//------------------------------// // Strange creatures. // Story: Hunters of the forest. // by Sylif Daring Doo //------------------------------// ______*Somewhere in the Everfree forest*______ "Ugh, where am I?" Scootaloo asked groggily. Scootaloo slowly opened her eyes and noticed she was in a forest hut, presumably Zecora's. "Don't worry, your safe." Said a voice. Scootaloo felt major pain in her chest and noticed she couldn't get up, she looked at her chest and noticed that she was strapped down. "What have you done to me?" She asked. A light laugh rang through the hut. "I assume you mean the rope? if you must know it was just to make sure you didn't try to move, your far too injured for that." Said the voice. Scootaloo sighed and rested her head on something furry, she looked only to see a rather large panther. "AHH!" She screamed. The voice laughed again. "Relax, that's just Shade, she wont hurt you." Said the voice. Scootaloo looked around to the best of her ability and saw no one. "Show yourself." She demanded. "As you wish." The voice said. Scootaloo watched as a tall creature appeared in her vision, the creature was wearing some kind of armor that was forest green and seemed to have fur, the creature was definitely female from its appearance. The creature had a hood over its head and had leather gloves and boots with matching wristbands, the creature itself seemed to be rather tall. "What are you?" Scootaloo asked curiously. The creature laughed briefly. "I should be asking you questions considering this seems to be your home world." It replied. Scootaloo watched carefully as the creature walked over to her and cut the ropes before walking over to a cabinet. The creature pulled a variety of containers and vials out of the cabinet before mixing certain ones. Scootaloo knew that she should probably run, but the large panther and the increasing pain in her chest made her decide against it. The creature walked over to Scootaloo and looked at her before handing her a potion. "Drink." She ordered. Scootaloo gave her a look of disbelief. "And why would I do that?" She asked. The creature chuckled before giving Scootaloo a look that would paralyze a cockatrice. "Because if you don't you will die, and I am very sure you don't want that, so drink." She ordered again. Scootaloo gulped and reluctantly drank the potion before gagging. "GAH, what was that?" She asked in a raspy voice. The creature sighed and walked back to the cabinet. "Something that will keep you alive while I close your wound, oh and also, if you feel drowsy do NOT fall asleep." She warned. Scootaloo began feeling drowsy and fought the urge to sleep. "Kinda hard." She replied sarcastically. The creature sighed and removed its hood. "It isn't really just think of staying awake, it should help." She replied. Scootaloo did so and miraculously she wasn't drowsy anymore, she looked at the creature and her wings flew open, she quickly closed them. The creature had light purple skin and short cyan hair. "What are you?" Scootaloo asked before realizing she had already asked this. "Not right now, first things first, need to close the wound." She replied before turning around. Scootaloo noticed that the creature had purple markings on its face and had glowing blue eyes. "What wound?" She asked. The creature gave her a serious glare before handing her a root. "You might want to chew on this, it'll help you bare the pain." She said. Scootaloo examined the root, it was clean and had nothing on it, the root was green and thick. "What wound?" She asked again. The creature shoved the root in Scootaloo's mouth sideways before walking over to a different cabinet, the creature pulled out some items that made Scootaloo want to panic, a sewing needle and thread, a scalpel and bandages. Scootaloo looked at her chest and almost threw up but managed to swallow it, somehow. The creature walked over to Scootaloo and pushed her head backwards before beginning to work. Scootaloo wanted to scream in pain to vent it out, but the root kept her in check, the pain she was beginning to feel was unimaginable as the creature pulled some stuff out of Scootaloo's body. The creature focused on removing the destroyed organs from Scootaloo's body and the remaining rock. "I'm amazed that you could move as far as you did, it isn't often that one can move after such a hit." The creature said. Scootaloo said nothing as she held back the pain from the creature's work. The