Those Who Wander

Whenever I wake up, I can never remember what happened right before I fell asleep for a little while. My memory's pretty funny like that. I'll probably forget about what I'm thinking right now when I'm more awake, which is a real shame, 'cause I'd like to know if I've ever been quite this baffled any of the other times. I bet not.

I'm lying in the middle of the dessert, first of all, and one of my wings is either asleep or broken. Plus there's some guy I don't recognize right next to me, and he's still asleep. At least, I think so. He's wearing goggles, so he could be awake, I guess. Whatever. I think I've got some kind of goo on me. It must be from that wyrm. Oh yeah. The wyrm. This pony guy helped me fight the wyrm, so I guess he's cool. Let's see the damages. Ah, geez. My wing is broken. Ugh. It could be worse. It could have been my spear. I need to check that bag, before I forget.

I stand up and check the bag, and the letter is still in there, but the corner of the envelope is wet. Eh, it's probably fine. I guess I need to get going if I'm gonna walk the whole way. Can't just leave this dude in the middle of the dessert, though. I shake him a little with my right talon to wake him up.

"Is something the matter?"

"Uh, kind of. Not really. I've got a thing to deliver, so I really gotta get going if I'm gonna make it in time. Figured I'd wake you up before I did. Anyway, see you around. Well, probably not. Thanks for the help back there."

I started to walk away, but to be honest, I don't even know if I'm going the right way. The moon's out, and I never learned to follow stars. I figure the brightest one I can see is probably north, so I start heading toward that. After a few seconds, he catches up with me.

"Excuse me, milady, but... will you be travelling the whole way on hoo- er, that is... on paw?"

I was pretty out of it after the fight, but it seems like we talked a little bit, and he wasn't talking all weird, but whatever.

"Yeah, I guess so. My wing's broke, so I don't have much choice."

"Do you have far to travel?"

"Well, yeah, quite a way. The Griffin Kingdoms, actually."

"What?! You'll never make it that far in your state! It simply cannot be done! You'd be mad to carry on without receiving medical attention!"

"Well, like I said, I'm on a schedule, so there's not much I can do about it."

"I take it this message is important, then?"

"Yeah, kinda..."

"How long do you have?"

"Well, three weeks total, so about two and a half right now."

"I see. I see. Very well, then. In that case, I would like for you to accompany me back to my camp, so we can arrange for transportation. It's not far from here, and it would be much faster than trying to cross the entire dessert by yourself, much less the entire nation."

"Well... yeah, okay. Thanks, I guess. Which way is it?"

"It should be right this way."

He starts walking in pretty much the opposite direction, and I follow him. Then he stops for a minute to take his headscarf thing off, and he holds it out to me.

"Thanks, but, uh, I don't really..."

"Your wing is in pain, is it not? I would have you take this to tie it up, to keep it from worsening."

"Oh, that. Well, thanks, I guess. You know, I can really hardly even feel it. I'd almost forgot it was there. Kinda seems to happen a lot."

"Well, you ought to tie it down, regardless. You face a lot of similar injuries, then?"

I take it from him, and tie it around my wing as best I can. It's not great, but it should do the trick.

"Ow. Geh. Eh, more or less. I'm always doing dumb stuff like today. It's not even the first time I've dropped that thing. I just happened to have the bad luck to run into that wyrm. But hey, it happens. Just wish I could get a shower out here."

"You will surely be allowed to bathe when we reach the camp."

"Oh, sweet. I didn't figure you'd have a shower out here. Hey, how big is your camp, anyway?"

"It's of a moderate size for a military outpost. We have afforded ourselves a few luxuries due to the length of our stationing."

"Woah, no way. I didn't know you were military. Rad. I am too, in a way, but only kinda. So, what rank are you?"

"Hmm... I suppose.... I suppose I'm a captain."

"What, you don't know?"

"Right. Sorry. I am a captain."

"Okay, cool. So, what's your name, then, Captain?"

