C.A.M.A: Day Eighteen
December 24th, 2012
Not much really went on in the morning or afternoon since Night Hunter was gone for the day, but Night Hunter said he'd be back by nightfall, which was the time at the moment. I laid silently on my bed while reading up on Hearth's Warming story in the Equestrian history book. Shortly after I finished reading the whole story, I heard music echo in the hallway. Music that sounded rather similar the instrumentals to Silent Night. I peeked my head out of the doorway and looked to my right, noticing Night Hunter fiddling with a record player in the hallway.
"Just thought I'd set the mood for Hearth's Warming Eve." Night Hunter clarified.
"When did you get back? I didn't even hear you come in." I said.
"About fifteen minutes ago. Didn't you see me walk past the doorway to get this old record player from downstairs?" Night Hunter asked.
"No. I must've been really into this book I was reading." I replied.
"Oh." Night Hunter said.
I looked at the left side of Night Hunter's left abdominal area and he had a pouch attached on.
"What's in the pouch?" I asked.
"Since I couldn't get you something for Hearth's Warming, I thought I would head down to the post office to see if your friends responded to your letter." Night Hunter said.
"And?" I asked with anticipation.
Night Hunter responded by levitating a envelope out of the pouch and slightly waved it.
"I knew they'd respond just in time!" I said, cheerfully.
"I also picked up some eggnog from the market in Canterlot." Night Hunter added, taking a quart of eggnog out.
"Aw, sweet! I always wanted to try eggnog but never got the chance." I said.
"Excellent. We can finish this together. I don't think I can take this stuff all at once." Night Hunter said.
"Why? Is it alcoholic?" I asked.
"Yep." Night Hunter replied.
"Eh, a little alcohol never hurt anyone. Come on in here." I directed Night Hunter.
Night Hunter then walked into the bunks and gave me the envelope that contained the letter.
"Open 'er up." Night Hunter said, sitting next to me on the bed.
I gently ripped the top part of the envelope off and I could see a piece of paper inside. With that, I took the paper and out and unfolded it.
Dear Caleb,
It was so reassuring for me and Spike to receive a letter from you and how much you're learning. Just like you, me, Spike and other girls miss you so much as well. Trying to explain your absence to the other five was actually quite challenging. Pinkie wouldn't stop asking questions nonstop until I finally convinced the story to her, but the others weren't as hard. Things around Ponyville have been going great. Everypony's been getting into the holiday's and all of that. Speaking of getting into the holiday season, the whole gang is going up to Canterlot to participate in the Hearth's Warming play, so maybe you could see it. Other than that, not much has really going on. One more thing, please keep working hard on what you do up there in Canterlot so that I won't have to worry about you once you actually go into the Everfree. It would break everypony's heart to see you go so soon, but I know that will never happen. We miss seeing you around!
Sincerely, your dear friend, Twilight Sparkle.
P.S: Spike thought that little comment about him was pretty funny.
After reading the letter, it gave me more encouragement to keep doing what I do even more harder and warmed my heart.
"I think there's one more thing inside there." Night Hunter alerted.
I looked in the envelope and pulled out a photo; the photo of myself, Twilight, Spike, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash at the train station the day I came back from visiting the princesses. As I inspected the photo, I noticed that Spike blinked when the camera flashed, so I'll probably give him shit about that when I get back, from all the nicknames he gave me.
"So these are your friends?" Night Hunter asked, giving a glass of eggnog to me.
"Yep." I replied, sipping on the creamy eggnog. "Mmm, that's pretty good." I said.
"Well, that's another thing we have in common. Say, is that a dragon?" he asked, noticing Spike.
"Mmm-hmm. His name is Spike. He's was raised by ponies, so he's harmless." I said.
"Is he smart?" Night Hunter asked.
"Of course. Why do you ask?" I replied.
"Most of the feral dragons near the volcanic regions are pretty dumbfounded boneheads, so I was wondering if Spike was smart or not." Night Hunter explained.
"Nope, he's pretty smart, but can be a little jokester sometimes." I said.
"You're lucky to have good friends like that. Heck, they seem like a family from the way I see it." Night Hunter remarked.
"Nah, we're just friends. You got any family?" I asked.
"No.... they're long gone." Night Hunter replied.
"Damn. Not even a mom, dad, brother or sister?" I asked.
"Not one. I'm the only one left." he said. "It gets a little lonely around the holidays with no family to spend it with but I have other friends, too. I stopped by to visit them earlier." Night Hunter added, taking a bigger swig of eggnog.
"Oh, that's good. I kind of know how you feel." I said, patting him on the back.
"You do?" Night Hunter asked.
"When I came to this world, I had to leave my family behind as well. I could've prevented that by not going near that portal, but my curiosity got the best of me. Perhaps me and you are not so different even though we are two separate species." I said, taking a large swig of eggnog.
"You actually prove a good point." Night Hunter said.
"Yeah." I replied.
Twenty minutes had passed and I was starting to feel a little fuzzy on the inside.
"Hmmmm. My head feels like it's swimming." I said, my voice sounding a little slurred.
"Me too." Night Hunter replied.
"Hey, Night Hunter, I've a crazy theory about Timberwolves." I said.
"Is it a funny one?" Night Hunter asked with a hiccup at the end of the question.
"Just bear with me on it, okay?" I asked.
"Alright, hit me." Night Hunter replied.
I then gave Night Hunter a slap on the face, emitting a loud smacking sound in the room. Night Hunter fell over on the carpet while laughing and moaning in pain.
"Kid, I didn't mean it literally." Night Hunter slurred drunkenly as he stumbled to regain his balance.
"Oh, my bad, man." I replied.
"So here's my theory: What if Timberwolves are wolves, like animal wolves, in some kind of mechanical suit made out of wood and they only come out at night because they're wolves." I said like an idiot.
"That doesn't even make any sense." Night Hunter replied, walking into the bed and falling over again.
"Worth a shot, man. Worth a shot." I replied.
I then stood up and I was absolutely dizzy and hammered at the moment. I began to chug the rest of the eggnog, which was probably nearly all out, down my throat.
"Whoa-nelly." Night Hunter said as I began to chug.
I finished the rest of the eggnog in seven seconds flat. I dropped the empty quart carton to the ground and stared at Night Hunter with one eye open.
"You are an legend, Caleb." Night Hunter praised as I let out a hiccup.
Suddenly, I began to feel sleepy and fell over onto the mattress. That's all I remember from that point. Sure as hell an interesting way to spend my first Hearth's Warming Eve in Equestria.