//------------------------------// // Predators and Pride // Story: Where The Heart Lies // by Broman //------------------------------// The storms of winter were still coming down upon the plains. Day in and day out, they lashed and fell upon the earth, covering the land with an endless winter. Each flurry carried with it the fury of nature's wrath. With no pony or gryphon to tame it, it ran rampant and wild, striking out in free will with its torrential winds and blinding snow. Upon the plains of Prance, a small wall of snow was built, protected on all sides from winter's wrath. Within the protected barrier, an encampment of Equines, Cervine and Diamond Dogs had all gathered, but many have been shaken by what they have learned from the Gryphon courier. It had been four days since the news was made known. When Hammer gave the parchment to Silverwing, she was quite silent. An army rising to nearly twenty thousand strong was marching towards Prancy, their intent to bring it to ruin. Hearing such news would bring make any one shudder upon hearing it. Yet now, Hammer was unsure what to do. They stayed where they were, enduring the storm that continued to come down upon them. The camp’s inhabitants were quiet over the past few days. The only thing they spoke of was the invading army. Hammer could see the looks on their faces, the kind that worried and fear for what might happen. The guards spoke of  long columns of gryphons flying over the city. Other described them marching against their allies, chasing after fleeing innocents with their halberds and swords. Their animal roars scaring the citizen's to be frozen in place. The worst of it all was they were stuck behind enemy lines, and the fear of being caught was on the precipice of their minds. That is what is truly terrifying. Hammer had settled near a fire to keep warm. Anvil was sitting nearby with his open book and writing in it. Snow came at a slow and steady pace, but evaporated when it was close to warmth of the fire. The noise of the fire burning and the scribbling were the only things that filled the air. It was already late in the day, with night swiftly approaching. Yet Hammer didn’t feel like sleeping. His mind was focused on Silverwing. Since she had read the leaflet by the Gryphon courier, she had been on the job nonstop. She had ordered everypony to shore up their defenses and train, overlooked the supplies, and asked everypony to scout out behind the safety of the walls. She had pushed herself much since then, and he had hardly seen her. He’d been sleeping on his side of the bed and away from her. She had preferred this since their little argument, growing more reclusive by the day. She had been so busy keeping everypony on their own hooves that he would wake up to see her come to bed late into the night. Since their journey over a month ago, he felt he was alone in this wilderness. “You’re awfully quiet,” Anvil said, breaking the silence around him. Hammer turned and looked at his friend, who was still writing in his book. “Sorry. Got a lot on my mind,” Hammer replied, giving a tired sigh. “It’s Silverwing, isn’t it?” Anvil replied, hitting right to the point. Hammer looked to him and inclined his head. “You’re right. I’m just… she’s just been pushing herself for so long. I doubt… I kind of fear for her. I don’t know what to do.” “So go talk to her,” Anvil replied. He did it so calmly that Hammer thought he didn’t hear him right. “Already did. She was quite adamant in making sure she keeps the camp on their hooves. Wants to keep everypony alive in the event of a attack or prepare for everyone to move out,” he explained, not wanting to imagine another conversation with her like the last one. “Well, keep trying. You never know when you might convince her to listen,” he suggested. Hammer turned to his companion with a raised brow. “And who taught you such knowledge of diplomacy when negotiating with a stubborn leader?” Hammer asked, a hint of exasperation in his voice. “Swift Leaf taught me that,” Anvil said, not missing a beat. “She said that there are two sides on every coin. One cannot exist without the other. For them, if one is willing to speak, they must understand the other’s position and where they are coming from,” he finished, a small smile plastered on his face. Hammer blinked in surprise. He looked to the fire before him and gave a tired sigh. “You sound like you’re in love with her,” he said so casually that Anvil nearly lost his composure. He eyed Anvil, who had stopped writing to look at him. The suddenness of such a question made Hammer chuckle at the sight. “Maybe I am, maybe I’m not,” Anvil replied, his eyes darting everywhere to find the nearest object to find interesting. “I’m also interested in their lore and history, that’s all,” he explained a little hastily before trying to get back into writing his book. You’re in love my friend, Hammer thought, chuckling a little at his friend’s antics. He stared at the fire and watched the flames dance upon the wood. The longer he stared, he started to notice something else as well. Some of the flames seemed to morph into two ponies, one a earth pony and the other a pegasus. They were staring at one another and they began to do a simple, yet elegant dance. The pegasus would spin in the air around her partner, while the earth pony would grab her and spin her around. The two would then continue to spin in their cycles, never letting go of one another, and soon the two transcended into the sky above. By this time, Hammer was now staring at the sky and saw the storm clearing somewhat. Through the thick clouds and falling snow, he saw the open sky above and the stars shining brightly above their heads. Having been cooped up in the encampment and having gone through the daily grind of life, it was the one thing that he thought was the most beautiful. His mind then turned to Prancy, and the memory of the filly came to mind. He looked back down to stare at the fire once again, the images in his head never leaving. “You remember little Flower? The filly we saved back in Prancy?” he asked. This caused Anvil to stir with a warm smile. “Yeah, she was a good little filly. What made you bring her up?” he asked. Hammer smiled and turned to his friend. “Remember how much I told you that I would one day like to find a wife one day?” he said. Anvil nodded. “You were holding her in your arms when you said that. Reminiscing on being with Silverwing and everything,” he said. Hammer sighed and looked back to the fire before him, imagining that he and Silverwing were dancing in the flames. He inhaled a breath, feeling a great weight falling off his shoulders. “I love her. I haven’t said it to her, but I really do love her,” he said. Anvil