Morning Glory
Quicksilver sat in silence for a long time. The warmth of the fire still lingered, and he tended to the meat that was on the spit. He stared at the fire before him, contemplating on what he’d learned.
Lupin had left around an hour ago, revealing that he had orchestrated them being together for the past few days. No matter what he could say or believe, he couldn’t blame him over what he had learned. Lupin has done heinous actions in the past, but hearing it from his own mouth over what is right and wrong, could he really blame him? If he was in his hooves, there was no doubt he would do whatever it took to save his own kin and escape a terrible fate. Though he had committed violence in the name of justice, he did so in saving his own.
For a long while, he kept thinking about the possibilities, but no matter how many times he perceived it, he knew that Lupin did what was right, even at the cost of many lives.
As he pondered over what has happened Gretchen began to stir from her sleep.
“Hmm… what?” Gretchen muttered, rubbing her eyes and getting her bearings. Quicksilver took notice of her when she rose out of the blanket, her feathers slightly unkempt and her eyes fluttering.
‘Be her shield.’ Lupin’s words lingered in his mind like an arrow embedded in wood, and they would not be easily removed.
Why does that affect me so? he thought, watching her bring a talon to her face and gently brush away some of her low-hung feathers and smoothing their surfaces. He knew he felt indebted to her for saving his life, but at the same time he felt the need to help her more. He didn’t know why he was feeling this way, despite being opposites in the war and in species. He shook his head, trying to clear his mind. But he could not remove these strange feelings, the need to protect her and help her.
He had felt it when he took her with him out of the mountain, and he felt it again when he saved her out of the water and from the jaws of those blood wolves. He just wished he understood what his true feelings were telling him, even though he believed it was not fathomable.
“Fletching?” Gretchen’s voice broke his train of thought. He looked over to her, seeing her sit up from her bed. The blanket fell off her shoulder and exposed her feathers. He blinked when he saw this and shivered at the sight. He inwardly berated himself, keeping his mind focused on what was at hoof and the situation they were in.
“Morning, Gretchen. You sleep well?” he asked, wanting to start off a conversation that would be simple and distracting from his own deprived thoughts.
“I never felt so warm,” she mentioned, looking at the bed and casting her gaze around the cave. “Where is Lupin? I thought he would be here?” she said.
Quicksilver motioned his head to the outside. “Lupin left around an hour ago. His task was completed, so he said his farewells and parted ways,” he explained. He didn’t tell the full truth, not wanting to make this dialogue between them turn sour.
“I see,” she said, brushing away the blanket and rising to her full height. She gave a stretch, her talons extending outwards and arching her back like a cat.
A sudden flutter coursed through his heart. His wings had a sudden urge to extend. He repressed them to the best of his ability and tried to remain as calm as possible. She then settled herself near the fire, enjoying the comforting warmth. She sighed with much contentment, extending her talons out to receive the flames’ worth.
“I take it he won’t return,” Gretchen said in a calm voice, focusing her attention on the fire.
Quicksilver nodded, keeping an eye on the fire before him. “Yes. He had more pressing matters to attend to,” he replied, trying to keep the conversation to the point and not having any further distracting thoughts. It seemed to work for the most part, but he didn’t know why these strange feelings kept popping up into his mind.
“How are you feeling? From yesterday?” he asked, his ears folded back, feeling a little uneasy, while he waited for her reply.
“I’m fine, still feeling bitter, but fine.” she stated. He inwardly sighed. He didn’t know how upset she still was over their past arguments, but no doubt the blood wolves had set aside such petty things. He didn’t wished to indulge in any other ponderings but still, he felt he needed to settle any remaining matter between them.
“Care to share the meat?” Gretchen broke the silence, pointing at the slab of meat that hung low over the fire. It had been resting over the fire for some time, getting to a brown coat on all sides. He was happy to oblige, taking the cold end of the spit with his hooves and hovering the meat off the ground. Gretchen motioned over, grabbing the nearby knife that was settled next to the fire. She quickly brushed it off and began cutting into it. He waited patiently as she cut a slice of the boar meat and took a cautious bite. She beamed a little and cut another strip, then offered it Quicksilver. He nodded, wrapped the spit with his one hoof and grabbed the meat with the other. It was quite warm, but that didn’t stop him from partaking it in putting it in his mouth. He chewed thoroughly while Gretchen cut another two thicker slices until the meat disappeared.
The two sat silently as they ate their meals. Gretchen looked about the room as she ate her fill, while Quicksilver finished eating his piece and gave a small sigh. He looked out to the outside world and pondered for a moment their current situation.
