Chapter 6-4: Open Air Irritation

“Right in the flank, huh?”

“She was not a happy zebra.”

Bosco and I were heading out of the Northern Lethbridle gate. A gentle snow was falling in the cool afternoon air. It seemed a quiet day, as the white sheet covering the ground was unbroken by hoofprints. It would appear that no traders had made the trip north to Cefar that day.

I felt it was time to find out more about what he had been up to. “So tell me again how you turned into a monster hunter.”

He seemed embarassed by the question. “Ah, well, after Naiara and I got back from fetching our things and found out you’d disappeared from Lethbridle without telling anypony where you were going,” he paused to give me an admonishing glower, “she and I split up to check out a few places. I dunno exactly where she went, but I figured I’d check out Hoofshine Harlots first, then try Cefar. You might’ve got lonely for home.”

Yep.

“I had no luck with Hoofshine so I headed back towards the main road. That’s when I met up with Schwarzwald. She was as crazy as the first time. Said she met you in Lethbridle. Also said you had some sort of arrangement with Wings, to look after me and Naiara while we were in town?”

I nodded. “Wings still owed me a favour from the Raider attack. I just wanted to make sure you guys had some help if Plottawa slavers showed up in town. It only applied to while those two were in Lethbridle though. Was... was Wings with her?”

His expression softened. “Sorry, no. Schwarz said she had stuff to take care of further south. Didn’t say that it would involve mugging you.”

“Actually, that happened up in Whinniepeg,” I scornfully remarked, “but I met her first in Vanchoofer. Whatever she was up to down there had nothing to do with me.”

“Whinniepeg? Wow. That’s pretty far out of the way.”

“Just perfect for a quiet bit of betrayal, don’t you think?” I bit out.

“We’ll figure it out, Snow, but let me tell the story first.”

“Sorry, sorry.” Stupid. Stop being so selfish. He’s had it worse than you.

“Anyway, Schwarz said she’d taken on a job for a group of poachers. Apparently they’re gathering up a whole bunch of beasties for some reason. Schwarz was hired as extra muscle to go hunt a Molar Bear up in the snowfields past Cefar. Did Facemask mention we had poachers come through town every now and then?”

“Yeah, briefly.”

“Well, I guess these guys are the same deal. Most of the poachers who go hunting in those woods leave with a few ponies missing. If these guys are hiring extra help it probably means they’ve tussled with Molar Bears before. They told Schwarzwald to bring anypony else who could help out. So she asked me.”

“And you said yes? To a Molar Bear hunt?”

His cheeks coloured at this. “Well, I mean, I was heading that way anyway, and she did ask nicely. It seemed legit, as if they knew what they were doing.”

He instantly agrees to come with me to Lethbridle, and now he goes racing back to Cefar to fight monsters because Schwarzwald asked nicely. That’s sweet... but stupid.

“Anyway, Schwarz and I headed up to Cefar and met up with the poachers. They weren’t really friendly so I mostly talked to her.” A look that was equal parts admiration and horror crossed his face. “Some of the shit that mare’s done...”

I wasn’t immune to gossip, especially about people as downright scary as the scarred mare. “Ooh, do tell.”

He crossed his forelegs in front of him in a warding gesture. “Nuh-uh. You wanna know then ask her yourself. I don’t want to say too much and have her mad at me.”

Nuts. “Fair enough. What happened next?”

“Well when we were all gathered we headed out. Took us hours to find anything. You were definitely right about that blizzard. It never stops.”

“Told you.” I allowed myself a little smugness.

He caught my look but made no comment on it. “So, by this point, we’re all freezing, wet and miserable from being out there so long with nothing to show for it. I seriously thought Schwarzwald was going to kill one of the poachers who would not shut the fuck up. Turned out that his whining led a Molar Bear right to us. Came down on top of the idiot from the trees.”

I recalled my first encounter with the now-dead creature. It was just as Bosco described. It appeared out of nowhere and attacked from the trees. That something so big and powerful could move around up there without being seen or heard was incredible and terrifying. I hoped that the loud poacher had at least died quickly.

“So this Molar Bear was smaller, and much quicker, than that hulking bastard that chased you into town. It took forever to kill the stallion. Just batted his broken bones around for a while. He was screaming the entire time.” Apparently I’d hoped in vain.

“So what happened? Were you okay?”

