This Dark Forest

It's been two days last I saw the winged pony, and since then I haven't gone hunting...or eaten for that matter. I have been trying my luck at gathering once again, and took to fishing in a small stream near my home, but nothing edible came of the two.

The early trips had been much more successful, I simply stalked animals and ate what they ate to hopefully avoid anything poisonous, but now I can't even find a chipmunk. In hindsight I probably should have been more careful, but at least I had a full stomach. The closest thing to food I've found recently was a bush with some blue raspberry-like fruits growing on it, I almost ate the entire bush until one of them blinked and made me run.

A ray of light peered through my home's entrance waking me up from my sleep, and my stomach growling forced me to stand. That yellow pony may have stopped me from hunting for a while, but right now I'm desperate for anything besides water. Taking a quick inventory check on my supplies, bow, quiver with three arrows, and some socks, I crawl slowly out and away from the safety of my shelter. I look to the stream I had tried fishing in before and begin to walk along one side, hopefully to find something to eat.

I followed the stream for several minutes before the trees began clearing from around me, exposing me to a small green field with a large tree in the middle, surrounded on three sides by the stream I had followed. In the field, from what I could see, were deer, rabbits, squirrels, mice, and several ducks drinking and swimming in the stream.

Steadying my aim at the deer, I carefully pull back on the string and let my arrow fly straight and true...directly into the ground next to the deer. It seemed startled at first and took a jump back, but much to my surprise it didn't run and just stared at the projectile laying at its feet. It moved closer and began circling around before cautiously tapping it with a hoof and turning its head towards me, eyes wide.

"Shit!" I shout a little too loudly, causing the rest of the animals to stare at me as well.

Quickly replacing the arrow I just shot the animals scatter, some running directly towards the forest for cover, while the rest flee farther into the open plane. I take off instantly after the ones that ran further into the plane, hoping to at least catch something to eat today.

Only a few animals in front of me, a rabbit and two squirrels, more food than I've had in days. Sprinting after the little critters I wrapped the bow around my shoulder and took an arrow in hand in case I manage to get close enough to grab one.

Farther and farther the critters ran, with me hot on their tails, into the open plane before finally slowing down enough for me to catch up. Close enough, I dive out on top of the rabbit, practically crushing it under the weight of my body, I hold it down the to ground by it's ears and raise my arrow to strike the finishing blow.

Knowing what I'm about to do, it closed its eyes and put its hands together, similar to the look of someone praying. Now I know how much I need food, but the look in the rabbit's eyes and the praying breaks my heart, I can't kill this little rabbit.

Releasing my grip on its ears I stand back and look at the rabbit, now opening its eyes and looking at me worriedly.

"You can go, I'll find some leaves or something to eat." I sigh and head back in the direction of my home.

***

"H-hi Twilight... How long have you been here?" Fluttershy just left her home with a small coffin containing Angel's body, only to find Twilight setting up a small table with plates covered with different vegetables and treats. She was followed by several animals, each one

"Oh hi Fluttershy, I've been here for a few hours." The purple unicorn's mane was sticking up in places and she had large bags under her eyes, "I stayed up all night writing my speech for Angel's...um...funeral and I had to be early in order to set up. Look," she pointed to a small stone, "I even made a little gravestone for Angel."

Fluttershy looked down at the small grave stone. True to her word, Twilight had engraved the message; "Here lies Angel, a great pet and a great friend" on a flat slab of rock and placed in front of a small hole.

"That was very kind of you Twilight... I-I know Angel would have liked it." Fluttershy placed the small coffin down and walked over to the snacks, "Um... do you mind if the animals have some of these. I mean, if you don't mind. They skipped breakfast and are pretty hungry."

"Oh go ahead Fluttershy, I'm done here." Twilight held out a plate with some food on it.

Fluttershy tentatively took a few, handing them to each of her animal friends who gladly took them and wandered off into the forest.

The two ponies stood together in silence, patiently waiting for the rest of the guests to arrive while avoiding the obvious topic before them. One by one the rest of the guests arrived, first was an overdressed Rarity, who was wearing a long black robe and a dark black veil to hide her face. Followed shortly after by Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash and Applejack.

"Now that everypony is here, let's start," Twilight announced.

Each of the ponies, excluding Twilight took a seat on the grass, ready for the funeral to begin.

***

After about ten minutes of walking aimlessly I gave up to sit under the shade of a nearby tree.

"I'm going to need a new place to sleep tonight."

A thumping on my leg made me look down and find the same rabbit from before, now holding out a carrot to me.

"For me?" I ask, the rabbit nods and holds the carrot up higher. I pick it up and take a small cautious bite, but after having nothing for so long I wolf it down in a few moments.

"Thanks little guy. I'm done with hunting, too much stress." The rabbit gives a sigh of relief and sits down next to me, "You're an odd rabbit you know that?"

The rabbit gave an annoyed glance at me, before putting its chin up and hopping slowly away.

"Sorry, sorry, I didn't mean to offend you. All I meant is that I usually don't talk to animals and the few I've seen are nowhere near as intelligent as you are. You're actually a pretty cool."

Quickly the rabbit came back and sat down next to me, it was something that made me smile. Honestly the little guy was cute, and  no matter how hungry I was I couldn't hurt another rabbit. Plus I didn't want to incur the wrath of the yellow pony and or a possible bunny loving brigade.

My stomach argued against me, growling at the thought of food and reminding me how starving I actually was.

"I'm starving... You wouldn't happen to know of a good place to eat, would you?" The rabbit stands back up and began walking off, it looked back quickly and waved me to come.

