//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: Resistance: Remain Human // by Hurgusburgus //------------------------------// I slowly crawled ahead, careful not to step on a twig or a branch, the unsuspecting hog noisily munching away at something. I saw a glimpse of Tag moving to flank the hog. Snap. The hog instantly darted, and I wasted no time to leap after it, with Tag right at my side. I tripped at one moment, but managed to regain my footing, even though I nearly broke my ankle, but I hardly felt the pain, pumped up by adrenaline as I was. We chased the squealing animal, slowly gaining up on it. The trees slowly grew sparser, and moments later, we were out of the forest. The hog was tiring, too, something that didn’t bother me and Tag. Perks of being a Chimera. Tag was already snapping at its heels, and got lucky. He bit off the foot off the hog. A squeal of pain pierced the air and I leaped forward, sinking my fangs in the hog’s neck. The squeal turned in a gurgle and I had to fight to retain my grip as the animal tossed its not-inconsiderable bulk around and I felt warm blood on my tongue. Eventually, though, its thrashing died down, and I was able to let go. I flexed my jaw, satisfied I didn’t snap off any of my teeth. Oh, the taste of sweet, sweet blood. Tag bounded up to me and we grabbed the dead animal, dragging it back in the forest. Fred would smoke the meat, ensuring it didn’t spoil. Just before we were back in the cover of trees, I spotted a butter-yellow pony watching us. I knew her. Flutter-something, was it? I glared at her for a moment, before continuing on my trek. The small basket tumbled out of Fluttershy’s grasp as she saw the two beasts overpower and drag away the hog. Tears filled her eyes at the act of violence she’d just witnessed. She didn’t know which was worse, the poor animal’s death or the beast’s savage stare. Galled to the core of her being, she immediately hurried to inform Twilight. Jennifer raised her head from my Bullseye she was tinkering with. She was still pretty ticked with me, but agreed to do maintenance on our weapons. The thing only few know is that Chimeran weapons recharge themselves. The energy clips can be recharged, too. Simply keep them near a source of heat and they’ll be fine as new in a couple of hours. Fred waddled over to me, a toothy smile on his face. “Hello, there, James! Good hunt, eh?” “It was. Hurt my ankle a bit, but the regenerative factor kicked in already.” Fred picked the dead hog up like it weighed nothing, picking a small sword from his bag. Where he found it, I’ve no idea, but he’s somewhat of an artist with it. He doesn’t hurry, instead calmly and efficiently dissecting the hog, hanging the pieces of meat above the fire he has going in the back of the cave. He had created an impromptu chimney from several tree trunks he’d patiently hollowed out and joined together; using animal hides for the corner bits. Snaggletooth was watching over the meat, screeching at anyone who would dare approach the fireplace. Ted approached me, doing the nervous hand-wash. “Hey, Ted. Something on your mind, man?” “Er, yes. I was wond’rin’ when we’s going back to London, Jimmy.” “To be honest, I’ve no idea. For starters, I don’t even know how we got here. I’d say we’re stuck here, at least for the time being.” “Oh, mate! How did this happen to us?” “You tell me.” I turned away, heading over to Jen. She looked up from the Bullseye in her lap. “James.” “Jen. Everything fine?” “The gun’s fine. I tweaked the cells a bit. They were leaking energy. Not any more.” She handed the rifle back to me. “Thanks.” “No problem.” I turned to leave, when she grabbed my arm in a vice-like grip. “I wasn’t kidding about what I said. You better remember that.” “I will.” She lets go, and I restrain from rubbing my elbow. “Good.” We don’t talk much nowadays. It’s been what, a week since we found ourselves here? Ted’s been keeping track of time, though I don’t really care. It keeps him busy, though, keeps him relatively calm. We don’t get many guests around here, too, only the occasional wild animals. Most of the time, they steer wide of our quaint little cave. If they don’t, well… You get the idea. I was out looking for more of those strange wolves made out of wood. They made good firewood. Not too dry, and not too wet, just perfect. And most of the time, those things were too dumb to leave us alone, which made things easier for me. As I fiddled absent-mindedly with a small toothpick I’d crafted out of a small bone, I heard a child screaming. Then another one. Without wasting time, I ran towards the commotion. If I didn’t, someone would die. That and Jen would skin me alive if she found this out, which she would. Without a knife. “Let’s be Cutie Mark Crusader Cartographers, you said! It’ll be fun, you said! What were you thinking, Scootaloo?” Applebloom squealed, dodging the timberwolf that was snapping at her. The other two Crusaders weren’t faring much better, with Sweetie Belle sporting a nasty-looking gash on her flank, inflicted by a particularly deft timberwolf. “Girls, this really hurts! Unf!” The small unicorn cried, barely managing to avoid another set of jaws. The wolves had nearly encircled them and they knew it. The three scared fillies pressed against each other, trembling with fear. “Well, Ah guess this is it, girls. ‘Twas nice t’know ya’ll.” Applebloom