"Jimmy, you've improved." The baroness, which everyone had referred to as such, was examining Jimmy with a discerning eye. "With a trip like that, I expect at least a few marks on you, or are the chimera getting lazy?"

Jimmy inclines his head towards you. "We did our part, but I'd have some marks to show for it if she wasn't so talented at chasing them away, ma'am."

Renaldo pats you on the back. "She has a real talent, and she isn't shy about sharing it."

Which brings to your mind, "Oh, are any of you hurt?" You were just about to enter the Life Sense™️ world, barely getting a glimpse of their many patterns when one of them poked you right between the eyes, making you jump backwards in surprise.

Acting swiftly, Renaldo stepped between you and the newcomer, who appeared to be some kind of pooka, as if to protect you. They have a racoon tail of great size and ears that perfectly matched the tail. "Easy there. She's a healer, not a witch, promise."

"Easy to say." The pooka crosses his arms with a huff. "But actions speak way louder than pretty words. One of the first lessons we learn." He hikes a thumb at himself and jabs himself with the thumb, tapping with his claws. "Easy to say things, sometimes even the right thing, but always? Doubt that."

The baroness waves him back. "Renaldo may be smitten, he usually is, but I trust Jimmy's word. If he says she's a healer, she probably is. What were you doing?"

"How can you even tell?" There was no way to tell just by looking that it was a life vision, as it had no external indicators. There were no funny words uttered and you don't emit any kind of light. By viewing the issue from a different angle, you were able to gain a fresh perspective. It's almost like trying to read something in a foreign language. Without looking directly at what you are focusing on and working backward, it should be impossible for anyone to know exactly what you are doing.

She taps at the side of her head. "We know. Hardly a secret. Most prodigals have their own sense, by a thousand names. One's connection to their primal, kenning, awareness... A thousand names..." She curls a finger at you. "One basic meaning. We live in a world of magic. Is it really that confusing that we notice when it's being used? That was a little tickle, but still..."

Still, they had noticed... "I just wanted to see if anyone was hurt. I'm not attacking anyone." A thought comes to mind. "Do you know about ponies? I'm a kindness. Being nice is my thing."

The racoon bursts into a fit of giggles. "A kindness? Really? Crazy."

"Ignore him. He knows nothing about ponies, and I could barely say I'm better. We've tarried here long enough. Come." With a firm wave, the turns the whole group towards that far point of the road and the hike resumes. "Can you work while walking, or not?"

"My newest trick works fine while working." You approach the new changelings. They tense, but don't stop you from giving them a rubbing, each gets a brush from your fuzzy side to their legs as you chase away the lingering chill of a day of activity away from each, one by one.

But nothing comes free. Treating so many people, you can feel a deep ache, like a well-used muscle. Nothing was injured, you were just tired. And trying to treat that wasn't working so well. You could fix a lot of things, but not everything. There were limits... "I'm about tapped out." You feel like you could still do it, if you really needed to, it'd just be harder, and maybe painful. Like someone breaking into a run even when they were tired. They could, but perhaps they shouldn't.

"You alright?" Bright Spark comes right into your field of view from above, curling around your top as if that was a natural way to do it. "You look tired."

Such a thoughtful friend. His caring brought a smile to your face and even felt like it chased away the problem a little. Sometimes it was nice to get a bit of kindness returned? "Thanks. I'll make it, but thanks." He comes in closer for nuzzles and you return them in a little rubbing of snouts. "You're the best... is calling a chimera an imaginary friend rude?"

Bright twisted his head from the left to the right as if he was attempting to find the perfect view. "I'm not imaginary, silly. You didn't dream me. Something else did. Something dreamed you too! If I'm imaginary, so are you." He gasps sharply with a sudden excitement. "We can be imaginary friends then! Yes!"

"We're imaginary friends," you allow with a chuckle, sharing one more warm nuzzle with your chimeric pal. You return your focus on the march, striding with the rest. The sense of impending danger feels... muted. "Is it safer where you're from?"

"Hardly," barks out the baroness. "But we were doing the same thing you were. We cleared out the way up to here. With any luck, it'll stay cleared for a little while. Good to hear the rest of the path's worked over, seeing as that means our duty of the day's fulfilled. By the way, prodigal, do you have any clue where you are right now?"

"Not even a little," you admit without guile. "It's... a strange new world? At least I have friends." Geraldo and Jimmy were marching with the group. Bright Spark was right next to you, ready to defend, or just be a friendly presence with equal vigor.

