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// 72 - Amongst the Grass// Story: Ponyfinder: Roots of Stone// by David Silver//------------------------------//

Returning to her friends, Tabitha brushed aside the leaves that weren't actually there, pressing through the illusion. "Hey, so this is Short Run."

Short Run emerged into the clearing, looking around. "A curious but useful magic." His eyes settled on those present. "Ponies, as you said. A pleasure to meet you. Your friend has enlisted my aid."

Fast regarded the feline with curiosity, her face visible with her helmet removed. "Hello, Short Run. I am Fast Shadow."

"Maud Pie."

"Tree Hugger."

Short nodded to each just as his son hurried through to his side and looked around with excited eyes. "Wow, papa, look at all the horses!"

"They are ponies." Short rested a paw on his son's head. "They prefer to be called as such. See how they wear clothing and carry things? Even lacking that, see the mark on that one--"

Tree blinked softly. "Are you teaching your son about us?" She leaned forward a little. "That's totally precious."

The cub snorted at Tree. "Papa was talking! Don't be rude!"

Short smiled. "You are a good son, but their words are harmless." A soft pat was given as he looked to Tree Hugger. "You have the look of one who understands the wild. Not as well as we, but perhaps close, for a pony."

Maud pointed to the small cub. "What's your name?"

The cub looked up at his father, who nodded. "Do you remember your given name?"

The cub nodded fiercely. "Yes! I am Little Kettle. When I grow up big and strong, I'll earn a new, better, name."

Short patted Little Kettle. "Your name is fine, for now, or do you doubt our decision?"

Fast nodded. "Thank you for joining us, but we were settling to sleep. You can rest with us, or return in the morning, at your pleasure."

"Do they sleep the same way?"

Short chuckled softly. "Most animals sleep the same way, and they are just as much animal as we." He settled to his belly and drew his son close. "Come, we will see how similar they can be."

Tree slid a bit closer to the two felines, ears perked. "You two are sun cats, right? Far out... Why are you called that?"

Little reared up a moment, just to fall back to all fours. "I can answer that. We are the purest example of the Sun King's majesty."

Tree tilted her head. "Sun King?"

Little blinked at her. "What are you, stupid?"

Short cuffed him across the head. "One should not speak impolitely. She is a pony, they are female aligned strongly. Their Sun King wears a skirt."

Little rubbed at his head, giving his father a petulant look before it seemed to click for him. "Oh. Horses are weird."

"Radical..." Tree tilted her head slightly. "We all live in the same world. We just, like, see it from totally different angles."

Paul chuckled as he bedded down. "Too true that. I ain't seein' thin's like a pony would."

Little thrust a paw at Paul. "And that one? You said he's a hoomahn?"

"Human, yes." Short nodded. "Now go to sleep. We will have ample time to observe them tomorrow, and need to rejoin the pride as soon as our duty here is complete."

"But whyyyy?" Little stuck out his small tongue. "They didn't give us anything! They're not part of the pride. Why should we give them something?"

"You'll understand when you're older." Short put a paw over him, pressing him to the ground. "For now, rest."

Questions were set aside by all parties, and the next day came to greet them, serenaded with a loud roar from Short Run to the rising sun. His son attempted to imitate him, though it emerged more as a little squeaking purr.

Fast awoke with a start at the sounds, looking around for danger that wasn't there. "Sun Queen above, I'm not used to waking beside cats. I trust your sleep was fine?"

"Well enough." Short stood up and stretched with the languid flexibility only a feline could muster. "Are you ready to travel?"

Maud stood up and began collecting her things. "I'll be ready in a minute."

Fast nudged Tabitha with a hoof. "Come on, no time to lay about. We have a day's hike ahead of us."

"Mmmf, do I haveta?" She sat up despite her protest and soon they were all roused and packed. "Are we having breakfast?"

Tree presented a batch of berries. "One each. I already scarfed mine."

Filling, if not ultimately satisfying, they were ready, and strode out onto the plains. Short and Little led the way. The smaller looked up at the larger. "Why don't you tell 'em how you got such a cool name?"

