Having spent the morning up until four hours ago at the Apple’s house the human was reading his gear while thinking of the best way to go about his plan. The planning and readying of gear mostly being a feature his brain did in the background different thoughts held center stage in his mind.

Thinking back to not only last night and how tightly AJ held on to him in her sleep but how the other two ponies found themselves into the same room seeking comfort from their nightmares as well, Hank smiles.

Chuckling at how AB practically ran to him, once the oil lamp Mac was holding illuminated the room, and jumped on top his lap just below her older sister before circling around like a cat to find the perfect spot while he comforted her with quiet shushes and gentle scratches to the back of her head, he chuckles at the new memory before thinking to Mac just the night before.

The large red stallion had been different story. After turning the lamp down low to where it would peter out on its own and setting it on top the floor Mac slowly and shyly walked over to the human as he leaned against the wall with his two younger siblings on top of him. Both not daring to say a word that would wake or disturb the two nuzzled tightly on top the human, they traded looks as Mac made his way to Hank’s right side next to his feet before lying down, facing away from the man.

Having just fallen asleep once again Apple bloom breathed calmly while AJ snuggled her head into the crook of Hank’s neck, all while Mac had been slowly scooting further and further closer to the human. Once in range Hank slowly reached a hand over the unsuspecting pony before gently placing it over the stallion’s side, just to the middle of his ribcage.

Instantly tensing at the touch, Hank started to slowly pull Mac toward him while the pony offered no resistance. Pulled up next to Hank while now facing the human Hank smiled down at a still shy Mac before picking up Mac’s front half and placing the red pony’s head on his chest.

Looking up at the human with one green eye, the other being pressed against the human’s chest as he laid on him like a pillow. The red pony worried that another pony would see him pressed up against another stallion but he could also see that the human, if he had any concerns, definitely wasn’t showing them.

Even with how unlikely the chance anypony would see him lying atop another stallion while the stallion comforted him by running his fingers through his short blonde mane the risk still made Mac more than nervous. If anypony saw he would be ostracised by everypony, even his friends. The red pony figured before his lower half was pushed into the human’s side by the human himself.

The new position not helping the red pony’s thoughts any, Mac started to realize that, as much as he wanted to hate it, he really liked his position pressed into the human’s side while he was being comforted by the man, and he hated himself for it.

Big Mac hated that he wanted to be pulled further up to where his sister was.

A war was being fought inside of Big Mac’s head and Hank was none the wiser to what the stallion was going through. Instead, having figured that Mac’s tense state was due to fear, Hank stopped running his hands through Mac’s mane before patting the pony on the neck and lying his right arm across the lower part of Mac’s neck.

Leaning his head back and taking a deep breath Hank was surprised that his body was going to let him sleep, but he welcomed it with open arms.

Mac was a little weird last night, Hank revisits a previously dismissed observation while fastening the long leather holster fastened together with pop rivets and washers made to hold the sawed off shotgun to his completely cleared off belt and suspenders.

“Ah well, ponies are weird.” He dismisses the thought once again while testing the fit of the belt with the holster, finding that it ran down his right thigh perfectly.

Not expecting the holster to fit that well he tests that the paracord at the bottom of the holster long enough to be tied around his thigh to keep the shotgun from bouncing around haphazardly as he ran or moved.

The amount of cording being just perfect to create a double knot without having too much excess just dangling around he laughs, “I love it when things jus’ work out like that.”

Picking up the shotgun and sliding it into the brown holster he snaps the backstrap across the back of the pistol grip and shakes around, doing a few high kicks, to make sure the gun wouldn’t slip out of the pocket.

Not showing any signs of loosening Hank unbuttons the backstrap and draws the shotgun a few times getting a feel for it, loving just how badass it felt, a massive meanising grin soon finding itself on his face.

Taking everything back off at the fortunate success of the holster he starts attaching everything else that suited itself for a search and destroy mission in deep foliage.

Large items like his canteen being moved to his assault pack that he already had filled with everything else like food, extra ammo for the guns he would have on him, whiskey, matches, a extra knife, rope, and other assorted gear of the like, There was more real estate for more pressing items on his belt.

Bringing his hatchet, the small axe riding just in front of the shotgun and the short sword, the almost too pretty to use item riding on his opposite hip he left his M9 bayonet and mag pouches for his AR and M16 in the closet.

Knowing from experience how .223 had a tendency to bounce and explode off of even small swigs of trees Hank was not going to be bringing any such rifle, instead the human had opted for his Marlin 45-70 lever action, a true brush gun.

Having decided to take the lever action over his more modern options the human wasn’t nervous at all about the small magazine size or slower rate of fire because he knew that most things he hit in the vitals up to 100 yards would be instantaneously put down, no crawling away, to need to track the blood trail, whatever it was would drop.

Because he was using this rifle he felt that it was also advised to use ammo pouches more suited for its cartridge, and because of this change he traded out the two three magazine pouches that usually adorned his belt for two black nylon pouches that folded out and had fourteen nylon loops for the individual rounds to rest inside of.

Five rounds in the rifle, twenty four on his belt, and twenty six more in the pack Hank had a total of fifty five rounds at his disposal in his rifle and about the same in both handguns. Only taking twenty rounds of buckshot for the shotgun, ten in the pack, eight in the black pouch on his plate carrier and two in the shotgun itself, plus a single hand grenade, Hank felt like he had plenty of ammo to have fun with.

His medical kit taking the spot behind the sword he decided to stop there and to keep his belt a little lighter than usual.

Looking over everything and making sure he was forgetting nothing he takes a deep breath as he looks to the forearm and shin/ knee guards that he dug out of his heavy armor bin in the shed.

The human knew that he was going to get bit, scratched, and thrown around, even if he wanted to be optimistic and think that the Shucks would die at the sight of him, he knew it wasn't the case. So he figured that defending where they liked to bite the most couldn’t be a bad idea.

Putting the leg armor on first, the process being much easier without anything else on, blocking his ability to bend over, he gets both sections put on quickly and comfortably. Moving to the arm armor, putting the pads on top his bare arms, as he was wearing the same bloody and stained tee shirt as the day and night before, he felt no need to put on a new shirt just to dirty it.

His regular kit slipping on with well practiced ease: plate carrier, chest holster, belt and suspenders. Hank was already feeling more comfortable wrapped in his shell of kevlar and steel.

Donning the pack and securing the clamps across his chest and waist so it wouldn’t move around when he was hiking through the bush the human picks up his trusty helmet next before stopping, fixated on the red cross across and red lettering of his nickname that decorated the green surface.

Running a thumb over the cross and his name the human’s thoughts fill with what he and the helmet had seen together, most of it being bad. Frowning he pats the helmet before firmly placing it on his head, actually securing the chin strap for once.

Taking his rifle in his right hand the human crams three folded gallon ziploc bags into his left pant pocket so he had somewhere to keep the ears he was going to cut off for a final tally. The last two items being his compass, that still worked just fine somehow, and a topographical map of the town and surrounding forest up to five kilhoofs, that he stole from the train station booth, Hank’s pack was complete.

Stepping out the door the man turns the volume on his walkie to zero and closes the door behind him before starting toward the Apple’s farm.

Having followed a trail I suspected was made last night for a good ten minutes I was nearing some very recent activity in the form of a dead rabbit.

“Thank god.” I huff at the sight of the strewn in two rabbit, “I thought I’d never find anything fresh.”

Looking around my surrounding area for anything hiding in wait, I notice nothing and look back down to the rabbit.

“More than one.” I mumble at the number of tracks surrounding the dead prey.

Thinking of what to do: follow one of the tracks. Or: lay in wait and hope that they come back. I choose the second option and start to retreat back about ten yards to a cluster of trees I noticed on my way in.

Setting up behind the cluster of trees I point my rifle in the direction of the dead rabbit and start to look and listen for any signs of anything coming back.

Sitting as still as possible while keeping my breathing slow and deep five minutes pass before I start to hear rustling from all around me.

The sound wasn’t as if something was just walking normally through the brush, it sounded as if somethings were dragging things with them, stopping periodically before resuming, over and over again in all directions.

Pulling my rifle back I put my back to the tree and ready myself right as the Shucks were just about to push through the brambles.

The rear end of a Shuck coming out of the bush as it dragged something with it I take aim and wait for more targets to emerge. Another walking out of the bush normally with a squirrel in its maw it looks to me and freezes for a second obviously surprised at my presence.

Swinging my rifle to it instead I fire a shot that tears through its chest dropping it before it could even react. Switching back to the other one that was directly in front of me it had time to turn to face me before I point blank the bastard from the hip.

Rolling back into the bush from the impact of the bullet I stand and swing out from behind the tree aiming at the first target I saw. The Element of surprise far gone I look at the the Shuck dead in the eyes before ripping its chest apart with three hundred grains of lead.

Instantaneously collapsing I had already switched targets to the furthest away Shuck as it started to charge with a howl of pure fury. Putting a round in the right side of its chest it spins to the side with a pained yelp.

Catching movement out of the corner of my eye to my right I rack the action and spin to the right directly as a Shuck was starting to jump at me from about six feet away, already on its hind legs. Pure reaction time and nerves taking over I fire a shot without aiming that finds its way into the soft stomach of the shuck before blowing out of the back in a glorious display of pink mist and black fur.

Just starting its jump as its organs got forcefully rearranged it flinches almost doing a full backflip before falling to the ground, a snarl still on its face as it twitched and panted.

Quickly pulling out the revolver I look around for anymore targets. Not seeing anymore I lower my handgun before quickly pulling it back up as another Shuck crashed through the thorns and slid into the dead leaf covered clearing.

Firing at the wolf’s side I strike it in the neck making it flinch and look in my direction, pulling the hammer back manually for a more accurate shot the wolf starts for me as I line a shot up for the head.

Taking one more second before sending the round down range it closes ten feet before catching the .357 to the forehead. Ragdolling immediately, its own momentum making its body twist and flop in unnatural ways as it tumbled, it finally stops about three feet from my boots.

