//------------------------------//
// Ch.13 Traveling Companions Part 2 
// Story: The Epic of a Diamond Dog 
// by Ravencrofte 
//------------------------------//

To say that my head throbbed was an understatement. It felt more akin to someone driving a dagger into my brain and then wrench the blade too and fro. But the pain was lessening, reluctant to give up it hold on my on my body.

Somewhere out there, beyond the dark haze of my vision, was an intense blue light. Beyond the light was a river of voices: flowing, crashing, forming a constant babble that drowned out my thoughts.

It felt good to be alive.

“Are you almost done,” asked a very concerned and very familiar voice.

“Almost,” said a second and unknown voice.

“Maybe I need to kick him again. That dog is more stubborn than a mule.” This sounded like Honey Apple.

“If you so much as stand up, I will put you into a medically induced coma. You’re wounds are quite serious. Honey Apple, you’ve not a young as you use to be.”

“Oh hush,” replied Honey Apple.

“He’s coming around,” exclaimed Kitty Hawk.

“Good,” said the voice. “Hun, if you could wake him? It’s best that he see’s a familiar face.” The intense blue light fade.

“Ember, wake up, it’s time to wake up.”

I blinked several times. The four or five Kitty Hawk’s swimming over me finally solidified into one. “Hey Ember,” she said with a smile.

I smiled back. “Good morning, if that is, it is still morning.”

“You were only out for a few minutes,” said the unknown voice. It belonged to a horned pony, with a light blue coat and black hair. “My name is Fluorescent Nightingale. How are you feeling?”

“Much better,” I said.

“See Florescent, I didn’t do to much damage. Now, can you take care of these minor injuries so that I can get back to work,” asked Honey Apple. She was sitting beside me and carrying my sword on her back. The weapons looked ridiculous on her, being was slightly longer than her body.

“Minor injures? Minor Injuries!” screamed Fluorescent Nightingale. “Six broken ribs, a punctured lung, and a mild concussion are not minor injuries!”

“Whatever,” said Honey Apple.

Fluorescent Nightingale stared daggers at Honey Apple. I could practically see the steam coming off her face. Then a light blue aura enveloped Fluorescent horn and an identical one enveloped Honey Apple. “Fine,” said Fluorescent Nightingale. “I won’t be as nice to you as I was to Ember. Mending broken ribs isn’t exactly painless you know.”

Honey Apple didn't utter a sound, but I saw her jaw clench and eyes focus in concentration

I pushed myself up with my arms. For the first time I noticed that I was surrounded on all sides by ponies. They all looked at me curiously. Some even extended their noses forward to sniff me.

“Can I leave,” I asked, first looking at Honey Apple and then Fluorescent Nightingale.

“Yes,” said Fluorescent, her eyes scrunched up in concentration.

“Not yet,” said Honey Apple through clenched teeth. She turned to address our audience. “Ponies, let this be a lesson for you: Diamond Dogs are bigger, stronger, and heavier. We can beat them in a sprint but over distance a dog will win. If you find yourself in a one-to-one fight, run away. Always fight in pairs. That goes for Pegasi as well,” she said, looking pointedly at the flying ponies. “Diamond Dog’s are known for their skill with sling and crossbow.”

She turned back to me.

“Ember,” she said, “ I wish to extend the offer of temporary membership with our caravan. Raise one paw.”

I did so.

“Do you swear to never take up arms against the ponies here as long as you travel with us? To defend the camp and all who dwell in it? To follow my orders, even if it may lead to your death?”

There wasn’t much of a choice here, she had already bested me in a fight.

“I do,” I said

“Then I welcome you to our caravan.”

There came a thunder of hooves. I looked around. All the ponies were stomping the ground.

Kitty Hawk threw herself around my neck.

Rising to my feet, I pushed Kitty Hawk onto my back. The crowd parted before me.

“Looks like she’s Head Bitch,” I said, gesturing at Honey Apple.

“Head Bitch?” asked Kitty Hawk.

“A very honorable title in the clan. It belongs to a female who has proven her dominance and skill in combat.”

Suddenly I looked back at Kitty Hawk. There was something was missing. It had to do with how she ruffled her wings.

“Kitty Hawk, where is your wing splint and bandage?”

“Isn’t it amazing!” she said, stretching out her wings. “Fluorescent Nightingale fixed it!”

“That is amazing,” I agreed. She could fly again. My guilt of hurting her was now gone.

Keeping track of her was going to be so much harder.


