The Trotting Dead - s1e004 - Death Doesn't Wait

[20:49]<EchoesOfDeath>	===========================================
[20:49]<EchoesOfDeath>	The Trotting Dead - Season 1 - Episode #004
[20:49]<EchoesOfDeath>	===========================================
[20:55]<EchoesOfDeath>	Hours pass, and the policemare doesn't come back. Across the street a few charred ponies have collapsed. some stil wander somehow unfazed by their exposed flesh. The silence of the night is broken by the grunts  and an occasional scream echoing from afar. Inside, you are safe for now. Rosebee rests, recovering her health. Punch Clock stays close to the door, peeking through the curtains out every couple moments. And this is where your
[20:55]<EchoesOfDeath>	life keeps moving.
[20:57]?	Star_Spotter frowns as she keeps watch, looking out the window as best as she can, occasionally looking up at the sky and becoming distracted. She worries. She worries for her students, she worries for the kind policemare who has a crush on her, she worries for the city. She worries for her life.
[20:57]?	Swift_Hurddle is washing his hooves for the fifth time, the blood is long since gone but he still feels.... unclean.
[20:58]?	Backlash is having trouble staying awake, and wants to nod off and let her body recover.
[20:58]?	Cambiance lounges about near the couch, exhausted by the events of the previous day
[21:01]?	Swift_Hurddle trots out of the bathroom and into the living room, flopping on a cussion and resting his head with a sigh.
[21:02]?	Cambiance looks up.  "Doing any better?"
[21:02]<EchoesOfDeath>	Cambiance spots a music playeron the room.
[21:03]?	Cambiance stands up, and trudges over to the device.
[21:03]?	Swift_Hurddle tilts his head to the sofa, "Not really, feeling dead tired. How about you?"
[21:04]<Cambiance>	"Same.  This day has been exhausting..."
[21:05]?	Swift_Hurddle rolls on his back, "I wonder how long we are going to be hear... I mean, its looking like this is getting pretty bad out there. Maybe it will be cleared up by tommorow?"
[21:06]<Cambiance>	"I hope so.  I have to to imagine that the Princesses know about this by now."
[21:06]<EchoesOfDeath>	Raven flutters to Star_Spotter's side, without saying a word
[21:06]?	Backlash looks up from her position slumped up against the wall. "Mmhmm... S'all good..."
[21:07]?	Star_Spotter doesn't respond either, too focused on keeping watch, trying to make sure no crazies come to harm anypony
[21:08]?	Swift_Hurddle nods, "Ya, I bet the royal guard will come martching through the streets any time now"
[21:08]<EchoesOfDeath>	It's been an exhausting night and Star_Spotter can't focus too well
[21:14]?	Backlash rubs her aching tummy, brought back to limited lucidity by her own voice. "Anypony get dinner?"
[21:15]?	Cambiance examines the player a bit more before answering.  "Well, I suppose there might be food in the fridge or freezer here.  Since Rosebee was home alone."
[21:15]<EchoesOfDeath>	Star_Spotter snaps back to reality as she hears a scream from down the block.
[21:15]?	Swift_Hurddle looks at Backlash, "Ummm.. I think there was a note for Rosebee about there being food"
[21:15]?	Swift_Hurddle stands and trots to the kitchen.
[21:16]?	Star_Spotter looks towards the scream, trying to get a better sight on it and aiming the pistol, ready.
[21:18]<EchoesOfDeath>	A group of 4 burnt ponies is ganging up on an old pony. "Argh, release my leg, you rascals!" He waves his cane weakly as they pull him, the jaws of one deep in his leg
[21:19]?	Backlash silently avoids dealing with the commotion outside and slinks off toward the kitchen with Swift.
[21:21]?	Swift_Hurddle begins to poke through shelves and the fridge for food.
[21:21]?	Cambiance carries the music player with her as she walks into the kitchen.
[21:22]?	Star_Spotter spots this happening and moves out, flying outside the window and taking aim at the insane ponies to shoot.
[21:24]<EchoesOfDeath>	There only a sandwich with some odd colored spots in the fridge
[21:25]?	Backlash sighs hungrily. "A-course..."
[21:26]<Cambiance>	"I'm... not quite that hungry.  Yet at least."
[21:26]?	Swift_Hurddle looks at it and blinks, "Well... that explains why she was sick... wait, how long have her parents been gone?"
[21:28]<Cambiance>	"I... think at least a week or so."
