Griffin's End

-Boy! You're late ... Again - Mr. Stone mumbled annoyed at the arrival of the young fisherman - how many more times are you going to waste my time with your incompetence?

Oliver tried not to show his displeasure as he unloaded the order of fish from his most hated customer, why couldn't he be cheerful and calm like the rest of the town? At least they understood that the recent rains affected all fishing processes, after all it was not anyone's fault that nature was changing cycles.

-Sorry sir, you see, the rains have gotten worse and ...

-Bore someone else with your excuses, now take your money and go away.

-But ... This is less than what we agreed to, sir.

-And being late was not part of the agreement either - and then he said as soon as the boy started to protest - I said get out!

A soft rain joined him back home, as if trying to wash away his bad mood. After all, nature always gave him peace, he turned his head to the clouds hoping that the drops falling from his messy and coppery hair would distract him from the events of the afternoon, in that moment he seemed to see something moving between them, but sure It was a bird seeking refuge, although it was rare to see them at that time. He continued to admire the view for a moment, he could see the beach in the distance with the sun kissing the sea in its cautious afternoon flirt and just to one of the sides the huge white ravines that adorned the landscape, like sea foam coming out of the water and coming to life in static rocky clouds, the truth is that their structure allowed them to be easily climbed, even walking and jumping several sections through the slopes to be able to go higher, but nobody approached them, the stories of various accidents kept them away from the locals, mainly mothers looking for none of their little ones to come near there.

- How did it go darling? What a good day, right? - Was the greeting of his mother as soon as he crossed the door of the house, the unmistakable smell of fish flooded him as he cleaned himself, but other than that, the humble fishing house was very clean. - I managed to clean a lot of salmon today, and Helen stopped by to have lunch with me, ohh how we talked! I already missed her company, and she told me that her children decided to go to the big city a few months ago, how the poor woman's life has changed, but she looks just as radiant as always, although I saw a couple of wrinkles, but hey it will happen to all of us, right? Oh! As always me talking and talking and I have not even heard how it was for you, did you have any problem with the deliveries? Is Mr. Rubens still as charismatic as ever? Don't tell me that he shaved because if so, I won't visit him, his beard looks so great on him!

- Mom, please! It went well, and don't worry, Mr. Rubens still has a beard, you should stop asking me about him and ask him out already. -Her mother blushed at that suggestion - Here is the money for deliveries, I'll go change.

Oliver smiled at his mother and went up to his room on the second floor. He was too tired to continue talking with the powerhouse energy that was that woman, but at least, her enthusiasm infected him a bit. He changed his wet clothes for something more comfortable, because that night there would be a small bonfire in which the locals would gather to tell stories to the merchants, Olivier never missed those meetings, it was the only opportunity he had to listen to those fantastic stories and who knows, maybe something new.

He went down to have dinner with his mother before leaving. Even though he was old enough to live on his own, he did not want to leave her alone, he was afraid that this strong woman would fade under the effects of loneliness and she seemed to enjoy every moment that he was with her.

- Well tell me what you bought! - The mother started as soon as they sat down at the table.

- What are you talking about, mother? - Oliver asked confused with a piece of carrot in his mouth.

-Well, I'm getting old but I can still count well boy, and there is not all the money from the deliveries, so surely you bought something nice, let's see what it is, you know I always like the little ornaments that you buy, but you don't have any new ones on your neck or your wrists, so it must be something else, oh don't tell me! It is a gift for me? Oh if it was a surprise, I think I just blew it. I just hope it is not food because I swear by the sea that if you bought something delicious and you did not bring me some, I will make you pay!

-Oh ... that - She knew immediately that she was wrong when she saw how her son's blue eyes darkened - Mr. Stone ... you know how he is, he always looks for an excuse to get upset with me, I explained that the rains have delayed us, but he said it was not his problem, he did not pay in full ... but don't worry mother, then I'll give you what is missing from my money

-Oh ... -Her mother's smile disappeared for a moment, but immediately it adorned her round face again - Don't worry honey, surely Mr. Stone had important things to do and we just delayed him, don't bother with the money, you better go and have fun at the bonfire, and don't forget to tell me if they say something interesting.

