Same Heart, Different Days

The next morning was hectic. The sun crept over the horizon on the first day of the Camp’s War Game excursion. The rustling of gear echoed all around Rain as he fell in line with the soldiers participating in the event.

He’d read the briefing so many times, he could recite it from memory while half-asleep. The exercise would occur deep in the heart of the Olive Leaf Woods nearby. Well, nearby really meant 2 and a half miles out, taking them around an hour in total. Of course, Griffons and Pegasi could fly, but conserving strength was the name of the game here. So Rain, like every other pegasus, kept their wings closed for now.

He looked up from his hooves and surveyed his surroundings once more. All around him were the griffon doctors of the medical unit, with Gideon taking his position in the front. Surrounding them was a company of roughly 100 soldiers, all dressed in that shiny metal armor. Rain silently thanked Celestia that he didn’t have to lug around so much equipment. He was only responsible for a few medical supplies.

Next, he turned his attention away from the soldiers and off into the distance. They were treading through the dirt and grass of an open field. The dirt path leading down the hill from the camp was well-used. Carriages carried supplies from the capital using this road often. It was also how many battalions traveled when heading to the front lines. Today, they were taking a different path.

“Hey, it’s the doc!” Rain flinched as the familiar voice reached his ears. Once he met the bright-eyed smirk of a particularly rambunctious griffon, Rain grimaced. “Wow, what a face! If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you don’t want to see me.”

“H-Hello, Officer Gianna.” She nodded at the call of her name and fell in line with Rain’s stride. “Is there something I can do for you? Unless you need medical attention, we’re not supposed to talk.” Gianna chuckled again, but her tone was a bit different. She looked down as she walked, a worried expression replacing her usual cheer.

“I heard you got yelled at by Gideon.” She looked ahead at Gideon’s back as she spoke. “That was… my bad. Sorry about that.” Rain’s eyes widened. His expression must have been something odd since Gianna frowned when she saw it. “Hey, I’m trying to be genuine here.”

“Y-Yeah,” murmured Rain. He shook his head. “I didn’t expect you to apologize. I’m more used to threats and curses, I guess.”

“Well, it was my fault, after all.” Her chipper expression returned as if it had never left. “All the griffons in my barracks told me that you were some kind of griffonphile. So I tried to shoot my shot, y’know?”

“Wait... huh?” asked Rain, eyebrows raised. “Why would they think that? Because I’m dating Grace?” Gianna lifted her talon and twirled it around.

“Gina’s the one who led the charge. I think it’s ‘cause you two are like, the first ones to ever do this.” The name rang a bell. It was starting to make sense why she noticed him the first time they met. “Anyway, I’m sorry. I’ll keep myself out of your hair. In fact, I’ll be rooting for you two!” She extended her claw out. Rain froze up at first, but relaxed once he realized her intent. “So… friends?” Rain looked at her claw for a bit in silence before shaking it.

“As long as you don’t ask any more inappropriate questions… sure.” Gianna smirked.

“Come on…” she said, nudging him a bit. “One or two won’t hurt.” Rain returned a smirk of his own.

“Grace was ready to take your head off after she heard what you did.” Gianna’s face twisted in shock, and she let out a nervous chuckle. “Unrelated question, how fast can you fly?”

“N-Not fast enough…” Gianna fell out of stride, falling back toward the soldiers behind them. “Better get back to my squad. See ya around, doc!” With a smile and a wave from his hoof, Rain returned to the fold of medical griffons. With the way they were glancing at him, some of them must have overheard his conversation.

The march continued without many more distractions. Soon, the trees of the forest came into view. Everyone perked up, eager to finally be able to rest under the shadowy canopies. The path continued and they reached their destination after a short walk.

“Soldiers! Attention!” A loud call came from the front of the pack, stopping everyone in their tracks. The call came after the last soldier stepped into a wide clearing in the forest. It was big enough to fit a group double their size. “Medical units, you have your orders! Everyone else, to your formations!”

“Let’s go.” Rain didn’t notice Gideon come up beside him, but acknowledged his order with a nod. With a flap of his wings, he broke free of the hectic mass of soldiers and made his way to a side path through the trees. A short glide later, the trees opened up again to a much smaller clearing than the last. As quickly as Rain’s hooves touched the dirt, a griffon had already gotten to work. On their back was a long tarp rolled up and secured with straps. Rain had seen something like it many times. “I want this tent up ASAP, understand? Then we’re to rejoin the soldiers for their briefing.”

“Yes, sir!” Rain still wasn’t accustomed to the solidarity of the unit, and was startled by their sudden shout. He almost followed after them late but settled for a nod instead. Without a word, he joined the effort to set up the tent.

It wasn’t a complicated design. Portability was the focus, so setting it up and taking it down was easy. As a pair of griffons lifted it into the air, Rain rushed to the side that wasn’t attended. The griffons watched him but said nothing. With a strong thrust, he stabbed the stake through the dirt and grounded the tent. A few taps with his hoof and it was secure. Once the tent was up, Rain set off to furnish the inside with the tools and equipment they’d brought.

