//------------------------------// // On the Run // Story: From the Ashes: Ember's Story // by Zoljen //------------------------------// Ember panted for breath as she continued to fly away from the place she had called home, her wings carrying her as far north east as possible. She kept up this pace for the better part of an hour before exhaustion finally caught up to her, forcing her to glide down towards the forest below. She dodged a few trees and finally skidded to a stop in a clearing. She panted as she sat down, closing her eyes tightly to hide the feeling of what just happened. She fell to the ground, laying there and put an arm over her face, sobbing as the memory of the last hour replayed in her mind. Drakes had attacked her friends, trapped the rest of her hive in the caves below the mountain, possibly killing any changeling inside with whatever that rainbow shockwave was, and all she did was fly away as fast as she could. She did get the order to flee, and she vaguely heard Talon get called after that, but the rest was a blur. She continued to sob for a half hour or so more, by now the sun was starting to set when she finally regained some composure. She sat up, sniffling and looked skyward. She knew where she was, there was a town, a small griffon village within a day’s flight from here. The hive being located near the border of the two warring species was both a good thing, and a bad thing. She looked herself over, being a dragon would be bad walking into that village. She let out a soft sigh and was suddenly engulfed in a crimson flame. Standing in the emerald dragons’ place was a griffon, her avian half a pale yellow while her feline half was a bright yellow. She shook herself out and spread her wings outward. “Been awhile since I’ve gone griffon,” she sighed, then shook her head. “Great, already talking to myself.” She leapt up and took to the air, flying straight up and looked around. It didn’t take her long to get her bearing again and resume her flight, heading east this time towards that village. As she flew, she kept glancing over her shoulder and kept her emotion sense active. Nothing ever followed or got picked up, but she was paranoid about one of the drakes having followed her. She kept flying in the same direction, keeping her emotion senses going but she was never followed. Night passed and was gifted with a familiar moon to light her way. At this time, she lowered herself to the tree line, continuing to glide and occasionally flap to remain aloft. She kept this up all through the night, only stopping once near a stream to regain some strength. After the sun had been up for what Ember guessed was a few hours, a village came into view. It was small and still partly in the forest, but enough of it sat outside it. She lowered herself and landed, grunting at the stiffness of her wings and sitting to catch her breath. She sat a good ways outside it, pondering exactly what to do next. She watched the village, some signs of life starting to happen, but she was so engrossed in watching she didn’t hear the cart roll up, or a griffon chick walk up behind her. “Hi there!” She did hear that, and quickly spun around with a yelp, losing her balance and falling to the dirt in a small cloud. After finally calming down, she saw a young griffon sitting there, looking apologetic at her. “Sorry to scare ya miss.” “Quicktail! What did I say about scaring other griffs!” Another griffon, tugging a small wagon along, stopped and looked down at Ember as she slowly picked herself up. “Oh, it’s quite alright ma’am.” Ember nodded slightly, grinning down to the chick who went over to lean against his mother. “I don’t think I’ve seen you around these parts before.” The griffon mother looked Ember over again. “Though I can tell you’ve been flying for a long time. Otherwise your wings would relax by now.” Ember winced as she closed her wings. “I was just passing through. My home was destroyed and… well,” she trailed off, looking down as she suddenly tasted curiosity. “Oh, a refugee? I didn’t know of any griffon villages along this road. But if you want a meal, I could use some help pulling this cart.” She grinned slightly at Ember. Ember nodded slightly as she looked over the cart. “Yeah, won’t be a problem to pull it. You wouldn’t happen to know of any boats going to Equestria, would you?” Ember stood up and helped the griffon get free, before slipping into the harness herself. Quicktail chuckled softly and jumped into the cart that had logs in it. Ember struggled a little with the cart, but she eventually got it moving. The griffon shook her head at Embers question. “No one in this village does, but the next one over might. I suggest you head there, should be a few days travel if you walk. About two days flying there, I think.” She nodded slightly. “But if you’ve already been flying. Then stay with us for the day and night, you may have to earn your keep a little though.” The griffon grinned towards Ember. “Name’s Light Feather.” As she extends a paw. Ember took the paw and shook it gently. “Ember.” She nodded slightly, as she continued to pull the wagon. After an hour of tugging the cart into the small village, they traveled into a Ponyville style village. Each house was a single story with a simple straw roof, and a pair of windows. Ember glanced over the house, chuckling softly to herself and drawing the attention of the young griffon. “See something funny about our home?” Quicktail peered over the edge of the wagon at her as she looked back at him. “Nope, just comparing it to the… uh… hole in the ground I came from.” Ember chuckled weakly, “So. I have to ask, why the logs?” She tugged the cart up next to the house, being directed by Quicktail. Light Feather chuckled softly. “Have to do something to pay the bills. I craft living wood art, and I’m very good at it. Maybe you’d like something to remember us by?” “I, erm, have no money. Thanks for the offer but I feel I am imposing too much already.” Ember grinned sheepishly as Light Feather helped unbuckle Ember from the cart. The trio headed inside and Ember got to see a fine home first hoof. The inside of the home looked quaint, a couch and a chair sat near a small fire place. A kitchen was within view as Light Feather quickly went there to start on food. Quicktail quickly went towards one of the three doors on this level. He opened it and pointed inside. “This is my room,” He said with a grin, “Mothers room is next to it and we have a guest room.” He bounced over to the door closest to the kitchen and opened it, “You can see if it you want, if you’re going to stay for more than a few hours anyway.” “Quicktail!” Light Feather almost shouted from the kitchen, “I am sure she just wants lunch, then to be on her way.” Ember nodded slightly as she walked over and glanced into Quicktails’ room. She saw the typical kid’s room, it being a bed with a dresser and a giant mess on the floor with toys almost everywhere. She chuckled softly and moved over to sit on the couch. She sighed as she sat down, the journey starting to catch up with her as she watched the griffin making lunch. Soon enough the griffin came around with some sweet smelling meat sandwiches. Ember grinned as she was handed a sandwich and quickly tore into it, not realizing just how hungry she was. Course, she was silently soaking up the youth’s endless happiness. But just taking in enough to recharge her, she didn’t want to cause any damage and be found out. She let out a soft sigh as she looked at the griffin mother who was watching her. “When was the last time you ate?” Light Feather asked, raising an eyebrow and tilting her head. Ember chewed her last bite and swallowed it, “Uh, I think sometime in the morning, a day or so ago.” She looked down at the sandwich, “I have been constantly on the move since then, not really stopping or anything.” Light Feather gasped, “Flying for over a day? No wonder your wings appear so stiff! But surely you must have stopped at least once to eat something.” Ember shook her head, “I mostly glided along air currents, and I know to take care of myself, trust me. I am a semi-trained medical expert.” Ember took another bite of her sandwich, “So after this meal, what would you like me to do to repay you?” The griffin shook her head. “Consider that on the house.” “Okay,” Ember let out a soft groan, setting her sandwich down and putting a paw to her head. “Something wrong?” Light Feather asked as she watched Ember. “I think…” Ember shook her head slightly, “Fatigue caught…” She didn’t finish, as she slumped forward rather quickly. Falling onto the short table with a thud and a flare of fire, took on her natural form as she laid there, partially on the floor. The two griffins screeched and jumped back, Quicktail quickly hiding behind the chair as Light Feather stood on the edge of the couch. After a few moments of staring wide eyed at the passed out changeling, Quicktail looked at his mother. “What is she?”