Three days. It took three whole days of searching, scouting, and looking before we finally confronted Zecora again. And yes, it was her. We are where we think we are and it’s amazing. But enough of that, more importantly the meeting with Zecora. It was about noon and we were a good mile from camp. We’ve been searching in a spiral pattern getting further and further from camp. We’ve had surprisingly little contact with wildlife and I’m grateful for that. We were downstream of camp about to cross over when we heard a terrifying sound. Best way to describe it was a roar, but not like a lion. No, whatever made that sound was much larger than a lion. We all froze.
“Umm, what the hell was that?” Nyjill asked.
“Nothing good can come of this.” Matthew said pulling out his crossbow.
“Now do we run...or hide.” I asked the group. “Because I see about a 50 50 chance either way.”
“If we run back to camp and it follows us, what then?” Matthew asked. “Are we any better off there than out here?”
“Well there's Camden and Cody with a little more firepower but who knows if that will help.” I added in.
“Yah, leading it back to camp doesn't sound like a great idea.” Nyjill said.
“Great so we hide and hope for the best.” I said while looking around. “Maybe it's not even after-” I was cut off by another roar but this time closer, and angrier.
“Us…” I finished. “So um...let's cross the stream to mask our scent and hide in a cave or something.”
Matthew and Nyjill agreed simultaneously as we waded through the stream to the other side. The thing was getting closer and the ground started to shake with each step it took. We still couldn't see it but we could hear it crashing through trees and growling.
“Fuck, fucketty fuck fuck fuuuuuuck!” I fucked elegantly as we ran. “If anyone see’s a place to hide let me know.”
We kept running and whatever was chasing us was getting closer. And suddenly we had another in our group running from whatever horror was chasing us. That someone was shorter than us, running of four legs, and wore a hooded cape thing but I could see stripes underneath.
“Hello stranger, taking a quick stroll through the woods I see.” I said, making conversation was only polite. “Say, you wouldn't happen to know of a place to hide from the fellow behind us would you?”
The probably zebra nodded and led us to the right, diving into a bush at the base of a tree. We followed and found that under that bush was a small alcove under the roots of the tree. It was large enough for all of us to fit but we were quite intimately squished.
“This is cozy.” Nyjill whispered.
The perhaps Zecora silently shushed him and we all waited in silence. The beast roared again, quite near by might I add. The ground was trembling with each step it took, getting closer and closer. Then suddenly it stopped. It was close and the zebra, who was most likely Zecora, started fidgeting. I was going to hold her still but she pulled a vial from her coat and uncorked it. She leaned in really close to me.
“Spread this in the entrance way.” She whispered in my ear.
I obliged and passed it on to Nyjill who was closest and relayed the message. We could hear the creature outside sniffing around, probably looking for our scent. Nyjill poured the vial out across the narrow entrance and we waited. One sniff came quite close to the entrance and then we heard a growl. And then receding footsteps as the creature walked away. We stayed in the hole for a good five minutes after it left, just to be sure we were safe and then we got the go ahead from could be Zecora.
“Well that was fun.” I said crawling out of the hole. “What you have in a vial that got the big nasty to go away?”
“Manticore urine.” She said nonchalantly.
The accent, the voice, yup, this was Zecora. No rhyming as of yet but she said like two things so we’ll see.
“Ok then, not gonna ask how you came by that.” Matthew said brushing himself off. “Also what did we scare off, it sounded huge.”
“A hydra.” She said calmly like she was discussing the weather.
“Holly shit” Was Nyjills curt response.
“Yah, it's really cementing our theory now isn't it.” I said smirking. “Now miss would you be so kind as to tell us your name? We want to thank our savior properly after all.”
“My name is Zecora, I live in these woods.” She explained with lack of rhyme...lame. “I've been watching you since our first encounter. Warding off beasts whilst staying hidden. I can scare off most prey with potions I brew with special herbs that they dislike the smell of but a hydra is a different story. However now that he thinks this territory is claimed by a manticore family he will not return.”
