Chapter 19-2: Group Rate

The crunch of hooves on the fresh morning snow helped to ease me through my drowsiness. ’s too early for this. “Can I go back to bed?”

“Not just yet, dahling. This should not take long.” Schwarzwald’s step was light, as was her tone. The older mare walked us to the back of the property.

I yawned, teary-eyed. “Why couldn’t the others be woken up again?” She’d dodged my questions through shushs while we were still inside. “What’s with the sneakiness?”

She just chuckled. “The others need their rest after yesterday, of course. It is very early, after all.”

“And I don’t get to sleep?” I grumbled as I rubbed a hoof in my eye.

Blowing out a short stream of mist, she turned fully to me. “That is what I aim to discover, mistress.”

I neglected to suppress another yawn. “You’re cryptic a lot, Schwarzwald. Doesn’t surprise me anymore.”

“No?” Despite what I’d said, I was trying to find her agenda. Her voice betrayed little, and nothing I could use to read her intentions. “I suppose that is to be expected. Red Ice has strange bedfellows, and Snowflake has adjusted accordingly.”

“Okay, so I guess that this is gonna be kinda important,” I unconsciously leaned against a tree, dozing. “but does it have to be now? ‘s barely light out.”

Schwarzwald shrugged her shoulders, followed by her whole body. “I think it is best that we have…” She stopped for a moment, cocking her head to the side in a few seconds of silence, before continuing. “...a measure of privacy, for what we must talk about.”

“...zzzz…”

“...Snowflake? Dahling?”

The words were just whispers in the haze. I could feel myself slipping away, back to sleep. Back to my nice warm bed, and my nice warm pillows, and my nice warm blanket, and my nice warm lips, and…

!!!

“I’M UP!” I half-snorted, breaking the kiss that the scarred merc had snuck on me.

Schwarzwald caressed her own lips. “It has been too long since our last kiss, I have missed this, mistress.”

“You know, normal people just get breakfast when they wake up.”

She didn’t stop caressing. “I do not think that anypony present can truly be called ‘normal’, Snowflake. Did I upset you?”

The adrenaline wake-up jolt was already fading. “Nah. I’m not exactly new to your quirks, am I? No harm, no foul.”

“And if I had done you harm?” Her voice lost its lustful warmth. “What then?”

I matched the edge in those words. “Why are you asking? You aren’t as hard to read as you think, you know. For all your games, it’s pretty obvious when you get serious.” Like when Watcher’s around. Should I tell you I know? What then?

Her conifer eyes sparkled. “I love that you think about me when we are apart. However, I would like an answer to my question.”

“...I’d stop you.”

“How?”

I lit my horn as an answer.

Proving that she still COULD surprise me, she clapped energetically. Her expression hadn’t changed, however. “Very good, dahling. I think you have waited long enough to join the fun.”

My mind briefly flashed back to Whitepony. We’ve had this conversation before.

She wasn’t done. “But… did I wait too long? Are you going to have too much fun?”

Heaving myself off the tree, I squared my hooves. “What do you mean?”

Her eyes flicked upwards for the briefest of moments before responding. “Finish your answer. You would stop me. How? Would you mark me? Freeze me? Kill me?”

“No!” I retorted sharply. “I’m not gonna kill you.”

“No?” Schwarzwald had abandoned all pretense at this point, instead stepping her tall, scarred frame into my personal space. “I harm you, yet you refuse to kill me? Why?”

I didn’t back down, or look away. Conifer met orange. “Because I don’t want to kill you. You don’t deserve to die.”

“Are you so sure? The things I have done-”

“Don’t matter, not to me.” She stayed silent, willing me to continue. “I’m not gonna speak for Wings, or Bosco, or the twins, or Naiara, or any of my friends. I’m not even gonna speak for my sister. I tried speaking for others before, tried speaking for the entire Wasteland, even. The result was the Red Ice and her Raider army.”

Leaning forwards, my horn traced along a scar on her cheek. “I can only speak for myself, and I don’t want my friends to die. I don’t want you to die.”

Now she stepped back, taking in all of me. “And the twins? They are among your friends?”

“Well, I mean, they’re not exactly my best friends,” I stammered, before finishing more forcefully, “but no, I don’t want them to die, either. I don’t want to want them to die.”

For several long seconds, she said nothing. Did nothing. Schwarzwald just stood there, not staring at anything. Finally, her stance shifted in a half-bow, half-skip. “Snowflake, you are endless entertainment. I have not had this much fun in years.”

“Fan...tastic.” I deadpanned.

A creak sounded above us, and I glanced up just in time to get an eyeful of falling snow. “Ah! Bleh!” Swiping at the offending precipitation, I tried to dislodge it by shaking my head from side to side.

“Allow me.” A wood-brown hoof reached over and roughly tussled my mane. When most of it was shaken off, I looked up at Schwarzwald.

