Rocks and Paws.
The small chink of light filtered in through the hazy darkness, illuminating the dancing dust motes; the only source of movement within the cave. There was stillness here even as the world above moved with the seasons, activities of the surface dwellers were a distant echo that was destined to come closer.
With a tremble that quickly grew, the small collection of stones around which the light seeped shook before finally tumbling away as a grey hoof pushed the obstruction aside. More light than had been seen for decades flowed unhindered into the cave as the hoof was joined by another of the same hue, the pair working steadily together to widen the hole.
After a time the hooves withdrew and the head accompanied them poked itself inside the wide gap and stared about with calm sea green eyes. As the air shifted the new comer’s dark purple mane joined with the swirling motes in the air, flowing as if it were trying to pull away from its owner.
“Hmmm, lots of promising rocks here,” Despite the positive words, it was spoken in a deadpan manner at odds with the success the mare found.
She withdrew her head before the hooves resumed their work, steadily widening the hole further, the rocks crumbling under the relentless strength of Maud Pie. She continued to work away at the task, shifting stones and loose soil at an impressive rate until the entrance was wide enough to admit her regular build.
Satisfied, Maud stepped into the now fully revealed cave and gazed about slowly. The light, now given far greater freedom reflected about the chamber, showing glinting lines running through the rough rock all around. She advanced with a measured step, confidently placing one hoof in front of another; every so often pausing to study a promising stone or gem.
If Maud was pleased with her finds she didn’t let it show, calmly storing rocks and other spoils in a pair of sturdy saddle bags at her sides. As she passed deeper into the cave a number of shadowy figures watched her progress.
‘Grag’ sulked, brooding atop a pile of furs and other scavenged rags as the unfairness of his world crowded in on him. Scratching at his scrawny earth-coloured body his claws caked with dirt. He reviewed his last year, how it had been one disaster after another; promising plans all concluding in failure.
The cunning raids on rival packs: Let down by stupid underlings. The ‘safer’ plan of tunnelling deeper into the bad lands in search of riches: Accidently broke into a changeling hive and barely escaped with his own hide intact. As for the ‘masterful plan of sneaking under Equestria’, well that had cost him greatly in respect and in followers.
His pack was at its lowest ebb since Grag had taken alpha status (such as it was) and so he sat and sulked on his ‘throne’. Maybe it was time to give up the raiding, get a proper job? Life as a brigand pack wasn't proving to be the great adventure it was cracked up to be: The embarrassments of his reign danced about his mind and gave Grag no peace.
His foul mood was interrupted as the whelp of the pack, ‘Finch’ scuttled from a side passage and hurriedly prostrated himself before Grag, “Alpha, pony in the caves.” A number of whimpers sounded at this pronouncement and Grag had to fight the urge to flatten his ears.
“How many?” Grag asked, failing to hide the slight tremble in his voice.
Finch grinned evilly, “Just one Alpha, a female and she’s all alone.”
Grag watched the newest ‘recruit’ with a sad expression, the small dark diamond dog almost shuddering with eagerness, “One too many Finch, leave her be.”
Finch’s grin morphed into a look of confusion, “But surely Alpha we should capture her, ponies seem to know where all the best gems and riches are?”
Grag closed his eyes, “Finch, ponies are not worth the trouble, trust me.”
It was true, every time Grag had tangled with ponies they had come off worse. Poines were cunning and sneaky folk and the noises they could make...... Grag shuddered as the stories of the white unicorn who’d tricked an entire pack out of their stash made him feel ill. That infamous account gave rise to the saying: “You think a dog can whine? You don’t know the half of it.”
Finch however didn’t look convinced and Grag could see the desire to prove himself in the fellow dog’s amber eyes before he spoke up, “Well if you’re not going to do something about her then I will, perhaps it’s time for an alpha of action?” A few of the other pack members grunted in agreement at this challenge and Finch seemed to swell with self importance. Times had been hard and no dog was happy about things were going.
There was a low murmur of sniffs, growls and whimpers at this statement and Grag looked at the ‘challenger’ with pity, oh you poor pup. Grag closed his eyes; it really was time to find a new job in a quieter line of work if little runts like this could challenge his leadership. But maybe, just maybe he could work this to his advantage?
