My people shifted on their feet, looking to the sky in anticipation. Low, nervous murmurs broke out among them. We were warriors, but did that matter if we faced a foe we didn’t know anything about? Would we be outmatched? None of us had a clue, except for Slate. And judging by his demeanor, he didn’t like the odds we were about to confront.
Beside me, Slate spun around, turning his attention on the Elementals before us, transitioning into the general’s son and the garrison commander that he’d been before he faked his death. “Because it’s a creature of Arcadia, our blades won’t work on it. We can wound it, but if its blood makes contact with your skin, you run the risk of being poisoned like everything else that has been cursed in the world. Griffins are fast and massive. Their claws will gut you if they make purchase. And if they don’t, they’re most likely oozing with the poison, as well. So be ready. Be smart. Use your elements. If we all work together, we can put it down without anyone dying.”
“What about the forest? How are we supposed to fight this thingif earth wielders are busy keeping the forest split open for us?” someone cried out from the back.
A slow whooshing sound closed in on us, reminding me of sheets being shaken out. The griffin shrieked again, and a massive shadow moved above us.
Slate ground his teeth, glancing to the sky, our time to plan running out. “Earth wielders will stay focused on the forest. Don’t expend your energy fighting unless you must. Air wielders: focus on suffocating the griffin and throwing it off flight with wind. Water elementals: drown it, blind it, whatever means necessary. And fire wielders: set the wings on fire to ground it. Those not on the offense, protect the earth wielders from any attacks, since they’re going to be essentially defenseless.”
Armed with knowledge and guidance, my people stood taller and bore determined masks. They split up, the griffin’s silhouette casting out the sunlight with another ear-splitting screech.
Shadow broke away from Cardinal and sidled up to me. We both gawked as the enormous creature with an eagle's head and upper body dive-bombed the group of Elementals from the sky. Its beak extended longer than my arm, while its wings expanded to the length of a car.
“Fuck,” I whispered as the griffin’s beady eyes seemed to narrow in on me.
“Shall I keep our shield up?” Shadow asked, dumbfounded as he, too, stood in horrified awe of the creature who possessed the clear intent to kill us all.
I nodded, unable to form words. Even with Slate’s warnings and description, nothing could’ve prepared any of us to witness something that possessed eagle talons for front feet and lion paws for its rear. Aside from Slate, everyone seemed to be momentarily stuck staring in shock.
“Gray!” Slate shouted, shaking me from my paralysis. “It’s coming for you! Move!”
Jarred from my stupor, I dove to the side at the same time as Shadow,just as a glistening black claw with obsidian liquid dripping from its razor-pointed tips struck out. I didn’t even get the chance to roll over before someone jerked me to the side, snatching me inches away from a ferocious swipe that would’ve ripped me in two.
Slate yanked me to my feet. “Summon your air. Now! I can’t do much with my magic in this fight, but I’ll try.”
At his demand, I summoned my element just before sending a gust of wind directed at the griffin. The griffin flapped its wings, keeping itself hovering a few feet above the ground as it assaulted my people. Most dodged its attacks as it continued its shrill battle cry. Inky fluid dripped from its eyes, staining feathers I assumed were once white with a wet, blackened sheen that glimmered in the sunlight. Its tail dripped the same poison from its mangy tip. Even its beak dripped the black moisture, and when the griffin jerked its head, the poison went sailing.
Immediately, I constructed an air shield, hoping the poison wouldn’t penetrate my magic and that it would hold out against the beast long enough for us to kill it.
Our other air Elementals sent hurricane-force winds bellowing through the forest, and I’d never been so grateful for the earth Elementals. If it weren’t for them, the trees wouldn’t withstand our power, resulting in them toppling over or sending broken, poisoned branches into our path. I jumped as a great wall of fire burst upward, enclosing our group in a protective bubble from the forest and trapping the griffin in a confined space.
The Arcadian beast flapped its wings harder, working to maintain its balance against the winds. I broke my focus from the bird to search for Aella. I moved away from Slate, who grabbed my arm to stop me.
“Careful, Princess. Elements are flying around all over the place.”
“Where’s Aella?” I asked.
“Last I saw her was before the griffin attacked. She stood with Onyx.”
“Well, where is Onyx, then?”
Slate quickly scanned the Elementals, using his height to his advantage. “Over there,” he pointed toward the opposite side of the griffin. “I see Aella.”
I nodded. “I need her.”
“I’m going with you.”
I rolled my eyes, but launched into a sprint, navigating my way through Elementals and their magic while avoiding the wall of fire. I dodged a few fireballs that hit the griffin’s wings and neck. While still pushing my way through, I glimpsed it easily extinguishing the fires with a few flaps of its wings and shakes of its head. Black droplets flew at me, which I encased in small pockets of air and let drift to the ground.
I glimpsed Shadow standing back-to-back with Cardinal. Shadow shielded as Cardinal used his Kinetic power of X-ray to try to incinerate the griffin. My hopes sank when I realized the poison seemed to nullify his magic.
“You don’t have to follow every step I take, ya know? I can handle myself now, Slate.”
“I know! But I—” Slate started, cut off by a stream of water being cannoned at the griffin’s face, which he swiftly sidestepped. “I can’t help it.”
“It’s annoying,” I grumbled as I eyed Aella, standing with her arms outstretched toward the beast. I raced in her direction.
“Aella!” I cried out just as I reached her side. “Let’s suffocate it together.”
