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 Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 1:07 pm
"Eeehy-Yup..." he answered. He slept well enough. He was rested, at least.
He sat up as she drifted into her thoughts and began rummaging through his pack. He withdrew one of the bananas again, making a mental note that there were only two left after this one. He frowned a bit. They're going to need more than that if they were going to continue being lost for longer than a day.
Still, he broke the banana in half and offered one half to Rarity... who... was off in lala land. His brow raised as she seemed to be daydreaming something quite lovely. He'd seen that look before and he immediately put two and two together to make... pink? Well, whatever she was daydreaming about, she snapped out of it rather quickly and folded up his blanket.
Once he had eaten his banana half and the other was taken from him, he gathered up all the stray supplies and started sorting them into his pack. When Rarity had asked her other question, "We head for the river..." was all the answer he gave as he gathered his things (and her pack too) and moved to leave the tent.
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Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 1:20 pm
Taking the banana from him, she chewed it down quickly but daintily, finding herself hungrier than she had first thought. "I do hope at least... this place as something edible." she mused aloud, dusting off her hands with a leaf as best she could to get the banana traces and what other muck there was off her hands. "And a place to bathe..." she added as an after thought, her nose wrinkling in disgust.
Before he could tread on with her things however, she placed a hand gently on his shoulder. "Do wait a moment please... I'd like my glove and hat." she mused, unzipping her pack and reaching in, taking out her gloves and slipping them on. She then took out her hat, attempted to smooth the wrinkles out of it as best as she could before placing it on her head. "At least I can look stylish on our... adventure... right?" she beamed, digging through her bag again for anything marginally helpful.
She pulled out the doll she had found in the strange cave and looked it over fondly, fixing its tattered skirt and hair. "It really is lovely.... in its own way..." she said softly, clutching it to her chest before peering back up at Big Mac. "Right then! To the river it is! .......eh..... what will we do when we get there?"
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Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 1:43 pm
"Eeehy-Yup..."
Now he was the one who was distracted...
Though his thoughts would remain unknown for the time being, he continued on, taking both packs once Rarity was done with hers and propping them up against the outside of their tent. He took a moment or two to look at their surroundings.
It would be impossible to tell which way the river was from here just by listening or testing the dirt. The forest was so dense here that they could potentially be miles away from the river and wouldn't know it. He needed to get up high...
He scanned the trees nearby and spotted one with a number of foot holds and such along the side. His worry was the skinnier branches and the thinner trunk near the top. With his weight, it'd be nearly impossible... still, he made an attempt. However, he didn't get very high before a branch snapped underhoof and he almost fell.
He met with the ground again and looked skyward, the shadows were cascading with the morning sun in one direction and he knew that morning shadows pointed West... So they needed to go East...
If he remembered correctly from the general location of Laisidhiel from where they had originally started this journey, that was the way to go... He nodded a bit to himself and went back to the tent. He started to disassemble the it be letting the vines loose and wrapping up the canvas.
"We'll start by heading East." he started as he worked. "If we find the river, we'll follow it up river towards the lake and make our way home from there."
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Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 2:12 pm
Rarity clutched the doll tighter as she watched Big Mac set to work once again. He really was a strong worker... just look at those muscles! But when he almost fell, she let out a little squeak, until he had caught himself and managed to maneuver himself back to the ground safely.
She clung to his arm despite him already moving to pack up the tent. "PLEASE don't do that ever AGAIN! What if something happened to you?! I'd be stuck out here all alone and you'd be hurt!" she scolded him sternly, as if she were scolding her sister for doing something bad... and of course out of general concern for his well being. She really didn't want him injured, but couldn't just come right out and say, it felt too awkward still. She was his sisters best friend after all.. not his.
And yet, she was truly grateful for all he was doing for the pair of them. He could have just left her high and dry by now and on her own. "Thank you though Big Macintosh. I don't think I can say that enough. At least until we get rescued." she said and smiled, releasing his arm to let him get back to work.
