The caste that binds us

"Here's hoping at least something there's gonna fill you up." The man let his eyes drift off past the small campfire to the yellow furred equine laid out on it's side. Seemingly asleep, a small assortment of fruits and greenery lay before it's muzzle.

"Less you go and die on me." His eyes tracing along it's body and across the lightly stained bandages wrapped around it's side and wing, Whatever the hell you are. Distant howling letting him know that nothing be free, especially when taking a claimed meal from what he called demon dogs.

He casually throws a few more small pieces of timber into the fire just as something scurries up his back without him even acting surprised, but perhaps annoyed. The object perches upon his shoulder, using it's tiny claws to grab hold of the man's ear in order to get his attention, which it does to the entirely disgruntled stare of the now turned head.

"Don't you ever sleep?" The man gives the small furry creature a once over, "Squirrel". His response comes the same way it did the day before and as so for the last month with two wet acorns plopping onto his shoulder. "At first I thought I was just getting crazier but I'm starting to finally believe that you're making fun of me somehow." His head turns back to the fire with his eyes locking onto it's reflection instead.

Fear. Is the first thought that comes to the man as he stares into the unexpected teal eyes of the equine he rescued from the demon dogs. He needn't move his eyes to catch the signs of anxiety nor the instinctual act of trying to look as small as possible. Yet just as it started, the breathing started to slow and it slowly, but surely, seemed to start stretching back out. Well that was quick he thought until his eyes shifted to his shoulder, and the rampant chatter directed not to him, but the injured creature.

Reserving himself to part furniture part spectator, he shifts his head somewhere in between the two in order to keep watch in more subtle ways. His eyes shift between speaker and listener after having decided to let his brain partially shut down once the squirrel started doing charades. The yellow furred equine let out a small gasp, or that is what his brain tried to grasp towards, just as it had when he heard a girl scream before he found it.

With teal once more connecting with brown, if he hadn't already let preconceptions fall to the wayside he might of flinched when it smiled. If he spoke he didn't know what he would say. If he smiled he highly doubt his would come across nearly as warm or not forced. Instead he slowly closed his eyes and dripped his head in unison, letting his lapse in defense and awareness show his gesture of mutual trust.

"Leave it to a demon dog to greedily take in weakness what was given in trust." The man calmly states, much to the widening eyes of the yellow creature as the snarls begin just beyond the edge of campfire light. While both the squirrel and equine seemed entirely focused on the yellow eyes shining from the fire's light, brown were instead on the red stains of the bandages. "They're gonna keep hunting you down."

He takes notice of it craning it's neck to look upon it's own bandaged side, sniffing the bandage before looking back into the concealing dense flora. It knows what they're after, and could not help but wonder what it would do next. He could do little to conceal the surprise in his face as it seemed to try and put some distance between it and himself. While their eyes no longer met, he shifted his towards what it's were fixed on, and watched as yellow followed teal. It's trying to lead them away?

He nary lands a thought of the sheer lunacy in the situation before he is forced to come back to reality, his hand going pale from the amount of pressure needed to squeeze whatever material the demons dogs were made of. He gives quarter for only a second before tightening his grasp once more as the yellow equine begins to stand back up from falling, a demon dog struggling to escape after it's instinctual lunge.

His eyes narrow before the struggling yelps begin to dim, only to feel the pressure of two spots on his side. Looking over his vision is eclipsed by two large teal eyes, watery and balls forming as they shift from his towards the dimming yellow of it's would be killer, and finally back to his own. "You would ask that I spare it even when it would not grant the same?!" his voice stern with the ridge between his eyes poised only for the equine to lightly push back with it's hooves on his side and then reapply as tears started to flow.

"I don't know whether to consider you kindness incarnate," shifting his eyes back to the ever brightening yellow glow, "or suicidal." sparing the demon dog's life through throwing it with mild force back into the underbrush. He then reaches down and picks up, while it's utmost standing height reaching up to his abdomen, the surprisingly light equine and and gently places it over where he had been sitting. He reaches down and grabs some of the fruits and places it in front of it. "Eat."

The equine seems to carefully scan the various objects before it's stubby muzzle, letting it's eyes hang on what he could only describe as a reinforced coconut, before settling on something like a kiwi instead. "Hopefully not as bitter as the ones back home." Only barely able to stifle a snicker as a bitter expression even constricts the equine's eyes shut. "Guess not."

He once more takes his seat by the fire, his ears perking to the small random cracks and crunches moving farther away as the ones he can feel in his encased feet come ever closer. Torn and tattered through rough terrain and no proper material to repair, he reaches down towards a carrying sack that bares only a ripped insignia laid also on his shoulder plate for something as the equine also takes notice of an encroach.

"Stay calm." He does his best at a kind tone, which much to his surprise seems to work as the equine seems more interested in the contents of his sack. "Just looking for the toll fee." His rummaging causing the equine's ears to flicker with a tilted head before he pulls something wrapped in a giant leaf. "Here we go." only to look up and over past the equine who then turns it's head.

