Dealing with Derps and Dinos

Thud. THUD. THUD!

The alarming reverberations from the nearness of the ground-shaking footsteps jolted the two sleeping mares awake. Whatever terrible beast occupied the cave had apparently risen from its slumber and was now making its way back to the outside world.

The pegasi hurriedly scrambled out past the mouth of the cave and took cover only a few short seconds before the horrifying hydra-like beast emerged from its dwelling. The mares had scarcely evaded its attack once before, but a second fight could prove much less promising, especially with the advent of Dash’s injuries.

Dash’s wings were secured under the makeshift bandages, rendering her temporarily incapable of flight and Derpy was nowhere near the skill (or strength) of Dash. Taking these facts into account, the two decide to hoof it, as it were (after the beast had receded further into the thick underbrush, of course).

As they pressed on deeper into the jungle, the growling of large Sauro-Equestrian creatures lessened in volume until, finally, the air became eerily silent. The occasional, crack of a twig or rustle of leaves would snap the Pegasus’s attention to a particular section of scrub, but, ultimately, proved (more often than not) to be the byproduct of careless hoof placement. Still, neither Dash nor Derpy could shake the feeling of being watched.

It wouldn’t be unheard of, seeing as they were the most vulnerable and least threatening souls out in this section of the forest, but the very prospect of being… vulnerable… was very disheartening.

The brush thickened as Dash and Derpy pushed their way through the foliage. Eventually, it became too thick to step over and the mares were forced to make due with physically moving the low hanging branches out of the way with their hooves.

A twig snapped. This definitely could not have been from them. The sound had come from far behind them. They were being followed. Dash knew it. Derpy knew it. The creature behind them was probably aware of their alertness to its presence.

Dash parted the limbs of another bush as they prepared to walk through.

SNAP!

A pair of long, slender jaws emerged from the bush and snapped the top portion of Dash’s right ear clean off. Dash backed off as she and Derpy stared at the yellow, snakelike eyes that peered out from the bushes.

Slowly, the creature emerged from the underbrush, the missing half of Dash’s ear held firmly in its mouth. The creature was about twice as tall as the average pony and, although it had the jerkish gait of a chicken, it’s tough scales and long tail seemed to be that of a dragon.

It tossed its head back, sending the piece of ear sailing into the air briefly before falling back down towards earth and into its gullet. It swallowed whole and didn’t even bother to chew.

Long, sharp talons inched closer towards the Pegasi as they stepped back cautiously. Unlike the stubbly legged, long necked creatures Dash had observed the day before, this thing looked fast, and deadly.

Dash leaned her head slightly towards Derpy, making sure not to let the creature leave her sight.

“We run on three” she instructed.

Derpy nervously nodded in the affirmative as a tight knot formed in her throat.

“One” Dash began.

The creature took another step.

“Two”.

It was closer now.

“Three”!

The pegasi sped off in the opposite direction full speed, goading the ‘ear eater’ to give chase. It lifted its long snout into the air and sounded out a high-pitched, guttural noise. It was incredibly fast. Even with the pegasi sprinting at top speeds, the creature was still close behind them and was approaching closer.

Dash and Derpy banked left, throwing the creature off for a moment, but soon it was right next to them. Derpy ducked and narrowly missed the beast’s snapping jaws. They made another sharp left, but the creature was on their left.

“Come on!” Dash cried out exasperated.

True, it was on their left, but it was on their right as well. There were two of them! The pegasi put on the breaks and turned tail, but another beast was waiting for them down that path. The pegasi made another one-eighty but still, another of the creatures was waiting for them.

They were coming out of the woodwork, steadily increasing in number. Four, five, six, seven. Seven creatures in total closed in around the helpless ponies.

“Get out of here!” Rainbow exclaimed to Derpy as she tried to toss her into the air.

“Nu’uh” Derpy replied defiantly. “I won’t leave you here Dashie”!

As much as Rainbow would have liked to buck Derpy halfway to Canterlot, she knew that she was no match for the creatures alone. Maybe, together, they had a shot.

An eighth monster pushed its way into the pack. It was slightly bigger than the others and definitely had the traits and air of an alpha. Dash was genuinely afraid. Her knees knocked together.

She felt a hoof reach over and take her own. Derpy embraced her even here. Whatever was to come next, Rainbow knew that they would endure the excruciating pain or horrible disfigurement together. It was comforting.

“We’re not afraid of you!” Dash screamed at the top of her lungs.

The alpha cocked his head to the side before bringing his razor sharp claw down on their heads. The mares winced.

However, the claw passed through them, straight through them. There was not a scratch on their body. The alpha swung again and, again, the same results. Monstrous jaws bore down on the ponies’ bodies but to no avail.

“What’s going on Dashie” Derpy asked.

For a moment Dash pondered the possibility that they were all ready deceased but quickly dismissed the idea as she took notice of the fact that the creatures could still see them.

“The spell must be wearing off” Dash pondered out loud.

“What spell?” Derpy asked.

“The time traveling spell”.

Dash thought for a moment.

“Wait. The spell is wearing off. The spell is wearing off”!

The rainbow Pegasus was practically leaping up and down.

“Derpy!” she exclaimed happily as she embraced the grey mare. “We’re going home”!

And just like that, there was a brilliant flash of light and naught more was left but the ravenous crew of confused carnivores still snapping at air in the middle of the hot, humid jungle.