Same Heart, Different Days

“Well, well. You’ve slipped right in amongst the griffons, haven’t you?”

A question like that was likely to be met with apprehension from Rain. Many ponies had seen him and felt fit to levy ridicule at him for his new position. Ignoring such bad actors was for the best. But, as he turned to the speaker, he flashed a warm smile. It was a griffon who’d called out to him. One he was beginning to get quite friendly with, despite their rocky start.

“I think I’ve got a long way to go, actually,” answered Rain. The feather pen he held in his hoof fell to the table along with the documents he was tending to. He was nearly finished anyway. A small break wouldn’t hurt. “It’s more like… they tolerate me being around, I guess?”

“That’s more respect than you think for a griffon.”

“Hmm…” Rain hummed with clear dissatisfaction, but Gideon only laughed. His gaze shifted to the discarded pen and paper Rain left behind before reaching out for them. Scooping them up in his claw, he scanned through his writings.

“Getting prepped for the games tomorrow, huh?” Rain nodded in response.

“We’re bound to be swamped when the whole thing gets into full swing.” Gideon handed him the file, which he took with his hoof. “They’re bound to go at each other’s throats out there. Better to be over than underprepared, right?” The old griffon agreed with a nod of his head.

“Correct. Keep at it.”

With that and a small nod, Gideon left his side and walked past him. Not far, just to the next station, continuing his inspection of the equipment. Another step to being more prepared. Rain turned away from him and back to his work. He’d gone through dozens of soldiers by now, and he still wasn’t done.

The work was tedious, but for somepony whose life was as hectic as Rain’s was, he welcomed the stability. Besides, it was important to remember everyone’s specific conditions. It would make any emergency work faster if everything was in place.

Once the files thinned out, relief washed over his body. He preemptively put his pen down after scribbling in the last bit of information for the page he was on. The next file would be his last. And as he’d made sure was the case, it would also be his favorite. Narrowing his eyes and noting his hastening heart rate, Rain flipped the page over.

Grace’s file never failed to get a chuckle out of Rain. If she saw the photo they had on her, she’d call it unflattering. Rain, ever the pony pleaser, would be the first to tell her how beautiful she looked, despite her scowl. He liked to think she’d believe him.

There was a spike of pain in Rain’s chest. He’d expected this. Where he used to find comfort in the depths of Grace’s gaze, he only found unease. His relationship with Grace was still uncertain. Despite his talk with Gideon, he hadn’t found the courage to face her, and it would be a long while before his next chance. Tomorrow would be the first official day of the war game. They’d be busier than ever.

“I suppose just telling you to focus wouldn’t be enough, would it?” Startled by the sudden voice, Rain nearly dropped the entire envelope. Gideon had seated himself across the hospital bed for who knows how long. He watched with a cautious eye as Rain got his bearings and cleared his throat.

“What do you mean, Sir?” Though Rain flashed him a friendly smile, Gideon’s stony expression stayed the same.

“You’ve been staring at those medical records without making an edit for minutes now.” Rain’s embarrassment flared up and his cheeks flushed red. “This isn’t going to be a problem tomorrow, right?”

“O-Of course not, Sir!” Rain exclaimed. His newfound energy was enough to convince the old griffon to back down for now. He scanned Grace’s file and then closed the folder. A deep breath and a shake of his head convinced him that everything would be fine. There was no need to panic.

Just as he got his bearings, the signature sound of the tent’s flaps caught his ear. Work had slowed down since the day was ending, so there weren’t many injuries for him and the team to work on. Still, there was always that one rowdy soldier that got hurt last. Rain just hoped that it wasn’t anything serious. Turning to the noise, he preemptively opened his mouth to address them.

“Welcome. What seems to be…” A firm grip took hold of Rain’s chest, squeezing his heart and lungs into nothing. In only a few moments, catching his breath became a chore. His pupils narrowed to pinpricks. Fear crawled down his back in an agonizingly slow fashion.

“If looks could kill…” The sound of Gina’s laugh only made Rain recoil. Instinct urged him to back away, but the only thing behind him was his equipment. After bumping into it, he realized how little space he had to maneuver. The only way out would be to go right through her. Sweat rolled down his forehead as he tried to meet her gaze. Every bone in his body refused to do so. “Seriously, would it kill you to smile? So overdramatic.”

“Seems like I should be the one to deal with this.” Gideon’s voice broke the spell hanging over Rain’s head. He turned to the old griffon and found his stern gaze affixed to Gina. Though he was so hesitant before, he looked at her as she stood in the door. His eyes widened as he focused on her condition. “Rain. hand me this one’s records.”

“I… It’s okay, Sir.” Rain pressed his hoof on the folder he was holding close not long ago and began flipping through the pages. A photo of Gina’s deadpan expression showed up before long. He took a shaky breath, then looked up at her again. A huge dark imprint lay around a swollen eye. It looked freshly made, as well. “This is m-my job. I can handle this much, at least. Please, go ahead.”

Gideon looked ready to protest but said nothing. A thoughtful hum followed by an annoyed grunt, and he began to turn away from the situation. He returned to his work in one of the corners of the room. Rain returned his attention to Gina, who waited at the front with a curious expression. His hoof tapped the top of the bed frame, and he slipped her record out from the rest.

“Have a seat.” Rain spoke with caution like he was shepherding a tiger. Said tiger flashed her teeth with glee. A friendly gesture that took on a much different meaning now.

“Looks like you actually are going to see me, then.” Gina did as Rain suggested and clambered on top of the bed. Laying on her back, she closed her one good eye and relaxed with a sigh. “I thought you’d get a little more uppity with me.”

