Chapters In the earliest time of life, all Gallus could remember was ice and snow. Griffonstone was known to be a harsh place to live, and even harsher to live in when it was winter. Especially when you don’t have a house or parents for that matter.
The blue griffon couldn’t even remember a time he had a parent. He only remembered the lonely nights on the streets of Griffonstone. There was barely any positive emotion within the community, Gallus spending most of the time alone. Any interaction with other griffins would either be through stealing their stuff or in fights. He himself didn’t like stealing, the thought of taking something from someone that sold things for a living to make money sounded wrong, but living on the street and starving? He had to rely on stealing to even get by on a daily basis.
“Get back here you little brat!” Gallus could hear the angry call of an older griffon for behind him. He didn’t even turn around, having gotten what he wanted, and now he had the flee. He ran as far as his tiny legs could carry him, accidentally running into a dead end. Hearing steps behind him, Gallus used his small wings to lift himself off of the ground and took off into the skies. He was clumsy, having only used his wings a few times in the last month, but quickly got the hang of things before gliding done into the familiar alleyway he had come to know. It was messy, even by griffon standards, but it was the perfect place for little Gallus. Quickly, he ducked around the broken plank wood and fallen debris, wincing when he’d stepped on sharp pebbles.
Gallus climbed into a large cardboard box, the same box he’d remember growing up in for ten years of his life. It was a sub-par shelter, being exposed to the rain and snow, but it wasn’t like he could do anything about it. It was the only home he knew.
Quick talonsteps clattered on the stone pathway, nearing Gallus’s hiding place. The young griffin held his breath, not letting himself make a single peep as hee waited for the worst.
“Where’d did that fledgeling go off to?” Gallus winced when he heard the older griffon’s raspy voice, really hoping she didn’t look into the alleyway.
Waiting a few more moments, the sound of a grumbling griffon and talonsteps faded away. Gallus let out the breath he was holding, turning to the little wrapped up treat he’d stolen. Using his tiny talons, he ripped the white papery fabric off, revealing the white, stone-like, scone.
Not wasting a moment, he dug his beak into the nearly inedible treat. He never liked the taste of scones, but when you live on the street, beggars can’t be choosers. The scone cracked and crumbled underneath the force of his beak as Gallus chewed the best he could before swallowing. The scone scratched his throat, but Gallus was too hungry to care.
The little bit of food had been devoured within seconds, not a single crumb had been left behind. Gallus’s stomach was not satisfied in any way possible, but he really couldn’t do anything about that.
He sat there in silence, tired from the hunger. There wasn’t much a little griffon like him could do, he was too young to get a job so couldn’t earn the bits needed to buy decent food, let alone get shelter or leave Griffonstone entirely. Gallus dreamed of leaving the cold, starving life behind, but where would he go? What lay beyond the small griffin town? Would he even survive long enough to see?
Cold wind rushed past him, sending shivers up his spine. His feathers ruffled and the young griffin began to shiver. Looking up at the sky, Gallus started to watched the first snowflakes fall gracefully through the air. It was mesmerizing watching the snow shimmering in the light, but Gallus knew better than to trust it. Soon, the annual snowstorms will set in, and sickness would ravage the town of Griffonstone. There were no affordable doctors in the town so there was no real way of treating the illness. The best he could do was wait out the illness, or die from the lack of treatment.
Every year Gallus had caught the virus and every year he suffered horribly. He remembered not being able move because of the raging fever and couldn’t feed himself to recover faster. The pain he’d endured from the illness never fully went away, the feeling of his lungs suffocating and the angry migraines was forever engrained into his memory. He never understood why he survived every year, he was sure each year that he’d be the first to die.
The young griffon loathed the others that got that pass.
Maybe the stars would be kind to him this year and kill him with hypothermia or starvation before the plague would settle onto the the griffin race. That would be quicker than enduring the suffering of the plague.
Gallus sighed, watching the snow brushing against the ground, filling air with chills. Who was he kidding, he was never lucky. Perhaps the sickness would kill him this year, or he’d live with the illness for a few months before it went way again.All he knew was that, whatever the stars had in mind for him, it wasn’t going to be in his favor.
He felt to wind pick up, swirling the snow into the air, dancing in the wind. It’s deathly pirouette swept the streets of Griffonstone, driving every griffon inside. Well...every griffon that had a house went inside.
Gallus curled up into a tight ball, trying to stay as warm as possible, which was nearly impossible to do when you still have baby feathers. Winter winds were here, and all he could do was try to survive it until spring.
“I hope it’ll all be over soon,” Gallus sighed, watching his own breath turn into white gas in the cold air.
This winter would be a long one.
Author's Note
This is my first story, so contructive criticism Is welcome.
“Watched were your going fledgeling,” the taller griffon sneered, kicking Gallus of his feet.
“You ran into me!” The blue griffon talons gripped the ice, shaking the snow and ice of his fur. He narrowed his blue eyes.
“Did I, Glide?” The griffin asked his friend next to him. Glide, the white and grey griffin, snickered.
“Maybe you did, but honestly? I don’t care,” Glide eyes were pinned onto Gallus. The younger griffon shrunk under the intense gaze of the older griffins. “I heard Gilda was chasing him a few weeks ago because he stole a scone from her stand.”
“Scones? Serriously ?!” The brown griffon laughed, shoving the blue griffon aside. Gallus lost his grip on the ice, slipping and falling on the floor with a thud. Sharp talons dug into his shoulder, hoisting his small body of the ground. Gallus let out a squawk of pain, much to the amusement to the other griffons.
“You must be really desperate if you were willing to steal Gilda’s scones, of all things,” the griffin chuckled. Gallus struggles in the grip of older griffin, wincing when the claws dug deeper into is flesh.
“L-let go of me,” Gallus let out a high pitched shrill, flapping his wings in a desperate attempt to get away.
“Goose, maybe you should let the kid go,” Glide voice was anything but sincere. His beak became a cruel smile. “If anything, he’d probably freeze out in this cold weather.”
“Aw what?” Goose pouted. “I was just started having my fun with this fledg-“
Panicked, Gallus swiped his claws across Goose’s face. The brown griffon let out a screech, dropping the young fledgling onto the ground. Gallus quickly scampered to his feet, making his escape.
“You BRAT!” Goose hollered, blood dripping out of his eye. Gallus closed his eyes, instinctively following the path that would lead to his cardboard box. Between the pounding of his heart and the sound of claws scraping across the ice, he couldn’t tell if the Goose was chasing him. Part of him hoped he wasn’t, but another part of him knew that he probably was.
He wasn’t going to lead him back to his box.
Instead of taking his usual right turn, Gallus continued to run straight, flapping his wings in attempt to fly, despite the great pain it brought onto his shoulder. The wind whipped his face, icy snow grazed his shoulder. He continued to run on the path that he’d taken, following the path when it turned left or right.
It wasn’t until he could see the edge to the cliff, signaling the end his path. He skidded to a stop, digging his claws into ground before he could topple over the edge. He turned around for the first time since he started running, and realized that he could barely see with all the snow and wind in his face.
Good news-Goose had stopped chasing him. Bad news- how was he going get to his box now?
Gallus looked around at the unfamiliar land. He’d never strayed this far away from his alleyway before. He wasn’t sure how many rights or lefts he had taken, and flying was out of the question. The blue griffon flapped his wings, his shoulder screaming bloody murder.
Maybe he’d have to look for some other place sleep tonight. The cold air around him made him shiver, and his inner clock told him it was nearing nightfall. The worst of the snowstorm was about to befall him, and he had no shelter.
Yeah, I’m definitely going to die of hypothermia today , Gallus thought grimly. Never in his short, miserable life had he’d wished for thicker fur, yet here he was, shivering with his thin fledgling fluff out in the cold.
Forcing himself to keep moving, he walked-well...slipped seems like the better term-along the iced over roads of Griffonstone. His tiny talons failed to gain traction on the smooth ice, causing Gallus to slided across the surface. Under any other circumstances, and this would have been fun for the young griffon.
Gallus padded towards a nearby alleyway. Carefully, he peered into the alleyway. There sat a elderly looking griffon, coughing up feather and looking displeased. The younger griffin immediately walked past, not wanting to get confronted by yet another griffon.
He knew that time was ticking. The tiny griffon needed to find shelter and he needed to find it now . Gallus’s blues eyes farted around looking for anything that could server as a pseudo-hideout. His tiny talons carried him across the street, fearing the blizzard that was soon to come.
Gallus walked straight into another alleyway. The walls casted a much harsher shadow on the place. When Gallus spotted a house at the end of the alleyway, seeing the light of a small fire burning inside the house.
Weird , he thought alleyways never lead anywhere, the young griffin thought. As much as he was confused, he keeper walking towards it. He definitely wasn’t going to knock on the door, not endless he wanted to get clonked over head, but something told him that staying around here wouldn’t hurt.
Quickly, Gallus had found another cardboard box. It was smaller than the one he’d had called home, but being the small griffon he was, he’d be able to fit. He pushed the cardboard box under the alcove of the house, hoping the snow would be as bad under there.
When he climbed into his temporary box, he’d found a small piece of fabric that lined the bottom. Gallus picked it up between his claws.
Wow, it’s really soft , he was mesmerized by how fuzzy it was. Seriously, how could anything be this soft? Before he could answer any questions of his own, he wind started to pick up, the hail started to fall from the sky. Gallus quickly climbed into the box covering himself with the piece of cloth before closing the flaps of the cardboard box on top to seal out the snow.
It was dark inside the box, the wind started to roar outside, but for once, Gallus felt secure. Sure, his shoulder was still bleeding, and he still felt cold, but he felt oddly safe inside the box.
Maybe it’s the fabric , Gallus thought. The soft pink blanket that laid across his back felt warm and comforting. I hope whoever this belongs to doesn’t mind if someone kept it.
Seven weeks into winter. The nights were harsher than ever. Gallus could hear homeless griffons on streets coughing up a lung, their pale face contorted in pain.
And Gallus wasn’t spared of it.
When young fledgling had woken up with a mild headache he didn’t think much of it, usually he wake up with something aching. It wasn’t out of the ordinary.
The young griffon climbed out of his cardboard home, leaving the fuzzy blanket behind. He stretched his legs, feeling the satisfying pop of his joints. He leaped over broken planks that lined his alleyway, making sure he didn’t step on a splitter. The opening of his little alley was like a mouth, wide and ready to swallow it’s prey. It didn’t help that the ground was cold and wet.
He stepped out of is comfort hole, immediately met with harsh winds. It wasn’t snowing today, but the wind had picked up speed significantly, making it hard for Gallus to see. He needed to find something eat before it gets to windy that the young griffon flies away.
Keeping his side pressed against the stone walls of the houses lined up in his neighborhood, he searched the ground of prey. He kept away from other griffons that lived on the streets, trying to limit his possibilities of getting the disease.
He heard soft scuttling close by. Closing his eyes, Gallus tried to pinpoint where the sound was coming from. It seemed to be near his left side.
