I wasn't expecting this to happen on our last day in Talon's End.

One moment the entire town was reveling in the completion of its fishery and sawmill and everyone was having a good time, and the next war came to the town on swift legs and endless cacophony of howls and arrows.

Hell, I don't think anyone in the town was expecting an attack of such size and scale, let alone with such ferocity in the opening seconds of the siege. The diamond dogs only warning that they were about to attack was that howl that echoed from all sides of the town, signaling that we were cutoff from the rest of the world and that help wasn't going to save us in a timely manner.

I thought that I would be somewhat safe up in the gatehouse ringing the bell to alert the town that we were being attacked, but with the hail of arrows coming my way all but told me that no, I was not safe, in fact by ringing the bell and alerting everyone that the diamond dogs are here it simply painted a big fat fucking target on me. In all honesty I didn't think the diamond dogs were that smart to target the person raising the alarm since most of the time they didn't have two braincells to rub together because of how often they do stupid things, but then again they are god damn geniuses when it comes to their warrens and mines, their construction and aesthetics for their warrens differs depending on the clan. So either these dogs are smarter than their cousins that I have met or that their leaders for this raid are smarter than those they are leading.

Another series of arrows came my way, the mixed ammunition denting and breaking against the iron bell as well as sticking into the wooden railing and roof with many others going into the guardhouse I was in. Some of the arrows came close to hitting me while two of them actually nicked my right shoulder and I made the decision that staying up here would eventually get me killed if I stayed in this tower any longer than necessary.

Moving to the ladder I slid down the smooth wood and jumped to the ground below but the mud was thicker than I was expecting as when I made contact I sunk a good two inches into the earth and feared that my shoes would get sucked in and get removed from my feet or worse I twist an ankle at what amounts to the worst possible time in the history of worst timings but luckily for me the gods were being merciful to me this cursed evening and didn't cripple me.

"Fucking shite!" I shouted as I nearly ate shit from jumping to the ground as arrows continued to rain from all sides as griffons and ponies galloped and ran towards anything that can constitute as cover, screaming and shouting in fear.

An unfortunate few were not so lucky as they were hit by a few arrows, not enough to kill them but more than enough to take them out of defending the town for the time being. With ponies and gryphons alike getting hit with arrows and myself getting nicked by a few, I did the only sensible thing a man can do in a situation like this.

"Everyone get to cover! Get under some tables or back into your homes or a nearby building to hide in! Stay away from the windows and whatever you do don't go outside unless you have a shield and are moving to try and save someone!" I shouted as loud as I could from where I was as moved away from the safety of the wall and pressed myself against the nearby guard station as another wave of arrows comes sailing over the walls.

The arrows kept raining down all around me and quite possibly throughout the entire town for what felt like several minutes, and when the impact sounds of arrows finally came to an end I looked around and I saw that the ground was littered with arrows a lot of them are broken while little less than a fourth were reusable, perfect for us to return to the dogs and see how they like being pelted with a random assortment of arrows. Looking around the open roads of the town and seeing that there are a few injured civilians now being herded into homes, I am thinking that the dogs weren't aiming to harm anyone quite possibly to scare them into hunkering down so they can get closer to the town without getting shot at or have a rock dropped on them.

With a calm moment to myself I gave myself a quick check down to see how badly I was injured from those arrows and after a fast scan of where I am feeling pain I let out a sigh of relief that there was no true penetration, just cuts that sting like hell.

"If any of you are part of the town guard, get your collective asses to the gates and shut them tightly! We don't have much time before they slam against the walls and we can't let them breach the gates! All civilians make your way to the town hall and stay there, it is the most defensible structure here and it will keep you safe till reinforcements arrive to assist us in driving off these dogs! Whoever is the fastest flyer in this town get over here, now!" I shouted as I scanned the area and saw a couple of gryphons and ponies that have been hit with arrows are trying to crawl to safety all the while howling and wailing in pain, a few weren't moving at all.

'Why is this happening? The guard station a day south from here said that the diamond dogs in the area actively avoid our side of the border because they are too busy fighting the minotaurs after a deal gone south. So why the hell are they here?'

My mind was racing to try to find out why these dogs were here but at the moment it was only grasping at straws as I heard another wave of arrows impact with the walls and floor around me.

