Ace in The Hoof

"But I've already said my apologies for what I’ve done! Why do you feel the need to further my punishment!?"

“I care naught for your pity. The order has already been set to advance your training. It’s for your own discipline.”

“I was just fine training under you! I don’t need any special treatment!”

“This is not negotiable. Now, come!”

“What!? No! Let me go!”

“Enough of your bickering! You shame your innate potential with such childish mannerisms!”

“But I’m not even prepared! Mother!! Please do something!”

Thus, with a blunt force to the head, the nightmare came to a sudden end.

Dirge, unsure of where his consciousness currently lay, could now only hear the sounds of his own heavy breathing. His body felt strained and his mobility was limited. The painful headache still persisted from his unpleasant voyage down memory lane. Only this time, the pain felt more real.

Struggling to open his eyes, Dirge tried to maintain an effort into keeping his mind alert. Not wanting to fall back asleep and now resisting the drowsiness preventing him from being aware of his senses. All he could hear was the chirping of birds in the distance and subtle ticking sounds from somewhere nearby. However, he soon also noticed that his nostrils felt stuffed and restricted some of his breathing. As well as a burning sensation inside his nose. Shortly but unexpectedly, he sneezed loudly. Groaning in pain as most of his body ached from the sudden jolt of surplus energy. At the least, this give him the vitality to finally examine his current surroundings.

His vision now less blurred and becoming clearer, he raised his head slightly. From what he could tell, he was laying on a soft mattress and tucked in with a colorful looking quilted blanket. Turning to his side, he looked around to see that he was inside a spacious wooden interior. From the looks of it, the walls and even the ceiling were made of the same material. Most likely inside a cabin. There was a large rug centered in the middle of the room with a rectangular shaped wooden table in the middle.

The house was decorated with bizarre looking masks hanged on one wall. All of them painted in different colors and styles. On the other side, a row of tables with vials, cups, glass bottles, a pestle and mortar, along with a strew of plants were set on them. Whatever was brewed recently left a strange odor in the air. The aroma giving Dirge a tingling feel to his nose.

Above the wall beside him was a clock with a pendulum hanging below it swinging smoothly side to side. Yet again made of wood like the rest of the house, but with the numbers burned in. According to the time, it was already past noon. This made Dirge curious as to how long he was out. His bigger concern was as to who would willingly take in a changeling.

“Anyone here?” He said rather weakly. Followed by letting out a few coughs. But there was no response. The house remained silent.

Dirge did not want to wait around to find out who the residents were. It was a nice change from his cell back in the hive, but something didn’t sit quite right with him. He removed his covers, but upon further inspection, there were bandages applied to his body. There were some wrapped around his upper legs and his chest where his scars would be. Though this only made him even more curious. Trying to think for a moment, he felt his headache come back. Planting a hoof to his forehead, he tried to apply some pressure to where most of the pain was coming from. However, as he reached for his horn, he felt something was off. Literally, in fact.

“Oh no…” Dirge said as he was about to panic while he felt half of his horn missing. What should’ve been there was now replaced with bandages spiraling around the broken edges and a cotton ball taped to the top. It was likely to have been snapped off during his fall.

This spelled disaster for him. Having your horn this damaged meant your magic would cease to function. Which also meant the loss of the ability to disguise. He was completely exposed now.

The mystery of his ongoing headache was solved, but didn’t want to stick around to find more unpleasant surprises. Dirge cautiously rose from his bed and onto his hooves, he started to slowly walk towards the front door to exit the house. His whole body still ached as he staggered away.

“Come on… you’ve had worse than this… !” Dirge grunted in pain with each couple steps. As he reached the door and raised a hoof for the doorknob, it suddenly twisted by itself. The door opened a little too quickly and struck his nose. “Ugh!” He fell to his haunches, rubbing the tip of his snout as he looked up to see who just intruded on his getaway.

A zebra with a concerned look on its face gasped from laying eyes on Dirge. Perhaps seeing him now awake was what startled it. Also in particular, the zebra was wearing several necklaces around its neck. Each were decorated with an assortment of vibrant stones and beads. Its mane style resembled a mohawk, though lazily brushed. A golden nose ring protruded from its nostrils.

“Ah! No, no, no!” He said. Extending a hoof towards Dirge to help him up. “Please! You must go back to sleeping! You are still very ill!”

Dirge, now with a perplexed expression, had figured this stranger was the one to have saved him but wanted to confirm his belief.

“Are… you the one responsible for my current state?”

“We talk later. Resume your resting now.” The zebra said as he grabbed Dirge’s hoof, steadily rising to his hooves then guiding him back to bed.

Dirge sneezed again. His cold still posed a problem for his respiration. Coughing more to help clear his throat. “I’m… not exactly in the best condition to sleep either.” Inhaling roughly through his nose in another attempt to alleviate his sinuses.

