Dododex

ARK: Survival Evolved & Ascended Companion

Of Kin

Act III: Griffin

Chapter 18 (I don't know if Chapter 17 posted, I'll have to check.)

The rumors about the giga massacre must have been true. Griffin's Kin was a specl compared to the other flocks. Silvermane counted seven argents, Golfie included. Mingzhi was a light brown and yan argent whose feathers were starting to gray with age. She reminded Silvermane of Corvi, just older, kinder, and less bitter.

There was a hatchling included in the seven, Sunshine, who looked and behaved like a baby version of Goldie. Goldie explained that she and Sunshine were the siblings each other never had (having a hatchling that didn't wander off into griffin territory and get killed was a rare occurence), so they were around each other often.

Seeing all of them together, it made sense why Griffin's Kin were called the golden argents. Here in the light of the sunrise, they all shimmered with some fleck or stripe or entirely gold.

"Everyone," shouted Goldie, "Please welcome our guests, Kald of Blizzard's Kin, and Riot and Silvermane of Scarlet's Kin." The argents exchanged greetings. "Now, we are happy to hear your request friends, but first..." Goldie turned to Kald. "Where's uncle Fryse?"

Kald froze before lowering his head.

"Fryse," Riot said, "is dead."

Goldie said nothing, but her smile faded, and her bright eyes dulled. "Dead?"

Silvermane knew Fryse and Kald weren't really her uncles, but they must have been close enough to act as such. Mingzhi wrapped her wings around Goldie and rocked her back and forth, letting the little argent sob for a moment before whispering something into her ear. Goldie took a second to compose herself before continuing. "Well, I guess that means Blizzard's Kin is back together again." She faked a smile. "So, that's probably not why you're here."

"It's about Infernal Kin," Kald said. He too was holding a good face to hide his pain.

[TRIVIA: Don't know if I said this already, but Mingzhi means "wise."]

~CL1