Somewhere In The Between

by Closer-To-The-Sun

Chapter 4: Be Comfortable, Creature

“Thank you for visiting, Gallus. It was quite a treat to have you both stop by for dinner,” Ocean Flow said with a smile.

Gallus, Silverstream, and her parents were all swimming back towards the shore. The rest of the meal had been filled with small talk, and both Ocean Flow and Sky Beak insisted on swimming with them back to the shore for the last train home. As they neared the shore and the water’s surface, it was apparent that the sun was beginning to set.

“It was an honor to visit, ma’am,” Gallus replied. He was still not completely getting the hang of swimming with his new body.

“We do hope you come by again, it was really nice to finally meet you,” Sky Beak spoke. “You’re always welcome at our places, both in Seaquestria and on Mount Aris.”

Silverstream cheered as she gave a hug to the transformed griffon, “That’s so great! I can’t wait to have you visit again!”

“How about I get used to swimming before we start planning my next undersea adventure?” Gallus cracked a joke, which caused all three of the hippogriffs to laugh. “Now, I’m sure I’m going to regret asking this, but how do I change back?”

After being given the instructions, Gallus turned back into a normal griffon. Unfortunately for him, he was still underwater and he quickly flailed around until he reached the water’s surface, gasping for air. Doing her best to not chuckle at her friend’s struggle, Silverstream aided him by guiding him to the shore, where they both stood on the sand. It took Gallus a few moments of coughing and gagging at the water that was once in his lungs before his breathing returned to normal.

“Now be sure to study hard, both of you,” Ocean Flow instructed as only a mother would.

“And don’t forget to eat healthy when you’re at school, Silverstream,” Sky Beak added.

“We will!” Silverstream replied

“I’ll make sure she doesn’t eat only ice cream, again,” Gallus insisted as he also nodded at instructions given by both parents, “Thank you both for having me. I had a wonderful time.”

Sky Beak couldn’t help but give a chuckle, “You really don’t have to be so formal, Gallus. We already like you!” Sky Beak then turned towards his daughter, “You better keep your eye on this one Silverstream, he’s a keeper.”

Gallus’ face grew a bright pink at the comment.

Ocean Flow smiled and nodded in agreement, “Now you two shouldn’t dilly-dally, you both have a train to catch!”

“Right,” Silverstream nodded, “bye, mom! Bye daddy!” The pink hippogriff waved her talon at her parents as the both dived below the water’s surface, leaving Silverstream and Gallus on the shore.

Once the surface of the water settled from the submerging hippogriffs, Gallus let out a sigh of relief that seemed to be held in since the day began. “Well,” he mumbled with a slightly relaxed tone, “I guess that could have gone a whole lot worse….”

“That was really fun, wasn’t it Gallus?” Silverstream happily asked, “I’m actually surprised my dad didn’t talk about flying stuff with you! If he knew about you being interested in the royal guard, he wouldn’t stop talking about all the athletics you’d need to be able to do! Maybe he’s saving it for next time?”

Gallus turned to look at Silverstream and smiled at her. He then turned his head upward at the cloudless sky above that was beginning to turn darker as the sun sunk beyond the horizon. The stars were starting to peek through and begin their evening shining.

Silverstream saw that Gallus was looking upwards, so the hippogriff looked up as well. “What’cha see up there? Are the stars out yet?”

“Hey Silverstream, I want to say thank you for today. It was nice meeting your parents and visiting your home, even with all the transformations and water, and….” Gallus started to trail off before he lowered his head and looked at the hippogriff, “out of all the dumb and goofy creatures there are in this world, I can happily say that you are my favorite.” His face still had turned a slight pink tint.

With an excited gasp, Silverstream looked back at him, “That’s the nicest thing you ever said to me! Do you really mean that?”

“Yes! What else do you want me to say? That I love you and that I’m head over talons for you?” Gallus retorted in a flustered manner and his face burning.

“I knew it!” Silverstream cheered.

Gallus looked down at the sand that was below his talons, trying his best to shake off the red on his cheeks.

Silverstream, however, returned her gaze upwards at the evening sky. She then said something softly, “You know, I might be an airhead, but I’m not stupid.”

The griffon looked up at his friend in puzzlement.

A smile was still on Silverstream’s face as she continued, her eyes still fixed upward, “I think I get you, Gallus. You were raised in a harsh place. Somehow you survived, and toughened yourself up to keep yourself safe. But I don’t think you’re that griffon anymore. You’re much more than what you show others. Beneath that rough exterior, you’re a kind and gentle soul who cares deeply for others.” Silverstream then lowered her sight down to Gallus with a smile on her face, “And that’s the Gallus I love. And that’s the Gallus I want to keep in my life along with every creature I love. And that’s why I wanted you to meet my family tonight and hope that you’d see what it’s like to be part of a loving family. A family that I hope you will join one day.”

Gallus smiled back, his face with a pink flush again. He then looked elsewhere for a bit, trying to hide his embarrassment, but to no avail. “Thanks for being my rock.”

“Your rock?” Silverstream asked.

“Yeah,” Gallus answered, still looking anywhere else, “for being the most constant thing in my life right now. But I have to admit, it kinda scares me.”

“Scared? Why?” she turned to look at the griffon, who’s gaze was anywhere else.

“Because, I’ve never had anyone like you in my life before,” the griffon answered, “So warm, friendly, happy, loving, and so much more. I guess I’m kinda scared that I might lose you somehow.”

