//------------------------------// // Troublesome natives. // Story: Hunters of the forest. // by Sylif Daring Doo //------------------------------// ______*The Everfree Forest, the next day, 12:00 AM.*______ Shanda walked through the forest calmly, she had finally found Rock, her pet lion last night, he was hidden behind a few makeshift boxes that they kept outside. Rock was small for a lion, if anything he looked more like a female than a male, he had light yellow fur and a dark gold mane, his eyes were bright yellow. The two were walking through the forest in search for food, they walked until they heard rustling in the leaves, they stopped and Rock looked ready to pounce at a moments notice as they stared intently at the bush the rustling came from. Then out from the bush came a Timberwolf, one that Shanda recognized. "Hold on Rock." She said instantly. The lion calmed down as the Timberwolf approached. "Shanda, i spoke with my kind and from what little I could learn, they have no knowledge of this 'core' you seek to find." He then looked at Rock who was still on guard. "A lion in the Everfree? strange." He noted. Shanda sighed and rubbed her forehead. "Ok, I wasn't expecting this to be easy, anything else?" She asked. The Timberwolf shook its head. "I am afraid not, but if I may ask, why is this so important?" He asked. "Let's just say that me and dad need it." Shanda replied as she continued to walk, Rock and the Timberwolf followed. "I do have some good news though, I thought up a couple of temporary names." She said, Changing the subject. The Timberwolf looked at Shanda curiously. "Oh? well let's hear them." He said. "Darius?" She suggested. The wolf pondered this as they walked, but soon shook his head. "No." He replied. "Wulfric?" Again, the Timberwolf shook his head no. ".........Talon?" She asked. The wolf said nothing as he thought on this, eventually he nodded. "It will do." He said. "Hold Up." Shanda quickly said, she then gripped her bow and quietly stalked forward, she hid in the brush and pulled out and arrow, she had spotted a buck grazing, it was large, so it was an adult. Rock stared at Talon as they waited behind Shanda, who aimed her shot. Shade closed her left eye and pulled the string back on the bow, she soon released it and it flew, the arrow embedded itself deep into the bucks skull, it cried out and fell to the ground, it struggled for a brief second before it went limp. Shanda stood up and walked over to the buck, she then grabbed it and lifted it up, it was incredibly heavy, but she could carry it. After that, Rock and Talon followed Shanda back to the hut as she slowly walked. "How can you carry that?" Talon asked. "It weighs more than you do easily." He pointed out. Shanda chuckled as she carried her kill. "It's......muscle, trust me, he isn't light." She stated as she struggled to walk. _______*Meanwhile, Ponyville.*_______ Fluttershy was in town picking up school supplies for Scootaloo, she had everything except for pencils, which was her next destination. She felt much better now that her daughter was back in town, she hated to speak ill of others, but she didn't trust Shanda or her father, not even in the slightest. It may have been paranoia or straight terror, but it was hard to forgive somepony for keeping one from their foal, even if it was for a good reason. Fluttershy has heard Scootaloo tell her story, about everything that happened in the hut, the filly clearly admired Shanda for what she did to help, but if she was being honest? Fluttershy hoped that Scootaloo wouldn't do anything like try to visit, it was very dangerous in that forest, but Shanda and her father had no issue at all living there, which didn't help her fears. So as she went about her day, Fluttershy felt a constant paranoia creeping up her spine, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong, but didn't know what exactly. Fluttershy got in line for a stand that was selling fresh lettuce and cabbage, she quickly glanced at her list and saw that she just need to pick up fish and then she could head home, she soon reached the stand and bought a head of each, she then went looking for a stand that sold fish so she could finish up. ______*Ponyville Schoolhouse*______ School, it was something that many hate and love for various reasons, it is a place of learning and often a place that rules are broken, bullies and popular kids usually work together or make life difficult for those around them. Today however, Scootaloo was tuning out the world, she didn't react to Diamond Tiara's teasing, she half heartedly said hello to her friends, and now she was currently tuning out Miss Cheerilee, who was walking over while she stared out the window. "Scootaloo?" The mare said pulling the filly back to reality, she looked up at the teacher. "Yes miss?" She asked. Cheerilee sighed and walked back to the desk. "Are you paying attention or sightseeing?" She asked in an annoyed tone. "I'm paying attention." Scootaloo lied, in truth she couldn't stop thinking about what she went through recently, but she figured she may as well try it. Cheerilee stared for a few moments before returning her attention to the class, she continued the lesson as normal but paid more attention to Scootaloo to keep her from zoning everything out. A few hours passed and school finally let out for the day, Scootaloo grabbed her things and went to leave the schoolhouse with the other foals when she heard a voice. "Scootaloo, can I talk to you for a minute?" Cheerilee's voice asked. Scootaloo turned around and walked back inside, she looked at Miss Cheerilee and spoke. "Yes miss Cheerilee?" She asked. The mare took a deep breath before speaking. "I'm concerned, I know that you usually don't care for schoolwork, but you never completely ignored the class before, is something bothering you?" She asked out of concern. Scootaloo contemplated telling the teacher, about everything that happened to her recently, but she eventually decided against it. 'She won't understand' Is the reason she gave herself. "It's nothing major." She lied. "Just a little bummed out is all." She added. Cheerilee gave Scootaloo a critical eye for a few moments before relenting. "Alright, go on, don't keep your friends waiting." She said. The filly nodded and walked out of the schoolhouse, she saw Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom waving her over and she headed to them, they seemed concerned for her but hid it under excited faces. When the Pegasus reached her friends Apple Bloom spoke. "You alright Scoots? you're usually happy when schools done for the day." She asked. "Are you sick?" Sweetie Belle with worry. Scootaloo shook her head and gave a small smile. "I'm just tired I guess, still a little shaken up from the other day is all." She said, even though deep down she knew it was a lie. "Well well, look who's talking again, I thought you were going mute blank flank." Diamond Tiara's taunting voice said from behind her, Scootaloo sighed and turned around to face the filly. "It would definitely be an improvement over her droning on about getting a cutie mark." Silver Spoon added as she walked up. Apple Bloom stepped up. "Knock it off Diamond, that isn't nice!" She snapped. Scootaloo put a hoof on Apple Bloom's shoulder, the earth pony looked at her and the Pegasus shook her head, surprising them all. "Let's just go." She said calmly before walking off. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle shared a look of concern before following their friend. "Nothing to say cutie mark losers!? aren't you going to defend yourself?" Diamond Tiara wondered smugly. Scootaloo took a deep breath and looked at Diamond Tiara who wore a grin. "Have you ever heard the saying sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me?" She asked curiously. "I heard it before." Silver Spoon spoke up. Without missing a beat, Scootaloo spoke. "I understand it now, the names you call me won't hurt me again." She stated before walking off. Her words perplexed Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, but Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom understood what she meant perfectly, they followed silently as Scootaloo walked to the town, her breathing slightly shaky at the memories from that day. Scootaloo knew one thing though, she owed Shanda and Jod'ka her life, and she wanted to repay them somehow, she just didn't know how to do so just yet.