----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Doctor approached the two. A look of shame crossing his otherwise calm features.
“I’m sorry, so. How are you feeling little one?” He repeated when he reached them.
“I hurt, and... I want to know where my mommy is..” Was her scared reply.
Air just looked from her to the Doctor. Ears flat. She felt responsible and now this little filly, didn’t have a home, or a mother.
“Where does it hurt sweetie?” The Doctor knelt down, resting like Air was. His belly against the ground. “Can you point where it hurts exactly?” He continued.
Taking a moment, to focus. She pointed to her broken leg, her chest, hip and forehead.
“It hurts here... There and here...” She looked at the Doctor, with such big, puppy dog eyes. It broke Air’s heart.
“Sir... I just... I want to know where mommy went... She” She pointed to Air. “Told me she’s gone.” She had no idea what death was. No concept of... ‘gone’ it was pathetically heart breaking and one of them would have to explain it.
Taking a gulp of air. Air Fair turned her head to look at her.
This would be harder, than anything she may have done before. Explaining to this poor little child. Explain there was no mommy anymore. There was no more ponies, besides them for what could be thousands of miles.
“Chocolate. Please, listen. You’re mother is gone, you know those really high clouds in the skies sometimes? You know, the really big ones?” Air gave her a weak smile. “Well, you’re mommy is on one of those. She’s not here, on the ground anymore. She’s safe, on a really big cloud, that almost touches the stars.” Telling a filly this, it was terrible. And twisted her stomach. What had the world come to, where she, of all ponies, had to explain death. Her mind, buzzed, making her sight blurred. Tightening her breath in her throat.
Why, why did she have to tell her. She was the least qualified pony to do it.
“She’s.” Chocolate looked up, at the fading light, to the few stars that were visible through the foliage. “Up there? When will she come back?” Her gaze rested on Air’s.
“Ch...Chocolate. She... Isn’t coming back...” Her emotions were surging, making tears come to her eyes. “And it’s my fault.” She admitted, wiping the tears away.
In some twisted sick way, this filly reminded her of her own foalhood. She had her own set of struggles. And all she could hope was this filly was just as strong and would survive. She would do everything she could to make that a reality. If they found their way out, they got back to civilization, she would keep searching for her father, if she had one and if she didn’t. She would adopt Chocolate.
Out of all the fillies and colts she’d ever seen, on the job. This little one stole her heart.
“Why.. Why would she leave me behind? She left me...” Her eyes were so wide and behind them, was... Anger? Was a filly, this young, able to comprehend such an emotion to the extent she showed?
“What will we do?” Chocolate asked changing the subject. To hide her own emotions.
The two adults both looked at each other, they needed to find something to dull the pain. This filly was very good at hiding it.
First things first that was to make a base. A place they could go, be safe. At least, relatively speaking. Nothing was ‘safe’ out here.
“We make a home, until we can get out. Rescuers are coming to find us, I bet and when they do. We’ll be get out of here.” This was of course highly optimistic. Thinking they would be found, anywhere, anytime. Regardless of how optimistic. Rather foolish, they were in a sense, a needle in a haystack.
“First we need fresh water... Doctor, can you watch her, I’ll go back and find food, at least one of the galleys was still together. There might be something to eat, or drink.”
He nodded, shifting into a position to comfort, Chocolate. As she had been.
“Of course I’d be happy too, just be safe. Take this, it can hel--- Oh, you’re a unicorn! I keep forgetting you all have spells! I’m sure I’m going senile!” He looked at Chocolate. “The best kind of senile, I assure you.” He nuzzled her gently, giving her nose a little rub.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Doctor watched Air go and turned to the filly.
“Would you like to do something maybe a game, to get your mind off the pain?” He asked, trying to think of fun things to do. Cards? He might have some in his pocket... Maybe ‘I spy’? Or maybe she had a game she liked to play.
“No thank you, I am far too sophisticated to play trivial games.” Was her reply. Her eyes locked onto his. With an inner fire.
“While I may not know where my mommy has gone, I assure you I am not thick. I am, infact in desperate need of deeper forms of conversation than you, or her.” She pointed to where Air had left. “Seem capable of.”
Her words left the Doctor speechless.
“Oh, you’re surprised by my conversational level? that Airhead back there, is easily fooled, but you. You and I can think nearly on the same level.” She continued.
“And, I’m guessing you are a medical doctor, correct?”
Before the Doctor could reply.
“I’d really question your degree, if you've not gotten me bandaged up better than this. Surely you have some skill, if you call yourself the Doctor.”
