One With the Pack

In the cover of the tall pines, a lone figure lumbered slowly down a path, their steps long and dragging, as if they had just woken up. They were wide awake, however, paying no mind to their surroundings as they shuffled along, eyes open and unblinking. They repeated three sentences, as if it were a chant: “She's dead. She's always been dead. I'll see her soon.” The sun's final rays of light vanished, showering the forest in shadow. The figure finally blinked, their eyes turning into an eerie green, a faint smile appearing on their lips as they continued to walk.

Up upon his perch, Ember watched the land that was stretched out before him, his eyes darting at the slightest movement. Crimson had started to come out and watch with him, taking over whenever he fell asleep. Tonight, the Infecto seemed to be on edge, like he could sense something was going to go wrong. “What's got you riled up, buttercup?”, Ember asked in a partially joking manner. Crimson turned his head to stare at him.

“Can't you sense it? I'm not joking when I say I've been feeling more and more light headed lately. I don't know what it is, but it's making me start to go mad.”

“You were mad already, but I see your point.”

“Thank you. At least someone else gets me.” They both looked down as Mark came running into view.

“What's the matter, Scout?”

“Alpha, it's your father. Lovelace just spotted him earlier.’ Ember and Crimson exchanged glances before standing up and heading down to meet up with him.

“Take us to him, Mark.”

Lovelace turned to see the three stallions coming towards her. “Lovelace, where did you see him?” She pointed to a small clearing in the distance, the pair of earth ponies running off in that direction. Ember's eyes widened at the sight of his father. “Dad? What on earth… what happened to you?” The orange earth pony practically hobbled into view, his stance stiff and rigid. His head was tilted to one side, and his voice was raspy as he said nothing but this:

“She's dead. She's always been dead. I'll see her soon.”

The Lead’s blood chilled, and he looked on with uncertainty. Whatever it was, it was clear as day: something was controlling his father. That something got Crimson into a bad mood, and he arched his back like a cat, his fur standing up on end. “Ember, get behind me,” he ordered, grunting in annoyance when it wasn't followed right away. “That thing in him is a Queet, and it's not going to come out without force.”

“Are you sure? It might be another Infecto that's acting weird.”

“I know a Queet when I hear one, and that there is a Queet. Now if you could be so kind as to move, I'd appreciate it.” The roughness that radiated through the word made Ember snap out of his daze, and he he backed up a foot or two. His face contorted to one of worry, and his voice was soft as he asked- no, pleaded

“Just don't hurt him too badly. Please.”

Red stared into red, the darker stallion lowering his gaze just for a second. “No promises.”

As if a string had snapped, Kindle charged towards Crimson blindly, nearly crashing into a tree at the sudden rush of it. His eyes were wide and clouded, his irises almost completely indistinguishable to the grey mist surrounding them. His opponent hissed and spat, launching himself onto his back, biting down hard on one of his ears. Kindle thrashed around, managing to throw him off, his body sailing towards a tree.

He whined when he felt one of his ribs snap, struggling to stand up due to the impact. A blood curdling screech was then heard, and Ember felt his heart stop as he saw his father, or what once was his father, transform, walk over and claw at the Infecto, ripping out chunks of flesh.

His own blood boiled, and he transformed himself, running towards them, grabbing Kindle's tail and swinging him like a bat into a nearby tree, trying to ignore the sickening cracking noise of his skull as it slammed against it. His body lay limp, never to rise again unless by some divine intervention. His saw a green mist drift out of his body, trailing up to the starry sky until it disappeared.

Ember transformed back, his ears flat against his head as he walked towards Crimson. The sight that lay before him would have made his stomach churn if his vision wasn't blurred with tears. The fallen one’s chest had been ripped open, his lungs and slowly beating heart were visible. He coughed roughly, blood trickling out of the corner of his mouth. “Well, guess this is the end of the rope for me.”, he wheezed, short of breath. The Lead dropped into a sitting position and cradled him in his arms.

“Crimson, no. I can...I can get Mark. He can bring you back. We...we can fix you…” he said in-between sobs. “I-I don't… I don't want to lose you too…” The stallion slowly shook his head.

“There ain't no fixing this old clutz. What's done is done. I wish my way out would have been a bit less painful, but I'll take what I can get.”

Ember was now a teary eyed, trembling mess, barely noticing that the Infecto had changed to his true form until he felt a cold claw touch his cheek. The creature's black body was riddled with scars, proof that he was a fighter. His platinum grey mane laid flat against his head, a jagged horn poking out from it. His green eyes looked up at him, a soft, almost loving expression on his face. “I'll miss you, my friend.”, He whispered, lowering his foreleg back to his side. His head then fell back, his lungs expanded, then deflated, and his heart beat its last.

Of all the times Ember had cried, this had to be one of the times he cried so hard he lost his voice, now silent as the hot tears flowed. He closed Crimson's eyes, holding him close. His gaze then turned to the sky. “Star Pack, If you can hear me, let these two be happy and at peace. They deserve it more than I can ever deem possible.”, He thought, rising and placing Crimson's body on his back, then going to retrieve his father. If anything, at least Sandstorm won't be alone anymore.