Now, I know what you’re thinking; ‘Logan got praise and adoration again? Did he let it go to his head and allow him to jump into another situation that could’ve gotten him killed?’
#
“We don’t sound like that,” Rainbow Dash growled.
“You do to me,” Logan replied.
“Actually, I need to ask,” Celestia noted. “What… happened to the Cockatrice Master?”
“I didn’t really care enough to find out,” Logan noted. “Why, did he ever come back?”
“Oh, he came back,” Celestia noted. “Just… not the way he was before.”
The others turned to her. “Did he…” Pinkie asked cautiously. “Get dressed up like a chicken?”
Celestia pursed her lips and looked away. Logan got the distinct impression that he had gotten a lot worse than dressing up like a chicken.
"You know what, forget I said anything,” Celestia said, retreating back to her corner.
#
Well, either way, I didn’t get praise and adoration for freeing those griffons. And even if I did, I wouldn’t have had the time to enjoy it.
Let’s just say Beshka the Cockatrice fought just as hard going out as she did going in.
I spent half the night squatting over their version of a latrine just outside of town, bellowing out songs of pain as I got Beshka’s numerous scales out of my body the only way I really knew how. I’m normally used to eating anything I can find, but damned if her snake scales didn’t give me a hard time. It was almost midnight by the time I managed to crawl away from the latrine for more than a few steps before having to zip right back. The griffons found it particularly hilarious – again, so much for that gratitude for saving them from being statues all their lives - though I’m pretty sure I got them back with the stench.
Eventually, early morning came, and I was able to wobble my way back into town, shaky as a newborn pup. Thankfully, not every griffon mocked me. This - I wanna say ‘hen,’ or young griffon – was kind enough to give me a place to stay. She had Gabriel’s sparrow head, with a patch of feathers twisted into a ponytail. Or feather tail; I don’t know how you guys classify those things.
She introduced herself as Gabby. Gabby was pretty much the only one who didn’t laugh at my predicament, helping me to her house, and even offering some food.
“Preferably something that’s not gonna give you the screaming squirts,” she offered with a grin. I don’t know why that got a chuckle out of me. Maybe it was just her.
She reminded me a lot of you, Apple Bloom. She was just very… innocent. Full of optimism and life. As she ate with me, she had questions, and yet somehow, she understood me through my mangled tongue.
“So, where did you come from?”
“El-e-tea o me um me ohm.”
“Celestia took you from your home?” Her already wide eyes somehow widened. “So… you lived with those ponies?”
“Eh… aye er Hilda ack-hole.”
“They were kinda jackholes? Hm…” she tapped at her beak with her talon. “Was… that just because you didn’t make a good first impression?”
“Ill, I it El-e-tea.”
That part, she had difficulty with.
“You… ate the princess?” she glanced down at my stomach. “Should I worry about her coming out too?”
“Row-row,” I stammered, “I IT El-e-tea.” I mimed simply chomping.
“Oh! Okay, you just bit her,” Gabby said, clapping her talons together. “That makes so much more sense; no wonder they were jackholes; they were just mad.” She sighed, looking out the window. “But I bet they can be real nice when they aren’t being overprotective or blinded by rage. Right?”
#
“Right~!” Applejack prompted with a grin.
“Don’t push your luck,” Logan growled at her, despite his tail wagging. “You guys were still a massive pain in the tail.”
“But~…!” Apple Bloom added, following her sister’s lead.
Logan just continued with the story.
#
Either way, I didn’t get the chance to reply, as Gabriel came back in with a small roll of parchment.
“Sorry to break up the lovebirds,” he said with a teasing grin.
“Daddy,” Gabby teased right back, playfully flapping her wing at him. “We’re not like that.”
Well, that answered that small question; this was Gabriel’s daughter Gull had been talking about. I didn’t know if Gabby was going to tease me as well, so I opted for putting my paws up and scooting away. It still got them laughing all the same.
“Well, if you’re done flirting with my daughter, wolf,” Gabriel said, indicating for me to follow. “I believe I owe you some magic treasure.”
My ears perked up, and I followed him out. Gabby waved goodbye to me.
“Come back anytime,” she called before Gabriel led me away.
