The Corpse Orchard

by ideas-happen

Rating: teen
Tags: Tragedy, Dark, Alternate Universe
Length: 5567

Ponies have gone missing. The Apple Family is falling to tatters, and there is nothing left to do but wait in panic as they all dwindle into nothingness... one by one...

All was well enough before Harvest time came around, and then they started going missing; Big Mac, Granny Smith, and even little Applebloom all mysteriously vanished, leaving no traces or clues as to how they met their fate. All that's left is Applejack and her friends, facing a foe that nopony knows, in the Orchard where the shadows are…

Expect slightly Out Of Character ponies and short chapters that aren't really that frightening. Criticism appreciated!

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2013-12-10 18:30:03 UTC

Chapter One: Field

   "Applejack!" Big Mac bellowed into the open air, through the cluster of apple trees he wandered through. Already, through the coverage of the lush green leaves that blocked patches of the sky, he still saw the grey clouds rumble and drift in overhead. Thunder rolled in the distance somewhere, their animals were spooked, and the air was dense with low-drifting fog that made it hard to see nearly anything three feet ahead of him. Rain was coming, and Granny Smith sent Mac to go search for his sister who went out to get the last batch of apples that needed bucked for the day. "AJ, come on out now! Granny needs us back at the house!"

   The echo drifted through the air, and with it, no reply. Big Mac grunted in frustration. The South Field was quiet and impregnated with the signs of a vicious storm. Unless Applejack wished to get drenched or struck by a wandering bolt of lightning, she held no signs of being here or even leaving. The pony was as stubborn as an ox when she wanted to be, yet still he couldn't wish this kind of weather on his worst enemy, let alone his young sister.

Where in Tartaurus is that darn girl? he thought as he furrowed his brow in frustration. Wind rushed the leaves above, and he shivered slightly at the cold caress. Sick weather. Bout’ time for autumn.  He shivered again, thoughts straying to the warm meal and bed that awaited him back at the house. He had no wish to get ill so close to Harvest searching for Applejack on a dreary day such as this. He sighed, shifting awkwardly from hoof to hoof.

   Calling louder, he tried to at least convince her to come out of hiding. "This ain't no weather fer' bucking apples! You best come back now 'fore ya catch a cold!" he yelled. Wind carried the voice away and still the wind did not bring back an answer. Big Mac grew agitated and angry, yet ... now he was worried. This wasn't like AJ. She might as well have gone back to the farm, but if he squinted hard enough, he could still see the house's silhouette against the fog. It was certainly within earshot, and somepony would have called him back if she went there. Even Applebloom could wander back here to pick him up if Applejack returned, and surely she wouldn't get lost. AJ knew the fields like her favorite Stetson hat; she was never without it, so the possibility of her getting lost was one in a million.

   A cold sweat was forming on his brow. He ran through a list of reasons why she wouldn't answer his call. She always answered him. She said she was going to the South Field, and here he was. She never lied. As bearer of the Element of Honesty, that was basically her thing. Ponynappers? He thought. Nope. She got the strength of two bulls and a full-grown stallion. No way anypony could get to her without a few ribs broken... and she's a marvel with that rope a' hers... He shivered once more. A light sprinkle of rain was drifting its way through the trees and a full-blown storm would no doubt follow.

Could one of her friends have picked her up? Nope. She would have told us beforehoof. Maybe she thought the storm would get too rough and she would get caught out in the middle of it, with no time to tell one of us... Still, the small sprinkle of rain was a breeze to walk through mindless of the small soak. The barn was nearly 100 yards away, give or take. And yet...

   Then it struck him. Applejack only went out to the field because of the work she missed earlier. Each of the three siblings had been assigned a section of the field to clear, with the exception of Applebloom, who had only half of a batch. Big Mac and her had finished earlier, while AJ lagged behind. She had suffered an ugly wound from some nasty vines that had been growing too close to the farm for comfort. There was a snake in those bushes, she told them earlier, and it took a good bite out of her left hind leg. Luckily, the snake was not poisonous and she managed to spook it back into the woods before it could do any more damage.

