Chapter 8-1: A Welcome Distraction

[I haven’t shown my hand - I’ve shown one card.]

The cold bit at my cheeks, painfully tightening them, as the bitter winds and snow swirled all around me. My Stable goggles kept the worse out of my eyes, but they still stung in the howling blizzard. I stood on the northern barricade in Cefar, facing the snowfields where I’d fought a beast, an unnatural product of Old Equestria, who had immediately introduced me to the harshness of Wasteland life: The Molar Bear.

The monster had chased me over rocks, through the trees and across the snow, all the way to this very wall I stood on. I had only survived because of the timely intervention of the townspeople of Cefar. They included Bosco, the young charcoal colt who had become a trusted companion.

Nobody was around now though, as far as my searching eyes could see into the white. If another of the creatures appeared, then I would be facing it on my own. I knew more existed in the snowfields, thanks to Bosco’s ill-advised participation in an organised hunt of the predators, at the behest of Schwarzwald.

She was another acquaintance I had acquired in my brief stay in the Wasteland. I was not as close to her as I was to Bosco, but I still felt that she was, in her one-of-a-kind way, still a trustworthy pony. She made no claim to be a saint, just showed exactly who she was in everything she did.

Vulnerable as I was, the threat of a Molar Bear attack was not foremost on my mind when staring at the Snowfield. Somewhere in there, hidden by the never-ending storm, was Stable 61. My home.

Without knowing the way, reaching it through the maelstrom was impossible. Even the hardiest of ponies would succumb to the blizzard or the creatures before even getting close. They’d never know if they were either, as the white would blind them.

Still, I thought as my body tilted forward, dropping me from the hard cement wall into the soft white snow beyond the town limits, landing with a crunch, what harm is there in trying anyway?

Tugging my Molar leather clothing tighter around me, and wrapping my heavy white cloak as close as possible to protect against the elements and their penetrating chill, I set off. Almost instantly, the white swallowed Cefar behind me, essentially leaving me with no choice but to continue forward.

It was slow going. I walked for what felt like days, trudging knee deep through snow that never seemed to give until the very last moment. The cold wetness of the frozen rain soaked into my clothing, weighing me down and stealing my heat. I had no markers beyond my own hoofprints behind me to tell me whether I was even still travelling in the same direction as when I started, which I wasn’t even sure was the right direction in the first place, but I doggedly stuck to the line I’d chosen. I passed by trees and rocks at such a slow pace that I might as well have been walking in syrup rather than snow. Still, I continued anyway, willing myself to ignore the cold, the wind, the wetness in my mane that froze and melted and refroze, again and again. One hoof in front of the other, that was all I needed keep going.

About all I can do too.

“Geez, Snow, you’re only this far? It took us like five minutes to get here. You gotta try harder.”

Shut up Wings, you can fly. I’m stuck with my hooves.

“Indeed, Red Ice, you do seem to be struggling. Would you us to show you the way?”

You won’t find it, not even with your eyes, Venatici.

Through my goggles, I could just barely make out the two fliers before me, reclining in the air, their wings somehow utterly untroubled by the sub-zero gales around us. They each bore bright smiles and an utter lack of protective clothing, looking for all the world like they didn’t even notice the blizzard around us.

“Why are you here?” Their presence, and especially those smiles, left me less than pleased. I was somewhat glad for the contact with other people, but did it have to be these two?

Incredulously, the sapphire-eyed griffon performed a few carefree flips in the air, not at all weighed down by the wind and snow as I was. “Cassie just told ya, we’re gonna show you the way!”

The Pegasus with the neat black-and-red mane gave a graceful floating bow. “Happy to be of assistance.”

You’re kidding, right? “You’re kidding, right?”

The pair looked at each other and grinned mischievously. “Well,” they spoke in unison, “we are slightly better equipped than you, after all.”

I stood gaping as the two produced some very familiar items, though from where I couldn’t tell, considering their lack of apparel.

“My Pipbuck! My Memory Orb!”

Wings canted her head to the side, Pipbuck hanging loosely from a claw, while Cassie mirrored the action with the Memory Orb held in her mouth.

“Yours?” Wings’ tone was strange, halfway between a question and a whisper, “If they were yours, you’d know the way.”

Cassie spat the Orb out into her hooves. “Indeed, but don’t worry. We can show you where to go. Please follow us.”

Without another word, the two began flying backwards, away from me. Adrenaline shot through my body in alarm, allowing me to drag my soaking limbs out of the deep snow and stumble after them. “Wait! Come back!”

The two didn’t respond with words. Instead, as their forms began to lose focus within the white, I could hear them giggling.

The sound both worried and angered me. I was worried that I might lose this chance to retrieve my possessions, which reminded me that they’d taken them in the first place, allowing the resulting anger to spur me onwards. “CASSIE! WINGS! GET BACK HERE!” I railed against the storm, trying to force my voice through the whistling of the wind.

