Chapter 2: Change
The Festival- Nightingale
The next afternoon, I sat glumly running the balloon dart booth. Ducking as one colt’s throw went wild, the dart hitting into a peach tree behind me. “Sorry!” he yelped, blushing and running off. I removed the dart from said tree and gave it to the next foal, along with the others.
I sighed, with Grannie’s part of the festival over, she had stayed home. She said she was going to make peach jam with what we had collected a few days ago, but she had shuffled back to bed for a nap as I left the house. Perhaps she was still tired from last night? All I knew is I awoke to her coughing and complaining about achy joints.
I shook my head, turning my attention back to the booth as a little white pegasus filly, Sugar Glider, popped two balloons. “Nice job Sugar, why don’t you pick a prize?”
“Oooo the Teddy Ursa Minor!” she trilled, jumping up and down as she pointed a hoof at it.
“Nice choice,” I picked it up and hoofed it over to her. It was a nice ursa, hoofmade by one of our local elder ponies with gold button eyes and tiny white stars stitched into the blue yarn of the body.
Sugar hugged the ursa close, a beaming smile on her face as she trotted away.
The moon was just rising over the horizon when my replacement, a unicorn stallion a little older than me, Mossy Oak, arrived. He was a good pony, had the deepest green eyes I had ever seen, with a log covered in moss as his cutie mark. His younger sister, Ivy Rose, had been in my age group at school. Though I hadn’t interacted much with Mossy, he was still a good friend.
“How’s it going Gale?” he said, smiling softly at me.
“Not too bad,” I said, hoofing the next filly in line her darts. “Only came close to getting hit about a dozen times.”
He chuckled, “Their aim that bad huh? Guess we know what their talents won’t likely be.”
“Sadly so,” I nodded. I stepped away from the booth and he trotted up beside me, taking my place as he levitated the darts to a little pegasus colt next in line. “Have you seen where my parents went off to? Last I heard they were on the way home for supper.”
He jolted, his ears drooping slightly. “Well, I imagine they are still at your home,” he sighed softly. “I remember at previous festivals where your Grannie would tell her stories. Colt, is she a good storyteller!”
I blinked slowly, surprised at the change of topic. “Yes, she is. I probably have most of them known by heart.”
“Especially the one about the town’s founding?”
“Yeah, that one too. The Timberwolf Moon will always be my favorite though,” I admitted.
“Really?” he paused, levitating a cute little woolen lamb plushie to a tiny blue earth colt. “I never took you for the romantic story type of mare.”
I snorted softly. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing, nothing!” he said, shaking his head. “Just, well you seem too serious I guess?” He grinned sheepishly. “Anyway, I guess it is a good thing you have them all memorized.”
“Why? It’s not like Grannie won’t continue to tell me them,” I grinned softly, ducking when another dart went awry. “Knowing her, she’ll probably tell one or more at my birthday tomorrow.”
Mossy bit his lip, looking down at me. “Has nopony told you Gale?”
“Told me what?” I asked, tilting my head in confusion.
Mossy put a hoof to his head and shook it. “Colt Gale, I am so sorry I thought you knew.”
“Knew what?” I asked, a little louder than I probably should have as the foals in line turned to look at me. “Did something happen to Grannie?”
Mossy pulled one of the parents in line with their child up to watch the booth, and led me a few feet away. “Gale I… well… she collapsed a little earlier today.”
“What?” I said breathlessly. My mouth dropped open and I blinked quickly, staring at him.
He put a hoof to my shoulder and rubbed it gently. “Your mother found her on the kitchen floor when she and your father went home for supper. I saw the whole thing from my post by the stage, where I was controlling the lights.”
I leaned into his hoof, blinking back tears as I looked back up at him. “Is she… is she…”
He shook his head. “No, she is still alive.”
I breathed a sigh of relief, wiping the tears from my eyes. “Thank Celestia!”
Mossy bit his lip, lowering his ears again. “I wouldn’t thank her just yet.” I just stared at him, waiting for him to continue. “Gale, she fell because she suffered a massive stroke,” Mossy said, rubbing his hoof against my shoulder again. “Doctor Caring Smile is with her right now.”
