The Trotting Dead - s2e017 - Penance

[21:01]<EchoesOfDeath>	===========================================================
[21:01]<EchoesOfDeath>	The Trotting Dead - Season 2 - Episode #017
[21:01]<EchoesOfDeath>	===========================================================
[21:05]<EchoesOfDeath>	The wind blows on the young ponies' faces on the rooftop of the office building. A door is a few hoofsteps away, closed, likely leading to the stairs.
[21:13]<EchoesOfDeath>	Backlash keeps low profile as she flies across the neighboorhood. The state of disarray is visible and wanderers limp along the shadows.
[21:13]<Cambiance>	"So... You ready to go Swift?"
[21:14]?	Swift_Hurddle takes off his cap and whipes a hoof over his mane, fussing it up and letting the wind blow through it as he tucks his cap in his jacket pocket. "What a jump"
[21:14]?	Swift_Hurddle nods, "I think so, just good to be back in the sun"
[21:15]?	Cambiance nods. " I know what you mean. Even if I never was a very sunny mare..."
[21:15]<EchoesOfDeath>	A cup rolls along the floor, leaving a puddle, having escaped from Sugar's peg legged grasp.
[21:16]?	Backlash keeps an eye out for signs of conflict. The state of the once-peaceful city is... physically sickening. She tries to use her discomfort to motivate herself to stay strong. Somepony's gotta make things better again.
[21:17]?	Swift_Hurddle looks down the side of the building, "Heh, ya. so we heading down or what?"
[21:19]<Cambiance>	"Maybe. I mean, we could try jumping from roof to roof instead, but that might be a little... Precarious."
[21:19]?	Swift_Hurddle nods and looks back to the roof access door, leveling his axe. "Right, so lets take the stairs"
[21:20]?	Cambiance goes to the door. "Be ready. Lets try to be quiet if we have to take any out."
[21:24]?	Cambiance attempts to open the door.
[21:25]?	Swift_Hurddle nods and grips the axe with his mouth as he braces for action if need be.
[21:26]<EchoesOfDeath>	The door seems locked.
[21:26]<EchoesOfDeath>	Backlash hears a distant shot coming from the harbor.
[21:27]?	Cambiance frowns. "Well... I feared that might have been the case. Do you think there's another way down?  Or do we have to bash the lock or something?"
[21:28]?	Swift_Hurddle moves forward and returns his axe to his back, "Humm... um well let me check". Turning his head he puts his ear to the door and listens for sounds on the other side of it.
[21:29]<Cambiance>	"I could try muffling the noise again. I know I can get it right this time."
[21:30]<Backlash>	Hearing only the rap of a gunshot, Backlash decides not to investigate. She may be prideful, but she's not foolish. ...Usually. As long as nopony's in pain, it should be okay. She decides to keep moving on her vital mission. Food, water, and medicine.
[21:34]<EchoesOfDeath>	Swift_Hurddle doesn't hear anything.
[21:35]?	Swift_Hurddle backs up and gives the door a prod with his hoof, "Nah, seems clear to me. Might want to stand back". Turning around Swift gives the door a buck.
[21:40]<EchoesOfDeath>	The door cracks open, showing a stairway going down
[21:42]?	Cambiance starts to walk down slowly. "Nice job. Let's go."
[21:42]?	Swift_Hurddle smiles nods, "Lets"
[21:47]<EchoesOfDeath>	Backlash spots a dinner on a side street a few blocks away
[21:47]<EchoesOfDeath>	The hallway is dark and dusty, all doors along it closed in the upper floor.
[21:48]?	Backlash tries to land on the roof of a building 2 spots down from the diner. That way she'll be able to see around it without being too close.
[21:50]<EchoesOfDeath>	She finds a safe building to land on nearby.
[21:52]<Cambiance_>	"Do you want to search any of the rooms here?  Or should we move on?"
[21:52]?	Backlash carefully examines the diner before she flies over.
[21:55]?	Swift_Hurddle looks around, "umm... why dont we just check there is no company up here before we go? at least that way we can have a pretty good chance of no suprises waiting on us if we come back in a hurry"
[21:56]?	Cambiance hoists her machete and walks to a door to check it. "Sounds good."
