Gilda reluctantly pulled away from Edge’s embrace, took his hand in hers, and guided him toward the hut.

“Let me show you the improvements I’ve made.”

The pegasus raised an eyebrow. “That’s what you want to talk about now? I thought we… oh… right.” He saw the griffon’s mischievous smile and caught on. Architectural critique wasn’t on the menu… he was!

The two made love that was all the more passionate for having been parted for so long. With due care for her pregnant belly, they revisited the heights of ecstasy that had been their first time together. When finally sated, they lay in each other’s embrace, content to be with their beloved. They might have stayed like that for a lot longer except that a loud rumble from Edge’s stomach broke the mood.

Gilda chuckled. “Hungry much?”

“Starving,” he admitted. “I haven’t eaten since the buffet car on the train, then I had the long flight here and some rather enjoyable exercise with a certain someone. I’ve worked up quite an appetite.”

Gilda rose onto her paws. “Then, I suggest that we wash and make dinner. We can catch up meanwhile.” She pushed aside the door flap and exited the hut, waving her tail at him.

Edge grinned and followed.

They bathed in the lake, the cold water quenching any desire for further shenanigans, although it did not prevent some admiring glances between the two. They quickly emerged and toweled off, but neither bothered to dress yet, electing to let their fur dry more first. At least, that was their excuse.

Gilda’s campfire had been banked, so it did not take long to stoke it back up. She pulled several fish out of the food locker which she gave to Edge to prepare and fry. Meanwhile, she whipped up some batter and chopped some local plants to make vegetable pancakes, adding a few spices that the pegasus provided upon request. Edge was impressed by the result and complimented her on the creation.

“Thanks. I’ve learned a lot about what’s good to eat around here. Adding the vegetables also stretched out my flour supply. That’s almost the last of it. Gabby isn’t due to bring me more for a couple of weeks.”

“Did you ever do the trading that you planned back then?”

“The pelts that I send back with my sister? Kind of. I admit that I was overconfident. I barely scrape together enough to pay for the supplies that Gabby brings me. Actually, I think she’s giving more than they’re worth.”

“You have a great sister, Gil.”

“Yeah, I know. She’s the one that made me face the fact that I was pregnant. I was in denial until then.”

“It must have come as a shock. We’re going to have to visit a doctor to give you a checkup and find out how it was possible.”

“Now that I have you back, I’m glad that it happened. It might not be the reason why I fell in love with you, but it shows we’re even more compatible than I first thought.”

“I look forward to being a dad.” Edge chuckled. “There are going to be a lot of disappointed mares back home.”

Gilda smirked as her eyes wandered over the handsome stallion. “I look forward to sending them on their way. You’re mine!”

Edge returned the frank appraisal. “I will only have eyes for you, Gil.”

The mutual admiration continued for a long moment before Edge spoke up again. “So, what have you been doing besides just surviving these past six months?”

Gilda had a lot to tell which she did while they cleared up after the meal. She showed the improvements she had made to the hut and campsite and told him of the exploring she had done in the times when she had been free from the need to hunt or fish. He, in turn, told her about his frustrations back home, and how he had not been able to get her off his mind. They were conversing when they retired for the night.

“When do you have to go back?” Gilda asked, wondering if that would be the final night spent in the hut.

“I have a couple of days to spare. Because I don’t want to rush things when we get home, I’m thinking of taking only tomorrow off to relax and head back first thing the next day. That’ll give me the chance to get you settled in before I have to go back to work.”

Gilda nodded. “That works for me. I get to have a stress-free day with you before my life changes for good. Besides, I have someplace I’d like to show you before we leave.”

“Oh? What’s that?”

“Not saying, but I think you’ll love it.”

“Considering how you felt about hiking when we first met, it’s great to see that you haven’t lost your enthusiasm for discovering things.”

“A lot of things have changed about me since we met, and much for the better. Thanks for coming into my life, pervy dweeb.”

