Gena flew. She was a griffon, so it was a natural thing for her to do. She arced up, then scooped down, riding the currents of air to preserve her momentum with minimal effort. Up here, the sky was endless blue above, endless white below. She felt like if she kept going up, she could accend forever.
Thoughtfully, this white-and-grey avian swooped about here and there, accelerating in a circular motion clockwise, then counter-clockwise, feeling the pull in her gut shift from this way to that. Each turn was accompanied by a dip down, so the snaking path took on a bounce-y feel.
It just... Was. She didn't have to think about it. The actions were autonomous, like moving an arm or claw. She had always known, like walking or talking.
But looking down, Gena wondered if this kind of thing should be so natural. She was up, way up, past the clouds, and not even paying attention to her wings flapping. A sudden, mild jolt flung its way through her heart, and she grabbed the nearest cloud and hung on.
The griffon looked over the edge, suddenly aware, suddenly afraid. It was definitely a deadly height. The green and brown earth below her began to spin, and her breath picked up. She scooted back onto the cloud, feeling safer now that she didn't have to see the world below her.
Deep breaths, thought the griffon. Afraid of heights? No, I can fly, what do I have to be afraid of? She coaxed herself into standing up, but on shaking claws.
I am an athlete. A professional flyer. What am I doing, getting scared by heights? The sky is my domain! I live a big part of my life here!
She peeked over the edge and felt her limbs wobble. I'm not scared, I just have to jump, like when mom first taught me how to fly.
Anxious, Gena gulped, breathed a few deep breaths, and stepped off the cloud. She hasn't gone three feet down when she was frantically flapping back up to her safe cloud, panicking in every visible way. Even her feathers were bowed up.
She cowered on her cloud, scared of the heights but now scared of the failure this sudden fear would bring with it. She couldn't be a stunt flier if she was afraid to fall. Her dreams and aspirations, what do they mean now? How could she let this fear control her so suddenly and so completely? It was so real, this new viewpoint if flying, that it scared her even more that she hadn't realized it before.
The frightened griffon had her claws over her eyes, whimpering slightly and unable to face the world. But then Gena felt a claw tap her shoulder. She perked up, sitting suddenly and looking in the direction of the poker.
Gretchen looked over her worriedly. She was a pretty griffon female, similar to Gena, but with black feathers where Gena had white. Gretchen's face was also childish where Gena's was mature, and they generally acted true to their features. However, Gretchen watched her with a motherly worry, uncharacteristic but still very much appreciated. Her featured popped out from the surrounding white clouds, making her prominent.
"Gena, why are you shivering?" Gretchen asked, putting a claw on the whiter griffon's wing clamingly.
I could lie, thought Gena. But she knows me too well... She'd be able to tell.
"I-I..." The griffon gulped. "Don't laugh."
The darker griffon nodded and Gena continued. "I... I think I'm afraid... Of heights."
There was a pause between the two. Gretchen then smiled goofily. "We'll you're not the only one!" she exclaimed. "I was too."
Gena perked up. "You were?" Her posture was curious, head leaned in a bit, feathers relaxed.
"Yeah. And there's this great cure for it!" Gretchen stated reminicently. Her face was smiling, eyes closed in a friendly manner.
The whiter griffon perked up further, her tail wagging. "Great! Tell me, please! I need to get over this."
Gretchen, mischievous as always, then shoved her friend off the cloud and dropped down after her.
They screamed. Although for very different reasons. The more serious griffon flailed about in fear, her wings locked in place and not working. The more free-spirited griffon hooted and hollered, enjoying herself.
Gretchen fell closer to Gena, putting a claw against her lips. The other griffon fell silent as instructed. They embraced, the darker griffon pulling the lighter one against her, giggling lightly, positioning their bodies so both of them were facing vertically.
The wind rushed by, to the point of near pain, wapping against Gena's head. She was frantic, heart beating wild, clutching her friend for dear life. They were falling, falling down, past clould after cloud.
And yet... And yet she felt safe in her friend's claws. The added comfort made the situation easier to bear, and for a while it was like nothing could scare her. The wind may rush adn the horizon may sink, but Gretchen could keep her safe.
"Open your wings," the darker griffon said above the wind. Gena did, and glided away, evening herself out to become level with the ground that no longer scared her.
The two griffons smiled, the lighter one thanking the darker. They spoke of how the freefall felt, not quite being able to put the entire sensation to words, only being able to agree of a great release of pressure. Gena, no longer aftaid, walked her way back towards the Conpetition Grounds.
Gena smiled. "Today, Gretchen... We're gonna qualify." They looked over the field at the numerous Pegasus ponies flying over and around them. The whiter griffon was estatic. On top of the world. "I can just feel it."
They hugged again, reassured of their friendship, and both surethat what Gena said was true.