I awoke hours later and found that it was daytime. I shifted slightly, and pain shot through my body. That wasn't a very smart move to make but I managed to roll over so that my legs were tucked underneath me. That didn't go down very well with by battered body.
"OWOwOw" I groaned in pain "That hurt."
"You are awake" a shrill voice called to me, making me look around startled.
"Who's there" I called into the day.
"It's me" came the voice again "I'm Falco."
I looked around but still couldn't see him. "Where are you?"
"Look up" Falco squawked. I looked up and saw him perched on the thin branches of a shrub or bush.
"What are you doing up there?" I called up to him. He was sitting on top of the bush looking about.
"Looking about." Falco said gleefully. "You went sleepy-sleep for a long time. I climbed up here when the sun rose."
"Oh" I said dumbly. No doubt the questions would start again.
"Why was it day time one minute and then night time the next?" Falco went on to ask.
Bingo. And there is the question.
"I don't know" I answered from where I lay on the ground too tired to stand up.
"Are we still in Australia?" Falco went on to say. "I can't see any gumtrees of wattle trees."
"I don't know" I answered as I looked around, cautiously sniffing at the air. Was that corn?
"And what are all those tall green stalks witch yellow stalks?" can the next question.
It was as if he was asking questions as fast as I was answering them. Was that normal for youngsters? Of course, it was. I have foal sat before.
"Corn." I stated absentmindedly.
"Can we eat it? Can we? Can we? Can…"
"FALCO" I shouted and he fell silent. "Sorry. You finished with your questions yet?" I continued I a quitter tone.
"Yes" he said meekly, peeking down at me.
"Corn is edible to me but you probably won't like it." I said to answer his last question. "I suppose that you want to go try some now?"
"Yes" Falco answered.
I lifted myself up on my front legs and peered over the bush and looked around for two-leggers. Seeing none I nodded to Falco and he scrabbled down and over to a corn plant. Clawing his way up I watched as he bit down on one of the cobs of corn. His expression was priceless.
"YUCK" he screeched and dropped down onto the ground. "How can you eat that? It's horrible"
"I did try and warn you" I answered and settled down while he climbed onto my back.
My eyes felt heavy so I closed them. Just for a second.
Voices.
My head shot up into the air. I must have dropped off for a moment. I could feel Falco clawing up me again screeching something about monsters coming.
"What monsters Falco?" I hissed as he clambered up my neck. "Two-leggers?"
"No" screeched Falco in alarm. "They are big and terrifying with teeth. Big or bigger than you."
"What could be out hear that is bigger than me with teeth?" I asked, mostly to myself.
"Well, we saw it around here somewhere" a voice came from my left.
"You sure?" said a second voice asked.
"Positive" replied the first.
"What are we going to do?" squeaked Falco as the voices drew nearer.
I tried to stand but collapsed back onto my knees due to still being weak from my injuries. Looking at the bush I lashed out at it causing twigs to break and leave an open hole in it. As quick as I could I pushed Falco in it with my nose.
"Stay here" I hissed as I forced myself to stand up in front of him protectively.
What happened next seemed like a nightmare at the time. I fell into a defensive position when the strangest and, at the time, scariest things on earth appeared around the corner. A plane and fuel truck rounded the corner of the bush. A living plane and fuel truck.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR" I screamed in terror.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR" the plane and fuel truck screamed in fright before suddenly stopping.
"Wait why are we screaming?" the plane asked the truck after a second, looking at his friend. "It's just a Pegasus."
I hade stopped screaming but my mind was racing. How could this be possible. Planes don't talk. Neither do truck come to think of it. It was impossible. This just had to be a bad dream. But the pain I my flanks said otherwise.
"STAY AWAY" I snapped as the plane advanced, sending out a warning kick making him jump back.
"It's okay…" the plane tried say cheerfully but I just whirled and lash out at him and his friend. It barely missed them, but then again, I wasn't fighting fit.
"Whoa" the truck said and really backed away, looking ready to bolt at any second. The plane on the other hoof tried to approach me again.
"I SAID STAY AWAY" I bellowed and kicked at him. This time I managed to clip him in the wing but I was starting to tire.
"OW" the plane yelped and backed off altogether.
"Are you okay Dusty?" the fuel truck asked as he dashed over to his friend.
'Dusty' I thought 'So that was his name'
"I'm fine Chug" the plane, aka Dusty answered with a wince. He looked at me again and I let out a growl at him, just daring them to try something.
"Come on Dusty" the truck said trying to lead his friend away. "She's to vicious to bother with."
"But she's hurt" the plane protested to his friend.
"She more wild than the others." The truck said, "You can't help what doesn't want to be helped."
"Okay" the plane answered and allowed his friend to lead him away.
Once they were gone I collapsed in a heap on the ground as I gave in to my weakness. I heard Falco calling my name and then everything went black.
A/N: I'll leave off there now. Things haven't started out to well between them, have they? Don't worry, Dusty will be fine but he is stubborn and won't give up that easily.