   He face-hoofed at the memory. She got cut real bad by the vines, but not even a day of recovery was needed before she was out bucking again. They asked if she was alright, of course, but she claimed that she had weathered worse bruises. How could he have been so stupid? She couldn't finish her portion of the field to clear because her hind legs were lacking some force. Of course she had never really thought it, but she needed more time before the cuts could heal properly. The poor mare's pride and her duty came first, and he should have helped her after he was done.

   Hurriedly, he cupped a hoof around his mouth, unable to help the empathy and chill that entered his voice. "AJ, if this is about the field, then I swear I'll help ya' tomorrow! Ya' ain't well enough and-" But before he finished, a gust of wind blew through the rows of trees and a wash of harder rain with it. It was coming down in thick sheets now and soon he was drenched to the bone. He looked around rapidly for his sister, of which there was no sight. He blinked some water out of his eyes and tried again. "Ya' ain't well enough and I promise I'll help ya' in the morning! Come on out of this storm right now!"

   Lightning lit the world for a few brief seconds, making the shadows of the apple trees jump as they swayed and danced in the torrent of wind. Thunder rolled in soon after, making the ground beneath him shake ever-so-slightly. Big Mac looked around rapidly for Applejack. Everything was hard to see. The house's shadow soon disappeared behind the dense fog and the rain. All of the trees seemed to blend together as he whipped his head around, his mane dripping and sticking to his head. His weight shifted oddly as a gust of rain made him loose his balance. Another bolt of lightning stuck earth, and the accompanying thunder hit loudly and shook made everything shift at once.

How close did that hit? his thoughts said. Darn it, AJ! If this gets any worse, we'll both be fried and buttered! He cursed internally. No other sound but the rain beating down on the ground and the distant weather graced his ears. Grunting, he pushed his way through the winds towards a clearing nearby. Another jolt of electricity shot through the sky, illuminating the barn in the distance. He trudged through the mud to its outline. Applejack was nowhere in sight, yet even she was smart enough to get to shelter in such a storm. A small part of him despised the thought that he would leave his wounded sister out here, if she was still out, but he gritted his teeth and moved onwards.

   Through the fog and rain, he saw the faintest outline of the house in view. Wind whipped at him from all sides, yet he could still hear the rattle of the house shaking on its hinges as he approached it. Thunder rolled his way, but taking the last few steps he reached the path to the porch. He heard animals whine loudly and the wooden gate clatter loudly and he pushed it open. He sighed in relief. The lantern atop their door swung wildly, yet it still burned brightly in contrast to everything else in the grey landscape. He dimly wondered if there was any food left on the table. Or whether or not Granny had barricaded herself in the tornado cellar like she did last time they had weather this bad. The crazy old mare, bless her heart...

   And then he was at the door. The lights were off inside, and all was quiet for a brief moment, then the wind blew in wildly and even worse than before. He covered his face with a hoof as rain bit and snapped at him. Lightning struck far across the hill and the thunder rolled in soon afterwards. His other hoof pushed against the handle of the door, though it protested, unyielding. Grunting in confusion, he gave another hard yank with both hooves. The door had yet to budge. Locked?

   "Ah' don't need your help." came a voice. Startled, he swung his head around just in time for thunder to crash and rock the earth. Applejack! Thank Celestia! She was drenched in water, along with her infamous hat pushed slightly down on her face due to the moisture weighing it down. Her trusty, frayed rope was slung casually around her neck; her mane was dripping and loose in some places. She was shivering, though somehow her words were cold in an unnatural sort of way, calm and cool and loud despite the harsh weather.

   "AJ! We been lookin' all over for you," Bag Mac smiled, forgetting the storm for a brief second. "Thought ya went on back here, but Ah' guess not." The bandage around her leg was missing, he noticed. The would was covered in dirt and rainwater, though the small trickle of blood running down her calf was clear enough through the foggy atmosphere. "Y'all right?"

