บท 24: A sleepover
It was a warm evening, Cranberry, Zombie, and the griffin chick, all sat under the shade cast by the shed in the back of the Pride's mansion.
"Graough? (That was fun, wasn't it, little one?)"
Zombie groaned while patting the griffin's head nested on his lap.
"Skwee...!"
The little griffin screeched, tired but very satisfied, and she closed her eyes enjoying the pats.
"Graough. (We can't check it, but I'm sure your stats have grown a lot over those three weeks. You've worked hard.)"
Zombie praised her and started stroking the griffin's back as she lazily spread her wings to the sides.
"Haa... these few weeks were surprisingly fun."
Suddenly, Cranberry breathed out, leaned forward, and turned to the other two with a soft smile.
"Little chick, your new master arrives tomorrow morning, you know?"
"Skwee!"
She asked and the baby griffin folded her wings and straightened her posture, screeching with confidence.
"Good girl."
Cranberry laughed and reached towards the griffin's beak.
The chick lowered her head and leaned forward to get patted, it showed no fear that it harbored when they first met.
"Remember, don't fight with Mary's skill, the two of us brought you here especially for her after all."
Cranberry was continuing patting the monster and instructed her.
"You will be representing the Prides' so I expect you to behave properly, you know?"
"Skwee!"
Cranberry explained and the griffin screeched and proudly raised her head.
"Haa... it's really a shame, if either Zombie or I received a taming skill I would keep you."
The red-haired girl smiled weakly.
"Graough? (Master?)"
Zombie fidgeted and tugged on Cranberry's sleeve.
"...skwee..."
Even the baby griffin screeched pitifully and rested her head back on Zombie's lap, her eyes clearly showed sadness.
"Well, we can't really influence what talents we have, so there's no need to be brooding over it. I'll make sure that Mary will take great care of you."
"...!"
Cranberry's voice became a lot colder as she promised that which made the little griffin flinch.
"Graough. (Don't worry, little one, master is just nervous.) Graough (She did tell her follower that she has a surprise for her, Mary doesn't know she'll receive you.) Graough. (Master doesn't know how Mary will react upon seeing you, but I'm sure everything will work out fine.) Graough! (My master is simply that amazing!)"
"Skwee!
Zombie growled reassuringly and the little griffin instantly perked up.
"...just as I thought, you really are the cutest when you play with her like that..."
Zombie heard a silent whisper and felt that someone is touching his head.
He turned around surprised just in time to see happily smiling Cranberry with her hand outstretched in the middle of patting him.
"...!"
Cranberry opened her eyes and she met Zombie's surprised gaze and she started blushing.
"I-I'm going back to the mansion!"
The red-haired girl hurriedly stood up and marched towards the house, she already had her hand on the door handle when she stopped and turned slightly towards the confused Zombie and the griffin chick.
"Since it's the last day, I'll allow her to sleep in my bed, I'll leave the window open, so bring her in, Zombie."
She declared and quickly went inside.
But she wasn't fast enough to hide that even her ears became red.
"Graough? (You've heard that?) Graough! (We need to get you prepared!)"
"Skwee!"
Zombie growled happily and the griffin jumped from the excitement.
Two hours later Zombie arrived under Cranberry's window with the pristinely clean, thoroughly brushed, baby griffin riding on his back.
Just as Cranberry said, the window on the second floor was open so the blue boy simply jumped in.
"...skwee...!"
Even though the little griffin knew she shouldn't make a noise, she ended up letting out a small surprised screech when the blue boy suddenly lunched up without any preparation.
"Haa... took you long enough."
Cranberry, wearing a baggy pajama, closed the book she was reading and sighed at them from the bed.
"Graough. (Sorry master, the little one wanted to look her best, so it longer than usual.)"
Zombie smiled and groaned apologetically.
"Skwee!"
The little griffin spread her wings to show off and screeched proudly.
"Ha ha! I see, you're indeed very cute. Now, come."
Cranberry laughed and patted the bed beside her.
"Skwee!"
The baby griffin screeched and jumped on the mattress.
"Graough! (Ah! Watch the talons!)"
Zombie warned her hurriedly.
"Zombie, relax, she's a clever girl, right?"
Cranberry waved her hand dismissively and smiled at the little griffin offering her a pillow.
The chick happily nested herself in the middle of the bed and put her head on the offered pillow.
"Skwee..."
She screeched with satisfaction and carefully folded her wings.
Cranberry laid beside it and started gently patting her head.
Zombie watched them for a few seconds with a satisfied smile then turned around and put his foot on the windowsill.
"Skwee?!"
But before he could jump out, he was stopped by a shocked screeching.
"Zombie, what are you doing...?"
Surprised Cranberry asked while holding down the struggling griffin that tried to go after the blue boy.
"G-graough...? (Um... I'm trying to leave, so you two can rest...?)"
Zombie groaned awkwardly.
"Skwee...!"
Baby griffin screeched at him with accusation.
"Haa... you rotten brain..."
Cranberry sighed deeply and started stroking the griffin's back.
"It's this girl's last night here and you don't want to stay with her?"
"Skwee!"
The red-haired girl asked raising her brow and the griffin followed her question with a screech.
"Grao... (Um...) Graough...? (I'm sorry...?)"
Zombie pulled down his leg and closed the window.
Under the keen eyes of his master and the little monster, he walked towards the bed and sat on the floor beside it.
"...skwee...?"
"...?"
Cranberry and baby griffin looked at each other with confusion.
"Zombie, get on the bed."
Cranberry shook her head with disbelief.
"Graough! (There's no need to, master, I don't sleep anyway!)"
Zombie growled the explanation and started waving his arms in denial.
"...skwee..."
The baby griffin cried and got all sad.
"Rotten brain, I get it, I know that you don't sleep."
Cranberry rolled her eyes and once again the blue boy was shocked by her intuition.
"Since you don't sleep you can pat her until she falls asleep instead. You. Bed. Now!"
"Skree!"
Cranberry commanded and the little griffin agreed with her.
"..."
Zombie hesitated for a moment before taking off his high boots but eventually, he ended up on the mattress beside the baby griffin.
"See? Was it that hard?"
Cranberry smirked at him from the other side of the bed.
"G-graough... (N-no, it wasn't...)"
Zombie murmured bashfully and stared patting the baby griffin.
"Skwee!"
She screeched happily and rested her head back on the pillow.
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