“That’s a bird,” Rainbow Dash clarified, staring at the fidgeting red lump in front of her. She pulled at her mane. “That’s a bird and oh my gosh oh my gosh what are you doing.”

Gilda grabbed it by a wing. It swayed in the wind. She shrugged, but still had an unmistakable smirk. “What does it look like?” With that, she flicked the bird up into the air. Dash could only stare as Gilda took a step back, opened her beak, and let the body drop into her mouth. A few flecks of blood sputtered out when she snapped her jaw closed. She ripped out a chunk and swallowed.
Dash felt like her stomach had melted. Taking deep breaths, she tried to turn away. Yet, every few moments she couldn’t help but glance back with wide eyes. “That,” she muttered. There were about ten full breaths before she continued. “That’s gross. Like, really gross. You're gross.”

“Yeah, but at least I’m full.” Gilda tossed the carcass to the side, letting it tumble into the clouds. Instead of falling right through, it just sank a bit before stopping. Dash moved a few steps away from the growing splotch. Gilda snickered again. “Jeez, Dash. Didn’t know you were such a little priss.”

“I’m not!” Rainbow yelped. She did a double-take at the dead bird before turning around and pouting. “You’re just freakin’ gross. Who the hay eats actual birds?”

“Uh, griffons? Who eats fried hay?”

“Anypony that’s not a weirdo!”

Gilda rolled her eyes. “Great. So I’m just a weirdo to you too?”

“Wha…? No, G, that’s not what I meant.” Dash rubbed her leg. “Ponies just don’t eat meat! We’re veterinarians, or whatever—all we eat is plants. ‘Cuz, like, birds are basically stupider pegasi. When you eat a bird, it’s kinda like you’re eating a pony. And that’s not cool.”

“But what about that rabbit I ate last week?” Gilda snapped, cheeks a bright pink. “You were just as ticked then.”

“Well, it’s still meat!”

“I’m a carnivore, Dash! All I eat is meat!”

“Yeah, well, maybe if you actually tried some hayfries, you would like them!” Dash shouted. “And then you wouldn’t have to be so gross!”

“You’re gross!”

“No, you!”

Their faces were nearly touching now. They both growled before spinning away, muttering the worst curse words they knew—real and made-up—under their breath. Rainbow had just called Gilda a “snootlumper” when she realized that a new sound had filled the air: laughter. She turned, only to find Gilda giggling into her claws. She forced herself to keep frowning. “What’s so funny?”

Gilda stifled her laughter with a claw. “No, no, it’s just—I’ve tried hayfries, and I think they’re disgusting. But have you ever tried meat?”

Dash snort-laughed, but it soon faded when she saw Gilda’s grin. She took a step back, eyes flying between Gilda and the bird. “I don’t eat meat.”

“Maybe if you actually tried some bird, you would actually like it!” Gilda sang. Her grin somehow grew bigger. “You want some?”

“No. That’s gross.”

Gilda picked a piece of flesh off the bird. Gilda opened her talon and held it out to Dash.

“Seriously, G, this is stupid. I don’t want any meat,” Rainbow said, staring at the scrap. A moment passed, with the only sound being Dash’s hard breaths. She flicked a glance at Gilda. “Do… Do you really want me to?”

Gilda didn’t answer.

Rainbow gulped. “Okay, but only ‘cuz you really want me to.”

She reached out and took the piece in her hoof. She opened her mouth, but spent the next few moments just flipping it from hoof-to-hoof. Then, with a prayer to the patron spirit of disgusting foods, she threw it into her mouth. Eyes clenched, Dash let it just sit at the bottom of her mouth before taking a few hesitant chews and swallowing. The meat tasted slimy and bitter. It slid down her throat like a greasy hayfry. She shuddered as it went down.

Chuckling, Gilda clapped a talon on Dash’s back. “I knew you weren’t a complete priss, Dash!”

Meat. Everything spun. Dash’s vision was a swirling mix of colors, pocked with black blobs. Meat. I ate a bird. “S-stop,” she murmured as Gilda slapped her back again. Eyes wobbling, she looked over her shoulder at Gilda. “I—I’m gonna—“

For the next minute or so, all Gilda could think about was how lucky she was to have 24/7 access to the Junior Speedsters showers.