[21:57]?	Swift_Hurddle smiles, "Thanks.. heh, not used to like, calling the play so to speak"
[20:12]<LuckyLeaf>		==============================================
[20:25]<EchoesOfDeath>	The dinner sign has a big dent where something might have collided into it. It is dark inside and one of the windows is broken. Backlash can't see anypony among the tables though.
[20:29]<EchoesOfDeath>	 Swift_Hurddle and Cambiance stood by an office door in the silent hallway. Dust specks floated gently under the light of the roof stairway.
[20:29]?	Cambiance tries the door to see if it's locked.
[20:34]?	Backlash trots up to the front door and goes inside. The silence is welcoming, if not a little unsettling.
[20:37]<EchoesOfDeath>	The front door rings a bell as it opens into the dinner. There is a turned table and chairs all over the place. The counter is messy.
[20:40]<EchoesOfDeath>	The door doesnt seem locked but it only opens a few inches before hitting something.
[20:42]?	Cambiance tries to peek inside.
[20:44]?	Swift_Hurddle stands behind cambiance with axe ready in case of trouble, the door kick was loud but he was pretty sure he hadnt heard anything... pretty sure.
[20:47]?	Backlash feels a creeping sense of apprehension as she looks around the diner. Best not to think about it. She advances into the kitchen, where the food will certainly be easier to find.
[20:50]<EchoesOfDeath>	Cambiance sees a large dried stain in the carpet and hears a whimper.
[20:51]?	Cambiance whispers to Swift. "Be ready."  She calls out a bit louder.  "Hello?  Somepony in there?"
[20:52]?	Swift_Hurddle braces
[20:58]<EchoesOfDeath>	Backlash's glance catches a griffon with glowing eyes and falling feathers lying over a pile of bones in the dark kitchen. It is turned towards her and getting up, but it didn't seem to see her yet.
[21:00]<EchoesOfDeath>	The two ponies hear a low moan and a different, weak voice. "h-help..."
[21:00]?	Cambiance looks to Swift.  "Do you think we can unblock the door?"
[21:02]?	Backlash thinks fast - or tries, anyway. She attempts to duck back behind the kitchen entrance and hide behind the wall.
[21:06]?	Swift_Hurddle blinks, "Um well I dont know but if somepony needs help we need to do something", he says in a loud whisper. "Maybe.. maybe I could wedge it open so you can slip in?"
[21:09]<EchoesOfDeath>	The griffon turns its head around, scanning the dinner as it heads towards the door
[21:10]?	Cambiance nods.  "Sure.  Let's try that."
[21:13]?	Swift_Hurddle nods and sets his axe head between the door and the frame, twisting it around he pushes and tries to wedge the door open for Cambiance to slip through.
[21:14]?	Cambiance attempts to wiggle through.
[21:17]<EchoesOfDeath>	The griffon moves past Backlash obliviously. As he approaches the light she has a better sight. His skin is parched and darkened under the fallen feathers, his eyes are pure red. Talons and beak are nearly black. It bumps on the fallen table and caws at it.
[21:18]<EchoesOfDeath>	The opening is enough for Cambiance to go through. She finds herself face to face with the Wanderer inside.
[21:20]?	Cambiance screams and whirls her machete in front of her with her magic, ready to strike.
[21:22]?	Backlash considers trying to put the beast out of its misery, but reconsiders when she gives it a second thought. She's in no position to be fighting a no-doubt murderous bird of prey. Instead, she slips into the kitchen to look for a more appropriate weapon. There's gotta be some knives in here, right?
[21:24]<EchoesOfDeath>	The blank eyed pony flails at Cambiance, only to be hit by a machete to the neck. It digs deep, making him bleed black, but it doesn't stop him
[21:26]?	Cambiance attempts to kick the pony back before giving it another swing of her machete.
[21:29]<EchoesOfDeath>	The second swing sends it's head rolling
[21:30]?	Cambiance sits down, panting, before she looks over the rest of the room.  "I... I got him Swift."
