I awoke with a start.
Had my bleary eyes betrayed me, or was I home again?
The sun filtered through the tarp, casting odd shifting shadows of orange and yellow. The tattered cloak where I lay felt the same, as did that comfortable feeling of home. My things were in a ragged heap in the corner as usual, my special black knife always on top. I sat up to contemplate last night’s events. That pony, or whatever she was, offered me a deal. I accepted, but the last thing I remember was drowning in the well. It all seemed so dreamlike, so immaterial, like looking through a window. This brings me to my next question…
How did I get here?
Not that I’m not grateful I didn’t drown to death, but still, it’s a mystery.
Dragging myself out of bed, I involuntarily hissed at the sight of my hoof. Having half an arrow shaft poking out of your body would do that to a changeling. I shifted it around about. Odd, I didn’t feel anything, almost like the wound didn’t exist. Taking it to the next step, I rolled over and placed my injured hoof on the floor.
It was a little unstable, but with some work I managed to stand again. My leg felt good as new, just like it was before the disaster at the well. I walked in little circles just to be sure, but I couldn’t argue with results.
Maybe it wasn’t a dream after all.
A painful growling in my stomach reminded me of dinner, or the lack of it. It was still the early hours of the morning, so I could probably invest some more time in foraging by the river. With a plan in my mind, I set out to find breakfast.
(\^/)
Today was my lucky day, a whole pony carcass, sitting just beneath the surface. She used to be female, pink fur and a long blue mane and tail. Her amber eyes and bird cage cutie mark were still clear as day, so she was fresh. As to how she died, the half dozenpainfully familiar black arrows jutting from her side answered my question. Yet, she was fished out of the gunk by yours truly, so it probably tasted just as bad as everything else, but at least there was more of it. She was healthy from what I could tell, she could easily last me a couple of days, but first I had to get her home.
For young looking pony, she was very heavy. The sun shifted to high noon by the time I got her out of the river and began the painful climb back home. The sight must've been comical, a scrawny little nymph dragging a fresh, near adult pony up the street. There was a certain respectyou got on the street when fishing for food. What you found is yours and yours is what you have, simple. At least that's what the decent folk around here do. It must've been at least half an hour before I made it to the crest of the hill, just seconds from my hideaway home. Every muscle in my body cried out from exertion but every notion in my mind told me it would be worth it.
As I kept dragging her along, the more my hunger for fresh meat overrided my exhaustion.
"Hey you!" came a gruff, juvenile voice
I turned to the source of the source of the angry shout. An angry trio of young drones stood at the opposite side of the hill, angrily stomping their way towards me.
"That's our food!" another indignantly added
I paid them no heed and went back to dragging lunch home, almost within hooves reach now.
"Get back here you scrawny grub!" came the third voice
Not knowing speech came with a few blessings, one of them being not giving my left hoof about what other changeling's said without trying. It helps with concentration.
"THAT'S IT!"
Words, I could care less about. The angry hissing and galloping hooves of three aggrevated changelings however, that definitely got my attention. I turned to the noise to see the three drones make quick work of the hillside, eating up distance as they charged their way towards me.
In a desperate effort, I half-threw my meal into my home, barely fitting through the nymph-sized hole. My moment's relief was suddenly shattered by a hard hoof to the face.
I landed maybe 2 metres from where I started, it was some blow. My left eye was messed up, there was a giant crack against my vision and a thick liquid dripped down my face. It tasted oddly of blood.
"Okay you little rat," the closest changeling snarled "Give us our food and we won't kill you. Sound fair?"
I looked up and down the street for help. No luck there, everyone seemed to pay the scene no mind. I was on my own, against three advancing angry drones with a meal on their minds. I assessed my options. Fighting was out of the question, but running might not be. I just had to wait my turn.
"C'mon let's face it," one suggested mischievously "We're not getting that food back, but I think I could settle for a nymph right now,"
"I'm inclined to agree," another nodded "Let's get him!"
They all leapt high into the air, hooves poised for a pounce, ready to descend on the little nymph below. Now was my chance. With adrenaline fueled speed, I dashed underneath their leaping forms and cleared the street, running all the way home.
I slid to a stop, sheltered by the cool embrace of shadow. Staying desperately still despite the furious pawing and hissing on the other side of the wall, I heard muffled cursing before fading hoof steps signalled their departure. I finally released my held breath. What a day, this venture certainly left me famished. Taking my prized knife, I settled down for lunch.