Gallus crouched into a hunting position, something he’d taught himself how to do when stealing wasn’t an option. Quietly, he stalked along the ground, following the noise that the small prey was making. He came across a small mouse, locking his eyes onto it. Using the wind, and calculating how far the mouse was, he leaped into the air.
“RAH!” Gallus caught the mouse between his talons, his claws pinning it down so it had no way of escaping. He bit down into the spine of the mouse, killing it quickly. He felt a sharp pain in his head, holding his head in one talon.
“owwww,” Gallus complained. He held his head for a little while, until the pain had subsided, before carrying the muse back to his alley. He winced when the headache had return, but didn’t do much about it.
Gallus had devoured the mouse it seconds, striping it to his bare bones. There wasn’t a lot of meat on it, it must have been starving, too. He gathered the bones of mouse and dumped them off to the side. By this point the headache had came back with a fiery vengeance.
“Ugh...I caught the plague, didn’t I?” Gallus grumbled, wincing at the pain. Catching with the illness for five years, he knew most of the symptoms. Unbearable headaches was one of them.
Unfortunately, there were no healers in Griffonstone, and even if there was, it would be hella expensive, and bits were something the Gallus just didn’t have. All he could hope was that it would run its course, or better yet, kill him right there and then.
Gallus closed his eyes, preparing for the worst. If fell asleep and never had woke up, it’ll be fine by him.
Gallus had fell asleep. He had hoped he died, but the stars apparently still wanted him to be tortured more. Great.
His head felt even worse the following morning. Everything ached, his lung felt heavy, and Gallus broke into a coughing fit. Sweat pooled on his face as he felt his body temperature rising.
The blue griffon lifted his head, feeling groggy and his vision was unfocused. The sun shining on the snow almost blinded him, Gallus had to force his eyes to adjust to the light. It was pretty late into the morning, he’d guess around midday.
Despite how dead he felt, Gallus forced himself up, slowly dragging himself out of his cardboard box. He felt shaky on his feet, and his uncoordinated body slammed right into wooden board that laid in an angle against the wall.
Gallus laid there for a moment, contemplating wether or not should he continue on with his life. He waited a few moments to see if the earth and snow would see his misery and reclaim him. When it didn’t happen, he pushed himself to his feet, righting himself as he staggered out of his alley.
Just getting out the alley was a workout. Gallus wondered if he should just go back to his box and stay there. Maybe then he wouldn’t have to deal with life anymore.
Gallus sighed, pushing himself forward on his unstable legs, trying to find water. His throat was parched as Gallus continued to hack up a lung, his chest rattling with every cough.
He tried to remember the layout of the the town, but his memory was so fuzzy, he couldn’t quite remember where to communal fountain was. Instead, the young griffin wandered aimlessly through out town. Gallus held his head low, not having the energy to keep it up, so a lot of what Gallus saw the icy stone path.
And when you don’t pay attention, you are bound to get into trouble.
The young griffon was so focus on the ground he walked on, he didn’t notice the griffon he was about the walk into. The two griffon crashed into each other, Gallus had taken a few dizzying steps backwards, before looking up at who he he ran through into.
“You better watch where going, sonny!” The older booming voice said, or maybe it wasn’t booming and it was just Gallus’s headache that hurt.
“A-ah what?” Gallus was confused for a moment, his sickness was really getting to him. “R-right sorry, sir. I’ll be on my way now-“
“You look familiar,” Gallus turned to a new voice, one that belonged to a brown griffon with white feathers and yellow eyes. Gallus certainly did not know who she was.
“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” the blue griffon shrugged off the notion, trying to walk off. He didn’t get far when he started coughing again, feeling even weaker than he had originally.
“Ew, your sick,” the brown griffon commented.
“I noticed,” Gallus retorted weakly.
“Gilda!” the balding griffon pointed at the other one. He wheezed and hacked up a feather before continuing. “Quit yer small talk, get yer tail back in the house !”
The brown griffon, Gilda, sighed before obeying the older griffons orders, and climbed back into the two story house. The older griffon gave him a glare before also going into the house, slamming the door shut.
Gallus sighed, pinching the bridge of his beak. Everything was worse now. His body started shivering, everything felt cold. He took shaky steps towards where he thought the fountain was, before letting his body collapse in the snow.
This is probably the end , Gallus thought, feeling the snow fall from the sky. It would be moments before the snow would claim his body, covering it with ice. It doesn’t sound like a bad death to have.
Gallus struggles to keep his eyes open, the thought of eternal sleep seemed comforting, peaceful. He’ll finally be able to leave his miserable life behind.
Distant wingbeats were the last thing he heard before he let go of his consciousness.
“Oh my!” Gabby face was etched with concern. She bent down over the unconscious fledgling. He was clearly sick, probably with the plague that swept the town every year. It broke her heart seeing a young griffon like him this sick.
“Grandpa Gruff!” She called towards the house, right in front of her. She heard loud crashing from inside the house before a familiar balding eagle opened the window.
“What is this time, Gabriella?” Grandpa Gruff grumbled, clearly not in the mood to chat. Gabby just pointed to the fledgling in front of her.
The elderly griffon peered at the fledgling, annoyance formed on his face. “If yer so bothered by it, take it out to the trash or somethin!”
Gabby gasped. “What? No !” She pointed to the blue griffon. “Can’t you help him? Don’t you have some sort of medicine?”
“Medicine. What do ya take me for, a miracle worker ?” Gruff laughed, wheezing out a couple of feathers.
“C’mon, please? He may be really sick but your disgusting herbs work wonders !” Gabby begged, clasping her talons together.
“No.”
“Pleeeeeease ?” Gabby put on her best pleading face. Grandpa Gruff let out an annoyed sigh, punching the bridge of his eye brow.
“Fine !” He conceded, before closing the window. Then slammed it open again. “But yer paying!” And shut the window for real this time.
Gabby let out a sigh of relief, before picking up the little fledgling and headed inside.
“Do you think you can help him?” Gabby asked, carrying the small fledgling to the hammock. The tiny griffon hadn’t moved an inch. It scared her.
“Probably,” Grandpa Gruff croaked, sitting at the table crushing the herbs with his pestle. Gabby never knew what he used, but they taste like garbage, and work like magic. “Yer just gonna have to wait.”
Gilda walked into the kitchen, her feathers ruffled. She looked even more annoyed than ever. She glanced towards the hammock, realizing there was something laying in it.
“Alright, who gave my hammock to this kid?” Gilda pointed towards the blue griffon, irritation etched on her face. Her feathers started the fluff out with her temper.
Gabby didn’t answer, she just continued to watch over the fledgling, praying to King Grover that he’ll wake up.
“Gilda, get me some boiling water,” Grampa Gruff ordered. This only fueled Gilda’s temper.
“What?! No . This kid is sleeping in my hammock!“
“Gilda please ! He’s sick, and he might die if we don’t help,” Gabby pleases, gesturing to the unconscious griffon.
“Survival of the fittest, Gabby .”
“Enough!” Grandpa Gruff screeched, coughing up another feather. “The lot of you better yer hind quarters in place before I have to whip ya to listen! Now g ET ME THE BOILING WATER!”
Gilda rolled her eyes, but did as she was told. She grabbed a stone pot from out of the cabinet, filling it up with water from the well Inside their house. Gabby watched her older sister place the water onto the stove, but she found herself looking back the the young griffon that she’d brought in. She took note that he was quite small, no older than ten years old, and to her horror, his ribs jutted through his fur. Even griffons on the streets didn’t look like this.
The sound of bubbling water brought her attention to the real world. Gilda brought the water to the balding eagle, who snatched out her claws. Gilda grown deepened.
“Whatever , I’m going up to check up on Gavin.”
“Didn’t you just do that,” Gabby asked, watching her sister climb the stairs.
“Yes I did. And he’s a lot quieter then you two! ”
The grey griffin frowned, hearing Gilda’s talonsteps faded away. Her attention was back on the small griffon. He looked even worse than when she’d brought him in, though it could be her imagination making seem so. She swore he wasn’t that pale when she found him outside her house.
Talonsteps approaches her from behind, and she turned around, meeting Grandpa gaze. He looked peeved, but he held out the green mush that was it the mortar. She gratefully took the bowl out his claws, trying not to react to how hot the bowl was.
“...do I just....pour it down the throat?” Gabby looked unsure. She usually was never the one to give the medicine. It was always Grandpa Gruff or Gilda.
“Yes. How else is he supposed to take it?” Grandpa Gruff retorted. “Since yer the one worrin’, you’ll be the one watching over ‘em.”
Before Gabby could protest, the elderly griffon flew his flew up the stairs. “And yer paying me tomorrow !” He yelled, before Gabby heard the loud sound of a door slamming shut.
Gabby sighed. She turned to the sickly fledgling, still holding the bowl of herb water in talon. Carefully, she pried open his beak, gently pouring the herbal water into his throat. Luckily, he was unconscious, so he’d didn’t react to the bitter water. Unluckily, she had pour little at a time, as to not accidentally choke the poor kid.
Once the gray griffon managed to get all the water down, she gently laid the fledgling’s head back down, as to not cause any gag reflex issues.
Gabby watched over the unconscious fledgling, hoping and praying to King Grover that he’ll be okay.
Gallus felt himself gain consciousness again. He could tell because his head started to give him pain. Again. Oddly, the headache felt reduced to some degree.
Slowly, Gallus peeled open one of his eyes. He saw dim lighting from a fire-lit lantern, letting himself naturally adjust to the light. Once the haziness of his vision subsided, he took a closer look at his surroundings. He managed to make out what looks like a table, some chairs, and a bowl, all in the same room.
Wait- a room? Where am I? Last I checked I didn’t have a house.
Gallus body jolted up, and he immediately regretted doing that. His joints and head screamed at him, and Gallus had to sit in painful silence before he could move again. He gazed around, taking in what he was seeing. Being in the stone walled house still seemed...cold, but also, comforting and safe.
The fledgling had a few moments to look around when he heard loud talonsteps clattering down the stairwell. He eyes stared straight at the stairs, fearing what would appear out of it.
Gallus braces himself to be yelled at by some old griffon, or to be knocked out bye the same griffons that had picked on him a few weeks prior. Or be taken bye some death angel, or be dragged into the depths of hell. Either way, he prepared himself for the worse.
Instead, Gallus found himself pleasantly surprised.
The griffon the came down the stairs was had light grey feathers and fur, with darker wings, and soft green eyes. She seemed to know he was there, because the first thing she did was lock her eyes onto him. The fledgling shrunk under her gaze.
The lingering fear that Gallus had developed was quickly losses, however, when the older griffon gasped and raced over the the hammock had realized he was laying in.
“Oh my gosh, your awake, thank goodness , I was so worried you were going to die, but don’t worry, I had Grampa Gruff mix up his miracle water, you should be fine, oh ! My name is Gabby, what’s your name? Why were out in the cold? Do you eat? We can get some eat if you’d like! Are you-“
“GABBY, SHUT UP!” A loud, irritated voice shouted from the floor above them. Gabby winced when she heard the voice.
“Sorry Gilda!”
Gabby waited for a moment, tapping her claws on the hammock before turning back to him. “Sorry about my sister, she’s still mad that I gave her hammock to you.”
