private City of Outcasts

[Minath Khalsi 195]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

Syl blushed.

 

"Thanks. All the sound messes with the echolocation I sometimes use. The whole city is constantly thrumming and messes with my senses. I would be okay with flying when we get farther from the city." Syl said.

 

She sniffed the air and spread her paws on the ground, and twisted her ears trying to get more sound. She wanted to get a feel for her new surroundings.

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@,

 

Raptor nodded. "Alright, whatever makes you comfortable. And just tell me if I start going to fast or anything." As he walked her through the city, he couldn't help but notice signs of struggle everywhere. There were more than a few beggars, and many of the buildings had broken windows and looked like they'd been broken into. The city was not not well.

[Minath Khalsi 195]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

Syl felt Raptor's heart rate change pace through his talons.

 

"What are you thinking about?" Syl asked. "And don't tell me nothing. Your heart rate just changed pace. I could feel it. If you were thinking about nothing your heart rate would've remained steady." 

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@,

 

Raptor shook his head. "It's not important really, and it's certainly nothing for you to worry about. It's just that, the city isn't doing too well these days. I don't know if you can tell without being able to see it, but it certainly isn't a very happy place. Don't trouble yourself over it, though. I'll make sure the two of us make out okay." 

[Minath Khalsi 195]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

Syl nodded gravely.

 

"I can smell it. The smell has changed over the years. The sounds have changed as well." Syl said. She pretended not to notice the strife all around her, because Raptor needed to know he was protecting her. Despite everything, Raptor felt the need to protect Syl. Syl knew this and tried to let him as much as possible.

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@,

 

Raptor sighed. "This city is not worthy of you. You deserve so much more than this. Sometimes I think we should leave, but this is our home, and there isn't really anywhere else for us to go. And as much as I hate to admit it, I don't know how long the two of us would last out in the world on our own."

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

"Maybe that's what we need to do, in that case," Diego replied. "I wouldn't volunteer myself; I'm no leader, and I know it. Sounds strange for somepony who's entire life is rooted in chaos, but I think that the main thing we need to do is organise ourselves. Elect a leader, have meetings and decide what's to be done."

[Minath Khalsi 195]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

Syl smiled sadly.

 

"I know, Mok'nathal." She said

 

But you sure could. I'm the only one that couldn't. She wanted to add, but couldn't bring herself to say it.

 

I'm holding him back. I'm sure he knows it. I just can't understand why. He could manage, even thrive, without me, yet he keeps me around.

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@,

 

In an extremely uncharacteristic gesture, Raptor stroked the side of her face comfortingly. "Now, cheer up. Everything's going to be just fine, I promise. And if we really did have to leave, I'm sure we'd find a way to get by." Usually he would have just dismissed her foul mood and carried on, but for some reason this time was different. He didn't know why he had been acting so strange lately. 

 

"Anyway, we're at the outskirts of town now. I'd say it's about time we take to the air, wouldn't you?"

 

---

 

@@Pripyat Pony,

 

Scurry shrugged. "Politics isn't something I'm really cut out for. I'm not smart enough to make a good leader myself anyway. Maybe one of the founding members of the city would make a good choice, but you'd have to convince them to do it. Given how poorly this city worked out, I don't know that they'd be too eager to try it again." 

[Minath Khalsi 195]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

Syl was shocked when Raptor stoked the side of her face.

 

She nodded and jumped. Because she had bat wings the wings were attached to her arms. When she reached the highest part of her jump, she stretched out her arms and the membrane caught the wind, making her go airborne. She flew up higher, and waited for Raptor to join her. Luckily she would be able to hear his wings, otherwise she would be lost.

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@,

 

Raptor grinned and flew up next to her. "Alright, stay close. I wouldn't want you to get lost or anything, and it's still a ways off."

 

---

 

Asteron sighed as he absentmindedly wiped the bar off for about the hundredth time that morning. Nobody was coming in, so he didn't really have anything else to do. Still, at least the quiet emptiness was better than the fighting. 

[Minath Khalsi 195]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

Syl nodded and started using her echolocation. With that and the sound of Raptor's wings, it's like she could almost see. Without colors or textures, but she knew where everything around her was. She tailed behind Raptor, so her paws were parallel to the end of his tail.