I tried, really tried to keep up, but even with anger burning through me, I just couldn’t match the speed of the fliers in the energy-sapping snow. Through the swirl, the two receded, until I couldn’t see who was who, they just appeared as ever-darkening blurs in the distance.

Before I could lose track entirely, happy snippets drifted back along the currents.
“Come on, Snow, not far now.”

“You are almost there.”

“You’re so close!”

“Follow us.”

“Snow.”

“Snowflake.”

My hooves became tangled. I couldn’t help it. I fell. Slamming into the cold, wet snow face-first. Battling my own fatigue, I desperately raised my head, searching frantically for any sign of the disappearing thieves. “N-no! Wait for me!”

Nothing.

The blizzard, as it always had been for two hundred years, continued. The natural world was totally unconcerned with the trials and troubles of one lost little filly chasing after two giggling girls.

Still, I couldn’t give up, even if it was just the barest of sounds now, I could still hear something of the two above the noise. With quaking limbs, I forced myself upright yet again, taking one shambling step after the other. Snowblind, I couldn’t even see the two anymore, I just had to hope that I was still heading in the right direction.

It felt like forever, and perhaps it was, but after two frozen tracks of tears had formed down my cheeks, I was rewarded with the slightest of breaks.

“…’re crazy, Cass!”

That was Wings’ voice! I was sure of it. She was close! Laughing through my ragged gasps, I found some deep, deep store of energy and pushed my tired muscles onwards.

“…te sure I don’t know what you are talking about, Wings.”

Cassie too! I was getting closer. “Wait where you are! I’m almost there!”

“I know for a fact that that ain’t the way to go, Cassie.”

“Do you now? Well I do not intend to get lost just to say ‘I told you so’!”

Were they arguing? Whatever, I didn’t care, so long as they stayed where I could find them.

Mercifully, they did. I finally broke through the worst of the blizzard into a relative calm. There was still a wicked squall, but I could see much more clearly. Or maybe my snow blindness had dampened a little, I couldn’t be sure.

Either way, I beheld the two before me, still floating effortlessly in the chilly havoc. Laughing even as one of my knees gave out, and I crashed down into the snow, my body tensing at the extreme temperature. I kept my eyes on them, though. “F… found you.”

My raspy, almost-silent proclamation nonetheless distracted them from their argument. Blinking together, they turned to face me, still mirroring each other.

“Snowflake! You found us. Great job.”

“Most certainly. Such a relief to see you safe.”

“But you can’t rest now, Snow. We’re almost there.”

“Yes, just a little more and you will be home,” Cassie momentarily paused to roll her eyes at the chocolate-and-cream griffon. “That is, if you follow me. Like this one should be doing.”

Wings dismissively waved away the cyan pegasus’ words. “Ah, ignore her. She’s nuts. Follow me, I know the way.”

“You do not!”

“I totally do!”

“I won’t let you lead Snowflake astray!”

“Well if she goes with you, she’ll be stuck in this storm forever!”

“IS THAT A FACT?!”

“DAMN RIGHT IT IS!”

“WE SHALL SEE!”

“OH YEAH?!”

As the happy smiles morphed into frightful glares, all I could do was lie there in the snow, breathing heavily as my exhaustion slowly built.

As if moving to an unheard cue, Wings and Cassie both whipped their heads around at the same time, to face me. I made no motion, too tired to do anything even as the wind increased and snow began to build around my fallen form.

The fliers didn’t seem to notice my worsening situation. Both made a ‘follow me’ motion with hoof and claw respectively. “This way!” They echoed, before taking off in opposite directions.

Even with the snow piling on and the cold piercing right down to my marrow, I was still driven to panicked action, flailing wildly after each, as if trying to catch them. All I succeeded in doing was flopping over onto my back, one hoof outstretched after each of them. I couldn’t do anything more. My strength was gone. Short, shallow, shuddering breaths were all that I had left in me. Staring up at the sky, too exhausted to even tilt my head, eventually even my goggles were taken by the white.

As I drew closer and closer to a snowy burial, I struggled and tore up my vocal chords just to croak out a few words.

