The voyage in the hiveship lasted three days, much faster than if they had used the party yacht. Crossing over seas and deserts, forests and mountains till they reached the harbor village of Ironstone Wharf.
The ship lowered itself a couple of miles from the village entrance, extending its bridge down to the ground, Tempest and Rachel were escorted out with their packed bags.
"Since you've been here before, Tempest, you'll be the guide." Rachel said while Tempest nodded in acknowledgement.
The sound of laughter caused the two to turn to see Capper tailing them, his arms wrapped around the shoulders of a couple of Sexlings that kept him company. One of them had morphed into an Abyssinian cat to his liking.
"Now ladies, make sure you come and say hi if you're in my neighborhood." He purred, causing the girls to giggle.
"We will," they said in unison before kissing him and flew back to the ship.
He chuckled. "Such lovely beings, wish I had met them sooner." He said as he waved them off. His face blushed red as he watched them leave.
"Chances are that you had but never knew." Rachel said as the ones that escorted them handed her something. A rather bulky pink looking flare gun, the hole of the gun was in the shape of a heart.
"When you have completed your assignment, shoot this in the air and we'll immediately be here." The guard instructed the Queen.
"Will do." Rachel said as she put the gun in her bag.
"Good luck, all of you." They said before going back to the shop. It soon takes off, leaving them in the desolate rocky lands.
The rancid stench mixed with the smell of the salty water made Rachel's eyes sting.
"God I can smell the village from here," Rachel groans.
"It gets worse once we're closer." Tempest said. "Let's go."
The three began their trek towards Ironstone.
By the time the waning moon had just begun to rise in the hazy night sky, walking past the numerous skeletons of past runaways, the three made their way to the village.
Once a salty lake side iron mining town, at first glance looked like any normal village, but once past the arch with the village name came clear that it wasn't a savory place. Many buildings look worn down, windows smashed and boarded up, streets riddled with trash, bodily fluids were definitely clear of how rancid the town was. Cleanliness was truly not a priority.
One would expect a pig would enjoy this filth.
Those who live here were also in a worse shape to wear.
The creatures who were forced to live in this town, all have sharp teeth, claws, coming in all shapes and sizes, some looking like they had dug their way out of Hell itself, only to be trapped here. A few of its citizens were out and about who were talking amongst themselves stopped when they noticed a few new creatures had strolled into town.
"Yup, Klugstown is more of a paradise than this place." Capper commented, trying not to look disgusted as they walked. Minding where they step. "Hope y'all gotten your daily shots."
"You guys noticed what many of these guys are?" Tempest asked as she tried to ignore the fact they were being stared at.
Rachel looked, noticing what many of these creatures were. "Carnivores. Several Apex Predators." She muttered in response.
"Ironic when the owner is a walking pile of bacon." Tempest said.
At the mention of bacon, Rachel's stomach growled. "Please don't mention that. Please don't ruin pork for me. I'm surprised that so many apexs that are crammed up, usually if there's too many in one place, there's a bloodbath."
"We're about to be part of a bloodbath if we don't get off the street." Capper said, not liking how a few of the predators were looking at them, mainly looking at the females of the group.
"There should be an inn where the visitors go. It's down this way." Tempest points at a direction.
The three make their way to the Creaky Inn, a wide two story rickety building that has seen better days, surprisingly it looked more well kept than the streets outside. The lights were dim, the green wallpaper was begining to peel and a few mysterious stains, otherwise stable for guests.
The three entered the lobby and approached the main desk. Surprisingly, there was a small griffon, the bird part was of a raven while the bottom half was a puma. On her neck was a noticable circular item embedded.
She flipped what looked to be a magazine before noticed someone was there. She jumped.
"Geez you lot scared me," she gasp, she had what Rachel would call it a Brooklyn accent. Before anyone could say anything, the griffon looks at Tempest and gasp. "Hey! I remember you!"
Tempest sighed. "Hello Armani," she greeted the bird.
"Aw, youse remember me," Armani giggled. "You still kicking around with the Storm King?"
"No, she's kicking with me now," Rachel chimes in.
"Hello, Madame," Capper gave her a little bow.
Armani stared at them before snorted. "Right sorry, it's just been awhile. New friends, welcome to the Creaky Inn. Guests only. Are you three interested on booking a room and how you plans on staying?"