“Oh, sickness is bad. I notice. Please wait in bed while I go make brew for you.” The zebra said while he departed for the other side of the house containing the cooking utensils.

As Dirge laid back onto the bed, a young zebra filly he hadn’t noticed yet had walked up to him. It stared at him curiously. Judging from the pink ribbon on the end of the braided ponytail from the back of its mane, it was female. She wore a few pearl necklaces around her neck. After a moment of looking back at each other, she spoke in some foreign language Dirge never heard before. From her tone, it sounded like she was asking a question.

“Excuse me?” Dirge said.

The other zebra in the background then shouted at her in the same language. The filly turned her eyes towards him then back to Dirge. Then shortly leaving his presence.

“Apologies! Cannot have her catching cold too!” The other zebra responded from his position. Still conjuring up whatever he was making.

Finally, after almost half an hour, he returned with a cup of a steamy substance. Dirge sat up from his bed as he was given a hot and freshly brewed cup of green tea. “Thank you.” He took a whiff of it first before inspecting its contents. It smelled strongly of leaves and seemed to have tiny shreds of them at the bottom of the cup. “What’s in this?” He then asked.

“Special herbal blend. Good for mind and body!” The zebra stated proudly.

Carefully placing the cup to his lips, Dirge blew into the liquid first to cool it off a little before dipping his tongue into it. Then quickly retracted his tongue afterwards from the scalding tea and bitter aftertaste. Wincing and shuddering in disapproval of the flavor.

The zebra chuckled from his display of disgust towards his remedy. “First time never easy. But you must consume while drink is warm and potent!”

Dirge didn’t want to try his luck too soon again. Instead, while waiting for his tea to cool off, he thought he may as well have some questions answered.

Looking at the clock above him, he wondered: “How long have I been unconscious for?”

“Oh, you out cold for entire day! You toss and turn in your slumber.”

“I’m also quite curious.” He said, now looking at the zebra. “Did you drag me here from anywhere in particular?”

“Hmm.” The zebra nodded. “Found you washed up in dire shape by river. Patch you up as best I could.”

“And… you saved me?” Dirge blankly looked back down at his tea. “But… don’t you realize I’m… ?”

The zebra waited for him to finish after a moment of silence. “You are... what of?”

It was probably for the best that these two were kept in the dark about his origins. They either don’t keep in touch with the outside world, or wanted to try a friendly approach towards a changeling. Dirge shook his head and decided to drop the subject. “Nevermind.” He took a light sip of his tea and brought up another topic for discussion. “It’s not everyday I come across your kind. Your grasp on the Equestrian language is… well… below par compared to the average pony. Judging by your dialect, I take it you’re not from here?”

“Oh ho ho! You guess correct!” The zebra said, now trotting off towards the kitchen area. He continued his speech while placing an assortment of berries and plants onto a table from a basket he came in with. “Came here from my village afar after relative of mine invite me over. Saying how wondrous new land is! To claim new opportunity! And such friendly ponies here too! And what you know?” He pointed his hoof towards the ceiling, smiling. “They build roof over my head just for me!”

Dirge thought he knew the extent of the kindness of ponies, though after hearing the zebra’s last sentence, he had a newfound regard for them. It was no wonder changelings easily gained enough emotional energy from them to survive for this long. Though that my change now.

“And what of you? From where you hail from? Not see your kind either.” The zebra asked politely.

Dirge was hesitant about answering at first, but there was really nothing left to lose if he revealed the truth. He thought he could avoid a negative response if he left out some details. “I’m… uh… changeling.” He cleared his throat nervously before going on. “My… erm… village kicked me out recently. Didn’t leave on friendly terms either.”

“Oh?” The zebra looked back to him in a saddened manner. “That why you left in wounds and ropes?”

“Well… you could say that.” Dirge sighed before taking another sip of his tea. “But I’ve bared these scars long before you found me.”

“Ah. So, you break some ‘changeleen’ taboo or some such to result in exile?”

Thinking that perhaps it was for the best not to describe the concepts of changeling culture, Dirge gave a vague answer. “Hmph. We’re not the friendliest bunch.”

The zebra walked back over to Dirge, putting a hoof over his shoulder with a sympathetic look on him. “Not to worry. This only mean new chance for you. Start over and make your own dreams! Take over your own life! Free spirit now!” He said energetically. “Ponies teach me many new things while my stay here. Important lesson was friendship! You and I…” He pointed towards himself then back to Dirge. “... friends! Yes?”

He had a point. Giving it some thought at first, what this zebra said very well meant something new for him. Having been expelled from his hive, it likely meant that he would never see his comrades ever again. But with every new chapter in life, new beginnings would take place. With a new sense of identity, he wouldn’t have to uphold his old ways anymore. It would be hard at first, but if he learned anything valuable during his span of duty, it was that friends did indeed make life all the more bearable. He had Ozzie to thank for that. Maybe this zebra would be his first after his revelation of turning over a new leaf.

