Granite scanned the surrounding forest for danger. Thunderstruck was in charge of the scouts so Granite was commanding the hunters. Together, they formed a protective ring around the camp.
Granite counted at least a dozen Twig-hearts darting amongst the trees.
“Snare,” Granite growled, not daring to turn his head, “Is everypony safe?”
“All ponies accounted for, sir,” responded the head hunter
Granite nodded, limping out towards the trees. Unlike pureblood ponies, twig-hearts never slept. He needed a false display of weakness to get them into the open.
Nopony would hurt his family.
What jumped out, however, was most unexpected.