Rain didn’t respond. Instead, he threw himself into his work. A black eye wasn’t a very complicated injury. All it would need is some ice and time. Maybe something for the pain. He began his preparations as if he were working with a medical doll. Unfortunately, the doll was perfectly capable of chiming up and distracting him.

“Maybe it’s because you’ve come around. What do you say, huh?” Rain scooped a few cubes of ice into a cloth sac and sealed it. Turning to the bed, he pressed it to Gina’s face, just underneath her eye. He let go of it, letting it lean on the bed while pressing against her face. In the meantime, he prepared the medicine. “How about I take you behind this dingy tent and rock your little world?”

“Was it Grace who gave you this wound?” To his surprise, it was Gina’s turn to be taken aback. Her brow wrinkled and her smug grin fell into a frown. Rain hummed in thought. “If that’s true, then… Why do you insist on antagonizing me?” Gina’s good eye went wide.

“Oh, I get it now. You sicked your little dog on me because of that little prank?” Rain flinched.

“Saying it was a prank is a bit much, don’t you think?” He looked into her eyes with a frown.

“Calling her a beast wasn’t too far off, then.” Gina ignored his question and laughed. “You’re like her tamer. You dangle a little bit of meat in her face and she goes wherever you tell her to.” Her smug grin returned in full force. “You’re a coward who needs to get a shorter leash for his favorite pet.”

Rain paused for a moment and simply looked at Gina. Her good eye glared at him wildly. When he looked behind it, he could feel the flickering fire of her rage. Looking away, Rain only managed a sigh of defeat before he returned to his work.

“The satisfaction you’ll get from your petty revenge plot will be short-lived.” After evaluating her, Rain felt more confidence seep into his words. His hooves were no longer jittery with fear. “As I told you before, I love Grace, and… she loves me. We won’t be broken up by those weak motivations.” Gina’s good eye widened and she bit down hard on her beak. The fury behind her eyes began to flare.

“Weak motivations?” she repeated. Her claws gripped at the sheets, but Rain kept his ground.

“Gina… just let this go.” He paused to pen something into her records. In about two weeks, he’d have to check on her again. Hopefully, by then, this whole thing would have blown over. “I don’t know what Grace did to you that made you so hellbent on revenge. But wouldn’t it be best for you two to just… reconcile?” As he spoke, Gina’s face twisted as it had before. She glared daggers at him like she expected her fierceness to slay him on the spot.

“You don’t understand, pony,” spat Gina. Rain noticed her body begin to shake with rage. “You don’t know what it’s like to be an outcast in griffon society.” Rain’s eyes widened.

“Tell me, then.” By now, the hostile feelings he felt towards Gina had left him. In front of him, he saw someone who needed his help. And so, he turned his attention to her. “If I don’t understand, then tell me about it so I do.”

“What, you wanna start a pity party now?” Gina growled. She yanked away from him and slipped off the bed. “I don’t need or want our pity. You and that bitch Grace will get what’s coming to you.” Without another word, she retreated in a hurry. The flaps of the tent rippled as she barrelled through them, and once more when she took off into the sky. He watched her go with a stony expression until he couldn’t hear the beating of her wings any longer. At his side, Gideon approached with a similarly expressionless face.

“What mess have you managed to stumble into this time?” Gideon shook his head in disbelief. In contrast, Rain couldn’t help but chuckle.

“I really am a magnet for it, apparently,” he admitted. The jovial mood didn’t last for long, as Rain shortly dropped his friendly smile. A worried glance quickly filled the spot it left. “If you don’t mind me asking… what does it mean to be an outcast to a griffon?” A low hum left the old griffon’s beak. He scratched his chin feathers with his talon, then explained.

“Honor is much more important to a griffon than it is to a pony. To spit on one’s honor is tantamount to disrespecting a griffon’s family line.” His narrowed eyes kept Rain on edge. “It’s likely that her family would view her with less respect than they would their prey.” Finally, he closed his eyes and sighed. “The only way to regain that honor is to accomplish something in battle. Or… to take it from the one who took it from you.”

“And there’s no way to settle this peacefully?” A shake of Gideon’s head dashed the slight hope that had grown in Rain’s chest.

“It would surprise me if this didn’t end in some kind of conflict.” As he spoke, Gideon turned his back to Rain and returned to his work. “Remember this, Rain. You are a member of this unit now. And so, I’ll offer you what little warning I can for now.” The feeling behind his eyes after he turned to Rain put him on edge once again. “Be cautious.”

“Y-Yes sir.” His hoof pressed against his forehead and he pursed his lips. The gesture seemed to be enough to make the old griffon return to normal. He cleared his throat and picked up the materials he was working with.

“Be ready to go soon. The closing ceremony will be in 15 minutes.” As quickly as Gina had, Gideon left, heading deeper into the medical tent. Behind it, the sounds of many griffons moving around, preparing for the day’s end could be heard. With a deep breath, Rain joined them, focusing on his current job.

Yet, as his hooves moved with purpose, his mind began to wander. The thoughts and feelings of Gina and Griffons in general. He still had quite a lot to learn.

The thought was as motivating as it was daunting.

The clang of metal clashing as blades and armor met. The rumbling of steps along the forest floor as soldiers trudged through it. The heat and hazy aura of the battlefield. Being surrounded by these things was familiar to Grace.

The creaking of wood underneath her claws was something she’d gotten used to recently, though. As she pulled the branch of a tree off of its trunk, it snapped at its base. After tossing the discarded twig to the ground, she motioned for her team to follow her through.

Despite the distracting noises all around, Grace kept her senses razor-sharp. They’d been the subject of several ambushes over the past few days. But, thanks to her tireless scouting, they hadn’t lost a single member of their team in four days. Unfortunately, the side effects of this were beginning to show themselves in a bad way.

