The foliage grew thickly beside the path, stifling the thud of Remedy's hoof beats. The snarling and howls had ceased behind her and Remedy allowed herself a moment of respite. Out of breath and panting heavily she slowed to a trot and looked behind, but only the dim of the forest pervaded. All was silent save for her own hoof falls. Not paying enough attention, Remedy walked through a low hanging tattered cobweb. She yelped and wiped the sticky threads from her muzzle.
The immediate wolf threat now apparently abated, Remedy stopped to take in her surroundings for the first time. The foliage grew thick and most of the light from the obscured sun had already been absconded by the forest canopy high above. Twisted vines crawled over the closely packed trees, and dark thorny ferns fought for supremacy on the contested forest floor. Numerous silken webs lined the path and thickly blanketed the canopy above forming a dull grey ceiling. Numerous Darkbell also sprouted at random intervals. The tiny flowers looked out of place amongst the aggressive flora.
Remedy continued to walk through the dark tunnel. It was eerily quiet and the muffled thud of her hoof beats sounded like distant drums in her ears. The narrowing path ended abruptly after a short stretch. Like the forest itself had been scooped out with a giant spoon, the path opened into a barren clearing. Dry brown leaves coated the floor, and nothing grew. The forest canopy above was thinner but coated with great sheets of silk that hung between the high boughs like drapes in a myriad of iridescent hues.
Remedy peered into the clearing, her ears twitched. There was no movement or sound. Remedy shivered in the eerie silence, not even the normal ambience of the forest seemed to venture this far. No bird songs, or insect buzzing, no wind no rustling of creatures in the brush. Remedy slowly walked into the clearing, turning in slow circles as she took in her surrounds. It appeared to be a dead end. The thick silk-tangled undergrowth crowded between the closely cloistered trees that rimmed the clearing and the only path out appeared to be the one she had just entered from.
“Oh Celestia Dammit” She sniffed to herself as she wiped the damp from her tear streaked cheeks. The brief moment of reprieve proving to be little comfort in the hopeless situation. The adrenaline was wearing off and the fatigue in her muscles was catching up.
“What am I supposed to do now!?” Remedy complained loudly, her breathing haggard as a fresh new despair started to take hold.
A low creaking like straining wood halted her rumination and she spun around.
One of the low hanging silk sheets swayed ever so slightly in a non-existent breeze. Remedy glanced around, and the hair on her back felt like it was standing on end. A creeping dread began to overtake her. The silence was so deafening she could hear the beat of her own pounding heart and the rhythmic rushing of blood in her ears. The atmosphere hung so thick and heavy it was palpable. Instinctively Remedy began to back towards the exit, the leaves crunched loudly under hoof like old dry bones. The dimly lit clearing darkened ever so slightly, and a closer drape shivered as if it too felt a chill. Another creaking of a loaded bough groaned from overhead. Frozen with fear Remedy slowly tilted her head up and her eyes went wide. She screamed.
Faolan led two of his pack members down the foreboding path. Their ears, eyes and noses working overtime as they scanned for the first sign of trouble, their own pulses raced relentlessly. Reaching the edge of the clearing Faolan motioned for the pack to stop. The gentle rhythmic creaking of a tree branch was a morbid lullaby for the slowly swinging form of a pony sized glob of silk. The suspended bundle twisted slowly around on a single slender thread.
“See!, we are already too late. Let us go before she adds us right next to it.” One of the accompanying wolves pleaded in a low hiss.
Faolan silenced the complaints with a stern shake of his head. Raising his head high, he swallowed nervously and stepped into the clearing. His compatriots hesitated before following with far greater trepidation.
Faolan raised a small leather, bone and wood amulet above his head and with a loud clear voice addressed the barren clearing. “Fair Aleena, please stay your fangs. We come on most important business from the council.”
A sweet melodic titter bounced around the clearing like honeyed water.
“Ah, if it isn’t brave Faolan of the Moonshadow clan.” the voice was laced with amusement and formidable confidence, “I heard you were leading the pack nowadays. A pity about Marrok. With important business from the council you say? Well now, how delightful.”
The shadows above the lair shifted. The coloured silk curtains seemed to part like opening night at the theatre and from among them the enormous black body of a giant spider descended almost silently. The long shiny slender legs finding purchase on the ground surrounding the clearing like silent ushers for the show macabre. She could easily reach any where within the clearing in an instant, and the wolves were well within her range.