The Doctor just stared at her. Thoroughly baffled. How was she talking like this. Why was she. Airhead? She meant Air Fair? That wasn’t a very nice name for her...
“Well, Chocolate. I’m... Not really that kind of doctor, it’s just my name.”
Her blue eyes locked onto his. The fire burning brighter.
“A doctrine then. Not very useful in this situation is it? Especially when you obviously lack the ability to help...” She put her hooves to her chin. “A poor helpless little filly like me.”
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air reached the now smoking debris. Nothing was smoldering. The rain had completely extinguished the fires and remaining embers.
The part of the aircraft she had been in, was still intact. Perfectly so, despite the slight curve where it hit the ground, and a few fractures. It could pass for a part, removed by a company for display. Luckily for her, there was a middle galley, where in normal aircrafts there was only two. One at the nose, and one towards the tail.
Of course, this was mostly drinks, but there must have been a little left over food.
She stood for a moment, reflecting on what had happened.
Sitting, she absorbed it.
‘You really are lucky, or maybe cursed... That’s yet to be seen, which of the two.’ She thought, looking at the wreckage. If they survived, she couldn’t ever fly again. No pony who survived a crash, stewardess, steward, pilot or passenger can fly after being in such an event. It warps the mind, changes ponies. And it would change her, if it hadn’t already.
Looking, she saw freshly dug graves. The dirt still damp, with small rocks making a halo like feature around where she guessed the heads would be.
Her eyes and expression grew somber.
“I’m sorry.” She whispered.
Getting to her hooves, she walked slowly over to where the galley would be.
The tattered remains of carpet welcomed her, and the stench of jet fuel and the beginnings of rotting corpses.
Covering her mouth with a hoof, she lifted herself up and over the fallen chairs, and weaved through the obstacles. And there. In a crumpled heap, was the galley.
Bottles of water, empty, full, and some half empty, strewn the floor. Soda cans too, some crumpled to small disks.
Looking for something to carry the supplies in, she found nothing obvious. This called for thinking outside the box.
Finding a nearly intact chair, she tore the fabric off, and laid it down. So she could place anything she would take, in it, and then carry it back in her magic.
Soda, that was a maybe. Sugar would dehydrate them, and they only had so much water.
Four bottles... Three full, and one nearly empty.
She sighed. They would have to find more somewhere.
She grabbed the soda anyways. It was better than nothing.
Opening the food compartments, she was greeted with five different kinds of foods each with it’s own problems.
Peanuts, which were salted. Bad to eat when having a limited source of water...
Hay, which was damp, and starting to mold. A bad smell filled the compartment. Wet hay...
She grimaced, not a pleasant smell.
Bread, which was individually wrapped, good for carrying.
Fruit, the apples looked good, but the melon. Not so much.
And there was also... Oats. Lots and lots of oats.
Figuring the oats, fruit, bread and peanuts. As salty as the peanuts would be, where infact better than nothing. She left the hay to rot.
As it should. With a horrid smell like that, she never wanted to smell it again.
Taking the water, a few cans of soda, the empty bottles of water. Incase they found a spring, She put the food into the little sash, she bundled it all up, in the makeshift carrier.
Lifting the central spot, taking minimal effort. She began weaving through the rubble once more.
When she exited, there was virtually no light. Nothing to see by, no moon, no stars.
The sky had become overcast again, threatening more rain as the fresh smell that usually comes with it hung in the already damp air.
“I’m guessing we’re in a rain forest...” She grumbled to herself. Bringing the bag of supplies to her mouth, she bit down on it. Casting her magic to illuminate her way...
Furrowing her brow, she stopped dead in her tracks. There was a first aid kit somewhere in there! She brought her hoof to her face. A little harder than she intended. Why hadn’t she thought of that...
‘You’re becoming forgetful!’ She thought as she turned.
Hanging the little bundle of supplies down on a branch, she made her way back into the wreckage. Going under and over the parts that littered the floor was getting tiresome. Her muscles ached with the strain.
Casting her rosy pink magic, she lit her way.
Now in the eerie light, the twisted remains of chairs, and parts of the cabin became ghostly figures.
She did jump multiple times, from the shadows, casted by her magic.
The last time she jumped, she pressed herself against the wall, holding her chest, trying to ease her heart, racing as fast as a derby racer.
‘Oh good, this one just looks like a kitty.’ She inwardly sighed. Glad it didn’t look like a pony, who’d been in the cabin.
As her heart slowed. It just as quickly picked up. The shadow moved, and it wasn’t her doing.