Rachel dug into her bags and pulled out several precious colorful gems and gold coins, normally the gems was for her to snack on, since she didn't know what was the currency, hopefully it would cover the cost.
"We'll be staying in the same room, got a room with multiple beds?" Rachel asked.
The griffon's blueish black eyes widened at the treasures. "Wowza!" She quickly pulls out a jaded green book and quickly flipped through the handwritten pages. "Uhh okay. Ooh!" She stops at a page. "Okay we do have one more large suite, this should cover at least… a week."
"People really visit this place?" Rachel asked with a raised brow.
"Mostly out of towners. We mostly attract people who eagerly want to watch the fighting matches. It's our biggest attraction here. Folks love a good bloody fight." Armani said as she takes the payment.
"Snowball makes the majority of his income with these fights." Tempest said.
"Only the biggest and strongest of us can fight. I can't fight myself unlike the other griffons here."
"How many are there? Griffons?" Capper asked.
Armani scratched the feathers on her head. "Seven of us. Five girls and two guys. Like most who live here, we owe Snowball a debt. Don't know about the others but I pay him off in one more year."
Rachel frowns.
"If you're interested, there's a match going on right now. The new guy is bringing in a lot of income to the town with his wins. He's a fucking hunk." She made birds sounds mixed with a cat purr.
Rachel narrowed her eyes at her. "Is he happen to be a dragon with purple and green scales?" She asked, gritting her teeth.
"Yeah! Though I have no shot with him, Harpy does! She's one of the griffons that I mentioned is here." Armani freely admits as she slides the group a bulky key. "Take those stairs, room 111. Enjoy your stay! If you need anything, I'm always here." She chirpped.
"Thanks," Rachel said, snatching the key before the group headed up the stairs.
"Don't tell Snowball we're here," Tempest grunted before going.
She's just talking, she's just talking. Rachel thought as she tried to calm herself down.
Spike's hot, that's not a secret. Spike never strayed or made her feel any jealous. Rachel does have a pattern if someone tries to get his attention to them, she's tell them to look but not touch because he was her mate, to back off.
Whoever this Harpy was, if she knows what's good for her, she'll stay the fuck away from her dragon.
The three came to their suite. Inside were two king size beds separated by a large dresser. There wasn't a TV but a radio, a double eye burner and a small fridge and a bathroom with some scented candles.
With a snap of Rachel's claws, the candles were lit as she tossed her things on one of the beds. "Okay, still a shitty room, but it's what we're working with." She said.
"Are you okay?" Capper asked as he sat on the other empty bed. "You looked like you were going to rearrange Armani's face."
Rachel sighed. "I get jealous sometimes. It's something I need to work on but I'm territorial when it comes to the beings I love."
"Do we need to worry about you?" Tempest asked.
"No, but you two need to worry about how to sleep in the same bed. I can't share with you two." She said, looking down at them.
She was bigger and has wings, she needs the room.
The two looked at each other. "I'm not spooning." Tempest grunted as she tossed her bag on the shag carpet.
"Ow."
The three froze when they heard something speak coming from Tempest's bag. They looked at each other before Tempest snatched it back up.
She opened the flaps and dug into her belongings before her eyes grew big as saucers. "What the hell?"
She pulls out a ballerina music box. The ballerina looked suspicious like Twilight.
The statue gave them a sheepish grin. "Uh, hi."
"Twilight?" Rachel gawked. "What the actual fuck are you doing here?"
"Wow, that's a tiny princess," Capper said as he stared at the alicorn.
"Oh I'm not really here. Not physically anyway. A simple spell to check in and see how you guys are doing and provide some sleep music." She demonstrated by having the box activate the music and she spun.
Rachel was unamused as she watched the twirly princess. "We have phones, you know?"
Twilight stops spinning. "This is Spike you're here for, of course I couldn't resist someway being here as well. Even if its for advice, I have to see him for myself."
Rachel squeezes the bridge of her snout and let out a long groan as Tempest set the Princess ballerina down on an empty shelf.
"So, how periodically have you been checking in?" Capper asked her.
Twilight blushed. "I did overhear you having an orgy, Capper. I didn't see it."
Capper flushed red.
