Gilda did not speak with me that morning. I grazed upon the lettuce and other foods that were given me, and watched as the gryphon and Rainbow Dash both left to go about their daily duties. I used my propellers to get to what I needed. A piece of parchment, a container of ink, and settled myself in my favorite little spot near the window. It took some doing, but after only a half an hour I managed to remove the stop from the ink. Dipping the innermost nail of my right forefoot into the ink, I began to write. It was most of the day through before two things happened.
First I realized that it was rather unlikely that either my caretaker, or her visiting friend could read tortoise script, and secondly Rainbow returned, and took the ink and paper from me regardless, saying that I almost spilled it all over the floor. After a bit she had put the ink back, and took a second look at the paper. It was clear that she couldn't read it, but she did seem to note that it was some form of writing. After giving me a confused glance, and checking the page again she placed it in her saddle bag. I decided that drawing a diagram would be more straightforward and understood.
Not more than an hour after that Gilda returned, and Rainbow Dash went out on an errand of some sort. The recap of her day began.
"Hey, turtleface." She said as she walked tiredly through the door. I overlooked the comment for the time. She knew I was a tortoise. It was just her disappointment getting the best of her.
"So... yeah. Didn't work today either. I thought I had it. She was kind of on edge from the start because she was expecting me to come by at this point. I've been coming for a few days, so that's obvious that she'd think I was still coming. Still, I didn't think the dweeb would do that... er... don't tell Dash I called her friend that.
"Whatever. I thought It was a good plan. I snuck up quietly and got between her and the door, closer to the door than to her. I made sure not to make a peep until I was in position. I had it planned so well! So, I was sitting there, and she was feeding... I think it was squirrels at the time. 'Shy. I'm not leaving until you hear me out!' She looked toward the door, and started to bolt, then saw me in the way and..."
She dragged her claw across her face before continuing. "And she ran up a tree. She actually hid in an oak tree rather than talk to me. I... I didn't think I scared her THAT bad. Dang I messed up. Anyway, I walked under the tree I thought she was in. 'Come on! Come down. I just want to talk to you! I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY!' In hindsight yelling probably didn't help her be less scared of me. Either way, I spent a few hours trying to get her to come down and listen, and all I got was some shaking tree branches in response. I might actually try catching her tomorrow.
"For tonight I'm going to eat something, spend some time thinking, and go to sleep."
With that she left me for the evening. I did not know where any other ink was in the house, but I did know where I could find a writing utensil. I would have to keep my diagram secret until I could get it to Gilda, but that wouldn't be too hard. Using my propeller I quickly found a pencil, a sheet of paper, and returned to my sleeping quarters. I buried the sheet shallowly to hide it, leaving only the corned I was working on exposed. The first thing I drew was a picture of Gilda. It took me a good amount of time, but it was clearly her, and that was the intent.
It would take much time to finish the diagram, and thus I stopped for the night and reburied it. My owner returned not long after. She fed and bathed me every night. She was a good owner. She took all of the advice she was given by Fluttershy for taking care of me. I am ever grateful that I was given to this pegasus instead of some family with children that know not the meaning of solitude which is required for a tortoise to thrive. We don't all mind company every now and again, but we do not so much play... I slept well that night. I was going to have to work hard to get my message across, for I was no true artist, and pictures were my only form of communication with this gryphon it seemed.