Author's Note
Please let me know about any mistakes or improvements I could make thanks.
Mornings
Bowic awoke.
It was a cold morning again, mornings which he had become accustomed to.
He hadn't known why or even how he had come to this land, His earliest memory was a rude awakening by a hungry pack of wolves in an old forest.
When he awoke he was alone and had no knowledge of the world that had laid before him, nor its customs.
So as it was, he was lucky to come across his current companions. He began travelling with one of them after a brief but eventful interaction with the first group of locals he had the displeasure of meeting.
Luckily or rather unluckily depending on how you looked at it, the others quickly joined through a series of eventful and mind-shatteringly stupid and headache-inducing events bowic did not care to reminisce on.
So luckily for him, his reminiscing was cut short as one of his aforementioned companions, who he could currently hear stomping around outside his tent, not being nearly as quiet as he thought he was, was approaching Bowics tent far too early in the morning for what was the third time in the past three days.
Abruptly his tent flap was torn open and a Beaked head jutted through the now-open flap allowing even more freezing air to seep into his already chilly abode and sufficiently souring Bowics mood.
"Ah-ha!" the avian exclaimed in excitement which was however quickly replaced by a look of sourness "Better luck next time Klein" the now even colder and significantly more annoyed man deadpanned.
The orange-furred and brown-feathered avian was known as Klein Veit, self-proclaimed leader and resident Gryphon of the group now sulked as another attempt to see the face of the man had ended like all the other previous attempts "Aw come on!" he wined "Honestly, you have to sleep in that helmet, how does that not get uncomfortable" he continued.
"I don't, you just insist on putting your armour on every morning before you try and get in here, I can hear you coming as soon as you get out of your tent" the man shot back.
"Yea well I've got ancient traditions to uphold, and I'm not allowed to break a thousand-year tradition to sneak a peak at your ugly mug Bowic," Klein said.
"Well I must be a better gryphon than you then seeing as when I found you with that doe back in River-wood you seemed pretty unarmed then" Bowic smugly responded.
"You- ah whatever, Arlene's got a boar on the campfire she told me to let you know, Kayjack went out on one of his midnight hunts again so she got it on the fire after we found it," Klein said as he pulled his head out of the tent and began sauntering back down to the rest of the camp.
Boic however did not follow and let out a deep sigh, without knowing it Klein had gotten far closer to seeing his face than before, and from how the locals he had met had reacted to seeing him without all the clothing he now wore, he couldn't allow the others to see him without his armour on.
He had not known why, but his furless form seemed to invoke a great fear from the locals. As far as he knew he was the only non-fur-coted creature and even the only human for miles, maybe even the only one on this entire good-forsaken rock.
But he preferred not to think about that possibility.
So, he had taken on covering himself from head to toe in leather and chain-mail with an ancient great helm he had pried off a decaying body in the woods during his initial escape from the locals.
Boic had no idea if it would hold up to a blow, or even why that corpse was there in the first place, but it did a good enough job of covering his head and the leather and chain mail underneath kept any prying eyes from peeking underneath.
With all his extra padding bowic used on top of his other clothing now safely secured to his body bowic rose from his tent with a great effort and groan of annoyance and he exposed himself to the cold and hard ground of the outside world, leaving behind the dwindling warmth of his slightly too-small and ever so thin tent.
The first sight that greeted him was "The bickering" as he had come to call it. When you took four different species and put them together, culturally they tended to rub each other the wrong way, with constant misunderstandings, misinterpretations and strait insults.
"The bickering" had become a morning routine for all of the current members of his not-so-merry band, which then meant no small amount of headaches for him. Whenever he had to listen to a lecture about "The importance of the proud tradition of armament" or the "Honoured tradition of the nightly hunt" and then the "Great tradition of wound remembrance" each one was then immediately broken, then insulted and then deliberately broken again and finally, outright ignored by the other members of the party.
This had transpired repeatedly, on numerous occasions.
So, as bowic trudged down the small hill he had set himself up on for the night a low groan escaped his throat as he approached his irritated companions.
"-and if you try it again ill be prying my claws from your ugly hide" The first he took note of was the irate and black-furred Abyssian of the group, Kayjack, who sported a horizontal scar across his muzzle.
And who was currently in the process of trying to sink his claws into one of the other members of Bowic's companions.
"Hey come on, how was I supposed to know it was yours I thought Arlene had found it I swear I didn't know it was yours" The other companion he then saw was Hamlin a shorter and generally more timid gryphon than Klein who sported orange fur like the other gryphon but had white feathers.
He was currently in the prosses of using a cooking pot as a shield to stop the rather pissed cat from plucking his feathers "Now don't blame this on me, he shouldn't have left a boar by the campfire I just thought Klein was being lazy again" the third member he took note of as he trudged to a stop just by the bickering pair was the aforementioned Arlene a pony woman with brown fur and white mane draped in robes currently stirring a pot of which Bowic could only assume was the boar.
