The sun shone brightly through the small pockets of light the forest allowed. The shade of the leaves casted eerie shadows on the ground below, contrasting the hole of light it surrounded. The forest was darker than the briefing Shining Armor gave stated. The procession of ponies marched nosily through. The clanking of armor, weapons, and supplies echoed through the woods. The large buggy groaned and moaned across the dirt road. Woodland creatures could be heard roaming the forest. Some occasionally came across the large group and simply went through or around them. Star Grazer, Light Dasher, and Blueblood were at the very back of the line. The army travelled in four smaller groups. They were tasked with protecting the equipment and supplies at the very back. It was boring…

The trio found different things to amuse themselves with. Star Grazer was somehow holding a book with one hoof and still walking, Light Dasher was hopping up and down using only her wings, and Blueblood complained about his mane. Star Grazer peered up occasionally to avoid a pebble or drift into the buggy. Star Grazer walked toward Blueblood who had stopped to pick up the comb he dropped. He almost tripped on a rather large rock in the road as he drifted toward him. Blueblood dusted the comb and looked over at the now approaching Star Grazer.

“Hey.”

“Hey.”

They stood their staring at each other with dull expressionless faces. The Buggy, being pulled by two muscular stallions, crept by them with the rest of the troupe. They turned their attention to Light Dasher who was still hopping around in the general direction of the army. She had stopped for a moment and lowered her head to look at something. Her flank rose up and twitched. She looked up and noticed Star Grazer and Blueblood staring at her.

“Why are you guys staring at me?”

“We're bored…” Star Grazer was impressed by his excuse.

“Same… Why couldn’t we stay in Canterlot a little longer! They were throwing flowers at us!”

They all remembered the sendoff they received from Canterlot. A large crowd had formed at the front entrance of the castle.  When the troops rolled around from the back of the castle they went up in a roar. Cheering ponies surrounded the army as they marched in formation. Some had new sets of golden armor and silver spears which glistened in the sun. A few ponies broke formation to say goodbye to loved ones. The crowd was buzzing with energy as they marched north past Canterlot. Blueblood received several kisses from mares he didn’t know. Light Dasher had said her goodbyes before they left so she simply waved to her friends. Star Grazer simply watched the whole thing as he marched with the others.

The trio quickly broke from their reminiscence noticing the distance placed between them and the back of the line. They quickly dashed up and continued to think of that moment. It was so surreal and amazing! It felt good to receive that kind of a treatment. It felt so long ago to them though. It almost as if it happened years ago. In reality it happened about 5 hours ago.

The Sun was now at its apex in the sky and it bore heavily down through the small patches of light. The forest was eerily quiet. They noticed a lack of wild animals and the shadows seemed darker than they were before. Star Grazer quickly ran up toward the front of the group and raised a hoof in the air. Everypony in their group stopped and looked around. He gestured to them instructing them not to make noise.

The soft patter of grass being stepped on came from the surrounding wood. At first it was very faint and very few. The sound grew louder and louder. It sounded almost as if it was coming toward them. They stood there listening as it began to grow louder and louder. It is definitely coming toward us and whatever it is, it’s big…

Star Grazer quickly moved to the cart and grabbed a spear from the back of it. Many of the other ponies did the same. He carefully walked up to the forest edge. He peered through trying to see what lies in the dark. Nothing could be seen… A black blob moved in the shadows. He followed the shadows movements until it came out a few steps in front of them in the forest.

It was a family of bears. The cub hid behind what was assumed to be the mother bear and the father stared at Star Grazer and the group. It looked back to the forest and they quickly ran across the road to the other side.

“Huh… Guess it was nothing then. All right let’s move out!” Star Grazer looked to the forest one more time before trotting with the rest of the group. The black blob was still there.

Star Grazer had assigned a few more ponies to guard the carts and moved the carts toward the front of the group. He received a salute and the ponies did as they were instructed. I could get used to this! He smiled to himself as they continued their march. Occasionally he would check the carts, chat with the guards, or twirl a spear around. He stopped twirling when he flung the spear in the air and almost skewered himself to the ground.

Light Dasher had a strange feeling about the woods. She constantly glanced at it trying to see what lay hidden in the shadows. I swear I saw something move in there!