Cocking the hammer again I listen for anymore sounds of approaching enemies and scan my surroundings at the ready.

Nothing seeming to be coming I decock the hammer and slide the revolver back into her place before unsnapping one of the pouches to reload the rifle. Sliding four rounds into the tube I cock it before squeezing one more in. Resecuring the pouch I look to the Shuck to my right as it panted and whined in pain, eyes completely unfocused.

“Suffer.” I growl at the dying dog before walking away to other one that was in its death throes.

Hyperventilating and squirming around like most K9s do when mortally injured it doubles its efforts as it sees me approaching; drawing my sword as I hold the rifle in my left hand I walk up to it and roughly place my foot on the side of its head.

Still moving I push down harder until I hear a crack. Now lying still minus a few twitches of pain I line the sword up with its massive muscular neck and plunge it in, twisting the blade around a bit as well.

Pulling the blade out of its throat with a torrent of blood I take a few steps back from the wolf as it forces itself up in sheer panic and stumbles around. Watching it stumble around as blood poured from its mouth and spurted from the hole in the side if its neck it looked to me as if asking for help.

Still holding the sword as the blade dripped its blood on to the forest floor I laugh and shake my head as the Shuck finally collapses and gurgles its last breath. Looking around just to be sure I walk over to the Shuck and grab its left ear by the top and cut it off at the base.

Gathering the five other left ears of the dead Shucks I listen to the one I left to die as it whines and pants. Getting thoroughly annoyed by its insistent bitching I collect the last ear and pull out one of the bags as I walk to it.

Taking a wide step around the tree I turn to see it as it looks to me and starts to panic. Noticing that the pool of blood surrounding the creature was growing quite large I walk over to it and stand directly in front of it staring down at it as it looked and grumbled at me.

“Don’t growl at me.” I snarl and kick it in the windpipe. Now hacking as it tried to breathe I crouch down on my toes grabbing its ear. Cutting it off in one motion I add it to the bag before putting the sealed bag back into my pocket with a little more trouble than before.

Looking at it readying to deliver the final blow I hear the familiar scream of a Snapper far in the distance before differing howls ring out all around me.

Smiling I stand up, “Come and get me!” Yelling into the trees I crouch back down and pick up the Shucks head so I could look it in both eyes, “I’m gonna kill your entire family… and you’re gonna help me.”

Ramming the sword into the Shuck’s intestines it opens its mouth and lets out a pained howl as I pull the sword out and shove it back in over and over again.

The Shuck’s mouth stuck open in a silent scream I pull out the sword on the twentieth stab before ramming it one last time with as much force as possible with a grunt. Taking it out for the last time I dry the soaked blade on the left thigh of my pants and sheath it before grabbing the Shuck’s rear legs in my left hand while holding the rifle in my right.

Looking around one last time I take off heading North East while dragging the Shuck behind me hoping the others would follow the trail.

Loudly crashing through the forest, not trying to be quiet, I could hear the howls of the much faster Shucks closing on me; as they were doing for the past five minutes.

Running across an area of forest that was burnt black with only small green sprouts breaking free of the charred ground. Most of the trees being burnt up to about twenty feet I keep running through the roughly hundred and fifty yards wide by three hundred yards long patch as the burnt material snaps violently under my boots.

Deciding to set up my killing field here I slow to a stop and throw the dead Shuck I was carrying up against a blackened stump before running over to a tree that still had all of its lower branches and some leaves.

Running at the tree I push off with my left foot as I got close before pushing off with my right as it collided with the trunk. Pushing myself about ten feet from the jump alone I grab on top the medium brach I had my eyes set on with both hands, the 45-70 hanging from its leather sling on my right bicep, I heave myself up before climbing to the next that was only another two feet up but about three times wider and partially flat on the top. Quickly taking the bag off and setting it in front of me I rest my hand and rifle on top of it for maximum stability and accuracy.

Steading my breathing I calm myself and wait, listening to the everclosing howling. Looking back and forth across my killing zone I have to calm myself as the howling is soon accompanied with heavy footsteps.

Taking out three rounds in the meantime I place them in my mouth and gently bite down on them as I take out two more that I hold in my support hand. Leaving the pouch open I open the other and wait.

My breathing calm I let all outside distractions fade away as I focus on my task at hand: leaving no survivors. Only waiting ten seconds at most the first shuck breaks from the unburnt foliage just to the left of where I was currently aiming.

Adjusting my sights I track the shuck a few meters before putting it down. Falling face first as the rifle thumps against my shoulder I rack the action and slide one of the bullets from my suport hand into the rifle to keep it topped off as long as I could.

Another one making it through I adjust and fire, hitting it in the upper back making it jump before roughy rolling on the forest floor. Just as I had put a new round in the chamber two come through to my far right one after another.

Swinging to the right I get lucky and hit the first one in the head making it seem to evaporate. Obviously dropping instantaneously the Shuck that was right behind it trips and fumbled over his headless brethren landing on his side.

My rifle already loaded once more I put one into his upper chest before he could even get up.

Turning to my left as three come out all at once I fire and hit the one in the middle making it slide on its chin as its front legs gave out, kicking up black ash all the while.

Yelling as I fumbled to rack the action I finally get it and hold my sight in front of the next Shuck for a second before I send one down range that impacts the side of its neck toward the base due to the angle I was at. Throwing a large cloud of pink mist at his friend that was directly behind him.

Racking the action again I aim for the last of the trio that had by now spotted me. Catching movement to my front as well I rush the shot and end up missing as he jumps to the right. Cursing as the round did nothing but kick up ash I manually slide a round into the chamber and take my time before putting a hole in the Shuck’s back.

Leaving the action open I place the last bullet from my support hand in the chamber before closing it and spitting out the three in my mouth. Quickly loading the long cartridges into the gate I reach for one more from the pouch and top it off.

Looking up I saw that the big boys had arrived along with about twenty other Shucks as they all stood at the the far edge of the burnt out clearing I controlled. Another single Shuck coming from my far right I turn and drop it with noscelonce before turning and looking to the amassed group.

Topping the rifle off without looking away from the group I wait for them to make the first move. Apparently waiting for me to make the first move as well I stare at them down my sights as they stare back.

One of the Snappers getting impatient it opens its mouth and lets lose the loudest and most terrifying screech/howl/scream I’d ever heard in my life; sounding as if hell itself was residing within the monstrosity’s throat.

My ears hurting from the sound from where I was it wasn’t hard to believe that the town could hear it as well. Breaking free from my shock I aim back down the sights and aim high, aiming for the Snapper’s open mouth I launch the projectile and wait for impact.

What almost felt like a whole second passing the round finds its mark into the throat of the beast making its shriek go quiet as it starts hacking and frantically trying to breathe. Stumbling around I and its allies watch as it goes down onto its front legs before rolling onto its side and shuttering.

The missive Shuck laying still I load a round to replace the one I just fired while the rest of the Shucks standing still, not knowing what to do, I take to opportunity and pick off another.

The loud report of the 45-70 snapping them out of their stupor, along with one of their mates’ head exploding, the remaining snapper snaps its jaws before rushing forward, followed soon after by the rest of the Shucks.

The tranquility of the forest being long gone; traded for a concoughany of barks, growls, and gunfire three more Shucks fall as they close in on the tree I was in, my last round missing high.

Now empty I resort to single firing the rifle, the shots, while slower, become much easier at such close range.

Shucks dropping left and right, with varying degrees of violence I load the last round I had in my pouches right as the tree violently shakes making my shoot the round off into the sky as I fall back.

“The hell!” I growl looking down and seeing that the snapper had indeed grown impatient, using its massive bulky head to ram into the weakened, crispy part of the tree. Rifle now empty I sling it across my back and pull out my revolver.

Firing down four rounds, having forgot to reload it, I take out three Shucks with shots to the back and head as they tried to get up the tree to me. Clicking empty I look at the revolver in disappointment, “Really?”

The tree rocking again with a crack this time as it started to lean I fumble to put my revolver away as I watch the bag slowly slide from its spot before falling to the dead and live Shuck covered ground below.

Ignoring the bag, completely focused on me, I pull the 1911 from the front of my plate carrier while counting ten Shucks below.

“You goddamned parasites!” I yell at them while I start to pick them off with the pistol.

Quickly depleting the eight rounds in the pistol, five Shucks lay dead as I release the empty mag and put it away, Pulling out the fresh mag the tree violently shakes again and leans back further with a long groan.

The abrupt impact making me almost fall from the branch I drop the full mag from my left hand and watch it fall to the blood covered ground below in slow motion.

Reaching out for the magazine as it fell I look to the flat headed cunt as it backs up and prepares for another go. Putting the 1911 away I draw my sword and wait for it to charge.

Crouched on both of my feet I hold my sword in a ice pick grip in my right hand. Tensing as it starts to charge again I yell at the top of my lungs before jumping from the tree right as it impacted.

The impact being the last the tree needed it starts to fall as I fall toward the Snapper with the sword held above my head with both hands. Screaming at the top of my lungs I see the Snapper’s small, almost invisible, pupils look up to me right before I make contact with its back.

My full force and mass going into the strike the sword sinks down to the guard into the Snapper’s neck. The blade still glancing off of the spine it instead causing a mortal wound that would kill eventually.

Grabbing a clump of fur with my left hand to the point that my knuckles popped I tightly grab the blade of the sword as the Shuck starts to buck and shake it’s powerful head trying to dislodge me.

Pulling the blade from its spot I ram it into the side of the Shuck’s neck wildly and rapidly all the while it tried its damnedest to shake me. My anger growing to a boiling point as the Shuck continued to screech and wail I ram the blade as far forward as I could as the Shuck manages to make my left hand slip free.

Moving the now free hand to the handle as well the Snapper’s pitches to the right before quickly leaning backwards the sudden change in directing finally making me fall off and let go of the sword but not before tearing an absolute trench into the side of the Snapper’s neck.

Pushing myself up I draw my shotgun as the Shuck screams just as loudly as before but now in pain and terror. Shaking its head back and forth blood is sent flying everywhere from the deep gash and numerous holes in the side of its neck.

