The Animal: Inside and Out.

by Mick0339


Chapter 3: The Animal of the Everfree.

I miraculously managed to swim ashore, with the girl in tow. By that time she was exhausted and had actually fallen asleep when we hit land. My neck had almost torn itself out with the impact, but a few pops, just as I performed them, did the trick. My body shivered in delight, but then I realized how warm out it was. I had no clothes on, same with the girl, and no, I'm not that kind of person, and yet I and she were completely fine. I would've at least expected her to be chilly due to no mass on her bones to keep out the cold, but the weather was moist and humid enough to actually make me sweat.

"I think I saw them fall into this river!" A nearby, approaching, voice sounded in the distance, with that same sound of spittle. I popped a nerve, but I kept my cool. I wanted to rip one of them to shreds, and I easily could've at that moment, as I look back, but it was more advantageous to simply retreat into the forest. With a low squeal, I scooped up the girl and began my jog into the forest, seemingly forever on the run. My heavy weight left sneaking to be desired as the voices gave yells to signal the hunt. I cursed my luck, but I couldn't just alter my body weight at will, sadly. The water from the dive wasn't helping at all.

"He went this way!" I had to continue to run. Needless to say, the dense foliage of the forest clouded their perception and progress as I was able to escape, luckily. I had a strong feeling, though, I was somehow not out of the clear yet. Either way, I had found shelter by night time and needed to make a fire to combat the cold weather. Rain began to pour in the area, but I had managed to gather enough dry sticks to form a pile and then the monotonous work of slamming rocks together began. I wanted to make it quick, though, so I opted to use all of my strength. Most likely a thousand pounds of force slid past each other as sparks sizzled off onto the wood and eureka! Fire!

Within the next few minutes I had leaned up against a comfy rock formation, and sleep began to overtake me. Apparently, I was warm, though, as the small, motherless girl had curled up for warmth, right next to me. As much as it made me say how others would view that, I couldn't just let her freeze. My first plan the next day would be clothes, blankets and essentials of food and water. Too bad I never had actual survival training, but well, the human body will find ways to survive. It always will and if it doesn't evolution has said its final decision.

The next day came and I awoke to the sound of birds chirping and a rather loud roar in the distance. I simply yawned, not caring at that point about what was out there. I slowly moved my arm expecting to find immense amounts of pain in doing so, but there was almost none. Then I figured maybe it was in my legs, but still, no pain crashed into my nerves. So, with the idea of a nice morning stretch coming to mind, I proceeded to stand up, only realizing how light I felt, even more than the last day.

What the fuck? It was all I could say. I never felt as light as I did at that moment, even after taking off a 150lb weight vest after a mile run. I was curious as to how high I could jump, but just in case, I held my hands out on top of my head to protect my head in case of impact. I then let my legs crunch up in energy and propelled my being up into the air. I was able to touch the ceiling of the cave, which was thirteen feet from the ground.

Apparently my return noise woke up the girl as she rolled over and began to yawn, clicking her lips as dry tears came from her eyes. She gazed at me, almost lost in thought. She was too tired to think, is what it appeared, but most likely she was trying to process where she was and what had occurred the day before. Then a tear came out of her right eye and hit the floor, and another, and finally the waterworks came in full blow. I bent down and gave the small girl a hug and shushed her as she cried. A loss is never an easy thing to process.

She took my embrace and let her tears flow. I didn't even make a noise, movement or sound besides hushes and soothing shushes to lullaby her into a better state-of-mind. I was bent over when I finally realized something crucial. There were no burn marks on my body from the magic. I knew what burning felt like and I definitely felt it when I was being chased, so where was it. It couldn't have just disappeared.

As much as the little one needed to vent out her emotions, I needed to get food as it became evident from her stomach growling. I chuckled, which was more of a pained howl to the trained ear, but I couldn't help it. I then stood at my full height and ended up almost scaring the girl from the intimidation factor, but I gave her a cheeky smile to keep her from being in such a state.

I saw the light at the end of the cave and made my way towards it, basking in the sunlight when I finally reached the exit. It was a truly wonderful feeling as the damp and foggy innards of the cave were seemingly sent into my memory banks. I breathed in the fresh air, amazed at the quality of it. Yet again, the dominant species were most likely pre-industrialized and it was not surprising that the environment was cleaner than our own.

