//------------------------------// // Trouble // Story: Not Just A Bug // by Bringiton6611 //------------------------------// After I left the area Thorax and I were in, I quickly ran though my memory to see what would make the best insulation. That I could find of course. Grass would be good, but it's not very thick, and it would take longer then i would want to get enough to notice a difference. Leaves is the same as grass, although I could get a lot of leaves fairly quickly, the leaves themselves are not very think, but I guess something is better than nothing. If I don't find anything else, I'll stick to the leaves. If it comes to that, I'm going to need a lot of freaking leaves. I continue walking for what feels like 5 minutes when I see a small pond. That's three body's of water so far. The one in the cave, The one I cleaned of in, and the one by the castle... man I miss that castle. maybe once this is all over I can go back there and actually fix the place up a bit. But I'm looking at the far future. Let's focus on the path in front of me now. Moving closer to the pond I see something that makes me smile. Moss. Yes, you read that right. Moss made me smile. If you'd told me a month ago I would be smiling at a piece of moss of all things, I would've punched you in the teeth. But right now, it's another answered prayer. Moss is kind of thick, and there's a lot of it here. I take out my knife and I begin to cut the roots holding the moss to the ground. It's easy to get. The moss clumps together somewhat, and the roots aren't that strong at all. Within minutes, I've gathered at good amount of moss. It's not the best insulation, but it will work. The moss right now is kinda damp (-_- ya think?) so I'll leave it here for now and come back for it later. I start walking back, making a metal map of the way I came from to the best of my abilities. Today is rather peaceful, actually. Now that I'm looking at it, the sky is fairly clear, save for a few clouds of course, and the temperature is decent. It's not warm, but it's not cold either. It's a cool atmosphere, just the way I like it. I never was a fan of warm or cold. I'm one of those people that prefers a temp. of about 60 or so. I shouldn't say stuff like this just yet. I'm not out of this mess just yet and I don't want to Jinx I- "Where's the other changeling that was with you!?" Fucking called it. After hearing this, I immediately know what body the voice is connected too. It's the same guard that I think is the leader of the others. The captain. I move to the edge of the tree line and take in the sight before me. There are three guards around Thorax, who looks absolutely terrified right now. There are what looks like cuffs on his hooves, and a ring looking thing on his horn. One of the guards is constantly holding a spear to his neck while the other two are glaring daggers at him. "I don't know where he is! He's not even a changeling. Besides, I'm not like the others!" "That's the biggest lie I've ever heard! Just answer the question and you don't get hurt!" Man, they're really giving him hell. Normally, If I didn't know Thorax like I do now, I would turn around and have nothing to do with him. But over the few days that I've known him, he has proven to me that he's not like the others, just like he said. Sure he had to earn my trust, which is next to impossible with a guy like me, but he did. I've put my trust in him with I sent him to get some food for me a few days ago, and I put my trust in him with I left him with my gun in the cave. Plus, he did save my life. Twice. I put my trust in him. And right know, He's probably putting his trust in me to get him out of that situation . And I'm going to do just that. Because that's what friends do. I start looking around the area for something I can use. The best thing I can find is a rock. It;s going to have to do. I pick up the rock. As I do, I hear a cry of pain from Thorax. I look over and see Thorax on the ground, holding the side of his face the best he can in the cuffs, and one of the guards is backing away. The fucker just punched him. He had no right to. I almost throw the rock at the guard right then, but restrain myself. I need to make this work. I reel my arm back and throw the rock as hard as I can into a tree about 20 feet away. The rock hit's and makes an echo as it bounces off of the bark. I look back at the guards to see them looking in the direction I threw the rock in. Thorax has a small smile on his face. He already knows it's me.His smile fades as the guards turn back toward him. They say some things I can't make out and two of them move to investigate the sound while the other one stays by Thorax. His back towards me. This is my chance. I begin moving forward into the clearing when I'm sure the other two are gone. I know Thorax sees me out of the corner of his eyes, but doesn't look straight at me. Good thinking. If he were to do that, it would most likely alert the guard watching Thorax like a hawk. When I get close enough, I take out my pic and turn it around so I don't kill the guy, reel my arm back once again. Right when I go to swing, the guard turns his head in my direction and I see his eyes widen, but before he can call for help, I bring the pic down and make contact. The helmet makes a cracking sound and the guard fall into the darkness. I then move to retrieve the keys for Thorax's cuffs. Thorax shoots me a happy and relived smile as I find the keys and move towards him. I unlock the cuffs and remove the ring on his horn. And right then is when I get shot in the back in the back by something. My back feels like it's on fire. I turn around and see the other two guards. "It's an ambush! Get that thing!" The captain shouts while point his hoof at me. The other guard bears his teeth and starts flying toward me. So he's a pegasus. Without thinking, I pick up my pick and swing it toward the pegasus. I make contact yet again and the pony falls to the ground. I look at the, and feel relief wash over my when I see I hit him with the blunt side of my pic. "Thorax, go! I'll catch up to you!" "You're not going any where." The captain says to me. Thorax obeys what I said and starts running into the woods, leaving me to deal my the captain of the guard.