"Right then! East we go towards the river! Maybe this wont be so bad after all! OH WHAT IF I FIND GEMS ALONG THE WAY!" she squealed inwardly, the first bit of enthusiasm she had since waking up abandoned somewhere in the jungle. They had all made the trek to the tree before, this wold be just like that, right?
Yeah...
That's how she would look at it. Like another journey from Equestira to home.
Except this time there felt like there was more danger lurking around every corner.
Snakes....
Bugs....
Split Hooves....
Soggy mane and tail.....
"Waaaahhaaaaaaaeehaaaa!!" she cried, one last and final time before sucking it up, straightening her gloves and hat, holding the Dollie close and mentally pulling up her big girl panties.
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Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 2:47 pm
The second she latched onto his arm, he blinked, a faint blush washing over his features. However, he didn't make any motion to make her let go. It was actually kind of nice.
Having to work on a farm made it complicated to have any sort of interaction with another being. He generally kept his mind focused on his chores and various other work that needed to be done. So you can imagine being touched - even by such a gentle touch such as Rarity's - was a whole new can of apples to him. And she seemed to be genuinely worried about him too... This made him idly wonder as he continued to work about for a moment or two longer with a single arm. The other remained still and bent, as if he was escorting her about their make-shift campsite.
His thoughts drifted again. Did she really like him like that? A small part of him had hoped so, but the other part of him knew that Applejack would have a few colorful words to say about that. The two of them were good friends... Headbutting friends, but good friends none-the-less... He was sure that Applejack would try and coerce him into another female companion, he was sure.
Besides... Would the two of them even work? She was a high-class Mare who liked expensive Galas, gowns and jewelry. He was a hard-working farmboy who enjoyed digging in the dirt and getting sweaty in nature. The complete opposite of her entirely... But wasn't there a saying somewhere that opposites attract or something?
He blinked again, noticing that she had slipped away and was seeming to mentally prepare herself over the impending task of making it back home. He inwardly chuckled a bit when she let out another cry, probably fretting over the things she must endure to get there... but it made Big Mac feel all the more better. He was with someone who he knew. Not just from Laisidhiel but also from his past in Ponyville.
He quickly packed up the rest of the items: The Canvas, the vines (why not take them along?) and anything else he may have left lying about and turned to Rarity with a solemn nod.
"Let's go..." he stated simply and started walking East, he pushed aside the foliage, tearing some of the greenery here and there to start the path, widening it so that Rarity could pass through behind him with little effort.
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Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 3:10 pm
All bucked up and stern faced, Rarity nodded to Big Mac and marched -stiff legged and armed - after him along the path he was creating. She walked this way for several feet, trying to brave face soldier it through the foliage, as if every step brought her ever closer to the river and sweet delight.
But as it failed to actually appear, her stern face grew more and more lax and her walking less ridged. "We are dreadfully far away from it... aren't we?" she squeaked with even more sudden realization. Heavens, how terrible of a predicament were they in! In her mind, she just couldn't get over how much peril they may be in. Sure all seemed fine for now, but there was no telling what dangers would pop out at any moment!
She whined again. "I just can't stand it! I can't help it at'tall Big Mac! What is going to pop out of these bushes and devour us at any second?! Or bugs! What if they eat my hat! My hat was not meant to be holey!" she flailed about, tip toeing closer to him and fidgeting at any tiny movement that wasn't their own.
"Why if I see those little fairies again, I'll give them a right proper piece of my mind!" she declared, clenching her fist and stomping a hoof. "I better not break a nail either... or split a hoof..." she pouted with a grumpy face and glanced over at him.
For some reason, she couldn't keep from feeling grumpy when she looked at him. His serious face, full of awareness and concern for the pair of them. The least she could do was stop complaining all the time.
Easier said than done.