Opening and closing my mouth, I tried to speak but nothing came out. A stroke? Taking in a deep breath, I pulled away from Mossy’s hoof. “I-I- I got to go.” I turned around and galloped toward home, other villagers gasping in shock as I raced by them. Slamming open the front door as I reached it, I looked around as I caught my breath. A small crowd had already formed inside. I pushed them aside to reach Grannie’s door, only to catch Caring Smile trotting out of her room.
The blue mane and pale green coated unicorn mare looked up and nodded to me silently. “Welcome home Gale.” She ushered me forward and put a hoof around my neck. “Shh dear, we’re here for you.” Carin’ looked around at those gathered around and shooed them toward the door. “Grannie Azure needs peace and quiet right now,” she snorted. “I know you are all worried, but let the family have their time.” The crowd of ponies nodded, the door clicking shut as they trotted outside.
“Carin’,” I said a little huskily, wiping my nose. “I-is she going to be okay?”
Carin’ took a deep breath, closing her eyes. “Gale, you know Grannie Azure is old, right?”
“She still has plenty of fight in her!” I yelled, biting my lip as my entire body shivered. “Please Carin’, you must have a way to help her. Some spell? Or Potion?”
Carin’ shook her head. “I’ve done all I can, Celestia willing she might make it, but the chance is very low.” I collapsed to the floor, throwing my hooves around my head as I sobbed. “I know how much you and the rest of the townsfolk love her Gale,” she whispered, rubbing a hoof through my mane. “But Grannie is nearly five hundred years old.” She looked down at a clipboard in her hoof. “Four hundred ninety seven, if my notes are correct.”
I nodded. It had only been a few weeks ago that Grannie had her birthday, her last birthday it seemed. NO! I couldn’t have thoughts like that. I had to hope, believe, and pray she would get better. Grannie needed me to be strong!
I looked up as I heard water running. Carin’ had trotted over to the sink, filling a glass with water. She levitated it down to me and I grasped it in my hoof. Taking a few sips, I did my best to stop crying.
“W-where are my parents?” I asked, taking another sip.
“With Grannie,” Carin’ said. “She is resting now, but if you want to go sit by her once you have calmed down, I think she might like that.”
“She would,” I nodded, draining the rest of the cup. “H-how…?” I couldn’t even finish my sentence. Did I really want to know?
Carin’ took a deep breath, looking down at me for a moment, before she spoke up. “I know what you want to hear,” she sighed. “But that isn’t likely to happen. There could be a miracle, but she is likely to…” she paused, seeing my eyes start to water again. “Are you sure you can handle the truth?” I nodded. I needed to know. Carin’ knelt down and looked me in the eye. “I’d be surprised if she lives long enough to see the Timberwolf moon tomorrow night. If she can survive that long, then she might pull through.”
I gasped, eyes going wide. We had such little time! No, think positive Gale, Grannie could survive. She had to! There was still so much I wanted to do with her, so much that I hadn’t talked to her about.
Carin’ patted my shoulder, standing back up. “Do you think you are up to visiting her yet?” Standing up, I nodded. Grannie needed me. If I was by her side, sending positive thoughts, maybe it would help?
“Then I will leave you to it,” Carin’ said. “Sugar Loaf went into labor not long ago. She and Crispy Crumpet will be needing my help birthing their foal.”
“T-thank you, for-for doing what you could,” I whispered, wrapping her in a hug.
She smiled warmly, and hugged me back. “Of course Gale, I only wish it could have been more.” With that, she trotted toward the door, but then paused, turning back to me. “Have faith Gale, maybe a little positive energy will help where I could not?” She smiled, then left, the door closing quietly behind her.
I took in another deep breath, wiped my eyes, and placed my empty cup on the counter. Trotting over to Grannie’s door, I pushed it open and walked inside.
Father sat in a chair next to the bed, his front hooves wrapped around Grannie’s right hoof. Mother stood behind him, rubbing his shoulders gently. They looked up as I entered, trying to smile but it didn’t reach their eyes. No words were exchanged, they simply nodded to me as mother pulled up another chair on the other side of Grannie’s bed.
I finally turned my attention to Grannie as I took a seat. She was pale, so pale. Her usual dark blue coat a few shades lighter. Her mane was down from inside its usual bun, cascading around her shoulders. She rested on her back, breathing softly. With her eyes closed and pale moonlight shining in on her face, I could see how gaunt she had become. When had her eyelids fallen so far back, giving them a shrunken look? The coat on her face stuck close to her bones, giving her face a sharp angular look.
