'That'll give her something to think about.'

My plan, despite having come up with it last minute in the grips of desperation, worked. The knowledge that the changeling gave me proved incredibly valuable. My proving I could kill even large numbers of enemies without so much as a scratch, and do so completely undetected in a way that it took till morning for their bodies to be found, I've shown that I could, quite easily, get to the leader herself while she slept.... probably. In any case, any being that valued their life would start to doubt, and the fact that the leader was afraid of me meant she was even more likely to change her plans. So, by spreading a little bit of fear, I was able to cancel the execution of the pegasi, or at the very least, buy a little more time. The Wild Hogs should arrive in five days, so I'd have until then to come up with an exit strategy and implement it.

The fact that the alpha herself called me out, wanting to 'negotiate' gives me a few answers, but also raises more questions. Firstly, it means that I most certainly scared her, to the point that I may be able to manipulate her into making mistakes. After all, Dune said it best, 'Fear is the mind killer'. She'll likely do whatever possible to try and keep me passive. The uncertainty however, is the nature of her wanting to negotiate. Does she truly want to make peace, and negotiate for my crew's release? Or, is it a trap, meant to draw me into the open and surround me with her soldiers in an attempt to recapture me? It would most likely be the second, and even if it were the first, I already had my own ideas about how to rescue my crew, so negotiating would be pointless. After all, the only terms I'd accept at this point would be an all and nothing, me and my family go free, and in return they no longer have to put up with us. So, no, I would not be going to any negotiations.

Part of the reason I originally left my crew, other than that I needed serious mental help, was because I could trust them. I trusted them to take care of things while I was away, that they could handle themselves. Thankfully, my faith in them was at least partly deserved. As I traveled through the tunnels, avoiding patrols, stealing little bits of organic food meant for prisoners, (since the dogs just ate gems, and I could not) I came across something rather fortunate. Or, I should say, someone.

As I hid around a corner waiting for a pair of guards to pass, I found a furry arm wrapped around my body, and a paw cupped over my mouth. I held perfectly still, preparing to draw my knife, when I heard the voice of the arm's owner.

"Psst, Griffin."

"Growl? Is that you?"

"Yes."

"How did you get away?"

"No time for that now. Just follow me."

I followed my dear friend into a small side tunnel, which lead to a dead end. Behind one of the support pillars, hidden in shadow, was an alcove large enough to fit a diamond dog, or, a griffin standing upright. The floor of the alcove was a hole, which Growl promptly dropped into. His paw reached up and signaled for me to follow, so I dropped in as well.

Down another tunnel, this one pitch black, twisting and turning to eventually open into a moderately sized chamber. There, I found Trixie, Nadene, Shimmer, as well as another five diamond dogs, each working to expand a tunnel at the opposite end to the one we entered through, and several crates in the middle next to some cots.

"What's going on here?" I asked, understandably confused.

"Allow me to explain. After the Hornet was downed, myself, Shimmer, and these five crew members all immediately abandoned ship, opting to dig down. We dug a fair way away, every so often digging to the surface for an air hole and to check the situation aboard the Possibility from a distance. Once we had determined which way the attackers had come from, we dug a tunnel back that way, eventually coming across the den itself. We opened up into a side tunnel, and from there, explored a fair bit. After discovering the best place to put our entrance, as it's well hidden, and not far from the prisoner holding area, we worked to make this chamber where we could rest, stole some supplies, and began widening the tunnel so the griffin crew members could fit through, as the original tunnel was only large enough for a pony or dog on all fours. We've stolen some armor, so we can look like one of their guards." Growl explained.

"After finding the holding area, Growl came dressed as a guard and brought me a set of keys." Nadene continued. "I unlocked my own shackles and Trixie's horn ring so her magic wouldn't be suppressed, then she cast an invisibility spell and the three of us escaped. I.. uh, I heard about the rest of the cats. I wish there was more I could have done." She shook her head sadly, clearly putting on a brave face, as now was not the time for crying.

"Who else have you managed to rescue?"