“P-please… don’t leave me… ”

~~~~~~

I opened my eyes. An unfamiliar ceiling lay before me, though I couldn’t focus on it. My terror sweat was drenching the covers of the bed I was lying in. Utterly confused, my eyes darted backwards and forth for a few seconds while I searched for Wings, Cassie, or any signs of the blizzard.

There was nothing. The breath I didn’t know I’d been holding escaped all in one go as the realisation that it was all just a dream began to leach away the fear and panic.

Itchy and damp, I tried to lift my left hoof to wipe my brow… but found it numb and pinned. The unease was back immediately as I feared the frostbitey worst for my leg. Steeling myself, I risked a quick glance down at the damage… except I couldn’t see the thing because there was a grey pony in the way.

“Bosco?”

The lump stirred momentarily, but didn’t wake up, instead simply repositioning himself, still snuggled up to my side and lying on my limb.

I couldn’t help the smile that this brought to my face. At one of us was having an easy sleep. Bosco probably deserved it more than most. He hadn’t been greatly happy to find out about my daring escape from Neighlway after we went through all the trouble of luring Wings and Cassie to us. He’d made it a point to stick close ever since.

I couldn’t tell whether it was because he was afraid for me… or he just didn’t trust me not to get into trouble without him there. I didn’t greatly care either way, it was just nice having him around.

A lock of Bosco’s grey mane, which was longer than I remembered, drifted down onto his face. Since I couldn’t lift the hoof he was lying on to move it, I tried to get it with my other side. No luck there either, as something else had hold of that limb too, keeping it dangling from the side of the bed.

Rolling my eyes in mock frustration, I tiredly rolled my head over to that edge of the bed. The sight I saw there definitely raised an eyebrow.

Bosco… again? This second charcoal pony was not on the bed, instead he was sleeping propped up against the high mattress, my limb draped over his shoulder and grasped in a tight hug, like a precious stuffed animal.

Aww, I cooed internally, Bosco… you’re so sweet. But why are there two of you?

I went back to staring at the ceiling, which for some reason boasted an elaborate oil painting of a beech-furred buffalo with artistically perfect proportions. The buffalo was dressed in gleaming armour and wielding a veritable arsenal in what could only be described as a heroic manner. Artistic interpretation aside, I felt like I knew that buffalo.

He’s definitely familiar, even with the burn marks around the edges… Ah, I remember.

And it all came back. After broadcasting my sorta secret identity as Red Ice to the Wasteland, with help from Fedexi Lexi at Sprinkles Supplies, Naiara and I had gone to find Bosco in Lethbridle.

That’s why there’re two Boscos. Naiara blended her black and white stripes into grey-all-over so we wouldn’t have any trouble at the gate.

It had gone even further than that. Naiara was naturally beautiful anyway and, without the fear of zebras to distract them, the stallions of Lethbridle, including the gate guards, had not hesitated to throw glances aplenty her way. She’d tried to brush it off as nothing at first, but eventually the flattery had turned to embarrassment and she’d sheepish half-hid behind me the rest of the way. I hadn’t complained… mostly because it was really funny.

In Lethbridle proper, we’d surreptitiously arranged a meeting with the leader of the guards, Chief Rockhaunch, through Esto, the remaining science unicorn of the trio who’d agreed to fix my missing Memory Orb. Esto was still hospitalised after her former workmate, Latvi, had sent the griffon assassin, McCoy, after Rockhaunch’s deputy, a beech-furred buffalo called Dent. This had led to a shootout between Dent, McCoy, and later myself, in an apartment block where Dent was visiting his marefriend, Esto’s other science colleague, Lithu.

Who’s apartment we were currently inhabiting since she had gone with into hiding at Grindstone with Dent, to protect them from McCoy.

Esto still isn’t happy that I got Lithu OR Dent involved, but at least she gave us a roof over our heads while we’re in town. Rockhaunch wanted us to avoid public places after my revelation. It’s as good a place as any, even if it is a little worse for wear after all the trouble. I’ll be sure to apologise again later.

I gave an experimental tug on my front legs. All that it produced was a synchronised murmur of protest from Bosco and Bosco-ra, who then snuggled even closer and tighter into me. Their chorus halted me for a moment as I remembered the unsettling dream fliers who had spoken together as well. This soon faded as I smiled again at the two adorable ponies sleeping so peacefully.

My attempt to rise defeated, there was no real reason to stay awake, so I closed my eyes and allowed myself to drift off again, this time quite sure my slumber would be pleasant.

~~~~~~

“So… what now?”

It was a good question. The three of us were sat around a breakfast table, enjoying some pastries. Earlier, I’d awoken to find Bosco gone from the bed and my hoof free, so I’d used it to rouse Naiara. The colt had apparently woken up peckish, as he’d returned with the food just as I was helping Naiara reapply her makeup after bathing.

Lithu’s apartment, aside from the ceiling art, was quite utilitarian. I guessed she spent a lot of time at the lab, or perhaps at Dent’s place. There was, unfortunately, no spacious bath like at Hoofshine Harlots, which I would need to take Naiara to sometime soon, but the shower did the job and left us feeling refreshed for the day.

As Naiara and I chewed and pondered, Bosco continued. “We’ve all got stuff to take care of, I think. I kinda want to find out more about these Orbs of mine…”

I nodded, not arguing with his goal. It wasn’t fair to expect him to drop everything to help me find my one Orb while he had just had a breakthrough with the three he’d been struggling with for years. I’d help him out in any way I could, too.

