Diante

Diante stretched out in his bed, arching his back and letting a soft sort of purr escape his lips before his blue eyes opened.

The gryph lounging in the loft near him laughed. "Are you sure you're not part gryph, Diante?"

The young man smiled. "I would be if I could be Linx."

The gryphon laughed. "Glad to hear it. Maybe you'll be tapped as a bonder some day."

Diante shrugged. "I'm not getting any younger." He said as he climbed down from the loft and ran a hand through his short dark hair to straighten it.

Linx looked down at him, with what passed for an expression of concern showing on the gryph's face. "You're hardly old, Diante."

"I've 24 years, Linx. I should be married or something by now, but all the women find me too feisty… I'd be far too hard to control." Diante said, grinning as he headed for the kitchen.

Krilix scoffed. "If I were you, I'd talk Yence into finding another spot at an Aerie for that one, pronto. Doesn't really strike me as the gryphonner type, but then again…"

Linx bapped his bond-brother with a wing. "You're not being very tactful."

"Yeah? You're not being very pleasant…" Krilix returned.

"Boys, boys…" one of the ladies of the House admonished. "Take it outside…"

Linx and Krilix, properly scolded, settled down. "I still think you should talk to Yence." Krilix said, and lept off the loft.

* * *

Diante put his strength into the first task they gave him when he entered the kitchen. Sometimes he wished that he had a bit more freedom like the girls did, but he didn't really mind. Pulling one's own weight was part of being a member of the House. Besides, standing 6'6" made him quite the weighty sort… not that he really had much extra flesh on him.

Diante loved to run, and was usually put in charge if something was being done by just a group of boys - like the Ladies Spring Luncheon or something. He was a level headed, strong minded young man, who just didn't have any luck with the ladies.

After the baking was done, those who had helped were permitted to share some of the cookies - each one getting half. The thin girl who was sharing with Diante split the treat unevenly, and gave him "half" that was barely a quarter.

"I'd like the rest of my half, please." Diante said.

"You have your half." The girl said around a huge mouthful of cookie. "Be happy you got that. After all, you are a boy."

Diante glared. "You're nesting with ants, child."

The girl stuck out her tongue and skipped away. Diante sighed, and left the kitchen. He was getting nowhere, fast. Donning his heavy jacket, he went outside. There in the skies above Ice High Aerie, a pride of gryphons flew; red, gray, orange, blue… with no way to tell which was female and which wasn't, at least from this distance. Surely gryphon females treated their counterparts with more respect…

A pair of gryphs flew down towards the House, only one trailing messenger silks. "Excuse me." The silk-ribboned gryphon said, "would you know where I could find Diante?"

Diante blinked. "I'm right here." He said. He knew there was a more courteous way to say it, but he couldn't think of it, and he wasn't particularly happy with girls at the moment.

The Gryph nodded. "Good. News of you has reached Mother Yence, and she has found a place for you at Furtim Aerie, should you accept it."

Diante stared. He didn't mean to, but… "I'd be honored, Gryphoness…" he said.

"Good. Then go pack while I notify the Lady of the House." She said, then walked inside.

"Hurry, Diante. The eggs are waiting." The other gryph said, startling Diante just a little with his deep voice.

* * *

Diante was surprised to find that he wasn't the only person from Belrin Isle brought here to Furtim Aerie… and that Niata wasn't as cruel to him as the girls of the House had been. In fact, she even wrestled with him. It was like she was 'one of the guys'.