Black Feather

Somepony was in trouble. At first, it had sounded like the brief, startled cry of a child. After that, Nyx wasn’t so sure. She glanced first toward the neighboring houses, then to the slope which led down to the river, trying to catch the sound again.

Just then, Nyx heard it once more. This was a different sort of cry—one which she was much more familiar with. It was the soft weeping of a small child who was frightened or sad. Yes, she was sure of it. She felt her muscles slowly relax; this was not a cry of immediate danger.

With everything that had happened tonight, the sound had set her frayed nerves on edge. But everypony was safe now, and they had all made it through the ordeal more or less intact. The ponies of the platoon were taken care of, and the little settlement they had found themselves in was fast asleep. All except for one.

Nyx glanced over her shoulder toward the tent where her sleeping stallion lay. A subtle smile played at her lips as she considered rejoining him. A step later, she wavered. No, no… Her conscience wouldn’t let this slide. She set off into the dark to investigate and help out if she could.

The sights and sounds of the deep nighttime bayou surrounded her. It was the first time Nyx had truly noticed the beauty of the place. Countless stars filled the sky like as many subjects watching as their queen, the moon, sauntered ever so slowly in her long journey toward some hidden destination in the west. Also in attendance were living constellations of fireflies which dotted the landscape in every direction with their hypnotic yellow-green flashes. She watched as the curious insects danced to the choirs of distant tree frogs and crickets which filled the cool, humid air with their subtle harmony.

She tried to tune out the ambience so she could focus on the unseen pony, letting the soft, intermittent sobs guide her hoofsteps. Nyx stepped across the dew-covered grass toward Willow’s darkened house. She crept up the steps and along the wraparound deck, the faded wooden planks letting out the occasional creak or groan as she placed her weight on them. Her pace slowed as she approached the source of the crying—a screened window that had been opened to allow the light breeze to enter. The room was too dim to see into, but another muffled sob was plain to hear as she tilted her head to peer inside.

Nyx couldn’t help but feel concern for the filly. “Hello? Why are you crying?” she asked quietly.

A soft gasp was quickly followed by shining eyes as they opened to look toward the window, the crying tapering off quickly. “Who… Who’s there?” came a whisper from within the room, the voice tinged with fright.

“My name’s Nyx. I’m a friend,” she whispered back.

Nyx heard the rustle of sheets, followed by a soft thud and the patter of hoofs moving across the carpeted floor. A yellow unicorn face slowly rose from beneath the windowsill to look at Nyx. The little filly froze, eyes slowly widening as she saw gleaming, turquoise, dragon-like eyes staring back at her from outside her bedroom window.

“Ahhh!” the filly screamed, falling over backward and trying to scamper away.

Nyx facehoofed. “Shhh, shhh… it’s okay, I just want to—” she called after the retreating filly. But it was too late; she had already bolted out of her room and down the hall. Nyx sighed to herself and walked around to the front door.

Dim light appeared from the kitchen window, and Nyx could hear muffled voices coming from inside.

“…nothing to worry about, baby,” came Willow’s faint voice from her bedroom. Hoofsteps followed. “…not a monster.” Then more muffled voices and the sounds of a child’s protests. The kitchen light came on.

Nyx leaned her back against the wall and quietly thumped her head against the boards. So much for making things better! She waited to explain what had just happened. After a moment, Nyx heard hoofsteps drawing near. Willow cracked open the front door and peered out, bleary-eyed.

“Nyx?” Willow asked, her voice laden with tiredness and confusion.

Nyx’s hoof nervously pawed at the doormat she was standing on. “I’m sorry to bother you. I heard crying and thought maybe I could help.”

Willow rubbed her eyes and blinked, stifling a yawn as she tried to focus on Nyx. “No, it’s okay. Please, come in for a moment.”

Nyx followed Willow into the modest dining area. It was simply furnished with a small hoof-crafted wooden table and chairs. A vase of wildflowers sat in the center of the table, their vibrant colors livening the room. The familiar marks of a child’s growth chart were etched into the doorjamb. The room had a fresh scent with hints of spice.

As she finished taking in the room, Nyx found those same frightened eyes from moments earlier were now directed at her; they were nearly the only part of the trembling filly exposed from behind her mother’s legs.

Nyx knelt down to the filly’s level. “Hi, little sweetie. What’s your name?” she tried.

The filly ducked behind her mother again and said nothing. Willow then stepped aside and nudged her daughter with her nose. “Come on now. Be polite.”

“L- L- Lemondrop,” the filly managed after some effort.

“Hi, Lemondrop. I’m Nyx. Did my eyes scare you?”

Lemondrop nodded rapidly.

“Well. Let me tell you a secret. These eyes were given to me as a gift from Princess Luna herself!”

The filly seemed to calm down a bit and leaned forward to get a better look.

“It’s true. The princess has always ruled the night, as I’m sure you know. She wanted me to rule the night as well, a long time ago. She gave me these eyes so I could see better in the dark.”

Lemondrop stepped forward and studied Nyx for a moment. She looked up at her mother, who was smiling down at her, then looked back at Nyx. “I… I thought you were a monster,” she said finally.

Nyx smirked. “A lot of ponies have thought that, believe me. You know, when I was only your age, my mother gave me a special disguise so that I wouldn’t frighten ponies when they saw me.”

“Really?”

Nyx nodded. “She did. But eventually, I made lots of friends. In time, everypony got used to how I looked, and I didn’t need the disguise anymore.”

Nyx stood and ran her hoof along the filly’s cheek, smiling. “You don’t have to be afraid of me, Lemondrop. I’m here to protect you from the monsters.”

Willow turned toward her daughter. “Come, let’s get you back to bed.”

The filly glanced up at her mother and then back to Nyx. Her eyes had changed. They were no longer timid but were filled with fascination.

Willow rolled her eyes with a chuckle, placing a hoof on the little one’s shoulder to guide her out of the room. “There’s plenty of time to get to know Nyx later.”

The filly waved back to Nyx before rounding the corner down the hallway.

Willow turned for a moment to look back over her shoulder. “I’ll be right back. Make yourself comfortable.” The pair then made their way to the filly’s bedroom.

Nyx walked into the living room, her eyes wandering across the scene. The lack of modern technology was evident; it reminded her of her youth before the technology revolution, back during a simpler time. She sat down on the tattered couch, its soft cushions snugly conforming to her body. Her nerves settled as she relaxed and glanced around the room at the pleasant decorations carefully selected over the years by a loving family.

A variety of books rested upon a small bookshelf. Many were children’s books, a few of which Nyx recognized from her own childhood. Framed photos hung on the walls, depicting a family of three, with Lemondrop in various stages from a tiny foal to the child she currently was. The stallion in the photos, a brown unicorn, clearly adored the other two ponies he was with. One framed portrait showed him in a white doctor’s coat. Another showed him grinning next to a large alligator that had a rope wound several times around its mouth. Next to the photo was a blue ribbon which read: ‘1st Place, Gator Wrangler, Withersberg Spring Carnival’.

After a few minutes, Nyx heard the sound of a door shutting followed by hoofsteps approaching the living room. Willow returned and offered a sheepish smile. “I’m sorry about that. It’s been a trying day.”

“It’s no trouble,” Nyx replied. “I’m just glad she’s alright.”

Willow walked toward the kitchen with a weary gait and tired eyes. “I’m going to make some chamomile tea. Would you like some?”

“Thanks, I’d like that actually.”

“You’ve had a rough day too, from the looks of it,” Willow’s voice echoed from the kitchen along with the clatter of dishes.

“You could say that. None of us expected trouble before we even got here.”

Willow returned. She passed Nyx a steaming cup and sat down on the couch next to her.

“Listen, about earlier… I’m so sorry for the trouble,” Nyx began. “From the tent, I could hear Lemondrop crying, and I got curious. I don’t mean to intrude, but what was she upset about?”

