🦬 🚌 🛑🐎 Bison Bus Stop #12 🐎 🛑 🚌 🦬
Just as the gang was settling back into their seats, Kai took a mysterious left turn that definitely wasn’t on any official map—not even the interpretive one drawn in crayon. The road narrowed, winding through whispering trees and fields scattered with wildflowers.
“Uh, Kai?” Kiri said, peering over his shoulder. “Are we… on an actual road?”
Kai grinned. “Define ‘actual.’”
Bruce gave an amused hoot from his perch, and Winston leaned toward the window. “I spot a fence. And… a horse?”
Sure enough, the bus rumbled to a halt beside a wide paddock where a custard-coloured horse stood regally near the gate, wearing what looked like a faded military-style ribbon tied loosely around its neck.
Kai leapt off the bus. “Ah, General! Still guarding the outpost, I see.”
Eddie blinked. “You know the horse?”
Kai nodded. “General used to lead trail expeditions before retiring to this field. These days, he’s mostly in charge of morale.”
The horse—General—tossed his mane and trotted over with a proud clip-clop, snorting gently at each member of the group as they disembarked. Kiri offered him a piece of apple from her bag. He accepted it with dignified restraint.
“I feel like I should salute,” muttered Geoff.
“You probably should,” Winston whispered. “He’s got presence.”
Bruce fluttered down to perch on the fence post beside General. The two locked eyes in a moment of mutual understanding. Then General gave a solemn nod and neighed.
*“I think that was permission to explore,” Kai said.
They spent the afternoon wandering the fields, where General occasionally trotted alongside them, herding them gently when they strayed too far or lingered too long near a suspicious-looking bush.
Geoff found an old trail sign pointing to something called “Marmalade Ridge.” Eddie insisted on sketching General in full parade regalia. Kiri noted trail names on her clipboard, and Winston sang an impromptu anthem in General’s honor.
By the time the sun dipped low, the group gathered at the paddock fence again. General whinnied softly and nudged Kai’s arm.
“Message received,” Kai said, giving him a pat. “Time to move out.”
As the gang piled back onto the bus, General gave one sharp nod, then galloped in a wide circle, kicking up a triumphant spray of dust.
“Okay,” Kai said, settling into the driver’s seat. “Next stop: probably somewhere that’s not on any map. But I hear the clouds part when we get there.”
Winston raised a hand. “Calling dibs on General if we ever form a cavalry.”
“Only if I get to ride Bruce,” Eddie said.
Bruce hooted indignantly.
The bus engine rumbled to life, and as they pulled away, General stood tall at the paddock gate, silhouetted against the sunset, the ribbon around his neck fluttering like a battle flag.
“Ready for the next unexpected stop?” Kai called once more.
The cheers rang out again, and the road beckoned—winding, whimsical, and wonderfully uncharted.
Who doesn't love a Bus Stop Bison turf war?
Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction, written by ChatGPT. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the AI's imagination. Any resemblance to actual creatures, living or dead, events, or locales is entirety coincidental.