//------------------------------//
// The first appearance 
// Story: The Hunters 
// by Deachir 
//------------------------------//

I woke to the sound of banging on the door. I felt Fluttershy roll out of bed and I opened my eyes. "Morning" I said and she turned around. I sat up and got a smile from Fluttershy.
"Sorry if I woke you" she said
"You didn't" more banging "they did" i said as I got up and walked to the door. I swung it open and saw a royal guard in the doorway. "This better be good"
"The princesses have requested your presence at once. Also bring you weapons" he said with worry in his voice
I turned, walked to the nightstand and put my sword belt on. "What's wrong?" Fluttershy asked
"Don't know yet but you might want to come with" I said and we left for the throne room.

"We have to act now!" I heard a boy voice yell
"We have to wait for Sam and the others" I hear cadence say 
Me and Fluttershy came through the doors and all eyes turned to me. The only ones missing were the twins. A larger unicorn was standing in purple battle armour. He had a blue mane and a white coat. 
Cadence took a step forward "Sam this is my husband and captain of the royal guard, shining armour. He found a strange and dangerous creature in the everfree and we were wondering if you knew what it was." She said.
"Do you have a picture?" I asked
"Well no"
"Did you have a clear view of it?"
"No"
"Was there any casualties?"
"Yes three royal guards died trying to escape timber wolves and another was killed by whatever that other thing was." He said with a sad look
"How was the one killed by the beast?" I said my voice turned serious 
"A large blade from its tail." He said "why does it matter?"
"It sounds like a Devlark. There claws and bite are deadly but not as much as its tail" 
"So will you help the royal guards hunt it down?" Luna asked
"What are the conditions"
"We want it dead. Killing a royal guard is punishable by death." Celestia said
The twins walked through the door both with weapons at their sides. "We have a Devlark to kill." I said to them. They both looked at each other then back to me. "Sounds fun" they said in unison. 
"We are sending shining armour, ruby dust and Silver Shard with to help. They are in the garrison waiting for you. Sam I am trusting you with their lives." Cadence said
"I will do my best to keep them breathing" I said. Me, the twins and shining armour were heading to the garrison and fluttershy followed.

Fluttershy pulled me aside from the group for some privacy so we could talk. I turned to see the group keep moving. "I am coming" she said 
I turned to look her in the eyes. "No I won't allow it"
"You don't have a choice"
"Why do you want to come" I asked confused 
"I don't want to lose you"
"And I don't want you hurt"
"But..."
"No buts, you are staying here. I will send a letter when we find signs of it okay?"
"Fine" she said as she leaned in and kissed me on the cheek "stay safe and don't forget to send the letter" she said and she turned and walked back to the throne room.
When I walked into the garrison I was greeted by a red Pegasus with a slightly lighter red mane and a gray earth pony with silver hair. The red one had a short bow on her back and a quiver at her side. The gray one had a pair of swords with rubies embedded in them..
"Silver Shard" the silver one said
"And ruby dust" said the other
"At your service" they said in unison 
"I'm Sam. It's nice to meet you" I noticed both of them had a metal ring on there fore hooves "what are those?"
"Weapon rings" said ruby gleefully taping it to her bow. She moved her hoof and the bow moved with it as though it were glued in place. "They help us use our weapons"
"That is really helpful I would think"
"They are. If you are ready could we get moving" 
"Ya lets go" and we left for the train station

 meanwhile in the everfree 

"Sasha are you sure you know where we are" a large man said. He was carrying a war hammer and had heavy armour on. His brownish blond hair sticking out of his helmet.
"Have faith Will" Sasha said 
"But we saw a Devlark and we don't want to run into more" a scrawny boy said. He had a hand axe at his side, a shield on his arm and his brown hair was short and scruffy.
"Yes I know  Jim and we will handle anything that comes our way" Sasha said
"What about those talking horses" Jim whisper 
"They are not a threat right now. We just need to find the twins."
They had been walking for hours and every time they thought they saw an exit they just found more woods. They found a small clearing they was a perfect place for a camp.
"Let's just hope nothing finds us" will said as they all got to work