Some of the blood splattering across my body I point the shotgun at a approaching Shuck and fill his face with no.9 buckshot. Another rushing at me I wait until he was close before filling the Shuck with new holes.

Breaking the action open the spent shells are sent flying as I open the pouch and slip two new shells into the chambers. Pointing the shotgun at another one as it jumped at me I backstep to the left as I fire a shot hitting it in the right rear thigh.

Turning to finish the downed Shuck my left arm is suddenly pulled to the ground by the forearm, the rest of me forced to follow. My face ramming into the hard ground I turn my head to the left and see that a Shuck had a hold of my arm, the armor protecting the upper portion of my arm the lower half started to bleed.

Growling at me as my arm was in its mouth It starts to twist making me yell in pain, my shoulder starting to rip from the socket.

Rolling into the wolf a little pulling it closer to me I push the shotgun at the top of the wolf's collar bone, “EAT SHIIIIII-” I’m cut off as one of the barrels fires it’s entire load into the wolf’s throat.

A fine red mist exploding from the wolf's back it lets go and falls back shuttering. Getting back onto my feet,another two shells ready, I’m met with the forehead of a wolf as it impacts the center of my plate carrier. Flying back from the impact I land on the still shaking wolf I just shot a few seconds ago.

The Shuck that just rammed me coming at me once again it jumps into the air, its jaws wide open. Firing the other barrel I hit it dead center chest in mid air.
Landing on top of me I quickly push the heavy K9 off me only to see another ready to pounce. Holding my legs out I use them as a platform and let the Shuck’s own momentum carry it over my head behind me, using my feet as a platform.

Rolling to my feet I point the shotgun at the Shuck just as it just got up. Pointing the shotgun with one hand out in front of me I pull the trigger.

Cratering the wolf's neck just below the lower jaw I push the release lever and pop open the action once again while more wolves filtering into the clearing. Snapping the shotgun closed I watch as three wolves charge in unison, saliva flying from their mouths as they frothed in a rage.

Time having slowed as my well exercised adrenals pumped adrenaline into my veins time starts to return to normal along with the sounds of blood thirsty wolves. Pushing forward myself I charge back at the trio as I bellowed in anger.

Eyes narrowed at the livid Shucks, my shotgun at the ready, I let the dual barrels eat as I roughly aim down the side of the barrels while still running. One dropping immediately one of the others flinches heavy and rolls while the furthest to the left is left completely unscathed and continues to charge.

Doubling down I lower myself to the ground and kick my legs as hard as I could, the Shuck doing the same. The rest of the world being drowned out by my own yell we close ten feet where the Shuck makes the fatal mistake of trying to pounce.

Tucking my shoulder last minute the Shuck’s head connects with shoulder blade, the force of the hit making my entire arm go numb, I push through the hit before quickly turning expecting the Shuck to be at my throat.

Surprised and extremely pissed at the dead Shuck laying on the ground with its eyes popping out a heavy force carrines into my back making me fall to all fours.

Sharp claws digging into my back where my plate carrier didn’t protect I feel a large jaw clamp all the way over my left shoulder before biting down with bone crushing force.

Dropping the shotgun I grab either side of the Shuck’s neck just below the head before pulling and bringing the shoulder it was attached to down, flipping it over my back and onto its.

Looking up to me, its lips and teeth stained red with my blood, I wrap my left hand under its chin and pull its head up before repeatedly striking the throat with a hammer fist. Jumping with each strike I keep going until its throat felt soft before throwing its body to the side and standing with my shotgun.

The wolf that got injured by the shotgun blast standing with its front lowered as it growled not three feet from me, yelling louder in response silencing it takes a step back.

Rushing forward I tackle the Shuck and start punishing it for its cowardice. Punching with my left hand and slamming the pistol grip into the forehead of the shuck with my right as I used the shotgun as a sort of bat I continue with this method for a few more seconds before dropping the shotgun.

My vision going red I feel my fingers tense while my head starts to feel tight and like static was in my brain as my pre existing anger attacks mixed with the heightened anger I felt while fighting mix together into a focused rage.

Grabbing the back of the Shuck’s head I pull it up a ways before ramming his head into mine, using my arms and my back to get the strongest hits possible.

“DIE! DIE! DIE!” I scream ramming the Shuck’s deformed face into my helmet clad head over and over as I felt its blood explodes over my face, even into my eyes and mouth. Jumping off of the far dead wolf I quickly pick up the shotgun and load the last two shells before putting it back into the holster, craving hand to hand.

One wolf standing around fifty feet from me, seeming a little hesitant, I charge with a war cry. Fight or flight kicking in for the wolf it thankfully, for my entertainment, chooses fight and howls while starting to charging in response.

Pulling out my hatchet and holding it tightly with my right hand as I ran fifty feet becomes ten before we collide. Not pouncing like I thought it would it instead takes out my legs as it tucked under me.

Falling to the ground on my stomach I flip over almost instantaneously as the cautious Shuck jumps in to snap at my legs before jumping back. Waiting for it to jump again I lurch forward and grab its right leg with my left hand as it tried to pull back.

Painiced it pulls harder but to no avail as I grab tighter before chopping of its arm in one swing with the hatchet. Falling onto its back I jump to the side of it, landing one of my knees on its sternum.

Crying out in pain I hit it in the side of its head with its own arm, shutting it up, before I throw the arm away and push its head back. Punching it three times in the throat I grunt with each hit before yelling and biting down on the Shucks neck.

My teeth starting to dig into flesh of the wolf’s neck the wolf starts to panic and thrash about. Holding its lower body down with the hatchet I bite down as hard as I could and twist, blood all of the sudden filling my mouth I hold the Shuck down harder as it continued to fight while at the same time pulling back. The meat finally tearing free I back away and stand.

Pulling the clump of meat and fur from my mouth I throw it at the Shuck, “You fuckin’ bitch!” I yell stomping down hard on its ribcage.

Looking up as I kick it again I see another Snapper staring at me from the edge of the clearing.

My chest heaving as my body tried to aerate all the blood my heart was pushing through my veins I take a deep breath and bellow a yell of pure rage.

Stepping forward it opens its jaw all the way and lets a wail so loud I could feel it reverberate in my chest.

Putting my hatchet away I take my shotgun back out and slowly back toward a large burnt tree so I was directly in front of it.

Slowly starting into a gallop the massive wolf quickly picks up speed while coming right at me. All of my body telling me to get out of the way or get behind the tree I hold myself steady and wait. Mouth wide open it lunges at me, diving out of the way I could feel the wind the beast had stirred up on my exposed arms and neck.

Rolling I jump back toward the Shuck as it stumbled from the unexpected impact with the tree. Grabbing the hair of its neck with my left hand I pull myself as close to the wolf as possible while ramming the barrels of sawed off shotgun into the side of its neck with my right.

Letting the last two shells of buckshot lose into its neck it flinches as swings its battering ram of a head toward me, knocking me back onto my ass. Crawling back as it tries to smash me I roll from side to side delivering a kick or two to the side of its legs when possible as it continued to attempt to slash me.

Finally getting to my feet I dodge under a swing before taking one to the side of the head, the helmet taking most of the blow thankfully, I still stumble to the side which makes me vulnerable to the ram that sends me flying.

Tumbling across the ground I land on my back and groan, “Fuckin’ Jesus.”

Opening my eyes as the world continues to swirl around me I see the Shuck slowly approaching as it breathes in deep raspy breaths, blood pouring out of its slightly agape mouth and hole in its neck.

Pushing myself up, I stumble before staring at the dying Shuck, showing my defiance to die.

Angered at my persistence it growls before charging again. Easily dodging the sloppy and slowed charge it swings around and bites at me. Backing out of the wolf’s range it throws a swing at me that I again back away from.

Noticing that it was shifting its weight to the leg that just landed I step in and catch the next slash, gripping the leg tightly I step underneath the arm to the inside while holding it up. Completely out from under the leg I pull the arm causing the Shuck to fall onto its chin; growling in pain as I continued to push the leg skyward I stomp my leg on top of the arm to hold it down before quickly pushing the leg back toward the Shucks head.

Breaking with a loud crack I let go of the arm and back away as the Shuck writhes in pain while screaming.

“Cunt.” I spit, before walking back to the other dead shuck that my sword was still stuck in, listening to its screams of agony all the while.

Wrapping my hand around the handle I place my foot on the side of the dead Shuck’s side before pulling it out. Wiping the blade on my pants I seath the sword and turn, the entire field in front of me.

Zoning out for the better half of the fight I am, for once, fully aware of what just happened.

The blackened soil running red with blood as dismembered and disfigured bodies lay across the barren landscape I notice the complete quietness of the forest. Panning from left to right and back I take a deep breath in and prop my left foot on top of a dead Shuck’s head.

Looking at the scene for another second I harden my gaze and grab the handle of my sword with my right hand before pulling it out and thrusting it into the sky, punctuating my victory with a loud yell, “EEEEAAAHHHHHH!”

Closing my mouth I notice a Shuck slowly crawling away and start to walk toward it; looking down at the bodies that I left as I passed them I couldn’t help but grin. Reaching the downed wolf as it dragged its back legs I step over its back and grab the fur on the back of its head before wrenching its head back.

Placing the blade on the throat I pull it across the throat slowly as the Shuck starts to choke and gurgle. Pulling the blade all the way through I push the Shuck’s head to the ground while standing up before stomping my left foot down on the back of its head and neck, a sharp crack rewarding my efforts.

“Might as well start here.” Pulling the Shuck’s left ear up I slice it off and add it to the bag that I slipped out of my pocket, “This is gonna take a while.”

Moving to the next I pick up two shotgun shells as well, deciding to leave no trace of me behind, minus the dead bodies.

The town of Ponyville was completely silent, not a single soul was to be outside. Vendor’s stalls on the square were left open, abandoned, as the stall owners sought shelter along with the rest of town.

The only ponies that were out were the guards yet their nervous expressions did little to help comfort the ponies hiding from within their homes.

