friendship is magic part 2

[allcomplete]

The forest is dark (Clarity and Guiding Star light their horns to see by, but it's almost worse than nothing, making the distant shadowed spaces darker by comparison; they soon give up). The plants that make it up are closely spaced, not all of them have friendly textures, and it is full of scary noises, only some of them the harmless snapped twigs and disturbed leaves of their own passage.

Before they've fully adjusted to the darkness, and are aware via anything but the feel of earth under their hooves that the path has sloped downward a little, it has given way under them, some of the flora and some distressingly large rocks along with it. Clarity can't even teleport. It's too dark to see where she might be going.

Comments

[follow_polaris]

Guiding decides to take a chance on fwipping a tree in the "nose" with her tail, chuckling when it "sneezes". It reverts.

[joyfulnoise]

And Joy runs up to the remaining demon tree and tickles it, cackling when it flails its branches.

"Awwww, all gone," he gasps between giggles.

[ipso_amore]

"Who knew Joy's weird sense of humour could be so useful?" remarks Cordy. She's smiling, but has not actually managed any tree-dispelling laughter. "Everybody okay? Are we ready to keep going?"

[allcomplete]

"I think I'm fine," says Clarity, shaking some dirt off her hoof from when she fell. "What an odd sort of tree monster."

[follow_polaris]

"Thank you, Joy," trills Guiding.

[joyfulnoise]

"You're welcome," says Joy, (what else) cheerfully. "Let's go!" He sets out along the decent-approximation-of-a-path.

[clearthestorm]

The pegasus sisters follow.

[allcomplete]

So do the unicorns.

[clearthestorm]

The path widens as they go, but the trees close in, denser and lower; short of Joy climbing one, the fliers will have a hard time getting off the ground if they try.

After a while, Streak announces, "Agitated water ahead. A waterfall or a very unruly river." If the others listen closely, they might be able to hear the faint sounds that led her to this conclusion.

[allcomplete]

"...Okay, I can swim a little, but maybe not in fast running water."

[follow_polaris]

"I can swim a lot, but same problem."

[joyfulnoise]

"I sink," says Joy.

[ipso_amore]

"I'm a strong swimmer, but I'd have to see the river to tell if I could cross it," says Cordy.

[joyfulnoise]

The path turns slightly. Joy, with the best night vision in the group, squints into the distance.

"...Iii don't think you can cross it," he says.

[follow_polaris]

"Clarity, how much would we have to light up the place for you to do your teleporting?"

[allcomplete]

"More than horn light. I could maybe see well enough if Joy started a fire, but I'd be really worried about controlling it, even with a river right there."

[joyfulnoise]

"I don't think you're gonna be seeing the other side of this river no matter how much light you throw on it," says Joy.

[clearthestorm]

"The river is emitting sounds of distress," notes Streak. "The river or some creature in it."

[allcomplete]

"...Rivers per se rarely emit sounds of distress, although we did just meet very menacing trees, so who knows. If there's creatures in the river maybe Cordy can talk them into giving us a ride."

[ipso_amore]

"No promises," says Cordy.

[joyfulnoise]

"I think I see creatures," says Joy. "I definitely hear it. Them? It?"

[clearthestorm]

They're close enough now for Streak to make out details. "It. A singular creature. Very large and snakelike. And I see what you meant about seeing the other side, Joy. The creature's thrashing is causing large waves and considerable spray."

[allcomplete]

"That'd make fording tricky even if it were shallow and otherwise calm and we were all experienced aqua-ponies."

[on_what_wings]

"No kidding," says Blaze.

A little farther along, and they're close enough for everyone to make out details - and hear the river creature's despondent wailing.

[allcomplete]

"Some kind of water serpent. I think those usually speak ordinary language, though, so we can all talk to him. If he wants to talk."

"BAWWWWWWW," sobs the serpent, thrashing miserably.