Frozen Male Hatchling
Name: Russet
Species: Cardinal Gryphon
Birthday: Thursday, December 31, 2009
Owner: Phoenixwildfire
Element: Neutral 
You look up at a sudden sound, meeting the gaze of a very hungry baby gryphon. Seeing that it has caught your attention, the little one gives another shrill shriek, demanding food. You give it a wry smile and rise to your feet to make it a meal. The little one follows you closely, nipping now and then at your feet to make you hurry. While it feeds, you run a hand gently through its feathers, marveling at the rich color. The male hatchlings boast the brighter feathers, but the tan of the females blends in well against snow. The feathers give way to spotted fur along its back, and a small tail lashes at the floor as the cardinal hatchling feeds. As you trail a hand along its back, a bright feather comes away in your hand. This red hatchling is beginning to molt, and before soon will begin to master flight.
With their beautiful bright coloring, male cardinal gryphons are easy to spot against the snow. These gryphons don't mind the cold, even the harshest weather. Perhaps this is because they are half snow lion, and their spotted fur shields well against the cold. These gryphons keep to themselves, living in the forests around the castle, where they hunt. While cardinal gryphons primarily prey on small animals, they have been known to take on the fiercest of beasts. They are one of the few known species to successfully battle dragons, and are commonly referred to as the most dangerous of gryphons. Unlike others of their kind, who make their homes along the ground, cardinal gryphons live above the forest floor, in huge nests that can take years to complete. Do not make the mistake of thinking that such homes are easy to find – their nests are made out of branches and the bones of past meals, and blend in perfectly with their environment. If there are eggs or younglings present, they are guarded by one of the parents at all times, who will fight to the death with beak and claw.
Sprite art: GlassWalker (hatchling) | Description: Damien