“Oh, no, no you have nothing to be sorry for. It’s her father, Sage Root. He’s overdue to return from a trade run with a neighboring town a half day’s walk from here. Sage is our town’s doctor. He’s bartering medical services for a supply of grain and was only supposed to be gone overnight and come back the next day.”

Nyx sipped her tea. “Ah. She’s worried about her dad. How long ago was he supposed to return?”

“Two days ago. We’re all worried, but Lemondrop is taking it very hard. Right after Sage left, a pegasus courier brought news that there were zebras in the bayou. Zebras… here. I’m scared that Sage ran into them; why else would he be so late?”

Willow’s eyes were wet. Nyx’s heart went out to the mare. “I’d like to help. We’re here to scout for zebras anyway. I’ll talk to our commander about getting out there tomorrow to look for him.”

Willow put her hooves on Nyx’s. “Thank you. It would mean the world to us if you could find anything.”

Nyx finished her tea and set the cup on the coffee table. “I promise I’ll do what I can to find out where he is. It was nice to meet you and your little sweetheart,” Nyx said with a smile. “I’d better get going. It’s been a long day.”

Willow walked with Nyx to the front door, her exhaustion punctuated by a wide yawn. “I’ll see you in the morning. I hear the whole town’s putting together a welcome breakfast for you all. Blackberry loves an excuse to have a community meal.”

“That sounds great! I’m sure after today, that will be a real treat.”

Nyx smiled as her hooves guided her across the darkened lawn and back to the tent. Slipping inside, she looked down at Rumble, moments passing as she thought of the filly inside and what the future may bring. That poor mare in the house was all alone, her husband missing for days. Sighing softly, Nyx knelt down and slipped under the covers and up against Rumble. Snuggling tightly to his body, she rested her cheek on his neck, feeling his warmth and listening to his breathing. A tear of happiness came to her eye as her horn glowed softly, causing the blanket to tuck around the two of them before sleep took its gentle hold.

The bayou was a different world in the daylight, and Nyx was amazed that they had even found the town at all. The dense trees of the bayou pushed right up to the edge of the clearing where the houses sat. Everything outside the clearing was an impenetrable wall of wood and vines. Most of the ponies’ houses were on the north side of the river, their various levels of repair speaking of the perpetual fight against the damp. The south side of the river was dominated by the community buildings and the wide courtyard near the south-east trail where the platoon had arrived the previous night.

An aging wooden bridge connected the two sides of the settlement, its thick railings worn smooth by many a pony leaning over them to watch the water below. The railing’s smooth surface was occasionally marred with scratched declarations of young love. Alongside the bridge's south bank rested a well-used dock, its uneven moorings securing the small boats tied to it. To the north-west, a wide path led straight into the forest and was well-worn with pony hoofprints and wagon tracks.

The sun’s rays pierced through the gently swaying trees to the east as Nyx and Rumble headed to the community hall. Even under the weight of yesterday’s events, a smile lit her eyes as she looked over the scene. The platoon had already gathered outside and was mingling with the townsfolk, sharing the impromptu breakfast. The sounds of discussion, laughter, and colts and fillies playing filled the air. It was moments like this that Nyx was determined to protect.

Rising from his seat with a welcoming smile, the town elder beckoned the couple to join him at his table. “Word spread through the town that y’all are here to help us fend off the zebras, so everypony has pitched in what they could to help you feel welcome. Come, have some breakfast.”

The welcome sight of omelets, pancakes, grits, cinnamon buns, and orange juice encouraged Nyx and Rumble into their seats rather effectively. Rumble immediately started filling his plate and began digging in with gusto.

“Well, this sure is nice,” he said, nostrils flaring as he sampled the aroma of good country cooking. “And unexpected.”

“Wait ‘till you taste it,” Blackberry replied, the pride in his fellow townsfolk evident.

Blackberry watched for a moment, his eyes hinting of fascination and curiosity as his new guests made themselves comfortable. “Y’all showed up at a really good time,” he said.

“How so?” Nyx asked.

“We’ve been mighty worried since we heard there were zebras in the bayou. It’s been… um…” Blackberry leaned over to the pony next to him: “Four?” The other pony nodded after a moment of thought. He turned back to Nyx. “Four days since a Withersberg courier pegasus stopped by to warn us about it.”

“Withersberg…” Nyx took a long sip of her orange juice. “That’s one of the nearby towns, isn’t it?”

“That’s right,” the elder replied. “It’s the trade hub of the bayou. Takes a few hours to walk to from here. We thought maybe somepony should go see if the mayor has any news, but… well, we already got somepony out there, and he ain’t come back yet. Truth is, none of us here are fighters. We live out in the bayou because we like to be left alone to live in peace. We never figured on bein’ a target.”

“I wouldn’t say you’re a target,” Rumble said around a mouthful of omelet. He paused to swallow before continuing. “It’s just that the zebras apparently think they can sneak further into Equestria by coming in through this area—which, as you pointed out, isn’t very well defended.”

Blackberry laughed, “Y’all came in the easy route. The zebras had to be comin’ from the open sea, and… welI, I reckon they’ve never had to navigate a bayou before. My guess is that it’s been slower going for them than they expected. I wonder how many zebras done got ate by gators while they were sleepin’.”

Nyx winced. “That’s, uh... reassuring. But we do need to head out there anyway and help the town prepare. Have any of your pegasi gone to get an update?” she asked between bites of pancake.

Blackberry idly traced circles through the syrup on his plate with a fork, his eyes growing distant. “We’re a touch short on feathered ponies at the moment. Three elderly pegasi, two colts, a filly, a foal and their mother is all we got. Everypony else who can fly is either away on business or gone off to join the SkyGuard.”

Daisy approached, placing her stacked food on the table as she sat down across from Nyx, interrupting Blackberry’s ponderings. She watched as Rumble’s eyes tracked over to the new, larger plate of food that had arrived but immediately blocked his vision by waggling a hoof inches from his snout.

“I know that look, and no… My food—finish your plate, soldier.” After receiving a grumbled assent, Daisy acknowledged Blackberry with a smile.

“Mornin’, Commander,” Blackberry said with a nod to Daisy.

“Good morning. And it’s just ‘Daisy’, thanks,” she replied as she crisscrossed her pancakes with thick trails of syrup. “Remind me to thank your nurse for all her help last night. Everypony seems to be doing much better this morning.”

“Well, most of us, that is,” Lieutenant Archer commented over Daisy’s shoulder as her own heaping plate of pancakes clattered onto the tabletop next to the commander. Archer sat down and began eagerly stuffing her face with the delicious fare.

“Radiance and Midnight are still in bed,” she continued between bites. “I’m gonna bring them something to eat in a bit. After breakfast, Platinum will be selecting equipment to distribute. I was thinking of doing some basic weapons training with the locals today. There’s a good spot for a targeting range on the other side of the clearing.”

Daisy nodded. “Good idea. More than half the platoon is still exhausted from yesterday’s ‘fun’, so it might be best if we stay here for a day or two and get this town set up defensively before heading to the next one.”

“You’re welcome to stay if you need to,” Blackberry said. “When you do head out to Withersberg, you’ll need a guide. We can probably get Mint Blossom to go with ya. She’s got relatives out there anyway. She can also teach you a thing or two about gators along the way.”

Nyx’s eyes grew focused as her mind snapped back to the conversation, “I think we need to go to this town today.”

“Why’s that?” Daisy asked, her mane sliding to the side as her head tilted inquisitively.

Nyx’s voice filled with determination as her gaze rested on Daisy. “I spoke with Willow last night. Her husband has been gone for days, and this feels like more than just a late return. I’d like to take Rumble and Flitter out there this morning; I really think it’s worth checking out as soon as we can.”

