The creature was unlike anything I've seen before, except for, perhaps, myself.
It was twice the size of a griffin and crawled down the cave passage on its fat, worm-like body. Dozens of short appendages similar to three-jointed hands covered the entire length of it, and each ended with dangerously looking claws that the beast used to grasp the walls and floors of the cave and haul itself forward. On the front of the monster was a long, needle-like beak.
From time to time, the monster stopped and opened it, as if tasting air, then changed direction in accordance with what it scented. For now, that direction was towards me, and I was sure that eventually the creature would spot me.
