Pilot Chapter: Neigh for me...
Alone... on Friday night? God... how boring. It’s been a while since Femanon been out on the scene. Being stuck in her house didn’t help to the fact of loneliness and boredom.
Flipping through her phone, she scrolled through the bunch of the guys: gallery of guys who had their shirts off flexing in some type of beach or holding some stray dog. It didn’t matter, most guys were the same when she talked to them. “Thank you for your time, but I have something to important to do,” she always told man after man.
It was all the same with them, they would talk about themselves, go on about their high paying jobs, and say how they could see each other together for the foreseeable future.
“God... Does any man have anything interesting about themselves? Why’s everyone trying to be that guy...?” She scrolled through the profiles uninterested in any of it.
She finally puts the phone down, “This turn to such a bore. What am I even doing?” She rolls on her couch. “I used to go out... have some fun, occasionally visiting some bar, talk to a guy, and head back to their place.”
She stares up at the ceiling clenching her fist, “Now I’m just sitting here on my ass doing nothing.”
Femanon just laid there like a statue forgotten to time, being still and motionless to no one to admire them, slowly collecting dust and being forgotten to time.
After minutes of staring at a ceiling did nothing to sooth her frustration, she gets up and heads to the door. “All I need is some fresh air,” she said telling no others but herself and Eliot... her cat
Eliot was the only guy that didn’t seem to have an alternative goal at end of the day: he didn’t add certain conditions to receive his affection, didn’t act like moneybags to impressed her, and didn’t try to tie her down and make her settle down.
Eliot just laid on his back, meowing and occasionally licking himself. He seemed to have life figured out, and gotten what he wanted... It almost made her feel jealous, but she looked at the brown spotted furball and couldn’t bring herself to stay jealous of him. She just laid on the couch watching him holding out her hands for him to come to her.
“Eliot... What am I missing? Life is just so... boring” She held him in her arms. “Why is it that life has become so... mundane... so tame... is it wrong... to want something to happen?”
“Meow...” His eyes look at Femanon giving her purring knowledge. She stared back at him seemingly be fascinated by his wisdom.
“You’re right, I’ve got to wait for life to make it interesting for me instead of complaining.”
She sat him down on her lap and started to rub his bellow, watching him purr. She felt the warmth from his fur travel to her hand and slowly make its way to her heart. He seemed so relaxed and contempt about where he was and yet he seemed more aware..?
“Have you gotten fatter than usual, Eliot?”
Inspecting him more closely he seemed to rather gain a few pounds, as well as seeming a bit more restless. Thinking about it, he did start eating more often than she usual feed him and seemed been more active, since he usual was either sleeping or laying on something.
“Hiss!” He quickly recoiled swiped at her for her accusation and scampered off.
From his sudden action she fell on the floor with a resounding ‘thud’. “Ow... Hey! Eliot, what’s going on with you?!” She recovered rubbing her face as she got up a tried to follow him.
“Eliot... Eliot!” She called out to him, but no answer came back from him.
Getting up and brushing herself off, she quickly looked for the little scamp.
“Eliot... Eliot come on... Eliot I’ll give you extra salmon.” Trying to bribe him to comeback but with no avail.
Searching for him until finally making eye contact with an empty window
“No... No... No... No...” She quickly rushed out the door, hoping that he didn’t run off too far.
Running through woods and wallows the paws of the fiend move without a moments haste. Something was calling its name...
But it felt different. Fatigue turned into dread as the paws didn’t dare stopped. Something was looking for prey... something was looking for it.
Echos turned into drowned screams as whatever chased seemed to be close enough to strike but always seemed to stop short to just taunt. Like it was playing with its food.
Each moment it only seemed to come closer to striking and devouring its prey whole; but yet hope seemed to persist when light seemed closer... and another voice seemed to appear, but it was more pleasant.
The more and more light seemed to appear the more the pleasant voice seemed to grow near as the harsh voice seemed to grow lesser.
Without hesitation the feline takes less depth to the voice...
For life has its ways for answering those calls.
“Angela... Where are you?” Butterscotch called out for her. The last moment he saw her was when she was in some high amount of distress. She was talking about hearing some voice and calling for help.
He walked carefully as he trotted down the forest calling for her, “Angela... Where are you... Everyone at the Cabin is worried sick about you... Please come out...”
His pleas seemed to fall on deaf ears at first until rustling from some bushes, as he hears the bushes rustled more finally a cat quickly ran out of the bushes. Its breath seems quick and seems to be rambling about something following it. The bushes seem to rustle more as a bunny come from the bushes.
“Angela... there you are, I was worried,” Butterscotch breathes a sigh of relief seeing her, but then focuses on the new guest who seems to be in distress.
The cat breathes seemed to be quick as Butterscotch approach them, they started get more agitated as he approaches hissing at him.
Butterscotch just stops for a moment before lowering his head to meet his gaze. “Hey... it’s okay... just calm down, I’m not going to hurt you Mister... What’s your name?”
With weary eyes, the cat answered, “Meow...”
