Walk a Mile in my Shoes
Razorclaw Adlig, the transfer student from the city of Clawdor within the Griffon Empire, walked the halls of Canterlot High. Not for the first time, he wondered what he was doing there, as students watched him warily and some even flinched at his approach. He didn't understand why, it wasn't as if he went out of his way to attack these people. His first few weeks there, he'd only fought others to defend himself from perceived threats and... Well yes, to assert dominance. How was he to know that that was a purely Griffon custom?! It had helped, however, in making some friends, which was something the small (For a Griffon) man needed. Someone to help him with the customs, the language, the culture shock. And they even brought a bit of a taste of home, with the sense of community.
Razor smiled as he looked down the hall and saw his friends, Steel Stride and Real Deal. Another benefit of these friends was the power they held among the students. Deal ran the student paper, which Razor mainly read in order to improve his language skills, but he recognized the benefit held by steering student opinion. Besides that, the boy ran some... Interesting enterprises on the side, which brought in enough money to fund the group's outings most weekends.
Razor pondered his own position for a moment, then. As the 'enforcer' of the group, it was his job to back up Deal and Steel whenever something went wrong. Razor was happy to do it of course, to help his friends. And it certainly didn't happen as much as it had when he'd first arrived. The griffon boy had made a name for himself as the toughest student in school. Though that was making it harder for his own scheme, the one he and Steel had come up with. The fights behind the gym always drew a crowd, but lately it'd been hard to find anyone who wanted to fight... He'd have to lose a fight or two very soon if he wanted to keep the money from the betting coming in. After Steel's cut, of course.
Ah, Steel Stride. Undoubtedly the leader of their group, which had come to be known as the Triad. Razor liked that name, it sounded strong. Anyway, Steel. The coordinator of all the groups schemes. Always planning ahead, his mind down a hundred different alleys, finding the best path to take. The man was brilliant, and Razor was happy to count him as a friend. He handled the odds and bets for the fights, which Razor appreciated. He could do the math, but Steel took to it naturally, and it left more time for Razor to focus on other things. He handled the group's money, and was fair in how he split it. And he always seemed to know when trouble was coming, a good quality to have.
Razor stopped to chat with his friends for just a moment, asking about the odds for the fight that afternoon, and plans for the weekend. He soon had to move on however, not wanting to miss his chance with... Her. Razor smiled as he walked on, thinking of the Zebra girl who had caught his eye the very first day he started school here. Her name was Mauti, and there was... Something about her. He didn't know what it was, but she was different. Smarter, obviously, than most of the students, or at least more cerebral. And yet, there was a power in her, this raw state that felt... Dangerous. Razor liked that. She had a locker across the hall from him, and he planned to do it today. Ask her out, maybe take her to the Griffon bar in town. Steel'd gotten him a fake ID, and he felt confident he could pull it off. He just had to talk to her... His smile broadened as he saw here there, getting her books, and his pace quickened along with his heart. Just a moment, and he'd finally talk to her... And this afternoon, buy her a drink, get to know her, maybe finally make another friend at the very least, or find someone he could bring home to Father at best--
"OOF!" Razorclaw cried, as his daydream was interrupted by a fairly well-built freshman. Razor whirled, fire raging to life in his eyes, matching the hair of the other student. His anger burning and letting instinct kick in, the Griffon pinned the other boy to a locker, completely forgetting about Mauti for the moment.
"Vould the leetle Firebrand like to explain heemself?" Razor snarled.
"Let go!" The freshman cried, struggling at the grip of the sharp claws.
"It was an accident, and... Hey, you got in my way!"Razor paused, his anger starting to subside as he pondered the fiery haired boy's words. He hadn't been paying attention, was he at fault? Growling again, Razor steeled himself, even if he had been the cause, now was not the time to back down! He'd started this, and he had to appear strong, the victor!
"No matter! You people like to talk about personal bubble, and you invade mine! Now I return favor..." A wicked grin spread over the elder boy's face as he prepared to teach the freshman a lesson. Glancing around, however, his heart dropped when he realized Mauti had gone. In fact, so had all the other students, a bell must have been missed in the shouting... Sighing, Razorclaw slumped his shoulders, dropping the other boy. No need to act tough now, especially with no girl to impress...
"What was that about?!" The boy exclaimed, brushing himself off and backing up.
"If you start something, finish it! Dad taught me that!" Razor's sharp ears picked up a barely muttered sentence after that;
"One of the only good things he taught me..."Razor cocked his head and looked at his fellow student curiously.
"Your Papa? He vas... No good teacher for you?"The boy blinked in surprise at this change of attitude, seemingly unsure if this was a trick or not.
"Y-yeah... I ran away from home and moved in with soem relatives, actually..."Razorclaw sighed and stepped forward, clapping the boy on the shoulder.
"Am sorry for your luck, comrade. I too know vat is like to have bad Papa, did not think to find others in this place vith same... Am sorry for, how you say? Overacting? Back home, this is normal. Here... Nobody to impress. Razorclaw Adlig is my name, did not catch yours?"The boy sat silent for a moment, shocked by this turn of events.
"Uh... Flame. Flame Mane. You're Razorclaw? I think... I agreed to fight you this afternoon, through that Steel guy..."Razor thought for a moment, nodding slowly.
"Ya, I recognize name... Normally, I vould give talk to scare you about that, but... I tell you what. I go easy today. Maybe you not vin, but I vill hold back. You stay mostly unhurt. Is least I can do for fellow in arms. See you then, Firebrand." Razor gave the boy a smile and turned to head to his next class, leaving the confused freshman in his wake.
Flame Mane watched the huge boy go, slack-jawed. After hearing all the stories, especially the ones told by Iron... And
that was the big, scary Griffon everyone was afraid of? He seemed more like he needed a friend than anything else... Flame slowly picked up his books, contemplating it as he walked away. Guess you can't judge someone... Until you've walked a mile in their shoes.