The Flock

Chapters

1 : "The Best Parts of Waking Up..."
2 : "Hexblade, Unhinged!"
3 : "Troubled Thoughts."
4 : "The Greatest Challenge of All..."
5 : "Suffodio, Part I"
6: "Suffodio, Part II"
7: "Suffodio, Post-Hunt."
8: "???"
9: "Nagaroth"
10: "Who I Am, Part I"
11: "Who I Am, Part II"

1 : "The Best Parts of Waking Up..."

"The best part of waking up..."

"... are three birds in your bed!"

Your eyes slowly drift open. With an audible yawn, you make an attempt to sit up straight... but for some odd reason, you can't even budge.

Though your vision may be blurry, your ears work well enough to pick up the sound of three females breathing; all of which in close proximity.

Curious, you look down and immediately notice the reason why you can't get up... three griffons are sleeping on top of you, with their wings all draped around each other, and by extension, yourself.

Gabby, the youngest of the three that just barely graduated from school, is lying on your center, with her head nuzzled up against your chest.

To your left, lies Greta, the quietest and likely shyest of your "flock-mates". Like Gabby, she's lying nuzzled up against you, and snoozing peacefully.

To your right, however, lies Gilda, the grumpiest of the three. Unlike the other two, she's resting on her back, with her right talon over her stomach and her left hind leg sticking up slightly, kicking downwards every now and again.

Also worth noting (and definitely not telling anyone) is that Gilda is the loudest of the three, snoring almost as loudly as a bear. It's a wonder how you were even able to sleep at all, along with the other two griffons on top of you!

Finally, another question remains... why are they even in your bed to begin with? Just yesterday, you agreed to join this little "flock" of theirs, which you would assume simply meant that they're interested in having you as a roommate. Ever since, though, they've been a lot more clingy with you... in some ways, more than you really feel comfortable with.

You've only known them for about three months, after all, since that day you've woken up after a portal mishap.

But alas, the questions you have must remain unanswered, for you've another pressing matter to tend to... getting out of bed.

You open your mouth and are about to say something, when Gilda's voice cracks slightly. Looking down at her, you see one of her golden eagle-like eyes look directly into your own.

"Mmm... wake me up, and I'll claw the rest of your damn face off..." she mumbles, before closing her eye and returning to her sleep.

Though you're not really a pushover, you also feel like you shouldn't argue with her logic. Not really being a morning person, yourself, you finally decide that, perhaps, a few more hours of sleep wouldn't hurt.

And so you close your eyes again, and drift off into another dream, filled with the adventures you've had, and the thrill of the hunts you've found yourself in, ranging from a tribe of goblins to a mighty wyvern.

"The best part of waking up..."

"... are feathers in your cup!"

You sit there at the table, hand cupping your chin as you try, and fail, to keep your eyes open for more than a few seconds. It has been a long night, and frankly, you're exhausted. You've had to endure the boring, mundane tasks of looking for a job that can suit your... particular talents... but failed to do so. It seems that no matter how badly the shape of the world might be coming to, over here in Griffonstone, nothing tends to happen.

And so, today, your goal is to find a job that isn't up to your standards... a simple, boring, average job to at least make a few bits off of.

As lovely as Gilda's old house is, you also can't argue that this type of lifestyle just isn't for you. Sitting there, every morning, in a comfy little table with three women around you - each with their own quirks - and a constant wonder what the day might bring, be it a visitor from out of town, or a neighbor coming by to greet the local oddity.

Well, you can't argue with most of that. The women part, you'll admit, you can live with, regardless of species. It's just the mundane life that you can not stand.

Being born in a war-torn world, and trained with the sword in one hand, and runes in the other, you were among the best of the best Hexblades - warriors who have mastered the art of the blade and rune, along with many other things essential for survival.

You've also been enhanced far beyond the limits of your fellow Plainswalkers because of said training... though that's a story for another time.

Above all else, though, there's one thing you absolutely hate the most... mornings. You hate the fact that your hibernation has to come to an end, you hate the fact that your day has to begin, as slow as it is, and you hate the fact that you have to do this without being in the unpredictable wilderness, where the fun actually happens!

You turn to your side, and spot Gilda sitting there on the chair to your right, face down against the table. With a clever smile, you look away from her, sighing in slight relief.

"At least I'm not the only one here that thinks this is boring as hell..."

You look towards the kitchen and listen in on the happy humming from one particular griffon - Gabby. Somehow, that bird is hyperactive regardless of time of day, be it sun up or sun down. It's a mystery that you can't quite put your finger on, but at least it's something calm and relaxing to adjust to.

Ever since you woke up a few months back, she was the first one to find your unconscious form. Luckily, she made friends with a couple other griffons that can lend her a helping hand... or talon, in their case. Surprisingly enough, she's actually quite good at alchemy and medical treatments... but compared to most other griffons, she's not really that strong.

That was where Gilda came in, who's actually very strong compared to most griffons her age and size. You're even bold enough to assume she might be the strongest in Griffonstone, but that's debatable due to your limited knowledge on the griffons in this world.

Sure, you've seen a few in your old world, but they were all beasts of burden, and not as intelligent, or sapient, as these... nor were they as colorful.

If anything, these griffons are essentially more expressive than even a few of the people you've met in your travels... and you've met quite a lot of people in your line of work.

But again, you're digressing... probably from the tiredness.

"And it's ready!~" Gabby calls out from the kitchen in a sing-song voice. When you look up again, you see her flying into the Dining Area with a tray neatly balanced onto her right talon, carrying a teapot with four mugs placed on the opposite end of it to act as a counter-balance.

When she places the mugs down, however, you can't help but notice something odd about them.

"Why are there feathers in the cups?" you ask, eyeing the mugs curiously.

Gabby looks up at you as if you've asked one of the dumbest questions out there, but then shrugs her shoulders, likely remembering your otherworldly origins, and replies, "Rites of ownership, of course! We each have a feather in a cup that marks it as our own!"

You hum, eyeing one in particular that has three feathers in it, each of a different color. You nod at it and inquire, "... And that one is?"

Rather than answer your question, she goes on ahead and starts pouring a cup of tea in each cup, then passes them around the table, one to Gilda and one to herself. As she goes to pour the tea into the cup with the green feather, the owner of said feather enters the area, taking a seat left of you, not looking much more energetic than Gilda or yourself.

"Oh! Good mornin', Greta! I made us some Green Tea! Should help wake us all up in no time!" she says, while Gilda mumbles something inaudible underneath her arms, mug of tea now gripped firmly into her right talon.

Then Gabby places the mug with one of each feather in front of you, and pours the tea inside it.

You eye the tea curiously, before looking up at them. As Gabby picks her mug up, you take a mental note that she didn't remove the feather from it... and by the looks of it, the other two don't intend on doing so, either.

But even still, you also take a mental note that they're all staring at you, now... as if anticipating something amazing about to be happening... what's more, even Gilda seems to have adjusted her posture to where even she can see you.

You're not sure why, but for some reason, you feel as though removing the feathers would be a horrible mistake... and so, you decide to echo their actions, taking a sip of the tea, feather in the mug and all.

Not that you're really bothered by it, of course. From the world you're from, you've had to suck many a potion, which oftentimes had even worse ingredients in it. The feathers are nothing out of the ordinary, and even seem to provide a nice little touch to the blend... giving it that much more of a unique flavor.

They all quickly look away from you as you take the first sip, but you are quick to notice that their cheeks suddenly flushed red the moment you started to drink the feathered tea.

You'd ask why they're getting all worked up, but you doubt they'd reply at this point. At least you didn't piss them off, though, so that's a plus.

"Eh... probably just a griffon thing." you think to yourself, as you lift the mug up and take another sip.

"Some damn fine tea you made here, Gabby... thanks." you compliment. She giggles and bows her head politely before picking up her own mug and taking a sip.

The rest of your "tea time" goes by rather uneventfully and quiet... peaceful, at the very least. You're not sure whether it's good or bad... definitely not unpleasant, though.

"The best part of waking up..."

"... is a job search in the town!"

Awkward breakfasts aside, you'd have to say that one of the more interesting aspects of this world is its scenery... though when you say "world", you simply mean "town". Sure, there were floating cities in your old world... usually inhabited by those pointy-eared Aetherians, but to think that a sky-bound city run by bird people exists... it's charming in its own way.

With you are your three flock-mates, each self-assigned for their own roles - Gilda being the physically helpful "push" that nudges you towards the next place to look, Greta being the guide on what to say, and Gabby being... emotional support for whenever you're turned down.

Not that you really need emotional support, but you'd be a vile wretch if you turned that face down.

Speaking of faces, you can't help but notice that after the tea this morning, their faces have still been somewhat flushed... just what was the significance of that cup of tea, anyways? And you don't think you'll make it through the day if you mention it out loud, but you could've sworn you heard all three of them giggling behind your back... all three, including Gilda, of all griffons!

Again, though, it's probably just a griffon thing. Regardless, it at least brings a smile on your face when you envision big, tough, grumpy Gilda giggling like a little girl.

One of the many curses of mortality... you can't always hide yourself from being who you are.

As you step into the next building, a tavern of sorts, you wait over by the not-too-occupied counter and wait for someone to arrive.

When someone finally does decide to come over, she smiles widely at you and folds her arms over the counter; her eyes drooping to a half-lidded gaze that look up towards you.

"Well hey there, handsome! How can I help you today?" she asks in, what you'd assume sounds like, a flirtatious-sounding way. You seem to get that a lot, actually... perhaps a lot of folk in this world just find aliens that interesting?

Then again, it's probably just part of her job, what with this being a tavern, and all that... probably what it is.

You smile back at her, putting the thoughts into the back of your mind, and nod your head in greeting. Not wanting to sound rude, but still wanting to get straight to the point, you then try to reply to her. "Hey. The name's Regol. I'm looking for a jo-"

Before you even get a chance to finish your sentence, you feel Greta's talons grip onto your arm and turn you around. She then walks you towards the exit, while looking almost like the feathers on her neck have started to fluff out a bit more than usual.

"Nope, don't trust her. She's a horrible griffon, and likely trying to trick you into doing something terrible." she says, stretching a wing behind your back so you can't really look over your shoulders and expect to see anything more than her feathers.

"Uh... are you sure that's-"

"Yes. I'm positive. Simply put, that griffon is a conniving whore, and likely trying to get you to do something unpleasant for her. For all we know, she might be carrying a bunch of diseases, too!" Greta, the usually quiet one, points out to you.

You'd argue that she might be taking it a little too far, but that credit might be better sent to Gilda, whose reflection you can see from a mirror ahead of you. She seems to be giving the waitress at the counter a death-glare, with a few gestures that, without a doubt, make it clear she wants to kill her.

And the poor waitress seems to be hiding behind her counter, now, afraid to even look at either one of you.

As for Gabby... she's just like you, actually, and trying to piece together what the hell just happened.

Whatever the case, a similar thing happens for each place that's being managed by a female. You wouldn't get a single sentence in, and already your company smells distrust in the air... even though all you'd likely smell are the feathers of whichever Griffon decides to pull you away, be it Gilda or Greta.

Eventually, though, you finally manage to reach a place that's run by a male griffon. He looks up at you from across the counter and smiles. "'Ey! How can ah help ye today?"

You lean against the front desk and sigh, placing your hands on your forehead. It's interview twenty, now, and you're about done with this mundane bullshit.

