Pitter, patter.

The rain began, droplets fell on unsuspecting roofs. A natural melody that calls for slumber.

And yet I saw, within my closing eyelids, Flaze did not choose to rest at this moment, but instead she staggered forward, standing up high, and then changing instantly to her regular clothing.

I neighed, weakly, inquiring of her intentions.

"I wish for a bath." She claimed, the bag kept on her shoulders as our hidden storage fell to the floor. She rummaged through its contents, relief, nostalgia, and melancholy all crossing her face in tandem when she took out her special box. The one with the pictures, the priceless artifact that we got back in exchange for the lives of many, an entire building set ablaze. I should not neigh it like that, in front of her.

Flaze hid it all right after, under a sturdy table that remained unbroken, so that it may not be damaged upon her taking a shower.

My nose caught a whiff of myself as I sniffed. That event has nothing to do with my choice to follow my friend.

Flaze stood by the door, she was staring at something just a few steps to the right. The stormy sounds were only getting louder, if still possible to classify a drizzle, but Flaze veered off in the last second as something else caught her fleeting attention.

I peered over her shoulder, to see the object of her desire. It was two corpses, of a goblin and a man. I very obviously turned away, to leave my friend to her business.

I kicked her hard in the next moment, in a bout of surprise and terror, primal instincts that I didn't know I had.

I quickly turned back around afterwards, neighing at her worriedly.

When I saw that she was just fine, after giving her a panicked heal or two, I then pointed an accusing finger at the woman.

She smiled wryly, "Yeah, sorry. That was my fault for grabbing your tail."

Absolutely! I huffed.

"Sorry, sorry." She patted my mane as she got up. "I mean it."

Yeah, I know. I neighed good-naturedly. My hooves jabbed at thin air. I already got my vengeance, anyway.

"Anyway," Flaze switched subjects, pointing at the carcasses she was so interested in earlier. I squinted at it, and understood absolutely nothing of what she means to say. My expression that met hers must have shown my true feelings, that she was being a crazy person.

Flaze rolled her eyes. "It's fresh."

I pawed at the blood, my gaze narrowed. It was slimy, quite dry. But I definitely would not call it fresh...

"I meant relatively, of course." She grumbled. "This place fell only recently."

Huh. I thought about it, coming to the realization that if we had made different choices, then I could have been here to save their behind and to rub it in their faces, that I was now a fucking badass. Specially towards Henry, my stupid annoying fuckturd of a boss. His face looks like feces having an orgy when he's mad.

On the other hand, the guy would only get off on me working for him again, and protecting him. He wouldn't feel shame from that, only a misplaced sense of pride.

And then I would've wiped that annoying sneer off his godsdamned face.

Hmmm...

I filed that hypothetical away to the corners of my mind, and then rushed out of the door, towards the dusty roads, the grime of yesterday washed away by the rain of today.

Hurry up! I neighed at Flaze who was taking her sweet time. Unless if you want to have more sweet time with your dead cuties!

The woman shook her head weakly, not really in any of a hurry. She stood outside the door, just narrowly in range of the remaining patio.

She stretched out her hand, as if to test for the temperature of the rain. She just stared at it, watching the collecting water.

I snickered.

Flaze looked like she was about to snap at me, but instead she beckoned me over.

I obliged, I saw no reason to. My brows were raised once I finally made it in front of her. Are you... scared of the rain? Oh, widdle baby.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

That got her to finally snap, flicking the collecting water at me. She collected more, annoyed at my lack of a reaction, for I am above it all.

"See the rainfall that collects?" she asked, "Watch it as it descends. The rain is heavier than normal, for how strong it actually is. The water, it's multiplying somehow... Jackal, I'm not fucking crazy! Stop looking at me like that!"

I laughed, and then splashed some water on her with my hooves. Flaze fumed and chased after me, playing a simple and silly game within this collapsing city. Is it ruined enough yet, to be referred to instead, as a ruin?

Eventually, our little game ended, and I stopped moving, the both of us quiet. I had my hoof held in front of me, and I watched as a large droplet of water falls on it. I felt the water create more water, adding to its mass, like a self-replicating organism. I could feel the mana within, acting towards some kind of effect.

I already knew that Flaze wasn't crazy, I only enjoyed messing with her.

But still, magic weather. I wonder what other wonders await for us to explore.

"Why..." I heard Flaze mutter as I dreamt of cruising through the skies on the back of an island-sized dragon. I looked at my friend, she seemed lost in thought, likely not realizing that I just heard some of the feelings that spilled out.

I reached out a cautious hoof to her, but I retracted my advance. I looked down at myself, and then slapped my metaphorical soul for hesitating. What the fuck am I doing?

