The Storm [PM for invite]

[Hippo]

Arrow jumped when Telki woke up. She was almost a little disappointed that the pony was still alive and well. She means, with all the fun stories she could tell her friends how she found a dead body in the desert. She would probably still make it up anyways. Arrow looked at Crystal. [colour=#3366cc]"A fire? Are we going to cook something?" [/colour] Arrow looked as Crystal pathetically did her part in wood collecting.

Arrow walked up to Crystal as she talked about her worthlessness. She didn't really like this much, as Arrow could really only trust her anyways. [colour=#3366cc]"Are you really going to Manehatten?"[/colour] Arrow spoke softly and worried. [colour=#3366cc]"Cuz... if you are... you should totally take me with you!" Arrow bolted and started asking lots of questions. "Is there a flying school there for unicorns? Is there something other than rattlesnakes and coyotes? Wait, there aren't any pegasus ponies are there? I heard Manehatten's streets are filled with dirt than never gets cleaned up and just piles up and up and up. Is that true? And is it true that all Manehattenites are snubs who don't care about anypony but themselves?"[/colour]

​

[lordbrony]

Yelling is a really useful way of snapping one's mind back to a normal level of function, as Telki found out. However the brain fog is another thing. It and its traveling buddy "the headache" usually don't leave so easily.

Trying to blink away the remnants of said brain fog and involuntary scrunching her face in response to the headache throbbing at the back of her skull; she vaguely made out Crystal slumped over something and Arrow yammering about something else. All she could catch was the word "Manehattan"

Manehattan as in home. As in not a cave in the middle of the Applosian desert.

"[colour=#FF8C00]Oooooo my head[/colour]" she muttered. "[colour=#FF8C00]How..long....was I out?[/colour]" and as the detail in her vision slowly returned to her she noticed that Crystal was slumped over a pile of sticks

"[colour=#FF8C00]A fire would be sooo...nice right now." [/colour] she thought to herself "[colour=#FF8C00]A nice warm fire with pretty dancing flam- FIRE![/colour]"

<Cue memories of the last hour flashback>

She turned and ran to where her saddlebags should be and was greeted with the sight of their contents overturned and worse still, her last few pieces of fresh fruit scattered all over the ground with coyote teeth marks in them.

Slowly, grimly she gathered them up. Thanking Celestia that nothing else (mainly her bits pouch and water skins) were damaged or lost.

Gathering everything up and placing them back in her saddlebags, save for levitating the damaged fruit in front of her. She trudged back to where Arrow and Crystal were.

"[colour=#FF8C00]Girls....I have bad news.......[/colour]" she said dejectedly, holding up the damaged fruit

[Davroth]

It didn't take her long to grab the supplies she had stashed away around the cavern. There were many hidden ledges, and usually she would just sleep on one of those, but it was probably better to stay with the others. They didn't seemed to be all too well prepared for surviving on their own, and she couldn't quite bring herself to just leave them here.

She flew back to the group, lifting heavily on a bunch of water skins and 3 big blankets. She wasn't too surprised that there wasn't a fire going yet. [colour=#ffa500]"I only have 3 of those, but I can do without if I have to."[/colour] One of the advantages of Pegasi was their resilience against cold. They had to be to be able to live in the cloud cities, but it also came in handy in cold desert nights.

[colour=#ffa500]"I see you are all still shaken from fighting off the coyotes. I'll take care of the fire."[/colour]

She started piling up wood, and a few minutes later, a small fire roared up and started to slowly consume the wood, bathing the cavern in a warm light. [colour=#ffa500]"I suggest you all lie down in that directing, away from the entrance and behind the fire. That should keep you warm."[/colour] She looked at them one by one. [colour=#ffa500]"We should try and get some sleep, and tomorrow, I'll escort all of you back to Appeloosa. Any questions?"[/colour]

[Dunes]

Crystal stood and stared at lack of a fire, defeated.

“A fire? Are we going to cook something?”

Each word hit her, right in the guilt. She looked up. Oh, look, said a nagging voice in the back of her head. Somepony you’d be utterly incapable of protecting. The filly’s round, shiny eyes were little mirrors, and she could see her own incompetence reflected in them.

“[colour=#800080]The fire’s mostly for… not-dying purposes. Ask Milky.[/colour]” She sighed.

Crystal stared at Arrow. The little filly was running around, asking rapid-fire questions, and Crystal had trouble processing them all. She was deliberately trying to avoid a glazed expression, keeping her eyes as wide-open as possible. As exhausted as she was, the effect was probably unsettling.

And it dried out her eyes. She blinked, grunting, and let her expression fall.

“[colour=#800080]Yeah, I’m going back. I obviously can’t hack it here.[/colour]” She made a noise, sounding suspiciously like choking back a sob. “[colour=#800080]But uh. There is a… magic school for unicorns, I think. I don’t know if you can magic yourselves to fly or whatever, but they might know.[/colour]” There was a catch in her voice. She swallowed in an attempt to get rid of it. “[colour=#800080]There’s definitely more than rattlesnakes and coyotes, and there are definitely pegasi. The dirt, uh,[/colour]” her voice caught again, “[colour=#800080]it depends on what street you’re on. Mostly it’s alright. Same thing for the snobs. Mostly it’s… alright.[/colour]”

Crystal looked on morosely as Milky set about actual, useful preparations for the night.

