Author's Notes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qTghUgMOeY

Snap Dragon held her foal in her hooves as she sung a lullaby to her. Smiling down at her tiny filly, she lowered her head and gently nuzzled her soft cheeks and kissed her. Lying beside her was a stallion holding another foal, a colt, smiling at her with love and joy. She couldn't make out the stallion's face and his color was washed out into a kind of colorless grey color.

The tiny colt in his hooves started wailing and kicking his little legs as he cried out in hunger.

"Here, set him to nurse." Snap rolled herself onto her side, exposing her pregnant belly to him, and pulled back her leg to present her milk laden udders for her foal. Milk dripped from her teats as the stallion set the colt to her, and Snap let out a happy sigh when she felt the colt latch on and suckle with quick, strong pulls that drew in her rich nourishment. Smelling the milk in the air, the filly in her hooves quickly roused and began squirming as she mewed for a feeding.

Holding her daughter out to the father, the stallion took the filly and set her to her other teat. Another cry started up and Snap took up a wailing foal that had been sleeping against her chest, passing the filly over to the stallion he set her to another teat to nurse. Suddenly, another foal cried out, followed by another, and another. The stallion began extracting foals from a nearby hay-filled basket and setting them to her to feed, somehow each one finding a teat to suckle. More wails filled the air from another basket and the stallion gathered those up and gave them over to her to nurse.

When the last one was set to nurse, she gazed back at a dozen foals nursing along her belly and smiled.

The stallion smiled down at her, his gaze filled with love. "You are the most wonderful mother. I love you." Their lips came together and her heart exploded in happiness. Everything was perfect!

Snap Dragon woke up.

The fire had burned down to embers, so Snap tossed a log onto the fire, bringing it back to life and filling the room with its light. Rolling onto her side, Snap looked down at her belly, recalling the sight of a dozen foals nursing together along them. What a very strange dream, she thought to herself. Pulling her hind legs back, she exposed her two soft mounds with her pert, light colored teats. They used to be flat, but had gotten bigger over the last year, and now looked rather shapely.

Reaching out, she lightly brushed her hoof over one of her teats and gasped as how sensitive it felt. Closing her eyes, she lightly rubbed her teat and imagined that it was a foal nursing from her, it's little mouth latched on, suckling milk from her. She felt a strange flush wash over her body and her marehood began throbbing.

Snap's eyes flew open. She had never felt that before! Reaching her hoof down, she touched it to her marehood and found it soaking wet. The touch sent an unusual tingle through her body. It felt really good! Slowly, she began to rub her hoof along her marehood, marveling at the pleasant tingles under her touch.

The longer she rubbed, the more the pleasant tingles grew. Closing her eyes again, Snap found herself thinking about the faceless stallion in her dream. The way he smiled at her and the touch of his lips as he kissed her. Her breath brew more brisk as the tingles grew ever more intense until suddenly, her marehood exploded with waves of bliss as it repeatedly clamped down on itself. Moaning, Snap felt pleasures she had never endured before roll though her body. Fluids spurted out of her marehood, splattering onto her hoof.

Panting for breath, Snap fell back as her body slowly settled down from what had just happened, a warm feeling of satisfaction settling over her. As enjoyable as that had been, something about it seemed lacking for her. Her body craved something more.

Getting up, she looked outside and saw the nearly full moon laying low on the horizon and realized that she'd need to get ready.

Her little brother was already staying over with Birch Bark and his mate, Floral Scent, who had agreed to watch him while she was away. Birch Bark and Floral Scent were Mighty Oak’s parents and knew how to keep colts in line.

The air and her body reeked with the heavy scent of what she had done. Moving to the niche on the wall, she took out her mother's scented gourd. Inside were flowers and herbs soaking in clean spring water. She unstoppered it and sniffed the pleasant scent that came out of it. She then began to lightly wash her coat with it. Moving back to her marehood, she found it unusually hot and sensitive as she rinsed it out. When she was finished, she smelled much sweeter, with a strong herbal scent. With some left over, she emptied the rest over her new travel mantle that Tranquil so generously made her for this trip.

Finished, she took her travel mantle and put it on, letting the fabric settle over her back and she marveled at the feel of it. Once it was in place, she threw its hood up over her head and ducked outside. The sky was growing lighter with the approaching dawn, and she hurried through the chilled morning air, thankful for the warm mantle she had on. Crossing through the settlement, she came to the storage houses, where ponies were already gathering.

With the full moon coming in two nights, Birch Bark was starting to organize the tributes for the Pegasi to take to the Unicorns. Dutifully, she'd already organized the packs for Starless’ rebel Unicorns and had them sitting ready for them, filled with food and other necessary supplies.

Dusty was the lead stallion of the supply caravan and was already assigning packs to ponies as they arrived. It wasn't easy get him to agree to let her come, but thankfully, Skye and Tranquil backed her up and convinced him let her join as a packer.

"Good Morning, Snap," Tranquil greeted her as she walked up. "I have your pack ready right here." She pulled out one of the packs that was filled with lettuce.

With Tranquil's help, Snap managed to set the load onto her back. It was heavier than she was used to, but she felt confident that she could manage it. Ready, she joined the other packers.

As the eastern horizon glowed with the approaching sunrise, Starless and Ground arrived. Snap made sure to keep her hood up to shroud her face from the pair. She never told them that she was going and feared that they'd have Dusty send her back home if they discovered that she was there.

