Author's Note

Guess who's back, back again!

Hey Everyone! It has been a long vacation for me, namely the getting to know my new job as manager of the shop I work at. It was mostly that reason that had me constantly delaying writing and posting chapters. I took the past month and a half off just to sort through the literal mountain of paperwork (I am completely exaggerating) I now have to do to keep a business running and running smoothly.

But I am getting into a routine, and my new position allows me to have a little writing time at work. Thus, I begin again.

For those who didn't skip over this little Author's Note, I thank you. I also wish to thank the many likes and comments I got. Over the next couple of days, I will be commenting on the commentators who are commenting on my story with a comment of my own.

I know, brilliant.

To the new followers, welcome. I am humbled that you are liking what you're reading.

I won't prattle on forever. Just, thanks for hanging in there for me. Now, back to our regularly scheduled Orion-inspired shenanigans.

Leave a comment, and share it with a friend. And you all have a fantastic day.

Thanks for reading. Peace!

Morning Breath

"YOU IDIOTS!!!" A miniature dog roared, the echoes of that shout reverberating into one of the few natural caverns found when they had first arrived. In his right hand was the staff of his Clan, barely more than a branch piece of wood whistling in the air as he swung it violently through the air. His anger was clear as he snarled at those responsible for the disaster they had brought onto them.

Because that’s all, Barney could see this as.

When Aspen had come to him, it was already far too late to do anything. So the display of righteous indignation was pointless from the start, but he felt he had to vent in some way, and thoughts of using his father's staff on those responsible were all that kept him from actually doing it.

Laying at his paws was a pony. A young pony. Barely more than fourteen or fifteen springs unless he was seriously wrong in his judgment. Though, he was a tall thing, splayed out like he was. Even the leader of this band of dejected mutts could tell that his height did not match his age.

The black unicorn colt was currently breathing regularly in an unconscious state, which was likely the only good thing. It was a small chance, but a chance nevertheless.

One of their few nullstone rings they still possessed had been placed on his horn. A relic from their more aggressive days, now long since past.

He didn't care about the ring. His only thought was that the pony had been brought in relatively unharmed. However, that had been the only brilliant thing Rover and Hubert had done when they decided to fall back on their race's old habits. Habits the leader had believed long beaten out of his packmates.

By the time Barney had learned of what had happened, the Equestrian had been in their tunnels for two days, hidden away in a recently blocked-off tunnel.

Two days!

That bore into the earth those morons had chosen was showing signs of imminent collapse, and the decision had been made to close it off permanently rather than risk the few little ones they had in tragedy because of a puphood game.

A convenient stash spot for the short term, but what would have happened should there have been a cave-in?

"I told you, louts, we were not doing this shit anymore! I told you to avoid the griffons! Now it turns out you fucked both rules like a bitch in heat!" He screamed. The Dog Leader was furious. "Where da fuck did you even find a pony in griffon lands?!"

Balo had tried, several times, to speak up. But his shorter-than-the-average leader had bowled over any attempt for him to speak with the furious tirade echoing in the ears of those in attendance at the emergency meeting. Now, the hulking dog kept his mouth shut for fear he would just be yelled at more.

"Well? SPEAK!"

"H-H-Hubert and Rover!" Was all he could belt out in the silence as he cringed before his furious ruler. Many of the surviving Pack were there in what had become the audience chamber. None seemed even to dare breathe.

It was normal to see their leader, their Den Boss, yell at one of them. But this situation was far from that, and the shouting was far more intense.

They continued to flatten themselves against the wall.

"Hubert and Rover, what?" Barney spoke with deceptive quiet. "Took it upon themselves to kidnap a pony? Didn't inform me they had been…SCOUTING THE DAMN TOWN AGAINST MY EXPLICIT ORDERS!!! WHAT PART OF "NO" DO YOU ALL NOT UNDERSTAND!?"

This roar of outrage reverberated into the space, deafening them.

This wasn't good. A good leader doesn't scream and rage at their subordinates. They didn't lose their composure when things went awry. That was what his father taught him, what he had been when he had led their pack.

Sadly, he was not his father. A Dog who could command a room with his presence alone. Castro Barker was a canine who knew exactly what to do even if he first didn't. He always found a way or knew who to ask.

No, Barney barely came up to the chest of most of his kin. The white with brown splotches of colored runt had somehow become the unlikely authority for the reduced gaggle of cast-off Diamond Dogs of the Barker civil war.

At least he had gotten his father's long fur. Winters were cold in Griffonia.

"Hubert…and…M-Molly found da pone helping the Griffies digging in der farms." He watched his direct subordinate lick his chops worriedly. "Say saw da pone shatter boulder like nothing. No know till last night he here!"

Barney Barker shook his head. Balo had missed a step. The step was how they had managed to nab the pony in the first place from a town full of guards, no less.

"Balo, how did they even get da fuckin' pony down here?" He pinched the bridge of his nose, trying his best to reign in his temper.

This fiasco could ruin everything.

"Dey…dey grabbed him from a brown shed. Rover and Hubert. He had been do da poo poo." The old, slate-gray dog's voice gained confidence when his boss had not yelled further. "Knocked him good. Bring here. To bottom tunnels."