They were both stuck in the mountains, and with limited supplies he knew wouldn’t last long without some sort of help. He knew his wings still ached and he would feel the twinge of pain in the joints where they were broken. If they weren’t like this, he would soar on out of the mountains and be homebound to Prancy and into the waiting arms of his fellow Equestrians and with Silverwing.
If only that were a possibility.
“You can’t get enough of boar meat,” Gretchen said, stretching her arms over her head. Quicksilver muttered acknowledgement and cast a sideways glance to her. “But you know,” she said midstretch, “I would really like some fresh barley and a good trollinger.”
Quicksilver hummed in satisfaction, however, a familiar growl emanated from his belly in protest. An interest in food piqued his interest for both him and his stomach.
“That so? I wouldn’t mind some barley soup, with chopped onions, carrots and celery. Wash that down with some cider and you’re set for the night.” he explained.
She curled one of her own brows and merely scoffed. “Ha. That does sound good. But even better is my family’s goulash soup, with a four pound beef with salt mixed in olive oil, pepper, lots of potatoes and paprika dashed with garlic.”
“That does sound good. Any chance that there is a vegetable version?”
“Indeed there is,” she beamed. “With a bunch of chopped vegetables and chopped onions.”
“Oh, you know what would go so well?” he asked. “Some hot, fresh bread with butter and jam spread on the top.” He leaned forward and pressed his hooves together. “The finest and freshest bread that just cringles every time you press it together, and to top it off with some Hush Heath,” he explained.
Gretchen merely moaned, her breath chuckling out in the pure imagination of eating such delicacies. “You should stop, Fletching. My mouth is just watering from the thought,” she explained, pressing a talon to her chest in faint mockery. “Though, having some fine bourbon will make me the happiest bird,” she explained.
Quicksilver lifted a hoof up and pretending to have a mug of his own. “And I would toast your wine with some hard cider,” he proclaimed.
She smirked, her smile creeping up to one side of her face, and she lifted a claw clasped around an imaginary gobbelt.
“Hear hear!” she shouted, chuckling all the while. He soon joined her, sharing the laugh with her. Both their mirth soon subsided and they both sighed contently, staring at one another for time while the fire continued to burn before them.
It was strange how things had settled since yesterday. Before hoof, Gretchen would be silent to nigh insufferable. But now, she had a calm demeanor and didn’t mind cracking a joke with him. He wondered what changed, but he couldn’t help but feel a little banter would help them both in the days ahead.
Gretchen sighed and looked out to the world outside, where snow covered the laden path and a thick fog had rolled in, covering the far lands below.
“Wish I could get some of that food you spoke of. A nice Mutton in claw and some fine mead. But we can only dream of such things when out in the wilds,” she explained.
“Yeah,” Quicksilver nodded, his attention drifting to the sounds of the wood creaking and crackling from the embers within. If he didn’t know any better, he still probably smells heavily of campfire.
Either that or he had gone nose blind.
“Not much we can do but carry on, I guess.” he explained, his eyes fixated onto the crackling fire.
Gretchen stirred and rubbed a talon under her chin, contemplative over his words. “Well not necessarily, Fletching” she explained.
He stirred. “Pardon?”
“Well, the lake where we caught those boars...I know that lake. I visited whenever I came to my family’s cabin.”
Quicksilver blinked to this information. He had recalled that General Quill had a cabin in the north, and if that was anything to go by, they would have shelter with possible food and supplies.
“You know where the cabin is?” he asked a little enthusiastically.
She noticed his sudden change of behavior and she nodded with a light smirk.
“Yes, but don’t get your wings tangled in a bunch. From where the lake is, the cabin is still far, up towards the mountains in the north. We would only go there when it was warm and when my uncle wanted to tend to the cabin. But flying there would be dangerous since the unpredictable weather and the chance of fog blocking our field of vision,” she explained.
“Even so, is there at least a mountain path that could get us up to this cabin of yours?” he asked.
“There is… but it is rarely used unless we brought wagons full of supplies,” Gretchen explained, lifting her talons over to get warm next to the fire.
This was excellent news. If they could get there, they would be able to settle for a while to gather further supplies and…
Why am I thinking about us and not myself? he thought, his trail of thought stopping completely.
Gretchen noticed his silence and smirked at him. “Don’t worry, Fletching. There will be plenty of supplies for you there,” she explained.
He perked up, but gave a quizzled look. “You’re going to take me there?” he asked.
“Why not? You need to get supplies for your journey, and I just want to see it again before we depart our separate ways,” she explained.
Quicksilver felt a slight twinge of pain from how she described it, but he ignored it for the practical knowledge that they had. If what she said was true, then her family cabin would have the means of supplies that he would need to trek across the plains.
