Chapter 07: Nature
Five minutes later Philomena and I found ourselves in front of a dog house. Ok, to call it a dog house is a little bit of an understatement, it’s more like a five-star hotel in comparison to a dog house a human would find acceptable on his or her lawn. And it isn’t even a dog house. It’s a dog barracks, meaning, that it really shouldn’t be that good in comparison, but it is. The dog barracks is right next to the training field where Luna showed me the parkour course yesterday evening. From the outside it doesn’t look that special: stone walls, a straw roof, a few windows and an entrance with a sliding door. As I said, nothing special. The only interesting thing being the two dogs in front of the entrance, seemingly guarding it.
The dog on the left had white fur with a little bit gray on its snout. I think the race was called ‘Weimaraner’, but I wasn’t sure. It was sitting down so I couldn’t see its height, but I would bet that it stands sixty-five to seventy centimeters tall. It was also wearing a vest with a stylized sun and moon on it. I was certain that the dog on the right was a ‘German Shepherd’ with its black mask like snout and its brown beige body fur with black markings. It, too, was sitting down and wearing a vest. They didn’t even make any acknowledgment when we walked in and I could see that their eyes were closed. So much for guarding.
And now I can tell you all why I call the dog barrack a five-star hotel in human standards. Every dog had a booth for themselves where they could come and go as they please. Each booth was roughly four square meters with a few pillows and an orange stone in the wall, some of which emitted a soft orange light, mostly the booths with a dog in them. Philomena and I got some questioning looks from some of the dogs as we went by, but they mostly turned around a few seconds later, after a short bow. At some point, we came by a booth so filled with pillows that… well, let’s just say that it looked like it would burst soon. I later found out that the booth belonged to a dog named Tank.
As we neared the end of the main corridor, I could see an old English sheepdog. He’s... educating? Four little dogs in front of him with his… ‘War stories?’ From the sounds of it, using a really gruff sounding voice. His fur is colored in different shades of gray making him look like an old grandpa.
We stopped a little bit behind the group with the storyteller. I shoot a questioning look towards Philomena, who in turn just pointed at the old-timer with her left wing. Philomena didn’t make any moves to make us known to the group, so I had nothing to do except for listening to his story.
<<… Following their scent with my amazing nose, I and my companions followed them through the undergrowth of the forest with them making fake leads to confuse us even further. But in the end, nothing can win against a dog’s trusty nose when it’s handled by an expert tracker like me.>> The old-timer said, enthralling the little puppies with his story.
<<Just before princess Celestia brought forth the day we reached our destination, a camp with six tents on a cliffside positioned around a fire. Griffons preparing to cross the sea towards their home Griffon Peak, a seven-hour nonstop flight until the mainland.>> Though I’m not sure if the information is correct, it still gave me a better understanding of the world.
<<Our pony masters huddled together to make a plan for our attack. Meanwhile, I and my companions had one ear listening to our masters’ plan, two eyes holding the camp in sight, and the other ear listening for ambushes. Obviously, none of these bird brains heard us coming as we stormed their camp. Our job was to hinder the griffons ability to take flight. Pouncing one of the big ones, I landed right between his wings, expertly cutting off his escape route with my paws. Seconds later a unicorn pushed him down further with his telekinesis and another one captured him with a rope.>>
<<Did this really happen?>> I whispered towards Philomena. Unfortunately, the old dog had radar ears for people who doubt his stories. I was immediately fixed with a disapproving glare from the old war dog, rooting me in place. It was a really good glare.
<<And pray tell, young pup, why do you think that what I’m telling you isn’t true? Do you not know who I am!?>> He questioned me. I slightly tilted my head to the right.
<<Eh, no.>> My statement received four gasps from the puppies and a big what from the old dog.
<<How can you not know him?!>> shrieked one of the puppies with a high-pitched voice that hurt my eardrums. His neighbor thought this too, obviously, as she – gender highly speculative– hit him with one of her bluish-gray paws behind his head while the other two covered their ears with their paws.
<<What?!>> Exclaimed the old dog for the second time. <<I am the Colonel! Survivor of the Pony-Griffon war twenty-six years ago!>> The ‘Colonel’ exclaimed. Meanwhile, Philomena laid on the floor laughing her tail off because of their faces. Though I laughed inwardly, I still had a slight grin on my face.
The Colonel and the puppies noticing Philomena for the first time since we were in listening range, were slightly bowing their heads. ‘Eh?’ I couldn’t help but wonder at the sight. <<Your Highness.>> said the Colonel.