“Splitting up our forces with possible hostiles in the area is a bad idea,” Daisy said, taking another bite of food and regarding Nyx with a faint furrow showing on her brow. “We need to secure this settlement first. Besides, we need you for the mission. You can’t just fly off on some side quest like—”

“I need to do this.” Nyx’s eyes searched Daisy’s face for understanding as her voice grew somber, “His family is worried sick. And really, we can still do the mission anyway, ‘cause it gives us a chance to scout for zebras while we’re at it.”

A frown grew on Blackberry’s weathered face as he nodded at Nyx’s words. “Sage is a good pony. It’s not like him to take so long comin’ back unless there was a real good reason. He’s already taken three times as long as he meant to.”

The sound of Daisy’s fork being set on the plate was accompanied by a resigned sigh and a glare which was shot in Nyx’s direction. “Okay, Nyx. I’ll trust your instincts on this one. But you’re not going in alone; I’m coming with you. We can bring Windy Scarlet with us as well. You and yours plus the guide makes six. That’s plenty for our needs. Archer and the rest of the platoon can stay here and assist in preparing the locals.”

“Works for me,” Archer said just before she shoved another cinnamon bun unceremoniously in her muzzle.

Rumble searched out Willow and Lemondrop at a nearby table as he leaned closer to Nyx. “Trouble?” he asked in a hushed voice.

Nyx nodded, speaking softly. “If he got delayed for some reason, then fine. But it doesn’t feel right to me. If he ran into zebras, then that little filly—” Nyx’s breath caught in her throat. “Rumble, I can’t just wait and see.”

“Righto. After breakfast, we grab our gear and head out. Muffin?” Rumble offered Nyx a banana-nut muffin. Nyx rolled her eyes and accepted the treat with a smile that only Rumble could produce lighting her face.

After helping to clear the dishes from her table, Daisy headed off to find their guide with Flitter and Windy Scarlet in tow. As they passed over the bridge, the staccato clopping of hooves on the sturdy planks seemed oddly muted in the humid air as it was swallowed up by the gurgling sound of the murky water below. Arriving at Mint Blossom’s house, Daisy headed to the door, it’s soft blue tone only marred by dirt splattered on the bottom from a recent rain. Giving the door three solid knocks, she waited. A series of hoofsteps from inside the house was followed by a wooden groan as the door swung open to reveal a teal earth pony, her two-tone pale green mane framing an excited face.

“Oh, hey. You’re the leader of the military ponies, right?” Mint Blossom asked.

Daisy nodded. “We—”

“Blackberry sent word you’d be coming and that you’d need a guide to get to Withersberg,” she interrupted with a smile.

Daisy regarded the mare for a moment. “That’s right. We were hoping to get going soon if—”

“I’m all packed and ready to go! This is gonna be an all-day trip.” Mint trotted out of the house, saddlebags strapped securely to her back. Weaving past the others and down into the front lawn, she stopped and turned back to the bewildered Daisy. “You coming?”

Daisy’s mouth opened and closed several times as she tried to figure out what to say. Eventually, she settled with a nod.

As the four ponies headed out into the increasingly oppressive humidity, Daisy walked up alongside their guide. “Blackberry said you have family over there?”

Mint glanced over her shoulder as they headed north through town on the sodden hoofpath, “My sister, yes. I’ve been anxious to find out if she’s okay ever since I heard there were zebras in the bayou. I would have gone myself, but what if it’s true? None of us can handle zebras.”

Mint came to an abrupt stop before turning to face the ponies following her, “So… it’s just you three?”

“Two more will be coming with us,” Daisy replied. “We’ll meet up with them at the supply wagons. Trust me, we’ll be able to hold our own out there.”

The tension that had been building on Mint’s face eased, and her smile returned. “Perfect. Lead the way.”

As they arrived, Daisy saw Nyx and Rumble near one of the supply wagons, getting equipped. Nyx’s armor shone brightly in the early morning sun; its sparkling, iridescent surface spoke of the exquisite care with which it was made. Rumble looked like he was ready for action as he refitted the feed mechanisms of his autoguns. The solid click as it locked into place raised the corners of his lips into a satisfied smile. Daisy approached the wagon to reach in and grab her own barding and combat rifle, satisfied that her squad was ready to head out.

Mint Blossom did a double-take upon seeing Nyx. “Wow. You look just like her.”

“Hm?” Nyx looked at the mare with confusion, “I look what, now?”

“Nightmare Moon,” Mint said as her eyes took in the alicorn. “I remember when she came back. I was just a filly at the time, but I was there at the Summer Sun Celebration when it happened. You don’t forget eyes like that. I heard she came back again, or somepony who looked like her, or something. I guess that’s you, then?”

Nyx paused after hearing those words, a slight crease forming on her brow, her slitted pupils sharpening at the memory. Finally, she let out a sigh and glanced again toward Mint with a soft smile. “Yeah, that’s me.”

The sound of six sets of hooves was the only thing that marked their departure into the intimidating, untamed wilderness. As the miles passed by slowly underhoof, it became clear why a guide was needed. Everywhere that Daisy looked was the same—even the constant buzzing of insects never changed. While they were loosely following the river, its twisting and meandering path sometimes caused it to disappear completely from view for long stretches. The lush trees ruled the canopy with countless vines hanging from their mighty boughs, and every trunk was adorned with a thick smattering of moss. Even the middle of the slow moving river was not exempt from growing massive trees straight out of the water, adding to the sensation that direction was a thing which did not exist in this place. Daisy was glad to have a guide but wished she didn’t have to bring a civilian along for what could potentially be a dangerous—

Ow! Daisy bit back a curse at those damn biting flies. Giving her tail a sharp swish to the side, she did her best to whip them off her flanks. Most everypony was trying to keep them at bay. Nyx seemed to be the only one immune; perhaps alicorn hides were that tough after all. The only other pony who was walking along without qualms was Windy Scarlet, a stark contrast to this morning’s vocal complaining. Now, her horn glowed dimly, and she seemed content—at least regarding the insects.

“What’s that spell you’re using, Windy?” Daisy asked.

“Trying out different pheromones. I saw some ponies back at the town burning some sort of homemade incense in their yards. I think it was their bug repellent. Finally got it down.” Windy smiled with pride.

Mint Blossom snickered. “You guessed right. That’s tree frog droppings. Thankfully, it doesn’t give an odor. Keeps the bugs away, though.”

Windy blanched. “Blegh. You didn’t have to tell me that—or rather, you could have… I mean… nevermind.”

“Well now that you have the spell down, care to share with the rest of us?” Daisy asked.

“Sure, it’s a low energy spell. I don’t mind.” Windy’s eyes closed as she focused. The brief, flickering glow of her horn was followed by sighs of relief.

“Now, since y’all are new to the swamp, there’s a few things you’re all gonna need to know about before we get too far along,” Mint Blossom warned. “Have any of y’all dealt with gators before?”

The chorus of negatives brought a sly grin to Mint’s face. “Alright, then. I’ll fill you in as we go. You have to keep your eyes peeled for them. They’re faster than they look, and a bite to the leg can crush the bone and tear it clean off.” She proceeded to smash and grind her front hooves together gleefully. “It’s best to keep your distance.”

Windy stopped in her tracks and stared wide-eyed at Mint Blossom. “Thank you for that wonderful image.”

Rolling her eyes at the others’ antics, Daisy trotted for a moment to catch up to Nyx. “That spell matrix of yours… Can it map an area like this?”

“Not full maps yet, but Trixie put in a spell to make landmarks I can find later.

“Good enough. The three of you should probably fly on ahead a bit and do some scouting. Mark all the spots that might help with navigation. If you spot trouble, come back right away and let us know. If there’s a squad of zebras on the trail ahead, alligators will be the least of our problems.”

