Chapter Three: Rescue!
"All right," Pyro said, "we can stay the night, though I don't really like the idea." He looked up at the night sky, still dark from the previous storm. "I'll go find some wood for a fire and some water. Make up camp if you can." And so saying, the tiny pony bounded off into the nearby forest.
It didn't take him long to find the supplies he needed: he was, after all, used to the sky and ground as his only means of shelter. He returned with enough wood for a good fire, and some water less they become thirsty. However, food was another issue. He had, on his findings, found that the only food around were berries, and he knew right away that they were best left on the branches they grew on.
Bumble and Flutter thought for a minute, and then came to a mutual agreement. Flutter, who was a little bit weaker and less resourceful than her friend, would stay behind and watch over the strange pony called Hacksign. Bumble went off in the opposite direction as Pyro in search of food. She had lived in these parts all of her life, and knew what sorts of things were safe to eat and weren't, and where to find them. Pretty soon she returned to camp with some prized gludins, which were a sort of nutty flavored root with the texture of a potato. They were healthy and good at replenishing energy. The three female ponies quietly awaited for Pyro's return so they could get a fire started.
When Pyro returned, he was quick to start the fire without much of a word to the others. It was funny, it was as though starting and controlling fires came naturally to him, and he figured that his name and looks had something to do with it. The fire soon raged long and high, and the exhausted pony lied down near his friend, his body nuzzling against hers, as though to keep her safe. However, he stayed awake, his eyes glued to the dancing flames before them. It was obvious he wasn't much of the conversationalist.
Bumble took the five precious gludins she had found and placed them near the coals of the fire, allowing them to cook through. "Do you think we can get -uh- Hacksign to eat something? It might help her regain her strength," said Bumble.
"I've tried to wake her a few times," Pyro spoke, his voice low and distant. "I think I'll just let her sleep. If no one comes tonight, we'll have to move through the daytime, and she'll need all the rest she can get." His answer was simple, nothing too complicated, and he continued to gaze into the endless fire.
The two girls exchanged a look of disbelief, but tossed their manes. (Which is the pony way of shrugging) Several times they tried to engage Pyro in a conversation, but he kept his answers short and simple, too worried about his friend to be sociable, or at least that's what the young Summer Wing ponies figured. Finally they were able to draw him out when Flutter asked, "So what happened to your parents? How long have you lived by yourselves?"
Pyro paused for a moment, as if deciding whether or not to answer their question. However, he finally spoke. "Hacksign is not sure what happened to her parents, she barely remembers them, it was so long ago. We've known each other for a long time, practically all our lives. I don't even really remember how we met to tell you the truth. We were just always... there." Of course, he knew that he hadn't uttered a word about his parents or past, but he decided to keep a locked door on that matter. Though he vaguely remembered it, what he did remember he did not want to. He forced a small smile as he looked at the two through the firelight, the dancing flames gleaming off his eyes, making him seem almost devoid of all emotion, like a statue or something. "And what about you?" he inquired. "The Realm of the My Little Pony... sounds like a nice place."
This time Bumble chimed in. "It really is. We have schools, and our parents are great... The government is really good, although right now we are adjusting to the passing of the crown." She then proceeded to explain a little bit about the double monarchy. "We have lots of friends, and plenty to eat and stuff. And a doctor for Hacksign, too."
Pyro nodded quietly, listening to all they had to say. "Sounds nice..." however, he was quiet edgy about being around others. "If you have a doctor there... then we need to go as soon as possible"
The two girls exchanged nervous glances. "Well..." began a nervous and embarrassed Flutter, "yes, it IS important to get her to the doctor... but... see, Bumble and I weren't exactly supposed to fly without a teacher or parent... and we broke the law by leaving the valley. So we're going to be in trouble when we get home. Big trouble."
Pyro smiled a bit, looking down now at the burning coals. "Well, better to learn now your mistakes then repeat them later on and find yourself in more trouble than you can handle." His eyes rose up, as he gazed at the starless night sky as the smoke from the fire cluttered. "I hope someone comes quick," he said in a small voice.
"I'm sure they will," Flutter comforted, but deep down, she doubted it. She was pretty sure that they were too far from The Realm for the flames to be seen. Bumble rose from her lying position, and poked at the odd roots. She determined them to be ready, took three sticks and skewered them, passing one first to Pyro, then Flutter, then one for herself. The three ate in silence, and soon they felt their energy restored. After a few hours, all four baby ponies fell into a deep sleep. Flutter was the first to hear the rescue party. She groggily rose and looked down over the cliff. Not only had Chief come, but also both girls' fathers.