She was not looking back, but rather watching the sky through a gap in the trees with a knowing smile. “It would appear that she has heard enough.”

“She?” Following her gaze, I spotted a winged figure silhouetted against the cloud barrier. At this distance I could see little beyond undefined chocolate-and-cream. “Wings?”

Schwarzwald’s characteristic mirth was in full force now. “Yes. Did you not notice her on the roof as we moved around the building? She has been listening intently, dear Snowflake. She even perched herself in the tree above to hear better.”

“So she heard all that?” How’s she gonna take my answers?

“It would appear so, though I cannot guess what it was you said that sent her away.” Chuckling again, she turned back towards the brothel. “I am sure she will return soon enough. Come, let us catch up on our sleep.”

~~~~~~

Wings hadn’t said anything about our conversation when she returned, at least not to me. I’d been snoozing down in the master bedroom when she got back a few hours later. She’d gathered everybody in the bar area, though Undertow and I sat on the other side of the room from Breeze and Cassie. The others were scattered around the room, taking whatever seat was closest.

Glancing at each one of us in turn, Wings cleared her throat. “Alright, so… what now? We’ve all been busy over the past little while, and we’ve all got stuff on our plates, so let’s decide who’s going where. First things first, what needs taking care of?”

“Naiara!” Breeze started us off around the room, with an point I could get behind.

“Raiders.” Cassie intoned, flicking her eyes towards me.

“My other Orbs.” Bosco put in, leaning forward in his chair.

“I have a request from Amber.” Schwarzwald said, while doing the opposite.

Wings shrugged. “Got some Blue Fire business.”

“Naiara AND Raiders.” Undertow’s forceful voice surprised me a little.

All eyes settled on me for last. Um. “Well… Naiara and the Raiders, as said. There’s also Plottawa, the Steel Rangers at Neighlway, the silver and gold fog creatures, Latvi, who I guess would be mostly the same as the Raiders for now, and a group of pissed off griffon Mercs led by a guy named McCoy. Wings…”

Instantly her sapphire eyes went wide, and she gave a few rapid shakes of her head. what? Do you not want them to know about your deal with Eitom and Wicker? Well, fine, but that will need to be addressed at some point. “...might know some more about them. ‘cause she’s a griffon, y’know?”

“So we’re leaving her stuff for last?”

The tech-loving pegasus’ snark was probably justified, so I let it slide. I did have one last thing to put in the pile though. “Oh, and Atesh and his zebra are up to something. That can probably wait until we find Naiara, huh?”

Wings pinched the bridge of her beak. “...Probably. So it sounds like we’re gonna be busy. What’s first?”

“Naiara.” Myself, my sister, and Breeze all piped up.

“Orbs.” Bosco said at the same time. It earned him a withering look from Breeze and I. Kinda harsh for you, Bosco.

Cassie fluttered her wings above her head, drawing our attention. “I do not like seeing the Raiders operating for any longer than is necessary, but going by what we saw at the last confrontation,”

“You mean where you shot me through the chest?” I held the hoof she’d also perforated to my breast.

She didn’t so much as look at me. “but, as they are now supported by McCoy’s griffons, and are engaged in large-scale battles with Plottawa and Neighlway, I must advocate caution in how we deal with them. They are too many, and too dangerous, to be anything but extremely prepared beforehoof.” She grimaced, but soldiered on. “Therefore I would prefer we take care of other matters until we have the time to create a foolproof strategy. With any luck, this will also give the slavers and Rangers time to reduce their numbers slightly.”

“Okay, so they’re out for now.” Wings turned to her longest-serving partner. “Schwarz, what’s your request from Amber?”

Schwarzwald righted herself, before grinning. “I am sure you can guess, Blue Fire. Amber has requested that I provide security for her operatives as they retrieve some more specimens. I believe she called them ‘Poseideceros’.”

Undertow perked up. “Poseideceros? But they are found in-”

“Indeed. Amber has sent her staff to Soft Swell Lake.”

My little sister jumped off her seat, vibrating. “That is MY lake!”

“Apparently, dear Amber disagrees.”

Undertow stomped her hoof forcefully. “We must stop her!”

Snapping her talons to draw our attention, Wings stepped forwards. “And that’s my business as Blue Fire. It was brought to my attention by an ‘anonymous’ tip.” Cue telling look between the Griffon and Earth mare. “I’ve managed to break up some, but not all, of the animal raids that the Bernstein Conclave is putting together for Red Eye, and this will be no different. Since our interests overlap, shall we tackle this one first?”

“HEY!” Breeze interjected. “What about Naiara?”

“Well get to her.” Bosco gruffed back. “But at least we KNOW where Soft Swell Lake is. Naiara could be anywhere in the Wasteland. This little raid of Wings’ also has a time limit. I want to find Naiara too, but she is more than capable of taking care of herself for an extra day or two.”

The colt squared his shoulders, eyes unfocusing for a second. “And besides, this might be helpful for me too.”

As the ones who’d been staying quiet and listening, Cassie and I were well placed to share a confused look. “Did, uh, did we miss a step there?”

“Yes, Bosco. How did you draw that conclusion?”

His slate-grey eyes dropped slightly. “Well, we tracked the gold fog creatures to Whinniepeg, right? And we found the silver fog, and my first Memory Orb, in the agriculture facility.”

“Yes, we understand all that, but I still do not see your point.” Judging by their stares, none of the other four were any less in the dark on the matter.

The colt lifted his head again, flashing a helpless, slightly uncertain smile. “Well, Whinniepeg is close to the Haylanders’ stomping grounds right? Same with the Barnstormers and the facility. Soft Swell Lake is Deep Diver territory, so…”

“What, you think they’re working with the Raiders?” Try as I might, I couldn’t see it.

Neither could he, judging by his shaking head. “No, not really. It’s just a coincidence that popped into my head just now. I… don’t really have any better leads.” He blinked, then raised his head slightly. “Actually, me and Snow are still owed a favour from Amber. Well, At least I still am. Don’t know if Snow’s cashed hers in yet.”

“Not yet.”

“So we could call in those favours if this doesn’t pan out, but I still want to work the Raider-fog angle first, even if it is farfetched.”

Schwarzwald rolled out of her booth, stepping over to the colt with a sly smile. “Perhaps it is not so farfetched, Bosco-dahling. Even if the Raiders are not involved, there are few others who would willingly travel near their bases. These fog creatures have proven to be adept at hiding, and may be simply using the Raiders as unwitting guard dogs, to scare others away.”

Breeze pulled a face. “That’s twisted.”

She grinned lopsidedly. “Perhaps, but not without some sense to it. Still, it is just a theory, but Bosco has my support to test it, along with the creature hunt.”

“We’re still not gonna know where Naiara is afterwards, you know.” Sulking seemed to be Breeze’s last tac. “Are we gonna keep putting off finding her until we miraculously stumble across that information?”

“No, Breeze.” Cassie was stepping into her well-practiced role of pacifying her sister. “But, as they said, there is a time factor in play here. We must trust in Naiara’s capabilities for the moment. None of us wish to leave her alone any longer than we have to.”

Breeze trusted Naiara to be okay, that much was obvious. Still, I recognised the signs that her head wasn’t quite passing the message along to her heart. I know that feeling.