“Got it.” Nyx’s wings began to spread, then froze at the sound of Daisy’s final words.

“Don’t get too far ahead. In this terrain, you could easily lose us. We’ll keep following the trail. If you can find where it forks, we’ll meet you there. If we get there first, Windy will send up a flare every two minutes.”

With that, Nyx, Rumble, and Flitter took off in a flurry of feathers. They quickly rose above the trees and were lost to sight within moments.

The dense tree canopy allowed but a few shafts of light to pierce downward onto the trail as Mint Blossom led everypony further into the wilderness. Off to the side, swathes of the river could be seen, lily pads dotting the surface of the slow-moving waters. Stagnant pools with thick coatings of algae were abundant, the coarse surface looking like thick green oatmeal, though its smell assured that the taste would be anything but pleasant. The ever-present chorus of frogs was accompanied by the songs of colorful birds flitting between the trees in search of a booty call.

Daisy suddenly felt the impact of Windy’s shoulder as it collided with her flank, causing the unicorn behind her to nearly trip. She glanced over her shoulder, about to tell her to watch herself when she noticed the mare’s wide eyes and outstretched, trembling hoof.

“Commander,” Windy whispered, pointing at the river toward a patch of algae. “Look.”

Daisy followed the gesture to find a pair of eyes poking through an algae patch not ten meters from the edge of the trail. In a fluid motion, Daisy drew her rifle and sighted down its length, her crosshairs resting between the eyes. “Oooh. Yeah, I see it.”

Mint Blossom snickered as she looked back at the whispering mares, “Seems you spotted one of my little friends—wasn’t sure if you’d notice. That’s just a cute little guy. You don’t have to worry about him.”

Never had Nyx realized just how much she took visible landmarks for granted. The bayou was just as directionless above the canopy as below it. Spreading out for miles, she may as well have been flying over an ocean of green with only the haze of the fire swamp in the eastern distance to give a hint of direction. The only saving grace was the river that provided a winding cut through the trees. From this view, hunting for zebras turned into a much more daunting task.

With a thought, Nyx engaged her T.E.I. to scan the area for hostiles. Only a moment passed before a growl of frustration escaped her lips. “Damn. T.E.I. is useless here.”

“Why’s that?” Rumble asked as he swooped in close to her upper left side, looking over her shoulder at the display.

“Alligators show up as hostiles, and they’re everywhere. I’ve got too many false positives, so this is going to have to be done the old fashioned way. Keep your eyes peeled. You picking up anything, Flitter?”

Flitter continued to survey the forest below from a short distance away, “Somepony was spooked shortly after we left, but based on the burst of amusement right afterward, I don’t think it’s anything to worry about. Other than that, I’ve got nothing.”

“Alright. Let’s spread out so we can cover more ground. I’ll take the right flank and follow the river.”

Banking away from her fellow flyers, Nyx dove down toward the placidly moving waters. The sound of air rushing past her ears grew as gravity encouraged her downward with ever-increasing speed. Angling her wings, the muscles in her back strained as she pulled out of the dive, skimming across the river’s surface. Gradually bleeding off her speed, she had the chance to study the areas beneath the nearby treetops, looking in from the sides for anything suspicious. The muddy strip of the hoof trail appeared near one bend in the river, letting her know she was still on course. The plan was to scout as much ground as possible, then meet up with Rumble and Flitter downstream at the only bridge crossing on the trail’s way to Withersberg.

As beautiful as the landscape was from the air, Nyx had difficulty enjoying it. The weight of the mission was a constant worry in the back of her mind. She hated this feeling of not knowing, and it was that feeling which pestered her as she searched. Was Lemondrop’s missing father going to be found in Withersberg? Did he get delayed helping somepony with a medical emergency? Did he get ambushed on the trails? Was the town already invaded by zebras? The endless questions swam around in Nyx’s mind as she tried to push them aside and focus on her task.

Daisy was surrounded by the wet squelches of hooves being pulled free of sucking mud. The additional weight on her hooves made her gait feel unnatural. Grooved wheel tracks filled with puddles gave testament to the wagons that were the primary means of trade in the area. Normally, the trail kept to the relatively dry high ground, but there were low-lying stretches such as this where they just had to power through.

“Looks like we’ve got company.” Mint Blossom pointed a muddy hoof toward some bushes that were a bit further down the path. The head of a large alligator was barely sticking out from behind them. “The most important thing is to see them before they see you,” she warned in a hushed voice.

“Yeah, well we see it. Now what?” Daisy whispered.

“Fortunately, of the several ways to handle this problem, we’ve got somepony along who lets us pick one of the easiest.” Mint gave a sly grin to Windy Scarlet, who clearly didn’t like where this was heading.

The trio walked as quietly as possible with Windy splitting her concentration between her hoofsteps and the delicate balance of forces emanating from her horn. Cautiously, they approached the gator’s position, all eyes focused on the large reptile as it serenely floated in place, slowly rotating to point away from them.

Once everypony was a safe distance past the floating killing machine, Windy gently set the creature down facing away from the path, and it just sat there as if it didn’t even notice.

“Gators are real dumb, but once they see you, they’re fast and relentless,” Mint Blossom said after they rounded the next bend in the trail, “They seem to be nearly dormant as they lie in wait. They can sit completely still for hours, contemplating the meaning of life until something comes along to be eaten.”

Some hours later, the trees opened up to where the path crossed the river. By now, Daisy was good and tired of the deep bayou and its unfortunate assortment of biting and buzzing wildlife. Windy looked as if she was about to throttle someone. Even Mint’s chipper mood had dimmed.

The wide open spaces and blue sky with its puffy, intermittent clouds brought a sense of relief and almost elation to the trio of ponies. Even the river itself looked different—gone was the dank, murky, algae-covered swamp. Here, the river looked almost normal, the water flowing deeper with a noticeable burbling current, and its sandy banks more clearly defined.

Up ahead, a sturdy wooden bridge straddled the river, becoming visible as Daisy rounded a small clump of young trees. It was constructed of thick local timbers, sanded smooth and polished with the back and forth work of many hooves. High, stylish railings on either side ensured nopony could accidentally fall into the river. Its width could easily support a cargo wagon, allowing for an important trade route connecting Gatorton with the surrounding settlements.

A wide, braced balcony was built into the center of the bridge, facing downstream. Daisy imagined that the tranquil, almost serene vista which the balcony provided had seen many a young romance budding over the years. But the most noticeable feature of this particular bridge at the moment was that it was occupied.

There, blocking the passage onto the bridge, was a fearsome creature of legend. More powerful and threatening than everything the three ponies had encountered put together. Daisy knew that any who were foolish enough to engage would not likely survive the attempt.

The predator stood before them motionless, wings outstretched. Piercing eyes spoke of menace, with lips pulled back in a threatening snarl that exposed gleaming fangs. The impressive black horn sparked with indigo fire, tiny motes of magic shedding from its spiral fluting.

The booming voice that followed was startling. “Halt! Who goes there? This path is guarded by the dreaded Nightmare Moon!”

Everypony stopped in their tracks. Mint Blossom squeaked and side-stepped behind Daisy.

Daisy chuckled. “Oh great, it’s a bridge troll. Mint, why didn’t you tell me you had these things in the swamp?”

Mint did a double take at Daisy’s comment. “What? What!”

Daisy approached Nyx and exchanged a hoofbump. “That was a long walk. I need a break.”

Nyx stepped aside as everypony walked onto the bridge. Flitter glided down from a nearby tree where she had been perched and leaned against the railing, a grin on her muzzle. Nyx and Daisy joined her to watch the water flow slowly along beneath them and under the structure. Mint still looked a bit apprehensive as she found her spot along the railing beside Daisy.

“Beautiful land once you get used to it,” Nyx said, finally. “What do you think, Windy?”

