First there was the noise. Discombobulated voices, wingbeats, yelling...then silence. Next came sensations. A strange tingling across my skin, and a chill that quickly began to permeate my fur.

Ugh. What happened?

The facility....attack. Blackness.

….

Sky Duster.

My eyes snapped open, then shut again as a massive headache attacked with a vengeance. There was a strange pressure on my horn-

A magic-suppression band. We were captured then.

Was there a we....?

I opened my eyes slower, just enough to get a glimpse of my surroundings.

Rusted metal bars stood right in front of me. The shoddy walls spoke of a warehouse of sorts, empty boxes scattered everywhere. The group of griffins was large, about twenty or so, stood in the center of the building. They seemed to be eating...

A deer. It was just a deer.

A groan sounded to my right, and I shut my eyes again as another griffin walked over.

“Huh. The female is stirring. Do you have anymore of the immobilization gell?”

I heard a clink of something being given to the nearest griffin (or so I assumed.)

“Don't break the needles next time. An injection would have knocked them out for days. Thank goodness for this gunk. Numbs them for hours...even if they could be awake. Remind me to thank our changeling friends.”

A strange chill ran down my fur again, and I assumed the griffin had poured something on both me and whoever was in the cage with me.

Numb? Wait a minute......

In any other situation, I would have burst out laughing. I could still feel the gel sliding through my fur.

I have a biohazard symbol for a cutie mark, you stupid griffins. You think I'm down and out?

A faint tingling did spread across my side, signs that the gel wasn't totally ineffective. Hmm. Potent stuff.

I cracked open my eyes again, and saw that it was indeed Sky Duster who lay next to me, a series of bruises on her head and back. A flurry of emotions broke through, concern closely followed by anger.

Those griffins did NOT just hurt her...

They'll pay for that.

My non-essential thoughts quickly ceased as the headache began to subside, and I could focus on the biggest problem; getting free.

I looked around, and saw Sky's eyes flicker open, then dart around rapidly, from the cage to the griffins. Her eyes widened even further, probably as she figured out that she couldn't move. Tears began to stream down her face-

Then her eyes met mine.

Even with a dull pain spreading from my head down my spine, I managed to smile slightly, mouthing two words;

It's ok.

Things weren't, of course, but having someone reassure you....

I knew the value of that.

The panic faded in her eyes, and she closed them briefly, then opening them again.

She understood. Now to get us out of here. She is numbed, and has a suppressor as well.

And the ponies called me crazy for learning these spells.....

“Ok. We leave in under an hour. NO trace. You know what happens to those who disobey.”

Well ponyfeathers. So much for having time to think of a way out....

I focused on a specific spell, or rather, magical method of channeling. The suppressor prevented spells from leaving me and affecting the target.

But, what if my target was the area below the suppressor?

From how loose it was, it was a hasty provision against possible magic use. Somewhat effective, but I had practice in breaking free of these.

The joy of having a bit of free time, and an interest in rare royal guard combat tactics for unicorns.

I felt the magic build up, the usual pressure peaking every now and again. I added bits of energy to the pool, drops in the bucket.

And yet, the pool grew.

It must have taken at least ten minutes of this agonizing trickle of energy, but I finally felt it move.

It was a brief shift, but it was enough. I probed the area in which my magic had moved, and felt it slither further down my horn.

I had found the crack.

When it was time, all I had to do was force all my energy through that area, and the flimsy suppressor would snap, leaving me with a surge of energy at my disposal.

I opened my eyes, having closed them with concentration, and saw Sky looking at me. Her gaze was softer now, a bit more secure rather than panicked.

All there was left to do, was wait. Forty or so minutes, or somewhere around that number, the griffins were shifting their few possessions or items around, causing quite a racket.

“Good. That's a faster breaking camp time than usual...well done. Now then. Someone grab the prisoners, then lets go. Last one out, torch the warehouse.”

Someone opened the cage door with a loud screech, and I heard heavy footfalls near my head.

I drew upon every scrap of magical energy and emotion I had-

NOW!

Author's Note

A new chapter? Yep!
Sorry it has taken so long! Good heavens. My writers block FINALLY has broken it would seem. Let me know how you like this PoV shift!