The short dog snorted. They had yanked the black whorse from the shitter. That was kind of funny, and yet, he felt a little sorry for the poor bastard. No one deserved to be taken like that. To be that vulnerable.

He shot a glance at the prone pone and noted the rough leather collar on his neck.

"Idiots thought they could condition him to the collar before I learned of it." He groaned and spied Aspen watching from a wall. Watching the pony. The large white fluffy canine was shifting her glance from him to the gift she had brought.

She had been the one to find and alert him of what was going on. However, like everything else today, there was a complication. For one thing, she had become possessive of their unwanted slave far too quickly. The shaggy-furred female had carried the pony's unconscious form all the way to his own little carved-out rooms snug to her chest.

She was petting him as he and his sister could at first, only gawk at the sudden appearance of the Equestrian.

It had taken nearly an hour for him and Tilly to get the bitch to let him go.

The second issue was her attempting to groom him when she thought no one was looking. Very strange behavior, but the dog hadn't been right in the head since she was a pup.

He turned to Rover and Hubert. Both dogs took a step back for every one of his toward them right up till they planted themselves against the stony wall.

"So, boys." He said with fake cheerfulness. "I got to ask, what was da plan here? Train him to the collar? Have him dig tunnels for us?"

"Yep." The change in Barney's tone had fooled Rover, whose shoulders slumped to relax, but not Hubert, who had shrunk in fear completely. The young and dumb pup, whose only use was posting as a watch outside, babbled on like nothing was wrong. "He pop big rock like it nuthin'. He pop new holes for us! He pone, easy break."

The leader of the Diamond Dogs in the Barker Den ground his teeth.

"And it did not strike you as odd that a lone pony is out here? In the company of a bunch of ARMED SOLDIERS!?" The stick in his hand swung with a whistle to wallop Rover on the head. "You did not think it odd at all? Da fuckin' unicorn had arrived with da rich bitch from the capital!" He jabbed a finger toward Hubert. "You pointed that fact out! What made you think this was a good idea? After I told you to stay the Tartarus away from them!"

Neither said a word as they both huddled together on the cavern floor. The smell of piss began to filter into the dank air, along with the sound of splashing water.

Barney sighed and rubbed his head with an unoccupied hand. Looking at the black pony again. His eyes drifted to his sister.

She was biting her thumb claw, a clear sign of her concern. Normally she would already have an idea of what to do in this situation as she had their father's brilliance. But when he asked, in hushed tones before the clan had congregated into this cavern, her only words were, "we are so fucked, brother."

That was not encouraging. Still, he needed to make a decision.

"The ball has already been tossed. Nothing to do but wait and hope that whatever catches it is not our end." Hope that the prisoner at his paws was not as important as he feared.

For now, it was a waiting game. Maybe once the pone woke up, he could make something of this cock up.

"By now, they likely know he's gone. It's been a couple of days, at least. Until I know more, put him in a cell." They did not have a cell, but he trusted Balo to at least remember how to make one.

He eyed Aspen, who had come to her paws now that he had made a choice on what to initially do.

"Nuh-uh. You stay away from him. He does not need you hovering over him." The shaggy dog pouted and crossed her considerable arms.

It was going to be trouble keeping the wily mutt from the pony. Her ability at digging was unparalleled, only matched by her single-mindedness. Best to make sure she did not try anything.

"I want two guards watching him at all times. When he wakes up, one of you will get your tail over to me immediately." Turning away toward his rooms, he muttered. "Just maybe, just maybe, I can get us out of dis fuckin' mess."

Gilda once again resisted the urge to tell Lady Fairheart to sit and eat. The griffon royal had slept little, and eaten even less for the past two and a half days, and the effects were beginning to show.

Heavy bags now pulled down on bloodshot green eyes. Her normal swept-back headcrest looked disheveled, individual feathers jutting in directions never meant for feathers to go.

Even her Ladyship's attire had not been spared. This was the second day in a row the guardsgriffon had seen that gray blouse. New stains on the sleeves and neckline indicated her Lady's negligence in her attire.

It angered her to see her Liege Lady like this. It angered her more to know who was responsible.

Orion Falls, even the thought of his name made her tongue want to curl in on itself, had been missing for nearly two days. Why? No one knew.

Saturday morning had come, and he was discovered missing, vanished into the night like some nightmare. Not one of the thirty soldiers assigned to this detail had found so much as a hoofprint in any direction. Not a snapped branch, not even a lock of mane.

In truth, that sat just fine with her. Gilda held little love for the colt before the fiasco at Duchess Rosebreast manor. Respect? Yes, he had fire, courage, and an amazing drive to do what he believed was right. But finding out that he had publicly humiliated her Lady by holding an interest in some tart for the evening had driven whatever goodwill he had earned with the former bandit far away.

If Orion was truly gone, then perhaps her Grace Fairheart could finally pull herself together and begin focusing on the future. Maybe set her sights on a more ideal mate while she was at it.

Sadly, even to the soldier, it was clear he didn't just leave. For one, all his things were still here save for the bedclothes he might have worn the evening before his disappearance. Including the mysterious book he had always carried with him. That was now closely guarded by Eberhard himself.