“Well I was. The others didn’t get off so easily. It might have been a small one but the damn thing still had size on us. Not to mention that we must’ve picked the worst possible place to fight the thing. Plenty of trees about and the ground was uneven so we constantly had to watch our hooves. We lost three more in less than two minutes.”

He paused briefly, reliving the event, before continuing. “The poachers knew what they were doing, I’ll give ‘em that. Didn’t panic, didn’t scatter, just got down to business. Guns up, shoulders tight, hooves loose. Because we were trying to capture the thing alive we had to be careful with our shots. It was damn scary to know I had a good shot but had to hold back and give that mauler another chance to gut me with those claws and teeth.”

Yep, definitely remember those.

“We went back and forth for ages like this, getting our shots in while we can, and trying not to get killed in the process. Eventually Schwarzwald nailed it in the foot. Slowed it down long enough for the poachers to tranq it into a coma.”

“Was Schwarzwald okay?”

Amused incredulity laced the reply. “Grinning from ear to ear. Damn near bleeding from ear to ear too. I had no idea where she was for most of the fight but she looked like she was going a few rounds against the damn thing bare-hoofed. She was cut up all to hell. Says she can’t wait to...” his charcoal grey turned to cherry red, “...have somebody run their tongue along the scars.”

The image invaded my mind immediately, and soon I matched Bosco’s hue. For all her battle scars, the older mare still boasted an impressive figure. The casual ease with which she’d lifted the stallion back at Nightcap’s had already clued me in to her physical prowess.

Not to say that I didn’t pity the poor guy she found for that role. I doubt she would be gentle. “So where is she now?”

He cocked his head up the road. “Stayed behind in Cefar to organise transport of the Molar Bear. Said she knew the poacher boss and wanted a word when they showed up.”

“So... what? We just walk along the road until we see her coming the other way?” That would be a terrible plan. I really doubted that we’d taken care of all the Raiders around.

Bosco’s demeanour had shifted. He was glancing anywhere but at me and looked guilty. “Well, I told her that we’d... meet up at Hoofshine.” Some of the apprehension surfaced in his eyes, “You don’t mind that I told her about the place, do you?”

She might tell Wings. I won’t let her take anything more from me. “I... might have minded. Except I’ve already told two others about it too. One of them’s Naiara.”

He looked slightly less stressed upon hearing that. “Well it’s no problem if she knows. I’m pretty sure we can trust her. Who’s the other one?”

Here we go. “You remember that pegasus I told you about, the one who was with Wings when they took my Pipbuck?”

Oh, there was a lot of apprehension now, just an entirely different kind. “Yessss?”

I took a deep breath. Best to just get it over with. “Well... it’s her sister.”

“WHAT?!”

I made a calming motion. “Now, before you get too angry. I want you to know that Breeze is not her sister. Even Naiara’ll vouch for that.”

“Snowflake, her sister attacked you!” Later, I’d probably find it funny that this kind of conversation had happened before, also on the road between Lethbridle and Cefar.

“Well, if you want to get technical, so did Breeze. Um... twice.”

He just stared, mouth half open in disbelief.

“Look, it’s complicated. A lot of stuff has happened.”

He threw his hooves up in frustration. “I was right. You ARE going to get yourself killed! I thought you might’ve wised up after Plottawa!”

“Bos-”

“No. NO! I volunteered to fight a Molar Bear, with Schwarzwald of all ponies, and you’re still the dumbest one here!”

My shock at being yelled at gave way to hurt. “I-I just wanted-”

“What? What did you just want?” He was outright glaring at me now.

Chastised, I shrank back. “I’m sorry, Bosco, I just wanted to... make some friends.”

Still fuming, he opened his mouth to say something, but then closed it with a long, drawn-out exhalation. He seemed to get himself back under control, and took a step back. There still seemed to be a fair amount of emotion churning inside him though.

“Snowflake,” he began in a low, possibly calm, voice, “let’s stop this here. I don’t think much of your decision making but I’m not going to yell at you in the open. We can talk more at Hoofshine.”

“...okay.”