That was his mother, always ignoring the conflict at all costs, blaming herself for the mistakes of others, Oliver thought that this was her blessing and her curse, because he had not known a purer person than her, but it was not the time to think about that, the bonfire awaited him.

He came close to the beach where the event was taking place, he greeted all the acquaintances with effusive hugs and laughing while the details of their days were told, the children ran excitedly to choose the best positions near the fire while the tired mothers followed their steps, the most veteran smiled at the spark of curiosity of the young people and took the opportunity to attract everyone who was passing by to join, it was, after all, the time to tell the traditions of the town and this little ritual was an important part to keep them alive. Once they all arrived and each one had something to drink in their hands, they stood around the fire, expectant.

-Welcome! - Said Jorah, from the veterans group - Once again the natural cycles are changing and in addition to algae, they have also brought us merchants, making their annual migration through our lands - they all laughed as the old man pointed to the visitors, they raised their glass in greeting - That is why it is our duty to enrich them with our stories as they pass through here while they make us happy with theirs, we are eager to know what happens beyond the mountains, far from our precious sea.

-I'll start - Andrew got up as everyone cheered him because it was tradition to start with a local story, Jorah nodded gracefully and took his place in the fire, - You have reached the beautiful beaches and dangerous cliffs of Griffin's End, but does anyone know why it is called that?

This was one of the stories that Oliver liked the most, the stories of the town were his most valuable treasure, the ones that gave them identity, some served to survive, such as the stories of fishing cycles, the dangers of the reef and hurricanes, others spoke of their ancestors, of how they settled in these inhospitable lands attracted by curiosity and determination, seeking a better future for their own, but there were also stories, like the one that the eccentric Andrew was about to tell that fed the imagination, which spoke of fantastic beings, those wonders of nature that only a few had the luck to see, and even fewer the courage to touch, also those stories told of extraordinary abilities that some humans could develop, they called them Magic, a power beyond understanding that disobeyed logic and imitated the powers of nature. Oliver hoped the merchants would bring one of those stories too, as the local ones fell short, fueled only by occasional rumors and dreams. If he only knew how to read, he would travel to the capital himself to learn more about magic and animals, just a little more.

-It is said that long before humans approached these shores - Andrew began to speak, exaggerating the movements of his arms to add drama to his voice - this place was inhabited by Griffins, powerful beasts half lion half eagle, who nested in the steep ravines that surround the waters. Some say that these animals breathe fire from their mouths - children listened attentively to each word as if it were a treasure, the older ones laughed softly - others, that their claws can skin any human stupid enough to get too close. - He made a threatening gesture towards the children who screamed on the spot, the laughter increased - but the most important thing is that they owned the sky, using their wings to create hurricanes in seconds!

- And what happened to them? - Asked a little girl, with her hands on her face full of concern

- Oh! I'm glad you asked Mariette, the legends say that they were cursed by the gods for abusing the power of the wind, making it increasingly difficult for them to lay eggs, so in the end they decided to leave this place in search of a more suitable place to reproduce.

-But ... are those animals real? Or are you just playing with us - Asked then another of the children

Nobody who is alive has seen one, but in the old stones left by our ancestors there are drawings of them, maybe you are luckier Loras, do you want to accompany me to the ravine?

The boy took refuge in the arms of his mother while everyone laughed and then clapped and cheered as Andrew bowed before sitting down.

-I guess it's my turn - Said one of the merchants with a little accent, all of them were silent. He took a step forward so that the fire could better show his face, he was a tall and strong man, with ebony skin and a deep voice, he was the one they called Jerome - We have heard rumors that a storm is approaching, I do not speak of strong winds but of something evil, the rumors speak of people who go crazy and attack their peers, uncontrolled animals and strange behaviors, the King denies all this and says that they are stories to scare travelers, but I would not be so sure.

