//------------------------------//
// Place Your Shoes Over By The Mantacore Pelt, Please 
// Story: Tonight, We Hunt 
// by ShadowFall 
//------------------------------//

	"Mmmm...owww, my head..."

Fluttershy huffed as she rested her hoof onto her temple, feeling that a nice and pungent bruise had formed on her head. She blinked her eyes, straining to adjust to the darkness of the area around her-

Darkness?

Fluttershy took a look around her and found herself sitting in a very, very soft chair. She looked over her wing that was injured from the cragadile attack and saw it bound by a splint. It felt a little wet and she took a sniff at the bound appendage. A distinct scent of a natural ointment wafted around her wing. At that point, she realized that her wing no longer hurt. It was a bit uncomfortable, but the pain was now gone. 

Fluttershy huffed as she tried to look around after her eyes had been adjusting for a while, but failed to make out much of her new location. Obviously, since she wasn't isn't in her cottage, she turned around on the chair and began to speak.

"H-Hello? Is anypony there? I really have to get back to the animals...", Fluttershy looked around her, asking in a hushed tone that she nearly always spoke in, "I really hope Angel is okay..."

It was a bit chilly inside of this dark place, and it sent a tiny shiver through her. She rubbed the splint on her wing and called out again.

"I-It was really nice of you to fix my wing...", Fluttershy called out, hoping that something would respond.

Still, nothing.

She adjusted herself in the chair she was sitting in to get more comfortable. When she moved around, the chair felt a bit...

...odd. Yet, familiar. 

It felt...fuzzy.

Suddenly, Fluttershy brought her hoof down onto the furniture that she was sitting in, only to have her sudden and worse realizations become proven. She was sitting in a fur chair. And from the feel and texture, it was a bear.

Fluttershy's heart began to race again when the realization of her sitting in a once living bear had sunk into her. Her eyes strained left and right, wondering what kind of pony would have the taste of having a fur chair inside their house.

Then, she remembered the cragadile attack and the battle that ensued afterwards. She remembered the lion that had fought the beast and managed to-

"Enjoy the interior?"

The same low growl that had come from the lion that slew the cargadile had come in front of her. The darkness concealed the hunter and where the voice had come from. The only thing that Fluttershy could gather was that the voice came from in front of her in the darkness.

Then, a torch was lit. A relaxing orange light washed over a rather unrelaxing den of skulls, bones, teeth, hides, and claws. Skulls of various Everfree beasts were mounted on the walls. Mantacore heads, timberwolf heads, and the newest cragadile head that the lion had slain was now mounted on top of the wall. Looking further to the left, another wall had weapons from bows and arrows to the massive knife that the lion had used before.

Looking closely at the cragadile head that was now illuminated by the fire of the torch, she could see something carved into the skull. She was able to concentrate on the etching to make out what seemed to be a name on the skull:

"Rengar"

She looked back towards the lion.

Now, Fluttershy could see every detail about the hunter under the glow of fire. The dreadlocked mane was still present, one blue eye and the eyepatch with a tiny stone in it, mostly likely an amber was fixed upon its head. The lower half of the mane was also dreadlocked into one large braiding, making appear as if it were a beard. Now, she could make a firm assumption that from the lion's tone and the fact that its mane was fully grown out, the hunter had to be a male. His whiskers twitched too and fro, and he bore a large and razor-toothed smile.

He was grasping a chunk of meat in his paw.

"Care for some? I heard that cradadile alphas taste fantastic this time of year!", the lion that Fluttershy suspected who bore the name, "Rengar" smiled in his cruel humor towards her as he tore off a huge chunk of meat.

Fluttershy was frozen in absolute fear as the massive lion feasted on his meal right in front of her face. A tiny bit of juice dripped from the cragadile meat onto her leg, sending it to suddenly stop shaking and go completely still.

"You ponies miss out on being herbivores. Who knew that once you get past the solid stone skin of a cragadile, the meat is one of the greatest delicacies that a being could ever eat. Now, don't be shy. You deserve...

...some of the credit in helping me take down that cragadile-"

"What kind of pony- or creature are you? Baring that smile as you gut out all of these animals. What have they ever done to you?!"