We began walking towards the abandoned brothel we’d adopted as a haven. I had to let Bosco take the lead after realising I didn’t know the way without my Pipbuck’s map, which really didn’t help my mood.

~~~~~~

The uncomfortable silence we’d been in since Lethbridle continued all the way to Hoofshine. I kept my mouth shut for fear of setting Bosco off again but inwardly I marveled at how he’d found his way here with the sun long since set. Without my Pipbuck I would have been thoroughly screwed. A veteran wanderer like him must have picked up some tricks. I hoped he’d tell me someday. If I was still his friend.

I kept watch while he keyed in the door code. My now-ordinary goggles kept the still falling snow out of my eyes. It seemed heavier than when we were first here, a few weeks back.

Is the season changing? Does the Wasteland even have seasons? Didn’t unicorns magic up the seasons back in Old Equestria? What happens now?

A soft click drew me away from my musings. “Got it,” whispered the colt, as wary of Raider attack as I was, “inside, quick!”

We hustled through the doorway and closed it behind us, the comforting click of the lock reingaging echoed around the empty foyer. The place was as I remembered, plenty of room, and an emphasis on discreet comfort and style. It really was incredible that the place had held up as well as it had. Even more so that nobody else had bothered with it. Well, aside from cleaning out the booze. We’d been really lucky that the medicine stores had been locked with the terminal. If they hadn’t, I suspect the Raiders never would have left.

“Alright,” Bosco said when he had checked for intruders, “it’s getting pretty late. Why don’t you get some sleep down below? I’ll keep an eye out for Schwarzwald.”

Tired as I was, I wanted to make sure everything would be okay. “Bosco, I’m really sorry about everything. I know I cause you trouble but... well, there’s no but. I’m just sorry.”

He didn’t look at me as he laid his gear down. “Did you learn how to shoot?”

Whoops. “Um... no, I didn’t. I did beat a mercenary in a fight though.”

“He put you in the hospital, and got away without a scratch.” He deadpanned.

“I broke his gun...” I finished lamely.

He facehoofed. “See, this is the problem. You still think you’ve got a safety net, like you’re back in the Stable and you can do stuff like this without consequences. In Plottawa you managed to surprise Peanut but you still only got out of there because Naiara and I dragged you out. You nearly died from a Hissyflit bite and got taken by the Steel Rangers. They might end up looting your home, how are you going to stop them?”

I had no idea. Bosco carried on regardless. “After that you got chased out of Grindstone, getting Naiara shot in the process, and somehow found another Molar Bear to tick off. This was while travelling with a pony who had tried to kill you, and so had her sister. Said sister then robbed you with another girl you thought was a friend. They took your only chance to get home. All this you’ve managed in the space of a few weeks.”

Now he looked at me. There was frustration in his expression, but also pity and not a little bit of fear. “You are an idiot. That’d be fine if you weren’t using that idiocy to be a danger to yourself. Keep this up and the Wasteland’s gonna kill you, Snowflake, Red Ice or not. You, and a bunch of others too.”

I was barely holding back the tears. “Then what can I do to stop it?”

He laughed mirthlessly. “Stop pissing off dangerous folks would be my first choice,” then he stopped laughing, “or learn how to survive it when you do. Not just for an hour, or a day, or a week. Learn how to survive the life you live.”

Feeling like I’d been hammerbucked in the gut left me unable to answer right away, fortunately I was saved the trouble by a knock on the door. “Bosco-dahling, are you there? Do let me in out of this cold, won’t you?

Bosco seemed as surprised as I was. “Schwarzwald? That you?” Briefly glancing at me, he moved to open the door.

“Be careful!” I hissed quietly, praying she didn’t hear me. I shrank back around the corner into the bar, Schwarzwald was dangerous on her own, but if she was working with Wings I could be in real trouble.

How should I survive this, Bosco? I won’t ask for your help. I fought off McCoy, if I need to I’ll fight Schwarzwald too. She’s my best bet for finding out where Wings is but if I have to I’ll beat it out of her. My Pipbuck cannot fall into the wrong hooves or else the Stable could be doomed!

The door groaned open. “Dahling,” the unseen mare’s voice was full of mirth, “I was hoping to catch up to you before you got inside.”

“You saw me?” Bosco’s voice betrayed his surprise.

“Oh, yes. I killed a pair of Raiders about a mile north of here and spotted you soon after.”

“You killed Raiders that close to here? I didn’t hear a thing.”

I didn’t even need to see her to know how wide her grin was. “Neither did they. But enough of that, Bosco-dahling, who was the little filly you came in with?” Her voice turned pouty, “Done with me already? Aw, I am hurt.”

“I, uh, that is...” His babbling was adorable, but it did remind me of the harsh reality in all that a colt of his age had been through.

Still adorable, though.

“...just come in.” He said at last.

Hoofsteps sounded on the marble floor of the foyer. Schwarzwald seemed to be inspecting the place, stepping this way and that. Finally she moved close enough that I could see her shadow. It was distorted, probably from the weaponry she wore on what I had now been informed was a ‘battle saddle’.

“Well this is lovely, Bosco. And in such good condition! Quite a find indeed. The ponies who built this place knew what they were doing.”