"Geirmund and the Freuds." Trixie answered. "We would have liked to get Steelhorn, but someone that big would be kinda hard to get out unnoticed. That, and this tunnel we dug goes for almost a mile. Trying to enlarge it enough for him to fit through would take a month at least, and the longer we stay here the more likely we are to get caught. Not to mention all the dirt we'd have to move. The tech heads are already back at the Possibility, repairing it. Since we all got captured, the bastards didn't see any reason to hang around there anymore, and left it abandoned."

"Yeah. Okay, you guys have all done really good, but here's the thing, in less than a week, there's going to be a horde of barbarians knocking on the door of this place. When that happens, they'll have to pull the guards from prisoner duty to help defend. That's when we make our move. We'll get everybody out all at once, so the tunnel MUST be finished by then."

"What about Mister Steelhorn?" Shimmer asked teary eyed. "He's like the father I never had. He taught me smithing, I don't want to leave him behind."

"Don't worry I..." I stopped. "No, I'm not going to lie to you. Pretty much the only way to get him out is going to be through the front door, and... that just isn't an option. There's simply no way to sneak him out. I just don't see any way to..." I stopped again. Looking into those big sad eyes, I simply couldn't ignore them. I don't remember when I lost my immunity to the sad puppy face, maybe when it stopped just being for show. "Actually, I just thought of something. The alpha wants to negotiate. It smells too much like a trap but... I think I can get him out. The rest of you just focus on finishing this tunnel."

'Okay, just gotta be ready, gotta be ready. It's gotta be a trap, but if it isn't, I might be able to get Steelhorn out. I just gotta be ready in case it is. Damnit I'm too much of a nice guy... though I always did say I'd do anything for my crew. Guess she does have something I need after all.'

I sat on my throne in the empty throne room, looking at the empty seats at the empty table in the center of the long rectangular space. I had asked not to be disturbed for a time, as I wanted to gather my thoughts.

'Come on come on! It's been a whole day! Why hasn't he shown up yet? Does he think it's a trap? Should I have set a trap? Ahh crap! I could have set a trap! Maybe I still can, no, no, I don't want to tick him off any more. That'd be dangerous. Play on his good nature.'

"I heard you were looking for me?"

'What?' I looked up from my throne to see nothing at all. Looking around, I spotted a dark corner of the room where something was sticking out of it. Just then, Griffin, in his human form, walked out into the torch light. He was wearing form fitting black clothing, with it bulking in certain places. He may have been wearing armor underneath, and had the cloth on top for stealth. It was as if he had just walked out of a shadow. I was not expecting this however. I had hoped he'd come in with one of the guards, having been lead to me, not just popping up on his own.

"Guard...."

"Don't bother. The door is closed and I've sound proofed the room." Crap, he can do that? Maybe I should have asked Griffin for magic instead of Gold Trim. He's clearly a lot better at the non-unicorn kind. I probably wouldn't have had to sleep with him either... not that he isn't attractive in his own way. The short, wavy hair, the glowing, pale blue eyes, the sleek, muscular form... FOCUS, it is NOT mating season for another couple weeks, and I plan to have him die in front of a crowd.

"Yes."

"Pardon?"

"The answer to your question, yes, I was looking for you."

"Then you know why I'm here." I slowly reached for my kris knife as he walked towards me, only to have him pull out a seat next to the table, and put his feet up on it. I moved away from my dagger, and took notice of the one hanging from his hip.

"I see you've redecorated."

"What?"

"The head. On a pike."

"Oh... yes, well, I suppose you could consider that a peace offering."

"I could, but I can tell you hated him quite a bit as well, why don't you keep it? After all, I've got no room for it at my place, and the colours would just clash." I found myself giggling slightly at his remark.

'What the hell? First I was terrified of him, and now he's making me laugh with small talk? What's his aim?'

"Uh, down to business. I'm prepared to negotiate for your crew's release."

"Well, that's nice. But what do you want? You put forth a lot of effort trying to get me here, I don't think you'd let me up and leave just like that."

I let out a sigh. "That's correct. Originally, the plan was to capture you, then, in front of the remaining unaligned pack leaders, Gold Trim would execute you in a bid to make them fall in line. Of course, that would just make them all go after his head, just like you said, and he'd wind up like this..." I motioned to the spear. "Either way. Then, they'd all kill each other trying to prove their dominance, and when everyone was weak and tired from the battle, I'd step in and finish the remainder off. Once all the alpha's, and maybe their betas, were gone, then I'd be the only one left."

