A lightning bolt tore the sky into two parts, right above the youngsters, who were paralyzed with terror for several seconds, a short distance from the edge of the gorge. With their hands resting on their knees, they tried to catch their breath after a rather bumpy race.

   Tthor, sensing the danger touching their backs, took Lee-Won by the hand again and began the ascent to the moving bridge, which gradually rose until it ended on the other side of the gorge.

   "Some tables are missing. You, follow me and I'll let you know when you have to take a long step, okay?"

   Lee-Won clung to Tthor's shoulders and began to walk behind him, as the narrow bridge only allowed one walker at a time.

   A growl too close made Tthor stumble, and he gripped his sides tightly. The ropes that served as railings were old and gnawed. Tthor's hands were slippery from the rain that seemed to have no end.

   At a new growl, the young men turned around, expecting an imminent attack. But they were paralyzed by what they saw: a huge black dog, soaked to the skin, sheltered at the beginning of the bridge, baring its fangs at half a dozen emaciated and visibly rabid wolves who were watching it, also showing their sharp teeth, at a safe distance.

   Tthor immediately recognized the dog. He was already, at that point, his personal guardian.

   "We must continue advancing," said Lee-Won, who had glimpsed the scene through the glare of distant lightning.

   Tthor hesitated. He knew they could continue on their way but he wasn't sure he wanted to leave the dog alone against six or seven hungry wolves, even though it surpassed them in size and weight.

   The dog seemed to understand the situation because after a few barks, he started running towards the young people and, passing between their legs, he arrived like lightning towards the other end of the bridge. And from there, he looked at them agitated.

   Tthor was worried because they were now at the mercy of the wolves, which were approaching the edge of the bridge, showing their fangs. Lee-Won couldn't make out the scene clearly but Tthor's tight hand put him on alert.

   "Run!" Tthor shouted at him without letting go.

   And they started the race, close to the catwalk, with the wolves hot on their heels. But before despair paralyzed the two boys, a strong and devastating lightning bolt fell at the base of the bridge, setting fire to the ropes and the first planks, releasing it from the end of the gorge.

   Tthor shouted at Lee-Won to hold on and held on tightly to the ropes closest to him.

   "Lee-Won!!!" Tthor exclaimed when he noticed that the boards under his feet were shaking.

   " I'm fine!...I'm fine!" Answered the young boy hanging from one end of the wood that he had found when he felt Tthor's warning.

   The bridge, which now hung from one end, swayed restlessly from side to side, banging against the edges of the gorge with each movement. Tthor looked down, in the direction of the river, seeing that some of the wolves that had fallen into the water were swimming away against the current. And the two who had remained on the edge of the other side of the mountain looked at them in confusion. A new lightning bolt, somewhat weaker than the previous one, forced the two wild animals to disappear behind some bushes.

   After several tumbles, the ropes and the few planks that were still intact remained stuck to the dripping face of the mountain. Tthor looked up and noticed that about twenty meters separated him from the top. And up there, large eyes stared at him, then disappeared into the darkness.

   The young man counted six or seven intact planks and assumed that they would be enough to reach the top.

   "Lee-Won," Tthor said, looking at him from under his arm, "is everything okay?"

   " Yes, yes...We must ascend. How do you see everything up there?"

   "There are some planks. Don't let go of the mountain…or me."

   " I won't do it!"

   They began to ascend slowly step by step. They climbed the last sections, with considerable difficulty, until Tthor, who took cover first, took his friend with both hands and pulled him up, making a superhuman effort, since the face of the gorge was quite steep and his hands were wet. of the young man made a secure grip difficult.

   When Lee-Won managed to climb up completely, it was only when Tthor let him go. They both fell, defeated by the effort and with their bodies trembling from the adrenaline of the moment.

   Tthor thought it was lucky that Lee-Won couldn't see the bottom of the gorge. Well, it was a terrifying sight and they had come pretty close to plummeting.

   "How are you?"

   Lee-Won had his face covered with both hands.

   "Talk to me!" Tthor told him, nervous.

   " I'm fine..., I'm fine...," Lee-Won answered lowering his hands. "And you? I can't believe what just happened to us."

   Tthor did not respond.

   "And all because of my stupidity!!!" Lee - Won sobbed agitatedly. "I almost made my best friend die because of a stupid idea of ​​mine! Forgive me, Tthor!"

   Tthor didn't know what to say, so he did the only thing he could think of: hug him tightly and try to comfort him.

   "I followed you and it was my decision..." Tthor whispered to him, after a few moments, holding him to his chest.

   "Why did you do it?" Lee-Won could barely speak.

   "You said it. I'm your best friend. Wouldn't you be so selfish to deprive me of this adventure?"

   Lee-Won barely smiled. His body was trembling slightly.

   The rain, now converted into a thin frosty film, mixed with the tears that Lee-Won was shedding in silence. Before Tthor could comfort him, something pushed him back, causing him to fall on his back. When he tried to understand what had happened, Lee-Won started laughing out loud.

   The black dog had returned and jumped into the young dark-haired man's arms, throwing him to the muddy ground and licking his face again and again.

   "Enough! "Enough!" Lee-Won said laughing.

   The animal separated from the young boy and sat next to him, with its tongue sticking out and its eyes shining. But their joy was short-lived because a loud and clear growl perplexed the two young people.