   "Ah'm fine" she snapped as a bolt of lightning struck the distance. "Ah' don't need your help clearin' the fields."

He blinked in confusion. Oh, right. Her leg.

   “Don’t fret any 'bout that now. C'mon and help me get the door open. Ah' think Granny locked it and-"

   "Ah' can do it myself." she said, taking a step closer towards him. Wind howled over the peak of the barn, though not enough to disturb the force in her voice.

   "Then get over here and get it open!" Mac huffed, still trying at the door. Applejack stopped, her teeth gritted tightly in a small frown. The door refused to budge even when he put all of his weight on it. Angry, he slammed the frame with a hoof, inaudible against the rain that beat on the tin roof. Looking up for any entrance, he saw that the door was locked in more than one place, all from the inside. Drat.

   "AJ, maybe we should try the cellar door. This one's locked up tight, and Ah' bet that-"

   Then a rope was around his neck.

   He was flung backwards into the soft mud before he felt the numb sting of the cord digging into his flesh. Immediately, he reached for his throat as his eyes flashed with small white dots. Frantically tugging at the tight interference, he kicked his hind legs about him as the coughs he so desperately needed refused to come. Thunder and lightning struck again, but the sight and sound of it swiftly vanished from him. Confused, he jerked around with the energy that was quickly diminishing. Everything went numb at once, and his eyes dashed around for his attacker.

A-Applejack?! Where ... Where are you?! Help me! Yet the words did not come. Instead, ragged exhales whispered through his mouth. His heart hammered away in his chest as he struggled, though slowing down as seconds ticked away. What in the name o-of Celestia is going on?!

   Dimly, he felt the slight tickle of the ground against his back, and knew he was being dragged. AJ? Instinct clouded his thoughts in the rush of the moment, though he seemed to recall his sister and the rope laid over her shoulders. Applejack?! His throat was constricting, white flashes before him, with the lightheadedness that came afterwards. He was going to pass out. Where'd all the air go?

   Soon he faintly recognized the trees surrounding him as his hooves fell limp against the lack of air. Water dripped down his nearly-unconscious form, though the rain was less forceful underneath the canopy of leaves. Deeper into the orchard he went, all air having escaped his lungs. He passed out unconscious once, he thought, and opened his eyes at a dark form in front of him. A mare, with a rain-sodden cowboy hat lay haphazardly atop her head, securing one end of a rope on a nearby tree branch.

A-Applejack... he recognized, though he only uttered a choked sound.

   His eyes were already closed by the time she yanked her end of the rope. With a loud crack, her brother was hauled into the air by his neck, the choke becoming a noose and snapping his neck. His large body swung wildly in the air by the force of such an action, and soon took to dangling in the strong wind that blew through the branches. The rain sprinkled in through the leaves as she stared up at her work with a determined scowl.

   "Ah' can do it all by myself," she whispered to the corpse as she tipped her hat back, her words lost in the storm. "You'll see."

   Applejack closed the cellar door with a grunt, cutting off the sound of the mournful wind and the remaining flickers of lightning that dotted the sky. The latch shut with a small click, and she stepped down from the concrete stairs and into the light of the many candles that lit the basement. Light was strategically placed on various shelves and tables that had been long forgotten. The glow twinkled over canned goods and other various essentials that lined the back walls in case of emergencies. Granny Smith was always prepared.

   The old mare herself sat tucked behind an overturned table, jostled awake by the sound of the door opening. "W-Who's there?!" she cried, clutching desperately to a frying pan in one hoof. There was a metal bowl atop her head which swirled around as she jerked up from her hiding place.

   Applejack laughed. "It's okay, Granny. Just me." she chuckled as she shook water from her Stetson hat. Granny squinted hard in the dim light for a moment, but she smiled and haphazardly threw her 'weapon' away.

   "Applejack! Oh, well color me red, we thought you done went out there an' got yerself lost!" she smiled as she wobbly got out from around the table. "Sent Mac out 'ta find ya. Guess he done did it! Where is that fella anyhow?"