With her foal in hoof, a tearful Skye hugged and kissed both Dusty and Tranquil goodbye as the other packers were doing the same with their families. Once the goodbyes were over, Dusty took his position in the lead with his best packers, Tranquil, Far Treader, Flint Heart, Blue Swirl, and Kindwhinny and led them out of the gate. Discounting Starless and Ground, there were sixteen packers on this trip and one pegasus scout named Cotton Clouds, who was already flying above them.

Unnoticed by Snap, a silver coated stallion adjusted his simple straw woven hat as he followed up in the rear, his eyes following Snap as she walked ahead of him.

The steady pace that Dusty led them at ate up the distance at a remarkable rate, but even with that, it was still going to be four days walk to the Free Unicorns settlement. Snap found her breath puffing out as she strained to keep her pace. This was harder than she thought it was going to be. The pack’s weight bore down on her back more and more as the day wore on. Her marehood still felt hot and she had to fight the urge to fan it with her tail.

At periodic points, Dusty would have them stop to rest. With her body aching all over, Snap gratefully laid herself down on the cool grass. Snap had thought that the pace Dusty had started them on was easy at first, but now she was finding it rather grueling. Uncorking her gourd, Snap drank down her water with long gulps that helped soothe her parched throat.

Tranquil moved through the resting ponies passing out two apples to each packer. "How are you doing?" she asked, coming up on Snap.

"This is harder than I thought," Snap confessed, accepting the apples Tranquil held out to her. "But I'll manage. Thank you."

"Don't worry. It'll get easier," Tranquil assured her with a warm smile before moving on to the next pony.

The rest of the day didn't get easier. As the sun neared the horizon, Dusty finally stopped them in a clearing to camp for the night. Ponies quickly got to work setting up the shelters that Dusty and Tranquil had designed with the help of Brightstar. The shelters were both simple and effective in their construction. Large rolls of grass mats were unrolled and propped up with poles and straps that were staked down to make a peaked roof. Inside, a grass mat was laid out to let two ponies sleep comfortably out of any weather.

The next day, Snap felt horrible. Her body ached and she had trouble sleeping the night before. She kept having dreams of that faceless stallion. Some of which would bring a flush to her cheeks thinking about. At the end of the second day, Snap felt like dying. Tranquil said that it would get easier, but all she's felt was it getting worse. Leaving her shelter half-done, she set off down the slope for the nearby stream to cool herself off.

On her way down, she passed by Blue Swirl and Kindwhinny as they were making their way back up after a quick dip. The two mares suddenly paused to look back at Snap when they noticed something about her. Exchanging knowing looks with each other, the two quickly trotted off to find Dusty and Tranquil.

Why did she feel so hot? Walking down to the stream's edge, Snap dipped her muzzle straight into the water to drink. The cool water flowing down her throat felt good, but did little to cool the rest of her. Lifting her tail, she frantically fanned it trying to cool the burning sensation of her marehood. Was this because of what she had done that morning? Perhaps if she did it again it would get better?

Behind her, she heard hoofsteps approaching and the sudden scent of a stallion that caught her attention. For some reason the smell of him made her marehood start twitching and throbbing. Looking back, she found Wild Bolt standing behind her.

Snap's face suddenly flushed when she realized that she was fanning her tail right at his face! "What are you doing here!?" she exclaimed in surprise, quickly turning herself around. She felt like an idiot. How did she not notice him among the other packers!?

"I came to get a drink," he answered, his eyes looking at her with an intensity that made her flush even more.

Snap stamped her hoof in irritation. Why did he have to make things so stupid!? "What I meant was, what are you doing here with the supply caravan?"

"Well, when I heard about the supply run, I volunteered to be a packer."

"When did you hear about the caravan?" Something about that seemed to hang in her mind, then she had it! "Wait! You were listening in when we were talking about it at the stream! Didn't you!?"

Wild gave her a an awkward shrug as he grinned at her with that stupid grin. "I might have, I don't remember."

"I don't believe you!" Snap should a have expected something like this from him. "I'm leaving now. Goodnight."

"Do you really have to leave so soon?" Wild said, stepping in her way. "I know we got off on the wrong hoof, and I feel bad about that. I want us to be friends, don't you? "

He was standing really close to her now, his scent filling her nose as she retreated to the edge of the stream. "I... ah... think our friendship is just fine as it is." Her head felt fuzzy for some reason and she was having trouble thinking clearly.

"Please," Wild Bolt said, stepping even closer. "I'm sure we can work things out between us and be much better friends."

Snap felt her face flushing as he stood over her. "Why do you want to be friends with me? There are plenty of other mares you can go after. What makes me so special?"

Wild reached his muzzle out and lightly brushed her neck. "You're beautiful. Did you know that?"

"I..." Snap couldn't think of anything to say as her mind went blank. His light touches were making her feel strange.

Pausing, Wild took a deep sniff of her. "You smell really good too."

"I'm all sweaty," Snap complained, feeling embarrassed by his close attention. Her heart started racing in her breast. Why was she feeling this way? Especially with him!?

"I like that." Wild nipped her lightly near her crest

His nip sent shivers down her body and left her craving more. What was wrong with her!? "You're... standing really close." A part of her tried to resist his advances, but it was quickly being overcome by her strange desires. It was like her body was acting on its own as it melted under his touches.

"Did I ever tell you how much I admire you?" Wild continued, whispering along her neck as he nipped and pecked at her coat. "You're not like any of the other mares I know. You're fearless and strong. I heard about how you escorted a filly safely through a spider infested forest. I've seen how nurturing you are when caring for the foals. You sing to them and hold them with such tenderness." Oddly, his face took on a mornfull look. A moment later it vanished.

"You've been watching me?" Snap breath now came heavily as her eyes drifted closed.