____________________________________________________________________________


I didn’t need Kitty Hawk’s excited squeals of “dinner time” to know that food was ready. The other ponies had been slowly drifting towards the center of the camp. A pawful of foals was making the tasks much harder by darting through the legs of the adults.

Our destination was a large circle of rugs laid out around a fire. There seemed to be no seating order: ponies sat with groups of three or more, talking casually. No sooner had we sat then a pony tapped me on the shoulder. It was a large male that I did not know.

“Come,” he said, “Honey Apple wishes for you to sit next to her.”

He followed the stallion and found two empty rugs next to Honey Apple. She motioned for us to sit. The mare was looking much better then after our fight this morning.

“I’m so glad you could join us this evening,” she said with a smile.

“As am I,” I replied, taking a seat.

Kitty Hawk was staring fixedly at a bowl beside Honey Apply. It was filled with a stranger shiny fruit.

“Are those crystallized plums,” she asked, practically salivating.

“They are. Would you like one,” asked Honey Apple, sliding the bowl over.

Kitty Hawk didn’t reply, instead swiping two of the plumbs. She placed both of them in her mouth and spend the next few moments moaning in ecstasy. She swallowed. “I haven’t had crystallized plums in forever,” she said. “Where did you get them?”

Honey Apple leaned in close. “There are many sweets to be had in this caravan. You just have to know which pony has them, and what they are willing to trade for.”

My ears twitched, honing in on an unusual sound: the fire crewed through wood with a hiss and crackle, a night bug buzzed near my ear, and….? There were no voices.

I looked and found everyone looking expectantly at Honey Apple.

The Mare in question had also noticed as well. She addressed her followers with a smile. “My friends and followers, healers, explorers, and warriors, another day has come and done. Let us give thanks for the food tonight, and for the Diamond Dog Ember, who has agreed to travel with us in peace.”

I smiled nervously, not certain what to do with the eyes of so many ponies upon me.
“Now,” sounded Honey Apple with a clap of her hooves, “thank Celestia and pass the potatoes: let’s eat!”

On cue, several ponies emerged from behind a tapestry with plates and bowl held aloft. Several were placed nearby, smelling of strange spices and sweet aromas. A pony stopped before me and I looked up to see Florescent Nightingale with a dish held in her magic.

“We are well aware of the needs of carnivores,” she said with a smile and placed the dish in front of me, I leaned forward to inhale the sweet aroma: fish fried palm oil.

“Thank you,” I said and took a piece.

The food was delicious, and I ate several pieces before reminding myself to slow down.

“Would you like a glass of wine?” asked Honey Apple.

I gratefully accepted the offered beverage. It was sweet and rich, but strangely heavy. Almost immediately I felt tingly and numb.

Honey Apple smiled at me over her glass. “If you like it, I’ll introduce you to some of the fine stocks I have back in Equestria. We should be back there in 7 days or so.”

I nodded in appreciation and finished my cup.

Some pony started on a tambourine and another started in on a high pitched flute. Soon a dancer appeared before the fire. She wove in and out, bright flags of silk swaying through the air as she twirled about. I sat there, staring, unable to look away. She had become a bird: to rise and fall, fly long and hard, flit and flitter across the ground, and then die.

I blinked and the spell was broken. Ponies had risen and were stomping their hooves, cheering for the dancer. She bowed to her audience in turn. Then, with a last flurry of silk, she made her exit.

Older ponies began to leave in pairs.

Honey Apple leaned over to me. “It’s time to give the adults some alone time,” she said with a sly grin. “Foals and adolescents, come here please, its story time.” This was followed by a cheer and a stampede of tiny hooves.

“What do you want to hear,” asked Honey Apple, looking at the many excited faces.

“How about Dragonshy?” asked one.

“I want to hear more about The Mysterious Mare Do Well,” said another.

“A Friend in Deed,” sounded a third.

“Hmm,” Honey Apple scanned over her audience.“What about something new?” She turned to me. “Ember, do you have a story to tell?”

I was about to speak before Kitty Hawk jumped up excitedly, “he does, he does.” She looked at me expectantly.

Looks like I wasn’t getting out of this one. I coughed and cleared my throat. Everyone looked at me expectantly.

“Many years ago,” I started, feeling a little flush from the attention of so many, “my father, the clan leader, Rim, Spoke, and I had traveled to the capital. My clan leader needed help deciding who was going to be leader of the FireBrand Clan. The clan leader was told to seek wisdom from Dogenes at the fountain. We found no one, except for a stray mutt living in a barrel. The FireBrand Chief went to talk to a dog in a barrel…”