Timber Thorn

by Khanathara

Adventurer

Daring had the feeling of being watched since she entered the Everfree. That in of itself was nothing unusual for the Everfree, but an hour ago the feeling intensified and she felt like she had a predator stalking her. She stayed on edge as an unknown predator could pounce on her at any moment or, more likely, the lackeys of one of her nemeses.

With the fact that she hadn't heard or seen anyone meant that whatever it was that is following her was highly experienced in staying unseen, which meant that Caballeron hired a professional assassin or Ahuizotl managed to convince another group (with actual talent for once) to blindly follow him. Or, more likely, it was just a forest predator.

She heard a rustling and slowed to make sure it was not a threat. A Timber Jack hopped out of a bush looked at her and scurried away back into the underbrush while also reminding her of why she was here, The Forest Heart. It was ancient legend that went back to even before the unification of the Pony Tribes and was supposedly the first source of natural magic in the world.

The feeling of being watched seemed to intensify as the Timber Jack hopped out of sight making Daring wish she could just fly over the forest, but its natural and unpredictable weather made such flights death traps. She began to move faster and with a less steady gait as the forest roots seemed to try and lunge out at her when she wasn't looking. 'What ever is tracking me isn't a predator or it would have pounced by now. So whoever is following me is likely waiting for me to drop my guard for an easy kill.

Daring stopped in a small clearing to think then began to set up camp with one of her old disposable tents. 'If you're going to wait for my to drop my guard there you go...'

After Daring had set up her tent and not been attacked she began to wonder if she was just being paranoid as the feeling began to recede, but then came back in full force. 'Ah, so that's the game. Going to wait for me to sleep, eh? Whoever this is is most definitely a professional. Guess that they finally had enough of me interfering with their plans.

She entered the tent and went to lay down on her bed roll and cuddled her survival knife close to her chest, ready to draw it at a moments notice. Looks like I'm not sleeping tonight. Come and get me pal.

Daring lost track of time as she layed there pretending to sleep facing the tent flap and thanks to the trees, her tent, and her closed eyes she couldn't see or feel any sunlight passing through her old rag of a tent. The adventurer could hear though, and the unnatural silence of the forest made it even easier to hear every rustle of a bush and shake of a branch. And after an unknown amount of time she finally heard the sound she had been listening for, the unmistakable soft crunch of hooves on foliage. So light was the sound that in any other circumstance she had no doubt that she would have missed it.

Tugging on the handle of her blade she began to ever so slowly unsheathe the knife. The flap of the tent made next to no sound as it was pushed aside and, not wanting to provoke a swift and deceive attack Daring slowed her hoof on the knife even more. The archaeologist could feel the eyes of her stalker slowly move about her shoddy shelter before they landed on her and stopped. There was no further movement as the would be assassin studied her. No movement from the cloth floor and no sound from the entrance to the small tent. 'Damn, this pony is good. The jig is up anyway, might as well figure out who it is that wants to off me.

"I know that you've been following me. So, who are you working for? Ahuizotl or Dr. Caballeron?" Daring said as she opened her eyes not expecting to see what was stood fully in her tent the flap closed behind it. She had been expecting either a Centaur, Zebra, or a Changeling possible even a Pony. And she was right, it was a Pony. A unicorn to be precise. But it had traits that any normal pony wouldn't have.

The glowing green eyes would be expected of anycreature using a night vision spell. But the glow continuing throughout the rest of the body would not be. The mane and tail seeming to be made of vines and leaves and seeming to be covered in tree bark instead of fur was something that only one type of creature would have. A Timber, just like the Jack Rabbit she saw earlier today.

But what stood before Daring Do, an Adventurer that had seen things that most couldn't even begin to believe was not a normal creature of wood. It was not a manticore, wolf, bear, or even a rabbit. It was-

"Who are they?" The Timber made Pony asked, her voice like that of wind through the trees.

Comments

[vustrunreyth]

interesting so far. looking forward to more

[Starlight Nova]

Will all the chapters be this short?

[Khanathara]

10431642
To put it simply I have trouble staying focused on things so I try to shoot for around 1,000 words to a chapter but I will usually stop were it feels natural to do so. So in all honesty probably, but I try not to stop till I hit 1,000.

[nightmaster0]

Oh very interesting very interesting indeed.