Flurry and Elsie, members of the mercenary band "the Free Wardens", in the elite Blue Squadron, Messenger Core. Having learned that the gryphons from Arcana could be powerful and competent steeds, the Free Wardens were formed by members of the smaller races of Aesira, taking their mounts into battle, or wherever else they might need to be. Elsie is a gryphon from one of their strongest breeding lines, and when command decided it was time for her to provide the next generation for service, she and her rider, Flurry, were shifted to lighter all-around duty, particularly to the messenger core.

Flurry's race, the Lynx, have had problems with a dwindling population as late, with factions thinking that either inbreeding or cross-breeding with other species may be the key to future survival. Flurry, being one of the relatively few Lynx women who was still pure-Lynx and viable without accidentally crossing clan lines that have already been crossed, decided to take advantage of the lighter duties she and her mount would be pulling after Elsie's breeding, and headed back to her homelands for a somewhat similar reason.

Here they are, months later, relaxing together after a long ride to deliver a parcel to the Pryconian Capitol. Despite their condition, Flurry and Elsie have become two of the best messengers, rising to placement in the illustrious Blue Squadron. Gryphon and Rider can form a tight bond, and their similar circumstances have brought these two even closer.

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This pic, inspired by mullings on Aesira by  Kairyu-shin and me, was a whole lot of fun to do. On an off-chance, I decided to try a technique I'd been pondering for a while, the colored outlines, and it came off better than I'd thought!