I looked down from my great height. I saw a clearing in the density of the forest in which I live, a clearing that looked as if it had been newly made by human hands. I circled slightly lower, in order to get a better look at the mytserious new opening. It seemed as if there was some sort of box in the center, or maybe a cell (If you are a human, I mean a cage).

I landed in front of the strange box. It was a small cage containing a large creature that looked like a cross between a lion, an eagle, and possibly a small bit of my own species(Dragon). At the moment it was sound asleep, but I knew that it could wake at any moment. I stepped closer. Closer. Closer . . . Then it sat bolt upright. It looked calm, even though it had just moved so quickly. "Draca.", it said. I stepped back. I was frightened, though I did not want to show it much. "How did you know my name?" It replied, "I know many things about many people."

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If anyone thinks this is worth continuing, please do! 

I looked down from my great height. I saw a clearing in the density of the forest in which I live, a clearing that looked as if it had been newly made by human hands. I circled slightly lower, in order to get a better look at the mytserious new opening. It seemed as if there was some sort of box in the center, or maybe a cell (If you are a human, I mean a cage).

I landed in front of the strange box. It was a small cage containing a large creature that looked like a cross between a lion, an eagle, and possibly a small bit of my own species(Dragon). At the moment it was sound asleep, but I knew that it could wake at any moment. I stepped closer. Closer. Closer . . . Then it sat bolt upright. It looked calm, even though it had just moved so quickly. "Draca.", it said. I stepped back. I was frightened, though I did not want to show it much. "How did you know my name?" It replied, "I know many things about many people."

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If anyone thinks this is worth continuing, please do! 

~Wiseowl

I lean against the walls of the cave peacefully. That is, until I hear breathing behind me. I bolt up and look around. A cage sits near the entrance. I can't believe I didn't notice it! A creature is inside. Could it be a gryphon? "Well well well," the gryphon says in an amused voice. "What do we have here?" I tremble and morph into an owl, hoping that it won't hurt me if I'm an animal. "I've had many visitors these days haven't I, Wiseowl?" I gasp. "Y-y-you know my name?" "Of course," Gryphon responds. "Our history is intertwined." My mother's rhymes all come back to me. and I glance at Gryphon, now with a sense of companionship. Slowly, he tells me what I must do. "...the animals in the lab need to be set free and released from the hostility that the B.I.G has injected into them. Now go child. Every ally is an asset."

~Wiseowl

I go in search of Storm Windwhisperer. Why? I've been thinking of what Gryphon said. "Every ally is an asset." I bet he could help me stratagize a plan. I head to Reader's barn to search the cafe and possibly get some hot coco. But when I get there I don't find Storm. Instead I see a girl that looks abuot my age, a little taller perhaps. She looks familier but I can't imagine who she could be. She glances in me direction. I hide behind my hair.I softly hum a G cord, to help me understand. The girl turns out to be Icy, someone who has also visted the Gryphon. She has a power feeling that draws my curiosity to her. I timidly walk over. She looks up. "Hello." She says, thetrace of a smile in her voice. "Hello Icy." I softly reply. "You know my name?" She says, suprised. "I tend to figure those types of things out by song." I mysteriosly answer. Then I explain my situation, not telling her my name for catious reasons. When I finish I wait quietly to see how she'll react.

~Wiseowl 

I am considering Icy's idea in my room at Reader's Barn. Just trying to think of any flaws to the situation. 

The gryphon is gone. I sneak through the forest. My footsteps are soft but my emotions are not.

My anger is razor sharp. The Gryphon is gone.

I take it out on a tree nearby. It's not a sapling, but not an adult tree. A teenage tree, I guess. My claws slice through it. It takes me one minute and then the tree is down with a satisfying crash. I may not be good at running for very long, or climbing, but I'm strong and smart. And a good writer, I guess. I wonder how long it would take for me to fell a grown tree...? Ten minutes or a little less probably. I sink into my thoughts to avoid my anger. I'm about two feet long and not very tall, but I'm pretty, with my sleek white artic fox fur. Brains, brawn, beauty-Icy would call it a triple threat.

No! I banish Icy from my mind. In my sudden burst of anger I fell a sapling in one swipe of my claws. Don't think about Icy. The Gryphon is gone, remember? 

