Author's Note

A Griffon's Collar
By Snow Quill

Contains: BDSM Themes

A Griffon's Collar

Pearl exhaled softly as she put her mask away, her sigh betraying some of her inner turmoil as she glanced around at the other creatures in the locker room. The mask wearers of the Clocktower Society - colloquially known as ‘doms’ - were chatting with their friends, talking about miscellaneous weekend plans or their scenes with their subs that evening.

Her ears subconsciously turned towards those talking of the latter. She felt her wings flutter and her breath quicken at the sound of one dom’s recounting, how they made their sub grovel and beg in public just to lick their hooves, how their sub squirmed and prostrated themselves for them...

A light blush spread across Pearl’s face and she closed her locker door just a little too quickly and loudly, drawing the glances of the doms around her. She squeaked softly and rushed out, her head down to try and hide her blush.

She kept up her quick pace through the halls, only slowing when she reached the front gates. There was already a line to go out, and Pearl silently suffered as she shuffled forward with everyone else.

When she finally made it outside, she realized she’d been holding her breath. With a quiet gasp she filled her lungs, looking around nervously to see if anyone noticed as she walked to the line to go through the Canterlot portal.

There were six ponies in front of her when a hoof tapped her shoulder. She shrieked and jumped, whirling around to see a lithe unicorn mare. The mare smiled softly, “I apologize, I didn't mean to startle you. You are Pearl of the Evenglow House correct?”

Pearl hesitantly nodded, it was strange to hear her official name, especially just outside the Society’s gates. “Yes...I’m sorry, s-should I know you?”

The mare laughed a little, “I would be surprised if you did. My name is Ebony Orchid, and I am a Den Mother. I have been -“

Pearl’s mouth went dry, her mind replaying those five words, ‘I am a Den Mother.’ This was something she’d fear happening since she got her mask. She was still new, probably too new for what she’d done with subs so far...Maybe that one mare was lying when she said Pearl hadn’t been too rough and now she was going to be kicked out for being a stupid newbie and accidentally hurting someone. Pearl knew she shouldn’t have used her claws, that she should have let them dull more before trying that sort of thing…

She started to shake a bit, tears coming into her eyes as she contemplated her coming banishment. What if she was charged with assault outside the Society? Her reputation in Canterlot would be ruined. She’d have to go back home and help her mom with her cleaning business. She loved her mom, but didn’t want to work for her again…

“-reach you for some time now.”

Pearl blinked, realizing the mare, Ebony, had been talking this whole time. “I-I’m sorry, could you repeat that?”

Ebony smiled good naturedly, “The den mothers have been wanting to reach you for some time now. I was selected to talk with you, to help you realize your true desires.”

It took Pearl an embarrassingly long time to realize what the mare meant. “Y-you mean…?”

Her claw subconsciously strayed to her neck, where she imagined a collar would sit. ‘She couldn’t possibly mean that...Besides, a Griffon wearing a collar?’ She thought and shook her head, “I-I’m sorry, I...I don’t know what you mean exactly.”

Pearl forced what she hoped was an easy smile on her face, but it shriveled under Ebony’s light glare. “Now Pearl, we at the Society like to make sure all our members are happy and fulfilled. We have noticed that you seem to be a bit unsatisfied just being a dom, and so wish to help you realize your dreams...All of them.”

She gave Pearl a minute for her words to sink in before speaking again. “Your sub mentor has come to us for help, as well as a mare who had subbed for you recently. They both expressed concern you were squashing desires to wear a collar. Now, I do not wish to force you if it was only a passing interest; however, if you really do want to, I would like to invite you for some some coffee.”

Pearl blinked, “Coffee?”

“Yes, coffee. Don’t worry, I’ll pay.”

Ebony winked and motioned for Pearl to step through the portal, the griffon realizing with a start it was her turn. She looked back at the unicorn for a moment before stepping through.

