The storm of thick shroom spores previously plaguing our heroes had disappeared. Instead the terrain had turned to husks covered in thick layers of multicolored mold. There were many shrooms that had died long before being able to fully spread their loads, soon enough the slowly spreading invasive fungus would be the only thing living here. A diverse mold type with wispy strands coming in black, blue, white, green, and probably more.

The sound around the party was silent, but the traveling was easy going for the truck at least. The air supplies remained strapped on both heads. This trip continued for another hour. The toxic scenery remained relatively unchanged and bleak.

At least they had some tunes to play. The tape started first with maximum cowbell, then in order clean funky telecaster, fuzzed out bass, wailing harmonica, a crying fiddle, and smooth lap steel guitar. Jed did air guitar while Mule tapped his front hooves on the steering wheel to the drums of the outlaw country song. The band were pros at playing off each other, each getting a turn to solo while others could be heard shouting encouragement in the back of the studio. Jed and Mule both agreed long ago it was all about the rhythm and groove regardless of the genre.

“You know I have a bad feeling we aren't out of the woods yet,” said Jed, pointing to a gut feeling in the mold suffocating a faraway hill.

“What makes you say that?” said Mule.

“I really wish you didn't lose your special vision Mule. That sort of thing really could be really good at saving our asses when my eyes are blind in this gasmask,” coughed Jed.

“I know, but ain’t just surviving what counts right now, or am I just a useful ability to you anyway what's the trouble man stay cool eh?” said Mule.

“At this point I value most animals the same way, but Mule you are the best among them,” said Jed, extending a fist.

“Thanks hey man, why don’t you recline your seat and get some sleep,” said Mule, shifting gears before he could complete their secret handshake.

It was nighttime for some time, and nearly verging on early morning. The flames shot from the big rig as it climbed a little hill. The visibility was high thanks to the pair of full moons in the sky. Jed had fallen asleep in the passenger seat for a bit. Mule was getting impatient to finally find safe terrain so he could do the same. He dreamed of coming to a stop, and stretching all four legs for a second first. He required every hoof in action to drive this tanker.

The animal behind the driver's seat was getting thirsty. Mule pictured himself sneakily refilling his straw cup with a sip of the juice they were hauling. This was one of those adventures that was going to require a long period of recuperation when it was finished. It was one of those things. Hopefully a long rest period of extreme luxury, and pampering fit for spoiled royals. They both deserved it for all their hard work. According to maps they were well over the halfway compilation mark for this life changing delivery quest.

None of this fungal growth had been marked. It remains uncertain what dangers could be waiting for the remainder of the trip. Earlier they had estimated together 11 more days remained of the adventure. Just 11 more days before they would have a break from each other.

Mule gazed across the wide open empty fields of mold growing wild. A massive dark shadow was taking up a lot of real estate on the end of one field. He shuddered. It was probably another boulder, but it could be another enemy creature in hiding. He looked over at his sleeping comrade. Jed had a dead shot aim with his weapons should any danger show itself. Since the action started neither seldom got shut eyes. So it was best to make sure the threat was real. Mule looked back out across the field. The largest shadow standing there had disappeared.

"Jed wake the farc up we got something stalking us on the edge of the mildewing meadow, it might be a tiger" said Mule, gently shaking the man.

"Zzzzzzzzz..." said Jed, sleeping out cold, and not responding.

"Awake Man there's a threat," yelled Mule, really hoof tapping an armored arm.

"Yaawn..huh what is it now?" yawned Jed, beginning to stretch his limbs.

"More danger lurking close. It could be a tiger and those are outside my power level at the moment," said Mule, focusing back on the road.

“There's always a threat, can’t catch a break,” groaned Jed.

“I would say we are safe here from any animals as long as we keep moving. Just think how thick the grill on this barreling tanker is,” said Mule.

“Then why did you wake me up?” asked Jed.

“Just in case it’s some kind of monster,” said Mule.

The path immediately ahead was blocked by the shadow with two horns sticking forward. It was a mutant creature. A massive mold covered moose with shrooms growing on its hairy antlers and an elephant's trunk crystalized full of growths for a mouth. The beast sniffed the air, and made a mutant mating call that shook the vehicle speeding towards. It was similar in size to a mammoth with tusks.

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"AAAA shit turn this thing around at once before we’re moose meat!'' screamed Jed, awakened on the wrong side of the bed inside a speeding truck heading for the end.

It was too late to reverse course. He grabbed his gun shooting through the window at the creature. The layer over layer of mold coating acted as armor while the beast underneath became enraged. It screamed a call louder than the horn Mule had been blowing. The beast maneuvered itself to lock antlers with the truck.

"We are screwed," stammered Mule, who had been rumbled trying to slam the brakes before it was too late.

"Crunch!"

They remained alive somehow. It had gotten a lot colder, but the vehicle was still running. Jed opened his eyes to see open fields without any windows. He turned to look behind but the mirrors were gone with the rest of the removed cab.

