Catch and Release [Private]

[Sassaflash]

December 24th, Noon

Gnash silently prowled the streets of the residential district, keeping an eye out for anything that seemed dangerous to either her or other ponies; namely the griffons or anything sided with them. Her stance remained low to the ground in an attempt to conceal herself. The mare's sensitive ears twitched and swiveled on her head as a sound made its way towards her. Griffons...Time for lunch...

The mare swiftly ducked into a shaded alleyway with a wide toothy grin worn across her face. As the pair of guards in question crossed the alley and into her line of sight, she slowly slipped out and silently stalked behind the pair.

Unaware of the pony following them, the two griffons continued to converse while on their patrol. Just as the guard on the left began to speak, he was cut short by a black and pink mare who pounced onto her back, a deafening cry leaving his beak the moment a set of strong jaws sunk their teeth into his shoulder.

Gnash, managing to hang on through the flailing of her target, slowly sunk her teeth further and further into his flesh. The transformed mare's eye swiftly shifted towards the other griffon, jumping off the first to avoid a swing of his sword.

"I have no idea what you are...but I know this: You'll be in a cage for a very long time." Said the still-healthy guard as his friend righted himself and took up his own weapon.

The mare narrowed her eyes, backing away slowly as her tail flicked about behind her in anger. Remaining quiet, she simply grinned wider and turned to flee from the fight she would return to later. However, as the mare turned, a loose piece of concrete found its way under her hoof and sent her down to the ground, where the two guards immediately took their chance to pin her down with their talons, a small amount of blood trickling through the black fur of Gnash's foreleg, a talon sunken into the skin underneath.

"You're not going anywhere, you freak."

[Leo]

~I used to believe in angels, a long time ago before I was shown the true nature of the world. Someone once asked me if I was an angel. I smiled, and told them that angels don’t bleed~


Leo, or ‘The Demon’ as some of the griffons had began calling him seemed to be moving through the shadows of downtown. Like a ghost he drifted between them, a mere flicker in the wind or an exhaled breath on a winters eve. It was natural for him to travel in such a manner, his appearance making acceptance a rather rare occurrence in the city of Manehatten. One would wonder why he was out moving among the daylight when he favoured the dark, but the truth was he was simply listening. For what, no one could be certain. But for anyone who would catch a glimpse of him; they would know better than to approach him to ask why.


The stir from an empty street in downtown had caught his ear, calling to him to pay some attention. He’d watched from his concealed position as a pony mare with a peculiar design attacked two guards on her own, tearing into one with her teeth. It was interesting to say the least, the attack alone prompting him to stay but the mare herself securing his attention as he watched on to see the outcome. Unfortunately it seemed the mare wasn’t quite prepared for fate as she slipped and was pinned by the guards causing Leo to turn away to leave. But that was before a single word drew him back, a word he knew far too well.


Freak


His body tensed as his paws clenched beneath him, looking over his shoulder as they prepared to subdue the black and pink mare. Leo would have been content to leave her to her fate, for he had no quarrel with her affairs. But he knew how it felt to be different… how it felt to be alone and marked by that nickname. And so he made his decision, he’d help this one. If not for the sake of making these two realise what a grave mistake it was to insult one born different.


He spread his massive wings, kicking from the shadows with a single flap to propel him into the air. He fell upon the two, as silent as the breath which exhaled from his lungs as he slammed his weight down on the male Griffon, his sheer strength hitting him with so much force that the Griffon crunched to the floor onto his stomach, his spine snapping like a weak twig under his large paw. Leo gave no reaction as he screamed, paralyzed and unable to move. Leo turned towards the female with rendered flesh on her back who immediately swing her fist into his chest angrily, a dull thump emanating from his chest.


Leo barely even moved as her expression changed to one of fear as she looked at him, pulling back her fist. “The fuck, are you?” she said, looking into his sunset orange eyes which looked back at her without any emotion. “The last thing you’ll never see coming” he replied in a deep smooth tone before his paw slammed forth into her chest, causing her to rasp for her breath before she collapsed, writhing as she struggled to breath. For whatever reason, Leo hadn’t killed them. But one thing was true, was that the male Griffon never walked again. And the female retired from service soon after.

Leo gave a look towards the pink and black mare before turning to leave down an alleyway.

