The deep, sorrowful moan continued as Vinyl stared at the monster in front of her. It looked like a black stallion, but didn't at the same time. It looked as though its coat was made out of an inky black mist that acted as skin. Small wisps came off of it as its black, soulless eyes stared at her. She could even see some of its bone structure under its "skin".

When it took a step towards Vinyl with another moan, she tried to run in a full sprint, but her body wouldn't respond to her. The monster continued to take step by step towards the frozen mare, its black eyes never straying from Vinyls gaze. When the monster finally stopped its slow saunter, it was a mere inch or two from Vinyl, giving her a stare that could kill.

After a few minutes of the stare down, Vinyl could feel herself becoming weaker as it continued. Unknown to her, she was slowly becoming the sinisteeds snack.

'Get away from it, Vinyl.' said a familiar voice inside Vinyls head.

'Flicker? Is that you?' Vinyl asked, her eyes starting to glaze over as her coat started becoming a darker shade.

'Please! Run away! I don't want you to disappear!' Flicker said, fear evident in her voice.

'I.......can't. I feel so......so far away.' By now, Vinyls coat had almost become a charcoal black and translucent.

Please don't give in! Ughhhh, this thing is making me angry. Just go away. Go away. Go away.....'

Suddenly, a neon blue and white flame engulfed the sinisteed, causing it to break eye contact with Vinyl and let out a cry of pain.

"STAY AWAY FROM HER!" Flicker by now had entirely engulfed Vinyl in a magenta flame, causing her coat to become a light grey instead of a charcoal black.

Once the fire had turned the sinisteed into a pile of ash, Vinyl slowly regained her senses again, only to hear more of the sorrowful moans.

"VINYL, RUN!" Flicker shouted. And Vinyl couldn't think of anything else to do, but run towards the castle.

After walking for some time, Octavia and her two friends had made a decent pace into the forest before hearing a cry of pain coming from right in front of them. All three made eye contact before dashing deeper into the forest, all the while hearing sorrowful moans coming out of the surrounding forest.

When the three finally came to a halt, they were met with a smoldering pile of ash, along with the sorrowful moans growing louder.

"What is that?" Octavia asked as she approached the pile of ash.

"Sinisteed ash." Night Shade said as he slowly took a defensive position, putting himself between Octavia and the sorrowful moans. "One of the few ways to kill them permanently. Costs quite a bit on the market."

"But if there's ash..." Midnight said, her shadows becoming tendril like as black figures started appearing between the trees. "Then there's the fire brigade."

From what Octavia could see, they were completely surrounded by, from what she could guess, an entire pack of sinisteeds.

"Don't look into their eyes." Warned Night Shade, averting his own gaze. "That's how they feed."

Octavia did as she was told, but noticed that Midnight wasn't doing the same. She also noticed that Midnight had a maniacal smile stretched across her muzzle, accompanied with a mad glint in her eye.

"What are you doing?!" Octavia half whispered, half shouted.

"Like I said, I'm a vampire..." Midnight looked hungrily at the sinisteeds while half of her tendrils turned into wisp-like wings. "And these are just snacks."

Midnight Rose lunged at the nearest sinisteed, taking it down by its throat while Night Shade shot a concussive shot towards three approaching sinisteeds. He then positioned himself in front of Octavia as he pulled out his lighter. And with one quick, deep breath, Night Shade blew a forceful breath. Immediately the sinisteeds were engulfed by the lighters flames, eliciting cries of pain from them all.

After a few minutes of the impromptu bonfire, Night Shade surveyed the area, only to see the remaining sinisteeds disappearing back into the forest.

"Oh thank Celestia, they're gone." Octavia said as she got out of her fear fueled crouch.

"That's not good." Night Shade said, suspicion in his voice.

"W-What do you mean?" Octavia fearfully asked.

"The sinisteed never runs off...." Night Shade said as he pulled out multiple jars, scooping up the sshes with them. "But when they do, it's because of a bigger predator."

As he finished his sentence, a hoarse howl sounded menacingly around them.

"Elemental wolves. Shoulda guessed." He sighed as h walked over to Midnight Rose, who through out the battle and now, had been suckling on the dead sinisteeds neck. "You done?"

With a loud pop and satisfying sigh, Midnight Rose looked dreamily, and somewhat drunkenly, at her husband. "Ready when you are dear."

"Hope you are, because I've got an idea."

"Well, I hope this idea of yours involves dealing with a giant.......flaming.........wolf." Octavia yelled fearfully as she stared into the giant flaming wolfs eyes, which were staring right back at her.

It's eyes had the same glint Midnight had barely a few moments ago, which meant only one thing.

It was hungry.

Author's Note

I know this chapter is comparatively short, but I thought it was good, hope you do too!