"Zeta?" Velvet said but I ignored her. "A-are you okay?"
"Leave him alone Velvet. He just needs some time."
"I know but he's been silent for an hour. I'm really starting to worry..." Velvet whispered that last part, but I heard her anyway.
I groaned in response, and Velvet "eeped".
"Zeta," Ganger said, moving closer to me. "You should say something, it would make her feel better."
I stopped and looked around. It was getting dark and I'm sure we're all tired. "Do you think we should stop here?"
"That's what you're going to say? After being quiet for so long, that's it?"
I grunted. "We could continue for another couple miles." I said without turning around.
"Guys," Velvet said. "I would by fine for another mile or so. W-we can keep going."
"Then let's continue." I said as I started walking. We walked another two miles in silence. They got me to talk when we hit three miles.
"...All I'm saying is that you don't have to be mean to us."
"I know."
"...I guess it's settled then?"
"Seems that way."
"Um," Velvet started. "...Zeta? Ganger? Please don't do this. Not here."
"Should be fine after some sleep."
"Who?" Ganger chimed in. "You? Or me?"
"Both. It's obvious that we're tired and hungry. We need to get sleep."
"I'm fine." Ganger stated. "You're the one who needs rest."
All and all, she was probably right. They both seemed fine to go for a bit longer, and I know I wasn't. But the fact that we've been arguing for awhile almost had my patience wore down to the bare minimum. If it wasn't already there that is. I stopped to say something, but shook my head and turned to them, sat down and sighed.
"Look, I'm sorry. All my life I've been lead to believe that my mother was dead. And then out of nowhere I learn that she left my father and I to go back to her home land. Could he not have told me the truth. Hell The least he could have done was tell me she was a bucking pony!" I kicked the ground with a fore hoof and looked down. "I'm just thinking of why she left. Was it because she didn't want me? Or was it my father? Or like the village? All of these thoughts, all of the different possibilities of what caused and why she left, is circling in my head." I looked up at them again. "It's just...a lot too think about..."
Ganger came up to me, and put a hoof on my shoulder and smiled. "I think I understand. In the Hive we don't have much interaction with our parents until a certain age."
"That's not the same thing."
"No, no it isn't. But imagine going half of your foalhood thinking you don't have any parent. At least you had a father."
I smiled a little at that, but it didn't stay long. "That is true, but imagine thinking that your father secretly hates you because you killed his wife." Her smile faded and she took her hoof off of my shoulder.
"I don't think I can imagine that to be honest." She said truthfully. "Not that I would want too, but just remember we're here for you."
Velvet walked up to us and chimed in. "And if you need to talk about anything, feel free to talk to me or Ganger."
I smiled. "I'll keep that in mind." I stood up and stretched. " So, are we stopping for tonight?" Ganger yawned and so did Velvet. I chuckled. "I think I have my answer."
We woke up at what seemed seemed to be around ten in the morning. It was a late start, but our goal for now is to get to the edge of the forest and go from there. After waking up a little bit, I took out the map.
"According to the map, we only have about three more miles."
"No sense in wasting time here!" Ganger said, already walking in the right direction.
"Agreed."
"Okay, okay slow down you two." I chuckled as I packed up the map and followed.
We had to stop for a couple minutes to gather berries because our food was running low. After that we were good to continue. We had about a mile and a half to go now, and the walk so far has been, thankfully, uneventful. There wasn't any to keep us from getting bored however, and Ganger wasn't shy about sharing how bored she was. I told her to stop and she did, Velvet laughed.
We took our last few steps and found the Jungle/Desert border. I commented that I wasn't excited to go back out there, and the other two agreed wholeheartedly. I saw a village off in distance, I raised an eyebrow and brought out the map. Ganger noticed this and walked over to me.
"It's just straight south from here right? Why are you checking the map?" She asked.
"See that there?" I pointed in the direction of the village.
"See what?" She followed where I was pointing. "Oh cool, a village!"
"An unmarked village." I corrected, what a hint of worry in my voice. "This map has every village in the Zebra Dominion. I...don't think we should go in there."