Windy glowered as she picked rocks from a hoof. “Oh yes, it’s lovely; we’ve been learning this local pastime called ‘Spin the Gator’,” she deadpanned.

Mint Blossom snerked. “It wasn’t that bad, was it?”

“Says you. You’re used to it. Where I come from, we have foxes, rabbits, and ducks, but certainly no killer reptiles.”

“I hardly notice them,” Mint replied. “I’ve been down this path solo plenty of times. Sometimes, I come here to go fishin’. Gators never seem to come up on the bridge itself.”

“Fishing…”

“Yep! Inland ponies usually think river folk are strange for eating meat, but grilled fish is great. You should try it.”

Windy and Daisy looked at one another with matching skeptical expressions. Windy’s face then scrunched up in disgust as her fake wretching sounds emphasized her disagreement.

“What… I’m serious. Maybe when we get back, we can have ourselves a barbecue, and you can try some. Anyway, fishing is mighty relaxing.”

Daisy idly kicked a stone into the river and watched the ripples fade into the current. “So, what’s the story up ahead, Nyx? Find anything?”

“We checked several paths but didn’t find anything alarming. One route had a fair number of your cold-blooded friends, though. I’m beginning to think our missing doctor is just helping the Withersberg ponies with an emergency or something.”

“Hard to say,” Mint commented. “I hope you’re right. Guess we’ll find out when we get to town. There’s a couple different ways to get to Withersberg, but once we figure out what path we’ll be taking, we can pick up the pace.”

The loud thump of a set of hooves hitting the planks of the bridge signaled Rumble’s sudden arrival. The trembling in his still-spread wings and his heavy breathing showed he had sped to get there, “Guys… Bad news. Come check this out.”

“What is it?” Nyx asked.

Rumble spoke while panting for air, “There’s… zebra, I mean… was a zebra… up river... Gah! Just... follow me.”

Peeling off the path, everypony galloped behind Rumble along the riverbank, their hooves thundering upon the sand a few paces from the water’s edge.

Approaching a bend in the river, his pace slowed to a walk under a tree’s shade. In front of them was a wide section of the river where its flow was at a crawl. The sun’s rays reflected off the gently undulating surface. And there, snagged on a branch almost completely submerged in the water, was a leg—a black and white striped foreleg, from the shoulder on down.

“Shit. Is that…” Mint Blossom began to say when she saw the severed leg.

“Oh great,” Daisy said. “It looks like we’ve found our zebras. At least part of one.”

“Gross,” Windy said.

“Yeah, but what happened to this zebra?” Nyx asked. “Remember Blackberry’s colorful comment at breakfast? Alligator, I suppose.”

Daisy picked up a fallen branch and approached the water's edge, searching for the best way to get close.

“Keep back from the water,” Mint warned. “I don’t see any gators here at the moment, but that can change very quickly.”

Daisy gave the water a wary look before cautiously leaning forward with the branch extended. She missed a couple times before finally snagging the leg and pulling it toward the water’s edge. After hooking the branch under the leg, she gave a hard yank. The leg then flopped onto the sandy soil with a wet squelch right in front of Windy.

The unicorn froze with eyes fixed on the dismembered limb.

“You alright, there?” Daisy asked.

Suddenly, Windy’s pupils became pinpoints focused on the leg, and she started to hyperventilate. She stood unmoving with her eyes still locked on the exposed flesh, tensing up before frantically scrambling backward away from the meat and bone.

Rumble stepped in front of Windy and looked her in the eye. Her vacant, unblinking stare seemed to be looking straight through him toward the leg. He gave her a light shake, trying to grab her attention. “Hey, hey, calm down for a second. What’s wrong?”

“It’s… It’s not bitten off,” she said in a hushed voice on the edge of panic. “Alligators don’t chop a leg off. Someone deliberately cut that leg off a zebra with a knife or axe or something.”

With an arched eyebrow, Rumble paused for a couple beats, letting her words sink in before speaking. “Chopped… off…”

He then slowly turned his head while still holding his gaze sideways on Windy. Another pause. Finally, he turned and lowered his head to get a better look at the leg. “Shit, she’s right. Look at this.”

Daisy walked up and flipped the leg over with her rifle. Deep, clean cuts exposed layers of muscle and sinew in several places. Slices of flesh hung from the raw end by scraps of skin, appearing to have been cut with some sort of blade. Protruding from the center, the white of a fractured bone gave contrast to the surrounding grey muscle, the blood long since drained.

“Windy’s right—it wasn’t an animal attack. Whoever did this was sadistic. I can’t imagine a pony doing this. Or zebra, for that matter. Check this out, this was definitely a warrior, not an Equestrian zebra. The hoof has the ritual paintings of a skilled hoof fighter, and these straps are for a shin-knife.”

“Great. That’s just great,” Windy said. “What the hell are we supposed to do now?”

“We need to get to Withersberg. Right now. Let’s go,” Daisy ordered. “Nyx, we need to pick up the pace. Limit scouting to areas just around our route. Don’t worry about hunting down the zebras until after we get to town.”

The central-bayou trade settlement of Withersberg had begun its life as a simple resting place for ponies during their long hauls from the small coastal towns to the mainland of Equestria. Eventually, entrepreneuring types set up shop there to service the frequent travelers. And where there were shops, it wasn’t long before houses, families, and politics followed. After a good few years, it had become the largest town in the bayou, almost half the size of the larger inland town of Ponyville. Being central to some six or seven local settlements had created the perfect place for ponies to conduct business. At any given time during daylight hours, there were at least as many visitors as there were residents within the town’s borders.

Nyx listened to Mint Blossom tell the history of their destination as they walked briskly along. She wondered idly why she had never heard of the place growing up. Judging from the condition of the trail which the platoon had taken the previous day, not to mention the difficulties with the wildlife, the route had clearly fallen out of use. The bayou settlements would have grown more isolated and self-sufficient over the years, mostly removed from the rest of Equestria, at least by hoof.

After a long and strange day making their way through the untamed wilderness, a final turn in the road revealed Withersberg spread out before them.

Encircling the town was its namesake shoulder-high fence designed to keep the native wildlife at bay. Its aged timbers were hewn and shaped by hoof. Most sections of the fence were in good repair, a credit to the local carpenter's skill and dedication. The town often joked that this would be the last bastion of Equestria if the war went badly; not only were they in the middle of nowhere but with such an impressive fence, the zebras would surely turn away in defeat upon seeing it.

The south-east gate, one of many in Withersberg, was an amalgam of works from every blacksmith the town had been home to. A tradition had been born where the first project to be undertaken by each new blacksmith was to add another decoration, addition, or feature to the gates. Ranging from old and pitted to new and sharp, the stories of the town and those who had worked its metal could be seen by all entering and leaving.

Visible from the gate, rising over the rest of the town, the two-story building of the community hall seemed to represent what mattered most to these ponies. Of all the buildings nearby, care and attention were clearly given here to provide a warm and welcoming visit. It was well-maintained with fresh yellow paint, raised cobblestone flowerbeds and walkways, and a large water fountain which several birds had taken a keen interest in. No matter what challenges their day had brought, all ponies who entered here would feel welcomed into the fellowship of helpful friends and neighbors.

Set up to the west of the community hall were the stalls and shops where many craftsponies spent their days trading goods and services. These industrious souls had managed to find the time and inclination to excel with their hooves in agriculture, construction, tool-crafting, or cooking. Stepping through the area brought the sights and smells of a variety of mercantiles. The brightly-colored cloth of a seamstress’ stall contrasted with the mostly drab common clothing of those who visited. The glint of shells, gems, and metals for adornment at the jeweler’s shop was sure to draw attention almost as much as the alluring scents of freshly baked pies and sweets coming from a nearby baker’s stand.

