Shedu Novice Diploma - Story

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Spring in Wyoming was sometimes a very wet affair with rain falling almost every day, turning the ground to a quagmire postponing all riding activities for a sunny day. Beka sighed to herself, even in rain she would prefer to be out doing something. While doing things she could forget the fact she was now without her ever-constant gryphon companion. Gustos had disappeared halfway through the winter on a trail ride in the mountains and had not returned; his loss left the young woman feeling empty and without purpose. She sighed again and got up from the window seat where she had been looking through the rain at the mountains.

Wondering through the expansive home of the Castillo family did not distract her mind; she could not stop thinking about the missing weight on her shoulder and the cold beak that would run through her hair. A heavy arm falling over her shoulders took her from her thoughts, looking up she managed a small smile for her older cousin.

“Can’t take your mind of it can you,” the tone of Tom’s voice was kind and he had a crooked smile on his face.

“No,” she sighed with a shrug, “I raised him from a hatchling Tom. I just can’t stop wondering why he disappeared.”

“Well maybe you just need to get away for a while,” he said holding up a very official looking envelope, the crooked smile back on his face, “It’s from Rockport, Florida.”

Beka had to blink a few times before it clinked in her head why the name Rockport was important. She felt her heart lift a little as she took the letter from her cousin. Using her pocketknife to open the envelope she pulled out the thick folded paper.

“‘Dear Miss Rebekah Peirce,’” she read aloud for her cousin’s benefit, “‘We at Elsevier have reviewed your application to our Shedu Novice Diploma Program and after much thought we have decided to accept your application.” Excitement filled her voice as she continued to read, “You are expected to be at the Elsevier Facilities in Rockport, Florida by the sixteenth of May of this year. We hope to see you at this time.’ They accepted,” She said excited, it was something that could take her mind off her missing gryphon.

“Well then if they want you by the sixteenth we’ll have to get you a plane ticket and you’ll have to pack,” Tom said a smile for his excited younger cousin. It was good to see her smiling again. “I’ll tell my side of the family, you tell yours.” He said turning the young woman with one hand and pushing her down the hall.

Yes, this was just what she needed, Beka thought, she needed to get away for a while. To form memories that did not have the gryphon in them… he might come back one day, she did not know. She rushed to where her parents’ room were to tell them the good news.

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Florida was hot she decided, as hot in spring as Wyoming was in dead summer. She looked out at the ocean and smiled, much bigger than the lake her family lived near but she bet it did not have a water serpent. Beka smiled and walked from the offices in the Elsevier Facility to the dorms they had for visitors. She would meet the Shedu she was to train with in the morning and she could not be more excited to see one of the huge cats up close. The ones she had seen from a distance looked much taller than her own five feet four inches, but she was used to tall horses back in Wyoming so she was sure she could manage. Hefting her rucksack up on to her shoulder she finished the walk to the dorms she smiled once more, this was going to be fun.

The next morning the sun was just over the horizon when Beka reported to the area of the yard reserved for the meet and greet for trainees and the Shedu. With treats for the cat in her pocket, she looked the pale cat over. She was an absolute beauty, with her back lighter than her face and fading clouded spots on her neck and rump, she was a remarkable sight. Beka had read in the information she had been given that Moth Wings was a friendly Shedu and quite sociable so she was not hesitant when she walked up to the cat with a treat in her hand.

“Hello there,” she murmured in her best admiring tone, “You are quite the pretty kitty.” The bright green eyes of the cat looked her over before Moth Wings sniffed at the treat and daintily took it in her mouth. Beka took out another treat as she scratched the cat’s shoulder, “Just as friendly as you are pretty I see,” she said with a smile. Moth Wings seemed to know she was being complimented and she fluffed up her fur a little giving Beka a cat’s smile. A few treats later and Beka was rubbing the Shedu’s belly as she lay on her back on the ground purring like a great engine.

Morning led to afternoon and one of the faculty members taught Beka the ins and outs of Shedu grooming. The girl had fallen in love with the friendly Moth Wings and the cat was quite happy for the praises and attention given to her.

The next few days saw Beka learning everything about the riding gear for the Shedu, from how to care for the gear to how the gear fit the cat. Each saddle was custom made for every cat, since every cat was different. Moth Wings was indifferent to the weight of the leather on her back, preferring the jaw scratches that Beka gave for her good behavior. Her trainer gave her instructions to take the tack on and off the cat; doing this multiple times a day so she could memorize the order of is assembly. The afternoons were devoted to strengthening the bond between Beka and Moth Wings; Beka knew that she would only ride the Shedu for the duration of the training course but a strong bond between rider and mount was necessary for smooth communication.

Beka chose to spend the bonding time exercising with Moth Wings on the beach, leading the cat up and down the beach on a halter so the woman to study the cat’s movements. It was a relaxing way to spend the day and soon became a regular routine.

The day that Beka put on the riding gear to begin training on the racetrack was exciting. Back in Wyoming, she only worked with the pleasure riding horses leaving the racing to Michael. She would stay at a slow gait in the beginning, which was the logical start, learning to move with Moth Wings as the cat made her way around the track. It was slow progression up through the gaits since Moth Wings seemed to prefer a gentle rocking trot to the higher speed movements. However, with encouragements from both the trainer and Beka, they got the Shedu up to the speeds needed to train for the racetrack

The shear exhilaration that Beka felt on the back of a Shedu was more than she had ever felt on the back of a horse. The only thing that came close was when she rode Orfeo, one of the pegasi at the stable. She smiled as dirt speckled the visor of her helmet, yes, this was what she loved, moving with the strides of a Shedu, to run faster than any normal horse could run. She would find the information needed for importing one of these beauties back to Wyoming, and she would do everything she could to convince her uncle to agree with her.