Pain. Great goddesses, why did every single part of me feel like it was on fire? Wasn’t I dead? Luna, I wished I was; this was unbearable. I couldn’t move, I was dead yet still alive. Chanting and a low background moaning sound from the monks filled my ears. I was dying…my life ebbing away from the pumping wound in my chest and nothing could stop it…how bloody ironic to be sent to hell by the very mare I’d come to rescue…

A scrabbling at my mane niggled at my thoughts. For the goddesses sake, leave me be! I was dying and I would finally be rid of this life. Maybe…maybe the herd would have pity on me? Maybe if I…what was that? The insistent scratching and scrabbling was quickly followed by a gurgling chirrup as a small scaly head appeared before my eyes…Tarragon? I smiled and tried to speak, but I was so weak. I just wanted to say goodbye to my friend, that was all…it wasn’t much to ask.

In response, she grabbed my muzzle in her tiny claws and held her mouth over mine, dribbling something into me…the effect was almost instantaneous. She jumped down and returned a moment later with more. It slipped down my throat as if it had a mind of its own and I gulped it down greedily, feeling life in me once more. My senses tingled, the terrible wound in chest beginning to knit closed, the blood flow stopping.

Behind the lectern, the enraptured abbott had his back to me, calling out to his goddess. He had made his sacrifice and now awaited his reward while the monks prostrated themselves before him chanting and swaying. Tarragon continued to bite and chew at my bonds, and one by one, they yielding to the dragonlings razor sharp teeth. As soon as the second bond was cut, I reached out and grasp the flask she had pulled out of my pack. My magic was back, if a little weakened, but after I’d drained nearly half the life essence from the container, I could feel the power of the wendigo back as it should be; it was exhillerating.

Tarragon took the flask and hid it back in my pack, while I reached down to take up my scythe. Beside me on the altar, Thalios’ dagger sat abandoned, still dripping with my blood.

Shadow sat beside me in a glassy eyed daze. Gently but firmly, I took her muzzle in my hooves and dribbled some of my own life fluids into her open mouth. The mare’s eyes flickered for the briefest of moments before quickly returning to their normal blazing red; recognition and life suddenly surging back through her. Shadow stared ahead of her in silent confusion, taking in the scene of the monks and the abbott, the knife…and me.

She looked down into my face as if she couldn’t believe I was there,

“Fairlight…?”

“Hello love. Long time no see…”

“Fairlight…!”

I held a hoof up to her mouth, swinging myself off the altar, “No time, we have work to do…up for a challenge?”

By way of answer, the thestral mare took Thalios’ knife from me and glared abject hatred at the abbot who paused in his chanting to look in befuddlement down at the mist swirling around his hooves. He turned slowly, his face a picture of horror and surprise as he took in the glistening form before him. I clicked the release on the scythe and with a bang of its haft on the stone floor, the wickedly long blade whipped out and locked solidly into place.

I smiled at him, mist dripping from between my teeth, the frigid winds of the north whistling around me in a fury of hatred and vengeance,

“Abbott…” I hissed, letting out a long breath, “Time for you to meet the goddess yourself my friend…”

“L…Lord Fairlight!” he stuttered, “How are you…?”

“How am I still alive?” I laughed, propping the scythe against my shoulder, “You really are a pitiful soul aren’t you abbott, spreading misery and death in the name of the princess.”

He never saw Shadow move gracefully behind him. Like her namesake, in silence and unseen, she reached the blade around the abbots neck until she was holding it to his throat like an avenging angel of death. I leaned forward and whispered in his ear, “How would you like to see what death is like?”

Shadow pulled the blade effortlessly across his throat as he turned to his flock. Staggering toward them, his blood sprayed out in a crimson fountain across the stupefied monks; his final blessing as he passed to the afterlife he was so happy to send others.