   AJ furrowed her brow. "Big Mac? Ah' haven't seen him. Guess Ah' just missed him." She looked worriedly back to the entrance of the cellar. "Should I go find him?"

   Granny laughed and shook her wrinkled head. "No use now. He's smart enough. He'll be back soon, Ah've no doubt. Well, glad yer back anywho." She glanced at the door with something like a vendetta. "'Sides, there's evil in that storm. Ah feel it in my tired old bones. Unnatural weather, ain't no pegasi work, that black magic. Best ta stay clear of it till it passes."

    “What?” Applejack said, puzzled. “Ah’ don’t think that-“

   “Oh hush up now.” Granny said, waving a hoof in dismissal. “Now,” she began, nodding towards her injured leg, “let’s get that wound cleaned up.”

   AJ laughed grinned sheepishly, rubbing her foreleg and looking down at the floor. “Heh, ‘Bout that…”

   “Applebloom! Get on over here n’ bring mah first-aid kit!” Granny yelled suddenly, motioning for Applejack to sit down. “C’mon! Ah’ ain’t getting any younger!”

   There was a loud thunk behind one of the shelves nearby, accompanied by an immediate ‘ow!’ and a ‘yes ma’am!’ Applebloom appeared moments later with a small pail filled with medical herbs and bandages. Granny Smith took the package kindly and set to work wrapping the nasty cut with gauze.

   "Now, ‘bout this storm…” the old mare began, with Applebloom sitting close behind.

   “C’mon, Granny, it’s just a little rain.” the filly said as she rolled her eyes and pulled out a roll of tape. “Little rain never hurt nopony.”

   Granny accepted the tape and ripped off a bit to hold the bandage in place. “Aye, but Ah’ ain’t seen a storm this bad since Ah’ was a naïve little one like yerself. Mah momma said lightning in the Apple Fields was a bad omen.  Bad time’s a coming.”

   Applebloom laughed. “That’s just an old-mare-tale,” she said, looking at Applejack. “Ain’t it, AJ?”

   AJ nodded with a small chuckle. “Maybe, but mayhap there’s a nugget of truth to that.” She scrunched up her nose. “Sure as heck something’ ain’t right.”

   Granny permitted herself a small smile. “Ah’ wouldn’t worry about it too much, sugarcube. Ah’ am an old mare, and little old mares stick to their old stories. Probably nothin’.”

   Applejack smiled, staring back to the door as a roll of thunder rolled outside. “Yeah,” she said, standing up. “Probably nothing.”

Chapter Two: Butcher

   "Ah said Ah don't know anything!" Granny yelled to the guardsmen, waving her cane menacingly in their faces. "Ya got apples in yer ears or something?"

   "Listen ma'am, we're just trying to get information." one stallion said, averting his gaze from the emotionally distraught mare. He cleared his throat, nodding to his comrade. "We are aware that you are a bit... upset, but I would advise-"

   "Yer darn right I'm upset! Ah' can't get any decent guards 'round here!" Granny cried. "Ah'm better off looking for the boy myself, at the rate you lazy slobs are workin'!"

   The other guard sighed. "We just want to know when you saw him last." he said. Granny squinted hard at the two, before  pointing her hoof to a cluster of trees in the distance.

   "We were in the kitchen, n' AJ was out bucking apples, and then Ah' sent Big Mac out ta go find her." she muttered, not kindly.

   "And how long was he gone?"

   Granny put a thoughtful hoof to her chin. "Well, let's see here... Bout an hour n' a half. Me and Applebloom went to the cellar round halfway through, and Applejack came round a half hour after that... So, bout two hours we were down there. Mac never showed up, n' the storm was plenty over by the time we came out. Looked all over, we did. Not a trace of the big fool."

   A guard nodded disdainfully, scribbling down notes. "That's what we expected. Unfortunately, the rain washed away any tracks we could have followed. The Southern Field, you said? Tell me, when did you file the missing pony report?"

