Chapter 6 -Rocks
It felt it'd only been a blink of an eye before I was being shaken awake, Glint tersely telling me to prepare to leave.
Neither of us said much as we packed our things.
Glint moved away from me to disarm the simple alarm at the entrance as I stretched out. Sand or not, I felt stiff as a board and sore all over as I tried to brush the sand from my mane and coat. I yelped in pain as my right foreleg brushed against my skin.
I guess Glint's sedatives finally worn off while I was sleeping .
Glint walked over. "Leg hurting again?"
"Y-yeah," I said through gritted teeth. Glint silently motioned for me to sit back down, and began to carefully undo the bandage on my foreleg.
"I have a limited amount of supplies Flash, and I can maybe change this bandage once or twice more with fresh bandages and that numbing paste of mine. After that, though, you'll be on your own and I guess you'll just have to make do with the pain," said Glint.
She pulled me over towards the pool of cool water in the cave, instructing me to hold my leg out as she undid the bandage and proceeded to splash water onto the raw looking skin; digging a clean rag into the pool from her bag before proceeding to gently try and clean the leg off.
My leg also didn't look much better with the bandage off of it. In fact it looked worse. I tried to ignore all the dried blood and pus caked across it, or the sickly smell that emanated from it. Glint just continued to work on it intently without so much as batting an eye, calm and efficient as always.
"Is my leg alright? It's looking a little gross..." I said.
Understatement of the century. I grimaced as I looked away, my stomach gave a lurching twinge.
"It's just healing, Flash. Injuries such as this rarely ever look pretty," said Glint calmly.
"But is it going to be okay? It just doesn't seem like its getting healthier," I said, still looking away.
"Flash, just give it time. I'm sure it'll be fine... in time," said Glint. I thought I might have detected a hint of doubt in her words, but when I peeked at her she seemed sincere. I hoped Glint knew what she was talking about, because the thought of my leg rotting away and falling off was disturbing to say the least.
Glint finished re-wrapping my cleaned and salve-rubbed leg. It had gone from feeling like the leg was burning to a prodding needling sensation of deadened nerves. It was certainly better than how it had been. I sighed in relief.
I couldn't help but feel my thoughts slowly slipped towards last night, and what had been said. I coughed awkwardly as I turned my head and began to mumble, embarrassed as I thought about it.
As Glint let go of my leg after checking it once more, I wiggled it experimentally and a bit nervously as I prepared myself for my next words.
"Look, Glint, about last night..."
"Don't apologize," said Glint quietly.
"Glint, look I just have to do this. seriously, I'm really, really-"
"Dont..." said Glint, looking me dead in the eyes, "apologize."
I was quiet for a second as I looked into her amber eyes. She oddly enough didn't seem either angry or annoyed with me. Instead, she was just looking at me calmly without a speck of judgement in her eyes.
"Why?" I asked, curious. Most ponies would at least accept the apology and move on, if just to be polite.
"Because you don't need to apologize to me," said Glint simply.
"But, you were right last night, I was being a little foal about it. I was just getting myself riled up and-" I stopped as Glint lightly pressed her hoof again my muzzle to quiet me.
"I know," said Glint calmly, "You were simply caught up in the moment. We both know you were simply reacting in the moment. But apologizing doesn't make something alright. It's a nice gesture, and one that I appreciate, but when it comes down to it, Flash, it'll ultimately be up to you to actually prove that you meant that apology. I give everypony I meet the benefit of the doubt, but I've found its rare for somepony to actually carry through on their word."
Glint scratched at her ears, rubbing at some hidden itch.
"Promises are cheap. What's truly impressive is not a pony who will promise you the world to please you, but the one that doesn't need to in order to make you happy."
I soaked all that in, and gave a nod.
"That was pretty cool what you said just now," I said, thinking about that. "You come up with that?"
Glint smiled, shaking her head. "Void, no! That was something my Dad used to say a lot. He always seemed to have these little bits and pieces of Fatherly wisdom he'd say when he talked to my sisters and I."
"He sounds nice," I said.
Glint smiled," he really was. But he was also really quirky. He even had a habit of pacing when he lectured, so my Sisters would always mime him talking while he wasn't looking. We'd try to make faces and little sounds to make each other laugh, and then Dad would look at whoever was laughing while the other two slipped away."
"Jeaz... getting your siblings in trouble? Sounds kinda mean-spirited," I said.
"Flash, are you an only child?" asked Glint.
"yeah, what about it?"
"Then you have no idea how annoying siblings can be," said Glint with a smile.
"Still... getting your sisters into trouble with your parents? That just seems really nasty," I mumbled.
"Oh, it wasn't that bad Flash. Dad just talked to us firmly, its not like he beat us, or screamed at us, or anything bad like that. He was a wonderful stallion who loved me, my sisters, and my Mom. And we all loved him in return." Glint gave a nod, still smiling warmly as she talked her family.