He never knew how to describe it beyond just calling it a lion. Having encountered quite a few during the past several months he knew this one was long in it's years, and territory. While never one to submit he was also never one to stay where he wasn't welcomed, and through the fish he unfolds from the leaf in his hand, his presence was tolerated.

Yet before he could do his normal toss and catch with his furry landlord his eyes widened to the smaller equine getting up and moving over to it without a care. His mind yelled to pull it back while his instincts easily overpowered and forced him to stay put. Much like equine and squirrel, lion and equine seemed more than amiable with the long sloppy lick and subtle purring. The moment, less cute and just downright disturbing to him, didn't last long when both peered back to him.

"More I see and hear the less I wanna understand." His fingers grasp tempo to tempo as he gives a light groan, the hot breath on his forearm taunting his concealed eyes. No sooner does his hand lower is his entire face enveloped in the mane of the lion, roughly grinding the side of it's neck over the side of his head. Leaving a renowned case of bed head and a near brain shattered empty gaze, the lion leans down and takes it's supposed payment, leaving from whence it came with nary a sound.

"What in blue hell." He whispers, his hand grasped still over his mouth as if in mock shock with the only sounds that of a girlish giggle and a cackling squirrel. They both quiet down when he takes both hands and slaps the front of his head, letting the palms massage that which has yet to fully process even the first month here. His massage is interrupted with a gentle tug.

"He marked you so that the other manticores know not to attack you." The equine says in a hush feminine voice, her ears flicking as she tries once again to get the creature's attention, "Oh I hope he didn't get anything in your eyes."

"How." His voice struggling to find the right tone to convey the sheer confusion that now takes hold.

"How what?" the equine questions back.

"How are we speaking the same?" letting his index finger switch between them a few times.

"Animals are my special talent." she casually, but not callously, informs him. "It allows me to talk to and understand them, and they me." Having sensed his concerns, "You're still speaking the same as you always have so don't worry."

Taking a deep breath, he slowly lets it out as the equine before him patiently waits. "Sounds like magic." he grumbles under his breath, the flattening of the equine's ears showing little is lost in translation, "I'm Joseph." extending his hand.

Deciding to let the subject rest for now, "My name is Fluttershy." she extends her hoof as he takes hold, giving a gentle shake. "Are all of your species like you?" letting her eyes move about as she takes in all that he is.

"Quite the loaded question there." His lips unable to hold back the slight smile at finally having something to talk to again, "Which I will answer by the time we are able to get you back to your own kind." before adding, "I've only been here three to five months but I've never seen anything such as yourself in this forest."

"Ponies don't come this far into the forest." she softly remarks as a hint of guilt aligns her muzzle, "I came here trying to find a special flower so that Zecora could make a cure." tiny beads beginning to form in her eyes before she wipes her foreleg across them. "But I got hurt and couldn't fly away when the timber wolves chased me."

"Timber wolves? If you mean those dog like creatures I've just been calling them demon dogs." he gives no effort to hide his distaste, "They're the only things so far in this forest that I've seen kill just to kill." shaking his head, "Ain't like the rest in here."

"Twilight told me that they're closer to elementals than animals and is why I can't communicate with them." she attempts answers only to beg more questions, "Twilight is one of my best friends who lives in the library at Ponyville." upon even more.

Putting the growing mountain of questions away until later, he tries to focus on something that spoke of more importance, "You said you were looking for a special flower for a cure?" looking Fluttershy over, "Are you sick?"

"It's my little angel." she lowers her muzzle, "He's very sick and if we can't find a cure for him he won't..." tears running down and off her muzzle, "They said it's gone now so I came deeper but then I got hurt and..and.." the words she refused to accept forced to the very tip of her tongue before she feels gentle pressure press over her backside.

"What does the flower look like?" his voice, almost entirely different than anything he'd used prior, catches her entirely off guard as if something new had just talked to her. She seems to fumble with her words before his sets the stage once more, "Take your time."

"I-It's wh-white with light blue h-highlights on the tulip tips and center." her eyes closed as to recite what she had forced herself to memorize with very little time before rushing into the forest, "I-in the lunar light it.."

"Illuminates in a turquoise shimmer?" His interruption making her eyes fling open along with putting her two front hooves on his knee's to heave herself up and closer, emotion overtaking her normally timid nature or current injury. "You've seen it?!"

Putting aside his normally aversion to such lack of personal space, "There was some near a waterfall some ways from the way I came. With a steady pace we can reach it and be back here in maybe four rotations." his index pointing up to the brightening sky.

"Oh..." she slowly climbs back down in seeming defeat as her demeanor returns to what it had been, "He..only has three...eeep!" her startled cry erupting from Joseph suddenly standing up. "I-I-I'm s-sorry.." thinking she had done something wrong only to watch as he reaches one arm after the other behind the opposite shoulder, letting the think carpet on his back drop to the ground.

Her curiosity gets the better of her with her moving around only to watch him start tearing wide shreds of the colorful fabric. "What is that and why are you tearing it?" the closest thing she could compare it to was expensive gowns that nopony would ever purposely rip.

"It's called a cape. Where I'm from it's often used to bare the insignia of one's nation." his words barely audible over the loud shearing of the thick fabric, "This one bore my family house." his leaning back allowing her eyes to clearly make out the symbol.