‘Eh? Am I missing something,’ I thought.
<<You don’t need to bow,>> said Philomena, displeased with the five dogs.
<<That would be disrespectful,>> came the reply. <<Why are you here, your highness?>> questioned the Colonel. His head slightly pointed in my direction, obviously already guessing that it had something to do with me.
<<I brought young Glacies down here so you can teach her how to hunt. Her mother didn’t teach her.>> Anger was all over the Colonel's face.
<<What!! How could she?! Not teaching her own pup how to hunt. Bring me to this irresponsible mother, I have some words for her.>> Jumping out of his comfortable resting place, he swiftly jumped over the four pups, making the pups let out a squeak. He landed right in front of me, awaiting my reply.
<<I don’t know my mother.>> Obviously, I do, but I seriously doubted that my human mother had ever even considered the need to teach me how to hunt on all fours. I was soon squeezed in another guillotine. This time it was a grey dog. Lucky for me, he let me go almost instantly.
<<Your poor thing. As the Colonel I won’t let a pup be uneducated in the art that is hunting. Attention cadets.>> The four pups stood up in a flash as the Colonel turned around. <<Slight change to our morning lessons, we’re going hunting today.>> He looked at me a slight frown on his snout. <<Cadet, why are you not in line?>> ‘Me too?’ <<What are you waiting for, Cadet Glacies? Get in line.>> A light cackle came from Philomena as I slowly walked over to get in line. <<Ok, follow me.>> He walked in front of us, not forgetting to bow in front of Philomena. One by one we left, the Colonel leading the way with the four pups following and me at the end. I’m sure we looked like ducklings following their mother.
It felt like half an hour until we reached the city gate. Not once did a pony stop to look at us as though we were an uncommon sight. It was more like it was a normal, everyday thing and based on this I believe that I can throw common sense out of the window by the end of the week. Surprisingly, the forest was just ten meters away from the gate. ‘Isn’t this a safety hazard?’ I questioned myself. Not for the forest, but for the town. There was a reason why towns and castles were built on open fields or on hills, it was so you had a good view of what’s coming towards one, be it an army or just a traveler. As I said, at the end of the week I’ll be throwing out common sense. We stopped at the beginning of the forest.
<<Can one of you tell me how we hunt?>> A Golden Retriever quickly raised its paw. With a nod from Colonel he began.
<<Dogs are pack hunters, who hunt bigger animals in groups of two or more.>> He answered with a smile.
<<That is correct, Cadet Tip, but we hunt solo if it’s only a small creature, like a bunny,>> Colonel explained. <<Next, techniques. We have a male deer in front of us. Any ideas?>> Again Tip held up his paw. <<Someone else?>> I slowly raised my paw, an idea in my head, but not sure if it was right. <<Glacies!>> he said happily.
<<Ahm, one or two could start by coming from behind herding it towards their companions, who will wait and come from the front and then jump on it.>> I said, my voice a little bit shaking.
<<This would work with a female deer, but a male would skewer your companions on his antlers if it thinks it has no other way out. But for a first idea, it wasn’t bad.>> He patronized me. <<For a male deer, you need to come from the sides and never from the front.>> He waited to let it think in for a few seconds until he spoke up again. <<Ok, we won’t hunt a deer until you’re older. Today, we make two groups who will hunt smaller creatures separately. Tip, Line, and Glacies are on team one, and Mist and Rex are team two.>> A slight groan came from the bluish-gray dog.
<<Why do I need to be paired with Rex!>> whined a female voice, probably Mist.
<<No change in teams.>> The Colonel announced, the finality in his voice stomping Mist’s complaints. <<Be back when the sun is at its peak.>>
We three went into the forest, the sun was swiftly overtaken by the canopy of the leaves. Tip, the eager Golden Retriever from before, stopped and turned around with a smile. <<Ok, introductions. I am Tip training to be a tracker.>>
Now Line turned around as well. <<I am Line, and I want to be a stopper.>> Line was a completely brown dachshund. His parents weren’t really creative when it comes to names.
<<I’m Glacies and I don’t know what I want to be. What’s a ‘stopper’?>> I replied, confusion on my face.
Line was ready to answer and explain, <<A stopper is tasked to stop the enemy or prey from escaping. The name is really self-explaining.>> A nod from me.
<<You can be the pursuer today,>> said Tip, a grin forming. <<I don’t think I need to explain this.>>
<<No, you don’t,>> I replied in a flat voice, not impressed at the attempt at a joke.
