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// 15 - Of Men and Women// Story: Ponyfinder: Roots of Stone// by David Silver//------------------------------//

Landing beside the city and taking a few hops forward, the voice thundered in Tree Hugger's head, somehow louder than before, ~Have you found him, or...?~

Tree Hugger hid her head under a wing, though it didn't make the throbbing ache any lesser. ~I found a leader, though she's a she, man.~

~Think clearly what you have seen~

As the vision formed, it seemed cruelly pried into and drawn from her, leaving her reeling from the powerful magic used casually on her psyche. ~Clever... I didn't think she would be the one. The Scion of the Frozen Stretches. What would she even want with our city? Why am I even pondering near you, you likely have no idea.~

Tree Hugger didn't, but thought better of speaking on the matter.

~She wouldn't be here unless it was for some 'reason'. Some very moralistic reason, no doubt. It bores me, but she isn't likely to give up without me hearing it. I was going to just set the leader's tent on fire with the force of an angry sun, but perhaps that would be a bit hasty. You, druid. Go to her and tell her we will allow one soldier in as a messenger.~

~Like, alright, man, but can me and my friends come in after that?~

~If they can get past the angry army, fine.~

It would have to do. Tree took quick flight back to the tent of the leader, this 'Scion of the Frozen Stretches'. She channeled the green magic into herself, giving herself the power of pony speech, despite having the throat of a bird. "Hey, righteous lady," she called from atop the door. "I have a message."

The flap of the tent practically exploded outwards as the female emerged, sword drawn and looking ready for a scrap. "Who goes there?"

Tree hopped back from the edge as she waved a wing. "Up here. The far out magic dude said he'd have a chat with you, but you can only send one. I'd be careful about that. They seem ready to hurt more people if you try to send two or something."

She made a sharp whistle, and a tall brute of a male human came up and put a fist over his heart. "Yes, General?"

"I'm going. I don't trust anyone else to handle this." She thrust her sword into his available hand. "Command is yours until I return. If I don't, razing this place to the ground becomes your responsibility."

The man frowned. "No! Let me go instead. If this is a trap, the people will miss me less."

She put a finger to his chest, prodding him hard enough to force him back a step. "Did you become slow to follow orders during the siege? You have your command. These wizards respect shows of power. Sending anyone less than our best will weaken our position with them."

Tree Hugger considered her job completed, and flew back quickly to her friends to give them the news. Most of the way there, a new fatigue swept over her, and she realized she'd spent too much time as a raven. The power that held her form was becoming tired, and she was forced to land and trot up the rest of the way. "Good news, everyone."

They were mostly where she left them, though they had formed a camp to the side of the road. Paul waved at her excitedly. "You're not full of arrows!"

Tree smiled gently. "I suppose I'm not. I was far from the only black bird over the battlefield. The big honcho of the city is alright with us coming inside. Their powers are way out there. I thought I was tripping out when they got loud." She put a hoof to her head. "I still have a headache. Not cool..."

Fast nodded. "Excellent... Did you have to do anything for it?"

Tree described her journey to find the leader, and the message she delivered. "She was about to head into the city when I came back here."

Flint stroked his stubbled chin as he looked out at the city and its ring of occupation. "That'll either be good or bad news. If they reach some kind of agreement, the siege may be over, and things'll calm down, or they might not."

Fast scowled in agreement. "If they murder their leader, the attacking army may just throw itself at them in an unorganized mass. The loss and destruction, even to the likes of wizards, would be horrible. They won't likely win, if the city is nearly as well defended as it put up the airs of being, but it'd be a pyrrhic victory at best."

Paul nudged Flint lightly. "What's that?"

Flint chuckled a bit at the question. "It means when you win but it don't mean jack. Like when we... I... slayed that noble prick, only to make sure we couldn't ever go back home."

Paul sank morosely at the thought. 

Maud gestured at Tree Hugger. "Why don't you fly inside and get the supplies?" She drew a bag from her frock. "Here are my bits."

Tree Hugger accepted them, but looked uncertain. "I don't feel that energy. I think I need to rest before I can take flight again." She frowned a little. "Which means I also have to rest before I can fly back."

"On the plus side." Flint hiked a thumb at their small fire, with something roasting just over it. Becoming aware of it, Tree could smell the animal they were cooking, with its foreign aroma tickling her herbivorous nose. The idea of it was a bit far out for her. "I've got Paul and I covered for the meantime. The army hasn't started ranging this far for supplies. With any luck we'll be out of the way before they do."

Fast frowned. "We can let the horses graze, for now. It'll get them by while we're not riding them. Maud, come with me. We'll get some local food. I know the difference between an edible root and a poisonous one. Tree, rest. You've done well."