Gulping, she tried to stay as quiet as she could.
Lowering herself to the floor, she crept along. Measuring her breathing as much as she could, to not make a sound.
There was a soft growl, almost a purr of pleasure. Which made Air’s fur stand on end.
That was not a kitty, and it was not harmless. That was for sure. Lifting her head, she took a look over.
Seeing the last of a white tipped tail slip by a few aisles back. Her eyes widened. A scream bubbled up in her throat.
‘NO!’ she thought, if she made any noise she was done for, for sure.
Swallowing the scream, and the fear, she pressed on, as best she could.
When she finally reached where the supplies she had found where, she opened the lower compartments. It clicked, as it unlatched, and fell back with the angle of the plane.
Casting her light as quickly as she could she grabbed the purse like containment for the first aid.
Moving away as fast as she dared, knowing that sound would alert the ‘kitty’
Just as she turned the corner the leopard’s head poked over one of the chairs. It’s eyes narrowing, seeing the compartment door swing.
With a flick of it’s tail. It crawled over the seat, sniffing the still gently swaying cupboard.
It growled menacingly. It’s tail lashing in agitation
Air who, was only a few hoof steps away, trembled. She had to get out, somehow, get the supplies, and get back to the Doctor and Chocolate.
Without drawing the attention of ‘kitty’
She heard it pad off, maybe to continue stalking her. Not counting her blessings yet, she took a deep gulp of air. Peeking from her hiding place.
She didn’t see it. With her dimmed magical light.
That was good, meant she had a fighting chance of getting away.
‘Come on, you can do it... it’s... It’s just a kitty! A... Really big kitty, who wants to gut you... And possibly serve you to it’s cubs.’ She cursed her overactive imagination.
That didn’t help her mentally with this situation.
Getting to her hooves, she quietly got off the aircraft, at the back end, from where she had entered.
It would be a long way around, but at least it meant no going through that again.
The heavy smell of fuel still lingered in the humid air. Making breathing laborious and uncomfortable. It stung the nose.
Brightening her magic, she looked for her little parcel. After a minute of searching, she found where it was hanging on a branch. Safe and sound. Luckily nothing had touched it. Or tried.
Lifting it down, she put it on the only dry spot she could find, putting the first aid in there, tying it up again and lifting it in her mouth.
A growl from behind made her stop, her eyes wide.
“A little pony? Lost her way?” The leopard purred. Eyes glowing faintly in the light.
Air turned, and the leopard was gone. Her head twisted around, back and forth looking for it.
“Such a tasty treat... Shame, I’m not a scavenger. Plenty of dead meat, lying around.” Came the voice again.
Air couldn’t tell if it was feminine, or masculine. But whatever gender, both were equally deadly.
“Can’t you talk? Or would you rather not beg for your life?” The leopard asked, now visible stalking around Air. The cat was lithe, thin and ready for a chase, it’s coat gleemed. Casting a golden hue to it’s tawny fur. While it moved with deadly grace around the pony, Air gulped. She looked around for anything to defend herself with.
“It’s best if you don’t, I don’t take pity on prey. Makes my job easier.”
The leopard laughed, baring long fangs. Grinning with morbid pleasure.
‘Oh dear... what... What do I do.. Come on... Think! you can think can’t you? You survived a plane crash, you lived through stewardess training... Why is this any diffe---’
A blur made her come back to reality. She was knocked to the ground, on her back.
She screamed, but it was cut short as the air from her lungs was knocked out of her.
“Scream all you want, no one will hear you.” The leopard dug its claws into her flank. dragging her towards it and it’s expecting fangs.
“Let me go!” She howled, kicking and bucking.
Hitting the leopards lower jaw, she managed to wiggle free, she immediately rolled onto her hooves and looking around the dark surroundings.
Then it hit her.
“Leopard... Do you know what’s all around us?” She asked, a flicker of a grin on her face. With the weight of her on her limbs. Her left flank, flared in pain. The faint trickle of blood oozing down her leg.
The leopard shook itself. Glaring at her.
“Wreckage, which brought a tasty treat, what of it?” Was it’s short reply. It’s eyes regarded her with annoyance now, unlike the amusement from before. This meal was posing to be a problem.
“Can you smell that? The smell that burns your nose? The heavy scent of something strange, something you’ve never smelled before. Would you say it is?” Air asked. Her own eyes narrowed.
“Silence! Stop playing games, only I can toy with my kills.” It snarled. Baring it’s long saber like fangs.