As she lied there in bed, for the first time I really noticed how frail she had become. She always held herself so well, sure of herself and proud. A smile never left her face. But now, her lips were turned down in a slight frown as she slept.
Carin’ was right, Grannie wasn’t just old, and she even looked it now too. “Oh Grannie,” I whispered, taking her other hoof and holding it between my own. “Hold on. I still need to get my cutie mark. You want to see that, right?” I rubbed my face against her hoof.
“She’ll survive if possible dear,” mother said wrapping me up in a hug. “Are you tired?”
“A little,” I nodded. “But I want to stay with Grannie.”
“Then watch over her close,” father said, letting out a yawn as he covered his mouth with a hoof. “Let us know if you or she need anything?”
“Of course father,” I smiled as he trotted over and wrapped me in a hug as well. His grip was a little weak, and I could feel the shaking of his hooves as he pulled away, but he didn’t waver. As he and mother left, I watched as she wrapped a hoof around him, nuzzling against his neck when it seemed to sag, his ears drooping. The door clicked shut as they left. I grimaced when I heard father break out into sobs of his own, fading as he and mother trotted away.
“Sounds like father really needs you still too,” I said, scooting the chair closer to brush a strand of mane from Grannie’s face. “Please don’t leave us Grannie.”
I sat there, my thoughts turned to the pleasant memories I had of Grannie and the things we had done in the past. When Ivy Rose, the last one besides me, got her cutie mark when she tried her hoof at gardening, she had come with me to her cute-ceañera. It was only with her company I had been able to get through it without crying, no matter how proud I was of my friend.
Grannie had been there though it all with me, all the teen angst, and watching everypony around me grow up and into their professions. Telling me her stories every night when I was a filly, both those of the historical and those of the fantasy variety. What would I do without her?
As the moon reached its zenith, Grannie stirred. I jolted up, having falling into semi-consciousness as I dwelled in the past. “Grannie?” I whispered, rubbing her hoof between my own.
“Little Bird?” she whispered, voice hoarse and soft.
“Yes Grannie, it is me,” I said smiling down at her.
She slowly, blearily opened her eyes and gazed up at me. I bit my lip, they looked so much- darker- than usual. “My little bird, Nightingale,” she sighed with a delicate smile. She took a deep breath, squeezing my hoof with her own. Her grip was so weak compared to what it had been just last night.
“How you feeling?” I asked.
“Like I got kicked by a timberwolf,” she chuckled, wincing and holding a hoof to the side of her head.
“Well, you are awake now,” I grinned. “We’ll take care of you Grannie. Everything will be okay.”
“I’m afraid not child,” she whispered, lifting a hoof to cup my cheek. “While I slept, I saw your Grampy. Ah and he is looking fine! Just as handsome as when I first met him, the sly old bat. You know your father is so much more like him than me.”
My ears wilted at that, and I shook a little as tears dripped down my cheeks. “O-Oh? What was he doing?”
“Come to talk to me he did,” she closed her eyes and smiled. “It has been almost one hundred years now, since I last saw his face. Those beautiful golden eyes of his.” She looked back up at me. “He is sad he never was able to meet you in pony, but he is still proud of you.”
“P-proud of me? But-but I haven’t done anything,” I stammered.
“You will,” she grinned. “Like I have always told you, my little bird, you are special. I saw it in the stars, the night you were born.”
I blinked at her in surprise. “You never told me that part.”
“No?” she hummed. “Well then, it seems I have one more story to tell you.”
I blanched at that, like that didn’t sound ominous enough. “Just one more?”
“You have heard all my other stories a million times, my little bird,” she chuckled, coughing. A few minutes later, she continued. “It will now be your turn, to tell them at festivals. Grampy waits for me.” I stiffened at her words. Patting my hoof, she sighed. “But I have time for this last story.”
“Please Grannie, don’t talk like that. Y-you can get better!”
“I’m afraid not dear, but you are ready. You will be okay.” A few tears dripped from her eyes. “Now let me tell you of the night of your birth!”
“Yes Grannie,” I nodded, wiping the tears from her cheek.
She took a deep breath, then turned to look out the window. “It was a night much like this: a little warmer than usual, nearly a full moon, the timberwolves howling as they hunted in the forest. Not a cloud touched the sky. Everything was crisp, the stars shining brightly down upon us.
