We approached the palace gates and the guards once again let us through after Red waved. I stayed as far away from Red as I could but even then it wasn’t far enough. That gryphon was a… he was just insane, and to a degree that he should be hung.

“El Presidente will be pleased with our work.” Red stated as we reached the balcony and approached the zebra known as: El Presidente.

“Tell me good things.” El Presidente called out without actually turning to face us.

Red took a bow but the rest of us stayed standing. “The rebels in the town have been dealt with.” Red informed him.

“Indeed… well, you’re payment will be as usual.” El Presidente seemed… less than impressed. Maybe that was just the tone he usually used.

A zebra soldier trotted over and handed Red a large sack of gems. Red nodded and stuffed them into his pant pockets. “And for the group… how do you take payment? Gems, bits or…” He trailed off.

“Information about Black Mane, just like you promised.” I stated sternly. He chuckled.

“I don’t believe that little tussle you handled down there is worthy of such information. But I will tell you this. Black Mane is fortifying his position and doesn’t seem to want to leave any time soon.” The zebra told us. My anger snapped.

“Hey! That’s not fair. You told us you would help us with our problem if we helped you!” I yelled, furious that he had gotten us to kill a bunch of buffalo but would not hold up his end of the bargain.

“You would be wise to watch you tone… I will be generous this time around and offer you all the same amount of payment as Red.” He stated. A zebra trotted up to us and gave us each a pouch of bits, it was larger in quantity but I suppose the gems Red got were worth more than our bits.

Red took another bow. “Thank you, your excellency. You are too kind.” Red stated, giving the zebra his full set of manners.

“I am… actually Red. If you would be interest in a bounty perhaps?” The zebra asked.

“Of course. Anything to help you, sire.” Red offered and the zebra nodded.

“Indeed. There is a small town of rebels over the way some. In the town is a certain rebel, Thunder Steps. Do you know of him?” He asked and Red nodded.

“Of course… would you like him disposed of?” Red asked and the zebra nodded.

“And take your new friends with you. I’d prefer him dead rather than alive. Just make sure he’s dead and I’ll give you all twice the bounty’s worth.” El Presidente offered.

“It will be done. You are truly too kind.” Red told him then arose and began walking away. He looked back to us. “Come on you guys. We got a job to do.” He called over. I scowled silently to myself as we began following him.

As we left the palace gates, I spoke my mind. “You can’t be serious!” I yelled and Red turned back to me with a raised eyebrow. “That guy didn’t hold up his end of the bargain and now we’re working for him… again!” I yelled and Red simply laughed heartily.

“Chill sugar tits. El Presidente could have had you all executed for the way you talked to him. No one ever addresses him like that. Be happy you’re still alive. And besides, you never really helped him. I did most of the work back there.” He stated. I scoffed as we mounted onto our horses.

Red looked over to me and smirked. “Tell yah what sugar tits… I’ll tell El Presidente that you took out the entire town by yourself. That’ll make him real happy. But you have to do something for me first.” He said with a sly grin.

“Buck you! I’m not a whore.” I yelled and he laughed.

“I wasn’t meaning that. All you have to do is kill Thunder Steps. He’s nearly impossible to miss but be careful. He’s faster than anyone I’ve ever hunted… I’ve actually tried to get him twice before but both times he sicked his goons on me so he could escape… selfish bastard.” Red scoffed.

“Okay.” Elijah replied before I could. I looked back to him. “Daring, I know it’s bad but it’s all we’ve got to go on.” Elijah stated and I rolled my eyes. Goddess dammit, as if he was going along with this plan.

Sweat rolled down my brow and I wiped it away as quickly as I could so that it didn’t drip into my eye and sting my vision. The desert cliffs faced the sun which beat down on us relentlessly.

Laughs of playful nature could be heard from down in the rocky valley desert. My eyes suddenly got a droplet of water in them that burned my vision. I grimaced as I began rubbing my eyes.

The laughs got closer and suddenly there was a loud gunshot from right beside me.

BOOM

I flinched as the rifle fired again. The playful laughs turned into screams of fear. Down below in the valley, buffalos were herding cattle. Red had told us that they were cattle rustling but I had serious doubts for obvious reasons.

A buffalo in his early teens spurred his horse. “YAH!” He yelled as he thrashed the reins to try and get the horse to move faster.

“Shit… he’s getting away. Quickly, shoot the one on the horse. That’s Thunder Steps!” Red yelled to us.

“WHAT! NO WAY! HE’S JUST A KID!” Billy yelled back. Red began to fire his rifle in a fury of semiautomatic fire. Rounds spat down range but suddenly the rifle cocked half open and locked.

“SHIT! My rifle’s jammed… goddess dammit, shoot that prick already!” Red screeched. Billy just looked in shock as the buffalo known as Thunder Steps was getting away. The valley was narrow and he’d have to go down a path directly in front of us to get out.

