#ivorymask

▪️It Begins▪️

Dark hooves compressed the dry, red sand as a mare paced worriedly. While delays aren't abnormal, there were hardly any reasons for the shipment to be late this time. Not to mention it was perishable food and ice they needed to get into the coolers asap! Ivy groans at the thought of how much may be spoiled by the time the mule makes it there.

Before the frazzled unicorn could make another circle around her path, an insectoid leg intercepts hers and causes Ivy to stumble into a stop. Her head shot up the instant it happened to figure out who did it, her blurry vision focusing (as much as it could) to see the worried look of Marqués. Just as she was about to ask, he chimes in to break the tense moment with a question both had on their minds.

"Any updates on the package?"

- Mark

"...No. No, I'm afraid not. Not even a message to pick it up at the Dodge Post. I hope he didn't get lost on the way here. I don't think we're too hidden?"

- Ivy

"Maybe we should've gone with PegaCorp-"

- Mark

Ivy grimaced at the thought of dealing with them again. The last time she went to ask about rates, they kept mistaking her for a filly and it became increasingly frustrating when they didn't believe the royal crest she presented for credentials. Ivy promptly shook her head with an excuse at the ready, kicking a pebble off in a direction.

"Ah, unfortunately, they don't deliver this far south of Equestria. Something about turbulence at the end of the world or something flight related...Plus the rates would bankrupt us in a week since they'd be using guys from the Wonderbolts...or something..."

- Ivy

Marqués stares at Ivy for a prolonged moment, the scowl barely noticeable thanks to his markings. Although this sceptical silence made the mare feel a bit guilty about lying, she shifts the topic almost instantly.

"The biggest issue is if our package is just lost in transit or if our mailpony is the one missing..."

- Ivy

Not satisfied with how fast she shifted the topic but knowing better than to pry during an urgent moment, they both exchange a look before Marqués nods. They began to gather a small bag of supplies for the road to hopefully provide aid should Ruckus Rex need it. While they aren't close, the last thing the team needs is a guilty conscience for making him walk this far every time and not even bother to check up on him once.

"... You're right. Maybe we should go along the path to see if we can meet him halfway? The poor guy is probably baking under the sun and confused. Wouldn't surprise me if he was collapsed by the shade catching his breath..."

- Mark

And with that, the siblings head out with worried hearts about what had happened to their mail and the pony tasked with delivering it. Yet they needn't go far before the shambling mess that was Rex's silhouette trudges into view. The heat waves from the sand obscuring him just enough to make the other two wonder if it was just a lumpy rock. When they reached him, Rex looked in particularly rough shape.

His snout was a little red where the skin baked under the sun but otherwise seemed conscious. Strapped to his harness were the cords holding the wooden cart to him. It's wheels are creaking and thumping thanks to the uneven shape as the contents jostled about the bed. Ivy seemed relieved while Mark didn't know what to say. Perhaps Rex really was just late...

Without further delay, they escorted the exhausted stallion to their camp, giving him enough water to drown an elephant before he finally took a breath. His beard was drenched in water and frankly had the pair not cut him off he could've probably downed another trough. When it seemed like Rex would grumble some kind of thanks, it garbled into a snore after the stallion drifted into a deep slumber where he sat slumped, baffling the pair who still couldn't figure out what was so off about him.