#9 - Zeta Chi The Winged Wolf

“Why,” Dave coughed out, “do your senses always lead us to the WORST places?”

“Oh, come on now,” Puppy replied, a note of forced cheer in her voice. “Dredgemane isn’t THAT bad.”

“...The left side of your forehead twitched,” Dave deadpanned. “That means you’re lying.”

Sighing in defeat, the journalist could only nod in agreement at that point. If there was ever a town that Puppy had come close to disliking, it would be Dredgemane. Carved into the very side of a canyon, it was one of the largest cities in Equestria, and one of the most populated as well. Ponies and Diamond Dogs alike were both bustling about the city, each of them wearing some form of mining equipment. Dust clogged the air, making it impossible for the two tourists to breathe properly.

Still, the town had its merits. It had become so entwined with the canyon it had been born from, that it was nearly impossible to distinguish between the two. Massive, dull colored stone buildings loomed around them, proud looking structures that would surely stand the test of time. The sounds of mining seemed to echo in an almost rythmic fashion against the canyon walls, giving off a strange sort of peace...

“Boooorrrriiiing,” Dave groaned. “Can we just find the bastard and get on with it? I can’t breathe!”

“Dave!” Pup chided, slightly shocked. “Where did you learn that word?”

“...What was it those humans called it? ‘Internet’?” he meekly replied.

Puppy flicked her head, causing him to be thrown into the window of a nearby bar, its sign designating it as “Hard Rock Cafe”. The cricket shook his head in a daze, and peered into the establishment.

“Hey! You gotta see this, Pup!” he shouted. “There’s some kinda wolfy thing in there!”

“Those are typically called ‘Diamond Dogs’.”

“No, I mean...it’s like a wolf! But with wings! And it’s really putting away those bottles,” he commented. “Hey, five bits says he passes out after the next bottle!”

“...I think that’s our guy,” she muttered, peeling Dave off the window, and carrying him into the bar.

It was just as the sprite had said. Right at the bar, sitting next to a pair of Diamond Dogs, was...well, a wolf. With wings. Several bottles were placed in front of the trio, and as the wolf lifted another bottle to his lips to drain it, one of the dogs burped sickeningly. The other one...well, it was already lying in a pool of its own vomit...and stale beer.

“I believe someone owes me five bits,” the winged wolf said. “I heard you outside.”

The cricket winced, before quickly recovering to say, “We didn’t shake on it!”

The wolf turned towards the pair and set his ice blue eyes onto Dave, the scar covering the left eye adding to the intimidation. “Listen Jiminey Cricket, I heard the wager and you’ll be paying up. Or I might just find some hungry pigeons nearby if you catch my drift.”

Pup thought that this might be a good time to intervene. Smoothly, she said, “Well, technically, he was talking to me. Not you. So he doesn’t really owe you anything.”

“HA!” Dave stuck out his tongue at the wolf.

“However!” she interrupted, “You still have to pay ME those bits.”

“What?! B-but I- You said-”

Pup cleared her throat, and held out her hoof. Still grumbling, Dave pulled out the impossibly large (compared to him at least) coins, and reluctantly gave them to the Pegasus.

“There. Everyone satisfied?” Pup asked.

“No,” Dave muttered.

“Whatever,” the feathery wolf mumbled. “Is there any reason you two are here, or can I go grab another drink in peace?”

“You might be able to do both,” Puppy said. “My name is Puppy Love. I’m a journalist for the Ponyville Inquirer, and I was hoping I could get an interview with you.”

The wolf gave her an inquisitive stare before heading over to a table waving her to follow. Once seated, he turned towards the pair and explained simply, “You’re paying for drinks during the entire interview. Let’s get this ball rolling.”

“Fair enough,” she consented.

Dave pulled out his notepad, and prepared to take notes.

INTERVIEW

“So, what’s your name?”

“My name is Zeta the cynogriffin, Senmurv’s Heir.”

“...Whose heir?”

“Senmurv’s Heir. Senmurv was the last leader of the cynogriffins during the war with the demon Tirek. During that war almost all the wolves, not just cynogriffins, were wiped out of existence.”

“That’s horrible...So, does this make you the last of their kind, an alien, or both?”

“Well I filled out my residency papers and got a citizenship from the Mayor, so I’m not an alien technically. But as far as I know I am the last of the cynogriffins yes.”

“Did a God send you here, like the others? And did they give you any special powers as well?”

“Yup, Eris goddess of Chaos. She’s a complete bitch to deal with, though I only had that one talk after Phi showed up. As for special powers, not really. I can just do what any above average cynogriffin could do.”

“What would that be?”