~1 Hour Later~

Pearl stared into her cup, nervously shifting around in her seat. Her and Ebony were seated in a corner away from everyone else in the coffee shop. Light music tinkled through the shop, making any quiet conversation easy to hide. There wasn’t much needed to be hidden however, as this coffee shop was ‘Clocktower friendly’, offering a separate sitting room for members. Still, Pearl was nervous to say anything. She didn’t think anyone would notice her...desire, much less a sub she’d been with. She shouldn’t have been surprised that her mentor, Octavia, had gone for help, but guilt settled heavy in her heart.

‘That’s what she’s there for! To help me sub if I so wanted...why did I push her away like that…’

Pearl groaned and had a burning desire to thump her head against the table.

Ebony took that moment to begin speaking. “Now Pearl, why don’t we start with discussing why you would like to sub. And please, be as lewd as you like.”

She giggled and winked, making Pearl’s cheeks explode with red. “W-well...I, I love my mask, don’t get me wrong, but sometimes I’ve wondered what it would be like to wear the collar instead...To be at the complete mercy of my master or mistress.”

She sighed wistfully, “Of course, being a Griffon, they’d have to prove they could handle me. A nice breaking session in which they reduce me to nothing, only to build me up to be the perfect slave for them…”

Pearl shuddered softly, her eyes far away. She was brought back to reality with Ebony’s chuckle, gulping as she realized she’d drifted off. “Well, it sounds like you definitely would make a good sub for someone. I know you’re barely into your first year in the Society, but why haven’t you tried a collar yet?”

Pearl sighed, looking down into her cup again. “Because it’s, it’s not ‘normal’. Griffons are strong and prideful creatures, it’s just about everything in our culture and history. For a griffon to wear a collar...It would be disgraceful.”

She paused a moment, “I’m also scared. Scared others might assume that just because I’m a griffon I can handle more, and would only want rough sessions. I mean, if I were to get a collar it’d be tri color, but just how many would pay attention to the gold? How many wouldn’t be upset that I’d want a gentler scene? I know that I just said a nice breaking in session would be good, but sometimes I do want to be pampered a bit too.”

Ebony nodded along, “I understand. Your bringing up and culture make it difficult for you to be in a vulnerable position. Let tell you though that I can think of at least 3 griffons who have collars off the top of my head. They were all in a similar spot as you at one point, but they worked through it with their mentor or a den mother. Just like what we are going to do.”

Pearl looked up, hope in her eyes. “Really?”

“Really.”

Pearl smiled and took a drink of her coffee, the tension easing out of her body. “S-so, Where do we start?”

“Well, why don’t we start by talking through some of your fears. You say you’re worried you won’t find someone who is okay with a gold scene?”

Pearl nodded.

“That’s why we have the safety bells and safewords in place. No one is going to be mad at you if you are looking for different kinds of scenes. You can always call clockface or even towertop if it’s not working out. And if a dom does get upset, that is when we den mothers step in.”

Pearl nodded and laughed a little. “Yeah...I guess it is a bit silly to be scared of that huh.”

Ebony shrugged, “Yet it is also a completely natural fear. Fear of rejection and ridicule. Of ‘failing’ someone because you can't be what they want or need at the moment.”

Pearl hummed in thought, nodding again with a somber expression. “Well, when you put it that way, I guess that's what's holding me back the most. I like to become the dom my subs want, to help realize their wants and needs over my own. Granted, they tend to overlap so I end up enjoying the scenes quite a bit, but still…”

“You’re scared you won't be able to do the same as a sub.”

Pearl looked down into her cup again, her ears flat against her head as her wings drooped by her sides. She was startled when a hoof laid gently over her claw. She looked up to see a soft smile on Ebony’s face.

“It’s alright to be afraid. What's not alright is if you let your fear keep you from doing something you love.”

Something clicked inside Pearl as she heard those words, words she’d previously disregarded as nonsensical optimism meant for inspirational posters. But now...now they made sense. She smiled at Ebony. “I won’t. Not anymore.”

~2 Months Later~

Pearl hummed a cheery tune as she waited in line to get inside the Society. Today was a big day; the day she would get her collar. Octavia and her had gone right to a collar boutique after she finished her couple weeks of safety classes and she’d gotten the notification just earlier that her collar and cuffs were ready.

