Vindicar looks down, still frowning. It's almost if he doesn't want to show his true feelings, afraid of scaring his friend away. Finally, he speaks, "Those scumsucking featherball bastards are disgrace to entire griffon nation. Any decent clan would have them executed if they dared to commit something like that on clan territory. Apparently, they decided to try their luck in Equestria. I hope this mistake had cost them their worthless lives."
He stays quiet for a while, shivering a bit, not looking directly at the hippogriff. “I… I don’t know. Back when I was young I never wanted to know, and right now my relations with my family are rather… bad so I don’t suppose I will ever know…”
Hippogriff frowns heavily and utters something in griffon tongue. Even if Pewny does not understand it, it's easy to guess that it wasn't a compliment.
“I don’t remember if I told you that, or just to Mythic, my family in Canterlot is… a rather revered and rich one. From what I know my ancestors were living there ever since all pony tribes united and Equestria was formed. But a family like that has drawbacks…” He sighs heavily “When I was very young, I dunno, I think it was somewhere before I went to school, I couldn’t really fly back then even… Some bunch of Griffons broke in and kidnapped me. I was held somewhere, no idea where, for apparently 5 days. Treated like crap, threathened very often, with them cursing practically every second word they said…” He shivers “I know I lost consciousness at some point and next I knew I woke up in a hospital, treated from malnourishment. I was never told if there was some rescue or the ransom was paid…”
"Nope, you didn't. And I really hope that you'll never have to use that knowledge. Most of local griffons may be jerks (aside from a couple of decent guys), but they won't dare to actually harm a pony in pony land without a damn good reason to do so. Even the most stupid of them understand that it's just too risky." Hippogriff smiles a bit, trying to reassure his friend. "Their attitude is kind of understandable, though. Or at least I think so."
The stallion listens to all that then sighs “Too risky huh? Tell that to the bunch of griffons who kidnapped me for ransom when I was just a little colt…”
"I'm really sorry to hear that, my friend." Vindicar pulls ex-pegasus into hug. "There is a feature nearly all flying species share." Hippogriff says as he pokes griffon's chest slightly. "Muscles covering the chest are ones that move wings down. As you can guess, they are very tough, so it's pretty useless to punch or pierce griffon's chest. If you are pinned down and must defend yourself, your best chance is either to try and reach for throat or hit more vulnerable belly with your hind legs."
“Mmm… I never actually told you that story, huh?” The pegasi griffon hugs him back. Then nods as he listens “I actually noticed the thing about chest, never thought why it is like that tho. And noted, I will remember in case anything ever happens.”
"Another thing I can tell you is that griffons aren't good runners. They can be good sprinters, but any prolonged run will tire them out more than the flight for the same distance. Ponies, even pegasi, are much better at it." hippogriff smirks as he brushes his wing against his companion's side. "So they certainly have their weaknesses. If you have any questions, feel free to ask, I'll try to answer as good as I can."
He laughs “That could be useful, if I was a good runner. I am not a sports-pony sooooooo, yeah.” Chuckles lightly at the wing-brush “I see. As for questions… I don’t really know what to ask. So far I know griffons can’t manouver as good as pegasi, they can’t see stationary objects that good from a distance and they tire out easily when running. Dunno what else I could ask here. Surely nothing combat related because if anything I’d rather run away” He then sighs “Darn childhood trauma…”
"It certainly does. Look, we're almost there!" Vindicar says as he lands at the clearing and looks around. "Lovely place, isn't it?"
The usually-pegasus griffon descends but right before grorund slows down, remembering what was said earlier. Still lands rather heavily, with a slight gasp. He then looks around and nods in agreement “That it sure is.”
"Well, while foreclaws lack precision of unicorns' telekinesis or sensitivity of earth pony mouths, they are prehensile and strong enough to do things. I still find it a bit weird how some pegasi can use their wings that way..." Vindicar pauses and adds, "In fact, I'm surprised you can walk and speak pretty much normally despite lacking experience of living in griffon body. I guess it's the effect of anon magic."
