The horrendous screeches of the injured called endlessly. Any calm in the night was shattered. A door hit a wall louder than the opener would have wanted. A silhouette in the moonlight came out and stood before the screaming, trying to figure it out.
The cries didn't cease and the silhouette took off into the fields after it.
It was not a pretty landing. The griffon had taken a trellis to the ground with her and wrapped herself amongst string and vines pinning herself to the ground.
The silhouette, emerged, an old griffon with gray fur and thinning white feathers. The injured griffon had stopped shrieking and watched him silently between weak breaths. Desperation was clear but her eyes were still defensive.
He lowered down to her level and put his talons to cutting the strings and grapevines she'd wrapped herself in. “This parts going to hurt,” he said after freeing her.
She only gave a sigh and a cringe.
He dug his forelegs under her and lifted. She screamed as he pulled her up. She was in no state to stand so he placed her gently on his back. He could feel his spine straining under the weight but still he could walk.
Before turning back to the house he gave one last look at the crash site. The mess left had him feeling sick, still he noticed hoofprints in the dirt. A pony had stood over the injured griffon. All the questions of the prints would have presented themselves if the the weight on his back hadn't put his mind toward home.
.....
He accidentally slammed another door the next morning as he went into the guest room. After admonishing himself silently he spied the griffon watching from the bed. Her eyes had an unshaking predatory way to them, an entirely unremarkable griffon mannerism.
“Did I wake you?” he asked.
She snapped out of her state. “It's fine,” she said.
“Well I'm sorry anyway,” he said entering the room. “Last thing you need is a clumsy old griffon waking you up.”
This earned him a smile from her. He smiled back awkwardly. They both smiled awkwardly till he remembered why he was there.
“I made you breakfast,” He presented a tray that had been in his claws the entire time.
The injured griffon lit up at the sight of food.
“Ah,” The senior griffon chided with a wagged talon. “Not before I check your wounds,” he set the tray down on a nightstand. “If you don't mind,” he said.
“I don't,” she said moving blankets off with a wince.
He'd had patched her up the night before as she struggled to stay wake. She was canvassed with bandages, scrapes, torn beige feathers and chunks of nicked brown fur. The sheets would have to be changed and the mattress might have to go. The older griffon held back a sigh while looking over the younger's wounds. Still, for all last night's drama she seemed better. “I'm Guy, by the way.” he said finishing up.
“Gwendolyn.”
“Gwendolyn,” he felt the name's sound. “Haven't met a Gwendolyn in a while.” Guy stepped back. “Well, enjoy breakfast. I'll go see if I have any fresh bandages.” He headed out of room.
Before shutting the door he watched the
griffon as she crunched a slice of bacon. She was a young thing, decades south of the gray griffon but that cold stare gave her some years. The stare she was giving him right now.
“Right,” Guy said sheepishly. “Call if you need anything.” He shut the door. Again, it sounded louder than he'd wanted. At least he thought it did till the noise repeated. Someone was knocking on his front door.
Guy opened the door. A pegasus was on his porch.
“Morning sir,” the stallion had an easygoing tone to his voice.
“Morning,” the griffon replied.
“Sorry to bother you so early,” the pony said his gaze wandering over the griffon. “You haven't seen anyone wandering around here: vagrants, new people, anything unusual?”
“There aren't many people here for miles.” A door creaked shut in the house. Guy held calm as the pegasus tried to look over him inside. His eyes had a hunting look to them not unlike Gwendolyn's. It gave a threatening vibe unfit for a pony. It defied his vibrant orange coat, gold mane and the affable tone of his entire species.
“You all alone here sir?” the stallion flicked his gaze back on Guy.
“None of the workers have arrived yet,” the griffon said. “Should I be looking out for someone?”
“It's probably not something we should talk about outside. Mind if I come in?”
Guy held in the doorway looking at the pegasus. He was smaller than Guy, like all ponies, but seemed to carry a casual power in his stance that betrayed his size. The griffon stepped aside.
“Thank you,” the stallion said walking through.
The house was modest, one story, two bed, two bath, rustic. The pony sized it all out as he scanned the living room.
“Have a seat,” Guy said gesturing to a sofa and chair. “Can I get you anything?”
“Water's fine,” the pegasus said as he sat on the sofa space opposite Guy's preferred chair.
The griffon went into the kitchen and grabbed two glasses. He looked over the counter at the pony dwarfed by his sofa. The door to the guest room was still shut. “So who is it I should be looking for?” Guy asked the pegasus as he poured two glasses of water.
“A changeling,” he replied nonchalantly.
“A changeling,” Guy said putting some drama on the word as he set the glasses on the table in front of the pony. He sat in his chair. “And how does one look for a changeling?”
