//------------------------------// // Montepluma Part II // Story: Feather Steel // by Cold Spike //------------------------------// Several Years Ago Screaming only got him so far, but it was a natural instinct. He was panicking so profoundly that his mind essentially blanked and the only thing he could do was flail his hooves and scream. His life did not flash before his eyes though, at the very last moment he felt a tug. He yelped in pain and sighed the biggest he ever had in his life when he realized that someone had caught him. He felt himself breathing in and out in rapid succession and soon it slowed down to nothing, then his other senses came back. Something was wrapped around most of his body, something huge that ended with sharp claws. “You alright?” His head snapped up but the massive claw blocked his view, he assumed it was gryphon that had him. It took him a moment to respond. “Uh y-yeah…” “Well, good! I’m just gonna set ya down now, hang tight!” He heard the mare’s voice command, at least he assumed it was a mares. He didn’t know much about gryphon’s. It took him another moment to realize that she wanted him to wrap his hooves around her claw. “Oh! Uh… sorry.” He awkwardly positioned himself so he wouldn’t fall and then wrapped his front hooves around the base of one of her claws and held on tightly. “Right! Hang on!” She flapped her wings and he soon felt wind rise up all around him, it came so quickly that he couldn’t even tell which way she was going. He tried to keep his eyes open, but eventually gave up on that and simply held on for dear life. Then as quickly as it started, the wind died down with a single gush that washed all around his feathers and fur. He felt tears in his eyes; but was still hanging on. “You can let go now…” He didn’t open his eyes and barely moved, until she nudged him which caused the colt to jump up in surprise and land on his back. The gryphon looked down to the colt in concern.  “You alright?” Feather coughed a few times and quickly got to his hooves. “Yeah… yeah, uh, thanks.” Then he blinked and looked to the top of his head, feeling around. “My hat!” He sighed and closed his eyes, trying not to mourn the loss of something which to others may seem silly. The gryphon simply shrugged. “Sorry darling, I didn’t find anything else.” She almost chuckled then realized that she was dealing with a child. “You should thank your flank that I spotted you at all! No one takes those bridges anymore!” Feather backed away from her, not being used to getting yelled at. He almost felt angry at her, how else was he supposed to get in?! He simply decided to look away and hoped that she gave up on lecturing him. The gryphon then started to realize a few more things, things that were very wrong about the situation. “Why exactly are you here? Did you get separated from your nest-- well, from your family or something? We don’t usually get tourists from ponies…” Feather would ordinarily lie in this situation, it was simply second nature. However, he would usually end up in a pony settlement. Things were different, he didn’t know too much about gryphons he had to admit to himself. He did know that gryphon’s and ponies usually did not get along much. Which meant he was most likely free to say what he wished, instead of keeping everything inside. That didn't mean he was gonna though. “Uh, no, was just here with my dad. He’s here on business, so I thought I would explore.” He laughed a bit, though it was forced. “I guess bridges are out.” “Yeah… no joke there.” The gryphon tapped her claw a few times on the floor, and tilted her head up to think. “So, you’re on your own right now?” His eyes widened in fear, but only for a moment before he calmed himself. “Just until my dad gets back…” The gryphon nodded. “Of course. Alright…but you’re still on your own. In this city, no offense but your father must be pretty… neglectful.” Feather wasn’t sure how to feel or say to that. She had insulted him, but at the same time she hadn’t. His father was no more, which meant he had been talking about an imaginary stallion, which is who she had called neglectful and not his actual father, sort of. Not that she knew that. He simply shrugged then looked behind her to an approaching gryphon. The mare looked confused but then turned around and looked up. It was a larger gryphon than herself, with black and white feathers mixed in all over. There really was no pattern to the colors, it almost looked like a mess from a glance. What stood out though was the hat he wore, his hat. “He has my hat!” Feather complained as the gryphon passed him by. The lady gryphon simply snorted, flapped her wings high into the air and flew past Feather in the span of about four seconds. She didn’t seem to move awfully fast or gracefully, but it was the actual sight of what was hidden that made Feather gasp. On the underside of her feathers were different shades of pink and red, intertwined into odd shapes that simply seemed far more beautiful than the actual gryphon, not that he would ever tell her. “You come back here! That’s not yours!” He heard the mares voice scream out in rage, but couldn’t see her as the two of them had flown down over the cliffs below. It was then that he realized something, the lady gryphon was an older gryphon. He wasn’t quite sure if he was right, he knew he was assuming things, but she did seem much older. Almost like an old lady, though he wasn’t sure how that was supposed to show on a bird. Feathers didn’t sag or grey out, they were just feathers. “Fine, take it you crazy old hag!” Was what he heard after a single minute, and then she flew back with a smile plastered on her face. Without warning she landed and gently placed his hat back on his head. The gryphon blinked and then nodded. “Wow, that looks much better. It suits you uh...” “Oh… I’m… Feather,” He reluctantly said. He figured if she had gotten her hat back, then he could at least be polite. “Hmm, nice to meet you, Feather. My name is Galion.” They shook hooves and claws and soon both were smiling. The gryphon turned around and started walking away from him. “So, would you like to stay at our place for dinner? We’re having fresh salads… mostly.” She said the last part a bit quiet, but he heard her. “Uh, I think I’ll just wait around for my father, thanks!” He hastily replied. “Your father, of course!” She laughed a bit. “Suit yourself, sonny.” He watched her walk away, not fly but walk. It was odd and he couldn’t help but notice how she chuckled. Hesitantly he looked behind himself to find nothing, nopony waiting and no way back. He stood up and started to follow her.