Daringmom Part 6

>The last few hours of daylight were spent salvaging the remains of the ship for anything essential,

>Tomorrow you set out on hoof.

>Now that that creature's moved in, flying was out of the question.

>The setting of the sun drew an unnatural dark under the thick canopy of treetops,

>Before too long you had a fire going, situated in the crook of the wreckage.

Boy, we look like a wreck.

>The two of you were dusty, frazzled, and covered in blood.

>Mom had been absolutely splattered in the stuff when she shot at that beast, and the gouge in your cheek had spilled all over your face in the commotion.

>''I've seen worse, but not this early on.''

>A grunt escapes her lips,

>She was busy dismantling the wierd engine of the ship.

>''Hope he's not too mad about the state of this motor,''

>Eventually she withdraws a small cylidrical object from the core of the engine, it glows for second but stops as soon as it's detatched.

What's that thing?

>''Not really sure, it's the power supply that the ship runs off. I was told to never let anyone get their hooves on it, because the technology it uses is dangerous.''

>She slips it into her pocket.

>''Also each one is unique, like you or me. I Had to destroy one once, and he couldn't get another one working properly for almost a year.''

You're involved in some wierd stuff, mom.

>Now that she was done salvaging, she wiped sweat off her forehead and leaned against some remains,

>''Are you wishing you'd stayed behind, yet?''

Are you kidding? This is the most excitement I've had, ever.

I've waited for this my whole life, every minute with you is amazing.

>''Heheh, d'aww...''

>Affectionate statements like that probably felt out of place to her here,

>''C'mon, I found a bottle of Rum in the cargo, and it's definitely not coming with us!''

>She's not waiting for your approval or anything,

>In less than a minute she's pulled out the thick glass bottle from some sacks and boxes,

>'''Captain Maregans Parrot Bay', '', she reads aloud.

>She cracked open the lid, taking a deep whif as you take a seat next to her,

>''Mmmmm, coconutty. I think it's a 45 too,''

>She hastily throws back a swig,

>''Are you gonna have some?''

Of course I am. You know the rules, fillies first.

>You grab the bottle, taking your first chug with a grin on your face.

>Before long, you two are laughing and drinking like a couple of pals, and the fire is dying down.

>She showed you a fire-breathing trick at the cost of some of the booze,

>Worth it, even though she nearly lit your mane on fire.

>''Did I ever tell you about that cannibal who wanted to marry me?''

What?

>''It was a love ate relationship.''

>both of your sides leave orbit,

That was a terrible joke, mom!

>''Hah, yeah I know. Blame Adam for that one.''

>A hush fell over the scene as the fire starts flickering out of life,

>''We'd better gather more firewood,''

>She reaches over and grabs the lantern,

Why can't we burn the ship's wood again?

>You take one last swig of the rum before you go,

>''The wood is loaded with chemicals, and it would make way too much smoke.''

>''Remember, only dry wood now.''

>She grabs the bottle for another swig as well.

>Then you're both out in the forest.

>The sounds of wildlife were all around you, always just beyond the reach of the dimmed lantern.

>Every time you bend down to grab some sticks you're afraid something is going to surprise you,

>This is what being brave is about. Get used to it.

>Walking through the forest behind your mom reminds you of that first day, walking through the forest to where the ship was parked,

>You're certain that you're alot more subtle by now, but her movements are still so deft compared to yours.

>Bending over to grab a fallen branch, you spot something out of the corner of your eye,

Psst, mom!

>You sound alot louder that you should've, and she gives you a funny look,

What's that over there?

>You gesture over to your left, and she can see it too.

>It looks like...

Is that smoke?

>''Don't know, keep your voice down.''

>She slowly puts the lantern out,

>As soon as you're plunged into the darkness you can see it easily.

>There's a small clearing off in the distance, and it looks like smoke is rising from it,

>You exchange glances, and both make your way to the clearing.

>With every step closer your path is lit by more moonlight spilling from the gap in the canopy,

>Mom's expression is serious, but as you approach the anomaly, it changes to a smile.

>you realize it isn't smoke,

>It's steam.

>By the time you've realized this, mom's already right next to it,

>''A hot spring, what luck!''

>The moon is high in the sky, and it looks almost as though it's directly above the steamy pool.

What're the odds, huh?

>''Well, in all honesty, there IS a volcano not even 50 miles south-east of here.''

>She's prodding the depth with a long stick,

>You look around the clearing,

>The area around the water is practically sheer rock, with more rock of the same type dotting the surface of the spring.

>Mom daintily tests the water with the tip of a hoof,

>''Everything seems fine, go right ahead!''

What can possibly go wrong with a hot spring?

>She's securing the lantern to a tree, even though it's not lit,

>''I've seen some ponies get pretty badly burnt because they don't realize this water's getting heated by MAGMA.''

>Now she's unbuttoning the collar of her jacket,

Hah, I guess when you put it that way...

>You only really remember now how filthy the two of you are,

>The dust from the city and coagulated blood probably smelled pretty bad, too.

>Now Mom's yanked her jacket off,

>You start to do the same,

>She dips herself into the edge of the spring, testing every inch of water.

>You finally get your jacket off, and by now she's way out in the water.

>''Get it while it's hot, after tonight we probably won't get another opportunity like this.''

>You don't hesitate, in a fwe seconds you're up to your ears in warm water.

>It only struck you now how cold it was after night time here.

Hey, don't we have an item X to track down?

>She shrugs, splashing a bit.

>''It can wait for a few hours. Besides, as far as I know, we're ahead of the game.''

>The next few minutes were spent scrubbing yourselves clean, and you swear mom was a lighter shade of tan by the time she deemed herself done.

>Your breath comes in sharp accents as you run water over the wound on your face, pulling a worried glance from her.

