Stretching out on the full length of her bed, I couldn’t help but yawn pleasantly, enjoying the few moments of snuggling with my pillows. Not exactly a dignified pose, but it felt sooooooooooo good.
Finally relenting, I rolled out of bed, rubbing my cheek with a set of claws to wake myself up. The eternal battle of the morning; a warm bed and cold room.
The day started without any fanfare or excitement. I got the ovens fired up, and had a quick meal of some preserved fish jerky and fruit.
It was bound to be a decently busy day, since school for the hatchlings was starting up soon, assuming it was repaired. Mothers would be out with their youngsters, purchasing needed items from the marketplace. The traders had sprung out of nowhere, coming from far and wide now that the town was beginning to regain a bit of life.
The beaks of the fellow griffins outside on the street were actually upturned into the semblance of smiles, hatchlings bounding at their parent’s sides with excitement. School hadn’t been going on for years, at least formally. The first few customers were these parents-hatchling pairs, eagerly munching on the first batch of scones. Greta showed up after an hour or so, just in time for the morning rush. I usually handled the front counter with sales and such, while she helped with the ovens in the back.
“So. Uh, have fun yesterday? The lunch thing?” I asked during a short lull. The other gryphoness instantly paused, and I couldn’t help but chuckle as her face feathers fluffed, wings raising slightly in a shrug, or in embarrassment. Or, perhaps both.
“I-erm-y-yes.” She managed to stammer, not meeting my gaze as she put some more scones in the ovens. I waved a set of claws, not wanting to make things awkward, or at least any more awkward.
“Hey, good for you. I’m not judging or anything. Just hope you’re both happy.” I remarked calmly. Strangely, my words caused Greta to pause, and actually meet my gaze for a split second.
“Thanks, Gilda. Really.” Her tone was surprisingly sincere, and I felt some heat rush to my face. I was definitely not used to sincere thanks, or any heartfelt stuff.
Customer to the rescue, thank goodness.
Ash-erm, Gelvin actually came in to look at the random-junk section of the shop, as I dealt with a steady stream of youngsters and their parents. I was still getting used to interacting with griffins on a daily basis, but good heavens these kids were cute!
Noisy, and would exhaust me in under an hour, but still cute balls of feathers and exuberance.
One griffin, a rather distraught hen, with grey and brown feathers splotched over her front and side, quickly darted into the shop, looking around frantically.
“Has anyone seen them?” She squawked, looking behind the counter, feathers on her wings ragged, and eyes wide with panic.
“Whoa, slow down.” I asked, or at least tried to, holding up a set of claws. My words had no effect on the distraught hen, who continued to look around.
“Seen who?” A familiar voice spoke up, Gelvin asked calmly, putting a clawed hand on the hen’s shoulder. The contact seemed to snap her out of the panicked daze, and the gryphoness took a few deep breaths.
“My chick, and his friend. H-his name is Filk, and the friend; she’s Dena. He’s brown, white splotches on his wings and side, and she is grey, with white lines across her side. I d-don’t know where they went! They were at my side, but snuck off-we were going to shop for the new school season, but they wanted to go to the mountain caves first, but-” A held up claw stopped the hen, Gelvin’s eyes narrowing.
“The mountain caves? You’d go with them to explore the safe sections?” He asked, and the hen nodded in reply.
“Y-yes, and I said we’d go after we were done, but n-now-what if they-”
Gelvin was out the door, bowling aside a few enduring customers. I couldn’t help but drum my claws on the counter, more than a little worried. There were safe areas to explore in the mountain caves, with carved slides amongst the stalactites and stalagmites, but there were other, more secluded areas that the rock wolves lived in.
I couldn’t help but envy those in Ponyville for that reason. The Everfree forest just spat out Timberwolves every now and again. Rock wolves were twice as mean, twice as tough, and obviously made of stone.
Two chicks would get torn to pieces.
I curled up a set of talons and smacked the counter, gesturing to the door with my free limb.
“You heard them! Shops closed. Let’s go find the chicks!” I barked, surprising even myself as I herded the ex-customers outside and flipped the sign to ‘Closed,’ Greta following me. She shot me a rather surprised look. Was it of admiration? Amusement? Surprise?
I was surprised that the other gryphons even listened to me; but I guess the whole council-member had some weight. That, and if someone acted like they had authority, you listened to them. At least that’s how things had been done.
I darted off into the sky, aiming towards the caves. The entrances were at the base of the mountain and spread across the bottom, among meadows and a thick forest. Hopefully those chicks would just be hiding somewhere. The other gryphons fanned out behind me; flying to areas around the other sides of the mountains to check.
As I flew, I couldn’t help but be a bit happy. Not at the event of course, but the fact so many griffins were actually helping each other. It felt like being a part of a really cool team again.
I spotted Gelvin out of the corner of my eye, and turned my flight path to get a better look. He was wearing something, and had what looked like a giant stick in his claws. What was he up to?
I sighed, following the other griffin along the mountainside. He was heading towards the more dangerous areas, fenced off by a large stone wall. Rock wolves knew better than try and climb it, but curious chicks, not so much.
Gelvin must have spotted something, because he folded his wings and dropped like a rock into the trees, a small clearing his target.
On getting closer, I dove as well, a lump rising in my throat. Nestled at the edge of the clearing were the two chicks. On the opposite side, six adult rock wolves slowly fanned out, stalking their helpless prey.