"Of course," Wild Bolt answered. "I can't keep my eyes off of you. You've become the sun to my day and the moon to my night."

Snap felt her flush spread all the way up to the tips of her ears and threatened to light them on fire. Her breath huffed out as she let out an involuntary moan. Snap's willpower was nearly gone. "Please... we should stop."

Wild Bolt's lips traveled down her muzzle to brush up lightly against her lips. "Stop?" he asked. "Why would I stop?"

Wild's strong scent filled her senses and she let out a moan as she felt his touches move down her body to her flanks. Why did she ask him to stop? Her body yearned for this. Begged to be taken and claimed, her womb filled with his foal. Her dream came to her and she saw him in it. Her tail lifted high as her body welcomed the stallion's approach. Why was she fighting this? It felt so good. So right. And yet, something still told her to push him away.

Feeling Wild Bolt's body bumping into hers, she noticed something lengthening under him as he moved around to her rear. In her breeding shrouded mind, it took her a moment to realize that she was seeing Wild's mottled stallionhood standing ready to take her.

Rearing up, Wild mounted her back and quickly began thrusting himself forward. Feeling his stallionhood prodding at her nethers, Snap's mind suddenly broke through the heavy fog of desire at the realization that she was about to do with him! Just then, his stallionhood jabbed into her dripping marehood and started to go in!

"No!" Snap shouted and started bucking and lunging herself forward in an attempt to throw him off. Wild Bolt bit her crest as his hips humped forward, sinking himself in deeper. A part of her wanted him to continue and take his virile seed deep within her, but she didn't want it this way. She wanted to have a foal with a pony she loved! Redoubling her efforts, Snap twisted herself around and threw the young stallion off her back. With a wet pop, his stallionhood pulled out of her.

Stumbling to his hooves, Wild turned on her. "Why did you do that!? I wasn't done yet!"

"You are now!" Snap panted, a part of her lamented the unfinished act.

"Why are you denying this!?" Wild Bolt tried to get close to her again. "You know that I'm the only stallion for you! Since the moment I first laid eyes on you, I knew that we were destined to be together. You can’t deny it! You want me to take you and make you mine!"

Suddenly, a dark shadow came roaring down on the young stallion as Ground charged in. Wild Bolt stood no chance against Snap's enraged brother as he bore down on him. With a terrified scream, Wild was bodily lifted off the ground and thrown halfway across the stream.

Starless dashed over and quickly pulled Snap's tail up to examine her marehood.

"Well!?" Ground asked, looking back at Starless.

"We were in time," Starless said with a relieved sigh.

Ground let out a snort. "Good." He then turned back to the young stallion in the water and marched in after him. Wild tried to flee, but Ground quickly ran him down and shoved him under the water, holding him there as he thrashed.

"Ground, stop!" Dusty cried out, running up. "You're drowning him!"

Ground ignored him as he continued to hold the struggling stallion under the surface.

Snap was angry at Wild Bolt for what he nearly did to her, but she was more angry at herself for nearly allowing it. "Brother! Please, stop!" she shouted at her brother. Turning, she looked back at Starless. "Please, stop him! He's going to kill him!"

Starless met her gaze for a moment then reluctantly turned back to Ground. "I think he's had enough. Let him go."

With a snarl, Ground suddenly released the young stallion who came bursting to the surface, gasping for breath. Grabbing Wild Bolt around his middle, Ground hauled him to shore and dropped him to the grass.

Snap felt oddly relieved to see that Wild Bolt was alive. Turning away, she walked back to Starless. She felt so stupid and embarrassed. She wanted to bury herself in a hole somewhere and die.

"Are you alright?" Starless asked, looking her over with concern. "Did he hurt you?"

Snap shook her head. Now that her mind had cleared enough to think coherently, she now thought she understood what was happening to her. "Is... is this what it's like to go into heat?"

Starless reached out and tenderly hugged her. "The first one is always the worst. Especially when you're not expecting it." Releasing her, she moved around to stand close by her side as they began walking together back to the settlement. "You'll be sleeping with me until we get you back home."

"And you," Ground growled down at the water logged colt. "Will be sleeping with me from now on, so I can keep an eye on you."

Wild Bolt let out a groan and flopped his head down to the ground. How was a mare worth this!? he despaired.

Snap lay in Starless' shelter, with Tranquil sitting at the opening, watching over her. Eating a fire-cooked potato that Tranquil had brought her, she listened to her tell of her first heat.

"It happened just a few weeks ago." Tranquil explained. "Normally, I should have had mine much earlier, but apparently, it had been set back due to my poor diet. When it came, it was like a fever had come over me. Feelings and desires flooded my senses and I was lost to them. I was so confused and scared. I couldn't handle it and I tried to run away. When Skye found me and explained what was happening, I felt a great relief and joy come over me. At last, I could have something I never dreamed I could ever have. A family." Her hoof caressed her belly with a gentle smile. It wasn't known yet if she was pregnant, nor was it even known if an Earth Pony and Unicorn could have a foal together.

"At least you had somepony you loved come to you," Snap said. "I nearly let... him take me. Him! Out of all the stallions, why him!?"

"Who knows what draws us to a certain stallion?" Tranquil said with a shrug. "I knew I was in love with Dusty the moment we met. It just took me a while to admit it to him."

"Well, I can tell you that I am definitely not in love with Wild!" Snap exclaimed. "That stallion has his head so far up his tailhole, he's come out the other end! I can't believe what I nearly did with him!"

"Now, now. Don't be that way," Tranquil said. "I'm sure he's not that bad."

