Towards the town of Shattered Hoof

The night dragged on as Umbri continued her stories from the legion, "I mean they told us you were all barbaric animals, hell bent on destroying order and civility."

"And the tribals would always speak of your legions as horrid oppressors, content taking out land and freedom in return of indentured servitude."

"Well...I may enjoy seeing a certain stallion in binds." Umbri slowly listed over to me, letting her side rub against my own, "Or perhaps we shall repeat our meeting, although I was slightly disappointed to find my knightly savior to be some restless colt."

Our tails were quickly batting at each others, "Well I may not be a civil as you, but I would think the needy filly at my side would enjoy some barbarism." I let my back leg brush along her barrel, her breath catching as I did.

"Perhaps...and perhaps in return for your barbaric conquest, I can show you the true hospitality of the empire." She punctuated her point by wrapping her tail around mine, "As you said...sharing our intelligences, will be absolutely vital to better understanding."

"Oh will you two fuck already!" Daring yelled from the rear of the group, "I mean honestly...you just met and already you nearly gave her a poke...and you, you lifted your tail for him without even seeing him!" She dashed in between us, "So either find a bush and fuck, or shut up! Dear Celestia...just like high school." Daring pushed past us and hurried along, "So what is it gonna be?" She asked, trotting backwards.

I gave a quick look at Umbri, she was a bit abashed, "Well...I mean..." Umbri mumbled weakly.

"We're not animals...we can wait until we find a bed...or tent...or even a hovel if need be...." I said, rejoining my tail with the legionnaire's. It did feel a bit strange trusting what was meant to be my sworn enemy, but considering her unarmed nature and airy demeanor she struck me as genuine. That coupled with the smell she carried saw her speaking the truth in her need.

The smell was subtle, something I think only I noticed, but I was no doubt giving off my own scent that Daring and Umbri could sense. Perhaps that is why Daring saw fit to pester me, although since we left the temple she has kept her distance, "Daring...are you alright?" I quickly unwound my tail, "A moment Umbri."

"Aye? I'll be around."

I hurried off and met Daring at the head of the group, "Daring...you're being distant."

She shook her grey scale mane, "Sorry...things have just been kinda.... I didn't expect you to go all crazy and...well, I'm not a fan of killing ponies...but you seemed to handle it well. You went from crying over your death to murdering ponies like it didn't even matter."

I scrunched up my muzzle and cocked an eyebrow, "As I said...I treat these outcast vagabonds with the respect I give an empty bottle. I cried at the thought of being skewered by a legionnaires lance...a true threat, not some diseased banditry."

"And the whole I don't want to kill?" She questioned, bumping my flank with her own.

"...Again...I thought you were legion, and...you were unarmed...and...I.... Perhaps I have a soft spot for pretty faces. But I have no remorse killing some rapist, murder, ugly son of a hornless cunt!" I snorted, feeling some slight release of tension from my quick snap, "I am no murder...killing you would have been murder of an unarmed adversary, killing them was a mercy."

Daring gave me a nervous smile with an equally nervous laugh, "I uh...guess you're more grown up than I thought...had you pegged as a school colt...turns out you're-" Here it is, finally she'll stop calling me a child, "-more of an angsty colt."

"....Really? I just slaughtered a bandit camp, saved a...pretty...mare, and am now leading a troop of ponies into a town, all the while hiding the fact that they are both pegasai...and yet I am still not a stallion?" I asked with as annoyed a tone as possible.

"Hmmm ever been with a mare?"

I sputtered a few responses, "I...well I would have...."

"Well I guess you'll be a stallion after that...anyways how much longer?"

"Hmm...no idea, I lost track of where we were after last night." I looked around at the endless plains of white, slowly darkening as the night went on.

"So...we're lost!?" Daring screamed, nearly knocking me off the path.

I bumped her back over to the side of the path, "No...we are still on the right path, but the walk is long. If I had to guess...I'd say...walking for a day and a half...rested for seven hours...perhaps another three hours? So we're close."

Daring gave a drawn out sigh, "So....three hours is close. Hey Umbri!"

"Yes?" Umbri shouted from behind.

"Come over here," Umbri quickly took her place next to me, her tail batting with mine, "Can you two stop...need to pass the time, figured I'd ask some questions. Like you lance butt, why does a young mare already have such a violent cutiemark?"

Umbri looked back at her flank, a lance and shield sat firmly on her rump, "It's not violent...I got it during training...to be honest I've only had to kill robbers and thieves back in the empire...this excursion was my first. And well...after the battle I can understand why your temple forms the border between the tribes and the empire. How we hold the pegasus temple is beyond me."

"You hold two," I interjected, "The central and the pegasai, which will also be out first target...granted heading straight into the empire may be a bit of a bad idea...but the unicorn temple has been...well...we lost contact some time ago. I'm assuming the worst. From what I heard the temple has had trouble with...ba-"

Daring gave an annoyed snort, "Can you stop with the temples and sex...talk about...I don't know, what do colts talk about?"

"Sex...mostly sex...Umbri? You were raised around warriors?"

"Aye...and he's right, mostly sex, sex and comparing spears." Umbri giggled, letting her tail bat at my backside, "Glad to see our people do share some similarities."

"Sex, violence, dru- actually," I stopped and fished around in my bag, "Umbri have you tried pine water?"

She walked over, "No? What is it?"

"Just water." I levitated a bottle infront of her. She quickly took the neck of the bottle in her mouth and leaned her head back. She quickly backed off, coughing the fiery liquid out.