“Stop.” Grace’s command was immediately followed. The four soldiers came to an abrupt stop, catching their breaths by the gulp. Grace watched their faces, observing the fatigue on each, and came to a quick decision. “We’ll stop here for a break. 15 minutes only. Then we’ll catch up with the general.”

“Yes, ma’am!” The soldier’s bellows followed up the heavy thunk of their armor hitting the woodland floor. They immediately reached for their canteens, filling up on water as fast as they could.

Grace couldn’t blame them. The sting of the Sun’s heat and the weight of their fatigue would wear down anyone. Yanking the cool metal flask from her side, she took a seat in front of a tree. A quick swig brought a cool burst of fresh water down her throat. She shook her head and focused again.

“Hey, man.” Grace glanced towards the voice, finding the earth pony laid out underneath a tree. She’d only recently learned that his name was Rye Seed. Next to him, the one he was calling to, was Gus, the griffon who wielded a sword. He opened his eyes just enough to peer at Rye.

“What’s up?”

“Know any magic?” he asked. His hoof poked at his chestplate where a flag was affixed. Everyone here had them on. “Think ya can disarm this thing so I can take this armor off?”

“Why would I know any magic?” he asked, shaking his head. “Ask Stella.”

“Well, I would, but she told me if I ask her again, she’ll shove her sword through my chest.” Rye laughed despite the grim sentence. The unicorn in question peered at them from under a different tree. Her gaze certainly gave credit to his words. “So I was just covering my bases.” To Grace’s surprise, Gus chuckled along with him.

“Guess I can’t fault you for that.” he pointed his talon at the flag as it glowed with magical power. “Tried prying it off?”

“Don’t.” This time, Grace got involved. The two immediately froze up. Apparently, neither had noticed that she was listening. She sighed, then continued. “Take those off and you’re considered dead. Dead soldiers get to spend the rest of the day training with Commander Blossom.” She narrowed her eyes on the two. “You want that?”

“C-Course not, ma’am!” stuttered Rye. The leaves below him shuffled as he hurried to assume a more professional position. “Speaking of, captain, what do you make of this whole thing?”

“You mean the war game?” His frantic nodding confirmed her question. Instead of answering right away, she took another quick swig of her water flask. After wiping the sweat from her forehead with the back of her claw, she finally answered. “I think it’s gonna be pretty tough to win. Especially since the generals tend to turtle up when they’re—”

A thunderous crackle of magic followed a bright flash of light in the sky. Several green beams shot from the forest to the plains outside. All five soldiers donned a grim frown as they watched. That color of light marked the end of a friendly squad member. That probably meant that a full squad had been wiped out by the enemy. That marked three on their side for the day to only two for the enemy. Just as the lights disappeared, the flags on their armor began to glow with steady light.

“All units retreat! I repeat, all units retreat!” The general’s voice appeared in their minds as he barked at the order. The light on the flags dimmed until they were back to their natural state.

“Speak of the devil,” Grace mumbled as she slowly got up again. The rest of the team seemed to understand without her command. “We've lost a lot today. Let’s meet up with the…”

The order Grace was about to deliver was never completed. With her eyes on the sky, something impossible caught her eye. She must have been mistaken, but as clear as day, there it was.

“Captain?” Despite being called, Grace’s eyes never left the figures in the sky. Rye’s gaze followed her and he spotted the duo flying through the sky. “Ain’t that the medical team? Is there something wrong with ‘em?”

“Make your way back without me.” Grace’s order was swift and firm. The grip on her sword was just as tight once she made her way in the direction of the floating pair. “I’ll catch up, just… go.” If the rest of her squad had a problem, no one voiced it.

“Come on guys. Let’s go.” Stella was the first to speak up as well as the first to follow her order. Slowly, Grace heard the steps of her squad members fade out behind her. By the time they left earshot, they had already left her mind.

Her path through the dense forest was much less cautious as she tailed the two airborne soldiers. Her body made moving tough, but she didn't care. The countless scratches and cuts they left behind on her meant nothing. She was hellbent on moving forward.

Of course, she was. After all, it had been the first time she’d seen Rain since the day he pulled away from her.

His silver coat and blue hair were unmistakable, even as they faded in and out of view through the leaves. He was wearing a medical vest meant for the griffons, so it hung a little loose on his smaller build. She couldn’t quite see his expression, but it didn’t matter for now.

What was more important was his company. It only took her a moment to recognize her as one of Gina’s goons. The injury she sustained from Grace and Front Line’s attack was a giveaway. The wicked look on her face as they flew by was even more damning.

There would be no reason for these two to be flying together. Unless Gina had done something he couldn’t refuse. Just the thought was enough to make her shake with rage.

Suddenly, the pair stopped in midair. Rain stopped in his tracks, and the griffon leading him turned to him. She had no chance of hearing what they were saying, but their body language gave her some sign. Rain seemed to be hesitant to follow, despite the griffon’s insistence. It made sense, after all. They were far away from either general. What would they need him for so far away from everyone else? She clenched down on her beak and quickened her pace.

Despite the altercation, the pair continued through the air for a short while longer. Eventually, they dipped under the canopies of the trees and left Grace’s sight. Undeterred, she made her way through the unused parts of the forest to their last known location. After slowing down, Grace let the natural sounds of the forest mask her steps. As if she were on a real mission, she stalked her prey with the hush of a mouse.

Soon, the sounds of voices sprang up some distance from her. Careful to avoid even the twigs underneath her, she slinked through the trees. She spotted a wide clearing up ahead. She sensed several bodies and, as she finally got a clear look of the scene in front of her, spotted Rain. Her eyes narrowed to catlike pinpricks. Standing defiant, surrounded by several griffons bigger than him, was her beloved Rain.

