Why is it Always Me [Dead]

[Stardust]

Stardust shivered. She was absolutely, without a doubt, the stupidest pony she knew. Coming into the Everfree Forest at night was just brilliant on her part. She pulled the shawl around her back tighter, and coughed a small puff of white air. She could see her breath this late at night, since it got colder as the night progressed. Winding her way through the tall, swaying trees, she took a deep breath. Everything would be fine, as soon as she got to the other side of the forest. That was where her home was. Her warm, safe home. Stardust sniffed, pushing white and blue hair out of her eyes. She wouldn't have come at all if it hadn't have been for that pesky Pegasus that always tormented her on her way home. Escaping the pony meant having to go the long way home. The very long way. The long and scary way.

She needed to breath and walk faster. What she would give to be a Pegasus, or at least unicorn and use some ability to get home faster. But no, she was a humble earth pony and therefore told her aching hooves to keep going. A twig snapped, and she stopped. Her heart was beating at an unsafe speed, and she willed it to slow down. Swallowing a lump in her throat, she walked briskly now, almost at a jog. The wind rustled, leaves in the trees over head. There was another twig snap. Stardust ran. 

She ran until her breathing was heavy and fast. She run until she ran straight into a tree that she hadn't been looking at. Her head ached, and she sat up against the trunk. She was insane. She could have dealt with the Pegasus, but no, she came through the forest. Her of all ponies, Stardust, the most easily scared of them all. Her head pounded, and she tried to right herself. A bushed rustled off to the right. Stardust held her breath.

[Sun Riser]

Gleaming blue-green eyes shown into the darkness. Then revealing itself as a dusty-brown pony, "Who are you?!" The mare screeched. Her blue-green eyes shown with fear. By instinct, the brown pony dropped into a crouch. She pounded a hoof into the ground, "I'm pretty sure no pony would dare go into the Everfree Forest at this time, so tell me..." the mare stood to her full height "Who are you and why are you here?!" The mare snorted, billowing a fresh bout of steam into the other mare's face.

Leaning in, Stormy Flee saw a terrified expression on the other mare's face. Feeling a pang of guilt, Storm staggered back. Then hushed and gave a cold stare at the other mare.

[pogopride]

Pogo Pride was out for an evening jog in the forests surrounding her new home of Ponyville.  She was nothing if not a pony of habit, and just because she didn't know the area as much as her home of Canterlot is no reason for her to slack off on her routine.  But as her evening jog turned into a night time jog, and the forest began to look increasingly menacing the earth pony started to suspect that she could perhaps be the eensy-teensy bit lost.

She rooted around through the satchel hanging by her flank and pulled out a map which she had purchased earlier in the day at the market.  Carefully spreading it out upon the ground she attempted to get her bearings.  "So if I started here, and I ran along here... I think I took a turn here," she said out loud, though there was no one around to hear her (at least hopefully so)  But before she could work out exactly where she has found herself a gust of wind picked up the map and carried it off into the woods. "Hey!  Get back here!" she ordered the map.  She began to chase the map.  But it was seemingly both quicker and more clever than she.  Each time she thought she was going to catch it it seemingly changed direction all on its own.  With no warning it changed direction to be carried upwards into the night sky.  She made a terrific leap up from the ground, for a moment feeling like she was sailing along like a pegasus, but to no avail.  Just as she snapped her teeth to try and catch the corner of the map it was carried far off into the sky.

"Crud," the mare said and hung her ears in defeat.  That is when the wind picked up again and the sound of... laughter?  The wind in the branches and hollow dead trees made a sound not unlike a dry, raspy laugh.  "S...stop laughing at me!" the indignant pony said and stamped a hoof.  But the laughter continued.  She shrunk back and turned.  "I'm so outta here," she said.  With that the pony was out of there at her full tilt.  She ran what felt like hours, though it was in fact just minutes.  The stump of her back right leg ached from within her prosthetic with the impact of her careless gallop causing the artificial limb to smack upwards with every hoof stamp.