If they managed to get out of the mountains, that is.
“Alright, we’ll rest up here before we decide to leave,” he explained.
Gretchen nodded in approval. “That’s fine with me. Just be sure to keep up, Fletchling.”
“Likewise.”
***
Hammer stirred underneath the thick blankets. He yawned as he his eyes fluttered open and looked at the slumbering mare within his arms. Silverwing was fast asleep, her head resting on his chest and her hooves wrapped around his sides. Her breathing was slow and peaceful, her face calm and unbothered by any torment. It would seem her dreams were peaceful, thankfully.
His heart felt a flutter when she rubbed his chest with her muzzle, bearing deep into his fur while in blissful slumber. He guessed she was really out of it the night before if she was still this tired He raised a hoof and brushed her mane, pushing it out of the way so that he may see her face. A small smile graced her lips and her eyes were shut tight, completely oblivious to the world around her.
If this war was already over, he would have imagined them in a different situation.
Putting such thoughts aside, he decided to get some medical herbs from Cottontail and Swift Leaf. Knowing the lack of sleep she had gotten in previous days and having a much longer sleep in, there is no doubt she would be having some issues when she wakes up. He slowly unwrapped himself away from her form, her arms sliding gently down his sides and laying flat upon the surface of the blanket. Once separated, he got up and gave a quick stretch, his back giving out a few audible pops in protest. He grunted before turning back to the bed and moving the blanket back over her shoulders. She moved in her sleep, wrapping herself further within the blanket.
She looked really cute the way she cuddled with the blankets.
He soon headed outside and into the camp, which to his surprise was already active. His fellow guards were finishing their meals and beginning to train in the training grounds, the Diamond Dogs were playing and fortifying the wall, and the Cervine were chatting amongst themselves.
How long have we been out? he thought, watching a pair of Cervine and Royal Guard walking by and discussing amongst themselves. He decided to head for Swift Leaf and Cottontail’s tent, knowing full well that they would have something in mind to help with any headache or pains that Silverwing would have when she wakes up. The snow above was not coming down while he walked. The skies above looked clear, and for once, he even could see the sun through the clouds.
He hoped it would last for a while; he was getting tired of snow falling on top of his coat.
He arrived at the Cervine tent and tapped upon the entrance.
“Swift Leaf, Cottontail? May I come in?” he asked in a quiet voice.
There was no response.
“Are you there?” he said again, this time a little louder. Again, there was no reply.
He furrowed his brow and wondered what was amiss. A noise emanated from the room, but it sounded like a muffled moan. He blinked, raised a hoof to the flap and pushed it aside. He poked his head inside, and his eyes widened slightly at what he was staring.
Anvil was resting on his side, with Swift Leaf curled up right next to his side.
He blinked and shook his head, wanting to be sure that what he was staring at was real. Anvil was lying there, snoring slightly with his right hoof draped over her body. Swift Leaf was curled inward, her head resting near her side and dipped low. He didn't know how it was possible for her neck to bend like that, but she did it.
He looked to his friend, and a smile was present on his face.
Anvil, his best friend, was in love.
“Anvil?” Hammer asked in nearly a whisper. His friend didn’t stir and Swift Leaf didn’t say a thing. Hammer took a breath to speak again, but found his nose assaulted by heavy musk within the air.
He raised a hoof over his mouth, unsure how to respond. “Anvil, you didn’t,” he muttered.
It was then he saw his friend began to stir. His head raised from his pillow while his mane, which had grew since their time out here, fell off the side of his head. He blinked once and gave a big yawn before turning to nuzzle the top of Swift Leaf’s head, completely unaware that his friend was standing at the entrance. Swift Leaf began to stir and muffled something under her breath. Anvil seemed to smile and nuzzled once again, his red mane draped over her orange mane, creating a version of leaves of autumn.
Hammer couldn’t help but give a big grin to him and a slight chuckle at the sight.
This caused Anvil’s ears to perk up and his eyes opened wide. He looked up and saw Hammer standing there with a smug look on his face.
“Uh, this is not what it looks like. This is…” Anvil began to say, but was interrupted when Swift Leaf raised her head and brought it hovering under his. She nuzzled upward across his neck and chin, sighing in much relief while Anvil remained still, taking in her affection.
“Anvil. You were wonderful last night,” she muttered, before resting her head underneath his chin. He blinked down to her and then back at Hammer, whose grin only rose ever higher.
“I can explain...” he tried to say as quietly as possible, even though a blush was clearly visible on his face. Hammer raised a hoof to him and stopped him from speaking, all the while Swift Leaf nuzzled further into him, almost threatening to make his head fall back into the bed.