Silence fell as the thestral monks looked on in horror at the collapsed, bloodied figure of their abbot. As one, they looked up and saw Shadow, the bloodied dagger held in her mouth and beside her, a creature they could only begin to imagine in their worst nightmares.

Pandemonium broke out, the panicked monks all shouting, screaming and running all at once, desperately trying to open the doors that had somehow mysteriously frozen shut. My laughter echoed throughout the room and I leaped out into the midst of the throng, the song of slaughter loud in my ears and pulsing through my veins. It was time for a different type of chant in this dreadful place, and I was here to teach it to the faithful.

I danced through them, a blur of steel and ice, wreathed in a white fog of death and the cries of the dying. I thrilled at the sounds, the feeling of the blood warm upon my hide. I breathed in the escaping life essence as I flowed unstoppably through the panicked monks, a whirlwind of ice and steel. I’d not felt my magic so full in an age and now…now I had achieved my goal; my thestral by my side joining me in the dance, dealing out death with her knife.

The gift from the herd, was now my gift to my mate…my beautiful, wonderful Shadow.

The two of us laughed, whirling and spinning through the fog, the crimson a wondrous accompaniment to the cries of the monks as they fell around us. It was as it should be, the wendigo and his mate, death and life…together.

All too soon, the moment came to an end and we had to pause and catch our breath. The scene around us was a charnel house of blood, bone and carnage. I smiled, it was a beautiful sight, but not as beautiful as the girl beside me…

“Shadow”, I breathed.

She leaned forward, fiery tears dripping down her cheeks, “Fairlight…love”. Shadow grabbed me round my neck in her forelegs and cried, wracking sobs taking her body as she squeezed me for all she was worth. Finally, pushing away, Shadow began sniffing me, nudging me with her muzzle and taking the occasional lick. She stood and walked around me, repeating the process several times until she was satisfied.

Nodding, Shadow smiled, “Fairlight”.

I took her up in my fore legs and kissed her, Shadow’s lips parting to allow my tongue to enter her mouth. A little unsure at first, she met me, her own tongue questing into my mouth, tasting and exploring. She pulled me hard against her and moaned wordlessly as she took her fill. Smiling at each other, I knew we had to leave that terrible place and I wasn’t sad to go. On our way out, Tarragon had returned to sit on my back, much to the surprise of Shadow who instantly took a liking to her. The two seemed to share some sort of bond too, clicking and chirruping to each other while we walked.

Shadow had never been one to talk much, but there was so much I wanted to ask her. Right now though, that could wait; we needed to get out of there. Fortunately, we didn’t encounter any more of the monks on our way out and were nearly at the entrance to the courtyard when a massive blast of wind violently blew the doors open, the force nearly knocking us to the floor. Shaking my head, I rose to my hooves just as a huge dragon’s head poked in, opening its great toothy maw. The small red flame began to glow just as I pulled Shadow into a side room in time to avoid the flesh stripping blast of searing flame that engulfed the corridor.

“Come out wendigo!” the dragon screamed, “Come out and face your death!”

I shook my mane and allowed the power to seeth through me once more. Shadow took hold of my foreleg, “No! Fairlight…”

Damn this place, I’d just been re-united with Shadow and now this! Luna’s arse, couldn’t anything go my way just for fucking once? Smiling ironically to myself, I kissed her on the cheek, “I’ll be alright love, I haven’t come all this way for some stinking beast like that to keep me from you. Here…take Tarragon, I won’t be long.”

She moved to protest, but I closed the door behind me and walked out into the courtyard carrying my scythe.

“I’m here dragon”, I called, “You should have left things be…but you can’t can you? Your pride will be your undoing”.

The huge creature lumbered up to me, bloody rents in its body showing where the MAD had caused considerable amounts of damage. How the damned thing was still alive was a miracle, for the dragon at any rate. It let out a wracking cough, spraying blood like rain and was clearly in dreadful torment,

“You…YOU!”, it bellowed, blood and smoke escaping from its wounds, “I’ll take you with me to the underworld, you cursed Celestian vermin”

My wings snapped open and I flicked out the war scythe’s blade, “I’m no fucking Celestian!” I snarled and dove in to the attack.