Even if it meant taking me away from going after Wings and Cassie.

Naiara gulped down the last of her fruit juice, somehow managing to do it without marking the glass with her body paint. “That sounds like fun. I might get called away on zebra business at some point but I’m basically free right now. I can help you out, Bosco.”

I agreed, shooting him a reassuring smile. “I’m in too. It’s the least I can do after all your help.”

The Boscos shared a quick look. “Are you sure, Snowflake? I mean, you’ve got a lot on your plate right now.”

Don’t I know it. But it’s not all about me, Bosco. “Yeah maybe, but you heard Rockhaunch. He wants me to lay low until some of the excitement dies down. Red Ice can wait a little while. I want to help, Bosco, not just get helped. Do you not want me to?”

“N-no, of course I do! I’d love your help, Snow!”

His brief lack of composure had Naiara smirking behind her glass, for which I gave her a gentle-ish kick under the table.

The matter decided, we were lapsing back into an easy silence Naiara jumped back in. “Speaking of helping, Snow, you think you might want to help me out if I get some zebra work? Having a unicorn around could be useful. ‘specially one that doesn’t hate zebras.”

I felt honoured. “Absolutely. Would it mean I got to meet more of your tribe?” At her nod, my enthusiasm grew again, “Great! I’ve only met Cept so far, can’t wait to meet the others!”

“Eheheh… yeah…” For some reason that wasn’t welcome news to the filly. She’d looked away and her smile had shrunk.

Confused, I was about to follow up when Bosco interrupted. “Yeah, what’s up with that guy? He your brother?”

She blinked. “Cept? No, he’s not my brother. Well, he sorta is. I mean, I’ve known him my whole life but we aren’t the same blood.”

She’d apparently expected much more resistance to the idea, as she was pretty surprised when Bosco just nodded in understanding. “Right, like Snow and her brothers.”

Her interest piqued, Naiara swung the topic back to me, scooting closer and leaning in. “You’ve got brothers? How many? Bigger or smaller? Are they cute? Any sisters?”

“Whoa, easy!” As I leaned back to avoid her, I held my hooves out in front as a halting gesture… which meant they weren’t keeping me steady at the table and, unbalanced, I slipped off my chair and hit the ground.

“You okay?”

Stifling a curse, I rubbed the back of my head as Naiara hopped off her chair to help me up. “Sorry, svara.”

I waved away her concern. “I’m okay. Anyway, to answer at least one of your questions, I have three brothers. They’re all bigger than me but, well… they’re still my little brothers.”

Bemused, the painted zebra looked between the two of us. “What the heck does that mean?”

“Get this,” Bosco chuckled, “Snow’s brothers are buffalo.”

“NO WAY!”

I nodded “It’s true, their names are Buff, Al and Lo Doublehorn.”

She scoffed, echoing the reaction I’d gotten from Wings when I told her this back in Vanchoofer. “Oh come on, how do you keep finding these people? Buffalo brothers named Buff, Al, and Lo. A griffon called Wings, and some random who calls himself Watcher.”

“Don’t forget Snowflake with the cutie mark of a snowflake.”

“Shaddup Bosco.” I could at least defend myself on that front. I liked my cutie mark.

“Three buffalo brothers… “ Naiara was musing to herself, “I wonder if they’re cute.”

All I could give was a slightly queasy shrug. “Wouldn’t know, I mean Lo got looks from the buffalo girls in the Stable but, come on, they’re my brothers. I can’t see them like that.”

“Yeah, I can understand that, I guess. I feel the same about Cept. He’s family.”

“Plus I think Breeze has a thing for him.”

“Oh she totally does. Would not stop staring the first time she met him.”

Bosco was totally lost by now. “Um… didn’t Breeze try to kill Snow a few times, why are you so chummy with her, Naiara?”

The zebra just gave him a helpless smile. “I felt the same way at first, but Snow said I couldn’t kill her. Messed her up good though, filly can’t fight hoof-to-hoof worth a damn. She might even be worse than Snowflake!”

“HEY!”

“Suck it up, it’s true.”

I pouted. “Still, cheap shot.”

Naiara waved me off and continued. “Anyway, Breeze went after Snow when she and her sister Cassie, who I believe you’ve met, got separated. Breeze really loves her sister. I think that’s why Snow forgave her so easily.”

“Basically.” What could I say? I had a soft spot for family.

“So me, Snow and Breeze went looking for Cassie in Grindstone, got in a heap of trouble with Plottawa slavers and Molar Bears, then Snow kicked us out of the cave we were taking shelter in.”

“I said I was sor-“

“Lemme finish the story! Anyway, after that, Breeze and I went straight to Cept and asked for his help in tracking her down. Well, after the love hearts stopped anyway. We were a little late at Whinniepeg, but we got to Neighlway and busted her out. You know the rest.”