~~~~~~

“I have decided that the Deep Divers are no longer welcome in Soft Swell Lake.” Undertow started slipping her rebreather over her mouth and nose. “Now I will make them aware.”

“Hold on a sec, Undertow.” From our perch on the high hill overlooking Undertow’s cabin, we had been observing the Bernstein staff as they dredged the lake for Poseidoceroses. We hadn’t been watching long when the Deep Divers showed up, and apparently took offense to the Bernstein presence. A pitched battle was underway between the two sides.

“Do not tell me to wait, Bosco. This business is mine.”

“No, it’s all of ours!” He snapped back impatiently. “We have to be smart, though. Some of us are known to one of the sides, and Snow at least is known to both. We have to play this right.”

“So what’s the play?” Breeze wasn’t any more interested in waiting then Undertow was, not after ascertaining that Naiara was not around.

All eyes went to the colt. He pointed out into the lake. “Undertow, get in the water. That’s your best weapon, so use it. After the Raiders are dealt with, see if you can mess up the ponies underwater, stop ‘em from taking more fish.”

“Done.”

He followed up by stomping the ground we stood on. “Cassie, set up here. Use your rifle to start picking off Raiders, and in case the Bernsteins get testy.”

“Very well.”

Now his hoof went skyward. “Breeze, you and Wings are up high. Let ‘em have it.”

“Heh, music to my ears.” With that, the two took off into the air. Cassie produced her rifle, and lay down at the cliff edge. She paused just long enough to let Undertow leap over her, and over the edge. My heart skipped a beat until I heard the splash from far below.

Not counting Cassie, that left three of us. “Schwarzwald, get down there and help the Bernsteins. It’d get back to Amber if you did anything else.”

“Right away, boss colt.” She set off running, with the gatling gun on her battle saddle spinning up.

“And me, Bosco?” I was pretty impressed by how easily he’d taken charge and got us a working strategy.

He regarded me warily. “We don’t know how much the rest of the Wasteland knows about your Red Ice situation. Pretend that you’re still the Raider boss for now, and that those guys down there are going against your orders. If the Bernsteins don’t buy it, me and Schwarzwald’ll bail you out. Really sell it though.”

“Uh… okay.” I hadn’t even thought about that. I was ready to be done as Red Ice for good. Will it really help to-

“Now, Snow.” Bosco pushed me after Schwarzwald, interrupting my thoughts.

“Right, sorry.”