"The name's Regol. I'm looking for a job." you say, at this point not even bothering to give the speech much emphasis.

The griffon hums, then smiles at you, shaking his head. "Heh... no ya aren't, lad."

This catches you off guard. Raising an eyebrow, you look up at him. "... Pardon?"

Again he shakes his head. "Aye, ye be pardoned... but ye ain' lookin' fer a job, neither! Ye look as bored as the Seven Hells of Tartarus, if anythin'! Ye seekin' a lot more adventure than a simple job can offer, ain' ya?"

You blink once... then twice. A small smile begins to form on your lips, as the thoughts of adventure finally returns to your mind. "Yeah... I suppose I am. But, uh, how did you...?"

He raises a talon up and waves dismissively. "Can see it in yer eye, lad... if'n ye want a TRUE adventurer's job, ye be wantin' to head on o'er ta Equestria... more specifically, Hollow Shades!"

Gilda tilts her head confusedly and approaches the counter. "Hollow Shades? Ain't that dump been abandoned for years, now?"

The shopkeeper shrugs his shoulders. "Fer the most part, yeh... but after Princess Twilight an' her friends freed the Pillars of Old, the place became a hotspot fer the brave an' adventurous... eventually, they 'ad a new building erected where the Pony of Shadows was once imprisoned! Tha' building would happen to be the one ye be seekin'!"

"Does the building have a name?" you ask.

"Aye, tha' it does, lad. The Adventurer's Guild!"

"And the place was established by a princess?"

He nods his head. "Indeed, it was. Despite bein' a princess, she an' her friends were quite the adventurers themselves!"

Gilda nods her head in agreement. "I can vouch for 'em, Regol. One of her friends also happens to be a good friend of mine, as well. She sends me letters all the time about the crazy stuff they've been through."

"I see..."

You then rub your chin in thought, deciding your next question to ask.

"What kinds of tasks do the Guild provide?"

He shrugs his shoulders. "Far as I can tell, pretty much anythin' for any profession, so long as yer able ta pass the tests!"

"And would slaying monsters happen to be among them?"

"Aye, believe it or not! Ye'd be surprised how often a beast needs ta be put down, be they Feral or otherwise! Even 'ad a few bandits that need dealin' with, though more oft then not an Adventurer would rather capture 'em and send 'em ta prison!"

"Killing them would be easier." you say with a shrug.

"Perhaps, but ye'd also likely be rewarded extra bits fer prisoners brought alive, as well!" he suggests.

"I guess that'll depend on how willing they'd be to comply."

He leans back against his seat a little bit. "Yer quite curious about it... I take it ye'll be wantin' ta give it a go?"

You sigh, shrugging your shoulders. "As tempting as it is, I'm afraid it may not be an option. I'm part of a flock, now, so I'm kinda stuck here."

Gilda shrugs her shoulders, patting you on the back. "Hey, relax Regol! It ain't that bad up here, once you've gotten used to it!"

Greta quickly flies inside, catching all of your attention. "Guys! Gabby might be in trouble!"

"WHAT?!" Gilda shouts, her wings flaring out.

You quickly stand up and run outside. Your flock-mates follow close behind.

"The best part of waking up..."

"... is a fight in the middle of the town!"

As soon as you step outside the building, you glare at the sight of a rather tall, burly-looking griffon looking down at Gabby, who's lying on her back, staring fearfully into his eyes.

"I-I'm sorry, sir! I promise, I wasn't trying to-" she begins, only for him to roll his eyes and motion with his right talon in a mocking pattern.

"Bleh, bleh, bleh, you're sorry, you're sorry! WHY DON'T YOU WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING, YA DAMN FEATHERHEAD!" he shouts, causing several of the gathered griffons to gasp at his choice of words.

You glare at him and instinctively reach your right hand over your shoulder, ready to draw your sword, when an unfortunate reminder comes up... your sword's back at the house, along with your Leather Armour.

With an annoyed sigh, you decide fists will have to do for the time-being.

"Not a local, is he?" you ask, briefly turning your head towards Greta.

She shakes her head. "No... but it looks like he's about to grab her! We've gotta do something!"

You nod and take a single step forward. Then you're about to call him out, when a white and brown blur quickly rushes past you - it's Gilda. And judging by the look in her eyes, she's definitely not looking to make friends out of the guy.

Before he could even turn around, she crashes right into him, sending him flying into a nearby house. Upon crashing into the wall, he collapses inside, with Gilda hot on his trail, leaping in for the kill.

Seeing how she's dealing with him, you quickly rush over to Gabby to help her back up to her paws and talons. As soon as she's up, however, she quickly pushes her head into your chest, wrapping her arms around you, weeping and shaken up.

You wrap your arms around her, pressing your chin onto her scalp, then slowly and calmly start brush her feathers.

"H-he was about to... h-he almost-" she begins, only for you to coo at her.

"Shh... no he wasn't. Not while I'm around... or Gilda, or Greta for that matter."

She sniffles a bit more, before the sound of the griffon crashing out of the wall and into the next house catches your attention. Looking up, you see Gilda fly into the place, and pull back from the hug.

"Gabby, please go and fetch me my sword." you ask, before turning towards Greta. "And Greta, please bring me some runes."

"What kinds do you need?" she asks darkly, perhaps having the same thoughts as you.

"Fire, preferably. But if you can't find any, then just something to help us teach this bastard a lesson."

She nods her head before taking flight, with Gabby following right behind her.

... Until a few seconds pass.

"Uh, Regol?" Greta calls out from behind you. You turn around and spot several armored griffons flying around them, each with spears drawn.

One of them lands in front of you and looks up into your eyes. Though he has a stoic demeanor, you can already sense the fear in him.

"You, there! Are you with them, by any chance?" he asks, motioning towards the scene behind him. By coincidence, Gilda crashes out of the building with the griffon male firmly gripped by the neck. Upon landing, he scurries back up to his talons and flies away, with Gilda shouting threats at him on the ground level, while several guards surround her.

You cross your arms over your chest and glare at him, making him take a single step back.

"I am... why do you ask?"

He straightens his posture back up and clears his throat. "I'm afraid this kind of behavior will not be tolerated... I'm going to have to ask you four to come with us!"

You sigh, before pinching the bridge of your nose.

"Listen. That griffon that just flew away was threatening one of us."

He nods his head. "I'm aware, but that's not the reason why we need you."

"Then what is the reason?"

"... Property Damage." he says, nodding towards the latest building Gilda managed to tarnish with the other griffon's skull... and spine.

You look at it and sigh. "Oh... well, that DOES make sense, I guess... but how the hell's that place even stand-"

As if on cue, the house's walls collapse, and with it, the roof. All that's left of it is nothing more than rubble on the ground.

You then look at Gilda and deadpan. It could've been any house, but no, it's almost like fate wanted to make a fool out of you all. Remembering the street you're on, you're quick to mentally note something very, very important that you don't think Gilda realized until just now...

... that was your house.

"The best part of waking up..."

"... is a Court Case for the flock!"

The judge raps his gavel against the platform, while you and your flock sit at the Defense Table. The jury surrounds you all in the room, with several armed guards in-between.

Gilda looks angrily at the judge, and Greta simply remains calm as ever. Gabby looks up at everyone with a worried expression adorning her features.

You, however, are also sitting there calmly, listening to the judge describe the numerous damages that she caused the town, both from today and some other times while you weren't there.

"... Then you lit the store on fire and said, and I quote, 'he's mine, lay off'. How do you plead, Gilda Gruff?" the judge asks, looking at her accusingly.

She simply grins at him and shrugs her shoulders. "Guilty as charged! And the bitch better remember it, too!"

He raps the gavel against the desk again, as the jury starts to squawk their anger and protest against her... some, quite literally, as well. It makes you grin a little.

"ORDER! Young lady, you will refrain from using such language at once!" the judge threatens.

"Or what, you old bag?! You'll lock me away for hurting your feelings?!" Gilda asks, leaning over the desk with the cocky smile on her face growing even wider.

Something tells you she's not really that interested in staying here... that, or she's too angry for reasoning. Probably both.

You quickly turn towards Greta, who's sitting next to you, clawing a symbol onto a small pebble. The symbol would appear to be shaped like a pair of eyes and a diamond in-between.

She looks back at you and subtly nods her head before placing it in your hand.

Cupping the rune into your hand, you eye the griffon judge's eyes, and mumble a word.

"Mex." (Mind.)

"You know what?! That's not a bad idea! Very well, then! I hereby sentence you and your flock to lifetime imprisonment in-"

"Objection, Your Honor... I have a better suggestion, if you'd like to listen?" you call out, standing up from your seat.

The judge turns his gaze over to you, and frowns. "It's improper to interrupt me during this trial... but very well, then, since you were silent enough during this case, let's hear what you would like to suggest!"

You have to act fast, or the spell might wear off prematurely.

"I'd like you to alter that sentence. Instead of imprisonment, why don't we just gather what we can from what's left of our home, and settle for banishment from this shitty old town?"

A few of the locals gawk at you, while the judge hums, thinking about the suggestion.

He then glares at you and shakes his head. "And if I say my suggestion was better?!"

In response, you glare back at him and point at his forehead, with the rune neatly concealed within your palm. "You won't. My suggestion is better, isn't it?"

His back suddenly stiffens. Though the naked eye wouldn't be able to see it, your left eye is able to pick up the aura of magic around his brain.

The Mind Spell worked.

"Yes... you're right. I hereby sentence your flock to banishment from Griffonstone! Only by lawful permit may you be allowed to enter, but not to reside within it for the rest of your lives!"

And as soon as he raps the gavel across the desk, you feel the rune crumble in your hand. The magic no longer surrounds his mind, but thankfully the judgement has been passed.

"About time, I'd say... this stupid town's boring, anyways!" Gilda comments, before you four stand up from your seats and make your way over to the exit.

"It took us a few hours to go through the remains of the house... but after finding my old chest, I quickly put my Leather Armour on, fastened my sword over my shoulder, and rendezvoused with the flock at the Town Gate. Once we were all set, we began our trek towards Equestria.

"Gabby was actually quite happy with this outcome, as she kept on cheering about how we're going on an adventure. Perhaps she was getting a little pent-up in the mundane lifestyle, as well? Whatever the case, she's quickly gotten over the incident in the town, so that's good, at least.

"As happy as Gabby was, though, I noticed that Greta seemed a bit saddened by this turn of events... and I guess I can see where she's at. Being born and raised in the town, but used to the secluded lifestyle, it only makes sense that she'd likely prefer the peace and quiet. Perhaps I could make it up to her later on... maybe help teach her about survival, and the beautiful part of living the adventurer's life. I'm pretty sure she'll be homesick for the next few weeks, though... best bet is to give her her space, for the time-being.

"Gilda was, more or less, neutral about all this. Despite her saying that she hated it here, I guess she also felt the sting of loss, due to this place being her home. She was, like Greta, born and raised here, after all. That, plus after the first hour, the reality of the whole situation kicked in, and she was somewhat disheartened by the fact that she just lost her home. However, the way how some of the locals looked at her was good enough motivation for her to give the town the finger... or the claw, in her case. Quite literally, in fact.

"Regardless of how things could've gone, we really didn't have many options at the end of it. If I'd have made the judge drop the case entirely, I knew someone would grow suspicious, and if we decided to stay, we wouldn't really have a house to go back to, anyways. After all, Greta sold her home to move in with Gilda, and Gabby mostly lived on her own on the streets until Gilda invited her into her flock.

