Passing Through

[ShadowWalker]

The case was starting to get heavy as ShadowWalker came into the Undermarket to try and help some of the ponies who couldn't make it the hospital on the East side. As she came towards a bare corner of ground, she placed the case down and rested while a small filly ran up to her.

"Miss ShadowWalker, you've got to help my papa!! He's getting worse!!" she cried.

"Now clam down, CutieBloom. Is he closeby?" the doctor asked.

"Yes, just around that bend." CutieBloom answered while pointing her hoof.

"Ok, stay right here and I will bring him over." Shadow ordered as she stood then ran to the ailing stallion. Carefully guiding him back to her corner and laying him down, ShadowWalker began to remedy up an injection. Once complete, she injected CutieBloom's father who fell into a deep sleep, "I recommend you twp sleep here for a few hours while I observe his condition." CuieBloom nodded and curle up next to her father.

"You're a good mare, Miss ShadowWalker..." she mumbled and drifted off to sleep. This made the doctor stop for a scond in contemplation, 'I have treated this filly so coldly and yet she calls me good...?'

[Hark]

She had sneaked out when Mercy was distracted, left a note saying she'd be back; she couldn't stand the clinic, how drab and sanitary it smelled. She was recovering well by now, but still slightly depressed. Her fiery passion still drove her further along. However, this was not to say she still had problems; being in withdrawal, she was still slightly depressed.

For now, however, she took a walk, a nice, long walk to the edges of the undermarket, where there was seldom anyone out, due to it's extreme proximity to active sewers. However, there were occasionally a few souls around, and, as Sut rounded a corner, she saw something interesting: a zebra standing by a child sleeping on a stallion, which Sut assumed was related to her, perhaps her brother or father. The zebra had a case by her, and Sut suddenly grew concerned for her looking concerned.

"Are... are they alright?" Sut asked in a quiet tone, barely audible among the sounds of the Undermarket.

[ShadowWalker]

A timid voice called out among the rucus of the undermarket making ShadowWalker turned to find a young pony standing near her and the sleeping pair. She rotated her body to face the pony and tilted her head at the way the pony stood with her head slightly downcast, "I am fine stranger. Are you alright?" she asked concerned for the ponies she was caring for and the stranger's wellbeing.

[Hark]

Suture slowly turned her eyes up toward the zebra, to make eye contact, noting the manner of her speech. Apparently, she had concern for her, which troubled Suture. She wasn't used to having the attention of others, and now, all of a sudden, everypony and their brother wanted to help her. It actually kinda freaked her out, sent her into a minor panic which was quickly quelled by a deep inhale and terse exhale. She lifted her head and began to speak.

"No, but it's none of your concern," she said in a still quiet tone, a bit afraid of her caring for Suture.

[ShadowWalker]

Noticing the pony's tone in her answer, ShadowWalker decided to use reverse psychology to try and bring the young mare closer so the doctor in her could get a better view of her health status.

"Very well then. If you will excuse me, I have patients to treat." and she turned back, kneeled, and tended to starting a fire to keep the filly and her ailing father warm.

[Hark]

As the zebra began to kindle, Suture drew closer, falling into her trap. In reality, she hoped the extra light would provide a better view of the filly and the stallion, so she could assess them and quite possibly save their lives from dysentary or something. In any case, Suture was a mess- her mane and tail were severely unkempt, and her promptness of leaving left an I.V. access port in her left foreleg, which Suture didn't seem to notice. Other than that, she looked a bit sickly, and quite thin; her ribs were rather pronounced, and her stomach a little shrunk, albeit not to the severity of anorexia, no- just starvation. In fact, it was all too likely she could be sick, due to how tired and terrible she looked, but it might have been other things as well. Only a test could truely tell.

It was then that Suture spoke up. "You'll sufficate them with a fire like that.. something that makes less smoke would be better...."

[ShadowWalker]

ShadowWalker smirked to herself and moved to place dry wood on the fire. The young mare had passed her test and she turned her head back to look at the mare, "Very pbservant of you. Please, join us and keep yourself warm." Shadow then began to rumage in her saddle bag to produce some crushed apples(not yet applesauce) and placed some infront of the mare.

"I'm ShadowWalker. Please eat and stay for as long as you need."

[Hark]

Sut frowned at the offer, and, while visibly looking malnourished and starving, she had no appetite, what so ever. In fact, she had a hard time forcing herself to eat. She did, however, accept the zebra's kindness, as it was not only the polite thing to do, but would actually be advantageous for both Sut and the zebra; if this zebra, like Suture thought, was treating one or both of the other ponies before her, then, with the combined knowledge and expertise of the two, they might possibly be able to assist in a manner greater than before. Suture could barely smile to herself at this, merely finding it her duty as a doctor.

