Code 30, medium priority response. A week of constant rain had caused flooding along the Missouri River causing a levy to break and flood a nearby town, trapping potentially hundreds of people in the upper levels of their homes.

Becky was the first to respond. She had flown in from her home in north Texas, collected some additional equipment from a local Harbinger supply post, and arrived on scene within the hour. Sure enough, a small town had recently been swamped with overflowing river water, completely submerging the town center and the surrounding residential neighborhoods enough to make the roads impassable. After touching down, she lightly walked through the toe-high waters to where her presence would have the best impact. Right away, she spotted a small group on top of an apartment complex, where the littered flood waters were at their deepest.

"Howdy, folks!" She waved as she dropped to one knee. "Is everybody from this building present an' accounted for?"

"We're just waiting on my husband!" A middle-aged female replied. "He went to our room to grab our phones and some chargers, but he should be back any moment now. Thank goodness you arrived so quickly!"

"All in a day's work, ma'am. Y'all go ahead and hop on." She lowered one hand down, plenty big enough to fit two or three individuals in one go, to let them clamber on. "Is anyone hurt? I have some first-aid packs in a pocket here."

"We're fine, thanks," another answered.

"Where's Ginny?" asked a younger male in the group. "I thought she did the work around here?"

"Ginny's in California with Lydia fightin' them wildfires, so I had'ta fill in..." the griffiness looked around the flooded landscape and saw that everyone was surprisingly calm and organized. The rain had eased off enough to allow some onlookers to sit over the edges of their rooftops to watch her work. Someone from the building in front of her was on the balcony, looking up at her with shock and awe. That must be that one woman's husband, she thought to herself.

"If ya stay put, sir," she said to the male on the balcony, "I'll pick you up after I get everyone else off th' roof here."

"Oh, okay, thank you!" he leaned against the balcony, waiting patiently.

By now, a local news helicopter began to circle the scene, keeping a distant eye on Becky's progress. She gave them a smile and a confident wink before her eyes then drifted down to the waters below. First her eyes were drawn to a family of ducks swimming past, but some movement nearby caught her attention. A brave soul was lounging in the flood waters in an inflatable pool ring, sipping what she assumed was iced tea. They held up their glass as her movements sent waves that bobbed them up and down.

Becky smiled and nodded back. "Y'don't suppose ya need any'a these here rescue rafts, do ya?" she patted the equipment strapped to her thigh.

"Nah, don't mind me, man," they half-shouted back, putting on a pair of sunglasses. "I'm just enjoying the show!"

The griffin Harbinger chuckled. "Alrightie then. I'll come back for you later when ya had your fun," she turned her attention back to the rooftop group in front.

With the last of the literal handful of people accounted for, she pulled her hands (and her precious cargo) close and rose back up to her full height. "Okay, everyone, hop on and I'll take y'all to someplace a little less wet..."

---

You know what they say: one smol in the hand is worth two on the rooftop... or something like that...

Defending one's nation is not the only thing a Harbinger does. If anything, it's actually a small part of what they do. Most of the time, they're helping out the citizens of their sovereign nation get through difficult times, and just because Becky is a war vet it doesn't mean she can't, for instance, fly over 500 miles from her home in north Texas to collect literal handfuls of stranded residents from their flooded homes.

I recently came upon  jarethnerl's profile and was very impressed by what they had to offer. I was also looking to put some mileage on Becky's reference and I'm happy to say, for the first published comm of her besides her reference, it's gotten off to a great start! I love all the little quirky details; they were fun to work into the vignette. ^,..,^

If this is your first time seeing any of my Harbingers content, fear not! I have the first of three chapters in an origin story series with the second well on the way, coming Soon:tm:!

Art done by  jarethnerl <-- go watch this guy, he does great content, and not just macro stuff! :D

Becky Houston the all-American griffin Harbinger, saving your neighborhood from disaster one handful at a time, belongs to me! :D