private ~* Feral Ponies *~ {RP}

[Torrent505 370]

@@Scribblegroove, 

 

Wanderlust had fallen into a pleasant dream, his veins were buzzing with Equibane and it thrilled him, filled him with fantastic power like it had done so many times before.  His horn was a buzz with magic, it had been the focus of his concentrated drink to exploit the magic amplifying symptoms of the Equibane.  His magic with it's connection to nature had raged uncontrolled as he slept.  The pant life around him has grown to a point in which if had covered him and hidden him.

 

Fireleaf's words shook him awake in an instant, he snorted and growled from within the shrubbery where he was buried.  The Equibane in him making him extraordinarily more aggressive than he usually was, he voice was harsher then he would usually dare with another herd member, "Fireleaf,  What is it?  I was napping... This is the second time I've been woken from my sleep today.  It had better be a good reason."

[Scribblegroove 565]

Fireleaf frowned. The scent of Equibane was all over Wanderlust. He had been experimenting again. "We do have problem... A big one. You would not believe what Malinter has done! There are intruders, ponies from afar, now near. They speak of searching the equibane, so I fear. Malinter is speaking to them now all on his own. He has ordered me to bring these leaves home." He said. He then took the saddlebag from his back. He handed them to wanderlust.

 

"I am certain this situation will escalate. There is no time for debate. We must act quickly now, for Malinters sake. He is strong, but this group, he cannot take. Where is our chief of wisdom. Perhaps he can enlighten us with his vision..." He said as he looked around the open spot. It was strange to see wanderlust in the tree like that. He was nearly twice as tall as the little guy. He seemed so vulnerable... Like prey.

 

He shook his head. It was the equibane speaking. He had to watch himself...

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@Everypony

 

Glory was about to reply to Soul, when it happened. She gasped as she saw the huge brown stallion in front of them. How on Equestria could a pony grow so big? And why? She could not speak with the horror as she realised just how much in danger they were. She didn't think tho that fighting was the answer. This pony surely could not be alone.

