The Problem of Other Sapients, Memoirs of a Man

Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat.

-Mother Teresa

I sat and thought some more. I could never go home, or see my family again. My book would never get published, and the worst part? I had the draft on my computer with me.

It's times like these when iTunes comes in handy. Pulling out my phone, I selected one of the gloomier pieces*, and stuck in my earbuds.

I knew that it was going to dark very soon, and I needed shelter. I slunk along the forest's edge looking for anything that could make a reasonable place to sleep. I came across nothing of use, and resolved to try my hand at finding something within the forest itself.

I turned off my phone to conserve the battery, power being something that I would probably never be able to obtain again. Sad, I know.

I came across a small path within the forest and walked along it. It gave me a sense of security, even as the sun finally set.

I couldn't see by the light of the moon or stars because the trees were blocking light. I stopped and pulled out my phone, sighing at the fact that I had to use more of its precious power as a flashlight. Phone in hand, I continued walking down the path.

It wasn't long before I got the feeling of being watched. If it was a predator, I was screwed. I had no weapons, save perhaps swinging my laptop around, something that I was loathe to do.

The feeling intensified before I heard a howl. I instinctively started, turning around to see if anything was near me.

"Calm down old boy, wolves don't usually eat humans," I said to myself.

I heard another howl, this one sounding closer to me.

"Then again, they probably don't know that we're predators, too."

I spun around, eyes darting in every direction, hoping that they didn't attack my back. I saw something out of the corner of my eye, two glowing green eyes staring at me menacingly.

I was transfixed in fear, but not before noticing that they were all around me, waiting for an opportunity to strike.

"Back you fiends!" I attempted to shout, but my voice cracked in fear.

I heard a growl behind me, and I spun around to face my attacker. Sadly, this was a diversionary tactic, and the wolf that I was looking at earlier pounced, knocking me over, my phone clattering away.

I scrambled to turn over, and what I saw surprised me. The wolf appeared to be made out of wood.

I was jolted out of my curiosity when he bit down on my left leg.

I screamed in pain, attempting to kick my assailant off of me with my other leg.

Another wolf came up behind me and bit my flailing arm.

Again I screamed.

I was a goner. Two of my limbs were incapacitated, possibly permanently, and several other wolves were ready to kill me.

I heard a cry coming from the trees, then I saw a flash of light erupting from the wolf on my leg's muzzle.

He let go, squealing in pain. The one on my arm quickly followed suit, giving his own anguished cry.

"Mbali na wewe!" came a voice.

I looked up and saw a hooded figure standing over me. It was in the seem shape as the ponies from earlier, and it held a staff in one hoof and a small pot in the other. Normally, I would remark on the physical impossibility of such an act, but extenuating circumstances prevented that. Circumstances like the fact that I was going to die.

"What a strange creature you are," she said. "It is a good thing that my house is not too far."

When I tried to talk, all I could get out was a small squeak.

"You must be terribly injured, to be unable to say more than a whimper."

I was panting heavily, barely managing to remain conscious.

"Shhh, I'm here, there is no need to fear," she said softly.

My vision faded to black.

~~~===***===~~~

I awoke to an alarming pain in both my left arm and left leg.

"AGGHH," I cried.

The pony from last night rushed to my side, lifting my head up and tipping the contents of a small cup into my mouth.

"Drink as much as you can, if you want everything to go according to plan," she said to me.

The potion's effects were almost immediate, and the pain in my limbs subsided to a throbbing ache. Not much of an improvement, but an improvement nonetheless.

I looked at me savior. She was a zebra. Seriously, she was a small zebra with a mohawk and a lot of gold rings.

"Who are you?" I asked after a weighty silence.

"Zecora is my name, alchemy is my game," she replied.

"Thank you."

She simply nodded.

"So, how's the injuries?"

"I fear that you may lose your left legs, but better than losing your life instead," she said.

I inhaled slowly, letting the words sink in.

"I take it the damage is... severe?"

"It is as you fear," she replied.

I gulped.

She went back to her business while I lay there in silence.

I could lose the use of both my left arm and leg. The thought was troubling, to say the least. As it was, I couldn't move them without intense pain, and when I examined my arm, I found it wrapped in tightly wound gauze.

I sighed.

"I have something for you, as well as drink and food," Zecora said.

She brought in my bag containing my laptop. I was genuinely (and pleasantly) surprised to see that it worked fine. My phone did not fare so well. Although it was working, cracks spiderwebbed the screen.

Next, she brought food, which was some sort of porridge, and some water. She had to spoon feed me the porridge, a long and tedious (not to mention, embarrassing) process, that neither of us enjoyed.

After that, she ate her own soup. When she was finished, she came and sat next to the mat where I had been laid.

"Zecora?" She turned to me. "Thank you. Again."

"Tell me, what is your name? Where are you from, that I've never seen your kin?"

"That was a poor rhyme, my friend," I said.

"It is traditional to speak in rhyme, ever since you turn nine," she replied. "Not all zebras, just the medicine fillies, even if it is rather silly."

"Well, I think it's silly too. As to answer your question, my name is Josh. I am from planet earth, more specifically, the United States of America, more specifically... I've moved around a lot."

"As a friend of the Equestrian crown, I want to welcome you to the town."

"Does the town have ponies?" She nodded. "Well, last time I met one, she kicked me off of her property and called me a monster!"

"If it is as you say, then I must be on my way," she said.

"Where are you going?"

"Into the town I must go, to let the little ponies know."

"What if the medicine wears off?"

"It should last for awhile yet,  it just in case, more by you I'll set," she said, pouring another glass and laying it on the ground next to me, as well as giving me more water.

"What am I going to do in the meantime?" I asked.

She sighed and pulled a book from a nearby shelf and set it down beside me.

"Another would probably be good, I read quickly."

She pulled yet another book down, and walked out the door.

"I think I may have annoyed her a bit."

*Note: Read with the music.