A short distance from the community hall, down a path worn wide by hooves of all sorts, was the medical clinic. Any traveler versed in the wonders of modern medical establishments would likely notice the absence of the ever-pervasive smell of antiseptic upon first entering this clinic. Instead, they would find the pleasant aroma of chamomile or rose hip tea, overstuffed chairs to sink into, and the enthusiastic artwork of school ponies hanging on the walls.

Opposite the medical center sat the oldest building in town, the Saddle Inn. The inn had long been a necessity for traders at this resting point in their journey. The wide, rectangular building was of an older style than those surrounding it, with an equally aged saddle in a place of honor above the main entrance. From viewing the arrangement of rooms, it was evident that this building was designed to lodge those who wandered the roads of Equestria for a living. The rooms were sparse though comfortable as if attempting to give the impression of home for those far from it. The short entryway was supervised over by the clerk’s desk, its duty seeming to be to hold up the massive ledger which kept decades of records of those who had stayed.

Further down the main road, in an area enclosed with its own smaller, much more brightly colored fence, was the school house. The squat structure seemed to radiate a warmth to many townsfolk who passed by. Memories of all residents were tied to the school house, be it running out to play after finishing a lesson, the teacher spending time to lift up those that needed the most help, or crafting decorations for the walls and large yard. Everything spoke of a place where creativity came to bloom. Various types of equipment stored under an overhang showed that the yard was also home to friendly sporting tournaments for children and adults alike.

From this inner heart of the town, its homes spread outward with an organic growth, each house placed where it had seemed best at the time. A network of paths crisscrossed the neighborhoods, revealing how the individual routes of each pony had, over time, been worn into common roads. If a city planner were to aim for laying out a new structure, there would be much hair-pulling and frustration.

Nyx’s mind wandered back to their mission. What would they find in this town? Would it be business as usual? The discovery of the zebra leg didn’t fill her with much hope in that regard, but it wasn’t long before the gates were finally before them. Mint led the way through, and the six tired ponies finally slowed their pace to a normal walk as they entered.

“This is bigger than I thought it’d be,” Nyx said as she looked at the buildings along the main road. “I had no idea something like this was out here in the middle of nowhere.”

“You know what I don’t see? Anypony looking too worried about zebras,” Flitter noted. “The town looks perfectly normal—doesn’t seem to be any emergency or panic.”

“That’s good,” Daisy said. “One less crisis to manage. So, who’s in charge here?”

“The mayor’s name is Jade Glint,” Mint Blossom said as they walked further into town. “She has an office straight ahead up the main street, but this time of day, you can usually find her in the marketplace. We’ll check there first.”

As they walked through the center of town, there were dozens of shops and kiosks set up on both sides of the street. A large variety of food, tools, crafts, and services was on display. Nyx took in the pleasant scent of freshly baked goods as she watched the bustle of ponies bartering with one another. They had just passed by what appeared to be a general food court when Nyx noticed her belly grumbling at her. She slowed down a bit and glanced longingly over her shoulder at the assorted cafes and dining outlets.

Mint Blossom chuckled. “Tell you what—why don’t you guys go grab a quick bite to eat while I go track her down?”

Everypony gave sounds of approval as they broke off and wandered through the tables where several townsfolk were seated and chatting away with one another. Nyx looked around, trying to decide what looked the most appealing. She did a double take, noticing a most unusual shop with a sign painted in thick, bright rounded letters: ‘Fish and Chips’… What in the world?

Rumble nudged her. He gestured with his head toward a dessert kiosk on the opposite side of the food court and grinned.

“Rumble’s nose comes to the rescue again!” Nyx said, mouth watering at the thought of homemade sweets. Walking over with Rumble, she stepped into the adjacent deli, which was selling fruit salads. The two she picked up helped her feel not quite so guilty about the amount of sweets she and Rumble ended up purchasing.

Everypony gathered at an empty table after making their purchases. Settling down and relaxing in a friendly atmosphere seemed to take a lot of the accumulated stress off the group. All around them, the sounds of life in a small, yet busy town filled the air. Greetings of traders long absent mixed with details of how someone’s child was doing in school or how business was doing.

“So, the ponies here seem pretty relaxed and friendly,” Flitter said as she looked around.

“I like it,” Daisy replied. “It’s quaint. Reminds me of times before the war.”

Nyx glanced at the children running around playing. “It’s refreshing, in a somewhat backwater sort of way.”

She was relieved that everything here seemed quite normal. These ponies had nothing at all to do with the war; why should they be forced to deal with such things? She sighed. There was no avoiding it, though. The platoon would come in a few days, regardless, and train them to defend themselves. Leaving even an isolated community like this to remain vulnerable and innocent wouldn’t be fair to them or wise for Equestria as a whole—especially in a location so close to the open sea where zebra ships roamed.

“I’m just glad we’re back to civilization,” Windy said as she leaned back in her chair. “Look at all the cool stuff in the market! We should stick around a while.”

“Mmmm, the eclairs are great!” Rumble said through a mouthful of white frosting.

Nyx nodded. They were great. And the fruit salad had some interesting bits she hadn’t tasted before. The bayou’s local produce had a few types of tangy melon she thought were fantastic. She licked her lips and took another bite, trying to pin down what it tasted like.

Mint Blossom walked up to the table and smiled, motioning to a pony a couple steps behind her, “This is Mayor Jade Glint.”

Taking this as her cue, the tan colored earth pony sat down at the table with a wide smile, the etched creases of her eyes deepening as her braided green mane rested on her chest. She looked over the assortment of newcomers, taking in their condition and armaments. As she nodded to Nyx, her eyes briefly gained a calculating glint before returning to their previous mirth, “Hello and welcome to our humble community.”

“Pleased to meet you,” Daisy said with a nod.

“Likewise,” the mayor replied. “So, Mint tells me you’re here to help with the zebra situation. I sent a courier to Canterlot as soon as I was told about them, so I’m glad the Palace didn’t hesitate in sending somepony to come help. We’re really not equipped to deal with zebras out here as you can probably guess. I know we’ve been lucky and all, getting this far into the war without attracting trouble, but that doesn’t make it any less distressing.”

“It was somepony here who spotted them?” Daisy asked. “Where were they seen?”

“One of our fisherponies spotted a dozen or so out in the wetlands four or five days ago. It’s about a fifteen-minute flight south-west of here.”

“Wetlands…” Rumble snickered. “Isn’t that everywhere?”

“Son, you ain’t seen wet yet,” Jade deadpanned. “The wetlands are mostly used for fishing spots and crab traps. Small patches of dry ground mixed in with a whole lotta swamp and trees growing wherever they please. No trails. It’d take days to cross it by hoof, so only pegasi go there. When we heard the zebras were trying to go straight through it, we couldn’t decide whether to worry or laugh. Maybe we shoulda gone to rescue them,” Jade quipped with a smirk.

“You haven’t seen them since?” Nyx inquired.

“Not a one. Though, we’ve been warning traders to be careful and let their hometowns know to keep a lookout for ’em. I’m just glad nopony’s been hurt or killed yet. Seems y’all came just in time.”

“We’re here a bit early actually,” Daisy said. “We’ve come looking for a missing pony—Sage Root from Gatorton. He’s late coming back, and his family is worried. Many in Gatorton are thinking maybe the zebras have already shown up here.”

“Sage? Yeah, he was here. He, uh, left rather abruptly a couple days ago. We thought maybe he went back to Gatorton, but he didn’t seem in any condition to travel. He was pretty sick when he was here. To be honest, there’s a few things that don’t—”

“Sick?” Nyx interrupted, her voice thick with concern. “Why would he be sick? And if he’s sick, why isn’t he still here? If he left, where might he have gone?”

“Not sure. Well, he could be anywhere, really. Like I said, we haven’t seen him for a couple days now. What I’m more concerned about is where those zebras are. Y’all just spent several hours on the trails. You didn’t see anything, I take it?”