"I suggest you all lie down in that directing, away from the entrance and behind the fire. That should keep you warm … We should try and get some sleep, and tomorrow, I'll escort all of you back to Appeloosa. Any questions?"

Crystal nodded, and got up to slink over to the place she’d be sleeping. Passing Milky, she looked at her, feeling the prickle of tears beginning to well up. Crystal slung her arms around Milky, feeling the weight of the day. This pony had saved her life this afternoon, and hadn’t stopped.

“[colour=#800080]Thank you.[/colour]”

[Hippo]

[colour=#000000]Arrow would never understand the typical pony. There were so many different types of personalities. There were so many different walks of life. Some ponies worked hard at what they did, others complained why they felt misguided on their path of life. Some ponies carved their own path through the sand. And some ponies were pegasi. All different, and in some sort of contrast with who Arrow was. But who was Arrow Plain? Some filly raised by buffalo?

Arrow would forget her own problems as the ponies came to a realization that for now, they were safe from danger. But this Telki pony, she was an interesting one. Arrow couldn't say much to her, just tilt her head and observe. Is this what it looked like when you went insane? And what about Crystal? Was she also snapping out of her mind? Was the only sane pony in this cave a pegasus?

Arrow slapped herself of that thought. Such a silly silly thought. [/colour][colour=#0066ff] [/colour][colour=#3366cc]"Wow, Manehatten sounds like a horrible place!"[/colour][colour=#000000] Arrow's voice echoed uncontrollably through the cave. Her whine hissed involuntarily out of her mouth with every breathe. [/colour][colour=#3366cc] "Why don't we go somewhere exciting! Like Talonapolis?"[/colour][colour=#000000] Arrow stood on her hind legs and made a few fake punches. [/colour][colour=#3366cc]"We can show those stupid griffons who's boss!"[/colour]

[colour=#000000]Telki was out of her mind. And while Arrow would have been enticed by Milky to go against a proposition to sleep deeper in the cave like a bunch of craven pegasus ponies, focusing on a pony who was about to snap was way more interesting. After Telki's implication that something was bad, Arrow looked left and right inconspicuously and leaned forward. [/colour][colour=#3366cc] "What?"[/colour]

​

[lordbrony]

Telki did not really know what the others would say to her announcement. Perhaps their already fragile morale would be shattered and trampled on by what she was presenting, perhaps they were too tired to care, perhaps this would be the last straw that pushes somepony over the edge...

Almost not daring to look, she raised her gaze. The white Pegasus had seemingly taken charge of the situation and was offering blankets and water skins. In her heart she sensed that beneath the gruff exterior the pegasus really did not mean any lasting harm to anypony. But then again, being violently tackled and then left in the lurch would probably raise trust issues in anypony. She'll probably have to be careful with that one, any futher conflict would probably not end well for either of them given the Pegasus's explosive temper and Telki's own stubborn refusal to back down. In any case, the pegasus seemed like she knew what she was doing, maybe this could be the chance to pick up a few pointers about being a traveler.

Strangly, the only one who was seemingly unaffected by the days events was that yellow filly; who was as energetic and upbeat now as when they had first met.

"What?"

"[colour=#FF8C00]Well the fruit is chewed in some places but I guess I can cut out those bits...[/colour]" her voice had seemingly lapsed into a unfamilar monotone ([colour=#FFA500]"[/colour][colour=#FF8C00]Probably from the fatigue"[/colour] she thought). "[colour=#FF8C00]Anypody want some....[/colour]"

Without really waiting for a reply, she approached and sat down heavily in front of the fire, letting her saddlebags slide off her back; leaving one apple still floating in front of her while setting the rest carefully on top of her saddlebags. Almost mechanically, she produced a small knife from her saddlebag then began to pick at the apple.

It was from one of the periodic gazes upwards that she noticed Crystal hugging Milky. No matter how bad she felt, she tried to take everything in stride as a consequence of her decision to travel. There was a mare who just seemed like all her hope and faith had been pulled out painfully bit by bit of her by circumstance, leaving only reluctant acceptance and resignation. Just like a filly she once knew, a filly she knew very well indeed.

"[colour=#FF8C00]Here you go[/colour]" she heard that unfamiliar monotone again as she sent that apple, which by now probably resembled something one might find at a very edgy sculpture gallery in Canterlot floating gently to that yellow filly.

Scra'pping the bottom of the barrel for her optimism, she tried to put on a brave face for Crystal.

"[colour=#FF8C00]Hey...don't feel so down[/colour]" she tried to catch the purple mare's attention, while putting on one of her trademark beaming smiles and trying to look and sound optimistic, tired as she was.

[Davroth]

Milky wasn't hungry, and now that she had taken care of water, fire, and a place to sleep, she noticed just how tired she was. It had been a surprisingly full day. But now things were under control. Or so she thought.