Unusual sounds coming from the Everfree was not uncommon, neither were strange sightings, but what was unusual were the sounds of continuous screaming, growling, and glass shaking shrieking all punctuated by loud yet distant explosions.

While the first five explosions had caught the ponies’ attention the howls had only added to their growing fear while the first blood chilling shriek had sent a few inside.

But what had truly sent the majority ponies inside of their homes was the sudden shift of complete dominance and power the shrieks held to the terror filled, panicked, and pain filled screams as whatever sounded to be the obvious boss in the fight was slain by something even worse, the fact that this happened over and over again alongside the sounds of regular wolves dying helped none either.

Among these hiding ponies was, of course, Twilight Sparkle. Hid with her ever faithful dragon companion in their shared room within’ the top floor of the library.

“I-Is it over Twilight?” Trembling as he spoke the young drake asks he clung to the side of the lavender pony.

“I think so.” Not letting go of her pseudo brother the unicorn levitated over a piece of parchment along with the quill and ink reservoir while holding it so she could see what she was writing.

Rapidly explaining what had happened concerned she was Twilight is about to have Spike send the letter but stops and adds how Ponyville was not under attack to clear up any sort of confusion that may arise from the letter.

“Okay spike send this would you.”

Taking the letter out of Twilight’s magical grasp Spike wordlessly hold the letter in front of him before incinerating it. The letter fading away in a green smoke both pony and dragon wait for a response.

Not having to wait long Spike coughs up a letter with Celestia’s official seal that Twilight eagerly grabs out of mid air.

Opening the letter Twilight starts to scan the page.

---

Dear Twilight,

I have already received a series of letters from the new captain in Ponyville the requested to send out an aerial search team to try to find what happened, the pegasus guards should be leaving shortly.

---

Looking out of the open balcony doors at the sound of yelling she saw five while armor clad pegasuses taking off and heading to the east

---

While Ponyville may not be under attack I am still worried about the proximity whatever is in the woods has to Ponyville yet I am unfortunately stuck in Canterlot at the moment.
Depending on what the search team finds, and if this happens again, or gets closer, I may make an appearance tomorrow. For now I am speaking with the captain there in Ponyville about what he feels necessary to do.

If anything else occurs please inform me.

Stay safe Twilight, with love, Celestia.

---

Reading over the letter it did little to comfort the lavender pony. Looking up and out of the open balcony doors once again she could just barely see the glinting gold of the flying pegasus guards as the flew over the Everfree.

“What the buck do you think was making those sounds?”

“I have no idea.” Bolt replied to the new recruit fresh from Canterlot as they flew East toward the sounds that had recently ceased.

Truth be told, Bolt didn’t want to know what made those sounds, but he continued onward with the rest of squad telling himself that he was safe in the air.

After another five minutes of flying one of the guards on the left side of the ‘V’ formation calls out, “Hey look at that.” Pointing to it the others look to the left, “Looks like a big burnt patch of forest.”

Now hovering in the air the five look at the barren patch not being able to see anything other than skeletal trees, “Well let's go check it out.” The guard taking point, Sergeant Chaser commands before turning and heading toward the spot.

“You think we’ll find anything Bolt?” Calm Breeze asked as he softly flew through the air.

“Nah, its the Everfree I doubt if we see a damned thing.” Dismissive of he whole situation Bolt isn’t even looking at the ground as Chaser and another gasp.

“Wha-” Cutting himself off as he looks down to the blood covered black ash he feels bile raising up his throat before swallowing it back down.

“By the gods.”

Nodding in agreement at the outburst the new recruit can’t take it and empties his stomach.

“Are you alright private?” The Sergeant asks looking to the stallion as he wipes his mouth.

“I - I mean I know the Shucks are monsters but look at em!” Pointing a shaky hoof at the scene he spits again, “T-that one’s blown open like rotten pumpkin, and that one’s... guts are strewn through the trees…. I think I’m gonna be sick again.”

“Calm, take the private here back to town, I don’t want him falling out of the sky a good kilohoof into the Everfree.”

“Alright sir.” Calm salutes before motioning for the recruit to follow him.

Turning West the recruit and Calm slowly fly away from the remaining team as they watch as the pair flew back toward town, the loss of two squadmates making the remaining three more uneasy

“So what now sergeant?” Bolt asks hopeful that they would be returning as well.

“Well, me and you are gonna go down there and get a closer look while Mistral here watches over us.”

Looking at his Sergeant like he was insane Bolt laughs getting a unamused glare from the stallion, “I’m not dying today, there’s no way I’m going down there where some demon just laid out its meal.”

“I’m tired of your shit, Bolt, you act all tough but when something comes up you bend over like a bitch in heat, let’s go.”

Not waiting for Bolt to follow, the Sergeant takes off toward the blood covered ground.

Grumbling to himself he reluctantly follows his sergeant, landing next to the stallion five seconds after he had already landed.

“Look at this,” Chaser nervously chuckles looking back and forth, “What could of done this?”

Walking forward the scene in front of them with the complete silence of the forest made both stallions more scared than they’d like to admit.

“Look at this thing, what absolute freak of nature can face this without fear and beat it? Fifty of em even!?”

Both stallions looking at the dead Shuck as its face was stuck in a snarl, baring all of its teeth while its neck was bent far past broken they both shuddered.

Looking at the rest of its body they shook their heads at how muscular and just how massive it was compared to them. The thought of possibly facing one today making their spines tingle.

“Imagine facing one of these things…” Bolt huffed.

“Gods no.” Chaser shook his head not wanting to be think about being face to face with one of these things while it was still alive, they were already intimidating enough while they were dead.

“What. The. Buck. Is. That!?” Bolt suddenly shouts scaring Chaser into jumping back.

“What!?” Panicked at the possibility of an attack he is relieved to see nothing coming to kill them but then looks to where Bolt was pointing.

“Holy shit.” The sergeant’s eyes widen before he cautiously starts to make his way over to the behemoth of a wolf as it laid on its side facing away from them. Following his superior closely Bolt follows the same path as Chaser around the downed mount of black fur, a path that just so happened to take them through a massive blood puddle that came from a wolf that had a massive cut down the side of its throat accented with dozens of other puncture wounds as its dead eyes stared forward looking at nothing.

Both looking at the dead wolf the scent that permeated the air all around them mixed with the sight and feel of blood soaked soil squishing underhoof made them both almost empty their stomachs on the spot.

Finally reaching to the front of the much larger Shuck they both step with trepidation as the beast’s front end become visible, impossibly large jaws and teeth housed within a massive skull that was shaped like a wedge, narrowing toward the front, while two beady small eyes sat atop its skull.

Both stallions not knowing what to say, or do, in the face of the dead wolf they both just end up looking to one another before looking back to the large dead black mass, “You think these things are what did this Chaser?”

“No, look what killed it.” The larger stallion takes out his sword and pokes it at the large gash down the side of its neck, “These wolves couldn’t of made a gash that deep and long.”

“What could then?” Looking down and raising up his right hoof in disgust at the amount of blood they were standing in Bolt asks.

“Something with really big claws,” The sergeant nods before getting closer to the dead wolf.

“Careful!” Bolt scolds holding out a hoof.

“Calm down, this things deader than a doornail.” The sergeant huffs not looking away from the dead beast, but not lowering his sword.

Opening the wound with the tip of his sword he gags but continues to press on, “I don’t know what did all of this but I do know that it’s dangerous. From what it looks like it killed three of these big ones and about three dozen of the smaller ones.” Scanning the clearing Chaser roughly estimates.

“You think it was the monkey?” Bolt asks with a little malice leaking into his voice.

“Honestly, that bucking thing scares me and my family. It’s a damn killing machine and personally I don't think it should be let to roam free like an actual pony, animals like that need to be in cages where they belong; but no.” The sergeant shakes his head, “It maybe a walking weapon, but I don’t think it could do this.”

“Yeah, I guess.” Bolt agrees looking the dead wolf in front of them, “Hey, its left ear is gone. So is that one’s, and that one’s, wait a minute.” Bolt walks over to a group of two dead Shucks that were both missing their left ears.

“They’re all missing their left ears.” Backing away from the Shuck that was missing most of its stomach the pegasus points out.

“You’re right.” Slowly walking over to another Shuck the sergeant notices that it was missing its left ear along with the right side of its head.

“Hey sergeant I think I’m seeing some movement coming toward you really fast from the south.” Mistral shouts pointing his hoof to the far end of the clearing.

Looking to the end of the clearing where Mistral just pointed one of the large jawed Shucks breaks through the brush, taking down small trees as it careened through the forest.

“Shit!” Taking off into the air Bolt looks behind him for his sergeant but sees that he’s still on the ground staring at the Shuck as it stared back at him.

“Chaser c’mon, that things gonna eat you!” Hovering in the air Bolt watches with horror as the massive Shuck unhinges its lower jaw and starts approaching Chaser as the stallion just stood fixated on the monster.

“Damnit!” Bolt grits his teeth before zooming back down to the ground next to his frozen Sergeant, “COME THE BUCK ON!” He screams in Chaser’s ear before hitting him across the face a little too hard due to the terror of what was behind them.

Snapping out of his entranced state Chaser takes a second to realize where he was again before tensing his wings and pushing himself up into the air ten feet from one flap of his wings, the adrenaline in his body making his muscles much stronger than they usually were.

Following immediately after the slightly larger stallion Bolt follows him up to a hundred feet where Chaser suddenly stops and turns around, “My sword!”

“What!? You’re worried about a bucking sword!?” Bolt is quick to snap at the sergeant, “Are you kidding me!?”

“You don’t understand,” Chaser looks to Bolt frantic, a expression the stallion had never seen on the usually stoic sergeant, “That sword has been handed down my family whenever one of us becomes a guard, it goes back like three generations. I have to get it back.”

Both stallions looking down as the third member of their party flew over quickly they see the gold bladed sword lying right next to the front paw of the massive wolf as it tried its best to look up, its neck and head apparently hindering the movement.

“Yeah, no. We barely got out of there once, I don’t want to get ripped to shreds today.”

