It was the worst drought that the Land of the Griffons had faced in more than centuries, and, unlike the other times, they are not prepared.

Worse yet, the pride of the powerful griffon leaders backed by part of their citizens would not let them ask for the help of their neighbor countries.

As famine and poverty scattered around the country, many young chicks died in the arms of their family while they fought not to prosper, but to survive.

It was in this scenario that Callaghan found himself, a young guard, in a small village next to the Guto River that at this point was drying. His white feathers and his fiery eyes made even the most seasoned burglar rethink their actions. But, with everything that was happening, the guard stipend provided by the crown was not enough.

Seeing the member of the village he was supposed to protect suffer was too much for him and, combined with his rage against his own condition, made him take a drastic decision, and after a few days talking to some of his peers, he was ready.

Stealing some weapons and armors from the barrack's armory, the band spearheaded by Callaghan travelled north, to a metal structure that linked the Griffon lands to Equestria; the place was still under construction, but it was enough for some convoys sent by the ponies to pass by.

Of course, the ponies would try to help the griffons, even if in hidden ways, they were way too soft.

And those convoys were the perfect target for Callaghan and his band of outlaws. And for three years the group delighted themselves in money, fabrics and food coming from the land of the ponies.

But one day, everything changed.

Everything was alright at first, even the number of members in the convoy, and it seemed that it was filled with goods; the perfect target. So, as if they were vultures on a carcass, they landed in front of the merchants.

That's when, from the wagons, a group of Pegasi warriors rose. They were hiding inside with weapons ready, just waiting for the gang to approach—and Callaghan and their troupe fell under their trap.

After that, it was a bloodbath. The last one to fall under the ponies’ might was Callaghan himself, that full of seeing his friends bleed out, refused to stay down.

While he fought with all his might, he managed to get an advantage under the mare he was facing, but when he was going to finish her, an arrow pierced him in the shoulder. An Arrow sent by a blue stallion with a rainbow mane.

- Windy, be careful! - yelled the stallion

- Thanks, Bow. - returned the pale blue mare, never taking her eyes from Callaghan - anyway, he can't fight anymore.

She was right.

He was bleeding, weak from all the fighting and exhausted. Even so, he refused to give those ponies the pleasure of defeating him, and with everything he got, he tried to rise once again – only to meet the pummel of Windy Whistles short sword and fall unconscious.

When Callaghan awoke, he was in jail and, by the architecture of the place and the terrible food, he was still in the griffon kingdom. There he stood for five years, his fury against all the ponies growing by the day while the image of his former friends never left his mind; in special the fury against those two ponies that managed to lead the attack against his group, the rainbow mane stallion and that mare's name "Windy".

But one day he received a visit, a young and noble female griffon wearing noble regalia; her steps were calculated, her owl head showed wisdom and power. In her chest, a single badge – a badge that the oldest griffons spoke off as if it was a legend – with the single of a black claw grasping a white heart. She was, undoubtedly, a member of the dark claw; the legendary group of griffon know to never interfere in anything unless absolutely necessary.

- Callaghan, I presume. - The owl spoke, her beautiful voice reaching inside him and squashing his heart at the same time - I heard a lot of you.

- The same, Ma'm - Callaghan was sitting at the end of his cell - what'cha want?

- I came to you with an offer, nothing less, nothing more. - The owl replayed while taking a coin from her beautiful dark robe and, with a flimsy movement, trowing it at Callaghan's paw - Callaghan, you are weak. If you are ready to make a sacrifice for power and obey me, I will take you out of here.

- And why would I obey you? - Callaghan took the coin to look at it, it seemed ancient—what can you give me?

- Freedom.

Callaghan laughed, It had been years since he stopped desiring his freedom.

- Vengeance.

This took Callaghan by surprise and, by the smile in that owl face, she knew it; she then, with a simple gesture, made the loyal guards of the crown open his cell.

- Now, Callaghan. Come with me.

- And if I say no? - Callaghan spoke in a jest while getting up, but the owl looked at him with the corner of her eyes, and a shill went down his spine. After that, he followed her in silence.

---

Not long after getting out of the perimeters of the barracks where Callaghan passed the last few years, the two griffons started to fly. The owl was leading, and Callaghan was behind, having a hard time trying to accompany her. It was not that he was a bad flyer, but she was really fast.