looked to him, his eyes eyeing him with a attentive look but a supportive one. “So what’s stopping you?” Hammer turned to his friend, concern etched in his face. “She’s already going through enough as is. The past few nights we kept to ourselves, but whenever I do see her, she is so distant. She would sleep less each night, and now I worry for her. I believe she’s still mad at me for mentioning her brother. We all worry for him, just as much as she is. “I don’t want to push myself with my feelings when she has other matters at hoof. Yet, at the same time, I want to come in and help her. To intervene in her current path before she goes to far out of my reach,” he explained, feeling his body shake slightly. Anvil nodded to him and turned to his book. “Take a leap of faith, my friend. You’ll know when to speak to her,” he said in a casual manner and began writing into his book. Hammer nodded, staring at the fire before him. He stood up and stretched his body, a few kinks popping from sitting down for so long. He looked to the sky above. Even though there were stars out, it was early in the night and he wouldn’t need to go to bed for a few hours. Looking about the camp, his eyes settled upon the training area, where a few of the Royal Guard were training. Their bodies moved about and exercised without their armor, their muscles flexing from the strain and getting a workout. The Cervine were also training, practicing with their weapons as well. Even a few Diamond Dogs were practicing, though it look more like they were showing off to the others in a small, yet ridiculous, fashion. Instinctively, he raised a hoof to his wounded shoulder, feeling the bandages underneath. He felt a pressure from where his hoof touched and felt it course in his body. He lowered his hoof and a determined look was present on his face. What good am I if I stay around and do nothing? he thought, clenching his hoof and heading to exercise with his fellow companions. Anvil reamined behind, a smile present on his face. Unbeknownst to both of them, a pegasus captain had overheard the conversation behind the tents. A small tearful smile was present on her face. Quicksilver walked along the mountain path of the High Talon Mountains. He was following Lupin, who was a few yards ahead of him, while Gretchen was just behind them. It had been a quiet four days. Since Lupin had found them, he had been escorting the two closer to where they needed to hunt for the boar. Helping him would end up getting a good amount of food for the trip home. However, persistent weather had been hampering their progress, and they could only travel a few miles at a time lest they be overwhelmed by the storms. Luckily enough, the caves that Lupin mentioned were promising, and he had a few stashes of supplies within each one. Although with each passing day, their supplies had dwindled and he had very little left in terms of food in his own sack. To pass the time, he would indulge himself by speaking with Lupin. The Diamond Dog was quite knowledgeable, speaking much of what he found within High Talon Mountains. He knew of what animals lived in the higher mountains, and would name the foliage within the valleys below. He was very detailed in naming a few various plants, those that were poisonous and the ones that could help heal wounds when added properly. Quicksilver had asked him if he was a native dog in this region, or if he belonged to a place from far away. He would usually skirt the question by stating he did live here, but also traveled to other places. He wouldn’t pry any further then that, but his curiosity remained. Gretchen, on the other hoof, was quiet since the past few days. She was silent ever since they met up with Lupin. Whenever a conversation was started and Quicksilver would try to bring her in, she would always shut herself out. Any chance to ask her anything, she would growl in response or outright ignore him. Whenever he would even take a glance at her, she would appear distant, lost in thought and oblivious to the world around her. She would occasionally say a few things, but the words she would utter would be to criticize him for getting her in this mess, or to leave a snipe remark after he or Lupin were done speaking. She was still bitter to him for getting her in this situation, but he couldn’t blame her for it. He would no doubt being doing the same thing if he was in her position. His thoughts lingered on the implications of his actions. No doubt the Noble Gryphons, notably Ebon, would be quite furious with him for taking away his sister. If he went straight back to them with Gretchen in tow, they would most likely kept him under guard for however long they saw fit. However, the fear of the Nomad Gryphons coming and making a surprise return filled him; no doubt they would try to silence or capture him as a result. Running away was the best option at the moment, and getting out of these mountains would be his goal. Gretchen coming along, though, was complicated enough. He recalled how angry she was when she tried to flee from him. Under normal circumstances, he would have allowed her to go. On the other hoof, since he had saved her life with the help of Saint Gregor, she owed him in getting him out of these mountains. He had hoped that by some chance she would be at least grateful to him. So far though, the pride of the Gryphons were very entrenched, and she was not wanting to be humble enough to thank him. He only wished she would just show some gratitude, the same way he had treated her when she supported him. “We’re here,” Lupin spoke, breaking his train of thought. Quicksilver went to his side and observed the scene before him. What he saw was a winter wonderland. Below them, at least fifty yards in length in either direction, was a large lake. The water was covered in complete ice. A frozen waterfall was nearby, the water frozen in time from cascading down below. There were many brushes and trees that surrounded the lake, providing perfect cover for them to hide when the herd came. The mountains surrounded them on all sides, yet there looked to be an opening that lead to the north. He saw a little area covered in dense foliage, and that was no doubt be the location of the grove the boars will be heading. He turned to Lupin and pointed towards the grove. “So we’re heading into the grove to capture our quarry?” he asked. Lupin shook his head and pointed towards the lake. “That is a fool’s task. If you enter into that grove, it's a maze once you enter. I dare not go in myself, lest I get lost and frozen by morning,” he said before heading down to the lake. Quicksilver felt Gretchen's claw swat at the back of his head. He rubbed the sore spot and turned to the hushed