creature then began to wrap bandages around Scootaloo's wound after removing the bad organs and debris. Scootaloo spat out the root as it was no longer helping and screamed in pain. The creature stitched the smaller wounds without saying a word. Scootaloo screamed in pain through the rest of the operation. _____*Two hours later*_____ Scootaloo opened her eyes and noticed that she was in the same place as before. "I, blacked out?" She asked herself. "Not really, you actually fell asleep naturally, somehow." Came a familiar voice. Scootaloo looked to her right and saw the creature sitting in a nearby chair, she then looked at her wound and noticed that it was bandaged. "That wont be enough to fix that damage." She replied. The creature laughed. "Oh yes it will, that same method healed a lot worse then that for me one time." She countered. Scootaloo looked at the creature who had her arms crossed. "What and who are you anyway? She asked. The creature smiled. "I am a Kaldorei, or Night elf, if you prefer." She explained. Scootaloo blinked and grunted in pain. "And your name?" She asked. "Its Shanda, and you?" She replied. "Scootaloo, and I'm a Pegasus." She said. Shanda smiled and stood up. "Well then Scootaloo, you had best be still, don't want to agitate your wound." She said before walking over to a nearby cabinet. Scootaloo sighed in annoyance of the idea of not moving. "When will I be able to move anyway?" She asked. Shanda looked at Scootaloo. "Depends, if you don't move for about three days you'll be moving within a week, but if you are stubborn you can move today but risk never moving again." She explained. Scootaloo's eyes widened and she gulped. Shanda opened the cabinet and pulled out a bow, a quiver and a pair of hunting knives. "I'll be back soon, don't go anywhere." She ordered. Scootaloo nodded slowly as Shanda exited the hut, Scootaloo took a look around the hut while she had a moment, there was several strange masks around the hut which reminded Scootaloo of Zecora's, there was some stairs that lead upstairs. _____*Outside the hut four minutes later*_____ Shanda moved quickly through the trees as she hunted her prey, she stopped on a sturdy branch as she heard voices. "Twilight darling are you sure this is the right place?" Asked a voice. Shanda moved quickly through trees until she found the source of the voices, six mares, one was purple one was pink, one was yellow one was orange, one was white and the last was cyan. "I'm sure Rarity, look there's the pole that your sister told us about." The purple one said. "Ah don't know Twi but ah don't like this one bit." Said the orange one. The purple mare turned to face the other five. "I know AJ but we need to find Scootaloo, what if she's hurt?" She asked the mare. The orange mare sighed in defeat. "Ah get ya." She replied. Shanda decided it would be best to return. "I have plenty of food anyway." She said quietly before moving through the trees. As she moved through the trees Shanda heard something familiar. "Bring it on ya beast!" Shouted a voice. Shanda smiled. "Never makes things dull that's for sure." She said. _____*Shanda's hut four minutes later*______ Shanda entered the hut and set her kill on a large counter. "How's the pain?" She asked. Scootaloo groaned. "Its better then it was a couple of hours ago." She replied. Shanda laughed quietly. "Hope you like fish." She said. Scootaloo chuckled. "I'm ok with it." She replied. Shanda walked over to one of her cabinet's and put her hunting knives away after cleaning them, but she kept her bow with her. Scootaloo looked at Shanda with curiosity. "Why are you helping me?" She asked. Shanda chuckled. "Something my father taught me, never leave an innocent to die, regardless of its species." She said like it was rehearsed. Scootaloo smiled at that. "Well how do you know I'm innocent?" She asked. Shanda shook her head. "Its not that, another saying of his was, do not let appearances fool you, one must not be judged on looks alone." She replied. Scootaloo set her head down on the wood. "What are you doing out here anyway?" She randomly asked. Shanda shrugged. "Spell gone wrong, you wont believe how many times me and dad had to adjust to a new world." She replied jokingly. Scootaloo closed her eyes. "Was there two filly's who are about my age when you found me?" She asked. Shanda thought for a moment. "I don't think so, but there was a group of mares on their way here four minutes ago." She