- Next hour you will have a chance to get an enormous amount of power - The owl spoke calmly to the griffon behind - but you will have only one chance.

- understood, I was hankerin' for it. - Answered Callaghan - Now, tell me, lady, what's your darn name?

- I don't have to tell you yet... - Callaghan could swear she was smiling, but with the effort he was making to accompany her, he couldn't be certain. - But you can call me "Second".

- Understood.

---

It didn't take long for the griffons to reach a strong and ominous looking castle that had five black towers around it and big and sturdy defensive walls, seemingly to be built on some special kind of black stones.

The griffons than landed in a small entrance in one of the towers, a place full of potions, some kind of lab, and many symbols written in red ink on the floor and walls.

- Welcome Callaghan to my home.

- Second... is this ?

- Yes, Callaghan, this is where your test will be taking part - Second pointed at the biggest symbol in the center of the room, where many symbols had been written – you just need to enter the circle with the coin and meditate a little. If everything goes as planned, you may become part of us.

- Us? - Callaghan had an idea about what she meant, but he couldn't believe it. - What do you mean by us?

- The dark Claw. We're recruiting. - "Second" stated – you were on our radar for a time, but the problem is that you are weak. But I want you to participate in our group regarless of it.

- what!

- I want to make you strong using this ritual. The only thing you need to do is not fail.

- hum... - Callaghan was looking at the circle with uncertainty - And if I fail?

- Let's not talk about it.

- Did someone participate in this "ritual" before, Ma'm?

- As I said, I will not disclose any information before you go through the ritual. - Then Callaghan felt something, an oppressing presence coming from "Second" body, bloodlust - And if you refuse it now, I will have to act accordingly.

Callaghan shook his head, he had already decided not to back down, but, now, he had no way to do it. He calmly walked into the strange red circle painted on the ground, sat and, holding the strange coin, closed his eyes.

For a moment nothing happened, but after some minutes he felt his entire body getting numb and heard "Second" voice muttering strange words, if he didn't know better, he would believe they were some kind of arcane words.

That was the moment he felt his body burning, as if his entire body was lit on fire at that moment, and in that excruciating pain, he black out.

---

Callahan woke to the sound of a thousand voices screaming in pain, and the cries of uncountable beings suffering.

He was floating, and yet he could not feel his body nor close his eyes or ears. He was there, but not his body, and his vision of everything around was distorted. That's when a voice called him by his name.

- Callaghan, you shouldn't be here yet - comes the female voice from somewhere in that cursed place - What did I do to deserve such a great guest?

- Who... Who's there?

In front of Callaghan, an enormous creature manifested. She was beautiful and, at the same time, extremely menacing. By what he could see, she was more than 3 meters tall; she looked like a pony, but her pointy teeth betrayed her diet; her fur was blood-red, she had a slightest curved horn in the same color as the fur in her forehead; a leathery black wing adorned her back and her mane, darker than the abyss itself, descended back till her hip; all while her regalia exhibiting the power that kings and queen always desired to attain in their lives, but never could.

• I'm Fayin, the great fury - spoke the demoness - but your kind call me Carmila, the bird of war and blood.

Callaghan could not believe who he was meeting, he even tried to bow down, but without his body, it was useless. Fayin giggled at his action.

• Do not try to flatter me, Callaghan, I have been watching you ever since you decided to quit being your king's dog - Fayin spoke - and it seems that the dark claw managed to discover it.
  "That must be the reason they took you to try this... experiment of theirs. Normally, I would just chain your soul here and make you my slave for all eternity and send some of my servants to inhabit the hollow body. But fear not, Callaghan, you are different from the others, and I have a deal for you that might be good for us both."

---

At the tower, Callaghan woke. His mind full of arcane secrets and the power of Carmila, the bird of blood, flowing through his body. This power flowing inside him was so great that all his feathers became red as blood – the same color as his patron.

Looking ahead, he saw "Second" analyzing him with a small scroll in her hand.

- Are you Callaghan, or I will have to dispose of you too?

- I am Callaghan... the red.

- Perfect. Now our numbers are complete. - "Second" placed her scroll over one of the many tables scattered around the place - Come, Callaghan, let's discuss... the war.

My name is Night Light from the CTSA - He spoke slowly and deliberately with a stern voice - and by the authority of Princess Celestia, you are under arrest!

