Shatter

***

“Things are getting worse…I’m not sure how much longer we’ll be safe here…”

“I know…” Arnulf sighed as he looked out the window, empty streets soon concealed behind the now thicker curtains drawn to seal away the horrors that had taken the world outside. “What is left of the military is growing more desperate by the day to maintain order.”

“Just the other day I was stopped on my way to a job…they wouldn’t let me through.” Wyman tried to lower his voice even more as he stepped closer. “If this keeps up there won’t be money to last.”

“What of your boy, he does the same work as you doesn’t he?”

“Henry wastes his money on his friends…he is barely even around even with the curfews.” Wyman shook his head as he waved a claw dismissively, a frustrated huff leaving his beak.

“Even if we had the money, It’s getting harder to purchase basic supplies” Willa hesitantly spoke up as her eyes glanced up the stairs, voice lowering to match the two griffon’s own as her daughter silently looked on from the top steps. ”I fear to even leave the house and even when I do the markets are empty and the soldiers patrolling the streets are ready to steal whatever isn’t already gone.”

“I know…I know…I have a plan to keep us safe. If you all can j—”

“Mom, Dad…I-W-we’re in trouble…th-the solders are coming…” The door suddenly burst open as a dark-feathered griffon stumbled into the small room, voice hoarse as he spoke between pants. “I-I’m…Th-they caught me and some others…th-they started shooting a—”

“Soldiers? Henry, my word boy – slow down!” Arnulf nearly dropped to the floor as the griffon pushed into him, barely aware of his surroundings as he scrambled to close and lock the door behind him.

“M-me and some of the ga—some of my friends…we went out to put up posters…that’s all…”

“What sort of posters? Don’t play games with me boy!” Wyman’s voice raised back up to a yell as he pulled the smaller griffon towards him by the collar of his tattered dirtied shirt, Henry’s claws and paws scrambling to keep his balance as his worried expression grew even more desperate.

“I-I’m sorry…I—” He tried to compose himself as his father’s grip tightened, mind racing to find the words. “S-someone had to do it…t-to speak out against the military…Dawnclaw is a madgriff…y-you’ve seen i—”

“Stop, I don’t want to hear anymore!” The tan-furred griffon dropped to the floor again, struggling to pick himself up as he nervously slinked away towards the far corner of the room. “You were foolish, you’ve put us all at risk with your stupidity.”

“W-what are we going to do now? The soldiers already suspected father and—” Will stopped herself as their daughter pushed into the room.

“And…this isn’t the first time the boy has caused trouble…this…complicates things…” Arnulf interrupted as he pushed forward, keeping his calm as his claws dug through a pocket before pulling out a few slips of paper. “Here, take these. If you can make it to Rottendedam, you can take a boat to Equestria.”

“W-what? What are these?” Wyman looked over the slips of paper in his hand before turning back to Arnulf, the old griffon trying hard to maintain his composure.

“My plan; I had been saving up my pensions even before…I had always wanted to see Equestria before…” The griffon cleared his throat, trying to steady his voice. “When the coup happened I thought…I was waiting until I had enough for everyone…I was just one ticket away…”

“F-father…y-you can’t mean…no, no!” Willa could barely finish her sentence as her entire body went numb, the cold realization only adding to dizzying stress gripping her mind.

“Please, there isn’t any time to argue…I’m an old griff – I’ve lived a good life here.” Arnulf pushed forward to give his daughter a tight hug, the tears already starting to flow down her face. “And I have a wonderful family – a legacy that I’m proud to carry on my name.”

“What if it’s the same there? What if there are soldiers and riots a—” Wyman was cut off as Arnulf raised a claw.

“You can’t think like that.” Arnulf shook his head. “It won’t be, it won’t be the same. Dawnclaw has no power beyond the countryside.”

“And what of the Lord-Protector himself? Didn’t you pledge your loyalty to him? What will happen to you?” Wyman felt the pit in his stomach twist and churn as the old griffon paused, taking a moment to compose himself before replying.

“That…that I did…but I’ll die before I see my family in ruin…to hell with whatever is left of the Empire…and to hell with the Lord-Protector.” Arnulf turned towards the covered window as shouts from outside drew his attention, the faintest bit of worry finally starting to break through the cracks. “Now…go – through the back…I’ll…I can stall them long enough. Go!”

“Father, please we aren’t going to leave you!” Willa pleaded again as Wyman slowly led her towards the back door, daughter and son in tow. “We’ll find a way, please!”

“There’s no time, get out of here…please. I won’t have my family meet their end like this.” With a final tight hug the sobbing Willa would reluctantly make her way towards the already open back door – Wyman soon ushering the family out just as a heavy series of bangs echoed through the tiny house, the four soon tearing off down the empty alleyway, moving from street to street as they made their way to the limits of the city.

***

The next few days would be spent on the run, exhaustion and hunger ignored as the four made their way towards the Feathisian border. Even still the journey after they left the city was easier than expected as the normally patrolled roads and usually safe small towns were seemingly abandoned by the larger government; a bulk of the police and military either having defected or currently amassed in the cities and main roads where they struggled to maintain order on behalf of the new regime.

Wyman and Willa would none-the-less be plagued by stress and fears, however, made all the worse by the lack of food and rest. They’d only stop to eat and sleep when they had finally crossed the border into the Grand Duchy – relief washing over with a fresh night’s rest and what meals they could afford; some degree of normalcy finally returning with the shift in mood, though the family would keep to themselves - still fearing how far Dawnclaw’s influence could’ve reached.

***