Fledging Day

Argon briskly threw the remains of his breakfast carcass out of his cliff cave dwelling into the foaming ocean below. As the King’s Champion, he enjoyed the cave with the best view in the Griffin cliffs. He glowered and growled at the bright red sunrise, wishing instead for rain. A hurricane, perhaps?  Slumping down to the cave floor, he digested his meal and muttered about the day to come. It was Fledging Day. Every griffin mother with a fledgling capable of at least some flight would bring their jittery grifflets to the ceremony and he would perform like a circus clown to entertain them and impress on them the wonders of being a griffin. He dreaded it. Sighing with his eyes half closed, he reminisced on years gone by. How foolish he felt as a warrior, and how terrified the young ones were to be in his presence. Still, it was a holiday decreed by King Oberon himself, to celebrate the young griffins- his future warriors.
Argon stretched, stood up, and began to preen his long shiny black flight feathers. Their silver edges gleamed in the morning sun. There was no hope for inclement weather, so he made a face and flew out towards his training fields where the ceremony would take place.  Elves and dwarves were busying themselves setting up breakfast tables with food for the guests. King Orion of the elves raised a hand in greeting as he landed. Tucking his wings back, he strode forward to meet him.
“Ah, the griffin of the hour. Good morning, Argon. I know how you love this holiday.” Orion chuckled and rolled his eyes.
Argon grimaced at him and wished the whole affair was over. “Right you are, Orion. I believe we have quite a few fledglings this year. If you ask me, griffins are over- breeding. Rea, my niece, has her twins attending this morning.”
Orion shook his head. “Are they that old already? Where has time gone? I remember when they were born. We’re getting old, my ferocious friend.”
Argon sighed. “Yes. I agree, I’m getting much too old for this charade, year after year.”
Orion slapped Argon’s side. “Oh now, it’s only once a year and the mothers love it. It’s sort of a coming of age for their little ones. It means a lot to them. After all, they are our future fighters, and your soon- to-be students. Might as well get on their good side now, and then they won’t be so hard on you later. Right?”
Argon nodded, but was not consoled. Other things should take priority over entertaining the grifflets. Surely, other griffins could take his place in this one endeavor, but King Oberon insisted he lead the ceremonies. His younger warriors-in-training would begin the lessons for griffins of this age. They would have to pass many a challenge before he himself would get involved in their training.
Standing straight and dignified, he watched the mothers flying in with their clumsy brood struggling to keep up. A smile of welcome and nods of approval would greet the mothers. Holding back a groan, he nodded to every one of them. The grifflets gravitated together as if pulled by a magnet. They screamed as feathers were pulled, tails were chased, and nips were exchanged. Rae’s twins arrived and he was relieved to learn they could behave themselves. Actually, they made a striking pair. Identical in every physical way, they reminded him of bookends. Black and white peppered coats topped with red wings and a black beak that sported a white stripe offset of the center nearer the right side. Laser and Razor, their father, Domino, had named them and they sat there now, one calm and calculating and the other bewildered, but not afraid. When they were older, he would train them as a team. Twin griffins were an anomaly, and would be quite shocking to an enemy who would believe he was seeing double. It would be a distinct advantage for them.
Rea fluffed her bright red feathers when she saw him. “Uncle Argon, isn’t this exciting? The boys are growing so fast, I can hardly keep track of them. Say hello to your Master, Uncle Argon, boys.”
Laser met the champion’s eyes squarely and with an interest and alertness that Argon knew to be an asset. His ear tufts stood up in anticipation of whatever Argon would say to him. “Good morning, Master Argon”, said Laser with a sharp snappy bow.
“A pleasure to meet you, your Excellency”, mumbled Razor, who Argon surmised was not quite as sharp as his brother or his name, but still respectful, nevertheless.
“I’m sure this will be a memorable day for both of you, Laser and Razor.” He turned to each of them as he spoke. “Soon, you’ll be my students and I will make you into fine warriors like your mother and father. You know your mother made the King’s Guard when she was barely a year older than you are now. We’re all very proud of her.” He winked at Rea, who beamed with pride.
“Thank you, Uncle Argon. It was always your training that made the difference. Come along, boys, and let me show you off to King Orion.” She flapped her wings at them and they dutifully marched off in the direction she pointed in, giving Argon a smile and a wave as she left.
Argon huffed as he watched a group of grifflets fighting. He walked over, letting his shadow distract them from their attacks on each other. They froze in the darkness and blinked up at their Master. Quickly, they untangled themselves from each other and stood up. One purple one began to cry loudly. Another green one hid his head under his wing.
Argon cleared his throat. Trying not to clench his beak he said as pleasantly as he could muster, “Your king is about to speak. I suggest you find your parents. There will be treats for all of you after the ceremony.”
He watched them scramble off, tripping over each other in their haste to put distance between themselves and the warrior. Argon would have rather cuffed them, but he turned and took his position by the podium where King Oberon stood looking proud and pleased at the turnout of griffins. A squadron of Argon’s recent graduates made an impressive show, flying in formation a scant few feet above the king’s head and landed, forming ranks. Argon was proud of their performance and he gave them an approving nod.
“Welcome, all, to Fledging Day. I’m thrilled to see so many of our young griffins here today,” Oberon began.
The grifflets peeked out from behind their mother’s wings, awed by their dragon king.
Oberon continued, “Our griffins ensure us all that we will live in peace. A good defense is vital to the well-being of any land, and you will all be a part of our defenses when you are of age. You all know Argon.” He motioned to the griffin, who bowed in response.
“He will make the warrior out of the griffin. No one has proved to be more adept than he in combat and you will all learn his secrets as the privileged griffins that you are.”
Behind him in the training field, stood mock enemy scarecrows, made by the elves. Six of them were scattered bearing frightening faces and artificial weapons. Oberon nodded at Argon. “A demonstration for you.”
Argon leapt up, and in several seconds, beheaded and gutted the scarecrows leaving piles of rubbish behind. The little ones screamed and there was a cheer when he was through. Rea fanned Razor with her wing. He’d fainted and crumpled to the ground. His brother laughed until he received a warning glance from his mother.
There were several more demonstrations by Argon and his graduating class and when the king thought everyone was properly satisfied that the griffins were phenomenal, he announced the refreshments. Slapping Argon on the hip, he said, “Wasn’t that fun? You know, Argon, with so many new grifflets, we may have to do this twice a year instead of only once.”