"So now, let's wrap things up and summarize this little adventure of ours, if we can even call it that... hmm... well, I guess to make a long story short, this is how we were kicked out of Griffonstone."

Author's Note

Because I'm a boring guy, here's a picture of Regol in his Leather Armour, so that you don't have to take wild guesses what you look like in this world!

PARTY STATUS:

Gabby:
(Amity) ☻☻☻☻☻☻ o o o o +1
(Sensuality) ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ o o o o o +2

Gilda:
(Amity) ☻☻☻☻☻ o o o o o +0
(Sensuality) ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ o o o o o o +1

Greta:
(Amity) ☻☻☻☻ o o o o o o -1
(Sensuality) ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ o o o o o o +1

2 : "Hexblade, Unhinged!"

Author's Note

This episode is marked "[NSFW]", as it contains the following:

EXTREME VIOLENCE
GORE

2 : "Hexblade, Unhinged!"

"After spending the rest of the day walking, the girls and I decided to set up camp for the night. Though not entirely out of Griffonstone's Territory, we're at least a couple miles away from the shoreline. Once we've reached that, we may see about visiting the tavern there, and finding some odd jobs or work to deal with.

"Greta's gotten a little bit better, but not by much. I might have a talk with her tonight, if she's okay with it. Don't want her feeling left out, after all.

"In the meantime, though, Gilda's stoking the fire with the wood we've already gathered and Gabby's fixing up the tent. Greta's just sitting there quietly, scratching away at a few pebbles, so as to make a few runes for our camp. Wards, more than likely, to prevent beasts from approaching us while we're asleep.

"As for me, well, I've decided to scout the area for any additional resources we might need... extra firewood for later on tonight, maybe some berries and herbs I can bring to Gabby or Gilda for potions or seasoning. We've got enough Travel Rations to keep us well fed for at least a week, though, so there's no need to go hunting for game just yet... however, with about a month's worth of travel ahead of us, we're probably going to need to prepare ourselves for that.

"Speaking of hunting, though, there's something that seems off about this forest... it's a lot more quiet than I'd have thought most forests would be... almost too quiet.

"Despite the silence, however, I'm starting to get a hunch that we're not alone in this forest..."

You take a few steps towards a nearby bush and begin searching it for berries. Red, blue, and a few green ones fill the vines, and according to both, Gabby and Gilda, these ones would make a nice little treat for any meal.

At least, you hope these are the ones they said. You would call out and ask them, but you've been walking for about five minutes straight. Chances are, they might not hear you very well.

As you finish picking the berries, you place them in a wooden bowl that you brought with you and wrap it up with some cloth, so as to keep any unwanted leaves and acorns from falling into it. Then you stand back up and start heading back to the camp.

Then it hits your senses... the smell of fire, but from a different direction. You turn towards the direction of the fire, and frown. Your left eye begins to pick up the auras of other living beings nearby... all of them seem to be focused on you.

With a sigh, you decide to just ignore them. Perhaps they're just guards on patrol, or something?

"Hold it right there!" comes a gruff male's voice. You roll your eyes and continue heading towards the unknown fire source. Maybe they'd back off if you didn't acknowledge them as a threat, then... if only fate would be that kind for once.

"Oi! I'm talking to you!" he calls out, stepping from the bush he was hiding in. He's dressed in a mix between fur and chains, which can only mean one thing... bandit.

You pause then turn to face him with an annoyed glare adorning your features. "Yes, and I'm ignoring you... was kinda hoping you'd pick up the pattern here. Guess my standards were too high."

He smirks, folding his talons over his chest. "Heh... a wise one, eh? Tell ya what, how's about ya hand over your valuables, and we'll let ya go nice and easy-like?"

You stare at him for a moment, before your eyes drift around the surrounding area. Nobody's showing themselves just yet, though your enhanced senses can definitely pick up nine more around you.

With this in mind, you look back at the bandit and fold your arms over your chest. "I take it if I refuse, then all nine of your friends here will leap out of the bushes and attack me, right?"

He raises an impressed eyebrow at you and hums. "Ah, so you've noticed me crew, then? Suppose there's no point in hidin', then!"

At the snap of a claw, the other bandits step out of the bushes. However, you're quick to notice that most of them appear to be minotaurs. You've read a bit about them from some of the foreign books you found in the library, which were written in Common. Unfortunately, though, you're still learning Griffscript, so you can't really read the works of a griffon just yet.

Regardless, though, they seem close enough to your body shape, so this should be even easier to work with, should they be foolish enough to fight.

"You've got ten men on your side, total... you might wanna rethink this, captain. That's ten casualties for your crew, including yourself."

They look at each other, almost hesitantly, before one of them looks over at the captain. "Erm... boss? Are you sure this is worth it? I-I mean, he did notice us before we even came out of hiding, and yet he isn't even showing signs of fear... I think this might be a trap!"

You look at the suspicious bandit and grin wickedly. "It's not a trap, it's a fact. Attempt to strike me down, and I'll kill you... simple as that."

"Don't let him fool you! He's just hiding his fear... we have him outnumbered! Surrounded! There's no way he can win this!"

You unfold your arms from your chest and clench your fists. Clearly they aren't going to back down, so you decide to have a little fun.

"Then tell you what... I'll close my eyes, and stand here for fifteen seconds. If I open my eyes, and you're in my line of sight, consider yourself already dead. It starts as soon as you start swinging."

With that, you close your eyes and wait.

You sense movement coming from behind you, and hear the sliding of a blade coming from its scabbard. The bandit is lunging at you from overhead.

In the blink of an eye, you draw your sword and lift the blade up, clashing it against his in a perfect parry.

"Fifteen..." you say, while another bandit rushes towards you, followed by another. Before long, there's six of them surrounding you, each swinging at you, while you effortlessly parry their strikes, eyes closed, and senses kicked into overdrive.

All the while, you keep counting down.

"... Five ..." you say, deflecting a blow inches away from your neck.

"... Four ..." You push a stab aimed at your heart away, while also using their blade to deflect another strike.

"... Three ..." You lift your sword's handle up. The base of the blade catches another sword. Then you rotate your sword into a reverse-grip and block a swing aimed at your back.

"... Two ..." Yet another swing against your right shoulder is attempted. You swirl your sword around in a circular pattern, deflecting the swing off-course, making that particular bandit fumble to the ground... your first victim is now determined.

"... One ..." They all take a step back before deciding to lunge at you simultaneously, save for the fumbled one, who's making an attempt to stand back up.

And then, you open your eyes. Time freezes around you, as your Demon Eye immediately glows bright red. In your left hand, you raise a Fire Rune towards the staggered bandit and point at his right eye.

"Flei." (Fire.)

The rune glows a bright red color. A burst of flames shoots from your finger, and into his face, sending him falling onto the ground, gripping his face in pain.

You then turn around, sword drawn, and thrust the blade into the neck of the nearest bandit.

You manage to stab him in the throat, forcing him to drop his weapons and, instinctively, lift his talons up in a fruitless attempt to remove the blade.

To your left you spot one of them lunging their sword your way, so you quickly duck down and slide your blade outwards, rupturing the bandit's throat, before slicing upwards towards the next one.

Two more are swinging at you; one overhead and the other after your legs. You leap forward, flying in-between the blades, and roll from the momentum, then slice the stomach out of the left bandit.

The right bandit makes an attempt at your neck, so you raise your sword and cross the blade's path, before standing back up completely, and lodging your knee into his stomach.

He falls to the ground, allowing you to slice his head clean off.

Afterwards, two more bandits rush towards you, swords overhead. You notice one of them carrying a dagger, and quickly rush in-between them before they can even swing, and disarm the dagger from the bandit, while plunging your sword into the other one's chest.

A seventh bandit then joins them, while the one next to you adjusts his posture to take another swing at you.

You slice the sword out of the bandit's chest and into the neck of the fifth bandit, then turn around and throw the dagger into the seventh one's left eye.

As the three of them fall at once, the remaining three bandits stare at you with shocked expressions, before the two surrounding the leader drop their weapons and run away, deeper into the forest.

The leader glares at you and picks one of his comrades' swords, then shakily points them towards you.

"Who are you... w-who the hell are you?!" he demands, as you casually walk towards him.

Expressionlessly, you stop moving and reply, "Regol of Seuhans... Hexblade."

He lets out an angry roar before lunging towards you, both swords crossed in an "x" pattern, and aimed for your head.

You sigh, shaking your head in disappointment. "Should've learned from your comrades."

You then lift your sword and angle it just slightly. As it clashes with his swords, you take a step to the side and apply pressure to the strike, forcing the blades in his hands to inch closer to him.

He shakes very briefly and attempts to push your sword away, but with one more surge of pressure, you force the blade forward once again. This time, his swords crack, then the tips of them shatter. Your sword slides through effortlessly, and in a single swipe, your sword is, once again, in front of you.

You wipe the tip of the sword with your waist cloth and slide it back into the scabbard, before turning towards the bandit captain, who's standing perfectly still.

"You should've listened, while you had the chance." you tell him.

His only response is a choking noise, before his head and right arm fall from his body, pulsating with blood for a brief moment.

Seeing how the other bandits fled, there's a chance you might have to stay up all night, just in case you have unwanted company.

After all, they've got a campsite of their own...

"Without anyone else in the area, I've decided to return back to the campsite. Picking up the bowl of berries I've gathered, which I left stored away near a bush at the beginning of the encounter, I began the hike - my senses constantly picking up traces of the bandits that weren't there before.

"It seems the magic in this world's air has weakened my sensing abilities to a degree... that, or I was out of the hunt for a lot longer than needed. I may have to hone them some more, and train rigorously so that I can avoid surprise ambushes like this in the future... however near it might be.

"And considering how close the bandits are in this area, that might not be very long at all."

3 : "Troubled Thoughts."

"After dealing with the bandits, I made my way back to the camp. Not wanting to startle them with the blood that covered me, seeing how I did just kill eight of them, I first washed it off at a nearby lake.

Once they asked why I was soaking wet, I simply told them that I had to wash up... not really a lie, either, so I don't have to worry about having that on my conscience... never was one to lie.

"It's been a few hours since then. Nightfall has officially begun.

"Gilda, after cooking up some of the rations and spreading it out for us, called it an early night and went into the tent. I thanked her for the food, letting her know that it was good, and she was pleased to hear it... even saw her blush a little, which is a bit unusual for her. Thankfully, though, she brushed it off with her usual cocky smirk, asking me if I expected any less from her.

"Gabby followed shortly after, having burnt out most of her energy making the tent... that, and flying around a little bit, cheering about how we're on an adventure. Despite the bandits being in the woods, I'm just glad they didn't follow her voice... though to be fair, if they did I would sense them by now. Anyways, after the meal she was also thankful to Gilda about her food, and complimented it.

"As for Greta, though, I noticed that she was still lingering by the fire, staring distantly into the flames. She hasn't really said much during the meal... though none of us did while eating. She's usually quiet, yes, but I also sense something's wrong with her... depressed about something. Likely the fact that we've lost our home.

"It was then that I supposed it was time I went over to check up on her... and so, I stood up from my spot; a stump from a tree long fallen before we got here, and sat on the log... just an arm's length beside her."

You gaze upon the fire in silence, listening to crackling of the wood within. Next to you, you hear Greta sigh, as she continues scratching out a rune.

