Chapter 8:

Gallus's New Plan

The Young 3 had landed next to a water well and were able to catch their breath from the ordeal. Smolder has landed in a water trough, Gallus has his back against a barrel with a moose head on his noggin and Ocellus rode a unicycle while balancing a pole and wearing the damaged painting on her neck.

"What kind of sheriff's office is that?!" Ocellus asked, being shocked from all the action. She didn't fully understand what happened.

"I don't think that was the sheriff's office. I mean Saloon Griffons, Gambling. Seems to me we have entered a Saloon Club by mistake," Smolder said as she kicked the spittoon of her foot.

"Well, Sheriff's Office or Not. This place is my kind of place," Gallus said, pulling the moose head off of himself. He was really enjoying himself.

"Ummmm, guys a little help, please?" Ocellus asked, trying to pry the painting off her head and neck.

"Hold on, Ocellus. We got ya," Smolder said as she and Gallus began tugging on the painting.

As they tugged, the painting was ripped off but Ocellus, Smolder, and Gallus fall back in different directions. Gallus and Smolder fall back one way. But Ocellus fall back another and knocked into someone. The young Giraffe-like Griffon looked to see Silverstream standing there with her brother Terramar.

"Well, looky here, Terramar. Three young griffons. You guys sure are a little far from home aren't ya?" Silverstream joked as Ocellus looked at her with a glare and Terramar laughed.

"Ah, now there's the Hippogriff we want to see. We just want to have word with your dad about this," Gallus said.

Ocellus presented the bank notice and laid it on the barrel. Silverstream and Terramar took a closer look at the notice.

"What's that?" Silverstream asked, being confused about them giving a notice to them.

"Yeah, what's that?" Terramar asked, also confused.

"Oh, come on, you and your father have left this at our place," Gallus replied, reminding them.

Silverstream knows where this is going and not really caring about what was going to happen, said, "Wai-whoa, whoa, whoa, wait a minute. The place went bankrupt, remember, your home is history,".

Gallus and Smolder both glared while Ocellus looked a little lost before she looked at her friends.

The two Hippogriffs siblings started to walk away as Terramar said, "Don't guys get it?".

"Wait, Silverstream. Just tell your dad to give us two weeks and we'll have exactly sixty bucks in prize money-," Gallus said, trying to reason with them.

"Um, didn't you hear what my dad said? You guys only have three days to pay or be on your way. And sixty bucks doesn't cut it," Silverstream interrupted, reminding them what the real deal was. Sometimes and in her eyes, you had to blunt without kindness.

"And seeing the number of money on the notice. You guys are gonna need about 750 dollars," Terramar said, investigating the notice.

"Um, Gallus that's a lot of money. Where are we gonna get that much?" Ocellus asked, turning to Gallus in concern.

The other two griffons were a bit lost, but then Smolder said sarcastically with a smirk, "May I suggest that Gallus should probably pull it right out of his ear?".

"Watch it, Smolder! I'll think of something," Gallus said, glaring at the smirking Smolder.

But then suddenly the sky above them begins to darken and thunder rumbled overhead. Storm clouds started to block the sun while relaxing Griffons gulped their spit down. Even the Griffon at the post office froze from what he was doing.

He sounded a little surprised when he said, "Rico,".

"Rico," Silverstream said in amazement and excitement.

The sound of thunder woke up Skybeak and Ocean Flow from their nap and looked to the flies that stopped flying and muttered, "Rico,".

The wind began to howl as a large dust cloud headed toward the town. The Young 3 looked at each other when a bolt of lightning flashed in the sky. Gallus, Ocellus, and Smolder moved out of the way as the dust cloud rolled into town.

Skybeak and Ocean Flow started coughing from all the dust and Skybeak gripped his hat when it nearly blew off his head. Gallus, Ocellus, and Smolder hugged the ground as the high winds blew over them.

When the wind and dust began to settle down, a black Hippogriff stood in the middle of town. He snorted as the sky started to clear up again.

"Whoa, guys. Who's that?" Ocellus asked, standing up.

A fly buzzed by Rico, and like a kung fu master, the bounty hunter grabbed the fly by the wing and shushed it. The fly cringed and muttered, "Sorry,".

Rico lets the bug go and it quietly fluttered away. Terramar watched the fly flew away and was amazed at how quiet it was.

Silverstream walked over to the Young 3 and said, "Don't you guys know a hero when you see one?!".

Then she said as she yelled in Ocellus's ear, "Huh?! That's Rico...the best dang bounty hunter on this side of the Pecos,".

Skybeak laughed as he heads over to Rico and his quarry.

"Well, I could guess from here to tomorrow. But I don't know how you do it, Rico," Skybeak laughed, feeling quite amazed by the work Rico has done.

Rico lift his catch off his back and tossed him into a porch.

"Where's my money?" The Bounty Hunter asked. He just wanted to get the business done.

"Boy, you sure have the taste for money. But I got it all here for you," Skybeak said as he paid Rico in full and Rico gripped the money tightly.

A smile appeared on Gallus's face as he said, "Hey, look. The Sheriff is giving him free money,".

