Griffons. Now that was a bit of a... touchy subject if there ever was one. Griffons, usually spelled so over Gryphons because of nothing but simplicity, weren't exactly... kind to ponies, especially seeing as how almost brutal hostility between the two species had been particularly strong for the better part of a hundred years. To be completely fair though, one species had been on one side, and the other species hadn't helped that side. She couldn't exactly say it was unreasonable, even though it definitely was. Ponies had hooves, and Griffons bore pairs of claws and paws, an amalgamate of both an eagle and a lion.
That was a tad racist. Octavia cringed, hoping that nopony had heard her accidental remark. Griffons were, well, they were something else when compared to ponies. Though she hadn't really met too many of them in her time, seeing as how her concerts never strayed too far past the border unless it was international for some reason or another, the ones she did were rather odd to say the least. There had been one Griffon she had made contact with during her trip to Fillydelphia a number of summers back. He was pretty small for a member of his species, having been only a couple inches taller than the Royal Guards in their armor that were present at the post-concert banquet. Though she wasn't able to fully recall his name, she was able to remember his attitude toward everything and everypony that was around him. That attitude being one of tranquil hostility and know-it-all nosiness.
Truth be told, Octavia had grown up being told that Griffons were terrifyingly scary individuals who could easily cut her in half with a swipe of their claws if they so much as felt like it. She hadn't personally encountered any until she was in her early twenties, so she had spent all her life feebly trembling in anticipation of her first meeting one. As she about stumbled on a rather intrusive family of vines running along the forest floor, Octavia swallowed a lump down her throat, her ears currently tuning in to an admittedly vulgar story from V's beak. She reaffirmed her earlier statement as V spoke the words, gouge, balls, and out in one breath. L laughed heartily, impressively walking over a fallen tree as she stared at the storytelling Griffon.
Octavia frowned. She wished she could do that. She was reminded of this as one of her front hooves caught on a bush, bringing it forward as she continued on through it. V, who was walking behind her, caught the full force of the bush as it propelled backward, smacking into her armor and scraping it audibly. The Griffon cursed, "Sputnik dammit pony, can't you see where you're going?" Amidst all the blinding sunlight peeking in through the treetops, the dense forest with thousands upon thousands of trees, and the bushes and twigs wrapping around the landscape like a hive-minded snake, Octavia had to firmly answer no within the wondrous confines of her head. Hearing a muttering and grumbling from V, Octavia cracked a grin that she quickly wiped away, looking forward to see W still stalking ahead of the group.
"So," she spoke, clearing her throat and finding it devastatingly dry, "where are we going, W?"
It took him a few seconds to answer, his claws and paws scratching their way onto a group of rocks marking what appeared to once be a small stream running perpendicular to their current trail. As her hooves clip-clopped onto the stones, she received her answer. "We're in what's called White Tail Woods, a ways West from the Everfree Forest." Octavia's gut dropped. She hoped that Sheriff Water and Deputy Beagle were all right. "Just north of here, not too far now, is a set of train tracks that lead back into Ponyville." Octavia's gut sank. W looked back at her, grinning as he added, "Home." Her gut bottomed out.
"Oh," was her simple reply.
"'Oh' indeed, Octavia," W replied, laughing, "we'll wave down the train when it arrives and have them take you back into town."
Was this... was this real? Octavia's step faltered, continuing normally a second later. Was she actually going home today? She looked around, taking in the four heavily armored and equally heavily armed Griffons walking beside her. She felt a smile slowly work their way across her lips as a wave of excitement jolted up her body. She was going home today. She was going back home. They would wait at the train tracks until the train came, and then Octavia would get on it, and then she would finally be able to go home. She gasped, catching the attention of V, who raised a brow and nudged her forward impatiently. Undeterred, Octavia grinned. She would finally go home, so she could practice her double bass in preparation for the Symphony's next concert and turn her oven off. She suspected that the latter was most likely taken care of. Her roommate was most likely done with her tour in Baltimare, most likely leaving her able to click the appliance off when she most likely returned home.
Whoops. Did she say roommate?
Octavia cleared her throat. She hadn't said roommate. Those little paparazzi ponies scampering across her brain wouldn't be able to get their cover story. Octavia Philharmonica Lives With An Uncouth Roommate wouldn't look great in the news stands for her reputation as a refined young mare from Canterlot. She shushed her thoughts, trying to focus on the fact that she would be able to finally return home today. Happy thoughts, Octavia, happy thoughts. Practicing her bass. Turning off the oven. Eating that leftover hay burger that she hoped wasn't already eaten. Home, Octavia, home!
Home!
She heard a whistle from in front of her. She looked up, realizing that she and the Griffons were now stepping out of the thick woods and into a large clearing with yet another forest across from them. Flowers and bushes dotted the grass, filling her nostrils with the intoxicating smell of nectar. She could make out the small beginnings of large mountains in the distance to their further north. She smiled, spotting the steel train tracks with their wood sleepers running horizontally through them. Her gaze drew left, to the Griffons' destination.