"I am Captain Fiddler Green. What is your name and rank, then?"

"Oh, uh, my name's Nora, but we, like, don't really do the whole ranking thing for regular, uh... soldiers, I guess. It's kinda complicated. Hey, I think I might have heard that name somewhere. You're not famous, are you?"

"My exploits have reached many ears within relevant circles, but I don't believe I could call myself famous quite yet. Perhaps if our current operation goes as planned, I will be able to do so, but I should not arouse curiosity in such a way, as I cannot tell you the nature of the mission."

"Heh, alright, then. Anyway, how far away did you say it was?"

"It's just over three of these dunes from here. In the daytime, you would be able to see it with ease."

"Aw, cool stuff. Very cool."

We just sorta walk the rest of the way without saying anything. Nothing else to say, I guess. I actually figured he'd have some more questions to ask me, but apparently, he doesn't. He didn't even ask where I was from. Matter of fact, as far as he knows, this message could've been a war declaration against Equestria. I mean, it isn't, obviously, but he doesn't know that.

Once we finally to get there, it doesn't really look like any military base I've seen. It's a bunch of trailers lined up, and it doesn't look like they've got a whole lot of security either. There's a nightwatchpony with a lantern, but that's it. Fiddler walks up and talks to him.

"Excuse me, my good man, but might we have some spare chambers for the lady?"

"Oh. Mr. Saddle. I didn't recognize ya at first. Hey, have ya seen Mr. Cut out there, or that filly what works the boom mic, by any chance? Weavel says they probly both got eaten by a giant monster, but he wadn't too sure about the girl, seein' as how she can fly and all."

"I hadn't any idea they were out there until just now. How terrible! Which way did they go? I might be able to find them!"

"Well, they was goin' after you, from what I heard. Glad ta see you're okay, at least."

"We drove off the monster, but we didn't see either of them... something must have happened, or they would have returned here by now. The beast was close enough, I could see it from here."

I've been standing here silently this whole time, so I finally just say, "Hey. If they're out there in the dessert somewhere, they don't have much chance of anything happening. If that wyrm showed up wherever they are, they're already dead by now, but it wouldn't do much good to send out a search party this late at night either way. You can see forever out here during the daytime, and there's no other outpost for a long way, at least not in that direction. I would've seen it if there were before I had that run-in with the wyrm. For now, we might as well catch a few z's and send a few out when we'll be able to see them a little better. It's not like they're gonna die of thirst before morning, right?"

"The lady raises a fair point. General Cut should have no problem fending for himself, and I can attest to Private Skywishes's abilities personally, having recently worked with her on a reconnaissance mission. We will search at the crack of dawn, but no sooner."

"Uh. Alright. Whatever you say, Mr. Saddle... anyways, about that room a yers. You'll wanna put her with the female staff in the fourth trailer in the second row. If they ain't got any room, try the one next door."

"Very well."

And then we start moving again. After a while, I look back to make sure he's out of earshot. I can't see him, so I have to assume he is. I don't think ponies can hear as well as me anyway.

"Psst. Hey. How come that guy kept calling everyone Mr.? Don't you, like, outrank him? And why'd he keep calling you 'Mr. Saddle?'"

"Well, I, er... I must admit that particular guard is not very good at his job. However, I've never been the sort to report a stallion simply due to a lack of formalities, and as such, I decided to let him carry on... he, eh, probably simply had me confused with someone else."

"Oh... heh. That's a real laugh. This doesn't really look like I was expecting it to. It's all trailers and stuff. I guess that's probably how you'd have to do it when you're moving the base around a lot... hey, what's a boom mic, anyway? Is that some kind of new weapon I don't know about? It sounds pretty rad."

"Well, we're here now, so why don't you go ahead and see if you can't find a bunk somewhere."

"Oh. Uh, alright. Thanks for everything, dude. Uh, and goodnight. Hey, will they freak if I try and take this spear in with me?"

"Probably not. Just make sure you keep it with you. Goodnight."