[21:29]<Backlash>	"Ain't she like a filly 'r somethin'..."
[21:29]?	Swift_Hurddle nods, "A bit younger than us I think, not sure, I never talked to her much. Why would her parents leave her all alone?"
[21:32]?	Star_Spotter takes four shots, one for each pony
[21:33]?	Backlash jolts at the sound of gunfire, awake and aware. Hunger momentarily forgotten, she races for the front of the house.
[21:33]?	Swift_Hurddle looks out of the kitchen, "was that a gunshot?"
[21:34]?	Cambiance looks around.  "Where's Star?"
[21:34]?	Swift_Hurddle runs to go check on Rosebees room, "Ill check Rosebees room!"
[21:36]<EchoesOfDeath>	The gunshot sounds loud, blasting as the bullets blast through the burnt ponies attacking the old pony. Two go straight through the head and they drop, one misses and a third one hits right through the chest, the gooy blood of the pony dripping out, but she doesn't seem to react, still biting the struggling old pony
[21:39]<EchoesOfDeath>	Rosebee is startled on her bed, but safe.
[21:40]?	Swift_Hurddle looks around the room, "Rosebee, have you seen Miss Star?"
[21:42]<EchoesOfDeath>	Rosebee shakes her head. "What is happening?"
[21:43]?	Swift_Hurddle pokes his head out the window, "Not sure, we heard shooting and cant find Miss Star. I sure hope she didnt go outside"
[21:44]<EchoesOfDeath>	Backlash can't find Star on the front of the house
[21:48]<EchoesOfDeath>	Swift_Hurddle can see Star outside, shooting at a group of burnt ponies gathering around an old stallion.
[21:49]?	Swift_Hurddle closes the curtains and sits on the bed, "Oh dear... well at least she is out of reach of them"
[21:52]?	Star_Spotter takes two more shots at the crazy ponies, just wanting them dead.
[21:54]?	Swift_Hurddle flinches at each shot
[21:55]?	Backlash runs upstairs towards Star_Spotter's post.
[21:55]<EchoesOfDeath>	Star_Spotter blasts the head of the two remaining ones. The old pony is writhing in pain on the street, with three deep bites on his forelegs and another on his shoulder
[21:56]?	Star_Spotter flies towards the old pony. "Sir! Are you okay?" She asks, looking over him
[21:57]?	Cambiance goes to a window to look at the commotion outside
[21:58]<EchoesOfDeath>	Backlashes sees the sight, the fallen ponies by the old one.She and Swift_Hurddle notice the other wandering ponies turning to Star_Spotter  moving slowly from further down the street.
[21:58]?	Swift_Hurddle looks to Rosebee from his place on the bed, "I think its over now..."
[22:00]<EchoesOfDeath>	The old pony tries to prop himself up on his cane, but can't get up. "Ugh... just... flesh wound..."
[22:00]?	Backlash flies down toward Star_Spotter, mind numb with fear.
[22:07]<EchoesOfDeath>	The pony colapse back to the ground, moaning in pain. "Owww... not young... help..."
[22:08]?	Cambiance hesitantly backs away from the window, and moves to exit the house.
[22:08]?	Star_Spotter looks around for anypony who can help.
[22:09]?	Cambiance walks out the front door. "Hold on!  I'll... I'll see what I can do."
[22:09]<EchoesOfDeath>	She sees nopony on the street but the wanderers who are closer every second.
[22:10]?	Backlash waves at Star, trying to get her attention without making noise.
[22:12]?	Cambiance approaches the downed pony, quickly looking over his injuries.
[22:13]?	Backlash 's eyes boggle at Cambiance's oblivion, and she hisses at the two of them from up above. "Guysss! What're you DOING?!"
[22:13]?	Star_Spotter gulps lightly and looks around towards the wanderers, taking aim at them
[22:15]<EchoesOfDeath>	The bites are deep, but the bleeding is already slowing down.
[22:15]<EchoesOfDeath>	Two of the wanderers are open their jaws, about to attack Cambiance
[22:16]?	Backlash dive-bombs toward the closer attacker.
[22:16]?	Star_Spotter takes two shots at the attackers
[22:17]?	Cambiance , spooked, tries to back away from the pony and wanderers.