Her cheerful smile dissipated in an instant.
A frown took its place.
It deepened as Octavia slowly trod toward the lone, ivory train sitting silently on the tracks, its train cars patiently waiting in a line behind it. The shielded spotlight in the front of the locomotive was chipped and cracked, the glass that once protected it now scattered along the tattered and horribly bent cowcatcher gazing toward the sunlight. She stepped closer, walking up to the Griffons' side to view the vehicle's various burn marks and scratches that ran along its exterior, mostly consuming the front engine. The lights that would usually be lit inside of the passenger cars appeared to be out, a pair of ropes (ropes?) in front of the cowcatcher having been snapped off at about two feet out.
Not a single sound called out to them as they looked the train up in silence.
Octavia choked up, her eyes glassy for a split second in time before being cleansed with a quiet sniffle and a swipe of her hoof. Thankfully not noticing, the Griffons split up; T taking the caboose, L taking the second passenger car, V taking the first, and W taking the engine. W turned to her, a frown on his beak as he hummed. He adjusted the dark green scarf around his neck, looking her in the eye. "Stay here." He began walking off, pulling out his Magicarm as he ascended the front car. Octavia subconsciously approached him from behind, stepping around the side to walk in through the open area in the back. As her hooves resounded along the wood floor, W turned his head, weapon in his claws.
He sighed heavily. "You don't really listen now, do you?"
His question caught her off guard.
"Oh!" She exclaimed, feeling a tad guilty for not having heard whatever he had said. "Did you tell me not to come with you?"
W blinked. Octavia dipped her head to the floor as she gave the right side of the locomotive a prolonged once-over.
"No," he said finally, "it's fine. I just don't want you to stumble on something you wouldn't... want to see, is all."
"That sounds fair enough," Octavia replied. She kicked a hoof against the floor idly as W turned back around, his claws picking up books and opening cabinets sitting at the head of the compartment. He hummed curiously at each item he found, as if he were witnessing personal records for the first time in his life. Octavia wondered what he could be up to, fortunately understanding as W a-ha'd, swiftly turning about as he held something flimsy in a black claw. He had discarded his gloves a couple miles back, claiming that they were just getting in his way as they trod across the sharp brush and spiky branches.
Holding the now-apparent paper up to his eyes, he read the words loud enough for Octavia to hear with him. "'If anypony finds this'," he began, stumbling a bit on the pony part, "'we were attacked by a group of bandits on our way back into Ponyville. One of our pullers, Heavy Weight, was hit by some kind of spell that's burnt his side. He's hurt, bad. We're heading to Tall Tale to seek help.'" W lowered the paper, allowing Octavia to fully view the lines of black letters and numbers that vaguely resembled a receipt. Not able to see the brand—as W quickly placed the note into one of the pouches strung along his side—Octavia tilted her head. She secretly hoped that the bandits in question were the same ones they had left locked up back at the Homestead Cabin.
"Tall Tale?" She didn't recall the name, crediting this to never having had a concert there. To be fair, there really wasn't any other way she would be figuring out the existence of these places.
W nodded, "Yup. It's a pretty big town further north of here. I've never been there myself, but I've heard it's a bit of a wack town." He shrugged, walking over to a set of levers situated by the side of the long-extinguished coal fire. Reaching out with a claw, his eyes grew wide as Octavia threw a hoof his way.
"Wait!"
W raised a brow.
Octavia let her hoof fall to the floor, eliciting a delicate tap that would surely frighten a pack of dandelions. She shifted her head to the lift, still staring at W as she opened her mouth, "What are you doing?"
W's blue eyes darted from the levers and then back to her. He raised a claw.
"We're not actually going to just leave, are we?" She heard the passenger car door behind her swing open, followed by a collection of heavy thuds that signified the other Griffons' presence. She paid them no mind, instead diverting her attention to W, who stood silently at attention, thankfully hearing her out. "We have to search for those ponies. You read that note, they're hurt! They might not have even reached Tall Tale because of that!"
"Tall Tale?" V asked from behind her. She scoffed, prompting Octavia to turn around and find the Griffon flailing a claw. "That's a lost cause if I ever heard one. That city's about a day or two away from here."
L stepped forward, "If they were headed to Tall Tale, they might've tried goin' through Smokey Mountains as a shortcut."
"What exactly lies in Smokey Mountains that could impede their progress?" She heard a mumbling from V that sounded an awful lot like a complaint about her choice of words. She ignored it, W catching her attention as he replied honestly.
"Whole valley's unstable. Rocks, boulders, stones, you name it. They all keep falling off the mountain tops and onto the trails in these huge chunks."
"Those ponies are either dead or trapped under rock," V claimed, "and having a wounded pony to boot definitely wouldn't help in a massive landslide. I say we just leave 'em."