That is when she saw some color in the otherwise dead and gray forest just ahead of her.  But with the speed Pogo was going she didn't have time to react to whatever it was.  It seems that she was going to go through whatever was there.  "Gangway!" she cried just in case.  That is the moment when Pogo collided with Stormy.   The collision causing Pogo to tumble out of control and next collide with Stardust!

[Stardust]

Stardust shrieked as a pair of blue-green eyes stared her down and a dusty-colored mare asked her a couple of intense questions. Stardust couldn't speak, and she huddled against her tree. The mare backed off a little now, hearing her say nothing, but she still held her dagger-throwing stare. Sitting in an awkward position against the scratchy bark, she heard the whistling wind rustle the dying leaves as fall blew through ponyville. Suddenly, her ears snapped up as she heard a voice yell, "Gangway!"

Soon enough, a light brown mare ran smack into the other mare in front of her, and the momentum of her made both of the ponies slam into her and her tree. Making an "oomph" sound, she felt her back left leg twisted at on odd angle. As the ponies untangled themselves, she tried to stand, but to no avail. Her ankle gave out under her weight, and she landed on her stomach, her legs spread like a starfish. Whimpering, she turning over and tried to get a good look at her ankle. It was a little puffy, and a little red, but other than that, it looked ok. How was she expected to walk home now?

[Sun Riser]

Sneering, Stormy Flee unraveled herself from the mess and threw a deadly stare at the newcomer. "Watch where you're going! Who are you people anyway? Tromping around in the Everfree Forest like unlikely heroes!" Storm yelled, face turning slightly red. It started to rain, as if Storm's anger beckoned the rain to make everything worse. But of course, Storm welcomed the dreary rain. Glancing at the blue pony's twisted hoof, Storm blinked in disgust. She could not dare look at wounds. Turning, Storm muttered, "We should get that hoof fixed, don't want an infection do we?"

Storm trotted over to the blue pony and lifted her up with her stocky bulk. Looking at the other pony, giving a fiery look as if to will the pony to help. With prowess, Storm spread her wings for stability and slowly started trotting.

[pogopride]

Pogo answered, or attempted to answer, Stormy's question about who she is.  But a mouth full of dirt, sticks and leaves does not an easy reply make.  "Mrm Progrl Prhrld," was the response she managed to get out.  Pogo spat out the mouth full of the forest floor, followed by a series of tongue raspberries to try to get the rest of the yicky dirt off her tongue.  "I'm Pogo Pride!" she eventually responded and heartily thumped herself in the chest with a hoof.

The look on her face shifted from that of cheerfulness to remorse when she saw that Stardust's leg is hurt.  "Oh! Oh!  I'm so so sorry!"  Pogo lookedback over her shoulder at the way she came from.  "I thought I heard something," she said with a shiver running up her spine.  "Er... that is and I wanted to make sure that you both were okay!"  It is a little white lie she told herself.  She honestly had no idea the other two ponies were in the forest.  Even if she did, she was more concerned with getting away from the creepy noises.  But being seen as a coward was somehow even more terrifying than whatever creepy thing lurking in the woods her overactive pony imagination could cook up.

"I can carry her," Pogo said to Stormy and give herself another thump on the chest.  "I own a hauling business.  I could carry three ponies her size on my back!" Pogo says and holds her head up high.  Though likely this is a lie of another sort, the boastful kind.

[pyroxblade]

Night Mist's ears twitched at the sound of three mare's voices drifting up to the forest canopy; this was enough to wake him rom his bed made of branches where he hoped to stay the night.
'That sound ... three mares what are they doing out here? ' Night grabbed his saddle bag and jumped down. Galloping from branch to branch he reach the forest floor meeting the three mares. On the way down he caught a bit of their conversetion 'Someone is hurt? i have to make sure it is nothing serious.'
"I suggest that you don't move her until she is treated we can't have any more injuries" Night Mist told the Mare offering to carry the one that was injured.
"It is better to stay put till the rain subsides. " Night Mist walked over to the injured mare and introduced himself and examined the injury.
"Hello my name Night Mist and I sometimes work as a guide in the forest ... Good your injury is not as bad as I thought, I have some herbs that will bring down the swelling. You just need to stay off it for a few days " He smiled to reassure her that it would be fine. Night Mist took out the herbs from his bag to start the treatment and then to the other two asked.
"I have a tarp in my bag if any of you have experience in making a tent can you get started in making a shelter?"

