The sun was setting and all the foals were getting tired. They had arrived very close to the mountains, but neither of them felt like climbing them in the dark, surrounded by all the nightly creatures.
"Let's stop here!" exclaimed Button, pointing his hoof towards a cave. "We can mine and gather resources during the night!"
"Huh?!" Scootaloo gasped, the setting sun making her fur look more orange than anything. "Are you kidding me...? There's no way in hell I'm digging all night! How about we just go to the nearby forest and hunt a few sheep for beds?"
"Now that's a good idea! I'm in!" nodded Applebloom, her sword ready.
"W... What about coal?" The frail voice of Sweetie Belle made them all turn their heads in surprise. She had barely spoken ever since they had exited the desert. "We'll need it if we want to stay safe tonight..." she continued.
"Yeah... That's a good point too" conceded Diamond. "I say we split up into two groups! Like uh... Me, Button and Sweetie Belle to go hunting and Scootaloo, Applebloom and Rumble going to find some coal and other resources...?"
She had barely finished her sentence when the foals strongly opposed against her plan :
"There ain't no way I'm mining!"
"I'll take your place to mine if you want..."
"I wanna go out hunting to get some materials!"
"Yeah! I'm not mining either!"
"Maybe Button should mine!"
"Do you guys know anything about hunting here...?"
Scootaloo sighed. She was never going to find good materials to try creating new stuff. It was nice hobby to do in her opinion. It was helpful!
She jumped when Button stomped his hoof on the ground loudly. The chatter died away.
"Right! Sweetie Belle will be mining. Rumble will be mining. They're both familiar with the game and what to mine alongside what to do and what not to do. I will be hunting since I know what to get. Scootaloo will be searching for her materials and Applebloom will be with her just in case there's danger. Diamond comes hunting with me. Are. We. All. Cleeeeaaaaar?" The brown colt had spoken slowly, in detached words.
That irritated Scootaloo.
What a snob... Who nominated him leader...? Although he still all got us to do what we wanted and liked, I think...
A few grumbles of approval were heard and everypony split up. Scootaloo ran to the edge of the forest and waited for Applebloom there, her hooves almost itching in excitement. Maybe she was going to find rare materials here...?
The young cowpony soon joined her and Scootaloo started trotting through the high grass, admiring the reflections that the sun gave out. The leaves were shining brightly as water had been deposed onto them, probably coming from the last rain. The pink/orange glow was perfectly contrasting with the overall 'green' of the leaves. And so, the final result was peaceful and sublime.
She absolutely loved the fact that, since the very first steps she had taken in the jungle, the atmosphere had changed. The air had gotten heavier, to match the humid climate of a normal jungle, and all noise had died down, proof that the leaves above them were in fact very thick.
Scootaloo's ears perked up and her eyes scanned the area so she could better listen and see all the wildlife. There, a small bird chirping! And over there, the silent flaps of a pretty large and brightly coloured butterfly! And in the distance, a stream of water could be heard, probably gently running through the forest and splashing however would get too close with tiny cubic and crystal clear droplets.
Everything is so breath-taking here! Scootaloo looked behind her and saw Applebloom wasn't paying attention to the scenery, instead curiously sniffing some kind of hanging fruit that was stuck on a tree.
"What is it?" asked Scootaloo, going back on her steps. "Does it look edible?"
"Yeah actually..." murmured Applebloom, taking one last deep sniff of it. "I think it's chocolate!" she then grinned.
Huh? It's not fruit? But it sure looks like it!
"What kind of chocolate grows on trees?" muttered the Pegasus, confused. "Then again, during Miss. Cheerlie's cake class, I never did pay attention to what she was saying..."
"That's 'cause you were too busy 'sampling' the products!" giggled the cowpony.
Scootaloo rolled her eyes in a desperate attempt to hide her blush. While she harvested up the fru- chocolate, her mind wandered on what the others were doing...
"Take it nice and slow Diamond Tiara..." whispered Button, his eyes fixed on their target even though he was talking to her.
She did her very best to ignore the 'Tiara' at the end of her name and focused. She took a deep breath and oriented the arrow towards the prey. It was barely moving, unaware of the danger right above it. Diamond closed one eye and got the bow stretched out to its maximum capacity.
"Target locked" she said and shot.
The arrow planted itself deep into the ground, going strait through the water as it impaled a fish on the way. The fish wiggled about, suddenly terrified and flashing red, but it soon stopped moving and Diamond could pull the arrow out of the river without risking an escape.
She proudly held the arrow up, her muzzle dripping wet and her mane all tangled.
"Good job!" nodded Button. "That fish is huge! We can at least feed two ponies with it!"
Diamond placed the fish in her inventory and took the arrow back. "Plus with that lizard thingy you caught and the two pigs we killed, it's going to be a nice feast!"
"Thanks! Although lets start getting back, the night has almost fallen..." he picked up the pace and started to trot through the forest, back the way they came.
Diamond followed him with a pang of sadness. It was nicer when they were alone...
Button on the other hoof, was annoyed at himself.
I'm the one who placed Sweetie Belle in a group with Rumble and now I'm the one regretting it! I mean, I trust Rumble to protect her and all... However I don't trust him with flirting with my marefriend! Plus, the way I acted this morning was foolish and irresponsible. I was just scared for her and got a little carried away, that's all! I mean, all that for her chicken? It doesn't even like me! Jeez, I need to get back to her and apologise!
Button didn't even notice that he had started galloping, an out of breath Diamond behind him. He was going so fast, he didn't even notice the potential walking food around them, nor the rising moon. He was running so boldly forward, he didn't even notice the big white and glowing eyes watching them from the depths of the forest, the gaze filled with curiosity and... and another feeling that the thing itself couldn't quite comprehend yet...