(The griffin isles)
(The council chamber)

"Already they have taken a foothold in our territory! Yet we wait! FOR WHAT?!" The griffin spoke out against the council who all looked upon the member of the eagle clan, while some joined in causing the entire chamber to go into an uproar.

Upon his throne Emperor Ras the fourth held up his hand silencing the masses before turning to the griffin clan.

"I understand your anger young blood but this is a threat we have never faced before," Ras spoke resting his golden staff on his shoulder while he sat on his throne. "This is an enemy of different races they already claimed their intentions to take our land as they did with the tribes of the north after King Nork of the Raven clan decided to throw their courier off the face of a cliff along with his escort,"

The emperor turned to the leader of the raven clan who scoffed at the owl's gaze.

"Ras if you are going to speak of peace save it their king wasn't at all interested in tranquility but conquest. I heard of the reports as you did that these 'Caribou' only seek to take land and rape our wives and daughters! There will be no peace," Nork spoke before crossing his arms. "He also was rude to my wife,"

Ras sighed before holding the side of his head.

"Then tell me should we go to war with an army of a hundred north clans while our people haven't seen war in over two hundred years!?" Ras questioned to which the raven laughed.

"Of course but I'm not asking for the doves or the eagle clans to join me and my ravens in this battle for we have been training ourselves over your two centuries of so-called 'peace'," The raven pointed out. "Also wouldn't it be wise to no look weak in front of our allies who we seem to rally on their 'elements of harmony' at every conflict we face?"

Slamming his fist down on his throne Ras calm tone was replaced with an annoyed tone.

"Then you would damn your entire clan to a war with no reinforcements?" Ras asked letting his anger out for a moment before allowing himself to take a breath. "Old friend, there is no winning against an enemy like this enemy our equestrian allies have yet to heed our call of the beacons what do we do without aid?"

The council began to whisper among themselves while the leader of the dove clan spoke up.

"I think was our emperor is trying to say is that we should look to find a better solution rather than a full-on war. We could find a way for 'King Dainn' to forgive the raven clan's actions by giving him tribute," The dove spoke out. "Perhaps a portion of what the caribou leader asks for and perhaps then we can find a solution that doesn't result in further bloodshed,"

Nork glared right at the dove clan leader's eyes from across the chamber.

"I rather give my people a quick death than hand them over to be slaves!" Nork hissed before standing up. "Has this council forgotten who was reasonable for why the griffins have a home or why we were once feared?!"

No, a soul spoke while Nork raised his hand up.

"The raven clan was the first to take up arms and defend our people from the windigos and then we were the ones who reclaimed the stolen lands that were taken from us during the Equestria unification war! So you are all saying after all my clan has done for this council we should surrender ourselves to an enemy who only wishes death and enslavement from us all?!" Nork asked causing the raven clan behind him to roar out while the doves tried to defend their argument but Ras slammed his staff down causing all to be silent.

"Nork the griffins people recognized what the raven clan has done for the kingdom we simply ask you do one more thing for us if we are ever to survive," Ras stated causing Nork to look up at the owl.

"You can't be serious in agreeing to this!" Nork roared while Ras turned his head away.

"War is out of the question. None of our allies have headed our call for aid," Ras spoke out causing Nork to stand up.

"To hell with our allies if the raven clan must fight alone in this then so be it!" Nork roared, Ras was going to confront his friend but suddenly an eagle griffin burst down through the chamber door.

"My lords," Bowing down he raised his head up. "It's the dragons they have come!"

(The Isle waters)

Standing at the head of the ship, the nightwalker hummed a tune to himself while the ship rocked back and forth. After all that has been happening from the sudden attacks attempt on his life and the sudden chain of events Jack decided that some time on the water would do some good. Besides, the griffins from the storm couldn't stay at the dragon's lands forever and Ember had asked him if he could go with them as an envoy of sorts.

There were reports of a massive fire coming from the isles and due to his connections with the griffins in the past, she thought it was fitting that he would go. Although Jack wanted to hang out, Ember on the other hand had a huge influx of reports come in despite her sudden confession her duty as the dragon lord came first.

Speaking up the nightwalker gave a speaking lightly an old famous sea shanty.

"🎵My mother told me someday I would buy a galley with good oars sail to distant shores🎵," Prior to him speaking the next verse his ear twitched hearing someone walk up behind him.

"I thought you hate your mom," Gilda's voice spoke up causing the werewolf to turn his head slightly with a small smile.

"That I do,"

"Then why are you sinking a song about your mom telling you to buy a boat?" Gilda questioned causing Jack to chuckle.

"It's not really a song about MY mom," Jack explained. "It's just a sea shanty from my world,"

"Huh... so um you got yourself a flock," Gilda commented which confused the nightwalker.

"Pardon,"

"Your girlfriends over there," Gilda pointed to Agape and Juno who were currently playing chess on the deck. "I'll be honest I didn't think you had it in you Dewb,"

Gilda gave a small chuckle while Jack still looked confused by what she meant.

"We'll I guess but can you remind me what a flock is again just to be clear," Jack asked the messager griffin who threw out her hand.

