Rebirth Into Brotherhood: A Gilda Story

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“One talon can not lift a pebble.” - Ironfeather wisdom

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Huyana watched the sun approach the horizon and swooped high off the southern end of Black Mesa. With a brief wave in greetings to the others returning to their cliffside dwelling on the east side she flew to the north end to enter her home. She knew she was late, but would have to make it up to her son Omawnakw with a delicious meal. Huyana could always trust her little green-feather to bring the freshest harvest from the fields. After all, it was the duty of the men to tend what was above the ground and the duty of the women to cook, care for children, and shape the earth.

Huyana once again thanked the spirits that it had been a time of peace this millennial. The banishment of the Night Mistress into the moon had been a time of strife for all of the clans. Fifty generations of bloodshed that slowly ended but not before claiming the life of her husband. Huyana hadn’t worked flint into a spearhead in years and instead spent her time making pottery with the other women or teaching the hatchlings to read and write. She felt relief after every new ordeal as more and more fledglings had their crest feathers dyed a color other than red.

Huyana once again reminded herself that the color was not meant to only represent blood of the enemy, but also the blood of the self. Red-feathers were strong hunters, and teachers of the body. They were just as important to griffon society as purple-feathers, the wisest of all and the teachers of the soul. But Huyana felt a swelling of pride as she recalled witnessing two fledglings return from their ordeal this week to take up the mantle of the yellow-feather. They would be intellectuals, teachers of the mind, just like her.

With a swift series of flaps, Huyana slowed her rapid flight to alight on her cliff-dwelling roof. She paused as she heard the sounds of laughter from within. With a curious peek over the entrance to look into the fire lit main room she was hard-pressed to stifle a squawk of delight as she saw her only son speaking with a female.

She never thought this day might come.

With a calm motion she tucked in her wings and fell into the dwelling onto her leonine paws and aquilan claws, narrowly avoiding the cozy fire in the center of the cave carved out of the mesa. Before either of the griffons could respond to the intruder, she rushed to wrap Gilda in a warm embrace. The two large females stood on their paws as one held the other in a crushing embrace.

“Oh, thank the spirits! My little hatchling has found a mate!”

Omawnakw felt his face turn bright red. “Mom, it’s not like that at all!”

Gilda was shocked as she felt the embrace of the slightly smaller female griffon but quickly felt a bubble of mischief rising to the surface of her mind. It had been too long since she had played a prank on someone at their expense. Omawnakw was just too easy of a target.

“Oh, you must be Omaw’s mother! I am so glad to finally meet you. He didn’t want you to meet me until we were certain that I was pregnant.” Gilda felt the talons around her grip almost painfully before relaxing reflexively in fear. Her view of the large extended wings of the female griffon before her were replaced with the view of the sky blue and wide open eyes instead. Gilda could hardly contain her mirth as she noticed waves of shock roll across the features of the old hen.

Huyana turned to her son with barely restrained fury painting her features. “OMAWNAKW! You have some explaining to do!” She still held on to Gilda as she began to slowly move towards her son.

“She lies! She isn’t pregnant, Huyana! I only just met her today!” Omawnakw was backing into the wall as quickly as he could. His face burned with embarrassment, shame, fear, and frustration. He visibly began to tremble as he looking imploringly to Gilda for explanation.

Huyana appeared unswayed by her son’s comments, “Oh, so you think these wide and healthy hips are natural?” With a quick motion she pinched Gilda on the rump, “They seem perfectly capable of bearing a child to me!”

Gilda’s eyes widened in surprise at the gesture and she let out a quick, “Eep!”

“Mother, stop! She’s our guest! I swear on father’s honor, I did not lay with her!” Omawnakw looked embarassed to the point of panic.

Huyana relaxed a bit at those words. She knew her son would not lie under that oath. But if this female guest was truly audacious enough to trick her she would not hesitate to turn the tables. The newcomer would have to learn to take what she could dish out after all. “And I suppose you’d have me believe these swollen teats are just for show is that it? I’m not so easily fooled.” With a gross invasion of personal space Huyana began to reach below the breast feathers of the other female.

“Squawk!” The female griffon in Huyana’s grasp struggled loose of the one armed embrace and moved as far away as possible. “Woah, relax! It was just a joke! No need to feel me up.” Gilda looked with panic at Omawnakw. “Does she do this to every girl you bring over?”

The male griffon could only blush and let out a quiet chuckle. “I’m ashamed to say you’re the first, I’ve got a poor reputation on Black Mesa. I still haven’t passed my brotherhood ritual and few females desire a male that’s no greater than a fledgling fresh from their ordeal. Can’t say I blame them.” He sighed as he relaxed against the wall opposite of Gilda and looked away from the other occupants. He focused on controlling his heart rate and clearing the burning blush from his features.