Your eyes drift towards said rune, and you rub your chin in thought.

"Hmm... Fire Rune?" you ask, nodding towards the rune in question.

She nods her head, eyes still focused on the rune. "Can't be too careful."

You smirk, before looking back at the fire. "True."

The silence continues for another moment, before she sighs, looking your way for once.

"I appreciate the gesture, but... I'm fine."

You shrug your shoulders. "I didn't say anything."

"No, but I know what you're thinking."

"Good, then you know I'm not here to ask you if something's wrong." you reply, which catches her off-guard.

"You're... not?" she asks, to which you shake your head.

"Nah... I'm just here to relax, mostly. Enjoy the wilderness I've been away from for so long... besides, I already know something's wrong."

She looks down, and towards the fire once again.

"... But I trust you enough to tell me whenever you feel like it." you add, making her smile weakly.

"Thanks..."

You nod your head again, before leaning forward a little. You grab a stick and stoke the fire a little more. Then, once it's warming up enough, you relax, and bask in the silence for a few more minutes.

Then, she speaks up again.

"... Hey, Regol?"

You turn to face her. "Yeah?"

"... Do you even know what a Flock is?"

Rubbing your chin in thought, you hum and consider what you've picked up so far about it.

You then shrug your shoulders and sigh. "Can't say I know everything about it, but... from what I've gathered, it's a group of griffons that respect each other enough to consider themselves family... right?"

She looks at the fire, and rubs the lower corner of her beak in thought. "Hmm... that's one way to look at it, yes... but only to a degree.

"A flock is more than that... you see... well..."

You raise a hand to pause her.

"I think I get the picture... you three feel something more than just friendship with me, correct?"

Her eyes turn to pinpricks and she stares at you, beak agape. "Y-you know?!"

You shake your head, smiling slyly at her. "Didn't... was just a theory. But now I do."

She groans, and covers her face in embarrassment. Her cheeks flush red. "Oh, jeez, now I just ruined it..."

"Hey... it's alright."

"N-no it's not! We pretty much started courting you!"

"And I'm not gonna back out of it." you reply.

She pauses, and slowly lowers one of her talons to look at you.

"Y-you're... you're not?"

You shake your head. "Nope."

"S-so... you feel the same way about us, then?" she asks. You can sense a hint of hope in her voice.

However, you can't lie to her. And so, you simply shrug.

"Can't say I do, but I can't say I don't. It's just still a bit early for me to decide..."

Sadly, though, she doesn't take it the way you want. Her smile falters, and she looks saddened once more.

"... Oh."

You raise a hand to get her attention. "That being said, that's not a 'no'. It simply means 'not yet, but perhaps eventually'. If we just take things slow, get to know each other better personally, then I'll give the whole relationship thing a chance. However, if it doesn't work out, then we're still gonna be a flock... just in a more platonic sense. Deal?"

She takes a deep breath, collecting her thoughts. In the end, though, she smiles at you and nods her head.

"Okay... deal." She then scoots closer to you and slowly raises an arm up, as if deciding whether or not to hug you.

Your response, of course, is to simply pull her into the hug, resting your chin against her scalp. She sighs in, what you're certain is, relief... like a huge weight was lifted from her shoulders.

"Thanks, Regol... I'll do my best to win you over." she says, to which you simply chuckle at.

"Well, keep the cute act up, and it might not be long."

As you both continue to hug, you can sense two pairs of eyes looking at you both from inside the tent, but decide to ignore their eavesdropping. Best not to ruin this moment for Greta.

With everything else out of the way, you both decide to call it a night. Crawling into the tent, you quickly find yourself covered in griffons within the next few minutes.

Now knowing their feelings for you are definitely more than just friendship, though, you can't help but think that, perhaps, these griffons may very well be the death of you.

"The following morning would prove to be a bit more of a challenge for me, though... if they put forth so much effort to make me more comfortable in this world, maybe it's time I tried helping them feel more comfortable in my world... metaphorically speaking, of course..."

Author's Note

I know what you're thinking, "Ain't it too soon for relationships to start?"

Why no, no it isn't! Sure, it's only Chapter 3, but let's also recount the fact that he's still, technically, been in Equus for about 3 months, now. He knew them since then, and developed a great friendship with them!

That being said, as you read, he didn't simply jump to "Romance", though. Expect more progression over time, as the griffons try winning his heart over!

PARTY STATUS:

Gabby:
(Amity) ☻☻☻☻☻☻ o o o o +0
(Sensuality) ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ o o o o o +0

Gilda:
(Amity) ☻☻☻☻☻ o o o o o +0
(Sensuality) ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ o o o o o o +0

Greta:
(Amity) ☻☻☻☻☻ o o o o o +1
(Sensuality) ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ o o o o o +1

4 : "The Greatest Challenge of All..."

"The night was actually restful, despite Gilda's snoring. I woke up and found myself actually able to sneak my way out of their grasp... wasn't easy, though.

"Next, came one of the biggest challenges I'd ever have to endure..."

You fasten the string to the hunk of wood and sharpen the makeshift arrow you've made. You've made a few backup arrows earlier, just in case you'd need them... though your training has confirmed, you'll only need one.

Sneaking through the forest, you spot your target. Nocking the arrow in place, you carefully aim at the target, take a deep breath, then release the arrow.

"Within my mind, I picture the arrow piercing a fierce beast's chest. It falls to the ground easily.

"I then picture the heads of my enemies cracking against a thick, wooden fence."

*CRACK!*

The cracking sound causes Gilda's eyes to stir open. She yawns, smacks her beak open and closed a couple times, before the lack of a particular Plainswalker catches her attention.

She blinks a few times and looks around. The other two griffons are there, still asleep.

*CRACK!*

The sound returns, coming from outside the tent. She carefully slides out of the tent, and the first thing she notices, is certainly not what she expected.

She sees you sitting there by the fire, with what appears to be a makeshift frying pan in your hands. The sizzling sound coming from it also sounds far more familiar than she'd care to admit.

"Are you... cooking breakfast?" she asks you.

You turn around to face her, and stare blankly into her eyes, though you almost feel like a deer being caught by a hunter.

"... Yes?" you reply, though it sounds as if you're questioning whether it's good or not.

She stares at the, admittedly terrible-looking lump of what used to be eggs in the dish, and her face almost turns green.

"You, uh... need some help with that?" she asks, pointing at the pan.

You sigh and nod your head, looking back at the failed dish. "That would be nice, thanks. I must admit, I'm used to just stabbing a chunk of meat with a skewer and cooking it directly over a fire... that, or having an inn cook the fancy types of food."

"I can tell." she says, chuckling before moving over to the space beside you. "So what's the occasion?"

You shrug your shoulders. "Figured since I'm part of a flock, I should at least do what I can to help out... make myself useful, y'know?"

She shrugs back at you, shaking her head. "Hey, it's cool... though ya really don't have to."

You tilt your head a bit at her comment. "What's cool, the pan? I'm... fairly certain that it's hot."

She looks back at you, also confused, before realization dawns on her. Then she starts to laugh, placing a talon on your shoulder for support.

"Heh... dude, it's a figure of speech. It means that you're alright the way you are... by the way, we should probably start over on these eggs... no offense, but they look like they've been stirred up with skunk dung, then tossed into a rotten corpse."

You deadpan at her. "It's not that bad..."

She simply pokes a talon into the yolk. A green pus starts to spew out of it, making the two of you blanch.

With a sigh, you stand up, approach a distant bush, and toss the failed dish out, before carrying the pan back over to the fire. Gilda, meanwhile, begins digging into her travel pack, and pulls out a couple preserved eggs. "So where'd you even get those eggs from, anyways? Doubt if they came from here."

You shake your head before pointing outwards. "No, I got them from the wilderness... hunted for something fresher. Then I decided to add bird meat to it, hoping to season it better."

"Ah, gotcha... well there's your problem, then! Birds around these areas don't really produce good eggs... and any that do require special treatment before you can cook 'em."

"I see..." you say, rubbing your chin in thought as you observe her cracking the eggs open and pouring them into the pan.

She then looks up at you. "By the way, I heard you and Greta last night."

You nod your head. "I know... so what're your thoughts on that?"

She shrugs her shoulders and looks back at the pan. "Eh, I think it's a good idea. Personally, the girls and I mostly just have a crush on you... little girl-crush, though. Nothin' huge. In fact, think of us flocking together as our way of 'claiming our territory' before another griffon gets to ya, first."

You cross your arms over your chest and smirk at her. "Heh... guess that explains the threats you gave every single female?"

Her back stiffens at that comment. "W-what? They were givin' ya that look!"

"I'm pretty sure most of them didn't."

"W-well... look, I'm not used to this kinda stuff, alright?" She starts to sound a little more nervous, so you decide to cool things down.

"Hey, it's fine. I'm not blaming you for taking initiative. Just... try not to remove the heads from every single female we encounter, alright?" you suggest to her.

She takes a few deep breaths and sighs. "Yeah, I suppose you're right... I can be a bit territorial about most things, really. Heck, about three years ago, I was pretty territorial about the only friend I had at the time."

"Hmm... you told me a little bit about that... Rainbow Dash, was it?" you inquire, recalling a conversation you and Gilda had about a month since you've met and befriended her. From what you've gathered, one of the reasons why Gilda was quick to like you was because she's used to the unusual, and more specifically, being involved in an unusual relationship - as in, a griffon being friends with a pony. Friendship was never really a common thing for griffons to achieve prior to about a year ago.

She nods her head. "Yeah... funny thing, really. We've rekindled our friendship about a year ago, and it was all thanks to one of her friends that, originally, I couldn't stand because of how annoyingly cheerful she can be... but after I agreed to get along with her, I guess it kinda grew on me - the whole 'cheerful' thing... not that I'd take after her, or anything."

You nod in agreement. "Honestly, you never did seem like the cheerful type... though from the looks of it, you're a lot more cheerful while cooking."

"Well, what can I say?" she asks with a shrug. "Ever since I was a fledgling, I loved cooking. Grandpa Gruff even taught me how to cook a pastry called 'Griffon Scones'... though I'll admit, it was Pinkie that taught me a way to improve it tremendously."

You tilt your head confusedly. "Griffon Scones?"

"They're a little bit like cakes, but cooked in a texture similar to biscuits. Add butter, however, and it's actually moist enough for anyone to enjoy... though we griffons prefer eating them solid... some of us even like them, literally, as solid as a rock. Grandpa Gruff, for example, as well as most of the elder griffons."

"Hmm... and the younger ones prefer the newer recipe?"

She nods her head again, lifting the now complete pan of eggs. "Pretty much."

You nod again, giving her an understanding thumbs-up. "Got it."

"Hey, thanks by the way. It's good to talk like this... helps keep my mind off of things... though it kinda sucks that I didn't get to tell you much about cooking. Got a little carried away with memories." she says.

You place a hand on her shoulder. "Any time, Gilda... but don't deny your memories. Cherish them, for they're what brought you up into who you are today." Her cheeks lightly redden, so she turns away from you, trying to hide her blushing.

You decide to thin the ice a bit by changing the subject. "... But for the record, I may just stick with skewering meat over a fire pit."

This lightens her up again, causing her to chuckle. "HA! Yeah, believe me when I say that's probably for the best! I mean, no offense, but if ya put that junk near a slop bucket, I bet everyone would prefer the slop!"

