//------------------------------// // Whips and boulders. // Story: Graveyard Shift // by TDR //------------------------------// Graveyard Shift By TDR Whips and boulders. [ Eastern Zebrica jungle] The hot steamy depths of the darkest jungle in Zebrica was home to countless civilizations and temples of old gods. But that was long ago, and amid the ruins and fallen idols the plants had reclaimed the land and countless creatures now called those old forgotten places their home. New species of animals were discovered in the forest every year, and it was unlikely the jungle that took up the eastern side of the country had revealed even half it's secrets. Rain fell intermittently throughout the season and the area was pron to heavy mists and condensation dripping off the trees keeping most of the ground moist . The cries of birds and the hum of insects went quiet as a heavy thudding filled the air. The crash of the underbrush signaled something larger rushing through the dense undergrowth. Bursting through a thick grouping of Viper's Bowstring, a royal purple furred earth pony crashed to the ground sliding in the mud, before he quickly pushed himself back up to his hooves with a panicked glance behind him. Barely sparing a breath the wine maned stallion took off galloping again, mud splattered against his sides and barrel, partially obscuring the odd looking hat cutie mark he had. The stallion thundered through the underbrush not seeming to have any goal aside from running from something. The stallion darted around a large tree, pressing his back to it as he tried to control his labored breathing. His ears perked up as he shifted his blue gaze over the brush and trees behind him, searching for his pursuer. His eyes widen as he drew a sharp gasp of air spotting a glint of brown and gold in the brush line. With a grunt the stallion shoved away from the tree, galloping hard. The movement drew a hiss from the brush and something surged after him. The river... there was a river around here, if he could make it to that he could lose this thing. The land dropped away sharply as he dove over some tall mangrove roots landing in a puddle of water and sliding down a shallow incline of mostly mud. The river was lower this time of year, but it was still swift and deep enough that if he could make it to the middle he would be able to swim with the current and out pace his pursuer. With a heave he surged back to his hooves, the shadow of the creature looming over him for a moment before he was back up and running. The river was in sight, he tumbled and slid, pushing off the muddy incline as he galloped and fell towards it, the way ahead was clear, he was almost there. A loud hiss sounded behind him making him cry out with fear. The sound drown out by the crash of the brush as the creature surged towards him. He reached the edge of the water making a flying leap towards the faster flowing liquid in the middle of the river. There was a scream and the stallion was yanked out of the air, pulled back into the clutches of the monster, his cries echoing across the water. [ Hope Springs, Medical center. ] A number of tents of varying sizes and conditions were set up in a clearing in the jungle, not far from a small logging road that led out of the rain forest. A number of ponies and zebras milled around the camp, some of them wrapped in bandages or standing in lines. Ponies and Zebra's in nurses outfits darted between the tents rendering aid where they could. The small field hospital wasn't much, but it was all a number of local villages had for their medical treatment, and all things considered it was pretty well stocked and staffed. The camp was part of a larger collection of medical centers called the Queen's Cross, thus named after the first queen of Zebrica who had the first hospital in the country built. The organization grew to include Equestria to set up and provide medical care to many of the outlying villages and towns that were not large or populated enough to have their own hospital. The primary goal of the organization was to make sure every one they encountered was up to date with the latest vaccines and treatments, but the place was treated as a full service hospital as well. A brown and white spotted unicorn, the namesake of this particular camp, was looking down at a zebra foal she had just given a booster shot to. She smiled holding out a small red lollipop for the colt being so well behaved. Before the foal had a chance to take it however, screams drew the unicorn's attention to the other side of camp and the colt was quickly grabbed by his mother and pulled back as the pair ducked into the main tent. Moving past the housing that was set up nearest the forest was a large serpentine creature. The figure rose over two pony lengths in height, with almost twice that length moving along the ground behind it propelling it forward. It was covered in golden brown scales across it's back and down the length of it's tail with a cream scaled underbelly that ran up to the under side of the creatures jaw. Two large bulges of flesh hung about where it's chest was like a minotaur cow though they were covered by a short toga. A pair of arms with three fingers at the end of each hand and a opposable thumbs gripped a rope that held a bag hanging over it's shoulder. Lastly a large frilled hood was partially closed behind it's head as it moved, hissing to itself, as it came into camp. Hope Springs sighed, asking the mother to wait where she was with the colt before she trotted over to the serpent. The large creature looked down at the pony approaching before slinging the bag off her shoulder and setting it down gently before the doctor. “Hope, you have got to get sssome one elssse to chassse down thisss idiot next time.” the serpent stated with a frown.” I have my own patientsss and every time he ssslipsss away you sssend me to catch him.” The unicorn smiled. “Sorry Naunet, but you know as well as I do the only one who can catch Louisiana Jake here when he panics at seeing a needle, is you.” The serpent rolled her green eyes as another pony trotted up in a nurse hat with a needle for a tetness booster. Naunet opened the back a little grabbing the purple stallion as he tried to get out and run again holding him steady as the nurse jabbed him. “Honesssstly Jake, you are worssse than the foalsss.” The naga, Naunet, sighed letting the stallion go and watching him rush off again screaming. Hope Springs smiled. She had met Naunet the naga, about five years ago when the camp was set up in the south eastern part of the jungle. The naga tended to be a reclusive race that kept to themselves and were rarely seen, though Naunet had come up to camp as soon as it was set up and started poking her nose into everything out of curiosity. Despite attempts to run her off, the snake stuck around and actually tried to make herself helpful to the camp. Hope wasn't sure who it was who started teaching her to speak Equestrian, but that quickly elevated into reading, writing, and basic medical practice. Despite her not having a horn, she picked up a number of healing spells and showed her skill with her hands. She had only preformed one surgery herself, but had been an assistant in a few of them. In truth Hope thought the naga was probably a better doctor than a number of actual doctors in the camp, but due to her race, there was no way she could get much further than this. The naga didn't have any sort of medical training program in their culture, and Equestria required years of schooling before they would allow any one their degree. Hope was also rather certain that the stuffed shirts where she had gone to school in Canterlot would deny entry to Naunet simply due to her not being a unicorn. Hope Springs had unfortunately expected the naga would never be a real doctor to any one outside the camp, despite what Naunet had hoped for. At least until today. “Naunet don't worry about him for the moment, I've rolled your patient list into Triage's for the afternoon.” Hope offered. “What? Why? It never takesss me that long to catch Jake.” The naga frowned her hood flaring a little showing her annoyance. “You have a visitor. She came by soon after you went to catch Louisiana Jake.” Hope Springs smiled gesturing a hoof towards one of the main tents. Standing there drawing a great deal of attention from the local foals who were practically swarming her, was a dark blue furred alicorn.