'Is it because we took in those minotaurs? Are they attacking us because we are harboring enemy combatants in their little skirmishes? If so then they should know that once word gets back to the king that the diamond dogs of the Ruby Mountain Range have attacked a griffon settlement than war will be declared on them. They should be smarter than this to risk opening a second front over a bunch of bulls that was traveling south.'

After that wave of arrows ended a griffon quickly divebombed next to me and stood at attention, my guess this was one of the town guards that was off-duty at the time.

"You wanted to see me sir?" the griffon in question asked me as I gave him the quickest of look overs, light brown fur and feathers, green eyes, a lithe build, well-built wings, a good flyer. Perfect.

"Yes, when there is a pause between the volleys I need you to fly as high as possible and make your way towards the nearest guard outpost and tell them we need aid, and keep on flying to ever other nearby outpost until you can't fly anymore. A single outpost won't be able to scare these dogs off but at least five of them will, tell them to circle overhead like a murder of crows and to rain arrows down upon them until they start fleeing to the hills in panic."

"A-are you sure sir? The moment those d-diamond dogs see me, I will become a pincushion for sure!"

"What is your name?"

"It's Pippin, sir?" The griffon said in a confused manner, wondering why I wanted to know his name and his question will have its answer.

"Pippin, this is very important, I need you to fly to the nearest military outposts and to bring whatever aid you can because I fear that Talon's End in all likely hood will not survive to see the next sunrise." I said this with a grim tone to my voice, cause in the history books back home whenever there was a siege in the early days of humanity, an attack on a small village by a larger force always ended with the village being burned to the ground and all within it lost.

"B-but sir you're a-" Pippin stuttered out those words but I cut him off, knowing exactly what he was going to say.

"Yes I know I am a knight, but being a knight doesn't make me invincible nor does it mean that victory is guaranteed. It just means that I have been properly trained to fight with honor and integrity but all of that training doesn't really amount to much when the enemy doesn't fight with honor. This is a fight of life and death, those diamond dogs will kill those that resist and enslave the rest, are you afraid of doing your duty of bringing aid to your home against those that will take everything away from you?"

From what I learned about the diamond dogs from the history books these griffons have available to them and what is true, most dog clans enslave not only their own race from conquered clans and tribes, but also that they enslave the races of those around them if they think that they can get away with it. The books also state that they tend to treat their slaves poorly due to either not knowing about their slaves dietary needs or simply not caring because they think that they can easily get more slaves by raiding more nearby settlements, sadly for the few clans that don't practice slavery they get lumped in with the rest of the dogs and when those demanding justice for the crimes of the majority, often times they instead attack the minority only to find out after the bloodshed that they attacked the wrong clan.

"No sir I am not afraid of doing my duty! I am just afraid of dying..." Pippin says with a bit of fear in his tone and if I was in his shoes, if my commanding officer told me to make a run for it through heavy enemy fire to make it to friendly forces fall away to get them to help their group, I would probably tell them to go fuck themselves but then again if I didn't go for help then I would die with the rest of them.

"Boy, we are all afraid of dying but it comes for us all eventually. It doesn't matter when we die, but how we lived up to that point for when we make our destined rendezvous with death itself we can look back and hopefully be proud of what we have accomplished before we shuffle off this mortal coil." I said with a bit of grim look on my face cause I know that my clock is ticking and that I have at most maybe fifty or sixty years before it is my time to take a dirt nap and I feel like that isn't enough for what I have planned for this country. If there was a way for me to live forever or at the least a little longer, I'd take it just as long as the price for it isn't too high.

In truth I may be putting on a brave face in front of this frightened griffon but I am actually afraid of what is going to happen when they either run out of arrows or decide to rush the walls cause at that moment we are all royally fucked and that we are all going to die. Well, most of us will die, those that don't will be enslaved to work in the mines till they die or are too weak to work and are released or killed.

"So hear me Pippin, as soon as there is a lull in the volleys raining down, I need you to take flight and fly as fast and as hard as you possibly can before heading straight for the nearest outpost. Don't stop for anything and whatever you do, do not look back. Your one and only job right now is to ensure that help gets here in time, and if it doesn't then ensure that outpost avenge us."