“I had my suspicions, but… I can’t believe this.” His voice felt like a warm, calming blanket over Grace’s body. Even with the scenario happening around them, Grace’s heart couldn’t help but beat in reaction to him. The defiance behind his eyes gave her a confidence she could never foster alone. She smirked and clutched the hilt of her blade.

She was ready.

“You really outdid yourself this time, Gina.”

The sound of rustling leaves around him caught Rain's attention. Once his hooves hit the dirt floor, several griffons moved into position around him. Some snarled at him with a nasty glare, while others grinned at him like excited predators. Either way, Rain stood his ground with a firm look at the ringleader.

“I told you, didn’t I?” Light peeked through the dense forest leaves and revealed Gina’s expression. To Rain’s surprise, she didn’t share the same expression as her peers. Her head feathers were frazzled, and her eyes were heavy with fatigue. Her pitiable expression resembled someone who was more relieved than vindictive. “You’ll get what’s coming to you. And there’s no running away this time.” Rain watched her for a few moments in silence, then looked down at the paper in his hoof.

“You know… for an outcast, you sure do have a lot of friends.” The paper was high quality and came wrapped in an envelope sealed with a red stamp. Almost every soldier recognized the symbol and what it meant. “Friends in high places, it looks like. If you can falsify documents like these and have an entourage like this, it must not be that lonely.” One of the griffons snorted with a nasty grin.

“‘Friends’ is pushing it,” she corrected. Looking at the rest of the group, it seemed like that sentiment was shared. “She pays well. Long as I’m getting a paycheck, I’m down for whatever.” She spit at the dirt and glared at Gina, who stayed silent. “Honor don’t put food on the table, after all.”

“You all look a bit wounded.” Rain changed the subject, focusing on the shaky stances and gait of the group. Some were even bandaged, though Rain didn’t recognize any of them from the medical tent. “I’m guessing Grace did a number on you all as well?” Immediately, the mood around him dropped. The griffon who spat before glared at him with daggers in her eyes. She reached for the sword at her hip and took a step forward.

“This motherfucker’s got a death wish,” she growled. Rain flinched as she approached, but took a deep breath to stabilize himself.

“Trust me, Gina. This isn’t going to solve anything!” His sudden raised voice caught even the approaching griffon off guard. He stared forward at Gina with a firm glare. “Call off your squad. I promise to at least have Grace hear you out.” He pointed his hoof toward her, offering her a shake. “Let’s talk about this.”

To his surprise, the mood stalled. Confused glances among the griffons kept them occupied while Rain looked straight on. The one who approached him stopped in her tracks, claw still hovering over her sword’s hilt. The forest became eerily silent once all eyes fell on Gina. She looked among the griffons, at Rain, at his hoof, and back again. A slow breeze blew through the forest, leaving her feathers flapping through the air. She took a deep breath, then another. With her eyes set on his, she opened her beak.

“Fuck. You. I don't need to negotiate shit.” She pointed a sharp talon towards him and narrowed her eyes. “Fuck him up.”

The order was simple, yet effective. Rain bit down on his lip and rescinded his hoof. The daunting expressions of the griffons returned, all focused on Rain. He tensed up and spread his wings. He wouldn’t be getting out of this unscathed, but he damn sure could try. The griffon nearest to him lunged forward in an attempt to pin him down. Just as he attempted to take off, the loud rustling to his side caught his attention.

Something massive burst through the treeline and tackled a griffon to the ground. Disoriented, her blade shot from its sheath and landed somewhere between the bushes. Before Rain could blink, the griffon yelled out in pain as a loud thunk rang out amongst the group.

For the griffons, there was a wave of cold panic settling down over them. As for Rain, he never felt more warm.

“I guess this is my fault for thinking you’d only need one lesson.” It felt cliche to call her a superhero, but that’s the only word that came to mind when he saw Grace. With her back paw firmly on the neck of the attacking griffon, she almost glowed in the sunlight. Though her back was to him, Rain could see her firm expression pointed at Gina and the rest. She met Rain’s eye for just a moment before turning back to the griffons. Her blade slipped out of its sheath and its point threatened the group. “I’ll make damn sure you get the point this time around.”

“H-How did you…” A horrified expression replaced Gina’s tired one. She shakily stepped back from Grace’s blade, letting the others stand in front of her. Though even they didn’t seem to be enthusiastic about the idea. “T-Take out her flag! That’ll put her too far away to do anything!”

Rain looked at the flag they were talking about. Unlike the rest of them, Grace wore a teleportation flag. His nerves spiked, but Grace’s composure made him feel silly for doing so. She grinned, then waved her blade in the air, beckoning them closer.

As hesitant as they were, with a proper goal in mind, they made their move. Two griffons rushed her at once, but their movement was sloppy and basic. Grace barely had to move to dispatch the first, while the second received a hefty slap from the flat of her blade. Her beak made a sickening crack before she hit the ground. Grace offered the other the same treatment, rattling the side of her head with the cold steel.

One particularly tricky griffon flanked around her side. Her aim couldn’t be more clear as she swung for Grace’s back. Before Grace had the chance, another figure burst from the treeline and shoved her into a tree. The wind left her chest and she collapsed, heaving air into her lungs.

“I think I got the same one. What a coincidence.” Rain’s eyes widened. The familiar voice was unexpected, but once he saw his winning smile, Rain couldn’t help but smile with him. “Hey, buddy. Heard you could use some help?”

“How did you find me?” Front Line pointed up at the sky with his hoof.

“Saw you and one of the griffons we fought flying through the sky. Got curious and followed you here.” He turned to Grace who offered him a quick glance before returning her focus to Gina. “But I guess you didn’t need my help, did you?”

