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(Minor language content and thematic elements give this work a MILD PG rating.)

Chapter 1

Picking Up Supplies

Backing his ancient Chevy into the loading dock of Sam's Feed & Tack, Claymore Highfield squinted at the rearview mirror. "I think I'd better get my eyes checked next time I'm at the vet's office," he muttered to himself, shutting off the engine and pulling the parking brake lever. He swung out of the cab and checked his list, wondering what the store would be out of this week. There was an ample pile of 100 pound sacks of coal, he noted; big shock, here in the middle of coal country. Grit for the chickens, sack of sweet feed, some Timothy hay, Sam had the usual supplies in stock. Welding rod and hot-rolled mild steel were probably going to be the usual headache, however, since manufacturing had largely shifted to secessionist Western States of America; no wholesaler liked paying the high tariffs to obtain these 'imported' products, which reduced their profits and made supply spotty at best. With a resigned sigh, Crawford Corners' resident Clydesdale blacksmith climbed up the loading dock steps and walked into the store. Almost immediately he snorted, shaking his head in disbelief. He knew he'd seen another equine in his mirror, and that was him right there at the counter! Sam caught Claymore's eye, waving as he laughed and motioned him over. "Clay! Look at this, another relative of yours dropped into town!" Starting to explain -- again -- that he was not related to every equine anthro on the planet, Clay shook his head good-naturedly and ambled over to the counter. "Yeah, probably on my Mother's side, Sam, I got a big ol' family tree you know." He turned to the bay stallion in front of the register, smiling and holding out his hoof. "Claymore Highfield," he smiled, nodding in a friendly manner. "Better yet, just call me Clay. It's nice to meet you." The stallion grinned, looking at Clay's hoof before taking it, perhaps a little gently, and squeezing it. "Kimimaro," he said, not quite looking back up. "But I usually go by Kimi, at least to my friends." Clay noticed Kimi's ears drooping to the sides of his head and found the younger stallion's apparent shyness immediately endearing. "Well, it's good to meet you, Kimi, always nice to run into another member of the herd! I'm guessing you're a college horse?" The young stallion looked mildly surprised but nodded, starting to respond "Yes, but how did you ...?" "Gotta watch out for Claymore, young man!" Sam interrupted. "He's known as the 'Smithin' Magician' around town, and he'll read your mind. You just make sure to hang on to your wallet -- he's got very talented hooves!" The portly feed store owner had stopped writing the sales slip, waving his pencil for emphasis as he teased. "Well, I certainly like that better than some of the other names I've heard people were calling me," Clay snorted with a laugh. He smacked his hoof lightly at the bag of feed Kimi was purchasing, "But really, mind reading had nothing to do with it. I saw the 'AnthroChow,' you're about the right age, Crawford's Corners is an easy commute to the State College. It was just an educated guess." The bag of AnthroChow on the counter was a sort of low-grade granola marketed to anthros that had become widely popularly among humans, especially students. Far less sweet than typical granola, it could actually be served either sweet or savoury. It was nearly as cheap as the ramen soup that formed much of the average college diet, higher in protein, and like ramen it was versatile and easy to prepare. While it had been derisively known as "College Kibble" when he was in school, Clay usually had a sack of it in his own pantry. "It was a good guess! My family was hoping I'd stay in Massachusetts, but I really needed a change of scenery. And so far, I'm liking Pennsylvania; little nervous about starting the new semester, still getting to know my way around, you know!" Clay nodded, smiling as he spoke. "Few of us use the old name for the state anymore, Kimi. But I'm sure you'll do just fine. Economy's not quite what it should be yet, but you'll find the town is a pretty pleasant place to live, I think." Sam slid the finished sales slip across the counter at Kimi, "That's eleven-seventy, young man. And maybe you want to let Clay take a look at your note before I post it on the bulletin board!" "Note?" Clay snorted, his ears instantly perking forward. Though horses are naturally inquisitive, Claymore had made curiosity into an art form over the years. He was suddenly interested in the file card on the counter near Kimi's right hoof. "No, it's nothing, really. Just came in to get my feed is all, and I saw the bulletin