Rainbow yelled out in pain as she tried to pull herself out of the snow. She managed to move herself to a tree, but still couldn’t quite stand. She couldn’t move her right foreleg, every little movement inducing more pain.
That thing better not come back.
Rainbow shifted in the snow, wincing from the pain. She laid on her back now, under the tree, facing the skies above.
It was the beginning stages of dusk, the sun gleaming just above the horizon.
As Rainbow laid in the snow, she recalled all of the moments she had lived in the past few days. From the moment she woke up in the field, to the moment she made the sonic rainboom, and to now, when she was attacked by an animal.
Rainbow took this time to check over her injuries. There were three large, parallel cuts down her left side, bleeding heavily. Her right foreleg had a long gash along the length of it. That seemed to be the worst of the injuries. She also noticed her nose was bleeding, most likely from the impact with the tree. Her right ear had a good nick in it, too. There were small cuts here and there, as well.
Rainbow looked at the spot where the fight had gone down. The snow around the area was flattened, being dotted with red. There was also quite a few feathers around, too. She quickly looked at her wings. They seemed to be in okay condition still.
She looked to her left, to her original destination. The caves seemed to be so close, yet so far.
There’s... no way I’ll make it in this condition...
Each and every breath she took in, sent pain spiraling throughout her body. Each and every movement she made, shot pain throughout her body.
T-there’s no break, i-is there?
Rainbow was tired of the pain.
She looked around for something sharp.
A branch?
She looked up at the tree above her, branches sticking out in every direction.
Actually, no... A rock?
She didn’t see anything around her.
I give up!
Rainbow was determined to find something, so she stood up, pain intensifying. She stumbled through the snow, blood dripping into it as she went on.
It... It’ll be gone... soon.
The opening to the cave was not too far anymore. She had made progress, a lot of it, despite the pain and loss of blood.
Rainbow made it to the entrance. She gazed deep down into the cave. Darkness. Nothing but darkness. The light from the subsiding sun didn’t help much.
Without hesitation, Rainbow walked inside, limping every step.
The sound of liquid hitting the cold rock of the cave emanated throughout the darkness.
Rainbow tripped over something on the floor, falling straight onto her injured foreleg.
With agonizing pain suddenly flowing through her body, Rainbow screamed out. Echos ringed out, bouncing around the walls.
The sun finally slipped under the horizon, deepening the darkness of the cave.
I. Am. Done.
Rainbow got back onto her hooves. She walked slowly, feeling ahead of her with her left foreleg. Rainbow felt a jagged spike poke up from the floor of the cave. She leaned against it to take a little break. Suddenly, it snapped, giving in to her weight.
Before she fell to the ground, she caught herself.
Enough! I will not fall again! Living sucks! I hate it. Nothing is worse.
Rainbow felt around the hard floor, looking for the spike that had broken off. Finally, she found it. She grabbed it, aiming it towards her own neck.
It’ll all be gone. No more pain.
Rainbow wanted so badly to end it... but something told her not to.
She pulled it closer, threatening to do it.
It... It will end...
Pain ends.
No... more....
Pain is only temporary.
Three...
When darkness branches to your soul, light still finds a way to rise.
...two...
Find strength in pain.
...one...
Trust the timing of your life.
Rainbow breathed in... preparing to end everything.
Suddenly, everything went silent. The dripping of water throughout the cave ceasing, as well as the low howl of the wind. There was no sound, just silence. Darkness, as well.
She then heard the faint beating of her heart. The distinct rhythm caught her attention, bringing it away from the spike in her hooves.
Rainbow slightly lowered the spike, then dropped it.
The loud crack signaled that it had broken.
W-what was I t-thinking...?
Rainbow’s eyes began tearing up. Soon after, she started crying, sniffling every now and then.
The echos of her crying were the only sound in the cave.
I guess... I can go to sleep now.
She sat down on the cold rock, preparing for another night of sleep. Then, out of nowhere, she heard a low growl.
Her ears shot up and she looked in the direction of the sound. She started to hear more growls.
Rainbow slowly backed up, looking back for the moonlight. As Rainbow was backing up, she heard steps coming towards her.
Nononono. Please! No!
After backing up the whole way, she finally saw the faint light of moonlight shining down behind her.
Rainbow quickly turned and flapped her wings to start flying. She lifted off of the ground and flew straight out of the cave’s entrance. She dodged a tree as she flew up, out of the sea of trees.
There was snow falling down from the clouds around her, catching to her coat.
I need to find— Rainbow thought, being cut off by a yawn, I need to find a place to sleep.
She noticed the snow covering her.
Preferably out of the snow.
Rainbow awoke huddled up against a boulder, surrounded by an expansive field of grass. The sun shown down on her, warming her up. There were small clouds scattered around the bright blue sky, casting dim shadows across the field. She looked down at her forelegs and body, seeing the makeshift bandages she had made.
They aren’t the best, but they’ll help.
Rainbow stretched as she stood up from her sleeping place. She looked around, taking in her surroundings. The field was flat, all around, with one small tree here and there sprouting up from the grass.
Rainbow looked off into the distance. She chose to march on.
As Rainbow limped on, she had one thing in mind.
Find somepony else.