//------------------------------//
// Chapter 67 
// Story: Unshaken 
// by The 24th Pegasus 
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Fallow’s group of followers had already dispersed to the different tents and wagons around the camp by the time Slip Knot led Kestrel over to him. The older pony had his back turned toward them, patiently watching two mares sort some of the burlap sacks they’d arrived with. Kestrel spotted food and grains in the opening, though Fallow turning towards her as she approached blocked her view. “Slip Knot,” Fallow said, his eyes first falling on the stallion next to Kestrel. “I see you weren’t too bored while we were gone.”

His eyes flicked to Kestrel, looking her up and down, sizing her up, feeling her out. Kestrel pinched her wings against her sides as the stallion scrutinized her, while Slip Knot made the introductions. “She’s a traveler, kind of like us,” Slip Knot said, gesturing toward Kestrel. “She said her name is Raptor. Or, least, that’s what she told us to call her.”

Kestrel nodded her affirmation. “Slip Knot said good things about you,” she began, trying to feel Fallow out. “Says that you’re the one that keeps things together ‘round here.”

“Oh, Celestia, no,” Fallow said, somberly shaking his head. “That would be everypony else here. They’re the ones that gather supplies and do what needs to be done to keep us all safe. I’m more of the ear that listens when they need to talk.”

Slip Knot smiled back at Fallow. “You’re more than that to us, Fallow, and you know it.” He started to back away from Kestrel and Fallow. “I’ll leave you two to it, then. Gotta see if the wife needs some help makin’ dinner.”

“Yes, some food would be greatly appreciated, I’m sure,” Fallow said, dismissing Slip Knot with a nod. As the stallion trotted away, Fallow slowly turned his shoulders westward and began to walk into the setting sun. Kestrel blinked and arched an eyebrow, but followed along after him in silence as they crossed the camp.

Fallow only stopped when all the tents were behind him, and the little ridge he sat down on gave a good look out into the setting sun. Kestrel angled the brim of her hat down to block out some of the light, but she didn’t sit next to Fallow. Instead, she only stood behind him, hoof scuffing the ground, unsure if the older pony would continue their conversation or not.

After a moment, he did. “Slip Knot said that you were like us,” he stated. “But do you know who we are?”

“He said you were runaways,” Kestrel said with a shrug. “He told me how his family was chased outta their land by some oil barons. Said that the rest of your followers all had similar tales.”

“I suppose that’s right, in the barest sense of it,” Fallow said. “The ponies in this camp… they’ve all been hurt by the world. Many of them terribly so. Some of them are bitterly angry. Some would lash out at the world that wronged them. They would destroy themselves.” He shook his head. “They needed guidance. Nopony else would be willing to spend the time to listen to these hurt ponies. So I volunteered my time.”

Kestrel chuckled and shook her head. “You make it sound plenty simple,” she said. She squinted into the sunset, knowing that somewhere beyond the horizon was the town of Rock Ridge and the chaos she’d barely escaped. “I been hurt by the world plenty of times. Feels better to hurt it back. Sometimes, you gotta hurt the ponies who’d tear things down around you ‘fore they get the chance.”

“And the resulting damage can be catastrophic for those caught in the crossfire.” For the first time since their conversation began, Fallow turned to look at Kestrel. “I know there is anger inside of you. I can sense it, even if you don’t let it show. Your fury is not for yourself, but a tool you use to protect those who count on you. And there are many ponies that count on you, are there not?”

Kestrel reluctantly bowed her head and grunted a confirmation. “My family ain’t blood. It’s a family like yours. Ponies who I’ve come to rely on and who rely on me. And I’ve killed to protect them, and I’ll do it again, and again, over and over ‘til they’re safe. The world has tried to beat me down for so long that I ain’t gonna go down without buckin’ it in the jaw as many times as I can on the way out.”

She wasn’t sure what Fallow’s reaction to that would be; a sad sigh was certainly not what she had been expecting. “I only pray that you lead them right,” he said. “The longer you ride through the storm, the greater the risk of capsizing. I have done my best to keep my own family safe and able to survive in a world that does not want them. Sometimes that means breaking the law to steal what we need to survive. But never killing. And if confronted with the hard choice between kill and flee, then I will urge the ponies in my family to move to greener pastures. Violence begets more violence. It’s a wheel that never stops turning. Many have tried to stop it. Few succeed.”

That left Kestrel snickering. “That’s all well and good in a church sermon or somethin’, Fallow, but you should know as well as I do that the real world ain’t that cut and dry. Ain’t nopony gonna give you nothin’ in this world if you don’t fight for it. That seems like somethin’ all your followers should know by now.”

“It is…” Fallow’s voice trailed off, replaced by silence. The only sounds around the two ponies came from the camp behind them, as chatter and clanging pots and pans heralded the beginning of the dinner hour.

Clearing her throat, Kestrel stood back up. “I… suppose I should have some dinner and be on my way then.”

“I shall not keep you any longer, then,” Fallow said, slowly rising as well. He turned to face her and solemnly dipped his head. “We trot similar paths, Raptor. We both want what is best for the ponies who rely on us. We may disagree on how that should be accomplished, but our desires are the same. I hope that someday I may get the chance to meet your family, as you have met mine.”

“Yeah… maybe someday.” Kestrel touched the brim of her hat with a wingtip in a goodbye, then turned and trotted back toward the camp. As she helped herself to some of the food generously provided to her by Fallow’s followers, she couldn’t help but wonder what kind of ponies she’d discovered just a few miles away from the Gang’s campsite… and what she’d tell Tumbleweed when she flew back.

1.     Allies. These ponies could be useful to us, and our goals roughly align. Maybe they’d even help with Starlight’s plan to crash the conference.

2.     Enemies. These ponies are our competition, little more. Fallow admitted that they steal and cross the law to survive like us, just less violently so. They’ll attract attention we don’t want, and we should deal with them in some fashion.

3.     Nobody. These ponies ain’t important to us; let Fallow do his thing and we’ll do ours, and ain’t nopony gonna have to be bothered.

4.     A change in direction. Maybe Fallow’s onto somethin’… Maybe it’s time to change how we do things…