“You said she wouldn’t be here, Gina!” The shout came from one of the last standing griffons. With a grunt, she took off into the air, looking down at the clearing with a snarl. “Keep your bits! I’m out of here!”

“Wait!” Gina’s curses fell on deaf ears. One by one, the griffons departed the scene until the four of them were the only ones left. Her own retreat was blocked by a thick tree to her back. With Grace watching her every move just in front of her, she had very few options. Still, that didn’t stop her from trying. She spread her wings and tried to take off, but was pinned underneath Grace’s sharp claws around her neck. She struggled, but she couldn't muster up enough strength. “Fuck…”

“So one black eye kept you at bay for four days.” She flared the talons on her other claw. Even from a distance, Rain could tell they were wicked sharp. “I wonder how long you’ll keep away if I take it out instead?”

“Wait.” Rain's interjection surprised even him. Grace looked at him, curiosity hidden behind her sharp glare. “Don’t attack her.”

“Why not?” Though she questioned him, she began to lower her claws. A relieved sigh escaped Rain’s lips. “She’s the one who attacked you before, right?”

“Yes. But if you hurt her again, this cycle of violence won’t ever end.” Grace watched him without a word, silently contemplating his words. Before long, her claws dug into the earth, and she resigned her attack. Still, she didn’t release her claw from Gina’s neck. Rain decided to take what he could get.

“So what should we do?” asked Front Line. He looked down at the disheartened griffon. Though she was struggling moments ago, she had become quiet as a church mouse. “Hand her over to some higher officers?”

“That’s not going to work.” Grace shook her head as she explained. “Hand her over to the griffon commander and she’ll get a slap on the wrist. Hand her over to Blossom… it would be better to kill her here.” Judging by the new wave of horror on Gina’s face, she didn’t find the thought too alluring either. Grace pressed down harder, keeping her dormant. “But… I have a better idea. You. Come here.”

Front Line’s eyes widened as Grace motioned for him to approach. He did as he was told, ending up near Gina’s flank. He looked confused until he saw Grace prop her up with her free claw. With her face still down in the dirt, and her ass up in the air, what came next was clear.

“It’s your lucky day, Gina. You’ll be getting exactly what you asked for.” Grace’s grin turned sinister, and only made the confusion Gina felt much worse. “If you want to sleep with a stallion so bad… go ahead.” Grace glanced at Front Line. “You’re not seeing anyone, are you?”

“You know… I never expected to be asked a question like that at a time like this.” He chuckled, then looked down at Gina. “Well, no. I’m riding solo for now.”

“Are you really okay with this, Line?” Concern flashed across Rain’s face, but Front Line only chuckled in response.

“Not really. I don’t tend to get super chummy with mares that try to assault my best friend.” His words sparked a twinge of pride in Rain’s chest, despite the circumstances. “But if I can’t buck her in the side of the head, this is a nice close second.”

“You can’t b-be serious…” A little slow on the uptake, Gina finally spoke up. Front Line placed a hoof on her butt, savoring its little jiggle. She mumbled with dissatisfaction as he spread her cheeks, revealing her moist privates.

“You ever had a stallion back here?” questioned Front Line. He watched her asshole wink at him and licked his lips. “Guess I’ll find out soon.”

“W-What are you talking ab—” Gina’s sentence dissolved into a yelp as Front Line’s tongue tapped against her. He ran a circle around it, savoring her small twitchy reactions. Eventually, he broke past, letting his tongue caress her ass like a worm. He dug deep, pressing his muzzle as far as it would go to eat her ass. Once he got his fill, he pulled away and spread her again.

“Think you can help me out here?”

“Hmm…” Grace looked down at the talons on her free hand, then shrugged. “Sure, why not.”

She reached down her back and slid over her ass to reach her anus. She got one talon past the hole, but two were proving to be an issue. A little bit of persuasion was all she needed to do the trick. Once they finally poked past, Gina yelped in surprise.

Front Line wasn’t exaggerating. She had to fight for every inch she went in. Being cautious not to injure her, Grace managed to stuff her as far as she would go. Once she got there, she slowly spread her open, giving her room to breathe. Though she tried her hardest to muffle it, Grace noticed Gina’s moaning underneath her. She smirked, then slipped her talons from her ass.

‘That should be good.” Grace gave Gina’s gape a good look before leaning back and giving Front Line his space. A shiver ran down her back once he returned to his position behind her.

“W-Wait…” He mounted her with ease and leaned forward until his lower half hovered around her ass. She could feel his sheath twitch once it slid between her hind legs. The sheer size of it was enough to make her body hot. Her wings shot open in surprise once she felt his enlarged tip press against her rump. “That’s not going to—!”

With a firm grunt, Front Line managed to slip himself inside. She shrieked with surprise and pawed at the dirt beneath her claws. Half of his shaft was in before she clenched up hard enough to stop him. The rest of his dive went slow and steady. Finally, once his tip sat nice and snug deep inside of her, Front Line took a break.

“Damn! You’ve definitely never taken it back here before.” He took a quick breath before pulling back. “Don’t know how long I can—” He yanked himself back, pulling his medial ring from her tight grip. Gina let out a loud moan and her body shook hard. A misty spray of her cum jetted from her pussy following it. She took a few heavy breaths before pressing her forehead into the dirt again. “Ooh, wow. A squirter? This is gonna be fun.”

“Y-You grimy f-f...” Gina couldn’t even manage her usual defiance through her fatigue. Her paws clenched and released a few times before she fell to her stomach. That motion caused the rest of Front Line’s cock to slip out. Her tight little anus was replaced with a wide, twitching gape over triple its old size. After a bit, Front Line repositioned himself above her again. Like before, her body began to react to him. She let out a low groan and her hindleg twitched. “D-Don’t…”

“It wouldn’t be much of a punishment if I let you off now.” He pressed forward again, slower this time. Instead of a shocked scream, Gina let out a small moan. Her hindleg kicked up again, and she squeezed him for every inch. “I’m pretty horny now, thanks to you. You’ll show me a good time, right?”

