Sunlight, Moonlight, Love, and Friendship

Chapter 4: Hearts Beat as One.

The elders of the herd, the cows and bulls she’d helped save, were flanking Strong Heart on either side as they approached. Big Heart gulped and wished she could walk. Being carried like this made her feel like she was just a spectator on the sidelines.

None of them looked mad though. They looked stern and serious, like the desert dunes and rocky crags they were unyielding, but there was a softness there, a feeling she could barely describe. During their stay Big Heart and Trotter had been treated as honored guests, most of the buffalo had looked on from a distance, both due to the language barrier and the species difference. They had not been unwelcome, but they were temporary things.

That feeling of dissociation was gone now. It was replaced by a feeling of something that felt a little like pride and a bit like family, like Big Heart wasn’t just a guest anymore. She was a member of the herd.

Strong Heart’s voice rang out in a language she didn’t know, speaking to the buffalo that had gathered there. Big Heart tried to look for some sort of clue what they were talking about but the gestures were vague. She heard her own name somewhere in the speech, and Trotter’s too, just once.

After a few minutes other buffalos rang out and now she had a pretty good idea about the topic of conversation. She recognized an exaggerated push that was probably a representation of her tossing a tree at something, a yanking motion to pull up another weapon, a swing with a horned head mimicked a swing at a nearby enemy. They were talking about the fight and her part in it.

“Big Heart.” The young mare nearly jumped, not expecting to be addressed after the slew of Bovine words. Strong Heart approached her and Flint Arrow sank to her knees to allow the pony to stand on her three hooves. Big Heart stood perfectly still, trying not to upset the balancing act she was doing in keeping her right front leg off the ground.

“I apologize, I know you are not well versed in Bovine so I know you didn’t understand all that was said.” She began. “So now I shall translate.”

“Never before in the history of our herd has there been a time when an outsider pony fought so hard for us. You fought for our elderly, for our calves, and for the fruit we live on against overwhelming odds and alone. We can never thank you enough for flying to their aid.” She spoke in a rhythmic tone and Big Heart recognized it! She’d had the same up and down slur to her words that made them sound like the lowing of cattle as she did when she spoke in Bovine. It was perhaps a testament to the emotions that overflowed in Strong Heart that the accent Big Heart had never noticed now came on so strong.

“And yet we must try.” She said seriously. “We must try to thank you for what you have done. So I tell you now, as my ancestors told similar outsider buffalo who proved themselves worthy, you will always have a friend among us.”

“Your name is Big Heart, and this is a trait that shines true within you. I believe that fate conspired to have us meet.” Strong Heart said. “Big Heart, I would add you to our stories. I would call you sister, for we share a name, and I would tell you that however far away your travels take you that among us you and any you called friend would have a home.”

“Would you allow me to say these things and make them true?” She asked.

How could she say anything but yes?

The Buffalo herd began to rhythmically stomp their feet, throwing their heads back and celebrating in the wild way they always had. Big Heart reared back, mindful of her leg and pinned wings, and added her whinnies to the stream of noise.

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“The tribe will eat well this season.” Big Heart forced her tongue to make the unusual sounds that made the Bovine language.

“Chief Strong Heart says we’re meeting a pony tribe just before the Sunset. It will be a good time for trading.” Trotter said almost fluently. She snorted, a habit she’d picked up from the buffalo, and rolled her eyes. Trotter was picking up the language much faster than she was and he liked to prove it.

She concentrated on translating his words to Equine before humming in understanding. Sunset was getting closer and closer now, if she flew into the air above the rocks she would have seen that the sun was already touching the horizon.

Twilight was much more forgiving to the ponies unused to the southern heat, but without warm fur like the buffalo or good blankets they would suffer when Night took full hold of the land.

“There’s an outpost that the running trail runs right past, we’ll be staying there for the first week of Night! It is a festival!” Trotter continued happily.

“Slow down, please?” Big Heart groaned. She roughly shook her head, transplanting her braided mane from the left to the right. A few of her orange feathers were braided into it and she had numerous little braids decorated with beads. She knew the beads somehow signaled her status in the tribe as Strong Heart’s sister, but at the moment she couldn’t be bothered to recall how.

“What is…outpost?” She asked curiously as she went over what he’d said.

“A town, a real one where ponies actually live.” He answered mercifully in Equine.

