Tomahawk the Griffin

A playful interaction with a mythical creature.

Jan 27, 2026

Chapter 1 of 2

This is the first of two excerpts from the same dive experience. Part 2: “The Good Samaritan - The Inn Keeper’s Perspective” will be released on Tuesday, February 3 2026. Subscribe to have it sent directly to your inbox.

Music

If you’d like to deepen the immersion, you can listen to this song as you read. It’s one of my go-to songs that aids my dives…

Tomahawk the Griffin

I saw Akiemba and quickly noticed the backdrop. We were on the Moon of Flowers by the cave and there were purple wildflowers in bloom everywhere in the field. It’s beautiful here! I thought as I looked around.

“Ta-da!” Akiemba said as he waved his hand outward like a showman displaying the newly grown beauty around me. We both laughed.

“Akiemba,” I started.

“Yes,” he responded.

“I want to ask Father about something.”

“Of course Little One,” he said.

I walked over to him.

“Up,” he said as he picked me up between his arms and let out a whistle. In an instant, a griffin cut in front of us, appearing from out of the clouds. Pieces of them still caught around his body for a moment as if he had just flown through cotton candy. When he was in front of us, Akiemba set me on his back and away we went.

“It’s Tomahawk!” The Griffin yelled to me with excitement, clearly expecting me to recognize him from before.

I couldn’t help but let out a giggle of delight at his disposition. “Hi Tomahawk!” I yelled to overcome the wind from our flight.

“Hold on!” he yelled. Soon he began to roll to the side and spin loops like a roller coaster. Over and over we twirled. It was exhilarating! I felt like a kid on a spinning ride. Then down we plunged for a moment before we came back up again. We slowed both our speed and angle of ascent.

I looked over at Akiemba as we came up next to him. He was flying with his front facing up like a person floating in a pool on their back.

“Back stroke, aye?” I asked him as I raised one eyebrow. “I didn’t know you could do that.”

“I can do many things you don’t know about,” he retorted.

“That I don’t doubt.”

“If I were a human, which I’m not, I’d probably read like this,” he said sarcastically.

With that Tomahawk picked up pace. Akiemba flipped over and began flying faster to keep up with us. Soon we were moving through clouds. Then we were flying over the floating floor of heaven.

“Here we are,” Tomahawk announced as he came to a stop. I suddenly found that I could see his body more clearly. He was dark for a lion, more brown than the typical tawny color. His wings were made up of golden colored feathers. He had longer tufts of hair that formed a mane, albeit a less substantial one than a lion’s mane. And his head was an eagle’s.

“You look just like the mythology,” I muttered almost involuntarily.

“I know, I’d look great on the back of a coin.” He struck a proud pose.

I let out a roar of laughter!

“I am a watcher. I fly over the world and give reports. I know much of the going-ons in your world. People should not watch the news, they ought to listen to griffins instead.”

Suddenly his tone changed to the sound of an old radio announcer, “And this concludes your radio broadcast for this afternoon’s news. Tune in next time, whenever you like, to hear more news, upcoming weather and plans for the kingdom. Thank you and goodnight!”

I chuckled and shook my head. “That would be an improvement.”

“The kings messengers, that’s what we are. But imagine if the public would stop us and ask us ‘what’s the news?’ Oh wait! You are children of the king and you can do just that!” He feigned surprise as he said the words.

“Well, I’m off, gonna get back to flying now. Peace my loved one.” He leaned his head toward mine. I wasn’t sure if he was bowing or hinting at his version of a hug. Then in a dazzle, he was off!

I looked over at Akiemba, and let out a breath.

Akiemba just half smiled in response.

Dive date: March 25 2021

Lunar: 5 days after the Full Moon.

→ Chapter 2: The Good Samaritan - The Inn Keeper’s Perspective

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