"I'll have to refuse the food, ma'am," she answered, a frown on her face. "My name is Suture; I'm pleased to meet you, ShadowWalker," she said in her usual reserved tone.

[ShadowWalker]

Shadow didn't pull the food away from Suture but instead began to fiddle with another injection so it would be ready in case another patient showed up. Once she closed the case again, she laid her head on the ground and allowed her eyelids to droop closed while mumbling, "Eat before... You get any worse..."

[Hark]

Suture frowned as the zebra before her fiddled with a few compounds, perhaps herbs in solution, placing them within a syringe, but not taking the food she offered away. Why did she have to be so stubborn? Suture nudged the zebra as her eyelids began to droop, her mumbling something inaudible to Suture. "Hey," she said in a much more urgent and forceful tone. "Don't fall asleep. Whatever's wrong with them- you need to monitor them!"

[ShadowWalker]

The doctor mare smirks sleepily, "That's what you're here for." and she fell asleep. Of course this was all a test for Suture because ShadowWalker could tell the mare needed to feel important and loved.

[Hark]

Suture's eyes went wide with panic as the zebra before her fell asleep. "This can't be happening," she mumbled to herself. With the life of a child and another in her hands, she felt that she was under too much pressure. At the moment, she couldn't trust herself to do any job alone- she needed guidance. She needed help. She promptly slammed her head into the ground, her horn impacting second to her forehead; she nearly cried out in pain from this, but merely cursed below her breath.

[ShadowWalker]

Feeling the vibrations of the collision through the ground, Shadow opened her eyes quickly, "Is personal injury really necessary?!" she demanded and came to stand next to the mare and glared down at her. The zebra doctor was not wanting to deal with a suicidal pony if this mare was in fact one of those types of cases.

[Hark]

Suture winced as the zebra scolded her, standing above her. Suture lifted her head, glaring into her eyes. "No, it wasn't. My frustration with myself built to a climax and I released it. Truth is, I'm in pretty serious withdrawal right now, and you leaving me to care for the lives of a child and another pony... it just won't do! I can't trust myself," she explained, trying to explain her situation to the zebra.

[ShadowWalker]

Shadow smiled and kneeled once more, "I know how you feel, Suture. I had withdrawl problems when I was young. But you know how it can be conquered? Helping others." The doctor smiled motherly at the mare and motioned for her to sit.

"I lost my parents when I was very young and I became addicted to painkillers, whenever I could find them. After a few years I decided that the life of an addict was not for me so I picked up on helping other ponies conquer their illnesses while learning to mask mine until I had complete control. You simply need to push yourself to fight the withdrawl and find something to distract your mind. That is why I put you in charge of CutieBloom and her father."

[Hark]

Suture's expression softened, however, Suture was still sitting, so she saw no reason to move. The zebra's argument was solid, and Suture felt a little guilty for overreacting and letting herself go on with pity-seeking behaviors. She wanted to slam her head against the ground again, however resisted the behavior, as it was indeed an overreaction. She also was swamped with guilt at the motherly smile of the zebra, and glanced back up to her. "...bullshit. You have to be making that up, it's too close to what happened to me."

[ShadowWalker]

CutieBloom began to stir, "Miss ShadowWalker...?" The zebra mare stood and moved to stand next to her. She rubbed the filly's head, "I'm here, little one." ShadowWalker checked Cutie's father and found her was making an extremely fast recovery due to the remedy she had concocked.

"It shouldn't be much longer CutieBloom. He's recovering very well." she smiled and sat next to the filly to give her some peace of mind.

[Hark]

Suture let out a terse sigh as she began to stand, glancing down toward the zebra and filly. "What was wrong with him to begin with, anyway?" she asked, her brow high in inquisition.

[ShadowWalker]

"CutieBloom came with him to the East Side to the hospital to see me when he began complaining of intestinal discomfort. I was able to rule out cancer, and infection and perscribed an antinflammatory to try and settle the discomfort. CutieBloom told me a few days later that he seemed to be doing ok. But within a few months, he was losing coordination, his skin was turning pale, and he wasn't able to hold food down. So I brewed up a cure to help and here I am."

[Hark]

"Well, at least we know which one of us is better, now..." she said, a frown forming on her face. "Last patient I had was having a psychotic episode." With that, she sat once again. "Sounds like... well, fuck, I dunno. You're on your own, but if you need me, I'm here."

[ShadowWalker]

ShadowWalker nodded and pushed hte food back towards Suture, "Try." she said simply and laid her head down next to CutieBloom.

[Hark]

Suture rose as Shadow began to do what Suture thought was sleeping. She was tired, and had finally given up, each hoofstep away from the small gathering growing heavier and heavier.

[ShadowWalker]

As the hoof steps moved further away, ShadowWalker grew more sad for the young mare because she appeared to be in so much pain.

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