“The feeling is mutual, sexy bird.”

They kissed before settling down to sleep, the griffon’s arm and wing wrapped around her mate possessively.

The pair got up at dawn and prepared breakfast from Edge’s supplies including, to Gilda’s delight, bacon.

“A bribe,” Edge said with a grin. “Just in case you needed more encouragement.”

“You should have led with that,” Gilda replied with a laugh. “Seriously, though, how did you get hold of that in your rush to travel here?”

“You won’t be the only carnivore species in town. There’s a butcher shop serving their needs and, by luck, it was on the route to the station. I ducked in there on a whim. The Abyssinian owner was surprised to have a pegasus customer but was happy to suggest the bacon.”

“Huh! I never thought about those cats making their homes in Equestria, but at least I won’t have to worry about a meat supply.”

“And I promise to get used to the smell of cooking meat,” Edge said as he watched Gilda putting several slices into a frypan.

“Just you wait, Cutting Edge. I’m going to cook you something when we get to your place that will convert you. Bacon is awesome.”

The pegasus gave her a half-smile. “I’m not so sure about that, but if anyone can convince me, I bet you will.”

Edge stuck to making an omelet for himself and both washed their meals down with coffee. After clearing up, they prepared themselves for their hike.

“Lead on,” Edge told the griffoness.

Gilda led them up a game path into the foothills. After an hour and a half, the forest abruptly opened up to reveal a massive hole in the ground. Edge estimated it to be fifty meters across with steep sides dropping down to a rocky floor about twenty meters below. The bottom was well-vegetated and he could hear water running. He took wing and flew into the depression.

“I think I know what this is,” Edge said. “This was once a cave and the roof collapsed into it. See there?” He pointed at a stream that was pouring out of a crevice in one wall, flowed to the other side, and disappeared once more into a large hole. “That underground stream carved it out but a weakness in the rock structure caused the roof to break and fall in. Judging by how it looks, it must have been a long time ago. It’s very beautiful and impressive.” He pulled out his camera to take some pictures.

“I knew you’d like it. Funny thing – from the air, it’s hardly noticeable. The vegetation blends in well. Only when the sun shines at an angle on the cliff sides does it catch the eye.”

“Have you tried exploring down that hole and seeing if there’s more cave further down?”

Gilda shuddered. “No way! I’m not going anywhere surrounded by tons of rock, especially if it could collapse like this did.”

“I’m in agreement with you this time,” Edge with a grimace. I’ll leave that to those who like that kind of thing. However, if the geology allows for the formation of a large cave, that implies the strong possibility of more. I’ll have to pass the word on to any interested parties. I bet that will bring in lots of explorers.” He continued taking photos.

“That’s a little sad,” Gilda said. “I liked the idea of this being our secret place.”

Edge turned to reply, only to find the griffoness posing nude upon a boulder. He grinned and obliged with several shots. Gilda emphasized her belly bulge in a couple of them.

They eventually flew out of the sinkhole and resumed their hike. Gilda led Edge to some interesting sights that she had found over the past several months such as a long crevasse, ferny waterfalls, and several exceptionally tall trees. While they did pause for a lunch break, both were very hungry by the time they returned to the campsite.

After dinner and everything was cleaned up, Gilda stoked the fire and put the hot water bladder into it to heat up. Edge had acquired a new one and it joined the first. Then the two made love while the water warmed. They had a shower together to clean up – fortunately, the lovers had double the water to double their time – and then went to sleep. They needed to make an early start tomorrow.

Edge set an alarm to ensure they woke as soon as it was light. While he had not needed to make use of much of the gear that he brought along, Gilda’s possessions were another matter. As soon as they had completed breakfast, they packed all her cooking equipment and other items she accumulated over the months. The food locker also was a welcome return.

“Didn’t think you’d get that back, did you?” Gilda commented.

“Nope,” Edge agreed. “However, I did not regret giving it to you for one second.”