annoyance. “Get on it with it, Fletching. Let's get this done and be set on your merry way,” she said, not hiding the irritation in her voice. He sighed in defeat, knowing full well that he was not going to get her to see reason. He followed her soon after, and within a few minutes, the three were near the lake’s edge. Lupin looked at the ice, drawing his sword in the process. He motioned for the two to stay there while he went forward, his paws brushing the snow at a slow pace. He tapped the ice with the tip of his sword, the blade ringing from the impact. Quicksilver shuddered from the thought of being in those freezing waters. He was unfortunate to witness several ponies who were in frozen lakes, their bodies sticking out of the ice from their final moments of life. He lifted a hoof and blew hot air onto it, trying to imagine a warm fire. “The Equine is cold. Maybe you should be near the water to warm you up,” Gretchen said in a condescending tone. “I don’t want to argue, Gretchen,” Quicksilver replied, his gaze focused on Lupin before him. “We’re nearly out of food, you place your trust in this Diamond Dog, and you dragged me far away from my family to the point where they would presume I’m already dead. I’m starting to get sick of this,” she stated. Quicksilver just rolled his eyes. “It’s just a little longer, Gretchen. Just be patient and you will be on your merry way,” he replied, to which she huffed in displeasure. Lupin tested several more minutes, examining the ice to see if it was thick enough to support their weight. After nearly another minute spent on the ice, he nodded and sheathed his sword. “The ice is clear. Come on over,” he said, settling his pack to the ground and digging through it. “A little longer and I’m going to lose my mind out here. Being stuck with a good for nothing pegasus and his lousy wings,” Gretchen muttered while heading towards Lupin upon the frozen lake. Quicksilver shook his head, seeing her raise her head in an arrogant fashion. “If only your wings were as fast as your mouth,” he muttered low enough that she didn’t hear. Gretchen paused and eyed him disparagingly as he moved past her. He didn’t care at this point if she heard him or not. Gretchen then walked alongside him, raising her head once more in arrogant display. She walked in a stride that would give the most disciplined guard a run for his money. He ignored her by keeping the same pace and going to Lupin’s side. It ended up being a challenge to Gretchen and she matched him step for step, marching across the ice. Quicksilver grew in annoyance, watching her claws on the ice match each step of his hooves. Gretchen was likewise irritated and continued to march at a steady pace. They kept this up until they both stood at attention in front of the Diamond Dog, who looked quite amused by the sight. “If you two kept marching like that, I believe you would be in sync. Almost to the point of trusting one another,” he observed. Gretchen flared her eyes and stared daggers back at him. “We are not in sync, Lupin. I have no desire to trust this pony with my life,” she said in seething anger. Much to Quicksilver’s dismay, Lupin pushed on with that innocent smile on his face. “Just saying,” he said, raising a index paw to his chin and bearing a cheeky grin. “If he marched any further with you, he would have tried to show off his wings. Maybe even attempt in wooing you.” Her eyes widened and her wings extended straight out into the air. Her face remained expressionless, looking at Lupin with a ‘are your serious’ look. Quicksilver was also caught off guard by the comment and raised his right hoof over his mouth in a attempt to stifle his fit of laughter. Lupin, bemused by the sight, pointed a paw to them. “Looks like your wings are doing the talking already,” he pointed out. Quicksilver then felt his own wings extended out, although quite painfully. He turned to Gretchen and stared intently at their wings. His own right wing was sticking straight up and went parallel with Gretchen’s, the feathers brushing up against one another. They were almost equal in height from what he observed. Even through his wings still hurt, he was too dazed at the sight to even care. Gretchen turned and saw her left wing next to his, and she looked at him with a seething gaze and a heated blemish on her cheeks. She then promptly punched him in the shoulder and knocked him straight into the ice. He landed a little hard onto his left wing, and he seethed from the unexpected pain. “Careful!” Lupin almost shouted, his expression serious. “The ice may be able to sustain us, but too much pressure or direct impact would break it,” he explained. Gretchen huffed in annoyance as Quicksilver slowly got up. He looked to both of his wings and gave a heavy sigh. The wings still hadn’t healed since his escape. The past few days, he had to keep them shut to avoid causing any pain, and with no bandages to help bind the broken wings, he would have little choice but to play it safe. Lupin also couldn’t provide any for him due to the bandages being needed for other means that he planned. He had hoped that he would have the comfort needed for his wings, to fly once again in the open skies without anything holding him back. Yet despite the yearning of flight, they would need healing and time. He hoped that one day he can soar once more in the open air above. But for now, he was a grounded pegasus. “If you are done with your lewd jokes, I wouldn’t have the need to use him as a punching bag,” Gretchen said, still appearing flustered and looking away. Lupin nodded to her, and not wanting to do anything else to provoke the Gryphon, gave out long ropes for them. Quicksilver noticed how they were tied in intricate knots, and from what he could discern, was one that could tighten very quickly with one pull. “Alright, lay these out in a wedge,” he explained, placing one of his traps into the center. “Spread out from here. The more ropes placed, the more chances we can capture boars. That way we can-” He paused, his ears pointing up in different directions. Quicksilver lifted his ears and could hear it too. It was a low rumble, and it was gradually picking up the pace. He looked to his left at the mouth of the frozen lake and saw snow in the distance. Only it was rising up. “The herd is coming. Get the traps down and tie them up. Quickly,” Lupin ordered and grabbed the ropes inside. He began spreading it across the ground and covering it with snow. Quicksilver did as he was told, settling the loop of the rope onto the ground and spreading out among the ground and covering up as best he could. He then dragged the loose rope with him until they went to their full length. Gretchen worked as well, though she seemed