The Reader

by GnollReader

Chapter 77: When gnolls smile

The scenery behind the window passed by with speed, random objects appearing and disappearing in a flash as the train roared through on the night. For a moment he saw his own in face in the reflection on the glass, his eye focused on the image.

It was a strange experience for him, he had never taken the time to look at his own face in detaill. It really hadn't occurred to him before, but now that he studied studied his own features... how long had it been since he had seen another gnoll?

His hand reached upwards and his fingers carefully trailed the scars that ran along the side of his face. They were still sensitive to the touch, but the pain would pass with time. His fingers reached the eye clap. He pulled it upwards, exposing the white and scarred remains of his eye. He looked at it with interest, turning and tilting his head slightly to get a better angle.

Scar's study of his own face was interrupted as his breath started to condensate on the glass, the image vanishing from his view. He muttered a few words under his breath as he used his arm to wipe the moisture off the surface.

"What are you doing?" Purple Haze mumbled through closed eyes, she had been sleeping next to him for the past hour.

"Watching unmoving eye, or at least Scar tries." he replied while continuing to polish the glass.

"Why?" she asked as she stretched her legs.

The gnoll shrugged, "Gnoll finds it interesting."

Purple Haze got up and looked at him for a moment, "Can I ask you something?"

The gnoll repositioned his eye clap, "Ask."

"Why do you wear clothes?" Scar raised an eyebrow, "I mean, you've got fur to cover yourself and you don't really seem to mind showing your scars." as gruesome as they were, she mentally finished. "We ponies don't wear clothes, expect for special occasions. So why dress yourself? It seems strange."

The gnoll looked at her for a moment, "Gnoll wears clothes to show others it is no animal. Also..." the gnoll hesitated to continue.

"Also?" Purple Haze asked.

He continued in a whisper, seemingly afraid any passersby could hear him, "Scar's face already makes the foals cry. It doesn't want to scare little ponies any more, so it hides its scars."

She laughed at this, "You? Make the foals cry? I have yet to meet a foal that doesn't take a liking to you the moment it meets you! Remember the foals in the hospital you read those stories to? They couldn't get enough of you!" she wiped a tear from her eye, "As for your face, its perfectly fine the way it is."

"Really?" the gnoll asked with a small smile, showing the tips of his teeth.

Purple Haze chuckled, "Really, you face is good the way it is. Those teeth of yours though, those will even get a grown pony to cry, I'm afraid." his smile dropped, "Oh, come on. I'm just joking with you. You've got a beautiful smile, anypony will tell you."

The gnoll gave her a skeptic look, "Purple Haze is sure?"

She nodded happily, "Absolutely."

"Scar will test right now."

"Huh?"

Scar simply stood up and left the cabin they had been sitting in. Purple Haze followed him into the corridor and watched, first in amusement but then in horror as he walked up to another cabin, pulled open the door without a warning or a word and greeted the ponies inside with his best Pinkie Pie smile.

The screams of horror could be heard throughout the train.

Scar dropped his smile, the screams stopped. Not saying a word he pulled the door shut again and walked back to Purple Haze, "As it said, Scar's face already makes ponies cry. So it hides scars and teeth." he sat down on his seat again with a sigh, "Scar doesn't like scaring ponies."

Before Purple Haze could make a retort, a little filly came running to their cabin. It looked around the corner of the door for a second before giggling wildly and running back to its cabin. Purple Haze could hear her talk excitedly to her parents, "Mommy, mommy! There's a really big doggy in the next cabin!" the gnoll gave a groan.

"Cheer up, the foals still love you and I don't mind either. Even if they think you're a cuddly dog." she closed the door and gave him a nudge as she sat down next to him again. "I'm sure you'd make a great father."

"Ha!" the gnoll chuckled, "Purple Haze should be careful what to say, gnoll puppies have good teeth and run early. Also like to taste new things first to understand."

She shared a laugh with him before they fell into silence again. After some time had passed Purple Haze spoke up, "Do you remember your family?"

Scar's face hardened at this question, "Scar does, but gnolls do not talk about sad things and old ghosts."

"Oh." she said, realizing she had asked an inappropriate question, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to...."

He held up a hand, "Gnoll knows. Is alright. It will tell story, but only because Purple Haze is special to it and only once." he thought for a moment, trying to bring the images back to his memory. It had been a long time since he had thought about his old home. Slowly he started to remember them, their smells, their faces... their voices when they sang...

For the first time in over ten years, the gnoll remembered his clan.

Comments

[Psycho Kid]

Yes

[Fugly Duckling]

can't wait til' the next chapter

[Bubbabob]

Keep the updates coming along with your new story.

[Noxious Touch]

First time posting on the site.

I work a rather boring but easy job as a security guard for an alarm company, with most of my shifts starting at 10pm and ending at 8am. I do and hunt around for a great many things to pass the time; video games, exercise and read mostly. Found your little story last week and managed to devour the whole thing in five hours. I'd just like to say thanks for making my boring-ass job a bit more enjoyble as well as say it was one of the most enjoyable five hours I've spent so far. Love the story and hope to see more soon! Keep up the great work!

[DezzarTac]

2293333

managed to devour the whole thing in five hours

Careful, getting addicted steals your attention, which is something I'd assume you'd need as a sec. guard

[Noxious Touch]

2294876 You'd assume so and in most cases I'd wholeheartedly agree, but so far the zombie shifts have been deader then Julius Cesar. I've gotten more time on my hands then I could put into words! Still, your advice is sound. Thankfully I can easily break away from my iPhone and handle a problem should it ever rear it's ugly head.

[Cades]

Read all this in...a little less than 24 hours. I can only day one thing: GOOD

[Nightingalehound]

2295747 Yaeh but I prefer the classsic gnoll look. hyena men.

[Nightmare Wolf]

2296576 As you like. Description wise he looks like wolf, so I'm sticking to this.

[Lucky424]

OOoooh, backstory time!!!

[DerpedRainbow]

"Really, you face is good the way it is.

I will mention these when I have time.