She could not help but wonder what could be so important in those pages that the Steward practically snapped the arm of a guard sent to investigate his room. The mystery surrounding the bundle of notes was just another annoyance, though.

No one had told Gilda why they were even out here, to a location already visited by Grace Fairheart months ago. Nor did they explain why the pony was somehow calling the shots and trying very hard not to look like it. Had she not known how smart he was, she would have very easily missed the strange development of how things were being approached.

The old forges toward the rear end of town had been refurbished, but only after he had wandered by and stared at them for a while. That had not been the only location in the coastal town to receive his attention. To what purpose all this was being done, the guardgriffon knew not.

She had an idea, more of a hunch, really, but the Steward of House Fairheart had come down upon her like a hammer when she had tried to investigate.

Something dangerous was happening, and Orion Falls was somehow at the center and trying very hard to only look like he was caught in the current.

A quick knock at the door startled both hens from their thoughts, and Lady Grace alone from wearing a hole into the floor.

"Y-yes?" Gilda winced at her Lady's rough voice, another sign of her distress.

Grendal Plumage cracked the door just long enough to squeeze herself in and slammed it in the face of a pair of concerned guards. Her hands stayed on the door. She shot a short but disapproving glance her way.

When the duty roster called for a change of guard, questions had been asked in the quiet moments. Of Gilda, and her responses were less to the Burgermeister's liking.

Many nobles rarely understood how observant soldiers could be, treating them more like furniture than thinking living beings. But small-town authorities knew better, and when Gilda professed her ignorance along with many others, Grendel Plumage was displeased. This was why the soldiers were attending to their own laundry and food preparation.

"My Lady, they are concerned about you." She said quietly, turning her attention onto the Lady of Seacrest.

The leader of Aviary wasn't just implying the armed forces that had come with them, but the citizens of the village as well. They, too, had stopped and asked Gilda Broadwing herself if there was anything they could do to help alleviate the situation. All she could say was to keep looking for his tracks or some indication of where he had suddenly gone.

"I…I am sorry." Came Lady Fairheart's quiet reply.

"No, no. It's not your fault. That rapscallion of a pony is to blame. Running off like he has!" It was odd to watch the overly developed griffon hen act motherly in any capacity, even more bizarre still that she was attempting it with a royal.

"N-no! Orion would not do that-"

"I'm sure you think so, my Lady. But the fact remains he is gone, and you are still here."

"Without his things?!"

"Who knows what ponies get up to? Especially those unicorns. All that witchcraft and wizardry cannot be good for decent griffons."

This wasn't the first time Grendal had gone on this particular tirade, room's personal opinion. She was very likely right, save for one issue.

That pony would never have willingly left that book behind. She was certain that everything going on in this sleepy little village of no more than four hundred citizens and surrounding farmlands was tied to whatever was in those notes. The way he guarded it and ensured no one saw what was in it was all the proof needed. There was no possible reason that she could personally see as to why he would just up and vanish without it. But that left an uncomfortable line of thought. If he did not leave on his own, then why was he now missing?

Shaking her head at the growing uncertainties she had within, she tuned back into the conversation and wished she had paid more attention.

"Orion wouldn't just leave like that! Not after all he is trying to do!" Gilda's ears flattened at the sudden shout of outrage.

"Wait, what?"

All Sergeant Broadwing had seen from him was his talent to act like a court fool since they got here. Blowing boulders up, getting chased by a Roc, somehow finding a bottle of brandy, and getting completely done in not two nights prior. It was almost to the point she believed his success amongst the nobility had been a fluke. He had done literally everything in his abilities to look like your typical pony tourist. Complete with a touch of arrogance. Now, As her Ladyship covered her beak with her hands, the guard was beginning to suspect she may finally get a peek under the curtain of who he was.

"What did you say, my Lady?" Grendel asked curiously.

Grace Fairheart's eyes bulged in panic as she took a step back.

Just as Gilda was about to ask the question herself once more, Eberhard burst into the room.

"My Lady! I believe I know where our wayward entrepreneur has gone! He-" The sound of air being caught in his throat made her wince. That had brought up memories she would rather keep stuffed away. Memories of death rattles in the dead of night, of hot blood washing over her claws in the days before her service to crown and country.

The Burgermeister’s eyes widened at first. Then her face contorted in anger and distrust as she turned her hardening gaze turned back upon Lady Fairheart. Gilda shook herself and eased forward, subtly blocking off her approach to her Liege.

"What is all this?" Her quiet tone did nothing to soften the harsh glare of her eyes. "Why is this pony so important? Is he a rich noble?! What does he mean by entrepreneur?!"

"Those are very good questions." A subtle glance at her Ladyship showed the true Lady of Seacrest's eyes widened in panic. Just what had these three been up to?

"I humbly apologize, my Lady. I had believed you were alone." Eberhard's head hung solemnly.

For minutes, no one said a word. The steward’s head still hung in shame, while his hands drifted slowly behind him. Grendal had placed her full attention on her Ladyship, fists on hips with a none-too-patient frown on her face. The sole noble of the room, in the entire village, simply closed her eyes and nodded slowly.

