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// Part 2 1/2: Flutters perspective 
// Story: Lost in Everfree 
// by Nekobladen 
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	Fluttershy stood engaged in the one sided conversation with the rare animal, a sense of bravery overtook her shy nature in this moment of discovery. Once her mind fell silent her body let out the breath it had been holding. 

The being before her stood unmoved, it’s stance seemingly indifferent to her words. The yellow pegasus lowered her head allowing the pink mane atop to hide her features, had she angered the beast, or was it simply shying its self away from her? A small smile curved her lips at this idea.

It was not often the timid mare came across others like herself, nervous of confrontation and avoiding the public eye. 

Any thought of danger faded from her mind as she gazed at him with new insight. While lost in her delusions the human’s hand lowered to its side in pain; even lost sanity would not deter hunger’s presence for long. The sound of an empty belly was universal and understood quickly by the kind pegasus, food was always good for drawing friends together and she wanted its friendship badly.

Fluttershy might have felt embarrassed if any other pony saw her nose in the grass sniffing, but it was nothing the kind mare gave a second thought to when surviving. She could recall many nights when the food supplies ran low for her animal friends and she had to improvise a meal, living close to the forest gave ample opportunity to find new and safe greenery. 

Now she had a knack for finding goodies hidden in unlikely or foreign environments.

The yellow mare returned with a bouquet of different flowers hugged in the folds of her wings, resting near the hungry brute she aligned the edibles into a pattern of size and colors. The golden colored pony’s heart swelled with the hope he could enjoy a meal of flora instead of fauna, for she never felt well when they preferred the ladder.

With the meal of fresh picked forest flowers between them, Fluttershy waited patiently for a response. The first flower he lifted had long thin yellow leaves the same color as her coat, with bright orange floret tips. The mares eyes watched the yummy delicacy sway in front of its maw, he was taking in its scent before challenging the flavor. Another low rumble and her reassuring nod was enough for him to nearly inhale the thing down, suddenly it lurched forward trapping her in its embrace. 

Shock and fear washed over her within seconds, the winged pony’s instincts were to buck the attacker or flee from harm but his strength would allow neither.  

After squeaking an inaudible request to be set free she relaxed in his arms, no longer fearing harm but wondering how long this embarrassing embrace would last for. A warm breeze blew through their shared field; finally reaching the limit of tolerance she hugged in return hoping it was the key to her release. 

The large being tenderly set her down where she had sat, it was apparent her good willed gesture had worked better then she thought. He was already lifting the next treat when the realization of what it was caused her to extent a hoof hindering its ascent. She told of its special traits, how only the pedals were edible and consuming anything else would cause sickness.

The creature listened with a perplexed expression stuck on its face, noticing this she decided showing him would be the most useful option. Pressing a hoof down on the stem of the carnation, Fluttershy nibbled on the light red pedal showing the proper way of its consumption. 

Time went by without notice as they traded facial expressions and body language to convey what could not be said, with the meal finished and happy smiles genuinely worn on each face the shy mare remember why she had ventured into Everfree in the first place.

The image of bright red berries flashed in her mind, they had been growing somewhere along the path she had traversed in getting here. Rising to all four hooves her wings stretched out in reflex from being still for so long, the pegasus pony looked back past the serene surrounding into the dark road she would have to cross once more. 

Softly she felt the creatures hand rest atop her head before tussling her mane. Though the gesture was kind in intent, she could only look up at him with worried eyes. 

They walked together until the darker part of the forest lay in their path, it would be a monumental task to persuade her new friend to accompany her out. Fluttershy tried to coax him forward but his stern expression would not be swayed easily, sitting down she began to ponder the situation.  Bladen meanwhile looked at path with unease, for he was sure he’d seen it before.