A Cure for Every Wound [Silk Suture] [Concluded]

[Silk Suture]

Silk Suture nodded, content that the mare had seen the cold, hard facts and agreed to go together without any further arguing. They didn't have time for that, so the faster both of the ponies agreed to a plan, the sooner they could get rid of the plant and hopefully prevent any awful catastrophes from happening. Unfortunately, the stallion had been the first one to act and as he had put the jar in his own saddlebags, that more or less decided who was going to have to carry the potentially very dangerous plant back to the Everfree Forest. Not an idea Silk liked too much, but when it was either him or an injured pony... He supposed that the best plan would be that he was the carrier. No matter how awful the thought of that sounded.

Raven had to go get something from upstairs, leaving the pharmacist alone. His saddlebags were tightened and made extra secure, the extra weight from the jar and the plant being quite too obvious to the nervous pegasus. He wasn't exactly comfortable with having the thing this close to his own flank, but being alone with the said thing so close to him? Quite uncomfortable indeed. Silk Suture couldn't help but fidget a little, forced to wait for the mare patiently for what felt like ages despite it only being a very short while in reality.

The stallion's ears visibly perked as he could finally hear the hoof-steps heading downstairs, lifting his head to look in Raven's direction. He followed he with his gaze, his legs starting to move after her as well once she headed past him, to the door. This was it, they were ready. While the pegasus didn't enjoy the mare's idea of him leading them into the dangerous forest, it was a good idea to have someone keep an eye on the plant – and Raven was going to help him with the directions, so getting lost shouldn't be a problem. Probably.

Defeated, Silk nodded, walking outside and waiting for the mare to follow him before changing his pace to a gallop, one comfortable enough so both of them could hold it for a while. They had to keep it up. The stallion listened for Raven's directions carefully, biting his lower lip. It had already been more excitement for one day than he ever wanted, but a trip to the Everfree Forest would make it quite certain that it wouldn't stop here...

[20monkies]

It was the last thing Raven wanted to do today, considering her condition from last night. She wasn’t sure she could face the Everfree Forest again for some time but it had to be done. Returning to the place that had traumatized her the night before, could have eaten her alive, the events unravelling in her minds eyes. She could visualize it with more clarity as they came closer and closer to that dreaded place all ponies feared. The dark shadows wrapping around her, the sounds of fluttering and the screeching of terrible creatures of the night. Raven couldn’t help but shudder, but kept the steady galloping pace without appearing too panicked to other ponies. She usually wasn’t this scared – mostly, she was brave and kept a heavy stone on her heart. But this was different.

Ponyville seemed a little quiet and there was a little fear that perhaps the customer in Silk’s shop might have already spread the news of the terrible ‘pony-eater’. The weather was cold and the ground was blanketed with fresh white snow, crunching under their hooves.

As she led them towards the Everfree Forest, giving Silk specific directions, Raven kept a close eye on the saddlebag. Her ears perked when she heard that strange screeching sound, coming to a sudden halt. Eyes had widened a bit and she felt strange tremors all over her body. The saddlebag on Silk’s back was wriggling, the muffled shattering of glass. Her wing stinging all of a sudden, the awareness of her wound blinding her.

“Silk!” She almost screamed out, the Pegasus wobbling in place. They were almost there, already just at the outskirts of the Forest. Nothing like this had ever happened to Raven before, and she was frightened of what was happening to her. Of the plant having broken the glass jar it was contained in, the saddlebag bulking in size and weighting down the side of Silk Suture’s flank.

[Silk Suture]

Ponyville was... Quiet. More so than usual. The air felt tense and unnatural, almost like everyone knew something terrible was happening was preparing for the worst. Silk Suture was unsure if such silence was better than a full-blown panic the screaming mare from earlier could have caused, but at least it made it easier for him and Raven to get where they had to, when ponies weren't running like headless chickens and screaming their lungs out on the streets. While the situation was unfortunate for all the ponies who had to be scared – and hopefully for no actual reason – but for the two pegasi, it was a streak of luck they needed to get to the Everfree Forest as fast as possible and without any questions they might have to answer on their way there.

