Learning my lesson from the last encounter with Zecora the zebra, I kept myself hidden, staying closer to the bonfire. Doing whatever I could to keep away from the residents of the forest, not wanting to add any decomposing corpses beside the manticore sitting not far from my camp.
'Well I suppose that answers at least a few questions' I thought as the feeling of hunger clawed at my stomach. Laying my weapons out next to the bonfire before digging through my backpack. The contents were normal things, or what I had thought would be normal, to bring to the con; a large plastic bottle filled with water, a box of protein bars as wells as a small bag of trail mix from work, the foam tip for my spear which I was tempted to throw into the fire, but decided against it, some sunscreen due to my ginger complexion, my Mp3 player that sat in one of the smaller pockets, and finally my Mom's sewing kit.
I held up the kit for a moment and started to think about my family. Tears came to my eyes as I realized that I might never see them again. Not only that, but I've been cursed with undeath, they probably won't recognize me anyways.
I sat near the fire clutching one of the last things to remind me of my mother and the life I had been ripped from, tears pouring freely from my eyes choking to keep down the sobs and wails that threatened to escape.
After what felt like only a couple of moments, I found that tears no longer fell from my face, but my nose was clogged. Pulling a bandanna from where I had tucked it in the costume, I blew my nose before putting it in the pack on my belt. Having effectively started calming down, I took a few deep breaths. 'Alright, so you're ugly, yea there's nothing that can help that, But that doesn't mean you can't figure out a way to get the ponies to help you' I thought sitting back up from where I had fallen during my crying session.
Ideas started going through my head with other thoughts coming to shoot them down. 'captives or hostages are immediately out, while it would attract attention, as well as possibly listen to my demands, I don't know if I can do that to someone' I thought shivering at the thought of having to tie up someone and hold them like that. 'A last resort I suppose'
'Perhaps a disguise?' I thought looking down for a moment. 'The only place that's not covered by my clothing is my face, a mask shouldn't be too hard, right?' Looking around I realized that there was an abundance of leaves, sticks and trees around me, and even more out deeper in the forest.
'Well lets see what happens' I thought repacking my bag and throwing over my back and starting out into the forest. Opening one of the smaller pouches that had nothing in it, I started packing it with whatever I thought could be useful.
Passing the dead manticore I frowned examining the hide and other such things. 'Such a waste' I thought before shaking my head and getting back to the task.
A large piece of curved bark caught my attention as well, though a cockatrice was resting not far from it. Torn between the idea of killing it and taking the possibly useful item, or leaving it be, I remembered another turning a certain purple unicorn to stone making my eyes harden.
Sneaking around as silently as possible, I readied my spear, positioning it with two hands for the back of the creature's head. Striking, I put all my weight behind the tip and pierced right through the base of it's neck. The creature made a few dying croaks before finally giving up the ghost. A feeling of something flowing into me made me give the dead creature a strange look before retrieving my weapon and going for the piece of bark.
After gathering a few more things, I decided I had enough to work with and headed back to the bonfire. The trip was a short one, as I found I hadn't traveled far from the clearing. In the first place though my pack was near bursting with what could be easily assumed was garbage.
Upon arrival, I started to grow weary and my stomach growled reminding me to eat something. Taking off my pack, I grabbed my water and a protein bar happily devouring it before taking a few drinks of water. Feeling satisfied. I laid my backpack out on the ground before putting my head on it and drifting into the realm of sleep.
Opening my eyes, the first thing I saw was the light of the bonfire making me squint and turn away. The nagging feeling in my gut made me get up though, sitting up I yawned before looking around. The creeping sense of dread returned as I saw the dark treeline, but relented as small patches of light shined through the foliage giving me a small amount of relief.
Remembering what happened earlier, I opened my bag and started trying to think of some way to use the materials I had found. The proffered would probably be using the bark as the main 'face plate', a few vines to make it wearable and perhaps a few leaves if possible to make it look more interesting.
Pulling out the knife I had made I started making an outline in the bark of what I would want A simple oval, pressing on the back of the blade I cut deeper and continued this until there was little keeping the mask base attached. Tapping it lightly around the edges, I took it out and examined it before putting it up to my face to feel around where things would need to be.
'Alright, made it a little too big, but it's better than too small I thought. 'Drilling' a few holes into it with the spearhead and threading the thinner vines through I looped them through a few times before tying them off at the back. Putting a little pressure on it I found the bark flexed well enough for my purposes.