“There is no need, my friend,” Hammer muttered softly. He raised a hoof and gave a firm salute. “Carry on.” He lowered his hoof and quickly departed, leaving Anvil’s mouth gaping and speechless, all the while Swift Leaf continued to snuggle into his neck and chest.
Hammer exited the tent, leaving the two lovebirds in their place of rest. Knowing the two were going to be ‘occupied’, he looked about the camp, hoping to find any trace of where Cottontail might be. All he saw was the camp occupants speaking among themselves and continuing to train in the training ground. He couldn’t find a hair of Cottontail among them and wondered where she might be.
His search was answered when he spotted her exiting out of Silverwing’s tent.
There you are, he thought, a little jog in his step as he made his way over to her, kicking up loose snow on the ground underneath.
Cottontail turned to him and smiled when he approached her. “Good morning, or should I say afternoon, Hammer,” she said.
Hammer gave a quick nod, making a mental note about how long he had been out with Silverwing. He took note that she had slight bags under her eyes, but other than that she didn’t look worse for wear.
“Didn’t know it was already this late in the day,” he replied with a small chuckle. He then looked about the camp for a second before turning back to her. “I take it that you were checking on Silverwing as well?” he asked, his voice hinting much concern.
Cottontail nodded and turned back to Silverwing’s tent. “She had not been sleeping the past few days. I came and brought her a meal that will help her,” she said, turning back and placing a hoof onto his left shoulder. She applied a little pressure and examined his reaction. He would wince slightly when she touched a tender spot, but the pain didn’t bother him as much.
“I see that your wound has been healing nicely. Once this is all over and you get proper healing, your shoulder will no doubt be made stronger,” she said, leaving her hoof off of him. He smiled and examined the bandage on his shoulder. He had no doubt that his shoulder would heal, so long as he was careful and retrained the muscles.
“It is thanks to your healing that I’ve manage to make it this far,” he explained, a small smile present on his face.
“Just be sure to not overdo it. Silverwing will no doubt need you in the future,” she explained. He still kept his smile high at the thought. Cottontail then narrowed her eyes slightly, and a whimsical smile was present on her countenance. “That smile of yours is not only for Silverwing, is it?” she asked, her smile ever remaining.
He blushed slightly and cast his eyes back to her tent, where no doubt his friend was currently occupied with his ‘bedmate.’
“I thought you or Swift Leaf will be available to speak about Silverwing. When I poked my head in I found… more than I expected,” he explained, a soft chuckle escaping him. He looked back at Cottontail, but she didn’t seemed bothered by what he has mentioned. He curled a brow to her, and a curious nature seemed to grip hold of him when she didn’t act the way he expected. “Did you know anything about this last night?”
Cottontail chuckled to herself and gave a pat on his good shoulder. She then walked past him and heading towards her tent.
“I did sleep under the stars last night. It was more tranquil and peaceful than staying between a quarrel of lovers within my tent,” she explained, soon leaving Hammer to where he was. Hammer couldn’t help but chuckle and shake his head, only imagining the possibilities of what went on the night before.
“Anvil, you have many copious details to explain,” Hammer muttered with a half chuckle and half grin while entering back into Silverwing’s tent. Once he entered, he looked down and saw two small bowls with a hefty amount of food within. The broth smelled heavenly with barley and potatoes, and he bent down to take one of the bowls for himself. He turned to look at Silverwing, who was also enticed by the smell and frowned in her sleep. Her eyes opened up and she squinted, clearly a bit disoriented.
“Huh… where…?” she asked, raising a hoof to her head and rubbing softly on her temple. She looked down, seeing the food bowl and looked at Hammer. She gave a soft smile, even though it pained her.
“Morning, Hammer. Did you just bring breakfast?” she asked, still rubbing the soft spot on her head.
“No, Silverwing. Cottontail came on by to check on you, so she brought food that can help,” Hammer explained.
She nodded, pushing the blankets aside so that she sat on her haunches. “Well, that was kind of her,” she muttered incoherently, probably due to her sleep deprived state. She took the warm bowl and alllowed her hooves to wrap around it. She sighed when she held the pottery like one would hold a warmed towel. Wordlessly, Hammer raised his bowl to her and gave a toast to her. She likewise raised her food bowl, and the two shared a quick laugh before digging into the meal.
The two sat in silence, simply enjoying the meal that was provided for them. The broth was warm to Hammer’s lips when he drank down the meal. Silverwing also enjoyed it, and it appeared that it rejuvenated her tired state, though she still looked weary after downing most of the meal. After he was finished, he grabbed the bowl and turned for the exit.
“Where are you going?” she asked, finishing up her own meal.
