Alcor swung his leg over the back of his chestnut mare Kmi. The horse snorted and figeted slightly. Alcor settled into the saddle, then gave Kmi a sharp kick. She took off across the field whinnying with pleasure. Her hooves flew like the wind, Alcor could feel her rippling under him.

Alcor loved to ride. It was his passion. He loved the speed and the freedom of an open field. Today was a beautiful day to ride: the sky was clear, the air was cool and calm. Alcor could smell wet grass and soil being kicked up by Kmi's hooves. Yes, it was a beautiful day!

Suddenly Alcor swung his mare to the right to avoid a large hole. He saw a fallen tree up ahead and aimed for it. He leaned forward as Kmi flew over the obstacle, landing gracefully on the other side. Alcor gave a loud whoop at their success. Then horse and rider swung back around and started back towards the house.

Vira groaned as a large weed gave way to her pulling. The stem snapped and she flew backwards landing on her bottom. Standing up, she shook the clumps of dirt from her skirt. Vira only used this skirt for working in the garden, now she remembered why. She walked over to her gardening basket and, after some time ruffling around, pulled out a claw-like instrument. She was starting to walk back to her troublesome weed when she heard a horse whinny. Vira spun around and saw her brother Alcor charging towards her on a long-legged chestnut. He came speeding through and before Vira knew what he was about to do he had jumped over her tomatoes, coming to a stop on the other side.

"Don't you ever do that again, Alcor!" she yelled at him, furious that he would try such a stunt in her garden.

The boy just threw back his head and laughed. "I wouldn't have squashed your precious tomatoes," he said still laughing. Vira wasn't sure if he was being sarcastic or not.

"I don't want you to even think about doing that again! Do you know how long it took to get those to grow to full size!" Vira continued to rant and rave about Alcor trying to trample her beautiful garden and how one of these days he was going to fall off that chestnut of his and break his neck. That was when Vira noticed that Kmi had her head buried in a clump of the girl's blue and white flowers, munching happily.

"Ahhh! Get that wretched creature out of my garden!" She yelled pointing towards the stables.

That night at dinner Vira had cooled down considerably. But she still glared at Alcor from across the table.

"I have an announcement to make," Alcor and Vira's father Eckron said with a sly smile. "I've decided it's about time you children visit the Aerie."

"The Aerie?!" Alcor and Vira said in unison.

"Neither of you have been there and I think it's time you should. Since we live within a day's walk..."

"When are we leaving!" Vira asked quite excited with the idea of going on a trip.

"Yes, Eckron. When are we going?" Ima asked. Alcor and Vira glanced at their mother then back to their father. Ima didn't like suprises, and this one was no exception.

"Tomorrow, perhaps," Eckron answered.

"Tomorrow!" Ima said raising her eyebrows.

"Sure! Why not tomorrow?" He said with a shrug.

"Please, mom. We really want to go!" Alcor begged.

Ima sighed glancing over at her children, then back to her husband. "All right! I wouldn't want to be the bad guy on this."

The whole family woke at dawn the next morning. Alcor rode Kmi, as usual, Eckron rode a large black gelding, Ima a buckskin and finally Vira on a small white mare. Alcor, since he rode so much, didn't have any trouble on the long trip, and Vira was too excited to complain. Their mother on the other hand, decided that the whole trip was a waste of time and she made sure everyone, especially their father, knew it.

Even so, they made good time and arrived at the Aerie around five in the afternoon. They were greeted by the people who lived in the Aerie, rider and nonrider alike.

Alcor asked if he could look around and his mother said yes, but he was not to make any trouble or go where he shouldn't. He agreed reluctantly and started off.

Vira tiptoed down the corridor. Like her brother, she had been able to escape her parents to explore the Aerie. Right now she wasn't quite sure where she was.

"Hello?" Vira called quietly. She was sure she had heard scurrying feet. A small mew answered her. Vira turned the direction she thought the sound had come from. Two tiny little eyes peered out from behind a door.

"Well, hello. Why don't you come on out of there so I can see you?" Vira said smiling softly. She dropped slowly to her knees, so as not to tower over the little creature. It stared at her for a moment, then slowly a small griffin head emerged.

