Becoming a horse has disadvantaged me in a straight up confrontation, having fists is likely better for close combat. But I've also felt what it's like to run as one, the sensation of kicking foes chasing after me, a disproportionate amount of force poured in to one attack.. It's not such a terrible alternative to being a human.

But right now, I really wish I could speak again. To see Flaze so ruthless and uncaring... It's not something I can judge her for, I am certainly the same. But that's exactly the problem, Flaze has never been like me.

She's always been the one who roped me into helping, from picking up trash to listening to the sniveling speech of the elderly, I helped her out with her hobbies. Even though I sometimes... often grumble something or another about being "forced" to waste my own time, I never thought to change her to my ways.

I may have lacked her overwhelming drive and empathy, but I always admired her for it.

And while she can change, as can everyone, I think more than anything she needs someone to talk to right now. And I can only provide for half of that.

~~~

Ralph led us towards their little cabal, Lestor seemingly serving as his guard as if he stood a chance. He was roleplaying an actually competent fighter, but I know I've nothing to fear when his little gun failed to penetrate the shield of Knight Flaze. And that was when his armament was still a rifle, and not a teeny little pistol.

Flaze trailed just a little bit behind me now, her clone walking further up front. She had let her guard down way too badly earlier, but now she's being suitably wary. We could've prevented any traps going off with this to begin with.

We stepped onto the second floor, finding some people walking the hallways, but not very many. Apparently they were staying mainly in the units, large condominium rooms, experiencing the good life only when everything has already ended and collapsed.

A woman was drunk, crying in a corner, but she still managed a bow towards Ralph. A man went down from the third floor, carrying a large bag on his back, and two more with each of his hands, each seemingly much too heavy to lift with such ease. Identify pegged him as a level 15 Warrior.

We made a beeline for the third floor, and towards the fourth out of their territory, not wishing to overstay our welcome, or even be welcomed all that much. Just passing through.

Ralph insisted on escorting us all the way, and once we were on the final stretch, he revealed why he was so eager.

"Flaze," he called, "This is only if you're willing. You don't have to answer. Your presence alone has been a great help already. You're the reason we even have a stronghold right now, you cleared floor after floor of monsters, and we followed you down."

Spit it out. I neighed in annoyance. He gave a mirthless laugh, gaze shifting towards myself.

"It's about you, actually. I want to know if you're willing to share, how Jackal came to be. There is so much mystery as to what's currently happening right now, but a monster that's able to understand speech, or at least not be hostile. I wish to know more. It could mean life or death for us, for many people, and it won't cost you more than a few words. Please."

"Ralph! You need not bow your head to this woman, let alone a monster! You've done so much to help us all already!" Cried Lestor, always with the needless and stupid comments.

Ralph only gave a defeated smile, shaking his head. "It's fine, Lestor. Flaze paved the way for us to even go down, or rather survive. I know it's not what she meant to do, she didn't care about helping us, she didn't care when I pleaded for someone that might still be stuck at the ninth floor, a good friend. But she has never been against us, and we are the ones here asking for a favor."

Flaze stopped in her tracks, seemingly in deep thought. "Unit 803. There was an arachne-like monster inside. Level 10. I killed her. No other sign of life."

Ralph's eyes widened, and he steadied himself, shedding a single tear. "You checked..."

"I was scouting..." Her gaze landed on my horse face and her brows furrowed.

Is this what weebs call a tsundere?

I'm sure she meant it, that is actually what happened, it wouldn't make sense otherwise because I believe she never went back up that high, where would she even find the time? But, I gave her a smug look regardless. Not sure how that looks now that I am a horse.

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

She elbowed me and laughed, before giving me a questioning look.

I nodded.

"Also, Jackal here is a human. At least formerly. He became a monster, just like what we know happened to a lot of humans," she chuckled, "He didn't become a humanoid because he was always closer to a horse."

I neighed, indignant.

I was ignored.

"He retains his ego?"

"Oh yes. He does."

Ralph laughed a little at her joke as we went ahead without him, to the monster-occupied upper floors.

"Incidentally," she said as we ascended the stairs. "The arachne monster that I fought attacked me first. She showed no signs of remaining sentience."

~~~

"Jackal. I did realize this earlier, but I forgot to bring it up. You were the one who healed me back then, right?" Flaze spoke just as we reached the fourth floor and out of Ralph and the other's earshot.

I nodded.

"Thank you. And sorry for trying to kill you for it. I was... tense."

You're welcome. I neighed. And you didn't know. It's fine.

It was getting late, the sky beginning to darken. The whole incident with Ralph and his gang didn't help, and we can't make it back to Flaze's unit today.

