"Come on Phantom, or I'll be forced to pull harder." Trist said tugging on my collar. "Unless you're into that sort of thing." She grinned at me." I looked at her with a grossed out look.

~Hell no I'm not into that.~ I said walking faster so my neck doesn't chaff. ~Do I seriously need this collar?~ I pulled the collar. ~I'm not like 'normal' humans. I can actually think~ I pointed to my head.

"Yeah I know." She continued to walk down the path towards the town's market square. "But we're somewhat new to the town. I feel as if they need to know you more before you can walk around without a leash."

~Fine.~ I quickened my pace to match her's. ~But why do I have to come with you into town anyway? Can't I just stay home while you shop?~

"Hey this is for you also OK?" She stopped and turned to face me. "You need to learn the layout of the town. Every nook and cranny. Even the ones the townspeople don't know about." She turned around and started to walk again. "You don't want to keep having to smell like sewer now do you?"

~. . . No~

"Good, that's what I thought. We also need to see if you were seen by the Baron." She added. "If you were, we may have to leave. Very quickly."

~I told you, I don't think he saw me, I think he only saw-~ Trist shushed me to be quiet.

"We're about to reach the more populated streets. Now stay quiet and act like a human."

~You mean like one of those 'other' humans.~

"Whatever! Just be careful with your sign language. We don't know who might know sign language." I gave her an 'OK' and I put on my best stoic face and slouched a bit, trying to be as dumb as possible.

///

I hate kids. We had been walking through the market for only a single minute and three griffon kids were already hounding me. Pulling on my clothes and poking me. The worst of it is that I can't react to anything they do to me or else someone will know that I'm not a 'normal' human. Apparently, a 'normal' human doesn't smile and pretty much acts like an animal. So while these 3 foot tall, feathered creatures called children run around me, I can't react in any way. Especially hitting them. Trist told me what happens to humans if they harm a griffon. And let's just say, the one bad thing about being in the Griffin Kingdom and not Equestria, is that griffons are omnivores.

I couldn't tell you how relieved I was when an older griffon called for the little beasts to go. I continued to look around the town, trying to memorize the lay out as I kept a mindless face.

Trist stopped at a range of places. She got some food, paper and ink, and planks of wood, for some reason. All of which, I had to carry. "See it as training, It'll help strengthen your arms." She said. Right before turning to see a stall of gems. Ever since I had met her, Trist has had a fondness for precious jewels. Not jewelry, jewels. The actual stone, not the kind you wear as an accessory.

After Trist barked at the griffon behind the counter about the outrageous prices of the jewels, we exited the store. As we were going to the next place on the list, I happened to pass by another human tied to a post next to a table of an outside diner. In this kind of little, out of the way town there aren't too many humans kept as pets. And only the large cities actually have big enough restaurants that . . . serve. . . humans. In total, I think I've only seen two other humans in Urenburgh. Not including this one.

It was a she, and was dressed in ripped rags barely even covering anything. She had blond hair, which was cut short, and purple eyes. She must have been the 'runt of the litter' as Trist says it. The was most likely the smallest, weakest of her family. Which explains why a family in this town could afford her. She looked malnourished and about 16-17 years old. I didn't feel that sorry for her. Trist told me that it was rare for runts to be seen, since most of them are sent to a butchery, while their stronger siblings are sent to be sold into manual labor, or as pets. Although I can't say I don't feel for runts more than others. Runts tend to look more like the humans I faintly remember before I came to this place.

She must have noticed me staring, because she turned to look at me directly in the eyes. I stared back at her and felt as if she could understand me, like she was actually like me and could speak. But the moment ended as The other human's owner finished their meal and pulled her off down the street. I kept watching as the human woman followed the griffon aimlessly, until Trist tugged slightly on my leash to signal that we were moving on.

///

"OK, we're pretty much done." Trist stated as she looked at her list of groceries. I was sitting on the ground as she was sitting on a bench by the edge of the road.

~Please tell me we're done. ~ I pleaded. ~I'm tired and I want to go home.~

"Yeah, it's getting pretty late." She looked up at the lowering sun and stretched. "I feel pretty tired as well. I guess we can survive a few days with what we got."

~And please say I don't have to come with you next time?~

"Depends. Did you learn the streets and alleyways?" I paused and let a silence enter as I waited to answer.

