Author's Note

Back with another chapter guys. Hope you enjoy.

''When solving problems, dig at the roots instead of just hacking at the leaves.''

-Anthony J. D'Angelo.

Red Root

SPLASH! SPLASH! SPLASH!

Big Macintosh was too old for this kind of work.

The uneven path ahead was laden with dips filled with dirty and polluted water that splashed against Trixie and Garble's hooves and claws. Big Mac continued on, pulling the weathered, rickety cart past the pair.

''Ugghhh.~ I'm really not trying to get Lockjaw,'' Trixie shuddered, maintaining a cautious eye on each hole in the ground and taking care to avoid any stray nails or wire. The area ahead of them had been known for a great many attacks in recent years, and the lack of defenses allowed the recent Pony Fighting Alliance to bombard the highlands and push the 'line of defense' until it was no more. ''How bad do you think it'll be this time around?''

Garble nursed the cut on his abdomen, wincing when the pressure dressing Trixie put on his chest shifted. ''Not trying to; the fact we failed means our pay gets cut in half, and that half's cut in half, so we might not be able to afford food this week unless you want to eat shit again.''

Big Mac grunted, knowing that the 'might not' in that sentence meant that they were going to. The majority of their missions ended with relative success, and though the three of them were formidable together, some of the recent Humans were beginning to show minimal signs of . . .intellegence to retaliate against some of their traps. Checking in with the guards at the outpost's entrance, the newest arrivals were posted in the gated enclosure while those poised to be set out to the market were opposite of them, the shouting, yelling, and spitting doing little to deter the trio. ''Seems like they're getting more rambunctious by the day.''

''Yea, try being animals that have no rights; I would be the same, but the main difference is we got the jump on them first,'' Garble said, sneering at a few of the ones who tried to size up the dragon who chuckled. ''But what the hell was that thing that attacked us?''

Trixie also needed to have an answer to that question, and another ice pack to nurture her headache. It moved so. . .erratic; almost as if it held next to no regard for any amount of life, but still held a blip of intelligence to evade their attacks. The loud screeching; the claws, the smile all but painted a picture of a sick experiment. Even Big Mac was unable to get a good hit.

The trio continued on down the poorly paved road, the sight of the central tent that housed the boss of the camp. Big Mac was sure he would be yet again upset at the lack of numbers this week. Humans were sometimes more trouble than their worth to the one in charge, but that attitude all but disappeared with the production of steady income. A thick plume of tobacco smoke clung in the air the closer Garble and Trixie walked across the bridge above a deep moat with large, weathered logs. ''One of these days, that's gonna kill him.'' Big Mac said.

Trixie huffed, turning her nose up at the idea. ''He smokes enough a day to make a smoke signal from 100 miles away, I don't think a forest fire would phase him.'' the joke made Garble crack a smile and chuckle, leading to his wound opening up with a hiss of pain.

Big Mac unhitched himself, breathing a labored breath and motioning for the two of them to follow behind past the seas of hanging multi-colored beads and smoke clouds that prompted a coughing fit from the two. Two of the Unicorn guards draped in gunmetal gray chainmail walked forward when the trio came from under, guiding them to the particular spots where they would stand; each time, without fail, Big Mac in the middle with Garble on his left and Trixie on his right, flanked by the guards, who looked on, uncaring.

"I am. . .most displeased at your apparent lack of progress.'' Big Mac frowned, knowing the calm before the storm by the torches on either side of the wolf skin throne flaring up before settling.

Garble and Trixie's eyes narrowed when the guards each stomped their hooves to wake the pair from dozing off. Big Macintosh figured no time would be like the present to explain what happened earlier; if the story would be believed. ''Well, it boils down to-''

''-Stop.'' Big Mac hissed, the throne rotating to show the front, showing the face of restrained fury only by a hair-trigger. ''You should know by now that money is king; and when I am unable to make that, the three of you are unable to live comfortably. So tell me. . .Garble. What happened?''

Garble froze, hoping he would be left alone this time, but knowing the luck of the draw between him and Trixie would only be so good for so long. All eyes would be on him. ''We ran into some trouble on the way back; we found two Humans and a kid, and we had them until. . .''

''Until?''

''Well, you see-'' Trixie interjected, digging a small hole in the dirt. She would-

''-I said Garble; unless you suddenly became a dragon?'' Trixie lowered her hoof to the ground when she felt the stare of smugness upon her. ''Continue, Garble.''

The red dragon coughed into his claw, looking forward and finding the power to tell the tale about their failure. ''It was this thing. . .this black thing; with claws and teeth. We tried to fight it off, but it was too fast. It almost seemed Human.'' Garble said, hanging his head with shame.

. . .

''And how the mighty have fallen,'' Big Mac's eyes darted to and fro with each passing second. The sound of his heartbeat in his head, the pulling tension on his neck, along with the confusion that could span a mile all compounded into a guttural growl that elicited a hum from their boss. ''When I gave each of you a job, I expected the best. Your 'resumes' spoke for themselves, but with this? This, this, this spat? For shame. Garble's hurt, Trixie's having a silent crisis, and you Big Macintosh, were supposed to be the leader. But you only have lead to shit on this one.''

''Boss,'' Big Mac called out, hoping to fix the issue with ample time. ''We can fix this.''

And so they could be decently compensated.

''Oho? Can you? And what assurance do I have that you will?''

''We almost never fail,'' Trixie chimed in, tapping a hoof onto Big Mac's back. ''We're the best hunters this side of Dodge Junction and you know it. Why else keep us around?'' Garble shifted his dressing as Big Mac gave her a side-eye, silently questioning her methods in front of the one figure they wouldn't want to.

''Entertainment at times, but your other point does stand to a degree. Fine, fine.''

''Really?'' Garble and Big Mac asked, noting the chuckle that came from their boss, but the pair was unsure if it stemmed from confidence or pity.

''One more chance. No help from the camp. Make up the numbers you were supposed to get plus 75%. You have one week.'' Trixie's ears nearly fell off her head at the numbers.

''That's almost impossible! We can't do that with just us!''

A snort followed by an ear-splitting bellow quieted any resistance. Ugh, he hoped he wouldn't have to get up, but here he was.

Clip Clop. Clip Clop. Clip Clop.

''Nothing is impossible if you want to eat. . .and if you work for a creature like me, Iron Will. You all signed the blood oath, you all swore you would pay off what you owe me and in exchange, I don't quarter the three of you while you make just enough to get by,'' Iron Will pressed his forehead to Trixie's, being mindful of each other's horns. Trixie's nervous chuckle made him pull her closer when she tried to shy away. ''The second you start to prove useless to me, is when you'll all be in those cages fighting for your lives or the first option. Whatever that thing was that 'caught' you by surprise? I want it, on top of the numbers you owe. If it seems Human, then it probably is. And that means I can use it.''