The combination of Earth ponies, Pegasai, and a Buffalo paused in their patrol for a water break and a breather. Most of them were volunteers from the refugees that had poured into the rustic desert town a little over a year ago that had for the most part come to terms with the way the world was now. If they were being honest with themselves none of them really wanted to be out wandering around the hot near-wasteland that was their home now, but neither did they want to risk what was left of their family or friends being picked off by undead while tending the orchards and other crops.
"I don't know how you Buffalo can stand this heat with all that thick fur! Phew!" One of the urban stallions from Barnston declared, fanning his ash-colored face and sweat-soaked white mane and breathing heavily. The Buffalo made a rumbling sound of laughter in her throat.
"It all depends on where and how you are raised, Quick Cut. Your sister mentioned an enchanted device called an 'air conditioner' that cools the air in a room?" Quick Cut nodded.
"I'd give my left eye for one of those out here now!" He muttered, still waving the hat like a fan.
"We Buffalo live most of our lives without many of the things that you city ponies take for granted. While it may not always be comfortable it has made us a hardier folk for it. Do not worry; In time you too will become used to it."
"I hope not. I'm hoping the royalty will come up with some kind of solution before it comes to that."
"That's a nice dream, Quick, but I wouldn't hold my breath. Not after all this time." Said the lone Unicorn of their group. The Unicorn stood up. "Okay, folks, you've had your water and breather break. Let's get moving again before the sun gets any higher."
For another hour their group of eight continued along their route until they came to an abandoned settlement that had once been inhabited by the workers that originally worked the old quarry back in its day. The town was a real dump now, and a good many of the boards were either dry rotted or else pried off from the original structure to be used for kindling. Nearly half the town's remains had fallen over or inward, and the well in the middle of town was drier than Appaloosa's personal brand of Apple Wine.
"What are we doing here, Pierce?" Quick Cut, annoyed, asked the Unicorn. "We've already picked through this place a dozen times! There's nothing left here of value unless you value broken shot glasses and fresh cactus juice!" They stopped in the middle of the town's ruins and their team leader turned around to look at him, an odd small smile on his face.
"Actually there is something of value here, Quick Cut. Come with me, and I'll show you. The rest of you wait here. I'll be back shortly." Quick Cut frowned, but followed Pierce Around the side of what used to be a pub. They crossed the only other street and approached what was left of the jail, which was in much better condition than the other buildings due to being built from brick instead of wood. The town's bank was, ironically enough, built right up against it.
Pausing at the entrance, Quick Cut rolled his eyes.
"Have you been in the sun too long? That bank must have been looted over a hundred years ago! There can't possibly be anything left in it."
"One being's waste is another's valuables. Come on, I'll show you." Sighing, Quick Cut followed Pokey Pierce until he stopped in front of the old vault and began fiddling with the door's combination lock.
That's strange. Why was it shut to begin with? Quick Cut wondered. Other than the occasional bandit or perhaps treasure hunter locking up their things for safe keeping the door would otherwise be left open. I mean, He gave a critical look at the lock that Pierce expertly spun with his magic while one ear was pressed against the metal. If there's nothing precious in it, then-
The door's lock clacked and Pokey Pierce tugged it open with his body rather than his magic. Quick Cut leaned forward and was hit in the face with a small water balloon. The balloon burst, splashing his face with a liquid that smelled like sweet-scented cleaning liquid. As he wiped at his eyes and choked a bit on it he began to feel woozy, and just as he began to blink again he fell to the floor fast asleep.
Pokey waited a minute for all the liquid to evaporate and be blown away by the near-constant breeze that blew through this part of the desert and then stepped out from behind the door where three Gryphons were stepping out of the vault, one of them holding a bottle of Chloroform and wearing a brown Manticor-leather jacket.
"Took your sweet time!" The tallest of the three and jacket-wearer said gruffly as his companions set to tying ropes around Quick Cut's legs and around his muzzle. "We were starting to think that maybe you fell into some quicksand!" Pokey snorted.
"In which case I would have just levitated myself out again. Do you have it, Grode?" The Gryphon nodded.
"Of course I do. I may be a slaver, but I'm not a liar. Here." Grode reached into his jacket and pulled out a parcel. Pokey took it and opened it, digging through the contents. A few minutes later he nodded, satisfied.
"A pleasure doing business with you, Grode, as always. Do try not to break my teeth this time. Let's go for a bruise on the barrel and a black eye, shall we?" Grode shrugged.
"It's your pain. Where are the others?"
"Out in the middle of the town. They're probably getting a little antsy by now, though. One of them is a she-Buffalo, so watch yourself."
"Thanks for the warning but my boys can handle it. Here's the rest." Grode again reached into his jacket and pulled out a smaller package, followed by a bag of canned food and bottled water.
"Until next time, then. Where will you be heading this time so we know where to expect your next...shipment."
"I thought I might head off to one of the seaside towns. I heard from some of the refugees that one of them has a small orphanage in it."
Three hours later Pokey Pierce stumbled and collapsed in front of the farm-side entrance Appaloosan town. A pony on the walls pointed him out and he was brought inside where it was discovered that his patrol group had been attacked not by Shamblers, but bandits near the old quarry town.
"When I tried to fight them they tossed me into one of the buildings and it fell on me. When I finally dug myself out I didn't see anyone. I don't know what happened to my group but I do know that they were Gryphons! What is the point of these walls keeping out the dead if the living are against us?!" This question set many of the other folk a'talking about leaving and heading someplace else, but in the meantime Pokey had a wife to go home to and was allowed to do so.
After explaining to her what had happened he brought out the parcel that Grode had given him and unwrapped it. It was a bottle of wine that was over two hundred years old. He fetched glasses from a cupboard and half filled them. "to my lost squad mates. I hoped they survived."
"Blessings on them." She said sadly before sampling it. "My, this is delicious!" She exclaimed with a slight smile. "A bit of a steep price to pay for it though, considering how much slaves normally sell for."