From then on we walked through the forest, sometimes stopping when Tip said that he got something, only to end up with nothing. I think it took us an hour until we found something in a clearing. And let me tell you, for a rabbit it was huge. It was easily as big as a grown adult dog, probably larger, which means that it was more than double my height. It had gray-white fur and large ears. I didn’t want to know how big its teeth were.
<<Is this a Flemish Giant Rabbit?>> I whispered.
<<A what?>> Both pups asked at the same time, looking at me confused.
<<Forget it,>> I said.
<<Ok,>> Tip looked at us, <<Glacies, you sneak up on it from behind and lead it to us.>> I nodded and went through the shrubs to get behind it. As soon as I was in the right position I sprinted out of the undergrowth. It took off right towards Tip and Line, who sprinted out to jump on it. Mid-jump, the rabbit jumped as well, sailing over both of them and into the undergrowth of the forest. Tip and Line let out yelps of surprise as they rammed into me. Seconds later a bundle of fluff was on me.
I let out a groan as the two were using me as a mattress. <<Can you get up please?>> I pressed out through my gritted teeth.
<<Sorry,>> both of them said.
<<This didn’t work as planned,>> Tip said with a smile.
<<You don’t say...>> came the reply from Line. Tip looked up into the sky.
<<We still have time. What do you two say, another round?>> He sends both of us questioning glances.
<<I’m in.>>
<<Me too.>>
With a little bit of damage to our pride, we went back into the undergrowth. It took us only twenty minutes or so to find another potential victim. This time it was just a normal rabbit. It had gold-brown fur and was only a little bit bigger than me.
<<Ok, same as before, ready?>> Both Line and I nodded. Once more I snuck through the bushes until I was behind it. As before, I sprinted towards it and once again it took flight towards Line and Tip. Line intercepted it from the front, this time waiting for the rabbit to jump. The rabbit jumped and not a moment later Line jumped too. Line crashed into the rabbit with his paws first and they both fell to the ground. Tip was on it a second later and I was standing on the sideline watching as the pups put their teeth to work. It took them little to no time until the rabbit was laying still on the ground.
<<We got it,>> said Tip with a bloodied snout. The next moment he looked to me, still smiling, though it was slowly fading. <<Glacies, everything alright?>> Still not responding, he took a few steps towards me. <<Glacies?>> No answer. I had my sight on the dead rabbit, not even realizing that someone called out to me. I had never seen death before, be it a human or an animal. And knowing I had helped in killing a rabbit with my own hands… err… paws. A slight pain near my ears brought me out of my stupor. <<Are you alright?>> Tip asked right in front of me.
I took a step back slightly surprised. <<Everything is alright.>> I assured him, still looking a bit out of it.
<<If you say so.>> This time the words came from Line, though they were said with little belief.
<<Let’s bring the rabbit to the Colonel,>> said Tip. We both nodded and Tip picked up the rabbit with his mouth. Together we made our way toward the end of the forest. The Colonel was laying in the grass waiting for us.
<<You’re back,>> said the Colonel, eying us with a smile. <<And you brought your lunch. Good, now we only wait for team two.>> It didn’t take long for Mist and Rex to come back. Though, we first saw a very familiar gray-white giant rabbit.
<<Hah, look at this,>> said Rex, proudly presenting team two’s prey.
<<A giant rabbit,>> exclaimed the Colonel. <<Very good team two. Dig in all of you.>> With the last sentence, all four cadets took one bite after another from the rabbits. I reluctantly ate something too, it tasted good, but I couldn’t really stomach it. I only took five bites. <<Glacies.>> The Colonel was gesturing me to follow him a bit away from the eating cadets. <<Glacies, why won’t you eat?>> The Colonel questioned me with a smooth, clear voice, looking me right in the eyes. I considered lying, but I didn’t.
<<I can’t take a life for food.>> I said, tears building up in my eyes. A furry arm wrapped around my back, trying to calm me down.
<<Glacies.>> He waited for me to look up at him. <<You’re not the first dog I saw with this problem. He had the same problem, couldn’t take a life for food. I saw him getting thinner and thinner when he figured out where the meat came from after our first hunt. We tried everything, but nothing helped. Until the Colonel before me, said something to my friend and I want to tell you the same. His words were, “Every being has its place in nature, the plants are eaten by the herbivores, the herbivores are eaten by us carnivores and when we’ll die we are going back into the earth to feed the plants. This little one is the circle of life and every being, be it plants, herbivore or carnivore knows about it. No one will blame you for hunting, even your herbivore friends won’t do it, because it is in your nature. Only if you hunt for fun then it is another matter.” >> The Colonel paused, letting me take a bit of time to grasp the sentence with my heart. <<I know it is hard, and it will probably take some time until you can do it. I hope it’ll help.>> With his last sentence, he went back to his cadets. I sat there, thoughts running through my mind.
