Al's rebuke saw the gryphon's ears swivel back and his head droop until his beak-tip touched the table with the clack of keratin on wood, and he abruptly looked to the right while the monk finished talking. He answered with sad resignation.<br/><br/>"Of course, Brother Al; I apologize. So long bereft of companionship I am a bit over-eager for a friend. But just as you shall never fly, I shall be ever alone. I am sorry to hear of your sad beginnings; I have seen children of the street fall to crime or an early end. That you've risen to such prestige makes me envious."<br/><br/>Looking back to the left at the sound of footsteps, the approach of a guard with a bloodied haunch of venison drew an excited 'skrrrrk' from the gryphon; he saw out of the corner of his vision Mary and Zato sat nearby. Not knowing that it was the blind monk who chose the table, the creature couldn't help but feel some small surge of happiness; perhaps the girl was less afraid of him, now? It was such a short time, but his desire for acceptance led him to put this out of his mind; not wanting to endanger his chance to reassure her, he quickly hid his gruesome meal by placing a foot upon the table.<br/><br/>"Ah, hello, Mary!" Again, the same too-cheerful, too-animal voice. "I am... happy you chose to sit beside me." He paced his words slowly, letting the girl grow accustomed to hearing him speak as best he could. "I felt bad earlier, when you were scared. Have you been at the Temple long?"