You motion for Leona to remain quiet with a sharp finger pressed to your lips, which she acknowledges with a small nod of understanding. With tentative footsteps, you tap your sword to the creature's flank, and the room is suddenly illuminated with a great flash and the confusion that follows sends you into a slight shock.
Though you should have known it was coming, you see the paws in front of you instead of your hands and it makes you panic a bit, yourself jolting to your feet- which were actually your hind paws- and sending you crashing to the floor with a loud, extended yowl of discomfort. Leona watches with a slight fear, hoping both that it worked and that you were okay, though especially the former. Once you finally get your bearings, you shakily rise to your paws, your wings still folded, and try to make your way back over to Leona, face filled with confusion. Something that was immediately clear was that this griffin was definitely female. You awkwardly shuffle closer to your partner, the lack of anything there making you uncomfortable. Her expression is jovial and teasing, much to your comfort. Was this what she went through?
Suddenly, her face contorts into one of fear, and you feel a sharp strike on the back of your head, and everything goes dark.