“I stood just outside, watching the stars as the doctor and your father helped your mother. It was already late into the night, almost everypony was fast asleep. Even the animals were quiet in their pens.”
“Then what happened?” I asked, enthralled as usual.
“That is when I saw it,” she grinned. “A shooting star shot across the moon, the biggest and brightest one I have ever seen. A timberwolf howled deep in the forest at the same moment, and an epiphany hit me. I saw a dark colored timberwolf, eyes a bright gold. He stared right at me, and it felt like he was staring into my soul.”
Grannie paused, coughing again. I patted her back, almost seeing the wolf. “What did he do?”
“He told me his side of the story, that of the Vumdilm−not much different from our own− and that the prophecy was soon to be fulfilled. I was to make sure everypony knew it well, so we would be prepared.” She took my hoof in hers, eyes gaining back their strong sparkle for a moment. "Promise me you will be open minded Gale.”
I blinked down at her and nodded. “Of course Grannie.”
She breathed a sigh of relief. “Good, thank you,” she said. “After I promised him I would do so, there was a brilliant flash of white light. When my vision finally cleared, the moon looked as golden as his eyes had been. At that moment, you uttered your first cry, entering into our world and the loving arms of your mother.
“My dear little bird, I am sure you are the mare in the prophecy.”
I shook my head, holding a hoof to it. Me? Yeah right. I didn’t even have my cutie mark yet, and she thought I was supposed to save the world?
“Believe in yourself,” Grannie whispered, a single tear running down her cheek. “I’ll always be with you, even after I am gone. Right here i’ll always remain,.” she pointed a hoof to my heart.
“I-I’ll try Grannie,” I said, running a hoof through her mane.
She gazed back over at the window, a huge smile on her face. “Grampy is back. He says hello.”
I gulped, tears falling freely from my eyes now. “Can’t he wait a little longer?”
Grannie shook her head. “He’s been waiting for over one hundred years. Be brave Gale, be strong for your daddy. Tell him Grampy and I are so proud of him. He has grown into a strong, humble stallion. I-I love you all. So. Much.”
I nodded, wrapping my hooves around her, tears dripping into her fur. “We love you too Grannie. I love you so very much.”
As I laid there, softly weeping into Grannie’s mane, I felt her take one last deep breath, let out a peaceful sigh, and then drew still. Her heart gave one last beat. Crickets chirped outside her window. A low, mournful howl filled the air, long and deep.
I grasped Grannie closer to me, sobbing, and my body shuddering as tears spilled down my muzzle. “Grannie, GRANNIE!” I yelled, ears flat against my head. It felt like hours that I just sat there, holding Grannie in my hooves, before I felt a warm hoof touch my shoulder.
I jolted, looking up to see mother standing behind me. Tears stained the fur beneath her eyes. Wrapping me up in her hooves she hugged me to her. I let out a howl of my own, sobbing into her shoulder as I rubbed my muzzle against it, taking deep quivering breaths as she rubbed my back.
“She-she’s gone mom,” I whispered, and she nodded.
“I know dear, I know.”
Taking a few deep breaths, I pulled away, looking back at Grannie’s still form on the bed. She looked so peaceful, a smile was on her face and she just seemed so… free.
Mother put a hoof to my shoulder and pulled me gently toward the door. “There’s nothing else we can do for her tonight,” she whispered. “You should get some sleep. It will be a long day once the sun rises.”
I nodded, looking back to Grannie once more. Biting my lips, I raced back over to her side, wrapping her in one last hug. Already her body felt too cool. I kissed her cheek, and pulled the covers back over her, tucking her in− one last time.
Following my mother out the door, I winced as she closed it behind us. “W-where is father?”
“He is asleep,” she said softly. “If I wake him now, he’ll never be able to return to it.”
I nodded glumly, and slowly trotted toward the ladder leading to my loft. My hoof was only on the first rung when it slipped, clacking against the wooden floor as I broke out into sobs again.
“Shh, shhh,” mother soothed, pulling me into another hug. “Why don’t you sleep on the couch tonight? I’ll grab you a pillow and blanket.” She led me to my usual chair, where I curled up, continuing to cry as she tiphoofed into her room. A moment later, she returned, a pillow and blanket on her back. She arranged them on the couch, puffing up the pillow, then returned to me. “Come on Gale,” she said, leading me over to the couch.
