looked wistful at that. "When there's fish to be had. I've been eating rabbits lately." He looked at his wings, beautiful to Jan. "I miss having fish, though."

Jan gave this some thought. He was taking a major risk here, being friendly with gryphons…but this was not like the formel or its mate that he had encountered. And it—he—didn't seem to be angling for something…and from the sounds of it, he knew of the wider world.

"I…know of a river that has fish," Jan said finally. "It's close to the pan woods, though."

Shard flicked his ears, curious. "Pan woods?"

Jan nodded. "Yes, because pans live there—funny looking creatures, who were cursed by Alma because they ran away when she offered them her gifts."

Shard's expression shifted, and he looked at him curiously. "You say that as though you don't truly believe it."

"I…saw them dancing once," Jan admitted. "But that makes no sense—I've been told that only unicorns dance."

Shard nodded brightly. "Yes, I'm sure—but you see? You cannot only go on what others have told you—you need to learn the whole story before you can make your own decision." He paused, considering. "Lead the way, then—I would like to speak with these pans. And have some fish."

Jan eyed him, now worried for his sanity. "Pans don't talk."

Shard had been sitting, but now he stood, eying Jan wittily. "Pans don't dance, either."

Jan stamped, consternated.

"Fine," he said finally. "But in exchange, you tell me about the world beyond."

"I'd be glad to," Shard said. "And in exchange, you can tell me about unicorns—I think the closest I've ever seen to your species would be the ponies on the Silver Isles."

This time Jan did lift his head to look down at Shard. "Unicorns are not ponies."

"Of course," Shard said. Jan wheeled away in a huff, heading for the river, side twitching in surprise and nervousness as Shard fell into step beside him, like they were shoulder-friends. A unicorn and a gryphon. How…strange seemed to fall short.

"I…think we might become friends, you and I," Shard said after a few moments.

Jan twitched at that. "Unicorns and gryphons cannot be friends—we're supposed to be mortal enemies," he said, toning it as though Shard were stupid for not knowing.

"And unicorns are the only ones who dance," Shard countered. "I was raised believing that gryphons and wolves are mortal enemies, and yet one of my best friends is a wolf—not everything you hear is truth; sometimes, you just have to find out for yourself. To listen to your heart to determine what's right."

Was this true? He wanted to dismiss it as a gryphon lie...and yet he didn't. He was starting to see that the world was more than he had been taught, and if this gryphon was willing to help...

He inclined his head, both in respect and to hide his smile. "We'll see."