"Was?" I asked
Glint's smile faltered slightly. "Um... y-yeah. He passed away a while ago. Natural causes, apparently..."
"Oh," I said quietly.
"It's alright, he died happy... or so I was told," said Glint.
"You weren't there?"
"No. I was out here at the time and too far from home to receive word until I got home and found out he'd died and been already buried in my absence. My line of work affords for few to no breaks for its... workers."
"Wait, you don't get any breaks? what the heck is with that?"
"Well, its not that I don't get breaks. When I return to DeepHollow I usually get a week or so off, but there's always more to do. And if I'm out on assignment, then it'd be very... unwise... if I were to return before completing my task."
"Jeaz, you expedition scouts really get it rough. I had no idea bat ponies were so intense about these expeditions. You guys looking for something down here or something?"
"Dunno," said Glint, shrugging.
"Wait. You're down here working your flank off, and you don't even know why?"
That's... odd
"Look, it doesn't matter Flash. Just know that my job doesn't care much for its members personal lives. We just do what we're told." Glint knotted the bandage down with a sharp pull. I was thankful the pain-killing ointment seemed to have taken full effect. She started doing the same thing for the bandage wrapped around my chest as she pulled it off and applied the cream to the massive purple bruise there as I grimaced.
"Well I, ugh," I had to stop talking as Glint's rubbing caused my bruised ribs to flare uncomfortably. It took a moment for me to talk about, my voice strained, "I guess if you say so."
"Just saying it sounds fishy to me. I wouldn't work for somepony who wouldn't even give me leave for family-reasons. Maybe you should consider getting a new job?" I asked gently. Ponies could be very personal about their occupations, and others giving them advice no how to go about it. But if Glint was really getting screwed here, I'd be a worse pony for saying nothing at all.
"Oh, I'd love to get a new job..." mumbled Glint, scowling. She finished re-wrapping my now mercifully re-numbed chest, making sure the bandages were taut.
"Then why don't you?" I asked. "I bet you could find a new job with better benefits for its workers. Probably less dangerous too."
Glint was quiet for a second, her eyes glancing up into mine before quickly looking away. Why was she suddenly so pensive?
Is Glint... Is she nervous about something?
"Maybe, but not yet. I'm not done in DeepHollow yet," murmured Glint quietly. "I have something I need to finish before I completely leave..."
"Leave? Wait... are we talking about the same thing here? I was talking about quitting your job, what's this about leaving?" I asked.
Glint looked back up at me, her mask back on as she smiled mirthlessly, "Obviously, I'm talking about my job. You know? leaving my job? You just said a second ago I should think about it."
"But... the way you were just talking it kinda sounded like you were, uh...." My words slowly tapered off as I looked into Glint's eyes. My heart froze as Glint's eyes took on their signature piercing chill and seemed to scream at me to stop talking. The message was loud and clear to me, "don't pry." This was not to be discussed, and I imagined that if I were to try and push the issue, Glint would shove right back, hard.
"Well, uh... I wish you luck! With the whole...looking for a new job... thing, that is." I said hastily, awkwardly trying to back out of the conversation.
"Thank you Flash. I'll be sure to take your advice under consideration," said Glint primly
"Uh, thanks Glint. For taking care of my leg and chest again," I said, taking a shallow breath. aside from a slight tightness, chest didn't feel all that bad today either. Glint had done an amazing job once again taking care of my battered body, and it certainly felt better than it had a minute ago.
"Don't worry about it, just be careful not to hurt yourself more." Glint moved back over towards her bags, sliding her harness and packed bags on and belting them down with practiced and efficient movements.
I hopped up, quickly grabbing my own things and finished shoving the last of my oddities back into my pack.
Glint hummed as she headed for the crack in the cavern that would lead back out into the tunnels. I gave a curse of annoyance as I struggled into my rig and hoped off after Glint awkwardly.
"Hey Glint, wait up!"
Glint's voice echoed back to me, "Keep up Flash. We have a long ways to go and no time for dawdling."
I gave a whine as I squeezed through the passageway and finally popped out the other side to find Glint waiting for me.
I let out a deep, relieved breath. Part of me had been truly afraid Glint might have really left without me.
"Ready to go now?" asked Glint, smirking.
"That wasn't funny," I huffed.
Glint just ignored me as she headed off, giggling. "Next time I should just wake you up and leave, you move much faster when you're worried..."
"Don't you dare. I'm injured, you know. I deserve a few luxuries, the least of which could be comfortably gathering my things!" I said, dusting myself off as I glared at Glint after she gave me that little scare.
I cracked a new glow stick as we walked and slipped it into my rig next to the old dim one from the day before.
OOooo, Blue this time.
I took another deep breath. I felt refreshed despite my sore muscles, and not as depressed about my situation. The talking had really helped to ease my mind.
