Stolen Away

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James

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“Oh god, my head.” I sat up and blinked the blurriness away. That was a painful experience I’d rather not go through again.

I took a look at my surroundings. I was lying down in a dark forest like area, nothing much else to look at though. ‘I’m not optimistic enough to think that whatever the changelings were trying to do didn’t work or mis-fired. So what the hell happened?’

I heard a distant growl, not unlike a wolf, but different. Something was coming, and for this first time in a long time, I was scared.

'Wait, why am I scared? It's just a fucking forest!' I berated myself for acting so childish, yet the fear was still there.

I decided to ignore what felt like my base instinct and rose to my feet. Wait, something's off, instead of standing almost to the tops of the low branches I barely make it halfway up the trunk. I felt the ground using my feet, which I then realized numbered four.

I looked down, then soon regretted it. "Fuck no!" I had four light grey legs that ended in hooves. After probing a bit in my mind I moved what I felt was a tail. "Fuck me, I'm a horse!"

The howls were getting closer and I involuntarily shuddered. Damn instincts! I realized that I now have horse instincts and therefore was afraid of wolves. However I had one distinct advantage: I had the thinking power of a human. While a deep slash with a wolf’s claw could do me in, I’m sure that a buck to the face ought to hurt enough to make it back off.

I tried walking forward, but all I accomplished was bringing my muzzle closer to ground. I managed to rise to my knees and spit the dirt out of my mouth.

I lifted my head up just in time to come face to face with the weirdest thing I have ever seen. It looked like a wolf, but was made solely out of wood.

It snarled at me and, unfortunately, my base instinct once again told me to book it as fast as possible. However, since I rarely listen to instinct, common sense, and sometime my conscience, it was easy to raise my lips and snarl, albeit stupidly, back.

The thing didn’t show it but I could tell it was somewhat confused. Apparently it was used to more cowering than what I was doing. Finally it seemed to snap out of whatever twisted things occupied it’s brain and growled again. This was answered by the rustling and the appearance of even more of the wood wolves.

“Now would be a great time to figure out how to run, hell I’ll settle for walking if it means I can make some distance.” I like a challenge but 5 to 1 odds did not seem fair to me.

The one in front of me pounced, claws outstretched and mouth open wide, turned sideways to accommodate my furry neck. ‘Aww fuck no!’ My brain decided to switch gears and allow me to quickly jump to the side, avoiding the deadly jaws. ‘Dammit, that hurts!’ I looked and saw a long gash adorning my body, but that wasn’t what stunned me.

Like something out a storybook there sitting on my back were two feathered wings, safely tucked against my body.

My momentary distraction was enough to get pounced by another and pinned to the ground, accumulating another gash on my back right leg. It snarled at me and swiped at me. I flinched as the pain from the open wound reached me. Fuck this shit, I’ve lived in America for 22 years, I am NOT going to die here!

It lifted its paw up to swipe at me again, but it never got the chance to bring it down. A swift kick using my good rear hoof unbalanced it enough for me to roll over out from under it. “COME ON! I CAN TAKE YOU!”

The other wolves slowly advanced on me. If they got to me I knew I was boned.

However, what seemed like the alpha male recovered from my kick and snapped at the others, forcing them to back away.

He placed himself within leaping distance and started to flank me. Soon we were in a classic circle of wariness. What I hadn’t noticed until we had switched places, is that while we moved, the others hadn’t and now my back was to them. My eyes widened exponentially and time seemed to slow down as I willed my body to merge with the ground as the wolf in front of me began to leap.

I looked up instinctively and saw both the first group and the alpha collide into each other... right on top of me, well my back leg. ‘Of fucking course it had to be the injured one as well.’ I cringed once more as I pulled desperately on my leg to free it. ‘They’re waking up! Fuck fuck fuck fuck!’ thankfully, the one on bottom came to first and tried to rise up, allowing me to free my leg.

Immediately I take off, albeit with a pronounced limp, but any distance away from these things was a blessing.