“Yeah,” Bosco’s shadow moved into range too, looking stiff, “what happened after-”

“Ah-ah. Don’t change the subject, dahling.” Schwarz’s shadow moved away from Bosco’s into the center of the foyer.

Her raised voice carried through the rooms. “Hello? Little girl? Come out and say hello. I promise not to keep you or dear Bosco from your fun for too long.”

Does she ever take things seriously? She’s just killed two Raiders 10 minutes ago and now she’s making sex jokes. Well, now what do I do?

The earth mare was non-plussed with my lack of response. “A shy little thing you’ve found for yourself, Bosco. Do be patient with her, she may be... inexperienced.”

Oh, for the love of-, ignoring Bosco’s spluttering, I rose to my hooves and stepped quietly around the corner. Her back was to me. If I wanted to attack, this was the time.

Did I want that?

No, I didn’t. “Hello again, Schwarzwald.”

She jumped, apparently not expecting me to arrive from the bar. “Snowflake? It is you!” The widest grin burst across her face. “Bosco, you bad boy, bringing our dear Snowflake to a place like this. For shame.”

More spluttering and blushing.

“Although it does explain why you ran off so soon.”

Even more spluttering and blushing.

I soon grew tired of it. “Good to see you, Schwarzwald...”

“And you too, dahli-”

“...now tell me where I can find Wings.”

Directness seemed to work as she halted mid-dahling. She said nothing as she flicked an eye across my ready stance and low frown. There was absolutely no fear in her at all. She remained completely relaxed. Was it from her long years of experience or was I simply not threatening?

Finally she smiled again, though it was much different from the casual grins she bore earlier. This was a cold, calculating smile. There was amusement there, but at my expense. “What has happened, Snowflake? I know that look. You have the start of your own scar gallery and you’ve lost some weight. Some mechanical weight.”

Is she mocking me? How much does she know?

“Where is Wings?” I repeated, putting as much force behind the words as I could.

Schwarzwald kept right on smiling, though she did begin to loosen the straps on her battle saddle. “You have no more favours with us, Snowflake-dahling, and I am a mercenary mare, you know. Why should I tell you? I am quite fond of dear ‘Wings’, and you seem upset with her. Are we not all friends?”

“You tell me, dahling. When did you last see Wings?” I made no move to put on my Power Hooves, not yet. Schwarzwald might turn out to be innocent.

Well, in taking my Pipbuck anyway, I doubt she’s been ‘innocent’ of much else in a long time.

The mare shrugged off her battle saddle, which clattered onto the floor, and stretched her muscles, talking to herself as she did. “Well now, when did I last see her? Hmm, we were in the bar when you arrived. Then I left for my evening entertainment. After that? Ah, yes. It was the very next day. Wings told me that she had found work for herself, to begin the day after. A few hours later I was contacted about my participation in the hunt. Wings left that same day. I remained in Lethbridle a little while longer, and how lucky that I did. It meant I could run into this handsome colt here, no?”

Bosco didn’t react with embarassment this time. He barely reacted at all. Instead, he watched the two of us apprehensively. He was the only one still with a weapon, but I doubted that would matter too much.

“Can you call her here? She and I have business to discuss.” More than discuss, but I had to tread lightly, especially if Schwarzwald was as protective of the griffon as she seemed.

“Weeell, I could... but as I said, I am a mercenary. Why should I?”

Her smile grated on my nerves more and more. “Because she has something of mine, and I want it back.”

Still grinning that now-maddening grin, she cocked her head to the side. “Oh? How did she get it? Did you give it to her?”

My lips pursed slightly as I subconsciously bared my fangs. “She called me out for a chat then ambushed me when I got there! Is that a friend, Schwarzwald?”

She rubbed her chin with her hoof, not really talking to me. “Hmm, I do hope there was a good reason for that. It could be troublesome otherwise...”

“Good reason?! She stole my Pipbuck. I need that to get back into the Stable!” Why was she still smiling?

“And? What relevance is that to me? Thieves exist in the Wasteland, Snowflake. Get used to it. Take Bosco’s advice and learn how to prevent it.” Apparently she’d picked up the tail end of our conversation through the door.

She’s definitely been around for a while. She didn’t even blink at my being a Stable pony. If she wants me to fix it myself then I will.

My horn began to glow. “I’ll make you bring her here.”

Her eyes lit up and she began to giggle, it was lighter than her normal, husky tones and was almost melodic. “Well, this is unexpected. Please try, dahling, I’m still frisky from those Raiders.”

“Ladies, hold on a minute. This is dumb.” Bosco broke his silence in a feeble attempt to break things up even as he stepped back out of the way. Neither of us took much notice. Schwarzwald probably didn’t care in general and I had severe doubts that Bosco would shoot us.

I wasn’t going to beat Schwarzwald with strength. She was bigger, stronger and a better fighter. It was like fighting McCoy or Peanut again. I was gonna have to take away her options.

Ice spread out from under my hooves and crept along the floor towards her... for about a half-second. Then, like in my fight with the stone-grey griffon, I lost control and it streaked away, narrowly missing Bosco, who dove aside at the last moment, before shooting up a wall and engulfing a framed painting of three smiling unicorn girls. Long-dead escorts by the looks of it. The frozen picture grew too heavy for its support and dropped, shattering on the marble.

