FoE RPG G0 - #028 Rest by the River

[19:16]<LuckyLeaf>	<SpiritOfFate>   Group 0: *Epitaph* - Session #28 starts now
[19:17]<SpiritOfFate>	===================================================
[19:21]<SpiritOfFate>	The cloud rises again to the skies, leaving the clearing. As you rise, it gets harder to see the zebras' attack, but the ember dotted spots grow.
[19:34]?	Hawkeye sits back on the cloud, pulling out her sniper rifle to keep an eye on the battle and possibly assist of one of the helpful Zebras look to be in particular trouble against the plant monsters.
[19:35]?	Sotho pants from the exhaustion of the spirit he had just met, looking down on the zebras. "P-perhaps.." Hep ants. "We should help them." He says
[19:37]?	Ignis lays back and watches the action from above the cloud with mild disinterest...zebras, tons of them...seemed like the weren't giving the ents much ground, and in either case, they didn't knew those would be friend or foe...nor the ents, for that matter... "Looks like they know what they are doing..."
[19:38]?	Wintergreen looks to each on the cloud with concern. "Is anyone hurt?"
[19:39]<SpiritOfFate>	Hacked bark ghouls burn slowly on the grass. The zebras move swiftly to handle the growing number of creatures.
[19:40]<Firefly>	Firefly's wings buzz as she pushes the cloud. "I'm fine...just a bit tired..." A series of bruises can be seen developing on the filly's side.
[19:41]?	Sotho looks down and shakes his head. "Tired as well. But..." He looks. "Even if those are the tribe... the spirit seems to be capturing them, not making deals."
[19:41]?	Ignis grunts casually as he notices...indeed... "They aren't taking much losses...I'd say they are used to that..."
[19:42]<Hawkeye>	"They'd have to be, if what that mare outside town said is true," Hawkeye says, watching the fight with interest. "They just keep coming, and if them zebras live anywhere around here, they'd have to be fightin' these critters on a daily basis."
[19:42]<Ignis>	"Used to fending the spirit...the situation must have been like this for awhile..."
[19:44]?	Ignis shrugs, gazing off to the hatmare as he crosses his arms. "Yup...but if that's so, why not join forces with the town? Would definately make things easier for both sides..."
[19:44]<Sotho>	"I Wonder if they are still making deals with spirits or have been shyed away. I understand if they were... but certain spirits could help aid them." He comments mostly to himself. "They have a good ammount of forest between them and the town Ignis, perhaps the forest isn't allowing them to reach communications with the town?"
[19:45]?	Royal_Lace slows her breathing as she attempts to calm herself down after the combat, she had never done anything like that before and she didnt much care for it. "Alright... so how are they doing? Are the zebras that saved us winning?"
[19:46]<Hawkeye>	"Ah think so," Hawkeye says, watching the fight through her scope. "They're quick on the uptake, but them ghouls just keep comin' out of the woodwork. Literally." She lifts her head. "If y'all want to help, Ah'm not against it. They did us a good turn helping us get out of harm's way. Ah don't see any reason not to repay th'favor now, an' ask questions about motivation later."
[19:47]?	Ignis tilts his head here and there, thinking... "Maybe...with that force, they could cut through the enemy lines, but they seem more intent on mopping them...."
[19:48]?	Sotho nods a bit, looking closely around the zebras, wondering if any spirit force is with them.
[19:48]?	Royal_Lace takes one more deep breath as she steels herself, this really was a messy buisness. "I am *Allways* ready to help ponies... or zebras in this case, or any other creature that needs help for that matter"
[19:49]?	Hawkeye chuckles. "Gee, Lace, Ah hadn't noticed that tendency of yours," she says. "Ah can help from here, but the rest of y'all's weapons aren't long enough range..."
[19:50]?	Royal_Lace  looks over the edge of the cloud, pondering. "Could we maybe drop something down on top of those creatures?"
[19:50]<SpiritOfFate>	A green haze rises in the clearing. One of the zebra fencers is swallowed by the land before it grows too thick tosee.
[19:50]?	Ignis sighs, tapping his claw at the fluffy edge of the cloud. "And even if we did, they'd just keep on swarming...we need to cut the source, otherwise we'll just be going around the point...over and over..."
[19:51]?	Sotho shivers as he sights that. "The spirit is too strong." He says, pulling back his binoculars. "I agree Ignis. Which means our next best hope is the tree, correct?"
[19:52]?	Firefly keeps pushing the cloud to where she is directed.
[19:52]?	Hawkeye pushes her hat back. "Holy stacks of golden flapjacks," she says, looking back down at the haze through her scope. "That ain't any kind of natural..."
[19:52]?	Ignis gives a nod. "Yup, we could try that...or find a way to diminish the spirit's influence..."
[19:52]<Ignis>	"I'd say using an antagonic spirit could work on this..."
[19:54]<Sotho>	"The problem is the spirit has way too many souls." He says to Ignis. "I heard all of them, crying for help." He shivers
[19:54]?	Royal_Lace eyes go wide as she sees zebras disapearing, "What is going on down there?!?!"
[19:55]<Ignis>	"Just like that tentacle fucker..." The dragon strokes his chin, recalling the event. "There should be a way to prevent spirits from feeding..."
[19:55]?	Hawkeye pats Sotho on the shoulder. "So we find out where that big mean spirit thing is keepin' all them poor folks, an' let 'em loose," she says. "And until we can find out where that is, our best bet is to look for info at that big ol' tree, right?"
[19:56]<Sotho>	"The spirit is defending itself." He says. "We have two, perhaps three spirits with us." He says to Ignis. "Ties, Liberty, and perhaps Rage if I make an offering." He explains. He nods to Hawkeye. "Of course!" He thinks again. "The spirits we have aren't the best for Combat I would think, Ties perhaps can help, but not deal much damage. Rage is..." He shivers. "Strong, but im not sure about asking him for help."
