Rainbow Dash continued to sulk as she stared out at the forest. She could understand Autumn Blaze's point. She'd dive into relationships too quickly, and she had to reel it back. And really, Autumn Blaze couldn't go to Ponyville. So it made sense she might try to distance herself once she had a moment to think about it. But the stonewalling was just petty.
Rainbow Dash would have continued to brood if she hadn't seen something. First, it struck her as baffling, then a relief, then just absurdly funny. Rainbow Dash couldn't stop from starting to laugh as she realized what she'd done. This caused Autumn Blaze, walking over to her from the forest's edge, to look at her puzzled. Rainbow Dash grinned as she stood up, getting her laughing a bit under control. "I'm so happy to see you!" At the raised eyebrow she explained, motioning up to the tree. "I thought you were ignoring me!"
Autumn Blaze giggled and looked to Rainbow Dash's side, motioning to her wings. "Oh, they're stiff but I should be good to go tomorrow!" Even as the words left her mouth she felt a warm aura wrap itself around her wings. Like a hundred wing massages from the spa at once. "Ooooh..." Rainbow Dash melted on her hooves. She didn't like to do a Rarity impression, but here she didn't have a choice. The feeling was unlike anything else.
After a few moments, Autumn Blaze stopped her magic and walked over, laying down next to Rainbow Dash and pressing up against her gently. Rainbow Dash's head shot up and she looked sideways at Autumn Blaze. "Uhh... Hello to you too." But Autumn Blaze wasn't looking at Rainbow Dash. Following the kirin's gaze, she caught sight of a larger kirin in the shadows of the trees. It made a single nod of its head before turning and walking out of sight.
Rainbow Dash blinked then looked back at Autumn Blaze who seemed to be focused on getting as close to Rainbow Dash as possible. After a few moments, Rainbow Dash wrapped her wing around her companion. "Are you coming home with me then?" At the quiet hum, Rainbow Dash smiled, gently nuzzling into Autumn Blaze. "Good."
Rainbow Dash smiled as she cuddled close to the kirin. "Well, I could carry you if I was at full strength but as is we should probably wait for the searchers after I didn't show up to the Wonderbolts. They'll have a stretcher to help carry you." Autumn Blaze nodded absently. "And if you don't like it I'll bring you back."
Autumn Blaze turned her head and looked sideways at Rainbow Dash. She took a moment to notice and looked down closer at Autumn Blaze. "What's up?" Autumn Blaze seemed to think for a long moment but then shook her head gently. Rainbow Dash smiled gently. "Don't worry the stretcher is safe. I mean it'd have been for me when I was injured." Autumn Blaze giggled gently and nodded after a few moments.
Rainbow Dash frowned a little. "Hm..." Autumn Blaze tilted her head questioningly and Rainbow Dash grinned a little. "I'm sorry I just... That looked more like you grabbed an excuse to me." Autumn Blaze rolled her eyes but nodded. Rainbow Dash laid her head back down and Autumn Blaze smiled at that, nuzzling into her. "Hm?"
Autumn Blaze pointed at Rainbow Dash, then up at the sky and the pegasi nodded slowly. "You going with me?" Autumn Blaze hummed, then shook her head, and pointed at the herself and the tree behind them. It took Rainbow Dash a few moments to put the little scene together before her eyes widened and she stood up quickly. "Wait, if you go with me you can't come back!?"
Though Autumn Blaze nodded calmly, Rainbow Dash was incensed. "Well, that's just ridiculous! What kind of..." She was interrupted by a sibilant hiss from beside her, making her jump away from the sound. Though after a moment she stared at its source. "Autumn Blaze!? That was you!? I thought there was a snake!" Autumn Blaze was glaring daggers at Rainbow Dash and she put her ears down gently. "Oh, uh... Yeah... That's kind of what your people chose isn't it?" Rainbow Dash grinned as she nervously rubbed the back of her neck. "Sorry about that..."
Autumn Blaze giggled gently and pointed to Rainbow Dash then back to herself, then did a couple of taps on the ground. Starting away from her and getting closer to Autumn Blaze. Rainbow Dash nodded, smiling gently as she thought she understood. "You used to be impulsive like this?" Autumn Blaze gave her a pleasant hum and Rainbow Dash nodded, grinning. "And you forgive me?" Another hum and Rainbow Dash nestled back next to Autumn Blaze.
Rainbow Dash let the matter lie for a short time, wanting to let it be peaceful for a few minutes. But Rainbow Dash wasn't comfortable in letting the subject go on its way without another comment. "Autumn Blaze?" A questioning hum was the answer. "I'm not wanting to scare you off, really..." She chuckled. "I really don't want to scare you off, but you sure about this? I don't want to be the reason you can't see your people again. Especially if... I mean like, I do think we have a special connection, but... What if we don't? And you can't go home?"
Autumn Blaze gave a quiet, thoughtful hum, but didn't seem ready to answer. They remained there in silence for the rest of the evening. Rainbow Dash was taking the time to simply enjoy spending time with the one she might not get to see again, depending on her decision. Autumn Blaze, Rainbow Dash assumed, was contemplating her choices.
As the sun went down Rainbow Dash stood up and looked up at the sun. "I'm going to bed." She smiled, leaning down, and kissing Autumn Blaze on the cheek. "I hope to see you in the morning."