“Hey Star?” He turned around to face the worried mare.

“Hey. What’s wrong? Is there trouble?” He hopped into a ready stance as he awaited the news.

“I think there is something following us in the woods…” Her voice quivered a bit as she said that.

“Hmm… Alright I can check again.” Star Grazer picked up a spear and stopped the group. He pulled two other ponies to come with him as he walked into the wood. He peered into the black that was sparsely interrupted by small speckles of light in the distance.  He heard the patter of grass again. This time it was much louder than before. There is something following us… Ponyfeathers! We have the supplies, if we don’t get this to the rest of the army in time they could be in trouble… He stepped even more so into the wood. He felt around for a while until he reached a hole of light. He stood in the small overgrown clearing were the light shone on. It was evident that something or someone was here. He looked around to see a trail was cut through a bush. He turned around and looked back to the cart and his friends. Light Dasher stared back worriedly. She probably couldn’t see him. He turned back to the bush.

The bush was rather large for the forest it was in. It was a little taller than Star Grazer and was four times as wide as him. It stood between two deep-rooted trees. The bush grew yellow buds that leaned toward the sun. It was the large hole however that intrigued and worried him. It looked as though something had cut swiped at it. Several clippings of the bush were on the ground. The clippings seemed to land to one side, almost like it was cut In a sweeping motion. He slowly followed the sweep to the tree next to it. He was terrified at what he found.

Three claw marks were gashed across the tree bark. The tree hadn’t started to leak sap or heal up. It was fresh. He snapped toward the guard ponies he brought with him and the distant cart of supplies

“Everypony get to the cart, NOW!”

“What’s going on sir? Is there a problem?”

“We’re being ambushed”

They all galloped to the cart. The scene before them was gruesome. Two ponies lay dead on the ground. Star Grazer had very little time to take in what was happening as he dodged a swipe from his right. He fumbled with the spear as the griffin continued its attack. He dodged another swipe and placed a solid hoof on the griffin’s beak. It seemed unaffected and continued its assault. He dodged another blow and returned it, this time landing a hoof in its throat. It staggered back and coughed before Star Grazer bucked him in the face. It staggered back and fell as a spear thrust through its side.

Star Grazer was astonished as Light Dasher pulled the spear from the griffon’s body. Blood was splattered across her mane and she had a feral look on her face. She stood on top of the griffon for a few more seconds insuring its death then lunged off onto another. Star Grazer collected himself and examined the situation.

There had to be five or so griffins. They were not armored and had bandages on them. They must be the stragglers from the attack on Canterlot… Star Grazer quickly glanced around locating Blueblood who was at a stalemate with a griffin. Star Grazer readied his spear and let fly with all his might into it. It screamed in pain and Blueblood pushed it off to him. He finished it off by bucking the spear straight through it, silencing the screaming beast.

Light Dasher had finished the last one quite gruesomely. She was locked in combat dodging swipes and placing quick jabs at it. This griffon was much larger than the others and was heavily scarred and cut. It was slow and cumbersome compared to Light Dasher’s nimbleness and cunning. She dove under the griffin, appearing on the other side to place a spear in its rear end. It howled in pain as she yanked the spear with a string of blood dripping from it. The griffin collapsed from its sheer weight as it breathed heavily into the grass, dirt, and blood. Light Dasher ran up onto its back and jumped, placing the spear in the base of its neck. The griffon let out a sigh and a gurgle before releasing its final breath.

Star Grazer and the rest of the troop stared In shock at the brutality, finesse, and efficiency in which she took down the griffon. All except for Blueblood who whimpered by the cart rubbing blood out of his mane. She stood on top of the griffon with a feral look in her eyes. She was breathing heavily and grunted as she wrenched the spear free of the body. She stepped down and walked to Star Grazer. The blood drenched mare stood a few steps away from him. A wave of nausea washed over him as the scent of blood filled his nose and lungs. At that very moment her face turned from one of pure animal rage to that of the normal happy go lucky Light Dasher!

“Well. That’s over with!  I'm going to go check and see if there are any more griffons around.” She smiled and wiped some blood from her mane before trotting toward the cart. Everypony stared in awe and fear at the beautiful killer mare that was Light Dasher.

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