A rolling wave of flame came right at me as I rolled away, slamming my scythe into and through the creatures wounded side. It howled in pain, spinning round and trying to catch me with its jaws. I pulled away, pouring blue-white fog and ice at the thing in an attempt to freeze it.

Despite its injuries and weakened state, the dragon was still insanely strong. Ice formed on its body, slowing it movements as blizzarding winds buffeted it from my magical assault combining with the blows from my blade. The dragon roared and tried to fly but its wings were now so coated in ice they were all but useless. In a blind fury, the dragon thrashed, lashing its tail around like a whip.

I dove, dodged and swung, my scythe aiming for the dragons weakened areas until both the beast and I were breathing hard in our attempts to kill each other. It was then that I made a fatal error.

Heedless of its mangled body, the great beast whirled round and with lightning fast reflexes, swung his tail like a flail, smashing it into the stonework of one of structures in the courtyard. The impact was deafening, sending chunks of stone spraying out at incredible speed, taking me full in the face, neck and chest.

Crying out in anger and pain, I crashed into the ground, breaking bones and partially blinded by the stone shards. Before I had even a chance to try and repair any of the damage, the dragon was on me. A claw that could have lifted a house grabbed me and brought me up to his huge jaws.

I expected instant death from the half crippled creature; its body was now so torn and broken it must have been running on nothing but willpower. But some things never change. He glared hatred at me and grinned menacingly, unable to resist the chance to gloat, “I have you now, ‘wendigo’”.

My eyesight was just coming back to me in time to see the huge jaws opening and an inevitable bone snapping death, but I had one more trick up my sleeve to play. With all the magic I could summon, I aimed a blast of magic from my horn right down the things throat to where the little red light had been.

With a terrible shriek, the dragon recoiled from my attack. It wasn’t anywhere near as powerful as I’d hoped, I was still injured and focussing was proving a lot harder than I’d hoped. The great beast smashed me bodily into the side of the main building and I dropped to the ground, a broken doll of smashed bone and flesh. I couldn’t breath, pain and shock fought inside me for dominance and even with my magic I doubted I could repair this amount of damage. I could only hope that I’d done enough to…

A massive claw landed beside my muzzle and I looked up into a huge serpentine eye. Blood poured like a river from between its teeth, but I knew then, that the dragon would still be able to send me to the gates of hell with its dying breath. I watched those jaws opening and closed my eyes…waiting.

There was a huge, bone jarring impact. Dust and sand showered down on and around me as I lay there waiting for the end which never came. My eyesight was still unfocussed but I could just make out the outline of the immense head and neck of the black dragon, lying motionless on the sandy floor of the courtyard. A thestral gracefully jumped down from the top of the dragon’s spiky skull to trot towards me. My last sight as darkness took me, was of Shadow, looking into my eyes with her own that burned with such a bright fiery red ferocity it melted my heart. They were so…beautiful…

I was in a wonderful place, full of warmth, happiness and the overwhelming taste of spice with a sort of fresh minty afterglow. Marvellous, I thought quietly. I felt like I was back in my mother’s fore legs as a foal; warm, safe and protected from harm. There was no more pain, no more tiredness, I was just there…safe.

The way I’d been pushed and pulled by life didn’t really matter anymore, I simply didn’t care. I’d saved Shadow and thrown down my enemies. What more was there to do? My work was done and it was time to…

“Fairlight?”

I opened my eyes.

“Fairlight!?” a tearful Shadow stood over me, two empty flasks lying beside her and a flapping Tarragon rushing about squawking wildly.

I smiled up at her, “Hello love…long time no see.”

She leaned across and hugged me gently, her mane falling across my muzzle smelt wonderful. I tried to move and was surprised to find I was actually still in one piece. I’d used an enormous amount of life energy to repair myself and it seemed that my wonderful marefriend had come through in the nick of time.

