In a wild storm, female gryphon loses her ship, shipmates, and the ships treasure, but saves a single gold medallion. She carries it to a cave close to shore in which she lays a single egg and flies away. Atticus hatches from the egg into the arms and care of an old Irish woman named Yanabush. Atticus relies on her for care and help learning to fly. After repeated failures, Atticus finally succeeds only to threaten the life of a pirate, Barnaby, who has been watching the gryphon from the crow’s nest of his ship. Will Barnaby be responsible for Atticus’ demise or will he be a part of the gryphon’s destiny?