replied. Scootaloo's eyes widened and she looked at Shanda. "How many, what did they look like?" She asked quickly. Shanda gave Scootaloo a scolding glare before groaning. "Six I believe, one was yellow and pink, one was entirely pink, one was cyan and rainbow, one was orange and blonde, one was white and purple, and the last was lavender and some other color." She explained. Scootaloo sighed in relief. "Looks like they're coming to find me." She said. Shanda nodded. "Yes but they will have to be disappointed." She replied. Scootaloo gave her a look of disbelief. "What? why?" She asked. Shanda looked at Scootaloo and sighed. "Look, your missing a lot of organs and the wrong move could kill you, if they take you home it could kill you, it doesn't please me to do this but I'm not going to have a corpse on my hands." She replied while standing up. Scootaloo gasped as Shanda grabbed some more arrows. "Don't you dare kill them!" She shouted. Shanda smiled and walked over to Scootaloo. "I wont, just going to give them a warning." She replied quietly. Scootaloo gave her a pissed off glare as Shanda ruffled her hair. "I'll be back." She said quietly. Shanda exited the hut and Scootaloo looked at the panther who was just staring at her. "What are you looking at?" She snapped. The panther simply stared at her for a moment before closing its eyes to sleep. _____*Outside the hut ten minutes later*______ Shanda sat outside the hut keeping an eye out for any trespassers, she knew that her hut would draw the group of pony's attention so she simply had to wait. And soon enough the wait was over as six mares trotted towards the house, the purple mare from before seemed to be leading. The purple mare walked towards the hut but paused after seeing Shanda. Shanda stared at the group and noticed something odd about the yellow one, there was red circles under her eyes like she had been crying. The group slowly approached the house but stopped as Shanda stood. Shanda drew her bow and aimed at the purple one. "Don't come any closer." She warned. The purple one gulped and took a few steps back. Shanda did not lower her bow. "What are you doing here?" She asked cautiously. The purple one almost jumped when Shanda spoke. "W-we're looking for somepony." She replied. Shanda raised an eyebrow at that statement. "Somepony? you mean someone?" She asked. The purple one seemed confused. "I guess?" She replied nervously. Shanda looked at the group, they all seemed equally terrified. "Who are you looking for?" She asked. The purple one took a deep breath to calm down. "A Pegasus filly by the name of Scootaloo." She replied. Shanda sighed and looked at the mare. "I don't know what she looks like." She lied. The purple mare looked at her. "Orange coat purple mane?" She said. Shanda gave a fake sigh. "I don't know who that is, I'm sorry but I can't help you." She replied. The yellow mare had a desperate look in her eyes. "Are you sure." She asked very quietly. Shanda nodded. "Yea I'm sure, now get off my property." She warned pulling the string back for emphasis. The cyan mare flew up to the purple mare. "Twilight, are you sure we can trust, whatever that is?" She asked quietly. Shanda gritted her teeth. "I don't like your tone, now go away, and don't come back, last warning." She warned firmly. The purple mare sighed and her horn started to glow. "Girls, she's close, I can feel it." She said. Shanda's face turned hostile as she released the arrow, the arrow flew right across the purple mares horn. "Did you think I was joking?" She said hostilely. The purple mare had a look of terror after the arrow flew passed her. "Wh-wha?" She said in shock. Shanda prepared another arrow. "Leave." She ordered fiercely. The cyan mare flew right up to Shanda's face. "Are you trying to kill us!" She shouted. Shanda smirked under her hood. "I told you to leave, and you didn't." She said calmly. In the blink of an eye Shanda had thrown the cyan mare towards the group. "Leave." She said firmly. The cyan mare grunted as she hit the ground hard, she looked at Shanda who was back in her original position. Shanda aimed at the white mare with her bow. "Don't fire." Said a voice. The cyan mare went to get up but suddenly stopped moving. "What is going on here?" Asked a voice behind the cyan mare. Shanda lowered her bow and grinned. "What kept ya?" She asked. The cyan mare looked behind her and gasped in fear, behind her was a tall creature with blue skin