Coffee...
I needed coffee.
The unnaturally bright sunrise and way-too-chipper birds made it impossible to sleep in. Plodding downstairs, I found the little griffon still sound asleep. Belly up, he had managed to get the blankets wrapped around his wings and the pillow was lying on top of his head.
The reckless sleep of youth was something to be envied.
Moving as quietly as I could, I set some coffee to brew before curling up in the chair by the window to read. I didn’t have anywhere to be for a few hours; it wouldn’t hurt to let him get the extra sleep I wished I was getting.
After about two chapters, a long yawn sounded from the pile of blankets on the couch. The little griffon writhed and twisted till he’d freed himself from the bedding. Sitting up, he clicked his beak while rubbing at his eyes. With a very feline motion, a rear paw came up and scratched the back of his head. Turning to better reach beneath his beak, he finally noticed me sitting in the chair across from him.
“Umm... Sorry,” he said, slowly lowering the leg to take a more dignified posture.
I shrugged. “I’m not a morning person either. You want a bowl of cereal?”
Lambert perked up, but then wilted a bit. “I’m still full from last night...” he said, resting a talon on his stomach. “I am thirsty though.”
I put my book away and smiled at him. “It’s okay.” Walking into the kitchen, I could hear Lambert following just behind me. “Milk?” I asked, opening the ice box.
There was an awkward silence that made me look to see if something was wrong. Lambert had a pained expression, obviously wanting to say something, but too embarrassed to speak.
“Something wrong?”
“Miss Mary, Griffons can’t drink milk. It makes us sick...”
“Really?” I asked. When the little griffon gave me a fearful nod, I made a point to sweeten my voice. “Some of my kind are like that. It’s pretty common, actually.”
“Oh?” Lambert brightened. I could tell he was about to ask me something, but I cut him off.
“How about apple juice or ice tea?”
“Juice, please.”
While he drank his juice I changed into proper clothes and packed the lunch I’d promised Gold. As I started to put on my shoes, Lambert gave me an uneasy look.
“Do we have to go?” he asked, a little bit of last night’s fear creeping back into his eyes.
Giving him a soft smile, I hesitated a bit before resting a hand on his head. “There’s no one out there that will hurt you. I’ll stay with you till I can leave you with Princess Twilight, and she is literally the friendliest pony in Equestria,” I said, soothing his bristled feathers.
The soft touch and words seemed to help. “Promise?”
“Promise.”
Taking a breath, he nodded. “Okay.”
There was a sound of defeat in his voice. I really wanted to ask him why he hadn’t asked a pony for help, but I couldn’t bring myself to risk opening old wounds. Besides, I hated nothing more as a child than being grilled on, “What were you thinking?!” after making a mistake.
Outside, the rainclouds had been mostly cleared, leaving a bright but pleasantly-cool summer morning. Lambert stuck close to my heels as we walked through town, anxiety rattling him every time we saw more than one pony at once. After a few trial and errors, I made a point to go the long way and avoid the busier streets.
“Are you sure it’s okay to be here?” Lambert asked as we came into the shadow of the castle.
“I was a little scared the first time I came here too,” I said, looking back to comfort him. “But everyone is welcome at Castle Friendship,”
He didn’t seem totally convinced, but he equally seemed unwilling to leave my side. When I knocked on the great doors, he let out a whimper.
“Coming!” a voice called from inside. A moment later, Spike was standing before me. “How can I help ya?”
Trying not to trip as Lambert hid behind my legs, I gave Spike a friendly smile. “Is Princess Twilight around? Seems an orphaned griffon has been living in my garden, and I’d like to see about finding him a proper home.”
“Really?” Spike said, looking at Lambert—who had calmed himself enough to peer at Spike from around my legs.
Spike straightened up, but didn’t try to come any closer. “Twilight had to go to Appaloosa yesterday. She should be back tomorrow.”
“Oh...” I hadn’t expected her to be out of town. “Is it okay if he stays here till she comes back?”
Spike shrugged. “I don’t see why not.”
I winced as Lambert clung tightly to my legs with his talons. “But, you said you’d stay with me.”
“Ouch! Hey, easy there,” I said, reaching down to pet his head. “You’ll probably have more fun here.”
“You promised...”
Looking down into his wet eyes, I couldn’t bring myself to argue with him. Plus, I had promised. “Okay. I’ll take care of you till Princess Twilight can find you a home.”
Lambert relaxed a bit, but still clung to my legs. “When should I come back?”
“I’ll let her know,” Spike said with a soft tone. “I’ll come find you.”
“Thanks,” I said. Easing Lambert free of my legs, I headed back into town.
“Where are we going?” Lambert asked after a while.
“I promised my boss I’d bring him lunch,” I said, holding up the packed lunch I’d been toting.
“Your boss?” Lambert tucked his head, but kept pace with me. “Is he nice?”
I had to laugh a little. “He’s got his own sense of humor, but yes, he’s very nice. He treats me like family. Offered me a job right after I stumbled into town.”
Lambert perked up a bit, looking up to meet my eyes. “What do you do?”
“I make jewelry.”
“Like brooches?”
“I’ve made a few brooches. Pretty much any jewelry you can think.” Stopping in front of Gold’s house, I knocked on the door.
Gold opened the door with a smile, then tilted his head as he looked past me to Lambert. The attention made Lambert retreat behind me, but Gold’s smile only warmed.
“Now who’s this little one?” Gold asked.
Taking a knee, I rested a hand on Lambert’s back. The touch seemed to calm him, if only a bit. “This is Lambert. I’m taking care of him till Princess Twilight is back in town.” Then, making sure Lambert couldn’t see me, I mouthed the words, “His parents died,” to Gold.