to rush the job then putting it down thoroughly. She was done within a few minutes, while he was about halfway through his. After another minute or two passed, he was done setting the rope traps and bringing them to the end of the frozen lake. Lupin finished his end and tied his ropes to a old tree. Quicksilver did the same with his and Gretchen’s, getting it done quickly. Once settled, he hid in the bush nearby, with Gretchen huddled with him. He went to say something to her when she lifted a talon to him. “Don’t. Just don’t,” she said. He remained silent, getting the message. He looked ahead and saw that Lupin had finished tying at his end, and had settled his pack down and hid in the nearby trees. The rumbling grew ever closer, and he could hear the herd coming. It made him both nervous and excited at the same time. He could feel the thunderous hooves pound on the ground and yet he could not spot them. Gretchen took notice of this and she huffed in annoyance. “Eager to get food in your belly, fletching?” she said, giving off a condescending smile. He huffed out hot air, feeling it an inconvenience that he was sitting in the same bush with the hen. “That’s good. Once you’re full, you’ll be on your bloody merry way and out of my sight,” she stated. He turned and narrowed his eyes at her. “Don’t make me punch you,” he replied with a deadpan expression. Quicksilver heard her chuckle and she leaned in close to speak with him. “Oh, you would like that, wouldn’t you? Like to drag me down and make me pity you whenever you break your wing tips.” She’s really starting to get on my nerves, he thought as he gritted his teeth in frustration and looked her in the eye. “Look, I don't have time for this. You can either shut up and wait, or you can nag my ear off and scare off dinner. Your choice,” he said in a brisk pace. “Oi, love birds! Here's a dagger for ya,” Lupin called out as he threw the dagger across the frozen lake towards them. The blade landed a few feet short of their hiding spot. The two shared a blush, but Gretchen soon growled in annoyance. “I hate him so much right now, but more so with you,” she replied, leaning forward until her beak pressed into his nose. He narrowed his eyes at her and he shoved his nose back at her. The tension in the air between them was high, and neither side was willing to give ground. “What is your problem? Why are you so hostile to me when all I’ve done is try and help you?” He pushed his nose further making her arch her neck as he pressed further. “You mean help me to help you, fletching.” she shoved back, making him arch his neck in the process. “I’m sick and tired of having to watch over your sorry flank that you might end up upon some Gryphon’s platter. I’d rather let you die out here in the cold and I wouldn’t care otherwise.” “So you're okay with me dying in the wilderness, while you’re protective of me from being put on a spit. What’s the double standard I’m hearing? You’re being very cynical right now,” he countered. Gretchen growled in irritation. “I value strength above weakness, Fletching. You are far from that standard, and I hate to keep watching over you like a shepherd over his lost flock.” “I will prove to you that I am capable of handling myself without you pandering over me, Gretchen!” he yelled back at her. The two locked eyes for what felt like the longest time. The silence between them broke when a loud squeal was heard in the canyon. Quicksilver was the first to break and he quickly reached out to grab the dagger, but felt a claw on his left shoulder and was pulled back by Gretchen. He went to protest when she motioned toward the sound of the boars. He looked out past the brush and saw the trees south of them begin to shake. The shadows of large creatures were rushing past the trees and were soon entering upon the lake. The boars had arrived. Quicksilver hunkered down, as Gretchen remained silent behind him. He still felt her talon clutch on his shoulder, not enough to hurt but enough to keep him where he was. The herd was large in size, varying in many shapes and sizes. The boars bounded down the small grass area and onto the hard lake, stampeding towards the end of the lake and towards the hidden grove. The ice still held firm, despite the mass of hundreds of bodies. The squeals of the boar’s were numerous, and their hooves pounded on the ice and snow. Across the way Lupin remained still, holding his sword in his paw and the rope in the other. “Listen closely, Fletching,” Gretchen whispered, her body hunched low and hovered close to his ear. “You want to see true strength, then I’ll show it to you.” She backed off from him and he turned to see her exit out of the bush and towards the trees nearby, being careful not being spotted by the herd. He focused his attention on the herd, the boars still charging forward in a wild pace. He didn’t understand why they were charging so erratically. Are they being chased by other predators? he thought, wondering of the possibility of being chased by some wild predator. The longer he stared at the herd, which were soon crossing over their ropes, he noticed something very off with a few of the boars. Some of them had blood on their coats. A loud roar came to his right, the sound of one ready for battle. He whirled around in time to see Gretchen burst out of the trees and right towards the oncoming herd. She skidded on the ice until she came to a stop, and she lifted her wings up and gave out a mighty roar. He’d heard this sound before. The roar sounded like a cross between a eagle and a lion, and was bellowed out of Gretchen at the charging herd. The moment this happened, the herd was spooked and the ones on the sides scattered, trying their best to avoid the threat. She took to the air the moment the boars drew closer and she hovered about, continuing to cry out in her pure form and scaring the weakest of the herd. “Quicksilver! Pull the ropes!” Lupin yelled over the sound of beating hooves, and he did as he was told. With one mighty pull, he felt a tension as he saw several of the boars get tangled up and fall to the ground. He held for dear life, feeling the strain on the ropes as the boars within struggled and panicked. After nearly a full minute, everything seemed to quiet down. Many reached to the thickets and towards the hidden grove, never to come out, while at least a dozen remained on the ice, entrapped by the ropes that wrapped around their legs. “Lucky Score! Quick, let's seal the deal before they have a chance to escape!” Lupin yelled out, charging out his hiding spot and towards the boars. Quicksilver did the same, seizing the dagger with his hoof and heading to the nearest boar. When his hooves hit the ice and snow, he heard the distinct