Amy decided it would probably be better to try the gryphon vial. It would be better to approach Mara as one of her kind. She would be less frightened and it would be easier to communicate. Amy quickly downed the contents of the "Gryphon" vial.
Amy closed her eyes and braced herself. But after a few minutes, she opened her eyes. She didn't look any different. Her body felt a little strange, but that was probably just excitement. The contents of the vial didn't have a taste. Maybe it was a dud. Maybe the magic only worked on magical creatures like Mara. Or maybe the vials weren't magic at all. Whatever the case, she couldn't just stay home and wait. She had to try to warn Mara, even if she didn't have much of a chance. She saddled a horse, and started riding out to the cave.
The horse seemed uneasy as she rode. It had acted skittish when she entered the barn, and now it was acting scared. She wondered if there was a predator nearby, like a coyote or something. She urged the horse to hurry, but as she rode it slowed down, like its burden was getting heavier. Finally, it bucked her and she fell to the ground.
"Hey, Belle, what gives? " said Amy, as she rubbed her sore head.
Her hair felt different, like it was full of small bristles. She pulled one out, and was surprised to find a small white feather. A feather just like Mara's! It was working! She looked at her arms and the skin from her forearms to her hands turned a sickly yellow and was tough and thick. Her fingers curled into talons, ending in sharp claws. Her body expanded, ripping out of her clothes. Her lower abdomen was rapidly covered in thick fur, and a long thin tail sprouted form her back. Her feet stretched long and thin, forcing her to stand on the balls of her feet. Thick pads formed on soles, and long sharp claws extended from her toes. Her mouth ached, as a beak burst from below her lips. Finally, two large wings stretched from her back. She screeched in excitement as she finished her transformation into a gryphon.
She flapped her wings and hovered above the ground. She quickly imitated what she had seen Mara do, and was soon gilding through the sky towards Mara's cave.