In a weak form of laughter, Dirge shook his head at first. “I don’t even know your name.”

“Ah!” The zebra then laughed hysterically, but noticeably awkward in doing so. “Where have manners gone? We have not yet introduced ourselves proper! How unkind of me!” He then placed a hoof on his chest. “I am Zable. And this…” He pointed towards the filly now gazing at the collection of flora on the kitchen table. “... is young sister, Ayana.” He scratched the back of his head nervously. “She not, eh… well spoken in Equestrian yet. Still a learning filly with much growing up to do.” Afterwards turning back to Dirge smiling. “And what of your name?”

Taking another sip of his tea, he replied without hesitation. “Dirge.”

“Hmm. Unheard of name.” Zable arched an eyebrow. “Who name you ‘Durg’? Your late elders perhaps?”

Dirge only chuckled at his curiosity. “My father entitled me with that name. Don’t bother thinking too deeply into it.” Though as luck would have it, the unfortunate kind anyway, he thought it was a fitting name for him if one were to look at his afflictions in the past. Something he didn’t particularly like to delve into all that much.

“I see. Then I bother not.” His smile still remaining while looking sympathetic. “And how is tea now?”

His tea now at a more moderate temperature, Dirge took a bigger dose of his drink, sighing in relief afterwards. He smiled with contentment.

“It’s good.”

A day had now passed. Dirge was sleeping soundly in his bed while the zebras were out again. The medicine he took last night had done wonders for relaxing his muscles and helping him sleep without being interrupted by nightmares again. However, he still had to take it easy as his cold remained persistent.

An itch on his nose was getting progressively bothersome. Unconsciously, Dirge scratched the tip of his muzzle. But this caused a burning sensation inside his nostrils. Momentarily waking up to let out a sneeze. Groaning in irritation to his sudden rude awakening.

“Tsk. Dammit.” Sighing in frustration, he closed his eyes and attempted to ease himself back asleep.

Outside of the front door, Dirge could hear Zable in the distance. Apparently making conversation. He assumed it was with his younger sibling, but it didn’t make sense to talk to her in Equestrian and not in their usual native language. That’s when he also heard a stranger’s voice. Their chatter was growing slightly louder by the second as they were approaching the front door.

Dirge was almost taken by surprise as he raised his head a little to see that the doorknob was twisting as it was about to open. After a quick gasp, Dirge laid back down and concealed himself completely with his blanket to avoid detection from the unknown guest.

The door opened. Both Zable and his undisclosed visitor came in and resumed their talk. The latter making themselves heard first.

“I’m tellin’ ya, you’ve been workin’ miracles with this stuff! If I could just make ‘em as well as you do, I wouldn’t need to come by so often buggin’ ya for more!”

It sounded like a pony. A stallion with a southern accent to his tone. Thankfully, he hadn’t noticed Dirge under his cover. All he could do was to silently, as best as he could through his cold, eavesdrop on their chat.

“Tis no trouble at all.” Zable said. “How is you feeling today?”

“Much, much better!” The stranger replied. “Still kinda hurts when I cough ‘n’ such. Think ya can do somethin’ about this here scar? I was kinda hopin’ my fur woulda grown over it by now.”

“Hmm.” Zable paused for a bit before speaking again. “I possess no potent drug for such wound. Apologies. But however, I may know somepony who does! Let me get in touch with contact and you wait until I receive new supply.”

“Aww, really!? Well, why didn’t ya do so earlier!? Thanks a bunch, Zabe!”

Zable chuckled. “Anytime, friend! I still cannot give thanks enough for your family’s generosity of providing me shelter!”

“Aww, shucks. This again? Heheh. I told ya’ll, it wasn’t no problem at all! Figure we could pay ya back for what ya did for us.”

While their conversation went on undisturbed, meanwhile, Dirge felt the need to let out another sneeze. “Eh… uh… !” He inhaled a small amount of air and held it tightly. Then held a hoof to his mouth. Trying his best to maintain himself to prevent his cover from being blown.

“Take these for time being.” Zable said.

“Thanks again, Zabe.” The unknown stallation said. Now sounding like he was trotting away back towards the front door. “Hey, why don’t ya come on back to our place sometime? Looks like we’re gonna have a surplus amount of apples this season. Sure’d be a waste to let ‘em rot in the barn. We’d be happy to give ya a whole batch!”

The door creaked open. Dirge let go of his breath along with a sigh of relief. His bout of tension was almost over.

“It sounds swell!” Zable responded. “Let me finish own work first before I go--”

“AH-CHOO!!”

