> Birds Of A Feather > by Goldfur > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter 1 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cutting Edge hovered over the lake, surveying the shoreline for a suitable camping spot. The national forest surrounding the large body of water tended to reach all the way to the edge in most places, but there were a couple of open areas. The cobalt-blue anthro pegasus decided upon one that looked roomy enough for a tent and a fire and was also relatively safe from possible hazards. He lowered himself and his sky cart down to the ground and admired the view. Nodding in satisfaction, he began setting up his equipment. Because he intended to use this site as a base camp for exploring the parklands, he had brought everything he thought he might need for a two-week stay, necessitating the use of the cart rather than just a backpack. After clearing an area of stones and branches, he got out his tent and erected it. His bedroll and various other essentials were put inside before he got to work creating a safe campfire. With that completed, he finally allowed himself time to relax. With the majority of the day already taken up by traveling to the site, there would be no hiking done today. However, he did intend to try his luck at fishing. An hour later, he had two reasonably large trout cooking over the fire. He was trying for a third when he heard an angry screech from the sky. Looking up, he spotted someone diving toward him. His sharp eyesight quickly identified the newcomer not as a fellow pegasus but a griffon – or griffoness to be more precise. And she did not look happy. He stood up to meet her as she came in for a landing, observing her medium-brown coat, slightly darker wings, and white head and chest feathers. Purple markings surrounded her eyes and highlighted the crest feathers that hung over her face. She wore only shorts and a T-shirt which barely contained an ample bust. “Hi! What can I do for you?” he asked. “You can get out of my territory for starters!” she snarled. “Your territory? While we’re not far from the Griffonstone border, I think you’ll find we’re in an Equestrian national park.” “I don’t care what you believe,” she retorted with a scowl. “This is my turf and I want you gone.” “Not going to happen, lady. I’m all set up here and not inclined to move on.” The griffoness closed the distance between them and poked him hard with a talon while bringing her beak close to his face. “If you don’t leave, I’ll make you regret it.” “I don’t think so.” The stallion grabbed the arm with the offending talon, twisted around, and threw her over his shoulder. She landed with a splash and a squawk in the lake. His brow furrowed. “Damn – that will scare away the fish.” The griffoness clambered out of the water, muttering curses under her breath. Once on the shore, she seemed disinclined to harass him more, concentrating on wringing out the water from her T-shirt. The wet cloth gave him quite a view of her boobs with their pert nipples. The water saturating her fur clung to her sleek and toned body, making him whistle in admiration. She looked up at him, frowning. “What are you staring at?” she snarled. “A gorgeous sexy griffon,” he answered without a trace of hesitation. Her eyes widened and an eyebrow rose. “What are you – some kind of perv? I’m a griffon and you’re a pony.” The pegasus shrugged. “Beauty is beauty irrespective of species. Still, that won’t stop me from chucking you in the lake again if you attempt to push me around.” The griffoness growled and gave up her efforts to dry out her clothes. “I was only trying to scare you off. I wasn’t really going to do anything to you… probably” “Well, that backfired, didn’t it? Why are you so determined to get rid of me anyway?” “I chose this place to get away from all my hassles.” Her stare and tone of voice became more pointed. “I don’t need any new ones.” “I’m not about to give you grief. However, I can offer you a cup of coffee while you dry yourself by the fire.” The griffon’s eyes widened at the word ‘coffee’ and they shifted toward the fire where a pot sat amid the flames, steam just starting to waft out as the contents came to a boil. She hesitated and her tongue licked her beak before she growled and said, “Ah, rot it all! You win. I accept your offer.” “Take a seat and I’ll make us some.” The catbird sat down on the large log positioned near the fire, spreading her wings to catch the warmth to