The white pegasus hadn't always been the best with feelings. Growing up /very/ secluded, only being around a few dozen pegasi for most of her life, she had found it to be very difficult for her to make bonds with others, once she left her home. So she was a little taken aback when Crystal just hugged her out of the blue. All she could think to do was put one forleg around her shoulders and pad the purple earth pony's back.

[colour=#ffa500]"There... there."[/colour] Yeah, that sounded comforting, right? [colour=#ffa500]"Don't worry about it. You clearly needed help."[/colour] She attempted a smile, something else that really didn't come easy to her, and she was kinda glad that Crystal couldn't see it. However, at the end of the day, she was still incredibly tired, and without noticing, gently sank against earth pony, struggling to keep her eyes open. She yawned quietly.

All her previous anger about the yellow unicorn filly or suspicion against Telki were washed away by approaching sleep. As her eyes closed one final time for the day, she just fell asleep, standing there, resting on Crystal Tower's shoulders.

[Dunes]

Crystal's muscles were trembling with exhaustion, or the last traces of adrenaline burning away. Her eyelids started to droop.

"Wow, Manehatten sounds like a horrible place! Why don't we go somewhere exciting! Like Talonapolis? We can show those stupid griffons who's boss!"

A scrap of Manehattan pride reared its head. Crystal opened one eye and stuck out her tongue. “[colour=#4b0082]'Ey, shaddap, you.[/colour]” It was the most appropriate response she could think of. She chuckled a little without knowing why.

Crystal barely had time to register Milky's response before there was a sleeping pegasus resting on her shoulders. She blinked blearily at her. Crystal blinked hard to fight sleep, but there was not much use resisting the onset of that warm, soft cloud of unconsciousness.

Telki spoke, jarring her out of her fog.

"Hey...don't feel so down"

“[colour=#4b0082]It's... it's hard not to. I spent all of my money on that cabin, and the land, and getting here, and...[/colour]” she trailed off. She swallowed, trying to find her voice again. It took her a minute.

“[colour=#4b0082]Still. I'm not dead.[/colour]” A wave of sleep washed over her, tugging her consciousness under the current. She raised out of it long enough to add, “[colour=#4b0082]Somethin' to be said for that.[/colour]”

With that, sleep dragged her under, and she sank gently to the ground, under the sleeping pegasus.

[Hippo]

[colour=#000000]Arrow was disappointed to see the other ponies all getting really sleepy, and making their way towards their personal slumber. Even Crystal gave Arrow a half-asleep message before drifting to her peaceful rest. Arrow looked around at the ponies who suddenly started snoring. [/colour][colour=#3366cc]"What!? Sleep!? Now!? You've gotta be kidding me!"[/colour]

[colour=#000000]Arrow squealed as she complained, only to see Telki wave a strangley carved apple in front of her. Arrow's attention span switched gears to the shape of the fruit, and and grabbed it to take a bite. [/colour][colour=#3366cc] "You sure do cut apples in interesting shapes."[/colour][colour=#000000] Within a few moments, Arrow and devoured the apple and stood back up on all four legs determined to make her energy evident.

She started galloping around the cave where the ponies were and decided to threaten every sleeping pony with her willingness to adventure. [/colour][colour=#3366cc]"Ok old ponies, if you don't get up right now so we can have more pirate adventures by the time I count down to zero, you're going to hear my secret weapon, by ultimate super duper filly scream of death!"[/colour][colour=#000000] Arrow smirked evilly, and then proceeded to countdown.[/colour]

[colour=#3366cc]"10, 9, 8."[/colour]

[colour=#000000]Arrow shouted, losing volume with every breathe.[/colour]

[colour=#3366cc]"7, 6..."[/colour]

[colour=#000000]Arrow started speaking softer and softer, her eye lids growing heavier by the second.[/colour]

[colour=#3366cc]"5, fu, fou..."[/colour]

[colour=#000000]And with that, Arrow's face planted onto the rocky floor of the cave, and fell asleep instantly.[/colour]

​

[lordbrony]

Telki was relatively surprised and more than slightly amused that she was the last pony standing, even outlasting that energetic yellow filly; after all she had traveled the desert just like the other ponies and also she had to face off a pack of coyotes.

"[colour=#FF8C00]I should try to pace myself better[/colour]" she thought "[colour=#FF8C00]Don't want to burn out like Daddy[/colour]"

She lay close to the fire and draped her traveling cloak around her. Somepony should keep watch in case the coyotes or Celestia knows what else came back.

By the flickering glow of the campfire she took the time to take a snack and to sort out her belongings, finally coming to her locket (thank Celestia it survived the desert and the coyotes with nothing more than a few scratches). She popped it open and stared at the faithful words and pondered their meaning with regards to the coyote attack

"[colour=#FF8C00]Be proud, not afraid, of who you are and what you can do[/colour]" she heard the low voice of the locket's previous owner repeat in her mind

"[colour=#FF8C00]I wonder, if I have to one day top what happened here today[/colour]" she mused to herself, setting her head on her saddlebag and before she knew it she was out like a light