Faolan bowed in respect, the seal still held out in full view. “Fair Aleena, we have been given orders from Abidah to acquire a pony alive for questioning at the carnivore council night after ‘morrow.” Faolan glanced with concern at the hanging bundle of silk gently rocking back and forth like a heavy pendulum counting down the penultimate seconds. He could see no breath or sign of life. The bundle slowly turned on it’s thread, the ponies face and muzzle could be seen poking out from the bottom. A thick strand of silk wrapped around her face across the bridge of her nose and her eyes were shut. Faolan returned his attention to the great spider.
“For questioning? Now isn’t that curious. I wonder what that old feather duster is up to?” Aleena mused to herself.
“I do not mean to rob you of your rightful quarry. We chased her into and through the forest, but at the point of capture, I must admit I failed.” Faolan explained.
The giant spider tittered gleefully, “well I suppose that’s very much expected. Wolves were never really known for their talents in ‘capturing’ anything. Even the cats might have had better luck at that, although I suppose that wouldn’t have been without some trauma. They do like to ‘play’ with their food.” The giant spider contemplated for a moment then sighed, “still, if it’s for the council, then I suppose I can part with it…” a wicked thought crossed her mind, “hrm, perhaps I should take one of you in recompense?” She eyed Faolan’s companions with hungry eyes, there were a lot of them. Both of them cowered and whimpered pitifully in response.
Faolan shifted to shield his family. “I will not offer you any of my brothers or sisters. But if you require compensation, you can take it from me. I only ask that you wait till after the council meeting so that I can complete my duties”
Aleena laughed hysterically and her giant body wobbled in delight. The threads that crisscrossed her lair quivered like a chorus of backup singers, mirroring her glee. “Oh look at you, so stoic. No hesitation, not even a flinch. Perhaps I will take a taste… hahahaha. Oh why so serious. I’m only joking. It’s not so often I get visitors so interested in conversation you know.” A sour look crossed her face as she glared at the hanging silk cocoon, “mostly they just scream.”
The giant spider reached a single long slender leg up to the silk bundle and with the gentlest of tugs pulled it free. “Fear not she’s not dead, just paralysed. I prefer my meals ‘fresh’. The poison will wear off slowly, she should be able to walk again in about a day.” She laid the silk bundle down in front of the wolves.
“Go now, I look forward to the council meeting. It certainly looks to be interesting.”
Aleena laughed and effortlessly drew her enormous frame back into the darkened canopy like a baloon and was soon obscured by the draping silk, the last cackles of her laughter echoed into the forest before dying off.
Faolan and his pack begun to pull the silk apart. “Gently now, Find some timber so that we can make a sled.” he ordered, one of the wolves promptly hurried back along the path. “Here, help me carry her back to the fork.” he said to the other who helped to rest the pony across Faolan’s shoulders and kept her steady while he walked back to the crossroads.
Muffled growls and yips pierced the drowsy slumber that clouded Remedy’s mind. She slowly squinted one eyelid open. A canopy of leaves and thick boughs slowly drifted overhead and even the small amount of dim light that managed to penetrate seemed bright and garish. Remedy tried to move but even with all her effort, only her head moved slightly, rolling clumsily on her shoulders like it was barely attached. From the splitting headache she had, she wondered if she'd prefer it wasn't. Her limbs remained as still as the grave. Peering down, she saw she was strapped to a simple sled. Long vines stretched forward towards a trio of wolves who were lashed in line and pulled her along. They seemed to be in good spirits and were happily ‘talking’ to each other. Remedy listened for a moment, but all she heard was guttural growls, high pitched yips, and other incoherent bestial noises.
Remedy’s mind raced. Where was she? What happened? At least I’m alive right? The last thing she remembered was … the spider. An impossibly large spider. A Shiny black carapace, ferocious speed and fangs. A pair of painful itches throbbed on her side, reminding her of what she thought were her final moments.
An overhanging shrub scraped along the sled and brushed over Remedy’s face. She snorted as one of the errant leaves found it’s way into an unsuspecting nostril. The sled jerked to a stop. One of the wolves turned to inspect the noise. Remedy clamped her eyes shut, she could feel the hot foul breath of the wolf, as it sniffed at her curiously. "Oh please leave me alone, please leave me alone” she prayed and an involuntary whimper escaped.