But why not dream big? I storm to a large tree and attack it. It takes five minutes for me to swipe it down. I giggle like a maniac as it crashes to the ground. I rampage through the forest, cutting through trees and shrubbery and plants and ocasionally a fellow animal who wanders in my way. I giggle and shriek and my giggles and shrieks echo through the forest.

~Eli <3 

I panted, trying to catch my breath. I had finally escaped from B.I.G. I stared around me, taking it all in, overjoyed to be back in the wild. The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, the green leaves shone... ah bliss. I lept around, a kitten again.

Once I had gotten over my joy, I looked at my body, at the wounds B.I.G. had inflicted on me throughout the years. I remembered that fateful day when they lured me, lured me with the delicious smell of mice. As a kitten, I was naive, ready to fall into any trap they set for me. I crept toward the smell... and then utter chaos. All I could see was metal. Dull, grey, iron bars, surrounding me. A clanging noise. Then, just black. When I woke up, I saw the white, sterile, too-clean walls of the B.I.G. Lab that would shape my life.

And now, I was finally free. I licked the numerous bloody gashes, made by countless knives and machinery. I had been a subject for animal domestication and pain reaction. "Animal Pain Reaction". That's what they called it. I shuddered to remember the excrutiating pain they had put me through. 

Well... now what? I had no idea how to survive in the wild; I had been stolen from my mother as a young kitten. My powerful, sleek black body, my muscles, my teeth, my claws and of course the characteristic agility and speed that fit a panther... all useless. Useless. My head rung. Suddenly, I was dizzy. I felt sick. The world seemed to collapse around me, and I fell down, the first able-bodied, grown cat in history to have fainted.

Hours later, I could feel the warm spring breeze on my face. I took a deep breath. I was calm again. But then I remembered what I had been so anxious about. The familiar nervous feeling appeared. Before I could think any more, however, a dark shape flew in front of me and my breath caught in my throat. I did not know what it was at the time, but it had a dominance no animal could deny.  It was magnificent, intimidating, graceful yet powerful. It had a plume of shining, golden feathers. It was the Gryphon. And then I knew the purpose of my life.

Part2: (The Gryphon doesn't appear yet, but he will in part 4: part one is in power guardians archive.) Feryl looked into the hard unyielding gaze of Cornelia...and laughed. "Do you take me for a fool? I know how these stories go. The stranger asks the dying man to hand over the bottle, in exchange for the knowledge of what it is. Only after the dying man hands it to him, does the stranger tell him that the liquid is the elixir of life," Feryl said, her tone low and mocking. "Only here, it is a middle-aged woman and a ill-lucked orphan." Cornelia paused, then stood, before making a casual gesture with her hand. Immediately, the two guards leapt onto Feryl, restraining her as Cornelia looked on. "I'm very disappointed in you. You could have gone along, like a nice little girl, but instead you chooses to rebel. Forsaking the chance to finally become someone, to do something that actually matters. Well what's done is done." She turned back to her guards. "Destroy the evidence, then meet me at the vehicle. Leave nothing behind." The two guards share a quick look. "Er...What shall we do with the girl, Madame?" Cornelia's smile was cooler than iced steel. "What do you not understand about my order? What good will it do to cut off the wings of a bird if you don't kill it? It will still travel, and tell others of the one who hurt it. In other words, get rid of her." She turned with a twirl of her fur cape, the clack of her heels fading into the night. Feryl immediately began to struggle, writhing and Screaming at her captors. But it was no good. The first guard flipped open the scabbard of his clockwork sword. Feryl hissed and bit down until she tasted blood, only to be thrown to the floor, her head banging painfully on the wood. If I cannot win this fight with force, I will use their greed against them. "Listen! Listen-just for a second. I'm an alchemist. Alchemists can turn anything to gold. You'll be rich. Just let me go, and I'll make you a king." She watched them through her tangled hair, her eyes shining like emeralds in the light. The second guard laughed, merely gesturing for his comrade to continue. "I can invent! Anything! An Army! You'll be the most powerful man in KYNGDOM!" Feryl cried, her bravery fading away as her desperation rose. "Hacking! If you have a bad record, I'll get rid of it!" Her words fell on deaf ears, as if they meant nothing to them, just like her life meant nothing to anyone. The sword was drawn from the scabbard, a gleaming monstrosity of wheels and sharp edges. Fear poured into her mind, immobilizing her mind. And then she saw it, on the desk. The liquid Wildfire that she had been using only hours before to test the serum. It was her only chance. The sword came plunging down as Feryl arked up, swinging her body into the table, smashing through the layers of wood with sheer force and determination. The deadly substance sprayed everywhere, burning everything that it touched. In the matter of seconds, the room was engulfed in flames.

