Hunted

Scootaloo found herself in tears, she knew it wasn't cool but in that moment she didn't care, she missed her mother, her friends, her idol. She was tired of being alone in a town filled with ponies that wanted to kill her. But at the same time, she was happy, someone pulled her from deaths grip, saved her life and gave her the first warm meal she ate in months.

Finishing the pot of beans she looked up to see the creature make a gesture, handing back the pot she wondered just what this creature wanted from her. Why did it save her?

She watched as the thing returned the pot to the fire and pour another tin of beans into it. It then took a hip flask from one of its pockets and passed it to her. Opening the flask she gave it a sniff, at least it wasn't alcoholic. Taking a sip she quickly learned that she had fresh water and a fierce thirst. Throwing back her head she guzzled the contents before her head dropped with a gasp.

Realising she had downed the lot she smiled sheepishly as she returned the flask. As the creature put away the flask she saw a small smile and a look of understanding on its expression.

Her curiosity got the best of her and she blurted out;

“What's your name?”

“It's not polite to ask for a persons name without giving your own.” came the reply.

She glared at the annoying beast, her curiosity and paranoia gradually growing. She watched as it stirred the pot yet again then it began to scrape the cooked meat onto two separate slabs of stone.

She licked her dry lips as she stared, a near constant state of starvation has worn down her own bias opinion on meat, to the point where it forced her to partake. Though it was a struggle at first, she was now capable of holding it down, even enjoy it.

She found herself once again wondering about the strange creature. It saved her, when it would have been safer to leave her to die. She even built a fire and wrapped her in a blanket, the only one it had by the looks of it. Then cooked her food. Actual warm, freshly cooked food.

“I'm Scootaloo.” She finally relented.

She watched it as it seemed to scrutinise her very existence with her gaze. Yet strangely she found herself worrying if it would disapprove.

Instead of replying right away it placed one of the slabs of formless meat in front of her followed by another pot of cooked beans, both of which she was happy to take part in eating.

“Nice to meet you Scootaloo,” she finally said, “my name is Artemis Di, most just call me Di.”

Scootaloo looked up to meet the kind smile the creature gave her, with a look of wonder. Her brief memories of her grandparents telling stories of magic-less humans with immense powers and durability came to her. One of the many stories were of the gods they worshipped. One being Artemis, the goddess of the hunt and the moon.

She stared in wide eyed wonder, fur-less skin, with naught but a mane to keep her body warm. Small yet piercing eyes that told stories with their gaze. Flat face with no muzzle nor snout but instead a small nose rose from the centre.

“Are...are you a goddess?” She asked weakly.

Di, stared at her in surprise before she laughed loudly. It wasn't a mean laugh, but one of honest merriness. Still stung her pride though.

“No, Miss Scootaloo.” She finally said with a smile. “I'm just another human. Though trapped on a world already falling apart.”

Scootaloo lowered her gaze, the fleeting, childish hope that she was a deity that took mercy on her and came to save her family and friends swiftly died inside her. Silently she finished her meal. She looked up to see a canteen held out in front of her. Taking a mouthful she closed the top and returned it to the human.

With a yawn she looked back at Di with a tired gaze.

“I think that's enough excitement for us for one day. Get some sleep, we'll talk over breakfast.

Scootaloo watched as Di took a sharp kitchen knife from her bag and handed it to her. Taking the knife she looked at the human in askance.

“To protect yourself, if something should happen.”

Scootaloo's grip on the handle tightened, a small nod was her reply before she lay down and curled up under the blanket. She then let sleep claimed her.

Di stared at the sleeping form, completely hidden beneath the quilt. A small smile on her lips. Though reality quickly caught up to her and as her smile vanished she considered her options. She could help get the kid started, her own backpack, some supplies, send her on her way. But then she'd be back to square one; stuck in a forest overlooking the town.

Her other choice was to up and leave, a feat that would be much easier alone then with another. Regardless, she had best set Scootaloo up with her own things, which meant a trip to town.

With a sigh she leaned back against a tree and closed her eyes.

Morning came with the sound of something stomping on wood violently and repeatedly. Scootaloo gripped the knife in her hand, uncertain as to where she got it, lifting the blanket from her head she saw something pound on a nearby fire with its hooves. The sight of which brought back her memories of the night prior.

Sitting up with a yawn she was greeted with an open can of apple slices. Taking the can with a “thanks”, she began to fish out the fruit with her fingers, watching as Di took a can of peach slices and helped herself to their would be breakfast.

“Morning.” Offered Scootaloo.

Di looked up. “Good morning.” She replied with a small smile.