sound of cracking underneath. No doubt the ice was about to give from the sustained weight, but he must push through. He saw a smaller boar, roughly his size, was struggling in the entangled rope. With a quick lunge, he brought the dagger down towards its neck and sunk into flesh. The boar fell to the ground in a mess and he stabbed straight into its heart in order to stop it completely. Once the deed was done, he looked to Lupin to see how he was faring. What Lupin did surprised him. Lupin was going to one boar after the other, quickly finishing off each boar with a lunge of his sword and heading towards the next. He was already on his fourth boar by the time Quicksilver was done with the first. He didn’t have time to admire the scene for long when a loud squeal came at his right. He turned in time to see large tusks coming at him and he dodged out of the way. He rolled to a stop and turned to meet the boar, and was taken aback by its size. The boar was much larger than anything he ever seen. It was at least twice his size, with large tusks that could skewer a pony that got close. It’s fur was a silver and brown coat, with splotches of blood on its body. Its nostrils flared out hot air as it snorted, and it dug its hooves into the ice. The larger boar went to its smaller kin that was still alive and used its tusk cut the rope. He’s helping them escape! he thought, seeing the smaller boar flee while the larger one stayed behind. Wanting to get it’s attention before it allowed another one to escape, he quickly rushed towards it, using his dagger to slice at it’s legs. The larger boar was quick however, and it quickly swung it’s tusk at him. It caught Quicksilver in the chest and he was flung back. He rolled a few good feet until he clutched his chest, coughing up from the unexpected blow. He looked to the boar who freed another of its kind, not caring for the fight and treating him more of a nuisance. Quicksilver felt the urge to lift his wings and soar to the skies and strike from above, but his wings still felt the stinging pain and he wouldn't be able to fly out of this one. He would have to make do with being on the ground. He soon saw that Lupin was heading at the larger boar, trying to get it’s attention, while Gretchen hovered over the larger beast. The boar continued to ignore them, trying it’s best to break the next strands of ropes with its tusks. Getting up from his position, Quicksilver charged towards the boar, intent of shoving the dagger into its neck while it was distracted. He got it’s chance when the boar turned too late to meet him and he shunted the dagger in between the eyes. The boar backpedaled, squealing in pain and surprise. However, the dagger didn’t go through, and it was embedded into its hide. The boar shoved him back, making him slip on the ice and fall again. Lupin sliced his broadsword across its ribs, but the boar was too stubborn to die. It was then that Gretchen made her move. She lunged in a downward arch, her talons outstretched and aiming for its back. She landed on top of the large boar, her talons embedded deep into its flesh. The boar gave out an aggravated cry and began to buck about and shake wildly. Gretchen held on and instead of flying about, she had extended her wings to keep herself balanced upon its back. She then began to flap her wings, each flap sending snow in all directions. Quicksilver reacted in awe when she began to flap faster and more powerful bursts of wind came forth, making her hover in the air with the boar as her prize. Then, to his amazement, the struggling boar was lifted into the air. She was going higher and higher into the air, her powerful wings sending shockwaves into the ground and clearing the snow around them. The boar continued to struggle, squealing in anger and thrashing its body to be free of her grip. She ascended a few more feet until she was about ten meters off the ground. After a excruciating minute and with a sharp cry of victory, she dropped the boar in her talons. The larger boar plummeted head first towards the ice, squealing out in despair. The boar crashed into the ice, breaking it upon impact. The boar’s body remained upright for but a moment before it tilted to the side and collapsed. The dagger in between its eyes had lodged itself into its skull. Did that just happen? Quicksilver thought, looking at Gretchen who slowly descended. Her body looked rattled by the effort. She landed not so gracefully onto the ice and she breathed heavily from the exertion. He went over to her, hoping she was alright. She noticed him coming and lifted a talon to him, and he stopped just a few feet in front of her. “I don’t need your assistance, Fletching. Just catching my breath, so don’t coddle me,” she said, taking her time to catch her breath. He nodded and looked around to see Lupin was doing. He spotted the Diamond Dog carrying two of the boars with ease towards his pack. “Get those boars quickly! Don’t let them sink into the lake!” Lupin called out, settling the two boars in his paws next to his gear before seizing the next ones. Gretchen and Quicksilver looked at one another and a silent exchange was passed. The two worked on getting the largest boar off the ice and towards Lupin. Gretchen observed the dagger where it was still embedded inside it’s skull. “I was thinking that the fall is what killed it. Guess the dagger finished the job,” she mentioned, lifting the boar off the snow and ice. He grunted in reply, not paying much attention to her words and instead focusing on the large boar. Water was seeping through the cracked ice, and the large boar’s weight had made significant cracks all along the ice. They would need to get it moved quickly if they were to avoid falling in the freezing water underneath them. AWHOOOOOOOO! A long howl broke his concentration, and he looked to Gretchen who in turn looked at him. The two eyed Lupin, who had his head up and was looking as confused as they were. His eyes suddenly widened and he drew his blade out, quickly heading to the other dead boars and dragging them off the ice. “Get that boar over here now!” he called out. “What was that!?” Quicksilver asked, trying to figure out what creature made that long howl. He looked around him and everything around them was eerily quiet. There were three other boars that were alive, and they all shuddered in fear, their beady eyes darting to the trees and underbrush. “Creatures that we do not want to face! Now get over here!” Lupin ordered, dragging the two husks over, now having six dead boars next to his gear. Lupin is very proficient with those boars, Quicksilver observed before looking back at the dead boar before him. “Are they Timber Wolves?” he asked, turning to the trees