"Gee Fred, I know we always told you to get lost, but did you have to bring us with you?" Zac asked disgustedly.
Fred just shrugged.
"Hey do you hear that?" asked Isaac.
"Hear what?"
"Shh! That whirring noise."
The four boys stopped in their tracks and listened. What was that? The noise began getting louder until a huge shape dived through the leaves of the trees. Before they had time to register what was happening, the strange creature had thrown Taylor on his back and flew off.
They stood there utterly stunned for a few minutes.
"What the heck was that?" Zac asked, eye boggling.
"I think it was a griffin," Fred said.
Isaac whacked him over the head.
"Don't be silly. There's no such thing as griffins."
"Then what was it?"
Isaac didn't know. Neither did Zac. They said nothing. Fred shrugged, knowing the chances of them acknowledging him if he was right were slim to none.
"Well, one thing's for certain, we have to find Taylor," Isaac said.
"Yeah," Zac agreed. "But where should we look? Fred got us lost."
"I guess we should just pick a direction."
"But it might be the wrong one!"
"And it might be the right one. We don't know unless we look."
Zac sighed.
"Ok, ok. I think the gr- thing was headed in that direction. Let's try it."
**********
Meanwhile Taylor was sitting on the back of the griffin - for that is what it was - demanding that it take him back to his brothers that instant.
The griffin ignored him and continued on towards a mountain. On top of the mountain Taylor could see the vague outline of a castle, but he didn't stop to gaze in wonder at this or the beautiful scenery. He wanted down now!
"Put me down, you big, fat, ugly meanie!" he yelled. "And quit hitting me with your wings!"