The good news is, it's the apocalypse, and we can take whichever room we want. Who's gonna stop us? Ralph and the rest had withdrawn from this floor anyway. So, we sought out first to clear it out of monsters, albeit there could easily be one that wanders in as we sleep. It's good for at least a little bit of peace of mind.

Hmm, there's nothing. I neighed, seeing as to how the corridors and hallways were empty. Ralph's fears of more monsters rushing in haven't yet come true, but it is a good precaution to abandon the floor. There were traps as well, specially by the stairs down to the third, and we neatly avoided them this time.

After roaming the hallways and checking that nothing was amiss, we went apartment shopping and checked the units in the floor. Upon Flaze opening the door for our very first option, a group of goblins came into view, all wearing oversized human clothing. They were jumping on tables and scratching up couches, but all that unchecked violence turned on us the moment we were spotted.

We immediately reacted as well. The Flaze Clone rushed out first, getting all of their attention. Her knight form comes with a taunt, a suggestion, an attack on a creature's mind. Flaze tried it on herself, and apparently It's very possible to fight against it, but you are damaged if you do. Like a quicksand that tightens the more you struggle.

Glad I haven't yet had to deal with taunts.

I identified all seven of them in that moment as the real Flaze jumped on my back. I felt a surge of annoyance, I'll admit, but I was able to push it aside. It only needs a little bit of getting used to, and I'll allow it for only my friends.

One of the green monsters, I saw was a mage, and I immediately rushed her. A ball of hellfire crashed into her form at the same time she sent an icicle towards Flaze's Clone. The clone took the hit and stood strong, the magic received by her shield. These goblins ranged only from level 10 to 20, hardly a threat.

Flaze hopped off my back just as I caught up with the goblins that had gathered way too close together, enraged by Flaze's double. The real Flaze jumped into the fray and I followed. I incinerated the goblins and trampled over them, summoning a storm of hellfire and light with every passing kick.

A few scratches and slices landed on my legs, I realized I was being too cocky. I fell back just in time for Flaze to lop off the head of the last goblin, one with an inexplicably hooked sword.

It was a sword in the literal shape of a hook. I had my doubts that was practical.

Where this they even get those weapons? These aren't medieval times, no one but creeps and nerds walk around with swords or daggers.

[Your Party has defeated a Level 20 Mage!]

...

[Your Party has defeated a Level 15 Rouge!]

I felt a sudden dizziness, a slight dread. My legs felt lethargic, numb, and I realized it's where and been stabbed and cut, albeit very lightly. Barely an inconvenience.

Rather, it should be barely an inconvenience, but it's certainly proving to be far more of a problem. I slapped a heal onto myself, and the feeling eased, the wounds as well easily closing. But the weakness within my legs remained.

"Hey, you okay?" Flaze asked, seeing my distress.

I'm fine. I neighed and gave myself another heal.

Poison. I realized what it was, the effects nearly gone with that second heal. Another left myself fully functional again.

"Ah right," Flaze said, "I forgot. Goblins have poison. They just haven't been super relevant since I hit around level 25. The mages are more of a threat then. Or those with blunt weapons."

I grunted. I realized it was a stupid mistake to just dive among their ranks. I'm not nearly as well armored as her.

Where do you think they got these? I lightly poked a sword with my hoof, giving a low neigh.

"What?" She asked, completely missing my thoughts.

Ah, right. She can't actually understand my neighs. Nor can I for that matter.

I doubt I could talk to them, should I meet another horse person.

We checked the rest of the rooms on the floor, and we only found a single gremlin that died to Flaze easily. Then we settled for the most intact condo, belonging to a person with a gigantic bed of white and gold. There were framed paintings of idyllic landscapes and naked women in the bedroom, likely to make up for the lack of both in the owner's life.

We rested for the night, until the morning came. Flaze still had her clone up, but they both had to sleep at the same time, otherwise Flaze won't actually get any rest because she's always manually controlling her other body, the consciousness is shared.

I tried to ask her why she didn't just cancel the skill, and she was somehow able to divine my query from my neighs.

Apparently it's because her clone ability works on an internal cooldown, in addition to an initial cost to herself; Stamina, Mana, Health, all three. The cooldown would reset once she has summons a clone. Keeping one active at all times will allow her to summon a new duplicate once the existing one dies.

We both took turns, keeping watch, twice the number of eyes during Flaze's shift. I made sure to be extra vigilant to make up for the lack of doubled senses. It's important, and I made sure to keep that in mind.

I only dozed off my shift for a single hour.

Probably.