Bowic let out a sigh, "I'll deal with you, pony. after I pluck this chicken's feathers" Kayjack said in a raised and annoyed voice toward the currently unbothered pony mare.
However, the sentence did get a rise out of Klein who up till now had been lounging on a log with a trademark grin watching the events unfold.
Now however he seemed more irate than a moment ago with a sudden jolt the larger gryphon was on his paws and had closed the distance between him and the Abyssian.
"You want to repeat your self pussy cat" It was a rare sight to see Klein in such a state, normally the gryphon had a smug aura around him that bowic could swear thickened the air around him in a thick must of self-righteous douchiness, but almost every creature had there own limits on what they deemed acceptable and chicken just happened to be one for the gryphons.
"You heard me chick- AGH"After attempting to repeat what Bowic could only compare to the slurs of this world Klein had pulled on a sword that was attached to his hip by the hand (claw?) guard and had struck Kayjack with the pommel under the snout.
"HA, cat got your tongue" Klein chuffed as the Abyssian stumbled back to his feet, and immediately tackled the armoured gryphon to the ground.
the clanking of metal plates echoed through the forest as the Gryphon tumbled with the leather-covered cat repeatedly knocking over each other's tents and other items strewn about the camp.
Bowic had just looked on in disbelief as this was the third time this exact series of events had transpired in their travels, not in a row mind you but it was strange it had happened three times.
"Ahem," Bowic cast his gaze to the pony mare sitting beside the cauldron.
"The stew is getting cold," the pony said in a blunt voice, Bowic knew what she meant by that.
If they didn't eat now all he would hear was for the rest of the day about how cold breakfast was and how I or he or she should cook next time, and so, Bowic decided to make this morning's argument end the same as the rest.
"Come here fur ba- ACH" Klein exclaimed in surprise. I'll tear out your ey- GURK" Kayjack similarly sounded.
Bowic had grabbed both creatures by the back on the kneck and had hoisted them into the air till they were eye level with him.
As it stood Bowic was at least a good head and shoulders taller than Kayjack who was the tallest of the group aside from the aforementioned human.
Klein also stood just a tad under the Abyssian, and Bowic made sure to make great use of this advantage.
"Listen here you two I just woke up so quit the bickering and eat before I get a headache, and if I get a headache-" "We get a headache," both creatures said in sequence.
Bowic was not just larger but he was also the physically strongest of the group which you would think was a good thing but it often just meant he ended up carrying the most supplies out of everyone.
"Good now quit being cubs or Kitts or whatever your words are and get eating it's getting cold" bowic dropped both creatures down on a log by the campfire and seated himself between them to avoid any further mishaps between the two.
After the lukewarm breakfast, the group began packing all their belongings into their packs (most of which ended up on bowic) and began moving towards a nearby village that they had been trying to make it to the night before but decided to sleep in the nearby woods to avoid the inn's prices, a decision that Bowic was not thrilled with but stayed his tongue to avoid an argument with the others.
As they began the approach to the town a were about to begin walking past the first houses a few of the locals waved and nodded at the company.
Out on the frontier near the badlands, these new villages and outposts were generally a lot more friendly to newcomers and other species since generally creatures were coming from all over to settle in the largely uninhabited lands only ponys were often absent as many never bothered to leave Equestria. there were still a few here and there but most tended to stay due to the safety and frankly better conditions of the pony homeland not to mention the two princes who watched over them, many ponies were too infatuated with their rules to think about leaving them for a dry piece of dirt land that has no form of centralised governance. Arlene was a bit of an outlier but if she was to be believed she expected to return someday or more accurately was expected to return someday. It's something to do with a church or some religion Bowic wasn't sure, but he remembered her mentioning something about it once he wasn't listening.
"-And she will strike you down with her holy light!" however Bowic remembered the constant reminders she gave.
"Pfft yea right, are we talking about the same princes here, the one with hips as wide as Bowic's Shoulders? Come on she has to have gotten that ass magically altered ain't no way she looks like that naturally" Bowic was also reminded that Klein existed, which He often tried to forget.
Arlene with a look of horror on her face responded "How dare you speak of her most radiance like that. the prince is the avatar of the-"
"Ass!" Klein interrupted and Kayjack facepalmed (pawed?) behind them.
Luckily Bowic was saved from an even larger headache as they approached the notice board, every town had one and it was what made up the vast majority of their income.
Every job big or small, from farm work to being a test subject for the local mage.
If it was needed it was on the board, and it was the only thing that could shut up the others and stop them from tearing each other throats out.
If there was one thing they valued more than each other, it was money, as well as most other things but the point still stood.
"Ive got one here for pest control," Kayjack said plucking a piece of paper from the board. "Dogs?" Klein responded curiously.
"Dogs" Kayjack responded bleakly.
They had agreed to vacate a diamond dog infestation a few towns ago sadly as it turns out, most creatures don't know the deeper you go into the caves the dogs dig, the more there end up being.
Long story short there wasn't three, there were dozens and they barely made it out with their lives and the reward was not at all worth the endeavour.
