C.A.M.A: Day Eight
December 14th, 2012
Today is that big test, and I'm feeling pretty good about it. Yesterday I studied for a good chunk of the afternoon, got plenty of rest and had a big MRE for breakfast today. I'm hoping that the test will be multiple choice because I prefer that over short answer, but I'm still equally good at them. At the moment, I was heading upstairs to actually take the test and hope to pass it so that I'll be able to move onto the next unit, which I don't know right now. I entered the classroom and Night Hunter was waiting for me at his desk.
"Ah. There you are." Night Hunter said.
"Hey," I replied, "You got that test ready?"
"Oh. Quite anxious, aren't you?" Night Hunter asked.
"Nah, I just want to get it out of the way and move on." I said.
Night Hunter levitated a five page packet and placed it flat on my table. Unfortunately all the questions were short answers, but it's probably for the best since you have to use your memory and knowledge to answer. Plus, multiple choice would probably be a bit too easy in the first place.
I thought at first that the questions on each creature would be in chronological order from my notes, but the question would constantly switch. For example, it would be question involving a Timberwolf and then a question of the Cragadile. Heck, even the meters questions slipped me up for a moment or two. After about ten or fifteen so minutes, I completed the test and handed it to Night Hunter.
"Done." I said.
"That was pretty quick than the average pony." Night Hunter said.
"It's because I studied hard. What now?"
"For now, you can take a seat and wait while I grade the test. If you get a A or B, you can move on to the next unit tomorrow. But if you go any lower, you'll have to redo it." Night Hunter informed.
"I have a good feeling about this test." I said.
"I admire your confidence. Now, please, sit" Night Hunter said.
I walked backed over to the chair and sat back down. Occasionally I would cast a glance Night Hunter and study his body language to at least get a hint of what I got, but he was good at hiding facial gestures while grading. Shortly after, he levitated the paper from his desk over to me. I looked at the front page and there was a big, blue letter A.
"Yes, yes, yes!" I exclaimed, victoriously.
"Good job, Caleb!" Night Hunter congratulated before reminding. "But remember that we have more units to cover."
"I know that. What's the next unit?" I asked.
"I have feeling you're going to like my answer." Night Hunter said.
"Please let it be what I think it is." I said, anticipatedly.
"The next unit will be on weapons and devices." Night Hunter revealed.
"Awesome! So what am I going to be handling?" I asked.
"I'll just let you see for yourself tomorrow." Night Hunter said.
"Oh, come on." I said like a whiny kid.
"No, no," Night Hunter said. "And I'm also holding back the simulated dreams until you pass the weapons and device unit so that you know how to defend yourself during the dream."
"Ah, okay." I replied.
Night Hunter began to walk to the door and said that he was heading out to discuss matters with Princess Luna. As he walked out the room and into the hallway, I glanced at the Tartarus sign and wondered if that one stallion who gave it to him was still patrolling the Everfree. Think about it. If Night Hunter said he was teaching the class and was also the manager of the Everfree branch at the time, then the stallion must have passed the C.A.M.A training program.
"Maybe I'll get a partner." I said to myself.
I rose out of my seat and called for Night Hunter. He was just about to exit the building when I entered the hallway and I caught up with him.
"What's up?" Night Hunter asked.
"That stallion who gave you the Tartarus sign." I said.
"What about him?" Night Hunter asked.
"Is he still patrolling the Everfree to this day?" I asked.
Night Hunter remained silent for a moment before he took off his Equestria cap and looked at me in the eyes.
"Look, Caleb, I'm a stallion who tells the truth and keeps my word, so it's no use to lying to you." Night Hunter said.
I was confused at his emotional shift and followed him back into the classroom. Night Hunter levitated two chairs and placed across from each other. Both of us took a seat and he gave the truth.
"What happened?" I asked.
"He didn't make it out there at night." Night Hunter said.
"He didn't? Damn." I replied.
"He was a good stallion and shared many similarities in your personality. He would study hard and showed he wanted to excel in being a C.A.M.A agent." Night Hunter said.
"So, he obviously passed the program." I said.
"Yes. He did pass the program three years ago and managed to patrol for about a year before the incident." Night Hunter said.
"Wow, that sucks. What got him?" I asked.
"Take a wild guess." Night Hunter said.
"Timberwolves?" I answered.
"Yep. From what I remember from the tracks, it was a pack of four and two came up to him from behind and two from the front. I also found four dismembered legs scattered in different locations, so each wolf must've took one." Night Hunter said.
"God, that's brutal," I replied with disgust. "Did he at least go to a hospital?"
"No use. C.A.M.A and E.U.P were planning on taking him to a hospital, but that couldn't be possible because they only found parts of him that the Timberwolves didn't like." Night Hunter replied.
"Jesus H. Christ." I said, covering my eyes as I threw my head backwards.
"It was a mess." Night Hunter added.
"That must've been hard on you. Knowing that the stallion you taught ended up dying out there after all that teaching....." I said.
"Believe me, it was," Night Hunter replied. "But that's why I'm implementing the simulated dreams so that you can adjust to the behaviors of each creature and know what's to come." Night Hunter said.
"I see. Was there a little funeral or service for him?" I asked.
"There was just a little private memorial for his family to attend." Night Hunter replied.
"That's good." I said.
"Now, uh, I'd like to get on with my day, if you don't mind." Night Hunter said.
"Of course. Sorry if you didn't like talking about this." I apologized.
"No, it's okay. It just takes me back." Night Hunter replied.
Night Hunter went for the door and I remembered what he said about the implementation of the simulated dreams.
"Thanks. Thanks for looking out for me." I said, right before he left the room
"No problem." Night Hunter said.
With that, he walked out of the room and exited the building, leaving me by myself. The rest of the day was pretty quiet since Night Hunter didn't get back until nightfall, so who knows what the hell he was doing. Maybe he wanted to pay a visit to the stallions grave. But yeah.... today was pretty quiet.