I heard a howl and quickened my pace. “Just my fucking luck! Caught by some weird ass changeling things, get almost torn apart by ‘non-existent’ magic. And now I’m being fucking chased by damn wolves made out of fucking wood!”

Oh, you know what would be nice? If I got my wings to work. Then I could fly away from these things. Knowing my luck I’d probably end up getting them sliced off as soon as get them to work.

I looked back just in time to see the wolf things chasing me. They weren’t running however, they kept their distance, wary of the new prey I had presented myself as. “If you’re going to kill me get on with it ya ass holes!” I shouted back.

I noticed though that the there were only four wolves and the alpha’s eyes weren’t exactly focused on me. I swung my head forward and of fucking course, there was the last creature, lying in wait. Damn these things for being so smart!

For some reason, I stopped quite suddenly, even jumping back out of the range of the wolf paw that came moments after I stopped. Finally it registered in the back of my mind that I was using appendages I had not used before. I took a shaky look back, doubting what i would see. Sure enough both my wings stuck out in a horizontal position.

I tested them a bit, moving them around, a little up and down. ‘Ha ha! Success!’ I had complete motor control. Well, until the wolves got tired of me looking at myself. The first slash missed marginally, while the second caught me on my outstretched wing. The third and fourth added more marks to my barrel and the fifth gave me a movie style gash over my eye. ‘Wow, i probably look like shit right now.’ I tried flapping my wings a little while the wolves recovered for round two.

I managed to create enough lift to make the wolves think that I was escaping. One bit down on my leg, the bad one of course. Its grip wasn’t enough and it didn’t pull me down. However, I would probably not be able to walk very well on three legs considering I barely knew how to walk on four.

I hovered above the pack of wolves contemplating what I should do. Weariness won out and I slowly made my way upwards to see if I could find a place to rest. With a couple more pained flaps I managed to make it up high enough so the fucked up animals couldn’t get me. Unfortunately I didn’t make it up as high as I needed to be and had to haul my fat ass up the last foot because my wings gave out. Oh well, I got farther than I thought I would.

The branch I was standing on looked sturdy and was fat enough to accommodate myself while laying down. The closer the branch got to the tree though the bigger it got and the stronger it looked, so I opted to painfully shuffle towards the trunk of the tree.

Once I managed to position myself in the crook between trunk and branch I lay down on my (thankfully) uninjured belly. I decided against falling asleep, if those were what wolves were like in this fucked up forest, I wonder what birds, or raccoons looked like. Once again I shivered from the fright the horrid pictures I had conjured in my mind created. To pass the time I decided to look over my injuries.

Besides the ones I couldn’t see, like my eye scratch, which undoubtedly was going to scar ‘fuck me’. My injured left wing wouldn’t fold properly back onto my side and my back right leg wouldn’t curl into the fetal position, instead, opting to splay itself out over the branches edge. I sighed deeply and stopped examining myself.

With my current mindset I would probably make myself sick just looking at the injuries I had sustained. I turned my head forward and rested it on top of my forelegs, the pain keeping me awake and partially alert.

“If there is a fucking God in this fucked up place; I bet he is having a grand ole time screwing with my life.”

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Scott

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Ugh, what the hell happened? One moment, we’re all fighting changelings, and the next, I’m lying here on the ground, apparently just now waking from unconsciousness. Taking a look at my surroundings, the first thing I notice is how sharp everything looks. Like seriously, I can literally examine the grains of wood on a tree ten feet away.

And speaking of trees, I am in some type of forest. Not the nice ones back in good ole Colorado in the mountains, but the type you would see in a really old swamp, just without all the water. Why do these woods look familiar? Bah, it doesn’t matter right now.

As I continue my observation, I notice an object on the ground about five feet away; it’s my iPod. Standing up to go and grab it, I manage to get to my two feet before wobbling unsteadily and then falling down. Alright, that’s rather odd. Why would I have trouble standing up. I look down to my feet, and freeze.

Instead of size thirteen feet, I see black lion paws with a tail of the same color and a tuft of white fur at the end in their place. Oh no, is this like some type of joke?I hold my hands up to my eyes to see black talons with grey claws. No no no no no.