The one item that the pegasus had given to the griffon that stayed was the tarpaulin that protected the hut.

“It’s so much part of the structure now, it really isn’t worth the effort to salvage it,” Edge decided. “Besides, if we make sure to close the hut up well, it should remain a useful shelter for a long time. We could use it again in the future.”

“I thought you said that you never returned to places you visited before, barring this one exception,” Gilda added.

“True, but I’ve decided I like this area a lot, and I have some great memories made here. What about you?”

“Well, I can’t say that some of the past few months were fun, but the highlights – wow! Yeah, I can see us coming back here occasionally.”

Edge nodded. “Then, if that’s everything, let’s tie down the load and get going. The train’s not going to wait for us!”

“You do that. I’ve gotta leave a note for Gabby. She’s going to wonder what happened to me otherwise.”

“Good idea. You can add my address so she can find us again.”

With those tasks done, the pair took off and winged toward the distant station, carrying away some beautiful memories.

Edge booked a private compartment for them, and they spent the long journey cuddling, talking, making love, and napping. They only left to visit the dining car before returning to do more of the same. The train arrived at their destination late in the evening and the pair made their way to Edge’s apartment complex. Upon arrival at the garage, Gilda took only what she thought she immediately needed from the cart while the pegasus lifted out the food locker before storing the rest. He then led his mate to his apartment and opened the door with a flourish.

“Welcome to your new abode, my dear.”

Gilda strode inside and dropped her bags. Looking around, she realized that it was fairly basic, but compared to her old home in Griffonstone, it was luxurious. She hadn’t been interested in the finery she had seen in Canterlot, so this was more than she had ever dreamed of possessing.

“You never told me you live in a palace,” Gilda said with a grin.

“Yup. A pity it’s the servants’ month off. The chef too. I’m afraid you’re going to have to do some cooking.”

“Ha! Good thing I have a locker full of meat then.”

“The kitchen is through that door. You can drop off your cooking gear in there. I’ll take the rest of your stuff into the bedroom. Don’t worry about the food locker. We can deal with that tomorrow.”

“Want me to make us a snack?” Gilda asked as she headed to the kitchen.

“Sounds good,” Edge called back. “I’ll start coffee in a moment.”

Gilda checked out the contents of the fridge and took out several items to make sandwiches. “Where’s your bread?” she called out as she placed them on the bench.

“Top row of cupboards is the pantry,” the pegasus replied as he returned. “Bread is in the left one.”

The griffoness quickly found the loaf of bread which was as fresh as it was when put in the cupboard. The magic stasis spell on it was similar to the one on the food locker and was why the fridge did not need to be large. Food that had been chilled in there could be moved to the pantry for long-term storage and would stay cool and fresh indefinitely in the stasis. Gilda knew enchanted items like that were common in pony homes, but Griffonstone was completely devoid of them. She was enormously grateful that Edge had left her the locker as she would never have been able to lay her talons on one otherwise.

The coffee pot beeped soon after Gilda finished the sandwiches. The two sat down at the table to enjoy them at leisure.

Edge grinned at Gilda. “It doesn’t feel quite real yet, does it?”

Gilda chuckled. “Nope. So much has happened in so short a time, and all of it seems like a dream still.”

“Well, we both woke up this morning, so it’s no dream. We’ll have a few reality checks, I’m sure, but we’ll deal with them as they come up. Firstly, we’ll go to see a doctor, have you and the baby checked, and hopefully get an explanation why you’re pregnant.”

“Yeah, I’d like to get those things off my mind.” Then she yawned mightily. “Right now though, I’m more interested in sleep.”

“I agree. It’s been a long day. Go ahead and use the facilities while I clean up.”

“Thanks. I won’t be long.”

Gilda emptied her bladder while she admired the shower, promising herself a long soak under it in the morning. The bed looked amazing and she wasted no time in shedding her clothes and climbing in. She pulled a blanket only halfway up, posed herself, and waited to see Edge’s reaction.