Grag growled, “Well if you feel that way Finch, then I’ll make you a deal. If you can bring us the pony with an impressive number of gems, say three sacks full, then you will have proven your point and I’ll step down as alpha dog.”
The other dogs radiated surprise at this statement and Grag could ‘feel’ them looking at one another in confusion. Clearly Finch was taken aback too as he stared wide eyed at Grag as if the pack master had sprouted a horn and wings.
“And if I don’t?” Finch asked slowly, distrusting of what sounded like a deal too good to be true.
Grag smiled, “Then we really are all washed up, if we can’t corner and subdue one little pony mare then we’re out of the ‘bandit business’ for good.”
Finch looked confused, “That doesn’t sound like much of penalty for failure?”
Grag now grinned evilly, “And you have to carry all our belongings on the trip back to pack lands while proudly baring the title: ‘The Great Pony Fighter’.”
Throaty barks of laughter resounded around the pack hall and Grag watched Finch carefully to see if he would take the bait. The whelp paused as if unsure for a moment, before smiling nastily up at Grag, “You’re on. You just see by this time tomorrow we will have a new pony slave digging up more gems than you can dream of!”
With a snarl Finch motioned for his supporters to follow him and before long about a third of the dogs present took off down the tunnels; a gently smiling Grag watching them go. Yep one way or another I'm going to be free from this job.
Finch crept up the ridge and peered down at his prey below, the pony was rooting around the chamber's floor, her head bowed and completely unaware of the pack as they sidled around the rocky outcrops lining the cave.
Even as Finch watched he caught sight of glinting precious stones nestled within the pony’s saddle bags.This was going to be too easy Savouring the moment Finch tensed, flexed his claws before looming up above the target and calling out, “We have you now pony! Welcome to your new life as a slave!”
At this signal the other pack members leaped from their hiding places, reared up, teeth bared and evil chuckles already sounding as the trap was sprung. It was at this moment that Finch felt something was amiss:
The pony looked up slowly and with an expression of calm detachment simply said, “Oh hello: Diamond dogs right? I’m Maud.” Finch and his fellow pack mates froze at this response, that wasn’t how it was meant to go. His eyes swivelled back and forth as he looked to the others in mounting confusion, “Um you did hear me right?”
The pony blinked slowly before nodding without any haste, “Yes I heard you.”
The awkward moment stretched out with all the dogs frozen in bemusement before Finch called out with far less certainty than before, “Well aren’t you going to scream, or try to run?” his wheedling voice caused his fellows to shrug and glance to one another.
Maud continued to stare as a number of dogs shuffled with unease, “Why would I do that? I guess I could scream a little if that would help?”
Finch felt his world tilt slightly, “Um yes that would be good.”
Maud, her face still as impassive as the rocks all around, took a breath, “Argh.....oh no, whatever shall I do?” She may as well have been reading a shopping list for all the terror implied and the diamond dogs simply blinked in return. “I could do it again if you like?” Maud asked with that same strange calm.
Finch felt the initiative slipping away from him, “Um no, but you’re our prisoner you got that?”
Maud responded with a brief, “Well as long as it doesn’t get in the way of my own search, sure why not.”
Finch growled and motioned for the others to grab Maud. Fine if she’s going to make this easy for us then all the better. Two dogs moved up before, still casting nervous glances back at Finch, began to fit a heavy looking collar around Maud’s neck with an attached chain.
“Right this is what you’re going to do pony, we need gems, precious stones and you’re going to get them,” Finch announced before releasing a cackle.
Maud didn’t move, “What kinds?”
“What kinds of what?” Finch asked, his evil laugh interrupted.
“What kinds of precious stones? There are igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic; what kind of stones do you want?” Maud asked as the two dogs by her began to rifle through her saddle bags, finding only grey lifeless rocks.
Finch paused, “precious ones.”
“Well to the right collector any stone is a precious stone; I have hundreds of examples of sedimentary pebbles back home on the rock farm.” Maud explained, her manner still fixed.
Finch held up a claw and motioned for the pack to gather around him while Maud watched on calmly. After a short discussion they broke apart and Finch grinned again, “Rubies pony, we want rubies.”
Maud still didn’t move, “So a red sapphire then?”
Finch found himself blinking in confusion, “No rubies, red rubies, not blue stones.”
