Nothing is Over

Following the road to Ponyville, I saw that it cuts through a dense forest. From my map making memories, I think this was called the Everfree forest. Supposedly dangerous, can’t be as bad as the jungle. It was different, walking through a forest that didn’t have the cries of pain from the wounded, the roar of MG’s, mortars exploding all around, the smell of death and smoke. Instead it was quiet with some occasional animal sounds. That’s another I wasn’t used to, wildlife. I still remember what my CO told me when I got over there ' if you ever get lost and without supplies, remember you can eat just about anything and can use just about anything for everything.’

I’m broken from my train of thought when I here a twig snap off to the side of me. in an instant, my training kicks in and roll just in time to miss a scorpion tail. I look and see huge manticore snarling at me. He looks at me, I stare right back. It roars and I make the first move unsheathing my combat knife slicing at the beast’s legs. It retaliates with a nice swipe at my right side. I stagger a bit only to have the beast pounce on me, pinning me to the ground. I can taste blood in my mouth. I would kill to have my SLR right about now. Using my left hoof in an attempt to keep it away from my face, I use my right hoof to bring the knife into the beast’s throat. I watch as the life drains from it eyes and it falls limp. I kick it off and roll out from under it. Crawling up to lean against a tree, I take a look at my wound. Three scratches, not too deep, not too long.

Catching my breath, look over at the manticore. I blink and I’m surrounded by jungle with a dead griffon in front of me. His chest caved in from the buck I gave him. He was first griffon I fought hoof to hoof. I hear my team calling for me. Finally, Rolling Thunder runs out of the jungle followed by several blasts from mortars.

“MARBLE, GET YOUR ASS MOVIN’! THEY GOT THIS PLACE MARKED FOR MORTARS!” He screams helping me to my hoofs “GO GO GO!”

We take off running down the trail. I see movement to my right as we’re running “THUNDER, THEY’RE TRYIN’ TO FLANK US!” I yell over. I hear a whistle above us closing in. We both knew what it is. Before it hits us, we both dive forward. I didn’t land right and ended up hitting a rock.

I try to look around, but my vision is blurred. ‘Maybe those scratches were deeper than I thought.’ What I can see is that I’m outside of that forest ‘not the jungle’ next to what looks like a camouflaged pillbox. I hear a voice and see a yellow blob approaching me before darkness takes over.