Pom fastened the strap as loosely as possible with her mouth and stepped back to examine her work.

“How's that? Too tight?”

Tianhuo's face was hard to read as always, but she seemed to blush as she tapped the bell around her neck.

“It is fine. But is this really necessary?”

“Wearing my bell will show that we’re friends, and it'll help ye fit in.” Pom smiled. “And besides, it looks good on ye.”

“It seems a little… cutesy.” Tianhuo rang the bell again.

“That’s part of the idea!” Pom nodded. “Ye look less intimidating this way.”

“I suppose that is a good thing.” Tianhuo said reluctantly. “In that case, I would be honored to wear it. But I do not want to deprive you of it.”

“That's fine, you'll give it back when we meet again.” Pom’s voice pitched up.

“Of course.” Tianhuo smiled. “And I look forward to seeing you in Huoshan.”

“Me too.” Pom’s smile wobbled. “I’ll miss ye.”

Tianhuo offered a hug that Pom eagerly accepted. “Focus on your trip. You have many wonderful new things ahead of you.”

“Goodbye!” Pom waved to Tianhuo.

Tianhuo turned in the air for one last wave before she sped away, fading into a small spark in the sky.

Pom watched her fly away until Nidra tapped her on her shoulder with her trunk.

“Do not worry, you will see her again.”

“I suppose.” Pom finally looked away. “But ah dinnae when, or what's gon’ tae happen.”

“Life is full of surprises. Even visions don't change that.”

Pom walked alongside her pack, heeding Tianhuo's advice that exercise would strengthen her legs.

The trip was oddly quiet, partly due to Pom's missing bell, but also because the dogs sensed her mood and did not wish to disturb her.

Eventually, Pom tired and let herself be carried to make their stop by nightfall, strapping herself on top of Big Papa again.

“Ye miss her too, don't ya?”

“Huff.”

“I think she likes ye. Seems like a good rival.”

“Huff.”

Pom smiled at what sounded like grumpy agreement.

“Huoshan should be nice for ye—plenty of proper warriors who can understand what yer sayin’. They’ll probably get ye better than us Sheeple.”

“Huff!” Papa protested.

Pom giggled as Momma licked her leg. “Stop that! I ken, we like ye too.”

Pom woke up when Papa sat down near the waterfall.

She unstrapped herself to rub her eyes, noting the setting sun.

“Ye dinnae have tae carry me that far.”

“Boof.”

“It's hard tae win an argument with ye.”

Momma and Papa led the pack to check for predators, and after an all-clear bark, they all set to gathering wood for a fire.

“That'll do!” Pom gave Woof an ear scratch after she dropped off a last bundle of small sticks for kindling.

Woof leaned into it and nuzzled her as the other puppies stretched from their nap, but they all turned in attention to Papa's huff.

Momma motioned to the puppies for Pom's benefit and took a step away.

“Watch the pups, got it!”

“Huff.” Momma thanked her and left with Papa to hunt.

“So, what do ye wanna do now?” Pom smiled at the puppies.

Tuft trudged over and laid down in front of her, turning over for belly rubs with a yip.

“Och, fine.” Pom indulged him, but she was soon busy massaging Woof as well after she got jealous.

Puff and Ruff were off scuffling again, but Pom let them be until she heard a sharp yelp.

“Hey, break it up!” Pom stormed over.

From Puff’s doubtlessly overdramatic whimpering and pawing, it looked like Ruff had nipped her ear.

Pom guessed that Ruff’s grumbling meant something like, “Come on, I didn't bite that hard!”

Not for the first time she wished she could understand them properly.

“Keep it tae wrestling with no nips, or I'm telling Momma and she can sort it out.”

That got a yelp out of both puppies as their ears fell back.

“We can also find other ways tae burn that energy.” Pom retrieved their rope from the stash. “Tug of war?”

Puff and Ruff found common cause pulling against Pom as she yanked them back and let them yank her sometimes to keep it interesting.

Her struggle stopped being fake when Woof decided to enter and Pom had to dig her hooves in to try to hold her ground.

Then the excitement convinced Tuft to try it.

Uh oh.

Momma laughed as she found her puppies sliding Pom around in circles.

Pom tumbled on her back as they let go before she scrambled up, blushing as she faced Momma.

“They, uh, helped me train.”

Momma chuckled and licked her before barking at the puppies.