and searching for any sign of the creatures. In the dense brush and thickets, he saw noticeable pairs of eyes staring right back at him. The eyes doubled from two to four, then eight, then several dozen eyes all staring both at him and Gretchen. “Far worse! Blood wolves!” Lupin called out, going into his pack and scrounging whatever he was trying to find. Gretchen immediately stood up and had her wings flared out, one of her talons on top of the large boars husk. He followed her gaze and saw the feral eyes of the wolves moving into the light, and he felt his blood run cold. The blood wolves, from what Lupin said, were big. They were about his height at least and were covered in thick furs, ranging from several different colors of brown, black and grey. At least a dozen of the wolves exited out of the brush and growled at them. The fur on the back of his neck stood on end, feeling unmistakable fear crawl up his spine. The boars nearby that were alive were squealing and attempting to flee, but the ropes stood firm and kept them in place. Quicksilver then turned to the large boar and saw the blood on it’s side and the distinct bite marks on its hide. The wolves were hunting them, just as they were. “Those wolves are not like those Timber Wolves that you know from the Everfree Forest!” Lupin called out. “These wolves are of flesh and bone, and they will eat you while your still alive!” “They’re not getting our kill!” Gretchen hissed, giving out a roar towards the wolves. The blood wolves were unfazed, and eight of the wolves moved in on the three boars that were alive. The boars squealed out in panic when the wolves pounced on them, sinking their teeth into the neck and flesh. A part Quicksilver felt bad for leaving them to their fate, but it would buy time for them to get them out. He grabbed the tusks of the large boar and began dragging the heavy beast as best he could. However, the dead boar was far too big and would not move easily. Gretchen lowered herself down until she grabbed the dagger out of dead boar and pulled it out to meet the four remaining wolves. They began to circle them, each one baring their fangs at them and prowling along the ice. The more he looked at them, the more intimidating they appeared. He wasn't sure if it was just due to their coats, or their difference between Timber Wolves. But no matter the case, they were truly a terrifying creature to face. “Come at me, you beasts!” Gretchen roared, challenging the predators to make their move. Several growled in response and others barked at her, but they remained steadfast where they were. Besides the noise they made, another unpleasant sound was quickly reaching his ears. Quicksilver looked down and saw the ice was beginning to crack even further, sending out thousands of veins ready to burst underneath the ice. They were pulling too much weight; the boar would have to be let go if they were to survive. One of the wolves lunged out, its maw going straight for Gretchen’s neck. She parried with the back of her talons, knocking it senseless across the ice. Two more sprinted towards her, going on opposite sides of her. The closest one on the left was met with another smack from her talons, while she quickly swerved to the other one to catch the blood wolf in the air before using the momentum to slam it onto its back. The wolf landed hard on the ice. More cracks were visible, and small yet noticeable crevices were forming. “Gretchen! Leave the boar! It’s not worth our lives!” Quicksilver said, slowly backing up and away from the boar, its body was sinking at a quick pace. “Only cowards would turn and flee!” she called back, swiping the dagger at one of the wolves closest to her, while they lunged their paws at both her and the dead carcass. He noticed her eyes were not the same, as if a completely different Gryphon had took over her. Her pride of a Gryphon was making her this way and he had no choice but to intervene. He rushed forward, wrapped both of his hooves around her midsection, and pulled her back with him. Gretchen squawked in surprise, landing on top of him as the wolves lunged on top of the dead boar. Two of the wolves began dragging the large boar away while the remaining two were slowly approaching them. “Let go of me! Let me fight them!” Gretchen called out, while Quicksilver got to his hooves. “You’re no good if your end up as their lunch! Now come on!” Quicksilver pulled Gretchen up and began dragging her with him. The two ran on the ice, the sounds of the wolves barking and the ice breaking beneath, driving them to escape. Gretchen was reluctant to flee, but once she saw the ice breaking underneath them, she dashed alongside him. Lupin was at the other side of the river, still fiddling with whatever was in his pack and kept yelling out for them to run. The ice beneath was shattering now, puffs of snow and air going straight up into the air as they pushed ahead. The ice began to shift under his hooves and he felt his body becoming off balance by the shifting ice. He looked behind himself; the wolves were right on their heels. He gave a sharp cry, trying to push his legs further before the wolves nipped at his tail and legs. However, before they could reach them, the ice broke further, making them stop in their tracks. Quicksilver slid on the ice, feeling the cold water on his hooves and quickly rising to his knees. He turned to the wolves; they had stopped in their tracks and were blocked by the frozen ice before them. Gretchen was with him, standing on her back legs, and having her feet spread out from keeping her from falling. The ice beneath them was slowly shifting down, their combined weight making the ice unstable. He looked back to the wolves, one of them backing off from the ice edge, while the other blood wolf, which was the largest of them with a thick black coat and red eyes, was growling and baring his teeth. “Get out of here!” he heard Gretchen yell out. “What are you-?” He didn’t get to finish when he felt her talons scruff the back of his neck and toss him off the ice platform. He landed and slid on the solid surface, and he turned to Gretchen at the last second to see her turning to the wolf. The black wolf lunged forward, its maw opened wide and a sharp growl emanating from within. Gretchen braced herself and caught the wolf with her talons. However, the moment she caught the wolf, the ice gave way and the two plummeted into the freezing water. Quicksilver gasped and he got back onto his hooves to search for her. “Gretchen!” he called out. He looked at the water, which was clustered with many ice shards and chunks. From where they ran and where they ended up, the ice had broken away and stretched for over several dozen yards. There was not