Dirge cursed his luck. He didn’t anticipate this one sneeze as he barely felt it coming. He shut his mouth with both his hooves and grew angry with himself for making such an amatuer mistake.

“Huh? Hey, ya got company over, Zabe?” The stallion then made hoofsteps towards the bed.

Dirge felt his heart beat increasingly faster as he heard him getting closer. There was no telling what this pony would do if he saw him. It would be bad news for both him and Zable if he found out he was housing a changeling. Their relations could get hurt, or worse, permanently tainted. Worst case being this pony would call the guard on him and have him imprisoned again. And Dirge was in no condition to fight back.

“Oh, it is just patient of mine.” Zable said. “Still not feeling good, so he is resting at moment.”

“Sounds like he’s got a cold.” The stallion then laid a hoof on top of the blanket. “Ya gonna be alright, mister?”

This was it. His life was coming to a close yet again. His revelation short lived. He knew he shouldn’t have trusted this zebra. Things were too good to be true and he was foolish enough to believe in the illusion of hope that transpired between them. At least this time, he could go more peacefully.

“NO!” Zable suddenly shouted back. “Please! Do not disturb his slumber! He need as much rest to aid in his recovery!”

Dirge felt the hoof on top leave him. A sense of relief overcame him again as Zable managed to avert anymore attention from incoming.

“Oh, uh… sorry ‘bout that. Didn’t know he was that sick.” The stallion’s hoofsteps then sounded off back towards the front door. “Hope ya feel better soon, mister! You’re in good care with Zable here, let me tell ya!”

“Aha! You are much too kind!” Zable happily replied.

“Anyway, see ya later, Zabe!” The stallion said as the door closed behind him.

With the visitor now gone, Dirge removed the cover over his head. Zable was looking out the window, waving his hoof as a sign of farewell.

“Who was that?” Dirge asked.

“Oh! Dorje! Thought you went asleep!” Zable said. A little startled to see him up.

“You two didn’t exactly keep your conversation subtle.”

“Ah. Many pardons. Twas only a local friend from town further away.”

Dirge slowly emerged from his bed and sat up. Stretching his back and forehooves as he yawned. “Next time, could you at least warn me in advance if you’re going to have guests over?”

Zable chuckled at this. “I did not figure you to be shy type!”

“It’s not that. It’s just...” On the other hoof, Dirge could play off his cautiousness of ponies as ‘just being shy’. Merely as an excuse for Zable to persuade him away from the real reason. “... I have a difficult time with placing my trust in others.”

“I see.” Zable walked over to Dirge to inspect his current condition. While in doing so, he continued. “But Ayana was same with strangers when we first arrive to Equestria. Took her time first, but after while, she blossom with assertiveness! Then everypony love her!”

He wasn’t anywhere near a filly’s level of trust or innocence, but Dirge could see what he was trying to get at. If only ponies and changelings didn’t harbor hostility towards each other at first sight, then it would be a whole other effort for him. He sighed disappointingly.

Zable looked at him with a hint of sadness in his expression. “Why a glum face, Dorje?”

Ignoring his actual concern, Dirge shifted his attention to his bandages and tried scratching at the ones wrapped around his chest. “Would you mind taking these off now?”

“Whatever for? Do your wounds not still ache?” Zable looked worried at first.

“No. The rough texture on these have been irritating the exposed, sensitive layer of my chitin. That, and they were wrapped a little too tight for comfort.”

“Well, if it is as you say, then I will gladly help to lessen the burdens.” Smiling, he helped Dirge remove his gauzes.

Keeping the bandages on his horn, however, Dirge still had a minor headache leftover and didn’t bother to remove those. But he thought of one useful way to ease the pain.

“Would you happen to have anymore of that tea? I could go for another serving.”

Zable nodded. “Of course.”

One week later

A short length of time had gone by while Dirge had finally recuperated from his cold and weak state from when he first awoke after his sudden death. He hadn’t noticed how long it had been until Zable reminded him of the current date. Throughout his stay, he managed to survive on whatever rations Zable had spared him. Whether it was meals from his vegetarian diet or the medium amount of emotional adoration the zebras passively gave off and absorbed into energy. He took just enough to satiate a little of his hunger and never to a point where Zable would notice a thing. Neither were very filling, but granted, he was thankful, if not lucky, for the contributions he received nonetheless.

Having a broken horn had a silver lining to it after all. It meant he didn’t have to exhaust as much energy for the usual, everyday tasks changelings would normally undergo and left him with spare vigor for other activities. Even though the downsides heavily outweighed this minor positivity, he would just have to learn to live with it from now on. This, along with a flightless pair of wings, would prove to be a challenge in his life’s later trials.