I rolled under the covers, snuggling into the pillow as she kissed me on the forehead. “Do you think you will be okay until morning?” she asked. “It is only a few hours away now.”
“I-I think so,” I mumbled, letting out a yawn. My cheeks hurt as the salt from my dried tears scratched my fur.
“Then get some sleep. I’ll talk to the coroner in the morning.” She gave me one last hug, nuzzled my cheek, and trotted back into their room. The door was left open a crack. I listened as the mattress squeaked, then quieted as mother settled down.
I looked around the darkened living room. Grannie was gone, and with her the house seemed so much colder, lonelier. Our grandfather clock’s pendulum clicked back and forth. The house groaned around me. Something clattered outside, and I heard something scampering away with a yelp.
I felt like I had just barely closed my eyes when I heard my parents’ bed groan. Hoofsteps made their way to the door. When father appeared, pushing the door open, and saw me on the couch, his wings fell away from his side, the tips dragging on the floor.
Mother appeared beside him a moment later, hugging him close. She looked over at me. Her eyes were red and bloodshot, mane a frizzy mess. I don’t think she got all that much sleep last night. She looked between the two of us. “Will you two be alright until I get back?”
I nodded, getting up and wrapping them both in a hug. Grannie had said to be strong, so I would try my best to. Father needed me to be. “I-I’ll make some breakfast,” I said.
“Okay,” mother nodded. “Honey? Why don’t you take a seat at the table?”
Father looked over at her, blinking slowly, but nodded.
“I’ll be back soon,” mother said. She took a deep breath as she trotted toward the door, opening it slowly. It clicked closed behind her as she left.
“I need a drink,” father mumbled, turning to our icebox and pulling out a cold apple cider. He collapsed in his chair at the table, popping the tab and taking a sip.
Trotting over to the cupboards, I looked through them, trying to decide what to make. Eventually, I just pulled down some flour, sugar and other ingredients to make some homemade pancakes. As I mixed the batter, I looked to the door of Grannie’s room. Father had yet to even go in there. Mother had probably told him this morning what had happened.
I looked over at him as he downed his second bottle of apple cider, slamming it down on the table. He looked even worse than me. His thicker coat was mussy and sticking up. His eyes red and bloodshot, mane and tail a horrible, tangled mess. He had huge bags under his eyes and his sagging, droopy ears hit the table as he groaned, leaning against it.
The oil began to pop on the frying pan as I poured the first drops of pancake batter onto it. The sizzling and the smell of pancakes cooking quickly filled the air. I tried to be strong, I really did, for my dad’s sake, but it was hard.
Mother returned with the coroner- a bulky pale grey unicorn stallion- and Caring Smile just as I was laying the pancakes on the table, sweeping aside the four empty bottles in front of father and dropping them into the trash.
Mother led the coroner into Grannie’s bedroom while Caring Smile trotted over to my father and me. “I am so sorry Gale, Mr. Hawk,” she whispered. “She will be sorely missed.”
Father just snorted, his head on the table and eyes half closed.
“Thanks Carin’,” I said sniffing a little. “Would you like to stay for breakfast?”
She nodded. “I think that would be good.”
We both looked up as mother and the coroner walked back out into the kitchen. Mother quickly wiping tears from her eyes before father could see them.
“I’ll have her ready for a funeral by this afternoon,” the undertaker, Headstone whispered, then looked to father. “Would you like to see her Mr. Hawk, before I take her to my office?”
Father shook his head, mumbling something under his breath. I could see fresh tears in his eyes, as he stood up to grab another apple cider from the icebox.
“Very well,” Headstone said. He turned to mother, “come by in an hour or two to pick out a casket.”
Mother nodded, and I watched bleary eyed as, wrapped in his magic, the sheet covered form of Grannie floated out of her room behind him, wrapped up tightly, as he left.
The four of us left sat down at the table, and I passed out the pancakes. Looking down at mine, I nibbled on one, but found I wasn’t really hungry.
“By the way,” Carin’ said. I looked over at her. She was slowly eating the pancakes I had set before her. “Happy birthday Gale,” she said. “Though it might not feel happy.”
“Thanks,” I sighed. Mother and father sat quietly between us, looking down at their plates.
Somehow, the entire village had squeezed around the cemetery behind all our homes. I could see Mossy and his family exactly across from us, little Sugar Glider a little ways down from them, tears in her eyes as she hugged her teddy ursa. Carin’ stood next to my family and I, Crumpet and Sugar Loaf, with their new baby filly, on the other side of us.