The pharmacist was extremely concentrated, barely even letting himself to breathe. The snow on the ground was kicked up by his hooves as he ran, the mare right behind him. Now, Silk didn't exactly need instructions to go through Ponyville and find the Everfree Forest, as he knew his way there quite well. However, being allowed to just not think about anything and concentrate on the task at hand was extremely helpful, the entire thinking process being Raven's job right now. All the stallion had to do was run where she told him to, feeling the weight of the jar he was carrying bump against his side.

A screech from the saddlebag was something Silk Suture had never wanted to hear. He could hear the glass jar crack, the weight of the saddlebag suddenly becoming heavier and heavier. The pegasus was quite eager to continue and get rid of the thing while they still had some time – or so he at least hoped. The Everfree Forest was right there, the oddest thing any pony could ever be happy about. But as the mare's hoof-steps started to quiet down, Silk was forced to come to a stop as well.

Raven's voice caused the stallion to look at her, noticing how weak she was looking. Perhaps it wasn't a very good idea to take her with him, after all! But there hadn't really been a choice. Silk was obviously not wanting to come too close to the mare, afraid of the thing he could feel wriggling inside the saddlebag, clearly outside the jar by now. Of course the pharmacist was worried about Raven, but he didn't want to risk bringing the plant any closer to her now!
"What is it?" He called out, his voice concerned. His saddlebags seemed to be getting heavier, the other side drooping lower and lower. Clearly the increased weight and wriggling made the pegasus consider removing the saddlebags before anything bad could happen to him, quite ready to drop them with the screeching plant if it came to that.

[20monkies]

Raven Feather had to swallow hard and fight back the emotions that were threatening to overwhelm her. She had to remain calm and keep her composure – that’s what she did best. This… plant wasn’t as scary as the other things she had seen before in the Everfree Forest. She did her best not to mess with the natural balance, or upset anything or anyone in there. Sometimes, the worst just came after a pony without any realization that you did wrong. Clearly, this was that case where she had trespassed into territory she shouldn’t have and this plant was ready to claim it’s right.

As soon as she heard Silk Sutures voice calling out to her, she had to snap back to reality and watched as his saddlebags were bulking in size, threatening to slip off him any moment. The stallion might as well have thrown it off if it weren’t for his own determination to get it inside quickly. She could still feel the pinching in her wing, the pain creeping up and down every vein – every particle of her being. There was no way she was going to let this plant win and take over.

But the distraction was just long enough for the saddlebag to burst open, large roots creeping out and wavering in the air. The large bud was now a large flat disk, and stem that was the heart popped out and revealed itself. The disk opened into two, pink and green, snapping at the air with sharp claw-like teeth, it’s stem littered with sharp thorns. It was still partially in the saddlebag, but it’s roots were creeping along the ground.

They had to get out of here.

They had to get this thing back in the Forest, and quickly.

“Silk, keep going! I’ll keep it distracted, but you have to keep moving forward!” It was the only way before the thing decided it wanted to have Silk for lunch.

Raven quickly picked up a large branch that was on the ground and waved after it as they had to keep moving forward, into the dark Everfree Forest. If it grabbed hold of it, she could keep finding things to distract it. She hoped she wouldn’t have to resort to using her knife, if she had to. There was no way she was going to risk cutting it apart while it was on Silk’s back right now.

[Silk Suture]

Silk Suture didn't move, concerned of the mare behind him. He just looked at her, waiting for an answer. Anything. Something had to be wrong with her as well, she wasn't probably just shouting to tell that the plant was growing – the pony did feel that himself after all, so it wasn't exactly a warning that was needed. Something looked to be wrong with Raven herself, but she said nothing. A rather worrisome thing, that. She seemed tired and weak, so perhaps it was just her not being quite healthy enough to be running around like this... But even that was serious, as it meant she shouldn't be running around like this, when her body objected to it. Still, the pharmacist could just hope that was the reason and not something... Even worse.

She didn't answer. Instead, the plant grew even more, the stallion feeling its weight before it finally burst out of the saddlebag, not able to keep together under all the strain the plant was forcing on it. Snake-like roots forced themselves out of the ripped open seams, wriggling almost like they were trying to get the entire plant out and run on its own feet... Well, roots. Root-feet. The stem popped outside, standing tall and proud as the bud had opened to reveal something that could only be a mouth ready to gobble down even pony-sized prey... And Silk was the pony closest to the thing, the one who would be the easiest one to catch and eat.

