Pass of the Sphinx

by J-90

Chapter 8 Another ske-DISCORD TIME!O.O-tch and a question or two.

Winter had proceeded at its usual pace without any kind of malicious spirit popping up. Food was somewhat scarce here and there, mostly for certain animals. Luckily for them and some poorer communities the spring was approaching and food would be easier to come by soon. One of the beings with light food finding issues, was Hena.
Since fruits were not available in nature and viable prey had moved a bit further than she was comfortable flying, due her instinct commanding her to keep watch of the pass. She had grown used to it during her stay, but it was still an overall uncomfortable feeling to through annually.

'Been little quiet for now. Ends of the pass don't exactly get much of the winter maintenance. Maybe them ponies are trying to make less of them to come by this route? Or are they perhaps dealing with the food issues or just mourning the death that regent fellow? Hopefully dealing with the food for now.' she thought as she halfheartedly blew some light snow away with few gusts of air created by the beats of her wings. Had to keep the lair clean and clear every now and then.
'Some not-passing visitor would be a nice change of pace. Kinda like Hermes, who merely came to visit for some academic sketching. Forgot to ask questions though, so I guess he might come back one of these days... Its just taking a while, probably due to all the academic stuff and studies and whatnot. And weather might also play its role too.'

Her thoughts lingered on the griffin youth for a few more moments, until they were broken by the sudden change in the build of the snow she had blown to the side. It had turned into much more solid form and taken different color too. A mixture of light brown and orange. After taking few careful sniffs and touching it lightly, Hena dared to taste a tiny crumb of it.
"Is this... Nougat?"

"Awww, got it right on the first, my good kitty." said an oddly echoing voice, causing sphinx to look around. Finally she noticed the eyes on one the statues, the winged serpents, on top of the pillars moving oddly, and they were now bright yellow with red pupil. Finally they just decided to pop out from the statue, proceeded to roll to the pile of nougat while making a cheery clinking sound, which then morphed into... Something...?

The resulting chimeratic creature(?) seemed to have a head of the pony, serpentine body covered in brown fur, mismatched limbs and wings, which included bird claw, lions paw, hoof and clawed foot. Even its horns were different to one another.

"And what might you be?... Sir?" Hena inquired, not being hundred percent sure how to address the creature, despite it sounding male. Mainly because of its mindfrick of an entrance.

"Oh? You don't know of me? But on the other hand, I don't think I've ever seen your sort either..." the creature said, while pulling out a comically huge magnifying glass from somewhere to have a better look at Hena. After humming thoughtfully for a few lengthy seconds, while moving the glass back and forth few times, the creature just tossed it to the side, where it hit a sharper rock and fizzled out of sight like a deflating balloon.
"Moi name is Discord, a draconequus, spirit of chaos and disharmony. So what are you then? Some odd kitten far from its litter box?"

"I am Hena, and I'm just a sphinx guarding this pass and two artifacts within my lair, while asking riddles from those who try to get past here. And you seem more like an overcompensating magical comedian rather than actual spirit of chaos. But that's just my initial view of you." Hena basically deadpanned at the creature now named Discord, who seemed to get mildly offended by her lack of reaction.

"Oh, spunky one aren't ya kitten? Just so you know, I could just turn you into an actual kitty with just a snap." he said while putting his claw hand into a snap-ready gesture.

"Is that a challenge for combat? I could think something worse and more creative to do to you if that happens..." she said back at Discord.

"Oh I just might ta-" he started to say, only to get interrupted by a small dark-grey scroll that puffed into existence between the two, which then floated up to Discord and started aggressively poking itself against his snout, almost like it was demanding him to pick it up, while causing a honking sound.

"Ugh, what's this about?" Discord grumbled while rolling his eyes around his face as he picked the scroll with his paw-hand. Hena just decided to watch what would happen as he started to read the scroll. Apparently its word were either mostly reversed or he was just being his own brand of chaotic.

After Discord finished reading the small scroll, the color visibly drained off from his face. Hena merely looked at his reaction quite confused. Did this creature somehow know her 'employers' somehow? It did not make much sense to her, but it just might be the point. In any case, that acquaintanceship felt like being WAAAAY above her theoretical pay grade.