Before us all, next to the gravestone that marked Grampy’s grave, was a freshly dug hole, the scent of freshly churned up earth filling the air. Grannie’s casket had been placed beside it, a simple polished dark wood, her cutie mark- an open book- engraved on each side. I leaned against my mother’s side, rubbing my face against it. By this time I was all cried out, my fur stiff with dried tears.
Mother had asked Carin’ to say a few words for Grannie, as father was in no condition to speak. He blinked blearily out at everyone, his nice suit coat collar half-up and half-down, fur on his face matted with tears, wobbling dangerously next to my mother. She had tried to stop him after the fifth bottle, but when she wasn’t looking he had returned to the icebox. He was only able to stand from sheer stubbornness.
I looked over at Mossy, who smiled over at me gently. It was at that moment, with a nod from mother, that Carin’ stepped forward. “Hello everypony,” she said softly. The soft murmuring that had been in the background hushed, and all I could hear was the sound of the wind blowing between the gravestones, creating an eerie whistle. “We are gathered here today to honor the life of a most beloved pony.”
Carin’ looked between us all, rubbing one hoof against her other. “I haven’t known Grannie Azure for long, having only been here about a year, but I know how beloved she was. There was no pony more loved than Grannie. From what I have been told, practically everypony here grew up hearing her stories, all the things she has seen, done, and learned through her long life.”
“Though she is now gone from us,” Carin’ paused when Mossy’s mother broke down into sobs. Mossy and Ivy pulled her close, hugging her. “She will forever be in our hearts. She will live on through her stories, as they are told now by others.” She gulped, biting her lip and putting a hoof to the coffin lid. “Rest in peace Grannie Azure, the village shall protect your loved ones. As I have heard many a pony say, ‘we protect our own’.” With that, she trotted back over to us, embracing my mother in a tight hug, moving then to embrace me.
I picked up a moonflower –Grannie’s favorite flower- from a table set to the side- and stepped forward, placing it on the coffin. “I love you Grannie,” I choked out, fresh tears painting my cheeks as I returned to my spot. Mother followed after, placing another moonflower on the coffin, and with help from mother, father did so as well.
Headstone then stepped forward, wrapping the coffin in his magic and lowering it into the hole. As his magic dropped it gently to the dirt, he levitated down his own flower onto the grave.
Every single pony joined into a line behind the table, each adding their own flower into the grave as my parents and I stood next to it. Stepping over to us after placing their flower, they gave each of us a hug and trotted back into town. I could hear sounds of the festival start back up, though they were not as happy as before.
I tried not to blame them, going back to celebrating when I was breaking inside, but what could I do? We all had to cope in our own way. It was better for the foals anyway. Seeing them cry just tore at my heart even more.
As Mossy dropped his flower in and came over to us, he gave me a strong, firm hug. “I’m so sorry Gale, I wish there was more I could do,” he said. “But, if you ever want to talk about her, well… feel welcome to come on over?”
I smiled tiredly at him. “Thanks Mossy, I’ll do that.”
“Great! Well, er… I-I guess I should let you go,” with that, he gave me one last quick hug and hurried off.
As the last pony left, I almost felt the weight on my shoulders grow heavier. The only ones left now were my parents, Carin’, and the gravediggers.
With the sound of the first shovelful of dirt hitting the coffin I couldn’t take any more. I galloped away, tears streaking my face as I did so. The ground flew by below me, dirt tearing up into a dust cloud as I just ran and ran.
It wasn’t until I collapsed, out of breath, onto a patch of cool grass that I realized I had ran into the woods. I wasn’t sure how far in I was, but it didn’t matter. I pulled myself into a ball and sobbed, glad to be alone.
Woods around Hollow Shades- Shadow
Something was different about our woods, the town. Leaving my sisters and the elders as they snapped and growled at the pawful of rabbits and a pheasant we had managed to kill today, I padded toward the edge of the woods.
“Where do you think you are going?” I turned around to see Cherry behind me, a scowl on her face.
“Don’t you feel it Cherry? Something isn’t right.”
“What isn’t right? We have food, shelter, and the forest.”
“Yes, but it is… something else. I can’t quite explain it.” I shook my head, ears twitching and my tail flicking curiously.
