Bounding up the seams in the wall, Fern makes to the crossbeams connecting the two pieces of roof.  She can see over the other side of the wall into a hall like featureless, poured lacquer - an ocean of frictionless brown - with rice paper walls arranged on either side.  The hall is empty, sticky with quiet.<br/><br/>She can also see that Miaren will have to attempt a climb of four almost tractionless feet before she can reach her and even hope to pull her up.<br/><br/>Below, in the enclosure, the griffon has halted.  He stands in concealment behind interlacing branches of sparkling, gem-like leaves, watching.  Miaren can feel his stare switching from one girl to the other.  She can taste its sharpness in the back of her throat.  In deeper places, his scent gathers with the sensation of wool spooling wet.