//------------------------------//
// Ch.2: The Walk of Death 
// Story: Reanimated 
// by SilverMistfim 
//------------------------------//

So we set out from the fort, walking through the forest. Just one foot in front of another. I have my blank paper levitating in front of me, along with a quill, for mapping out the area. Opal and I don't say much to each other, just some warnings every now and then to tread carefully. She's kind of my look out, seeing as I'm constantly dragging the feather quill across the parchment. I take note of her cutie mark, a circle with a plus sign in it. I'm not an expert, but I'm guessing it's the target from a sniper rifle. It just reminds me even more that even though she looks cute and innocent, she has been training in the Messenger Corps longer than I have, and that she is a force to be reckoned with. I let out a long shaky breath as I continue to walk and map.

"So, how long have you been in the business?" Opal inquirers, obviously trying to break the awkward silence.

"Business?"

"You know, being a navigator?"

"O-oh, well…" I put the end of the quill in my mouth, thinking. "I think it's been about three years."

"hmm," she nods. "I think I have been officially in the messenger corps for about a year."

"Oh. If I was a messenger that long, I would be long dead by now." I say, trying to lighten up the situation.

Opal puts on a forced smile. We both know it wasn't funny, but I still silently thank her for the notion.

"We should probably stop for lunch, I don't know about you but I'm starving!" Opal laughs. I don't know why, but her laugh is strangely comforting. I can't help but chuckle a bit, too.

"Sounds good."

So we find a nice spot under a tree where we sit down to have a quick snack
"We probably shouldn't do this often, we might run out of food sooner." Says Opal.

I nod in agreement. I hadn't thought of that. I then take out an apple from my saddle bag, and attempt to break in in half.

"Here, I'll help." Opal offers.

"T-thanks." I say.

She leans over and picks up the apple with her magic, then swiftly breaks in in half, handing me a piece.

"Thank you." I smile, picking it up.

We both sit in silence for a few minutes, just enjoying the meal. A crow caws somewhere in the forest, startling me. It is at this point that I remember that this was no picnic. A lurker could rush into the clearing at any moment. With that thought in mind, I scarf down the rest of my apple and stand up. This forest suddenly seems… eery. I can see my breath coming in puffs before my eyes, the tip of my snout chilled. Morning dew still clings to the pale leaves and grass, the sky a light grey. I feel… unsafe. I silently urge Opal to hurry up, we should keep moving.

"Alright. We should keep moving." Says Opal.

At that moment, we hear it. a low moaning sound coming from a few feet away. I tense my muscles and levitate my pistol in front of me.

"D-d-did you hear that?!" I ask.

"Don't worry, it's just one of them. Oh yeah, I keep forgetting that this is your first time out." She says. And with that, she levitates a pistol to her face and silently clings to the back of a tree. She gestures me to do the same. The moaning is louder now, and I can hear hoof-steps coming closer. Suddenly I wish I hadn't gone on this trip. Then, we see it.
A faded purple head, then its neck, then it's full body. It's ribcage is gleaming in the morning light, some bones smashed and hanging by a few fibres. I can't even make out It's cutie mark from the ripped flesh on it's rear. It's cold, dead eyes lock onto me. I can't move. I screech, dropping my pistol and falling to the damp earth. I scramble backwards as it limps it's way over to me. Suddenly, a baseball bat collides with it's head and it falls to the floor. I regain control of my body and stand up, picking up my pistol. The creature swivels it's distorted head on Opal.

"Rose, it's best if you look away." Say's Opal dryly.

I obey and turn my head around. I hear a collision, a deep snapping noise, the creatures head being bashed in with a blunt object. I hear it again, then again, then again… After a while i hear Opas voice. "Don't worry, its safe now.”

I slowly turn my head around to see the lurker's head a bloody mess. It's remaining eye has been popped like a grape, the pale blood everywhere, already starting to clot. I feel sick to my stomach. suddenly that apple doesn't seem like it was a good idea. I look over at Opal, whose fore legs are sticky with cold, black sludge. Blood. Opal had used her own hooves to bash the creatures head to a pulp. I felt sick, the sight of all the blood and the gore made my stomach churn. I didn’t know what to think, I had never seen anything like that before. I had seen ponies killed before, but nothing like the way Opal killed that lurker, so brutally and without hesitation. I wish I hadn’t seen the body. I wish she hadn’t killed it. But more importantly I started to wish I had never left the fort.‏