The team was back in the middle clearing after five minutes. At that time, the company had already split. Rain noticed the one leading the charge, one of Commander Brigade’s lieutenants. They may not agree on much of anything, but Rain couldn’t deny her military ability.

“There will be ten squads of approximately five soldiers each per army. A predetermined leader will lead each squad. If you read your mission briefing, you know who you are.” They’d arrived in the middle of her speech and took a passive position near the trees. She acknowledged their arrival with a glance and a nod. “Each ‘general’ will have one week to build their army’s strength and teamwork. The following week, you’ll be battling against each other.” She narrowed her eyes and scanned both sides. “Take this seriously. Poor performance here reflects just as badly on you as it does on your army. Act as if the other side is changeling filth. Within reason, of course.”

As she spoke, Rain’s gaze wandered again. Now that she’d called them out, the twenty squads were easy to spot. A group of four led by a single soldier standing in front. All the teams were mixed, but the “generals” were ponies—one unicorn and the other an earth pony.

His eyes landed on a particular griffon. Stunning, even in armor, was Grace, standing in front of a group of four as a leader. Her group was balanced, with two ponies and two griffons. Rain tilted his head in thought. It hadn’t clicked in his mind how large she was in comparison to others. Even to the griffons on her team, her body was almost as big as a horse.

“Finally, there are medical teams on either end of this clearing. To the west are griffons, and to the east, ponies.” Rain returned his attention to the lieutenant commander as she addressed them. Across the way, the pony medical team was just coming through from their clearing. “If you're hurt, report to them immediately. They will also be patrolling from above in case you're rendered unable to move.” She raised a hoof and saluted the sky. “That will be all. Good luck, everyone!”

“Yes, ma’am!” The resounding shouts from the soldiers shook the forest. Unsurprisingly, the medical griffons kept quiet. Gideon turned away from the dispersing soldiers.

“Alright, everyone, let’s get ready.” He grunted. “Who knows how fast we’ll see an injury… Keep alert and everything should be fine.”

“Yes, sir!” Gideon turned to his side, finding Rain standing at attention. It was small, but Rain saw him smirk a bit before walking past. He watched his back for a bit before returning to the soldiers. Grace had already gone off with her general to run whatever drills they had planned for her. He wished her the best.

Next, he followed the griffons toward the tent, focusing on what was before him. This was the perfect time to show the others in the squad his worth. With a gleam in his eye and a grin on his face, he trotted toward the tent to begin his work for the day.

“Alright, soldiers, eyes forward. Although it’s temporary… I am your general. I will have you address me as sir.”

Grace kept her expression blank and her head straight as an arrow. It wasn’t hard. She’d listened to droning speeches from superiors before, but this was a bit different. A soldier with the same rank as her going on and on about his new authority only made Grace zone out more than usual.

Her eyes were much more active than the rest of her. After the lieutenant commander’s address, they’d retreated to a new part of the forest. Lined up like before, Grace could see almost everyone from all the squads. Georgina was lucky enough to dodge taking part in the MilSim, so Grace didn’t expect to see any friendly faces.

But, as she scanned the crowd, she found one. The big stallion that hung out with Rain often Front Line. He stood behind a much smaller unicorn leading his team. The scene was a bit funny, but Grace kept her amusement to herself.

“And so, to ensure the best chances of success, we’ll be doing this from the ground up. To be thorough and so I know exactly what I’m working with here.” The pony raised his hoof in a vague motion toward everyone. “Let’s start with weapons training. First, with your squadmates, then squad versus squad.” He turned away. “30 minutes, then we reconvene. Dismissed.”

“Yes, sir.” The call was more of a groan than a proper rally. With a glance, Grace could see how much this displeased the general. An annoyed grunt and a snappy turn later, he left the squads to themselves. He took cover underneath the shade of a tree to watch the action from afar.

Taking that as a signal to start, Grace turned around, facing her team. She reached for her side, withdrawing a gladius. A sword with a short, broad blade. She gripped the worn hilt fondly before turning to the rest of her team.

“I guess I’m supposed to lead you all.” She peered at the sides of each soldier. “Unsheath your weapons. We’ll do a little bit of warmup.”

Griffons usually had finer motor skills than the ponies. This meant they preferred more conventional weapons. One griffon wielded a sword like Grace's. The other wrapped their claw around the hilt of a flail, then reached for a small shield hooked on his back.

The ponies were a little more complex. The earth pony had an odd fixture on the side of his armor. A metal protrusion shaped like a ram’s horn. Earth ponies, with their superior strength, seemed to like these kinds of weapons. His metal horseshoes were certain to finish off any enemy not killed by his first attack.