[Sassaflash]

Gnash slowly opened up her eyes the moment the weight upon her was removed, simply staring in shock as a being with a form she was yet to see crushed the two guards like they were made of wood. Simply gathering herself together while observing what couldn't even be call a fight took place, rising to her hooves and slowly dusting her fur off.

Once the moment had passed, the mare ignored her foes in their entirety with her focus now locked onto her savior. Taking a step forward, she spoke up in hopes of getting him to stop his leave. "Hey! Who are you?" She moved up a few more steps, one planting its self square upon a fallen griffon in her way. "Thank you for saving me...but why?"

So many questions about what had just happened swirled around in her head, threatening to drive her insane. Who was this being who had saved her? Where did he come from? What...was he?

[Leo]

Leo didn’t stop at first as the mare began to ask questions. But then he supposed it wouldn’t cost him anything to give the mare closure on her chosen questions. He began with her first, asking who he was. It was a question he’d been used too for quite some time. Those would know him commonly be The Demon or not at all quite simply. But it was better that way, the fewer that knew the monster the safer it became for those individuals. He turned slightly, looking back at the small mare. “Someone you’re better off not knowing, as for why… I guess I saw something different, something relatable. Or maybe I was just bored” he said, adding the bit on the end to scuff the truth a little. “If I were you though I’d think about getting out of here, more will come looking for those too soon” he said in a deep softness that was warming yet unsettling from someone who seemed to mysterious but powerful.

[Sassaflash]

Gnash nodded her head, looking back towards the griffons for just a moment before towards the other once more. "Well...there really isn't a safe place for me anywhere in the world...thanks to those stupid griffons." A deep growl left the black and pink mare, tail lashing about angrily behind her.

Deciding that this stranger might not be the most interested in her story, she quieted herself down. "Well...thank you for saving me... They probably would have killed me, even if I didn't attack them first...though, they're the ones who deserve to be punished in the first place."

[Leo]

Leo continued to listen, observing the mare as she showed her emotions openly about how she felt about the Griffons. He remembered when he was the same, despite his father being a Griffon. He remembered the pain, how much the hatred burned to the point of making you want to scream into the wind despite knowing no one was listening. He looked back down the alley before exhaling a deep breath, “If you’ve no where to go… you can walk with me for a while” he replied as he stepped to the side a little, his metal cuffs clinking against the hard stone floor.

[Sassaflash]

With a nod, Gnash began to walk with her mysterious savior, keeping her eyes on him more than the path ahead of her. "Well...My name's Sea Gnash. Thank you again for saving me." She calmly said, looking forward and hiding her face behind the long hair in front of her left eye and cheek.

After just a few moments, a soft chuckle escaped her. "I know I could have handled that moment much better, but ever time I see a guard, something inside of me turns off that part of my brain that tells me to think and I just go for it." She had no clue why she was telling a stranger such things. Trust from being rescued by said individual perhaps?

[Leo]

Leo waited for her to side against him before he began to walk, every step carrying a clink from his cuffs. He listened as she spoke before offering a reply, “Leo, just… Leo” he replied before she began to explain why she had been caught. Once again he could sympathize; he wasn't always the efficient killer he was now. He’d had had to learn, build it, hone it through a life of fear from those around him. “That will get you killed or worse if you’re not careful. Never bite off more then you can chew” he said as he looked down to his side at her, raising his eyebrow as he made his short little pun from what she’d done earlier. He thought to explain to her a bit of himself, but being reclusive and alone for so long kept him guarded about being closer to anyone other than himself.

[Sassaflash]

A wide, toothy grin took its place upon Gnash's muzzle, showing off the mare's set of large sharp teeth. "Chewing isn't really anything I have trouble with. It's more about the fight left in my meal." As the comment left her lips, the pink-mane mare's voice grew steadily more serious in tone. "Those griffons are probably regretting their choice to do what they did to me each and every time they see my leftovers."

A dark laugh escaped the strange mare after a few moments, nothing else being said by her while her mind worked to keep her predator side in check once again.

[Leo]

Leo would have brought the mares sanity into question as she found her killing something to be amusing. Leo didn’t like to kill and in truth he remained haunted by every life he took along the way whether they be pony of griffon. To him the kill was merely a means to an end, an unfortunate necessity for the way the world was. “Killing amuses you?” he asked as he looked ahead.  

