Joanna flipped out of her hammock and scrambled for her sword on the ground. Something was flocking around her face while she slept and startled her awake. She untangled the sheets from her waist and took hold of the hilt of her sword. She swung herself around with the sharp weapon and let out a cry when her sword nearly pierced the stomach of Sharpley. The bird also let out a surprised cry and lowered himself to the ground next to her.

"Lady Joanna, forgive me, I am not the strongest of fliers!"

"How about you just call my name out next time?" she sighed, placing a hand on her forehead, "What time is it?"

"Nearly dawn, milady."

Joanna rubbed her eyes, "Has Aslan called for me again?"

Sharpley shook his head, "No, however he has informed all of camp that the youngest Son of Adam has returned."

Joanna's eyes shot up to the bird, "Edmund is back?" she cried out.

The eagle nodded, "Yes, I believe so!"

Joanna stood with her three new friends, watching as Aslan walked up one of the many hills with Edmund. She smiled in relief to know that he had returned safely. Her eyes travelled to the other three siblings who stood huddled together. They watched their brother with anticipation and excitement. Joanna was reminded of her own siblings and the letters Peter had kept from her so she turned away and headed back into the camp.

"Where are you off to in such a hurry?" Bryne questioned as she trotted up next to her.

Jo let out a laugh, "Nothing, just thought they deserved some privacy."

"I think you need to let off some steam," Talia said as she walked on the other side of Joanna. The girl scoffed and agreed with her.

"Get dressed, grab your weapons and join us outside when you're ready." Bryne commanded as they approached Jo's tent.

Sharpley flew in behind her into the tent, he tended to cleaning his feathers while she got ready. One of the feathers fell to the ground. Picked up by the gentle breeze flowing through the tent, it landed on the sheets Jo had left on the floor. She picked it up and admired the golden brown tint it held. She took hold of one of the strings on her tunic and cut off the end and tied it around the quill of the feather. She then tied the loose end of the string around the chain of her golden whistle.

Sharpley smiled upon seeing his feather on her necklace, "Whatever would you want to wear my feather for, milady?"

"Father Christmas told me that I have a special connection with certain creatures here in Narnia, I think I've figured out which creatures they are."

"Will you be joining me to visit the Gryphons later?" Sharpley asked with wide eyes.

Joanna nodded, "I think I'd like that."

Peter stared down his friend as she walked past the reunion of the siblings. She did not look his way or wave to him, her eyes stayed ahead. He looked away sheepishly and tried not to think of the cold shoulder he was receiving. Peter was beginning to regret keeping the letters from her, he was only trying to protect her.

Joanna followed Bryne and Talia to the practicing grounds. There she was attended to by trainers and practice swords. The closest she had ever been to swinging a sword was swinging the cricket bat at home. She could barely dodge the blows from Bryne and the other trainers, resulting in many bruises and scrapes. By the end of the hour she was so tuckered out she could hardly stand. Bryne swung at her feet and successfully swiped her feet out from underneath her. Jo crumbled to the ground and groaned when her head hit the soft, dew-covered ground.

The trainers urged her to stand and laughed at her panting. She was dizzy and her head hurt now, she did not want to get up. Bryne stood above her with a smirk and held her hand out to her, "I'll go easy on you now."

Joanna rolled her eyes and returned the smirk, latching her hand onto the centaur's. She yanked Joanna up and steadied her dizzy figure. Sharpley and Talia stood to the side chuckling at her wobbly legs. Bryne announced they would be taking a break and shooed everyone off.

"I don't think fighting is my strength." Joanna said between heavy breaths.

Bryne passed the water canteen to her, "You will learn by practice, which means every day I will teach you."

"So what's next?" Joanna asked with her thirst quenched, laying back onto the grass.

"You face me in an archery contest!"

Joanna sat up and smiled at Susan's playful smirk. Lucy stood next to her with a smile, "She's really good, Jo."

"I bet she is, so no need for a contest!" Joanna exclaimed as she stood up, bones and muscles aching.

Susan playfully punched her arm, "Scared, are you?"

"Completely, so I won't go against you!"

