>It's a great day to be alive.
>The sky was grey with a light cloud cover.
>The sunlight glistened brightly off the light, freshly fallen snow from the night before.
>The spruce trees seemed to be the only life for miles in this forest.
>All the animals were probably hibernating.
>Yet regardless of the somewhat gloomy atmosphere, you felt happy.
>It's neither drink nor drug induced.
>You're just... happy.
>You had only two worries in the world.
>Find food and keep Fluttershy safe.
>This whole time you had to hold her when she heard a coyote call in the dead of night.
>Or when the wind blew the snow so hard you couldn't see your hand in front of your face.
>You recently made a questionable investment in a pull cart.
>That soon proved more than useful, and they even through in a harness compatible with you to pull it easier.
>You couldn't help but feel very offended at the vendor making the sale.
>But given you carry a large portion of your gear on your back, not to mention you were totally unknown to most of the world, it makes sense for them to see you as a beast of burden.
>And besides, now you can just pull the cart instead of carrying everything.
>And you don't have to sleep in the snow anymore either.
>As of late, Fluttershy's been riding in the back.
>She's sleeping now, but it's becoming harder on her to keep walking like this with each passing week.
>You don't particularly mind at all.
>Although you feel your travels days are pretty much over now.
--
>The little cart hits a pothole in the dirt road, jolting Fluttershy awake with an "Eep!".
>You look back and watch her look around wearily before curling back up with a blanket.
"Hey, I think we're almost there," you tell her.
>"Okay..." she mumbles.
>You smile at your lazy wife.
>Although you can't blame her.
>You'd do the same thing given the chance.
>Another 15 minutes and the next villages comes in sight.
>You whistle sharply, causing Fluttershy's ears to perk up.
"We're here," you call back.
>Fluttershy sits up, still wrapped in a blanket and Angel held close in her lap.
>You pull the wagon into the village.
>The buildings here made of whole logs with wooden shingles for the roof.
>They were raised off the ground by a thick granite foundation.
>You walk up the main road.
>It's a small village and all the buildings are identical.
>Griffon peasants chop wood and fix upon their houses.
>A few glance up at their latest visitors.
>You don't get a second glance as they go right back to work.
>A small market with about 5 stalls sits in the center of town.
>The perveyors walk about and chat before they spot you coming.
>One by one they make their way back to their respective stalls.
>One in particular catches your attention and you make a bee-line right for it.
>You park your cart just before it.
>You unhook yourself from your harness and twist your back, popping it several times.
>You help Fluttershy out of the back.
>The vendor raises an eyebrow at the sight.
--
>"Welcome to Talonsgrove," she says. "You the circus?"
>"Oh no," answered Fluttershy.
>"Just traveling, then?" asks the vendor
>She looks at you and points.
>"Because I know that thing ain't from around here."
>Fluttershy looks to you and back to the griffon.
>"Yes, we're travelers. Anonymous here has come from... A, uh, very far away place."
>"I believe it," said the griffon. "So do you want to buy something or just exchange small talk?"
>You were browsing the griffon's goods the whole time.
>All meat.
>You point to a choice slab of red flesh.
"That venison?"
>"Yeah, tha- Wait. You mean that thing can talk?" she asks pointing at you.
>You point at her.
"You mean that thing can talk?" you mimic.
>The griffon's not amused.
>"Yes it's venison. I'm surprised a timid-looking pony like that would risk keeping a carnivore for a pet. A talking one at that."
>You stare at her with a straight poker face.
>"Oh, he's not my pet," said Fluttershy.
>"Slave?" asked the griffon. "Well I guess that makes more sense than subjecting a pet to haul you around all day."
"You know what? Nevermind. Can we just purchase this already? I've been dying for a good steak for a while."
--
>"And just how long is 'a while'?" asked the griffon.
>You look at Fluttershy who only shrigs back at you.
>When was the last time you had meat?
"Red meat? I want to say... A few weeks at least."
>The griffon's eyes widen in shock.
>She turned on Fluttershy.
>"What kind of twisted torture is this?" she shouts. "Denying a creature the succulent flesh they need to survive? That's inhumane!"
>Fluttershy backed up and cowered behind her mane.
