ldn't be

groaning and baring his tee

said beside him. '

squeaked. 'Look

was almost completely destroyed in parts. It looked like a great beast had crashed into several of the buildings, tearing them apart as if they were made from only paper. Several animals wandered about in confusion, sheep that ha

man, sitting on the steps before one of the

o have come to save us

replied to the man flatly. '

hank god. You have to kill

llage leader?' L

old man replied, poin

marching away. The other members

to several people, dishing out orders and pointing from here to there. Behind her, just outside the village was a small fire, on which a sma

village leader was saying to another man. 'The siz

eroy spoke lo

rned t

the villa

m young, but this is my job now.' She paused, considering the

oy grumbl

out from the group to ge

ming back. The people are afraid to leave their homes n

Waltz gazed back, grinning widely. He remembered, what felt like a lifetime ago, being young and full of dreams, ju

l pursuing

g. 'If it was a fire-breathing creature…well…out littl

ed tone. 'We must be grateful for w

lds now, we have stayed here in this village together where we f

n, placing his h

said. 'Don't worry' he reassured her. 'We will fin

a bush, all facing the same way, all staring outwards through th

for it?' Waltz grumbled.

e' Leroy rea

ideways glance at him, gl

through gritted teeth, 'that

taring through the bush at the dead sheep, an expression of agonizi

his patience with Waltz grew thinner with every word that fell out of h

us

female in season

ing a strange expression. 'Why

Leave Leroy be. He's our lead

to Kyle now. 'Shouldn't we be surrounding it? W

in annoyance then as

unded by men! I knew you w

abbing him and clapping a hand over Waltz's m

roy hissed as Waltz

due him, which seemed to m

d members named Earnest asked Leroy. 'Maybe Waltz i

t. 'We can't fight it here. It would only get away from us. A flying beast like that would only try to escape.

re you goi

e grass a bow, alongside a single arrow with feath

follow it anywhere, even if the arrow gets dislodged after a time, the magic

g at the arrow with large eyes. 'It

ngers down to touch it, stroking it tenderly lik

beast this is?' E

rs gave me' Leroy replied withdra

ain bitterly about it later, and accuse Leroy of all sorts of mischief. But for t

f an hour later, when somet

It sounded like a great eagl

owards the heavens, gazing all around for

denly with a gasp, eyes wi

ortion to its body. The colour of its wings and fur were black and brown mottled, w

sheep, beating its colossal wings

m behind the bush, standing tall and drawing the stri

eching furiously, looming over the de

was embedded deep into the monster's flesh. The griffin screeched again, crouching lo

ed on his heel and marched towards the horses tha

hey went. The eleven members of the guild mounted their

hunting the beast, and going where it led. Chasing after him were the other ten members of the guild, wit

e beast into t

of the rocky slopes. 'It's too high.' He wheeled his horse

p, hearing the last wo

li

ad back to the stee

oh

s nowhere to tie them in the rocky place,

his horse that had no name. 'I want to

just stare

bbing the air before him ex

ther members of the guild that were

ting his teeth in determ

rduous. It was gruelling and exhausting and arduous a

as his muscles burned and his fingers bled from climbing th

lright dow

one of the other

like gravity ever killed anyone' he added in

stan hollered down to

e drop behind him, his stom

scared of heights? He thought th

ld members called to him fro

op of the cliff, hauling himself over the ed

g for him to catch up. Waltz crawled forward

old and rocky cliffs. There lay a vast and green countryside, the bri

he surface of the water, lifting its body high before throwing itself back with an almighty splash. It descended into the depths again, as deep a plac

g his arms out wide. 'This bright and beau

h the air, an ear piercing call, a sha

all staring towards the maze of r

his back to the drop. He watched as the griffin made itself known, clawing at t

rs behind him. He was the closest to the approaching beast. 'It's

red then, conto

d as it tore forwards, wings beating

dge where Waltz stood; sailing over the top of his head

gs caused Waltz to stumble back, teetering on his heels on the very

aahhhh….WAA

then, grabbing him by the o

the end of the scarf as Walt

arf?' Tom

led him back. Waltz stumbled forward

hed. 'That was

called out to them as the

his sword with a grin, standing with his side to the griffin as it dre

tumbling in the sudden gale the beast created, his

, reaching an impossible height. The other members of the guild (Waltz included) w

r, faster and faster, twirling his twin blades as he did, cut

th his head bowed, swords held out either side of h

ing suddenly, fists balled and body shaking

rising to his feet. 'Quickly

forwards, attacking the unfortunate bea

in pain, using a gust of wind to throw t

wing his weapon up to catch the grif

knife on a chain caught the beast, hooking around the joint of its wing. Kyle pulled sh

ing into the mountains and

e beast, weapons raised, eyes fixed on the vague sh

, screeching in anger, but

ed, steppin

t's my

in the air the bright ribbon tied to the hilt which he used to distract his enemies from the blade

I'm r

separated from the others, now the centre of the griffin's attention. It clambered over the rocks, running on all

ng deep into its shoulder. The griffin screeched, turning back to him and lunging again. Waltz twirled the sword several times, the red cloth tied to the hilt he used to

pace. It followed Waltz, ignoring the guild members either side. Its large talons tore at the earth

with one of his swords and stabbing th

one f

ening his grip on the sword, b

od and falling forwards. It heaved itself up one last time, r

ild members around him relaxed, sh

hem, wiping clean his twin blades before sh

und and patting each other on the back. Waltz wiped his f

z' one of them

est' Waltz g

r celebration. He approached the dead griffin, s

of his strength to push it. The griffin slump

wn the griffin's body. He sa

He saw the griffin's chestnut plume was tipped with a red hue

ped back, jerking his head up to the guild members

sile

flipping a light switch, each

said to them urgent

Waltz asked him. '

Leroy told him. 'It's far too small to have caused the

ha

. The males are always smaller. This be

ulped nervously. 'I

griffin and leaning on its body, looking down

ffins nesting never travel too far from their eggs, and never leave them for too long.

and deeper within the rocks. As they went, Waltz gla

gazing all about him. 'Every crack, every

his hand firmly on his shoulder. 'We'll g

altz asked him as they walked. 'They are monst

n. 'We can kill it; just have a little faith

then, thinki

e bega

en he

reath, crying out i

called. 'It'

he rocks beside them only a brie

ed his hand to the others, signalling them to stop. 'N

s stared in silence at

est time, no

g' Leroy whis

ike obsidian appeared the

st of the beast

, like…five times the size of the

, with really big and sharp feet at the back like a terrifying pr

k one loo

pa

k, ready to lunge and k

cried turning

he collar before he ha

k and shoving him forwards to face th

ed forward, right into the path of t

ered staring bac

out wide over their heads, before folding them c

ight beside him, close enough so t

lowly towards the griffin, eyes wide with fear, his breath

to Waltz, doing so very slo

aware of Leroy sho

ON'T LET I

got caught on the griffin, and as it took off soaring over the hill

re his faint protests at the ri

AAAAAAHH

up towards the sky as Waltz sailed

he

?' Tristan asked him, straight

e others as the griffin made its escape with Waltz dang

Trevor asked, frowning at the shr

ly turning back to the swif

e sky, watching Walt

scarf'