In a meadow full of pigs and sheep, somewhere on the northern edge of Fellis, a quartet of well-armed and wary felines faced off against a giant grey eagle, which had just landed a hundred paces away. A leaf-green earth pony and a chocolate-brown kirin stood with the cats, while a pair of pegasi attended to the roc. Satisfied that Reef was ok, the two winged mares trotted over to the cat people - three of them bipeds, the fourth a centaur-like creature carrying an ornate staff..
Set Sail immediately ducked her head saying, “I am so sorry. Our friend was... afflicted with a strange transformation on a different island. He’s found a way to... expand himself so he can fly more easily, but obviously it makes him look like one of those thunder birds. He was trying to stay out of the way up there, until we could speak with you about it, and I guess he wasn’t far enough away. He’s just worried about us... herbivores, so he’s been staying close to us, even when he...probably shouldn’t.”
As she talked said creature shrank down from elephant-sized eagle to strange horse-sized creature, gaining rear legs and numerous tentacles as he did so. With his usual embarrassment, he began the tedious process of squeezing himself back into hippogriff form. Nutmeg Inferno had seen it before - she was staring at the cat-taur's ornate staff, wondering what it was made of.
"Your friend is a thunderbird? Or some kinda... squid beastie?" Wild Draw shook her head in disbelief. "Your other friend here," she waved a paw at the earth mare, "was askin' about 'safe passage', but she ain't saying where to. You gotta understand there ain't no place on this island that ain't claimed and defended and not thrilled 'bout more mouths to feed."
Blaze Trails sighed: somehow they'd gotten deep into a miscommunication! "No no, we aren't settling here. Maybe I'm sayin' this all wrong? I just wanna know for sure that we folks can explore around here without being attacked or shooed out."
With a grateful nod to Blaze, the green-kerchiefed Set Sail explained: “We’re quite capable of feeding ourselves. There aren’t enough of us to even bother a village; we’re just the crew of one very lost ship. We’re here to learn more about this island, so we don’t um...”
“Some of us blundered into a place we thought was abandoned, and a whole buncha guys came outta the forest to see us off,” Blaze said frankly, “It must’ve looked like we were robbing the place, and I just wanted to find who watched over it, so we could let ‘em know we didn’t mean any harm.”
Blushing, Set Sail looked up at the cat-taur and said, “Y...yes. We might've gotten off on the wrong hoof. I just want to make sure we don’t do anything like that again.”
Azure remained silent once again, knowing her place by now when it came to negotiations: keep quiet, only speak when directly addressed, or when she had critical information. It was clear as day to her that this tribe was ready to fight: experienced in battle and even better armed than the sphinxes. Potentially, good allies... if negotiations went well. It had been a rough start, but perhaps... Azure seemed calm now, though her wings twitched: she'd still prefer to be in the air.
"Explorin'? Next yer gonna say yer adventurers, right?" The darker fur on the male warrior's face made him look vaguely like a giant raccoon, an impression that his sneering cackle did little dispell. His superior scowled but did nothing to reign Double Blind in.
"Hey hey maybe they're just curious!" Lucky Bet called out as he caught up with the group. "They look harmless en- Ah, my poor hogs! Hey Squealer, Boxer, you stop fightin' right now or-" The feline farmer stared fearfully at Reef Skimmer for a moment, then ran off in the direction of the pig pens, trying desperately to calm the still-agitated porcines.
Blaze squinted askance at Double Blind, then chuckled and shaking her head. "Nah, nah, we're not here to do any looting - we have enough enemies as is. We'd prefer to remain in your good graces, so I'm hoping we can clear up any miscommunications we have left." She looked back at Reef, sighing with relief: it looked like the cats were standing down. "Anyway, raiding isn't how us ponies do things. If you've got no qualm with us we've got none with you."
Azure finally decided to speak up: "If we were to actually attack any creatures around here, it'd be creatures that attacked us first - namely, the drow." She nodded to Blaze Trails: "As my ally just mentioned... we don't have any problems with you. And I'd rather keep it that way: we're already figthing the pirates, we don't need more enemies. Honestly... they seem to be enemies with just about everyone around here." She sighed - why didn't these creatures just band together and eliminate the threat?
The centaur-like mage watched the conversation with an amused expression. "You must forgive our brave defenders for jumping to conclusions," he told the ponies. Seeing the Nutmeg fixated on his staff, he gave it a little shake and smiled as kirin's head bobbed up and down in response. "Unexpected visitors so often seem intent on looting what little we have left on Fellis. None have yet tried to talk their way out of the situation, but if they did, I wonder if they might claim to be 'explorers'?"
“You’re free to lock up any of us who thinks they can walk off with somepony’s treasure, no matter what they say,” Set Sail said grimly, “If I don’t get to them first. We are explorers, but not treasure hunters. The only thing we want to take with us is stories.” And artifacts, she omitted, because explaining that they were only interested in archaeological finds and free exchanges of diplomatic gifts was asking to be misunderstood.
“What is your staff made of?” Nutmeg asked abruptly. She shrank back at the renewed attention from its bearer, as if somehow surprised at getting it. “I mean what is its story? I mean...” she clarified, thinking hard, “In my village the matriarch said that every tree has a story and every stick has a tree, so I was just curious if there’s a story about what tree it came from and... everything...”
"Ah... you're a curious one aren't you?" Everdream rumbled "An artificer, perhaps? This stave... a relic of five generations past, from a time when tempering traptanium was the least of the mystic's talents. The crystal, attuned to Magic as only a living being might, now that's a treasure, pretty as the mounting might be."
