Beaversun had been laughing his head off the whole time. Through his squinted eyes from laughter, he saw Clawfire land gracefully on the sand with Chase proudly on his back, out of striking distance from Tanner’s still form. Chase dismounted and cautiously walked forward, toward Tanner. Beaversun stopped laughing to see what was going to happen next. As Chase crouched over to put his hand on his crewmate’s forehead, Tanner’s eyes flickered open and Beaversun could see Chase’s expression of shock at the fury in Tanner’s eyes. Tanner sat up and started screaming again, mainly at Clawfire but gesturing rudely toward Dewberry and Beaversun as well. When Tanner turned to face the two of them, Beaversun was terrified to see the extent of the Landwalker’s rage. The stocky human walked toward them, one menacing step at a time, but Chase shouted.

“Hey! They haven’t done anything wrong!” he said.

Tanner turned back to him, still furious. “That gray pinto-” -Beaversun realized the Landwalker was talking about him- “-gave me this two days ago!!” He gestured to his right cheek where Beaversun had kicked him, rebelling against the lunge line.

“You’re still angry about that?” Chase retorted incredulously. “Clawfire was the one who just gave you the joyride! If you’re getting revenge on one of them, it would be him!”

“Oh, you’re still calling him that, huh?” Tanner mocked. “Well, I think I will! Ready for this, Clawfire?” he taunted.

Clawfire nodded and reared. To Beaversun’s surprise, Dewberry reacted to Clawfire’s rearing. She kicked out at the rope holding her to a post and Beaversun was further surprised to see her sharpened hooves. They quickly took a toll on the rope and she bust through, then cantered to Clawfire’s aid.

Meanwhile, Chase faced his irate crewmate. “You think you’re getting to him, huh? Well, you’re going through me first.”

“And me,” Dewberry added, coming to a stop beside him.

Chase was surprised to see Dewberry but had no time to think about it as Tanner lunged forward at him with a knife from his belt.