I felt a thrill at my success that was perhaps slightly unbecoming. Ponies such as myself saw themselves as civilized and above the base instincts that drove carnivores, yet I recognized that such views were limiting in their own right. Ponies quarreled, and fought, and killed, just as any other species. I knew that this was no murder but a necessity of life for the sharkponies.
I do not know that I could survive and live by such means, but I felt like I understood Sawtooth and his people, particularly in seeing the care and respect he showed when dressing the fish and securing it in a pack on his back. When he looked back at me, I could read something in his eyes, a kind of newfound respect that made me look away, my face hot.
We did not hunt any more after that point, but simply swam throughout the reef, exploring in depth the beauty and wonders therein. I found a kind of peace and oneness in a place of such beauty, particularly with a guide who made our presence feel effortless and integrated into the vibrant environment.