a single solid platform. He looked to the other side of the river and saw the wolves dragging the other half of their kill to the embankment, and they perked up their heads and looked upon the water’s edge. Quicksilver looked back at the water, not seeing anything move underneath. He spotted movement within the ice and saw one of them surfacing. Then, within moments after her plunge, Gretchen surfaced up gasping for air. “Gretchen!” Quicksilver yelled. She turned to him, desperation was in her eyes. “Gretchen, grab my hoof!” he yelled out, extending his hoof to her. Gretchen was treading water about five yards away, her arms pushing out and water being sent in all directions. She swam her way towards him, her talons scraping the surface and pushing away the chunks of ice that floated her way. She was nearly there when another black figure broke out of the water's surface. The black wolf rose out of the water and dog paddled towards the ice, likely to get out and jump at them. Gretchen saw the wolf appearing out of the water and doubled her pace. Quicksilver still held out his hoof to her, trying to seize her claw and pull her out of the sub-freezing waters. She was a yard away, her talons nearly reaching him. He looked behind her and saw the wolf was getting out of the water, its eyes opened up and stared at them, growling deep and ready to strike. Quicksilver risked himself by reaching out further, his chest and body falling halfway into the freezing water and he had to arch upward to keep his body up and out of the water. He seized her claw and pulled her towards him, desperately trying to get out of the water. Gretchen wrapped her talons around his neck and turned to the wolf, kicking her back paws to deter it. He tried to pull her up, trying his best to get out of the water while she flailed about. But the wolf lunged towards them, and its teeth opened to bite on its prey. Gretchen screamed out. BOOM! A thunderous noise broke the thrashing struggle, and Quicksilver saw something splash next to the wolf, jutting out water and ice into the air. The wolf landed in the water and quickly paddled itself back across. Within a few seconds, the wolf bounded back onto the other side of the ice and was shaking it’s coat. “Here, take this and get, you scavengers!” Lupin called out. Quicksilver saw one of the boars carcasses fly in the air and land right next to the black wolf. The wolf eyed it before turning back towards them with its red eyes glaring. Then without a moment's hesitation, the wolf seized the small boar with its teeth and dragged it towards the other side. Quicksilver and Gretchen were silent, almost stunned by the fact that they escaped within an inch of their lives, and that the wolves had left on their own volitation. But they were not out of the woods yet. Quicksilver wrapped both of his hooves under her arms and pulled her up and out of the freezing river. She shuddered and her teeth chattered from the intense cold. He looked to Lupin, who was putting away something within his pack before putting onto his shoulders. He wondered what that loud noise was to spook off the wolves. “Get her over here. You don’t want to end up as their meal,” Lupin said, pointing to the wolves. Quicksilver followed his gaze and saw more wolves exit out of the forest. Large and small, from grown adults to tiny pups, they all were dining upon the fresh kills. He didn’t want to linger and observe them, so he decided to get Gretchen out of here. “What are... you doing?” Gretchen asked slowly, the cold getting to her. She was being lifted up and placed onto Quicksilver’s shoulders, her large frame lying over his form and her neck hanging off his head. “It will be easier to carry you this way. Now don’t complain,” he started, moving towards Lupin. She sighed in annoyance, wrapping her talons around his body to hold on while he trotted over to Lupin. He noticed how reluctant she was in accepting help. He ignored it for now, because judging by how the snow was starting to come down more and with her being in the freezing river, she would need a place to warm up. He came up to Lupin’s side, who had strapped up the remaining boars to his pack, their bodies dangled by their hooves with thick ropes. Lupin looked like he didn’t break a sweat and he carried the heavy pack and the five caracasses without  showing any sign of trouble. “How are you faring?” Lupin asked, looking upon Gretchen who rested on his back. “V-very…cc-cold,” she shuddered, her body hugging tightly against Quicksilver’s body. “She needs someplace warm, otherwise she’ll freeze out here,” Quicksilver mentioned, feeling her body continuing to shake. Lupin nodded, looking up to the mountain path that was close by. “I got another cave that is close by, about five miles. Think you can last long?” Lupin asked. Quicksilver felt Gretchen nod to him. Lupin looked up the mountain path and began his trek dragging the boars with ease behind him. “C’mon. The day is ending quickly, and those wolves will be on us if we linger.” Quicksilver looked up to the top of the mountain until all he could see was the cloud cover. Steeling himself, he began to follow close behind, carrying the freezing hen with him. The ascent up the mountain was slow and bitter; the snow whipped in the air and smacked against their bodies. When the first hour passed, they were moving at a snail's pace where they had to dig through the mountain path. The higher they went, the more dangerous the wind became, threatening to pick them off the mountain and send them down to the valley below. Lupin still kept ahead of them, despite all the weight he was carrying. Quicksilver gritted his teeth and his eyes narrowed as he ascend the mountain path. Gretchen was still shaking, despite the warmth on his back. He felt the cold getting to him, from his wet hooves and his partially soaked coat, with the snow sticking to him and making his movements sluggish. Gretchen stuck to his body, still holding onto him despite the cold. After what felt like a full journey’s worth, they finally were near the entrance to a cave, and Lupin pointed inside. “Get inside, quickly. I’ll start a fire once I get this done,” Lupin said, dropping the dead boars outside while Quicksilver went in. The cave was large in size, same as the other ones they’d been in. Branches and leaves littered the floor, untouched by the snow outside. The air within was a little warmer, but the constant wind chill outside was freezing them to the bone. He went to the far end of the cave, settling himself down and letting Gretchen slide off of him. She shuddered from leaving the warmth of his back, and he was at her side when she curled up on the ground, wrapping her talons across her