The flaming creature looked at the knight, tilting its head to the side. His threatening, determined air seemed to have no effect on it as it just glanced down at the sword in his hand and then back up to his face. When he was joined by another, more bizarre-looking man, the creature had the same reaction. But then it moved.

Quick as a blink, it leaned in close to Morgan, its body crackling and hot, blazing air crisping the skin on his face. It looked back at Cronus, leaning in towards him as well, though he was mostly protected from the heat under his layers. The creature drew back and put two hands on its hips. In quick, darting motions, it moved around the two men to stand in the center of the group. The ground seared and crackled underneath it, the grass blackening in a trail of ash. The fiery being turned in a circle, taking in everyone, and then looked up to glance at the two figures growing smaller in the distance. Lifting two of its hands in front of its face, it raised one finger after another, until it had counted off nine. Its third hand rested on its hip, while the fourth scratched the top of its head. It raised its eyes to look at the motley group again. 

In a whirlwind of fire, the creature's form whipped around, flames dancing in the air. Its body disappeared in the wind, leaving nothing but dry air and scorched earth in its wake.

[hr]
Not only was the something that Clifford tripped over very much alive, it was also very [i]angry[/i]. That usually happened when you were rudely awakened from a nap by being violently run over. Four slitted golden eyes snapped open and a surprised yowl could be heard. The beast shot up, landing on all fours, and turned, searching for the offending party. It didn't see Clifford rolling far below. Instead, it found Margareth. It straightened up to its full height, narrowing its eyes.

For the most part, it looked like an enormous lion, the size of a horse. Two twisting black horns sprouted from its head. A pair of sandy brown wings sprouted from its back, and stretched out in a show of size, blocking out the sun. Its front legs were thick and powerful with coiled muscle, long, blade-like talons curving out, while its hind legs ended in a pair of hooves. Its tail curled around the side and to the front. Golden fur turned into slick emerald scales, and at the end was a cobra's hissing head. The snake opened its jaw wide, revealing long fangs and an electric blue tongue, as its hood stretched out. 

Both heads glared down at Margareth. Then the lion opened its jaws and released a roar like thunder.

[hr]
Clifford was already up and running again when the beast let out its roar. His frantic pace was putting more and more distance between him and the chaos behind him. The rocky plane gave way to a sparse forest not a hundred yards away, leafless trees clumped together so tightly, navigating it would be a challenge. There were no signs of life aside from the chaos behind him and the world's flora.

That is, until a small whirlwind of fire whipped up several feet in front of him. The same fiery being he'd run from spun into existence, holding up all four hands in Clifford's direction in an attempt to slow him.