Hammer stifled a laugh when he saw her breath in the cold air. “Going to give the bowl back, and once that’s out of the way, I’m going to train my body and get my shoulder toughened up,” he explained, hoping that she was not going to berate him over his own wounded needs.
“Oh, let me at least take this with you,” she said, trying to stand back up from her position. However, she became woozy, and fell back onto her haunches and into the blankets.
“I don’t think you’re in any condition to be moving, Silverwing,” he said. A hearty laugh escaped his lips while grabbing her bowl for her. She huffed out in slight annoyance, but a moment later a smile returned to her face and she settled herself back into the bed.
“Very well. I will sleep a few more hours before going out to see the troops. However,” she mentioned, placing her body within the comforts of her bed, “I may require something of your assistance in the not distant future. Are you willing to help when I call upon it?” she asked.
Before he exited the tent and off to exercise for the day, he chuckled back at her and gave a humble smile.
“As you wish, my lady.”
***
Quicksilver was walking in an orderly manner behind Gretchen. She was leading them up the mountain path to the north, to where her family’s supposed cabin resided. They had left after another hour of rest within the cave and been marching for the past two hours. It was not snowing, thankfully, but the fog had rolled in and shrouded the mountain in a thick mist. They left with everything they had to carry, though he was the one who held the sack over his back and carried the provisions, giving Gretchen nothing to hold. He didn’t seem to mind; for some reason, he felt it would be polite to her.
Since they began their journey, she had been quiet since their arduous journey up the mountain. He didn’t say anything to her, nor she to him. They kept their distance when they walked, and he had complete confidence that she was not going to take off and leave him in the snow.
He had saved her one too many times for her to betray a debt such as that.
His eyes wandered off the path and towards the deep canyons below They were at a very high altitude, yet he couldn't put an estimate due to the rolling mist that hung in the air. Thankfully, it was snowing lightly and it didn’t impede their march up the mountain, but they certainly had been burning miles from when they have left this morning. He wondered how long they needed to go before the night would come for them.
“Hey Gretchen, how much further?” he asked, his eyes still focused on the mists below and wondering what awaited them down in those endless canyons.
“It is close. Just up the mountain, if we fly there,” she explained in a somewhat mocking tone.
“And yet you don’t want to risk it in this weather?” he asked.
He heard her huff out air in front of him. “You never know what updraft will come or some squalline that will forced us to the ground. Besides, I thought you didn’t want to risk me flying when you believe I will go straight home,” she explained, not once looking back.
Quicksilver grunted in reply, turning his gaze away from the canyon below and toward the trail.
However, what his eyes followed was not on the path ahead, but on Gretchen in front of him.
She was moving at a slow and steady pace, but he noticed that her hips began to sway from side to side, her tail brushing the snow with each pass. He blinked once, not understanding in his mind of why he was staring at her swaying body. The curves of her muscles formed around her catlike body. Every step that she made made those back legs of hers push and pull on her back muscles. He knew from experience that those legs could push hard, powerfully and gracefully. He felt a distinct heat growing in his cheeks, and he didn’t know why he found her backside so fancy to look at.
Is she doing that on purpose? he thought, trying to focus on the path in front of him. But he couldn’t help but glance back and stared at her form. This time he focused on her back and midsection, the place were feathers met fur, and recalled the subtle touch when he had felt when he was embraced by her back in the Gryphon encampment. The touch was soft and unique, blending in softness from the fur to the pillow-like feathers.
Had he not felt the pain with his stiffening wings, then he would have just kept staring.
I’m not falling for her, am I? he thought, forcing his wings down and trying to get ahold of himself.
Is that your head telling you, or your heart? his inner voice spoke to him.
He shook his head to clear such thoughts. I’m not listening to you. I can’t be attracted to her, he shouted back in his mind. His inner voice remained silent as he looked back onto Gretchen. It was then he eyed her wings and how well they looked compared to his. He remembered when she held him, enraptured in her own wings, that there were rows upon rows of plumage that embraced him in warmth and security. The blood in his cheeks rose again, and an innocent thought crept into the back of his mind.
I wonder what they will feel like if they were preened and-
He didn’t get to finish the thought, as the mountain of pressure and heat in his cheeks began to take his toll. He then promptly slapped his head onto the side of the mountain and had his head buried in snow. He quickly recomposed himself and shook the snow off his head. He then ran up to her until she was on his right side, and he was thankful that she hadn’t notice his little freak out. She eyed him by his sudden appearance, but she didn’t say anything to warrant any questioning. She kept her gaze forward, and he sighed deeply in relief.
Goddess, my imagination will be the death of me, he thought, feeling a bit of sweat fall and freeze on his face.