[Sassaflash]

Gnash nodded her head before shaking it violently to contradict herself. "I don't, but I can't help myself and end up having to anyway." She did her best to explain herself, teeth clenching together angrily as her own thoughts began to quickly annoy her. "Those griffons turned me into some kind of monster...a monstrosity! They tried to turn me into and use me as a weapon. There's like a whole other pony hiding inside me, waiting to kill anypony or anything at any moment. I can't control it, and it's made me kill more than I ever hoped to admit."

[Leo]

Leo felt himself tense a little as she mentioned her lack of control. If she attacked him, he'd not enjoy what he'd have to do if she did. "You're not a monster..." he replied in a lower tone before continuing, "I... am what you would call a monster. And the difference between you and me is that I was born one, given no choice in the matter" he said as they turned down a street that was more busy. Leo pulled a dark cloak over him to conceal his features. "You're angry, you kill from pain. You still feel how much it hurts. I used to feel like that, long ago. But then it just became numb... it became cold" he said before looking down at her, from under his cloak, "What I would give to feel again" he said before looking ahead again, "Besides, the pink stripes suit you" he added.

[Sassaflash]

Gnash turned her head to give her full attention towards the other being, swiftly shutting down her smile once other ponies and the like had come around them. "Choice? I never chose to become this... If I wasn't forced to become this way, I would still be a simple swimmer. I still don't even know what happened to make me end up this way. One moment, I was in the lower decks of a navy ship, the next I'm fighting for my life in the waves, the next after that...I wake up somewhere in the griffon territory looking like this..."

Her voice slowly grew more quiet with each word spoke, the final few just above a mumble. Her ear nearest to Leo twitched softly as a new phrase filtered in. Did she just get a complement? It had been a long time since she received one of those. "Thank you..."

[Leo]

Leo paused for a moment, "Apologies, I didn't word that well. What I ment is, at least you had a taste of what it felt to be normal" he replied as he slinked past the crowds who remained unaware of them. He skilfully planned their course, his tactical mind leading them around guard patrols and into blind spots where they were the least noticeable. Soon they'd reach the other side of the main street and be back in the alley ways. "So, what will you do now?" he asked curiously.

[Sassaflash]

Stalking along through the shadows with Leo, Gnash listened intently to each and every word he spoke. The one being who seemed to actually have no plans of running away in fear of her deserved her full attention. "I...really don't know what to do. The griffons are after me on some level after what I did in the base they were abusing me in. I want to fight back, get them back for all of the atrocities they've committed...but every time somepony spots me, they either run away from me, or try to fight off an attack that wasn't coming in the first place..."

[Leo]

Leo moved into the alley first, all the while listening to the small pink pony explain what she wished for those who had caused her pain. A griffon guard on his way through the alley paused as the two entered and moved to draw his sword; but it was already to late for Leo was already upon him, his paw pushing down on the hilt of the griffon's sword to keep it sheathed. Leo slid under the punch that followed from the griffon before his strong arms wrapped around his neck, breaking it with a sharp 'crack' before he dragged the body into a corner between two storing crates. "Well, what are we waiting for. Let's go stop them" he said as her emerged from where his victim lay. Leo may not see her as a monster, choosing instead to look past that. But he sure as hell wasn't about to let them take ponies lives and turn them into hell.

[Sassaflash]

A wide grin grew across Gnash's face upon seeing the the action in front of her, the predator half now a part of her very much liking the ease at which the swift removal of the guard was performed. "If you're suggesting that we become partners in griffon removal, I well wholeheartedly work with you. My skills just need a touch more work, but I will try my best to be of help to you."

She was finally getting her chance to do what she had come back to Manehattan for, and she wasn't going to let it slip away through her hooves.

[Leo]

Leo motioned for her to follow him as they continued on down the alley towards the next district. "I don't know about partners. I don't know you well enough just yet" he replied firmly, "But I'm willing to work together" he continued, leading them to a safe location between the alleys before he turned towards her. "Do you have a place to stay?" he asked.

[Sassaflash]

"Understandable. Though, I would like to work with you, given the opportunity." Gnash replied calmly, keeping her eyes upon the form in front of her. "As for a place to stay...not I don't. I've just been living in the ocean between my prowls of the city. Hiding and sleeping under the docks or any other area I can hide without being seen during the night."

