The Rasp

(Sorry, I couldn't think of a title for this entry. I'm pretty stressed out as it is. When this is all over, I'll come up with a title for this entry.)

The kitchen pantry was a mess of opened boxes and eaten food. Apple cores, and banana peels and orange rinds all circled around a little orange pegasus who looked scared out of her mind. I don't know what Scootaloo was doing in our pantry or how she even got in, but the filly looked no worse for wear. Most importantly, I noticed she had all of her feathers. I didn't know if that was a good indication of health, but right now, it's all we've really got. I smiled at her and extended a claw. She bounced forward immediately, and wrapped her forelegs around my neck, crying into my shoulder.

"I'm so sorry! I was trying to find Rainbow Dash and everypony started acting weird, and I was so hungry, and everypony started chasing me, and they all wanted my blood, and I don't know what to do!" Scootaloo sobbed, squeezing me tighter and tighter, as she cried harder and harder.

I sat down in that mess of food and held her. To be honest, I really needed to break down too. To be held and just...cry. Normally, secretly, that's Twilight's job, but...

"We're safe here," is all I said to her after a few minutes. She seemed to accept this if not tentatively, and finally let me go. I flashed her what reassuring smile I could muster and nodded my head. "We're all boarded up on the first floor. There's no way any of 'them' can get inside, and-" She cut me off with a painful question.

"D-do you know where Rainbow Dash is? I'm really scared, and I- I've got to find her!" She sputtered. I winced.

"Uh...nnnnooooo, I haven't...I haven't seen her. " I stammered. I didn't know how to break it to her, but I could leave that up to Applejack or some older pony. Right now, personally, I'm as scared as Scootaloo. I wouldn't mind spending an hour or so in the closet, hiding from the monsters outside. What I could really, really use was a nap though. I don't know why I'm so super tired all of a sudden. Do I have the Rasp too? I only coughed once! I haven't had a craving for water, and I haven't felt aggressive. I chalked it up to circumstance. That's all it was. That was it. I was fine. I could still help Twilight. I could still figure out a plan to rescue her from our own basement.

...but maybe after a nap.

Unfortunately, Pinkie's voice from the living room suggested that wasn't going to happen anytime soon.

"WOWIE ZOWIE!! APPLEJACK!! APPLEJACK!!!!"

Scootaloo and I glanced at one and other and I made a beeline for the living room, but Scootaloo didn't follow. She lingered at the door to the pantry watching me with wide, terrified eyes. Slowly, she pulled the pantry door closed and disappeared inside.

I couldn't blame her. I even locked the door behind her. Just in case Rainbow Dash did get out...