"The clearing at the base of the mountain," said Night Wish, the guardsman.
The pony encampment was set up on a cliff at the edge of a mountain pass. As a new sun rose, Shining Armor followed his guardsman to the North side of the cliff. Night Wish handed him a telescope and pointed him to a small clearing in a dense forest below, thought the griffon encampment was so close that it was visible to the naked eye. Shining Armor began to count the enemy but Night Wish saved him the trouble.
"Only twelve, sir," said the guardsman. "We outnumber them three to one. We should attack, sir, while we have the element of surprise."
Shining Armor wasn't so sure. The reports had indicated a much greater number, and the ponies had lost the last few battle, so the enemy couldn't have suffered very many casualties. So if the griffon camp was only a detachment, where was the rest of the platoon? It seemed too convenient to Shining Armor. The griffons had no reason to split their forces.
"Sir, they have a prisoner," Night Wish pointed to gold pony being led to the enemy captain by three griffons. "Sir, it's one of our scouts. It's Sun Shower."
Sun Shower had bruises and bloody claw marks all over his body. Stripped of his armor and beaten into submission, Sun Shower followed his griffon captors without resistance. Through the telescope, Shining Armor saw terror in his scouts eyes as threw him at the feet of their captain. The blood drained from Shining Armor's face and his stomach turned with disturbed realization as the griffin captain licked her lips. Sun Shower wasn't a prisoner, he was breakfast.
"Sir, we have to attack now. They're going to eat him!" Night Wish was frantic. "Oh dear Celestia, he's just a kid! HE'S JUST A KID!"
But Shining Armor had to keep his cool. The griffon encampment was an obvious ploy. There was probably a hundred griffon's laying in wait within the surrounding forest. For all Shining Armor knew, Sun Shower was just the griffon's attempt to draw the ponies in. Shining Armor had to thoroughly scout the area before he even considered attack. But, by the time the area could be thoroughly scouted, the scout would be thoroughly digested.
To be eaten by the enemy was the most humiliating death for soldier. To die only to serve the enemies hunger was profound violation, and to be reduced until there was nothing substantial or dignified left to return home was even worse.
Shining Armor had to choose, and quickly. Was to follow his heart and save his soldier, or was he to follow his mind and hold back.  indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
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