(\^/)
When I said I'd have leftovers, never have I been so happy to be right. I haven't even gone through half and I was feeling full to bursting.
The legs were the best part, nice and muscular. The organs were a bit tough and strange tasting, but not in a bad way. I remember how all the rich changeling displayed skulls in their homes, so I had hers picked clean. It now sits in the corner as a reminder of this lucky find. I felt rather drowsy for a time after I finished, just one of the signs of a good meal eaten. I covered my leftovers with a spare drape and tucked in for the afternoon. I slept well for the first time in forever.
(\^/)
"Help me!"
I awoke with a start. Groaning my way out of bed, I rubbed my bleary eyes to soak in the orange light of the setting sun.
"Please help!"
I muttered to myself. What kind of changeling would be outside at this hour? The sun was not kind to my species after all.
"Anyone? Please!"
Grumbling all the while, I stumbled my way out the hole and observed the scene before me. The thuggish three from before were roughly hustling a smaller, fourth figure into a nearby alleyway. There didn't seem to be anyone else out in the street right now, so the source of the sound must've come from the small changeling. It sounded young, and female, but I couldn't tell anything else. I shook my head, a young, scrawny nymph like me surely wouldn't stand a chance against three juvenile drones. Besides, things like this were pretty commonplace in the slums of the hive. There would be no point in...
"Help her,"
Huh? What? Who said that?
"Help her,"
Looks like it wasn't a dream after all. The soothing voice of the starry mare washed over me like ripples through a still pond. Her will felt like a compulsion, an instinct, but there was no way I could save her and live to tell.
"Trust in me,"
Without any thought, I found myself taking small steps toward the alleyway. What the hell was I doing? I would die fighting those drones. Yet her command felt so right, so good, so... inviting. How could I resist it? Ugh, this could be the death of me, but I did pledge my trust. with small reluctant steps, I headed inside the alleyway.
(\^/)
It was dark, almost eerily so. The warm light of the sunset did not reach my path. My only guides were my eyes, and that compulsive urge to help induced by my mind's second tenant.
I had been walking for several minutes now, I don't know if I could make it back on my own. I sincerely hoped that my trust in this astral guardian would pay off, and soon.
Just as I thought it, I heard muffled murmurings from a short distance ahead of me. Crouching low to the ground, I listened.
"Okay, this looks like the spot," one of the drones said "Hey Viper, call the boss, would ya'?"
The one called Viper gave him a frustrated hiss "Call him yourself Wave, this little nymph's not making it easy for me,"
I risked a peek around, and true to Viper's word, there she was. Clutched close to the juveniles chest was a luminous green cocoon. It wasn't very well made, as Viper struggled just as much as the captive did to keep her from tearing free.
"Go ask Branch," Viper snorted "He's got some empty hooves,"
"Screw the nymph, I say we eat her," Branch growled hungrily "It's been a while since I had a good meal,"
"No!" Wave snarled, sending a fierce blow across his face "We need her alive if we're going to get paid. Understand?"
"We can't eat silver you dolt!" Branch pointed, nursing his cheek "And we sure as hell can't go to the market. We're street rats remember? Criminals!"
"We'll find a way. If anyone in this slum listens to anything, it's silver,"
Naturally, I couldn't make out a single word from them, but it didn't sound good for the captured nymph. Any changelings caught this young were either eaten, or conscripted to the army.
“Help her,”
I felt that urge again, the urge to help but I repressed it. Not yet. I trust my guide, but I also trust my instincts. All I need is an opportunity, an opening of some kind.
"What good is silver to a bunch of slum-dwellers like us?" Branch questioned "We need food. We need water. What good is a bag of metal?"
"No, you gotta think bigger Branch!" Wave exclaimed "With the amount of silver we're getting, we don't need to worry about food. We can live like one of the nobles for years!"
"Listen to him Branch," Viper added "The boss has gotta really want this nymph if he's paying us our combined weight in silver,"
Branch took a pained sigh "Fine, but I get first picks,"
"Sure you do," Wave grinned "How about you call him then?"