board. I really should get going." Kimi seemed a bit flustered as he snatched at the file card, tucking it into his shirt pocket. "Well, it's nothin' to me then. Sam, I'll go ahead and load what I need in my truck. I hope you got that half-inch bar stock I asked about!" Clay nodded at the new horse, giving a slight wave as he turned away, "Good to meet you, Kimi. Hope to see ya around town!" "I'd like that, and hope so too!" Kimi smiled, hoping his cheeks weren't quite as red as they felt. When the Clydesdale was out of earshot, Kimi pulled out his wallet to pay for his feed. As he did so, he couldn't help asking a question. "Sir, why did you think Clay would have been interested in my note on your bulletin board?" Sam took the twenty Kimi offered, casually responding as he made change. "He's a got a large house not far out of town, and I know he's taken in roommates previously. There was a horse passing through town last year, car collector or somethin', I know he was rooming with Clay for a while. Although," Sam placed some coins and several bills in Kimi's hoof, "I hear it did not end well." Kimi took the change, a puzzled expression coming over his muzzle. "What do you mean? Was there violence involved?" "No, no, nothing at all." Sam tore a carbon copy off the receipt pad, handing it to Kimi. "Clay's pretty even-tempered, in fact. It's just that I heard he'd gotten pretty attached to this horse -- not sure all the details there, none of my business anyway -- but the guy just up and left one day. Friend of mine over at the diner said Clay seemed pretty mopey for a long while after Brad moved on. I imagine it gets lonely out there in that farmhouse of his, and if you're one of, um, you know, an anthro? Not so many of you guys around, you know. Here in Crawford Corners, at least." Kimi nodded, taking the receipt and stuffing it in his pocket. He thought about pulling the notecard out and posting it on the feedstore bulletin board, but changed his mind. He was paid up at the hotel through the next week anyway, and that was ample time to find out whether that Clydesdale was interested in a new roommate. "So, does Clay still visit the diner here in town?"

CHAPTER 2

Breakfast At The Crow's Nest

Pushing the glass door open, Claymore was surprised to find the diner packed so late on a Thursday morning. Until he remembered what day it was. "Pheasant season, what a gigantic pain in the ass," he grumbled silently. What actually bothered him, of course, was that few of the hunters streaming into the area had need of his services; the seasonal population uptick mean virtually no extra income for his shop. "Clay-MORE! Over here, honey!" Shirley Merck's shrill voice, as usual, carried above the din and assaulted his ears. He winced slightly, but forced a smile as he turned to the diner's proprietor and head waitress. "Hay there darlin', how are ya today?" he neighed, waving as she approached. Whatever his opinion of Shirley, there was simply no denying she was one of the friendliest humans he knew. He gave her a light peck on the cheek as she took him by the arm. "Got somebody over here wants to meet you, Clay! Come on and say hi, he's been waitin' for you since seven this mornin'!" Shirley had that too-eager grin on her face that could only mean she was up to something. Claymore sighed, giving Shirley 'the look.' She was a very friendly divorcee, and when she wasn't hooking up herself, she was hooking others up. Or trying to, anyway. "You know, if Brad's back in town, I'm just not... ." Shirley cut him off in mid sentence. "Oh, now shush! Nobody said nothin' about old Brad, I said somebody! Come on over here and be friendly!" Shirley was pulling him by the arm, through the crowd to a table in the back corner. There, grinning as sheepishly as he had two days ago at the feed store, sat the young bay stallion. "Hi again, Clay! I hope you don't mind, I thought it would be nice to... ." Kimi's words trailed off as he slowly began stirring his coffee. "I thought, maybe it be nice," he stammered slightly, clearly not having much of a plan beyond running into Clay at the diner. "You thought it would be nice to stalk me?" Clay laughed, swinging into the booth on the seat opposite Kimi. "The usual for me, please, Shirley. I said I hoped to see you again, and I meant it. Now, you ordered yet, Kimi?" "No, but, just a, I don't know, a cinnamon roll, ma'am?" Kimi asked. "You got it hon! Now don't let this old horse snap at you, he's pretty friendly once you get to know him. Aren't you, stud muffin?" Shirley playfully smacked a menu on Clay's shoulder, causing him to snort in a mock threat. She merely smacked him again, laughing as she walked away from the table. "Kimi, it was nice chatting with you