Another few feet away from my iPod is a puddle from a recent rain. Slowly dragging myself over to it, I look down into the small reflective surface. Looking back up at me is a griffon with deep gold eyes, black feathers across his whole face, a grey feather sticking out from his forehead as kind of spike style, and a white crest atop his head. Or should I say my head. A reflection of light in the pool draws my attention to my necklace, which is still there. All it really is is a small silver pendant with the alchemic symbols of the sun and moon stamped onto each side.

I shakily get to my talons and pads, finding that after a few seconds, I actually stop with the shaking bit. Must be my new cat instincts or something. After all, instincts are simply predetermined chemicals within the brain.

Wait a second. Kidnapped by changelings, sent into a dark creepy forest, turned into a black griffon, and a manticore just standing within the treeline. I’m not usually one to jump to conclusions, but I think that I might be in Equestria.

Wait, a manticore just within the treeline?

Oh shit.

Instincts can not help with this problem! I immediately turn away from my fellow lion half breed. What instincts can help with however, are the motor controls in a fight or flight situation. I was instantly onto all of my new feet, and promptly shot off into the woods, grabbing my precious iPod on the way. Hey, gotta have priorities man. I think on the go, and tuck it into the little pocket made by my right wing against my body.

I leap into the thick underbrush and dart as quickly through the forest as I possibly can. It’s rather easy to keep track of the manticore’s progress, what with him just tearing through trees, brambles, and bushes a mere ten feet behind me.

Wow, all this greenery is so thick! I can’t even see three feet in front of me. Using a small part of my mind to think rationally, I realize that I may be able to use my talons as makeshift machetes and cut through some of this growth.

Utilizing my new tools, I easily begin to cut through the forest. Eventually, I find myself stumbling into a small clearing...filled with timberwolves. Oh c’mon! My luck can’t be that bad can it?

Well, at least they’re not manticores. I can fight timberwolves I hope. I hold up my talons. “Alright, come at me boys.”

Instead of jumping me like I expected them to, they started backing up, looking a little afraid. Ah yeah! I knew I was intimidating! I watch them look at me with a little bit of fear. Wait, not me. Something behind me.

I slowly turn my head to see the same manticore looming above me like a pillar of death. Except, this pillar is made of pure muscle and rage.

Some instinct within me jumps out, forcing my wings open and then pushing down to propel me past the wolves and into the branches of a nearby tree.

I hang onto the branch for dear life, watching as the manticore glances at me, then back at the wolves before charging them. As they begin their dance of death, I feel a sharp pain in my back left leg. Looking back, I see a large splinter sticking out of my heel.

It isn’t that bad, but it still hurts. I may want to get it checked soon to make sure it won’t get infected. But for the meantime, I just make sure I get into a more comfortable position while I watch the creatures below sort out their...problems.

It’s rather interesting. Did you know that when they break into pieces, a Timberwolf can control the pieces to immobilize some part of a larger prey? That’s exactly what happened with the manticore’s tail. With its tail out of commision, the manticore resorted to using only its teeth, claws and size to combat the wolves.

I watch with shrinking interest for a few more minutes. Besides, it’s not like they can get me up here. That manticore’s wings look way too small for flight. I look around the clearing at the trees a little more, until my eyes rest on the tree next to me. On it, is sitting a silver pegasus, with a red and black mane and tail, with no cutie mark. And for some reason, he’s staring at me as incredulously. Oh, and around his neck is a necklace, with two nails forming a cross.

I try to ignore him, almost as though everything is normal, but he just keeps staring at me, making it kind of awkward. So, I try to deal with it. “So, how’s your day going?” I ask in the most normal voice possible.

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James

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Stupid wolves, stupid leg, stupid wing, stupid GOD DAMN HORSE BODY! I vent my frustration by snorting, then pause and groan as I realize that is what horses normally do. “God, am i going to be a horse forever, both mind and body? Cause that would fucking suck. Damn changethings or whatever Daniel called them.”

