“You are so professional,” Cal muttered sarcastically under her breath, making sure no one else would hear her. Buddy probably couldn’t hear her either, but he’d be able to read her lips and her mind.

He grinned, her cap swinging between his teeth. It was as well that there were few people around; Buddy was so magnificent he usually drew every eye. Resembling a hotblood horse, like a Thoroughbred or Quarab, he had a lightly-built body with strong leg muscles which emphasised speed. His sleek coat, spiky mane and long, flowing tail were all jet black, and he was covered in electric blue zigzag stripes like a mutated zebra. The odd blue hair marred the otherwise perfect darkness of his mane and tail, matching his vibrant blue eyes. Harmless electricity crackled along his body, adding effect. In their home world of Xara, Buddy was known as Dark Lightning; here on Shaman, he was more commonly referred to as Cal’s ‘fancy horse’.

No matter where he was, he was a pest.

Cal inched slightly to the left, trying to get into his blind spot directly in front of his face. Buddy turned his head sideways and eyed her with a single, electric blue eye which gleamed with playful mischief. Throwing caution to the wind, Cal shot towards him, causing him to bolt back towards the town. With a little smirk of her own, she dug her heels into the ground and sprinted after him. Magic surged through her veins of its own accord, lending unnatural speed to her steps. She zoomed down the high street, a blue blur, gaining increasingly uncontrollable velocity. Buddy, who had lost his super speed when they journeyed to Shaman, was no match for her even with his powerful legs and fancy racing stripes. She barrelled into him as he turned at the end of the street, forcing him to skid slightly to the side and knocking the wind out of herself. Unable to draw breath, Cal stumbled backwards, her mouth agape.

“So professional.” Buddy smirked, his words muffled by the cap in his mouth. Gulping down air, Cal snatched it back off him and slipped it firmly back on her head.

“You’re fired,” she informed him, before turning to stroll towards the flickering light at the end of the side street.

Even with Buddy’s antics, they were only a couple of minutes late relieving the previous guard. She exchanged salutes with him before taking up position at the edge of the square where she had the best view of the goings-on. Palace guards didn’t usually patrol the towns of Oliford and Laketon, but they were occasionally sent to oversee events, like this bonfire. This was closer to the kind of police work Cal had trained for on Xara. She exchanged cheerful words with residents, tipping her cap at them, and pointed lost visitors in the right direction.

It was Buddy who noticed the slender young woman with her pretty black-blue-white horse first. He nudged Cal on the shoulder and pointed his nose in her direction; Cal followed his gaze and spotted what he’d seen instantly. The woman’s bony hand was held out as if in plea, her shoulders low with the weight of exhaustion. Without a second thought, Cal abandoned her post and crossed the square towards her.

“Hey, mate.” She grinned and touched her heart: the Xaran equivalent of a handshake. “Can I buy you some dinner?”

CALDERA