GREEN
585
0
1261 7.06 KB 113
1261 7.06 KB 113
-
1.
>You are Sunflower, and you are terrified.
-
2.
>You have been terrified for so long now, for so many reasons.
-
3.
>Unicorns, pegasi, windigoes, cold, freezing, starvation, fear of the future...
-
4.
>Your leader saw the writing on the wall and lead your tribe far away from the feuding madponies.
-
5.
>Likely, they're all dead and frozen by now.
-
6.
>Going North seemed counterintuitive, but it was actually far warmer here than under the icy breath of the windigoes.
-
7.
>You have survived here, in these odd snowy plains of the far north.
-
8.
>Your people recovered a little and started to settle down, building the beginnings of a village in this snowpit.
-
9.
>However, it is autumn, and winter will be upon you all soon.
-
10.
>You did what you could, but there were too many things to do to, the land too foreign to know where and how to forage best.
-
11.
>There are no sunflowers here...
-
12.
>The supplies are meager, and ponies are rightfully afraid of dying from starvation.
-
13.
>The elders are already openly talking about not eating so the children can survive.
-
14.
>And so, here you are.
-
15.
>Carefully following bear tracks to see how they manage to survive around here,
-
16.
>You heard they eat berries and honey, besides other animals.
-
17.
>That means you could probably find something edible, even a berry bush, even some leftovers, if you followed their tracks.
-
18.
>As long as you don't become the food.
-
19.
>You're not the first to have such an idea, but ponies so far avoided tangling with the wildlife, as they were too weakened by the long march here.
-
20.
>Soon, you hear the sounds of rushing water.
-
21.
>It sounds like a fairly large river.
-
22.
>You find a convenient rocky outcropping from which you can watch the river, but which is too steep to get up to from the riverbank.
-
23.
>You examine the shore thouroughly.
-
24.
>There are no berry bushes here.
-
25.
>A couple bears are in the river, just standing there, looking downstream.
-
26.
>It doesn't take long to see how they get food here.
-
27.
>It's almost ridiculous - the fish are practically jumping in their mouths.
-
28.
>You watch for a long while, envy and hunger burning in your gut.
-
29.
>It looks so damned easy!
-
30.
>Eventually, the bears get their fill and leave.
-
31.
>One of them looks at you, but seems completely uninterested.
-
32.
>Likely stuffed with fish up to it's ears....
-
33.
>You stand on the outcropping a while longer, your emotions raging while your head is empty.
-
34.
>Without thinking, you stomp down to the riverbank, looking around.
-
35.
>There are some fish bones and nasty leftovers scattered around.
-
36.
>There's one that's practically untouched, though, just cut open with a few bites taken out, almost like it was left for you.
-
37.
>You stare at the fish, wondering whether you're really about to do this.
-
38.
>Your stomach growls, a sound you're very familiar with.
-
39.
>BUCK YES YOU'RE DOING THIS
-
40.
-
41.
>The first bite is terrible, as you get a bunch of scales in your mouth.
-
42.
>Undeterred, hold down the fish with your hooves, spitting out the scales and going for the flesh.
-
43.
>It's... not the worst thing you ever ate.
-
44.
>It's not good, but you don't think you're going to throw up or anything like that.
-
45.
>It takes a while, but eventually, most of the flesh is stripped from the fish.
-
46.
>You stand there, thinking about what just happened.
-
47.
>You lick your lips. You taste blood.
-
48.
>For the first time in a long time, you feel full.
-
49.
>Not simply satiated for a while, but really full.
-
50.
>No wonder these bears like the fish so much.
-
51.
>And it looked so easy to catch it!
-
52.
>Your gaze is drawn towards the river.
-
53.
>You can actually see the salmon jumping over the rapids, right there.
-
54.
>No, Sunflower.
-
55.
>Don't be crazy.
-
56.
>...
-
57.
>All aboard the crazy cart!
-
58.
>You wade into the river, careful not to lose your balance on the stones.