They ran out of the cave with her to what Pom knew must be their dinner.

Pom sighed and decided to treat herself to another pancake, reflecting as she fiddled with her flint and steel hoof straps.

It's not that I'm weak, they're just getting stronger… right?

An ember finally started smoking after minutes of clanging, and she gently blew on it to stoke a fire.

She smiled as she remembered her longma dream, imagining herself effortlessly starting a fire with a breath.

But melancholy set in as she began to cook the pancake and remembered serving one to Tianhuo, with the smell of fire only reinforcing it.

I guess Huoshan will have that odd burning smell everywhere. It’s not a bad smell.

With her trip on her mind as she ate, her eyes shifted to Tianhuo's training scroll.

Maybe some practice would help.

Pom rolled it open and perused Longma techniques described in surprisingly detailed illustrations.

“Hmm.” Pom swallowed and got up, checking the scroll again.

“Okay, back hooves here, front hooves here…”

Pom jumped into a spinning kick, springing twice as high as the pictures, tilting off-balance, and landing softly on her side.

“Ach!” Pom rubbed her thigh, though the fall had only bruised her pride. “Och, maybe save that one for later.”

The dogs returned to see Pom swinging her hooves through the air, mixing the improvised style Tianhuo instructed her in and techniques that resembled Tianhuo's own style.

They were content to watch her as she trained, though the puppies lost interest and started to play tag and tug of war with each other.

After giving them time to burn off energy, Momma barked, and the puppies gathered to her with yawns.

“I can take a turn at watch,” Pom said around heavy breathing from her routine.

Papa shook his head.

“But I can do it!” Pom made herself as big as possible, but still fell short of his eye level. “I dinnae want tae be the helpless little lamb all the time, I want tae help.”

Papa responded by roughly mimicking the training routine and huffing at the scroll.

“Och, fine.” Pom said. “I guess training helps more with that.”

This'll all change once I figure this out, just got tae get ready for Huoshan.

Momma took first watch, laying down with her puppies sleeping, cuddled up to her.

Without enough light to check the scroll again, Pom retired to join them after repeating the same drills until the sun set and she couldn't see the floor clearly.

Pom looked out at the river while practicing the stretches that Nidra taught until she was interrupted by Puff flying up.

“Barkbark Bark!”

“What is it, girl?”

Puff landed with a stumble and yapped in the direction of the entrance.

“Barkbark!”

“Okay, I'll follow ye!”

Pom ran after Puff as she took off and jumped down the hillside, floating after the flying puppy.

The sun's out; what could have gone wrong on their hunt?!

Did someone fall into something or run into a cave?

Pom caught sight of Momma and Papa first as she landed and ran to them, feeling relieved but confused.

“What's the problem? Why'd ye call me?”

In response, Momma pointed her nose at a bush of leafy vines, and Pom gasped as she saw a hoof sticking out.

“Is… is it?” Pom crept up to the leg and eyed it carefully as Woof sniffed it.

She was about to start pushing the vines aside when Woof licked the leg.

Several things happened at once.

A vine whipped out and sent Woof flying with a panicked shout from the bush.

Ruff yelped as another vine whipped him away, but Pom jumped over it with her legs flailing as she jumped in without thinking.

“GAH!”

Pom's hooves slammed against something repeatedly, and she turned to see an angry doe staring back.

She smacked it on the muzzle with her hooves covering her head instinctually, but she froze as she recognized the face.

“Wait, AaaaAAA!” Pom yelped as vines squeezed her barrel and pulled her high in the air.

But the vines’ grip loosened as the doe recognized her. “Pom?!”

Papa circled with a low growl as Momma protested and tried to keep the puppies away.

“It's okay, lads!” Pom did her best to look at the dogs with her body held still over them. “She's a friend. Ash, ye remember her! Give her some space.”

Papa took a breath and huffed, and the dogs stepped back to leave them on their own.

Ash's eyes darted between the dogs as the vines turned and followed her, effortlessly holding Pom as she did not struggle.

“It's okay, they're nice,” Pom coaxed Ash to lock eyes with her. “Sorry for hittin’ ya. If ye put me down, we can all calm down.”

Ash's hyperventilation steadied as she gently set Pom on the ground. Her vines seemed to shrink and vanish into a bundle around her neck and back.

“C-can ya make them go away?” Ash’s voice hardened. “Least ya could do after waking me up randomly and hittin’ me!”