"You want me to follow you?" The rabbit nodded and begins hopping away.

I grab my supplies and come out from my spot under the tree to follow it, no idea where the rabbit is going, hopefully somewhere with food.

***

"And so we put Angel to rest, in hopes that he can sleep peacefully." Twilight finished her long winded speech, taking up the better portion of an hour. Does anyone has anything they'd like to say before we go."

Fluttershy took a deep breath and stood up to give her last goodbye, "I'll miss you Angel. I just hope that you're getting your favorite meals, and that you have a warm place to sleep, and... and..." Fluttershy broke into tears before finishing.

Her friends moved in closer to comfort her, only to be waved off.

"It...It's okay. I need to be alone for a while." Taking a deep breath Fluttershy turned back to the grave, away from her friends.

Twilight moved in again to comfort her friend, but an orange hoof blocked her path. "You heard her Twi, she just needs some time to think." Twilight nodded and walked off with her friends, leaving Fluttershy alone.

Fluttershy sat next to the grave, barely holding back the tears that were desperately trying to break free. She looked at the grave and considered digging it up several times just to see her little bunny again, but knew that would just make her feel worse.

"Oh Angel... I miss you so much."

***

Staring at the grave for several long minutes, Fluttershy prepared to clean up the snack table, only for a rustling of bushes make her jump and run for cover in her cottage home. Peeking out of her window she saw a small rabbit come out from the bushes, it calmed her down slightly until noticing the large animal that killed Angel following it.

"Oh no! That poor little bunny is going to be eaten by that big meanie!" Fluttershy paced back and forth in her home. "It's just like with Angel... Only this time I can do something about it! Maybe if I sneak up on it I can save the bunny..."

Fluttershy began creeping around the back of her house, putting her plan into action.

***

The rabbit led me through a path of shrub, trees, and large amounts of mud, but eventually we came to a path leading to a cottage. Just outside of the cottage a single table had been set up, as though there was a party going on.

"You got that carrot from there?" I ask the rabbit, who nods in return.

Moving closer to the table for a better look I see plates topped with carrots, celery, lettuce, and different kinds of apples. Letting my hunger get the best of me I take one of the apples and take a large bite, not caring if it was poisoned, drugged, or even an apple. Luckily It tasted like an apple, sweet, juicy, and crisp, utterly perfect in every way, especially to someone that had gone without food for the past few days.

"You are my saviour little guy!" The rabbit looked proud of himself and took a bow. "Oh you like that, huh? Then that's what I'll call you from now on, Saviour."

It's an odd name for a rabbit, but after all he did for me it seemed more than fitting. Grabbing another apple I shined it on my shirt and began devouring everything on the table.

I had finished off the apples and began reaching for some carrots before looking back to Saviour in order to give thanks, but something seemed amiss. He had his head bowed in front of the tombstone next to the table, and just like I first saw him he seemed to be giving a silent prayer. I moved closer to the gravestone and crouched down in order to read carefully what was engraved along the front;

Here lies Angel, a great pet and a great friend

"Angel... Where have I heard that name befo-"

Without warning something rammed into the side of my head, knocking me to the ground. A yellow hoof was all I could make out before getting another swift kick to the head, making my vision go black.

***

"I did it!" Fluttershy ran up to grab the rabbit in her hooves, jumping over the monster's unconscious body as she went. "Are you alright little guy?"

The rabbit stared dumbfounded at the yellow pegasus, surprised at how the pony just knocked out something twice its size. Walking closer to the body of its unconscious friend, the rabbit gave it a few pokes, and began looking the large body over.

"You really need to be more careful! That thing could have killed you... just like poor Angel." The thought of her deceased pet made Fluttershy look away and fight back tears.

She would have stood there sadly for much longer if not for a groan coming from the monster's body, making her jump and give it another swift kick to the head. The rabbit put a hand to its face and let out a deep sigh before breaking free from Fluttershy's grip and pointed at the monster.

"Is something wrong? You don't have to worry about him anymore, I won't let that big meanie get a hold of you."

The rabbit made the gesture of a roof, of something sleeping, and then started pointing at the monster.

"You need somewhere to sleep?" Fluttershy guessed, the rabbit shook its head and repeated its gestures, "You um... want it to have somewhere to sleep?" The rabbit nodded in return and lazily leaned against the creature.

"I don't think it would be a good idea... I know" The rabbit looked back to Fluttershy and set up sticks in the shape of houses before smashing through them like a giant. "I see what you mean, if it ran around Ponyville somepony could get hurt. Fine, I'll keep it in a bear cage for now, then tell Twilight. She'll know what to do from there."

Fluttershy took hold of the creature's pant legs before dragging it behind her house and into a large cage, locking the door with several large padlocks. The rabbit snuck underneath Fluttershy's legs before the door closed and lay down in wait for the creature to wake up.

"There." Fluttershy looked at the now caged creature before walking in the direction of Ponyville. "I think I'm getting the hang of this assertiveness thing."

***

"My head. What hit me?" Head pounding I sat up, only to knock my head on the top of something. "Crap!"

I stopped moving to rub my pounding head and get a good view of my surroundings, but beyond a roof, four walls, and a cage door there was nothing to see. I panicked and tried flipping the crate and kicked furiously at the door, both without success. Giving up I started lie down, but noticed that a small rabbit was being crushed under the weight of my leg.

"Oh sorry man." I lifted my leg, and moved out of the way to give him some space to breathe.

I lay down and looked at the ceiling to think, At least I have somewhere to sleep tonight.