As the Everfree forest is cleared to make room for another new pony settlement, the current guardians of the forest are driven to confront their growing hunger.
In the 900th year of the Celestial Era, crown land was given to a group of pilgrims to start a new life.
In only a short couple of years the Smith family carved their home out of the Everfree and established Sweet Apple Acres. Before long others began to search for their own new start in the fledgling town.
Now all were warned about the dangers of the forest, and that it was not fit to enter but the Everfree does not yield its ground easily, and the denizen's of that place are feeling the pressures of an ever decreasing habitat.
Not all the stories of those early pioneer days survived the inexorable passage of time. Some prefer they were forgotten.
Another fine day shone down on Bale Song Pastures. The rising sun glistened in the morning dew. The birds were starting to sing and a steady stream of smoke rose from the chimney. The small one room building was modest but neatly kept. An outdoor bath and toilet provided the only additional amenities while small clouds of insects danced over the low open well in the grounds center, guarded by its faithful bucket and rope.
Inside the cottage a pair of bunk beds occupied the far wall, the lower double bed already neat and made up. The top single bunk by contrast was still covered in tossed blankets with a tuft of crimson and blonde mane escaping the small bundle of bedclothes. A soft crackle from the open fireplace warmed the interior and a small kettle of water boiled quietly over the low coals as toast slowly browned on a grill. A large brown stallion lifted the kettle from its hook with a protective cloth and tipped its steaming contents into two simple cups. The bundle on the top bunk shifted, rose up, then collapsed back again. An errant pink hoof flopping loosely over the side of the bed. The stallion buttered the two slices of toast generously and followed it with a thick application of orange marmalade. From the bed behind, a rustle and a small pink nose emerged sniffing the air twice. The brown pony carefully carried the cups to a small window side table for two. The pink and blonde form slowly oozed from under the covers over the edge of the bed until gravity finally took its cue and with an audible whomp, the figure dropped onto the lower bunk. The brown stallion smiled without looking as he carried the toast on a plate to the table. A small sleepy pink, blonde and crimson foal pulled herself up to the table, took her seat, then stirred a dandelion stem through her tea before chewing it down. The brown stallion sat down opposite. “Good morning sleepyhead.” He teased.
The filly yawned, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. She smiled and looked up at her father. “Morning Daddy.”
Provender smiled lovingly at his daughter. “Eat up now, you have a big day ahead.”
Removing her muzzle from her teacup, the filly gave a big smile and nodded enthusiastically. “Mhmm”
The filly bounded ahead out of the front door calling out behind her. “C’mooon Daaad, we’re gonna be late!”
Provender exited shortly after, closing the door behind him chuckling, “Alright Remedy, I’m coming.” He shook his head at the remarkable acceleration of energy his daughter had gained since her earlier sleepy start. Remedy raced ahead chasing butterflies with intermittent pauses to sniff flowers. All the while her father kept a steady pace behind keeping a watchful eye as she skipped and explored. The duo finally crested over the hill leading to the fields where several other ponies had already begun preparing to plough. Remedy stopped and scanned around, looking up and down the road.
“Is she here yet? Is she late!” she inquired with some concern.
A voice from a grove of trees behind her spooked the filly causing her to spin around. “Punctuality is a virtue of the bored. And how could I ever be bored with you?”
“NATARA!” Remedy shouted. She leaped forward and wrapped herself around the doe’s front legs, “I’ve missed you.”
“Oh and I’ve missed you too.” The older doe crooned, returning the filly’s hug with a tight embrace of her own, “I’ve had to take extra honey in my tea to make up for the lost sweetness.”
“It’s good to see you Natara.” Provender stepped up to the pair and shared a familial embrace.
“You too Provender, though I hope you’re not overworking yourself?” Natara chided.
“Ha, no choice I’m afraid,” the stallion scratched the back of his head like he’d just been caught plundering the cookie jar.
“Sweet Apple Acres and the other orchards have been hit by an infestation of Vampire Fruit Bats. Devastated their entire crops. Fruits are going to be short for the next little while, so I need to get some extra ryegrass and lucerne crops down. They’ll grow over summer and hopefully tide us over the winter. It’ll be tight, but we’ll make it. We haven’t carved our home out of the forest without learning to take hardship in stride.”
The old doe smiled. “Well, it’s good to see you’re keeping your spirits up then.”
“It’s hard not to with the cure of all frowns hanging around,” Provender tussled Remedy’s mane. A small giggle escaped from Remedy, Natara’s leg still well captured. “But how are the kids? You went away to see them didn’t you?”
Natara lifted her head with pride. “They’re all doing wonderfully. Young families of their own. It makes me proud to see them all growing up strong and happy.”
“C’mon Natara,” Remedy interjected, her impatience growing with the idle banter of her elders, “I want to show you my Garden!”
Seeing that he was now directly interfering, Provender laughed at his daughter's precociousness.
“Well I best not keep you both then. Now you behave for Natara young filly, and listen to what she says. You can learn a lot from her.”
“I will!” Remedy beamed brightly.
Natara gave a parting nod to Provender as she was dragged away by the eager foal, the stallion waved as they departed. Turning to face the fields once more he muttered under his breath. “Well, these fields won’t plough themselves, better get to it.”
Remedy ran back and forth ahead of Natara, urging the older doe to keep up. Natara was in no hurry, and this little lesson in patience would be good for the filly.
“Here it is. See!” Remedy proudly stood beside a small flower bed constructed under a young tree. A loose border of stones marking out the territory.
“Well what do we have here?” the doe mock inquired. “I see we have some dandelions, lavender and feverfew.”
“The dandelions are my favourite, I have one every morning with my tea.” Remedy explained, she pointed off into the distance near the edge of a thick wood where a colourful bush of flowers stood welcoming. “I want to plant some of those flowers, they look so pretty, but Dad won’t let me go near them. He said I need to stay away from the forest.” Remedy looked to the doe for overriding permission, bringing to bare large limpid pool eyes and the tenderest of pouts.
Natara saw the play immediately, she hadn’t raised four fawns of her own without learning when she was being ‘handled’. With a cheeky smirk she retorted, “Your Daddy is very wise. There are dangerous creatures that live in the forest that will gobble you up as soon as look at you.” With a playful tackle, Natara growled and pretended to attack the adorable filly. Remedy squealed and scampered off giggling as the doe gave chase.
After putting a little distance between them, Remedy came to a stop, head tilted in thought. With the game forgot she turned inquisitively to Natara, “Why do they stay in the forest?”
Natara raised an eyebrow at the surprising question.
“I mean, if they want to eat us, why don’t they ever come out of the forest?” Remedy clarified.
“Not much is known about the why, all we know is that they never leave the forest.” Coming to rest next to Remedy, Natara lay down next to the foal so she could speak at eye level.
“You know, I grew up in whitetail woods. It was very similar to this forest, though perhaps not quite so dark. We always had to keep our eyes and ears peeled, and our noses twitching." Natara scrunched her nose for effect.
"My father was a great Stag and on more than one occasion he chased off a small pack of wolves with his sharp antlers. He was always so brave...” Natara trailed off before catching herself from her recollections. “You have to be strong of heart and quick of hoof to survive in the forest.”
Remedy stared up at the doe in awe, “Wow, you were so brave!”
Natara laughed at the thought, “Ha ha, my Father was brave, I was scared out of my wits. Always hiding in the tall grass hoping they wouldn’t find me. That’s why you should heed your father’s warning and stay away from the forest.” Natara lifted Remedy’s downcast face, “I’m sure we can find your flowers somewhere safer.”
Refusing to be consoled on the loss of her prized flowers, Remedy turned away and grumbled, “Why can’t Princess Celestia just chase them all off like the other monsters?”
A cryptic smirk played across Natara’s face, “Perhaps, because they’re not monsters.”
“Huh? But you just said they’d gobble me up? How are they NOT monsters!?”
Standing up, Natara gave a quick scout of her surroundings, “Well… here, look.” Natara trotted over to small shrubbery and pulled the thick foliage back revealing a small clump of little black flowers with coloured bands around their bells. Remedy cautiously approached, they were closer to the forest now, certainly closer than she would dare approach alone and the undergrowth of the forest was starting to protrude. Natara pointed to the little black flowers. “Well, what do you think of these?”
Remedy eyed the ugly flowers skeptically. Gingerly leaning forward she gave them a quick sniff and immediately recoiled, her face twisted in a silent gag. She scoffed at Natara, “What, other than they look hideous and they smell bad?”
Natara laughed at the critique, “Quite true, and they also taste very bitter as well.”
Remedy eyed Natara suspiciously, unsure of what lesson was to be taken from these ugly little flowers or how they related to the monsters in the nearby forest. “Then why would anyone want them?”
Natara feigned revelation at the filly’s observation, “Oh, I suppose not. Well perhaps we should pull them all out and cast them into the fire like weeds then?”
Remedy glanced with shock at Natara, taken aback by the apparent harsh alternative. “Well… they’re not hurting anyone here.” She quickly rescinded.
Natara smiled. A single crow cawed from a nearby branch, settling itself. “That’s very kind of you. In return for your kindness, these little flowers carry a big secret.” Natara leaned close to Remedy as if spies were listening. Remedy craned her neck, twisting her ear to Natara in suspense. “They’re actually a powerful medicinal herb.” Pulling back from the whisper, Natara crossed one forehoof over the other as Remedy sat on her haunches eagerly waiting for the doe to continue, “Sometimes, things in life can be ugly, bitter and unpleasant. And if you only look on the outside, that’s all you’ll ever see. But if you get to know them, they may actually serve a very important purpose and so be very helpful. Even IF you don’t want them in your flower garden.” Natara laughed, and Remedy giggled along with her. A second crow cawed from the treetops, and watched the two below with beady eyes. Natara eyed the birds. A third came to roost next to the others while the first cleaned it’s beak on the branch.
Natara whispered into Remedy's ear, “I want you to stay still and lie quiet under this bush for a second. I just want to check something.”
Remedy was confused and began to interject, but Natara sharply cut off her complaints. “Shh, no arguing, quickly now. The flowers will cover your scent. Think of it as a little game of hide and seek.” Without waiting for the filly to comply, Natara pushed her under the brush. Remedy was beginning to get scared, Natara wasn’t normally like this, she was fun and caring, but the doe’s expression had grown stern and serious. With a timid voice she whimpered “I don’t understand.”
“Hush now.” the sharp retort from Natara was the only response, her focus elsewhere. Another crow settled in an adjacent tree. The birds were agitated, fluttering and squawking on their branches as they bickered among themselves. Natara strode away from the filly, her head upright as her ears twisted and scanned the surrounds. A breeze rustled through the leaves and Natara took short sharp sniffs of the air. With a final sniff her head snapped towards a small clump of low bushes.
“Grrrrrrrrrr”, the low menacing growl reverberated from within the foliage, two piercing yellow eyes glinted from the shadow. A large black wolf stepped forward, his head low and teeth bared.
Natara backpedaled with a gasp. “You’re out of your forest!”
From behind her another toothy growl and set of blue eyes emerged from another thicket. Quickly another pair of wolves emerged from the surrounding vegetation. One of them only a few feet from the cowering Remedy. Instinctively Natara began to back away, drawing the wolves away from the filly. Remedy had clamped her hooves over her mouth to stop from screaming and fearful tears streaked down her terrified face. The wolves formed a perimeter around the old doe, growling and snapping, daring her to run. Her back already almost within the shadow of the encroaching forest. Natara glanced at Remedy still cowering under the bush and a sad smile crossed her face.
“I love you, and I’m sorry.”
Remedy’s eyes grew wide and her body trembled. Natara focused on the wolves, her muscles quivered as adrenaline flooded her body. She snorted and pawed the ground in anger. “Come on you bastards, I may not be as quick as I used to be, but I can still give you a fight!” the doe reared on her hind legs and stomped the ground. The wolves snarled and barked at her defiance, one of them approaching too close. Natara wheeled on her front hooves and struck out with her hind legs. The wolf stumbled backwards to avoid being hit. It was the chance Natara needed. With a powerful leap she dove into the forest at a breakneck speed. The wolves howled, the crows cawed, and in a flurry of fur and feathers, gave chase.
An eerie silence descended on the clearing, only the gentle wind rustling the leaves made any sound. A heartbreaking sob escaped from Remedy’s mouth and she gasped for air. Tears streamed down her face and with broken breaths she crawled from under the bush and started running back towards the fields.
Thick vines and thorny branches whipped past the doe. Her speed and grace belying the generous years she had acquired. Natara danced across the rough broken path, long leaping strides cleared logs and streams. Rocky outcroppings rapidly ascended beneath her sure hoof falls. Behind her the wolves pursued with hungry determination. The chorus of howls and snarls driving her forward. Any slip was death. Thoughts of her children and her grandchildren passed through her mind. Her body while still fit was beginning to remind her of the many winters she’d seen. Strength was starting to ebb, and with every bound her muscles and bones ached. “Had they always been this persistent?” she thought to herself. The snap of jaws just behind her refocused her attention back into the moment and provided an additional burst of adrenaline, but it was short lived. Foam was gathering at the corners of her mouth as she panted for air, behind her a maelstrom of fur and teeth. Overhead the crows casually kept up flying just above the canopy, eager for the outcome. “Wretched little birds.” Natara thought to herself. The doe splashed through a stream, mud and water splattering against her side. One of the wolves stumbled in the water slowing the pack down, but Natara was already running on empty, and any lead that was gained was surely going to be short lived. Natara was not familiar with this forest, and was quite lost. She raced around the edge of a rocky ridge. Her lungs were on fire and her muscles burned. Still behind the growls and howls followed ever present, ever ready to devour her. But up ahead, light. The path raced down the side of the hill, a rocky ridge wall hemmed her on the left, and a steep fall on the right, but up ahead, the path flattened out through a bare earth crossroads, and beyond, light. Hope filled Natara. There was a chance to beat the inevitable. With fresh life and second wind she increased her pace and began to pull away from the encroaching pack. Her head stretched forward willing her body on. She was close, if she could just make open ground again and regain her stride she could easily out endure the pack. She saw the shadow too late. On the ridge above her the large black wolf that she had first seen with its gleaming yellow eyes silently raced alongside. His dark coat camouflaging him against the gloomy backdrop of the forest. Momentum, ignoring intent, delivered her right into the clearing just as the wolf leapt from the ridge. The largest of the pack his weight was easily a match for the doe’s and his aim was true and practiced. The enormous jaws clamped around her throat, and they slid to a halt in the middle of the crossroads. Natara made some feeble attempts to paw at the wolf but she was already too weak from running, and her windpipe was clamped shut by the wolf. A small trickle of blood pooled around the wolf’s jaws. The rest of the pack had caught up, but all were silent except for the panting for breath. Even the great black wolf quietly waited, it was oddly serene. Images of her family, her father, her mother, her children and grandchildren all flooded through her mind. She had lived a long and full life, and now she was tired. Darkness closed in around her. A final image of Remedy passed through her ebbing mind. “I’m so sorry, please forgive me.” Her eyes dulled and lids drooped as her spirit was finally given up.
Provender pulled the plough through another run of the paddock. About half done so far, he should have the rest of this paddock done by lunchtime. Carried over the wind he heard Remedy’s cries. “Remedy?” he cried out, immediately unhitching himself from the plough. Remedy crashed through the undergrowth, sticks and leaves tangled through her mane, and tears matting the fur on her face. Provender raced over to hold her, she was inconsolable, and Natara was not with her. It was soon obvious that she would not be returning. Provender held his daughter tight as she wailed into his chest, hiding his own sorrow for his daughter's sake.
The wet sounds of tearing meat and cracking bone filled the barren crossroad.
Marrok stood watching over the pack ensuring that enough meat was left to take back to the den. Nearby the crows constantly snuck forward to snatch up any errant scraps, often having to be chased away by a pack member. An almost futile endeavor though as this only served to provide an opening for a different crow.
As Marrok stood guarding, a thick mist quickly crept in from the surrounding forest. Noticing it, he spun around to face its source. Before him, a giant horned owl the size of a bear stood cloaked in the receding fog, its large wings folded around it like a cape. Marrok bowed slightly in the towering raptors presence, “Oh, Abidah, it’s just you. Care for a rib? We have some spare. This is the first decent meal the pack has seen in weeks.”
The great owl towered over the wolf, clearly a being of unnatural size and power. He raised an eyebrow as he looked past Marrok to the pack working on the carcass. “A deer? My, what a rare prize indeed.” Abidah spoke with a voice like rolling thunder laced with a dangerous spark of curiosity. “Why, the last time I saw a deer this far from the thicket would have been oh, five? ten? years ago.”
Marrock shifted nervously. “We, er - found her on the edge of the forest. Must have wandered in for some foraging. The pack was lucky to be in the area.”
Abidah stepped forward, his giant talons digging ruts into the soft earth. “Just wandered in you say. How peculiar.” He walked a slow dangerous circle around the alpha. “With all the ponies providing her every need, what could she possibly have needed in the forest?” the owl stopped in his tracks, his head slowly swiveled - seemingly independent of his bodies inclination - to face Marrok. His large golden eyes bore down on the wolf. “Are you sure she just ‘wandered’ in?”
Marrok shifted his weight nervously, his eyes darted around looking for an escape or option. Abidah just stared with a deafening silence, daring Marrok to even attempt another lie.
“Look, she WAS on the edge of the forest, all we did was ‘encourage’ her to enter. We didn’t begin the hunt until she was inside.” - Marrok's excuses poured forth like a breached dam, all the while Abidah continued to lay his soul bare with his unyielding gaze - “You have to understand, we haven’t had a decent meal in weeks. It was too good an opportunity to let pass.”
The owl broke his gaze and continued his interrogation with a distinct air of disappointment, “Do you remember the oath?”
Marrok hung his head in shame. “Abidah, please, of course I remember.”
“And what was that oath Marrok?”
Marrok hung his head in defeat. “To hunt only within the forest.”
By this time the rest of the pack had stopped their work and watched in empathic silence as their leader was raked over the coals for their shared offence. None dared to speak uninvited in Abidah's presence.
“So it’s not your memory that fails you then, only your sensibilities?” Abidah berated as he resumed his march of judgement around the wolf.
“We need food!” Marrok pleaded, “We left the pony filly she was with, not a hair on her head was harmed. This doe has seen many winters and the pack needs to survive”
Abidah pivoted sharply, turning his full body to face the wolf, his wings flared open in a sudden gust that sent dust and leaves scattering and set nearby boughs to creak and groan with sympathetic disappointment. His eyes fairly glowed with rage. The whole pack flinched and backed away. “A FILLY! You let a pony see your attack? Do you have ANY idea the potential repercussions of your foolishness?”
Marrok, just as startled, stumbled back. “I... I didn’t-”
“Think!” Abidah interrupted. “You didn’t think! What happens now when she runs back to her family and tells them WOLVES are coming out of the forest?”
“She was only a filly, she wouldn’t have even seen ten winters yet. I’m sure the ponies will assume she’s just imagining it, that the doe in her old age lapsed her judgement and wandered into the forest, or that all she saw was timber wolves.”
The owl rose to his full commanding height, “That is a lot of assumptions you stake the safety of the forest on. What if the celestial guardian hears of it and decides to enact retribution?”
Marrok rallied and let a desperate anger give him spine. His fur bristled and frustration timbered his barks, “And what of it! If we don’t eat, we will die anyway. What would you have me and mine do? Lie down and become grass? We can’t survive on old stories and sympathy. What good is the oath if we all die by it? You can’t tell me you’d keep the oath till your dying breath if it was the cause of your dying in the first place!”
Abidah slashed an angry talon in front of the wolf, soil and rocks scattered in its wake. He bowed his giant sharp beak down till it was mere inches from the Marrok’s nose.
“THAT IS NOT FOR YOU TO DECIDE!”, his feathers ruffled to inflate his already enormous size, “Who gave you the right to decide when to apply the oath, and when it was convenient to discard? Especially when the consequences of not following it affect ALL the inhabitants of the forest! The council has decided to keep the oath, and as far as I’m aware, we haven’t decided to lift it. Until the council gives you leave, you will obey.” Marrok winced in the presence of the great guardian, but kept his ground.
Abidah took a deep breath, smoothed his feathers and rose to his full height once more. “You will be punished for this breach of trust. An offering to Celestia, that she might temper her discontent.”
Marrok looked up at the owl, pleading, “Abidah, please, we are desperate.”
“Nonetheless, you have broken the sacred oath. None are exempt from its tenets and all are beholden to its judgement.” The owl glowered mercilessly at the alpha and his pack.
Marrok hung his head in defeat, positioning himself between Abidah and the rest of his pack. “What would you have of me?”
Abidah lowered his voice, his tone cold and deliberate, “The laws are clear Marrok, a life for a life.” A whimper of concern rolled through the pack at his back.
Marrok’s expression fell, and with a resigned look he replied, “you would strike me down then?”
Abidah hesitated, “No. You are the leader of your clan, striking you down would bring strife to your whole tribe. Instead, another will take your place. One of your own. Hear ye all, as chair of the council of carnivores I Abidah sentence you, Marrok, to pay for your crime with the blood of your kin. This is the will of the council.” The great owl swept open his wings and billows of mist flowed in their wake.
“WAIT, NO!” Marrok screamed and ran forward, but the owl was swallowed in a thick blanket of fog and was no more. He glanced back at the equally startled and concerned members of his hunting pack, but an even more fearful desperation filled his eyes. “I have to go,” he blurted out, then he turned and bolted into the forest.
The clearing was one of the nicer spots in the Everfree forest. There were sufficiently few trees to provide a sizable patch of warm sunlight. A welcome relief to the normally dim and gloomy forest. Regular foot traffic kept the forest at bay, and the Shadowmoon den guaranteed there was always activity.
This morning a few of the older members of the pack were lazing in the sun. One old grey wolf yawned lazily as bees buzzed loudly from flower to flower and jostled with butterflies for position. Birds called to each other while they darted from tree to tree, and small lizards rustled through the undergrowth. High overhead an eagle soared in lazy sweeping circles on invisible air currents. The den itself was a long forgotten dragon’s lair that wound its way deep into the mountain. It now provided a warm dry place to keep the chilly nights and weather at bay.
Without warning, the peace and serenity of the clearing was shattered by a shrill howl. A dusty white pup burst from the depths of the den closely followed by a smaller dark grey one. Both raced down the hill chasing and tumbling, yipping and howling like banshees as they went. One unfortunate pack member yelped in surprise as the cubs used him as a makeshift springboard. With a final tackle the two pups rolled away from each other and faced off. The white pup crouched into a low aggressive stance.
“Grawr, Faolan the shadow hunter stalks his prey…” he growled at his brother.
Lowe, realising the game, turned his aggressive stance into a meek cowering one. “Oh no! A fearsome wolf! Should I flee or should I stand?”
Faolan continued with his own dramatic narration. “Faolan stands resolute, eyes piercing, muscles tensed. The predator challenges his prey. Go on Lowe. I dare you, run.”
Lowe countered with his own narration, replete with dramatic gestures of despair to add to the melodrama. “Gasp, what should I do? It’s the great hunter Faolan, my only chance… is to FLEE!”
An excited yelp signaled the two to start off again on a rag-tag race around the clearing. The older Faolan soon out pacing and out maneuvering his younger sibling. With a final lunge he pinned his brother on his back. The smaller pup giggled and cried out with exaggerated cries of pain.
Faolan nuzzled the soft underbelly of his brother, making comical eating noises. “Om nom nom.” Lowe gave a final gasp - and melodramatic wipe of his brow - then he collapsed onto his back, complete with tongue lolling out of the side of his mouth.
“Erk”
Foalan placed one paw on his freshly slain brother and posed to give his victory speech. “And thus the lone hunter has taken down the stag and tonight, will feast with all his family.”
Lowe jumped up, reanimated by the haughty claims of his brother. “A stag eh? Quite the mighty hunter to take down a stag on your own. But still, you’d be no match for a Pony.”
Faolan's nose wrinkled and he tilted his head quizzically, “A pony? What’s a pony?”
A smirk crept its way onto Lowe’s face. It wasn’t often that he got the one up on his older brother, even if he was technically only younger by a few minutes. “I heard it from old owl Hooton. He said, they live outside the forest, they have horns and can fly.” Lowe mimicked the aspects, using his front paws to mime a pair of horns. “He also said they’re as strong as oxes and can shoot lightning from their eyes. He says they’re so strong they never need to hide, so their coats are brightly coloured like a butterflies.”
“Oh c’mon.” said Faolan rolling his eyes, “if they’re really real, and that powerful, why don’t we see them in the forest?”
“Hooton said, ‘the forest is the only thing that keeps them at bay.’ And that’s why we have to hide inside it.” Lowe explained while doing his best owl impersonation.
Faolan snorted with derision, “Pfft, that’s just some dusty old myth, it’s not real. I’ve never heard of such monsters, Hooton is just making fun of you.”
Lowe stood up, defiantly defending his prized secret knowledge, “It’s the truth!”
Foalan stood equally defiant, “Nah-ah”
Lowe lowered his head and stared up aggressively at Faolan, “You callin me a liar?”
Faolan pointed his nose up with an air of haughty superiority, “I’m just callin it as I see’s it.” He tried to hold his countenance, but a smug grin quickly overtook his face. He turned to his brother, eyebrow raised in challenge, “whatcha gonna do about it?”
Lowe growled and lowered his stance. Faolan also crouched on his paws, ready for anything. The two pups stood facing off in a tense stalemate.
Suddenly their game was interrupted by a shout from the nearby forest. Several pack members perked up at the commotion. Marrok burst into the clearing from the bushy undergrowth, relief flooded his face when he saw them. A fleeting hope. Just as quickly, horror and panic contorted his muzzle as he glanced into the sky above. He pelted forward with a howl. Faolan and Lowe both stood stupefied, confused and concerned, unsure what to do.
To Faolan, it was as if time had slowed down. His father ran as fast as he could, but could never reach them in time. His muffled cries soon drowned by the rushing sound of wings and wind. It was so fast. A flash of feathers and a blast of wind; something warm splashed on his cheek. Shocked, he slowly turned to his brother, but his brother wasn’t there. Faolan stumbled back, gasping for air, hysteria rising. His head twisted too and fro, frantically searching for Lowe. Tears streamed down his face, but Lowe was nowhere to be found. Marrok arrived far too late and grabbed his remaining son in a desperate embrace. Faolan howled.
In the distance, an eagle soared off into the sunset. A limp silhouette in its talons.
The Bale homestead was built with old earth pony sensibilities. Built to last an age. Another set of rooms had been added in the intervening decade, with the original one room homestead itself now a small storefront.
Remedy yawned sleepily as she watered the small window box of daisies outside. Her flank now bore the mark of a black bell flower with a yellow band around it. a row of three neat tidy braids along her neck kept her mane in check. Her sweeping bangs and crimson stripe held out of her eyes by a turquoise hair clip.
The door swung open and Provender wandered out squinting in the bright morning sunlight. He stretched his neck to work out some of the stiffness reminiscent of yesterday's work. He walked over to Remedy and gave her a kiss on the cheek before heading for the fields.
“Don’t work too hard.” she called out. Provender just waved over his shoulder without saying anything.
A light yellow pegasus with golden mane floated down out of the sunlight and landed on the road beside him.
“Good Morning Mr B.” she chirped merrily, trotting past.
“Good morning miss Days, another beautiful one I presume?” said Provender, glancing at the sky.
The yellow pegasus snapped a crisp salute. “Bright and sunny is my specialty”
"Good to hear as always" he chuckled. She waved goodbye and zipped over to Remedy.
“Gooood Morning Dee.” she crooned with enough enthusiasm to lift even the most downcast hearts.
Remedy smiled, rolling her eyes. “Sunny, I don’t know how you can be so chirpy this early in the morning.”
Sunny threw a leg over Remedy’s withers, leaning heavily against her with lips pursed into a pout, “I don’t know how you can be so grumpy” she mocked and twirled her hoof through one of Remedy's braids.
Remedy laughed at the clingy mare and pushed her face away with a hoof while Sunny tried to maintain the hug.
“Stop. You’re destroying my dour mood.”
Sunny immediately struck a heroic pose replete with outstretched wings and triumphant grin accompanying her thousand yard stare, “Aha!, I have become Joy, destroyer of gloom.”
Remedy scoffed as she rolled her eyes once more. It was a common response when dealing with Sunny.
"Oh great destroyer," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "why don’t you do something useful and go water the garden out back.”
Sunny gave another enthusiastic salute and shouted, “Aye Aye captain.” She leapt into the sky to find a cloud. Remedy watched the yellow streak fly off, chuckling to herself.
“I’m sure there must be some way to harness that energy of hers…” a sudden familiar voice startled Remedy from behind.
Remedy spun around and a cheeky smile crept onto her face as she identified the source. “Ah, Mr Tradewind. You're back in town? I see you’ve brought me a gift.” Remedy addressed the white pegasus stallion standing behind, “that’s sweet, but flowers are so cliche”.
Tradewind rolled his eyes, his own smirk matching the mares. He let his face fall to a sorrowful pout “A pity, it’s such a lovely selection too.”
Up above, a small raincloud quietly descended into place above the pair, every effort being made to remain as subtle as possible. A little tell-tale yellow muzzle peered down between the puffy billows.
Remedy sauntered up to the stallion and took the bouquet sniffing them. “Well they are very fragrant and beautiful, but if you’re expecting me to swoon you’re going to be disappointed.” Remedy turned and began to walk back into the store.
Tradewind grinned. He was used to tough negotiations and was never one to let a verbal sparring match go unchallenged. Especially one from Remedy. “My dear, while it is true my charm has a reputation for being devastatingly effective, I’d only be disappointed if you were to fall to it’s ministrations so quickly.” He retorted, returning Remedy’s teasing with his own mock concern. His gaze lingering perhaps a tad longer than strictly polite on Remedy’s swaying figure as she stepped into the store. Trade quickly followed.
Sunny dropped down from her cloud as delicate as a maple seed. She slunk low to the ground up to the window and peered over the edge ever so meekly.
Remedy set the bouquet down on her workbench. With a quick tug on the ribbon she released it’s contents from their wrapping. She quietly separated the different plants and placed them on a set of scales carefully noting the measurements in a notebook with a pencil. Trade leaned quietly against the counter, fixated on her as she worked.
“Alright, so we have Feverfew, Sage, Lady Ferns, Hyssop and Poppies. With these quantities… I’ll give you 15 bits for the lot. Applying that credit to your order of tonics, teas and balms. That comes to… 26 bits.”
Trade reeled back in mock offence. “Herbal Remedy!? Art thou name now villainy? I had to scale the highest peaks, and scour the deepest woods to obtain these rare and precious plants.”
Remedy smirked at him, “Make that 30 bits for having to deal with you.”
Tradewind raised his hooves in surrender, “Ok, Ok I give up.” The stallion placed a small pouch of coins on the counter, which Remedy tipped out to start counting.
Tradewind tapped his hooves together nervously and his confident smirk faltered. “So… uh, in all seriousness. I was wondering if maybe tonight, you’d like to grab some dinner with me?”
He found sudden fascination with the wood grain of her bench top, scratching at it idly with the corner of his hoof. Remedy blushed slightly. Unsure she continued in the vein of their previous banter, “Tradewind! I’m shocked, is this an honest proposal I hear?”
Tradewind cleared his suddenly parched throat. “Well… Yes actually,” he responded honestly. All pretense of comedy now abandoned he mustered the courage to look her in the eyes.
“I’ve got two reservations for the grand opening of a new restaurant in Ponyville, and I’d love it if you would share them with me. Can't say if the food is good, but we can at least try it together.”
Remedy brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes, more for the excuse to break eye contact than to affect the errant strand which immediately returned to frame her face.
“Oh Trade, I dunno. I’ve got a lot of work here still to do. Winter’s coming and I need to prepare stocks of cold and flu medicine. Plus I need to cook dinner for my father.”
“Please, just one evening. And if you don’t enjoy it, I won’t ask again” he pleaded.
Remedy looked away, her eyes scanned the flowers she had just received as if they held a secret wisdom for her current plight. As it was they did trigger sudden inspiration.
“I’ll tell you what. You didn’t bring any wild darkbell with you this time, and my stock is running low. So, if you bring me a green striped darkbell, I’ll go to dinner with you.”
Tradewind let out a breath he'd been holding and a huge grin lit it up like a hearths warming fire. “Deal! Now M’Lady, if you’ll excuse me.” Without a further word he bolted out the front door.
Remedy quickly gave chase, “Wait!” she cried out as he lept into the air with a gush of wind, “you forgot your… order,” her voice trailed off as Tradewind became a tiny speck in the distance.
Sunny was crouched motionless under the window sill. Her body pressed hard against the wall trying not to be noticed, which Remedy did. She regarded the snooping mare with a cold deadpan expression. “Sunny, what are you doing?”
Sunny peeled herself off the wall nonchalantly, trying to look like there was nothing more normal in the world.
“So… hot date eh?”
Remedy sighed, “I assume you were eavesdropping?”
Sunny walked over as cool as a cucumber, or at least put in maximum effort.
“Oh, I may have overheard something about a…” was all she managed before her own hyperactive nature won the internal struggle. “Omigosh Omigosh! So are you going then?”
Remedy looked away and pawed timidly at the ground. “I dunno, I mean, he’s a merchant pony. He’s probably got a mare in every port. Why would he really be interested in a simple flower girl like me?”
Sunny frowned at Remedy. “Hey, don’t be like that. Did you see the way he was looking at you?”
Remedy raised a curious eyebrow at the yellow mare.
“OH Paleeeease,” Sunny drawled, rolling her eyes so much her head had to follow them around, “He was totally checking you out and I’ve seen you two talk, you are already having fun. Why not extend it to dinner as well?”
“I dunno”, Remedy protested and tugged absently at the braids of her mane, “It’s all well and good when we’re just playing, but now he wants to take me to dinner? I’m not sure I’m ready”
“Bah,” Sunny spat, dismissing Remedy’s concerns entirely. “Girl, you need to get out more, and what better opportunity. It’s blatantly obvious you two have chemistry, and I don’t need a cutie mark in herbal medicine to figure that out. Plus he said if you didn’t enjoy yourself he’d back off. What do you have to lose?”
“I suppose you’re right…” Remedy conceded.
“Of course I’m right! As your personal gloom destroyer, I prescribe exactly this evening.” Sunny exalted, supremely pleased with her edict.
Remedy smiled at her friend, she knew she was only looking out for her. It did get lonely sometimes out here on the edge of the Everfree Forest.
“Whoops…” a sudden realisation dawned in her mind and she began to giggle, “Oh dear…”
“What?” said Sunny, her own eyebrow now rising.
Remedy tried to stifle her own snickering, “I’ll go if he ever comes back”, Remedy cleared her throat and regained control, “I sent him to get a green striped Darkbell. Darkbell are hard enough to find to begin with, but a green striped one is especially rare.”
A look of pity fell on Sunny’s face. “Oh Remedy, that poor colt will probably scour all of Equestria for a chance to date you. We’ll be lucky if we ever see him again.” The two mares looked each other for a moment, then simultaneously burst into laughter.
A clap of thunder broke the girls short lived revelry, causing them to jump. A great cloud of dust and wind kicked up around them. They both instinctively shielded their eyes. Another blast of wind whipped past, immediately clearing the dust. There in the center, standing with a most regal pose, Tradewind stood with flower stem in mouth.
Remedy stepped back in shock while Sunny started to whoop and cheer. Tradewind ignored the excitable filly and waltzed straight up to Remedy. With a delicate motion he tucked the flower behind her ear, “I’ll pick you up at sunset?” he asked, and without waiting for reply he smiled and leapt into the air.
Sunny continued to whoop and cheer. Remedy watched in stunned silence as he disappeared over the treeline once more.
"Idiot, you forgot your order again" she whispered. A blushing smile crept onto her face and she gently touched the satin bell of the green striped flower tucked behind her ear.
Like the stone itself, the Shadowmoon den hadn’t aged much in ten years though it now hosted fewer members than ever before. Marrok, once the proud and strong leader of the pack was sleeping in the morning sun. This was how he spent most of his days now. The job of hunting and looking for food left to younger, stronger and more successful wolves.
Now leading the pack a large silver and grey wolf stood sentry, surveying the morning’s activities. A pack of wolves entered the clearing. Their coats a little disheveled and matted with sticks and burs. A smaller grey wolf among them saw his leader and ran up to him.
“Faolan, a messenger from the northern squad reports that the timber wolf chaparral has been driven back and preparations are complete to receive the Cat King and his entourage. Unfortunately, we were unsuccessful in our hunting this morning. There are too few quarry and what there is, is hardened game.”
“Tch.” Faolan clicked his tongue at the scout and scanned the sky thoughtfully.
“Divide the hunting party, send a few east to the rock ridges. We have guests to feed. Tread carefully and watch out for bigger predators, but see if you can scare one of the mountain rams into a misstep. We might get lucky. Send the rest of the patrol south to the bog. I know we can catch some swamp rats there as a last resort, it will at least sustain us.
The scout straightened upright and barked a quick “Yessir,” before she bolted back down the clearing.
Just as the wolf left, a familiar mist rose up from the grass and without even turning Faolan addressed the council chair.
“Abidah, it’s good to see you again.”
Faolan turned to face the giant raptor. Marrok stirred from his slumber and watched the pair with a cold thousand-yard stare.
“Salutations Faolan. How are the preparations for the council summit going?” The great owl replied.
Faolan dipped his head in respect, “all the preparations are already complete. We are ready to receive the other tribes as soon as they arrive.”
“Excellent, work. It was certainly the right choice to make your clan this summit's host. You’ve grown into a fine leader. However I have another task for you to perform, and I’m afraid this one is much more difficult than the rest. It will likely take the strength of the whole pack to complete...” Abidah baited, knowing the young leader would never refuse.
“The strength of the pack is at your behest” Faolan replied without hesitation.
Abidah smiled, and began to pace.
“This council meeting will be historic. It will be addressing the food shortage problems we’ve been facing and it needs a special guest in attendance,” the old owl paused in hesitation, or perhaps for dramatic effect, “I need you to capture a pony, ALIVE.”
Marrok jumped to his feet immediately, a decades steeped bitterness giving him energy
“And just WHERE in the forest is he supposed to find a Pony?” he interjected.
Abidah barely acknowledged the glowering black wolf, “I dare say he won’t. Nonetheless, one is needed. So he may even need to leave the forest.”
Marrok growled angrily, “Leave the forest!? What happened to your precious oath?”
Abidah’s feathers ruffled, exaggerating his bulk, and his words gained a sharp undertone.
“Do NOT school me on the oath Marrok. I was there the day it was taken.”
Marrok stepped back, ears flattened, but his complaints resolved into a quiet grumble.
Abidah turned back to Faolan, “I have already spoken with Nyoka and Ulrica, you may leave the forest with the council’s blessing to complete this task. However, while on this mission, under no circumstances must you draw blood. Do you understand?” The owl emphasised his last caveat with explicit consideration.
Faolan glanced between his simmering father and the guardian. A knot of concern furrowed his brow, “Abidah, I’m honored you would choose me for this most important task, and I have confidence in hunting many prey. Yet in all my winters I’ve never once left the forest, nor as much as seen a pony. I have no experience with this quarry, and neither has my hunting party.”
Abidah extended a wingtip to rest on Faolan’s shoulder, “I have every confidence in your instincts Faolan. You have proven yourself a capable and intelligent leader, and your clan is strong despite our difficult circumstances. This won’t be an easy task, but I believe you are the one to accomplish it.” The owl smiled and turned to leave, “As for intel, ask your father. He has some experience in the matter.” With the final bitter sting Abidah leapt onto the air, disappearing into the treeline in a cloud of mist that slowly curled around the tree trunks in his wake and evaporated.
Faolan turned to his father, but Marrok was already walking back to the den.
“What did he mean by ‘you have experience?’”
A single uncommitted grunt was all he got in reply.
“Have you seen a pony?” Faolan pressed, eager for any information.
Marrok slumped down at the den's entrance. Faolan looked down and mumbled in contemplation, “you have?... when you left the forest! The day Lowe was…” Faolan looked up to see his father glaring with hot angry yellow eyes. Faolan quickly looked away and lowered his voice, “Well then, if you’ve seen a Pony… Do you know where I can find one now?” Marrok just snorted and turned away. Faolan stepped forward. “If you don’t help me, I’m going to have to find them on my own. Can you at least tell me what they look like?” Faolan pleaded. Marrok remained silent and motionless. With a sad sigh Faolan turned to leave his sullen father.
“The north west border, you’ll know them when you see them. Try to find one alone near the edge of the forest. It’s your best chance.” Marrok grumbled heavily. Still facing away.
Faolan smiled thankfully, and ran back down the hill. Hoping the hunting party had not set off yet.
“Change of plans…” he barked, “I need 4 scouts right now. Head for the north western border. I want patrols set up, and the area reconned. I want all stock trails and watering holes marked and mapped. Tarell, speak to the ravens, ask them for assistance in reconnaissance and communications, bribe them if you have to. I need storm and rush squads prepped and ready to go on the double. Provision for a 3 day hunt with a live capture objective. Holly and Lilly, you’re in charge of squad support, fetch some vines from the forest, we’ll need 10 lengths of strong rope. Move it whelps, we leave within the hour.” Faolan grinned as his comrades darted off in all directions with yips and barks of excitement.
A knot of emotion caught in Faolan's throat. The excitement of a new quarry was always welcome, but... Faolan looked back up the hill. Marrok was still curled up in a ball. He looked small. So much smaller than the brave hunter of his memories. His memories...
Faolan took a deep breath and focused on his mission.
The sounds of quiet laughter and muttered words carried over the still night air.
“No… you didn’t!” Remedy gasped in gleeful disbelief.
“I swear it’s true.” Tradewind asserted fiercely. “There I was, as nervous as a pegasus in a pillow factory. I was shaking in my shoes, sweat was dripping down my brow. He looked at me for a whole steely minute. My throat was so parched I thought I'd die of thirst. Then, without warning, he throws his head back with a great laugh, throws down a bag of bits that could choke a mule, shakes my hoof and says - It’s a deal!”
“Wow, ” Remedy remarked, “I never knew you had such adventures!”
“It was the third most terrified I’ve ever been” Trade commented casually.
“Only the third!?”
“Well, the most terrified…” he gave an involuntary shudder, “is perhaps not for polite conversation. The second most however, was only just this day.”
“Oh?” Remedy’s eyes narrowed on the stallion suspiciously.
“Why just this day, I had to stand in front of a mare I admire very much, and ask her on a date.”
“What!?, Who is this other mare you’re seeing now?” Remedy accused playfully.
Tradewind smirked, “And the cost for her company, was but a single flower. I think I got a pretty good deal, don’t you think?”
“Hrm,” Remedy thought out loud, “it was supposed to be relatively difficult task. Nigh impossible in fact. Just how DID you manage to find one so quickly?”
A smug grin crept onto Trade’s face, “the skills of a seasoned merchant can sense valuable treasures from a mile away”
Remedy tried futilely to suppress a laugh, “Oh please, stop. I’m going to suffocate under that pretentious smug look on your face”
Trade laughed at her retort, “Oh it’s not entirely hot air. Those flowers do have a particularly ‘unique’ scent. But mostly I was lucky to spot a large clump of them near the edge of the forest. Honestly it took me longer to find a green one amongst them.”
Remedy grew serious, “be careful near that forest Trade, I don’t want to see anything happen to you.”
Trade smiled at her concern and struck a gallant pose, “fear not M’Lady. For you I’d fight off a thousand bears. Besides, with these baby’s, I can just fly off if anything comes for me.” he reassured, his wings stretched to display their full span.
Remedy smiled, though the worry never left her eyes.
They arrived at the front door of the Bale Homestead. The warm glow of a candle giving a faint light from within. Trade shifted nervously on his hooves.
“Listen, I have to go away next week. A large shipment of exotic silks is arriving and my Father needs me at the port when the ship arrives to get the best deals. If all goes well, I’ll be back in about a week. I hope you had a good time tonight, and if you’d like, perhaps we could do dinner again when I’m back?” he asked.
“I think I would like that a lot” Remedy smiled fondly before a wicked grin took it’s place, ”but… your price will be Hmm, how about a red striped Darkbell this time?”
Trade raised an eyebrow, “They do actually exist right? It’s not some trick?”
Remedy sauntered up to the nervous pegasus and planted a quick kiss on his cheek, whispering, “They’re one of the most common.” She cast a smile over her shoulder as she entered her home closing the door behind her.
Trade stood agape for a good 30 seconds. The crickets chirped noisily in the background. An enormous grin slowly dawned on his face. He pumped the air with his hoof and let out an excited, celebratory “YES!”
With a powerful thrust of his wings he rocketed into the night startling a number of ravens and other birds from the nearby trees, his loud cheer echoed across the moonlit landscape.
A solitary raven floated back down through the forest canopy and perched on a fallen log. A young grey wolf cocked an ear to the bird and listened to its whispered secrets.
On the opposite side of the small clearing, Faolan pressed through the foliage accompanied by the rest of his party. The advanced party had already prepared for the rest of the squads arrival, and now shifted restlessly awaiting further instruction.
“At ease everyone, rest while you can" said Faolan with a calm and confident command, "Conserve your energy. We could be mobilising at any time so operational readiness is paramount. We have taken considerable rations from the clan so we can focus on our mission without worrying about hunting other game. Do not dishonor their hunger, we could be here for several days. Be as calm and patient as the earth around you. Scouts, what do you have to report?”
A trio of wolves bounded up to Faolan and took a seat before him. One of them, a larger male, stepped forward. He was older than most of the young fit wolves here, but sometimes experience counted for more than youthful vigor.
“As expected, we've seen neither hide nor hair within the forest so most of our information comes from raven intel. This has cost us some rations but did bare useful fruit. The pony creatures are ungulates, similar to deer but shorter and stouter. They are herbivorous and display strong herd mentality. They are mostly concentrated in moderate to high population social groups. As the old legends say, they are brightly coloured and appear to have no want for natural camouflage. This should make tactical identification of individual members easier.”
“Okay, so pretty much as expected so far, what about the exotic features?” Faolan questioned.
Another smaller wolf stepped forward and the older wolf yielded his place.
“From what we’ve gathered, there are three subspecies. A winged type capable of quick and dexterous flight that call themselves pegasi. A horned type which apparently possess a wide variety of magic called unicorns. And a third type with neither wings nor horn simply referred to as earth ponies.” he reported.
"It also looks like they are the ones responsible for destroying most of the forest. " the third scout piped in uninvited. She was the youngest member of the trio, and clearly still a little impulsive.
Faolan frowned at the breach of protocol. The eldest gave a quick snap at the pup and pulled her back into line.
Faolan considered the information carefully. “Flight pretty much eliminates pegasi as a potential target, and I’m concerned magic will make any plan too unpredictable. What can you tell me of this earth subspecies?”
“Both the pegasi and unicorns are both smaller and weaker physically than either deer or boar we’ve hunted before. But the earth ponies appear to possess a strength belying their physical size” the senior scout answered.
Faloan raised a curious eyebrow, “How much strength?”
“We're not entirely sure. We are relying on ravens. They're good for broad scope, but they get bored with the finer details so we have conflicting information. I think it's best we assume that the strength varies between individuals. Some are weaker perhaps, but certain individuals could have strength rivaling buffalo if the more extreme accounts are to be believed and size is not a good indicator either apparently.”
“Unfortunate. We shall have to choose our target carefully and hope for the best then, although our options may be severely limited” Faolan conceded. "Other than herd mentality, what else about them?"
The youngest scout stepped forward, more composed this time. “They appear to be very resourceful and exhibit high intelligence, certainly with a predilection to controlling their environments like the Hart and his retinue, but to a far more extreme degree. They do not bend nature to their purposes, they cut it down and construct their environment from it's carcass."
"Careful, Keegan. Keep your aura steady. If you become emotional you will get hurt or worse somebody else will. Their roles in such land clearing are probably why the council wants to speak with one."
Keegan looked down, her ears drooping under Faolan's gentle rebuke. "Sorry sir. They seem to have lived for a long time without natural predators, and so we predict their instincts have dulled. Standard Predatory psych-ops should prove especially effective” she finished humbly.
Faolan smiled at her kindly. “Very good, this won't be an easy mission so it's important to keep a level head."
He turned to the rest of the scouts. "It seems the earth type ponies will be the best target, but we’ll need to pick the quarry carefully. What’s the lay of the land?”
“As ordered we reconned only and our presence was undetected, but though the forest is cleared just up ahead, there do not appear to be any settlements on the edge of the forest, probably for obvious reasons. Raven intel puts a decent herd of these ponies about 12 clicks from the forest edge although there is a lot of open ground between us and them. It would be difficult to approach during the day, and at night they are all holed up inside their dens. We’ve set up patrols along the forest edge. So far we’ve only seen one flying type pony even come close. He spent quite some time foraging amongst a patch of Widow’s Tears. As mentioned, these creatures don’t seem to have much instinctual awareness so observation was trivial, this should work to our advantage.” The senior wolf explained helpfully.
Faolan scowled, “Tch. A flying type though. No good. If an initial ambush fails, it’ll be away before we can make any sort of maneuver. I’d rather keep the element of surprise and not waste it on a vain hope.”
“The ravens followed after he left. “ said Keegan quickly, “He flew back to a small structure about 2 clicks from the forest. Several pegasi as well as earth ponies were noted in the vicinity. Perhaps a fledgling herd?”
“Interesting,” faolan pondered, “Have we noticed any of the earth types grazing near the forest?”
“None yet sir.” The first responded, “but we haven’t been here long.”
“Ok. Set up constant surveillance of the Widow's Tears. If they have an interest in the flower there’s a good chance they’ll return. If we’re lucky it’ll be one of the earth type. Also set up raven watch on that herd. I want to know movement patterns, numbers and behaviour. If there’s movement towards the forest, I want to know it before it gets here. Use my rations to bribe them if you need to”
“Understood Sir!” the three scouts barked and scampered away to their duties.
Faolan jumped onto the fallen log bordering the clearing. Turning he addressed the rest of his pack. “Alright hunters, gather round. Here’s the plan…”
The little bell hanging over the door rang merrily. With a grunt, an elderly brown stallion limped in and took a grateful seat on the waiting bench with a groan of relief.
“Good morning Mr Waltzer, how are you today?” said Remedy cheerfully as he sat and started to massage his knees.
"Good morning dear, not too good I’m afraid. It appears I’ve contracted a bad case of old age. Do you have a cure for that?” Waltzer grumbled morbidly.
Remedy chuckled sympathetically, “I’m afraid we’re all out of fountain of youth. But maybe I can give you something for those knees of yours.”
“They’re not worth very much I’m afraid.” Waltzer joked back.
Remedy laughed. "Well what are you doing walking all the way from town. Surely someone could give you a ride in a cart or something."
"Hrmph. These hooves have danced from Baltimare to Vanhoover. I don't need nopony to cart me anywhere" he pouted defiantly.
Remedy chuckled and rolled her eyes at the stubborn pony as she dragged a small step ladder over to her ceiling-high shelves filled with tins and jars of various dried herbs and salves.
"Yes, yes. You've told me that one, but that was back in the day Mr Waltzer. Today you need to take care of yourself, or you won't be walking anywhere at all."
The grouchy stallion just grunted noncommittally and poked suspiciously at the ugly green striped flower poking out of a small vase of water on the side table.
"It’s surprising such an ugly little flower can be so useful.” he mused out loud, preferring any topic other than how he should be admitting his age.
Remedy smiled and looked over her shoulder from her step ladder.
“You know, I said pretty much the same thing when I first learned about them.”
Reaching up to one of the higher shelves, she selected a small black tin with a thick purple band painted around its top. Plain white lettering on the front labeled the tin WD #40.
“Did you know there are over 100 subspecies of Wild Darkbell, and each one of them has different medicinal properties and benefits. They all still taste pretty bad though.” she conceded with a chuckle.
“Is that so?” The old stallion pondered, recoiling at an experimental sniff of the flower.
Remedy stepped off the ladder and returned to the counter with the tin. She opened it and emptied its meager contents onto some paper. “Unfortunately, this is the last I have and I’m not likely to be able to get any more for at least another week.
The old stallion turned from his flower inspection to face the young herbalist. “Doesn’t that young merchant colt usually get them for you? Seems he's always here whenever I visit?” The old stallion implied, an eyebrow raised knowingly.
"You know, I was younger than your age when I first..." he continued.
Remedy blushed a little and quickly interrupted, "Yes yes, in your day. He's away on a business trip and won't be back for a week."
Mr Waltzer groaned out of his seat and wandered over slowly. His expression was stoic, but the flinches of pain could be seen in the subtle strains on his face.
He pulled himself up to the counter. “In my day eh... it seems a lot of days have come since then” he said with a weak smile
Remedy reached out and patted his hoof gently.
"Don't worry Mr Waltzer, this stuff can make a statue tap-dance. One cup of tea made with this and you'll be feeling 50 years younger in no time. But please, take it easy ok. It's not a magic cure... well it is pretty magical but it's not a cure. It just helps with the pain and unbinds those joints for a while"
Remedy finished wrapping the little paper sachet with a piece of string and the stallion pulled a few bits from a small bag on his hip.
The door bell rang again with it's welcoming jingle. A golden mane and smile poked around the door with the radiance of the dawning sun.
"Hey Remedy, oh! Hi Mr Waltzer. You still dancing up a storm with those mares at the retirement home." Sunny bounced up and gave a little jig finishing with a heal kick flourish.
"Ha ha, you know it" said Mr Waltzer and gave his own little jig and flourish. His regret was immediate and pronounced. He winced and gave out a painful hiss.
"Mr Waltzer!, what did I say about taking it easy" scolded Remedy. She quickly navigated around the counter to guide him back to the bench.
"And Sunny, you should know better than to encourage him"
"Aww, " she pouted, "I was just having a little fun. Are you OK Mr Waltzer?"
Sunny helped Remedy resettle the elder on the wooden bench.
"I'm fine, just pinched a nerve," he flapped a weak hoof in a futile attempt to dissuade the fussy mares. "I just need to rest a little bit before heading off."
"Ahem, no way Mister" Remedy chided sternly. "You are not walking back to Ponyville. Sunny can you go get dad's cart and take Mr Waltzer here back home?"
"No worries," said Sunny with a big smile, "I was just dropping in to say hi before heading back anyway."
Sunny quickly ducked outside and flew around the building exterior.
"Honestly, you two are making a fuss" Mr Waltzer grumbled.
"And it's OK to ask for a helping hoof sometimes too." said Remedy and placed a gentle hoof over his.
Mr Waltzer nodded in resignation and smiled. "Oh alright, you're a good lass you know. I don't know what I'd do without you. That colt is a lucky one, but If he doesn't treat you right, you let me know. I'll set him straight" he winked.
Remedy laughed and pushed a loose strand out of her face. "I'll certainly warn him"
The clatter of wooden wheels on stone paving came to an abrupt halt outside. A crunch of gravel was soon followed by the reappearance of the mad grinning mare herself.
"Ponyville Express ready to depart. Tickets please."
Remedy helped Mr Waltzer ease onto his hooves. When she was sure he was steady she grabbed his parcel off the counter and passed it to him. He worked the sachet into his saddlebag.
"Oh, before I forget. Gossip round the home is that timberwolves were howling out behind the orchards again. Just wanted to warn you. Frightful monsters. I know you had that terrible scare with them when you were a filly." he patted Remedy gently on the shoulder.
Sunny froze.
"Just remember to keep your pots and pans handy," he said with a smile, "the critters can't handle a racket"
"I'll be alright Mr Waltzer," Remedy chuckled, "you head on back now and go easy on those hooves. You've only got one set."
He nodded and slowly ambled out the door.
"And go easy on the road Sunny. Not too fast." she continued, but Sunny was just staring with a worried expression on her face.
"You OK?" Sunny asked.
"I'm fine, go on."
"O-Okay, I'll bring back the cart tomorrow morning"
Remedy smiled and nodded. Sunny turned to leave but hesitated a moment.
"Take care Dee, I'll see you tomorrow - bright and early."
Mr Waltzer climbed onto the back of the wagon with a helpful push from Sunny. Sunny hitched herself to the harness and then with a gentle tug and the clatter of wood on stone, she gently pulled the cart out onto the road to Ponyville.
Remedy watched them leave, then shut the door. She crossed back to her counter, but stopped short. Her head hung low and her face was hidden under the shadow of her mane. She was motionless except for her shallow breathing.
WHACK! - Her hind leg suddenly lashed out at the counter.
WHACK! - She kicked it again.
She stood still for another long moment. Remedy sniffed then shook her head to chase away the dark thoughts. With a deep breath she made her way back to her work table. The book she'd been writing all her recipes and notes in lay open at the page she had left it at before Mr Waltzer had arrived. A half finished paragraph on the antibiotic properties of ginger was waiting to be finished. She stared at it blankly for a minute.
"It's not his fault" she suddenly said out loud to nopony.
"They just believe what's easiest. What they already believe."
Abandoning her page, Remedy turned to tidy up the counter. She placed the lid back on the now empty tin and sighed again.
Mr Waltzer was a nice pony. Full of anecdotes and 'In my day...' stories. He could be nosy, stubborn, cheeky and sometimes more than a little bawdy, but it was endearing. It was nice to talk to someone who had lived through so much, with such a rich tapestry of a life to share.
A sad smile crept onto Remedy's face.
"He didn't mean any hurt by what he said. He's just going by the accepted story."
Remedy quickly ascended her step ladder and placed the empty tin back on its high shelf. She lingered a hoof on the purple band that ran around it's rim.
"That medicine will only last a day, two at most. He'll be in crippling pain again. Trade isn't due back till the end of next week, and then there's the turn-around time for him to acquire some. That will take at least..."
Remedy paused her monologue mid thought. She glanced over at the green rimmed Darkbell drooping in its vase.
Remedy's shop wasn't especially large. It consisted of only half the room's original size behind the counter. The original bunk beds had been removed and replaced with her high shelves, and a hole had been knocked into the original back wall to provide a doorway in the far back corner leading to the rest of the new extension. So when she started to mutter and pace she could only manage two strides before she had to twirl and pace in the other direction.
"The forest...Trade said he found it near the forest. Could it be? It could be the same patch, but... he wasn't attacked. Of course he wasn't. No pony has seen anything come out of this side of the forest except... No, I can't... but if I don't..."
Remedy let out a frustrated moan and slumped her forehead onto the counter.
"I'm a herbalist and I'm afraid of the one place most herbs grow. Argh, I hate being scared all the time. It's so stupid. I'm sick of other ponies treading gently like I'm made of glass, or trying to be nice when they don't even know or believe me. If I don't go Mr Waltzer won't be able to walk for a week and I could have stopped it."
She banged her head against the counter as if it were a judges gavel. "That's it. I'm sick of this. I'm going. I'll be there and back before anyone knows I'm even gone. I can't keep running away."
As if to race her own mounting indecision, she quickly threw on the pair of saddlebags she kept stored under the work bench, and grabbed a large sunhat from a hook on the door. She was almost out the door when she stopped. She raced back, reached under the counter and pulled out a sickle in a wooden sheath. She stuffed it unceremoniously into her saddlebag and raced out the door before her mind had time to change.
A few scratches of chalk later, and the small black board on her front door read.
Herbing, back at 3pm
Outside it was a glorious day and the sun filtered in mottled splotches through the large oak that stood sentry in the front yard. Remedy closed her eyes and took the time to take a deep breath and feel the warm patchwork sunlight ripple across her coat. With new determination she opened her eyes, set her jaw, pulled the brim of her hat down low and took her first shaky step. Then another, then the next. The wind stirred the leaves at her feet which danced around her like a cheer squad. The great oak creaked it's bows and waved its branches in celebration. Remedy let a small smile relax onto her face.
This isn't so bad. It's just like any other day I go gathering. Come on Remedy, a dirty old stallion needs your help. This is what I do. What I was born to do.
Her pluck sufficiently buoyed Remedy shifted into a trot and headed down a little used pathway that led away from the homestead and towards the distant forest treetops. The swirling leaves left behind whirled and danced under the great oak like a fanfare before the wind released them and they fell back to the ground. Amidst the raining leaves, a solitary black feather floated down between the branches and came to rest beside them.
A ten minute trot later, Remedy slowed to a walk down the familiar but overgrown path. She paused by a nest of weeds that was once her flower garden. The tree it was planted under had grown considerably and its roots had pushed the neat little border of stones out of place.
Remedy looked towards the edge of the forest. Other than a few short lived shrubs and grasses that had moved in the intervening time, the scene looked much as it had ten years ago. Taking a moment to sniff the air and listen, she couldn't sense anything out of place. A slight breeze was blowing toward the forest as if gently drawing her toward it.
Remedy slapped her cheeks. "Come on Remedy, it was a freak accident. No monsters have been seen outside these woods in a decade. Besides Trade was here just the other day and he didn’t have any trouble” she chided her nervousness.
Remedy cautiously approached that fateful bush of yesteryear, careful to avoid any twigs, her ears constantly scanning and swiveling on alert. She pulled back the overgrown foliage, a somewhat enlarged patch of Wild Darkbell now sprouted in the undergrowth. She sighed with disappointment at the evidence of rough recent foraging activities. Tradewind’s efforts now doubt. He had clearly been eager to find a single bloom, and had trampled some others in his quest. Remedy took the sickle out of her bag, and quickly began to gather the precious bells and place them into her saddlebags.
A rustle of bushes immediately brought her head upright. Every sense scouring the surroundings in dread. But no evidence of attack could be found. All was still and quiet.
“Now now, don’t go getting spooked over nothing…” Remedy tried to console her nerves. She slowly began to gather more Darkbell, fortunately there were some purple banded ones mixed in this patch, looks like this was worth it.
“CAW!” A crow settled on a nearby branch.
“Aaand, I think this is plenty.” Remedy declared, gathering her hat and saddlebags. She picked up her sickle, turned to leave and immediately came face to face with a large silver and grey wolf, cold piercing blue eyes stared straight down into hers, searing the moment in her soul.
“Aaaah!” Remedy shrieked and stumbled backwards, her hat and saddlebags discarded in an instant. The sickle trembled in her mouth. She turned to bolt in another direction, but another wolf emerged from the bushes and blocked her path, a chilling sense of deja vu flooded her veins like ice.
“Nononononono” Remedy babbled through clenched teeth as she backed away and darted around, but each possible escape was blocked one by one by another stealthy wolf emerging from the low lying shrubs that dominated the area. The wolves moved with calm and deadly purpose. A chorus of low growls droned ominously like a dark ritual and behind her the dark maw of the forest opened like a hungry mouth. Tears streamed down Remedy’s face and she sobbed incoherently, fear overwhelming any rational thought. Her back pressed against the forest boundary while the wolves carefully closed in. Their growls grew in intensity, lips curled into snarls, sharp white teeth bared. “Oh Celestia, save me” Remedy prayed. Fear wafted off her in thick waves and gripped its bony claws deep into her heart, they were going to kill her.
A small mottled wolf eager for her blood advanced aggressively and snapped its jaws at her heels. Remedy screamed and threw the sickle at it. The wolf let out a pained yelp, but she didn't look. She ran. The only place she could. The forest.
The dark twisted branches of the forest whipped by. The path was barely visible under the thick canopy of the forest. It was barely more than a stock trail, narrow and overgrown. The undergrowth on the sides was thick and blocked any escape other than her current path. In her periphery, she could see the sunlight at the edge of the forest fading like a rapid twilight.