Now, you might be wondering, why didn’t Gabriel just tell me his plan at the house? Gabby was his daughter after all. Well, simple: he didn’t want her caught in the crossfire.
That’s right: the bird brain brought me to an inn crawling with the toughest looking griffons around. Sure, around half of them were griffons I had freed from Beshka and her master, but I got no looks of gratitude. Only greedy, curious looks, like I was a golden goose with feathers ripe for the taking.
I kept an eye on them as Gabriel steered me for a corner of the inn, rolling out his parchment on the table.
“Now,” Gabriel said, indicating several drawings of simple houses. “Our village doesn’t have much anymore. Heck, griffons in general don’t have much. We lost a lot of treasure after the last King – Guto – lost the Idol of Boreas. Most of the respect for him went with that idol, and his citizens plundered the treasury. But we still know how to barter.” He pointed to a town symbol that looked like it was out near a desert, far down the mountain. “We trade a lot here; Kluge Town. It’s no Canterlot or Ponyville, but almost everything goes through there. Magic, valuable or simply entertaining.”
“Age-I?” I asked, trying to say, ‘magic.’
“If there’s an artifact that can send you home,” Gabriel said. “Someone in Kluge Town might know about it.”
I flicked my ears; his tone didn’t imply that it was gonna be a simple ‘drop by and pick up my magic artifact.’
“Problem is,” Gabriel continued. “Kluge Town isn’t that welcoming unless you have something to barter with. If someone finds out who you are, they’ll try and barter you off before you can blink. I had to avoid getting bartered myself, and I didn’t have anything on me.”
My ears completely flared. “Hoo. I am?” I asked. I meant to ask, "Do they know about my bounty?" but... obviously that wasn't clear.
He was silent at first, giving a nervous look back at the inn. I glanced back at the griffons… and my blood chilled when I saw a wanted poster. A wanted poster with my face on it. I mean, I guess I should’ve realized something was up after the Cockatrice Master, but that wanted poster was just the tip of the spear.
“Listen… Lone – can I call you Lone?” he asked.
I gave a soft growl.
“I guess, well…” Gabriel pulled at his wing, rolling it like I’d roll a bad shoulder. “You seem like a tough guy, don’t get me wrong, but… In Kluge Town, people only care about what they can take.” He chuckled. “I know, they sound so familiar. But…” His smile faded. “You don’t need to be around company like that.”
“I not go ack,” I said, flinching at how stupid I sounded.
Gabriel flinched at my answer, his eyes narrowing.
“Why not?” she asked. “I mean, Celestia’s ruthless, but she at least cares a bit about her own subjects. Honestly, if she brought you there, she’d be compelled to give you a good life. You could have it made with her.”
And you’d probably make out like a bandit cashing in my bounty, I thought mutinously. But my tongue was still messed up, so I went for the alternate path: I fixed him with a cold glare.
“Celestia,” I said, going slowly so my tongue didn’t mangle my language. “Killed. My mom.”
Gabriel’s eyes widened, and he turned away.
“Right,” He muttered. “Forgot about that…”
“Won’t. Go. Back,” I said.
I glared up at one of the griffons, who matched my gaze with a steely eyed glare. I noticed Gabriel glaring at him as well.
“So,” Gabriel said sadly. “Talk ain’t gonna work on you, huh?”
My response was a simple baring of my claws. Just in time, I noticed one of the griffons pulling out a blow gun. The bartender; a plump looking chicken head, ducked under her counter with an ‘Oh, no…’
I was fast: I grabbed Gabriel and pulled him into the way of the dart shot at me. As the bird crumpled to the ground, the rest all cawed and raced for me, but there was discord in their ranks.
#
“Discord was with them?” Pinkie shrieked.
“Who?” Logan asked.
“He doesn’t mean ‘that’ Discord, Pinkie,” Twilight chastised. “He just means that they were chaotic; un-coordinated.” She gave a cautious look to Logan. “Right?”
Logan blinked at her. “I only understood half of what you just said,” he admitted. “But you’re right.”
#
They didn’t fly as one to get at me; they smacked each other aside, yearning to get at me first.