"It's an ancient one." The baroness casually flicks an ear. "Just imagine. Long long ago before there were even any records, entire herds of you little ponies ran through these places. I haven't heard the tales of what you all were doing back then... But you're stuck, hooves mired in the banality of the day to day."

You thought about the meeting of ponies, struggling to deal with their things. "Yeah..."

The baroness perks at that. "I didn't expect you to agree with me. Most prodigals I meet get huffy when I suggest that. Their struggles are very real to them, and it being brushed off as light doesn't sit well with most."

"No..." You're quiet for a little while, just the clip-clop of your hooves. "But... You're still not wrong." You point back at your rump. "I've only seen it a few times, but when I really live up to my purpose, I have a... Picture? It's magic, I think... I don't know what it is... But I should! I really should. I feel like I should be all over that. Instead, forgotten, lost... The worst--"

She lightly rests her hand on your side. "Shh... Formation!"

The defensive line of her people and your companions had just been formed up in time for the fierce onslaught of teeth and claws. Wolves, some of whom had an unusually large number of eyes, charged towards them with ferocious howls of hunger.

It proved an old piece of wisdom true as you use your hoof to lash out at the one that was coming close, showing that it is not wise to approach horses, whether they be magical or not, from behind when they are startled. The crack of its bones as your hoof crashed against the thing's snout make you shudder with the violence of it. It was a great shame that it was not the only one. You shift your position to get a better view of your companions fighting against the remainder of the... pack? Pack feels like the right word.

All of a sudden they drop back, allowing the biggest one to march ahead of them with a gaze that pierces you all. "You are breaking the pacts," it... he? They speak firmly, their low growl heard along with the words as if the two were the same. "Give her to us, and we will forgive you."

You can't help but feel that one of their eyes is always watching you, while the others are looking elsewhere. The other eyes remain focused on the more skilled fighters, each of them operating independently, with no regard for the other eyes. "My patience is small."

The baroness swipes her sword free of blood with a sharp swing. "We may have only just met, but they are in our care. I don't need the viscountess breathing down my neck." She raises the sword, point towards the great beast. "You know how this works."

"If one of mine failed me willingly... I would slaughter them." The many-eyed wolf licked over his lips. "I understand this. This is a dangerous place, where she does not belong. Abandon her. None need know." Three of their eyes move to Geraldo, Jimmy, and Bright Spark. "I can remove any evidence of their passing. None need know."

Bright Spark took a stomp forward, even if he was also trembling in fright. "I won't let you!"

Jimmy huffed for breath, massive arms holding firm to his equally sizable blade. "We won't make it easy for you."

"I asked neither of you for permission." Eyes refocused on the baroness. "Step aside, or die with them. Make a choice."

The idea of them all being hurt for you was a stab through your heart. Not that being hurt yourself was a lot better, but many of them were strangers, standing up against... that... for you. You have to help! "No!" You shout at the great wolf. "You leave them alone. They're just trying to do their best. Stop picking fights."

The wolf's snout twists in a sneer. "The little thing barks at me like the pipes of a puppy that doesn't know how pathetic it is. It's adorable... I almost regret destroying you."

"They're my friend." You take another step forward and feel a surge of warmth building inside of you. "I won't let you hurt them."

Other wolves closed with their leader, as if to protect them from you, the little pony with no battle training. "Enough. Make your decision."

The baroness' eyes glance towards you in your advance. "I will not be outdone by a pony." She matched your stride, sword raised. "We'll fight to the last, or you can back away. You decide."

The warmth in you is becoming too hot, like someone had shoved a hot poker into your insides as it burns and sizzles, but only you can feel it. "Leave them... alone!" With the last word, the heat explodes from you in all directions. Pain erupted with it and all your strength flees you. You thud to the ground on your belly as your friends charge into battle, renewed and reinvigorated. You can barely pay attention to them, but they're fighting with all they have, and all you've given to them.

You can only hope it's enough.

"I'm here." You can hear Bright Spark, his voice reaching you despite him engaging in a frantic melee with several wolves at once. "We got this! Take a nap."

A nap. That sounds like a really good idea. Sinking to your side in a weak rolling, you lose conciousness by the time you're done, trusting in your friends to finish things.

Author's Note

All these options sound good... At least most of them, according to you all. Let's go from here!

Well, shoot, that took a turn. You did make some friends, offered succor, and maybe got to the end? Up to you, that.

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