help them dry faster. Meanwhile, the winged pony made the coffee and passed a mug to her. While she drank it, he checked on the fish and deemed them cooked sufficiently. He put one on a plate and spread some butter, salt, and pepper on it. He looked at his guest speculatively, then held it out to her. “Want some trout?” She peered at him suspiciously. “Why are you treating me so nice?” “Why not? I wouldn’t mind the company of a pretty bird while having dinner.” She rolled her eyes. “You really are a dweeb.” She took the plate anyway and lifted the fish in her talons before he could offer her utensils. In two snaps of her beak, the trout was consumed. She licked off some spilled butter and said, “Very tasty. Thanks. Saves me having to catch my own.” He chuckled as he prepared the second fish. “Glad you liked it. Seeing as you scared away the fish and ate half of what I did catch, I suppose I’ll have to supplement my meal with some apple pie that I brought with me. Want some? Do you even eat that kind of stuff?” “I’m okay with most pony food. What’s the catch? You’re being too nice to somebirdy you just met.” “I’m a friendly guy when I’m not being poked with a talon. The name’s Cutting Edge, by the way. Call me Edge. I’m curious about why you’re hiding out here despite obviously liking the finer things in life.” The griffoness lifted one eyebrow. “What finer things?” “The coffee, for one,” Edge answered with a grin. “You drank that entire mug like someone who badly missed it.” She squawked out a laugh. “Yeah, you got me.” “Mind passing the mug back, Ms….?” “Gilda,” she supplied, giving the cup to him. “Ta. I’ve only got the one as I wasn’t expecting company way out here. You were going to tell me why I was wrong?” he hinted while making coffee for himself. Gilda glared at him before sighing. “I suppose it’s fair. I left Griffonstone to get away from certain cocks who wouldn’t take no for an answer.” Edge paused between bites of his fish. Unlike his dining companion, he took care to not include the bones in his meal. “Was the harassment that bad? Although I can see why the males would be chasing you.” Gilda blushed and turned her head away. “Stop being such a perv. But yeah, it was getting too much. Mating season isn’t far away and I’m still single. Can’t say I’m interested in any of those testosterone-fueled featherheads either.” Edge nodded, put his plate and mug aside, and then got up. He rummaged inside a large magically enhanced food storage chest and pulled out a pie. As he began cutting it into slices, he said, “I thought that griffon hens liked strong, confident males.” “Most do,” Gilda admitted. “I went to flight school in Equestria though, and that set my life ambitions higher than just being the cub-bearer of the loudest or strongest idiot of the flock. That might work for other hens, but not for me. So, after a particularly nasty altercation with Gerard, I packed my stuff and left. Made myself at home out here where no dweebs can bother me, and there’s plenty of food to hunt or fish.” “Seems like a pretty extreme solution to me,” Edge said as he passed a slice of pie to her. “After all, you’ve already run out of coffee.” Gilda chuckled. “Yeah, although I have this plan to take some pelts back to Griffonstone to trade for more supplies.” “How’s that working out for you so far?” “Let me put it this way – I’ve been without coffee for over a week,” she pointed out before eating the pie as hungrily as the fish. “I figured as much.” In his head, he added, ‘It also might explain why she’s wolfing down the food so fast.’ Aloud, he said, “Tell you what – I’ll trade you some coffee in exchange for you showing me around your little domain tomorrow, okay?” “Deal!” Gilda stood up and spread her wings. “I’ll see you after breakfast. Don’t sleep in.” She leaped into the air but paused, hovering. “And… thanks. The food was great.” She then accelerated off over the lake. Edge smiled. A good meal always made a positive impression. He had packed plenty of both beverages and food in case fishing and foraging were poor. When you had a food storage container that was bigger on the inside than the outside, you could afford to bring more than you thought you might need. He poured another cup of coffee and took it over to where he had set up his fishing pole. Perhaps he might yet catch something before he called it a day. The pegasus was cooking an omelet for breakfast when he heard the sound of large wings. Looking