“Rubies are pretty much the same sapphires, but red in colour,” Maud explained and Finch simply shrugged.
“Sure red sapphires then, move!” Finch ordered.
“How pure?” Maud asked and Finch felt an eye twitch.
“Why does that matter?” One of the other dogs asked in a confused tone.
Maud still standing where they had first ‘caught’ her, explained, “Rubies and other gems are worth more if rarer, so a pure ruby would fetch more in your standard market.”
Finch ground his teeth, the bet had been three sacks of gems, Grag never said how good they needed to be, “No pony it doesn’t matter; we just need gems now move!” He hauled on the chain with all his might, but may as well have tried to tow a glacier.
Ignoring the straining Finch Maud continued her point, “But there are those who pay more for rubies with interesting impurities, harder to find, but worth more.”
The pack murmured and nodded their heads while Finch scraped furrows in the dirt as he yanked on the chain. Sweating and panting Finch finally gave up as another of his cronies raised a paw, “So which is the best type of gem then?”
“That all depends, I am looking for fine examples of reverse grain slate, quiet rare and only form in areas of strong natural magic,” Maud commented, her voice still level.
“They worth a lot then?” Another dog chimed in as Finch glared around him in utter astonishment.
“Well in some....” Maud began before Finch snarled angrily.
“No, no, no! We just need three sacks of gems, simple right? Stop asking this pony questions, she’s our prisoner and is here to work, not talk!” Finch strained at the chain, sinking his back paws into the soft mud, but still Maud didn’t move.
“Well I think she’s got a good point, if we’re going to get gems they may as well be the best ones right? Stands to reason don’t it?” Yet another of Finch’s pack mates put in his two bits.
“No! Now move!” Finch snarled, “Go get us rubies!”
Maud only now seemed to notice Finch, “Well if you want them then you’re pulling in the wrong direction,” Maud explained calmly and pointed off the other way.
Sagging, Finch let out a gasp before glaring at Maud, “I know your game pony, you’re all tricks and stuff; this is a trap isn’t it pony?”
Maud’s expression could have been carved into a mountain, unmoving and timeless. Without responding she turned and trotted away, dragging the stunned Finch who was too surprised to let go of the chain. The other diamond dogs followed with interest as Maud began tapping the stone walls and sniffing at pebbles before, after a couple of minutes, she nodded slowly to herself.
Finch was about to shout out again, his rump sore from the rocky ground he’d been dragged over when Maud punched the wall with a hoof. The stone crumbled away as cracks spread from the point of impact, allowing large chunks of rock to tumble down and reveal a nestled hoard of gems.
The murmur of approval sounded from the other dogs as Maud picked out several of the specimens and passed them around. The diamond dogs gloated with glee as the precious stones reflected in their hungry eyes: Even Finch’s annoyance was swallowed up in the sparkling haze of red gem stones.
“Good pony good, now find more!” Finch commanded, but Maud didn’t move: She simply sniffed at the hole she’d made. He snarled in anger, “Hey pony, I said move!” Finch ordered again before another pack mate cut him off.
“Hey let Maud do her work,” The rest of the pack nodded in agreement and Finch could only stand dumbfounded as Maud, with more care this time broke away several other chunks of stone and studied the wall intently.
“Now this is an amazing specimen,” Maud pointed out, a collection of differently hued formations and the pack crowded in with interest. “Standard basalt has altered in the magical field here to reverse its orientation.” The surrounding dogs all let loose an ‘ooooo’ of interest, while Finch just glared: It was rock: Greyish black and didn’t look any different from the surrounding stone.
Maud broke off a small chunk and stored it in her saddle bag while Finch gnawed his paws in frustration, his certainty of the world crumbling. If he didn’t act soon he would be the laughing stock of the pack.
With a growl he stepped forward just as Maud was collecting another chunk before offering it to a dog. Finch knocked the stone from his paw, “Enough! Remember why we’re here; we need gems, not chunks of rock!” It was as if a spell had been broken and the pack looked at the castoff in confusion.
Finch took a couple of calming breaths, “Right: Now find us more rubies pony!”