“Well that's good.” I said. “Well on behalf of my crew we thank you. I was thinking we haven't seen much wildlife after the first night, we are very grateful for your unseen help you’ve given us. My name is Shawn.” I shook her hoof and nodded to Matthew.
“I’m Matthew, it's a pleasure to meet you Zecora.” He said also shaking her hoof.
“I’m Nick but for some reason they call me Nyjill.” Nyjill said shaking her hoof and his head simultaneously.
“The other two on our team are Camden and Cody. they’re back at our camp working on science and stuff.” I added in. “We’re from another world that has been plagued by a disease that kills it's host and then reanimates it's body. The reanimated body then spreads the disease by getting bodily fluids into a new host's blood stream via biting, scratching, etc.”
“A zombie apocalypse?” Zecora said surprised.
“O good, you're familiar with the terminology.” I said lightheartedly. “Yes, our world is plagued by a zombie apocalypse. Now there was a group of survivors that build a machine that created a portal to a random world. We are the group scouting the land to see if it's hospitable to the human race. Err, we’re what's known as humans...relevant information. Anywho, time passes differently between our worlds so we’re going to be here for much longer than anticipated. And that just about sums up our story.”
“Thats a lot of information to process.” Zecora said stunned. “How are you all so calm about this?”
“O we lived in a zombie infested wasteland for a few years so we’re kind of numb to the world.” Nyjill surmised. “We’ve accepted our fate and now we make the best of it.”
“Cursed with a sunny disposition.” Matthew added. “Well more like it was forced upon us or we’ll go crazy. But same outcome so whatevs.”
“Hey so we just met you, and this is crazy. But we’re kinda hungry, so come back to camp with us maybe?” I asked ignoring the grins of my friends.
“You may have just met me, but I’ve known you for a few days.” She said smiling. “So yes, I will accompany you back to your camp.”
“Cool, hey Nyjill.” I said getting Nyjill’s attention. Go back and tell the others we’re coming back early with a guest.” I pulled him in close and whispered in his ear. “Tell them to pretend we don't know where we are or who she is.”
“Can do” Nyjill responded jogging in place. “See you at camp.”
And with that he was off. He’s a good scout and like any good scout he's agile and quick. The slow clumsy ones all died...
“Ok Zecora. Come with us if you’d be so kind.” I said giving a slight bow and wave of my arm to show the way.
“Why thank you.” She said smiling at my gesture. “It will be interesting to see the camp from the inside.”
“Wow that's a creepy sentence.” Matthew said quietly.
“Shh, she’s our savior.” I added. “She’s allowed to be creepy, it was in our best interest anyhow.”
The rest of the walk was spent making small talk. We mostly asked questions we already knew the answers to and pretended to be surprised by the answers. She asked us questions and was genuinely surprised by the answers. Before we knew it we were back at our base. I knocked on the front door and waited.
“Your father was a hamster.” Came Nyjill’s voice from inside.
“And your mother smells of elderberries.” I replied. A few moments later the door was opened by Nyjill and we could see Camden and Cody doing whatever.
“Oy, nerds.” I yelled over to them. “We have a guest, come say hi.”
Camden and Cody stopped what they were doing and walked over as we entered the camp.
“Y'all talk and whatnot. I’m getting something to eat.” I said walking over to the kitchen to prepare a mesh of MRE and fresh food. Matthew joined me a little later leaving Nyjill to introduce everyone and have a chance to talk to her as well.
“Figured we’d let them have a chat as well.” Matthew said pulling a fish from our cooler.
“Sounds like a plan to me.” I said mixing up some instant soup. “We should get her help in gathering herbs and edible stuff. She should know what’s poisonous and what isn't. Too bad the plants here differ from home.”
“True her being an alchemist should really help.” Matthew agreed. “She can also pick up stuff for us in town...once she tells us about said town that is.”
“Wonder when that will be…” I pondered.