-
59.
>It's a bit deep, but you find a shallower spot eventually.
-
60.
>You stand in the freezing water like some idiot.
-
61.
>You hope no one is watching.
-
62.
>Something flashes in the corner of your eye.
-
63.
>A fish!
-
64.
>Too far, though.
-
65.
>A few more fish jump through the water to either side of you.
-
66.
>You lunge towards them, but your reach is too short.
-
67.
>Then, a fish jumps right at your face.
-
68.
>You actually shout in fright, opening your mouth.
-
69.
>You get a mouthful of fish.
-
70.
>It's slimy, wet, and VERY wriggly.
-
71.
>Your first instinct is to spit it out.
-
72.
>But a flash of anger passes through you, and you grit your teeth in rage.
-
73.
>You're not going let anyone die of hunger, yourself or others!
-
74.
>Gritting your teeth helps you clamp down more firmly on the fish's tail.
-
75.
>You blink for a moment, wondering what are you supposed to do next.
-
76.
>Probably get out of this river.
-
77.
>Once you get to the shore, you remember that you don't really have any sharp claws or tools to cut the still-struggling fish with.
-
78.
>You decide to gallop back to the rest of your tribe.
-
79.
>The looks you get when ponies see you carrying a weakly-struggling fish are priceless.
-
80.
>Everyone is utterly flabbergasted, to say the least.
-
81.
>You carry it where ponies are making dinner, finally spitting it out on a table.
-
82.
>"What the hay, Sunflower?!"
-
83.
>That was Allspice, one of the cooks.
-
84.
>"Not hay, fish," you say smugly.
-
85.
>Before they can get too disgusted or throw away the fish, you immediately launch into your explanation.
-
86.
>The fact that you were willing to follow a bear earns you a lot of respect from the rest of the ponies.
-
87.
>More ponies join the forming crowd to listen to you.
-
88.
>Some gag and make sounds of disgust when you describe chewing on the dead fish, but you persevere.
-
89.
>That respect you earned probably goes a long way to explain why they even consider your proposal.
-
90.
>Also the fact that eating the fish didn't seem to make you sick at all.
-
91.
>After some more reassurances that you're fine, all eyes turn to the fish.
-
92.
-
93.
>It stopped struggling, likely suffocated.
-
94.
>Ponies shuffle awkwardly, unsure of how to proceed.
-
95.
>You try to remember the way you ate the first one.
-
96.
>The scales on the outside were unpleasant, like the rough, inedible skin of a fruit.
-
97.
>The guts were slimy and nasty and you ignored them.
-
98.
>The flesh was pretty good, though.
-
99.
>A few ponies step up, not cooks, but ponies who used to be fighters.
-
100.
>They gut the fish awkwardly, but in the end, you're left with some fairly nice-looking cutlets of meat.
-
101.
>Then there's another round of shuffling as none of the ponies dare to try it first.
-
102.
>You roll your eyes as you try a tiny bite, showing that it's safe.
-
103.
>A couple more ponies take tiny bites, chewing on it experimentally.
-
104.
>When they don't throw up, others look more interested.
-
105.
>But Allspice intervenes, scoffing loudly.
-
106.
>"Oh, cut it out, you savages! Of course it's not going to taste great raw! "
-
107.
>"Now, I haven't got the foggiest idea about cooking fish, but let's try adding it to the stew I was making and go from there."
-
108.
>The ponies agree, and eagerly await the results.
-
109.
>It's... good. Honestly quite good.
-
110.
>Obviously, one fish doesn't really feed anyone, but lots of ponies try it, just to make sure it's good.
-
111.
>There's already plans being made to go fishing tomorrow, with all the important elders and warriors asking you for details and advice.
-
112.
>You feel awkward for being called a hero, but you agree to lead the ponies to the river tomorrow.
-
113.
>You no longer feel terrified for the future.
by Wingnut
by Wingnut
by Wingnut
by Wingnut
by Wingnut