Having made my first contact with a griffin in my last Equestrian dream http://www.furaffinity.net/view/7921870/ I was curious what it would look like to see ponies and griffins conducting commerce with each other. So on the chosen morning I made certain that I was there in the marketplace when they arrived. Waiting for them were not only the native shopkeepers, merchants, and artisans of Ponyville, but business ponies from the immediate communities around Ponyville and as far away as Canterlot. A great array of carts and wagons were parked with chests and boxes full of trade goods. Every pony was scanning the sky awaiting the griffins arrival. As a courtesy several veteran pegasus ponies agreed to fly out and escort them to the marketplace. Petina and Carousel were also curious to see these mysterious visitors so they accompanied me that bright autumn morning.

It was after nine in the morning and some of the traders were starting to get nervous wondering when their customers would arrive. I was up flying a slow orbits over the center of Ponyville when I spotted them coming in along with their pegasus escorts. All told there were about three dozen griffins flying in six vee formations of five. Most were burdened down with heavy bundles and saddle bags that they had carried from there homes high in the mountains. The Mayor along with Twilight and other Mane Six were there to welcome the visitors, although Fluttershy seemed to be less than enthusiastic to be around so many griffins. Of course her experience with Gilda probably had some impact on that. After making one orbit of the marketplace the griffins turned into the wind and landed while staying in formation. This got a comment or two from Rainbow Dash and several of the other pegasus gathered. No matter what else these guys knew how to fly.

With a stern expression on her face the Mayor walked straight up to eldest male griffin in the lead formation. His face showed the scars of many battles, many winters, and many hunts. His right eye was missing and he wore a simple eyepatch of leather over it. stopping about six feet away from him the Mayor looked him in the eye and then addressed him in a tone of voice I usually did not hear from her. "When will be ready to trade?" The griffin looked at her and clicked his beak. "My clan will be ready in half an hour." He looked around at the pony traders gathered in marketplace. "Hmmm, more than last year. Good! Hopefully they have brought goods that will make our trip and trade worthwhile." The Mayor cocked her head and continued making eye contact with the elder griffin. "To bring anything else would be an insult to your clan and my town! You will not be disappointed." For several seconds after the griffin and mare just stared at each other in silence. Then slowly what passed for smile crept across the old griffins bill. "You've gotten better at your introductions and delivery since the last time we've visited." He closed his eyes and bowed. "You've been a good teacher Blood Eye, and I have taken your lessons to heart." Said the Mayor. "Ponyville once again hungers to see what you've brought to trade with us." Blood Eye threw back his and let out a screeching laugh. "Ho! Spoken like a true griffin! Yes! Let's trade!"

Turning to clan members Blood Eye barked a command in their native tongue. With obvious practiced efficiency the griffins began removing their packs and setting up their own trade/ market area. Blood Eye was true to his word and in less than thirty minutes the griffins were open for business. They had no booths or stands but instead they laid down these elaborate blankets upon which they spread out the pelts in a of myriad colors from creatures gathered in their mountain homes. Feathers from various types of birds big and small were displayed. Great bundles hides, tanned and raw laid out.

In intricately carved gourds they displayed golden chunks of amber and unique precious and semi-precious stones gathered from their territories. In return the ponies brought ingots of steel, copper and brass. Knives of fine Fillydelphia steel for skinning, scrapping of hides or carving horn, bone or wood. Scissors of all size were also in demand. The griffins do have some iron/ steel working capability of their own, but they have become fond of the workmanship of pony steel. Also amongst desirable items of pony metal working were cooking pots of copper and skillets of cast iron. Even things like needles, nails and brass buttons sought with much interest. Griffins preferred to barter but would accept Equestrian bits in place of trade.

Even more coveted though than pony metalworking was their weaving skills, and much trading, haggling, arguing was made over bolts of Trottingham wool, Hoofington linen, and rolls of cotton from Ft. Trotterdale. Especially cherished were great blankets of thick brightly colored wool from the mills in Trottingham. Not only were they beautiful to behold, but their tight weave helped to keep out the worse of the frigid cold in the mountain eyries. Also the blankets were excellent at blocking the biting winter winds and their tight weave made them surprisingly waterproof. Finally even when slightly wet they would help keep a griffin warm at night. They were especially sought after as gifts to give newly wed couples who were expecting their first clutch of eggs in the spring since they greatly increased the chances of their chicks surviving their first year in the peaks. Of smaller fabric items were spools of thread and beads of glass, shell, gutta and exotic wood were purchased to make into jewelry for trade and personal wear.

Needless to say the plethora of deceased animal parts did not sit well with Fluttershy, and as soon as it was polite she excused herself and flew back to her cottage. Any pony was free to come and trade and mingle, but it was very clear that unless you had real business to conduct the griffins were not interested in chit-chatting with curious ponies. They were only here for a day, maybe two. After that they had a long flight before they could reach their homes in the mountains, and winter came sooner up there. Carousel and I kept to perimeters of the trade area, although I did give a quick hello to Gale Bill who was amongst the griffins trading. Rarity was in the thick of the traders and for such a refined mare she was amazingly brash and assertive when it came to acquiring a pelt or plume she desired. She drove a hard bargain and got the most for her bits, or she had brought several sets of sturdy saddle bags for trade that were quickly snapped up by the griffins. Also in the thick of the melee was Petina. She had nothing to trade but did make some purchases with the bits she had brought. Of greater interest to her was finding out what the griffins were most interested in trading with. I could see her planning for next years trading fair in her head.

At the end of the day the market closed down and ponies and griffins started thinking about supper. The griffins had set up a temporary encampment at the edge of town, and there they would handle the preparation of their own meals. However griffins apparently have a taste for ciders and meads, so it was decided that after their bellies were full several including Blood Eye would fly over to the Bucking Mare for a mug or two. The Mayor had other things to attend to that evening so she asked Twilight if she and her friends would act as goodwill ambassadors for the evening. Taverns are not really Twilight's thing but her Applejack and Rainbow Dash agreed to be there. Black and Tan stood to make more tips tonight. http://www.furaffinity.net/view/6260636/

Now it just happened that this was one of the nights that Petina and Carousel were scheduled to dance there for the crowd http://www.furaffinity.net/view/7349440/ , and it was amusing to sit back and observe the reactions of the griffins gathered there that evening. There definitely had not been this type of dancing last year when they had visited! Rainbow Dash had seen several of Petina's and Carousel's performance and was once again whooping it up with the crowd. For Applejack and Twilight this was the first time they had observed one of these performances firsthand. Applejack just sat their next to Blood Eye with this "What the hay!" look on her face. Twilight spent the whole performance with her face planted on the table while muttering about the impending doom of Equestria. Blood Eye for the most part found the whole performance rather amusing.