Gallus’s eyes widen. He hadn’t realized that he’d been on someone else’s hammock. He instinctively started to get off of it before Gabby stopped him.
“No , you stay here until you are better,” Gabby urged, pushing Gallus back down onto the hammock. Gallus became confused by this, griffons aren’t usually this generous, unless he just happen to meet all the worst griffons that lived in Griffonstone. He narrowed his eyes.
“...what do you want from me?” Gallus asked, looking the grey griffon up and down, trying to find an ulterior motive.
“What do you mean?” Gabby asked, looking confused.
“I mean...do you want something from me, now? Bits? I don’t have any so do I have to pay you another way-“
“Hold it !” Gabby pressed a talon to Gallus small beak, shushing him. Her kind eyes became serious now. “I don’t need anything, I don’t want you to pay me, I don’t want anything in return.”
“Then why did you help me?”
Gabby smiled a bit, “I’m not the type of griffon to leave a fledgling like you out in the cold.“
Gallus raised an eyebrow. He wasn’t entirely convinced, but she seemed genuine. Her sunny
“So what’s your name?” Gabby asked, her voice was gentle. Gallus hesitated, before taking a deep breath.
“...Gallus ,” he said quietly. Gabby ruffled his head feathers a little bit, seeming happy that he managed to tell her.
It was short lived, however, when a loud crash came down the stairs. Down came an elderly griffon the Gallus had seen sometime before passing out. He was balding, and one of his eyes were blinded by a small scar the ran across his face. He wheezed out a couple of feathers.
“Alright ! Since he’s recovered, GET OUT ,” Gallus winced at his booming voice, confirming that yes, this guy’s voice was just that loud. He shrunk in fear when the older griffon glared at him, hostility shown clearly in his eyes.
“Wait, Grampa Gruff-“
“Y-yes sir !” Gallus interrupted they grey griffon before she could say another word. Gallus pushed him off the hammock, heading quickly towards the door.
“Hold on Gallus-“
The blue griffon slammed the door, muffling the concerned voice of Gabby. It was snowing heavily outside, but Gallus ran as far as he could, trying not to look back towards the house.
It had been two days, and what was left of Gallus’s illness have gone. His headache has diminished to nothing, chest pain had subsided, and he didn’t feel thirsty anymore. Huh, I guess Gabby was right when she said it was miracle water.
Gallus was still curled up in his cardboard box, his blanket draped over his wings and back, keeping him warm from the icy wind. Though his sheltered alleyway keeper most the the snow and wind out. The griffon stretched his wing, hearing the satisfying crack of his wing joints, and preceded to climb out of his box.
Even though he survived the plague, he hadn’t been able to find much to eat lately. All the animals must’ve went someplace warmer, since all of Griffonstone was ice and snow at the minute. He wondered where he was going to get his food this year.
His wondering didn’t last long, when he saw a silhouette of another griffon standing outside his alleyway. He let out a hiss, hoping it sounded menacingly enough to ward off the other griffon.
“Gallus? Are you in here?” A familiar voice called for him. Gallus froze, shock going through his vein, followed by confusion.
“...Gabby?” Gallus heard the older griffon giggle. She leapt onto the broken planks that filled alley, making her way towards him. Soon she stopped, perched upon a plank just of the ground. She smiled at the little griffon.
“I was hoping I’ll find you,” she sounded excited. The fledging blinked.
“Why?”
“Oh! Well you looked really hungry last I saw you, so I brought something for you!” Gabby pulled a paper bag from out of her satchel, dropping in front him. Curious, Gallus took it into the talons, opening the bag. Inside there looked like small biscuits, cut into uneven shapes, and pale in color. They radiated heat, telling Gallus they were fresh.
“There Grandpa Gruff’s recipe! I hope you like them,” Gabby smiled. Gallus looked at the biscuits in the bag, before taking one of them out, biting into them. They were hard and crumbly, but it was the first decent thing he got to eat in months. Before long, the young griffon found himself stuffing the biscuits into his mouth.
“That looks like a yes to me!” Gabby giggled as the little griffon chewed, his cheeks stuffed. She stood from where she was perched, stretching her wings. “Well I better get going, I got the work on mail all these letters. You’d think since it’s winter less letters to each other would be sent, but you’d be wrong,” Gabby took off into the skies.
Gallus watched her fly off until he couldn’t see her silhouette anymore. He looked down at the bag of biscuits, and looked back at the sky.
“Thanks, Gabby.”
Gallus waited expectantly at the entrance to his alleyway. It’s been a few weeks, and Gabby had been visiting him on occasion. He noted that she seemed to always come around noon, so he made a point to stay near his box until then. If she didn’t show up, he’d be on his way.
Familiar wing beats filled the air, and Gallus turned to look to his left. A larger grey griffon landed gracefully on the ice, before messing up by slipping and falling flat on her face.
Gallus stifled a giggle. “So, how’s the ice?”
“Very funny, Gallus,” Gabby said sarcastically, before breaking down laughing. Gallus joined in on her laughter.
Gallus wiped a tear from his eye, looking at the grey griffon with curiosity. “So why are you here today?” Gabby shook out her fur and feathers, dusting the snow off of her. She smiled and pulled out a little paper bag.
“I brought you lunch!”
Gallus looked at it, making a face. “I still have a lot of leftovers from the other times you’ve given me lunch...”
Gabby jaw gaped. “I didn’t realized made that much. Uh....do you still want it?” She held the bag towards Gallus’s face, to which he promptly snatched it out of her claws.
“I’m not saying no to food!” Gallus walked back towards his box, placing the bag next the the rest of unfinished lunches. He bounced back towards the older griffon. “So is that all?”
“Oh actually I was hoping you’d like to go to the library with me!” Gabby said excitedly. “Gilda dosen’t go to the there with me anymore, and I really want a new reading buddy!”
“Li....brary?” Gallus tried the new word on his tongue. “What’s that?”
“Y’know, the place were they organized the books into an area so you can find it easily!....Well, it used to be organized, now it’s all broken down an all over the place.”
“Right ...” Gallus said, still not comprehending. Gabby must’ve missed the tone in his voice, because she started dragging him towards somewhere.
“You’re going to love it there! It’s my favorite place, and learning all the history of Griffonstone is much fun!”
Suffice to say, it wasn’t what Gallus was expecting.
He had imagined a broken down building with shelves and cobwebs.
Instead he got no building, a shelf and cobwebs.
Eh, I was close.
“It looks...”
“I know, it’s messy, but the books are in good shape!” Gabby grabbed one of the books from the shelf, only to have it crumble into pieces. She gave Gallus a nervous laugh. “Heh heh....for the most part at least.”
Gallus wasn’t paying attention to the books anymore. Instead, his eyes lead him to a large white statue, carved from what looks like clay. It had the shape of a griffon, with an open, almost falling apart, jaw and a crown. His eyes were hallowed out, and lots of his limbs were missing.
“Gabby? What’s this?” Gallus asked, pointing toward the broken down statue.
“Oh! The the Statue of King Grover!” Gabby exclaimed, flying over to the statue. She perched atop the head of the griffon.
“Who’s King Grover?” Gallus asked. He’d never heard of this griffon before. And who names their kid ‘King Grover’ of all things?
Gabby gasped, looking around to see if the coast is clear. She glided down towards the fledgling, pressing her face closed to his, her gaze intense.
“You’ve never heard of King Grover?! ” Gallus gulped, before nodding. Was he supposed to know? Is it treason that he didn’t know? What kind of trouble is going to get into because he didn’t know.
Gabby looked around again. “Do not, let Grampa Gruff know about your lack on knowledge about him, or he’ll have your head! Or worse , you’ll have to listen to his hour long speech about the tragic tale of Griffonstone!”
Okay, now Gallus had several questions. One- why did Grampa Gruff take this so personally? Two- who is King Grover? And Three- what’s this about a speech?
Gabby dragged the little griffon behind the statue, signaling him to stay there. The grey griffon Flew over the a broken down shelf just behind the statue, looking for something. Books and scrolls where tossed about, before Gabby settled on something.
The book Gabby brought back was old. It’s leather cover was worn down, covered in scratches, and the the contents of it looked just about to fall apart.
“Here, this is everything you need to know about Griffon history, so you don’t have to suffer Grampa Gruff lecture.”
Gallus stared blankly at the book, picking it up in his tiny claws. The cover was blank, and when he turned the book pages, all he saw here weird scribble and crudely draw pictures. He looked up at Gabby, confusion written all along his face.
Gabby nudged the book towards him. “C’mon! Read it.”
“...read ?” Gallus parroted back. What was this ‘read’ thing?
“Don’t you....know how to read?” Gabby asked nervously. Gallus shook his head, still not understanding.
“Of for Grover’s sake , ok I’ll just tell you,” Gabby composed herself. Her bristling feathers calmed themself.
“Before the Idol of Boreas, is griffons where a lot like how when we’re today. Mean, cold, and greedy. Griffons used to fight each other everyday because no one got along, that is, until King Grover,” Gabby seemed to have fond memories while she told the story. “King Grover was the first griffon king, uniting the griffons under his lead with the Idol of Boreas, a ancient treasure that was said to bring wealth, protection, and good health to whoever came before it. It gave griffons an identity, it gave us our pride. The Idol of Boreas made our kingdom stronger than ever.”
Huh, so ‘King Grover’ wasn’t his actual name.
“What? Why would you think that?”
“Oops, I said that out loud, didn’t I?” Gallus checks turn a light shade of red. “Uhh nevermindthat , umm so why isn’t it like that now?”
Gabby grimaced, “I’m getting to that. Well, the Idol of Boreas was passed down in the royal family, from one king to the next, all the way until the reign of Guto. King Guto was in his castle, the Idol of Boreas sitting on its pedestal, when.....it...showed up.”
Gallus frowned. “Don’t expect me to know what IT is.”
“Sorry, just this part of the story aways scared me! It gives me nightmares thinking about it,” Gabby shuttered, her feather ruffling.
“Seriously, what so bad about it?”
“It...Arimaspi...came to the castle. Arimaspi was a large, one-eyed creature, with large horns decorated with gold rings. It had large claws, capable of tearing down the whole castle, teeth so sharp it could cut through diamond. Arimaspi broke through the widow of the castle, and even though King Guto tried to stop him, it managed to get the Idol. The griffons all chased him, and managed to get him trapped on a bridge that lead over the Abysmal Abyss. Before they could stop him from escaping with the Idol, lighting came down and struck the beast, breaking the bridge, and sending Arimaspi into the Abyss, along with the Idol of Boreas. They say that when the treasure fell into the Abyss, our pride went with it, and ever since then we’ve gone back to ways of the old.”
Gallus cocked an eyebrow. “That dosen’t sound all that scary.”
“It’s much scarier when Grampa Gruff tells it. I could never match the amount of terror that story gave me when I heard it.”
“So what happen to King Guto?” Gallus asked, suddenly curious to see how the story went afterwards. Gabby just shrugged.
