Never Alone part 2   [00:05:04] Sling_Swivel heads over the bridge and off on his way, awkwardly dragging Titus' empty wheelbarrow through the snow behind him...   [00:17:08] The stallion feels the cold breeze around him, feeling protected under his garment. But the peaceful way back to his home is taken out of normalcy when he spots a pony near the front of his hut. Standing out on the white scenery, the equine's black poncho and short spear reveal him as a member of the guard, with the town's badge clearly on sight on his chest. Upon seeing Sling approaching, the guard waves at him with a foreleg. The protuberance on his horn show he is a unicorn, but there's still a good lot of distance between him and the unknown pony...   [00:25:20] Sling_Swivel sniffles in the cold, his saddlebags filled with tasty candies and hard-earned bits, courtesy of Star and Lemon Drop. The makeshift harness around his little body digs in as he drags the wheelbarrow along, but home is close-by and he'll be able to rest soon and enjoy some of Titus' home-cooking.   [00:25:34] Sling_Swivel looking up for a moment, he spies the shape of another Pony up ahead... a... town guard? He squints a bit, trying to get a better look. The Guard waves to him and he takes a moment to wave back before redoubling his efforts and continuing on, approaching.       [00:31:40] With the house and the pony closer in sight and reach, Sling can say the features of the mystery equine. It's a stallion, judging for his muzzle and rounded eyes. On the left side of his face, a big scar gives him a scary look. The gray coat and blonde mane reminiscence of a goofy pony from the series, but this one doesn't look at all like a cute pegasus, instead is stocky, holding his spear firmly in a purple aura. Yet, when he speaks, the sound of his voice softens the impression he gives. "Ahoy. Is good to see I didn't come here in vain!"   [00:36:51] Sling_Swivel manages a glance or two as he approaches, tugging the very-ill-equipped-for-snow-wheelbarrow along, "Uh..." he manages, "Hello there..." finally coming to a halt, long furrows in the snow stretching out behind him, "What's... uh, going on here?" Sling asks, tilting his head slightly to one side.   [00:45:37] The guard offers a smile that continues as he speaks. "Ohoho, don't worry my friend. I'm here in behalf of a friend that wants to meet you. You are Sling Swivel, right? My name is Jerry... just, Jerry" The stallion giggles as he rubs the back of his head.   [00:51:06] Sling_Swivel lets his makeshift harness slacken a bit, feeling a little more at ease, "Ahh, alright. Just not too used to getting visitors out here this far from town and all... It's uh, nice to meet you, Jerry," he says, offering a hoof, "You say you were out here lookin for a friend of yours?"   [00:57:11] the stallion hurries to shake his head and drops his spear against the front wall of the hut, near the entrance. "No no, I'm just here on his behalf, he wants to meet you. Told me you work at the sawmill probably... Frankly I don't know why he doesn't go and talk to you himself... probably busy with work." Jerry ended up being more chatty than his appearance showed, but also a gentle pony when he offers Sling some help with the tools. Approaching the wheel-bar, the unicorn says. "Let me help you with that, pally. I know how hard is to work all day cutting wood."   [01:20:14] Sling_Swivel tilts his head a bit to the other side, "Really? Well... no, not at a sawmill... Just my pal Titus and I... we, uh, have a couple of axes, a logging saw and such... just for firewood, you know? We do small firewood contracts for shops and homes and stuff... And, well, I reckon I can't blame your friend... it's wicked cold out here" he says, chuckling a bit.   [01:20:22] Sling_Swivel works his way out of the harness as Jerry moves to help, "Aah, man, thanks... that thing is bitch to pull through the snow, but it's all we've got to make deliveries... Here, help me pull it around back to the woodshed" he says, gesturing with a nod of his head.   [01:43:51] The stallion doesn't hesitate to do as Sling said, and gets the wheel bar behind the house, whistling a merry tune on their way there. There he widens his eyes and takes a look at the 'backyard', the landscape full of mounds and trees that extends to the north, all covered in layers of white. "Such a beautiful place out in the country...  Aren't we lucky to be here? Oh, you said you work in the woods then? Heh, no surprise Biscuit wants to know you. Perhaps you should visit him on the lumber yard to the West someday." The stallion nods a few times to himself, looking over Sling in the process. "And no surprise he knows about you, probably the Poachers told him how you look and where you live. Well, that's Biscuit's business anyways. I was wondering if you have some woodcarving skill, pal. The mare I saw near the 'round here told me you were good at that"   [02:03:18] Sling_Swivel huffs and puffs a bit, sending great plumes of steam from his muzzle into the frigid night air as the two drag the wheelbarrow around back to the woodshed. With the wheelbarrow put  away, Sling takes a moment to stretch while Jerry looks northwards. Sling's ears perk at the fellow's words, "It is pretty... but, I dunno if I'd say lucky" he begins, but pauses, listening... "Well, Titus and I are gonna start up a farm come spring. This logging gig's just to raise some money to keep us fed and fund that effort when it warms up... Uhm, I could see this fella, I suppose. He's not mad at us or something for undercutting the mill or some such, is he?" he asks, skeptically.   [02:03:34] Sling_Swivel tilts his head a bit, curiously, "Wait... poachers? And... er, no..." he says, shaking his head, "I haven't worked with wood beyond finishing and repairing gun-stocks... I just chop firewood. Who... was this Mare you met who told you that?"   [02:09:12] Jerry sighs and looks to the ground, disappoint at the news, but his sadness vanishes away, replaced by confusion. One of his eyebrows quirk, and he speaks in impressed tone. "Oh? Well, the farm idea is nice and all. I bet Biscuit just wants to know if you are interested on working with him... erh, you really don't know that mare? She told me you weren't home and that she was waiting for you to come back. You know... tall, thin, very pretty. Her fur was sky blue, pristine like a cloudless day! And such a beautiful face, mhm~" The guard giggles mischievously, and nudges Sling a few times. "Ehehe, well she did look nice and you say you don't know her? No need to hold secrets with your buddy Jerry, I won't tell." After some winks, he goes on. "She told me how she wanted you to be 'never alone'~ Uhuhuhuhu"   [02:13:35] Jerry continues laughing and chuckling to the 'implications' made by the unknown mare, and pats the axe pony on the back a few times. "Heh, good luck with the girl, didn't catch her name, but she should be back soon. I'll tell her you are around if I find her on my way. Gotta go fast, you know, is about time my night shift starts"   [02:17:58] Sling_Swivel nods, "Yeah, Ti's pretty knowledgeable when it comes to agriculture and he needed a farmhand so I came on over and we've been doing good pretty good ever since... I couldn't cut out on Ti now, man" he says, frowning a bit, then it's Sling's turn to look confused. "No... I mean, unless she was orange and..." he trails off as Jerry continues.   [02:18:03] Sling_Swivel grows increasingly confused and unsettled, blinking and shaking his head as the Guard Fellow continues, "No... man, I've never met anyone like that... like, at all... Dude, what... dude, no... Who put you up to this? Aurora? Hoof? Wait, man... how'd you know my name, anyhow?" he asks, ears lying back.     [02:21:52] Jerry's smile decreases until he looks as confused as Sling. "Uh... Biscuit told me to see you here, but now that you mention it, the mare was the one who told me your name. And your dog's even, but Arrow isn't around right now, it seems." He shrugs and looks up to the darkening sky. "Heh... I really need to get going, but it was nice knowing you, pally. You alright? you seem a bit... confused. Probably that girl is a secret fan, eh?"   [02:29:10] Sling_Swivel nods slowly, thinking deeply, "Er, right, right... I'll haffta see your friend one of these days, uh, maybe tomorrow. Though I really can't take any... employment offers as I'm... pretty committed already..." he begins, thinking over his words before speaking them.   [02:29:17] Sling_Swivel swallows hard, "Uh, yeah, Arrow... she's inside. Hurt her... leg, healing up..." he adds, before shaking his head and composing himself, "I see... yeah, yeah, nah, I'm, uh, I'm okay, been a long day, you know? Yeah... maybe." he continues, "Right, hey, you have a good night, man. It was nice to meet you... stay warm and keep clear of the trees. Those big spiders are around" he adds.   [02:32:01] Jerry doesn't really buy the words Sling says, but opts to shrug and nod, finding little more time to stay and speak. "Sure thing pal... oh, cool that you mention it. Some Equestrians helped clean the forests off spiders, so it should be safe now! Your girl didn't have troubles going to wait for you there at least, last time I saw her she wandered there... well, bye for now" And so he leaves, turning around to go pick up his spear and trot South.... Alone in the darkening evening, Sling finds it hard to stare into the woods Jerry mentioned without feeling that, from within the dark natural alleys, something was looking back at him. The wind gets stronger and more cold; a blizzard approaches. ] [02:47:12] Sling_Swivel nods once more, "Ahh, no way... Good... good deal, there," he replies, still rather on-edge. "O-oh..." he mumbles, taking a glance out into the woods for a moment, before looking back to Jerry, "Yeah, man. See ya, tell your pal at the mill I'll visit sometime," he calls after the Unicorn fellow.     [02:47:23] Sling_Swivel gaze turns back to the dark, snow-draped woods as the crunch of Jerry's hooves on the snow fades into the night... He peers long and hard, out amongst the trees, quietly chewing upon his lower lip, his great blue eyes piercing the darkness...   [02:47:38] A cold breeze whips up and Sling blinks, his ears lying back, he turns and trots away, looking back over his shoulder several times as he goes... rounding the house and knocking gently upon the door. One last look out into the darkness... then Titus opens the door and he steps inside.     [02:35:36] [cue credits song! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5YhlMNM6Nk ] [02:35:55] [see you on the next episode of FourCannon: The sequel: The revenge] [02:36:03] [Ooooh~] [02:44:13] GMC [~pallmall@190.121.72.197] ahora se llama Cury-Sleep