As the closest one bashed his way past his fellows, I spun on my paws, and drove my claw into his side. He spiraled away, before I grabbed him by the tail. My lightning strengthening my grip, I spun him like a flail and hurled him into the others. Even as several griffons tumbled with my makeshift projectile, I knew I wouldn’t be able to run. I was cornered in this inn; there wasn’t even a window for me to dive through.
Only way out was through them.
I matched their rush, my claws entwining with talons as several talons tried to seize ahold of my fur, others raked across their fellows.
“Bounty’s mine!” cawed up from a dozen voices. I stayed smart with my strikes, hitting griffons that were already getting clawed up.
It took time… for a moment I was worried two griffons were going to try and carry me off together… but it paid off.
Bit by bit, I drove through the griffon horde. I broke wings, I slashed eyes, and I even plucked out feathers. The numbers fell. Griffon after griffon hit the ground and didn’t get back up.
I thought I saw Gull – Gabriel’s pal – among the chaos. He tried to fling two knives at me. I caught his knife with my claws, careful not to let them see my shield was the only reason I pulled it off. The griffon faltered in mid-air, and I took advantage, cutting him down with his own knives.
But just as they started to get ahold of me; ready to drag me down, another griffon appeared.
“Hey, catch!” he yelled, tossing some sort of orb at me. I caught it as well, hearing an ominous hiss emanating from it. I let the remaining griffons close in on me. The hissing grew to a whine. Then I punched with the orb in my hand, careful to shroud my hand in my shield.
An explosion of flame and smoke, and the last of the griffons went down.
As I took in the sight of the mercenaries, I lifted my head, and bellowed out.
“WHO ELSE WANT SOME!?!?”
The howl was charged with an electric air, and none of the griffons rose to my challenge.
“I don’t know if you can tell, but none of them want some,” the griffon that had tossed me the orb snarked.
I glanced over at him; he was a young one. Younger than even Gabby. He had bright blue feathers, and brighter blue eyes. I briefly forayed back into the pile of griffons, extracting Gabriel’s map from his person. The kid griffon looked on worriedly, but I got out without anyone grabbing at me, and for a moment, the little griffon followed me as I headed for the outskirts.
“Thanks,” I managed to say, my tongue for once not mangling the language.
“Eh, no problem,” the kid replied, his voice rather nasally. “Always liked seeing griffon mercs lose. Always so tough and callous… then you give them a fight too tough, and they crumble like stale bread.”
We shared a laugh over that, though my laugh faded as I glanced back at the inn. I could hear the first caws of frustration.
“You probably shouldn’t stick around,” I noted.
“I know,” he replied. “I’ve been flying from town to town; been on my own since…” he paused, thinking. “Well, for a while, anyway.”
My ears flattened at that. I wished that I could give him something, like food or money. But I had nothing but my jacket. And nothing was gonna make me give that up.
So, I went for a compromise: I turned around and went back for that inn. A couple of griffons were pulling themselves up. I floored them again, and took their gold. Staying behind long enough to let them see my face, I dashed away, grabbing the kid and taking him with me. For once, I was grateful for Sparks’ master teaching me how to run with loads in my arms. When I was sure we were out of sight, I handed the gold over to the kid.
“What’s your name?” I asked him.
He stared at the gold I had given him, not registering my question for a moment.
“Gallus,” he finally said.
I pat his shoulder.
“You’re a good guy, Gallus,” I told him. “And wherever you go… I hope you find something great at the end.”
Gallus gave me a soft grin, and nodded. Part of me wanted to ask him to come along, but the memory of my pack dissuaded me. He may have helped, but he wasn’t a wolf.
#
Logan sighed. “It was a stupid excuse,” he admitted. He looked up, noticing Rainbow Dash with an odd look. “Yeah, go ahead. Tell me how horrible I am.”
“I wasn’t…” Rainbow Dash said before sighing. “I was just… you didn’t meet a griffon named Gilda on the way there, did you?”
Logan shook his head. “Friend of yours.”
Rainbow Dash looked down. “Yeah,” she admitted, “A ‘friend.’”
Logan tilted his head, but Rainbow Dash didn’t say any more.
“Either way, it was kind of a good thing I left Gallus behind,” he admitted. “Things got pretty hectic when I found my way to Kluge Town…”