Cherry sighed. “Is it those ponies again? Look, I know father told you they would need to be protected, but they are fine! They don’t need us, and we don’t need them.”
I shook my head, continuing on. “Dad was a smart wolf Cherry, I’m sure he knew what he was talking about.” There was just something in the air, a strange scent I couldn’t place my claw on. It filled my wooden bones, with some type of… sense I couldn’t explain.
“Well we can think about it, back at the den,” Cherry said, grabbing onto my tail with her teeth and pulling.
“Stop it!” I yelled, turning around and snatching my tail away from her.
“I’m just trying to protect my only brother!” she yelled back, growling. Her ears lowered, and she looked away. “You are our pack leader, our alpha. This obsession you have with the ponies is not healthy. You should be thinking more about finding a mate. I-I know it would be a-awkward to have one of us,” she looked back over at me. “But that might be your only choice, if we can’t find any others.”
I groaned, putting a paw to my head. “I know that is what the elders keep saying, but I couldn’t do that to you guys. Having pups with my own sisters? No!” Ugh, why hadn’t dad gathered a larger pack before he died? Why did it have to fall on me to expand it? The nearest pack made their home at the far edges of the forest, over twenty miles outside our borders. Even if I was to go there to try to take one of their females, I would be leaving my pack unprotected for days.
“There is always Redwood,” Cherry chuckled.
I glared at her. “She is beyond breeding age. Look, just go back to the others Cherry. I’ll be back soon.”
“Someone needs to protect you from yourself−”
“NOW, Cherry,” I growled.
“Fine, but I’m eating your portion of the pheasant!” she huffed and jumped into the bushes, racing off.
I chuckled, shaking my head at her and continuing on. It was starting to get late as I neared the village, circling it, sticking near the edge of the trees. Few ponies were still out and about, which surprised me, being it was a festival night. For previous festivals, many of them had been out into the early hours of the morning, some not even heading to their homes until just before the sun rose.
A scent in the air made me pause as I passed behind the homes. The graveyard where they buried their dead had a fresh mound of dirt covering one of them. Early scents of decay floated toward me on the wind from it, and I blinked in surprise, recognizing the scent. It was that old mare from a few nights ago! My stomach growled, reminding me I had left my share of today’s hunt to Cherry. I didn’t usually care for carrion, but perhaps this once− there it was again!
I turned away from the cemetery, forgetting my growling stomach, as the feeling of wrongness made my paws tingle. The moon glowed bright behind me as I raced toward the feeling, the tingling spreading to more of my body as I drew closer to where I felt I needed to be.
As I turned a corner, I had to jump back behind some bushes as I spotted a pony walking in the forest. She stepped out of the shadows, the wind blowing her scent my way, her dark brown mane flowing behind her. The mare was familiar as well, her flowery scent something I couldn’t forget. She had been with the old mare. Were they family?
I followed her, staying to the shadows best I could on such a bright, moonlit night. Thankfully, the direction of the wind didn’t change. If she smelled me, it would for sure frighten her, and I didn’t want that.
She rubbed at her face with one hoof, sniffing. Had she been crying? Yes, I concluded, I could smell the salt of dried tears on her. Was this the wrongness I had been drawn to? I could feel the tingling now through most of my body. What was she doing in the forest this late at night anyway? Didn’t she realize it was dangerous? My sisters and I were not the worst things in here.
At least she had a decent color for camouflage. Most of those ponies out there were bright colors that would stick out in the forest like a sore paw. She, though, was a beautiful dark grey. I took a few steps back as she paused, looking around. Had she seen me?
I sighed as she continued down the path. We were drawing close to the village now, and the tingling feeling was getting stronger. My paws itched worse than they had when I got termites as a pup! I dug my claws into the thin grass, something was VERY wrong ahead. I don’t know how I knew, but I could just feel it.
The mare stepped out of the woods, and sighed deeply. “Thank Celestia I stayed near the path,” she said. “If I had gotten lost in my mad run…” she shook her head, looking around. “I wonder if mother and father are looking for me.”
I paused by the edge of the woods, blinking slowly as I watched her start to trot away. NO! I couldn’t let her leave. Had to keep her in my sights. The tingling in my paws grew worst for a moment, just at the thought of losing sight of her, but I couldn’t leave the forest. If she spotted me, she would surely run and the wrongness would happen and I wouldn’t be able to stop it.