"I knew I shouldn't have helped that floating pile of pasta to embezzle that much noodlerinos or take funding advice from that annoying top hat wearing pyramid cyclops about deer teeth..."

"Huh? Did you say or whisper something, mister Discord?"

"Nope, nothing, nada. Juust remembered that I have some scheduled chaos to do elsewhere. Too-da-loo!" he said, clearly now in a hurry to leave. And so he left the pass... By opening some suddenly existing zipper in the air going through that and closing the said zipper behind him, leaving no proof it was even there.

"...Okay... That was odd. If he could something on that level of reality bending, I almost dread to think what I could have been able to do if boosted to his level.. Think I'll just sharpen my claws and try to forget that..."

'All right Hermes. You got those translations done early and got some free-time. Even got some credit for that sketch, but still need a bit more information to get anything done about it academically there.' golden brown griffin lad thought as he walked the path towards 'The Lair of the Sphinx', as they had named that certain section of the pass, which was also named 'pass of the sphinx' as a whole. Naming was not that creative, but some did not see much point to go with more creative names.
'Hopefully lady Hena is in a good mood today and maybe agreeable for another sketch. And this time I will try to ask something too.'

As hes target location was just around the corner of the path, Hermes's further thought's got interrupted by an ear-piercing grating sound, making his feathers and fur stand up. As the sound continued a bit more, he ended up letting out a loud painful squawk, which made the nasty sound suddenly stop.

"Who's there?" came Hena's demanding voice.

Seeing not point in potentially hiding, Hermes thought it best to just come out.

"It's just me again." he called out while walking in sight of the sphinx, who was still leaning against the stony wall covered in long scratch marks. Such position also gave griffin somewhat of a good view of her body. Which ended up being a distraction he had to actively try to ignore. He came here to sketch and ask questions, not to ogle the beautiful built of this creature.

"Ah, Hermes. Here to visit again I see. Did you perhaps bring something as a 'toll' for whatever it is you have in mind academically?" sphinx inquired as she hopped off the wall back to basic standing position.
"Don't mind the wall. It's just my spot for sharpening my claws."

"Quite regularly too it seems. And yes, I have some meat pies with me. Could be nice variety aside from the raw meat I think you potentially usually eat."

"Hmmm... Very well, guess that earns you another sketching session. That is what's you are here for, yes?"

"Indeed, and I was hoping to maybe ask some questions too. Last time I accidentally forgot."

With words and the meat pies now exchanged, Hena was once again enjoying some meaty goodness this time sitting down, while Hermes began sketching her, even managing to focus properly. No stray lines this time.
After a good and lengthy while of sketching few different pictures, he tried asking some things.

"So... Does your species have any specific name? Other than just sphinx?" he started.

"Indeed we do. The sphinx is just the name of the species as a whole. Kinda like ponies, despite there being three or four sub-species of them. I am what is called a Gynosphinx, sole female subrace, possessing some magical aptitude and a natural knack for riddles. Got that up?" Hena explained, recalling some of the past knowledge from back when she used to be... Human? Some of her past-life memories were getting a little hazy. But the basic knowledge of her current species seemed to more clear.

"Aand... Its in my notes. So you're saying that there are other kinds of sphinxs?"

"Yes, though I'm not sure if there are any of those in this world. And I am not really counting the big purple one you mentioned, since it is more of a 'created' one. The other sphinxs are all male. There are magical yet prudish Androsphinxs, more or less a male version of Gyno. Basically just imagine me, but with more masculine facial features and different bits in the back."

"I don't think I want to imagine that... At least not on you... And what do you mean by prudish?"

"Well the Andros are usually more interested on knowledge and wisdom, rather than actively finding a mate and taking care of the resulting cub. And then there is the fact that Gynos are on average smarter then them. I guess it annoys them."

"Okay... And are the other types of sphinxs aside from Gyno and Andro?" Hermes inquired after taking down some more notes.

"Yes... There are the male ram-headed, somewhat dull Criosphinx and the wicked, hawk-headed Hieracosphinx." Hena answered, sounding a bit sour.

"And just how bad they are on average?"