“Oh, I’ve never even seen Traptanium before!” Nutmeg declared in excitement to the taur, heedless of Set Sail’s words and even of her own reticence a few seconds ago. “Five generations? That’s at least a hundred and fifty-five years! Most living trees aren’t even that old! And um... y-yeah the crystal is nice. I’m a... Tech Elemental though, so that part would probably go right over my head.”
"More like eleven score and change, miss... oh, I didn't get your name." the cat-taur said. "The horn of a unicorn, the scales of a dragon and the hooves of a deer, most curious," he added, stroking his chin as he admired the kirin.
“The horn of a unicorn?” Nutmeg asked in confusion, “No no, their horns are all spirally and unbranched. I’m a kirin, and my name’s Nutmeg! I’m afraid I did catch your name earlier. Pretty sure I’m supposed to ask for it first, but oh well.” She extended a yellow hooved, brown-furred, red-tufted foreleg, declaring: “Pleased to meet you mister Everdream!”
Wild Draw stared at the mage and his new student, then shook her head. She had more practical concerns: "I ain't lookin' to lock anyone up, what'd be the sense of that, they'd just need keepin' and feedin' forever. I'm just havin' a hard time believin' you'd be comin' all this way just ta tell tales and swap songs. 'Specially if you've run into trouble - drow was it? Get them buzzin' round here from time to time but they know better than to try their luck. Most of the time," the cougar hissed.
Blaze's ears perked up: she liked the sound of that. "Hmmm. Y'all good at keeping the Drow at bay?" She nodded with enthusiasm. "Yeah, our ultimate goal is to get the drow out of our hair, and it'd be a tall order do it on our own, so we're explorin' and makin' friends to see what all can be done. And it sounds like you'd appreciate if they got out of your fur permanently, right?" She smiled at Nutmeg and Everdream - mutual curiosity could be a great way to open up!
Azure cracked a smile: this was going in the right direction now. "A group successful at keeping the drow away, to the point they rarely even try their luck? Sounds good, really good..." Finally, another alliance - definitely worth chasing. But too many words could be just as bad as not enough, she thought, and the pegasus fell silent again.
“Imagine if we went to say, tell tales and swap songs with a certain drow pirate clan east of here,” Set Sail said dryly to Wild Draw, twirling a hoof as she thought of how to word it, “And they... caught us in traps, declared they were going to eat us, then attacked en-masse. I realize we might resemble sheep, but they been after us ever since, as if they can’t let one measely critter get away, just because they defended themselves.”
"Those broken elves are thieving conniving scum, every one of 'em, that's for sure." Wild Draw agreed, looking from Blaze Trails to Set Sail and ignoring the less practical conversation going on nearby. "But here's the way of it... sure they could attack the village, maybe take a slave or two, likely lose a drow or two. No sense paying that price when there's easier pickings elsewhere. And sure we could go after 'em, maybe shoot em down, maybe lose our ship. And we ain't got ships nor cats to spare, you know? Got bigger problems; sharks tryin' ta trash the place, stinkin' sneakin' spiders leechin off Dream's magic, griffs swooping in to poachi our sheep and- oh speak o' the devil." The Felissian warrior sucked her teeth at the sight of the grey hippogriff trotting their way, blue goo still showing in a band around his barrel but apparently keen to join the conversation anyway.
That made Azure uneasy again: the griffons were enemies of this tribe, and they had three griffs among their crew. They'd better clear that issue up fast, if they wanted allies. Much as she wanted to come to the doctor's defence, better to let the diplomats handle it...
Blaze Trails pondered the cat's words. The plan, as far as she knew, was that the ponies helped the sharks mine out what is clearly Felissian land. It seemed like these felines could hold their own against the Drow though, so... She hated to choose one over the other, but they should go with whoever'd make for more reliable allies, right? But... that was a conversation to have later, in private. For now she tested the waters: "So, ya feel like there's any chance of a quid pro quo here? We help out with your problems, you help out with ours?"
"Oh..." She nodded over to Reef as the gooey avian approached, "Hey, Reef. Sorry for the earlier shock - I think we're on the same page now. Did you want to ask these fine felines anything?"
Extending a wing, Set Sail not so subtly stepped in the way blocking Wild Draw’s path to Reef Skimmer, telling the biped: “This is my friend Reef Skimmer, who just walked past all of your unattended sheep and didn’t poach any of them. He’s also our ship’s doctor, and a very kind gentlecolt who only ever eats fish.”
"Err... yes. As the mare said," Reef Skimmer nodded. "One certainly has many questions..." he gave that felitaur an appreciative glance "...but perhaps they should wait; at least, until you've reassured your fellows that we come in peace." The griff pointed with a wing at the tree line, where several more of the bipedal cats and a second cat-taur had emerged and begun cautiously approaching.
"Sure, sure. You just keep your claws to yourself griff," the male warrior, his suspicion not so easily dismissed. "You want meat, you gotta trade for it." He looked around at the ponies, then laughed. "Though I guess the horse must be honest, otherwise you'd have made snacks of 'em all by now!"
“He isn’t making snacks of us because we’re his friends,” Set Sail said testily to Double Blind, “And I’m sorry about Blaze. We’ve been terribly beset by these drow, and a lot of my crew are looking for an easy end to it. Don’t listen to her; we’re not asking for your ship, or your fighters. If we ever have a plan to take down the pirates, then I’ll ask for your help. Right now I’m just asking for your friendship. Forgive me for saying this, but it seems like you Skylanders don’t have a lot of chance to make friends these days.”