“Och, sorry.” Pom glanced away before calling to the dogs. “Ye heard her, she needs space. But can ye fetch my things and some water?”

Papa huffed and left for the cave as Momma led the puppies away.

Ash rubbed her head. “Yeesh, you hit hard—for a lamb, at least.”

Pom fought back a smile. “Sorry. Here, let me take a look at that.”

“I'm fine.” Ash slumped down and let Pom inspect her, but she stiffened as Pom gasped.

“You’re covered in scratches, and was that a bite?!” Pom exclaimed as she leaned closer. “You look exhausted!”

“Yeah, that one hurt.” Ash winced at the memory. “But I'm fine, really.”

In response, Pom tapped one of her scratches.

“OUCH!”

“Now, tell me where you’re hurt and what happened,” Pom said.

“YEOWCH! Where'd you learn medicine, wool shearing school?!”

“Oh, hush!” Pom pushed her back down and finished cleaning the wound.
“Ah told ye it'd sting a wee bit. Ready!”

Ash grumbled some curse under her breath as a thin vine wrapped around the poultice and detached on its own before Pom bit the extra length off.

“What were ye thinking going through the caves alone with no fighting experience? Magic is no replacement for a sound mind and body,” Pom quoted.

“Whadaya mean by that, stick legs?! I fought through predators to get here!” Ash raised her head to glare at her. “And what's so smart about you runnin’ through a death cave?!”

“Ah– ah dinnae mean it like that.” Pom looked away. “It's just something a friend told me. I'm sorry, wasn't thinking.”

“Whatever,” Ash grumbled and closed her eyes in her prone position.

As Pom finished her treatment, Ash raised her head.

“Who is this friend, anyway? What do Sheeple know about magic and fighting?”

“We don't know much, honestly,” Pom said. “But she's not a Sheeple, she's a Longma!”

“Huh.” Ash blinked. “Guessin’ that's Tianhuo. She was the talk of the town when she passed through, but when I challenged her, she said I wasn't ready. Probably just scared.”

Pom rolled her eyes as Ash flexed her vines. “Och, no. But she told me something similar when I offered tae go with her. Gave me some drills tae train on. Wanna see?”

“I'm good.” Ash scratched at her neck with a vine. “Thanks for patching me up, though.”

“Just glad I could help.” Pom smiled. “But if you dinnae mind me asking, what are those… things on your back? Are ye sure they’re safe?”

“Oh, they're called choker vines.” Ash held up a hoof and extended one over it to show it off. “At least that's one thing they called them. Rediscovered them myself. They’re safe, though—probably saved my life yesterday.”

“You just found them, then you can use magic?” Pom leaned in.

“Not that simple,” Ash said. “I studied old records to find really old seeds and got lucky.”

“Seems handy against the predators,” Pom said.

“That's the idea,” Ash replied.

Pom glanced away before asking. “Ever heard of a magic sheeple?”

“Uh, no. Read all sorts of superstitions on dogs, though.” Ash pointed to Puff hovering where the dogs waited out of earshot. “How’s that one flying, anyway?”

“I… dinnae know.” Pom glanced back. “Never heard of anything like it.”

“Huh.” Ash blinked. “Well, I'll let someone else figure that out. Did you or Tianhuo evah find that Seer? Because she’s the lead I’m looking for, and I'd really like to get outta here.”

“Uh, about that.” Pom scratched her head. “The Seer was in Whitil when I got there, didnae know it was her. She left instructions telling me tae go tae Huoshan and her tae go tae the Meadow. Ah dinnae know why.”

“Anything about me, then?” Ash leaned in. “Or the Key?”

“Um, nothing about the Key.” Pom bit her lip. “Or anyone but me and Tianhuo.”

Ash's eye twitched. “You mean to tell me that I went through all that for nothin’, and that that trunk pig coulda told me back at home?!”

“Well…” Pom averted her eyes. “Yeah, I guess.”

Ash took a breath and got up. “Give me a moment.”

She walked off into the trees.

“AAAAAAAAH! STUPID Fat Mudbrained little—”

Pom covered her ears as the swears got worse.

“Sorry.” Ash panted as she returned. “Had to get that outta my system.”

Pom blinked. “Well, if it makes ye feel better, we're headed back tae Whitil. Want tae go with us when you’re feeling better?”

Ash's eyes flicked towards the dogs and back. “Sure, strength in numbers and all that.”

