The Trail Down Yearstone Canyon

“This here’s Belladona.” The guide led over a large red griffin, and I eyed the creature. Why couldn’t my parents just leave me back at the cabin, happily immersed in a book?

Belladona tipped her head and snapped her beak. Her tail swished slowly side to side as she scrutinized me with a predator’s glare.

The guide tugged at his black fedora and offered a reassuring smile, then helped me into the saddle. “She likes to stalk the deer, so keep a firm hand while we’re out on the trail.”

I nodded, gathering the thin strips of braided leather in one hand and clutching the saddle pommel with the other.

“This’ll be so much fun!”

I glanced at my kid sister. Of course Kyia’d pick trail riding as her chosen summer vacation activity. Griffins were amazing, magical creatures to her. She’d never experienced the terror of seeing the ground rush up to meet her as her mount unexpectedly dove from amongst the clouds to chase a rabbit.

She perched atop a small griffin with a white head and white-tipped wings, grinning like she’d won the canyon races.

“We’ll see if that’s still the case after.”

“Zander.” Mom shot a pointed warning look my way as she snapped a final picture and waved us farewell on our adventure. “I’m sure this ride will be delightful.”

Easy for her to say. She wouldn’t be contending with an ornery creature for the next two hours. Our folks loved sending us on adventures, yet never seemed inclined to join us. I couldn’t wait till I turned seventeen and could refuse said adventures myself.

“All right, folks.” The guide mounted his black griffin and wheeled the beast to face us. “I’m Kris. Welcome to Yearstone Canyon Trail Rides. Please remember, keep a tight hold of that pommel at all times. We don’t want to lose anyone mid-flight. Now, use those reins to point your griffin in this direction, give ‘em a squeeze with your legs, say ‘Get up’ with a calm and confident voice, and we’ll be off.” Then he spun his mount and trotted through the corral’s open gate.

Kyia’s griffin jumped to follow.

I gave Belladona a nudge. “Get up.”

She craned her neck to stare back at me with one unblinking amber eye, but didn’t move.

“Come on, you stupid beast. We’re going to be left behind.” I released the pommel, gathered the ends of the reins in my hand and smacked her lightly on the hindquarters. Her tail flicked, and her gaze narrowed. With a sudden lurch, she bounded over the corral fence and trotted into line. I grabbed for the pommel to keep my seat while my heart jumped into my throat. This was why I preferred books—they told all about the experience without any risk to life or limb.

The trail soon narrowed into a rocky path that switchbacked down the red rock wall of the canyon. I swallowed and focused on slowing my breathing. Why did the trail have to be so high?

“How far down is that?” Kyia leaned over the side of her mount to peer at the rushing river winding through the canyon’s base.

“Far enough landing in the river ain’t gonna save you,” Kris happily called back over his shoulder.

Belladona clambered over a large rock and onto a small ledge. My knuckles turned bone white on the pommel. Please don’t fall. Please don’t fall.

“Now we glide down.” Kris pointed to where the ravine opened up into a grassy meadow, the river calming into a small lake.

“Just hold tight and let your griffin do the work.” Kris’s griffin launched, sending small bits of rock tumbling down the canyon’s steep side.

“Come on, Cambree,” Kyia encouraged her griffin. “Let’s do this. Get up!”

Cambree hesitated, wings extended, then made a preparatory hop forward. The impact landed right at the ledge’s edge, and the red rock gave way. Kyia screamed as they tumbled over the edge.

“Kyia!” My legs clamped around Belladona like an iron vice, and Belladona surged forward. We dove, leaving my stomach behind. Wind rushed by as Kyia and Cambree tumbled end over end below us, rolling uncontrolled down the incline. Rocks and feathers rained into the void below. Cambree twisted and flapped, desperately trying to right herself. The action threw Kyia from Cambree’s back. My sister screamed.

“Faster,” I yelled to Belladona. With one powerful surge of her wings, she sent us hurling downward. My legs squeezed around Belladona’s middle, and my fingers tightened on the reins as I reached my other hand for Kyia. Panic filled her hazel eyes.

“Come on.” I stretched and Belladona pulled in her wings even tighter to her body. I reached for Kyia. My fingers brushed against hers then locked around her wrist. I yanked on the reins, and Belladona flared her red wings, stalling our descent. We lurched as my griffin struggled to hold us aloft. I hauled Kyia up and she scrambled onto the saddle behind me.

“Get up,” I commanded. Belladona flapped, her powerful wings beating the air, fighting for every inch of lift. A gust of wind pushed us toward the meadow, and we settled into a steady glide. I let out a shaky breath.

Below us, Cambree slid to a stop on the bank of the river, then leapt to her feet and ran toward the meadow.

“Still think this trip is fun?”

Kyia clung to my back for several moments before she answered. “Just ’cause things don’t go as planned doesn’t make ’em bad. What a rush! Aren’t griffins awesome?”

I stared at her. How on earth did we come from the same parents?

“Told ya it’d be more exciting than staying home with a book.”

We landed in the soft grass and Kyia slid off Belladona’s back. As she moved to remount Cambree I gave Belladona a pat. Kyia was right about one thing: I’d certainly never experienced any of this in a book.