Big thanks to Con Badger for letting me use his character for this one.

It may or may not be true that orange-yellow gryphons have a mystic affinity for the sun. It's certainly striking that Con, forced down in a swamp by sudden wing-cramp, has found his paws meeting quicksand just as the descending sun touches the western horizon. Knowing it's useless to struggle, Con relaxes and watches one of the finest sunsets ever.

He's optimistic. Gryphons are tough (partial) birds and don't drown easily. And the sun is famous for resurfacing eventually.

Part Two here.