"Well that was easy," Susan said with a shrug of her shoulders.

The three girls sat in a circle with the other creatures and talked for a bit about all that was going on around camp. Sharpley mentioned that the Gryphons needed to train for battle with flight tactics. This sparked Jo's interest, so she asked Sharpley to take them to the Gryphon's rest area. Susan and Lucy joined the group for the rest of the day and watched the griffins take flight over the camp.

Joanna couldn't help but fall in love with the creatures when they flew over them. Their feathers were gold when the sun hit them and their wings were magnificent in length. They were graceful in the air and knew how to navigate the wind well.

Susan watched Joanna's eyes light up as one approached her after landing, so she nudged her, "Try flying on one!"

Joanna shook her head furiously, "No way, Susan."

"Oh, Jo, please! That would be so fun!" Lucy exclaimed in excitement.

A Gryphon bowed low before Susan and Lucy, "My Queens, it is an honor to finally meet you. My name is Myron, guardian of the Gryphons." he turned to Joanna, "It is a pleasure to meet you as well, Seer Joanna."

"Joanna wants to fly with you!" Susan suddenly exclaimed with a grin, earning a rather sharp nudge from her older friend.

"I would not mind that at all, my Queen." he turned to Joanna with a smile, "Hop on!"

Joanna laughed nervously, "Oh I could never-"

"Nonsense, I won't let you fall!"

The sisters and other creatures encouraged Joanna to do it. It was just like riding a horse in the air, right? She could do that, she decided. Reluctantly, she swung her leg over the other side of Myron and situated herself.

"I've never had a rider before, so I can't say I have any advice to give you," Myron said as he looked back to Joanna.

"Lovely, I'll be fine," she growled with a shaky voice.

Myron let out a great cry, "Off we go!"

Joanna screamed as the ground below her suddenly shrunk, as did everyone else watching. The other Gryphons followed their leader and let out cries of their own. Joanna held onto Myron's feathers tightly, her knuckles white. She leaned down behind the creature's neck and closed her eyes, tears flying out the sides of her eyes from the wind.

They were high over the camp now and Joanna could see everything in the low valley. She caught sight of Aslan standing outside of his tent, he seemed to be smiling up at her. Joanna smiled back as well and sat up a little higher. The wind roared in her ears and it was all she could hear.

Myron sharply turned right and headed back to the resting grounds. Joanna frowned when she saw a group of people making their way towards the camp. They were a rather large group with large and burly creatures. Joanna reached forward and touched Myron's neck, "Who is that?" she yelled over the wind.

Myron followed her pointed finger and let out a screech when he saw the group, "The White Witch!" he gasped.

Joanna's heart began to race and she panicked, grabbing hold of her whistle. She placed it on her lips and blew into the small thing, producing several short, sharp, and high-pitched tones. Myron heard the whistle and his head twitched to the side, they lost height quickly. Joanna let out a shriek and wrapped her arms around his neck as they descended.

The other Gryphons descended with them and landed on a nearby cliff leading into the camp's valley. Joanna apologized for causing Myron to lose his concentration, realizing now that all the Gryphons heard the sharp blow of her whistle. She had remembered Father Christmas' words to her about the whistle.

"It is silent to foes, and only heard to those under your command. . .But, when in dire need and it is sounded, all who are loyal to you can hear it."

"I was trying to alert the camp down below with the whistle," she explained to the Gryphons, "Only those friendly to me can hear it when something is wrong, so the camp should be aware something is going on."

Myron sat before her with a smile, "Well I think they heard it, I don't know how anyone could have missed that!"

The sound of jeers and squeals interrupted their banter then, they turned to see the White Witch and her followers coming around the corner into the valley. Myron stood and tensed up, his eye trained on them. Joanna slowly came to his side, "I think we should go back, just in case my whistle wasn't heard." she said quietly. Myron nodded to her and allowed her to climb back onto him. They quickly flew back to the camp and to their relief, the entirety of the camp had gathered outside of their tents.

Joanna ran past the siblings into Aslan's tent, but he was already standing and ready to leave, "I heard your call, child."

She smiled at him and gulped, "She's nearly here, Aslan."