The sun had reached its peak in the cloudless sky by the time Daisy arrived out on the field. She could feel the burn on her shoulders, under her loose flannelette shirt. She parked the four wheeler by the fence and jumped to the ground so dusty cyclones rose around her Doc Martens. It hadn't rained in weeks. She gazed across the crops with eyes watered by the glare of the midday sun, and finally understood Old Pa's words about a hard day, that morning. She sure had one hell of a watering job ahead. Daisy was tough, though. She'd done all this before, day in and day out. Thus unfazed, Daisy opened the gate and started up the quad bike again.
The quad was quick, and Daisy revved the engine loudly as she flew down the track, red dust flying into a haze behind her. She didn't make it to where she was headed; the truck shed, not too far away. Something she saw next made her slow. It was black. It stood like a human would do... Attentive and on two feet. She squinted. The heat waves were surely messing with her vision, she resolved all while drawing closer.
The girl cranked the four wheeler to a halt and slid to a stance to face the sight before her.
It was tall, at least eight foot undoubtedly. It was also shrouded in coarse black feathers. It regarded Daisy with beady eyes resembling black pools. She met the creature's gaze, challenging it. Though dwarfed, the girl adjusted herself to appear threatening, squaring her shoulders and setting her jaw.
"Who're you?" She demanded.
"I am Griff. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"And what're you... Griff?"
"I am a Black Griffin."
"Hm," she answered, "sweet costume, mate. I'm gonna have to ask you to leave. Private property 'n all."
Griff ruffled his feathers in a clear display of displeasure. Daisy rolled her eyes. She made for the bike, and swung her leg over the seat, starting up the engine.
"Mate, I asked you nice. Leave."
Griff took a step closer. In a whoosh of crowing and black feathers, the griffin soared into the sky, Daisy was clamped in his talons. Nothing was left in the field but for a trail of black feathers.
YOU ARE READING
The Keys of Kraal
RandomA King has been banished from an alternate universe that he once called home. He is trapped in our own universe, until he finds the four Keys. The Keys are four humans from Earth. The Keys have gifts that control the elements of the world, though th...
