//------------------------------// // Goodbye // Story: Camouflage // by Teal //------------------------------// There it was, my camp. Standing on the edge of the jungle and looking out at the distance, I could see the sandbag surround community of shelters. From where we were, I could see activity going all over the camp, as the ponies there went by with their everyday business. After spending an entire night fighting for my life and after navigating through the jungle all morning, I was very glad to see it. Moving through the jungle was quite a difficult feat and a dangerous one too, especially for just two ponies. But having Camouflage with me seemed to make the task easier than it was supposed to be, with the only hard part being the only the countless hours trotting through difficulty terrain. But despite having such a powerful pony accompanying me, one who can fight an entire company of the enemy without any difficulty, it still unnerved me a bit to be with him. Ever since the first strange encounter, when I saw him lifting trees as if they were nothing, we never again made an attempt in having a conversation. Although he was helping me, there was just something about him spooking me. So as much as possible I kept silent throughout our journey, only speaking when absolutely necessary. But now, back in the safe zone again and near the vicinity of my camp, I knew that I had to still thank him. He may be strange and out of the ordinary, but he still helped save my life. And I owed him that. Turning towards him and seeing the usual smile on his face, I gestured towards my camp and said: “Well, there’s my camp. I better head back there and report myself.” “Yup, you best do that.” He said, nodding knowingly. Nodding back, I glanced towards the camp before glancing back towards him. I knew that I could just end it here and head out to my camp, but I knew that I couldn’t just end it like that. That would be too rude and this pony, he deserved more. “Hey, uhhh…” I said, a bit unsure. “…thanks for all you help. If it wasn’t for you, I would probably still be stuck there, trapped in the middle of the jungle, or even worst, dead. You came just in the nick of time and saved me in more than one occasion throughout are trek and I may not know how you managed to do some of the things you did, well I’m just glad you can and you did.” Chuckling, he nodded his head. “Don’t sweat it; I’ll do anything to help a fellow marine. But now my job is done and I have to go.” “Oh, well…” I said awkwardly. “…how about you head to my camp first? I’m sure we can arrange some kind of transportation for you so that you can get to your camp quicker and safer.” “Nah, no need for that, I can handle myself..” He said. “Besides, I really need to go now, I can’t linger here any longer. Goodbye, Night Light, you take care of yourself.” “Goodbye to you too…” I called out, as I watched him turn around and head towards the jungle, soon disappearing from sight. “…Camouflage.” *** I trudged into camp, ragged, dirty, tired, and ready to collapse. Having eaten nothing but crackers since my patrol left camp, I was badly out of strength. Receiving stares from the ponies around me and having a blank expression on my face, I made my way towards the base headquarters, saving my last amount of strength to do the duty of reporting the loss of my platoon. Approaching the headquarters tent and attracting the attention of the staff personnel attending the headquarters, as stood up from behind his desk and met me as I entered. “Whoa there, marine, what happened to you?” He asked. “Ambush.” I told him, my voice showing my exhaustion. “I was in 3rd Platoon when we were hit by the enemy yesterday.” “Wait, you’re from 3rd Platoon?” He said, eyes wide. “Well, I better tell the Captain they you’re back. He’s been out in the jungle with 1st Platoon trying to find you guys. Say, tell me, how many of you came back?” “Just me.” I told him grimly. “Just you?” The shock in his voice was evident. Shaking his head and muttering something I couldn’t hear. Looking back at me with amazement, he studied me for a while before saying: “Well, you best get yourself some food and rest after that, you deserved it marine.” “Yeah, rest…” I said, feeling the weariness on me and wanting to lay back and relax my muscles. But before I moved away from the tent, I turned towards staff member that I was taking to and asked: “Hey, uh, can I ask you a favor first though?” “Sure, what do you need?” He asked. “Well, I had this marine help me get back here, said he was called Camouflage, and I was wondering if you can help me find him. I don’t know much about him, but that pony deserves a medal after all he’s done to help me.” Glaring at me with unblinking eyes, he gazed at me with a long stare, his face plastered with an expression of disbelief. Stuttering as he spoke, I returned his amazed stare with a confused one. “Did…did you say Camouflage?” “Yeah…” I said carefully as I nodded. “That’s what he said they call him. Would it be too hard to find him?” “Well…it wouldn’t be too hard to find him…” He said hesitantly. “…cause he’s…he’s here in this camp.” “What?” I said in shock, not really expecting to hear that as an answer. “He is? But he can’t. Well, he did say his camp was nearby, but he didn’t say that this was his camp.” “Wait, marine, slowdown. Are you seriously telling me that you talked to Camouflage just recently?” He said, his voice regaining composure as his face had a raise eyebrow on it. “Yes, that what I said.” I reminded him. “He’s the one who helped me get back here. If it wasn’t for him, I would have been dead by now.” Sighing, the pony in front of me shook his head, before looking at me with a deadpanned expression. “Marine, I don’t think you know how much confusion and worry you’re giving me right now.” “Confusion and worry?” I said, staring at him with an annoyed look. “I fail to understand why you’t confused and worried right now.” “It’s because-“ He began, before cutting himself off. “You know what, I think its best that I just show you instead. Here, follow me.” With that, he led the way out of the tent, as I followed him behind. Bringing me to another large tent, he opened the flap and urged me to go inside. Once in, I looked around to see rows and rows of cots, each one of them covered by a large blanket on top. But giving the cots a careful study, in began to notice hooves popping up on their ends, making me suddenly realize where I was. “Why did you bring me here?” I asked, as I watched the staff pony walk and stop in front of a particular cot. “Because of him.” He said, gesturing towards the cot. Confused, but following him internally, I stared at the cot he was pointed at, feeling unsure at what he was trying to achieve. “I still don’t understand.” I told him. Sighing, he moved forward and grabbed one end of the blanket and pulled it up. “This is Camouflage. He’s been at camp almost all week, stuck here because of malaria before he passed away yesterday.” He simply said, as he revealed a familiar looking bright yellow earth pony to me. Looking down at the body that lay on the clot, I felt my heart stop and my body freeze. Staring at him as he lay there, unmoving and still, I felt that I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. “But, but, this can’t be.” I stammered. “I was just with him, I saw him alive only minutes ago. He can’t be…be dead.” “I’m sorry, marine, but what’ you’re seeing here right now is true.” He said solemnly, before placing a hoof on my shoulder. “Now, I’m not saying what you said might not be true, but its just hard to believe.” I kept silent, not knowing what to say. I just stared down at him and glanced at the dogtag wrapped around his neck. Reading it, I saw the name Bright Macintosh inscribed on it. So… I thought to myself. …that’s what his real name was. “If it helps…” The staff pony suddenly said, as he spoke up. “…he did say something yesterday, just before he died.” Not knowing what to feel and curious at what he meant by that, I looked up at him. “And what’s that?” “He said: ‘There a lost marine out there, alone and needing some help. I’m going to find him and bring him home.’” Hearing this made me feel shattered, as I felt an unexplainable emotion build up within me. He was dead and yet he somehow saved me. I felt the fur behind my back stand up and the thought of a spirit helping me, yet I still was thankful that he did. If he didn’t, then I would have been nothing but a spirit too. So shaking my head and moving closer towards the lifeless body, I looked down and whispered: “Thank you, Camouflage.”