"Ive got one for farm work" Hamlin meekly spoke up.
"Look at the pay Hamlin" The group, barring Bowic responded in chorus.
"Oh sorry..." Farm work tended to pay very little as often, it was just temporary and wasn't meant for larger groups like this.
Hamlin often forgot this and Bowic often felt bad for the way the others would sometimes treat Hamlin, but the guy made it hard to stick up for him sometimes. With another sigh Bowic continued his search on the board until one piece of paper caught his eye pulling it off the board he began to look it over.
"This one," Boiwic said.
"What's that" Klein responded looking over from his section of the rickety old board.
"Missing person" Bowic replied "Mayor's kid went prospecting in a nearby cave for the village... never came back... it's been a week" Bowic said.
"Well he's dead" Kayjack responded Blunlty
"Doesn't matter as long as we get paid," Klein said looking over his claws disinterestedly
"It says bring him back... dead or alive" bowic responded
"Well that's all I need to hear," Klein said and began plodding along towards the village centre.
"pays not bad too," bowic said holding the paper in front of Kayjacks face. Kayjack let out a whistle at the price.
"100 crows, the mayor must be desperate," Arlene said with a similar disinterest to Klein, crows were the currency of the Gryphon kingdom and tended to be worth more out on the frontiers because of their proximity to the kingdom and the large amounts of gryphons that made up many of the frontiers villages and towns.
As the group made their way towards the village centre Bowic could see the looks from locals they were getting, Klein, being Klein would wave at anyone who looked at them wrong with a dopey smile on his beak and the others just ignored them.
Bowic knew why they were getting these looks and not because of himself, exotic creatures were a lot less exotic on the frontier and no one could see what he was under his helmet. no the reason they were here receiving glares and looks from the locals was because of Arlene. Ponys were far rarer than most creatures out here and many creatures born a bit of a grudge against them for the conditions they lived in, whilst many gryphons and other creatures lived in squalor comparatively, especially the gryphons.
"Blasphemous curs," Arlene said with a slight venom in her voice and threw up the hood of her robes=.
"Don't pay them any mind" Bowic said in a low but fair tone.
Arlene merely let out a "Tsk" in response.
once they reached the centre of the village they were met with a large building that looked like the village hall, a few banners were strewn on the outside which probably belonged to some local family of note or a lord from one of the many kingdoms who had invested in the village which was not uncommon as many successful settlements normally became quite wealthy due to the untapped resources of the badlands.
But they didn't pay the building much more of a thought when they saw a rather important looking gryphon dressed in an expensive-looking tunic wearing a feathered cap which was a common status symbol among gryphons as whilst theatres were plenty as they, quite literally grew from their bodies.
Feathers from other animals and species were a bit rearer, so if one was on display it often meant the individual who owned it was of some importance.
Bowic found Klein nigh insufferable but at least he was forthcoming with information about his species.
unlike some other members of the band, certain feline members.
Before Bowic Knew it Klein had Pulled the Parchment from his hands and marched up to the Gryphon in front of them who hadn't noticed them until now.
"Hey, you post this on the board?" Klein said waving the piece of parchment in his face. The gryphon seemed confused for a moment and remained silent.
He seemed almost surprised by his sudden appearance. But once he gave Klein the once over he began stammering over his words to respond "Oh um y...yes your lo-" but Klein interrupted again.
"Yea, yea whatever I know, no need to keep with the formalities we intend to help so where did he go and in what direction" Klein had cut the man off and began with his sudden barrage of questions.
The man, overwhelmed began to stamper even more, trying to get some form of words out "Well... I... he went.." but he seemed to have been swamped by Klein's sudden and quite frankly rude introduction or at least Bowic thought so.
"Klein your smothering the poor bird," Arlene said in a semi-concerned tone, Bowic knew she just didn't want to get thrown out of another settlement though.
"Alright..." Bowic said and then proceeded to pick up Klein by the scruff of his back neck and hoist him into the air and physically removed him from the interaction "Kayjack" Bowic then said. Kayjack Knowing what he meant stepped forward and began to converse with the now thoroughly confused bird. "Good Morning sir.
We recently came into town and came across a parchment on the village board about a missing person and intend to aid in the endeavour" Kayjack had a way with words, he tried to use his skills on Bowic once when trying to convince him a jewel he had found when clearing out the diamond dogs wasn't actually that valuable.
It had almost worked but when Bowic had realised what he was trying to do he threw the cat down the rickety mine shaft.
He hasn't tried since.
"oh well, ye.. yes well... you see-" the tom had begun as he regained his composure, Bowic had zoned the others out by now and turned to the gryphon who had almost gotten them thrown out of the nearby town "alright what was that about," Bowic said in a slightly stern voice. Klein merely rolled his eyes and responded in a defensive tone "What I was just trying to speed up the process" he responded, "No he was going to say something and you interrupted him.
What was it" Bowic said in a quieter tone, Klein upon realising he had been caught-onto widened his eyes a little but quickly recovered, so much so that Bowic didn't even notice, almost.
