Death shrieked as he fell through the skies. His wings flapped uselessly in the winds, soaked with water, courtesy of the Demigods. His eyes were wide with panic. He clawed at the air, desperately trying to grip anything solid. He could still hear the screams of rage and pain coming from the battle above him, though the sounds were quickly fading into silence. He had lost sight of his brothers long before he was forced off the edge.

The winds whipped at him as he tumbled toward the clouds. The once beautiful sight now filled him with terror. He shut his eyes, unable to bear to see the approaching mortal realm. He could feel the magic of the Capital slowly transforming him as the lightning storm pelted him with rain.

His voice was snatched from him as the throbbing pain in his veins intensified greatly. His body was submerged in a blinding light, now plummeting at a dangerous rate. To the mortals below, all they would see was a shooting star falling from the heavens. His brain involuntarily shut down as his magic sensed the rapidly approaching ground below him. There was an explosion of pain as he met the land. Then all went white.

~~~~~~~

A trio of scientists walked toward the site of the third shooting star. The lightning storm had let up a few hours ago and they were given the okay they needed to explore the terrain. They were curious to see what new type of material they would find today. Shooting stars were rare in the Capital and it was well known that the rocks left over from the crash contained rare minerals useful for government weapons against magical creatures.

Unlike the traditional outfit of a scientist, these three were wearing heavy boots, jackets, and long pants to protect them from the underbrush as they traveled through the wilderness. Covered in muck, the three appeared to be right at home.

The lead scientist suddenly pointed to a large crater dead ahead. The trio, composed of the female lead scientist and her two male understudies, jogged up to the edge of the crater. They gasped at the sight of the bloody creature laying far too still in the center of the crater. The female snatched her cellphone from her pocket and shakily pressed the number she had memorized years ago as her companions raced down the crater.

"Hello, chief? I need some backup here," she said excitedly. "That wasn't a meteor shower last night. It was a griffin." She grinned as she hung up and joined her understudies by the creature. "Hello beautiful," she murmured, gently petting the blood-soaked pelt. She retracted her hand as the body shuddered under her touch. "You're alive...?" She whispered.

The griffin flicked its tail, though its eyes were still closed. Its pelt was a midnight black, though the feathers on its wings faded to a crimson red. Its wings were bent in unnatural angles. A sticky golden liquid covered the beast, mixing with the blood. The lead scientist hissed in sympathy, running her fingers along the battered and beaten body of the griffin.

The flapping of wings knocked her out of her daze. She scrambled to her feet as the inky winged figure gently landed opposite the scientists, the griffin's body in the middle. The Umbra's bright red eyes seemed to glow in the first hours of the morning. He glanced down at the griffin and relaxed slightly. "Thank you for finding my griffin," he said smoothly. A silver choke collar appeared around the neck of the stirring creature, a golden chain attached to the silver. The god delicately grabbed the chain and pulled the griffin to its feet.

The griffin moaned in protest and shook its head as though the mere action would rid itself of the collar. The god narrowed his eyes and yanked on the chain. The effect on the griffin was immediate, its silver eyes snapping open as it choked on the compressing band. The god smiled gently at the shocked mortals. "Terribly sorry you had to see that. He is not yet properly trained."

The lead scientist sputtered. "No, no, it's quite alright," she said, her voice much higher than normal.

The god chuckled as he released the pressure on the griffin's neck. "Thank you for aiding me in my search for this rebellious creature. Ta ta," he said cheerily as he and the griffin vanished into thin air.

The scientists glanced amongst one another, wondering how they would explain the fiasco with their boss.

~~~~~~~

The god growled as he smashed the already injured griffin against the temple wall. The griffin shrieked in pain, collapsing on the ground. By the time the griffin had risen to its feet, the golden chain had already been attached to a pillar. The griffin was now trapped in the deepest section of the temple, a place only found if one knew where to look.

The god chuckled at the griffin's weak attempts of escape. "You cannot leave, Death. I made sure of that long ago."

The griffin swung its head to face the Umbra. His eyes flashed white for a split second before returning to their natural silver.

"What, do you mistake me to be an ally of the Creators?" The god snorted. "I have been waiting for this chance for several millennia. With the Favored out of the way, there is no stopping me from taking control of the Capital. After all, who would dare oppose the one who took down Death?" He purred, reaching out to pet the griffin's silky feathers.

The griffin snapped at the god's fingers, chirping happily when he saw the ichor rushing from the deep cut he made.

The god yelled out and slapped the griffin. The griffin fell to his feet with a cry of pain. When he looked up, the god was gone. He was alone.