Patting him on the shoulder and giving him a nod before looking around the clearing I saw that the griffons and ponies of the town are using tables as shields as they scuttle across the ground to retrieve the injured and dead.

The arrow rain continued to fall on Talon's End for another two minutes before it eventually came to an end and when it did I gave Pippin a pat on the back and like a bolt from a crossbow the lad took off with all possible haste as he rocketed towards the sky before heading southwest to what is hopefully the nearest griffon base. Turning to look at the village I saw that the hail of arrows did plenty of damage to the buildings what with the broken windows and damaged wooden walls, but the true damage that was done was from those that have been caught outside when the arrows came down full force.

From where I am standing, I count thirteen bodies that aren't moving, thirteen griffons and ponies dead on my watch and who knows how many more in the other parts of the village and that is not even counting those that have been injured over there and here.

I can hear the shouts, the crying, the wailing widows and whimpering young, the sounds of those that have lost someone dear to them.

These dogs will pay for this...I don't know how I will go about this, I don't even think I even know where the dog clan is holding up so I can ask the king if we can lay siege and decimate them for this but sadly I don't think he would agree to this request let alone what with everything he has on his plate at the moment. But if I can show him what has happened here, show him the ones responsible for this attack, I think I can get him to change his mind, if I can survive that long to get to him and tell him this.

"Sir Knight! Are you okay?" A voice called out from the discordant atmosphere and as I tried to locate where the voice came from I soon enough saw that it was from one of the royal guards that came with me as an escort for this mission.

Waving at the guard I watched as he flew over and land beside me before giving a bit of a salute then returns to a standing posture, his appearance at first looked that of any other griffon of brown fur and feathers but when he removed his helmet I saw that he was of a subtype of griffon.

Back in Griffonstone I thought that there was only the one type of griffon and it was the typical griffon with the bird head, bird front forearms, bird wings on a lions body, but during my time in the tavern and while training with the guards I saw that there was actually more than the typical griffon as I saw those with more feline features like cat-like ears, feathered tails, lion front paws and bird hind legs, then there is the grounded griffon with no wings but they are built like a brick shithouse, demigryphs the locals call 'em, pretty much griffons that laid with ponies of the land variety and was more griffon than pony.

This guard griffon, one Tychus Gerflie, was somewhat dirty and had what looked like blood on his armor, gave me a salute before starting to talk.

"Sir, we are surrounded by all sides and there is no way out from the ground. While those of us that can fly can easily pick you up along with those that can't fly but we will tire out before long and those dogs can simply wait for us to come back down before grabbing all of us. I wasn't expecting diamond dogs to be this smart to encircle the town and to get enough arrows to let loose on us for several minutes, at least they weren't smart enough to set their arrows on fire to burn the town down, so lucky us I guess." Tychus said as he put his helmet back on, his ears fitting in the small ear slots so he can still hear without it being muffled.

"Yeah, lucky us, but they still have us surrounded and we can't fly nor use the river to escape, all we can do now is hold out and hope that reinforcements get here in time to break the encirclement or else we are all royally fucked." I sniped back at Tychus, at the moment my mood was fouled and that I wasn't really in the mood for any smartass remarks or comments.

A plan was needed to stall for time, and one had just came to mind...

"Get out there and tell all of the guards to arm themselves with any bows and crossbows they can find get their hands on along with as much ammunition they can carry, take to the sky and start strafing those dogs with bolts and arrows till you run out. And as for the others, spread the word to all those that can still act to collect the wounded and dead, the young, old, infirm and those that can't fight, send them to town hall as it is the most structurally sound and well-built building in this village, it can handle an attack as long as they dont try to burn it down. Tell them to go there and hold out while we hold them off for as long as possible, hopefully our help will get here in time before we are all dead or marching underground in chains." I said to the guard griffon as I mentally went over the plan in my head, it sounded stable and sound to me, have them do flyovers and fire the same arrows that came our way back at them and hope that our arrows slows them down or at the very least, kill some of their officers to disorganize them.

"So that is the plan then sir? Pelt them with fast attacks and hold the line till reinforcements arrive from Fort Daggerpoint and push the dogs out of here? I don't think the griffs and ponies here can hold out for that long against such a large force."

