'1356'

Chapter 5: 'A Reason to Fight'

By word of beak, the news of their victory instilled the notion among the Griffons and Mountain Hippogriffs that Equestria can bleed. They can win. To that, common Griffons and Mountain Hippogriffs that were once shopkeepers, bakers, carpenters to knights and those of noble birth all said their farewells to their wives and hatchlings to join in an uprising

These rebels fought with a mix of both chivalry on the open battlefield and to the use of clever guerilla tactics. Attacks on the Equestrian garrisons in the countryside to surprise attacks on patrols using archers and crossbow-griffs became commonplace and kept the Ponies on their hooves. With this boost in morale, the volunteer numbers began to swell

"We have volunteers" said a soldier-hippogriff

Over a pot of ham hock, bean, and cabbage soup called 'Garbure', Lady Genève and Lady Wilhelmina stood up and faced two young she-griffons. One was a falcon-snow leopard named 'Glenda'. The other is light blue with cute pigtails named 'Gretchen' which made Wilhelmina lightly giggle a bit "I'm Glenda, and this is Gretchen, our weapons are yours,"

The two of them hail from Griffonstone. Glenda was an archivist, and Gretchen comes from a family of minor nobility. Glenda wore a fine chainmail coif and aventail with a long-sleeved tunic-length hauberk, dark blue brigandine, and some plate armor with a new style of helmet called a 'Celata'. Gretchen wore the same, but she wore a steel kettle helm

"We warmly welcome you to our cause," said Genève

Lady Wilhelmina smiled warmly to the two griffons, and put a gentle taloned paw on their cheeks as she inspected each of them, and made Gretchen giggle, "Rest now, fill your bellies, tomorrow at first light we will begin your training," she said, and two got a gentle double tap on their right cheeks as they went off to settle down and find a tent in camp

One can often tell where a Griffon or Mountain Hippogriff comes from by the color of their clothing. Northern Griffons and Mountain Hippogriffs wear colors such as dark green, brown, and black while their kin in the Southern Regions wear colors like horizon blue and white. After Glenda and Gretchen arrived, three more she-griffons entered 'The Roost'.

"Sorry we're late, I'm Gilda...this is Greta," said Gilda

"And I'm Gabby!" said the last one rather enthusiastically, and is possibly the cutest of the three present. Lady Genève was surprised to see Gabriella among them joining the rebellion. They knew her as the griffon that delivers the mail, and Lady Wilhelmina was equally as curious as to why she joined up? The one called 'Dapple Coat' went up to Gabby

"It is good to see you three," said Wilhelmina with a smile

Everyone has their reason to fight, "Gilda...Greta, we welcome you both warmly to our cause, but Gabriella? What brings you to our side?" asked Wilhelmina to the griffon that matched her grey pelt color. Gabby's smile faded as she lightly sighed. She turned her gaze away from Wilhelmina's brown eyes, and looked down at the earth beneath her paws

"I feel let down, I think that most of us do," said Gabby

"How would you feel if you were in my talons and paws? I'm the one that has to go door to door to notify families that their taxes to Celestia are going up? Do you know how many times they've threatened to put my severed head on a spear? I don't want to be on the wrong side, I want to do my part," said Gabby, the leaders nodded in understanding

"Gabby's right, now that I think about it, I feel bad for chasing her off with a sword," said Gilda, "still, we feel like we've been lied to by Celestia, it seems like the friendship that the Ponies preach about is only for them, if we have to fight to see the day that a Pony and a Griffon or Mountain Hippogriff can shake hoof to talon in friendship then so be it,"

"Our weapons are yours, and we will fight," vowed Greta

"We have no doubts about that, help yourself to some food and get some rest," said Lady Genève, the three grinned and nodded before going into the camp to find a bed and some food, but not before they stopped Gabby, "not you, Gabriella, we will like to have a word with you," the two escorted the youngest out of the three griffons back to their tent

Gabby looked so innocent with her puffy cheeks and those bright turquoise eyes. Genève and Wilhelmina sat down at their table which had a detailed map of Chefal and the Griffonlands, "Honestly, we did not expect you to join our cause, but upon hearing your words, we understand, you have friends that are Ponies, we do as well," said 'Big Billie'

"But how could Celestia do this? Why would she do this?"

"Such questions elude us, but it seems one answer is becoming clear, it is because we are not Ponies," said Lady Genève with a sad sigh. Wilhelmina's taloned paw stroked off of Lady Genève's back as the bigger and more mature-of-flanks griffon approached Gabby, and placed a gentle taloned paw on her cheek, and wiped away a tear. Gabby is still young

"Together, together with the thousands of others, we will make Celestia hear us," she said, and gently gave her left cheek a cup, and a gentle double tap, and then ruffled the top of Gabby's head, "you may go, I am sure your friends are waiting for you," Gabby grinned and left the tent, "the flower of war is a rose, red as blood, it's thorns made of steel,"

(Author's Note: Please read and review kindly. I will update when I can ^_^)