And like that, your pride is starting to get beaten.

"Again, I say it wasn't that bad, at least!"

"You kiddin'?! It was like a rotten egg dipped into skunk crap and left to bask in the sun for a couple days over a dead camel!"

And as she continues to insult your abilities in cooking, you at least get a little bit of a laugh from some of them. Knowing her, this is just her way of coping with the stress of losing her home... after all, it was originally her house that was lost.

But even still, you can't really deny one fact...

... You're just going to leave the fancy cooking to Gilda, because cooking is, without a doubt, your greatest challenge of all.

"Breakfast went well. Soon as Gilda woke the others up, we talked a bit. I let Gabby know the plan on our whole 'relationship' thing, and she agreed heartily, determined to win me over. It made me genuinely chuckle a little.

"After breakfast, we broke down the camp and headed towards Griffon Port. Once we make it there, we'll probably see about finding small work so that we can afford a trip to Equestria.

"However, as we approach the town, we can't help but feel as if something might be off..."

Author's Note

PARTY STATUS:

Gabby:
(Amity) ☻☻☻☻☻☻ o o o o +0
(Sensuality) ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ o o o o o +0

Gilda:
(Amity) ☻☻☻☻☻☻ o o o o +1
(Sensuality) ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ o o o o o +1

Greta:
(Amity) ☻☻☻☻☻ o o o o o +0
(Sensuality) ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ o o o o o +0

5 : "Suffodio, Part I"

"As we made it to Griffon Port, we couldn't help but notice that something was... off... about the place.

"For starters, there wasn't anyone flying around near the town. Several of the buildings' homes were also abandoned - the doors left wide open.

"Instinctively, I drew my sword when we crossed the front gate. I told the girls to wait here... they agreed without hesitation.

"The fog was heavy beyond the gate... something was here... and it wasn't friendly.

"No... scratch that. Something is here... and I'm walking right into its trap...

...

"I almost feel sorry for the poor bastard."

The entrance to the Port Town lies empty... dormant... isolated. The darkness of the moon only makes it that much more eerie. Due to your extensive training, however, you find comfort in the darkness.

What you don't find comfort in, however, is the strangely thicker amounts of roots in the ground. Had the town not been in a jungle, you'd have instantly suspected it to be the works of an all too familiar monster... however, you're still in Unknown Territory. Who knows what kinds of creatures could do this in this world?

Regardless, though, your sword is drawn, and your Fire Rune is in your hand, ready for its use.

Then, you spot something in the distance... a thick patch of roots in the ground, rising up with a bulge coming from the center. In a way, it's entangled around something... or perhaps, someone.

You decide to get closer. When you reach the roots, you carefully pull a part of them apart to look at what's inside.

A glazed-over eye looks back at you, lifelessly.

"A griffon... drained of all his blood and nutrients... that can only mean..." your eyes widen in alarm when the roots move back over the body on their own.

You take a few steps back and turn around, where the sound of a hiss comes from within the fog. You glare at the source of the hiss, as the sound of leaves rattling steps towards you from within the dark grey mist.

SUFFODIO

Seeing the creature crawling its way towards you only makes you grit your teeth.

"Great... a Suffodio. What the hell are you doing in this world?!" you spit, as the Suffodio screeches and lunges its root-like fingers into the ground.

You've dealt with plenty enough of them to know what it's doing, though. Taking a quick look at the ground, you find the tips of its roots inching their way towards your feet.

You quickly roll out of the way, right as the roots shoot out from beneath the ground in spiky formations... but then, more of them start to grow where you land.

Your Red Eye activates, and your monster blood begins to rush into your veins, giving you a boost in speed, strength, and endurance. You manage to dodge a few more and slide underneath one of the extended roots that was aiming to catch you from the sky, before you reach your hand out and snap your fingers while holding the Fire Rune towards the roots.

"FLEI!" you shout, igniting the roots into flames.

The burn is immediately felt by the Suffodio, as it rears its fingers out of the ground and screeches in pain. You take this moment to rush it with your sword.

Upon slicing at it, the Suffodio flies back, now injured from the Silver. It glares menacingly at you and swipes, but you manage to dodge it and slice some of its fingers off.

However, it doesn't stop its hind legs from kicking you back a few meters.

You grunt as you land with a roll, but regain footing and look back up at the monster.

It then opens its mouth and makes a gargling sound.

Your eyes widen, and you reach for your Fire Rune again. With it in your grasp, you lift your hand as a huge swarm of bees flies out of the creature's mouth.

"Flei!" you shout again, bursting a large number of the bees into the flames. However, a few of them manage to get on you and begin pricking you with their stingers.

"Grr... damn it! These bees are aiming for my vital areas! I better do something fast!" you think to yourself, before deciding to pouch your Fire Rune and draw a poison vial from it.

You then take a deep breath before chugging the poison. At once, you feel the burning inside your body, as it slowly drains the life out of you, but the sweat pores from your skin starts to drain all over the bees.

Upon contact, the bees fall to the ground, dying before impact.

You then cough a few times, before drawing your Fire Rune out. "C'mon, you sticky bastard! Come and get me!"

The creature, rather than take you up on your challenge, turns around and starts to run away.

"Oh, no you don't! COME BACK HERE AND-" you begin, but the sound of Gabby's screaming interrupts you.

You turn around and notice her leg being gripped by a root. She's in the air, and her wings are flapping rapidly, as she tries desperately to escape.

With a frustrated growl, you decide priorities are in order... and so, you let the Suffodio get away while rushing to help your Pack Mate.

"Hold on, Gabby! I'm coming!" you call out to her.

Gripping onto your Fire Rune, you ignite the roots before they could truly cause any damage to Gabby's leg.

The roots from within the town start to lower into the ground the further away the Suffodio goes. At once, several bodies fall from the trees above... dead griffons, all of them.

Gabby quickly clings onto you, frightened and startled at the sight of all the dead bodies. Soon Gilda and Greta arrive, with Gilda looking concernedly at you both.

"What the hell happened here, Regol?!" she asks, unable to hide the fear in her voice.

You feel like scolding them for entering the town, and not waiting as instructed, but you decide against it, as the fear in their eyes says it all... they're worried about the inhabitants of this town. And unfortunately, you have to break the news to them.

"Looks like a creature came from my world, and made a Feeding Ground out of this town." you say, looking around for any potential signs of survivors.

Sadly, though, it would appear you four are the only ones alive for miles, not counting the Suffodio that just escaped.

"What... w-what will we do now?!" Greta asks concernedly.

You would usually suggest that you just leave it be. This place isn't really worth the trouble... not like you'd be wanting to return any time, after their horrible treatment earlier.

But this is different. A Suffodio drains nutrients from the world, itself. If such a creature were to get their roots all over this island, who knows how much danger the locals of the neighboring towns could be in?

No, you have to deal with this threat now.

And so, you devise a plan.

"Alright, listen. Look at me... you three might not like this, but I need you to gather as many resources as you can from the town's remains. Food, water, supplies, things like that. And see if you can find any survivors. If you can, get as much information from them as you can. Finally, wait over at the Docks, and see if you can find the best boat we can take, and load it up."

They look at each other concernedly, before Gilda and Greta give you a determined nod. They then fly over towards the surrounding buildings and get to work, while Gabby looks worriedly at you.

"What about you, Regol? Wait... where are you going?" she asks.

Turning around and brandishing your blade, you reply, "I've got some hunting to do."

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

Eh, decided to stop doing the Party System. Relationships will rise and fall in their own time.

6: "Suffodio, Part II"

"The hunt is on. With a Suffodio on the loose, I take the responsibility to deal with it on my shoulders. Reward or not, this thing can become trouble in the matter of days... and there's no telling HOW many days it's already been here. Likely three, considering its size.

"But as I get closer to it, I start to feel a strange sensation... a sensation that I never really thought I'd feel in a hunt...

"... Dread."

You slow your pace after walking about three miles from town. The scenery has changed to a much more gruesome look. Pods litter the area with the bodies of various woodland creatures.

"Hmm... must be getting close to where it first arrived. Question is, how did it get here?"

A particularly large one piques your interest. Upon closer inspection, it would be a Manticore, lifeless like the rest. To take down such a beast would mean one thing.

"It's fully recovered by now... probably should've killed it while I had the chance." you mumble to yourself.

Then you hunch over to the ground and brush your fingers against the soil. Feeling the softness, you're certain that this soil is freshly moved. Then you rip a blade of grass from the ground and give it a small nibble, spitting it out after and mentally noting the texture.

"Soil is rich in nutrients... far more richer than back in Asgalon. For a creature like a Suffodio, this can only mean big trouble ahead."

Finally, you examine the area a bit more, until a loud roar catches your attention... the sound of a lion.

You hurry over towards the source of the noise, and sure enough, another Manticore would appear trapped in the roots. This one, though badly banged up, is still alive, but barely. Its movements inside the trap are more delicate and weak.

You're already familiar with this sign. It's nearing its last legs.

Whether or not the Manticore is hostile, the Suffodio would only get stronger if it absorbs the nutrients out of it completely... and so, you do what comes naturally.

You approach it carefully.

"Alright, cat... hold still." you tell the Manticore, uncaring whether it understands you or not. Its increase in movement only verifies that, sure enough, it doesn't quite get the picture.

So, you decide to work faster, instead. The more it struggles, the deeper the roots go, after all.

"Flei." Raising your Fire Rune towards the base of the roots, you ignite it. In a quick burst, the roots immediately catch fire, and the fire spreads across the roots near-instantly.

The Manticore, seeing its opportune moment, quickly flares its wings and leaps out of its prison. It then roars again, before turning towards you.

For a brief moment, it glares menacingly at you, flaring its wings and lifting its scorpion-like tail defensively. You, however, stand your ground and glare back at it, taking up a defensive posture, yourself.

"If I were you, I'd leave." you tell it.

It stares at you for a moment longer, before its eyes drift towards the spot where it once stood imprisoned. Finally, it lets out a slight growl, turns back around, and takes to the air, flying out of sight.

"Smart cat... now, where the hell did that-" you begin, but before you can finish your sentence, you hush up and listen to the sound of the leaves brushing around.

"Looks like it's coming to investigate its lost meal... good. I can take it by surprise." you think to yourself, as you crouch and climb up a nearby tree.

Sure enough, the creature appears once again, in all its glory. However, you mentally curse as you notice that its arms and legs are a lot more bulged and muscular, its fingers you cut off have regrown, and its leaves have shifted into a more orange and yellow color.

"Damn it... it's already turned into an Alpha?! What the hell is even in this soil?!"

You grit your teeth and await its next move.

You sit there patiently on the branch while it approaches the spot. Then, when it's right beneath you, you lunge at it from the top of the trees, in an attempt to catch it by surprise.

But instead, a gust of leaves surrounds it, and it vanishes before you can even land.

This, of course, leaves you surprised!

"It can use MAGIC, now?! That isn't normal at all!" you mutter. In all of your years of hunting these things, not once could they use magic.

"Must be a side-effect of the soil." you conclude, as you turn around and stand back up, assuming a defensive stance while the Alpha Suffodio looks directly at you. Its once yellowish green eyes now glows red with rage, and it lets out a loud roar before lunging after you with its arms widely spread.

It's learned from its last mistake. This creature is no fool, it would seem.

You dodge to the left, rolling and sliding right underneath its right arm and lash your Silver Sword out against it. This time, however, it counters with a slide of its own, followed by another lunge - this time from a closer distance.

