Aella jumped over a small gulley, gasping when her foot caught loose soil on the other side and she fell forward, rolling into a ball as her momentum carried her down the hill. She groaned as she hit the base of a tree, small rocks pelting her on her head and back. She coughed, slowly unwrapping her arms and legs from around the trunk and laid still for a moment.

That hurt. She winced as she rolled over and sat up, inspecting her limbs for any wounds.

She stood and leaned against the tree, taking a deep breath. "Player menu," she groaned. She glanced up as a screen appeared in her vision, much like the one that had appeared during the Merchant tests. [description here] A new bar was on the top left, filled with blue. A green bar was above the blue bar, but was lower than the blue one, and flickered as she looked at it. A rotating number 45 appeared in the top right corner. She groaned and hit the tree with her fist.

Only thirty-nine minutes left? Why can't they give me an instruction guide before throwing me into a test. She shook her head, then frowned as a scroll appeared in the center of the screen. She tapped it, and the scroll unrolled. "Apprentice Defense spells activated. Each spell uses two bars of magic. Use with caution."

Great. Which one is the magic bar? The green one? The blue one? The green one is probably health since I just hurt myself and that one is lowered.

She reached down and touched the net that hung from her belt. At least I have some type of weapon. Because magic isn't going to help me this time. "Come and get me," she whispered, looking at the glade below her. A clearing was only ten feet away, with a cave on the opposite hillside. She jogged as she slipped and slid down the incline, using the trees to slow her down. Silence greeted her ears as she stood on the border of the clearing, looking into the dark opening of the cave.

I'm being watched as I perform these tests, right? "I know you are watching this," she said, placing a hand on her hip. "I know! Let's play a game--see how tough of a situation we can throw the players in, and see how they react when they're miserable." She bowed to the air, taking on a different accent. "Why, yes, my dear," she said. "I do think that sounds," she paused for effect as she giggled. "Like a splendid idea," she shouted, throwing all of her force into her words.

They echoed in the clearing, shouting back at her. "You've tried to drown me in a storm, and now I'm supposed to fight a massive monster? What kind of sick people are you? Can't we start off easy, with a rabbit or something?"

She paused, listening for any movement from the cave. That had to get a griffin's attention. Her hand moved to the net, her fingers pulling a barb from within the fibers. She froze, the hairs on her neck tingling as warb air hit her back. Something low rumbled, sounding almost like breathing.

She gulped, her grip on the barb tightening. "Defense spell," she shouted, twisting on her heel and slashing forward with the barb. She jumped back and jerked as the griffin screamed, and drops of golden blood dripped from the small cut on its cheek. It was massive, its shoulders at her head. It squirmed, moving like a cat as it prepared to jump, it's tail whipping the air behind it.

No spells. Greeeeeeeat--this is going to be awesome. "Sorry about the nose," she said, her tone higher than normal.

The griffin stopped moving, it's glowing yellow eyes staring at hers.

She shrugged. "I really can't fight you. I have no weapons, can't use spells, so I'm just going to talk until I figure out what to do, okay?" think, think. She frowned. Still nothing.

The creature had the body of a lion, a massive mane hanging from its neck. But it's face was furred, with a curved beak. Two wings slowly unfurled from it's back, spreading until they were fully outstretched. It's eyes moved to her hand, and she followed it's gaze, seeing the barb in her hand.

She turned back to the griffon. "I'm going to put this down now." she slowly squatted and placed the barb on the ground. "See? I put it down."

The creature growled and she stepped back, holding up her hands.

The griffin screamed again, and charged.

Aella squealed as she turned and ran back toward the trees, diving into a roll so she was crouched behind the tree.

The griffon gripped the ground, it's claws digging furrows into the earth.

Wait, a second. It's a big cat. She bowed her head, avoiding eye contact with the griffin, and stood. She stepped forward slowly, walking toward the creature. Then she stopped and sat down, cross-legged, on the ground. She placed her hands in her lap, palms up. "Sit down," she said, her tone calm.