"That- what is that!?" She looked to be rather caught off guard, "It burns like fire!"

I laughed at her trouble, "Water fortified with alcohol," I said with a devious grin, "Are you implying you've never drank?"

"The drink- makes your reactions slow..."

"It also keeps our water from freezing." I deadpanned, "By the way...be sure to thank your people for that when you return."

"Guys...lagging behind..." Daring called from a few feet ahead. Umbri and I quickly caught up, "So...I get her mark...but..." Daring slowed, stopping to look at my flank, "A star? The bandages are kinda in the way."

"Ah...yes...a star." I said with a downturn in my voice, "I...it appeared after the incident."

It took Daring a moment to realize what I was speaking about, "Oh...oh Skane...that's...that's rough."

"Aye," I looked at Umbri, she was thoroughly confused, "I'll explain later."

Umbri nodded, "I won't pry."

Daring trotted back to the head of the group, "So...what does it mean?"

"The star? I always assumed it had something to do with magic...or fire." I shook my head, "...I miss my mane."

Daring just smirked, "Trust me colt, mares love the trimmed look." I looked to Umbri, she gave a quick blush and whisked her head around in an bashfully affirmative gesture, "See, and trust me you still have a coat like a mop."

"Because it's cold out! Just because you two have no winter coat does not mean mine is misplaced-"

I was cut off by being sandwiched between my two companions. Daring was the first to answer, "There is a reason we all slept in a pile...trust me colt I'm not trying to cop a feel."

"Cop a feel?" Me and Umbri asked in unison.

"it's...it means...playing grab ass?" Me and Umbri shook our heads, "...touching each other."

"Ah- wait why did you dance around the point? Does your body disturb you?" I jeered.

"I think it might," Umbri added, nuzzling my neck, "Do displays of affection offend you?"

"I think they might, my rather forward companion." I craned my head up and took her ear in my mouth, tugging lightly and causing her voice to catch in a feminine squeal.

"Stop already! Seriously...should we hurry so you two can have some alone time?" Daring cried, growing rather annoyed with our antics, "Do ponies always just dive right in and start making googly eyes?"

"We're not about to get married...we have something the other wants...mutual want," I snuck my tail between Umbris legs and brushed her neathers.

Umbri quickly started nipping at my chin, "Indeed...once we finish our act I'll make my decision on whether or not to stay, depends on how you make me feel."

I turned to stare into Umbri's eyes. The bright pink nearly burning holes into my soul, her pink mane falling against my head, "So your fate rests on my sexual prowess?"

We stopped walking so we could better stare at each other, "Yes. Does that make you nervous?" Umbri asked with a sly smile, tracing a hoof in a circle between us, "I promise to return every favor."

"Well that's good, but I'm sorry to say if we trade blows we both may lose our ability to walk."

Umbri pursed her lips, "I..." I wasted no time in walking closer, letting my body tower over her's.

"Guys! I think I see it!" daring yelled, breaking our moment once again, "Yeah, that's a town!"

"Fuck me Daring...every time..." I groaned. I quickly turned to the path once more, "I swear to you I will mount your face to shut you up!" I hurried to meet her on a small bluff, "How can you- oh....yes indeed...mares...welcome to Shattered Hoof."

The mares gave a pair of giddy smiles before following me into town, "First things first let's get some sleep!"

"Yes...sleep." I chuckled, Umbri soon joining me, "We should find an inn."

*^**^*

"Closed!? Why's the gate fucking closed!?" Daring screamed, pacing around the front gate into the town, "Come on! Why!?"

I just gave a defeated sigh, slowly turning to Umbri, "Make camp?"

She returned me a soft frown, "I'll find some firewood...you can start a fire right?"

"Aye...be quick...I'll see to Daring." Umbri nodded and ran off, "Daring?" I reached her and put a hoof on her shoulder, "We're going to have to wait."

"It's not fair...it's not even that late." Daring grumbled, "Fine...but you're going to be a living heater tonight."

"As every night I suppose...." I gave a short laugh, "Come along." I lead her to a small clearing where Umrbi was piling sticks, "Ready?"

"Yes I think so." She stepped back from the firewood, "Please hurry...the cold is coming."

I nodded and lowered my horn to the sticks, "Just...just a little..." I felt a familiar heat travel from my head to my horn, ending with what felt like a drip of melting candle wax. A bulb of blue fire fell and started a small fire.

"Whoa...that was..." Umbri watched in rapture as the fire turned from blue to orange, "Zealot?"

I lowered my head, "Long story. Now, bend over."

"W-what!?" Umbri shouted, a bright blush forcing its way to her face, "I don't think-" I shook my head, walking over and poking her flank. Her legs quickly buckled, sending her into a heap on the ground. Her breath was heavy as I mounted her, resting my weight on her back.

"Celestia's horn colt...really?"

I ignored Daring and shifted myself around, "Quiet you..." I gave a long sigh as I found my place, "A matter of warmth." I shifted once more, "Umrbi...comfortable?"

She tried to speak, failing completely and uttering some strange moan, "I can feel it, oh by the mother it's hot."

"Indeed...it is the warmest part of my being." I laughed, my chuckle resonating through our stacked bodies, "I'm going to bed now. Feel free to join us." With those parting words I settled down on my future conquest, thoroughly enjoying the feeling of a warm body beneath me. I simply let my chin rest on my love drunk companion's head. With a final sigh, I turned my head sideways and slipped away.