A stern bark from further ahead drew the wolf’s head away. Remedy peeked through a half lidded eye. The large white and silver wolf that had first attacked her stood at the front of the line and the curious wolf now paid rapt attention to it. With a short growl and rough snort the silver wolf delivered his commands and they quickly resumed their journey, leaving Remedy in peace.
Remedy let out the breath she had been holding. She struggled again, but she couldn’t move anything from the neck down, and everything above took enormous effort. Defeated, she stopped struggling. A deep exhaustion settled like a cold numbness into her bones. A fresh welling of tears moistened the corners of her eyes. “So this is how it ends. Was this what happened to Natara? Oh Celestia save me.” She pinched her eyes closed in a desperate attempt to deny her reality.
Another smaller low lying branch brushed it’s foliage carelessly across the sled and Remedy. This time a familiar pungent odour assaulted her senses. Remedy’s eyes snapped open, thankful for anything familiar in this sun forsaken forest. She caught the sight of a Wild Darkbell just as it slipped over the edge of the sled behind her. Glancing forward she could see there were more of the slender buds twisted in among the low lying shrubs. One of them had a thick purple band around it’s bell.
Remedy strained with all her might as the low lying shrub passed barely within range of her face. She managed to pluck the bud just in time. She chewed and winced at the bitter flavour. After swallowing it took only a moment before she felt the plants effects begin to spread through her body. She strained once more, this time her leg gave the smallest twitch. Her eyes clarified, and a ray of hope chased away the clinging despair. She had a chance, now all she needed was the right moment.
Foalan sighed with satisfaction as he led the party into the clearing surrounding the den. Several waiting pack members howled and ran over to greet the hunting party, the party itself excitedly greeting their friends and family in turn. Two small cubs weaved between the celebrating pack and jumped up on the side of the sled.
“Hey, this isn’t like you told me!” one of the cubs complained with disappointment. “It doesn’t have horns or wings or anything. Are you sure it’s a pony and not a fat deer?”
“Get away from there you little whelps!” A beautiful snow-white wolf scolded the brash youngsters sternly.
With a yelp the two pups pushed off the sled and ran away yipping and chasing one another.
“Congratulations,” the white wolf smiled at Faolan, “you know I wasn’t sure you were going to succeed.”
“Kerena, it’s nice to see you again.” Faolan smiled fondly at the unexpected company. “It wasn’t easy that’s for sure. Everything was going to plan until I missed my strike and she bolted right into Aleena’s lair. Crazy thing!”
Kerena glanced at the pony strapped to the sled with a surprised look. As she turned she saw an eyelid clamp closed. Leaning conspiratorially towards Faolan she whispered, “I think she’s awake.”
Faolan chuckled, “Yeah, she’s been awake for a while now, playing possum. One fortunate thing to come out of the unexpected turn of events, is that she’s now paralysed for the night thanks to Aleena.”
Kerena looked back at the pony with concern. “Oh dear, will she be all right?”
Faolan scratched an itch behind his head. “I’m not really an expert on ponies or Aleena’s venom for that matter, but Aleena says she’ll be mobile by tomorrow night. Just in time for the council meeting.”
Kerena smiled, “Well congratulations again, and look!”, she nodded towards another hunting party returning, dragging a carcass behind them. “It looks like the other hunting party has caught a boar. Tonight is indeed a reason to celebrate.”
Kerena turned and slinked away, Faolan watched her go with rapt attention. Looking back to the sled, he noticed an eye flitting closed once more, and chuckled to himself, “I see you there, playing pretend...” The rest of his hunting party had swiftly abandoned him to the sled as soon as the boar carcass had arrived, and were busy helping to drag it into the den. Faolan sighed and started to loosen the vines holding his prisoner to the sled. With uncanny timing, supernatural mist began to seep in around Faolan and the sled. He recognised it immediately and turned quickly.
“Abidah!” he greeted jubilantly, “As requested, one pony alive and well. Well...aside from a little paralysis, but she will be right as rain by the council meeting.”
The great owl stooped over the sled, noticing the tiny flinch as his shadow crossed it. “She’s awake?” he queried with a raised eyebrow.
“Yeah, but she’s been playing dead for a while now.” Faolan admitted.