"I know that Tychus, I know...but we have to hold out for as long as possible cause if we don't we all know what will happen to this town, so lets not let that happen. Just tell them what needs to be done and pray to the gods to watch over us." in all I really don't think that we will last long against such a large horde of dogs, let alone all or most of us getting out of this alive or in one piece.

"I see, sir, I'll get it done." and with that said I watched as the young private spread his wings and took off, flying low to each and every single group of civilians while I tried to steady my nerves for what is to come.

I was hoping that the peace and calm that I managed to dig out for myself in this little alcove would last long enough to finally steel my nerves and harden my resolve to come up with some sort of defense plan to save as much of this village as possible, but what I got instead was an untimely guest.

Oh don't look so glum my favorite little helper! You know I won't let anything bad happen to you so turn that frown upside down!

"Ma'am, I am looking so 'glum' right now because this village I was changing for the betterment of it and as a part of your 'plan' to fuck with Fate's plans, is currently surrounded by diamond dogs who decided to pelt said village with arrows, so excuse me if I am not radiating happiness and joy at the moment." I said to my patron in the most annoyed tone I could dredge up as I gave this area of the village another once over, seeing ponies and griffons scurrying about trying to help each other while others started to gather arrows for the defense plan.

Now don't get snippy with me boy.

"Well maybe if you showed that you cared about your only servant maybe I would be a little happier, I got nicked with arrows and I just witnessed a lot of innocent griffons and ponies get killed, so excuse me if I am not in a more cordial mood at the moment." I snapped back at my patron, I was not in the mood for any of her bullshit at the moment.

Nicked? Who would be so bold as to attack my favorite peon?

"The diamond dogs outside this village. I don't know what they want or who they are after but they killed plenty of innocent people tonight and that won't end here cause I know that even more are going to die if they get in."

Why don't you just leave this village to its fate? I won't let my favorite peon get killed protecting a bunch of flying feather-dusters that foolishly believe in a bunch of old gods that lost their grip on their faithful masses when their objects of faith disappeared over the years.

"Wow, you really expect me to abandon these people to slavery or death? It's gonna be hard to set change upon the world when the place where change is happening becomes a ghost town and no one commits to the change."

Yes, because if you die I have to find someone else to replace you and this world is lacking in chaotic beings that can handle the power of chaos without it corrupting their body and mind in the process. You should be thanking me for saving you twice now and its hard to be showing me your gratitude if your dead.

"Wait...what do you mean you saved me twice? Don't you mean to say you saved me once with Tazul?"

That...is something I have to discuss with father about but I do believe you are due for some answers...but anyways I still strongly advise that you skip town and leave this place to its fate, but you won't, will you? Nah, I can see into your mind, you are planning on defending this town and making these dogs pay for their insolence...returning their arrows to the dogs in rapid skirmishes in the skies while ushering the commoners to a safe location before waiting on help to arrive. Clever, but will the dogs willingly wait long enough for you to complete your plan I wonder?

"I don't know, but its better than rolling over and waiting for death."

Indeed...fine, I don't approve of your plan but you are so dead-set on seeing it through to the end, something that I love about you and the reason why I picked you to be my agent. Good luck out there space cowboy, don't get killed again now cause there is only so much I can work with.

"Wow, your vote of confidence just fills me with what I need to see through the day." I said with so much sarcasm that one could probably get slapped in the face with it. Honestly, it annoys me that this goddess that I am slaving away for is so uncaring about those that I have to work with, at least fake it when talking to me.

And like that I didn't hear anymore from my not-so-benevolent-and-caring benefactor, leaving me to my own devices as I watched another griffon approach me, this time with two of the town guards walking closely behind him.

The griffon in question was the very definition of old, older than Grandpa Gruff by at least a decade or two, his feathers are all grey and silvered out as the original deep brown color has faded almost entirely away. My guess he is either the village elder or the mayor, but either way he must be the one in charge if he has an armed escort with him.

The old and haggard griffon looked at me with tired eyes and regarded me as if I was some sort of hero as he motioned for his two guards to stay back as he came towards me and stopped a few feet away.

