Gründ woke up, again, before anyone else. His wings were almost done, only a few feathers left to stick to them and it would be ready for a first try. It didn’t take him long to get them both done to his liking. Gründ is many things, but luckily not a perfectionist. He went to visit Haylir as soon as she was up, asking her for a final check on both his nose and the wings.

“The nose will never be as long as it used to be, but other than that there should be no lasting damage. As for the wings… Let me eat something and I’ll come watch, I wouldn’t miss this for the Core!”

The colony woke up suddenly to the delighted cries of Toxal, who had very silently escaped his house to watch the new wings. “Look mom, he’s at it again! Go Gründ, go!” the little excited Töskr was jumping around and wagging his tail. He loved Gründ’s machines.

Gotha, on the other hand… “Come on Toxal, we all know how it’s going to end” said she, looking up at the ridiculous winged shape standing on the roof of yet another building. His bent tail was the only recognizable feature. Haylir had made him wear a sort of helmet, since his nose was still not healed.

He looked like a creature out of a child’s dream, with feathers fluttering in the wind and a giant smile on his half covered face. He took two steps back, a deep breath, and…

“Whahahahaha it’s working!”

Gründ had never felt like this before. He was supported by the wind, all of a sudden light in body and in mind. He flapped his brand new wings once, twice, three times without hitting the ground, exhilaration masking the fact that he never finished his fourth flap. He would dance if he only knew how. Haylir was happy that he didn’t, it was way too early to dance.

“Never mind, same result…” The assembled Töskrs returned to their tasks, now that the bit of morning fun was over. Gründ had, again, faceplanted, just as they expected. “I’m fine! I’m all right!” he said to an angry Gotha.

“You’re going to give him ideas like that!” she told him, pointing to her still jumping son. “Will you ever stop?” The winged fur-ball was getting back up, still smiling, and didn’t take the time to answer. He jolted and rushed towards Bared’s house, shouting like crazy “Higher! Higher! Let’s try higher!”

He reached Bared’s front door at the exact moment the elder was getting out to see what all the excitement was about. He barely had time to twist out of the way of the unstoppable Gründ, a feather landing on his nose when he finally managed to stop spinning.

“Grund… Would you PLEASE stop running in here every time you make new wings?! Atchoo!” But Gründ was already heading for the stairs. “Sorry Bared! But this time it will work! I actually flew already!” and disappeared. Bared followed as fast as he could, which considering his age was ‘not very’, trying to continue the conversation while huffing and puffing and losing every last bit of elderly dignity. “Oh dear... Just be careful… And this is the LAST time!”