“Extensively,” the pegasus said picking up a glass.
“Must be one threatening changeling to have you all the way in Griffon territory.”
The pony nodded as he sipped.
“Is there a bounty?” Guy said with a mischievous smile.
The pony swallowed slowly, just the slightest bit thrown by the remark. “It's not a hunt. I'm not a bounty hunter,” he said calmly. “This changeling escaped Equestria, likely with sensitive information. I got the job of finding it.”
“That includes across the world?”
“Since it left the country,” the stallion said and finished his drink.
“Well, I'll keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary,” Guy said rising as the pony did.
“I'll be overhead doing scans,” the pegasus headed for the door. “Probably won't be that hard to spot around here.”
“Of course,” Guy said opening the door for him.
The pegasus walked onto the porch and unfurled his wings. He nodded a goodbye to the griffon and took off in one flap.
With the pegasus in the air Guy shut the door and let out a sigh of relief. Gwendolyn hadn't made a noise. He knocked on the door to the guest room. No answer. He opened it to no reply. The room was empty and the stains on the bed had been covered. For a brief moment Guy panicked till he heard footsteps in the guest bathroom. He hesitantly walked to the door and knocked. “You in there Gwendolyn?”
The footsteps stopped. Guy froze up. “Yeah,” Gwendolyn said. “You had some bandages in here, thought I'd clean myself up.”
“You need help.”
“No, I'm fine,” she said cheerfully. “Just about done.” The sound of a talon cutting fabric could be heard. “So who was at the door?”
Satisfied Guy went to taking the sheets off the bed. “Some pony from Equestria,” he said. “Apparently there's a changeling around here.”
“Should we be worried?”
“No, I don't think so,” Guy bundled up the sheets and tossed them in a hamper. “It's one of those everyone knows everyone kind of places. Doubt a changeling could impersonate someone scott-free.”
“Oh,” was all Gwendolyn said before opening the door. All her bandages were changed and the missing fur combed over. Most of the torn feathers on her head were gone giving her an entirely new shorter look.
Guy tried to hide a cringe.
“I'd been meaning to preen them,” she shrugged. “Not too happy about the wings though,” she said splaying them out. Large gaps showed in the span.
“Ouch.”
“Yeah,” she sighed. “Guess I'm grounded for a while.”
“I'm—”
Guy was interrupted. “About the, you go first,” Gwendolyn said.
“I was just going to say sorry about the wings.”
“Thanks,” her voice was a hesitant whisper. “About the changeling.”
“I'm not saying it’s you. Sorry if it sounded like that.”
“With what happened last night, me just crashing into your vineyard. It's kinda weird.”
“There's no need to explain.”
“Just let me,” Gwendolyn pleaded. “I feel like I need to tell someone.”
“Of course, let's sit down and you can tell me,” Guy said gesturing to the living room.
They seated themselves, Gwendolyn in the same spot the pony had. “So did happen last night?” Guy said leaning into inquiry.
“I'm not really sure,” the injured griffon said running her talons through her feathers.
“I can believe that,” the elder chuckled. “You hit yourself pretty hard.”
“Did I?” Gwendolyn's claws ran deeper against her scalp. “Should I not have fallen asleep?”
“Not that hard.” Guy deadpanned.
“Okay,” she relaxed. “I was visiting family one or two towns over yesterday and flying home last night. It was dark and I probably shouldn't have been flying. Anyway, out of nowhere I get hit in the back by something and, and then I remember being on the ground bleeding.” The griffon got lost in the moment. “I didn’t break anything did I? I’ll pay for the damages.”
“There aren’t any, just a trellis and some grapes. I’ll fix it today.”
“I could help you!” Gwendolyn urged.
“Shouldn’t you head home?”
“I’m already a day late, what’s it matter,” she said rising from the sofa.
“Fine, come on,” Guy said. He rose and opened the door for the spirited griffon as she passed. Stepping out he looked into the sky. The orange pony was flying slow circles overhead. Guy slapped a claw to his forehead. “Wait a second, I need to go inside and get some string. Why don't you go look for a stick.”
“Alright,” Gwendolyn replied.
......
Guy came upon the crash site exactly as he'd left it. Between the crushed vines and trellis were splotches of dirt dyed red, loose feathers, and bits of fur. The hoofprints were still there. He swept them away and went about cleaning up the area.
“Hey, I found a stick,” Gwendolyn said coming upon the gray griffon. “Oh, wow,” she said looking at the debris. “You sure I'm not really injured?”
“You think you’re too hurt to help me,” Guy said unwinding his ball of string.
“I guess not,” the younger griffon shrugged.
“Good, hold that stick between the rest of the trellis.” the older griffon knelt next to the still standing stick support. Gwendolyn held up the stick and he started tying it to the others.