[19:58]?	Ignis nodsnods. "I should make an offering to Revolt whenever I can get ahold of him..." He comments, his mind wavering off to think...
[19:58]?	Sotho looks to Hawkeye again and shakes his head after hearing what she meant. "The problem is Hawkeye, the spirit is holding their souls. They may be long dead. I am not the most spiritually inclined member of my tribe so I'm not sureo n how to take away offerings."
[19:59]?	Royal_Lace bites her lips as she tries to figure out what to do
[20:00]?	Ignis eyes shine for a moment. "If another spirit came in and stole that spirit's souls....either to feed on them or free them...yup, spirits can affect souls"
[20:00]?	Hawkeye shakes her head. "Ah cain't help you there, Sotho. Just 'cuz Ah can see 'em don't mean Ah know how they work, anymore than you lookin' at a grenade would tell y'all how the detonator works." She pulls out a grenade from her bag, and looks at it thoughtfully. "If this were a 'cindiary grenade, Ah could try and burn away some fog, but Ah don't want to set them zebra on fire. Enemy of our...
[20:00]?	Hawkeye ...enemy, and all."
[20:00]<Sotho>	"The problem is finding a spirit equally as strong or stronger to defeat this one." He says to Ignis.
[20:00]?	Royal_Lace stands and starts to trot in place, "Ok, where are we going, the tree? we need to end this quickly"
[20:01]<Ignis>	"We don't need the spirit to defeat it...just weaken that one..." He answers
[20:02]<Sotho>	"The tree is our best shot I'm afraid." He says, looking around his friends. "I can make a talisman, but we have to decide for which spirit." He looks to his dragon friend. "Ignis, if you want to make an offering to Revolt, then I can summon him, but what would you offer?"
[20:02]?	Hawkeye makes a hurking noise and huddles closer to the fluffly surface. "Lace...." she mutters. "Stop bouncin' the cloud, please... Let's just get over there and see what we can learn, ai'ight?"
[20:02]<Firefly>	The buzzing intensifies as Firefly pushes the cloud toward the large tree.
[20:03]?	Ignis shakes his head in negative. "No, at least...not right now. I need to have a proper offering first..."
[20:03]?	Royal_Lace move quickly to the back of the cloud and looks out at firefly, seeing how tired she look. "Firefly dear are you ok? your hurt and you dont need to strain yourself to hard...."
[20:04]?	Firefly smiles up at Royal_Lace. "Its not so bad. Trees just hit kinda hard. But I want overtime!" The filly thinks about this prospect for a second. "Two sparkle colas!"
[20:06]?	Sotho nods. "Alright. Meanwhile I think Ties could help us here." He holds his hoof out. "Could I ask for everypony to give me a strand of their mane? A scale from you Ignis." He smiles
[20:07]?	Royal_Lace nods, "Anything you want little one", turning she looks at Sotho and uses her magic to pluck a starnd of her mane, looking back to firefly she flares her magic. "Here Firefly, let me get a strand for mr. Sotho"
[20:08]?	Firefly nods as she continues to push the cloud.
[20:08]<Hawkeye>	"All right, well, in for a bit, in for a gold mine," Hawkeye says, plucking a strand of her red mane, and offering it to Sotho in her teeth.
[20:09]<SpiritOfFate>	The cloud splits under their hooves, Sotho, Royal_Lace and Knick_Knack starting to drift away with it.
[20:10]?	Royal_Lace nods and plucks one of Fireflys hairs before floating it and her own strand over to Sotho
[20:10]?	Royal_Lace blinks, turning to look at the group moving away from there chunk of cloud.
[20:10]?	Sotho takes the strands so far. He curses a bit as they start to float away, managing to pluck one of wintergreen's hairs before they start to split.
[20:12]?	Hawkeye looks at the split in alarm. "Uh... is th'cloud supposed to be gettin' smaller?" she says, quickly digging out her rope. "Hey! Sotho! Catch!" She twirls the end of the rope around into a lasso, then tosses it at the zebra.
[20:12]?	Firefly blinks as the cloud splits apart. "Hey! I didn't say you could do that!" The little filly zooms around, trying to get the cloud to reconnect.
[20:13]?	Sotho catches the rope.
[20:17]<SpiritOfFate>	Sotho manages to keep his balance as the cloud splits, Hawkeye tumbles towards the open sky. "Hawk!" Buck moves fast and manages to grab her hoof, she already dangling from the edge. "Dragon, help!"
[20:18]<Hawkeye>	"aaaaAAAAAAA!!!" Hawkeye screams as she tumbles off the cloud, stopped short only by Buck's quick action. "Holy hell! HELP!" she shouts, clenching her eye shut and clinging to Buck hard enough to cut off circulation to his leg.
[20:19]?	Royal_Lace eyes go wide as she calls out, "PONY OVERBOARD!"
[20:19]?	Ignis instantly zones in and hop over to help.
[20:20]?	Firefly zooms over, giving the mare a firm push to get her up with the others.
[20:21]?	Sotho holds the rope and waits for Hawkeye to be pulled back up. "Try to stay calm Hawkeye!"
[20:22]<SpiritOfFate>	Hawkeye is brought back to firm cloud with their help
[20:23]?	Hawkeye is having a hard time not hyperventilating as she's pushed back up onto the relatively safer cloud. She does NOT let go of Buck, however, and doesn't open her eye, either. "Ground, please," she gasps. "Get to ground, please. NOW, please."
[20:24]?	Royal_Lace calls out to the other cloud, "Is everything alright?!?"