A horrible thought, that. The pegasus just looked at the strange creature in horror, not even sure what to think anymore. Of course he wanted to get as far away from the plant as possible, but the possibility of it seeing and snatching him when he tried to hurry to safety was there. This far, it didn't seem like it had even really understood the stallion was there, so perhaps he would be safe as long as he didn't attract any attention to himself. The sharp thorns on the plant's stem didn't quite manage to pierce the thick fabric of the saddlebag that was still shielding Silk Suture's skin, but he certainly was starting to feel the prickly sensation as the thorns pressed against him harder.

He hadn't really been thinking of going on, but Raven insisted on doing that. They had come this far and they couldn't stop now, so she was right. They should go on. Without saying a word, the stallion started moving ahead, now forced to drag the entire weight of the plant with him. He certainly was no draft horse, that was sure. Silk had quite a bit of trouble to keep moving, but it was the only thing he could do now. It was a life and death situation, and funnily enough... The plant actually was going after the mare instead of him. This far. The pharmacist really had no idea where he was going, but all he really could do was walk along the path into the Everfree Forest.

The plant snapped its, well, what might as very well be called "jaws", its sharp teeth-like protrusions ready to snatch Raven. As she came closer, it certainly seemed to get more excited, wriggling its roots as if trying to wrap them around the pony to catch her and never let go. It couldn't quite just reach Raven, but anything it was being offered right now was a valid target, as if it thought it was a part of the female pegasus.

[20monkies]

Her idea seemed to be working - Raven knew that the plant would want to snap at something and she didn't want it's attention going down on Silk Suture. After all, both their lives were at stake here and there was no telling what could happen. The only thing that could be done was ensure that neither of them got hurt in the process - nothing serious at least.

"Turn right!" Raven would call out when Silk slowed his pace down. She knew the weight of the plant was getting heavier and heavier and that meant carrying it was becoming more of a burden on the other. She was sure of it. If only it was on her back, she could carry it away, toss it to the centre of the Forest, and then hurry back. Yet her body didn't seem to want to cooperate with what she was mentally wanting to do. It was as if she was getting weaker and weaker by the second as the plant continued to grow and grow some more.

Raven was breathing heavily now. Perhaps it was a bad idea coming out here, running when she was injured. Perhaps she should have rested some more and maybe they could have gotten the aid of some other stronger, healthier pony. The Mane 6 could have easily handled this situation - after all, they had powers that were beyond a normal ponies control. But here they were - two pegasi - one injured and one not as strongly built…

They could succeed. She was quite sure they would. There were going to be a few more bumps along the way.

Raven tripped on a rock, tumbling forward and letting out a yelp of surprise. Her legs tangled, she hurried up to stand on all hooves and pushed her hair back and out of their way. The plant was stretching out and reaching forward towards her and Raven picked up the rock, throwing it at it's mouth.

The plant snapped down on the rock and crushed it into pieces. She could see how strong this plant was.

Pushing her weakening limbs further, she dodged from left to right, confusing the plant of her position behind Silk Suture.

"We're… almost there. Just… a little further!" She was panting by now, cheeks flushing and brows sweating.

[Silk Suture]

Silk Suture kept heading forwards, trying to keep his legs moving despite all the straining his muscles had to do, not used to carrying such heavy objects around. He wasn't the best runner either, but somehow he was quite sure that it would have been easier for him if the plant had stayed small enough for him to actually be able to run, even if he was going to have to run the entire way. Still, huffing and puffing he kept on going, knowing very well the consequences of his failure – something that he couldn't allow to happen. The mare did try to have to instruct him as well despite also trying to handle the plant herself, quite overworked with the difficult multitasking she was forced to perform. But there wasn't much the stallion could do to help her there, he couldn't really start annoying the plant without just being outright eaten and well, he didn't know his way around the Everfree Forest like she seemed to...

Hearing Raven yelp caused the pharmacist to glance behind him, his hooves quickly reacting to the situation and trying to pull the plant farther away from the mare, trying to desperately get up after tripping. The plant was of course trying to immediately lunge at the pony it had been after the entire time, but it couldn't quite reach as it was being dragged away from its target. The rock Raven threw at it was quickly destroyed by its extremely powerful jaws, a trait one wouldn't really want a carnivorous plant to ever have. It was quite obvious that if the thing would catch the mare – or any pony for that matter – it would all be over.