“No zebras, no,” Daisy said.

“Well, there was the leg,” Rumble said under his breath.

Jade’s attention snapped to Rumble. “The leg?”

“Uh…” Daisy looked around, ensuring none of the townsponies were within earshot. “Okay, we did find something on the way over that you should probably know about. There was a zebra leg floating in the river upstream a ways.”

“Gator attack,” Jade guessed.

“Not likely. From what we can tell, it was actually hacked off. Listen, I don’t want to jump to conclusions as to exactly what happened, but you should at least be aware that something really disturbing is going on.”

Jade’s eyes were locked on Daisy, the relaxed, confident expression fading from her face. “Disturbing… I… We need to talk in private. Please follow me.”

Turning from the table, Jade set a brisk but not hurried pace as she led the others away from the market. She returned friendly waves and deflected any attempts to start a conversation with a smile and a brief mention of ‘official business’. Approaching the two-story building they had seen when entering the town, the mayor entered and led them into the open interior. Hoofsteps on the wooden floor echoed across the wide room. There were benches arrayed to focus on a raised platform where a small assortment of musical instruments rested. They made their way around the side of a stage and to a staircase that was partially recessed behind the curtains.

Leading them upstairs, she opened the door to a conference room where everypony filed in. Trade charts and timetables adorned the chalkboards that ringed the room. A long, wooden table was set up in the center of the room with space to seat a dozen ponies.

After everypony was seated, Jade spoke. “So, you found this zebra leg in the river. You’re sure it wasn’t a gator attack?”

“Definitely not,” Daisy replied. “I got a good look at it, and it wasn’t bitten or torn. The leg was removed by some type of blade—a rather large one from the looks of it.”

“Right. And you’re wanting to know more about Sage, yes?”

“That’s right,” Nyx said sharply.

“Alright, then. There are some things you should know,” she began. “Sage was here, but something was already wrong with him. He came into town on the edge of panic. Something out there had scared the hell out of him. After that, he got sick rather quickly, but not in a way I’ve seen anypony get sick before. Something really weird is going on.”

“What did he say when he got here?” Nyx asked. “What got him so worked up?”

“He wouldn’t talk about it. He just asked for a room at the inn and spent the night. By morning, he was delirious. He was sweaty and complaining about being hungry. The staff at the inn brought him some food, but he wouldn’t eat it.”

Jade had everypony’s full attention. They shifted in their seats as they listened.

“So, they decided to just let him be. When they checked back in on him later that night, he was unconscious. Nopony knew what to do. We have a town nurse who looked him over but couldn’t tell what was wrong. He seemed stable, so she recommended to just check back every few hours to see if anything changed. That evening, other guests at the inn reported hearing strange sounds coming from his room.”

Jade paused for a moment and sighed. She seemed to be searching for the right words. “The next morning, when the staff checked in on him, he was gone. At first, we thought maybe he went back to Gatorton, but his saddlebags and doctor’s kit were still in the room. Truth is, nopony has any idea where he might be.”

The room was silent as Jade’s story sunk in.

“We need to find him,” Nyx said, her brow furrowed in concern. “He didn’t say anything at all about where he might have gone?”

Jade shook her head. “I’ve asked the town to keep an eye out for him, but he managed to slip away without anyone noticing.”

“Well, that’s damn strange,” Rumble said. “He didn’t tell anypony what his problem was? Nopony managed to get him to talk?”

“Unfortunately, no. There’s also his room, I… I need to show you something. Please, follow me.”

Nyx watched in confusion as the mayor got up from her seat and then turned to walk toward the conference room door. She opened her mouth to speak, but the mayor simply waved a hoof to avert any further questions. Nyx looked to Rumble, eyebrow raised, and received a shrug in response. Shaking her head to dislodge her growing concern, she got up to follow with the others as the mayor led them downstairs and back outside.

The sounds of the peaceful town felt more muted as they walked—less innocent and more uncertain. The heavy silence from the mayor fed the anxiety that was slowly worming deeper into Nyx’s mind. Her hooves were taking steps on autopilot as her eyes flitted around, searching for answers at random.

The groan of a door opening brought Nyx back to her surroundings. The aged door to the Saddle Inn stood open before her as Jade disappeared within. With a glance over her shoulder, confirming everypony was accounted for, Nyx stepped inside. The mayor was having a hushed conversation with the clerk. Overlooking his desk, from their perch atop the key-mantle, several hula-pony figurines sat with blithe expressions on their faces, just waiting for a tap to set their hips into motion. The clerk gave an uneasy look at the mayor before he nodded and reached under the desk. A few moments of rummaging later, a light clinking accompanied a key being passed to the mayor.

Nyx moved closer to the now stationary mayor, who seemed frozen, staring at the key in her hoof. A soft cough from Nyx seemed to stir Jade into motion. Leading down the hall, she slowed until coming to a stop in front of a door. Her hoof trembled slightly as she held the key before the lock, waiting.

“The staff found this the day before yesterday. I didn’t know what to do, so I left it as it was. It’s… not pleasant,” Jade said over her shoulder, her voice wavering.

Jade took a deep breath before inserting the key. She pushed it in until the empty click of a door unlocking was heared. Her breath remained held as she walked inside, seeming to lose some of her vigor with every step before finally sitting on the bed and motioning everyone to follow.

Chills went down Nyx’s spine, and a fetid smell washed over her as she stepped into the room. Bloody hoofprints were smeared on the walls and furniture. Some appeared to be drawings, the rough shapes looking as if a deranged kindergartner had played in the room.

Flitter froze beside Nyx and pointed at the vanity. A surgical scalpel rested just below the mirror, dried blood coating the blade. On the wall beside the vanity, scrawled in blood, was written: ‘Death becomes us’.

“Fuck, me,” Rumble said quietly.

Nyx stared silently at the wall with her mouth open and her heart racing. Windy stood beside her, trembling.

“Nopony knows about this except the inn staff and those of us in this room,” Jade stated. “We didn’t want to start a panic.”

“Yeah, I can see why,” Daisy said. After a few moments of taking in the scene, she spoke again. “Is there anything else you can tell us? Any clues at all?”

“There is one thing,” Jade said. “When Sage arrived, he came from the south-west trail instead of the usual south-east like y’all came in today. Again, he was already really shaken up about something when he showed up. Hell, he may have even gone back that way. I’ve put up a sign to keep ponies off the trail for now, but it won’t be long before they start asking questions.”

“Alright. We’ll go check it out,” Daisy said. “Thanks for your help. We’ll head back to Gatorton and be back in a day or two with supplies and weapons to get you ready in case the zebras show up. I’m not sure what we’re going to tell Sage’s family.”

The mayor nodded. “I don’t envy you on that one. We’ll have some ponies keep an eye out for him as well. I’ll send a pegasus right away if we find him. But I hesitate to put the town on alert about what you found in the river. I really don’t want to cause an unnecessary panic.”

“That’s your call. Thanks for your help. If you do find Sage, it would go a long way toward solving this puzzle.”

‘Path temporarily closed due to gators.’ The well-worn sign posted on a tree next to the south-west gate had chipped edges and a dozen or so nail holes from repeated postings.

This gate was set back a fair distance from the bustle of the marketplace, closer to the schoolhouse with some of the older homes scattered nearby. The shade trees were larger and more plentiful here, casting their wide shadows over the neighborhood. Sitting in comfortable chairs on their porches, several older ponies watched in silence as the group of unknown travelers opened the gate.

Nyx caught their glances, the unspoken ‘that path is closed, you idiots’ clear in their eyes. Rumble nudged her shoulder with his own and smirked with a shake of his head as they passed through the gate. Soon, the signs of civilization had vanished behind them, and they were once again surrounded by the vast wilderness of the bayou.

