Griffin Claws and Dragon Fire: Chapter 4

Exhausted Alan lowered himself into a tree trunk. He'd been driving all night. The place he had reached was gloomy. The gloom shone from it. He had his horse tied by the river so that the animal could drink. The stallion was also tired from the long ride. The animal was grateful that it could rest.

Alan could barely keep his eyes open. He didn't like to admit that driving a night had demanded the utmost of him. He put his water bottle on his lips and let the fluid slip into his parched throat. He spoiled himself. Why didn't he bring a sleeping bag?

His stomach grumbling incessantly. When was the last time he had something behind the molars? Right, that piece of ham right before his training. The mountains of the bodies had touched him emotionally and for a long time took away all appetite. The hunger was gnawing at him all the worse. He heard Archibald humming a tune. The griffin was tireless. The only thing that stopped Alan from throwing a stone at his fabulous friend was the fact that he came up with his mouth full of rabbits.

“I like them raw,” chuckled the griffin with a wink, after dropping the dead animals before Alan's feet.

Alan understood that he had to make a fire. He got up dazed. He grabbed some branches, when he heard a loud bang that was like a sneeze. He saw fire lit up on the horizon. The branches fell to the ground. Alan's chin threatened to hit his feet. He was nailed to the ground.