He took it all in and mulled it over before responding. I could understand. Things kinda went chaotic after the cave at Crystal Point. “Well… glad she found her sister again.”

“Speaking of which,” Naiara was having all the fun she could, “what do you think Bosco?”

“Huh?”

“Well, you saw Cassie. Breeze looks just like her, except for a blue’n’white mane rather than red’n’black. Oh, and her feathers change colour along the wingtips. Think she sounds cute?”

Looking slightly trapped, Bosco shot a glance my way before meekly responding. “I… uh…”

A thick, heavy rapping on the door saved him from answering. Naiara shot to the mirror to double check that she was properly concealed. Wary of Red Ice’s enemies, Bosco was instantly serious, drawing his pistol and waving me back. I stepped over with Naiara as he carefully approached the door and looked through the eyehole. His shoulder relaxed as he saw who it was. Holstering his gun, he opened the door to reveal the chief standing there, wooden faced and oaken-furred.

“Something’s come up. You need to come with me.”

~~~~~~

“And they’re just standing there?”

From atop the monolithic wall surrounding Lethbridle, Chief Rockhaunch,, Naiara, Bosco and I stood with the guards and surveyed the scene outside the west gate of the city.

Two dozen Raiders loitered outside, under the watchful eye of the guards. They seemed to wear whatever they could get their hooves on, mostly dirty leather barding that covered varying amounts of their bodies. Most all of the Raiders had a wild, unkempt look to them, with unruly manes and garish tattoos. Even as they waited, three squabbles broke out which almost instantly descended into hoof-and-teeth scrapping. It didn’t seem to matter to either Raider who they were fighting, mares and stallions went at it regardless of size or build. It was chaotic to look upon.

Still, one Raider stood apart from the others, his attention away from his brethren, casually cycling between the gate itself and those staring down from the wall’s summit. He was a massive stallion, easily outmassing any of the others by a good margin. It was all muscle too, he radiated strength as he stood tall. His fur was a bright orange, and his muttonchop whiskers extended up into his wild locks. His mane looked green at first, but on a closer examination it was a checkered mix of watery green and blue. He wore only a thick bandolier, from which hung an enormous shotgun and a truly intimidating axe. It gleamed in the sunshine, it’s sharpness apparent even from up here.

“What do they want?” Being around more Raiders had Bosco, and myself, feeling less than thrilled.

Sighing wearily, but still wearing his concern on his horns, the Chief pointed a hoof at me. “They want her.”

“Me?” Raiders wanted me? What for?

The buffalo hadn’t smiled in the entire time we’d been with him today. “Yeah. They showed up hours ago. Didn’t do anything to the ponies trying to get through the gate, just waited until it was clear, then the bigger one there said… something. Seriously I couldn’t understand him, he sounds pretty drunk. Though we definitely caught ‘Snowflake’ and ‘Red Ice’ in there somewhere.”

“That’s… probably not good.” I was struggling mightily to find a way to see this as anything but terrible. My one experience with Raiders had been altogether negative. They’d all tried to kill me, forcing me to wound several and cause the deaths of at least two of them.

Naiara had been lying down with her chin hanging over the edge of the wall, watching the show. The individual fights were in danger of sparking an all-out brawl. “That’s all they said? Drunken ramblings about Snow? Couldn’t you have just fired a few warning shots to get them to leave?”

“We did. A few of them went to leave but stopped as soon as they saw the one in front hadn’t moved.”

So he’s the boss then. It says a lot when a drunk can lead a group of this size. Not exactly sure what it says a lot for, but a lot is being said.

The bearded stallion cocked his head to the side slightly, taking in the growing discord behind him. A frustrated look crossed his face. Raising a single hoof, he slammed it down into the ground, sending up a small dust cloud and sounding like a gunshot.

The effect was immediate and profound. Instantly the brawling Raiders disengaged and backed off from each other. They didn’t exactly get themselves into regimental formation but all their eyes were now on the obvious leader’s next move.

He turned back to Lethbridle, craning his head upwards to look at us. “Ho, yous fellas up top there. We’ll be here all day if we hav’tae, but ahm no wantin’ t’be. Can we see Red Ice now? Promise we’ll be on our best behaviour an’ all.”

His thick, guttural accent certainly gave the impression of severe inebriation, but his actions were a clear indicator that he was possessed of sobriety, and that he was no mindless savage. This pony knew what he was doing.

My three friends looked at me as we tried to piece together all of what he’d said. The stallion noticed who their attention was focused on. His voice, still hard and heavily accented, took on a more cheerful tone. “Is that her? Oi, Red Ice, can ah get a wee word wi’ yeh?”