[21:30]<EchoesOfDeath>	Backlash a set of finely crafted professional kitchen knives.
[21:31]?	Swift_Hurddle mumbles around the handle of his axe from the other side of the door as he keeps the door open, "Uhmfh kay, dophf you seeph ammymore?"
[21:32]<EchoesOfDeath>	The first thing to be seen is the body of another wanderer with its head crushed by the secretary desk. It's a small office having 4 cubicles, a closed side room for the boss, a secretary desk and a toilet, from which you can still hear whimper.
[21:33]?	Cambiance stands.  "No.  It seems to be clear.  I'm going to investigate that voice we heard."
[21:33]?	Cambiance walks to the toilet.  "Hello?  I took care of the pony that was out here.  Are there any more around?  Are you hurt?"
[21:35]?	Backlash quickly swaps out her trowel for a well-made knife. Now that's what I'm talkin' about! She peeks back to check on the griffon.
[21:36]<EchoesOfDeath>	"...food." He whimpers. "...so... long."
[21:36]?	Swift_Hurddle whipes away a bead of sweat as he keeps the door open, "Ooph kay"
[21:37]<EchoesOfDeath>	It is still there and now the table has one less leg. It spits the table leg.
[21:37]?	Cambiance creeps into the bathroom, machete still raised as she looks for the pony.
[21:39]<EchoesOfDeath>	For a moment she isn't sure she is looking at a living pony. The earth pony is almost just bones and flaps of skin from weight lost too fast. He looks at Cambiance from the ground, pitiful. "...don't... hurt... me..."
[21:40]?	Cambiance crouches near him.  "Don't worry.. I won't."  She examines him for injuries.  "How long have you been here?"
[21:40]?	Backlash advances further into the kitchen, looking for a pantry. A freezer could work too, but a pantry would be preferable.
[21:41]<EchoesOfDeath>	"I... don't know..." He is a blue pony with a long dark blue mane and glasses.
[21:44]<EchoesOfDeath>	The pony is not hurt, just starved.
[21:44]<Cambiance>	"What's your name?  Can you stand?"
[21:48]<EchoesOfDeath>	There is a pantry. It has a few pieces of bread and cheese, as well as more baking ingredients. It should last 2 days for all the ponies you have. There is also some mush that used to be fresh vegetables.
[21:49]<EchoesOfDeath>	"I'm... Ice Bead..." He tries to pull himself up, struggling.
[21:51]?	Cambiance helps Ice Bead up.  "Come on.  I have a friend by the door.  He was able to help pry it open.  We should be able to get you out of here."
[21:55]<EchoesOfDeath>	He gets up with Cambiance's help and shakily make his way out with her. He is thin enough to easily pass through the door.
[21:56]<Cambiance>	"Swift, this is Ice Bead.  I found him inside the office.  He's been trapped inside for... a long time."
[21:59]?	Swift_Hurddle lets the door close after they are both through and sholders his axe, "I can tell, you look like you could use a bite to eat buddy. Why dont we see about getting you back to our place?"
[22:00]<Cambiance>	"Do you think we can get him over there?"
[22:01]?	Swift_Hurddle nods, "Sure, should be a simple job of getting someone to fly him over right?"
[22:03]?	Cambiance nods.  "Right.  So we just need our griffon friend then... I hope she isn't too 'busy' with Miss Star..."
[22:03]?	Backlash stuffs the fresh food in her bags. She decides not to test her luck with the mush
[22:03]?	Backlash looks for another way out of the kitchen other than past the griffon.
[22:04]?	Swift_Hurddle looks to Ice Bead, "Need a hoof buddy? We need to get upstairs so we can get you over to the book shop, have it set up with some other ponies we met after things... changed"
[22:06]<EchoesOfDeath>	Ice smiles weakly. "Thanks..." He glances back. "...crazy... there."
[22:07]<EchoesOfDeath>	Backlash sees the other exit across the pile of bones.
[22:07]<Cambiance>	"Yeah.  It's been a crazy time for everypony..."