Taking a moment, Grace Fairheart seemed to compose herself. Brushing her feathers back to a mostly uniform direction and straightening her dress, her eyes darted furiously once she had opened them, however. A sign that the twelfth in line was in serious thought.

After a moment, she hesitantly spoke.

"What…I am about to tell you, Burgermeister, must never leave this room. The security of our nation itself is at risk, not to mention the freedom of one who is risking it all to help us." She paused before muttering, "Even if he may not truly realize what he is getting into." She coughed and straightened herself to her full height. "I must, no, I will have your oath on it, Grendal Plumage. Otherwise…"

Gilda couldn't stop the shock that washed over her, just barely managing to keep a smooth face. Despite the years of training, of violence she had committed for herself and her nation, the realization that Grace Fairheart just threatened death of all things left the hen shaken to her core. No. Not just threatened. Her eyes said it was a certainty that if the village leader did not agree, then she would not be leaving her chambers alive.

"Where did THAT come from?!"

"M-m-my Lady?!" Came Grendel's strangled squawk. The Burgermeister was not a stupid griffon and had easily picked up the dangerous air that had filled the room so suddenly. Dropping her anger and disappointment altogether in favor of a fearful look, she took a hesitant step back, only to bump into something that wasn’t there a moment ago.

Eberhard had moved, when the guardgriffon had no clue, but he now stood behind the village head. A dagger was held delicately in his left hand. The situation was getting more intense by the second, and the lone soldier had no idea what to do.

Her duty was to the people of the nation, yet nobility often took precedence in many matters. Far too many, and she was torn as to where her loyalties should lie.

"I am truly sorry, Burgermeister. However, I will not give up on this, as much as it would pain me to do so." Never before had she seen such fierce determination in her eyes. It was overshadowed by worry and fear, but it was still there. For the first time since Gilda had been placed in her service, her Ladyship bore the bearing of her title and position, and the sudden change in demeanor more than a little terrified her.

"I…" Grendal took a moment to swallow. "I understand.” She said slowly. “By the beat of my Wings, and the color of my soul. I, Grendal Plumage, do hereby swear that no word of what is spoken here today will ever pass my beak to another. Nor shall my hands give evidence of these events. Or shall the Winds forever be against me and my kin."

A powerful oath. One that made Lady Grace pause a moment before nodding solemnly.

"May that oath bind you, for it to binds me." She breathed a shaky sigh. "Thank you, Burgermeister."

Gilda couldn't stop herself.

"How does a fucking colt know how to make steel!?"

That was just one of many questions rattling around in her head since Lady Fairheart had finished telling them the truth. That it wasn't her Ladyship that had wanted to try some half-hearted attempt to jump-start industry in a backwater town, confirmation that the pony had been in control since the beginning was only the tip of the mountain. That his fool act had been just that, an act to misdirect the attentions of those caught in the flow.

Orion Falls. Her opinion of the pony had been a turbulent flight of ups and downs over the course of his nearly three-week stay in their nation. She might be getting sick just from the whiplash alone.

"More importantly, why would he tell that kind of secret?" Said Grendel, her astonishment at least equaled the guardgriffon's own, if not surpassing it entirely.

"The how I believe I can answer, Sergeant Broadwing.” The steward replied, for once not admonishing her on decorum before nobility. “From what I have gathered, Orion has somehow worked out the puzzling issue all on his own. As you are likely not aware of specific laws that are in place in Equestria, let us just say that it would be near impossible for anyone to have taught him. To do so without him being enrolled in the nation’s watch program would be a death sentence in some cases." Eberhard had spoken from his new position, a chair set near the door, one ear cocked toward the entrance.

He was likely listening for anyone attempting to eavesdrop.

"As to why I believe I can answer that myself." Lady Fairheart spoke calmly. She had taken a seat on the edge of her bed once she had finished, looking far more composed than that morning. "On Orion's journey to Griffonstone, he fed and advised an entire passenger train. The advice he had given is a similar set of instructions that your villagers are currently implementing. Although, with far more specific details that will greatly improve the odds of success here."

"So…why the idiot act?" Gilda bluntly replied.

"Sergeant Broadwing!" The Steward hissed, finally rushing to his paws.

"No, Eberhard. It is a valid question, even if it is crass." The lone soldier kept her nerve despite the gaze of this new, almost alien, version of her Liege Lady. "He is doing this on purpose, though even I was not made aware at first. Orion worries about his name being attached to the events that will hopefully happen here. For two reasons. One," she raised a slim finger, "he is at least aware of the trouble he may get into once he returns to Equestria should they ever learn of his involvement. I confess I am not certain if he knows the entirety of the ramifications of his actions here. For him, it is simply a desire to help." Her gaze hardened when Gilda's mouth opened to respond. She quickly shut her beak.

Nodding, her Ladyship continued.

"Secondly, he wanted me to be the source of that knowledge. I suppose one reason is feeding off the other in this case." She smiled. "He wants to elevate my status among my peers."

"In doing so, he is helping you wrestle full control of these lands from Duchess Rosebreast!" Exclaimed Grendal in surprise.