Snap had no comment decent enough to respond to her with, and instead she busied herself with eating the rest of her cooked potato.

Soon after, Starless appeared, carrying flowers. Ducking her head inside their shelter, she set the plant before Snap. "Here, eat this."

It looked like she had brought her the entire plant! It had little blue flowers with four petals arranged around a white core.

"It's called Mare's Touch." Starless explained. "It will taste a little bitter, but it’ll help you feel better. It does for me."

Snap was a little dubious about that, but if it would help. She nearly spat out the first bite. "A little bitter!?" she sputtered around her mouthful.

"Don't complain and just eat it," Starless told her, nodding her head. "The Unicorns use Mare's Touch to help them through their times. It soothes the more… intense urges."

Snap managed to eat the rest as Starless shared her experience of her first heat. As she listened, she began to feel drowsy. Blinking her eyes, she found it harder and harder to keep them open until they stayed closed.

Snap was back at the stream with Wild.

With her tail lifted high, she welcomed the stallion's approach. Why was she fighting this? It felt so good. Feeling Wild Bolt's body bumping into hers, she noticed something lengthening under him as he moved around to her rear. In her lust shrouded mind, it took her a moment to realize that she was seeing Wild's mottled stallionhood standing ready to take her.

Rearing up, Wild mounted her back and quickly began thrusting himself forward. Feeling his stallionhood prodding at her nethers, Snap's mind suddenly broke through the heavy fog of desire at the sudden realization of what was about to happen. Just then, his stallionhood jab into her marehood and started to go in!

"No!" Snap shouted and started bucking and lunging herself forward in an attempt to escape from under him. Wild bit her crest as he struggled to keep his place, his hips humping forward as he sank in deeper. With a wild scream, Snap twisted herself around and tried to throw him off, but he managed to hold on as he shoved his hips forward and sank himself all the way into her!

She could feel him! His stallionhood was pressing right up against the entrance to her young fertile womb! His teeth bit into her crest as he began thrusting his stallionhood into her. Her mind exploded with new pleasures as she felt herself being filled over and over again. Her will wilted under the assault on her senses and she stopped struggling against the stallion claiming her.

Quickly, Wild Bolt's thrusts became more frantic as his hips slammed ever more forcefully into her until he suddenly let out a loud breeding whinny and shoved himself right up against her womb! Powerful surges rushed down his stallionhood as she felt his seed erupt into her waiting depths. Spurt after spurt, he filled her fertile body until it could take no more and it began to spill out of her. It was done. Wild Bolt had claimed his mare and she couldn’t be happier.

Snap woke with a horrified scream.

The next morning, Snap sat brooding as Starless broke down their shelter with her magic. Looking at the young mare, Starless sighed. "Don't think so much about it. It was just a dream."

Snap didn't respond as he continued to stare blankly down.

Tranquil approached them and paused when she noticed Snap's gloomy demure. "What's wrong?"

"She had a bad dream."

"Oh?" Tranquil said, looking back at Snap. "I'm sorry to hear that." She sat down next to Snap. "You know, I keep having a bad dream myself about a purple tentacle monster that wrapps me all up, so I can't move, then drags me into a dark hole."

Snap smirked. "If only mine was that nice."

With their camp cleared and stored back into their packs, Snap went to collect her pack, but found it missing. "You won't be carrying a pack today." Starless said. "Your body's going through a lot of changes right now and there's no need to add anymore strain to it. Luckily, Wild Bolt has happy enough to volunteer to help take up the extra burden." She turned and smiled at the young stallion as he staggered under the double load. "Wasn't that sweet of him?"

At first, Wild Bolt scowled back at Starless, but then quickly smiled when Ground turned to glare at him.

With the horizon just starting to glow to the east, Dusty started them moving again.

With sweat dripping from his brow, Wild Bolt trudged along under the ever watchful gaze of Ground. That stallion was a monster! Before going to sleep the night before, he had actually tied him up to keep him from slipping off!

Ahead of him, he would catch glimpses of Snap walking with a group of mares. Apparently, the word had gone out about her, and the mares were now actively keeping the stallions away. His gaze lingered on her. How was any mare worth what he was suffering through?

He could have any of the fillies back home. Why did he long for Snap so much? The smell of her mane, the curves of her hips, the touch of her lips. From the moment he met Snap, all he could do was think of her. To take her as his own and watch her belly swell with his foals.

Suddenly, he felt a stinging slap crack across the back of his head that made him stagger forward. Regaining his step, he shot a furious look at Ground. "What was that for!"

"Stop thinking of my sister," Ground growled down at him.

Wild was about to deny that he'd been thinking of her when he suddenly noticed that his fully aroused stallionhood was flopping around under him. Flushing with embarrassment, Wild dropped his gaze and focused as best as he could on his hooves. Around him, he could hear the other stallions chuckling at his plight, and started making jokes at his back. No mare was worth this!

The sun slowly climbed over the horizon and started to cast its light through the trees when Dusty Stride halted them for a rest. Panting for breath, Wild collapsed gratefully to the ground. Uncorking his gourd, he eagerly guzzled down his water, letting it spill over his face until it was out. Letting out a lamenting sigh, Wild re-corked his empty gourd and put it away.

Swooping down from the sky, their Pegasus scout, Cotton Clouds, landed and rushed over to Dusty to speak to him. Dusty's face suddenly grew alarmed at what she told him and he quickly summoned Starless over to listen.

Sitting next to him, Ground watched the exchange and grew concerned. Standing, he looked down at him and pointed at a nearby massive boulder that towered twice as high as a pony. "If you move from this spot, I'll bury your head under that rock. Understood?"