Remedy bolted as fast as she could down the path, tears blurred her vision and every vine, root and bramble crowding the path seemed to reach out and grab her, trying to force her to stumble. Her hooves pounded the ground like a heavy drum beat in time with her own pounding heartbeat. It was deafening in her ears. Accompanying, the staccato barks and yips of the ravenous hunger that pursued her in horrific harmony with the roaring chorus of adrenaline and rushing blood that coursed through her veins.
Behind her the growls and snarls of the chasing pack echoed ever present. Remedy splashed through a small brook crossing the path. She stumbled and almost lost her footing in the process. Her scare granted her an extra burst of speed in an attempt to regain the lost ground. Remedy was fit enough, but she struggled with the unfamiliar terrain. The ground was uneven and full of critter holes that could trip her. Any slip meant death. Remedy chanced a glance back behind her. The wolves weren’t as close as she thought, but they were still definitely pursuing, the big white one with the piercing blue eyes was missing, but the aggressive little bitch was there. A red scarlet streak darkened the fur on her left shoulder. Remedy faced forward again just as she crashed straight into a thick low branch. Her front legs buckled and her face planted into the damp earth. The branch bent, tangled under her barrel. In an instant the wolves closed the distance. Remedy yelped and pushed through the branch just as the lead wolf’s jaws snapped where her heels were. The bowed branch swung free slamming into the face of the aggressive little wolf. She yelped and reeled back, temporarily halting the hunting party. Remedy gave no pause to thank her fortune, focusing every ounce of her strength and desperation on acceleration. She raced around a hillside. The steep rock wall and cliff edge hemming her in on the path, but she had gained a considerable lead. Gaps in the treetops showed the forests edge curving in close up ahead. The light of an opening shone like a beacon in confirmation and for the first time she had hope, a way out. Lowering her head Remedy put on a fierce burst of speed. Her natural earth pony fortitude carrying her diminutive frame with contradictory swiftness and endurance. The canopy gave way to dappled afternoon sun, as if heralding her salvation. Remedy thundered down the hillside with reckless abandon. She was almost there. Only a small barren clearing to cross. A strobe of white caught her peripheral vision. High on the rocky outcrop above a white and grey blur kept determined pace above her. The intermittent beams of sunlight flashing against the white shadow as it passed behind the thin trees lining the ridge.
Remedy barreled into the dusty crossroad. Just as she broke the tree line, she saw the large white wolf leap silently on a perfect trajectory toward her. Remedy panicked, her legs gave out and she tumbled to the ground. It wasn’t much, but it was enough. The wolf sailed clear over her, a thick vine held in it’s jaws. Remedy rolled to a stop in the dirt and scrambled to her hooves. The wolf was far more dexterous and handled the complication far more gracefully. Dancing lightly on his front paws, he quickly spun to face the frightened mare. He now stood between Remedy and freedom. The bright light behind darkening his silhouette. Howls and snarls rolled down the hillside behind her. The white wolf, with vine loop still in mouth, growled and stepped forward. Remedy didn’t wait to think. She darted down the dark path forking off from the clearing and back into the forest.
“WAIT, NO!” shouted Faolan futilely, the vine dropped forgotten from his jaws. He gave chase but halted at the entrance to the dark, cobweb strewn path.
The pursuing pack ran up to Faolan panting, “well now what? She has run straight into Aleena’s lair.” one of them inquired.
Faolan ignored the question, instead taking stock of the pack. “Where is Tarell?”
“Keegan was hit by a branch and fell, Tarell is tending to her”
“Get him quickly, he’s carrying the Council’s seal.” Faolan barked, the wolf responded immediately and raced back up the trail.
“You can’t be serious?” the old scout said, his breathing still heavy, “even with the seal, Aleena is one of the old ones, she may just ignore it. Not to mention the pony is probably already lost. What good will it do to risk your own life?” He implored.
“We don’t know for sure if she’s dead, we were given this mission by the Council and I intend to see it through to the end.”
The foliage grew thickly beside the path, stifling the thud of Remedy's hoof beats. The snarling and howls had ceased behind her and Remedy allowed herself a moment of respite. Out of breath and panting heavily she slowed to a trot and looked behind, but only the dim of the forest pervaded. All was silent save for her own hoof falls. Not paying enough attention, Remedy walked through a low hanging tattered cobweb. She yelped and wiped the sticky threads from her muzzle.
The immediate wolf threat now apparently abated, Remedy stopped to take in her surroundings for the first time. The foliage grew thick and most of the light from the obscured sun had already been absconded by the forest canopy high above. Twisted vines crawled over the closely packed trees, and dark thorny ferns fought for supremacy on the contested forest floor. Numerous silken webs lined the path and thickly blanketed the canopy above forming a dull grey ceiling. Numerous Darkbell also sprouted at random intervals. The tiny flowers looked out of place amongst the aggressive flora.
Remedy continued to walk through the dark tunnel. It was eerily quiet and the muffled thud of her hoof beats sounded like distant drums in her ears. The narrowing path ended abruptly after a short stretch. Like the forest itself had been scooped out with a giant spoon, the path opened into a barren clearing. Dry brown leaves coated the floor, and nothing grew. The forest canopy above was thinner but coated with great sheets of silk that hung between the high boughs like drapes in a myriad of iridescent hues.
Remedy peered into the clearing, her ears twitched. There was no movement or sound. Remedy shivered in the eerie silence, not even the normal ambience of the forest seemed to venture this far. No bird songs, or insect buzzing, no wind no rustling of creatures in the brush. Remedy slowly walked into the clearing, turning in slow circles as she took in her surrounds. It appeared to be a dead end. The thick silk-tangled undergrowth crowded between the closely cloistered trees that rimmed the clearing and the only path out appeared to be the one she had just entered from.
“Oh Celestia Dammit” She sniffed to herself as she wiped the damp from her tear streaked cheeks. The brief moment of reprieve proving to be little comfort in the hopeless situation. The adrenaline was wearing off and the fatigue in her muscles was catching up.
“What am I supposed to do now!?” Remedy complained loudly, her breathing haggard as a fresh new despair started to take hold.
A low creaking like straining wood halted her rumination and she spun around.
One of the low hanging silk sheets swayed ever so slightly in a non-existent breeze. Remedy glanced around, and the hair on her back felt like it was standing on end. A creeping dread began to overtake her. The silence was so deafening she could hear the beat of her own pounding heart and the rhythmic rushing of blood in her ears. The atmosphere hung so thick and heavy it was palpable. Instinctively Remedy began to back towards the exit, the leaves crunched loudly under hoof like old dry bones. The dimly lit clearing darkened ever so slightly, and a closer drape shivered as if it too felt a chill. Another creaking of a loaded bough groaned from overhead. Frozen with fear Remedy slowly tilted her head up and her eyes went wide. She screamed.
Faolan led two of his pack members down the foreboding path. Their ears, eyes and noses working overtime as they scanned for the first sign of trouble, their own pulses raced relentlessly. Reaching the edge of the clearing Faolan motioned for the pack to stop. The gentle rhythmic creaking of a tree branch was a morbid lullaby for the slowly swinging form of a pony sized glob of silk. The suspended bundle twisted slowly around on a single slender thread.
“See!, we are already too late. Let us go before she adds us right next to it.” One of the accompanying wolves pleaded in a low hiss.
Faolan silenced the complaints with a stern shake of his head. Raising his head high, he swallowed nervously and stepped into the clearing. His compatriots hesitated before following with far greater trepidation.
Faolan raised a small leather, bone and wood amulet above his head and with a loud clear voice addressed the barren clearing. “Fair Aleena, please stay your fangs. We come on most important business from the council.”
A sweet melodic titter bounced around the clearing like honeyed water.
“Ah, if it isn’t brave Faolan of the Moonshadow clan.” the voice was laced with amusement and formidable confidence, “I heard you were leading the pack nowadays. A pity about Marrok. With important business from the council you say? Well now, how delightful.”
The shadows above the lair shifted. The coloured silk curtains seemed to part like opening night at the theatre and from among them the enormous black body of a giant spider descended almost silently. The long shiny slender legs finding purchase on the ground surrounding the clearing like silent ushers for the show macabre. She could easily reach any where within the clearing in an instant, and the wolves were well within her range.
Faolan bowed in respect, the seal still held out in full view. “Fair Aleena, we have been given orders from Abidah to acquire a pony alive for questioning at the carnivore council night after ‘morrow.” Faolan glanced with concern at the hanging bundle of silk gently rocking back and forth like a heavy pendulum counting down the penultimate seconds. He could see no breath or sign of life. The bundle slowly turned on it’s thread, the ponies face and muzzle could be seen poking out from the bottom. A thick strand of silk wrapped around her face across the bridge of her nose and her eyes were shut. Faolan returned his attention to the great spider.
“For questioning? Now isn’t that curious. I wonder what that old feather duster is up to?” Aleena mused to herself.
“I do not mean to rob you of your rightful quarry. We chased her into and through the forest, but at the point of capture, I must admit I failed.” Faolan explained.
The giant spider tittered gleefully, “well I suppose that’s very much expected. Wolves were never really known for their talents in ‘capturing’ anything. Even the cats might have had better luck at that, although I suppose that wouldn’t have been without some trauma. They do like to ‘play’ with their food.” The giant spider contemplated for a moment then sighed, “still, if it’s for the council, then I suppose I can part with it…” a wicked thought crossed her mind, “hrm, perhaps I should take one of you in recompense?” She eyed Faolan’s companions with hungry eyes, there were a lot of them. Both of them cowered and whimpered pitifully in response.
Faolan shifted to shield his family. “I will not offer you any of my brothers or sisters. But if you require compensation, you can take it from me. I only ask that you wait till after the council meeting so that I can complete my duties”
Aleena laughed hysterically and her giant body wobbled in delight. The threads that crisscrossed her lair quivered like a chorus of backup singers, mirroring her glee. “Oh look at you, so stoic. No hesitation, not even a flinch. Perhaps I will take a taste… hahahaha. Oh why so serious. I’m only joking. It’s not so often I get visitors so interested in conversation you know.” A sour look crossed her face as she glared at the hanging silk cocoon, “mostly they just scream.”
The giant spider reached a single long slender leg up to the silk bundle and with the gentlest of tugs pulled it free. “Fear not she’s not dead, just paralysed. I prefer my meals ‘fresh’. The poison will wear off slowly, she should be able to walk again in about a day.” She laid the silk bundle down in front of the wolves.
“Go now, I look forward to the council meeting. It certainly looks to be interesting.”
Aleena laughed and effortlessly drew her enormous frame back into the darkened canopy like a baloon and was soon obscured by the draping silk, the last cackles of her laughter echoed into the forest before dying off.
Faolan and his pack begun to pull the silk apart. “Gently now, Find some timber so that we can make a sled.” he ordered, one of the wolves promptly hurried back along the path. “Here, help me carry her back to the fork.” he said to the other who helped to rest the pony across Faolan’s shoulders and kept her steady while he walked back to the crossroads.
Muffled growls and yips pierced the drowsy slumber that clouded Remedy’s mind. She slowly squinted one eyelid open. A canopy of leaves and thick boughs slowly drifted overhead and even the small amount of dim light that managed to penetrate seemed bright and garish. Remedy tried to move but even with all her effort, only her head moved slightly, rolling clumsily on her shoulders like it was barely attached. From the splitting headache she had, she wondered if she'd prefer it wasn't. Her limbs remained as still as the grave. Peering down, she saw she was strapped to a simple sled. Long vines stretched forward towards a trio of wolves who were lashed in line and pulled her along. They seemed to be in good spirits and were happily ‘talking’ to each other. Remedy listened for a moment, but all she heard was guttural growls, high pitched yips, and other incoherent bestial noises.
Remedy’s mind raced. Where was she? What happened? At least I’m alive right? The last thing she remembered was … the spider. An impossibly large spider. A Shiny black carapace, ferocious speed and fangs. A pair of painful itches throbbed on her side, reminding her of what she thought were her final moments.
An overhanging shrub scraped along the sled and brushed over Remedy’s face. She snorted as one of the errant leaves found it’s way into an unsuspecting nostril. The sled jerked to a stop. One of the wolves turned to inspect the noise. Remedy clamped her eyes shut, she could feel the hot foul breath of the wolf, as it sniffed at her curiously. "Oh please leave me alone, please leave me alone” she prayed and an involuntary whimper escaped.
A stern bark from further ahead drew the wolf’s head away. Remedy peeked through a half lidded eye. The large white and silver wolf that had first attacked her stood at the front of the line and the curious wolf now paid rapt attention to it. With a short growl and rough snort the silver wolf delivered his commands and they quickly resumed their journey, leaving Remedy in peace.
Remedy let out the breath she had been holding. She struggled again, but she couldn’t move anything from the neck down, and everything above took enormous effort. Defeated, she stopped struggling. A deep exhaustion settled like a cold numbness into her bones. A fresh welling of tears moistened the corners of her eyes. “So this is how it ends. Was this what happened to Natara? Oh Celestia save me.” She pinched her eyes closed in a desperate attempt to deny her reality.
Another smaller low lying branch brushed it’s foliage carelessly across the sled and Remedy. This time a familiar pungent odour assaulted her senses. Remedy’s eyes snapped open, thankful for anything familiar in this sun forsaken forest. She caught the sight of a Wild Darkbell just as it slipped over the edge of the sled behind her. Glancing forward she could see there were more of the slender buds twisted in among the low lying shrubs. One of them had a thick purple band around it’s bell.
Remedy strained with all her might as the low lying shrub passed barely within range of her face. She managed to pluck the bud just in time. She chewed and winced at the bitter flavour. After swallowing it took only a moment before she felt the plants effects begin to spread through her body. She strained once more, this time her leg gave the smallest twitch. Her eyes clarified, and a ray of hope chased away the clinging despair. She had a chance, now all she needed was the right moment.
Foalan sighed with satisfaction as he led the party into the clearing surrounding the den. Several waiting pack members howled and ran over to greet the hunting party, the party itself excitedly greeting their friends and family in turn. Two small cubs weaved between the celebrating pack and jumped up on the side of the sled.
“Hey, this isn’t like you told me!” one of the cubs complained with disappointment. “It doesn’t have horns or wings or anything. Are you sure it’s a pony and not a fat deer?”
“Get away from there you little whelps!” A beautiful snow-white wolf scolded the brash youngsters sternly.
With a yelp the two pups pushed off the sled and ran away yipping and chasing one another.
“Congratulations,” the white wolf smiled at Faolan, “you know I wasn’t sure you were going to succeed.”
“Kerena, it’s nice to see you again.” Faolan smiled fondly at the unexpected company. “It wasn’t easy that’s for sure. Everything was going to plan until I missed my strike and she bolted right into Aleena’s lair. Crazy thing!”
Kerena glanced at the pony strapped to the sled with a surprised look. As she turned she saw an eyelid clamp closed. Leaning conspiratorially towards Faolan she whispered, “I think she’s awake.”
Faolan chuckled, “Yeah, she’s been awake for a while now, playing possum. One fortunate thing to come out of the unexpected turn of events, is that she’s now paralysed for the night thanks to Aleena.”
Kerena looked back at the pony with concern. “Oh dear, will she be all right?”
Faolan scratched an itch behind his head. “I’m not really an expert on ponies or Aleena’s venom for that matter, but Aleena says she’ll be mobile by tomorrow night. Just in time for the council meeting.”
Kerena smiled, “Well congratulations again, and look!”, she nodded towards another hunting party returning, dragging a carcass behind them. “It looks like the other hunting party has caught a boar. Tonight is indeed a reason to celebrate.”
Kerena turned and slinked away, Faolan watched her go with rapt attention. Looking back to the sled, he noticed an eye flitting closed once more, and chuckled to himself, “I see you there, playing pretend...” The rest of his hunting party had swiftly abandoned him to the sled as soon as the boar carcass had arrived, and were busy helping to drag it into the den. Faolan sighed and started to loosen the vines holding his prisoner to the sled. With uncanny timing, supernatural mist began to seep in around Faolan and the sled. He recognised it immediately and turned quickly.
“Abidah!” he greeted jubilantly, “As requested, one pony alive and well. Well...aside from a little paralysis, but she will be right as rain by the council meeting.”
The great owl stooped over the sled, noticing the tiny flinch as his shadow crossed it. “She’s awake?” he queried with a raised eyebrow.
“Yeah, but she’s been playing dead for a while now.” Faolan admitted.
“Well nonetheless, Good work Faolan, it's good to see my faith in your abilities were not misplaced. Now, first things first. In order for her to be any help at all, we must be able to speak.” The great owl focused on the small pony. A mote of concentration forming a glowing ball of energy between his horns. A thin ray of energy burst from its surface and struck her bound form. Ripples of magic washed over her like water.
“There, she has been given the Gift of the Wild,” Abidah declared as he straightened up, “in a few minutes she will be able to speak with us and understand us. Keep her safe until the summit.” With his work done, he gave Faolan a small nod and lept into the air only to be swallowed by mist and vanished.
Faolan turned back towards the pony and began to loosen the vines once more.
“Well, better get you into the den then.”
His efforts were soon distracted by the joyful cries and sounds of feasting within. His own stomach growled its vote. “Well, perhaps after a little dinner. Don’t run off anywhere will you.” He chuckled at his own corny joke then scampered into the den.
Remedy cracked an eye open. The wolf was gone, but she could hear the joyful barks and yips mixed with the wet noises of tearing flesh and cracking bone. An involuntary shudder ran down her body. Still, this was the chance she was waiting for. Fortunately, they didn’t seem to know she was conscious, and that wolf had loosened one of her bonds. She wriggled and managed to free her hoof. Grabbing the vine holding her other hoof down, she bit and gnawed frantically. Soon a satisfying snap granted her the liberty of another limb. She reached down and worked on one of the vine ropes holding her leg. She just managed to free her third limb when a low guttural growl rumbled low and foreboding from the den above. Instinctively she lay back down, as if still paralysed. It wasn’t hard to figure the wolves expected the poison to be still affecting her, if not for the Darkbell it probably would be.
Yet try as she might, she could not force her eyes closed. There was something about this growl, it was different than the others. It carried a venom more potent than any spider, a menace that couldn’t be described. She thought she new the wolves intent before, but this new sensation made her doubt.
Two yellow points of hate filled light glinted in the shadows of the den.
“Grrrremember You… I remember your smell…”
Her eyes went wide, the growls were turning into words, she could understand them. Before her wonder could be pondered, a pitch black wolf with blazing yellow eyes stepped out of the den. His unblinking gaze held her own and robbed her of any coherent thought.
“Tonight is the first in weeks we have eaten so well…” the menacing predator continued, thick red droplets dripped from his tainted muzzle and clung in dark matted clumps on his chin.
“We could have had many more happy nights like this one if it wasn’t for your ‘kind’” he growled, his lips peeling back to reveal the large powerful fangs contained underneath. Remedy’s breath grew short and laboured, the familiar panic rising once more. This wolf was as large as the first one, and there was no doubt to his intention.
“And if it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have lost a son!” The wolf snarled. Remedy trembled, she tried to discreetly pull her other leg free, desperately clinging to the last vestiges of intelligent thought. If the wolf had noticed her moving, he didn’t show it. Her leg was almost free, if she could just…
“Now at last,” the wolf continued, his shadow falling across the sled as he approached with head held high and fangs bared, “now, a taste of retribution!”
With a final sharp snarl the black wolf lunged. Remedy cried out, covering her face with her fore hooves. She let her free leg fly with a panicked and desperate kick. She felt it strike bone. The large wolf fell backwards with a surprised yelp. Remedy moved on pure adrenaline, she reached down and tore the final vine free. She leapt from the sled, bucking it over in the process and fled as fast as she could into the forest without looking back.
Faolan raced out of the den, alerted by the noise. He saw his father lying on the ground nursing his jaw then he looked at the empty sled.
“What did you do!?” he exclaimed, but an angry glare was the only response. Faolan’s head snapped up and his ears scanned forward, he could hear the panicked crashing of jungle brush ahead. With an angry bark he yelled out orders to his two lieutenants that had come out to investigate.
“Quick! To the woods, she has escaped! Don’t ask how, just find her!” Then without waiting for confirmation Faolan raced down the hill, passing just close enough to the sled to grab the seal still slung over it.
The heavy undergrowth crashed aside as Remedy barrelled through the forest. “Oh Celestia help me!” her mind buzzed, “I’m back in the forest and I have no idea which way is home.”
She heard a howl carry over the forest behind her, obviously they weren’t about to let their prize escape. She glanced behind, there was no sign of wolves yet, but she was sure they were just beyond her sight. Distracted by her pursuers Remedy didn’t notice the wayward tree root on the path. She yelped as her front hoof caught and she fell with a heavy thud. She bounced off the narrow ridge path and tumbled down the small ravine that flanked it. Branches and bushes were crushed under her as she tumbled. A final 6 foot drop down a rocky escarpment landed her with a heavy thud and knocked the wind out of her lungs.
Remedy coughed and groaned as she lay on the soft peat. Her head had just missed a protruding granite crag by about 6 inches. She tried to stand, but a sharp bolt of pain coursed through her right leg. Leaning back against the rocky wall she nursed the offended appendage and took in her most recent plight. A small clearing of brown rotting leaves and peat moss offered a respite from the thick undergrowth.
“At least they’ll have a hard time following me down here.” She conceded with morbid chuckle.
Today it seemed as if the fates themselves cruelly conspired against any hope she might consider, a twig snapped in the undergrowth just ahead and a deep soft purr rolled out from the forest, “how curious?”
From between the bushes a large tiger stalked out. Something inside Remedy broke. Her eye twitched and with a loud cry she yelled, “Oh C’mooon”
The tigress, seeing her prey was injured and cornered, grinned and sat on her haunches. She leaned forward and with an amused tilt of her head she spoke in a mocking coo, “You seem a little lost?”
Remedy seethed, fed up with this day and now her most recent predicament. “Yeah well… if you want a taste of my hide, you’re going to have to get in line.” She growled furiously. “Between the wolves and the giant spiders, I’m sorry, but I don’t think there’ll be much left.”
Overhead, the sounds of yelps and barks grew louder. The tigress raised an eyebrow and cocked an ear to listen to the commotion above. A self satisfied grin crept onto her face as the noises began to recede as they passed on the path above.
“Well now, it seems I’ve jumped the queue.”
“How lucky for you…” Remedy hissed between clenched teeth.
The tigress sauntered closer, Remedy mustered every morsel of menace she could glare, but the tiger was not at all concerned. The tigress paused to check the sharpness of her claws, extending and retracting them by clenching her paw.
“Now normally I like a bit of sport, but you can’t run anymore, and you look like you’ve had a rough day,” the tiger patronised, “so why don’t I make this quick?”
“Rot in Tartarus!” Remedy growled defiantly, but her prickly attitude belied the exhaustion that gnawed at her bones or the tears that streamed down her face.
The tigress grinned, licking her bared teeth, “how trite.”
Remedy cringed as the Tiger’s shadow fell upon her. The tiger was much larger than any wolf and like a candle with no more wick, the last embers of hope flickered and died within her. Remedy turned away, teeth clenched. Angry tears matted her face. The tiger’s jaws yawned open, ribbons of saliva trailed between the enormous teeth and a deep deathly growl blew the tigers hot breath carrying with it the stench of death. This was it.
“STOP!” A silver flash leapt from the bushes above the rocky cliff and tackled the tiger. The tigress, though surprised, reacted with obscene speed and grace, tumbling with the impact and throwing her aggressor off with a powerful kick. Remedy equally surprised watched as the silver wolf, her first attacker landed with a much less graceful thud and quickly scrambled to his feet. A small talisman landed in the peat nearby.
“YOU DARE STEAL MY KILL!” The tiger roared, and unleashed a flurry of powerful strikes at the wolf.
“STOP! WAI…” was all he managed to plead before the first claw swung at his face. He ducked and rolled, dodged and dove while the tigress pressed her onslaught, but the wolf was equally determined. With teeth bared he dodged, jumped and skipped, bringing every edge of agility over the heavier tiger to avoid her heavy blows. Remedy stared in horror as the macabre act played out before her. Two great predators each fearsome in their own right, fought with killing intent just for the chance to be the first to taste her life. Great swathes of leaf and earth were flung into the air as the pair tore the ground open around them in the effort to do likewise to each other.
The silver wolf dodged another strike and dove for the discarded talisman. He turned to wield it against the tiger, but the tigress was faster. A powerful blow struck the side of the wolf’s head and three ribbons of blood arced away as the sharp claws tore open his face. He fell limply with a heavy thud into the soft earth, motionless. Remedy trembled at the powerful display. The tigress stood panting, her teeth still bared as the thick muscles rippled along her shoulders and back. One large bloody paw was still planted on the wolf's head, claiming her triumph. The tiger's yellow eyes locked onto Remedy’s, fresh with blood lust. This was it. No more escapes, no more delays. It was her turn.
An aching groan came from under the tiger's weight and Faolan slowly lifted the council's seal into view with a shaky paw. It took a moment for the tigress to recognise it, but she quickly took her paw off his head and stepped back.
"A thousand apologies, I didn’t know you were working with the council” She dipped her head in respect.
Faolan coughed and sat up. He spat a thick glob of blood onto the battle torn sod. “Next time, if you could stop and listen first, I’d very much appreciate it.” He scowled, wincing as he touched the deep gouges on his cheek.
The tigress coughed politely with her eyes averted. "Sorry, I thought you were trying to steal my kill."
Faolan slowly stood up, testing his limbs for sturdiness. He glanced at the pony who seemed to be stunned and cowering against the rock face. "Well I'm just glad I made it in time. She still seems to be all right... well, alive at least."
Remedy cradled her foreleg gingerly. Her mind stunned by the surreal scene. These two murderous monsters were having the most polite conversation just seconds after attempting to kill each other with desperate abandon.
"I'm sorry to take an easy kill from you in these trying times, " Faolan continued, "but this one is under the protection of the council, and none shall prey upon her. She is needed for the summit."
The tigress raised an eyebrow. "Why? What does the council need a tiny equus for, horse d'oeuvres?"
"I'm afraid I do not have the precise details, but I do know that Abidah has personally organised her participation and has decreed that no harm will come to her. Sorry for the inconvenience, but I'll be taking her back to our den. I expect you will find out more at the council summit."
The tigress gave a nod and with a small bow quietly slipped back into the forest.
Faolan watched her go. AS soon as she was out of site, he whipped his head around and glared angrily at the pony.
"Pony! Would you kindly pleeeease STOP running off and trying to get US BOTH KILLED!" He barked.
Remedy's nose wrinkled in furious offense and she rolled her eyes dramatically.
"Well I'm soooo sorry. I didn't want to have all the fun, so I thought I'd SHARE THE EXPERIENCE!" she shouted back
Faolan shook his head and chuckled morbidly.
"Seriously? Is suicide a common trait of your kind, or is it something you personally specialise in?"
"Suicide!?" Remedy squawked, "I'm trying to SURVIVE this horrid place. I JUST WANT TO GO HOME!"
"If you stop running off into the forest like some day old pup with its eyes still closed, then you will yet see your home again in two days time!"
"Ha, the words of a monster. Lies. You just want my life for yourself."
Faolan clenched his eyes shut and groaned in frustration. He rubbed his temple to stave off the growing pounding in his head.
"You stupid pony. I'm trying to PROTECT YOU!" he snapped.
"Oh, protect me? I see now," Remedy began in a patronising sing-song voice, "first, attacked by wolves. Escape. Then attacked by unreasonably enormous spider. Paralysed. Recaptured by wolves. Attacked by same wolves while defenselessly tied down. Barely escape. And now, attacked by a tiger, and low and behold, my heroic wolf captor comes to my 'rescue'. Oh how I swoon."
Remedy slathered enough sarcasm in her words to rival Aleena for toxicity.
Faolan sighed.
"Pony, look. I am sorry about the method of your capture, and I'm sorry about Marrock back at the den. I shouldn't have left you alone. But please, I AM trying to protect you, and in two days time, if you don't get yourself killed in the meantime, I will personally escort you back out of the forest. OK?"
"And what about the spiders and tigers"
Faolan waved a paw dismissively. "Oh no no no, they were your fault. I mean seriously, who just runs into Aleena's lair, or romps about at dusk on the eve of the council summit? No I accept no culpability for that."
"And yet with the same breath he claims himself a protector." she snorted. She held her head high and stared icy daggers at the wolf.
"You're still alive aren't you pony? Of all the creatures you've run into today, the wolves were the only ones not trying to kill you."
Remedy narrowed her gaze.
"Well... well except for Marrok, but he's a bit of a special case" Faolan conceded, fumbling for an excuse, "he doesn't count."
"Oh how convenient, so not ALL the wolves are trying to eat me. Just some."
"Argh! Pony! Would you stop being so unreasonable!"
"Unreasonable? UNREASONABLE! In what world is any of THIS reasonable!" She waved her good leg at... everything, "and if you call me pony one more time..."
Faolan snorted in lieu of the angry growl he really wanted to give. "Fine, what is your name?"
Remedy hushed him with a hoof to her lips. Then looking to either side as if spies could be listening she beckoned the wolf closer.
Faolan watched her in dead-eyed disbelief. He gave out a world weary sigh and slowly approached. He cocked an ear and tilted his head to listen as she leaned toward him to whisper.
"I don't understand what the big secret is, I only asked for your name, you're the one who..."
The crack of Remedy's fierce left hook echoed off the sheer rock face and frightened every nearby cicada into silence.
"MY NAME IS REMEDY, AND THAT'S FOR KIDNAPPING ME!" she screamed at the staggered wolf.
Faolan fell backwards clutching the side of head. His lips peeled into a fierce snarl and he growled. His cold blue eyes burned at Remedy, but she just returned her own fierce scowl in reply.
The two spent a tense moment staring before Faolan looked away. He took a deep breath and let the anger flow away.
He got back to his feet and with his eyes still closed, spoke in a careful measured tone.
"Fine, are you happy now?"
"Hardly. You're still standing." Remedy bit back.
Faolan tried to keep his voice low and calm. It was a taxing effort.
"Look. I know you don't trust me, and I can't let you go. But if you want to live, you need to listen to me and do as I say."
Remedy continued to stare defiantly, but otherwise bit her tongue.
"My name is Faolan, and I am the current Alpha of the Moonshadow clan. While I am your captor, I am also guide and protector."
Remedy simmered in quiet contemplation while she gently rubbed her aching leg. Faloan nodded at it.
"Can you walk?"
Remedy tenderly placed the leg down and put some weight on it, immediately wincing and limping, but the leg bore the weight reluctantly.
"Do you need help?" Faolan offered.
"Ha, more than you realise or can offer." Remedy retorted.
"Come with me, I'll take you to a stream nearby. You can clean up a bit."
"Oh. So you DO wash your food before you eat it."
Faolan sighed a sigh that stole a dozen years from his lifespan and silently cursed the Owl for assigning him to the defense of this relentlessly snarky creature.
"I only thought the cool water might soothe your injury but if you'd prefer, we can just go back to the den. Unless of course you'd prefer to sit here in the jungle darkness." he said wearily.
Remedy gave Faolan another dirty look but said nothing.
Faolan led her to a nearby stream. Remedy sighed with relief as the cool water ran over her sprained hock. Regular traffic had kept this part of the brook relatively free from the encroaching plant life, but amongst a small cluster of broken rocks that bordered the stream she noticed a bush of busy yellow flowers poking out.
"Imortelle?" she pondered.
Remedy dragged over a smooth flat river stone and plucked a few sprigs of the flower. Placing it on the stone, she ground it into a thick paste with another round stone. She scooped up a glob of the paste and rubbed it into her hock.
Faolan watched curiously, "what are you doing?"
"I'm applying medicine to my injury. It's what I do."
Remedy glanced at the wolf and studied the bloody wounds on his cheek, still weeping a little fresh blood. She winced at the ugly gashes.
"In fact, come here." she ordered, pointing to a spot within bucking range.
"What? This little thing? Oh no, that's not necessary." Faolan said, backing up a little.
"Oh stop being such a foal" Remedy rebuked, "I'm not going to hurt you... again... much. If those cuts get infected you won't have a face left, let alone any heroic scars to show off."
Faolan cautiously stepped forward and sat at the edge of the stream. "You're not going to hit me again? This isn't another trick?"
Remedy ignored his question and gently turned his head to the side with a hoof. Faolan only flinched a little and silently thanked the spirits that none of the pack was here to witness it.
"Tch, looks like someone hit you with a bucket of nails"
"And I'm not sure it was the tiger" said Faolan, still shy of her touch.
"Stop being such a crybaby" Remedy chided, "I barely touched you. Now hold still, this will sting a bit."
Remedy dipped her hoof into the yellow paste and smeared it into the cuts. Faolan pulled away immediately with a growl.
Remedy jerked her hoof back like he was going to bite it and berated him.
"Oh seriously. You just fought a tiger, and now you're afraid of me?"
"Well it hurts," Faolan whined, "besides, I know how to handle a tiger, I don't know what you're doing."
"It's a rudimentary oil of Immortelle. It will keep the wound clean and promote it's healing. I've used it plenty of times and on small fillies as well. So stop fussing and let me work. You want me to trust you? You can start by trusting me."
Faolan begrudgingly returned to his post. Remedy applied more balm to the wound, more gently this time. Faolan winced but didn't move or make a sound.
Remedy worked quickly and quietly and a peace descended on the pair with only the bubbling trickle of the brook breaking the silence.
"Um. Thanks, I guess, for saving me from the tiger." said Remedy hesitantly, "but I'm still mad at you for kidnapping me in the first place. "
She gave him a sharper prod with the final application of paste.
"Ow"
"And while you're still a killer and a monster, never let it be said I'm not grateful for a kindness."
"I'm sorry about our methods Remedy, but it would have been dangerous for us if you ran back to your home."
"Dangerous? For you?" Remedy scoffed.
"We know the forest, it was the safest way to ensure your capture. We couldn't just ask you until you received the gift."
Remedy opened her mouth to protest but paused. "Wait, the gift? Was that the spell that was cast on me by that big creepy owl?"
Faolan chuckled at her glib remark. "Yes, it's called the Gift of the Wild. All the inhabitants of the forest receive this gift soon after they're born. It is a powerful magic enchantment given by the great forest spirits. Since they don't leave the forest, you need to be within it to receive it. It is what allows us to speak."
"Is it permanent?" said Remedy, absently touching her throat.
"Yes, it is a powerful and ancient magic now woven into your very blood. It is a part you now. You are the first of your kind to receive the gift in nearly a thousand years."
"Wow, I guess I should be honored." said Remedy, though her furrowed brow betrayed she wasn't sure she was happy with anything being woven into her blood.
She shook the unsettling thought from her mind and refocused. "But that still doesn't explain WHY you brought me here?"
Remedy tested her leg. It ached, but most of the initial pain had dulled and she hated to admit it but the cool stream was a big help.
Faolan turned around and lead Remedy away.
"I don't know the specifics, but I was ordered by the council to obtain a pony alive for questioning at the summit to be held tomorrow night."
"Council?"
Faolan sighed and wondered if raising a litter of cubs would be easier than this ceaseless inquisition.
"Oh, that reminds me," he said, suddenly stopping and facing the slowly following mare, "I've also been ordered to give you this."
Faolan held out the small talisman he had used to pacify the tiger.
Remedy took the hoof-sized token and immediately scrunched her face in disgust. "Are these... teeth?"
Faolan nodded. "Each member tribe contributes to the construction of the Council's Seal. That makes it difficult to forge and lends to it's authenticity"
Remedy turned the savage icon over slowly. Three rough pieces of wood formed a simple shield shape with a piece of tanned skin stretched among the twigs. Sewn into it's face were three fangs from a lion, wolf and snake, and the ebony talon of an eagle. The whole assembly was sewn together with tight threads of white spiders silk. A matching silk ribbon provided a convenient necklace for the gruesome seal.
Faolan rolled his eyes at the perpetual and evolving look of disgust the council's seal was eliciting from Remedy. "It will give you immunity to being hunted by the carnivores in the forest. Keep it with you at all times and if you feel threatened, show it to your aggressor."
Remedy held the grim token at arms length as if it might actually bite her. "Then what's to stop me leaving for home right now with this magical amulet of monster immunity?"
"It's not magic besides, do you even know which way to go?" said Faolan as he turned to continue their walk.
"It is a symbol, and only protects you from the council member tribes. It won't help against monsters."
"There's a difference?" exclaimed remedy. She placed the token around her neck and hobbled after Faolan.
"We only hunt to survive. We are not evil or irrational." argued Faolan, a hint of disappointment in his tone.
"Tell that to the hunted." Remedy mumbled under her breath.
There was a brief moment of quiet before Faolan spoke, "Remedy. I can offer you no words that might convince you otherwise. I only hope that one day you might see for yourself that we are more than our menu."
Faolan gave another weary sigh before Remedy could reply, "Come on now, it will be night soon. We need to get back to the den."
It had been a long painful day, and he really didn't want to get into an argument over the ethics of predation to someone a thousand years divorced from the very concept. Fortunately in only a few more strides they rounded a bend in the path and broke into the clearing that surrounded the den. The two pups were playing outside while their harried mother tried to herd them inside. Several other wolves were laying around. As soon as they saw Remedy and Faolan approach, one of them loosed a long howl quickly joined by the others. The haunting drawn out chord soared over the distant treetops and received an echo a few seconds later.
Remedy jumped, startled by the loud noise and instinctively drew in close behind Faolan. She clutched at the seal dangling around her neck to make sure it was still there. They climbed the hill to the den entrance. Thankfully the other wolves kept their distance, but the way they naturally seemed to flank and take position behind her drew a deep primal dread out of her. She couldn't help but keep checking over her shoulder to make sure they were keeping their distance. They did. Almost as if they were just as cautious of her.
The den loomed above them. An ancient cave carved into the mountains face. The last embers of daylight were quickly scrambling up the top of the mountain and disappearing over it's peak. And there at the entrance, blacker than the shadow behind him, was Marrok. He stood and watched with burning yellow eyes.
"What's HIS problem?" Remedy whispered harshly.
"Ah, yes. Marrok. Best not to be alone with him. Seal or otherwise. Stay with me and you'll be fine."
Marrok snorted in disgust, then turned his back on them and stalked into the cave.
"Come, it will be dark soon. The nights can be quite chilly."
Faolan stepped forward into the mouth of the den.
"Wait," Remedy pleaded, "Please. I don't want to go in. It smells like death in there."
Faolan frowned then scanned the sky. "The sky is clear, there will be no rain. But it will be a cold night and we do not play with fire here."
Remedy shook her head defiantly. "I don't care. I'm not going inside."
Faolan sighed again, it was becoming a habit.
"At least come under the overhang. Your coats are not as thick as ours and I don't want you to survive everything you have, only to fall prey to dew and cold."
Remedy nodded, conceding.
"I'll stay with you" he added.
Faolan stretched out on the grass and Remedy sat beside him. They sat in silence as the sunset proceeded. They watched the last hues of twilight melt as the sun dipped behind the distant horizon. The sea of treetops were swallowed by the deep dark shadow of pre-night.
A tiny sob escaped Remedy and she wiped away some tears with a hoof.
The moon rose quickly as it usually did, taking its place just above the horizon. It bathed the land in a pale silver light. The trees, like players on a stage changing costumes, changed their hues. Where once their deep rich greens boasted an almost defiant quantity of life they were now ghostly and pale, all colour washed out. The sounds of the forest had also changed. The raucous din of exotic birds and incessant buzzing insects now replaced by a more respectful cadence of crickets and occasional hooting owl or squabbling bat.
As her eyes adjusted Remedy could also finally appreciate the full canvas of night and it's million tiny jewels that speckled the sky.
"It must be years since I last just sat and watched a moonrise." she said quietly, hoping conversation might stave off a growing melancholy, "and the stars do shine very brightly here."
"We have no unnatural light here. Only the moon and her stars mark the passage of night. Ours is a simple life, but these are the gifts afforded to those who let them shine."
"Well it's very beautiful, but I'm not giving up warm baths, cooked food or a comfy bed for it. It IS beginning to get chilly out here." said Remedy, her tone defiant but her wavering voice betrayed the tattered fraying seams of her courage. A shiver ran down her back as the chilling night air stole the warmth from her body.
Faolan sighed, again. With a small shuffle he pressed the side of his body against hers. Remedy recoiled immediately at the contact. "What are you doing?" she accused.
"Two bodies are warmer than one." he said matter-of-fact. Then crossed his paws in front and laid down his head. His offer made.
Remedy watched him suspiciously for a moment and absently rubbed the chill from her shoulder. She looked away and slowly let her body relax against his thick coat. The immediate feeling of warmth that flowed across her back was a blessing, but it was embittered by the resentment of her dependence on it. She tucked her legs beneath her and settled down.
Around her the quiet chorus of crickets continued. Occasionally a branch rustled or a twig snapped in the undergrowth. Night though it was, the forest seemed to be more alive than ever. Faolan lay quietly. His breathing and heartbeat were relaxed and beat a slow and steady rhythm. Remedy tried to settle down, but every noise of the forest or glint of eye from the black Everfree kept her alert.
Her exhaustion demanded the redress of sleep, but fear would not allow its respite. The forest blurred as tears welled in her eyes and another broken sob shuddered from her body. Remedy began to cry quietly her waning strength no longer sufficient to keep her tears at bay.
"I want to go home." she whispered between choked breaths, "I can't even imagine what this is doing to my father and friends."
Faolan listened quietly to her broken sobs and frowned.
"Why all the tears? After all, despite the rough day, it had turned out all right didn't it?" he thought to himself.
He listened quietly as she cried. She didn't wail or make a fuss. They were soft and timid. He could feel the ragged shudders of her breath but her sobs were choked back as much as she could muster. These were private tears spilled involuntarily in public company.
Faolan hesitated, then spoke in a gentle quiet tone, "I am sorry for the trouble our actions have caused. If you will suffer us one more day and night, I will personally see you home. I promise. It's just that... we need you more right now."
Remedy sniffed as her tears slowly abated. "I don't have a choice, do I?"
Faolan lifted his head and gave her an apologetic smile. "Try to sleep. You are safe. I'm sure you will feel better in the morning."
Remedy wiped the damp from her cheeks and curled into a tight ball against his flank. The convulsions of her breathing slowed and stopped with a final shuddering sigh.
"Do you think it can shoot magic from its eyes instead?"
Remedy's ear twitched in irritation.
"I still think it's a fat deer"
"It ain't a deer. Have you ever seen a deer that colour?"
Remedy growled at her interrupted slumber. "I'm a pony, and ponies are normally still asleep."
A single bloodshot eye cracked open and swiveled to glare at the two nosy pups.
"You two!" came a sharp bark from behind, "What have I told you about bothering her. Do you want me to tell your mother?"
The two pups crouched behind Remedy like a barricade and glanced over at the source of their rebuke.
"Eeek. The white witch, quick run!" The pair squealed with laughter and bolted off down the hill.
Remedy blinked her eyes open and wearily stood up. The white wolf she had seen earlier was trotting over. Pretty though she was, Remedy couldn't help but feel a little cautious.
"I'm so sorry. Remedy isn't it?" said the wolf in a friendly voice, slowing to a cautious approach as she neared, "I'm afraid those two little brats have a lot to learn about common courtesy."
Remedy smiled weakly, timidly stretching her sore joints. "It's alright, I'm up now anyway. You guys sure do start early."
"Sorry for waking you, we're normally up before dawn. My name is Kerena by the way."
"Nice to meet you, I suppose considering the circumstances" Remedy conceded.
Kerena had to step to the side as another wolf stepped out from the den. He was humming a merry tune and carrying in his jaws the remains of last night's dinner. The leg was cleanly severed at the hock had been stripped clean of nearly all the meat but it was still tinctured pink and still had a few scraps of sinuous red meat and dark black fur and skin that clung to the delicate bones around the foot and cloven hoof.
Remedy stifled a shriek and turned away dry-heaving.
Kerena gave an annoyed whine at the careless wolf. He stopped, unsure of the problem. Kerena made a desperate nod towards the convulsing mare. He looked at Remedy then back at Kerena. Kerena growled at him and pointed her head back towards the den.
Like the ineffable movement of tectonic plates that shape continents, his eyes widened as realisation dawned like an ancient sunrise. His face now betrayed considerable embarrassment. The witless wolf quickly retreated back into the den.
Kerena groaned and shook her head. She turned back to Remedy who was still suffering an occasional but abating violent shudder and winced.
"I'm so sorry about that. This is not a usual situation for us either, and some are not quite as... astute as others"
Remedy swallowed, but her mouth was dry. "I'll be fine. It's just... where's Faolan? Isn't he supposed to be protecting me?"
Kerena dipped her head and gave an apologetic smile. "It must have been a hard day for you. Go easy on Faolan, he does mean well."
"We can talk forgiveness when I'm home safe"
Kerena frowned at Remedy's prickly demeanour. This was not how she hoped this first conversation would go. She made a mental note to herself to give that stupid wolf a lesson on common courtesy. It seemed the pups weren't the only ones in need of guidance.
Kerena shook away the depressing thoughts and put on her most affable smile. She pointed down the hill to a cluster of wolves all circled around. "Down there, in the middle of that pack. He's discussing some last minute preparations regarding tonight's summit. I hope I can offer some company in the meantime if it doesn't bother you."
Remedy took a moment to size her up. Kerena was only slightly smaller than Faolan, but her coat was a pristine unblemished white. "Well, you're a wolf, but then again you are also the first wolf I've met that hasn't attacked me. So I guess that counts for something. If you can keep that track record it will earn you some pretty big bonus points."
Kerena chuckled, "Well I'm honoured to exceed your expectations, and shall do my very best to continue doing so."
Remedy shook her head to chase away the lingering dark thoughts and took a deep breath. The brisk morning air was clean and fresh, and carried with it the complex and multi-layered fragrances of the forest. She felt her spirits lift for the first time in quite a while, even if only marginally.
Remedy sat and watched the considerable hubbub of activity around her. Everywhere wolves were running in and out of the heavy tree line. They would run up to the cluster in the middle, speak, then with fresh orders from Faolan, duck back out again. Faolan looked in his element. Processing each new piece of information and transforming it into new instructions with practiced ease.
"So what is this business with the council summit anyway?" Remedy asked suddenly, "It seems like a pretty big shindig 'round here."
She secretly hoped conversation would be a suitable distraction from the morning's previous unpleasantness.
"It is quite the event, yes. The council only meets once every couple of decades." said Kerena.
"And who's in this council then? Is it only wolves?"
Kerena sat down her back straight and held her high and proper. It reminded Remedy of her old school mistress and she had to stifle a chuckle.
"The Council of Carnivores is made up of members of the five Everfree Carnivore Tribes. The Canines, Felines, Reptiles, Raptors and Arachnids. Each tribe is led by a spirit guardian."
"Whoa, slow down there - spirit guardian?" Remedy interrupted.
Kerena cocked her head. "Yes? - Like your Celestia."
"Princess Celestia?" said Remedy with no small measure of skepticism. "Our beloved leader sure, but 'spirit guardian'?"
"Well 'Princess' is a self-assumed title. But a title does not grant you immortality, nor the power she wields. Surely you knew? She claims dominion over the sun and moon, doesn't she?" Kerena raised an eyebrow, surprised at Remedies own doubt.
"The only 'spirit' I know of is Discord, and he's a statue in a garden"
"Discord is another. The now imprisoned Spirit of Chaos. Though we would never claim him as a guardian"
"And you say each of the carnivore tribes has their own 'Princess' for lack of a better term."
Kerena stifled her own giggle. "I suppose you could say that. Though some may take offense at that title. The carnivore spirits don't wield the same magics as Celestia. Your race has a strong affinity with magic and so Celestia also embodies that strong magical affinity. Our races are based on physicality, so though our leaders possess some magic, they are more so exceptional examples of our own physical prowess."
"Way to toot your own horn there." Remedy smirked at the proud expression on Kerena's face, "though that also sounds quite foreboding..."
Kerena laughed, "I guess it might. But don't worry, they're not active hunters. Unless some prey is silly enough to walk into their homes. Faolan said you've met Aleena already?"
Remedy shuddered at the thought, "that was horrifying. I will never look at spiders the same way again. You sure know a lot about this stuff. We certainly weren't taught any of this in school."
"I am a disciple of Ulrica, the Great Wolf Spirit, Bastion of Family and Teamwork. That involves a lot of learning about the world that was and is. To be honest though, we don't learn a lot about ponies either."
"Makes sense I suppose," Remedy conceded, "since our paths don't normally cross. Not pleasantly anyway."
“Good morning. Feeling better?” said Faolan, he had finished with his morning duties and had wandered up the hill to join them.
Remedy took a few experimental steps.
“Well the leg is pretty good.”
Her stomach growled rudely, reminding her she hadn’t eaten since breakfast the day before. A slight blush tinged her cheeks. “I could do with some breakfast though, but I’m not sure I’d like the menu here.”
“There’s another glade not far from here,” offered Faolan, “I’m sure you can find something to your liking there.”
Kerena nodded in agreement, “I’ll take my leave too. I still have some preparations for tonight. It was nice talking to you Remedy.”
Remedy smiled and nodded. Kerena returned the smile with a shallow bow, and then treated Foalan to his own coy smile before walking away.
Faolan lead Remedy down a short path away from the den. The two walked quietly for a while until Remedy noticed a very self-assured grin was persistently plastered over Faolan's face, and it irked her.
“What are you grinning about?” she accused suspiciously.
“Oh nothing much,” he shrugged casually. “It’s just that if I didn’t know better, seeing you talk with Kerena, I might have been mistaken into thinking you were starting to act reasonable.”
Remedy gave a short offended whinny. “Oh don’t get me wrong. I still think you’re all a bunch of murdering psychopaths. However that doesn’t mean I need to be rude about it.”
“Well even psychopaths have feelings, so it’s nice to see you’re not bucking every creature you meet.” Faolan teased. His efforts immediately earned him a swift punch in the shoulder.
“That’s reserved for you and anyone else that tries to eat me.” Remedy scolded.
Foalan pouted with mock hurt, “What, I’d never... such accusations. The thought never crossed my mind. Although, I did wonder if you tasted like strawberries.”
Remedy swung another hoof at him, harder this time. “That’s not funny.”
Foalan was prepared this time and easily dodged sideways out of the way laughing. “Whoa easy there, you almost hit me. Seriously, if you had a better set of teeth on you, I’d think YOU were the dangerous one.”
Remedy glared, but before she could respond the path turned a sharp corner and opened into a grassy clearing. The early morning sun was just peaking over the treetops. It bathed the glade in its warmth, and the slowly evaporating dew twinkled like tiny stars. All throughout, a lush variety of flowering plants and fruit bearing trees grew, constantly attended by butterflies and bees that flitted from stem to brightly coloured stem. Remedy gasped. “This is beautiful. I’ve never seen so much variety in one place.”
“It used to be a very common feeding ground for a lot of the animals before they went away.”
“Before you killed them you mean?” Remedy said soberly, still looking over the lush expanse.
“Some, yes,” admitted Faolan, “but most left the forest alive and well.”
Remedy wandered over to a small clump of flowers, inhaling their fragrance deeply. She quickly bit off a few stems and chewed them gratefully. “I haven’t eaten food raw since I was a filly, it tastes so sweet. You should try some.”
Faolan chuckled, but held up a restraining paw. “No thanks, grass makes me sick”
“Not even some flowers? They’re lovely and fragrant?” Remedy pressed.
“You certainly are a voracious eater, but no thank you.” he declined.
Remedy scanned the clearing, “Oooh!” She bounded over to a large apple tree burdened by heavy ripe fruit and stood on her hind legs to inspect the fruit closer. She looked over her shoulder at Faolan, “surely you can’t say no to a delicious apple?”
“Good luck. It’s rare to find a fresh one on the ground, and I don’t know about you, but I’m not built for climbing.”
Remedy lent her back against the tree amused, her forelegs crossed confidently in front. “Is that so?”
She dropped forward onto all fours then with a hop, raised her hind legs and struck the tree with a mighty blow. The trunk shifted from the impact and it’s boughs trembled. With a satisfying snap, three apples fell from their branches along with a dozen leaves.
Remedy lent down to pick up the fruit, flicking her mane from her face as she stood back up. She turned to a slack jawed Foalan staring in amazement and an unbearably smug grin crawled onto her face.
Faolan coughed and restored his composure. “Eh-hrm, it seem the legends have some truth in them, you are certainly stronger than you look.”
Remedy grinned like a cat and brushed some dirt from her hoof. “Well I’m no apple farmer that’s for sure. The Apple Family up the road can rid a tree of it’s entire yield in a single buck, but you better remember what these things can do and be grateful I wasn’t really trying to hurt you when I hit you yesterday.”
Faolan absent mindedly rubbed his cheek again.
Remedy handed him one of her apples then bit into her own. It was succulent and some of its juice ran down her chin. She sighed contentedly.
Foalan looked at the fruit suspiciously then took an awkwardly bite, unsure of how to even approach the act. Remedy laughed at the scrunched face he made afterwards.
While they were eating an unnatural fog rolled in around Remedy, whispy curls tangled around her hooves. She looked down at the mist in confusion.
“I hope I’m not interrupting.” a deep voice rumbled behind them.
Remedy yelped and spun on her hooves. Abidah stepped out of the foggy shroud and towered over them. She immediately shied back behind Faolan.
Foalan smiled reassuringly and stepped forward. “Good morning Abidah”
The great owl settled his feathers and folded his wings around his frame. “And to you too. I see our guest is up and about, unusual for Aleena’s poison to wear off so quickly.”
“Haha - yeah, it was surprising to say the least,” Faolan laughed nervously, "Remedy this is Abidah the Wise, Chair of the council. He is the one that sought your participation.”
Remedy immediately scowled, “so it was you! You’re the one responsible for orchestrating my kidnapping.”
Faolan's eyes widened in panic. “Sssh!, Remedy! He is the chair of the council, and one of the forest spirits. Show some respect for sanity’s sake.”
Abidah took Remedy’s countenance in stride, calmly dismissing the wolf’s panicked attempts to silence the angry little mare.
“It’s all right Faolan. I humbly apologize for any inconvenience our actions have caused.”
Remedy huffed, “Inconveni… Are you KIDDING!?”
Abidah silenced her with a swift flaring of his wings before she could roll into a full blown rant. The pair were enveloped in his shadow and a fierce wind ripped through the surrounding grass. Both Remedy and Faolan shielded their eyes from the gusty onslaught.
In a firm but calm tone Abidah continued, “Perhaps if I explain our situation, you might find our reasons less… unreasonable.”
Remedy glared silently and Abidah folded his wings once more. “Details will come later, but suffice it to say. We are seeking your assistance to stave off our own extinction.”
“And what if I think your extinction isn’t such a bad idea?” Remedy mumbled bitterly.
Abidah frowned at her cruel response. “You haven’t been met with the best first impressions and I don’t blame you for the animosity you show. Our tribes have never seen eye to eye, but do you truly believe we all deserve death? Wouldn’t that make you more the monster than any you’ve seen so far?”
Remedy maintained her stubborn glare.
“You’ve torn me from my home, my family. You’ve already KILLED my teacher and friend. I swear if anything happens to them because they’re searching for me, because of... this. I swear by Celestia I’ll show you a real monster.”
Abidah stood over three times Remedy's height, and the bulk of his feathers made for an imposing silhouette. His large eyes narrowed on Remedy, and one of his talons scratched irritated at the dirt but Remedy didn't flinch and maintained her vice like stare with the great spirit. Faolan looked nervously between the two and a small whimper escaped.
A distant howl broke the icy standoff. A second followed then a third. Abidah finally blinked, his expression softened and he looked towards the direction of the howls.
“I believe Ulrica has arrived. I’ll do what I can to ensure that any of your kin entering the forest in search of you are not harmed. For now, come. Let us meet the Queen of Dens.”
Remedy opened her mouth to object but before any response could be uttered, he spread his wings and great curtains of fog billowed out swallowing the trio. Remedy squeaked and tried to step back, but her hooves lost purchase on the ground. For a moment she felt weightless like she was falling, but before panic could take hold she felt soft earth once more. The mist quickly receded and she found herself standing back at the edge of the Moonshadow glade.
Remedy shook her head to clear the sudden vertigo but by the time she could gather her senses Abidah had already walked away.
On the other side of the glade, a new pack of wolves were emerging from the forest. They were all female and their heads were decorated with coloured beads and flowers. They moved with confidence and grace and the rest of the clan bowed in respect. They greeted a waiting Kerena before quickly taking position forming a guard of honor.
From within the forest Remedy heard the creaking and groaning of wood. A flight of startled birds took to the air as their roost shuddered and a sudden burst of magical light rippled at the path entrance. Slowly the thick trunks of the trees at the clearings edge warped and bowed away.
Remedy gasped as Ulrica stepped into the light. The great wolf raised her head to its full height, an orb of icy blue light shimmered between two long horns that swept back from her head. Dark red markings on her face glowed faintly, contrasting with her light grey coat. The orb of magic flickered out and the trees twisted back to their original upright positions.
Remedy gaped awestruck, the great wolf was at least 8’ tall, and her coat shone with particular luster. All the wolves bowed in respect as she entered the glade. Abidah walked up to Ulrica, himself large enough to look her in the eye. He offered a respectful nod, then hugged her like an old friend.
“Abidah, it’s good to see you again” she greeted, her voice soothing and melodic, “I hope the weight of your constant worrying hasn’t prematurely aged you.”
Abidah chuckled heartily, “That, I cannot guarantee.”
Ulrica extended a giant paw and reassuringly laid it on the owls shoulder. “You need to relax more. Let life happen rather than fret over all its possibilities.”
“Perhaps one day, but for now the forest needs my planning if we’re to survive. Come, I want you to meet the special guest that will be taking part in the council activities this evening.”
Abidah led the great wolf up the slope to where Remedy and Faolan stood. Every wolf bowing as she passed. Remedy cowered slightly behind Faolan under the shadow of the great wolf spirit. Faolan knelt before the sovereign and Ulrica, seeing the young mare cowering, graciously addressed him first.
“Hello Faolan”
“M’Lady, it’s an honor to receive you once more.”
“How does your father fare?” she asked, noticing Marrok standing at the den entrance above.
“One day at a time.” Faolan smiled weakly but the unmistakable hint of sadness couldn’t be hidden in his voice.
Ulrica smiled reassuringly, “Have faith Faolan, I’m sure he can yet find hope.”
Faolan’s smile brightened, “As always M’Lady, your words give us all hope in these desperate times.”
Ulrica turned to face Remedy again, the mares initial shock having somewhat waned and Faolan stepped forward eager to make the introductions.
“M’Lady Ulrica, may I introduce Remedy of the Ponies. Remedy, this is Lady Ulrica, Queen of Dens. You have no need to fear.”
Remedy steeled her expression, bolstered her courage and stepped forward.
Ulrica smiled sweetly, “Miss Remedy is it? A pleasure to meet your acquaintance. I’m very grateful for your cooperation in our little gathering tonight.”
Remedy's expression soured. “Cooperation is bit strong. Coercion perhaps. I wish I could say the pleasure was mutual…”
Faolan bowed his head in embarrassment, “Remedy please…”
Remedy snorted, and angrily turned on Faolan, “No Faolan. Enough with the pleasantries. Any other day and I’d be served up on a platter. Now I’m expected to be all sweet and thankful for the hospitality?”
Ulrica raised an eyebrow and glanced at Faolan. Faolan bowed his head in apology. Abidah’s own eyes were closed as he pinched the bridge of his beak with a wing to stave off a growing migraine.
“I’m sick of everyone pretending to be so nice,” Remedy continued, her tirade building steam, “meanwhile I’ve been kidnapped from my home and family, almost eaten by three different creatures, and everyone thinks that’s ok!?”
Ulrica lowered her body onto the grass to bring her eye level closer to Remedy’s. At this, every wolf also layed down.
“I’m sorry we’ve had to meet under these circumstances, I truly am. It’s only because we find our situation so dire that we’ve acted so desperately.”
Remedy stood in a wide stance with her head held low. She glared back up at Ulrica. “And as I told the owl, I’m not so certain I care for your plight.”
“Remedy, do you hate us?” asked Ulrica, her voice measured and neutral.
“I hate what you do.”
“You have nothing to fear here. My wolves will protect you, of that I am certain.”
Faolan let out a small whimper.
“Certain? You’re CERTAIN! Only yesterday one of YOUR wolves tried to kill me while I was tied down!”
Ulrica raised her head in surprise “What? Is this true? Who did this?”
Remedy pointed towards the den entrance. “The one they call Marrok.”
For a moment Ulrica's closed her eyes and her ears sagged. Then like the turning of a sudden storm her lips peeled back into a snarl and the dark markings on her face flared a brilliant red, traces of magical aura licked from them like flames. She lifted her head and bellowed across the clearing. “MARROK!”
Every other wolf cowered on the ground. Their ears pinned flat and tails tucked between their legs. Even Faolan trembled and cowered. But Marrok stood defiant on his hilltop. With his head held high he made his way down the hill to stand tall before Ulrica. Her massive muzzle only inches from his face.
A warning growl rumbled deep in Ulrica’s throat like a landslide, “Is this true? Knowing full well her purpose here, did you attempt to take her life?”
Marrok’s ears pinned against the back of his head and his hackles bristled, “And what of it!” he barked.
Ulrica drew up to her full height, her voice low and laden with uncompromising authority, “Your hatred has corrupted you Marrok. Blinded by your grief you have brought contempt upon our tribe. Since your efforts were made in vain, I will not pass judgement, instead…”
Ulrica turned to Remedy, “It was your life that he tried to take. In recompense I offer you his. Say the word and I’ll bite off his head.”
Marrok turned his burning yellow eyes on Remedy his lips peeled into a vicious snarl and foam formed at the corners of his mouth. He spat his words at her, “It was your fault! If you weren’t there all those years ago, I wouldn’t have lost half my bloodline. Go on DO IT! Spill my blood! Finish what you started!”
“SILENCE!” Ulrica roared.
Remedy glared back at Marrok, but something sparked in the back of her mind, a distant suppressed memory. Horrific recollection caused her eyes to widen. “YOU!" She screamed, "I recognise you now! You were the one who killed my friend. YOU WERE THE ONE WHO TOOK HER FROM ME!”
“His life is yours, will you take it?” Ulrica stood poised, her jaws slightly open and lips peeled back to reveal fangs longer than a unicorns horn. The muscles around her mouth tightened like bowstrings.
Faolan placed a paw on Remedy’s shoulder, his own eyes sorrowful, “Remedy, please…”
Remedy knocked his paw away angrily, “Shut up Faolan, You wouldn’t understand…” She stared black hatred at Marrok, and Marrok glared it straight back.
Remedy ground her teeth as old wounds reopened. Distant remembered laughter, stories and songs echoed cold and bitter like winter's forgotten spring. Revenge was hers to take, and now the perfect opportunity. But killing was wrong wasn't it? But did this really count? Wouldn't killing him save countless others? Would this even count as her killing? She wasn't a killer, was she?
"Your verdict?" growled Ulrica.
Remedy seethed with conflict until she felt she would boil over. Shaking with rage she screamed and shouted at Marrok.
“Death would be too kind. You deserve worse than death. No! I hope you're madness takes you. I hope you live a long life, and SUFFER ALL OF IT!”
Remedy snorted then turned and stomped off down the hill. Ulrica relaxed her jaws and sternly addressed Marrok. “Go into the den. I don’t want to see you until after the council meeting. I will speak with you then.”
Marrok snorted and skulked back into the den, disappearing into the darkness within. Faolan turned to follow after Remedy, but Ulrica shook her head. Instead she herself silently followed Remedy down the hill.