“Hey guess what?” Nyjill said walking over to the kitchen. “She told us there is a town nearby! Who would have thought.” He said with an exaggerated wink.
“No way.” I said in mock disbelief as Zecora and the others made their way over as well.
“I live in a hut not too far from the edge of the forest.” She explained. “The town can be seen from the edge. But I warn you, they might not be as accepting as I have been. They don’t take new things particularly well.”
“Is the town made up of Zebras such as yourself?” Cody asked.
‘Nice job Cody’ I thought.
“No, it consists of ponies. There are earth ponies, pegasi, and unicorns there. We even have a princess who has a pet dragon.”
“Ok, ok. No need to get sarcastic geeze.” I said waving my hands defensively.
“I’m being serious.” Zecora replied tilting her head to the side in confusion.
“Really? Because other than ‘earth pony’ and ‘princess’ those things are myths in our world.” Camden said. “Then again so are hydras and manticores…”
“Well, this should be interesting.” Matthew said still preparing his fish lunch. “O, I am so sorry, does this bother you? Humans need meat to survive.”
“No, it does not bother me.” Zecora replied. “Zebras occasionally partake in the flesh of other animals but ponies on the other hand will not like it.”
“Well shiznits. This might get complicated.” I said scuffing my foot on the wooden floor.
“There are other beings on this planet that eat meat so it isn’t too far fetched.” Zecora explained. “As long as you don’t eat anything that talks or someone's pet you should be fine.”
“Hey, we’re the non-zombies here.” Nyjill complained. “I think we can distinguish between sapient and non.”
“Fair enough.” Zecora replied. “However I see this strange food says ‘beef’ on it. That is from a cow correct?”
“Yah, and?” I said playing oblivious.
“Cows are sapient creatures here.” She said to the mock surprise of the group.
“Ok, maybe we need a little help.” Matthew said. “But if we find an animal and ask if it can speak and it does we won’t eat it. So that should keep us in the clear right?”
“They may speak a different tongue but they will most likely let you know.” Was Zecora’s reply. “But just to be sure don't eat any deer either. It’s unlikely you’ll see any but in case you do they are also sapient.”
“Damn. I really like veil.” Nyjill said.
“First of all it's venison.” I corrected. "And second of all, damn.
I don't know about you guys but I think it would be wise to ask Zecora about the flora and fauna or the area as well.” Camden reminded us.
“Right, as you can see we brought our own provisions.” I said to Zecora while pointing to our kitchen. “However with the difference of time, we’ll be here for a while. So we were wondering if you could help us with finding edible plants in the forest to...well survive.”
“Plus this food sucks” Nyjill added in helpfully.
“Yah, this stuff is made to last up to 50 years or longer.” I said grabbing an MRE. “It's sustenance, but the flavor leaves much to be desired.”
“We did find a stream with fish but a person can only eat so much fish.” Matthew added.
“I don't even like fish.” Nyjill added.
“Yah, same here.” I said turning back to Zecora. “So can you help us out here? We’re prepared to offer you compensation for your efforts.”
“I will help you, but it won’t be for free.” She said causing us all to internally flinch. “In return I want to hear stories. Stories of you on your planet. I can tell you guys have a strong bond and I’d like to hear how it was formed and what shenanigans you’ve undoubtedly been in.”
“Deal.” I said holding out my hand for a shake.
“Pleasure doing business with you.” She replied, shaking my hand with her hoof.
“Uhh, so when should we start?” I asked. “Because if you planned on today I think we’ll pass. The hydra kinda scared the crap out of us so we’re going to take the rest of the day off.”
“Then you can start your payment to me.” She said sitting down by the cooking fire Matthew made in the fire pit. He said fish tasted better cooked over an open flame. I would have used a pan but whatever, not my fish, not my problem.
“Well.” I began going to sit by the fire as well. “I guess the best place to start is the beginning when I met Cody. He was the first in what would become our group of friends and I met him in fifth grade. Side note, our school system consists of pre-school, first through twelfth grade at one year per grade, and four years of college…”