The pegasus walked in only moments later to find that the griffoness had already passed out. He paused to admire his beautiful sexy hen before using the bathroom and joining her in bed. He put an arm around his mate and quickly joined her in slumber.

Gilda was the first to wake but she was content to lie in the embrace of her partner. Only now that she had left the lake behind did she dare believe that her fortunes had turned around. She was not so starry-eyed that she thought that all her troubles were behind her, but she had her beloved mate, a new home, and a child to look forward to bringing into the world. Right now, all was right with the world.

The griffoness basked in the warmth of both the bed and the relationship for another ten minutes or so before Edge began to stir.

“Morning, perv,” Gilda murmured as the pegasus’ eyes fluttered open.

“Morning, boobalicious,” he replied with a grin. “How’d you sleep?”

“Like the weight of the world was taken off my shoulders and I could finally rest.”

Edge chuckled. “You must have zonked out the moment you hit the sheets.”

“Pretty much, I guess. Did you at least like the view?”

“Loved it, pretty bird. Thanks.” He kissed her on the cheek, then pulled back the blanket and leaned over to kiss her on the belly. “And I hope our child appreciated their first night in their home.”

Gilda giggled. “They didn’t bother me all night, so that’s a yes.”

Edge smiled. “Good. Now that we’re all awake, what do you want to do?”

“Well, as much as I’d like to ravage you right now, I need to get a few things done. You have to go back to work tomorrow, right?” At his confirming nod, she continued. “Besides finishing unpacking and putting stuff away, we have to arrange a visit to a doctor and shop for a few basics for myself. Also, I’d like to get familiar with the territory while we’re at it.”

“Makes sense. Anything else?”

“Yeah. A long hot shower. I call first dibs!” She scrambled out of the bed and headed for the bathroom.

Edge smirked. “Did you notice that the shower stall is big enough for two?”

The joyful laugh that came back answered that question.

They shared the breakfast duties before they began their other tasks. Gilda obviously did not have many possessions yet but the wardrobe still required some rearranging and leaving space for future acquisitions. That done, they set out together for the center of town. They flew there, gaining stares from several pegasi in passing but nothing else. Edge took her to a clinic that he had used previously and, after confirming that the staff could deal with a griffon, made an appointment with a doctor. Because it was not for another couple of hours though, they left to do some shopping.

Gilda’s first priority was several items for the bathroom. Then they stocked up on food, especially some more palatable to the griffon. She did insist on lots of baking supplies though. Then there was a stop at a locksmith to get a duplicate made of the apartment key for the griffoness. The next stop almost brought tears to Gilda’s eyes. As he had promised, Edge took her into a jeweler’s shop to buy her a ring.

The stallion owner, Gleaming Gem, was too professional to be disconcerted by the odd couple and was more than helpful when Gilda was unsure what she would like. When she showed little interest in the fancy gems, he suggested something more representative of their mutual love. He brought out a small box which he opened to reveal a pair of golden rings with a single pink diamond embedded in each of them. Curiously, they were firmly separated by a raised wall of the material in which they were embedded, ensuring they would never touch.

“These are no ordinary rings,” Gleaming explained. “They have been enchanted to fit perfectly on any finger, but their main feature is only revealed when joined by true love.”

Gilda tilted her head and frowned, suspicious of such an outlandish claim. “How do they do that?”

“These are Crystal Empire Cadance Rings. Designed by the Princess of Love herself in conjunction with the Empire’s finest craftponies, when worn by a couple and brought into contact, their enchantment reveals the depth of the love each has for the other. But, be warned! If your feelings are not true, that will be revealed also.” Gleaming was reluctant to show these rings to just any couple who entered his store. The spell was a once off, rendering the bands little more than common bling if the love connection was not made. However, he was a good judge of character, and while he had never encountered a griffon-pony couple before, the way they behaved made him reasonably sure he was correct.