"Oh, right ponies have another name for it. A herd," This only caused the canine humanoid to shake his head.

"Still no ringing any bells here Gilda,"

"You know when you have more than one mate er lover whatever you want to call them," Gilda explained. "I think diamond dogs have a version called a pack or something,"

Jack turned away in thought for a moment it hit him like the sound of broken glass.

"Oh, shit,"

"Wow, you didn't realize that did you?" Gilda asked to which Jack shook his head.

"No, my mind was on other things,"

"Don't humans have a name for a flock too?" Gilda asked to which Jack gave her a 'kinda' gesture with his claw.

"We do but it's kinda frowned upon,"

"Why?"

"Honestly don't really know. I think it has something to do with cults or something but don't quote me on that," Jack answered causing the eagle griffin to huff.

"But why not? It's completely normal,"

"Not where I come from,"

"But why though?"

"I don't know Gilda come on," The griffin stared at the nightwalker who just struggled at her question.

"Okay, then what is this human flock thing called then," Gilda asked causing the former human to grunt.

"Never going to stop bugging me until I answer you. They're called 'Harems' alright I don't know why or who name it like that but it's what it's called," Jack stated his attention focused on the water in front of them.

"If it's frowned upon why do you have one," Gilda asked causing Jack to scoff and then give a low sigh.

Rubbing the back of his neck the nightwalker stared out into the waves crashing against the front of the ship.

"I didn't realize I had one alright I just deeply care for them. Agape came to me so I can be her anchor and- that doesn't matter all that does is that I care and would do anything for them even going through Hell if necessary,"

Gilda stared at the back of the nightwalker while leaning back on the crate she was sitting on.

"Deep... but what's about an anchor?"

Turning to answer her next question the dragon on the bird's nest shouted over them causing the two to see it.

Just out of reach was the Griffin Isles, Gilda's homeland. This caused the griffins abode to start and cheer those still injured who gave their best attempt to cheer knowing that their home was so close.

'Been a minute since I last been here,' Jack gave smile thinking about the first time he came to the capital where he found out that the griffins actually had different sub-species and clans. Turns out there were at least three other types that were quite different from one another and acted as a cast system similar to the least favorite faction in Warhammer.

The eagle griffins like Gilda were mostly the hard-working type from being builders, cooks, couriers, and farmers it was the most common griffin out there and most well-known.

The dove griffins were a little smaller than eagle griffins but they were extremely intelligent and charismatic mostly being lawyers, politicians, and ambassadors. They always try to unwind problems before they could spiral out of control but whenever Jack was around them he felt the same feeling when he would think about the politicians back on earth. Not that he said he didn't hate them it's just he wouldn't really trust them with his cat if that made any sense.

The owl griffins were rare and the tallest of the griffins along with their great height they were extremely wise and had natural leadership skills, they reminded him of Stolis from Helluva boss without the whole demon and hell element. Being the nobles and leaders of the entire griffin empire their current emperor was Emperor Ras the fourth, all of them were quite kind and friendly unlike the nobles back in Equestria.

Finally, there was the raven clan, though not as tall as the owls they were the more well-built being incredibly strong and quick. They were the warriors of the griffin empire sure any other clan could have warriors but they were all warriors but they weren't war-hungry Griffins mind you most of them did have other interests like art and the like. But they were a complete clan of badasses and their king, Nork was the warrior king of badasses and was a complete boss. If the griffins were the greeks of the old times then the raven clan would definitely be the spartans from how they lived.

'Wonder if that old bird would recognize me if he were to see me,'

"Been what? Almost half a year since the last time we were here?" Juno's voice snapped Jack out of his trance.

"Wait- Right! Yeah almost," The nightwalker stated while the lunar ursine looked at him.

"Excited to see Nork again?"

Nodding the nightwalker to turn to her causing the former nightmare pony to smile.

"You're adorable when your happy especially now with your tail wags," Juno pointed out causing the nightwalker to turn behind him finally noticing his tail wagging.

"Not again," Reaching out Jack tried to grab his tail but suddenly Agape stood behind him grabbing his shoulders.

"I also think your tail wags are cute darling," The nightwalker turned his heart melting at their comments while the ship slowly floated to the docks not knowing what they were about to find themselves pulled into.

Author's Note

The first chapter of the new year!

And I'm kinda late and wanted to say I'm sorry yet again, I usually write when I'm in a Viking/werewolf mood. Plus I just finished rewatching another of my favorite movies and I was like 'shit that's right I had that whole thing planned out why did I forget it' so here it is finally and late again.

Besides I'm really excited about the big battle between the Caribou and Griffins and no this wouldn't become a 'Fall of Equestria' story. Equestria still stands and so does the crystal empire, if it helps thing of these coming chapters as a Pre-Fall of Equestria timeline where the Caribou hasn't become a big enough threat to the kingdoms of Equestria or their allies.

Also, this entire idea was given to me by a friend after he sent me something over discord.

That and also this:

Plus Odin and his ravens (not god of war stuff mind you)