Winsome Falls
Researching for school exams feels strange after you’ve spent a week burning facts and histories into your mind. The last time I tried to read anything for fun was months ago, Applebuck insisted he and I help Sweepy Bell with some magic. I hated reading, losing myself and my problems in all those fictional worlds just seemed so... boring. It might have also been the lack of motivation, I could have stayed behind and went out on my scooter, ya'know, having fun! But I got to spend the weekend with my friends and my hero, Rainbow Blitz!
And to me, that's way better.
I remember the carriage ride into the woods, it was a smooth enough ride, there was occasional dips and rises in the path as we travelled into the more deeply wooded area of Winsome Falls. The last time I was up there with the guys, we were only colts looking for a purpose, and we thought that our purpose was camping cutie marks. I’ve never really gone camping since then. It always just sort of seemed boring to me. Rainbow Blitz had suggested I bring something to read to keep myself busy while we rode in the carriage. Turns out he’d only been pulling my wing, I think he thinks I'm depressed. I'm not depressed, just...bored, I hope. I guess that's what a depressed pony would say, huh?
Even though the carriage ride was relatively quiet, Applebuck mumbled something to Sweepy about our exams while he drew another card from the deck on the seat between them. Rainbow Blitz, who I invited, was fast asleep next to me with his head cocked back in his pillow, he drooled while he snored quietly. I smiled as I looked back to the window.
Every so often, when I looked out the window and watched the scenery, I saw passing trees. Unlike the others I overheard chatting, I was not worried at all about the outcome of my exams, I'm going to be the next Wonderbolt after all!
Rainbow stirred a bit, clearing his throat. He was wearing his trademark sunglasses, it was hard to tell if he is really sleeping or actually awake. I know he left them on purposefully, just to keep me guessing, more games we enjoy with each other I suppose.
Every few weeks, I'm reminded of just how lonely Rainbow must feel. Sweepy Bell once told me that he overheard his brother arguing with Rainbow about something to do with a new suit Elusive was making. But they always bicker so we all ignored it. I like Rainbow when he gets mad, the determination in his eyes. It's going to sound weird, but I think it's really really sexy? Like when he taught me how to fly, his strong flanks so close within my reach...
Uh... Anyway.
I heard a little laughter from the seat in front, Applebuck and Sweepy Bell were playing a game of go fish. Sweepy Bell squinted his eyes and peered at his cards before asking if Applebuck had any sevens, he simply responded, "Go fish!"
Sitting in front of them was Gold Watch and Blue Chip, the both of them were hanging over the back of the seat, paying attention to the game. Anypony who is remotely familiar with Blue Chip knows that he and Gold Watch used to be big bullies, and you can trust me on that one. They were total dicks back when we were colts, but they changed when we all got our cutie mark. Typical.
Blue Chip caught me staring at him and he smiled at me? Alright whatever.
"Hey look, a bear!" Gold Watch's voice got every ponies attention.
"Rainbow," I hissed. "look outside." I said as I nudged his side.
He stirred to consciousness and snorted loudly. "What?! Are we there?" he said as he leaned over me, staring out the window. "Ever seen one of those before, Squirt?" he rasped.
"Only once, Butterscotch introduced me to one when I was young." I answered.
"Well, I hope you’re not afraid of bears, because there's plenty of 'em up the hills, looking for a tasty snack!" he winked at me for the last part.
"Well, they never came near the campsite the first we went camping together" I retorted.
He lowered his sunglasses and peeked over the top, the smug expression is all I saw.
"Dude, you don’t expect us to stay on the beaten path do you?" he wiggled his eyebrows menacingly.
*****
"Why do we have to do this," Gold Watch exclaimed, balancing the small cooler on his back. "you guys are slave drivers." he shot a dirty look at Applebuck
Sweepy laughed.
"Just up this hill, we promise." Sweepy yelled over his shoulder.
"Come on y'all," Applebuck added in, "where’s your sense of adventure?"
"When can we stop and rest? Adventure is tiring." Gold complained, as usual.
"You spoiled brat! You expect us to believe you'd rather be at home bored out of your brains instead of spending time with me?" Blue winked at him.
Although I hated to admit it, Gold was right, I wish we had stopped and caught our breaths. I felt like stopping for any reason to be honest.
"Alright lads! We'll stop here and take a short rest." Rainbow exclaimed.
In front of us Sweepy turned around and smiled brightly at Blue Chip and I, Gold dropped to his rump at the first chance. "FINALLY!"
Blue paced a bit more closely to me and leaned in, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "So… any reason you're getting wingboners up the wazoo?"
I shrugged at him. "I have no idea what you're talking about Blue."
He whistled. "Come on dude, every time I catch a glance at you, you're staring at Rainbow's flanks."
I gave him a dirty look and he raised his eyebrows with an innocent expression. "What? It's true isn't it, you have a total hard-on for him don't you?" he whispered.
"Maybe." I said.
"Alright! Let's get going!" Rainbow shouted. I heard a loud groan of complaint come from Gold Watch.