Rockhaunch throat rumbled, disgruntled. “What are we gonna do about this? They’ve been true to their word so far. They plan on staying until they see Red Ice. We can’t have them keeping traffic away from one of our gates. Still, I’m not just gonna hand Snowflake over to a bunch of Raiders. They probably just want the bounty. It’s gone up, by the way.”

“No kidding?” Bosco looked amused and impressed, “How much?”

“A lot,” he deadpanned, “more than enough to make a lot of ponies think about going for it themselves. You need to watch yourself, even around ponies you think are safe.”

I gulped as the Raider gave a jaunty wave. He clearly knew enough to cash in the bounty. A smart Raider with a decent war chest and two dozen reasonably well-equipped followers could be very dangerous indeed.

“Why don’t you just shoot him?” Naiara had apparently seen enough.

She got a look in return that told her she should know better. “We do that and then we’ve got over twenty nutcases charging the gate, hungry for revenge. They can’t come inside.”

He had a point. There was no guarantee that, even with all the authority he clearly had over the Raiders, killing the sane one would cause anything but a firefight as the rest fought back. The orange Earth pony might have an ounce of civility somewhere under all that mane, but the others didn’t seem possessed of the same level of impulse control. It was a disaster waiting to happen. Rockhaunch’s guards shouldn’t have to deal with problems I caused.

“I think I should go talk to him.”

Instantly, I was dragged away from the edge. Bosco had a vice-like bite on my tail. “Bosco! Stop that.”

Spitting out the last few hairs, his grey eyes were hard as he addressed me. “Don’t even bother getting angry at me! I told you what happens to ponies who try talking to Raiders. Dead to the last one! I told you this. I’m not gonna let you do something this fucking stupid just after all the trouble you’ve been through. Not again. You’re not gonna get lucky forever, Snow!”

Wow. That’s… more forceful than I’m used to from Bosco. I was both happy that he cared as much as he did, and a little annoyed at his attitude. Hadn’t I proven yet that I could handle myself even a little bit? I mean, I did survive all that stuff he was talking about, too. Didn’t that count for something?

Looking to Naiara and Rockhaunch for support, I found none. There was concern there, just like Bosco, but they too seemed to think my track record made this a mistake.

Things were so much simpler when they were asleep. Cuter too. “Rockhaunch does need the gate cleared guys. We can’t just sit here waiting all day, just hoping they wander off. They’ll get bored fairly soon. Do you think that will end well?”

It took all three of them a few seconds to respond. Bosco’s constantly shifting facial expressions were the most obvious indicator, but they all seemed to be trying to find the holes in what I said. Rockhaunch looked most unhappy, torn between his duty to the city and the safety of a pony who he thought well of.

I hope he likes me anyway.

Thoroughly frustrated, the chief eventually nodded. “Urgh, fine. But you’re not going by yourself. We’re gonna do this right. This is my town, you listen to what I say.”

Naiara and Bosco seemed happier with somebody talking what they thought of as sense, and stepped closer to listen to the plan.

“Right, well I’m gonna have guards along the wall the entire time. They see anything that doesn’t look right and they’ll open fire. Snowflake… ”

“Yeah?” Rockhaunch was back in chief mode, not taking any chances and doing all he could to keep everybody safe. It wasn’t the time to talk back. This was, as he said, his town.

“If you’re gonna go down there, see if you can get the guy in front to send the others away. He shouldn’t be able to disagree if he’s really here to talk. Bosco will back you up from the gate-”

“Aaactually, I think I’m better up here, chief.” The charcoal colt had been nodding until that last part.

“Excuse me?” Rockhaunch looked like he was expecting another stupid suggestion, similar to my earlier one.

The colt drew his pistol. “I’m a pretty good shot. If I stay up here, and if Snow can get the Raider to take off his weapons, then even if he makes a run for the gate or Snow, Naiara’s our best unarmed fighter, she can deal with him while I help with the rest of the Raiders.”

The zebra didn’t disagree, in fact she looked impressed. “Aw shucks, Bosco. You’ll make me blush. Still, you’re good at this.”

“Yeah, well… “

“HELLO? YOU STILL AROOND? AH’M GETTING’ A WEE BIT BORED O’ WAITIN’!” The other Raiders struggled to stay still too. It seemed like what I’d said about bored Raiders was accurate.

Rockhaunch still wasn’t exactly satisfied, but he liked this plan better than my basic outline. “Okay, if you say so. Naiara will go with Snowflake. We’ll keep watch from up here. If the Raider doesn’t send the others away AND drop his gear, you don’t let Snowflake get one step outside of that gate, understand?”

We all saluted. It just seemed like the thing to do. Rockhaunch’s calm strength brought it out of us.

As we dropped the salutes, he quietly moaned to himself. “We’re gonna regret this.”

~~~~~~

Making my way down the wall, I passed plenty of ponies and buffalo heading the other way, all wielding heavy guns. The glances they shot me varied greatly. I had to wonder how they felt about me.