“Apparently, this type of closure isn’t all that uncommon,” Rumble commented.

“You’d be right in that guess,” Mint Blossom replied.

The further they walked into the wilderness, the more Nyx felt torn up inside over what they had seen at the inn. Something serious had happened to Sage. It didn’t mean he was dead—of course not. Sick ponies don’t just up and leave. She wanted to know what the others were thinking, but it was Windy who spoke first.

“I can’t stop thinking about that creepy message on the wall,” Windy said. “You hear stuff like that in campfire stories meant to scare little fillies, but I never imagined anything like that would actually happen.”

“Well, at least we found out what we came for,” Mint Blossom replied with a hopeful smile. “The town is fine, and we know Sage was there. We just have to track him down and get him some help, right?”

“I don’t think it’s quite that simple, Mint,” Nyx said with a huff.

Watching carefully for clues as they continued down the path, Nyx became increasingly frustrated. There wasn’t so much as an alligator or even a hint of trouble to explain why the doctor was so upset when he had arrived in town.

“This can’t be a coincidence,” Rumble said, breaking the silence once more. “The zebra leg we found, plus Sage’s… whatever that was.”

“What are you suggesting?” Flitter asked. “You think he ran into the zebra who owned that leg? And that’s why he freaked out?”

“Could have been self-defense. A doctor has some pretty sharp tools, right? He could have—”

“No way,” Daisy interrupted. “You think he actually fought that zebra and hacked off its leg? Not a chance he could defeat a zebra soldier. And besides, they don’t work alone. He’d never have escaped. Sorry.”

Rumble nodded. “I guess you’re right. But if the doc didn’t do it, that only means we have bigger problems than our missing pony.”

Nyx abruptly stopped walking at Rumble’s statement. Her head drooped down as she released a shuddering breath.

“Nyx? Nyx, babe, what’s wrong?” Rumble asked as he came to a stop alongside her.

A void was building inside of Nyx, making her chest tighten and breathing difficult. “Lemondrop and Willow,” she managed to say. “What do we tell them? They’re already afraid he may have run into trouble, but this is much worse. We don’t even know if Sage is still alive! And if he is, we have no idea what’s wrong with him or if he will recover. What do we tell his family? We have to tell them something.”

Rumble held her close with a wing over her back. His touch had a grounding effect, helping defuse the knot of worry that Nyx had built, which was so much like her mother’s when under stress. “I don’t know. We’ll think of something. For now, let’s just finish looking for clues. We’ll decide what to do when we get back to town.”

Rumble knew it was a small comfort for her to be with him as they sat and rested for a moment, watching the river flow gently by where the trail followed along, very close to the water’s edge. Here, its course gently curved left as the path continued straight for some distance. Rumble looked at his mate with concern as he felt her stiffen against him. Her eyes still held remnants of her recent worries, but now they were fixed intently on the edge of the riverbank far from where the path split.

“I see something,” Nyx said, her words prompting the others to gather around her. “There’s something colorful lying on the sand along the river’s edge upstream.”

Rumble stood and stepped onto the sandy soil of the riverbank, squinting toward where Nyx had indicated. “Hmm… You’re right. I see it too. Something red and yellow.”

Nyx’s gaze was fixed on the thin, sandy beach that stretched along for some distance before veering off to the right, out of sight behind the trees. She stood abruptly and took a step forward. “It’s moving. I’m gonna check it out.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea, Nyx? It could be a trap.” It was Daisy. Her voice was just edgy enough for Rumble to notice that she wasn’t quite herself. In this moment, however, Rumble was in agreement with her. Something felt a bit off about the idea of going in there, and he couldn’t quite put his hoof on what it was.

Nyx went in anyway without so much as a glance over her shoulder. Everypony followed behind her, and Daisy trotted to catch up alongside.

“There’s hoofprints as well,” Daisy pointed out. “Mint, what’s up ahead? We need to know what are we dealing with.”

Mint Blossom shook her head. “There’s nothing in this area that should draw a pony off the path—just sand, mud and gators for miles.”

Proceeding cautiously, six sets of hooves walked along the edge of the river, the sand muting their steps. As they made their way forward, the continuous hum of life in the bayou began to fade into a strange silence with only the rustle of trees to break it. No wildlife could be seen; even the birds and insects were absent. The oddly sterile environment sent shivers up Rumble’s spine.

Nyx stopped in front of the object which had caught her attention. A thin leather strap was resting in the sand, its two attached feathers flopping back and forth in the breeze.

Daisy stepped forward and knelt down in the sand, bringing her muzzle down close to inspect the object. “Hmm, obviously zebra. I think this is a lieutenant’s headband. Or the zebra equivalent of a lieutenant, anyway—one red and one gold feather.”

“Why is there blood on it?” Flitter asked after taking a closer look.

“I’m not sure,” Daisy replied. “Why was there a zebra leg in the river further downstream? This has to be from the zebras that the pegasus spotted a few days ago. We need to search this area for anything else out of the ordinary.

Daisy, Windy, and Mint began searching in the undergrowth next to the sandy strip as Nyx, Rumble, and Flitter walked slowly upstream.

Flitter made a scrunchy face. “Do you guys smell that?”

Rumble sniffed a few times and blanched at the faint, foul smell. “Eww. Nasty,” he agreed. “What died?”

About fifty meters ahead, the river made a sharp curve to the right with the sandy riverbank disappearing around the bend behind the treeline. The further they walked, the more the air began to take on an oppressive, intimidating feel. Rumble felt the hackles along his spine raise up as his heart rate quickened. Though there wasn’t even a sound coming from the forest, he could have sworn that he was being watched. It was this vague—

An object appeared out of nowhere, right beside him in his peripheral vision, nearly brushing up against him. His wings quickly extended as he fought the urge to fly off. By the time he recognized that it was just Daisy, the surge of adrenaline had already pushed his flight reflex over the edge.

“Thanks for that,” Daisy deadpanned as she brushed a facefull of grey feathers aside. Rumble composed himself as Daisy motioned for everypony to stop and gather around her, though it turned out they had already herded themselves into a clump anyway.

“Okay, there’s something really strange going on up ahead. Do you all feel it too?” Daisy asked, ears swiveling for clues. There were nods all around.

Rumble felt legitimately frightened, but he couldn’t figure out what it was that he was afraid of. What was going on? He glanced at Nyx and saw her walk to the front ahead of the others, putting herself between them and whatever was up ahead. Her head was held high, and her wings were unfurled. Her eyes locked unwavering onto the edge of the river up ahead, and her nostrils flared as if she were staring down a dragon.

Windy was shaking, her eyes darting around in search of hidden threats. “This is bad. Can we go back to the trail?”

“I’m going to take a look around that bend,” Nyx said, her voice steeled with conviction. “It’s safer for me. If I run into something really dangerous, I can shield up or fly out.”

Daisy spared a nervous glance up the river once more before regarding Nyx for a moment. “Okay, I’ll trust your call on this one. You go on ahead—everypony else, stay put. Be careful, Nyx.”

Rumble reached toward Nyx in protest but then saw the familiar look in her eye which warned him that this was not an argument he would win. Resting his hoof back onto the ground, he resigned himself to staying behind.

He watched as Nyx walked cautiously down the riverbank. His nebulous fear started to swirl around thoughts of never seeing her again. Reaching the bend, her horn sparked to life as she disappeared behind the trees.

Windy started pacing, “I don’t like this. I don’t like it at all.”

“She’ll be fine,” Rumble said, more to convince himself than Windy. “She’s tougher than the rest of us put together and then some.”

Everypony kept their eyes fixed on the bend up ahead as they waited for Nyx.

It was less than thirty seconds later when she stepped back into view. Something wasn’t right. Her wings were dragging on the ground, her steps irregular. She stumbled, head pitching down toward her hooves as she vomited all over the sand.