Chapter Text
When Cale woke up, he knew he was still dreaming. His form was back to being human, though he had the wings of the gryphon and wicked claws on his fingers. He could feel his new fluffy ears twitching at any sound and his new tail swinging lazily behind him. And he was naked. It's a good thing his wings can be used as an improvised cover.
Looking around, Cale found himself in an unknown jungle. There were a lot of birds, insects and other critters moving around the dense foliage surrounding him. Cale could also hear other kinds of animals moving, hiding behind the jungle underbrush.
Not having anything else to do, Cale started to walk ahead. There was no path in this jungle but somehow, he could still sense where he had to go. Knowing that this was not a mere dream, Cale wondered how long it would take him to meet the god that wanted to talk with him.
In no time, Cale stumbled on a clearing. There were hundreds of different flowers blooming in there and in the center of the clearing there was a creature that could only be the God of Beasts. The creature looked like a sphinx at a first glance. It had the face of a human female, the body of a lion, a shark tail, huge insect wings, and bird paws.
The sphinx looked at Cale as soon as he stepped into the clearing. The molten gold eyes were fixed on his own and Cale felt his feathers ruffling. He felt as if a great predator, even greater than dragons, was debating if it would be worthy to eat him or not.
After what felt like hours, but was in reality a few minutes, the god of beasts smiled at him. Cale suppressed a flinch at seeing the shark teeth on the woman’s face.
“It's been a long time since anyone took my blessing” the god had the voice of a young woman mixed with the purring of a feline.
“It’s not like I was willing to receive it” Cale felt his ears going down.
“Is that so?” the god tilted her head to one side, “how odd”
“Why is it odd?” Cale was starting to feel irritated. His tail violently lashed in response to his feelings.
“It was supposed to be a willing ritual done in my temple, though it's been long enough for mortals to forget how my item works” the sphinx moved her tail irritated. It was annoying to choose a saint and explain everything over and over.
“So, how does it work? Also, why is it an arrow?” Cale sounded annoyed. Who makes a divine object in the form of a weapon?
The sphinx smiled amused at the human being so disrespectful to her, a god that could cause a lot of suffering just because she felt like it. But as the beasts she was the god of, she did not care for respect nor morals. Only survival and the present mattered. Though being entertained and playing around was also part of a beast daily life.
“How curious, it wasn't an arrow before” the god mumbled before continuing, “my item is simple. One just needs to spread some blood on it, even a drop is enough, and if they are compatible, they will have my blessing”
“And if not they are cursed?” Cale deadpanned. Of course the god did not mention the other possibility.
“Only for a week they shall be a ravenous beast as a price for their greed” the god recited the poem she left behind for her temple. She was not going to waste her energy in giving permanent curses.
“Their greed?” Cale wondered why he was blessed when he was very greedy for money.
“Greed of power specifically. Beasts don’t care for power so why should I give my blessing to those?” the god said with amusement. It was the power that only civilized beings would look for. She enjoyed seeing their hubris turn on themselves.
“I see” Cale nodded. He had no desire for power unless it was to survive himself.
“But, why did I get the blessing and what does it do?” Cale went directly to the important questions. He was going to take advantage of the god being so talkative.
“Besides not wanting my power for greed? Hmm…” the god looked at Cale with an intense stare before continuing.
“Probably because you are a creature of surviving” the god said. She had not often seen a human that had broken their fate. This human that was fated to die thanks to the curse of the God of Death had defied everything and lived anyway. How amusing.
Cale just raised an eyebrow. He was not amused with the short answer.
“Haa… fine” the sphinx sighed. Her instinct told her that it was not wise to tease this human too much, “my blessing gives the sentient creature a beast form with the addition of being able to use reason they had as a normal sentient”
“So, like a beast person” Cale said.
“More like the reverse. The God of Reason blessed some smart beasts in some worlds and they got three forms out of it. The beast, the sentient, and the berserk. My blessing only gives you access to two forms but with the benefits of the berserk form all the time in your beast form” the God of Beasts seemed proud of being better than the God of Reason. She did not waste her energy in over-complicated things like them.
“Then, how do I manage that form and why a gryphon?” Cale also wanted to know why he was the Gryphon king but decided to not ask. He felt like it would only bring him more work.
“Oh child, you do not manage the beast, just follow the instincts. As for the gryphon…” the god shrugged, “why not?”
Cale frowned, though it seemed that in this realm the god could read his mind because she continued.
“And you are the Gryphon king because you got that form directly from my blessing. But don’t worry, as you are the only gryphon beast people there, you don't have to do anything about it” the sphinx said. She didn’t care what the “king” did as long as they didn’t go into a genocide or something.
“That was the plan” Cale felt better knowing that the god was not trying to make him do anything. It was a lot better than the annoying God of Death.
“Do you have any other questions? Our time is running short” the god said after sensing the temporary realm shaking a little.
“Yes, what do I need to do to transform into a human again?” if he could get an earlier solution to that, then it was for the best.
“Wait a moon cycle and it will be safe for you to do. Your previous body’s plate was too weak so the beast is strengthening it to be able to transform without risk to either form” the god explained.
“How strong will my plate be?” Cale worried that if he was too strong he wouldn't be able to reach his slacker life.