Pyro, though his eyes were closed and his body sound, kept his senses alert the night through, still on guard in case of danger, or if the ponies they had met up with seemed untrustworthy. ((yes, he has some SERIOUS trust issues!)) He heard Flutter wake from her long sleep, and his ears twitched when he heard what had gotten her so alarmed. Immediately he shot up and raced to the cliff by her, looking down to see with relief that a rescue party had indeed come to get them. Twisting around, he grabbed Hacksign, pulling her onto his back. "Come on Bumble, get up," Pyro urged, not wanting to dawdle a second more. He approached near the end of the rock, looking down at them. At least now Hacksign would be all right…
"Daddy!" cried Flutter. "Daddy! We're up here! There are two earth ponies here too. They aren't from Dream Valley. One is really sick. Can you come up and get them?" "Of course, Flutter. Is Bumble up there too?" Bumble was slowly waking up, but she was alert enough to call out "I'm here! Just take me home..." Flutter's father, Cricket, and Bumble's father, Stinger, quickly flew up to the edge. Each took an earth pony on their back and flew down the cliff.
"Can you girls fly home alright?" inquired Stinger.
"Yes, Daddy." replied Flutter.
"Okay, we'll stay together until we get to the valley, and then it's straight home with you. I'm taking these two young ones to the doctor. They can't be more than six years old, and both seem sick. I want you HOME when I come back, got it?" asked Cricket.
"Yes sir," replied a nervous Flutter.
"That goes for you too, Bumble," added Stinger. She simply hung her head and nodded.
Pyro hesitated before climbing onto Cricket's back, but he felt he had to trust them, if for only Hacksign's sake. "We're not ill," he politely told the older pony as they were flown to Dream Valley. "But we were injured in the storm. Hacksign has been asleep for a while now." And then he said no more. He was in fact quite surprised to be flying on ponies... well, to be flying period. It made him wonder what other surprises were in store for him and his friend...
"All right," Pyro said, "we can stay the night, though I don't really like the idea." He looked up at the night sky, still dark from the previous storm. "I'll go find some wood for a fire and some water. Make up camp if you can." And so saying, the tiny pony bounded off into the nearby forest.
It didn't take him long to find the supplies he needed: he was, after all, used to the sky and ground as his only means of shelter. He returned with enough wood for a good fire, and some water less they become thirsty. However, food was another issue. He had, on his findings, found that the only food around were berries, and he knew right away that they were best left on the branches they grew on.
Bumble and Flutter thought for a minute, and then came to a mutual agreement. Flutter, who was a little bit weaker and less resourceful than her friend, would stay behind and watch over the strange pony called Hacksign. Bumble went off in the opposite direction as Pyro in search of food. She had lived in these parts all of her life, and knew what sorts of things were safe to eat and weren't, and where to find them. Pretty soon she returned to camp with some prized gludins, which were a sort of nutty flavored root with the texture of a potato. They were healthy and good at replenishing energy. The three female ponies quietly awaited for Pyro's return so they could get a fire started.
When Pyro returned, he was quick to start the fire without much of a word to the others. It was funny, it was as though starting and controlling fires came naturally to him, and he figured that his name and looks had something to do with it. The fire soon raged long and high, and the exhausted pony lied down near his friend, his body nuzzling against hers, as though to keep her safe. However, he stayed awake, his eyes glued to the dancing flames before them. It was obvious he wasn't much of the conversationalist.
Bumble took the five precious gludins she had found and placed them near the coals of the fire, allowing them to cook through. "Do you think we can get -uh- Hacksign to eat something? It might help her regain her strength," said Bumble.
"I've tried to wake her a few times," Pyro spoke, his voice low and distant. "I think I'll just let her sleep. If no one comes tonight, we'll have to move through the daytime, and she'll need all the rest she can get." His answer was simple, nothing too complicated, and he continued to gaze into the endless fire.
The two girls exchanged a look of disbelief, but tossed their manes. (Which is the pony way of shrugging) Several times they tried to engage Pyro in a conversation, but he kept his answers short and simple, too worried about his friend to be sociable, or at least that's what the young Summer Wing ponies figured. Finally they were able to draw him out when Flutter asked, "So what happened to your parents? How long have you lived by yourselves?"