I look down at the hungry wood wolves still surrounding my tree. They eventually got tired of trying to jump up and now were patiently waiting to see if I would fall or break the branch. Well sorry to disappoint you fido but I’m staying up here, even it means I’ll die in this tree... in a random forest... in a foreign body... fuck my life.

A loud roar pierces the treetops, causing the wolves to cease their chatter and look towards the noise. At first they seemed like they would leave and go find some other poor unfortunate animal or human to harass, but what I had dubbed the leader nipped at some of the skittish ones and they resumed their posture around the tree.

A loud crashing noise approached from behind the leader, causing him to whip around. I followed his gaze to a griffin. He and the other wolves started to back up slowly, as if terrified by the beast before them. I cocked my head in puzzlement but then my eyes widened as I lay eyes upon a fucking manticore. What is this, Greek mythology month?

The griffin takes a leap of faith and lands in a nearby tree. 'Just my fucking luck, now I'm going to have another predator after me'

However the griffin seemed to be only interested in the predators below. My eyes left him, for his build suggested male, and stared down at the massacre waiting to happen.

My freakishly large horse eyes were not met with the sight of bloody corpses however, but the sight of 3 wolves dancing around the manticore while the other two had been somehow broken up yet still retained motor control.

I had seen enough to know how it would end. The griffin in the tree next to me was the center of my attention once again. It seemed fascinated by the battle below.

This intrigued me. A griffon is supposedly an animal which isn't supposed to be able to think or be 'fascinated'. I stared in wonderment at the supposed ‘beast’ sitting on a branch.

Then, much to my surprise, it actually started talking to me. “So, how’s your day going?”

I shuffled a bit and awkwardly looked away. I’m acting like a pussy right now but when you are unable to escape from potential predators you tend to be more geared towards survival, not potentially making friends.

”So, do you live around here?” It/he called out. I turned back around and saw him smiling mischievously. Well that’s one way to put me off.

“You know, if you wanna kill me, you might as well do it now while I'm injured and all." I lifted up my injured wing and winced as it screamed in protest.

“Now why in the world would I want to kill a pony?”

This peaks my interest. "Cause you're a creature of mythology that no doubt eats meat. And since I’m just sitting here looking like a prized entree, well…" I'm partially hoping that he won't eat me. Unfortunately my more pessimistic side prevents me from being too excited about the odds of that possibility.

His face portrays deep thought. “Well, two problems with that. One, I’ve never before actually hunted in my life. Two, This body is brand new AND injured. And three, because I’m ignoring my two question statement, I need all the help I can get from the indigenous species, which is you.”

Wow, I happened to run into the ONE griffin that didn't know his way around equestria. Hell he's probably lost. "Wait… WHAT THE FUCK?! NEW BODY? WHAT THE HELL 'THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?"

“Weeeell, exactly what I said. A brand new body. I’ve only had it for about...ten minutes I think.”

"Well damn, same here. Fucking changethings, or whatever, COULDN'T LEAVE A POOR GUY ALONE NOOOOOO!" I cease my rant and awkwardly cough into my unusually familiar appendage. "Heh, sorry about that. A lot has happened in the past few hours. Don't know how much more I can take."

“Well, if you’re a pony who lives in Ponyville, then I think you’ll be fine. Unless, you just said you have the same predicament as me, which would be a new body within the past half hour AND kidnapped by changelings, would mean that you are one of the four humans that were trapped within the green bubble with me. And lastly, judging by your attitude, I hereby name you...Mathias!”

The speed at which my hoof made it to my face was extremely impressive. “I hereby name you stupid.” I mean really? the other guy was from Quebec. QUEBEC! “DO I LOOK LIKE A QUEBECER TO YOU!” I said out loud accidently. “Oops, that wasn’t supposed to be outloud. Wait, fuck, why am I apologizing.” A deep sigh manages to make it past my muzzle. Damn I hate this ‘pony’ body already. “I’m guessing by the lack of french curses and or language that you must be Scott, the American with an actual backbone to speak of.”