up, he saw Gilda coming in for a landing. Oddly, she was dripping wet once more. The reason why became obvious as she threw a large salmon in his direction. “Spotted this lunker on the way and couldn’t pass up the chance. Got some of that coffee you promised me?” she asked with a cocky grin, holding out a mug she had brought with her. Edge put the fish into his food chest where the stasis spell would keep it fresh and then took her mug. “I wasn’t sure when you’d turn up, so I started the coffee first to make sure it would be ready.” He poured a cup and passed it to her. “I ate some scones along the way here to save time,” Gilda said as she made herself at home by the fire to dry out. “Luckily I finished them before I spotted the salmon.” “Do you always fish that way?” The griffon shrugged. “It works and I don’t have a fishing pole anyhow.” “Fair enough. I guess those talons of yours let you grab a fish more effectively than my hands could.” Edge turned out the omelet onto a plate, retrieved a couple of slices of bread that had been toasting by the fire, added some butter and jam, and settled down on the log next to Gilda. “So – what’s the plan for today, Ms. Tour Guide?” “That depends on what you prefer. I didn’t come out here for the scenery like you did.” “I enjoy hiking and checking out the sights. If you know any particularly interesting spots, we can make our way there.” Gilda’s eyebrows rose. “You wanna walk? Are you crazy? You’ve got two perfectly good wings! So do I! Let’s do the aerial tour. Seriously, I thought you meant flying around to various places.” “Oh, I’ll do that too, but you miss a lot that you can only see at ground level. The point isn’t to get to the destination quickly – it’s to see what you can discover along the way.” He waved his fork around dramatically to emphasize the point. Gilda groaned. “If I’d known that, I wouldn’t have been so quick to take your offer. My paws are aching already.” Edge grinned. “It isn’t as bad as that. I’ll let you start off easy.” “What I’ll do for coffee,” she lamented. “Speaking of…” She held out her empty mug. The stallion chuckled and got up to get the coffee pot. They settled on a walk around the lake. The griffoness promised a great view of the falls which were the outlet for it. Edge packed a rucksack with a camera, a water bottle, and some protein bars for both of them to snack on. “You seem to have packed way more than you need,” remarked Gilda. Edge shrugged. “When you have an enchanted food chest that holds as much as a large family can eat but weighs only a couple of kilos because of a featherweight spell, it’s easier just to put in everything you might need rather than try to plan out your exact requirements. That’s why I can spare you a lot of coffee – I brought the whole can.” The two began their walk in a clockwise direction around the lake. Fortunately for Gilda, the trees weren’t too dense and the leaf litter made for reasonably comfortable hiking. Edge walked at a casual pace as he had no schedule to keep and it was easier on his companion. Once in a while, they would pause while Edge took photographs of wildflowers or other interesting wildlife. After yet another stop for snaps, Gilda rolled her eyes and said, “Geez! Why didn’t you just stay home and visit a flower shop instead!” Despite her griping, Gilda did have some sites worth visiting in mind. They soon came upon a low cliff and she urged him to take wing. There she showed him the nest holes that birds had riddled the face of the cliff with. The colorful residents were naturally perturbed by the visitors, so the two did not stay long. “We weren’t very popular,” Edge observed with a smile. “Probably because they’re safe from all but winged predators there,” Gilda replied. “Oh? With justification, perhaps?” The griffoness smirked. “Their eggs are tasty.” They continued their walk in silence for a while. They paused to rest and have a snack on a bluff that overlooked the length of the lake. The sun shimmered on the surface of the water and, with the mountains in the background, it presented an idyllic view. Edge took several photographs there and even managed to persuade Gilda to pose in one of them. They continued on their walk, crossing the occasional ferny creek along the way. At last, they heard the sound of water splashing down rocks and the falls came into view. They were a series of small drops rather than one tall fall, and Edge could see how they would serve as