Without waiting for an answer, he returned to his work. Contrary to her outward anger, her moans were becoming more pronounced. Front Line couldn’t see them, but Rain, who watched from the sidelines, could tell. The rage on her face began to fade, replaced with an unfocused glare. She was starting to leak even more than before, and her panicked clawing came to a halt. Front Line continued, oblivious to all of this, hitting her hard every time he nestled inside.

As they went on, Rain found himself watching without a word. He wasn’t sure what he should say. His best friend was going to town on the same griffon who’d threatened him less than ten minutes ago. The entire situation was more than a little odd. Still, for as confused as he was, his body was quite clear with its feelings.

“So… you are getting aroused by other griffons.” Rain’s heart sank as he heard those words. He spun around to face Grace only to find her smirking mischievously. She covered her eyes with the back of her claw and frowned. “I guess you don’t want me anymore… boo hoo.”

“N-No, that’s not it!” Though she was likely playing around, the uncertain feelings from before came back. He pursed his lips, then put a hoof on his chest. “It’s just… I wonder how it is. Anal, I mean.” Slowly, Grace removed her claw. Behind her sharp yellow eyes, Rain felt a familiar warmth.

“Want to try it?” Rain blinked a few times. The question caught him off guard. He looked toward Gina and Front Line, then back at Grace.

“Y-Yeah,” he responded. To his surprise, her expression turned sad.

“It’ll have to wait until we’re out of this forest.” Grace sighed. “The armor would get in the way. I’d hate to be having fun before getting teleported in front of a hundred soldiers…” As she spoke, Rain was reminded of something important.

“Hold on a moment.” He immediately dove into his bag and rummaged around. Past all the medical records, tools, and medicine, there was a device that glowed with yellow light. He retrieved it and brought it to Grace’s side. After pressing it to her side for a few seconds, the light from the flag underneath it dissipated and dulled. He pulled the device away and looked up. “This usually helps doctors move a patient without worrying about them teleporting. But it should work in this—”

Grace lifted her claw off of Gina, giving her much more leeway. In the next second, the armor covering Grace’s body was all but ripped off of her. The large hunks of metal hit the forest floor with a loud thump, and her sword wasn’t far behind. Now that she was bare, she looked down at Rain, barely able to contain her excitement.

The two stared at each other in silence. For those few, long moments, the world around them dulled to nothing. Without a word between them, they felt the other’s passion radiating off of them.

Rain made his way behind Grace without another thought. Her tail flicked back and forth, trying to seduce him closer. But if she saw his throbbing cock underneath her belly, she wouldn't have needed anything else. Once Rain got into position, he saw just how wet she’d gotten for him.

Yet, his attention shifted elsewhere. Like Front Line, Rain began nipping at her ass, poking it with his muzzle before licking at it with his tongue. She winked and trembled in reaction to his teasing, but Rain showed no sign of slowing down.

He pressed into her, planting a few kisses on her asshole before breaking past it with his tongue. A low moan from Grace followed her hot, tight passage coiling around his tongue. She pawed at the ground and flicked her tail again.

His tongue crawled deeper inside, and he relished in every moan he pulled out of her. The flat of his hoof traveled up to her soft, wet pussy, and pet its drooling lips. It wasn’t long before drops of her cum pittered against the dry leaves and branches below like rain. He continued until she craned downward, submitting herself to him.

He pulled away from her ass and the small gape he left behind rapidly shut. The saliva he left behind dribbled down, joining her dripping juices down below. Rain licked his lips, then put his hoof on Grace’s back. In a single motion, he mounted her. His length hung between her legs, thrumming in anticipation.

“Grace, I-I…” Rain could barely keep himself calm. When Grace turned to face him and their eyes met, Rain had to force back the joy bursting from his chest. He bit his lip to stop the tears from coming down. “I missed you… so much.”

“Don’t tell me that,” she murmured. Like a bunny, she wiggled her butt to and fro. Fire burned in Rain's eyes and more importantly, in his loins. And Grace knew it. “Show me how much you missed me…”

He swallowed hard. With a few beats of his wings, he was hovering in the air, lining himself up to Grace’s juicy asshole. He pressed into it with as much gentleness as he could, but it was clear it wouldn’t work. With a little determination and a bit of strength, he broke past the entrance and delved inside of her.

The air in Rain’s lungs burst out of him once he pushed forward. It was so much different from her pussy. While that was tight, this was something beyond that. Her muscles gripped him like a machine and wouldn't let go. After a few deep breaths, he pushed in further, getting to the medial ring.

Rain grabbed hold of her body and huffed. He jutted his hips forward with just enough force to slip it in but ended up stuffing his entire length in at once. Even Grace, who'd stuck it out with small breaths until now had to fold. Unlike her rugged appearance, Grace's moans were flighty, like a dainty mare half her size. Rain enjoyed being the only one to hear them.

“Different than you thought, huh?” Rain looked over at Front Line, who watched him with a smug smirk. He reminded him that they weren't the only two out here.

Front Line was taking a short break. He hovered over her, gently steering his hips to slip in and out of Gina. Though she was now free, she didn’t even try to escape Front Line’s grasp. In fact, judging by her expression, she seemed to like it. Despite his size, he gently caressed her back with his hooves and rubbed her deep inside.

All the while, Gina looked conflicted. Her face was redder than her feathers, and she was moaning softly. She’d given up trying to muffle herself, but she still hadn’t let loose yet. She glared at Grace who was leaning down in front of her, but didn’t seem angry.

