Jino

Jino laughed, "You have to be kidding, Mom. I'm not the type."
"Well, I'm not kidding," Liya, his mother and second to the Aerie Mother, said. "Ice High Aerie came asking about any bonders we would have, and I suggested you. You have no studies going at the Institute so I thought..."
"Of course I'll go," Jino said, smiling. "It's more than I could have every wanted. I'm going to go tell Kina!"
"Don't disturb your sister!" Liya shouted. "She's busy with her studies."
"I wouldn't bother her," Jino said. "I'm justing going to tell her that I was searched."

***

"Jino, that's nice, but I'm busy," Kina sighed, not taking her eyes from the pages of her medical book.
"But Kina, listen to me. If you go apply somewhere too, we'll both be riders," Jino said.

Kina shook her head, "It’s not like it matters whether I have a bond or not, Jino,” Kina sighed as her black flit, Siaya, zipped around the room. “I can do just as much work without one. It’s nice that you have been searched, but I don't need to be."
“But Kina, there are so many Caers, Aeries, and Coves that need Bonders,” Jino whined.
“Well, they can just look somewhere else. Besides, how am I going to care for a bond and keep up my studies at the Institute?”
“You’ll be able to do it, Kina. I know. You’re strong,” Jino said.
“I may be strong, Jino, but that does not require me to bond,” Kina sighed. “Besides, Siaya is all the company I need.”
“But Kina…” Jino sighed.
"Jino, no," Kina sighed.
Jino shook his head and turned to leave the room, but hearing Kina mumble she was going to go apply, he poked his head back into her den, "I knew you'd come around," he said, then quickly dodged that book that came flying at him.
Smiling as her turned down the hall, Jino went to pack his things. They would be leaving soon, knowing exactly where Mairya would suggest Kina go.

***

Jino grabbed his bag and raced down the path after Kina. He could tell Siaya didn't like the idea of Kina bonding by the way she was carrying on. Suddenly, Siaya turned and started back towards Beckenrow. Jino laughed.
"Wait for me!" Jino shouted, turning his gaze back to the end of the path.
Kina had already boarded the Aerie Mother's Gryphon Kilace, and it seemed as though Mairya didn't know Jino was coming along.
"I'm going, too," Jino shouted again just as he reached Kilace.
"I thought you said you were searched," Kina sighed.
"Yeah," Jino said, smiling at her.
"Don't tell me it's..."
Jino nodded and smiled, "Ice High Aerie. I guess we'll be riders together after all."

***

J'no laughed as his Xax nipped at Kina's Cyfrace. The hyper little Gryphon leaped onto his bond's lap.

"Xax!" J'no cried, taking a quick breath. "Calm down!"
"Sorry, J'no," Xax sighed. "I'm just so excited about our lessons."
"Calm down, or we won't be able to hear the teacher," J'no laughed, placing his Gryphon next to him on the floor.
He happily nuzzled his sister and they fell asleep, laying next to each other, on the floor.

***

J'no and Xax sighed as they relaxed in the Fledgling barracks. Kina and Cyfrace

entered the barracks just after they did. Kina smiled at her brother who was stroking Xax's wings. J'no smiled at his sister as Xax chirped at Cyfrace. Cyfrace nuzzled Xax affectionatly as Kina laid down on the bed next to Jino's.
"So?" Kina sighed.
"Are you going back to Beckenrow when Cyfrace is grown?" J'no asked.
"Probably," Kina sighed. "Mother said that we need more Gryphoneers at the Aerie. Actually, she said we need more males, but..."
"Aeries don't need males," J'no sighed. "The females are the only important ones."
"J'no, hush," Xax exclaimed. "We are just as important as any female!"
"Xax," Cyfrace sighed, "Aeries tend to value females over males; however, from what Kina has told me of Beckenrow..."
"Males are just as valuable there," J'no sighed. "The Aerie Mother didn't like the traditional way. That's why there are so few riders. Every older rider who wanted the old ways..."