"pfft I have no idea what you're on about, I think you've been wearing that helmet a bit too long buddy" Klein then moved a claw towards Bowic's helmet to try and give it a tip upwards but it was grasped by Boiwcs padded glove.
Bowic gave his hand a slight squeeze, not enough to hurt him but enough to let Klein know he was sufficiently irritated with him. "you know we can't help if you don't tell us" Bowic said in a low tone.
Klein remained silent but was no longer trying to pull his hand from Bowics grasp "At least tell me" Bowic said again now in a softer voice.
Klein however merely looked away and mumbled "You can't understand" he finally responded. Bowic was about to respond but a sudden shout from behind had alerted them to the others.
"Hey, you two lovebirds, stop holding hands back there and get over here" the voice of Arlene was heard from behind them, who had begun walking down the road toward the large banner building.
Klein seeing the opportunity Shouted Back "I'm trying but the big guys won't take no for an answer, I don't blame him though" Bowic grunted and dropped Klein to the ground and had him land on his rear and began walking over to the others.
As Klein recovered Kayjack began making a being-sick gesture with his hands at what Klein was insinuating with Bowic.
"I didn't take you for one who was against that kind of thing," Arlene said to him cocking a brow.
"I'm not" he responded defensively "I just didn't want that image in my head" he responded in clarification.
Arlene then took a moment and looked upwards in thought and then responded "Oh yea that's nasty" she said in agreement "Thanks guys" bowic said sarcastically as he finished his approach.
"Oh, not because of you Bowic. picturing Klein naked is something that I'll need to scrub from my mind" Arlene clarified, and a muffled "hey!" was heard from behind them.
"it's kinda hard to judge what you would look like under all those layers" Kayjack interjected giving Bowic a knowing look.
"I think they'd make a great couple" Hamlin spoke.
Bowic did not respond.
Author's Note
Ive decided I will continue writing the story I don't have much free time so updates will be slow but ill try to make it not too long between updates.
If you see any mistake please let me know thanks.
Spelunking
Chapter 2
After a brief talk with the smartly dressed Gryphon, who the band later learned was the acting mayor of the village, they set off for the cave where the mayor's son had gone missing.
He had gone off to prospect a nearby cave for minerals such as iron, copper and tin.
Mined minerals, such as these were what most settlements in the badlands profited from because, as far as Bowic could tell, the place was packed with the stuff.
Any metals you could think of are in the badlands and an in an
abundance, which is what had initially caused the migration from all the different kingdoms.
So many veins of gold and gems were found that many people believed it could even eclipse Equestrian's natural resource monopoly since it had all barely been prospected.
With that in mind, the equestrians had tried their damnedest to find a way to access the badlands, but as of now, they hadn't been able to establish much of a foothold as they lacked a land border with the area and the Gryphon kingdom and the forest deer weren't exactly keen on letting them in.
The only way they had gotten through till now had been through Klugetown but it was such a small land mass, even for one of the bigger towns in the badlands, that the majority of Equestrias forces remained firmly on the border.
Equestria had a Stranglehold over Kludgetown though, as one of the first settlements in the badlands it was one of the largest, bowic had been there once and, suffice to say, it was a shit hole.
Apparently, according to the other members of his party, it uses to be much better (unsurprisingly Arlene was the only one who had disagreed and said it had always been a shit hole)
But when the Equestrians moved in offering their armies for protection for the town, which at the time was a remarkable prospect for the frontier town.
The only catch was that the numerous vendors had to accept bits as payment since the brave ponies who guarded the town wouldn't be able to pay for anything whilst there overwise.
This small agreement ended up being their undoing as Equestria flooded the town with guards and ponies and with so many potential customers the vendors were practically forced to accept bits or be left impoverished by the lack of sales.
And so, Kludgetown now entirely relied on bits to stay afloat and pay for their only protection as their original force (which was nothing more than a poorly regulated militia) was disbanded in the early days of the agreement.
Kludgetown now stood as a cautionary tale to the settlements of the badlands, one of what would happen to them if they allow the kingdoms around them to gain control of their lands, and as such any envoys from the kingdoms surrounding the badlands were often run out of any town they entered.
"I still don't know why we're going on this job?" Bowic snapped out of his internal musing as he heard Klein speak up "I mean we need to bring back a body to get paid, and if we can't find him or if there aren't enough to bring back were screwed, and out a days work"
Bowic didn't even look over his shoulder as he walked onward "You want to try farm work again then?" he spoke plainly.
Klein didn't respond and Bowc even heard a small "hrmp" from behind.
When they had first tried farming for a job Klein had been so spectacularly useless that it had become somewhat of a sore spot for the Gryphon and a point all the other members of the group had made a habit of repeatedly bringing up whenever they could.
Bowic would be lying if he said he never did too.
The Gryphon came from a life of luxury.