Maybe ignoring what’s in your heart will do just that, his inner voice returned.
He fumed out air so that he may forget his inner voice. He also felt his heart skip a little from his own mind’s quick jump to judgement.
“I do hope we get there soon. I wish to be in a comfortable bed and eat a warm meal,” he said aloud, distracting from his distorted thoughts and hoping to stir a conversation he could focus on.
“I couldn’t agree more,” Gretchen replied, the two rounding a bend and moving uphill on the beaten path. He walked close to the edge of the wall, while Gretchen remained on his right, sighing in content. “Roast mutton. I can hardly wait to dig into a good meal such as that,” she explained.
“Barley soup with fresh bread and jam. Can’t get enough of it,” Quicksilver replied.
Gretchen chuckled at his quick reply. “Continuing where we left off this morning, Fletching?” she asked.
He chuckled at the afterthought. “I guess I’m still hungry, I guess. Hopefully we can get to this cabin and finally get a good meal in…” He had turned to meet Gretchen and the last of his words slurred out of him when he saw that she was staring at him.
“...us.”
Her golden eyes were half open, and she looked at him with much curiosity. His mind seemed to freeze and were lost for words. Her eyes captivated him, holding his gaze for the length of the path. There was a mystery in those eyes, the color of gold making her prestigious and sophisticated. Her golden eyes seemed to be the only thing he could focus on, for they stood out more than the white bleak landscape that surrounded them.
“Is there something wrong?” Gretchen asked, still keeping her gaze upon him, but also having that same look from before. That curious, relaxed nature of it all that made him seemed lost to her.
“What is there to be wrong?” he asked, still staring at her and a sense of longing overcoming him.
“You’re staring at me like you’re lost for words,” she explained herself.
Quicksilver merely blinked back at her, still engrossed by those golden orbs within. “I guess it’s just your eyes,” he replied without thinking, still staring at her.
She blinked once and curled a brow to him. “My eyes?” she asked. Still curious by the sudden reply, she chuckled and gave him a smirk. “You’ve seen my eyes plenty of times. Why would they be any different now?”
“I don’t know,” he stated, blinking back at her. “I guess I never considered them to be so alluring, if not enchanting.” he said without thinking once again.
Only this time, a reaction came out of her. Her eyes widened and she blinked a few times, wondering if she had heard him right.
The realization hit him over what he had said, and he raised his right hoof to her.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound like that. Forget I ever said….anyyyyyy!!!”
The last of his words fell out when he felt something bump into his left hoof, and he face planted directly into a pile of snow.
The action was so abrupt that Gretchen clutched her sides and began to laugh hysterically at his clumsiness. He snorted in embarrassment and rolled onto his side to look at the hen quaffing madly.
“You should have seen your face! The way you fell was priceless!” she explained, still holding a talon to her belly while the other talon wiped away tears from her eyes.
He rolled his eyes at her and began to get up from the snow. “Oh sure, laugh all you want. The Fletching has done made a fool over himself, while tripping over a talon in the snow,” he said, gesturing to said talon that was buried in the snow.
He blinked in surprise over what he had said, and he did a double take over what was in the snow.
“Talon?” he uttered, and looked back down in the snow pile on the ground.
Gretchen ended her mirth and she looked down with him. He turned to her for a moment and looked back at what appeared to be a claw in the snow. A possible dead corpse lying underneath. The snow pile was far higher than the path around them, an unnatural formation. Quicksilver lowered himself and brushed away the snow that surrounded the talon. Underneath, he saw the claw was next to a body of what appeared to be a Gryphon.
“Who could have been killed up here?” he said in nearly a whisper as he brushed the top of the snow mound, pulling away large mounds of snow. After a few quick strokes, he saw brown feathers on top of the Gryphon’s head.
“A Nomad!” Gretchen said, her voice raised in shock and worry. Quicksilver kept digging, pushing the snow off the dead Nomad and inspecting the body further. He saw multiple cuts and stabs along his chest and body, including a slice in the throat. The blood was dry from how dark it was, and judging by the multiple cuts and stab wounds, he was in a fight for his life. His eyes traced back to Gretchen, who looked horrified, but not at the body. She was staring upward, and he followed her gaze. He saw a few visible blood patches that were dry, and they were climbing up the side of the mountain.
Whoever this Nomad was, he had a nasty fall coming down the mountain.
“Fletching. Do you trust me?” Quicksilver blinked and turned to Gretchen, seeing the distraught appearance on her face.
“What?” he asked, not sure if he had heard her right. She unfurled her wings, outstretching them to their fullest extent. Quicksilver backed up from her sudden appearance, his back against the stone wall while Gretchen took a step towards him.