"Calm down," you tell the griffon. "I'm not her slave. It's just a little harder to come by meat that it is fruits or vegetables."
>"That's unacceptable," said the griffon. "Tyke!"
>You turn around and spot a group of griffon cubs tackle one in a large pile.
>A single head pokes up from the pile as the cub squeezes himself free.
>"I gotta go, guys. I'll see you later!"
>A claw pokes up and waves.
>"See you later, Tyke!" calls a muffled voice.
>Tyke makes his way to the stall, taking care to give you a wide berth.
--
>"Tyke, close the shop, then come straight home," said the vendor.
>"Okay mom!" said Tyke.
>The mother looked back at you and Fluttershy.
>"Come with me," she says.
>You and Fluttershy exchange glances and shrug.
>You grab the cart handles and follow the griffon, Fluttershy walking next to you.
>"So you never did tell me your relationship with each other," asked the griffon.
"I'm her husband," you state.
>The griffon stops in her tracks and turns around.
>She stares at the two of you for several seconds in silence.
>"Your husband?" she asks.
>Fluttershy nods in confirmation.
>The griffon blinks twice and looks to you then back to Fluttershy.
>"What do you have, an exotic fetish or something?" she asks.
"Heh, no not quite."
>"Well it's definitely something," comments the griffon.
--
>You reach the griffon's home and she invites you inside.
>"Just leave your stuff outside," she said. "If anything gets stolen, we'll just find the punk who did it and take it back."
>That didn't give you any solace, but you do as she says and cover the wagon with the blanket.
>The only thing you take inside is your guitar case, just in case.
>The griffon's home is... quaint.
>Animal skin floor and walls rugs for decoration.
>Not to mention a few animal heads.
>Fluttershy's gotta be on the verge of breaking into an insane fit.
>Giving her the once over, she doesn't even seem to acknowledge the decor.
>Your host seats you on a wooden sofa with stuffed cushions and walks to the kitchen.
>The house is small and cramped compared to what you're used to, but you can't complain.
>At least you're out of the cold.
--
>Your host walks back into the living room.
>"How do you like your steak?" she asked.
"What?"
>"I said, how do you like your steak?"
"I... don't... care?"
>The griffon rolled her eyes.
>"How about you, Miss Butterfly?" she asked Fluttershy.
>"I, uh... I dnmthrg," she muttered quietly.
>"Volume," said the griffon.
"She don't eat meat," you clarify.
>The griffon shakes her head at Fluttershy.
>"That's a sad existance," she said. "I can't imagine not eating meat."
"You have no idea the suffering I have endured."
>"I'd rather not," she said, the two of you exchanging laughs.
>"So about that," says the griffon. "You eat meat, but why haven't you been?"
"I buy it. I'm not a hunter."
>The griffon shakes her head.
>"Well, I know what you're doing tomorrow."
"What's that?"
>"Don't worry about it. Name's Aada by the way."
--
>The front door swings open, a rush of cold air flowing.
>"Mom, I'm home!" called Tyke.
>He closed the door and flew to his mother.
>"And this is my son, Tyke," introduced his mother.
>"Hi! You're funny-looking," commented Tyke.
>A swift slap upside the head corrected him.
>"I mean, nice to meet you."
>You can't help but chuckle a bit.
"I'm Anonymous. Anon for short. This is Fluttershy."
>"Hi," greeted Fluttershy softly.
>"Flutters for short?" asked Tyke.
>"Hehe, sometimes," giggled Fluttershy.
>Aada went back to cooking while Tyke played 20 questions.
>What are you? Where are you from? Where's that? What's wrong with your legs?
>He would have kept going had his mother not call you all to dinner.
>Fluttershy and Angel shared a plate of vegetables while the rest of you had veggies with your venison.
>You lean back in your seat and rub your satisfied belly.
"So what do we owe ya?" you ask.
>"How about we hold off on repayment," said Aada.
>Works for you.
>She gives you the living room for the night.
>Fluttershy takes the couch while you get the floor.
--
>You're woken up early the next morning.
>It's rediculously cold and the sun hasn't risen yet.
>"Ready for work?"
"What kind of work?"
>This kind of work.