Maud turned her face back to Finch and there was the slightest twitch around the edges of her mouth, “If you say so,” There was an almost physical change in the texture of the air as those four simple words were spoken: They came out as calmly and evenly as all the rest, but Finch suddenly had the impression he had pushed just a little too far this time as Maud swung around and trotted slowly off into the distance.
“What do you mean you won’t? You’re our prisoner so that means you do what we say!” Finch snarled.
Maud Pie had led the group to another cavern, dripping with moisture and low hanging lichens. As the torch light met the open space ahead its glow seemed to dim as the impressive scale of the cave became apparent.
Tiny pin pricks of light could be seen up above and shafts of strong sunlight cut lines down through the hazy atmosphere. Maud had led the pack to a central rocky pillar before refusing to go any further. Finch felt his breath catch as the hinted gleam of jewels could just be made out in the central column.
Maud shook her head slightly, “Well it is very simple, there is a hoard of gems within this pillar, but to get them out would cause the roof to cave in.”
“Do I look like I care about a few falling stones! Go and get gems!” Finch stamped his foot and hauled on the chain again while his fellow dogs all shuffled their paws.
“But boss Maud’s been right every time so far, what if it’s true?” A grizzled mutt in a heavy helmet asked, quickly followed by the nods of support from the others.
Finch growled, “Then pony gets buried and we get gems.” He was quite frankly sick of this whole sorry event. Maud had been far more trouble than Finch had expected and though he was loath to admit it Grag may have had a point.
The grizzled diamond dog scratched his chin with concern, “But boss, if Maud gets buried then how can we bring her back in chains like Grag said?”
“That’s.....” Finch began but trailed off. They had two sacks of gems already and if what Mau.. the pony said was true then this load should round off the third sack nicely, but Grag had said to bring the pony back too.
“Then you all dig, that way pony is safe and we get jewels,” Finch announced after a moment’s thought. He congratulated himself at an impressive bit of lateral thinking even as the other dogs watched each other doubtfully. He snarled at the pack when they didn’t move, “Come on then get digging!”
‘Helmet Head’ raised his paw again, “You mean you get the gems? We followed you because you said we’d get rich, can’t spend gems when you’re crushed under a pile of rock.”
Finch felt something snap in his mind before he eyed Maud suspiciously, “Look the roof isn’t going to come down okay; it’s just a pony trick!” He stomped forward, ignoring Maud’s slowly shaking head and began to scrape away at the indicated wall.
Very soon chinks of reflected light began to reveal possibly the biggest gem Finch had ever seen and his vision narrowed as the dreams of vast wealth and prestige filled his head. So intent was he on the newly discovered treasure that Finch failed to notice how all the others were slowly backing away and how little trickles of dust began to drift down from the rock above.
Finch plucked a ruby from the pillar held it up for the packs eager eyes, “See, the ceiling hasn’t come crashing down. Now hurry up and grab the rest!”
“I really wouldn’t,” Maud cautioned, but with so many precious stones within easy grasp the pack couldn’t help themselves and were soon all scraping away to reveal yet more gems.
Finch stepped back and tugged on Maud’s chain even as he dragged the two sacks full of jewels in the other paw. “Come now pony, let them work,” He said in a much quieter tone.
“No,” Maud replied and Finch had to fight the urge to snarl in anger. She stared at him with those impassive green blue eyes, but deep within was a fire of determination. “You can have the gems, but I will not let you get away with this.”
As if on cue a rumble shook the cave and the pack froze as one, precious stones in their greedy paws. Large chunks of rock were shifting loose above and began to tumble with inevitable slowness.
“Come pony, it’s every dog for himself!” Finch shouted before Maud finally moved, but in the wrong direction! Wrenching the chain from his grasp, Maud galloped towards the central pillar, knocking tumbling stones aside with powerful bats of her hooves. Finch cursed and withdrew, feeling the impacts of crumbling debris bouncing painfully off his back as he dragged the sacks along with him. Maud was soon lost in the engulfing cloud of dust.
With a final heave Finch was about to stumble through the entrance way before something heavy hit him on his skull. As the world spun and little ponies danced across his vision Finch collapsed to the ground with a groan.
“I think he is over here,” Finch awoke to darkness.
There was a pressing weight on his back and a certain stuffiness to the air as Finch blinked the dust out of his eyes. He was pinned face down and looking around his tiny world Finch saw that he was surrounded by rubble. There were no signs of the sacks of gems and a heavy weight pinned his limbs to the ground.