I certainly wasn't looking forward to another day of forced walking, but maybe, just maybe, it wouldn't be all that bad.
* * *
Quiet.... so quiet...
Glint of course just continued walking ahead of me, leading as usual while I lagged behind. I was stumbling a little less so, thanks to her short lesson in cave walking "etiquette".
The silence was killing me. This place was too alien for me to comfortably just walk along contently as Glint seemed to be able to.
"... I'm from Canterlot," I said suddenly.
Glint glanced over a shoulder at me as she continued to walk silently.
"My Dad is a professor at Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. Saying that he's smart is an understatement, honestly. Natural genius in his study of magic theory. Heck, I'm pretty sure he created his own sub-field in magical relativity."
"What did he call it again?" I mumbled, frowning as I tried to remember. "Oh yeah! The 'synergy of applied magics upon inanimate objects.' Essentially just a fancy wording for advanced telekinetics for unicorns. Dad always liked to brag about how his craft was all a unicorn needed to succeed in life. He absolutely loves to always point out that Princess Twilight Sparkle took a few classes from him when she was going to the academy, and how successful she became in life since leaving the academy. Like his classes were the reason that she became great or something. " I rolled my eyes.
I paused for a moment as we both climbed up a short natural staircase of thick rocks before I continued rambling on.
"Dad took it the hardest when I dropped out of Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. I was always rubbish at magic; can barely do anything more impressive beyond lifting a quill or pen with it. Pretty sure the only reason I got in was because Dad pulled some strings for me. Mom seemed to take it a little easier, but then again she's always been the hard working kind of pegasus. Kinda stereotypical that way. Really into the whole ideal of a pony carving out their future with the power of their own two hooves. Mom stayed in touch with me over the years a bit, but I think Dad still resents me for leaving. We haven't spoken still since I left nearly 7 years ago."
"I told Dad that I wanted to be a writer... and when I told him I didn't want to do academic writing on research, and instead that I wanted to write fictional stories, he pretty much just blew his top. I've never seen him so angry..."
Glint gave me a questioning look over her shoulder, and I shrugged in response, just continuing to talk.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know what you're thinking... kind of a weird thing for a pony called 'Flash Whit Acumen' to want to spend their life writing stories for little kids of all things. Trust me, I've felt the irony. Everypony seemed to have their own idea what I'd do when I grew up. My Dad assumed it immediately had something to obviously do with Celestia and magic, since I was a unicorn. Like it was my destiny to be her next number one pupil because I had the symbol of a book magically appear on my flank."
"Mom's was a little more broad in her thinking, and she always seemed to think that my ability was undecided and limitless. And that I would be able to... I dunno, write my own future or something silly like that. I actually kinda like that idea though, it's nice. A bit romantic, perhaps, but nice. But personally? I know its not the truth. I'm certainly not limitless, more like very limited."
"You're only limited if you let yourself be, Flash," said Glint over her shoulder quietly.
"Oh, please. Don't try and tell me I can do whatever I want, because otherwise I'd just sprout a pair of wings and turn into a princess. And that's obviously not going to happen anytime soon..." I said, sighing.
"Flash, don't be dramatic. Obviously you're not going to magically turn into a pegasus or something... unless, I suppose, there's a spell for that. I mean that you shouldn't limit yourself by thinking of yourself as limited. Sure, you might not have any skills others see as impressive, but I'm sure that if you worked hard enough you could maybe create something that you could be proud of.."
"Just keep working at what you want to do, and maybe one day you'll be able to make something you'll be proud of," said Glint
I snorted. "So what... I should become a craftspony or something? I'm just lacking the right tools then? Great... so now you're telling me I have no skills. I barely even know you, and you're already labeling me as some sort of failure," I said, scowling.
"You're completely missing my point Flash... which is no surprise since apparently your brain leaked out of your ears and left you as a complete idiot. I meant that if you set your mind to something Flash, or what little of it remains, then you might be surprised by what you can actually do," Glint stopped for a second to look at me pointedly. "It was meant to give you inspiration to not give up, you brainless moron."
I opened my mouth, and then closed it. "Oh..."
Glint rolled her eyes, "Oh indeed. You know, Flash, you can be really dense and whiny." Glint continued walking, moving around the next bend in the tunnel.
"What? I'm not whiny! Glint, c'mon, I thought you were making fun of me or something. I'm sorry, I'm just sensitive to stuff like that!" I said, chasing after her.
"Oh, boo-hoo. Get over yourself, oh 'sensitive' one. Stop making excuses and just pony-up. Seriously, its annoying watching you try to victimize yourself," said Glint.
I was about to give a heated retort, but it was quickly forgotten as I rounded the bend after Glint.