"So, you are the knight our king has sent to our home...you look less like a dog and even less like a minotaur, and you are definitely no griffon nor pony, but whatever you are you have my thanks for helping the village in its time of need, far more than anything than that highborn griffon that owns this land. I would have talked to you when you first arrived to our little village, but I fear that my age is starting to creep up on me and I was bedridden during your stay here." the aged griffon said before coughing into a talon, his age really has hit him like a sledgehammer, just how old is this codger anyways?

"Sir Knight, those feral dogs out there are attacking my home, I sure hope you have a plan to get us out of this." the elder griffin asks me as tell him the plan that I came up with even though it is more along the lines of stalling them for as long as possible.

The village elder nods his head as he hears my plan and for the most part he agrees with it until he spoke up about what to do if more arrows come raining down.

"Is there somewhere for everyone to hold up in and have to worry about getting shot?"

"Yes...yes there is, the town hall. It was built with granite from the local quarry with slate stone roofing, its pretty fireproof from what I was told when it was first built over thirty years ago but I could be wrong."

"Is there another way out of the village that won't get seen by the diamond dogs?"

"Yeah, the emergency tunnel that was made underneath town hall in the event the village gets surrounded. We never used it cause we never had to...never thought that we would be attacked by bandits or bugbears, let alone an entire clan of dogs looking for easy prey.

"How far out does it go?" this had my interest as this was a bit strange, griffons building an underground tunnel? What next, diamond dogs building blimps to fly?

"It goes into the forest, deep enough to the south into the forest, that it's at least one...maybe two days to the nearest outpost." the elder said before coughing into a talon, his age clearly showing, I am just waiting for a cane to be placed in his talons or a walker.

"Get everyone into the town hall, if the dogs breach the walls and surround us I will need you to lead them to safety while those of us that stay behind will try to get you as much time as possible." I told the elder, his armed escorts bristled slightly at my demand but they relented when they elder nodded his head.

"So you plan to have a last stand while the rest of us escapes? Very brave of you, but also foolish, you should know that we griffons always fight to defend our home, we always have for generations so don't think we won't fight to keep our homes safe from these vile dogs grubby mittens." the elder griffon said as shook a fist at me, I guess he didn't like that I told him to take everyone and flee through the tunnel.

I forgot that griffons are notoriously known for violently defending their homes just like how a mother griffon will violently protect her cub from anyone that would try to harm their little bundle of joy. From the few documents I have read, griffons will fight beak and talon to keep their homes safe from feral predators and from those that they deem a threat, proof of this was when the minotaurs tried to steal this region from the empire during its early inception, the end result was that the griffons kept the land while the minotaurs had their nose bloodied.

Pinching the bridge of my nose and letting out a sigh, I realized that this old fucker wasn't going to budge on the matter and that this village is about to lose a whole lot more people when the time comes to defend it. I swear its like these griffons are intentionally trying to make my job harder in trying to keep them alive!

"Fine...fine, just, tell the villagers to head straight for town hall, from there we will hold off the dogs till reinforcements arrive. With the dogs stuck between whatever help arrives and ourselves they will either try to surrender for their own lives and safety, fight harder to win or retreat back to their warrens. Just do me a favor, try not to get killed out there, and also that if the fighting is looking bleak and victory is impossible, get everyone out of here and head to safety." I said with a groan, somewhat knowing that the elder will ignore my orders when the time comes but here I was hoping that he would at least tell those that want to live to make a run for it.

The elder eventually left me alone to carry out my plan and after a few minutes of waiting Tychus came back with several griffons carrying longbows and quivers filled with assorted arrows they have recovered throughout Talon's End.

I looked over the several griffons that Tychus brought back with him, several are sporting minor injuries ranging from cuts and bruises, thankfully none of them been punctured by arrows. The griffons that have been brought before me are all giddy and antsy, probably from what they have been told that they will get their chance at revenge, that and probably payback for ruining a rather enjoyable party.

"I take it that this is all that can be spared?" I asked, already knowing the answer was going to be a 'yes', but I had to ask anyways because I was hoping that I would be getting at least up to two or maybe even three dozen, but not this time.

"Aye, these are the only ones that volunteered, the rest are aiding the wounded and are busy helping the citizens evacuate to town hall." Tychus said as he turned to look at the 'volunteers', most of them look like they haven't been in a fight nor a small skirmish in their entire lives.