“As far as I know, he was the last recorded King in history. There was rumor at one point that King Guto, ashamed that couldn’t protect the Idol, left Griffonstone. It was never proven to be true, all we know is that King Guto just mysteriously vanished one day, and nobody’s been able to find out where he’d gone or were his remains are.”
Gallus, disappointed, turn the books pages. He looked over to the scribbling on the pages, assuming there were words. “Were there any other Kings? Or was King Grover and King Guto the only ones that did anything?”
Gabby snorted, “Of course there were other Kings silly! Someone names were lost to history, but the books in the library contain a lot of history. There was King Gabriel, who ruled with his wife Queen Guinevere, King Gandiss, who went to war with dragons, there was also-“
Gabby started spewing name drops, completely losing Gallus in the process. He continued to stare down at the book, flipping through is brittle pages. All the talk about the history of Griffonstone had sparked something in Gallus, he wasn’t quite what though. Something in the pages of the olden book took some interest to the fledgling.
“Uh, Gabby?” Gallus asked, tugging at Gabby satchel that still laid across her back, gaining her attention. He held the book in his talons, giving a sheepish grin. “Could you read this to me?”
Gabby gasped, the grin on her face turned into a full blown smile. Her eyes widen, grey wings flapped in excitement. “I would love to! You are going to love history, let me tell you,” she opened the book, turning to first page. She pointed to the first picture on the book, “That’s a painted portrait of King Grover, isn’t that neat? Ok, let’s see, ‘King Grover was the first King and founder of Griffonstone-“
The blue griffon listen intently, fascinated by the sheer amount of knowledge the he got never learned. He throughly enjoyed listening to Gabby’s readings, not minding the long tangents that Gabby often went on trying to explain something. By the time they were done with the book, the sun had set low on the horizon, the stars starting to show in the sky.
“Ah, teeth and feathers,” Gabby muttered, watching the sun. “I better get going now, unless I want Grampa Gruff to yell at me.” She glanced back at the fledgling, giving him a apologetic look. “I think you should get back to where you live, too.”
Gallus nodded, picking up the book with his talons. Gabby was just about the leave when she stopped suddenly. “Hey Gallus!”
The blue griffon glanced back at her.
“What I’d I taught you how to read? Then you can go and learn all on your own!”
Gallus eyes widen with that proposition. He nodded his head excitedly, flapping his small wings. Gabby smiled at the young Griffons antics, before waving and lifting off into the sky. Gallus looked back to the book he held. Firmly grabbing the book with one wing, he raced back to his cardboard box.
Author's Note
Hhhh this was harder to write... I wasn’t sure where I was going with this at first
This was also harder to name
This chapter cause so much problems to me
Since winter passed, the the population of griffons has gone down quite a bit. More griffons were lost to the plague this year than every other year, and Gallus felt couldn’t help but a tad bad for the passed griffons. He wouldn’t put himself on to the the scale of say, Gabby, who went out of her way to send ‘Sorry for your lose’ cards to every griffon family, but the seeing more young griffons on the street made his heart sad.
Oh well, guess that how the biscuit crumbles.
Gallus headed towards the library, someplace he’d been visiting for a few weeks now. Ever since Gabby had taught him how to read, it’s the place he stops be the most often now. The books there offer a comfort that Gallus never knew he needed.
Gabby had asked him to pick up a book she had been meaning to read, and Gallus being the generous griffon he was, said told Gabby to ‘suck it. ’
“Pfft , okay,” Gabby laughed it off, amusement in her eyes. She flapped her wings, keeping herself afloat in the air. “Well I guess I’ll just pick it up later, but I got a lot of mail to deliver, so I’ll see you later, Gallus!”
“See ya!” Gallus waved a talon, before turning around and continued to walk towards his destination.
It felt great to walk on a regular stone path again. No snow, no ice, no cold harsh winds make it impossible to see. And it was warm! Everything Gallus could possibly want.
When the remains of Griffonstones library came into view, Gallus felt himself speed up his pace, eager to get his claws on another history book. Searching through a cobweb filled shelf, he found something that caught his eyes. The book had a lavender cover, with darker stitching across one side of it. Drawn on the cover was a crude drawing that Gallus barely recognized as a griffon.
Confused, Gallous opened up its contents. On the inside looked like lists of rule or instructions, each saying how to act towards a griffon. Gallus frowned.
“‘Always have plenty of bits, griffons are sure to help you if you share the wealth’ ? Who writes this stuff?“ He wondered out loud. The book clearly seemed to be instructed to outsiders, but Gallus didn’t understand why someone would even want to some over to Griffonstone.
He tossed it to the side, having lost interest in the booklet. He continued to rummage around in the shelves before picking up a larger, more dusty book found his attention. Picking up the ancient thing with his wing, he turned and looked around him. Normally, he would sit there next to the Statue of King Grover and read for the entire day, but looking around the somewhat crowded streets, he didn’t exactly feel comfortable.
Quickly, Gallus weaved himself around the crowd.
Why is there so many griffons out today? Gallus wondered, so focused on the sudden activity happening in the small village he ran straight into-
“Watch it! ” A loud voice exclaimed as the blue griffon stumbled back. He turned to glare at the griffon, only to shrink back when he saw who he had ran into.
“Sorry miss,” Gallus apologizes, ducking his head. If he remembered correctly, this was Gilda, sister to Gabby, but she was no where are friendly as the grey griffon. He started to walk away from her when she stopped him.
“Uhh.....do you want to try some griffonscones?” Gilda asked, pulling out a small tray of scones decorated with acorns from out of the fire oven. Gallus looked at her funny.
“...why?” He asked skeptically.
The white feathered griffon sported a nervous grin. “A couple of friends of mine told me to try make friends with other griffons so I guess I’m following what they’re saying. Well that and also they were on a friendship quest that sent them here by some magical map and don’t ask me how that works because I have no clue.”
“Friends? What griffon would want to make friends?” Gallus asked. Gilda cocked an eyebrow.
“Aren’t you buddies with Gabby?”
“Well, yeah but....I thought she was the exception! Every other griffon is shallow.”
“Well that’s the thing, they aren’t griffons,” Gilda said nonchalantly, but that one sentence captivated Gallus’s interest right away. He’d had never heard of any other species outside of that one time Gabby mentions dragons. Gilda seemed amused when Gallus’s wings started flapping with curiosity, dropping the book he had been holding. “They are ponies.”
Gallus made a face. “Isn’t that the insult that other griffons use to call others weak?”
“Yes. It also that they are called, ponies.”
“Can you tell me what your pony friends are like?” Gallus asked. Usually he tried not to bother the other griffons much, but his curiosity was through the roof on this one. “Pleeeeease ?”
Gilda rolled her eyes, “Fiiine I guess I could tell you.”
Sitting on her haunches, she gestured for the younger one to sit closer. Gallus did as he was told, sitting in relative distance to the older griffon.
Gilda stared off into the distance. “When I was younger, Grampa Gruff allowed me to go to the Junior Speedsters Flight Camp, it a pegasus thing-“
“What’s a pegasus?” Gallus interrupted, confused by the term.
Gilda eyed him. “Seriously? You don’t know the three types of ponies? Have you been living under a rock your whole life?”
Gallus shrugged, think about his cardboard box. “More or less.”
Gilda sighed, pinching the bridge of her beak. She looked so done with him right now. “Okay fine, I signed up for this. They are three types of ponies; pegasus, who can fly, unicorns, who have horns and do magic, and earth ponies, who do stuff with the dirt or something. Ya got that?”
Gallus nodded, not wanting to escalate the other griffons temper.
“So as I was saying, I went to the summer flight camp for pegasus when I was younger. I met a lot of ponies there, one of them is my friend Rainbow Dash,” Gilda said, a barely audible fondness in her gravely voice. “She’s cool, and really fast. The other is Pinkie Pie. She’s an earth pony, and really excitable and emotional. She’s also the one who updated the griffonscone recipe by adding ‘baking powder.’ ”
Gallus hummed, taking in the information he’d just learned. Apparently there were other species outside of Griffonstone, apparently Gilda of all griffons is friends with them, and APPARENTLY there was something about magical map.
“So what’s this about a map sending them on a friendship quest?”
Gilda glared at him. “I thought I told you to not ask.”
“I mean, if you were friends with them why did it send them to you?” Gallus questioned. Something wasn’t adding up in his head.
Gilda looked away. “....I wasn’t the nicest. And before you comment on that, ponies value love and friendship and blah blah something magical rainbow power, so being one of the not so nice creatures didn’t really sit well with them...”
“Hmm...” Gallus hummed to himself again, trying to form his thoughts on the ponies. They seem nice, caring about friends and stuff, but also a magical map? Friendships quest? This is seriously things you can’t make up. “Is there any other creatures other than ponies? I know Gabby mentioned dragons but-“
“Oh yeah, tons other creatures. Can’t remember all of them off the top of my head, but there’s the dragons with their Dragon Lord Torch, changelings, but they’re evil, and there were these ancient creatures called hippogriffs but Grampa Gruff said they went extinct long time ago.”
Gallus didn’t really understand much of that, but now he knew that there was more creatures out there.
I wonder what dragons or changelings look like , Gallus wondered. The smaller griffon opened his beak, before Gilda silenced him with one talon.
“I would love to stay here and chat,” a fine line a sarcasm laced her tongue, “but I gotta pack up the food cart for tonight.” Gilda started to put away everything that was on the cart.
“Wait can I still have the scone you offered?” Gallus asked sheepishly, to which Gilda rolled her eyes.
“Sure, whatever kid.”
Grabbing one of the warm scones in his beak, Gallus bounded away, heading for his alleyway.
Author's Note
Exposition I guess
If you are wondering why Gallus seems out of character/seems clueless about everything, in the story right now he’s ten and just recently learned how to read.
Gallus felt the blood trickle down his face, the wound of his head had still not healed in the slightest. At least the blood flow seem to have slowed down, turning less of blood and more of a tar-like substance.
His lungs felt collapsed, the lingering feeling of being trapped was hard in his mind. The walls of the once comforting alleyway felt tight and suffocating. He looked back at the cardboard box, the box he had been living in for ten years.
He didn’t feel safe in it anymore.
His blood had leaked onto the walls of the box, leaving red stains when he’d tried pushing his way out. His dulled claws had left light scratch marks across the entire surface, giving the look that a wild animal had tried to escape.
Gallus just wanted to leave. Leave the alley. Leave everything behind. Leave and perish. He was exhausted and paranoid. He didn’t want to deal with any of this.
He perked up when he heard wing beats from a distance. Looking towards the entrance of the alleyway, he saw grey feathers approach him, holding a small box in her claws.
“Ok, so I got the medical kit,” Gabby sat on her haunches, folding her wings gracefully onto her side. She took up a white medical bandage, look at the young griffon. With careful talons, she took off the pink blanket still wrapped around his forehead.
She grimaces, looking at the wound. She placed everything on the ground, pulling a cotton ball and a container of clear liquid out of the box.
“This will sting,” she warned, placing a drenched cotton ball to his wound. Gallus immediately flinched back, hissing at the stinging pain. Gabby gave an apologetic look. “Stay still! I need to clean it.”