She fought the urge to smile as the ground shook. She glanced up quickly, seeing the griffin sitting on its haunches, its tail flicking behind it. The griffin's head was tilted and it made a soft screeching sound. "I've had a rough few days," she said, looking back down at her lap. My Quadrant, where I lived, was attacked by rebels and Founder troops were called in. Everything was demolished." She hung her head even lower, and closed her eyes. "My sister hasn't been found." She raised her head and looked at the griffin. "Then I found out I was selected for the game. I am in a testing period now, and so far I've tried to figure out strange food, caught and sold fish, almost drowned in a hurricane, and now am talking to a griffin." Try explaining that when someone asks about your day.

The griffin cocked its head, it's tail stopping.

She shrugged. "I just want to get these tests over and done with so I can go take a nap. Is there anything I can do to get you to take me to the portal? I really don't want to fight you." How am I supposed to carry that thing even if I killed it? This test is ridiculous.

The griffon stood, flapping its wings as it screamed. It slammed a paw onto the ground

Aella sighed, and stood, her hand resting on her hip and another barb. She tensed, watching the creature. She ducked as it screamed and charged at her.

This time she ducked under its beak as it moved past her, and she grabbed a fistful of the main around it's neck. The creature jerked back and she was pulled along with it. She pulled up, swinging her legs over the griffin's back, sitting just in front of the wings.

The griffin screamed and jumped into the air.

Aella gasped as the air was knocked from her lungs, grabbing the man even tighter as the wings began to flap. The griffin soared higher, clearing the glade and heading higher into the sky.

Aella screamed as she clutched the griffin's neck, pulling herself closer to it's body. She felt the muscles of the creature pulse with every flap. She glanced below, seeing the forest a hundred feet below. The griffin was flying toward the other side of the island, and she massive cliffs and broken rocks littering the beach below.

No, no, no, no-this wasn't supposed to happen. "Put me down," she yelled.

It screamed again, diving into a barrel roll.

"Stop," she screamed, reaching for her net. She threw it toward the head, then froze. Uh-oh. The net landed on its head, and the griffin stopped flying, clawing at its face and mewing.

They fell, crashing through the treetops, the sickening crunch of wood and the rushing of leaves accompanied the massive whop as the griffin landing on the forest floor.

Aella rolled off of the griffin's back, her vision going black and white and a rainbow of colors as she stood to her feet, leaning against the tree for support.

The griffin screeched, pawing at its face.

She swallowed, then hung her head as the creature stopped moving and turned to her, whimpered. It nudged its face toward her, pressing its beak into her stomach. It mewed, its eyes closed. Aella frowned as a rumble came from its stomach as it started to purr.

"I'm sorry," she whispered as she slowly laid a hand on its head. The feathers were warm. She winced as she felt liquid and she noticed golden droplets from where the barbs had poked through the netting.

It's eyes opened and watched her movements.

"Easy now," she said, slowly pulling off the netting. She threw it to the side, then held up her hands.

The griffin moved back, sitting on its haunches as it rubbed its head on its shoulder.

She moved to the side of the tree, taking deep breaths, then she paused.

Slowly the griffin lowered its upper body, its paws sliding forward until its torso was touching the ground. Then it dipped its head, and closed its eyes. The purring intensified, sounding as if it's chest was going to explode.

She stepped closer to it, stepping between its paws. She paused, then reached forward, and rubbed the feathers on the top of its head. "I'm sorry I hurt you. Can we be friends?"

She winced as she moved her arm and it stung. Her suit was ripped and she was bleeding from multiple cuts.

"Thirty minutes remaining," a mechanical voice echoed above her. Her player menu appeared, a blue line on the ground in front of her, an arrow pointing away from her location. "Please make your way to the portal."

She sighed. "I can't ask you to take me to the portal, can I?"

The griffin moved, rising high above her.

She moved back as it raised it's head to the sky and opened it's mouth, an air-splitting scream filling the air.

Aella's eyes widened as she turned and dashed into the forest in the direction of the arrows.

Aella slipped as she tried to climb the incline, shaking her head as her vision blurred. She fell to her knees, her hands gripping the loose dirt underneath her. I'm losing too much blood. She glanced up and saw her health meter on her player menu, the bar halfway filled with green.