“I said do you trust me?” she said, this time a bit more sternly and filled with determination, wreathed with concern.
He blinked once, uncertain to where she was getting at as she approached him. “What are you doing?” he asked, lifting a hoof to her to stop her.
She rolled her eyes, exasperated from his ignorance. “I have no time for this,” she said, stepping closer to him, and before he knew it, Quicksilver felt her talons wrap underneath both of his front legs. Before he could register as to what she had did, her wings began to take flight and the two of them were heading up the mountain.
“LET ME DOWN!” he yelled, his hooves wrapping around her back while her claws held around his body.
“Hold still, Fletching! I have to focus!” she replied back in a stern manner and ignoring his pleas. Her talons clutched tightly behind his back, pinning him in place and putting him parallel with her. Gretchen was flying higher and faster, unimpeded by the wind and snow that came down on them.
“I thought you said that you couldn’t fly in this weather!” he cried out.
Gretchen disregarded his question and kept flying, pushing herself faster up the mountain. No doubt wherever she was heading to, she was determined to get there. He held on for dear life, his hooves still wrapped around her back, just underneath her wings and right between where fur met feathers. He held tighter with each thrust of her powerful wings ascending ever higher up the mountain. He pressed his head against her chest, feeling her rhythmic heartbeat pounding within her chest. He closed his eyes and imagined himself flying the way that she was.
He wished his wings were already better.
After what felt like hours the mist around them dispersed. Quicksilver witnessed the mountains a little clearer, even though the clouds of winter hung over head. Gretchen had slowed down, her wings keeping them hovering in the air. Quicksilver turned his head to see where she was looking at. He noticed a sizable area, where one side lead to a path while the other lead to a large home.
“No,” Gretchen said in a harrowing whisper, hoverwing closer to the edge. She dropped down on all fours, letting Quicksilver slip through her grasp and landing softly on the snow. Quicksilver watched as she began walking towards the home. Quicksilver righted himself and stood up to see what was going on.
What he saw instead was a massacre.
Nomad Gryphons littered the ground, half deep in snow, and the ground covered in dry blood. Some were sprawled out in heaps while others were missing a few limbs here and there. He counted at least six bodies on the ground, and he could see multiple tracks scattered about the snow, but they could have been several days old as far as he could tell. Some scattered weapons were visible as well. A broken sword on one side, a cleaved spear, and a broken halberd lined the ground. He saw Gretchen moving towards the cabin, and his eyes traced to where she was going, her movements speeding up as she went. He followed her, but soon found that she was now running at full speed to the front door.
His eyes had only a few seconds to scan the cabin exterior. It was a two story building in Gryphon design, with multiple windows on each floor. The front door was slightly ajared, with one of the hinges broken at the top. On his left, another dead Nomad was displayed hanging out the broken window, a piece of glass jutting out his neck and chest from where he landed.
“No, no!” Gretchen yelled out in panic, bursting through the door without care and looking throughout the home. Quicksilver followed her, trying to make sure that wherever she was going was not going to get her killed. He passed by what appeared to be a living room and a dead body along with broken furniture. That made it to eight Nomads, if he included the one that was at the bottom of that mountain path.
He looked to his right. Another nomad lying on the ground, covered in cuts and with several broken chairs were scattered about the kitchen. That made nine.
He could hear the shuffled and panicked paws from Gretchen, searching the house of its content and whoever lived within. He heard stairs creak and he made his way down a small hallway, which was quite large in size, and saw another body on the staircase. This one had a sword embedded deep into his guts, and his eyes were lifeless upon the cold floor.
That made ten bodies.
“No! Please Gregor! No!” Gretchen was practically crying out up the stairs, and Quicksilver followed in pursuit. However, she was just ahead of him, with him missing her by seeing her tail disappear behind the next corner. He quickly ascended the last steps, following the distressed hen down another hall. He saw three doors, one that was shut on his right and the other two wide open, and down the hall lead to a fourth door that had wooden carving etched into the door. The floor was covered in blood, a trail leading to the edge of the stairs and down towards the end of the hall.
Gretchen slowed until she reached the last door, seeing it open slightly. A breeze seemed to blow through the door. She opened the door and slowly headed inside. Quicksilver slowed enough until he was behind her.
However, his eyes drifted to the room on his left. The door was broken wide open and in splinters on the ground. He took a quick peek inside and saw another dead Nomad splayed on the bed inside, his back and body covered in claw marks and slashes.
The room was a complete wreck, but that was nothing to the hole in the wall.