   Granny scowled. "Now what the hay does that have to do with anything?!"

   "Just answer the question." the first guard said, grinding his teeth in attempts not to yell.

   "Yesterday, at noon." Granny huffed, leaning on her cane.

  The guards nodded at each other. "Yes, that makes sense," one muttered, turning away from Granny Smith and poking an armored hoof in the dirt while his companion watched. He drew some circles and symbols in the damp earth, motioning out to the land before them. "Couldn't have gotten far... as the Southern Field is closer to the Everfree Forest than everything else, and assuming that he continued Northeast away from the house..."

   He jabbed a hoof at a point in his crude map, nodding to his fellow. "Tell the men to travel to the border and look for clues. Report to me as soon as possible. Bring a squad and continue looking through the northernmost part of the field. I'll continue through the rest of the area so we'll be nearby. Let nothing out of your sight and bring word every fifteen minutes."

   The other guard saluted and galloped off to his location. Turning back to Granny, who sat with an irritated look on her face and a hoof tapping idly on the ground, the remaining guard smiled and nodded. "We'll find your grandson, Ms. Smith. Alive or dead, we'll make it of our up most importance. The Apple Family has the condolences and good wishes of the Royal Guard." he said, before barking to one of his men and walking off.

   Her eyes dilated at the word 'dead', but she muttered some curses his way as he walked off, waving a hoof menacingly in the air. Granny sighed and picked herself up, looking around for her other grandchildren. Waddling away from the troops in search, she scowled at any soldiers who passed her way and offered their sorrows. Told them there was somethin' evil in that storm. Did they listen? Nope. N' now Ah got some milk-drinkin' foals on mah yard who can't tell a hoof print from dog dung. Granny thought bitterly. "S'just some old-mare-tale" they said. Bah! Ah shoulda never doubted myself. Now.. where are those little whipersnappers anyway?

   Applebloom was sitting on the porch of the house, her eyes filled with melancholy and confusion. Applejack stood by her side with a comforting hoof around her shoulder. With them was Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, and Fluttershy. Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash were nowhere to be found. Granny smiled and waddled closer.

   "It's all very confusing," Twilight was saying to Applejack, looking and waving to the approaching form of Granny Smith. "and very brilliant too. Obviously it took wit and planning to execute such an abduction. He's very strong, so I bet that the ponynapper took him unawares. Otherwise, there's no possible way for a big stallion such as himself to be caught without the perpetrator being slowed down."

   Granny was at the steps as Fluttershy nodded, if a bit uncertain. "Well... could it be that h-he was knocked unconscious? " she asked, eliciting a ponderous nod from everypony else.

   "True... Though that's the case with most abductions. Big Mac would've put up quite a fight, unless he suffered a quick and fatal wound. Of course, the pony would have gotten pretty close to deliver such a blow, unless it were a gun... but the blood, and the prints would be... ugh. In either case, he would be unconscious or-"

   "D-Dead?" the Pegasus squeaked miserably, looking close to passing out by the way she seemed to cower into herself.

   Rarity, who stood to the opposite side of Twilight, nodded politely. "Yes, deceased." she said, smiling as Granny clambered up the steps. "Oh, but let us talk no more of such barbaric matters in the company of Ms. Smith. How are you, dear?" She offered a hoof out to the old mare, which she swatted feebly away.

   "Ah'm old, but Ah ain't that old. Ah've had my fair share of death through my years." she said with a small, tired little laugh. "And I'm fine, Miss Rarity. What brings y'all out here to Sweet Apple Acres, as if Ah need ta' guess?"

   Twilight was jostled out of her thought process by Granny's approach, and turned to smile as she patted Applejack on lightly on the shoulder. "Well, we heard about what happened, as I'm sure you're... well aware, and came over to give our condolences."

