Luke's new Master walked on snow-white hind paws, his claws digging into the dust of the arena with graceful sharp stabs. Behind his back, he bore a set of soft feathered wings, their rustles silent as they flickered with his steady movement. Occasionally, Master's long fluffy tail would tap against the slave's leg almost seemingly by accident, yet, it was far more purposeful than that. It was checking on him, reminding the new slave that his Master was not as absent from his purchase as he would otherwise casually display while holding his slave's chain as they strolled out of the market area.

Despite his situation, Luke could not help be feel attracted to the way his Master walked. It was firm, full of assuredness and purpose that many replicated but which few actually accomplished. Yet, his Master, however impressive he walked, still showed a certain hesitation in his movement. His Master's tail would twitch oddly as it seemed to try and consciously correct for steps that seemed just a bit too long and every so often his Master's wings would brush against another member of the crowd in what otherwise should've been an easily avoided touch. It was like watching a pretender. A fake of the creature before him though Luke knew it to be true. He has touched its soft fur and wicked claws when his Master had studied him on the selling stage.

And those eyes. Those golden orbs had gazed upon the beaten man with such an intensity that he could not help be feel reduced, his previous whims of escape dashed before the purchase had even been made. He had sunk underneath his Master's glaring hot stare, an attempt to escape notice from what might as well have been the sun, and was thankful when, a few seconds later, those eyes were taken off of him.

The creature, his Master, was indeed real in mind and body, so why could Luke not shake the feeling that something was still off?

Luke's thoughts were suddenly interrupted as the steel collar around his neck relaxed and the chain became slack, drawing Luke back to the situation at hand. Both men had made their way out of the slave market. The relatively cool interior giving way to an intense dust-kissed heat that sapped Luke's nose and mouth of moisture and left him in a fit of coughing. His Avian-like master merely gave the wheezing Luke a sparse sideways glance as the new slave struggled to find breath.

Roughly, Luke could feel his Master grabbing his collar, their claws biting into his skin. Was he about to be beaten?

Luke struggled instinctively not wishing to feel the horrid rake of claws upon his flesh, but he was too weak. His Master held him firm, speaking ancient words, and with a tingling spark, Luke realized that his collar had been removed.

Confusion entered into Luke's mind. What was going on? A Master did not remove a slave's collar on a whim. In the back of his mind, the word freedom bubbled up. Perhaps he was going to -

"Get down on all fours Slave."

Luke's Master spoke in a deep controlled twittering tone. Much like as if he were trying to casually strangle an earthquake with his tongue. It bounced around in Luke's ears as his hopes for a quiet release were replaced with a fiery beat in his chest. Slave collars were used in order to control the slaves. Enchanted with Pain Magic according to the Master's will, they prevented a slave from disobeying orders, hurting their master, or running away.

And he no longer was wearing one.

Bursting into a sprinting dash, Luke began to run as fast as his weak legs could carry him. In the few moments while he had been coughing, he had observed his surroundings, selecting the best possible escape route should he have an opportunity. Well...opportunity had arrived and he would be damned if he would not take it. All he had to do was reach the tipped cart in front of him, leap over it, and make his way into the winding streets of the city while his 'Master' was busy going around the obstacle.

10 feet away. His lungs began to burn from his exertion.

6 feet away. The disheveled man looked behind him to see the creature simply observing him silently.

3 feet away. This was it! He was really going to make it!

He leaped upon the cart, his hands frantically grasping at the overturned crates and ropes for leverage! Then his hands felt nothing. With a shock, he realized he was being pulled away from the cart but he could feel no hands upon him. Horror crossed his worn features as he realized why his Master had not chased him. He did need to. Turning his head around as best he could, he saw the creature approaching him calmly, one of his hands raised, magic energy crisscrossing between him and the open air to create an orange glow. What scared Luke most though, was that his Master was smiling.

"Did I say you could leave me, Mount?"

Luke did not understand what that meant. Struggling mightily, he thrashed in the sorcerer's grip, trying to break the bonds that held him tight. As he did so, his Master touched his shoulder and Luke felt a rush of something crossing into his body. It felt like nothing he had ever felt before. He did not notice anything happening as he struggled, but it felt as if there were two of him occupying the same space. Him and another who was him yet not. It was enough to almost make him throw-up as his soul was jostled around like a leaf among a raging river.

Crying out in spiritual pain, he did not realize it as his voice turned from a man's wail into a high-pitched cry belonging to a bird of prey. Sharp and unyielding, he opened his eyes to stare down at a hooked beak now extending from where his nose and jaw should be. He warbled in shock, his new addition clacking down upon itself. It felt natural, and it did not at the same time. Eyes widening, he could feel as gloves and boots tore away to reveal useless paws. Feathered pads and claws only capable of allowing him to walk and nothing more.

Pain spiked from his shoulders as large flight feathers began to grow, tearing the tissue and replace it is fur. Instincts flooded Luke's mind as he instinctively looked to his Master for comfort, even as his new tufted tail snaked out from between his legs to whip about in the empty air. His Master's claws stroked through his head feathers and fur, comforting the bewildered beast as its hips and shoulders reconfigured for feral motion.

"That's a good Mount..." Master praised, bringing pride into Luke's heart at his words. "I can see that we'll be having a lot of fun together, you and I."

The newly created gryphon merely gazed confused at his Master, no longer able to understand speech. His ears curled back in worry, hearing a hint of poison in Master's words, was he in trouble? As if reading his mind, Master gently pet behind the gryphon's ears, just exactly where he liked it. Luke could feel a rumble of contentment rising from his chest. No, of course not.

Master would never hurt him.

---

The first appearance of a Rygone-sona that I have not nearly indulged in enough. A Snow Owl Gryphon, this character is a lot more sinister than many of my other sonas. He utilizes a practice known as 'Essence Magic'. A type of sorcery that steals the souls of other creatures to be stored in various gems and/or trinkets and used as needed once the proper body is provided. In this case, a slave known as Luke who was implanted with the soul of a gryphon so that he could be used as a mount. Essence Sorcerers are generally evil beings who prey upon others in order to increase their store of unique souls to be called upon or who enslave others to be used as 'flesh' for these very souls.

Once a soul is taken, it forgets its past life. However, certain instincts or knowledge can never be dispelled and so creatures who are reborn are still able to carry out their duties. It should be noted as well that hosts are not removed from the body either. They are instead merged with the new soul until the sorcerer chooses to remove it. Usually in order to torment their slave or force a different soul to merge instead.

Anyway, at some point, I will probably flesh this particular scenario out with a more in-depth short story. I also have not decided if I want Essence Sorcerers to be a part of Refuge yet or not, so we'll see on that front, but I enjoy the idea in general. Especially when I feel more dominating than usual. Now excuse me while I go break in this new mount!

Art by  Sakemanni

Luke belongs to  transformationanonymous

Rygone/Master, Essence Sorcerers, and Refuge belong to  Umbreon07