Paradise Found

Seven years, almost eight, spent awake. An eternity without sleep for mortals. But for It, that is desirable. To slumber is to be vulnerable. To rest is to be inert. What is sleep but a temporary death to the world?

But now, with the help of Its loyal priestess, It would slumber no more. She serves It well, and does exactly as she is told. In turn, It rewards her.

Though It is awake, It is still weak. One high priestess alone does not make a cult. There needs to be worshippers. Only then can It be as It once was.

Fate smiles upon It! The lure has gotten a nibble. New life approaches, no doubt in search of Its priestess. A most promising development indeed...

All feelings of fatigue had been long forgotten by Rainbow Dash as she drew closer to the island. She was confident this was the island Gilda wrote about. There was only one thing missing before she could remove all doubt.

Once she was over the tallest trees of the island’s jungle canopy, the pegasus took pause. From east to west she scanned as much of it as she could see, and had to admit it was pretty scenic. Would make for a sweet resort.

Her attention turned to the island. Moving forward once more, Rainbow Dash circled around the green-dusted rock face. If her hunch was correct, it should be right about…

There! Like an ominous beacon, the harsh edges of a smooth stone structure emerged from around the mountain slope. Perched flush against the mountain was a plateau, upon which a dark, three-sided pyramid sat. Surrounding it was a complex of smaller buildings.

Again, Rainbow Dash stopped to take it all in. “Okay, there is no fricking way Gilda built all this by herself!” she scoffed. Even so, she swooped down for a closer look.

The pyramid was much larger up close. It had looked so much smaller from a distance. Though Rainbow Dash would never admit it, it was a little intimidating.

A weight settled in the pit of her stomach as she touched down in the courtyard. It was laid with flat, carved stone paths interspersed with manicured green spaces. In the largest space at the center of the courtyard, a lone palm tree stood tall. Somecreature took good care of this place. But was it Gilda?

A thousand thoughts raced through the brash pegasus’s head as she hazarded to explore the courtyard. Could Gilda have built this? Was she embellishing in the journal? Had she even written it to begin with, or was somecreature impersonating her to get her out here? That last thought was one she chose not to dwell on.

She stood at the base of the stairs leading up the pyramid now. No matter how she swallowed, the lump in her throat stubbornly remained lodged in place. Finally, she was able to muster the courage to speak.

“Gilda?” Rainbow Dash called. She then frowned. Her voice was a lot smaller and squeakier than usual. Taking a deep breath, she tried again. “Gilda?” That time her voice carried.

Even so, there was no reply. Only the distant echo of tropical birdsong and the rustle of wind through the fronds of the lone palm tree could be heard. After a few moments, Rainbow Dash took off and began a slow flight around the temple complex.

Unable to find anycreature else present, Rainbow Dash decided to widen her search. She checked the stairs leading up the mountain to the temple next. From there, she tried the vast plains of tall grass. There was no sign of Gilda.

The pegasus eventually had to land, as the fatigue in her wings finally caught up to her. She paused to take a drink from her canteen, then located an animal trail to follow. It took her across the field and towards the beginnings of the jungle. Rainbow Dash regarded the dark expanse of gnarled trees for a moment, then drew the machete slung across her hip. Like she’d told the shopkeeper, her costume was functional.

Rainbow Dash decided to try one more time at the opening of the treeline. “Gilda, are you in there? It’s me, Rainbow Dash! You can c-come out.” She cleared her throat. Weird of it to hitch like that.

The canopy blocked out much of the setting sun’s rays, and it was getting touch to see. Wandering through the dense foliage, Rainbow Dash’s mind began to play tricks. She hadn’t encountered any predators yet, which was good. Hopefully that shadow she thought she saw in the twisted branches above was her imagination.

A snap to her left caused Rainbow Dash to whirl about, machete raised above her head. The brightly colored bird of paradise foraging nearby cocked its head and stared at her, before going about its business once more.

Rainbow Dash chuckled nervously, then turned to continue down the path. Before she could even take a step. Something large and heavy landed behind her with a whump.

“FUCK!!!” yelled the pegasus. She pivoted and blindly swung her machete so hard, she lost her balance and fell on her rump. The blade she’d been using for protection fell to the forest floor a few feet away, but Rainbow Dash’s attention was taken up by the large figure looming over her.

Her eyes had adjusted just enough to the fading light to make out the giant before her. It was a griffon, looming a good seven feet tall, if not more. Rainbow Dash quickly took notice of just how built the new arrival was. Thick, meaty slabs of rock-hard muscle bulged from the griffon’s arms and legs. Abdominals like bricks were stacked one atop the other to support a stocky torso. The neck was supported on either side by the gentle swell of a well-developed pair of traps.

The griffon was also unmistakably female. Her silhouette was defined by a ridiculous set of curves that would put any porn star to shame. And it was all on full display; not a scrap of clothing hid any of her feminine glory. True, she wore many simple accessories - the wooden bangles on her wrists and ankles, the seashells strung around her wide hips, the necklaces of bone and stone around her neck, a lone tropical flower perched in the part of her shoulder-length headfeathers, and a woven bracelet around her right bicep - but these only served to accentuate her nudity even more.

On the subject of accessories, the most prominent were the shiny golden rings run through her freakishly fat, dark nipples. They seemed to almost glow in the evening light from their place upon the jaw-droppingly large breasts held aloft by an equally impressive pair of pecs.

Rainbow Dash wanted to say something, anything. But no words would come. The hulking, monstrous avian woman took a step towards Rainbow Dash, then knelt down in front of her. As the pegasus gazed into the stern face looking back at her, dawning recognition drained the color from her cheeks.

“G-Gilda?”

The griffon's predatory gaze softened, then seamlessly melted into one of equal recognition, with no small helping of joy on the side.

"Hello, Rainbow Dash."