Following the show with her forest-green eyes, my opponent gave me a look that silently, and sardonically, offered me a chance to give it another go. I took her up on that, another tendril of ice slashing out. This one didn’t even manage to head in her direction at all, instantly shooting away and up a wall. I ignored the faint crinkling and opted to charge instead. Maybe if I can get closer-

-I could get a hoof in the face for my efforts. Pain blossomed around my cheek as the blow lifted me off my feet and propelled me into the bar. I landed hard on the treated wood. A crash sounded just as I hit the ground, at first I thought it was me breaking something else, but when I looked up I saw that the overhead chandelier in the foyer, now frozen solid, had plummeted to the ground where I’d been standing.

On the other side of it, Schwarz’s lips were still curled upwards. “I didn’t want things to end that quickly, this is fun. I like this new you, Snowflake, you’re feisty. Are you sure you’re not better off without the Pipbuck?”

“That’s not really the issue here.” I sprang to my feet and charged again. Diving at her, I crossed my forelegs in front of my face to stop her getting to my face. Instead, she reached up, grabbed my hooves, and swung me into the wall. All the wind blew out of me in a mighty gasp. I dropped to the floor and greedily sucked in air.

As I struggled to fill my lungs, Schwarzwald didn’t press her attack. What she did do was kneel down and softly lifted my mane away from my eyes. “I’m having fun, Snowflake, so I’m not angry. However, I am also pulling my punches. Again, for fun. However if you continue to attack me for so long that it becomes boring, then I will end the fight there and then. I know you are angry at Wings, but there are other ways of doing this. I’d hate to see your pretty form all bruised,” she paused for a moment, “well, in a fight anyway.”

I wasn’t feeling so suffocated by that point, so I had the strength to angrily knock her hoof away. “Don’t...need...your...help!”

She just shrugged and winked at Bosco as she took a few steps back. “She’s very determined isn’t she? It’s cute, no?”

The colt looked wordlessly between us. “Just don’t kill her, alright?”

The older mare burst out laughing. “Kill her? I’m not going to kill her. Where would be the fun in that? Look at how interesting she’s becoming. Why, if she’s willing to attack me, think how entertaining it’ll be when she finds Wings! I can’t wait. If she learns how to fight then she’ll be such fun!”

“SHE is not done yet!” I didn’t care how winded I was or how much that punch had hurt, I wanted to wipe that cocky smile off her face.

If anything I made it bigger, Schwarzwald was delighted with my actions. “Come, Snowflake, show me more!” She spread her hooves wide, waiting for my attack.

I’m not going to get her with a straight shot, so now what? My ice... snake... thingie attack is no good if I can’t control it.

Wait, isn’t it? A notion was half-forming in the back of my mind.

“Stop thinking, Snowflake. If you want to win this fight, you’re going to need to be more... primal.” Purred the mercenary, running her tongue along her teeth.

Why not? I’ve got nothing else to try.

Squaring my stance, I pumped all my energy into my horn BUT made no attempt to control it. I might’ve been unconscious at the time and didn’t have the Memory Orb handy but I still tried to channel that first display in the Stable’s medical bay. The one that landed me in all this trouble. I’d covered the entire room with ice, wall-to-wall.

I was going for a similar effect here. If I didn’t know where the attack would come from, how would she? I lowered my head. I wouldn’t need to know where she was. If this didn’t work I’d probably knock myself out, if not I’d still be out of ideas. The fight would be over one way or another.

A ring of ice crystals formed, then broke, then reformed around me again and again. Bosco was shouting from the corner of the room but I couldn’t hear him over the snaps, crackles, and pops. Schwarzwald didn’t shout, scream, or say anything at all. She was almost bouncing with anticipation though.

Sweatdrops on my brow froze and shattered into snowdust as I pumped more and more power into the spell.

This should be interesting.

The spell fired. Ice went everywhere. It spread out in a great wave along the floor, snakes of white slithered along walls and wrapped themselves around furniture. The remains of the fallen chandelier snapped clean in two.

I’d given the spell all I could, so I looked up to see the result on my opponent. Still joyous, Schwarzwald was dancing this way and that as frozen streams crisscrossed where her hooves had just been. She lacked some of Naiara’s grace, but her reflexes were wicked fast. She was untouched, even if she was being driven backwards.

As she reached the archway separating the marble foyer and wooden bar, the brass divider strip that ran along the floor as a border broke free of its fixtures and warped in the cold. One end shot upwards and smacked her right across the flank. With a girlish “Ooh!” she hopped forward... and promptly slipped on the now-frozen marble, landing on her back with her four legs sticking straight up in the air.

The laughter took a moment to register as mine. Only when Bosco joined in did I realise just how funny I found the scene. The big bad mare lying flat on her back with her hooves in the air and a perplexed expression on her face. After a moment she started laughing too.

10 seconds later, I was still laughing so hard that I never saw her hoof before it hit me in the temple.