“Well, you actually look like a pony to me at the moment. And hey, at least you didn’t make the same mistake I did.” The newly identified Scott stole a glance down below. “Oh, we may want to go now. They appear to be in a stalemate.” I followed his gaze to find a most peculiar yet stupid sight. Somehow or another, the manticore had managed to stomp on all of the wolves and turn them into kindling which was now encompassing the entirety of the beast.

I wanted to leave, but there was still one tiny problem. “You know, that sounds like a great idea! As soon as I grow a third wing or somehow manage to heal this one in the next 30 seconds I’ll let you know.” I frowned at his seemingly forgetful personality.

He pauses thoughtfully. “So, it’s gonna be like that,” another pause. “I’ve got some good news and bad news. Obviously, both of our flight equipment is pretty new, and in your case, damaged. So the only way off this branch is gravity.”

“If that’s the good news, why bother with the bad?”

“The good news is, most your legs seems to be in working condition. Or at least, I hope they will be after falling, but if I fall first, I should be able to either catch you or soften your fall.”

“So falling into the midst of a battle that will probably end with the manticore getting killed in someway shape or form is your brilliant idea? I prefer old age to being ripped apart.”

“Well, it’s either wait here for the manticore to rip free of the timberwolf shards, then fly up and eat us, or we jump now, and get a possible head start or lose him. Your choice pony, or do your new instincts keep you from taking risks?”

That motherfucking son of a bitch! I grit my teeth and tried to calm myself, thinking about homicide was not going to solve anything. “I’m. Not. A. Pony. Never have, never will be. As for my ‘instincts’ they are currently telling me not to commit suicide. I can’t run and I can’t fly. So unless you would like to volunteer as a carrier pigeon I’m perfectly content to stay up here.”

He looks back down and i see that the manticore has managed to partially free itself. “Well, we don’t have the time for any bruised pride, so I’ll jump down first and then catch you.”

“God, the things i do... Fine.”

“Excellent! Now, all I have to do is drop.” He steps off the branch and lands safely on his... feet? ”Ah yeah! Talk about cat-like reflexes!” He looks back up expectantly. “Alright, go ahead and drop! I’ll catch you!”

I look back down at him and take a deep breath. “If i break another leg, i don’t care how long it takes me to catch you, i will pummel you to death.” I close my eyes and leap, managing to hold in the loud obscenity that tried to force its way out of my mouth.

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Scott

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I rear up onto my hind paws at the right moment to catch James, grabbing him with my talons. The unexpected amount of weight forces me to fall over, forming a pile on top of James. While dazed for a few seconds, I feel something...soft under my talons.

I take a quick look to realize that I’m still holding James around his barrel. “Well, you’re certainly quite soft now.”

“If i didn’t need you so badly i would knock your fucking head off. Now let me go dammit!” He begins to squirm in my grasp, forcing me to let go of him. Well, someone’s a bit grumpy. But then again, I would be to if I was turned into a soft tiny pegasus. But still! The excitement I felt when I saw him as a pegasus and realizing that I really was in Equestria! Nothing can replicate that feeling.

However, we have bigger problems at the moment; such as a manticore about to free itself from a wooden prison. It had gotten much more desperate once it began to run out of air, making it start to tear at the wood even faster. “Well, sorry James for your hurt pride and leg, but we don’t have time to worry about that right now. Unless you want to have a lot more hurt than that.”

He huffs with indignation. "Fine, but no more comments on the texture of my fur!" I shrug, as if to say whatever, and turn to leave, walking at a brisk pace.

I check behind me to see if he’s able to keep up with his bad leg, just to see him going a little slower than me, but still limping on that one hind leg. I wait for him to catch up, and then continue walking at a pace more suitable for him.

However, after thirty minutes of walking at a speed slower than that of a snail, my patience grows thin. “Ok James. Do you want me to carry you or something? I promise I won’t make any comments about your fur.”

“Well i doubt Mr. Manticore will take his own sweet time catching up to us, so if you would like to go faster i’m afraid i will have to be... helped.” Alright, to be honest, I truly felt for him. I mean, he’s pretty much having to give up on his pride as not only a human, but a predator altogether! The only hope for him now is if the brony theory about pegasi eating fish is correct.