[20:24]<SpiritOfFate>	Buck holds Hawkeye close. "You are fine now." He looks to the filly. "You heard the mare. Where do we land?"
[20:25]?	Firefly looks for a spot to land the cloud...preferably where the ground won't eat ponies.
[20:25]?	Ignis just eyes the scene with silence, giving a small nod.
[20:25]?	Sotho calls from the cloud as he begins to pull the rope. "Umm, hey, We're still kinda over here." He calls.
[20:28]<SpiritOfFate>	The closest open spots are a river and the zebra village with a short detour. The tree is still somewhat distant.
[20:30]<SpiritOfFate>	The two pieces of cloud are shortly brought together again, but the cloud still seems a bit
[20:30]<SpiritOfFate>	flaky
[20:31]?	Sotho sighs happily. "Alright Ignis, Buck. Can I have a Scale and a piece o hair?" He asks, plucking from his own mane.
[20:31]?	Royal_Lace looks to tree in the distance, "Im not sure I could get there in one jump, but with a few stops it wouldnt be to hard. I could go check it out, or teleport to check out any other place we could land. I dont really like the idea of us just landing without one of us checking it out this time"
[20:31]?	Hawkeye just breathes as she holds onto the rope. Sotho's pulling will get them back together, at least enough to keep them relatively adjacent. She thankfully can't see the cloud being iffy, as that would not help AT ALL.
[20:32]?	Ignis cranes his head around and takes a single scale from his back, clawing it over to Sotho. "Here ya go."
[20:34]?	Sotho looks to Royal_Lace. "I would say that is a terrible idea." He says to her. "Considering this place is obviously dangerous and you would be alone."
[20:34]?	Firefly starts to push the clouds toward the river. Oooh, swim time!
[20:34]?	Royal_Lace looks to sotho, "And who ells here besides poor tired Firefly is better equiped to get out of trouble?"
[20:34]<SpiritOfFate>	Buck pulls a strand of his mane. "And how does this help?" He asks, handing it over, still patting Hawkeye's back
[20:34]<Sotho>	"Be yourself? I would still say no. If anything we need more ponies. Or Zebra."
[20:34]?	Ignis rolls his eyes.
[20:35]?	Hawkeye manages a small wheezy chuckle. "M-maybe spirits are afraid of b-baldness," she says. "Pull 'em all out an scare 'em off."
[20:35]?	Sotho takes it and sighs. "It helps because I'm making a talisman for our spirit. Ties." He says and smiles. "By making one out of our group it can symbolize the Ties we have with each other."
[20:37]?	Royal_Lace pulls out her binoculars and has a look around where they are heading, "Im just saying some scouting would be appreciated, unless you want the groud to eat all of us when we land"
[20:38]?	Firefly keeps pushing the cloud toward the river.
[20:39]<SpiritOfFate>	Buck chuckles
[20:40]<Sotho>	"Yes scouting ahead is good, but perhaps we should try and find the village of the zebra who know how to properly handle this thing, or at least stave it off."
[20:40]<SpiritOfFate>	Royal_Lace sees an odd shape moving under water as they approach
[20:41]?	Royal_Lace blinks as she sees a shadow beneath the water. "Ummm... did anypony ells see anything in the water?"
[20:42]<Hawkeye>	"Nope. Don't care," Hawkeye says. "Rather fight on the ground than in the air. Down, please."
[20:43]?	Sotho is busy making the talisman. "I wasn't looking, but as long as we don't go in the water it could be fine?"
[20:45]?	Firefly looks up. "You want me to go check underwater? I can do that!"
[20:47]?	Royal_Lace sighs as she puts her binoculars away. "You dont have to worry about it firefly, your busy getting us closer. And dont worry Hawkeye, well be down on the ground soon after I check this out".
[20:47]?	Sotho face hooves to Firefly's Comment. "No. That's waaaaay too dangerous!"
[20:47]?	Hawkeye clamps her hat down over her eye. "Soon cain't be soon enough," she whimpers.
[20:47]?	Firefly grumbles as she pushes the cloud to the river bank closest to the village. "...never get to go swimming..."
[20:47]?	Royal_Lace Disapears in a flash of magic, reapearing moments later at the river.
[20:48]?	Ignis nods, gazing off to the river as well... "We can't do much up here, and sooner or later we'll need to scout it anyways..."
[20:49]?	Royal_Lace blinks as she arrives, tugging out the pistol from her back as she trots around checking things out.
[20:49]<SpiritOfFate>	Wintergreen naturally tells her it is a bad idea, but tries to cheer up the filly
[20:52]?	Firefly gets the cloud to the ground. Once everyone is off the cloud, she starts trying to turn it into a cannon. Maybe if she gives Wintergreen a cannon, she'll get to go swimming?
[20:53]<SpiritOfFate>	The shadow moves faster underwater, riding the current towards Royal_Lace.
[20:55]?	Royal_Lace rises the pistol up with her magic ready to try and defend herself if need be as she glues her eyes onto the water.
[20:55]<SpiritOfFate>	It emerges!
[20:55]<SpiritOfFate>	It's a log
[20:55]<SpiritOfFate>	It floats away
[20:56]?	Sotho moves off the cloud and thinks for a moment. "Ties! I call upon you, please bestow your power unto this talisman
[21:00]<SpiritOfFate>	Ties appears from the ether, floating close to Sotho. "I accept this duty..." His glow flows slowly towards the talisman.
[21:00]?	Royal_Lace takes a practice shot at the log
[21:00]?	Sotho smiles and nods, taking off his armor as he begins to enchant it.
[21:00]?	Royal_Lace hits. She smiles, at least she could hit a floating log right?