a fish ladder for the salmon migrating upstream. The pegasus spent some time taking more photos while the griffon soaked her sore paws in the cool water. When Edge was finally satisfied, they started back on the opposite side of the lake. They walked for about half an hour before the shore opened up onto a rocky shelf, revealing a campsite. A large lean-to was set up against a big tree at the edge of the shelf, and a fireplace occupied the middle of the clearing. A small oven formed of stacked stones indicated that this was far from a temporary camp. Edge looked at Gilda, raising an eyebrow. “Is this…?” She nodded. “Yep. Home sweet home. Baked my scones in there last night.” “You really have everything you need to make scones but have to forage for other food?” “I’m a baker, you dweeb – of course I have plenty of ingredients like flour and yeast.” Then she looked askance and mumbled, “Although I did forget to bring plenty of coffee.” “What are you going to do when those run out? Trade for them like you told me yesterday?” “Uh-huh.” “You can’t even afford coffee yet, so when will you be able to buy a sack of flour, let alone everything else?” Gilda scowled. “Who asked you to stick your nose into my business? I’ve been doing okay since long before we met, and I’ll be fine after you’re long gone. Now piss off! I’ve done as you asked. Go and take pictures of pansies or whatever and leave me alone!” She then stalked off and disappeared into her lean-to. Edge kicked himself for upsetting the griffoness. He knew they were a touchy species and it really was none of his business anyway. “Sorry, Gilda,” he called out. “I’ll have that coffee ready for you when you want it.” He then took wing and headed back to his camp, no longer in the mood to hike. An afternoon spent fishing had added a couple more fish to his supplies and he had all three cooking when the griffoness arrived. Silently, he handed her the can of coffee out of which he had already retained some for himself. Gilda nodded. “Thanks. Sorry I yelled at you.” Edge shook his head. “No, it was my fault. I had no right to pry. Want some fish? I cooked all of these in the hope of offering them as an apology.” The griffoness smirked. “I suppose I can’t afford to knock that back. I want the salmon though.” “Done. Would you like some lemon juice on it? I have some lemons with me.” Gilda rolled her eyes. “Of course, you do. Yeah, why not?” Edge served up the fish along with some grilled vegetables for both of them. Gilda sighed in satisfaction when she finished her meal. “You sure know how to cook a mean salmon.” “Mean, nice, shy – doesn’t make any difference to me. They all go in the pan!” The pegasus grinned. “I may not be a baker, but I do love a well-prepared fish.” Gilda nodded and got up from her seat on the log. “I’ll keep my eyes open for more. Might as well take advantage of your culinary skills if I have to put up with you here.” She spread her wings to fly off but hesitated. “By the way, how did you manage to throw me so easily yesterday?” “My sister is a Royal Guard and she insisted on teaching me self-defense. I had no interest in joining up like her, but it certainly came in handy to know.” The griffoness chuckled. “I suppose so. Same time tomorrow?” “I’d like that. I’ll have breakfast ready.” “Cool. Sleep well, dweeb.” Gilda took off and headed down the lake. Edge smiled. “Yeah, I think I will.” # # # # # # # # # > Chapter 2 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Edge was beginning to wonder if Gilda was going to be a no-show. However, the griffoness belatedly came into view and landed nearby, a disgruntled look on her face and water dripping from her legs. “You look pissed off,” the stallion commented. “I tried to catch another salmon, but the bastard got away from me.” “That’s too bad. Would you settle for soy sausages and fried eggs?” “Sure! Here – catch!” Gilda threw a bag to Edge who caught and opened it. Several fresh scones were inside. “If you have anything suitable to go on them from that food locker of yours, we can pack them for snacks on the walk.” The pegasus nodded. “I think I can dig up some butter and jam.” He put the bag aside and began serving up the food. “So – how are your paws feeling?” “Still a bit sore but better than I expected. I still say you’re nuts to want to hike everywhere, but I admit that we did see a lot more than I expected by pounding the ground.” Edge grinned as he passed her a plate. “Keep it