"Suppose I just need something to take my mind off it..." she mused aloud, glancing back down at the doll in her hands, fixing her skirt and stringy hair. "Maybe when I get back I can pretty this little one up and give her a nice new home in my room! What do you think Big Mac? Think thats possible?" she beamed, showing him the doll, making her dance in the air in front of him. "She needs a name I think. Queer little thing... looks nothing like a pony.... Maybe... Little Lily... or Lost Lily...." she mused some more, turning the doll over and inspecting her some more. "Or Grimey Grape..... she is awful dirty... why am I even holding her..." came her natural complaints. There was just no off switch.
But it was helping to keep her mind of more pressing matters for the time being, as she made the little doll dance in her hand and even whispered a little conversation to her about strapping handsome stallions, princes and kings. Being treated like a Lady.
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Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 3:45 pm
They journeyed for a while, though sluggish. They didn't have a machete to carve a path through the trees and things and Big Mac could only make so much headway at a time. However, by late afternoon, they gone pretty far from their campsite and stumbled upon a small break in the trees, enough to house a rather large pile of rocks.
He dropped his pack down on the top of the mound and peered over the edge of it. It looked to have a hole in it's face not too far down below and the edges of it weren't too steep to climb up and down on.
"Rest here a moment, Miss Rarity." he started, and began his descent. At the bottom, he was careful and quiet, hoping with every fiber of his being that this was merely a vacant cave and nothing had inhabited it for a very long time.
It wasn't very deep. Just enough to keep any sort of rain off of them if needed, the opening wasn't too wide, but the inside was big enough for him to stand in easily enough and walk around a bit with enough room for a small firepit in the center... He looked up, seeing an awful lot of darkness, but there was a faint shimmer of light coming in from the top, clearly an opening which meant they could have a fire inside and not worry too much about smoking themselves out. This was good! Really good!
His ears perked to a rather unique sound and he followed it to the back of the small cave. Water was trickling down from somewhere, perhaps from an underwater spring? And one of it's small fingers was reaching into the back of this very cave and trickling a rather small stream into a rather small pool embedded in the rock. It was no bigger than a bird bath, but it was fresh water at least, constant flowing water with undoubtedly some minerals mingled in.
He smiled a bit and stepped back out of the cave, looking at the immediate area at the entrance. If anything were to try getting to them, they'd be bottle-necked into getting in. That could prove in their favor. And there didn't seem to be any sign of tracks leading in or out of it, aside from his own. So that was good for them indeed.
It was here that he realized that the sun was starting to set again. Another whole day spent traveling in a direction that he merely guessed they should go... but one he knew would eventually lead them home, whether they would be rescued first or not...
He climbed back up the rock site to where he had left Rarity.
"There's a shelter right below us. We can camp here for the night." he told her as he gathered up their packs and put them on. He then walked back to the side he had descended on and turned, offering his hand to her to help her down the rock ledges. He took a step or two down then turned to help her down them. The last step was a bit steeper of a step than the rest, so he hopped down, turned and picked her up at the waist to spin and gently plop her hooves on solid ground again.
He paused for a moment, making sure she had her footing before realizing just how awkward he was possibly making this situation. "Uh..." He quickly dropped his hands from her waist and turned with another blush on his features. "Eeehy-Yup..." He then cleared his throat and brushed past her, entering the little cave again and setting his pack beside the door to start fishing out his supplies again.
(*This is where they find the water and the shelter we rolled previously. Hope this is ok!*)
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Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 4:11 pm
Having managed to distract herself for the time being, Rarity had not noticed that they had stopped and nearly bumped into the back of Big Mac. Shaking her head, she peered around at the clearing they were in. It seemed a nice place to stop, at least for now. The time seemed to pass by so quickly here and she could hardly believe it was already afternoon again. Her stomach rumbled in protest. She would certainly need more than another half of a banana if she wanted to continue on like this. How else would she keep her lady like figure?
She hardly had time to ponder over this however, as Big Mac went off on another of his little explorations, leaving her alone at the top with their things... which she squirmed about rather impatiently. The moment when he returned could not have come soon enough and she excitedly wandered over to peer at what he was talking about.