“Well, there is nothing that can best a trained unicorn’s telekinesis at precision. As for that…” He sighs “I can’t explain how it’s possible. I just… can use my wings that way, that’s all I can say” After that he seems to think “You know, it’s probably that. I mean, this body is heavier and constructed a bit differently, yet I didn’t have any problems running around and talking. Possible that anon magic affects muscle memory?”
"Yep, just like that. While pegasi can soar too, griffons can do it easier. That allows them to cover large distances with relatively small efforts. But it's slower than regular flight." Vindicar stops and closes his eyes a bit, enjoying the wind playing in his feathers. "By the way, how do you find your new forelimbs?"
“I see, that’s a rather useful skill, especially for such flight-oriented race” He nods and then looks at his… claws? “Well, those are certainly different than what I’m used to”
Hippogriff smirks. "I meant that I see orange one better myself, so I thought you should do too. Anyway, we have to get to the Whitetail. You can save your strength if you'll soar, just like me."
“Ah. I’m sorry then.” After that he just nods and tries to mimick your wings movements.
"Hmmm, I guess your eyes are better than mine then. What I know for sure is that many predators are sensitive to motion. Griffons may be a bit worse at telling apart similar colors - something ponies apparently good at - but they certainly can see moving objects in better details than still ones." Vindicar sighs a bit. "I guess my eyesight is hybrid too."
“Not sure if really better. Maybe it’s because I’m really a pony and not a griffon?” Or mod being an idiot and not knowing “And hey, you did see both of them, so don’t be so harsh on yourself”
"Well, right now you can test something else." hippogriff says as he looks down. "Look down and to the left. There are foals playing near the school. You should be able to see them from this height. Now tell me, which one you can see better: that orange pegasus filly scooting around or gray earth pony standing pretty much still and watching?"
“Huh?” He looks where Vindicar told him too and notices said fillies “Well, I’d say I can see both just as good really…” Let’s skip the fact that the mod is not sure which filly should be seen better.
"Yes, you could evade attacks midair if you kept just the right distance. But then it would be a matter of who gets tired first." Vindicar smiles and nods as he sees Pewny adjusting. "Good. I've only met one pegasus who could fly like that with ease, and he was even larger than me. And, I guess, alicorns can do it too. It's just the matter of size. For an average pegasus fast wing flapping seems to be preferrable..." hippogriff says as he heads north-northeast, towards the Whitetail Woods.
“Hmm, then I’m screwed, unless I manage to make them smash against a wall” He chuckles imagining that “Wow, a pegasus bigger than you? That’s quite something. And well, like I said, I am heavier than an average pegasi, I will have to test that then” With that said he turns and flies after you.
"Indeed. While griffons are on a par with pegasi in terms of overall speed, latter are much more maneuvrable. You can take off, land and change directions midair in moments notice." Hippogriff notices unsteady flight of his friend and adds. "Try to swing your wings slower, but harder. Don't worry, inertia of your body will keep you in air while your wings are rising."
“Hmm, I guess that is true” he nods “Pegasi can do that easily. So in other words, I could use my body to outmaneuver a grifon chasing me, huh?” He listens to what you said and, a bit uncertainly at first, slows down his flapping and moves more of the wing, his flight stabilising “Well, that is different. However, could a pegasus fly this way?”
Vindicar smiles and nods. "We will get faster there by air." he says as he takes off the ground. "By the way, here goes the first difference. You'll probably have to rely on full swings, not fast wing flapping as most pegasi do."
He just nods and tries to take off, surprisingly easily “I’m a rather heavy Pegasus, I got used to fly with bigger load than most do” He does however fly rather wonky, trying to flap those wings faster istead of full swings “But seems that I’m even heavier now…”
"Let me disagree. If you know what they are good at, you can try to choose course actions preventing them from using this advantage." Hippogriff replies, humming a bit as he tries to plan his actions. "How about a short trip to Whitetail Woods? It's not too far, and we won't scare anypony."
He doesn’t say anything, he didn’t think of it this way. After a while he nods “I… you are right, that could be something useful to know” He smiles as the hippogriff hums “Well, why not, we can go.”