Nodding after finishing the mask, I put it on, wishing I had a mirror to see my handiwork. Looking out into the forest again I found that things were quiet a good sign around my camp. Getting up I brushed myself off and packed my things away. Looking to the leaves I returned them along with the small amount of scrap bark and vines to my bag. 'Might have some use for them later, and if nothing else, the leaves make for a nice pillow' I thought throwing the pack on my back.
Stooping down to grab my weapons I stopped and looked at my gloves sighing. 'I'll have to wash this time' I thought rolling my eyes. I listened, hoping to hear some kind of rushing water, from the river that flowed through the Everfree, but heard nothing besides the chirping of birds and a few other forest noises.
Sighing, and doing the only thing I could think of, I took my water bottle out of my backpack, and the bandanna from my hip pack. Washing the few things using as little water as possible was tedious, but at least it saved as much water as possible.
Looking down over myself. My coat was now damp along with my gloves, but I had effectively washed off most of the blood. A quick wipe of the spearhead also gave it back it's silver sheen. Nodding satisfied with my work I replaced everything in my pack before going out into the forest.
Most of the creatures seemed to be less active as I heard little sound beyond a few birds and rustling of the trees in a breeze that had kicked up. Continuing my walk through the forest, I wished I knew how to move faster while still being quiet, but just continued through on my toes, ready for something to try to pounce on me.
Looking up I noticed a long and quite thick vine that looked like it could be of some use. Reaching up I grabbed a hold of one end of it, but quickly realized it was not a vine. The large python looked over at me before lunging embedding it's fangs into my unguarded right shoulder I swore as it started curling the rest of it's body around me and squeezing. Dropping my spear and grabbing the head, I tried to wrench the snake off of me only to find it unwilling to let go.
As I quickly found it hard to breathe a noise was heard, but the snake seemed to ignore it. My mind starting to panic, I reached for my knife and started cutting into the serpent, another noise sounded, neither of us heard again. I thought once I had managed to decapitate the python, it would let go, but not only did the head say firmly embedded in my shoulder, but the body stayed tightly woven around my own.
My vision slowly started to darken as lack of oxygen took it's toll. But right before before the blackness encompassed everything I managed to cut through enough of it to let air fill my lungs. After a few sputters and coughs I took a long grateful breath. After a few moments kneeling, it seemed the remaining bit of the snake's corpse let go of me, falling to the ground with a soft thud.
Light and colors started to slowly return to my sight after a moment and the pain in my shoulder reminded me to unhook the snake head that was stuck there by it's fangs. As I dropped it to the ground I looked around only to find a familiar yellow pegasus standing there shocked from the scene in front of her.
My eyes went wide as I sheathed my blade, surrounded by sliced of bits that once formed a whole snake that no doubt she knew, or at least had seen.
'Crap...' I thought, “Um... “ I started only for her to stumble back and gallop in the other direction wings flapping as though she was trying to take flight. “Damn it” I cursed under my breath grabbing my spear and gave chase, knowing that the creatures of the forest would try something as well as no doubt inform her friend, the princess, of some kind of monster's presence.
Due to her build for running, and then taking off when her wings wanted to work with her. The pink maned pegasus quickly faded from my view, the winding path still leading where she had gone, but I sighed, accepting the fate that had been handed to me.
'No doubt soon she'll bring back her friends, and possibly investigate' I thought as the trees progressively got thinner to the point where I could even see the blue sky above the foliage. The warmth of the sunlight felt good, and as I continued down the road, the exit of the forest became visible. The sight of the bright green grass, small number of flowers and even a small river flowing lifted my heart, but the implications behind it caused my stomach to fall.
Letting out a sigh I walked over to the stream not far from the forest's edge, lifting up my mask to get a drink. I replaced the mask over my face and looked around, the small town of Ponyville catching my eye as well as a large farm that was recognized as Sweet apple acres. The weather was beautiful, but a sigh escaped as I knew I would be forced to leave, lest be attacked or captured.
Looking around I found a relatively good sized stone, kicking it lightly for a moment to see if it moved which I was met with a thud. After a minute of digging it out I took out the piece of orange chalk that I had carved to look like the orange soapstone. I began writing on the stone a simple message.
If you come to attack me, I will not refrain from retaliating. If you come for a peaceful discussion, then I welcome you.
Sincerely,
The Wanderer
P.S. I am not a monster, despite what your yellow, and striped friends may have said.
I looked at the simple message before putting the chalk away and hoped it would be enough to get their attention, as no doubt one might trip on it. After a moment I could swear that the letters began glowing slightly, but I shook my head. 'Now that's just taking things a bit far' I though holding a hand to my head.
Stepping over the stone, I started back down the path that lead to my bonfire to wait for my company, or prepare myself for a fight with six girl horses.