Dirge was currently outside the back of the cabin sitting on a stump near a garden surrounded by a split rail wooden fence. It was aligned with a variety of edible fruits, flowers, and herbs Zable used for his remedies. He was in the middle of sharpening the top of a thin, broad tree branch and carving it with a knife while watching Ayana picking berries from the bushes in the yard.

Zable approached Dirge from the side and came equipped with a saddlebag and wore a cone shaped straw hat. “Dorje, feeling much better now than yesterday, I hope?”

Dirge nodded and smiled softly. “As good as I’m going to get for now.”

Zable returned the gesture. “Am pleased to hear.” He then looked at the sharp object in Dirge’s hooves. “What is stick for?”

“Fishing.” Dirge said.

“With sticks and stones?” Zable chuckled. “Your tribe have unusual ways and delicacies! Not to put offense, of course.”

“Heh. None taken.” Dirge paused for a moment and looked at Zable. “Going somewhere?”

“Ah, yes. I will be gone for brief while into town to make important delivery.” Zable then looked towards his sister in the garden. “If you may grant me favor, can you watch after Ayana? I trust you keep her company under my absence?”

Dirge didn’t have any babysitting experience, but since this was a request from somebody who had already done so much for him, he couldn’t simply turn it down. “Sure. I’ll keep watch over her.”

“Thank you much. I try to be quick!” Zable then shouted some incomprehensible dialogue towards Ayana, then waved each other goodbye as he turned away and left.

Continuing with his work, Dirge was just about done with his homemade spear. He inspected the sharp end once more before deciding that it was good enough for what he was going to use it for. Grabbing the knife’s handle with his mouth, he headed towards the tool shed closeby and opened the door, entering inside. He put the knife back where it was on a bench and looked around for anything else that may prove useful. At the corner of his eye, he spotted something.

“Hmm. So, that’s where those went.” It was the very ropes that were used to bind him during his fall. They looked somewhat worn, but fortunately, it also still seemed sturdy. An idea sparked in his mind. This time, they were going to be put to better use.

Stepping back outside with the ropes in tow, he returned to sit back down on the stump and tied them to the opposite end of his spear. Fastening both two ends to make it so it was long enough for him to reel in.

Finished with his little project and looking satisfied, Dirge got up from his seat and trotted towards Ayana, who was now just eating the berries out of her basket. He gently nudged her shoulder and she looked up to him curiously.

“How about some exercise?” He motioned his head towards the nearby river. “Come. Maybe you’ll learn something.”

Dirge took the lead, but saw Ayana still standing there looking at him. Sometimes he forgets she doesn’t speak the same language as he does, so the only method of communication between them was limited through signals and action. Trying again, Dirge extended his hoof and waved towards himself and then towards the direction of the river. Obeying this time, Ayana got up and followed.

Upon reaching the stream, Dirge took a moment to ponder how he survived through his ordeal. Maybe it really was extraordinary luck after all. Or maybe there was some mysterious entity out there taking mercy on him. Or perhaps he actually was dead and this was the afterlife he was sentenced to.

After a minute of daydreaming, Dirge shook his head and snapped himself back to reality. Returning his gaze towards the river, he scanned around for any fish that may be swimming by. Today had been a good day so far as he caught wind of some in the deeper middle.

Taking his spear to hoof, he stepped into the shallow water and looked back at Ayana still standing on dry land. “Watch.” Dirge said. Hoping the filly could at least understand this much.

He raised his weapon and took aim at a trout that looked the biggest out of the other fish swimming alongside it. Within seconds of waiting for the right moment, he lunged and threw his spear. Reeling it in with the rope he still held onto his hoof.

He had caught one, indeed. However, when he checked the end of his spear, it didn’t look all that big. Either he missed his target or the underwater image of the fish fooled him into thinking it was of decent size. Nonetheless, it was still food.

He removed the small trout from the tip, still alive and flapping its tail. Dirge tilted his head upwards, opened his mouth wide and stuck out his tongue. Holding the fish by its tail fin above himself. About to devour his freshly caught prey until he noticed Ayana still watching. He closed his mouth and held out the fish towards her as a sign of sharing.

She didn’t look interested and merely turned her attention to a butterfly hovering above her and towards a patch of flowers behind her. Dirge sighed at her lack of observation in teaching her something he thought was a valuable skill. He reopened his mouth to eat his catch and shortly dropped it down into his gullet. Swallowing it whole.

Looking down at the river again, he immediately sighted another fish. This one looked much bigger than the others. He raised his spear again and took aim. Momentarily launching it forward and pulling it back. No catch this time as he missed his target. “Tsk.” He grunted in frustration as he looked back to Ayana still sitting there. Fortunately paying attention this time. “Patience is key.” He said while he readied himself to strike again.