I am big. I am powerful. One flap of my wings can blow a human city to the sun. One swipe of my claws could rip the earth in two. I AM the definition of Power! Yet I am defeated. The B.I.G., those pesky animals. I should have blown them to the skies. But I didn't. I Couldn't. They defeated me. Now it will be merrily days until I am dead again, until I am locked away inside a small instrument. I know I am too old to know any of these small animals. Or even their great great great grandparents. I have been trapped for a few thousands of years, maybe a million by the size of the human lab. A beast my size shouldn't get lost in one small human building. The landscape is also horrible. The trees are almost gone. The rivers so small. All I can see for miles around is dying land and human structures. Claaws informed me one of them killed the boy. The boy who set us in the worst prison of all time. When I could have been flying the open skies, maybe if humans never evolved I would have even had my own birds to guard me. Maybe then they wouldn't have been tricked by that human Boy! My rage was completed now, and I slashed my claws and beat my wings until I was sore. Then I stopped and gazed wonderingly at the sleeping bodies of the creatures I had put to sleep. I felt none like talking, so I gaze them dreams of what they hoped I would say. When they finally woke up, told me a thousand thanks, and bounded away, I laughed and laughed until no more laugh was left. They would experience a shocking surprise when they realized otherwise and got themselves killed. Then a dark shadow entered the cave. It barely caught my Sharpe eye, and I knew I was dealing with someone who wouldn't be put to sleep anytime soon. The creature strode gracefully into the space around the cage, stepping unbotheredly over the sleeping mounds. I watched with my yellow, puiples eyes as she sat down just where I could see her. Then she swished her sliver spotted tail and eyed him with simular puipleless eyes. She was clearly waiting for him to speak, but he spoke none. Then after a few more long paced moments, extracting and retracting her long silver claws, she spoke. "It has been awhile, my friend, since you have walked this earth, has it not?"

I tried to stand to grow much taller then this creature, but all he could get was a small squat in his tiny prison. He sat back down and didn't answer, but couldn't take his eyes off of her understanding gaze. "They are more powerful then when we left them. I believe this is because when our spirits and Powers were trapped inside the instruments, some was released because it wouldn't fit in the small space. But the Powers need a living source, so now some of our powers rest in the smerky animals and awful humans. I have seen the shapeshifters, I have seen some of their forceful power and strength. I believe that human, that day...he did worse than imprison us. He stole some of our Power. The ONE THING we dedicated our lives to protecting."

He saw her open anger, as he felt his growing stronger. Humans! Pests! He rattled his cage and growled his deepest anger out. Then, he felt the need to fly. To destroy. To conquer. To free. Claaws saw this with her ghastly eyes and quickly calmed herself. "We need these animals, Griffin. They will lead us to the others. Then with their help, we can destroy the humans and whatever animal that stands in our way. Together with all of our Power combined, we stand a chance. We will defeat the humans once and for all. But only if you have the patience to wait and plan. Only if you listen to them and follow orders. We stand a chance, we really do. The stuff the last human used to kill us is somewhere off in the desert. They have indeed located it, but now that our Power has spread it will hurt everyone who has caught some power. Only a few it will not harm. So, what do you say to freedom?" 

The animals were waking up. It was now...or never. "Fine," he whispered his voice harsh from lack of use. "Only if you're sure nothing will go obscure."

Claaws snarled in a panther-like smile. "Of course I'm sure. The life of Kyndom depends on us, and if we succeed or get imprisoned for another thousand years. Now come before someone sees your transformation."