The altercation with Marrok and Ulrica had left a sullen mood at the Moonshadow den. Every wolf gave Remedy a wide berth as she walked down the hill, still sniffing back angry tears. She couldn’t really go anywhere, so instead she found her way to the loneliest corner of the glade, slumped onto a grassy mound and curled up with her back to everyone.
“I’m not really in the mood for talking” she grumbled as Ulrica walked up, casting a shadow on the miserable mare.
“Then I’ll do the talking.” said Ulrica gently but firmly. The great wolf lowered her body to the ground forming a substantial barrier between Remedy and the rest of the glade. A modest offering of privacy. Ulrica just lay quietly for a moment listening to the sharp inhales and choked whimpers that syncopated the muffled growls boiling from the pony.
She cast her eye across the forest boundary. The day was warming up and already the birds and insects were busy with their daily lives.
“Do you know why Marrok is like he is?” said Ulrica quietly, her sight still focused on the forest. Remedy just exhaled disinterestedly.
“You mentioned you knew him, and you were right. Although I admit, I didn't realise until now.” Ulrica looked down at the small ball of pink, still coiled up and facing away.
“Ten years ago Marrok led a hunting party out of the forest, breaking the oath we all follow. He used you to draw away your doe friend. She was woodwise and knew your best chance for survival was to draw the pack away.”
A small tremble shook Remedy’s body but Ulrica continued, “she sacrificed herself to save you, and now you had the chance for revenge. Why didn’t you?”
“I DON’T KNOW!” Remedy screamed at the forest, startling a flock of finch and sparrow into hasty flight. “I wanted to, I really did. I HATE him! I want him to feel the pain he’s caused!”
Remedy’s body convulsed as a series of sobs found themselves choked behind clenched teeth. Ulrica frowned, her eyes shared a sympathetic sorrow for the mare's lament and for the pain that still needed to be felt.
“What you said back there, it was more true than you realised.” Ulrica continued, “He does suffer in life. You see, he did not get away with his crime. Abidah caught him at the final act of his transgression.”
Remedy jumped to her hooves and spun around. She glared at the wolf through a blurry haze of tears, her nose wrinkled and brow furrowed - twisted by a deep seeded agony.
“Well he’s still alive, so obviously he got off light.” she said bitterly.
Ulrica looked down and closed her eyes, a deepening pity washed across her expression. “Though, in a way he did die. The punishment for breaking the oath and taking a life, is to lose a life. To this day Marrok wishes it was his own.”
Remedy paced like a skulking panther. Her eyes seethed with fury; anger masking grief. She glared at Ulrica, daring her to justify Marrok’s existence.
Ulrica looked back up at her. “Instead, he lost a son, snatched away by one of Abidah’s eagles.”
Remedy stopped. The fury in her eyes wavered and her knitted brow quivered like a plucked string. Considerable effort focused onto blocking the mote of compassion that threatened to join her boiling emotions.
“He was only a pup, hadn’t even seen his first hunt. In truth, that day there were three souls given up. The first was your friend, the second was Marrok’s son, and the third, well… Marrok has been dying ever since. He believes that if you were not there to witness that day, his punishment would not have been so severe. He has let this bitterness dwell in his heart for the better part of a decade, and it is consuming him. I can see the same bitterness within you little pony, and if you let it dwell… it will destroy you as well.”
“So what, I forgive him?" exclaimed Remedy, waving a frustrated hoof at the treeline as if the forest had personally insulted her. "How could anyone? She was like a mother to me, and he took her away!”
Remedy slumped to the ground. Her rage felt hollow and thin, but grief still sat like an icy millstone in the pit of her stomach.
“Marrok used to be a great leader. Loved and respected, his loyalty to his clan unquestionable, but most of all he loved his sons. Under his guidance, the clan has survived these desperate times where a lesser leader would have failed. But desperation can make fools of the best of us. Marrok was desperate, his family was hungry, and he made a bad decision…”
“A decision that killed MY friend and family. Now you tell me it also killed his own son. What redemption can there be for someone like that?” Remedy implored.
Ulrica continued unabated, “The pups name was Lowe, youngest of the litter. He was cheeky, brash, fearless and innocent as all his age are. That day was like so many before. Lowe was outside playing with his brother; the eagle could have taken either one of them. Fate decided Lowe would pay the price of balance and Faolan was spared the reapers toll. Faolan was right beside him when his brother was killed.”
Remedy's eyes went wide. “Faolan’s brother was… Marrok is...”
“Faolan might have blamed you or Marrok or Abidah for the loss of his little brother. Instead he still loves his father, he still serves Abidah and the council faithfully, and has protected you with his own life.”
Remedy stifled a cry with her hooves. Fresh tears began to soak her cheeks. “I said such horrible things to him. I almost killed his father right in front of him.”
Remedy’s chest heaved with laboured breaths and sobs wracked her body. Ulrica gently placed her paw around Remedy and drew her into an embrace. Remedy didn't resist. She pressed her head into the thick fur of Ulrica's chest and a primal cry wailed behind her clenched teeth. Her tears streamed endlessly, and breath came in short broken gasps.
Ulrica held her tight and continued, addressing the forest as much as Remedy, “death affects all, even us who court it. A wolf's bond with his siblings is unparalleled and Faolan hurt as much as any. For a time he cried and howled and grieved just like you are now. But he persevered and with help, matured. Now his character gives hope to those he leads and honours the memory of his brother.
"You too have the same choice. Don’t let your grief consume you. Your friend was your family, and she was taken from you. But in her final moments, you were shown her selfless character, and with it a strength the match of any dragon.
"Cry now, for your pain is real. Remember her, remember the things she taught you. Don’t let her memory die with her, but let it live in you. Only then can your life be the beacon of hope for others in their darkest hours, and in doing so may you honour the memory of your friend."
Remedy bawled openly. Her chest heaved for breath as she howled and grieved properly for the first time in ten years. Ulrica held her close, unconcerned with the wetting of her fur. She placed her giant chin gently on the grief-stricken pony and quietly held her until she had exhausted all her tears. Nothing was more important right now, everything else could wait.
“Remedy?, I’m sorry to wake you but it’s already late in the afternoon”
Remedy squinted her eyes open at the bright afternoon sun. Her crusty eyes found Faolan looking apologetically down at her. “Faolan?”
“Here, I’ve brought you some water to freshen up. Are you... are you feeling better?”
Remedy looked down into the simple bark bowl filled with water. Her eyes were puffy and her cheeks matted with dried tears. “What happened?”
“You fell asleep with Ulrica. You were still very exhausted.”
Remedy's eyes widened as her memory flooded back. She looked away to hide the shame on her face. “Faolan. I… I’m sorry, about before. With your father I mean.”
Faolan waved his paws, quickly interjecting, “hey hey, it's ok. I didn’t realise you two had met before either. But, thank you. For not… you know.”
Remedy gave a quiet sigh of relief, then smirked sadly. “Seems we do have something in common, a shared tragic history”
Faolan smiled broadly and placed a paw on Remedy’s shoulder. “Many have experienced loss in their lives. Us, younger than most. It hurts, but a part of them will always live with us. Besides, my brother would have mocked me senseless if I had moped around for the rest of my life on his account. Would your friend want you to be miserable for the rest of yours?”
Melancholy drew her lower lip for a moment, but a timid smile grew from fond memory. “No, I guess not.”
Faolan nudged Remedy to her feet. “Come on, clean up.” he said as he placed the seal over her head, “We’re about to head to the meeting stone. One more night with our mangy pack and you’re home free.”
Remedy smirked and chuckled. “Yeah yeah”
It was only a few minutes later that a procession of wolves led by Ulrica and her personal entourage headed down yet another path through the forest. Ulrica used her magic to move her oversized frame between the closely packed trees. The mood of the pack was excited, and expectant. Enthusiastic chatter and the occasional yip or howl made for a noisy procession.
Faolan kept Remedy company the whole way. He told stories of his younger brother and the mischief they would get up to — and out of; the secret is in how to tilt your head in just the right way and look up with big pitiful eyes.
The sun dipped over the distant horizon and pre-night plunged the forest into darkness. Then, just as the moon peeked over it's horizon, Ulrica pushed through a final copse of trees to reveal an unexpected glade in the middle of the forest.
A ring of small stone bowls formed a perimeter around the centre of the glade. In the middle, a small stone pool rippled from an underground spring welling up. The spring fed a tiny brook that trickled downhill and framed a large flat rock that served as a simple stage before disappearing into the thick foliage behind. The rest of the glade slowly sloped up away from the stone to form a natural amphitheatre.
Ulrica stepped into the clearing and the trees straightened behind her. A bright blue flame ignited between her horns and with a flash, the tiny tongues shot forward into the stone bowls, lighting each in turn and bathing the area in a warm yellow glow.
Faolan led Remedy up the slope away from the centre as the pack settled down and made the last minute preparations. As Remedy climbed the slope with Faolan, she noticed a crude corral at the top. Remedy gave Faolan a suspicious look.
“And what pray tell is this?” She challenged.
Faolan waved his paws defensively. “Now Remedy, it’s not what it looks like.”
Remedy pushed against the timber structure. It wobbled pitifully. “You know this wouldn’t hold me right?”
“It’s not supposed to keep you in, it’s supposed to keep curious carnivores out. Your presence at the meeting hasn’t been made known to everyone.” Faolan explained, hoping to ward off protest before it began. “See these?” he said, pointing to crude carvings on the outside of the corral that if viewed in the right light, and perhaps through the bottom of a glass bottle, could be construed as fangs.
“Right…” replied Remedy, sounding not at all convinced.
“I’ll be here also,” offered Faolan, “but you have a knack for getting yourself into trouble. So I’ve taken the liberty of setting this up. Just think of it as VIP seating.:
“It’s a cage. A badly made cage. Rather insulting really.” Remedy countered with disdain.
Faolan rolled his eyes. “Please don’t be difficult.”
Remedy poked out her tongue at the expression of exasperation on Faolan’s face. “But teasing you is so fun. Besides, if I am really the honoured guest, then I should be allowed to be a bit fussy.”
A single howl drew all attention to the centre stage. A light coloured wolf with reddish-brown highlights on his back, stood on the stone platform. Remedy recognised him as one of the hunting party.
“The wolf clans bid welcome to Don Zemar, King of the Cat Prides” he announced in a loud clear voice.
Faolan turned back to urge Remedy to take her position, only to find she was already inside the corral leaning up against the railing. He couldn’t help but smirk.
Remedy saw it. “Oh shut up. I’ve already fought one tiger” she bit back irritably.
“If memory serves me right, I believe I fought the tiger. You were just giving it lip.” he retorted, his smirk now a fully developed smug grin.
Remedy snorted at him.
The trees to the opposite side of the clearing warped and bowed, just as Ulrica had done before. From the shadows a group of large and medium cats of all kinds emerged including leopards, cheetahs, tigers and lions. Behind them another enormous body emerged, even larger than Ulrica. An enormous Lion with thick shiny black horns that curved up from his head stepped out from the forest. He moved with regal grace, his motions fluid and confident. His voluminous golden mane gently bobbed with the motions of his body, and was adorned with small flowers woven into it. It was immaculate.
Remedy tilted her head and squinted at the Lion, “is he… wearing lip gloss?”
Faolan snickered and quietly whispered back, “The cats ARE known to be somewhat vain. And Don Zemar certainly embodies that trait.”
Don Zemar paused and casually surveyed the scene. He gave a nod of acknowledgement to Ulrica then shifted his gaze over to Remedy. She gulped and crouched down behind the wooden beams of her corral. The great lion’s gaze lingered for only a moment, his expression was disinterested and betrayed no emotion. He turned away as if he’d seen nothing at all. He settled himself down and the rest of the tribe settled themselves around him, all managing to look similarly bored and disinterested. A far contrast from the wolves who could barely stop fidgeting with anticipation.
“The wolf clans welcome Nyoka, Regent of reptiles!” the master of ceremonies turned and faced the other side of the clearing. The undergrowth shook violently, vomiting out a smattering of large monitors, snakes, and even an old crocodile.
The trees bowed slightly, but not with magic, then the enormous head of a giant snake emerged. It’s scales shimmered, refracting the moonlight in a prism of colour. Two ribbed horns spiralled back from the side of it’s head before jutting forward like lances, tracing the serpents upper jaw. Its body continued to arrive for a while after its head, and buoyed the reptiles snout on a sea of writhing coils which seemed to spill into all the space around it. Even the other snakes and lizards had to crawl and climb to remain on top of the squirming mass.
“The wolf clans bid welcome to Lady Aleena, the Silk of Heaven”
Remedy let out a squeak, and ducked further behind her flimsy corral. Faolan chuckled at the mares new found timidity and she scowled back at his new found amusement.
“You try being attacked by her, then maybe you’d be here hiding too.”
“She can be a bit odd and unpredictable, but she is the oldest of the council members, and is generally quite sweet once you get to know her. She’s kind of like a grandmother to us all.”
“A creepy grandmother who would just as soon eat you than bake cookies!”
Foalan laughed at Remedy’s remark, “I won’t argue with that.”
The familiar slender spokes of Aleena’s legs slipped from the forest and gently alighted on the ground, drawing her large body after them. Aleena smiled as she scanned the clearing. All the other members gave a small bow before the brood-mother. Aleena glanced over to the corral spotting Remedy and Faolan. She gave them both a cheeky wave with a pedipalp. Remedy shivered involuntarily.
The master of ceremonies raised his face to the sky as he continued his introductions. “The wolf clan welcomes Abidah the wise, and his raptors.”
From the sky Abidah descended surrounded by a number of other birds of prey. Eagles, Falcons, Owls and even one eagle who was larger than Abidah. They landed in the clearing and settled themselves next to the Cats.
“On behalf of Ulrica - Queen of Dens and the wolf clans, we thank you for your attendance to this council summit. Please now rise for Abidah, Chair of the council who will open this session.” The master of ceremonies bowed as Abidah strolled forward to take his place on the small stone stage. Every creature in the clearing rose to their feet as he did so.
“Thank you Tarell, and thank you to the wolf clans for hosting this summit.” Abidah dismissed the wolf, and the rest of the creatures resettled into their seats.
“It is with sombre tone that I open this Council of the Carnivores. I have spoken with all the leaders of the 5 tribes, and I have heard a common complaint. We have continued to reduce our numbers to levels that the forest can sustain, in accordance with the balance of the forest. However our numbers have dwindled to such an extent that we now risk becoming ineffective in our ability to uphold that very balance. The children of chaos grow ever more bold and numerous, and we are beginning to yield ground to them. I fear we are beginning a downward spiral that if left to continue, may prove impossible to recover from. The main focus of tonight's meeting is to deliberate a strategy to endure this difficulty.”
Abidah paused, stretching his wings to the present council. “Any of you who would speak, let us hear.”
The great lion stood to signal his intent. The soft waves of his mane bounced and he tossed an errant curl from his face. “I would speak. Why is the forest no longer capable of supporting its inhabitants? Is it not as green as ever? Where have all the deer gone, and what of the other stock species?”
Nyoka lifted his head, his coils shifted to better provide support and a shimmer of colour raced along them like water down a fall. He spoke in a clear tenor with no slur or hiss. This seemed odd to Remedy though she had to admit she'd never spoken to a snake before. “The heart of the forest barricades himself and his kin in his thicket. They have been learning from the magical elements of the forest and are using the plants offensively as a formidable defence. Even my serpents cannot penetrate their walls. Only the warriors and defenders ever leave, and they are far too dangerous to confront carelessly.
The great lion considered the words of the serpent carefully. “And what has caused this change in tact? The deer used to roam the forest over, now they hide? Is Aspen now a coward?”
Ulrica raised her head to enter the conversation. All the wolves surrounding looked up to her with anticipation and great devotion. “I’m afraid it is likely our actions that have caused this change of behaviour. The deer are the only remaining stock species in the forest and being the sole target of our attention they have strengthened themselves against our attacks. With their new magic, I’m afraid we will now have to find other sources of food.”
“And what of the boars?” Aleena’s silky voice immediately drew all eyes to her, “they have never cared for such sophistication.”
“They too have been hunted heavily.” Nyoka replied, “the weak and sickly are already gone. All that’s left are the strong. The forest has balanced our efforts against us. The boar that remain are fast and powerful. Their tusks are long and sharp, and they have extended their burrows in defence. Sophisticated they may not be, but neither are they weak.”
Don Zemar growled at the serpent. “Are you saying then that WE are the weak!?”
“As much as it might pain you to hear; at the moment, we are.” Ulrica interjected, her tone quiet but authoritative. “In the last three years, only two pups have been born in all the wolf clans. Soon the packs won’t have the strength to bring down large game even if they can find it and increasing our numbers puts even more strain on our limited resources.”
Don Zemar flicked his mane in annoyance. “Well then, what of the others. The forest used to teem with more than deer or boar. What of the wild bulls and their herds?”
Abidah ruffled his feathers from the plinth. “They no longer graze the forest areas. They now share territory with the ponies. Unfortunately the same can be said with most of the stock species. They no longer dwell within the forest, instead they seek the relative safety of pony lands.”
“Tch.” The great lion clicked his tongue. “So that’s it then. We are bound in a prison of our own making. Well it seems to me we only have one choice. We must throw off our shackles and no longer be bound by the forest borders. Once we roam free, we can once more bring balance to all the lands formerly Everfree.”
Abidah took a slow step forward, shuffling his wings. “For millennia the carnivore tribes have always held their honour in the highest regard. Their word was their bond, and their bond was unbreakable. This was the cost of our power. It's what separates us from monsters and all know its worth. To leave the forest is to break our vow and forever our reputation will be slighted.”
Don Zemar looked down, he spoke cautiously but with determination. “I know full well the weight of my words. But I’d rather be remembered in tarnished living memory, than in forgotten legend. Besides, the oath is no right, it was a gift. What small dishonour wrought in its dismissal is surely not worth our lives.”
Ulrica stood, a stern and solemn expression darkened her face. “The Oath may have been a gift, but it was only given in debt. To discard it means to disparage the grace first afforded to us. That is more than dishonour. That is treachery.”
“Ulrica is right.” agreed Abidah. “The Oath is not just a gift. It was a payment, and a promise. Because we failed to protect Everfree from chaos, we gave up our right to rule to other, stronger guardians. And in exchange we are permitted a more modest life within the forest. If we renege on that payment, then we can full well expect its reward to be withdrawn as well.”
Don Zemar paced back, his tail whipping back and forth in agitation. “But we have not bought life, instead only a slow death awaits us.”
He pivoted his glare at Ulrica and extended a pony sized paw, “tell me Queen of Dens, when insatiable hunger befalls your clans, and none have the strength to hunt anymore. Will you toss your children over the ravine to spare them their suffering. Will you then follow after them?”
Without waiting for reply he turned on the spot and levelled his passionate cry at the Council Chair. “Abidah, will your birds of prey spend their final hungry hours embracing the sky one last time before our cruel vanity rends their hollowed bones and bellies against the rocks.”
The great Lion turned to face the entire council, his voice rising with conviction, “I tell you this. I will NOT let my prides fade away as the night succumbs to day.”
The earth trembled slightly under the deep bellows of the lion. All except the other great spirits cowered under the display of the barely tempered feline. Remedy fidgeted nervously, her gaze shifting between the powerful discourse and Faolan for reassurance that things were still going to plan.
Abidah extended a single wing to the Lion in a gentle gesture. “Peace Don Zemar. You will find no argument to your pleas here. Of course we don’t seek to fade into history with our pride and honour withered beside us. But if there is any hope we can retain the honour of our tribes AND survive this fast. Then I mean to exhaust its every possibility.”
Don Zemar closed his eyes and slowed his breathing. Abidah addressed the entire council with both wings outstretched. “Members of the council, I propose we graciously seek assistance from the Day Guardian, and ask that she and her kin cease providing protection for the other stock species so that they might once more rejoin the balance of the forest and unprotected lands.”
Don Zemar took a deep breath. He spoke with a calm and sombre tone, “I have no qualms attempting a diplomatic solution, and I know I am younger than most here, but if memory serves me right Celestia has no fond spot for any of us.”
“Don Zemar is right” said Aleena and pointed with a long slender leg, “Nyoka and myself have lived the longest in this council, and we can tell you. Celestia has never appreciated our role in this world, and her ideal of Harmony exists well without us.”
Nyoka lifted his giant head, “Her magic is powerful, greater than any of ours. All our strength and fangs will have little to bare against her. Her premonitions would sense any of us leaving the forest. She is quick to convict, and her judgements are legendary. She would likely turn us to stone before any dialogue could be entered.”
“All true,” agreed Abidah, “even with half their power banished, it would not do well for any of the Council to attempt congress with harmonies guardians without an invitation. It could well bring action against the forest directly. To this end, let me introduce our special guest.”
Abidah nodded to Faolan and Remedy.
Faolan quickly opened the flimsy gate, “Just like I told you, take a deep breath. They’re just going to ask some questions. Answer honestly, you’ll be fine. Don’t be afraid, I’ll be right behind you.”
Remedy looked nervously at Faolan, then out at the quietly waiting throng of carnivores all waiting for her. She swore she could see some licking their lips. She gulped nervously and began to walk down the slope.
“Members of the Council, may I present Remedy of the Ponies.” Abidah introduced as she walked into the clearing. She cautiously walked up to the short stony platform the great owl stood on. Unsure of what was considered polite in the situation, she gave an awkward bow. She tried to focus on Abidah, but she couldn’t help but glance around at all the animals surrounding her. The ring of flame that lit the stage cast mottled shadows on the crowd and made her unease only worse. A paw on her shoulder made her jump slightly. She looked back at Faolan who stood reassuringly behind.
Abidah smiled kindly at the nervous mare. He extended one wing across his chest, and stretched out the other. He dipped his head forward with his eyes closed in a large bow. “Remedy, I want to thank you on behalf of all the council tribes for enduring our hospitality. We understand it has not been easy, and that you may not even sympathise with our plight.”
Remedy nodded mutely, the butterflies in her stomach persisted their acrobatic routine.
Abidah rose back to his full height, settling his wings by his side once more. He paused for a moment before asking, “What would you do to protect your friends and family? Those you love?”
Remedy straightened up and gathered her courage, pushing the intimidating audience to the back of her mind. “Anything” she said resolutely. Her eyes steeled and locked onto the owl’s.
Abidah smiled a little at the ponies bravado. “Would you think ill of us for doing the same?”
Remedy blinked in surprise, she was expecting something more threatening. “Uh, I guess not?” she answered cautiously, wary of the line of questioning.
Abidah extended his wings once more, pointing to all the members around him. “To you, we must seem like monsters, but with your help here tonight we hope to avoid an even more monstrous eventuality. We trust that you would be willing to help us?”
“Um, that depends... what do you want me to do?”
“As you have heard, we would seek counsel with your princess. We would seek first a civil and diplomatic solution to our problem.”
Remedy gave Abidah a sceptical look. “Uh-huh... If I understood correctly, you want to ask Princess Celestia, Ruler of Equestria, Guardian of Harmony and light of her people… to cast entire species to their doom?”
Faolan winced slightly at the terse response, but a deep rumbling chuckle reverberated from the Don Zemar’s throat. “A brutal honesty little pony, I like that. She also makes a valid point Abidah, just how do you plan to convince Celestia?”
Abidah looked down as the air of confidence he carried wilted, “I can only hope that wisdom prevails. Nonetheless, I must try. Remedy, the task this council has for you is to provide escort for an envoy of the council to the Palace of Celestia. There our envoy will address her, and with her permission I intend to visit and discuss this issue.”
Abidah nodded to Faolan still standing beside Remedy. “Faolan, I want you to be the envoy. You have spent the most time with Remedy, so I trust she will feel most comfortable with you.”
Abidah bent down until he was almost head height with Remedy, quietly he whispered to the skittish mare. “We need your help Remedy. A lone wolf is not going to get very far in pony territory, much less into the palace grounds. You will need to vouch for him. Can you do this?”
Remedy thought for a moment, “If it means no more carnivores outside the forest... I can try. I’ll... I’ll do my best!”
Abidah stepped back onto his plinth, and addressed the entire council in a loud voice, “any who has disagreement with this motion let them be heard now.”
After a small silence Abidah looked back down at Faolan. “Faolan, Alpha of the Moonshadow clan, proven in honour and integrity. Do you accept the responsibility of being our representative?”
Faolan stepped up beside Remedy and bowed. “It would be my honour.”
Addressing Remedy, Abidah continued, “Remedy, though born outside of our tribes you have survived our hospitality and now stand before us despite your natural fear. Do you agree to vouch for Faolan and give him support and guidance?”
A small smile crept onto Remedy’s face, she looked at Faolan and then back at Abidah. “I do.”
A small lynx crept out of the shadows, a small wooden bowl held in its teeth. Abidah extended a wing and dipped a single primary feather into the bowl. When he withdrew it, it was covered in a thick red liquid. Faolan closed his eyes and bowed his head as Abidah approached. Remedy did her best to imitate.
“Then by the power vested in me as Chair of the Council of Carnivores. I assign the title of Council Envoy to Faolan and Remedy”
With a smooth stroke, he wiped the soaked feather across Foalan and Remedy’s brow, painting a livid red mark.
“This mark is a symbol of our faith in you. Go with the blessings of the council and see your mission completed.” Abidah focused on Remedy, his voice lowering. “And thanks especially to you Remedy. The council does not have much it can offer you in return that would benefit a pony. But please keep the seal you are wearing as a token of our appreciation.”
Abidah rose back to his full height and loudly addressed all in the clearing. “Let it be known, Remedy of the Earth Ponies is now a friend of the council and granted immunity from any persecution by the tribes herein represented.”
Abidah rested his wings on Remedy’s shoulders. “If ever you are in danger, display the seal and let any who would attack you lament. For they shall know that any grievance given will incur the full wrath of the council and be paid back one hundred fold.”
Remedy smiled nervously at Abidah, a little concerned by the implications of this gift. She lent in and whispered conspiratorially. “Thanks, and… I’m sorry about before. No hard feelings ok?”
Abidah leaned back and smiled. “None whatsoever. I find grudges far too heavy a burden to carry for too long.”
Abidah nodded at the two, dismissing them with an extended wing. Foalan and Remedy turned and headed back towards the corral. Remedy bumped Faolan on the shoulder. “Looks like you’re coming to visit. What will my dad think!”
Faolan, raised an eyebrow and smirked. “I don’t know what you’re implying, I’m a perfect guest.”
They both snickered. Remedy sat at the foot of the corral and Faolan took a seat beside her. Abidah was just finishing some final business with the council meeting when she felt the breeze blow cold against her still moist brow. Cautiously she whispered to Foalan again. “The red stuff in the bowl… it was ochre right?”
Foalan winced, “Do you really want to know?”
Remedy looked straight ahead her eyes locked in a thousand yard stare onto the owl. “Never mind.”
Foalan smiled sympathetically. "You’ll like this next bit I promise. Try not to think about it."
Abidah spread his wings majestically once more. “For aeons we have been steadfast in our loyalty to the carnivore code, and our traditions have served us well. In honour of that tradition we will end tonight's council session not with our troubles and worries, but with music. Allow me the great pleasure of introducing Kerena of the Moonflower Order, accompanied by Aleena and her silk ensemble.
Abidah stepped off the plinth. Aleena and a few of her spiders quickly drew threads of silk taught between their legs and a few borrowed branches. Aleena drew a bow of silk and wood across another thread. A sweet chord filled the clearing and a light breeze rustled through the trees as if aroused by the haunting note. A dark cloud overhead shifted and the bright full moon broke through, bathing the scene in a pale white light.
Kerena stood on the plinth, her head adorned with large white blossoms, her coat glowed in the moonlight and her face was painted with red markings imitating Ulrica. She closed her eyes and lifted her head to the moonlight. She opened her mouth and a single clear note filled the night air and rang through the clearing.
I... hear your voice on the wind And I... hear you call out my name
Her eyes opened as she sung the last words of her lyric and looked directly at Faolan. He swallowed against a sudden dryness inflicting his throat.
She Jumped off the plinth and began to bob and sway with the music, her voice carried the melody faultlessly.
Listen my child you say to me I am the voice of your history Be not afraid, come follow me Answer my call and I’ll set you free
As if beckoned by the piercing howl of her song, a strong wind rushed through the clearing tussling tree branches and carrying leaves that danced around the white wolf. The bowls of fire flared and danced with her as she gracefully drifted with the melody.
I am the voice in the wind and the pouring rain I am the voice of your hunger and pain I am the voice that always is calling you I am the voice, I will remain
I am the voice in the fields when the summer’s gone The dance of the leaves when the autumn winds blow Ne’er do I sleep throughout all the cold winter long I am the force that in springtime will grow
Remedy was awestruck, and she took a moment to look around the clearing. All around heads bobbed and swayed to the music; in a blissful trance from Kerena's lithe grace and beautiful voice. They were all smiling, and didn’t look nearly so fearsome or intimidating anymore, a refreshing perspective on the monsters she thought they were.
She looked at Faolan. He was fixated more than any. His eyes were locked on the dancing figure, drinking in the scene with a shameful thirst. Remedy glanced back at Kerena, then back at Faolan. A sly smirk crawled onto her face.
“Down boy! Your eyes are going to fall out of your head if you keep staring like that.”
Faolan coughed and stammered, tearing his eyes away. Remedy giggled at his poorly masked embarrassment.
Kerena danced tirelessly, her song effortlessly carried with her. As it progressed some of the younger members of the tribe joined her dancing in the middle. Others joined in the music, clapping or beating on hollow logs while the strings swelled.
Kerena climbed back onto the stone platform as the tribe danced beneath her. All were enveloped by the song as it built to its final crescendo.
With a clear piercing howl she closed the council session in her final refrain.
Sunlight filtered through the crowded treetops, the morning dew still evaporating in the warming air. Remedy and Faolan walked along a familiar trail, a large bundle of darkbell and other herbs strapped to her back.
“Nope, you’re not getting out of this one.” Remedy teased.
“It was merely the atmosphere, a trick of the wind, you’re getting carried away. Are you sure you don’t want help carrying all that?” Faolan questioned, taking a sudden interest in the burdens of the small pony.
Remedy stepped sideways to stave off any attempt made by the wolf to take her wares. “Uh-uh, don’t change the subject. You were making some serious googly eyes at her, and it wasn’t the ‘Atmosphere’. It wasn’t just then either. I saw you looking at her back at the den. It’s clear you have some serious ulterior motives.”
Faolan looked away, a slight blush colouring his coat. Remedy grinned like a hyena. “Ha, the mouth can fib but face doesn’t lie. The truth!” she demanded.
Faolan growled in frustration, deciding it was probably better to put doubt to rest lest this torment last their entire journey. “Fine, yes. I’m intoxicated by her, she drives me to madness. But with our troubles and generally running the clan, I don’t have the time or energy for a courtship. Besides, she is already in training to become an acolyte under Ulrica.”
“Finally, some honesty. The rest of that sob story sounds like an excuse though.” said Remedy, dismissing his concerns.
“Well what about you then? Have you already found a mate? Seeing as you would profess to such wisdom in matters of the heart.” Faolan countered.
Remedy blushed at the sudden turn-a-bout, “Ah, well… I…”
“Ha, now it is your face that betrays you! You hesitate, is it unrequited? Or perhaps still unprofessed?” Faolan pressed, taking any opportunity to seize the advantage.
Remedy turned up her nose and let out an annoyed huff, “Hrmph, If you’re going to participate in Pony society, you’re going to have to learn some rules. A gentlecolt never pries into a young mare’s affairs.”
Faolan grinned, “Ah, but I am no colt! That makes me exempt, and who’s avoiding questions now!”
Remedy let out an offended whinny, “Speaking of that, when did this become about me? I’d like to know…”
Faolan stopped mid stride and hushed her. His ears twitched forward and he sniffed the air. “There’s a number of ponies just ahead. It’s probably your rescue party.” He whispered quietly.
Remedy lit up with excitement. “Well let’s go meet them.”
A stern look from Faolan stayed her advance. “Perhaps some caution would be prudent, I don’t want to scare anyone.”
Remedy looked at the wolf, it was funny how he no longer seemed scary any more, in fact it was hard to even imagine it. Yet she had to concede his point.
“Fair enough…”
The two crept up to the hushed conversation and dull thump of hoofbeats. Two guard ponies, one a unicorn, the other a pegasus stood talking to another group of civilians. The earth ponies and pegasi who worked the farms were all present readying for another foray into the forest. Over to the side, Provender sat with a blanket around his slumped shoulders holding a mug of coffee. He looked weak, his mane and fur were matted and unkept. Dark black circles hung under his bleary eyes, and his shoulders were hunched making him look about 20 years too old. A pony with a white bandanna and red cross strapped around her foreleg was trying to console him.
Among the ponies, many were armed with machetes and other improvised weapons. Provender’s own trusty axe sat next to him.
Remedy looked at Faolan with concern. “Um, listen Faolan. It might be better if I meet them alone. It might take awhile to get them used to the idea of you. Wait on the edge of the forest, I’ll come back for you later in the afternoon.”
“Hmm, yes, perhaps that would be best.”
Remedy smiled at Faolan. She slipped the bundle off her back, and stuffed the council seal in amongst the precious herbs. With a final nod to the wolf she stepped into the clearing.
“Dad?” she spoke meekly, as if trying to soften the surprise.
Provender’s head snapped up. On seeing Remedy the cup slipped, forgotten, from his hooves. All the other ponies stood and stared in shock.
Remedy smiled gently at her father, tears welling in the corners of her eyes.
Provender gasped, tears choking his breath at the miraculous sight. “Remedy…” he whispered, fearful the illusion might be frightened away.
“Dad…” Remedy smiled. Inside her a dam broke and tears began to pour down her face.
Provender pounced from his seat, the blanket flying off. He ran to meet his daughter and collided in a tight embrace. Provender sobbed openly, and Remedy, though smiling, cried with him.
“Oh Remedy, I thought I’d lost you.”
“I’m alright Dad, it’s going to be alright.”
A cacophonous cheer erupted in the clearing, all the ponies gathering around to see the joyful reunion. Provender finally released his daughter, holding her at length to examine her. “Are you alright? You’re not hurt anywhere?”
Remedy smiled reassuringly, “I’m ok, Dad. I’m not hurt.” Her assertions still failed to dissuade the medical pony from performing a full inspection on the spot.
“What happened to you!?”
“It’s a long story, “ Remedy began, “I was attacked by…”
A high pitched whine grew louder overhead.
“Reeeeeemeeeedyyyyyyyyy!”, a bright yellow bolt crashed from the sky tackling Remedy. Sunny bawled openly, tears streaming down her own face. “You’re all right!” her voice straining out between the wracking sobs, “I thought you were de-eh-ead.”
Remedy smiled and patted Sunny on the head, “There there, I’m all right, see?” Remedy leant back holding her forelegs out to show no injury.
Sunny continued to cling, holding tighter than ever, “Where did you go? Why did you go?”
“Alright alright, there will be time for explanations later. If you all don’t mind. I’d like to get out of the forest now, and I’d love a cup of tea.” Remedy continued to stroke the whimpering mare’s mane.
Provender helped Remedy to her feet, separating Sunny from her would have required an exorcist and a crowbar, so no one tried. The crowd of ponies moved out of the forest along the old path back towards the homestead.
A surreal silence descended on the once noisy clearing. Faolan inspected the bundle of Darkbell left behind. Silhouetted against the bright daylight outside the forest, he watched the noisy group recede into the distance.
“I won’t allow it! As Celestia is my witness I won’t let you go near that forest.” Provender shouted, pacing agitated up and down the room.
Remedy sat beside Sunny on a sofa, a cup of tea in hoof. “Dad, I made a promise. Wasn’t it you that taught me how important it is to keep your word?”
“A promise to a wolf means nothing!” Provender snapped desperately, “Aren’t you forgetting that they attacked you first? What’s to say they won’t change their mind and kill you as soon as you enter the forest. You’ve escaped, what makes you think they’ll let you go again?”
“Faolan isn’t like that. He wouldn’t hurt anypony,” Remedy pleaded.
“And you trust this wolf!? Have you forgotten what they did to Natara?”
Remedy looked away ashamed, “Of course I haven’t.”
“I don’t understand why you have to help them,” Sunny interjected, “they’d as soon eat us all and if what you say is correct, they’re hungrier than ever and even more bold and desperate. I don’t want to see you get hurt”
Provender stopped his pacing and walked over to Remedy, he placed a hoof on Remedy’s cheek and looked her in the eyes. “Remedy, I can’t risk losing you again.” Painful memories forced him to look away. “After your mother died, you were all that I had left. You were what kept me going. You gave me the strength to go on. To till the packed earth and endure the harsh winters. If I lost you too…” Provender shut his eyes, and clenched his jaw.
Sunny reached over and placed a hoof on his foreleg. “Remedy, how about we all sleep on it? You’ve only just come back to us. Your wolf can wait till the morning.
Remedy looked to her friend and her father. She sighed in defeat, “Alright, I suppose one night can’t hurt.”
“See there, that wasn’t so bad. You both need an early night. Mr Bale, you haven’t slept in two days. You need to rest too. We don’t want you getting sick now. I’ll sleep on the couch here tonight, so you won’t have to worry about Remedy running off.” Sunny smiled, gently squeezing both their hooves.
“Now go on you two. I don’t want to hear another complaint.”
Provender gave Remedy a hug, and kissed her on the forehead.
Remedy turned and hugged Sunny, “Thanks for everything Sunny.”
Sunny beamed brightly, “Now Dee, don’t you worry ‘bout a thing. You just go to sleep now, and I’m sure everything will be clearer in the morning.”
Remedy stepped into her room and smiled back at Sunny. “Night Sunny.”
“Goodnight Dee.”
Weak moonlight streamed in through the thin curtains covering the window and bathed the simple well kept furnishings in a shadowy silver hue. The window fogged from hot breath, followed by the sound of claws scratching on wood. Remedy, scrunched her nose and murmured in her sleep.
*TAP TAP TAP* the sound of a claw on glass rapped at the window.
Remedy cracked a weary eye open.
*TAP TAP TAP* the incessant noise continued.
Remedy groaned out of bed and ambled over to the window. She pushed the thin curtains aside only to stare in shock as Faolan sat outside with her bouquet of Darkbell and the council seal around his neck.
She quickly pushed the window open. “What are you doing here!?” she whispered angrily, taking the bundle of plants from his mouth, “I told you I’d come back for you!”
“You said you’d be back in the afternoon. That was hours ago.” Faolan retorted.
“Ugh, I didn’t say WHICH afternoon.” Remedy excused lamely.
“Besides you left your seal behind, so I thought you might be scared to come back.”
Remedy glanced around the moonlit farm, thankfully there didn’t seem to be anyone about. “Never mind, hurry up and get inside before anyone sees you.”
Faolan easily leapt up to the window, gracefully perching on the sill before stepping down into the room.
“Remedy? Are you alright in there, I thought I heard talking?”
Remedy and Faolan froze.
“Quick, get out!” Remedy hissed at Faolan, pushing the wolf back towards the sill.
“Wait...what?” Faolan stumbled back confused.
“Uh nothing Dad, I was just talking in my sleep.” Remedy tried to sound calm as she tried to force the larger wolf back through her window.
“You sound out of breath, are you sure you’re alright?”
Faolan tried to reverse out the window, but his hind leg slipped causing him to straddle either side of the sill. “Ow, Remedy, I can’t…”
“Is that growling?” said Provender, concern growing in his voice, “Remedy, I’m coming in.”
“No Dad, don’t…”
Provender opened the door, and everyone froze. The scene was hopelessly compromised. Remedy appeared to be trying to push a large wolf back out the window. Faolan tried to smile innocently, but all Provender saw was his teeth.
“This isn’t what it looks like…” Remedy tried to explain, but Provender had already ducked out of view back up the hall. Faolan and Remedy glanced at each other in confusion for a moment, before Provender’s silhouette stepped back into the doorway.
“You blood stained spawn of Tartarus! You will NOT hurt her anymore!” Provender reared up, wood axe brandished in hoof.
“Oh shit.” was the sum extent of Faolan’s diatribe before Remedy dropped him right on his chin.
She ran up to her father, waving her forelegs. “No, stop. He’s not going to hur-”
With a single powerful motion, Provender swept Remedy into the hall behind him, ignoring her pleas.
“I won’t let you take another life ever again,” his tirade continued, “your reign of terror ends TONIGHT!”
Provender gave a blood curdling cry and charged at the wolf.
“NOOO!” Remedy screamed.
Faolan scrambled to untangle his legs and jumped out of the way just as the axe head came down where his used to be. The floor board exploded into a storm of splinters. Faolan leapt onto the bed, his back pressed into the corner. In one fluid motion, Provender withdrew the axe from the hole where the floor used to be and swung it over his head. Faolan dodged to the side. The mattress caved and the bed frame cracked and buckled under the force of the blow.
“REMEDY, MAKE HIM STOP!” barked Faolan.
The axe whirled around again in a wide sweep. Fury burning in Provender’s eyes. Faolan flattened himself against the bed and the axe whistled overhead, embedding itself deep into a stud in the wall. A web of plaster cracks sprawled away from the impact point. Before Provender could unwedge the axe, Faolan clamped his jaws around the handle. With a crack, the axe broke free from the wall, Provender and Faolan wrestled for control of the blade. The wolf had the size advantage over the stallion, but the ponies unnatural strength could not be measured by his stature. Provender roared in paternal rage, shoving the wolf against the wall, axe still clamped in his jaws. Faolan didn’t dare let go. With a mighty strain, Provender lifted the wolf up by the axe handle and with a powerful throw he flung the wolf over his head and slammed him into a dresser. Bright lights exploded in Faolan’s vision. The wolf groggily looked up in time to see the axe draw back above the angry fathers head. Suddenly a flash of pink, crimson and gold obscured his view.
“STOP!” Remedy screamed, she stood over Faolan, protecting him with her body.
Provender yelled back, “Move, I’m going to kill the mongrel!”
Remedy held her position defiantly, “NO, STOP! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?”
Provender continued unabated, “Don’t you see! This monster has come to take you back to the forest. To finish the job, to KILL YOU!”
“Look around you! Who’s the monster here!?” Remedy shouted back.
Provender, still breathing heavily, glanced around the room. The brutal aftermath now apparent. The bed, frame shattered, sagged limply in the middle. Half a floor board was missing entirely, and a giant wedge shaped hole stood in the center of a wall stud, the plaster around it sprawling with cracks like a giant spider web. A small trickle of blood dripped from the edge of the dresser.
“He wasn’t trying to hurt me. I told him I’d meet up with him after I’d explained everything, and when I didn’t show up, he came looking for me.”
Provender slowly lowered the axe. The rage slowly draining from his eyes.
“What’s all the noise?” murmured Sunny standing in the doorway rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She took a moment to survey the carnage inside the room. Remedy leaned down to check the unconscious wolf.
“Whoa! Did I miss something?”
Three ponies sat around a dim lantern in the lounge room. Each nursing a cup of tea. Provender sat in his chair near the door to the shop, his axe still next to him, and a whetstone on the table in front. Remedy sat opposite staring at her cup in silent contemplation. Sunny sat nervously on a chaise lounge set against the wall between the two brooding kin.
Remedy took a deep breath, deciding to break the silence. “As long as his injury isn’t too severe, I plan to leave tomorrow for Canterlot.”
Provender immediately protested, “Why must you leave? You’ve only just come back. Can’t somepony else go with him?”
Remedy shook her head. “A wolf isn’t going to get anywhere near the castle unannounced, and I’m the only one who can understand him. It has to be me.”
“Well then, I’m coming with you.”
“No. I don’t think Faolan would be too excited about his attempted murderer travelling with him. And I don’t want you promoting your attempt to a success. I’ve spent 3 days in the Everfree forest, and Faolan protected me there. So I think we can handle a casual 2 day hike to Canterlot."
“I don’t like seeing you in danger like this.” Provender pleaded.
“Yes, well, you’ll have to endure. Even you can agree that a peaceful accord with the entire predator population of the Everfree is in everyone’s best interest and you half killing the Alpha of one of the wolf clans isn’t helping.”
“Well, I’m going.” Declared Sunny.
Remedy smiled sweetly at the eager Pegasus. “Thanks Sunny, but I really don't need protecting. If Faolan had wanted me dead. I wouldn’t be here talking to you now.”
“Who said anything about protecting you? If he goes woolly I’m throwing you in front! I just think this will be a boatload of fun.”
Provender groaned. “That isn’t at all reassuring.”
A loud knocking rapped through the darkened house.
“Who in Tartarus is that at this hour!?” exclaimed Provender.
The knocking started again, more insistent this time. Sunny leaped off her couch. “I’ll get it!” she said and darted down the hall into the shop front.
Provender and Remedy looked at each other in confusion.
Urgent muffled voices could be heard at the door as Sunny greeted the unknown guest, followed by the sound of rapidly approaching hoofbeats.
A blue and white pegasus stallion burst into the lounge room. “REMEDY! Thank Celestia you’re all right!” Tradewind stood in the doorway, panting and out of breath. His mane was messy and windswept, and his coat drenched in sweat.
“Trade? I thought you were away…” Remedy hopped up surprised to see the young stallion.
Trade closed the distance and wrapped his forelegs around her, “I flew here straight from Baltimare as soon as news reached me. Are you alright? Was it true?"
Remedy laughed quietly, trying to console the trembling colt. “Yes I’m fine. And if you mean, was I trapped in the Everfree forest for 3 days, then yes, that’s true too.”
Sunny trotted back into the lounge and settled back onto the daybed.
Trade pressed his forehead against Remedy’s. “My father told me to stay, but not for all the scones in the Griffin kingdoms could I obey. The moment the letter arrived, I could only think of you.”
Sunny’s eyes dilated and she pressed her forehooves against her cheeks, desperately trying to restrain a "squee".
Remedy closed her eyes and returned the nuzzle, “I thought of you too while I was trapped. Thought of what I might miss if I didn’t return.”
Tradewind looked deep into her eyes, then kissed her.
Sunny, wings flared, leaned forward eagerly fixated on the scene before her.
Remedy, dazed and half-lidded, slowly broke the kiss with an exhale and gently pushing Trade back. “Trade, wait.”
Sunny fell off the couch with a dull thump and muffled squeak.
Trade smirked at the yellow pegasus. “What, Sunny? I don’t care, let her watch. She’d probably peep anyway.”
Remedy looked sheepishly at Trade, “Er-hrm. No, not Sunny…”
*SCHLICKT*
The sound sent a cold shiver up Trades spine. Dousing the spark of his libido.
*SCHLICKT*
Remedy backed away with an apologetic smile.
*SCHLICKT*
Trade slowly turned around.
Sitting in his large brown chair, Provender drew the whetstone over his axehead one final time. The lingering ring of the metal hung in the air like a forgotten song. The candle light cast ominous black shadows over his form as he sat completely still, staring at the young colt. The light cast a dark shadow over his face, only an occasional wicked glint from one eye, a reflection of the flame and his intent. The axe head’s now razor sharp edge, polished to a mirror finish, trapped the fragile light and its length glowed with inappropriate keenness.
With slow but steady gravity Provender returned the stone to its cradle and leant back, crossing his hooves over the axe in his lap.
The silence was excruciating. Trade’s breath was shallow and rapid.
Provender smiled wickedly at the intimidated pony. “Tradewind, I presume?”
The words were quiet, but sounded like they had echoed off mountains. They punctured the silence like iron nails driven by heavy mallet and muscle. Tradewind swore he could feel each one prick his skin.
Tradewind glanced at Remedy looking for reassurance.
Remedy sat calmly as if this was the most normal thing in the world. She smiled and gave him a little encouraging nod.
Tradewind realised this was a battle he had to fight alone. He turned back to face Provender who was waiting patiently for his answer.
“Ye.. *cough*” Trade realised his throat was as dry as a Saddle Arabian desert. He cleared his throat and retried, “Yes sir.”
Provender smiled. It was in all respects, a perfectly nice smile, but it made the hairs on Tradewind's neck bristle.
“You’re the son of that merchant pony I hear about. I hear he’s done well for himself.”
“Er... Yes sir. The Trade family has always advocated hard work.”
Provender nodded sagely in approval. The earth pony leaned forward. The hard days of manual labour had crafted his body into a powerful muscular build. Not the kind of muscle that obscenely bulged for show and no substance. A more subtle kind. The kind that knew its strength, didn’t require external affirmation and was completely comfortable in the knowledge of all it was capable of doing. The pitiful light from the candle cast shadows emphasising curves you wouldn’t even notice in bright light.
Provender stood, axe gripped in one hoof. He towered over the young colt. Trade stood perfectly still. In some part to hide his fear. But mostly because he was afraid any action might provoke a response from the axe wielding stallion.
Provender walked up to the pony and draped a foreleg over his withers. The foreleg still holding the axe. He turned the colt around to face Remedy. He gestured to his daughter with the axe.
“Pretty, isn’t she.”
Remedy blushed a little.
Tradewind knew he was being led, like a moth to flame. “Ye..Yes she is.”
“And I’m thinking you’ve got a bit of a soft spot for her?” Provender continued.
Tradewind hesitated.
“Now don’t lie to me son. I was young once too, and I am neither blind nor stupid.” Provender warned.
“Yes sir, I...love her.” Tradewind confessed.
Remedy smiled, her pink coat failing to hide the growing blush on her cheeks. She studied the floor in embarrassment. Sunny barely stifled another excited “squee” with her hooves.
Provender smiled, “I also love my daughter very much and have all sorts of ideas how she can be happy. Unfortunately, she also has ideas of her own. Now I like to think of myself as an understanding father, and I know she is old enough to make her own decisions and she has the strength to bear their consequences. So what right do I have to stop her?”
Tradewind glanced at the deceptively friendly stallion “N..None?”
“Quite right.” Provender nodded. “The only decisions I can make are my own. And likewise, you my boy can only make your own decisions. But with all decisions come consequences. So in celebration of this budding romance, I’ll share a little family wisdom.“
Provender leaned in close and lowered his voice. “If your decisions result in the consequence of my daughter being hurt. Well then… I’ll execute my own decision, and it will have consequences too. But look on the bright side, you could join the royal harem.”
Trade cocked an eyebrow in confusion but Provender leaned down and whispered directly into his ear so the girls couldn’t hear.
“I hear only geldings are allowed.”
Provender patted a mortified Tradewind on the flank with the flat of his axe to accent his point.
Provender stood back upright, turned around and placed his axe in its scabbard before he continued, “Now the hour has grown very late indeed and I think we’ve all had enough excitement for one night. Perhaps Remedy, you could help the boy find his way out. It may have slipped his mind.”
Tradewind hadn’t moved. His eyes were wide, and his coat looked paler than usual. An astonishing feat considering his white coat. Remedy gave Tradewind a reassuring pat on the back. “C’mon, Trade, I’ll walk you out.”
Sunny laid on her back and giggled in a gluttony of content. Thoroughly satisfied with the evening's entertainment.
The brisk morning air brought with it the fresh promise of a new day. Remedy and Sunny were finishing preparations for their trip and double checking their saddlebags under the fussing attention of Provender.
“Yes, Dad. I’ve got plenty of food and water. Sheesh - you’d think I was going on an expedition into unexplored lands. We’re just going to Canterlot.”
“This is hardly a regular trip to Canterlot. Now, have you packed your blades?”
Remedy rolled her eyes. “Yes, Dad.”
“And have you put them somewhere you can access quickly... You know, in case of bandits and such?” Provender reasoned weakly.
“Wow, bandits. Really?”
Provender looked up from his inspection of the sickle shaped scabbard on her saddlebag. “Well, you know, just in case.”
Remedy groaned. “I’ll get Faolan before this gets anymore ridiculous” - she pointed an accusatory hoof at her father - “and you play nice.”
Remedy walked back into the shop. Provender looked to Sunny for confirmation that his fears were grounded. Sunny just shrugged.
“Morning, Sunny,” said Tradewind as he glided down in a tight circle. Arresting his descent with a final flap. Two slim saddlebags of his own were packed and strapped to his barrel. “And good morning Mr. Bale,” he said with a respectful nod.
Provender raised an eyebrow at the pegasus. “So you’re going on this little expedition as well?”
Tradewind smirked. “Not even you could stop me sir.”
“And do you know how to use those things?” Provender questioned, pointing to the pair of talon shaped blades mounted on a sprung hinge and strapped to the pegasus’ foreleg.
“Traditional wing blades are not suited for the long flights we merchant ponies travel, and we need to protect ourselves from bandits and pirates,” he explained.
“See, Sunny, bandits. That’s what I was saying,” exclaimed Provender.
Sunny giggled at him. Tradewind just looked confused.
“Trade?” Remedy stepped out of the shop front, her head cocked questioningly.
“Now, Remedy, I know I wasn’t invited, but Sunny told me what you’re doing and I’m going with you. No one is going to convince me otherwise.” Trade stood defiant; waiting to present his arguments.
Remedy smiled, “I’m not going to stop you. I’m glad you’re coming.”
“Hey hang on now. He can go but I can’t?” Provender protested.
Remedy glared a sidelong warning at her father. She noticed the deadly contraption on Trade’s forehoof and raised an eyebrow. “Though I’m not sure where you think we’re going. We’re going to Canterlot, not the dark heart of the forest. Wait, let me guess. Bandits?”
Tradewind smiled sheepishly and shrugged.
Remedy rolled her eyes. “Ugh, stallions and their swords.” She straightened her pose and struck a strict lecturing tone, addressing both the stallions. “All right both of you. I don’t want any fuss. Contain your enthusiasm. Trade, this is the first time you’ve met Faolan, so don’t panic. Okay?”
Tradewind smirked. “Remedy, I’m not some yearling foal.”
Remedy took a deep breath. “Okay, Faolan, you can come out now.”
From the relative dark of the shop, the silver alpha wolf emerged, wincing at the bright sunlight. Faolan stretched and rose to his full height. He stood easily as tall as Provender and bested him in length. The thick fur covering his body adding to his apparent bulk.
Tradewind took a hesitant step backwards. Provender held his ground with a distrustful glare.
“Well this is a warm reception.” Faolan mused.
“Everyone, this is Faolan, Alpha of the Moonshadow clan. We’re taking him to Canterlot to see the Princess. I want this to be a nice peaceful trip. He’s not some random monster, so he isn’t going to attack you all in your sleep. So let’s all play nice,” Remedy warned more than informed.
Tradewind gulped. “He’s a lot bigger than I thought. I was expecting something more dog sized.”
Curious, Sunny walked up to the wolf and gingerly patted him with a hoof. Faolan raised an eyebrow.
“Oooh,” Sunny cooed. Faolan stiffened when she suddenly glomped over him and began to rub the fur on his neck. “He’s so fluffy.”
A small concerned whine escaped Faolan and he shot Remedy a worried look; not quite sure of the appropriate etiquette in the current circumstance. Remedy carefully extracted the excitable pegasus. “Yes Sunny, he’s very fluffy, but let’s remember our talk about personal spaces ok.”
“Awww,” complained Sunny. A dejected pout trembled on her lip.
Remedy adjusted the weight of her Saddlebags. “Okay everypony, let’s get moving. We have to walk the whole way and it’s a two day hike.”
“I’m still not happy about this,” said Provender.
“What was it? ‘I know she is old enough to make her own decisions, and she has the strength to bear their consequences'?” said Remedy accusingly.
Provender sighed and kissed his daughter on the forehead. “Please be safe.”
“Don’t worry, it’s just Canterlot. What could go wrong?”
Sturdy fences lined the dirt road as they neared Ponyville. A flock of sheep grazed in the paddock and Faolan paused to stare at the sight. Such a flock would feed the pack for a long time. A bored half-lidded ewe stared back chewing on fresh grass. Faolan’s stomach grumbled. He absentmindedly licked his lips and swallowed back the saliva gathering in his mouth. The ewe’s eyes widened with some alarm.
“All right, we’re on the outskirts of Ponyville. We just need to run a few errands before we continue. It shouldn’t take long. Faolan, you’re going to need to wear this.”
Faolan trotted over then paused, frowning at the length of rope Remedy produced from her saddlebag. “That’s a rope, are you going to bind me?”
“Well, more of a leash,” Remedy conceded.
“Are you serious?”
“Don’t get picky with me. You tied me to a sled!”
Faolan rolled his eyes. “You were unconscious at the time. It was to stop you falling out.”
“Look, the leash isn’t to keep you under control. Celestia knows I couldn’t, even if I wanted to. But the leash will make other ponies in Ponyville feel safe. They won’t ask so many questions, and we’ll hopefully pass through without any drama. Needless to say, you’ll need to do the same thing in Canterlot. Better get used to it.” Remedy pointed to the council seal around her neck. “Think of it as a pony seal, with less teeth.”
Faolan grumbled under his breath, but submitted to having the rope looped around his neck.
Remedy looped the other end around her hoof a couple of times. “Alright everyone, you have your lists. Let’s make this quick, We’ll meet up on Canterlot road.”
Sunny and Tradewind took to the skies in search of their respective tasks.
Remedy gave the sullen wolf a friendly bump on the shoulder, “Oh cheer up, at least you’re not being hunted with pitchforks and torches.”
They entered into the fledgling village, a few ponies stood and stared at the giant dog that overshadowed its master, but no one said anything.
Faolan looked around curiously. This was the first time he’d even been near a pony village and it was quite a sight to behold. The ravens were right, the Ponies had all built homes and buildings clustered together. Many of the brightly coloured equines were now up and about tending to their early morning activities.
Faolan was growing wary of the continued staring of the ponies, and even some hushed whispering just out of earshot. Remedy led him across the main cobbled road to a small wooden shop near the center of town.
“Ok, first stop. I’ve got a delivery to make.” Remedy announced as she pushed open the door. The little bell gave a welcoming jingle.
Faolan squeezed in behind her, eager to see what the inside of a store looked like. Inside the store was crowded with narrow shelves containing many fragrant smelling vials and bottles of strange liquids. Faolan nosed his way around, taking in the many different pungent aromas. A simple wooden counter cordoned off the shop from the back room which was obscured by a simple curtain.
“Hello, anypony home?” Remedy called out.
“Coming, just a moment,” came the echo.
Faolan continued his perusal of the shops wears, letting his nose do the browsing. Balancing on his hind legs gave his nose access to the topmost shelves. The tinkling of glass was the first warning his curiosity was growing too aggressive. A tiny little vial on the top shelf teetered on the edge but a pink hoof stopped the vial just before it toppled.
“Faolan!” hissed Remedy, “do you mind!? This is pure Salt of Radiance. Do you know what that is?”
Faolan just licked his nose and shrugged.
“It’s used to violently enhance a unicorn’s magic. That means tiny amounts of it is used by very talented individuals to make fireworks, and the less talented to open cut mine. It does not take kindly to being knocked about. It is also outrageously expensive, as are many things here. So please don’t touch anything."
Faolan’s ears flattened at his scolding, his cheeks puffed in a pout.
A lanky stallion pushed through the curtains. He was tall for a pony, but gaunt and his mane was slicked back with enough grease to cure a squeaky wheel. He peered through a pair of spectacles that sat on the bridge of his nose surprised at the sight in his shop.
“REMEDY! You can’t have a pet in here. What if he eats something or contaminates my elixirs. It’s unhygienic.”
“Unhygienic!” Faolan snorted.
“Sorry Mr. Nostrum,” Remedy apologised. She turned to Faolan and whispered into his ear, “maybe it would be better if you waited outside. I’ll only be a few minutes.” She carefully pushed past the larger wolf and tugged on the leash leading him outside.
“Oh come on, I didn’t even break anything. And he said I was unhygienic!” whined Faolan. “Now I’m not allowed inside at all? You know, for a race that’s supposed to be the bastions of tolerance and harmony, you’re certainly rolling out the royal treatment here.”
Remedy ignored the wolf’s whining. Instead she lashed the end of his tether to a lamp post just outside the store.
“And now I’m tied to a pole. Great. You know if this gets back to the clan, I’ll be the laughing stock of all wolves everywhere.”
“Oh stop your whining,” Remedy huffed, “I’ll only be a minute, and if I recall correctly, your invitation to me was not exactly pleasant either.”
Faolan growled to himself and flopped onto the ground, his paws crossed in front and his head slumped over them.
Remedy sighed and rolled her eyes before entering back into the shop.
Faolan snorted at the ground, sending up a sad little puff of dust. Up ahead a cart filled with fruits and vegetable was parked on the side of the road, hawking its wares. The carts owner was currently engaged in a deep and interesting conversation with another unicorn mare. Movement from behind the cart caught Faolan’s attention and he raised an eyebrow.
Three small faces peered around the back legs of the gossiping mare.
Scarlet Dawn tapped on her hind leg. “Mother, isn’t that a wolf?”
The matron glanced at the sulking canine. “Don’t worry dear, there are no wolves here, it’s just a large dog,” she reassured before returning to her conversation with the stall owner.
“Go on, I dare you to pet it.” A bright eyed sky-blue pegasus colt egged on his elder sibling.
“I still think it’s a wolf,” pondered Scarlet, lost in thought.
“But Mother said it wasn’t. Besides it’s tied up,” urged the smallest of the trio, a mint coloured unicorn. She was curious to see what would happen, but too afraid to start anything herself.
“Maybe you’re just scared?” baited the colt.
Scarlet immediately snapped out of her silent contemplation. “If you’re not scared, you go pet it,” she countered.
“What!?” the young colt exclaimed, shocked that she would even suggest such an outlandish notion, “I’m not doing that. What if it’s a wolf?”
Scarlet huffed, annoyed at the colt's double standard, “Fine, I’ll go pet it. I’m not scared.”
The filly trotted out from cover, her hind legs suspended in a wheeled frame behind her. Faolan tracked the lame filly with his eyes as she wheeled her way over. She paused a short way from him and stood as tall as she could, puffing out her chest. Faolan lifted his head, mildly curious.
“You’re a wolf aren’t you?” declared Scarlet.
Faolan smirked. “The terror that would strike the hearts of all carnivores were the other members of your tribe so astute.”
The filly frowned and tilted her head sideways. She opened her mouth wide and slowly enunciated her words, exaggerating the vowels. “Caaan yooou uuuunderrstaand meee?”
Faolan frowned, “Kid, I can’t stand you at all.”
“I guess you can only growl and bark then. Maybe you’re just a bit of a stupid wolf? You’d have to be a stupid wolf to end up tied to a pole like this. The knot's not even tight.”
Faolan scowled and gave an indignant snort. “You know, creatures like you are normally the first to be eaten.”
“Well in any case, I’m not scared of you.”
“A foolish sentiment no doubt.”
“Can I pet you?”
“Can I eat you?”
“I’m going to pet you.”
“It’d only take one bite.”
The little filly crept up and stretched out her hoof. The soft pad of her hoof pressed against Faolan’s nose. After a pause she ran her hoof down his neck and stroked the fur.
“Now this is just embarrassing,” Faolan grumbled, as the filly was lost in the enchantment of his coat.
“He’s so fluffy!” Scarlet whispered in breathless wonder.
The other two foals had by this stage gathered enough of their own courage to approach and stared with wide eyed amazement at the audacious courage of their compatriot.
Cloud Bank crept up, partly to not let his courage be questioned, but mostly because of his own growing curiosity and tentatively tested the fur next to where Scarlet was still enamoured.
Faolan just stared, confused, with a raised eyebrow.
“Wow he really is,” Cloud Bank remarked. “Just like a big fluffy quilt.”
Faolan’s head stiffened as he stifled a yelp. He slowly turned his head around. The tiny mint coloured unicorn had snuck around during the distraction and had now crawled onto his back, emboldened by her friends.
“Look, he’s big enough to ride” she gasped.
She looked at the frowning wolf and smiled sheepishly.