I slowly observed my surroundings, picking out any viable spots to find a good branch for a suitable weapon. Most likely I would be using a spear. Brush and trees for as far as the eye could see from my height. Although I could see smoke in the distance, which was most likely a pony village. Although, for all I know it could be any type of settlement, even a moving caravan.

I looked down to see a path leading to the ground floor. I traversed it while also spotting a suitable branch for carving. I picked it up and with a hefty throw I chucked it up to the entrance for later. For now, fruit and nut gathering would do. I prayed there weren't many poisonous plants in that world.


I was so stupid. I hadn't realized that the girl could just easily wander out of the cave and most likely get hurt or even killed. That wasn't the worst part, though, that was how I was lost. I had managed to find a river, which also contained multiple rows of edible plants and bushes on its banks, but my sense of direction completely went. I was lost and that girl might've gotten herself killed by that point. Then I heard the roar again, but it was much closer and almost sounded like a distress beacon. The animal definitely wasn't proving its strength through the roar.

I garnered some water and drowned my face as it was slightly warm for my liking and I had perspired slightly since my journey. Then the cry sounded out again and it was fairly close. I swiveled my head to the left and heard it more accurately from my right ear from that direction. I accented my hearing senses, focusing on enhancing them to almost pinpoint the location. I got one last wail and began a sprint to investigate. The cry for help was from that of an animal. It was a mighty bear. A colossal looking animal from the case, standing as large as some of the mother of all grizzlies. I would normally shit my pants at anything intimidating as most people would, but I felt inclined to simply address the situation.

I gazed out at what appeared to be poachers in the form of cute ponies. It was awkward to say it considering what they were doing, but it was the best word. They looked like what a little girl would dream of from Santa. Although they were dominant of the unicorn denomination. I saw four holding horns and one with wings and another stock pony. They were all ganging up on the injured bear. Part of his fur had oozing red blood, while its eyes showed that of a scared child. I felt sorry for the animal, truly sorry.

"Nowhere to go now, little buddy." A male voice, the leader it appeared, laughed, seemingly wagging his horn to his own evil tone. The other's faces contorted into devious, devilish smiles. I frowned at that as the bear continued to roar-whine in pain. It flicked its paws at the approaching ponies, only to have it heavily zapped by a golden beam from the speaking pony.

"You want me to bag it up, boss?" A mare, with a navy-blue coat and a purple mane, and with that of green eyes asked the leader who was a blood-red figure with a white mane and blue eyes.

"No, no wait for another second Arrow." The color show presented in front of me honestly hurt my eyes more than the helpless bear. "Let's see if it's docile yet." I didn't like the sound of that. He motioned for another one of his goons to follow his orders. The green-coated, yellow-maned pony smiled with his red eyes bulging out. He swiveled with his superior strength to the magic users. His smile slowly approached the bear, who continued to swipe back at the hunters.

"Come here little guy," the stallion started, making me curdle in anger, but also scratch my head at the absurdity of the statement,
I'm not gonna' hurt ya'." I twitched at the pony's lie, but I was happy to see the pony be swiped to the ground and the bear roar in a rageful defense. The pony was definitely injured as he groaned in pain and visibly shaken from his state of adrenaline induced fight-or-flight.

"Uh-uh-uh," the leader shook his head, "that simply won't do." And with that, he motioned again for a barrage at the defenseless bear. At that moment I was ducked down in the bushes, but I couldn't bare to see them continue to harm that bear. It wasn't right, and I was fed up doing nothing.

As their beams charged up and the bear roared in pain I rustled my bushes and immediately all heads, including the animal's, faced me. I slowly emerged from the bushes and gazed at the ponies, giving them the most pissed face I could muster. Needless to say, they were startled, to say the least.

"Dead End, that might be the biggest one I've ever seen," the mare stated, looking at my form. I continued to glare at them while I took some occasions to make sure the bear wasn't somehow being attacked by invisible magic.

"Two prizes to take," the arrogant pony said in response. My response was to take an intimidating step forward to the group. They all immediately all pointed their puny horns at me. I had learned of a time when the human body could literally get superhuman strength. First adrenaline would pump the blood, enhancing reflexes, reactions, and muscle endurance. That was the first level, that most people have experienced before. Now when you read about teenagers lifting cars up to save others, or perhaps a man pulling a firetruck on their backs, that's the second stage as I would call it.