We charged down the hill, overtaking the older mare and her greater weapons burden. “Don’t shoot Snowflake.” Bosco called out as we passed her.

“Spoilsport.” She called after us.

About halfway down the hill, our presence still not detected, a Raider’s head exploded. Score one for Cassie. Then tendrils of water burst from the lake, drilling a pair of Deep Divers. Two for Undertow. A grenade lodged itself in the apparatus of a diver suit, before promptly exploding. This was backed up by two loud cracks as Wings’ revolver shots took down a fifth Raider. Everybody’s getting in on the action.

Though outnumbered and outgunned, the Bernstein Conclave managed to take advantage of our intervention, dropping more Raiders before they recovered and resumed their attack.

At the foot of the hill, Bosco and I split up. He broke off towards the Bernstein animal cages, where they already had two of the mammoth creatures contained. I stayed straight on course for the battle itself, charging across the shore.

When I was close enough, I lit up my horn, sending out two Cryo Serpents. “HEY!” I bellowed, as the spells slashed between the two sides, momentarily halting the action. “WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?!” Really hope this works, Bosco.

“Red Ice!”

“She’s here!” The Bernsteins were looking uneasy at my arrival, while the Raiders just looked confused.

One mare turned to the stallion beside her. “What’s she doin’ here? She ain’t supposed to be here.”

”Really sell it” he says. “I Asked you a question! What are you Raiders doing here, AGAINST MY ORDERS?”

More confusion. “But we don’t t-”

“I lead the Raiders! Guess I’ll have to make an example out of you!” Faking a savage grin, I redirected the Cryo Serpents towards the Raiders, willing jagged spikes to spring up along the trails. The Deep Divers, still flummoxed, scrambled out of their way.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a Bernstein guard lining me up in his sights. I froze for a second, and would have been dead if not for Schwarzwald’s timely intervention.

Whapping the guard around the head as she joined and Bosco joined the Bernstein defence, she opened up with her guns. “Leave her! Focus on the Raiders!”

After that, it was a rout. The Deep Divers, loners by nature, were thoroughly unprepared for group battle. Especially when seven new combatants showed up out of nowhere, attacking from all angles. As they tried to fire on me, Wings and Breeze would punish them. Moving to focus on the flyers simply let Cassie and Undertow attack with impunity. Broken, the few survivors eventually scattered.

After the last Raider had fled, I turned back towards the Bernstein staff, and found myself facing a wall of guns. Oh great. Now what, Boss Colt? I got no answer from him, as he rapidly whispered something to Breeze. Nodding, she soared skyward, while he took off running towards the water. Uh guys? Little help here?

Schwarzwald stepped between me and the guns. “State your business, Red Ice.”

Okay, still selling it. “I was only here to punish those traitors for their insubordination. Do not test me further, mare, or you will join them.”

Her gatling span-down in response. “You are outnumbered. We have no quarrel with you, so leave us in peace.” Behind her, some of the Bernsteins also lowered their weapons, but not all of them. Some looked relieved, while others were still hostile.

“HOLD IT RIGHT THERE, RED ICE!” Wings joined the conversation dramatically. Swooping over our heads in a wide arc, before pausing in midair, claws-on-hip, the other pointed at me. “I WON’T LET YOU PUT THESE PEOPLE IN DANGER!”

What in the hell? I half-squinted at her, not sure what was happening.

Before I could respond, Wings jerked her head away from the hunters, waggling her eyebrows at me and winking. Oh, right.

She switched her gaze for a moment, to rest on Schwarzwald. “Ma’am, please move your people away from her. It’s not safe here.” Without another word, Wings took out her guns and began shooting at the sand in my hooves. With a yelp that was only half-acting, I took off running between the abandoned Deep Diver houses, sending slow, clumsy ice mists up as I ran.

“YOU WON’T GET AWAY FROM ME, RED ICE!” Still hamming it up, Wings gave ‘chase’. We kept running long after we were out of sight of the Bernsteins, with she and I firing bullets and spells respectively straight up into the air.

After a while, Wings put her pistols away. “Loop back around and meet up with Cassie on the hill. Wait for us there. We’ll deal with the poachers.”

I nodded, before smiling. “You suck at acting, by the way.”

She smirked back. “Oh, and you’re much better?” She growled out a rough exaggeration of my voice. “‘AGAINST MY ORDERS?’ BLARGH!”

“I didn’t say that last part!”

“Might as well have.”

“Oh, go Blue Fire it up for real already.”