[22:22]<EchoesOfDeath>	The shot hits the pony's leg, he stumbles before being smashed by Backlash
[22:25]<EchoesOfDeath>	The remaining wanderer steps over the old pony hard
[22:26]<EchoesOfDeath>	Rosebee shrinks. "A-are you sure?" She asks to Swift_Hurddle
[22:26]?	Star_Spotter takes two more shots, trying to take advantage of the wanderers clumsyness
[22:26]?	Cambiance scrambles towards the house.
[22:27]?	Swift_Hurddle glances back at the window " Im... not sure, but I bet the others are on it. Ill stay here with you till its over, ok?".
[22:27]?	Backlash swoops upward again as Cambiance retreats, trying to keep a height advantage over the wanderers.
[22:28]<EchoesOfDeath>	Rosebee smiles. "Thanks."
[22:29]<EchoesOfDeath>	Raven glides to Backlash, helping her lift Cambiance.
[22:29]?	Swift_Hurddle nods, trying to look as reasuring as possible.
[22:33]?	Star_Spotter takes 1 shot
[22:34]<EchoesOfDeath>	The wanderer falls over the old pony trying to drag himself away and sinks his teeth on their back. The old pony shivers and stops moving.
[22:44]?	Backlash takes one last look back at the old pony before trying to hustle the others inside.
[22:45]<EchoesOfDeath>	He just lies limply as the wanderer tries to bite off a chunk of him.
[22:46]?	Star_Spotter takes one last shot at the wanderer, trying to kill it
[22:46]<EchoesOfDeath>	Backlash and Raven take Cambiance safely inside
[22:47]<EchoesOfDeath>	Star_Spotter easily blasts a hole into the wanderer's head
[22:48]?	Star_Spotter looks over the elder and sighs. She failed. But she did protect her students in someway. She flies towards her perch again
[22:48]?	Cambiance collapses to the floor, breathing heavily.  "I-i'm so sorry.  He was just hurt there, a-and I was just... confused and curious and..."
[22:49]?	Backlash pats Cambiance on the cheek and trots upstairs.
[22:50]?	Cambiance takes a slow breath.  "I wanted a closer look.  I've never heard or seen anything about a disease like this.  I thought... I don't know what I thought.  Maybe I could find something?"
[22:51]?	Cambiance perks up.  "And I did!  That old pony.  The one who was being attacked... He was bleeding funny.  It was too slow and viscous.  It definitely wasn't normal."
[22:51]?	Backlash ignores Cambiance's medical ramblings and tries to locate Star.
[22:52]?	Star_Spotter is upstairs
[22:53]<EchoesOfDeath>	Raven keeps her attention on Cambiance, still silent
[22:54]?	Cambiance turns to Raven.  "I'm sorry, Raven.  That was stupid.  Really stupid."
[22:54]?	Backlash knocks on the wall to get Star's attention and half-screams, half-whispers, "What the fuck were you thinking? Don't you know -anything- about animals?"
[22:55]?	Star_Spotter looks to Backlash, seeming confused. "No. I don't. Why?"
[22:56]<Backlash>	"You just told every one of those things in a mile radius where we are, and that we're not like them! That thing -" She points at Star's weapon, "Is really loud!"
[22:57]<EchoesOfDeath>	Raven leans closer, wing hugging Cambiance. "...sometimes we are..." She says in a cracked voice.
[22:58]?	Cambiance snuggles closer to Raven, morbidly enjoying the adrenaline high despite herself.
[22:59]?	Star_Spotter tilts her head. "Why does that have to do with animals?"
[23:02]?	Backlash snorts, trying to rein herself in. "Because. Those ponies ain't -ponies-. They don't bleed right, they don't hurt right, they don't look right - nothin' about 'em's equine. They're animals."
[23:04]?	Star_Spotter looks at Backlash, sighing a bit. "I know that much." she says. "So you expect me just to sit aside and be useless?"
[23:05]?	Backlash fires back, "No, I expect you not ta endanger every one of us just ta get some target practice!"
[23:06]?	Star_Spotter glares at Backlash. "I was trying to save somepony!" She says. "You expect me just to sit by?! What would have happened if those things came just a block our way?"
[23:08]<Backlash>	"Ya couldn't've done it in a way that DON'T put a giant neon sign over us sayin' "Foals 'n' Fillies here, come get some"?"
[23:09]<Star_Spotter>	"I didn't see you doing anything." She says to Backlash. "I killed all of them."
[23:11]<Backlash>	"Maybe if they were defendin' themselves or somethin', but... they were in no condition ta survive. When you're talkin' about animals, survival of the fittest. He was a goner."