Pom made a candied hazelnut pancake for Ash out in the open beside her, wanting to brighten her mood without interrupting her rest with a climb up the hill.

But to her surprise, Ash was already full of energy as she ate.

“This is wicked good! Glad my boyfriend shared his stock with you.”

“You're welcome.” Pom smiled. “You seem like you're recovering well.”

“Good as new! Shouldn't’a doubted you.” Ash stretched her hind legs. “But I told ya these vines weren't a problem.”

“I used tae only hear about magic in stories, now I've seen three kinds in a few days.” Pom muttered.

“I like those stories, wouldn't have found these without ‘em.” Ash raised a vine. “Anyway, now that you've doctored me up, how’s about we get through the cave tonight? I'd like to get back home sooner rather than later.”

Pom looked around and got huffs of affirmation from the dogs. “Sounds good tae me. Got any other leads to go on when ye get back?”

Ash looked up in thought. “Well, not really, but I’d like to go over my notes on the prophet again, maybe find that stupid seer if she’s still there.”

“You’ve been studying the Prophet?” Pom perked up. “Got any idea where the Key is?”

“Well, not where it is, but some places it might be,” Ash explained. “I've been going over everything I can find on where she went after the Sealing.”

Ash’s vine fished a couple of books out of her saddlebags. “Brought some reference materials, even.”

“Would ye mind sharing notes?” Pom raised a hoof. “I promise I’ll share anything I find, one champion to another.”

“Sure! It's the least I could do.” Ash said. “We're all on the same team, right? No sense keeping secrets.”

“Right!” Pom nodded. “I was worried you’d want to fight over it or something.”

“I've had enough fighting.” Ash's vines retracted into loops around her neck and back, which she covered with her cape as she secured her saddlebags. “Anyway, the Prophet made plenty of stops for ceremonies and celebrations and all that, but I'm betting she kept it close to home. She did go to Huoshan once though, so it wouldn’t hurt to check there. Paid a visit to the old dragon behind the longma to send her off.”

“Honored Mother,” Pom corrected. “Tianhuo told me the story.”

“Right, they call her that,” Ash said. “Whole thing’s wicked strange to me. Anyway, the accounts I’ve seen are pretty light on details. There was a feast and a ceremony going for several days apparently, and the coronation of their Empress, but not a lot on the Prophet herself. I'll let ya see the rest of my notes once we get to Whitil.”

“Thanks,” Pom said. “Where else do ye think it could be?”

“Well, after that she went…”

Ash had been talkative on the way to the cave, but she cut her lecture short as they neared the entrance, and her gait stiffened.

“I'll stick by you,” Ash said. “Hope your dogs can see in there.”

“Better than we can, I ken.” Pom replied, but it didn't seem to reassure her. “Hey, I know it's scary, but we'll be fine.”

“Speak for yourself, I'm not scared!” Ash spun around.

“There’s nothing wrong with being scared,” Pom said.

“Well, I'm not.” Ash turned away. “Nothing wrong with you being scared, though.”

“Boof.” Papa’s protest made Ash jump.

“And what's that supposed ta mean?!” Ash’s head jerked to Papa.

“Ye know what he meant, but I'm not offended.” Pom said. “I am scared, I’m just brave because I have tae be. And I’m glad tae have a brave doe with me.”

Ash paused mid-step for a moment before carrying on. “Uh, thanks. You’ll be safe with me.”

When they made it to the cave, Ash walked alongside Pom in the middle of the pack as Papa led the way and Momma trailed behind with the puppies guarding their flanks.

Glowing mushrooms marked their path and provided some dim light to travel by as everyone listened for danger and Pom noticed Ash’s gaze darting around.

“Dinnae worry, the—”

“Shh!” Ash's head jerked to her with a whisper. “They might hear you!”

Pom tried a smile as she whispered back. “We'll be fine.”

Fortunately, they did not encounter any predators, though Pom wondered if that was because they knew to avoid a large group.

“I know that smell, come in!”

The group sped up at a familiar gruff voice, and hurried to the end of the tunnel to see Churl ready to greet them.

“Oh. I see you've brought the ‘Champion of the Woodlands.’ Good to see you made it through without a guide.”

Ash looked away from the entrance, vines waving above her head at the ready. "Uh- huh? Oh! Sorry, just makin' sure those stupid things didn't follow." She quickly turned and composed herself. "No problem for me. Got through... mostly fine, thanks for that."