Butterscotch ears pin up at hearing the feline, “Elliot... that’s a nice name.” He slowly walks to Elliot, stopping to slowly sit.
“So, why were you running anyway?” Butterscotch carefully examining Elliot to make sure he wasn’t hurt.
“Meow...” answering the question, his fur seemed to stand remembering the one chasing.
“There was a creature chasing you... Well, don’t worry I’m sure they aren’t around anymore... You seem quite exhausted, how about you come to my Cabin.” Butterscotch offered.
Elliot tail switched side to side, he was still wary of Butterscotch but with hunger and exhaustion ached around his body, he was at least willing enough to take a small risk...
Butterscotch watches him slowly walk to him before sitting waiting for him to lead the way. Butterscotch slowly picks up Angela placing her on his back heading back to the Cabin.
Meanwhile, stepping through a dense forest, Femanon slowly walks through the forest looking for any sign of Elliot. “Elliot... Elliot... Please, comeback... I’ll give extra treats if you do...”
With more silence meeting her call she sighed pushing forward on her search, she only stopped to think where she was now.
“Wait... didn’t I come this way...?” Looking around she realize that she was lost... She quickly lifted up her phone to call 911 but what met her call was dial tone...
“No bars... I’m lost in forest... and Elliot was gone... Great...” She looked around as she slowly started to breath. “Don’t panic... don’t panic... don’t panic...”
She slowly walked trying to find her way out of the forest. The more she walked the more she felt lost in this labyrinth of trees and rocks...
Each step she took was anxious as she wasn’t sure if she was alone, or something was following her. She just had to press forward, find Elliot, and just head home...
Each step just seemed to feel heavier than her last one, but it was all just in her head at the end of the day. What would be in this forest in the middle of God knows where...
“I’ll eventually find someone or a town,” She assures herself as takes a small break sitting on a rock. Catching her breath, she looked around to see more trees and hear the chirping of birds. “This is nice,” She thought. Taking a deep breath she just needed to know where she was going and needed to at least make a landmark.
Looking for second, she picked up rock and marked a tree with an X to retrace her steps in case of ever being lost in here. She got up and looked up at the sky, as shadows of the trees casted down on the ground. She heard that shadows always pointed north from some camping magazine... She wasn’t sure if it was true or not but that was the best she had to get out of here.
All she could do was walk and hope someone was here or around... Walking she finally found some light as trees seemed to become fewer... Taking a few more steps whatever or whoever was there to meet her she could only hope that they were friendly enough...
Act I: Plotting and Trotting
Trees seemed to come few and between as she approached the light. As she walked, she could only feel like something was watching her. Each step she took was heavier than the last, despite being alone in the forest she felt a sense of unease. Questions about Elliot all of a sudden running away and getting lost in the forest didn’t help. All she knew was that she needed to get out of this forest and hope that Elliot got out unharmed.
Maybe she’d find him at the end waiting for her with someone that could possibly tell her how to get home. Sure, she’d likely have to explain to them why she’d ran in the woods and hoped they wouldn’t assume that she was crazy. But there was also the possibility that they’d feel sympathy for her and help her out in the process. Maybe even let her stay over at their place for a bit before calling a taxi for her.
“What am I thinking, I’d be staying in a stranger’s place. More so am I that desperate to get out of here.” She asked herself before hearing a twig snap. Looking down she saw a broken branch underneath her foot, for some reason it just made her skin crawl.
As leaves dance with the wind, the shadows on the ground only seem to become blur as the sun cast its gaze over her. It’s like she’s being watched but yet alone at the same time. Only her and her thoughts seemed to be together; a someone or something was listening to her. Ever so quiet not to draw attention to it, only getting closure when her thoughts went blank.
The more she stood the more eyes seemed to appear on her, all gazing at her with different means of hunger and danger. Fem’s breath only quickened as she drew closure to the end of the forest as she thought. Whatever was here, she couldn’t look back or else it might take her to God knows where. Stepping closure to the light, she could only pray for whatever was following her to grow disinterested and leave.
As the light grew brighter, the thing seemed to grow quieter and slowly seemed to be gone.
At this a sense of relief came to her, as she let out breath that she didn’t even know she had been holding the whole time. For some strange reason, being in that forest made her feel uneasy...
“... Oh, shit, Elliot!” She then remembered why she came all the way here.
Looking around she didn’t see neighborhoods or paved roads but signs a dirt road seemingly going in a low. That was strange, she hadn’t seen much like it. Only in those old western movies and occasionally at the park, but with no people in sight and the sun setting she was kind of running out of options.
“Maybe if I walk down, I might find someone that can help me or possibly show me to where a hotel is?” She was uncertain about it but that was kind of the only hope she really had for right now.
She looked at the endless trail before her before walking to whatever she was going. All she could hope was that Elliot was alright and that people she’d meet would be friendly and willing enough to help her.
“Come on where is it?” Looking over and under something of value was missing. Lifting the covers, checking under the table, opening the cabinets, and even checking the closets. Yet throughout the search, it was nowhere to be found. She swore she placed it on the table last time, before they left.