He had been waiting for the perfect time, when he was sure no more pesky animals would come. But now it was now or never. So in a sparkle of soft, dust-like light, he was a white crow again. But something was off. He was too big. His backside was covered in yellow fur, not white feathers, and the tip of his tail curled into a furry knot. "Again," Claaws rumbled. "Some of our Power is gone, so the transformation is a bit rough." She got up onto her hind legs to show off her whole underside covered with midnight back scales. They were barley noticeable next to her black scale patterned dark fur. As she turned back to lead the way out he saw two furless spots, usually carefully groomed so her other fur covered it. Those two spots, he realized, was where her wings should've gone. He glanced down and saw two featherless spots where his other set of legs should've gone, right on his chest. He quickly groomed it over and squeezed through the cave. He was only slightly bigger then usual, as was Claaws. And together they flew into the night, wondering if they should set off for Serpaint alone or with the animals.

Sorry it's so long. 

-Claaws the mighty panther 

Path-seeker. You have returned.

Yesss, S'syuassshath.

Do you have that for which you sought?

I do.

Then recount it. Tell me a story, little one.

It'sss...sssomething the beasssts of the canopy tell. Once upon a time, when the world was young and things were ssstill being created, there was a god, a god called Quetzalcoatl. He was like a giant sssnake, winged, with a crown and tail of feathers in all colors of the Bridge to Heaven- that'sss what they call the rainbow, sssee. And they sssay he created the daily rains by accident.

I am intrigued. Tell me more.

Quetzalcoatl was a god of writing; they alssso sssay he taught animals to write, but that'sss a different ssstory. Everything he created, he created by writing. For the rain, he took a ssslab of wood from...uh...it'sss hard to translate out of Junglisssh, but...a 'tree-with-ssspear-leaves-whose-flat-top-ssscratches-the-sssky.' And he pulled a feather from his tail, and dipped it in the blood of a harpy eagle; that'sss why they sssay harpy eagles are sssacred to the rain. Anyhow, he wrote the glyphsss and ssspun the magicsss, and created the water that would fall from Heaven to the new young World. All except the final glyph, the one for how often the water would come.

And does this end well?

In a way, I guesss.

Well then, go on so I may hear what this 'way' is.

When the other gods sssaw what Quetzalcoatl had done, they were overjoyed. 'Thisss is exactly what the World needs,' they sssaid. 'Water needs to come from the sssky, to nourisssh the plants and animals and replenisssh the cycle of life. Let usss have a party to celebrate the achievement.' Ssso they did. All the gods had a party, and they ate and drank mightily, essspecially of...another tough translation, hang on...'the-drink-which-makesss-the-body-warm,-the-mind-dull,-and-the-ssspirit-happy.' I hear the humans dissstill it yet today.

They do, but do not try it. I did once, and besides tasting foul, it nearly made me fly into a cliff face. I do not know what it would do to snakes.

Yecch. I'll be sssure to ssstay away, then. As I was sssaying, the gods drank mightily of it that night. Quetzalcoatl, in the throes of his happy ssspirit, called for the ssslab on which was written the glyphsss and the magicsss for rain. And when his ssservantsss had brought it to him, he sssaid, 'Let all look now who have eyes to sssee, for I will finisssh the magicsss, and make the first rain fall to the World!' Ssso he took his quill and blood-ink, and he wrote the last glyph: but he wrote it wrong. In the throes of his dulled mind, he had intended to write the glyph for 'once in twelve days,' but he had actually written the glyph for 'once in one day.' And ssso the firssst rain fell, and when Quetzalcoatl had ssslept and his mind had regained itsss usual sssharpnesss, he sssaw his missstake. But it was too late, for in those high and far-off times, no magic the gods did could be undone. The rain fell every day.

A fine story. Do you think Quetzalcoatl was actually a god?

I...I don't know. It'sss jussst a folk tale, a myth the birds tell.

A myth it may be, but Quetzalcoatl was real, and not a god. He was merely one of the first great animals, bound to a Power- which one, I know not. And he was also the father of your race.

Wait...you mean...I'm dessscended from him?!

In some capacity.

Then how come the quetzalcoatl today aren't magical?

They interbred with normal pythons; in addition, magic has faded from everywhere in the world. The quetzalcoatl are not the only ones to have fallen.

That'sss sssad.