Throwing the spear with a little more readiness and precision, he finally caught his prey. Dirge grinned at the victory of catching a sizable salmon. Now walking back out of the water and sitting next to Ayana. He licked his lips as he stared at his prize he held in his hooves. Before he began to dig into his meal, Dirge tried to offer Ayana another sample of fish. “Care for a bite?”

Ayana looked at the fish in his hooves stretched out to her and understood this gesture as his bid of splitting his food with her. Arching her eyebrow, she shook her head in disinterest.

“Suit yourself.” Dirge shrugged before instantly sinking his teeth into his food and taking a good chunk of meat into his mouth. Chewing it swift and steadily before gulping down his first bite. “You’re missing out on some good nutrition, you know.” He said to Ayana before taking another bite.

She wasn’t very impressed with his eating habit and stuck out her tongue in disgust. Not to mention he had blood and bits of flesh dripping out from his mouth. Deciding not to stick around watching Dirge stuff his face, she turned to leave to observe the butterflies on the patch of flowers she saw earlier.

Dirge saw her walking away and yelled out to her after swallowing another portion of his meal. “Ayana! Stay within sight!” Hoping she would stay near him and not into the forest beyond her position.

Dirge continued to consume the salmon until there was nothing left but bones, save for its head and tail. He felt full for the first time in quite a while, though the same couldn’t be said for his other ‘stomach’ still in need of the other nourishment. Granted, this would slow down his need for it while he digests the current meal.

He disposed of the fish carcass and laid down to relax. Head rested on his forehooves. Thinking about his newfound freedom and how he’s going to manage from now on without a hive to fall back to. Coming to terms with his present condition and how he was living now, he couldn’t see a sustainable future living with Zable. His hunger would only grow if he solely fed on his fragments of love he willingly offered and he’d have to leave eventually to seek better sustenance.

Suddenly, he perked his ears up when he had just heard a shriek coming from far off in the distance. When he turned to see if Ayana was where she was last seen, she was nowhere to be found. “Ayana?” Dirge quickly stood up to check his surroundings to search for her until he heard another scream crying out. This time, it was sounding off from the forest. The one place he hoped she wouldn’t wander off to. “Ayana!!” He saved the blame on his incompetence for later and grabbed the spear, holding it in his mouth. Running towards the forest to rescue her from impending harm.

Sprinting through countless shrubbery and recovering as fast as he could through trips in his steps, he hurried to the source of the loud crying. There was no time to stop for anything and wouldn’t forgive himself if he found her dead. More needless weight that would pile up onto his conscience.

Passing through another set of bushes, he finally found her. Unfortunately, she was ambushed by a pack of four timberwolves. One of them had her pinned down while it was pulling on her ponytail and the others surrounded her. It was about to sink its jaws into her throat.

Sparing no opportunity to give them the chance to do further injury to their prey, Dirge pounced from the bushes and held his spear high. Aiming it towards the timberwolf on her and throwing it with as much force as he could. He landed a strike on its torso. The wolf barked in surprise while the rest barely noticed the attack.

Dirge reeled in the spear along with the wolf. He turned around quickly to buck it with his hind hooves in midair. It fell to pieces immediately after being struck. The other three snarled and took this as a threat and focused their attention primarily on the changeling now. One stayed behind to keep watch over the zebra filly while the other two charged to attack.

Dirge anticipated their moves and stood on his hind legs. As soon as the first timberwolf came into range, he grabbed it by its wooden claws as it jumped in the air at him. He did a quick spin with the wolf held onto his hooves to gain momentum and slammed it into the second one that followed suit. Both were reduced to a pile of rubble.

With only one of them left standing, the timberwolf near Ayana was stepping back, growling, as Dirge approached it slowly. He bared his fangs and glared daggers at it with his spear held high again. He threw it right in front of the creature’s way and it barked back by being startled. Intentionally missing as a warning to back off.

“Get lost, cub.” Dirge threatened one last time before the timberwolf eventually ran away into the deeper section of the forest.

Ayana was still crying from her fear of what had just happened, but looked a little stunned from Dirge’s attempt at disposing the threats and rescuing her.

“These beasts are more fragile than they appear.” Dirge said as he checked to make sure none of them were still looming around. He then turned to Ayana, with a calmer expression now, who was trying to stop herself from weeping. “Dry those tears. The danger has passed.” Gently taking a hoof to her cheeks to wipe away her leftover teardrops.

She spoke up softly in her native language, but of course, Dirge was oblivious to it. Though not to her tone in which she pleaded with. Ayana mentioned Zable’s name somewhere in her speech and Dirge guessed it meant he would probably know about this event if told.

Dirge smiled lightly and placed a hoof behind her back. “He doesn’t need to know.”

Ayana took his smile as reassurance that she would be alright. Now seemingly more tranquil.

“Let’s head back before he arrives and figures out we’re gone.” He said as both of them were heading out of the forest and back to the cabin.