“Okay, I think that’s enough of that,” Faolan grumbled and rose to his feet. The other two foals quickly backed away but the mint unicorn, having already committed herself, clung to his coat.
Faolan twisted his head to look at the mint pony still clinging on his back. With a deadpan expression he unceremoniously slumped onto his haunches. The mint coloured pony, still wearing a surprised expression, slowly slid off his back like molasses and rolled onto her back. The other two burst into laughter. Faolan also couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Do you think he’s eaten anypony?” the young colt asked excitedly.
“I don’t think he’d hurt a soul. He’s too fluffy,” Sugarmint swooned, trying to climb back onto his back.
Scarlet stared suspiciously at the wolf and tilted her head as if trying to look behind his eyes. “I dunno,” she said finally, “he may act it, but I still don’t think he’s a normal pet.”
“Maybe he’s just like the old stories?” Cloud Bank gasped, posing in front of the wolf. “A vicious predator stalking about eating naughty fillies and colts who don’t go to bed when told.”
Cloud Bank crouched in a menacing pose and Sugarmint wandered back to join them, her dreams of wolf climbing abandoned.
“In the dark shadows on the eve of nightmare night, they creep from the forest to seek out children who’ve lost their way,” Cloud narrated with theatrical oratory.
He wiggled under Faolan’s chin, wearing him like a prop. “And GASP! What’s this he’s spotted? Two little filly’s lost and alone,” the colt growled.
Scarlet smirked at the little act, but Sugarmint stared wide eyed, one hoof covering her mouth as she sat entranced by the story.
“But which will he eat first?” Cloud snarled, licking his lips for dramatic effect.
“Oh no, not meee.” a fearful whine escaped Sugarmint’s throat.
Scarlet placed two hooves on the back of the smaller unicorn. “Oh I think he will, you’re slower.”
With a shove she pushed the unicorn in front of Cloud Bank who immediately pounced.
Sugarmint shrieked and curled up into a ball on her back. Her front hooves clutching her tail for protection.
Scarlet laughed and cantered off, her cart in tow.
Cloud Bank groaned and rolled his eyes as he stood over the cowering filly. “Geez you’re hopeless. Don’t you know you have to run if you’re being chased?”
Faolan smiled at the children’s antics and a bittersweet memory played in his own mind.
Suddenly a loud scream filled the street followed by panicked shouting.
“WATCH OUT! EVERYPONY, GET OUT OF THE WAY!”
Up the hill a frantic stallion was in fierce pursuit of a runaway carnival stand careening down the steep hill that bordered the town at a dangerous pace. A smiling eagle clutching a corncob boldly emblazoned on the front.
The wagon bounced and swerved down the hill, glancing off shopfronts and benches as ponies screamed and dove out of the way. The cart barely managed to stay upright as it gained speed.
Scarlet yelped and immediately backpedalled, but in her panic she jack-knifed the clumsy cart and it toppled over. She tried to drag herself away with her front hooves. Her wooden cart scraped across the cobblestones, slowing her down. The shadow of the runaway food stand fell over her and she screamed.
A blur of silver flashed past and the prosthetic wheels were violently crushed to splinters under the weight of the murderous snack stand.
The wagon roared past, trailing a faint whiff of smoke and roasted corn before smashing into a lamppost, crumpling around the stubborn and now bent pole. Timber and corn flew everywhere before quiet settled on the wreckage, a single remaining wheel slowly turned from unspent momentum. With a crack and pop, the cart burst into flame. Several ponies rushed forward to put out the fire.
Faolan stood on the opposite side of the road, his leash digging in tight around his neck, its tether snapped and hanging limply. His jaws were stretched wide and wrapped around the filly’s barrel. A shocked Scarlet dangled in his mouth, her forehooves clutched to her chest, and her hind legs hanging limply.
Faolan paced back across the road to the two remaining foals who were holding each other in mute fear. A very frantic matron raced over.
“Scarlet! Are you alright?”
Faolan gently placed the filly on the ground, taking care not to tangle her back legs up.
Scarlet looked up at the matron with a stunned expression. Then, as the shock finally wore off, she burst into tears and buried her face in Faolan’s chest. The other two foals clamped onto Scarlet and cried too.
The matron with tears in her own eyes, knelt down and nuzzled the trio of foals who were now all nestled between Faolan’s paws. Faolan leaned down and gently nudged Scarlet with his nose.
She looked up at him with a tear streaked face and running nose. “You saved me.”
Faolan licked her cheek, wiping away her tears.
“Ewww.” She sniffed and wiped the slobber from her face, but her sobs gently broke into giggles.
Faolan repeated his act on the other two crying foals. Soon the three were laughing together again. The matron gently lifted Scarlet onto her back in a field of telekinesis, and gathered the other two by her side.
She turned to Faolan “I can’t thank you enough for saving my precious little Scarlet.”
The mare lifted her head to Remedy who was now standing behind and had watched the last moments of the scene unfurl. “Is he your dog?” the matron enquired.
“Er, yes? Sort of.” Remedy stammered.
“Thank you. You have obviously trained and raised him well. You are blessed to have such a special pet. Please, anytime, visit us at the orphanage. The children would love him, and I’m sure he’d love them to bits as well.”
“Haha, you have no idea,” Remedy chuckled darkly, “but thanks, I’m just glad she wasn’t hurt.”
“Come on everypony, let's go home.” said the Matron as she turned the foals away.
“Wait! I want to say goodbye,” Scarlet cried out, still hanging from the Matron’s back.
The older mare turned her side towards Faolan and Scarlet reached out to him.
Faolan smiled and gently nudged her hoof with his nose.
“Thank you, wolf. You saved me. I won’t forget you.”
The two parted and the mare walked off. Scarlet waving as she went.
Faolan watched tenderly as the small filly was carried away. His own eyes moist with the sweetness of the scene. Which immediately dried when his expression soured an instant later.
He glanced back at Remedy who was now sporting a smug devilish grin, and her hoof covered her mouth conspiratorially.
“That was really sweet Faolan.” Her honeyed words dripped saccharine. “Not only did you save that filly, but then you wiped away all their tears. You’re a real sweetheart aren’t you. I don’t think I can believe you are a bloodthirsty predator anymore. Must be all that excellent training of mine.”
Faolan snorted and stuck his nose high in the air. “Hrmph, I was merely comparing their flavours,” he said, then turned and walked away.
Remedy stifled a giggle, then burst into a loud cackle and followed after the retreating wolf.
A small group of ponies crowded around the wrecked food stall. The stall's owner surveyed the devastation and relayed all the details to a corpulent black and white moustached unicorn in a red tailed coat and top hat. His cutie mark - a multi coloured tent.
The sun dipped low in the sky, but Faolan walked ahead, his head even lower. His ears pulled flat against his head in a deep sulk. Behind him three ponies walked in a close huddle. Sunny and Trade flanked Remedy, laughing and listening intently to the tale she was waxing most saccharin.
“There he was with three of the cutest little orphan foals nestled between his paws, all crying into his chest,” she regaled loudly with considerable pomp and drama, reveling in the visible discomfort it was causing their resident predator, “and then with the most gentle touch he leant down and licked their tears away.”
“D’Awwww, that’s so adorable,” Sunny cooed, holding her own cheeks. Her eyes were misty from the sweet tale.
“I think you’ve been sold out boy.” Trade chuckled, somewhat sympathetic to the vicious ribbing Remedy was delivering.
The light blush on Faolan’s coat was becoming obvious. He turned and barked angrily back at the trio, “I was just curious what they tasted like!” His excuse felt weak even to him.
Sunny flinched at the angry wolf, but Remedy saw through his feeble display. She cackled like a mad witch. “Oh he’s trying to act all tough and savage but I know this old dog better than that! Even the mightiest of carnivores falls prey to the adorableness of foals.”
All three ponies laughed.
“I could see what YOU taste like,” grumbled Faolan, under his breath.
Tradewind wiped a tear from the corner of his eye and looked up at the darkening hues of evening. “We should probably setup camp before nightfall”.
The others agreed.
The pony trio got to work, clearing a spot beside the road. Trade gathered firewood while Sunny and Remedy set about preparing a ring of stones for the fire and setting up tents.
“Where’s he going?” Sunny asked, nodding towards Faolan who wordlessly sulked into the surrounding woodlands.
“Oh, let him be,” replied Remedy as she continued to arrange stones in a circle for the fire, “he’s probably still a bit sore from my teasing earlier. No doubt he’s off to find his lost inner beast.”
“What if he actually gets lost?” Tradewind fluttered over, his forelegs wrapped around a large bundle of sticks.
“Well he’d be a pretty poor wolf indeed if he can’t track his way back, and due for more teasing.” Remedy chuckled to herself.
“Aren’t you worried you’re teasing him too much?” Tradewind said as he stacked his lumber within the circle of stones.
Remedy smiled reassuringly, “It’s all harmless fun, I’m sure he knows that.”
Trade smiled back nervously, “I hope you’re right.”
The burning wood gave a sharp crack and released a flurry of glowing embers that raced up into the night. All three sat quietly around the fire, munching on some fresh apples.
Sunny suddenly let out an unexpected burp and covered her mouth to hide an embarrassed giggle. “‘Scuse me.”
Tradewind chuckled, then stood and stretched like a cat. He adjusted his position to warm a different flank. Trade looked out over the darkened landscape. “Faolan isn’t back yet and it’s getting quite late. Should we be worried?”
Remedy stared vacantly into the glowing coals. “You probably don’t want to find him right now.” The thin smile on her face was fractured by the firelight, like shadows in broken glass, and betrayed a medley of darker emotions that swirled in her unblinking eyes.
“What... what do you mean?” Sunny looked around at the surrounding woodlands.
Remedy blinked. “We’ve had a lot of fun today, but don’t forget he’s still a wolf. A carnivore, a predator."
Tradewind walked over and sat beside her. “What are you saying?”
Remedy smiled apologetically at her companions. “He hasn’t eaten for at least two days. He is probably very hungry.”
Realisation hit Sunny like the friendship express. “You mean he’s… hunting!?” she gasped.
Remedy held Sunny’s hoof. “Probably. That’s why I said you don’t want to find him right now.”
Sunny slumped to her haunches. Her eyes widened as a flurry of conjured horrors played out in her mind. “So he’s going to k-kill some poor innocent animal. What if it’s a little birdy, or a cute little squirrel?” she stuttered, her voice hitching as the imagery intensified.
Remedy pulled Sunny into a hug. Memories of her first night in the forest flooded her mind. The firelight’s dim golden hues bathed her coat deep crimson and its crackle sounded just like the splintering of bone in her ears. Tradewind joined the firelight vigil, staring deep in thought into the flickering coals.
Remedy gave an involuntary shudder and held Sunny tighter. “It’s hard, I know. But you have to realise, he’s not some fluffy puppy dog. He’s a wild wolf. A stalker of prey. A hunter, a killer. And he is hungry… they were all so hungry.” Remedy’s eyes unfocused as hidden scenes played out behind them.
Tradewind placed his arms around both the girls. “But he’s not so bad, he wouldn’t hurt US right? So let’s forget about this awful business for the night. Look I have a little something special I bought in town.”
He hovered over to his saddlebags.
Sunny shivered and shook the thoughts from her head. “What did you get?”
Trade rummaged into the bag and pulled out a large dark green bottle. “Who’s up for some cider? Sweet Apple Special Reserve,” he said, holding it up proudly.
“Oooh,” the girls marveled in delight.
An impish grin slithered onto Sunny’s face. “Imagine that, two mares - alone - out in the middle of nowhere, escorted by a charming young stallion, and he offers us special reserve.”
Sunny curled around behind Remedy in a distinctly snake-like fashion. She turned her head down and looked up at Trade with large innocent limpid-pool eyes.
“Mr. Tradewind, you wouldn’t have any ulterior motives would you? I’m still very naive.” She pouted.
Trade rolled his eyes, and the comment earned Sunny a quick smack upside the head from Remedy. Sunny giggled with her tongue poking out and one eye closed as she rubbed the new sore spot on the back of her head. “Just kidding, I know it’s Remedy you’re trying to get tipsy.” Sunny laughed as she ducked another painful rebuke, fluttering away out of reach and giggling all the while.
Trade took the teasing in stride, not easily addled by such simple assaults of character. “It’s true, my devastating charm is a burden I bear, but I assure you both: my intent is nought but honourable.” He spoke with forced elegance and held his head high in a most dignified repose.
“Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for ours...” A new voice suddenly rang through the clearing. Trade almost dropped the reserve in surprise. They all spun towards the voice at the edge of the campsite.
An imposing brown and tan earth stallion stood on a large boulder bordering the clearing. He wore a once dignified looking pinstripe vest with an accompanying dirty red tie, and a black trilby with matching red trim circling its crown.
From the bushes behind, three more ponies emerged. Two male pegasi and a female earth pony.
The stallion on the boulder grew confident in his posture, satisfied that the entrance of his little troupe was sufficiently dramatic. “Now if you’d be so kind, please drop all your gear, and lie down with your faces to the ground. We’ll do this nice and easy, and nopony needs to get hurt.”
Stunned; Remedy, Sunny and Tradewind just stood mute, staring.
“Well whaddya know, bandits,” Sunny mused.
Like a well choreographed dance, the trio spun and dove into their nearby bags and pulled out their weapons. Remedy bared the keen, wicked looking sickle. Trade hovered in the air and locked the talon blades to his foreleg with a twist. Then with a flick and a ring of metal like a tuning fork, the twin blades snapped open and locked in place giving him a long pair of claw-like blades on his right hoof. Sunny pulled out a comically small fruit knife.
The bandit leader stumbled on his boulder, his previous bravado wilting. “Who are you ponies?”
A small white rabbit chewed the last of a verdant stem. Behind her the sun quickly slid behind the distant horizon, and the moonrise began. She licked her paws and wiped her whiskers and face, taking special care to comb her long ears.
She arched her back, stretched out a long hind leg and endured a big wide yawn. She hopped a few paces, then stood motionless. Her little nose twitched, sniffing the air and sampling a new unfamiliar scent. Like an electric shock, a primal fear rushed through her body. She squeaked and leapt forward in a desperate panic. From the bush behind her a silver toothy snout snapped forward, the jaws twisting in an instant to flank her tiny body before they crushed together with a sickening crunch. The only struggle was a short, strangled squeal.
Faolan waited a moment, as if expecting an army of horrified ponies to suddenly sprout from the ground. In the forest this was a slow Tuesday, but here he couldn’t shrug a lingering feeling of indiscretion. Like he had just desecrated a holy shrine.
Considering it best to make short work of the meagre meal, he tore into the rabbit savagely. It was only a small meal, but at least he didn’t have to share it. One consolation for foregoing the strength of the pack. It should sate his hunger for a day or two.
In truth, being a predator carries with it no small measure of risk. Your daily bread involved life and death struggles, and in order to feed the clan you often targeted prey easily your match or better. And even though you attack with the whole pack, and your odds of success are high, all it takes is one errant antler, tusk or kick from a hoof and your life is over in an instant. No struggle, no second chance.
By comparison, this rabbit was practically tame. It struck Faolan curious, how much the creatures in the pony lands had forgotten their survival instincts. In the forest, no such creatures would be out after dark, certainly not alone. Of course, in the forest no natural creature would hunt a grown wolf either.
The wet sounds of tearing flesh and the brittle crunch of bones crushed in molars progressed at a frantic pace. The last thing he wanted was a pony to witness him in the act. This was a peace mission after all. Faolan was so focused on his task, that he didn’t even notice the thin grey ring of light that circled around him. Before he could react, the ring burst into a wall of cold grey flame that arched over his head, forming a solid dome. Faolan yelped and looked around frantically. He raced up to the barrier, and tentatively slapped the field with a paw. The magic fizzled, and made his paw tingle but did not budge. As firm as any stone.
A fizzling crackle of arcane tearing sizzled from the opposite side of the dome, and a tan stallion walked through the rippling magical wall. He was wearing a wide brim hat and an even wider grin. Several pointy teeth were stitched to the crown of the hat. The stallion gave an impressed whistle as he sized up the wolf.
“What a beauty,” he whispered, slowly stalking along the edge.
Faolan jumped against the barrier, scratching uselessly against the boiling magic.
“Calm down there mate, you’re in the dome now. We’re not going anywhere until one of us yields. Two wills enter, one will leaves,” the stallion crooned, slowly walking along the perimeter. “You’re in luck you know. If you were caught by guards they’d likely put you down. Still, I’m going to need to tie you up a bit. For our safety you understand.”
Faolan turned and faced down the stallion. A low threatening growl reverberated from deep in his throat.
The pony shifted his stance low and his eyes narrowed. He licked his lips and the smirk never left his face. “We can do it that way too. That’s fine with me.”
He reached into his saddle bags and drew a length of rope.
Faolan’s hackles bristled and his icy blue eyes blazed. The low growl continued and a confident menace poured off him in clouds of thick brilliant blues, it filled the dome and surrounded them both. It was the same atmosphere the whole hunting pack had telegraphed when they first met Remedy.
The normal response to the aura the wolf was displaying would be the familiar deep purple scents of fear, panic and dread. Perhaps some bright red tones of defiance if the prey was protecting someone. But the semblance this pony was exuding, however, was completely unexpected and entirely familiar. Faolan glanced around, shocked, his was not the only blue. The pony was oozing an infallible confidence woven with ribbons of bright pink and yellow. Faolan’s aura bruised. HE was the prey, HE was being hunted, and the pony, was delighted.
Faolan hesitated and took a step back.
The pony reacted immediately. He was fast. The stallion charged and devoured the distance between them. Faolan recovered from his shock just in time. Panic triggered his instincts and he dodged sideways. His jaws snapped at the pony hunter as he bolted past. The pony didn’t break stride, galloping through before turning to face the wolf once more. Faolan narrowed his eyes; no pony would fool him twice. He squared off and waited for his moment to strike. The pair slowly circled each other for a moment. The pony grinned unnervingly, unphased by the menace pouring from the wolf.
The stallion charged. He whipped his head around and unleashed the rope, repeatedly striking at Faolan like a viper. One of the lashes wrapped around a paw, and pulled it out from underneath him. Faolan rolled sideways, freeing himself from the binding mid motion. A second rope whipped towards Faolan’s face, drawn in the midst of battle. Faolan ducked, squirming backwards. Another lash for his head, but this time he was ready. Faolan snatched the rope from the air, drawing it taut between the two hunters.
For a moment, a tug-of-war played out between the clenched teeth. Faolan stared bloody murder down the rope at the pony. The stallion fiercely gazed back, unshaken. Then he grinned. With a glow from under his hat, he let go of his end. Faolan stumbled backwards, the rope still in his jaws. A magical glow coated the tail of his rope and before he could react the rope coiled like a snake around his muzzle and tightened, clamping his jaws shut. Faolan raked at the binding with his paws in a mad panic. The stallion gave no quarter, and blindsided the wolf with a slide kick, knocking him to the ground with a heavy thud. Without a moment's reprieve a second body blow knocked the wind from Faolan's lungs as the pony landed bodily on him, pinning a leg. In but a second, more magical aura gathered the second rope and bound three of Faolan's legs together. The pony maintained his weight down on Faolan's side, seriously compromising the thought of further struggle.
“Easy there big fellah, all over now. Just breathe,” the pony whispered softly, breathless but happy, “everything is going to be alright.”
Faolan flicked his ear in irritation at the soothing platitudes being crooned. He growled and struggled against the bindings with all his strength, but with only one free leg he could not find purchase. The stallion, unconcerned with what meagre scratches he could land. The bindings held fast.
“Ah-ah, calm down mate, everything’s going to be fine. You’re safe now.” the stallion ran a soothing hoof over the bristled fur on the back of Faolan’s neck.
Faolan ceased his struggles, exhausted from the effort and still hungry. The bonds on his muzzle and feet were strong. Faolan just lay there breathing for a moment. His head swimming in contradictions. The stallions weight, never leaving.
“Good boy, good boy. That’s it, nice and calm. Just submit.”
Quiet descended back into the woodlands. Only the high pitched thaumaturgical tinkle and the sound of slow breathing remained. The adrenaline slowly abated and only a simmering embarrassment remained. Faolan took a hard look at the pony through one eye. The hunters face was confident and calm, and completely devoid of fear or malice. A normal hunter would have a healthy respect of his prey and would naturally fear injury, but this pony’s face betrayed a dangerously obsessive fascination.
Faolan let his body relax and his head fall to the grass as the strange pony continued to soothe. He hated it, but he had to admit he was bested.
The shield gave an audible pop like pressure equalising. It fractured and splintered into a thousand glistening shards and dissipated.
The dim twilight of the woodlands returned around them. Further ahead, two more ponies stepped from the shadows.
A corpulent unicorn stallion with a large top hat and long red coat tails. A multi coloured tent clearly visible on his flank. The other was a blue and silver earth pony mare, a vine-covered flute adorned her side. She wore a large red scarf around her neck, and looked with disgust at the wolf.
“Well well well, what do we have here?” The top hat stepped forward, a greedy grin stretched over his face. “You’re a long way from home.”
Faolan snorted in defiance.
The fat pony looked past Faolan at the bloody corpse forgotten behind. A practised look of concern temporarily displaced the greedy smile and the stallion clicked his tongue in disappointment.
“Tsk, tsk. Look at this poor little bunny. What have you done? Here in Equestria, this is a pretty serious crime you’ve committed.”
Faolan whimpered slightly, a small measure of guilt overtaking him.
“Now, now, don’t you worry. We’ll take reeeal good care of you. We’ll ignore this little incident, even feed you. All you have to do in return is a little performance or two for the little fillies and colts. You like those don’t you? Don’t lie now, we saw you in town earlier.”
Faolan writhed and bucked, snarling through the restraints. The mare retreated from the thrashing wolf. The top hatted stallion just smirked.
The hunter pushed his weight back down on the wolf. “Easy now, settle.” He snapped at the smirking stallion, “Stop bloody teasing him and finish it.”
The big unicorn turned and gave a nod to the mare. “Soul Song, play a little tune here for our friend to calm his temperament.” He looked back at Faolan with an almost pitying look. “We’ll talk some more after you’ve considered our little… arrangement.”
Faolan continued to thrash, but the ropes were no looser, and every time he thought he could buck the stallion off, the tan pony expertly reasserted himself.
The mare walked forward, lifting a bulbous, disfigured instrument to her lips. A ruby coloured gemstone was embedded in its gullet and glinted in the starlight as if it faintly glowed.
A sad bittersweet note rang softly through the still night air and silenced all the ambient nightlife in its entrancing embrace. A slow, beautiful, melody born of melancholy and sorrow swirled around the clearing. The notes struck a chord in Faolan’s heart, and although his deepest instincts screamed against it, his heart only heard the melody of the mare. In its lilting tune he heard the rustle of wind through his beloved forest’s canopy. Its resonance carried the cool burbling of brooks that tumbled through the undergrowth and soared on a chorus of crickets, cicadas and frogs. Visions of the warm dappled sunlight on the glades as beetles and dragonflies danced and battled among the grasses. The splash of midnight fish leaping for the ethereal flickering of fireflies that skated across dark pools of perfectly reflected starlight. He saw his brothers and sisters strong, proud and happy around the den. Beautiful Karena, her own song a perfect harmony within the melody. He saw Marrok, his father, kind-hearted and strong; honoured by the clan in days of old. It spoke of loving days spent carefree playing with his brother, Lowe, while his mother watched lovingly from the hilltop above. As the song built each image was torn like a broken dream from his mind. Tears of anguish filled his eyes. With the final crescendo he closed his eyes and as the darkness took his mind, a mournful whimper escaped, unbidden, from his mouth.
“What! No Reward?” Sunny whined, kicking the ground with her hoof.
Two guard ponies finished loading the bandit leader into the back of a prison wagon with the rest of his compatriots.
“Sorry, love. These guys were pretty new to the scene, not a lot of reputation I’m afraid. The sad fact is, this lot couldn’t pull a heist in a blind mare’s jewellery store.”
The guards locked the heavy iron gate and quickly hitched themselves to the wagon. In a short minute they pulled the wagon back onto the road and headed back towards Ponyville.
The trio watched them leave while Sunny muttered personal grievances under her breath. As soon as they were out of sight, Remedy turned to Tradewind and said, “I’m starting to get worried. Faolan should have been back hours ago.”
Tradewind frowned for a moment. “Sunny and I will go scout; see if we can find him. You stay here in case he returns. If we don’t find anything, we’ll meet back here in an hour.”
“But I want to go help look. What if he’s in trouble?” said Remedy.
“We can scout faster. Besides, if he does return, what would he think coming back to an empty campsite?” Tradewind placed a hoof on Remedy’s shoulder. “Look I’m sure he’s ok. This is all new territory for him. I’m sure he just got turned around. As soon as we find anything we’ll come back straight away. That right Sunny?”
Sunny nodded and gave a crisp salute, “Aye Aye Capi-tan.”
Tradewind pressed his forehead against Remedy’s. “We’ll be back in no time. Sit tight, ok?”
The concerned frown on Remedy’s face didn’t falter, but she conceded nonetheless with an irritated sigh, “Ok. One hour!”
Tradewind nodded, and the two pegasi leapt into the air and flew away.
The regular drumming of hooves on packed earth interrupted the soothing malaise of grey that clouded Faolan’s head. He squinted his eyes open and was rewarded with the garish light of day and a sharp pain that coursed through his brain. He clenched them shut again and waited for the pain to subside. He tried again, this time the light only provoked a dull throbbing. He blinked a few times to clear some lingering bright spots.
Scenic countryside slowly drifted past behind iron bars to the gentle rhythmic squeak of poorly greased wheels. Faolan let his eyes wander. In front, a quartet of muscular ponies pulled an open wagon carrying rolls of heavy canvas, poles and wooden crates. His cage was hitched to it and a heavy iron padlock secured its solitary wrought iron gate.
Behind him, two similar cages were hitched to the train. In the furthest he saw a trio of cats - a black leopard, an old tiger, and a very thin lion. The lion paced the length of his tiny cage, muttering to himself. Faolan’s neighbouring cell had a single resident orthrus. One of its heads chewed hungrily on a length of chain as if it were a bone. Its second head looked, bored, out over the landscape.
Faolan slowly rose to his feet, the throbbing in his head intensified and he groaned.
“And the sleeping beauty awakes. Your first time under the songstress’ spell no doubt.” The more intelligent looking head regarded Faolan casually.
Faolan rubbed his head to placate the swarm of angry hornets currently nesting in it. “Where am I?”
“Welcome to Big Top’s circus of daring feats and dangerous predators. Well, that’s if you believe the sign on the side of the wagon. Not that much predation goes on here mind you. I believe it’s used to rile up the customers imaginations. Make it seem more exciting and exotic you see.”
“What do they want with us?”
“Why a performance my dear boy, of course,” said the lion, his face and body pressed against the bars. The wild look in his eye and slight tremble on his curling smile betrayed an alarming zeal for the idea. For a moment it looked like his gaunt frame might actually slip between the bars. He bounced off the cage causing the bars to rattle and landed in a wide stance, one thin paw splayed and its tips pressed to his chest.
“We have a duty to our adoring fans. A ferocious display of feral power, and savage grace.” He spun on the spot and let his body fall to the floor. He arched his back, lifted his slender shoulders off the ground on one front leg and threw his head back to stare into the heavens while his other paw clutched at his heart. “The audience gasps and leans forward on the edge of their seats. Death seems imminent at any moment. They can’t bare to watch, and yet cannot look away. A crescendo of drama; the pounding drums intensify. A climax of spectacle builds as the orchestra races to keep pace. Suddenly, a mighty roar, the lights go out, and silence falls.”
The lion collapsed, panting heavily. His paws covered his face with one claw pulling at his lip. A deeply mad chuckle bubbled out and he slowly stretched out one of his paws, as if trying to grasp the sky itself. “Like the first splash of rain, applause trickles then roars. The crowd goes wild,“ he finished in a breathless whisper. A series of delighted gurgles followed as the lion writhed on the floor of his cage in apparent ecstasy.
Faolan frowned and raised an eyebrow at the orthrus. It shrugged. “So you ‘perform’ for the ponies. Why?” asked Faolan.
“It’s not so bad,” said half the orthrus – the other half was still occupied with gnawing on its chains. “We are generally well taken care of, as long as we behave. We don’t have our freedom, but I guess it’s the price we pay for leaving the sanctuary of the forest.”
“You all left the forest willingly? While I can understand you might as one of the chaos touched” – Faolan, nodded at the orthrus – “but what about you lot? You broke the oath,” he said, addressing the slothful felines in the rear cage.
The old tiger sneered, “Hrmph, what good is the oath when you starve because of it. We took our chances in the pony lands and we have brothers and sisters who’ve met far worse fates. We, are the survivors.”
“Survivors. You like being locked in a cage?”
The black leopard spoke up, “of course freedom would be nice, but after breaking the oath we can’t return to the forest. And if we’re captured by pony guards we’d be either killed or relocated into the forest which is much the same. At least here, we can live.”
Faolan snorted bitterly. “The cat prides I know wouldn’t stand to be some ponies pet play things. No matter the cost.”
The lion slowly rose from his ecstasy and took gentle repose against the cage. “You judge us, but what are YOU doing outside the forest. The ponies won’t stand to enter it, so it stands to reason that you must’ve left too.”
“I, am on a mission for the council. I’m supposed to be delivering a message to Celestia.”
The orthrus laughed. “And you expected to just walk in? Can’t say that was very bright lad.”
“No, of course not. I am not stupid. I had a pony escort, however I was separated from them and I was ambushed by a deranged unicorn.“
“Ah,” the orthrus smiled as if recalling a fond memory, “the ineluctable Mr. Brumby. Resident wrangler and purveyor of dangerous creatures. Don’t feel bad about it lad, he inevitably catches all off guard the first time.”
“And what of the other one. The mare who played music. She did something to my head,” said Faolan, rubbing his still tender temple.
“Soul Song, our dream muse. Minstrel of our bittersweet memories. Her music plays on your heart-strings and your mind is quickly vacated from the premises. Ultimately, they are our captors and gatekeepers. With them both in play, escape is futile.”
“Yet it seems the fat one is holding both their leashes.”
The lion scraped the back of a claw across his iron bars. “Big Top, he’s the ringmaster. Leader of this little circus of excitement. He’s the one that directs the performances we must learn, and makes our lives unpleasant if we don’t.”
“I assume you’re not going to cooperate?” the leopard interjected.
“Cooperate? Of course not. I am no pony’s pet.”
The tiger sighed a sad little sigh. “We all start out like that. You’ll change. We all did; once you find out what happens if you don’t.”
“And what happens if I–”
“G’day fella’s. Ah, our new friend is awake.” Faolan jumped sideways, the tan hunter, Brumby, had somehow trotted right up to his cage undetected and he was still as irritatingly effervescent as ever.
Faolan growled at him.
Brumby chuckled. “No hard feelings mate. I know we didn’t get off to the best start, but trust me. It’s for the best. We’re on the road today, set out a bit earlier than usual. Orders from the Top.”
He slowed his pace allowing the wagons to roll past. “I trust the rest of you are travelling well. All fed and rested?”
The sound of hooves on wooden crates caught Faolan’s ears. Soul Song trotted along the top of the open wagon ahead and waved at Brumby. She carried her twisted flute in a silk sling strapped to her side.
Faolan glared at her. She glared back down her muzzle at him.
Brumby cantered up, and leapt onto her carriage. “Hey Song, what’s up?”
Soul Song pointed at Faolan and then stroked her neck.
“Aww c’mon. Not yet, Song. He’s still getting used to it all. I mean he’s just woken up for Celestia’s sake,” Brumby whined.
Soul Song frowned at him and patted her head with her hoof.
“Big Top? He’s not planning to start training today is he?”
She gave an indifferent shrug.
Brumby took off his wide brim hat and swept his mane back under it before settling it back low on his brow. “Not good. He’s in no state of mind to be cooperative. I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”
Soul Song scowled and patted her head again; more vigorously this time.
“Yeah, Luv, I know.” Brumby jumped down and trotted along next to Faolan’s cage. “Sorry mate. I know you’re not going to like it but we need to put you back to sleep for a while.”
Faolan barked and snarled at the stallion, “Tartarus take you!”
Brumby looked pitifully at the wolf then stepped away with a nod to Soul Song.
Soul Song unwrapped her flute, it’s gruesome design made more horrific by the bright light of day. It curved slightly and was thick and lumpy at one end with a large ruby gemstone set in the middle of the thickest part of it’s leathery exterior. Ribs of dried cartilage banded the tapering instrument with lengths of gut-cord strapping the grizzly creation to a carved wooden spine. A dozen holes were drilled along its length and a carved, wooden mouthpiece was grafted to it’s narrow end. Soul Song lifted the flute to her mouth.
“I swear, one day, you will all pay for this,” Faolan growled.
A sad sweet melody rose over the air.
Tradewind pushed apart some bushes. “It’s just here.”
Remedy stepped through and gasped, “Sunny, wait. You don’t want to–”
Sunny pushed past. “What? Oh no!” she cried.
The mangled, bloody remains of the rabbit lay strewn over the ground. The head and a leg still identifiable.
“Sunny, Sunny! Look at me!” Remedy grabbed Sunny’s faced and turned it away. “Just breathe.”
Sunny trembled, tears forming in the corners of her eyes. “It’s a bunny,” she whimpered.
“I know, but just breathe. I know it’s hard.”
“A poor defenseless bunny.”
“Focus Sunny. We need to find where he went.”
Tears streamed down Sunny’s face, and her breaths were choked. “What if she had a family? Cute little baby rabbit kittens. They’ll starve without her!”
Remedy wrapped Sunny in a tight hug. “It’s cruel I know. That’s the way they are. That’s why we’re doing this. So they can stay in the forest and won’t come out and kill. So come on now. Bite back your tears. We need to find him before anything worse happens.”
Sunny wiped at the tears on her face and stuttered in short broken gasps, “I’m al-alright but it must have been horrible for you in that forest.”
Remedy smiled weakly, and rubbed Sunny’s shoulders. “Go catch Trade, look for clues.” She gently pushed Sunny towards Tradewind just beyond the next wall of bushes; her body between Sunny and the corpse.
After Sunny had left. Remedy looked back at the ruined rabbit. She could feel the sting of tears welling in her eyes. She grimaced and pinched her eyes shut. Carefully, with one hoof, she pawed at the ground; digging a shallow grave.
Tradewind looked back, sympathetically, at Sunny as she wandered up. She was still fighting back lingering sobs. “Look, wagon tracks. I think Faolan might have been captured.”
Sunny took a large slobbery sniff and blinked away her remaining tears. “Captured? who would try and capture a wolf? Guards?”
“I don’t think so. I’d expect more signs of a struggle. But it looks like he was taken unharmed, more or less.”
Remedy pushed through the shrubbery, her head bowed to hide her teary eyes.
Tradewind noticed the dirt and blood crusting her hooves. “Oh Remedy, I’m sorry, I should have–”
“It’s alright. He was entrusted to me, it’s only right that I clean up after him.”
Sunny ran over and wrapped her arms around Remedy. Tradewind took a cloth and a canteen out of his saddle bags. He wet the cloth and gently cleaned her hooves while she silently wept.
“It, ah, looks like we’ve found some wagon tracks,” said Tradewind as he quietly put away his canteen and soiled rag, “I think he’s been captured. Unharmed it seems. At least we have a trail.”
Remedy pressed her forehead against Trade and Sunny’s and closed her eyes. “Thank you. Both of you. I’m really glad you came along.”
Remedy took a deep breath and gently separated herself from Sunny. “Well, I guess we better go and save his sorry hide. Celestia knows no one else will.”
Sunny sniffed then chuckled. “What kind of sorry wolf gets captured by ponies anyway.”
“The tracks lead this way. Hopefully they haven’t gone far,” said Trade, pointing south.
The wind picked up and ushered the trio forward in pursuit of their lost charge. It quaked the overhead boughs and bobbed the single daisy now planted on a small mound of freshly tilled earth behind them. A simple stone serving as headstone and marker.
Collecting garbage was a thankless job, but the work was easy and it allowed you to stay outdoors, which suited Slim Pickens fine. The green stallion was poking his way through a particularly dense cluster of discarded popcorn packets when a bright yellow head burst through the bush next to him. He fell back on his haunches, dropping his trash bag.
“Hello,” said Sunny.
Remedy’s head popped out next to hers. “Oh C’mon. We’re back in Ponyville!?”
Sunny stumbled out of the bush and addressed the confused groundskeeper. “Have you seen a wolf around here?”
Remedy also extracted herself from the bush. “Or a wagon that could hold one?”
Slim picked himself up and dusted himself. “If you girls are after the circus, I’m afraid you’re too late.”
“The Circus?” they said in unison.
Slim rummaged through his trash bag and pulled out a butter stained poster, offering it to Remedy.
Tradewind fell through the bushes. “Oof.”
Remedy scanned the poster. ”The Circus! Look. It says here that they have an exhibition of dangerous wild predators. He must have been captured for the circus. At least that means he’s alive. He won’t like it though.”
Remedy handed off the poster to Sunny and Tradewind. “When did they leave? Do you know where they went?” she asked Slim.
“They left early, at the crack of dawn. I think they were heading up Canterlot road.”
“Horsefeathers!” Remedy cursed. “We’ve spent all day tracking this wagon, and they’re likely already in Canterlot. We need to get there quick.”
“Short of a pegasus chariot, the train will likely be quickest. We can take it now that Faolan isn’t with us,” said Trade.
The trio galloped off towards the train station.
Sunny stopped and waved goodbye to Slim. He waved back. “Wow, they must really like the circus.”
Faolan woke with a start. Cold water dripped down his face.
“Ah, there he is. I trust you slept well?” the familiar cruel grin of the overweight stallion greeted him.
He stood in his full regalia: red top hat, red coat with long tails and shiny brass buttons. The ensemble completed with an immaculate jewelled whip strapped to his side.
Faolan noticed a tightness around his neck. He scratched at it with a paw. A thick band of metal girded his throat, and he could feel the cold smooth touch of polished crystal embedded in its surface. A jewelled collar to match his new masters whip. Faolan scratched at it frantically with his hind leg.
“No use I’m afraid,” said Big Top. “That collar is magically sealed. It won’t open so long as I want it closed.”
“I’ve got a really bad vibe about this,” mumbled Brumby, his normally cheerful demeanour, serious. “You need to let him settle in before you try training him.”
“This is Canterlot,“ the ringmaster hissed at his handler, “We need to freshen up the act. These stiff necked fancy ponies have very shallow attention spans and very deep pockets. If we can get them in to see the never before seen new ferocious predator it’s sure to rake in the bits. Just look at him. He’s in his prime. Magnificent.”
“That’s what I’m saying. He IS in his prime, and he’s pissed and well rested, not to mention hungry. It’s too dangerous.”
Big Top growled at Brumby, “If I wanted your opinion, I’d have it surgically removed. Now raise the damn shield. I want this wolf performing by tomorrow night.”
Brumby reluctantly bowed his head, “You’re the boss. You know the rules. Two wills enter; one will leaves.”
“Yes, yes. Now stop babbling and do your job.”
Brumby frowned, but with a glow from his horn the familiar grey shield flamed up around the wagon.
Big Top rolled his shoulders and smirked at his grim-faced employee. “Now let me show you how it’s done.”
Faolan immediately fell into a defensive crouch as soon as the familiar grey wall flared up. His ears swivelled on his head and his muscles were tensed. He glared at the gaudy stallion when he entered through the crackling field opposite him.
Big Top smirked at the smouldering wolf. “Now you’ll have to excuse our accelerated time schedule – time waits for nopony. So let me make this perfectly clear and simple. I tell you to jump, you jump. I tell you to sit, you sit. I tell you to roll over and play dead, then I best be calling for someone to dig a hole from the conviction of your performance. Make no mistake, that WILL be the outcome of today. The only decision you get to make, is how hard it will be before you comply.”
Faolan growled, “I am NO pony’s pet.”
Big Top grinned and yelled over his shoulder, “Open the gate!” He unbuckled his whip and a metal pin holding the iron gate was yanked away by a thin cord. The gate slowly swung open.
Faolan slowly, cautiously, made his way down the ramp. His eyes locked on the fat pony. He slowly circled to the opposite side of the dome.
Big Top shook the coils of his whip loose. “Lesson 1: Sit.”
Faolan growled back.
“I said, sit!”
Faolan barked at the pony, “I will NEVER submit to you or ANY OF YOUR KIND!” Faolan charged the pony, teeth bared and intentions plain.
Big Top casually swung the dreaded lash, and let its tip fly towards Faolan. Faolan easily ducked, the whipping tendril streaking close by.
A flash of white hot pain rocketed through his body. The very force of it knocked him back against the back wall of the dome. His neck burned like it was on fire.
Big Top grinned and chuckled wickedly, “Lesson 0: Do as I say, or else.“
Faolan whimpered and quickly staggered to his feet. The area around the collar on his neck stung like a fiery brand and – was it his imagination or was it actually wafting smoke?
The ringmaster casually inspected his whip. “You see now, this whip is special. A friend of mine made it –” Big Top fixed Faolan with a wicked glare, grinning “– Or should I say. It was made from a friend of mine. He always wanted to be part of the circus. So I tanned his hide and had it made into this special whip. It along with that collar you’re wearing form a very special bond. The magical gems set into both, are cursed. Misery Gems they call them. Found in pairs, sisters. They never find themselves far apart. But together they cause a monstrous agony to any living thing in their proximity. Misery, after all, loves company.”
Big Top tapped his chin, pondering an afterthought, “Maybe I should have opened with that explanation. But then, you lot never listen anyway.”
His cold steely glare focused back on Faolan. “Now where was I? Oh yes... sit!”
The golden towers of Canterlot glowed in the warm hues of sunset and everywhere ponies bustled about in a last minute rush. Parents herded their mewling children towards home, restaurants were setting up their alfresco dining tables and the lamplighters were lighting the street lamps.
Among the bustle and hubbub of the busy city, the piercing whistle of an approaching train signaled its imminent arrival. The lumbering machine slowly ground to a halt with a squeal of steel and a vent of steam like a heavy sigh of relief after its taxing hill climb.
Ponies crowded around the carriage doors eagerly waiting to be reunited with friends, family and lovers. The crowd parted suddenly with a commotion as three ponies bolted from the car as soon as the door was unlocked.
“C’mon let’s hurry, it’s been more than a day since we last saw Faolan,” said Remedy, yelling over her shoulder.
Sunny beat her wings, keeping only a few steps behind. Tradewind followed close behind her, equally determined. They barrelled into the busy streets and hurtled down the cobblestone road with little regard for dignity or etiquette, earning more than their fair share of lofty noses from the affronted gentry in the process.
Faolan panted heavily. His legs trembled, sweat beaded on his brow and stubborn tears stung the corners of his eyes. His coat was ragged and singed. The collar around his neck ticked slowly as the metal cooled. An acrid smell still wafted from its joints but the purple gemstones glowed as keenly as ever.
Big Top drew his hoof across his brow, flicking the excess sweat from his face. “I’ll admit, your determination is admirable, but the longer you resist, the more painful it will be for you. Is it really worth it?”
Faolan smacked his lips – they were so dry. He tried to wet his nose, but his tongue just felt like old leather. He took a deep wheezing breath. His piercing blue eyes, though squinting through the pain, still burned brightly with unrelenting defiance. “I will not yield,” he mumbled to himself.
Big Top stretched his aching neck. A knot had been developing and he made a mental note to make a booking for a remedial massage. He growled at Faolan, frustration evident in the angry red flares of his aura. “Now, once more. Sit!”
Faolan growled.
Big Top swung the dreaded lash and unleashed the gem studded tendril at Faolan. The crack of the tip heralded another wave of fire burning through Faolan’s body and forced a pained howl from between his lips. The gem-studded collar crackled loudly with angry, malevolent magic.
“Thanks Mr. Bearing, this is great!”
Scarlet ran around the factory floor. Ducking and weaving, cutting in, then juking back. The little cart holding her legs was impressively stable with the new cambered wheels. “It’s amazing you could do this for me so quickly.”
“My pleasure little one, I’m just glad you weren’t seriously hurt. You were very lucky that dog saved you.”
“Wolf,” she corrected, “He was brave and kind and strong and huge.”
Axle Bearing chuckled, remembering his own overactive imagination at that age. “Well isn’t that something. Now you let me know how this new rig handles. It’s a new design so you’re testing it for me. But don’t take that as permission to be reckless.”
“I will, thanks,” said Scarlet. She clattered out through the workshop door and onto the cobblestone street.
Axle poked his head out and looked around. “And where’s Miss Grace? Is she picking you up?”
“Nah, She’s still got some chores to do - we weren’t really planning to come to Canterlot, so she’s made a whole day of it. I’m meeting her later with the others at that new donut shop.”
“Oh, that’s a shame,” said Axle with quiet disappointment. He brightened his smile, leant down and tussled the filly’s mane. “OK, well you take care, you hear? And avoid any rampaging food stands.”
Scarlet giggled and swatted his grease stained hoof away, “I will. Thanks again for the new wheels.”
He bid her farewell and closed the door to his shop.
Scarlet turned and stepped out into the road only to be nearly trampled by a trio of rampaging ponies. She squeaked and back-peddled, the little cart handling the maneuver far more gracefully. Remedy shrieked and slid to a halt.
“Oh hey, it’s you! Where’s your wolf?” Scarlet asked, brightly. She peered behind them and further down the street, but frowned when she found no lurking predator behind.
Remedy blinked at the unexpected encounter. “Oh hi, Scarlet right? I’m glad you’re back on your hooves - ” Sunny elbowed Remedy in the ribs, “ - uh, what I mean is...”
Scarlet raised an eyebrow.
“Oooh you must have been that cute little filly Remedy told me about,” said Sunny, rescuing Remedy from her faux pas. “The one Faolan saved.”
“Yeah, that’s me,” said Scarlet, her cheeks blushing. “But I didn’t get hurt and I got these swanky new wheels - so everything turned out pretty good.”
“Sorry, Scarlet, I don’t want to be rude but we’re in a bit of a panic. That wolf, Faolan, he’s missing,” said Remedy.
“Missing? Here?” said Scarlet, worried. She looked around as if he might be hiding behind a trundling wagon, or a pair of ponies consulting a restaurant’s sign board.
“Actually, I think he may have been captured. Have you seen the circus in town?”
“I saw some posters over there,” Scarlet said, pointing to a lamp post a half a block down the road,”I think they said it was being held in the lower ring park.”
Remedy gave Scarlet an exasperated smile. “Thank you. C’mon everypony, let’s go.”
Trade followed immediately, but Sunny paused long enough to give the filly’s cheeks a squeeze between her hooves. “Oh you're sooo cute. We’ll catch you around, ok.”
She rubbed her abused cheeks as they galloped away. “Geez, I hope Faolan is alright.”
Faolan’s legs trembled under him and he whimpered. His eyes were clenched as he endured the pain. It would be so easy to sit. He WANTED to sit. He was so tired.
NO, I can’t let him win, he chastised himself. Drawing another long steady breath to firm up his stance.
He focused his mind away from his pain, drawing strength from memories of the forest he loved, of Kerena, their plight, and his mission. Faolan breathed deep and exhaled slowly. Forging his will in the fires of his pain into a cold, steely resolve.
Big Top screamed, spittle flying from his mouth. “You damnable creature! This dome won’t come down until one of us gives in. So for the last time. SIT!”
Another lash soared over the gap. Faolan bore the now familiar pain. The collar crackled fiercely and his muscles quivered as the sensations of fire wash over him but his breathing remained slow and steady.
“Aaaaaugh! SIT, YOU BASTARD!” Big Top screamed in exasperated fury and sent another whip crack, then another and another. Lashing over and over again. Each time the collar responded, and each time the fire washed over Faolan – but he no longer flinched. The fire was now a constant feeling, and he accepted it. He reasoned with it and placed it somewhere deep and primal. Ever present, but no longer relevant. The convulsing of his muscles reduced to a mere energetic tremor.
Big Top panted heavily with his own exertion and cracked the whip, sending another lash, but his strike was sloppy and the tip flew too close. Amongst the heat and stench of burning hair and ozone, a trickle of bright red blood oozed down from the freshly opened cut on Faolan’s cheek and wet his tongue with its iron tang.
A low, slow growl rekindled from deep within the wolf’s throat. His aura once dark with fear and hate flashed with fiery red tongues of rage.
“Don’t you show your teeth at me,” Big Top growled back.
He released another lash. Sweat dripped from his brow, and foam gathered at the corners of his mouth.
Faolan pushed away from the shield wall and stepped towards the ringmaster.
Long thin flags flapped slowly in the cool night breeze. Each one positioned as a sentinel on one of the large circus tents that loomed ominous in the dark shadows of the lower ring. Only a few perimeter lamps had been lit; the circus, clearly not yet open for business. The main tent was enormous and two ponies stood guard at its entrance.
Remedy bounded down the wide staircase leading from the tier above. Tradewind and Sunny glided down behind her. They cantered up to the large canvas entrance. A colourfully dressed pegasus mare stood chatting to a similarly gaudy unicorn stallion.
The circus mare turned to face the trio and smiled. “Sorry folks, We’re still getting ready to put on a big show. Come back tomorrow to see the wonders of the big top. It’s going to be better than ever.”
“We’re not here to see the act,” said Remedy, panting. “We’re here to rescue a friend. A wolf that was captured yesterday.”
The circus mare started blankly at Remedy, “A wolf? You can’t be friends with a wolf. That’s silly.”
The other unicorn stepped in front of Tradewind who had crept forward, peering into the dim tent.
Remedy narrowed her eyes at the mare. “That’s not for you to decide. He was travelling with me and I demand his release.”
The mare raised an eyebrow, and with a glimmer of a smirk leaned over to her fellow carny. “Oh my this sounds serious. Have you seen any wolves around here?
He tapped his chin in contemplation. “A wolf? This far from the forests? No. That can’t be right,” he said with a smirk.
“Well, you won’t mind me checking for myself then?” Remedy declared and stepped around the mare.
The mare quickly moved to block her. “I’m afraid that’s out of the question. But if you’d like to make an enquiry. You can make an appointment to see the Ringmaster. He’s a bit busy right now, but I’m sure he would love to make some time to see you tomorrow.”
Remedy gritted her teeth and let out a frustrated growl. “Listen you. I’ve just spent all day tracking my ponynapped friend. I haven’t eaten. I haven’t slept at all for 2 days and barely for a whole week. So forgive me, but my patience is running a little thin.”
The unicorn stallion stepped forward, “Are you with the guard?”
“What? No.”
“Then sod off. Because no one except circus staff is allowed in here tonight.”
Tradewind stormed up into the unicorn’s face. “Hey! You’ve got some nerve talking to a lady like that!”
Soul Song stepped out from the entrance, alerted by the rising voices.
“Oh Soul Song. Thank goodness you’re here,” said the circus mare with relief. “ We’ve got a couple of unhappy customers. Say they’re looking for a stolen wolf!”
Soul Song raised an eyebrow. Then nodded.
The mare turned back to the three angry ponies who by now were all yelling at the unicorn at the same time and making many colourful promises that would require the royal guard if kept. She waved to get their attention. “Now folks, looks like you’re in luck. We have one of the ringmaster’s personal assistants here. I’m sure she can straighten out any complaints.”
Remedy shoved the unicorn aside with the courtesy befitting a mouldy bag of wheat. “Good! I want to know where my friend is. And I want to know right NOW!.”
Soul Song considered Remedy’s proposal then nodded with a smile.
“Finally, now we’re getting somewhere,” said Remedy. Sunny and Tradewind joined her alongside.
Soul Song pulled out her hideous instrument and pressed it to her lips.
“Uh, that’s not a wolf,” said Sunny with a quizzical tilt of her head.
“Does he come when you whistle or something?” asked Tradewind.
“I have no id…”
Soul Song fixed them all with a coy smile and a light, jaunty, little melody frolicked through the air.
The trio’s eyes widened in wonder. Their pupils dilated and their jaws slackened. Slowly their heads began to bob in time, and their bodies swayed to the music.
CRACK!
Another lash.
“What is wrong with you! Do you enjoy pain? SIT DAMMIT!”
Faolan took another breath. His head hung low, but his eyes remained focused. He took another step. He paused as another lash wheeled overhead. More pain washed over him but he no longer winced. He took another step.
The ringmaster panted and wheezed. His leg trembled, exhausted from the labour of his efforts. He winced as the gem studded tip of his whip now buzzed angrily, occasionally spitting out arcane sparks. A siren call to its miserable sister.
Big Top’s back hoof smacked against the dome wall. He glanced back, surprised that he had been driven back and suddenly realised Faolan now stood in the middle of the arena.
Big Top swallowed. “Fine! We’re done for the day. Go back to your cage and I’ll call it your victory.”
Faolan stepped closer. The same low growl harmonizing with the permanently crackling collar. Arcane arcs danced along its rim and blackened the fur underneath.
“I SAID BACK!” shouted Big Top.
He sent another lash. Faolan took another step. Big Top’s aura bruised.
The confident blues and angry reds melded into a deep purple fear. He unleashed a panicked barrage of strikes. Each time he lashed, Faolan took another step, and each time Faolan stepped closer, the sister gems sung louder and louder; their cackling wailing horror.
Big Top winced as his own whip lashed out at his hoof with it’s arcane lightning. He dropped the whip and bolted around the edge of the dome. His pudge knocking over one of the lantern stands in his haste to escape. Faolan howled and gave chase.
“You Win! You Win! I Submit!” yelled Big Top.
The shield cracked.
Brumby sat on a hay bale and watched a white crack fracture the shield. Then with a pop the shield burst and dissolved from the top down.
A strangled, gurgling scream shattered the silence. The dome vomited out a cloud of black smoke and lit up the canvas ceiling with flickering yellow and red firelight.
Brumpy jumped to his hooves. As the last of the shield dissolved, he saw that a lantern had broken and a hay bale had caught fire. But that was a minor concern.
The wolf stood over an unmoving mound, growling. His powerful, hackled shoulders heaved with heavy breath and trails of wispy smoke drifted off his back. His silhouette stretched across the ground till they licked at Brumby’s hooves. Vibrant crimson glistened around the wolf’s jaws.
With a pop, the collar snapped open and fell to the ground with a heavy thud, steam and smoke rising from the blackened ring around his neck.
Faolan glared at the hunter, then flicked his head back and swallowed. Brumby watched a lump slide down Faolan’s throat.
Brumby reached for his rope.
From the opposite side there was a barely audible gasp, like a silent scream. Soul Song stood petrified.
Faolan’s eyes snapped towards the mare and instinct delivered him an immediate decision. He snarled and raced at the songstress. Brumby watched the wolf pick his target. “NO!” He chased after the wolf but there was no way he could intercept in time. She backpedalled, clumsily trying to unwrap her flute. Faolan covered the distance with feral haste. She fumbled the flute to her lips, but gasped as Faolan bore down on her. Soul Song stumbled backwards. The wolf barreled into her, slamming her on her back. His jaws clamped around her flute, narrowly missing the tender flesh of her neck, saved only by the bulk of her scarf.
Faolan wrenched the instrument from her hooves, tearing the scarf away in the process. He stood over the mare, a large paw pinning her on her back. Soul Song cowered behind her hooves, protecting the ugly pink scars that criss-crossed her throat. Her flute no longer in her possession.
Faolan glared into her eyes, his own blazing with blue fury. He tensed his muscles and the flute gave a sickening crack. She desperately tried to grab the flute, but he clenched his jaws and the wicked instrument shattered.
“NOOO!” – The lasso sailed through the air. Faolan spun away and skirted under it.
Brumby charged past. The wolf snarled and snapped at him but he dodged and landed himself between the beast and the songstress. He reached for the rope with his magic, but didn’t expect the unbridled savagery of the wolf’s attack.
Faolan’s focus was reduced to pure, single-minded, bloody, instinct. He snapped repeatedly at the hunter. Pushing into him. Brumby parried, but he couldn’t dodge, no time to focus his magic. He stumbled backwards, tripping over Soul Song and fell back against her with a frightened yelp. He howled as the wolf’s jaws clamped around his foreleg.
Faolan shook his head vigorously, trying to separate the pony from his limb.
Brumby cried out, clumsily kicking at the wolf while his body shook violently. Blood ran in rivulets down his foreleg. There was a sickening crunch of shattering bone. Brumby screamed.
At the sound of the rising commotion, no less than a dozen circus ponies run into the arena.
Brumby groaned through clenched teeth and Soul Song cried and cowered silently under him, the wolf towered above as blood flowed from around his jaws and Brumby’s mangled foreleg.
The circus staff quickly formed a mob and armed themselves with whatever weapon they could grab: mallets, torches, pitchforks, juggling clubs and one unfortunate clown with a bucket.
Faolan growled at the new arrivals. He released the injured unicorn and stepped away. These ponies could do him no more harm. He gave an eerie howl, and bolted for the back door – disappearing into the night like a shadow.
The lamp light flickered softly on the side of the path. Dozing on the grass underneath, a pile of ponies quietly snored. Remedy slept better than she had in days. Her head rested gently on Tradewind’s side. He too, was fast asleep and lying on the grass. Lying on her back, Sunny snored not so quietly. Her head using Remedy’s barrel for a pillow. Her nose was pointed straight up, and her mouth hung open – a trail of drool dribbled down one side.
An unfortunate moth fluttered close, drawn to the lamp light. With a snort, it was quickly sucked in and Sunny woke in a coughing fit.
A few unseemly, hacking coughs dislodged the bug, and it flew off in a limping daze.
Sunny blinked, trying to recognise the unfamiliar surroundings or remember why she was there. She sat up and rubbed her eyes. She stared up at the looming tent a little ways off.
“THE CIRCUS!”
Sunny jumped to her hooves. She Grabbed Remedy by the shoulders and shook. “Wake up you two.”
Remedy groaned. “Just 5 more minutes.”
“Get UP! “ Sunny yanked a tail hair.
“Ouch. I’m up,” Remedy complained. She stopped and looked around.
Tradewind stirred.
“Faolan, remember? We were looking for him,” said Sunny.
“Faolan! What happened?“
Tradewind sat up groggily and rubbed his head. “Last thing I remember was music.”
Remedy’s eyes widened. “The pony with the flute. She must have done something to us.”
“Look, the door isn’t guarded anymore,” said Sunny, hovering into the air and pointing over to the tent.
The three scrambled to their hooves. Trade stumbled for a few steps, one of his legs still asleep. He kicked away the pins and needles and quickly caught up.
They quietly stalked around the side of the tent and approached the unguarded opening. A mournful chorus of quiet sobbing and whimpering grief rose as they peered into the tent. They slipped inside and snuck towards the inner ring.
A large group of ponies stood in a circle. They were huddled in groups, holding each other. Some were crying and others were whispering quietly to each other. A tan stallion lay on a gurney talking to some guards while a medical pony unpacked bandages from a first aid kit. His foreleg cradled gingerly in his hoof.
“W-we don’t know anything yet,” said Remedy, but her breathing was already short and sharp.
The crowd parted suddenly, and another gurney rolled out with two more medical ponies flanking it. A bloody sheet covered an unseen figure.
Sunny gasped and tears welled in her eyes. She grabbed hold of Remedy’s foreleg. Tradewind landed next to them with equally dark concern.
Remedy stared at the gurney as it trundled past. Shaking her head in disbelief. “We don’t know for sure. It could be unrelated – an unlucky accid…” The sheet snagged on a railing and was ripped away.
Tradewind gasped and recoiled in shock. Remedy clamped her muzzle shut to stifle a shriek. Sunny threw up.
The medic ponies quickly gathered up the sheet and placed it back over the body. But not before the full trauma of the carnage was exposed in graphic horror.
A fat circus pony, still dressed in red coattails, had died horrifically. His eyes were stretched wide open, screaming. His tongue lolled out the side of his mouth. And his throat was just a bloody meaty mess. Large chunks appeared to be missing and there was the distinct pinkish-white of vertebrate visible.
The medic gave an apologetic look and quickly pushed the gurney away.
Sunny sobbed between her retching. “It can’t be. Not this. Not this.”
Remedy still held her hoof across her mouth, choking back bile while tears streamed down her face.
Tradewind watched the retreating medics with a disgusted, dark, glare.
Sunny grabbed Remedy by the shoulders and shook her, gasping, “Remedy, please, tell me it’s not true!”
Remedy tried to smile, but it was fragile and broken. “It’s my fault…” she said quietly. She stared vacantly while tears continued to run down her face. She sobbed.
Sunny hugged her. “No. No. This isn’t your fault. Never your fault.”
“If I hadn’t teased him. If I had escorted properly…”
“This isn’t your fault,” said Tradewind. He circled his forelegs around the pair. And rested his chin on Remedy’s head. “He’s the wolf.”
The trio sat in a group hug for a minute and Remedy buried her head in the huddle and sobbed.
“I know it hurts,” said Tradewind eventually, “but we still have to find him before… anything else happens. That pony over there will probably have the most information.” He nodded towards the other gurney.
Remedy took a deep breath and stilled her tears. She sniffed and wiped her eyes and nose.
Tradewind rubbed her back, “I’ll go and ask, you stay here with…”
“No,” Remedy interrupted. Her eyes were puffy and red, but the set of her jaw was determined.
“He was my responsibility. Trade, you stay here with Sunny.”
Tradewind blinked in surprise, then gave her a slow nod. “Ok, just remember we’re here for you.”
Sunny looked up, bleary eyed, tear stained and even a little snot dribbling from her snout. She snorted it back in and nodded with fierce determination. “You don’t have to do any of this alone ever again.”
Remedy smiled and hugged them both.
The guards had stepped away to consult with the rest of their unit. A medical unicorn pony was busy strapping a bloody limb, dictating to a second pony who was taking notes.
“Oblique fracture of right metacarpal, complicated by multiple deep lacerations with bone on view. Shoulder has been relocated. Multiple contusions. Neurovascular compromise evident. Significant blood loss. Patient remains conscious, alert and, contrary to lack of head trauma, jovial. Could be due to the blood loss.”
“Geez, you make it sound worse than it is,” said Brumby.
The medic snorted, “We could amputate if you’d prefer. You’re just lucky you didn’t bleed to death.”
“Pffft – I’m fine. Stop fussin’ ”
The medic rolled his eyes.
“Excuse me?” said Remedy, delicately weaving between the other ponies, “I’m hoping you can help. What happened here?”
Brumby rolled his head over to look at her, a silly grin on his face. “Aww don’t worry luv. Just a little accident. Occupational hazard. The circus will be up and running again soon.”
"It was a wolf, wasn’t it?”
The grin faltered. “It might be best if you stay indoors for a while. At least until the guards can track him down.”
Remedy’s eyes widened. “The guards!”
Brumby’s grin fell into a frown. “After tonight, I don’t think there’s much hope for the little blighter.”
Brumby turned away, “Wasn’t really his fault you know. I knew he wasn’t ready. I shouldn’t have allowed Big Top to start training.”
“Sir? Sir! I need you to stay awake now.” The medic gently tapped him on the cheek.
“Is it just me or is it chilly in here?” mumbled Brumby.
“Miss I’m sorry, but we need to get him to a hospital. He’s lost a lot of blood.” They nodded to Remedy and pushed the gurney towards the exit.
“Wait, where did he go?” Remedy called out.
Brumby turned his head slowly and gave her a delirious smile. “Dunno, he ran off into the city. Don’t worry luv – the guards will find him.”
The medics loaded him into the back of a pegasus chariot. Soul Song rushed to him, abandoning her comfort blanket, and personal medic.
Remedy, Sunny and Tradewind slipped back into the city before anypony could ask any questions.
