Ari

After waking like that we stuck around just long enough to check the map, Ras Taneighra was the first city we would hit today. Most cities were within a day’s walk of each other so we only had to hit another couple cities before we could drop the new couple off at the border. I for one was looking forward to that, I had questions for Chrissy that I felt I just shouldn’t ask in front of them. No need for them to know exactly how ignorant i was to Equus culture. Like what did all the tail language mean? Sometimes I knew, like flicking it in anger, but what did the other body language mean? With how much she was doing it a lot, I felt like I must be missing a whole conversation in the culture I didn’t know.

Speaking of stuff I don’t know about, whatever took Chrissy’s water. There wasn’t any hoofprints, or anything sign that someone was there except the water having been drunk, but there was the question of what they were thinking taking my thobe but giving it back when I asked. Did thieves just function on a different mindset here or was it just a lost traveler….yah I didn’t believe the latter either.

“So riddle me this: What stalker is also a thief, is yellow, and returns things if asked?” Okay my riddle wasn’t that good but it wasn’t too cringe worthy. I looked at the group, yup there was no cringing.

“I said I didn’t do it!” Barium said in frustration from his position walking beside me.

“I know I didn’t say you did, I said something yellow did. I was half asleep and only saw a blurry yellow pony shape holding my thobe to their face.” Well now I was receiving raise eyebrows and frowns.

“and you just…”Azure looked confused.

“I asked for it back of course and you gently floated onto my back…” I trailed off as something hit me, Barium didn’t have a horn. “Well now that I review it, that doesn’t add up. You’re not secretly magical are you Barium?”

He shook his head as he stepped around a tumbleweed, they were popping up more and more as we got closer to civilization.

Chrissy looked confused, “The thief had your thobe to their face? Like holding it in their mouth or …?” She trailed off as my face morphed into a look of disgust. I realized that the pony had had my it held up to their nose, like they were sniffing it. I felt a little creeped out now, just a little. It’s not every day somepony comes in the wee hours of the morning to sniff my clothing and steal water.

As my muzzle scrunched up I looked behind us, was it listening even now? How had we not seen it in this endless sea of sand?

“Ari is it there?”

I turned back to Chrissy, “I don’t know, I just don’t get it. The pony was holding it to their nose sniffing it. They would have seen my wings so I don’t know why did nothing, I mean everyone I have ever met here is all ‘look a Alicorn’. This whole thing doesn’t make sense.”

Azure looked contemplative, “maybe they are just following us till we reach a town but are too scared to show themselves.”

Barium gave her a dead eye stare, “The pony was sniffing his clothes! Not to mention we haven’t seen anyone besides those slavetraders, where would this lost pony come from, I haven’t seen any tracks.”

I looked back at Azure who was wilting a little as her theory came under fire, “I just thought that what the pony was doing to Ari and us didn’t seem mean...”

“It drank my water! Do you know how expensive water is here? I do, it cost me ten bits for a liter last time. With the drought they have now water is probably double to triple that price now, at least that much.” I gave her cheek a kiss, “You can share mine. We still have around two hundred bits and we can always get more.”

She deflated a little before looking ahead and perking up. We followed her gaze and saw the barest dozens and dozens of beige dots, this must be Ras Taneighra. According to Chrissy it was one of the smaller cities, the furthest inward from the border, and a bustling trading post town. Or it had been last time she was here.

I really wanted to know exactly how old she was, maybe I should just ask?

A wave of magic brushed my side, I looked over and saw a gray one winged pegasis. We all jumped away from it in surprise. Then Chrissy’s voice came from it’s mouth, “Really you forgot how we met already? I thought this form would cause less trouble than my real look.” Her eyes looked a little pained before a mischievous look came over her eyes.

“Ohh-“ I didn’t even to finish my sentence when she launched herself at my face, lips attaching to mine. We were sent tumbling down the dune we had just climbed. I grabbed a hold of her barrel, kissing her back. My tongue asked for permission that she quickly gave me with a long moan and my trapped wings stiffened at her response, she was kissing me like a mad mare as her tail was twitching and flicking my inner thighs. I turned my head, wrestling her tongue harder; this seemed to turn her on, as she started grinding her newly furred belly against my sheath. It sent shots of pleasant tingles down my spine and I groaned loudly, this really wasn’t fair to me, I mean with her smelling like she did and her ministrations I was going to be very uncomfortable for the rest of the walk.

“Really?!”

