B.C. (before Celestia)

The village of Ing

The bell sounded, that meant someone was coming, Ursula worried herself busily. Being with foal, she knew her husband would berate her for running out to meet him. Still the worry was too great, she tied up any loose ends and made sure the cooking fire would not spread. Removing her apron, she left the cottage and started walking toward the town gate. Many others ponies galloped ahead of her. They were some shouts of glee and then mumbling. Some instinct stopped her. The crowd got quiet. Many turned toward her. Some approached. Kennesaw was there. So too was Kissing Crane. Where was her… the look on Kennesaw told her everything. It was a risky business smuggling weapons to the village. She knew the risks that her mate took. There were no tears, only the next task awaited her. The look of consultation on most ponies was not what she wanted. She didn’t want pity. She needed help with the cooking.

‘Listen up you lot, my mate knew the risks’ she said matter of fact. ‘He’d be the first to tell ya, to get your plots to work and put those goods to use.’

‘Ursula?’ said her sister questioningly.

‘If you want to help sister, go make sure I’m not burning dinner’ said Ursula. ‘The rest of ya’ll get ready for a long winter. Kennesaw, Kissing Crane’ she bellowed ‘the village council will want a full report, prepare yourselves’

At the council meeting in the main hut at the center of the village, all those ponies who could fight gathered around.
Kennesaw was giving a report. He told how far they had traveled, who they had gotten the weapons from, how much it had cost, and the trails of coming home and the battle that ended with Hibben’s death.

‘What was that about being followed?’ asked Ursula.

‘We think they were unicorn’ said Kissing Crane. ‘They were quite skilled at woods craft, for we could not find them.’

‘How many were they?’

‘Couldn’t tell for sure, maybe 2 or 3’ answered Kennesaw.

‘What could they want? Who would willingly travel into our country before winter?’

‘Who cares, those beardless folk do strange things’

‘Maybe it is about time we found out’ stated Ursula meaningfully.