“Breaking the Speed Barriers. I’ve only gotten up to the 3rd Barrier so far, but Firefly was telling me I have the potential to go farther than that.”

“Firefly? Who’s that?”

“Really? I thought most pegasi were crazy Wonderbolt fans. Anyway, Firefly was the very first Wonderbolt, breaking of all 7 Speed Barriers, yadda, yadda, yadda.”  

“So, since you’re a wolf, does that mean you like to howl at the moon every night?”

“Yo, that’s some racist shit right there. I know that wolves aren’t around, but I mean seriously? I’m actually somewhat insulted by that one. You owe me a couple more drinks for that guy.”

“Then you owe me a drink for saying that just because I’m a Pegasus, I’m obsessed with the Wonderbolts.”

“... Touche my fine feathery pony friend. Touche.”

“Alright, onto the next question. So, what have you been doing recently? Not many ponies seem to have even heard of you in the first place.”

“And that’s the way I like it. You see, I’m a bounty hunter, pretty much mercenary, for my job. My clients aren’t the kindest of souls all the time, so I don’t like publicity. It puts my daughter in danger.”

“Your daughter? But I thought you said you were the last of your kind?”

“This is off the record, just in case anyone who doesn’t like me reads this, got it?”

“Of course.”

“When I first moved to my current residence, I happened upon a homeless filly named Scootaloo. I took her in and cared for her, but didn’t adopt her until a certain incident with her birth parents occurred. I honestly would do anything to keep her safe, which I have done during the changeling invasion.”

“I’m sure that’s the truth. Wait, what do you mean ‘during the changeling invasion’?”

“Long story there. I was incarcerated during the beginning of the invasion for reasons I’m going to leave out, but was released by Luna shortly after Chrysalis revealed herself to Canterlot to help fend off the changelings. Cynogriffins are pretty adapt fighters in the sky.”

“That’s impressive. Now, you say you’re a bounty hunter? What kind of people do you...well, hunt?”

“Pretty much anyone I’m hired to hunt. I’ve taken out mob bosses, I’ve hunted down lost orphans, I’ve been hired to save some kids from a batch of woods that lost its Proctor, I’ve been used as an escort for wealthy businessmen. You name it I’ve probably done it. The only contract I didn’t take was on that Griffin Pirate crew, because it was too far from home at the time and not worth the cost.”

“I can imagine. Still, from the sounds of things, you’ve definitely had an interesting time here in Equestria. How do you like it, compared to your old world?”

“Let’s not talk about my old life. Real bad memories I don’t want to dig up.”

“I’m sorry. So, what are your plans for the future?”

“Well, I’m currently here on a job, and my daughter is supposed to be here in a few days for a concert she’s in. After that’s all said and done, probably just continue hunting and trying to be a good dad.”

“That’s an excellent plan. One of the better ones I’ve heard, to be honest. So, is there anything you’d like to say to the readers at home?”

“You really shouldn’t take life too seriously, cause you’ll never get out alive. That and I’d like another dozen drinks for the road. Thanks.”

“Well, that about does it,” Puppy said, hefting out a large bag of bits and placing it on the table. “This should make an excellent section in the paper. Thank you again for your time, Mr. Zeta.”

Shoving the dozen beers into his bag, Zeta flashes Puppy a grin. “Pleasure is all mine. I’ll see you around maybe,” before flying out the door and into the sky.

“I don’t like him,” Dave mumbled.

“And I’m sure he doesn’t like you, either,” Puppy shot back.

The sprite stood to say something witty, but accidentally slipped and tumbled off of the pegasus...and landed in an open bottle of beer. This wasn’t that stale stuff that had been on the ground, though. No, this was specialty Diamond Dog alcohol, guaranteed to get a Dog drunk in ten bottles, or your bits back.

“Hey? You alright?” Puppy asked in a concerned tone, as the cricket desperately crawled out of the bottle, drenched to his very core.

He let out a small hiccup, and said, “I’m fine, Luppy Pove. Now, let’sh go home.”

“...Are you drunk?”

“I swear to drunk, Celestia, I’m not Puppy,” he giggled.

“Oh, dear sweet Luna, you are,” she groaned.

“Hey! I’m am too sober!” he slurred back. To prove his point, he stood precariously upwards, and did a weak somersault forward. “See? It’s as easy as counting!”

“Yeah. How high can you count?”

“Erm...One bottle...two bottles...three bottles...” He began to sway dangerously, and as he fell to the ground, he managed to slur out, “Floor.”

Puppy sighed, and placed the sprite into her pocket.

“You better be happy you’re not a full sized pony, or else I’d just leave you here,” she grumbled.