“I agree with Bolt here Chaser, it’s just a sword, but if you go down there you’ll die.” Mistral chimes in getting the attention of both ponies, “What’s more valuable? A sword? Or the ability to go home to your family?”

Sighing Chaser visibly wilts, “You’re right. Let’s get back to town so we can report this and then drink till we don’t remember.”

All three taking off slowly West toward the town Chaser rubs the now empty seath, the only part of his family's’ heirloom still remaining as the two other ponies follow to either side of their commanding officer, completely silent.

“C’mon just let it happen!” My sword held within the grip of my right hand I try to push the tip of the blade into the Shuck’s exposed neck as my left hand pulled its head back by its fur. The Shucks paw in the crook of my elbow holding my arm and blade back in a surprising show of strength I finally start to overwhelm the Shuck as its endurance and strength gives.

Blood running down my face, forcing me to close my left eye from the cut just above my brow the blade finally finds its mark and sinks about an inch into the Shucks neck as it wines and pushes my arm back out, showing the small portion of the blade that was covered in dark blood.

Growing rather impatient at the lack of fresh blood I shift my weight to my right leg just for enough time to deliver a knee to the side of the Shuck’s ribs. The blow being a big enough shock to the wolf’s system its arm gives out causing the blade to quickly bite into the soft flesh of the neck.

Sinking in a good six inches I lift the wolfs head so I could stare into its eyes at it died. Gazing, unblinking, into the black orbs as blood ran from its mouth and it struggled to get air I push the blade in further and roughly pull up on its fur.

“Shh, shh, shhhhhhhhhh.” I softly whisper as it starts to weaken before slumping to the side and exhaling one last gurgling breath. Pushing the blade deeper yet to confirm its death I pull the blade free once I was convinced and roughly push its body to the ground after taking off its left ear.

“Fucker.” I grumble.

Turning around I look to the Shuck that got impaled on the ten inch broken branch of a fallen tree while wiping the blood out of my left eye, “Well that’s fuckin’ unfortunate….” Throwing the blood on my hand to the ground and wiping my forehead I smile, “for you.”

Slicing off its ear I look at it, “ I mean I did throw you onto that so I think I’ll count it.” Patting the wolf on the head as it stares off blankly, long dead from the branch that had pierced through its chest.

Stuffing the two ears into the already bulging ziplock bag from earlier I decide the bag was full enough as it was and walk over to where my bag and rifle were thrown in the short scuffle. Placing the ear filled bag in the front most pouch I take one of the empty bags and put in my front pocket.

Placing the bag back on my back and fastening it down properly this time I pick up the rifle next and lightly brush off the leaf litter and dirt from its blued surface and hardwood.

Rolling my neck I find the trail I was following once again and start to examine it once more as I was doing a few minutes ago, before I was rudely interrupted, finding that the traffic on the new trail was only getting heavier and heavier the further I followed it. More and more sticks and foliage being bent down or broken completely whereas before there was only small amounts of displacement.

“What will I find at the end of this pleasant little nature walk, hmmm?” I talk to myself standing back up and starting down the trail, “I certainly hope I don’t find any big bad wolves. Ohhhhh Nooooooooo. Whatever could I do?”

Deeply laughing I feel a grin start to spread across my face and decide to keep it as I push deeper and deeper into the Shuck’s domain.

Moving through the trees extremely cautiously and slowly, the complete non existence of sounds other than my own breathing and movement putting me on extreme edge I start to get a small thought that what I was doing was a bad idea.

The trail I had been following had long turned into a superhighway of sorts. Many trails merging into one massive highly traveled and beaten down path with almost no foliage left. Drag marks adorned by hundreds of paw prints the smell of rot and decay starts to fill the air getting me to raise my rifle in preparation for anything I may be faced with.

The permanently memorized scent of death growing stronger and stronger I round a slight bend before running face to face with the source of the scent. A massive pile of all types of dead animals from deer to even manticore as all laid dead and rotting.

“Is this what happens when they’re left unattended? They build a damned… gore nest?”

Lowering my rifle and relaxing my posture at the, thankful, lack of hostiles in the area I step toward the pile of dead animals that was easily as tall as I was.

“So they actually ate these huh?” Stopping next to a half eaten deer that was missing its rear half, minus some bone, I prod it with my foot a few times while looking it over plus the others.

“This has to be a social thing. Feasting like this.”

Knowing I was too little too late on catching the Shucks with their proverbial pants down I huff and start walking around the left side of the pile of corpses, hoping if I went deeper into the forest I would find more target practice.

The thick canopy above blocking out the sun to the point to where it could be mistaken for dusk on the forest floor I had found what I was looking for, or really, they’d found me.

“C’mon… let’s do this already!” I growl to the numerous Shucks as they circled me under the cover of partial darkness behind the trees.

No clearing in sight I knew I was in a bad spot. Low visibility, close quarters, numbers, angles of attack, all were not on my side as I kept my rifle welded to my cheek and turned in circles trying to look in as many directions at once.

Fuckles. I thought watching the black shapes zoom behind and out from behind trees all while trying to get a clear shot. Never quite getting the shot I was looking for I kept snapping from one target to the next. Giving up one the endless chase I hold my rifle’s sights between two trees instead and wait for some unfortunate soul to cross them.

A black shadow running from my left to right I watch as the shape disappears behind the tree and fire. The Shuck’s speed making its path intercept the bullet’s I hear it yelp before whacking into a tree.

Whipping my head to my left side I feel a surge of adrenaline hit causing time to slow as a Shuck jumped at me with its teeth bared. Turning to the side the Shuck was coming from at the same time as I took the rifle out of my shoulder and swung the stock of the gun across my front while stepping into the swing while the Shuck gets into range just for the hard wood of the stock to crack firmly against the side of its head.

Falling to the ground from the impact I rack the action and start to turn back around to finish off the injured Shuck before another jumps on my back making me stumble forward as time returned to normal.

Trying to shake the wolf off another comes head on and pounces on me knocking me and the wolf on my back to the ground. Punching the wolf on my chest in the face with my left hand, my right stuck underneath the wolf with my rifle, the K9 recoils back allowing me to gain purchase on the rifle and put a hole in its chest as the one that was on my back clamps its jaws on my helmet and starts trying to pull my head off. My neck quickly getting extended making it pop I grunt in pain and try to dislodge the Shuck as another grabs onto my left leg and starts to shake its head back and forth.

The armor on the shin of my leg doing an excellent job of keeping the Shuck’s teeth out of my leg the jeans covering the my calf let the Shuck’s teeth through with no problem causing blood to start to flow from the bite.

“AH FUCK!” I yell, the Shuck’s bite much more painful than regular dog bites. Kicking it in the side of the head with the heel of my other boot it let's go. Pulling my injured leg toward me I point the rifle at the Shuck and pull the trigger; wasting it.

The Shuck that was pulling on my helmet now trying to crush my head instead, I take my right hand from the rifle and pull out my revolver; pointing it behind me over my head I shoot off three blind shots that apparently found their mark as the Shuck lets go of my helmet.

Setting upright the three remaining bullets in the revolver each find a new home in either the skull or chest of a Shuck that were rushing me adding three more to the tally. Dropping the revolver to the ground in a rush I grab the lever action and rack it while trying to get back on my feet, my left leg not wanting to support any weight I put on it.

Uneasily standing upright my finger squeezes the trigger as I fire from the hip taking a shot at a Shuck that was showing me its side but miss by a few inches.

“God damnit.” I groan slipping a few rounds into the side of the rifle as the Shucks regrouped behind the trees, pausing for a second to pop another Shuck that exposed himself for too long.

Their barking and panting being deafening, I lift the topped off rifle back to my cheek and wait.

Clenching my teeth through the pain I put weight back on left leg to balance myself back out, “C’mon I can’t be dealin’ with this shit right now.” Watching they circle me helpless to do anything I was starting to get tired of being the hunted in this situation.

Clenching both my hands on the rifle I lower it to my waist and lower myself to the ground, spreading out my stance; ready to push off with my right leg. Taking a deep breath through my nose I notice a Shuck charging out me from the corner of my right eye, “Fuck it.”

Rushing forward the Shuck that was planning to jump on me misses as I push through the trees. Surprising a Shuck as it was just about to rush forward itself it jumps back on its rear legs as I come straight for it.

Just barely being able to push off at me it intercepts the buttstock of my rifle, its jaw shattering as it lands on its side. Spinning around, the rifle now raised, I fire a shot at the Shuck that tried to pounce me earlier, the round slamming square into its face.

Turning to my left at the slight movement in the corner of my eye I hold my out in front of me as A enraged Shuck bites down on the weapon and pushes against me trying to overwhelm me. Chomping at the metal of the rifle, its two front legs in the air I step in toward the Shuck and kick it as hard as I could in the jewels. Collapsing immediately I rack the action and put a round in a Shuck that rounded a tree just in front of me before whipping back around.

Dodging under a midair Shuck I feel its paws on my back as I run the other way. Stepping over the Shuck with the shattered jaw I make sure to land a heavy foot on its head as I run past it, turning behind a tree I barely have time to register the snapping jaws in front of my face from a Shuck that preemptively lunged at me. The jaws missing the tip of my nose by a millimeter at most.

Dodging left right and back while taking steps back the whole time the Shuck continued to advance on me relentlessly. Seeing an opportunity I push kick the Shuck back before pointing the rifle at its stomach as it tried to roll over from its back and put one in his guts.

Turning around I see a Shuck bounding at me with its mouth wide open as saliva flung from its chops in pure rage. Not attempting to reload the rifle I switch to a baseball grip, the hot metal of the barrel burning my hands I ignore the pain and wind up the swing before letting it eat as the wolf entered range.

*CRACK!* The sound of wood shattering bone ringing through the trees the Shuck is flung to the forest floor, the left side of its head caved in while its eyes popped from their sockets. Grabbing the rifle hastily I’m surprised that the stock wasn’t at all lose and rack a fresh round into the chamber, my heightened hearing picking up the distinctive *click* *clack* of the action.