"Indeed. He has met the Duchess and has found her wanting." She giggled. "In truth, I believe only Eberhard amongst us was one of a few that knew what was truly going on. Isn't that right you, old bird?"

"I apologize for the deception, my Lady. But the King forbade me to speak on it till the time was right." He said ashamedly. "In truth, his Majesty wished to have sent a thousand soldiers. However, Queen Fairheart thought that was an ill-advised idea, though she had her own misgivings about the mission here entirely. Her majesty instead advised that we should draw no attention to activities in the east, so a small force was dispatched. And done so quietly."

"I thought as much."

Gilda shook her head. "I said some awful things to him." She had. First, the fight, then pitting the entire garrison in the castle against him by telling of the events she learned of at Rosebreast's manor. On top of all that, she had openly mocked him in front of others in the village.

"You did, and I believe he would want you to continue that. At least in public. No one must know his role here. The King himself commands it." Lady Fairheart paused. "Gilda? I understand why you are angry at him. Under normal circumstances, you would likely be valid in your anger if not your actions. However, it was I who built that nest. A nest of lies designed to blind me to the truth I have come to accept." A tear leaked from her eye. "Orion Falls cares deeply for me, but he does not love…me. He has never loved me. Not because he thinks little of me or my feelings but because he is looking ahead to some future I likely cannot be a part of. Or at least, I have come to think that is the reason. It is almost like a feeling that is telling me that it is so."

The named hen hung her head in shame. Of course, there was more to the story than what Stoic had told her. Instead of marching to his doorstep, she should have stayed out of it entirely.

As she lamented over her failures as a guard, there was one thing that stuck out to her. Her Lady's attitude. The sudden shift in direction from the earlier dour mood was confusing, to say the least.

"I think I understand, my Lady. But if I may ask?" She got a nod of approval. "Why are you suddenly so…put together?"

"Hah. I suppose that is a change and much to my shame. I should have been more in control of myself than I have been. He may not love me, but I still care deeply for him, thus my fear. As to the change in mood, well, suffice to say, I have been given hope." She turned to Eberhard. "By you. Tell me, have you found out where he has gone?"

"Ah, yes, my Lady. More to the point, it's where he has been taken. Orion is currently being held by a Diamond Dog pack just north of the village, on the outskirts of the furthest farm. I discovered a half-hidden hole behind densely packed bushes. They must have taken him when he went to the latrine."

That got gasps and curses. The curses came from Grendel.

"I should never have let those fucking mutts anywhere near my village!" She nearly shouted.

"Do you know if he is alive?" Lady Fairheart was poised and controlled, staying focused on the important information, yet still, her hands gripped her skirt tightly.

"I am fairly certain. Diamond Dogs do not kill their victims." The steward said as he flexed his fingers like he was twirling a knife between them. Gilda shuddered. The old griffon's skill with a blade was well known amongst those she once flew with.

"Yes…they are likely attempting to put him to work mining for them." She snorted. "I wonder how long it will be before he drives them mad." She tapped her beak. "I trust you have scouted their location?"

"Yes, my Lady. As of right now, they have one large main entrance that is guarded. And two hidden entrances to the north with no posting. I believe it is an attempt to not draw attention to those areas as they are possibly emergency exits. Had I not been flying, I may not have seen them from the ground. They are very well hidden."

"I see." Taking a deep breath, with eyes closed, Lady Grace Fairheart breathed. "We have no time to lose. This is what we shall do."

Something was tugging at his face. Long, slow pulls that dragged along one side, ending with a flick at his ears.

It was slimy.

"Ugh, did one of the villagers have a dog I didn't see? How the fuck did it get in my room?" Or up the rickety ladder that led to the attic he had been provided, for that matter.

He went to shove the mutt away, hoping the dismissal would be enough of a hint that he wanted to sleep more. His head was pounding like he had been whacked with something.

His arm responded but did not move. Somewhere in his mind, an alarm was registered. But his current state of consciousness wasn't much bothered between the headache and the lack of sleep he had been getting the past few nights. Just annoyed.

To Orion's sleep-addled brain, the dog was simply a big friendly beast that just happened to be lying on his arm. He tried to roll over and didn't move.

Now that was cause for worry. Opening his eyes, he was greeted with utter blackness. Was it still night?

"I swear to Christ, if someone's dog woke me up at zero dark retarded I am going to lose it."

Attempting to roll over produced the same results as when his eyes were shut. However, he did confirm one thing, whatever was on him was bigger than some run-of-the-mill farm dog.

Craning his neck around, he came face to face with a hot, heavy breath of whatever beast was on top of him. He felt as if his cerebral cortex was being misted with saliva.

"Okay, what the fuck?" He asked as he tried to move his arms again, this time noting that they were bound, not being restrained by furry goodness. Orion's eyes widened, and at the same moment, he was struck deaf by the bellow of his fuzzy cacoon.

"YOU WAKE!" Came the entirely too loud voice of the humidifier.

"GAH! GET THE FUCK OFF ME!" The pony screamed in panic.

"ASPEN! Told leave pone alone! Get down!" Came a low baritone of a voice from behind the now-named Aspen, the Humidifier.

"But my pup!" Hollered the creature above him.