“Yeah yeah, just get yourself back to Cassie.” With a final wink, she flew off. I continued on, half-grumbling and half-smiling.

~~~~~~

Out of breath, I puffed back up to the hill, where our sniper was waiting. She had already packed away her things. “How’s it look down there?”

She didn’t turn away from her vantage point. “All seems quiet. After you and Wings staged your little display, Undertow and I disrupted their capture efforts. Not completely, but enough so that they only possess four working cages, rather than twelve.”

That was something, at least. “And then what? What about the Poseidoceroses?”

“The Bernsteins took the four that they could, and departed. The others got together after they left, and are on their way back now.”

“What happened with Wings? She was supposed to go all Blue Fire on them. Did she have another fake fight with Schwarzwald?”

Cassie turned enough for me to see her raised eyebrow. “Wings did not return in time to approach the Bernsteins again. Her secret is safe for now.”

Her raised eyebrow was met by my twitching one. “Then what in the hell was the point of her chasing me off?”

I caught the beginnings of a smile as Cassie turned away. “Poetic justice?” She managed, faltering at the end as she coughed to cover her laughter.

“Ha. Ha. Ha.”

We both jumped as her communicator crackled to life. “Sis, pick up.”

Cassie dug the device out from under a wing. “Yes, Breeze?”

There was no disguising the urgency in Breeze’s voice, even over the airwaves. “Grab Snow and get moving. Naiara just called in. She’s at La Buque.”

Simultaneous gasps escaped us. She’s where?!

“By herself? That’s far too dangerous! She-”

“Talk on the way, Cassie. Get moving!” Breeze chirped.

It was my turn to grin at Cassie being put out from being interrupted. Nevertheless, I joined her in heading off. If Naiara really was in La Buque, then we could be there in no time.

~~~~~~

We ran the entire way to La Buque without stopping. Breeze practically force-fed us all Buck so we wouldn’t stop. Unfortunately it seemed to work a little too well.

“Pfffhahahahaha!” Undertow’s unrestrained chortling was a near-constant during the trip. The Buck had hit her system like a double hind-leg kick, and she was enjoying herself immensely by orbiting us all with bubbles. It was very impressive, and very cute, but it wasn’t entirely appreciated. Considering our chemically altered states, and the situation we were in, Breeze, Bosco and I weren’t really in the mood.

“Undertow, you stop being adorable this instant! It’s not the time.”

Surprisingly, she didn’t flinch at my words. “Oh, come on, big sister. We’ll be fine. We’ll get to Naiara without issue.”

“Why’re you so damn sure, Bubbles?” Breeze dropped back to glare at her. “Naiara didn’t sound happy on the communicator. You should be taking this more seriously!”

Undertow settled a bubble on the pegasus’ nose, and refused to move it, regardless of Breeze swishing her head back and forth. “You should relax more. if Naiara had time to call, then she has time to get to safety. When has anypony been able to catch her?”

Breeze’s frown softened a little. “That’s not…”

Wings, Schwarzwald, and Cassie began laughing. “From the mouths of babes!”

I joined them. “My little sister, folks. Ain’t she grand?” And she will NEVER be allowed Buck again. This is fun and all, but I love her most the way she usually is.

Her anger defeated, Breeze just gave up and let out a chuckle herself. “You win this round, Undertow. Come on, let’s hurry.”

We spend the rest of the rush to La Buque in an unspoken race against each other, pushing ourselves harder and harder to reach the canyon first. It wasn’t clear who started, but everybody got swept up in it. Cassie’s smug nonchalance as she reached the canyon wall first was damn aggravating.

Then she shrieked as a hoof reached up over the edge and grabbed her leg. “GETITOFFGETITOFFGETITOFF!!!” The limb holding her hind leg gave a strong pull, dumping her to the dirt.

“Cassie!” Breeze jumped forward and grabbed her sister by the hooves, trying to pull her away.

As the other ponies and I ran to help, Wings whipped out her revolvers. “I’ll get it!” Spreading her feathers, she shot up and over the edge.

“Shootitshootitshootit!”

A voice from over the edge provided a counterpoint. “SAABI! Don’t shoot, it’s me! It’s Naiara, don’t shoot!”

“It is her! Pull her up!” Wings confirmed.

“Naiara?” Breeze’s panic shifted to hope.

“Breeze! Pull me up! Quick!” Naiara’s panic stayed panic. “Hey, birdie, get up with the others. Trouble’s coming!”

With Wings pushing, Naiara holding tight, and all of us pulling, we managed to drag our whole eightsome back onto solid ground. When we were sure it was secure, everybody flopped to the ground, evidently having burned through the rest of our Buck-induced energy.

Breathing heavily, Naiara’s head was hanging low. “Breeze, thanks,” She raised her head. “but you’re all in troub- Snowflake?!” She gaped at me.

I stared back, stumped. Naiara, usually the most unflappable of fillies, was rooted to the spot, eyes reduced to pinpricks. “Naiara…” I reached a hoof out to her, but she instantly backpedaled.

“Nonono, you can’t be here, Snow. Breeze, why didn’t you tell me she was here?”

Helping her sister up, Breeze shared my confusion. “Does it matter?”

Twin sounds, half-roar and half-hiss, sounded out from down in the canyon.

