Fan Fiction ❯ It Followed Me Home... Can I Keep It? ❯ Chapter 1

Backdating: This was written in early 2002.

"Mother! Mother!"

Sora groaned inwardly as her son's shouts broke through the trance she'd spent so much time trying to reach. Sighing, she dismissed her current spell with a wave of her hand, then went to see what was bothering Tynell.

This is why most witches don't have children, she decided several minutes later, standing on the doorstep. Peering cautiously out from behind Tynell's legs was a tiny griffon, still covered in yellow-gold baby fuzz. Sora's son was staring at her beseechingly with big brown puppy-dog eyes.

"It followed me home... Can I keep it? Please? I promise it won't cause any trouble!" he said, with all the solemn earnestness only a ten-year-old can muster.

Sora opened her mouth to say 'no', when the baby griffon chose to contribute to the conversation. Poking its head through Tynell's legs, it looked at her sorrowfully and opened its beak. "Murrrr?"

"Bring it in, Tynell," she sighed. "We'll take care of it. But only until we find its mother, understand?" she added, forestalling his whoop of joy. I have the feeling I'm going to regret this....

Kwerr was very happy and very, very proud of herself. When she'd lost Mama and Papa, she'd stayed right where she was until someone came, like she'd been told. They'd taken her to a big wooden cave, and another person had taken care of her. There was food, there was a soft bed, there was a warm fire, and there was even a furry little prey-thing to practice her pouncing on!

With an indignant hiss, Mora leapt away from another of the griffon's clumsy attempts to catch her. *I am a familiar, not an entrée!* she snapped angrily, then turned her emerald gaze on Sora. *Whatever possessed you to allow this - this beast into our home?* the cat demanded.

"I couldn't very well leave it to die, could I?" the witch pointed out reasonably. "Besides, it's only staying until I can find its parents." They both winced as a crash behind them marked the demise of yet another potion. "I've already asked the fairies to inquire around," she added quickly.

"Sora! Tynell! I'm ho- What in Hades happened here?" Kevas demanded, surveying the wreckage of his home. Broken furniture, pottery, and glass was strewn liberally across the front room. The chandelier, half its candles extinguished, lay on top of the debris. A trail of green liquid trickled beneath the half-closed door of his wife's workroom. A noisy crash came from the direction of the kitchen, followed by the agonized yowl of a cat.

Seconds later, Mora dashed into the room. Skidding to a stop, the black cat stared up at the wizard for several seconds, then spoke. *Kevas, Trevas, save me from her! The beast is mad!*

The snowy owl on Kevas' shoulder gazed at his fellow familiar with concern. ~Who, Mora? And what happened to the house?~

*She happened! The homicidal little creature has been chasing me all over the house, and wrecking it in the process!* An unidentifiable sound came from the doorway, and Mora glanced back in obvious fear. *She's coming!* With that, the cat leapt forward, skittered around Kevas' legs, and dashed out the door.

Seconds later, a tiny griffon poked its head into the room. "Morrrr?" it trilled curiously, then peered up at Kevas and Trevas. "Kurrr!"

"That sweet little thing did this?" Kevas said in disbelief. "Why, she's just a baby! And you're such a cute little thing, too," he crooned, as she crept forward to rub against his legs.

"That 'cute little thing' has decimated my workroom, destroyed the kitchen, devastated both bedrooms, and eaten just about everything in the house," Sora said dryly, stepping into the room. "Griffons, especially baby griffons, are not indoor animals."

"What's she doing here?" Kevas asked, scooping the griffon and cuddling her gently.

"It followed Tynell home. I couldn't just leave it, so I sent out a message with the fairies and took it in. We're going to care for it until its parents come." The woman snorted. "Assuming they want it back. I wouldn't."

~A bit bitter, aren't we?~ Trevas remarked. The griffon chose that moment to notice his presence. With a glad cry, she leapt from Kevas' arms and knocked the owl from his shoulder. Hooting in surprise, Trevas dodged away. The griffon landed, cat-like, on the ground.

"It can't fly yet, but it can jump rather well," Sora observed as the griffon leapt at Trevas. Her skillful leap caught him by surprise, and she tackled him in mid-air.

~Help! Murder! Help!~ Trevas cried as she pinned him to the floor. The normally dignified owl thrashed his wings madly as the griffon's beak opened and she began to dip her head. ~She's gonna eat me!~

Kevas leapt to his familiar's rescue, pushing the griffon away from Trevas and scooping up his feathered friend. "I hope her parents come soon," he muttered, examining the owl for injuries.

Kwerr was more than just happy; she was ecstatic. The wooden cave was full of nice things to eat and wonderful toys, and the walls were perfect for clinging to. Better yet, there were now two little prey-things to pounce on! Mama and Papa weren't here, which made her a little sad, but she knew they'd be here soon. And then they could all chase the little prey-things together!

She was right. Only two dark-times later, Mama and Papa came to the wooden cave, looking for her.

"We'rre extrrremely sorrrry forrr the messss Kwerrrr hasss made," Verr rumbled. The great brown griffon and his mate, Hess, had come in response to fairy rumors, searching for their lost daughter.

"We arre in yourrr debt," Hess continued. "You havvve carrrred forrrrr Kwerrr dessspite the inconvenience to yourrr own family."

"It was nothing," Kevas assured them, hiding his bandaged arm behind his back. "We are magicians, after all. The spells required to repair things-"

"Are extremely time-consuming and require certain ingredients darling Kwerr destroyed," Sora muttered under her breath.

"-Are very easy to do," Kevas continued smoothly, ignoring her.

"I am glad you will not sufferrr on ourrr account," Hess said. "And now it isss time to go, Kwerrr," she added, neatly scooping up her child. Mora, released from the young griffon's claws, scampered quickly away.

As the griffon family soared away, the humans and familiars flopped down in the grass with four identical sighs.

*I'm glad that's over with,* Mora said in a tone of heartfelt relief, twitching a bandaged tail.

~Indeed,~ Trevas said feverently, looking mournfully down at his featherless chest.

"Mother! Father!" Tynell called, racing out of the woods. He carried a small silver bundle in his arms. "Look what I caught following me! Can I keep it?"

As the adults rose, Mora and Trevas looked at each other in alarm, then turned to examine his find from a safe distance. It had bat-like wings... A long tail... Silver scales... Sharp teeth... And two stubby little horns....

Kevas leapt back just in time, dodging a blast of flame from the creature's mouth.

"It's just a baby!" Tynell was saying. "We can't let it die!"

"We'll keep it until its parents come," Sora sighed.

"But not in the house!" Kevas said firmly.

"Perhaps the wellhouse?" Sora suggested. "It's stone...."

"But it's damp! Dragons don't like the damp!" Tynell protested.

Mora and Trevas looked at each other, panic written on their faces. *Dragons?* Mora breathed.

~It occurs to me,~ Trevas pointed out, ~That it's high time we had a vacation. ~

*I hear the southern beaches are quite nice this time of year,* Mora suggested.

~I've always wanted to visit the peninsula,~ Trevas added.

*If you get the suntan lotion, I'll get the towels,* Mora offered.

~You have a deal,~ Trevas agreed.

Carrying the dragon, the three humans trooped into the house. The two animals watched them go.

*On the other hand, we could always go shopping once we get there,* the cat ventured.

~The sooner we start, the sooner we get there,~ the owl added.

A great gout of flame leapt from the chimney. In unison, the two familiars turned and headed south as fast as their respective limbs would take them.