Blog Post

A Keeper’s Trust: Part 1

July 19, 2020

“Felicity? Felicity! Where is that girl?” I asked looking all around the enclosure of the Kape Kumakain. 

I walked around to the front of the enclosure. Looking at my watch again, I knew we needed to leave soon. 

After a few more moments I saw her bouncing brown curls from inside the enclosure where a Kape Kumakain sat on her shoulder with an arm wrapped around her head.

She laughed as she handed it a coffee bean.

Her smile faded as she saw me. 

I tried to remain stern, but how could I? I loved that she loved this reserve and its creatures as much as I did. 

“Gwen! What brings you over here?”

“When did you start hanging out with your friends in there?”

“Oh, that? Well, it started with the usual stocking and cleaning of the enclosure, but then they wanted to play so I stayed a little longer. Now I spend all my time with them.” 

“And how are your interactions? Have you been documenting them?”

“I always document after all we can’t learn more without records. And I have been bitten three times, but now I know how to communicate. Also, now that they have accepted me it helps too. The one on my neck protects me. She keeps the others in line it seems. I want to study their hierarchy more from the outside of the enclosure.” Felicity said almost as if making plans for the future more than describing her interactions to me. 

I laughed as she reminded me of myself,  a promising future for the reserve and all its residents.

“Gwen, I’m assuming you came by for more than to check up on me?”

“Right. We are going to go catch a creature that has been causing a little havoc recently. Ulric will meet us and join us.”

“What type of creature is it?”

“A Griffin. We need to get it before the government or that secret society of half-wit humans. If they get it they will only experiment on it or try to use it for their gain. It should have a better life than that. Are you ready if we leave now?”

“Absolutely! I am so excited!” Felicity enthusiastically stated as she followed me to where Ulric was waiting.

Ulric had his bag and looked uncertain about this adventure, but there were always certain creatures that made him worry more than others.

“How will we get there?” Felicity asked.

I whistled as three Dragons flew into view.

As they landed they shifted into human forms and I began the introductions.

“This is Daisuke, the leader of the Dragon’s Keep. He and his counterparts help us with any rescues that require flight, scouting, or aerial pursuits. This is Ji-Yu. She is one of the fastest flyers of the Dragon Clan Changers. And Sheng. He is one of the strongest warriors and best scouts of the Dragon’s Keep. My friends, this is Felicity. One of our newest Keepers and current Keeper of the Kape Kumakain. Now that we know each other let’s head out. We will be going somewhere near the Oregon coast. That is where our Griffin is suspected to be. Apparently there was a small pride there, but their numbers are growing.” I looked around ensuring that they were following the information I was giving them before we left. 

 “The Court would like us to leave the others if it is possible, but the one we are after has begun to make humans suspect their presence. It is fishing out a large mammal and big fish as the seasons allow them. It has been spotted a few times and believed to be a large mountain lion. Our goal is to bring it to the Reserve before it alerts anyone else in the area. Any questions?”

After a silence our Dragon Changers chose would be their rider for the long flight and we took off.

I always had mixed feelings taking another magical being from the wild. Most could hide, but there was always a fear that they would be found out. 

What would humans do to them?

How many creatures had been destroyed before by their hand?

We arrived sooner than I anticipated and as the Dragon Changers slept I made plans with the Keepers. 

“Our goal is to get our Griffin in a trap on the ground that will also serve as a carrier for its transportation back home. The scouts working in the area have noticed that its coloring is mahogany fur with white feathers. It prefers fish over other fowl and local creatures so will need to go fishing for bait. The trap we have will need to be wiped of all scents that could give us away. Its placement needs to be somewhere it can be hidden out of sight.”

“Griffin’s are intelligent creatures and are very clever. We can not underestimate it. I suggest we keep our Dragon friends close by.” Ulric suggested.

“I agree. In that thought, Ulric you will go fishing. Felicity and I will place the trap and scent it and ready it for the Griffin. Let’s get going!” 

Felicity went off to get her bag full of the herbs and potions we need while Ulric stayed behind.

“Gwen, be careful. You know how these creatures are around you. It will seek you out. If not to persuade you, to join it.”

“I know Ulric, that is always a concern. Thank you for your concern, but it will be okay. This Griffin will be like any of the others. It will need understanding after taking it away from its home, but like the others, we will help it.”

“Gwen, you and I both know this time feels different. This Griffin is not like the others. It has not stayed with its pride. It is hunting far more than it should.”

“What if it is sick? Or poisoned? How many of our kind have we noticed those same behaviors when they need help?”

“You may be right, but be careful. You care too much and you are too great a caregiver. We need you at the Reserve as our leader. To care for the ones that are already there.”

“I will be cautious. And it is my ability to care too much that makes me a great caretaker. I will not give up on this Griffin.”

“Gwen, are you ready?” Felicity bounced up the path towards us.

“Yes of course! I promise you, Ulric. I will be safe.” I said as Ulric nodded and walked off.

He would worry of course.

He saw the worst sides of the creatures we worked with.

Knew their instinctual behaviors and desires. The desire to hunt and kill, to find safety, and to protect.

I saw the best in them. The need to be protected, to be fed, and given a feeling of safety most didn’t know. 

We balanced each other out. I trusted him as he did me. Even when we disagreed. 

We were a team.

And that was why we were always so successful.

“Gwen, did I do this right?” Felicity asked pulling me from my thoughts.

I inspected the trap. 

All the herbs to hide the scent of the trap and the potions were in place to keep the Griffin calm once it was inside.

“Looks good! Now, all we need is the fish! Good job Felicity!”

I looked at Felicity and she looked distracted. 

“Um, Gwen, is that Ulric and Daisuke?” 

I looked over to where she was pointing. 

The wings were definitely not the leathery wings of a Dragon. 

Through the light and shadow, I noticed the feathery edges.

“Felicity! Hide! After it leaves, find the others. Now!” 

I heard her run off as I stood in the open watching it fly toward me.

It landed. The vibrations of its weight hitting the ground shook me, but I stood as still as I could.

Its pupils were wide, its breathing hard. Its beak looked sharp and had fresh blood from whatever it just had eaten.

Muscles twitched as it shifted ever so slightly giving me a better view of its form. 

For as much as it was supposedly eating it had clearly not been getting any nutrition staying in its body. It was sick.

“I can help you. Give me the chance. I can make you better.” I said speaking in its own tongue.

I heard Felicity call my name as my feet left the woodland floor.

The Griffin took off with me and I could only hope it would be to talk.

Come back next week for Part 2 of the Keeper’s Trust!