"No pup. You get!" The sound of something heavy wacking into fur rapped dully in the whatever room they happened to be in.

Aspen, of the Terrible Morning Breath, whimpered, and Orion finally felt the mass of fur and slobber leave him, though he remained restrained. The sound of paws hitting rock and the scratch of claws marked their journey away from him, but the echoes were confusing. He noted with alarm that all the beads, including enchantments, in his mane were missing. Which meant he was effectively blind.

"These fucks jacked my shit! Wait. Who the fuck are these fucks?!"

"The hell is going on?!" He whispered into the still dark.

"She right. You awake. Barko. Watch pone. I get Barney. Aspen no back here."

Barko did not live up to his name. He just made a grunt, and yet another pair of paws with claws scurried away into the dark.

"What in the fuck is going on?!" He asked again, getting no answer other than another grunt from the unseen guard.

"So he's finally awake, eh?" Barney muttered as he stood up from his seat. He had been working with his sister to find another route for fresh water. A mistake from one of the pups trying to learn how to tunnel had caved in most of the underground river they had been using for a freshwater supply a week ago.

The concern was now that it was all effectively trapped, they didn't want to make a new hole and cause flooding. That would be as bad as all the tunnels giving out at once or going outside to drink from the various rivered surrounding them, exposed to the harsh territory they were forced to live in.

There had been no sign that the griffons had noticed their pet was missing, yet. Or at least had reasoned out where he might have gone. One positive in a series of disasters starting with his taking over after his father had been killed.

"Well, let's get to him." At this point, the diminutive leader was just rolling with the earth on what to do. In his mind, it was best to get an idea from the pony on just how important the bastard was. Standing, he followed Balo into the warren of tunnels and dead ends.

"I believe you are correct, my Lady," Eberhard said in response to his Liege.

"Good. I hope Uncle listens to the messenger and does not come charging in like a hero out of legend." She absently said, her mind being drawn to the plans in front of her.

They had both reasoned that a head-on assault might only get Orion hurt or, worse, killed. Instead, they plan to ambush some of the Diamond Dogs' own and use them as a hostage to free the foalnapped pony.

The idea was simple, though it had a lot of holes for things to go wrong. In essence, the plan revolved around driving a herd of gordat into the area closest to the hidden tunnels.

From what Grendal Plumage said, they had been aware that this group of Diamond Dogs was not in the best shape. They had arrived just shy of ten years ago, looking bedraggled and unfed. Something had happened deep to the south that had driven these mutts north, and in the years since their arrival, not much had improved for them.

However, what bothered Grace was the Burgermeister's tale of an event some three years prior.

According to her, a group of Dogs had come to the village edge, pleading for help. The griffons had not listened, and drove the pleading creatures back to their tunnels, suspecting a trap rather than any real need for assistance.

Diamond Dogs were well known for unsavory practices in slavery, after all.

Then, one of the other elders on the village council had stated that to him, it had not seemed like they were attempting any kind of deception. The group looked worn out, and the eyes had been red-rimmed with what seemed like tears.

Her first instinct at hearing who had taken Orion had been a rather violent one that startled her at first. But, she managed to restrain herself from doing anything that might be unsightly. Instead, she listened to her steward as he sketched out a plan based on Grendel's information on their opponents.

A starving creature often makes mistakes, and his rough plan sought to take advantage of that. A select group of soldiers assigned to her would be waiting behind clouds positioned above. That was a tricky gamble as, unlike pegasus, griffons had very little control over the movement of the smooth water vapor. The hope was the Dogs would send out a hunting party to snatch at as many of the poor beasts as possible, and hopefully, her troops would be in a position to nab some of them.

She had sent Hauptgefreiter Gornald Razortip to her uncle. Appraising him of the situation as a precaution. If this plan fails, then she might need assistance from a more substantial guard force moving forward. Gilda was on standby should that become a reality, as she was one of the fastest flyers they had amongst them.

"How much longer?" She found herself asking no one in particular.

"Roughly two or three more hours, my Lady," Eberhard said, a frown creasing his features as he focused on the field before them.

“I take it that it is because we have to use wild bait as opposed to a few farms in the area donating their stock for this gambit?” She asked, merely looking for something to distract from her growing anxiety.

“Yes. Diamond Dogs have less than grand vision, my Lady. However, they do have an incredible sense of smell and hearing. I fear they will smell the domesticated gordat for what they are and thus avoid the trap.” He tapped his beak. “Still, this Barney is not foolish. From what Grendal says, he is rather well-spoken. If he is truly paying attention, this may not work at all.”

Should that be the case, they were prepared to send the Sergeant out immediately. Gilda would have to beat a furious path back to Griffonstone, and Eberhard would approach the main entrance and hope for negotiations. It was not an ideal plan. Less so should their attempt at gaining hostages fail, and the leader know it for what it was, they would not be starting on the right note to begin with.

The only reason they chose to do it this way was that the underground dwelling pack would not be that receptive, to begin with. An issue that might be laid at Grendal and her council’s paws, given the previously revealed history between the village and the Dogs.

“Then there is nothing left, but to wait.” She lamented, biting a claw in worry.