Scarlet sat in a booth of the donut shop and sipped a hot cocoa, covered in floating marshmallows. A plate sat on the table with a chocolate-iced donut covered in sprinkles – one bite missing.
The evening had proceeded, and mother was late. Scarlet wasn’t too worried however, she had enough spare change for a few more donuts. She could panic when that ran out.
The bell above the door chimed and a pair of well dressed ponies walked in.
“Can you believe it, you’d think the city was under attack. I hope this doesn’t make us miss our dinner reservation,” said one of the pair. The unicorn mare was dressed in usual Canterlot chic. Which is to say, a lot more than anyone in Ponyville wore.
Scarlet wrinkled her nose at yet another display of Canterlot fashion. She’d had to wear dresses on the odd special occasion, and had always hated them. They would inevitably end up tangled around an axle. Ridiculous things.
“Oh, I know, filly. You’d expect they’d at least let us hide in a restaurant of our choosing,” said the other, equally pampered, unicorn. She looked around the humble stylings of the donut shop and frowned.
“Welcome to Donut Jim’s,” said the well built stallion behind the counter. Despite his unusual name, Jim was a rather plain pony with a cream coloured coat and a short, light brown mane. His taste in donuts and other deep fried confections, however, was second to none. The mares looked him over with hesitation. One of them wrinkled a nose at the chocolate stains on his apron.
“Coffee for two. Cream and sugar please. We won’t be staying long – just until the guards let us out.”
Jim placed two mugs on the counter and filled them with fresh coffee. “Let you out!” he laughed. “Are you prisoners in my shop now?”
“It would seem so. Apparently there’s some creature or something running around causing a disturbance. The royal guard are emptying the streets and telling everyone to remain indoors - the closest doors,” said the first mare, levitating a few coins from her saddlebag. The other mare took a seat behind Scarlet’s booth and wiped down the already clean table with a napkin and her magic. As far away from the counter as possible.
The other mare scattered her coins on the counter and picked up the freshly made coffees. She walked back to their booth and eyed Scarlet on the way. Scarlet narrowed her eyes back suspiciously.
“Hrmph, it’s rude to stare you know,” said the mare, sticking her nose in the air. Her front hoof smacked into Scarlets cart which had been tucked under her table. The mare tripped and her magic faltered, sending one mug into the adjacent booth and her friends lap. The other splashed onto the floor in front of her, right as she fell into the freshly steaming puddle.
The mares shrieked and squealed in unison, hopping around hysterically. The one in the booth started crying.
Scarlet crawled to the edge of her bench seat and poked her head around the booth. “And you should watch where you’re going,” she said, grinning slyly.
The mare whinnied. “You tripped me on purpose.”
“I did not! You tripped on my cart.” Scarlet shot back, pointing at the dislodged cart poking out from under the table.
The mare huffed, “Well why wasn’t it put away. It’s dangerous. Where’s your mother I want to have words with her.”
Scarlet glared back.
“Not to worry ladies. No point crying over spilt coffee,” said Jim, arriving promptly with a mop and bucket. “I’ll even replace the coffee – free of charge.”
“Wha – Free of charge!? This is silk you dough-brained lump. Freshly STAINED silk.” She shook the soggy garment angrily in his face.
Jim smiled as serenely as ever. “Well in that case, donuts on the house.”
“That’s it!” she yelled. “Monster or not, we are not staying in this dump any longer. Come on filly, this place is full of idiots and cripples.”
“Hey!” yelled Scarlet. She picked up her donut and went to throw it, but Jim arrested her assault with a frown and shake of his head.
The mare dragged her blubbering friend from the booth and they quickly spilled out onto the street in a gibbering mass of mild hysteria and weak insults.
Scarlet threw down her donut, pouted and crossed her forelegs.
Jim hummed happily and busied himself with cleaning up the spill.
“How can you keep smiling? They just called you an idiot,” Scarlet whined.
“What!? I thought they called me a cripple!” he roared. Scarlet scrunched her nose in confusion, then burst into laughter. Jim grinned and sat opposite her.
“I suppose that makes me the idiot then,” she said, wiping away a tear.
“Listen, kid. Plenty of unhappy ponies out there – all frowns and self-righteous judgement. I figure I’ve got smiles to spare, so I’m all about sharing them. You can’t make somepony smile by being angry at them – or throwing donuts at them.” He booped her on the nose and she giggled. “If they want to call me an idiot, that’s their problem. They don’t know what they’re missing out on. Same with you.”
Scarlet smirked. “Thanks, Jim.”
“Don’t mention it. Here –” he produced a triple chocolate donut with raspberry jam filling from, seemingly thin air “– for my favourite customer.” Scarlet cheered, and clapped her hooves. Jim winked and got up. “I’ll clear away these broken cups. You sit tight.”
Scarlet hummed contentedly and munched on the super sweet confection as she stared out into the dark streets. Another patrol of guards quick-marched past. Occasionally a confused or irate citizen would wander into the street and be quickly escorted back off again.
A flash of silver caught her eye behind a parked wagon. Another patrol of guards quickly trotted down the street. As soon as they passed, the silver blur slipped dexterously from behind the wagon cover. It slunk quick and low, keeping to every bit of shadow and cover as it swiftly darted down the street. You’d be hard pressed to notice it if you weren’t looking for it. For a brief moment, lamp light cast the figure’s silhouette against a stone wall. A distinctly canine silhouette.
Scarlet pressed her face against the glass. The silver shadow vanished down a narrow street opposite.
She leant down and positioned her cart. She rolled onto her stomach and slowly slid off the bench, dangling her legs into the waiting nest of straps. With a quick pull on the belly strap she quietly wheeled out of the shop while Jim was still out the back.
She paused on the street and kept low until there was a gap in the guard patrols, she trotted across the road and into the alley.
Scarlet cautiously peered around the corner. A lone lamp on the street outside provided the only light to the alley. It was obviously only used as a service lane for the surrounding shops and cafes. Empty crates of goods and bins filled with refuse crowded the lane way and littered it with thick black shadows that pooled in the many nooks and crannies. It was also a dead end. The back of another shop serving to terminate the little lane way.
Scarlet stepped forward and felt something cold and wet underhoof. A few little specks of red glistened on cobblestones.
She looked around – no guards. Slowly she walked into the alley, her little cart towed behind her, clattering over the cobblestones. A particularly dark corner behind a stack of crates shifted slightly and from deep within the inky black, a dangerous green-blue eye glinted in the pale moonlight, and a low menacing growl reverberated.
Scarlet hesitated. “F-Faolan? Is that you? It’s me, Scarlet. You saved me remember, back in Ponyville.”
The growling stopped, then the glint moved. Slowly Faolan revealed his face from the shadow. His coat disheveled and charred, his muzzle still stained red with the life of his victim, and the cut from the lash still livid on his cheek.
Scarlet gasped. Faolan whimpered.
“You’ve been hurt.”
Faolan whimpered again and flattened his ears.
Scarlet wheeled closer. She reached into one of the pockets on her cart, and pulled out a silk handkerchief. She reached up to wipe his cheek. Faolan hesitated but gingerly bowed down. She gently patted the blood from the lash on his cheek.
“What are you doing here little one?” Faolan grumbled.
“Shh, it’s alright. You’re safe now.”
“I’m safe! What about you?”
Scarlet hugged him around his neck.
“Do you understand? I’m a wolf, and you’re a pony. One of the stock species. I’ve killed one of yours today, and a spirits lifetime ago, we would have hunted you.”
Scarlet stood quietly for a moment then she gently touched the scorched fur around his neck.
“Beware the scarlet murmurant and scent whose mind takes hold. Collect instead the widow's tears that doubtless share the fold. For one will grant a vision sweet, but in sweet embrace your doom. The other offers life and love in dark and bitter bloom.”
She looked up at Faolan. “An old traveling zebra once told me this poem after learning my name. Everypony else was too afraid to even talk to him. I don’t really understand it, but I think I know what he meant. Sometimes things that look beautiful and good, are actually bad. And sometimes things that look bad and unpleasant are actually good.”
Scarlet stepped back and looked away, rubbing a sudden chill from her shoulder. “For years after the accident people treated me differently. They only looked on the outside. Saw what I couldn’t do, instead of what I could. I was my disability.“
She gave Faolan an apologetic smile. “A bad habit of some ponies unfortunately, especially in Canterlot. Ponyville is much nicer.”
She reached out and patted Faolan on the leg. “I think you’re kind of going through the same thing I was, except – instead of having only half of you broken; you’re a wolf from head to tail. Some ponies can’t see beyond that.”
Scarlet glanced at the dried blood around his muzzle and looked away. “I know you’ve probably hurt somepony tonight, but I also know you saved me. So no matter what, I’ll trust you.”
Faolan hugged her. “I don’t know if you’re as wise as an ancient owl, or just a naive filly, but thank you.”
Scarlet squeaked and giggled from the sudden hug attack, then gently pushed him back. “Ew. No, your muzzle…”
Faolan winced.
“It’s ok.” she smiled. “You just stay hidden here while I find Remedy. I’m guessing the guards …”
“Hey! What are you doing down there?” Scarlet spun around to see a young unicorn guard peering from the end of the alley. “What are you doing down this dark alley alone? Where are your parents? It’s dangerous to be out tonight there’s a monst…”
The guard stopped, and peered past the filly. A silver white tail slipped into the shadows. The guard slowly approached Scarlet, his eyes still fixed on the dark corner.
Scarlet, ran up and tugged at the guards leg. “Oh thank you Mr. Guard, I was so lost, can you help me find my parents. I think they went this way.” she said desperately, pointing back towards the main street. The guard ignored her plea and poured a mote of energy into his horn. A bright green-white light glowed and banished the shadows. Illuminating the hulking, coiled body of Faolan.
“Holy flanks!” The guard backpedalled.
“Wait, it’s not what you think!” Scarlet squeaked.
Bright green magic surrounded Scarlet and lifted her off the ground. She shrieked in surprise.
Faolan lurched out of his hiding place. “Let her go!” he barked.
“Back! Back! You filthy mongrel.”
The guard raised his horn to the air and fired a bright green blob of magic high into the sky. It exploded and left a lingering green contrail as a beacon. In the distance, shrill whistles echoed and the sounds of shouting and hoofbeats clambered over the rooftops.
“I’ll be fine. Quick, get away!” shouted Scarlet
Faolan whimpered and darted towards the alley entrance. The guard drew a blade with his magic, and slashed at the wolf. Faolan jumped back just as the glowing metal sparked against the cobblestones.
Scarlet slapped the guard with her tiny hooves to little effect. “Stop it, you big meanie!”
“Filly! That isn’t a pet dog there.”
“ I know that! But he’s…”
The thunder of hoofbeats grew louder and two more earth guard ponies arrived at the end of the alley. Removing any hope of peaceful escape.
The unicorn guard levitated Scarlet around the corner of the alley and placed her on her back like a turtle.
“Hey! That’s not fair!” cried Scarlet.
“The captain is on his way with backup,” said one of the new arrivals.
“No time, there are civilians nearby. We finish this now, while he’s trapped. Back me up.”
The guards leveled their spears at Faolan.
The unicorn guard advanced, two more dancing blades joined his floating arsenal. Now three deadly hiltless blades swirled and bobbed before him.
Faolan barked and snapped, backing away. Searching for an opening that couldn’t be found. Each of the three blades operated independently, but in perfect sync. This guard was well practiced in the art of multitasking death.
“DON’T TOUCH HIM!”
The lancepony didn’t have time to finish his sudden, curious thought before Remedy galloped in from the side. She swiveled on her forehooves at the last moment and landed a powerful buck into the side of the first guard pony. His body collected his comrade on its way to the opposite side of the alley.
The unicorn glanced back to see what the commotion was, stunned to see a young mare racing at him, and his two backup guards collapsed in a tangle of limbs and broken spears.
He instinctively pointed one of his weapons to defend himself from the deranged mare.
Entirely without provocation – an empty garbage can clanged over his head. Tradewind gave it a swift kick, causing a brain numbing BONG. The unicorn dropped his blades and staggered back.
Remedy slapped the can on her way past, and the unicorn spun around and fell back on his haunches, his head lolling about on his shoulders.
The other guards staggered to their feet, and pointed their mostly-spears again. They gaped in disbelief.
More hoofbeats resounded, and another contingent of guard ponies rounded the corner. One of them, a larger stallion, stepped forward into the alley surveying the scene.
The guard ponies saluted, although one winced when he tried to bring up his hoof. Cracked ribs had little regard for proper protocol.
Six guard ponies blocked the alley way’s entrance. A golden maned earth mare and white pegasus stallion stood, boldly, facing off against them; apparently protecting a large silver wolf who looked almost as confused as the guards.
Sunny flew down and scooped up Scarlet behind the crowd.
The guard captain stomped his hoof and shouted at Remedy and Tradewind. “What in Tartarus are you doing? That’s a wolf, you fools. He’s already killed one pony tonight!”
“I don’t know the full story of that yet. But I do know he’s my... He’s an emissary from the Carnivore Tribes of the Everfree Forests. And he’s here on a diplomatic mission. I’m responsible for taking care of him. There will be no more bloodshed on my account tonight. So if you want to kill him you’ll have to start with me,” said Remedy defiantly.
Tradewind nodded at Remedy, pawing the ground beside her. “Us!”
“We’re here to see the Princess on urgent business,” she continued. “And I won’t accept any compromise. I don’t care if you throw us all in prison for it.”
Tradewind smirked and whispered into her ear. “My father is going to kill me.”
Remedy stepped forward, her head held high. Tradewind stood, just as defiant, by her side. Faolan’s shock gave way to an impressed smirk. The Captain of the Guard looked at them all and scowled.
Prisons are not typically known for their hospitality, and while Canterlot boasted among the most beautiful and scenic of skylines, its dungeons did not betray their purpose. The bare stone tower nestled against the mountain’s face and hung precipitously over the city’s foundational balcony. The only comfort offered in the otherwise bare stone cell was a simple bed of hay. It smelled faintly of mould and urine; doubtless full of unwanted bugs as well. The air was cold and the pitiful excuse for a window peered over an endless horizon; above a hopeless drop, to sharp crags, hundreds of feet below. The thin sliver of moonlight shining through the window split the dim room with a cold white light.
Remedy pushed her muzzle as far through the barred window of the cell door as possible. “I WANT TO SEE THE PRINCESS!” she yelled at a retreating guard. She smacked the heavy oak door with her hoof but it was apparently designed for ill mannered guests.
She sighed heavily, and rested her head against the door. “Well isn’t this just dandy…”
Faolan whimpered behind her. His muzzle was bound in a bridle of thick rope, his mouth clamped shut.
Remedy walked over. He dipped his head to allow her access to his restraints. She hesitated for a moment. Faolan gave another pitiful whine. She sighed, grabbed the knot in her teeth and pulled it loose.
Faolan gasped as the restraints fell away. “Pah – it’s hard to breathe in that thing. You know, I don’t think ponies are as nice as I’ve been led to believe," he said, rubbing his muzzle. "Thanks for saving me by the way, though you certainly took your sweet time.”
Remedy turned away from him. “I’ve spent nearly an entire day tracking you, and everywhere I went – I found blood.”
Faolan whimpered and his ears flattened. His nose twitched; the fiery defiance in her aura had dimmed and a delicate purple fragrance had replaced its bright hues. She was not happy.
“It's hard enough to forgive you for the bunny. But I’m not a little filly, I know what you are. But the circus ponies? What were you thinking?” she whispered; her voice desperate, almost pleading.
Faolan frowned and tilted his head. “He deserved it,” he said, gently.
Remedy snarled and spun around, her aura flared into a brilliant red. “Deserved it? DESERVED IT!? HE’S DEAD! DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND?”
Faolan reeled back and mixed emotions of confusion and annoyance competed for the real estate of his face. “Hey, I didn’t want to, but…”
“BUT WHAT? YOU WERE PECKISH? YOU WERE OVERCOME WITH BLOODLUST!?” Remedy advanced on him.
“HE WAS HURTING ME!” Faolan snapped back angrily, firming his stance.
“Oh I’m sorry, is he still hurting you?” she mocked fiercely.
“What? No, not any more.”
“Are you still hurting?”
“Well, it still hurts a little.” Faolan complained, touching the scorched fur of his neck.
“YEAH, WELL HE’S STILL DEAD! AND I DON’T THINK HE’S GOING TO GET OVER IT!” Remedy screamed, inches from his face.
Faolan barked back angrily, “HEY! THIS ISN’T FAIR. I didn’t want to kill him.”
“AND I’M SURE HE DIDN’T WANT TO DIE. LOOKS LIKE NEITHER OF YOU GOT WHAT YOU WANTED!”
“WHAT WAS I SUPPOSED TO DO!? I DIDN’T HAVE A CHOICE!”
“NO CHOICE!? Was YOUR life in danger?”
“Maybe? – I don’t know – probably not.”
“Then how can anything he did, have deserved his life!?” pleaded Remedy, desperate for an ounce of remorse from the canine.
Faolan lifted his head defiantly and looked down at her. “You weren’t there. I couldn’t run and he was hurting me.”
“YOU – TORE – OUT – HIS – THROAT!” she yelled, flailing her hoof desperately.
Faolan growled and jabbed a claw into Remedy’s chest. “And he deserved it!”
Remedy fumed. She opened her mouth wide, and bit down hard on his extended paw.
“OW! You BIT me!?” yelped Faolan, horrified. He cradled his paw and twisted his body away in case she tried to take another bite.
“NOW I’VE HURT YOU! ARE YOU GOING TO TEAR MY THROAT OUT TOO?” she screamed. Tears gathered in the corners of her eyes even as they burned with unresolved rage. Her mouth was twisted into a grimace, her teeth bared, and clenched so tight the muscles in her jaw bulged under strain.
Faolan blinked in astonishment. Remedy’s fiery aura soured and dulled to purple then into an inky black, like deepest, starless midnight. It bubbled off her like boiling treacle and pooled around her in a thick hock-deep cloud. Faolan’s eyes darted around her and his nose confirmed the verdict. His own anger evaporated, and the defiance in his eyes was replaced with pain. “You ... hate me.”
Remedy glared into his sorrowful blue eyes, then huffed and turned away – storming to the other side of the cell. She paused and glanced back, her bangs masking her eyes. “I hate what you did.”
She slumped down on the pile of hay in the corner and curled up with her back facing Faolan. All around her, the thick miasma of black and purple continued to bubble and swirl.
Faolan whimpered. “No… You hate me for what I did.”
Faolan slumped into his corner, opposite. The beam of moonlight streamed through the narrow slit and split the room in half like a white-hot knife – an impassable gulf between them. Foalan whined again. He slid down the wall and rested his head on his paws. He stared at Remedy's back – as cold as the stone his rested against.
The sound of hoofbeats clopped on the stone outside the cell. A pair of eyes filled the door's window and scanned the room. Three loud knocks followed, rapped loudly on the door.
“Rise and shine. Looks like it’s your lucky day.”
There was a jangle of keys followed by the clicks and metallic clunks of the lock mechanism.
A burly guard mare swung the door open, another guard standing behind her. Remedy stepped out of the cell and squinted in the bright torch light.
“It seems your story has some merit. The princess has asked to see you at once,” said the guard. She looked past Remedy and had to take a second glance. She stared with some disbelief at the unmuzzled Faolan, then back at Remedy. “The captain told me you refused your own cell. I didn’t think you’d be crazy enough to unmuzzle him. Is he going to behave?”
Remedy looked dolefully back at Faolan and shrugged. Then without a word, she walked past the guard and down the staircase towards the lobby.
Faolan bowed his head and followed, The guards backed against the stone and gripped their weapons, but Faolan didn’t pay them any heed.
Remedy stepped through the final portcullis leading into the lobby and was immediately bull-rushed by Sunny. “Remedy! Are you all right? I was so worried,” she fussed.
Remedy smiled wearily and managed a single tired chuckle. “I’m fine, I’m fine. How did you go with Scarlet?”
“She’s home safe now. Poor Mother Grace, she certainly has her hooves full…”
Faolan entered the lobby behind and Sunny froze. Her eyes flicked between Remedy and the wolf, and a fearful smile played, painfully, across her face.
“Well, anyway, we better not keep the princess waiting,” she finished.
Trade entered the lobby from a different wing, escorted by another guard stallion. He saw Remedy and ran up to her, “Remedy, I’m glad you’re okay. I heard you shouting last night, and I was worried,” he said, ignoring Faolan.
“I’m ok,” she said with a smile she wore like a millstone around her neck.
“Er-hrm,” interrupted the guard mare. “Everything is ready. You’re being seen before the court opens. A guard escort has been arranged; it’s still early so hopefully there will be few ponies around to gawk.”
“Thanks, sorry about last night. I hope that guard pony I kicked is all right,” said Remedy weakly.
The mare laughed. “Haha, he’s fine. Mostly it’s his pride that’s hurt.”
Remedy tried to smile but it wilted into a heavy sigh. “Well – let's get this over with.”
The trio walked towards the front door where three more guards in full armour were waiting. Faolan followed them quietly past the threshold. Four more guards – hidden beside the exit – stepped in behind and to each flanks.
Faolan watched the trio lead on and quietly followed; surrounded by armour, weapons and the ever present aura of wary confidence that simmered from the guards.
Ahead, an ugly palette of emotions mingled above the trio. Trade clung close to Remedy and marched forward at a stiff determined pace, an angry boiling cloud of barely contained red stormed above him. Sunny walked forward but kept stealing glances back at Faolan. Faolan tried to smile, but she quickly looked away when their eyes met. An ugly purple gloom of fear flowed from her like a cloak. Remedy walked with her head weighed down, and her ears drooping. Drowned in the same depressing miasma of black revulsion that had stricken her last night.
Faolan whimpered. A dark, almost-purple blue leaked into the air around him. He bowed his head and followed quietly.
The group moved as silent as a funeral procession through the streets towards the main castle. Thankfully, they were almost deserted and eerily quiet in the first light of morning. Smoke drifted from chimney stacks and hung low just above the rooftops, mingling with the receding fog of night. Everywhere, the first smells of breakfasts and the muffled clatter of pottery could be heard in the kitchens of the city.
The group climbed the long curving staircase to the Royal Tier of Canterlot and the main keep loomed against the mountain side above them. Faolan lifted his head to take in the awesome sight. He had to admit, it was intimidating and he swallowed against the growing dryness in this throat. Abidah had warned him of the legendary magic of these ponies, and the majestic scenery bore home the weight of his words.
This castle was a monument to their power. An entire city fused to the side of a mountain. Sweeping gilded arches, and towering columns of polished marble; evenly spaced, and expertly sculpted. All wrapped in glowing gold and stained glass, dozens of feet high. It was beautiful and terrifying. What plant life that remained was carefully sculpted into rigid perfection and completely assimilated into the regal geometry. Each in its place with many a shear or secateur ready to control disobedient growth.
The group came to a stop on the steps outside the palace. A pair of doors, big enough for an ursa, barred the entrance, and were guarded by four more royal guard in polished golden armour, welding sharp spears.
“Only you and the wolf are to go in,” said the guard mare. “This is a special audience with the princess, and we want to keep a low profile. I’m sure you understand.”
Remedy turned to her friends. “I’ll only be a little while. Back before you know it. Then we can go home.”
Trade and Sunny, shared a concerned frown, but quietly stood to the side. The guards parted and the giant doors opened inward with a groan like a mountain’s yawn.
Faolan followed Remedy inside. Sunny shied behind Tradewind as he passed and Tradewind fixed him with a fierce glare – the first time the stallion had looked at him today. Faolan dipped his head and stalked past quickly.
As with the exterior, the cavernous hallway was filled with opulence. Its regimented marble columns towered as tall as cathedral spires and each was gilded with a sconce and decorated with fresh arrangements of flowers – each a perfect harmony of colour. Between them, windows of towering, coloured glass chronicled a history of many great and legendary achievements by Celestia and other famous pony figures.
At the end of the hallway, a pair of doors of equally inordinate size led to the throne room. Stone unicorn statues flanked the doors in eternal vigil.
Remedy stopped in front of the doors and sighed heavily. She turned and faced the wolf. Faolan’s ears drooped.
She sighed. “Let’s just get this over with. This is the princess of Equestria. She raises the sun in the day and the moon at night, she IS the light of Equestria. I don’t need to tell you how important she is, or to be polite.”
“I am here representing the Council of the Carnivores. I won’t disappoint them,” said Faolan, quietly.
Remedy took a deep breath and pushed against the heavy doors. They slowly crept open.
A pair of concentric golden platforms commanded the center of the large room, flanked by a dozen royal guards. Water cascaded from features in the side of the platform and drained, unseen, into the bowels of the mountain. Thick red carpet carved a path straight through the room, and scaled the ramp leading to the throne. On either side of the room, more polished marble columns rose to the high arched ceiling, and between every column one of the royal guards stood with spear in hoof – as still and stone-like as the pillars they flanked. Magnificent tapestries depicting scenes of Equestrian life and history hung from each pillar and brilliant light poured in from yet more ornate stained glass windows set between. But none of it was as brilliant or intimidating as the pony who sat on the throne. More than twice the size of Remedy, with a horn, long and sharp. Her coat, an iridescent white like a fresh snowfall. Her mane and tail glimmered in a trio of soft pastel colours, and ebbed and flowed with an eternal, ethereal wind. Light seemed to pour from her, a powerful aura of white gold filled the room and both Remedy’s and Faolan’s paled into insignificance. Faolan felt the power of her gaze and tried not to wince. Her stern expression was impossible to read.
Remedy approached and knelt, her head bowed so deep her nose almost touched the ground. Faolan reciprocated, also bowing his head but never losing eye contact.
Celestia spoke in a soft, motherly tone. “Rise, my little pony” – Remedy rose to her feet, as did Faolan – “You have some wonderful friends. I believe Sunny would have bested the entire royal guard to get to my chambers for your sake.”
Remedy blushed and looked down, an embarrassed smirk fought for dominance, “Thank you Princess, she is a great friend.”
Celestia’s warm smile faded as her eyes wandered over at Faolan. “But you have also come here with less than savoury company and grim purpose. It is not everyday you see a pony and a full-blooded wolf travelling together. Most unfortunate, it also seems – not entirely without incident.”
Faolan bowed his head. Remedy panicked and her words tumbled out in a frantic stammer. “P-Princess, I’m so sorry, if I’d kept a closer eye on him, if I hadn’t…”
Celestia held up a hoof and her motherly tone returned, “It’s all right my little pony, Sunny told me about your story. You have shown tremendous bravery in these past few days. In regards to the circus; the events of last night are undeniably tragic, but that pony was meddling in dark powers beyond his understanding. He was foolish and what he was doing was evil. Evil deeds, often, have evil ends. If not for this wolf, it is likely another creature in his care would have sealed his fate. The other animals he kept will be released back into the forest."
Remedy blinked, dumbfounded. Her mind reeled and disengaged from her mouth, “Oh. Uh, O-Ok? I thought...”
“Would you do me the honour of an introduction?” asked Celestia.
Remedy shook the ringing white-noise from her head. “Oh. Princess Celestia, this is Faolan. Alpha of the Moonshadow Clan of Everfree. He seeks an audience with you today to open negotiations with the Carnivore Council. I can translate for you.”
Celestia smiled with the warmth of a summer afternoon. “Thank you, but that won’t be necessary.”
Remedy stepped back and Faolan crept forward.
He dipped his head, but kept eye contact. “I thank your grace for allowing this address. I know our accord with the pony tribes has been long and tenuous at best. However stresses have been building within the forest, and for this reason the Carnivore Council would seek consultation with her majesty in order to dissuade any escalation.”
Celestia’s expression darkened. “That almost sounds like a threat.”
Faolan quickly flattened his ears, and bowed until his nose almost touched the ground. “Forgive me, I didn't mean to provoke. Our situation is pressing, and we do not want a war. Please, I dare not speak more on the Council’s behalf, I am but a simple wolf. I have come to simply ask your acceptance of another’s presence. The current chair of the council Abidah would like to speak with you, but the forest guardians would not dare to approach without an invitation. Such an act might be… misinterpreted. If your grace permits, I can call him forthwith.”
“Very well, summon him.”
Faolan dug a small bead out of his coat, “Princess Celestia, it is my humble pleasure to introduce Abidah the Wise, Chair of the Council of Carnivores, Spirit of Wisdom and Guardian of the Everfree Raptors.”
He dropped the bead and crushed it under his paw. White mist spewed forth with a loud hiss. Faolan stood back, tossed his head high into the air and howled a loud solitary howl. The mist foamed and boiled from the bead. It swirled and billowed upwards into a large column of white cloud.
A blast of air scattered the mist and in its place a giant owl with two long curving horns stood towering; wisps of vapour trailing off his outstretched wings. The guards flanking the plinth fell into a low protective stance. The other guards around the room shuffled nervously, clutching their spears. The spell of their statuesque forms broken.
Abidah looked around the throne room. He gave Faolan and Remedy a respectful nod. Faolan gave a bow and backed away. Remedy ,seeing Faolan retreat, gave a small bow then quickly followed. Both of them stepped outside the throne room and closed the giant doors behind them, leaving the two ancient creatures to deliberate.
Remedy let out a long breath and began the long march back to the entrance. Faolan paused for a moment then loped up to her, “Remedy? Look, I want to apologise. I don’t really understand Pony culture or beliefs. But I do know I’ve hurt you. All of you. And I’m sorry for that. I truly am. You can believe that.”
Remedy stopped and gave a big sigh. “I’m sorry too. After Celestia just... dismissed it like that, I-I don’t know what’s right anymore.”
Remedy slumped onto her haunches on the thick velvety carpet, “I just don’t know how you can treat life so casually.”
Faolan dipped his head to look up into her downcast eyes. “Remedy, life is just as precious to us. You mean to tell me ponies don’t care about trees or plants just because you eat them? Sometime you have to kill a few weeds so that the good stuff can grow.”
Remedy gave him a disapproving glare. “That is not a fair comparison.”
“No? Even some plants are carnivores you know.”
“I don’t think insects count.”
“Insects don’t count?” he chuckled. “Tell that to Aleena."
Remedy shivered but gave a smirk. “Don’t you dare tell Aleena I said that.”
Faolan smiled and drew a cross over his chest with a claw, “Cross my heart and hope to die...”
She smiled, but scrunched her nose at the distasteful remark.
"But I wasn’t talking about insects," Faolan continued. "I should take you for a walk through the forest sometime – you’d be surprised at the savagery of plants. What about the Heart's Sacrifice?”
“Heart's Sacrifice?” said Remedy, confusion plastered on her face.
“Widow’s Tears? You know – that black flower you’re so fascinated with.”
“Oh. Wild Darkbell?”
Faolan rolled his eyes. “It has many names but trust a pony to come up with something so uninspired as ‘Wild Darkbell’.”
“Hey,” Remedy whinnied, “I called it that because it makes it easy to identify. It’s mostly black and cannot be cultivated. And I’m only so fascinated in it because it is a rare and powerful herb.”
Faolan chuckled, “Rare? To a pony perhaps. And it’s no wonder you can’t grow it.”
Remedy crossed her forelegs across her chest with an indignant huff. “Oh and now you’re a herbalist as well? Well then mister expert, you tell me why I can’t get the darned thing to grow in a flower bed.”
Faolan shrugged. “It’s simple. You lack the required conditions.”
“The soil at the farm is no different to the soil in the forest!” Remedy countered.
“Ah, but it IS different – there are no predators.“
Remedy snorted. “So?”
“There’s a reason we call it ‘Heart's Sacrifice’ or ‘Widow’s Tears’. It’s a blood flower. It only grows where blood has been spilt.”
“What?”
“As the story goes, the flowers are born from the spirit of the slain. They are a gift given in recompense for the life sacrificed. The sacrifice of the one, provides flowers which can be used to heal and mend many others that might otherwise fall to sickness or injury. The balance of the forest.”
Remedy gaped, astonished. “So all this time, these have been... funeral flowers?” she looked down and rubbed a chill from her shoulder.
“It’s not your fault. Carnivores and ponies have lived segregated for more than a millennium. You wouldn’t have known. It’s kind of amazing how you know about them at all.”
Remedy sat in quiet contemplation.
Faolan sat quietly, opposite, taking in the wonder of architecture around him. “It’s also not surprising you find us monstrous,” he said solemnly, “but in an age past we did once cohabitate. Perhaps not in peace and harmony, but certainly in balance. At least... until him.”
They sat before one of the giant stained glass windows. A creature of miss-matched parts manipulated the strings of pony marionettes with a wicked glint in its eye. Discord.
The guards, flanking the throne room, composed themselves and resumed attention once more.
Abidah folded his giant wings like a cloak, and presented a dip of his head to the reigning monarch. Celestia returned a respectful nod.
“Hello, Celestia. Thank you for allowing this audience. I do wish we could have met again under more pleasant circumstances. It has been an eon since you walked the woods.”
Celestia sat, mute and expressionless.
Abidah cleared his throat and continued, “I have come on behalf of the Council of Carnivores to discuss issues of mutual concern. As you know we – denizens of the carnivore tribes – have constrained ourselves to living within the Everfree forest; in accordance with our oath. An honour bound oath that we bear with the greatest reverence. Within these limits, we have continued to reduce our numbers to that for which the forest can provide in balance. However, in recent decades the number of stock available for hunting has continued to diminish as has the borders of the forest itself. A result of ponies clearing the land and sheltering the prey species of the forest. Even now, more and more of the stock species are seeking the sanctuary of pony territory. This is breaking the equilibrium we have sought to maintain and we now sit upon the threshold of starvation and extinction.”
Celestia sat as still as a statue, only the gentle undulation of her mane gave away her living breath.
Abidah hesitated before continuing in a very gentle and deliberate tone, “We, the members of the Carnivore Council, request that you and your ponies refrain from harbouring the other stock races so that they might return to the forest and its balance.”
An icy silence reigned. Celestia raised a confused eyebrow and broke her silence. “What do you expect me to say?”
“I hope,” Abidah responded carefully, “that you will say something unexpected. With this proposal we could maintain harmony with the pony race.”
“Harmony? You speak of harmony, but you would ask me to turn away any creature seeking respite from the forest? What cruelty would you have me demand my subjects display to give you your fill? Should they drive the deer and sheep back into the forest? Do you expect them to cast a blind eye and cover their ears; to deafen the cries for help that echo, silent, moments later? I thought you represented wisdom, Abidah. No. I will not ask my ponies to display such unkindness. You have never had problems maintaining within the forest and we have always sheltered those that asked for help. This was our agreement”
Abidah quirked his own eyebrow and poked his head forward at a sceptical angle. “Have you forgotten? The forests used to span from coast to coast. A great green band that divided the continent. Even with the ponies offering sanctuary to all and every creature they could, there were still many who lived in the forest. Such that the balance could be maintained. Following Discord’s reign the land was shattered. Great swathes of the forest were destroyed and in their place, rolling chaotic plains - later turned into pastures. The balance of the forest was broken, and the mighty carnivore tribes were first to feel the fall.
“Perhaps YOU forget! Who was it that stood up to the tyrant? It wasn’t the birds of prey or the wolf clans, nor the cat prides. It was the ponies who stood up to him. Where were the ‘mighty’ carnivore tribes then? We’ve earned our way of life with great sacrifice, and hard work.”
Abidah winced and his head cowed like he’d been punched in the stomach, “Yes, it is true. We will never forget. In those moments when we should have stood and fought, we cowered. Discords tyranny affected all, carnivore and herbivore alike. Your triumph was our shame, and for our cowardice we have paid. The lands we once called Everfree are now called Equestria, our place in them all but extinguished, and where we once roamed all over, now our hunting grounds reduced to a few scattered woodlands. We have paid this price, as we have for generations. We pay it dutifully and without complaint. To you; the reward for your courage – the stewardship of these once Everfree lands and security from the carnivores for all outside the forest. That is our oath. Yet, we must survive. I’m not asking you to give up your victory, merely that you – in light of your expanded influence – cease offering sanctuary for the other stock species, so that they might once more return to the forest.”
Celestia scrunched her nose at Abidah like he'd grown a second head. “I will not ask my ponies to turn a blind eye to those in need, Abidah. And even if I did – I’m sure they would not cease to show kindness regardless. However, even I do not seek a slow and agonising demise of the carnivores, so instead I make a counter offer.” Her countenance brightened, and her voice warmed and became welcoming and earnest. “Join us. We have not been idle in the long years. Our magic and technology have developed to the point we can now sustain a carnivore’s diet without the loss of life. I have seen wolves leave the forest and find friendship working alongside pony settlers. I’ve seen eagles stand vigil over foals. Many in Canterlot even share their homes with cats. Instead of berating our kindness, why not take this opportunity to embrace it. Give up your carnivore diet, and the brutal traditions of your savage history. We will supply food and shelter as we have to the other races. Then we could truly live in harmony.”
Abidah wrenched his head away in disgust. “Bah!, I’ve seen what becomes of those that ‘accept your kindness’. Their minds and bodies atrophy until, but hollow shells, they become nothing but mindless subservient animals. The great eagles wither, glorified fowl in gilded cages; forgotten by the infinite horizons they were born for. The wolves, so bold and free, lose all semblance of will. Whimpering surrogates; betraying their former heritage – rolling in the dirt and begging for their next treat. The great cats who once stood so proud, and fierce with unwavering courage – now waste their lives away in an eternal languor. Paralysed by the gluttony of their unearned appetites. All of them, pets. Playthings of foals and old mares. Domesticated tools for their new masters. No, I think not. Death would be the kinder offer.”
Celestia’s eyes narrowed. “You would seek death before harmony, why? All the carnivores I have seen that take up willing host with my little ponies are happy. Why do you insist on continuing your brutal ritual? If all the carnivores gave up their ghastly diet, you would have no need for your claws and strength. Join the ponies so this bloodshed can end once and for all. Then every-creature can find happiness.”
Abidah’s feathers bristled. “There is more to life than the shallow pursuit of happiness.“
Celestia raised her head high and stared down from her throne in disdain. “Instead you propose a life endured in the misery of an eternal, needless struggle?”
“Life is fraught with misery, Princess. Your subjects would do well to be familiar with its embrace. You also know we carnivores have a role to play in the world. No matter how ghastly you think it is. Without one side, the other will ultimately suffer far worse. Your ponies are already spreading to every corner of the land, and you are constantly destroying the forest to feed and sustain your ever expanding realm. On the other claw; one sickly or weak member of the stock species provides sustenance for a hundred others, serves to strengthen both sides AND keeps our growth in accordance with what the land can provide. Even you know that the diseased branch must be sacrificed if the tree is to grow healthy – the moon itself bares the very mark of your conviction.
“Tread carefully, owl,” Celestia growled, standing to her full height. She glowered down at the contemptible creature and continued with a deep and deliberate intonation. “I have experienced more of sacrifice than your entire genus and I am all too aware of the gravitas of my responsibilities. I have born them all with a heavy heart. We have not remained idle in these peaceful years. Our knowledge and magic have grown strong without the constant distraction of corporeal concern and I am more than confident we can overcome any ‘difficulties’ as a result of less predator activity."
"We may not all be predators, Celestia, but we are ALL prey. Your peaceful years have been, largely in part, due to our role in keeping the darker and more twisted elements of our chaos-touched lands, trapped within the forest. A job that is becoming increasingly difficult to perform and without your ‘predator’ problem, you invite a far greater strife.”
“Typical,” she sneered. “You boast respect for the sanctity of life and consider yourselves wisely considerate of the future, yet you still cannot see past your own traditions. Those you prey upon are not simply meat to fill your bellies. They are sovereign individuals; each with families, hopes and aspirations. You predators have no right to take that away.”
“Hypocrite!” Abidah accused. “You protest that we do not see the value of individuality or hold sacred, every creature’s divine spark – yet with the same breath your final solution is to strip us of ours. Yes, predation brings with it a measured suffering, we are under no delusion. But it is always fair. It is not an act of jealousy or revenge or greed and it is not needlessly cruel.”
“Death is forever,” Celestia rebuked, stepping down to the next tier of her throne, her head almost eye-level with Abidah’s. “It cannot be cured, or reasoned with. There is no reformation, no second chances, no encore – it is the final curtain.”
“And yet only a predator can turn it into life. Can you not appreciate the beauty of our cycle?”
Celestia stood tall and her voice quieted, but power flowed from her like the sun and her eyes were as hard and cold as stone. “I have fought many a predator, and witnessed their cruelty. I have lost friends, and saved others. None of it held beauty - only tragedy. Your era has ended, Abidah. We no longer need that old brutal history. Keep your oath, or join – the decision is yours.”
Abidah reeled, his wings flared in frustration and he glanced around as if expecting a crowd of equally astonished onlookers. “Do you think we will go quietly? Do you think we will keep our oath till the last hungry breath is drawn. Our oath was merely a courtesy we gave in thanks for defeat of Discord. But if you become the archetype of our demise, the oath will not stand.”
Celestia’s lips pulled back into a twisted forced grin, revealing her clenched teeth. “Do you threaten? Have you grown dull in your old age? Have you not seen my power? Has your witness of my ferocity ebbed? If you strike against any of my subjects, my retribution will be swift and unrelenting. I will swallow the forest whole within the fury of my intent.”
“All hail, Celestia the Merciful” Abidah chided sarcastically. He jutted his beak forward, flared his wings and shouted into her face, “WHAT CHOICE DO YOU GIVE US!? We have as powerful a will to survive as any race! Our numbers have dwindled, but we are still strong and growing desperate. If need be, we WILL render history, crimson.”
Celestia roared, the full brunt of her magically enhanced voice rattled the windows and shook the foundations. “I HAVE GIVEN YOU A CHOICE! Only your stubborn pride prevents you from seeking the path of Harmony. You would choose meaningless bloodshed over peaceful acquiescence? To what end!? You will still perish!”
Abidah wheeled around and paced angrily. “Assimilate or Emaciate?” – he balanced each option on a wing – ”Both a rose by different names and bare the thorns of death! You refuse to give up a small aspect of your nature and instead demand we give all of ours. One more of your prisoners, sentenced to an eternal punishment. At least the dead do not suffer. No! We will NOT stand idly by and waste away into the annals of history, neither by starvation nor subjugation! ”
Abidah turned and rose to his full height, eye level with Celestia even as she stood on the platform above. His chest billowed and his feathers ruffled, inflating his bulk.
“We would rather go, raging,” he bellowed.
“And wild.” He stomped forward, his talons gouging marble and carpet.
“True to our nature.” Another talon wrapped around the edge of the ramp.
“And of sound mind.” Another step had him towering over the defiant alicorn.
“And of clear identity,” he shouted.
Celestia glared with all the fury of an ancient sun. Abidah brought his beak within inches of her nose, her horn inches from his brow. He growled low and quiet, punctuating his words with absolute certainty. “And IF you don’t tell your guards to back off, they will witness a vision of this future you so earnestly seek with unprecedented clarity!”
Celestia glared quietly. She glanced to her sides. The guards that once stood vigil now surrounded the Great Horned owl, their spear tips poised to strike and a tense silence gripped the room. Celestia let out an annoyed snort. She stepped back and dismissed the guards with a hoof. “That’s enough,” she declared. She ascended the ramp and retook her place on the throne. “If you refuse to reform, then I cannot help you. You have your choice.”
Abidah frowned and stepped down, away from the platform. His head swivelled to look back at Celestia. ”It seems there’s only one.” He stepped into a cloud of mist and disappeared.
Clouds raced past in a bright blue sky. Faolan grinned maniacally from ear to ear, his tongue lolling out and flapping in the breeze. “This is amazing! Why didn’t we do this from the start!”
Remedy sat beside him, her hooves dug tightly into the side of the flying chariot. Sunny and Tradewind flew ahead, hitched to the front.
“One, because we didn’t have a chariot and two, I hate flying!” Remedy yelled above the wind.
The chariot dipped into a gentle bank, Faolan barked with excitement and jumped to the opposite side to peer over the edge, causing the chariot to list dangerously.
“Will you sit still!” Remedy shrieked, her eyes clamped shut. “You’re gonna make us fall!”
“And that’s the last one,” said Remedy, balancing a wooden crate on her back.
Tradewind lifted the heavy box and slid it onto the back of his sky-wagon. “You’re really amazing, you know that? To make all this in only two weeks.”
“I’m just spoiling you. And you’re lucky I had all those herbs from the forest. Really there should have been a rush order surcharge.” Remedy held her head imperiously.
“Ooh, I love it when you talk dirty,” he sniggered.
Remedy smirked and rolled her eyes. She took another count of the boxes in the back of Trade’s wagon as he checked the straps of the harness. Overhead, a freshly squeezed rain cloud zipped across the sky pushed by a familiar yellow pegasus; en route to enrich itself with more nourishing moisture. Remedy let out a melancholic sigh. “Hopefully this goes some way to appeasing your father. I fear he thinks I’m a bad influence.”
Tradewind laughed. “He may be right, you know.” He flashed a cheeky grin over his shoulder, but Remedy just stared into the wagon, still wearing her uneasy expression. He walked over and rubbed her shoulder gently, drawing her back from her rumination. “Hey, seriously. It doesn’t matter what he thinks. Dad’s always been about the business, but I would give it all away in an instant for you. Understand? I would scale the tallest peaks, and brave the darkest deeps. He’ll just have to get used to the idea.”
A shy smile crept onto her face.
“How about this,” Trade continued, “I was going to ask my folks to join us for dinner at that super exclusive restaurant in Canterlot – Le Petite Bijou. A friend of mine works there and owes me a favour, so I’m sure I could get us a reservation. But instead, I’m going to bake you a pie.”
Remedy baulked. “Pie? Why a pie?”
“The Trade family is no Canterlot Royalty, but the business is doing well and I have my own savings. I’ve also made friends all over Equestria which gives me access to some pretty exclusive places. Yet none of that can buy me an ounce of happiness without you. So, instead of making money, I’ll make time – to cook for you. Can I borrow your kitchen?”
Remedy blinked at him, then burst into laughter. She wiped the tears from her eyes and her laughter tapered into a light chuckle. “That’s sweet. Really odd, but sweet. I didn't even know you could cook?”
Tradewind scratched his head, and chuckled nervously. “I can learn. might need a few pointers though.”
Remedy smiled and shook her head. “Go, before your father pops a blood vessel.” She butted him gently towards the front of the wagon. He stepped into the harness and looped the straps across his back. Remedy stepped up to assist and whispered just behind his ear. “and when you come back, maybe I’ll give you a few private lessons.” She yanked the belly strap tight and squeezed a surprised whinny from the colt.
Trade tried to hide behind a coltish smirk, but failed to conceal the growing timid blush. “I should be back in about a week. Please promise me, you won’t go into the forest or otherwise embark on a mortally perilous adventure while I’m gone.”
“No promises,” teased Remedy, poking out her tongue.
“No, I’m serious,” he said sternly. “It’s hard to keep a mare-friend in every port when I have to keep ditching illicit romantic rendezvous to save your flank.”
Remedy whinnied, a hot flush of embarrassment blushed her cheeks. She growled and glared up at the dark, heavy rain cloud that had been loitering above them for the last minute. “Sunny, you rat!“ she shouted futilely. The cloud gave a startled squeak and quickly skittered away over the homestead, a few errant raindrops loosed in its shuddering wake.
Trade stood as smug as ever, a broad smirk plastered on his face. Remedy could feel the heat of embarrassment on her cheeks, and she knew he was enjoying it far too much. “What are you grinning for. You were two days too late!” she huffed.
Trade wheeled the cart around and leaned in. Remedy turned her head away and stuck her nose in the air but let him kiss her cheek.
“You’d better not be late this time,” she said in a huff.
Tradewind smiled. “I love you,” he said quietly.
Remedy’s expression softened, and her cheek yearned to pursue his retreating lips.
Tradewind turned the cart around to face the open road. “I’ll be back in a week. You stay safe, ok?”
Remedy nodded.
Tradewind stretched his wings and leaned into the harness. The wagon creaked into motion and with a few powerful beats of his wings, lifted into the air as if it were only a paper lantern.
Sunny peeked timidly around the corner of the house. “All ready to go?” she said quietly.
Remedy watched as the wagon became a tiny spec on the horizon. Then she spun and levelled a wolfish grin at Sunny. “You ratted on me.”
Sunny mustered as much weapons-grade innocence as she could manage, and shrugged with a sheepish smile. “Oops?”
“Ooooh, I’m going to make you pay for that,” Remedy chuckled with an unnerving glee. She walked over and hoisted the pair of heavy saddlebags she had left near the door onto her back. “And I’m not going to say how or when.”
“Oh c’mon Dee. I didn’t mean it. It just sort of… slipped out.” Sunny pouted. She mustered the courage to leave the shelter of the homestead’s stone walls and joined Remedy as they made their way towards Ponyville.
“Uh-huh, sure it did. And in what casual conversation, pray tell, did that little line come up?”
“Well, I may have, sorta, been spying on him...” Sunny mumbled, turning her head away to hide her shame.
“Sunny!” Remedy scolded.
“Hey, after what you said about a mare in every port – and then I saw him going into a different herbalist’s shop – I couldn’t help myself.” Sunny whined.
“Sunny, that’s still rude, now he’s going to think... wait. Another herbalist?”
“Right!? Super suspicious. So I spied on him a little. I learned two things. One: Turns out he was just looking for more Darkbell to impress you with, and two he’s really good at negotiations. Aggressive negotiations.”
“You cracked immediately didn’t you.” Remedy glared, deadpan at Sunny.
“I was young and naive,” she pleaded.
“It was only two weeks ago!” Remedy countered.
“Wow. That long?” said Sunny quietly. Remedy considered pushing her point, but stopped when she saw the far away look in Sunny’s listless gaze.
The pair walked quietly for a while until they arrived at a familiar crossroads. One road led to Ponyville, the other veered off towards the forest.
“Do you ever feel like you’re in a dream,” said Sunny suddenly, pausing at the fork in the road. “Like everything is ok, but at any moment you’re about to wake up to a living nightmare? I thought adventures were supposed to be fun, but I can’t even talk to anypony about it.”
“Oh Sunny,” said Remedy, putting a hoof around her shoulder. “You can talk to me. Anytime. Even if you do blab all my secrets.”
“Thanks, Dee. I know, I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s up with me lately.”
“Tell you what. I think I’ve had my fill of adventure too, so how about we stick to growing flowers from now on. Deal?”
“Deal,” said Sunny returning the hug. A mischievous twinkle reignited in her eye. “Though are you sure about growing only flowers?” she poked Remedy in the belly.
Remedy squeaked and slapped Sunny’s hoof away. “Why you…”
Sunny snickered and danced away, but Remedy was too quick. She wrapped the giggling pegasus in a headlock and repeatedly poked her in the ribs until she was squirming and shrieking in fits of laughter.
Remedy eventually released her hostage, and Sunny staggered away, gasping. Remedy stuck her nose in the air in supreme victory. “That will teach you.”
Sunny spun around with a vengeful grin. Then, like a candle in a snowstorm, the spark of joy in her died. Her ears fell back and her eyes widened. She stared past Remedy and her posture shrank.
Remedy looked behind. On the hill above, under a forlorn tree, next to a neglected flower bed, sat a familiar silver wolf.
“But it seems adventure hasn’t had enough of you.” Sunny whimpered.
“Faolan?” Remedy glanced back at Sunny. “I’ll go see what he wants. I’ll be right back.”
Sunny snatched Remedy’s back leg almost causing her to trip. “You just make sure you come back. No more trips into the forest. Promise!”
Remedy gently pulled her leg free and placed a hoof on Sunny’s shoulder. “I promise.”
Sunny stopped herself from grasping again, instead crossing her forelegs tightly across her chest. She withdrew into her own embrace.
Remedy gave her a reassuring smile, then trotted up the path, leaving her watching from the intersection.
“I don’t think I expected to ever see you again, much less so soon.” said Remedy as she approached Faolan.
“Is it so odd for a friend to visit?”
“If your friend is a carnivore, yeah a little.”
Faolan looked past Remedy to Sunny and his ears wilted slightly. “You know I’d never hurt her right?”
Remedy glanced back. Sunny was sitting where she left her, but she could feel the troubled stare from here. “Yeah, I know, but – she hasn’t been the same since the trip. She seems, I dunno, not as sunny.”
Faolan let out a sad little whimper.
“Don’t worry, she’s a tough cookie. I’m sure she’ll be back to her overly cheerful self in no time,” Remedy chuckled, but she wasn’t sure who she was trying to convince. She took a deep breath to clear her thoughts. Her eyes brightened and a cheeky smile crept onto her face. “But enough of that, how’s Kerena. Have you made a move yet?”
Faolan blinked, surprised by the sudden invasive question, and a mild blush tinged his cheeks. “We may have started a courtship, yes.”
“You make it sound like a legal procedure,” she giggled. “But it’s good that you have finally gotten over your excuses.”
Faolan snorted. “And I presume your own romance proceeds at full gallop.”
“I think full gallop is a bit of an exaggeration.” Remedy retorted, returning her own expression of indignation. “We’re taking things at our own pace. It’s not my fault you’re so bashful about your feelings.”
Faolan coughed uncomfortably. “Sooo, I see you’re all packed for another trip?”
Remedy looked at her saddlebags. “These? No, we’re just heading to Ponyville to make some deliveries. I do have a business to run, with local clientele you know.”
Faolan shifted, visibly uncomfortable. “Ponyville?” Faolan glanced back towards the forest. “Look, to be honest, I didn’t come here to just chit chat, lovely as it is. I wanted to give you a bit of warning.”
Remedy frowned and raised an eyebrow. “Warning? For what?”
Faolan scratched his front paw nervously, “It looks like things didn’t go exactly as hoped with Celestia.”
Remedy’s brow knitted with concern. “I’m not entirely surprised. I didn’t think she would accept. So, no compromise?”
“Unfortunately, it seems not.”
“So,” Remedy pressed, dread lacing her question, “what now?”
“You have to understand, we can’t do nothing and allow ourselves to starve to death.” Faolan defended.
Remedy’s eyes went wide as horrid thoughts crossed her mind. Faolan hurriedly waved away her growing panic and continued. “You’re not in danger. Nor are any other ponies. I made sure to petition for you all, and Abidah agreed. But…” he trailed off and his eyes searched the ground for unseen hidden wisdom.
“But?” Remedy pressed.
Faolan sighed heavily, abandoning the quest for an appropriate euphemism. “The oath as it was, will no longer stand. We are no longer bound by the limits of the forest.”
“So you mean?” Remedy cocked her head, still holding onto a vain hope that clarification would yield an unexpected result.
Faolan nodded slowly. “If Celestia won’t return the other species to the forest. The forest will come to them.”
Remedy covered her mouth with a gasp.
“I wanted to warn you. So you wouldn’t be afraid.” He glanced down at Sunny. “I don’t want you to be afraid of us.”
Remedy stuttered and a thousand morbid prospects flashed past. “How – is this all supposed to end? When Ponies learn of this, they’re not going to stand by.” she pleaded.
“I know, but you have to keep this secret. At least for now. I know it can’t last forever. But while we can hide in the shadow. There’s less chance of an altercation.”
“Altercation? I thought you said ponies were safe?”
“Ideally, yes. But not all the carnivores share the same level of enthusiasm for that mandate. And if they're forced to defend themselves...”
Remedy slumped to her haunches, her eyes; misty and unfocused. “And you?”
Faolan’s expression hardened. “I am the Alpha of my clan. I have to lead them, and the council’s orders are clear.”
“Remedy? Are you ok?” Sunny’s faint voice called out from the distant intersection.
Remedy glanced back at Sunny. She now stood, fidgeting at the threshold. Torn between wanting to be beside her friend, and her fear of the wolf.
Remedy turned back to Faolan. “How long will this last?”
Faolan ears drooped and he gave a small shrug. “As long as it can.” he said, despondent.
Remedy sat mute. Still processing the news. Faolan gave an apologetic smile, then turned and loped back down the path towards the forest. No sooner was he out of range, when Sunny galloped up beside Remedy.
“You ok?” she asked.
Remedy stared into the distance and watched the silver shadow slip into a thicket near the forest. “Uh, yeah,” she said distantly. Remembering Sunny, Remedy forced a grin onto her face. “He was just catching up. Come on we need to get to Ponyville; these deliveries won’t deliver themselves.”
Sunny hesitated then cantered up beside the retreating Remedy. She frowned and narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “What did he say?”
“Huh?” Remedy stuttered, as if waking from a dream. “Oh Faolan? Er, you know, general chit chat. Apparently he’s been making some progress with Kerena – now his mare-er-girl?...friend?” Remedy tilted her head as she pondered the appropriate prefix.
“Bitch?” Sunny offered.
“What, Kerena? No. She’s lovely.”
Sunny chuckled and rolled her eyes.
Canterlot — Golden peaks and gleaming streets. That’s if you believe the brochures anyway. But as anypony who’s lived here long enough knows; beneath the glamorous exterior, the beating heart of the city squirms and writhes unseen, like termites in the walls of a lavish chateau. And in my line of work, you spend more time in the sewers than the cinemas, but that’s where the crime is.
There’s a new rumour on the streets of a cover up by the royal guard. Sudden unexplained evacuation drills, reports of shouting and whistles and flares. Doesn’t sound like a drill to me. But we all know the official story is as good as a milk bucket under a bull.
I started to investigate a little; figured I’d poke my muzzle where it wasn’t invited. Spoke to this high-strung filly from the upper tier, says she was out that night. Good looking, legs for miles, but drew the short straw in the bright lights department. Could barely get a coherent thought from her that didn’t devolve into an irrational distaste for donut shop proprietors or the infirmed. Suffice to say, gal was crazier than a June Bug in July. Must be something they put in the water up there to make it sparkle.
So I sidled up to an old buddy of mine in the guard. A few drinks on me, and he’s normally good for a yarn or the local gossip. But he was as tight lipped as a burglar in a lemon tasting competition...
Percy leaned back in his chair, re-chewing the end of his pencil. “Burglar? Lemon tasting competition? Who tastes lemons? In a competition? There has to be a better simile,” he mumbled to himself.
Around him stacks of waiting and overdue paperwork crowded his desk like the crenellations of a battlement. A single desk lamp cast a warm pale glow, illuminating a small pool of light on his desk but it just served to bring contrast to the rest of the dim room and make it seem gloomier. The wall behind him was plastered with newspaper clippings and old photographs of ponies and places, held in place by a mismatched assortment of tacks and tape. Bars of striped sunlight filtered through the dirty windows and venetian blinds. They gave the office an overbearing tone of aged brown. A brass name plate sat, crooked, on the desk bearing the name of it’s owner. Detective Perception Check.
Percy let the pencil fall from his telekinesis onto the table and rubbed a knot in his neck with a groan while his other hoof further loosened his already loose tie.
*SLAM*
The blinds rattled as the door to the cramped office was flung open. Percy jumped to his hooves, knocking over his mug and spilling tepid coffee over his notebook and some of the scattered papers.
“Horsefeathers!” He swore and grabbed the nearest rag to dab the brown liquid staining his papers. “Gale! Would it kill you to knock first?”
The slate-grey pegasus mare regarded him with all the respect and empathy one might afford a sack of expired potatoes. “More cases from Ponyville,” she drawled in abject boredom.
She placed down yet another pile of papers on his desk. The tower teetered precipitously. His desk bore all the hallmarks of a losing battle.
Percy groaned. “What, more chickens? Seriously those earth ponies need to learn to build better fences. Those birds are practically suicidal and will run to the most dangerous place in Equestria if you let them. What am I supposed to do about it?”
Gale snorted, “I don’t know, Detective. Your job? It was your idea to advertise in the new rural settlements. There’s no sheriff in that town - so lucky you. Besides, it’s not just chickens.”
Percy raised an eyebrow and lent over the new stack of paper. He tugged one of the transcripts off the top. “A Sheep? I would hardly accuse a sheep of being overly burdened with intelligence. But they don’t usually go looking for trouble. Any witnesses?”
“It happened overnight. The other’s in the flock report of being spooked by noises and immediately fleeing the vicinity. When they came to a stop, one of them was gone,” Gale replied with all the mustered enthusiasm of a mouldy loaf of sourdough.
Percy scratched at the stubble on his chin. “Noises eh? Where was their pen?” he asked rhetorically, finding his answer further down the report. “Just outside of Ponyville.“ He glanced up Gale. Her dispassionate expression radiated a profoundly mirthless disposition. “Timberwolves maybe?” he asked.
Gale returned an unblinking, suffering look.
Percy glanced back at the report. “Hrm, you’re right, unusual for them to be subtle like that. Another monster from the forest perhaps?” He waved a hoof at Gale, “Can you grab me that copy of Monster-pedia? Thanks.”
Gale sighed and rolled her eyes before stepping out.
Percy grabbed the next report from the stack of papers and scanned it. After a short moment he picked up his pencil in a bubble of blue magic and began to scribble on his notepad. He paused and tapped the pencil. He let it fall and grabbed the canvas saddlebag he kept in the bottom of his filing cabinet – otherwise devoid of files of course. He stuffed his notebook and some writing tools into it. He looked around the room searching. “Now where did I put my” - he glanced at the coffee stained rag and groaned - “spare shirt.” He held up the bitter smelling threads and wrung them out with a twist of magic.
Gale walked back in with a thick tome tucked under her wing to see Percy wriggling into his brown, all-weather coat.
“Ah, good. Book me a ticket to Ponyville. Something doesn’t smell right about these reports.”
A tree whipped by, then another and another. The picturesque landscape flew past the train car window, Percy’s own reflection, a ghostly visage cast over the top. The detective glanced back at the dozen or so reports floating in front of him. He took his trusty pencil out of his coat pocket, and began to write in his notebook.
Case 72: The Absence of Evidence
Day 1. My mother always said I had a nose for trouble. Mostly because I was usually in it. But something doesn’t smell right about these reports from Ponyville. It’s not unusual for chickens to go missing. The birds are practically suicidal, forever drawn to the forest areas. Who knows why. Sheep, however, are more than content with their simple lot and are fearful creatures who wouldn’t go within miles of the forest. The area is known to be home to a timberwolf population, but they usually stick to the forests, and can be scared away with loud noises. Not to mention, the warning stench of their breath would be apparent to anypony. Foul play perhaps? It seems a bit of a stretch, who would gain from such an act? So many questions. Well whatever the case, I’ll get to the bottom of it, and from the feel of it, there’s much more to this than meets the eye. I’ve been told I can find lodging at the local tavern. After that, we start asking our own questions.
Day 2. Spoke to the owner of the chickens. Can’t say I expected to find much help here. The owner spoke of losing at least three hens over the last couple of weeks. No obvious signs of forced entry. The fences look intact. Either the hens have literally flown their coop or the perpetrator can use a gate. Monster types tend to avoid such inconveniences, so at least it looks like we don’t have any monsters from the forest to worry about at the moment.
Also spoke to the shepherd. He was quite distraught, apparently another of his flock went missing last night. At least I got to see the crime scene before it was trampled under hoof. The other flock members gave pretty much the same story as before. Frightful noises followed by panic, and another member lost. The lost member was an older ewe, probably slower than the rest. I inspected the pen. Again no signs of broken fences or forced entry. Crop lands and orchards back the property. Makes for an easy and inconspicuous access point. The shepherd has stated he’ll be starting a local vigil on the flock at night. Maybe we’ll get lucky and get an I.D. on the perp.
Side note: Asked the locals about an apparent abundance of ravens about. Most of the locals seem to shrug it off. Peculiarities of their local speciality. Some sort of magical apple. Still gives me the creeps.
Day 3. No change at the Shepherd’s pens. The night vigil was without success, well, depending on your point of view. At least not towards capturing the perpetrator. No more sheep missing at least.