*****
After almost forty minutes, we arrived at our campsite in a nice, secluded forest clearing. In the middle of the clearing was a fire pit with a small pile of wood, and a woodcutting axe. The trees were tall enough that the only thing visible other than them was the mountains and the hills off in the distance.
"Alright, we have got a few hours before it gets dark, Applebuck? Did you still want to try your hoof at fishing?" Rainbow asked. Applebuck nodded in agreement.
"Sweet, we'll set up the tents and head out."
With Rainbows help, I had managed to put up our tent, I wasn't sure if it was fated or cruel temptation that we were bunking.
"Sorry squirt, I guess we're stuck with the small tent." Rainbow said, rubbing the back of his neck with a hoof. "Princess over there wanted the big one, Sorry." he pointed his hoof at Gold Watch.
"It's okay, I guess we'll just have to snuggle up close." Before I realised it, I blushed about what I said, luckily Rainbow Blitz played no attention to it.
He and I took advantage of the large space for a quick game of pegasus frisbee while Applebuck and Sweepy, walked uphill to fill up our water jug for our canteens, Gold Watch and Blue Chip argued over who's fault it was that their tent collapsed... again.
Before I knew it, the side of my head was struck with the frisbee and it fell to the ground below us.
"Are you having fun yet?" Rainbow shouted as he stopped flapping his wings and landed on the ground. I couldn't tell if he was joking or not and give him a smug look as I landed on the ground.
"Dude?"
"Huh?"
"You zoned out, are you feeling ok?" he raised his eyebrow at me.
"Yeah... fine, I just got distracted is all." I lied.
"Well, there’s plenty to do. There’s a big lake where we can swim in?"
"No, I actually feel really tired."
"Tired?! That's no excuse! What if there's a bear? And we get attacked?! 'Go on without me Blitz, I have to stop and take a nap!'" I laughed at his imitation of me as he dropped to the ground and snored loudly.
"Hey, bears are no joke!" I retorted.
He lunged to his hooves and gave me a wry grin.
"The camp site is secluded," he said. "I haven’t seen a single pony other than us since we arrived. Kind of dangerous." he leaned over and whispered the last part into my ear.
Blitz laughed and pulled me closer, nudging me with his shoulder. "Kidding! Haha! Chill out dude! Let's go swimming."
*****
As we walked back to our camp site, I looked down at my hooves, they were still dripping with water. My hunger had indicated what time it was. Don't get me wrong, all of us had a nice breakfast, but that was hours before we went swimming.
Upon our return, Applebuck already prepared lunch. Meanwhile, Gold Watch ranted about his fancy pants restaurant meals as I tried to resist from punching him in the face. Blitz grinned at me, he knew I wanted to.
I’m not sure what Sweepy likes about those guys, or how he had became friends with them in the first place, especially after all the crap we put up with when we were young. I don't mind, as long as my friends were having fun.
I’d be lying if I said I didn't have fun also. Being outside of school and spending the weekend out there, with Rainbow Blitz THE Wonderbolt, was the very definition of AWESOME.
After lunch, the six of us had decided to take the hiking trail that leads higher up Winsome Falls.
And more complaining from from Gold Watch, as usual.
After some time Blitz stopped us and pointed at a tree, hushing us loudly.
"What is -hmff-" Gold's muzzle was silenced as Blitz jammed his hoof in it.
Sweepy prodded my side and pointed to a spot just ahead of us, where a pair of hog monkeys were wrestling. I gasped at the sight, Blitz was amused.
"Surely you have seen hog monkeys before?" Sweepy asked.
"Nope, never." I replied.
"Imagine if Butterscotch was here, he'd have a field day." he lowered his voice.
I shrugged at him. "It's just wildlife, I'm sure he's seen most of it."
"Don’t worry," he said. "If there's a swarm of squirrel toads, Butterscotch would be here in a heartbeat."
We continued to stare for a few moments, before hearing a loud roar. "Uh... what was that?" Sweepy said.
"Isn't it obvious? It's Scooteroll's stomach, haha!" Applebuck laughed.
"Shhh!" Rainbow hissed. "It's a bear."
"A bea-mmf-" Gold Watch was silenced once again by another hoof.
"I said shhh!" he hissed.
Applebuck leaned down and picked up a large stone next to his hooves. I tried stop him at the last moment, but before I could reach him, he threw it in the bears direction, it crashed down onto the huge mossy trunk at the bears feet.
"Do you have a death wish?" Rainbow hissed.
"Really, dude," I said quietly, "don’t do that. You'll get us killed."
Another loud roar echoed throughout the forest. Yep, a second bear.
"Come on, let’s go back to the camp." Rainbow whispered. "And be quiet."
The bears turned towards us, I felt my pulse accelerate. The words 'Run or be dinner.' had ran through my head. I raised my hooves, ready to dart away at a moments notice. I stood perfectly still, waiting for instructions from Rainbow.
"Over there!" Rainbow pointed to a clearing that was behind us. All of us follow his instructions and slowly walked over, when we passed into the grassy clearing the two bears turned and went away.
"That was so cool!" Applebuck shouted after a few moments.