13. [Audio]

[brodakota]

[North's voice comes over the network, sounding rather panicked. Surprisingly so, especially to people who know him for his quiet, patient demeanor.]

Is anyone else in Ponyville right now? 

If you are, have you seen Theta? 

It's really important that I find him, and I think it's getting dark.

[That's new...and all the more worrisome.]

Comments

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[brodakota]

Not really. I think he was knocked into the forest when we were fighting.

[He is relieved to see Wash. Enough time has passed that he knows he can't do this on his own.]

[unrecovered]

[And that's why Wash is here. He's not about to leave North in the lurch.]

Was he riding on your back earlier today?

[brodakota]

He was, but then he went with Tank when the nightmares showed up.

[unrecovered]

Crouch down for a minute.

[Those cryptic instructions imparted, he turns to Max.] I need you to pick up Theta's scent. It should be on North's back. He's missing, and we need you to track him. Can you do that?

[Max wags his entire rear end. He can do that! He's being useful! He waddles over to North and whuffs. Hi! Can you bend down?]

[brodakota]

[North blinked before he caught on to Wash's plan. Hopefully, Theta had left enough of a scent there. He knelt down as best as he could.]

[unrecovered]

[And with that, Max is enthusiastically sniffing at his back. North scent, Nightmare scent, that's another Nightmare, wow there were really lots of Nightmares around here- lizard scent! That must be Theta! He bounced back, whuffing excitedly. Nose to the ground and rear in the air, he sniffed around in a circle, trying to find lizard scent on the ground- ooh! Ooh! There it is! Point!]

[Wash watches the Meow Wow stop, nose pointed in one particular direction. That works for him.]

Good boy.

Are we waiting for anyone else?

[brodakota]

[It was hard not to find some humour in the Meow Wow's antics. North stood up and shook his head.]

Luna and Carolina went on ahead. I was just waiting for you.

[unrecovered]

Okay. Let's go.

[Wash nudges Max, who wags his entire rear end again and sets off into the forest, hot on the scent.]

[brodakota]

[North follows behind, making sure to keep the Meow Wow in sight. You can tell the situation is serious because Cactus has not tried to start up a game of tag.]

I think Noble Four's already in the forest, and Carolina and Luna went ahead as well.

[unrecovered]

[Melody's actually behaving pretty well around Cactus as well. Priorities.]

[Wash blinks and spares a glance at North.]

Wait, Luna and Carolina went together? It's a miracle the forest hasn't burned down yet.

[brodakota]

I know, I know, but since you were coming I figured I should wait. And Luna did say not to enter the forest alone.

They might be waiting for us up ahead.

[unrecovered]

Then let's get going. Pick up the pace, Max.

[Max whufs an affirmative and waddles as fast as his little legs can take him without losing the scent. Melody, having decided she didn't really want to wade through foliage, leaps onto her person's back and settles in for a ride.]