Naiara greyed even more than usual. “Everybody get away from the edge! The Hissyflits are here, we have to fight!”

Adrenaline blasted away our fatigue, and we were on hooves and paws in a moment. Bosco was already shifting back into the same mindset he displayed at Soft Swell. “How many, Naiara?”

Facing the edge, she backpedaled as fast as she could. “T-two.”

She as the only one who kept moving upon hearing that. “Two?!”

“That’s it?”

“Hell, I could take two of ‘em.”

The zebra’s haunted look didn’t diminish, and she slipped as she took another blind step back. “Not these two.”

Even I had to scoff here. “What, are they some kind of ‘legendary’ Hissyflits or something?”

A fierce wind kicked up from the canyon, forcing us to shield our eyes. “I can’t see! Naiara, what’s happening?”

It was a few seconds before the gale died down enough that I could peek out from behind my hooves. When I did, I got a faceful of Naiara. She slammed into me just as a massive shadow passed by where I’d been standing.

Dragging me to my hooves, she shoved me into a defensive circle that the others had formed. Everyone was looking skyward. I soon understood why.

Naiara’s strained voice sounded off from the side. “Not legendary, but there is a Mother Hissyflit…”

Circling slowly above us, the Hissyflit was unlike any I’d seen before. While the average Hissyflit was only a few hooves high, this one was easily double the height of any one of us. Its feline face was contorted in an even more grotesque snarl than her children. A wicked tongue swirled itself in the air as her venomous, leg-length fangs glistened.

“...and the daddy, the Alpha.”

Outmassing even the Mother, the Alpha Hissyflit was somehow even more horrifying. In place of the ineffectual claws of the babies, there were a set of digits that could give a full-grown Molar Bear a run for its caps. Saw-like spines ran the length of its colossal wingspan, and a powerfully muscled tail swung back and forth.

Nobody seemed to talkative, but eventually Schwarzwald found her voice. “Um… Bosco-dahling, could we call upon your talents once again?”

Not wanting to take my eyes off the hellbeasts on the perimeter, I could only risk a sideways glance at the colt, who gulped heavily before responding. “R-right. We… uh… avoid the fangs. Normal Hissy poison is deadly, so this stuff’ll probably kill you faster. Stick together if at all possi-”

“SCATTER!”

We leapt aside as the monsters dove at us, Bosco and Wings managing to pop off a few seemingly unnoticed shots from their comparatively-tiny weapons.

Landing in a heap, we all rushed to right ourselves. Now split into two distinct groups, I found myself joined by Bosco, Breeze, and Schwarzwald.

“Snowflake!” Undertow called out from the other group, making to come to me.

Luckily, Wings had the good sense to grab her by the goggles and drag her back. “Focus, kid! Look after yourself first.”

“Stay strong!” Was all I could call back, before turning back towards the creatures.

Seeing our splintered herd, these two predators dove at the other group. Faced with half the support, Undertow’s group took off running. Both creatures followed, hiss-roaring in pursuit.

My horn instantly lit up. “NO!” It was joined by the whir of Schwarzwald’s gatling. She unloaded on the backs of the creatures at full force, but they didn’t even seem to feel it.

My ice fared no better. It spread across the Mother’s back and wings, but didn’t hinder her flight at all. As we ran after the monsters after our friends, whooping and hollering in a vain attempt to get their attention, I thought I was going to be sick from the idea that I could lose the others.

SPLUT SPLUT SPLUT “SSSSSHKHKHK!!!” Miraculously, the Mother peeled off from the chase, wheeling about to glare at us.

I didn’t question it. “Yeah, over here! Look at us! Bring it on!” Damn. Couldn’t get the other one. Better kill this thing quick.

Bosco agreed. “Pour on the ice, Snow! Schwarz’s shots broke through the parts you froze. Breeze and I’ll distract it. You two bring it down!” He whipped raised his pistol and began running to one side of the creature.

“You better not fuck this up!” Breeze shot past on the other side, hurling a Shock Lock javelin as she went.

“Work your magic, Snowflake. I will make it count.” Looking as serious as I’d ever seen her, Schwarzwald revved her gatling.

Glacier glow ablaze, I concentrated on the hovering demon, and let loose with everything I had. No form, no specifics, just as much cold as I could muster.

At first, nothing happened. For several heart-stopping seconds, the only thing I saw was the Mother come for me. The flesh rolled back, exposing even more fangs.

“Snow!”

I backpedaled, still pouring on the magic. Come on come on! I need something here! Anything! It was too late though, and the thing’s tongue shot out, slamming me to the ground. The main body landing beside me with a thud.

“Get away!” I half-rolled, flailing wildly with my hooves.

My flailing turned to cowering as the Hissyflit let out another of its hiss-roars. Somebody help me!

