s.s.d.d
“Sigh” I woke from my short nap to the sound of my sensor spell going off. As I stood up I heard the howls. After years of living in the Everfree forest, you gain quite a lot of knowledge on animals and beasts. There’s only one type of creature whose howls sound like that: timber wolves. It used to be that the mere thought of fighting timber wolves would get my blood pumping, but now all they are, are annoyances. After putting on my armor and strapping my sword to my side I head outside. I walk to the bell hanging from a tree branch and hit it. As the loud ringing filled the air, I heard the sound of something running. I turn around to spot the timber wolves stepping into the clearing. As more of them step into the light, I pull my sword of the scabbard and get ready. Timber wolves might be one of the smarter predators in the everfree, but if anyone spends centuries fighting something they tend to get really good at it. I can tell by looking at their movements that they're going to try to flank me. As the largest one sprints at me from the front, I watch as the other two dashes to the sides. The one in front leaps at me and I duck. I then roll to the right as one of the flankers leaps from behind. I lash out with my sword, slicing the flanker’s stomach open. As sawdust fills the air and sap starts to pool around the corpse, I look at the other wolves. After seeing their comrade fall, they retreat back into the trees. After making sure they're gone, I reenter my home and, using my magic, levitate a jar out of the kitchen. I walk toward the corpse of the wolf, shooing the flies away, and start pulling it limbs off. As I fill the jar with the thick, sticky, brown sap from the wolf's veins, I can't help but feel extremely bored. “You’ve been doing this for centuries; you have every right to be bored." I thought to myself. Sure I was tasked with this job by celestia herself, but that doesn't mean I have to enjoy it. As I was putting the lid on the now full jar, I hear a noise that makes me jump out of my skin, "CUTIEMARK CRUSADERS MAPMAKERS!!!"
"Are you sure we should be this deep in the everfree forest, scoots?" asked Sweetie Bell, looking around frightened.
"Ah'm feelin' kinda worried, too. ah don't feel all that safe being further than Zecora's hut." said Applebloom. "Girl’s, how are we supposed to get our cutie marks in map making if we don't map something that’s never been mapped before?" replied Scootaloo. "ah guess you're right, but could we hurry. It's getting dark." said Applebloom, hesitantly. "Of course I’m right. Now applebloom, you're the best at righting and drawing so I think you should..." Scootaloo stopped talking after hearing a strange sound coming from the bushes. “You fillies should know better than to venture this deep into the everfree." said the stallion who trotted from the bush. The CMC took a good look at the pony. He was a unicorn, with a long, black mane that had a single orange stripe going down the side. He was tall and muscular, not as muscular as big Mac but close. His coat was a burnt brown and his eyes were yellow. He was wearing a suit of armor and had a sword strapped to his hind leg. "So, what are you doing here?" he asked. "We’re trying to get our cutie marks, mister!" replied sweetie bell. "Well, who would let three fillies into the everfree forest this late unattended?" he asked. “Well, we kind of snuck in." said scootaloo. "Huh. well it's too dark for anypony to allow three fillies to walk through the forest unguided and I can't leave my post at night sooo why don't you stay at my house for the night?" the pony offered." hmm.. Well what do you two think?"Asked scootaloo to the others" ah think he's trustworthy." said applebloom. "I hope his home is warm, because it’s freezing out." said sweetie bell. "Alright mister, lead the way." said scootaloo. The pony turned around and starts walking. As they're walking the chilly night air causes sweetie bell to shiver, "ahr we almost there" asked applebloom, rubbing against sweetie bell to warm her. "Yes. In fact here we are." said the strange pony "but that’s just a tree" said scootaloo. "Well," said the pony, walking to the tree, “with a little magic anything can happen." the pony stuck his horn in a knot in the tree. The pony closed his eyes and a soft green glow lit up the tree. The pony pulled his horn out of the tree and pushed on the trunk. A large arch of tree bark turned inwards revealing a large space that was much more inviting than anything the cutie mark crusaders could ever have expected to be in the forest. "Well what are you waiting for? Come in." the pony said as he stepped inside. As they stepped inside they were hit with a wave of warmth. "I always keep a fire going in case of cold night." said the pony. “Hey we never got your name, mister" said scootaloo. "My name is hilt guard. I never got any of your names, either." said the stallion. "I'M APPLEBLOOM! I'M SCOOTALOO! AND I'M SWEETIE BELL! AND WE'RE THE CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS!" they shouted with enough force to blow my mane back. "Alright then… Umm... well I guess I should show you to the guest room." said the pony as he started walking. He walked up to a wall and tapped it twice with his horn. The girls stared in wonder as the wall disappeared, revealing a large spacious room filled with piles of books. "Wow. And I thought Twilight had a lot of books." thought sweetie bell to herself. "Umm...Mr. guard, where’s the bed?" asked scootaloo. "Oh sorry, give me a sec," hilt guard walked up to the largest pile of books and bucked it, revealing a large bed underneath it. "I've been using this room for storage since I very rarely have guests. Alright if any of you need anything, I’ll be in living room which is just outside the door. Goodnight, girls." said hilt, closing the door. The CMC get into the bed and get comfortable. They say their goodnights and are soon drifting off to sleep.