up and your paws will get toughened by the experience. You’ll hardly notice it after a few days.” Gilda gave him a flat look. “Do you think I’ve got nothing better to do than follow you around every day while you’re here?” The stallion shrugged. “You didn’t even have to turn up today. You kept your side of the bargain yesterday.” The griffoness swallowed a sausage whole before staring at the pegasus. “You promised me breakfast. Did you think I’d forget?” She looked back to her plate and deftly scooped up a fried egg in her talons. “Also, I barely enjoyed myself enough yesterday to give it another go today.” “Great! I plan to follow one of the streams that we crossed up into the hills – maybe find its source.” Gilda gave him a sour look. “So – uphill all the way?” “Cheer up! We can take it easy and fly back down. If we get back early enough, we can try fishing for that elusive salmon.” “Sounds like a plan. Pass the coffee. I’ll need the caffeine!” After completing breakfast, Edge prepared the scones and packed them into his backpack along with two water bottles. They then set off in the same direction as last time. It took about ten minutes to find the small creek that Edge wanted to follow and they turned upstream. The presence of regular water meant that the foliage was quite thick, so they occasionally had to wade in the water if they could not find a way around. Gilda found that it cooled not only her paws but also helped deal with what was becoming a very warm day. After a few hours, the two encountered a little waterfall into a rockpool surrounded by ferns. Edge persuaded Gilda to pose for a couple of photos in front of it, although it took a few tries to get her to stop making snarky faces at him. Then they took a break to eat the scones. As they continued on their trek, they crossed some minor creeks that fed into their stream. As a consequence, the further they went, the smaller theirs became. They soon found a ridge in the landscape which the water descended in a series of little cataracts spread out over a face about three meters wide. Gilda eyed it dubiously. “Are we supposed to climb that?” she asked. Edge shook his head. “I reckon those rocks are pretty slimy and my hooves will almost certainly slip on them.” “So – we fly up?” “Yep. After you,” he replied cheerfully. Gilda didn’t hesitate to take off and Edge watched her ascend. “Hmm… nice arse to go with those boobs,” he murmured before following her. The landscape opened up at the top. Fewer trees and bushes made for easier hiking and the two could walk side by side occasionally. Edge gave the griffoness a sly smile. “You look like you’re enjoying yourself.” Gilda chuckled. “It’s been hard for me the past week and this has been quite relaxing. Besides, it was getting boring talking to myself.” “And the scenery…?” “Okay! I admit it – you do miss a lot by flying over it. But I don’t usually have the time to indulge in stuff like this. Gotta make a living, y’know?” Edge nodded. “As much as I enjoy the outdoors, I have to go back to work eventually too. I just try to make the most of my opportunities.” “You got that right! Thanks to you, I haven’t had to worry much about finding dinner these past couple of days. You keep catching and cooking those fish and I’ll keep turning up for these walks.” “Deal!” he replied with a grin. They passed into a broad valley where numerous rivulets joined onto their stream. It soon became hard to determine which was the main watercourse and which fed it. Edge pointed to what he thought was the head of the valley and decided that whichever looked as if it was going that way was theirs. It was another hour before the now miniscule stream ended in a spring. “Looks like we’ve reached the end,” Edge decided. “This spring is probably the outlet of an underground stream fed by rain and melting snow higher up in the mountains.” “You’re not planning to go up there?” Gilda asked. “Nope. Too far for a day hike. And I bet your paws could do with a break right now.” The griffoness was not about to admit it but she was glad that this was the end of their trek. “Time to head back then?” she asked, half-spreading her wings in anticipation. “Yep. Unless you’d like to rest here for a bit?” “My wings aren’t tired!” she scoffed and took off. The pegasus smiled and followed her into the air, staying a little behind her so that he could watch her lithe form making its way down the valley. “I know what you’re doing back