[Audio]

[bondedgryphon]

[Zhaneel has been witnessing the change of season the same as everyone else, and she's was quite excited to see the blooming flowers. She was equally excited, if not more so, to see the freshly fallen snow blanketing the ground outside of her pod when she woke a day ago

Comments

[thepuppyhero]

[Damn it.

Not again.]

No, I haven't.

[That beat of silence was one beat to long, lady bird.]

...you ok?

[bondedgryphon]

[She is sitting on her haunches, clutching the communicator in one forefoot. She's hoping against all hope that she's wrong and maybe he's just been busy of late, but inwardly she is fearing the worst .. her Warrior is gone from Vertiline.

When Zack's voice pipes over the AN, her ear tufts flick forward and her heart skips in a beat of reassurance .. only to crumple the next instant as her ears flatten against her skull.]

.. oh ..

[Honestly, she would cry if she had the physical ability to do so. :( DAMN YOU LACK OF TEAR DUCTS!!!!]

I .. [She trails off, unable to function properly for a moment. Her mind is racing with thoughts that simply are not the rational way she should be viewing this situation. "He had no reason to stay .. I am worthless .. Why would he stay here when he could go home?"]

I am certain he .. that he was needed on his own world more than he was needed here ..

[Avoiding the question altogether? You betcha!]

[thepuppyhero]

[Zack doesn't know where the people who leave end up, but he sincerely hopes it's where she thinks it is.]

If you're worried about him I'm sure he's fine. He's a pretty capable guy. He can take care of himself.

[But your sadness seems more then that and you didn't answer his question.

Yes, he noticed.]

Besides, I asked about you. Are you alright?

[He's guessing NO. Don't lie to him.]

[bondedgryphon]

[Believe me, Zack .. Zhaneel hopes for the same. ;A; As it is, she nods to herself.]

He can, yes .. I have no doubt .. he w- .. is as strong as any I know.

[And there is that question again and she shrinks into herself, ears pinning to her skull. She can't help the soft keen that slips past her beak before she clamps it shut. She shakes her head savagely, voice soft and strained.]

No .. Yes .. I do not know ..

[READ: No. I am not alright at all.]

[oneperfecthit]

[Lucas is here to help.]

Ain't heard nothin' of him for a while now. Hopin' he got home all right, yeah?

[bondedgryphon]

[She needs it, Lucas, lemme tell ya. Girl is a hot mess of irrational thinking at the moment, negl. She feels silly all around .. Why should she think that she and Warrior had some sort of special bond? They were all just here to take care of Vertiline after all, not to play silly games of hope, right?]

I .. I had rather expected such .. [Oh, look! She's trying to sound all strong and stuff. Isn't she cute?! But her mind is running away with her, a soft tremor shivering through her body as her wings fan and retract again in distress.]

Of course he will be back on his home world .. he missed it horribly. It is only rrright, after all ..

[They always left .. getting attached was a silly waste of time. She was better off on her own, right? No one wanted a wasted away useless gryphon ..]

[oneperfecthit]

Aww...aww c'mon hun. Ain't no use in feelin' too sad. Y'don't know. He might come back soon. Y'know he was doin' somethin' real important. Heck, probably was surprised by it himself! He knew he was goin', he woulda told ya.

[bondedgryphon]

[This is, of course, the sensible way for a sensible person to think. Pathetic gryphon is go ..]

I am certain he was not expecting to leave so suddenly ..

[The uncertainty is clearly audible in her voice; and this is even KNOWING that the Warrior considered her special. But he was gone now .. Silently she finds herself wondering if he really would have told her.]

[missmimmi]

I... I have not. Has he gone?

[bondedgryphon]

[Zhaneel deflates just a little bit more .. you guys are killing her! (even if she already knew the answer) :(((((((((((((( ]

I have not seen nor heard from him in several days .. I .. I believe that he is no longer here.

[pimp_hat]

[Yeah he's not buying that 'upbeat' tone at all.]

I be headin' out soon. If joo be wantin' I could check fuh him on da road.

[Not that it would do much. Kevas is certain the guy is long gone by now.]

Be happy to help howevah I can.

[bondedgryphon]

[Whyever not, Kevas? Zhaneel is a strong, non-emotional gryphon, you know!!! :| ]

I would appreciate that, Kevasss .. I .. I do not expect that you will find him ..

[Dejected gryphon is dejected. :(]

[pimp_hat]

[And Kevas is a four foot gnome.]

Lookin' around fuh won't hurt anytin'. If jah be needin' anytin' else just ask.

[He's not great at the whole comforting thing, but he can try to help out however he can.]

[bondedgryphon]

[O I C what you did thar, Kevas. :|

Zhaneel nods once more, whether or not he can see the motion.]

Thank you .. I will be jusssst fine. Perrrhapsss he hasss jusst been busssy, yesss? Thank you, again, Kevasss ..

[The fact that he is making an effort at all is already better than anything she'd have gotten from fellow Wing members back home.]