briefly the other day, and I hope I didn't seem stand-offish at the feed store. " Clay smiled warmly at the younger stallion, dropping some sweetener into the massive mug of coffee a busboy had brought to him. "You know, after I left Sam's place, I thought maybe I should have asked you out for a bite or something, just didn't occur to me." The thought actually had occurred to Claymore, but he'd quickly put it out of his mind; he certainly didn't believe a college-age stallion would have any interest in a friend of his age. A casual observer could easily have seen that Clay was clearly smitten with shy young horse, but he would have blustered and denied such a thing. Long a favourite subject among town gossips, who assumed that because he was a stallion he was easy and promiscuous, Clay was actually celibate. He had been since Cheryl had left him many years before, in fact, a relationship with a human female that left lasting marks. "It did occur to me, Clay," Kimi grinned, "in fact, I asked the feed store guy the best time to catch you here. Oh my god!" He laughed, quickly covering his muzzle. "I AM stalking you, aren't I?" There was a bright reddish hue to Kimi's cheeks. "I know how to treat stalkers, bud. With duct tape and a shovel!" Clay winked at stallion, whose eyes had suddenly widened. "Joking! Just kidding! Relax, buddy, I was just yanking your chain!" he teased. Shirley had walked up, and he whistled as she sat a massive platter down in front of Kimi. "Oooh, now look at that-THAT'S a cinnamon roll!" The steaming hot pastry was so huge it spilled over the edges of the plate, dripping with melted butter and sugar creme frosting. Clay caught a whiff of the raisins and cinnamon, and nickered, "Let me know if you need help with that!" "Claymore! Mind your manners, horse!" Shirley barked, setting an equally large platter in front of him. "You've got plenty to eat on your own plate!" Indeed he did, as there was ample food even for a Clydesdale's appetite; four massive biscuits smothered in milk gravy, surrounded by home fries hot off the grill and cheesy scrambled eggs, all topped with a pile of sliced jalapeno peppers. It was more than he usually finished at once, and usually made lunch as well as breakfast. "Besides, if your hooves ever need somethin' to grab at, you know where to find me!" She lingered just a little longer than she needed to, her name tag perched just inches from Clay's muzzle. Clay laughed good naturedly, and while he thought about saying, "Yeah, I know where the line forms, Shirley," he refrained and merely nodded. "I do, Shirley, and you're a fine lookin' lady. But c'mon, a stallion's gotta eat, too!" "She seems nice," Kimi said, picking up his fork and starting on his roll. "Really seems to like you, too, Clay. She was seriously coming on to you!" Kimi laughed a little self-consciously, then added, "Oh my god, that is so not my business!" Clay waved his hoof a little before picking up his coffee bucket. "Hay, don't worry about it, I'm uh, pretty much an open book around my friends." The smile he gave Kimi was friendly enough, though had someone else asked the question he would have frowned instead of shrugging it off. Taking a drink of coffee, his tone became just slightly serious. "She's got a bit of a reputation. Not really my type. How's the roll?" Nodding his approval, Kimi grinned and cut off another bite of the pastry. "Oh, it's great! I'm not sure I'll be able to finish the whole thing. Reminds me of my Mom's cooking, actually." "Yeah, they do it up right here at the diner, mostly homemade. Shirley is very talented in the kitchen." Clay bit his tongue to keep from adding the other rooms in which he knew Shirley to be quite gifted. "I've been eating here since," the stallion gazed towards a distant memory, his eyes squinting slightly. "Oh, gosh, since I came to Crawford Corners." "Really? When was that?" Kimi's eyes went wide, giving him a startled look which was rather accentuated by the fork frozen halfway to his muzzle. Giggling slightly, he finished the bite on his fork before continuing. "I'm a history buff, and, heh, sort of nosy." "No need to worry, kid, I don't mind talking about my history. The problem is getting me to shut up!" The stallion stirred more cream into his coffee, catching Kimi's friendly gaze out of the corner of his eye. There was a pleasant manner about him that Clay found engaging, a sort of optimism or good-naturedness, something Clay couldn't quite put his hoof on. Whatever it was, the kid was likeable and easy to talk to -- qualities that were sometimes short around town. "Near as I can figure, it was sometime around 1966 or so, several years After The Bright Light and... ." "Wait, the what?" Kimi interrupted, his head