The human body would continue to pump the Adrenaline through the body and then shut down the digestive system. The secret is that in doing so the muscle-restrictors, as they could be called, would be removed. The human body can't use 100% of its muscle power regularly. It's a fact I picked up when I worked out and saw those amazing feats. 100% of muscle, even for a scrawny, weak man would have superhuman strength to most people. Teenage girls, as they usually have less muscle mass and power than males(It's a fact, not opinion), have literally been able to lift the front end of trucks to save family members using it.

I have realized that I could feel it and I've felt it before. I've actually felt it twice before and it was coming again. I was getting the hang of it. My adrenaline pumped and pumped, pressurizing my body with tons of energy for the upcoming struggle. I stopped walking as I was a few feet from them. I continued to stare them down as they bore success-grins, yet still conservative faces at me. They didn't seem scared.

I curled up my abs, summoning every bit of muscle as I bent down and exhaled a mighty scream at them to intimidate them; the bear flapped its ears down and was scared half to death.

"Delta maneuver!" The leader yelled as everyone seemingly surrounded me and I watched them fidget from every pocket of my vision. I wouldn't hurt them, I would just get them to leave; to retreat. "Arrow, intercept!" They still thought of me as a stupid animal. I didn't care, though, it gave me the clear advantage in this fight. They underestimated me and I would make them regret it.

I saw the obnoxious trapper approach me from behind, I could feel the thumps from my feet and I timed it. I paid attention to the leader for every second until the last one, where I swiveled on my heels and as I caught the mare in her mid jump with her horn packed and ready I slapped her to the ground, which equated to quite a slam. I actually saw my hands imprint from the five star as she twisted and turned on the ground in agony. No permanent harm, just a bruise for a week or two. Then the magical blasts came.

They burned and the temperature sky-rocketed around me. If not for the adrenaline pumping, I might've passed out from the pure amount of steam that floated as the magic hit my skin. All water and sweat instantly became vapor, while my skin burned and smoke traveled off the cooking surface. I winced in pain and grunted in agony.

"Keep it up!" The leader yelled again; the Dead End. His name, I would show him. But as much as I seemed to be resistant to burns, the heat just kept building up and my skin continued to get battered. Then I screamed in pain again. "He's shaking! Finish it Death Trap!" The pegasus, which had hellfire-red hair(coat) and a mane of deep blue and green.

I coughed up blood as time slowed. Then I saw the bear's face; it was fear laced with its demise in the future. I saw every single pony in the slow mow, they're faces lit up with tales of money as far as they could see. Then my brain showed me every bit of pain and suffering I had seen. Humans as animals and treated as less than that when thrown out as trash. Then I saw the ponies simply smiling at the cruelty they employed.

I was taught from a young age, almost indoctrinated to fight for freedom. The United States of America, while corrupt to its core, has some of the most powerful values and ideals to ever exist. Being an avid patriot, with my entire family teaching me to love it more and more I found those ideals of freedom closer to my heart every day.

And I would let that bear down; no, I would let the girl down. I would leave her alone in the middle of the woods; it made me sad, but then I saw the damned faces of the ponies again and it made me angry. I bit down on my tongue, exhaled and in a millisecond reaffirmed my angered stance. All pain disappeared and my skin became as hard as rock; my eyes were lasers pinpointing every target and my brain, the central complex, was giving orders to every single body part.

I visualized the pegasus coming in from behind me and I held out my left arm, slightly moving to my right and clotheslined her, breaking some bones, and most likely chipping her ribs at the least. She screamed in pain and the ponies froze as they saw me. I felt immense hate in my mind.

Then within a second, like a speedster I was over at another pony and looked down at him. The stock pony coward as I bore my eyes into him. Then, while he was slowly backing away I lashed out my leg sending him flying into a tree, with cracks sounding out, not only from the bark breaking off. Then a blast hit my back; my response was to simply turn my head and stare. I saw the pain, but I didn't feel it at all.

"He's--what the hell is this!" The leader yelled in frustration. I slowly turned my body as I could see the others recovering their fallen comrades. They were wailing in agony, but I didn't care. The leader screamed in frustration.

