A hippogriff made quite the face as she peeked under some covers. "Blasted raiders. If they want what we have, they could just work for it like everyone else! We'd take 'em in." Her eyes lifted when Spring approached. "And what do you want?"

Spring took a step back, looking up at her, then to Kit. "I want to help." She rubbed her cloven hooves together fitfully. "Please."

The hippogriff looked from Spring to Kit and snorted lightly. "Well, you didn't go runnin' into their guns." She waved the two in, pointing to a smaller shed that was set up with more beds than it ought to have had. "Well, 'least not in any way that got you hurt. Got any medical know how?"

"No." Spring looked around, eyes wide. "But I do know magic."

Kit stepped closer, looking to the medic as well. "She's helped so far. I have faith, and I'll keep an eye on her."

The medic gave quite the laugh at that. "You do that. Don't push any of them past where they are. They're all good members of the community, hard workers. We don't want to hurt them any more than they've been hurt." She shook a talon. "But if you can help even a little bit, go ahead." She turned and walked out of the small shed, leaving them to the patients.

Kit followed after Spring as she dashed towards one. "Not to be negative, but what do you have in mind?"

She reached for the first victim's hand and gave it a squeeze. "I'm going to help you feel better." Her horn glowed softly as she focused on the patient. "It won't last all day, but it should help."

The patient did relax, sinking into a less fitful sleep under her smiling watch. She hurried on from patient to patient, not treating them, but banishing the pain and replacing it with simple sleep.

Kit watched it all with clear amazement on his face. "Clever! I thought Equestrians didn't usually have healing magic, but you figured out a nice way around that. Not healing, but taking the pain away and giving them rest. That's almost as good." He smiled as they left the last patient behind. "I'm proud of you."

She beamed up at him, eyes shining. "It's just something that felt right to do. They were hurt bad." She clapped her hooves. "And I found a sleep spell before I came here. It was, um, a bit of an accident." She laughed at the memory, ears bouncing along with the rest of her. "Put myself to sleep for the rest of the day, woke up refreshed and confused."

He shook his head quickly, ears flipping. "It was lucky you didn't run into something worse than me. But you've put them to rest. That's nice. I think we should get some food in ourselves, then you can check on them again." He brushed gently against her side. "You did good today, even if I'd rather you weren't so risky."

She nodded, walking alongside him with a smile. "I'll be better in the future." She nuzzled his arm, giggling. "It's nice to have someone looking out for me."

That got a smile out of him, but an ear twitched all the same as a voice whispered to him, "Kit. I thought they'd be well removed from your point in time/space, but they're coming."

Kit's ears danced as he took in the words. "Who?"

"You!" Spring bumped into him with an airy laugh. "I saw your ears. Are you talking to me?" She grinned up at him. "Or is this a secret conversation I'm not supposed to know about?"

"It's." Kit shook his head hard. "You are very perceptive sometimes." He grabbed her snout suddenly. "Go get something to eat. I bet they'll give you extra for your work today. I'll meet up with you later, okay?" He released her and ducked around her before she could argue. "I'm going to check on a couple of things! Trust me!"

Spring called after him, "Where are you going?" Her ears flicked as she looked around, trying to figure it all out. With a sullen huff, she made her way towards one of the food carts to see if he was right on that part or not.

Kit raced around a corner out of sight in a small alley. "Who?" He put a pawhand by his ear. "Who's coming?"

"I should have seen this coming. He's been there to catch falling Equestrians before. But he isn't a champion, wasn't a promise." Some papers were rustled around. "Trust in your mom, Kit. I'm looking up what I can. Name's Error, big pony. Has a companion, Bullette Belle. She's, hm." More papers rustled. "Nice, robot, alarmingly lethal. Both are dangerous, but only if you get on their bad side."

"And how, exactly, do we avoid getting on their bad side?" He looked over his shoulder, then back at the alleyway wall.

"By not doing bad things to people around them," came the response as a sheet of paper fluttered down from above, landing beside him.

Kit snorted gently. "Well, neither Spring, nor I, like doing bad things to people, unless those people are being even worse to other people. Um, speaking of that, she's surprisingly able in battle if she feels motivated enough. You didn't mention how, hm, capable kirin can be."

"Because it won't help you." A chair squeaking. "A kirin has to be beyond mad for that, and you can't rely on that. Enjoy that you got to see it."

"I didn't! Not directly." Kit rubbed behind his head. "But I was close enough, heard it, and saw the aftermath." His ears lowered. "I really need to talk to her about that at some point. But we have more immediate concerns, don't we?"

"Yes. They'll arrive shortly in your immediate vicinity." There was a tapping sound. "Sorry your first mission has to have complications. Speaking of that, how are you doing keeping her safe? She trust you?"

Kit nodded, then sighed. "Yes." He sat heavily. "We're getting along fine. We get along well. She's a nice creature, even when she's being curious at the worst moments." Kit smiled thinking of her. "If I wasn't on assignment, I'd make her a friend."

"Watch out." Kit's mom's voice got louder, leaning in. "You will have to leave. Don't get too attached. She has to go home, and so do you. You can't take each other home."

