Post by starguy on Jul 15, 2017 21:41:12 GMT
Sleipnir was as fast as the wind. In the seemingly endless desert that separated the lands of the buffalo tribe from Appaloosa, Sleipnir was enjoying a well-deserved run; dodging cacti, desert foxes, lizards, scorpions, and other folk native to the hot and dusty desert. It felt to Sleipnir that none of his problems could catch him while he was running, not his greedy brother who had stolen his inheritance, not his parent's expectations, and certainly not the corrupt police ponies in his brother's employ who kept following him around Equestria. Wind gusted through Sleipnir's face as he continued to run, cooling him down in the desert heat. On the horizon, he saw several unusual tents like none he had seen before. Curious, Sleipnir accelerated.
Tents usually mean ponies, but who would be crazy enough to live this far out in the wilderness? he thought.
He felt a sudden stinging sensation in his leg just above his hoof. Sleipnir brushed it off and kept running. It wasn't a big deal, he would just run it out of his system. He would keep running and running, like he always had. Sleipnir heard his father's voice in his head.
Running from your problems again, son? You were always a disappointment to me.
"Shut up" muttered Sleipnir aloud, knowing perfectly that his father couldn't hear him.
The pain in his lower leg had intensified to powerful burning which had engulfed the entire foreleg and part of his shoulder.
You had potential, you had money and you were a somepony. You weren't just a hick from some nowhere town, you were the son of a count!
"Shut up!" yelled Sleipnir, running faster. The tents were now much closer. The creatures near them were clearly not ponies but some other kind of hairy...thing.
His vision was becoming very blurry. Something was in his eye, he decided. Nothing serious.
The pain had spread to all his legs but Sleipnir continued to run.
Sleipnir's mouth filled with dirt. Dust and sand filled his eyes and Sleipnir realized he was no longer running.
He began to fade in and out of consciousness, dimly aware of being lifted by someone or something onto a mat of some kind. In any case, it was softer than the desert floor. His vision had mutated into colors and hazy shapes. He was sure he had heard somepony say "snake bite". Was that what had happened to him?
Sleipnir realized his mouth was very dry and tried to get up to retrieve his canteen. A gentle but firm hoof pressed him against the fabric he was lying on.
"Rezzzst" the voice said.
They were definitely not ponies, Sleipnir decided.
Tents usually mean ponies, but who would be crazy enough to live this far out in the wilderness? he thought.
He felt a sudden stinging sensation in his leg just above his hoof. Sleipnir brushed it off and kept running. It wasn't a big deal, he would just run it out of his system. He would keep running and running, like he always had. Sleipnir heard his father's voice in his head.
Running from your problems again, son? You were always a disappointment to me.
"Shut up" muttered Sleipnir aloud, knowing perfectly that his father couldn't hear him.
The pain in his lower leg had intensified to powerful burning which had engulfed the entire foreleg and part of his shoulder.
You had potential, you had money and you were a somepony. You weren't just a hick from some nowhere town, you were the son of a count!
"Shut up!" yelled Sleipnir, running faster. The tents were now much closer. The creatures near them were clearly not ponies but some other kind of hairy...thing.
His vision was becoming very blurry. Something was in his eye, he decided. Nothing serious.
The pain had spread to all his legs but Sleipnir continued to run.
Sleipnir's mouth filled with dirt. Dust and sand filled his eyes and Sleipnir realized he was no longer running.
He began to fade in and out of consciousness, dimly aware of being lifted by someone or something onto a mat of some kind. In any case, it was softer than the desert floor. His vision had mutated into colors and hazy shapes. He was sure he had heard somepony say "snake bite". Was that what had happened to him?
Sleipnir realized his mouth was very dry and tried to get up to retrieve his canteen. A gentle but firm hoof pressed him against the fabric he was lying on.
"Rezzzst" the voice said.
They were definitely not ponies, Sleipnir decided.