“I have no clue what I’m doing here.” The one type of pony to have a better understanding of the sword than a griffon was a unicorn. This proved true when the final member of the team chimed up. With her magic, she unsheathed her sword, a thinner basket-hilt blade. She pointed it forward, the tip only a few inches away from Grace’s chest plate. She narrowed her eyes at her, and the pony responded with a smug grin. “How am I meant to improve here? Fighting those worse than me does nothing.” Grace raised her sword, pushing her blade away from herself.

“It looks like you have something to prove.” Grace looked at the other pony and griffons. Her gaze was all she needed to get the message across. They spread out, giving the two enough space to work. Grace took her stance, bent at her knees, then called her forward with a wave of her sword. “Come.”

With a grunt, the pony moved swiftly. She threw a quick swipe left that Grace backstepped. The follow-up was another quick stab of the blade. It brushed against Grace’s armor as she dodged, entering the pony's blind spot. Predicting a panicked swipe in her direction, she slipped behind her. She raised her sword into the air.

"Hmph!" To Grace's surprise, she showed patience and turned her body. She managed to deflect her downward swing. Grace retreated expecting a counterswing but found no follow-up. The weight of her strike almost made the pony's blade slip out of her magic grip. She retreated with a backstep, then stabilized her weapon.

“You’re not all talk, huh?” Grace readied her weapon again and the pony grumbled. Grace stepped forward, then shot forward with a wide diagonal cleave. The pony hesitated, fearing the same result if she tried to parry it. Her attempt to dodge would have worked if the strike wasn’t a feint to start. Using the force from her swing, Grace twisted her body and planted her back paw in her chest, kicking her back. With a loud clatter, she hit the ground. Grace jumped into the air, the tip of her sword pointing downward

“W-Wait!” The pony cried out, but it was too late. Grace came down on top of her with a loud clunk. She looked at the side of her head, where Grace’s sword stabbed deep into the earth. She pulled away from her, pulling her blade out with her. She slid it back into its sheath and looked down at the pony’s fallen body.

“You aren’t bad, but that pride will be your downfall.” She shakily got to her hooves, then looked down at her sword. “Soldiers like you train for years to die in seconds.” She glared at Grace without speaking but looked down in defeat after a few seconds. Grace examined the other soldiers in her squad one by one. “So… who’s next up?”

Despite the previous example she’d given them, they all stepped up to the plate as the unicorn did. Grace studied each of them as they crossed their blades.

The sworded griffon was very disciplined and cautious. It felt as if he was weighing every option during battle. It was impressive to see what he came up with. Unfortunately, that made him slow when opportunities arose. Grace was able to overwhelm him with feints and fast attacks.

The pony with the shoulder ram surprised Grace with his speed. Like her, he moved in a way that betrayed his frame and his weapon. His precision with the ram was good, but misses were fatal. More often than not, he'd strike only to almost fall over stabilizing himself. The extra weight had led to balancing issues.

The flail griffon was tricky, with no clear gaps in offense or defense. He was quick to respond to her attacks with his shield and almost disarmed her with his flail chain. His biggest issue was his stamina. He could barely swing his flail after only half a minute of work. Grace looked over him, and the other fallen soldiers as well.

“A good foundation, I guess.” She slipped her sword back into its sheath. “You'll make fine soldiers. If you keep working at it, that is.”

“Yes’m!” The sudden shout came from the earth pony, who quickly became the center of attention. His expression shifted to one of embarrassment immediately. “Uh, sorry… Ya just sounded like the sergeant, is all.”

“Mhm,” Grace hummed. She turned around to look around the rest of the clearing. “Call me what you want. This is all temporary, anyway.”

The other teams were beginning to wrap up as well. Some looked like they’d run a marathon in the desert. Others look like they didn't do much at all.

But while she gazed, her eyes locked with a particular griffon. Rosy-red coat and blood-red eyes. A familiar look that Grace couldn’t put a talon on. They stared at each other for a long while from across the clearing. Despite the distance, Grace kept her guard up. She didn’t even try to hide a bit of her hostility.

“Alright, squads, that’s enough!” The call of the general took Grace’s attention for a second. When she looked back, the griffon had already begun walking away. Once she left her vision, she returned her attention to the general. “Next, we’ll practice your teamwork.”

As the general spoke, the squads lined up like they’d done before. The general tapped his hoof against the terrain a few times, then looked along the line. With no rhyme or reason, he jabbed his hooves at two random teams, then beckoned them forward. With a bit of setup, the two teams stood across from each other with a significant distance between them. One team had three griffons and two ponies, one of which was the leader. The other had a griffon leader with four ponies.

“This is a spar, understood? I don’t want any lasting injuries. We’ll have to fight on the same side later, after all.” He cleared his throat. Lifting his hoof into the air, he looked between both sides.

The griffons pulled out their swords, though one wielded an axe. Some ponies had odder weapons, but they still looked plenty effective. The general’s hoof swiped down. “Go!”