Meanwhile, Grace was coming down from her high. With each deep breath, she squeezed Rain tight, threatening to take the whole thing off if he wasn’t careful. He took a few breaths of his own before hauling himself out. But now that he was in, Grace didn’t seem too happy to let him go. Pinching down with each inch he pulled out, it was an incredible journey just to get half of himself free. Yet, once he did, he wasted no time plunging back in.

Once she began to loosen up, her ass took the shape of his cock. That made moving around much easier. He pressed in deep with each pump of his hip, but he made sure to keep from hurting her.

“What’s the matter?” asked Grace. Both griffons had their heads near the ground, and both were taking it from behind. The only difference was Gina’s soured expression. “Isn’t this what you, hmm… wanted?”

“No!” she growled. “This isn’t… anything like what I wanted!”

“But you’re enjoying yourself, right?” Gina opened her mouth to retort, but a guttural moan left her beak instead of words. Grace chuckled, then looked up. “Your tail is going crazy.” Gina looked back like she couldn’t believe it. But, as Grace said, she was flicking her tail back and forth with excitement.

Finally, Front Line got his second wind. And it was clear that he didn’t want to keep taking it nice and slow. As soon as he was able, he held firm on Gina’s sides and thrust in. His balls slapped against her pussy, splashing her arousal all over them. But, instead of a yelp or a moan, Gina purred like a cat and pawed the ground. As soon as she realized it, she covered her beak with a claw and widened her eyes.

"Oh, you’re really enjoying it…" Grace chuckled, then let out a soft purr of her own. She reached forward, grabbing Gina’s claw and pulling it from her beak. Wrapping them together, Gina gave Grace a strong squeeze. “Come on, you two. Give the griffons what they want.”

Rain looked up at Front Line, who met his gaze. Without a word exchanged between them, they knew what they’d have to do.

Both were off to the races. Once he'd gotten his rhythm, Rain moved in and out of Grace like a pro. His balls slapped against her ass, rippling her thick muscular flank with each swing. She threatened to buckle under each of his thrusts, but she wouldn't let herself fall.

Front Line kept Gina’s body honest. With each thrust, her pussy drooled more and more. Her softer flank had a louder smack when he slammed into her. Her breathing got more and more ragged, and her body began to shake. Even Grace could tell she was close.

Rain leaned down until he could reach around Grace’s body and his hooves could meet underneath her. His wings beat quicker, lifting him up just so he could slam down with as much power as he could. His balls were sticky with a mix of precum and pussy juice.

For a moment, in a forgotten corner of the forest, the four reached the height of passion. Nothing else mattered.

Front Line was the first to cave. With a guttural grunt and a thrust louder than thunder, cum sprang out of him like a faucet. He dumped thick globs of cum deep inside of her, quickly filling up her tight little hole. Gina arched her back, heaving breaths as the warm, sticky cum began to build up in her stomach. She grasped Grace’s claw tight, looking for whatever little relief she could. Front Line groaned with each thick pump, relishing in his cumdump's tight asshole.

Rain wasn’t far behind. Once his balls clenched up, he knew he couldn't hold on for much longer. Fiercely, he pumped volley after volley of ropes from his tip. Grace was more reserved than Gina, but she still couldn’t keep herself quiet. She moaned with each blast she sucked out of him.

Her spare claw found its way over Rain’s hoof, holding her belly as his cum pooled up inside of her. Once the very last drop of cum dripped out of Rain’s tip, he began to flap his wings again. Using the upward momentum, he pulled himself out. Coated white like fresh snow, his cock slipped out with a loud slurp.

After removing himself, he fell backward onto his flank. In front of him was Grace’s well-used asshole, dripping hot, sticky spunk down her pussy and legs. The sight alone was almost enough to make him hard again.

“Woof! What a workout.” Front Line was the first to speak up. He was laid out just like Rain. After wiping the sweat from his forehead, he looked down at Gina. She was drooling cum like Grace. But, while she could still stand on her legs, Gina seemed like she’d need some help. Front Line rubbed Gina’s ass, pulling a little whine out of her. “Thanks, Gina. Forgot how fun it is to let loose.”

“Ugh…” Gina let go of Grace’s claw and pushed herself upward. She looked down at herself, blushing at the sticky hot mess her ass had become. She looked up at Front Line with a light scowl. “Do all you ponies… shoot so much? Look at this mess…” Front Line chuckled.

“I was pretty pent up. Haven’t had a fling in a while.” Front Line got to his hooves. He stretched and groaned, then shook himself to get focused again. “But now I’m pretty spent. Think it’s about time we head back?”

“The general’s probably wondering where you two are…” Rain spoke up, looking between Grace. His tone was somber, and they both knew it. “I don’t want to get you two in trouble for saving me.”

“Actually, I think it’s alright.” Front Line pointed his hoof at a nearby tree, where Grace’s armor was discarded. “Since Grace is out of her armor, I could tell the general that you got eliminated. Nobody would be the wiser.” Both Grace and Rain looked at him, then at each other. Front Line laughed. He hadn’t seen them interact for very long, but he could tell when they were on the same wavelength. Even without words.

“Thanks, Line…” Surprise crossed his face, but it didn’t stay for very long. He flashed a wide grin and nodded.

“No problem, buddy.” He turned to the fallen Gina, who looked confused as to what was happening. He extended his hoof to her, but her attention was locked on the couple.

“I trust you to handle that one,” said Grace, looking at Gina for a split moment. In the next, she had returned her gaze to Rain. She fell to the ground and rolled over onto her back. She spread her paws, revealing the mess Rain had left on her. She was still leaking, and her unused pussy called to him. He quickly returned to full mast just watching her. “Come here, you little stud.”