Wild sighed and nodded. As Ground proceeded to walk away, Wild stuck his tongue out at his back.

Ground trotted over to Starless and Dusty and joined their discussion. Watching from where he sat, Wild wondered what was happening. After a while, Dusty moved off and started gathering some of the packers around him, while Ground started unpacking spears out of a supply pack. Watching this, Wild grew even more curious. Something was happening.

Glancing across at him, Ground frowned. Picking up a spear, he walked over and tossed it down in front of him. "Take that and come with me."

"Where are we going?" Wild asked, picking up the spear. "And why do we need spears?"

"Cotton Cloud spotted something troubling. We need to check it out," Ground growled at him. "And I don't trust you enough to leave you here, so you're coming. Just keep your mouth shut and do what I tell you."

Wild had never really used a spear before and it felt awkward as it bumped his legs as he rushed after Ground. Starless, Dusty, Far Treader, Flint Heart, Blue Swirl, Kindwhinny and Cotton Cloud were already waiting to go. When he arrived, Dusty suddenly put a supply pack on his back.

"Wait! Why do I have to carry this!?" Wold Bolt complained.

"Because I am in charge and I want you to carry it," Dusty replied. "You did come to me the other day volunteering to join and help haul supplies, right?" Dusty patted the pack on his back. "And look at that. This is supplies."

Wild Bolt's ears wilted as he glowered at the ground. The whole reason he had volunteered was because he was trying to get Snap. No mare was worth this! Slipping his spear into the pack's strap on the side, Wild mumbled angrily to himself as he fell in behind the others. Dusty spoke with Tranquil, giving her some final instructions before sharing a rather long kiss with her as they parted.

They traveled northeast for over a full hoof-length of the sun. After crossing a small stream, Cotton Cloud stopped them and motioned for them to to keep quiet. Climbing a hill, she lowered herself to the ground and carefully looked over. Whatever she saw made her blanch and quickly retreat back down to rejoin them.

"They're still there," she whispered. "They're just over on the other side. It looks like they killed one."

Starless nodded and climbed up the slope. Ground motioned for Wild to stay there before following her with the rest. Lowering themselves to their bellies, they crawled slowly to the top and peeked over.

"What did you see?" Wild asked, leaning in close to Cotton Clouds.

She looked like she was going to be sick and only shook her head.

Frustrated and dying with curiosity, Wild dropped the pack to the ground and climbed up the slope. Dropping down low, he crawled up to the ridge. On the other side, he saw three Earth Pony stallions, and some kind of large bull-like beast that stood on its hind legs, gathered around a figure tied to a tree. "What is that!?" Wild whispered.

Starless quickly hiss for him to keep silent.

Two of the Earth Ponies were resting on a log while a third Earth Pony was beating somepony tied to a tree with some kind of long, rope-like strap. By the sound of the screams they could hear, the figure tied to the tree was a mare. The bull-like monster sat watching as he ate from the carcass on the ground. Looking closely, the carcass looked to be a pony. Its belly had been ripped open and the bull-like creature was pulling things out and stuffing it into his bloodied maw to chew.

Wild felt his stomach turn at the grotesque sight. Starless and the others next to him lowered themselves back down the hill and Wild did the same.

"What is that beast?" Dusty asked, once they were at the bottom.

"A Minotaur," Starless answered with distaste. "They're vile creatures that live in the mountains far to the east. It's rare to see one this far from home. They know that Unicorns will kill them if they're discovered on our territory."

"It had Earth Ponies with it," Ground said, his face looking bleak.

Starless nodded. "They would be the Minotaur's servants, and Mud Ponies would be a more apt name for them. They're most likely slavers on a hunt."

"Slaves?" Kindwhinny asked. "What's a slave?"

"Slaves are captured laborers that are forced to work for their masters until they die or are killed." Starless answered.

"How horrible," Kindwhinny gasped.

"So, what do we do?" Dusty asked.

"We kill them," Ground growled without hesitation.

Flint Heart grinned and raised a hoof. "Yeah!"

"We need to save that poor mare," Kindwhinny agreed.

"Why?" Wild asked. "Why should we risk ourselves for somepony we don't know?"

"You heartless little colt!" Blue Swirl exclaimed. "She needs our help!"

Starless held up a hoof to forestall any more arguing. "This decision is Dusty's." She looked over at him. "What do we do?

Dusty considered them and nodded. "We fight."

Wild felt a surge if irritation at the stupidity of the decision. He had heard about how hardheaded and foolish this tribe was.

Ground started laying out the plan. "I will take Far Treader and the colt around the hill to the south with Starless, while Dusty takes Flint Heart, Blue Swirl, and Kindwhinny around to the north. At Cotton Cloud's signal, we attack from both sides. Dusty's side will split into pairs go for the two Earth... ah... Mud Ponies on the log, while Far Treader and the colt will take the one beating the mare."

"What about the Minotaur?" Flint Heart asked.

"He'll be mine," Ground answered, stamping his hoof with an almost eagerness. "Starless will rescue the captive mare and provide support where it's needed. There may be more slavers we've not seen, so watch your backs. Everyone understand what you need to do?"

Wild opened his mouth, but before he could utter a word, Ground suddenly lowered his head down close to his ear.

"If you think of refusing, colt. I'll break all your legs and have you crawl the entire way back home," Ground growled.

Wild Bolt quickly closed his mouth and swallowed.