Pom noticed Churl narrow his eyes and tense slightly, and decided to change the subject.

“We've got some news.”

“What'd the Seer say?” Churl turned to her.

“Well, she didn't say anything about the Key.” Pom’s voice sped up at Churl's scowl. “Really, she wasn’t there at all, but she said I was needed somewhere. In Huoshan. In a note she left. Nothing about you, sorry.”

“Well, that's interesting.” Churl snorted. “Guess you saved me a trip either way. But you might be needed here; we found where the predators are coming from.”

“Really?!” Pom leaned in.

“I've heard they can show up anywhere in the dark,” Ash remarked.

“Yeah, I know that.” Churl stared back at Ash. “But they're coming from one place in particular: some sort of shrine with a portal down here that they're pouring out of.”

“Wha…” Pom blinked. “Why would that exist? Who made it?”

“Don't know, don't care,” Churl answered, ignoring a snort from Ash. “I just know it needs some dismantling.”

“If ya found it, why didn't ya knock it down?” Ash said.

“We almost did,” Churl growled. “There were too many of those damn predators though. Had to retreat to make sure no one would be left behind. Thinned ‘em out good though, and I was planning on another attack as soon as everyone recovered, but with you lot here…”

“We'd be happy tae help.” Pom stomped a hoof and received barks of affirmation from the dogs.

“Knew I could count on ye, lass.” Churl grinned.

“Well, ah,” Ash fidgeted, “I'd love tah help, but I also just got done thrashing a load of those predators and I need some recovery myself. At least I got ta knock lots of ‘em out for ya.”

“Really?” Churl grunted. “I've pulled double guard shifts with more dings than that. Just like a whitetail to be too delicate for the real work.”

“WHAT did ya just say?!” Ash's vines stabbed into the ground and bristled above her as she shoved her face in Churl's.

“Hey, we're on the same team!” Pom tried and failed to push them apart. “We don't know what she's been through.”

“Can't be worse than what we went through.” Churl stared back at Ash. “This'll be a good story: the Sheeple champion is braver than Whitil’s finest!”

“Fine! I'll come!” Ash spat back. “Bet I can outfight ya even with an injury!”

“Wanna prove that now?” Churl hoofed the ground.

“STOP!” Pom shouted as they both snapped out of it and turned to her. “We’re here to fight predators, not bicker around and hurt each other. So learn tae work together for a wee bit, or I'll do this myself!”

Pom cowered as she realized what she’d said. Churl and Ash both blinked.

“Er, I meant me and my dogs. But I'd really, really, really like your help.”

“Well, I'm not staying back,” Churl said. “Fine. I won't call anyone a coward who puts themselves on the front lines.”

“And I won't call you a—” Ash got a look from Pom and cleared her throat. “Let's just do this thing.”

“Eyes open, I smell them,” Churl whispered back, leading from the front.

“I've got a plan.” Pom called for a huddle. “Bet they're gonna try to cut us off. You two hide, I'll bait them out.”

“Sic ‘em, lads!” Pom yelled as her dogs charged forward with scattered barks.

Three wolves and a bear had been guarding the shrine. Two of the wolves were bowled over by Momma and Papa and kept down by the puppies pouncing on them.

Momma grabbed one of the others who tried to flee the sudden assault and threw it against a wall.

The bear swiped at Papa, scoring a glancing blow to his head as he failed to evade, and Papa retaliated with a swipe of his own.

The two tackled each other and rolled on the floor with growls and snarls.

Two bears and a cougar ran in to try to cut the ungulates off at the sound, eager to attack the exposed sheep trembling in front of them.

A shockwave from Churl hiding behind a stalagmite tripped the cougar and one of the bears as they ran ahead, while the other bear skidded to a halt.

The tripped bear fell on its side, but the cougar tumbled out of control toward Pom with its faster momentum.

Pom braced herself for the impact, but vines snapped down and wrapped around it.

“Where ya think you're goin’?!” Ash yelled as her vines held her to the ceiling.

The cougar yelped as it was yanked back, flung through the air where it burst into smoke on the far wall.

But the bear that did not trip was quick to respond, slamming the wall with both forepaws and sending stalactites crashing down alongside a panicked doe.

Churl seized the opening to charge it, knocking it on its side and pursuing to keep it on the ground.