As I rounded the corner in the thin tunnel Glint and I had been in, I walked into what I can only describe as some sort of massive natural steam-room. The entire cavern was like a big sauna you might find at a gym or spa, but more cave-y and filled with rocks. The air seemed warmer in here, and as I looked around I noticed a pool of water become illuminated by the bright blue light of my new glow stick. The water bubbled briskly, and a comfortable warmth seemed to emanate from it an heat the air.
"What is that?" I asked, pointing at one of the nearby bubbling pools. I trotted over to the bubbling pool to get a closer look.
Glint glanced at the pool and looked away with disinterest, "Thermal vent. Don't touch it, the water might scald you..."
I pulled my hoof back quickly, just about to touch the bubbling water.
Glint rolled her eyes at me and kept moving on. "C'mon Flash, it's just some heated water. Nothing special..."
"Right," I said, giving the pool one more look. It really did look comfortable, like some sort of big hot tub. But, if the choice was between a hot-tub bath or keeping up with Glint, my choice was obvious. I quickly trotted after Glint, avoiding the watery puddles that had accumulated in the natural depressions and cracks of the cave.
I examined the cavern a bit more, intrigued as pools came into view, spread out seemingly in a random pattern. None of them seemed very large, or deep, and while not all of them bubbled, they all let off steam from their surface and gave the cavern a wonderfully balmy temperature.
"Wow, so this is all like... thermal heat or something? That's awesome! I think I learned something about this in my geology class."
"Yes, it's thermal heat. Now I need you to please shut up for me, Flash," said Glint.
"What, why? I was just asking. No need to get all uppity about it, I was just trying to verify what was making the pools bubble like that," I said defensively.
Glint tilted her head around, and glared at me.
"Flash," said Glint, an edge of annoyance now coloring her words. "Shut the buck up..." It wasn't a request anymore, it was a command. Didn't mean I had to like it, though, or how she was talking to me.
I buttoned up, but continued to scowl, glaring at the rocks under my hooves.
Glint looked around the humid cave for a while before finally speaking again, more quietly now. "Good. Now follow me, and you do exactly what I tell you to do. And for the love of the void, keep your trap shut... got it?"
I pouted, but nodded, remaining quiet.
Glint moved forward slowly, continuing to carefully watch around us. I itched to ask her what she was looking for so intently. I was getting more than a little worried with how carefully she was checking our surroundings. Had she seen something? It felt like we were walking into a minefield, and I kept getting this dread feeling in the pit of my stomach that something horrible was going to happen.
But ten minutes later, nothing had happened. And twenty minutes later, still nothing had happened. And wouldn't you know it, thirty minutes later there was still nothing.
"Glint, what are we-"
Glint gave me an enraged look, and I coward a bit back from her. "Not. One. Word." she hissed at me.
She continued to stare at me as I cowered lower, giving a little whimper as I submitted to her. No more talking from me for a bit.
She gave a grunt, and motioned for me to follow her again. I followed, keeping a little distance. I didn't want to be close to Glint while she was angry at me. No point in making myself into an easier target for her to smack if she felt like getting violent.
She's not going to hurt you Flash. Glint's a good pony. She just wants to help you get to the surface. Her wanting to know more about your family will most certainly not lead to anything bad... nothing at all. I felt myself feeling uncertain of that though. Why did Glint want to know so much about me and my family anyways? Kinda oddly specific.
Ugh! I hated worrying about little details like this, like what would be socially acceptable, or what was the 'appropriate' way to speak to an individual. It'd be so much easier if I just asked Glint, but if I did she'd probably just get pissed. This is why I dropped out of the academy in the first place, too many silly details to get a headache over.
I sighed.
This stuff should be left to smarter and more courageous ponies who can actually stand up for themselves do stuff with their life. Or at least to a unicorn who can actually still use magic...
I groaned, rubbing my temples as my self doubt grew and grew. I gave an annoyed growl and tried to just stop thinking about how under prepared and qualified I was for this entire situation.
Wow. Is that what I've come to now? Self pity? Celestia's sun, Glint's right: I really am being pathetic and whiny..
"Flash, you are to wait here," said Glint, motioning at a pony-high chunk of stalagmites for me to hide by. Warm water droplets dripped down from the stalagmites littering the ceiling, but it wasn't an especially bad place to wait, if not a bit wet.
"Hey, why do you get to talk!" I protested.
"Flash, I swear," said Glint, her voice sounding strained, "If you press me right now."
Glint gave a frustrated growl. "Look, I just need to check on something real quick. shut up, and stay here, okay?"
I opened my mouth to ask what, but Glint shoved her hoof into my mouth.
"Don't you dare speak right now," she hissed, "There's a time and place for everything, and now is not the time to give me lip or back-talk."
Glint shoved me back onto my haunches and against the stalagmites roughly.
"Now. I'm going to go and make sure the path ahead is safe. All I need you to do is sit here and be quiet. Nod once if you understand, twice if you don't understand this simple task I've laid out before you Flash..." said Glint, cocking an eye at me.
I nodded once, pouting slightly.