Big Heart hummed again and pulled out her map. The running trail had gone right by the ruins of an old town called Appleloosa, a pony town the buffalo used to be friends with before everypony in it signed up to join the army or sent their foals away during the war. They had left their extensive orchard in the care of Strong Heart’s tribe, then under the leadership of Chief Thunder Hooves, and nopony had ever come back.

That was the story all across Equestria. Small towns had been swallowed into the war effort and now ponies ran wild across this great land of theirs with little regard to the cities they had once roamed.

There were small settlements dotting the landscape, but they were rare and mostly made of the very old and the very young. The big cities had all been abandoned because nopony was growing the food they needed to survive. An outpost, a real town where trade happened, was like finding a scholar among Diamond Dogs.

It would be the first time she’d met with ponies since her parents’ deaths, and the first time ever as a princess. What if they didn’t want a return of the monarchy? What if they didn’t like her? Didn’t think she was good enough?

But she’d spent long enough with the buffalo, although she loved them dearly now she knew she couldn’t stay forever. For some reason Fate or Destiny or whatever had decided to make her a princess. She was probably meant to do things.

Still, the fear was there. Big Heart hadn’t lived to be almost thirteen all on her own by ignoring it.

She sent Trotter to play with his friends, Swift Course and Smooth Stone, and watched them gallop about with some envy. Her leg was still on the mend but at least her wings were almost back to normal. She’d lost most of the muscle definition on them and was still working on getting it back up to where it was before she was injured.

Big Heart glared down at her leg, wishing it would either spontaneously heal or fall off already. She could live with being a cripple now that she had wings but just dragging the leg around like now was driving her crazy. It kept getting in the way and banging into things. It was really inconsiderate.

“Something troubles you, little sister?” She nearly fell off her hooves in fright. Not that she was scared of Strong Heart’s mysterious ability to be as silent as the grave, no siree. She was just a little surprised is all.

“No. I want to…” She couldn’t remember the word for it and switched to Equine. “I’m afraid to meet other ponies.”

“Afraid?” Strong Heart graced her with her native tongue.

“I’m the first princess Equestria has had since the Fall!” She whined. “And I don’t even know why I became a princess in the first place! I-I just—!” Needed to be more than what I was, she silently added. That desperation had pushed her to extremes she’d never imagined possible before.

“Fear does not make the warrior’s horns dull.” Big Heart stared blankly. That sounded like something an old mare would say, it didn’t make a lick of sense.

“By that I mean, fear should not hold you back.” The chief advised, sitting down with a small grunt. Big Heart wondered how old Strong Heart really was. The chief wasn’t the oldest in the tribe, but she wasn’t far off. It was a testament to her great strength and will power that she still ran forward with the tribe but old age spared no one and Strong Heart would be passing on the torch with the next Sunrise. Her son, an onyx black buffalo named Silent Watcher, would become the new chief.

“You are afraid of that the ponies will see you, and find you wanting.” Big Heart nodded wordlessly. “From one chief to another I will tell you this, someone will always find you wanting.”

“The ponies will see you and you will not be what they desire, you can not be what they desire.” She stressed. “You, Big Heart, must be the princess those ponies need. If they are unhappy with your choices, lay your reasons before them. If they threaten to turn away from you, tell them that you love them still. You cannot force them to run behind you, but if you follow the virtues your people know best then they will run beside you.”

“Honesty, loyalty, kindness, generosity, laughter, and friendship.” She listed. Those were the things pony society was built on.

“Yes. You embody them well already.” Strong Heart nodded.

“Really? All of them?” Big Heart questioned. Honesty and loyalty, oh those she had in spades. Kindness and friendship she could see in herself too.

“Trotter told us of a young mare who came and gave him what she had when he was hungry, though the mare could scarcely afford it.” Strong Heart raised a furry brow, as if to say you want to say that wasn’t generous?

“He’s a little pony! I’m a big pony! That’s what I’m supposed to do.” She argued.

“I did not know this was a law among your kind.” Strong Heart smirked knowingly. And well, no, it wasn’t. She knew that. She’d met ponies before who never cared about anypony but themselves. She’d just lived as though it was for as long as she could remember.

“And when you tell silly stories to the foal and listening calves, just to hear them laugh after a tiring run?” Strong Heart pressed.

“They were tired and grouchy, not very good for falling asleep.” Big Heart wasn’t even sure why she was arguing. These were compliments, she should accept them with grace not argue with her elders!

“Okay, I get it!” She gave in. “I’m awesome. That doesn’t make me any less scared though.”

“That is good. Fear does not make a warrior’s horns dull.” Strong Heart repeated.

“I still don’t know what that means.” She sighed.

“It means that because you are afraid, you will be watchful. You will not assume anything when you go amongst the ponies and so you will be ready when things go wrong.” Buffalo were of the opinion that things always went wrong sooner or later and pretending otherwise was the sort of foolishness left to the calves.

“Big Heart! Big Heart! We found some flowers that you’d like!” She turned to see Trotter running up with his friends, between them was a woven grass basket filled with colorful blooms.

“Smooth Stone was walking around to see if any apples had been missed and he found these and we thought, since you can’t run around right now that you’d like them!” He said excitedly. Strong Heart laughed beside her at his rapid fire Bovine and Big Heart felt herself start to blush. It wasn’t her fault she was still bad at it!

“Thank you, Smooth Stone and Swift Course and Trotter. I love flowers.” She grudgingly said in broken Bovine. She could tell the calves were amused, giggling to each other about her atrocious accent. Why couldn’t all the buffalo speak Equine as well as Strong Heart and Silent Watcher did?

“Come, little sister. Let us search out Flint Arrow that she might guard you when we resume the run.” Strong Heart teased.

“Don’t worry,” Trotter’s whisper was not as quiet as he imagined it was. “You’ll get the hang of it soon!”

Big Heart broke into nervous giggles and nuzzled him close to heart. She had a feeling she already knew what his special talent was and when he figured it out too she was going to make him pay for embarrassing her like this.

Big Heart flapped her wings and took flight.

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The outpost was called Dodge Junction, and wonder of wonders, it was on the map. A few farms kept the town alive but mostly they traded with passing herds and buffalo tribes, taking the buffalo’s apples to make into apple related food, some of which was given to the buffalo as payment while the rest would be traded with other pony herds.

This she knew without ever setting hoof in the town. Sunset was upon them and they were drawing closer. Big Heart soared through the skies, keeping to cloud cover to avoid being seen.

The tribe was getting closer, she could see that the town had everything all set up already. It really did look like a festival. She’d never seen one before. There were bright lights and music drifted on the breeze and the smell of food, honest to Sun and Moon cooked food! She’d cooked things over an open fire before but she’d never tasted anything that came from a real oven. From the way the buffalo talked it tasted something like finding The Endless Plains.

She and Strong Heart had discussed what they were going to do when introducing Big Heart to the townsponies. The idea was to arrive side by side with Strong Heart, and for the first time in weeks she had finally removed the bandages around her leg to do just that. Walking was a bit of a pain, and she didn’t want to even consider running, so flying it would be. Better to keep her weight off that hoof as long as possible anyway.

They’d arrive side by side and meet the Mayor, a grizzled old stallion named Lucky Day. Big Heart would introduce herself, the festivities would begin, and hopefully no pony would mind too much if she snuck away to get some of that food before they started actually talking.

It wasn’t so much a plan as an optimistic guideline, but it was better than nothing. Unfortunately it still left lots of room for Big Heart to worry and fret over what she was going to actually say.

‘Hello, I am Big Heart. I have, due to the weirdest whim of Destiny ever, become a princess. I need to travel to the frozen north and talk to the Princess of Love.’ That sounded stupid even in her head!

‘Greetings, I am Princess Big Heart and I am going on a quest to seek the princess of Love! I shall find some way to restore Equestria to its former glory!’ No.

‘Hi, yeah, I’m a princess but don’t let it freak you out. I won’t be staying long. I just need to get some supplies before I head north with Trotter to find and get some bucking advice from the Princess of Love, who hopefully is in fact still alive in the Crystal Empire.’ At this point Big Heart decided to just wing it. There was no possible combination of words that could be worse than what she’d just thought.

She shivered in the cool air and flew straight back to the tribe.

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So far everything was going according to plan. This did not mean much though, because she was still coming up to the town next to Strong Heart. But for all intents and purposes things were going well.

Trotter was only a few steps behind her, excited as a foal and proud as a mother cat, as if he was the one to thank for Equestria getting a new princess. Which, technically he was but Big Heart wasn’t going to tell him that. He was insufferable enough when he kept switching between Equine and Bovine without so much as a “by your leave”.

Big Heart forced her thoughts forward and just barely kept from pulling ahead of Strong Heart as they stopped at the edge of the town.

Big Heart stood as tall and still as possible, letting the murmurs of the ponies wash over her. Now that she was actually here she felt much less afraid than before. Funny how facing the dragon was much less intimidating than dreaming about the dragon.

“Lucky Day, it is a pleasure to see you again, old friend.” Strong Heart spoke, bringing her attention to a green stallion with a five’o’clock shadow and orange mane. On his flank was a four leaf clover.

“Allow me to introduce a friend of my tribe, a brave mare I am sure you would like to meet.” Big Heart took a deep breath and stepped lightly forward.

“I am Big Heart. It’s an honor to be here for this annual celebration.” She smiled, inclining her head out of respect.

“No, Princess,” He gaped, slack-jawed. “It is our honor to host you!”

As one, the ponies present for the occasion knelt on bended knee and Big Heart could not contain her shudder. They looked at her and did not see a pony who was barely out of fillyhood. Big Heart didn’t know what they saw—a hope, a prayer, a miracle?—but it made her feel a little lonely.

And a little sad.

From that point the cycle passed in a blur as the three leaders, Strong Heart, Lucky Day, and Big Heart, were herded to the center of town. They placed her in the middle and provided her with the best the town had to offer in food and drinks as ponies one by one came up to meet her.

Some of them wanted to hear her say a few words, some wanted her to say a blessing over their foals, some wanted just to shake hooves with a princess and tell her how awed they were to meet her. Some of the foals asked her what she was the princess of and Big Heart nearly panicked. She didn’t know, she told them honestly, and promptly wished she hadn’t.

Because the ponies who heard her started trying to figure it out and by the time the third course came around she’d heard herself referred to as the Princess of Hope, of Bravery, of Strength, and a hundred others.

The ones that hurt the most were the ones who asked her if she could move the Sun and Moon.

How could she tell them that no, she didn’t know how to do that, didn’t even know where to begin! She wanted to give them better lives but she had no idea how to do that! She wanted to prove that she was worthy of the wings and horn that graced her body but she had no idea how and only the most tentative of ideas how to find out.

It wasn’t like she hadn’t thought of trying. Hadn’t Princess Celestia moved Sun and Moon on her own for a thousand years before Luna’s Return? But Big Heart didn’t know how she’d done it. If it was a feat of mere telekinesis surely any suitably powerful unicorn would have been able to do it? Anything in eye’s sight was movable if one was powerful enough. It was something only an alicorn could do, and Big Heart could barely fly in a straight line, she didn’t know how to be an alicorn.

Needless to say, the festivities weren’t as fun as she was hoping. But at least the food was good.

She and Trotter wound up in mayor Lucky Day’s home for their stay, on his insistence. Big Heart sent Trotter up to bed and tucked him in, silently glad he was too tired for a story because she didn’t have the time. She had to race back downstairs to talk to Strong Heart and Lucky Day.

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“Once again, let me tell you what an honor it is that you’re here, Princess Big Heart.” Lucky Day bowed as she entered the room.

“I’m u-uh, glad you’re so happy.” She gulped nervously.

“How could we not be?” Lucky Day’s wife, a beautiful mare thick with foal asked. She had a blonde mane and bright yellow fur with a metal star destiny mark. “This is a sign of great change in Equestria.”

“What are your plans, Princess?” Lucky Day asked, bringing them to the main topic of the evening. “Anything we can help you with?”

Big Heart took a deep breath, ordering everything in her mind while keeping one ear cocked towards the stairs. Trotter had been sleeping when she’d left but curious colts were prone to eavesdropping. Not that she wouldn’t tell him about the meeting later, but he was tired and would be grouchy if he didn’t get any sleep. It would be hard enough getting him up in a few hours, constant Night was hard on ponies.

“The first thing I need to do is get in touch with the Princess of Love at the Crystal Empire. As far as I know she still lives there, and if anypony would know anything about being a princess, it’ll be another princess.” She explained.

“Oh me, oh my.” Quick Draw fanned herself, gently easing herself onto the couch. Big Heart idly wondered when she was due. “Going that far north? It’s mighty cold up there, not fit for good ponies.”

“Still, all the stories agree that’s where Princess Cadance lives.” Lucky Day considered with a hoof on his chin. “No idea why she’d want to stay up there all on her lonesome, but I don’t pretend to know the minds of a princess.”

“My friend will require supplies for a long journey.” Strong Heart informed them.

“You’re right about that, Chief Strong Heart.” Lucky Day whistled. “Food, water won’t be much of an issue since the best route’s on the river, but she’ll need warm cloaks, a good map, Sun and Moon knows what else.”

“Can we spare any ponies for such an expedition, Lucky?” Quick Draw asked worriedly. “She may be a princess but she’s still just a young filly.”

“I’m used to traveling on my own, and I’ll be taking Trotter with me. You don’t need to send anypony you can’t spare with me.” She reassured them.

“Nope, I won’t hear a word about it.” Lucky stomped his hoof. “Trade’s been real good this past year, I’m sure there’s a young stallion or two looking to go on an adventure. Just need to speak a word in their ears about proper behavior towards a princess first.”

“How soon do you reckon you’ll need to mosey along, Princess Big Heart?” He questioned.

“Not until the end of the festival, at least.” She decided. “I want to say goodbye to Strong Heart and her tribe.” She sent a look over at the old buffalo.

“We will be saddened by your leave, but we will await your victorious return.” The old cow sighed.

“Why not wait at least till Sun-up before going?” Quick Draw asked. “I don’t know all that much about the northern lands, but I know they’re worse at Night. Cold enough without dragging yourselves through that mess.”

“This Sunrise there will be the Dragon Migration.” She reminded them. By the serious looks the couple shared they knew how dangerous it would be to travel then. In years past the Dragons flew over Equestria with only a few short stops to let their young ones rest, in recent times it could make the whole season a fire hazard waiting to happen. Luckily Migrations only happened every five years.

“The Princess is right dear, if she’s going sometime this year it should be now while the Moon’s up.” Lucky Day sighed, pacing back and forth. He stopped suddenly and retrieved a pencil and some paper.

“Well, I insist you at least wait a week or two.” Quick Draw shook her head at her husband’s mumbling. He’d have a list of supplies drawn up in a few minutes and more than half of it would have to be taken off to save time and effort. “We’d love to put you and sweet young Trotter up while you’re here. Won’t hear a word against it.”

“That’s very kind of you. We wouldn’t want to be a bother though.” Big Heart shifted uneasily. Her leg had begun aching at some point and she was tired enough not to want to argue.

“No bother at all!” Quick Draw assured them.  “Just wait till you try my world famous Haycakes for breakfast tomorrow!”

“The hour grows late, I must be returning to my tribe.” Strong Heart stood. “We will see you tomorrow, little sister.”

“Be seeing you.” Big Heart waved softly as the buffalo left the building.

“What’s that? Chief Strong Heart leave already?” Lucky Day suddenly looked up from the extensive list he’d written. Big Heart had to wonder what possible use Sunscreen would be while traveling at Night.

“Don’t worry, I’ll get rid of the useless brick brack while he ain’t looking.” Quick Draw stage whispered to her.

“I heard that!” Big Heart laughed and allowed herself to be led upstairs. She gently eased Trotter to one side of the bed to make room for her. She was asleep before she finished pulling the blanket up to her chin.

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The next cycle was more of the same, except somehow worse. Before she’d even finished the haycakes, which really were as good as advertised, everypony in town had heard of the quest she was undertaking. The line of volunteers stretched all the way to the Buffalo camp.

Lucky Day was having a field day trying to thin the numbers out enough, talking down the old and young and only looking for those that could be spared. They had to understand it might be dangerous and they’d be expected to behave themselves as they were guarding the princess!

Big Heart snuck off at that. She didn’t particularly want bodyguards but she wasn’t going to argue. She was having a hard enough time arguing down the many young mothers who kept coming up to offer to watch Trotter until her return. She must’ve explained that she had no intention of leaving him behind a hundred times before she finally made good her escape to the Buffalo grounds.

“Has a scorpion stung your tail?” Flint Arrow asked as soon as Big Heart dived into her teepee. The young mare took a second to translate that before replying.

“Worse. Mothers keep offering to watch my brother.” The cow guffawed at her words. Big Heart ran her mind over them with a fine comb but couldn’t figure out what she’d said wrong.

“He is young but no calf. Let him run beside you if he can keep up. His heart will be broken if he is left behind.” She advised.