muttered sadly and closed her eyes. She’d never get back to meet her family. The closest timberwolf leapt at her, when a blood-chilling roar filled the clearing and the small pony forced her eyes open. I looked at the pack of the wolves surrounding a trio of small ponies, as the roar faded away. Designating me as the prime threat, the wolves charged at me, but I was more than prepared for that, already blasting them apart with the Bullseye. Blue projectiles tore the fragile beasts apart, scattering splinters everywhere. Those that survived the first onslaught still threw themselves at me and I threw a Hedgehog grenade. It hit the first wolf in the snout and it yelped with pain, bringing the whole pack to a halt, just as the grenade rose from ground, sending a cloud of half-metre spines outwards, pinning the wolves to the surrounding trees and ground. Only a few wounded beasts remained, and I was able to finish them off. Now I had to check on the ponies. Sweetie Belle stared in shock at the carnage around. No timberwolves remained alive. The tall, bipedal monster was walking towards them, regarding them impassively with its glowing yellow eyes. It knelt down in front of them and she could see its mouth was full of sharp fangs. “You’re hurt.” Its voice was gravelly and rough and she burst in tears. “Oh, please don’t eat me! Please!” “Wasn’t going to. Jen wouldn’t approve. Now, hold still.” I pulled out one of the small, transparent cylinders of sym-bac I always carried with me, placing the injector nozzle on the pony’s flank, depressing the button on top, flooding a small amount of the regenerative bacteria in the foal’s bloodstream. She gasped, but then looked surprisedly as the wound rapidly closed up, leaving a barely noticeable scar in place. “That should do it. Anyone else hurt?” “N-no. Scoots and me are okay.” The yellow-coloured pony muttered fearfully, while the white one inspected the spot where she’d been bitten. “Wow. Thanks.” “Don’t mention it. Why’re you out so late? Forest’s dangerous.” “We got lost hours ago. Can you help us?” The orange one squealed and I sighed internally. “Very well. Will lead you out of forest. Promise never to come back?” Without waiting for them to answer, I let them to follow me. We’d scouted a part of the forest out some time ago, so I could find the edge of the woods easily. Granny Smith hugged the distraught Applejack. “There, now, Applejack. Don’t worry. We’ll find them, you’ll see.” “B-but Ah’m so scared, Granny Smith! What if timberwolves found ‘em? Or those yellow-eyed things?” The elderly mare sighed worriedly. “Well, Ah s’pose that’s a possibility. Best not think about that.” Twilight nodded in agreement. “Fluttershy has asked her animal friends to look out for the Crusaders, Applejack. We’ll find them.” Big Mac walked in at that moment, exhausted. “No luck so far?” “Nnope.” The solemn stallion uttered sadly, when a frenzied Rainbow Dash crashed through the half-open door. “I saw them! They’re heading this way! And one of those things is with them!” The one named Applebloom gave me directions to her family farm. Better than going to the town, I guess. We were just inside the fence when the house’s front door burst open and a garish collection of ponies ran out, but ground to a halt upon seeing me. We stared at each other for a few moments. “You take care of them. Forest’s not safe.” With that, I turned around, leaving for the forest. “Wait!” I turned around, seeing an orange mare wearing a cowboy’s hat waving at me. “Uh… Thanks for saving my lil’ sister and her friends. Ah’m in yer debt.” I really didn’t have a decent answer to grace her with, so I turned back around, leaving for the forest. “Don’t you ever scare me like that again, Applebloom!” Applejack muttered, hugging her small sister tightly. “Ah won’t, AJ. Ah promise. We learned our lesson, didn’t we, girls?” She looked at Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, who nodded in response. “We did. And that thing saved us, too.” Twilight looked at the small unicorn. “It did? What was its name? Oh, right. James! It would seem that he and the others aren’t as evil as they look. But sadly, Princess isn’t willing to let anypony inside the forest at this time, except for a Royal Guard contingent that is due to leave tomorrow.” “Well, Ah can certainly vouch for ‘im! He saved my sister an’ her friends! You can’t just ignore that!” Applejack announced decidedly. Applebloom nodded in agreement. “Nothing’s decided yet, Applejack! I need to consult with the Princess on this. Things just got a lot more complicated.” I hauled the fishing lines out of the water, feeling the reassuring weight of a sizeable catch at the end of each of them. Fred would be happy. Once I’d returned to the cave, taking over the watch from Ted, I settled down comfortable in the tree. My mind was full of swirling thoughts. Maybe the farmponies would put in a good word for us? Anything was possible, I suppose. For now, however, I was content with sitting in the tree, chewing on some wild berries Snag had found. It was surprising, actually. I thought my being a Chimeran Hybrid would restrict me to only meat, but I found myself enjoying the taste of something sweet. Was nice. The quiet forest was also nice. Could I actually find peace in this land? And could my friends achieve that, too? Time will show, James. Time will show.