~Sorta.~ Trist looked at me with her signature look of distrust.

"You're coming next time too."

~Dang it~ I plopped my head down in disappointment.

"Ok then." Trist launched herself off of the bench. "Let's head on ho- What is going on over there?" Trist pointed to a crowd gathering by the platform in the middle of town square. I shrugged and we headed over to the crowd to find out what was going on.

Once we reached the crowd we saw two griffon guards standing on the platform. We stood by the outside of the crowd. Which just so happened to be next to the blonde runt girl human I saw earlier today. I was shocked by the coincidence that I would see her twice today. She looked at me with serious interest. Like I was some human-sized treat. Then, she started to sniff me. O. . K? I didn't know how to feel about this situation. Of course I felt uncomfortable with the girl invading my personal space, but on the other hand, it was a girl.

"Oh my, looks like Fiona has met a new friend!" I heard a female griffon exclaim. "And who are you?" She looked at me with a friendly face.

"He's my pet, uhh. Bruce! Yeah Bruce." Trist spoke to the griffon. Really? Bruce?! That's the best you can come up with?! "You wouldn't happen to know what's the commotion here would you?" Trist asked the griffon woman.

"Oh why yes. The Baron's attendant has called for an announcement." The woman leaned over me and whispered to Trist. "I heard that the Baron's house was robbed last night!"

Trist retracted and put a claw to her chest in fake shock. "Now who would have done that! Surely who ever did that must have been crazy!"

"I also heard that the Baron claims that a human was the robber! A human!"

"But that's absurd! A human couldn't have done that!"

"I know! Everyone has been saying that the Baron must have not been fully awake and thought he saw the robber as a human. Others are saying that the Baron is going insane!" The woman spewed all she knew to Trist like a broken faucet. "OH! Its starting!." The woman turned to face the platform.

On the platform, the two guards stood at attention as another griffon in a fancy hat and a parchment in his hand flew onto the platform. He cleared his throat, unrolled the parchment, and began reciting. "Attention all citizens of Urenburgh! A horrendous crime was committed last night! Last night, at the time of 2 a.m. someone entered the Baron's home, and stole many precious valuables from him." The official paused to take a breath. "The Baron states that a human was the robber, and that if anyone sees suspicious behavior, to report it immediately to the closest guards. Anyone who finds this culprit will receive a 400 bit reward!" The official finished and rolled up the parchment. "That is all!" He concluded the announcement and flew off the platform.

The crowd began to disperse into smaller groups and speak about the announcement. The woman with the blonde girl approached Trist and said her name was Claudia.

"The Baron must be joking! No human could have the intellect to steal from someone and get away!" Claudia exclaimed.

"Yeah, totally." Trist quietly agreed.

"I mean, it must have been a Diamond Dog. Everyone knows how much those dirty dogs love shiny things."

"But aren't you worried that someone may take your human, thinking she could have did it?" Trist asked.

"Of course not!" Claudia brushed off the question. "A human committing that crime in unthinkable! I'm sure everyone thinks so as well. No one's going to listen to that!"

"Oh, I see."

"Anyway, I must be off. I have to go and feed Fiona here her dinner!" Claudia exclaimed tugging on Fiona's leash, extracting her from my neck that she was sniffing intently. "We must talk again, Tristana! And bring Bruce as well! Fiona seems to have a liking to him!" I shivered as Trist waved back. As soon as Claudia had left eye-sight, Trist looked at me with a giant grin.

"Looks like you had fun."

~Now what would make you think that?~ I looked at her with half-closed eyes. Trist just laughed as we turned towards home.

"Oh I don't know. . . but it looked to me like Fiona was very interested in Bruce." Trist teased.

~Says Miss Shorty.~ I fought back. She punched me in my shoulder and I reached my hand over to rub it. ~Ow.~

"Yea, I hope that hurt." She turned away and pouted. I grinned and chuckled at her as we headed back home after a long day in town.

Author's Note

Ok, O.O It is currently . . . 3:22 in the morning ^_^. I was actually considering whether or not to upload this today or wait til next Friday. You can probably tell what I chose.

Just don't expect me to be spewing these out like a mad man here( lol MadMax joke). Take this as proof that I'm working on this story more ^_^.

Hope yer Happy! Enjoy!