Much later that day, the sun was setting and the crickets were now starting to chirp in the background. Zable had still not returned from his trip. Meanwhile, Dirge overlooked Ayana in the garden from his spot sitting on the same stump. He was getting curious as to why Zable was taking his time getting back. Hopefully, nothing had gone wrong and shook his head to clear off his pessimistic thoughts from taking over.

His worry was soon put to rest as he heard hoofsteps and an energetic “Hello!” from behind. It was indeed Zable and he looked optimistic as ever, carrying a large basket of apples on the opposite side of his saddlebag. Ayana came rushing towards him happily and the two hugged.

“Sorry to take long.” Zable said to Dirge. “What once was brief turned to many other things!” He chuckled nervously. “Please accept these as apology. Apples from recent harvest! They very tasteful!” Grabbing a ripe, red apple from his basket and giving to Dirge.

Dirge had already replenished himself earlier and wasn’t very interested in eating more vegetarian food so soon again. Instead, he hoofed it over to Ayana. Trying once more to share his food. She happily obliged and took it with her hooves. Taking a bite of the juicy apple and smiled at his gesture.

“Thank you for kindness, Dorje. But… you not like?” Zable asked. Looking slightly worried.

“I’m good. Save some for another time.” Dirge said.

Zable nodded. “If you must insist then.”

The zebras then emanated more ounces of redeemable emotion, which Dirge breathed in passively and carefully absorbed. It wasn’t plentiful, but he had to admit, it tasted better than what he had in a long while. Even by the hive’s standards, he considered it quite the delicious treat.

“Shall we retire for evening? Journey here has made me exhausted.” Zable said with Dirge nodding in agreement.

The three headed inside as the day was coming to a close. The night sky overshadowing the last of the setting sun’s light with the moon glowing brightly by the hour. The lone abode separated from the town afar turning off the last of its lights before its residents finally fell to sleep.

Dirge was wandering around the woods during an unexpected fog. The paths before him were almost too difficult to see with so much haze clouding his way.

He could’ve sworn he had seen another changeling running off to the area ahead of him and was currently tracking it down. The job was harder without hoofprints on the ground to trace since all of it was covered in leaves and tall grass. He stopped for a moment to listen closely for anymore movement. Suddenly, he heard rattling from the bushes northeast of his position. He eyed them closely while walking cautiously towards it. That’s when a black figure popped out and ran away into the shadows at lightning fast speed.

“Hey! Wait!” Dirge took chase and followed as fast as he could.

For sure he had gotten lost by now in this maze of endless trees with every turn he made into the foggy abyss. Stopping again in the middle of his chase to catch his breath and listen for anymore sounds. He perked up his ears when he heard a familiar, playful laughter that came from his left.

“It couldn’t be…?” Dirge ran off again to the source of the voice.

As he was supposedly getting closer, there were more echoes heard in the distance. They faded from laughter, into crying, and lastly into shouting. Hastily passing through another set of bushes, he paused when he spotted a pack of timberwolves in front of him.

They were apparently attacking the changeling Dirge saw earlier with their constant biting and slashing of their claws. But when he took a closer look at their victim, it was the one he thought to be long dead.

“Ozzie!” Dirge yelled in realization. He hissed at the timberwolves who had his friend in captivity. “Let go of him!”

They turned to look at him. Though they did not falter when they set their sights on Dirge. What they did instead was laugh at him like wild hyenas.

It confused Dirge as this wasn’t the expected reaction he received. Eerily, he was filled with the dread of anxiety he hadn’t felt in a long time when their pitch in laughter evolved into voices of prepubescent youth.

A beaten Ozzie crawled away from the timberwolves’ grips and pointed a wobbly hoof to Dirge. “B-behind… you…”

Dirge turned his head when he barely noticed a shadow lurking behind him. He widened his eyes and gasped when he saw a timberwolf holding a large rock above him. Before he could even react, the stone was dropped onto him. Blacking out with a painful force to his head.

Dirge arose from his bed in a panic. Panting for breath and his heart still beating in terror from his nightmare.

“Dorje? Dorje! What is the matter?” Zable quickly came to him placing a hoof to his back. “More unpleasant dreams?”

Another headache had befallen unto Dirge. Sighing in displeasure then placing a hoof to his head and tried to rub away the pain.

“Pace yourself, friend.” Zable said, patting Dirge on the back. “Mayhap some tea with breakfast will calm your nerves?”

There was an enticing smell in the air of food being cooked. This gave Dirge a slight boost of energy to leave his bed and onto the table in the middle of the living room. He sat opposite of Ayana who was also awaiting the morning meal. It didn’t help his mood much when he had to expect that none of it was of any delectable meat like yesterday’s lunch. Zable came back to the table with a plate filled with apple slices and toast set next to Ayana.

