After digging into new Wonderbolt tab for half a dozen apples each, they set out towards the Badlands. Fortunately, Daring knew a shortcut through the Macintosh hills that would save them a lot of time. Still, it would be sunset by the time they reached the first hills.
There was also a storm brewing overhead, and so they had opted to walk. After their flight earlier, neither of them was feeling up to flying through such a vicious storm, although neither wanted to openly admit it to the other.
As night finally fell, they sought shelter in a small corpse of trees on a hill top. Daring quickly used her skills to make a shelter for the two of them overnight. Although, with so few trees to forage from it was going to be a little snug.
Meanwhile, Spitfire kept a lookout for anyone trying to sneak up on them and find anything that might look edible as extra food. None of which could be found except a few odd berries, which Daring confirmed were just about edible.
Spitfire found herself wondering if maybe the Wonderbolts were getting a little soft, and not learning to rough it enough. If she was doing this on her own, she'd be lost without Daring's camping expertise.
Daring, while she worked, was also thinking about how Spitfire had been good at spotting clue's she herself, an experienced adventurer had missed. And she had to admit, while she couldn't stand the idea of a daily workout, Spitfire, much like Dash, looked fit, and dare she say almost attractive. Even to a mare like her who only really enjoyed a thrill-seeking adventure.
The two finally lay down in the shelter next to each other about an hour after sunset. After a while of silence, but the crackling of the fire, the two of them both turned their heads to say something to the other and found themselves only inches apart.
Daring slowly bit down on her apple, as both of their cheeks went slightly red in the glow of the fire. Finally, they broke their gaze of each other when Spitfire flinched at an ember from the fire landed next to her hoof.
Daring said "It's only a spark, nothing to worry about."
Spitfire retorted "Long story, I don't want to talk about it?"
Daring looked quizzically at Spitfire "What happened? You get burnt?"
Spitfire turned around "Like I said, I don't want to talk about it!"
As Daring snuffed out another stray ember she said "No, you didn't get burnt, you got someone else burnt!"
As Spitfire turned back round to face Daring, she yelled "That's Enough! Now shut up and go to sleep!"
"Woah, calm down" Daring took a step back. "Maybe you should go to sleep, and I'll take first watch!"
As Spitfire curled up she said "Fine, Whatever, just no more talking!"
Neither of them said anything until Daring gave Spitfire a prod halfway through the night to trade places.
Again, neither of them said anything further until morning and Spitfire gave Daring a kick on the flank"
"Grr. what was that for?"
Spitfire said coolly "You sleep like a log and snore. You wouldn't wake up, so it was either that or set your tail on fire."
"Hey, you leave my tail alone, it's had enough close calls thankyouverymuch!"
"A buck to the flank it was then!"
"Oww, Fine! but did you have to kick so hard?"
"What can I say? I get a lot of practice kicking newbie recruits out of bed in the morning."
"Yeah, well I'm not one of your crazy Wonderbolt recruits!"
"Like I said yesterday, with a bit of training you could even give me a run for my money. The only other Bolt remotely close to breaking any standing records is Dash. Talking of, How much further until we catch up with them?"
"Well, given what time they left Apple Loosa, we can assume they probably reached Ahuizotl's yesterday evening, We can maybe get there about lunchtime if we push it. The trick is going to be flying through the jungle not above it."
"Why can't we just fly over?"
Daring looked at Spitfire. "Seriously? Are you sure you've read my books? They always keep a look out in the sky for me. They know I fly!"
"Oh." Spitfire looked sheepish for not thinking about it. "Well, how hard can it be flying through a jungle compared to the training course?"
Daring replied "For one, I've seen a picture of your training course and it doesn't compete with hanging vines all over the place. I mean, we could walk instead but that would take longer, as long as you can keep up."
Spitfire rolled her eyes. "Hey, I'm not the captain of the Wonderbolts for nothing. But this time, I'll follow your lead. And maybe it'll give me some idea's to redesign the training course. It's getting a little bit too repetitive, cause I swear Dash was half asleep last time she breezed through it in near record time."
After cleaning up their campsite, the duo flew on to the badlands and the jungle beyond.