Composed: March 15, 2000

This song is about a Gryphon Master sitting in the woods at dawn holding the head of a wounded gryphon in her lap. She sits with him, comforting him and trying to use the mage skills that she does have to heal the wound that had been inflicted by a hunter's crossbow. Her power is strong enough to remove the broken bolt from his chest but she cannot heal his wounds because they are too severe. Instead she sits with him and speaks comfortingly to him.

She has had a gryphon die in her arms before and she remembers the pain. She knows that she never wants it to happen again. Unfortunately, she can't save him and it happens to her again. This song is about her final moments with him and her thoughts.

Text (Source: original)

As I sat there and stared into
his golden eyes, I thought, no, I knew,
oh yes, I knew. I knew that he would
never survive.

My eyes, filling with tears,
Saw his life dripping away.

Although I didn't know his name,
or his class, or where he lived,
I sat there with him until dawn.

Before he died, he gave me his last request.
He asked that I tell his mate of this foul deed,
and I swore to him that I would do as he had asked.

Moments later, his eyes closed
and he exhaled his final breath.
He would never again see the light
of the morning sunrise.

Now he has gone to rest eternally
in the garden of his Almighty Master.
May the Lion God watch over him forever.
Dona eis requiem sempitername.

INFORMATION

Title:	For A Dead Gryphon
Duration:	3:30
Orchestration:	mezzo-soprano and piano

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