The cave was filled with darkness.So dark that you can't see anything.

"I think we need some light here."Strife muttered.

"Yeah,but where do we find it?"Sky asked.

"There."Strife said as he pointed towards the deeper part of the cave.There were torches there.

When they reached the torches,they grabbed the torches from their stands and ventured on.Suddenly,the torches were put out.Sky looked forward and saw a room with torches hanged on its walls.

"Look."Sky said.

"Great.It seems that someone had been waiting for us."Strife told him.

In the middle of the room was a pile of wood.The wood suddenly caught fire and the entire cave was lighted.At the far end of the cave was the griffin with the cage beside it.

But River was not in the cage.

All of a sudden, a scream was heard at the far end of the room.Sky and Strife then saw River.And she was knocked unconscious.By Slayer.

"Save her,before its too late.I'll deal with the griffin."Strife told Sky.

"Right.See you in a few minutes."Sky replied.

Sky rushed over to River and kicked Slayer aside.Sky quickly carried River out of the cave.

"Not so fast!"Slayer shouted.

Slayer threw his blade and it missed Sky by an inch.

'I have to protect this girl....Let me find a place to hide her first..'Sky thought to himself.

Sky hid River in a bush before turning to Slayer.

Meanwhile,Strife was fighting with the griffin.The griffin kept rushing around the room,trying to hit Strife.Whereas Strife kept on slashing the griffin whenever he could.Strife suddenly got thrown off into the air and he landed on the griffin's back.

'Argh.If only...I could reach the griffin's head,and I'll be able to kill it.'Strife thought.

Strife then slowly climbed up the griffin's neck.When he reached its head,Strife sank his blade as deep as he could into the griffin's skull.The griffin then gave a cry of rage and flew around the room madly.Strife managed to jump off the griffin's body.

The griffin lost control and smashed into the wall of the room.The room shook and rocks fell down its ceiling.The rocks hit the griffin and it was smashed by the rocks.

'Heh.My target has been destroyed.I expect Sky fighting with Slayer right now.'Strife thought as he walked out of the cave.

The moment he stepped out of the cave,he saw Sky and Slayer fighting.Strife then rushed forward to join in.

To Be Continued....

Part 11 coming soon.