Do your best . . .or Else!

“I shall do my best to endeavor that they shan’t succumb,” the mage says, smiling slightly, touched at this noble beast words. Touched at the concern in the male gryphon’s voice for his mistresses.

“You betterrr or else,” Braveheart hisses, snapping his beak at the suddenly less than charmed mage.

That threat rather threw a damper on the moment.

However, whatever the case the others, by convention and contract, had to leave the room for this next part. Male gryphon and female elf were not to be his students and only students were to be taught magic (even THIS relatively simple lesson).

Mage guild rules, go figure!!

Later. . .

The hairs on the back of the mage’s neck are standing up on end. It had started out easily enough and his students were willing enough to learn but there was something now decidedly OFF about them.

Some parts of his lesson involved the female giants shifting into the (female) form of their familiar. That had gone well enough. They seemed to absorb his teachings (surprisingly enough).

However, with each shift in form there seemed to be an increasingly feral air to them. As if with each shift into their gryphons form and touching the instincts of their gryphon form--for they had to touch their instincts in order to gain control of their bodies--those instinct . . . That wildness of mind was rubbing off on their natural form.

The mage then bit his lip and cursed himself! Of COURSE the giantesses were becoming more and more feral. More . ..like their companion, that Wood elf woman!! He had overlooked the possibility (nay, certainty) that the Mark of the Fey all of them had would have twisted the connection that they all seemed to share (giants, gryphon, and elf) into something . . .like what he was seeing.

His timetable had been all messed up by this. Their plan had been for the giants and such to go off on their desperate quest and THEN, when (IF!) they returned with their lost children he'd transform the lot into Wood Elves and be done with it!

That mark was shifting their mentality into something else slowly. That was it's nature (amongst other things). With all those marks (except for Braveheart . . .it was different for familiars), those marked would eventually act (Duh) Fey touched.

Transformation to elves (in whatever branch or kind) was the nearest thing for the victim. Least likely to draw looks of pity and concern.

Best way for the marked to be able to fit into a society (and not be dangerous misfits).

But .. . .

It was rare, but it appeared that even touching instinct of a beast (of the wild) was enough to accelerate the female giants shift from what they had been into mentally what they were doomed to become, mentally: Wood Elves. They may now be Frost Giantesses in body, in mind and soul?

They were Wood Elves! The Mark had gone beyond what was normal. And that’s a bit dangerous, the combination of Frost Giant strength and might combined with Wood Elfin short temperament (and all around lack of the trappings of civilization).

Too soon! The mage wasn't ready for this yet. Wasn't preppted properly to handle this safetly.

Could blow up in his face.

So on eggshells, the mage proceeds to the acid test portion of this lesson. Oh, if his students start to succumb to their biological drives and attempt to MATE with Braveheart, then he’d step in and stop it magically. Then he’d attempt to shore up his student’s with more techniques and such (and start all over again for the acid test was the final and necessary step).

His fear was getting squashed in the process by irate women with the bodies of Frost Giants but the temperament of Wood elves.

1. So, it was with great relief that the acid test is passed and the females seemed to have succeeded . . .

Add New Option

Go Back

View Forward Story Tree
View Back Story Tree