"A cave.... I vaguely remember a camping trip with AJ, Dashie and the girls..." she sighed. Back then she had her grant tent and favorable companion ship. But now she had a leaf tent of sorts and Big Mac... not that he wasn't favorable mind you.
She took his hand gratefully, slowly weaving her way down until they got to a point that she felt was much too large for her to climb without breaking a nail or hoof. But before she had time to open her mouth, he had her swiftly by the waist, up, turned around and then back down in front of him... his hands still about her person.
She blushed quickly, looking up at him, trying to mutter out a thank you but nothing would come. His trad mark Eeehy-yup broke her concentration as he finally released her and brushed passed her to the cave.
How short that moment felt... and she found strange feelings welling up inside her. Don't go just yet... she sighed inwardly before shaking her head and whispering to herself. "What are you thinking! Now's not the time for that Rarity... get your head on your shoulders..." she scolded herself and hurried into the cave, glancing around at it.
"Well its no castle, but I suppose it will have to do." she nodded to herself in critique as she glanced at the bland cold... dark.. looming cave walls. At least there was water trickling at the back of the cave.... though the noise would soon grow to an annoying drone no doubt.
Taking her bag from him, she went over to find herself a spot, taking off her gloves and hat, resting them neatly... and begrudgingly on the ground as if to claim this spot as her own territory. No more waking up next to Big Mac... and his warmth.... and muscles.... OH STOP IT! For fillies sake...
Digging through her back, she tried to bring out anything that was at all useful and spread it out among her 'space'. Though that oof course meant several minutes of bending over digging through, her rear and tail swaying in the air as she worked because she was going to be damned if she let her precious tail get soaked or dirtied even more for as long as ponily possible. "Really they couldn't give us anything actually useful.. like beds... or brushes... or pillows." she groaned, taking the blanket from her pack and spreading it out on the floor. She then took out the little lantern and studied it for a moment. "I had almost forgot about these..." she mused and set it down next to her hat and gloves. She took Lost Lily and set her down as well.
She then pulled out a bandanna, her book of matches, the pocket knife and shovel. "What on earth would we ever need all this for! What were those fairies thinking!" she squealed aloud and gently set the knife well out of reach. "I could have poked my eyes out sleeping...." she sighed, being the dainty thing that she was, she temporarily forgot about how useful they actually could be.
Well, except the shovel. If she found gems she could at least have Big Mac dig them up. Oh and the matches. At least they could light another fire..... but what were they going to eat?!
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Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 4:49 pm
Big Mac smiled faintly as she set to work on making her home for the night. He took a brief chance to look at where she had claimed and immediately found himself returning his attention to his own pack. He flushed pink again and shook his head before gathering the necessary items he needed. He withdrew the canvas, his knife, shovel and the fruit. Two bananas were left... and the Sapodilla...
They'd already gone through most of the day on half a banana, perhaps the Sapodilla would be a little more filling? Grabbing up his bandana, he moved over to the small water pool and dipped the corner of it in the waters. He then washed blade and returned to his pack, cutting open the Sapodilla in half and fished out the seeds to save for later. Once that was done, he brought half of the fruit over to Rarity and cleared his throat, trying not to look directly at her rump as she rummaged for more of her items.
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Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 7:41 pm
She had been startled, not expecting him to come up behind her like that. With a small shriek, she bolted upright, turning around and glancing at him, cheeks flushed. Was he.... noooo he wouldn't.... would he? she asked, placing her hands behind her back and smoothing down her tail in a nervous twitch.
She then looked at the fruit in his hands and managed a smile. "Oh.. thank you. I was getting.. rather hungry... eheh.." she said sheepishly and took it from him, looking away and down. She let the smell of the fruit linger around her for a moment before taking a tentative but very much welcome bite. Surprised to find how good it tasted, she took another, trying not to let juice splatter all over her but it seemed a near impossible task.
For once she was at a loss for words and didn't know what to say. Instead she stared at her fruit as she continued to take small nibbles.