[23:14]?	Star_Spotter frowns. "And you just so easily give up the value of life like that?" She asks, poking Backlash in the chest. "I don't even know who you are. But if you hurt my Students." She glares daggers into Backlash's soul, or at least it seems like it. "I will make sure you can never hurt anypony again."
[23:16]?	Backlash frowns, mouth hanging open slightly. "You don't understand, Miss. I don't want anypony - or anyTHING - hurtin' any of us, leas' of all the students. They're young, they got a long life ahead of 'em."
[23:21]?	Star_Spotter looks over her. "Yeah and how am I supposed to trust you?" She asks. "I never see you around town!" She adds to her arguement. "And you just so easily sentenced a pony to die by those things and just shrug it off. What kind of pony does that?"
[23:24]?	Backlash shrugs. "I live in the Shoulder, y'know, the forest. I know my nature. An' I'm telling ya, even if we did save 'im and bring 'im in with us, he wouldn't-a lasted long. That's jus' how it works!"
[23:25]?	Star_Spotter pokes her again. "So you're saying when one of us is surronded you would just give up and leave?" She asks. "I really am not liking how you're sounding right now!"
[23:27]?	Backlash looks offended. "I never said that! I'd give my life for one-a your students - but I ain't givin' it for nothin'. Not for a lost cause."
[23:27]<EchoesOfDeath>	Still snuggled with Cambiance, Raven looks out of the window
[23:27]?	Cambiance looks up.  "Is there something there?"
[23:28]<Star_Spotter>	"So you're saying that if one of my students fell into your definition of lost cause? You'd just leave them?" She asks. "Just leave and let them die by those things?!" She screams, getting very heated.
[23:30]<EchoesOfDeath>	"...still open... the door..." She says, still with a cracked voice. She looks to the house across the street, where the old pony came from.
[23:30]?	Backlash bites her lip, not wanting to set her off. "It takes a lot ta put somepony under 'lost cause.'"
[23:31]?	Cambiance gets up to close the door.  "Are you okay, Raven?  You don't sound too well."
[23:32]<Star_Spotter>	"Does it now?" She asks. "Because to me it seemed like you just don't seem to care." She says glaring. "I'm trying to protect my students. If we need to leave, we will." She shows Backlash the gun. "Do you want to use this? Because you're berating me on something that I can't help. I can't help it's loud."
[23:34]?	Backlash makes a 'no thank you' motion with a hoof, shaking her head. "No, Miss. I'm jus' sayin', that thing can do more harm than good."
[23:35]<Star_Spotter>	"Then how would you do it?" She asks. "It's my job to protect my students. And I care deeply about all of them." She shivers. "I'm still worried about the ones we left on the train!" She starts to tear up. "And all this... I just killed 6 things that used to be ponies."
[23:36]?	Backlash is silent. She lowers her head and steps a little closer. Damn mares and their tears...
[23:38]<EchoesOfDeath>	Raven sighs. She trots to the window. "It's... fine... Early... The world... is larger..." She looks to the door of the old pony's house on the other side of the street, which is still open.
[23:38]?	Swift_Hurddle trots into the room, leaving rosebee behind, "Hey guys, is everypony ok? What happened?"
[23:38]?	Star_Spotter keeps crying. "T-those things used to have lives..."
[23:39]?	Backlash flinches away from Star, suddenly guilty. "Nothin'. We're okay. Let's jus' get back downstairs an' maybe find somethin' to eat."
[23:40]?	Swift_Hurddle shakes his head, "We checked before, the house is empty"
[23:40]?	Cambiance hanges her head. "We're... fine.  Everyone's fine.  I just did something really stupid.   There were some of those crazy ponies outside, and I tried to go out and help an old stallion that got caught up in it.  Backlash and Miss Star saved me, luckily."
[23:41]?	Star_Spotter sniffs a few times. "I-I... I'm sure we all have some sort of food on us."
[23:44]<Backlash>	"I got a li'l, but I'd rather make sure this place don't got anything before I go eatin' up all my reserves. I'm-a check the garden, jus' in case..." She trots downstairs and into the back yard.
[23:44]?	Star_Spotter moves with Backlash. "I'll come with you. To help."
[23:44]?	Backlash nods and smiles.
[23:45]?	Swift_Hurddle looks to Cambiance, "Sorry I wasnt there to help before... I just thought somepony should stay with Rosebee, just in case".
