The sense of dread I felt at lunch was impossible to place. Like a gust of wind that carried the scent of rain that hadn't fallen yet. Russel was looking at something behind me. Celica was glaring in that direction. I didn't want to turn around.

"Representative Anubis," Celica greeted with a smile that was far from friendly.

That's what the sense of dread was. Of course. And right on cue my wrist started to itch.

I turned around slowly.

Anubis was sneering at me like I was something unpleasant she stepped in.

I didn't know what she wanted, but I already wanted to run and hide before she said it.

"Is there something I can help you with Representative Anubis?" I greeted with my best attempt at a polite smile.

"Stewart," she addressed me and ignored the rest of my Tower.

I held in a sigh.

"There's an emergency meeting being called fifteen minutes after fifth hour today. The council room. Don't be late," she said with enough venom to turn a viper green with envy.

"Thank you for telling me. I have no intention of keep anyone waiting," I tried not to let my own frustration show on my face. I probably failed.

Anubis huffed and stormed off.

Bitch.

"Any idea what this meeting is about?" Jarec asked after a few moments. Probably to make sure she was out of hearing range.

I turned back around to face everyone. "I just found out about it. But if I had to guess probably related to the logistical issues they're having. I'll let you all know after the meeting."

(*********)

But first was Monsters class.

I had never seen a griffin up close before. Not exactly native to Massachusetts. I'd seen pictures and paintings, usually on the covers of fantasy novels.

I wasn't sure what color I was expecting it to be. Maybe dusty brown or white like pristine snow.

It was a dull pigeon grey. With similar red eyes. Unlike a pigeon it had the body, back legs and tail of a very large cat. The paws looked huge, it had to be bigger than the lions at the zoos I'd been to. But considering this thing also looked considerably taller that made sense. Its front legs were large talons that looked bigger than my head.

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"Does anyone here want to say hello to our friend?" The professor asked.

I was standing way the hells back.

Fethris, because other Dragons had no fear apparently, had raised his hand. I shouldn't have been surprised. Of course he wanted a closer look at the dangerous animal.

"You are aware it isn't anything like a cat or a bird," I commented as he approached with a grin on his face that I couldn't decide was sigh-worthy or worry-worthy.

It tilted its head at him as he approached. The reins, or maybe the straps on its face and neck were better described as restraints, were held tight by the professor.

A faint glow came from them. I couldn't tell from this distance whether it was pinkish white for a very pale pink.

"I thought he only did that because it irritated Horus," Jade commented.

Where did they come from?

I breathed in slowly to gather my thoughts. "If you mean act on whatever opportunity the universe hands him to do whatever he wants, I think that's just how he is. If it irritated Horus that might have only been a bonus."

Also, thinking about it, he was probably safer near large dangerous animals than a lot of other people in this class. Unless someone else here had experience communicating magically with animals.

"Dragons tend to be like that," Angelina commented.

I was sitting right here. Also where did she come from?

"No comment," I told them both.

I got silence from Jade and a giggle from Angelina.

Fethris, because unlike me he seemed more than willing to get his hand snapped off by a massive peak that evolved to eat deer, patted the griffin on the side of its head slowly.

"It seems docile for something so far from home," Jade commented when it didn't eat our classmate.

"Maybe it's happier here and doesn't want to screw it up," I mumbled. I was probably projecting a bit, but they didn't need to know that.

"Do they prefer savannah or jungle habitats, I can never remember," Angelina pondered.

"Mountains," Jade corrected despite also being wrong.

"They eat deer and elk. They prefer grasslands interspersed with large patches of forest," I explained.

"I thought you didn't care about any of this?" Jade asked.

"Just because I don't want to go over there and pet it, doesn't mean I don't do a base amount of research. I just have a very healthy respect for wildlife that has a beak capable of crushing a deer's skull." I shifted my leg a little as I spoke. Angelina's eyes followed the movement.

It wasn't nearly the same as a spider bite, but I think she got the idea at least.

"You really think it doesn't miss where it came from?" Jade asked me.

I shrugged, "I don't speak to animals like Fethris does. No idea what it's thinking."

I watched him continue to rub the side of the griffin's neck like it was just an oversized housecat.

It cooed at Fethris.

"Where we come from is a central part of us, it's not something a simple shift in location can change," Jade continued.

I was starting to doubt we were talking about the griffin anymore. "Nor should it. Nothing wrong with remembering your roots. But that's all they are. Roots. No matter how deep they go they're only one part of a plant."

Angelina was looking at both of us confused while Jade was smirking.

"And Fethris worried you might not notice things," they sounded amused. I wasn't sure how I felt.

"I have a lifetime of knowing and understanding my limits. You think humans don't 'play games' as he called it?" I responded. "You'd be shocked at how similar some things are."

Jade laughed. "Just try and keep yourself out of too much trouble. I don't think Kelpie Tower would remain standing if Nightcall had to return."

"I don't look for trouble anymore than I want to go over there and pet the wild and dangerous animal," I explained.

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