He flattened his ears. "I know. But she's nice to be with, and we're making progress. No clear days yet, but that's okay."

"I love you, Kit." A kissing sound, not that she could physically land it so far away. "Be good. I'll let you focus on what's around you."

Kit stood up, brushing off his rump. "Okay." He turned to leave the alleyway, ears flicking when someone spoke to him.

"Tell her I said thanks." An older griffon nodded at Kit as he emerged. "Too old to fight proper, but ah heard what she did. Young people who can deserve a thanks if nothing else. Where is she?"

"Oh." Kit pointed in the direction of the medical building. "She's over there, helping ease some of the pain and giving them sleep. She really does like helping others, even when I'm trying to tell her not to be so risky."

The older griffon laughed, swatting the ground behind himself with his tail. "She can't stop doing good for people? Makes me happy and sad at the same time."

Kit drew to a stop, confused. "Why sad?"

"She'll fit right in here," came the answer. "And I'd hate for her and you to stay where we'd have to keep risking her." He looked down at Kit. "I think I see why she'd trust you, fox pony." He reached down to give Kit a pat. "Besides, seen it before. You two won't stay for long enough."

"Seen it?" Kit looked up at him as he was pat.

The older griffon nodded firmly. "Seen creatures like the two of you. Get old enough, you start to see patterns." He rubbed at his chest with a little hum of thought. "Looks too good, it's because they're too big, can't fit in this little planter of a village. You'll move on. Good for us. Good for you, too." He chuckled as he walked away, tail swaying behind him. "But that doesn't mean we aren't thankful."

"I like this place." Kit folded his arms.

"We'll be your home for as long as you feel it. You'll move on when you don't. That's life." The griffon waved a hand. "Ah'm off, won't bother you none more."

He walked off, leaving Kit on his lonesome. "Hm." He looked up as a shadow fell over him, and he had to gape for a second. A pony was looming overhead, blue with black spots on his flanks. "Excuse me."

The large pony looked down at Kit and smiled brightly. "Oh, hello. Not often I see something as rare as I am." He brought down a massive hoof on kit's head in a light patting. "Hm, fox and pony? Don't see that often. Cute. Where're your parents?"

Kit blinked up at him. "You must be Error."

The large pony paused, looking startled. "That's not my name. Interesting one though. Error. A callsign?" His smile grew brighter. "I'm not sure I approve. If anyone's supposed to be an error, it's my friend." He pointed towards the food carts, where a smaller pony was getting herself a plate. "She doesn't mean nothing, but we big ponies, we protect." With a firm nod, he set off to keep an eye on that mare he'd apparently decided to watch over.

Kit watched him go, then looked around. "Now I'm looking everywhere for them." He forced a calming breath. "Calm down. Besides, big pony and robot. I only saw one of those. Relax."

He hurried towards Spring, tail lashing. He saw her balancing a heavy plate as she sat down. "Oh, did they give you more food?"

Spring nodded, her mouth already full. "They said it's for helping out. And I guess it is for you, too. You're getting extra for being there with me." Her cheeks bulged out as she chewed joyfully for a moment. Working on that, she pushed the plate over where Kit could reach it.

Kit picked up some food to nibble on himself. "We should probably rest again soon. We'll want to keep up with this helping if we're going to earn our place in town."

Spring nodded, looking around at the people going about their business. With a big swallow, she let out a breath. "Phew! Yeah, today took a lot out of me, but I helped." She clapped her hooves with a bright smile. "So I'm pretty happy. I knew kirin magic would be worth learning. It's not the same as unicorn magic."

Kit blinked, perking his ears forward. "What's different about it?"

"It's like this." She gestured with her hoof. "I'm still figuring it out, but unicorn magic calls on stuff and changes stuff. Kirin magic is more about being. So making somecreature relaxed and take a little good nap? Easier for a kirin. Harder for a unicorn. Make sense? I'm only figuring this stuff out myself, so I could be wrong." She shrugged and resumed eating.

"I think that makes sense to me." Kit smiled. "So what's something you want to try to do once we get home?"

Spring threw a hoof up. "I want to become the first kirin wizard, so I can teach other kirins how to do kirin magic. Then we'll all be wizards, and we'll make everything better." She giggled softly. "Maybe they'll even make me the queen of Kirin."

Kit snorted at that. "The queen of Kirin. I'm not sure what that would entail, Spring, but I imagine you'd do your best if you were given that chance."

She nodded, eating another bite. "I'd be the best." Her horn flickered, and she waved a hoof. "Oh, I gotta check on them again." She swallowed, then set the food back down. "They should sleep today away, poor things." She waved at Kit before she dashed off towards the medical tents with clear purpose. "See you soon!"

Kit watched her go, finishing up his own meal as he rose to join her. "Oh. Hello!" His ears shot straight up as a much smaller robot pony came alongside him.

Author's Note

A new costar is arriving on the scene. In fact, why not two? It's a two-for-one sale!

A thank you to my Supporter Patrons: Zap Transfer and Dapple!👋🏽

Join the special community of folks who like my stories and/or get your own here at atreon!

Don't want to do an ongoing thing? You could

Join my discord to chat!