Callaghan was furious with the boldness of this pony, a pony that made him lose two valuable sacrifices for his patron; he wanted to kill him, he wanted to dismember him, he wanted to make him PAY.

Callaghan strengthened the grip on his two daggers and shuffled his wings as his red feathers scattered.

• I am going to BUCKING KILL YOU!

Callaghan shouted, his mind going completely blank as an untold fury took hold of his mind and tendrils of blood-red tendril of magic erupted from his back. The gift of Carmila, the bird of war and blood.

But this wasn't what was on Callaghan's mind, the only thing he could focus on was destroying the pony in front of him.

Night Light was taken aback by the sudden change of Callaghan's posture, plus the tendrils of some kind of red magic show to him that there was more at play. But what really made Night Light enter a defensive position was the changes in Callaghan's physical body.

His eyes were bulging with madness, his muscles were growing and expanding unnaturally, and as the griffon screamed in some kind of trance-induced fury, his dagger became enveloped by the red magical energy that came from his back.

This made Night Light change his mind and, with his hooves firmly place on the ground, he advanced swinging his long sword with all his might against the now oversize griffon, who blocked it with an attack of his own; the strength of the impact almost ripping the blade from Night Light's hands and trowing him off balance.

Callaghan didn't lose time, not aiming, not thinking, just striking each time with one of his magic-coated daggers; each time the griffon attacks grew in power.

Night Light tried to protect himself, but his stamina started to face, he couldn't hold his sword for long, and, while trying to retreat a few steps, he fell down on his rump.

Callaghan didn't give Night Light any time to breathe, stepping forward for another strike, but, at the same moment, a spear flew through the air and pierced the berserker avian in the stomach; when he looked back at the source of the unexpected attack, there was Violet Alloy.

That was the chance Night Light was waiting, and in the second Callaghan looked at his attacker, he plunged forward with holding his sword with both hands – Piercing the avian in the chest with his long sword.

Callaghan tried to scream, but no sound came from his beak. He tried to get out of the blade piecing him, but he had no strength left.

And, without any reservation, he let his mind go to the darkness.

Up in the clouds, two figures stood proudly while watching all the battle inside the warehouse. When it all ended, one of the figures, a young female griffon with the head of an owl and wearing regal regalia, spoke.

• I saw enough. He almost failed.

• Second sister, you were expecting too much of him - spoke the second figure, a female griffon with the head of a Pallid harrier, and wearing a dark blue armor, answered - Besides, mother didn't like him that much.

• You are not wrong, fifth sister, but for some reason Carmila had an interest in him. But this doesn't matter anymore – The Second sister took a small red stone from her robes – now, are you ready for the fireworks?

The Fifth sister nodded, and with her talons the Second sister crushed the small stone.

Not even a second later, the equestrian ships anchored into the Horse Shoe bay started to glow, only to explode in the next moment. The power of the explosion was enough to scatter the clouds above.

The entirety of the Equestrian marine fleet that was stationed in Baltmare was gone into ashes.

The Second Sister smiled, even if he was dead now, Callaghan, or the Eighth Brother, did this part of his job well. Vert well.

• Fifth Sister, I am going to check if they're done their work on Fillydelphia; Third brother and seventh sister are there. And you?

• I am going to stay a little more - The fifth sister had her eyes glued to the smoke and debris of the massive explosion - Mother said that there was a rumor about a pony being a human and to retrieve him. It wouldn't take long.

• Understood.

• By the way, what about the first sister? - Asked the fifth- I heard she had come too.

• She is in Manehattan. You don't need to worry about her, since she is the strongest of us.

fifth smiled and nodded. and with that, the second sister flew north, leaving the fifth sister alone in the cloud, admiring the embers of the formers embarkations.

Author's Note

Hello, friends, Weaver here.

So, I have SIX things to announce.

1. This chapter is the one I would release tomorrow, but as it is Father's Day in my country, I will not have any access to the internet... so here you have it.

2. How the buck is called a Female Griffon? A chick? I HAVE NO IDEA! PLEASE, SOMEONE, HELP ME!

3. There is a slim chance I will have to delay the next chapter, but I am not certain (yet); anyway, I will update the situation on my blog.

4. I will post the map I'm using to tell the story on my blog. But I will probably put it here too. I just need to find the source.

5. This chapter was special. Not all of them will be so long.

6. I am planning posting character status, what do you all think about it?

That's it.

See you all later.