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Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 8:03 pm
"Eeehy-Yup..." he offered in exchange for her thanks. And with that, he turned, returning to his fruit and gulping it down hungrily. It didn't take much for him to eat it. He took three rather large bites and it was gone. But that didn't matter. He had a shelter to ready, a fire to collect, build and maintain and beds to make. So much to do and his sunlight was dwindling.
He gathered his knife, the canvas and the vines he had collected and started for the entrance to the cave. He paused in the doorway for a brief moment and turned, watching as Rarity daintily nibbled at her fruit.
"Little Lily..." he started, then paused a moment to see if his words would meet her in her seemingly dazed state. He then cracked a soft smile and nodded. "Little Lily is a perfect name for that doll yeh found..." he offered, standing there just a moment longer - enough to make it only slightly awkward... which showed he noticed by the way he shook his head a few seconds later and walked out the entrance.
Once outside, he worked fast, he gathered wood for the fire and leaves for the bedding. He even gathered a few larger branches and a pile of decent sized rocks from the area and piled them all up at the entrance. He brought the leaves in for the bedding, leaving them by the door for the time being while he started on the fire. He plucked his matches out of his pack and piled the wood just like he had the night before. It took him some time again, but he managed to get the fire going. And the smoke was trailing up the small airway at the top like he had hoped.
With the fire now going, he went back outside. He unfolded the canvas and draped it over the entrance. They needed something to keep the bugs out, afterall. He used the rocks to pin down the canvas to the overhanging rock at the entrance and finally dusted off his hands to a job well done before reentering the cave to make the beds.
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Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 9:42 pm
His voice snapped Rarity from her dreams once again and she glanced up at him. "Hmm?" she tiled her head, as if she hadn't heard him at first. And then when he explained she flushed and smiled.
Glancing back down at the little doll, she scooped it up and fussed over her again. "Then its settled. I do quite agree... Little Lily is quite perfect... she's not lost anymore. She has me." she thought for a moment, reflecting on everything they had been through just far. Just like I had you... she wanted to say, but that sounded silly.
She went over to the entrance and watched him work even more still hanging up the canvas so bugs didn't get in. Had he no need to rest? He just kept going and going! "There must be something I can do Big Mac. Just because I'm a lady doesn't mean I can't help somehow! " she finally said, deciding to stop standing around and do something.
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Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 10:11 pm
Big Mac stopped in the doorway to think. His form leaned against the rock for a very brief rest as he did.
"Why don't you ready up the beds, Miss Rarity..." he offered. "Then get you some rest. I'ma go out and check the area for food while there's still a bit of sun left.
"I won't go far, so you don't need to be worryin' any of somethin' comin' to get yeh..." he offered with a warm smile then turned, ducking back outside to start his search.
He wandered to just out of eyesight of the cave and paused. He had a moment to reflect back on the day... the whole trip, actually. And parts of it left him hopeful! Maybe... just maybe he and Rarity could... wait... no...
He rolled his eyes at himself and started moving again, keeping his sights open to any of the foods he had found while they were still with the fairies.
'What are yeh thinkin' Big Mac?' he started in his thoughts. 'She don't think of you in that way and she never will...' he sighed deeply, collecting his thoughts more as he turned to circle around the camp they had made for the night.
There was still no sign of any sort of food. He frowned a bit and continued his search in the dwindling light. It was at this point he wished he had brought that lamp with him, but it was possible that they would need it later...
He sighed deeply and started to gather more firewood. Enough to last them until morning. This part of the forest creeped him out a bit. He felt uneasy and unsafe in the growing darkness. He shuddered softly and turned, making his way back towards the camp. It was getting far too dark now, it would be best to save the search for more food for morning when they'd have more light to--
His thoughts careened into immediate panic as he seemed to fall, tumbling down a small bit of a hill over fallen branches, uprising roots and thick underbrush. Thankfully enough, he landed in the small bit of clearing just outside of the cave, but that didn't alter his mood any. In an instant, his leg began radiating pain and the sensation of trickling liquid on his flesh led him to believe that he was badly injured indeed.