[Leo]

Leo listened, his expression not changing either way or showing anything other than that he was listening to her. "I see" he replied before he balled his paw into a fist and shook his arm a little to loosen himself up, opening his fist to flex his claws. "I've got a room, warm extra blankets and a roof. You're welcome to it, for now. But we'll be up early tomorrow. You'll need to take me to this place so I can get a good look at it" he said before showing the first sign of emotion since they'd met, his muzzle curling into the smallest of a smile, "Not a place in Equestria can keep me out, so I'm confident whatever this place has, we'll beat it" he said with an affirming nod.

[Sassaflash]

Gnash nodded her head, keeping her large-toothy grin while listening to the other's words with her full attention. "That would be greatly appreciated. I haven't been warm at night for a long time..." She replied softly, shaking her head slowly to get to the next point that had been spoken about. "What place are you speaking of? If you may pardon my confusion. The strange place I escaped from to get back here?"

[Leo]

Leo nodded before he once again began to move, "That's the one. You want to get revenge on this guys, right?" he asked rhetorically, "Then that's what we're going to do, and if possible, bring the place down too" he added as he lead her in a different direction off towards the outskirts of the city which had long since been abandoned, where he lived. "Before we do that, I'll need to see how you fight. So early tomorrow we'll be up so I can get a good look at what you can do"

[Sassaflash]

Gnash took in a deep breath, letting it out before speaking up once more. "That place is really far away from here... Granted, I stayed in the water the whole time, but it took me about three weeks just to get back here to Manehattan." She replied calmly, keeping close to Leo while following along. "Anyway...I'll show you everything I have for fighting. I'll do anything I can to take these griffons down."

[Leo]

Leo gave a small gruff 'hmm' sound as he thought about that before giving a light shrug, "Guess we'll just have to leave Manehatten for a while then" he replied before looking to his side at a glance, "Hope you don't mind flying" he added. Three weeks trot would be halved in the air, which still was quite a way to go. But even so, these experiments had to stop. Not even the Griffon's were allowed to play god, and Leo would remind them of that in person. After what seemed an hour they eventually reached the outskirts of Manehatten to what appeared to be the ruins of a street. Buildings lay crumbled from battles while others stood to wither away in time. Leo's home resided inside what used to be a store, a hole ripped through the metal shutter that the owner once used to lock the place for the night. 

Leo climbed through first, unlocking the door beyond it before stepping inside, leaving it open for Gnash to follow. The room itself was large and spacious, lit with candle light as the place lacked magical lighting. The walls were decorated with art taken from some of the places he'd been to around Equestria, artefacts hung in places, some from fallen enemies he'd spent long months to even years battling against. Leo lit the fire place last before he lowered himself into a seat next to it. "Make yourself comfortable" he said calmly.

[Sassaflash]

Gnash gave another nod in response to her newest ally. "I don't mind flying at all, especially when it's a being as strong as you've proven yourself to be is the one with the wings." She replied sincerely, stopping in front of the building she had been led to for safety. Looking it over a few times, her grin grew ever wider. She was finally going to be safe from the elements for at least one night.

Climbing into the hole in the metal shutter, she made her way in through the now-open doorway. "This is a nice claim you've made for yourself, Leo." She tiredly sat herself down next to the fireplace, eventually shifting herself to lay on her side with her belly facing the flames. "Thank you again for helping me so much."

[Leo]

Leo gave a lazy glance at the things he'd claimed for himself over the years, "Thanks" he replied. Leo began to think as the silence began to make things feel a little awkward. It had been some time since he'd had any company or even some pony to talk to, let alone be sitting at a fire place with some pony. He decided he'd make some conversation, a task that came harder to him then some would think. "We have a common enemy" he replied, "And if they're making ponies like us... they need to be stopped" he said firmly. "Besides it gives me something to do... contracts have been slow this month" he said tiredly.

[Sassaflash]

Gnash laid her head down, using her forelegs as pillows between it and the hard ground. "I just want to see those griffons fall, like what they deserve." She responded in a somewhat cold tone of voice, quickly calming back down afterwords. "Anyway, I'll do my best to assist you in any way I can. I can't take them down on my own. I can barely handle two guards..."

[Leo]

Leo simply nodded in reply to her words. A few hours passed before the two would find the warm embrace of sleep, pulling them into a world where fighting and oppression were mere concepts to be laughed at. The morning brought a new day, the sun raising on the horizon to cast an orange glow across the body of the large Hippogriff, his bronzed coat illuminating under the light as his wings hung loose to catch the morning rays. He took a few deep breaths as he simply watched it. Sea would probably be up shortly and with it came his promise of his help. But first he would need to witness her skills.

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