Bowic didn't need to travel with the Gryphon for long to realise that, once he had learned a bit about Gryphon culture and the world's culture, it had become clear that with minerals being so expensive outside Equestria and the badlands and with weapons of war being seemingly quite rare since many kingdoms only needed them for small groups of guards and militias, why was this gryphon walking around in partial plate armour and wielding a hand and a half sword.
That meant he had either stolen it or he has money.
At first, Bowic thought that Klein had stolen it but with Gryphons constantly acting strange around him, the mayor of the village not being the first, the truth had become far more clear to Bowic.
Klein had also seemingly sworn Hamlin to secrecy as whenever Bowic questioned him on it, he began profusely sweating and lying through his beak.
Not very well mind you but bowic couldn't get him to speak the truth.
So as it stood his past remained a mystery, just like every other member of the party, and it annoyed Bowic to no end.
If they wouldn't share their past they would never get along, let alone trust each other.
"I think this is it" Bowic was once again snapped from his thought as Kayjack pointed ahead of them to a small opening in the ground where the rocks jutted up and seemingly pushed against one another to tear open the ground beneath them.
Most of the badlands were dry and flat but a few paces had some rocky exteriors and it tended to be the place where most settlements were set up as it often meant they were rich in minerals.
"It doesn't look so abandoned to me?" Arlein said.
"No... it doesn't" Bowic agreed
The opening in the rocks had wooden supports on the outside and Bowic could clearly see more further in, stretching off into the darkness.
"oh, Grover don't tell me it's the diamond dogs again?" Klein said in anguish
Kayjack moved towards the supports and began to inspect them.
Bowic knew if there was one thing Kayjack had apart from a sly tongue it was keen eyes.
"It's not diamond dog" Kayjack finally said
"oh thank Grover," Klein said in relief
"It's old... too old, even the diamond dogs would have replaced it by now.
"And it looks the same on the others further down" Kayjack said peering into the shadowy abyss.
"Maybe bandits?" Hamlin spoke up only to be clipped on the head by Arlean
"Who in Tartarus are they going to rob out here?" she said nastily.
A moment of silence had fallen upon the group.
They knew there was only one other group out in the badlands that had the sophistication to set up a mine out in this desert and wouldn't have the inclination to let anyone know about it.
"Changelings?" Bowic finally spoke after a lengthy silence.
"Most likely," Arlene said in apprehension.
Another lengthy silence overtook the group, wherever there were changelings there were lots of them and more so than diamond dogs.
Most information about changelings was shrouded in secrecy, they were until recently a mystery until a fateful and failed invasion of Canterlot which had thrust them into the known world, most creatures acted with surprise but bowic didn't find a shapeshifting bug all that surprising given the world they lived in.
Not much had been seen of them since their latest attempt at taking over Equestria, they had almost, sort of, succeeded and had managed to replace the four princesses and the elements of harmony however, a group of poneys and a rogue changeling had ventured into a hive and had rescued them.
Or at least that is what the papers had said, Bowic didn't believe it, especially the part about a Chaos spirit helping them.
"We can't stand out here forever" Bowic finally said.
"if it changelings he's probably still alive" Hamlin said.
"how would you know," Klein said in curiosity.
"Well, they feed off emotion right, kinda hard to do that if your dead" Hamlin affirmed.
"Hm good thinking," Bowic said praising Hamlin.
Hamlin just smiled back giving a double thumbs up towards Bowic with his claws.
"And if he's alive we can't just leave him down there," Bowic said.
"We most definitely can," Arlene said in a huff.
"It's just some turkey," she said but was interrupted by a "Hey!" by Klein.
"before we come to blows over this" Bowic said interrupting the growing tension between the pony and Gryphon.
"I'll tell it this way then" Klein began, "We can go back to the village, tell the mayor we found nothing, not get paid because we didn't bring anything back and be out a days pay as well or we could go in, possibly kill some changelings and get paid double for finding him alive or we find him dead, get Bowic to drag back his corpse back, fight nothing and get paid anyway".
Klein finished his statement his trademark smirk that constantly plastered his face.
Bowic almost mistook this as Klien not wanting to leave the poor Gryphon behind to god knows what but Bowic knew the only reason he wanted to go in was to get back Arlene for the turkey comment, which was less insulting than being called chicken but still insulting which Bowic failed to understand.
"Thats three to two then," Bowic said
"And what makes you think that," Arlene said.
"Well," bowic began.
"I already said we should go in, Klein already agreed with me out of spite, Hamlin will agree with me because he always does and Kayjack will agree with you about not wanting to risk our lives for a random Grypohn".
most eyes then turned to Hamlin who shrunk slightly at everyone's gaze.
"I... don't think we should leave him there," he said shrinking back with every word.
"Then ist settled," Klein said and began moving towards the entrance.
"I'll have you know if I was asked, I would have agreed with you," Kayjack said as he walked past Bowic Towards the cave.
"is that so" Bowic responded.
"not about saving the Gryphon, I just want the Crows" he clarified, but still seemed to hesitate slightly before entering the cave.
Bowic and Hamlin then also began to follow behind as Arlene let out a huff of defeat and began reluctantly following.
