Tear Jerker / Griffin Ranger

• In a world full of horrifying death, Gorn and Grim Dark, it's nonetheless really hard not to tear up when half the remaining captive griffins are sedated and hauled away to their deaths all at once, despite the helpless, screaming protests and attempts to attack by the survivors. Rescue comes far too late.
  • Aera, at the cusp of finding the black-tagged captives, is told that to go to them would be sure death and wouldn't save them, as they'd already been infected. When she finally realizes that her "adopted" young griffin Voll is beyond rescue and that leaving him to die alone is the only option, she has a screaming breakdown. She ends in the griffin equivalent of helpless tears against Vaniss' breastfeathers, her spirit completely broken. It's immensely satisfying when Harrell, feeling every bit of his daughter's anguish, issues the order to kill all the mooks that actually committed the murders.
  • Voll Golden-Nape's final moments with Aera as she goes under.
  Aera:Sorry....I tried...I can't...
  Voll:I know.
  Aera:Please don't go.......
  Voll whispers inaudibly to her as she falls asleep, then he too is sedated, and strokes her as he goes under for the last time.