In a burgeoning city a hunter donates food to an orphanage. The old griffoness caretaker pays him with more than coin. She shares wisdom with a young griffon at the brink of doing things he would regret.
A young griffon joins the griffonian army in dreams of serving a higher purpose. Actually, he was broke and didn't really have a choice. But he would become the best soldier he could to defend his country, damnit!