An Adventurer's Tale/Griffon Part 3

Roleplay from Danost
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The two adventurers started off across the field at a rapid run. There was a line of scrub trees about two hundred yards across the mountain clearing. Though small, the trees would provide cover from the flying monstrosity that was hunting them. All they need to do reach the trees before it could get at them.

Their hopes were dashed as the griffon had the same idea. A long banking turn had brought the griffon over the scrub forest. It was now winging swiftly over the clearing directly between them and the covering boughs of the scrub trees, approaching them at an astonishingly rapid pace.

The two adventurers took a quick glance around, and despaired at the lack of cover. There was no way they could reach any rocky outcroppings or tree cover before the speeding griffon could overtake them. With a look of resignation Baldhart raised his bow and knocked an arrow. Danost's bow was back in the camp. Besides, with the precious egg in his hand, he couldn't have wielded a bow. Instead, he drew his battered sword and waited for the enraged griffon.

The griffon came at them with fearsome speed. When it was a few dozen yards away Baldhart let fly with an arrow. The arrow took the griffon in the wing and it veered a bit off course as the pain distracted it. The griffon careened straight at Danost. He dove to side and threw up his sword, more in self-defense than in any futile attempt to attack the creature. The griffon passed within inches of Danost, and he felt his sword hit... something, as the creature flew by.

The two turned and looked at what had happened to the griffon. It had flown past and landed roughly several dozed yards past them. It was flapping its wings wildly, attempting to regain it's feet. Not wanting to stick around until the creature recovered, they turned and ran for the line of trees.

After safely losing themselves in the closely packed trees, the two stopped to catch their breaths. "I think we lost it", Danost remarked. "The trees are too close together for that monster to make it in here."

"Aye," Baldhart agreed. "But it will be a long walk back to our camp through this damn forest. I hope it's still there when we return. We'd best wait for nightfall, then sneak back in ad gather our stuff. That beast's nest is too close to our camp for my tastes."

Danost took off his tunic to fashion a sling in which to carry the awkward egg. When he did, something fell to the ground. He bent and picked it up. "Well, I'll be damned! Baldhart, take a look at this!" He held it out for Baldhart's inspection.

"Is that what I think it is? You lucky bastard!"

In Danost's hand was a severed Griffon's claw. His desperate attempt to defend himself from the griffon with his sword had deflected the thing's taloned forepaw and, in the process, severed one of its claws. Laughing, he deposited the claw in a belt pouch. He finished fashioning the sling for the egg, and slung it over his shoulder.

"You know," said Danost "I wish we had been able to grab a few feathers from that beast. A griffon's feather would probably bring as much in Cteduul as this here egg."

"A single feather fetches as much as an egg? I would think the egg was rarer than just s simple feather." Baldhart replied.

"Well, sure, but the feather is easier for some foppish noble to display to his fellow snobs. Let's face it, a feather in a cap looks dashing, especially when he makes up some ridiculous story about besting the poor beasty in honorable, single combat. But an egg? An egg on your hat just looks stupid."

Baldhart laughed aloud at the vision of a noble trying to walk around at party with the outsized egg on his head. "You know, Baron Otto would probably give us one hell of a bounty for that thing's head. I bet we could set up some kind of ambush for it..."

Before Baldhart could finish the thought, Danost turned and punched him in the arm. "That damn thing nearly killed us once, let's not give it a chance to finish the job. Now come on, it's a long walk back to the camp."

Danost (Freeman)