You can't dodge this one, so instead you switch to an Offensive Stance, and slice towards its underbelly while crouching down and moving forward.

This, unfortunately, leaves you open for its roots to wrap around your legs.

You growl and use your Fire Rune on them, but by the time you burn the roots beneath you, it's already charging at full speed.

Now it manages to grip you and lift you on top of its shoulders, while the force disarms your sword from your hands.

"Shit!" you hiss, before reaching your Fire Rune up to its face and burning it.

However, the creature doesn't stop, and instead grips you with its hand and throws you across the field, and into a tree.

You grunt as the pain surges through your left arm. You go to get up, but its roots quickly wrap onto your left arm and start digging through your flesh.

With a pained growl, you use your Fire Rune on the roots. This time, though, they don't burn!

"Damn it! These roots are filled with too much water!" you say out loud.

The Alpha Suffodio begins to charge at you at full speed, now that it has you pinned.

You then take a deep breath and grip onto your left wrist, and hoist a foot onto the tree. Then, with a mighty pull, you manage to break free, but the roots that were dug into your arm make it a very, very unpleasant feeling. The roots that broke from the tree solidify into sticks and splinters that now fill your bloodied left arm.

You don't spare any more time and roll out of the way, right as the Suffodio crashes into the tree, toppling it over with a mighty thud.

Then you rush over towards your sword and almost manage to grab it, but the Suffodio wasn't through quite yet! One of its roots was hanging over a branch surrounding the sword, as if it laid out a trap for you... and unfortunate enough, you ran right into it.

The root wraps around your right ankle and lifts you into the air like a snare, right before you could even reach your blade. You lean up and attempt to break free from the roots, but the creature's grip is surprisingly strong!

Then you look up (or down, technically), and see the creature inching closer!

You're about to reach for your Fire Rune, when a familiar roar fills the air. Turning to your right, you notice the Manticore from before flying towards you!

But rather than aiming at you, it swipes at the root holding you by the ankle, cutting it just enough to break you from your trap!

You kick your legs in the air to angle your landing, then grab your sword and slice at the Suffodio. With it distracted by the Manticore, however, you're able to make a clean hit, sending green pus out of its chest, and making it screech in pain.

You then lunge at it for another swipe, while the Manticore lands and leaps onto its back, biting into its neck, and holding it steady for you.

The Suffodio hisses again as it tries to grab onto the Manticore. However, when you slice at its chest, it only manages to teleport back a few paces, while the Manticore lands on all fours and starts circling around the Suffodio, standing next to you in the process.

You briefly acknowledge the Manticore. "So you're here to help, then? Just try not to die on me... the bastard will only get stronger, then."

For a moment, it seems like the Manticore understands you... or at least, senses the urgency of your words. It keeps pacing, but doesn't make a move until you do.

You're also pacing as well, now... keeping the roots from growing beneath your legs. Then you get an idea.

You charge at the Suffodio, while the Manticore instinctively follows behind you. The Suffodio lashes out another swarm of bees, though.

You're about to use a Fire Rune, when suddenly the Manticore flies ahead of you and lands, then spreads its wings and fans them towards the bees, blowing them astray.

You take this opportunity to leap over the Manticore, and on top of the Suffodio's upper back.

It starts to shake and twitch, while you keep your grip firmly tightened on the beast. Then you reverse-grip your Silver Sword and take a few stabs at it, making it screech with each stab.

Finally, you've cut through its fleshy exterior, and can see its stone heart within! You go to reach for it, but the creature quickly teleports away from you, forcing you to land on the ground.

"Damn it! Not this time, you son of a bitch!" you shout, turning towards the sound of its leaves scurrying away.

You begin to give chase, when the Manticore hoists you up with its mouth and places you on its back. Then it roars before taking flight with you on it.

"Alright, cat! Bring us closer to that thing!" you order. The Manticore roars in acknowledgement, and begins to give chase towards the moving monster.

When you're both close enough, the Manticore dives in. Upon reaching the Suffodio, it quickly bites into its neck, while you leap from the Manticore's back onto the Suffodio's, and stab at it once again.

The beast screeches in agony, as it makes an attempt to teleport once more... but something tells you that it's in too much pain to do anything, now.

You see its heart and reach your hand into it. Already, you can feel the small roots inside the stone organ piercing at your palms, but a little-known fact of the Suffodio is that its heart houses its weakest roots... it's why it has to absorb from the life forms around it to strengthen its exterior roots that shields its heart from the world. And with your Monster Blood strengthening your endurance, the weakest roots aren't able to even break the skin, let alone absorb anything.

And now, with one mighty pull, you force the heart out of the beast and leap back from its quickly hollowing body.

The Manticore then crushes its neck with its jaw, right as the body breaks apart, becoming nothing more than a pile of wood on the ground.

You breathe heavily while lifting the heart in the air. The tiny roots wriggle and writhe from the few small holes in the heart.

Giving it a fierce glare, you take a Fire Rune and burn the last remaining roots, before crushing the heart with your hand, turning the organ, and its interior roots, into dust and ash.

"Finally... glad that's over with." you say, before turning towards the Manticore.

The Manticore gives you a fierce look, before nodding its head and turning around. You nod back and turn around, as well.

Two predators acknowledging a common debt that was paid would be your guess. You freed it from the pod, and it freed you from the snare. An even trade, even though you probably could've escaped had you used your Fire Rune for it... but you'll just give the Manticore the benefit of the doubt.

And so, sheathing your sword again, you make your way back over towards the town to deliver the good news to the girls.

"With the hunt taken care of, I made it back to town without any more trouble. Unfortunately, no survivors could be found, even after they scoped the whole place out... but who knows? Maybe some of them fled the town.

"Regardless, my arm kinda gave them a fright, but I let them know that it's fine. I have a faster healing rate than most creatures, anyways. The wounds should be fully healed by three days at most.

"As for the rest of their tasks... they managed to find a good enough ship to take us through the sea and into Equestrian Waters. We've also got enough rations and food stored away. Best of all, free travel due to the... lack of an owner for the ship.

"And so, after giving the rest of the town one last sweep, we climbed on board and lifted the anchor. Our next destination would be Horseshoe Bay."

7: "Suffodio, Post-Hunt."

Author's Note

WARNING! CRINGE-MATERIAL BELOW!

The following chapter contains depictions of sea sickness and medical treatment involving the removal of foreign substances from the body (in this case it being twigs from the arm and side). If you are squeamish, please feel free to skip this scene, and wait patiently for the next one over!

7: "Suffodio, Post-Hunt."

"The ride to Horseshoe Bay would take about seven days on the sea. I'm already used to the ocean, and by the looks of it, Gabby is a natural at handling things.

"Greta seems to be getting by pretty well, using this time to prepare more runes for me to use in my next hunt.

"Gilda, on the other hand, is currently hunched over the side of the ship, releasing her lunch from yesterday, as well as her 'Perfect Breakfast' that she made us.

"I have to admit I'd much rather be over there comforting her, but there's one small task that has to be dealt with, first..."

"Okay, hold still! This one's gonna be a bit more lengthy!" Gabby says as her claws firmly grip onto yet another twig that's lodged into your arm.

You've discarded your shirt, and now you're having to sit on a chair and let Gabby go to work on her medicating job... which in this case, means pulling out the dozens upon dozens of splinters from your arm and left side, where the Suffodio tossed you into the tree earlier.

All in all, you're taking it rather well, despite the pain the twigs and splinters bring.

"Alright. I'm holding still... just pull it out quickly, please." you tell her, balling up your fist and bracing for the pain.

She nods her head and, with one swift motion, pulls a six-inch-long twig out of your arm. You grunt and hiss as the object gets removed, but sigh in relief now that it's out.

"Yikes! That one was deep! Hold on, I'll put some healing cream on top of it!" she comments, before doing as she said she would.

After administering the remedy to the bleeding wound, she moves on to the next one. This one's rather small, but still in a tender spot, so you're going to expect a little pain.

"So what was that creature, anyways?" she asks you, in an attempt to get your mind off of things.

You can't help but smile at her curiosity. "It was a Suffodio... 'Wooden Beast' from my world."

She hums as she removes yet another splinter. "Huh... and what does this Suffodio usually do? Y'know, aside from absorb nutrients and stuff from its victims?"

"Hmm... well, they're very territorial by nature, so they tend to attack anything that gets too close to their nests." This makes her pause her care for a brief moment.

"You don't suppose that one left a nest there, do you?" she asks worriedly.

You wave a dismissive hand to calm her. "Nah... that one was a male, anyways. They usually remain close to the nest, and I would've been able to sense any more of them."

"... And you didn't?" she asks, taking a hold of another twig. This one seems to be a whole foot... that won't feel very good.

You shake your head. "Nope. Empty as can be." you say, hissing in pain as she removes the foot-long twig from your elbow.

Giving your arm a brief curl, you sigh in relief, once again able to bend your arm properly, at least. With the two holes beside your elbow, you'd wager that one was impaled all the way through. The adrenaline must've kept you from noticing it.

Regardless, though, it's out and that's all that matters. She quickly applies more healing cream to it.

"Good, good... I'd hate to imagine how dangerous several more of them would be!"

You shrug your shoulders. "I've had to handle a family of them before... only thing is that the one over here was able to use Magic. That's unheard of where I come from... so something in this world made it stronger."

As she pulls yet another twig from your arm, Gabby looks over towards Gilda. "Hey, Gilda! How're you making it?"

"*Brrp*... F-fuck off!" she stammers, releasing yet another wave of lunch into the sea.

You smirk, shaking your head in slight pity. You can remember your first time at sea. Sure, you weren't the one to get sick, but several of your fellow Hexblades did.

"Alright, shutting up now." Gabby replies, rolling her eyes and returning her focus back onto you.

The rest of your medical treatment goes silently, save for the occasional hiss and silent curse you make. By the end of it, though, she's done a damn good job with removing the wood, and even took the time wrapping bandages over your wounds.

As you make an attempt to put your shirt back on, she blocks your hands' path with her talons.

"No way, Mister! You've gotta let your wounds heal before putting your armor back on!" she says sternly.

You would argue that your armor is designed for easy movement and less drag against your body, but her face just seems too... well, cute to ignore.

And so, with a sigh, you shake your head. "Fine... I'll be in the Captain's Lounge if anyone needs me."

Gilda gives a disgruntled thumbs-up gesture while Gabby salutes you and approaches Gilda, pulling a Spearmint Leaf out of her pouch.

"Here, Gilda! This should ease your stomach up a good bit!" you hear her call out. You then relax on the bed, and close your eyes.

Before long, sleep takes you.

"With my arm taken care of, I thought our trip would be rather uneventful from here on out...

"... but then again, I've been wrong before. And as I should mention, I absolutely hate it when I'm wrong."

8: "???"

"Everything seems peaceful... and that's usually a bad sign."

You find yourself entering a tavern. Several of the people gathered inside stop their conversations and look towards you, eyes specifically drawn towards your own left one. The inhuman red color and the menacing scar that covers it, only a sign that you could potentially be trouble.

Ignoring the stares, you walk over towards the bartender and take a seat on a stool, ordering one of their strongest drinks with the placement of two gold coins.

"C-coming right up, Sir!" the bartender stutters, before reaching behind the counter, and pulling out one of your favorites - Stahlitean Ale. The best creation from the Stahliteans - the short mountain people of the High-Risen West. If they could put anything over their beards, it would have to be the ale that they've brewed.

