The yearly masked ball. Most gryphons knew what this night represented, even if they didn't fully acknowledge its importance. Figures in masks and adorned with little trinkets leaped and soared beneath a brilliant, full moon. Stepping into the cleared dancing-circle, Equinox peered up at the night sky and contemplated what this celebration truly meant. A day of complete balance between day and night, life and death - the night of which Equinox herself was named.

The gryphon got lost in gazing at the moon and stars, inwardly identifying the constellations and their position in the turning sky. It wasn't until she heard the quiet voice of another, gently inquiring whether she should like to dance.

Equinox turned, a bit startled, and focused on the dark figure which approached. He was clad in a dark fabric which billowed behind him in the slight breeze of the night. A mask of curved leather and long feathers framed his face, and he wore an elegant collar, studded with orange beads and decorated with a rabbit's tail.

She seemed confused. He wanted to dance? With her? Her beak opened a few times before she finally gave up on trying to speak and simply nodded. Their wings spread and lifted them into the cold night sky, where they clasped talons in a traditional dance greeting...

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For the Aspect of Balodius event for Windsonde on DA!. The dashing male gryphon is nekonotaishou's Tafari, dancing with my gryphon, Equinox. Equinox is a bit bashful around the gentlemen :3

This was done in Painter and took far too long D: I love the program but I'm just so slow using it!

Here are some details since the original is so much bigger: http://fav.me/d33o6fk