[21:05]?	Royal_Lace starts to undress from her armor, "You said you wanted to go swiming Firefly? Im going to climb in for a bit myself. I could magic myself clean but actually using water is sooooo much more relaxing.
[21:05]<Royal_Lace>	"
[21:05]?	Hawkeye shakily gets down from the cloud, and lies down on the grass, trying to get her breathing under control.
[21:07]?	Ignis simply lies on the grass and rests for a bit as the group does their trivial tasks
[21:07]?	Firefly looks up from beginning to shape the cloud, and her eyes sparkle. She claps her hooves together in happiness. "Yeah, I get to go swim..." The filly looks over at Wintergreen, and does her best to look as adorable as possible. "I get to go swimming, right Miss Green? Miss Lace will make sure I'm safe."
[21:08]?	Royal_Lace humms as she trots happily to the river. Stepping into the water up to  her knees she uses her magic to splash large amounts of it onto herself and lift bubbles of it over her head, letting it splash and flow over herself.
[21:08]?	Sotho smiles as he finshes the enchantment. "Good new everypony. While I wear this Ties hould help try and keep you all safer."
[21:09]?	Sotho looks over and blushes as he sees Royal_Lace, shaking his head a bit to clear it
[21:09]<SpiritOfFate>	Wintergreen allows Firefly, before being called by Buck to see if Hawkeye was fine. She reassures him it was just a scare
[21:10]?	Royal_Lace giggles and splashes in the water, scrubbing herself as best as she can with her magic.
[21:11]<SpiritOfFate>	Knick Knack trots to the shore with a solid blush.
[21:11]?	Ignis sees nothing wrong with the scene, since ponies (and zebras, and dragons) usually do not wear clothing anyways...
[21:12]?	Hawkeye nods at Wintergreen's diagnosis. "Ah'll be fine," she says, "so long as Ah don't have to go up on a cloud EVER again. Or up real high, at all." She finally sits up on the riverbank, watching the others splash around. It's nice and calming. She chuckles at Knack's reaction. "Likin' the view?" she says as the heavy mare passes by.
[21:13]?	Sotho can't look away, sighing as he trots closer he makes sure his saddle bags are safe. "How is the water?" He calls out to Royal_Lace
[21:13]?	Royal_Lace turns and fixes Sotho with a grin, "Its a bit cold but nice, water can be so refreshing!"
[21:14]?	Firefly laughs as the saddlebags, armor and cloak fall from her. She flies up in a gorgeous arc before becoming a cannonball, detonating near Royal_Lace. "CANNONBALL!"
[21:14]?	Sotho lets off a small blush and chuckles. "I'm sure it can be." He looks around. "I wonder if the river here has a seperate spirit or is the same one as the forest.."
[21:16]?	Knick_Knack fidgets. "Yeah, uh, kinda?" She shrinks a bit. "It's okay, right?"
[21:16]?	Royal_Lace eeps and winces as she is engulfed in a wave of water from firefly. Giggling she lifts an orb of water in her magic and tosses it at the little filly, "Watch where your splashing!"
[21:18]?	Firefly takes the ball of water straight to the face before vanishing under the water.
[21:18]?	Sotho is a bit splashed from the water as well, chuckling the zebra looks to the water and shrugs, jumping in with a smile. "I think a bit of relaxation could do well after that instance."
[21:19]?	Hawkeye chuckles. "Ain't none of my business, sugarcube. A mare's heart is her own t'give to whoever she wants," she says to Knick Knack. "Just makes sure Lace knows, otherwise y'all will just be pining with no payoff." She pats the mare's shoulder. "Everypony deserves a chance to be happy. You moreso than most, after what y'all have been through. Go on, now." Hawkeye gestures at Royal_Lace. "Git."
[21:20]?	Royal_Lace smiles to Sotho, "Yes, just watch out for....". Pausing she looks around, "Oh dear... I think we have a filly sneaking about underhoof"
[21:22]?	Sotho chuckles as he looks around. "Perhaps we do~"
[21:22]?	Royal_Lace grins, "And I think I know right where she is". Focusing her magic as best as she can she floats out as large ammount of the water into the air, the little filly still inside of it!
[21:22]?	Royal_Lace laughs, "Gotcha!"
[21:23]?	Firefly is the dreaded fillyshark, swimming upon her prey! Unfortunately, the fillyshark is spotted under the water, and her natural habitat is lifted up into the air! Oh no!
[21:25]?	Ignis goes off to stay by Wintergreen's side and cuddle with her as she keeps overseeing the filly
[21:25]?	Sotho chuckles happily at Firefly in the water, laughing a bit as he moves and smirks, splashing Royal_Lace. "Too bad you didn't think she'd have an Ally!"
[21:26]<SpiritOfFate>	Knick Knack nods with a mumble and trots closer, dipping a hoof into the water. She shivers from the cold
[21:26]?	Royal_Lace breaks her concentration, dropping Firefly as she is attacked from the rear! "Trator!". Grinning she splashes water at Sotho.
[21:27]?	Hawkeye looks around stealthily... and then shoves Knick Knack unto the river. "No filly steps," she chides. "Lace'll keep you warm~"
[21:28]<Firefly>	The fillyshark drops into the water, using the distraction to vanish once more under the water!
[21:30]?	Sotho covers his face as he smiles, splashing more water. "It's a strategic descision!" He siles and dives underwater himself, knowing how to swim very well thanks to many underwater hunting
[21:30]<Firefly>	The fillyshark takes her chance, using her allies distraction to drag her prey underwater!
[21:30]?	Royal_Lace splashes, grinning and romping about, wet mane bouncing (possibly in slow motion), but she soon realizes both her opponents are no where to be seen!
[21:31]<SpiritOfFate>	"Ah!" Knick Knack falls into the water with a big splash, emerging soaked and shaking. She turns to Royal_Lace and takes slows steps through the water.