Something in Octavia's mind broke. This wasn't right. This Griffon in front of her wasn't in the know. It was as if the mare was a robot, and V had just said the password that would boot up a new set of commands. These commands read out as Strangle The Life Out Of This Bird. Her brow furrowed against the tops of her eyes, scrunching them as she took a step toward V. Her voice came out chillingly, almost alien to her. "They could still be alive out there."
V's beak scrunched up, "Going after them would be stupid."
Octavia stomped her hooves against the floor as she stepped even further into V's personal space, her head now bumping against V's. She growled, "Staying in a motionless train car is a hayuva lot stupider than rescuing ponies that could very easily still be out there."
"Starting up a train isn't hard you know," V proclaimed, teeth bared. Octavia saw her claws begin to raise from their positions on the floors. She quaked slightly, but kept her ground.
Octavia's frown deepened as she raised an eyebrow to the sky. "What, do tell, do you do first then?"
V's eyes glanced about swiftly. "Y-You uh–"
"Exactly."
The Griffon's head feather began to ruffle up, reminiscent of a pony who had rubbed pillows against their mane for a little over a full day. Her dark green eyes dilated as she raised a claw and shoved it against the top of Octavia's head, shrinking her to the ground. The mare began regretting her rather stupid decision. Turning her head, the Griffon glared sharp daggers at her with one eye, asking, "You want to go home, don't you?"
Octavia choked on her instant retort.
"She's right."
V lifted her claw off Octavia's skull, clenching both talons so tightly that Octavia believed she would draw blood. She growled aggressively, turning to face W. "Oh get off it. You'd rather take the side of some stranger mare than a friend you've fought beside for six years?" Octavia allowed herself a chuckle despite her furious temper. The Griffon was pulling straws now.
"If that friend is being an egg yolk," W spat, prompting L to suck on her bottom beak as if she had been burnt from the sidelines, "I'm inclined to not agree with them." Staying his unimpressed expression as V hissed, he added, "And hey, if we find these ponies..."
Octavia drew her neck back, taking note of his using the word if.
"...they might give us a reward for bringing them to safety." The Earth Pony turned to look at V. The Griffon was crossing her arms, trying not to leer at W as he rubbed his claws together. "C'mon now, V. We could get some biiiiits out of this..."
The dark green armored Griffon shut her eyes tightly for a few seconds, finally opening them as she threw her claws into the air, storming out of the locomotive with a loud, "Dammit!" to herself. W slowly turned toward L, who looked back at him with a curious expression.
"You want to try arguing as well?"
L chuckled, "Course not, W. I'll be happy ta do something that'll piss V off." She about-faced, beginning to hop off the train car. Stopping, she looked at Octavia and nodded her head toward the still cursing Griffon outside. "Don't let V get to your head, Octavia." With a thud, she hit the dry grass and walked away. The mare stared at the remaining subordinate. T, having stood in the corner of the locomotive the entire argument, simply glanced at both W and Octavia before nodding silently. He stepped off the train car as well.
Following T, W stepped across the wooden floor, halting a few inches away from the mare. Letting out a quick sigh of relief, his blue eyes gazed at her, a smile on his beak. "Well. I'm happy that things turned out better than I'd expected." He continued his prior action, his claws and paws creaking along the battered platform, "We'll head north in an hour or so after everyone's fed. Hope you like scones, Octavia." And with that, he was off like the rest of his team members.
Now left alone, Octavia suddenly realized she was still breathing heavily. Eyes wide, she cleared her throat and started regulating her air intake, shutting her eyes and counting to three. She sighed, opening them once more. Noticing that she had fallen to her haunches to help calm herself down, she rose to all fours and raised a hoof to leave. Something caught her eye, however. A single gleam of gold made itself out to her, and so she approached its source carefully.
A pendant, composed of what looked to be silver and gold, dangled from a set of dials protruding from the wall. Reaching out, she grabbed it in one hoof and turned it over. The delicate hinges, broken from wear and tear—which was something she found incredibly sweet—swung the pendant's cover over with little to no force, showing Octavia a beautiful looking Unicorn with a long, curly mane, eternally smiling at her from within its confinements. Swinging it closed, she turned it over once more and found a small engraving. Scrunching her eyes, she read it, "'I'll always be there for you.'" She smiled. "'Love, Graceful Melody.'"
She stared at the engraving for what felt like hours, unmoving as she realized the implications of it all. She looked up and gazed out the windows, watching as W, T, L, and V set up a small campfire. Glaring back down at the pendant, she vigorously nodded her head to nopony but herself, a determined look on her face. She had remembered something when she had first walked into the train car, and so she tilted her head to the right to find the rather small messenger bag sitting against a dusty old stack of books. Trotting over to it, she picked the bag up by the sling, then threw it over her head and maneuvered it so that it sat on her side. Opening it—and thankful that she didn't find anything incredibly personal—she placed the pendant gently inside.
"Don't worry. I'll get you back to your rightful owner."
She turned on a heel, stepped out into the sunlight, and hopped off the train.
She really hoped these scones were up to par from what she had heard about them.