The mother stopped smiling internally at having returned the embarrassment in kind to the guest and focused on her only child with a frown, “You won’t pass your brotherhood ordeal with that attitude. And you’ll never attract a mate without confidence either.” Huyana composed herself and closed her eyes. With a swift motion she straightened her yellow crest feathers and turned to the other female in the room. “I apologize for my actions, it’s been a dream of mine to become a grandmother. It gets quite lonely with the two of us, something I hope you have the ability to avoid. My name’s Huyana, I’m Omawnakw’s mother and the head of this household.”

“Sup, err, hey, I’m Gilda.” Gilda paused a moment to see if any recognition made itself apparent on the features of Huyana. After none came forth she continued, “I know that loneliness can bite, heh. But I really did just meet your son today. Omaw offered me a place for me to crash tonight.”

“I’m right here you know, you don’t have to–”

“Hush, Omaw! The females are talking!” Huyana cleared her throat after silencing her child. “I’m glad that he’s offered up his food and kindness but the home is mine to choose what to do with, so you have until nightfall to convince me to let you ‘crash’ here, Gilda.” The slang word and proper noun were both spoken with a relaxed slur. Huyana frowned at ‘Gilda’, wondering why she had chosen to take another name. When she looked at the crest feathers of the guest she noticed that they were a faint violet. She began to remember an old story.

Omawnakw remained silent and looked to Gilda in an apologetic glance. He expected his mother would react inappropriately to him having a female in the dwelling but not that Gilda would chide her or tease him. He definitely did not expect her to joke about being pregnant. It seemed that Gilda’s sense of humor was just as coarse as her attitude.

Gilda cleared her throat and looked to Omawnakw in curiosity as Huyana continued to scrutinize her features, glancing often at her crest feathers. “Look, Huyana, I’m down for a staring contest whenever but, uh, is something on my face? Or...”

Huyana broke her gaze with the enigmatic female and walked to the cooking fire and woven baskets holding the corn and beans. “Dinner will be served shortly. Omaw, why don’t you go and gather us a few salmon fillets from the smokehouse by the river. Gilda here looks like she can eat.” She sat and began to fill the dark earthen clay cooking pot she made with her own two claws with water before placing it on the low cooking fire.

“Aww, but mom, that’s so far away!” Omawnakw stood and rolled his eyes.

Huyana moved in close to him and whispered into his ear, “I see how you look at her, Omaw. If you wish to impress her you’ll bring me the fish and we’ll have a proper meal. Most importantly, you will take your time. Understood?”

Omaw nodded and looked from the eyes of his mother to Gilda. The younger female was busying herself with the maize and pretending to choose the best ones while straining her ears to hear their conversation. “Understood, mother.”

Huyana patted her son on the head and stood back so he could leap to the roof entrance. His claws caught the edge and he wiggled his leonine legs and tail to shift his wings and pull himself through the small opening. The roof entrance wasn’t practical for easy exits but it was safe when defending against outside attack and let the smoke out from the cave dwelling. As the sounds of her son grumbling faded into the night sky, Huyana sat next to the guest and began to measure clawfuls of beans into the slowly boiling pot of water.

“Now, Gilda, we prepare dinner. It has been a while since I’ve had company. And since you decided to play me the fool earlier I believe it would be in your best interest to behave if you wish to sleep out of the elements tonight.” The maize that Gilda was holding was plucked from her claws and swiftly husked by Huyana. With practiced ease she laid the husks along side the cooking fire to dry out so they could be used by Omaw to weave.

Gilda looked to the elder female griffon curiously. She had not recalled her culture being quite so welcoming during her early years. Most elder griffons would not let themselves be left with a stranger alone. It was too dangerous, even trading was done in neutral locations as a means of defense. Gilda had originally hoped that Omaw’s mother would an old hen who wouldn’t question her presence but Huyana still had the breath of youth with her every motion and word.

“How long has it been?”

Gilda blinked in confusion at the question. She was absorbed in remembering the motions of husking maize. “Um, how long has what been?”

Huyana turned to look directly at the other female at her side before the cooking fire. “Since you left, ‘Gilda’, and I’d like to know your given name if it’s not too much trouble.” Huyana began to stir the earthen pot with a clay rod and then capped it to trap the heat and let the beans simmer. They would have plenty of time to talk alone now

“Well, my birth name was Gildalahi.” Gilda once more looked for recognition on the older hen’s features but none came forth.

“Hmm, a fitting name, Gildalahi. It means ‘attractive’ in the old tongue if I’m not mistaken.” Huyana delicately peeled the fibers and repositioned the husks near the fire. The moisture would need to leave the organic material evenly, lest they begin to burn.

Gilda blushed a bit under the compliment. It’d been a long time since anyone had called her anything but awesome or terrifying. “Yeah, but don’t go spreadin’ that around. I don’t want to be seen as some kind of dork who uses their full old school name.” Gilda turned to see Huyana regarding her with a flat gaze. “Uh, no offense.” She added and smiled sheepishly.