Gallus complied, letting Gabby dab the area with the alcohol, wincing. The grey griffin wrapped the medical bandage around his forehead, securing it to his face to ensure the blood stops flowing. Satisfied with her work, she moved onto his tattered wing, which hung limply at his side.
“....do you mind telling me what happened?” She asked, unfurling the injured wing. Gallus bit his lower beak, holding back a squawk. His gaze traveled over to the cardboard box behind him.
“Well...I was sleeping when there were two griffons who came here. Goose said they were making me pay for scaring his face, even though that was months ago at this point,” Gallus grumbled, thinking the idea sounded petty as hell. “..they threw me around and then stuffed me into the box, putting stuff onto the top of it so I couldn’t get out, and it was really dark...and tight...I really didn’t like it...one of them said they wouldn’t kill me so I guess...”
Gallus trailed off, unsure what to say. Gabby had stopped tending to his wing, staring at him in shock.
“They beat you up over a fight that happened months ago?” She asked, making sure she understood the situation. Gallus nodded. Gabby huffed. “That’s super petty, what were you even fighting about?”
“They were picking on me, so I scratched one of them to get away.”
“Well, they’re even pettier !” Gabby's face showed annoyance. She secured his wing to his side, making sure that it was properly wrapped so it’ll heal in the correct position. She gave a concerned glance at the blue feathered griffon. “Are you going to be okay staying here?”
Gallus dipped his head, casting a side glance at the cardboard box he had come to know as his home. He had an uneasy feeling sitting in his gut, knowing full well that he no longer had that connection to it anymore. His chest tightens at the thought of sleeping in it again.
What if Goose and his friend came back? They knew where he lived now! He proved that he couldn’t take them on, especially with his small size. He didn’t want to stay here.
Looking am back at Gabby’s eyes, he sighed. “...No...I don’t feel safe here anymore” He scratched his neck feathers.
Gabby nodded, placing a talon on his shoulder comfortingly. “How about you stay at my place? I can surely work out something with Gilda and Grandpa Gruff!”
Gallus, however, shook his head. He stood onto his feet, making sure to keep his balance.
“No...no it’s fine,” he waved of dismissively. “You’ve already done a lot for me...”
Gabby reached for the younger griffon. “Gallus... ”
He sighed. Looking back at the grey griffon, he sat back down. “Gabby, I appreciate everything you’ve done for me...I don’t want to ask for any more of you. You’ve done enough for me....”
Gabby wanted to object. Usually, that was how she got others to do what’s right for them. Object until they realized that maybe it’s for the better. Right now though, she didn’t seem to know what to say. She tapped her talon onto the stone floor, frowning.
“Well...I guess if I can’t change your mind,” she started, tugging on the straps of her satchel. “But please remember that if you do need anything from me...don’t be afraid to ask.”
Gallus had gotten up, making his way to the mouth the alley. Her words felt hallow, but it weighed in his stomach. Gabby was really the only griffon to tolerate him, be friendly towards him. Was he really going to throw out her help?
“Yeah, sure,” Gallus said flatly, his emotions buried under his words. He sheltered his fragile heart, pushing it aside. His wing stung, but the sting in his heart was worse. He turned to her, not sure of what to say.
“Uh...I guess I’ll see you around...”
“Yeah...see you around,” her eyes were rolled onto the floor. She clearly wasn’t happy about his decision, and if he was honest with himself, he wasn’t either.
Gallus turned the corner, walking out of the vision of Gabby. He smothered all his feelings of sadness and guilt, hoping they would turn into ashes.
I'll be fine on my own.
Author's Note
Ah ha
This chapter is awfully short.
I don't know how to lengthen it.
Perched atop a broken piece of plywood, Gallus watched the griffons of Griffonstone mingle among the streets. Well, less mingling and more growl and hiss at each other for being ever slightly annoying.
His wing was still bandaged to his side, snuggly tucked away. It still ached every once in a while, but it was healing. Causally, he hopped down from his perch, his talons scraping the top of the stone streets.
The streets were unusually packed, many griffons were shoving past each other or getting caught in air traffic. Loud squabbles and shouts were heard from miles away, and Gallus flatten with disappointment. He really didn’t want to deal with any of this today.
Sighing, pushed his way past the crowd, ignoring the growling of adult griffons. He could care less right now.
Bumping into a dark griffon made him hiss, looking up at the griffon definitely. The older griffon’s eyes narrowed, disdain shown in his eyes, but promptly turned away from the blue griffon. Gallus gave a mental sigh of relief.
“Ugh ,” Gallus grumbled, the noisy streets giving him a migraine. He decided to take a detour, ducking into one of the alleyways. He ignored the claustrophobic feeling he got when enter the dark alley. Instead, he turned left, going down the narrow passageway.
He found this detour a few months ago, ever since Gabby had shown him the library. He was determined on finding a faster way to get there, and low and behold, he found away. Since it was such a small place, he didn’t usually use this passage.
Right now, though, he needed to get away from the streets. The darkness of the passage made him uneasy, the walls clinging to his feathers. He pushed back the feeling, picking up the pace. The remerged into the sunlight, its warm rays hugged his body. Shaking out the cobwebs, he made his way over to the broken down library.
Sitting on his haunches, he leaned against the statue of King Grover. It was quieter, even with the number of griffons wandering around doubled. Relishing the silence, he plucked one of the books off the shelves.
It had a maroon leather cover, gold embroidery sewed onto it the make a pattern of the griffon. There was no title, but the book was pretty old, down to its dusty pages and lack of a back cover.
Opening the cover, Gallus blew the stray bits of dust and dirt away, clearing the first page.
He began to read to himself.
Aniya proved to be a formidable opponent. Her bones were tough as steel and could let out a roar that could shake the ground for miles.
But Grover was not fazed. He had dealt with these monsters before, and the cyclops was no different.
“Beast!” he cried, drawing a long sword. “You shall halt in your tracks and surrender before I have to take matters up.”
Aniya growled, fury shown in her one eye. She was not backing down from a fight. Holding the Idol of Boreas in one hand, she struck at the new king. Grover ducked, letting the claws barely scraping the tip of his feathers.
Letting out a war cry, Grover and his army charged. Swords were drawn, attacking the creature. Anirispa shook the ground with a mighty roar, using her claws to take out half the army.
Griffons fell like rain from the sky, crashing onto the ground. Feathers of white, grey, and black all withered in pain and confusion, leaving the young king standing alone in the battle. Aniya let up a roaring chuckle.
“Oh, how the mighty have fallen...” she hissed in with amusement. Her eye narrowed onto the king.
Grover held her gaze, determination in his eyes. He pointed the sword towards the sky, screeching.
“You will never win Aniya!” He growled. “I, King Grover, has to power of the Griffons beside me, and even though they might be down, I will not falter. You will stand down, and give back our rightful item. The Idol of Boreas is not yours and-“
“Please. Stop . Monologuing.”
Gallus slammed the book shut, setting it back on the shelf. He hated that book and everything it loved. “I thought I could get through that horrid novel, but I was proven wrong. Why is the army so weak!? I swear to the stars if I can’t find another book that isn’t a blatant copy of every book I’ve ever known, I’m going to riot. Gabby how can you- oh .”
He turned around, reminded that Gabby wasn’t with him this time. His feathered ears drooped. Gabby was fun to talk to. Talkative and funny, now in her place was empty silence along with distant griffon bickering. He looked up to the sky, seeing a pale orange streak across the blue. It was nearing sunset, he better get to shelter soon.
Sitting up, he stretched his legs and wings, letting his joints pop. Gallus left the open library, his talons stepping along the streets of Griffonstone. His bandaged wing ached, having been cramped up on his side forever.
Avoiding the griffons still outside, he ducked back into the alley, going down the narrow space. Instead of turning left, he turned right, his talons leading him to his next sleeping place. He hadn’t gone back to his old alley in days, and if he was honest with himself, probably never.
Ah well , he thought, I was thinking about moving anyway.
That was a lie.
He lied to himself.
The trapped feeling that consumed his body lingered in his head as his struggle through the narrow alley. His chest tightens and sweat beads dripped down his face. His wings were pushed against his body and brushed against the walls. Cobwebs caught in his tail and feathers, and he swore he felt a spider crawl on him momentarily.
The feelings were finally washed away as he stepped into the fresh air. The alley had lead to the edge of Griffonstone, the ground breaking off into a cliff. Shaking himself of dust, he leaned over the edge. It was a long way down, only seeing dead trees rocks. A small branch grew out of the cracks, ending with shrubbery leaves.
Eh, good enough , Gallus shrugged.
Carefully, he climbed down on the rock ledges, feeling the wind brush against his face. Placing a talon on the thick bark, Gallus laid his body on the branch. It felt sturdy, and he already didn’t have to deal with the claustrophobic feeling, being an open space. Watching the stars shine as the sun sets across the horizon, he smiled a little. The view was at least pretty.
The feeling subsides as loneliness settled in, overtaking him. Sighing, he settled onto his new sleeping branch, watching the sun fade out, leaving the world in darkness.
Flying in to the sky, Gallus stretched his wing out. It felt good to fly again, feeling the wind on his face as he soared over the houses.
It was also great that there were no longer any air traffic to clog up the sky, so Gallus flew peacefully. His wings beats barely made sounds, only giving the occasional breeze as he passed by.
He clutched a small book in his talons, being taken from the library once again. He found a short novel that had drawn pictures in it, and Gallus wanted to bring it back to his branch so he could read it again.
Didn’t go as planned.
As he was busy studying the cover, he failed to realized that he was about the run into a other griffons. Blue and grey feather collided in the air, and Gallus almost fell out of the air, only catching himself a few feet of the ground.
“Hey! Watch were you’re-“ Gallus paused, squinting at the griffon above him. It was hard to see with the position of the sun, but the griffon looked oddly familiar.
“Oh hey Gallus,” the griffon spoke, and the younger griffon put the pieces together.
“Gabby...?”
“Yeah! It’s me,” she floated down to his level, the same grin that she always wore. Gallus rubbed the side of his head. “How is ya doing?”
“I’m fine,” Gallus assured, holding the novel to his chest. “Where were you this week? I didn’t see you at all.”
“I went to Ponyville!” She said excitedly, her talons shaking with excitement. Gallus cocked an eyebrow. She squealed, “I know what your thinking, why would I go to Ponyville, well let me tell you, I saw Gilda pony friends spread care and compassion and Gilda was trying to do the same, and you know me, I had to figure out why, and well that’s just how ponies are and then I saw their cutie marks light up-those are the pictures on their flanks- and I had to go to equators so when Gilda finally gave me a letter to send, I sped off for pony lands-“
“Gabby ,” Gallus said exasperatedly, pushing his small talons to her beak. “Please . Slow . Down .”
“Right, right ,” she said clearing her voice. Gallus eyes wandered passed Gabby, hover just above the edge of the cliff. He spotted this branch, lowering himself on the thick bark. He beckoned Gabby to do the same.
He almost regretted it, as the branch bent with Gabby’s added weight. He wobbled, digging his talons into the bark of the branch. When it stopped tilting, looking up at the grey griffon.
“Okay,” he sighed, placing the graphic novel down onto the base of the branch. “What were you going on about?”