~~~~~~

I groaned as consciousness painfully returned. “Uncalled for.”

Her head on the same velvet pillow as mine, Schwarzwald grinned as we lay eye-to-eye in the underground master suite. “It was the only way to make sure I didn’t get angry, dahling. And I did have such fun last night.”

I glanced at the rose-coloured sheets covering our bodies. “How much of it was I awake for?”

A scarred hoof emerged from the covers and booped my nose. “Relax, Snowflake, there is little appeal in a body that doesn’t move.”

I wrinkled said nose and batted her hoof away. “So, since you still have your good cheer, will you tell me where to find Wings?”

She slipped out of the covers and stood in the center of the room. “Not just yet. I have a proposition for you. Come upstairs and we shall talk with Bosco.”

Her scars kept me from answering. As she stood there I could see almost every inch of her lithe frame. She was taller than most mares, plenty of stallions too, and in very good shape. There was obvious muscle tone there without being bulky, her strength obviously came from action, not lifting heavy weights. Were it not for the scars, I might have thought she was a dancer. The damaged flesh spoke of her long combat experience. Her wood-brown coat boasted countless reminders of what she’d been through. It was frankly incredible she was as naturally cheery as she was.

“Oho, you like what you see?” I didn’t think I’d been gawking but it wasn’t a quick look by any means. Judging from the look of her conifer-green eyes, which matched her short mane, it would appear that the decision of whether she was joking or not was being left up to me.

“Just looking for the mark I put on your backside last night.” I tried to give her a creepy smile but she matched it with one that was just as unnerving.

“Very good, dahling, keep talking like that and I might someday show you what else my body has to offer.”

Bosco’s words from the night before sprang to mind and I dove under the covers before my blush could be seen. “Just go find Bosco. I’ll be up in a minute.”

“Hehehe, take all the time you need. Attending to your needs shouldn’t be rushed.”