Ganger shrugged. "Maybe it's just new? How old is that map anyway?"
"We also need more food. Even if we fill our bag with berries, we won't survive long if that is our only food source."
"You have a point." Like it or not they did. This map most likely is outdated, and our food supply is dangerously low. "We can't afford to pass it up. As long as we are cautious, we should be fine."
"So we can go?" Ganger asked.
"We can go." I confirmed. "But like I said, we should keep our wits about us. Just in case."
They both nodded and we started gathering berries before walking over to the village. It was still about a mile away though. When we got close enough Ganger disguised herself as the same pegasus pony she used to help us get across the chasm. I told them too let me do the talking, the agreed and we walked up to the gate. There was no guard, and thought it better to leave, but before I could say anything Ganger called out. There was some ruckus from behind the gate and then it opened.
"Travelers?" The guard zebra said.
"Yes." I answered slowly. "We are low on food, save for the berries we picked up, and were wondering if your village could provide. May we stay and resupply?"
"Travelers?!" Somezebra shouted from behind the guard zebra. Who shook his head and responded.
"It is uncertain that we can provide the proper supplies for you and your companions." He then smiled for an unknown reason. "But you may come in and rest." He moved aside and let us in.
The first thing I noticed was that this village was in seriously bad shape. All the buildings looked somewhat put together. I couldn't tell what they were made from, though, it didn't look like wood. The second thing I noticed was the owner of the voice the yelled behind the guard. It was a zebra mare that looked really excited. Too excited I might add.
She ran off in the other direction, leaving us confused. The guard told us not to worry about it, and told us to enjoy our stay. For some reason the way he said it worried me. The smile he had afterwards didn't help either. I looked at the other and I think they're feeling a little uneasy as well. Another zebra came up to us shortly afterwards.
"Hello travelers! And welcome to our village!" He said with a smile that wasn't creepy. "It's not much but please, let me show you three around." We all nodded and followed him. He showed us their leader's hut, the clinic, the restaurant, and the "hotel" where we will be staying. "So, what do you think?"
"It's nice," I started. "You made use of everything you had at your disposal."
He looked unsure for a moment for some reason, but responded. "Thank you! Now about your resupply." I felt Velvet tap my shoulder.
"One moment please."
He nodded. "Go right ahead."
I nodded to him and turned to Velvet. "Yes?"
"I-I don't like it here..."
"I don't either." I said. "I would like to get our supplies and get out of here as quick as possible." I turned back to the zebra. "Anyway, as you were saying?"
"Your food supplies. You said you were low?"
"Yes, about a day or maybe just a bit more than that."
"Ah I see. I will see if we have what you need in the meantime, you can stay here and find a room."
"Okay, thanks for your help."
"Not a problem."
We went inside and got a room. It had one bed that looked very uncomfortable, a couch, and a reasonably sized window. A lantern sit upon the small table in the corner of the room. Looking around, I could see that the room itself was what I had expected. I walked over and sat on the bed. Yep, pretty uncomfortable. Ganger and Velvet walked over, Velvet sitting on the bed next to me while Ganger sat on the floor, shedding her disguise. We looked at each other, it was clear we all were thinking the same thing.
"I really don't like it here." Ganger spoke first. "Something doesn't feel right, and there a faint smell of..." She sniffed the air and her eyes widened a little. "...blood..."
"Blood?!" Velvet nearly shouted. "What would that mean?"
"I don't know...but I don't like it." I said, feeling a little drowsy.
"Hey...is anyone else...feeling sleepy?" Velvet asked.
Ganger and I yawned. "But it's not...nearly late enough for us to be...tired." Ganger stated.
"Unless." I turned around and looked towards the window. "Sleeping gas..."
"What?!" Both Ganger and Velvet shouted. I couldn't answer. I passed out before I could.
When I woke up, I was chained to a wall and the zebra that helped us was telling another zebra to do something. He turned to me and smiled. I looked around and saw both Ganger and Velvet on the floor. I passed out again shortly after I saw them.