"Well, I guess this will have to do for now, hopefully we don't lose anyone else to those dogs tonight." I said as I ran the plan one more time in my head before I announced it to those that have assembled before me. While I was busy doing that, Tychus came over to me and handed me a bow and a quiver filled with assorted arrows, some of arrows still had mud stains on them.

Here is hoping that it doesn't go in one ear and out the other, cause if it does then we are all royally fucked, with no lube.

"Alright, here is the plan, all of you will be broken up into teams of three, each of you will strafe all along the diamond dog lines and fire arrows at any of them that looks like they are wearing fancy armor or just looks better off, those would be the officers and by taking them out you will start a power struggle as they fight over who gets the armor and the now vacant station. With the dogs fighting one another for supremacy over one another it will buy us a little more time but eventually they will sort themselves out and then they will be back to attacking us which leaves us with holding out for as long as possible to reinforcements arrive to save our asses."

"Any questions?" There was none from the gathered griffons, they all know what is at stake.

"Good, now get to it, we don't know if they have any more arrows left or when they are about to attack us in earnest so now is the best and perhaps the only time we will get to throw them off balance! So fly! Rain death upon those that brought ruin to your homes!" And with that said I watched as the griffons took flight, Tychus being one of them as he led two other guards into the sky and headed north while the others broke up into their own small teams and went it separate directions to attack their own targets.

While the griffons flew off to do what needed to be done, I gave the bow that was given to me a once over, testing it out to see how durable it was before grabbing the quiver and headed back to the guard post above the gate I was at before it became a juicy target for the diamond dogs. The climb back up was easy and the view remained the same, a large open area around the village with the trees just beyond it, and partially sticking out from the tree line was the diamond dog horde, I don't know what they are waiting for nor why they are here, but what I do know is that they attacked first.

With a sea of dogs to the right and an equally large sea of dogs to my left, and yet here I am, stuck in the middle of this shithole with everyone else trapped inside this despair sandwich.

Taking out an arrow from the quiver I gave it a once over to see what I have drawn and saw that it was an armor-killer, perfect for taking down an armored target, but I don't know how far these will fly so I will put this one aside for now and pulled out what might as well be irony to me. Pulling my hand away from the quiver I turned the arrow around to see what it is and I couldn't help but frown a bit as it was a barbed arrow, the same one that cut my cheek, in fact I think this is the same arrow that cut my cheek.

'Out of all the flavor of arrows out there, why did it have to be you? Well, time to return the favor.'

Placing the arrow on the bowstring I assumed the archer stance and aimed down the arrow before lifting the bow until it was a good enough of an angle before letting the string loose, launching the arrow towards the sea of dogs. I didn't have to wait long for the arrow to land as I heard a single solitary yelp of pain that soon after several more yelps of pain rang out throughout around the village as the griffons began their retaliatory attack as they let loose their own arrows at anything that looked like an officer in the dog army.

Thankfully for us that the dogs are using torches to illuminate themselves to grant us sight on their current positions, at least it saves us the time to try and find them before attacking, I just hope that those that are carrying the torches drop them and light themselves and those around them on fire.

This exchange of arrows lasted longer than the dogs did due to me telling the griffons to specifically target those that look important and not to my surprise the dogs began fighting one another as the power gap has been created for their groups and that they are now seeing who is the new top dog. I don't know how long this little strategy of mine will last but for every minute the dogs are stalled means that we are a minute closer for reinforcements to arrive to save us all. I also don't know if this will get me in trouble for killing officers in what amounts to a warzone but desperate times calls for desperate measures to ensure that as many griffon and pony in this town comes out alive.

With myself being unable to fly and get a much more clear shot at those that can be identified as officers, I have regaled myself to the duty of simply shooting arrows into the army of dogs to injure or kill as many of them as I can. I didn't even have to wait long for myself to run out arrows to let loose upon the horde but when I did I simply went back down the ladder and saw that the ponies and griffons have done as instructed but I also saw a few faces peeking out from their windows from their homes.