She was up the stairs before I had a chance to retort.

~~~~~~

The tension Bosco and I had built up over the previous day was effectively diffused when I emerged into the bar, after the skipping Schwarzwald, to see the charcoal-grey colt leaning on the mop he had been using to clean up the melted ice, smirking at my dishevelment.

“Sleep well?”

“Nyrhrgrmrwr.”

“You really did a number on this place last night. I’ve just finished clearing up,” his tone became remorseful, “had to throw out that chandelier. Split right down the middle.”

“I’ve got some bits from my delivery work if you want to replace it.” I looked around for my bags.

“Nah, I’m sure there’ll be a spare around somewhere. This place is pretty stocked. I checked out the other rooms. Ready to go for the others when they show up.”

As if to illustrate that point, Schwarzwald returned with three plates of preserved food. “This place is a treasure trove of goodies!” She rolled her eyes at my hesitance to accept food from her and dug into her own with gusto. “See? No poison or drugs or anything. Now tell me about these others.”

Bosco hopped onto a bar stool with his own food, but he appeared just as interested in learning more about the people I’d met on my travels.

I took a quick bite of something that smelled vaguely vegetable-y and found, to my surprise, that it was quite tastily seasoned. I chewed it down and swallowed while I thought of where to begin.

“Well, Bosco has already met Naiara, but I trust her enough for her to stay here. She has no reason to give us any trouble and she’s saved us twice now,” I rubbed the back of my head for a moment, “I mean she did pick a fight with the boss of Plottawa...”

“Oh, she sounds fun. I wish to meet this Naiara.” Evidently there was little that was not fun for Schwarzwald.

“...but we joined in so we can’t fault her for that. She’s saved me a couple more times since then-OH WHAT NOW?!”

Schwarzwald was smiling that aggravating smile again. “You are Red Ice! I heard the radio broadcast after Plottawa was infiltrated. It was you! Oh, dahling, why didn’t you tell me sooner? I am going to have to keep a closer eye on you.”

Fucking. Damn. It.

I wished she would stop bouncing in her seat. “Please go on, tell me more about this lovely friend of yours.”

I frowned but continued. “There isn’t much else. I met up with her a few days ago on the way to Grindstone. She and Breeze, I’ll get to her in a minute, travelled with me until Plottawan slavers attacked the Buffalo. We ran into the country, ended up at a lake called “Sombra’s... something” and split up from there. Naiara had to meet up with some other zebra and then she said she’d be coming to find you, Bosco. Has she contacted you?”

He looked towards Schwarzwald as if expecting some comment before he spoke, but the mention of the lake had shut her up for some reason. Her smile, while still present, had receded slightly when the zebra were mentioned.

When she made no move to speak, he began. “Well as Snow said, Naiara’s a zebra. Hell of a fighter too. She should be around in the next two days. We made the same arrangement that you and her made when you first met. A three-day window. Yesterday was the first day and today and tomorrow are okay too. I told her I’d meet her in Lethbridle. That gives her enough time to meet up with her zebra buddies before showing up.”

“What fascinating individuals you’ve met, Stable pony. I wish to meet this zebra. Is she pretty? And what of this other one, this ‘Breeze’?”

The young stallion shrugged. “Now her, I don’t know. Care to fill us in, Snow?”

I consumed more of my breakfast first, at the same time wondering just how long the conversation would go on before we got to the subject of Wings. “Well I actually met Breeze, sorry, Aqua Breeze, and her sister because of the Red Ice radio broadcast. I had left Lethbridle after Bosco and Naiara brought me back after Plottawa, thanks again by the way, and had taken shelter for the night under an outcropping. I was happily sleeping when my Pipbuck started blaring out that Peanut wanted my head. Breeze and her sister heard the commotion and wanted to see what it was. They found me. Breeze took an instant like to my Pipbuck and her sister thought my Memory Orb was pretty.”

Bet she’s enjoying it now, damn Cassie.

“...When it became clear that I wasn’t gonna give them up, they attacked me. Breeze has some crazy tech and Cassie is a hell of a shot,” I lifted my scarred hoof, “this is her work. Pegged me from the top of a ravine after I’d jumped down into the water.”

Foam and spittle sprayed over me as Bosco spit his drink back out. “You did what?!”

Firmly rubbing the fluid off my face in frustration, I frowned at him. “It was that or be caught. Breeze has these electro-sticks, they form a barrier that hurts like you wouldn’t believe, and she caught me inside. I froze one and got away towards the cliff edge. Dragged my bruised self to Sprinkles Supplies, a caravan outfit to the south of Lethbridle, and took a job as a caravan guard as a way to get to Grindstone and make a few bits in the process. I won’t say I wasn’t happy about the idea of having armed backup either. What I didn’t count on was some of that backup being Breeze and Cassie.”

