I stared out the window of the hospital, "You know I can leave on my own, right?" I grumbled as a crystal pony started wheeling a wheel chair towards me. "This isn't necessary."

The mare cocked her head a single sharp time. "Hospital policy. Everyone leaves with an escort, and in a chair...."

I groaned exasperatedly. "Ridiculous." I slid off the bed, grabbing my shoes and plopping down the in chair. "There, happy?"

The mare shook her head, her glistening mane staying in place. "Not really, I think it's stupid too." She started pushing me off through the halls, towards the exit. "Anyways, why were you here?"

I scratched my head. "Don't ask. This whole big thing with a lot of shit going on. Just...if you ever get asked to take pictures of the moon goddess, don't."

"Noted." The mare kept quiet, leading me towards the discharge area. The entire ordeal was over, I could go back to living normally, and Cold was waiting for me at home. It would be good to get back to the normal grind for once, instead of possibly getting ruined or raped or both.

I was wheeled into a small office and left to sign a bunch of papers. Little by little the papers were signed, my health assured. I was still a little worried, but knowing the local royalty was siding with me was enough to keep me from living in fear. I signed everything I needed to, put my shoes on and stepped out of the building.

I stretched out my arms, looking out over the bright white tundra that surrounded the borders of the city, the crystal spires seemed brighter than ever and knowing I was about to head home and spend a calm, peaceful day with my marefriend.

I looked down the finely kept dirt roads, ponies going about their mornings. It felt clean, and after such a good night's sleep I was ready to get back into the swing of things. I started off down the road, heading towards the market.

The bright far north morning was amazing, the cold air coming from the north smooth against the summer heat. Even this far north things still got a bit warm. It was perfect weather for a scarf, and I was feeling a bit loose with my money after everything I'd dealt with in the last week alone.

I hurried along towards a small shop, the crystal ponies' style of clothes were rather scares, the ponies preferring to stay nude and show off their coats. Finding a scarf in town would be easy as could be. And as the vibrant crystal masonry grew denser, the buildings more close knit and more urban I found my prize.

A small store with a little toy cat hanging from the doorway caught my attention. Cute as it was already, I knew this place. The owner was a fay stallion and a good friend of mine. And so without much thought I pushed past the solid crystal doorway and into the warm shop.

I started looking through the racks of clothes, pony apparel taking up the majority of the shop, but a scarf was a scarf, pony or otherwise. The shop was mostly empty, a few ponies browsing but the ponies were spread out enough that things weren't crowded.

I picked a neat looking scarf, running my fingers along the silky material. "Sir...." A raspy voice called me from the side. I turned my head to meet them, a pony in a soft beige hoodie. "Mr. Lowell?"

I took a step away from the pony. "Uh...can I help you?"

The pony looked up at me, showing me a pair of bright magenta eyes behind a red mane. "Hori-da" the pony whispered, lunging at me and sinking their teeth into my forearm.

"Jesus!" I snapped, stumbling back and knocking down a row of coats. "What the hell!?"

The pony bolted out of the shop, jacket fluttering as the pony fled. "Hey! Hey!" A dull silver crystal pony ran out, leaning out of the shop and shouting. A pair of ponies found me laying in a pile of coats and did what they could to help me up.

"Hey are you alright?" One asked, gingerly lifting me up.

I couldn't hear anything, everything was near silent. I was frozen, staring at two small bite marks on my forearm. Two perfect circles dripping a minute amount of blood. I turned my arm over, finding the same marks on the other side of my arm. It burned, the four pockmarks burned like fire.

I grabbed my arm, stumbling hazily towards the door outside. "Hey, hey are you okay!?" A mare shouted, following me to the door.

I held my arm limply, staring at the bleeding marks. I had no idea what to do, I was hurt, but I had just left the hospital. I couldn't go back, I had to get home, it wasn't that bad.

I could get home, wrap my arm up and sleep it off. I could sleep in my own bed, I could have a wonderful dinner and get back to work soon.

I hurried down the path towards home, my arm starting to burn white hot. I could feel myself sweating, my brain going wild as I stumbled towards home. I had no idea what I was going to do, but I knew I couldn't stay here, and I knew home was waiting for me. A beautiful bronze maned pony was waiting for me. I had to get there, I had to find Cold Stream and I needed to fix this.

"Hey, hey do you need help!?" A pony ran up to me.

I ran my hand over my forehead, sweat dripping off my body. "I- gotta go home, need some water." I mumbled, my shoes losing traction and sending me to the ground. I stopped my face from hitting the ground with my arms, the cuts on my arms half healed, almost gone. Only a bit of dried blood and a burning sensation leaving me completely immobile.

I wanted to go home. I was supposed to be safe, I wanted to be calm and happy, not dying in the road. Next Chapter: Blood Ties Estimated time remaining: 22 Minutes