“You should be glad all of us were there to grab you when you passed out,” Ramsay said with a big pout. “You could’ve hit your head, idiot!”
I smiled sympathetically. “Sorry.”
“Wait, Matheson. What do you mean, you feel pretty good?” Eric asked.
Before I could answer him, the sound of beating wings above made us all snap our gazes towards the sky. Soaring in the pink and orange of the afternoon sky was a gryphon.
My stomach sank and I felt a moment of brief panic before I realized it was alone. The gryphon pride wasn’t attacking--yet.
My initial anxiety turned to relief when the gryphon landed and I realized who it was.
“Noro!” I called.
The gryphon approached us with a serious expression.
“Matheson,” Noro said. “Has it happened?”
I didn’t know how or why, but I clearly understood what he meant. I met his gaze and nodded slowly.
Noro’s eyes flashed.
“Wow, did you hear me calling all the way from your pride’s territory?” Ramsay asked him.
Noro gave him a brief glance. “No. I heard it when I had already arrived, but the reason I came is because I knew Matheson had awakened his powers. As a Keeper, I have some insight to magic in the area, so I knew right away when it occurred. I came as quickly as I could.”
Ramsay gasped. “What?”
“Is that true?” Eric asked, staring at me.
I touched my torso, feeling remnants of power welling up like the beginning flickers of a fire.
“I think so,” I said. “I feel different. Stronger. Ever since we found out the truth about the verse.”
Noro’s feathers puffed up in genuine surprise. “You’ve discovered the meaning?”
“Yes.” I smiled as I gazed over Ramsay, Eric and Colton. “Like bidding farewell to spring.It’s alluding to the farewell-to-spring, a flower with four petals. It meansallof us are supposed to be together, not just two of us.”
The meaning dawned on Noro and he nodded slowly. “Ah. I see now.” The corners of his beak twitched in a surprisingly expressive smile. “There’s the chosen one, figuring out the true meaning of the prophecy when I could only guess.”
“So what does it mean?” Ramsay asked. “Does Mathe have some kinda super powers now? Can you fly or shoot fire or something?”
“No,” I said. “I don’t know how to describe it, but the power doesn’t feel fully fledged. I know it’s there, I canfeelit, but something’s still missing.”
Eric faced Noro with a serious expression. “We should talk. Do the rest of the gryphons know about Matheson’s existence yet?”
“Not to my knowledge,” Noro replied. “There’s been no mobilization among the pride. If they knew an omega existed here, it would be their number one priority.”
“And you haven’t told anyone?” Eric asked, narrowing his eyes.
Noro seemed genuinely offended. His feathery ears flared and his chest puffed up. “No. Gryphons do not lie.”
“How convenient,” Eric mumbled, but he didn’t press Noro any further.
The gryphon sat, neatly curling his lion’s tail around his front claws. “I feel the magic inside you, Matheson. I felt it the moment you had your awakening. I came because I wanted to confirm it for myself.”
“Can you help me make it stronger?” I asked.
To my disappointment, Noro shook his head. “No. Like you said, there’s still something missing. But you’ve done well so far. I’m proud of you, Matheson.”
