Griffen og rubinen

Sharp, golden eyes looked at the man menacingly. The man stood there stiffly, tightly holding on to the ruby gem. His eyes went back and forth, nervously looking at the cave entrance and the crouching griffon. The griffon carefully watched him, its claws stretching out from its lion like paws to make a thin scratching sound against the stone floor. The man swallowed hard, sweat poured down his forehead. His collar grew tight, he couldn’t breathe. He stared at the griffon with fright. The sun glinted off of its cruel yellow beak, and gold cat-like eyes glared out at him from an eagle’s head. Its lion body was crouched low to the ground with swan wings pressed defensively against itself. The serpentine tail slithered against the floor making a rhythmic swishing sound.

The man stiffened as the griffon slinked towards him. Its movements were breathtakingly graceful. He stared at it in awe. Almost forgetting why he was here, before a screeching hawk’s cry from outside pulled him out of his hypnotized state. His face paling, he pressed himself against the wall of the cave. He froze momentarily before giving a sudden start and running towards the cave entrance.

He tensed up waiting for the feel of those claws biting into his back and the beak tearing into his shoulders. He felt distantly surprised as he ran out the cave entrance. He ran on through the forest waiting to be pounced on, but nothing happened. He could feel a small smile creeping over his face. His heart felt ready to burst with joy and excitement. He was free! He felt the cold hardness of the ruby that was still in his hand. He was going to be a rich man. The ruby was the size of an egg after all. He threw his head back and laughed in triumph.