The old stallion's eyes went wide for a heartbeat before sympathy creased his expression. “Well, don’t stand outside. I’m hungry, bring the food in. Actually... Nevermind, it’s nice outside, let's sit on the patio. I’ll be right back with drinks.”
“Pretty...” Lambert commented, looking around as we walked into the little teagarden by Gold’s house.
“His wife made this. She died a few years ago. I’m told it was even prettier before.”
Lambert tucked his wings tightly to his side, seeming afraid to accidentally touch anything. “Oh.”
Just as we settled in, Gold trotted into the garden with a tray of cookies and lemonade on his back. “Here we go,” he said, setting down the tray for us. “Lemonade made in the shade, best lemonade that ever was made,” he sang, passing out the drinks. Before sitting down, he also placed two cookies in front of Lambert. “In case you’re not as excited about salad as we are.”
Our little brunch went well. Gold did his best to get a few laughs out of Lambert, and it did them both some good. I was rather surprised that the young griffon kept so still throughout the whole thing. So once we’d eaten and exhausted the gossip we hadn’t already shared at work, I excused us for the sake of finding Lambert something to do.
“He was funny,” Lambert said, once we were heading back towards town.
“He certainly thinks so,” I said with a snort. Walking in silence for a moment, I watched Lambert plod along beside me. There was something about him I found... sad. He was too quiet and composed for an eight year old; too reserved.
Instead of heading back home, I led us on a different path. Lambert pulled closer to me as the echoes of foals playing in the park began to get louder.
Shrinking even closer to me, Lambert looked around like he expected something to attack him. “Where are we going?”
“I thought we’d go to the park. You can run around or fly a bit.”
I’d expected him to be excited at the idea, but instead he withdrew deeper into himself. “Are you okay?” I asked.
“They’re loud...” he finally answered after a bit.
“Would you rather just walk around somewhere quiet?”
Lambert nodded, but it was a sad one. I was starting to see his emotional scars, and I didn’t like it. Whatever he had endured had left a mark, and it would take a better touch than mine to undo the damage. Still, no reason not to do my best till he could get professional help.
“Okay, I know where we’ll go then.”
The bustle of the town soon faded behind us, till only the summer song of birds and cicadas filled the air. I was happy to see curiosity replace fear as we rounded the path leading to the schoolhouse.
“There’s no one here?” Lambert asked, staring at the little building and the playground beside it.
“It’s the weekend, school’s out.” Taking a seat in the park bench, I motioned Lambert to go play. “No child has ever willingly gotten close to a school on the weekend.”
Lambert paused a moment, looking between me and the elaborate playground equipment. Pent up energy was screaming to be released, but something held him back.
“I’ll be right here,” I said, patting the bench. “I won't go anywhere.”
Looking around, Lambert’s wings fluttered against his sides. I could tell there was conflict churning in his mind, but the instinct to play won over.
It was nice watching him climbing and sliding around the playground. Occasionally, he would climb to the very top of a structure, then jump to another. He’d use his wings to get a little more distance, but never actually fly.
Did he know how to fly? Most pegasai his size could fly. Maybe griffons developed slower.
A rush of air drew my attention to one side as a charcoal pegasus landed beside me.
“Hey, Thunderlane.” Looking back to the playground, I made sure the drop-in visitor hadn’t scared Lambert. Thankfully, it seemed the swing set was a bigger distraction at the moment.
“What brings you over here?” he asked.
First motioning for him to be quiet, I then pointed to the playground. “I’m taking care of a little griffon till tomorrow. He’s been through some pretty rough stuff. He scares pretty easy.”
Thunderlane’s ears pinned back as he looked at the playing griffon. “Oh... Poor guy.” Watching Lambert for a moment, he sat on his haunches before looking back to me. “I know this isn’t the best time, but I wanted to ask you something.”
My stomach fell a bit. I knew exactly where this was going.
“I was wondering if I could take you out to dinner one night?”
Yep, there it was. I knew it was only a matter of time before I got asked out. Well... asked out again. The first time had been easier to turn down, as it had been a mare. Not that I cared in the least what someone’s preferences are, I just don’t swing that way.
“Thunderlane...”
The stallion’s ears wilted, sensing the let’s-be-friends speech I was trying to put together, but something stopped me. I did like him. He was fun and one of the more attractive stallions. That was the problem though, he was a stallion. I had plenty of pony friends, but could I see one as a lover? No, had been the default answer, but did I really want to be alone for the rest of my life?
No.
“I think that would be nice. How’s dinner Monday sound?” It was just a first date, no need to worry about the second or third. I could back out any time.
Thunderlane grinned. “Works for me.”
Silence drew my attention towards the playground. I had to suppress a laugh at the look Lambert was giving us. He was watching us from around a corner with an expression somewhere between fear and curiosity.
“It’s okay,” I said, patting Thunderlane on the back. “You can keep playing.”
Lambert stood from his hiding spot not completely convinced, but a smile and a wave from Thunderlane seemed to melt any remaining tension.
As Lambert returned to his play, I turned to Thunderlane. “Could you do me a small favor?”
“Sure!” he said, watching Lambert slide down the firepony’s pole.
Fishing out a dozen bits, I sat them by Thunderlane. “Would you pick up something to keep him occupied tonight and tomorrow? Coloring book, puzzle, toy wagon, whatever little colts like to play with.”
Thunderlane nodded, then scooped up the bits. “Drop them off at your place?”
“If you would, please. But no hurry. I need to run a few errands before we go back home. It’ll be at least two hours.”
Smiling, he took a few steps back and unfurled his wings. “No problem.” he said before taking to the air.
‘If he comes back with a drum set, I’m going to punch him.’