Gilda slowly nodded and turned to Edge. “I know that you promised to buy a ring for just me, but what do you think of those?”

“If you like them, I would be proud to show my bond with you.”

Gilda made up her mind. “We’d like to try them, please.”

“Ma’am, there is no ‘try’ with these rings. The nature of the enchantment means that you must commit to buy them, regardless of the result. Are you absolutely certain that you truly love each other?”

The griffoness faced the pegasus once more. “Yes,” she said simply.

“Yes,” Edge echoed.

Gleaming smiled gravely and quoted the price which Edge accepted without hesitation, although it cost nearly every bit he had brought with him. Then, the pegasus took one of the rings and passed the box to the griffoness who took the other.

Edge said, “Gilda, as I told you back at the lake, I love you with all my heart. Will you marry me?”

Gilda replied, “I love you too, Cutting Edge. It will be with great joy that I will marry you.”

As Gilda held out her hand, Edge slipped the ring over her talon to settle snugly in place on the finger, the sizing spell working perfectly. The griffoness did the same for him. Then they held their hands up and clasped them together, and the rings touched at last.

For both, there was a blinding flash and, for a long moment, they seemed to be gazing into each other’s souls. There, they felt the depth of love and commitment that had bound them together, and it left them overflowing with joy. The spell ended, leaving them staring at each other in wonder. Then they embraced, he kissing her enthusiastically while she hugged and nuzzled him ecstatically.

Gleaming Gem smiled in satisfaction and turned away to give them a semblance of privacy. They were not the first to propose in his shop, but they were certainly among the most demonstrative of their commitment to each other.

The time for the doctor’s appointment was close, so the couple made their way in the clinic’s direction. They walked arm-in-arm, the subject of a wedding the topic most on their minds.

“So, do you want to do something fancy, or will we visit a Justice of the Court for a strictly legal ceremony?” Edge asked.

Gilda sighed. “Face it, Edge – who do I know that will come to a formal wedding? Besides Gabby, I mean. And if your entire family turns up and there’s no one but her, what will that look like to them?”

“Fair point. Of course, we can always do something later when your social situation has improved, if you want to.”

“Eh. Griffs aren’t big on that kind of thing anyway. They cost too much.”

“Right. The infamous bit-pinchers. We’ll leave that option open then. See what the future brings. Meanwhile, we can make a Court appointment to formalize our mating.”

“Sounds good. The sooner the better. I wanna be able to point to you and say, ‘That sexy stallion is my husband’.”

Edge chuckled. “I think they’ll be able to tell by the way I can’t keep my hands off that gorgeous hen.”

And if the expressions on the faces of passing ponies were any indication, he was quite correct.

As is typical for a doctor’s appointment, they were kept waiting many minutes beyond the designated time. Eventually, a unicorn mare in a white coat came out of one of the doors and called Gilda’s name. Both of them got up to go into the doctor’s office, but the mare held them up.

“This appointment was for Ms. Gilda Griffon. May I ask why you are accompanying her?” she asked Edge.

Gilda answered instead. “I know the appointment is for a major check-up for me, but there’s one question that involves both of us that we’d like answered first, if possible?”

The mare looked between them, considering, then nodded. “I’ll let you ask and, if I deem it appropriate, I will answer it for you both. If not, I will ask you to leave, sir.”

“That’s acceptable,” Edge replied.

The doctor ushered them into her office, closed the door, and then sat at her desk. “My name is Doctor Positive Diagnosis. What did you wish to ask?”

Gilda gestured toward her belly. “As you can see, I’m pregnant. My fiancé, Cutting Edge, is the sire. We believed that it is impossible for a pony to get a griffon pregnant, or vice versa. Can you explain why we’re wrong?”

The doctor looked at Edge and smiled slightly. “Fiancé? Good. The answer is – you’re not wrong… usually.”

“Usually?” both echoed.

“Have either of you heard of hippogriffs? No? They’re not well known around here. Even less so in Griffonstone which I’m guessing is where you’re from, Gilda, judging by your accent.”