Truly, though, the magic cannot fade entirely. I was wrong to have called you mundane, or anyone, for that matter. Every animal has a spark of magic within them. It is what gives us reason, creativity, a consciousness with which we can think and feel and love. You would be surprised how little prompting it takes to fan the spark into a flame.

I ssstill don't underssstand. You sssaid I wasn't magical-

I told you once, that might have been an error. Now go; find another story. Tell it to me here. Our time is over and I need my rest.

Well, that I can underssstand completely! I'm a little tired too. Goodbye, S'syuassshath.

Goodbye, path-seeker, and may sun and thunder keep you.

Hello. Zephyra. We need to talk. As the moon meets the midpoint of the sky, I will be expecting you. Tonight. No sooner. No later. Under the first petrified tree leading to the Power of Claw. I assume you all know where this is by now, by the small rummers I've heard I know you do. I know some information you will find increasingly helpful.

~A noble panther  

I step under the first petrified tree. It was small, barely my hight. I sat down and waited...while my surprise hovered in the darkness nearby. I asked for a special meeting with a small crow named Zephyra. My letter was small and neat, written in blood. I hope the smell appealed to her. It has always appealed to curtain other predators I know have affected her more then normal animals. Humans. The ones who appointed her guardian of my brother's prison. Despicable. But right now, I need her to show me the others...then after she will be the first...or maybe last... to be killed, showing the humans that we have not been weakened and no ordinary crow, or animal for that case will prove us otherwise.

I see a fluttering shift in the darkness. I know my guest has arrived. "Zephyra," I acknowledge in my cool soothing voice.

She landed in the tree, folding her wings neatly. Her eyes sparkled in the star light, and her feathers blended in with the cool air. She looked at me with one cool, unblinking eye. "Well," she crowed after a moment's pause. "Please begin."

I unleashed my long claws. "Well, Zephyra. I've heard you talking to someone to talk to the Griffin. You couldn't get much from him. But you will get much from me. You see, I've made it my personal goal to guard the Griffin.when I first saw this small falcon flutter into the cave, I thought he was an intruder." Zephyra eyed me with a strong look of disapproval. She must think I attacked. Well, I made up the story on making it my goal guarding him. I was simply waiting for the right moment to talk to him, to set him free. But the information I was about to tell her woudnt be wrong. "So I waited. And I saw him studder up to the Griffin. Then, to my complete astonishment, the Griffin blew once into the creatures face and he fell. Don't worry too much. It was just too sleep. I believe the Griffin wishes to talk to no one. So he sets them to all sleep. When the falcon woke, the poor thing was petrified and scampered away with a force only fear would give. Griffin had been giving his visitors dreams, of all sorts I believe, as I've seen some walk away with a mixture of emotion. Though it could be the same dream with different reactions."

Zephyra was astoned at what I had to say. She said nothing, but to ask if I could test this theory for her. I agreed. My plan wa as falling into place. Perfectly.

She led the way back through the air. It was indeed a long journey, but we made it just as the first lights of dawn started to break. I could tell she was exhausted. Perfect. I led the way in, then when I got in sight of the cage, I gasped loud enough for the mountains to hear. She came rushing, and I hid a smile. "The Griffin! It's...it's...it's GONE!!!" Zephyra cawed at the empty bats. "Not a dent! How is this possible! And...and..."

"He disappeared right as I stopped guarding. After all, he is magic, like all the other Powers."

I gasped a surprised expression at the empty bars, and showed no self-confidence. "Well. I trust you. You seem so devoted and strong. My friend, I'd like you to be on every team set to find the guardians and the Powers. Help us stop them before they're activated. Join us in stopping B.I.G. There are powers they do not need to possess. You're welcomed on the team, and our head Power retriever."

"Zephyra," I cooed. "I don't need all that."

She held her head in her wings. "I'm...Sorry...just...a tad.........drowsy....."

"Come. Let's get you out of here. There is some type of sleep magic."

I ushered her out. My plan had gone perfectly. And I didn't even need Griffin as crow's help and encouragement. Now they would all trust me. And never suspect it when I turned on them all.

P.S., my captcha says I'm rude. Well, I'm not rude. Powerful. Smart. Quick witted. I just want my rightful place on Kyndom back.