The Gryphons

The gryphons are the same as those that are told in the stories from ancient Shai, though long forgotten in the current reign of peace. Their front half is based on an eagle shape with a sharp beak, piercing eyes and powerful claws. They are covered in feathers in their front half with vary shades which normally match the color of their back half. They have scaled legs which are common for eagles and normally black claws. The color of their feathers then blends into the colors of their other half. But that is where the similarities of Gryphons of Shai cease.

On Shai there are three major species of gryphon, each appearing in the same clutch and each being able to mate with the other. The most common is the feline gryphon, having the back half of a large cat. The second most common is the canine gryphon, having the back half of a large wolf. And the rarest species is the vulpine gryphon, having the back half of a large fox. All species have two great wings which are attached just behind their shoulders, though on rare occasions wingless gryphons have been born. These gryphons do not usually survive into maturity and most are killed by their parents when born. It is hard to tell the difference between the species when a gryphon is born, but usually if the back half has a tail tuff and extended claws it is feline, canine gryphons usually have large fluffy tails when born and no visible claws, and vulpine gryphons are generally smaller.

All species are powerful and grow to be just smaller than dragons at about twenty five feet on average. They are able to carry one rider (their bonded normally) with ease. They mind speak whether their bonded has magic or not and are able to, with practice, target other creatures or people who are not their bonded for mind speech.

The females usually have a flight to choose a mate, except with the lower ranks who choose a mate for life. They call out a challenge like a strong screech, which can be heard by all males in the land. Then it is up to the female what she does. Most eat a creature, normally messily, and then lead the group on a chase while others may set different tasks. After they have chosen whom they wish for their mate for their clutch they will lock their bird-like forefeet and hind paws together and twirl through the skies. All species can be interbred. If a clutch has two feline parents the young will be mainly feline with a few canine and rarely a vulpine.

The mottled eggs are hatched normally on the hatching sands and either the candidates are called before the eggs hatched or afterwards for the bonding. These smallish eggs are watched by both mother and father until they hatch and until they have chosen their candidates or to go wild. They choose their own candidate, and then tell them their names which always end in 'ae' . They communicate privately with their bondeds but can communicate out loud as well. Some gryphon bondings occur from hatching while others occur a week or two later.


Leopard, ArcticWolf and ArcticFox
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These are the gryphon queens and a tad smaller than the kings. Their eagle front is silvery white, most noticeably white. Their back halves, if feline, are that of a leopard - most commonly the snow leopard, if canine, is that of an arctic wolf, and if vulpine, is that of an arctic fox. They can clutch up to 14 eggs.

Lion, AfricanDog and FennecFox
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These are the kings of gryphons and slightly larger than the queens. Their eagle front is golden-brown or tan, depending on the species. Their back halves, if feline, is that of a lion, if canine, is that of an african wild dog, and if vulpine is that of a fennec fox. They will chase any female, and can catch queens and lessers easily.

Tiger, RedWolf and RedFox
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These are the middle-range and can be either male or female. Their eagle front is either gold, white, orange or red, depending on their back halves. Females can clutch up to 8 while males can catch anything. If feline, their back half is that of a tiger, if canine it is that of a red wolf and if vulpine is that of a red fox.

Panther, BlackWolf and GreyFox
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These are the second smallest of the gryphons and are always female. Their eagle front is black or grey while their back halves is that of a panther, black wolf or grey fox. These cannot clutch, and often chose to mate for life, usually with a lesser-male.

Cougar, TimberWolf and BrownFox
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These are the smallest of the gryphons and are always male. Their eagle front is tan-brown, or dark brown while their back halves is that of a cougar, timber wolf or brown fox. They cannot reproduce, and often chose a life-partner in a lesser-female.