But Ash fell into a tangled heap of vines and stone and was slow to stand. When she did, she met the eyes of a growling bear.

It raised a paw to slash, but Ash only stood still, frozen in place.

Oh no! Pom gasped and ran as fast as she could.

Pom spun in front of her, swinging her hooves over her head and smacking it hard on the jaw.

The bear flinched back as its paw swiped over Ash’s head, and before it could strike again, Momma bit down on its leg and yanked it out from under it.

It managed to free its paw, but before it could scramble up, Ash wrapped its torso in vines which grew thicker and more numerous as she rooted herself to the ground.

“Stay down!” The vines lifted the bear into the air as they spun, slamming the bear’s back into the shrine.

It pushed off with a frenzied growl but flinched again as Pom struck it with a jump kick, but she failed to land properly and wound up sprawled on the floor.

The bear loomed over her as the dogs rushed in, but a pair of long vine whips finished it off and ended the fight.

Churl rejoined them with a cheer echoed by the victorious howls of the dogs.

But Ash remained still with her gaze fixed forward.

“Hey.” Pom raised a hoof to Ash’s shoulder, startling her out of it as her vines shuddered. “Are ye okay?”

“S-sure. Neva better.” Ash stammered.

“Ye did good there. We've got tae look out for each other.” Pom smiled.

“Yeah, guess we're even.” Her voice and breathing steadied, but she still lacked her usual confidence.

“Rotten luck on that fall.” Churl offered a hoof, which Ash shook after some hesitation. “You still owe me a sparring match. You might even manage to make it interesting.”

“Sure.” Ash shook her head to get her thoughts together. “So, what are we waitin’ for? Let's smash that portal and get outta here.”

“I've been looking forward to this.” Churl chuckled and approached it on a walk that turned into a charge.

He slammed into it with his tusks, but they only chipped it even as he flew into a frenzy, pounding and scraping it.

Eventually, he gouged the ground under it, titling the shrine as its foundation destabilized.

“Wait, do that one again!” Ash said. “Let's just bury it.”

Pom and her dogs stood and watched as the shrine sank further and further from Churl's digging, until it fell in with vines woven tightly around it.

Once the broken earth was packed in to the best of their ability, Pom spoke for the group.

“Let's call it a day.”

“I'm gonna rest easier with that thing in the ground, for sure. Folks in Whitil and Baaah are tougher than they look!”

Pigs cheered as Churl recounted the battle at the victory feast, not mentioning how Ash had frozen up.

Pom suspected he had not noticed.

She sat next to Ash in a place of honor with Elder Granite on her other side.

“They know this isn't over, right?” Ash remarked. “It's not like predators won't show up in the caves.”

“Aye, but they'll be safer, at least.” Pom said. “It's up tae us tae find the key and seal them for good. And you've already done research!”

“Yeah. I should share that with ‘em.” Ash glanced away briefly. “Really, I'd like to get back to the library for more research. Maybe I can help more there than I managed here.”

“Ah, dinnae downplay yourself.” Pom gave her a playful nudge. “You were great back there! If I can manage this, I'm sure ye can!”

“Yeah… I guess you're right.”

“Information is good,” Granite cut into the conversation, “But we appreciate you fighting to keep our home safe. You’re the first whitetail to respond to our call for aid, and the second champion.”

Ash’s brow furrowed. “Aren’t the mines a perfect place for predators to gather?”

“Indeed.” Granite nodded.

“And you already asked Whitil as the leader of this group?” Ash asked.

“Yes,” Granite said. “If the mines fall, it will be a danger to us all, but your captain of the guard did not see it that way.”

"We can’t risk having a huge cave system crawling with predators right next door." Ash scowled. "That’d be the biggest threat to Whitil!”

“Finally, some deer is making sense!” Churl snorted. “We tried to reason with ‘em, but they’re content to have us do all the fighting for them.”

“Maybe they’ll listen to their champion, then,” Ash grumbled. “I need to teach that stuck-up captain another lesson.”

“Give him a whack for me!” Churl snorted out a chuckle.

Granite noticed Pom as she glanced away at the table as the talk went on, and he leaned in to whisper.

“Something bothering you, lass?”

“Um, well.” Pom took a breath to compose her thoughts. “I never thought being champion could mean being a diplomat or a leader or whatnot. Thought one of us would just find the Key, use it, and be done.”