[22:07]?	Swift_Hurddle nods, "Ya... so, lets cut this short and get Ice here to saftey"
[22:08]<Cambiance>	"Definitely."
[22:09]?	Swift_Hurddle helps Ice as he leads him back upwards towards the roof.
[22:10]<EchoesOfDeath>	Ice moves slowly but he makes it with your help
[22:11]<Cambiance>	"One of us needs to jump across to get a flier.  Do you want to, or shall I?"
[22:12]?	Swift_Hurddle looks across the jump, "I could make it quicker but will you be ok with him?"
[22:13]?	Backlash cringes but tries to step across the bones without touching them. Just don't think about it...
[22:13]?	Cambiance nods.  "I can handle myself.  Besides, it looks pretty calm here.  I'll be fine."
[22:15]?	Swift_Hurddle nods and gallops off on a run to fetch a ride for there malnurished new friend.
[22:19]?	Swift_Hurddle takes the leap at full gallop and pushes his way into the book store calling out, "Hey any fliers around? Need some help for a new pony we found next door!"
[22:20]<EchoesOfDeath>	Backlash quietly crosses the bones to the backdoor.
[22:23]?	Backlash casts one last nervous glance behind her before she pushes it open.
[22:25]<EchoesOfDeath>	The griffon is still on the front, but the door does not open.
[22:27]?	Backlash frowns and examines the door to see if she can tell why it won't open.
[22:27]<EchoesOfDeath>	The door is locked.
[22:27]<EchoesOfDeath>	MInt flies to Swift_Hurddle. "Who is this pony?"
[22:30]?	Swift_Hurddle motions for the roof as he reverses direction and heads back for the roof top access. "Oh hey Mint, guess Backlash is still out. Me and Cambiance were clearing the office building next door and found a stallion who needs some help, looks like hes been hold up in a bathroom since this tarted"
[22:37]<EchoesOfDeath>	Mint flies to the rooftop
[22:37]?	Cambiance waves to Mint.  "Over here!"
[22:37]?	Backlash peeks back out into the kitchen. Maybe there's a set of keys hanging around somewhere?
[22:38]?	Swift_Hurddle points, "See? Dont think he can quite make the leap himself, mind giving him a lift?"
[22:41]<EchoesOfDeath>	Backlash spots the key fallen between some bones.
[22:42]<EchoesOfDeath>	"Oh dear, he is seriously malnourished. I'll bring him inside." Mint flies to Ice and picks him up
[22:43]?	Cambiance glances over at Swift.  "Should we continue out exploration then?"
[22:44]?	Swift_Hurddle smiles and calls out across the gap, "Youll have something in your belly in no time there Ice", Jumping across to join Cambiance he thinks for a second, "Ummm. I guess so, no reson to call it off. Hey if we do a good job we may even be able to clear this place out top to bottom"
[22:45]<EchoesOfDeath>	Mint flies inside with Ice.
[22:45]<Cambiance>	"Sounds good.  I just hope every room isn't that exciting..."
[22:47]?	Backlash feels her heart sink. Her experience in the wilds should be helping her overcome her queasiness, but it's really not helping much at all. Just don't think about it... She nudges one of the bones aside with a hooftip, shivering as she feels its texture. Just get the key...
[22:47]?	Swift_Hurddle nods, "Not that i mind saving ponies but your right"
[22:48]?	Cambiance rolls her eyes.  "You know what I mean.  I don't mind that either.  It's just... stressful.  Especially since I didn't know if he was bitten when I found him... I know he isn't now, but still."
[22:49]?	Swift_Hurddle nods, "Well if you like Ill take the next random office adventure that pops up"
[22:50]<Cambiance>	"It's fine.  I'm not complaining.  But let's get moving."
[22:51]?	Swift_Hurddle nods and moves back into the offices
[22:54]?	Backlash takes a deep breath, shuddering at first, but then calm. Just get the key. She scoops up the key, ignoring the burning mental sensation of the grime left on her hoof by the bones, and takes it to the backdoor.
[22:57]<EchoesOfDeath>	With a turn, the key opens the backdoor to the alley behind the dinner. The open sky is within reach.