Curses!
He writhed for a moment, his mouth open as if screaming at the top of his lungs, yet no sound came. When the initial shock of the fall and pain ebbed a bit, he looked over himself. He must have caught a stick in his legs in his fall... or a really sharp rock, cause now his calf had a rather sizable gash in it.
Defeated, he fell backwards, groaning in disbelief at this horrible turn of events. "Eeehy-Yup..." he managed to himself as if to answer an unheard question of, 'Did this just get worse?'
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Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 10:52 pm
Unfortunately for the injured fauny, the smell of blood after dark would attract many predators. As the light of day slowly dimmed, the sounds of the jungle grew louder and closer. Howling, cawing, scraping, growling. The ants were starting to crawl on him.
About 3 or 4 yards down the hill Big Mac would find several spear heads made of iron, a few rusted and rounded shields, and even some pae-sized helmets. They were strewn about in a way that the area looked like it had been the location of a battle. A short distance from the aged armor lay many broken faerie staves. The orbs were all missing and the silver and gold had been broken into many pieces, but it was still easy to know exactly what they were; if the faun were familiar with faeries.
---
By the cave, a shadow passed silently past the entrance.
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Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 10:37 am
Startled from her 'work' of tiding up the cave as best she could, the loud thud outside set her alert and panicked. She couldn't yet see for the tarp he had draped over the entrance and edged closer slowly, though unwillingly. "B-b-Big Mac.... is that you?" she called out, grabbing the knife as she went by, though she knew little how to properly use one.
Grabbing the flap she gently peeked out, expecting to see some sort of monster or large creature but was relieved to see it was only Big Mac. "Oh thank heavens its you, I was afraid..." she paused, not yet realizing just how grave the situation was.
The loud sound of growling, creeping, creatures crawling closer caused her to freeze in place. She looked over Big Mac, her eyes darting quickly to the odd open gash in his leg, the sight of blood trickling from his legs near about made her faint. It took all she had to catch herself and not hit the floor out cold like a lamp. "Big Mac!" she cried, rushing over to him, her head feeling dizzy the more she attempted to keep her eyes open.
You can do it ol' girl. He needs your help. Now's the time to show him how much a lady you are.
Another loud roar echoed near by.
"EEEEeeeee!" she squealed, dropping the knife at his side and darting back into the cave.
It looked, for all, that she had just up and abandoned him there, left him to rot and die. To get eaten. After all he had done for her to keep her safe thus far. That was it. No more. Nope not doing it.....
......
"YYYAAAAALAFHLAKAAAAAHHAAARAAGAGGALL!LLQLLLEE!!" she suddenly shouted like a freakin mad woman faunie and burst out of the cave, waving her hands like mad, both laughing and screaming. Even a bit of crying. But in her hands, she clutched tightly to the two bandannas from her pack and from his.
She dropped to her knees at Big Mac, and though she fussed... a lot... over the site of blood and possibly getting it all over her, she did her best to wrap up Big Mac's wound. Time was of the essence because the squeals were getting closer and she'd be damned if they laid one claw on her mane and tail.
Flicking any ants she could muster to touch away, she first wrapped it in the bandanna from his pack, which she had tossed into the trickling water at the back of the cave, hoping the water would some how clean it out and the coolness would prevent any swelling until they could get somewhere safer to properly treat it. She then wrapped it with the dry bandanna from her pack, tying it tight, if not fashionably around his leg.
"That will have to do. Now... if you please.. GET UP because I don't fancy dying here tonight..." she peered at him, her eyes wide and near overflowing with tears as she clung to his shoulder slightly. She saw only briefly the various spears and staffs stuck in the ground like some sort of ancient battlefield as she clutched up the small knife.
The ever closing ... monsters... and how bloody and unfashionable she'd get if they tore her to pieces was the first thing on her mind.
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