   Granny found her rocking chair, a little moist from the rain, and slowly sat down with a tiny grunt of satisfaction. "Ah've had enough of condolences for the time being. 'Stead of sitting around here moping, we should be out there looking." Getting comfortable in her chair, she sighed in relief with a breathy laugh. "That is, of course, after Ah have my rest. These joints ain't what they used tah be, and talking to them blundering guardsponies left me all tuckered out."

   The three ponies nodded. "Well, Granny Smith, we're here to help in any way we can." Twilight smiled, gesturing to her friends. They all murmured words of agreement, all but Applejack.

   "Honestly, Twi, Ah think we're fine." she said, looking down at her little sister. "And Ah appreciate the offer, Ah really do, but Ah don't want y'all gettin hurt, or worse."

   Granny scowled again, scrunching up her features. "Oh, hush now. They offered their help to find Mac, and darn right we're gonna accept it! We can use all the help we can get right now." She sighed and rocked back and forth in her chair. "Though the guards did say that the search is movin' to the Everfree Forest, and who knows what lurks around in there, and Ah would hate ta see you girls get hurt."

   "W-We'll be fine on t-the farm, Ms. Granny Smith." Fluttershy stammered, hiding behind Twilight at the first mention of the Everfree Forest. "I'm sure there's something we could do that's s-safer here."

   Twilight seemed thoughtful. "Well... I suppose this can work. Our talents would probably be best put to use here searching for clues."

   Granny nodded, content. "That'll do fine, Twilight." she said, rocking.

   "Oh, this is all such nasty buisness." Rarity drawled, already stepping down onto the soft ground. "But I do hope we find the poor stallion. We're all worried sick."

   Twilight and Fluttershy nodded. "And we will find him," Twilight said, "Don't worry, Granny. We'll do our best."

   "Ah'm sure you will." Granny replied, looking to Applejack. "AJ, you better go with them. Ah'll watch over Applebloom." The orange mare nodded, hugging her sister quickly before following her friends. "Take care now!"

   Together, the four went off towards a group of guardsponies nearby. Applebloom crawled up beside Granny, who laid a hoof tenderly atop her head. The sun was already beginning to set in the distance, with small fingers of light drifting off in the horizon as the afternoon set in. The hustle and bustle of the guards drifted off as Granny closed her eyes for a brief moment.

   "Granny?"

   "Eh, w-what?" the old mare mumbled as she jerked out of the close embrace of sleep. "What's that, Applebloom?" She looked down to the filly at her side, who looked back up with big, round eyes.

   "Are they gonna find Big Mac?" she asked, with a hint of concern touching her voice.

   Granny laughed, patting the girl on the head, looking out to the sunset. "As sure as the moon rises n' the sun sets every day, so don't fret none. He'll be back." she reassured.

He'll be back.

   When Granny awoke, it was late at night and a blanket was draped over her small form. Stars twinkled brightly in the dark sky, surrounded by soothing hues of purple and blue. She gave a feeble yawn, brushing away the blanket from her chair, and instantly felt the chill of the midnight air biting at her frail skin. She picked up the blanket again, draping the blanket over her shoulders, shivering.

Ah must of dozed off... she thought, grabbing around blindly for her cane. Ah'm gettin too old for this.

   It had been nearly three weeks since Big Mac went missing, most likely never to return. His picture was posted in every newspaper, on the lips of everypony in town, and yet nopony had seen the stallion. Guards came and left the farm, searching and finding nothing, asking the same questions and getting the same answers. Granny seemed to age within these past weeks, as did the rest of the remaining girls. Applebloom was out more with her friends, avoiding the farm every chance she got as if the place had been cursed. Applejack worked harder and more often, never losing hope but becoming more solemn every day that passed. And Granny... she found solace in the outside air, sleeping and watching the world go by as she has done so many times before.

   She stopped searching for her cane, staring off into the space that hung over the orchards she had grown up in. Never once had something like this happened. The Apple Family was close-knit, never without sight of one another. And where are they now? she wondered. Where's the family now? Off living their lives, payin' no mind to the bunch of hillbillies that got their own kin lost? The thought made her breath a slight chuckle. Well, we've certainly come a long way since the Old Times. And Ah'm still stuck with my old stories... Where am I in this?