‘Can I do it? Probably. It’ll just take time.’ Making up my mind, I went back to the group. They had just finished and what came next surprised me. They took the corpses of both rabbits and laid them down under a bush of the forest. We stood there for a few seconds before the Colonel spoke up, <<Cadets, clean up and get back in line, we are going home.>>
Once again I was in front of my archenemy: water. To clean ourselves of the blood of our lunch we went to a nearby water source. ‘Please don’t freeze, please don’t freeze’ I recited, like a mantra in my head. Lucky for me it only froze a few centimeters around me. After returning to the Colonel we made our way back towards the barracks.
It took us about half an hour to get back. Philomena awaited us in front of the barracks. <<Your Highness.>> They bowed. Everyone except for me.
<<Why aren’t you bowing, Cadet Glacies?>> The Colonel asked.
<<I don’t know why you’re all bowing.>> I said, still not getting why they bow.
<<Scandalous! History lesson, now!>> The Colonel was getting really worked up about it. He just wanted to throw us all into the barracks, but Philomena stopped him.
<<No need, Colonel, I will handle young Glacies from here on.>>
<<As you wish princess.>> With another bow the Colonel and his four cadets went into the barracks. Before walking in, Tip and Line said goodbye to me.
<<And how was it?>> asked Philomena, and I told her about it. <<Wise words,>> said Philomena as I went over the advice I got from the Colonel. A yawn escaped my snout and I realized how tired I was. I had been awake for the whole night and half a day. <<I’ll leave you alone for now. Have a good day.>>
<<Philomena?>> I asked before she went away.
<<Yes?>>
<<Where is Luna's tower?>> I asked sheepishly.
<<Follow me.>> I followed Philomena and we shortly came to the stairs, which I recognized as the stairs towards Luna's chambers. <<Where are the guards?>> Philomena looked a little bit puzzled by the absence of guards.
<<Probably missing again, this isn’t the first time with these golden clad guards.>> Philomena told me before flying up to the handle to push it down.
<<Thanks.>> I told her before heading in.
<<Rest well.>> Were Philomena’s words before I closed the door with one of my back legs. Walking up to the only bed in the room, I jumped on it and laid down next to Luna.
<<Good day.>>
“G’day,” said a sleepy voice next to me. Seconds later I fell into a peaceful slumber, or so I hoped.
Also LikedSimilarAuthor
- ShadowedKnight68 · 14k words · 101 16 · 3.8k views
- ShadowedKnight68 · 14k words · 88 7 · 2.2k views
- ModernBalloonie · 12k words · 45 5 · 2.6k views
- ShadowedKnight68 · 19k words · 78 18 · 3.6k views
- thatonecoffeemachine · 3.4k words · 55 3 · 2.3k views
- Derpcadius Dragon · 5.6k words · 49 3 · 2.5k views
- Mick0339 · 67k words · 95 14 · 4.1k views
- Corvo Storm · 3.1k words · 171 6 · 6k views
Stats
Page generated in 0.102 seconds
Total duration
1,023 users online
1,369,904 hits today, 1,996,409 yesterday
FIMFiction
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction
Designed and coded by knighty & Xaquseg - © 2011-2024
Follow & Support Us
Support us
SubStar
Chat!
Discord
Follow us
Twitter
MLP: Friendship is Magic® - © 2024 Hasbro Inc.®
Fimfiction is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Hasbro Inc.®
Awesome chapter and nice nod to 101 Dalmatians and paw patrol
Oooh, looks like Luna is maybe maybe starting to actually understand our little fox boi? Maybe? Perhaps?
Yay its back whoooooooooooooooo
...
HAPPY FACE!!! IT’S BACK WITH A NEW CHAPTER!
...
...
That was a little much.
That transition was cold -_-
Kinda reminds me of
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2xrjok
sink
And that brings to mind this bit from The Future is Wild.
https://ytcropper.com/cropped/b_5ca4512821922
To take a quote from Fable, "Where the hell's the guard?! Get more men out there!"
Also,
https://m.when is the next chapter?
Update
more chapters?