"I'll be right back. don't do anything stupid while I'm gone," said Glint as she turned around abruptly slipped away into the darkness beyond my glow stick.
I mumbled to myself, and huffed.
Stupid Glint, stupid bat ponies! Ugh, she was so impossible to get along with. I thought we'd gotten past this, I thought we were friends now! Weren't friends supposed to treat each other better than this?
Thinking about friends made me think about my other friends.
Did... I treat my friends okay? Why am I even out here. I should be home, in my apartment. Just getting ready to work at that restaurant before going to Daisy's Pub to end the day with Granite, Slate, and Sterling.
Thinking back on it, I hadn't really done much for my friends. In fact, now that I thought about it, the hike had been one of a hoof-full of things I'd actually opted to go with them on.
Why did I agree to come along. This is so out of my comfort zone its unreal, I'm still having a hard time wrapping my head around everything that's happened in just the last day.
Flash rubbed his head, and sighed. His headache was feeling worse.
Just stop thinking about it Flash. It's not important right now. What is important is that you're supposed to just wait here, be quiet, and be patient.
But I didn't want to just wait there and "be patient." I wanted to explore the weird bubbling pools, look around the cavern, maybe even discover something interesting. But I knew that if I left this spot Glint would be angry, and the idea of her treating me like a little colt because I wouldn't manage to sit in one place for more than a few minutes irked me more than my need to explore.
So, I waited. Time seemed to slip by, but without a watch it seemed like an eternity was passing as I just sat in the darkness by myself.
I sighed, slouching. Wow I am bored
My stomach growled.
And hungry it would appear...
I gave a small smile as I suddenly as I suddenly realized something.
Glint may have forbidden me from moving, or talking... but she never said anything about eating! I rooted through my saddlebag and pulled out one of my granola bars with a little chuckle as I touched its glossy wrapper.
Oh, I could already taste its delicious honeyed-oats and peanutty flavor. It made my mouth water as I ripped the wrapper off and took a big bite.
I gave a little moan as I chewed. Celestia that was good!
I heard the sound of something soft clicking against the stone nearby. My ears perked, and I looked around in alarm. I heard a faint hissing sound, and I felt my heart rate beginning to pick up.
What was that!
I froze, scared. I strained my ears, eyes rolling back and forth as I tried to see beyond into the darkness. I gave a little jump as I a quiet tapping noise again, and gave a quiet yelp as some flecks of warm water peppered my shoulder.
My neck snapped to the side as I watched what I'd mistaken for just a puddle of water in front of me suddenly give a hiss of released air, splattering out a bit more water as a pocket of pressurized air leaked out and caused the little puddle to bubble vigorously, sending splatters of water out to patter against the wet stone.
I clutched my chest, my heart racing. My Fear melted into relief as I realized I wasn't actually in danger.
It's water Flash... just water. Sweet Luna and Celestia, I need to chill out.
I took another bite of the granola bar, sighing as my muscles relaxed as I returned to my treat.
The little pool of water continued to bubble and hiss next to me. It's one startling sounds now kind of soothing, and the warmth of the water misted over towards me pleasantly. I edged closer to it, trailing a hoof through the water to test it.
Oh, wow, that's the perfect temperature! I should try to convince Glint to let us stop so we can take a little soak in the water. Heck, she seems super wound up, she could use a nice relaxing bath I bet.
"Nothing like a tasty snack to take away the edge," I murmured happily. As I said it, I saw the smiling face of Glint in my mind as she smirked and called me a "fatty."
"Shut up imaginary Glint. You don't know nothing... about anything," I said, scowling. "I just like eating. It's not like its a crime..."
The rocks around me gave a slight tremor, as if rumbling their agreement as the water gurgled, almost like the water was trying to talk to me.
Huh. Strange conversation partner... but I suppose I could do with worse. I always did enjoy playing with imaginary friends as a kid.
I leaned back, wiggled around as I tried to get comfortable. I found a particularly soft rock, and closed my eyes pleasantly as I listened and continued to take little bites and continued to talk quietly to myself, imagining the cave was talking back.
"I mean, honestly, Glint's known me for what: a day now? Maybe two? Like she has the right to judge a perfectly nice guy like me. The way she acts, you'd think she was some high-born noble pony or something!"
The rocks gave a sympathetic rumble.
"Yeah, you get it. I've just been so out of my element lately. It's nice to just have somepony, er, some-'rock' I mean, to talk to. Even if you can't talk back."
The rocks responded with a happy rumble. I chuckled.
"Well, at least you seem to be an attentive audience. It's too bad you don't eat granola, otherwise I'd share some with you."
The rocks gave a questioning sound.
"What, never had honey covered granola? It's delicious! I mean, I was never a big fan of granola growing up, but wow when you're hungry I guess you get a whole new appreciation for foods, am I right?"