"Are you alright?" Silk's voice was quiet, as if it still wanted to pretend like he wasn't there so the plant wouldn't notice. Raven did just trip and might have hurt herself, and she wasn't really looking like she was doing too good... In fact, she seemed to be doing worse the longer they walked. Understandable as she was doing a lot of work while injured, but it all seemed a bit... Off, somehow.

The orange eyes glanced at the plant, still snapping at the air in the direction of the mare. It did take him a while, but a couple of good looks at the thing did cause him to realize something. Silk had read a lot and while the plants of the Everfree Forest were quite a bit more foreign to him – especially the ones without much medicinal use – he still did know something about quite a few of them.
"A Giant Mousetrap," the pegasus breathed out, keeping his pace,
"I thought... Well, it's extremely rare these years, apparently," he was slowly untangling the mess his own thoughts were, mostly explaining things to himself out loud. Some ponies even claimed the thing was already extinct!
"It's a carnivore, a vicious lit– big hunter, very determined," Silk spoke a bit louder, definitely wanting the mare to hear what he was about to say, even though the part about the plant being a hunter was most likely obvious to both of them.

"Listen, it's very dangerous. It might not be the fastest predator and right now it's unable to move, but it has ways to make sure its once escaped prey comes back to it," he continued, feeling how the plant increased in weight again as it grew, straining the saddlebag even further as it barely contained the monstrosity. The thorns on its stem pressed against the pony's skin even harder, but still he kept dragging the plant with him, understanding quite well most likely wasn't in that much danger himself. Yet.
"You might be able to feel it. You most likely were infected when one of its kind attacked you, making you an easy target. Your body will want to move closer to it, but you need to stay away, alright? Fight it, it's after you and not me," Silk Suture was panting as he pushed his body as far as it could go and even further than that.

"If it manages to get out of this bag, it will be able to run with its roots. It has adapted to move. But it... Actually does rather well during winter and prefers it to the other seasons, as despite the lack of prey and warmth, it actually hates water," it was quite obvious why the thing hadn't really needed any soil or water to grow, now. The seed had gotten all the moisture it needed from Raven as it got inside her wound.
"Is there a river nearby?"

[20monkies]

Raven was desperate to get out of the Forest as her body seemed to be shattering under the stress that she was causing it. There was no telling just how much further she could make it - everything was just exhausting her. The strain, the tension, the need to keep the plant distracted.

But upon hearing Silk calling out to her and explaining the identity of the plant, Raven had to open her eyes widely in shock and stop in her tracks. A Giant Mousetrap? It had ways to make sure she came back to it? She felt another tremor rushing through her body when she had stopped and had to control herself. The thing had a taste of her blood, and knew her. And the seedling that was now a fully grown Mousetrap was also aware of her DNA makeup and must have penetrated into her nerves to figure out how get her weak and under it's control.

Raven Feather watched as Silk Suture was moving the plant away from her, getting as much distance between them as possible. There was no way that he could do this himself though! She wasn't exactly sure how he would manage… but it was better than her having to exhaust herself any further.

"Silk…" She managed to squeak out. There wasn't much more time. Sooner or later, she would have to collapse and surrender to the plant with how she was feeling right now and it was taking every ounce of effort to keep herself from doing just that. No wonder she was feeling the sharp pain still in her wing. She was working up a sweat and it must have gotten into her wound as well…

Raven pushed herself up, wobbling in place but still a bit determined. She needed to keep an eye on Silk at least, but still keep her distance as far as she could.

"Water. River… there is the Bogg. That might be better." She didn't realize just how quiet and dark it was in the Everfree until that moment she took a second for a break. The plant was still wavering wildly and attempting to get out of the saddlebag, pushing it's root up against Silk as if ready to launch itself into the air. It was still tangled in the fabric, so that was a good thing it was trapped. She had to take a moment to see her surroundings before figuring out which way to go to the Bogg.

"Just a little further down that path, towards the right, and we should be there."