“That’s all you really need to focus on,” Granite said. “Though it wouldn’t hurt for us all to work together more.”

“Och, dinnae count on the sheeple.” Pom shook her head. “Ah dinnae think anyone would be happy tae send dogs off tae protect others, if they’d even accept the dogs, and I cannae think of a single proper sheep fighter.”

“Well, you’ve proved that it’s possible.” Granite smiled. “And you might surprise yourself; I think leadership suits you.”

“Really?” Pom asked.

“You’re already a leader.” Granite motioned to the dogs as they ate their mealworms. “And if things get rough, who do you think the sheeple are going to want as their leader? Some desk warmer, or someone who’s actually been in a fight?”

“I…” Pom stammered. “But I’m just a lamb.”

“There’s more to growing up than age,” Granite replied. “And time passes quickly. If you’re old enough for them to make you champion, you’re old enough for them to listen to you.”

Pom volunteered to help at the infirmary after she checked on the dogs in the guest chamber.

To her surprise she found Ash already there, talking to the head doctor.

“Ah, Pom!” he turned to address her. “Good to see you in one piece. We’ve got everyone patched up though, so you should get some sleep.”

“Och, good tae hear.” Pom nodded. “Good night, then!”

“Good night.” The doctor waved her off as Ash followed her out.

“Were ye volunteering?” Pom asked.

“Not exactly,” Ash said. “Figured they could use more medical supplies, so I dropped off my stuff and told them about my shop. I can just restock in Whitil.”

“That’s really kind of ye.” Pom smiled.

“Yeah, I guess. But it’s an easy way to help.” Ash lowered her voice. “And thank you, for everything.”

“Thank you too, ye were great out there!” Pom said.

“Cut it way closer than I’d have liked.” Ash’s eyes glanced away for a moment. “So I was thinkin’, maybe we can try some of those drills you mentioned together before bed.”

“Of course! I’m sure they won’t mind us using the training room.”

Pom tried to appear confident as they walked, but her mind raced.

How can I teach her anything when I’ve barely had any training?! What would Tianhuo do here?

Pom recalled how they’d practiced the same strike over and over.

Right. She’d start with the basics.

Their pace slowed as they heard squeals up ahead.

“Why are they so loud?” Ash grumbled.

They entered to find Shale rushing towards a vaguely quadruped training dummy of straw and wood that stood slightly taller than her. A crash rang through the room as she slammed it into the wall.

“Oh, hey!” She turned to greet them. “Come to get some practice in?”

“Just a bit.” Pom shared a glance with Ash. “I was thinking we'd try some hoof strikes.”

“Be my guest.” Shale tilted her head to a line of other dummies. “Don't mind me, just going through some drills.”

Shale returned to her practice with booming thuds every time she hit the wall as Pom and Ash approached a dummy.

“We can work on whatever you'd like,” Pom said, “but I thought hoofstrikes would help if anything gets too close. Your vines look amazing, but it'd be a nice plan B tae have.”

“Fair enough,” Ash said. “So, we just hit it?” Ash swung her hoof, lightly grazing the dummy on its front as it glanced off. She grimaced.

“Basically, but ye have tae turn and put your weight into it. Pine actually showed me how.” Pom demonstrated by pivoting into a punch, shaking the dummy slightly.

“But I don't have much weight tae throw around.” Pom glanced away.

“That was fine.” Shale’s comment got both of them to turn their heads. “You’ve got to think like you're going to punch through it, though, or you'll hold yourself back.”

“I guess that makes sense,” Ash said. “My go again?”

“Sure!” Pom stepped aside.

Ash mimicked the pivot with a tap on the dummy to practice, then she turned and punched it with a thud as she lost her footing for a moment.

“Good!” Pom cheered. “Just got tae practice your balance.”

Pom and Ash took turns letting their forehooves rest as they trained with Pom's encouragement and the occasional comment from Shale.

Pom was about to call it a day when Shale spoke again.

“I think you've got the form down well enough. How about some sparring with each other to practice it? That's how I usually train guards.”

Pom and Ash shared a glance.

“Ah dinnae,” Pom started, “I'd be fine with it if it'd help, but she might be hurt.”

“I'm fine!” Ash said a bit too loudly. “I’ll even hold off of the vines to make it fair.”

“Um...” One of Pom's forehooves lifted from nerves.

“Just some light sparring,” Shale said. “How about best of three rounds, first knockdown wins each round.”