The rocks gave a purry sound, and nudged my neck, causing me to giggle as it tickled my neck with its tongue.
I laughed, "Hey, that's ticklish! Come on, I'm just trying to--"
My eyes popped open as I suddenly realized something. The rock just purred and licked my neck...
...
I turned around and looked behind me slowly, dreading what I'd see.
The rocks stared back at me. The rocks made another purring sound and the eyes blinked
Wait a second... rocks don't blink!
a purry grunt sound came from behind me, sounding questioning. Almost... surprised sounding. A wedged head of what I had thought to be stone suddenly raised up. The rough texture of a torso soon followed, long and sinuous as the thing before me pulled itself up; thick meaty scaled arms meant for climbing and scaling walls reaching out lazily to grip the stones around itself as it pulled its thick torso up.
Rocks aren't supposed to stand either!
A pair of large reptilian eyes started into my own. I just looked back, mouth wide open as I tried to finally register that my comfy head rest was actually a lizard.
A very, very, large lizard
A strained sound slipped from my open mouth as the lizard calmly ate a chunk of my granola bar still held in my hoof before it. It gave a delighted hum as it munched on the tasty oats, and then licked its tongue out to catch any stray crumbs.
I did the only sane thing anypony in my horseshoes would have done.
I screamed like a little foal, and threw the granola bar at its face and leaped to my hooves to dart away.
I heard a chomp as it ate up the entire granola bar, followed by a loud gulp and another delighted purry rumble. It hadn't even bothered chewing by the sounds of it, and as I ran away and began to splash through the pools, I heard a bellowing roar from behind me and the sound of something large and heavy landing on the cave floor with a padded "thwump."
I didn't bother turning around, I knew it was chasing me. I just hoped I'd be fast enough to escape it before it ate me as easily as that granola bar.
The creature gave little delighted hoots as it splashed and crashed after me through the pools.
"Glint! Help me, it's going to eat me, oh Celestia, it's going to eat me!" I screamed hysterically as I moved faster than I ever had in my life.
I heard some sort of response from across the cavern, and I just hoped it was Glint and not more of these things coming after me.
I saw some sort of light ahead, and bee-lined for it; leaping and hopping through the warm boiling pools, ignoring the painfully hot water in some of the pools as I panted. I could imagine the creature racing after me, I could almost feel its breath on my rear end. Strike that, I could feel its breath on my hindlegs.
A dark shadow suddenly zoomed over me and I heard the sound of a surprised squeal of pain from the large lizard behind me. I still didn't dare look back, my heart racing with adrenaline as I pushed myself as I surged out of the pool and ran towards the light.
Glint suddenly zoomed right up next to me, causing me to stumble for a second before I realized it was her. "What the hell did you do!"
"I didn't do anything, why does it have to be my fault this is happening!" I screamed
"It's always your fault when something stupid happens Flash. Now keep running, there's two more coming and the last one will be following after you shortly."
I could hear them. The sound of many-limbed padded feet smacking against the stone or sloshing through warm bubbling water as I suddenly burst through a small arching stone-way into the lit cavern beyond.
I slid to a halt and scrabbled for my footing as I nearly flew off a steep edge, my heart falling into my stomach at what I saw..
I was standing on the edge of a short drop into what appeared to be a pit of steaming mud, The poweful stench of sulpher and filth wafting through the warm air. Some sort of glowing lichen, or fungus, covered the walls and caused the light that lit up the room, just as brightly as my own glowstick. While, at any other point, I would have been intrigued, I honestly didn't give a crap about the weird glowing cave-stuff as I looked for a way to escape.
Suddenly Glint shot past and flew out above the pit.
"Glint! where do I go!"
Glint quickly scanned around where I was standing, and pointed. "Left, go left!"
I looked, and gulped as I saw the thin edge of stone. It seemed to lead around the entire edge of the pool, but it didn't look to be much wider than 5 or 6 inches at most.
But I didn't ask questions, I simply leaped onto it. And none-to-soon, it would seem, as a thick padded hand slapped into the stone where I'd been standing only moments before. The lizard-creature looked at its empty three-fingered hand in confusion before sniffing for me. Soon a second head poked out above it to stare at me, and a third below that as well.
Their stacked heads all blinked slowly and simultaneously at me in surprise.
"Glint... Glint, they see me!" I squealed.
"Yeah, no crap. You have three hungry and excited Rock Geckos behind you. Toss me your light," shouted Glint as she flew closer to me.
"What? I need that!" I shouted back as I scrabbled along the stones frantically to get some distance between me and these "Rock Geckos."
"Idiot, they're attracted to light and they're following you! Rock Geckos have horrible vision, so just... oh buck it." Glint just swooped over to me and grabbed the glowsticks in my rig, wrenching the two sticks away from me as she swiftly flew back over towards the Geckos at the mud-pits entrance.