[Silk Suture]

Silk Suture kept glancing behind him, keeping an eye on the mare and her condition. Still weak – nothing had been there to make her better after all, but at least she wasn't too far gone yet. At least Raven could still seem to be able to stand and walk, nothing more was required from her now. The plant was occupied with trying to desperately get to the mare, its target, but it was still trapped and unable to reach her. And as long as the Giant Mousetrap was ironically trapped itself, Raven was... Well, more or less safe. It couldn't get to her before it managed to escape and get on its feet, as long as she could resist coming too close herself. But she didn't have to waste any extra effort to actually dodge the plant's attacks now, Silk himself was safe as long as Raven was actually distracting the thing with her presence.

The pegasus could feel the plant twist and squirm, trying to free itself. The saddlebag luckily was still holding together, but he could hear how the seams were slowly giving in and ripping apart from all the weight they suddenly had to support. Silk Suture wasn't doing much better himself – obviously not strong enough for the job – but he still did everything he could, not stopping for even a moment as he followed the mare's instructions. They were fighting against time now.

"It should be a good distraction, it can't really pay any attention to us if we can throw it in the water it hates so much," the stallion panted and gasped, his body screaming at him to stop and take a break so he could actually catch his breath,
"Then we can... Make a run for it. I don't think it will be able to follow us, we need to get you far away from it. So... So that we can get you treated," Silk's hooves dug into the snow and even the ground under it as he forced them to go forward, needing all the grip he could to keep moving with such a heavy weight dragging behind him. But Raven said it wasn't too far from now. They would be alright, surely. They had to be. While he was unsure of how exactly the plant was controlling the mare, at least he was going to hope the distraction they had planned would help the mare to get away safely as well.

[20monkies]

"Just... a little further now... we should be there soon..." Raven was keeping herself together by a thread. Every muscle in her body was screaming now as they nosed forward through the Everfree Forest, kicking up snow and slipping over icy patches every now and then. She only hoped that the river, or Bogg, wasn't frozen over. Otherwise, that would be a rather unfortunate situation to be in. They had already come this far, and the fight for survival was ever strong in both mare and stallion.

Both Raven Feather and Silk Suture moved forward, understanding the need to just get out of there as quickly as possible. Maybe the distance put between her and the plant would make it less likely to call out to her. The connection between her and the Mousetrap would disintegrate and there would no longer be a threat that it would find it's way back to Ponyville for her. She was the one who had treaded on their property, after all.

The sound of trickling water perked up Raven's ears. They were there. Just a little further now, just around the bend in the path, and finally...

"There it is!" Raven practically screamed with joy, flushed and panting hard. She could see the plant was getting more frantic in the saddlebag, wanting out quickly. It was getting a bit larger in size, roots snaking out barely grazing Raven's hooves. She had to step back and stop herself before it could grab hold of her.

[Silk Suture]

Silk Suture could hear the water as well, following the sound with determination that gave him the little extra push he needed to be able to continue walking. The weight of the plant slowed him down considerably, his muscles aching, but there was no way they could rest now. They couldn't rest until the plant was taken care of and they were safely back in Ponyville again. The Giant Mousetrap squirmed as it tried to free itself, though the pegasus wasn't sure if that was just because it thought it had played with Raven enough and already wanted to catch her... Or did it actually hear the water as well? Or feel, or smell? Silk couldn't say he knew how the plant actually perceived the world, as it certainly didn't have eyes. Nor did he know if it could actually think of the water when it was so preoccupied with catching prey, surely there had to be a reason why these things were supposed to be so rare despite being quite fearsome hunters?

The mare cried out, causing the stallion to actually look up and ahead of him instead of his hooves as he forced himself to keep going. Now he could see it instead of just hearing, peeking from behind the trees. While some of the stagnated water had been frozen, the ice was obviously very thin and in places, missing altogether and leaving bare patches that revealed the water underneath. Some trees even grew in the water, twisted roots digging themselves into the soil underneath the liquid. This was it, the place where they could end it all. The place where they had to end it all.

Silk forced himself move closer to the water as fast as his hooves could take him with the extra weight. He could feel how it was growing again, getting heavier and its roots even longer, trying to snatch Raven. The saddlebag was barely holding on, they didn't have much time before it would break entirely and release the creature.
"The moment I drop the bag, it will be able to run. Perhaps it will take a while for it to untangle its roots from the fabric, but it will be coming after you," the pharmacist panted, finally able to stop and catch his breath. It was far from the peaceful rest he needed, but at least it was something. But he knew it wouldn't last long.