"Skylanders!" Another harsh laugh from the junior guard. "Oh you got us rumbled, little horse, truly I'm Daring Blinder. Took down ten hundred eeeevil trolls just last month with me sweepin' shriekin' shuriken storm-o-doom, I did. Defenders of the Sklyands, just taking a breather, defending a field of pigsties for a bit," he said.
"Shut yer mouth, Doub," the lead warrior snarled, patience finally exhausted. "And you..." a gold-furred digit sporting a sharp sickle claw pointed at Blaze Trails. "I'm still not getting the sense of you waltzing in here, with yer..." the feline looked at Reef Skimmer and gulped "...griff that can turn into a thunderbird or vice versa or whatever you are."
Blaze Trails turned away and gave a sheepish hoof-wave to the gathering crows of felines. "Right, that we are, here in peace, I mean..." she stammered nervously. Exactly how do you prove for a fact that you're not here to cause trouble? At least Nutmeg seemed to be getting on alright with the spell-slinger: naive as she was, perhaps that would inspire confidence - assuming she didn't blab about the ponies' prior relationship with the sharks.
"A ki-rin! Not in any bestiary I've read, I do believe, but so much has been lost." Everdream told Nutmeg Inferno sadly. "Now, no need to be coy. We're both intelligent and reasonable creatures." he purred to Nutmeg. "Tell me truly, what is it you're in search of, here on Fellis?"
Nutmeg blinked, looking down at her hoof, then looking up at Everdream again. Then she lowered her hoof to stand on it again, saying uncertainly, “We’re here to find out about your island, so that we don’t do anything bad. And Blaze is here to apologise for when we almost did something bad, and maybe get back her tent. And I’m here to... help out if I can. I know Magic and Tech don’t get along, but maybe you have a little tech, and might not have anyone to repair it. Oh, and to see this island, because it’s really cool!”
"Did something... bad?" Everdream said with a charming smile. "So this is not the first time those pretty little hooves have touched the earth of Fellis? Do tell me, little Nutmeg, what calamity might have led to the loss of a precious tent."
“Uhm, well I–I wasn’t there, so you’d have to ask Blaze, she’s right over there,” Nutmeg said, sinking to her haunches and wringing her forelegs, looking away, “Sorry I really don’t know about the tent. We came here once before, looking for um-”
Blaze Trail gave Nutmeg a worried look before interrupting: "Err, well, hang on... no calamity happened, I just had to abandon it 'cuz I was being tailed by cats all the way from, because, uhh..." Her ears pricked up as she realised she might have admitted too much.
"Look, it was all a misunderstanding, okay? Swear I won't let anything like it happen again... Ahem... and Reef's just normal folk, good, honest, fine - what's the problem? You're going to distrust us just 'cause we're not from around here, that's that?" The earth mare tilted her head, her muscles tensing.
"Another kind of not-a-unicorn?" Everdream said playfully as he bent down to get a closer look at Blaze Trails, though one hand remained firmly on his staff. "And when was this game of hide-and-seek, winner takes tent? I'm sure I would've heard if a creature like you had come to play with us... ah, but maybe it was with the hunters of Frostglass Lake? ...to the east?" he suggested.
“I’m more like a not-a-sheep. She’s a not-a-unicorn. You can tell by the hooves,” Nutmeg offered to Everdream helpfully, glad to not be the centre of attention anymore.
Azure Feather just surveyed the scene quietly. That talk of alliances went south fast, she thought: Nutmeg and Everdream seemed to be building a rapport, then... ugh. She couldn't fault her squad - they were doing the best they could - but the pegasus slumped a little as she compared this negotiation with the last... four or so attempts at an alliance. Always the same: the Harmony's crew wasn't from the Skylands, instant distrust.
Sure the dragons had been helpful, the griffons were a possibility, but other than that... She honestly didn't know how Twilight and the elements had done it, befriending all those hostile creatures on Equestria's borders. For now she watched warily as a small crowd of the curious felines gathered in a loose circle around their group, ready to spring into the air and unleash her wind blades if negotiations failed. Reef Skimmer seemed to share her concern, subconsciously unfurling his wings.
Wild Draw stared for a moment, then relented: "Look, here's the way of it, you got something to trade, you can do it Hazel Glen. You got a serious offer o' some kind, sure, you can try and sweet talk Royal Flush. But I ain't gonna have strange creatures just wandering 'bout my turf, poking their snouts in ta whatever strikes their fancy. Whoever I have keeping an eye on ya, that's one cat not watchin' for sharks and such, ya get me?"
“You keep talking about watching for the sharks,” Set Sail said sceptically to lead warrior, keeping herself between the cat and Reef, “Are they attacking your villages? Or are they those looters you were talking about? We’ve run across those creatures before, but we really don’t know much about what they’re doing here. Other than that this island doesn’t seem quite... dry enough for their liking.”
"Hey! Trust ain't something you get for free!" Wild Draw said indignantly, but the green pony had already turned away, to jump into the conversation between the kirin and the felitaur. Annoyed, she turned on Set Sail: "Sharks'll take anything that strikes their fancy, iffing it's not nailed down or sometimes even if it is!" she accused. "Call it 'salvage', sounds nice like 'explorin' don't it? Sure, they don't generally go for killin', but they'll just go smashing up the mystic pillars like they don't want Fellis to ever-" The cat caught her tongue. "Like they have no respect for our territory," she finished lamely.
