The Rasp

I woke up with a throbbing headache and the taste of glue on my lips. Well, more accurately, the taste of the duct tape someone had gagged me with. Somepony wanted to make sure fire wasn't on my list of options at the moment, and they were wise to do so, considering how I acted earlier. A strong line of rope had been secured around my sides, keeping my arms pinned in place, suggesting I wasn't going anywhere, and somepony planned to keep it that way.

Applejack.

She was sitting adjacent to me in the barn, with her back against the wall. She'd obviously been keeping watch, but the poor pony was so exhausted, she'd fallen asleep with her hat tilted down over her eyes. I couldn't blame her. We'd been running for so long, and fighting so hard, I doubt even a bomb going off could wake her.

She didn't even react to the dreadful tell-tale hiss of infected as it neared the barn. Helplessly, my heart stopped as I watched this horrible thing drag itself into the barn. It must have followed us from ponyville.

It lurched forward with a low hissing rasp spilling from its muzzle. Smaller than the other infected but still threatening, this particular creature was colored tangerine with splashes of blackened and burnt fur over its frame. It dragged itself forward on charred and stubby little hooves, only to pause for a moment to peer around the room. Violet spikes of mane jut out over glossy lavender orbs, and small, pale, writhing appendages sprouted from its back.

I couldn't pull my eyes away from it. It didn't notice me. Or maybe it did, and it just didn't care. It drew forward with another terrible little hiss, and my eyes widened when I realized what was happening. It gave a clicking cough and started forward towards Applejack. She was asleep, and only a few feet away from me, but my arms were bound and I couldn't speak!! APPLEJACK!!!

Wriggling in the rope, I tried desperately to make a noise. Call out! Something!! ANYTHING!! I had to warn her the infected had found us! I HAD TO WAKE HER UP!!

"MMMPMMH!! MPPHMMH!!" I cried. She was so exhausted. We'd been running from infected for days and Applejack was a particularly heavy sleeper. She didn't notice me and the monster dragged itself closer and closer. NO! APPLEJACK WAKE UP!!

I kicked and squirmed and only managed to roll myself over onto my side. APPLEJACK!! I kicked furiously and writhed on the ground. I didn't have the strength to stand! Why did I have to be so weak?!

MMPMPMH!! MMMPMMH!!!" I screamed again. Applejack didn't move. It was crawling closer and closer, hissing all the way while I desperately tried to cobble together some sort of plan. If only I could use my fire breath!! I watched, ravaged by guilt as the infected crawled over to Applejack.

Oh, I knew who it was. I knew in my heart of hearts that this blackened little charred nightmare creature had once been a friend of mine. I knew those sweet innocent eyes, and the crisp burnt orange fur. I knew that pony. All I could do was watch in agony as it approached us. No. It approached Applejack. It was after uninfected blood. That's why it didn't bother looking at me. That's why I was invisible to it.

I shifted my hips and tried to edge myself towards Applejack. With enough frantic twisting and kicking, I managed to start making headway towards the pair. The monster was faster than me, though. It approached Applejack and started climbing up onto her. Was it going for her neck? A single killing blow? I needed to get Applejack's attention and now!

But there was nothing I could do. For all of my frantic kicking and wiggling, I was helpless to watch as a tragedy unfolded in front of me. My lashing tail caught the side of the barn with a thump, and Applejack shifted in her sleep. It only took me a moment to realize what I had to do, and in that minute, I did it. I crushed my tail as hard as I possibly could against the wall. WHUMP! It hurt, but it didn't matter! It was noise! I was making noise! WHUMP WHUMP WHUMP. I wound my tail back for one final smack at the barn's wall and... CRACK!! It was like kicking a rock. You know what that feels like? It hurt. A lot. I'm fairly sure I broke my tail in that single blow. The pain was like fire racing through my hips and I screamed in agony. Even through the gag, it was loud.

Loud enough to jerk Applejack into wakeful state. In one swift move, she put the infected pony down. Hard. One brutal kick was all it took. It was hard to know which was worse: The guilt of watching that happen, or knowing I created the problem in the first place.