tilting at an odd angle. "The Bright Light, Kimi; I didn't know what else to call it when I was young." Clay settled back in the booth, resting the coffee bucket on the table. "I was still qaudruped then, there were no anthros. I was a late foal during what I later learned were attacks hit US soil, one of them not too far south of here in what was still Pennsylvania. The 'Bright Light' was caused by a jet crashing to the ground, an intentional crash that we eventually learned was meant to unleash the Minsk Virus. All I knew then was horrid squealing and stampeding as flame rushed toward our paddock. My dam threw me into a stock tank, and I survived the fireball." "Did she... ?" "She died saving me, Kimi. I was protected by the water in the tank, at least from the blast. I stumbled from the area, totally disoriented. It seemed like I couldn't get out of the blast zone, because as far as I wandered I saw wreckage and debris. It was the virus, spreading and killing people that left everything so bleak. The first responders spread it to their colleagues, families, and survivors, and the virus just rippled out from there. Much of the surrounding area quickly became a ghost town." "I remember reading about this in history class, Clay." Kimi looked somber as he spoke, nodding a little bit. "Wasn't the virus unstable?" "Yeah, that's what we found out. The instability caused it to mutate quickly, which decreased its lethality. The farther away in time victims were from initial victims, the greater their chances of surviving infection. Eventually the virus morphed into a non-transmissible form and died out from a lack of hosts. Or at least, no new cases were reported about 8 months after the strikes, and quarantines were lifted just two years after that. The Soviets were evil, but not terribly competent. The damage they managed to inflict was brief, local, and harsh, and I count myself one of the lucky ones. Human DNA responded very differently to the virus, and some of the poor bastards I saw mutated," Clay paused, pursing his lips. "Let's just say they would have preferred having died." "Yeah, one of my Dad's friends is a mutated human, Clay. He seems kind of withdrawn to me, even though his mutation is pretty mild. Some facial scarring and bumpiness on his forehead." "Mm-hmm, one of the lucky ones. He still has bones." Kimi made a slight face indicating a lack of interest in further details about human mutation. "So you became a first-generation anthro? That must have been intense, Clay!" "Well, if by 'intense' you mean 'scared the hell out of me and caused nearly two years of confused wandering,' yeah, you're right," Clay snorted. Shirley interrupted with an offer of more coffee, filling Clay's cup and leaving the check on the table. "Whenever you're ready, hun," she said, "and you know I wasn't talking about the bill!" She winked at Clay, giving his shoulder a squeeze that was a trifle more than friendly before she walked away. Kimi laughed as he reached for the check, "Man, she's so into you! Now, what's my portion of the...HEY!" He laughed as Clay deftly snatched the small greenish paper away. "My treat, colt," Clay neighed, pulling out a well-worn wallet and counting off several bills. "I've enjoyed the company and," he paused, smiling before continuing. "You know, I look forward to getting together again. You know, if you might be, uh, well whatever, you know." The older stallion sounded as though he was a bit tongue-tied. "Oh, no question, I'd love to! I mean, I'd really enjoy that, a lot." Kimi laughed, a lighthearted chuckle that was easy on the ears. He nodded at Clay, his head bobbing just a little bit. "I'd certainly like to hear more about the early anthro days, Clay, and it's been a pleasure." He got up from the table, extending his hand. "Well then, it's a da...uh, well, it's settled then." Claymore scooted out of the booth, standing to take Kimi's hand in both of his and shaking it warmly. "Maybe this weekend if you're gonna be around." He took a card from his wallet, handing it Kimi. "Give me a call if you're gonna be free Saturday or Sunday." "I think I just might do that," Kimi thought as he looked at the card, which had Clay's cell number on it. "See ya soon, Clay!" he nickered. Before turning away, Kimi impulsively gave the startled Clydesdale a quick hug. In a move that was surprisingly agile for such a plodding work horse, Clay's arms wrapped for an instant around Kimi. "It's nice to know you, Claymore," Kimi neighed in a warm tone. "All right, all right kid, people talk about me enough as it is," Clay muttered. His tone, however, was more playful than scolding, and it seemed to Kimi as though there was a slight bit of redness showing in the gruff stallion's muzzle.