 

~~~

 

@@Malinter,

 

Lightning galloped thru the forest. He stopped at the edge, for a hated scent was in his nostrils. He veered left and found the half eaten corpse of a foal. Snarling at it, at the evidence of the cats' guilt, he none the less tool the time to kick dirt over the foal's body, thus burying it. Orange and black hairs littered the scene of the crime; tiger hairs. He sniffed the air again; a familiar scent. Fireleaf. Good. That pony was one of their best hunters; the tiger who had killed the foal would soon get its comeuppance. Lightning wheeled around and headed towards the town, arriving just in time to see the ponies who'd arrived there talking to Malinter. He walked up to stand beside the wise one.

[Torrent505 370]

@@Scribblegroove, @@Pripyat Pony, @@Malinter,  

Wanderlust was seeing red, his eyes seemed to roll about in his head as he tried to focus them on Fireleaf.  His lips drew back in a snarl, "Outsiders!?  After our holy blossom, NEVER!  If the old man has something to do with this I'll see him dead myself, how dare he even speak with them!"  Wanderlust felt like he needed to tear something apart, to see something torn to ribbons and bloodied before him.  

 

He continued his voice little more than a growl, "Lightning was close and on patrol only recently, he can't have gotten far.  He should have noticed an approach of outsiders.  Find him.  I'll stay with the Equibane and prepare a little greeting to show the outsiders why ponies stay away from these lands."

[Malinter 3,064]

Malinter caught Lightning's scent just moments before he looked over to him. The boy was quick and silent. If one of the great cats could approach so close undetected he'd be dead.

 

 "Ah, Lightning.... So good of you to join me here. For a moment I thought that fool, Fireleaf had came back asking for directions home again."

[Grapz224 137]

@, 

 

At the arrival of The new pony, Lightning, Soul turned around and walked by Mantorok. He stopped by him, only for a second, and said:
"Don't kill us all."

He then turned around, right by Mantorok's side. He readied himself even further. Using a trick he learned in Training, he used his magic to bring his armour to the top of his saddle bag, with out his horn glowing. He knew that Mantorok was more likely to start a fight, so he started to undo the straps that kept the armour Folded. He sat there, waiting in suspense, for Mantorok to reply.

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@@Malinter, Lightning took in the situation at a glance. "Strangers, here?" he said with a snort. "Seems as tho someponies can't learn to leave well alone. This is our land, and our territory, and everything that moves or grows here is also ours. Maybe we need to show these ponies that."

[Technicolor_Pony 34]

Technicolor steped forward.

"I mean no harm," she said in a low, clear voice, "But I will not let you hurt my group. We are here to better all of ponykind including you all. So if you go through somepony," she said, her coat starting to glow a Fiery red and her mane bright orange and yellow, "You will have to go through me." she gently struck her hoof against the soft ground.

[The565er 9]

Western, who up until recently was staying near the back of the group, decided that he had had enough of the macho talk and decided to try and do something productive. He quickly pushed his way to the front and said 'Listen. This is your turf and we respect that. All we want to do is stay here a little while and then we'll be on our way. Surely you can let us stay here for a while without us using anything other than fully renewable resources, like water and hay?'  His voice became more mellow and honeyed. 'You're reasonable ponies and you could make room for us for a few weeks, couldn't you?

[Hive King 2,001]

@@Malinter,

"So, you are competent" Mantorok crooned, rubbing his head on the ground submissively. "I merely desire to look at the sights in what's left of my short life" Mantorok lied, knowing that betraying his allies to make himself look favorable gave him a better chance of saving them. "Now these tools, they came looking for Equibane" Mantorok laughed, trying to sound as if he was giving up sensitive information

@@Grapz224,

"Come on, tell the ponies the truth of why you are here. Tell them how I'm not part of this" Mantorok growled, hoping that Soul understood he was tricking the massive ponies.

@@Technicolor_Pony,

"See how agressive she is? I could never join them" Mantorok chuckled, hoping this'd make him look favorable. When his team mates were captured, something that was probably going to happen, they'd need someone to rescue them, someone who wasn't imprisoned.

@@The565er,

"Shh" Mantorok snapped 

[Technicolor_Pony 34]

Technicolor flattened her ears. "Tools? I think that's unnecessary, don't you?" she narrowed her eyes. "I don't think that will lessen oour tensions." She sat down and looked at both groups, maintaining an upright position.

"I hope that we all end this in a friendship," She said to both groups.

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Wind Sonnet.

 

Sonnet watched as she edged in circles around the company. Naturally, the foals had rushed in headlong - not that she was opposed to such tactics: she simply believed that there was an advantage to be gained from subtlty... it had served her well in the past.

 

Shifting her feathers as she moved to keep the light from ever drawing attention to herself, she gradually made her way closer, and closer. She doubted that her tribe knew of her presence - she knew that the intruders didn't know. Smirking, she used the added force from her wings to climb atop one of the ruins, and watched.

 

Intruders: they smelled wrong, even from here... and they were so small and frail looking. She allowed herself another few inches to get a better look.

 

