Achievement!

If nothing else, I met my own personal goals for the day. I broke the 20,000 mark - and it's not even midnight!

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The merchant looked up, gray tendrils of smoke slowly drifting about his head and neck, before snaking upwards and out of the tent. “She is a desert griffin,” he said, his voice bored. “Very rare. But maybe you have an eye for rare griffins?”

Trev chuckled. “Not really. I had no idea that this one,” he patted Feather roughly on the shoulder, “would reach near the size he did. If anything, it is more a hindrance than a benefit. He costs twice the amount to feed!”

The female griffin stirred, raising her head to look out the bars of her cage. Her body was curled like that of a cat, compact and well muscled. Her eyes were deep gold and glittered like coins in the bottom of a river.

<Feather,> Trev sent. <What on earth is going on?>

<I can’t tell you,> Feather sent, his sending fading in out. Trev had never seen the griffin so close to a true panic. <But,we must purchase her, no matter the cost.>