[Stardust]

Suddenly overwhelmed by a stallion that had appeared from out of nowhere, she found herself being tended to, picked up and set down a couple times as well. He introduced himself as Night Mist, sometimes working as a guide in the forest. He had a reassuring smile, even if her was now quite damp. The rain was coming down hard now, and the wind was picking up. it was like someone taking a cold piece of sandpaper and rubbing it across... well across her whole body. Her hair was plastered to her face now, and she pushed it up with a front hoof as Night Mist treated her with herbs from a bag. Her leg was no longer as swollen, but still slightly bent at an awkward angle. She wanted to punch herself for deciding to come into the Everfree Forest at night, not to mention when a storm happened to be brewing. But another questing burned at her- why were all these other ponies out as well? She was sure they were asking the same questions in their heads as well. Summoning courage from no possible source, she said,
"I'm Stardust. As long as we happen to be out here, I wouldn't mind to know why everyone else seemed to end up here as well." She looked at the one whom she thought was named Pogo Pride, and the other one that she didn't know the name of. They had both tried to get her up and walking, but now, Night Mist (suddenly serving like a doctor) said that she had to stay off it for a couple days. How in the hay was she expected to get back home? Of course, these ponies would offer, but she couldn't let them half carry her! It would be ridiculous. Sighing, she sorted through her slim options.

[Sun Riser]

   "That hoof there looks a little bent." Stormy noted, "It needs to be popped back into place, I would do it, but you know I need your permission Stardust" Storm dragged the name as if she were to drag it through the dust and grime of the forest.. She looked at the crowd of ponies, getting quite aggravated by the building amount. Storm gently touched Stardust's ankle, just to move it a bit to closely examine the twisted mess. Storm twitched, "Yep, I can either pop it into place, or the doc over here will let you lope around with it. Or we would just need to carry you." The dreary rain continued it's somber parade, pounding the dust and soil in the forest into a foul mud. 

   With a splash, one silvery droplet fell into the mud puddle at Storm's hooves. Sending a great spray out, the mud from the spray grotesquely splattered on Storm's face. Storm grimaced, even with a good storm, the company of too many is making Storm brew with anger. She bit her tongue and held back all of the ounces of pure anger that was slowly dripping out of her. 

[Stardust]

Stardust, although seeming like the quiet one, was starting to get irritated with this pony in front of her. She was probably only trying to help, not to mention get herself wherever she was going, but she couldn't help but feel the aggravation emanating from this mare's tone. Just the way she said her name like it was something distasteful made her scowl a bit. She watched as she got mud splattered all over her front. Stardust bit back a giggle.
"Have at it." she told her, extending her leg a little. She was hoping it wouldn't hurt too bad, but she didn't want to act like a baby, ao she sucked it up. The other pony there, Pogo Pride, looked apologetic, but she brushed her off, seeing as she didn't mean to be here in the first place. Stardust could now feel the oozy mud squish around beneath her. What had once been quite pokey dirt was now yucky, sticky mud that was slowly rising around her sides. She slipped around a bit on the ground in the falling rain, and she looked down to avoid getting hit in the eye. She gave up on pushing away her mane and instead looked through blurry eyes from the hair hanging in front of them.
"I'm sure you'll all agree that the sooner we get me fixed, the soon we can leave and in that case, the sooner the better." she hoped she didn't sound to huffy or rude, but it wasn't her fault her ankle was twisted...
She breathed in heavily, and pushed it out slowly. It wasn't Pogo's fault. It was her decision to come into the Everfree Forest in the first place. She just had to take a breath, and relax. It would be fine.