Sonnet might not have always seen eye to eye with many members of the herd - any of them in fact - but she knew where her loyalties lay and they were after all, like family. They might squabble about privacy and ownership but these lands were theirs - collectively! If these intruders were here to cause harm then she had no doubt in the tribes ability to defend themselves... but she wouldn't take things laying down either.

 

Her crystalline mane caught the light perfectly to deflect attention away from her teal body - coat rippling in the breeze. She pressed her body against the roof of the ruin and tensed every powerful muscle - waiting.

Edited March 23, 2014 by Cinderscribe

[Malinter 3,064]

"You mean this?" 

 

He raised the single Equibane blossom before the research team.

 

"Do not try to fool me, warlock. This plant could quite easily restore your crippled body. We could elevate you all to be... like us..."

 

He gustured around him as more ferals appeared.

 

"The only price is. You live here in the Badlands, forever. Your other choice is death."

[IridscentNionios 1,420]

Artemis turned as he heard Saronyx, Soul, and Lykos call for them together. Saronyx's raven ((it's a raven right?)) started going circles and Lykos had noticed him and started making some growls. Watching the gestures her companion made Artemis seemed to understand. He made large mild growls of growing intensity and scratched his snout a bit. Stallion... male... strong.

No sooner had she figured this out that the great stallion came out. Bigger than it was supposed to be... it sounded unfriendly but Artemis was unshaken. Soul was preparing to fight and she was as well... but in comparison to the others she wouldn't need to reveal her weapons until the time was right.

Soul offered to stand back while others flee and mentioned rules of engagement. She scraped the side of his head with her hoof. She spoke with low volume almost whispering.

"You think rules of engagement will matter if they over-run us? You seriously want to get yourself killed over a bunch of ponies you don't know? That's noble of you and i appreciate it... but it's also stupid. No... we need to create a diversion... our best bet if they attack is to head to the forest and hide there."

She then proceeded to asses the situation to discover what she was up against. Luckily Lykos offered his knowledge too... secret gestures followed and the subtle communication followed as he and she made a judgement of what they were up against.

"Herbal supplement that affects the body, *long-drawn sniff*, increased hormones and testosterone... High Muscle Mass. Aggression increase due to unbalanced hormone levels. Territorial... instincts rise with the use of this plant. Such plants are like drugs... if you use too much."

In the meantime another pony from the group Technicolor had come forth trying to defend them all. What a bunch of hero-wannabees... they were all going to die if they tried to fight. Couldn't they figure this out?

"Don't be naive Technicolor... i have a bad feeling for this. I am unsure if side-effects of Equibane affect magic or enhance it. Likely i don't know about flight." She continued speaking and suddenly that fool Mantrok spoke. 

"What are you doing..." she said for the first time audible enough to be heard ahead. "Keep your tongue inside your mouth... you... you... ARGH!" she scrambled her hair in frustration as she took the word.

"Ignore my foolish comrades... we came here... for research. None of us have intent to disturb you... but i don't think you are helping yourself either by being aggressive. This might be your turf but the fact that another research team that crossed here has disappeared. We have every right to search this land..."

Couldn't the reset be more assertive? Lykos turned to Mantrok and his pony construction that followed him and simply moved it's paw before it's mouth promoting silence from his part. He didn't think he was smart enough to understand that he wasn't a common beast either.

(OOC:While writting this i got like 10 answers... I had to update my post 10 times. SLOW THE HELL DOWN.))

[Technicolor_Pony 34]

Technicolor nodded as the other pony spoke. She stepped back in the group and spoke to nobody in particular when she said,

"I know, but I always try to look on the bright side.... I've been through so much that I've learned my negativity only pushes me farther downwards..." She looked up at the clouds distantly.

[Hive King 2,001]

@@Malinter,

"My enlightened friend, while you are most kind to offer me this boon, I can't possibly accept it" Mantorok sighed, looking remorseful. "You see, while my body may be kept alive, I have no want to be restored to youth. It feels like cheating to me, I hope you understand" Mantorok negotiated, looking like he was very sad, though on the inside, he was stoic...as usual.

 

"Now these ponies, they came to steal that plant from you and make is assessible to everyone" Mantorok blurted out, knowing it was a huge lie. Please forgive me....friends. 

 

@, 

The summoned golem grunted at Lykos, a sign to back off. It was still in attack mode

[The565er 9]

Suddenly clicking onto Mantorok's plan, though mostly because he was so annoyed at him, Western turned to him and said in a loud and slightly hysterical voice 'No. I understand that you think you're the leader of this pack but don't forget that you were pretty much against our expedition the whole time. We nearly had to drag you out here and now you have the audacity to shush me? How about you go and side with these savages then? It's what you wanted all along, isn't it? To try and stop our expedition!'

 

After a deep breath he turned back to the majority of the group and said 'I'm sorry you had to hear that. I do tend to put up with a lot but it can suddenly all burst out. Though I'm sure it won't happen again.' he finished with a deliberate wink now that the tribal ponies couldn't see.

[Grapz224 137]

@@Malinter, 

 

Soul stepped forward, his magic still on his armour.

 

