The Voidtrotter awoke with a start. The sky was still dark-- was it morning, or was it night? They couldn't quite tell yet. A strange sensation washed over them as they glanced down, finding a griffon's talons at the end of their limbs. The associated wings were there as well, and so, they lifted off.
Higher and higher they soared, up and above the quaint little forest they'd awoken in. The sun was only barely beginning to peek above the horizon, and there was nopony in sight for miles on end. A few huts here and there were the only signs of civilization.
Clack.
Clack.
Clack.
The Voidtrotter turned. Somehow, without catching their attention, a small group of Earth Ponies had emerged from a nearby hut, and appeared to be crushing some sort of grain.
Clack.
Clack.
Clack.
They appeared to be docile, the Voidtrotter supposed, and so they took the chance and landed, teetering slightly from inexperience. After all, they'd never been a griffon before.
But what would they say? Surely these ponies didn't speak Equish as the Voidtrotter did. Would there be a language barrier of some sort? Would they see the Voidtrotter as a threat?
"I have cast a direct translation spell over you," Celestia's voice echoed in their mind, "I understand that your journeys may be perilous and confusing at times. This gift of open speech will help you to great lengths."
"Over there," the Voidtrotter heard one of the Earth Ponies shout, pointing a hoof. "What is that creature?"
"I will take a look."
The Voidtrotter shrunk back, eyes wide with fear when a crudely-armored mare emerged from the hut. It wasn't much, consisting mainly of wooden plates layered over each other like scales, but what worried the Voidtrotter more was the spear. Evidently, though these Earth Ponies clearly did not belong to any established civilization, they still had the means to defend themselves against the world.
"You," the mare demanded, pointing her spear from atop a boulder, "Who are you, and what do you seek here?"
"I am only a traveler," the Voidtrotter replied, "I seek none of your possessions. I only pass through your territory, and I mean no harm."
The mare lowered her spear, narrowing her eyes.
"Very well then. If you wish, you may enter our domain. Do you have any possessions you are willing to trade?"
"I do not," the Voidtrotter shook their head. "My sole possession is that of my own body."
"What are you?" another pony asked, leaning over their mortar, "You are unlike any creature I have ever seen before."
"I am a griffon," the Voidtrotter responded, "I am of a race of chimeras-- part bird, part beast. Though I promise once again, I intend no harm to any of you."
"A grif-fon?"
"Yes. I am a griffon, if my assumptions are correct."
"And what do you call yourself, grif-fon?"
The Voidtrotter paused. 'Voidtrotter' had only been a title-- a stopgap solution to a name that didn't exist. Perhaps we may create one for them.
Cookie.
Until the end of this story arc, the Voidtrotter will be called "Cookie".
Very well then.
"I call myself Cookie," the Voidtrotter began. Though, they did not understand where they received the name from, for it was beyond their understanding. "But if you wish, my official title is the Voidtrotter."
And so, we will leave this chapter as it is in its current state. The chapters of this story will remain short for the sake of being able to be guided by your comments. As for what comes next, you will decide:
What is this settlement of Earth Ponies like?
What is their culture?
Do they struggle against anything?
And more, of course.
Poor, maybe a little run down, they all live in shacks or tepees. Basically, the typical building you would expect to see at the beginning of civilization
None, yet. Again, they are at the beginning of civilization, they have yet to make different cultures.
Maybe the various flora and fauna that live in the forest
Hmm... I’d like to think primitive, but not in a “they’re dumb” way. So, developed, but only just slightly.
Maybe very agricultural based, so they honor the sun and moon. This could be where the later (assuming there is a later time eventually) civilizations got the idea from.
Well, seeming as that guard was quick to jump out at Cookie, I’d assume that’s because there are other tribes constantly being attacked around them. You could take this and make Cookie the only one able to make peace between the settlements.
Also, just for general lore, I’d like to think that these other tribes are also Earth Ponies, and that they’ll come together to form a civilization. Building on that agriculture idea, they could have a moment of realization when they realize that they all believe in the same things. I feel like I would enjoy reading that.
Just a thought though.
A settlement near a forest...
Lessee... there may be timberwolves in the forest, or just normal wolves. Equestria has to get domesticated dogs from somewhere.
The animals of the forest would be familiar with the earth ponies, but none of them would have ever seen a griffin before and so some might be curious what “Cookie” is, or possibly how they taste.
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Here's what I'll be using in the next chapter:
Mare ruled !
They the first and only ponies that eat fish
Ponies VS D--dogs
they thing pegasus are GODs !