T-Kitra-Young Gryphon-1

Here is my artwork for my gryphon's first challenge at the group #Windsonde.


The Challenge: Your friends tell you a rumor that the shamans will be eternally grateful if you bring them a powerful medicinal fruit. Problem is, it only grows on Tookie Island. Do you dare venture to this mysterious island of primitive gryphons? Do you think your friends are telling you the truth or playing a prank on you?

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(Warning: LONGEST ARTIST'S COMMENTS EVAR. I don't know where else to put the story, though!)
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Kitra believed her friends' tale. After all, why would they ever tell her a falsehood?
She could see how the Shamans would be running short on some supplies, after all... she had heard the rumors of their potions mysteriously disappearing or being brazenly stolen in broad daylight! Kitra puffed out her feathery chest, trying to steel her courage, then launched herself into the thin, calm air towards her goal: the frightening Tookie Island!

The flight to the island was uneventful. Tookie island looming below her, an optimistic Kitra spiraled lazily down towards the verdant canopy. The trees grew wild and tangled. Kitra decided to try gliding above the treetops to try and spot this mysterious fruit. Maybe one of these lush giants had what she needed.

After a few minutes of flying around, the young gryphon began to feel fatigued and frustrated. She had seen nothing, no fruit whatsoever, in any treetops. No Tookie Islanders had showed themselves, either. She heard some distant, raucous cries occasionally, but so far it seemed that none of the small, fierce gryphons had spotted her. Kitra, feeling relatively safe, swooped down through a gap in the branches and landed with a soft thump on the rich loam. She took stock of her surroundings. The shadows were thick with so many leaves overhead, but the coast seemed clear. She set off at a trot. The scents of the jungle were overwhelming. The pungent odor of moist bark oozed from the tree trunks. The musty, tangy smell of rotting leaves welled up from the ground all around her. She passed a large clump of ruby-red flowers clinging to a massive tree trunk. Their cloying scent masked all others in the area. Kitra paused, eyeing them for a moment. They were lovely. Perhaps if these could grow here so richly, it would be a good place for fruit to grow, too. It was just a guess. Suddenly, a piercing screech split the air. "BIG STINKGRIFF GONNA TAKE KEECHA'S SPECIAL ORCHID!" A tiny, tan blur dive-bombed her repeatedly, screaming, "STINKYSTINKYSTINKY!" the whole time. Kitra hunched down and tried to slink away from the flying fury, trying to protect her face. (Was it some sort of hamster/wren gryphon?) This loud creature was less terrifying than she expected, but more embarrassing, for some reason. It was calling her stinky! Did she really stink?! Kitra had never even thought that she had a smell! Furtively, she looked for an opening in the trees where she could fly up and away.

Things took a turn for the worse when the wrenster's (wren/hamster- ahaha...) friends and neighbors started flocking for the fun. "Eata eata big ol' griff!" one squawked, and they all took up the excited battle cry. Were they kidding or were the rumors true? Kitra didn't want to wait to find out! Her feline front paws, which she normally hated for their clumsiness, came in handy as she began running in earnest through the undergrowth. Swiftly she sought an escape. The flock of Tookie gryphons behind her seemed to be gathering members and momentum! She could sometimes feel sharp beaks snapping at her tail and her tightly folded wings. Then, finally, hope! She saw a break in the trees ahead where an old, giant trunk had fallen. Kitra took off with desperate energy and flew with all her might. She soon left the rabble behind. She soon noticed the beach below her and her heart sank as she realized she was going to leave the island behind without finding the fruit for the Shamans.
Sadly, she set her eyes towards the mainland. A moment later, Kitra clacked her beak in annoyance. She wheeled around and wearily glided back towards Tookie Island. She was going to FIND THAT FRUIT!

The tired, young gryphon practically crash-landed on the sandy beach and tumbled into a heap in the shade of a scrubby shore tree. Exhausted, she rolled onto her side and looked up. Could it be? Plump, colorful fruits dangled from the branches. Hurriedly, as if someone would steal them all from her within moments, Kitra scrambled up, flapping awkwardly, and snapped off a small branch that was laden with several fruits. She would be able to carry this little branch back in her beak much more easily than she could carry a single fruit.

Kitra knew she needed to rest up before the long flight back to the mainland. She crept a little further down the beach and found herself a nice, shady spot under some thick bushes. She hoped to avoid discovery here and lay very still.

After a few minutes, she heard some loud rustling. She was not prepared when a kingfisher/spider monkey Tookie Islander appeared, dangling in front of her. "Meep! Hisssss!" she cried, her wings unfolding and her hackles rising.
"HI!" he cackled.
Kitra eyed the newcomer suspiciously. He landed on the ground in front of her and cocked his head at her. She just stared back.
"Hi!" he said again, his beady eye trained on her face, especially her sharp, curved beak. "Makea nesty nest. Nesty nest fluff!"
Kitra pricked her ears, not sure what the Tookie Islander wanted. She soon found out.
"Fluffy nesty nest!" he squawked, gave her one last glance, and then swiftly, painfully, stole a huge chunk of soft fur from Kitra's belly! He flew off cackling.
She let out an angry, agonized shriek when he plucked her soft belly fur and jumped up as if to chase him, but after half a second of contemplation, sat down again. There was no point. What was she going to do, chase him down into a den of hungry Tookies and demand he give her the fur back? Kitra sighed. After resting for a few more minutes, she picked up her sprig of fruit and took off, with Tookie Island to her back. She hoped not to return for a good, long time!
At least she had the fruit, and that was satisfying. Was it even the right fruit? It seemed close enough. The fruit might even get to be used to help heal someone! Kitra thought that was worth the chilly, bare spot on her tummy. She felt like she had accomplished something today.

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I used a very, very handy, free brush by ~calthyechild who does not even require credit for use. I still wanted to credit her because she is so awesome for making it.

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Kitra's next challenge: