Falconers and the Ashes of Igneous

When day came Alastoria was still there of course except looking a lot more lively than Igneous which really wasn't saying much since it looked like she could take on all of the royal guard, which also wasn't saying much since they were mostly pushover when it came to crossing blades with them.

To Igneous’ imagination Alastoria would probably be able to make each and every one of them cry, retire and join the knitting guild or something. That being said Igneous never has seen her in combat. I mean he did have a small skirmish were he kinda got beat into the dirt which he did kinda expect but she just overall looked powerful. He wondered if her muscles were natural or came with much work, but he wouldn’t ask her that of course. What you think he had a death wish or something.

Nah, he would save it for Dramier who probably definitely wouldn't lend him a brief glimpse of the fire pit of death Alasotria may have had full access and a revolving door to. That aside he was physically dead this morning from almost being ran to death by Alastoria and her eagerness to display her favorite fireball collection.

There was a bit of kindness however as she said she wouldn't abandon him out here which probably wasn't saying much about her kindness as he soon was handed over to the watchful eye of Dramier who came flying in while she went to go eat at the village that was probably miles away at this point, not that he kept track while in a panicked induced haze the prior night.

With Dramier having awkwardly been thrown into this situation with Alastoria being so eager to get rid of the young cult, Igneous watched as the Unicorn sauntered off without a second thought. Just a, “Oh, glad to see you here,” she had said when Dramier came back as planned. “Take care of Igneous while I'm gone and make sure he doesn't unfortunately die.”

As she disappeared with Dramier standing healthfully in the grass he looked to Igneous unsure what to do as if he just received a foal from his past sins which he boasted about exactly once.

“Hi.” was all he could manage at that point seeing the Colt lying there unmoving and looking as if he was about to be sick. Sadly horses couldn't vomit without dieing or being physically mutilated throwing the throat muscles into literal disarray. “So that's Alastoria for you lil’ hunter.”

“Pft, at least she kept me warm,” he said doubting her toughy, buffy-ness.

“Really?” he said throwing his head back. “The last one she made quit, quit because… um well…” he appeared to think but then he said, “ah-I can’t quite remember but it was something redundant to begin with anyways. She did make one quiet just by excluding meat from this pore mare's diet.” He giggled a little as he sat down beneath a tree near Igneous. “I found that funny because thats almost completely what Alastoria eats anyways. She does actually get a healthy amount of the essentials but what could you expect with a physique like that.”

‘Oh well now's the perfect moment,’ Igneous thought having the opening to ask his question right there in front of him.

However just as Igneous opened his mouth to speak he was immediately cut of by Dramier who added onto his last remark. “This reminds me, there was a pony a while back; everypony was talking about him the crazy thing. He said a pony eating meat was unhealthy and that he was some, eh...” He waved his hoof trying to come up with the right word but when his efforts came up fruitless he shook his head and said, “I don’t know but I couldn't imagine my world without meat.”

“This stallion,” Igneous began. “Where is he now?” It interested him because who would be so mindless as to make such a bold claim such as that?

“Making medicine I heard. Best there is it turned out too he's coming up with stuff others are saying are hundreds of years in advanced. Said he was good at botanology whatever that is grinding plants into a fine powder then hardening them to stone tablets.”

“Do you know what they do?” he asked.

“What the medicine?” Dramier shrugged his shoulders. “I don't know lil’ hunter. I've just heard the stories. Thoe he has apparently been helping a burned victim from a pillaged village not to long ago. Poor savvy, saved his brother from fire by throwing himself over him.”

“Thats terrible, is he ok?”

Dramier laughed and said, “Of course he is Igneous, who would this pony be helping if he was dead.” He took a deep breath from his laughing fit and reminisce. “A pony with courage like that… sure is a shame. No pony can ask anything from him anymore. He would have made a great Falconer I tell you.” He then shook his head and sprung to his hooves. “Enough about that it's time to get you back to the village,” he said as he stood boldly.

“Um…” he said reminding Dramier of the state poor state he was in.

He only waved a hoof and said, “nothing I can’t help. Now listen,” he said as he kneeled down next to the colt and rapidly started fanning him with both wings. He pointed in the general direction of the village and continued. “Now Alastoria doesnt have faith that you will make it by this afternoon and frankly neither do I but hears the proposition… you're gonna prove us wrong.”

“How am I supposed to do that?”

“I'll tell you how.” Using his head Dramier levered Igneous up to his wobbling, weak hooves causing Igneous to grunt with effort. “You're gonna get up and you're gonna rush home the entire way at a meager pace and I will be there the entire way helping you along. Now do you think you can do this?”

“Look at me,” he complained.

Igneous thought that was all he needed to say given his state but Dramier just shook it off and said, “I said do you think you can do this!?”

“But…”

“Do you think you can do this!?”

“Sure?”

“Can You Do This?!?!” he said rising to an encouraging shout still fanning him with his wings.

“YES!?!?” Igneous yelled in response.

“Now what are you gonna do?”

“I can do this!”

“Close enough, now go!” He pointed letting Igneous free and free the colt was as he took his first step and immediately fell to his face as his legs collapsed beneath him with the assisted effort of his armor shield and sword which he found was so easily forgotten.

“Igneous?” he asked looking down on the colt.

“*brugh fur nerf da*” His words were muffled by the dirt but what he said was, ‘Alastoria did me in,’ or something roughly like that. He swore he could hear giggling coming from the forest but since his ears were pointed directly at the ground he could have just heard the sounds of a burying mouse mocking him.

Dramier didn’t seem to notice.

The Pegasus sighed but immediately came up with a plan. Looking left and right making sure Alastoria or a third party wasn't around he whispered, “you know what, I'm just going to carry you.”

“Why?” he said pulling his face from the dirt.

“After Alastoria sent me back I just happened to find myself at the tavern that night and I kinda shared your little story with them and made a bet.” His ears lowered and he finished saying, “and Raillay.” He then looked at the colt only to receive a perplexed look from Igneous. “Hey, in the least you're famous now. Well only amongst those stallions but it's a good start. Now stand still,” he said as he lowered his head intending to pick the colt up armor and all and carry him back on his back. Well most of the way back so they could see him walk into the village on his own.

When he did a wooden bolt shot out from the the woods hitting Dramier right in the a the rump causing him to jump up in pain. Except this wooden bolt wasn't tipped, it was just the fletching and dull shaft and when Dramier looked he saw Raillay walking out of the woods with crossbows deployed.

She looked a little peeved. “How did I know you were going to do this?”

“What are you doing here? You should be back at the village.”

She pushed her chest peace collapsing the bows back to her body and said, “you really think I would leave my stake unprotected? I intend on collecting Dramier.”

“Collecting,” said smugly. He proudly pointed to Igneous and said, “look at him Raillay. He’s primed and ready to go. Infact just as well as the day we found him, common Igneous,” he said waving his head for him to follow. “Alastorias expecting us.”

“But you could take your time,” Raillay said kindly.

“Naw he’s got a tight schedule,” Dramier argued.

“But it's fine if you wanna rest.”

“But Alastorias expecting him.”

“You don't have to listen,” she said waving a hoof.

“Our time is dying.”

“Patents is a virtue.”

“I'm sorry Igneous I really am,” he suddenly said breaking the pace. “It's just that Raillay wants you to fail so badly,” he said giving her a sour look.

“No!” she shot him a sour look. “Anything but fail completely,” she said drawing out her last word to emphasize. “I want you to succeed if anything elts. Just succeed within the bounds that allows me to win.” She then turned to Dramier again and said, “Why is it so important that you win? You're filthy rich anyways.”

“It would hardly last me long anyways,” he mumbled. “I would work on a farm but there no farm like the one I love.”

“Oh…” she said suddenly feeling bad for suddenly having brought up the topic. She then remembered Igneous as a pony and not an object for winning revenu and said, “Oh, well you just take your time. I wouldn’t want to see you kill yourself.”

With a huff Igneous responded, “Alastorial will for sure.”