Strong enough to put a fully grown Tussikar into a coma, only the bravest dare give the drink a smell, let alone a taste.

And yet, because of your Monster Blood consisting of more dangerous beasts, and plural at that, you can easily stomach it without a problem.

For some reason, though, once you down the drink, the world around you blurs.

The next thing you know, you are naked and in a wooden tub, filled with nice, hot water. You also feel the warm liquid and soap draining down your back, while a beautiful-sounding woman tends to the dirt all over your body.

"So then what happened, Regol?" she asks.

You blink confusedly while a rag is placed over your eyes. The voice seems a bit familiar, but you can't quite put your finger on it.

Then you remember that she's asking you a question.

"I'm sorry, what was that?" you ask.

She giggles, replying, "What happened after you went to sleep on the ship?"

You sigh as you feel calm hands rubbing your back... then it occurs to you that those hands feel a little more sharp... almost like talons.

Curious, you lift the rag from your eyes, only to be looking directly into Gabby's.

"Wait, Gabby? What..."

"This can't be right... I'm in Asgalon, now. So what is Gabby doing here?!"

She giggles, before reaching a bucket into the water and pouring more of the warm liquid over your head.

You have to admit to yourself, this isn't really that unpleasant... just confusing.

Then you feel another pair of talons massage your shoulders, and look up. Greta smiles back down at you, while you just gawk at the two of them.

"Wait... but where is-" you begin, only for Gilda's head to slowly rise out of the water at the other end of the tub. She would be staring half-lidded into your eyes, and a sultry smile adorns her features.

"Shh... just relax, Regol... let us take care of your burdens for once..." the three of them whisper to you.

You feel their talons starting to drift lower down your body... you can't break the confusion from your mind, but your body has other plans that betray your thoughts.

"No... something is off... what the hell is..." But then, it occurs to you. The ship! You have to still be on the ship!

Then that means...

"This is only a dream..." you mumble to yourself.

At once, Gabby starts to mumble something inaudible.

"... What?" you can't help but ask, as their talons get even closer to your restricted area.

"Wake up... please!" She begins to sound more and more urgent, despite her gaze.

Soon the world around you begins to blur, and you start to fall down an endless drop.

"REGOL! WE NEED YOUR HELP!"

Gabby's urgent shouting is more than enough to break you from your slumber.

Your eyes shoot open and you sit up quickly. Turning towards Gabby, you notice that she is soaking wet. Another thing is that she's holding a bucket.

"What's going on, Gabby?" you ask.

"A storm! We're under a heavy storm, now!"

You sigh, shaking your head. "Why didn't you tell me this before it became an issue?!"

With a shrug, she replies, "Because it just came out of nowhere, all of a sudden! The ship is going to sink if we don't get the water out!" She then rushes outside again after a loud bang of thunder, not saying another word.

"Wait... sudden storm? That can't be right..." you begin to think to yourself, before another bang of thunder fills the air.

Suddenly, the ship jerks to the side, and you're forced from the bed to the floor by the rather large bump from the waves.

You grunt in frustration as you pull yourself back onto your feet. Then, without hesitation, you run to the outside, where you see all three of the girls with buckets, dumping pale after pale of water overboard.

"I think we just hit something, Regol! We need you to go check it out for us! We'll keep bailing this water out while you do that!" Gilda says, having gotten over her seasickness for the greater good... though you have a feeling she's still feeling it, just not showing it due to the anger and fear.

You nod your head in understanding. "On it! A Nature Rune should quickly patch any damage up!"

And with that, you hurry into the Crew's Lodge, where water rises halfway up your knees. There's no doubt about it, now. Something happened here.

Then you find it... a leak coming from three different holes in the base.

You sigh before rushing over towards the holes and pulling a Nature Rune from your pouch. Lifting it up, you close your eyes and envision the wood with the holes in them.

"Tul." you chant, causing the wood surrounding the holes to grow roots that intertwine then merge. With that done, the holes are now plugged in.

However, the rain is still dripping down the ladder... you'd have to do something about that, next.

For now, though, bailing the water is the best you can come up with.

You're about to reach for a bucket, when your Monster Eye starts to glow red.

This makes you freeze in place. Your predatory instincts begin to take control, and you start to hear a creaking around the walls.

The damage to the ship wasn't caused by the storm... in fact, the storm may not be natural.

No... there's something in the water, and it's controlling the weather!

"Oh, that's just great... another damn monster in the course of one freakin' day!"

You grit your teeth in frustration before rushing to the stairs.

"Another monster... and unfortunately, I can't sense what it is, because it's underwater. However, there's a couple things I'm aware of.

"Whatever this creature is, it is huge... and definitely not friendly."

9: "Nagaroth"

"I made it to the deck of the ship... only to find the source of the commotion still hasn't shown its face, yet. It must be planning something..."

As you make it to the deck, you call out over the storm to the girls.

"Brace yourselves! We've got a big monster on our tail!"

The three of them stare at you in bewilderment. Then Gilda looks back up at the clouds and rubs her chin in thought.

"Sea monster capable of manipulating weather? How the hell are we gonna handle that?!" she asks.

You punch your fists together. "By working together! My injuries are weak, but hindering nonetheless. Gilda, I need you to check this ship for any cannons and cannonballs! If you find some, bring them up here, one at a time!"

She salutes you before rushing into the Crew Deck. You then turn towards Greta.

"Greta! I need you to get to a safe spot and carve out more Fire Runes! I'll need a lot of them if we are to bring this creature down!" you command.

She nods her head and rushes into the Crew Deck as well.

Finally, you turn to Gabby, who's still shaken up by the storm, as well as the news of the nearby monster.

"And Gabby! I need you to be brave... the water will keep rising unless someone keeps bailing it out! Can you keep bailing the water for us?"

She quickly nods her head. "Y-yeah... but... p-please be careful, you three!" she adds, before hurrying into the Crew Deck with the bucket in her claws.

Meanwhile, you look around the ship for anything that can be of use. You end up finding a large pile of ropes, and an idea springs to mind.

You hear the girls returning back up, and pass them ropes. "Here, tie these to your waists! If you get thrown off the ship, you're going to need these to return!"

They eye you curiously for a brief moment before nodding their heads and doing as instructed. You follow suit and do the same, before hurrying to the central sail and tying all three ropes to the base.

You then spot Greta coming up towards you with a few more Fire Runes. "Do you need anything else, Regol?"

With a nod of your head, you motion towards the back of the ship. "I need you to carve Air Symbols onto the back of the fencing. Right now, the creature can move faster than us... so we're going to have to match its speed if we are to take it down."

She nods her head and heads towards the designated spot, doing as instructed.

Gilda then hurries up to you with a frown on her face. "Bad news, Regol! This damn ship doesn't even have a cannon!"

You sigh and pinch the bridge of your nose. "Well then, we'll just have to rely on the 'Runes Only' approach to handle this... you can help Gabby bail the ship, then. I'll handle the beast."

Gilda groans, spreading her arms out in a questioning manner. "Now hold on, Regol! Ya know I'm not the type of griffon that sits around, right? I wanna help you fight this thing!"

"You were bailing water out when I woke up." you counter.

She nods her head. "Yeah, and it was boring! C'mon, let me help you hunt this monster, instead!"

You're about to respond to that, when the ship starts to shake again.

Gilda looks over the ship's railing, only for a pair of huge green eyes to open beneath the water, staring back at her... followed by another two shorter pairs.

She yelps and backs up, right as the massive creature breaks from the ocean barrier and leaps directly over the ship.

NAGAROTH

You hear Gilda gulp as the creature's tail finally reaches the other side of the ship.

"W-well, now th-that I get a c-c-closer look at it, maybe Gabby could use an extra bucket!" she stutters.

You draw your sword and hurry towards Greta, who just finished carving Air Symbols on the back of the ship.

"Everyone hold on! We're about to move fast!" you call out. The girls quickly stop what they're doing and hunch down, clawing into the ship on all fours.

You then place your left hand over the runic symbols, and they start to glow. Finally, in one thunderous shout, you chant the magic words.

"Hiif... Whis!" (Great Wind)

And in the blink of an eye, the ship propels forward, dashing through the ocean floor like a great fish.

Greta yelps, as the sudden movement catches her off-balance. She slides over the railing, but you quickly catch her arm and pull her back onto the ship.

This makes her weakly smile and blush at you. "T-thanks, Regol..." she stammers.

You nod your head before turning towards the back of the ship. The creature rears its head out and roars loudly, before giving chase.

"I need a Fire Rune and an Air Rune, please." you ask her.

She quickly reaches into her bag and draws out the two runes as you asked. You take them and nod your head gratefully before leaping onto the railing.

"Wait, what are you doing?!" Greta asks you.

Rather than voice your response, you take the Air Rune and leap into the air, flying off the ship, while the rope starts to unfurl.

"Whis!" you chant, causing the wind to pick up around you, and send you gliding towards the Nagaroth.

It opens its mouth and lunges after you, while you in turn sheathe your sword and reach your hands out, palms facing its direction.

"Hiif... Flei!" (Great Flame)

Suddenly the runes burst in your hands, followed by a massive explosion that sends the Nagaroth flying backwards, and propelling you back towards the ship.

You grip the rope and start pulling yourself closer, but due to its momentum, you find yourself landing in the water. You'll have to climb, it seems.

And so, you start to pull at the rope, while the rope tightens and shakes from the other side... you don't have to even think about it. The girls are helping you pull yourself back into the ship.

By the time you reach the top again, they cheer.

"Damn, Regol! I thought this would be a challenge!" Gilda chuckles, before patting you on the shoulder.

"Yeah... but please tell us when you're about to do something so reckless! Y-you know... before you act upon it?" Greta adds.

You raise a hand to silence them. Then you let out a sigh.

"It isn't dead, yet." you tell them. This makes the feathers stand up on their bodies.

"W-what?! But you just-" Gabby begins, but you cut her off.

"I know... trust me. I hit it hard enough to keep it away for at least a long while... but it's likely going to return someday. I'd give it about a month or so." you clarify.

Gilda shrugs her shoulders. "Then what are we waiting for?! Let's go kill that thing while it's weakened!"

You shake your head at her. "We can't... not yet."

"What? Why not?!" she asks, seemingly annoyed.

You sigh. "Because we aren't prepared to take it on. It's one thing to hunt monsters. A Nagaroth, however, is a different kind of monster that has to be specially-prepared for. Without a cannon, for instance, we can't get through its outer scales, and puncture its vital areas. And I can't just go inside it, because its insides are like acid, and can easily strip the flesh from anyone, Hexblades included."

Gabby raises a talon. "But, uh... what if you threw a rune inside it and activated it remotely?"

You nod your head and point at her. "Ah, good question. It's because runes activate on physical contact, mixed in with magic chants from the runic symbols. However, the one carrying the rune has to have some form of Magic within their bloodstream. Like you girls, for example, can easily use a rune if you knew the right words. 'Flei', for example, is 'Flame', 'Mex' is 'Mind', 'I'ku' is 'Water', 'Julx' is 'Lightning', 'Fis' is 'Ice', 'Whis' is 'Wind', 'Kig' is 'Oil', 'Mah' is 'Lava', 'Tul' is 'Nature', 'Tiis' is 'Weapon', 'Aki' is 'Armor', 'Klux' is 'Feather', 'Tei' is 'Time', 'Ergos' is 'Day', 'Arkos' is 'Night', 'Fei' is 'Warmth', 'Tai' is 'Reflect', and 'Va'al' is 'Void'. There are many more, but those are the basics."