To them, was I Li’l Stronghead? The funny little filly who screams at ghouls and then headbutts the chief? Strange, but basically a harmless pseudo-mascot and friend to Lethbridle’s guards.

Or, was I Red Ice? Who strolled into Lethbridle and Neighlway and poked the Molar Bears within, leading to strife in and around the streets of Lethbridle? McCoy’s attack no doubt caused a lot of double shifts and injuries, perhaps deaths, and could easily be laid at my hooves. I got enough glares to know that this was at least the way that some of them felt.

I didn’t blame them. They had every right to be upset that I was doing all this. Bringing Raiders to Lethbridle’s city steps was not the best way to make amends. Owning up to being Red Ice was supposed to be a way to steal some power away from the threats around me, but so far it was looking like it’d just make more blood bubble up through the cracks.

The guards at the gate, at least, were too busy watching the Raiders to pay me much attention. They knew what was going to happen but wouldn’t try to help me if they thought it would put the gate in jeopardy.

With Bosco up on the wall, Naiara was really my only support here.

She still managed to get a smile from me, nudging me reassuringly as the gate rattled open. As per Rockhaunch’s plan, I made no move to leave the gateway.

The Raider had noticed the gate opening and was curiously peering into the shade. “That you, Red Ice? Wee touch on the gloomy side in there.”

Naiara was slowly and surreptitiously loosening up her muscles as I cleared my throat to respond. “Yes, I’m Red Ice. Nice to meet you…”

Suddenly, the stallion began belting out a hearty laugh and holding his stomach. “Ahahaha! I didnae e’en gi’ mah name, did ah? Well nae wunner this was takin’ ages. Oh dearie me. I’m Caber Toss. Pleasure t’meet yeh.” He continued his mirthful mock-despair, and his jostling gave me a chance to look at his cutie mark, two crossed, branchless tree trunks.

I heard snickering behind me as Naiara failed to hide her amusement at the strange Raider. Not wanting to inadvertently offend him, which could lead to trouble, I tried to move the conversation along. “Uh… Caber? I’d like to talk more, but there are a lot of people with guns up top who want you to get rid of your Raiders first.”

He stopped cavorting. “Aye? Well the problem wi’ that is, ah’m all by my lonesome wi’, as yeh just pointed oot, a whole bunch o’ guns pointed at me.”

He was definitely not the same class of Raider as those Bosco and I had fought when I was only a day or so outside of the Stable.

Wow, that seems like a long time ago.

Still, he had a point. Any thinking being would consider this a bad deal. “The guards promise you won’t be harmed if you send your friends away.” Hoping to smooth things over, I spread my hooves to indicate that I was unarmed. Behind me, I heard Naiara doing the same.

He took a brief moment to greet her, “How you doin’, hen? Ah’m Caber,” before turning back to me with a very strange smile on his face. “Well, y’know that’d make me feel a whole lot better an’ all, but ah’m no talking tae the guards, am I? I’m talking to Red Ice.”

“… okay?”

His grin, still somehow off-putting, didn’t waver. “Well ah’m gonnae need the word o’ Red Ice on that. You gimme your word an’ ah’ll believe yeh.”

Naiara just shrugged when I looked back at her, no more sure of how to take that than I was. Still, I said I’d talk to him, so…

“Alright then. I give you my word. You won’t be harmed while we talk and will be allowed to walk away unharmed when we’re done, weapons and all. Oh, you’ll also need to remove your weapons while we talk.”

He sucked some breath in through his teeth. “ ’m afraid that’s nae good, doll. Sayin’ it all quiet-like. Ah’m gonnae need yeh t’say it nice an’ loud, enough so that all mah pals back there an’ your lot on the wall will hear. Ah’ll drop mah gear soon as y’do.”

Why did that matter? Still, it wasn’t an unreasonable request given what he was agreeing to. Taking a deep breath, I began to shout.

“I, RED ICE, GIVE MY WORD THAT THIS RAIDER WILL NOT BE HARMED AND WILL BE ALLOWED TO WALK AWAY WITHOUT ISSUE.”

Instantly chatter burst out from everywhere; the guards behind me in the gate, those on top of the wall, and the Raiders behind Caber Toss all were talking amongst themselves.

The orange and tartan stallion’s smile turned honest. Supremely satisfied, he immediately tossed the bandolier aside. “Couldnae ask for more,” turning to his followers, he stamped his trunk-like hoof three times, “go on, yeh maddies, away wi’ yeh. I’ll be along later on.”

The Raider throng didn’t need to be told twice. They bolted as soon as they could, followed by the guns of the wall guards, and Bosco.

After they’d disappeared, Caber took a few steps away from the gate, and his gear, and turned back around, an expectant look in his eyes.