“I understand.” Big Heart snorted roughly. “Trotter and I will go north. The Mothers do not understand.”

“Besides, how will you master our tongue without him to chatter like a bird in your ear?” Flint Arrow chuckled. Big Heart frowned deeply at her. Somehow she just knew that was a crack at her language skills.

“….I will go.” Big Heart sighed and opened the tent flap. “Must find Lucky Day. Must find food and water and things for long run.”

“Keep practicing.” That, Big Heart understood.

She stepped outside and walked into an ambush of eager and well-meaning mothers. With a curse in Bovine, she took to wing and finally lost the last of her followers. Now, where was Lucky Day and his long list of volunteers?

“Ah, Princess Big Heart!” The mayor beamed proudly as she landed in front of him in front of the Salt Lick. Big Heart had to admit, she was kind of curious about what went on inside a Salt Lick. What was being salty or drunk like?

“So glad you’re here. Allow me to introduce the two ponies I picked to join you.” He waved over a mare and stallion. The mare was an earth pony with white fur and a teal mane and eyes. The stallion was a unicorn who was bright blue with a silvery mane. The mare’s destiny mark was a blacksmith’s hammer while the stallion had a compass on his flank.

“This is my niece, Quick Fix, and her beau Tight Ship.” He introduced.

“Howdy do?” Quick Fix and Tight Ship both knelt. “Me and Ship here have a trading vessel north of here to carry us upriver. We’ll get ya to the Crystal Empire, you can count on us, Princess!”

“What she said.” Tight Ship nodded.

“I reckon these two will be enough for the trip, any more than that might slow you down.” Lucky Day decided.

“See, there’s this road here goes up north towards Lickity Split bridge.” Quick Fix showed her on a map.

It was a brand new map. With the names of different places on it and not smudged or worn at all. Big Heart wanted one.

“River goes up to Neighagra Falls before it gets frozen over, from there we’re on the trot.” The new map clearly indicated where the Forever Winter began. “It’ll be against the current most of the way but our boat’s got a good crew to it, they’ll get us up at least that far before they’ll turn around and head back to Horse Shoe Bay.”

“Based on previous conditions, I’d say the trip to Neighagra Falls will take three to four weeks.” Tight Ship guessed. “Haven’t got a clue how long it’ll be from there to the Crystal Empire though.”

“What about coming back?” Big Heart blinked. “Won’t you two be needed here sooner or later? It could take until Sunrise to get back if we have to walk the whole way.”

“We’ve thought of that, don’t you worry your pretty, little head, princess.” Quick Fix reassured her. “See, the Mare’s Revenge, that’s our boat, she’ll be coming up north again for trade in two months. We’ll just have to be at Neighagra Falls again by then to catch a ride home.”

“If it takes longer than that the crew will wait two weeks before going on without us.” Tight Ship reminded his fiancée. “We’ll have to meet up with a caravan or herd then.”

“We know it’ll be dangerous.” Quick Draw came in from the kitchen. “And we’ll worry if you’re late coming back, but we’ll understand and be ready to welcome you home whenever you manage it.”

“I don’t know if Trotter and me will come all the way back to Dodge Junction.” Big Heart frowned, catching every pony’s attention. “Depending on what we learn from princess Cadance we might have some other task to do.”

“I think, regardless of what happens while we’re there, Quick Fix and Tight Ship should both make their way back here.” She said seriously. “With or without Trotter and me.”

“We can’t go and leave you all alone.” Quick Fix argued.

“I won’t be alone, I’ll have Trotter. And your family will need you here before the Dragon Migration.” She pointed out.

“It’s not like we’ll never come back to visit, but nopony knows exactly what it’s going to take to bring Equestria back together again. It might be necessary for Trotter and I to continue in another direction and if that’s the case,” She paused to take a breath. “I want to know that the good ponies here will have every hoof available for the Migration.”

“Well, with arguments like that I can tell you’ll be a right fine princess.” Quick Draw smiled shakily, visibly relieved to know her brother’s daughter would be coming back as soon as possible.

“Right then,” Lucky Day sighed and stomped his hoof with finality. “We’ve got the crew and the route mapped out, time to see about those supplies!”

“Auntie, did you have time to amend that list?” Quick Fix shot her aunt a worried look.

“I did my best, sweetpea.” Quick Draw shook her head at her husband’s retreating back.