Without any further ado or making the situation more awkward by waiting, I grab him by the mane and toss him onto my back. He struggles to find his balance for a few seconds, but finally manages to keep from slipping off. I turn my head to look back at him and make sure he’s fine, unable to hide the mirth in my eyes at seeing his predicament. He just replies with a simple, “Fuck you.”

I shrug, since it was obviously not my fault he got ambushed by a pack of timberwolves. “Hey, ever hear of the saying ,’Don’t bite the hand that feeds you?’ I’m trying to make sure you get out alive, when I could just leave you for the manticore,” I tell him as innocently as possible. I hold up a talon to show him that for now I just want him to be quiet. He obviously doesn’t want to, but he shuts up anyways.

I begin my walking, just letting the instincts take control until I feel a bit more comfortable with it. That’s when I realize something a bit odd. Or, as odd as things can currently get. It’s James riding on my back; it doesn’t feel weird at all. In fact, it feels like I was meant to carry living and injured beings. Great, now I’m a pack mule.

As we, well I, walk, both of us keep trying to find ways to alleviate our boredom.There were a few rounds of eye spy, but it didn’t last very long, seeing as how everything was green. A few games of rock-paper-scissors came and went with a little strife. Let’s just say that James knows I’m an asshole, but after realizing why I kept winning every single round, he refused to interact with me in any way afterwards.

I retreat back into my own thoughts, placing my body on semi-auto pilot to keep making progress. So, just as a recap, I’ve been kidnapped by changelings, sent to Equestria, turned into a black griffon, barely escaped a manticore and a pack of timberwolves, and am now carrying James, who just so happened to be turned into a pegasus, through the Everfree Forest. Yeah, I’m surprised I haven’t gone insane yet.

Finally, James decides to break his silence towards me. “Much to my chagrin this is actually fairly comfortable, are you sure you haven’t served as a taxi before?”

So, now he’s trying to get back at me for that whole thing about him being soft. Although, he does have every right to be mad at me after that comment. “Well, I do try to make my passengers comfortable on occasion.”

“How big is this fucking forest? My pride can’t take much more of this humiliation...” While it is rather comfortable for him to be riding me, (NO HOMO) I am inclined to agree.

“Well, from what I’ve been able to tell, this is the Everfree Forest, which is pretty big.” I think back to my days as a human and remember a map of Equestria. “If I remember correctly, there should be two different towns on the border of this forest; Ponyville and Dodge City.”

He perks up at my hypothesis. “And since when did you become the expert on strange alternate universes?” Well, I might as well break it to him, since he seems to retarded to figure it out on his own. But then again, in his defense, he wasn’t a brony.

“Well, to be honest, I’m not. There’s only truly two alternate worlds I am an expert in; Halo, and My Little Pony.” I say the first one with pride, but sort of mumble the second one. “And seeing as how we were turned into a pony and a griffon, kidnapped by changelings, AND chased by a pack of timberwolves and a manticore, I think it’s safe to say we’re in Equestria.”

"I'm sorry… what? I caught that one about halo, nice game by the way, that last one was mumbled though. What the hell is Equestria?!" I sigh, knowing he won’t take the information well, and will most likely take it out on me.

“I said My Little Pony. The country we’re in is called Equestria and is ruled by two sisters who raise and lower the moon and sun.” I wait for his response with trepidation.

"To quote a famous movie actor; 'Bull shit'." Well, he took it better than I expected, but still took it badly.

“Yeah, hard for me to believe too. However, all evidence points to it. In fact, you see those blue flowers over there?” I point towards a patch of what was obviously poison joke. “That is a patch of poison joke. Yeah, corny name I know.”

"Okay, let's just say, for convenience, that I, for some reason, believe you. What does that mean for us?"

“A good question. Right now, we’re in the most dangerous part of Equestria, so we need to find either a town or shelter before night falls. after that? I have no idea. I tend to live in the present.” I really hope that he’s one of those planner types, because I really don’t have any idea what we’re going to do in the future.

