Prologue: The End.
A dark cloud covered the battlefield. The elves stood in formation, their shiny armor and elegant weapons were visible even from the mountain that Syphial was on. Around him was the 1st Aerial Assault Company, the fiercest gryphons he had ever flown with. All of them were watching the forest across from the elves. It came slowly, but when it did it was a sight that made Syphial's stomach twist into knots. The dark forces had arrived. Orcs by the hundreds, with some tribes of Dark Elves. Syphial turned to the Company.
"Noble flyer's, today we will defeat all evil on Earth by wiping out the Orcs and Dark Elves forever. I have personally met with General Takkar of the High Elves and we have come to this strategy. The Elves will launch a preparatory bombardment. After this, they will charge. This is where we come in. We'll fly behind the enemy lines and kill General Haalth. This will confuse the enemy until the elves can reach us. Is there any questions?" He looked around. There were no questions.
"Good luck and may we all fly into better winds," he said. The other gryphons nodded grimly. A signal arrow announced the first shot in the preparatory bombardment.
"Let's GO!" Syphial shrieked. The gryphons ran off the cliff and spread their wings. In seconds they were skimming along the trees. The arrows were still flying, it was a solid mass of arrow shafts over the battlefield from both directions. We turned and came back towards the elves. A second signal arrow was fired, helping us get directly behind the enemy.
Syphial came over the top of the trees, and saw the command tent. He went into a dive and nailed the tent. He cut through the canvas with his talons. The guards inside were caught looking the other way, Syphial killed them quickly and sent a dagger into General Haalth. The rest of the Command staff was torn apart as the rest of Syphial's lance appeared, mauling them with their talons.
They exited the bloodied tent, to find the rest of the company engaging the Dark Elves. The enemy was reacting quickly as a second front was formed in the enemy rear. Where were the elves? Syphial looked across the battlefield, to see the elves still in formation and not moving. The signalmen of the elves stood motionless.
Then the elves launched another volley of arrows. The arrows fell killing indiscriminately. Then they charged. All hell broke loose as the Dark Army was caught in a pincer movement. The nimble elves plowed through the orcs, as Syphial's Gryphons fought to survive. The battle was almost over, a thin line of orcs was all that separated the elves from him. The final orcs were killed quickly. It was over.
The elves rushed over, arms wide open, and smiles on their faces. In a single second the situation changed. The Elvish archers suddenly had their bows loaded and leveled at the gryphons. The hands of the embracing elves suddenly had knives in them. There was no time for a shout, not that one was necessary. The gryphons charged just as the first volley impacted against them. The arrows had barely impacted when the elves jumped on the gryphons and began stabbing them. Syphial turned and saw one of his buddies get hacked in half by the elves, the front half was still trying to kill the elf it was clenching in it's talons. Syphial turned and saw one of the younger gryphons behind him.
"FLY!" Syphial shrieked. Syphial realized what he had to do. Still screaming, he opened his wings and jumped, charging the elves. Then the second volley hit. Seven arrows turned Syphial into a pin cushion. He still fought, finally succumbing to 12 arrows and numerous stab wounds. He looked skyward, the young gryphon was just a blot in the sky. He stared as long as he could, before the sky went black.
Chapter One: The Beginning.