"Okay, it's established that Spike is fighting tonight, to make sure if it's really him." Tempest said. "Princess, you're staying here, the three of us are already attracting attention as is."
Twilight's ears droop.
"That we can agree," Rachel grunted. "Let's get going."
"Lemme know what happened!" Twilight calls out as they left, closing the door behind them.
The three make their way across town to a rather lively building with flashlights signs and neon lights. Two large goons stood guard near the doors, seeing a few creatures paying them to be let in.
They were stopped when approached, but Rachel forks over some more gold coins before they entered. Her ears rang as loud, roaring cheers echoed down the corridors.
Rachel began to get a little nervous as they got closer. Anticipation of seeing her lost love after months. Her hands shake the thought of wrapping her arms around him again, her mind running many scenarios of what she'll see and what he has become after being forced here. Her heart beat was so loud and strong that it was getting harder to breathe.
Her chest tightened with excitement when she sorted throughout the millions of smells, she caught his scent.
They emerged out to the packed arena. Stands filled with beings from out of town, cheering and hollering at the two fighters who were going at each other with bloodlust.
One fighter was a ten foot long grey crocodile-like creature, and the other was Spike.
Rachel silently covers her mouth when she saw what he looked like now. His scales were deeply purple at this time, as what happens when a dragon spills blood, their scales darkened, covered in more scars than what she used to seeing of him, more recently was the large scar on the right side of his neck. The same circular object that Armani had was embedded, looking like he attempted to claw it out himself. Exposing the fleshy pink flesh that was underneath the scales.
The two fighters had no shirts as they attacked with claws and fists.
Capper gently lead Rachel to a couple of empty seats in the stands, climbing a short flight of stairs to reach it. The two took a seat but Rachel couldn't bring herself to sit as she watched the intense fight.
Each time the two fighters made contact, the crowd bellowed. Soaking up the carnage and brutality the fighters were being. It wasn't some staged fight wrestlers do on TV, this was a real grunge fight.
As the intensity of the fight continued, the AC circulation kicked on. The smells of the people on the stands mingled and mixed. All of which the fighters were used to.
However, Spike, as much focused as he was to win this match, a familiar scent enters his nose. A sweet, ambrosial scent that shot shivers all over his body, a scent he hadn't smelt in what felt like a long time.
A split second, Spike stopped fighting to turn his head towards where the smell came from with widened eyes, taking focus away from the grueling match.
Before he could spot her, his opponent took his shot and threw a right hook across his face, making the dragon see stars for a few seconds before snapping him back into the fight.
The two squared off a few more moments before Spike punched the crocodile so hard, it knocked the guy out cold, spinning him around before he fell.
The crowd bellowed in a mix of anger and joy that Spike won yet again. However, winning the match wasn't in his mind.
Spike ran up to the ropes of the fighting ring, pushing past the gorilla referee as it was trying to announce him as the winner. Spike frantically scanned the crowd. His own heart pounced as he search for the source of that beautiful smell.
He quickly found the source, his breath leaves his body once he found her. "Rachel…" he breathlessly whispered. His mate. ..
The two stared at each other. Both in shock and disbelief and in joy. For a moment, time seemed to have stood still, all voices muffled, as if the two were the only ones in the building.
Rachel felt her eyes swelling in tears, about to fly down to the ring to be with him again, however, reality as cruel it was, everything resumed and her mood quickly went to love and excited to see him.
Turned dark and bone chilling once this blueish grey griffon, top half resembled a harpy eagle and snow leopard bottom, wearing her feathers in pigtails, black sports bra and gym shorts, swoops in, grabs Spike by the face, rips turns his attention away from Rachel and plants a big kiss.
Everything froze at that time Rachel. As if someone viciously pressed the pause button at those two kissing. Her entire body began to smoke as anger was quickly bellowing out of her.
Capper and Tempest sees this, quickly sprung into action, both taking her by her arms and as fast as she could before she could commit various murderous acts, drags Rachel out.
What was an eternity to her, the kiss lasted a few seconds before Spike realized what was happening and viciously shoved the griffon off of him. "Fuck off!" He snapped at her before turning back to the stands.
To see that Rachel was gone.
His darkened scales paled white. "Oh fuck me." He whimpered as he felt fear for his life now.