[23:46]?	Cambiance smiles sadly.  "No worries.  I was just acting... stupid and stuff.  I don't know what came over me."
[23:47]<EchoesOfDeath>	Raven has pulled a notebook and a quill out of her bags
[23:47]?	Star_Spotter makes her way towards the garden
[23:48]?	Swift_Hurddle shrugs, "Im sure it wasnt all that bad... couldnt be worse than my suggestion to go to Glowrod at least, what exactly happened? I heard shooting"
[23:49]<Cambiance>	"There was an old stallion out there getting attacked by some of those crazy ponies.  I thought I maybe could help him, so I... went out near him.  And then I almost got killed by the crazy ponies I didn't see.  I just wanted to help.  And..."
[23:50]?	Cambiance hesitates.  "I'm kinda curious about this whole thing.  It doesn't make sense!  Where does a sickness like this come from?"
[23:51]<Cambiance>	"It isn't normal.  That's partly why I wanted a closer look."
[23:51]<EchoesOfDeath>	The garden is impressively well cared for, and you can find a bush full of berries. Pony magic is amazing.
[23:51]?	Star_Spotter sighs happily as she starts to pick the berries, looking around for any other food, so she might be able to cook tonight
[23:52]?	Swift_Hurddle nods, "ya, its deffinately diffrent. I bet they have all sorts of hot shot scientist ponies on it by now. Im just glad you made it out, next time ill be there to help for sure".
[23:53]?	Cambiance smiles.  "Thanks.  Next time, I think I'll try not to need any help though..."
[23:53]<EchoesOfDeath>	Star Spotter can find some edible leaves but anything else is hard to see in the dark
[23:53]?	Backlash points out the few edible bits that Star misses, but is pleasantly surprised by Star's knowledge of nature. In fact, she feels a little jealous.
[23:54]?	Star_Spotter explains to Backlash about her knowledge of nature from having to do mandatory weather patrol service when she was younger and keeping the job through her college years.
[23:55]?	Swift_Hurddle smiles, "That would be nice, heh, I guess we could both swear not to do anything dumb anymore... would hate for any of us to get sick"
[23:57]?	Backlash returns inside with a load of various plants. In the silence when neither she nor Star are speaking, the groans of the wanderers nearby weigh heavily on her psyche.
[23:59]?	Star_Spotter smiles as she returns in, looking around the kitchen in the house to try and start cooking
[00:07]?	Star_Spotter cooks food for her students and for Backlash
[00:10]?	Swift_Hurddle lays his head on the table while waiting for food, ears twitching at the sound of the sick ponies outside.
[00:11]?	Cambiance trots to the table.  "Thank you very much, Miss Star and Backlash."
[00:14]?	Swift_Hurddle nods, "yes, im starving. Was suppose to be having grilled carrots with my dad hours ago"
[00:15]?	Star_Spotter smiles and sets the table, serving food. "No problem."
[00:16]?	Backlash looks between the others and the prepared food. With a sigh, she reaches into her pack and retrieves some of her emergency rations. "I'll pass. If there ain't enough for everypony, go ahead an' take some of what I've got."
[00:17]?	Swift_Hurddle sniffs at it, "Are you sure Miss Backlash?"
[00:18]<Cambiance>	"Yeah.  You don't need to share your food with us."
[00:18]?	Backlash nods. "Absolutely. You an' me all know there ain't enough in the garden ta feed everypony. We can stock up later."
[00:19]?	Cambiance nods gratefully.  "Thank you very much Backlash."
[00:19]?	Star_Spotter gives a nod, moving back to her perch with a little bit of food. "I'll make sure to try and keep everyone safe."
[00:20]?	Swift_Hurddle licks his lips and digs in, "ya, Thanks to both of you! do you think we should bring some to Rosebee?"
[00:21]<Backlash>	"Should be enough between us ta feed the filly, too."
[00:22]?	Star_Spotter nods happily. "Backlash, can you get Rosebee some food then?" She asks. "I need to make sure none of those things get too far over the fence.
[00:23]?	Swift_Hurddle glances towards a window, "do you think that will happen?", he asks between bites
[00:24]<Backlash>	"You got it." She trots off to Rosebee's room with some food.
[00:24]?	Star_Spotter gives a small nod. "I Fear it might. So we need to be prepared."
[00:28]<EchoesOfDeath>	===============================================================