>Two hours later, you're both stalking the pine forest around Talonsgrove.
>Each of you equipped with an iron-tipped spear.
>"Keep your eyes open, stay low, and stay quiet," instructed Aada.
>She put a particular emphasis on 'quiet'.
>You had come upon a small apple tree and decided to duck into a bush.
>There were no apples on the tree, but Aada had brought a few to try and bait an animal.
>You had been waiting for quite a while.
>You got bored and started asking questions.
"Why do you have a spear? Why don't  you use your beak and claws?"
>"Because I'm not a savage."
"Couldn't you just fly and swoop down from above?"
>"Do you want to learn or not? And I thought I told you to keep quiet."
>You sigh.
>No wonder you don't go hunting.
>This sucks.
>A few minutes pass.
>You need to take a piss, but there's a rustling on the forest floor nearby.
>You peer through sticks of the bush and spot a stag walking over and begin eating your bait.
>A nudge from Aada is your cue.
--
>There are only a few apples so you need to make this quick.
>You slowly crawl prone backwards out of the bush to make as little noise as possible.
 >You try to apply what you think you know.
>Aada wasn't exactly clear on the procedure.
>You slowly crouch walk around the bush.
>The snow crunches softly beneath your boots.
>The stag's ears rotate for signs of danger.
>When you get a clear line of sight, you slowly stand to make your move.
>You could thrust it with your spear, but getting that close without alerting it would be damn near impossible.
>Aada watches from the bush as you cock your arm back, spear at the ready.
>You take a step and bring your arm forward.
>The stag hears your foot hit the ground and it throws it's head up, looking right at you.
>The stag turns to run as you release the spear.
>You miss.
>Aada flies from her cover like lightning and drives the spear into the hind leg of the fleeing animal.
>It shrieks and rears forward.
>It bucks its hind legs back, hitting Aada square in the chest.
>Unable to flee, it turns its sights on you, Aada's broken spear sticking from it's flank.
--
>It charges and you stick your hands out.
"Oh sh-"
>You grab its antlers, but it drives them into your stomach and throws you several feet to the side.
>You see Aada stagger to her feet.
>She no longer has a weapon.
>And yours lies several feet away.
>The stag charges again.
>You dive and roll for your spear.
>The stag is practically on you now.
>You grab it and stick the end in the ground, the tip pointed towards the attacking beast.
>You close your eyes and look away.
>The sudden weight of the stag impaling itself on your spear causes it to snap beneath the animal.
>The stag falls to a heap on the ground.
>And on you as well.
>The spear impaled its chest, but it was still alive and kicking.
>Aada took the chance to casually walk over and slash its throat with her claws.
>The stag lies still.
--
"Get this thing off of me," you tell Aada, ennunciating each word.
>Aada rolls her eyes and moves around the animal to your side.
>She pushes on it with extra help from her wings.
>You use your free arms to push it off your body and down to your legs.
>You slip free and stand.
>Your clothes now have red stains.
"What happened to not using your claws?"
>"I lost my better weapon."
>Aada looked over your kill.
>"Good job," she complimented.
"Good job? We almost died!"
>"Yeah. That went better than the average hunt."
"Wait, what?"
>"Yeah I failed to mention that Hinterland Stags are highly territorial and competitive and can be real brutes when provoked."
"..."
>"..."
>Silence.
"You suck."
>"Says the one who needs this meat more than anyone right now."
"Good point. What now?"
>Aada pulled a knife from a sheathe around her hind leg and dropped in front of you.
>"Skin it and clean it."
--
>The sun had just set when the two of you got back to Aada's home.
>You follow her inside, carrying the skin and each carrying pounds upon pounds of venison.
>Tyke was aware of the hunt and told Fluttershy, who looked after him during the day.
>Apparently, griffon cubs don't go to school.
>Aada shows you how to salt and preserve a lot of the meat.
>She stores what they can't eat to sell later.
>Dinner that night was practically a feast.
>Aada took special care to set the dinner table right.
>Nothing fancier than pewter plates, but this isn't a formal dinner, so who cares.
>Tyke asks about your travels and more about where you come from.
>After dinner, you be a good guest and help Aada with clearing the table.