[Sun Riser]

   "Aren't you the brave one?" Storm scoffed, "Okay, this is going to hurt a bit." Storm, with a hint to hesitation, grabbed StarDust's back hoof. With a soft pop, the hoof popped into place, with all movement back. I have felt this before. Storm thought to herself, it should be excruciatingly painful for the quickest second. If StarDust does not feel that, she must be amazingly strong willed. Withdrawing her bulky hooves, Storm stood up and stepped back. "Can you get up?" Storm leaned in, with a bit of unshown sympathy.

[Stardust]

Bracing herself, Stardust felt the mare's hooves on her leg. With a sharp pop, Stardust yelped at the small burst of pain. Within seconds however, it was gone. Standing up, though, made her weary of the slippery mud beneath her. With the swelling now dissipated from Night Mist's herbs, and put her three good and one bad-but-not-really-any-more-bad hooves underneath her. Shakily, she pushed her weight up and for a second, she stood, supporting her own weight fine. But due to the lightening but still falling rain and mud underneath her, all four of her legs slipped out underneath her in opposite directions. Her chin hit with a plop in the brown sludgy stuff and now her whole underside was covered in the stuff. Standing once more, although with a sore ankle, she quickly walked with a slight limp away from the large puddle. Wiping the mud from her chin, sure it made her look like she sported a beard, she faced the ponies in front of her, waiting for something to happen while her ankle throbbed.

[pyroxblade]

Night mist saw the two mares repositioning Stardust's hoof as he tied the tarp between three trees to get everyone out of the rain though it was to late, already the ground was turning to mud. Still that was some comfort plus the rain should not take long to disperse.
"Miss if you have any pain just tell me I have Willow Bark I gadder that can act as a pain killer if you need it. But until the rain stops I am also curious why is there so much activity in the forest?
But maybe i should start first. Like I said before my name is night mist and I work as a guide but my main job is to gather medical and magical plants from the forest. So how about you all, how did you all get here?"

[Stardust]

The rain suddenly stopped, or so it seemed. The pony she thought she recalled as Night Mist had hung a tarp across two trees, shielding the ponies underneath. The ground was boggy and wet, but was not as bad now that the rain wasn't constantly adding too it.

She pondered the question asked by Night Mist. How should she put her predicament?

"If you would like to know, I was being chases by a... Good friend of mine and decided to trick... Her by going through the forest." She said, changing the parts about the Pegasus being anything but her friend and about how he happened to be a he. She felt like that wasn't necessary information, because then she would have to get into the fact that the Pegasus was chasing her because she was regularly tormented by ponies and yadda yada yada.

[Dark Star]

It was a calm night for Dark Star, clear skies that were perfect for star-gazing. Everything was going well until she heard yelling going on in the distance. As if that weren't enough, it started to rain. The young unicorn made a "-_-" face and started packing up her telescope. No umbrella and no debris to make a make-shift one made for a sopping-wet walk back home through the forest. To make things worse, the yelling she heard earlier was in the same direction she needed to go to get home, something she grimaced at.

After about 10 minutes of silent trotting, Dark Star started hearing voices coming from up ahead. She hid behind a tree and peered ahead for what might be lurking. Unfortunately though, she wasn't close enough to make out any specific details, other than the fact that there 2 dark-coated ponies with brightly-colored manes and 2 others that were varying shades of brown with equally bright-colored manes. She moved as silently as possible to avoid making contact with them, but didn't notice a twig in the mud that she was about to step on.

It snapped, alerting all the others to her location. "Hey, who are you?" one of them shouted. Dark Star leaned out from behind the tree and proceeded to walk forward, nervously looking down while doing so. She couldn't see their faces, but she knew that one of them was asking who she was. "M-my name is Dark Star, I was just walking through here, I'm sorry if I'm bothering you".