《The Lost City of Maeros (Working title)》Chapter 8
Advertisement
Several of the crewmembers cheered as a few of the larger men pulled on ropes that stretched tight over the edge of the ship. They huffed as they pulled their load slowly over onto the deck. As it landed on the deck with a thud, a creature tangled in a large net thrashed about in a flurry of talons and feathers. The group descended on the creature in a commotion, yelling for more rope and to watch the beak. Several cursed as they exited the fray, holding various gashes that bled bright red. By time Fen and Mara crossed the deck, the men stood in a circle around their prize.
“Watch it,” Mara said as she shoved two men out of the way to make room for her and Fen.
In the center of the circle a large creature laid on the deck, its legs and wings bound tightly, the net in pieces around it.
“What is it?” Fen whispered in wonder.
“It’s gryphon,” one of the men said.
The gryphon strained against the ropes, its eyes flitting from one person to the next. Fen could feel its anxiety like a thrumming in her chest.
“Mighty rare,” said another. “I bet we could fetch quite the price for it once we reach Linara, or even Sorol.”
“Better prices in Sorol,” Drigs said. “Though this ship isn’t built for livestock”
Ferrul pulled out a knife and took a step towards the creature but was stopped as the group, including Mara, began to argue what to do with it.
Fen took a step into the circle, unnoticed by the others. The gryphon focused on her. Its chest rising and falling quickly as it continued to work against the restraints. With each step she felt the thrumming in her chest, the anxiety and fear in its large brown eyes.
Advertisement
She knelt beside it and reached a hand towards its neck. The gryphon flinched as she placed her hand in its feathers. They were slightly moist on the outside, but warm and dry underneath. As they touched, the thrumming focused into a point on her chest.
Fen slowly pulled the necklace from under her shirt. She could feel it vibrating at the end of the cord. One hand still resting on its neck, Fen palmed her father’s stone. She cried out as a rush of pain and emotion washed over her. Fear, anxiety, and adrenalin flooded her mind as her eyes met the gryphon’s. In that moment, Fen realized they were its emotions as tears began falling from her face involuntarily.
“What’s the meaning of all this!” Boran shouted as he began separating the crowd, though Fen could barely hear him. His voice quieted as he broke into the circle, seeing Fen beside the gryphon.
Just noticing, Mara knelt beside Fen and shook her.
“What are you doing?” she asked. “It’s not safe.”
She tried to pull Fen back but was shrugged off. Fen couldn’t leave the gryphon. She could feel its desperate need.
“What she think she’s doing?” Drigs said, pointing at Fen. “That’s our catch.”
Fen felt another surge of fear coming from the gryphon as Drigs stepped forward.
“No!” Fen cried as she threw herself over the large neck of the gryphon, the stone in her hand. “Stay back!”
Mara stood between the Drigs, just taller than him. He faltered until Ferrul approached. More shouting broke out between the men and Mara.
“Enough of this!” Boran shouted. The men quieted and Drigs gripped the knife he had never sheathed. “The captain has final say on all disputes of property.”
Boran moved beside the gryphon and gave a nod to Mara, who took off towards the captain’s quarters. The group stood in silence and Fen felt the gryphon calm slightly. It was all she could do to keep from curling up beside it and whimper. A sharp, unexplained pain in her shoulder was the only thing keeping her from being overcome by the swells of emotion.
Advertisement
“What’s all this?” Captain Maolen said as she approached the crowd. The rest of the crew that hadn’t been initially involved had gathered to watch the commotion. She hesitated for a moment as she caught sight of the gryphon but quickly recovered. Boran spoke first.
“A dispute of property, Captain,” he said. “Between these men and Fen.”
“I see. Of the gryphon, I assume,” she said, stepping beside Boran. Was that excitement Fen felt as she approached, or more fear?
“That’s right, captain,” Drigs said, his knife put away. “We netted it earlier and were discussing the best route of selling it when that girl decided it was hers.”
“That girl is a crewmember and has a name,” Maolen said flatly. She looked to Fen. “Explain.”
Fen’s thoughts raced. Her concern mixing with the gryphon’s fear was overwhelming. She couldn’t think straight.
“Please,” Fen finally said. “It’s so scared.”
Maolen studied Fen for a long moment before turning to the crowd.
“This is a dispute of property,” her voice carried effortlessly across the deck. “As far as I am concerned this is a living creature, not some compass or knife, and therefore can not be considered property. My final decision is to release the gryphon and award neither party ownership.”
Drigs cursed and pulled Ferrul behind him as he walked away. Maolen nodded to Mara and walked back to her quarters. Boran began shouting, getting the distracted crew back on task. Mara turned to Fen and knelt, pulling a small knife from her side. Immediately the gryphon began to squirm and fight. Fen gasped at the sudden shock of emotion.
“No,” Fen said. “Let me.”
As Mara handed her the knife, the fear subsided and was replaced by anxiety as the gryphon stilled. Slowly, Fen cut the various ropes holding the gryphon down. She returned the knife to Mara as they stood up.
