//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 // Story: The Accruing Phial // by PwnySwag290 //------------------------------//  The Accruing Phial Chapter 6 Umbra had expected the attack, and rolled out of the way clumsily. He landed on his side, weighed down by the saddlebags attached to his sides. Quickly he scrambled to his feet, looking around for any sign of his assailant. There was no sign of it, but Umbra guessed it wouldn’t give up that easily. He crouched once again, readying himself for another attack. His ears whipped anxiously. The suspense was killing him. Suddenly, a thought hit him. Tyedye was still asleep. He was a sitting duck. “Tyedye, wake up!” Umbra said, his voice low but urgent. The Pegasus looked around sleepily. “Something’s attacking us!” Umbra said, his voice once again filled with urgency. The Pegasus stood, taking to the air and gently flapping his way over to Umbra, stopping a few feet above him. “What are you talking about? I don’t see anythi-“ His words were cut short as a dark shape burst from the undergrowth and grabbed him out of the air. The creature and Tyedye hit the ground, struggling with each other as they did. Umbra caught his first real glimpse of the creature; It appeared to be some sort of giant hooded cobra, its golden scales shimmering beautifully as it tried to rend his friend limb from limb. Tyedye was struggling valiantly against the grip of the creature’s strong, muscular arms, its sharpened claws digging into him in various places. Tyedye bucked hard, hitting the creature on its scaled snout. It screeched in pain as blood streamed from its face. Umbra stood in shock as the creature  lifted Tyedye up by his neck, clearly intent on crushing the life out of him, Umbra snapped out of his shock, quickly grabbing a phial full of a bubbling green liquid from his saddlebags. He flung the phial, and it shattered on the vile creature’s head, its contents spilling over it. The creature let out another horrid screech of pain as the acid began to burn its face. It dropped the panting Pegasus, frantically clawing at its face. Suddenly, something flew out of the sky towards the creature, hitting it with such force as to send it flying bodily towards the treeline. The creature hit a tree with a great crack, falling limply to the bottom before slithering away dejectedly to lick its wounds. “You better run! Tell all your friends what happened here!” The Pegasus shouted triumphantly. The Pegasus alighted, approaching Umbra. Now that his brain had cleared, Umbra recognised him as the Pegasus who had offered to help them before. “Looks like your friend needs help” The Pegasus said, indicating Tyedye. Umbra trotted over, a look of extreme worry upon his face. He quickly checked the Pegasus over, muttering the problems to himself as he found them.   “Cracked ribs, sprained wing, minor blood loss, multiple lacerations… This is bad.” Umbra admitted. He ran over to his saddlebags, preparing to make a potion He looked over to the Pegasus, issuing orders to him. “Make sure he doesn’t move too much, I’m going to mix a healing potion for him.” The earth pony’s voice had an air of seriousness and authority which prevented any kind of defiance. The Pegasus nodded, and slowly walked over to the injured pony. Umbra quickly set to work. Several minutes later, the potion was ready and brewed. Umbra walked over to his injured friend. Pulling his muzzle open with a hoof, he poured the potion in bit by bit, rubbing his neck to make him swallow. As the last of the potion was swallowed, the Pegasus seemed to visibly improve. His shallow breathing returned to normal, and his body seemed to relax as the pain lessened. Umbra sat down heavily, his face the very picture of relief.  The Pegasus joined him, sitting down next to him. Grabbing the flint and steel from his saddlebags, Umbra gathered several dry twigs and set them alight. He sat down again, warming himself by the fire.  He patted the ground next to him, inviting the Pegasus closer to the fire. “He’s going to be out for a while.” Umbra said, motioning to Tyedye. “We might as well take a rest.” The Pegasus stretched his wings to warm them in the heat of the fire. “I just realised something.” Umbra said thoughtfully. The Pegasus looked at him curiously. “Yeah? And what’s that?” he asked. “You saved my life and Tyedye’s and I don’t even know your name.” He replied simply. The Pegasus laughed. ”No, I don’t suppose you do!”  He offered a hoof. Umbra reached out, and shook it. “Name’s Lightningbolt Stormcloud. Most ponies call me Lightning, or Bolt.” “My name is Umbra Nightshade, faithful student of Princess Luna.” The Pegasus seemed genuinely impressed. “You know the Lunar Princess? Is she really as scary as they say?” “Not really. She’s back to her old self now. She’s still getting used to modern Equestria, though. She can be a little cranky at times, but who isn’t?” The Pegasus smiled, and it eventually escalated into full blown laughter. The pair spent the next hour getting to know each other, talking, telling stories, laughing and generally having fun. Tyedye slept peacefully as they talked.   “We should get going. It’ll be dark soon and we shouldn’t stay here.” Umbra said as he packed away his things and buried the ashes of the fire, leaving no trace that they had been there. “Shouldn’t we wake Tyedye?” Lightningbolt asked. “Well, that’s not exactly possible.” Umbra began. “You see, he’s more... um...” He struggled for the words. “He’s more sort of in a coma than asleep. He’ll be fine, he just needs a few days rest, a week tops.” Umbra explained calmly. Lightning was not reassured. “Are you sure he’ll be ok? What about eating? And going to the bathroom?” “Hmmmm” Umbra mused. “Well, he should be able to eat if we put food near his mouth. As for going... He’ll do that himself. We just have to keep him clean.” Umbra said, in a matter of fact “Lightningbolt looked at him, disgusted. “Anyway, we have to figure out someway of carrying him. Oh, idea!” Umbra exclaimed as he grabbed a blanket and approached Lightningbolt. Lightningbolt looked at Umbra quizzically as he tied a knot in the blanket, attaching it loosely to his neck.  Umbra did the same to himself, forming a sort of hammock between. The pair of ponies  crouched low, and Umbra stretched his neck to roll Tyedye into the soft grasp of the hammock.   The pair of ponies left their former camp, their charge in tow. Lightning looked over at Umbra. Between his saddlebags, alchemy supplies and the comatose Pegasus between them, the earth pony should have been struggling to walk, or at the very least showing a sign of effort. He wasn’t. Lightningbolt, on the other hoof, was already breaking into a sweat. Lightningbolt looked at Umbra   “Can’t you... at least show... some effort? You’re starting to... hurt my self esteem.” Lightningbolt said jokingly, between lungfuls of air. “What can i say? We earth ponies are certainly robust.” Umbra replied.   Having come to small clearing, the group stopped. Umbra looked around. “This will do.” He said, inspecting the clearing. He untied his half of the hammock, and Lightningbolt did the same, Lowering Tyedye carefully to the ground. The two ponies began setting up camp, as the sun disappeared behind the treeline, leaving the forest in darkness.