//------------------------------//
// Running Late 
// Story: Equestria's Death and Dead 
// by Sif-Sif 
//------------------------------//

	
Present - Outskirts of Town – You


Around ten hours ago, give or take, you were visiting your family way down in Appleloosa. Relaxing, enjoying being with your family again, had food to eat, a place to rest… a shower… But now, here you are walking through the streets of the once thriving town of Ponyville. 

Ignoring the occasional blood stain on the cobble road and on the walls of destroyed homes and buildings, and the shattered remains of a wagon or a stall, you begin to finally realize the whole scale of how bad this situation Equestria is going through. It’s been a couple of thousands of years since there has been so much death and chaos. 

My friends… My parents! Are they okay?! What happened to my roommate… Where is everypony Celestia dammit! All these thoughts began to flood into your mind. Your eyes became pinpricks, a few beads of sweat began to dribble down your forehead. You were beginning to panic, until Exile stopped moving. He stood still, ready to take flight, but he wasn't moving. Instead, his head was turned slightly to his left, staring at something that you haven’t yet seen, and then you looked to where he was looking, to see what he saw.

Whatever it was, it was stood tall, about six feet tall, had dark blue torn robes covering most of its body, hiding its identity, facial expression, and what it even was. If you leaned your head back, you would be able to spot a white tail popping out from behind the bi-pedal creature. It look downright menacing, just standing there in the open, but what was even more hostile looking than the being itself, was its nodachi strapped to its back. A nodachi is similar to a katana, but much longer, requiring great strength and normally two hands to wield and use properly.

You had no idea what even think about what to do. All you knew was, was that whatever that thing is, it doesn't look friendly. Your thoughts are interrupted as you hear the sound of flapping wings getting louder and closer. Looking to your right you see a similarly dark torn robed figure land a few yards away. This one for sure you can tell is a pony, its wings and tail, the only parts that wasn't covered by cloth betrayed its coat color which was a cloud white, and her tail, a stunning turquoise.

You are utterly confused. You look back to Exile to become even more so. He's smiling? You think as you catch a glance of his smirk across his red muzzle. Looking back to the figures, you noticed they've been advancing towards you both, you also hear the sound of metal softly clanking coming from the tall robed one... You're about to call to Exile, but you don't get the chance to as the robed pony yells out, her voice a bit muffled from her cloth mask.

"Exile, you're losing your touch!" It was a mare's voice, she seemed to be mocking him? "Took you what, three, four hours? And you're not even back at HQ yet? You're losing it."

Exile turned to face the mare while you continued to look at the taller robed figure, who pulled back its hood to reveal a white fur colored Diamond Dog. It looked similar to a wolf, giving him that feral look. Now that you know what it was, it didn't help with the thought that whoever this is may be friendly or not. Not at all. It's not that you had a grudge against Diamond Dogs, you just didn't like how this one had a grin played across its face as he approached you and Exile, and then it spoke up.

"Now now, Cloud. Quit the stubborn tough mare act and accept the fact that Exile is faster than you in Rescue Flights." His voice was sounded irritated, pretty gruff and somewhat high, like the voice of a goblin, except maybe a few notches deeper. 

"Shut your trap, Croaker!" The mare yelled back as she pulled back her hood, and down on her mask to reveal her face and mane. Still the white and turquoise mix, but her eyes were a deep violet. "Sides, we need to hurry, you were taking to long than usual Exile, so boss back in HQ' apparently assumed the worst."

To that, Exile only smirked even more before saying "She's worried about me? That's a surprise. Decided to take my time, take a stroll through town, you know?"

Cloud opened her mouth to reply but was shut off as the Diamond Dog named Croaker made a quick whistling noise, getting everyone's attention, his grin was no longer present, instead was a frown as he looked down the empty street, his ears perked up facing forward as if he was listening to something that you couldn't quite hear. "We need to move. I hear Yelpers out there."

"Yelpers?" You asked, becoming curious as to what he meant, after a few more seconds of silence, you heard it.

Your ears turned back naturally as they picked up on a soft distant sound. You turned your head back to focus upon that sound, which got louder and louder, but only slightly. Every few seconds you would hear it, a quick cry, a yelp. You, and the rest of your companions were staring down the long and empty street, trying to spot whatever was making such a strange sound.

"If we don't start moving, you'll know soon enough. But it's best if we not stick around, right?" Cloud suggested as she began to flap her wings again, hovering above the ground. You turned to Exile to see him nod his head as he started to flap his own wings. Thankfully you were a pegasus as well, following their lead, you began to hover above the ground, ready to take flight at any given moment. Cloud flew near the Diamond Dog "Croaker, go get Chase, we'll meet you back in HQ', you two, we gata fly, now"

Croaker nodded, pulling his hood back over his head as he turned and began to sprint off towards an alley to disappear into to carry out his order, while you and Exile had to follow Cloud back to where ever this HQ may be.

As the three of you began to fly up, Exile called out to Cloud "Chase was separated from you two? He's still fresh, you sure he can handle by himself?"

"He's fast and he's determined to prove himself apparently. As long as he's faster than what's out here, then he'll be fine."

Exile shook his head at this, but kept silent, and so did you. You wanted to ask Exile if he knew all these people, but it's probably obvious he does. You wanted to know what these Yelpers are, but by the way they are acting to hearing one out there, it's nothing but even more unwanted trouble. You also wanted to know what this HQ was, and where it was it, but you'd know soon enough.

You sighed out as you continued to keep up with your two guides, you still had second thoughts about them, but if they have a safe place to bunker at, you'd rather be there than be stuck in Ponyville, which is probably filled with many more ponies that are similar to what became of Donut Joe. You find yourself wanting answers, and if Exile stays true to his word, you'll get all of them answered. Well, hopefully most of them...