Apparently another chicken has gone missing, however. The poor mare is very distraught.
Decided to take a walk around the surrounding outskirts. All in all, it’s a pretty little place. Still growing, with more ponies coming all the time. Seems like it could be quite the hub eventually. Mostly an earth pony village; which brings with it, its share of pegasi to help with weather management. A few unicorns too as well. A bit more unusual, normally unicorns are too stuck up to rough it with the mud ponies. Not that that’s ever applied to me, I suppose. I think it’s quite a nice change from the cold marble of Canterlot. Mysterious missing animals and creepy crows notwithstanding.
Day 4. Things have taken a turn for the worse. A dairy cow has gone missing, and I don’t think we’ll see it again. Similar M.O. to before. Frightful noises, followed by panic. One of the herd falls behind and never catches up. More evidence this time though, a pitiful consolation if ever there was. We grew up with stories of ponies and other critters being taken by monsters from the forests, you never expect to see one in your lifetime. Not in this day and age. It seems our monster couldn’t take a cow without being a bit less subtle. We’ve got clear blood stains, drag marks. Teeth and claw marks on the fence too. So much for the no-monsters theory. Looks like the pen was broken to allow the beast to withdraw with its prey. Although what possessed it to repair the fence afterwards perplexes me. What kind of villain, breaks into your home, murders one of your family, and then quietly repairs the locks on the way out – as if it were a courteous neighbour just borrowing a cup of sugar. Although I suppose, if the cows are trapped in their pen, it’ll be easier to find another meal later. A foreboding thought.
I’ve been flicking through the Monster-pedia looking for likely candidates. Until now, I’ve still been suspicious of the local timberwolf population. But with the locals experience in dealing with them, and with the now significantly larger prey. I’m starting to think Manticore, but only because of the strength required. To further add to my worries, no pony has seen as much as a furry paw of whatever’s doing this. If they can kill a cow, it’s easy to imagine a pony could fall prey too. If I come face to face with this thing I’ll...
Percy let out a sigh and dropped the pencil into the crook of his notebook. He lent back on the park bench and glanced at the Monster-pedia still turned to the page featuring a Manticore. He grunted with frustration, tossed the book on the ground and closed his eyes; covering his face with a hoof to clear his thoughts.
“Mother Grace says you should look after your books,” a tiny, sweet voice chastised him.
Peeking out from under his hoof he watched a little mint-coloured unicorn filly pick up the thick tome with her hooves – obviously her magic hadn’t come in to it’s own yet – and place it on the bench beside him.
“Whatcha reading?” she asked.
Percy reached down and closed the book. The cover displayed the title in a large bold font. Monster-pedia: The definitive guide to the monsters of Equestria.
The little unicorn filly looked at the title and scrunched her nose. “Why are you reading that?”
Percy grinned conspiratorially. “Maybe I’m looking for a monster?”
The little filly hopped up onto the bench and let her legs swing free. Silence reigned for a brief, blissful moment. “Do you think wolves are monsters?”
Percy raised an eyebrow at the odd question. “Well of course they are.” With a flick of his magic he opened the book to the page on timberwolves.
Sugarmint looked at the page and made another cute, scrunchy face. “No. Not timberwolves, silly. Normal wolves.”
Percy raised the other eyebrow. “Normal wolves?”
Sugarmint reached into one of her saddlebags and pulled out a thin novel. A fairy tale. The cover showed a picture of little brown colt leading a small parade of animals. A little bird, a duck and a cat. The shadows of each creature distorted and combined into the silhouette of a wolf against a stone cliff backdrop. The shadow was caricatured of course. Coarse ragged fur, long sharp teeth, and a gleaming red eye set the whole tone of a stalking evil.
“How old are you? This seems a little… dark, for a filly your age.” He paused to read the small printed title. Children’s Stories from Stalliongrad. “That might explain it,” he groused to himself.
“I don’t think wolves are bad like that though. At least not all of them. The one we met was really nice.”
By this time Percy had run out of eyebrows to raise and so let his jaw gape instead. “Met?”
The minty unicorn fussed with her saddle bags, placing her book back inside. “Yeah, we met him about a moon ago. He saved Scarlet. She’s my sister.”
“And you think it was a wolf? Not a big dog or something?”
The filly hopped off the bench. “Well he was bigger than you.”
A blue pegasus colt ran up. His little wings flapped furiously – lengthening his stride. He slid to a halt in a four hoof skid. “Sugarmint, Sugarmint! Mother Grace wants us back for lunch. We’re having tacos!” he yelped, hopping in circles of wing assisted bouncing – ample evidence that he was enthusiastic about the prospect.
Percy hopped off the chair as well, sliding the Monster-pedia into his own saddlebag.
“Is this your brother?”
“Sort of. We all live at the mended tree orphanage,” she said.
Percy cringed. But if the foals were offended by it, they didn’t show it.
“C’mon c’mon, we don’t want to be late,” the little pegasus vibrated with unbridled passion for lunch. Practically pushing his ‘sister’ ahead of him.
“Bye, mister,” said Sugarmint.
“Uh, do you mind if I tagged along. I’d like to speak to your sister about the wolf if that’s ok?” Percy asked quickly.
Cloudbank stopped and glared back suspiciously.
“I promise I won’t eat any of your tacos,” Percy said, reassuringly.
Intentions assayed, Cloudbank resumed his brisk trot homeward. “Hrmm, Ok.”
“Yay, tacos!” the excitable blue pegasus jumped up onto one of the simple wooden benches that served as seating at the table.
Mother Grace scowled at her enthusiastic diner. “Now, Cloud, you wait for everyone else first.”
Sugarmint walked in. Mother Grace smiled at the sweet little filly. “There you are. Did you find a good book?”
Sugarmint beamed brightly, nodding. “Uh-huh,” she said and pulled out the grim story book from her bag.
The matron frowned at the title and picture. “A-are you sure this is what you want to read? I don’t want you getting nightmares.”
Sugarmint frowned. “It’s the only one I could find with wolves.”
Percy poked his head in. “I hope I’m not intruding.”
Mother Grace jumped with a start. “Oh, you scared me, Mister…”
“Check, but you can just call me Percy. I was hoping I could speak with you about some of your children here.”
Mother Grace brightened. “Oh of course.” The matron lent down and spoke quietly to Sugarmint. "Go put your things in your room, and tell Scarlet, 'lunch is ready'."
The unicorn filly disappeared into the back rooms of the house.
The matron led Percy into the adjacent lounge room.
“Pardon for the intrusion Madam. My name is Detective Perception Check. I was hoping to talk to you and Scarlet about some things.” Percy pulled out his notebook and pencil.
Scarlet trotted into the kitchen, trademark cart in tow. She pulled up to her space near the table.
Mother Grace poked her head into the kitchen. “Scarlet, dear, could you come here a moment. There’s somepony I’d like you to meet.”
Scarlet raised an eyebrow, and wheeled into the next room.
“Scarlet, I’d like you to meet Mr. Percy Check.”
Scarlet saw the strange stallion in the living room. She quickly straightened up with her best smile and took a deep breath. “Good afternoon Mr. Check. My name is Scarlet Dawn, I’m 13 years old. I like to run and play. I generally get along well with others, and am doing well in my studies at school. Even though I can’t walk like a normal pony. I’m completely self sufficient, so I don’t need any extra care.”
Mother Grace gave a sad apologetic smile. She lowered her head and quietly said, “Oh, no dear. I’m sorry, he’s not here about adoption. He’s a detective.”
“Oh, did I do something wrong?”
Percy cleared his throat, feeling more than a little uncomfortable by the disappointment shown in the lame filly’s expression. “Uh, no. Nothing wrong. I was just hoping I could talk to you about the past few weeks. Your ‘sister’ told me you met a wolf?"
Scarlet looked suspiciously at Mother Grace. The matron just gave her a nod of encouragement.
“Yes,” she said hesitantly.
“Can you tell me about the day you met it?”
Scarlet shrugged. “I met him at the markets, tied to a lamp post.”
“Tied to a lamp post? Like a pet?” asked Percy, scribbling furiously in his notebook.
“Yep. He was pretending to be Remedy’s pet.”
“Pardon, did you say ‘pretending’?”
“Yep.”
Percy wondered if it wasn’t just her legs that weren’t working, then banished the churlish thought. “Forgive me, but why would a wolf ‘pretend’ to be a pony’s pet?”
Scarlet shrugged. “Why else, I suppose. Most ponies wouldn’t react well to a wolf.”
Percy blinked at the ridiculously simple, but hard to argue reasoning. “Well, yes, of course. I suppose.”
Percy straightened up and addressed the matron. “Is this true?”
“I’m sorry, the children all swear it’s a wolf. But I don’t know much about such things. I do know he was very large and looked like a dog, and that he saved her.”
“Sugarmint mentioned he was large too. How large would you say he was?”
The matron pondered for a moment as if evaluating her memory for the first time. “Oh, I’d say he’d stand taller than most stallions.”
Percy gave a concerned frown. “And this Remedy?”
The matron smiled brightly. “Oh she’s lovely. She’s the local medicine girl. Lives south of Ponyville about 10 miles.”
“Well thank you, Miss Grace and Miss Dawn. You’ve been a great help. I’ll leave you to your delicious smelling tacos.”
“You said you wouldn’t eat any,” the pegasus called out warningly from the dining room.
“Cloudbank! Manners!” scolded Mother Grace.
Percy chuckled. “It’s all right Miss Grace. A deal’s a deal.” He tipped his hat and turned to leave.
“Mr Check?”
Percy paused and glanced back at Scarlet.
“Faolan may be a wolf. But he saved my life, and he’s my friend.”
Percy hesitated, then gave her a smile and nod, and stepped out.
Day 5. This village keeps getting stranger. Met some of the local children yesterday. Cute kids, but not cute enough to make me consider a herd of my own. All of them swear they saw a wolf in town. Their “mother” said it was just a large dog – biggest dog I’ve ever heard of. Sounds more like the size of an orthros. Speaking of which; seems there was a circus in town around the same time, said to have some exotic predators as part of the attraction. Maybe one of them escaped? I’ll have to follow up on that later.
Followed up on the dog lead (ha), went south of Ponyville to where this girl Remedy lives. Pretty thing, but her father works the fields down there. He gave me a stare that could chill a yak. I’d feel sorry for the poor chap who’d attempt to take her out for dinner. She was also very evasive. Dodged nearly every question on the wolf subject. Stopped short of straight out denying it. Only said he was gone now, and didn’t expect to see him again. It was clear as crystal she was hiding something, but she wasn’t giving up any information. Kind of creeped me out all the blades she had too. Scythes and sorts. No doubt needed for her profession, but there’s just something unsettling about a pretty young mare with an arsenal.
I think I’ll follow up on that circus lead. Not getting anywhere with the wolf angle at the moment.
Side note: Damn crows everywhere still, I reckon there could even be more now than earlier in the week.
Day 6. Ye Olde Canterlot. The old girl has a certain magic to her. Regal towers and opulence galore. That’s the upper tiers at least. But even the fanciest of places needs an army of ponies to keep it running. And those ponies need somewhere to live. Also food and entertainment befitting their tastes. For this reason I suspect, the circus has come to Canterlot. But it now stands temporarily closed in the stadium, surrounded by the blue collar folk who keep Canterlot nice and fanciable for the tourists and rich aristocracy in their exorbitant manors.
Frustratingly, the folks at the circus were possibly more evasive than that mare from Ponyville. Had to flash quite a bit of gold to get to somepony who knew anything at all and I’m not talking about a badge. Apparently the ringmaster was unavailable for comment. Finally talked to somepony near the beast pens. It seems the circus was closing and all of their creatures were being relocated back to the forest. All were currently accounted for, they did indeed have an orthros, but it was still there in its cage. Tried to speak to their animal handler but he was in the hospital. Apparently there was an issue with one of the beasts a couple of weeks back, training went badly or some such. Might have had something to do with that rumour about the Royal Guard cover up. I’ll have to make a cordial visit to the hospital.
I really hate hospitals. To me they’re more a place where the pitiful and sickly gather, than a place where somepony goes to get better. Can’t say I haven’t spent my share of time in one though. This circus beast handler seemed to share a similar opinion. At least he was a bit more forthcoming with details and the plot indeed, thickens. Seems one of their beasts (a wolf no less) escaped during a training session, but not before killing the ringmaster, and severely injuring him. This triggered a city wide hound hunt by the Royal Guard. That answers the case of the rumours at least. Now here’s the interesting part, the circus only caught this wolf a day before the accident. Seems they rushed the training, caught it on the road to Canterlot from Ponyville about the same time the fillies placed the “wolf” in Ponyville. Now in my profession you don’t get the luxury of coincidences. So now I’m sitting outside the Office of the Captain of the Royal Guard. Can’t say I actually expected to get an audience. Hopefully my remaining questions can be answered this afternoon. Ah, I’m being called in. Let’s see how this goes…
Well that was unexpected. The captain took a keen interest in my investigations. In fact; I’m pretty sure it was me being interrogated there. In the end he didn’t really answer any of my questions at all. Something doesn’t smell right. Looks like more investigating in the morning then, but for now, sleep.
Day 7. Celestia tie me up and spank me till I call her mommy. I’ve been fucked.
Walked into my office this morning just as they were finishing. They’d tipped everything upside down, all my notes and reports gone. Every drawer emptied. They fucking trashed the place. Bunch of blank flanks from a department that doesn’t exist and where questions are disciplined. I’ve heard about these mobs before, almost an urban legend. Special units that operate with full autonomy and accountable only to the princess. I’ve really stepped on a hornets nest here. Gale was pretty shaken up, which speaks volumes on its own. We’ve both decided that now was a good time to use that holiday leave. Got out of there quick smart, only managed to keep this notebook with me. Something is going on in Ponyville and somepony knows it and doesn’t want anypony else to know. I think I’m out of my league.
The last few days had been marked by a fever of activity and construction, but the results spoke for themselves. Thick pillars of freshly hewn oak framed the barn. The freshly painted walls were made from equally formidable planks and packed so tight that air itself could not escape from its iron reinforced protection. What windows the barn had, were barely more than portals. Small gaps to let in enough light and air for its occupants. Even so, they were barred with thick iron and covered in a heavy-gauge wire mesh with no means to open them. Heavy oak doors, no less a match for their housing and banded with more straps of iron, provided a single point of entry and were held steadfast by a large, heavy, jewel encrusted lock. If there was one thing you could count on, it was earth pony engineering. In this case, alarmingly over-engineered, perhaps.
A stocky earth pony with a broad brim hat and bolo tie turned a matching ornately jewelled key in the lock with a metallic ring and thaumaturgical hum. A faint shimmer of colour rippled across the door and faded.
“Fall, Cob; are you prepared for tonight’s watch?” he said, turning to face a pair of stablehooves.
“Right as rain, boss. All the animals are accounted for, and have settled in for the night,” nodded Fall, an older auburn stallion with deep creases around his eyes earned from years of working outdoors and squinting in bright sunlight.
”Yeah, not to worry,” said Cob, his offsider. A younger stallion, barely more than a colt. His coat was a light tan, contrasting a mousy brown mane and tail. “Nothing’s getting past us. Plus, whenever anyone so much as watches – nothing ever happens.”
“And I hope it stays that way. These doors are strong to be sure and as long as that upstart merchant unicorn’s spell is worth half what I paid for it... But I’m not taking any chances yet. I heard pets are going missing now. In the middle of the day too; right behind their owner’s backs no less. No, whatever is doing this, is not done yet.”
“Well they ain’t getting past us without a fight you can be sure,“ said Cob.
“And we’ll just ring the bell if anything comes a-lookin’ with ill intent,” his older and wiser compatriot added.
“All right, stay safe. I’ve got the key, so I’ll see you two in the morning.”
The rancher walked back to the homestead not far away, and the two stallions started setting up torches on the perimeter near the door, just as the sun sank below the horizon. Dusk.
Less than an hour later, the homestead’s solitary light in the upstairs bedroom window winked out and a noisy stillness descended. It was a dark night, the moon occluded by partial cloud cover. The stars, peeking between the intermittent cover, twinkled brightly and crickets chirped loudly in the warm evening air. A silhouette moved on the homestead’s roof. What could have been mistaken for a chimney pipe, twisted, and two dull orange eyes swiveled around in the starlight. With effortless ease, a barn owl slipped into the air and silently circled the homestead before gliding down to the front door step. A silent flap stalled it’s momentum on landing. There was a quiet click of talons on stone as the owl limped across the slab. The owl paused, its head swiveling, watching the distant torchlight of the barn. A green coil unwound from one of its legs. A small green snake slid off the owl's leg and without so much as a glance, slipped under the door sill.
Under the awning outside the front doors of the barn, the two stallions sat around a low table. A thermos of tea and basket of cornbread and oatmeal cookies flanked the beginnings of a gin-rummy game.
Fall washed the cards in a large pile on the table. “Alright, 100 points per game, 500 points to win the night, 25 points for a gin, 31 for a big gin. You know the rules.” He collected the pile into a stack and started to deal.
“What do you think it is?” Cob asked.
“What ‘what’ is?” Fall replied, trying to concentrate on his counting.
“You know... whatever’s been doing all this?” Cob waved a hoof in the general direction of the barn.
Fall shrugged. “Dunno, but this ain’t like no monster we’ve had before. At least with them you know what you’re up against. They don’t slink about in the shadows, they just come at you snarling and vicious. I told you about that time with the timberwolves, right? At least they’ve got the common decency to warn you they're coming. What, with all their howling and stinking and what not.”
Fall pushed a pile of ten cards across to Cob.
Cob gathered his cards and fanned them, frowning in concentration. “Well whatever this boogeypony is, as long as someone’s awake to watch it, doesn’t seem like it ever shows. If not for the multiple incidents, I’d swear it was just somepony’s bad dream. Sometimes I think we would all calm down a bit if we could just see what we’re up against, no matter what it is. I mean, all this mystery is driving me crazy.”
Fall gathered his own cards then turned one on the remaining pile over and set it beside. “Be careful what you wish for. No one’s seen it, so it stands to reason – it don’t wanna be seen. Besides, even if it decided to show itself, you might not like what you see. Ignorance is bliss as they say.”
Cob picked up the discarded card from the discard pile. “Tch, well now I’m certainly in no mood to find out what it is tonight.” He threw out a 3 of apples.
Fall grunted at the 3 and drew a card from the stockpile. “I can agree with that, now hurry up and lose.” he said slapping down a 7 of stones.
Cob smirked, reaching for a fresh card. “Yeah? We’ll see about that.”
High in the eves of the awning under which they sat, a small blue and black spider watched from a silvery web. A sudden gust of wind snuffed out one of the perimeter torches. Fall coughed and spat out his tea. “What in Celestia’s name was that!?”
Cob turned to look where his partner was looking: “Oh relax, it’s probably just a freak gust of wind.”
Fall looked around suspiciously, glaring into the impenetrable night surrounding them. The rest of the torches continued to burn innocently, casting their reddened hue onto the dew kissed grass. “There ain’t been even a breath o’ wind all night. It’s stiller than a mid winter’s pond out here.”
Cob pushed his chair back and put a loop of rope, with a stick of flint and steel on it, around his neck. He sauntered out to the extinguished lamp, smirking back at his coworker. “Ah don’t worry about it, these things are pretty cheap. It probably went out on it’s own, she’ll be lit in a jiffy.” He sat in front of the torch and raked his horseshoe across the flint producing a satisfying flurry of sparks. Cob pointed the flint at the base of the lantern’s wick and placed his hoof on it.
“OW!” Fall yelped.
Cob jumped, fumbling the flint. He spun around. “What!? What happened?”
Fall stood at the table, scratching his neck. “I think something bit me.”
Cob slumped to his haunches, clutching his chest. “For crying out loud, Fall. You nearly gave me a heart attack. You’re making me skittish. Cut it out.”
Fall grumbled back, “Hey you wouldn’t like it if something bit you on the pineapple…” His eyes roamed listlessly around their sockets and his head nodded and swayed clumsily.
“Are.. are you ok?” asked Cob.
Cob wandered back over, concern plaguing his face. Fall slumped onto his hindquarters in an attempt to stop the patch of ground he was occupying from its incessant spinning.
“I don’t feel so good…” he slurred.
“OW!” Cob yelped, and his legs bucked at an invisible assailant as a sudden pinch of fire pricked his flank. Cob spun around but found nothing but the still night air. Almost instantly his head began to swim. Fall had slumped over the table drooling onto its surface. Cob blinked, unable to focus his eyes. He shook Fall, who elicited a miserable groan. At least he was alive. Cob’s eyes wandered slowly over to the bell hanging off the awning. He lurched awkwardly towards it. His hind quarter buzzed like it was full of bees, and refused to cooperate with his brain. He fought back a mouthful of bile and nausea. Cob paused to take a painful breath. He stepped forward again, and his leg gave out. He fell heavily to the ground. The impact caused him to retch and empty the tea-soiled remains of several slices of cornbread onto the dirt. His head lolled on his shoulders, and his vision faded. The last thing he saw was a blurry shadow moving beyond the torchlight and two bright yellow points tracing bright lingering lines in his vision. His eyes rolled back and he passed out.
“Pathetic. They have no healthy respect for fear or wisdom. Perhaps we should teach them some.” Marrok leaned close to the tan stallions face. His lip twitched, flashing white teeth beneath. His tongue running over them.
“Marrok, the council was clear. No harm to the ponies,” warned Tarell.
Marrok flashed a dangerous glare at the younger wolf, but Tarell held his ground. “Tch, fine,” he growled.
The barn owl flew into the torchlight, as silent as the grave. Only the final flap of stalled flight and the clack of talons on wood heralded its arrival. The snake uncoiled itself from its leg once more. It’s body was lumpy and distorted. With an awkward retch, the snake regurgitated a gold, jewelled key.
“Let’s do this quickly then, I can’t stand the reek of these ponies,” grumbled Marrok. He took the key. Studying it for a moment, he picked an end and poked it into the lock. Satisfied he had the instrument oriented correctly, he twisted. It moved slightly then stopped, stuck. Marrok growled at the stupid device.
“Perhaps the other way,” Keegan suggested timidly, stepping from behind Tarell.
Marrok gave her a glare that could boil water. He twisted the key the other way and it gave a satisfying click and pop. An iridescent shimmer raced from the door back into the lock and the bolt popped open. Two blue and black spiders crawled across the door frame. Marrok grabbed the handle in his teeth and gently pulled the door open, just enough to let the two spiders slip inside. Only the sounds of shifting bodies and rustling hay whispered from within the barn. A surprised bleat split the pregnant silence, followed by another. A murmur of lowing and concerned bleats disturbed the still air in the barn, mingling with the shifting of heavy bodies and the dull thud of earthen impacts.
The spiders skittered back out the door. Marrok nodded at the other wolves and slipped inside. The sound of stomping hooves and panicked lowing and bleats shredded the remaining serenity. The barn shuddered slightly from hidden heavy impacts but held firm. Marrok emerged dragging an unconscious ewe. Keegan and Tarell emerged just after, dragging another.
The owl picked up the two spiders on its back, and took to the sky above. Marrok stopped to watch the other pair drag their sheep into the darkness. He admired their handiwork for a moment until he noticed a light winking on in the homestead. A steady lowing of alarm and panic rolled from the barn. He grabbed a mouthful of wool and quickly dragged his meal into the night.
In the dim torchlight, two unconscious ponies kept a stilled vigil over an open barn.
Mornings in Ponyville start bright and early. And today was no exception. Dew clung to the eves and grass, and the sun warmed the landscape in a happy glow.
“WHAT DO YOU MEAN ‘NOT FAULTY’!”
A flutter of sparrows took to the sky, startled.
The rancher pounded the counter of a unicorn’s market stall.
The unicorn frowned. He took a breath and tried to compose himself like a professional. “The door wasn’t breached, it was UNLOCKED! Perhaps I was mistaken. I thought you understood the function of a key,” he drawled, sarcasm proving too powerful a force to keep at bay.
“It was supposed to ONLY OPEN FOR ME!” The rancher’s yell bellowed across the market square and attracted the attention of everypony.
“It OPENS to whoever has THE KEY! Perhaps its possession is a factor you might like to take into more consideration next time.”
The earth pony lent over and grabbed the magic merchant by his vest in a heavy hoof. “Look here you charlatan; I paid good bits to secure my farm and I don’t like being made a patsy. The key ‘magically’ disappears from under my pillow and reappears in the lock, my stablehooves are unconscious and two of my sheep are missing. You’re the only sorry sod who's had any magic near my farm! An’ I don’t take lightly to being made a fool.”
The magician’s eye twitched and he gave a disgusted snort. Dissatisfaction was one thing, sullying his good name on the other hoof. He grabbed a nearby rolled up newspaper in telekinetic power and slapped it across the stallion's muzzle. Pushing him away with a second thrust of force. “I am NO charlatan you ignorant mud pony and you seem plenty capable of making a fool of yourself without any help.”
A crowd of onlookers had gathered and watched with morbid fascination.
The rancher spat into the dirt and rolled his shoulder. “I’ll give you a taste of mud you rotten con artist.”
“Bah, you wouldn’t know art if it crawled up your leg and painted neoclassical portraits on your flank,” the unicorn retorted.
A scuffle broke out in a cloud of dust and cursing. The rancher wound up for a haymaker while the unicorn slapped and stuffed his somewhat ruined newspaper in the disgruntled ponies face.
A shadow washed the area in a blanket of dim light, and a low thrum reverberated through the ground. Both ponies paused mid fight from the sudden ambient change. The curious onlookers, now distracted, pointed up into the sky. The two brawlers slowly looked up.
No less than a dozen pegasus transporters, each pulled by teams of six pegasi, soared across the skies, above the dappled cloud cover. Pools of shadow chased them along the ground whenever they passed in front of the morning sun.
The ponies on the ground gasped, window shutters from nearby houses opened and more curious onlookers leaned their heads out in awe. An enormous pegasus structure reared over a distant cloudbank, its thunder-steel bow shattering it apart like an ice breaker. Two zeppelins moved in tandem, strapped to the flanks of the flying warship. A third, smaller, black airship kept pace beside. The air hummed with the dull roar of wind and the low rumble of thunder as the ship cast all of ponyville in its passing shadow. A line of open sky, left in its wake.
All the onlookers stared in hushed but excited awe until the spectacle passed. The two brawlers by now having forgotten their argument.
Provender dutifully drew the plough behind him, the metal blades turning over the packed brown earth. A peel of thunder rumbled over the land and Provender looked just as the first pegasus wagons flew low overhead, dipping below the treeline near the house. Behind them the bow of a huge pegasus craft loomed. Flashes and deep rumbles of thunder gurgling from its belly.
The smaller black zeppelin escorting the warship, slowly descended above the front yard of the homestead. Provender, unhitched himself from the plough and quickly cantered home.
Remedy stood at the front door staring into the sky, shielding her eyes against the sudden flurries of wind. A smaller pegasus transporter had already landed out front, and a stallion was busily barking orders to a semaphore pony waving flags frantically at the sky. The other pegasus carriers circled overhead like vultures, waiting their turn to land. Each one disgorging countless ponies from the covered wagons upon touchdown.
Remedy trotted over to the commander. “What the hay is going on here?”
A burly soldier intercepted her approach. “That’s far enough, ma’am.”
“What do you think you’re doing with half the damned E.U.P. in my front yard?!” she yelled over the rising cacophony.
The commander saw Remedy’s outburst and strolled over. “Excuse me, are you Herbal Remedy?”
“Uh, yeah?”
“And I assume that’s your father, Provender Bale?” The commander nodded towards Provender as he cantered down the path.
“What, by Celestia’s sacred sun buns, is going on here?” Provender barked.
“That’s what I’m trying to find out.” Remedy yelled back. Holding back her bangs to stop them whipping in her face.
“Mr. Bale,” the commander shouted over the wind. “For the foreseeable future your lands are being occupied by the crown to be used as a staging ground for E.U.P. training exercises."
The commander ripped a sheet of paper off the clipboard he was carrying. “These orders come with the full authority of the Royal Court and you are compelled to comply under penalty of imprisonment."
“What the HAY!” shouted Provender, hastily snatching the flapping paper. “I’ve got a farm to run here! I can’t just postpone a crop!”
The commander stiffened his already steel tone. “Mr. Bale. We have already started setting up camp between your homestead and the forest. A cursory glance suggests you are not using that land for any farming activity. You will be suitably compensated by the crown for your cooperation.”
Provender tried to interject, but the commander held up a stern hoof. “Furthermore, you are also bound under secrecy as to the nature of our training exercises while we are here. “
“Secrecy? Why the hay is a training exercise, secret?” Provender slapped the paper orders with the back of his hoof – they know what they did.
”Talking about our activities to anyone will result in forfeiture; of your compensation, and your freedom. Do I make myself clear?”
Both Provender and Remedy glared at the commander. Provender gaped like a fish, building a full head of steam.
“Good,” the commander interrupted again. “One additional addendum. Herbal Remedy, you have been conscripted by the E.U.P. to participate in a strategic training exercise.”
“What!?” Remedy stepped back, surprised..
“Oh HAY NO!” roared Provender, stepping up right into the commanders face, blocking Remedy.
The commander didn’t flinch from the fiery farmer. “I’m sorry, Mr. Bale, this is not negotiable. I have my orders.”
“You’re gonna need a bigger army if you want to take my daughter away,” Provender growled between clenched teeth.
A sudden, loud, blast of compressed air fired from the zeppelin. A heavy harpoon rocketed from a protruding barrel and buried deep into the earth. A mechanical clicking beat over the wind and retracted the tether. The rope creaked under strain, but dutifully reeled the ship slowly to the ground as the magical propellers spooled down with a dying whine.
The commander glanced behind in relief. “Finally. Mr. Bale, if you take issue with the royal orders, you can take it up with him.” Without allowing a response, the commander turned and headed off to greet the landing ship.
A broad door set into the side of the small craft folded down into a ramp, and a pony in dark green robes with gold trim descended. The waiting commander greeted him with a sharp salute.
Remedy and Provender looked at each other, dumfounded, and walked over.
“At ease, Commander. How are preparations coming along?” said the robed stallion.
“Camp will be established before noon.”
“And how are the special preparations coming along?”
“As requested a perimeter has been established. No sign of… trouble so far,” said the commander cautiously.
“And these civilians?” The stallion cast a curious gaze over the commander’s shoulder.
“Ah, this would be the Bale family. They’ve been appraised of the situation, but compliance is – tentative at best. I assume you want to take it from here?”
“Yes, Commander, that will be fine. You are dismissed.”
“Yes, sir.”
The commander trotted off to attend to less troublesome details, like establishing a forward operating base in record time.
The robed figure removed his hood, revealing a unicorn with a jet black mane shot through with twin ribbons of dark green and white. A star and a stripe of white patterned his nose and surrounded the white horn on his forehead, contrasting with the rest of his dark, storm-grey coat.
The unicorn, stepped up to Provender and Remedy with a friendly smile. “I do apologise for the Commander. He never had much knack for public relations. I’m sure the situation is not as dire as he made it sound,” he said, a small pad and pencil floating in his telekinetic grasp.
“Good, cause there is no way in Equestria my daughter is getting pulled into some damned fool military racket.”
The stallion laughed heartily, glancing at his notepad. “Mr. Provender Bale, I presume. None could doubt the conviction of your words but even the stoutest of ponies is held above the turbulence of chaos by a slender thread. And certainty; the grim reaper’s purview alone.”
Provender raised an eyebrow and cocked his head. “Uhhh…”
“So that must mean you are Miss Herbal Remedy,” the stallion continued, unabated, with an effervescent cheer. He extended a genteel hoof to the equally bewildered mare.
Remedy shook his hoof and gave a small uncertain nod.
“Excellent! Well then, first things first. My name is Peridot Lightstorm, but you can just call me Peri for short. Now, if you would follow me please.” With a bright smile he turned and headed back towards the anchored airship.
Provender blinked and stuttered – restarting his brain and rekindling his fire. “H-Hey now, what are you playing at? I thought I made myself clear.” His angry outbursts seeming all the louder now that the wind had died down.
Peridot paused but didn’t turn back. ”Mr. Bale, please don’t mistake my amiable countenance for irreverence nor my invitation for a request. All will be explained in private,” he said quietly, a chill in his tone. He turned and flashed a bright cheery smile that could give Sunny a run for her bits. “Now, who’d like some tea?”
Peridot trotted up the ramp to the airship. It wasn’t a particularly large airship, and the gondola underneath was proportionally small as well. It was going to be quite cramped with all three of them inside.
Provender and Remedy followed more hesitantly up the ramp, glancing and mouthing a silent conversation., accompanied by panicked and confused hoof waving, exchanged in a walking game of charades. Inside, a narrow white corridor ran from the boarding entrance along the side of the cabin. A frankly nonsensical waste of space in the already small ship. Peri waited for them at the end of the corridor where a disproportionately large set of double doors stood closed.
Provender and Remedy trotted cautiously forward down the corridor, Peri frowned at the muddy hoofprints Provender was leaving behind on the white marble.
“You can leave your belongings here and pick them up on the way out.” A bright green glow enveloped the unicorn’s horn.
Provender and Remedy hesitated glancing sideways at each other. Both were as naked as the day they were born, and so had nothing to leave. Chalking it up to unicorn eccentricities, Provender shrugged and stepped forward. A thin film of magic permeated the air as he pushed forward and he gave a disgruntled whinny as the tingling sensation swept along his body. He looked behind to see a sizeable mound of dirt and mud pressed against an invisible magic wall as if it were glass. He squinted suspiciously at the cheerfully smiling unicorn.
Remedy stepped forward, shivering as the invasive tingling screen of magic swept along her body, but with considerably less resistance.
“Excellent,” said Peridot, clapping his hooves excitedly. “Without further ado; welcome, to the ‘Dark Side of the Sun’.
With a dramatic flair, he pushed open both doors, revealing a large, open, ornate room with high ceilings gilded in rich dark wooden architraves. The ceilings were panelled and painted with images of ferocious beasts, mythological monsters, and fire breathing dragons. The far side of the room was covered, floor to ceiling, in bookshelves, filled with old books with thick covers and old Equestrian language fading on their spines. One section of the library sat behind a glass and wrought iron cage. Towards the stern, a wall of windows let in bright light onto a dance floor of polished wood, graced by a mirror polished, ebony grand piano. Thick, black velvet curtains draped from above, tied back to the windows edges with matching velvet rope. On the near side of the window, a spiral staircase descended to an impossible lower deck.
A circular sunken lounge commanded the center of the room, swimming in an ocean of rich rouge carpet. A table of polished black onyx stood defiant in the middle of two curving arcs of cream coloured couches. Further towards the bow, opposite the wall of windows, a fully stocked bar lay against a bulkhead. Bottles of colourful alcohol and wine glasses twinkled in the dim light as a barkeeper polished a glass. A row of bar stools sat fixed in place at the bar, one of which was currently occupied by a dark blue pegasus. A door on either side, flanked the bar, leading to purposes unknown.
“Huh, it looks bigger on the inside,” commented Provender.
Peridot signaled to the bar keep. “Jack, some morning tea if you wouldn’t mind. Just the ingredients, I’ll make it here.”
The barkeep nodded. “Coming right up.” He quickly exited through one of the bar’s doors.
“Jack Rose. Sure knows how to mix his liquor, but between you and me, he’s terrible at making tea,” Peri whispered conspiratorially.
Provender smirked and Remedy giggled at the glib remark.
Perdiot walked over to the lounge, and offered a seat. Provender and Remedy made their way down into the lounge pit, making themselves comfortable around the obstinate onyx pillar. Jack returned from the galley carrying a tray with a pot of hot water, tea, milk, sugar, cups and a plate of biscuits on his back.
“Thank you Jack. That will be all,” said Peri. He grabbed the tray in a telekinetic field and levitated each component separately. “Cream and Sugar?” he asked.
Remedy nodded.
“Black with two,” said Provender.
Peridot drew three cups in front, and poured hot water into the air. A globe of steaming water hovered, suspended in a field of telekinesis. A stream of tea leaves wafted out of an ornate wooden tea chest and plunged into the suspended fluid, swirling and steeping the liquid into a light brown. Then the leaves separated from the liquid and floated into a small waste cup. The bubble of fluid bulged, squeezed by the unicorn’s telekinesis and split into three orbs. Sugar cubes floated up and broke apart before entering the brown globes. One of the globes burst a leak, and it’s fluid drained into a waiting cup. A ribbon of milk swirled up into the remaining two bubbles, clouding them with plumes of white. Two more bursts, and they too drained into waiting cups.
Peridot floated each cup and matching saucer to the two silent earth ponies. Remedy clapped, but quickly stopped, embarrassed for applauding somepony making tea.
Peridot chuckled and gave a small bow. He took a sip from his own cup and gave a contented sigh. “Ahh, nothing takes the edge off travel like a nice cup of tea on your arrival.” His notebook and pencil floated into view.
“Speaking of travelling. Miss Remedy, it seems you’ve been doing quite a bit this last month.”
Remedy’s ears drooped and she buried her muzzle into her cup.
“Quite a bit of nasty business that lot in Canterlot hmm?”
“It was… unfortunate, yes.” She shifted nervously in her seat.
Peridot smiled and chuckled, patting the table calmingly. “Don’t worry, dear, you’re not in trouble. I’m just curious how you became a wolf’s guide in the first place. At first I would have thought you were under some duress, but for the way you attacked the guards. It was like you were protecting a friend.”
Remedy squirmed and Provender’s ears perked up. “You didn’t tell me you got into a fight with the Royal Guard.”
Peridot raised his eyebrows. “You didn’t know? I just assumed... So you wouldn’t know about…” Peridot gave Remedy a concerned look. Remedy tried to shake her head discreetly. He coughed politely and looked away.
Provender’s eyes narrowed. “Wouldn’t know what?”
“Eh-hrm, it’s not important,” Peridot interrupted. Waving the question away with a flippant hoof and cheery smile. “What I’d like to know is how you found yourself in the company of a wolf to begin with.”
Remedy took up the alternative line of questioning eagerly. “Oh, I was attacked by them.”
Peridot raised an eyebrow and cocked his head. “Attacked, you say?”
Remedy chuckled and scratched her mane. “Yeah, they kinda chased me into the forest.”
“Then you must have escaped.”
“Well sort of. I escaped the wolves, but was caught by a giant spider.”
Peridot raised an eyebrow and cast a sideways glance to the blue pegasus listening quietly from the bar. “Oh my! That must have been terrifying. How did you survive?”
Remedy tapped her hooves together timidly. “Um, I’m not really sure about that. But I awoke surrounded by wolves again.”
Peridot leaned forward with an eager expression, his notepad and pencil working feverishly beside him. “So the wolves killed the spider to get to you again?”
“No... I think it was because they had the seal.”
Peridot waited expectantly.
Remedy hesitated. “Um, forgive me. But I did tell all this to the guard already, and they said to keep it a secret to prevent a panic.”
“Ah, yes. Good advice too. Forgive me, but I prefer to get my own statements. I do work for the princess though. So don’t worry,” – he winked – “I’ll keep your secret.”
Provender watched the exchange quietly with measured curiosity. Drinking his tea very slowly.
“The wolves gave it to me. It’s supposed to give me safe passage through the forest. From the carnivore tribes anyway.”
Peridot’s notepad flipped a page, and resumed taking notes.
“The tribes, you mentioned them to the guard. So I take it, that the wolves never wanted to harm you in the first place?”
“Not really, no. The council wanted me to escort Faolan to the capital to see Princess Celestia.”
“Faolan, that was the name of the wolf? And this council, it’s not just a council of wolves?”
Remedy shook her head. “A council of carnivores. Cat Tribes, Birds of Prey, Wolves, Reptiles, and even giant bugs.”
Peridot gasped, patting Remedy’s hoof. “That must have been terrifying.”
Remedy chuckled. “Hehe, it WAS pretty intimidating at the time. But then again, they were also kind of nice. They’re bold, proud, strong and intelligent. Not at all like I’d imagined.”
“Nonetheless, it must have been terrible.” He took Remedy’s hoof in his own, and placed the other on top. “You were very brave. Believe me. It takes a special kind of courage to endure that sort of ordeal.”
Remedy blushed at the compliment and gave a weak smile.
Peridot released her hoof and smirked at Provender. “And so it came to pass, that you brought a wolf to your father's home?” He hid his mouth behind a cheeky hoof and whispered loudly, “you know, pretty young filly’s like yourself normally choose to bring home some dashing young colt at their father’s disapproval. Not dangerous carnivores.”
“Hrmph,” Provender snorted, “Nopony said she hasn’t.”
Remedy pouted and glared at her father.
Provender turned up his nose. “Just telling the truth.”
Peridot chuckled. “And, Mr. Bale, it must have been very difficult for you too. Your only daughter lost in the forest.”
Provender looked down. “Damn well nearly broke me. I’d almost given up hope.” He looked at Remedy and a well of emotion threatened to rise. “There isn’t anything in this world more terrifying to me than the thought of losing her.”
Remedy held her father’s hoof.
Peridot smiled tenderly. “A blind mare could see you love your daughter very much. But it does beg the question, why did you let her take a wolf to Canterlot?”
Provender smiled at Remedy. “I trust my daughter to make the right choice. She’s got her mother's smarts, and a great heart. If she said it needed to happen, then who am I to argue.”
Peridot’s smile saddened and he walked over to the bookshelves. “What you two have is special, a beautiful gift.” He paused at the bookshelf for a moment, then took out a scroll from among its tomes. “I belong to a special organisation. We work to keep Equestria safe from the monstrous forces that rise from time to time. We are brought in when an immediate and direct response is required, so that lives like yours may continue in peace. If you ask, we don’t exist. Whenever a terror raises its head and threatens the peace of our fair lands, we are the ones who stomp it back down. As you might have surmised, we are not here for a training exercise.”
Peridot walked back and unfurled the scroll. “This is a Royal Letter of Marque. At the bottom you will see the royal seal. This gives us direct command override of all civilian and military operations. We answer to Princess Celestia alone. As such, you can consider any order of ours as coming from the Princess herself. But I don’t like to push people around or force them to do things they don’t want to do.”
“Good,” said Provender. “Mr. Lightstorm, you’ve been a mighty fine host, and I may have to apologise for my overly harsh introduction. But I still won’t let my daughter be conscripted. Letters or none.”
“Eighty Six!” declared Peridot.
Provender blinked. “Pardon?”
“Eighty Six, Mr Bale, is the number of farm animals and domestic pets that have gone missing, presumably killed since your daughter returned from the capital. The carnivores are no longer staying in the forest. I dread to think when that number starts to include ponies too.”
“They wouldn’t kill a pony!” Remedy blurted. “They know it would provoke direct intervention from Princess Celestia!”
Peridot raised an eyebrow. “They wouldn’t, would they? Your trip to Canterlot would suggest otherwise.”
“Th-That was different!” Remedy stuttered.
“Remedy? What does he mean?” said Provender, carefully.
Remedy’s eyes shifted nervously, looking for any escape. “I...er…”
Provender’s eyes narrowed and he spoke with paternal authority. “Enough, Remedy. Tell me the truth. No more secrets.”
Remedy looked away, and mumbled in an all but inaudible whisper. “He killed somepony.”
“What?”
Remedy shut her eyes. “He killed somepony.”
“Speak up, and look at me when we’re talking!” barked Provender.
Remedy turned and shouted in his face. “HE KILLED SOMEPONY, ALRIGHT! Faolan murdered a pony, and would have killed more!”
Provender’s head reeled back.
“Happy now! You know the truth.” Remedy simmered quietly. Her head hung low, leaking hot, shameful tears. She hugged herself tightly.
“Killed? But you were with him... how did...” Provender stammered.
Peridot gently placed a hoof on Remedy’s shoulder to quell the rising emotions and spoke gently. “It wasn’t her fault, Mr. Bale. In truth, it wasn’t the wolf’s fault either. An unfortunate set of circumstances, is all. However, this does highlight the problem.”
Peridot stood back. “It’s only a matter of time. Ponies are already bolstering their home defenses. It won’t be long before a carnivore, whether intent on harm to ponies or not, will be placed in an equally unfortunate position. Perhaps an angry farmer might corner one of these creatures and lash out. Tell me, Miss Remedy. When the final curtain falls. When flight is no longer an option. What will a predator do?”
Remedy looked away guiltily.
“We cannot suffer the carnivores to wander amongst us. They must return to their forest. It’s the only way to maintain harmony.”
“But why Remedy? If you need someone to fight, take me instead,” said Provender.
“Unfortunately, the task we have in mind is uniquely suited to Remedy. The sad truth is, Mr. Bale, that if it comes to it, and we have to fight the carnivores, it would be a grim toll. They have the distinct biological advantage. Magic; our primary bulwark. Such is the need for the impressive display currently settling around your home. But that is only a last resort. We hope to avoid such conflict entirely. We want Remedy to take a peace offering to the council, and open a line of communication with them. We hope to negotiate again.”
Remedy sniffed. “But they already spoke with Celestia?”
“Yes, well. It seems Celestia and the Carnivore Council have some... bad blood between them, so to speak. In a rare lapse of judgement, she seems to have overreacted and would like a chance to reopen negotiations.”
“Hang on a second. I know I said I didn’t want her in the army, but I’m not crazy about sending her back into that accursed forest either. It is currently teeming with hungry carnivores after all.”
“A situation which has ironically made it safer – for Remedy at least. The increased carnivore activity should have driven off the less civilised monsters that inhabit these forest areas normally and Remedy’s seal should keep her safe from the rest.”
“That’s a hay load of ifs, shoulds and maybes. I don’t want to risk my daughter’s life on a hunch.”
Peridot smiled sadly at Remedy. “This is our only chance to avoid a devastating conflict,” he said, before turning back to Provender. “You said yourself that you trusted your daughter to make the right decision. I won’t force her if she doesn’t want to go.”
Provender frowned. “Remedy...”
Peridot levitated another piece of parchment onto the onyx table, a quill and ink bottle rising out of a hidden compartment. “This is a contract. You will of course be compensated if you decide to help, but I think this is more important than what it’s worth in bits. Remedy, will you help us?”
Remedy looked down at the parchment but couldn’t focus on the verbose script. Her own thoughts hanging heavily on her mind. “I’ll do it,” she said finally.
Provender whinnied. “Remedy, please. It’s too dangerous.”
“If I don’t go, a lot of other ponies could get hurt. Peri’s right. It’s safest for me to go. I can organise another council meeting and bring the peace offering. I don't want to see anypony hurt.”
Remedy gave her defeated father a hug.
Peridot gave a relieved smile. “Thank you, Remedy. I know this is a terrible thing to ask of you, but your assistance is greatly appreciated.”
Remedy picked up the quill with her mouth, and signed the paper. Peridot rolled the parchment, and deftly tied a ribbon around it.
“I’ll be in contact this afternoon to discuss it further. I expect we’ll begin the operation at first light tomorrow.” Peridot led them to the double doors. “You two probably have a lot to talk about, so I won’t keep you. Thank you again, Remedy. And thank you, Provender, for understanding.”
Remedy and Provender left, and Peridot closed the door behind them. The blue pegasus wandered over.
“A rare lapse of judgement?” he asked rhetorically.
Peridot snorted. “Spare me your judgement, Lazuli.”
Lazuli looked out a porthole and watched the two earth ponies walk back to the house. “A real shame. Why is it always the pretty ones?”
“There’s a town not far from here, plenty of mares. I’m sure you can find one to distract you for a while. Where’s Ki? I need him to prepare the offering.”
It was early, and the first glow of morning was still only promising a new dawn. A murmur of activity and industry was already bustling from the camp now setup on the flats below the homestead, despite the early hour. Provender and Remedy fidgeted outside the front door, checking supplies and saddlebags.
“Are you sure you won’t take your blades?” asked Provender, counting provisions for the fourth time.
“Dad. This is a peace mission. What would it look like if I go in there armed to the teeth. Not to mention how little good it would do if I was really attacked,” Remedy’s muffled voice replied from within another saddlebag. “Now stop fussing, and you worry about your job,” she said, coming up to breathe. “When Sunny comes to water the flowers this morning, you HAVE to stop her running off to find me. I know she will. The same goes for Trade, if he comes back early from his trip or something. Remember they are pegasi, so don’t just blurt it out, because they’ll be gone before you can stop them, so take them inside the house first. OK?”
“Yeah, I get it,” Provender grumbled. “Although I’d feel better if your friends were with you.”
Remedy shook her head. “Sunny didn’t cope well with the last trip. She puts on a brave face, and she’s loyal to a fault. But I don’t want her to go through this. I’ve already been through it so – damage done, right?” She smiled weakly.
Provender frowned.
“Trade is currently on a make up mission from his father,” she continued before he could object. “I don’t want to put pressure on him to leave. But when they do arrive, they’ll definitely try something foolhardy like diving into the forest to try and find me. So, keep them safe for me?” She put her foreleg over his withers. It didn’t quite reach.
“Yes, alright. You just worry about getting back safe and don’t be late either. Otherwise I’LL be coming in to find you.”
Remedy hugged her father.
“All ready to go?” a cheery voice called out across the once-green and now somewhat trampled front yard.
Peridot walked over wearing his trademark robe with the hood down. Beside him a runty cream earth pony with a shock of curly orange hair carried an ornate wooden box on his back. A golden key hung on a chain around his neck.
“This is Ki, one of our little troupe,” said Peri. The diminutive pony gave a respectful bow. “And here is the offering. Now, you remember what we talked about last night? The offering is for the leaders of the tribes. All of them. We don’t want anyone to feel left out.”
Peridot levitated the box from Ki’s back, resting it on Remedy’s. “I’ve enchanted it to prevent it being open...”
ZAP!
“Ouch!”
Provender sheepishly sucked his hoof and glared suspiciously at the box while the others stared at him with mild astonishment.
Peridot narrowed his eyes at Provender. “AS I was saying – to prevent it from being opened before midnight. After that, it’s up to you to keep it safe until it’s unveiled.” Peridot passed the key to Remedy.
“So why all the mystery?” asked Provender.
“There is nothing more mysterious in this world than a locked box. As to why it’s to be kept locked – this is a precious offering, and one for carnivores. Its contents would not be appreciated by present polite company. I have done my research after what you told me about the council members and am quite certain that the gift will leave quite an impression. So, don’t worry about it. Just open it when all the members are present.”
Remedy nodded. “Got it.”
Provender hugged Remedy one last time and pressed his forehead to hers. “If there’s any chance of danger. You get away, straight away! The mission doesn’t matter more than your life.”
Remedy hugged him back. “I understand, but don’t worry. I do have friends on the inside after all.”
Remedy gave them all a final nod, and the three stallions watched as Remedy walked down the, now well trodden, path.
“You best pray to Celestia that she makes it back safe. For YOUR sake,” said Provender, a steel edge in his voice.
An amused expression curled onto Peridot’s face. “I’ll keep that under advisement.”
A dark rain cloud zipped across the sky. A pair of yellow forelegs holding the heavy vapours in a tight hug. Sunny glanced down and squinted. She spied a familiar taffy coloured mare walking towards the forest. She gasped and kicked off her cloud into a steep dive.
Remedy walked along at a determined pace. Running through a mental checklist of readiness and preparation.
Sunny glided up behind her. “And WHERE do you think you’re going?”
Remedy stopped and gave a heavy sigh. “He had one job.”
She forced a grin onto her face. “Hi, Sunny,” she said with uncharacteristic cheer.
Sunny frowned, a frown the match of any chastising speech.
“You’re early today,” Remedy continued, stiffly. She had never been a good liar.
“Well I thought you might need help setting up this party you never told me about.”
“Party?” Remedy cocked her head.
Sunny landed and started to stalk around Remedy.
“Uh, yeah. Nearly every mare in Ponyville got invited. So, if you’re not preparing a party, what ARE you up to?”
“Sunny, I don’t know anything about a party.”
Sunny continued prowling around Remedy. “Funny, since it’s at your place. It doesn’t look like you’re out for a stroll, or just collecting flowers. You’re packed to your withers there.”
“Uh, it’s a... See the thing is,” Remedy stalled, searching for the right words or indeed, any words. Lying to Sunny felt terrible, and was usually shamefully ineffective. That mare could sniff out a scandal like a sow finds a truffle.
Sunny marched in front of Remedy and gasped. “And you have your seal! I KNEW IT – you're going back into the forest!”
Remedy gave a guilty little smile and chuckled weakly. “Aw shucks, you got me,” she said, downplaying the seriousness of her crime.
“No! Na-ah. No way! I won’t let you.”
Remedy sighed again, settling on her haunches. “Sunny, I know this is going to be hard for you, but I’m on a very important mission.”
“I don’t care!” Sunny blurted.
“You know all the bad stuff that’s been happening over the past month. It’s because of the carnivores. I’m taking a peace offering to try and reopen negotiations.”
“Then someone else can take it. You’ve done enough already. We already thought we’d lost you once.”
Remedy smiled sadly and looked down, touching the seal. “It has to be me, Sunny. I’m the only pony who can safely meet the carnivores. I don’t want to see anypony or any animal hurt. I’ve already made up my mind. Even Dad has let me go.”
A dozen tragic thoughts flicked through Sunny’s mind, their shadows reflected in the inflections of her face. “W-Well then – I’m going too!”
Remedy smiled sweetly, “But if you come with me, who’s going to water the flowers?”
Sunny glared with all the joy and effervescence of a tax audit. “Remedy. Sod your flowers,” she dead-panned.
Remedy frowned, losing her lingering pretence of humour. “Sunny, I know you want to help me, but I’m going into the forest. You’re terrified! I can see your legs shaking just thinking about it. I can’t ask you to come with me.”
“I AM scared,” said Sunny, her voice cracking. “Really scared. My heart is beating so fast, it feels like it’s going to burst out of my chest and run away without me.”
Sunny sniffed, hot tears pricking the corners of her eyes. She took a deep breath and continued, “but if you think I’m letting you go in there alone. Well you don’t know me at all – and if you try and run off without me, I’m going to follow anyway – and if I get lost and eaten, it’ll be your fault – and I’ll come back as a ghost, and haunt you forever.” Her words babbled out with barely contained hysteria, tossing her mane defiantly, and stomping her hoof, even as her tears started to run.
Remedy’s eyes watered and she wrapped Sunny in a big hug. “You really are the best friend. Are you sure I can’t change your mind?”
Sunny sniffled and let out a short pained giggle. “Not a chance.”
Less than half a mile away, the treeline whispered and hushed in the breeze, as if calling them. They both sat holding each other for a moment, watching the distant boughs twist and wave like an old friend – beckoning. Remedy looked back at Sunny. “Are you sure about this?”
Sunny looked anything but, but she nodded firmly anyway. Remedy smiled sadly, and led them both towards the forest.
“So what’s in the box?” squeaked Sunny, desperate for any distraction.
“It’s just a gift for the council.”
“Yeah, but what is it?”
“I don’t know, but apparently it’s not really fit for ponies so it’s been sealed with a —”
ZAP!
“Ouch!”
Remedy looked over her shoulder. Sunny was hovering above, glaring angrily at the box, sucking her hoof. “— spell. You know at first I thought having a spell was excessive, but now I think he had a point. The fact is – it’s not going to be opened before midnight.”
Sunny settled down next to Remedy. Before them, the dark maw of the forest approached. Remedy stopped on the edge of the forests shadow. “Last chance. Are you sure you want to do this?”
“If you’re going, so am I. Not negotiable,” said Sunny defiantly, but a tremor in her voice betrayed her fear.
“Ok then, stay close. Here we go.” Remedy stepped forward and was swallowed by the shadow of the forest canopy. Sunny swallowed against the dryness in her throat, and followed after.
For a while, they both walked in silence. For Remedy, it was familiar yet strange. The forest was quiet now. Far different from the howls and growls, the pounding hooves and heartbeats or the rushing of blood in her ears that accompanied the last time she walked this path. There was no sign of tooth or claw, but all around the forest murmured with activity. Unseen undergrowth rustled, twigs snapped, sudden flurries of wing-beats took flight and exotic birds squawked suddenly in the dense foliage. Sunny jittered constantly. Her head and ears twitched and swiveled, scanning her surroundings incessantly.
An acorn fell out of the tree next to Sunny striking a stone with a loud CLACK. She performed a standing leap the envy of any cat, landing on Remedy’s opposite side. A squirrel dropped onto the ground next to the errant seed. It squeaked and tilted its head at the cowering mare before retrieving its recent harvest.
“Are you sure you’re alright?” asked Remedy, concern creasing her brow.
Sunny trembled. “Alright? No, I wouldn’t say that. I don’t know how you can stand it. I just know a hundred hungry carnivores are probably watching us right now.”
Remedy placed a hoof against Sunny’s face to draw her fevered focus back to her. “Are you sure you want to come with me. You could fly up and out of here in an instant. Above the canopy the sun will be shining and you can easily find your way home.”
“No way. I’d never find you again if I went above the treetops, and I told you already. I’m not leaving you alone here,” she spouted defiantly, ignoring the knocking sounds of her knees.
Remedy frowned. “Sunny, it’s only going to get worse from here on. We will be meeting all the carnivores, and some of them are not as friendly or fluffy as Faolan.”
Sunny swallowed hard and took a deep breath, gritting her teeth to stop them from chattering. “I’m not leaving you.”
Remedy sighed, but couldn’t suppress a grateful smile. “Come on, we’ve got a long walk.”
As soon as Remedy turned away, Sunny’s brave face deflated like a balloon and she tucked her tail in tight. She shadowed close behind Remedy her ears and head scanning once again.
“How do you even know where you’re going in here? Everything looks the same,” said Sunny, daring to speak after another few minutes of walking.
Remedy chuckled nervously. “Well, I don’t really know my way back to the wolf den. I was so focused on getting out that I wasn’t really taking note.”
“Wait, what!? Our plan is to wander around until something finds us?”
Remedy winced. “Well, not exactly. I’m going to ask for directions.”
“Directions?”
“Remember how I was chased in here by the wolves?”
“Uh-huh,” said Sunny, suspiciously.
“Well, I escaped them the first time. I ran down this very path. I was racing for that opening over there,” she said, pointing to a bright portal of light leading to freedom. “Except I was cut off at the last second. So instead, I ran down this path.” Remedy started walking down a dark and forsaken corridor lined with thick cobwebs.
Sunny shivered, and quickly followed. She let out a pitiful whimper as the pathway closed in around her. “Oh, why does it have to be so tight,” she mewled. She tripped over an unreasonably thick cobweb strand and gave a stifled shriek that dissolved into a miserable sob.
Remedy came to a stop before a dry, leaf-covered clearing.
“Oh finally, it opens up,” whimpered Sunny.
Remedy blocked her with a hoof before she could bolt out of the oppressive, cramped tunnel. “Now, Sunny. Aleena can be a little… intimidating, but as long as you stay with me you’ll be fine. Just stay with me and try not to freak out.”
Sunny’s ears flattened and she pinched off an involuntary whine.
Remedy tried to smile reassuringly, but couldn’t stomach Sunny’s miserable expression. She turned away and pushed down the pit of boiling sympathy in her chest. Remedy grit her teeth, and boldly walked into the center of the clearing. Sunny shadowed closely behind.
Remedy lifted her head and called out in a loud voice, “Aleena, don’t eat us. We’ve got business with the council and I need help finding them.”
From the dark depths of the canopy above, her voice – sweet and silky – filled the clearing. “More guests? And Remedy the pony no less? I’ve never been so popular.”
One, two, three, four, long sleek black legs slid silently from the canopy above and planted themselves around the perimeter of the clearing. “I didn’t expect you back so soon, I would have tidied up,” the voice crooned.
Sunny’s head flicked around watching the black chitinous tree trunks pierce the ground around her. Her breath quickened, and she slowly tilted her head up.
Aleena’s massive body slowly descended with an uncanny silence that belied her mass. Two large, red, pupiless eyes stared eternal, a ridge of six smaller ones dotted around her head like jewels in a crown. Plump, bristled pedipalps polished her twitching fangs, like a steel sharpens a knife.
Sunny’s pupil’s dilated, and she sucked in her breath, her mouth – agape. Her legs stopped trembling. In fact she stopped moving all her muscles.
“And it seems you’ve brought me a present. Ooh how I love having friends for dinner,” Aleena tittered.
An undignified gurgle bubbled from deep in Sunny’s throat. Her eyes rolled back in her skull and her brain vacated the premises. She teetered over and collapsed into the leaves.
“Sunny!” Remedy cried out.
“Oh dear, too much?” said Aleena.
“Aleena! She’s not food for you! She’s my friend! This is already terrifying enough for her without you going on like that,” Remedy barked. She placed an ear to Sunny’s chest.
“Well, if she was so terrified of the forest, why did you bring her then?” Aleena pouted.
Remedy sighed with relief at the sound of a short breath. She gathered Sunny up and cradled her head against her chest. “She’s just trying to protect me.”
Aleena let her body rest on the ground and gathered her legs up, crossing a pair in front of her. “Even when she is this terrified? It seems to me, she’ll need you to do the protecting.”
Remedy smiled and gently cleared a few strands of mane from Sunny’s face. “Maybe not physically, but Sunny saves me in lots of other ways.”
Aleena smiled. “You’ve changed a lot since I first met you. Ah – that look of complete abject terror,” she reminisced with a wistful fondness.
“Gee, I wonder why.“
Aleena watched quietly for a minute. She smiled at Remedy who was completely unconcerned with the ancient predator, slowly rocked the unconscious pegasus, still held tightly against her chest. “Perhaps I can make some amends," she said suddenly. "If you’re going to be wandering around the forest, we need to do something about your appearance.”
Remedy raised an eyebrow. “What’s wrong with my appearance. I’m wearing the seal. Isn’t it supposed to tell everyone I’m with the council?”
Aleena lifted her body and combed sheets of golden silk from her spinnerets. “Of course, dear, if they see it before it’s too late. Ambush predators tend to have a kill first – ask questions later. policy. And some, poor eyesight as well.”
“Oh. Well thanks, I guess. You know, if you didn’t insist on eating everything that walks in here, I’m sure you’d be a nice spider to talk to. Who knows, you might even make some friends.”
Aleena laughed with the frivolity of a summer festival. “I have friends, thank you very much.”
Remedy smirked. “Was that before or after you paralysed them and wrapped them up like a fresh bean burrito?”
Aleena pondered for a moment then shrugged. “Some from column a, some from column b.“
Remedy’s smirk flashed into horror. “Uh, what? I was kidding!”
Aleena continued to draw silken sheets, gathering a large spool of fine thread. “Just because you’re going to eat someone doesn’t mean you need to be rude about it,” she said, indifferently.
Aleena hung the loom of silk on a protruding branch where it was swarmed by tiny spiders. She drew out strong drag-line threads into a simple frame that stretched from floor to canopy. The tiny spiders climbed down the threads, each carrying one end of a strand of golden silk provided by Aleena and together, began a choreographed ballet, weaving in and around each other as they moved across the temporary loom.
Aleena turned back to Remedy with another length of silk stretched between a pair of legs. She sized Remedy up from head to tail like a measuring tape. But Remedy barely noticed, caught instead, in her own deep rumination.
“What’s the matter, dear?” asked Aleena.
Remedy clenched her eyes and sighed “I’m trying really hard to see things from the carnivore perspective. I really am. I know you’re not the monsters I once thought you were, or that you pretend to be. You have feelings, make friends, fall in love, raise families of your own. Just like us. But I just can’t reconcile how you can so easily take a life. Like it is the most normal and mundane thing. Like doing your laundry, or going to the markets. Don’t you ever think about how much pain you cause to those left behind?”