Almost before the signal, the group of four ponies sprung into action. With two pegasi, an earth pony and a unicorn, they had varied attack timings. The pegasi reached first. One wielded a spear, while the other had a claw-like attachment strapped to their wrists. A griffon with a great shield stepped up to intercept them while the rest of his team took to the air.

Though the pegasi's attack got interrupted, it was far from over. They cut off the griffons in the air while their earth pony teammate charged into the fray. On their shoulder was a similar ram to the one Grace’s squad member used. He crashed into the wood with a thud, pinning the griffon in place with his strength.

The final pony on the team of four charged forward with a longsword. He was looking to cleave right through the pinned great shield wielder. In response, he pulled back, catching the earth pony off guard. Next, he slammed into the stunned pony, sending him crashing into the unicorn.

“Hmm…” Grace watched each team member individually. They were all skilled, but… there was a disconnect. On the battlefield, this would lead to chaos and confusion. Neither team leader seemed interested in leading a team full of the other race. Instead of a team fight, this came off more like a messy brawl.

“Alright, that’s enough!” The general's voice broke through the fight and grabbed their attention. After a short pause, the team returned their weapons to their sheaths and got back in their squads. Neither side looked too satisfied with the outcome. “Remember, this is only to get used to your team. They’ll be your comrades for the next two weeks, after all.” The general pointed at the spectating squads. The fighting soldiers returned to their ranks. “Alright, next!”

And so it continued for the next few hours. Each team had their time to shine for a bit before being called off. After a while, the general began to reuse squads. This was to make sure that everyone got a chance to fight everyone else.

Of course, that meant that Grace’s squad eventually met up with Front Line’s. He was part of a griffon-dominated team, but his size made him seem almost like one of them. He and his team fought well, but Grace’s aerial mobility gave her superior control over the skies. With no way to contest her and her team’s advantage, he was soon worn down and taken out.

More interesting than that, though, was the aftermath. Once they’d finished their scramble, Grace and her team made their way back to the line, as the other teams had. But, with a bellowing command from the general, they were ordered to stay put.

“I want to put you up against another team.” He scrolled through his options before landing on a particular squad. He raised his hooves and beckoned them forward. “Squad 5, come forward!”

By now, the squads had been assigned numbers for easy organization. Grace had memorized the teams by now thanks to it. And after hearing that number, she was immediately on edge. Stepping forward as a part of the fifth squad, was that red griffon from before. As they met face to face, Grace confirmed that the intensity of her glare hadn’t wavered in the slightest.

“Like before, we’ll control the skies. We have more air-ready soldiers than they do.” Grace withdrew her sword and the general raised his hoof. “Leave the red one to me.”

“Roger.” The hum of agreement came from behind her. Even the stubborn unicorn had come around. Grace gripped the hilt of her sword. Her claws dug deep into the earth.

As the general's hoof came down, Grace’s wings spread out, and she took off like a rocket. Despite her speed, at the apex of her jump, there was a spear-wielding pegasus waiting for her. He was one of the only two that could fly on their team. The red griffon joined them in the sky last. Grace wanted to focus on her, but the other soldier had another plan.

“Hmph!” With a grunt, the pegasus thrust forward with the spear. Though Grace deflected it, she couldn’t capitalize once he zipped out of her range. He thrust forward another two times, annoying Grace with peppered attacks. On the last thrust, she swerved to the side, then grabbed hold of the wooden staff. She yanked the weapon away from him, then charged at him with a tackle. Being knocked off balance made him an easy target. She spanked his helmet with the flat of her blade, rattling him and sending him crashing into the dirt.

“You really are good at this, huh?” Grace returned her attention to the speaker. The griffon, who didn’t raise a claw to assist her teammate, watched on. “Guess all those hours of training really helped you out.”

“And you are?” Grace tossed the spear to the side, then gripped the hilt of her sword. “You’ve been watching me all day.”

“A lot more talkative this time around, aren’t you?” Her face warped with a grin. “Guess it makes sense you don’t remember me, though. Miss Prizewinner can’t remember every small fry, right?” The odd nickname made her pause. Her eyes widened slightly as the realization came over her.

“Oh. You’re that griffon.” A vague memory returned to her. One when she was still injured. A pair of griffons approached her after she got awarded that medal. To the griffon's surprise, Grace smirked. “Gina, right? How’s your beak? Did you like the taste of metal from when you smooched that locker?” Gina's grin fell, replaced with a blank stare. She pulled out her sword, a gladius like Grace's, then readied herself.

“No,” she said plainly. “But you might. Let’s see if you do when I put my sword through that whore mouth of yours.” Grace grinned, then got ready as well. After a short pause, Grace shot forward, ready to cleave the griffon in half.

Gina dodged the horizontal slash, but not the follow-up head kick. She stumbled back but got her guard up in time to deflect Grace’s downward swipe. She retaliated with an upward slash aimed at Grace’s beak, but she sidestepped. Gina followed her movement with a sweep, but Grace stopped it before it could gain any momentum. She pushed her weight into the sword, forcing the griffon to defend.