chest. “Gretchen? How are feeling?” Quicksilver asked, wanting to know if she was okay. Gretchen still shook considerably, her eyes staring up at him in obvious annoyance. “This...bites,” she shuddered, her body curling inward, trying to keep off the cold. Quicksilver looked to the entrance of the cave, seeing Lupin settling his pack down and heading back outside. Lupin had the extra rope and began tying the hooves of the dead boars up. “Lupin! She’s freezing! We need a fire or she’ll die!” Quicksilver demanded. The Diamond Dog waved a paw at him. “Hold your horseshoes! If I don’t get these boars in the trees, then the wolves will snatch away our kill!” he called out, using his paws to hoist the dead boars and go to several of the large trees nearby. Quicksilver huffed in annoyance and looked to Gretchen on the ground. She looked rather pale from the light outside, and he didn’t know for how much longer she could hold out until Lupin was ready with the fire. It was then he thought of an idea that would help. Gretchen looked up at him when he lowered down to his haunches and picked her up by the shoulders, settling her up until she was sitting and was leveled with him. “Fletching? What… are you doing?” she asked. Her words stuttered out, her teeth chattering in the process. Once he had her upright, he placed both of his hooves onto her shoulders and slowly brought them around her. She noticed this and tried to fight, shaking her head at him and barring her teeth. She wanted to push him away, but both of her claws had a mind of their own and remained firmly across her chest. Quicksilver noticed her wings were wrapping themselves around her front, trying to shield away from his approaching form. “No!” she said in a curt and aggravated manner, already feeling his chest brush up against her wings and chest feathers. “Gretchen, I’m trying to help. I’m going to keep you warm,” he explained, his expression calm despite the cold. “No,” she repeated, trying to back away. However, Quicksilver held onto her shoulders and still kept moving. “I don’t need help from the likes of you!” she said, the venom in her words falling flat from how her body was considerably shaking. It was then Quicksilver huffed out hot air and forced her to look him in the eye. “Oh, will you just shut up and put your pride aside! I’m helping you, whether you like it or not, even if you find this belittling to you!” he shouted. Gretchen froze on the spot. Her golden eyes stared back at him, and he remained determined to do what he wanted to do. He looked into those proud orbs, seeing the burning will within her. Yet he knew that it was to be the best if she was to make it through the night. Then, with a hesitant sigh and gritting her teeth in defeat, she closed her eyes and leaned her head forward into his neck. Without another word spoken, Quicksilver wrapped his hooves around her body and pulled her close. He felt the cold feathers underneath his hooves, but he also felt the strong muscles shaking underneath her form. Her head rested right underneath his neck, while her body leaned forward into his open hooves. Despite having snow accumulated on his coat he made the most of it and tried to keep her warm. He shivered somewhat from the cold that remained on her, sapping away his heat to keep her warm. The wet feathers had yet to dry, and they felt like shards of ice prickling at his fur. He looked down to her cold and trembling form, her head bouncing up and down on his shoulder. “I hate this...I hate this,” she muttered slowly yet audibly. Her pride was put on the line for so long, and now she had to relinquish it all for his aid. Honor and pride was something that Gryphons favored, and there was no doubt in his mind that she felt like the weak one here. After a minute of being held close to her, he found that she was still shaking. Pity grew in his eyes for her, reduced to such a state. He then slowly opened his wings for her. He winced and groaned slightly with his wings extending inch by painful inch. They extended outward until they were at their full length. He hadn't used his wings in quite awhile, and with no bandages to keep them covered, they had to endure the cold winter nights. He took a deep breath and allowed his wings to go forward, wrapping around Gretchen’s body. She eyed this, seeing him exert himself and wrapping his wounded wings around her frame. She looked up to him and Quicksilver gave a meek smile. She frowned at him before lowering her head and resting it back on his shoulder. After another moment of effort, he had both of his wings wrapped around her body, keeping her in a cocoon of warmth. After a minute of silence between them, he looked down to her and whispered softly to her. “Feeling better?” he asked, his words shaky yet kind and genuine. “Pluck off,” she whispered back, her eyes remaining closed and her head still resting on his shoulder. He merely half-chuckled at her remark. He recalled that he was also in the same position before, being wrapped up tightly in her body like a giant pillow. Being on the opposite side of the spectrum, he didn’t think this to be half bad. It felt nice even. After another minute, her body had slowly stopped shaking and lowered to light shivers. His temperature was now about the same as hers. He looked back down at her again, seeing her still resting comfortably in his embrace. “You got to admit,” he began to say, though his words were shaky. “This kind of reminds me when you were in the same position...” “Don’t… just don’t,” she replied in a bitter manner. He chuckled again and tightened his embrace, although a little painfully with his wings still wounded. “Well… at least we'll freeze together,” he said. Gretchen merely chuffed in response. Quicksilver remained where he was, and underneath he could feel her body rise up and down with each steady breath. He remained with her like this, the quiet of the world around them is all they would hear. Eventually Gretchen would doze off into slumber, her body held upright by Quicksilver. The pegasus would remain awake a while longer until he saw Lupin enter inside. The Diamond Dog had settled his gear and began working on a fire in the middle of the cave. “Hold on my friends,” he said, starting to work on the fire. Quicksilver’s eyes would wander over to his pack, where it remained open. He saw something he had not recognized or seen before, and looked like some kind of metal pipe with wood near the end. His mind couldn’t linger any longer on the object before he would doze off into sleep, his body he leaning into the ground with the slumbering hen. His eyes closed and the peaceful dreams would soon overcome him. While Winter's wrath and fury would still raged through the night.