“Come on, it's got to be here somewhere.” Barb groaned as she checked under Dusk’s bed again. It was almost night, and she was getting cravings for Gemstones again.
“I swore it was here in the-” Before she could even realize what’s going on, she was picked up and looked to see a not so pleased Dusk looking at her.
“Dusk... Hey, how are you-”
“You misplaced some of your gemstones and you were looking to find them.” Before she could answer, he dropped her down back on the floor before sighing.
“I tripped over one when I was trotting up the stairs... They’re painful to step on you know that right?” Dusk only cocked an eyebrow to the nervous dragoness, who promised to keep her gemstones in a place where he wouldn’t trip, and she’d be able to find them.
“Sorry...” Barb could only muster before grabbing the bag of gemstones from his grasp.
Dusk didn’t even bother to try lecture her; he was too exhausted at this point. Dealing with the whole debacle with Rainbow Blitz and Applejack, trying on the different outfits with Elusive, and Bubble Berry in general, with all these outliers his day was long and pretty hectic. All he could think about now was going back to bed taking an overdue rest.
As he laid down, he saw a list that he made to keep track of what he had to do. Everything was crossed from top to bottom of it, until he saw something not crossed. He looked at the list, narrowing his eyes until reading, Remember to bring back Butterscotch’s book about molting cycles. Right he had to borrow it after finding a bunch of Barb’s scales in the bathroom. He looked at the window to see the sun almost setting, while his body wanted to stay on the nice comfy bed, he had to return the book. He’d nether forgive himself if he didn’t.
Slowly rolling off of the bed, he grabbed the book placing it carefully in his saddlebag. Trotting to the door, he announced, “I’m heading off to Butterscotch’s Cabin! I’ll be back, also remember not to eat gemstones after night Barb; it will give you midnight flame burps, I don’t want another incident to happen!” With that now done, he headed off.
It had been quite a surprise with the arrival of a new guest, sure they’re arrival here was odd. As well as the fact that they kept talking about being chase by a creature with no real explanation on what was chasing them, and possibly that they were a bit much with they’re interaction with the others.
Sure, it would take time for him to adapt to his new surroundings and get used to being around the others. All though they seem to have quite a habit to either laze around or chasing others around the cabin. As well as being jumpy to the slightest noise or movement around him.
Butterscotch trotted into the room to see Elliot hiding under the table, slowly trotting to him he looked under the table at him. “Elliot, is everything alright? You’ve been on edge ever since you’ve arrived here,” He looked at Elliot with concern as he sat down a bag.
“Meow...” At first, he was always talking about the creature that chased him. Always seeming paranoid that it would come out of nowhere. But this was different, he seemed more anxious than paranoid.
“What’s wrong, you can tell me anything if you need to get something off your chest,” Butterscotch reassured him as he looked at Elliot.
“Meow....” Elliot spoke as the thing that seemed to weigh on him, as he remembered someone special to him.
“You miss your old home and friend?” Butterscotch asked sitting down looking at him with sympathy.
“Don’t worry, I’m sure they’re out there looking for you. Whoever that pony may be?”
Elliot was about to say something but before he could even speak, a knock at the door was heard followed by a long sigh of a pony, like they just got done writing an essay.
“Butterscotch, it’s me, Dusk Shine. I wanted to bring back the book about molting cycles and thank you for lending it to me,” Dusk’s exhausted voice rang through the other side of the door.
Butterscotch hearing that slowly turn to the door and headed over. Opening it, it was indeed a very exhausted Dusk Shine with the molting cycle book. “Oh... thanks for returning it.” Butterscotch took the book back but then noticed the bags under Dusk’s eyes. “Hey, you seem tired... Are you sure you can make it back to your Library?”
Dusk just wiped his eyes a bit before answering, “I’ll be fine, don’t worry about me.” Dusk tried to reassure his friend, but a yawn came out and his body seem to betray him. “Okay, maybe I’m just a little tired...”
Butterscotch looked at him before opening his door wider so, that Dusk could just come in.
“Butterscotch, that’s nice and all, but I need to get back to Barb. As well as write to Prince Solaris about my lessons that I’ve learnt. You don’t have to-” Before he could try to deny needing sleep, he looked to see a concerned Butterscotch. Looking at him for just a minute, he knew that he couldn’t convince him differently.
With a sigh, Dusk surrendered and entered in the cabin “Okay... okay... I’ll just stay for the night.”
Smiling at Dusk, Butterscotch let him in, “I’ll be able to fix a bed for you in a couple of minutes, I just need to go back and make sure Elliot is alright.”
Dusk at hearing that could only assume, “Another animal, you found?”
“Well, yes but more like happened to come across. He was in the Everfree Forest and really afraid talking about some creature chasing him,” He answered.
Dusk at hearing this would ask more questions but that was for an awake Dusk Shine to do. All he wanted to do was sleep and at watching Butterscotch trotting off to help his new friend he met; he sat on the couch before just passing out on it.