A lull in the combat having presented itself I look to the trees around me while starting to top the lever gun back off.

“You may kill me!” I yell to the trees walking toward the Shuck who’s balls I rocketed into his throat, “But I’ll drag each one of you premature ejaculations down to hell with me!” I shoot a Shuck that presented itself, “I ain’t gonna die easy neither!” I slip a fresh round into the gate on the side of the rifle to replace the one I had just shot, “I’m gonna rip throats and break bones!”

Stopping next to the Shuck that was still writhing in pain from its definitely ruptured testicles I pick up my right foot and drop my heel into the side of its head over and over until it stopped flinching from the strikes.

Raising the rifle to my cheek the pain in my body long forgotten and replaced with burning hate as the gallons of blood covering my skin and clothes, some mine, most not, gave me a reddish black tint.

Stood still, ready, waiting, for the Shucks to make the first move they seemed hesitant to start again. I knew they were there; I could hear their heavy breaths as they stood ready just out of sight.

A minute dragging by like an hour I held fast as a beat of paws on earth rang out like a gunshot to my focused ears. Whipping to five o’clock in a split second I quickly find my target, put my sights on center mass, and pull the trigger.

It was on.

In a flurry my vision was suddenly consumed with nothing but black fur, red blood, and golden flashes of fire as teeth and claws tore into my armor and skin. The sounds of manic barking and growling filling my ears I stood in the center of it all, throwing wolfs off my back and dodging attacks while delivering my own.

Smashing the stock of the empty rifle across a Shucks face I turn around and jump back from another before kicking it back. Another jumping for my throat I hold the rifle out in front of me to block the attack.

Working the Shuck bites onto the gun and attempts to rip it from my hands, fighting back I try to keep ahold of the rifle and am about to wrench it out of the wolf’s maw before another clamps its jaw onto my right knee.

My knee falling out from under me I let go of the rifle that is then thrown into the trees with one strong movement of the Shuck’s neck. Pulling out the 1911 I point it at the Shuck that took out my knee and put one in it’s stupid head before pushing myself back onto my feet and left hook the one that stripped me of my rifle across the face as it started to pounce before putting a .45 in her chest.

The front of my leg and knee completely unscathed due to the armor all of the damage resided on the back part of the leg where all the tendons ran. Growling in anger at the injury I knew the damage was done and there was nothing I could do about it and focus back on turning the Shucks into fertilizer, pushing my wobbly leg to the back of my mind.

Taking two more out as they came at me I drop the empty mag and replace it with my last one as I walk forward to keep myself on the move. Raising the pistol at another target I feel a large mass run into my back and stick there as teeth start to nip at the back of my neck.

Tilting my head back to make sure the back of my helmet covered the back of my neck I whip from side to side as the Shuck refuses to dislodge from my pack.

Reaching for the emergency release strap with my left hand on the left side I fire three shots from the hip taking out another Shuck. Finding it I pull up on it causing all the weight, including the Shuck to shift to my right side as the strap slipped free causing my weakened right leg to make me stumble. Throwing the pack off me I turn around and push kick the wolf back before putting two rapid shots in its throat.

Looking to my left at another that was coming through the trees I get rammed right in the back of my injured knee from my right making me fall into a kneel. Firing a rushed shot I hit the black wolf in the left shoulder but it keeps charging me as the one to my right that took out my leg cuts all four claws deep into my upper front thigh wrapping around in a ascending cut to to the side if my ass.

“Fucker!” I shoot at the Shuck rushing me from the front in the eye as it got close and turn my attention to the one beside me that was lunging for a bite and hold my right arm up for it to bite down onto instead of my throat.

Biting hard onto the armor I grab the pistol with my left and pull the Shuck closer to me before pushing the barrel of the pistol onto the flesh where its neck turned into its bottom jaw, “My ass is one of my only assets you thunder cunt.” I growl, looking into its eyes before blowing its brains out the top of its skull.

Letting go of my arm and slumping over to the forest floor the slide on the 1911 locks back signifying that I was out of ammo. Standing back up, my right thigh quivering, I quickly put away the 1911 before pulling out my sawed off.

More already coming I fire one barrel into the lungs of a Shuck before another comes from out of side and delivers a quick slash to my left leg that my armor eats. Looking at the Shuck as it ran past me I point the shotgun at its upper back before putting buckshot right in its spine.

Breaking the action open I reach for more shells when a Shuck busts through the brambles taking me in my moment of exposure. Knocking me to the ground it bites its jaws on the sides of my face.

Looking down its throat as it squeezed my skull started to creak in a very unsettling way. Dropping the shotgun in panic I start punching the wolf in the side of the neck and head but it seemed careless to the blows as the pressure and pain increased ten fold.

Screaming in pain I panickedly grab the handle of my sword with my left hand as my right tried to pry the wolf’s jaws from my face. Gripping the sword tight I ram the sword into its neck over and over, the golden and silver blade appearing and disappearing from my vision as I looked down its throat.

Enough damage done to the Shuck I could feel its grip weaken but not before it coughed its blood into my eyes blinding me. Finding the footing I kick the beast away from me and roll onto my stomach and push myself up, sword still gripped tight in my hand.

Stumbling around clutching my head I could feel the holes and torn skin on both sides of my head next to my eyes as blood rushed from the openings eagerly. The pain like nothing I had ever felt I pushed the area finding to my relief the my Zygomatic and Sphenoid hand not been cracked to the point of structural weakness.

Finally wiping the blood from my eyes I looked down to my hands to find them covered in fresh blood that was definitely mine as it also coursed down the sides of my face like a waterfall.

Looking around I saw that again I had entered another lul in the fighting. My footing weak I stumbled for a second as I made my way over to my shotgun and leaned over to grab it, the blood from the wounds on the side of my face running back into my eyes I wipe it off with my wrists while I dual wielded the shotgun and sword.

“You…” I uneasily put the sword away and put two shells back into the shotgun, “wanna go for a third bout!?”

Sheathing the sword I go to take out two more shells only to find that four had fallen out of the pouch and onto the forest floor somewhere. Only having two full reloads left I go ahead and load the shotgun while holding the two other shells in my other hand.

“Let’s… do this.” My right leg giving out again I stumble and look down, the entirety of my right pant leg soaked in warm fresh blood, “shit.”

Realizing that I was losing a lot of blood, what looked to be a pint or two already, I knew that I didn’t have much time left.

I gotta get rid of the rest of these shits before I can patch myself up.

Focusing hard I started to feel my heart rate steady out before steadily pounding harder and faster as adrenaline started trickling into my veins. Breathing harder and harder as I forced my already overworked adrenals to go again my anger started to boil over, the telltale pressure in my chest and head hitting hard.

All sensations of pain or weakness gone my hands started to shake along with my arms as they tensed.

“Let’s fucking GO!”

My yell making them break their silence two go to flank me from either side as another comes from my front. Blasting the one dead ahead of me first I point the shotgun to my right side and blow the Shuck to my rights leg off as the other rams into me and bites at the armor on my left leg.

Jumping back as I turned to it another jumps onto my back pulling me away from the Shuck in front of me. Throwing the empty shotgun at the Shuck on the ground to distract it the weapon impacts its forehead and bounces off with a painful sounding thunk.

Trying to get the Shuck off my back by shaking from side to side and reaching behind me to pull it off I continue to get pulled backwards as it tried to bite the back of my neck.

Running into a tree I hear the Shuck on my back get its breath knocked out of it and get an idea. Pitching my weight forward and taking a step I jump back and ram the Shuck into the tree making its grip falter.

Stepping away from the Shuck I whip back around and cut kick the Shuck in the ribs as it sat with its back against the tree. Grabbing the Shuck by the throat I slide it up the tree and start dishing out left hook after left hook to its face.

Teeth just starting to come loose the Shuck I forgot about bites down on my tricep and pulls me to the ground by my arm. A stick that was just about a three quarter inches in diameter and three foot long plus already shaped to a point on one side from how it was broke off of the tree lying next to my right hand I grab it and whip around trying to spear the Shuck.

Seeing my move the Shuck let's go of my arm and jumps back only getting a inch or so stabbed into its chest. Thrusting the spear again it dodges out of the way once more, keeping sure to stay out of my range.

Continue to back away from me I saw that it was going to run ass end into a tree that was about ten feet away. Wanting to give the Shuck a lethal dose of irony: killing him with the help of what they killed me with, I push him further and further back until at about two feet from the tree I thrust really hard, taking a step into.

It’s rapid jump back as it hit the tree making the wolf stand on twos the spear digs itself into its ribs on the right side of its sternum. Wrapping my left hand around the back of its neck, gripping its hair hard, I peroet myself and the Shuck to the side so its back wasn’t on the tree anymore.

Gritting my teeth, a low rumble escaping my throat, I grab the spear hard before forcing it through the Shuck’s thoracic cavity. Turning again so its back was facing the tree I keep hold of the back of the spear with my right hand before kicking it back into the tree.

Smacking the tree hard it stays upright for a second before falling to the ground on its side. Stabbing the sloody stick into the ground as I walked back to the Shuck that was currently slumped forward but still sitting with its ass on the ground I breathed heavy as I hadn't let enough anger out yet.

Kneeing it in the nose, its head snaps and it lets out a weak growl before I stomp down on its extended rear left leg, breaking it.

Grabbing the left side of her head with my left hand I reach around the tree with my right and hold onto the trunk of the old oak.

Looking into its eyes as it looked back into mine; its left eye looking off toward the ground, its orbital broke, I dig my left thumb into its eye socket slowly before ramming its head into the side of the tree over and over.

Using my right arm that was grabbed onto the rough surface of the tree I pull with it to further accelerate the Shuck’s head as it rammed into the tree over and over. The blood splatter only growing larger and larger the Shuck was long dead but I continued to brutalize its body.

Enjoying the sight, sound, and feeling of the skull turning into fragments I ram it hard one last time before peeling its head off of the tree, half of its skull completely conceived as brain matter and blood poured from the massive opening in its skull I push its body away from me and stand up.