“Wow that was close, can you climb back there and assess the damage to the vehicle while I get us the farc out of here fast,” yelled Mule, stepping on the gas pedal as far as it would go.

Jed held onto the ripped end of the ruined extended seat belt. He climbed the ladder on the juice container to see a better picture. He saw the big rig's cab torn off and pierced through the side by the antlers waving the cab in the air like a lighter at a concert far behind them.

"That was a close call, we almost just got shaved alive damn," yelled Jed.

"Let it on me Jed, is the moose still on the loose chasing us?”

“Nope, but don’t stop donkey,”

“I can’t hear you buddy but as long as the trucks are still going I'll keep going until I can't anymore. Now you watch out for hazards from behind and holler if it starts to chase after us again," screamed Mule.

"Gotcha," said Jed,hearing enough to get the picture while keeping his eyes peeled, acting as the human rearview with the mirrors gone for good.

Jed loaded in fresh bullets to top off a contingency for many events to occur. The rifle was strapped to his back, and him to the ladder. The torn apart seat belt was buckled to his belt. The mutated moose had long disappeared from view.

"Phew," said Jed, adjusting the cap above his respirator.

He should have put it under his armor to keep it safe from blowing away. The moose loudly called again, rumbling them. It sounded closer than ever. Jed almost jumped off the truck to look in every direction.

"My nerves have started to fray, and I'm not as sharp as my younger, far less battle disturbed self," said Jed loud enough so that only he could hear.

“You love to complain, you haunted bastard,” laughed Mule, slapping his friends back.

The truck continued to barrel down mildew roads long gone unused. The temperature outside was getting hotter, while the vehicle was traveling faster. The winds were fiercely attacking our heroes exposed to whatever elements blew in from down the road.

Later on the man adjusted himself again in order to prevent his body from falling asleep. He had been sitting cross legged for an extended period on top of the oversized container of juice they were hauling. He hadn’t seen or heard from the mutant moose in a long time, probably an hour.

Three suns loomed overhead in the afternoon. The terrain was beginning to change to the scorching heat of a desert. It was time for another chit chat out front. Jed climbed down the ladder attached to the tank.

“Watch out for incoming road hazards,” yelled Mule from the driver's seat.

“Whoa what is it now? There's always a threat, can’t catch a break,” groaned Jed.

He cursed ducking from the incoming object at the last second. There was something scraping the paint off the back of his armor. Jed lay on hugging the trailer as low as he could get. He saw the thing that had attacked him narrowly smashing into the dust trail left by the big rig's tires. He had narrowly avoided getting swiped by a prickly looking cactus torn up from the vehicle.

“Hey watch what you run into and send flying my way..Man I hope civilization lies ahead, a hotel or something we can bathe in,” sighed Jed.

“Yeah, I'll have an all you can eat buffet,” added Mule.

“Good thinking,” said Jed.

“Either way there's no way that moose is coming in here. I'd say that's the last we ever have to worry about it,” said Mule.

“We've got all new threats to worry about seemingly everyday,” said Jed.

“You're always such a pessimistic man, I think it's time to take up yodeling,” said Mule.

“If I always assume the worst I'll never ever be surprised,” yelled Jed.

“Yeah that type of thinking won’t do you any favors man,” said Mule.

The big rig limped along as the road turned to that composed of desert packed soil. A sign ahead had sat in the suns too long and was no longer legible. The only part of it not bleached and peeled was a faded picture of a fountain of painted water. Nearby a totem pole of smiling cartoon skulls towered towards the sky.

“Well that driftwood looks friendly,” said Jed.

“Let’s keep going and find out, but I think those are clearly fake for decor,” said Mule.

“You never know man, I mean donkey.. Those skulls might be a clue to the next creature that will threaten our journey,” yelled Jed.

“Let’s keep going and find out,” reiterated Mule.

Mule shifted to a lower gear. The sand underneath the tires was getting slippery and threatened to suck in the truck. If they got stuck here there was no saying how far they would have to walk to escape. Nope they would have to live on rations and jungle juice while working to unstuck themselves. There was no way their asses were getting saved again by some Crazins or other locals.

It was time to concentrate on driving. At the moment they were fine as kind, and the road looked good again far ahead. In-fact it looked tarred ahead, but currently the sand was the worst it had ever been.

The vehicle started pulling off course by the rear axles. Mule looked to the side they were beginning to slip down a dune. He shifted another gear lower by instinct, and gave the pedal a beating to the floor. Jed felt the back of his head getting roasted by the flames and soot puffing out the stacks like a dragon.

The front tires slammed forward lurching themselves aboard the paved road. The truck drove into a desert sunset, and they stopped for a break.

“I gotta go to the bathroom but I'm going to be pissed if there’s any snakes or scorpions planning a welcoming party out there for me,” said Jed.

“Remember your own words man, lol to keep your expectations low,” said Mule, stretching his hooves.