Chapter Nine:
Regrouping

	Everything felt better being outside the town walls. The air tasted sweeter, not so congested, at least to Twilight it did. Applejack let out a relieved sound, before taking her hat off so she could rub her forehead with the back of her hand. “Whew, it's sure is nice to be out of there.” Even though she was only saying it for her own piece of mind, Twilight saw the others nod in agreement. 
	“So, do we want to make a side trip down the way and cross the river using the bridge, or should we just cross right here. It would be faster, but also wetter.” Twilight spoke, she didn't necessarily want to walk all the way down to the bridge, nor did she want to wade through the water either, but she wanted to make sure everyone had a chance to give their opinion.
	“I say we keep going straight. A little water never hurt no one.” Applejack looked at her with a lazy smirk on her face.
	“Except for Apple Bloom, I'll carry her on my shoulders across the water.” Big Mac grabbed his youngest sister in a hug. “Don't want you catching a cold.”
	Braeburn got up from the ground stretching. “A much as I hate to say it, we better get a move on. We can rest a bit, when we get to the edge of the Forest.”
	“Eyup, we can take turns scouting out for the others. While the rest of us relax for a bit.”
	Applejack climbed to her feet, as always, she reached back to help Twilight to her feet. “Let's get this over with then.” She said walking towards the river. Big Mac was already in front of her standing at the river's edge. 
	When Big Mac stepped into the water, he didn't make a sound, Twilight could read his body language enough to tell that the water was freezing. After a few more steps he'd reached the bottom, he finally made a peep, it was more or less a choked series of gasps. The water was well over his waist and rushing fast around him. “Oh man, it's so cold.” He mused through chattering teeth. “I hope y'all don't mind that your big brother has turned into a big sister.” He joked.
	Applejack snickered, there was a warmth behind her laughter and it was infections. In no time the rest of the group had joined in. Even Twilight felt her body growing warmer from the laughter. It felt more magical than any spell she could conjure right now. The laughter only grew more rambunctious when Big Mac was forced to explain the joke to Apple Bloom, who didn't get the joke at first, but refused to be left out.
	When Big Mac reached the halfway point across the river, it was Applejack's turn to go and without hesitation she stormed into the water, pulling Twilight in behind her. Where the water stopped on Big Mac was a blessing in disguise. Even Applejack had it a little better since the water soak her shirt just below her rib cage. The water was much higher on Twilight, lapping gently at the bottoms of her meager breasts and it was bone chilling cold. Luckily the river wasn't very wide.
	Applejack hiked up the other bank standing next to Big Mac, who was wringing out the bottom hem of his t-shirt. Twilight held her arms out looking down her quivering body. Everything was soaked through and plastered to her body. It only mean that the cool night was only going to get colder.
	Applejack wrapped her arm across Twilight's shoulders, pulling her close. “Wow, Sugar! You sure look good when you're all wet and drippy.” Twilight felt a blush surge through her entire body, warming her to the point that her glasses fogged up. The only thing she could do the combat the forward flirting from her friend, was shake her head in an attempt to dismiss it.
	Braeburn stepped up on the shore hugging his bare arms. “Man, now I wish we'd gone to the bridge. This is the kinda cold that freezes you to your very soul.” It was almost impossible to understand him through his chattering teeth.
	“We should be fine once we get a-moving. Come on, it won't take us long to reach the forest now.” Applejack's hand found Twilight's and Big Mac's as they started a slow wet pace towards the edge of the trees. Without the help of the street lamps, it was even darker out than before. It didn't help that the field of view was severely limited. Twilight was starting to get concerned, there was no sign of the others anywhere along the treeline. The warm feeling of hope was starting to fade once again. Replaced by the thoughts of something bad happening to the others. It was her plan after all, if something did happen to them it would be her fault.
	By the time they reached the edge of the woods, Twilight was worked into a nervous frenzy. They'd not seen hide nor hair of anyone from the other group. Twilight turned away from the treeline and stood for a long moment looking back at Ponyville. The town looked so different now, empty, void of life. Nothing but the shadows and the things the dwell there. It made her sad to think that her home was now nothing more than a shell of it's former self.
	Twilight leaned against a tree and slid down to sit in the dirt. A thought crept into her head that she was going the same route. Soon she would be as hollow as the town at this rate. Like the grave, she was cold, wet, and tired. Thankfully Applejack and Big Mac offered to do the first scouting run for the other group. It gave her a chance to get some rest and regather her thoughts.
	Apple Bloom lay next to Twilight, tuckered out from all the walking they'd done. Braeburn sat down on the other side of her and sighed. He wasn't looking much better than she felt. “Crap man, if I'd known that we were going to be facing a zombie apocalypse, I wouldn't of drank so much.” He sighed out a chuckle and closed his eyes for a moment.
	“I wish I had something to give you, but I was in kind of a rush to leave my house.” Twilight forced a tired giggle. running her fingers down Apple Bloom's back, hearing her let out a tired moan.
	“Do you think the others are alright?” Braeburn asked, looking at her from the bloodshot corners of his eyes.
	“I hope so, if they aren't then...” Twilight's thought was cut short when she heard Applejack calling out. 'Found them.' Which was dangerous for her to do because they may be virus carriers near, but Twilight was relieved that she did. There may be hope yet.
	The relieved feeling only lasted for a short time. When she saw Big Mac running back towards them carrying Maude in his arms, her heart plummeted. Pinkie and the rest of the group weren't far behind.
	Twilight got to her feet. “Watch Apple Bloom.” She ordered without thinking and hurried to intercept the rest of the group. “What happened?” She asked, before they even met up. Maude was gripping her arm as blood seeped between her fingers.
	“They were all over us the moment we made it to the bridge.” Rainbow Dash panted, bending over with her hands on her knees.
	“When we managed to push past them, they grabbed Maude and pulled her away from me.” Pinkie cried, clutching the sides of her face, her eyes strained with tears.
	A pit opened in Twilight's stomach making her want to vomit, sick with disappointment for what she'd done. The once caring eyes of her friends seemed to change in her mind, to ones of judgment. They'd relied on her to keep them safe and now another one was lost to the virus and it was all her fault.