“My Lady,” the steward’s soft leathery hand rested gently on her shoulder. A familiar gesture he did not often employ in so open a setting. “Have faith in us. We will get the colt out.” He gave a tight smile and a dry chuckle. “Or he will somehow find a basilisk somewhere in the tunnels and free himself before we have to do a thing.”

It had been a running joke that the pony would likely find all manner of rare creatures since his accidental discovery of the Roc nest on the East Road. No one had seen one of their kind in over a century, and within a day of their journey beginning, Orion not only found one but led it on a merry chase as the rest of the escorting force threw together a hasty plan of defense in motion. You couldn’t kill the giant birds of prey. Just make the meal not worth the effort.

The basilisk theory was merely the latest and, to Eberhard, the most logical since the creatures seemed to enjoy deep cave systems, which the Dogs had no doubt built their warrens with.

“That is exactly what I’m afraid of.” She sighed heavily. In Grace’s opinion, Orion was far too capable of finding trouble despite his claims of active avoidance.

"If you don't stop poking me with that fuckin' stick, I'm gonna bite you." Barney blinked in surprise at the sudden sharpness in the black colt's tone. It was odd and not at all what he was used to, coming from a pony that was. It had also been the first thing their unwanted guest had said since he arrived in the makeshift cell that they had hastily made up for him, leaving the leader of Clan Barker wondering if the pony was just flat-out terrified.

It was obvious that was not the case.

“So ya can speak, and here I was thinkin’ you was a typical pony pussy.” He laughed, attempting to keep in control of the interview. That threat was a little too violent for his liking, and completely out of character for a typical pony.

“Only one in here that’s a pussy is you, dumbass.” The black pone chuckled in the darkness. The diamond dog leader had not wanted too much light in the small chamber, so only a few clearstones stuffed with glowbugs were brought in, and they were left toward the entrance of the room.

“And what do ya mean by that!?” Well aware that he was a hypocrite, nasty names directed at himself would still piss him off like no other. He jabbed with the symbol of his clan once again and had to scramble out of the way as the pony had somehow gotten his bound legs under himself and leaped for his face, teeth gleaming from the light of bugs, snapping just before his nose.

“Those teeth are sharp!? What da fuck!?” Barney had an uncomfortable view far too close for comfort before he managed to squirm out of the way as Balo and Barko jumped in to restrain the thrashing colt. However, they neglected to bind his mouth.

“My point exactly!” The black pony crowed with mirth. “Even trapped like I am, I’m still too much for your ass to handle. The best thing you can do is let my ass go and point me toward town.” He laughed. “Otherwise, it won’t be just me you have to worry about, biting off the faces of your unsuspecting guards.”

Only when the Tartarus-born terror was securely anchored to the cavern wall, with stone molded around his legs, did the diamond dog leader feel comfortable approaching again. His free hand, with its worn and calloused pads, had gripped his chest where his heart was running at breakneck speed. All bravado and anger had vanished.

“Da fuck are ya?” He said breathlessly.

“The fuck are you? A Neigh Yorker? Why the fuck do you sound like a mobster?” The pony quickly shot back, seemingly unbothered by his predicament. Barney wasn’t sure what bothered him more, the pony’s similar choice in language or how comfortable he seemed to be despite his position.

The leader of Clan Barker took a moment to settle himself and breathed deeply. Something he had seen his father do in situations like this. Well, not quite like this. As his thoughts slowed from the panicked alertness, his mind worked over what the pony had just said. Not the whole Neigh Yorker thing. In his life, he had heard his family’s tongue often had much in common with the pony city. No, it was the implication that worse might happen than just bites to the face.

The whorse was not as stupid as he hoped and far more aggressive than what was typical behavior for one of his kind. He knew that the Diamond Dogs had made a mistake, and it was only a matter of time before the griffons remembered that his clan had moved in just north of them.

“Shit. And those idiots really fuckin’ thought that they could train him to a collar? That pone would have eaten them alive.”

But how to proceed? He couldn't just carry on as he had originally planned. The pony was just too aware of the situation. There was absolutely no way they were going to be able to keep him regardless, and he didn’t want him.

For one, they had no real way of using him. Digging through rock is difficult enough as it was. As young as the pony was, the odds he had the ability to detect gems or the needed sources of water and food was slim. Rover’s belief that the pony could explode big holes for them to use was an idiotic one at best. That idea led to massive cave-ins and the deaths of all who had followed them.

The second and far worse problem was the fact that the lone pony in griffon lands had not been alone. While Barney had no idea what the noble featherhead’s rank was back in the griffon town, he did know that little detail didn’t matter. The black whorse was very likely a guest of some sort of hers, and she would certainly come looking eventually. That also meant that they couldn’t just smuggle him south, either. What would they do if they came for him and he wasn’t here? Or catch them out in the open with him?

For that matter, what was going to happen once they did figure it out? He doubted the birds would just laugh this off as a just a simple mistake.

“Earth to fucko? Ya in there, pipsqueak?”

The colt’s questions mercifully pulled him from his spiraling thoughts, even if they were hurtful, making his blood boil.