Pearl looked around a bit nervously, Octavia said they would meet outside the gates and walk in together, but the grey mare was nowhere to be seen. She pulled out her pip sub. “Ocean Pearl? Have I got any messages from Octavia?”

The little sprite floated out of the pip sub and held out a scroll. “Message received from Octavia at 7:03 PM.

Dearest Pearl,

I am so sorry, but a family emergency has come up and I will not be there to help you pick up your collar. Do not worry about me though, go ahead and have fun tonight. I know how big this is for you, and so I have messaged Ebony Orchid to be there. Have fun, and I shall see you soon,

-Octavia.”

Pearl sighed softly, putting her tongue in her beak as she shifted nervously. It didn’t feel right to pick her collar up without Octavia, but she said Ebony Orchid would be with her…

“Pearl?”

Ocean Pearl perched on her beak and patted her head reassuringly. “Don’t worry! Ebony is coming, so you won’t be alone. Soon enough you’ll be able to see Octavia again and show off your sexy collar and cuffs!”

Pearl giggled as her sprite struck a pose, raising a claw to gently pet her. “Thanks Ocean.”

Pearl looked up to see there were only two ponies ahead of her. “Alright Ocean, time to go away for now.”

Ocean saluted her before disappearing into her pipsub. Pearl giggled again at her sprite’s antics before stepping up and putting the pipsub on the indicator and being waved through once it flashed green.

Her wings fluttered nervously by her sides as she stepped in, looking around for Ebony Orchid. A soft chime came from her claw, and she reopened her pip sub. “Ocean Pearl, did I just receive a message?”

The sprite popped back out with a scroll. “Message received from Ebony Orchid at 7:14 PM.

Dear Pearl,

I received the message from Octavia and am waiting for you at the collarsmith. See you there,

-Ebony”

Pearl nodded. “Thank you Ocean, that is all for now.”

Her sprite nodded and disappeared once again, leaving Pearl to start walking towards the collarsmith. She nervously padded her way towards the shop, towards her collar. Each step seemed to get heavier as doubt creeped into her mind. ‘What am I doing? A collar? For me? That’s ridiculous. I’m a Griffon. A dom. I wear a mask, not a collar…’

She lost track of where she was going and soon found herself outside the shop. She gulped as her claw hovered above the ground, wondering if she was making a mistake. A form walked up on the other side and opened the door for her, Ebony’s soft smile greeting her. “Come on Pearl, it’s time.”

Pearl gulped softly and stepped in, letting out a deep breath as she walked to the counter. “I-I’m here to...to pick up my, my o-order…”

The mare behind the counter smiled and nodded, tapping a depression on the counter for her pipsub to go. Pearl shakily placed it in, her mind screaming at her to run away and bury herself in a hole and never come out again. She jumped as a soft thump filled the store, the mare having placed a box on the counter. “Here ya are darling. I gotta say, it was a privilege making these for you.”

Pearl’s mouth went dry and she slowly dragged a claw against the box, her heart threatening to burst as she slowly opened it. She vaguely felt Ebony stand beside her as the lid thumped to the side. Pearl gasped softly, tears coming to her eyes as she saw the collar, her collar.

Red velvet with a beautiful dusty orange strip, daintily stitched with a golden string that had purple ‘pearls’ along it. There were also ruby studs set into it, flowing between the pearls. Her cuffs were made similarly and Pearl couldn’t have been happier. “It’s...it’s beautiful…”

“It certainly is. What makes it better...it’s yours.”

Pearl sniffed and nodded at Ebony’s words. She carefully dipped her claws into the box and pulled out the collar, clipping it on as a couple tears slid down her face. It fit perfectly and Pearl finally felt complete.

Ebony nuzzled her tenderly. “I’m proud of you Pearl. Now, why don’t you get your cuffs on, and we’ll go find some doms.”

Pearl giggled at her wink, nodding eagerly and grinning ear to ear.