"With all due Respect, we do not want to steal all of your crop, nor do we want it available to the general populace of Equestria. We came here for Two reasons. The first of which was to take a few small samples of Equibane back home for Study. The Second reason is because we need to look for the old Exploration team. They came here for the same reason. We are completing these two tasks and leaving. We are not here to wage war. We don't want to cause you any trouble. You can either accept that and let us take what we need and let us go, or you can fight us all, and declare a war on all of Equestria. your choice."

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@, Glory edged closer to Artemis. "You are right," she whispered, so that the others couldn't hear. "Attacking these ponies is folly! We'd be better off trying to escape." She sighed, knowing that the secret she had striven to protect was soon going to be out, but seeing no other choice. "Our best bet would be to retreat. A fight would only end with most of us either dead or badly wounded; we wouldn't stand a chance against those ponies. Look at the the pegasus with the patched coat. By the looks of him, he's far too big and heavy to fly. Anypony with wings, like you and I, would have an advantage."

 

She didn't want to leave the others in the lurch, but Glory knew full well that it would do no good if they were all killed or captured. Stallions! She shook her head in disbelief. All they ever wanted to do was go on the attack. Well, in this situation it would do no good. Glory noticed that other feral ponies were edging from the forest to join the two already here. They were already outnumbered. She waited to hear Artemis' reply.

 

@Everypony

 

Lightning laughed when the brightly coloured unicorn mare challeged himself and Malinter. Who did these foals think they were trying to fool. Still tho, he didn't wish to cause a bloodbath. Taking some of these ponies prisoner would be the best bet. The rest could die or run away and come to grief as they would. He whispered all this into @@Malinter,'s ear.

 

"If I have to," he added for good measure, "I'll summon a storm. These foals won't be expecting that. Any we capture, we'll take to the mare's clearing."

[IridscentNionios 1,420]

@,((OOC:He did it at Mantrok not the golem)) Lykos smirked at the golem. "Weak" his mouth moved but made no audible sound to say the word.

@@Technicolor_Pony,  "Our dear companion Mantrok should be first-hoof proof that you shouldn't expect friendship from anyone. Face the reality... what you must do is beyond that." 

She then laughed at Mantrok's comment. In fact she couldn't stop laughing. How did Mantrok even get in this expedition if he was going to betray them from the start? Wasn't he at least going to try... what a fate-worshiping idiot. He was more likely to survive by being together with them and he thought that he was going to save his hide by prompting to dump them at the first chance! BAH!

@@Malinter, "I am sorry dear... whatever your name is. It seems my "friend" here is such a coward that he tries to hide behind his own hoof. Laughable really wouldn't you agree? Wouldn't it be better to just admit his own weakness before you and leave rather than just pretend and sacrifice others for his part? But that's not what i want to know here. I am very curious as to why we only have two options... i'm not too good at choosing really. In fact i prefer forging my own path."

[Technicolor_Pony 34]

Technicolor nodded in agreement but still had a glint of hope she could aspire friendship. Things could be like they used to for her. Like when she still knew.... she shook her head, telling herself not to think about it. She realized she was making herself look like a fool, so she decided to step back and wait until she knew what to do. She didn't want to rub salt in the wound.

[Hive King 2,001]

@,

The golem blinked stupidly, not comprehending the wolf's gesture.

 

Mantorok resisted the urge to facehoof as the ranger started babbling. I don't want to abandon you, I'm going to trick these stupid savages, he wanted to say. Oh well, at least she was doing a fine job of separating him from the group. He really wished he had brought the Tome of Eternal Darkness with him now, if he had it, he'd be summoning a Horror by now. At least he still had his enchanted autopsy gear. While the scalpels were small, the runes on them ensured that against brutes, they'd do much more damage than normal. Mantorok was a cripple....but his golem was not. Mantorok tapped the ground twice as signal to the golem.

If things go bad....slaughter our foes

[Malinter 3,064]

@@Pripyat Pony,

 

"Wait , Lightning. I have a question to ask this one."

 

@@Grapz224, 

 

He turned to face Soul.

 

"I AM the last expedition. Its soul survivor. I am Malinter, Former Master Apothacary of the Royal Medicial School. Years ago Celestia sent my team to die. Like me, you were sent on a fools errand. On their blood, this plant shall never fall into her hands. So flee now. Or join us.  

[Technicolor_Pony 34]

Technicolor leaped forward to say something.... but then she realized,,, he could be correct. She had heard that name before- that's why he sounded familiar. she couldn't believe it. She stamped her hoof in the soil, not knowing who to believe. She put her hoof to her forehead to think things through.

[Grapz224 137]

@@Malinter, 

 

Soul starred at "Malinter".

 

"Your the last of the expedition group? What happened then? How did you go from finding a few samples to... this? and in what way did Celestia abandon you? She sent us to come get you! Doesn't that prove that we are friends, not foes? That plant is Evil, this is obvious, and I see why you may not want it to fall into the wrong hands. But Unless we get it back to Equestria for proper study, Celestia and Luna will keep sending more and more Research groups out here. You could kill us, Another group will come. You can take us prisoner, another group will come. You can allow us to take small samples back, and nopony from Equestria will ever bother you again."