Sitting down next to him, almost snuggling him she said, “She's not all dreadful. This is just how she breaks in the new upcoming falconers only… they don't stay for long?” she said looking up to Dramier to affirm in her statement.

“Your fine Igneous,” he said somewhat answering her question. “You forfeited the record long, long ago.”

“Shame, truly is,” Igneous sarcastically chimed as he laid his head down on the soft grass. He was kinda saddened that his teacher was practically trying to score another for the board by having him quit as soon as possible but really what did he expect.

He remembered a saying the toughest paths, mountaintops and seasons are often times reward those who endure. For the mountaintops it's a great view followed up by the realizations that you have to now climb back down. For the path it could be great as you might imagine… or you get lost, and for the seasons often times poor crops and no money. Sounds very, “rewarding,” but it was with good intentions to those blissful manny.

Dramier looked back to his flank were Raillay had hit him and he said, “that's gonna leave a welt. You know I’m a delicate bird dearest Raillay.”

She shook her head at his childishness. “Your fine, I really would like to be more productive. You know, warding off danger.”

“Speaking of which, you two can have some fun. I'm going to quickly survey around and make sure there's no.... monsters, beast,” he teased as he drew nearer to Igneous. “The unholy offspring of light and death itself bent on ripping you apart and use your bones for toothpicks when it adds your corps to the mountain of bodies in store for score.” Dramier was now face to face with the wide eyed Igneous.

As a result of his actions Dramier received a hoof to the face by Raillay who scolded, “quit trying to scare him again.”

He instead laughed despite the pain and said to Igneous, “just a little motivation is all.” He jolted his body back giving Raillay a mouth full of feathers as he did causing her to go into a spitting fit. “I'll be back soon enough,” and he took off.

Raillay took a moment to spaz out and ended it with a very loud sneeze. “Aw when he comes back I'm gonna… I'm gonna…” she then looked back down to Igneous and remembered how mature she was supposed to come off as. “When he comes round again he's gonna get the shaft. In the meantime,” she said shifting to a more friendly voice. “You can be my new friend.” She scooted herself closer to him and said, “how does that sound?”

“I just wanna go to sleep,” he tiredly complained.

“Take your time,” she said rustling his mane. “All I need is time.”

It was subtle but Igneous still felt her mind still laid in the wager she wagged with Dramier. “How much did you bet?” he asked.

Going into though she answered, “A lot.” then looked to him and continued, “Like... A lot a lot. It wasn’t without effort though but a few sips did him in. He sober now which always came by daylight no matter how many drinks he may have had. I always found it a bit odd.”

“What are you planning on doing with your winnings?”

She smirked and shook her head. “Honestly, probably nothing. I'm a very simple pony. I might just end up giving it back to him anyway.” She took a deep refreshing breath of mid morning air. “He's a good stallion is all. He just wants to go home.”

“Dramier?”

“Yes Dramier. He writes home most months saying how he's been, how he feels, that he’s safe. Everything a caring, good mother should know. It just pains me to think that she may discard each letter regardless of his loving efforts. He puts on a confident persona to hide the fact that all he really wants is to go home to his old farm with a loving mother and live out the rest of his life happy. Instead he is stuck running after acceptance, only I don't know if he can reach it. Honestly it's tragic but I can only hope he can grow.”

“What made you a Falconer Raillay.”

“Me?” she asked having the conversation turn to her. “It was much simpler I found in comparison to most of my peers. I liked how my dad used to take my out a lot to see the wilderness. I liked it so much than when I grew up I decided I wouldn’t bound myself to the constant stress of work and become a Falconer where I can spend all of my time here.” She then looked to Igneous giving him a smile and ended with, “It's much more fun.”

For a few more moments they sat there both waiting for Igneous to regain his strength and make the treck back. However it had been a while since he tried and he felt considerably stronger now.

Slowly he pushed himself to his hooves while gritting his teeth. “I think I can do it.” he grunted as he strained to bring himself all the way up.

“Careful,” she said steadying him. “Do you need help?”

“No, I-I can do it.” And he took his first step that ached more than anything else but he felt he could take it.

“No take your time. One after the other,” she said leading him. “You can make it, I know you can.”