>Fluttershy offers to watch Tyke as he tromps into the other room.
>"So do you think your butt can fend for yourself now?" asks Aada, collecting some plates.
"Yeah right," you say, grabbing a few plates and goblets. "Perhaps if I get a little practice spear throwing I'll become a stone-cold killer such as yourself."
>"It's not that I enjoy it," said Aada. "But because it's my job and a necessity to survive."
>You drop them in the sink and begin washing them with Aada.
"I was kidding. But I can see how your profession connects to your hunting proficiency so well."
>Aada hands you scrubbed dishes and you stack them in the cabinets.
>"Your... "wife" only eats plants, right? That must be hard."
>You shrug.
"Back home it used to be an uncommon thing to get a decent cut of meat. Especially in a town made up of herbivores."
>"Well hopefully you remember me and decide to come back for more."
"How do I forget the one who almost got me killed by a deer?"
>The two of you share a laugh, which is cut short by a shriek from Fluttershy and Tyke.
--
>You and Aada race into the other room, to find Fluttershy and Tyke just sitting there.
>"What's wrong?" asked Aada, prepared to defend her cub to the death.
>You spot your guitar on the floor in front of Tyke.
>Two strings are curled up to both ends.
"Aw!"
>You run over and kneel next to your mutilated guitar.
>"I'm sorry!" cried Tyke. "I didn't know it would break!"
"Calm down, Tyke. What happened Fluttershy?"
>"Well he wanted to see what was in the case, so I show him. Then he started plucking the strings. I-"
>Tears started to well up in her eyes.
>"I didn't know it would snap."
>You look at the floor to try and hide your smile.
>You can't.
"Relax, you two. I'm not mad. Although I'm slightly annoyed that I have nothing to do on the way home."
>Aada walks over and cocks her head at the instrument.
>She reaches a claw past you and plucks a string.
>She smiles.
>"Well, time for bed, Tyke," says Aada.
>"Aww..." groans Tyke as he gets up and slinks to his room.
>"So you two are leaving tomorrow?" asked Aada.
"Correct."
>"That's a shame. But anyways, have a good night."
>Aada retires to her bedroom.
>You lie down on a deer skin on the floor.
>Fluttershy takes the couch again.
--
>You rise with the sun the next morning.
>Fluttershy and Aada had been kind enough to cook while you played with Tyke.
>When breakfast was over, Fluttershy left to the market to get food for the trip.
>You were helping Tyke pick up around the house.
>It was mostly your mess anyways.
>Aada walked into the room.
>"Tyke. Go play."
>"Okay mom!"
>Tyke flew out the door, long gone.
>"Hey," said Aada.
"What's up?"
>"Want to know something?"
"Sure."
>Aada walked up to you and placed both claws on your chest.
>She wrapped you in her wings.
>"I don't have a husband."
>You blink twice.
"I- uh... I'm married."
>"Oh, please. That timid little pegasus?"
"Yes."
>She pulled herself in closer with her wings.
>She looks at you with half-lidded eyes.
--
>"You don't have to sacrifice the succulent flesh of animals to make her happy," she says.
"That has nothing to do with it."
>You go to push her away but she pulls tighter.
>"You still owe me a repayment from earlier," she says.
>You actually push as oppose to nudge this time and successfully force her off.
"And how much is that going to cost us?"
>"I want you to lie with me," she says.
>You go to your pack in the corner and dig out your coinpurse.
>She watches as you dump and handful of bits and drop them on the table beside you.
"That should cover it."
>"I don't want your money," she says. "I want you. That pegasus likes you for something. I assume it's in the bedroom."
"Sorry, Aada. No can do."
>She quickly flys over and wraps both forelegs around you and buries her face in your back.
>"Fluttershy doesn't have to know," she says.
>You feel your back get a little damp.
>Aada sniffles.
>"Please? For me? Tyke needs a father figure in his life."
>You know what she's trying to do.
>And it's working for the most part.
>You grab her wrists and gently part them.
"Sorry."
>You turn around and face her as Fluttershy walks into the door, saddlebags full of groceries.
>She instantly notices the distraught Aada.
>"What happened?" she asked.
>You throw your pack on your back.
"We were just leaving."