A touch of fear was creeping into Blaze: it seemed the only impression they'd managed to project was a bunch of nosy good-for-nothing critters. Given the feline's opinion of the sharks - it was gonna be a lot easier to piss them off than to make friends. "Well, look, uhh... I set up camp in the middle of nowhere, figured no one would be around to even take offense, really, and you should have seen how long they tracked me down, couldn't shake 'em at all, ahaha... but, yeah, it was over by the, uh, 'Frostglass Lake', I guess that's a different tribe from yours, so don't know if you even heard of it happening or not."
"Aha, I see," Everdream said sagely. "Alas, they are an insular bunch, even quicker to assume the worst of outsiders." Everdream said sadly. "Did you run into Arcana, per chance? The seer of Frostglass... a creature like myself."
Blaze shook her head: stuck inside the compound, she hadn't seen the mystic that had challenged Grenelda.
Azure just couldn't place these cats - why couldn't they just be friends, or attack for that matter? Why did it have to be this tense standoff, constantly afraid of saying the wrong thing? The doctor looked ready to rumble, and the feline guards as well, yet... Blaze was still talking, Nutmeg seemed happy. This could still go either way.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to touch a nerve, it’s just we really don’t know anything about this place,” Set Sail told Wild Draw with an apologetic wince. “Or the sharks, or pillars, or anything. And I promise we won’t be long. We might not even have anything to trade. Can we at least take a quick trot to this Hazel Gove, to find out what creatures are looking for? And if we come again, is there a better place to land other than your animal farm?”
"So was that your copter, that was buzzin' about? Should'a landed at the docks, if ya wanted ta trade." Wild said sullenly, finally putting her bow away. "We get friendly folk on occasion ya know, but they don't slip by and go sneakin' unsettlin' the livestock, not if they know what's good for 'em."
The Fellissian guard gave the newcomers another look over, sharing a tense stare with Reef Skimmer for a moment, before biting her lip and saying "So it be then. Doub and meself'll be escortin' you ta the hollow, now you behave yerselves and there won't be no trouble. Any funny business, you'll regret you ever thought'a messing with us, clear?"
“Well, the only problem is it’s... not our copter, per say,” Set Sail said, hesitant to accept the creature’s offer without warning her, “Remember when I said we got attacked by the pirates and uhm... defended ourselves? It’s the best way we have to get around right now, but... after one close call, we’ve been cautious about landing it at the dock of anyone who might think they were shooting some pirates right out of the sky. But we can definitely fly ourselves down to your dock. Most of our crew are fliers. I hope that won’t be a problem?”
"So lemme get this straight, a gang o' pirates came ta scoop ya up, an' ya turned the tables, rode off in their copter?" Wild said, eyebrow raised as she motioned the ponies to follow her down the track.
"Yeah I can see that goin' down, if ya had yer thunderbird keepin' watch." Double Blind said. "Tasty little horses as the bait and then zapp-zapp-zapp, barbequed elf am I right?"
"My good sir, I assure you that is not at all-" Reef began, before thinking better of it. "What one means to say is, griffs may be fierce but these little ponies, cute as they may be," Reef almost avoided glancing at Set Sail "...are surprisingly capable and tenacious."
"Sure, whatever you say, mister thunder-griff." Wild Draw said dismissively. "Bet they kick just fine - that is, if they're up against a shark that'll just stand there like a sack o' rocks and take it on the chin." Turning back to Set Sail, she said "So where ya parked now? Heard ya buzzing around but seems no cat saw you set down."
"Copter settled on Roulette Rock!" somecat called out from the crowd trailing them. "Near the bridge!"
"That be the case? Good place to spy from, ya were thinking? No... it's alright, no sense running back there now," she said before the pegasus could object. "Leave it there for now. You know what ta do, should ya be favouring us with another visit."
“Good place to reach your village, we were thinking, without landing on your sheep,” Set Sail replied, not even flicking an ear at the casual dismissal of pony bad-assery as she ambled along beside Wild Draw. “I’m really sorry for the confusion. I hope there’s something we can do to help out, or at least we could be somecreature who’s not giving you a hard time on these islands.”
Blaze Trails let out a sigh of relief as the tension eased off: it looked like the cats weren't such a grouchy bunch after all. "Should I stop by again and ask for this 'Arcana'?" she asked Everdream. "Anything we'd have to talk about?" As for Wild Draw - honestly she'd had no idea the sky dock was in active use, given its apparent age and abandonment. Lesson learned, right?
The feline taur followed a little way behind, flanked by the entranced kirin. "Oh, I think it would be best if I broached the subject, the next time the conclave assembles." Everdream told Blaze, before shooting Nutmeg an inquisitive look. "Or perhaps... I should make a special trip? What was that 'bad' thing you did, exactly?"
Blaze Trails thought it smarter to elide over the details and admit non-specific guilt - before Nutmeg could say anything to the contrary - so she lowers her head and looks embarrassed. "'fraid we didn't know what was and wasn't abandoned 'round these parts. Honest mistake, and we won't be intruding on feline territory again."
“They thought we were griffons, I guess?” Nutmeg answered the friendly taur uncertainly, not even a secondary source of the events in question, “Or... sent by the griffons? Reef Skimmer looks kind of like a griffon, from the front at least. I didn’t think the griffons were at conflict with Fellis, but... you’d have to ask Reef exactly what they said. Either him or Azure, the blue and purple uni—uh—pegasus there. They were there, I think.”