"That's it, come on," Vira kept her tone soft and reassuring, encouraging the little cub to come out. It placed a small light orange paw out from behind the door, then another. Vira continued to speak encouragingly to the little griffin, and was finally able to coax it out.

The cub's body was a beautiful light orange color. The highlights on it's wings and head were whitish/pink, with a little of the same color on her tail. Vira marveled at how small the griffin was. It could probably fit in her lap!

Who are you? A small voice asked.

"My name is Vira. What's yours?"

The cub hesitated for a moment. I'm Kajice.

"Oh, that's a lovely name!"

Do you really think so? Kajice asked perking up slightly.

"Of course! A lovely name for a lovely little cub," Vira reassured her. Kajice took another step forward. Vira reached out and scratched the cub's feathery head. Kajice pushed against Vira's hand. "You like, huh," the girl said as her smile broadened.

Oh, yes. Very much! Kajice said. Then to Vira's surprise, she began to purr.

Alcor whistled quietly to himself as he walked. The Aerie was much bigger than he thought it would be. He turned the corner and found himself in the kitchen. He had to sidestep to get out of the way of a woman carrying a large tray. Then had to jump again to keep from knocking over a pile of dishes.

With a few more tricky maneuvers he had snatched a sandwich from a large pile, and was back out the door. He quickly turned the corner again and continued down the hall. As he turned yet another corner he tripped over a feathery body and landed flat on his face. He glanced back at what he had tripped on and saw a pale-blue griffin cub. He picked himself up and crawled over to the cub.

"Are you all right? I didn't see you." Alcor ran his hands over the cub's soft wing feathers checking for broken bones.

I'm fine, thank you. A timid little voice said.

"Well, that's good. I'm Alcor, what's your name?"

Helex. Came the timid voice again.

"You have beautiful feathers, Helex," Alcor said scratching the griffin's white fur, and stroking his light blue wings. The little griffin blinked up at Alcor, and in return he smiled down at Helex.

"Why is such a little fella like you running around all alone? Where's your bond?" Alcor asked quietly. Helex hung his head.

I don't have one.

Alcor frowned. "Such a handsome little fella like you? Why not?"

My bond is coming, and he's going to be strong and brave! Then I'll be strong and brave too!

"I believe you, little fella," Alcor said with a smile. "But it seems to me that you're kinda' brave already."

Really!? The little griffin asked.

"Sure! Any one would be lucky to have you as a bond!"

Would....would you be....my bond?

Alcor blinked down at the cub in amazement. He had heard of griffins that didn't bond at their hatching bonding later. He had meant what he had said, any one would be lucky to bond the little Helex.....but he never expected the little fella to ask him!

Alcor smiled. "I would love to, but don't I need to be a bounder?" Helex hung his head sadly. Alcor lifted the cub's chin. "Let's go ask the Aerie Mother."

Vira wasn't sure how long she sat there petting Kajice, but she did know it had to have been over an hour. Mother and father would be getting worried.

"Well, I better get going now little Kajice," Vira said getting to her feet. Suddenly she felt tiny claws digging into her leg.

DON'T LEAVE, DON'T LEAVE!! Kajice yelled frantically clinging to Vira's leg.

Vira bent down and pried the cub from her leg. She held the griffin close trying to comfort her.

"I won't leave. It's ok, I won't leave," Vira said soothingly rocking back and forth slowly.

I don't want you to leave! I want you to be my rider and stay with me forever!

Vira glanced down at the cub in her arms. "I can't be your rider I'm not a bounder."

I don't care! Kajice sobbed.

"Shhh. Calm down, calm down. Let's go ask the Aerie Mother."

Both children found their parents at almost the same time. Ima almost fainted when she saw what her children were carrying in their arms.

"Please, mother, father. Kajice needs me!" Vira begged, the cub adding little mewing sounds of her own.

"And Helex needs me as well," Alcor added.

Ima, when she saw the begging look in her children's eye (not to mention the cubs), couldn't say no. Eckron couldn't agree fast enough, pushing them towards the Aerie Mother's quarters.

So both pairs made their way as fast as they could to the Aerie Mother to plead their case.