Pyro paused for a moment, as if deciding whether or not to answer their question. However, he finally spoke. "Hacksign is not sure what happened to her parents, she barely remembers them, it was so long ago. We've known each other for a long time, practically all our lives. I don't even really remember how we met to tell you the truth. We were just always... there." Of course, he knew that he hadn't uttered a word about his parents or past, but he decided to keep a locked door on that matter. Though he vaguely remembered it, what he did remember he did not want to. He forced a small smile as he looked at the two through the firelight, the dancing flames gleaming off his eyes, making him seem almost devoid of all emotion, like a statue or something. "And what about you?" he inquired. "The Realm of the My Little Pony... sounds like a nice place."
This time Bumble chimed in. "It really is. We have schools, and our parents are great... The government is really good, although right now we are adjusting to the passing of the crown." She then proceeded to explain a little bit about the double monarchy. "We have lots of friends, and plenty to eat and stuff. And a doctor for Hacksign, too."
Pyro nodded quietly, listening to all they had to say. "Sounds nice..." however, he was quiet edgy about being around others. "If you have a doctor there... then we need to go as soon as possible"
The two girls exchanged nervous glances. "Well..." began a nervous and embarrassed Flutter, "yes, it IS important to get her to the doctor... but... see, Bumble and I weren't exactly supposed to fly without a teacher or parent... and we broke the law by leaving the valley. So we're going to be in trouble when we get home. Big trouble."
Pyro smiled a bit, looking down now at the burning coals. "Well, better to learn now your mistakes then repeat them later on and find yourself in more trouble than you can handle." His eyes rose up, as he gazed at the starless night sky as the smoke from the fire cluttered. "I hope someone comes quick," he said in a small voice.
"I'm sure they will," Flutter comforted, but deep down, she doubted it. She was pretty sure that they were too far from The Realm for the flames to be seen. Bumble rose from her lying position, and poked at the odd roots. She determined them to be ready, took three sticks and skewered them, passing one first to Pyro, then Flutter, then one for herself. The three ate in silence, and soon they felt their energy restored. After a few hours, all four baby ponies fell into a deep sleep. Flutter was the first to hear the rescue party. She groggily rose and looked down over the cliff. Not only had Chief come, but also both girls' fathers.
Pyro, though his eyes were closed and his body sound, kept his senses alert the night through, still on guard in case of danger, or if the ponies they had met up with seemed untrustworthy. ((yes, he has some SERIOUS trust issues!)) He heard Flutter wake from her long sleep, and his ears twitched when he heard what had gotten her so alarmed. Immediately he shot up and raced to the cliff by her, looking down to see with relief that a rescue party had indeed come to get them. Twisting around, he grabbed Hacksign, pulling her onto his back. "Come on Bumble, get up," Pyro urged, not wanting to dawdle a second more. He approached near the end of the rock, looking down at them. At least now Hacksign would be all right…
"Daddy!" cried Flutter. "Daddy! We're up here! There are two earth ponies here too. They aren't from Dream Valley. One is really sick. Can you come up and get them?" "Of course, Flutter. Is Bumble up there too?" Bumble was slowly waking up, but she was alert enough to call out "I'm here! Just take me home..." Flutter's father, Cricket, and Bumble's father, Stinger, quickly flew up to the edge. Each took an earth pony on their back and flew down the cliff.
"Can you girls fly home alright?" inquired Stinger.
"Yes, Daddy." replied Flutter.
"Okay, we'll stay together until we get to the valley, and then it's straight home with you. I'm taking these two young ones to the doctor. They can't be more than six years old, and both seem sick. I want you HOME when I come back, got it?" asked Cricket.
"Yes sir," replied a nervous Flutter.
"That goes for you too, Bumble," added Stinger. She simply hung her head and nodded.
Pyro hesitated before climbing onto Cricket's back, but he felt he had to trust them, if for only Hacksign's sake. "We're not ill," he politely told the older pony as they were flown to Dream Valley. "But we were injured in the storm. Hacksign has been asleep for a while now." And then he said no more. He was in fact quite surprised to be flying on ponies... well, to be flying period. It made him wonder what other surprises were in store for him and his friend...