Well... hostilities averted, at least for now, Azure thought. Yet they weren't out of the woods yet. She had no doubt there would be more of the same in this 'Hazel Grove'. The pegasus followed along, silent as ever - thought she couldn't help snorting at Wild Draw's dismissal of pony fighting ability. She'd be sure to make sure that cat change her tune, if she decided to attack Azure's squad. Cats and sharks... she didn't know who to trust less. They were in a tough spot when the sphinxes - monsters from pegasus legend - seemed like their best bet.
On an island floating high in strange skies, far beyond the borders of Equestria, an unusual procession was making its way through the forest. In the lead, a pair of creatures that could be cougars save for their ornate armour and bipedal gait: Wild Draw and Double Blind, defenders of Fellis. Following close behind were a pair of small equines with feathered wings at their sides: Set Sail, reluctant leader of the Cloudbreaks Expedition, and Azure Feather, guardsmare of the Lavender Blades.
Then came an earth pony and a kirin, flanking a curious purple creature that joined humanoid torso to quadrupedal body, like a feline cousin to a centaur. The two mares chattered happily with the mystic, who punctuated his explanations with gestures of his ornate, crystal-topped staff. Next was Reef Skimmer, the grey eagle-horse keeping a close eye on the felines, managing to conceal his aberrant physiology for the time being. Finally a small crowd of curious cats followed behind: two of the centaur-like 'mystics' and several of the smaller bipedal kind.
They proceeded south down a rough track, emerging onto a more substantial throughfare; the cobbled road leading from the ruined city to the west to the island's central lake to the east. A few minutes heading east, before they turned off onto another more travelled track, heading south towards the village nestled on the shores of the smaller lake.
As they rounded the final turn the settlement presented itself as a sweeping barricade of tangled trunks: a dense barrier of twisted branches that reached several metres above their heads. The wide wooden gates stood open, but cats crouched on platforms in the trees, eyes bright and bows at the ready. Wild Draw made the necessary reassurances and explanations, and they proceeded through into the village proper.
It was on a scale comparable to the gillfolk town, several dozen buildings perched in trees and stepping down to the shore, where a jetty extended into the rippling waters of the lake itself. Arbortecture was present in abundance, with trees shaped into support columns, platforms, sky bridges, even complete buildings. Some structures seemed primitive with thatched rooves and hanging furs, while others were built of carved stone and gleaming metal.
Salvage was clearly present throughout the settlement, but different from Witchway Marsh, which gave the impression of being assembled from the cast-off junk of civilisation. Here the materials and artefacts had been carefully selected and refurbished, no doubt rescued and repurposed from the decaying metropolis nearby.
Cats were all around, climbing and staring and whispering as the newcomers came into their domain. They were curious, to be sure, but less startled than the gillfolk had been - either more used to strange visitors, or less prepared to admit it. The majority shared the golden fur of the first two guards, but others had the colouration of panthers, tigers or patterns the ponies didn't recognise.
Blaze Trails looked all around as she trotted along, clearly impressed: "Hmmm, well this is some fancy usage of foliage to construct a village. Nice place, very natural-feeling." Very salvaged-feeling too, she noted: like the remnants of former civilization have been repurposed over and over. That bigger city might be interesting to explore - another time, and hopefully after confirming that it wouldn't be another transgression. She'd have to get herself back in the other tribe's good graces later, and for now take advantage of our warm-enough welcome here.
The group came to a halt in roughly the centre of the settlement, where Everdream spoke out and began to tell the others of these 'ponies' who'd come looking for aid following an escape from the drow. He seemed quite comfortable with the role of storyteller and Set Sail was happy to let him make the first introduction.
"Keep an eye on 'em Doub," Wild Card told her subordinate, "I'll go see what's keeping Royal Flush."
"Yeah, to be sure," the male cat replied, still looking worried by the presence of the weird griffon and/or thunderbird. "They'd be crazy to try anything here."
"Can't say we ain't seen some crazy creatures in our time," Wild muttered as she loped away.
Blaze's sensitive ears easily picked up the cat's conversation. "Indeed: we're here at your benevolence," she told Double Blind. "Wouldn't dream of tryin' anything outlandish. We meetin' Royal Flush in a moment, then?"
"Gotta agree, Blaze." Those were the first words Azure Feather had spoken in a while - she also looked quite impressed at the literal forest village they stood within. Still, the pegasus know her place here: she was the guard. The one that would pull their hides from the fire if things went poorly. Not the diplomat. With that in mind, Azure left it at that, concentrating on the surrounding crowd. They didn't seem to be harbouring hostility... yet.
“Thanks so much for showing us your village,” Set Sail said with tactful but honest gratitude towards Double Blind, “We’ll try not to be a bother.” She trotted over to Reef Skimmer, leaned cautiously towards her friend and subtly murmured in his ear, “Don’t try anything, by the way.” Then she turned to the others saying: “I’m going to see what these creatures are getting up to, to get an idea of what they need and who lives here. I don’t suppose we should split up, for our um... escort’s sake. Anything you’d like to do here?”
“Doesn’t look like there are a lot of machines, but there’s an iron hammer ringing off in that direction,” Nutmeg said, “Probably a blacksmith. So anyone who works with metal will know what little it is I can do around here.”
“I just wanna know what you cat people are up to,” Blaze said, looking more to any curious villagers than her fellow explorers, “Find out what’s been happenin' lately, and what adventures you’ve gotten up to. Especially in those ancient places outside these walls here. I wonder if any of you could enlighten a curious traveller.”