“Doesn’t look like you’ve gotten much better,” taunted Grace. She pushed further, watching Gina struggle to refute her strength. “Is this your best?"

“F-Fuck off...” she groaned. She took a few deep breaths, then pushed Grace back. “H-hey… I heard your new boy toy is with the griffon medics now.” Immediately Grace’s playful expression dropped.

“What are you implying?”

“If you hurt me, who knows…” She grinned beneath her helmet. “I might take a few other… ‘injured’ soldiers and pay him a little visit.” Grace’s eyes narrowed to pinpricks.

“One talon on him, and you’re—”

The force behind her sword was suddenly lifted. Gina had slipped out of the way of the slash and gotten in her blind spot. Grace overshot her swing, and couldn’t recover fast enough to block. Gina raised the sword above her head and brought it down, aiming right at her helmet.

“That’s enough!” The sword paused in midair, but Grace didn’t stop herself. With a powerful cleave, she smacked the blade away and out of Gina's claws. It flew through the air and clattered to the ground. Grace took a few deep breaths, her eyes piercing through the griffon’s smug smirk. “Gina! Grace! Down from there!”

In silence, Grace descended to the ground. Her eyes never left the red griffon who went to retrieve her sword and rejoin her team. Her gaze was so intimidating that even her other teammates had looks of worry on their faces.

“That’ll be the end of combat training for today. Squads 1 and 5, please retake your positions.” Though she was hesitant, Grace made her way back to the line where the other squads were watching. Until she was out of view, Grace kept her focus on Gina. Her pleased expression annoyed Grace to no end. “Next, we’ll be training for the terrain. I want everyone to be familiar with this forest before the battle, understand?”

The general’s words turned into a blur. Her mind buzzed with so much energy, she couldn’t think straight. Her claws restlessly tapped and clawed at the dirt beneath them. She growled like a timberwolf under her breath. Thoughts and feelings whizzed by, smashing together in a mess. A concerning one came forward in front of all the rest.

She was threatening Rain.

Her heart started to beat quicker. Cold sweat rolled down her neck. Her chest tightened after every heartbeat. It had been a while, but she knew this feeling well. It was the first time she felt it for someone other than herself.

It was fear. If something happened to Rain...

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes to calm herself down. Getting hot-headed wouldn’t help anybody. She needed a clear mind to make smart decisions. Another deep breath. If she kept tabs on Gina, there was little chance she could catch her off guard. Another breath…

She opened her eyes. The general was finishing up his next speech. Soon she’d have to get back to work. She clawed at the soil one last time, then hummed under her breath. Even after calming down, a single, prevailing thought rose above all the rest.

Gina was dead.

“Any pain when I do this?”

With a gentle touch of his hoof on the griffon’s firm back, he noticed their wince. He pulled back and began sorting through his supplies. Once he returned with a small white tube and applied the paste to his hoof, the griffon shirked away from him.

“No. I don’t need any of that stuff, either.” Rain hummed, then recapped the tube. He approached the griffon, who raised his claw in defense. Immediately, he winced again, though he tried not to show it. Rain began to apply the cool paste to the inflamed area. “Hey, listen to me! I said I didn’t need it.”

“It’s alright. It’s not gonna hurt you.” Rain finished his work, then rubbed the excess off on a towel. “Hey, you know Officer Gavin? The one who had that nasty crash the other day and was walking with a limp?” The griffon raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah, what about him?”

“Ask him who patched him up.” Rain wrapped the griffon up with gauze, then smirked. “His injury was a lot worse than yours, but I bet he’s doing great work out there.”

“Hmph,” the griffon grunted. He laid back in bed and took a deep breath. “Whatever.” Rain chuckled.

“Get some rest. You’ll feel better after you do.” He grumbled but didn’t say anything more. Rain turned to reorganize his tray and scribble down the griffon’s medical details.

This is how it had been for the last few days. A few griffons made an appearance on the first day of training, but it wasn't too bad. Of course, everyone in the unit knew this was the calm before the storm. They’d all been out on real battlefields before, after all. Things could get hectic in a heartbeat.

The second day brought an intense heatwave. Many griffons showed up suffering from heatstroke and fatigue. Most cases were mild, though. The doctors provided a few tips on keeping water levels high, and many were just fine.

The third took place right in the middle of a summer rainstorm. Not even the camp’s weather pegasi were able to run counter to this storm. With slippery footholds and muddy terrain, there were more than a few bumps and bruises. Still, there was nothing too awful. Rain enjoyed days like these.

And now, on the fourth day, the sun was back out and shining bright. The medical tent saw a medium amount of business, but nothing the team couldn’t handle. Most of Rain's patients were reckless soldiers too eager to fight during practice.