Greta tilts her head while the other two simply scratch the back of their heads confusedly. Then Greta clears her throat and asks, "What about that other word you used? You know, before the ship began to move?"

"Hiif? That's actually a Runic Prefix, meaning 'Great Hex'. It's usually followed by a chant for a much more powerful spell. However, casting it guarantees that the rune will break afterwards, so it's usually best to be used in emergencies." You then motion towards the back, where the distant storm is starting to clear up. "Case in point being when we're chased by something bigger than we can chew."

"I... think I understand it a bit more, now. Thanks for clarifying, Regol." Greta says.

You weakly smile and nod your head. "Any time... got any more questions, any of you, feel free to ask. For now, though," you yawn, "... for now, I need to get some more rest. Gilda, mind taking control of the wheel?"

She smirks at you. "Aye aye, captain!"

You roll your eyes and head back into the Captain's Quarters. You don't really have another one of those odd dreams, though it has been running through your mind, despite the circumstances.

Were you starting to feel more attracted to these girls?

... Yes. Yes, you were. Perhaps, when you four make it to town, you can ask them to go out on, what you've read to be, a 'date'... but then, comes another problem.

You're a trained killer. A slayer for hire. You've hunted the lowest of criminals, the greatest of monsters, and only admitted defeat to the dreaded 'stove', and all of its vile appliance-based allies.

So then, why... why the hell is the thought of courting these three griffons starting to make you feel nervous?!

"The rest of the ship ride goes without incident. I managed to keep it to myself that I plan on courting the three of them... but even still, I can't help but shake the feeling of anxiety.

"Sure, I've slept with plenty of women in the past. Hexblades have Monster Blood, so we aren't necessarily 'Compatible' with our fellow humans, anyways... but these are griffons I'm dealing with. You know... monsters by blood. There might be a chance that I could actually get them pregnant... so I'll have to play it carefully.

"Whatever happens... I only hope I don't screw things up with my inexperience in commitment. This is, after all, going to be a life-changing moment, not just for them, but for me as well."

10: "Who I Am, Part I"

"It took about a week, but finally we've reached Horseshoe Bay. As we got closer, though, my anxiety only grew.

"The girls took notice, and grew more and more concerned about my health. In response, though, I would let them know that I'm fine... just lost in thought. I couldn't bring up a lie, but I couldn't just tell them... I want it to be a surprise.

"Tonight... it's all about them."

"EEEEEEEEEEEEE! Look at all the amazing stuff at the market! The seafood, the seashells, the sea sweets! OOH! AND WHAT IS THAT?!" Gabby's jolly nature has immediately overtaken her ever since the four of you made it to Horseshoe Bay. While many of the passersby would often give you a curious glance, you must admit you've blended in a lot more easier than back in Griffonstone.

As Gabby runs across the marketplace to admire literally everything there is, Gilda and Greta went their own separate ways, with Greta hitting the local library, and Gilda simply helping herself to the local tavern.

As for you, though? You've got other plans. Your first priority is to figure out a way to get the three of them together for a romantic night, which granted, you've done before... but back then, it was only wine, dine, sex, then head out for the next mission.

This, however, is a matter of commitment. You're sure wine and dine is in there, but there are also the matters of finding gifts for the three of them... and frankly, you're not really doing well as far as money goes.

And so, you head towards the Town Hall, where a Notice Board has been posted.

"Hmm... wonder what there is to do around this place..." you mumble to yourself.

"Psst... hey! You there!" you hear a male whisper from your right. You turn to face a hooded stallion, who appears to be quite old.

"Yes?" you ask, crossing your arms over your chest.

He nods towards a sheet of paper on the board. "You've got a sharp-looking blade, I can tell... but if you wish to take on my quest, you'd better visit the local Blacksmith. You'll need more than just a sharp blade for it."

You raise an eyebrow before pulling his sheet of paper from the board, and observing it.

Cragodile Carnage!

Cragodiles have taken over the cave! Because of this, we are unable to get valuable metals to forge weapons and armor for the Adventurer's Guild! If anyone can scare the beasts off, we will provide you with a Seal of Approval, granting you free admission into the guild, itself! Any existing members, however, are likely to get a bonus reward for the Seal, instead!

But be warned! You must NOT kill them!

- A Concerned Citizen, Horseshoe Bay

"Hmm... you don't look like a blacksmith... no offense." you tell the old stallion.

He chuckles, shaking his head. "You'd be right, good sir. It's my sons, though. They are the smiths... I simply supervise the miners over in the Horseshoe Mines. However, because of the recent cragodile invasion, my sons are unable to access the true metals!"

He sighs, and his bright demeanor dampens. "They've had to resort to scrapping old weapons and recycling their metals for new ones! Over time, however, the weapons' quality will diminish! So many lives will be at stake, if they're forced to use weapons that could break in just one or two hits!"

"And what exactly are Cragodiles?" you ask.

"Vicious killers, is what they are! Creatures of stone, flesh, blood, and bone! They weigh about a ton, and their bite can chip through solid rock effortlessly! Why, they've been more of a threat than any villains, in the sense that they actually hunt ponies... and really anything that moves!" he replies.

"Then why not just kill the damn things?" you shrug your shoulders.

"Oh, trust me! We would've, if the cragodiles weren't an endangered species! Because of the protection rights, we now have to resort to a more humane approach!" he complains.

"Humane? From the description you've given, I'd wager it impossible to simply ask them to leave."

He nods his head. "Indeed... but alas, rules are rules. If you wish to be rid of them, my advice is to simply scare them off!"

You sigh, shaking your head. "I'd rather just use a Mind Rune and order them to leave."

"Well, whatever method you have that works... aside from killing them, of course. If you can clear the cave of them, and perhaps drive them back to their home, I'd be most appreciative!"

You rub your chin in thought. "Will there be coin involved, should I manage to send them back home?"

"Naturally!" he replies with a smile.

You then nod your head. "Very well, then. I'll have your cave cleared out in just a few hours.

"That quickly? I wouldn't be surprised if you'd take longer... but whatever works! Anyways, here's a map that'll lead you to the cave. It's not that far from here... it's why it's so urgent that you send them back to their home!"

"And where is their home, exactly?" you ask.

"They came from the Hayseed Swamps, just south of here. Can't miss it from its dark green marshes. Just follow the signs if you get lost!"

"Hayseed Swamp, follow the signs... got it." And with that, you make your way towards the Horseshoe Cave.

"I could say anything at this point... I got into a massive fight with the creatures and beat them all into submission... but that would be a lie. In truth, I simply used a Mind Rune and ordered them all to leave, then led them into the Hayseed Swamp. Nothing more, nothing less. Overall, it was one of the easiest tasks I had... and it took me about an hour to do total, including travelling back and forth.

"When I got back, however, the old stallion was waiting for me by the Notice Board, scroll in one hoof, and a bag of golden coins in his mouth, held by his teeth."

"Well, now! I can't say I'd have expected you back so soon, good sir!" the old stallion tells you, placing the bag of coins in your hand.

You pocket the coins and nod your head at him. "If more trouble comes, let me know."

"Well, funny you should mention that... you see, I've been thinking." he begins, before pausing for a long moment.

"... About?" you inquire.

"Well, you see, the way how the Cragodiles moved into the cave all at once seems rather peculiar. It was almost like they were afraid of something!" he says.

You hum, rubbing your chin in thought. "Hmm... so you think there might be something bigger in the swamp?"

"Wouldn't surprise me one bit... I'll have a look into it. In the meantime, though, you should get some rest. Prepare. Things like that!"

You nod your head. "Sounds good... had some plans, anyways."

He then raises an eyebrow. "And would it happen to involve the three griffons you came here with?"

This, however, makes you deadpan at him. "It's not of your concern, old one."

"Ah, not trying to strike a nerve, young fellow... though for you helping me out, I'd like to help you out in return!"

You cross your arms over your chest. "How so?"

He clears his throat and raises a hoof. "As it happens, I was once in a herd, back in my glory days. The best advice I can give you is this. Be yourself, but start with one at a time. Who would you say is the one that's easiest to earn the trust from?"

You look towards the marketplace, where Gabby is constantly flying back and forth. From the looks of it, she's started helping others around the town, judging from the bag of items in her talons.

The old stallion notices this, and nods towards her. "Then she is the one who you should start courting. The other two? They'll open up after seeing that you can handle one, at least!"

You can't help but feel a bit more at ease, at least. You nod your head and sigh. "Thanks, old one. I'll keep that in mind."

"Think nothing of it, young human! Now go, and be with her!"

You're about to approach Gabby, when his last statement catches you off-guard.

"Wait... what do you know about humans?!" you ask, turning around... but by the time you're facing his direction, he's already gone.

You blink a few times, before growling. "Damn... that was strange."

You eventually brush it off as him possibly being a unicorn. From what you've read, unicorns can learn to teleport from place to place... but it doesn't settle easily, as you would've heard a sound. No... there's something different about that old stallion... and something tells you this isn't the last time you'll see him, either.

Regardless, though, you have a griffon to go see.

You approach Gabby and clear your throat.

"Gabby?" you begin. She turns to face you and smiles cheerfully.

"Ooh! Heya, Regol, what's up?" she asks.

You look up and raise an eyebrow. "The air, the sky, and the clouds in-between."

She giggles at that, gently nudging you with an elbow. "Oh, silly Regol! It's just an expression! It means, how are you doing?"

"Oh... well, now that you mention it, I'd like to speak to you... in private, if that's alright?" you decide if you're going to be yourself, you'll just have to take the direct approach.

"Sure thing, Regol! Hey, that spot looks pretty secluded!" She points at a bench beneath a lone tree near a tall hill.

You nod your head in agreement. The two of you then reach the bench and have a seat.

"Is everything alright, Regol? You've been acting a little funny this past week... what's wrong?" she asks, her cheerful demeanor breaking only slightly.

"Yeah, I've... been thinking of the flock idea, and... well..." you begin to grow nervous again.

As you look into her eyes, you immediately notice that her cheeks are starting to glow red.

"Regol! Are... are you saying what I think you're saying?!" She almost sounds... hopeful.

You then take a deep breath and nod your head.

"Gabby... I'm not going to beat around the bush, anymore. I don't have the best social skills. You know this. But... I feel like it's time. It's time that we talked more about this whole 'Flock' idea. It's... meant to be a romantic thing. I know this, now, and knew it for some time. Hell, you heard me speaking to Greta about it a few weeks back."

You take another deep breath, and gently grasp onto her talons, while she stares speechlessly at you.

"Gabby... I'm ready to take this relationship further, now. I... would be honored if you accompanied me this day. There will be wine, we will dine, and if everything works out... well... we will cross that road when we get there."

She just continues to stare speechlessly at you.

It starts to worry you even more. Did you say something wrong? Probably... but did you break her? It's also a possibility.

"I mean... if not, then-"

But before you can finish, she lunges up at you, and embraces you in a warm hug.

"OHMYGOSH, YES!" she squeals.

To be continued...

Author's Note

And in case you're wondering why she didn't kiss him... griffons have beaks. That would be painful.

11: "Who I Am, Part II"

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