A certain cat's ears pricked up at that. Clad in worn canvas clothing with fur spotted like a leopard, she slunk up to Blaze Trails. "You're looking for adventures? Need a guide?" the fellissian said brightly. "Could ya see fit ta plumb the catacombs beneath the grand ruins of Fellis City? Or maybe yer all looking for a tour of the old arena, where the champions of centuries past fought for fame and glory and riches untold? Could even see fit ta take ya down to see the Oracle." She winked, "Now there's a sight every creature should see - that is if the sphinxes ain't in a mood this moon. All I ask is a little gold, and for a little more I can set you up with provisions-"
The spotted cat was cut off by the arrival of a new figure, a tall and striped feline cutting his way through the crowd while an angry-looking creature followed after. "Hey, hey! You can't just walk out on me, Flush!" the creature complained - definitely not a cat, she looked more like a bipedal tanuki. "I'm not gonna send one more shipment until you agree to-" The mabu's rant was cut off by Wild Draw casually interposing herself between the two.
Blaze Trails tilted her head, listening to the cat's offering - though the moment she asked for payment, the pony's expression soured. "Ah, no, I don't believe I'll be able to pay, sorry, though thank you for the offer." If anything, she'd scout the places out herself and offer the same service, cheaper! She didn't need a guide, she was the guide... though that too could wait. Ears flicking, the mare turns to turned to watch the newcomers.
"Cool it, Taleena," the stiped cat purred. "Take a little break, enjoy our hospitality. As you can see, many creatures are in need of my attentions. Things will work out just fine, don't you worry."
The mabu caught sight of the ponies and stared for a moment, before spluttering: "What? Who are these beasts? You can't just- I had an appointment! Do they have an appointment?!" Royal Flush just waved a paw, signalling Wild Draw to lead the infuriated trader away. The spotted cat who'd been trying to talk to Blaze Trails shrank back into the crowd, waiting to see what would happen.
"Always a pleasure to meet new frriiends," the tiger-like Fellisian purred as he strode over to Reef Skimmer, looking the hippogriff up and down as if appraising a piece of art. "Though I do hear a few rumours about griffons and goats roosting in places they shouldn't, oh, just the other day." Smiling down at the ponies, he said "But that can't be referring to these well-mannered creatures I see before me, can it?"
Azure Feather shot a brief glare at Royal Flush - goats, again? - then stepped close, whispering in the Captain's ear: "Need a bodyguard?" First time in a foreign culture, especially of predators - bipedal predators, she knew that was a big deal for Set Sail - it couldn't be easy for her. If the pegasus would rather stand alone, well... it wouldn't sit well with Azure, but the Captain's word was law.
Set Sail made a silent gesture with a wing, indicating that the blue pegasus should keep close. “Pleased to meet you too,” Set Sail she said warily, just a little sideways to the bipedal tiger-creature. “Royal Flush, I presume? We don’t mean to interrupt your appointments. We just... we’re just travellers from a very distant land, who don’t know our way around these islands. Blaze um... B-Blaze knows it best. You want to tell him what happened, Blaze?”
Blaze sized up Royal Flush, admiring the sleek tiger physique and clear confidence - caught red handed, if only he knew! Probably best to come clean if they were going to start fresh. "Ah, yeah, that'd be us." She gestured with a circling hoof, looking apologetic, but still steadfast. "See, thing is and all, we're new to this island and didn't know a clue about the local culture. Didn't know what was and wasn't abandoned, and thought we'd take a look around, checked out a temple, and got chased out by the local cats. We're lookin' to make up for it, if it's possible." That was well mannered, right? Maybe she'd get the benefit of the doubt if she was polite enough.
"Seeking to atone for past indiscretions, you say? Aren't we all." Royal Flush raised an eyebrow at the earth pony, before laughing heartily. "Swift Claw's wound up tight with sharks spitting in his face and Arcana whispering in his ear, and what do you do? Blunder in and roost in the mystic's most precious spot on the whole island!"
"Most dangerous spot." Everdream corrected. "If one doesn't count Ne'kuno's moods or the Pyramid of Gnosym itself."
"Oh indeed, indeed," the striped cat admitted, before extending a paw to the pegasi. "Royal Flush, mayor of the fine settlement of Hazel Grove, not to mention the great city of Fellis, such as it is. Blaze, is it?" A quick shake of hoof in padded paw. "What a fine day to meet new creatures... and who's your quiet friend here?" he gestured at the doctor.
"Reef Skimmer, officer in Queen Novo's Royal Navy, at your service," Reef said stuffily. He wasn't sure what to make of these cats, though the variation in fur patterns and anatomical details was certainly fascinating. "Hippogriff, you know - though we have griffons among our crew as well." He gave Azure a quick look, twitching his wings and flexing a claw as if to indicate that he was ready for things to get ugly, if it came to that.
Royal Flush seemed to pick up on the gesture as well: he took a step back, raised one paw, extended his claws and absent-mindedly licked them. "An unlikely bunch you are, to be sure. Cat's you aren't, yet curious as us you seem to be, dropping in uninvited then coming back to try your luck with a different pride."
Blaze Trails winced at what felt like a rebuke, but everyone seemed to be smiles and laughter afterwards. How was she supposed to know they were doing something so hopelessly dangerous?! But... it looks like she could relax, as these cats seemed more interested in new friends than retribution.