>''How much has that wound come into contact with?''

>She makes her way over to you, eyeing the gouge curiously.

Only my hoof, and some dirt, and smoke and-

>''Alright, I've heard enough. Come with me.''

>She leads you back to the edge of the spring, where her jacket is lying.

It's not hurting anymore mom, I think I'll be fine.

>She seems to be ignoring you as she withdraws something from her jacket, placing it on the ground in front of you.

>It was dark and you couldn't tell what it was...

>You lean a bit out of the water to get a closer look, leaning close to the ground.

>It's her compass?

What's-

>Next thing you know she's straddling your back, one of her forelegs reaching around your head and stuffed in your mouth.

>She now has your head in a vice between her foreleg and her chest,

>She tilts it to the right, and you see the silhouette of her raising a bottle over your face,

>''Quiet, now,''

>Your protests are muffled, and she quickly pours a stream onto your exposed cheek.

>Onto your wound.

>And dear gods it burns so much,

>Your screams are mostly lost in her flesh, and you bite down in pain as your body convulses, trying to throw her off.

>Eventually she loses her grip and is flung back into the water with a sploosh.

>Luckily you're done screaming, and all you can do is hiss through your teeth as you stroke your wound gingerly,

>You feel puss seeping out of it, which you promptly wipe away.

>''Sorry sweetie, don't want that getting infected.''

>As the burning subsides, you start to feel bad about throwing her off like that,

>But still.

Was that really necessary?

>''Maybe not, but I still don't know your pain threshold.''

Well, it was probably infected, anyways...

Thanks mom.

>''Just doing my job,'' She winks at you,

>The two of you slump down into the water against an exposed rock, leaving only your heads exposed.

>A few minutes pass as you relax.

>''Am I a bad mother?''

>She's suddenly taken up this worried expression,

>It doesn't suit her.

I told you, mom, it was infected anyways. It was a good call,

>''No, I mean in general.''

>''I'm never around, always thinking about my passions before my son.''

>She scooted over a little closer to you.

>''I'm not afraid to admit I don't let it get me down much, but sometimes I feel really bad about the way I've been to you.''

Mom, you used to tell me that it was too dangerous out here for me. I didn't always believe you, but I've realized you were right.

It's a cruel, cruel world out here, and I'd be lost without you.

>''That doesn't answer my question, am I a bad mother?''

>You pause for a minute, and she looks ashamed.

By any normal account you'd be considered a bad mother.

>She looks down in shame, but you don't let her think about it like that.

But you're not a normal mother. You were an adventurer before you were a mother,

and all the family in the world shouldn't keep you from what you are at heart.

>You scoot a little closer to her,

>''But I kept you from being what you could have been... I wasn't even there when you got your cutie mark.''

>This has gone on for long enough.

Mom, I don't have any regrets, you shouldn't either.

Had you given up your career I would have been miserable when I found out I ruined your dream,

Is that better than what we have now?

>She was silent for a good long time,

>''Is that really how you feel?''

Yes. Now let's stop dwelling on the past, look at where we are in the present.

>She rested her head on your your shoulder, closing her eyes.

>You reached your arm around her waist, pulling her close.

Right now it's just you and me against the world, and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

>''You'll never know how happy it makes me to hear that.''

Just remember that I love you, mom.

>You were both silent for awhile after that,

>Her suddenly being emotional like that was a strange change of pace.

>Eventually you hear the slow rise and fall of her breath, you could feel it in her body as you held her close.

>She hasn't slept much so far, guess it was taking its toll.

>In the silence, the slight hiss of the steam resounded like a white noise, and you only just realized now that the sounds of wildlife had completely disappeared.

>You were tempted to wake mom up, but she needed more than a half hour of sleep.

>It was just nature playing tricks on you, obviously.

>A twig snapped somewhere in the distance,

>It was probably just some animal.

>Some leaves rustled in the wind,

>It's only the wind.

>Lantern light became visible through some distant foliage,

>Logically, it must be... wait what?

>You snap your head around to see a dim light shimmering over bushes in the distance, and immediately slump down into the water further.

>Mom's limp body slowly becomes less limp as the movement has roused her,

>''Mmmm, whumph?''

>She started talking, but you put a hoof over her mouth, gesturing to the light with the other one.

>Seeing the light has her snapped to full attention, and as it closes you both huddle behind the shelter of the rock.

>More twigs snap as the light approached the edge, and a moody grumbling came with it.

>''Sorry, hot springs, I'm busy tonight.'' was all you hear through grunting.

>He fiddles with his lantern a bit,

>Oh shit, our lantern,

>It was still hanging on a tree, in plain sight.

>Mom's noticed that too, and you're both gritting your teeth as the visitor grumbles to himself and walks off.

>Your heartrate gradually decreases as the crunching gets further and further away,

>But mom still looks nervous.

>She starts to creep up to the edge of the rock, not making a noise.

>You shake your head violently at her, mouthing the words 'NO'

>She's ignoring you, and you try to hold her back, but you'd make too much noise

>As her head pokes out from the edge, she starts squinting into the distance,

>You take advantage of her focus and drag her back down into the water, making a sloshing sound,

>Both of you freeze in spot as the crunching steps stop, then start again,

>You're listening tentively to see if they're coming back,

>Luckily, theyre not.

>About a minute passes before either of you move,

Who the heck was that?

>''Not sure, but he had some serious hardware with him.''

Hardware?

>''Guns, weapons, I think he also had a radio.''

>She gets out of the water and shakes herself off,

>''Better yet, it looks like it was all Imperator issue. Quality stuff.''

>''What are damn mercenaries doing out here?''

>You get out a few seconds after, shivering in the cool air.

What's this mean for us?

>''It means that we're not as ahead of the game as I thought. Come on, we have to pack up and move.''