“Hm?” Gabby stopped playing with the branch's leaves. “Oh right! So ponies are creatures that share friendship and care everywhere they go, and I saw two of their cutie marks light up, so I went to Ponyville to get my own cutie mark!”
Gallus stared blankly at Gabby, unsure how to react to that. “I see it didn’t work...?”
“It did!” Gabby exclaimed in excitement, pulling off her satchel, pointing at the shiny pins on each side. The younger griffon poked at the glass-like badges. “The Cutie Mark Crusaders, these three fillies, helped me figure out my purpose, and they made me a Crusader! Their destiny is to help others, and so is mine! Can you believe it?”
Gallus has to think about that. A lot of what Gabby said didn’t make a whole lot of sense to him, but the sheer enthusiasm from her was off the chart.
“...I can believe the destiny part of it?” He offered, his tone unsure of itself. Gabby just kept a smile, her sweet disposition radiating into there surroundings. “So is that why you were going for a week?”
Gabby looked at him blankly. “What do you mean? I’ve been in Griffonstone the entire week!”
Gallus cocked an eyebrow at the grey griffon. “Well, you certainly weren’t around in this part of town. What where are you doing?”
The older griffon stared blankly at him, her eyes seemed unfocused as she thought. Then she gave a sheepish grin.
“Well....”
The white-headed griffon clamped her talons over her hidden ears as Gabby screeched in the kitchen.
“Gabriella! ” Gilda cried, wincing at the sound emitting from her younger sister. Gavin was laying on her old hammock, a pillow squashed over his head. Poor fledging was trying to sleep.
It’s a good thing Grandpa Gruff was out today.
“GABBY PLEASE STOP!”
She managed to get the attention of younger griffon. Gabby turned her grey-green eyes towards Gilda, letting a sheepish smile form on her face.
“Sorry,” she tapped her claws together, her eyes drifting to one side. “I’m just so excited! Can you believe it?! I’m a Cutie Mark Crusader! They said my purpose was to help others and that’s what intend on doing right now-“
She gasped, looking at the time. The old clock, for some ungodly reason, still worked, it’s hands showing it was past noon.
“Oh gosh, it’s later than I thought. I should get going and help all griffons in need!” Gabby left the house as abruptly as she came in. Gilda let out a sigh, removing her talons from her head.
Gavin pried the pillow off, his feathers seemed ruffled. “Is she gone now?”
Gallus face-taloned, though he wasn’t all that surprised. Given how hyperactive the grey griffon had the tendency to be, this was the perfect explanation.
“Let me guess, you were everywhere and nowhere at the same time?”
“Heh, yeah,” Gabby scratched her neck feathers. Arching her back, she stretched her neck and arms out, yawning. “Wow, it’s getting late.”
Gallus looked up towards the sky. Sure enough, the sky had turned from its daytime blue into a pale orange, the sun dipped lower onto the horizon. The warm air already seemed to cooler, and he welcomed the night breeze with open wings.
“Say...what have you been eating for the few weeks?” Gabby asked curiously, tipping her head to one side. Gallus simply shoved his talon through the branch’s leaves, pulling out a paper bag that Gabby had given him. The older griffon grimaced.
“That probably stale by now...”
“Eh,” the blue griffon shrugged it off, placing it back into his stash. “I’ll take what I can get.”
Gabby frowned, her head tilting slightly to the right. Her feathers ruffled a bit, talons digging in deeper into the bark.
“Y’know...it’s Gilda turns to cook today, and usually she makes a lot more than necessary...”
Gallus did not like where this was going.
“What if I invited you over for dinner?” Gabby's tail swished underneath her as she made the proposition. Gallus made an uncomfortable look, remembering the last time he had seen her family. The family of four was three grumps and one overly energetic feather ball. Not really something he wanted to deal with today.
But...it’s food , Gallus thought logical to himself. He’s been rationing things every day for three weeks now, barley keeping his hunger down. Surely food can’t hurt.
Right?
Gilda stirred the stew in the pot, her talons indifferent to the steam that emitted off the steel pot. Lifting the spoon, she carefully tasted it.
Too bad her tongue isn’t fireproof.
She violently winced away from the ladle, covering her beak with her talons.
“Ow, hawt! ” She waves her talons, trying to cool down her burning tongue as best as she could.
“I still don’t get why you make so much,” Gavin perches next to her, so small that he fit into the breadbasket. His feathers were tattered and dirty, reminding Gilda that she’d needed dunk him in the water soon.
“Ah mak mor juss in cass,” Gilda said with her tongue sticking out. The fledgling rolled his eyes at his big sister.
“Why? It’s not like we ever get guests or anything.”
As if the world was listening and wanted to taunt him, familiar grey feathers burst into the room.
“I’m baaaaaaack!” Gabby sang, which lead to loud crashing on the floor above them. Grandpa Gruff, with all his falling out feathers and glory, came tumbling down the stairs, wheezing black feathers out. Gabby winced.
“Whits with all the ruckus ?!” the elderly griffon screeched, making everyone’s ears ring. Gabby shook her head, shaking off the vibrations in her head.
“I brought company,” the grey griffon moved out of the doorway, revealing a certain blue griffon behind her.
Gallus waved shyly at all the other griffons in the room, his blue eyes trailing nervously to the ground.
Beside Gilda, Gavin sighed, pinching the bridge of his beak.
“I spoke too soon.”
Author's Note
Aha
Gallus says awkwardly at the table, his eyes darting around the room nervously. Gabby was busy helping Gilda with her stew, while the two other griffons sat along each side of him. He sweated, eyeing the two with nervous energy.
“So....what is Gilda making?”
“Stew,” the smaller griffon deadpanned, not interested in the conversation. Grandpa Gruff, on the other claw, huffed.
“Ever since her pony friends came here Griffonstone, she’s been doin’ Nuthin’ but cookin’,” the elderly griffon commented. His blind eye seemed to look at Gallus, though he wasn’t sure.
Gallus laughed awkwardly, his eyes trailing towards the stone floor. It peered around the room, observing his surroundings with a closer eye.
The room was cluttered; books laying on the floor, baskets scattered about, and floorboards popped from the ceiling. The only thing that seemed tidy was the counter on the other side of the room. Neat bundles of herds were placed in an order, with a mortar and pestle next to it.
Gallus briefly wondered if they even cleaned the place.
“Stew’s ready!” Gabby sang, plopping the pot on the table. Gilda came with a ladle, portioning the stew into five stone bowls. Passing them about, Gallus grabbed the one the white-feathered griffon handed to him, wincing at the heat emitting from the bowl.
Gabby sat excitedly at the table, taking of her satchel. Without wasting a minute, she dug into the meal, not even complaining about the level of heat. The older griffon rolled her eyes at her little sister, gulping down her portion. Throwing it into the sink, she began to climb the stairs.
“Gramps, it’s your turn to wash dishes,” she called, before disappearing up the dark stairwell.
Grandpa Gruff mumbled incoherently, glaring at his bowl of stew. The blue griffon took the bowl, slowly tipping some into his beak.
His eyes widen. “This is good.”
Gabby giggled on the other side of the table. “Gilda is excellent at making dinner! Her friend Pinkie Pie lent some ingredient for her to use, and it’s made the food extra delicious!”
“Less talkin’ more eatin’,” Grandpa Gruff grumbled, finishing his bowl. He turned to the smallest griffon in the table. “Gavin, after yer are done eatin’ go to sleep, ya hear me?”
“Yes sir,” Gavin replied sarcastically, pushing the bowl away from him. He excused himself from the table. “Wasn’t hungry anyway.”
The elderly griffon glared at his grandson, watching him with hawk eyes as he flew upstairs. “Gabby that goes for yer, too.”
The grey griffon sighed, placing her empty bowl sink. Unlike her siblings, she washed her own, letting the water wash off the residue of remaining junk. She too left the room, leaving Gallus with the grumpy old guy.
The blue griffon hadn’t touched his bowl a whole lot, more focused on the surroundings around him. He wasn’t until the elderly griffon tapped the table was when he was pulled back into reality.
“Yer gonna finish or...”
“Oh...uh, yeah I’ll finish,” Gallus stammered hastily, trying to finish the rest of the stew. Grandpa Gruff grumbled, flying over to the sink. The blue griffon heard the facet run, dowsing the bowls and pot with cool water. He cleaned his bowl, not letting a single drop of stew go to waste. “Would you like it if I washed my dish or...”
“Whatever, sonny,” the elderly griffon answered gruffly. Taking his hostile tone into account, Gallus cautiously places the bowl into the stone sink, hoping to not step on a metaphorical land mine while he did so.
“I guess I’ll leave now-“
“Don’t,” Gruff interrupted, and Gallus was taken aback. “Gabby will annoy me tomorrow about this, so it’s better than yow stayed.”
The blue griffon blink, unsure he heard correctly. He looked around the space, contemplating what to do.
“So....where should I sleep?”
“Hammock,” the elderly griffon pointed towards the hanging white hammock that still hung from the broken ceiling. “Gilda stopped using that old thing when she got herself her own room.”
Gallus nodded, climbing into the stray hammock. He noted how soft it was, softer than most other stuff he had. Except for the blanket, nothing will top the blanket.
I miss my old box , Gallus thought glumly. Though his branch had sufficed, for now, he never quite felt he...belonged there. It never felt as secure or comforting as his old “home” once was.
“I’ll never understand Gabby ,” he heard Grandpa Gruff muttered. He perked his head towards the elderly griffon, listening in while also realizing that this was probably a bad idea. The grey-black griffon seemed to mumble to himself. “Always talkin’ ‘bout friendship and helping ...”
“Why is Gabby so different from all of you?” Gallus asked before he could stop himself. The blue fledgling shrunk back into the hanging hammock when Gruff’s eyes locked onto his own. His beak curled into a frown.
“Think it'z yer business, sonny? ”
Gallus quickly shook his head. “No, I’m just wondering...”
The older griffon didn’t answer, turning back to the dishes. Gallus accepted that he wasn’t going to get an answer, laying his head into the curve of his arm.
“None of ‘em are mine,” Gallus looked back at the elderly griffon. Gruff was putting the wet bowls and dishes back into the cupboards, unconcerned about the noise they were making. “Never had children in my life. They all just showed up on my doorstep on the night, and I have been in charge of ‘em ever since.”
Not the answer he was expecting but... okay? “Why did you take them in?”
“Gabby’s egg was damaged, so I took ‘er in to patch it up. She hatched a few week afterwards and came into my responsibilities. Don’t know what happened that day; no mother or father left anything.” Gruff seemed to be lost in though as he told Gallus what happened.
“Gilda’s mother was a colleague of mine, gave her to me before she died,” Grandpa Gruff let out a dry laugh. “Her husband stabbed ‘er twenty times, she died right on my doorsteps.” Gallus shuttered, looking at the unhinges door that leads into the house. He would never look at that piece of wood the same way again.
“...and Gavin’s egg was being tossed around by older fledglings, foolish ‘nuff to think it was a ball of some sort. Had to chase those hooligans away with a stick,” he coughed, feathers becoming lose again. The blue griffon looked at the older griffon in a new light.