The gryphon quickly rose and looked across the deck. It was taller than Fen had realized, its shoulder coming up nearly to her chin. The gryphon eyed her for a moment before it turned and began to run along the deck. It stretched out its wings and beat them as it leapt into the air. Fen clutched her shoulder as the mysterious pain throbbed and the gryphon crashed to the deck.
Maolen stopped just outside her door as the gryphon tumbled to the deck in a mess of wings and feathers. Drigs opened his mouth to say something, but she held up her hand.
“If the gryphon can’t fly by the time we reach Linara, then I will reevaluate this dispute,” she said as she gave Fen a slow nod.
Fen ran to the gryphon as it gathered itself up, surveying the deck for another take off.
“Wait!” she yelled.
It stopped an looked at her, holding one wing out slightly, the same side as the pain in Fen’s shoulder. Fen slowly reached out and touched its neck again, its large eye watching her. She ran her hand down to its wing. It flinched as she pressed against it.
“It’s hurt?” Mara asked as she approached.
“I think so,” Fen said.
“You’re an idiot,” Nubs said from distance, watching gryphon cautiously.
Advertisement
Deepest Depths
Max, an average IT worker, suddenly finds himself in a new and dangerous world. From talking with gods, to making deals with ancient monsters, Max's new life is anything but ordinary. Follow Max in his quest to go home. Along the way, he will learn magic, save lives, and end some also. The world of Nava is governed by the strong and powerful. It isn't until Lost Lord or Ladies, who are people that were taken from their world and thrown directly into the spotlight, change the balance of order. Will Max's new title of Lost Lord cause many enemies to surface? Or will he fade into obscurity and work towards his goals. Deepest Depths is an action adventure litRPG portal fantasy. [participant in the Royal Road Writathon challenge] This is my first time at writing anything. Please be constructive in any advice you may have. Thank you for reading. Rewrites for 1-10 updated finished on 10/24/21Revision for every chapter finished 10/25/21 Some chapters will get dark. They will be marked with a warning.
8 175BreakDown
Six years after being orphaned, twenty-two-year-old Christina Bolen is finally getting her life in gear. With a business degree, Chris will finally be able to afford the life she wants for herself, but more importantly for her sister. Unfortunately, things don’t turn out the way they were supposed to. Chris is accused of a murder she didn’t commit and before she knows it she is a pawn in a game within a game. The only way out is learning to dominate in the virtual world humanity is losing itself in. A game world so widespread that it is replacing the real one in every aspect, including, or especially, the financial one. She might have never been a player before, but Chris vows to earn a spot on the gameboard. Even if that spot doesn’t exist yet.
8 171Kill the Joker: Survival Game
Redemption is a fickle thing. Nine detectives and nine serial killers find themselves playing a dangerous survival game of deductions, pretending, and - murder. With your life and alias on the line, what would you give up for a shot at redemption? ... The main premise and kick of KtJ is that it is a guessing game of sorts. 18 high school students of various ages and backgrounds come together and are given aliases, such as "King", "Killer", or as the protagonist is aptly named - "Protagonist". They do not know each others' identities, and what's more - 9 of them are anonymous detectives, and 9 of them are serial killers. The cast is given a list of their names, and a list of the identities of the serial killers and detectives they are being held hostage with, and are forced to interact to guess the identities. The people who are able to connect all identities will get "a special advantage" in the killing game, but it isn't specified what. Alongside this, each cast member is given three secrets they are able to reveal at any point for an advantage in the killing game as well. However, one of these secrets is their name, and revealing that secret will result in a minor "punishment" as well. [COVER ART DONE BY RILIE @kisikils] [Illustrated]
8 176Moonlight wolf
A woman is seen rushing through the forest. She is being hunted by mercenaries and adventures for the mana crystal she possesses. She must escape from the forest that hosts foul creatures, and beast to make it back alive. An unfortunate series of events causes a chance encounter with a magical beast that not only changes her life but the magical beast life as well. I decided that I will begin to release chapters once a week. A new chapter will be released every Friday. I will also release an extra chapter every 3 days after reaching basic goals. Every 10 follows, 10 favorite 10, ratings or 10 reviews up to 100 of each will result in a bonus chapter. That is up to 40 bonus chapters!!! This will give me motivation. I will get to see if my novel is something people want to read. Thank you for reading my novel and feel free to join the discord. I just created it and it is completely empty =D https://discord.gg/DA2FTtu
8 197Secret || Darlentina ff
Wherein Regina has a girlfriend and her friends doesn't know about it, and her girlfriend name is narda, what if their friend finds out that there is something with them?- a lots of grammatical errors and typos so sorry abt that-taglish
8 88The Wolf Of Konoha -Naruto Fiction- (Soulmates) (Unfinished)
Neukdae Hoshigaki is the daughter of Kisame Hoshigaki, she know every single one of the Akatsuki member but she doesn't tell to no one.She is BestFriends with Naruto Uzumaki and she know about the 9-Tail beast fox Kurama..The first time she Hate Sasuke with her Heart but after the mission against Zabusa e Haku everything change and become friends and Sakura dosen't like a bit of that.. but team 7 dosen't know about her eaving a beast inside of her, but they know about her eaving soulmates
8 194