Deja Vu - A Unicorn's Story

Two griffin sat across a table from one another, a lantern between them casting dim light about the room. A crew quarter within a swaying boat, the only other features the room possessed was a double layered bunk bed, and a small port window that constantly gave a low howl as the wind passed through it.
Gedrick scraped the last few morsels of food from his bowl. Most of a suit of full plate sat on the table between him and his comrade Gailic.

Gedrick was young as griffons went, he'd been too young to participate in the major wars over the past decade. Since the battles ended, most of the military split off into mercenary groups like this one. Being a soldier was the only life many of them knew, it gave them a place to life and kept them and their families fed.

“This food tastes great!” Gedrick exclaimed, licking the bottom of his bowl.

“I'm pretty sure turtle feet would taste better than that trash.” Gailic retorted, shaking his head. Gailic was a seasoned veteran, he'd been in the initial push into Equestria. Being on the front lines he'd seen first hand what horror magic could bring, he'd lost most of his friends and comrades to the Equestrians. His no nonsense demeanor and prejudice reflected it.

“You saying you tasted some turtle, kye?” Gailic reached over and snatched his bowl, then lobbed it out the nearby shipside window. After a moment of shared silence they heard the distinct plop of the dish hitting the water.

“You know what I meant.” Gedric's eyes followed his bowl to the window and now simply stared, wearing an dumbstruck expression.

“That was my favorite bowl, you-you fluffy feathered flank eater!” The insult was met by a flat, unimpressed gaze. “What's with you saying 'kye' now anyhow, you aren't even from Anchortown.”

“Yeah well, I kinda' like the expression, sounds cool n' all.” Gedrick sighed audibly as he was met by the same apathetic look, he picked up one of the vambraces, looking it over. “You know, I think armor actually hurts more'n helps against that demon.”

“I know what you mean.” Gailic responded, staring off to the side. “ He's only used magic against our men, beyond the elemental that was summoned.”

“Yeah, proof that he's a demon, or has dealings with em'. But I'm betting the first. I saw 'im once.” Gedrick said as he briefly met Gailic's gaze, his voice going quiet as a whisper. “ Came outta my tent because I heard fighting an’ there he was, tearing through our ranks like some filly blowing away the seeds of a dandelion. Then we went all freaky like, turnin' into a big black dragon-thing!” He stuttered as he spoke, clearly distressed with the imagery in his mind.

“How did you survive? Unscathed?” Gailic's attention moved to his distraught friend, he'd been placed in charge of Gedric and a few other griffon with his promotion. He and Gedric were all that had survived in their squad.“ I was told he rarely left survivors.”

“He was running from us, cleared enough troops to make his way out. We didn't know where he was headed then, we do now, eh kye?”

“We know it, doesn't mean a lot, just another ambush, he slaughtered the last... Dozen now? Just can't seem to kill the bastard.” Gailic spit with resentment.

“I dunno, I hear the leaders are both showing up this time. An you know them, they're crazy with anti-demon voodoo.” Gedrick set the vambrace down, looking towards the ship-side window.

“Were you in the underground coven raid at Manehatten?”

“Neh, just after.”

“We could have killed him then, we took the place over, captured the demon and cleansed the other heretics we found within. He managed to defeat one of our leaders, the female one.” Gedrick looked over with disbelief, his eyes widened in awe. “ She was being patched up in the same medical ward I was in, most of her plumage was burned off but she was alive. I figure she'll live forever just driven by hatred alone.”

“I say if we can catch him once, we can do it again. Just gotta surprise him.”

“The Broken Flame will destroy that damn demon.” Gailic raised a burn scarred claw into the air, a look of vengeance in his eyes.

“And I'm going to find a new bowl.”