GREEN
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1261 7.06 KB 113
1261 7.06 KB 113
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>You are Sunflower, and you are terrified.
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>You have been terrified for so long now, for so many reasons.
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>Unicorns, pegasi, windigoes, cold, freezing, starvation, fear of the future...
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>Your leader saw the writing on the wall and lead your tribe far away from the feuding madponies.
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>Likely, they're all dead and frozen by now.
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>Going North seemed counterintuitive, but it was actually far warmer here than under the icy breath of the windigoes.
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>You have survived here, in these odd snowy plains of the far north.
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>Your people recovered a little and started to settle down, building the beginnings of a village in this snowpit.
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>However, it is autumn, and winter will be upon you all soon.
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>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.
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>There are no sunflowers here...
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>The supplies are meager, and ponies are rightfully afraid of dying from starvation.
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>The elders are already openly talking about not eating so the children can survive.
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>And so, here you are.
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>Carefully following bear tracks to see how they manage to survive around here,
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>You heard they eat berries and honey, besides other animals.
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>That means you could probably find something edible, even a berry bush, even some leftovers, if you followed their tracks.
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>As long as you don't become the food.
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>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.
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>Soon, you hear the sounds of rushing water.
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>It sounds like a fairly large river.
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>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.
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>You examine the shore thouroughly.
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>There are no berry bushes here.
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>A couple bears are in the river, just standing there, looking downstream.
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>It doesn't take long to see how they get food here.
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>It's almost ridiculous - the fish are practically jumping in their mouths.
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>You watch for a long while, envy and hunger burning in your gut.
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>It looks so damned easy!
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>Eventually, the bears get their fill and leave.
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>One of them looks at you, but seems completely uninterested.
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>Likely stuffed with fish up to it's ears....
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>You stand on the outcropping a while longer, your emotions raging while your head is empty.
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>Without thinking, you stomp down to the riverbank, looking around.
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>There are some fish bones and nasty leftovers scattered around.
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>There's one that's practically untouched, though, just cut open with a few bites taken out, almost like it was left for you.
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>You stare at the fish, wondering whether you're really about to do this.
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>Your stomach growls, a sound you're very familiar with.
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>BUCK YES YOU'RE DOING THIS
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>The first bite is terrible, as you get a bunch of scales in your mouth.
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>Undeterred, hold down the fish with your hooves, spitting out the scales and going for the flesh.
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>It's... not the worst thing you ever ate.
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>It's not good, but you don't think you're going to throw up or anything like that.
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>It takes a while, but eventually, most of the flesh is stripped from the fish.
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>You stand there, thinking about what just happened.
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>You lick your lips. You taste blood.
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>For the first time in a long time, you feel full.
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>Not simply satiated for a while, but really full.
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>No wonder these bears like the fish so much.
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>And it looked so easy to catch it!
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>Your gaze is drawn towards the river.
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>You can actually see the salmon jumping over the rapids, right there.
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>No, Sunflower.
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>Don't be crazy.
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>...
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>All aboard the crazy cart!
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>You wade into the river, careful not to lose your balance on the stones.
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>It's a bit deep, but you find a shallower spot eventually.
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>You stand in the freezing water like some idiot.
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>You hope no one is watching.
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>Something flashes in the corner of your eye.
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>A fish!
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>Too far, though.
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>A few more fish jump through the water to either side of you.
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>You lunge towards them, but your reach is too short.
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>Then, a fish jumps right at your face.
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>You actually shout in fright, opening your mouth.
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>You get a mouthful of fish.
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>It's slimy, wet, and VERY wriggly.
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>Your first instinct is to spit it out.
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>But a flash of anger passes through you, and you grit your teeth in rage.
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>You're not going let anyone die of hunger, yourself or others!
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>Gritting your teeth helps you clamp down more firmly on the fish's tail.
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>You blink for a moment, wondering what are you supposed to do next.
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>Probably get out of this river.
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>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.
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>You decide to gallop back to the rest of your tribe.
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>The looks you get when ponies see you carrying a weakly-struggling fish are priceless.
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>Everyone is utterly flabbergasted, to say the least.
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>You carry it where ponies are making dinner, finally spitting it out on a table.
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>"What the hay, Sunflower?!"
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>That was Allspice, one of the cooks.
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>"Not hay, fish," you say smugly.
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>Before they can get too disgusted or throw away the fish, you immediately launch into your explanation.
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>The fact that you were willing to follow a bear earns you a lot of respect from the rest of the ponies.
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>More ponies join the forming crowd to listen to you.
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>Some gag and make sounds of disgust when you describe chewing on the dead fish, but you persevere.
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>That respect you earned probably goes a long way to explain why they even consider your proposal.
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>Also the fact that eating the fish didn't seem to make you sick at all.
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>After some more reassurances that you're fine, all eyes turn to the fish.
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>It stopped struggling, likely suffocated.
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>Ponies shuffle awkwardly, unsure of how to proceed.
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>You try to remember the way you ate the first one.
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>The scales on the outside were unpleasant, like the rough, inedible skin of a fruit.
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>The guts were slimy and nasty and you ignored them.
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>The flesh was pretty good, though.
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>A few ponies step up, not cooks, but ponies who used to be fighters.
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>They gut the fish awkwardly, but in the end, you're left with some fairly nice-looking cutlets of meat.
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>Then there's another round of shuffling as none of the ponies dare to try it first.
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>You roll your eyes as you try a tiny bite, showing that it's safe.
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>A couple more ponies take tiny bites, chewing on it experimentally.
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>When they don't throw up, others look more interested.
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>But Allspice intervenes, scoffing loudly.
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>"Oh, cut it out, you savages! Of course it's not going to taste great raw! "
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>"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."
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>The ponies agree, and eagerly await the results.
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>It's... good. Honestly quite good.
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>Obviously, one fish doesn't really feed anyone, but lots of ponies try it, just to make sure it's good.
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>There's already plans being made to go fishing tomorrow, with all the important elders and warriors asking you for details and advice.
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>You feel awkward for being called a hero, but you agree to lead the ponies to the river tomorrow.
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>You no longer feel terrified for the future.
by Wingnut
by Wingnut
by Wingnut
by Wingnut
by Wingnut