"I will need to do that so that I'm not forced into the water with it, however. I can't throw it easily, it's just way too heavy. We need to... Push it," Silk Suture continued, trying to quickly come up with a plan. Everything was very dangerous, but something had to be done.
"Not with our hooves, it might grab one of us and pull us under. Could you maybe... Find a sturdy piece of wood that is light enough to carry?"

[20monkies]

Her head was spinning with adrenaline, hoping among all the powers in Equestria that she didn't just end up fainting right then and there with how fast her heart was beating. The muscles in her body were twitching and pinching at her, clinging tightly to her bones. Her legs were starting to feel weak as they stood there, taking a short break from their run.

They had finally made it.

The water had some patches. With their combined strength, they still wouldn't have been able to throw the grown plant into the water without it dragging them along. Raven Feather didn't like what Silk Suture was saying, but it was the truth. The plant would come out after them the moment it got hold of itself and it's surroundings. The minute it would break free of its own trap, it would gobble her up. But she still wouldn't give up, not without a final fight.

She took in wheezing breaths and began to look around her for something - anything - that could help force the thing into the river stream. Something long enough, something sturdy enough, something...

But would it work? That hadn't worked when she picked up the broom to push it into the jar in the first place. And at that time, the plant was 10 times smaller. There had to be another way. There was only one thing left to do...

"Silk. Put the plant down. The moment you put it down, you're going to have to push it with your head. But you're going to have to trust me on this." It was the only plan she could think of. "Just trust me."

[Silk Suture]

Silk Suture looked at the mare, his eyes wide as if he didn't believe he heard what he just thought he heard. He knew that putting the plant down was going to be a part of every plan they could come up with so that they could actually get it in the water, that wasn't the problem. Well, he didn't know if this was the right time to do it, but he could take it. But actually pushing the thing? The pegasus gave Raven a look that was reserved for the maddest of the ponies. Now, yes, there was some snow and ice on the ground, which might have helped him to gain the upper hand of the Giant Mousetrap but... It was just going to be impossible for the weak pharmacist to push the thing in the water! Or do it without getting tangled in the frantic plant's roots himself, as it would surely try to get away by any means necessary – even desperate ones – once it felt the water. And Silk didn't exactly want to be drowned by the thing.

The stallion could have said something. Perhaps he should have. Maybe the mare was actually being controlled right now and the control went deeper than just moving her legs. Maybe it could actually make Raven say such things so it could get both of the ponies instead of the one it had tried to get this far, showing that it was more intelligent than Silk Suture had given it credit. But he said nothing, giving the mare one last, long look as he brought his muzzle closer to the strap holding the saddlebags still up. It had certainly done a good job, staying in one piece despite all the weight it had to endure. This was the only way, wasn't it?

Taking a deep breath, the buckle was undone in one swift movement, allowing the saddlebag to fall to the ground with a small thud, letting the plant finally touch the ground with its roots. The Giant Mousetrap immediately started to get up and stand on its roots properly, preparing to pounce on Raven... But luckily the shreds of the saddlebag that still tried to hold together were giving it a distraction. Just like the other pony had asked, Silk forced himself to push the stem with his head, trying to find a spot where he wouldn't be headbutting a thorn – as that would be quite painful. His hooves could barely get a good grip of the ground, the mere weight of the plant being enough to give him trouble actually moving it on such a slippery surface, but luckily it was a double-edged sword and actually made it possible to actually move the thing. Slowly but surely, and the pharmacist could only be amazed how the Giant Mousetrap was still after the mare and not him, despite being so close to it!

[20monkies]

This was it.

The final moment. Silk just had to trust her and do as she said. What she was about to do was most certainly the craziest thing any pony could think of doing. But it was the only other way she could think that would keep it drowned in the water, and hopefully destroy it.

Her entire body was screaming with agony and exhaustion, yet this was going to be the last quarter she was going to push herself before they could get out of there. Maybe with some break time, if it was possible…

Bracing herself, and her hooves on the ice and snow littered ground, she counted down for Silk before he snapped open the buckle of the saddlebag and dropped it.

The plant was going crazy and was stumbling in it’s spot as it was tangled in it’s own mess of roots and the fabric. The jaws of the Giant Mousetrap was snapping outwards towards Raven Feather and for an instant Raven felt her heart skipping a beat, the need to move to it and just become one with it growing more and more.