"Then why would you destroy it..." her words are soft and cautious, while not having sensed any anger the current actions of her new found friend somewhat frightening her nonetheless in regards to something so personal.

"Because if we're going to make it there and back in two days we need to go faster than your injury will allow you to." the next tear finally ripping next to the symbol. "And while back home I would surely get laughed at until the end of time, I need to make you a improvised saddle if I am to carry you without injuring you further." pausing just before the tear is about to split the symbol in half, "Besides if I save it in spite of what's in front of me then I don't deserve to wear it." with the final tear giving him what he needs.

Her teal eyes wander over the torn stretches as Joseph searches around for adequate timber before slowly narrowing. "I still don't understand." she openly asks, not really expecting the kind of answer about to be given.

"A pony trying to lead away predators while injured, only to plead for their lives when they considered her own forfeit." his tone reminding her of Rainbow Dash when stating the obvious, "Should learn to accept being dealt what she herself deals out." Going to work using the straps, long and short timber, and a few pieces of vine he finished his saddle, "Might have to laugh at myself though."

Her raised hoof, as if back in flight camp, is solemnly ignored as instead Joseph walks over and takes a look at her bandages. "Going to change these with one of the last fresh ones that I have on me okay?" He gives her only enough time to nod halfway before he quickly, but carefully, changes old into fresh with the former left on the ground.

He walks over to the now smoldering fire, digging deep with his foot dig down to the damp soil several feet around it before going back to his improvised saddle. Looping the straps around his shoulders and waist, "We better start moving or else we'll not make it there before end of the coming nightfall."

While hesitant, both before and then once she realized she had to somewhat prop her front forelegs over his shoulders to get comfortable, she pushed all aside if it would save her little angel. "I'm readyyyeeeeeeeee!"

Several hours later;

On any given day she would lavish soaring at such speeds. Doing airborne flips, zips, and rolls whole not having a care in Equestria. But for one cyan pegasus the day wasn't just any given day, nor were her eyes up in the clouds, but down towards the thick forest below as she had been since the sun first crept above the rise on her second day in the one place she didn't wanna be.

"Where the hay are you Fluttershy." Rainbow Dash grumbled in agitation wrapped in worry. Her mind started to roll back to the day before, when she and her other friends had went to Fluttershy's cottage to support her after Twilight delivered the news the day prior. But you weren't there her thoughts raced like they did into the forest, to Zercora's as they assumed she had made a last ditch effort. But you still weren't there. Her eyes narrowing at herself when her other friend's cried out for her to wait as she took to the skies and haven't looked back since.

Her internal conflict becomes clouded like her vision as light puffs of smoke smolder above the distant tree tops. She holds back any thought of victory as she descends below the canopy, letting her instincts take over less any timber wolves or manticores are nearby. When satisfied of her surroundings she soars further down, drifting in and about each thick trunk until the smoke's origin comes into full view, much to her instant worry.

"Timber wolves, Manticores, and.." her short trot about is brought to a standstill as is her hopeful expectations. "Pony." Her breathing intensifies as does her heart rate at the thought of what might of happened to her best friend. Unable to contain her emotions any longer she stomps the ground with all her might, kicking up the pushed pile of leaves beneath along with some wayward cloth, the stained blood immediately catching her eye.

"Fluttershy!" Rainbow whirls about calling her friend's name. She calls forth several over as she zips about the greatly disturbed campsite, almost failing to take notice of the upturned foliage revealing tracks belonging to nothing she'd ever seen. Following the new tracks she cannot help but finally take notice that of all the tracks, it was the most prominent, and seemed to always follow hoof prints.

"You better not of hurt my friend you...whatever you are!" her agitation only growing as another revelation comes to her mind, "How can something smaller than a manticore be so much heavier!" the smaller in size but more compact prints making little sense to her.

Her tracking comes to a rest when one of the exotic prints seems even deeper than the others. "So what did you...do..." her ever rising eyes taking hold of a path of destruction leading away from the campsite, and deeper into the Everfree.

What it was, how dangerous, or where it was going mattered only up to the point that she spotted the small secondary yellow feather just a little ways into the path's course. "If you think you're getting away..." her anger giving her strength in pursuit.

Elsewhere;

"Ah don't know what ah'm gonna do first." Applejack surmised under a highly scrutinized stare towards the Daring Doo action figure encased along the balloon carriage railing. "Hug em or yell at em."

"First thing we need to do is get all of us out of this dreary forest." Rarity chimed in as she too stares at the Daring Doo action figure just as it rotates, "Then we get your rope." her lowered pitch getting Applejack to nod.

"First thing we need to do is find them, make sure they are okay, and like Rarity said get back to Ponyville safely." Twilight's monotone, as she concentrates her magic on the Daring Doo figure, "We can worry about the rest after."

"So who's gonna tell Dashie that we had to break into her cloud house?" Pinke's high pitched voice, at the helm, merrily asks without a response, "You sure I can't ask about the shrine in the closet?"

"NO!" comes three unified, if somewhat mortified, voices.