CHAPTER 3

Let's Do Lunch

Fidgeting with the pencil, Claymore stared at the drawing on his sketch pad. The latch design he'd come up with was workmanlike, but it was missing panache. Although he had the pragmatism typical of a Clydesdale, Clay was also something of an artist at the anvil, and 'plain' just didn't suit his style. Part of the reason for his shop's modest growth was the fact that his work both looked good and worked well. He was scratching a few more lines on the page when his cell phone jangled suddenly. "Hay, this is Clay, can I help you?" he neighed after flipping open his phone. The interruption was especially welcome when he heard the caller's voice. "Oh, Kimi! How ya doin'? No, no, not a problem, glad to talk to you. I'm just doodling with a design right now. What's up?" Leaning back in the ancient wooden desk chair, Clay swiveled to put his hind hooves up on the desk. His mood, though slightly perturbed by the drawing's lack of progress, instantly relaxed as he listened to the young stallion. He rocked back and forth in the creaking oak chair, snorting and twitching his ears as the two made small talk. At one point his ears perked suddenly forward. "Oh, I'm glad to hear that, and yeah, I drink an occasional beer," Clay said, nickering softly and without a trace of irony; he might as well have called the Monogahela River a pretty good sized ditch. "Well, listen that sounds good, you want me to meet ... oh, sure no problem. Pick me up at the diner then. I'll see you Sunday morning at eleven!" Closing his phone, the Clydesdale sat upright in his chair. It wasn't often that he had plans for a Sunday morning, and the prospect had livened him up a bit. After Brad had left town last year, he just hadn't felt much like socializing and besides -- Crawford Corners wasn't exactly known for its anthro population. A picnic on Sunday sounded like a great way to get a little better acquainted. "Although," Clay mused quietly to himself, "things are gonna go a little differently this time around." Sunday dawned bright and cloudless, a perfect midsummer morning that was only just warming up as Clay settled on the bench outside the Home Cookin' Kitchen. He sipped his coffee, glancing at his watch and noting he was early. A moment later a beeping horn caught his attention, and he waved at the driver. "Figures," he thought, smiling as Kimi parked, "one of those 'green' cars that's easy on the environment." "Clay, good morning!" Kimi nickered, laughing a little as he got out of his car and waved. "I'm not late, am I? Gosh, I hope you haven't been waiting long!" Dressed in faded jeans and a casual, brightly coloured shirt open at the collar, the horse looked like he was dressed to go to class. His walk was jaunty as he stepped over the Clyde, who rose to greet him. "No, I'm early Kimi, and I just got here, thanks. Only had time to get my coffee and sit down." Reaching out his hand, Clay shrugged and held out his arms for a hug instead. "Might as well get this over with," he teased, a pretend scowl twisting on his muzzle. "Just don't expect any kissin', bub, I'm not... ." Laughing as he gave the Clyde a gentle hug, Kimi snorted. "Not what? Friendly and a decent stallion? And by the way, too late!" "Too late for what?" Clay blustered. "This," Kimi neighed, pecking Clay lightly on the side of his muzzle. "Now, how's about you show me that picnic spot you told me about, Mr. Tough Stallion?" "What?" Clay bellowed, followed by a booming laugh. "What the heck? Hay, I told ya, I don't need anybody talking about me in this little burg, wise guy." He shook his head, trying to remove the rosy shade he knew his cheeks were turning. He gave the horse a quick pat on the withers before releasing him with a soft and cheerful neigh. "Yeah, you said they're already talking, so now they have something to say. Problem?" Kimi teased, quoting from one of those stupid yet catchy Internet memes. "Um, sure, 'Y U NO PAY ATTENTION,'" Clay chuckled, doing the best he could with what he knew about popular memes. "That's gonna cost you, and I expect payment in BEER!"

