4th Hematite, 222
Fargo was to the south of the town walking north along the river after having checked on sight where the bridge was soon to be constructed. He had his shield and halberd strapped to his back, and was focused on looking for any source of trouble. It was nice spending most of his time walking around from place to place like this, as he didn’t have to deal with the other guards (and by Extension lucky or the zebra) and could maybe stop and chat up some of the people if he felt like a short break.
The other guard, however, spotted him and mistook him for an incoming bandit with the way he’s armed and looking around like he’s trouble. Shooting Star pressed herself a little more into the low-hanging cloud that she’s perched on and used as her watchtower, she carefully rests her crossbow on a foreleg, steadying it and drawing a bead on the approaching griffin as her wings flapped lightly, slowly bringing the cloud lower towards the ‘bandit’.
Fargo just kept walking down the river, scanning across the ravine for any potential threats. He was perfectly unaware of the armed pony slowly floating down towards him. He did look like a bandit as well, what with the big intimidating size, the way he was looking around all suspicious like and his hodgepodge of cheap armor and weapon certainly didn’t help.
“Halt.” The Cloud-bound Mare demanded from her cloud, a distance away that she is sure she could probably take a second shot if he decide to rush her, but close enough that she wouldn’t miss if she shoot him now.
The gryphon’s head darted right to the source of the sound the moment he heard the command. The moment he spotted the crossbow toting mare he’d spread his wings and side stepped down into ravine to his left. He’d knew there was danger out in wilds, but he didn’t expect for some bandit to get the jump on him like this when he’d been so vigilant! “Help I’m being assaulted!”
The Crossbow’s sight followed the fleeing bandit, Shooting Star bit her lower lips as the threat began to flee RIGHT AT the settlement! “I said stop!” She said again. “You’re Trespassing into private property! Stop or you’ll be shot!”
He was barely able to catch flight before he could splash down into the river. His immediate instinct was to grab out his shield, so if she did shoot he’d at least have some sort of protection. “If you're a guard then why are you threatening to kill another guard eh!?!” He was in a bad spot and he knew it, but wasn’t going to be foolish enough to drop his arms and hold still so some bandit could bolt em’ in the head.
“There is no way I’m going to fall for that cheap trick! What do you even want from us anyway? We’ve no money or anything valuable! Just go away and nobody has to get hurt!” Shooting Star calls out, skeptical at the Griffin’s claim.
He didn't’ know what to do, if he rushed her he’d risk getting shot, and he can’t just run off because he really couldn’t live out in the wild with no food or anything, and he didn’t particularly want to leave, and on top of everything he still expected her to pull the trigger if he lowered his shield. “No! Isolde is paying me to stay here and guard, and that’s what I’m going to do!” If the mare was telling the truth, maybe dropping the leader’s name would get her to believe him.
The Mare hesitated for a moment. “How’d you know Lady Isolde’s name?” She asked.
“Because I showed up a few days ago with the migrants!” He yelled as loud as he could. Maybe if he rushed her he could clear the distance quick enough before she could get a few extra shots, but the mare was younger than him, and pegasi were quicker in the air than griffons.
“Alright, I’ll bite. Give me some names of other residents!” Shooting Star challenged.
“Lucky lands, um... Isolde!” He said, before trying to think up another “Gunther, Silver rush!”
Well, he’s got three names that she knows right. The mare slowly lower her aim, but still kept the crossbow in her hooves in case she need to still shoot the guy. “Well, you’ve got two other names that I know right. . so I suppose you’re not a bandit, then?” Shooting Star asked carefully. “Why haven’t I seen you before?”
“Because I’ve not been here for very long. I showed up with the new guys.” He was still very angry about almost getting shot, and he still didn’t trust the mare, but he tried his best not to let it show.
Shooting Star thought on that for a moment, before nodding. “Fair enough. Sorry for mistaking you as a Bandit, then. Corporal Shooting Star. Former Coupledye armed force aerial scout. You?” She asked and pointed her crossbow to the side, away from the apparent new guard but still in her grasp. Offering him her apologizes.
“Eh, I’m Fargo. I used to be a caravan guard and was a soldier back in my homeland.” He said, relaxing a little now that things calmed down a little. “And uh, don’t worry. I thought you were a bandit too.”
“Why would you think I’m a bandit? you’re the one walking around in those garbs and looking suspiciously.” Shooting Star pointed out.
“Because you tried to hold me up with a crossbow... it doesn’t matter though. At least we didn’t kill each other.”
“Yeah, that’d be.. bad.” The mare rubbed the back of her neck with a hoof. “But hey! Now I know you’re one of the new guards too! Maybe we can patrol together or something later. That’d be a lot safer! Although it’s pretty quiet around here. I haven’t even get to shoot my crossbow outside of target practice once since I came here
“I suppose we could sometimes, perhaps.” He wasn’t too sure if he wanted to do it yet, as he wanted to know what the mare was like before agreeing to anything. He was also still a little mad. “And it’s good things are boring. It’s far better than dangerous.”
“I agree.” Shooting Star nodded with a smile. “Well, I’ll bring the cloud back up to keep watch. You have a good day!” She bid him farewell with a wave before starting to bring her cloud back up again.
Fargo waved back for a moment, before getting back by the side of the river and continuing his own patrol. He was rather annoyed and stressed out after the whole ordeal, but at least nothing bad happened.