[21:33]?	Royal_Lace hearing the gasp of Nick Nack she turns to see the now wet mare, Smiling she takes a few steps in that direction. "Glad you decided to join us, hope its not to cold for you"
[21:33]?	Hawkeye smirks. Good deed for the day? Done. She sits back and watches all her friends enjoy themselves, while keeping a weather eye on the surrounding forest. Just in case.
[21:33]<SpiritOfFate>	Buck trots into the water and submerges himself, then stands on his hooves again and looks around, puzzled
[21:34]?	Firefly grabs on to the hind legs of Royal_Lace, giving her enough time to shout for help, before the fillyshark yanks her under.
[21:35]?	Royal_Lace eeps loudly and calls out to Nick Nack, "Help!"
[21:35]?	Royal_Lace is then tugged under
[21:36]<Hawkeye>	Ah, finally some decent eye-candy. Hawkeye finds herself a little distracted from her task of watching the woods.
[21:37]?	Hawkeye sits up and calls out to Buck. "Hey, y'all got a bit of somethin' on your right side, there," she says. "Bit of ghoul blood or somethin.'"
[21:37]?	Sotho stands by and chuckles wanting to see what Knick Knack does.
[21:38]<SpiritOfFate>	Knick Knack blinks confused. "L-lace?!" She wades through the current after her, reaching to pull the mare
[21:39]?	Royal_Lace reaches hoove up from the water, waving them about for help as she is attacked by the filly shark
[21:39]?	Hawkeye chuckles. "Better go rescue the damsel in distress, Knack!" she shouts.
[21:40]?	Firefly lets Royal_Lace forward a bit so she can splash her hooves before pulling her back under. This is the bestest game!
[21:41]<SpiritOfFate>	Buck looks around and smles. "About time I got rid of this grime. At least we don't have to wait for the rain here." He washes himself in the water, rubbing the dirt and sap away.
[21:41]<Hawkeye>	"Turn around a bit," Hawkeye says, holding a hoof over her smrik. "Ah think y'all missed a spot on th'other side."
[21:43]?	Sotho sits by the side of the bank, watching with a bit of happiness over all this
[21:44]<SpiritOfFate>	Knick Knack tries to pull Royal Lace back again. "Ah, no!"
[21:46]?	Royal_Lace holds on and helps Knick Knack pull
[21:47]?	Firefly let's Royal_Lace splash a bit more before pulling. Huh...doesn't Knick Knack know how to play this game?
[21:48]<SpiritOfFate>	 Buck rubs his hooves along his athletic body, trying to wash away a dirty spot he can't quite see. "Did I get it?" He asks back to Hawkeye
[21:49]<Hawkeye>	"Cain't tell," Hawkeye says, leaning forward on her hooves. "Turn around a sec~"
[21:51]?	Sotho moves and helps Royal_Lace and Knick Knack with the removal of the fillyshark
[21:52]<SpiritOfFate>	Buck raises an eyebrow and turns his flank around to her.
[21:52]?	Royal_Lace gasps for air as she pulls her head above water, choaking a bit on river water but still smiling. "Firefly your to strong!"
[21:54]?	Hawkeye snickers, and sighs happily. "Eeyup. Right there by your tail," she says.
[21:55]<SpiritOfFate>	Knick Knack keeps pulling, unsettled by this game. "Ah, are you okay?"
[21:56]?	Royal_Lace coghs up a bit of water but nods, "Yes, she just dosent know her own strength is all"
[21:56]<Firefly>	There is no Firefly...there is only the dreaded fillyshark! At least, until Firefly hears Royal_Lace struggling to breathe. Oops! Silly filly. Firefly swims to the side, and gives Royal_Lace a helpful push toward the rescuer. This would be enough to free the mare, but with Sotho's strength, it ends up sending Royal_Lace the other way, straight for both rescuers...
[21:58]?	Royal_Lace flies out of the water, "EEEP!". One splash later and she is floating with Sotho and NickNack, there hooves all entangled in a big sexy pony pile.
[21:58]?	Sotho loses his balance and is now in the sexy wet pony pile, on one end
[21:58]?	Royal_Lace is on the other
[21:58]<SpiritOfFate>	Buck 's eyes light up and he smirks, stroking his flank slower. "Like this?"
[21:59]?	Firefly pops her head out of the water. "Are you alright? I didn't mean to be so rough..." The wet filly looks at the pony-pile...wait a minute, that's three ponies, one to many! "Hey! No fair, you had two rescuers!"
[21:59]<SpiritOfFate>	Knick Knack blinks, looking from Sotho to Royal Lace. She doesn't feel cold anymore.
[22:00]?	Hawkeye snorts, and grins. "Eeeyup. That'll do~" she says, swishing her tail behind her.
[22:01]?	Royal_Lace chuckles, "Firefly your to good at this game, I needed all the help I could get". Turning to Sotho and Nick Nack she smiles, "Thanks for that by the way". Leaning forward she gives both of them a appreciative kiss on the cheak, one for Sotho and one for Knack.
[22:02]?	Sotho sighs happily and chuckles. "No problem." He says, hoping the cold water covers his blush. "Well Firefly, you forgot the chance of a double cross!"
[22:04]?	Firefly gasps, her eyes wide. "But...I thought we were friends!"
[22:05]?	Sotho smiles. "Maybe, or maybe not." He winks and smiles. "I'm just joking Firefly." Hep ets her. "But sometimes you need to learn when to hold back."
[22:07]?	Firefly looks away from Sotho. "Poppa said I shouldn't hold back. That there would be those who'd want to hurt me and my friends, and if I held back I wouldn't be able to save anyone."