"If we get separated down here, I'm leaving you all behind," she said as she entered behind them.
Many would be fooled into thinking the others trusted Bowic enough not to lead them to their deaths.
However, he knew better.
The reason the others willingly followed so easily was simply that they had been down on their luck, it was partly why everyone was so enamoured with the job board back in the village and why the pay for this particular job had them willingly going into the unknown and to their possible demise.
100 crows were a lot of money, that was 20 coins to each of them, enough to get weapons and armour repaired, rest in the good beds at the inn, something small for themselves whatever that may be and a good few days pissed at the pub.
Crows had a slight divot running along the middle which meant they could be bent and snapped if needed, so many things only cost half a crow.
And it stood they had about three crows to their names, enough for a small meal each, so they didn't have much of a choice in the matter.
They could take jobs from places like Klugetown, but they paid in bits due to the domination Equestria had the place under and bits were not accepted by any rational trade-creature in the badlands.
That and equestrians were annoying.
As the group made their way further down the cave the light began to dim and seeing ahead was becoming harder so the party had each taken out lamps that dangled from their packs and had lit them for a small amount of light, this had only clued them into the state of the mine they where in much of the wooden supports where rotting or where chipped and falling apart small pebbles and crushed rock fell from the ceiling now and then.
No one mentioned it, but everyone had sped up their descent eager to be finished with the job before they were buried for good.
Eventually, the mine shaft opened up into a large open area the lams only illuminating a small portion of it and much of the chamber was cloaked in darkness they didn't know how far it went on but to say they were hesitant to continue would be an understatement.
Once they had funnelled into the room a sense of dread began to overtake the party, Bowic first noticed a sweat begin to form on his brow despite the cool wind blowing threw the tunnel.
He read himself with a large axe he carried on his back, it was no war axe it was actually a wood-cutting axe he had won from a minotaur in an arm wrestling contest, weapons of war were rare and expensive but any axe got the job done and the heavy axe head got it done well enough, Bowic also checked his helmet and chain mail where secure to his head and that the gambison and leather he wore was properly fastened.
Bowic also noticed the others seemed to have a similar feeling Klein had drawn his hand and a half sword and had donned his helmet that often stayed clunking around on his waist, Bowic remembered Klein referring to it as a bascinet helmet specifically a hounskull, this was whilst complaining that they where the only ones that fit Gryphons, the top half came down over his head and the top of his beak whilst the other half sat under his lower beak, it was awkward to put on but Bowic couldn't see another way for beaked creatures to use full helms like his.
He also silently thanked whatever god was listening for not giving him a muzzle.
Arlene had made ready with her staff, which was not for magic as one would believe, she just cracked anyone who got too close to the skull with it, and Bowic had seen it happen, that girl was stronger than she looked, Bowic had been told most earth ponies were.
She also wore a gambeson under her robes, and bowic assumed she had her scrolls and potions ready too.
Hamlin was holding a pan in front of himself as he didn't carry a weapon, Bowic knew he wasn't to be underestimated though.
They had been in enough bar fights to know how lethal a ladle thrown across the room could be, especially if it cracked someone in the skull which it often did.
It also made Bowic chuckle.
Kyajack was the strangest out of all of them in how he fought, not because he did so strangely or differently the way he thought with his sabre was quite similar to how Klein fought with his sword.
The reason why he stood out from the rest was because of the eight pistols he kept on him at all times, Bowic had been quite surprised to see how the divides functioned, six were on his chest, and two were on his hip next to his sabre.
Bowic had seen what had happened to those on the wrong side of those guns before, however, there was a downside as they could only be fired once before a lengthy reload was needed.
Klein had repeatedly told Kayjack to just use a crossbow but bowic thought the weapons had potential as long as the reload problem could be sorted out, and with how many Kayjack carried, that wasn't too much of a problem.
It was after Bowic took note of his companions getting ready for a brawl with the granite walls did he notice a faint moan coming from a nearby bolder that was just bearly illuminated by his lantern and the form of a hunched-over Gryphon could just barely be made out.
"Oi" bowic said in a low tone and gestured to his companions with his axe to get their attention, he then placed his lantern on his pack so it could dangle behind him.
"Is he alive" Klein whispered loudly across the room.
"Does it matter, just grab him so we can leave" Arlene quietly shouted.
Bowic began to approach the downed Gryphon "I think he's hurt" Bowic lowered his axe and held out a hand to shake the Grypohn on the shoulder.
"Then let's get him out of here already," Kayjack said raising his voice behind the rest of the group.
The atmosphere had become thick, and the tension in the air could be cut with a knife, something was putting every creature on the edge.
Bowic cautiously placed his hand on the shoulder of the Gryphon who bowic could see was now slowly turning to see what the commotion behind him was all about.
"hey dont panic wer- aARRRG"
as the Gryphon had turned he had clamped down his beak onto Bowics glove coved hand and was trying to viciously pull and tear his apart with his class as they raked against the leather and gambison he wore.