“That sounds okay.” Pom nodded. “Just us one on one, no dogs or vines.”

“Got to train your fundamentals.” Shale led them to a mat. “I'll count you down and be the ref.”

Pom and Ash took their positions.

“On three!”

“One.”

“Two.”

“Three!”

Ash caught Pom off-guard lunging with a punch immediately. Pom could only think to scamper back and make distance.

“You lose if you leave the mat!” Shale shouted.

Pom looked down to see that she was already on the edge and back up to see Ash lunging again.

In a panic, she threw her hooves up to cover her head.

Smack! “Ow!”

“Pom wins round one!” Shale called.

Pom opened her eyes to see Ash getting up from laying on her rump.

“Close one, I got lucky.” Pom leaned down to help her up.

“Guess your legs are pretty long. Ready,” Ash grumbled in reply.

“One.”

“Two.”

“Three!”

Pom jumped forward with her legs flailing, trying the move she'd practiced yesterday, but Ash stood on her hindlegs to match her height and punched her in the cheek, knocking her out of the air and on her side.

“Ash takes round two!”

Pom felt her face with a hoof before giving an ‘eep!’ as a vine pulled her to her feet.

“That was incredible!” Pom said. “How did ye do that?”

“Ah, lots of whitetails can.” Ash grinned as she fell back to all fours. “I just do it more at work. I've got a knack for it. I can show ya later.”

“One!”

“Two!”

“Three!”

Pom lunged forward to punch as Ash stood and backed up, causing Pom's punch to miss.

“Ouch!”

Ash stomped down with her hooves on Pom's back, but was not able to put much momentum into the strike as Pom braced herself.

Crouching from the strike but not down, Pom acted instinctively again and ran forward as fast as possible, inadvertently tripping Ash as she pushed Ash's hindlegs out from under her.

“And the winner is Pom!”

“I… I won?!” Pom turned to see Ash sprawled out on her barrel. “That was just lucky, we can do another.”

“It wasn't all luck,” Shale corrected, “and every fight has some luck. Just another thing to adapt to. But you both had some good moves there to refine.”

“Thanks,” Pom said as she helped Ash up. “But I'd have definitely lost against her vines.”

“That wasn't the point of this,” Ash replied, and Pom thought she saw her wipe her eyes. “You won it, I messed up. Good night.”

“Ash?” Pom sprinted after her as she cantered away. “Are ye okay? We can do something else if ye want, ye can use the vines!”

“I'm fine.” Ash tried to compose her voice. “Just need to sleep. Night.”

Pom took a step to follow but was stopped by Shale’s hoof and whisper.

“Best let her be, she needs time.”

“Ah dinnae ken,” Pom said. “What's wrong?”

“Well…” Shale glanced away before locking eyes with Pom. “No offense, but she just lost to a lamb who was not the greatest fighter.”

“Oh.”

“Sorry, should have said that better.” Shale winced.

“No, you're fine.” Pom looked down. “You're right. I just dinnae mean tae hurt her feelings.”

“You did nothing wrong. You wouldn't have won here without training, and she also has training to do.” Shale reassured her. “And trust me, I've seen a lot of bruised egos. She'll get over it.”

“Good tae know.” Pom frowned.

As she often had when she felt upset, Pom went straight to Big Momma when she returned to her guest quarters.

“Aroo?” Momma tilted her head at her approach.

“I feel like I messed up trying to help Ash.”

Momma gave a gentle whine, prompting her to continue.

“I wanted her tae feel better, but I beat her by accident.”

“Huff.” Momma shook her head with a smile.

“But ah dinnae want this tae happen, and now I'm not sure what tae do.”

In response, Momma reached a paw to touch Pom’s chest, then her head.

“Trust my heart and my head?” Pom repeated the old saying.

“Boof.”

Pom let Momma pull her into a hug and nuzzle her.

“You're always a good listener. Thank ye.”

Momma licked her in response, and, soon, they joined the others in sleep.

Author's Note

Ash is NotSoDogNinja's OC, though her version here is special one we developed together to fit. In this story she first appeared in chapter 4, The Front Lines.

Aside just liking her as a character, I thought she could serve an important role here: always a bit nervous about making sure OCs elevate the main cast though.

I retconned last chapter slightly to not have the vision instructions say anything about finding a deer or something in the caves: it was making it too clunky as a plot device.