Blaze let her haunches slump a bit, then trotted up to offer a hoof shake of her own. "Blaze Trails, explorer, yeah. And if I had any idea at all I was doin' something that reckless I wouldn't have, swear. We had no intention of making a bad first impression - we want to live in peace with ya, and we'll do what's necessary for it." Though she thought to herself: 'and if we can't have that, then don't get upset when we go all-in on appeasing the sharks!'
Azure tried to suppress any outward sign of hostility as she stared at that flexing claw. Fighting so many cats at once, including several casters - it was a losing proposition, and since Royal Flush seemed happy to negotiate... hopefully it wouldn't be necessary. The worst thing she could do now was blurt something out and derail the Captain's efforts.
“We came on a mission to explore these lands, and encountered some... disastrous issues, that heavily damaged our ship,” Set Sail said, not quite looking at the capable seeming if shifty feline, “Our surveyors hadn’t seen any signs that this island chain was inhabited at all, but not a day after we moored on an island, we learned there were creatures still living here! Not a week later, we learned there were drow living here, and... that they were pirates looking to capture us or worse. So we’ve been kind of stranded ever since, and on the run from them to boot. It hasn’t been the best experience.”
“Griffons have been on peaceful terms with ponies for centuries, in Equestria!” Nutmeg offered, “The ones in our crew are not any of the griffons you’ve had problems with before. They’re not sheep poachers, to say the least."
"I do so prefer meeting civilised creatures," Royal Flush purred, "though I think of myself as an educated cat, and I've never heard tell of this 'Equestria'." The tiger-like 'mayor' shot a curious look at Everdream, but the big felitaur just shook his head. "Nor seen creatures quite like you before. Your kingdom must be far around the rim."
A pause as the tiger-man thought things over, then he ventured: "Far from home with a damaged ship, a sticky situation to be sure. Good thing you found us." Another smile that showed a few too many sharp teeth for Set Sail's liking. "You need provisions, parts, repairs... healers? I'm suuure that can be arranged. For the right consideration."
Blaze Trails cocked an amused grin at Royal Flush's incredulity. For the natives It must be frankly unbelievable that there was anything beyond that raging storm: she didn't blame him at all, and it didn't seem worth correcting. Ship repairs wasn't exactly her area, but she wondered exactly how much tech these cats had... "You have cats trained in shipwrighting, I take it?" She'd leave asking about payment until they'd confirmed there was a deal to make here.
"No better carpentry than here in the Grove," a random cat piped up from the crowd, "an' solid smithin' too, if what you got in mind ain't too fancy."
“R-right now we’re looking to find that um, consideration,” Set Sail said nervously, shrinking back from the intimidating fellow. “We can’t ask for your help i-if you don’t know us, and all. None of our crew’s in critical condition, s-so we have some time. W-we just need to learn what it is we can do for you. And learn more about... this island and...”
"The sad tale of Fellis, that's what you're thirsting for? Ask any of the mystics," Royal Flush gestured at Everdream, "but make yourself comfortable, they'll spin tales though day and night if you let them." A throaty chuckle. "So it seems you came all this way with no goods to trade or tribute with which to purchase allegiance? Or... was that lost in your terrible accident. Such a sad tale weighs on my heart." Laughter murmured over the surrounding crowd, leaving the ponies with an unpleasant feeling that they were being toyed with.
"Alas, unless you have a whole herd of architects and a thousand tonnes of marble - or a flock of griffons eager for long-term mercenary work - I do fear the restoration of Fellis is beyond your means. No matter! Not all trades must be so grand, for sure you will find business to conduct here in Hazel Grove. Oh and don't worry," the mayor winked at Blaze Trails, "I'll let Swift know he was all afeared over nothing. Just a perfectly friendly thunder-griffon and his knife-wielding horse friends. Now... was there anything else?"
Blaze Trails thought to herself: 'Well, it's true - We didn't exactly came here to trade or set up local industries - we came here to explore, and we lost most of what was involved in THAT when it went overboard. So as far as diplomatic relations go, we've basically been winging it ever since. Still, you don't have to rub it in, mister.'
Externally, she was all smiles: "Much as we'd like to solve all yer problems, we're trying to deal with our own first." A weak, unnerved chuckle. "Still, if we can do business, we shall, thank you; and your sending of approval is much appreciated." She still felt an urge to go apologise to the other tribe in person (not to mention rescue her tent), but that can come later.
“T-thank you for your time,” Set Sail said, not exactly trembling but certainly not looking the tiger fellow in the eye, “That–that’s all we’re asking. We’re not miracle workers, j-just some stranded travellers who are trying to... g-get by. We’ll make sure to use your dock to trade, a-and...” okay maybe a little trembling.
Was there anything else? The other things she was curious about - the cats' relationship to the pillars and laser pyramid in the north, how it might be entered, and what other landmarks around here may or may not be guarded - well, it seems a bit tactless to just ask probing questions upfront, so she keeps her mouth shut for now. ...Though, it has been nagging at her, and it seemed safe to ask: "Those pillars up north - chock full 'o crystals and rare ores and such - never seen anything like 'em in my life. Are they natural or...?"
At the mention of the pillars, Royal Flush instantly went from relaxed to alert, staring intently at the little earth pony. "So, you've been poking around Spellshatter Flats as well? Let me guess, you just wandered in there by accident, and the fates were nice enough to steer you clear of the Judging Eye's gaze? Oh no, I'm sure you had no thought of say testing our defences, or making off with the Hope." he hissed. The crowd went silent as the tension ratcheted up. Several guards took a cue from their leader and shifted into more prominent poses, while the mystics present tightened their grips on their staves.