Bowic didn't often panic but with the sheer surprise of the savage Gryphon juping onto him Bowic grabbed at the first thing he could, which happened to be the Gryphon currently biting down on his hand, it hadn't broken through the glove but it still hurt.
Bowic had only attempted to pull the Gryphon off of him but when Bowic pulled back on the top half of Gryphon's head a sickening tear echoed throughout the cave and the bottom half of the creature's head stayed where it was and the top half of the Gryphons head was torn in off.
By now the others had come rushing over to help their companion from the savage Gryphon, but as they arrived the Gryphon had already tumbled to the ground blood oozing from the newly opened wound onto the cave floor.
Bowic's companions stopped just shy of his side, stunned at the exemplary but savage display of strength.
"Bowic...Grover...what have you done" Klein said stunned, his voice echoing due to his helmet.
"I didn't know you were THAT strong," Arlene said seemingly more disturbed by Bowic's apparent savagery that the now headless Gryphon.
Hamlin remained silent too stunned to speak as an internal battle raged inside his head, he had seen Bowic kill before But he hadn't seen him do that.
Kayjack also remained silent but was awaiting an answer from Bowic.
"I... he-he jumped me.. i-i dint mean to...".
Bowic had taken a life before, it was a part of their job but he was yet to kill an innocent, especially in such a way.
"look" Kayjack finally spoke up.
The group's eyes darted to the body and away from the beak and head in Bowics hand still in a vice-like grip.
With all the lanterns now in one place a clear view of the body could be seen, and it wasn't a pretty sight and not just because it had lost its head.
the body had clearly been here for weeks, rot could be seen all along the carcass and maggots wriggled in numerous open wounds across the body and the smell was now easy for all gathered to smell a smell which had been stewing in the cave for weeks Hamin was already being sick over away from the main party.
"I didn't do all that," Bowic said in disbelief.
"How in her most holy name did he get on you like that then," Arlene said now far more disturbed by the walking carcass that had just attacked her companion.
Their talking was interrupted however as Kayjack spoke up.
"If it's dead" he started, "where is the moaning coming from".
the sentence caused a halt to all fights in the group even Hamlin had stopped Throwing up by the cave wall.
Klein gingerly lifted his lantern toward the boulder to illuminate it a little more revealing the creatures standing just beyond the light surrounding the party.
hundreds of creatures stood there staring some even missing eyes to do so and all in different states of decomposition silently watching the group.
"Dont. Make. A. Sound." Kayjack said.
A large clang was suddenly heard behind them as the party slowly turned st see Hamlin had dropped his pan and was staring at the horse that stood watching them.
Bowic could have sworn it was the loudest sound he had ever heard.
"Hamlin was-" Bowic tried and failed to calm down the frightened Gryphon as he witnessed the army of undead watching them.
"AHHHHHH!" Hamlin had let out a girlish yell as a decaying hand of a zebra lay its hand on his shoulder and let could breathe down his neck.
"RUN!" Bowic screamed, his companions were already ahead of him as the undead began to charge them closing in from every angle out of the darkness.
"HELP ME!" Hamlin let out a cry as more hands and claws reached at him from the darkness.
"PLEASE!" he repeated as he fell back and more corpses began to pile in on him.
Kayjack and Arlene had already passed him but Klein had grabbed the poor soul's collar and was attempting to drag him back.
Bowic praised whatever god was watching that he didn't have to attempt to save him alone, if only because it was a fellow Gryphon.
It also meant that both hands could be used on his axe, as Bowic ran past the two gryphons he hefted his axe over her head and with a thunderous cry brought it down across the undead cambering over Hamlin.
The first creature he struck was caught in the neck and its head was removed from its shoulders with little effort the axe carried through towards the second who was caught in the shoulder and was split in two from the chest upwards, Bowic axe then carried onward toward the third creature, and finally lodged itself inside its side.
Bowic not willing to leave his axe with these creatures kept the momentum moving and took the creature off its feet and threw it onto two others by swinging it off his axe.
"UP!" Bowic shouted gabbing Klein who had tripped by the tunnel wails trying to shove Hamlin out.
Bowic grabbed him by the back of Klein's neck plate and tossed him forward up the tunnel towards the exit and away from the shambling horde.
As bowic entered the tunnel a hand grasped him from behind, it grasped at his hip onto his gambison and attempted to pull him back, Bowic with one hand on his axe spun round and removed the arm from the offending zombie and was immediately met with hundreds more gangly and decaying limbs reaching out for him.
Bowic had just enough time to raise his axe to hold it in front of him and push back against the horde the tunnel was just narrow enough and his axe just long enough that he could stop the creatures from moving around him, but with so many arms reaching and grabbing at his axe
attempting to pull it from his hands and so many bodies decayed as they were, being pushed against Bowic was slowly being pushed back, barely holding back the horde from pouring through the tunnel and tearing him apart.
Luckily for Bowic, his company hadn't abandoned him as he had fought they would Klein's sword rang as it implanted the head of the creatures nearest to Bowic similarly, Kayjacks sabre also swiped down onto the skull of another creature trying to climb over Bowic as he too began stabbing away at the creatures trying to overrun them.