“I am,” she confirmed.

“Very well, I will tell you what is known about them and their relevance to you two. Please bear in mind that the events occurred a very long time ago, well before Princess Celestia herself was born. Many details have been lost to time and the rest were reconstructed by researchers from old records and hearsay.”

“Understood,” Edge said.

“Far to the south of Equestria, beyond the Bone-Dry Desert and all the way to the coast, there once was established a small colony of ponies disaffected by the fighting between the tribes. These ponies had made peace, so it had a fairly even mix of unicorns, pegasi, and earth ponies, which meant they possessed the mixture of skills and talents necessary for a budding colony. What they did not have were great numbers. That meant that it only took a few generations before every pony was related to every other pony to some degree, and that does not make for a viable long-term future for the colony. However, they did have one option.”

Gilda said, “I’m going to go out on a limb here and say griffons?”

Dr. Diagnosis nodded. “By good fortune, a group of griffons similarly disaffected by internecine conflict between the griffon clans had sought to make a new start far from all the fighting. Coincidentally, they ended up in the same area as the pony colony. While there was a lot of initial suspicion, eventually they worked out a peaceful and mutually beneficial arrangement, merging with the town’s population. It was to the griffons that the ponies started looking for mates.”

“But that doesn’t explain how we can interbreed.”

The doctor sighed impatiently. “I know, and it frustrates everypony that there is no clear answer. Oral history suggests that there was some major magical event that made every member of that colony fully able to breed with the other race. Some claim it was an act of Harmony. Others say that a unicorn wizard devised a powerful spell. Still others suggest that it was a joke on the part of Discord. The only thing we know for sure was that suddenly, mares and hens became pregnant and hippogriffs were born. Those are a hybrid species, if you haven’t guessed by now.”

The mare rummaged in her desk drawer and pulled out a file. From it, she withdrew a photograph which she showed to the couple. “This is a typical hippogriff mare. As you can see, the hindquarters are equine while the forequarters are generally griffish, despite having ears and a different build. The males are a bit bigger. Anyway, between births from both ponies and griffons, the colony had sufficient numbers to thrive. All subsequent births were hippogriffs and eventually, the griffons and ponies aged out, leaving just the new species. The hippogriffs bred true, and now you will find them in their home city on Mount Aris. And that’s how things would still stand if it wasn’t for the adventurous among them leaving to explore other lands. They ended up in both Equestria and Griffonstone, found mates, and had children. Yes, they were still compatible with both species, but due to the gene’s recessive nature, all the births resulted in the child being of the non-hippogriff’s race. Nevertheless, the trait could be passed on. Future pairings of ponies or griffons bearing the hippogriff gene can still breed with the other race. And since this has been going on for literally centuries, a small but significant portion of both populations have that gene.”

Gilda clapped her hands. “So, either I or Edge has that hippogriff gene!”

“Correct. Or both of you. It’s rarer still for that to happen, but not unknown.”

Edge frowned and gave the doctor a sharp look. “How would you know if it did? What would be different about it?”

The mare smiled. “Then, you would be expecting a hippogriff foal.”

Gilda looked at Edge, beak and eyes open wide. “Do you think…?”

Edge shrugged. “Is there any way we can tell, Doctor?”

“If the mother desires, we can test for that. And now that I have answered your questions to the best of my ability, I must ask you to leave so that I can conduct the examination of your mate.”

“Okay. Thanks, Doctor.” Edge began to leave.

“Oh! And I will be billing you for a separate consultation, Mr. Edge.”

“Fair enough, Doctor. I’ll be waiting for you, Gil.”

The unicorn turned to the griffon. “Let’s get started with the basics….”

# # # # # # #

Author's Note

The sinkhole was based on a real one that I visited decades ago:
https://southaustralia.com/products/limestone-coast/attraction/umpherston-sinkhole-balumbul
That one did not have a stream passing through it though.