Rengar suddenly stopped speaking and stared down at the tiny pony that sat down before him. His smile quickly disappeared.

"Hrmmm...perhaps I mistook you for your personality.", Rengar growled as he slammed down a small hunting knife into the tree stump table in front of the two, "May I remind you, little pony, that had it not have been for me gutting that cragadile, it would have most likely done the same to you!"

Rengar's roar hardly shook the seemingly shy and frail Fluttershy that sat down before him. Her stare met Rengar's one blue eye and the covering of where his other would be, replaced with a stone of glowing amber.

"If I didn't allow you to kill the cragadile, then you wouldn't have fared all that well either, poacher."

...

...

The cavern fell silent.

Rengar's eye bore straight into Fluttershy's head, her eyes staring straight back into Rengar's eye and his eye patch.

Then, Rengar's massive and hulking body rose up and towered over Fluttershy. Suddenly, Fluttershy, despite being able to stand up to dragons, monsters, and even the literal embodiment of chaos, she suddenly began to shrink back down into the fur seat. The giant body of Rengar towered above the poor pony, sending Fluttershy to now shake in absolute fear from her last remark.

Then, Rengar grabbed hold of Fluttershy with both of his giant paws.

"You...you...what did you just call me?", Rengar's mouth uttered the question through hi sharp teeth, the phrase itself seemed to cut through Fluttershy's head.

"How about we get down to business. It really is true that you ponies are more annoying beyond anything I have ever met. You all seem to assume that just because something is different than you, you feel superior, or that other is something to be looked down upon."

Fluttershy didn't feel that ponies could really act like that, but before she could reply, Rengar continued.

"But once you give them a little bit of sense, or knock it into them, all of a sudden they are willing to eat dirt just to appease you. Believe me. I would know from experience."

Rengar looked back at his "guest". He found that Fluttershy was no longer shaken, but staring back up at him.

"I shouldn't even bother with a pathetic whelp like you. But because you saw me, I need to set a few things straight now."

The lion drew the knife he had previously slammed down into the table and began to pick his claws clean after he had licked them clean of his meal.

"First. You will take back what you had said about me.", Rengar looked back up, speaking in a growl so low that it still shook Fluttershy's very soul.

At first, Fluttershy couldn't respond, but before she could muster the courage to speak, Rengar growled again.

"You know what I am talking about. I am a hunter. Not a...poacher."

Then, Fluttershy managed to respond.

"Well, compared to what you do? What's the difference? Killing animals for fun? Taking mates away from each other? Leaving them to die when you just 'can't carry them'? Is that what you call a sport?! I mean, what have they ever done to you?! Hunting them while they can be tamed!", Fluttershy managed to yell, finally releasing her pent up anger and distaste for Rengar's activities.

Rengar gazed at Fluttershy.

He stared at her.

Then he stiffed a chuckle.

"Heh..."

Then it grew into a laugh.

"Ahahah...!"

Finally, his laughter shook the walls of his den, rattling the various trophies that adorned his walls. He placed his paw on his knee in an effort to support himself from the holler.

Fluttershy, not being amused got up from her seat, only to find that the bola that Rengar ensnared her with was still binding her lower legs together, keeping her from getting up and walking around. She sat back down into her seat and rose her hoof towards a skull.

"What about that one? I bet that mantacore could have been tamed if it was so dangerous! Maybe it had a mate that you just managed to take its partner away!"

When Rengar's laughing had died down, he looked back at Fluttershy, wiped his eye, then looked her into her eyes with his eye.

"Please. Beasts of the Everfree can't be tamed no matter how hard anything tries.", Rengar said, uninterested, "Why am I even arguing about-"

"No, they can. Believe me. I once managed to tame a mantacore. How many of those have you needlessly slain?", Fluttershy argued.

"Needlessly slain? Do you realize what I am? I am a Lionkin. I am a carnivore, and I eat meat. I'm surprised you didn't know that, considering that you yourself seem to have quite the experience with animals."

Rengar stood up and began to walk around.

