The dead move.

(*Pov of Swift hooves.*)

"Not to much further now, another...500 yards maybe?" All of my traveling companions were now sufficiently tired, it was near the end of the day, and I was feeling better than ever. In other words, they all wanted to kill me. Slowly, with there bare hooves.

"I'm...gonna...whoof..gonna kill...you!" That was Quick shot, after his wings got tired he started walking, as it would turn out I was wrong, General hard steel was handling this better than I would have thought, yet Quick shot on the other hand was now probably swimming in any sweat that was not somehow leaking out of his suit, it's ridiculous. I don't even have a clue how it is that he has some of the sweat pouring out of there.

"You'll have to catch me first." I picked up my pace a little. "I am going to go see if they are still there, if they are then I am going to tell them that we have a few additions to the group, kay?" They all nodded, probably to tired to speak, to show off I began to run fairly quickly. Making them angry is so much fun.

After a few minutes of running I reached the cave, how exactly should I announce my presence, a gallant walk in perhaps? Or maybe I should just walk in casually as though it is not big deal that I am still alive? Hmm, or maybe I coul-"Hafdh."

I had been tackled down to the ground...by Rainstorm. "Can't breathe, air important." My back hooves were waving wildly in the air due to my being on my back, it was not a comfortable position.

"Oh-sorry, here let me get off." She rolled off me, she looked a bit sheepish and was blushing as well, must be embarrassed for over-reacting to my coming back. "What happened?!" Ow, damn mare. my ears are sensitive, not cool.

"Well, I led the pack off of you two, then I headed back towards Canterlot." She nodded her head and ahum-ed in response. "By the time I had gotten about 300 meters in I had about 200? Yeah about 200 following me." She now looked a bit awestricken. "I killed about half with my...time slowing, but more importantly I may have..uhm...met some others that came with me...and they seem like pretty great ponies to be traveling with, they are all trained to fight, far better than myself."

"Are you sure that they aren't going to try to do anything bad to us?" She looked a bit worried, really quite understandable really, it is the apocalypse and to be fair, I don't fully trust her either. She seemed nice and all, it's just that I have no real Idea what she is like.

"I am pretty sure that they won't do anything to hurt us, but I must warn you, they are really crude. Like REALLY crude."

She looked at me skeptically. "How bad could they be?" Time to find out I suppose.

"Oh you'll see, I will go get them, be back in a bit." I waved my fore-hoof at her, she ran up and hugged me...not.okay. I shivered a bit, the hug felt nice and all...it's just that I like a little bit of warning before large amounts of bodily contact. Oh great, now she looks sad. I gave her a shaky smile and left, hoping that I could explain to her that I was not a touchy feel-y pony.

Arriving back to the group of oh so noble warriors, NOT. I motioned towards them to follow me, yelling out at the same time. "Hey, lets go, she says it's okay. We need to hurry on back too, looks like it is getting near to night time." They all began to trot towards me, they all looked dead tired, and in need of a serious break. Being me is so awesome. I turned my neck to look at the bite mark, looked entirely healed still, but still an odd discoloration, not as bad as earlier though.

(*During the few minutes that Swift hooves is away from the cave.*)

"Hey, I heard another voice, who was it, are you okay!?" Strong heart came rushing out, she saw that Rainstorm was now sitting her rather nice flank...moving on...looking out towards where the sun was setting, coming this way were four ponies, three of which looked enormously bulky. Not paying attention towards the sides of the cave entrance, she failed to notice the massive surge of infected coming their way, they had few precious seconds.

(*3rd person POV.*)

"Hey...do you see a large...group behind them?"

"We need to pick up the pace. Swift, you're the most likely to be able to get to them, can you do that wicked speed thingy?" General Hard steel suddenly had the strength of ten ponies dashing ahead, he was quickly followed by the other two, Swift hooves began to run, quickly out pacing them all, he would only need a few seconds, but really it would be less than a hundredth of a second. Time...slowed, Princess Luna made things so confusing...whatever I guess time slowed down then.

Making it to the makeshift camp he saw that he had made it just in time, one of the zomponies had its teeth around Strong hearts left hind leg, about to bite down. Swift hooves walked up and stabbed it in the head, another one bites the dust. Making quick work of the others in the group he made time go back to normal. Collapsing with exhaustion he saw Strong heart turn around and gasp. He also saw Quick shot run up to her and check her over for bite marks, Blood drip did the same to Rainstorm.

(*Pov of Swift hooves.*)

"I really need to stop doing that, I don't like feeling tired, like at all." Rainstorm trotted over to him, smiling appreciatively.

"Well, you have saved my life twice now? No, wait three if you count the time you had that group stop following us. So, here is something to show my appreciation." She bent down and gave Swift hooves a peck on the cheek.

...I don't know how to feel about that...on one hand she is really cute...but I can now see Blood drips eye twitching, and it was rather out of the blue, something I most certainly do not enjoy. I am just gonna have to think on it later, now though, I sleep, I sleep until it is absolutely necessary that I eat.

Picking himself up he made his way through the cave entrance, noticing several smile piles of dirt and several shallow holes, what kind of animal makes those marks?