Thankfully, a moment later she paused as two ponies stepped out of a building next to the forest. I could hear laughter coming from inside as the door opened, as well as the acrid smell of urine and fermented fruit. The two ponies were big, muscular stallions, without horn or wings like her. When they spotted her, they trotted her way.
“Gah!” I yipped, feeling the tingling move to my ears. I lifted a paw to scratch, trying to shake it away. My paw stopped about halfway to my head as I realized, the wrongness was them! I put the paw back down, resisting the urge to scratch, as they drew closer.
“Gale! There you are,” the one on the left, a slimy yellow-green color, beamed. He was walking towards her on three legs, the other held one of those bottles that smelled like fermented fruit. He lifted the bottle, gulping a large mouthful and sighed.
“Ya know you had a lot of the town looking for you,” the other one chimed in, this one a mud-brown. He also had one of those bottles in a hoof.
The mare – Gale it seemed? – just scowled at them. “I’ve had a hard day and needed some time alone.”
“All alone in the forest?” the first one asked. “That is so dangerous!”
“Well I didn’t mean to stay there so late,” she said softly. “I kind of fell asleep.” She whispered, so softly I doubt either of them heard.
“Why not let us walk you home?” the second one crooned, getting way too close to her.
Gale backed away, shaking her head. “I can make it there perfectly well myself, thank you very much.”
“Or, you could come to our place,” the first one giggled.
“Mug, you’re drunk,” she snorted. “Both you and Barrel.”
“All the more reason to have some fun!” The second one, Barrel, chuckled, stepping closer to her again. “It is your birthday after all, isn’t it?”
“Why don’t we take you home, and see if your cutie mark is of one of us?” Mug smiled, putting a hoof around her.
“Ew, no!” she growled, knocking his hoof away from her. I let out a low growl as the two continued closer to her. She took a few steps back, trying to stay away from them.
As they drew closer, the stench of their intentions grew stronger. My whole body was tingling now, urging me onwards. If I didn’t act soon, the wrongness would happen.
“Just a little kiss then?” Mug whined, pursing his lips and stepping closer.
I sprang, jumping over Gale and tackling a startled Mug to the dirt. He dropped his bottle, the nasty liquid spilling out. The fool let out a high pitched scream, closing his eyes and throwing his hooves over his face. “Barrel, help me!”
“Sorry, but uh…. I think I hear mother calling,” Barrel mumbled, and raced away. I watched him run. I yelped in pain when something sharp hit against my head. Liquid dribbled down my face, and I realized the stallion below me had hit me with his bottle.
“Get off of me! I-I don’t want to diiie!” he moaned, realizing the bottle had done little more that scratch my bark.
I growled, baring my fangs right in his face. He gagged as my own smell wavered over him, shivering as drool dripped down onto his exposed belly. It would be so easy to just slice him open with a claw. My stomach growled, reminding me I had skipped eating again. I had never had pony, but I might just have to make an exception.
Suddenly, the tingling stopped. I blinked in surprise. Had I fixed the wrongness? Looking down at the scared stallion, it just didn’t feel right to kill him. Sure he deserved something for trying to hurt the mare, but that wasn’t it. The feeling of wrongness from before, whatever gave it to me, wanted him left alive.
“Fine,” I huffed, though from the look he gave me I don’t think he understood. I shook my head and backed off. He scrambled to his hooves, stumbling around as he raced away. “Good riddance. I bet you taste like you smell anyway!” I yelled.
It was when I turned around that I remembered the mare standing behind me. She looked up at me, her legs splayed out beneath her ready to run. The scent of fear flowed off her, but something else as well. Curiosity? She took a deep breath, closing her eyes.
A light wind tossed her mane behind her, the full moon shining brightly above us. She opened her eyes, and for a brief moment, our eyes met. The tingling took hold of my body again, a pungent, but sweet zingy scent filled my nostrils just as a loud crackling boom filled the air, making my ears ring.
My heart beat quickly in fear, as I watched my bark covered form crumble away. If it hadn’t been for that constant tingling it probably would have hurt, but instead I just itched all over. I let out a yelp, feeling dizzy as I grew smaller and smaller, my crumbling bark blowing away in the wind.
As the last scrap fell from me, and I looked over at the mare, we were now about the same height. I moaned, the dizziness growing worse, and collapsed into darkness.