She had to push those feelings aside.

Another deep breath, and she charged forward, hurling herself towards the plant. It took enough resistance from her part to avoid its sharp claw-like teeth. The thing was calling to her, beckoning to her. Dodging around it, it’s mouth followed after her and even turned itself around to face the river. The direction in which Raven was going.

In one split second, Raven was jumping in the air and then diving into the icy-cold water. She had shut her eyes and was hit by the rush of chill, seeping into every crevice of her bones and joints.

The plant was following suit, with the help of Silk pushing it in that direction. It clambered it’s way over the ledge and didn’t realize it was too late. It’s desperate need to catch Raven led it into the water.

She drifted down, down, down in the water, holding her breath. Floating, sinking… she wasn’t sure just what. It seemed like the river was as deep as the ocean, and it was filled with strange creatures itself. She was sure she was going to die and just drown in this abyss, unsure of what her future was going to be like.

The plant was sinking and flailing it’s roots in the water as well, just within reach of Raven but hardly. It tangled up on itself, and was clamping it’s jaws shut as tight as it could. Sure enough, the water could freeze it to death. But Raven didn’t know or see it. As long as it was in the water and stayed there.

After a few moments had passed – perhaps 30 seconds – Raven finally opened her ice blue eyes and swum upwards towards the surface. She didn’t know how far she had drifted until she finally broke out with a crash, gasping and panting for air. She kept herself afloat, wading her hooves in the water and saw Silk Suture just a short distance away on the shore.

[Silk Suture]

Silk Suture couldn't see behind him, pushing the plant with his head and keeping it back, gritting his teeth and squeezing his eyes shut. While it wasn't just him keeping the creature from attacking the mare as it was quite preoccupied with getting out of the remains of the saddlebag, he still put everything he had left behind him, forcing his tired muscles to do one last thing. His body was tense and he dug his hooves into the ground as much as he could to gain some friction and stand his ground as the Giant Mousetrap trashed around and tried to get past him. But Silk didn't allow it.

His ears perked up as he could hear some hoof-steps from behind him, coming closer in full gallop. It could have only been Raven, the stallion's heart missing a beat as his body went numb. She was supposed to stay as far away as she could so nothing horrible happened to her, as she was under the influence of the plant... But she was required. Absolutely needed for them to have any chance of getting the thing into the plant. She was going to have to come very close to the Giant Mousetrap, but of course the pharmacist didn't like the idea and couldn't really fully accept it. What if it was no longer her doing the moving, but the plant? What if she wasn't able to fight it anymore and now the mare was running straight into the waiting maw of the carnivorous plant?

The sound of Raven's hooves stopped, being quickly replaced by the sound something breaking the water's surface. Silk Suture didn't exactly have a chance to look what had just happened, but he was quite certain he knew already, the plant starting to quite eagerly move in the same direction he was pushing it. Was she serious here? This had been her plan?! The pharmacist certainly couldn't agree! Yet somehow, it actually did the trick. It didn't take long for the Giant Mousetrap to go after the mare, falling off the edge and into the icy water, breaking what little ice there had been. A splash was caused by the heavy body of the creature, forcing few droplets of freezing cold water to hit the pegasus' face... Who actually wasn't caring about the water or the cold at all right now.

"Raven!" Silk shouted, getting right up at the edge of the water himself, frantically peering into the murky water and trying to find the mare. The plant quickly sunk into the water, perhaps letting out a shrill shriek as it first felt the liquid on its roots, but that also was something the pony didn't care at all at the moment. The water was freezing – and dirty – and the stallion just couldn't see a thing, the ice and snow also limiting his vision! He had no idea what had happened, had the plant actually caught Raven? Was she still free or even alive? Was she going to be alive? Could she even get back to the surface or on dry land?

At least one of his questions was answered as the mare's head finally poked through the water's surface, after what felt like forever but most likely was only a very short time. But the pharmacist wasn't wasting much time, desperately reaching out to her with his hoof.
"Here! Come here, hurry," Silk Suture was obviously panicking, not knowing if the plant would be able to attack her still and the coldness of the water was an issue as well. They had to get her out of there as soon as they could, somewhere warm!