However, it was clear to all involved that they were getting nowhere fast for every one creature that fell it seemed as if 3 more shambled from the shadows and took the place, and Bowics ars began straining to keep the growing number of walking carcasses from flattening them.
"ARLENE DO SOMETHING!" Bowic screamed behind him partly in panic but also because of the hundreds of moaning and screeching monstrosities in front of them.
"I need a minute!" Arlene yelled back in a far less worried tone as she was sorting through her pack which now lay on the floor digging for something amongst the numerous Vials and parchments
"I DON'T HAVE A MINUTE!" Bowic yelled in response, "HELP DAMIT!" he yelled to his companions next to him as his arms began to buckle under the sheer weight of the bodies piled in front of him, so many had now rushed from the shadows of the cave it was almost impossible to talk to one another above all the screeching and groaning.
Both men be they Grypohn or Abysian beside Bowic had ceased their hapless stabbing and had begun using their weapons to hold back the innumerable tide of undead, even Hamlin had his back to Bowics as he tried to support his larger companion from toppling over.
Even with the added help all gathered were still barely able to hold off the horde from each one of the groning in effort and slowly sliding back against the rocks, one under even attempted to climb over its fellow corpses to attempt to come down onto bowic head but its journey was cut short by a deafening bang and a smoking pistol in one of Kayjacks hands.
It was till now Just as they were about to reach their breaking point did they hear a voice come from behind them.
"By her most holy light let me strike down her foes in her name, allow me your greatness, so it may flow through me and dispatch all who would harm our little ponies and scorch their plans. In. Her. Righteous. NAME"
A bright light suddenly filled the room the carcasses in front of them seemed unaffected as many were without eyes but Bowic and his companions were Blinded temporarily form the sudden Brightness however, they had all Known who the voice had come from and what the light had meant "push!" bowic yelled and in with great strength Bowic and his companions gave a great shove to the horde around them toppling the first few undead and causing the other behind to stumble over then attempting to reach them, they then threw themselves to the ground as a searing hot flame flew over their heads into the heart of the undead horde.
There was no exposition but the flame once it made contact expanded and splashed around like a liquor bottle set aflame, however, this fire was green and far hotter, and there was also far more of it than what could be achieved from a bottle of Minotaur stout.
Bowic had seen it before, magic fire had numerous used for closing wounds to sending messages, although bBwic wasn't sure how the latter worked and the other use he could think of was what was happening right in front of his eyes the cries and shrieks slowly began to fade as each corpse returned to the dirt and stone whatever keeping them moving being purged from their bodies as too was the flesh holding them together.
No words were yet spoken between the creatures gathered in the tunnel, the events that had transpired were still racing through their minds and they were all still trying to process the ordeal that had just transpired.
All that could be heard was the panting of the four males as they regained their ability to speak, however, their rest was cut short as through the panting and crackling flesh a low wine was heard.
And a single shadowy corps shambled from the shadows, then two more, until the horde once more had returned and the groaning and shrieks returned to the dark tunnel.
Suddenly the four men on the ground weren't as tired as before.
"UP!" Bowic once again screamed in panic as the men Threw themselves up off the ground, and this time they made sure to watch where they placed their feet.
The group began a mad dash toward the exit of the cave with the gap between them and the hoard now made because of Arlene.
As they neared the exit and the rays of the sun begin to shine down into the cave the group redoubled their efforts as salvation was so close, only for them to realise that the hoard behind would most likely follow them out Arlene seemed to have that same thought as she was currently pulling on the support towards the edge of the cave trying to pull it free.
Kayjack was the first to reach her, Throwing himself into the support and splintering it but not snapping it all the way Hamlin and then Klien also threw themselves onto Kayack to add their weight to the support and finally, the wood splintered and cracked but was still the thick wood held and the cave was still open.
Bowic then made himself known before entering the light with a loud cry and his arms out wide, undead hot on his tail, he tacked his companions onto the wooden support sending them all threw it and with a loud crack snapped the wood in two.
The single support on the other side of the tunnel was no longer able to support the weight of the tunnel on its own and snapped as well as rocks and gravel began to fall around them, undead swiping and snapping at Bowic's heels he sprinted, his companions on his shoulders he dived toward the exit of the cave and with one final dive threw himself and his party from the tunnel just as it crumbled around them and crushed a Gryphon who was just about to throw itself onto bowic leaving only a singular claw visible amongst the heavy rocks that had now sealed the cave.
The group stayed put but were ready to move at a moment's notice, the earlier mishaps had put them on edge and had them believing that it was far from over.
But as the groans and scratching began to fade and their pants for air and the sliding gravel became heard once more their adrenalin began to die down and all involved collapsed to the ground once again in exhaustion and relief, Klein's helmet tumbled to the ground with a clank as he struggled it off from his head and threw strained breath uttered a single "Buck".
Bowic had never agreed with Klein more.