After finishing up the griffon’s record, Rain closed his folder with a sigh. He looked behind him at the injured griffon and hummed in thought. His work may have been minor compared to that of the griffons, but he was still proud to work with them. Even if they weren’t the happiest to find out that a pony would be patching them up.

“Working hard, I see.” Rain’s ears perked up as he turned to meet Gideon. The old griffon had an unreadable expression almost every time he saw him, but he was getting used to it. Rain raised his hoof in a salute.

“Sir.” Gideon raised his claw slightly, a gesture Rain came to recognize as “at ease”. He lowered his hoof and watched as Gideon looked over his station. After a few moments, Gideon returned his gaze to Rain.

“How many patients have you seen today?”

“This griffon on my bed is the fifth today, sir.” He looked over at the griffon, who’d started paying attention to their conversation. “But only for very minor injuries...”

“Mhm…” Gideon hummed. He looked up from Rain and behind him. “What say you, young griffon? How did you find his work?”

“M-Me?” The injured griffon stumbled on his words. He looked between Rain and Gideon before answering. “I mean… it’s alright? I’d rather get patched up by a pony than no one at all, I guess.” Gideon hummed again, parsing his answer. He turned to Rain with a smirk.

“Looks like you still have your work cut out for you, little pony.” He chuckled, then began to dig into his saddlebag. “Don’t worry, though. There will be plenty of time to prove yourself. In fact…” After a bit of searching, he retrieved an envelope and handed it to Rain. “You’ll build up a bit of goodwill by delivering this for me.”

“A delivery?” Rain took the envelope and looked it over. “Uh… what’s this?”

“Doctor’s notes. They relieve injured soldiers of their duty.” He tapped a talon to the paper. “If they’re out more than two days, they’ll need one of these to avoid an absence of duty punishments.” He dropped his claw, then nodded. “Make sure those get to Lieutenant Blossom.”

“Yes, sir.” Rain nodded, then slipped the envelope into his saddlebags. “I’ll be back soon.” With a wave of his claw, Gideon dismissed him. Rain turned on his hoof and began to leave the tent. He spared a quick glance at the injured griffon before slipping out into the humid forest air once again.

Still wet from the day before, Rain trekked through the muddy path leading to the main clearing. He’d fly, but even a pony as lean as him would have trouble spreading their wings here. He bore with it until he reached the open sky, then took off toward his destination. Thankfully, he knew exactly where he had to go.

Even though her only job was to supervise, the lieutenant made her presence well known. The start and end of each march had a speech tacked on. Like Gideon, she did closing remarks as the day dwindled down. She could always be found overlooking something, making sure things were in line. The mare couldn’t keep her hooves still.

He found her standing in front of her personal tent positioned in the middle of the battlefield. When he landed, her eyes were still glued to the soldiers practicing in the distance. Rain followed her gaze, but couldn’t find anything of interest. After a short clear of his throat, she turned to meet him.

“Can I help you?” Rain reached into his saddlebag and withdrew the envelope. She took it in her magic and peeled it open. “Ah… medical notes. I assume these are pardon requests for injured soldiers?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Rain kept his expression neutral. He’d never personally met the lieutenant until now, but her reputation precedes her. Floe Blossom is a coldhearted strategist and excellent swordsmare. Her hate for changelings is unrivaled. Many soldiers believe her to be the obvious candidate for the next commander. Once Wildfire Brigade finally retires, that is.

“Thank you, officer.” She closed up the envelope, then slipped it into her saddlebags.

“Just doing my job, ma’am,” said Rain with a nod. Blossom hummed.

“You’re… Officer Rain, correct?” He raised his eyebrow in surprise.

‘Y-Yes, that’s me,” he said. She hummed again.

“Have you gotten used to your new position yet?” Her question startled him, but it made sense. As one of the commander’s right-hoof mares, she was bound to know about his situation. Still, her cold, emotionless stare still made him feel a bit on edge.

“Yes… I’m starting to get the hang of things.” Her hum this time sounded more satisfied. She nodded her head, then turned to the soldiers once again. Rain followed her gaze, but this time found something worth looking at for himself.

Near the edge of the forest, far away from him, he spotted Grace. Even from that distance, he couldn’t miss her golden feathers. She was standing by, watching her team members spar amongst each other. She even seemed to be giving them pointers judging by the way she walked around and interacted with them. Rain smiled, but couldn’t ignore the growing pain in his chest.

It had been quite a while since they’d last spoken. Grace, being the amazing soldier she was, never shirked away from the challenges she faced. She hadn’t gotten injured, which relieved Rain, but it also meant that she was busy beyond belief. He could only imagine how much work it was running a squad, even if it was only four people. As he watched her, he sighed. They’d have their time together. He knew it.

“Do you have no station to report to, officer?” Rain jumped as the lieutenant’s voice caught him off guard. "If not, I will gladly put you to work." With a nervous chuckle, he bowed his head and flattened his ears.

