Title: My Friend

Game: Suikoden 2

Characters: Feather, Sigfried

Pairings: None

Summary:  Sigfried remembers a few things about his feathery companion.

Present

            Eyes closed the unicorn rested on the ground against an old oak tree with his legs curved close to his body.  A wicked horn glinted in the moonlight and his long mane cascaded down a sleek neck.  A loud crunching sound snapped Sigfried awake and his silver eyes slowly opened. Raising his head he let a questioning neigh and was not to surprised by the growled response.  He watched as a golden form moved slowly towards him and feathery wings mantled over its body.  Powerful muscles rippled along the catlike body and blue-green eyes glittered teasingly at him.

“You are to relaxed horned one.  What if I had been a threat?”

Sigfried snorted.  “Then I would have stabbed you with my horn and then trampled over your body in glee.”

A chuckling rumble left the yellow beak.  “You always have a good response every time I ask this.”

“Of course it keeps our conversations interesting Feather.”

Sigfried watched as the griffon let out another rumbly chuckle before padding over to him.  A great feather head nuzzled along his neck before Feather collapsed against him.  Purrs vibrated against Sigfried’s body and one wing was draped over him.  It felt warm having Feather against him and he nipped at the feathers against him affectionately.

Sometimes he wondered how this situation had happened?    He had been alone for such a long time until this feathered griffon had fallen out of the sky and into his life.  It was still strange how it had occurred that he didn’t get it himself. 

*

Flashback

It wasn’t often that anything would stump him since he had lived for a very long time.  He had lived for so long in the Kobold Forest that he no longer remembered his own age.  In fact when he thought of his long life nothing had ever stumped him more then the creature sprawled before his silver hooves.  It had fallen out of the sky and landing with a loud crash before him.  If he had been walking any faster the creature would have slammed into him and that would have hurt tremendously.

Gazing at the creature before him the word Fluffy appeared in his mind..  That was the word that fit this creature easily with its fluffy and downy feathers.  Heck it looked like an orange and white fluff ball the more he looked at it.  He could almost imagine it being a giant downy ball if not for the yellow beak and blue-green eyes that regarded him curiously.  A tiny growl escaped the creature and Sigfried blinked.  Yes a downy and fluffy growling ball.  He watched as the creature leaped to its four feet and growled at him again.  Tilting his head to the side, Sigfried wonder if that was suppose to be a challenging growl or a timid meow?  He lifted one hoof and shoved at the creature gently.  The fluff ball let out an excited squeak and swatted at him.  Sigfried blinked at the scratches on his foreleg and looked at the triumphant fluff ball.  Shaking his head he decided to leave this dangerous and fluffy thing alone.  Sigfried turned around and began to trot through the forest. He thought he heard a question meow but ignored it.  Whomever the claw fluff ball belonged to would surely return to before long and if not it looked old enough to take care of itself. 

It was until a few minutes later that he heard paws padding behind him.  Glancing over one shoulder, Sigfried blinked in puzzlement.  The fluff ball was following him and at a stumbling pace.  He watched as the fluff ball would try to run and then suddenly fall.  It made him wonder just how old the fluff ball was since it looked to still be a baby. Slowing to a halt he watched as the silly thing tripped again and tumbled before his hooves.  Lowering his head he gently latched onto the little neck and lifted it up a bit.  A meow left the creature and he carefully set it down on the ground.  Blue-green eyes looked at him in adoration and Sigfried took a step back.  Another meow left the fluff ball and he blinked.

“Momma!”  the fluff ball suddenly yelled.

Sigfried took another step back and shook his head quickly.  “I am not your momma nor do I know were she is.”

Golden eyes filled with tears and Sigfried felt bad.  Letting out a sigh, he leaned down and nuzzled the little body with his muzzle.  He felt the fluff ball let out sniffle before it began to purr.  It looked like he was temporarily stuck with the fluff ball until he found its momma.  Regarding the creature thoughtfully he asked, “What is your name little one?”

The fluff ball flapped its tiny wings in excitement, “Feather! Feather!”

“Alright Feather I am Sigfried.  Now come its getting late and we should return to the grove.”

“Sified Sified!”

Wanting to groan in frustration at his horribly pronounced name Sigfried turned and led Feather to his grove.  He seriously hoped he could find this little ones parents or else he was doomed.

*

Present

A beaked gently pulled his mane and Sigfried snapped to the present.  He glanced down into curious blue-green eyes.

“Must you gnaw on my mane like a puppy?”

“Well if it gets your attention then yes.”

Sigfried shook his mane and ignored the chuckles from the griffon.  He could feel Feather regarding him for a bit more before curiosity got the best of him.

“So why did you want my attention?”

“Oh I was wondering what you were thinking about you seemed a million miles away.”

“Oh?”  Sigfried leaned more fully against Feather and let the warmth soak into him his skin. “If you want to know I was thinking about our past.”

“Ah. I swear you must be getting old to be thinking of the past.”  Feather said in amusement.  

Sigfried decided to ignore that comment and closed his eyes once more.  Maybe he was getting old but thinking about how he met Feather was something that brought him happiness.

*

Flashback

As time went on the little fluff ball grew and became a young sleek griffon.  Of course he caused Sigfried all sorts of grief but what young creature didn’t.   During one of there daily walks through the forest Sigfried leisurely followed his charge and watched him run around excitedly.

“Oooo Sigfried look at this look at this!”

A excited feathery face was turned his way and blue-green eyes begged for him to hurry.  Sigfried choked down a chuckle and trotted over to his charge.  Looking down he noticed flowers threaded through the thorny bush.  The petals were a vibrant shade of purple and they smelled divine.  Jerking his head back suddenly, Sigfried snorted and stared down his nose.   A monarch butterfly rested there and its yellow wings flapped in contentment.

Feather chuckled in hysterics, “Ahhahaha you have a bug on your nose!”

Sigfried was not amused and gently shook his head.  The butterfly flew off and he turned his attention to his charge. Stepping towards the griffon he stretched out his long neck and nipped a feathery ear.  Feather jerked in surprised and the unicorn laughed.

“That’s what you get for being a silly little griffon.”

A playful growl escaped Feather and Sigfried was tackled to the ground. The two rolled end over end before landing in a heap of feathers and long white mane.  Laughing excitedly Sigfried surged to his feet and galloped away.  He heard wing beats and swerved to his left.  Wind blew his mane all over the place and he shook it back.  He watched as Feather circled high above for a moment before landing.  Sigfried trotted over to his charge and nuzzled his cheek gently.

“Ah Sigfried.”  Feather complained good naturedly but he didn’t move away from the affectionate gesture.

*

Present

He was still surprised that after all these years that Feather still remained with him in the forest.  From time to time the griffon would vanish to be with his own kind since had many duties as a prince but majority of the time he was here with him.  It was nice having a companion to pass the ages with and less lonely.  Nuzzling the feathery head in affection, Sigfried closed his eyes and sighed in contentment.