[22:10]?	Sotho shakes his head. "Your father wasn't wrong, but he isn't right either." He looks to Royal Lace. "You needed to hold back sometimes, sometimes ponies are just scared and fight to be not scared." He explains. "I know how to hold back, but I still keep bad ponies away right?" He asks. "I still save ponies right?"
[22:11]?	Firefly nods slowly. "Yeah..."
[22:13]?	Sotho nods. "If you want, I can teach how to hold back, and when to do it so you can still save ponies." He smiles. "Sometimes those who you're saving ponies from, might need saving themselves."
[22:13]?	Hawkeye gets up and stretches. "Welp. Enough of the peep show," she says with a smirk. "We'd better get going before nightfall. Hey, gang!" she shouts at the other ponies. "We ready to head 'em up and move 'em out?"
[22:17]?	Firefly thinks for a moment before nodding. "Ok. If it helps save ponies."
[22:17]<SpiritOfFate>	Knick Knack looks at Royal Lace, red faced. She gives a her an indecisive peck that meets the corner of her lips, then takes a step back
[22:19]?	Royal_Lace blushes a bit and stand in the water.
[22:19]?	Sotho nods. "Well we have a bit. We can do it in a bit, but right now." He pets Firefly and smiles. "Just relax. I can make a meal for us."
[22:20]?	Firefly nods. "Ok. I'mma gonna make a cannon!" Firefly swims to shore and starts working on making a cloud cannon.
[22:22]<Sotho>	"Hey Hawkeye, Wait up! I'm gonna cook first, we need some food before we go!"
[22:22]?	Royal_Lace trots out of the water and drys herself off instantly with a clean spell, "Im going to get some rest and read my book"
[22:22]?	Sotho moves out of the water, shaking himself off as he looks for some spare firewood.
[22:23]?	Hawkeye pushes her hat back. "Pshh. Well, fine. Ah ain't going to say no to more of your cooking, Sotho," the charcoal mare says. "We just need t'make sure we get going before it gets dark. If the woods are dangerous now, they'll be twice as much so after dark."
[22:23]?	Sotho nods as he moves towards Hawkeye. "I agree, but for now, we all need a rest, even just a small one. Do you mind helping me cook?"
[22:24]<SpiritOfFate>	Buck leaves the water and shakes himself, cantering after Hawkeye
[22:25]?	Hawkeye snorts. "Hun, Ah couldn't cook muh way out of a paper sack," she says. "Most Ah could do would be help stir. Ah wouldn't mind doin' that, Ah guess." She nuzzles Buck and smirks. "You're all wet, sugarcube~"
[22:26]?	Sotho chuckles a bit. "Cooking is easy." He smiles. "Almost as easy as Baking."
[22:30]<SpiritOfFate>	Buck nuzzles her back. "Sure you don't want to take a dip  before going?"
[22:31]?	Firefly works on reshaping the clouds into a single cannon. Huzzah for filly inventions!
[22:31]<SpiritOfFate>	Knick Knack trots out of the river and follows Royal Lace from some distance, dripping
[22:34]<Hawkeye>	"Once everypony else is out of the water, Ah might take a dip," Hawkeye says. "So long as Sotho don't need muh help. Actually..." She canters over to the zebra's side. "Looked like y'all were havin' fun with Miz Lace and Knack. Why don't y'all ask THEM to help y'out?" The mare gives Sotho a sly smirk.
[22:35]?	Sotho hears the tone in her voice and blushes. "You hush now." He says to her, setting some spare firewood down. He starts to whisper to her. "Besides, I shouldn't be having feelings like that towards anymare, I'm a married zebra." He is blushing ashamed as he says that
[22:38]?	Hawkeye cocks her eye at Sotho. "And this right after y'all explained that whole herd thing to me yesterday," she says. "Besides, y'all will be cookin,' not sleepin' with 'em." She hipchecks the zebra, then walks back to Buck. "Ah ain't one to... what's the word, instigate? Instigate somepony foolin' around on their family. But just hangin' out and havin' a good time ain't a crime." She leans on the...
[22:38]?	Hawkeye ...unicorn stallion. "If it helps, Ah can shoot ya if you start gettin' TOO friendly."
[22:41]?	Sotho cracks a smirk and sighs happily. "Yeah go ahead and do that if you feel like it." He looks to Knick Knack and Lace. "Would you all like to help me cook?"
[22:41]?	Hawkeye nudges Buck. "Ah think Ah feel like a swim, wash all that terrified sweat offa me," she says. The charcoal mare removes her hat and plops it on Buck's head instead. "Hold muh hat, and don't get water on muh gun," she says, leaving her gear in his care and trotting into the chilly water.
[22:45]<SpiritOfFate>	Buck smiles nuzzles her as she nudges. "Sure you don't want help washing your back?" He picks the gun, pointing it away from everypony.
[22:47]?	Hawkeye chuckles. "Y'all are clean already," she says, splashing in the shallows. It's cold! "No sense in gettin' y'all dirty again." She winks at the unicorn stallion. Or maybe it's a blink. Hard to tell with her, but the smile gives it away. "Besides, there's a filly present, and as much as it'd amuse me for Wintergreen to hafta explain th'birds an' th'bees to Firefly, Ah'd rather it not be muh fault."
[22:48]<Sotho>	"Knick Knack, Royal Lace, would you want to help me cook? I understand if you dont!"
[22:50]?	Buck chuckles. "Got it. I'll keep watch here." He smirks.
[22:51]<SpiritOfFate>	Knick Knack's ears shoot up with her name. "Huh? I didn't do anything."