“I’m surprised,” Gallus admitted. “I thought it was an obligation.”
“Yeah yeah I get that a lot,” the older griffon mused, his gaze hardens. “You owe me bits.”
“What? Why?” Gallus sputtered, fidgeting his wings. His talons clawed at the hammock’s fabric.
“I don’t tell stories for free ya know? Bits .”
“I don’t have bits...”
“Well then, I guess I’ll have to ask Gabby to for you then.”
“Wait but- “
Gallus was silenced as Grandpa Gruff glared at him. Silently, the elderly griffon flew ungracefully up the stairs, hitting every step of the way. Accepting the conversation was done, Gallus curled himself into a ball, resting his feathered tail along the bridge of his beak.
Closing his eyes, he let himself drift into a, surprisingly, peaceful slumber.
Author's Note
I wanted to explore Grandpa Gruff’s character more. Give him more...redeeming(?) qualities other than ‘parental figure that dosen’t really care.’
Two years later...
Gallus wandered, boredom slowly killing him. He looked up to the sky, the early morning sun greeted him with its blinding light. Summer’s heat washed over the town of griffons, driving most of them to find shelter. Gallus, however, welcomed the warmth with open talons, relishing in the heat.
It’s not to say that he thought it was overwhelming. Oh boy, it was sweltering, but the little griffon much rather perfected this that’s the cold winter.
That being said, HOLY MOTHER OF GROVER, it was HOT.
Gallus felt the sweat soak into his fur, making him sticky and uncomfortable. He groaned, the heat waves felt pressure against his back as he tried to find some sort of shade.
“Where is the convenient shade when you need it!” The blue griffon complained, stamping his talons on the ground, and drawing it back when the hot stones burned his claws.
Can’t find shade? The next best bet is water. And with the communal fountain dried out, he’d have to look somewhere else.
Running on the dirt path, because no way in hell was we crossing the stone streets, flapping his wings and lifting into the air. He soared above Griffonstone, squinting around.
He kept himself afloat, letting the cooler wind wash over his sweat-soaked feathers. Diving from perch to perch, Gallus searched the small town around him. He was glad Griffonstone had fallen to ruins because he knew he would have an even worse time finding water.
“Water...water...where the hell is all the-“ he cut himself off, the heat leading him to exhaustion. The blue griffon landed onto a sturdy branch that stuck out from the side of the cliff, the wind almost nonexistent.
He let the branch sway under his weight as he looked at the land below him. There wasn’t much, but quite a few more green trees were present, and Gallus could make out the silhouette of a small stream.
Groaning, he swooped down. The branch above him snapped, sending the perch tumbling down the rocky cliff.
Welp, there goes my sleeping spot, Gallus though grimly. Shaking off the thoughts, he clasped his wings to his sides, accelerating downwards at a high velocity. The wind whipped his face, making it hard to see. When the ground was near, the griffon spread his blue wings, parachuting himself and avoiding a very, very painful crash.
Ducking underneath the not-dead tree, Gallus settled near the stream. It wasn’t big, by any means, but the air around it felt cooler and much more tolerable.
Sighing, the griffon reached for the tree’s branches. Gallus stood on his hind paws, his talons grasping the air. He plucked the large, smooth leaves of the trees, cupping them into a bowl-like shape.
He tentatively soaked his talons in the stream, the cool water washing over them. Gallus dipped the leaf bowl into the new found water source, collecting the water. Letting himself relax a little, he drank from the bowl.
Much better , he thought as his throat stop throbbing from dehydration. The blue griffon brought his eyes to the summer skies, watching the streaky clouds moving within the vast blue space. He leaned his back against the tree bark, not seeing a problem with resting by the tree a little while.
A loud noise caught his attention as he turned his head. From the east side of Griffonstone, he could make out dark storm clouds, echoing the crackle of thunder. Confusion plastered Gallus’s face.
Storm clouds? It’s summer! Why the hell are we getting a storm?
Shaking himself, Gallus took off from the ground. The flapped his wings, elevating himself higher, perching back onto the cliff at the entrance of Griffonstone.
Upon closer inspection, the griffon could make out what looked to be an airship. It was dark, unwelcoming blue, with brighter magnets accents and a symbol in electric blue, glowing amongst the clouds.
Yeah, this shouldn’t be here.
Padding over to an older griffon, he poked her shoulder. “Uh...what is that thing?”
Her ruffled white feathers bristled, making a growling sound at the back of her throat. “I don’t know, but I don’t like it.”
She shook out her wings, casting a glance at the young griffon. “You better get home. Things like this only ask or trouble.”
Gallus gulped, looking at the darkening sky. This would an....interesting summer.
“I swear on Grover’s good throne, if it rains aNOTHER DAY I AM GOING TO LOSE MY MIND !” Gallus screeched, stomping the ground. His talons were met with cold, unwelcoming water, splashing everywhere. He was drenched in rain, only using his wings to cover his head.
The blue griffon was mostly alone on the streets, most others have been driven inside or found somewhere else to stay for the time being. Right now, he sat in his old alleyway, ignoring the feelings of tightness in favor of taking out his frustration.
It was practically flooded, the water level inching higher than the average rainfall usually gives to the barren town. What’s even worse was that it was the middle of summer! No griffon, or any other creature for that matter, were prepared for this kinda weather.
Gallus winced as the rumbling of clouds overhead made a sudden crash! Lighting struck a metal beam that was attached to one of the houses, making the young griffon shutter.
He looked at the sky, remembering the airship he had seen. It had been a few weeks, and Gallus just had a feeling that this wasn’t any normal weather. Something had happened, and he knew that dark, sinister-looking airship was responsible for it.
“I hope this rain lets up soon.”
The crackle of thunder made Gabby wince, dropping the bowl into the sink. It clattered against the metal surface, and Gabby covered her talons over her hidden ears.
“Jeez , this is some thunder,” she heard Gavin say from across the room. She looked over at her little brother, who was buried under a pillow and blanket.
“It’s never this bad,” she added, tired of the constant rain. “Usually I wouldn’t complain, but this is a bit much.”
The fledgling nodded, pulling a small picture book from the shelf. Gavin read through all the books in the house and continued to re-read through them despite the distain.
Gabby was about to walk over when a hard knock on the front down distracted her. He padded forth, the cold air making her sluggish.
With an effort to keep a cheery smile, she unlocked the door and opened it. She could already feel both the rain and the annoyed energy from the blue griffon in front of her.
“Hello, Gallus!” She greeted with a peppy voice. Gallus just grumbled, pushing his way into the household. “I see that the weather has treated you poorly.”
“Yeah,” the drenched griffon muttered, flopping onto the hammock that still hung from the ceiling.
Gabby smiled awkwardly. “I’ll get you a towel.” She excused herself, rushing up the stairs.
Gavin sat in his repurposed breadbasket, looking down at the soaked blue griffon. His eyes shown with amusement. “Rough night, huh?”
Gallus groaned. “I never want to see rain again.”
“Ah well, this isn’t so bad.”
The fledgling gained a glare from the griffon.
“What? What did I do?”
Instead of answering, the griffon face planted into the hammock, too cold to talk. He heard wingbeats of Gabby coming from the dark stairwell, holding a white towel in her talons.
Gallus hummed thanks as he tightly wrapped himself with the towel, wanting the torturous weather to end.
Well, the young griffon has only one thing to say.
“Why is a TORNADO any BETTER?! ”
Gallus found himself shelter behind a walled alleyway, having thought he’d get a break from the rain. Nope. The world just wants to taunt him.
It started just fine. Still dark, sure, but the clouds didn’t give off any it’s insistent pouring for the past several days. One star added!
“Welp, I should’ve known better,” he muttered grumpily. His back was pressed against the walls as the winds became stronger. “The world is a cruel place and I shouldn’t have gotten my hopes up.”
Off in the distance, he could see the outline of a swirling mass of wind, a sucking vortex that was powerful enough to effect Griffonstone.
The gush of wind threw him off balance, effectively sending him across the street. He desperately clawed at the stone floor, not wanting to be swept away by the powerful wind.
He could see many griffons and their fledglings hurrying inside, taking cover. The unfortunate ones that didn’t have a home retreated into alleys or just hung onto the wall.
And the unUN fortunate, Gallus, was being tossed around like a loose piece of plastic. His body aches as he struggled to fight against the winds, flapping his wings tiredly.
To no avail, he continued to bumble down off the streets. Dangerously close to falling off the cliff that Griffonstone was built on, Gallus began to panic.
Frantically, grasped an old tree with his talons, digging his claws into the bark.
This is a bad idea , he acknowledged, feeling the brittleness of the dying tree before him. This is gonna snap this is gonna snap this gonna snap-
That phrase is repeated, he closed his eyes, dreading the worse.
Surprisingly, and thankfully, Gallus felt the wind began to slow down, abruptly stopping. The lack of powerful wind made Gallus face-plant down, colliding his beak with the stone floor.
“Ow.. ” he groaned, rubbing the tip of his beak. His mind wandered, unsure of how to take in what happened.
He focused on where he last saw the tornado, turning his head towards the west side of Griffonstone. A pocket of clouds had cleared up around the area, letting the sunshine down in beams.
Huh , he thought, taking note of the interesting behavior of nature. He slowly got to his talons, shaking out his feathers.
Ok now please be done with this crazy weather , he begged.
Atop a perch, Gallus sat comfortably above the town of griffons. It had been a few more weeks, and the weather had cleared up. He was thankful. Finally, the stars were in his favor!
He swished his tail back and forth, content with his position. His blue eyes trailed the roads, which were more crowded than usual. Not that it was unreasonable, they have been trapped indoors for weeks now, but an unusual sight.
He twitched the feather on the side of his head, hearing the sound of something clicking against the floor. Turning his head, his eyes gazed upon an equine creature, dressed in a black suit of armor and a scar across her right eye.
She looked like what Gilda described as a unicorn, but her horn seemed to be missing and didn’t seem that cuddly or soft-hearted as Gilda had made them out to be. She also didn’t look like a helpful guide or as friendship-y as Gabby made them out to be.
Which already captivated Gallus’s interest.
What is a pony doing in Griffonstone? He thought , his imagination coming up with a wild variety of options. Friendship Quest? No, she doesn’t look friendly...Royal Duties? Possibly...Bringer of Bad News? Evil Big Scary Villain is defeated? Ha...Gallus, you’ve been reading too many graphic novels...
The unicorn stomped her hoof on the ground, a sonic wave of power radiating from her. Her expression seemed to harden, which caught the attention of every griffon in a ten feet radius.
“Citizens of Griffonstone!” She said with a hint of authority. “My name is Tempest Shadow, and I am here on the behalf of Princess of Friendship. We spread news of the Storm Kings defeat, his body is destroyed, and the Hippogriffs have returned to Mount Aris.”
She coughed as if she’s been reciting this over and over. Tempest raised her hoof, about to continue her speech when the griffons began to converse among themselves about this news.
Gallus voices his question above the rest.
“What?”
Author's Note
Well I had to get the story rolling some how.