'Why are they staying in their homes? Don't they know that when the dogs breach these walls that those that stayed behind will be the first to be killed or captured? And what of their children if they have any? Are they really gonna think that the diamond dogs are gonna spare them and leave 'em behind when they haul their parents away? How stupid are these people to think that the dogs won't scour every inch of that building to make sure that nothing of value is left behind? And also that they are dogs! They can easily sniff out anyone that is hiding! I swear its like some of these bumpkins have forgotten what is waiting for them outside these walls!'

Shaking my head and letting out an annoyed and angry sigh, I walked my unhappy ass to townhall and saw that the last of the reasonable and smart ponies and griffons are now walking inside and while it may be cramp inside, at least they will be safe from any more attacks from the diamond dogs for the time being.

Waiting outside the townhall was a few of the town guards, all of them on alert and as I approached them they bristled and was about to point their weapons at me until they saw my face relaxed their guard, happy to see that I wasn't a diamond dog that somehow snuck into the town. When I got to the front doors I asked them how bad is it inside, their response was mixed but for the most part the citizenry are accepting of what is going on and that they dead have been moved to one room while the wounded another room with the town healer was doing the best that he can to tend to the wounded.

Before I could enter the building, one of the griffons gets in my way and in a hushed tone asked me a question that so many of the people inside have right now.

"How bad is it out there?"

"We are surrounded on all sides, I don't know what those dogs are waiting for but for the moment it seems that they are content with standing in the tree line." And in truth I don't know just how many dogs are out there, just by the amount of torches and howling I can somewhat safely assume that there are a shitload out there, maybe a thousand, maybe more, I sure as shit don't know until morning comes.

'If we survive that long...'

"Is this a blessing in disguise or a curse in waiting?" The guard on the opposite side of the door asked as I shook my head.

"I don't know, but here is hoping that whoever is leading these dogs are inexperienced in the ways of warfare."

'And here is hoping that the dogs soon enough get the hint that help is coming and that many of them will die if they don't get the hell out of here now.'

With the two guards returning to their post I push open the doors and see that inside is absolute chaos.

Mothers trying to calm their children down, fathers staying close to their families to try and keep them safe, guards posted by the windows keeping both an eye out for any diamond dogs and an eye on the civilians to make sure that they don't get too rowdy and start a fight and injure themselves or anyone else cause right now we don't need any infighting.

Giving a nod to the guards on duty I made my way to the elder's office on the second floor and with a few raps of my knuckle on the oak door I heard a muffled voice before a much louder 'come in' from beyond the wooden barrier. Taking a deep breath before exhaling to calm my fraying nerves I grabbed the doorknob and gave it a twist before pushing the door and stepping in and closing it behind me, the elderly griffon lifted his head as I saw that he was holding a picture frame in his talons, a picture of what exactly, I don't know but it must be important enough for him to have it framed and in his office.

"Ah, Sir Knight of Griffonstone, was there something else that you would need from me?"

Taking a brief look around the room I saw that it was somewhat a mixture of an office and a bedroom, a bed laying in the corner, the desk and chairs in the middle, a small table for eating in another corner, not much but eh, its his office not mine.

"No, I am here just to let you know that our retaliation strike is underway. The griffons I gathered together are targeting any officers that they can see with the end result being the dogs fighting one another to fill in that power vacuum as I have seen this happen several times before during my time in the warrens beneath Griffonstone. With the dogs fighting and killing each other to see who becomes the next top dog of the group we are buying ourselves more time to hold out, and here is hopefully that it lasts till dawn so we can get a better view of what we are dealing with." I said and in truth I know how long it takes for a group of dogs to firmly cement who is the top dog when it comes to groups that are normally up to ten dogs that lasts for at least a few hours, but with how large this army appears to be I am guessing and hoping it takes a day or two to get themselves reorganized.

"That is good...very good...but I do hope that flyer you sent off makes it back in time, too many lives hang in the balance for them to be goofing off, or worse, be fleeing for their lives and have abandoned us to our fate." the elder says as I think back to the griffon I sent to get help, myself now wondering if he is doing the task that has been given to him or if he has ditched us to save his own skin.

"Don't be having those thoughts elder, have some faith in your people. I know that Pippin will be back soon, maybe he will be back tomorrow with an army at his back?" I said as I too am wondering if he is doing his job or fucked off and left us to hang.

"Here is hoping that case will be true...I am truly getting too old for this shit."