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@,

 

Raptor looked back and smiled, glad to see her following behind him without any trouble. He flew pretty fast, and soon they were almost there. He shouted to her over the sound of the rushing wind. "It's not much farther now. Are you excited about this? I know I've certainly kept you waiting long enough." 

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

Diego replied, "Maybe, but it would take somepony who gave a toss to try and sort them out. I'm just about ready for another visit to the bar. You coming with me? I can always do some more chaos magic for the bartender to pay for ciders, if you don't have any bits."

[Minath Khalsi 195]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

"I'm not sure what to expect. All I can wish for is Al diel shala, safe travels. Hopefully I will do well, Raptor'jin." Syl said, limiting her echolocation. She didn't want to alarm any animals that might be able to hear her short bursts of sound. She didn't want to ruin the hunt before it even began.

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@,

 

A few seconds later, Raptor dove down into the forest. "Come on, it's this way." He landed in a clearing and waited for her.

 

---

 

@@Pripyat Pony,

 

Scurry shrugged. "Why not? I have plenty of bits, though. I find many things in the old mines. Things people want. So they pay me for them." He headed towards the bar. "You know, that old minotaur who runs the bar has been here as long as anyone. If anybody knew what happened to the founders, it would be him." 

[Minath Khalsi 195]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

Syl landed next to Raptor, nearly tripping on a loose branch but keeping her balance. She couldn't imagine how Raptor would react if she had made a sound.

 

She swung her tail side to side, trying to get a feel for her surroundings. She accidentally bumped it into Raptor, and blushed but kept moving. When she knew about five feet around her, she stopped.

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@,

 

Raptor couldn't help but blush when she bumped him with her tail, even though he wasn't quite sure why. "Alright, are you ready? First of all, I think you should tell me what you already know about hunting. We can start working from there. Does that sound alright to you?" 

[Minath Khalsi 195]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

Syl sat down and began to think.

 

"Silence is virtue, I know how to track, and patience is important. And of course the ability to kill soundlessly." Syl said, scanning her mind to see if she forgot anything, but drew a blank. Her front claws began to retract and come back out in anticipation, a nervous habit of hers.

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@,

 

Raptor noticed her claws and put a talon on her shoulder. "Calm down, that's important. You have to stay calm or you make mistakes. And anyway, there's no need to be nervous. I'm sure you'll do fine, and even if you don't, it's your first time out. I would understand if you weren't perfect. But it's going to be fine. It sounds like you already know most of the important things." 

[Minath Khalsi 195]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

Syl took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

 

"Okay. I'm good." Syl said, and sat up, waiting for further instruction.

 

"I have learned this because in Azeroth there are two primary sentient species, the Windriders and the Hippogriff. They are mortal enemies and I was taught how to hunt and kill one, even being blind. A hippogriff is half griffon half pony. I know how to hunt and kill, I just choose not to. I was never taken on a hunt being blind, but I have the knowledge."

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@,

 

Raptor smiled. "Well, now you're going to get the chance to use that knowledge. The first thing we do is look for an animal we can start tracking. Observe your surroundings. Do you hear anything? Smell anything? Try to find a trace of an animal that's been here recently, and follow it." 

[Minath Khalsi 195]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

Syl put her nose to the ground and began sniffing. She was at areal disadvantage because she couldn't see tracks or anything of the likes, but she could feel a stream about half a mile away. She lifted her head up.

 

"There's a.... stream about half a mile away. There's heartbeats.... Rabbits? Possibly?" She said. 

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@,

 

Raptor smiled proudly. "Good work. Let's get moving, then. We should move quickly so we can make the most of the day and bring back as much game as possible. Anyway, start heading for the stream and I'll follow your lead." He reached over and patted her on the back. "You're doing a good job. I'm really proud of you." 

[Minath Khalsi 195]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

Syl blushed when Raptor patted her on the head, but moved to the stream.

 

She passed soundlessly through the underbrush, and when they arrived close to the stream Syl crawled so low her stomach brushed by some passing rocks. When the stream was just beyond the treeline, with rabbits in what she could assume to be Raptor's eyesight. Her claws came out with a nearly inaudible sound, and waited for Raptor's signal.