The Griffin was the King of the Beasts, known across the land for his power and majesty, and he lived in a grand castle surrounded by the treasure he had won through nobility over the passing of many seasons. His fur was of the richest and purest gold and was admired by many.  One such admirer was the Serpent, although his admiration was better described as envy.

The Serpent was fevrent in his desire to posess all that the Griffin owned, so as to become as great and as celebrated as the Lord Griffin was. The old wily Serpent was wise and cunning, quick to strike the Griffin with his tricks of deceit.  Nor was the Serpent above petty vengence. So it came to be, when the moon was high and the night was thick and heavy, the Serpent made his descent upon the Griffin’s hearth, and slithered smoothly across the glowing floors.

He greeted the Griffin with such sweet and serene words that the Griffin did not even begin to wonder why this stranger had entered his home and his eyes began to fall with the weighty intoxication of sleep on his mind. So the Serpent moved siniuously ever more closely to the Griffin, seducing him with his clever wit and sharp tongue until it was not long that the Serpent had draped himself entirely across the well muscled body of the Griffin.

Soon the Griffin tried to stir himself from the caress of the Serpent but it was too late, he had been caught wretchedly in a tangle of the long and suffocating body of his hissing company.  Soon the last breath of life was squeezed from him, as he shook and convulsed on the warm tender floor. The Serpent unwrapped himself from the body and then proceed without ceremony to consume the Griffin whole.

From that terrible night forth, the Serpent ruled the golden palace with an iron fist, and all feared and respected him. If he found any opposition they were quietly and viciously disposed of and he lived on to lead a glorified and opulent life.

If there was any lesson to be learned from the demise of the pure and just Griffin it is to hide your treasures and hide them well, or never listen to the words of a stranger.