//------------------------------//
// Floating 
// Story: Perspectives 
// by Polarity 
//------------------------------//

What?

Why?

Why is she hugging me?

I don't deserve this.

"I don't even know your name, friend."
They ring in my ears.
I didn't even introduce myself.
Yet, I addressed them by name.
I know better.

"But I forgive you."
I had given up on hoping to find kindness similar to this.
I thought I was alone.

Maybe the stories were true.
More tears escape from my eyes.

What if you shouldn't be here.
No.
I can't think that yet.
I won't.

"Fluttershy."
I put my hands under her forelegs, seeing as they don't really have shoulders.
I push her back.
I need to see her eye to eye.

Ah.
She looks like she is about to start crying.
Such empathy.
She doesn't even know me, or my thoughts.

She'll hate you when she learns.
They all will.

Shush.

You know it's true.

Be quiet!

I close my eyes for a moment.
I need to gather myself.
I can't be a wreck of a man the entire time.
The mask needs to slide back into place.
A slight distancing from myself.
Enough to make me feel even more alone.
But it lets me through the day in public.
How I hate you.
Me.
Coward.

I know.

There, I'm ready.


She is still staring at me.
I don't know how long it's been.
Maybe an instant.
A lifetime?

"I'm sorry, Fluttershy. I haven't even told you my name. I'm Cim."
The words slip from my tongue.
When will the first one come.
The first lie.

No, don't lie.
You can start new here.

Maybe.

"Hello, Cim."
She still sounds a little afraid.
It hurts.

You deserve to be hurt.

I set her down, and stand.

"Will you wait here, please Fluttershy?"
"Applejack?"

"What fer?"
She is looking at me sly.

"I just need to go get my things."

"Well, be quick about it."
Apparently she trusts me enough to not think I'm getting weapons.
Or maybe she thinks she can handle it, should it come.
Either way.

She sits down, after walking over to Fluttershy.
"What'er yah say to ah little wait, eh Fluttershy?"

Fluttershy just sits there looking at me.

Maybe she sees me as this new exciting animal.

She doesn't say anything.
Applejack nudges her, "Huh, sugarcube?"

"Oh, hmm, what?"
"Oh, yes yes, I can wait."
She doesn't even look at AJ.

I just stand there staring at her, back.

"Well, what're yer waitin, fer?"

Oh, yes.

I sigh and go, one leg after the other into the forest.


It's easy to follow the trail we blazed, back to the river.
So much broken, trod under hoof and foot.
It wouldn't take much now to make this a proper trail.
A little clearing, and many footfalls.

One foot after the other.

Don't run away.

Don't run.

Don't.


There it is, my jug is still down by the bank.

I don't want to risk slipping again.

It can wait until my head clears properly.

Besides, I think I have another tied to my pack.


Yup. There it is.
Camp.



Quickly dismantled.
I didn't even have to wash dishes.
Heh, I didn't even have time to make food.

A few pieces of orange plastic ribbon mark the trail back to the forest path.
A few more mark the path along the trail we blazed, out of the forest.

I step out and the open sun once again welcomes me.