   The dog jumped up and stood in front of Tthor, showing his long fangs, prepared for a possible attack. Three stocky wolves with bloodshot eyes were slowly approaching, one of them sniffing the air with its gray snout.

   Tthor felt like his legs would give out at any moment. He had intentions of approaching Lee-Won, in a protective impulse, but he knew that at the slightest movement, he would provoke the attack of those animals.

   Lee-Won's mind was racing. He stared at everything with wide eyes, feeling like he couldn't contain himself any longer. He planned to take Tthor by the arm and run somewhere. But just at the moment when he looked in the direction of the wolves, whose red eyes could barely be seen, he felt himself being pulled back with great force. Tthor had grabbed him by the shirt, forcing him to take several steps back.

   At the moment when the wolves reacted, the young people ran towards the ravine. They crouched down just as they reached the sharp edge.

   Tthor had to dig his feet into the mud to stop and avoid falling off the cliff. Lee-Won grabbed onto him just in time, but the animals instinctively continued the race and jumped, in an attack pattern, both at the same time, towards the young people.

   They had already crouched down, so the wolves passed them by, falling into the waters of the mighty river. Tthor looked first into the abyss and caught a glimpse of the two animals, struggling in the swollen currents. Then, he turned his head in the direction of the black dog.

   "No!!!" He shouted in despair when he saw that he was engaged in a fight with a wolf that had been left behind.

   A hurricane-force wind suddenly came out as if from nowhere and enveloped the two animals. The air seemed to become thick and turned black, in a matter of seconds.

   When Tthor looked up, he saw a shadow approaching them and felt something sharp grab his neck and lift him several meters above the ground. Unable to see what exactly was happening, only feeling that he was upside down, he was shaken violently. He flew into the air, spinning uncontrollably, and landed sitting on a hard, wet surface.

   Tthor looked down and saw how Lee-Won was lifted by his neck, by a giant bird's beak, which held him in the air. It was a griffin, the same one, as it seemed to Tthor, who had grabbed it with his claws days before.

   The winged creature turned its head and placed Lee-Won behind Tthor, in the middle of his back, right where his giant eagle wings emerged.

   Tthor looked back and saw that Lee-Won was fine, although he looked a little pale and bewildered. And that's when Tthor noticed that the back of the gryphon didn't seem to match the front. The feathers there changed shape and gradually turned into shiny brown fur. And a couple of meters further, the animal's body ended in large paws with hooves, instead of claws like the front legs did have.

   The griffin spread its wings, which measured more than twenty meters when open, and prepared to take flight. Tthor sensed what he was going to do and began to shout:

   " Don't fly yet! Don't fly yet!"

   "Because? What's going on?" Lee-Won wanted to know.

   The gryphon turned his long neck and placed his head a few inches from Tthor. He spoke to him, convinced that the griffin would understand him:

   "I can't leave him here! "He saved my life!" And he pointed to the black dog that was badly injured and that the wolf was watching from a dangerous distance, about to attack him again.

   He seemed like he wasn't afraid of the griffin. He was just waiting for the opportunity to finish off his rival.

   The bird turned its gaze to where Tthor was pointing. He took a few steps and stood up violently on his two hind legs, standing up on his front legs and threatening the animal with his open claws, which measured more than five meters. The young were forced to hold on to short feathers protruding from one side.

   The wolf was paralyzed by such a sight. He took a few steps back and in a second he disappeared into the forest, leaving the black dog howling in pain in a pool of blood.

   The griffin stood on its four legs again and put its head close to the dog. He took it, delicately, with the tip of his curved beak and placed it in Tthor's arms. The dog looked at Tthor intently and began to lick his face.

   "You're going to be fine," the young man told him, examining a cut he had on his ear and another on his front leg. "Now we can go!!!" Tthor ordered, caressing the griffon's neck.

   And it, opening its wings in a majestic manner, took flight, gaining height quickly, despite flapping its wings gently, as if taking care of the load that it carried on its back.

   Tthor hugged the dog and turned his head. His gaze met Lee-Won's. They both smiled.

   "After all, you got what you wanted..."

   The young boy looked down and was paralyzed by what he saw: a green spot, with raised points that he guessed were the maples that populated the forest.

   The sky opened above them suddenly and the light of dawn flooded everything. The rain had subsided and the day was now clear and clear.

   A cool breeze caressed his face. The griffin flapped its wings a little more and began a gentle descent. He landed on a frosty meadow, behind the forest that stood on the east side of the abbey. He placed the dog on the ground with his beak, very delicately, while the two young men got off, sliding along the back of the animal, which had bent its legs so that they were closer to the ground. Tthor walked around the griffin and stood in front of its giant head.

   "Thank you!" He told him, caressing her beak, which the winged animal had lowered until it was almost touching the ground.

   Tthor walked backwards to a safe distance. Lee-Won did the same and the animal spread its wings again, taking off in rapid flight. It was soon lost among the white clouds that were now moving towards the sea.

   Lee-Won continued looking at the sky, lost in his thoughts. Tthor looked first at him and then looked down at the ground, searching for the dog. But he only found a pool of blood and some footprints that disappeared into the forest. Tthor thought about going to look for him but Lee-Won grabbed his arm.

   "If he had wanted more help, he would have stayed..."

   Tthor didn't want to let him go. He had the need to make sure he was okay but Lee-Won's look convinced him. He nodded and headed towards the abbey, hoping that this would not be the last time that he and that mysterious dog would cross paths.