//------------------------------//
// Chapter 8 
// Story: Everfree Alpha 
// by redpyramid1 
//------------------------------//

“And then I found you girls here at the entrance.”  

Fluttershy had just finished telling her friends about her stay in the Everfree Forest. She had told them about how she was looking for the new creature Angel Bunny had told her about, then being found by a cockatrice, and also saved from said cockatrice by the unknown creature. She described the creature as best she could to them.

It was about 6ft or so, and had blended in to its surroundings well. She continued to tell them about how she had spent the rest of her time in the Everfree forest with that creature, and that she called him Colt. And so she told them her story all the way up to her encounter with the Timberwolves. She then changed the ending saying how colt had scared them away. She also kept the fact that colt had spoken to her a secret. 

The ponies all had varying reactions. Twilight Sparkle was excited about the thought of discovering a new creature. Although technically Fluttershy discovered it so she would have to make do with studying it. Pinkie Pie was excited by the thought of making friends with an unknown creature. Applejack and Rainbow Dash both looked at each other with raised eyebrows. Rarity walked up to Fluttershy. 

“Well, I’m glad you’re alright Fluttershy. Come, come you look like you need some much need R&R.” 
Rarity then began to guide Fluttershy and the girls away from the entrance of the Everfree and straight to her home. Though Fluttershy had tried to decline she eventually gave in and went with them. 

‘Maybe spending some time with my friends will calm my nerves.’ Though Fluttershy as she took one last look at the forest before leaving with her friends. 





Colt had been limping down the dirt path for about 10 min or so. The pain in his ribs felt like it was pulsing. He ignored it for the most part. He had been to busy thinking about what just happened to really ‘feel’ his pain. 
‘what was I thinking… I just… went berserk on those wolves. Timberwolves. What kind of world makes wolves out of timber? Or wood. Is there a difference?’ sighing, Colt stopped  limping too look at the night sky. 
The night had come rather quickly. Or maybe he just lost track of time. Either way it was dark, and colt had started shivering. 
‘I Hope she’s not mad at me… haha, look at me, worrying about what other people think of me… pony’s.’ looking back at the path ahead of him he continued on. Determined to find his way home. 

After walking another 10 min Colt had found a tree. But It wasn’t just any tree. This tree has a door on it. Plus there’s window carved on one of the sides. It’s surrounded by decorations of what looked like some kind of tribal masks and hanging bottles. Upon closer inspection the bottles were filled with some kind of liquid. As Colt was admiring a somewhat tall mask near the root of the tree, the sound of a door opening was heard. 

Limping around he spots a zebra at the doorway of the tree.  She looked a bit surprised but at the same time confused. 
“My oh my, What do I see? A creature right here that is in need.” She says, as she slowly walks towards me.

Colt being the quite nervously shy basterd he is limps back a bit. Thinking back on what his mom used to say about strangers. Specifically about the ones that rime when they speak to you… mama had a thing about rimers for some reason. Something about having a forked tongue or something, 

‘I don’t know I never really understood why.’ 

The zebra had stopped moving forward when I limped back. She then eyed me up and down. Looking around her property she looks back at me. 

“You look hurt. Why don’t you come in? I can make you feel better.” She said. Moving aside and pointing to her home. 
Colt eyed the zebra for a bit. Not taking a step forwords or backwords. The zebrea looked around a bit before turning back to Colt. 

“Come with me, I won’t hurt you. I give you my word as a Zebra.” She says as she puts her right hoof over her heart. 
Colt thought about whether or not he should go with this zebra. On one hand he could get some much needed medical attention. On the other hand he could just leave… and probably die of blood loss… well then. 

Colt slowly limped past the zebra and into its home. Looking around the room he notes the its almost perfectly circular in its shape.  In the middle of the room there’s a couldren with some kind of liquid in it. On the walls were all sorts of tribal decorations. Along with bottles, some full others empty. There were also some bottles hanging by some strings. 

The zebra had asked Colt to have a seat. She then walked to the opposite side of the room. Opening a trunk and pulling out a small box. She then walked back to Colt, examining where he was injured. 

“Tell me where you hurt.” she says. 

Colt then began to slowly remove his shirt, then his mask. The zebra looked closer and began to hum to herself. She then moves away from him and walks to one of her shelves picking up a small jar seemingly at random and walked back to Colt. She then applied what was inside of the jar to his torso. 
And thus began Colts treatment.





While The zebra was healing Colt she had decided to talk to him about, well anything really. Her name is Zecora, and she lives in the Everfree forest supposedly for the piece and quite. She talked about her time in the forest, and about her visits in the village near the forest called Ponyville.  And apparently she usually speaks in rime whenever she speaks to some’pony’. Colt wasn’t sure why she did this, but decided to ignore it. 

She had finished putting a bandage on Colts head and took a step back to admire her work. Colt was feeling much better. Though a bit sore nothing a little sleep won’t fix. 

“You should be fine now. Would you like to sleep here tonight?” the zebra asks.

Colt shook his head no and stood up. Putting his shirt on and pocketing the ripped mask. Colt grunted a bit but managed to stand. The zebra walked over to her door and opened it. 

“Suit yourself, hear take this.” She says as she offers Colt a torch. 

“It should keep all the monsters away. And help you see. Have good night.” And with that Colt was off.





Colt found a pathway leading off the original dirt road he took, and decided on taking it. After about 15 min of walking he found sight of the gate to his property. From that point on he was running, well limping, as fast as he could to get to his home.

Making it to the door he checks the door to see if it’s unlocked. To his delight it was. Entering the home he made his way to his room. Stripping on the way. Leaving nothing but his boxers, & bandages on. On his way through the living room he noticed a lamp was turned on. ‘Must’ve forgotten to turn it off before I left.’ Turning off the lamp he made his way into one of the rooms, practically fell onto the bed. Falling to sleep almost immediately. 

Although Colt was dead tired he couldn’t help but go over the events that happened over the last two days.

‘Got lost, punted a chicken lizard thing into a tree, met a pony with wings that could talk, got lost again, killed three wolves made of wood, got beat up by said wolves, met a zebra, also talked, healed my wounds, & I got unlost… It was a good day… or two.’

And with that Colt drifted off to sleep.  

Break

It had been a week since I made it back to my new home. Not much has happened. Colts wounds have healed quite well. Whatever that zebra gave him works wonders