Moments later, Zable came back again with his own breakfast while Dirge got the same meal as the zebras with an additional cup of green tea. They both began to eat while Dirge stared at his food in melancholy. His thoughts running around in his mind again and trying to piece them together.

Thinking about yesterday’s speculation on his current life, he had to make a decision on whether he should prolong his stay here or move out entirely. Like he had mentioned to himself, there wasn’t much benefit from these two zebras anymore and he didn’t want to force them to give him more than what he was already given. Plus, the likelihood of his friend Ozzie still alive out there sparked a bit of hope. Indeed, there was a tough road ahead for one such as him in a land filled with dangers possessed by those he worked against before if he decided to tread the path of risks along the way. If and when he found his friend, their odds of survival would increase. Along with a brighter future, he wouldn’t care about anything else.

“I’ve decided.” Dirge said.

“Hmm? What you mean?” Zable asked.

Dirge sighed. “I… must leave. Far away from here. Find my own refuge and reason to live.”

Zable looked saddened by his sudden response. “But… you not content here with us? I would not mind extra help around--”

“Listen.” Dirge said standing up away from the table. “I’m very grateful for all that you’ve done for me. I truly am. However, personal circumstances wouldn’t permit me to allow myself to go on like this. I’ve…” He looked away from Zable and to the window on his left. “... other reasons for my departure. Please understand.”

Zable didn’t answer for a brief moment until he frowned and closed his eyes in disappointment. “I cannot let you go…”

“Pardon?” Dirge raised an eye at him.

Zable opened his eyes again and smiled. “Not unprepared, of course!”

Dirge remained baffled by his response as Zable got up and walked towards a wicker chest on the other side of the room. “Come here for minute!” He said while Dirge complied.

He was busy digging around his storage looking for who knows what. Shortly, he pulled out what looked to be a blanket of fur in a color of a light shade of brown. Although it appeared to be a large pelt made of some sort of animal.

“Father was famous hunter back in homeland. This he gave to me when very young.” Zable draped the fur over Dirge’s back. “Use it during cold nights.”

Dirge examined the fur pelt on him. It was of decent size, comfortable and covered most of his scars, but the lower half of his legs were still exposed. Zable continued his search inside his storage until he pulled out a worn saddlebag.

“Bag may have… eh, seen better days. But it have served me well before!” He hoofed it over before scrambling through his contents again.

“And this…” Zable held a strange pendant in his hoof. “... to help with repelling away your bad dreams.” He placed it around Dirge’s neck. “Gift from buffalo folk. Call it ‘dream catcher’. Say it brings peace during slumber.”

“I…” Dirge looked over his accessories in uncertainty. He didn’t expect more charity from his zebra friend, but his generosity knew no bounds. Thinking of how to express his gratitude better, all he could mutter was a simple: “Thank you.”

“Think nothing of it!” Zable said “However, I still cannot let you go.”

“Huh?” Dirge said looking confused again.

“Not on empty belly, of course!”

“Hmph.” Dirge smiled softly.

Later that morning, the three were outside the cabin standing beside the front door. Their breakfast session now over with, the zebras were saying their goodbyes to their changeling friend.

“Visit town ahead. They may give further aid to you as well.” Zable said pointing to the direction ahead of the road.

Dirge shook his head and frowned. “I doubt that.”

Zable walked up to him and placed a hoof on his shoulder with a reassuring smile. “Please. Give them chance. I was strange guest like you once.”

He was still in doubt. The local ponies would most likely not be fond of him the same way Zable was. Speaking of, he went back inside for a quick moment before stepping out with his straw hat and placed it on Dirge’s head. It covered his eyes and, thankfully, his broken horn. He tipped it up to adjust his point of view.

“Have this. Say you have my blessings!” Zable said.

“Thank you.” Dirge bowed his head to express his gratitude. “For everything.”

“Farewell, friend. And good luck!” Zable waved his hoof to him as goodbye.

As Dirge turned away to leave, he felt a tug on his fur cape. He looked back to see Ayana holding him back, looking sad. And as fast as she could, she ran away towards the back. Possibly to the garden, though it was unknown what her intent was. She came back briefly with a flower in her mouth.

“Ah, she want to bestow you with good fortune! White lily is symbol of luck in our homeland!” Zable said.

Ayana held the lily with her hoof to give to the departee and smiled as she finally spoke with comprehensible words. “Gud luck!”

Dirge smiled back and took the the flower. Putting it away in his saddlebag equipped on his side. He placed a hoof over her head and rubbed gently. “Likewise.”

With their farewells done after one last wave of his hoof, Dirge turned away to leave for his destination ahead. Unclear of what his future holds, he proceeded with his head held high. Now ready to face his challenges with a new sense of faith. Relying on his instincts to guide him along the way as his only compass.

His long journey had just begun.