Ah don't know what ta' do. She closed her eyes for a second, thinking about all of the years that led up to this day. And we've come a long way indeed. She sighed, a small yawn if anything else. Pulling herself out of her thoughts, she tapped the arms of her rocker chair, making it sway just slightly. Crickets were chirping in the distance, and some bird was cooing in a late-night flight. Moonlight streamed through the leaves of the many apple trees that surrounded the farm. Our legacy...

   It was a perfect moment to fall asleep to the sounds of nature around her, like so many times when she was a filly. Though, she remembered, she wasn't so young anymore. Times were changing, things were happening, and everypony had their own plans and their own lives. Yet we're all connected. We still have family. she thought, smiling in remembrance. And family is forever.

   Shakily, with old bones, Granny lifted herself from her chair. She huddled the blanket closer, looking around in search of the cane she had misplaced. The floorboards underneath her creaked as she put her weight on them, turning around in the dark light. Now where is that darn thing? Did AJ or Applebloom take it inside? She huffed, annoyed. Well why take the cane and not the pony!

   Disgruntled, she turned around and opened the wooden door to the family home. All was dark inside, save for a low-burning candle that barely sent off any light. Her hooves clacked on the floor as she shuffled slowly into the living room. Her body ached with the remnants of sleep and fatigue, yet still she squinted in the darkness for the stairs that led up to the bedrooms. Picking up the candle from its perch on a table, she shone its light on the figures of the room.

  Darkness was banished, casting eerie shadows on the walls and floors as the old mare hobbled into the kitchen. Inside, dirty plates sat on counters, ready to be washed, and utensils were hung on walls and on cabinets for easy access. Granny walked towards the back of the room where the entry to a hallway lay, when she heard a faint thumping sound.Her ear swirled at the sound, and her head perked up, stopped in her tracks.

   "Who's there?" she called in her pitched voice, eyes squinted as she laid down the candle on a counter. Soon, the thumping noise stopped, and silence fell afterwards. Some dirty animal... she thought, eyes wandering over the forms of the kitchen. Faintly, crickets chirped outside, and some small creaking of the house filtered through the rooms.

   The thumping sound resumed again, urgently, as Granny picked the candle up again. Her brow furrowed, mouth tight. "Now what the hay is that gosh-darn noise?" she whispered to herself. The thumps were soon accompanied by scratching, and small whines. Winnona?

   The sounds came from outside, surely, full of panic. What's that dog doin' up n' outside so late? Granny wondered as she shuffled faster to the hall. To the right of the doorway, a screen door filtered in moonlight, giving pale light from the outside. And outside sat Winnona, the family dog, scratching and clawing at the wood and screen with hasty paws. Her eyes were wide and at the sight of Granny, she started barking feverishly accompanied by whines and low growls.

   "Now what's got you all worked up, Winnona?" Granny chuckled, relieved. She came slowly to the door and the dog, who barked happily as her tail wagged. "Hush on up now, Ah'll get ya inside." she said as she unlocked the door. "What are you doing outside so late? Did AJ leave you out?" She chuckled, a bit confused as her hoof came to the doorknob. "That's mighty strange. Applejack isn't one to forget-"

   Immediately, the dog began to bark uncontrollably, her eyes fixated on a point behind the old mare. Her claws ripped desperately at the door, though all too late. There was a glint of steel reflected in the moonlight as it came down swiftly and silently through the night.

   Winnona howled at the scent of blood and the smallest of choked cries. She stumbled off the steps, suddenly weary and afraid, as axe cut through skin and muscle and frail bone. Again the axe fell, over and over, butchering off limbs and body quickly and efficiently. There were cracks and sickening squishing sounds and she scampered off to get away from the massacre, her hunting legs carrying her to the nearest cluster of trees and leaving all of the blood behind.