“Never! Again!” Will shouted as they walked back to their pegasi. “Winstead’s…I hate you, Kansas.” He leaned on Penny slightly, feeling a little weak from his sudden lack of stomach content.
“Their onion rings were good.” Penny said with a smile and a nod. The three boys grumbled at the mention of food. They mounted up again and Hunter watched as Marina stood near Petunia, letting Kyle get up first. She glanced over at Hunter a moment, nodding, before getting on Petunia’s back and resuming her vice grip around Kyle’s waist.
“I liked their steakburgers.” Hunter said with a nod. It wasn’t the large amount of ice cream that made him throw up. He had made the mistake of watching other people run to throw up. That made him think of throwing up and he couldn’t help it. He felt perfectly fine afterward. He ate his entire meal.
“We should stop their again.” Philippa said with a smile. Hunter looked back at her and laughed. “On the way back. I like the idea.” She said with a giggle. Hunter hopped onto Ulysses’ back and trotted over to the others.
“Alright. Let’s just have a nice smooth flight. No excitement.” Kyle said as he put a hand lightly on Marina’s arm. She held on tight as they took off and in a few moments they were cruising up in the sky. Hunter smiled as his the wind flicked his hair and he looked over at Philippa who was concentrated and busy fixing her hair, tying it down so it didn’t get too messy. Hunter smiled and flew next to her.
“You can stop fidgeting with your hair.” He said with a nod. “You look wonderful.” She finished putting a hairtie in it and smiled at him.
“It’s a habit.” She said before leaning over and kissing his cheek. “Thanks, though.” Hunter smiled and blushed a little.
“It’s that windswept look. It’s very becoming.” He laughed and yawned a little. He relaxed a little on Ulysses’ back. They flew quietly and smoothly, moving at a good speed. Kyle got exactly what he wanted until Will started shouting.
“Guys! Guys!” Will said as he zoomed ahead. “I see water!” He kicked Hurricane who zoomed ahead. Hunter looked back at Penny who seemed to be caught a little off guard. She giggled and zoomed after Will. Hunter glanced at Philippa and the two of them laughed before taking off after Will as well. Hunter burst through a line of clouds and did a barrel roll, zooming toward the water. They finally slowed down and Kyle came up beside Hunter.
“Is she okay?” Hunter asked, nodding toward Marina. Kyle nodded.
“I think she panicked herself into unconsciousness.” He said with a chuckle. Hunter looked at her with worried eyes. “We’re almost there. She said it was near San Francisco right next to the Golden Gate bridge.” Hunter nodded.
“I’ll go tell Will.” He said with a nod. He raced up next to Will and looked over. “Will. The house is by the Golden Gate Bridge.” He looked toward the water and saw the Golden Gate bridge ahead of them and to the right. “It’s probably around there.” Hunter said, pointing toward a line of houses. Will laughed and turned to Penny.
“Ummm….Penny?” He said quietly. She looked over and smiled. “Uhh…hold my shirt?” He said as he took his shirt off his back and threw it to Penny. With the wind blowing it hit her in the face and was pinned there. Will zoomed forward toward the line of houses. Hunter laughed a little as Penny pulled the shirt away from her face, revealing a slight look of disgust that quickly changed to confusion.
“Where is he going?” Penny asked before placing the shirt in front of her and taking off after him. Hunter looked back at the other 2 pegasi. The three of them chased after and saw Will leading them lower until he was finally over the water. He let out a shout and they all watched as a body fell from off of Hurricane and hurdled toward the water. Penny screamed and hurried toward the shore. Hurricane came up beside Hunter who lead everyone down to the ground. Penny was running toward the water, still being able to see the place where Will’s body had made impact.
Hunter slid off and walked toward her, but was beaten there by Philippa who wrapped an arm around her shoulder and whispered comforting things into her ear. They were watching the water, expecting and hoping that Will would emerge.
“He’s a son of Poseidon. He’s fine, right?” Penny said, her eyes red with worry and her hands shaking. As Hunter approached Philippa nodded and rubbed her arm. “He’s been under so long, though.”
“I’m sure he’s fine.” Hunter said quietly as he stood next to Penny.
“You’re right. He’ll be okay.” Penny said, walking toward the beach slowly. Suddenly Will shot out of the water and did a flip.
“That was…Awesome!” He shouted before landing in the water with a splash again. Hunter looked over at Penny whose eyes burned with anger. “The water is perfect!” He said as he emerged again and started walking toward the beach.
“Will Monterey. You big jerk!” She said as she walked toward him and socked him in the arm. “How dare you make me worry like that!” Hunter grabbed Philippa by the shoulder and pulled her away from the fighting couple. Hunter glanced over at Will who looked like a kicked puppy. Penny raised her fist again and Will put up a wall of water to stop her.
“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to make you…” Hunter walked away, back to Kyle and Marina, with Philippa right next to him.
“That was a really bad move on his part.” Philippa said with a giggle. “It was impressive though. Penny is one lucky girl.” She said, biting her lip a little. Hunter furrowed his brow and looked at her, expecting some kind of sign that she was kidding, but none came. He opened his mouth to speak, but he stopped himself when he reached Kyle and Marina.
“Hunter. Help again.” Kyle said with a laugh, shrugging his shoulders, causing the sleeping Marina to wake up a little. Hunter walked over, leaving Philippa, and opened his arms again. Marina, still mostly asleep, fell into Hunter’s arms and held onto his neck. Hunter smiled a little as he lifted her into his arms and carried her toward the house. There was that smell again. Fire and metal.
“You got the bags, Kyle? I figured I’d just put her on the couch in the house or something.” Hunter asked quietly to Kyle who slipped off Petunia’s back and handed him her backpack. Hunter hooked a finger in the handle and turned toward the house.
“Mmm…Are we here?” She asked, sleepily, sitting up slightly, unintentionally tightening her handle on Hunter’s neck. She blinked her eyes open and looked around before wiggling out of Hunter’s arms. She blushed and looked at him. “I’m awake. I’m awake.” She said clearing her throat. She dug into her pocket and pulled out a key before taking a deep breath and walking to the house. She opened it and looked back at Hunter. “Oh. My bag.” She took it from him and cleared her throat again. “Uhh…Thanks.” She said quietly before disappearing inside the house. Hunter chuckled softly and turned back to his Ulysses for his bag.
“She’s awake.” He said, walking past Petunia. Kyle smiled and nodded as he walked his Pegasus to a less obvious place. He swung his back off her back and started toward the house. “I don’t know what I would do if I were that deathly afraid of flying.” Hunter said with a nod as he swung his back off Ulysses’ back. He waited for Philippa and Dixie before taking her hand and Ulysses reins.
“She’s lucky she has friends like you to keep her ground, right?” Philippa said with a giggle, giving Hunter’s hand a friendly squeeze.
“Yeah. I gue-“
“Would you guys tell her to calm down?!” Will said as he dodged a vine that shot out of the ground and zoomed past his head. “Penny, I’m sor-I’m sorry!” He said as he ran past Hunter and Philippa. Penny ran after him.
“You’re insane!” She said angrily. Hunter laughed and continued toward the other pegasi.
“This is going to be a long weekend.” Hunter said quietly, shaking his head.