there, perv!” Gilda called back with a laugh. Edge chuckled and caught up to her. “Sorry, not sorry.” They were about to clear the valley when Gilda abruptly dived toward the ground. Caught by surprise, Edge had to circle back before joining the griffoness on the ground where he saw that she had caught and killed a large rabbit. “Looks like I won’t have to rely on you catching fish for dinner tonight,” Gilda said smugly. “As long as you cook it downwind from me,” he replied. “What? Squeamish?” “Not really. I’ve seen plenty of nature in action. I just don’t like the smell of cooking meat.” “Fair enough, I suppose.” She held up the rabbit. “Wanna put this in your backpack?” “You caught it – you carry it!” Gilda laughed and pulled a cloth bag from the pocket of her shorts. She put the rabbit in it and tied the handles of the bag around her belt. “Let’s get back to camp so I can skin this sucker and cook it while you try to catch your meal, which is a problem I don’t have.” She took off without waiting for a reply. Edge shrugged. Even if the fish weren’t biting, it wasn’t as if his food chest didn’t have plenty of alternatives. It was nice to see her happy with her catch though. He quickly followed, taking the opportunity to admire the view once more. Gilda grinned and picked up the pace. The two raced each other back to base and arrived panting but smiling at the pleasure of the competition. “Got a sharp knife I can steal… I mean borrow?” Gilda asked, blinking innocently for effect. Edge rolled his eyes and dug one out from his supplies before grabbing his fishing gear and heading to the upwind side of the lake. That was one activity the griffon could have all to herself. Perhaps the smell of roasting rabbit was driving the fish away, but whatever the reason, Edge caught only one modestly sized trout. Gilda snickered when she saw his catch. “I don’t think that’s going to fill you up after today’s exercise.” “True. However, I don’t have to rely on my luck with the fishing pole.” He put the trout in the food locker before rummaging around and bringing out a pie. “Potato and leek pie with a creamy sauce. I’ll warm this beauty up in my camp oven.” Gilda stuck her tongue out. “Bleah. You can have it! What else have you got in that bottomless chest?” As he prepared to heat his pie, Edge said, “I have a big assortment of pony food. Admittedly, I packed twice as much as I reckoned I would need so that I have some choice. When you don’t have weight or size limits, why not take advantage of them?” His nose wrinkled as he caught a whiff of the roasting rabbit as he pushed the camp oven into the coals. Gilda frowned. “Must be nice to be able to afford such toys.” “It’s my one big indulgence. I saved up for ages to afford it. I decided that I didn’t want half measures and I haven’t regretted spending all those bits on it in the least. I’m not so well paid that it didn’t leave a big dint in my savings though.” Edge went back to the food locker and drew out a couple of bottles. “Want a beer while we wait for our food?” “You even have that in there?” Gilda asked as she held out her hand for a bottle. “Cold too.” “Yep.” Edge twisted the top off his bottle. “When it’s hot out, beer’s more refreshing than coffee. I don’t drink much, but I think this is a good occasion. Cheers!” He clinked his bottle to Gilda’s. They each downed about half the contents and Gilda nodded in approval. “Not bad. You make a damn good host.” “And you make good company. I’m glad you chose this location to exile yourself.” Gilda grimaced. “I wish I hadn’t needed to.” “Want to talk about it?” The griffoness sighed and took another swig of her beer. “I suppose it can’t hurt. I already mentioned a certain cock named Gerard, but the problem goes back further than him. You see, I came back from Equestria with expectations that were too high for Griffonstone. I was smart, educated, and loudly opinionated. I was also a single female ripe for mating, but I couldn’t stand any of the single males who tried to get my interest. They wouldn’t take no for an answer though, and they kept harassing me. The worst among them was Gerard who began making my life hell. A few weeks ago, he cornered me and pointed out that mating season was coming up soon. When I came into season, he intended to make sure that I was his.” Edge frowned. “You mean…?” “Yeah, he was going to rape me and get me pregnant.” “Surely that’s as illegal in Griffonstone as it is in Equestria?” “Of course it