Jasper #2

Dutch grinned as he watched Buckthorn trail around after various ponies, watching him chase around a particularly mischievous seal bay mare. She seemed to be enjoying herself, but with Buck's perpetually irritated expression, it was hard to tell what he thought. One thing was clear - he liked the mare a lot if he was going after her this stubbornly. The sky was beginning to set, the early stages of the evening pooling in like a watercolour painting. The youngest of children had left now, but some of the adults lingered. Some where just arriving, favouring for the struggle of getting their bell to fit in the mane of the little ponies, but dodging the majority of the little children as a result.

'Hey, Buck, you're sure having a time, huh?' Dutch grinned, sauntering over with his hat in his hands. His long hair was loose around his shoulders, a mix of browns and blacks wavy over him. 'She's a pretty one. Whatcha gonna call her?'

'If I get her, not when, then I think I'll call her Karlach. But she's not the point, currently - that cheeky little thing, Jasper, is,' Buck sighed, patting the teddy-eared mare who had now stilled beside him.

'Him? I thought he was good for you?' Dutch raised a brow, looking at Buck with a sidelong glance. 'What's up with him now?'

'He decided that he would do some rogue in the dark move, shake out half of his bells against a tree, and kick at the rest. Including mine, sadly - but luckily, I helped a kid get one in his tail, and he hasn't been bothered about that,' Buckthorn explained briefly, gesturing to the miniature pony that was wandering over to the wooden fence, painted in a dark brown, with a panel that looked rather nice to scratch against. The pony skilfully twisted his neck around and the bow slipped neatly off, hooked on a loose nail. 'And I'll grab that, first.'

'Do you have the ribbon?' Dutch asked, gesturing to the group of ribbons on the floor. 'I can help find it.'

'Nope, we aren't just getting mine, we're helping everyone.'

'… we're what? Buck, you have a clear win right in front of you, and you're just gonna-'

'I'm a well-mannered citizen, unlike some people that I know.' Buck snapped at him, before walking off to start collecting ribbons in the direction of the fence.

'Woah there soldier. I'm on it.' Dutch hummed, watching as Buck fiddled with the nail and pulled it out, safe from getting caught on any stray pony manes. Karlach - aptly named after one of Buck and Dutch's favourite games, no doubt - followed him about with her swiping tail in tow, whilst none of the ponies seemed to be too interesting in getting too close to the jingling menace of which is Dutch Langton.

It took them a while to collect all of the ribbons - some blue, some red, some orange and white, but somehow they couldn't quite find Buck's pale blue no matter how hard they stared about. They must have walked the perimeter of the paddock three times between them, only to shake their heads solemnly each time they passed the other.

It wasn't until they piled all of the ribbons into Dutch's pockets and they noticed that Buck was still jingling that they realised what had happened.

Amidst the excitement of the hunt, young Bloodstone had been exploring with him, picking up bells for him and handing them to the cowboy, less than graciously. But they did make their way to his hand one way or another, and that was the point - one way or another.

See, it would seem that Bloodstone wanted to collect and carry some of her own, too, alongside the bells already in her tail. In her teeth was a delicate pale blue ribbon and a golden bell. Ah.

'It's been right behind you this entire time and you didn't notice? You're very clever, Buck, but that's kinda sad.' Dutch snickered, trying to snatch the ribbon from the teasing mare.

'Says you! You could've noticed at any time. You aren't all innocent, you irritating man.' Buckthorn muttered, petting Bloodstone's fluffy muzzle and giving her a little kiss on her forehead whirl. She snorted and snuffled at him softly, dropping the bell into the palm of his hand as if given a silent cue. What a clever girl she was.

'Shes taken a liking to you. But we'd better get these on Jasper and get back home for Harpy and Pear, they're gonna be getting irritated now,' Dutch patted Buck on the back, spinning him around before heading off towards the chestnut splash pony. It took a while for them to get close enough to braid all the ribbons back in, and even longer when Bloodstone would be stood snuzzling at Jasper, attempting to help - but not quite doing so. She was ever so good at it.

'Hes pretty, I can see why you like him,' Dutch hummed, petting the tiny pony. 'A bit small for you to ride, but I'm sure you have something in mind for him already.'

'That I do. This little guy is gonna be a harvesterzm

'… a what?'

'A harvester. He'll come with me, you, Autumn and Avi, and carry the fruits we collect for the Fall Festival.'