"Well let's just say that the Crio is lesser of the two more animalistic evils so to speak. The main goal of both of them is essentially to find a Gyno to mate with. At least the Criosphinx usually bother to try and actually court first, unlike Hieraco who just up and try to forcefully take her. Other things special of them are that all Crio have a perfect memory of hiding places of their gathered treasures, while Hieraco are superior fliers among the sphinxs. And only copulation with Andros might result daughters, while others can only give sons of their own sort."

"So if female sphinx ever wants to have children, their choices are a serious prude, animalistic courtier or a rapey birdface?" Hermes inquired, looking rather aghast about the given information.

"More or less under normal circumstances. Not sure how it would go down in this realm, since as far as I know... I am the only 'pure' sphinx here."

This revelation caused Hermes to stop his sketching for a moment, followed by a sympathetic look aimed towards sphinx.

"Oh... That must be hard for you. And more than lonely I bet..." was all he could say for the moment. Even Hena looked a little crestfallen, due to really thinking over her situation a bit more. Even the still active emotion-suppression did not stop some depressing, lonely thoughts from entering her mind.

"Yes... It is... Hence why I try not to think about it all that much." she said, trying to keep her tone even. If Hermes noticed this, he did not show it. After a stretched up moment of silence, he slowly started to pack up his sketching gear.

"I think this is enough sketching for today... Ummm... May I ask you a riddle? No magical or deadly hook, I promise." he managed to inquire, which did pique her interest. Partially by curiosity since no one had ever tried to ask her a riddle, and other part was the instinctual interest for riddles natural for sphinxs.

"Unusual for my usual routine, but yes, you may." Hena said, already waiting to hear it.

"What costs nothing, but is worth everything.
Weighs nothing, but can last a lifetime.
That one person can't own, but two or more can share?"

Due to her encyclopedic knowledge on riddles, Henas mind managed figure the answer out in few short moments. But instead of her saying it right away, something stopped her and made her think over what had gotten this griffin to ask such a riddle? Was it perhaps the sympathy for her overall situation? Maybe a hidden way for him to get more knowledge of her at later date with less danger for himself? Or for someone else?
Or was it perhaps a true, genuine hope to alleviate her loneliness?... That was something she could not figure out on the spot, no matter how hard her strong mind tried... So she decided to take the potential risk, actually hoping for the best for things yet to come.

"A Friendship... Is the answer." she said, sounding oddly hopeful for some reason.

"Correct. And aaah... I wish we could build such a thing between us... Provided nothing out of our control happens..." Hermes said, also sounding hopeful. He also knocked on the wooden part of his sketching gear three times. For luck most likely.

Hena did not give her answer right away. Instead she walked towards Hermes, until she stopped maybe three or so feet away from him, making him look a little bit up at her. Then she offered her paw to him. Peacefully due to her sharp, tearing claws not being nowhere in their aggressive 'out'-form.
"I would like that very much, Hermes." she said with a genuine smile, which grew a little wider as Hermes took a hold of her paw and heartily shook it with a smile.

"I'm so glad to hear that. Unfortunately though I have to go for now... But I will try to come and visit you more often, as your friend and not as academic."

"That would be very nice change of pace for me as well. Guess I'll see you later then?"

"Something like that. I will just have to work harder to have time for visits, hopefully way more often than between few months."

"Very well. But promise that you don't overwork yourself."

"It's a deal."

With their farewells said for now, Hermes took his leave, now carrying with him few better made sketches and some information about the sphinxs, along with, maybe more importantly from a certain point of view, a new friendship.
Hena could not help smile as she looked the bird-lion hybrid creature leave, feeling a little bit more comfortable with their situation. It would be much easier for him to visit her, rather than other way around, since it was not certain how the folk at Wissen would react to her arrival. Maybe by torches and pitchforks? Or maybe by a massive avalanche of questions? Neither option did not feel that good to her.

'I think this might be a start for something nice...' Hena thought herself, but this line of thought was interrupted by a sudden and odd 'tick-tock'-like sound she barely managed to hear from somewhere nonspecific, causing her to look around confused. Finally due to sound not not repeating, she brushed it off as nothing too special, and carried on with remaining time of the day before retiring back to her lair, with no other traffic happening on the pass for that day.