is! That doesn’t stop it from happening. And once a hen gives birth to a cub, she’s considered officially mated to its sire.” “So, what did you do?” “Kneed him in the balls as hard as I could before heading home, hastily packed as much as I could carry, and got out of town.” “And ended up here. Now I understand why your campsite looked so inadequately equipped.” Gilda laughed humorlessly. “Yeah. Not much planning goes into fleeing before an angry griff turns up to get revenge.” “I’m sorry that happened to you. I feel a little guilty now about being glad to having some good company out here.” “Don’t sweat it, Edge. Barring my sister, you’re the best company I’ve had since I left Equestria. And now that I’ve spilled my guts, how about you telling me why a handsome stallion like you is not only unmated but also chooses to come out to the middle of nowhere by himself.” The pegasus chuckled. “I suppose that’s fair. Ironically, it’s kind of the reverse of your situation. It’s not as if I haven’t had many attractive mares trying to woo me. Some of them were fun but ultimately not what I was interested in for the long term.” “And what are you looking for?” “Hmm. I’m not really sure. I just know that the mares I’ve gone out with have all been too starry-eyed or too compliant to my desires. I reckon I need a realist – someone who’s willing to try something new while knowing it won’t be easy or guaranteed to work. Or maybe just someone who will tell me off when I’m being ridiculous. Anything but a ‘love will solve everything’ attitude.” “Is that all?” Gilda asked with a smirk. “Yep. That and great boobs and arse,” Edge added with a grin. The griffoness tossed her empty beer bottle at the pegasus who dodged it with a laugh. “Anyway, you asked why I came out here by myself. As I said previously, I enjoy camping and hiking. However, none of my friends do, and neither did any prospective marefriends. So, I not only get away from the hassles of everyday life, I also don’t have to deal with the incessant advances of mares who really don’t interest me.” Gilda shook her head in befuddlement. “Both of us have to deal with members of the opposite sex who don’t understand the meaning of ‘No’. Still, I’d rather be in your horseshoes.” Edge nodded. “Can’t say I blame you. Still, roughing it out here can’t be easy. Have you considered moving to Equestria someplace?” “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but griffons aren’t exactly popular with ponies. And I stupidly burned my bridges with the one pony friend who could have helped me despite that.” “You’ve got wings and can fly over those burned bridges. If that pony is a true friend, they’ll come to your aid.” Gilda shook her head sadly. “No, it’s too soon. I need to let the hurt fade for a lot longer yet.” Edge reckoned the griffoness was too stubborn for her own good, but he also recognized that there was no point in pushing it for now. “Oh well, maybe I can help improve your camp with the equipment I’ve brought along.” “Why would you do that for me? We’ve barely known each other for a couple of days.” The pegasus grinned. “You’re looking at an overachieving colt scout. That’s where I gained my love of camping. I earned so many merit badges! Seems like a good opportunity to put some to good use.” She gave him a flat look. “Yeah, now that you mention it, I see that you’re an overgrown colt scout alright.” Edge’s smile didn’t falter. “So – want to start first thing tomorrow?” Gilda rolled her eyes. “If it gets you to shut up, sure.” She stood up. “I think my rabbit’s ready.” Edge waited for her to retrieve her meal before checking on his pie. Judging that it needed a few minutes more, he spent the time figuring out what to bring with him to Gilda’s campsite. It did not take Gilda long to finish eating her meal. After washing the messy aftermath off her talons in the lake, she said, “I’d better head back before the light fades too much. Thanks for the beer.” The griffoness took off but then paused in a hover. “My turn to make breakfast, okay?” She then headed off without waiting for an answer. Edge watched her fly away for a while before a rumbling stomach reminded him that he had worked up an appetite and he had yet to eat. At least, the lingering odor of roasted rabbit had blown away and he could enjoy his pie fully. He just wished his guest had stayed a while longer so that he could nag her into trying a bite. And perhaps chat a bit more. # # # # # # # # #