Welcome to the jungle

by Hiver

Chapter 40

“I look a bit different, I know,” I said as we returned to look at the maptable.

“I understand it was some sort of magical effect?” Darkfathers said as he walked up next to me, “I didn’t realize there were any thestrals left before it was revealed.”

“There are some of us left,” I said and flicked one ear, avoiding the question, “We are working on fixing the low population,” I said and took in the small statues sitting on the map before slowly walking around it, “There are six Yeti troop markers along your border and one inside it. Has the war already begun?”

Darkfeathers walked along with me, glancing at Twilight and Sunset who were studying the map from the other side of it, “No. not yet in any case,” he answered.

He almost seemed a bit uncertain about discussing such matters with women in the room.

Well, he’d just have to get used to that if he was to work with Equestria.

“The marker inside our border indicates a raiding force we have encountered a couple of times. They have hit several villages, mostly stealing and burning what they can’t steal.”

“And the villagers?” Twilight asked, putting a hoof on the map.

Darkfeathers looked over to her, “Most have managed to escape, thank Celestia,” he said and sighed, “Not all, but most. The Yeti don’t have wings and while their use of bows still make them dangerous to a flying Griff, they have seemed much more interested in raiding rather than killing.”

Twilight's ears flicked back but she nodded, “I understand.”

“Just one raiding force?” I asked with a frown, “And just in this small province?”

Darkfeather nodded, “Indeed. We have increased our forces in that area, but we can only move so many around without leaving us vulnerable in another area along the border.”

Hmm.

Was that the plan? Make them cover that area to weaken the defenses at another point?

Not sure that made sense.

“Has the Yeti delegation arrived yet?” Twilight asked as she shifted her wings, “The fact that they are willing to talk is a good sign, isn’t it?”

“I like to think so,” Darkfeather agreed, “and no, there will still be a few more days, Princess,” he said before he turned to look at me, “But if they do not withdraw their forces, I think they will find Griffona more than a challenge.”

I nodded, “I do not doubt it,” I agreed and picked up the little statue of a yeti in my magic, studying it as I slowly rotated it, “Is there anything else on them that you could provide us with? Current treaties, reports from the villages and your troops about the clashes, that sort of thing?”

“Of course,” Darkfeathers agreed, “Everything is already delivered to your chambers,” he said before he paused with a small smile, shifting his wings and giving Twilight and Sunset a small bow, “And I’m being rather rude, I’m sure that you all wish to get some rest after your long journey. We can resume this tomorrow.”

“It will give us time to catch up on these reports too,” Twilight agreed with a nod.

“Of course,” he said and motioned, causing a Falcon/tiger gryffon to step out from where she had been waiting, “Sania here will show you to your quarters.”

“I’ll be with you in a moment,” I told them.

As they left, I looked to Darkfeathers with a small smile, “As an ally of Equestria, you’re going to have to get used to that sooner or later.”

He snorted, “No fooling you, is there?” he asked and shifted his wings with a small sigh, “But it feels wrong to discuss War with women. Even ponies.”

“I’m fairly sure that in the past, the feeling would have been reversed on their part.”

Darkfeathers nodded, “I’m aware,” before he stretched his wings, “Equestrian customs are… strange,” he admitted.

“No, no,” I said with a smile, “You have it reversed. Griffon customs are strange.”

He stared at me for a split second before he barked out a laugh, “Right you are! What you don’t know, always seems that way, does it now?”

“Have you ever been to Equestria,” I asked him as I rested a hoof on the table, studying the map.

Darkfeathers shook his head, “No, I never had the opportunity, even before I became King. Perhaps after this crisis is resolved…”

“We would be more than happy to return the hospitality, be it in Canterlot or Nocturnis,” I said with a nod, flicking one ear, “but I admit, you will likely be less impressed by the construction than we were of your citadel. This is an amazing structure.”

The royal fortress pyramid was absolutely ginormous. More like an artificial mountain with a city around it than anything else.

“I have heard good things about Canterlot,” Darkfeathers said, “But little of your Nocturnis. But I understand it’s built in the trees?”

“It is,” I agreed and smiled wryly, “Of course, so far it’s little else but a small village. Perhaps it’s better you visit Canterlot, we’re not really set up for a royal visit in Nocturnis yet.”

He made a small thoughtful sound, “Perhaps. But it does sound like an interesting place, perhaps I should assign an ambassador.”

I smiled, “He would not appreciate the posting. Perhaps some griff you don’t particularly like?”

Darkfeather barked out a laugh, “Hah! Or some griff that needs some toughening up!”

I chuckled and shook my head, “Let’s get through this particular crisis before we create a new one.”

He chuckled, “Good point. Well, I’ll let you get some rest,” he agreed, “One of my guards will show you to your quarters, the same ones as you had last time. Your mares will already be waiting there.”

“Thank you.”

Comments

[shadow wolf1573]

Nice

[Fireeaters]

Rgre is great

[Black--Soul]

Page can find races other than Pony thanks to Luna's teaching's. Time to hunt em down in the dreamrealm.
Recon and later terror tactics to make em retreat or simply make em sleepless so they are exhausted when Griffon come down at em.
Yeti cant defend themself in the dreamrealm!
Page use his powers before to manipulate the dreamer. Perfect prey for the purrringbirbs of Griffonia.

