As the autumnal equinox approached, the townspeople became nervous. Why?
A) They heard an eclipse would happen and were worried the Griffin would be scared.
B) They were anxious that the Griffin might become bored with town life and leave.
C) They had given all their food to the Griffin and were not sure how they would survive winter.
D) They knew the Griffin would be hungry and were afraid he would devour their children.
The correct answer is D) They knew the Griffin would be hungry and were afraid he would devour their children.
Explanation: As the autumnal equinox approached, it was common for communities in stories involving mythical creatures like Griffins to be anxious about the creature’s needs and behaviors. In this context, the townspeople’s fear stemmed from being concerned about the Griffin’s hunger during the winter months, leading to worry about the safety of their children. This highlights the dynamics between humans and mythical creatures in folklore, where the townspeople often feel threatened by the whims of such powerful beings.