"Well damn… fucking wolves. Flight would be SO helpful right now." He lets out a sigh to the world. "Oh well, I'm guessing by your mention of living in the present means you don't plan well?" Bingo!

“Pretty much. Anything else you want to know right now?” Better be some type of question I can answer.

“Well since I still don’t believe you, no.” Phew, that’s even better; no more having to talk! I don’t say anything else as we continue to walk through the forest. However, I have a feeling of unease continuously growing within me. We haven’t been bothered ever since our encounter with the manticore, and I don’t know why.

I shake myself a little. “I need to pick the pace up a little, so tell me if any of your wounds become agitated.”

“By all means, get us out of this god forsaken forest, who gives a damn about me anyways.”

“Well, I do. After all, I want my decoy to still be alive when I use it.” What? I couldn’t resist, and I also wanted to remind him that he is at my mercy.

“Yeah yeah, fuck you... can we skip the arguing and go straight to the part where we make it out of here alive and go back to our normal lives after finding some all powerful being or something, and going on a quest and learning something valuable?”

“It’s not that easy. Never is. Although, the worst case scenario is that we’re seen as freaks by the royalty and thrown into jail for the rest of our lives. But I don’t think that’ll happen; they’re both pretty cool rulers.” I look up at the sky, now realising just how kate it is getting to be. “Hey, be on the lookout for some type of shelter we can use. I don’t think we’re getting out of this forest tonight.”

“Alright, fine, might as well make myself useful.” He pauses for a moment, and I can practically see the question form on his tongue. “Hang on a second, what else do you know about this fucked up place?”

Well, that’s a pretty broad question, but I’ll answer the best I can. “Well, I do know ponies tend to avoid this place, there’s a weird snake-chicken that takes the job of a basilisk, and there’s bears that look like the night sky and are bigger than a city.” I probably didn’t even cover half of the stuff in this nightmare of a forest. Even by human standards, this is not a place you would want to stay the night.

"Sounds like a wonderful assortment of creatures. However i am not a zoologist, nor plan on being one so I would prefer to NOT meet any of those." Really? This guy is a genius! Of course we don’t want to meet any of these creatures!

“I agree, which is why we must find a spot to stay for the night. Any cave, or maybe even a small space under some tree roots word work.” Hmm, in fact, I think I see a possible cave in the cliff face way over there.

"Okay… would that work?" He gestures to a cave in the cliff face I noticed. "Of course that's disregarding the fact that there might be occupants that is."

Well what do ya know, we noticed the cave at the same time. “Yeah, that should work for shelter tonight.” I change my course so we’re heading in that direction.It doesn’t take long to get there; only about five minutes.

Once we do get there, I find a suitable spot and lay James down on the ground gently. “Well, I have no idea how to make a fire from nothing, but it seems we’re in luck; I don’t think it’ll get all that cold tonight.”

“More likely than not it will be cold now that you’ve said that. I’m also out of luck in the fire department, as i would probably fail at picking up and lighting stuff on fire,” He says to me irritatedly.

I laugh at the thought of him trying to pick stuff up with his hooves. He just gives me a glare in response. “You’d probably light that puffy tail of your’s on fire if you tried.”

I just shrug. “Probably. Neither of us are used to these new bodies anyways, so we’ll only hurt ourselves if we try to do anything dangerous at the moment.” A sharp pain my leg reminds me of my wounds. “Our current state is proof of that.”

“Please, don’t remind me…” I chuckle again at his sour mood. I know I shouldn’t laugh, seeing as how I’m in the same situation, but hey, we all cope in our own ways. I choose to laugh about the problem instead of freak out. “Don’t make me bite you.”

“What, with those teeth? Do I really do need to remind you that you’re no longer a predator?” I walk back outside and gather some of the fallen leaves to make a couple of piles for us to use as beds.

He looks dejected at my comment about his teeth. I sigh. “Look, there’s no point in complaining about it right now. In fact, all we CAN do right now is try to survive. So get some sleep, and we’ll talk more in the morning.”

“Sleep, something that I took for granted now seems so… satisfying.” And with that, we both drift off into the wonderful land of dreams.