"Well, that is a clever plan."

"Yes, but it all went down the drain once you escaped."

"I tend to do that." He replied without a hint of sarcasm.

"So, as you can see, I'm in a bit of trouble here. I'm going to have the leaders of every remaining pack, along with a small contingent of soldiers for security, coming here, intent on watching you die. If you aren't here, they're going to be very upset at having come all this way for nothing, and the fact that we couldn't hold you for a measly week would say quite a lot about the strength of this den. Basically, I'm looking at invasion."

"Well, that's your problem isn't it. In exchange for releasing my crew, what do you want in return?"

"I want you to be my prisoner again."

"That doesn't work for me. See, I've got a baby on the way, and I'd much rather be alive to see them grow up."

"Gilda is pregnant then? I... I didn't know." It all came flooding back to me. Growing up with no parents, living on the scraps others threw my way, finally having Ringo take me in. I hated that kind of solitude, that lonely life, and here I was about to take another child's father away? But what choice did I have?

"I don't see any other way out of this. I can't simply let you go."

"And what guarantee do I have that you'll uphold your part of the bargain? For all I know, once you've got me in chains, you just up and kill the rest of my crew on the spot. Perhaps... a show of good faith."

"Oh?"

"You release one of my crew members, and once I'm sure they're safe, I'll know I can trust you."

"I assume you want me to release Gilda then?"

"Goodness no. I know how she is. She's stubborn, and she may well turn around and try to rescue me, which will defeat the purpose. No, she'll be released with the rest of the crew, if the deal goes through. Instead, I want you to release Steelhorn, the minotaur. The Possibility is his ship, which I've been borrowing off him. I've actually wracked up quite a bit of debt, and I don't like owing people." He explained. It seemed like a rather odd request, but I couldn't find any reason why not. After all, if Gilda is still here, he'd be less likely to try and escape. I don't think he'd abandon any of his crew, but if he was going to, he sure as hell wouldn't pick her to leave behind.

"Very well. But how will you know if he's safe?"

"I have my ways." The spies in the den. That changeling must be working for him. I don't know what kind of deal he has with Chrysalis, but somehow he's got them working as spies.

"So then we have a deal?" I walked over to him, then held out my paw for him to shake.

"I will wait five days to ensure that he's safe, and after that, I'll give you my answer as to whether or not I'll turn myself in." Five days? The other pack leaders will arrive in a week. That's cutting it awfully close.

"Why five days?" I asked.

"It'll give me time to think of a way we can both live through this." Even after what I've done, he's still willing to try and help me?

"That's acceptable I suppose." He grabbed my paw and shook it. There was a hard lump in the palm of his hand, but the cloth was silky smooth, and the soft skin of his fingers prickled my fur in a way that send a tingle up my arm.

"Just to let you know, the reason I came to you this way, secluded, no guards, is so I could kill you at any point if I had to."

"As could I. We all have our secrets Griffin. Besides, if you had, Ringo would have crushed your skull like a grape."

"He'd have to find me first." Griffin replied. "Though, no doubt you have a plan for that as well?" I nodded. "Heh, you're clever."

"So are you."

"See you in five days."

With that, he opened the door, and vanished as he walked through it.

'Let us see who is more clever.'

"Well Shimmer, I arranged for Steelhorn's release. Growl, have the Freuds pull back from the airship. They're probably going to follow him till he gets there, and I don't want to give away our tunnel. Once it's all clear, send them back to help get it repaired. And remember, have this tunnel finished in five days. I want to be out of here before I have to fulfill my end of the deal."

Author's Notes:

Hire mercs who you don't intend to pay, make deals you you won't fulfill and promises you don't intend to keep. It kinda bites you in the ass if you ever have to see them again, but if they're your enemy and they're going to die, or at the very least you'll never see them again, a little lie can make all the difference.

Griffin can be so deliciously EVIL sometimes. But, he does bad things for GOOD reasons. The world is a cruel place. Baby bunnies get eaten by eagles, and baby eagles get eaten by snakes. I don't know what eats snakes, certainly not bunnies, and I already mentioned eagles. Well, maybe that one bunny from Monty Python, but that's an exception.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QM9Bynjh2Lk