She glanced up as the griffin landed on the tree above her, and started crawling down the side of the tree. She rolled over onto her back. Her limbs were heavy and unresponsive. She groaned as she heard a wolf howl somewhere on the other side of the island. The griffin made a soft thump as it landed on the forest floor.

She saw it moving toward her as her eyes fluttered shut.

***

She gasped as she woke up, her body relaxed from the heat. She glanced around her and started thrashing, the water of the small pool spraying in all directions as she pushed herself up and out of the water. Steam rose from the surface, and she blinked as water dripped from her hair into her eyes.

Sunlight filtered through the thick treetops, creating golden streams of light through the spray. She glanced up as she heard bird calls, seeing the trees filled with rainbow-colored parrots. Massive, dark emerald ferns surrounded the water, and a massive golden griffin stared at her from among the fronds.

Aella frowned as she glanced at her menu. Fifteen minutes left. Not much time for anything. She sighed and pulled herself into a sitting position, glancing down at the cuts and scrapes on her body. Most were healing, but a few were still angry and red. She pulled off a fern frond and crushed it in her hands until it was a wet paste, then smeared it on the wounds.

She dipped her hands in the water when she was finished, washing off the paste. "Thank you," she said, looking over at the griffin. There was a swishing sound as it tail wagged back and forth among the ferns, it's glittering eyes watching her. "You need a name." She thought for a moment. I need to find the portal, not spend my time talking to a griffin. But still, he hasn't killed me yet, so I might as well try to make a friend out of him. "I'm going to call you Goldie."

The griffin paused, then stood and walked around the pool toward her.

Aella watched the creature, her body tense. He stopped beside of her and bent down, lowering his wing. She stared at the empty space in front of his wings on his back, then looked at his eyes. You can't be serious. "You want me to ride you?"

Goldie mewed, bobbing his head.

Aella closed her eyes and shook her head. I must be crazy. No, I am crazy. No other explanation for it. She stepped forward and placed her hands on the griffin's back, then pulled herself up onto it's back. "Can you find the portal?"

The griffin bobbed its head, and jumped, it's wings beating the air as they headed for the sky. They passed the tree line, gaining altitude. Goldie leveled off several hundred feet above the island, heading for the mountain and cliffs in the center. He flew around the cliff face, heading to a side of the island Aella hadn't seen before.

Her eyes grew wide as she the giant waterfall gushing from a hole in the cliff face, cascading down in a straight line. It sparkled like a diamond in the sunlight, clouds of vapor rising from the lake below.

The griffin slowly circled down on an air current, angling toward the open mouth of the waterfall. She held on tighter as Goldie flew closer to the cliff face, heading for the dark opening.

"Hey," she said, gripping the griffin's feathers even tighter. The opening was just in front of them. "Don't-"

She squealed as they shot into the darkness, then she quieted as she saw the cave. Soft blue light filled the massive cave, reflected off a crystal-clear lake. The ceiling was filled with clear crystals, and they sparkled from the bioluminescent blue moss that grew on the rocky walls. A massive circular portal on the far wall showed a classroom beyond its surface.

Goldie landed on the narrow beach, bending down so she could slide off. She landed on the rock and frowned when her boots crunch something. She glanced down, seeing dozens of small crystals like the ones on the roof. She bent down and gathered several, looking at them as she rolled them on her hand. She opened her pouch and slid them inside, then gathered a few larger ones the size of a pencil.

"Five minutes left," a mechanical voice echoed in the cave.

Aella looked up at the griffin and patted its paw. "Thank you, Goldie, for getting me here on time."

The griffin purred and rubbed its chin on her head. She laughed, then groaned at the heavy weight. She stood and moved along the beach toward the portal. She stopped in front of it, feeling her body being pulled toward its surface like it was magnetic.

She looked back and saw Goldie sitting on his haunches, his tail wagging back and forth. He lifted his head and screeched, then bobbed his head at her. She laughed and nodded. "Yeah, see you soon."

She turned around and took a deep breath. I hope I did well. I really hope I did well. She squared her shoulders and stepped through the portal.