Chrissy raised her chest from mine breaking the kiss, thankfully not yet removing her body from mine. I was a little indecent right now. Azure and Barium stood looking at us with withering looks, Azure’s tail was twitching again, and Barium’s eye twitched as he glanced at Azure

I could only blink at them, the kiss had been hot and I got lost in it a little, okay a lot. Nothing wrong with that but the mood was fading under their presence.

“what? I was reliving a moment, cant you wait?” she slid back over my arousal and I threw my head back as the pressure felt just right. I don’t remember quite so much kissing and grinding when we met but I wasn’t going to complain.

“Perhaps a-another time hubun?” I pleaded with my eyes, looking back the way we came. The message hit its mark as she got off me and started scanning the dunes behind me.

“Fine, lets get going. And from now to the border I am ‘Silver Stream’.” And with her acquiescence I dusted myself off and we started up the dune again. Funny how knowing you are being watched by a something can kill a erection.

As we drew closer to the city I noticed how the sand turned into a brick road, one of three brick roads leading into the main city street. All the streets were laid brick but we could hardly see the street for all the ponies and other creatures milling about. These ponies looked more refined than Azure and Barium, taller, and more fine boned in their legs and faces. I still was taller than them but only by a small amount, they came up to the base of my neck. Other creatures such as Minotaurs and Komondors intermingled in what looked like a market place, stalls and rugs spread out with many different wares. Chrissy kept close to me as calls from vendors rang out throughout the market, we were hardly given any notice by the other shoppers as others came trickling into town from the other two roads.

Unlike the desolate and modern house Jabbar had inhabited the houses in town were actually pleasant half houses. That is to say half of the house was above ground and the other half was below, small stairwells were near every house. There was actual glass in the windows and doors in the doorways. The city was divided into blocks, around twenty blocks in all held the populace of Ras Taneighra. That made it very crowded and hard for our group to manage to stay together.

We were heading straight down main street when we reached the town square, well it really a circle but that’s not the point. When we arrived I spoke to Chrissy, “Alyasar?” Left? Chrissy nodded and we continued down the left street, I’m sure it had a name but I couldn’t see any street signs. Weaving through the vendors I nearly froze as goose pimples went across my fur, I nudged Chrissy’s cheek to get her attention. I flicked my ears back and forth slowly which was now a universal sign for ‘we were being followed’. She nodded and her eyes flicked around, the crowd continue moving ignoring us, no one even looking from their busy day.

Then she stopped and facehooved, my eyebrow raised in confusion.

“Ma alkhata’a?” What is wrong?

Arabian isn’t really soo hard, however I only say that because I only just learned basic questions. If a local asked me anything I probably wouldn’t know what they said, which is where Chrissy comes in. In this country, apparently the stallion does most of the talking which is fine until except I don’t speak Arabian well enough after just a one day crash course. Not to mention, If we spoke any Equuis here we would be instant targets for all the thieves and con artists in a two kilometer radius. However that was all according to the Saddle Arabia Chrissy remembers from two hundred years ago, but as she puts it “peaceful ponies aren’t quick to change”. I couldn’t help but agree with her there.

“Azure. Barium.” Her disguised wing fluttered its feathers as I looked around, they were gone.

My ears went back, I wanted to curse god right now, of course leading them to the border wouldn’t be easy. Nothing was easy on this planet. Now we had to find them and get more water, luckily a turquoise mare stands out here. Most of the Arabians were shades of brown, red, orange, and yellow. Some were gray, white, or black, but those were the uncommon colors.

I jerked my back and we began moving in sync back to the square, all the while I felt like someone was watching me. We were forced to stop as up ahead two stallions had gotten into a brawl, over what I didn’t know but a crowd had formed blocking out my view and the road as well.

Chrissy and I exchanged a scowl, just our luck. I cocked my head in the direction of a alleyway to our right to which she shook her head negatory. Watching her face I saw it morph from boredom, irritation, and most interesting was lust. I wasn’t one hundred percent sure about the last one, I mean why would she feel-

“Barium!!”

Azure’s panicked screech called out up ahead somewhere, crap. Had she lost him? Going with my gut I threw my head towards the crowd and Chrissy fell into step with me. We didn’t get far before we couldn’t move again.

That was it, no more being polite.