"Hey! Hey uglies, over here. Yeah, that's right, I'm talking to you, rock heads. Look, flying food. Come and get me!" shouted Glint as she zipped around just in front of them above the mud pit.
The Geckos stared at her, entranced by the bright shiny above them. They all made little excited chirping sounds as they snapped their mouths. One tried to leap out and grab Glint, but fell short and flopped into the mud below. Apparently the mud wasn't very deep, since it seemed to only come up to its belly as it wiggled to re-orient itself. The second one just kept snapping at Glint, and the third actually began to climb directly up the wall to try and reach Glint.
Sweet merciful Luna, they could climb sheer surfaces? What am I talking about, of course they climb. Nothing is ever easy down in this hell hole.
Glint continued to shout and make lots of movement for the Rock Geckos to follow as she carefully kept herself tantalizingly out of their reach and tried to lead them away from me. My stomach did somersaults every time she zipped by them and they snapped at her, expecting the crunch of bones and screams of pain that would surely follow.
I mumbled to myself frantically as I continued to shimmy across the rock ledge, sending out a quick prayer. "Celestia, if I get out of this, I'll devote my life to not being a lazy, stupid, unicorn. I promise to do nothing but good from now on, and to pay back Granite the twenty bits I owe him. I promise, oh Celestia and Luna, please!"
Glint threw one of the glowsticks and smacked the ascending Rock Gecko in its head. It snapped at the falling Glow Stick before quickly running down the wall to chase after it. Glint kept the second one, and kept bouncing around to distract the large lizards.
"Flash, I'll be right back, so just keep moving. The ledge widens out and leads to another passageway if you keep going that way" shouted Glint, as she moved towards a tunnel at the far side of the cave of mud.
"What! Don't leave me Glint, they'll kill me!" I shouted in fear.
"Calm down, you're fine. They're only supposed to eat cave moss and mushrooms... I think," said Glint, only sounding half-convinced herself.
"You think? Oh great, I'm feeling much better already as I cling to this ledge for my life!"
"Just keep moving you big baby, I'll go get something to make them leave you alone. I can see another passageway further down that ledge, just reach that and you'll be safe."
"No wait, Glint. Don't leave me with-" I watched as Glint zoomed away with the glow-stick still firmly in her hooves, looking like some sort of massive firefly as she zipped away and left me in the soft glow of the lichen-covered walls.
The three Geckos had seemed to get a little frustrated and sad now that Glint had disappeared, and called mournfully for the return of the wonderful glowing-thing to return to them.
Okay... you can do this Flash. They're not trying to get you now, and you just need to walk along this ledge. walking, you can do walking. You're great at walking, the best in fact. Why, I bet you'd be hard pressed to find a unicorn who is better at- why is the mud moving...
I watched as, to my horror, what had appeared to be rocks sticking out of the mud turned into the mud-drenched bodies of yet more Rock Geckos.
There were more than three. There were a lot more than three, and now they were starting to wake up from all the noise and hubbub Glint and I had made as we moved into the cavern. As I took a closer look, I began to identify what appeared to be risen banks of stone and hardened mud, bones, and other odd-assortments from the caves that seemed to make nests. Broken eggs and half-digested food lay upon them.
No, this wasn't just some mud pit. This was a nesting ground: more specifically, their nesting ground.
The Rock Gecko that had been climbing on the wall suddenly leaped into the mud to snap up the glow stick Glint had thrown into the mud, half of its glowing mass sticking out from between his rubbery lips. The Gecko from before which had slipped into the mud "shlucked" his way over to the new Gecko and grabbed the other end as the two tug-of-warred over the small thing. More and more Rock Geckos were beginning to move towards the two, also attracted by glowing object they were fighting over .
I was suddenly very glad Glint had taken my glow sticks as I imagined myself being fought over by the multitudes of lizards below.
As I stood in place, watching the spectacle unfold off to the side, my hoof slipped as a rock gave away from the edge. I gave an "eep" and watched as the rock fell seemingly in slow motion towards a Rock Gecko below. I drew in a worried breath as it landed with a painful smack right onto the tip of Rock Gecko's sensitive nose.
The Rock Gecko gave a hiss of pain as it looked up, and locked eyes on me. It flared its nose, and then began to climb out of the mud up towards me, continuing to hiss angrily.
It's smelling me... oh, Princess damned, it's smelling me! I thought as I began to scrabble my way along he edge
My fear once again drove me, but with such difficult footing my movement was staggered in comparison to the smooth and fast movements of my angry pursuer as it quickly closed the distance towards me.
Through the light, I could just see the wider ledge that Glint had told me about from earlier through the dim light of the cave. But, to my surprise, I saw that it appeared a section of the ledge and shorn away and slid down into the mud below, making a rough if not natural ramp of stone up it towards the ledge above.
I was never going to make it if I continued to take my current path. But maybe... just maybe... if I jumped, I might be able to leap most of the remaining distance towards that bank sliding into the mud and then just run up and out before any of the lizards noticed me.
