Pushing the ute into gear, we took off in the direction of what I hoped was west. Crack was staring ahead glumly. I could tell he wanted to object to me doing anything that resulted in violence, but I knew that it hurt too much for him to do so. He really should just be grateful that we are going to rescue Triple, even if it was because I wouldn't let anyone else have her. Triple, was mine. We both sat quietly, the suburban landscape slowly giving way to a more rural scene the further west we travelled.
I sat pondering for a moment as to just how we could effectively locate them. The ute rumbled along the road and exhaust filled my nostrils. I swear the ute didn't put out this many fumes before, I thought. Then I remembered: becoming a dragon had heightened my ability to smell. I'd used it once before, I could use it again. What did dragons use smell for? Hunting! I had an idea, I pulled over the ute and jump out quickly.
"What are you doing? I thought you were going to get Triple?" Cracks cries out from the passenger seat, frustration and confusion clear in his voice. That's what I was able to make out of his pained noises anyway, it could have been something unrelated. I shrug him off and focus, the memory of Triple coming to mind. Strawberries. She always smelt of strawberries. I clear my mind and concentrate, the smell slowly beginning to fill my nose. I look about, shocked, excitedly expecting to see Triple. Of course not, I thought. I felt a tugging sensation in the back of my mind reminding me of what I was doing. Feeling a little absurd at the prospect of 'sniffing out' Triple, I begin to turn back to the ute.
I paused. "Huh" I murmured. The smell had increased ten fold facing that way... I race back to the car, realising what this meant, and gunned it forward.
"What the fu–" Crack began to say as the vehicle slams forward. "Whoa slow down!" He cries out, terror evident in his face.
I kept driving; once I hit a large straight road I accelerated. Until we got to the round-a-bout; Shit, I'm coming in too fast! I pulled the handbrake and turn hard, I drift around the round-a-bout with minimal fishtailing. The sound of screeching wheels filled my ears, and the smell of burnt rubber assaulted my nostrils. I think we lost a few things back there too. Oh well. That's my fault for not securing everything properly.
I then realised something: if we were staging a rescue we might need firepower – for intimidation only. I wouldn't actually kill anyone.
Kill those who steal from you.
Would I? I was too focused on the goal ahead. Looking to my left I saw large wire fences with barbed wire on the top. This was the Greenbank Military Training Ground. It was right across from a public school. I remembered driving past here everyday on my way to my own school. I continued to drive until I found the entrance. I always thought that seeing a military training ground right across the road from a school was so out of place. I didn't linger on thoughts of days passed, however.
Wait. Sniff, sniff. Two scents, one was Triple's... the other I didn't recognise. They were near. They're in the military base, joy. Well, makes it easier. They were in a bit further inside, the scent was faint. I put my ute in first gear and putted along. Don't want them to hear me coming now do I? I found a car park a fair distance from where I had smelled Triple and the other and exited my vehicle. Where do they keep the guns? My first thought was the barracks. Making my way over to them, I failed to notice Crack. He had walked away from my line of sight. I'd find him later.
The Australian sun blared down on me with all its rage. Was it just me, or had the sun gotten hotter? Oh well, moving on.
The neatly arranged buildings in front of me looked like barracks. I busted down the door, though I could have just opened it normally as it wasn't locked. I was surprised to find no resistance from the door and lost my balance, nearly falling forward. My insane new strength was something I had to get used to now. I went and flipped over all the beds hoping to find something. Found a Playboy magazine – nice – but it wasn't what I was looking for. if I was a male human again things might've gone differently. I moved onto the next barracks and finally found some form of firepower. A pistol. Must be a 9mm – that's what it says on it. Being a city-slicker I had zero knowledge of guns. "It's not like I'm gonna use it or anything, it was just for intimidation," I kept telling myself. I never liked guns, but I steeled my resolve and began inspecting the weapon. How do I open the magazine chamber? I pushed a button on the side and the magazine clattered onto the floor. Picking it up I could see it was full. Perfect.
As I continued to look around the place I couldn't help but think of my lost loot. Could I go back for it later? Did I have too much? I couldn't just leave it there, someone else could take it. I didn't even know what I had lost.
Before I could lament further I heard the snapping of twigs coming from outside the barracks. Why didn't I hear them coming earlier?
I make my way outside, gun in hand. I turned the corner and pointed the gun at...another small horse, this one was orange and had a horn. Pretty sure that's a unicorn. To his side was Triple and behind them was Crack. That little traitor he led them to me, after all I did.
The orange one spoke up.
"If you've come for Triple you can forget about it." He said, placing a leg defensively in front of the aforementioned mare.
Don't do that.
"Do what?"
Oh shit, I said that out loud.
"Get away from her," I threatened, shakily holding the gun to point at him.
"You won't shoot me," he said, stepping up to me. This always happened in movies, this crucial moment.
While fiddling with the gun I found the safety switch. Flicking it off, I aimed it back at the newcomer.
"Oh yeah? Try me."
He must have noticed some sort of conviction in my words, or my perhaps unnerving glare, but he still refused to back down.
So I shot him. Not dead, only in the leg. My ears were ringing afterwards. Damn this enhanced hearing! After my hearing came back I could hear screaming.
There was blood on the ground, seeping from the newly inflicted wound in the unicorn's leg. He was on the ground now too, nursing his leg.
"You shot me!" He sounded surprised.
"Yeah...I did," I shrugged, pretending to seem indifferent. The swirling mess of thoughts told otherwise: I was freaking out. Having done what I came for I dropped the gun and grabbed Triple and Crack, one ear in each hand. I began to drag them back to my ute, and they both protested profusely "Have fun bleeding out!" I called back.
"Mic!" Triple cried out, "No, no, no. You can't just leave him there. He'll die."
Mike? That's actually a normal sounding name.
"Watch me." I wasn't backing down.
"I'll do anything!"
She was sobbing by this point; she was very desperate. She looked so pathetic with tears streaming down her face. Finally I broke. Damn her sad face.
"Ugh! Fine!" I pushed them the extra couple of metres towards the ute. "Wait here."
Trudging back to her bleeding friend, I kept wondering why I was actually doing as she asked. Those big sad eyes, I just couldn't help it. I looked down at my hand, it was shaking. I've never shot anyone before. It was so easy too.
As I stood over the bleeding Mike I heard him whimpering like a pussy. Where had all his bravado from before gone?
"Ahem," I cleared my throat to get his attention.
"What do you want?" He looked up at me, then back down still nursing his leg. God, that is a lot of blood. Never thought a bullet could make this much blood.
"Bringing you back, Triple asked me to," I answered, grabbing him and lifting him to his feet, "come on, stand up."
"I can't, it hurts too much." Oh come on dude! I only shot you in the leg, you have three others.
"I swear to god if you don't get up I'll shoot you again," I picked up my gun from where I had dropped it.
Gulping in fear he shakily got up. After adjusting to standing on three legs he gave a quick "Yes ma'am," and started walking to my ute. I let the ma'am bit slide, it had been one hell of a day.
I pushed him towards Triple. He stumbled and fell but kept quiet, likely biting his cheek. I found a first aid kit in my glove-box. My mum always insisted I have one with me. Burying my feelings, I tossed the kit to the others.
"Use it." Pony and human physiology were probably different but sterilising and dressing wounds isn't species specific. I think Triple said 'thank you'. I was ignoring her.
Looking up at the sky I noticed the oncoming twilight. Guess we'll have to set up camp here for the night. Which left another problem to look forward to – fire.