"Oh, yes, you're just a big, scary horse, aren't you?" Kimi teased, grinning at Clay as he pulled back. "And look at you, all up to date on Internet stuff like that -- the way you talk about yourself, I half expected you to show up with a walker or a cane, Gramps!" Kimi turned, heading back to his car. "Come on now, I didn't bring any beer but you're gonna like the lunch I packed. That is IF we ever get to the park, Clay!" "Yeah, yeah, you young 'uns, always in such a consarned hurry!" Snorting playfully, Claymore trotted along behind Kimi, heading for the passenger side of the stylish, if rather small, car. Though newer, there were a few dings on the side, as though driven too close sometimes to a fence post or telephone pole. "Cozy little buggy you got here, Kimi, but where am I gonna sit?" Clay quipped. There appeared to be little room for Kimi, let alone a passenger in the front seat, although in the tiny luggage compartment there was a large wicker basket covered in a red check cloth. "Uh, on your butt?" Kimi grinned, opening the door. "C'mon, I've carted my neighbour around, and she's huge Clay -- if she can squeeze in there, I know you can!" Kimi shut the door after Clay pryed himself into the passenger side, then trotted lightly around to the driver's side. Hopping inside, he buckled up and started the engine. "So, where to, old timer?" "Go west, young man." "Funny! Now, really, which way to the park?" "Like I said, go west. You'll turn right, just ahead on Greeley Avenue. Park's a couple of miles west of the diner." "Oh, like Horace Greeley, go west, okay, I get it!" Kimi noted, easing the vehicle into traffic. Its acceleration was not only much smoother and quieter than Clay was used to, but also slightly more robust than he'd suspected on seeing the 'green' insignia on the bumper. Kimi turned on the radio, tuned to an Indie rock station. "I'm guessing this isn't quite your style, Clay? You can change the station if you like." "Nah, no worries. It's a short ride, and I'm sure I can handle...this...for a couple of minutes." He was bobbing his head slightly, listening to a sort of ballad that wasn't bad at all. Not Tom Petty, certainly, but worth a listen. The car rolled through the leafy, quiet neighbourhood west of downtown, climbing upward along a gentle slope. As they left the town limits, the trees became slightly thicker, and their short trip took them through the more wooded hilly area of the county. "Is that it, Clay?" Kimi asked, indicating a large green sign ahead. "Yup, Cooper Point Reserve, ahead on the left. Pretty fancy name for clearing on top of the hill with a few barbeque pits, but it's a nice place. So, what's in the basket, horse? I haven't eaten in four hours, you know!" Kimi laughed as he merged into the left hand turn lane to enter the park, "Oh, you'll find out soon enough! Now, where can I park this-oh, nevermind!" He'd spotted the nearly-empty lot and found a shady space under a massive red oak tree, pulling in and setting the brake. He hopped out, putting his hand over his eyes like a visor as he looked around the park. "This is beautiful, Clay, what an amazing view of the valley! I'll bet it's even more spectacular at night." "It really is. There's a rock quarry just beyond the base of the hill to the west, and you can see quarry lights reflecting in the pond. Beyond that, over the trees the city lights from State College are clearly visible, and it's beautiful on a moonless night. There's a bench over there," Claymore gestured to his right, "sometimes I'll come here and just sit and think for a while. Now, how about we find a table?" His nostrils were flaring as he tried to smell just exactly what Kimi had prepared for lunch. "C'mon, Clay! It's a PICNIC! Look, I brought a sheet and everything, I want to sit on the ground and eat." Kimi held the large basket up, showing the checked sheet but nothing of the basket's contents. Claymore huffed, shaking his head. "Share with the ants, huh? All right, if you inisist, just over there should be as good a spot as any then." Pointing to a clearing with a clear view of the valley below, Clay was already heading there.