I marched off towards Flaze. She looked up at me as I loomed over her. My head snarled, my lips quivered as I huffed, and then I slammed my head against her... nuzzling.

"...What?" She seemed confused, but reciprocated anyway, patting at my mane. I purred, but I didn't let her distract me, quickly separating and staring intensely at her.

Flaze blinked, she was at a lost for a few moments, before she returned a glare my way. "What?"

I rolled my eyes for a moment, instantly snapping back to our staring contest. You know what.

Flaze held my gaze for a moment longer, before slumping back down on the muddy floor. "Yeah... I have... some things, on my mind. Maybe you've heard of it."

I snorted. I'm being serious, for once.

Flaze chuckled. "Yeah, okay. " Her faze abruptly turned serious, and melancholic. "It's just... Why is the world so against us? Why do we have to kill our own people? Do we have to? Or are we just that terrible?"

She looked back at me. The storm hit a crescendo as if in response to her feeling, the winds howling ever stronger. "Why?"

Good question. I tore my gaze away, finding a dead gremlin pinned under a flipped over car. I pointed at the departed creature. The world is against all of us.

Flaze's eyes flickered for a moment, before she agreed, her head nodding slowly. She scooted closer and leaned against me, before speaking in what was almost whisper. "You're right."

Of course I am.

~~~

We reentered the diner, after a magical bath. Water dripped from our bodies, immediately soaking into the nearby floors.

Flaze walked towards the things she'd left behind in the diner, and quickly checked to make sure everything was well and accounted for.

She turned around, about to say something, when the rain from outside somehow reached the room as a light drizzle. I shook myself, drying off much like how a dog would rid itself of excess waters. Not piss.

Flaze stared, mouth agape, as she was drenched even further.

I laughed.

"Jackal..." She said, voice threatening.

What? It was a joke. I neighed, defensively.

Flaze took a deep breath and looked me in the eye. She stepped aside and pointed at her special box of treasures. "I know you'd helped me get this, and I'm thankful. But can you not get water on it? Please?"

I looked at the box in question and remembered that is was a pretty old and rusty one. She could've bought better storage very easily, but I know that this one is precious to her. A reminder of better times, bequeathed by parents who have changed. She keeps it around, for better or for worse.

I lowered my head, in genuine apology. I'm sorry.

Flaze sighed again, but it was soft this time, a kindness to it. "I know. You didn't think about it." Her hand found its way to my head. "It's fine. Just, try not to do it again?"

I am forgetful as all fuck but... I'll try. I nodded.

"Thanks. That's all I ask. And I know you'll forget." Flaze put a finger to her chin, looking thoughtful. "Enchantments exist. I would love to get some sort of dimensional storage."

If it's even possible, then I would love that as well.

~~~

Flaze was gone. I was left alone.

The sound of rainfall, the isolation, a companion, the accompanying noise both loud and quiet.

I listened, I heard every individual droplet, millions creating a symphony. Water pooled from within the roofs and awning, until it fills to the brim, multiple waterfall of rain visible for me to watch.

A minute has passed. I'm bored.

Flaze had gone away earlier to go get herself a change of clothes. I had led her towards the store's locker rooms, staying here after we've made sure the place was clear of monsters. And also so she gets her privacy. Is that even necessary, when I am a horse?

I stood up walked around the shattered remains of the diner, reminiscing of times thankfully long gone. I remembered the time I'd spent, working here, and I found it wanting compared to this world that had turned to hell.

I loved it best when things were dull. That meant few costumers, a slow day. I know our manager didn't like it, but that just made it even it better. I did not enjoy serving people, I did not like running back and forth. Flaze had suggested to me before, trying to be helpful, that my work held certain similarities to doing theater in that way, but the thought only made me wih I could be doing what I actually loved instead.

And I really thought I would, eventually. I held on to the hope that this was but a temporary stop.

In the end, it kind of was.

It crumbles along with the rest of the world.

Everything is temporary.

"Gobliins!!"

A shout brought to a close the monotony, said in a voice frustratingly familiar.

It came from further inside the store, where Flaze should currently be.

A neigh came out of my mouth as I snarled, quickly running towards my quarry. I worried for Flaze, but the potential presence of a certain someone took precedence in my mind.

What am I even planning here?

There was no time allotted, for that question to be answered. I arrived at the scene of battle, or at least what I assumed to be so.

Flaze was back in her samurai armor, a clone of the same disposition by her side. They faced a single locker, and within was a cowering man whom I hate.

It was Henry, my old boss, and he lives.

For now.