Heart of the Herd

Crashing Thunder gripped Lost Way between his forelegs. The roaring fire in front of them crackled and burned with enough heat where they didn’t need to snuggle so close for warmth, but of course Crash would insist on doing so. He let out a long sigh as the memories of the past year flowed through him. He buried his muzzle into Lost’s neck and gave the zebra a light kiss.

“A lot’s happened, huh?” Crash asked as the memory wistfully danced in the corners of his mind. It was hard to believe the two of them were coming up on almost a year being together. It felt so recent, yet still their love had grown and matured so drastically since that winter’s night.

“Heh, yeah,” Lost Way said softly. “I love you, Crash.”

‘I love you.’ It was such a simple sentence, and one that Crash and Lost had exchanged so many times this past year that it was impossible to keep track. It was hard for Crash to remember exactly when it was that his love for Lost had turned into the sort of love one had for a partner, but as soon as it did it felt right. He said it every night before bed now, and every time the two parted ways if only for a little while.

“I love you too,” Crash said softly and nuzzled his muzzle against Lost’s cheek.

It felt so good to love. Crash felt warm and happy with Lost Way. The sort of warmth he used to dream of when he envisioned his life with a herd. He learned very quickly that the love of one creature as special as Lost was more than enough for him. He could always have more, but he hadn’t been fooling himself when he said he was alright if Lost Way was never ready for a herd. Just the two of them wasn’t the life Crash thought he wanted… but right now, it would be one he would be satisfied with.

Though… the moment that thought crossed his mind it seemed that fate had another plan in store for him. Lost Way squirmed to turn around so he could face Crash and then sat up slowly. He lowered one hoof down and stroked it against Crash’s cheek. There was a warm smile on the Zebra’s face that only looked more comforting with the gentle flickering light of the fire casting over him.

“Hey,” Lost Way said. “All this reminiscing has me thinking…”

“Yeah?” Crash asked. He hated that his first instinct was to feel a bit nervous. Lost must have sensed this, because he instantly let out a chuckle and brushed back Crash’s mane.

“It’s nothing serious,” Lost Way said. “Well, it kind of is. But nothing to freak out over, okay?”

Lost had gotten even better at reading Crash in the year they’d been romantic. The same could be said vise versa, because Crash instantly felt whatever anxiety he had subside the moment Lost reassured him.

“What’s up, then?” Crash asked as he sat up and placed a hoof on Lost Way’s shoulder.

“It’s just that this past year has been…” Lost Way started, but then glanced away. Crash noticed that the pink on his cheeks became a bit more noticeable. “Honestly it’s been one of the best in my life so far I think. Being with you. Falling in love.”

Crash couldn’t help but smile. He stroked Lost’s cheek, and Lost responded by lifting his hoof and pressing Crash’s down harder against his face.

“Early on I was really scared,” Lost Way said. “That after the initial honeymoon phase maybe everything would just pop and I wouldn’t feel the same. But even after I felt like I didn’t have to spend every waking second with you my feelings only got stronger. I think a while ago I realized that this thing between us might really work.”

Crash watched as Lost Way worked up the nerve to meet eyes once more. It was very sudden that the zebra lunged himself forward and wrapped his forelegs around Crash’s neck. They kissed, and Crash felt his eyes widen as Lost closed his own. After a moment Crash hugged Lost back. It was one of the more intense kisses they had in a long time. There was a lot of emotion behind it that made Crash only want to squeeze Lost tighter. When they parted Lost instantly buried his face into Crash’s chest.

“I think I’m finally ready, Crash,” Lost Way said with muffled words into Crash’s chest.

“Ready?” Crash asked. “Ready for what?”

Lost Way took in a deep breath and snuggled up closer to Crash.

“To be a proper lead stallion. To finally start that herd you always wanted.”

Crash widened his eyes, and then blinked. For a moment there was only silence. A mixture of emotions went through Crash. There was excitement, worry, joy, anxiety, fear, and a whole mess of sensations that all intermingled. In the end the very first thing he did was ask Lost a simple question.

“Are you sure?” Crash asked. “I’m still willing to wait forever just the two of us. Promise.”

“Heh,” Lost Way chuckled before pulling back. He looked at Crash in the eye and smiled. “I’m sure. I think no matter what happens my feelings for you aren’t gonna change. Maybe loving somepony or some other creature as well will make me realize why it’s so special to love you specifically. There’s only one Crashing Thunder, after all.”

Crash took a moment to process this. This was everything he thought he wanted for most of his life being handed to him. There was no hint of a lie behind Lost Way’s eyes that he was forcing himself for the sake of Crash to be happy.

“Okay,” Crash said. “If you’re ready, I am too.”

“Good,” Lost said. “Cause I already have someone in mind.”

Crash felt his heart skip a beat instantly.

“A-Already?” Crash said. “Who in Equestria have you…”

“Well, I’ve caught you staring whenever we go to the gym,” Lost Way said. “There’s this gryphon there. You’re lucky she’s so focused on her own workout or you might have seriously weirded her out with how often you stare.”

Crash instantly blushed.

“I-I didn’t mean to stare…” Crash said softly. “Was I that obvious?”

Instantly Crash knew who Lost Way was talking about. Gilda. They had only interacted at the gym a few times. Crash was one of the only ponies there who was strong enough to spot her whenever she lifted weights, and vise versa. They had chatted a few times, but Crash knew he was cagey as usual around her. One time she had called him cute when he asked if she was okay after straining to take on a bit heavier of a set than usual, and Crash had thought about it all day. Past that he knew very little about her other than he admired her strength and the way she came off.

“Don’t worry about it,” Lost Way said with a chuckle. “I’m glad she caught your eye. I had a little chat with her last time you hit the showers. She’s a little brash but I feel like she means well.”

“A chat?” Crash asked. “What did you tell her?”

“Oh, not much,” Lost Way said with a playful roll of his eyes. “I told her that me and my big hunky boyfriend were looking for a third to spice up our dying relationship and wondered if she could fuck you while I watched and jacked off in the corner.”

“L-Lost!”

“I’m kidding,” Lost Way said with a laugh. “I just told her we were interested in going on a little date with her. I explained our situation and she was a little confused but she seemed interested. She said something about wondering if we were good enough to take on a gryphon… whatever that means.”

“You asked her out already?” Crash asked.

“Yeah,” Lost Way said. “She actually told me she was wondering if you were gonna grow a pair and ask her out sometime.”

Crash’s blush got way worse.

“The date’s on friday,” Lost Way said with a devious smile. “I let her know you’re very excited to meet her.”

“L-Lost!” Crash whined. “That’s… really sudden! I-I… what if I don’t make a good impression or she doesn’t like us or…”

“Shhh,” Lost Way said as he took one of Crash’s hooves and squeezed it with his own. “Calm down, big guy. Things’ll go fine. I’m not messing around with this lead stallion thing, okay? I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t think we weren’t ready.”

Despite his thumping and anxiety-riddled heart Crash forced himself to let out a long winded and shaky sigh. He nodded his head and pulled Lost’s hoof up to his chest to hug it gently.

“Okay,” Crash said. “You’re right. You’re the lead. I… I trust you, Lost.”

Lost Way smiled, and it was the sort of smile that made Crash feel like everything was going to be okay.

“Thank you,” Lost Way said. “Now let’s get us a gryphon.”