And with that I left his office and townhall before going back to my assigned room at the tavern to grab my armor and my sword, I'd rather not be caught off guard and be without a proper weapon nor my armor to defend myself.

Putting on the armor didn't take me long as one of griffons that is under my command helped me put it on and with it worn I went back to the old hunting ground the gatehouse to work the nightshift as a guard to see if anything would dare try to come my way.

'This is gonna be a long night...I wish I had my music with me.'

A Few Hours Later

It is now midnight, the dogs are still snarling and howling outside but they have gotten closer to the walls. They are close enough that within a minute they will be knocking on the gates and trying to get in but far away enough that it is still hard for me to tell apart those that are officers from the foot soldiers.

From the few torches that are at or near the front of sea of dogs, a wall of shields line up before them, keeping the forward dogs safe from any attack but with the village severely lacking with the means to properly defend itself the shield wall has been made unnecessary.

Just looking at the sea of puppers is making me a little worried for my health and safety but I pushed those thoughts aside as I stared to formulate a plan of sorts on how to deal with this mess that I have found myself to be in.

'Whoever is leading these dogs is smarter than the rest of them as they are holding back their forces from simply attacking the village enmasse since they have the numbers to pull it off without a hitch. What are they waiting for? Who are they waiting for? Who are they after and if after nobody, why attack this village at all? Are they trying to piss off the griffon empire cause attacking one of its villages is a great way to attract that sort of attention.'

As I was thinking to myself, a pair of griffons land behind me and without turning around I asked if they needed anything from me.

"No sir, we were just making our rounds and seeing if you were about to head off to rest."

"I can't rest knowing that the enemy is out there watching our walls for any sign of weakness. I will stay up here till dawn, tell the guards that are on duty that when four hours pass to alert the next group of guards to take their shift, we must appear that we are always vigil and alert at all times. See to it that they know, we cannot allow these curs to know just how understaffed we are." I said as I suppressed a yawn, fully knowing by now that I would be asleep in a somewhat nice bed.

"Your will be done sir, we will not fail you!" and with that the griffons took off, flying around the village alerting the guards and the citizens what the new plan is.

Now alone once more I squint my eyes in the distance, trying to make out individual dogs but sadly my eyes are not those of an elf or griffon so all I see is a unorganized mess.

'And now we play the waiting game.'

Even More Hours Later

When the dawn finally came I saw that the dogs haven't moved from their positions, in fact...I think they didn't get a wink of sleep as well cause from here I can see plenty of them yawning and nudging one another to stay awake.

'I have pulled all-nighters before, this is nothing new to me and I am used to running on empty, these dogs however, have never pulled all-nighters nor are they used to being awake for far longer than they should be. Too bad that I will need some sleep soon, I don't want to fight them when I can barely stand let alone focus on who is swinging at me.'

Fortunately, I didn't have to wait long for my vigil to end as a small team of griffons landed behind me

Slightly turning my head to see who arrived I saw that it was Tychus and another guard that came with me on this trip.

"Anything to report?" I asked as I suppressed the urge to yawn, I really wish these griffons had coffee or even an energy drink cause I can sure go for one of those right about now.

"No sir, from the compiled words of those on duty last night, the dogs haven't move an inch and many of them look like they are about to fall over on themselves from exhaustion and lack of sleep."

"Good, with nothing changed then we can resume keeping them at bay and harassing them until reinforcements arrive. Keep me alerted to any new development." I said as I returned my attention to the dog wall.

I didn't have to wait long for something to happen.

As the griffons took flight and went to tell the others to keep a watchful eye, the deep bellowing rumble of a war horn blares from the diamond dog lines, and with that horn all of the dogs started to one by one howl in tune with the horn.

The griffons and ponies in the village began to scramble to their positions, grabbing swords, axes and spears and steeling themselves for what is to come. To the griffons and ponies that reside within the walls of their village, many of them thought that this day would never come, but for myself and many others, they knew that this was an eventuality.

"Griffons and ponies of Talon's End, get to your posts! These dogs dare to think that they can take everything from you, prove them wrong and force them back from whence they came! For the empire!"

Next Chapter: The Siege of Talon's End Estimated time remaining: 7 Hours, 43 Minutes