"And again, you cannot tame an Everfree beast. I've tried to on many occasions, and failed each and every time. If you know that I've spent my whole life in the wild, then you would know that my experience would dictate that answer.", Rengar went on, clearly frustrated that he was having to explain himself, despite the fact that he could have easily stopped talking.

"Um...Rengar? Is it?", Fluttershy asked.

"...how do you know my name-", Fluttershy pointed to one of the skulls with his name etched into the bone.

Rengar huffed and looked back, but Fluttershy began to speak again.

"Okay. You're a hunter. I get it. But how can you not know of the law of the Everfree Animal Protection? Since the animals inside the Everfree don't breed too often, it is illegal to track down and kill them. Whether hunting, or poaching.", Fluttershy's suspicions arose again.

"Oh, that law? Please. That was passed because the animal population suddenly "stabilized" itself. What you ponies don't even know- forget it. Why am I even talking to you.", Rengar cut himself short.

"What you need to do is turn tail straight back to where you came from, and do not speak of my whereabouts to anypony. Anypony at all. If you do, your Princesses won't even be able to save you from the greatest hunter in this entire land.", Rengar threatened.

Fluttershy looked down at her tied legs.

*Sigh*

Even if she were to tell anypony about Rengar, it would only jepordise her life. Or her friends. She could easily imagine that Rengar would have no trouble fighting any of them.

"I won't tell anypony.", Fluttershy spoke back.

Rengar stared at her for a solid ten seconds, then nodded.

"You've made the right decision, pony."

"Oh, I'm sorry. My name is...", Fluttershy looked up to see Rengar once again picking his claws with his massive knife.

"F-Fluttershy...", she shrunk down again, whispering in a nearly inaudible tone.

"Fluttershy. How suitable, and I really couldn't care less. I'm expecting you to leave.", Rengar replied, uninterested.

"Wait. How did you hear me-", Fluttershy's question was answered when Rengar tapped his ear, signifying that he was still a feline, and hasn't changed since their conversation.

"Oh, right. I'm sorry.", Fluttershy tried to giggle in order to lighten up the atmosphere, but was shot down quickly by Rengar.

"Don't you have a bunny to feed?"

Suddenly, Fluttershy began to panic, turning her head side to side to find the bad-tempered rabbit. Then, she remembered that Angel had hidden himself inside of Fluttershy's tail when the cragadile attacked. Looking down and peering into her tail, she found the bunny, paws over his eyes and shaking in fear.

"Um...Angel? It's okay to come out now."

Angel poked his head out, bare witness to the giant hulking carnivore in front of him, and passed out straight back into Fluttershy's tail. After that little scene, Fluttershy turned back to Rengar, who spoke up again.

"Well? Better get going now. And remember what I told you.", he growled.

"Actually, I think I want to stay just a bit. I have a few unanswered questions, Rengar.", Fluttershy tried to make herself comfortable, which was a rather difficult thing to do in a fur chair. Before Rengar could object, Fluttershy spoke again.

"Please, I want to know a few more things. And after all, I did help you exploit the cragadile's weakness", Fluttershy still got a shiver when she said that, "And...I'm keeping my promise."

"Only if I can confirm some things about Rengar beforehoof...", Fluttershy thought to herself.

Rengar, unamused yet honoring Fluttershy's assistance, sat back down and eyed her.

"Fine then. But make it quick, pony. I need to plan for my next hunt.", Rengar tapped a claw on his knee.

"Ooh, what creature are you hunting next?", Fluttershy pretended to sound interested in the subject.

"Most likely another mantacore. The two on the wall were not nearly as big as I hoped for them to be. Besides. It is for the better. These kinds of animals display a cruel sense of entertainment as they play and torture their prey. Pony or critter alike."

"And that's just it. These animals, though they sport violent behavior can be tamed to that they can a more docile nature, rather than actively leave the forest to prey on ponies. I know, since I managed to calm one down and tame a mantacore about a year ago.", Fluttershy responded.

Rengar grunted.

"Hmph. That mantacore skull, the one of the left was claimed roughly a year ago. I remember...yes...I tracked down a mantacore a bit less than a year ago. It was about the same date that...the stars or something would align and cause endless night...I couldn't care less. However, the mantacore I had tracked, ready to be ambushed had suddenly turned around, smiled at me, and licked my mane.", Rengar threw up his arms in frustration.