“My name means ‘falling rain’ in the old tongue. If I were to shorten it to just ‘Ana’ I think it would diminish the beauty of it. And spirits forbid I be known simply as ‘Huy’. ‘Falling’ is certainly not a name or circumstance I want attributed to me often.” Huyana smirked as she drew a laugh out of the younger female. “And my son, Omawnakw, his name means ‘cloud feather’. While it’s easy to shorten his name to ‘Omaw’ or just ‘cloud’, it doesn’t fully describe his character. He’s very gentle and nurturing but strong enough to lift others when necessary.” Huyana smiled to the younger griffon as she extolled her progeny.

Gilda looked to the yellow-feather and felt a wave of nostalgia roll over her. “It’s been a long time since I’ve talked to a yellow-feather. I forgot how much you guys groove on words.”

Huyana smiled knowingly, the young purple-feather may have been away from home for a while but she still saw through her words to their meaning. It was hard to turn off a natural talent for understanding. “And what about your parents’ names. Do they not hold importance to you?”

Gilda tensed up a bit as she realized where the conversation was heading.

Huyana noticed the silence and lack of motion and feared she may have moved too quickly. She didn’t want Gilda to clam up so she amended rapidly, “My husband, Omaw’s father, his name was Enapay, ‘brave’ in the old tongue. He was, as you have probably guessed, a red-feather. While it’s one of the more common names to give to young cocks he still lived up to it. The battle he perished in was the last that Black Mesa saw, almost three years ago. The Ironfeather and Blacktalon have lived in peace ever since then. It was agreed by elders on both sides that the return of the Moon Mistress would mark the beginning of a new millennial of prosperity and learning.” Huyana finished cleaning the corn and delicately placed them on the wooden serving boards for the three who would share the meal. She adjusted the husks once more so that the other side could be exposed to the heat of the warm fire.

Gilda nodded thoughtfully as she looked into the flames. She estimated that must have been nearly two years after she left the roost. She had attended the junior speedsters flight camp immediately after entering Equestria before spending four years exploring the continent. She moved from city to city, stealing to eat, and sleeping outside or in abandoned buildings. She wanted to be strong like her father, and independent like her mother. But after she stopped in Ponyville to see Rainbow Dash she realized how out of touch she’d become.

Huyana watched the younger griffon stare into the fire in deep thought. She sighed and took another moment to stir the cooking beans within the dark clay pot. “If you don’t want to tell me your past you don’t have–”

“Five years.” Gilda said, “That’s how long I’ve been gone. I doubt anyone even remembers me, I was just a dorky little fledgling straight out of her ordeal after all.” Gilda didn’t know why she was telling this yellow-feather the truth. She knew as she flew towards Black Mesa that morning that many would know her mother and father. Gilda didn’t know what she would say to either of her parents, she didn’t know if she ever would. She didn’t even know if they were alive.

Huyana waited patiently for Gilda to continue, they both watched the cooking fire with calm expressions. She knew that old wounds were the hardest to heal, especially when they were self-inflicted.

“My father was like your husband. Otaktay, ‘kills many’, a real old school red-feather. He was older but his name was definitely one of the more common ones back then. Danger was realer back then.” Gilda remained stoic as she watched the fire. She began to feel like it didn’t matter if this one other griffon knew. A small family of two living on the southern end of the mesa would probably be the least likely to know who she really was or even remember, she reasoned.

Huyana felt a flicker of hope rise in her spirit as she watched the fire and made a conscious effort to remain calm. Otaktay, Gildalahi, she knew it had to more than a coincidence. Huyana remained calm and let the younger one continue speaking. She began stirring the pot to keep her talons busy, in fear she may start to tremble with excitement.

Gilda idly wrapped a corn husk around her talons and said, “Mother was Alsoomse, or ‘Independent’ in the old tongue,” Gilda paused as she saw Huyana fumble with the pot and knock some embers aside. She looked at the older griffon in confusion but Huyana simply smiled back and nodded for her to continue. “She was a blue-feather, a leader. I just wanted to be like my father. Mom always loved him and I just wanted to be the same, you know? Ah, it doesn’t matter.” Gilda tossed the corn husk into the cooking fire and watched it burn away. She knew her father would scorn her for being wasteful but there would always be more corn husks. There was nothing special about them.

Huyana cursed under her breath, she should have said something, anything, after hearing the mother’s name but she couldn’t divert any energy from controlling her emotions. Alsoomse, a blue-feather, her mother, there was no denying the evidence now. She knew that Gilda would need to open up more later and that it wouldn’t be with her.

“Gildalahi, Gilda, thanks for being honest with me. You’re welcome to my home tonight, and any other night you may need to stay. I just ask that you don’t take advantage of my son, he’s very impressionable.” Huyana smiled at the female griffon and noticed a flicker of mirth cross her face as she smiled with her eyes.

Gilda turned to Huyana and said, “Yeah, I think I can go easy on him. Thanks.”