The sphinx suddenly leaps, and you watch as she moves impossibly far through the air, her front paws landing softly upon the fleeing girl's back, pushing her to the sand. In an instant, the sphinx has grabbed her with her paws and turned her around to face her.

To you astonishment, the sphinx begins to smile and to speak to the girl in a different language. The girl stops screaming, but then soon starts to speak in a pleading voice that grows more hysterical as the conversation continues.

You glance at Sarah. She is holding the stick, fingers white with tension, and eyes wide. "Jaedon, maybe we should get out of here..."

But before either of you make a move...