Aleena paused from her measurements and frowned at the hopeless expression Remedy was wearing.
Aleena smiled gently. “You are not the first pony to struggle with understanding our nature.”
The great black widow reached deep into the heights of her burrow and, without looking, pulled out a colourful stack of silk. She laid the bundle at Remedy’s side. It was a book or tome, except made entirely of woven coloured silk. Each page, a tapestry.
Aleena flicked the tome open to a middle section. The shiny silk pages, ancient, but as bright and colourful as the day they were woven, formed a montage of ancient history.
“In the time before Discord – the Spirit of Chaos, I was fortunate to receive fresh bounty into the heart of my burrow. A group of ponies, foraging in the forest, stumbled upon my den in search of shelter from a sudden storm. One of their number grew curious and, exploring, stumbled into my lair. Things began about as well as you know.”
Remedy shivered.
“The rest fled in fear, but just like for you, others came looking. Two more ponies like I’d never seen before. They were young, like you. Sisters.” Aleena turned the page. A white alicorn with a light pink mane, and a dark blue alicorn with a mane of starlight stood at the mouth of the burrow. A bundle of white suspended from the cave roof.”
“They look like princesses. Like Princess Celestia,” said Remedy, pointing at the alicorns.
Aleena pointed at the pink maned alicorn. “Indeed. Celestia, and her sister Luna.”
“You’ve met the Princess? Wait! I didn’t know Princess Celestia had a sister? What happened?”
Aleena turned the page. The next page was double size and rolled out to reveal a furious scene. The two alicorns stood, wings flared, stances low. A desperate rage was woven into the fabric of their eyes. Brilliant beams of light streaked from their horns towards a beautiful jewelled spider, curled inside a cocoon of pure white. The spider in the tapestry was wrought with silver and gold threads, and specks of amber and precious stones were woven amongst the stylised portrayal of Aleena.”
Remedy giggled at the flattering portrait.
“At first they sought to fend me off and take back their friend. Their magic was powerful, and I, coming from a time before it was tamed, do not wield it. But my silk is special. My threads are strong, and are immune to the persuasion of magic. Only my spiders and I can manipulate it. So I weathered the storm of their wrath, until the last of their magic was spent.”
Aleena folded up the double wide tapestry and turned the page. The next silk sheet showed the princesses with wings hanging limply by their sides, meagre sparks flickering from their horns. The spider had its legs wrapped around the captive bundle in a spiny chitinous hug.
“At that point, I commended them on their efforts but told them the prize was still mine. The fight had kindled my appetite and I saw no reason to relinquish my meal.”
Remedy whimpered, crestfallen. She reached and touched the soft silken portrayal of the hanging cocoon. “That poor pony.”
Aleena smiled sweetly. “But it was then that I was taken by surprise. You see, Remedy, the role of the Guardians is not just to be the pinnacle example of our kind, but we also are tasked with another purpose.”
Remedy looked up at Aleena with a raised eyebrow.
“Each of the Guardians represents and projects a virtue. Ulrica is the bastion of Family and Leadership; Abidah - Wisdom and Freedom; Don Zemar - Courage and Curiosity; and Nyoka - Instinct and Patience.
“And you?” asked Remedy, incredulous.
Aleena grinned and turned the page. “Love and Sacrifice.”
“Whoa, now. Love? You!? You’re the guardian of Love?” Remedy scoffed, laughing at the sheer absurdity.
Aleena raised an eyebrow at the accusation of incredulity. “You doubt? Love is primitive and powerful, both beautiful and terrifying. No more fitting a visage don’t you think?” she declared, using a free leg to invite inspection of her impressive frame. “But alas, I am but one of the Guardians of Love. Love is far too powerful a virtue to be represented by a single entity.”
“You also said Sacrifice. How can you be the Guardian of Love, when you also promote sacrificing creatures!?”
Aleena leaned forward to drive her point home. “Greater love hath no creature than they that would lay down their life for another. Sacrifice; is love's greatest expression.”
Aleena drew Remedy’s attention back to the book. The white princess appeared to be in some distress, while the darker alicorn stood forward, a livid gash across her chest, and her hoof extended with a glowing heart suspended above it. The spider reached out beyond the cocoon towards it.
“The younger sister proposed a trade,” continued Aleena. “Much to the distress of her older sibling, she offered her own life in exchange for the life of the young colt trapped in my silk. Such selfless courage touched me deeply, and I couldn’t refuse her offer.”
“Wait!” Remedy interrupted. “You ATE Princess Celestia’s SISTER!?”
Aleena grinned wickedly. “Well a sacrifice without a cost is not really a sacrifice, is it?”
Before Remedy could interject, Aleena flicked the page. A white leash of silk was now bound around the dark alicorn’s neck, and a grey pony laid across the young Celestia’s back.
“Celestia only agreed to the trade if I promised not to kill her sister for one whole day first. Of course I never had any real intention of killing her, I just felt I was owed some modicum of amusement for my lost meal. I also knew the deal was meant to buy time for the older sister to come up with an alternate means of rescuing her sister, which amused me. So instead, for a while, I had a pony pet.”
“So you didn’t eat her, you just wanted a pet? You are ridiculous you know that, right?”
“Is it so absurd? Ponies keep dogs and cats as pets. Why should it be so strange for me to have a pony pet?”
Remedy turned the page and grumbled under her breath. “It’s just weird and wrong.”
The next page showed Luna sitting, laughing and clapping with an animated Aleena, playing music. A jaunty tune, or so Remedy imagined.
Aleena continued. “Luna couldn’t reconcile our diet’s either. But we still became fast friends over the course of a single evening. We argued about our differences and shared our similarities. Each of us discovering the many coloured threads that make up the tapestry of our lives. Even though, at the end of the day, I didn’t promise not to eat one of her ponies in the future, nor did she promise not to fight me for them, or even sacrifice herself again.
“In fact, Luna became friends with all the Everfree Guardians. She never agreed with our ways, but made peace with them. She was the first into a fight, and the first to forgive. Did you know that ponies used to live within these very forests an eon ago?”
Remedy shook her head slowly, awestruck by the tale and vibrant images that flashed by, page after page.
“It is unfortunate that Celestia was not quite so interested in getting to know us,” said Aleena.
Aleena paused to pass off the length of silk she had used to measure Remedy to a spiderling. She folded her legs in front again, watching as Remedy flicked through the many paper thin tapestries. Image after image of impressive or impressionable creatures who had wandered across Aleena’s dangerous path. Many who likely never saw another day.
Aleena watched as each image of potential victim bore a prick of empathy upon the pony. “Remedy," she said softly, "this world is filled with life, but also its equal measure of death. Just as the light shines brightest in the darkness, so too the shadow needs a light to cast it. For eons before even your Celestia, the world has maintained this balance. We carnivores are a part of that balance. In some small primitive part, population control. But more importantly, a necessary force to keep greater evils at bay, and a foil to sharpen and strengthen all races against the harshness of the world itself.
“Even with our unseemly nature, we still experience love, loss, anger, joy and sadness like any other creature. That we can constrain these feelings to our own familial circles is just another aspect of that nature. We don’t apologise for this, and we understand why we are not understood by those who don’t share it. Like light and dark, each perfected in their opposition. Forever bound, but never joined. So, Remedy, think of us not as broken or evil. But a necessary suffering. A lesson in perseverance, rather than a demonstration of persecution. And to all those who weather our affection, a reward of richer character born of that perseverance. And character, as we all know, is the foundation of hope.
“So my advice to you, my dear Remedy is this. Persevere. And stop worrying about the bits of us you’ll never understand. Focus instead on what you can connect with.”
Remedy smiled sheepishly. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe I’m trying too hard to think like a carnivore. Instead, I just need to be a herbivore among them."
“That’s the spirit, now take a deep breath, and don’t worry about the gory details.”
“Remedy?” Sunny groaned, a dim consciousness invading her mind.
Remedy looked down at the timid yellow pegasus in her lap, her half lidded eyes creeping open.
“I had a terrible dream and I…”
Above Remedy loomed a giant black spider with fangs as long as a pony’s leg.
Sunny screamed. She snatched Remedy around the waist and beat her wings desperately, pulling her backwards, kicking up a flurry of dried leaves.
“SUNNY, WAIT. CALM DOWN. IT’S ALL RIGHT!” Remedy shouted, but Sunny stared with primal fear into the glistening red eyes of Aleena. Remedy lifted off the ground.
“SUNNY, STOP!” Remedy twisted out of Sunny’s grip and fell to the ground with a heavy thud. Sunny was still on full reverse thrust when the relatively heavy Earth Pony ballast was released. She rocketed backwards in an out of control spin, slamming into the thick silk curtained walls of the burrow. The sticky threads wrapped around her. She panicked and flapped harder, still screaming. Remedy winced as Sunny crashed around the clearing. One wing was now completely bound. In a matter of seconds, she was completely cocooned and swung gently from the canopy from a single twisted cord, crying and sobbing.
“RUN NOW! While you still can!” she yelled, tears streaking down her face.
Remedy gently grabbed the dangling bundle and held it steady, turning Sunny’s head to face her. “Hey, hey, shhh. It’s all right. You’re not in any danger and neither am I.”
Sunny sobbed, rivulets running down her face. “Remedy, I hate it here. Why did you have to come in here?” she wailed, her body shuddering from the agony of her ragged shallow breaths. Her wing, twisted painfully behind her back.
“I know it can be scary and dangerous. But we have friends here, and I want to help.” said Remedy, soothingly.
Aleena poked the stranded pony with a pointy leg, eliciting another blubbering sob. Remedy swatted her leg away.
“Tsk, she wrapped herself up good and tight. I’ll need to get my spiderlings to cut away the silk,” said Aleena, frowning.
“Now you’ve gone and gotten yourself all good and tied up now,” Remedy translated.
“Am I going to be eaten now?” whimpered Sunny, between broken gasps.
“No, silly. We’ll have you out of that in a jiffy. But… we need the help of Aleena’s spiders to cut you out.”
A miserable wail rose from Sunny’s throat. She bucked and struggled, causing her bundle to sway uselessly. “But I don’t like spiders.”
Remedy grabbed Sunny’s face, locking the pegasus’ eyes on her own. “Hey now, I told you you’re going to be fine. Don’t you trust me?”
The wailing subsided, as did the struggling. Sunny calmed down to a mere bubbling cauldron of snot and haggard breaths. “I’m scared Remedy.”
“I know. How about I sing you a song while they cut you free?”
Sunny took a deep breath and swallowed her sobs. “I’ve never heard you sing before.”
Remedy smiled sadly, “I used to sing with my Mum a lot. Other than her, I’ve only ever sung to one other. But I think we can make an exception for the occasion.”
Sunny bit her lip to stop it trembling. “Ok. But you have to dance as well. A good song needs to be danced to.”
“Do you promise to be brave, and not panic?”
Sunny snorted back, what sounded like, about a half cup of mucus. “I’ll try.”
Remedy looked up at the still pondering spider. “Aleena, can you give me a swing in E-flat minor?”
Aleena blinked, startled by the command. She quickly drew a thick cord from an overhead branch and anchored it to a tree root. With one leg she drew the cord taught, the other plucked a deep base note. A large tarantula crawled up on an old log holding two sticks.
Remedy leaned in close to Sunny. A sly grin crept over her face as the deep swinging bass line filled the burrow. She stepped back, her hips swaying to the rhythm and mischievous eyes locked on Sunny. test
The dawn has come I’ve got work again. I need to feed us all, so it’s to the plough I’m chained. The earth is filled with stone, and the air with dust But seed won’t sow itself so onward I must strain I maybe just a simple earth pony But even I won’t wanna work, when my jobs a thankless chore.
I want to lay down, Wanna take a day off I want to sleep in all day is work work work work
I say Oooh ooh oh I-I’ve got nothing but my four hooves And I just wanna let you know that I’m about to go on holiday, you’ll have to soon take That plough, That plough and pull yourself.
A thousand tiny spiderlings crawled down the tether, gathering around the seams of the cocoon and biting the tiny silk threads. Sunny glanced away from Remedy, fear creeping back in, but Remedy sauntered forward grabbing her face and focusing it back onto her and her song.
This unicorn walks by the farm. Allergic to the mud and grime, looking like she found a crime. Looks down on me, nothing but revulsion Looks at me to say, can you keep your dirt away.
I want to lay down, Wanna take a day off I want to sleep in All day is work work work work
I say Oooh ooh oh I-I’ve got nothing but my four hooves And I just wanna let you know that I’m about to go on holiday, you’ll have to soon take That plough, That plough and pull yourself.
Plough that field, and sow the seed. Milk the cow and shear the sheep. Raise that barn, and fix the fence. A thousand chores need to commence.
But Unicorn and Pegasus, when work abounds they exodus. I have neither wings nor horn So on the ground I work till worn
I want to lay down, Wanna take a day off I want to sleep in my day is work work work work
I say Oooh oh oh I-I’ve got nothing but my four hooves And I just wanna let you know that I’m about to go on holiday, you’ll have to soon take That plough, That plough and pull yourself.
With a final strain, Remedy closed her performance and caught her breath. Sunny laughed and clapped her now free hooves. Remedy walked over to help her down from the final strand of silk.
“You should totally sing for Trade, he’ll go crazy for it,” beamed Sunny, her fear forgotten.
Remedy smiled and blushed. “I-I’ve only sung for three ponies. One was my mum when I was very little, the other was Natara. You’re the third.”
“Oh,” said Sunny, some of the cheer dampening. “Third time's the charm?” she chuckled morbidly.
Remedy looked away to hide her emotions but Sunny caught her before she could and pressed her forehead to Remedy’s. “Thank you. It really helped.”
“It was quite delightful.” The soft patter of clapping paws drew everyone’s attention to a new voice at the edge of the burrow. A tiger sat providing applause with an amused expression on his face.
Remedy faced the new arrival, making sure the council seal was on clear display. Sunny huddled in close to Remedy.
Seeing the defensive behaviour of the two ponies, the tiger held up his paws disarmingly.
“It’s ok, I’m not here to hunt. I just heard music and my curiosity was piqued.”
“A good thing too,” Aleena interjected. “Because these two are not only under the protection of the council, but my personal favour as well.”
Two silken cloaks wrought in gold and black fluttered over the two pony's heads. Sunny yelped from the sudden darkness but managed to remain planted on the ground.
Remedy pulled back the hood and took stock of her new robes. “Sunny, you have to look at these,” she gasped.
Sunny shook her hood loose from over her eyes and marveled. “Ooooh.”
The silk was almost iridescent in the dim forest light. What stray beams of light that made it through the canopy, danced along the fibres, emitting little sparkles of light. A pattern like a spider's web was inlaid in black and silver against the golden robe.
The two ponies “ooh’d” and “aah’d” as they modeled the new robes to each other. Sunny poked her wings out two specially made slots in the side of her robe.
“The silk in these robes is my own special brand. They will not fade or stain. They are as waterproof as duck's down and the fibres are as strong as steel cords, yet as soft and light as a morning fog. The colours and patterns on them will let any who see you know you bear my favour.
Remedy paused in her admiration of the garments. “Aleena, these are stunningly beautiful and I don’t have the words to thank you, but why are you doing this for us?”
“Oh pish-posh, it was nothing,” said Aleena, dismissing their compliments with a flippant wave of a tree-sized leg. “You two have grown on me a little, is all. Both of you have risked everything to come here today. And as you know, I have a soft spot for selflessness.”
“If you don’t want the robes, I’d be delighted to have them.“ The tiger now sat beside Remedy. He had snuck up as silent as the grave in the intervening distraction and now sampled the corner of Sunny’s robe between the digits of his paw. “I just adore the pattern. I’d be the talk of the pride.”
Sunny shrieked, and leapt behind Remedy again.
Aleena frowned. “I assume you’ve come from the southern jungles with the other cats, so I’ll forgive your ignorance in just walking into my burrow uninvited. Fortune would have you be more useful to me than a mere snack.”
The tiger’s ears fell flat back against his head.
“As it happens, Nyoka is meeting with Don Zemar about the little pony gathering just outside the forest. And Remedy, I assume you’re looking for Faolan and the other wolves?”
Remedy blinked, suddenly remembering her original mission “Oh, right! Yes.” She ran over to her discarded bags and the magic sealed box. Quickly wriggling them on. “I’ve come to give a peace offering. Something to reopen negotiations with Princess Celestia. Aleena, you’re invited as are all the other Council Members.”
“Really?” said Aleena. She looked hard at Remedy for a moment. “Well colour me surprised, you’re telling the truth. Perhaps Celestia has changed after all this time.”
“Pfft, of course. I wouldn’t lie about something like this,” said Remedy.
“Well, this is doubly fortunate then. Nyoka and Don Zemar are currently meeting at the Feline’s temporary camp, which are also not far from the wolves. Nyoka will be able to contact Abidah for you. And now you have an escort.”
The tiger sneered, straightening his posture proudly. “I am no sitter of ponies. Even ones with a council seal. I’d be the laughing stock of the tribe. No thank you.”
Aleena’s gentle manner and timeless age belied the speed and grace of which she was capable. In the mere blink of an eye, the giant black spider drew a lasso of silk and looped it over the tiger. In that single flawless moment the tiger was yanked into the air, all four paws bound tightly together and his body flung upside down. Aleena raised the struggling feline to her face. Her fangs twitched with agitation, and her pedipalps polished them in preparation. Aleena spoke again – quiet, calm and terrifying. “Once again, I’ll choose to believe it is your ignorance which leads you to speak so boldly to me in my home. These ponies are indeed under the protection of the council, to which Don Zemar and your kin are all party. That alone should make their escort both your highest priority and privilege. They are also under my personal favour, and while favours for me may not garner praise among your peers, I’m sure their mockery would be most tolerable compared with the alternative.”
The tiger growled.
Aleena jangled the tiger like a dinner bell. “Let me make myself clear. You WILL escort these ponies to your camp. You WILL treat them like royalty. And you WILL be grateful for the opportunity.”
Aleena leaned in closer, and whispered, “Otherwise, if I hear that anything has happened to them. I WILL find you. I WILL capture you. And then, while you’re still alive, I will digest all your insides – organs, bones and what brains you possess. All of it. And once I have drained your lifeless husk of all its vital juices. I will turn your hide into a decorative throw rug for my burrow so that any other ignorant, vainglorious cats will know fair well the dangers of a careless attitude. Am I understood?”
The tiger mewled and nodded slowly.
“Excellent, well I’m glad that misunderstanding has been corrected,” said Aleena, cheerfully. She unceremoniously dumped the cat back onto the forest floor and removed the loop of silk.
“Remedy, Sunny. This tiger here will escort you to the cat camp. There you can inform both Don Zemar, and Nyoka of your plan, and they can inform the other guardians with their magic. Not something I’m much good for unfortunately. From there I’m sure you can find escort to the Shadowmoon Den.
“Thank you, Aleena. That will help a lot. And thanks again for the cloaks and well – everything. Tonight around midnight the gift will be revealed, so don’t be late. Who doesn't love a surprise.”
“How avant-garde,” Aleena chuckled. “I wouldn’t miss it for all the flies in the forest.”
Remedy waved and cantered off, following the tiger as he sulked back into the forest. Sunny, tried to give the spider a friendly smile, but withered under the imposing sight. She gulped, and quickly ran after Remedy.
The deeper into the forest you went, the darker it got. And as the shade of the surrounding timber changed, so did the timbre of the sounds that pervaded the unseen woods. On the edge of the forest, familiar sparrows and squirrels chittered amongst the treetops while the deeper woods gave way to toadish growls and the hoots of owls and exotic birds, calling sharply to each other. Ravens cawed above the canopy and occasionally, something hidden would crash through the thick undergrowth; all these sounds muffled by the dense foliage, like the forest itself was trying to drown out its occupants.
The tiger walked on completely silent. Each of his paws reached out and caressed the ground before slowly drawing the body behind. The big cat made it look easy, but the over abundance of ligature and muscle movement gave each step the impression of a deliberate and laboured approach.
Remedy and Sunny walked behind quietly, occasionally cantering to keep up with the long stride of the tiger. Sunny had been uncharacteristically quiet. Her ears and head swivelled like lighthouse beacons but never managed to pinpoint the unseen stalkers she was sure were out there.
“How far is it to the next stop?” Sunny whispered into Remedy’s ear.
“I don’t know, I’ve never been there before,” Remedy whispered back.
The tiger stopped suddenly, his body frozen mid step. Both of the ponies stumbled to a slightly less sudden stop. His body fell into a low crouch behind a fallen log, and his shoulders wiggled back and forth.
Remedy and Sunny shared a fearful glance, then crouched and peered into the darkness ahead.
A twig snapped in the undergrowth followed by the quiet rustling of leaves. The tiger’s head bobbed ever so slightly, his ears scanning back and forth in a narrow sweep, honing in on a particular patch of forest.
There was another crunch of brush and a series of shrill grunting noises. A piglet pushed out onto the path, grunting miserably to itself. It rooted about at the base of a tree.
“Ohhh, a cute baby piggy!” Sunny coo’ed.
The piglet’s head snapped up and it spun around. It saw the colourful ponies peering over a log and sniffed the air. Then it gave a frightened squeal and bolted into the bushes.
The tiger tensed, and its fur bristled. After a moment he sighed and the tension left his shoulders, but his tail twitched.
“Did you do that deliberately?” he growled. He glared back over his shoulder at Sunny.
Sunny blinked at the tiger’s angry expression. “What? What did I do?”
“I think you, uh… interrupted him,” said Remedy, quietly.
“Interrupted? What – you mean? But it’s just a baby!” Sunny protested.
The tiger gave a dismissive snort and ambled away.
“Hey, HEY!” Sunny snapped.
Remedy grabbed Sunny to stop the angry mare from charging.
“That’s evil! You can’t just kill little kids!” she spat.
The tiger chuckled morbidly. “It was too young to be without its mother, it is either lost or orphaned. It is only a matter of time. Fear not, it won’t starve to death.”
“What did you say? What did he say, Remedy?” Sunny demanded, her blood fairly up.
“Calm down, Sunny. It got away. That’s all that matters. Drop it, you’re not going to change his mind by being angry at him.”
Sunny pouted and grumbled some things very unbecoming of a civil pony. They rejoined the slow march behind the tiger. Sunny stomped along behind Remedy and glared at the tiger ahead, willing him to feel her fiery gaze; but if he did, he didn’t show it.
The path meandered through the forest. The path itself was only barely visible and often disappeared beneath curling ferns or broad leathery leaves. Along the trail, at fairly regular intervals, small patches of Wild Dark Bell grew in the dim shadows and Remedy wondered what poor creature had met its end here to leave a gravestone of bitter black flowers.
“Must you be so noisy?” the tiger hissed suddenly.
“Pardon?” Remedy blinked.
“You too, but your companion is practically deafening.”
“Oh. Uh, Sunny? He said we have to be quieter,” Remedy repeated.
“Oh, too loud am I? I hope I’m not frightening away any more potential meals,” Sunny drawled with a frankly toxic quantity of sarcasm.
The tiger turned and sat on his haunches. His tail twitched. “Undoubtedly, but that is the least of my concerns.”
“I sure hope no helpless critter can hear me talking to this hungry predator,” she continued with comic volume, slapping a hoof against a stone sending loud ringing clops that echoed off the surrounding trees.
The tiger’s eye twitched, and one lip curled, briefly flashing a large fang. He quickly forced composure, but his tail continued to twitch dangerously.
“It would behove you to listen well my little prey. There are things in this forest besides piglets and possums, and your frankly astonishing lack of sense and alarming proclivity for careless noise are the dinner bell for more than wolf or feline,” he growled.
Sunny glared defiantly at the tiger and continued to slowly, deliberately, slap her hoof against the stone.
Remedy glanced nervously between the two. She grabbed Sunny’s hoof before it could strike the stone again. “S-Sunny, we should really be quiet – just in case.”
“Pfft, in case of what? Another hapless piglet, or a bunny?” She levelled an accusing frown at Remedy.
“Perhaps if she listened instead of filling her head with her own noise,” the tiger quipped.
“She can’t understand you. Only I can,” Remedy retorted.
“Oh? Well that’s just vexing. I can hear her every mewling diatribe.”
“Sunny, he said to be quiet because there might be something more dangerous out there.”
“And you believe him!? Here we are with a cat the size of a cow and he says we should be quiet because he’s scared?”
The tiger’s tail stopped and his lip curled.
“Sunny, don’t...”
“Don’t what? Call him out for just wanting to eat every poor critter smaller than him. He’s a monster and a coward.” Sunny pulled her hoof away from Remedy.
A low growl bubbled from the tiger.
“No. He knows the woods. We should listen...” Remedy protested.
“To him!? Don’t be fooled, Remedy. He only has one thing on his mind. Either that or he’s a puss…”
The tiger roared and his limbs unfolded like an accordion, leaping the distance between them in a single pounce. Sunny shrieked and Remedy grabbed her protectively. The tiger pulled up short, his lips were pulled back into a vicious snarl, revealing long fangs and sharp teeth. Hot meaty breath poured out over them and his piercing eyes glared through narrow slitted pupils. One paw held to the side of their heads; claws extended.
Sunny shook under her hood, her hooves held over her head. Remedy held her tightly, her face buried into Sunny’s mane and her back shielding against the tiger.
The tiger cut off his trailing growl with a snort. “And I’m a coward? Fine, have it your way.” He bounced away from them and disappeared into the darkness.
Sunny whimpered and Remedy sighed. Remedy pulled away and fell onto her back, her hooves covering her face. Sunny continued to shiver in her robes.
“Sunny – why?” Remedy groaned.
Sunny sniffed back frightened tears beneath the privacy of her hood.
“Why did you antagonise him like that?” Remedy continued, climbing to her hooves. She stood and turned in a slow circle, utterly lost.
“I-I couldn’t help it,” Sunny mumbled.
“That was really dumb.”
Sunny flashed an angry glare. Tears still clinging to the corners of her eyes. “Why are you mad at me? You should be furious with him. Did you know what he was going to do before?”
Remedy hesitated then looked away.
“You did? Then why didn’t you do something. Were you just going to stand there?”
“Look, I just– It’s their way, Sunny. What am I supposed to do?”
“Oh, I don’t know, how about anything!?” Sunny snapped angrily.
Remedy paced and tossed her mane, muttering. “You don’t understand. This is just how it is here. Did you forget; we’re not in Ponyville anymore. I don’t get it. An hour ago you were so busy shaking in your shoes you could barely walk. Now you’re throwing shade on the biggest cat you’ve ever seen. Aren’t you scared any more?”
Sunny gave Remedy a very serious stare. “That was a piglet, Remedy. A baby. And I’ve seen what happens to bunnies. Don’t you get it? They don’t care. It’s all just meat to them. I am still scared, Remedy. Really scared. But I’m more afraid of what I’d become if I didn’t stand up for helpless critters.”
Remedy hesitated then bowed her head. “I-I’m sorry, Sunny. It’s just… Look, I don’t want you to become heartless, but we also have to be mindful too. He’s probably right about there being bigger and nastier things out here, and that scares me. If it’s not one of the carnivore tribes, my seal won’t matter.”
Sunny marched up to Remedy and grabbed her in a sudden hug that almost pulled Remedy of her hooves. “I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have said those things to the tiger. I was just so angry, and when you didn’t seem concerned about it – it made me angrier.” Sunny pulled back from the hug and held Remedy at length. “I worry about you. I worry that you’re getting used to this. Nopony should get used to this.”
Remedy gave a small defeated smile and looked away. Sunny frowned.
“C’mon, let’s just get moving, I think we’ve made enough noise here,” said Remedy.
The forest responded to her careless taunt by eliciting an alarming cracking of branches from the darkness behind them. They both yelped and hurried away along the path.
Remedy tried to avoid the stones but the crawling foliage obscured her steps. She winced each time the hard nail of her hooves found stone and rang, deafening, in her ears. Sunny whimpered quietly behind. Her wings twitched, eager to take flight, but the low branches and curling vines banished her fancies and kept her well grounded. Behind them the alarming creaking and occasional splinter of wood or crash of brush persisted.
Remedy tried to keep up her pace while maintaining a modicum of discretion. They were being tracked, but not pursued – yet – and she was worried a full gallop might give whatever was following them the final notice they needed.
They wound their way down into a small ravine and splashed through a shallow brook before scrambling up the other side. Remedy paused at the top to look back. The trees grew a little taller, and the ravine gave her enough vantage to spy on the opposite bank. She cringed when she saw a ripple of movement through the undergrowth. A series of shuddering shrubs telegraphed the movement of several unseen creatures, loosely tracking their freshly trodden path.
Sunny gave a startled shriek as her wet hooves slipped on the clay bank. Remedy reached out and grabbed her hoof before she could slide away. The shifting undergrowth paused, and several sets of alarmingly luminescent yellow eyes peered out. Remedy gasped and pulled Sunny quickly over the edge of the embankment.
There was a sound somewhere between a howl and a bandsaw. The forest floor shuddered as multiple creatures crashed through the brush.
“RUN!” yelled Remedy. She yanked Sunny to her hooves and tore down the path.
They both bolted down the trail. Leaves and vines whipped past, clawing at their coats and tripping their hooves. Behind them the unnatural roaring, growling, and crackling foliage rolled after them like an avalanche.
Remedy burst into a small muddy clearing and slid to a halt. Sunny burst through and smacked into her back.
“WHY’D YOU STOP?” she yelled, frantically trotting on the spot. Behind her the roaring and crashing closed in.
“I DON’T KNOW WHERE TO GO!” Remedy cried back, frantically spinning around, looking for any other path out of the clearing.
“Perhaps your piglet can save you?” a cruel voice crooned from above.
The girls shrieked and looked up. In the heavy branches above, the tiger lounged with an irritating degree of self-satisfaction. He smirked at the panic stricken ponies with a wicked grin.
Behind them a low branch in the dim near-distance snapped free and tumbled into the writhing forest brush.
“I hope you can climb,” crooned the tiger, casually flicking his tail.
“Sunny, into the tree!” Remedy yelped and reared up, scrabbling uselessly against the bark.
Sunny grabbed Remedy around the barrel and yelped, spinning away. The box on Remedy’s back buzzed angrily.
“Remedy!” Sunny pleaded, hovering in the air and glancing at the forest.
The undergrowth at the edge of the clearing exploded. Sticks and freshly torn plant matter burst into the clearing obscuring angry yellow eyes.
Remedy yanked the belly strap holding her bags and let them tumble to the ground. Sunny snatched her up and with a powerful thrust of her wings launched them into the thick low branches, snarling hunger snapping at their heels. Remedy landed heavily on the branch, almost knocking the wind from her lungs. She hugged the branch for dear life and slowly pulled herself up. Sunny scrambled up behind her, shaking, her wings trembling from adrenaline and fear.
Below them, twin yellow-green beacons of chaotic magic glared up, and sinuous green arcane ligatures flapped the splintered, toothy maws of a pair of timberwolves.
“Well done,” the tiger mocked, clapping together the soft pads of his paws slowly.
Remedy gasped, catching her breath. Below the timberwolves barked and circled slowly. One tried to climb the trunk but gave up, the other tried a leap, but found it wanting. So they settled for circling the ground like hungry sharks.
“What now?” said Remedy through haggard breaths.
“Now, we wait,“ said the tiger coolly and somehow managed to lounge even more intensely on the twisted bough.
“Are you ok, Sunny?” asked Remedy, craning her head back over her shoulder, not game enough to release her grip on the branch.
“I think so,” Sunny wheezed. “That was too close for comfort. I think I might actually be having a heart-attack,” she chuckled.
Remedy gave a slightly manic laugh, “Well if you fall back down, can you get my bags?”
Sunny giggle-snorted. Remedy chuckled. They both burst into laughter. The tiger watched them with amused curiosity.
The timberwolves circled for a while, occasionally checking to see if the trunk was now climbable. It was not. After a while, one of them grew bored and started to sniff at Remedy’s bags.
Remedy watched it curiously. ‘No meat in there, but it doesn’t really matter if they take the bags. As long as the box is sealed…’ she thought to herself.
The timberwolf nipped at the box, then chewed it. There was a scraping sound and a shallow scratch was carved into the top of the ornate box.
“What! The magic. It’s not affecting them,” said Remedy, alarmed.
“Perhaps because they are wood, and so is the box,” the cat mused, idly.
“No no no no. We have to stop them. They can’t take the box. Please, you have to help.”
The tiger raised an eyebrow. “Why, what’s in it?”
“I-I don’t know. It’s a gift for the council. A peace offering. Please – Don Zemar; he’s your king right? This is also a gift for him. Surely that’s worth something to you?”
“Hrm,” the cat pondered laboriously.
Below, the second timberwolf grew curious and now challenged the first for a turn at chewing the box. The first growled and greedily protected the box between its paws.
“It could be,” the tiger finally conceded, “but it would be too dangerous for me alone.”
“Oh c’mon. You’re twice their size, and surely they’re not as dangerous as real wolves!”
“Ah, but there are not two of them.” He pointed an extended claw to a bush on the outskirts. A pair of yellow glints twinkled in the dark. “And timber wolf mouths are full of disease and rot. Can’t you smell it? A single bite could end your life from infection alone.”
Remedy looked down anxiously at the growling timber wolves and bit her lip.
A wicked grin crawled onto the tiger’s face. “But, I suppose I could take on two if I got the drop on them. You both would have to take on the third.”
“Take on a timberwolf!?” Remedy squawked.
“Wait, take THEM on?” Sunny parroted from behind. “Are you crazy!? We can’t fight timberwolves. Look at them!”
“W-we can’t. We don’t have teeth or claws,” Remedy protested
“And they don’t have flesh or bone. I’d argue your teeth are more suited than mine. Besides, blunt trauma works best for timberwolves. But, if your box isn’t worth the risk…” the tiger trailed off, a blissful smile playing on his face.
The second timberwolf made his play, snatching at the box. The first grabbed it and they began a growling tug-of-war.
“H-How would we do it?” Remedy asked, her anxiety rising as the box bucked back and forth between the snarling timberwolves.
The tiger grinned like a cheshire cat. He stretched, stood up and, gathering his paws tightly under him, turned around on the narrow branch. He sauntered over to Remedy like a supermodel, each step causing the bough to bounce and creak. The timberwolves noticed and dropped the box, swarming under the branch and barking again.
Remedy gave a squeak and clutched the branch more tightly. Bobbing with the massive tiger’s jaunt.
The tiger lowered itself in front of Remedy. “It’s easy,” he crooned. “They are just plants. Kill the root, and you kill the tree.”
He dragged the back of a claw across Remedy’s foreleg. “The timber on the outside is just dressing; a dead skin. Inside there is a living seed. The root.”
The tiger poked Remedy in the chest with a pointed claw. “At the base of the throat, just above the breast. Inside there is a berry wreathed in magic. Shatter the bone of its armour, tear out its heartwood, pluck out it’s living core and crush it,” – he mimed tearing out Remedy’s throat with an extended claw and finished by clenching it into a fist – “simple.”
Remedy gulped. “You forgot the part about don’t get yourself killed.”
“Preferably – don’t even get bit. But you should be fine. There will be two against one and they are easily distracted. Plus you are wrapped in Aleena’s favour. I cannot say the same for myself.”
The growling below subsided, and the timberwolves, losing interest, wandered back to the box.
“Now or never, little prey.”
Remedy looked at the box and gulped. She gave a nervous nod to the tiger.
He smiled. “Well then. Appraise your friend, your target is the one waiting in the bushes. Hurry now, follow my lead.”
“Sunny!” Remedy whispered over her shoulder. “We’re going to attack the timberwolves.”
“Are you serious!” she hissed back. “We barely escaped them in the first place.”
“I know, but we need to rescue the gift. The tiger will take out these two, but there’s one more hiding in the bushes on the far side.”
“There’s more!?”
“Now or never little filly,” the tiger crooned. He draped his body low over the branch and rolled his shoulders with a grin.
“Sunny, just try and distract it.”
“Wait, no! What are you…”
The tiger fell as silent as the first drop of rain in a spring shower and the timberwolf didn’t have a chance. It gave a startled yelp as its spine was crushed into the ground under five hundred pounds of feline muscle with a sickening crunch.
The other timberwolf dropped the box and circled the tiger, snarling. The hidden one burst from the shrubbery and raced to flank.
“Any day now,” the tiger called out.
“Oh Celestia save me!” Remedy whimpered, then threw herself at the oncoming timberwolf.
Her aim was sloppy, and she fell with all the grace of a plate of spilled pancakes. But the timberwolf was focused on the big cat and didn’t notice the pink earth pony falling out of the tree. Remedy collided with it heavily. Not a direct hit, but enough momentum to send it sprawling. She rolled along the ground and gathered herself up. Her leg complained sharply, but she was otherwise alive. The timberwolf recovered quickly. A dull green glow around its body adjusted some of the heavy bark shingles back into place. Its eyes flared with new fervour. It snarled and charged.
“Sunny, help!” Remedy shrieked, back pedalling quickly.
Sunny screamed as she dove down onto the charging shrub’s back. She wrapped one hoof around its neck, and the other covering its eyes.
The timberwolf yelped in surprise and veered off course, slamming into the tree trunk. Sunny screamed like a banshee – a thousand terrified shrieks and curses – adding to the poor timberwolf’s confusion and discontent. It bounced away, bucking and spinning around the clearing.
“Just hold on!” Remedy shouted.
The timberwolf jerked it’s head free of Sunny’s blinding hoof. It snarled and twisted it’s neck, snapping at her. Sunny shrieked. Trying to hold onto the beast’s neck while holding her head as far away as she could.
Remedy blindsided the timberwolf with a buck, shattering its front leg. It yelped and toppled over onto the ground, squashing Sunny underneath. It squirmed and kicked, trying to right itself. Sunny squealed and flattened her wings against the ground holding the beast flat on its back, her legs wrapped around its neck and belly.
“That’s it, hold it there,” Remedy shouted. She pounced on the timberwolf pinning its remaining foreleg with a hoof.
It snapped and snarled at her, but Sunny strained and tightened her grip on its neck, holding its head back.
Remedy smashed a hoof onto the timberwolf’s chest, cracking the wooden plates. Sunny gasped as the wind was driven from her lungs. The wolf yelped and whimpered, scratching feverishly at Remedy with its hind legs.
Remedy winced as thorny paws raked along her belly and flank, finding patches of bare hide the robes did not cover.
“Just hold on, Sunny. Don’t let go,” she yelled, ignoring the pain. She drove her hoof into the creature’s breast again, widening the crack. A sickly greenish glow leaked from its hidden heart.
The timberwolf bucked and kicked. It thrashed its head, smacking hard into Sunny’s muzzle. Sunny yelped and her grip loosened. The timberwolf lunged forward and sank its jaws into Remedy’s shoulder.
Remedy shrieked. She could feel the sharpened wooden stakes it called teeth punch down on her neck and shoulder. But the pressure subsided immediately. The timberwolf yelped and reeled back; thoroughly confused as to where its lower jaw and half its remaining teeth had just gone. The scraps of timber fell away from around her shoulder. Aleena’s cloak shimmered brightly, wicking away some of the sinuous magic that held the timberwolf together.
Remedy took the opportunity to smash her hoof onto its chest a third time. Sunny wrenched the beast’s neck back again, screaming through clenched teeth, her hind legs wrapped around its barrel, and her wings straining to keep it firmly centered on top of her. Remedy clawed at the corners of the shattered breastplate and tore it away revealing a squirming mass of green translucent arcane tendrils licking from a bright red berry the size of a cherry in a bed of moss.
A sound like falling dominoes drew her attention just in time to see the freshly reassembled second foreleg swipe at her. Remedy yelped and slapped it away, pinning it with her free hoof.
“HELP!” she yelled. “We’ve got it pinned but I can’t grab the core.”
“You’d better hurry, I can’t hold this one for long,” the tiger called back in a suspiciously sing-song voice.
The shattered pieces of breastplate glowed with an edge of green and lifted off the ground.
“HURRY, REMEDY. I CAN’T HOLD IT MUCH LONGER!” Sunny screamed, blood dripping from her muzzle.
Remedy hesitated; the reforming armour drifted closer. She looked at the pained tears streaming from Sunny’s clenched eyes and the thrashing monster pinned between them. Remedy clenched her eyes and screamed. She buried her muzzle deep into the timberwolf’s chest cavity and clamped her mouth around the berry and wrenched it free.
The timberwolf arched its back and then broke apart, but the berry squirmed like a mouth full of worms. Gelatinous tendrils of arcane sinue writhed and curled around her tongue. One of them slithered too deep into her throat, and she gagged. She squealed through clenched teeth, pushed the slippery berry between her molars and bit down hard. The berry burst, filling her mouth with a rich sweet juice. The tendrils evaporated and only the sweet succulent fruit remained.
Sunny whimpered, a slow oozing of blood trickled from her muzzle. Remedy pushed aside the mound of kindling covering her and helped her to her hooves. A sharp snarl and bark from the remaining timberwolf turned their attention to the remaining battle. The tiger sat on its haunches and casually swatted at the aggressive timberwolf which jumped back to avoid the blow and snarled again.
“All done?” the tiger said with the countenance of a parent asking its child if their meal was finished. He peered over his shoulder to survey the battle worn pair. “Well done,” he grinned with an infuriatingly smug expression.
The timberwolf lunged forward, seizing the distraction. The tiger, however, was in fact – not. He stepped into the timberwolf’s charge and slapped it hard in the head as if it were a pinata, sending it sprawling ash-over-tea-tree.
He quickly pursued and pressed his paw down on the timberwolf’s throat before it could right itself. The angry snarling dissolved into panicked whimpering as the wooden patchwork of its throat cracked under the weight of the feline.
The tiger placed a hind leg on the beasts abdomen, pinning it to the ground. His face crawled with a delighted grin and he loomed over the timberwolf’s head to look into its fearful glowing eyes. He clamped his heavy paw onto the timberwolf’s breastplate, flexing his claws and anchoring them to the bark shingle. With a casual wrench, he ripped open the beast’s chest.
The timberwolf yelped and whimpered pitifully. The tiger, slowly, gradually, pushed his oversized paw into the cavity; cracking and pushing the heartwood cage of its chest apart. The timberwolf yelped and howled, clawing futilely at the thick fur and hide of the tiger’s leg.
The tiger grinned and locked eyes with the ponies who stared in mute horror.
The timberwolf convulsed violently as the paw pushed deeper and made contact with its delicate living berry.
The tiger shivered and sighed. A broad smile swarmed his face and his eyes shut in what Remedy could only surmise was an expression of macabre ecstasy. She winced as the timberwolf’s body wracked with spasms.
The tiger withdrew his paw in an achingly slow final act; relishing the timberwolf’s every traumatic convulsion. Its mewling whimpers dissolved into a harsh clacking of wood and a horrible wheezing like a broken flute.
He pulled his paw free. The timberwolf’s body arched off the ground like a haunted marionette, then fell to pieces.
He mused over the bright red berry held between his claws; the same luminescent tendrils of arcane magic writhed and curled around his digits. A small twig was still wrapped in one of the desperate pseudopods and poked pitifully at the tigers paw. He squeezed the berry, watching it bulge and strain. The magic whipped around like an angry fire. He squeezed harder; the flesh split and bright red juice burst out, running down the tigers paw.
The tiger chuckled with carnal satisfaction. They cringed.
He flicked away the bruised fruity remains, licked his paw and sighed with a contented purr.
“So... how was it for you?” he said, settling back into his resting imperious pose.
“H-How was what? It was terrifying, and just look at – oh, Sunny.” Remedy grimaced. Sunny stood trembling. A slow trickle of blood dribbled from her nose. She sniffed and winced – surprised at the taste of blood.
“Sunny, let me help. Hang on.” Remedy raced over to her bags and rummaged through them. She pulled out a canteen, roll of cotton wadding and a tin of ointment but fumbled the tin. It clattered noisily onto a tree root. She looked at her hoof, it was shaking. She clasped it tightly with her other hoof, closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
“I remember my first time,” the tiger reminisced.
Remedy clenched her jaw, scooped up the tin and cantered back to Sunny.
“I was barely more than a cub when my mother took me on my first hunt. Ah – I remember it like it was yesterday. The stifling heat, the damp earth under my paws. The stench of fear and sweat; my own. I was so nervous,” he chuckled fondly.
“Here, for your nose,” said Remedy, ignoring the tiger’s soliloquy. She tore off a chunk of the cotton wadding and placed it in Sunny’s hoof. Sunny stared at it blankly. Remedy gently guided it to her muzzle. “Hold it here. Are you ok?”
Sunny blinked as if waking from her own dream. “Huh? Oh – yeah. I’m ok,” she mumbled, forcing a weak smile.
“You’ve got some scratches, let me just put some ointment on them.” Remedy pried off the tin’s lid and dabbed a piece of cotton into a thick greenish salve.
“My mother guided me to a well grazed clearing and we picked out a young boar; barely more than a piglet. His own mother, of course, was rooting nearby as well.”
Remedy pinned her ears back in a vain effort to stop his nattering. She dabbed the ointment on a set of small scratches under Sunny’s chin.
“I’m ok, Remedy, really,” said Sunny, but winced when the cold salve touched the tender abrasions.
“It’ll protect against infection. Just hold still.”
“My mother would drive off the sow, but it would be up to me to bring down the young boar. My heart was pounding so hard, I could taste the adrenaline.”
“Have you got any more scratches? Here, sit down let me check— oh Celestia, I’m so sorry Sunny,” Remedy whimpered. A series of small scratches criss-crossed Sunny’s belly. Faint red lines darkened her yellow coat and a patch of fur was missing from just under her sternum.
“It’s ok, Remedy. It’s nothing. Really.” Sunny gently patted Remedy on the head with her free hoof.
Remedy dabbed more of the salve onto her cotton swab and gently painted the red lines staining Sunny’s fur. “Ow,” Sunny winced and giggled. “That tickles.”
“I pounced. I had the advantage, but I was clumsy and impulsive. It should have been a quick victory, but the boar, though young, was no slouch.”
“What’s he going on about?” said Sunny, narrowing her eyes suspiciously at the pantomiming tiger.
“Oh I don’t know. Some heroic tale from his younger days. I swear, if he breaks into song…” Remedy grumbled. She shifted her position to reach more of Sunny’s scratches but winced, sucking in a sharp hiss of breath. The dull pain she had ignored in her leg now burned with a sudden sharp spike, like a hot iron brand.
She lifted the hem of her robe. A deep gash ran just under her cutie mark and her leg was dark red with blood. “Ow!”
“Remedy! Why are you worrying about me. That looks really bad.” Sunny panicked, prancing on the spot.
“It’s ok, just a little deep. I think I got it from when I jumped down.” Remedy laid down on her good side and poured some water from her canteen over the wound. She grimaced from the fiery sting. “Sunny, there’s a bandage in my bags.”
Sunny flew over to the discarded saddlebags and rummaged through them, pulling out bottles and rations and tossing them aside. She found the bandage and zoomed back over. Remedy handed Sunny the salve.
“Just lay it on thick – like icing a cake. Then wrap it tightly,” Remedy instructed.
Sunny whimpered and scooped out a generous portion of the salve. She gingerly wiped it on the bloody wound and cringed when Remedy’s leg muscles twitched. Remedy looked away, sucking air through her clenched teeth.
The tiger had stopped his monologue and watched contentedly. Remedy narrowed her eyes at him.
“I got a scar my first time too. Congratulations on your first kill by the way, predator.” He grinned smugly.
“What? N-no, I’m not a predator. I don’t kill others for my food.”
The tiger raised an eyebrow and scratched the corner of his mouth with a claw. “Oh, you have a little something…”
Remedy wiped her mouth, pulling her hoof away to reveal a streak of sweet red juice.
“That was different. Besides you said they were plants. Plants don’t feel... Right?” Her voice trailed off with a measure of pleading.
“They don’t? Have you ever asked one? Did you even think carnivores felt before your visit to the forest?” The tiger chuckled and held up a placative paw at Remedy’s furrowed brow. “I jest, why so serious. Of course they can’t feel.”
The tiger paused and a small smirk crawled onto his face. “I mean, it’s not like plants cry out in pain when they’re hurt. Do they?” He stood up and sauntered over with a big smug grin on his face. “They don’t yelp or howl. They don’t whimper when they’re scared or bark when they’re angry. They don’t tremble, or struggle desperately. They don’t claw, bite and fight for their lives when they sense the end. They’re just plants. Weeds even.”
Remedy’s eyes flicked between the tiger’s cold slitted pupils. “N-no. They’re just plants. You said they were just plants.”
“Scram! Go on, git. Stop bullying her,” Sunny snarled at the tiger and shooed him away with an angry hoof. “You could have taken all three like it was nothing. She did her best. Leave her alone. Can’t you see she’s hurt.”
The tiger yielded and stepped away. “If you’re ready we should get going, unless of course, you’ve developed a taste for timberwolf.” He stepped around the remains of the timberwolf and pushed into the jungle, humming a happy little tune.
The tiger stepped out into a clearing, holding back the curtain of leafy vines that covered the entrance. “Welcome to Le Château de Félins. Our home away from home.”
The cat camp was a small clearing of dappled sunlight surrounded by thick-trunked trees and leafy vines. A rocky protrusion in the center provided an area where numerous cats, of all sizes and stripes, bathed in the sun and lounged with graceless decadence. Yet more cats lounged in the low boughs of the trees surrounding the clearing, their position given away by the greenish glow of their eyes. The most opulent perches were reserved for the biggest and bravest cats. They all turned their lazy curious eyes towards the ponies when they entered.
“Wait here, I’ll get Don Zemar.” The tiger quickly padded across the clearing and passed around behind the large outcropping. A number of the cats sneered and laughed at the tiger as he passed. He pinned his ears flat to his head.
A long silent minute stretched out. Sunny and Remedy shuffled awkwardly under the unwavering gazes of the ring of predators. Remedy wondered if it was only the effort required to catch them that was preventing the cats from attacking rather than the council seal or special silk robes.
The deep voice of Don Zemar boomed from behind the stoney hill, breaking the spell of silent stares. “What curious timing, that two ponies should show up in my camp at this most portentous hour.”
Remedy stepped forward and bowed. Sunny gasped at the enormous feline, himself too large to take any perch on stone or tree. His gait carried regal countenance, and his mane and features were immaculate. Two polished black horns, curved like a bull’s, sprouted from above his ears and rose to needle points above his head.
Don Zemar paused, and silently inspected the two ponies for a moment. “Valerio was telling the truth; Aleena has cloaked you in her own silk,” he said in an almost breathless whisper. “A most rare and precious gift, worth more than a dragon's horde. Know that you have both been given priceless artifacts that will one day be shrouded in myth and legend. For only Aleena can create such beautiful strong silk, and only a few have ever received such a likeness over the millennia.”
“I didn’t realise it was so special,” said Remedy, taking stock of her robes with new profundity.
Don Zemar gave a snort and bolstered his tone. “Well now you know. So, what makes you seek out the King of Cats?”
“I come with a gift, a peace offering, to reopen negotiations with Celestia for a solution that hopefully will satisfy everyone’s wishes.”
“A peace offering!? If it is peace the ponies want, why does an army gather at the forest borders. With siege weapons no less. It looks like you’re getting ready to invade a country, not start peace talks.”
“I don’t think you have to be afraid of them. They’re just…”
Don Zemar snapped his head towards the duo with a savage growl. His hackles bristled and he loomed over them with eyes that burned gold like fire. A sneer on his lips bared a set of ferocious fangs, “Afraid!? Do I Look afraid to you!”
Remedy winced and stepped back, one foreleg instinctively covering her chest. Sunny threw her forelegs around Remedy’s neck and glanced nervously between her friend and the giant lion, whimpering quietly and her hind legs shaking uncontrollably.
He snorted and the powerful gust blew back their manes. “It is you who reek of fear and all your kind too! You are afraid we’ll come out of the forest. Afraid to take part in the balance of which we are all a part. I have travelled from afar to render aid in the plight of this forest, and no army you can muster will give me cause to fear.”
Remedy swallowed.
“Ah, but fear is the protector of the weak and courage granted recklessly only invites folly.” A smooth tenor intoned calmly from behind the hill.
Don Zemar relaxed and straightened up, casting a careful glance to the back of the camp. A giant serpent slithered from the forest greenery. The dim scattered light sparked a rainbow spectrum off his shining scales.
“S-Sunny, you’re choking me,” Remedy coughed.
Nyoka slowly, purposefully, slid around the stony outcropping. The weight of his body ever present yet, like the passage of time itself, the gentle undulations of his belly scales carried the massive serpent forward with an unstoppable momentum and grace; silent and without hesitation. The cats who once lorded so mighty and proud now scattered from the closest perches, unnerved by the massive ancient predator.
“Welcome, Remedy of the Ponies. Please forgive Don Zemar, he is still only young and prone to emotional impulse.” Don Zemar frowned, but remained silent.
Remedy bowed before the serpent, taking the still clinging Sunny with her.
“And I see you have brought a friend with you.” His giant forked tongue whipped through the air like a willow switch.
Remedy cleared her throat. “Uh, yes this is Sunny, she’s my friend and is helping escort me through the forest. I-I have come bearing a gift. Celestia wishes to reopen negotiations.”
“And yet you bring an army to our doorstep.” Don Zemar grumbled, much in the way a petulant foal might, if they were nine feet tall at the shoulder and full of fang and claw and menace.
“Patience, Zemar. They have good reason to fear us. It is no strange wonder why they are preparing to defend themselves. And, despite your agitation, we likewise do not seek outright conflict either.”
“Hrmph, on one claw you offer peace and the other war. Your intentions seem mixed. I’m sure your intentions will be laid bare in time, let’s see this gift then; offered by ponies to carnivores.”
Remedy looked down sheepishly. “Well you see, it’s for all the Council members. So I want to organise another meeting. I was hoping you could help. Aleena has already agreed. But I need to contact the other members.
“So you bring a gift you will not reveal. I don’t much like surprises, Remedy.” Don Zemar glared suspiciously.
A glow around Nyoka’s curling horns faded and a faint blue shine fell from his eyes. “I believe you speak earnestly, and honestly. But why is the box magically sealed?”
Remedy scratched the back of her head, somewhat hampered by the still clinging Sunny. “Hehe, well, you wouldn’t believe how curious ponies can be. And the gift isn’t really fit for normal pony society. Please, we are just trying to protect our animals. We care for them very much. It would mean so much to us if you could attend.”
“Well what about it then, Don Zemar? Are you willing to entertain the idea of peace from our little friend here?”
Don Zemar held his head indignantly. “Hrmph. I suppose I have no choice. You are under Aleena’s personal protection now. Fine, have your meeting. I suspected another would be inevitable with the forces on our border anyway. I’ll tell Abidah. Nyoka, you can take these ponies to the wolf queen.”
Without a further word, the great lion turned his back and waltzed back into the hidden parts of the cat camp.
Remedy let out a sigh of relief.
“Is everything alright now?” Sunny asked, finally feeling confident enough to let her go, as if she were a balloon about to float away.
Remedy shrugged and gave a shallow smile. “Three out of five. It looks like we might get a meeting after all.”
“Come now little ponies, I’ll show you the way,” said Nyoka, now only within spitting distance at their side.
Sunny jumped and stifled a squeak. “Horse feathers! That’s creepy.”
“Sunny!” Remedy chided. “Sorry, she’s new here.”
A curtain of thick leafy vines closed behind them as cats coalesced once more on the dappled, sunlit stones, in Nyoka’s wake.
Following the great serpent was strange. His head had long since passed into the jungle, but the thick woodlands offered no opportunity to walk alongside. So instead, the girls were forced to wait, then scramble as best they could; chasing after the vanishing taper of his tail.
Diffuse sunlight streamed down from the broken canopy high above. Ancient trees hundreds of feet tall populated the woodland and the thick jungle of the forest had given way to mostly bare, leaf and needle litter, broken up by the occasional hardy shrub or stubborn fern.
“So we’ll have to call you Kerena Moonshadow from now on then?” Willow, a mottled tan wolf, walked with Kerena, as they slowly moved between the course timber columns.
“I suppose so,” said Kerena, chuckling to hide her unease.
“But are you sad you have to leave the Moonflower Order?” asked Willow.
“I will miss you all very much. But those are the rules of the order. And honestly, I think this is for the best.”
Willow hugged Kerena. “Now, you have to visit often. I want to see them as soon as they arrive.”
Kerena smiled sadly. “You will probably be back at the Moonflower Glen by then. That would be a bit too far to travel.”
“Oooh, I’m going to miss you so much but I am so happy for you. Maybe even a little jealous.”
Another wolf with a grizzled grey coat ran by. “Nyoka is coming and he’s brought two ponies. I’m going to get Ulrica.”
Willow and Kerena looked at each other. "Two ponies?"
Nyoka pushed through the thick forest foliage, and slipped into the relatively clear woodlands. Remedy and Sunny followed moments later, chasing after his tail, panting, and scrambling through the thick scrub. Nyoka didn’t care much for stock trails. His body just as effortlessly scaling rock and fallen timber. With no legs to get caught in branches, the need for clear paths over direct ones was not something that occurred to him.
“Here we are. Ulrica’s sojourn,” said Nyoka as his tail caught up behind him.
“She doesn’t live with the other wolves?” asked Remedy, wheezing to catch her breath. Sunny panted beside her.
“No, she was only staying here while visiting for the Council Summit last month. Recent events have led to an extended stay. Normally she lives in the Moonflower Glen, many days travel from here.”
A pristine white wolf emerged from over the crest. A tan wolf standing beside her.
Sunny forgot her exhaustion and quickly took refuge behind Remedy. “Oh, look at that one, she’s as white as fresh snow.”
“That’s Kerena.” Remedy waved at the pair of wolves.
Kerena and Willow quickly ran down the slope, stopping to offer a bow to the Regent of Reptiles. “Nyoka, it is good to see you again. Ulrica will be along very shortly.”
The great serpent gave a slow nod, then gathered his coils beneath him to rest.
Remedy pulled back the hood on her head.
“Remedy! You’re back? And are those...” Kerena trailed off in mute astonishment.
Nyoka chuckled, making his coils wobble. “Indeed, they are the Raiments of Aleena. It seems our pony friends have quite charmed the broodmother.”
“I’m impressed,” said Kerena, struggling to find even so many words.
Remedy blushed, “I didn’t know it was such a big deal at the time. This is Sunny, she’s accompanying me on my travels.”
Remedy stepped sideways to reveal Sunny, but Sunny countered by shying behind her again.
Remedy frowned and lent in to whisper, “Are you ok?”
“I’ll be ok. I won’t panic. I’m just… wary… of wolves. I-Is this Faolan’s Kerena?” Sunny asked, her own voice now a whisper.
Turning back to face the now curious wolves, she said “You’ll have to forgive my friend’s shyness. She’s a little terrified of, well, mostly everything in here, but she travelled with me and Faolan–” Remedy smiled apologetically “–So, she’s a little extra cautious around wolves.”
Kerena smiled gently. “It’s ok. This is a pretty new experience for all of us.”
“You can tell her she’s really pretty,” Sunny offered.
Kerena blushed.
“She can understand you, Sunny. They all can.”
Sunny shied further back behind Remedy. “Oh. Well, you’re really pretty then, I love your coat.”
Kerena smirked. “Thank you. I’d return the compliment, but I can’t really see you back there and under your cloak.”
Remedy snickered. “She says thank you.”
Willow bit her lip, staring at the shy cowering pony. “Oh they’re so adorable when they play coy like that, I could just eat her up.”
Remedy gave a small whinny of alarm.
“Willow!” Kerena hissed, and jabbed her thoughtless friend.
“Ow, OH Spirits! I meant that in a totally non-digestive way,” Willow whimpered, waving her paws frantically.
Kerena groaned and covered her face in embarrassment.
“What did she say?” asked Sunny, curious of the energetic pantomime.
Remedy laughed nervously. “Oh, um, she thinks you’re… cute?”
Sunny raised an eyebrow, and eyed the canines suspiciously.
Kerena groaned at Willow, her face still covered with an embarrassed paw. “Do you think you could see where Ulrica is?”
Willow chuckled nervously, “Ah-ha yeah, that’s probably for the best.” Willow gave the ponies a friendly nod and scampered back up over the hill.
“Please forgive her, she means well. We’re all not very used to speaking with herbivores, and some are not quite as mindful of what they say as others.”
Remedy chuckled. “It’s ok. I know what it’s like to have a friend like that.” She bumped Sunny with her hip.
Sunny scowled and grumbled, “I may not speak wolf, but I know when you’re making fun of me.”
Remedy and Kerena laughed.
“She’s coming!” Willow barked from the top of the Hill.
“Ok, Sunny, we’re about to meet Ulrica. She’s a wolf too of course, but she’s really nice. So don’t freak out ok.”
“I know. I said I’m feeling better now. I was just surprised by that giant spider, and then the giant lion, then the giant snake” – Sunny trailed off in sudden contemplation. – “Remedy? By any chance is Ulrica a giant…”
The giant marked face of Ulrica rose over the crest.
Remedy pressed her weight against Sunny to comfort her.
Ulrica descended the hill in a few long strides.
“Remedy? What are you doing back in the forest. I wasn’t aware another audience was being arranged?”
Ulrica cast a querying glance at Nyoka who had comfortably settled in a sunnier part of the enclave to watch the exchange, but he didn’t bother to offer an explanation.
Remedy bowed as Ulrica approached.
“Please, there’s no need for that. You will always be our honoured guest.” Ulrica extended a paw to lift her head.
“It’s good to see you again Ulrica.” Remedy smiled warmly.
“I’m glad you’ve decided to visit. After your trip with Faolan I was worried. I hope you’ve been met with the utmost hospitality.”
“Thanks, it’s certainly been exciting.”
Ulrica raised an eyebrow at the cowering yellow lump hiding behind Remedy’s tail. “And who’s your friend?”
“Oh, this is Sunny Days. A friend of mine. She’s helping escort me through the forest.” Remedy stepped sideways again as she introduced the shy mare. Sunny countered.
“It’s nice to meet you. A friend of Remedy’s is a friend of ours.”
Sunny peeked from under her robes nervously.
“I have to ask, are you wearing what I think you’re wearing?”
Remedy blushed again. “Hehe, yeah. Aleena gave them to us.”
Ulrica sat upright and raised an eyebrow. She glanced at Nyoka. He nodded.
“Well, I am impressed. They are beautiful and unique so make sure you treasure them. Have you come to the forest to look for Faolan?”
Remedy shuffled uncomfortably. “Not quite. I’m actually here as a representative of Princess Celestia. I come with a gift to start negotiations again.”
“Really? Strange, I didn’t think Celestia was one to second guess herself.”
“Please, I know you know about the army outside the forest. If things keep going as they are… I’ve brought a gift. It’s for all the Council. I’ve already spoken with the other’s except Abidah. If we have a chance at peace. I really think we should take it.”
Ulrica smiled warmly. “So another council meeting then? How could I refuse, especially to Aleena’s chosen.”
“Thank you. I hope you’ll love it.”
“I assume you want to go see Faolan as well?”
Remedy smiled sadly. “It would be rude not to.”
“Well your timing couldn’t be more opportune. I need to speak with Nyoka and it’ll take a little while to get my retinue ready, but I can meet you at the Council Hollow. In the meantime, Kerena, can you please escort them to the Moonshadow den?”
Kerena gave a respectful bow. “It would be my pleasure.”
“I look forward to your address this evening, Remedy. The spectacle is a welcome reprieve from this oppressive state of affairs.”
“I’m excited as well. I can’t wait to see what it is.”
Ulrica raised an eyebrow.