“SHOT HIM ALREADY!” Red screamed at the top of his vocal chords. Billy slowly leaned his Lee Enfield forwards and looked through the scope. Thunder Steps raced towards the exit of the valley. “SHOT HIM!” Red yelled again then Billy pulled the trigger back and the rifle thundered.

BOOM. The rifle report came slightly after as the sound wave of the shot echoed off the cliff sides. Thunder Steps’ horse fell and his leg was caught underneath it. “AAAHHHH!” Thunder Steps screamed out in pain.

Billy racked the bolt on his rifle but his hooves became shaky. “Did yah get em! Hey… did yah get em or not!?” Red was frantic.

“No… he got the kids horse… Jesus buck Red, Thunder Steps is just a kid!” Elijah hissed in a pissed off tone.

“Hey, that buffalo down there may be young but he’s a savage. He’s killed more zebras than anyone will ever know.” Red countered.

“I can’t…” Billy said as his breath was shaky. He looked to me and Elijah. “I can’t… he’s just a kid…” Billy stated. Red was screwing around with his jammed rifle.

Down in the valley, voices called out to each other. “Hey guys… I think my leg is broken… guys… oh goddess, guys my leg is broken.” Thunder Steps whined in a pained voice as he crawled away.

“Just get behind those rocks Steps. We’ll get you, I promise.” Another voice called back.

“SHOOT HIM GODDAMMIT! SHOOT HIM!” Red yelled. Billy was too shaky to even hold the rifle, let alone hold it.

“Daring… I can’t.” Billy stated. Elijah reached forwards and took the rifle. I looked to him and gasped as he lined up the rifle for a shot. Elijah smirked then gave a depressed chuckle.

“You know… I’ve never been good with a rifle.” Elijah chuckled then took aim and fired a shot which missed by inches and kicked up some dirt near Thunder Steps. Elijah swore then racked the bolt and fired again. He kept firing as Thunder Steps cried in fear and tried to drag himself to the cover of some nearby rocks.

“How many rounds do I have left?” Elijah asked. Billy was still having troubles keeping his breathing steady.

“Three.” He informed Elijah who sighed then took aim again.

BOOM… BOOM. “Dammit” Elijah muttered as he racked in the last round. Thunder Steps was crying, we could all hear it. He pulled himself along and dust covered his fur and face from the sandy ground.

One of the other buffalos called out to their friend. “Hurry Thunder… hurry!” They yelled. Elijah grimaced and let out a gruffly sigh. He took aim and fired the last shot. Thunder Steps cried out in pain before finally pulling himself behind a couple of hard rocks.

“Shit! You fucking missed him!” Red screamed out in absolute anger.

Elijah shook his head. “No… I got him… in the lower gut.” Elijah informed the angered gryphon with a tone of dishonour.

Thunder Steps’ crying could be heard throughout the entire valley. “Hey Slick… Slick man… I think they got me… I’m bleeding Slick… oh goddess Slick… I’m so thirsty… Slick… hey Slick… can yah get me some water Slick?” Thunder Steps moaned.

“Yeah Steps… yeah, I’ll get you some water real soon. Just hold on. Just think about your kid okay.” Yelled another buffalo.

“A KID!? He has a child?” I hissed to Red and he nodded then shrugged.

“Yeah, two actually. One is three years old and the other was just born a few months ago. He also has a wife. We haven’t been able to track them down yet though… good job Elijah. You’ll be a hero.” Red stated as he patted Elijah on the shoulder.

“Slick… Slick man, I’m so thirsty… please Slick… I need some water.” Thunder Steps cried, obviously in tears. “Slick…” He sobbed. Elijah scoffed.

“Would you give the kid some fucking water already.” Elijah yelled down to the valley.

“Screw you, you cowardly shits. I ain’t giving you a clean shot on me!” A buffalo yelled back.

“I ain’t gonna shoot yah… now get the kid some water already, goddammit!” Elijah yelled back.

“Yah ain’t gonna shoot… Swear on yer life?” The same buffalo yelled back.

“No… I ain’t gonna shoot… I ain’t gonna shoot.” Elijah called back.

The buffalo peeked out from his rock cover then slowly began to sidestep across the open valley and towards his friend’s location. “You better not shoot me… you coward… you better not shoot, yah hear!” He yelled then dove for Thunder Steps cover.

“Oh goddess… THEY SHOT HIM… THOSE BASTARDS SHOT HIM… relax Steps… you’re going to be okay.” The buffalo cried frantically. “You bastards! He had a family and you shot him!” The buffalo screamed at us.

“Well… I’ll be damned… yah got em good.” Red stated as he finally unclogged his rifle.

Author's Notes:

So I've been falling behind in updating this. I'll try and push out close to 10000 words today but I'm not sure if it'll happen.