-Could it be a mage's fault? - Now it was Andrew who asked the questions and not the one who gave answers.

Wait, mages do exist? -Oliver let his voice rise, the merchant fixed his eyes on him

- Of course they exist! They are rare, it is true, but I have seen one in action, I saw how his hands lit up as he germinated a plant in a matter of seconds. But no, it doesn't sound like their doing.

-So what do you think it is, merchant Jerome? - now it was Jorah who ventured to ask

Maybe it's nothing, maybe ... but if you ask me, I would say that there is someone playing with powers that he cannot control, I just hope it does not spread - and he added when he saw the scared faces of the children and the general sadness - But I would not worry about you, it is too far for me to affect you.

Jerome sat elegantly in his seat leaving only the noise of the fire, after a brief moment another boy got up, probably pushed by Jorah, to continue the stories, as he began to tell a happy one, of one of the carnivals they celebrated, where they made sea monster masks and danced.

But Oliver was no longer listening, It was confirmed that mages existed, Jerome had seen one with his own eyes, it was no longer a rumor of a rumor adorned with generations and generations of stories, it was a reality, distant but existing, surely if he went to the capital, he could investigate more.

The festivity continued and the laughter returned, little by little the children and their mothers withdrew, then the veterans looked for shelters in their houses and the drinks became stronger and stronger, Oliver took the opportunity to leave as well, before being wrapped in some revolt of the less and less sane participants, his mother was already asleep when he returned, although he sensed that she stayed awake as long as she could waiting for him to talk, he felt that he would not be able to sleep with the emotion of what he heard, but he barely touched the bed and fell fast asleep.

The next day he got up early and during breakfast he updated his mother on what happened, sometimes he would like her to accompany him instead of using him as an intermediary for stories, but the opportunity to tell things and see first-hand all the exaggerated of her expressions were worth it, they said goodbye and he began to tour the town delivering fish. The following week passed calmly and smoothly. "Sure because I didn't have to see Mr. Stone" Oliver thought at the end of it. He was in such a good mood that he refused to let the day end so soon, the colors of twilight were starting to flood the sky, but he did not want to return home, he had been thinking all week about everything except his routine than the idea of ​​ending the day In the same way that yesterday seemed silly to him, he shouted to his mother that he would take a little longer to return home when he passed near his house to which she leaned out of the window saying a lot of inaudible things, because he was already far away.

He reached the beach and let his tired feet cool off in the water, then he started walking around the cliffs, they were only dangerous for those who didn't know them, but he liked to escape there as a child, when he wanted a little more solitude. He climbed a little and then admired the view, imagining what things were beyond, losing his gaze in the sky, but saw that strange silhouette moving through the clouds again, "another bird" he told himself, this time less convinced, but maybe if he went a little deeper into the ravine and climbed a little further, he would have a better view, and he would be able to identify what animal it was.

"I should go back" he said to himself as the orange of the sky emitted its glorious flashes, it was not wise to be in that place at night, since descending without good vision was very dangerous, and he got ready to do so when he saw again the flash in the sky, probably someone else would have given up, but he needed to satisfy his curiosity and clearly nothing in the town could do it, he had several of the ropes to tie fish with him so he could use them to descend later, surely it was a rare species of seagull and If so, he would have something interesting to tell about at the next bonfire.

He advanced a little more and surprisingly the rocks were dry and firm, which made everything easier for him, suddenly he heard a thud on the rock and was scared, no seagull could have produced such a strong noise, he felt a little fear, he should come back, but ... what if the seagull got hurt? He couldn't leave it hurt in such a remote place, there was still sun, he could still go on. He found what seemed like a small hole in the surface, there he could regain strength and rest his legs a little, just a few more meters and he would arrive, he walked the last section and jumped a large rock to enter, he looked up and in front of him, there in the middle of nowhere, with two huge wings surrounding the walls of the improvised cave and powerful claws, there was a huge griffin staring him straight in the eye.