“Well we should leave him under all that; it’s what he was planning to do to us!” A deeper voice filtered through to Finch as he squirmed and pulled in rising panic. He was totally stuck.
“No, even if he is a bad dog that does not mean you should be,” Finch froze as he recognised the voice of Maud, she was arguing for him! Further growls and mutterings seeped into his confined prison even as he felt the stones pressing down upon him tremble.
Unable to turn his head, Finch could only whimper and await the painful shift of the rock. The other dogs would surely leave him to be crushed by the settling stone after what he’d tried to do. It was then a complete surprise when the grey wall before him crumbled and was soon replaced by a similarly coloured hoof.
“Here he is,” Maud commented as Finch saw the pony’s muzzle press into the now open gap. He could only stare in utter amazement as she methodically pulverised the rough stone into powder.
Before he could recover from the shock Finch felt the weight pinning him down lift. Before long he was dragged bodily from the hole Finch had ‘dug for himself’. He saw a ring of angry faces bearing down on him from every direction and felt the fear of the guilty welling up inside. Several of his ‘pack mates’ were thumping balled fists into open palms and Finch was afraid he’d been saved from one nasty fate only to be dropped into another.
“Well Finch, seems you were going to leave us all buried back there. What shall we do with him boys?” Helmet Head growled with a wicked grin on his face.
“Let him be, he has already lost the bet and you will need a dog to carry your stuff on the journey home,” Maud suggested and even though Finch heard only the impassive tones he’d come to dread, deep down there was an edge that seemed aimed right at him.
The pack grumbled, obviously displeased even as a flicker of hope flared in Finch’s heart, “Well you saved us Maud, so I guess we can at least do that much for you.” Helmet head paused, “Sorry about earlier.”
Maud’s lips twitched upwards, “That is okay, you were just following orders. Maybe you should try thinking for yourselves next time.” The pack shuffled uncomfortably, “Go home; find a proper job. You will be much happier I am sure.” They nodded one after another before Maud hefted the heavy sacks as if they weighed nothing. She then loaded them onto Finch’s back and he yelped, struggling to lift them.
Finch frowned as his legs trembled, but suppressed the urge to snarl. As if sensing his anger, Maud stared at Finch, “Plus if he gives you any more trouble you can always send him to me.” Once again Finch thought he caught a tiny flicker in Maud’s impassive eyes and shrank back as if stung as the pack all around him chuckled.
"Okay, I have the slate I was looking for. Will you all be alright heading back now?" Maud asked and the encircling dogs nodded happily. "Fine, then I will be going. Good bye and remember to be more careful where you dig," Maud waved slowly before heading into the murky darkness of the caves once more.
Finch felt a tremble that had nothing to do with the heavy load pressing down on his back. His 'fellow' Diamond dogs all grinned nastily at him before one produced a muzzle, "Right 'boss', let's go see Grag and tell him the news."
Grag lifted his head as the doors to the hideout opened and a procession of dirt caked diamond dogs shuffled through. His jaw opened before he cocked any eyebrow in surprise, “Hmmm you’re back then and with spoils I see?” Grag's mouth formed a wicked grin as Finch stumbled in, the heavy sacks glinting with precious stones.
To see his one time rival looking so defeated and humiliated warmed Grag's heart, but before he could ask further a grizzled dog in a heavy helmet, what was his name? ‘Roggle?’, padded forward and presented their findings.
Grag’s grin only widened as he listened to the tale and upon its conclusion he beamed at Finch, “Well whelp you did manage to get the gems, but I only see you in chains. I guess that means you’ve got a long, heavy walk ahead.” The rest of the pack chuckled along with their alpha as Finch glared angrily at the floor.
“Well boys, I think that decides the point now. Enough with the bandit work, it obviously doesn’t pay well. Let’s be miners, that’s where the real money is and sounds far safer to me.” Grag announced, plucking a glinting ruby from among the others and admiring the gentle reflections of torch light in its depths.
The mood in the den lifted and Grag felt better than he had for weeks. He and the other dogs set about breaking camp, it had been far too long since they’d been home and with a haul of treasure this big Grag was confident their fortunes were on the rise once again.
The End.