Short raised an ear. "Is it not obvious?"

Tree shook her head. "I admit, it's not. Help me grok it, man."

The cat shook his head back at her. "What strange dialect. Regardless, very well. Keep your eyes trained for trouble as I speak. It is an homage to my hunting style." He shook himself out, making his mane fluff up. "Despite my lustrous mane, I am quite able to hide and lay in wait. I will allow a prey to walk right past me, unaware of me until it is already too late. I make a Short Run, or none at all." He glanced back. "Do you understand?"

Fast nodded forward at him. "That's a very respectable skill, and not one of my talents, I'll admit."

He laughed softly. "Wearing a skin of metal? I should think not. Even a drunk goat would notice you in their stupor. The quietest amongst you is also the one with the fewest words."

"Possibly." Bright landed on the head of the cat and looked down at him over his own brow.

Short raised a brow at the bird. "Most birds fear my presence, and here you are. I also did not hear your approach. Did you come to make a fool of me?"

"Possibly." Bright took off with a flap, and landed on Tree's back.

Short roared, quite literally, with laughter, to his son's confusion. He led them not in any straight line, but in a weaving path through the grasslands.

"What are we avoidin' anyway?" Paul glanced around. "Why not just go the way we need to go? There's nothin' in the way."

"There's everything in the way." Short snorted softly.

Little puffed up his chest and raised his head. "You're not as smart as papa and can't see what's not in front of your nose."

Tree glanced back into the area they avoided. "He's right. We're going the right way."

"As I said. I knew you would have some hint of wisdom."

Tabitha smiled at her feline guide. "Thank you again, for showing us the way. We would have tripped right into every trouble spot in these plains."

"Oh, just a few." Short chuckled softly. "I'm certain they would have prevented you from reaching the others. The wild changes little. It was dangerous to our ancestors, and remains so for those untrained. I hope you are paying attention, Son?"

"Of course, papa." He danced around his father in a scamper. "Watching you do your thing is always fun."

Maud stepped upwards in the group. "It's good to pay attention to your parents. My parents know all about mining. I learned a lot from them."

Little turned to face Maud, walking backwards. "You're a miner? What's a miner?"

Short held up a paw and ceased. He slowly looked left and right, sniffing the air. "We need to turn around. No delay, follow." He turned away from the direction he had been going, ready to doubleback.

Paul gestured where he'd been. "What in the hells? Why?"

"Less asking, more walking. If you wish to lead this band, I will leave you to it." Short didn't so much as look at Paul as he went back the way he came.

Little stuck his tongue out at Paul before darting ahead to keep up with his father, as everyone else did, leaving Paul grumbling softly in the back.

They didn't get as far that day as one might have expected them to, walking directly, but they were not ambushed by beast, pony, or anything else. "How far do you need to go?"

Fast coaxed a fire into burning with soft crackles. "At this rate? It may take weeks."

"That far? It may be faster to reach the lightning rail. There's a station much closer than a month's travel."

Fast scowled in reply. "We can't trust it, or much anyone else."

Short nodded. "The ponies have taken leave of their senses, but for one of their own to have so little faith in their brothers and sisters? Has it truly become that dire?"

Fast let out a soft sigh. "A few weeks ago I might have not argued against it, but recent events are showing me how foolish I would have been."

Short shook his head slowly. "May he smile on your path, and you keep your family close at paw."

Fast perked her ears at that, then looked to her companions. "Some of them are right where I need them... You bring up an excellent point. It's far beyond time I put out the call to those Seekers that remain. Before we can consider that, we have to get to town, preferably without the madness overtaking us on the way."

Tabitha smiled. "Were you wearing all that armor when you left?"

"Hmm? No..."

Tabitha shrugged. "The only pony that could know you without speaking are those lonely assassins. I doubt they told the entire empire about it."

Fast frowned. "You... have a point there, Tabitha. Perhaps we should lean on that anonymity and save ourselves some time."

Short curled on himself. "Consider it. In the morning, we go in whatever direction you have decided."