“S-Sorry ma’am! I’ll be going now, ma’am!” He bowed again, then spread his wings to make his way back in a hurry. Shaking his head knocked away his unnecessary thoughts. Just like Grace, he had a job to do. And he intended to do it to the best of his ability.

He landed at the start of the path and began walking. He made his way through the thicket of trees to report his progress. But, before he could make it there, the sound of shuffling leaves and bushes caught his attention.

“Hey.” If the noise hadn’t done it, the voice coming from behind a tree definitely would have. He stopped in his tracks as a griffon in armor slowly emerged from the foliage and stepped onto the path. From underneath her armor, he recognized her signature red feathers. “Rain, right?”

“Yes. You’re… Gina?” She seemed taken aback by him saying her name. “I’ve been meaning to meet you again.”

“And why’s that?” Rain could feel the tension building in the air immediately.

“I wanted to thank you,” he answered. “Remember back at the camp? You told me how to get to the barracks.” Rain chuckled. “Though I never got to use them… I'd still be lost if it hadn’t been for your directions.” Her eyes widened.

“O-Oh.” She cleared her throat. “Well, you’re welcome, I guess.” Rain smiled at her. She was odd, but he had no room to talk. She looked around before returning to Rain. “Say… if you want to repay the favor, there’s something you can do for me.” Rain raised an eyebrow.

“Nothing illegal, I hope,” he said with a laugh. “You’re looking around like you expect a ghost to pop out at you.”

“More like a demon…” She shook her head. “Nevermind that. I haven’t been feeling great lately. You’re a doctor, right?” She placed a claw on her chest, over her armor. Rain perked up, then started walking.

“Sure am. If you’re not feeling well, let’s go to the tent. I’ve got your files already, so there should be no—” Rain stopped in his tracks with a yelp. Goosebumps traveled down his back as Gina grabbed hold of his tail and yanked him toward her. When he jumped backward, she let go.

“No, I, uh… can’t go in there,” she explained with another frantic scan. “Listen, it's… embarrassing to talk about this around others. Can we go somewhere else?” Down the path, Rain could see the entrance flaps of the medical unit’s tent.

“Well, I can’t just leave my post unattended.” Rain turned back with another friendly smile. “But don’t worry. Anything you tell me is confidential.” Gina’s face darkened.

“Just… follow me.” Without listening to another word, she reached out to him again. Grabbing hold of his hoof, she all but dragged him into the foliage.

“H-Hey, hold on!” Rain’s complaints fell on deaf ears as the pair disappeared into the forest.

She led them through the dense tree coverage and rough pathing. Wayward branches scraped against his body as he shimmied past. The hustle and bustle of the forest dimmed to a distant buzz. The quiet wasn't bad, though. The thought of an undisturbed forest soothed him somewhat.

Gina came to an abrupt stop just inside a small part of the trees. Scattered leaves and branches covered the forest floor here. She let go of his hoof and walked into the middle of the area.

“We’re pretty far from everyone else…” said Rain with a nervous chuckle. “No chance of anyone overhearing you now.” She looked around one final time, confirming his words. “So what’s the problem?”

Gina didn’t respond. Instead, she reached up for her helmet and pulled it off, sending it to the ground. Just as quickly, she unraveled the seams of her armor and pulled it from her body. With the fresh set now laying in the grass, she turned to face him, a complex expression on her face. There was something dark hiding behind her blank stare.

“Sorry, but I haven’t really been honest.” Gina stepped forward, and his instinct made Rain step back. Though he kept the distance now, there wouldn’t be much space to do it again. “I’m surprised you even agreed to follow me out here.”

"It’s not like I ‘agreed’ to anything. You kinda just dragged me along and—” Rain felt his flank bump against a tree trunk. He tried his best to keep his nervousness from showing on his face. “Look… I don’t know what issue you have with me, but attacking me isn’t going to do anything.”

Gina stopped just a breath’s length away from Rain, her deep red eyes scanning his. She raised a claw to his face, to which Rain winced in anticipation. But, instead of sharp talons across his muzzle, Gina held his chin in her grip.

“Relax, I’m not going to hurt you.” A smile spread across her beak. Her intentions leaked out of her expression, sending a shiver down Rain’s spine. “I’m going to use you to hurt someone else.”

“W-What?” With a burst of strength, Gina tossed him to the ground behind her. The fall took the air out of his lungs. As he gasped for breath, Gina stood over him. He tried to get back to his hooves, but her claws pressed down on him. “What the hell are you doing!?”

“Getting even with your little hen, Grace.” Her talons painfully dug into Rain’s coat. “That bitch embarrassed me in front of everyone. She’s the reason no one respects me anymore. They all think I’m some second-rate griffon who’s all bark and no bite.” She chuckled and leaned in until her beak pressed against Rain’s muzzle. “Well… now I’m biting.”

“Can't you just... talk it out? There's no need for this." Gina stopped like she was thinking about his words. But her grin after a few seconds passed revealed she didn't have a change of heart.

