//------------------------------// // Chapter Two // Story: The Lumberjack // by Type Two Civilization //------------------------------// Chapter Two Rainbow Dash trotted down the empty roads of Ponyville, leaving the booming club behind. Every once and a while she'd cross paths with a Royal Guard. The past few years Ponyville has had a couple of break in's, nothing big was taken but it was just frequent enough to have a very small detachment of guards patrolling at night. Her thoughts were still on The Lumberjack, but she hoped the walk in the cool air would get her mind off the magic show. She was really looking forward to her designated 'Reading Night' with Twilight. It honestly couldn't have been a more lame name if she- scratch that. It really could be... she mused. But it could've been much more awesome. Maybe something like 'Tranquil Perusal'... she instantly shook her head. Nope. That was worse! I've got to set the Reading Night with Twilight to be every other week, she's starting to rub off on me. Luckily for her sanity the library was coming into her view. Flapping her wings for the boost, she was at the door quite swiftly. As was tradition she opened the door and walked straight inside without knocking. "Good evening, Twilight!" She said in a posh voice, a smirk big on her face. "Good evening, Rainbow! I'm surprised you're on time tonight, I heard that PON-3 was playing tonight. I thought you'd be at least thirty minutes late." Twilight replied, looking up form a book with a smile on her lips. Rainbow turned her head and looked through the shelves, "Eh, it wasn't as great as they made it out to be," she answered rather quickly. He gaze traveling to the 'M' section across the room, and made her way to it. "Say Twi, got any books on the monsters in the Everfree? Or maybe a book of species in the world?" Taken aback by such a strange question from her normally action-fiction friend, she replied a tad late, "Oh, uh, yeah sure. We have the Monster Compendium that I personally wrote on the monsters we've came across as well as myths and legends of Equestria. As well as The World Species Book authorized by Celestia and every leader of every known sapient species, and another with sentient..." She trailed off, activating her magic with a soft hum and grabbing the respectful books. "I'm excited you're finally branching out, but why the sudden change? If you don't mind me asking that is." "Just... a feeling I guess." She replied as she sat down, the Monster Compendium opening in purple magic before her while the others were piled where she could reach them. "Have anything in particular in mind?" "Kind of..." Rainbow replied, turning the pages to the L's. Somewhat shockingly, the first entry was what she was looking for. The Lumberjack. She read from the beginning. The Lumberjack is a legend / myth of the towns surrounding the Everfree forest. While none have gotten close enough to tell its true size, the few witnesses who have seen it have only had it in their sights for a fleeting moment. They gauged the size by the nearby trees, then walked to said trees to put their size into perspective. It stands a head above the average male earth pony. After viewing the creature, it took notice of the viewer rather quick, and seems to disappear quickly with no trail to follow. It is assumed the monster is extremely quick, and due to the sight of chopped tree's (some seem to be cut straight through in a single chop) that the monster is extremely strong as well. It is bipedal. To put into perspective, it is smaller than a diamond dog by two heads, but at least four times as strong. The author has not seen it personally. Sighting suggests its hearing appears to be excellent, so quietness and stillness are advised if one see's it. See the Royal Guard Surveyor's account on page 250, as well as Chain Link's account on 251 for eyewitness sources. The Lumberjack stood on the boundary of his territory deep within the Everfree. The night was lit up by a full moon. His ax in hand, and a hatchet in a leather holster on his right side. He heard the howls of the 'Tinder Wolves' as he called them -for they made excellent tinder to make a fire- from this direction. They only did that when they wanted me to know they were there. His gaze traveled across the trees around him. It was a nice 40 minute walk, but he made the sprint in roughly eight minutes. It's great the gravity here is less than Earth's, he thought to himself. He turned around, keeping his gaze moving trying to see everything in a three hundred and sixty degree turn. His gaze spotted some larger trees. If things go bad I could use those to push off... probably get a nice 20 foot leap from them each... The sounds of twigs snapping brought him out of his thoughts. From his left coming out of the woods slowly stepped four Tinder Wolves; an Alpha and three younger ones, maybe borderline pups. The Alpha carried in her wooden jaws dried up sticks and bark. The yellow eyes of the leader blinked to him. He gazed at them for a moment longer before looking around again, keeping the Alpha in his sight at all times. He didn't want an ambush like the Northern Pack had given him once. Once. He looked back to the Alpha as it carefully placed the bark and dry sticks on the trunk of a fallen tree, then took the steps back to its position with the fledglings. The Lumberjack stepped forward and took the offering. He then knelt down and took off his leather backpack and placed the atonement gingerly within. As he stood up, he saw more life within the wolves. The younger ones wagging their wooden tails, and the Alpha nudging them forward onto his land with her snout. He eyed the mother carefully, she seemed strangely familiar. There was a yellow mark on the middle of her head that trailed down her snout. Where have I seen her before? And so they all went, he beside them, guiding and watching them as they traversed his land. He watching over them from any unwise predator dumb enough to be on his land without his permission. He, to make sure they do not hunt on his land. All the while his mind wandering over the possibilities of a trained team of Tinder Wolves. He smiled to himself. That would be entertaining to say the least. They passed by his gardening meadow, the youngish apple tree's bearing their flowers waiting for the sun to come up in several hours. The various fruit and vegetable plants starting to grow. It was a good thing I weeded out the meadow before they sprouted. Passing by what looked to be a chrome plated metallic circle, he smiled fondly. The proceeding didn't take long, about an hour before they reached the end of his zone signaled by half chopped trees. He stood on the boundary and watched them off, the Alpha looking back for a moment before continuing on her quest. Back at his home, a log cabin The Lumberjack made himself that was resting against the face of a cliff. It was a simple thing with flowers and cut bushes out front, a deck out front with a rocking chair on it. With a single floor, three rooms, a kitchen, and a large living room with a couch he scavenged and a stone fireplace. No visible windows. He sighed and waved his hand over a marked piece of wall. The wall under his hand turned transparent, allowing him to see out. He gazed at the fireflies that were popping up, lighting up the world around them. He started to unpack his back, instantly placing the tinder he received from the wolves into the pit of the stone fireplace, then the wood he chopped earlier that day. The coals from before still hot enough to start another fire for him. He finished unpacking by placing a near empty canteen of water on the rickety table in front of the fireplace. He also took out his hoodie from years before, a memento of times past. He looked fondly at it. He looked back at his dilapidated table. I could use new one of those... He closely examined the stump he had cut and made legs when he first made his cabin. It was old and starting to show its age, the legs were bent at angles that couldn't be fixed with his resources without looking like absolute trash. Maybe one of those big oaks closer to the town? He bit the inside of his mouth softly, deep in thought. They never seem to want to be around when I was near, so why not? I'll go in the evening; a short jog, a quick chop, and I'll have a nice new table and much left over for that fence I've been wanting. He nodded to himself. The plan was sound to his tired mind. He took the hatchet out and mounted his fire ax. He laid on his couch with his hatchet in hand and a fire softly burning and warming him up. He looked to the cave entrance he built his house over and smiled at the memories. Some good, some bad, but all helped make him stronger. He pulled up a blanket he had made and drifted off to sleep.