Wet, warm liquid splashed onto my hooves and cheek. Cracking one eye open, I was greeted to the sight of the Mother stumbling off me, my magic finally taking effect. Schwarzwald wasn’t wasting the opportunity.

Another javelin glanced off the beast. “Get out of there, idiot! Grenade’s coming in!”

Heeding Breeze’s words, I half-dragged, half-rolled myself away. I didn’t get far enough to avoid the explosive blast, which lifted me off the ground.

I landed next to Bosco. Without looking away from his targeting of the frozen weak spots, he mumbled around the weapon in his maw. “Come on Snow, we still need you! More ice!”

“G-got it.” I was going to be howling later, but I got up fast, spinning on my heel towards the Mother.

It was hurting, but not nearly out of the fight. One wing was completely shredded, but even at half strength, it could still knock us off our hooves with one swing. Worse still, the ice was fading.

Blood began to drip from my nostrils as I re-lit my horn. I didn’t care, that was only a problem if we lived. The Mother was moving more slowly, and couldn’t fly. I could focus on the important parts, like the eyes. It worked for the fake fog Molar bears… I had to try. Mercifully, the effect was far more fast-acting this time around, and the blinded creature began to thrash and howl.

Nobody was sympathetic. Bosco emptied his entire clip into the tongue. Schwarzwald’s rifle kept up a steady beat of punishment while her gatling reloaded, and Breeze took advantage of the Mother Hissyflit’s distraction to land a grenade right in its gullet. “Choke on that, monster!”

Perhaps it did… for the few seconds before the grenade went off, and the whole creature popped like one of Undertow’s bubbles. UNDERTOW!

No time to rest, even as the corpse hit the dirt. The others still had fight on their hooves, with something even bigger and badder than what we’d just gone through.

“SCREEEEEE!!!” Bigger, badder, and angrier too. The Alpha did not take the death of its mate well. It wasn’t unharmed itself, far from it in fact. One of its eyes was completely gone, gouged out somehow, and its powerful tail was showing exposed bone. Still, it retained both wings, and all its deadly toxin. It wasn’t done yet.

Howling in rage, the Alpha’s tail swung around in a wide arc. Undertow ducked, Cassie went high, but Wings and Naiara were caught full on. They were thrown up and away, colliding in midair, and slammed down a half-dozen metres away, unconscious.

“Naiara!”

“Wings!”

Bosco was already in motion. “Schwarzwald, with me, we’ll cover them. The rest of you, take that thing down!”

“On it!” I sprinted towards Undertow, simultaneously glad she was okay, and petrified that she was now the only close target for the Alpha. “Undertow, get away!”

The Alpha had other ideas. Advancing on Undertow, it spread its wings wide, using them to corral her. She had nowhere to go. She swiftly backpedaled, but it took her dangerously close to the prone forms of Naiara and Wings.

I landed on the thing’s back, the product of a desperate leap on my part. Magic was not part of my repertoire at that moment. Magic required focus and awareness. All I knew was that my sister was in danger, and I couldn’t let that continue. The saw-scales scraped and bit at my flesh, but didn’t stop me from sinking my teeth into its ear and biting hard.

“SRRRAAAIII!!!” My teeth were an issue for the fiend, but my miniscule weight was not. It was all I could to do hold on as it bounced and bounded, trying to shake me off.

Finally, the Alpha Hissyflit simply gave up trying to dislodge me, and went for the simple approach. Before I knew what was happening, I was a hundred metres up. The shock loosened my grip enough for it to throw me off into the open air.

“NOOOOO!” I tumbled helplessly in the air as I fell. The view spun around and around, but I still recognised the Alpha diving after me as I fell. Binn tusaa!

Two blue blurs shot past me, and a lance of light blossomed between them as they reached the Alpha, who suddenly shrieked and twisted, wings locking up instantly.

This had the added bonus of sending it plummeting down right at me.

I tried to will my horn into action, but it stubbornly refused to glow. “Somebody help me!” I stuck out all of my limbs, trying to reach something… anything.

“I got you!” A pair of claws wrapped around my hoof, swinging me away as the Alpha continued downwards, slamming into the ground.

Naiara was on it in an instant, planting Bosco’s knife into any soft spot she could find. She’s okay!

So was my rescuer. Wings was flagging, but strong enough to stop my fall. “Hold on, Snow. I’ll get you down.”

“O-okay.” I couldn’t have even begun to crack wise at that moment. When my hooves touched dirt, Schwarzwald was there instantly to usher me… somewhere.

Bosco was standing off to the side, watching Naiara ride the thrashing beast. “Naiara, get out of there. Undertow, NOW!”

I started. “Undertow?”

Naiara immediately abandoned her efforts, backflipping off the Alpha. The Hissyflit turned to follow her, but a wave of water overcame it before it could take a step. Undertow was standing at the canyon’s edge, and was calling up water from the same stream that had trapped Breeze the last time we were here.