With his heart galloping in his chest, Wild Bolt followed after Ground as they carefully moved around the hill. Despite how stupid this was, Wild felt a kind of thrill. He'd never been in a serious fight before and he was starting to like the idea. He'd be able to prove to them that he was a stallion! Especially if he was the one who took down the Minotaur! Ground would have to start respecting him then!

Stepping softly through the trees, they came to the edge and peered out across the clearing. The Minotaur was now shouting at the captive mare, demanding that she tell him where the other runaways were. Others? What did he mean by that? Wild wondered.

Above them, Cotton Clouds was peeking over a cloud watching. When she saw that they were ready, she held out a gem and let the sun briefly glitter on it.

Seeing the signal, Ground let out a grunt and charged with Far Treader. Wild Bolt stumbled when he nearly tripped over his spear and managed to recover to follow a few steps behind. Starless moved out at a graceful gallop, her horn glowing with power as she prepared her spells.

In the trees to the east, a slaver they had failed to note suddenly cried out a warning. Hearing the cry, the other slavers quickly scrambled to get their spears. The Minotaur, snatched up a large club in its paws and turned to face them as Ground came galloping in at him.

One of the slavers foolishly rushed out to stab Ground, but suddenly found his spear yanked out of his grasp by Starless' magic. Without stopping or slowing, Ground ran the disarmed stallion down under his massive hooves before coming up on the Minotaur.

The Minotaur lifted his club and brought it down at Ground, just missing the stallion as he quickly sidestepped around and slashed his spear-point across the creature's stomach. The Minotaur's hide was tough and the slash only opened a shallow gash that only seemed to irritate the beast. With a speed that surprised Ground, the Minotaur struck at him with one of his pawed hands, sending him staggering to the side.

Wild Bolt saw that the Minotaur was focused on Ground. This was it! Wild Bolt thought, rushing in. Lifting his massive club back up, the Minotaur was suddenly surprised when Wild Bolt rashly dashed in and stabbed the wrong end of his spear into its gut. The creature paused and look down at him in rage. Turning, it brought it's club whirling down at him. Letting out a terrified scream, Wild Bolt threw himself back and felt the wind of the club as it passed by his head. Falling onto his back, Wild looked up as the Minotaur stepped forward to finish him with a final swing of his club. With a crack that shook the air, the Minotaur's club was suddenly caught on Ground's upraised hoof. "Get off your rump you stupid colt, and help out Far Treader!" Ground roared at him.

Scrambling back to his hooves he saw that Far Treader was facing the fourth slaver alone and was being forced back. Dusty and the others with him were fighting the other two slavers to the north, while Starless was confronting two additional slavers that had just come rushing in out of the woods.

Rushing to Far Treader, Wild noticed that the slaver's spear tip looked odd. It wasn't made of obsidian like theirs. Turning his spear the right way, Wild Bolt thrust it at the slaver's exposed side. Seeing him coming, the slaver pivoted himself and cracked his spear across his, knocking it out of his grip. Standing dumbfounded, Wild Bolt suddenly felt a painful crack as the slaver's spear-butt smacked him across the side of his head.

As Starless faced the two newcomers, she saw that they wore strange looking caps over their heads, and on their chests, they wore flattened plates, made from same kind of dull reddish-gold material as their caps. Dodging one of their spear thrusts, Starless shifted her stance and stabbed her spear into the slaver's chest plate. With a solid clang, her spear-tip shattered against it!

Cursing, Starless leapt back, just barely dodging a slash that was aimed at her throat. She was furious. That spear had been a gift from Ground!

Using her spear-shaft, Starless parried a thrust to the side and smiled at the slaver. "That's an interesting chest-plate. I wonder how well it works against magic?" His eyes shot wide when her horn flashed, and with a thunderous-crack that shook the air, the slaver was blasted back into a tree and collapsed to the ground.

Snatching up the slaver's fallen spear, Starless examined the reddish-gold tip. "This is interesting." The second slaver snarled and thrust his spear at her throat. With a thunk, she parried it to the side, rotating her step, she continued the move and brought her spear up into the bottom of the slaver's jaw. With a sickening wet sound, her spear plunged up into his brain. The slaver stiffened and fell twitching on the ground.

Dusty and Flint Heart were working together against their opponent. Neither were very experienced with fighting, having only been trained in the basics, but together they were holding their own. Blue Swirl and Kindwhinny looked like they were dancing as they moved and slashed together, scoring several nasty cuts across their slaver's sides and shoulder.

Regaining his senses, Wild Bolt rushed to rejoin Far Treader, who was now bleeding from several cuts on his neck and chest. The slaver had his spear locked with Far Treader's as the two fought to force the other back. With his spear lost, Wild did what Ground had done and charged right into the surprised slaver. The impact of their bodies hurt more than Wild thought it would as he carried the slaver to the ground.

Wild Bolt tried to hold him down, but the slaver backhoofed him painfully across his muzzle and tore himself away. Blinking tears out of his eyes, Wild Bolt found the slaver standing over him with his spear ready to plunge into him. Suddenly, the slaver's eyes shot wide as Far Treader's spear stabbed him in his throat. Blood poured out of his mouth as his spear dropped from his grasp. His hoof reached up to touch the spear in his neck with an almost surprised look on his face. Then, with a gargle of blood, he collapsed to the ground.

Panting for breath, Far Treader helped him regain his hooves. "That was the stupidest thing I've ever seen." He then smiled. "Thanks. I owe you one."

Wild Bolt felt a thrill of excitement at the stallion's praise. Movement caught his eyes and he noticed the stallion that Ground had run down, limping away into the woods. He was getting away! Snatching up the slaver's bloodied spear, Wild Bolt took off after him.