I snorted and pinned my ears at the stallion in front of me, the stallion’s face went from amused to fearful as he craned his neck up to look me in the eyes. After the stallion moved five mares followed his lead which caught the attention of the crowd ahead of me. Not feeling like using my words I simply gave them a stern look which caused the crowds to part in patches, as the herds moved as one out of our way. Getting closer Chrissy’s tail started flicking me again and the dim sound of the fight became clearer.

“Omphh!” Barium just went flying from a hoof to the muzzle, his opponent was orange colt with a greasy mane. I snorted, was he really fighting someone younger than him? And even more embarrassing he was losing, I didn’t Azure to see her new coltfriend like this.

Taking the last step into the fight circle the catcalls and battering grew silent, Azure met my eyes from the sides, pleading , “Musaeada Ari.” Help Ari.

The colt had a black eye and looked angry, probably one of those boys with chips on their shoulder. I snorted and our eyes met, “Tawaquf.” Stop. He snorted with confidence before he looked at Chrissy confusion evident.

“Ladayk faqat fars wahid, hal ‘ant ks?” His arrogant tone annoyed me, I believe he just insulted me. Looking at Chrissy I confirmed it, her one wing was twitching in anger as her ears were pinned back. The only thing stopping her from tearing into him was the crowd, we didn't need anymore attention. So we had to take the high road, no matter how unsatisfying it could be.

I ignored him and we walked over to Barium’s downed form, Chrissy glued to my side. Barium was panting and had blood leaking from his nostril. He’d live.

“Mahlaan, Kus!”

I rolled my eyes at the colt as I nudged Barium, he didn’t get up. “Azure!” She came running over and I started levitating him to my back. Halfway through levitating Barium I felt something hit me, it wasn’t painful it was more like getting a basketball to the arm. The colt had attempted to punch me, I say attempt because he was probably never fought if his strength was any indicator. Giving them the attention they want only sends the wrong message, so i carried on. With Barium on my back and Azure on my other side looking at him worriedly we began to leave, a path already opening as they saw me approach. Finally we could get on with this trip, we still had a planet to save as well.

Then the brat bit my tail.

Chrissy and Azure scrambled out of the way as I swung around, unprepared for that, my tail slipped out of the colt’s mouth. I pulled back my head before I reached down and bit his neck. This not only made me feel better but it also seemed to freeze him in shock. Waiting for a second I realized he wasn’t going to retaliate. So, adjusting Barium I made my way to the open path with Chrissy and Azure rejoining me, Chrissy’s tail was raised high.

Which reminded me I had to learn more on the body language here, some was universal like the eyebrow raise but others I had no context for. Humans didn’t have tails and the only tail language I got was that some tail swishing meant somepony was annoyed.

Drama over with, the crowd resumed its chaotic state. I picked up the pace to a fast walk as I restrained my curiosity and anger. I wanted to know how in the world Barium managed to pick a fight in the ten minutes we had been in town, not to mention I was angry over that same fact. We were supposed to be keeping a low profile, pass through here, then we would go through Jozan, then the border town: Taymare. It was supposed to be foal proof!

Chrissy nudged me and I looked at where she was looking: a water vendor was coming up. Exactly what we needed, I changed direction and we made our way over, the sign had number sixty written beside a pictograph of a canteen. Looks like the price has gone up, with that we could only fill three of the six we had. Yes, we took all of his canteens, he took traded in ponies so i think it was a more than fair exchange. He got pain and I got supplies.

“Ma’ min, fadlik.” I levitated the coin purse and three of the canteens to Chrissy, letting her hoof over the bits and fill the canteens. From up on my back Barium was stirring, he looked around before he met my gaze, ears dropping he settled back on my back. That’s right, you know what you did.

With a lighter coin purse and full canteens we finally left the city, in front of us lay another expanse of dunes and tumbleweeds. I think I could even see a small skeleton of a tree in the distance. As the road disappeared back into sand I switched back to Equuis.

“What happened to keeping a low profile?” I placed him back on the ground, it was impossible to lose him out here.

Azure immediately started nuzzling him, she stopped when she brushed by his eye and he winced. Her horn glowed blue as his black eye faded to a yellow eye, looking like it was nearly gone instead of just happened. I needed to learn how to do that.

Barium looked sheepishly at me, “He called Azure an eahira-“He spat at that, “Azure is not a whorse!” I could already see him getting worked up; he was a sweet stallion that way. He had a good sense of right and wrong, although he lacked the skills to back his chivalry up.