As Tree settled to rest, Fast and Maud trotted away from the campsite. Fast rooted through the underbrush patiently, occasionally stopping to pluck out some berries, leaves, or tubers as she found them.

Maud helped hold the vegetables quietly at first before she spoke up, "Thank you."

Fast paused and directed an ear at Maud. "What are you thanking me for?"

Maud blinked at her softly. "For helping me. For listening to my poetry."

Fast plucked out a purple and leafy bunch of what would form a primitive salad. "You're quite welcome. I meant what I said." She passed the veggies to Maud as she sniffed along slowly. "We may not be related by blood, but we are bonded by adversity. You don't get to choose your family, but you can choose your friends." She looked up at Maud. "I hope you choose me."

Maud went silent for a time, picking up a few things along her way. Fast turned to offer more veggies, only to recoil. "Maud, why are there rocks? We can't eat those."

Maud leaned in and sank her powerful teeth into one of the little rocks, chewing it placidly to Fast Shadow's consternation. Maud shrugged softly. "You can make soup with them. It tastes nice."

Together, they returned to the camp with a full load of food for the evening. Maud took over the pot without a word and filled it with water before carefully selecting some of the rocks to set inside and let it warm over the fire.

Paul raised a brow as he peered at the potential rock soup. "Uh, is that some kinda horse treat?"

Tree looked over from where she laid. "What? Oh, like far out! I've heard of that, but never tried it before."

Flint made a bit of a face as he leaned back against a tree. "I think I'll settle with what I caught."

Paul nodded, doubt clear on his expression. "You'd think if anyone could catch a quail, they wouldn't be so expensive."

Flint smirked softly. "Alright. I look forward to yer mighty haul tomorrow, Paul. Lunch is on you."

Paul thrust up his hands quickly. "Oh no! I didn't mean nothin' by it. Yer the one with the huntin' skills." They shared a little laugh as they came to an understanding, and the camp settled to a more companionable silence, until Maud pulled the stirring spoon out and ladeled out a portion of the brown-tinted water and one of the stones into the one bowl they had and offered it to Fast.

Fast accepted it with a nod, even though she feared it. As soon as Maud turned away, she looked to the heavens. "Watch over me, Sun Queen. Protect me as I try to do right." She leaned in and sipped softly from the water and made a little face. Whatever had leeched from the rock had a powerful mineral taste, which she supposed made sense. It wans't... awful, but certainly different. Maud turned back to her and stared. 

Fast smiled at her with the faint quiver of falsehood. "It's good, thank you." She sipped dramatically where Maud could see it, and forced down the mouthful of metallic water as she continued her prayers that the food she imbibed was only strange, not harmful.

Maud looked over to Tree next. "Do you want some?"

Tree Hugger rolled up to her haunches. "Actually, yeah. I hear a good rock soup can really help cleanse the chakras and smooth the rough edges of a harsh day." She held out a hoof. "Thanks."

Maud glanced to Fast, then back at Tree. "We only have one bowl, unless you want to share with me out of the pot."

Tree slid closer to the fire. "It's cool, sister. I'm not afraid of being with you." She dipped her snout into the pot and took a strong sip before she drew back suddenly with a wheeze. "Righteous! That's a truly radical taste."

"Is that bad?"

Tree waved a hoof dismissively. "No way, sister. Try some."

Maud went for a sip more placidly and drew from it in slow but powerful gulps that saw the water go down several inches before a rock strayed too close to her muzzle and she drew it in. She sat up, crunching softly on it with audible sounds of the minerals being ground to dust.

"Radical..." Tree tilted her head. "Watching you eat those is far out every time I see it. I'd break my teeth trying to do that." She took another little sip and shuddered, but went right back for another.

Fast raised a brow, watching as Tree was far more honest about it being new to her, but accepting it with that same honesty. Being honest with oneself, and one's allies... She felt a little shameful for handling it discretely, and took another pull from her soup. "It's an acquired taste."

Tree nodded quickly. "But it's full of good things." She slurped noisily and came up with one of the rocks, which she made an effort to try to chew, but got nowhere with it. "How do you do that, sister of stone?"

Maud shrugged lightly before she reached in and bobbed for one as someone might an apple before crunching it with placid ease. "Like this." She paused suddenly, and reached for Tree, lifting one of her hooves. "You changed."

Tree lifted the hoof higher to look it over as she turned it one way and the other. It was different. Her hooves had a more pronounced... hoof... Her legs were more shaped, less cylindrical. They were rather similar to Fast Shadow's legs, she decided, before it caught up with her that these were her legs, not Fast Shadow's. She stumbled over backwards in a flail of limbs to crash to the ground.