"Wild!? Where are you going!?" Far Treader shouted after him.

With his blood now roaring in his ears, Wild Bolt didn't hear him as he galloped off into the woods. Crashing through bushes, Wild Bolt trampled them down as he searched ahead for the fleeing slaver. Suddenly, he broke into a small clearing and skidded to a stop. Panting for breath, Wild Bolt saw a log with a mare bent forward over it with her hooves tied down with straps. Her head was bent down on the far side and her tail had been tied out of the way to expose her marehood.

Scanning the small clearing, Wild Bolt found it empty. Where did the slaver go? Approaching the mare, Wild Bolt could smell the heavy scent of stallion musk on her, and to his shock, he could see fluids leaking out of her marehood and running down her legs. Was this what those stallions were doing here!? Forcing themselves onto a restrained mare!? A sense of revulsion twisted his stomach.

The mare's back was covered with bloody gashes that stained much of her deep-brown coat red. Using the spear he had grabbed from the other slaver, Wild Bolt sliced the straps that bound her legs. Reaching out, he went to lift her off the log.

When his hooves touched her, she flinched and cried out in both pain and terror. "Please. No more. I beg you. Please."

"I... I'm not going to hurt you," Wild Bolt quickly assured her. Taking her as gently as he could, he lifted her off the log and set her down onto the grass.

When she turned her head to look up at him, Wild Bolt was shocked to discover that she wasn’t a pony at all; she was a donkey! One of her eyes was swollen completely shut and her other was just barely open enough for her to look up at him with remarkably light blue eyes. "You're a pony. Like them," she murmured out of her split lip.

"No!" Wild Bolt said, shaking his head. "I'm not like them. I'm an Earth Pony." Softening his voice, Wild Bolt tried to smile at her. "My name is Wild Bolt. What's yours?"

The mare considered him wearily before answering. "Jennet."

The sound of a rustling bush caught his attention. Snatching up his spear, Wild Bolt whirled about. There was a crack as something snapped across his face. A searing pain burned from his brow all the way down to the right side of his muzzle. Blood started running down his face.

Blinking his eyes through the pain, he saw the slaver he had been pursuing, standing with a long strap that was identical to the one he had seen used to beat the mare, held in his mouth.

"What is this!?" The slaver exclaimed with a laugh. "A colt!?"

Wilt Bolt quickly wiped the blood out of his eye and held his spear ready. "I'm not a colt!" He instantly regretting saying that. It made him sound even more like one.

"Oh? Looking to be a big stallion, eh?" the slaver taunted with a smirk. "Tell you what. Why don't you keep that fine flank lying behind you and show her how much of a stallion you are. In return, you don't tell your companions that you saw me. Deal?"

"I would never agree to such a monstrous thing!" Wild Bolt snarled.

"Why not?" the slaver asked. "She's just runaway slave. What good is she to you but to wet your stallionhood?"

Wild Bolt roared in rage and charged. The slaver whirled his strange strap around and snapped it across Wild Bolt's shoulder, causing him to cry out at the searing pain, dropping his spear in the process. Suddenly, the slaver was on him as he carried him to the ground.

Wild Bolt struggled, but the slaver had his hooves pinned. "Should have taken the deal, colt."

Trapped under him, Wild glared up at the slaver's grinning face.

"When I'm done killing you, colt," the slaver said, bending in close, "I'm going to take the donkey with me and enjoy her for as long as she lasts. She makes the most wonderful screams when I plunge myself into her."

Red flashed across Wild Bolt’s vision as he roared in rage. Jerking his head forward, he bit down onto the slavers muzzle as hard as he could.

The slaver screamed and jerked back as bone crunched between Wild Bolt's jaws. With the taste of blood flooding his mouth, Wild Bolt released the slaver and slammed his hoof across his face, knocking him to the side. Rolling onto him, Wild Bolt smashed his hoof into the stallion's face over and over again. Blood splattered across the grass as he relentlessly pummeled the slaver as hard as he could until he was no longer recognizable. Panting from the exertion, Wild Bolt finally stopped. Climbing off the slaver, Wild retrieved his fallen spear and returned to level it at the slaver’s chest.

"Please..." the slaver gargled out. "Don't... kill... me..."

"You don't deserve mercy." Wild Bolt plunged his spear into the slaver's heart. With a final gargle, the slaver stopped breathing.

Pulling his spear out, Wild Bolt felt his stomach turn and he staggered a few steps away before throwing up. Distantly, he heard hoofsteps approaching through the forest. A moment later, Far Treader broke out of the trees and stopped when he saw him.

"There you are! What are..." Far Treader stopped when he noticed the bloody body lying behind him. "Oh."

Wiping at his mouth, Wild Bolt moved back to Jennet. "She's hurt badly. Help me bring her back to Starless." Tossing his bloody spear down, Wild Bolt carefully began lifting Jennet up onto his back. The mare whimpered in pain as he shifted her body. Far Treader gasped at the sight of her back and moved around to help. Once she was settled into place, Wild Bolt stood and carried her out of the clearing.

"Is the fight over?" Wild Bolt asked as they crossed through the trees.

Far Treader nodded. "Flint Heart took a spear thrust into his shoulder. Kindwhinny and Blue Swirl are seeing to him. Dusty took a slice across his muzzle, while Ground is a bit bruised and beat up, but otherwise fine. The Minotaur didn't fare so well though. There's not much holding his head on anymore. Starless, of course made it through without a scratch. She even managed to capture one alive. Well, mostly alive. We’ve got him tied up so he won’t cause any problems when he finally decides to wake up. Starless made a really big dent in that thing he was wearing on his chest.”