“Now or never.” Whispered Naiara as she trotted past me into the daylight, acting the part of dutiful bodyguard. She made sure to keep the distance between herself and Caber Toss shorter than the distance between him and his weaponry.

Taking a final deep breath, I followed her. In one way, we were as unarmed as Caber Toss now was. In another way, she was Naiara. Even with Caber Toss’ impressive strength, I didn’t doubt for a moment that he was no match for my svara’s Stompeii Emboli training.

Still, if he put so much stock in Red Ice’s word then it wouldn’t hurt to play up the part a little bit, right? “So, Caber Toss, what can Red Ice do for you?”

His response was as loaded as it was simple.

“Unite us.”

Blank stares were all he got in response, so he continued. “Y’know, the Raiders. Unite us. Unite the clans!”

Not one suitable word came to mind. “Uh… unite you?”

He nodded emphatically. “Aye. Truth be tol’, ah’ve been after this for a wee while now. See, raidin’ isnae ‘xactly an easy life. Specially wi’ mah lot. Ah’m spendin’ most o’ mah time tryin’ tae find ways o’ keepin’ mah lot from starvin’ or being feckin’ eedjits. It’s getting’ on mah tits, frankly.

But then ah heard the broadcasts o’er the radio, ‘bout a filly who was snubbin’ her snoot at them slavers in Plottawa, an’ that mess in Grindstone. The more ah asked aroun’, the more ah was hearin’ the name. Yeh’re no one o’ them goodie-goodies either, but yeh’re tough. Perfect for a Raider queen!”

“A Raider… queen?” I was being asked to take over the most dangerous ponies in the Wasteland. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Yet this bright orange buck was sitting there telling me this as if it was to be expected! What the hell?!

“Oh aye, perfect for it. A few days ago, when yeh made that speech on your own, ‘bout no’ bein’ friends wi’ Plottawa OR them bloody Rangers, an’ talkin’ about huntin’ down that Blue Fire, who’s went an’ killed a fair few Raiders in her time? Oh, it was enough to have me greetin’ intae me porridge!”

Oh no. Oh, I am a stupid, stupid girl. I had totally forgotten that Wings had killed an entire Raider camp as Blue Fire, and probably more that I hadn’t heard about. By setting my sights on her over the airwaves, I’d inadvertently set myself up as saviour of the Raiders.

Bosco’s never gonna let me hear the end of this. And I dread to think about what Breeze’ll say. Cassie hates Raiders with a passion, Breeze wouldn’t disagree with her sister about this. It’s gonna be just so much fun the next time I see either of them.

“You want me to lead your Raiders?” What kind of answer was this crazy stallion expecting me to give?

He wasn’t even done surprising me. “Oh, no, no’ just mah lot. All the Raiders around here. See, there’s basically four big groups; there’s mah Haylanders, yeh just met them. Then in the northeast, on the other side o’ Lethbridle, y’got the Barnstormers, mostly they raid farms an’ such. The leader’s a fella by the name o’ Four Fields. Cannae tell yeh much about him. Mostly the Haylanders stay aroond Whinniepeg, which is another reason ah wanted tae meet yeh so badly. Couldnae believe yeh were so close when yeh told the whole Wasteland who yeh were.”

It just got worse and worse. It was all I could do to keep from smacking myself in the face.

Blissfully aware of my inner turmoil, Caber Toss continued his sales pitch. “After the Barnstormers, there’s the Deep Divers southwest o’ Lethbridle. Dunno why but they don’t hurt from radiation so much, so they’ve taken t’diving in lakes lookin’ for stuff tae pull back up. Lass called Undertow’s in charge. She’s no’ so bad, always smells o’ wet pony though, even days after.”

Lovely.

“An’ last but no’ least, there’s the Woodpeckers, no’ far from Vanchoofer. Ever been round that way?”

“Aye, I mean, yes.” I was NOT going to start talking like that.

“Well Ballbuster’s the boss o’ the Woodpeckers,” he shuddered momentarily before collecting himself, “frankly, yeh can find oot ‘bout her all by yehrself.”

Oh great, a Raider who scares Raiders. Why me?

“So yeh want the job, Red Ice? All yeh gotta do is talk those three round and the Raiders’ll be set for life, wi’ you on top.” He took a step towards me in his excitement.

Instantly Naiara was between us. “HEY! Back off!”

Without a word, he did. “Whoa, hol’ on there, hen. Didnae mean anythin’ by it. Just got a wee bit carried away ‘s all,” he clapped his hooves together eagerly, “tell yeh what, ah’ll come back ‘n th’morrow. Gives Red Ice a chance to think it over. Sound fair?”

As I was still somewhat rocked by the whole thing, Naiara dismissed him for me. “Yeah, fine. Grab your things and be on your way.”

The most-unRaiderly-Raider gave a mock salute as he slipped the bandolier back over his shoulder. “Nae danger.”

~~~~~~