Blaze Trails froze up, as tense can be. Time for some quick thinking. "Dunno what you're trying to get at, Royal Flush -" She rubbed at the top of her head with a hoof. "I just thought they were pretty and wanted to ask about 'em. Never seen anything like them in my life before we passed by in our airship." Now this is obviously a lie, at least if that laser was shootin' down everything that got close, but if Royal Flush knew they were working with the sharks, surely he would have lead with it. Maybe she just had a really good spyglass?
“Oh, Blaze didn't go up there. It was me and a few others,” Nutmeg piped up informatively for the fierce cat man, “We all saw it when the sharks gave us a tour!” The red ruffed kirin gave an unsure look to Royal Flush, then she turned to the nice hexapedal kitty instead, saying, “I didn’t think it would have a big giant beam of death! The maser was pretty easy to dodge actually, but boy did it surprise us! We were just going up to look at the pillars, but the pyramid thing had other ideas. We got out of there as soon as it started opening fire. Sorry it... blew up one of those pillars while we were running away. I hope that’s not a problem. They’re so pretty! Do they grow up like that by themselves?”
"You blew up one of the-" the tiger-mayor snarled, before cutting himself off. "So now the sharks are just swell guys happy to giving you... creatures a tour of our island? Any other minor incidents you'd... like to disclose? I don't suppose you accidentally snuck into the Glade and slipped a few clovers into your bags? Relieved Ne'kuno of her precious Oracle because you thought it would make a nice souvenir?" The crowd began to thin out, civilians retreating to their huts, leaving guards with bows and knives at the ready, watching their 'guests' intently.
Everdream gave the little kirin a sad look - it seemed to him that she genuinely wanted to be petted - then called out "Oh now come on, Flush! This is paranoia talking. They clearly don't have a clue between them. The fates must favour them, that they're still alive to tell the tale!"
Royal Flush didn't buy it. "Sure, sure. That's just what they want you to think. You always were a sap for a good sob story, 'Dream." He raised a paw to point at Reef Skimmer. "Now griffon, any cat will tell you, I'm not one to favour unnecessary violence. On account of your good manners, I'm giving you a chance to fly out of here with no blood spilled. Any of us see you on Fellis again, it'll be the last thing you do, understand?"
Blaze Trails held her head under a hoof, fuming for a moment. Damn it all! She thought they were being nice and willing to let bygones be bygones, but they're just as trigger-happy as any other cat here. Though if she put her hoof in it, it was Nutmeg who set the whole thing on fire - well true to form, she supposed.
If there was any silver lining, it's that it was probably never going to work out in the first place, right? Ha - to think that one of other the things they'd been shotgun-accused they kinda actually did, too! It was enough to make a pony cry. Still, if she's going to get a lashing from her allies later, she guessed she'd earned it: this was a hell of a lot of effort to put to waste, after all.
Azure Feather was back on high alert; damnit Blaze, why on Equus did you ask that, even she knew better. Set Sail got the tiger to offer the olive branch, then Blaze pissed on it and Nutmeg blew it up. The pegasus just shook her head in silence as the entire diplomatic effort was burnt to ashes in moments - anything she could say now would only make things worse. Cursing her inability to help in these moments, she looked to her Captain for orders. As expected, Set Sail's face made it clear: nothing left. Everything wasted. Best to just leave.
Nutmeg wouldn't let it go so easily. "What sob story?” the kirin demanded angrily, rounding on the tiger-striped cat, “It was awesome, and nobody got killed! I’m sorry your pillar got blown up but we were just trying to dodge the beam! And I’m the one who was up there, so you should be sending me away not him! Reef didn’t even know about it!” Blinking, she added, “Uh but I’ll die if you make me fly out of here by myself, so one of my friends will have to help with that.”
Reef Skimmer reared up, wings flaring out and folding protectively around Set Sail and Nutmeg as he came down between them. "Now listen here, cat, you have no idea what you're dealing with!" he bellowed. "You think a few arrows comprise a threat? So did the drow, and they met a sticky end indeed!" His bird feet had reverted to bunched of bright blue tentacles. "If this parlay is concluded then so be it! We will go in peace... unless you would prefer otherwise!" The griff's feathers were puffed out and his body tensed, no doubt ready to charge the guards.
"I'll take them to the docks!" Everdream volunteered, in a magically-amplified voice that boomed across the village. "There is no need for slaughter! Come now, are we civilised creatures or not?" he implored, pulling his staff away from where it had been touching his throat.
“He just said we could go in peace, Reef,” Nutmeg growled, “As completely a bad idea as that is. I can’t believe that knowing someone else who was nearby one of the pillars when something else exploded it is a death sentence around here. No wonder this place is falling apart.”
Blaze Trails, with a defeated look, gestured to Reef Skimmer. "Yeah... let it go, Reef, before they change their minds. Let's not make a fight out of it if they don't want one." Are we civilised creatures or not, indeed? Well, so much for that.
Set Sail was pretty much nonverbal at this point, just curled up in a ball against Reef Skimmer's left hind leg.
After a mass staring contest that seemed to go on forever, Royal Flush waved his assent to the mystic. Azure Feather watched sadly as the feline-taur lead her the squad out through the gates, with cats pointing arrows at them the whole time. "No need for a battle - not here, not now," she said, her tone as defeated as she looked. They'd tried friendship, and it had failed them - time to turn to alternate tactics.