Law of Surprise
This was not a lucky day for Big Mac. To be honest it sucked. A lot. It was supposed to be a nice day.
Applebucking this season was over quickly thanks, to Applejack friends help, and it was still too early for zap apple harvest. Big Mac had more free time on his hooves then he liked. When Applejack asked him to deliver a cart full of Granny Smith baked goodies to one of their customers, he didn't object. Normally it was Applejack responsibility to sell and deliver farm goods, but Big Mac stepped in to help his sister whenever he could, moreover he know that she would spend this time helping her friends in one of their adventures or just have some quality time with them. Organizing things so his sister could spend some free time with them was the least he could do, after they helped so much during the Applebucking.
Big Mac knew of dangers that come alongside those deliveries. Some ponies lived in most bizarre places and dragging a cart full of baked goodies to them was not a stroll in the park. This however was not supposed to be one of those deliveries. His trek led him through hills and fields bathed in radiant light of the sun. Between him and his destination there were no big and scary forest filled with pony eating monsters. The only "dangerous" part would be crossing the Ghastly Gore.
Oh ok, Ghastly Gore was a dangerous place no doubt about it, but there were bridges build across it, a road lead around it so there were plenty of ways to avoid the dangerous slopes. Big Mac had options.
He could go through the train bridge that crossed the Gore. It was a very solid bridge made out of steel, so it could support heavy trains that run between Ponyville, Appleloosa and Dodge Junction. That wasn't a bad idea but it would extend his journey for two to three hours. Of course he could just take the road around the Gore but that would take even more time.
There was a third option. You might even call it a family secret. There was a second bridge across the Gore, bridge build by Big Mac grandfather him self ( according to Granny Smith). It wasn't a fancy - shmansy steal bridge. It didn't need to be. His grandfather build this rope bridge so he wouldn't need to waits time going around the Gore, long time ago before ponies invented trains. Now some ponies could argue that a rope bridge that old is not safe and to be honest Big Mac had his concerns when Granny Smith first showed it to him. That day he learned another family secret: "Earth ponies build to last."
After a very short consideration Big Mac decided to use his grandfathers rope bridge. Unfortunately for Big Mac there is a set of rules that trumps even the mighty proverb ( and magic that goes along with it).
This set of rules is called "Murphy's Law".
Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.
The ancient rope bridge of forefathers did not withstood the test of time and collapsed under the combined weight of red stallion and his cart of baked goodies. Fortunately for Big Mac his forefather foresaw this kind of scenario and build his bridge in the part of the gorge where a pony could land relatively safe. The key world here is relatively.
After a short moment when Big Mac pretended to be a pegasi, he was reunited with the earth. Unfortunately reunion proved to be to much for our brave "flyer", and he lost consciousness.
When Big Mac finally regained his consciousness the brightness of Celestia's sun was long gone replaced by dim glow of the Luna's moon. To be honest Big Mac was a bit scared for a second after he opened his eyes. He couldn't see anything. The slopes casted long shadows across the gore preventing even the little light, that the moon gave, from entering. Only after he gazed directly above him and saw the stars his fear left him.
As his eyes adjusted to the darkness he started to evaluate state of his own body. Lots of bruises, but no broken bones and no cuts. He wasn't bleeding, at least externally.
Concussion? Maybe.
Pain? Yes, but nothing he didn't experience before or couldn't handle.
His meditation was suddenly interrupted by a sound of something moving near by. He turned him self in that direction but couldn't see anything through the shadows. But what he couldn't see he could smell. Odor that strong could belong only to one creature. Timberwolves.
Big Mac shook his head and cooled his nerve. His eyes were still adjusting to the night but he could see shapes. There were no glowing eyes pointed at him nor could he see any movement. He perked his ears. He could hear only faint noises coming from direction of what looked like the remnants of his wagon.
Normally even a pack of Timberwolves presented no threat to a stallion like Big Mac. "Normally" being in bright day light, on an open field. Here in confines of a narrow ravine, odds were not on Big Mac favor.
This is why the red stallion decided that picking a fight over a damaged cart was not a best idea and, taking advantage of the fact that apparently he wasn't spotted by the vicious forest predator, he started to back away.
His very logical and well laid plan was again attacked and brutally beaten by "Murphy's Law".
Big Mac hind leg nudged a pebble and removed it from under a bit larger pebble which supported a slightly larger stone ... A chain reaction occurred and a mini avalanche assaulted Big Mac from behind. Before he could react his legs were stuck under a thick layer of small stones. This entire scene didn't went unnoticed.
To Big Mac horror from behind the remnants of his wagon, head of a very surprised Timberwolf peaked up.
This was not a lucky day for Big Mac. On the other hoof the Timberwolf had expression of a filly that just discovered that Hearth's Warming Eve came earlier this year.