To his right, the broken wall was hacked open. Much of the wood was dashed open by a large axe, which was imbedded in the wall nearby. Another Nomad was inside the other room, with a cross bolt in between its bulged eyes. The carnage was real, and whoever fought here had fought with the savagery of ten or twenty Equines.
Especially to take down a dozen armed Nomads.
A sudden scream shook through his body, and he turned back down the hallway. The door at the end was cracked open and he spotted Gretchen inside. Her body was frozen in place, but he noticed one of her talons shaking profusely.
“NO! NO!” she screamed in a panic, distraught beyond belief. He had never seen her like this before. Quicksilver erred on the side of caution and slowly made his way to the end of the hall, trepidation filling his heart and an unbridled fear gripping him. He took a shaky breath and pushed the door open, taking a step inside.
The room appeared to be a study, several bookcases on either side of him filled with various books and scrolls littered the shelves. A small table and chair was on his left, with a large book settled on top of the dias. He looked in front of him and saw Gretchen collapsed on the ground. A small drape covered the one end of the room, blocking his view to a private quarter of the study. He took a hesitant step, watching Gretchen place her claws forward. He could her whimpering, something he had never heard of seen her do.
“Gretchen?” he whispered, wondering what had got her so crushed into the ashes of despair.
She sobbed softly, before lifting her head up and the sobs turned to shreking wails. He saw her eyes for a brief moment, and tears were streaming down her cheeks.
A sudden wave of fear wrecked his body, and he felt he didn’t want to know what was on the other side of that veil. He could see a body on the ground, and Gretchen was in clear distress and sadness, almost to the point of having a panic attack.
Whoever was behind that drape, lying dead inside… he thought. He steeled his nerves, prepared for the worst and lifted a hoof, brushing the drape away to reveal whoever was on the other side.
Quicksilver’s heart stopped, unprepared for what he saw.
Quicksilver’s eyes widened when he pushed away the veil, and a deep pain surged within his heart. The room seemed to suck all the air in, and there was a reason why. He saw a familiar sword and a battle worn armor with the Gryphon claw upon it and a purple cloak the golden trim that was laid next to a table. On the floor, right on the body, he saw a medallion with the sigil of the Gryphon claw laid around the old Gryphon’s neck. A small crossbow bolt was embedded in the right side of his temple. Dry blood had pooled upon the floor.
Falke Dugalle Quill, General of the Gryphon Empire, was dead.
Stats
Page generated in 0.02 seconds
Total duration
975 users online
137,106 hits today, 2,280,440 yesterday
FIMFiction
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction
Designed and coded by knighty & Xaquseg - © 2011-2024
Follow & Support Us
Support us
SubStar
Chat!
Discord
Follow us
Twitter
MLP: Friendship is Magic® - © 2024 Hasbro Inc.®
Fimfiction is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Hasbro Inc.®
*no
Great chapter btw.
Each day I check in great anticipation for another chapter, then finally, I wake and see it. As usual, it does not disappoint to surprise me and leaves wanting more once again. Well done.
9271044
Thank you! I do hope your liking this chapter, for it sets up for some very interesting things for the next chapter.
9272458
I'm glad that this didn't disappoint you. Anything in this chapter stand out to you?
Wow, that ended on a sad note. Now it's Quicksilver's turn to give her solace, as she did for him.
Gotta say, that's a really, really well done depiction of Gretchen. I especially enjoy the fact that you managed to show why Quicksilver finds her attractive, yet there's nothing adult-themed per se. I'd say that's a notable accomplishment when it comes to description of physical attractiveness (tho I'm curious if you're willing to push rating boundaries for a bit).
What a sweet part
Too much guesses, I guess.
Спасибо.
This chapter man... everything in it. First things first, congrats to Anvil. Then, the exchange between Silverwing and Hammer was just sweet. Not many lines there, but they're perfect and all worth it.
And to the arc with Quicksilver and Gretchen... I'm speechless. I don't think I completely understand all the implications of the thing that happened towards the end. There are many.
And I simply love your writing style. Especially this:
This paragraph can be described by two words: Cold gold. Man, that contrast of freezing landscape covered in snow and Gretchen's radiating eyes... that's just too perfect.
9276795
Thank you for that. Being able to create that moment between Silverwing and Hammer is really made this chapter special.
Also the line you mentioned was the sweetest.
I guess.
9280995
I am grateful for that. I never received such a high praising compliment like that before and I wish to thank you for it. I hope my writing style continues to make you speechless.
There is also many more things that will come between Quicksilver and Gretchen. There is plenty of things to come.
Also I wish I can get more art for Anvil and Swift Leaf. Those two in my head are adorable.
wow, his death feels like a punch to the gut...