Shadow reached around and beneath me, helping me to my hooves. She was incredibly strong for such a bony creature, and…my goddesses, there before me lay the dragon…a knife embedded in the top of its head. The monstrous thing shimmered as its spirit began to leave its body, the life energy finally leaking away. I breathed in, taking its escaping strength into my body. I could feel its unbelievable power coursing through me, boosting my own to heights I’d never even thought possible. My awareness became razor sharp, my muscles bulged and I felt strong…incredibly strong. I let out a rumble of joy at the sensation, the unadulterated power of it all! I lifted a hoof and saw, to my surprise, running down my leg a sort of pale blue spiral in my normally pure white fur.

This was new! I tried rubbing at it but it wouldn’t go away. I noticed then that it wasn’t isolated to only one of my legs either, the others were the same…even my flank! I looked like somepony had been drawing on me in weird swirling lines. I sighed, what difference did it make? I was frightening enough without odd blue lines. Maybe they’d fade away over time? Shaking my mane, Shadow looked up at me quizzically, “Fairlight?”

I stood there looking at her in nervous anticipation; how would she see me now? In silent answer to my unspoken question, she walked up to me and licked my muzzle, before taking my neck in her forelegs and taking my ear in her mouth for a nibble. Shock ran through me and despite the current incredible strength of my body, my knees went weak at the slightest touch of my thestral mate. As happy as I was though, this was not the place or time…we had to leave. Shadow, however, had other ideas.

Pulling out the knife from the dragons head, Shadow walked over to the creatures ravaged chest before, horribly, plunging it in and dragging it along in her forehooves. Gritting her teeth, she strained with the effort of her work but soon had the rib cage exposed, and began digging ever deeper. In horrified fascination I watched her cut and slice with the skills of a trained surgeon until she re-emerged from the bloody carcase carrying in her mouth its still warm steaming heart.

In the dim light of the Wither world, the thing seemed to stare back at me as I stared at it in horror. I had a feeling I knew what was coming next.

“Love?” Shadow gave a slight purring sound as she brought the organ over to me. It was enormous.

“Oh no! You’re not catching me out like that again!” I forced out, backing away.

The thestral advanced on me until I was up hard up against the stone wall. Slowly, she lifted it to my mouth and her words entered my head, warm but insistent, “Eat…share the strength…with me”.

It was unusual enough for Shadow to say more than one or two words, but with that look in her eyes, my mouth opened of its own accord and she pushed the warm meaty lump inside. Suspended between us, she bit down and I followed her lead, trying not to think of the strong iron like taste flooding my mouth, the chewiness…it was….not bad really. I’d never eaten meat before and doubted I would again, but at least I wasn’t bringing it straight back up.

Shadow moved closer, taking another bite. All the time, she gazed into my eyes, the burning red fires filling my vision until I felt I could dive right into them. I could see her, smell her, reach out and touch her. It had been so long, so terribly long.

Slowly, inch by inch, we drew closer until our lips met, our teeth bumping against each others until she pushed the last piece of the dragons heart into my mouth with her tongue. Shadow licked the final drops of the blood from my muzzle and then turned to look up at the sky,

“Others will come here”

I nodded, “Come on love, we need to go.”

“Home?”

“Yes, first stop is the Purple Sands and then back to the Beyond. Hopefully, Star Beard will have found a way to get us back to the mortal realm. That is, if you still want to go there?”

She nodded, stretching her wings in readiness for flight. With a strong downward beat, we were aloft, keeping high and arrowing straight for the thestral lands. Thank the goddess I’d brought dads compass, this whole area looked the same to me. In fact, I never thought I’d say it, but I almost missed the Beyond. At least the thestral’s land had something different to rocks, rocks and more rocks. I looked back to see Tarragon, full tummy included, landing on my back with a contented look. Nothing like a little cannibalism…dragons!