Turning his angry attention back to the pone, his ears wiggled a bit in irritation at something. A sound, annoying and increasing in pitch, was assaulting his sensitive ears. The colt’s horn was glowing in a bizarre mix of dark orange or gold and something else that he really couldn’t tell what it was in the darkness, and the ringing seemed to be emanating from the nullstone ring wrapped around his horn. As the strange colored pattern increased in brightness and violent movement, so did the noise. The ring had begun to rattle, but the black pony seemed unaware of what he was doing. He was glaring hotly at him.

“Ya not gunna be able to beat a nullring, pup. So knock it off.” Balo and Barko were also having trouble with the weird hum, Barko going so far as to rub at his ears, wincing in pain when he did so. “I said knock it off!” He shouted at the pony, who seemed to have stopped paying attention to anyone, his eyes focused on his own face, no his horn.

“Huh, now that’s interesting….” He mused out loud.

Barney placed the gnarled wooden rod of his office into the pony’s neck. “I said, KNOCK IT OFF!” The noise was getting dangerously close to hurting the trio of Diamond Dogs, save for the source of the irritation.

“Wha? Oh.…” The magic winked out, and blessedly, the sound with it.

“Whatever da fuck that was, don’t do it again.” He pressed the staff harder against the colt’s throat. “You understand me?”

“Perfectly.” The black pony struggled to speak with the edge of the rod pressed harder than Barney had intended.

At that point, he no longer cared about what he was. The Equestrian's seeming unconcern about his predicament. His attitude had done enough to drive all thoughts of bizarre heritage and strange behavior away. He was pissed.

"Alright, ya little shit. Since it's clear ya don't know what da situation is, I'ma spell it out for ya." Barney lowered himself to get in real close to their prisoner. To his shame, it wasn't that far of a journey. "Ya trapped, below the dirt. Way below the dirt. Ya got no friends, and nobody knows where ya are. Are you getting the picture?"

The expected fear did not appear on the colt's face. A flat analytical stare met his own heated glare, but at least he had his attention.

"Well, at least he knows his predicament. Seriously, what is wrong with this pony? He should be pissin' his pants about now."

Nodding, more for his audience than any real confidence in the situation, he leaned back and continued.

"Now, I think a little introduction is in order. So we can be all civil like, you know, the way ponies like it done." Pressing the head of the staff to his chest, he spoke. "I am Barney Barker." The black pone snorted with a look of amusement that he squashed with a firm glare, and the staff swung menacingly. Once he was confident that there would be no more interruptions, he carried on. "I am also the leader of this pack, the Barker Pack. Can the pony in the room be so kind as to give me his name?"

Seeming to struggle with himself, he eventually answered.

"Orion. Orion Falls." Was that a giggle he heard?

"And thus, our mystery guest has a name!" Getting the pony to comply for the first time since stepping into the makeshift cell, he allowed a smile of confidence to touch his face. "I thank you for being so polite. Now. Do you know why ya are here?"

Orion simply shook his head no.

"Ah, I see. Well, I'll do da polite thing and inform you." He paused, admitting his negligence at watching over his own people rankled the mutt something fierce. But he also knew there wasn't much in the way of options otherwise. Lying would only snare you in even deeper lies, like the roots of an old oak tree catching an unwary digger. "I regret that some of my fellow Dogs thought it an opportunity to snag you in the night. That's how ya came to be done here."

"Meaning you had no idea that I was even kidnapped until I was down here."

"Well, shit. He's not just foolhardy. He's actually smart. That's not good."

Before he could respond, the pony scoffed.

"And you're their leader? Jesus. Really scraping the bottom of the barrel, aren't we?" He paused and cocked his head, his glance taking in the other two Dogs in the room. "Though considering their lack of grammar usage, I guess you are likely the smartest of the bunch. So you got that going for you."

Barney gaped at him. He couldn't have stopped himself if he had tried. In a mere minute, the pony had insulted the whole clan as if he wasn't wrapped up tighter than a stone in roots.

"You…you little shit..."

"Hey, look at that! You can use the proper verbiage to indicate a person. Very good!"

The staff's head connected with the pony's jaw before the Diamond Dog even realized what had happened. Orion's head rocked to the side violently, blood flying from his lips.

Finding himself breathing heavily, Barney took a couple of steps back.

Instead of a cry of pain, the black colt slowly turned his eyes back on him. If looks could kill, he was sure he would have been a pile of ash. Those sharp teeth were bared in a snarl.

Thankfully, the pony said nothing.

Barney's mind swirled with questions again, though these revolved around his own inability to keep his cool, then the origins of the Equestrian on the stone floor.

After a stretch of silence, in which both Orion's heated glare and his own emotions cooled, the Diamond Dogs leader raised his head.

"I'm done playin' nice. Right now, you're underground in my home. No one thought it smart to inform me that your donkey ass was down here till Aspen practically dropped you in my lap. Ah!" He shouted when the pony tried to open his mouth to talk. "I talk, you listen."

He waited till Orion complied and carried on.

"As of right now, no one knows where you are. Has no clue what happened. However, I have to shoulder that burden because the dumbasses working under me have made a mistake. You!" He pointed at his prisoner. "Are going to fuckin' help. Understand?"