"I was baffled. Absolutely baffled. These beasts should always attempt to kill on sight. At that point, I thought to myself that maybe these beasts could be tamed. But as I walked away and turned my back, the beast snuck up behind me and battered me with its paw.", Rengar continued his story, seemingly shocking Fluttershy who had tamed the exact same mantacore seemingly hours before.

"Here's the proof.", Rengar turned around and spread his back fur, allowing a notable scar to protrude from it.

Fluttershy looked at the wall. She rested her eyes on the mantacore's skull. The very same one that she had helped relive him from a thorn in his paw. How could it have gotten so violent again?

"Why?", Fluttershy thought to herself before returning to the conversation with Rengar.

"Well...I'm sorry about that injury-"

"It's just another reminder of a successful hunt. Just like these."

Rengar held up a necklace that Fluttershy hadn't noticed before. It was essentially a string with what appeared to be claws and teeth fixed around in different places.

"Oh...um...that's a very nice piece of neckwear.", Fluttershy sheepishly smiled.

Rengar looked down at his necklace.

"Remember every hunt...", he muttered under his breath.

"Hm?"

"I didn't say anything.", Rengar shifted his necklace aside.

"Well, Rengar. How long have you been living here? If you don't mind me asking.", Fluttershy asked as politely as she could.

"Just a bit over a year. And it was the best decision I had ever made in my life. From where I come, the animals here could give the monsters I encounter there a run for their gold.", Rengar got up to relight the torch that had gone out.

"Oh, um...while you're up-", Fluttershy was cut off when the bola around Fluttershy's hooves were untied by Rengar.

"Thank you Rengar."

"Sure. Now can you go now?"

"I still have more things to-"

Fluttershy was once again cut off as Rengar collapsed into his chair, letting out a massive groan.

"Please Rengar. I haven't met somepony so...um...unique as you in a while. And believe me. I have the most unique friends that anypony would ever meet in their lives.", Fluttershy put on her warmest smile she could.

Rengar sighed.

"Alright. But you will-"

"I will fulfill my promise to you. Here's a little ditty one of my friends taught me:"

The yellow pony stood up, now free from the bola that snared her legs and began to do the most ridiculous thing that Rengar had ever seen in his life.

"Cross my heart, hope to fly. Stick a cupcake in my eye.", Fluttershy mimicked Pinkie Pie's "Pinkie Promise" to Rengar.

...

...

"Get out."

"Nonono! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

"You ponies are all the same! Obnoxious, always poking their nose into wherever it doesn't belong, and at this point you can never get them off of your hide.", Rengar had never been more frustrated in his entire life, and this moment has come from a butter colored mare who's curiosity managed to annoy him beyond his limits.

"But...I actually want to know more about you. At first I believed you were no more than a savage, just like the cragadile that attacked Angel. But when I sit down with you, there's a lot more to you than what I thought before. You hunt for substance as well as taking trophies...as disturbing as the latter may seem...and...okay. Maybe most Everfree animals can't be tamed..."

"And?"

"And...I think I found a middle ground for us. We both know tons and tons about animals.", Fluttershy smiled and inspected her tail. Now, Angel was sound asleep.

"Ah, that's right. You are an animal caretaker. Correct?", Rengar asked and was responded to by Fluttershy nodding.

"Even if you find what I do to be taboo by your culture, I can respect such a profession as well.", the hunter spoke to the caretaker.

"You do? How come?"

"Well..."

Rengar looked to the side, avoid the ponies glance.

"I believe it is time for you to leave.", the lion got up from his seat and motioned for Fluttershy to exit the cavern.

"Okay...well...it's been a great pleasure getting to know you, Rengar. Maybe we could meet in less secretive circumstances?"

"When your species will accept hunting for what it is, especially my residence here, which wouldn't happen in a thousand years, then the chances could increase slightly. But I'm not looking forward to meeting anymore of you.", the lion muttered as he turned away from Fluttershy.

"Well...I'll still keep my promise. And Rengar?"

The lion turned around.

"Maybe we could be friends?"

"Get out of my den."