[22:54]?	Hawkeye wades into the water, shivering at the delicious chill. "Y'all do that, an' make sure y'don't miss anything." She swishes her tail, then submerges her head. The icy water bites at her eye socket, and halfway takes a breath of the WATER before she gets control, and comes up for air. She spits the water out and coughs. "Pfft. T'ain't for breathin..."
[22:55]?	Sotho nods. "I know! Would you like to help me with cooking?"
[22:55]<SpiritOfFate>	K3Buck calls. "Something wrong?"
[22:58]<SpiritOfFate>	Knick Knack, blushes a bit. "Oh, s-sure." She trots closer, leaving damp hoofmarks.
[22:59]?	Sotho smiles and nods as he retrives some water. "Do you know anything about cooking?" He asks. "If not, I can teach you." He smiles softly
[22:59]?	Hawkeye turns around to face the shore and clears her throat. "Forgot to keep muh eye closed, is all. Cold stuff stings a bit in th'socket..." she explains, then lowers her muzzle and blows bubbles through her nose.
[23:04]<SpiritOfFate>	Knick Knack shakes her head. "The sla-, uh, donkeys did all the cooking."
[23:06]?	Sotho nods and smiles. "Then come here, I can show you how to make a basic stew out of what we have." He pulls out some ingridents, MRE, one slab of Radhog meat and some potatoes from Hawkeye he asked to use
[23:08]?	Hawkeye scrubs at her mane distractedly. "It's why Ah keep the patch on most the time," she says. "Keeps the wind out." She flips her soaked mane back over her shoulders and feels around the riverbed for some smooth stones.
[23:24]<SpiritOfFate>	Buck frowns a bit. "Sucks, but at anything above the neck is good luck already."
[23:24]<SpiritOfFate>	Knick Knack trots closer, looking at Sotho, at the ingredients, and at Sotho.
[23:27]?	Hawkeye scoops up a few suitable stones with her tail. "Above the neck?" she asks, scrubbing at her neck with a forehoof. "Ah'd say losin' an eye ain't exactly stellar luck!"
[23:32]?	Sotho looks at Knick Knack. "Now, To make the stew we have our pot of water, what we're gonna do is slice and cook the meat, then..." He explaines to Knick Knack what the steps of making the stew will be. "We can start with slicing potatoes. Do you need help with that? I could guide you with my hooves."
[23:34]<SpiritOfFate>	Buck's eyes seem to lose themselves in the distance. After a moment of silence he gives Hawkeye a small smile. "Well... you are alive."
[23:35]<SpiritOfFate>	Knick Knack looks at the knife with a bit of worry. "...I-I don't know..."
[23:36]?	Hawkeye nods. "Ah guess. No matter how much y'lose, as long as you're alive, y'still got that, at least." She sighs and trots out of the water. "Though if y'do have to get stung by a Radscorp, Ah don't recommend lettin' it get y'all in the peepers. Say, Buck... you ever skip rocks?"
[23:40]?	Sotho smiles. "I can guide your hooves if you like so it'll be safer?" He asks.
[23:43]?	Firefly finishes up with the cannon, an impressive structure. The mouth of which is wide enough for a filly to crawl into, curl up, and take a nap. Which is what has occurred. All that can be seen from the cannon is Firefly's tail, hanging out of the mouth. Poor tired filly.
[23:45]<SpiritOfFate>	Buck raises an eyebrow. "Like jumping them? Why do you ask?"
[23:46]<SpiritOfFate>	Knick Knack nods. "O-okay."
[23:47]?	Sotho smiles as his gives Knick Knack the knife and sets a potato down, moving behind her and steadying her hooves. "Now just make small chops, and keep your hooves away from the knife, like this." He start to chop using Knick Knack's hooves
[23:48]?	Hawkeye wrings some of the water out of her mane and sort of tries to arrange it with her hooves, but quickly gives up. She doesn't take a ton of care about her appearance anyway. "No, Ah mean like throwin' 'em at the water so's they bounce off and keep bouncing. Here." She sits down next to Buck and drops the half-dozen smooth stones, then picks one back up in her tail, and casually slings it...
[23:48]?	Hawkeye ...sideways so it skips down the length of the river before hitting the other shore. "Like that."
[23:53]<SpiritOfFate>	Knick Knack doesn't seem to keep her normal orange coat very well lately. She shrinks a bit, her eyes moving from the food in front of her to Sotho through the corner of her eye. "Uh, mhmm."
[23:56]<SpiritOfFate>	Buck trots closer. "Huh? That's something new." He takes a stone in his tail, trying its weight and flinginh it, sending it into a direct dive to the bottom of the river.
[23:56]?	Sotho soon has helped Knick Knack cut one potato without even coming close to hurting herself. "Do you need help wiht the other potatoes?" He asks kindly
[23:57]?	Hawkeye chuckles. "That's great, hun, 'cept the part where it went straight down." She leans up and kisses Buck on the cheek. "Try again, sugarcube. Toss it sideways, not straight, an' try to put some spin on it."
[23:57]<SpiritOfFate>	"Potato?" She blinks. "Oh, potato, right. Sure."
[23:59]?	Sotho smiles and nods, helping her with the second potato. "Alright, After this one is done." He says over her shoulder, guiding her hooves again. "I think you can get the last one, and I can start with some meat cooking." He chuckles softly
[00:04]<SpiritOfFate>	Buck nods. "Spin. Got it." He takes a stone and swings it with his tail. Shaking his flank along, he sends it flying and it bounces twice before sinking. He smiles and nuzzles Hawkeye. "How is that?"
[00:07]<SpiritOfFate>	Knick Knack nods weakly and takes the third potato, stumbling as she cant lean on Sotho anymore.
