2:- Spread the word, Ponder the plan
Tex stopped mid step, a shiver ran down his neck and he blew air noisily through his nostrils. Beside him Wig-Wam stopped looking at him with an un-amused yet slightly expectant light in his pale blue eyes, the gravel crunching beneath his hooves slightly.
"A feeling" Tex said as if would explain everything "And it ain't a good one."
Wig-Wam just continued to stare before he gave a sigh and shook his head "Tex, you always have feelings, flies in your ears, stones in your hooves, what makes this any different to every other one you get?" He gave his yellow friend a pointed look.
"Aw don't be like that Wig-Wam, Ya know he get's them feelin's, where he thinks sommat's up. And he's usually right ya know" Truly's voice rang out from somewhere the other side of Tex before her pretty doe eyed face appeared from around his chest, Tex gave a nod and he looked at his little champion. Wig-Wam huffed, and looked up the pink tinged path, Paradise estate dominated the horizon it's bulk standing out against the reddening sky.
"What's this feeling then?" he asked begrudgingly, still staring ahead, ear's swivelling to listen to the birds singing their dusk time songs, and the gentle "Whush" of the leaves on the trees. They sounded like the ocean.
"That were gonna have to leave soon, and it wont turn out well" Tex replied ominously, "And it's all the boys fault" Truly gave a worried little sound, shifting on the loose stone, before shaking her head disbelievingly.
"They can be thoughtless but they would never hurt none of ya" she stated, brushing up against her mates side, looking up at him with concern.
"No, no we ain't gonna get hurt, just, something is gonna go wrong" Tex replied absently.
"Yeah, well" Wig-Wam sounded terse "Here the terrible twosome come, so you get to explain your 'feeling' to them" Wig-Wam gave a small smile as he turned to look at his two friends, and then back up the path towards Slugger and Quarterbacks advancing forms.
The two brothers sauntered up, Slugger giving what he thought was a disarming smile "Tex, Double W, Truly" he greeted each in turn, Wig-Wam flattened his ears, his brow cocking.
"Pleasantries are not needed when you're around, so … what's the story" Wig-Wam asked. Quarterback looked at the slightly taller pony and raised his head, standing straight as if he was the herald of important news.
"We have a new adventure in the works, and we are here to recruit you two, we need some more light hearted guys, all the grumpy oldies are coming." Wig-Wam nodded understandingly, mulling it over.
"Well I'm game" he said at length "But you may have to convince Mr Feelings over there, Tex what do you think?" Tex looked apprehensive, as he glanced between his three friends, then at Truly, she smiled and gave him a 'go-ahead' nod.
"Nothing to crazy is it? I just have a bad feeling about it" he asked with a sigh. Slugger gave a snort and looked at his brother.
"No, it's just a little trek out to some of the areas we haven't been in a long time, it will be safe" Slugger assured "He'll be safe" he looked to Truly this time to prove his point.
"Fine I'll come, we'll meet and organise tomorrow in the estate yes?" Quarterback nodded the affirmative.
"Well I'll catch you guy's later then we have business to attend too and mischief to manage!" Slugger said brightly "Gotta see if Salt's still being patched up in the nursery, see ya!" The pink pony turned and galloped back up the path to paradise estate, Quarterback watched his brother leave.
Chief looked decidedly grumpy his ears pressed flat back against his head the white stallion was tense as he thought over the proposition handed to them by Quarterback and his brothers. He liked to think of himself as sensible yet fun, he'd never denied any of his little bands suggestions before. He enjoyed adventure, the trill of exploring unknown countries and lands. Discovering what was within them, their people and animals, he saw each one as a gift and an opportunity to learn. But what had been suggested, it was ludicrous, potentially dangerous. Only Firefly had gone that far but she was a most remarkable pony, there were not many Pegasus with her talent for flying or strength. Medley and Whizzer were the only other ponies he thought would be able to fly through something so unknown, so potentially dangerous. A plain old Earth pony like himself and the other Boy's most likely wouldn't survive it. But then, he contemplated, Megan and her brother, and little sister made the journey many times. And surely small human children were far more fragile than they were?. Megan had not come to see them for many years, by what he had learned of human life she would be an adult now, a woman of around 40 years old, it was sad that they grew so quickly, humans had such short lives, ponies that had been young with her were still children to them. He looked up when he heard footsteps and Barnacle stood in the arched doorway looking as solemn as he.
Suppressing a chuckle he gestured his friend over with a toss of his muzzle. He always found amusement between the contrasts of the tatty coated, curly haired, notch eared stallion, and the pristine pink walls, pale blue floors and sparkling interior of paradise estate.
"What's bothering you old friend" he asked ears lifting in a friendly invitation. Huffing Barnacle trudged over, turning slightly the sit himself next to Chief leaning into each other at the shoulder.
"This hair brained idea of Slugger and Quarterbacks. Don't they comprehend … anything? At any time?" Barnacle asked, he wanted to sound angry, but couldn't muster the motivation. Again Chief chuckled a deep rumbling sound in his chest and lifted his head too look out of the window at the burning sun set.
"They're good boy's they just get ahead of themselves. We'll talk to them, hopefully convince them that just exploring the land about it would be a better idea. They've never been there" Barnacle gave a dry snort and re-arranged his legs.
"We have, uh we're too old for this. I think we should retire"
"Speak for yourself Barn, I'll never be able to settle and neither can you" Chief replied light heartedly, he knew it was the truth neither of them could ever stay on one place for long, they had itchy hooves to adapt a human phrase. He also knew it applied to the other members of their little band, 4-speed was like them as was Wig-Wam, they no doubt would continue to travel until they were a pair of scruffy old stallions.
"You've never thought about it then, settling down, a nice mare, a foal?" Barnacle continued, a convicted look on his face, however his voice did not sound so convincing.
"You're not that old, and yeah I've thought it might be nice, but I know I couldn't stay, and it's just not fair on any of the mares here, if they were a little more inclined to travel when they don't really need too ..."
Noisily Barnacle blew air though his nose to cover the quiet "Firefly" which escaped him. Chief chose to ignore his companion's mention of the pink Pegasus whom caught his attention more often than not.
"Plus there's enough foals to go around at the moment, I often wonder where they come from…" It was Barnacles turn to laugh, a full blown barking laugh that made him shake to the tip of his tail.
"Well I could tell you if you want, we aren't the only male ponies here in this world, it's just that they're a bunch of commitment dodgers, don't want to accept their responsibility as fathers"
"And you would" Chief asked, an amused look on his face a lilt in his voice.
"Of course I would, talking of which, Tex and Truly, you think she'll reign him in and put him out to pasture or is he gonna break her heart?"
"Oh Barnacle to do worry about them to much, you're just a big soft hearted Bushwoolie under all the frowns aren't you?" the White Pony pushed against his friend bushing at the side of his neck with the bridge of his nose "Let's worry about getting this whole adventure sorted first huh? Tracks and 4-Speed will back us up I'm sure. Then you can snoop into Tex's private life" Barnacle pushed back and gave a small laugh looking at the now dirty purple black sky, the last little slithers of pink reaching out into the darkness just on the horizon like desperate fingers. The pair fell into a companionable silence, just enjoying the presence of the other well into the night.