"Fine! I'll finish you off then!" He lined up his horn at me. "The bear will be quite enough!" The beam charged up in a golden spectacle, but I simply began walking towards the leader. Every mouth, including the bear's was agape in complete shock at my 'stupidity.'

"Say goodbye!" He yelled as the beam flew out towards me. It made contact and generated untold amounts of steam, lacing the area around me in an unbreakable fog.


The ponies were tired and Dead End was almost ready to collapse. He wiped his brow of sweat and turned to everyone. "Take the bear, were leaving."

Then they heard a footstep from the pony-ficial fog. Dead End continued to pant in complete exhaustion but was curious as to what everyone was staring at.

"What are you all gocking at?" He asked, inhaling deeply. Then he felt something behind him. His sixth sense was flagging an object standing behind him and he slowly turned, almost crying in anger and pain.

"HOW? That, that would've killed a hundred humans!" He looked up at the scarred body, which bore a deep x-gash in the beast's chest. The ponies were shaking, all completely shocked at how it survived, nonetheless was walking fine.

Then it suddenly bent down grasping the pony horn and started to pull him up with it. "Aaaaaaah!" He screamed in complete agony. Then the human slowly extended his other arm, the left, and grasped the back of the pony's head.

He slowly began to twist the pony's head making the horn bend. "NO, please! Somepony, anypony help!" The rest of his party were shaking in place from pure fear. Then it snapped and the pony's screams intensified, most likely reaching the village nearby. Everything within twenty feet would be deaf for minutes. Then with nothing left to do, the human threw the pony to his comrades. He was shaking, blood trickling down from his horn, and his eyes displayed fear for his life.

The ponies stared at the human who stood, staring with the most violent looking face in existence; the most hate-filled expression a human has ever shown. He was done with the ponies.

"Run..." the leader said slowly standing, while barely being able to keep his own weight up from the incident. "Run now!" He squeakily yelled, gaining the attention of all the ponies who began to flee, badly wounded and in horror of what they had seen.


My vision was red, with the outlines of the ponies running away. I was in a state of pure bloodlust and my heart rate was most likely skyrocketing at over 200bpm. My body summoned a deathly roar as the ponies ran away as its instincts took over. My deep scream scared everything in the forest away, most likely for the next few days at least.

After another minute the red-bloodlust slowly evaporated from my mind and my body was settled down. I heard whimpers then. It was the bear, who was completely scared of his life; he didn't see prey or a human at all, but a predator and monster to eat and devour the bear.

I hacked up my life-source and it oozed to the ground in a light mound. I collapsed to one knee and rapidly breathed in the sweet serene air. I turned my head to the frightened and terrified creature. I slowly made my way over to the animal and viewed its wounds; all the while, it was shaking and whimpering in fear.

It had a broken leg, its front-left paw was also slightly dislocated from the animal's broken leg. I had seen enough animal recovery videos and shows to know that the bear would die without immediate aid. I had to chance it or it would die without being given one.

I found the straightest stick I could find nearby and got strips of bendable bark from the torn up tree from the pony who slammed into it. I made my way back to the animal and gazed into its eyes and shushed it. I gave it a pet on its snout and surprisingly the animal visibly calmed from the motion. I took its paw and made my most convincing face of the pain that would come and pointed to my own arm for demonstration purposes. Then, I twisted the bear's paw until it snapped back into the place. It screamed and shook uncontrollably in pain. Without letting go I then quickly took the bear's broken leg and with rapid movements I laced the straight stick of wood the to leg, locking it in a healing position. Then to make sure I reinforced the stick with rather knots from the wood-strings. Then finally, with a little sympathy and apology in my eyes, I tightened the stick as much as I could which caused greater mental harm to the creature.

It was over in a matter of a few seconds luckily and the bear was slowly calming down at the pain seemingly subsided. The cuts and burns would heal on their own; and either way, I didn't know anything about medical herbs and such. The broken bone and dislocated paw were mroe important anyway. Then I slowly began to pet the animal, smiling at the beauty of such a ferocious creature. I let it know it was not going to be hurt and it genuinely understood as it actually gave me lick on my face. I chuckled and continued to pet the animal, exhausted from my ordeal.

Sadly I needed to gather food as it was getting dark. I just hoped I could find my way back. I helped the bear up and waved him off as he gave a cheerful roar at me as he walked away, hobbling on his front-left paw.