"Yeah yeah, sure give me a minute,"
This was my chance. It was rare for street rats to perform magic, but without love, if it were possible, it would be volatile and exhausting. A misused spell spelt the death of many a novice caster. A green glow surrounded Branch's horn as he closed his eyes to channel. Now was the time. Quick as a flash, I darted from the cover and rammed myself headfirst into the caster's side.
Branch’s eyes widened in surprise before he collapsed on shaking hooves. Blood welled from a small gash in his side as he struggled under the weight of his own spell.
“Why you little…”
He didn’t get to finish.
His channelled spell broke free from his horn and raced around the alleyway like a stream of angry snakes. Neon green lightning spat in all directions as the flesh literally melted from the poor drones forehead. Reeling back in surprise, the remaining to changelings backpedalled in fear, forgetting all about their charge.
This wasn’t planned at all. His hatred for me must’ve corrupted the spells original purpose, sending it spiralling out of control. Branch let loose a howling, excruciating shriek before disappearing in a flash of blinding green light.
All that was left of him was a pile of ash, and his haunting screams echoing through the still afternoon air.
What followed was seconds of pained silence, before a quiet whimpering broke the silence.
“Y-y-you killed Branch,” Wave stuttered feebly
I arched my eyebrows. I didn’t do a thing. It was his fault for practicing volatile magic. All I did was head butt him.
“You killed branch,”
I rolled my eyes. What was he getting at? Changelings died every day and Branch was no different, but his passing was certainly the noisiest I’ve ever heard.
“YOU KILLED BRANCH!” he shrieked
The furious drone scrambled to his hooves and made a beeline straight for me. Reacting on total reflex, I stumbled sideways, avoiding his rushing hooves.
“YOU’LL PAY FOR THAT!”
Wave’s horn shimmered green, signalling the all-to-familiar spell of laser beam. I tensed, ready to react. It was a lethal spell, but a predictable and exhausting one. A ray of green light shot from his horn, straight and true, it sailed past my left cheek as I swayed out of its path. I could still feel its warmth as I took the offensive.
I leapt at the spell-dazed changeling, striking him under the chin with my horn before raining hoof blows on his chest. He was nearly an adult changeling so his tough natural armour withstood my attacks, but it noticeably dazed him. The big changeling grunted in frustration and tried to stomp me into the dirt, but I was too quick.
Darting this way and that, his hooves impacted nothing but dirt every time. Letting out an angry howl he made one final attack, but I was ready. I bounded back from his clumsy double punch as I swung around and bucked him square in the chest. He fell to his knees, now just under the same height as I was. I drew my right hoof back, and lashed it across his dizzy face. The big drone crumpled sideways like a loose sack of rocks.
Heaving a sigh of exhaustion I knelt alongside Wave’s crumpled form. That is until another hoof sent me sprawling across the dirt. I spat blood, and shook my head to clear it, feeling something dislodge from my face as I did. The final drone, Viper, walk patiently towards me, a menacing yet smug smile on his fanged face.
Yet in an instant, it went slack, as his suddenly lifeless body fell to the dirt, a burning hole where his left eye should be. I paid him no heed, as long as he was dead, I was safe. Maybe it was just some feedback from Branch’s spell. I picked up something hard and sharp off the floor.
“Ohmigosh are you okay?” the nymph asked hurriedly
I turned my better eye to the female. She was like me, but smaller and with a shock of pink hair and bright magenta eyes. She was pretty, I’d give her that.
“Lemme see!” she pleaded, reaching for my hoof
I withdrew it quickly. There was something odd about this nymph, something dangerous. Besides, I risked much and loosed more than I bargained for in her stead. There was nothing for it but to go home.
"Please?" she pleaded "I can help. I won't hurt you, promise!"
I relaxed myself, but kept some tension. I didn’t know this nymph, and was less than happy about giving her my hoof, let alone risking my life for her. Her hoof gently traced my cheek, cleaning away my blood and sweat. She noticeably winced as she looked at me. I was literally beaten half to death today.
“You’re eyes!” she gasped
I rolled what was left of them. My vision was obscured by an ugly crack since midday today. Now, I lost my depth perception. That thin, green chitin I had over my eye I now held in my hooves. Even the air was enough to stinging prongs of pain through my head.
“C’mon,” she said, pulling my arm “I know a guy, he can heal you,”
I roughly shoved her off. Contrary to anyone’s belief, this isn’t the worst injury I’ve endured. I took four steps down the alleyway before crumpling like a wind beaten shack.