Slowly walking over to the tree next to my pack I put my back on the course bark and slide down, the molle on the back if my plate carrier catching the bark as I went. Sitting on the forest floor I take a deep slow breath and look down to my right thigh.

Looking up from the wound I sigh and take off my helmet before leaning my head back and looking up to the thick canopy above. Looking at the small blue patches of sky that dotted the canopy I laugh.

“I feel cold.” I say aloud to no one but myself knowing full well what was happening.

“At least this part is painless, by the time it starts to hurt again I’ll only have about a minute left anyway.” Looking at my blood soaked leg and the puddle that had already formed next to my thigh I knew I had to be pretty far along in the whole process.

About a million memories of old days where my family and friends were still alive played in my mind before the memories of their dead bodies and dead faces took over and burned extremely painful pictures, all in vivid detail and color, into the back of my eyes.

I got nothin’ left, I’ve already lost everybody. I’ve been ready for a while anyway. I think to myself feeling numb. Knowing if I acted fast I could save my own life, the brief thought is enough to make my right hand automatically reach for my kit before I stop myself and rest my hand back in my lap, “Not this time.”

The thought of fighting back and living another day pounding against the inside if my skull trying to get me to do something I repress my strong survival instincts to allow myself die. Still it pounded against the inside of my skull, to the point of making me flinch, not knowing if that was just me or my nervous system dying from lack of oxygen I try to ignore it before something pops into my head from nowhere.

What about the people here?

“They’ll be better off without me.” I roll my eyes.

Who will protect them from the Shucks, or the Timberwolves, or in general?

“...After I die they’ll be fine, it’s me they’re after”

You know that isn’t true, you think the guards can protect any of them? What about Zecora? Applejack? Fluttershy? Luna? RedHeart? Mac? Braeburn?

The thoughts of my dead family and world snapping away, memories and images of the ones I had grown fond of here, the ones that had somehow grown fond of me; took priority in my psyche.

You trust the guards to protect them in their time of need?

“Incompetent pieces of shit… no.”

What if they die because you’re too much of a pussy to keep going because you’re sad?

“I’m not a fucking edgelord.”

Rolling onto my left side and propping myself up on my elbow I look at the wound and grab the kit from my back. Dumping out the kit’s contents I grab all four bags of Quikclot and tear them open.

Going to pour the powder into the cuts I realize that my pants and underpants where in the way. Setting down the bags I bring my right foot closer to me and grab the small knife in the boot before using it to cut away the strips of denim and thin white fabric.

Stabbing the knife into the soil I rip the hole open more to expose the whole wound. Now able to see the four deep cuts that ran about six and a half inches along the side of my thigh just below my hips the torrent of blood pouring out was my only obstacle. Grabbing my canteen from my the molle on my pack I quickly open the cap and start to pour the water over the wound so I could see what I was dealing with, even if just for a second. The water washing away the blood I could see the pink and white of flesh and muscle, the cuts all being around four inches deep.

“Deep.” Pouring the small white granules of the hemostatic into the cuts and be absorbed almost instantaneously into the blood. Throwing the small pouches to the ground I grab the bandages and start to wrap it around my thigh the awkward angle making so I had to wrap at an angle.

Only getting around once I look for more bandages realizing that I didn’t pack anymore, “Are you fuckin’ SERIOUS!”

Looking around for something to use as a covering I hold my hand over the still bleeding wounds to try and slow it. Not finding anything I look to the white shirt I was wearing under my armor.

Taking my hand away from the wound I quickly slip it off and throw the carrier next to me. Grabbing onto the neck of the shirt I pull it over my head and get it most of the way off before it gets caught on the armor I had on my forearms.

Struggling I pull my arms apart ripping the shirt loosening it. Taking it in one hand I pull the small boot knife out of the soil and use it to cut off the bottom eight inches of the shirt. Cutting the loop into a single long ribbon I push the makeshift bandage under my right leg to the middle and wrap it so I could tie it off. Doing the same process over and over until most of the shirt was gone.

The wound completely covered with the tight white fabric of the shirt I could see that blood was still seeping out of the cuts as I thought it would. Turning so I was facing a tree I lift up my right leg with the help of my right arm and prop it up on the tree to put the injury above my heart.

Having to lift my back of the ground to get my upper thigh above my heart I could tell it was going to be one hell of an ab workout for the next half hour.

The entire town of Ponyville was still on lock down, not by force; no. But by choice. Even if the last round of explosions had been considerably more distant ponies didn't want to risk it, the only ponies that did happen to be out on the streets were the guards who had been ordered to be there.

Sergeant Clover was just about to send his report of what the recon team had found off to the princess when the second round had started. It didn’t help that he absolutely hated sending reports with a passion, but he supposed he’d have to get used to it.

“Is the private still throwing up in the bathroom?” Clover asked the Sergeant across from him.

“Yes, Calm is still with him though.” Chaser nods, a long stare in his eyes.

“Was it really that bad?” He had the entire description of what the team had seen in front of him yet he still couldn’t believe it.

“With all due respect sir-” Mistral starts, “You have no idea. Just telling you like this doesn't do what was out there justice.”

Clover could tell it was bad by the state of the team when they came back, even though it had been an few hours ago they were still distant and jumpy.

“Well could you go back over it once more for me? I know what you saw was terrible but getting a understanding of what we’re dealing with is paramount for the safety of the towns and ponies in this area.”

The three ponies sat in front of Clover visibly tensing up Chaser starts first.

“When we got there the fighting had already concluded and all that was left was the dead bodies of the Shucks and more blood than I’ve ever seen before.”

Looking down to his report Clover re-read the passage for the fifth time going to the next part of the story he had transcribed, “And what state were the bodies left in?”

“Mangled. Well, some were left relatively untouched but most of them were missing limbs, disemboweled, partly or completely decapitated, blown open, deformed-”

“Okay I get the picture.” Clover interrupts starting to feel sick just from the description, “Thank you though.”

“They were all missing their left ears.” Bolt speaks up for the first time, uncharacteristic for him to stay so quiet.

“They were what?”

“All missing their left ears.” Bolt repeats again slightly annoyed.

“He’s right, they were all missing their left ears.” Chaser confirms nodding, “I guess that totally slipped my mind.”

“This... complicates things.” Clover sighs rubbing his forehead with his hoof as he leaned forward on his desk.

“How so?” Bolt looks to his new superior officer, a little bit of venom still in his gaze.

Taking a few deep breaths Clover looks up from his desk and clears his throat, “Well. This means whatever is slaughtering the Shucks is intelligent, to a point at least.”

“And you’re figuring this how? That’s a pretty big assumption for somepony who wasn’t even bucking there.”

“Oh shut the hell up Bolt.” Clover snaps back instantly, the stress of the day making the usually calm pony a little on edge, “If you’re still pissed off about me getting promoted to First Sergeant than you can apply for a transfer and I’ll gladly sign it for you.”

Having never seen Clover so upset before Bolt shrinks back under his gaze and looks down to the desk. Sighing the earth pony leans back into his chair and rubs his eyes, “Sorry it’s just been a long week.”

Looking up to the bland wood plank ceiling for a few seconds the pony exhales heavily out of his nose and looks back to the three ponies in front of him, “Anyways as I was saying: This means whatever is doing this has some intelligence. It’s not like a manticore, or a hydra, or a bugbear, or whatever else is in those woods.”

“How so?” Mistral questions, “I mean it wasn’t a hydra because there were no footprints but why couldn’t it just be some weird Everfree beast? I mean, there’s plenty to choose from.”

“Right, but how many keep trophies of their kills?” Clover questions back.

“Trophies?” Cocking her head to the side the pegasus mare is taken aback by the premice.

“Yes. Whatever killed the Shucks kept their left ears as a trophy or as a way to count how many they killed, while those creatures you just named have intelligence in their own ways I don’t know of any that count kills.”

“Counting kills? That’s some psycho stuff.” Mistral laughs.

Looking over to the younger mare Chaser thinks back to the human.

“Speaking of psychos I know we ruled out the pale thing that has walked into town a few times but could it be it? Counting kills sounds like something it’d do. I mean have you seen the Article in the RPO of what it did down in Appleloosa?”

“I think we’ve all seen the article Sergeant.” Mistral huffs a shiver going through her entire body, “Those bucking eyes.”

“Buck the eyes.” Bolt laughs getting the three other ponies to look at him, “I’ve seen that thing up close, it’s entire body looks like it was meant for causing as much death as possible.”

“Yeah I heard it threw your sorry flank down that hill coming into town.” Mistral quips getting a few chuckles out of the other ponies in the room.

“Stuff it Mistral, I’d love to see what it would do to you.” Bolt immediately shoots back.

“It’s not gonna do anything to me because I’m never going to get near it.”

“Oh don't worry it’ll sneak up on you, that thing’s quiet like the freaking night.”

“Yeah right.” The mare rolls her eyes, a little bit of her phillydelphian accent slipping out, “As if something that big could have a hint of stealth.”

“No-” Clover laughs a little, “He’s right. Hank is deathly silent when he chooses to be.”

Gasping Mistral leans forward placing her front hooves on Clover’s desk, “I forgot! You were held hostage by that thing!”

Smiling Clover leans back in his chair, “Well I wasn’t exactly held hostage but I was around him for a little while.”

“Well you have the most experience with it out of anypony here, except maybe Thorn but he’s uh still in the hospital-”

“Good riddance.” Chaser mumbles.

Poking the larger pony in the arm with the tip of his hoof Bolt looks to the stallion with mock worry, “Are you feeling alright there Sergeant? I think I just heard you say something that wasn’t some form of ‘yes’ ‘no’ or a command.”

“Don’t talk to your superiors like that.” Chaser immediately fires Bolt down.

“Oh there he is. I was worried for a second. Don’t worry everypony the Sergeant is doing just fine.” Bolt rolls his eyes and leans back into his chair.

Staring at the younger stallion with daggers Bolt ignores Chaser’s gaze as Mistral shakes her head at the two and looks back to Clover, “So you think it could be it doing all this?”

