Spotted Sunlight

Leaving the tomb was more than just a breath of fresh air, there was a strange energy about the world that strengthened her bones and revitalised her blood. The moss was incredibly soft, and Nivin got distracted very quickly as she flopped down to look at it more closely, moving one of her claws over the covered stone stairs to revel in the texture.

Minutes later, once Nivin realised what she was doing, she abruptly got up, feeling slightly embarrassed. She had a goal, playing with moss wasn't it, sadly.

So, the gryphon took a breath, grabbed the bundle and started to walk down the stairs, paying close attention to her legs. Maintaining inner balance was just as important as not planting her face on the floor, after all.

Yeah, not, she wasn't going to do that.

So in the end, it wasn't really her fault for not noticing it. How could she have, with how focused she was on taking one step after the other. Walking downstairs was a wholly different affair than just walking on an even surface. No, there was certainly nothing to blame her for.

When she reached the bottom of the stairs, she turned around to look up at the tomb. Who would have thought that a pile of ancient stones and moss could hide such history within? She cocked her head to the side, watching as the world shifted out of focus and the light of the barrier returned.

It was different now, less… solid and more like a curtain, for lack of better words. She opened her beak, words to close the barrier once more on the tip of her tongue, when the feathers on her neck suddenly stood.

Something was behind her.

She whirled around and saw something up ahead in the shadows of the trees, staring at her.

The creature was jet black, absorbing any light that came in contact with it. Yellow crystals grew out of its back, and its reptilian-like body and limbs were unhealthily slim and disproportionate, seeming almost too long.

It felt wrong. Every sense in her body screamed at her to run, as far as she could, and to never look back. Away from this darkness staring at her through a blank bony mask similar to- no, exactly like Deiwo's.

It was as though whoever created that creature had no idea what a face was supposed to look like, and instead copied the thing they were the most familiar with.

The creature wasn't breathing. It just stood there, completely still, staring at her.

Nivin blinked and it was gone without a sound.

Oh fuck that!

The thing, whatever it was, disappeared without a trace, no matter how much Nivin looked around. The tugging behind her eyes faded and the world came back into a focus. Fucking hell.

Unsettled, she quickly headed further into the forest, almost trying to run away, following the tiny string of energy that connected her to the others. And desperately hoping Axis' other residents weren't as creepy as whatever that thing back there was.

---

Nivin walked for a long while, jumping over fallen trees and thick winding roots. She was unsure how long she had been walking, but after a while she was distracted by a rustling in the bushes.

Immediately cautious, Nivin crouched down lower to the floor, making sure she had a good grip on her bundle and prepared herself to run, should the need arise. Her heartbeat began to speed up as her eyes frantically darted towards where the sound came from. Who knew what manner of creatures roamed these lands, and she wasn't eager to find out if she was honest with herself.

Again, the bush rustled, before something hopped out into the open.

Nivin breathed a sigh of relief and stood up again, looking at what appeared to be a literal ball of feathers.

Oh, wait, that thing had a head.

It was a curious creature, with soft looking feathers sprouting from its body, making it seem like a fluffy ball. A tiny head appeared between the plumage and chirped before it waddled away on legs she was sure this weird-ass pigeon had and just couldn't see.

What a weird bird.

Before the gryphon could continue on her journey, the bushes rustled again as something much larger than the strange pigeon leapt into view and landed on said creature before falling over its head and tumbling down a slight slope with a yelp, its prey still clutched between its claws.

Nivin jumped, startled by the sudden appearance and departure of what looked like another gryphon.

She was unsure if she should approach or just quietly walk away while the other was occupied. But, as fate would have it, that decision was taken out of her claws as a head appeared on the slope, the weird pigeon in their beak.

The gryphon flapped their wings and jumped back onto the path before dropping their prey and looking at Nivin with a sheepish expression. Or at least what she thought could be a sheepish expression.

"Heya. Sorry about that! Didn't mean to scare ya."

The voice sounded female, and by the looks of it, she seemed young. The stranger's coat was a soft cream colour, with countless spots of various sizes and shades of brown. It almost looked like somebody took a brush with paint and flicked it over and over until it was just chaos. Curious green eyes blinked at Nivin as the stranger hopped over her prey and towards her.

"You must be new here, you on your way to Dawn's Haven? You look super cool, by the way, even though for a moment I almost thought you were the pale lady, but obviously you aren't her. Did I mention you look super cool?" The gryphon chirped, running circles around her, as Nivin struggled to follow the other with her head. The little one had a lot of energy. She put down her bundle.

"Uhhhh"

"Others might be put off a bit by your looks, though. Where are you from? Oh, I bet you are from Leoth! Or wait, you look a bit too big. Peostru then? Noo, Frank said the gryphons there are huugee and beefy. No offence!"

Nivin was starting to get dizzy from all the head turning. "Uhhh…"

"Ah, sorry." The stranger deflated a bit. "I got a bit excited there, we don't get many new feathers around these parts, and Frank always says I'm a bit much. I'm Spot by the way!"

Spot sat down across from her, her feathers poofed up in excitement.

Nivin opened her beak again, before closing it. She knew she should offer a name, and the longer she hesitated, the more pressed she became. She had to answer, but why couldn't she? A name should be easy.

Right?

Still, while the name Nivin felt more like her, it wasn't. Not completely. And neither was Nimue.

Saying those names out loud would almost feel like a lie. Even if it wasn't.

What was wrong with her?

Spot's gaze softened, feathers smoothed down as her voice took on a calmer cadence: "It's okay, you don't have to tell me. Many mixbloods that come here don't. They all have their reasons… and that's okay. You can tell me once you're ready."

Surprised, Nivin looked up, not having realised she had been avoiding eye contact with Spot. She smiled at the smaller gryphon, thankful.

"Thank you, Spot."

Spot giggled, the strange feeling of wisdom fading as her excitement returned. "We'll have to get you a cloak, I wasn't kidding when I said that others might... mistake your appearance for somebody else's." She pointed at Nivin's chest.

What?

"Uhm…that's very nice of you but I can't accept that!" She literally just met the girl, and on top of that, she was very confused.

"Eh, I have a few lying around I don't need, and I am sure one of them is big enough to cover you up! Don't worry, lots of new mixbloods are shy, so they run around with those all the time and nobody bats an eye. You'll be fine! And-" she held up a talon as Nivin tried to cut her off "- and even if you don't plan on staying, it's getting dark and you are nowhere near equipped enough for any kind of long-term travel."

The tiny thing wasn't going to take no for an answer, and Nivin relented. Spot was right, she had no food, nor knowledge to avoid the dangers of this land. She also might be able to trade some of the things she took with her for provisions and other things.

And maybe she could find out some stuff that might help her understand her situation better. She hated feeling confused.

So, Nivin gave a short nod. "Thank you for the help, truly. You didn't have to do that, you just met me."

Spot shrugged. "Everybody needs help sometimes, and I have room in the cave. You can pay me in stories!" Spot jumped up and down a little bit, eyes sparkling. "I love stories, but I know all the ones Frank tells, and Koisi banned me from the library after the incident with the regis." She stared into nothingness for a moment before shaking her head, the sparkles returning.

Nivin couldn't help but smile, Spot's mood was infectious.

"Okay, you wait here, I'll quickly fly back and get that cloak, you watch over our dinner!" And before Nivin could even think to reply, Spot spread her wings and shot into the air.

"See ya in a bit, Polarity!"

"…What?"