[00:08]?	Hawkeye almost giggles and coyly leans away from the nuzzle. "Much improved, Casa Nova, but that don't earn you brownie points. Not bad for your first try, but needs improvement." She picks up the fourth stone herself, and sends it zipping across the water, bouncing only three times before it thuds into a tree on the opposite bank. "Beat that, hotshot."
[00:12]?	Sotho moves and starts cooking the meat on the fire, smiling at Knick Knack he nods. "You're doing goodm just keep your hooves away from the knife."
[00:15]<SpiritOfFate>	Knick Knack cuts the potato slowly and not very precisely
[00:17]?	Sotho leaves the meat cooked medium rare as he brings it to be cut. He smiles at Knack's work. "Good for a first timer! Just drop those into the stew, also add the rations, those things in the bags? Just add one though.
[00:19]<SpiritOfFate>	Buck flings the stone and it just barely manages to bounce a third time. "Almost there."
[00:24]?	Hawkeye leans on the unicorn and sighs. "Y'got another try before Ah have to go fetch more rocks." She tucks her head under his chin, and smiles. "An Ah'm soaked already, so fetchin' more ammo ain't a problem. Y'all didn't get to do much, growing up, did ya?" she asks softly. "Anything you ever wanted to try doing? Seems Ah just keep finding little awkward things you an' Knack both ain't never done,...
[00:24]?	Hawkeye ...and Ah can't help but think that even though y'all were on opposite sides of a spectrum, it's 'cause your family either couldn't, or didn't teach y'all the silly things foals do growing up..."
[00:36]<SpiritOfFate>	Buck nuzzles her ear. "I'm figuring it out now. But I kinda wanted to... paint maybe?" He shrugs, his eyes wander to Knick Knack "All me and sis really had was each other. Her... she'd just boss around anypony to get what she wanted." He chuckles. "I don't think I ever seen that mare so meek."
[00:40]<Hawkeye>	"Kind of a role reversal," she agrees, closing her eye and leaning on the stallion. "Now she's got no one, and you've got us. And... well, Ah don't know how to paint, but if Ah find some, it's yours. Gotta expand them horizons, right?" She sighs and looks down at the river. "Y'all want to talk about it? Or..."
[00:50]<SpiritOfFate>	"...I just feel lost. I'm free now but..." He seems to taste bitter words in his mouth.
[00:52]?	Hawkeye nods expectantly. "But?" she asks. "You're free but... you wanted... her to be free with you." Hawkeye looks at the ground. "Like there ain't a point in being alive and free when all you got is nopony..."
[00:54]<SpiritOfFate>	Knick Knack smiles, putting the food into the stew. Something seems to bother her but she shakes her head
[00:59]?	Sotho looks over to her as he cuts. "Is something the matter?" He asks, smiling, cutting the meat into cubes
[01:00]<SpiritOfFate>	Buck frowns. "Don't take it the wrong way, I like you, but... I have seen ponies die. In my old life, you didn't know who would last. I knew good ponies, but there were always an accident, a sickness, an angry guard... but we were always together... we even got-" He grits his teeth holding back the tears. "... we even got our c-cutie marks together..."
[01:03]?	Hawkeye wraps a foreleg around Buck and pulls him against her. "Not me, sweetheart. Ah just know... exactly what you mean," she says, feeling her eye prickle and her eye socket burn with suppressed tears too. "Somepony t-too young t'be taken away. Sompony whose life you knew you was going to s-share." She hugs the stallion as tight as she can manage.
[01:07]<SpiritOfFate>	Knick Knack shakes her head. "Nothing."
[01:09]?	Sotho nods as he adds the cubes of meat in. "Now we just have to stir while we cook. Do you want to talk about anything?"
[01:11]<SpiritOfFate>	Buck hugs Hawkeye just as tight. "All I really want is to go back..." A few tears escaping his eyes.
[01:15]?	Hawkeye pushes her hat off Buck's head and kisses him atop it. "Ah know, sweetheart. Ah know. T'just sit there and..." The charcoal mare sniffs. "...dammit. Just sit there an' wait till he comes back. She comes back." Hawkeye shakes her head. "But you know it won't happen, an' it leaves a hole in you that y'cain't get over." She strokes Buck's mane.
[01:23]<SpiritOfFate>	Buck dries his tears on her coat. "....who was 'he'?"
[01:26]?	Hawkeye holds the stallion close to her and buries her muzzle in his mane. "...muh son," she says, feeling her throat tighten up. "Muh little ray... of sunshine-!" The last word catches in her throat and she falls silent, breathing heavily against the stallion's mane. He'll probably need to wash it again shortly...
[01:28]?	SpiritOfFate Buck holds her tighter. "I'm so sorry.... It is... painful."
[01:29]?	Sotho looks over to Hawkeye and sighs a bit. He looks a bit sad before he looks to the stew.
[01:30]?	Hawkeye chokes back a sob and goes slack in Buck's embrace. "D-dammit," she sniffles. "Ah w-wuh-was trying t'h-help you, and now Ah'm b-blubberin an' gettin' snot in your m-mane..."
[01:32]<SpiritOfFate>	He pets her back. "Sshh, I understand... I really do..."
[01:36]<Hawkeye>	"Ah know," Hawkeye says. "S'why Ah told you. Ain't talked about this in a d-decade, an' you're the f-first one Ah thought would unnerstand." She sniffs and wipes her nose. "So... fer what it's worth... thanks." The charcoal mare lets out a shuddering sigh, and simply leans on Buck. "Hurts to miss someone so much, but y'just have to get up and live two ponies' worth of life to make up for it..."
[01:38]<Sotho>	"No means to interupt, but Soup is here for all to enjoy." He says softly, but loud enough for everypony to hear him
[01:40]<Firefly>	Soft snoring comes from the mouth of the cannon.
[01:49]<SpiritOfFate>	=========================================