Fiction:The Firmament/Griffon

Griffons are a species of magical beast who have the front half of an eagle and the hind half of a lion. They are closely related to hippogriffs.

Appearance
Griffons are large, strongly-built creatures resembling a cross between eagle and lion, possessing a bird's head, wings and forelegs but the hindlegs and tail of a feline. They come in a variety of colours, with the most common being white, black and brown. The average griffon is 2,5 meters from beak to tail and weight 200 kilograms.

Ecology
Griffons can be found in many mountain ranges across Telamon, where they often serve as apex predators. Their favorite prey are horses, and as such they are more usually found in regions where populations of wild horses live.

Society
Griffons live in pairs; upon mating, a griffon couple remains together until they die. Should any griffon who is not a member of their family enter their territory, however, they may react aggressively to their presence.

Abilities
Griffons have no supernatural abilities, but are famed for their strength, with their talons being large and strong enough to bend steel armor. They are exceptional fliers, being able to reach great speeds in the air and only being matched by a few other creatures.