"Oh! Gallus, he gave that guy money because he caught a bad guy," Smolder explained to him while getting the feeling that another crazy idea is about to happen.

"So who else is out there?" Rico asked, putting the money in his saddlebag.

"Well, Rico. the only varment left is that low-down, good-for-nothin' Alameda Slim and his gang," Ocean Flow replied as she glared at the wanted poster.

"Yup, he's a Griffon Rustler," Skybeak said, ripping the poster off the wall.

That is until Rico took the poster and asked, "So, what's the bounty for this guy?".

"Seven Hundred and Fifty Dollars," Skybeak replied as Gallus's eyes widened at the sound of it and got a new idea.

A smile grew on his face and Gallus said, "Guys, I got it!".

"I don't know if we should still do that Fair Idea, Gallus. We don't have much time," Ocellus stated, thinking that Gallus might want to still do the fair.

"Forget the fair, I got a new plan. Why don't we go nab that Alameda Slim and used the reward money to save the shelter?" Gallus said with a smile while flying in the air.

"You know I think it might just work," Ocellus said, starting to like the idea.

"What do you think, Smolder?" Gallus asked, turning to Smolder for her answer.

"I think that is a sensible idea," Smolder said sarcastically.

"Heh-heh, I knew you'd love it," Gallus said, not getting the sarcasm.

"Don't they have sarcasm in where you come from, Gallus?" Smolder asked, turning away from him.

"Oh, come on, Smolder. Wake up and smell the scent of heroism. It's a perfect plan," Gallus said while Smolder walked around him.

While the Young 3 are talking amongst themselves, Rico told Skybeak and Ocean Flow, "Well, if I'm gonna catch Slim. I'm gonna need a partner,".

Hearing those words, Silverstream gasped in glee and thought this might be her chance.

"Terramar, did you hear that? Rico needs a partner to help him catch Slim. You know what this means?" Silverstream asked, grabbing her brother by the cheeks in excitement.

"Um, what exactly?" Terramar asked, not getting what she's saying.

"This could be my one chance to finally become a hero," Silverstream said with a squeal.

"But Silverstream, catching an outlaw is a big job. Besides, do you even have what it takes to be Rico's partner?" Terramar asked, thinking that it's ridiculous for Silverstream to be partnered with Rico.

"Only one way to find out," Silverstream replied, rushing her brother and herself behind to the three grownups as Skybeak begins to think about it.

"Hmmm, a partner. Let me think, something tells me you'll need a fast partner," Skybeak said, thinking Rico might need a partner who is fast.

"See? Rico needs a fast partner, like really fast," Terramar said to Silverstream, proving his point.

"But I'm fast. Watch this!" Silverstream said as she ran real fast through town a few times before stopping next to Terramar.

"See?" Silverstream said, proving her point without breaking a sweat.

"But then that will mean your partner will have to go for days without food or water," Ocean Flow stated, knowing that Rico is going to need someone who could last without food and water for days.

"Pfft, I could do that," Silverstream scoffed, thinking this could be easy for her.

"But Silverstream, going for days without food or water is pretty risky. You'd hardly go for days without food and water," Terramar stated, feeling concerned about his sister taking a risk like that. She was still young after all.

"Terramar, I've been doing a lot of exercises. So I could do it," Silverstream said, waving off her brother's concern as she started to do push-ups trying to prove her strength.

"Let's not forget being stealthy and sure-footed for any terrain," Skybeak added, knowing that Rico's partner needs to be stealthy enough to catch a bad guy off-guard and able to handle any terrain.

"I'm stealthy and sure-footed. Watch," Silverstream said as she started to tip-toe around and jumped onto the roof of the porch while Terramar facepalmed from her shenanigans. His sister was really hamming it up.

But Rico caught sight of Silverstream and asked, "What about her? What's her name?".

"Huh, oh...Rico, meet Silverstream, she's quite fast but quite a bit of a handful," Skybeak said, introducing his daughter while Silverstream came next to him and Ocean Flow and gave a pearly white smile.

"Hmmm, I think she'll do," Rico said, having made his choice.

"Well, suit yourself, Rico," Ocean Flow said, seeing how Rico was willing to put up with Silverstream's brash and cheerful behavior.

Silverstream gasped when Rico puts a saddlebag on her back. Then Rico puts the wanted poster in the bag before turning to follow Skybeak and Ocean Flow.

Silverstream looked to Terramar with a squeal and said, "Terramar, can you believe it? I'm Rico's partner, I've become Rico's partner, I'm finally Rico's partner!".

"Whoa, there Silverstream. There's one more thing you'll have to do if you wanna stay Rico's partner," Terramar said, reminding Silverstream that there was one more thing she needs to do.

"What's that?" Silverstream asked, wondering what else she could possibly need to do.

"You gotta make sure you don't do anything skittish like doing that crazy kung-fu thing. Be mature," Terramar replied as Silverstream nodded in agreement.


Meanwhile back with the Young 3...

Gallus is still trying to convince Smolder, but she wouldn't have any part of it as she said, "Oh, no, no, no, no, no,".

