Zenora

Emily’s point of view:

“I’m not letting you go, love! Not in a million years!” Brock said to me when he followed me to my room. “What if they trick you into that portal again? What if they try to hurt you?” He continued while grabbing my waist.

“You can keep guards at me at all times that stay with me all the way.” I tried to comfort him as much as possible. As well as telling him that Norim would let me pass through the forest If I wanted to, as he had an agreement with my father. So, there couldn’t go anything wrong, as there was no hurt in talking to the elves while passing through right?

But Brock got angry at me, showing it off in his facial features. He couldn’t understand I would want to go back there, but there was no time to waste. I need to get there now as Cirilya needs their help faster, she didn’t have the time to wait for two more days! My father could follow me on this, but he also had to give a satisfying answer to the men, as they would otherwise have kept arguing with him over it.

“Could you please make sure with Archeops that he arranges enough people to go with us? I’d love to get back, safe. Maybe we could all ride the Gryphons again?” I kissed him, hoping he would agree and go talk to Archeops about it. But I didn’t want to push him, as not to let him know that I had other plans in mind.

I hated that I had to lie to Brock but he would never let me go if he knew what I was about to do.

Finally, he left the room to go and find Archeops, at which I released a breath of relief. I put on my red leather gear and ran up to the room where Cirilya was. Natalya and Anna were still there, caring for Cirilya when they got surprised by my entry.

“Please Natalya, Anna, you guys need to help me. Get some cheese from the kitchen and my bow, quiver and arrows from the armoury and then get to the back of the castle with a horse. Be quiet as I don’t want anyone to know. I’ll go and carry Cirilya to the back entrance, I need to get to the forest as soon as possible.” I stated firmly, hoping for them to not discuss this with me.

“No problem, we will do that but why do you need the cheese?” Anna asked me.

“For my new pet, well, I hope she will be my new pet.” I said with a bit of hesitation because my plan could be a success or a complete failure depending on if the stubborn creature would want to cooperate or not.

But I didn’t want to explain further. I braced myself to carry a body, to lift Cirilya from her bed but she was as light as a feather! Elves are quite something! I didn’t complain though, the back of the castle was a long walk and I had to avoid any servants or other people while walking out.

Anna and Natalya went to go in the other direction to fetch the stuff I told them to. As I made my way to the back entrance, I only had to hide behind two or three corners and had to step into a dark niche once, to avoid all working servants. When I went outside through the door, I heard Anna walk up to us with the horse and my bow when Natalya came soon as well, as she had prepared a bag with enough supplies for two days and a thick coat for both me and Cirilya. I quickly took the items from them and thanked them both with a hug.

“Wish me luck! I love you!”

Cirilya was still unconscious but as she was so light, I could place her in a seated position in front of me on the horse and I held one arm around her as we drove off. We had to get through the city and the farm fields to reach the sentry towers. I nodded to the guards and I was happy they only nodded back, without any questions, and I continued to the barn where my, hopefully, new pet was.

I gently laid Cirilya in the barn on some hay and took the cheese out of my bag.

“Hi there gorgeous, I need your help.” I said to the purple Gryphon. She was asleep when I got into the barn, but now sat on her butt, looking curiously towards me when I had said that.

“I know you miss my mother very much, just as I do, but she is not here anymore and I need you now.” I said calmly and then I showed her the cheese at which she immediately stomped on the ground with both her front claws at the same time. “Will you help me? I will give you some cheese if you do.” I asked and said to her, hoping she would come around.

I broke off a piece of the cheese and threw it in the air. Again, she caught it handily, just like she did when I threw the ferret at her the first time I got here. I broke off another piece and held it in front of her, in my hand. But this time I wasn’t afraid, I had to show her that I’m determined to get through to her.

As I calculated she did jump up and pushed forward, to lunge at me again. But I just looked at her, straight in the eyes and she landed on the ground with her beak touching my chest. I gave her the big piece of cheese and softly put my hand on her head.

“Show me, my mother.” I said and there it was…

In my vision, I looked through the eyes of the Gryphon.

“Hi there Bastet, how are you doing today?” I saw my mother come into the barn and she was looking at the Gryphon. She was pregnant because I could see a big belly under her dress. The Gryphon walked up to my mother and nudged gently against my mother’s belly with her beak. “Yes, the baby will arrive soon and I know you will like her.” My mother said while rubbing over her stomach. The Gryphon let out a soft squeak, asking her for some food. “Yes, yes, I brought you some cheese, here it is.” She took the yellow delight out of a small bag and gave it to the Gryphon, which she happily devoured. Afterwards, she spread her wings and flapped them gently, giving my mother the motion to want to go outside. “I’m sorry Bastet but it is not good for the baby if I ride you now, you have to be patient.”

Then I snapped back to reality. My mother was a beautiful woman, I really hate that she is gone but I had no time to linger my thoughts any further about her.

“Bastet. That is a good, strong name for a fierce Gryphon like yourself.” I said to her with my hand on her head and a teardrop had left my eye. I gave her another small piece of cheese. “Do you want to help me, please? Do you want to get out?”

“Qwraahh!” She yelled at me in a very happy tone and she jumped up, rattling her chain around her back paw.

“Where is the key?” I asked her and she pointed her beak to the other side of the barn. The key hung on a nail on the wall, so I took it off and walked up to her. “Let’s get this off, shall we?” The chain fell to the ground, the moment I opened it and Bastet ran to the door, swung it open with her head, spread her wings and took off.

“What the hell!” I heard Brock yelling outside and I quickly ran over there.

“What are you doing here? How did you know where I was?” I asked him surprised.

“You actually think I don’t know you by now? Of course, I know where you went, I did notice the hint as well love and I’m not letting you go on your own.” He said to me.

“So, you are going with me?” I asked stunned.

“Yes, I talked to your dad and he and I both know that you’ve received the stubborn character from your mother and we couldn’t hold you here even if we tied you up. So, I might as well be coming with you, to keep you safe.”

I hugged him as I really was happy that he would help me. I would’ve gone anyway, but this made it all a bit better. Bastet flew a few circles in the air, releasing all the tension from the past few years being chained up before she came down. I had asked Brock to carry the saddle out of the barn and put it on her back. Bastet didn’t like it at first, but when I touched her head and scratched it softly, she calmed down and let it just happen.

Nightwing had appeared as well, he looked at Bastet and bowed to her. Just like he did to me when I met him. Brock decided that Cirilya was to be put on Nightwing with him as Bastet needed to get used to flying with me. I helped Brock with getting Cirilya on Nightwing and Brock sat behind her. She was still unconscious and her abdomen was bleeding through the bandages. We need to get to the forest fast.

“I’m sorry that I lied to you earlier Brock, I really didn’t want to, but you seemed so determined to let me stay at the castle that I….” I said with my head bowed down.

“I know love, don’t worry, I should’ve gone with you immediately but I was just a bit hesitant. I’m sure you can imagine why.” He kissed me when he leaned forward and I put both my hands on his face and kissed him back. Then, I got on Bastet and she lifted off from the ground with such a force, that I had to twist my hands around the reins to get a better grip.