Awoken
By Grammar404
The crisp downpour deafened the whole dump of a city. Griffons were stuck inside their houses, they cannot either fly or walk outside as the winds and thunders brought by this unpleasant weather was hazardous. In a particular house inhabited by three Griffons, and one peculiar guest. a candle stood on a candleholder, its flames being the only thing that lit the place. The candle was placed beside the odd creature's bed. A tiny cub lay beside the mattress, looking at the creature she helped from its demise into the chasm they call Abysmal Abyss. Her glowing yellow eyes stared curiously as it gazed upon the creatures every feature. She liked the creature's blonde mane, it has a pleasant pale shade. But what Little Squick admired the most, and hope to see once more, was its eyes. Those sapphire eyes that filled her with purpose. Was that what the Griffons of old used to feel when they lay their eyes upon the Idol of Boreas? Little Squick wouldn't know, all she know now is that that little warmth the wee candle gives was soothing against the cold weather. Her eyes felt heavy as she gave a hearty yawn, stretching her forelegs up in the air, before hugging herself – snoring by the side of the bed.
The creature's finger twitched.
"How'd it go?" Asked Grumpa Gruff.
The old Griffon was poking the fireplace, where a brilliant flame lighted the whole living room. He sat on one of his many couch, this one with less hay sticking out of it.
"Bad, I barely got any thing thanks for this Goddess forsaken storm!" Said Gilda, drying her head, vigorously, with a dry clothe. "The others had found the remnants of the ship and started scraping it for metals to sell. I, of course, got a few." She chuckled to herself.
"But, how about the creature, have you found anything that may lead to any information about it?" He stopped prodding the stick and looked back at his granddaughter. "Do you know when, Little Squick returned home crying from school? She went straight to that creature's bedroom! She then started sobbing by her side, just like you used to when... when..." Grumpa gruff looked solemn for a while, before closing his eyes and sighing.
"When did this happen?" Gilda asked with a frown. She threw the clothe she used to dry off to... somewhere behind the door she was standing at. She then walked towards the fireplace and sat on a comfy chair, adjacent to her Grumpa.
"Yesterday, when you were out scavenging the remnants and looking for clues."
The fire crackled. Gilda slumped into her chair, and let out a tired sigh. It's been a week since that night her sister went home with an odd news. She just sat there for a moment, taking heavy breaths, before leaning forward and grabbing something under her wing.
"Well," she started, "I did found something." In her talons she held a small rectangular device, it was flat but was incased in what seems to be a shock proof cover.
Grumpa Gruff's eyes grew wide at seeing the device. "Where'd you find these?"
Gilda stared at her reflection, her face lighted by the orange fire, from the device's screen. "At the beginning of it all." She passes it to the older Griffon. Who stared at it with awe and wonder. "I never got to make it work, more or less activate, so I assumed it was a dud."
"Amazing..." Grumpa Gruff muttered, while slowly and gently caressing the devices edges.
"What do you suppose we do about it?" Gilda asked with a bored look.
Grumpa Gruff turned to look at her with a 'are you serious' look. "Well, we give it to the creature of course, she's the only one who can tell us what it is and how it works."
"But when?"
The old Griffon sighed, and placed the device onto a small table beside him. "When she wakes up..."
The fire crackled once more, lightened dust went up the chimney then faded into ash.
Little Squick woke up to somebirdy petting her crest. It was relaxing, and surprisingly satisfying. The situation made the cub purr affectionately, sinking deeper into the bedsheets to where she felt asleep. Little Squick felt strange about the one petting her, she means – who would pet her? Gilda? Grumpa Gruff? No they won't. Grumpa Gruff was more into high fives, and Gilda's just... Gilda.
Then, Little Squick realised. She was dreaming! Yes, that's right. She must be reliving the days where her mother often pet her while they sat at the porch of their old house, in Audeious, in the old Griffon countries.
The cub took a deep breath then letted it out with a smile on her face. She her a giggle. Her grin grew wider, "mum..." She whispered.
The petting stopped. She felt the hand retracted away from her. "Mum?" She asked. Little Squick groggily opened her eyes to look at her mother. Except it wasn't her mother. It was the creature, Awake . Sitting right in front of her.
Little Squick found herself frozen in place, her voice trapped in the deepest corner of her throat. All she could do was stare unblinkingly at the creatures bright blue eyes, with it's hearty grin.
The creature must be expecting something, it tilted its head curiously. Little Squick shaking all the same. A trickle of sweat formed on the side of her head. She felt like peeing.
"Are you afraid of me?" The creature said.
The cub's eyes darted left and right. She then gave a sheepish smile. The creature merely smiled weakly, looking down at its hands. Then she chuckled.
"It's alright, I know I would've been scared too when I see something like you, but only bigger." The creature gave another one of its hearty smiles.
"Hehe..." Was the only thing Little Squick could say, she glanced at the door behind her, wondering what would happen when Gilda walks in. Little Squick closed her eyes then placed a talon over her chest, she sat up straight as she took a deep breath.
"M-my n-name i-is L-Li-Little Squick." yay me
The creature nodded. "Nice to meet you, Little Squick."
Little Squick wiped her sweat off with a talon. "How a-about y-you? W-what's yours?"
The creatures eyes widened, seemingly contemplating unto something. After a few moments of awkward silence the creature spoke. "Frankly, Little Squick, I don't remember..."
..
...
....
"I like your mane." Little Squick smiled. Which the creature returned.
Gilda walked through her Grumpa's house. She held a candle on her talon, the alien device was hidden under her wings. The soft almost inaudible echoes of the sound of her steps mixed with the creaking of the old house. Grumpa Gruff had retired to his bed, and she was about too! But then she checked on her little sister's room, she wasn't there. Gilda would've been furious if she have gone out to stargaze again, but then again, this storm wouldn't allow at. So Gilda was now on the way to the only place she could possibly go, the creature's bedroom.
She turned left and saw the light coming from under the door. She moved in close before stopping. There were voices coming from within.
"...so I punched her and pinned her. She then swiped a talon at me, see the small cut right here? Then I got angry so I swiped back, it turned into a mess then the teacher came."
"A mess? Then how come you're in good shape?"
"Well... She was the mess." Her sister giggled. "The teacher scolded us, my friends backed me up so I didn't get into to much trouble."
"Well, that was awfully noble of you, but be sure to control you temper next time to avoid too much violence."
"Little Squick?" Gilda stood by the now opened door. Little Squick gave a shriek.
"Gilda! It's not what it looks like, she's not evil!" Her sister and the creature merely glared at each other.
"Take pity on her, sis! She doesn't remember anything!" Little squick was now on her sister's foreleg, shaking it to get her attention. It wasn't moving Gilda though, but the Griffoness heard her sister.
"I believe this is yours?" Said Gilda, tossing the alien device with her wing. Which bounced at the bed before landing in front of the creature.
Mara cautiously took it, flipping and surveying the familiar looking thing. Her eyes caught a couple of words written on the lower left corner.
Property of Mara Sov
With the thought of the last two words. Words of the past echoed through her head for a second. She recognised her name.
"Ms.Gilda, right?" She asked.
Gilda nodded. "May I have some time alone please."
Gilda stared at her for a minute before ushering Little Squick out of the room with herself. Once they were out, Mara waited forma few minutes before activating the device.
"My name is Mara Sov," it says, "and I remember everything since the day I was born..."