“Well first off it has a name: Hank and no.” Getting the attention of the other two Chaser continues, “Hank is insane and dangerous but I don’t think even he is that capable.”

“When you say insane do you mean-”

“I mean full on insane, he’s a lunatic, certifiably crazy, a phycopath, whatever you want to say.” Clover interrupts Chaser.

“So what are you going to send to the princess then? If we don’t know what’s doing this?”

“I’m going to tell her that whatever is doing this is unknown, somewhat intelligent, extremely dangerous, and operating too close to town to be considered anything less than imminent threat.”
Clover nods, “I’m going to play this safe.”

“Wouldn’t that prompt a visit from the princesses though?” Mistral chimes in.

“Yes. Posters for a town meeting at Sugar Cube Corner are being printed now, in the brief letter she sent me in response, where I said that personal contact would be best in addressing this threat, she told me that in the likely case that I would put this at an imminent threat or above she would use the rest of her time here as the open town forum.”

“So the princess is going to be here tomorrow?” Chaser narrows his eyes.

“Correct.”

“Well let's get going then.”

“Agreed,” Clover signs his final report with the added information and Stamps it with the official seal, “I thank you for your time here and more importantly putting your lives on the line out there, after all this blows over you’ll all be seeing some days off.”

“Thank you sir.” The three ponies say in unison, professionalism back in full.

“Dismissed.”

Filing out of the room one by one Clover watches as they all leave before slumping over in his chair, “I transferred here as private so I wouldn’t have to deal with all this paperwork,” the pony sighs, “You should go to officer school dear, it will be great.” Chaser parrots. “Yeah Mom? I’m having a grand ol’ time.”

“I’m a fuckin’ retard.” Limping through the dense underbrush my right leg refused to take a pound of my weight; having to use a long stick as a sort of cane to push my way forward.

“Man this takes me back.” I groan stumbling over a log and falling to the forest floor in a heap, Putting my hands under me I push myself back up onto my left knee before using the stick to push me up the rest of the way.

Spitting some of the moss and leaf litter that made its way into my mouth back onto the forest floor where it belonged I start limping forward once again. Looking up I could see the rapidly blackening sky through the canopy of the forest causing the shadows on the ground to fade away as everything slowly melded into a uniform blackness.

“I’m so completely fucked.” Knowing that I couldn’t go back the way I came so soon at the risk of running into a large pack of Shucks I had no choice but to go deeper into the forest in search of somewhere to set up for the night.

Revolver clenched tightly in my left hand my head stayed on the swivel, my eyes looking for anything that got close to me while also scoping out for a tree to climb or a cave to hide in. Stumbling again I barely grab onto a tree and stop myself from falling for the hundredth time.

“Christ I’m wobbly as a damn spaghetti noodle.” Hobbling forward once again watching my footing more diligently stopping as I almost step on a massive rack of antlers. Slowly bending over not to upset my right leg too much I get down on my left knee while I kept my right leg out straight behind me.

Grabbing the still intact set of antlers I pick up the entire rack to inspect it and find that only the skull cap remained. Counting fourteen possible points, three broken off from age the other points ranged from five to seven inches long and practically already looked like knives. Ready and wanting to be buried deep in something's ribcage.

Picking up the impressive rack I use my walking stick to push myself up and start walking again while studying the antlers as to what style I wanted to go with when it came to the shanks.

Feeling a single cool drip of water on the back of my neck I look up and see that it was starting to drizzle, the heavy black clouds unable to hold all the water as a loud boom of thunder sounds in the distance.

Well, might as well get this over with. I clear my throat, “At least it ain’t rainin’!” I yell to the sky. Waiting just a few seconds I could hear the rain falling before crashing against the forest canopy before finally falling down onto me in big fat drops.

“Works every time.” Laughing I continue walking East almost slipping on a large leaf that had gotten wet, “You can fuck right off with that nonsense.”

Having finally found tree just asking to be climbed I did just that, putting one hand in front of the other as I climbed the close branches of the massive tree. The tree already residing on top of a pretty decent sized hill I knew if I climbed high enough that I would be above the rest of the canopy I pushed on further and further, the rain soaked tree branches and fucked leg making my ascent a little slower than I would like.

Reaching a branch that was plenty wide to sit on comfortably I looked down and around figuring I was at least a hundred and fifty feet in the air and about thirty above the rest of the trees, “Perfect.”

The crack of thunder accompanied by a bolt of white lighting striking another one of the trees about four miles away I looked to the tree I was currently in realizing that it went up for another hundred feet making it a great lightning rod as well.

Deciding that I didn’t really care I hoist myself up onto the branch and sit. Slipping my bag off I hang it by both straps on a moderately sized branch before handing my rifle from the same branch by the sling.

Getting up onto the branch with my armored back up against the main trunk of the tree I set my right leg out straight in front of me, groaning at the terrible ache and harsh sting that the wound was screaming at me with. Ignoring the pain the best I could the amazing landscape unfolding in front of me under the setting sun.

Looking over to the pack next to me I reach over and unzip the main compartment looking for the bottle of whisky and MRE I packed earlier. Digging around for a second I feel the neck of the bottle and pull it out before transferring it to my left hand while still looking for the MRE with my right. Finding the smooth plastic bag I clamp my fingers around it and pull it out.

Setting both in my lap I unscrew the cap on the whiskey and put the bottle to my lips while ripping open the protective brown bag. Taking the bottle away from my mouth I smack my lips at the decent after taste and slight burn in the back of my throat.

“Ahhhhhh. Refreshing. It’s no Macallan or Rittenhouse Rye but Jack ain’t at all bad.” Taking another few sips from the bottle I set it down and start taking out the main meal box to see what I was eating tonight.

“Menu No. 20.” I read to myself before my eyes shoot open, “No shit!” Knowing exactly what menu 20 was I pour the contents greedily into my lap. Picking up the first of two brown boxes I read spaghetti with meat and sauce and rip it open, setting the bag filled with the food of kings in my lap with the others before stuffing the discarded box back into my pack without looking away from the bounty in front of me.

Going to the next box I already knew what it was but read over the box anyway the box displaying: Cherry Blueberry Cobbler.

“Aww Yissss.” I set the pouch next to the main meal before digging through the pile in front of me further examining what I had. Putting the accessories pack back in my pack for later I set the bag of basically gatorade, potato sticks, whole wheat snack bread, and jalapeno cheese spread with the other items before whipping out the heating bag and hot beverage bag for the gatorade I put the spaghetti in the heating bag before setting it down to get my canteen.

Pouring a small amount of water into the heating bag with the spaghetti I quickly fold the bag’s opening over to seal it off and listen as the water starts to boil inside. Setting the hot between my thighs to absorb as much heat as possible, the heat pack thingy runs out of juice.

Not having much time I quickly open the heating bag and pull out the spaghetti before dropping the cobbler in so the residual heat would make the desert at least luke warm. Opening the bag of spaghetti I take a deep whiff of the meal, “Oh yeaaahhhhhhhh.”

Eyes rolling to the back of my head I deeply groan before looking back to the supper in my hand, reaching for the accessory pack once again I rip it open and grab the small bottle of Tabasco before pouring it in the spaghetti. Drinking the small remainder of hot sauce directly from the bottle I open the snack bread and pull it out, the over exaggerated loaf shaped piece of flatbread greeting me.

Getting the cheese spread out next I tear the top off before spreading some onto the bread. Bread thoroughly covered I squeeze the last bit of cheese sauce directly into my mouth before getting to work on the main course.

Eating the bread and spaghetti in a respectable time of a minute thirty I pick up the hot beverage bag and use my canteen to put twelve ounces of water in the bag. Filled to the correct line I take the gatorade clone and pour the green powder into the bag. Making sure to get every grain of powder I set the empty pouch with the others before closing the bag and shaking it for around ten seconds. Opening the bag, making sure not to squeeze it too hard I take a sip of the mixture and hum in delight. Zipping it up and setting it down I take the warmed cobbler out of the barely warm heater bag and tear into it, savoring every last bite until nothing was left.

Wiping my mouth I take to bag of green drink and reopen it before drinking half of it down deciding to save the other half with the potato stick for the long night ahead of me. Looking back up tp the sunset it had only gotten more brilliant in the past five minutes.

The sun in the perfect spot just above the trees on the horizon the wonderful pink, orange, and red rays shot into the clouds above making the clouds seem as if they were set ablaze. Tearing my gaze away from the sunset I look to my left to where the storm clouds mixed with raising moon to create a deep navy purple color with the occasional silent lightning bolt.

“If there is one thing that makes me feel like a king… this is it,” Taking a deep breath of crisp air I laugh a few times, “Up in the air, a fall like cool and crisp breeze blowing over as the scent of spring dew lingers in the wind, while I have the best seat in the world to watch mother nature do her bidding.”

Calmly exhaling I reach in the top pocket and pull out my old phone before unlocking it and clicking on the camera. The camera on my phone exceptionally good for a mobile device I take a picture of both halves of the scene, getting different levels of zoom and angles before zooming out to where I fit everything into the picture including the branch I was sat in and my bloody right leg. Looking over the pictures decide to take one more, a panorama from far right to left.

Once I had taken all my pictures I made sure the camera was set to take photos in 4032x3024 or fullscreen, which it was before locking it and slipping it back into the bag. Picking up the bottle of Jack Daniels I raise it to the sky before drinking down a few more gulps as I watched the last edge of the sun dip below the trees.
---

Just relaxing for the past half hour or so I looked over to the rack of antlers I had and decided to get to work on the numerous shanks I wanted to make before I headed out tomorrow morning.

“I have about twelve hours or so to burn so I might as well stay productive and at least get something done while I’m up here.”

Long overdue, I know, A lot has happened in the past few months to me so I've been exceptionally busy and enjoying a bit of a social life for once.

The story isn't dead, I'm not dead, so on.

I hope all you guys like it, I liked writing the fight scenes even if they are over the top. Just adds to the fun in my opinion.

Enjoy, say what you liked and didn't, and I'll be back in a few months.