At some point in the night he must of fallen asleep, because when he next opened his eyes he was looking at the walls of a tent, as faint sunlight filtered through. The shadowy shapes of tree limbs scattered all around. Trying to get up he found himself slightly pinned under the claws of his new traveling companion. This may be a slight problem. He was a bit hungry, and yet he didn’t want to be a bother and wake up his friend. So He tried to slide free and failed at it.
Try as he might, he couldn’t wiggle free without risking waking her up, which he didn’t want to do as it would be rude. Sighing, he resigned to his fate of being cuddled when he heard an amused snort.
“Giving up on freedom so soon?” Zip lifted her head to look at him, giving him a amused look. Or well, what he assumed was an amused look.
“I didn’t wanna wake you…” Finally wiggling free of her claws and stretching a bit, before letting out a big yawn. He noticed they didn’t have much moving room in the tent, just the small space near himself that he was standing in currently. The rest of it was taken up by most of Zips bulk, her tail had to be as long as her body! Attempting to climb over her withers was proving a bit difficult, as that was the area closest to the door.
“Here, let me help.” Flailing when he felt himself getting picked up, he quickly settled down when he realized he was being lifted and the set down right in front of the door. Quickly opening the door and darting out with the energy only that of a foal can have, he quickly took in his surroundings. They were in a fairly thick wooded bit of the forest, but light still came through with ease. Also noting the large raspberry bushes surrounding almost all sides of the camp, curiosity yet again got the better of him.
“How’d we get here Zip? I don’t see a way through the bushes that wouldn’t hurt us with the thorns?” Turning to look curiously at his friend as they exited into the open. “Hey wait, doesn’t the light hurt you?”
“Artificial lights do a bit, natural light or somewhat natural, like fire, oil lamps, sunlight and coal lights don’t hurt me. But lights made from electricity, do irritate me more than I like. Now as to how we got into the middle of this thicket? It was easy as I had climbed the trees. What surprised me is you didn’t wake up during the entire journey after we got past the farmlands.” Watching her stretch out, I realized she had a point. How did I fall asleep so easily? Normally i’m a very light sleeper.
Also the fact she’s a lot bigger than me, along with being very different in both appearances and ways in which she can interact with the world, it wouldn’t be hard to bypass the brambles. Walking over towards the brambles, I began plucking what berries I could off the branches, flinching each time I pricked myself on the thorns. I had only managed to gather a small hoof full before I was pulled away and get down next to Zip.
“Here, you hold the bowl and I’ll pick the berries.” Eagerly taking the bowl and following Zip closely. She was a lot better at getting the berries than he was, as her long claws allowed he to reach them without getting pricked by the thorns. In no time at all the bowl was full of fresh berries, nearly spilling out of the bowl. Setting the bowl down next to a stump right by the tent, he tilted his head at Zip, popping a berry into his mouth.
“Hey Zip? Do you have an actual name I can call you?” Zip had been pulling more berries off the bushes and putting them into a container, but at his question she stopped.
“I...do not little one, monsters usually aren’t meant to have ones. Races refrain from giving us names, to avoid giving us power. They believe there is power to be gained in a name. So I cherish the one you have given me, even if it is...a little odd, I must admit.” Walking past him and reaching into the tent, she placed the container of fresh berries into one of its many pockets. Turning back to me, she sighed. “I must admit, I do believe I am in over my head.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean little one, other than the basics, i’m not sure what I can do for you. I highly doubt Equestrians would accept someone that looks like me.” While saying this she tapped her claws against her teeth.
“Why not? Didn’t the Elements reform Discord? He looks odd. Why can’t you be accepted if you can show you’re nice?” He plopped more berries into his mouth, and offered some to Zip, who took a clawful.
“Because Discord from what I know got hit twice point blank by those elements, and the first time he simply was put back into stone.”
“So why not have the Elements verify you then? We could go to ponyville and I could go up and ask the Princess of Friendship for help! I mean, that should work right? Don’t they go around solving friendship problems?” Hopping up and nearly sending the bowl of berries flying he started pacing as he thought up a plan on how best to ask for help.
“I...suppose we could make an attempt…” Zip placed the bowl she caught down next to her gently, she watched him pace. From what he could tell, she didn’t look entirely certain. At the very least she was willing to try though.
His pacing was suddenly stopped when he let out an enormous yawn, the reality of spending most of the night awake hitting him. Granted he’d slept until noon, but not nearly enough sleep was gained.
“I do believe it might be best if we went back to sleep, we have a lot to do once dusk arrives. I do hope you don’t mind us traveling again so soon after stopping.” As Zip said this, she was moving what items we’d taken out back into the small tent. Once those were stashed away I found myself scooped up and plopped inside as well.
Yawning once more, I grew a bit confused. Wasn’t I just wide awake? Maybe it was because I now had a full belly of berries and no longer hungry, that exhaustion decided to make itself known again. Either way, I cuddled in with ease once Zip had settled down around me, closing the tent door as she did so.
“Good day little one, see you once the moon rises…” I didn’t hear much else after that, I slipped blissfully into dreamland.