I coiled myself up, bracing myself against the wall.
By this point, the big nasty lizard was getting close. It's breathing picking up in tempo as I could only imagine it smelled my tasty pony flesh, and began to move with more intent towards me as I stopped moving.
Alright... here goes nothing!
I jumped
I heard the snap of thick jaws clamping onto stone behind me as I soared out into the air above the mud, flying towards my destination. I felt the elation of victory as I sailed out... and then the plummeting feeling as gravity took hold and promptly pulled me down to splatter into the mud below.
There was mud everywhere and all around me as I floundered up. I gave a gasp of air as I pulled my head out of it. It's thick material was matted into my hair, in my ears, covering my eyes and dripped from my nose.
I sputtered as I surged out of the mud, eyes burning as I squinted through the mud mask; coughing up mud and spitting it out as I gagged on the sulpherous taste in my mouth and back of my throat. If I'd thought the mud had smelled fairly pungent from the ledge then it didn't even compare to the rank-smell of having that very mud literally shoved up your nose.
I wiped and rubbed to get the mud out of my eyes as tears ran from them at the stinging stuff.
As I squinted around me, I could see the majority of the lizards from before were still all wrestling for the glow-stick. I almost felt safe until I heard the slap of another creature flying into the mud, and then craned my neck to see the angry Rock Gecko from before fuming at me as it shook the mud from its body and glared death at me, all the angrier for my escape from it earlier.
Time to go!
I could make out the hazy shape of the mudbank, and began to slog for it through the thick mud. I was close... so close.
Just... a little... more!
I stepped up onto the mess of rocks at the bank of the muddy pools edge, and began to scramble my way up them towards the exit. I quickly looked behind me to see the Rock Gecko making steady progress towards me, but that I would be able to outpace it if I just moved quickly. I gave a a silent cheer as I continued to move.
But, as I began to move upwards over the thick stones, there was shuddering from beneath me. I lost my footing and smacked forward onto my face with a grunt.
As I pulled my muzzle up, and rubbed at it in pain, I watched as a few of the stones tumbled off into the mud as an eyelid slowly peeled back to reveal a cold yellow reptilian eyeball. The eye blinked slowly as its slitted pupil turned towards me lazily and dilated.
No way...
I stared at the giant eye, petrified. The giant eye slowly blinked again as it looked back... and then the entire "embankment" I was on moved as the biggest Rock Gecko I'd ever seen stood up and out of the rocks I'd been climbing over. As it reared up, its own large rugged body emerged as It wiggled gently to get the rest of the boulders off of itself.
As it wiggled itself lightly, I felt my grip slowly failing before I slipped off and gave a yelp as I fell into the warm mud below with a "plop." I once again pulled myself up and out of the mud, I looking up in shocked awe at the massive Rock Gecko before me.
If I'd thought the Rock Gecko's from before were big, they were just babies in comparison to this beast. its head was easily a good eight or ten feet above me as it craned its neck up and turned its head to continue regarding me with one of its massive eyes.
The Rock Gecko which had been chasing me from before seemed to be as equally stunned as I was, and took a few steps back from it; no longer focused on me.
I felt a thick padded hand reach through the mud and wrap around me. I just stayed limply in its grip as it pulled me up slightly out of the mud, more of the filthy stuff slopping off of my body and from between finders. It's hand easily wrapped around my entire torso, only my head and limbs poked out from between its thick fingers. I shivered in its grip.
Oh Luna, I'm going to die.
It's large orb of an eye began to get bigger. No, its eye was just getting closer as its head shifted over towards me.
It's going to eat me. There's no way I'm going to survive this... not without Glint.
A long slender tongue slipped out to taste the air and what I could only assume was my own tantilizing scent. I watched and felt as the massive Gecko's tongue ran across my neck and face as it got a taste for me.
I was literally shaking with fear now, giving feeble little squeaks of terror.
The Rock Gecko from before was quickly moving away now, wanting nothing to do with the monstrous creature I was being held by.
As the big Rock Gecko continued to lick me a few more times, I thought about the smaller Rock Gecko that had licked my granola bar before taking a big powerful chomp out of it. I could imagine this big lug doing the same to me. Something about that image struck something very comical inside me, and I think I felt something snap in my head (probably my last strand of sanity).
I began to laugh.
I continued to laugh louder and louder as the massive Rock Gecko tilted its head at me. Trying to figure out this strange-new noise coming from its prey. Even as I watched its horribly wide black maw open wide, and felt as it lifted me up towards that final darkness of its powerful jaws, I kept laughing.
Now I know what it feels like to be a granola bar...
It's jaws closed over me, and the comfortable glow of the cave was replaced by the bleak-black of its mouth. I just closed my eyes, and hoped it would be over quickly as its jaws pressed against my skull.