Bleed

The energetic little griffin spit out its small pink tongue again, sputtering. 

"~Yiyiyi~."

The little one seemed so happy, hopping around in Ailsa's arms as she flapped her little wings. 

This time, however, Little Gem managed to catch air, lifting herself up with her relentless flapping. 

Ailsa smiled lightly, letting the little griffin struggle up. She felt like a mother bird watching on as her child grew up for the first time. 

Though she hadn't said much, Little Gem's sickly appearance had impacted her greatly. The little one hadn't been in their lives for very long, but who could watch on as a baby struggled so much just to hold onto their lives? 

The world was a cruel place, but when the harsh reality wasn't placed right before you, it was too easy to ignore. However, when it was, it hung onto one's heart, pulling at its strings with weights of guilt.