Wild didn’t know how he felt about taking one alive.

Coming out of the trees into the clearing, he quickly carried Jannet over to Starless as she tended to the other donkey mare they'd seen being beaten. As he approached her, she looked up and her eyes went wide at the sight of him and what he was carrying.

"Please. You have to help her," Wild Bolt said, coming to a stop.

Using her magic, Starless gently picked Jannet up off his back and floated her down to the grass next to the other mare and started to examine her. Catching sight of what was under the mare's tail, Starless' expression darkened.

Blinking her good eye, the mare looked over at her companion and reached her hoof out to her. "Benny?"

The mare slowly opened her eyes and met Jennet's worried gaze. Seeing her, she smiled weakly at her. "Jennet... I feared you were... It was horrible what he did with Abelle. While she was still alive he... he tore her foal out of her womb... and ate it. Her poor foal... The other monsters laughed... those... things laughed..." With a final breath, the mare's eyes closed and she lay still.

Jennet whimpered and began weeping, her head falling into her hooves.

Starless looked down at her sadly. "I'm sorry."

Wild Bolt stepped over to the body of Abelle. Her belly had been torn open and her eyes were still open in death. She had watched her foal being torn from her body. "Why?" he asked, unable to look away. "Why were they so cruel?"

"They wanted to know where the other slaves were," Jennet answered, her tear streaked face lifting up. "But we didn't know! We got separated from them soon after we ran away! They wouldn't believe us when we told them and they kept hurting us even worse to get us to tell them!"

"Ground!" Starless called out to the stallion. "I need you to get me honey! As much as you can!"

Ground nodded and started to go when Far Treader trotted over. "I'll help you." The pair galloped off to get what she needed.

Cotton Cloud's flew in and landed near Dusty. "I searched the entire area and didn't see any more."

"Good," Dusty said. "Please fly back and tell Tranquil what happened here and that we'll be coming back as soon as we're able."

Cotton Cloud leapt into the air and was quickly gone.

"Dusty, I'm going to need water." Starless said, looking up from Jennet's back.

"They're in the packs we left behind the hill." Dusty said, turning to go.

"I'll get it," Wild Bolt volunteered, trotting up the hill. His shoulder burned and the slash across his face hurt so bad, he felt like he'd stuck his face into a fire, but he ignored the pain. They were nothing. Not compared to what she had gone through. Picking up the pack, Wild Bolt brought it back to Starless and set it down next to her.

As she rummaged through it and started taking out various things she was going to need, she glanced up at him "How about you sit down. You look a little dazed and I don't want you falling over."

Wild Bolt felt numb inside and did as she said without complaint or comment.

Starless unstoppered the gourd and carefully began to wash the wounds on Jennet's back. Dusty and Blue Swirl collected the slavers’ bodies and moved them off into the woods and dumped them there. Returning, they began digging a hole in the clearing.

"What are they doing?" Jennet asked, watching the pair dig.

Starless paused in her work to look back at them. "Its something the Earth Ponies like to do. They feel a strong kinship with the earth and find solace in returning the dead to it. They feel that it honors them."

"They would do that for us?" Jennet asked in astonishment.

"Of course," Starless answered. "The Earth Ponies are like that."

"Earth Ponies?" Jennet asked. "He called himself that too." she nodded back at Wild Bolt. "What are they?"

"That is an interesting question," Starless answered. "One I haven't figured out yet."

When Ground and Far Treader arrived, they brought with them an entire bee hive. Far Treader looked a little puffy around his stings as he set it down by Starless.

Ripping it open, Starless lifted out a honeycomb with her magic and carefully started applying honey to the wounds on Jennet's back. Jennet squirmed and whimpered as she worked.

"Honey?" Kindwhinny asked, watching her work.

"Yes. Dove told me about it once," Starless said. "It helps seal wounds so that they can heal."

Working through each gash that crossed Jennet's back, Starless finally sat back with a sigh. She was done. Turning, she motioned Wild to come to her and sit. Washing his face, Starless frowned as he examined cut across his face. "You're lucky to still have your eye."

The cut went from the corner of his left eyebrow and ran down between his eyes to the right side of his muzzle.

"I'm afraid it's going to scar," Starless murmured as she applied honey to it.

Wild Bolt didn't answer or react to the stinging pain as she worked. The numbness he felt inside wouldn't allow it. When she finished there, she then moved to his shoulder.

Ground and Dusty worked together to make a litter to carry Jennet. Instead of a drag litter, they opted for a tandem litter, to be carried between two ponies. The final thing they did was to bury Jennet's two companions. All of them gathered around to watch solemnly as Ground and Dusty lowered the bodies of Benny and Abella into it. Jennet watched with a tears in her eyes as the Earth Ponies performed their strange, if kindhearted, act.

When it came time to leave, Wild Bolt stepped forward and offered to help carry Jennet’s litter. Ground looked at him with an odd expression as he considered him. He then nodded and helped secure the litter between him and Far Treader.

Once they were ready, Starless lifted Jennet up and set her onto her litter. Blue Swirl and Kindwhinny flanked Flint Heart and helped him walk as he limped between the pair. Ground picked up a loop of rope and slipped it over his head. Secured to the other end, was the slaver they had captured. His mouth had been tied shut and his front hooves had been hobbled with rope to keep him from running. With a tug on the line, Ground forced the slaver to walk as he joined in behind the others.

Picking up their supply pack filled with the new things they took from the slavers, Dusty took the lead as they headed back to the caravan.