“I beg to differ, that I’m about to do, might just stop your hunts, for quite a while!” Was Air’s counter. She looked for a wet patch, with a slick oily color.
Another blur brought her attention back.
She jumped and bucked, kicking the leopard in the ribs this time.
It landed a few feet away. Landing on it’s side. She watched, and waited. Maybe she didn’t have to, maybe she wouldn’t have to hurt the animal. It wasn’t it’s fault, it was only hunting. It wasn’t anything personal. But she had to protect herself, like any good prey does.
Putting up a fight.
“How dare you, hoofer!” It lifted itself up, it panted, clearly in pain. “How dare you hurt me!”
She raised an eyebrow to the creature. What kind of logic was this? Could she not defend herself.
Make hunting a little more challenging.
This was curious to her.
“I am Queen Bitter Claw! I rule the jungle... I know every rock, every creature. You’ve made a grave error!...”
She prepared another leap.
With a toss of her head, flaring of her horn. She held a rosy fire.
“Remember that smell? It’s called jet fuel... And this. Is what happens when you light it!”
She let the fire blast down to the puddle she had sighted earlier.
In a moment it was spreading through the clearing, a loud rushing enferno
Bitter Claw roared, both in shock, rage, and perhaps fear.
“What is this magic!” She cried, backing away.
Taking this moment, Air grabbed her bundle. Turned and ran. Before the fire spread to her. Her own hooves were wet with the fuel, and she didn’t need hot hooves.
Illuminating her way she kept herself going. Even with her rear leg surging in pain. It was almost over. Almost... A little further!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This filly was incredibly intelligent. Perhaps the most intelligent the Doctor had ever met. But, who’s to say she was smart. Many brilliant ponies, were in some way stupid. No pony was perfect.
But it seemed that this filly, was a genius. But the cost of which was, she viewed everypony else as less than her. Not physically less important, but rather. Beneath her mentally.
He had gotten this, hearing her story.
Which he wouldn’t repeat to Air. Didn’t seem like the proper subject matter.
“So you’re saying, the meaning of life isn’t 42, but rather---”
An ear piercing scream cut through the still night. The Doctor was on his hooves in an instant.
“Air!” He looked from the jungle to the filly. He couldn’t abandon her. Nor could he let the mare die.
Whatever was the right thing to do, tore him. He didn’t know which he should do.
His ears flicked back and forth, he pranced in place, at a loss.
What should he do...
‘Doctor, can you watch her.’ Her last words to him rang in his mind. Slowly he sat down. Looking at Chocolate.
“Do you want to do something now? Maybe some mathematical equations?” He asked trying to smile. He needed something to get his mind off this situation more than she seemed to right now.
He was just writing out a really long one in the ground when both a feral roar, and the raging blaze of a fire cut through the again silent night.
Looking to where the glow burned, casting an orange glow, visible faintly through the trees.
He looked at the filly, horrified.
Something was out there, hunting Air.
And would be hunting them too, if he wasn’t careful.
“Quick! We have to get to a high place...”
He looked up, at the trees for any flat, or safe crotch of a tree to hid in.
Looking from tree to tree, nothing really was yielding any results, until. Was that one? Yes! It was.
He grabbed the filly by the scruff.
“I’m sorry, no time!”
She howled in protest as he began to scramble up the branches that were accessible. He had to get to higher ground and fast!
Nearly falling twice, he got to the top of a strange tree, it wasn’t impossibly high, perhaps thirty feet off the ground or so. Perfect to see what was around them and keep them from most danger. He hoped.
He put the filly down as gently as he could. Putting a hoof to her mouth, to stop her crying. He gently pet her head.
“I’m sorry, I am so sorry. Shhhh, it’s okay.”
He cooed, trying to calm her down.
He was still hearing hissing and feral sounds, but they grew faint, going in the opposite direction.
His ears fell flat, as he watched the glow.
Air, what happened to her? Was she killed by whatever creature had made those sounds. Or... Was it the fire.
Down below, he picked up a new glow.
One that moved through the bushes and trees...
Peeking over the lip of the tree, his hearts nearly stopped dead.
There she was. She had survived!
“Air!” He hissed. He tried again, a little louder.
She stopped, dropped something and looked up.
“Doctor, what are you doing up there?”
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air looked up at the Doctor’s face in the crotch of the tree. It was almost comical. A pony in a tree. Who’d ever heard of such a thing!
“I managed to grab some supplies.” She smiled weakly.
Then collapsed onto her right flank. Yelping in pain.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------