Author's Note
This chapter is a little more violent and slightly more gorey, just a heads up.
Trapped
Gallus was startled awake, hearing the loud crashing and clanking just outside. Opening an eye, he peaked out his cardboard box, curious about that was happening.
“Ack , really? I had to drop that watering can. Of course, what did I expect.”
“Uh..are you talking to yourself?”
“Shut up- “
“What are you doing here?” Gallus yawned, not fully processing the situation.
The shadowy silhouettes that outlined the entry of the alleyway turned to look at him. Both stood still, and for a moment Gallus wondered if he was imagining voices, and they were just a figment of his imagination. Then one spoke.
“Great, now we’ve alerted him. Good going, Goose.”
Gallus was fully awake, realizing that there were actual griffons in his alley, and they didn’t seem friendly. They just gave him a bad feeling, and the cold wind sent a shiver down his spine. Carefully, he stepped out his box, growling.
“What are you doing here?” Gallus prompted again, this time his voice was low and menacing. Or...at least it was as low and menacing as he could get it. One of the older griffons cackled.
“Aww the fledgling thinks he can scare us, how cute,” one of them said, laughing. The other one made an uneasy noise.
“...to be fair he did claw your fa-“
“Shut up about that! ” The griffon whipped his head around to face his comrade, his face caught the light of the moon. The large griffon had a scar running along the left side of his face, his eye was cloudy. Gallus took a step back, suddenly recognizing the griffon before him.
Crap...
“Leave,” Gallus said as sternly as possible, drawing the attention bot the older griffon back onto him. The older griffon chuckled, his eyes narrowing.
”Oh, I don't think so, ” he grinned, taking a stride towards the fledgling, and in turn, Gallus stepped back. His blue eyes flung around, looking for any possible exit. As he was backed into a corner, he felt his mind racing. The walls seemed to shrink, making the already thin alley seem suffocating. Goose chortle, seeming to enjoy watching the younger griffon as he realized he was trapped.
Gallus leaped for one of the broken boards that lined the alley, trying to put distance between him and the two griffons below. He didn't get far, as the griffon behind Goose had trapped his tail and pulled him back down, the boards slid between his claws. He landed onto the stone floor with a thud, feeling sharp spikes stab through his skin, and splinters fell out of the air.
”You actually thought you were going to going to get away?” the white-feathered griffon asked, the fledgling struggling underneath his grasp. ”You don't get to scar someone’s face and get away with it. That's something they teach on the streets, don't they?” There was hesitance in his voice, and Gallus couldn't help but laugh.
”That sounded oddly rehearsed, ” the griffon on top of him blinked and turned back to his comrade with an apologetic grin. Goose shook his head, disapprovingly.
”You aren’t supposed to-ugh , I deal with him,” shoving the white-feathered griffon aside, he gripped the fledgling’s head in his claws, and sharp pain coursing through his head and neck and he felt himself be pulled into the air.
“Listen here ya little brat ,” he spat, his feathers bristling, “After what you’ve done to my face, I thought I’d come to teach you a lesson.”
“Oh c’mon, that happened MONTHS ago,” Gallus said, squirming in pain. “Why are you doing this now? In the middle of the night!?”
Goose didn’t answer. Instead, Gallus felt his body be flung across the alley, his head colliding with the stone floor. Unbearable pain coursed through his body, and Gallus had to wait it out until it subsided so he can stand. Immediately, a large body threw themself on top of him, pinning him to the ground. The blue griffon bit his lower beak, stopping himself from screeching as he felt claws tear at his wing. Blinking away his tears, he curled himself into a ball, twisting in place, and effectively loosening the grip his attacker had on him. With a forceful kick to the stomach, Gallus threw of the brown griffon and was able to right himself up again.
With much effort, Gallus heaved himself to his feet, staggering a few steps towards the mouth of the alley. He didn't get far, as the dizziness from his head injury made him stumble, collapsing onto the ground.
He gasped, the pain spreading through his body. The world around became blurred, and he could feel something dripping down his face. Claws were back onto his back, and Goose hoisted Gallus up into the air.
“The fledgling thinks he can outsmart us, how cute,” Goose taunted, letting the young griffon hang from his talons. Gallus could feel the wind drying the blood flowing down his face, sticking to his fur and feathers. He didn’t have the strength or energy struggle anymore, everything around him was spinning.
“So..what do we do with him?” the white griffon came padding towards Goose, his steps light. “You agreed to not kill him.”
“I have a better idea,” Goose claws sunk deeper into the younger griffon’s flesh, which went numb against every other pain in his body. Dragging the fledgling’s body, he stuffed Gallus back into his box. Confused, Gallus lifted his head, ignoring the screaming of bloody murder in the back of his mind. The brown griffon flipped the flaps of the cardboard box, closing the way out.
Gallus’s eyes flew open, realizing what they were doing. Using his claws, he tried to push the flaps open, only for Goose to hold the box shut.
“Glide, get me something heavy! Preferably multiple somethings,” the griffin called, which was followed by crashing and clanking. Gallus felt something be placed over the head, and when he tried to push out, it didn’t budge.
“Hey!” He cried out, clawing the side of the box, his dull claws barely making a dent. The older griffons cackled, amused by Gallus’s attempts to escape. “Let me out!”
“Good luck, brat ,” Goose’s voice was muffled by the walls that surrounded the young griffon. Pairs of talon steps faded away, their laughing went along with it. Leaving Gallus alone, stuck in a box, and unable to get out.
Gabby didn’t think much of it when she didn’t see Gallus the following morning. When she showed up to the empty alley, she’d assumed that the young griffon had left for the library early, and continued on her mail pathway.
She knocked on an older griffon’s window, waiting patiently for the elderly griffon to open up.
“Hi, Ms. Griddy! Here is your le-“
The aging white griffon snatched the papers out of Gabby's claws. She briefly skimmed over the writing on the back of the envelope, before huffing and slamming the window shut. They mail griffin sighed, descending from the sky.
She glumly walked across from street to street. The small town of griffons never said any word of gratitude as she mailed letters and packages, Gabby was mostly met with shut doors and angry adults. She was starting to miss the younger griffons company.
Gallus at least said thank you every once in a while , she thought, her annoyance becoming apparent on her face. She shook her head, ridding herself of the down-beat thoughts.
It’s fine!
Her talons clacked against the stone roads, making sure to keep a pep in her step as she made her way to the farthest end of the street. If the street had a name, Gabby wouldn’t know, because any sign that once was has been taken down or left to fade away with time. Either way, she’d like to think she had the whole of Griffonstone memorized like the back of her talons.
She turned a corner, trying to find a specific house that laid on the avenue. It was a new address that she’d had never delivered for, and Gabby was looking forward to making a good impression. She looked around the neighborhood and came to a halt.
The house in front of her was small, probably big enough to fit two griffons, and even that was a stretch. It had been carved from one of the dead trees, it’s entrance being hallowed out. The door was a glassy sheen to it, but the doorknob was missing. She knocked gently on the front door, waiting for the griffin to answers.
With a creak, the door opened slightly, just enough that Gabby could see one yellow eye peek out from the darkness. The grey griffon smiled warmly at him, waving.
“Hi! I’m Gabby. I’m here to deliver a letter for you,” she dug around in her leather satchel, pulling out a weathered piece of paper. With shaky talons, the griffin behind the door took it tentatively, before closing the door.
Gabby sighed and began to walk away, he from behind the door, a voice spoke up.
“Um...Gabby?” The griffin opens the door wider, and the grey griffon could see the white feather, ruffled, and tattered. Gabby looked confused but was delighted that someone had decided to make a conversation with her. The white griffon handed her a folded piece of paper, to which she took it with open talons. “Just..read it and...please don’t tell anyone of this.” There was underlining of fear that was held between his shaky voice. He abruptly shut the door, no longer wanting to talk.
She gripped the sheet of paper, her claws wrinkling the thin fibers. Curious, she unfolded the paper, reading its contents.
A small blue griffon is trapped in a box. Please get to him before he comes back a decides to do worse! Alleyway, up north, broken down.
“‘Small blue gri-“ Gabby stooped, realizing with dread that the white griffon had meant Gallus. Who else had blue feathers? And who was this ‘he’? Was Gallus in danger? How did the white griffon know?
She decided to not ask questions. Taking off in the direction she came from, she left her mail route. The grey griffon may be delivering late today, but right now she was more concerned about Gallus.
How did I not realize that he was in trouble? I should pay more attention to this! I’m a terrible friend, Gabby fretted, her mind racing with all the possibilities running through her head.
She arrived at the alleyway, her talons scraping the stone floor that sparks were created, bouncing in the air before disappearing. The alley looked just the same as it did earlier that morning, but now with the information that Gallus was here, it felt uncomfortable, like a spider crawling along her spine.
Gabby crept along the fallen planks, carefully avoiding splinters that littered the ground. She noted that there were dried black substance on the stone floor, flaking off when she scratched it. She didn’t know what it was but it did make her worry.
The cardboard box stood still in front of her, having large planks of wood and metal beams piled on top of it. Gabby's heart sank when she realized that she didn’t even notice the still silence that engulfed the alley, and felt ashamed.
“Gallus...?” She tapped the box’s sides, hoping the get a response. It was quiet for a moment.
She piped up when she heard something move.
“...Gabby?“ a raspy voice said, muffled by the cardboard walls. Quickly, they mail griffon knocked down the pile of planks and beams, letting them clatter and clank against the stone floor.
Inside the container laid the small, blue griffon, curled up into a little ball. He shivered as he lifted his eyes towards Gabby, a pink blanket held squashed to the side of his head. She could see red seeping into the fibers of the fabric.
“Oh geez, what happened to you?!” Gabby exclaimed, using her claws to gently pick up Gallus. She settled him into the stone floor, and the young griffin swayed on his feet. Tear stains were leaking down his face. He took a deep breath as if he hadn’t been breathing the entire time.
“Uh...I....”Gallus stuttered on his words, collapsing on his stomach, unable to keep himself up. Gabby’s fear was etched onto her face.
“Ok, ok.....you can tell me later uhhhh I’ll take you back to my place! I can get some medical-“
“NO!” He screeched suddenly, stumbling back. Gallus’s eyes were wide with fear, tears forming along his face, hyperventilating. “I don’t want to...Small...can’t...breathe..!”
“Gallus! Please, I need you to calm down,” Gabby urged, sitting Gallus back down. The young griffin fought back weakly. “I’m trying to help you!“
Gallus didn’t seem to hear her. Tears went streaming down his face as he finally let go of the pink blanket, letting it float to the ground. Gabby gasped when she was blood dripping down his face, staining his fur and feathers with a sickly red hue.
“Gallus, I’m going to need you to stay here, I’m going to go get something,” she said quickly, pressing the blanket to his face again. She tentatively wrapped the cloth around his forehead, hoping it’ll stay in place as she quickly raced home for supplies.
Gallus watched her leave, his vision still blurred. He sat on the floor, his energy levels at an all-time low.
He gazed around the alley, his breath hitching. Why was it so hard to breathe? Why was he panicking?
And most importantly, why are the walls coming closer?