Shadow flew closer, looking down at the small device I held in front of her in my magic. She looked at me with confusion on her face. I smiled,

“No thestral will be hurt there ever again love, but it’s your choice. All you need to do is…”

I never finished. Shadow reached out and pressed the detonator, determination and anger in her eyes. The blast behind us signalled the last of my MAD’s and the end of the temple, or at least a good portion of it. That dire place…as if the Withers wasn’t bad enough, what with the insane monks and bloody dragons. What the fuck was…ah! Better not tempt fate, Fairlight…

We flew for hours in silence, Shadow had never been one for conversation and I wanted to conserve energy for flight. Thankfully, we didn’t encounter any more of the giant flying beasts on the way back, other than little Tarragon of course. I kept forgetting that one day she’d be big enough to eat me in one bite. I truly hoped dragons didn’t suffer from teenage angst or else I could find myself becoming a tasty snack before I knew it. She was still cute though.

The land below us opened out into a large plain of rocks, the fog and pervasive sulphur smell changing to a muggy, earthy odour which made my heart leap. We were near the marsh at last, and near the marsh was…

“THORN!”

Shadow screeched and flew down to meet the grizzled old veteran who was stood outside his tent smoking a long stemmed clay pipe. He dropped it in his surprise and flew up to meet her on the way down. The two thestrals hugged in mid air before landing on the rough ground near the tents.

“You’re alive! Thank the goddess.” he gave me a wide eyed grin, “Fairlight! I knew you could do it my friend, and here she is…alive and well” He checked her over briefly before calling his medical officer across to examine her.

“What exactly am I supposed to be looking for?” the medical thestral asked sarcastically, taking in the thestral mare before him.

Thorn raised an eyebrow, “Just give her an examination, Char. I don’t need one of your lectures”.

“She’s fitter than you, you old goat”, the medic stomped a hoof and stalked away muttering to himself. Thorn watched him go shaking his head.

“Ignore him”, he said smiling, “Char and I have been on many campaigns and he’s like family of sorts. I’ll ignore his insubordination this time, but one day...”

With no more than a wave of his hoof, a group of thestral warriors rushed up to stand respectfully before the storm major, waiting for orders,

“Strike camp, we leave at once.”

He turned to me, “You seem up for a flight Captain, and the lady Shadow?”

She snorted and nodded her head enthusiastically, “Excellent!”, Thorn exclaimed, “We will head to the Purple Sands, for food and rest. Camping out is not as agreeable for my old frame as it used to be.”

Shadow nudged me playfully, before nuzzling Tarragon who chirruped happily behind my mane. I was really going to need to have a wash when I got home, I probably reeked of dragon drool, but it was worth it to have my family complete.

The Purple Sands tribe turned out to watch our return. Stallions, mares, even the odd foal were arrayed below us as we came in for a landing. Actually, I hadn’t seen many foals in my time in the Withers and it seemed the birth rate was very low indeed. It may explain to some degree, the long life span of the thestrals, which was at odds with the warlike nature of their race. All things considered, I was surprised they weren’t extinct.

Short Stride trotted up with her husband. Even Astral was there, looking partly at us and also up at the sky; probably half expecting a dragon to come in and incinerate the whole village at any moment. All of us entered the hall and were treated to a meal, drink and music to start the evening off. Just as I was starting to relax, Forge stood, stomping his hoof on the table for quiet. Gradually, the room fell silent and the musicians ceased playing. All eyes were on the Earl,

“Warriors of the Purple Sands, and our brothers from the Beyond. My bride’s sister has been returned to us this day, plucked from the land where few are brave, or foolish enough to enter. To you, Lord Fairlight…” he raised a goblet, “I salute your bravery. You may not be a thestral, but I for one would be proud to fight by your side and call you my brother.”

A round of mugs and goblets thudding on tables followed, before the Earl called for quiet once more,

“Will you come among us and tell us the tale of your expedition? I for one want to hear it!”

