"The treasure of friendship" By Ben Goode 2016 (c)

Amos had travelled for hours in the snow one day to gather firewood for his cabin ready for the winter.
He was a humble and also a very poor man who had only the company of his dog Zek.
He had relied on nobody and was somewhat of a hermit and very rarely intervened with the nearby townspeople in the village nearby.
This time of the year was harsh and it was very difficult to find supplies of any kind. He had taken a different path on this day and was starting to worry that he would lose his way.
Zek ran ahead of him all of a sudden and was heading toward a rocky outcrop, that seemed to have a rather large white bird like creature draped over it, 
As Amos caught up to Zek, the creature revealed itself to be an incredible white Griffin perched up on the rock.
Amos stood speechless for a moment in pure amazement.
"I suppose you have come here to slay me human?"
"Slay you?" Amos seemed very confused.
"Yes while I am weakened of course, you no doubt want to collect on the price on my head!" The Griffin replied.
Amos could hear what sounded like a group of people not too far away from where they were. And thought that perhaps the Griffin had thought he was with them.
"No I have no idea what you're talking about sir, I am just out here to collect firewood. But if you are interested you are more than welcome to share my lodgings. It is the lone cabin on the eastern side of that large hill over there."
"Why would you help me? Don't you want the reward?" The Griffin asked curiously.
"I think perhaps you better go rather than ask questions, there's other's coming this way." Amos suggested. 
And so the Griffin took flight and headed toward the Eastern side of the hill Amos had directed him to.
Not long after a group of five people walked out of the woods and headed toward Amos and his dog. One of them in particular addressed Amos, as if he was the leader of the group. 
"Greetings Amos, you are out rather late aren't you?" 
 Amos noticed that each of the group all held a weapon of some sort as if they had been hunting.
"Yes Gren it's been a little difficult finding good dry wood so I decided to cover a little more ground today." Amos replied.
"Tell me Amos have you seen a creature in your travels today?" Gren asked. "There is a significant reward for its head. Perhaps if you help us locate it we could compensate you." 
"I neither have the time or interest Gren, I only hunt what I eat, and I need to get back to my wood gathering, so good day to you." Amos smiled briefly and walked away with Zek.
"You don't have to live like you do you know Amos. You should join us in town sometime!" Gren called out.
"I like how I live. Take care now" Amos called back.
Amos made his way back to his cabin, and he placed his wood stock into a neat pile, and he sorted the fish he had carried back on his shoulders, and he happily whistled as he did so
Zek went straight to the door of the cabin and made a curious noise. 
"What is it boy?" Amos asked as he went to the door and opened it.
When he walked in he dropped his fish in surprise, when he saw his cabin full of all the supplies he could possibly wish for. 
The Griffin prodded open a nearby window and poked his head in which had startled Amos for a moment. Zek however was unmoved.
"Sorry to frighten you my friend but I just wanted to say thank you. It's not often I come across such loyalty as you have demonstrated today. You could have made yourself wealthy giving away my location. I was never really weakened, but i did need a place to hide. I hope you will accept my gift to you. I realise you don't pursue riches as the others do, so i thought this was the least i could do. You will have my everlasting friendship." The Griffin seemed to smile and then flew away before Amos could say anything. 
"Friendship is a treasure in itself isn't it boy?" Amos smiled at Zek.