Better late than never, RIGHT? A very merry Un #WonderlandWednesday to you! I had some minor technical complications that meant I had to restart this illustration- twice! But fear not- they shan't happen again (knock on wood, all of that) so without further ado, let me introduce the newest member of the Grinners and Losers cast: The Gryphon!

Not all Wonderlanders live in Little Winsford. Runcorn Cross, a home rule municipality attached to Green Sparrows, is an industrial town that was practically booming in the sixties, and several of the Wonderlanders who escaped The Sundering settled down in the area, just across the river from Little Winsford. The area attracted those members of Wonderland who were more inclined towards physical labor and industry, whereas Little Winsford remained the province of those more inclined to specialized trade (the 'fancy' people.)

Runcorn Cross' history in recent years has not been good, however. While Little Winsford has become something of a bohemian/hipster town, Runcorn has had a steady increase in crime and violence. For the last ten years, a gang known solely as 'the pack' has most businesses in the area under its racket- with local police seemingly unable to keep them under control. The pack also brings in money through the trafficking of the drug known only as 'boojum'- an incredibly powerful (and addictive) hallucinogenic.

Although no-one has been able to successfully prove it, the pack is rumored to be led by the otherwise seemingly respectable Philena Asgre- the elegant widow who lives in Taydem House, a manor right by Hartsmore Bridge, the bridge that connects Little Winsford and Runcorn Cross. Very little is known about Asgre, except that she is remarkably well-preserved for her age, looking to be no older than sixty when she was rumored to be already nearing her fifties when she purchased Taydem House in 1965. Nobody remarks about the fact that, whenever the issue of her age is brought up in conversation around town, people find their minds wandering and settling onto another topic whatsoever.

The Griffen family, the descendants of the Gryphon, have remained in Runcorn Cross through its good days and steadfastly through its current dark days. Until recently, it was customary for members of the family to be part of the Runcorn Cross police force. Ten years ago, however, the last of the Griffens in the force - Detective Albert Griffen - was murdered under mysterious circumstances and his murder remains unsolved to this day. Albert's death hastened the death of his already-ailing father (the original Wonderland Gryphon) and seemingly broke the family's legendary steel spine- his wife Justine became a shut-in, prey to crippling depression. Her eldest daughter, Alexandra, left the nest as soon as she could and found work in the West Coast, looking to put distance between herself and Runcorn Cross. Nobody could explain why, but the tragedy also isolated the family from the rest of the community- friends stopped calling and the funeral was practically deserted, even though Albert had been well-liked and respected by many. People didn't really know why, but the family simply slipped people's minds. Constantly.

Justine's eight year-old son, Gavin, grew up in the shadow cast by his father's death, his mother's sorrow and the coldness of his sister's absence. His mother's care of him became an almost overbearing over-protectiveness, which eventually caused Gavin to chafe at being so confined. Although the young gryphon's independent streak rebelled against the restrictions imposed on him, his relationship with his mother did not deteriorate- it became strained, at times alarmingly so, but Gavin was aware that with his sister gone and reluctant to establish any contact at all, he and his mother were alone in Runcorn Cross.

In a way, it is a blessing that Justine is so far removed from daily life at Runcorn Cross, because she would be shocked to the core if she found out that her boy was running with The Pack. His reasons for being in the gang, however, are valid if ill-conceived: Gavin knows that there is a connection with his father's murder and the rise of The Pack, and he's determined to prove it. He has disguised his identity as best he can and, so far, The Pack seems to have fallen for the ruse. He hopes to eventually rise enough in the ranks so he can be introduced to the leader of the pack...

Gavin is the strongest Gryphon in the family since his grandfather- possessing strength far above that of a normal human. He also has the keen eyes of an eagle and the ability of flight- albeit only in short bursts. He shares kinship with birds and can communicate with them.