~~~

We were hidden along a wooden path. I could see my soldiers in the moonlight that shone overhead. We could all see the Griffon Vanguard as they made their way up the road. They were talking loudly in their coarse language. Bright lances of light flickered overhead as lighthouse lights mounted on their caravan searched the trees for flitting pegasi. I looked over to see the Sarosian captain staring at me. I gave him a small nod. He opened his mouth to scream. Only nothing came out. It was too high to be heard by my, or the Griffon’s ears.

An earsplitting crack groaned ahead on the road, signaling the falling of a tree into the path. The Griffon Captain raised a claw. The procession stopped. He shouted something and pointed at the tree, bellowing orders. Griffon Grunts hurried to get the tree out of the way. Before they could get to the tree an eerie shriek sounded behind the wagon. Every Griffon’s head turned to see if they could find the source. A Sarosian appeared out of cover behind the Captain and slid a dagger into his throat, pulling him down into the brush besides the road. It took less than a second and was as silent as the grave.

The Griffons turned to find their leader suddenly gone. The next in command shouted orders, all ten of them. The battalion confused themselves as they tried to follow all the orders. That’s when some of the Sarosians in the trees above dove into the Griffons, taking off heads whole with swift and precise glides with their wing blades. Only then did the Griffons realize they were under attack. But the Lieutenants were among the first to be beheaded.

They began to panic, trying to strike at the fleeting Sarosians, but they would’ve had more luck trying to catch a shadow. As the Griffons had their attention above, more Sarosians came from below, only hoof widths off the ground, cords stretched between each other. They dove in and out of the Griffon’s legs, entangling them and tripping them. Those who used their cords dove at the exposed necks of the Griffons, biting into them and pulling down more than a few of the unaware.

All the Griffons were dead in less than a minute.

“Pull the bodies into the brush…” I commanded. “Somepony put that light out and pull the wagon into the trees!” The Sarosians hurried to obey.

“Very well done…” came a stallion's voice from behind a tree. I turned to see the pegasi observer for this campaign. “I’ve never seen even the Wonderbolts do something that fast.” he applauded.

“Don’t applaud Us, this was all them.” I gestured at the Sarosians around us.

“Be as it may, how did you come up with these tactics?” he asked.

“Have you ever been to the Sarosian District?” I asked.

“Can’t say I have.”

“We’ll grant you, it’s not as pretty as the Everfree Castle or Mount Canter, but they tend to live in very dense areas, like woodlands or caves. Very difficult for a pegasi to fly. So, the Sarosians adapted.”

“Adapted?”

“Oh right, you haven't been around for as long as We have… Let Us start with an analogy… If We were to stock an enclosed forested area with two hawks, 25 white rabbits, and 25 brown rabbits, which kind of rabbit would most likely survive?” I asked sneaking a glance at his expression.

“The brown I suppose…”

“Correct… So say the enclosed area can only sustain 50 rabbits, and if white rabbits are more actively hunted than the brown…” I gestured for him to finish the thought.

“Then the brown rabbits would grow in number to make up the losses faster than the white…” he continued.

“Until there isn’t any more white rabbits left.” I finished. “The same can be said for the ancient Sarosians. Feathered wings and normal ears experienced more lethal accidents than sharper ears and bat wings.”

“You really notice that kind of thing?” he asked.

“More common sense really…” I stated, watching the Sarosians. “But it’s difficult to not see the traits of parents passed from generation to generation…” The Sarosians went back and forth, getting the bodies into the woods and cleaning up any spilled blood. ” But to answer your question, as foals they play a game of trying to wrap a cord around a pole by getting closest to a mark by working as a team… They get very competitive about it.” I said after a moment.

“Interesting.”

~~~

The Griffon General was examining a map, moving various pieces shaped like pony heads and eagle heads around. I noticed several of the pony pieces were located around Trottingham. But there was a great deal many more eagle heads surrounding them. Truly it was a massive push to take the city. One that was about to fail spectacularly.

“The charges are in place…” a Sarosian whispered into my ear.

“Very good… Wait for Our word.” I muttered. Below, the General grumbled something as he sat down on a wicker chair. I fell down and stabbed him in the throat. He ended with a gurgle. “Get all the information you can and get it away from the blasts…” I commanded to several Sarosians above. They didn’t say anything but rushed to comply. I looked over the general’s maps, they weren’t up to date and was already worthless. I took a glance at the half eaten meal sitting nearby. A grilled fish sat next to the bone of a chicken leg. A mug sat nearby.

“How can any creature eat chicken?” I asked myself, gagging slightly. I nudged the mug. A putrid stench of bread wafted off it. “What the hay was he drinking?!” I whisper. I lifted the mug up to examine the liquid. Brown, opaque, had a tint of what smelled like Prench wine. I cast a detect poison on it. Alcohol… I put it back down.

“My lady… We think we have everything away.” a Sarosian informed.

“Very good… Get everypony away from the campsite.” I command.

“At once.” she rushed off. I gave the enclosed area a once over, before joining the evacuating Sarosians.

“Now.” I command as I get to safety. The Sarosian I entrusted with the controller grinned manically.

“Boom.” she grinned happily as she pushed the activate rune.

KAAAAAPHOOOOOOOOM!

A large fireball rose in the distance. Lighting up the night like a second, orange moon.

“Phase two! Go!” I shout. The Sarosians all bat away to their squads. I look over at the fireball, which is hanging in the air. The swarms of Sarosians ghost over the wreckage, traveling to the other Griffon armies to harass them into the waiting legions which were armed to the teeth.

It was a good day to be an Equestrian.

Author's Note

Pieces are coming together!