Kerena stepped close to Ulrica. “Are you sure this is for the best? I’m sorry I broke the pledge. I didn’t really plan for all this.”
Ulrica smiled at the young wolf. “The best things in life seldom are. You are not the first to fall out of the enclave, but you have been blessed with a beautiful burden and wonderful new purpose. You have been a most loyal servant; you will be missed and you are always welcome to visit. Go now, and let tomorrow worry about itself.”
The giant wolf wrapped her oversized paw around the young wolf, and hugged her close, whispering, “Besides, you have excellent taste.”
The two broke contact and Kerena ran to take the lead again in front of the two ponies. She sniffed back a tear and took a deep breath. “Well let’s get going then. It’s not too far.”
They followed. Remedy gave Kerena a concerned look. “Uh, is everything ok?”
Kerena looked away, quickly wiping another tear. “Oh I’m sorry. Don’t worry about me. I’m just a little anxious.”
“Was it something to do with back there? It seemed very emotional.”
Kerena sighed deeply. “I’m no longer permitted to stay in Ulrica’s enclave.“
A wistful memory played across her mind and she gave a sad little smile. “The Order of the Sacred Moonflower; the shadow blooms with intoxicating beauty, both alluring and deadly. It is a dream and high honor for any girl. Only females are allowed in the order, but there are strict rules.”
“What happened?”
Kerena chuckled. “What happened? I don’t really know. I guess if you have to sum it up in a word… Faolan.”
Remedy gasped. ”Wait, they kicked you out of home because you got a boyfriend?”
“Whoa what? She got kicked out of home because she got a boyfriend?” Sunny repeated, her ears perking up, and her sullen manner inflamed by the whiff of scandal.
Kerena tried to stave off the rising Hysteria with a quick shake of her head. “No, not quite. Members of the order occasionally have romantic relationships, though they are not encouraged. Under Ulrica, we wield the greatest authority among the wolf tribes. We mediate in disputes, keep order, and act as enforcers. But the cost for such power, we are to remain unattached and work selflessly for the good of all the wolf tribes. Sometimes a member will become romantically involved, but usually they choose to reconcile with the order and remain.”
“So you didn’t want to reconcile?”
“The order has been my life. Ever since I was a pup, I held no interest other than to serve. It has been my family for most of my life and it has been wonderful.”
“So, why didn’t you reconcile then?”
Kerena gave a resigned chuckle. “I’m afraid that path is no longer open to me.” She hesitated, a small blush colouring her cheeks. “The order strictly forbids a dam from membership.”
Remedy knit her brow for a moment. “Wait! You’re pregnant!?”
Sunny had been walking alongside Remedy, only half following the conversation. Part in due to only having half a conversation to follow with, but mostly due to her chronic lack of attention span. But now like a bloodhound on the scent, her attention focused as sharp as a viper’s fang.
“Ooooh, who’s the sire?” she pried.
Remedy gave her a sharp jab in the shoulder with a scowl. “Who do you think!”
Kerena kept her eyes forward, her blush growing.
“Congratulations though, I’m so happy for you. And Faolan is really nice – as far as I can tell anyway. At least it’s not like it’s far to visit,” said Remedy.
Kerena smiled sadly. “Thanks, but unfortunately that was only a temporary camp set up for the Council meeting, and a temporarily extended stay. The Moonflower Glen where the order normally resides is many days walk from here, and the path is none too safe.”
“So the order’s only been here a couple of months then?”
Kerena nodded.
Sunny slowly traced the logic in her mind; an unfortunately loud process. “So you’ve only been here a couple months and now you’re pregnant?”
“Sunny!” Remedy shrieked.
“I-I was part of an advanced envoy sent to prepare for the rest of the order. I’ve been here longer than the rest,” Kerena blurted out, stumbling over her words.
“See Sunny, she’s been here longer than that! Don’t be rude.”
Remedy shuffled nervously as they continued to walk. “So... how much earlier did you arrive?”
Kerena stiffened, then looked away. “ … a month.”
“A month? Oh.”
Sunny’s lips curled into a frighteningly predatory grin. “So… Faolan must be quite the charmer then.”
Kerena by this stage was an almost alarming iridescent pink.
Remedy closed distance with the poor wolf. “Look, if you eat her, I’ll understand.”
Hungry jaws tore strips of red wet meat from a fresh kill with an industrious pace. The sounds of eating were noisy and manic. The hunting party responsible for the kill shared honour at the alpha’s table. Wolves on opposite sides worked in concert to tear the carcass apart, ribs cracking under their fervent ministrations.
Faolan, as the alpha, took the choicest parts, hungrily devouring the liver and other rich vital organs. Etiquette was not a priority at feeding time in a wolf’s den, generally it was first come first served. And this time was no exception.
A young wolf ran up to the feeding pack. His place was lower on the food chain and he would have to wait his turn. This didn’t stop his eyes from hungrily devouring the carcass in place of his stomach, and a small whimper of suppressed need escaped his lips.
Marrok snapped at the drooling pup. “What is it, boy! Don’t stand there mewling like a cat. It’s not your turn yet.”
The young wolf snapped to attention. “Oh right. Foalan!”
Faolan looked up at the wolf, but his jaws continued to work on stripping a flank of it’s meat.
The young wolf hopped nervously in place. “Ponies, two ponies accompanied by Kerena, they've been spotted heading here.”
Faolan tilted his head. “What? TWO ponies!?”
The young wolf’s nervous energy kept him from standing still. “Yes, and they’re almost here.”
Marrok smirked. “Go on then, see to your 'guests'.”
Faolan walked past. “Ah, save me some?”
Marrok chuckled humorlessly. Alpha or not, that was not an order likely to be remembered.
Faolan followed the young wolf out. Just inside the den, the rest of the clan hungrily waited their turns, including the two young pups and their mother.
“You did say two ponies right?” Faolan confirmed.
The young wolf nodded, his attention once more wandering back to the feasting inside.
The two young pups paused their scuffling to pay attention, mouthing the words ‘two ponies’ to each other in wide-eyed wonder. Their mother, instincts honed from having to look after the two rascal pups, immediately sensed impending disobedience. “Oh no, don’t you even think about it. You haven’t had your dinner yet. No running off!”
Before the two could mount a defence, she stepped one paw on each of their tails, pinning them in place with a yelp. “And I don’t want to hear one yip about it.”
Remedy recognised the path they now walked only too well. It was along here she was first brought, bound in vines. And along here she tried to escape only to immediately fall prey once more. A mounting unease grew. Just up ahead was the location of the start of the most recent chapter in her life, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that good or bad, more big changes were looming.
Sunny to the contrary was humming a happy little tune, oblivious to the growing tension. Her presence considerably more cheery after having been able to tease Kerena, and buoyed with the promise of being able to continue her teasing further at Faolan’s expense. She was the happiest Remedy had seen her since she entered the forest. Perhaps longer.
Kerena walked slightly ahead, thankful that the yellow one’s focus was elsewhere. Her own thoughts wrapped in deep contemplation of her own new future. A path she never would have expected a few short months ago. Indeed, in hindsight the whirlwind of romance and adventure was but a flurry in the scale of life, yet bore with it a lifetime of consequences. She shook her head from her brooding thoughts. What’s done is done. Learn what can be learned, and leave behind what cannot be undone. She took another deep breath, and lifted her head up high. Her life wasn’t over, just beginning another adventure and with Faolan by her side, it was still full of promise.
Kerena smiled. “Here we are. My new home.”
Around the final bend, the trio stepped into the clearing at the foot of the Moonshadow den.
Foalan came bounding down the hill to meet them. “Kerena! I knew you were coming today, but I didn’t think you were bringing guests.”
He looked past his snowy dam to the two gold-silk covered ponies. Remedy removed her hood first. Faolan smiled broadly, but his cheerful expression was met with shocked apprehension. Before he could speak, the second pony interrupted.
“Well, well, Casanova, haven’t you been a busy b…” Sunny removed her hood, but her mischievous taunt was cut short as terror gripped her heart and she defensively flared her wings, ready to take flight.
Faolan blinked “Sunny? And Remedy… what’s wrong is something the matter?”
Remedy quickly turned and held Sunny. Sunny stood, frozen horror was carved on her face and her wings trembled.
Remedy glanced back at Faolan. “Sorry…”
Faolan turned to Kerena pleading for an explanation. Kerena coughed nervously. She walked up beside Faolan, blocking him from view of the ponies. “Sorry, Faolan, it seems we have interrupted dinner.” She delicately touched her lips with a paw.
In his haste to greet them, he had completely forgotten to tidy himself up first. His muzzle was tainted dark crimson, wet with fresh blood and some chunkier remains still clung to the fur on his chin.
“Oh spirits. Ah-um. Right. Sorry. I’ll be right back.”
Faolan bolted back up to the den. Running past the two cubs now staring awestruck at the two ponies down the hill. They watched as the pink one helped the yellow one resettle it’s wings. The two cubs looked at each other and give a nod of bold new determination.
Mother wolf checked the meal situation. “Alright you two. Time for dinn…” The hassled dam looked down at her paws, now standing firmly on two pieces of vine about the thickness of a wolf’s tail, and the distinct absence of her offspring.
Remedy wrapped her forelegs over Sunny’s withers and whispered soothing intonations to her, brushing her mane out of her eyes. Kerena, stood at a distance to give her room. Sunny bowed her head and took deep steady breaths. She opened her eyes and smiled meekly.
“I’m sorry, Remedy, I guess I’m just not really cut out for this. I’m a lousy protector. I don’t know how you managed this all on your own. I think I would have died from fright alone.”
Remedy smiled warmly. “It was pretty terrifying at first, and they are carnivores. We can’t change that so they keep telling me. But as they also say there is more to them than their menu. You just have to find the common ground.”
“I don’t know if I can. They don’t talk like us, they don’t act like us. We’re just ponies. All pretty colours and cute smiles. They’re all teeth, and fangs, and claws, and blood and hunger…” she trailed off into a whimper.
A small whine got her attention. The two ponies turned to see a small wolf cub sitting with a pitiful forlorn expression. Large brown eyes pleaded for attention. Remedy raised an eyebrow. Sunny’s fears and concerns washed away in the limpid pools of the currently adorable cubs eyes.
The pup tipped his head ever so slightly to one side, in that way that only puppies can do. The effect was immediate. Sunny coo’ed and began to gush lavish attention upon him, scratching behind the ear, and telling him how cute he was.
Remedy stepped back beside an equally astonished Kerena. “When did they get so well behaved? He’s being practically adorable.”
Kerena gawked with a bemused smirk. “Uh? He’s never been this well behaved. In fact, he’s only become brattier the older he’s got.”
Several members of the pack, who’d finished their meal had taken position on the hill to watch the unusual spectacle.
Sunny continued to gush and swoon over the adorable pup, who was taking the frankly excessive display of affection with saintly levels of acceptance. Something that Remedy couldn’t help but be impressed by.
“I only wonder where his brother is, the two are never...“ Kerena continued. She leaned to the side. “Oh, clever boys.”
“What?” Remedy followed Kerena’s sight-line behind Sunny.
The other cub approached in a perfect predator stance. With his body low to the ground he skulked quickly and quietly, reaching Sunny’s tail in a few short seconds from the bushes he’d hidden in.
Remedy frowned. “Oh dear.”
What followed was a violation of personal space that gave Sunny newfound cause for introspection of her own clingy behaviour. Unfortunately, to her dismay, also found rather amusing by the crowd of onlookers.
The stalking pup found a momentary opening under the folds of her robe, and quickly took advantage. Sunny bolted upright with a squeak. The first pup which had been waiting patiently in the caress of the pony took his cue and in the blink of an eye, wriggled out of her frozen grip and under her robe.
Sunny shrieked as she jumped to her hooves. On either side, her robes bulged with the menace within. Two wings and two furry heads popped out of the wing slots in her robes. The pups with manic gleeful grins smeared all over their faces, banished all pretence of innocence as they struggled to hold onto the wings at the shoulder joints with their tiny paws. Forcing them to flare out.
“She’s GOT WINGS!” The pups shouted in unison.
Sunny squealed, shrieked and spun around, trying in vain to flap her wings. She tripped and fell, partially squashing a pup on the way down, but its reign of terror didn’t yield.
“Remedy! Help me!”
Remedy burst into laughter.
Sunny shrieked with laughter as the pups pinned her on her back. Their faces buried in the underside of her wings.
“Stahp it tickles. Staaaahp…” she howled.
Tears of exertion streamed down her face and she gasped for breath between great shrieks of laughter.
“Get off her, you little terrors!” Faolan shouted, returning freshly washed.
He grabbed the pups by the scruff of their necks and lightly tossed them, sending them rolling across the grass. Sunny gasped in gulps of precious air.
“I’m so sorry. Are you alright?” said Faolan, offering a paw to help her up.
Sunny rolled over and scrambled to her hooves, still gasping. “I’m ok, I just need a moment.”
Remedy walked over, struggling and failing to suppress a smirk. Sunny puffed out her cheeks in a pout.
“Some friend you were. There I was in the very jaws of death, and you stand there laughing.”
Remedy giggled, “Oh I’m sure you’ll survive.”
“And you two. Apologise now!” Faolan barked.
The two cubs sheepishly crept over.
“We’re sorry if we hurt you.”
“We only wanted to see your wings.”
Both cubs looked up, washed with guilt and sorrow. Sunny melted immediately. “Aww how could I be mad at you. You’re just like little colts. Playing a little game.”
A wicked glint twinkled in each cubs eye, and an insidious grin slid hidden beneath their mournful frowns. With crocodile tears in their eyes, they both tilted their heads, ever so slightly…
A quick swipe of two paws boxed their heads together. “Wipe those sorry little looks off your faces before I give you something to be sorry about.”
The glamour fell immediately and they spun around to face their mother. The she-wolf glared angrily at her offspring and they begin to sweat. Finally the pressure was too much and the fragile bond of brotherhood was broken.
“It was his idea, I was just following along. I wanted to stay with you,” one of them blurted out, pointing at his brother.
The other yipped in defence. “TRAITOR! You were the one who said we should use vines to escape!”
“But it was YOUR idea to use a distracting sneak attack!”
The two started shoving each other and tussling.
“ENOUGH!” she barked. “You get your sorry backsides into that den now or so help me, you won’t be able to sit for a week. NOW, GO!”
With a yelp, the two cubs scampered up the hill.
The dam sighed wearily. “I’m sorry Faolan. Some days I just don’t know what to do with them.”
She looked at Kerena. “I hope you find your experience less exhausting.”
She gave a weary nod to the ponies and climbed back towards the den.
Faolan smiled apologetically. Sunny stared for a moment then shrugged. “Kids, what can you do?”
“Well look at that, you’ve found something in common," Remedy chuckled. "You were a bratty kid, and they have bratty kids.”
“Hey!” Sunny protested with a pout. After a moment she shrugged again. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
Faolan sighed with relief, “Come on, we have lots to talk about.”
Condensation beaded on the side of a tumbler of whisky. One of the droplets swelled too large and broke free of its tenuous hold, cascading down the glass in a tiny rivulet of water. Two large cubes of ice shifted and clinked against the glass.
The tumbler sat on a small round table before the ship’s porthole. In the distance beyond the window a white pegasus stallion glided down to the front door of the farm homestead. He looked around, no doubt concerned at the rather overwhelming presence of force in the vicinity, and knocked earnestly on the door.
The tumbler lifted away in the grip of a dark blue hoof.
Provender opened the door and greeted the newcomer with a wince. He exchanged a few unheard words of surprise. The pegasus gestured wildly to the surroundings in alarm. Provender heaved a great sigh, then stood to the side to let the pegasus enter his dwelling. The pegasus hesitated, eyeing the farmer suspiciously before he entered. The door closed behind them.
The tumbler returned a little emptier.
“Just put it there.” Peridot waved a hoof at the floor just inside the Dark Side of the Sun.
Two earth ponies set down a large crate. One of them offered Peridot a wooden clipboard and a pencil. Peri took both in a green telekinetic aura and quickly jotted down his signature. The delivery stallion tipped his hat and left.
Lazuli cocked his head and watched with considerable amusement as the unicorn awkwardly struggled with a crowbar on the lid of the crate with his hooves.
“Now there’s an odd sight. You, doing manual labour, with your own hooves. Pinch me I must be dreaming.”
Peridot rolled his eyes. “As flattered as I would be that I occupy your dreams, perchance you could make yourself useful for a change and help me instead of gawking.”
Lazuli leant back in his seat. “Oh I’m good. This is much more entertaining.”
Peridot scowled and tapped a large, angry, red symbol stamped on the box; a spiraled unicorn horn in a circle with a big cross through it. “You know very well my gifts lie in finesse, not brute force. Besides the contents do not react well to brute force magic.”
With a final ungainly heave, the nails on the crate yielded and the top creaked open. Inside the simple wooden crate was filled with small shards of dull, uncut orange gemstones.
“A little theory I’m working on. It requires these and a unicorn of specific talent.”
Lazuli smirked. “A unicorn like you I suppose?” He took a long sip of his whisky.
Behind him, through the window, the door to the homestead slammed open and the white pegasus galloped out, closely followed by Provender. The pegasus leapt into the sky, dedicated to a quick getaway, quickly followed by a lasso unleashed by the equally determined farmer.
“As a matter of fact, yes. But I need to get this crate into my workshop, I assume you’re still unwilling to help.”
Lazuli swirled his whisky and extended it in a mock toast. “I’m afraid I’m already completely swamped with my previous engagements.”
The lasso was true, and hit its mark. The white pegasus’ hind legs were caught fast and his ascent swiftly halted.
Peridot frowned.
“It’s actually true you know. I have party preparations to make.”
The pegasus reeled and bucked against the lasso, struggling to loose his hooves from the tight knot. But the farmer knew his trade too well, and was far stronger. He drew him in like a hooked fish.
“You know I need you sober tonight. I can’t have you flying sideways.”
The white pegasus, now grounded, silently screamed bloody murder as he was dragged unceremoniously back into the homestead, clawing at the ground and door frame with futility.
“Yes, yes. Work first, then party. You know, you underestimate me. Speaking of which – Ki! Great timing. Seems Peri here needs a strong hoof, and mine’s already occupied.”
The diminutive cream pony alighted the landing at the top of the spiral staircase and blinked at his sudden inclusion in an established conversation.
Peridot sighed. “Ki, can you help me move this crate to the lift please.”
Lazuli offered another toast with cheer. “Go for it ‘legs’”
Ki shot Lazuli a dangerous glare.
“Whoops, and that’s my cue to check the canapes. Have fun you two.” Lazuli fluttered off with his whisky glass, chuckling.
Peridot sighed again. “Sometimes I wonder if we really need his talents.”
“I can’t believe you didn’t say anything!” said Faolan, pacing back and forth and grumbling like an angry mother duck.
Remedy rolled her eyes.
“It’s just a scratch. It’s fine.”
“It’s not fine,” he continued, “and if I ever find that tiger...” he trailed off into a bare toothed growl.
“Faolan, stop being dramatic. I even hiked all the way through the forest to get here afterwards.”
She moved to stand but winced as pain lanced through her leg. Faolan quickly marched over and pushed her back onto her side again with a firm paw.
“I’m not being dramatic, and stop trying to get up. Help will be here soon.”
“I don’t need help,” Remedy groaned in frustration. She let her head fall back onto the grass and snorted, sending a few loose blades tumbling away. “Besides, I need a doctor, not whatever a ‘butcher’ is.”
Faolan shrugged, close enough. He won’t be long. Keegan may be young and reckless, but she’s swift.”
Remedy pondered for a moment through her mental catalogue of wolves. “That’s the one I hit with the branch when you chased me, right? I don’t think I’ve spoken to her. I should probably apologise.”
“Yes, that’s her,” – Faolan chuckled – “but it was a worthy lesson. Looks are deceiving and overconfidence is dangerous. Speaking of naivety – timberwolves. You didn’t answer me. You actually willingly attacked them?”
“They were going to steal the gift, so I had to do something. How was I to know the tiger could have handled them easily on his own,” Remedy sulked.
Faolan circled around behind to inspect the troublesome box still strapped to her back.
“If you touch it, you’ll get a numb muzzle,” she warned.
Faolan pulled up short, took a couple of careful sniffs and furrowed his brow.
“Well?” said Remedy, staring at him eagerly over her shoulder.
Faolan cocked his head. ”Well what?”
“What is it?”
Faolan raised an eyebrow, “You don’t know?”
“No, I haven’t seen it yet. I only know it’s not fit for ponies… I-It’s not meat is it?”
Faolan shook his head. “No, definitely not meat, I would know that. But it is... familiar, I just can’t put my nose on what.”
Remedy sighed with relief. “Well, I’m glad I haven’t been carrying around a coffin.”
Faolan slumped onto the grass beside her, deep in thought.
A squeal of laughter echoed around the clearing as the pups bolted across the grass. Sunny galloped behind in fierce pursuit. They split as she closed the distance, causing her to hesitate for a second as she chose her victim. She growled and picked one pup to pursue, eliciting a further delighted squeal from her prey. She flapped her wings and soared across the glade with a frighteningly vengeful glee.
The pup swerved and dodged like a gazelle, but Sunny snapped her wings and banked like a swallow in pursuit.
“Here comes the tickle-monster,” she taunted, in a delighted sing-song growl. The pup squealed and bolted for the cover of a nearby bush.
Without the element of surprise on their side, and her power of flight unhindered, the pups found themselves entwined in an unexpected reversal. Now they were the prey. Sunny’s own endless vigour, more than a match for their youthful stamina.
“Does meat taste good?” Remedy blurted out, breaking the silence.
Faolan blinked. “Pardon?”
Remedy’s voice quietened, ashamed of her own question. “M-meat. Does it actually taste good?”
Faolan shifted uncomfortably. “I-uh, don’t really know how to answer that…”
Remedy pinched her eyes shut. “Do you love the taste of the creatures you eat?”
Faolan furrowed his brow. “Why do you want to know?”
“You’re avoiding the question,” Remedy scowled.
“Yes, I am,” he complained bitterly, “I don’t know what answer you’re seeking and I don’t want to start another fight.”
Remedy sighed. “It’s just, when we fought the timberwolves I kind of, well, ate it. I bit down and ended up swallowing its core, its fruit. I was desperate. And well… it was delicious, ridiculously actually. I have never tasted a fruit so sweet”
She touched a hoof to her lips. “Even now the sweetness lingers, and I’m ashamed, but I kind of want more.”
“I keep thinking about it, thinking of ways they could be grown, like, without the timberwolf part and I can’t get it out of my head.”
Remedy let her head flop to the ground, closed her eyes and exhaled. “I just wondered if it was like that for all predators; you know, since I’m one now.”
Faolan snorted, then laughed. “Predator, you!? That’s a bit of a stretch, don't you think?”
“Well I did attack and eat it,” Remedy pouted, unsure if she should be offended or relieved.
Faolan wiped away a tear. “Sure, but you didn’t attack it to eat it. You didn’t prey upon it.”
Remedy pondered that thought.
“I guess you’re right. That was silly. I’m sorry, that tiger got in my head.”
Remedy laid her head back down on the grass in a melancholy silence, somehow disappointed by the answer, though she wasn’t sure why.
“Faolan,” Remedy asked in a quiet, sombre tone, “what does pony taste like?"
“Ah - I beg your pardon?” Faolan stammered, stepping back and looking around to check the question hadn’t come from somewhere else.
“No, I’m serious,” insisted Remedy, lifting her head to look him in the eyes. You’re the only predator, as far as I’m aware, that has actually tasted a pony.”
“I still don’t think… I don’t know what you… what you…“ Faolan stuttered.
He stopped, shook his head and squeezed his eyes shut to stop the frantic panic in his brain. He took a deep breath before continuing.
“What I mean is, I don’t want you to hate me and this is a very touchy subject, isn’t it?”
Remedy frowned then sat up a little, wincing as her hind leg complained at the motion.
“I know, but I want to know. If we’re going to have any shot of peace, then we need to understand each other, right? I killed a Timberwolf today. Sure it was attacking us, and it would have killed us too. So self-defence, right? I’m not a predator, fine. But, that Tiger,” she trailed off for a moment, “he enjoyed it. Like, he really enjoyed it. Is it the same for you, do you get that same feeling?”
“Well, for starters, not all carnivores are the same, and there are many styles of hunting, but even then the cats can be a bit weird about it, so no, probably not like him. But I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a thrill in the hunt.”
Remedy studied Faolan for a moment, her expression lying somewhere between curious and contempt. She closed her eyes and sighed.
“Ok, fine. So it’s exciting. I suppose that’s not unexpected. Then back to my first question. What do ponies taste like?”
Faolan hesitated again.
“Come on, I promise I won’t be mad. I asked the question.”
“This isn’t exactly easy for me either you know,” Faolan complained, “it’s not everyday your prey asks you so many questions about how I would eat them. It’s unsettling.”
“Ha, you said your prey, so you do think of ponies as your prey,” she teased.
“That’s not what I meant,” Faolan stuttered, “I meant a prey species, ah-no I mean, herbivore or something.”
A smirk tugged at the corners of Remedy’s mouth, but she maintained her carefully calculated scowl.
“Fine, I’ll forgive your transgression, but stop stalling. Answer my question.”
“I don’t know, I wasn’t exactly thinking about eating at the time. I was trying to escape! I didn’t have time to stop and savour the local cuisine”
Remedy frowned.
“It’s the truth!” Faolan insisted, “I could have just as easily been tasting my own blood.”
Remedy frowned harder. “Fine, then taste me.”
Faolan’s head jerked back, “ok, now you’re just being weird for the sake of it.”
“I’m serious!” said Remedy, “I don’t mean bite me, but here,” she rolled the back of her foreleg gently against her wounded hind leg, wincing as she wicked some of the seeping blood onto her fur and held it out to him.
Faolan recoiled.
Remedy raised an eyebrow. “If you don’t, I’ll tell Abidah what happened in the capital,” she said sweetly.
Faolan’s eyes narrowed. “You wouldn’t dare.”
She grinned wickedly and waggled her blood soaked hoof at him.
Faolan glared for a moment, then hung his head with a heavy sigh, “fine, you win.”
He stepped forward but hesitated. “Are you absolutely sure?”
“Please,” said Remedy, all pretexts of her original threat gone in a single sincere moment.
Faolan looked at her outstretched hoof, then took a large lick of the blood soaked fur.
Remedy shivered involuntarily at the sensation.
Faolan licked his lips and contemplated the flavour.
“Well?” asked Remedy
Faolan thought for a moment, then shrugged, “It tastes like blood.”
“That’s it?”
Faolan reconsidered, “maybe something bitter like herbs?”
“Oh, that’s probably the salve, sorry. But seriously, just blood”
Faolan cocked his head, “I mean, what did you expect?”
Remedy blinked, then burst into laughter, covering her face as a sudden wave of embarrassment rolled over her.
“Oh Celestia, what did I just do?”
Giggling, she peeked out from under her foreleg at Faolan, “I’m sorry Faolan, I am being strange, aren’t I.”
Faolan smiled with relief, then started to chuckle, “Yes, very.”
Remedy buried her face under her hooves and laughed as the tension released.
It was infectious and Foalan couldn’t help but laugh as well.
“Wait, wait,” he said through his own fits of laughter, “don’t tell me you actually thought…”
“No, no, don't say it!” Remedy wheezed
”That you tasted like Strawberries?”
Remedy squealed laughter under her hooves to hide her shame.
Faolan threw his head back and laughed loudly
They were still laughing when Keegan came bounding up the hill with a lumpy brown-furred animal riding on her back. A weasel stood, surveying the den from above her head. Its paws planted between her ears and as comfortable as a captain on his ship.
“Remedy, this is Quinney. He helps us when we get hurt,” said Faolan as she pulled up alongside.
“Woah ho ho. Check out the rags on these nags,” Quinney heckled from his lupine transport. “Is that the mother of all silk!?”
Remedy gave a disgruntled whinny and mumbled under her breath. “I am no nag.”
“So this is the pony I’ve heard so much about.” Quinney jumped off Keegan’s back, landing with a heavy thud. His body weighed down by a large furry bundle strapped to his back. He let the bag sink to the ground and twisted out of its leather straps.
“Yes. Quinney, this is Remedy. She’s a friend of the council,” said Faolan.
“You know – I didn’t believe the rumours until ‘stumbles’ here came to get me,” said Quinney pointing a thumb over his shoulder, at Keegan who responded with an annoyed whine.
Faolan chuckled. “Well as you can see, she is very real.”
Quinney walked over and inspected the mare suspiciously. He poked Remedy in the belly, as if still unsure she was real.
Remedy gave a small squeak and hastily covered her belly with her forelegs. She scowled at the rude creature but he didn’t give her a second look. Instead he crouched, then hopped up onto her barrel eliciting another squeak from her.
“So, what’s the damage here?” He said walking her length and inspecting her like he was shopping for a new couch. The ornately crafted box on her back caught his eye and he leaned over it, stroking his chin.
“She was attacked by timber wolves. Her leg was hurt badly,” said Faolan, nodding to her hind leg.
“Uh huh, I see, I see.” Quinney poked the box. Then, with a loud snap of static, he performed three full rotations in the air before landing with a heavy thud on the grass a few feet away.
Quinney blinked up at the brilliant blue hues of an open sky, bright stars of green and pink skittered away into the periphery of his vision.
“Woah! What a rush!” he said.
“Quinney! Are you ok?” a muffled voice asked. A fuzzy wolf head occluded the sky and looked down at him.
Quinney sat up and twitched. “What in Tartarus was that?”
“Sorry. The box is locked with a magical spell. Are you ok?” asked Faolan.
Quinney looked past him at the pink mare who was obviously, desperately suppressing a pleased smirk.
He narrowed a glare at her; she looked away innocently.
He pushed away Faolan’s helping paw.
“Ha ha,” he chuckled dryly. “No worries, just a little jolt. No harm meant, I’m sure.”
He staggered over to his bag and dragged the ugly sack right in front of Remedy’s face. He grinned.
Remedy recoiled as she realised the fur on the bag was still attached to its hide and the shoulder straps were the desiccated boneless legs of what was once a large rat.
Quinney pulled out a thin curved splinter of bone pinning the belly of the bag shut. He let the skin unfurl into a flat leather sheet disgorging an array of crude and wicked tools.
He picked up a small dried gourd and pulled out its cork, then took a large swig of its contents and drank in the disgust on Remedy’s face. He wiped his chin and recorked the makeshift bottle then selected one of his tools; a thin, smooth stick with a razor sharp piece of broken obsidian tied to the end. He locked eyes with Remedy and smirked. ”Now don’t you worry dear, we’ll take good care of you.”
Tradewind sat on his haunches, his torso completely coiled in rope. A small dark cloud simmered over his head, and his expression could single handedly introduce winter.
Provender sat opposite him, next to the window. A grim but determined expression weathered his face.
Outside the window, more colourful mares approached the black zeppelin. The craft sat imposing and formidable, silhouetted against the dying light of day, and would seem most inhospitable if it weren’t for the swinging bass line and colourful lights pouring out the portholes.
The young mares knocked on the doors and they swung open. Bright light and music spilled out onto the ground and Ki jovially greeted the newcomers, welcoming them inside with a polite bow and open hoofed gesture. The doors closed and the encroaching dim of twilight flooded the front yard once more.
Trade’s simmering reached a critical peak and his little brooding thunder cloud burst with a plink like cracking glass and puff of light like a flash bulb.
“I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU LET HER GO!” Trade shouted, heralding another tirade.
“Not again,” Provender groaned.
“You were devastated the last time she went into the forest, now you’re practically packing the bags for her!?”
Provender, drained the last bitter remnants of his patience. “Trade please. We’ve been through this. It was her decision. I didn’t like it either, but it made a kind of sense. She’s doing this for you, for all of us.”
“YOU SENT HER INTO THE FOREST! WHAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO HER?!”
Provender stomped his hooves and paced. “YOU DON’T THINK I UNDERSTAND THAT! That I might have sent my own daughter to her death!? I’m terrified.”
“And Sunny? I can’t imagine she was happy with this decision? Do you have her tied up in the back somewhere too?”
Provender stopped in his tracks, stunned by the thought. He shook his head and paced back across the living room. “No, she never turned up for work. Lucky too.”
Trade cocked an eyebrow. “And you don’t think that’s strange? What if she found Remedy before she could get into the forest?”
Provender stopped short again.
Trade groaned, “You didn’t think of that? Oh Great. Now we have two mares lost in the forest.”
Provender snorted, dismissively. “I’m sure Remedy would have told her to go home.”
Trade rolled his eyes angrily. “Have you ever met Sunny? There’s no way under Celestia’s sun would she have let Remedy go in there alone.”
Provender dragged a worried hoof through his mane. “Well Remedy’s a smart girl. She wouldn’t have taken Sunny if she thought Sunny would be in danger.”
“Then why am I tied up?” Trade growled.
Provender snorted again. “Remedy told me you’d be like this. Ready to run off into the forest on some damned fool mission to save a damsel not in distress. And then I’d have to answer to her when you get yourself killed. No thanks, I like those odds even less.”
Trade huffed, “I’m not going to die. I’m just going to meet up with her. If Sunny can go, why not me.”
“Ok, wise guy, and how would you even find her? She’s somewhere in a million acres of forest under a thick jungle canopy. You’d have no chance. Just like you couldn't find her before.
“At least I wouldn’t be abandoning her.”
Provender hefted Trade off the ground by his girdle of ropes with a single work-hardened hoof and growled low through his teeth. “That girl is my LIFE! I searched for three days in that Celestia forsaken forest. Amongst the branches, and the thorns and the monsters. Fearing the worst, daring not to hope, and now after only just getting her back, I’ve let her return to that place because she thought it was for the best. Don’t preach to me.”
Trade stared fiercely for a moment, then looked away. Cowed by his own rising shame at the cheap jab.
Provender dropped the pegasus like a sack of flour and walked away to the window. He stared out into the evening, barely registering the hedonistic revelry blaring in his front yard.
Trade tried to worm his way into a more comfortable position, then quickly gave up.
“Then why did you let her?” he said with a much quieter and softer tone. “Did you even see this gift that was supposed to pacify a forest of hungry carnivores?”
“No, it wasn’t fit for display.”
Trade sighed. “Maybe I can talk to this Peridot. I’ve had experience negotiating with greedy stubborn merchants. I’m sure I could at least get some more information about this crazy scheme.”
“Yeah, I’m sure you’d love to get into that party. Guests have been arriving for the last hour, not a single colt among them.”
Tradewind frowned. “Mr Bale, I am no playpony. I am in love with your Daughter, and have no interests elsewhere.”
Provender sighed. “If I untie you, are you going to try and fly off?”
Trade thinks for a moment. “You won’t untie me unless I promise not to, will you?”
Provender smiled weakly. “You wouldn’t get away anyway, so save me the effort.”
…
“OW!” Remedy whimpered.
Quinney sighed. “If you keep jumping and twitching, this is going to take longer, and I’m losing daylight here.”
“Well if you had something sharper than a pencil, maybe it wouldn’t hurt so much.” Remedy hissed.
“I’ll have you know I get no such complaints from all my other patients.” Quinney shook a slender curved bone needle at her. Possibly a rib of the the same rat that became the butcher’s bag. “Honestly, Faolan. How do you put up with her incessant whining. “
“You get used to it,” Faolan smirked.
Remedy half-glared, half-winced at him as she felt the stinging tug of the surgeon's sinewy stitch slip through the fresh punctures in her skin.
Faolan smiled sympathetically.
Remedy grit her teeth and whimpered, burying her head in her hooves as Quinney pierced her hide once more. Her leg muscles trembled from the sting. Quinney mumbled something unprofessional about the constitution of ponies under his breath.
Faolan looked at Remedy’s clenched eyes and frowned.
“Hey Quinney, did you know Remedy’s a predator now?” he said mockingly.
Remedy glared up at him, tears gathering in the corners of her eyes. “Really! Now?”
Faolan gave her an apologetic smile.
“A predator you say.” Quinney chuckled. “I can’t imagine Princess here has the gall for that.”
“Well, when I said ‘she was attacked by Timberwolves’, I really should have said, ‘She attacked some timberwolves’ ”
Quinney paused and quirked an eyebrow. “Now why ever would you do that?”
Faolan smirked, “Seems she has developed a taste for them.”
“I have not!” Remedy squawked in protest.
“Next thing you know, there will be timberwolf farms. Can you imagine that?”
Quinney gave a morbid chuckle. “Honestly, I have no problems believing they’d try.”
He gave Remedy a curious glance. “I bet the thought crossed your mind.”
Remedy stuttered in a spectrum of offense and indignation, but couldn’t assemble the words to deny the accusation.
“Ponies have a strange prejudice.” Quinney continued, unabated. “Based around cuteness. You’re cute, you can get away with literal murder. Quick to forgive with a pretty speech or diminutive manner, they are also quick to send any creature not to their aesthetic straight to the gates of Tartarus. Not what you see on the tourist brochures for sure. Don’t let their pretty colours and big eyes fool you.”
“Excuse me, we are not like that.”
“No? I’ve been to pony lands you know. No trouble whatsoever.” He twisted his head to peer at her over his shoulder and curled his paws to his cheek in an infuratingly meek manner. Large eyes and cute little nose twitching, though the effect was somewhat spoiled by the blood soaking his paws.
Remedy glared. “Faolan went as well, and he was fine – mostly.”
“Bah,” Quinney retorted. “Faolan’s cute for a wolf. Big blue eyes, bright coat.” He pointed the bloody end of the needle at Faolan. “You sure you weren’t a pony in a past life? I think you would do well in pony land – as long as you like carrots.”
He turned back to his work, pulling the chord tight with gentle tugs, knitting the seams of Remedy’s hide over her wound.
“Marrok, on the other paw, would have drawn all manner of unwanted attention as soon as he entered the city limits. Black shaggy fur, scary yellow eyes and a sour disposition. Screams villain. Damn ponies would kill a spider without a second thought but invite parasprites into their home. Mark my words Faolan, they’re not as innocent as they seem.”
“I think that’s a very unfair judgement.” Remedy grumbled.
“All done,” said Quinney, cutting the tail of the knotted cord with his obsidian blade.
“Already?” Remedy blinked. She slowly flexed her leg. It felt sore, and tight. But the fiery stinging the cut was giving her had mostly subsided into a sharp ache.
Quinney poured a healthy splash of the stinging liquid he’d been drinking over the cut to wash away some of the surrounding blood. He reached into his bag and pulled out a crude woollen pad and – moistening it with the same fluid – began strapping it over the wound.
“You got my payment ready, Faolan?”
“Yes, but do you mind if we deliver it later?” Faolan cringed slightly.
“It’s alright, Faolan,” said Remedy. “ I assume you’re paying him with carnivore food.”
“Yessir, a nice fatty piece of meat. But also I need intestines,” Quinney chirped merrily.
“Intestines!” Remedy choked back a violent retch. “You eat intestines?”
“And why not? They make for excellent sausage casing. But no, actually. I need them for catgut. What did you think those stitches in your flank are made from?”
Remedy’s face contorted into horror. “They’re made from? What’s wrong with silk!”
“Oh, silk is ok, but intestines aren't? You know the grubs of silk moths have to be killed to make your silk right?” I’ve seen those silk factories. Ah, but silkworm grubs are not cute, so it doesn’t matter. Am I right?”
“Well, I…” Remedy trailed off and frowned.
“Food for thought, eh” said the weasel.
A collection of expensive looking gem crafting tools lay scattered over a solid wooden work table. Peridot peered through a magnifying glass as a metal tool held in his mouth scribed the last sections of a complicated magic circle into a large ruby. A long metal case lay open in front of him. Pillows of padded silk formed pockets to hold more precious stones. Six green pyramidal gems, and four purple oblong gems. A large hexagonal shaped pocket sat empty in the center of the case, clearly meant for the freshly cut ruby.
Peridot carefully placed the stone into the case with his hooves.
A loud thump followed by muffled raucous laughter intruded the space from upstairs.
He groaned in distaste and closed the lid of the case, fastening its metal clasps. Peridot levitated a metal disk off his desk. Its face was an intricate and tightly knitted pattern of thin jagged slivers of brass. Without so much as a second thought he unwound the slivers of metal to reveal a watch face. The floating fragments of metal lined up and mirrored the clock’s hands and hour markings. It would soon be midnight. He knitted the metal fragments together with equal ease, forming a tight dome cover over the clock face.
Peridot sighed and stood up, stretching out a hind leg that had fallen asleep. Another thump and more raucous screeching came from above. The stallion rolled his eyes and squeezed out of his overcrowded study. The recently acquired crate of uncut stones shoved just inside the door, a pile of scrolls and trinkets pushed aside to make room. Peridot closed the door behind him.
Predators from far and wide were still trickling in. News of Remedy’s return had spread, but the short notice didn’t allow for much coordination.
Remedy paced back and forth along the grass muttering to herself. Faolan gave her a sidelong glance.
“Are you sure you’re ok? “ he asked.
Remedy snapped to attention with a manic wide-eyed grin. “Hahaha, I’m great, why wouldn’t I be!”
Faolan leaned away from the crazy eyes.
“It’s not like the fate of countless lives hangs in the balance, and I’m the only pony who can save them. Erk, I think I’m going to throw up.”
Faolan placed a paw on Remedy’s shoulder. “Hey, hey, calm down. Spirits, you’re making me nervous. Look, you need to stop worrying. You have friends here, we wouldn’t have gathered a council meeting if we didn’t believe in you.”
“That’s easy for you to say. You don’t have the balance of the forest sitting in your hooves. I mean how can one measly box like this hold enough of a gift to calm a coalition of hungry carnivores.”
“Honestly, I don’t think it matters. Remedy, if we weren’t interested in a possible peaceful coexistence then we wouldn’t have agreed to receive any gifts. Abidah can be strict, but he is wise. He won’t just throw away an opportunity for peace out of spite. Remember, it was the carnivores that first sought peace. So I don’t think the gift really matters. It’s the thought that counts.”
Two wolf cubs darted through the gathered throng of wolves and dove between Faolan and Remedy. Each picking a patron to petition.
“Please, you’ve got to save us,” the first pleaded to Remedy.
“She’s relentless!” the other cried to Faolan.
“I’m sorry I called you a fat deer. Please, just hide us.“
“She’s a monster, she won’t stop!”
“We can’t take it anymore,” they cried in unison.
With a yelp the two cubs instinctively dove for cover behind Remedy.
The thump of hooves on damp earth landed behind Faolan accompanied by a flurry of wind. Sunny prowled around, her eyes searching hungrily. “Here little puppies… I’m going to find you… you can’t run forever.”
Sunny’s eyes locked onto Remedy with a comical yet unnerving predatory focus. She stalked closer. Remedy dared a peek over her shoulder to the two cubs cowering under her tail.
“Ah, Hi Sunny. What are you doing?” She asked nervously.
“Oh I’m just playing a little game of hide’n’seek. I’ve got two cheeky wolf cubs due a good tickling. Have you seen them?”
“Um, ah, no? ‘fraid not. They must have uh, gone somewhere else.”
Sunny’s eyes narrowed on Remedy. “Somewhere else? Like specifically, anywhere not here?”
Sunny stalked closer to Remedy, her head low, sniffing the ground, trying to peek behind her as if merely being opaque was a confession of guilt.
“Ah, look!” Shouted Faolan, “There they go, through that bush! Sunny spun around and with a growl dove through the undergrowth.
The two cubs peeked out from behind Remedy.
Remedy smiled at them. “Go on now, scram. You best hide before she gets back. I won’t save your backsides a second time.”
The pair shared a concerned look, then quickly scrambled away. No doubt seeking the refuge of their now considerably more appreciated mother.
Remedy smirked at Faolan. “Thanks for the save. I never could get away with a lie to her.”
Faolan puffed himself up with a haughty grin. “Not a problem, theatrics is a part of being a predator.”
Remedy smirked again. “Well in any case, it’s good practice. You’re going to need it for your own litter soon enough.”
Faolan blushed. Remedy laughed.
As if on cue, Kerena walked up to them. Her lithe and graceful gait belying the burden she carried. “Remedy we’re ready for you now. But Abidah has asked for a moment to speak with you first.”
Remedy took a deep breath. Faolan placed his reassuring paw on her back.
Remedy exhaled and grinned nervously. “Well, now or never.” Remedy descended into the natural amphitheatre towards the huddle of ancient guardians gathered below. Kerena joined beside Faolan and watched her go.
A cluster of gleeful mares laughed loudly at an animated tale being told by another. The room, large though it was, was crowded and buzzing with the clink of champagne glasses and raucous revelry. A lively jazz piece filled in the gaps, breeding a thick, intoxicating atmosphere. Everywhere except for one gloomy corner. Near the black wrought iron staircase, a pair of brooding dark green eyes peered disapprovingly at the scene. Peridot’s calculating eyes scanned the room, as if it were a spider’s den.
Ki sat at the piano playing an upbeat soulful jazz piece while two mares swooned over him. Peridot clicked his tongue at the glistening ice filled cocktail glasses that sat on the polished wood. Beads of condensation running down their sides and collecting on the precious timber at their base.
Over in the center of the room, the sunken lounge had been transformed into a jacuzzi. Lazuli soaked in the foaming water, his outstretched wings fondly caressing two mares as he spun a dangerous and daring tale. A third mare wriggled out of her dress, preparing to join the watery fun.
Four more “guests” sat at the bar behind, one young apple-green mare espoused the delights of apples to another who seemed only mildly interested, while the other two laughed and talked with Jack Rose as he shared gossip with the tipsy girls. A steel cocktail shaker held tight between his hooves as he prepared another round of intoxicating beverages; expertly crafted to raise the spirits and lower inhibitions.
Peridot scowled at the display. He had to tolerate his colleagues' tastes in entertainment, but that didn’t mean he had to share in it. Such distractions were a waste of time.
Cautiously, he crept up the stairs and slunk towards the piano.
He levitated a stack of coasters sitting on the piano, previously prepared for this very reason but dutifully ignored by the revellers. He absently placed a coaster under each of the attendant’s drinks as he whispered to the enraptured pianist. “Ki, it’s time.“
Ki awakened from his music induced trance, and blinked at Peridot.
“It’s time,” Peridot repeated.
The two mares draped over the piano immediately protested as the music cut short. “Awww, where are you going? That was beautiful, I want to hear more.”
“It’s only for a little while. He will be back shortly.” Peridot said politely through gritted teeth.
Further protest fell on deaf ears as Peridot wormed through the rest of the party with as little involvement as possible.
He stepped up to the Jacuzzi.
A freshly disrobed mare stepped into the water but stumbled on the hidden steps and landed in the tub with a great splash. A wave of water sloshed around, spilling over the side and drenching the carpet.
Shrieks of laughter peeled from the other occupants as they raised their glasses away from the tiny tsunami.
One of the other mares laughed and shouted, “see, it’s not as easy as it looks.”
The new mare emerged from the foamy water and Zephyr’s lap where she had landed. She blushed, and he grinned.
“Lazuli, it’s time…” said Peridot, standing at the rim of the tub.
The mares turned and faced the new arrival. Immediately the grin vanished from Zephyr’s face, and his ears flicked back threateningly.
“Can’t you see I’m a little busy here?”
Peridot’s expression darkened and his voice lowered in timbre. “Lazuli, now.”
The three mares let out a synchronised “Oooh”. Excited to see who the real boss was here.
The two glared at each other for a moment. Lazuli let out a little snort and closed his eyes. He turned back to his companions. “Sorry ladies, duty calls.”
The three mares made mournful sounds as he got up to leave. One enterprising mare seeing an opportunity clambered after him. “Wait, let me dry you off before you go.”
She clumsily knocked her cocktail glass into the tub in her haste to claim her prize.
Peridot growled in frustration. With a flick of magic, he quickly grabbed the sinking glass, and placed it back on the tub’s edge. The other two mares laughed and jeered at the greedy mare. Apparently her behaviour was unsporting.
With a second violent sweep of magic, Peridot screeded all the moisture from Zephyr’s coat in one rough heavy sheet. Zephyr whinnied, startled by the offending magic as it violated his personal space.
“There, dry. Can we go now, please?” he said, straining to smile through a clenched jaw.
Zephyr glared at Peridot before turning back to the giggling tub of mares, “you ladies behave, now. I won’t be long, I just have to quickly save the day.
He winked at them. They waved back with boozy half lidded eyes.
Turning to the bar he called across to Jack Rose: Keep the girls company while we’re out.
Jack Rose placed the top on a metal shaker, giving it a vigorous shake.
"Well you know me sir. I’ll be here doing what I do best."
Zephyr laughed with a dark smirk, "Well save some for us."
Peridot was already standing by the doors, waiting with Ki.
“With the quantities of alcohol you’ve bought, I’m sure you won’t go wanting,” he said.
Zephyr strode past the unicorn. “I wasn’t talking about the drinks, Scrub.”
Peridot glared, but quietly suffered his compatriots attitude.
…
Remedy descended into the amphitheatre. She hoisted the magic clad box onto the stone dais in the center, using Aleena’s robes to shield her from the spell.
The entire council had gathered, along with a significant number of other carnivores. No doubt news of her offer had spread, and plenty of curious faces had turned up to see this rumoured gift, not to mention the silken robes she was wearing. That alone was a sight only heard of in legend.
A hush descended on the crowd, Remedy could just see their faces flickering in the torchlight.
“Wow, sure is a killer crowd tonight,” said Remedy
Amused chuckling, groans and eye-rolls swept through the crowd. Faolan whined and placed a paw over his eyes.
Remedy laughed nervously at her own joke, “ha ha, yeah, That was pretty bad.”
Remedy took a deep breath
“Only a few short months ago I was chased into the forest by Faolan and his kin. What followed was what I can only describe as a life altering encounter. I was terrified. Many times that day I thought this was it, this is when and how I die. And I hated all carnivores with every fibre of my being.”
An awkward hush descended on the crowd before Remedy continued.
“That day I met many carnivores, and though I was at times shown kindness, I could only see the death you brought, and I couldn’t imagine how we could ever be friends.
“To be honest, to this day, I still can’t reconcile killing for food.”
An awkward cough broke the silence.
“And yet, thanks to carnivores I have learned much. When I was just a filly, someone very dear to me was taken by carnivores. I learned what hate feels like, and sorrow and grief. And for all my childhood I carried that with me.
“But then I learned the fate of those who hold onto bitterness in their hearts, and how it affects not just you but your friends and family around you. And I learned of love, and its greatest expression - Sacrifice.
If you’d asked me 3 months ago, what do Ponies have in common with Carnivores. I would have said nothing.
When I was first chased into the forest I carried with me a lot of hurt and hate. But as I was forced to spend time here. I learned that Carnivores weren’t so different from us. You have families, you fall in love, you laugh, you cry. I think if we learn to focus on our similarities instead of our differences we stand a very good chance of finding a working compromise.
Both Ponies and Carnivores alike value a virtuous soul, and today we are surrounded by no less than six guardians. Family, Courage, Wisdom, Patience, and Love.
You would be hard pressed to find any Pony who would not hold these in high regard.
Karena leant over and whispered to Faolan, “She’s changed, hasn’t she.”
“Huh, what?” muttered Faolan, enraptured by Remedy’s speech.
“Remedy. She’s changed. Different from when we first met her.
Faolan watched Remedy. Behind her, a faint green glow grew from the box. The bubble of light swelled, and burst in a shower of tiny motes of light. A few lingering magical sparks earthed themselves against the stone plinth.
Remedy glanced back at the box, “Well, enough banter from me, it looks like we’re ready to find out what the gift is.”
A cat from somewhere in the dim gallery called out, “You don’t already know?”
Remedy chuckled, “Actually, no. It’s as much a surprise to me as it is to you.”
“Well c’mon, show us already. We’re dying of curiosity over here.”
Remedy laughed, and wondered if carnivores had similar proverbs as ponies,
“Ok, ok,” she said as she walked around behind the dias, removing the large gold key from around her neck.
“She’s I dunno, more mature?, more whole? More… radiant,” Kerena continued
“Radiant?” Faolan pondered, furrowing his brow.
“Without further ado, I present this gift so that we might once again seek a common peace. I hope it's everything you ever wanted, or at least something nice to start a friendship with.”
Faolan squeezed his eyes shut, the itch in his nose now unlocked flashes of recognition; a smell, a place, a shop of glittering glass and acrid scents. The magic store! Radiant! Salt of Radiance!!
The keyhole on the box was surrounded in small golden concentric rings, engraved with intricate markings. Remedy pushed the key into the hole and turned it. Gears meshed to the key's barrel turned the rings in counter rotating directions and with a satisfying mechanical click, the key found its home, the rings now aligned turned the intricate markings into completed glyphs, which hummed with magic and glowed a vibrant gold.
Faolan's heart sank, a deep dread ballooned in his chest as his fur bristled with fear. He burst forward from the crowd and shouted out, “REMEDY! THAT SCENT, IT’S SALT OF RADIANCE.”
But the rest of the crowd stood stupified at the spectacle as wind began to swirl and brightly coloured motes of magic were drawn from the air and consumed into the glow now surrounding the box.
Remedy held up a hoof against the sudden gust, and peeked through glaring light, shooting a confused look at Faolan, “Salt of Radiance!? But that’s used for…” she muttered to herself
The box lid burst open violently wracking its hinges and a pillar of light pierced the sky. Colourful neon magic circles rose up the column and expanded out like ripples, spanning acres above the forest canopy.
Remedy squinted her eyes enough to peer into the bright glowing energy pouring from the box. Inside it was filled with large thick packets of brilliant salt of radiance. Nestled in the center, a single ruby gem covered in runes glowed and trembled angrily.
Her eyes opened wide as a trembling whisper squeaked out, “Oh Celestia, it’s a bomb.”
Panic and terror flooded her body with adrenaline. The ripples of magic in the air reversed and started to cascade quickly into the box with a growing rhythmic bassey “whomp, whomp, whomp” accompanied by a high pitched whine that grew into a banshee's scream, causing tribe members to whimper in pain.
“IT’S A BOMB!” Remedy screamed in panic.
The guardians reacted quickly, pulling their families in behind them and drawing as much magic as they could muster. Each one in a mere moment rose a desperate barrier. Ulrica twisted the very trees around her. Faolan tried to run towards Remedy, but Ulrica swiftly scooped him back with a massive paw.
Remedy stared into the box glowing with all its blooming white-hot devastation. “What have I done?”
The energy crashed back into the box in a crescendo of blinding white light, punctuated by a single heartbeat of deafening silence.
Peridot stood in a military lean-to off the main strategic command tent. A set of folding tables and chairs were neatly setup around him. This lean-to formed the main staging area where orders and intel were distributed to the officers of the currently occupying E.U.P. Currently the main tent flaps had been pulled back, offering an impressive vista over the everfree forest. Either side of him stood Lazuli and Ki. Ki waited patiently, but Lazuli was growing increasingly bored and irritable and was already maximally insufferable.
“Just how long until this little plan of yours actually bears fruit? I’m missing some quality “appetisers” right about now. And knowing Jack, they’ll all be spent by the time I get back at this rate,” Lazuli complained.
Peridot continued to gaze out of the lean-to over the everfree forest, allowing a small smile to grow on his face
“It won’t be long now. I am nothing if not precise.”
As if to emphasise his point, he took out his fancy pocket watch, performing the same magical disassembly trick to reveal its face and the time.
“In fact, it should be just about ready…”
“Excuse me, Sir?”, an apologetic voice belonging to a soldier, interrupted, ”I have a Mr Bale here, insists on seeing you.”
The EUP Soldier stood aside to let Provender into the tent.
Peridot let out a sigh
“So much for not being interrupted,” he thought to himself.
Peridot stepped forward to greet the farmer
“Ah, Mr. Bale. Your timing, inadvertently precise, carries a melody of destiny.”
Provender blinked at the strange unicorn.
“Er, yes? Thank you, I think?” he said.
“Pity, the notes that follow play no favourites. No matter, come in,” said Peridot cryptically, turning to lead Provender into the tent.
A peaceful grin crept onto Peridot’s face as he marched him in.
It took Provender a moment to follow, then remembering said, “oh, and this is Tradewind, he’s a close friend of Remedy’s”
Peridot stopped in the center of the tent, turning back as Trade slipped into the tent behind Provender.
Trade cleared his throat. “Ahem, It’s nice to meet you. As Mr Bale has introduced, I am Tradewind, a concerned party to Remedy’s safety, and I have some questions about this plan of yours."
Peridot turned back to face the treeline his voice calm and cool.
“Mr Bale, I thought it was clear that under no circumstances were you to divulge details of our operation to anypony. The details of which were a generous privilege granted to you for your familial ties to the operative”
“Operative? You mean Remedy? Look, this is different. Besides - Tradewind is basically family, and he’s very dear to Remedy.”
Still staring at the distant horizon, a touch of ice entered Peridot’s voice.
“Despite the fact that such a choice was never yours to make, its impact, oddly enough, matters very little now.”
“Look, I just want to make sure that Remedy is safe, or else I’m going out there to look for her myself,” said Tradewind with a little heat of his own. The attitude of this bureaucrat was getting under his skin.
“Oh, I don’t think that would be in your best interests at all,” Peridot drawled with insincere concern.
Tradewinds nose wrinkled in anger, “Then how about you….”
Peridot gasped, leaning forward, a wide grin breaking onto his face and he silenced the agitated pegasus with a dismissive wave.
“Hush, all your answers are forthcoming, look.”
Tradewind and Provender halted their protest long enough to look out across the landscape into the moonlit night.
In the distance, somewhere deep in the forest just beyond the horizon, a faint glow warmed the treetops. Brightly coloured motes spawned like tiny stars in the air and were sucked towards the glow.
“W-What’s that, what’s happening?” said Trade, clear concern tinging his voice.
Peridot, grinning with glee, looked down and marked a position on a map in a notebook with a floating pencil.
“That would be Remedy making her presentation to the Carnivores I presume,” he replied, then he smiled darkly and mumbled under his breath, “or at least, even without her they’ve figured out how to open the box”
Tradewind perked up ”Remedy! Then she’s ok. I can go get her”
“Indeed, she has performed quite admirably. A diligent and dependable operative.”
Trade and Provender stepped up to the edge of the tent. The light bloomed, and the swirling motes coalesced on the source.
“I’ll go now, I can be there in minutes, I’ll…”
Suddenly a great pillar of light split the night air, piercing the sky and scattering the clouds. The tree canopy bathed in a brilliant blue-white light. Magical circles rose from the base and spread out like ripples.
“WHA!? WHAT IS HAPPENING?” shouted Tradewind, hysteria rising in his voice as he shielded his eyes from the light.
Peridot grinned maniacally, his eyes wide and wild. “A magic show like they’ll never forget.”
Before Tradewind could object, the ripples of magic collapsed, sucked back into the column of light which flickered and went out. A heart beat of eerie silence.
Tradewind opened his mouth to speak, but then the sky erupted in fire. Where before the cold white of pure arcana had split the sky, now the land was bathed in the white hot fury of the sun. Too blinding to look at, even Peridot was forced to shelter his eyes. Smoke rose from treetops moments before the expanding shockwave tore them from the ground, roots and all. All in a haunting hateful silence.
Trade and Provender stared, paralysed by the scene. Seconds later the shockwave hit. A deep boom shook the foundations, muffled by the distance and forest. Yet the world trembled underhoof, reverberating in the souls of every living thing.
As the bass notes rolled away like thunder, a harsh ear splitting noise emerged.
Provender was screaming. Screaming with horrific primal agony. He spun on his hooves, still screaming while tears boiled from his blood shot eyes.
He charged Peridot with the hopeless broken fury of a childless father. The EUP soldier instinctively stepped in to block his charge, but was hit by an upended table before he could even speak. Tables and chairs crumpled and scattered before the wrath of the bereaved workhorse, his cry venting all his heartbreak and despair in a single act of pyrrhic wrath.
Ki moved quickly, silent and graceful like flowing water, intercepting the stallions charge. Provender rose up on his powerful hind legs, intent on baring all his force down on the diminutive pony in his way, but it was in vain. Ki twisted at the last moment, deftly dodging the earth cracking blow, then he leapt into the air, twirling like a gymnast before delivering a mind numbing kick to the back of Provenders head.
Provender crumpled, unconscious, his work hardened body slumping to the floor like a sack of potatoes.
Tradewind stood trembling, his brain desperately trying and failing to process the scene. The sounds of Provenders screaming, still ringing numbly in his ears. Only the heavy slump of the stallions body jolted him from his stupor.
With tears in his wide eyes and voice trembling, he turned to look at Peridot and his lackeys.
“Wha.. What have you done?”
Peridot ignored him, staring calmly at the rising pillar of smoke and ember. "And now, phase 2," he whispered under his breath.
Under the glow of moonlight and forest fire, a squad of pegasi streaked across the sky, circling the rising column of smoke. One by one, they dove to the tree line and dropped something that glowed with bright light, like a flare, in a perimeter surrounding the devastated area before quickly flying away. Peridot looked back down to his notebook and scribbled some more.
“WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!” Tradewind yelled.
A translucent golden dome swept up from the forest perimeter like a soap bubble and enclosed the scene, cutting the smoke column neatly in two. The remaining smoke trapped, pooled at the top of the dome only to rain back down inside obscuring the interior in an ugly opaque haze, a hellish snow globe of ash and ember.
Peridot snapped the book closed and looked at Trade.
“With this, the threat from carnivores should be finished once and for all. You will of course be suitably compensated for your loss.”
Tradewind’s words stumbled out in an incoherent stutter “C..C..C..Compensated!? YOU MONSTER!”
Tradewind snapped his wings in a powerful thrust shooting back a gust of wind and he rocketed into the air, charging the unicorn in a blast of speed.
Peridot didn’t move, he stared down the charging pegasus. But the instant before impact a massive sideways blow from Zephyr intercepted him, and Tradewind, thrown off his trajectory, crashed into a row of tables sending chairs and broken wood flying. Before he could right himself, a follow up blow to the gut by Zephyr winded him, and then the blue pegasus pressed his foreleg against his throat.
Zephyr grinned menacingly, ”Now now, there’s no need for that.”
Trade tried to speak but could only manage a strangled cry from his collapsing windpipe. He thrashed and bucked against the weight of his aggressor and a lucky flailing hoof caught Zephyr across the side of his head.
Zephyr growled angrily at Tradewind. He delivered a powerful hind leg stomp right into Tradewinds groin.
What little breath Tradewind had, quickly abandoned him as he doubled over in pain.
Zephyr curled a dextrous wing drawing out a slender dagger and drove it right through Trade’s wing, pinning it to the table.
Tradewind’s head reeled and his eyes rolled back into his skull, a pitiful groan of agony wheezing from his breathless lungs.
Both Peridot and Ki winced as Zephyr climbed off the disabled pegasus and dusted himself lightly.
Peridot regarded him with distaste, “Was that really necessary?”
Zephyr looked at his gawking comrades like they’d each grown a second head.
“What? He hit me!”
Peridot levitated some chairs off the recovering EUP guard.
“Organise a detail to tend to these two’s injuries and then lock them up until I say so.
The guard groggily climbed to his hooves and gave a shakey salute. ”Yessir.”
Ki and Zephyr exited the tent, but Peridot paused to look back at the bleeding pegasus, and slumped farm pony.
“Her sacrifice was unfortunate but necessary. With it we will avoid any further conflict,” he said stoicly
He paused for a moment as if waiting for a reply, or perhaps if he could muster something more comforting. But nothing came. So he left.
Trade twitched, his head lolling about as pain wracked his body. Provender laid motionless, deeply unconscious, and his face was devoid of any expression save for the constant stream of tears that trickled from his closed eyes.