There was an awkward silence as the two returned to their food.

When done, then threw the cans juices on the smouldering remains of the fire, a loud hiss signalling the end of their camp. Without much thought she rolled up the blanket as Di packed away what was of use, taking a moment to fill the flask with the canteen.

With everything packed away, she took the quilt from the pony and strapped it down. As she stood up she was surprised to see Scootaloo hand her the knife.

The corner of her lips curled upwards. “Keep it,” she said, “you never know when it will save you.”

With a nod Scootaloo let it fall to her side. With her standing at her full height and not curled in a ball on the verge of death, Di realised just how mistaken she was in regards to the mares age. She was head shorter then herself in height, 'about sixteen' Di guessed.

“Do you have any plans?”

For a moment the mare stared at her, considering her. Di approved of the doubt and long thought, she obviously had something she needed to do and didn't fully trust her but was weighing her options. Or so she wished to believe.

“I, have a friend back in town. But I haven't seen her in over a week. I know she's probably turned but I want to know for sure, you know?”

Di nodded. 'Closure.' She thought.

She picked up the axe, turned and walked away. The mare quickly caught up, not wanting to get lost in the forest.

“We'll find your friend and get you supplies of your own. How long have you survived in there?”

Scootaloo remained silent for a moment, collecting hers thoughts before speaking. “We, sorta spent as much time as we could hiding in our old club house on the farm. When we ran low on food we'd sneak into town and get some from places that didn't have the Turned in them.

Di gave a nod of understanding, noting the word used to describe the infected. “What happened to your friend?”

“Dinky? She was acting really odd for the last couple of days. Kept talking about a pony watching her from the edge of the woods but I never saw it.”

Once again Di's memories played back to the night after she arrived, before she went to sleep in that accursed cabin, a figure stood at the tree line, watching.

A drop of water striking the tip of her nose drew her eyes upwards to see dark clouds high above.

“Then one day she started talking about her mom. Said she wanted to find her.”

She looked back at the mare.

“But we both knew that she wasn't there any more, she was either gone with the rest,” Di tilted a brow, “or turned. No one can survive in the actual town for long, that's why I'm so worried. That was a week ago though.”

“And in that time you never found her and lost reason to believe she is alive.” The human finished.

Scootaloo nodded.

“And you can't leave unless you know, you can't walk away and risk abandoning your friend.”

Another nod.

“A loyalist.”

Scootaloo looked up in confusion.

Di smiled. “It means you wont leave your friends behind, you wont use and abandon them.”

The mare nodded with a smile.

'And it will get you killed.' The human finished in her head, refusing to say it out loud.

They stepped out from the forest as the rain began to fall. In mere moments the town was alive with the distinctive screams of the infected that could be heard even from their distance.

Scootaloo looked up at Di, seeing her clearly for the first time out in the open, no dark forest to hinder her sight.

The human stood a full head above her, tan skin covered in light bruises and small, dried cuts. Her arms were muscular and possibly limber, not as thick as a lot of adult ponies, especially earth ponies, but they lacked fat. Just tough muscle gained through experience that shifted beneath the skin, she looked exotic, so different then what she knew.

She then noticed the clothes Di wore. At first she thought they were just black but as the rain grew in force while they walked, she noticed the dark green of her pants show through the dirt. That is when she realised what the human was covered in, mud and blood. The rain revealed the faint coppery smell as it gradually removed the filth.

"Why are you helping me?" She asked, barely a whisper.

"I've nothing better to do." Came the instant reply.

The answer was so brutally honest, Scootaloo was at a loss for words.

She forced her gaze forward and realised they were just entering town. The screams of the Turned had died down to nothing, just the many taps of rain.

“Figured.” Muttered the human. Talking louder she said. “The rain will make it easier to hide ourselves but we got to be careful, they'll be less predictable.”

Scootaloo gave a nod of understanding but couldn't help but wonder how she could know such a thing as they started to walk again.

Then the screams of something very terrified rang up from two separate parts of town, followed by a third scream, one of agony.

Scootaloo was in a panic, she didn't know what to do or where to go. She looked to Di to see her with her eyes closed and her nose scrunched in concentration.

“The last two screams were close together and sounded older, one male.” The human muttered. “The first was young, possibly female but far away.”

She heard this and without thought, she ran.

“Wait, Scoots!” Shouted Di as the mare took off. A splash forced her to swiftly turn around and strike an infected with the back of her axe's blade like a hammer, smashing the skull with a wet crunch.

Three more infected charged at her through the rain with an unnatural scream as she readied herself.