[Black--Soul]

Yeti have three options Page can go for any way he chose.
- Yeti renegades
= Page hunt em down and dreamlocks em or simply raids there minds for informations
- Yeti Black Ops
= Basicly the same
- Yeti openly tell they want war
= Time to Dreamterror lock all leading Officers and Leaders

[Crimson Eon]

Hopefully page can settle this amicably, maybe pick up a few connections along the way

[Mitril]

He almost seemed a bit uncertain about discussing such matters with women in the room.

Well, he’d just have to get used to that if he was to work with Equestria.

As they left, I looked to Darkfeathers with a small smile, “As an ally of Equestria, you’re going to have to get used to that sooner or later.”

Page, the same works in reverse, they won't bow to Equestria and do everything like it wants.
They are allies not a puppet state
Also this is their home and equestrians are guests

[Black--Soul]

10969267
I think your taking it out of context. It wasn't a demand, but a advice for a open mind. Page do show it by past experiences that the Griffons know of.
- Page eat with em Meat and liked there cultures cooking
- Page enjoyed hunting with em (if im not mistaken, currently re-reading and commenting) edit yup i was right
- He forgive the Griffon Ambassador's direct attack on him without any war ( striking royalty normaly is a Declaration of war after all )
- Page give advice on a open mind setting and explore other Nations cultures. Context is a great way to increase ones own wisdom!

[Black--Soul]

Duties: Chapter 17
After the Yeti situation Page owns Celestia a rematch.
Page Legion is well trained and battle experienced now. Purrrfect for for a reeeeematch

Bright Glow will look forward to the rematch.

[Black--Soul]

Re-reading 'Dutys' at the moment. How they dont neglect winter solstice event?

[windy_prance]

He made a small thoughtful sound, “Perhaps. But it does sound like an interesting place, perhaps I should assign an ambassador.”

I smiled, “He would not appreciate the posting. Perhaps some griff you don’t particularly like?”

Darkfeather barked out a laugh, “Hah! Or some griff that needs some toughening up!”

MEANWHILE IN SOME OFFICE IN GRIFFONA...

Razorwing: *shudder* W-w-what was that feeling? I haven't felt fear like that since that time I botched the responsibilities as a Griffona representative in that horse stable of a nati--*another shudder* OH DARKFEATHERS! There it is again!

[Black--Soul]

10969353
Good times... They know Celestia as a weapon of mass destruction. But Page... He will be worse...
Subtile, precise, unavoudable!
Dutys Chapter 29. Luna is a experienced Dreamrealm user and Page can hunt her down.
The Yeti?
Are defenseless stationär target practice ones asleep

Edit:

The Earthpony Empire ,the Minatours & Sergetal ,the Griffon ruler some fifteen hundred years ago learn not to mess with Alicorns.
Page will now renew this experience with the Yeti's in a smaller scale 👏

[Kevin Lee]

10969254
As for the "renegades", he'd unlikely get any real information from them about what the Stormking has in mind for the conflict. The raiders would all be expendables with the vaguest of orders, perhaps on the nature of "until further notice, all of you are officially on leave from your duties--have fun--lots of fun--and we suggest you have your fun over in Griffonia." It gives the Stormking plausible deniability.
The best that Page might be able to do is help there is guide the griffons to where the Yetis are camping out between their raids so that they can be captured.

[Black--Soul]

10969398
Good enough to de-escale the situation

[The Great Scribbly One]

"Most have managed to escape, thank Celestia,” he said and sighed

A non-Equestrian griffon saying this feels really off. Otherwise a most enjoyable chapter, I really like Blackfeathers and your griffons in general, even if as a massive EaW fan I find it weird to see them united rather than split into dozens of minor powers at this point in the timeline.

Spelling jackboot:

causing a Falcon/tiger gryffon to step out

griffon
While griffin and gryphon are similar to the dwarves/dwarfs situation (with griffon being correct to the FiM setting), gryffon is just plain wrong.

[CGen]

10969362

They know Celestia as a weapon of mass destruction. But Page... He will be worse...

...a weapon of ass destruction?

With his harem and deeds of (mostly unwilling) heroism, Blank Page is in this way much like Commander Shephard:
"We'll bang, ok?"

[Asolem2]

“Just one raiding force?” I asked with a frown, “And just in this small province?”

Interesting

[Tianna]

10969526
I'm Prince Page, and this is my favorite store in Griffona!

[thenightshadow]

Gota say it's always interesting to see how people portray the griffin's in story's. Sometimes they're the villains, sometimes they're allies. Sometimes they're German, something they're Russian. It's rather enjoying to see how they are portrayed,

[Black--Soul]

Queen Pincer in 'Complications' got herself killed going against the Equestria-Canterlot Hive.
Lets hope the other Hive Queen are smarter. Allys or Cuddlebuddys

The Snuggelling's are unavoudable
All-the-cuddles ♡

[midnight arrow]

He made a small thoughtful sound, “Perhaps. But it does sound like an interesting place, perhaps I should assign an ambassador.”

i would love to see that