But Gallus looked at her with a grin, but Smolder remained rooted with her decision and said, "There's no way in heaven or on this world that a bunch of kids can catch an outlaw,".

"She's got a point, Gallus. I mean how are we even going to catch Slim?" Ocellus asked, thinking Smolder may have a point there on the flaw of this new plan.

"Look, all I know is that Alameda Slim is a rustler, which means he likes to steal Griffons. So all we have to do is follow this chuckwagon to a Griffon Drive and when we get there, …," Gallus said, explaining his plan as he walks around the chuckwagon.

"We'll blend right in with the other Griffons and let Slim come to us," Ocellus said, catching on and explaining what the rest of the plan is.

"Exactly," Gallus said with a smile.

"Um, one problem. We don't even know if this chuckwagon is even going to a Griffon Drive," Smolder reminded them, seeing that they have no idea where the chuckwagon is going.

Ocellus then heads over to the hauler of the chuckwagon and asked, "Excuse me, sir. Is this wagon going to a Griffon drive?".

"Yes it is, young lady," the Hauler said as he looks on ahead.

"Looks like it is heading to a Griffon Dri-," Ocellus said only to be shushed by Smolder.

"We're not following this wagon and that's final," Smolder said, standing firm.

"Oh, come on, Smolder. It'll be fun," Gallus pleaded as he nudged her a bit.

Smolder took a moment to process what happened and asked, "Gallus, did you just hit me?".

"Kinda," Gallus said, nudging her again.

"Well, stop it," Smolder growled, getting annoyed by the nudges.

"Why?" Gallus asked teasefully with another nudge.

"Because I don't like it," Smolder explained, starting to get mad.

Gallus poked Smolder a few times before making her follow his talons and then used his shoulder to knock her back a little. Smolder fell on her haunches but her tail tip landed in a mud puddle. Smolder began to get angry as she turned to the male griffon who caused it. Smolder did not like getting her tail in mud.

"Oh, not the tail in the mud," Ocellus said, covering her eyes in fear.

"What? What about the -," Gallus tried to ask in confusion as he turned to Ocellus.

But he got his answer as Smolder charged at him and knocked him off his feet. Gallus grunted when he landed in a mud puddle and was covered in it. He lifted his head from the ground and glared at Smolder. Swiping the mud off her tail, Smolder checks to see no mud until Gallus ran up with a growl and shoved her down back.

The two started growling at each other before butting heads together.

Seeing the fight getting started, Ocellus tried to calm it by saying, "Okay, look. Violence isn't going to solve this. Why don't we take a deep cleansing breath and -,".

But it was ignored when Gallus and Smolder came charging up to her and crashed into her. Ocellus yelped in surprise from being sandwiched by her two friends. When she was able to escape, she slinked away and let the two deal with the problem themselves. Smolder used her wings to distract Gallus before tackling him to the ground. Gallus glared up at Smolder while she stood over him and repeatedly shoved his head back down in the mud.

Terramar saw the commotion and was excited about it and said, "Hey, look! Mud Wrestle,".

Then he was covered in mud from the fighting. Silverstream laughed at the whole thing when some mud spattered on her saddlebag.

"Hey, hey! Watch my saddlebag!" Silverstream said, wiping the mud off with her tail.

The sound of the fight was heard from inside the sheriff's office and Skybeak, Ocean Flow, and Rico looked to see what the commotion was. They saw Gallus kick Smolder off of him before the two were at it again.

Skybeak, Ocean Flow, and Rico were weirded out by this as Skybeak grabbed a rope and said, "What in tarnation is going on?".

Gallus and Smolder circled each other as they prepared to keep it up.

Smolder glared at Gallus and said, "Gallus, for the last time. I will not be roped into this scheme of yours,".

But it turned out that all three of them would be roped in as Skybeak tossed a lasso over their heads.

"Come, on you three! Come, on!" Skybeak said as the Young 3 tried to fight against it.

"Dagnabit!" Skybeak said, tying the ropes to the chuckwagon.

When he finished tying the Young 3 to the wagon, he looks to the Griffon of the wagon. The Griffon looked to Skybeak as he said gesturing to the Young 3, "Hey, you there. Take care of these kids. This town is clean,".

"Wow! Free Kid Griffons, What a country!" the Griffon said in Chinese with a smile.

The Young 3 gasped as they are pulled along. Though it wasn't how he planned it, Gallus smiled and said, "Well, not exactly what I had in mind but this will work,".

"Well, it doesn't seem to work for me," Smolder complained as they are being pulled along.

Rico and Silverstream whinnied as Silverstream said, "Adios, Familia,".

"See you, soon Silverstream," Ocean Flow said, waving goodbye to her daughter.

"And take care of Rico, now," Skybeak said, wishing Rico and Silverstream good luck on their hunt.

Silverstream and Rico walked by the Young 3 as Silverstream looked at them with a smug grin.

As they soon turned down different paths, Silverstream shouted, "Hasta la vista, you guys! Whoo-hoo,".


Author's Note: Now this is where their journey throughout the west begins...