Silverstream smiled, “Why would you lose me? I’m not going anywhere!”

“I don’t know, I’m just worried because I already know how lonely it would be without you. Your random thoughts, your laugh, your smile, and your love,” Gallus’ face was becoming more flushed as he spoke. “I’m lucky to have you in my life, Silverstream, and even more lucky to have you as a girlfriend….”

“You don’t have to be scared, Gallus,” the hippogriff insisted, placing a talon on Gallus’ shoulder blade, causing the griffon to make eye contact with her, “When I first came to the school, I was scared too, and being on land still scares me a little. But I’m less scared with all of you.”

Gallus smiled back to Silverstream, his face still with a tint of pink. “I guess we all have something that makes us a little worried, huh?”

Wrapping her limbs around the griffon, Silverstream gave Gallus a hug, “Well, you don’t ever have to worry about feeling alone. It doesn’t matter who you are, no creature is ever born to be alone. And you will never be, Gallus, not if I have anything to say about it.”

Feeling the warmth from Silverstream, Gallus returned the hug for a moment. Without saying a word, both creatures broke their embrace and turned their sights upward at the stars that were starting to emerge in the sky.

“The stars look different here than they do at school, don’t they?” Gallus commented to himself.

“Maybe we’ll get lucky and see a shooting star?” Silverstream hoped.

“Maybe, maybe….by the way, Silverstream, I finally understand why you often stare so homesickly at the different aquariums back at school. And I can totally see why; your home is beautiful.” Gallus spoke bashfully, but with a sincere smile to the hippogriff, “I hope you can show me around next time.”

Silverstream gasped excitedly at the thought, “We’d love to have you back! I can show you all of the different sights and places of where I grew up!”

“I’d really like that.”

“And maybe I can visit Griffonstone and meet your family!”

Gallus paused for a moment, “I think I might have to explain to you why that might be a bit tricky.”

END

Comments

[Pete100]

After being given the instructions, Gallus turned back into a normal griffon. Unfortunately for him, he was still underwater and he quickly flailed around until he reached the water’s surface, gasping for air. Doing her best to not chuckle at her friend’s struggle, Silverstream aided him by guiding him to the shore, where they both stood on the sand. It took Gallus a few moments of coughing and gagging at the water that was once in his lungs before his breathing returned to normal.

Wouldn’t it have made more sense to ask that after your above water?

“Hey Silverstream, I want to say thank you for today. It was nice meeting your parents and visiting your home, even with all the transformations and water, and….” Gallus started to trail off before he lowered his head and looked at the hippogriff

What was he about to say?

Gallus paused for a moment, “I think I might have to explain to you why that might be a bit tricky.”

Does he even have a family?

[Yoshifan30]

Aww That was a nice story having gallus meeting with silverstream family And a very open to him he must be really glad that he found someone special in his life This was a really good story

[lillytheomegawolf]

Nice. Cute and sweet ending that showed they can go a long way together.
I had hoped longer story but it was nice while it lasted.

[Late_Night]

mha heart...
mha soul...

[Godslittleprincess]

This. Just all of this. It's just so sweet and beautiful. I kinda wish that you showed bits and pieces of this romantic sweetness more in the earlier chapters instead of saving it all for the end. Granted, Gallus might not feel comfortable being this affectionate with Silverstream in front of other people at this point of their relationship. I hope he gets past that in time.

[Christinewho]

Sky Beak couldn’t help but give a chuckle, “You really don’t have so formal, Gallus. We already like you!” Sky Beak then turned towards his daughter, “You better keep your eye on this one Silverstream, he’s a keeper.”

Shouldn't it be "You really don't have to be so formal, Gallus?"
Also, maybe next time you write something ask someone to proof read it before hand since there is a lot of word missing. Also, I'm only trying to help you improve I'm sorry if I sound harsh. This was one of the difficulty for me.

[Closer-To-The-Sun]

10441241
Ah, thanks for pointing that! Fixed it!

[Christinewho]

10441263
You're welcome I might reread it since I saw it happened in the previous chapters too and honestly, it makes me go kind of crazy when words are missing and it also takes off the feel of the story for me.

[Jack of a Few Trades]

That was cute! I always love those warm, fuzzy heart to hearts. A nice and cute story about two nice and cute birbs :)

[Truthseeker]

That was nice. Simple and pleasant, and after the day I've had, I needed this. Thank you.

[Cosmas-the-Explorer]

I think his parents actually like his bluntness to some extent. He seems to be a bit cynical and a realist but that's what makes him somecreature who can be there to help Silverstream from getting into trouble.

Ocean Flow and Sky Beak were awesome.

Part of me wishes yoy could have integrated Terramar into this but I guess it was more about the parents so eh.

Really funny yet sweet fanfic. It reminds me of those sweet love fanfics I used to read as a kid. This brings that old nostalgic feeling.

[Comma Typer]

It's beautiful to see some innocent Gallstream shipping! It's great to see you put in a bit of worldbuilding for Gallus and Silverstream as well (some noodle incidents here and there); it makes the tale feel much more alive, and that we're seeing only the tip of the iceberg. Given your depiction of a cocky yet internally troubled (sometimes, at least) Gallus, the last chapter seals the deal for me on their relationship here: an eternal source of optimism and hope for Gallus, and a sense of reality and worldliness for Silverstream.

Thank you for this nice fic, Closer-To-The-Sun!