The pair’s blank faces let me know that I’d missed something out. “Cassie’s her sister. It’s much easier to call her that than Cassiopeia Venatici. Anyway, we didn’t get along on the trip but I got bitten by a Hissyflit and the Steel Rangers showed up and took me to Neighlway. Breeze and Cassie flew off the moment the Rangers arrived.”

“Flew off?” Schwarz cocked her head to the side, “More griffons?”

“Pegasi,” I corrected.

She squeed at that. She honest-to-goodness squeed. I felt it was important to move on quickly before the spell broke. “After the Rangers let me go I ran into Breeze again, who was looking for Cassie. We fought, then Naiara showed up. The three of us went to Grindstone at last and there we got attacked by Plottawan slavers. After we got away again, I sent the other two away and got a message from Wings to meet up in Whinniepeg. When I arrived she, and Cassie for some reason, knocked me out and took my Pipbuck and Memory Orb. Those two are NOT invited to stay here.” I finished definitively.

My story over, we fell into silence for a few seconds. Then Bosco broke it. “I’m getting a room to myself. If I’m gonna be the only guy here then I’m getting my own space.”

“Aww, you don’t want to keep me company?” Schwarzwald purred at him.

He rolled his eyes and ignored her. She turned back to me instead. “Quite the rabble you’ve adopted, Snowflake. Two earth ponies, assuming I am still welcome here after wiping the floor with your cute rear last night, a zebra, two pegasi and a grif-”

“ONE pegasus and no griffon. Not until I get back what is mine. After that... I don’t know. I’m not adopting anybody. And you only won because you suckerpunched me when I was laughing!” I huffed.

“Shall I kiss the booboo and make it all better?” Schwarzwald’s perpetual good mood and libido seemed to be feeding off our surroundings. “Ooh, I know. This place being what it is, it must have some lovely toys. As an apology, you can play with me. All. You. Like.”

I facehoofed, then regretted it as my bruises made themselves known. “Just tell me this proposition of yours so I can find Wings.”

“Oh very well, you spoilsport.”

“That’s exactly what I am. Now let’s go. What do I need to do for you to take me to Wings?”

She was sporting a frankly terrifying smile. “Well, as I’m sure Bosco told you, he and I were working with a group of poachers up past Cefar to capture a Molar Bear. You’ve seen one, no?”

“I’ve seen five.” I clarified, thinking back to the family I stumbled upon with Naiara and Breeze.

Schwarz blinked in surprise before continuing. “And you’re still alive? How fortunate. Anyway, the poachers have their Molar Bear but, since they lost several of their group to the beast, they are not in good condition for hunting their next targets. They asked me to ease their burden.”

Bosco was less than enthusiastic about battling more dangerous predators. “They want us to risk our necks bringing in another round of monsters? I’d rather not. It wasn’t worth it the first time.”

In response, the mercenary mare dug a bag of caps out of a pocket and dumped it out in front of the stunned colt. “Your share. Multiplied by the deaths of the other poachers. More to come if you join me in this new hunt,” she stared evenly at me, “both of you. And, if you assist me, I will bring you Wings.”

Bosco was looking at the money, and Schwarzwald, and me, and back at the money. He appeared torn.

Not that I really felt much happier about the whole arrangement. “Definitely not Molar Bears?”

She nodded. “Definitely not Molar Bears.”

“And I have your word? As soon as we’re done, you take me to Wings?”

“Either I take you to Wings, or I bring Wings to you. I give my word.” She was doing it again, the smile, like she knew I was going to say yes.

Fucking. Damn. It.

“I’m in.” What else could I say? She was my best shot at finding the griffon. I couldn’t pass it up. I’d faced down Molar Bears and Hissyflits. Nothing could be worse, could it?

Bosco was unhappy but calm. “This is you learning to survive, is it, Snowflake?”

I tried to give him a confident smile but, judging by his reaction, it may have been a little lopsided. “I’m trying, Bosco. You don’t have to come if you don’t want to. Remember you’ve still got to meet Naiara by tomorrow.”

He pondered the logistics, turning to Schwarzwald. “How far are these things we’re hunting from here?”

“Not far. An hour west of here. Perhaps two.”

He seemed satisfied. “That’s close enough that we can get this done and get back to meet Naiara in Lethbridle by tomorrow.”

“Excellent!” The bark-and-leaf mare spread her forelegs wide cheerfully, “So you accept my terms, Snowflake-dahling?”

No real choice. I HAVE to find Wings and get my Pipbuck back. “I guess so. Though I still don’t know what we’re hunting.”

~~~~~~