Once the creature was completely covered, Undertow raised a hoof and frantically waved it. “I have it. Tell me where.”

Breeze answered her, for once without attitude. “Here! Right here. Right where I am!” The Pegasus was down in the canyon proper, hovering next to the far wall. I spotted a few crystals glowing beside her.

“What’s happening?”

The others ignored me, just kept pushing me towards Naiara and Bosco.

Undertow wasted no time, lifting the watery mass, Alpha included, up into the air. Once it was overhead, she sent it straight at Breeze, who wheeled and soared out of the way. The gadgeteer Pegasus followed the stream back to the source, landing behind Undertow, and looking skyward.

I followed her gaze. High above, higher than even the Alpha had taken me, Cassie was waiting, rifle at the ready, and aimed right at the Hissyflit that Undertow was holding at the wall. “I have the shot!” She yelled down.

Breeze nodded, and pulled Undertow away from the edge, just as Bosco yelled. “Everybody down!”

I still didn’t get it, even as Undertow’s water dropped away, and Cassie fired. “What’s…”

Then Cassie’s shot hit the crystals in the wall beside the Alpha. Already bloated with background magic, they were ripe and ready. A huge chunk of canyon wall blew out, sending severed limbs and broken body of the Alpha careening downwards into the canyon itself, closely followed by a hundred tonnes of falling rock.

The shockwave blew me off my hooves, but Cassie was there in an instant to catch me. “Relax, Snowflake. It’s done.”

I nodded, but wriggled out of her grip and stumbled over to Undertow. My hooves gently roved over her body. “You’re not hurt, are you? Any broken bones? Did it bite you?”

She reached up and wiped some of the blood from my nose. “I am fine, Snowflake. Sore, as we all are, but fine. Do not push yourself further.”

I sagged in relief, addressing the entire group. “Let’s not do that again.”

Cassie and Breeze were leaning on each other. “Why’d we even do it in the first place?”

“Let’s ask.”

All eyes went to Naiara…‘s back as she walked away. “Wait!” I called out. “Where are you going?”

She slowed, but didn’t stop, only looking halfway back. “I figure you don’t want to see me now that the fight’s over.”

Blinking in confusion, I looked for an answer in her eyes, but she wouldn’t meet my gaze. “What do you mean? Why wouldn’t I want to see you?”

Now she did stop, and turn to face us, ever-so-slowly. “B-because of what I did! I betrayed you to the Raiders!”

Understanding dawned. “You think that I’m angry with you?”

She nodded miserably. “Mhm. You and Breeze.”

Heads whipped around to look at Cassie’s sister, who was dumbfounded. “Me?”

Naiara’s head didn’t raise. “I sent Snow into a trap with Raiders.”

Bosco looked on with concern, but also pity. “Is… is that why you didn’t come back? Why you stayed away?”

“Mhm. I guess I am just a no-good Stripe.” She still didn’t meet my eyes.

Taking a deep breath, I untangled myself from Undertow. “Everybody, stay out of this, please.”

Despite the revelations, Breeze was instantly on the defensive. “What’re you gonna do?”

“Just… please.”

Breeze grimaced, but stayed silent. Good enough.

Ignoring the warm trickle on my upper lip, I lit my horn. Boots of ice formed around Naiara’s hooves, pinning her in place.

Looking more and more fearful, she gave a few helpless tugs. “Snow…”

I stalked forward, until we were face to face. “Do you know what I remember about that day, Naiara? In the Barnstormer camp?”

She was close to tears now. “Snow, I’m so sorry. It was… I was… I-”

I put a hoof on her shoulder, silencing her. “You. I remember waking up, and being alone. Undertow wasn’t there. Latvi was. The Raider chiefs were. Undertow wasn’t. Because of you.”

“I’m sorry! I only had time to take her. I wanted to come back for you!” She wailed.

“You left me alone, with Raiders, and a psychopathic unicorn who had already decided to turn me over to Plottawa for measly caps!”

Naiara shrank back as far as her frozen shackles could allow. A crackling hum started up behind me. Shock Lock, Breeze?

“Do you have any idea what you did to me when you took Undertow away from there, NAIARA?!”

“Watch for purple eyes.” Undertow cautioned, keeping the promise she made with Lexi.

“Easy, Snow.” Wings’ claws were closing around her revolvers. Angling my head so that only she could see, I mouthed “suck at acting, huh?” to her. The griffon’s eyes burst into colour as I turned back to the quivering zebra.

“Naiara…” I leaned in and smiled, dropping the charade. “I didn’t want Undertow there. It was a gathering of scum: Caber Toss, Ballbuster, Latvi and Red Ice. She didn’t belong with people like that. She DOESN’T belong with people like that.”

My other hoof wrapped around her neck in a tight hug, the ice fading from her hooves. “You took her away from there. Naiara, you kept my sister safe. Why would I ever be mad at you, svara?”

~~~~~~