Reed reached them, panting. "The griffin- it found me- and I ran to warn-" he gasped, wiping sweat off his forehead. "We need- to run!"

Tia's eyes went wide with fear. She started shaking as the screeches got louder.

Esther stepped protectively in front of her sister, but she was also shivering. "We- we can't run. Even on horseback, it's too fast."

"We'll have to face it head on," Sierra confirmed.

Diana furrowed her brows. "Is that the best idea?"

"Do you have a better one?" Sierra questioned, knocking an arrow.

Diana quieted, drawing her sword, and Sierra continued. "Tia, Esther, see if you can draw its attention. Diana, Reed and I can sneak up from behind and attack it."

They all nodded, weapons in hand. In front of them, the trees shook, and a griffin stomped out, snapping its shiny beak. Its tail whipped behind it, knocking aside bushes and spindly trees.

"GO!" Sierra, flanked by Reed and Diana, dashed to one side while Esther and Tia zigzaged towards the griffin. She ran as fast as she could, arcing around the griffin. Tia and Esther were distracting it by reflecting the sunlight off their weapons into the griffin's eyes. It shrieked angrily, but it only seemed mildly annoyed.

She entered the woods, turning so the griffin's lashing tail was in view. A large branch flew over her head, barely missing her. She aimed her arrow at the back of the griffin's head, but suddenly and unpredictably, it turned and spotted them.

"Crud!" Sierra ducked.

The griffin roared- not much like an eagle- and lashed out with one paw.

She ducked and rolled aside in the nick of time. The paw smashed against the ground, leaving deep scars in the earth below.

As she stood, she glanced at Reed and Diana, who had rolled the other way, to make sure they were safe. They didn't look harmed, thank goodness.

The monster cawed with fury, swiping at Reed's head. He ducked, but one of its claws caught the side of his neck.

"Reed!" she cried, but another paw came crashing down on one side of her. She darted away, but the other foot smashed on the other side of her. She was trapped between the two paws of the griffin.

Sierra tried to leap over one of the griffin's feet, but the other one smashed on top of her, pinning her against the ground. The claws of the predator dug into the earth beside her. The weight of the griffin pressed onto her chest.

This is it, she thought. I'm going to die.