“Y-You guys are really going again?” Gina’s question fell on deaf ears. Rain and Grace had already fallen into their own little world. He pressed his tip against her pussy, enjoying its soft, springy juiciness with his flared tip. Even his little teasing was enough to arouse her, pulling soft moans from her beak.

“We should probably go. Unless you want to get tangled up in that.” Gina turned to face Front Line as he spoke. He shook his hoof at her, asking her to take it. After a few seconds of waiting, she swatted his hoof away.

“Don’t pity me. I don’t need your help,” she spat. Though it was shaky, Gina steadily got to her paws. Her entire back half being sore didn’t help things much. She glared at Front Line with pride, proving that she didn’t need him. But, as soon as she took a step, she nearly stumbled forward and landed in the dirt. The only thing stopping her was Front Line’s hoof, holding her up by the chest.

“It’s not gonna kill you to get some help here,” said Front Line with a chuckle. He led her foreleg over his back, supporting her. Looking back over at her, he could tell just how unhappy she was with this. But for now, she didn’t resist. Front Line laughed again. “Let’s head out. We can split after we hit the edge of the forest.” Gina sighed, clearly defeated, and began to walk with Front Line. After a bit, she discreetly looked over at him and mumbled under her breath.

“I’m gonna need to walk after that…” Thankfully, Front Line didn’t seem to catch it.

And with that, they were gone. The last two in the clearing didn’t pay much mind to their departure. It seems like the moment of passion had consumed their attention.

Rain pressed into Grace’s pussy with a grunt, enjoying every moment of it. Though it wasn’t as tight, the soft, wet oven-like feeling never got old. Grace showed her excitement with a purr and a squeeze of Rain’s hoof.

They didn’t need any words between them. Rain began pumping like a well-oiled machine. The fatigue he felt before began to fly away. Grace’s pussy sucked and slurped his cock, holding him with its soft, wet grip. She reached up to his back and pulled him close. With his belly against hers, Rain could feel his cock throb with each pump deep inside of her.

At this point, Rain had explored every bit of Grace’s body in detail. He knew exactly where to go to make her run wild. Every few bucks of his hips, he would angle himself upward, scraping along the soft ridges along the top of Grace’s pussy. Fucking her there never failed to make her shiver. She squeezed his hoof again. A gesture that he knew meant that she wanted more.

Grace closed her eyes shut. After a bit of thought, Rain leaned down, planting a small kiss on her cheek. She subtly turned toward it, landing the next one on her beak. She opened her eyes just as the third one reached her forehead.

“Again…” she hummed. “Kiss me more.” Rain slowed down, and focused on his kisses. A few on her face and beak, then down to her neck. Sensually, he caressed her body, slowly digging her pussy out down below. Her moans were long and dainty. Rain couldn’t get enough of them.

Of course, Grace knew Rain just as well. When Rain twitched and sputtered inside of her, she knew exactly what to expect. She’d gotten used to the feeling of his balls clenching up, begging to coat her in white. Every feather on her body stood at its edge. She flared up, and hugged him tighter, bracing for the impact.

With a loud groan, Rain cracked. His balls lurched upward, pumping hot spunk right into Grace’s awaiting pussy. She hummed with pleasure as he quickly filled her to the brim. Even as she spilled over, he continued to bless her with more. The pressure pushed the cum from her ass out onto the ground as well, forming a sizable puddle. Rain heaved air through his moans, and cool relief washed over him like a wave.

He slowed down to a dribble but wasn’t quite done yet. With a few final pushes, he used his flared tip to push the cum deeper inside. Grace held him tighter as she came down from her orgasm. She moaned in delight once he slipped out of her, the warm liquid trickling down her ass and tail.

But even after he pulled out, the two stayed close to each other. Rain was determined to place a kiss everywhere he could, and Grace wanted each one. Only after another wave of smooches did Grace’s grip loosen, and Rain was allowed to back off.

“Wow…” Rain looked over his handiwork. The mess he made before had doubled. Cum leaked out of both of Grace’s holes, and the forest floor was damp with sweat and cum. The scene was straight out of his wet dreams. “A-Are you okay?”

“More than okay…” she huffed. She smiled through her labored breaths. “I feel amazing.” Pride swelled in Rain’s chest. A warm feeling.

“I feel the same,” agreed Rain. Having trouble catching his breath, he got to his hooves. The two met eyes. For a moment, it almost seemed like they would get back to it.

Unfortunately, the loud crackle of magic behind them caught them both off guard. They turned to see a green light beaming far away from them. Silence returned to the forest, and Rain furrowed his brow.

“Looks like we still have the wargame to worry about...” Grace was next to get up. She shook her paws to get used to standing on them again, then turned to Rain with a smirk.

“I can probably do something about that.” She pressed her body up to Rain’s. He wondered if she still hadn’t gotten her fill of him. Then again, he was a little disappointed to be pulled away from her.

Rain collected the items from his bag while Grace suited back up. Then, just like that, the two made their way through the forest like normal. Other than the crunch of leaves and twigs under hoof, the walk was quiet. The ambiance of the forest filled in what it could, putting them at ease.

As they walked, Rain’s mind began to wander. He left the medical tent quite some time ago. He chucked, nervously thinking of all the trouble he might’ve been causing Gideon. He was in for an earful if he didn’t hurry back.

But, if Rain was as concerned with time as he seemed, he could have taken off into the sky. His vest would have kept him safe from any attacks, so there was nothing much to worry about. But… as he walked alongside Grace through a nearly untouched forest, he kept his wings tucked.

He peaked over in Grace’s direction and found her watching the skies. She scanned them with caution as if she expected something to drop down on them. A small smile appeared on his face while he looked.

For the rest of the trip, he walked just a little bit closer to her.