We started up another dune as I sighed at his foolishness, I had babysat one too many brats to fall for their teasing. “You know he was just a foal right? He probably thought Azure was pretty and did what all awkward colts do: pick on the filly they like most. I have foal sat a fair number of brats to recognise that.”

Everyone looked shocked, “What?” I looked around and saw nothing.

Chrissy nuzzled my neck, “You actually took the time to take care of other’s foals, most stallions won't foal sit, ever. That is soo sweet, you wou-.” She caught herself and I raised an eyebrow to coax her on but she just shook her head. “You are a real stallion.” My chest still puffed out at her praise, i know she was just distracting me, but I think I was alright with that.

Barium picked up his pace, did that hurt his feelings?

Transitioning into a trot we caught up with him. “You know there isn’t anything wrong with being you, everyone is different. I like to believe that opposites are nessceary in life.” He remained silent. “And sometimes it isn’t what the world wants it’s what you feel comfortable with, Azure seems to like you the way you are. Isn’t that what counts?” no response, oh well I might as well let him wallow if he wants to.

I broke into a gallop up the next hill with Chrissy at my side; we were almost out of sight of Ras Traneighra which meant her disguise could come off. We had another day before we reached Jozan, a lot of desert to cover.

At the top we finally couldn’t see the city anymore and Chrissy slumped against me as a green fire destroyed her disguise. I couldn’t help but smile at her true form, it had been strange to see the small round pegasis when I’m used to a tall, sleek Chrissy. Pulling back I gave her a kiss, “I missed the real you.”

My stomach growled.

Chrissy giggled, which is adorable, “Thank you-“ She nuzzled my cheek and twitched her tail. “- lets head over to the rock and have some lunch.”

Azure’s and Barium’s stomachs growled in concurance.

Shade cooled our fur and chitin as we settled against the cool stone, today’s lunch: apples and trail mix. If this world had anything going for it it was the delicious food, the apple crunched just right and was only slightly warm from the desert, but the sweetness more than made up for that. I heard a stomach grumble. “Did someone want seconds?”

Chrissy whispered, “That wasn’t us.” Everyone was tense now and I paused mid bite, it was still following us.

What should I do? It wasn’t attacking, or really doing anything besides costing us an extra sixty bits…actually that sucked, I didn’t have any income here so every bit was going to count. we couldn’t just let it steal from us again tonight.

Finishing my apple, I stood and looked around, trying to hear its reaction,“look whatever, whoever you are we have nothing of value, so following us going to get you nowhere. Come on out and we can talk this out.” A shuffling from above us, looking up but I couldn’t see anypony, it might be invisible... That probably is possible in this world, I wish we could turn invisible.

Then it hit me, we were in Saddle Arabia, it might not speak Equuis. I turned to Chrissy, “Can you try repeating that in Arabian? It just occurred to me that our stalker might not speak Equuis.” And soo she did, not too surprisingly there was no response.

We left shortly after, the day would only last soo long after all.

Another two hours and the wind started to pick up, in the distance I could see a yellow cloud, “What’s that?”

Chrissy’s reply was not unexpected, “A sandstorm, we should find cover.” I nodded in agreement and we started to trot to the rock archway on our right. By the time we made it there the sand was whipping around in earnest, through squinted eyes I could see a small alcove in the base of the archway. Like lady luck actually liked me for once, the storm hit in full force as we made ourselves comfortable inside.

It was still daytime, but you wouldn’t know it with how dark it was with sandstorm. The sand blasted around in a twisted dance with the wind outside the opening and i was grateful for how deep it was, not enough to be a cave but deep enough so we were protected. We were huddled together against the sand in our respective couplings, my thobe and saddle bags removed. It appeared we were going to be here awhile, I didn’t even bother asking. The last storm I had been in had lasted a whole day.

My wings stretched out before hugging Chrissy to my side, I really loved this. Cuddling, kissing, and just being with Chrissy in general. She must have felt the love as she tucked herself closer to my barrel with a purr, head under my wing. Her tail’s near constant twitching had slowed, sleep was creeping up on her as well. With one last look at the raging storm I let myself drift into the peace of sleep, my mare friend curled into my side.

Life was good.

A faint humming reached my ears as I came to, it was pleasantly upbeat but also soothing like a lullaby. Not wanting it to end, I tightened my wings around my living body pillows. This drew a squeak from the one that was humming.

Wait a minute.

I opened my eyes and looked to under my left wing, there yellow draconic eyes stared back, they were widening just as much as I’m sure mine were.

Across from us Azure started screaming and things got crazy.