Barren Kindness -Chapter 6-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_9Thp-s5dc&feature=related

 

"How's that?"

>"It's better, actually. Thank you."

"No problem. Come on, let's keep moving."

>Fluttershy's wing seemed to be recovering fairly well.

>Not flight worthy, of course, but enough that your were able to loosen the sling you made for her.

>She seemed to be grateful in the extra space to spread her wings a little more.

>Still, her legs were getting stronger day by day.

>She must never of had to deal with terrain like this.

>Hell, according to her she came from a place that sounds... well...

>Perfect.

>Too perfect.

>And it's for that reason you didn't believe a word of it.

>Fluttershy trots next to you as you pushed passed a cluster of broken down cars in the middle of the road.

>The two of you were getting closer and closer to DC, if these landmarks were anything to go by.

>"Anon?"

>You look to your side and meet Fluttershy's gaze.

"Yes?"

>"I have a, uhm, favor to ask you. If you don't mind, that is.."

"Sure. What's wrong?"

>She scuffs her hoof on the dirt, glancing away from you.

>"Well, we've been out here for a few weeks together.

"Yeah."

>I haven't... I mean, I haven't had the chance to... uhm..."

>She's blushing a bit, and you're confused.

"What?"

>"Um, well ah... there's a very fine lining of dirt on everything in this world."

"I noticed. What's your point?"

 

>Fluttershy sighs.

>"I'm very... dirty, Anon."

"Yeah."

>"I don't like to be this dirty for this long."

"Right."

>"...you don't seem to care, really."

"You're right. I don't."

>"Is there any way I could get a bath around here?"

"A bath."

>"Yes."

"You want me to find a bunch of water, just so you can get the dirt out of your mane?"

>"Well, yes..."

"You know what else water is good for?"

>"...drinking?"

"Bingo."

>She fidgets in place, blowing her mane out of her face so she can see you better.

>"But Anon I-"

"Fluttershy the only places that have big open spots of water are all radioactive. We'd need to put you in a radiation suit, and then you wouldn't even get wet so no bath there, or we'd have to give you a ton of Rad-X."

>"Rad-X?"

"Yeah, it helps prevent radiation poisoning."

>"Are they little pills?"

>...

"...yes?.."

>Fluttershy opens the pack on her side and nudges through it with her snout, pulling out a tiny orange bottle.

>She holds it out to you, and you take it.

"What the..."

>This was Rad-X.

>Where... where did she find this?

"Where did you find this?"

>"I found it in the Super Duper Mart when we were still there the other day."

"But I checked that place all over! Where was it? The pharmacy? The kitchen? The-"

>"Coffee pot."

"...what?"

>"I found them in a coffee pot."

 

>You stare at the small yellow pegasus as she giggled at your confusion.

>"Are there enough for me to take a bath?"

"I... wait, hold on."

>You open the bottle and peer inside.

>There were PLENTY of pills in here to help her out.

>Hell, what with her size, if she took two of these she'd be able to swim in the Patomic for a good minute or so without even getting slightly nauseous.

>You didn't want to divert off course, but then again the two of you were just rambling along the wasteland at this point.

"Fine. We find a lot of water out in the open, then you can roll around in it to your heart's content."

>"~woohoo~"

>Rolling your eyes, you and Fluttershy continue marching along.

>As you walk on the broken streets before you, something out of the corner of your eye catches you attention.

>Movement.

>You couldn't tell what it was, so you turn towards it to get a better-

"Down."

>"Wha-"

>You grab Fluttershy and run towards a broken down bus, taking her inside of it with you.

>"What's happening? Why are we hiding?"

"Shh."

>"Anon, what's going o-"

"Fucking quiet! Not a sound."

>You crawl to a window on the bus and peer outside.

>"...Anon?"

"Shush!"

>"But what are we hiding from?"

>You continue to scan the area through the small cracks in the mirror.

>Then you see it slowly round the corner of a nearby building, its head tilted upwards to sniff the air.

>Those claws.

>It turns its head towards the bus you and Fluttershy hide in.

>It begins to move forward, its back haunched and its claws scraping against cars it passed.

"Just...stay...down."

>"What is it?"

>This was bad.

>This was very, very bad.

>It snaps it's head directly at your eyes, and give a loud, terrifying howl.

"A Deathclaw."

 

~END~