“Well nonetheless, Good work Faolan, it's good to see my faith in your abilities were not misplaced. Now, first things first. In order for her to be any help at all, we must be able to speak.” The great owl focused on the small pony. A mote of concentration forming a glowing ball of energy between his horns. A thin ray of energy burst from its surface and struck her bound form. Ripples of magic washed over her like water.
“There, she has been given the Gift of the Wild,” Abidah declared as he straightened up, “in a few minutes she will be able to speak with us and understand us. Keep her safe until the summit.” With his work done, he gave Faolan a small nod and lept into the air only to be swallowed by mist and vanished.
Faolan turned back towards the pony and began to loosen the vines once more.
“Well, better get you into the den then.”
His efforts were soon distracted by the joyful cries and sounds of feasting within. His own stomach growled its vote. “Well, perhaps after a little dinner. Don’t run off anywhere will you.” He chuckled at his own corny joke then scampered into the den.
Remedy cracked an eye open. The wolf was gone, but she could hear the joyful barks and yips mixed with the wet noises of tearing flesh and cracking bone. An involuntary shudder ran down her body. Still, this was the chance she was waiting for. Fortunately, they didn’t seem to know she was conscious, and that wolf had loosened one of her bonds. She wriggled and managed to free her hoof. Grabbing the vine holding her other hoof down, she bit and gnawed frantically. Soon a satisfying snap granted her the liberty of another limb. She reached down and worked on one of the vine ropes holding her leg. She just managed to free her third limb when a low guttural growl rumbled low and foreboding from the den above. Instinctively she lay back down, as if still paralysed. It wasn’t hard to figure the wolves expected the poison to be still affecting her, if not for the Darkbell it probably would be.
Yet try as she might, she could not force her eyes closed. There was something about this growl, it was different than the others. It carried a venom more potent than any spider, a menace that couldn’t be described. She thought she new the wolves intent before, but this new sensation made her doubt.
Two yellow points of hate filled light glinted in the shadows of the den.
“Grrrremember You… I remember your smell…”
Her eyes went wide, the growls were turning into words, she could understand them. Before her wonder could be pondered, a pitch black wolf with blazing yellow eyes stepped out of the den. His unblinking gaze held her own and robbed her of any coherent thought.
“Tonight is the first in weeks we have eaten so well…” the menacing predator continued, thick red droplets dripped from his tainted muzzle and clung in dark matted clumps on his chin.
“We could have had many more happy nights like this one if it wasn’t for your ‘kind’” he growled, his lips peeling back to reveal the large powerful fangs contained underneath. Remedy’s breath grew short and laboured, the familiar panic rising once more. This wolf was as large as the first one, and there was no doubt to his intention.
“And if it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have lost a son!” The wolf snarled. Remedy trembled, she tried to discreetly pull her other leg free, desperately clinging to the last vestiges of intelligent thought. If the wolf had noticed her moving, he didn’t show it. Her leg was almost free, if she could just…
“Now at last,” the wolf continued, his shadow falling across the sled as he approached with head held high and fangs bared, “now, a taste of retribution!”
With a final sharp snarl the black wolf lunged. Remedy cried out, covering her face with her fore hooves. She let her free leg fly with a panicked and desperate kick. She felt it strike bone. The large wolf fell backwards with a surprised yelp. Remedy moved on pure adrenaline, she reached down and tore the final vine free. She leapt from the sled, bucking it over in the process and fled as fast as she could into the forest without looking back.
Faolan raced out of the den, alerted by the noise. He saw his father lying on the ground nursing his jaw then he looked at the empty sled.
“What did you do!?” he exclaimed, but an angry glare was the only response. Faolan’s head snapped up and his ears scanned forward, he could hear the panicked crashing of jungle brush ahead. With an angry bark he yelled out orders to his two lieutenants that had come out to investigate.
“Quick! To the woods, she has escaped! Don’t ask how, just find her!” Then without waiting for confirmation Faolan raced down the hill, passing just close enough to the sled to grab the seal still slung over it.
The heavy undergrowth crashed aside as Remedy barrelled through the forest. “Oh Celestia help me!” her mind buzzed, “I’m back in the forest and I have no idea which way is home.”
She heard a howl carry over the forest behind her, obviously they weren’t about to let their prize escape. She glanced behind, there was no sign of wolves yet, but she was sure they were just beyond her sight. Distracted by her pursuers Remedy didn’t notice the wayward tree root on the path. She yelped as her front hoof caught and she fell with a heavy thud. She bounced off the narrow ridge path and tumbled down the small ravine that flanked it. Branches and bushes were crushed under her as she tumbled. A final 6 foot drop down a rocky escarpment landed her with a heavy thud and knocked the wind out of her lungs.
