rone | `ele and the gryph (part 8)

The druid chuckled twice. "Well, you didn't strike me as the sort of fellow who thinks he can own another life form. Where is this gryphon?"

I pointed with my head. "Just outside the entrance." We walked outside. The gryphon was lying down, but it sat up as soon as i came out.

"Well, well. An Eastern Range gryphon," N'Jeet mused to himself. "What is he doing out here, i wonder?" He turned to me. "Where did you find this gryphon?"

"I found it, well, it found me once i woke up after the explosion," i replied. "I'm fairly sure it's one of Teraad's gryphons."

"Hnh." He knelt and looked at its hurt leg. "That is a nasty wound." He looked at it closely. "Darkwood."

"Huh?"

"There are darkwood splinters in his leg. How was he hurt?"

"A big piece of timber went through it. I'm guessing it was one of the supports from the keep." I coughed. "Er, how'd you know it's male?"

He gave me a look halfway between amused and surprised. "It was a simple matter of inspecting his nether regions."

I felt like an idiot. "Oh."

He returned to his examination. "Strange. Darkwood is rare enough for weapons; to find enough to use as joists or beams..." He grunted. "A wasteful and extravagant thing. Darkwood's special because of its lightness, but while it's tough, there's tougher woods for construction."

"I see." I looked at him curiously. "You seem to know a lot about engineering for a woodsy type."

"At my age, young man, if you don't know a bit about everything, you should damn well know everything about something. And if you think you know everything about something, you're deluding yourself." He muttered as he made some sweeping motions with his hands, smacked his fist into his palm, and applied his hands to the gryphon's wound. In a few seconds, it looked almost as good as new, missing only a patch of fur. N'Jeet straightened up and walked around to face the gryphon. He bowed and spoke.

"I am Nallim ez Jeet, Master Druid of this compound, and i welcome you, young gryphon. I would be honored to hear your tale of how you came to be here."