Raule grinned as he clasped the man’s hand tightly, nodding in response to the conversation. “You’re graduating this year right? There’s always work out here, you know?” The man was the captain of the guard here, this small forward town/outpost. Despite having a fairly large force for its size, the settlement still had constant trouble protecting itself. Such was a fact of life when one lived on the edge of controlled lands in the Black Gale, so they were more than welcoming to any individual who offered their services. “I’ll keep that in mind,” he promised before turning to look upwards as a shadow was cast over the pair of them for a moment. [b]“Well that’s my ride.”[/b]

The gathered guardsmen and their leader whistled appreciatively at the majestic sight of the griffon’s flight. Though many had seen it over the years, hardened veterans that’d managed to survive whatever the Black Gale had thrown at them, it made the sight no less awe inspiring. “Still can’t get over the fact they send one of these to fetch every student…” He heard the muttering and was inclined to agree. Surely there had to be a less expensive way of transporting students, or hell they could have just made it so students had to find their own way to the Academy. It certainly would root out a few first years who didn’t belong in his opinion. Then again, if one had tamed griffons, why not put them to use? He shrugged at the comment, even if it wasn’t really directed at him. [b]“Have to show the Academy’s awesome and what not I guess.” [/b]

“Well it is a good way to do that I suppose,” the guardswoman agreed with a small nod as the creature came to a stop in front of the group, its wings kicking up a cloud of dust that swept over them. Most of the group had already covered their eyes, used to this, but a few of the newcomers this year yelped in surprise as the dust covered them. When it had settled down and cleared, he saw a few of the older guards chuckling at the new recruits’ expense. Shaking his head, he turned and nodded at the captain once more. [b]“I’ll see you in another year then.” [/b]
“Aye. We're counting on it.”

With that, he lifted his bag from the ground and approached the griffon. It watched him approach with intelligent eyes and Raule did the same, studying the creature carefully. All pretense of seriousness vanished when he finally reached it and proceeded to wrap his arms around its neck in a quick hug. The griffon squawked in protest, shaking its head rapidly in an effort to dislodge the fifth year. Raule didn’t so much budge an inch from the ground though, and the griffon quickly released what might have been a sigh had it been humanoid. Its “displeasure” was quickly mollified though when Raule freed a pouch of jerky from his bag and dangled it in front of the griffon. 

Some chuckles told him that the watching guards still found his odd display of affection amusing, but Raule just ignored them. Bah. They didn’t understand it was quite something, for Raule at the least, that the same griffon found him for the past five years. He constantly travelled after all, but the griffon had managed to find him all the same, even at times when he was on the road. It might have been magically directed to, but Raule didn’t doubt that he was one of the more troublesome attendees to locate. So he appreciated the obvious intelligent creature’s efforts. With a final wave at his gathered colleagues and acquaintances, before he hopped onto the griffon’s back with practiced ease. “Let’s go.”
---
The outpost shrunk at an astounding pace as the griffon kicked off the ground and threw itself into the air. While someone less accustomed to the method of travel would have indoubtly been thrown off with the sudden acceleration, Raule simply bore it without complaint. He had gotten used to it after the third year, when this particular creature figured it had given Raule enough time to get used to the sensation. As they levelled out in the air, Raule took a moment to look down below. The lands were flying past at a swift speed as the griffon pushed itself to max speed, knowing its passenger was unbothered. He grew bored of that fairly quickly, and patted the griffon’s neck to grab its attention. [b]“I’M TAKING A NAP,”[/b] he had to roar to be heard over the whipping winds given the speed they were going, but he was sure the griffon had heard, its attempted expression of exasperation was clear enough. 

While others would have probably thought it suicidal, Raule didn’t think twice of it. There was nothing interesting about the flight to the Academy, nothing that five years hadn’t dulled. Given his location, the flight would also undoubtly take at least an hour, even at top speed. And if he did manage to fall, well he had faith the griffon would save its charge. Or failing that, he’d at least wake up and be able to half-ass some landing strategy of his own. 
---
Raule awoke not to the wind whipping at his face as he plummeted to his untimely death, but to the hard stone of the ground. Groaning slightly at the abrupt awakening, the effects of last night’s party having crept back during his nap, Raule gave the griffon a pointed glare. Which it completely ignored with a huff as it stood tall, proud and majestic at delivering its charge without issue. Grumbling a bit as he fought off the last traces of drowsiness, he picked himself up and grabbed his bag from the griffon’s back. Before he walked away, he knelt and placed the pouch of jerky at the griffon’s feet. [b]“There ya go.”[/b]