two long tusks and battle armor. The creature looked at Shanda and pointed at the house. "Inside, now." He ordered firmly. Shanda moaned in her opposition to the idea but did so. "Your no fun." She replied. The cyan mare had a look of fear in her eyes as she stared at the creature in horror. "Calm down mon, I mean you no harm, unless you give me reason to." The creature said. The purple mare gulped. First we had that insane archer now we have to deal with this? "Um, we are looking for a pegasus filly, have you seen her?" She asked. The cyan mare gave her a look of disbelief. "Are you serious! he could kill me at any minute and you ask him THAT?" She shouted. The creature sighed and walked towards the hut. "I have not seen the one you are looking for, I am sorry." The creature replied before entering the hut. The group of mares stared in confusion and terror as the creature entered the hut, the cyan mare stood up. "Girls, we should go." The purple mare suggested. The cyan mare gulped and stood up, she then walked towards the town slowly. The purple mare walked up to the yellow mare. "What's wrong with Dash?" She asked. The yellow mare looked at her friend. "I guess she's in shock." She replied. The cyan mare had a blank look on her face as she walked, soon her friends followed. _____*Inside the hut one minute ago*_____ Shanda walked over to a nearby table and sat down. "I didn't kill any of them if that's what your asking." She said. A cough came from a nearby bench. "And I believe you why?" Scootaloo said in a raspy voice. Shanda smiled and pulled her hood down. "Because I had no reason to kill them, although I think a scarred one of them for life." She replied. Scootaloo chuckled as she looked at Shanda. "I think they're still out there." She said. Shanda shook her head. "Not for long, and you'll find out why in a moment." She replied. The door opened and a tall creature entered the hut. Scootaloo's eyes widened in horror at the sight of this creature. "Calm down Scoot." Shanda ordered. The creature looked at Shanda and sighed. "I know I'm going to regret tis but what are you up to now?" It asked. Shanda looked at the creature and chuckled. "Just healing her." She said pointing to Scootaloo. The creature looked at Scootaloo and walked over. "What's your name?" It asked. Scootaloo gulped. "My name Is Scootaloo." She said quietly. The creature put its hand over Scootaloo's wound and said some weird words before looking at her. "Da good news is that you will be fine, but da bad news is that you may be permanently scarred." The creature said. Shanda sighed. "Knock it off, your scaring her." She said. The creature looked at Scootaloo's face and noticed it. "Ah, my bad." He said apologetically. Scootaloo gave a huff and looked at the ceiling. "Great, now that you've captured me, what are you going to do?" She asked. Shanda laughed quietly. "Well I don't know about dad but I'll do exactly what I said I would do, allow you to heal then send you off." She replied. Scootaloo sighed and closed her eyes. "Fine but don't expect tears, wait what!" She shouted as she looked over at Shanda. Shanda raised an eyebrow. "What?" She asked. Scootaloo heard a door close upstairs and pointed up with her good hoof. "You mean, you and him?" She asked. Shanda's eyes widened and she shook her head and waved her arms in denial. "No no no no, he is my dad but I'm adopted, I swear." She said quickly. Scootaloo sighed in relief. "That explains that, but what is, he?" She asked in confusion. Shanda calmed down and walked over to Scootaloo and sat down on a chair. "He's a troll, the Darkspear tribe specifically." She replied. Scootaloo looked at Shanda. "So where's your mom at?" She asked. Shanda chuckled and caressed Scootaloo's neck with the back of her hand. "Never had one after he became my dad." She replied. Scootaloo couldn't help but let out a soft moan at Shanda's touch. "So what's his name?" She asked. Shanda smiled. "Well, That's not for me to say, but for now you can call him Jod'ka." She replied. Scootaloo felt a strange sensation pass through her and she drifted into unconsciousness. "You need to rest for now, see you later Scoot." Shanda said as Scootaloo fell asleep. Shanda stood up and raised her hand and faced the door, she said some strange words and walked over to the counter that the fish was at, only to see that it was gone, Shanda looked at Shade and noticed a fishbone. "Damnit Shade." She swore quietly.