“Talk? With that beast? Don't make me laugh.” The grip around his hooves got tighter, and he winced. "She doesn't regret a thing! So... I'm gonna make her regret."

Keeping the pressure on his forehooves, she sat down. In her position, she was sitting directly behind his sheath. His eyes widened as he realized her true goal.

"W-What the hell are you doing!?" shouted Rain. Gina purred, then smiled.

"I'm taking you from that bitch," she said. “You’re lucky you’re cute. If you weren’t, Grace might not have recognized you when you saw her next.” Rain struggled against her grip. "Don't worry. I'll feel a million times better than that beast ever will."

“W-What is this going to accomplish?” yelped Rain. Even with his recent training, there was no way he was besting a griffon in a strength contest. Gina laughed at his struggle, then applied more pressure.

“What would hurt her more?” asked Gina. “Seeing her precious pony hurt… or seeing that same pony choose me over her?” As she spoke, she began to move her hips, grinding up against Rain. To his dismay, his body started to react.

“I’m not with Grace for the sex!” shouted Rain. He began to struggle more, but it was useless. “I love her, and you forcing me to do this won’t change that.”

“You're not the first guy to think like that.” His sheath wiggled and expanded as his cock began to grow out from it. Gina laughed, then raised her hips off of him, pressing her pussy to the tip. “Sit back and relax, baby. In a few minutes, you’ll be all mine—”

With the small leeway she gave him, Rain was able to coil his forelegs back into his chest. He pressed his hind hooves into her stomach and bucked up as hard as he could. Gina’s body shot back, and her grip loosened. That moment of freedom was all Rain needed. He spun around and got to his hooves, then spread his wings and shot up into the air.

Above him was a mess of branches and leaves, but he didn’t care. Barrelling right through them, he made it past the thick canopy with a few scratches and bumps. As fast and hard as his wings could beat, Rain flew in the direction of the main clearing. He didn’t spare even a moment to look back.

Once he saw the tip of the medical tent, he swerved downward. He hit the ground hard, almost crashing into the dirt. He stumbled forward and leaned against a tree to catch his breath. Sweat dripped down his face and coat as he shoveled air into his lungs. His eyes shut tight, and he fell to his flank.

To say his mind raced would be an understatement. Thoughts bounced around his head so violently, he could hear them thumping. What just happened? What would have happened if he didn’t escape? Would she be back again? Could he stop her if she did…?

“Rain?”

"Ah!" His eyes shot open at the call of his name. For a split second, he heard Gina's voice in his ear. Once he turned to the speaker, he realized he couldn't be further from the truth.

Her voice was unmistakable, but the cadence was different. It was higher paced. She was… worried. Rain looked into her soft, inviting yellow eyes, hoping that everything would be okay if he did. Instead, his body became heavy and his heart beat even faster.

“Rain… you’re hurt.”

“I’m…” What? What did he want to say? He wasn’t fine. He couldn’t be farther from it. But if he saw even a second more of her worry-stricken face, his heart couldn’t handle it. He got to his hooves, then took a shaky breath. “I’m fine. Just… hit a few trees on my way here, so I—”

“Rain!” The shout made him jump out of his skin. He spun on his hoof but found no one there. The voice had come from inside the tent. “Where is he? A simple delivery shouldn’t take this long.” Rain opened his mouth to answer, but the firm grip of a claw wrapped around his hoof.

“Wait.” Grace held him in place with a firm grip. Goosebumps traveled down his body. “You can tell me what happened. I won’t—”

Claws... A cold wave washed over him. His eyes narrowed to pinpricks. Though he knew that Grace stood in front of him, his body couldn’t tell the difference.

Rain yanked his hoof away.

As soon as he did, the color drained from his face. He froze in place. Should he say something? Should he reach back out to her? Should he… what should he do…?

“Ah, Rain. There you are.” Not even Gideon’s call could make him turn away. As he approached, he noticed the tension hanging in the air. The old griffon looked between the two, gauging the situation for himself. After a long bout of silence, he cleared his throat. “I don’t know what is going on here, but… there will be time for this later. For now, report back to your station.”

“Y-Yes, sir…” Rain’s voice was weak and hoarse. He looked at Grace and opened his mouth. A thousand words wanted to spill out at that moment, but he could only manage a few. “I”m sorry. We’ll… we’ll talk later. I’m sorry…” Grace didn’t respond. She seemed just as lost as he was.

It took everything he had to pull himself away from her. Tears began to well up in his eyes, despite his wishes. He wiped them away with his hoof, but they never stopped falling. Gideon, who walked alongside him, let out a concerned hum but left him alone with his thoughts.

The two made their way back to the tent, leaving Grace where she stood. With each step against the muddy ground, he wanted to turn back. But at this point, it was too late. The further he got from her, the more he could feel his heart tear. Bit by bit.

Until it finally ripped itself apart.