With one swift move the Timberwolf jumped upon the wreckage of the wagon and howled. After a second more then dozen howls answered. Some were distant some where close, but all indicated one thing the pack has been summoned.
Big Mac gulped. This was worst scenario possible. Not only was the entire pack of Timberwolves on the hunt for him now, he was immobilized.
Freeing him self from under rocks would be relatively easy if not for the fact that now his attention had to be directed unto the Timberwolf. The Timberwolf didn't attack, he just watched and evaluated from witch angle an attack has lesser chance to be parried or counter struck by red stallions massive hooves. He waited for the rest of the pack.
Time was not on Big Mac side. Staying here and fighting entire pack of magical-self-regenerative timber monsters was not a good option. Only chance he had now was to try and out run them. To do that he had to free him self from under those rocks. That required him to use his front hooves which opened him to any attack.
He had to risk it.
Unfortunately for Big Mac this Timberwolf was relatively smarter than his fellow "stumps". He saw the opening and attacked with ferociousness and speed that surprised Big Mac.
The red stallion saw the attack, but could not move in time to block it with his hooves. With horror he saw the jaws of the predator opening in front of his face, aiming for the throat.
To Big Mac surprise the killing blow didn't occur. In front of his eyes the Timberwolf head was struck by a large stone and shattered onto small bits of wood. Red stallion was struck by peaces of wood that moved still with impetus, but the magic that binded the beast was gone... temporarily.
In the silence that followed the demise of the Timberwolf, Big Mac heard slow and rhythmical trot. He assumed that whoever was coming was also responsible for the sudden but very well timed destruction of the Timberwolf.
Big Mac strained his eyes to see who was his rescuer. Although his vision have already adjusted to surrounding darkness he still had problems with seeing more then vague contours of approaching pony. At the moment Big Mac could see only that whoever rescued him was a stallion and most probably a Earth Pony.
The pony stopped near the ruined wagon and looked up, where he saw what was left of the rope bridge.
"You had a bad day, big guy?" Asked the pony.
"Eeyep."
After this short introduction and assessment of the situation the pony continued his trot towards Big Mac. Meanwhile Big Mac struggled to free him self from under the rocks that immobilized his hind legs.
Big Mac managed to free him self from under the rocks relatively quick, and turned around to face and thank the pony that helped him in his hour of need. He looked upon his rescuer and ... voice died in his throat.
Pony that stood in front of Big Mac was indeed a grayish Earth Pony, but at the same time he wasn't. First indicators were the eyes. Eyes that could belong to a cat or a reptile. Vertical pupils that faintly glowed in the darkness. Second were the scars. His torso and legs had more scars then a living creature was allowed to have. His face was marked by a deep vertical scar that run from his cheek up, until it meet his white mane. His mane was white, not silvery white but this kind of sickly color you can achieve only by total lack of pigment.
Big Mac considered him self to be relatively brave, and in control of his emotions. Thats why he managed to silence all instincts that yell at him, to run or/and scream like a little filly.
For few seconds both stallions looked at each other. Finally the grayish stallion spoke.
"This Timberwolf," he poked a small peace of wood at his hooves," managed to alert the whole pack of your presence. They are coming as we speak. Are you able to out run them?"
Big Mac considered this for a second. Speed was never his strongest feature. Work that he specialized in, required from him strength and endurance not speed. His body hurt and years of practice on the farm taught him to assess his strength properly.
"Nnope."
The grayish pony taxed Big Mac from top of his mane to the bottom of his hooves.
"Do you know who I'm?" He asked.
"Nnope."
"I'm a Witcher."
Big Mac looked at him surprised, and blinked. Is that supposed to mean something?
"Do you know what a Witcher is?" The grayish stallion continued.
"Nnope."
"Witcher's are monster hunters ... for hire."
Big Mac blinked again. Monster hunters for hire. Ain't that convenient.
"Are you interested in rendering my services?"
"Eeyep."
"Can you afford two thousand bid fee?"
Big Mac blinked... twice. Two thousand gold bits!
"Nnope."
Somewhere in the distance pack of Timberwolves howled. Their were on the hunt.
The Witcher pony sighed and chewed a curse.
"I don't work without a payment, thats a Witchers rule.... but there is an exception. Do you know what law of surprise, is?"
"Nnope."
"I can forgo your payment for services rendered, if you will grant me whatever unexpected thing you encounter when you return home. Do you agree on those conditions."
Whatever unexpected thing I encounter when I return home. is very unorthodox payment. It can be anything. Big Mac considered this proposition for a while.
"Eeyep."
The Witcher pony looked at Big Mac again and there was sadness in his eyes.
"Ok. Lets go. Stick close to me.'
Both stallions went into the shadows and darkness of the gore. Where fangs and claws, where death awaited them.