Another round of mug bashing and shouts of agreement followed and I couldn’t help but smile. What the hell, I didn’t mind spinning a yarn and it was about time I had some positive attention for once. As I walked to the centre of the room, my goblet floating before me in my magic, I hoped they were all sitting comfortably. This could take a while…

Letting the magic roll through me, I allowed my body change, the mist flowing out around my hooves as I spread my wings. The thestrals murmured and watched me intently while I turned slowly, casting my blue gaze upon them all. Smiling quietly to myself, I reared onto my hind legs and sent my voice out through the room as cold as the north wind…

“Let me tell you a story…” And I did.

The warriors hung upon my every word until the very end, when I bowed before them with a flourish and was returning to my seat when Astral stood,

“You…You killed the Sharar? The black dragon of the Coal Spike?”

“Well, Shadow did actually, but as I said, we had help.”

“From the Broken Cliff…Stone Hammer?”

“That’s right, he fought the dragon with me when we were in the mountain”

The was a loud muttering and excited gestures from the thestrals. Forge leaned across to speak to Short Stride. Unfortunately, I couldn’t hear what they were saying but their body language gave me a hint of what it was about…they knew who Stone Hammer was and there was some significance in my involvement with him. Forge spoke next,

“Lord Fairlight, are you sure this thestral was Stone Hammer?”

“He said he was and the others followed his orders. His coat was a deep maroon colour and he had green eyes”

There was a deal of chatter and nodding before Astral spoke, “My Lord Forge, this is interesting news…very interesting indeed. I ask that we me speak of this later and allow our guests to relax and enjoy themselves. It appears they have had quite the exciting adventure."

Forge nodded, sitting back down and waving to the musicians to start up once more. I took my seat, a little perplexed but happy to be back amongst friends. Shadow nudged me and pushed a bowl of cherries to me along with another goblet of the local speciality…’gland squeezings’. ‘Well, in for a bit’, I thought to myself and downed the bitter brew to the encouraging cheers of the warriors. I hate to admit it, but I loved the attention.

Normally around this time, the old Fairlight body would be getting a little worn down, but oddly, I felt absolutely fine. In fact, I felt amazing! I downed some more of the fruit and ale, then stopped, staring at my foreleg; my pristine white foreleg. All this time, I’d been in my wendigo form rather than changing back when I had a chance to. A slight chill ran down my spine, was I forgetting who I was? No…no, I felt the same as I always had, it was just that this felt more ‘natural’, more ‘me’ somehow. In a way, it was like I’d always been a wendigo but hadn’t realised who I really was, or my potential, until I’d merged with the spirit. I could still release it whenever I wanted, but right now, this felt right. Shadow seemed to think so too, she’d been leaning against me most of the evening and occasionally sneaking titbits to Tarragon who was nesting in my pannier.

The music had me tapping my hooves, it was quite catchy really. I think I must ahave had too much to much to drink as the next thing I knew was Shadow and I started dancing together after watching Forge and Short Stride take the floor. I wasn’t one for mane pulling and jumping about, but after a few drinks and my mate with me, then to hell with it…why not? I may have had four left hooves, but nopony seemed to care and more joined us, whooping and laughing. Shadow and I ended up collapsed in a heap near the fire, laughing and nuzzling each other before Short Stride walked over, her wing draped over Forge,

“Come with us you two…come.” She laughed beckoning us to follow them while her husband leaned across and kissed her neck. Shadow stood, giving me a push to get me moving and together, a little unsteadily, we followed out hosts down a passage to a set of heavy wooden doors.

“Your room”, Forge sniggered leaning drunkenly against the wall, “May it serve you well my Lord Fairlight!”

He burst out laughing and was dragged away by a chuckling Short Stride. What a bizarre group they were, but I didn’t have much time to wonder about that due to the thestral beside me, pulling me headlong into the bedchamber.