“So, about the pony” she said. “What was he like?”
Guy gave her a skeptical look as he tied the knot.
“I'm just curious. I don't run into ponies that often.”
The older griffon cautiously looked to the sky. The orange pony was still circling above but farther away. “He was a bit odd actually. Kind of a menacing way to him,” Guy said. “Lower it a bit,” Gwendolyn lowered the stick and he tightened the knot. “He wasn't like any pony I've met,” His talons cut the loose string and finished the knot. “Other side now.”
They moved to the other end.
“So what did he have to do with the changeling?” The younger griffon said repeating the procedure.
“Apparently it got from Equestria to here and he's the one they have hunting for it.”
“Why just him?”
“No idea, it seemed like it was his specialty or something.”
“Can changelings even turn into griffons?”
Guy was dumbstruck. “I have no idea. Probably worth asking if you see him.”
“Guess I will,” Gwendolyn said. “So we're done?”
Guy took a bit of the old trellis and used it to hold up the new one. They were done.
.....
As they headed back to the house the old griffon kept his eyes skyward. The orange pony had disappeared after they finished the trellis.
“So do you need help with anything else?” Gwendolyn said trailing behind Guy.
“Nope,” he replied
“You sure?”
“Nothing the farmhands won't do when they get here.”
“Come on.”
Guy turned to the younger griffon. “Gwendolyn don't you need to go home?”
“Yeah, but there's no rush, besides I kind of like it here,” she jabbered. “Oh, and I go by Gwen. I don't think I told you that.”
“I really think you should go home Gwen.”
“But I've barely seen this place and it's going to suck walking home.”
Guy sighed. “Fine, we'll head into town later and see if we can get you a ride.”
“Thanks.” she chirped.
The older griffon rolled his eyes and settled them on the house. Off to the side was the orange pony watching both of them.
As the griffons came closer Gwen spotted him.
“Hey is that the pony after—”
“Gwen get in the house.”
“But,”
“Get in right now.”
She quickly walked inside and shut the door behind her. The pony remained coolly still till Guy approached him.
“Didn't find your changeling?” he asked.
“Well yes,” the stallion said leaning toward the house, “and no,” he said leaning away. “These kinds of things tend to be up in the air to the last second.”
“So what brings you back here?” the griffon growled.
"You said you were alone."
"She's not important."
"I'm going to need to speak to her." He ordered as calmly as every other word from his mouth.
"Well you aren't," Guy said advancing to the door.
The pony matched his steps. "This is a very dangerous changeling," he said. "Everything in its file says it's excellent at quickly assuming an identity and embedding itself. That griffon could know something. She could even be it," the smallest drops of venom slipped from his tone.
The old griffon set a talon on his porch. "You're not setting a hoof in my home."
The pegasus took flight and swooped past the him to land right at the front door. He turned to Guy. "By joint ordinance of both the Equestrian and Griffon governments I am warranted to conducted searches in the pursuit of this fugitive. I would advise you not to impede me in this sir." He said on the cusp of yelling.
The griffon took a step back. All the subtle strength of the pony was on display as he stood, head low with his wings flared. He stayed there till the ground was clearly his; then he turned and opened the door. Guy followed him inside.
Gwen was seated on the sofa clearly in distress. When the pony approached she rose.
"Drop it," he ordered.
"Drop what?" Gwen asked.
"The act, the disguise, all of it."
"I don't know what you’re talking about."
"I'm placing you under arrest by the authority of the Royal Guard of Equestria."
"What are you doing?" Guy yelled. "First you ram her out the sky and now this!"
"Wait, what?" Gwen said.
"Sir, this changeling has conspired against the entirety of Equestria. It had embedded itself throughout the country exactly like this," the pony said eyes locked on Gwen.
"You haven't even proved it's her!" Guy moved in front of the door. "I'm not letting you do this."
The pony looked at him over his shoulder. "Sir, are you impeding this arrest?" His voice finally grew to a bark.
"Yes I am."
The pegasus stared at Gwen shaking, then back to Guy holding back the pony's exit, and again to Gwen before briefly looking upward. He looked back down and Guy spotted a look of terror on Gwen's face.
The pony turned and rushed toward the older griffon. Before he could defend himself the pegasus pivoted through the air and kicked out his hindlegs toward the him. Guy felt the hooves smash into his shoulders, he felt the wind knocked out of him, he felt the kick throw him into the air through his door and over his porch, and he felt the dirt as he fell into it. Its coarse texture scraped into his back and his head smashed against the gravel.
He laid there too wounded to move as the pony stood in his door way. He glared at the griffon daring him to stand. Everything in Guy tried to make him rise but failed. His vision grew black as his consciousness faded.