“Hmm… from glass to wood. Not the strongest but enough to not hurt yourself too much if you over use those Ancient Powers of yours. Of course they will be shown differently in your beast form” the God of Beasts smiled showing her sharp fangs.
“Huh? Why?” weren’t Ancient Powers the same no matter who used them?
“Something about energies and different bodies. I do not concern myself with those kinds of things” the god shrugged as well as a lion's body could shrug.
“Right” Cale deadpanned. The God of Beasts would not care about things that beasts don’t care about. But that was not very useful to him.
“Our time is up” the sphinx stood up and went towards Cale in a fluid motion.
In no time, the god was too close. The redhead stood very still and was very surprised when the god touched his forehead with her own.
“You are the only one with a deep connection with me in that world. I have no need for saints but you can call on me if another god annoys you too much” the god offered.
“How?” Cale would not hesitate to use this god if another god decides to get in his way towards his slacker life.
The sphinx smirks, and whispers words that are not words of how to summon her and direct her to prey. There were sounds and feelings of giving her something to play with and to hunt. It was very easy and Cale thought that if any god annoyed him, he could tell this wild god to have fun with them.
“Now go child, with my blessing” the sphinx then licked his forehead. Cale noticed that the tongue was not human at all, though he had no idea of what animal it resembled.
A second later, Cale fell unconscious.
When Cale woke up again, he knew he was in his current gryphon body and not in the dream realm of the goddess. Before stirring and waking up fully, he felt tiny paws running alongside his back and heard the giggling of Hong and Raon. It seemed that they were playing some kind of game and used his back as a playground.
Beside the playing children, he could feel a brush passing slowly through his mane, it felt so relaxing that he would have gone back to sleep if it wasn't for Hong falling from his back.
“Nya!” Hong was surprised at his slipping up.
Cale opened his eyes abruptly and moved his wing under Hong to softened his fall. He sighed in relief that the red kitten didn’t get hurt.
“Human, you are awake!” Raon cheered after Cale moved.
“Thank you Cale” Hong purred. Falling on Cale’s feathers was so soft and comfortable that the kitten couldn't help himself but rub his whole body on the soft surface.
Cale snorted at the cute sight of Hong rolling on his wing and the little ticklish sensation that came from it.
“Hi Cale” Ohn greeted him. She was sitting on his back while brushing the soft mane. The silver kitten had noticed how messy the mane was, and decided to fix it. As she couldn’t groom it with her tongue, she got a brush and brushed the soft mane.
“Grrruu” Cale crooned at her and moved his head to give her a more easy access to his mane. Being brushed in this form felt good.
“Hmm… Cale” Ohn started to talk in the same tone of voice she had when she wanted something that was not needed for survival.
“Hmm?” Cale hummed in question.
“Can I braid your mane?” Ohn looked at Cale with anticipation.
Cale nodded, glad that Ohn was acting like the little girl she was.
“But noona, how will you tie the braids?” Hong asked. He saw that Ohn only had a brush on her hand.
“I know! Lemon gramps stores ribbons in here” Raon said while flying towards the drawer where he had seen the old butler store ribbons he used to tie his human long hair.
When Raon returned besides his sibling, his paws were filled with many ribbons. Most of them black but some were golden, silver, blue, and green. Cale didn't pay much attention to the ribbons that Ron used to tie his long crimson hair and that's why he didn't know he had so many.
“Oh yea! These are perfect” Ohn smiled while accepting the many ribbons.
“Woah, so many!” Hong was impressed with the quantity of the ribbons.
“We are going to make a lot of pretty braids” Raon said and the kittens agreed with him.
In the next hour, Cale lay still while the kids made lots of braids in the right side of his mane. Ohn was the one that knew the most about braiding so she taught her brothers how to braid their guardian’s red and soft mane.
In the end, the kids used most of the ribbons on many braids. Ohn made the most neat ones, Raon the biggest, and Hong made the most. Though Hong’s were not as neat, his siblings encouraged him to keep practicing and that’s why most of Cale’s braids were the red kitten’s work.
When Ron came to the room, he saw the kids playing tag while using Cale as a hiding spot. He was surprised about the new additions to his young master mane and correctly guessed that it must be the children’s work.
“Young master, it’s a beautiful day out. I suggest going outside to enjoy it” Ron said. It was fine that they rested, but being inside all the time was not healthy.
“Yes! Let’s go out human. I’ll teach you how to use your new wings” Raon exclaimed. Now it was his turn to be the teacher.
“Let’s go, let's go!” Hong seemed excited to play outside.
“Hmm…” Cale grumbled with his ears down. He didn’t want to go out and do exercise.
“If you learn how to move your wings, you won't crash them into the walls so much” Ohn pointed out a problem that would become an annoyance if not corrected now.
“Haa…” Cale sighed but nodded in agreement. He hated pain and crashing his wings on the walls was painful. A little bit of exercise won't be that bad. Probably.
“Yes! Let's go!” Raon was really happy. He would teach his human how to fly like him and then they would fly together!
“Wait dongsaeng!” Hong ran after Raon with Ohn close behind.
“Shall we, young master?” Ron smiled at Cale. Something that the crimson gryphon ignored as to not shiver in fear.
Cale got up, shook his body like a dog, and followed behind the old butler towards their backyard, which was actually the Forest of Darkness. The lessons on how to better move his new wings would begin.