Remedy coughed and groaned as she lay on the soft peat. Her head had just missed a protruding granite crag by about 6 inches. She tried to stand, but a sharp bolt of pain coursed through her right leg. Leaning back against the rocky wall she nursed the offended appendage and took in her most recent plight. A small clearing of brown rotting leaves and peat moss offered a respite from the thick undergrowth.
“At least they’ll have a hard time following me down here.” She conceded with morbid chuckle.
Today it seemed as if the fates themselves cruelly conspired against any hope she might consider, a twig snapped in the undergrowth just ahead and a deep soft purr rolled out from the forest, “how curious?”
From between the bushes a large tiger stalked out. Something inside Remedy broke. Her eye twitched and with a loud cry she yelled, “Oh C’mooon”
The tigress, seeing her prey was injured and cornered, grinned and sat on her haunches. She leaned forward and with an amused tilt of her head she spoke in a mocking coo, “You seem a little lost?”
Remedy seethed, fed up with this day and now her most recent predicament. “Yeah well… if you want a taste of my hide, you’re going to have to get in line.” She growled furiously. “Between the wolves and the giant spiders, I’m sorry, but I don’t think there’ll be much left.”
Overhead, the sounds of yelps and barks grew louder. The tigress raised an eyebrow and cocked an ear to listen to the commotion above. A self satisfied grin crept onto her face as the noises began to recede as they passed on the path above.
“Well now, it seems I’ve jumped the queue.”
“How lucky for you…” Remedy hissed between clenched teeth.
The tigress sauntered closer, Remedy mustered every morsel of menace she could glare, but the tiger was not at all concerned. The tigress paused to check the sharpness of her claws, extending and retracting them by clenching her paw.
“Now normally I like a bit of sport, but you can’t run anymore, and you look like you’ve had a rough day,” the tiger patronised, “so why don’t I make this quick?”
“Rot in Tartarus!” Remedy growled defiantly, but her prickly attitude belied the exhaustion that gnawed at her bones or the tears that streamed down her face.
The tigress grinned, licking her bared teeth, “how trite.”
Remedy cringed as the Tiger’s shadow fell upon her. The tiger was much larger than any wolf and like a candle with no more wick, the last embers of hope flickered and died within her. Remedy turned away, teeth clenched. Angry tears matted her face. The tiger’s jaws yawned open, ribbons of saliva trailed between the enormous teeth and a deep deathly growl blew the tigers hot breath carrying with it the stench of death. This was it.
“STOP!” A silver flash leapt from the bushes above the rocky cliff and tackled the tiger. The tigress, though surprised, reacted with obscene speed and grace, tumbling with the impact and throwing her aggressor off with a powerful kick. Remedy equally surprised watched as the silver wolf, her first attacker landed with a much less graceful thud and quickly scrambled to his feet. A small talisman landed in the peat nearby.
“YOU DARE STEAL MY KILL!” The tiger roared, and unleashed a flurry of powerful strikes at the wolf.
“STOP! WAI…” was all he managed to plead before the first claw swung at his face. He ducked and rolled, dodged and dove while the tigress pressed her onslaught, but the wolf was equally determined. With teeth bared he dodged, jumped and skipped, bringing every edge of agility over the heavier tiger to avoid her heavy blows. Remedy stared in horror as the macabre act played out before her. Two great predators each fearsome in their own right, fought with killing intent just for the chance to be the first to taste her life. Great swathes of leaf and earth were flung into the air as the pair tore the ground open around them in the effort to do likewise to each other.
The silver wolf dodged another strike and dove for the discarded talisman. He turned to wield it against the tiger, but the tigress was faster. A powerful blow struck the side of the wolf’s head and three ribbons of blood arced away as the sharp claws tore open his face. He fell limply with a heavy thud into the soft earth, motionless. Remedy trembled at the powerful display. The tigress stood panting, her teeth still bared as the thick muscles rippled along her shoulders and back. One large bloody paw was still planted on the wolf's head, claiming her triumph. The tiger's yellow eyes locked onto Remedy’s, fresh with blood lust. This was it. No more escapes, no more delays. It was her turn.