Comis Animus
by
Comis Animus
The moon glowed softly in the calm cloudless night sky surrounded by dozens upon dozens of stars. Its brilliant light quietly illuminating and beautifying all it touched. Everything from the tiniest blades of grass to the windows of buildings to the statues that would represent one thing or another in towns and cities was given a calm radiance that simply didn’t reveal itself during the daytime in the light of the sun. Everything in Equestria was touched by Luna’s gentle, motherly light. Even Everfree Forest was strangely silent this night.
But that was simply because that which dwelled in Everfree during the night knew the value of silence. Both for the great act of hunting and for the much more simple and basic act of survival.
It was here that a certain creature was softly and quickly darting through its surroundings. Through bushes and tree roots it danced and twisted careful to not make a sound. It stopped for a moment, its paws resting on the large root of tree. The muscles in its body were tense and ready to leap away at a moments notice as it turned its monkey-like head to listen for a moment as it rested a hairy hand on the trunk of the tree. Its long, dexterous tail swished for a moment before it nodded to itself seemingly satisfied that it was safe for the moment and continued onward on its four limbs, its canine legs leaving almost no trace in the dirt it sped across.
A minute more and it reached its destination: a little clearing where a small thicket of bushes were present. Little round, green berries with tiny maroon colored seeds covering them grew on the ends of the branches of the bushes. The shug monkey gave a little, happy yip as it approached its private little food source. It picked a few berries off of the branches and popped them into its mouth, happily chewing the berries as a faint sugary taste filled its mouth and a subtle scent of something sweet like honey touched its nostrils.
It sighed contently as it continued to eat, popping berry after berry into its mouth as quietly ate stopping every once and a while to double check that it was safe and free from any threat of timber wolves, manticores, or ursas even as unlikely as that last one could be. Ursa minors were a little too big to be quiet and ursa majors weren’t even aware of the word ‘subtlety’ when it came down to looking for food instead just trampling over anything that got in their way between them and their next meal.
The shug monkey popped one last berry into its mouth as it turned to leave and checked for danger one last time even climbing up a tree to get a better view. Finding nothing it climbed back down and stood on its hind canine-legs as it reached its hairy arms into the air and stretched. Feeling a few vertebrae popping it lowered its arms and went back to its more comfortable and natural position of being on four limbs.
It leapt into the air towards a nearby tree branch only to feel a rush of air behind it and suddenly find itself wrapped up and trapped beneath a pair of large, bony wings. The shug monkey attempted to screech and struggle against its foe but found itself still as a pair of fangs lightly sunk into its neck and the world dimmed as it felt its blood being drawn out of its veins.
=====
I dropped the odd monkey-dog hybrid creature as pulled my fangs away from its neck. I hadn’t taken enough of its blood to kill it so it would live. Unless something else found it while it was unconscious, that is; at that point it wasn’t any of my business. One of my ears turned as I heard something else wandering through the forest. I was still hungry and the night had only just started, I decided to see if what I was hearing was worth feeding on. I spread my wings and took to the skies, soaring high over the tree tops of the Everfree Forest.
I kept my ears turned toward and where I heard the sound while my eyes scanned the area below and around me. I was prepared to defend myself if another one of the forest’s flying denizens decided I looked tasty. I picked up the same noise I heard before and dove down toward a part of the forest where the trees weren’t as dense as the rest of the forest. I couldn’t help but wonder if whatever I was following had a death wish of some sort, there was no place to quickly hide, it was madness to tread in such sparse part of the forest at night.
I spotted a suitable tree branch as I descended and reached out and wrapped my clawed feet around it ending up upside down. I spotted the source of the noise I had heard before. It was…
A pony.
It was a pegasus to be exact. Yellow with a pink mane and an image of three pink butterflies on its flank and a small white rabbit riding on its back. I could tell from the size and curves that it was a female. Was this mare committing suicide? It was death for a pony to come into the forest at anytime of either day or night. My eyes locked onto this mare as she made her way down small, rough dirt path.
“Wasn’t that evening tea with Zecora wondrous, Angel Bunny?” the mare spoke to the rabbit across her back.
The tiny creature made a ‘hmph!’ sound and turned away, clearly annoyed.
“Oh, Angel, don’t be like that!” the mare tried to reason with the little fluffy creature, “I saw you enjoying the carrots Zecora gave you!”
I raised a brow at the exchange. I had no idea who this ‘Zecora’ was or why they would give a pony the time of day if they lived here in the forest. Most things would rather eat the mare and the little rabbit. I wasn’t about to do anything to them, of course. I wasn’t stupid enough to risk triggering the ire of the ponies’ godlike rulers.
As I continued to watch the pony walk along the path she failed to notice a rock jutting out of the path. She tripped over it and landed with a ‘thud’ followed immediately with an ‘Ow!’. The scent of blood immediately filled my nostrils and I barely kept myself from rushing forward and and draining the mare of her precious life blood. I shook my head of the thought of drinking her blood and shook my head even harder as the thought of doing what I heard of in the old stories came to me. I wasn’t like that, not anymore.
I turned back to the pegasus who was now sitting down and holding her right front leg and looking at her scrapped fetlock.
“Oh, I’m so clumsy.” I could barely hear the mare whisper as the rabbit looked at her wound with a small bit of worry, “I should’ve been more careful.”
The pegasus sighed. Her head suddenly snapped up and fearful cyan eyes darted around as if realizing where she was for the first time. Her eyes trailed down to her wounded fetlock and she swallowed hard. She stiffly got to her hooves trying not to put any weight on her injured leg. She didn’t even get one step before a slimy voice came from the other side of the forest.
“Awww, poor little pony.” the slick voice chuckled, “Hurt her leg and isss having trouble walking now. Poor, poor pony.”
The owner of the voice slinked out the brush with an amused chuckle. The creature had a serpentine body with the upper body of one of the mythical human creatures with a head like a dragon’s. Bronze scales covered its body with a its belly the color of fine gold, lanky arms ended in hands with sharp claws and three crests of rigid, crimson colored spines came from its brow and traveled back along its head and down its back. Yellow eyes glinted menacingly in the moonlight.
A naga.
The pony whimpered at the sight of the creature, trying to shrink itself as it came closer. I could never tell between a male and a female naga having not really seen many in my time, so I settled with not giving it a gender.
“Poor, ssstupid pony.” the naga grinned showing off its sharp teeth, “You ssshould know better than to come into the foressst at night!”
The mare was frozen stiff as the naga drew ever closer.
“Ah, but if you weren’t here then I wouldn’t be getting sssuch a deliccciousss meal!” the naga laughed.
The snake monster wrapped a hand around the pony’s throat and lifted her up off the ground and drew her closer to its mouth. I didn’t know what I was doing there still. The pony was as good as dead now.
The pony mumbled something. I turned my ears to try and hear better as the naga did the same thing as it turned its head. This was nature just taking its course, I told myself. I had no more business here. If the naga wanted to risk angering gods then that wasn’t my problem.
“Hmmm? What wasss that, dear?”
The pony mumbled something again. Why wasn’t I moving to leave yet?
A cruel smile etched itself onto the naga’s lips, “What? Ssspeak up!”
A third mumble. Why hadn’t I left? Why?
“One more time, sssweetie!”
What could’ve possible possessed me to remain here? Just what--?
“SOMEPONY HELP ME!!!”
For a fraction of a second the pegasus lost her wings and her yellow coat turned tan as her mane and tale became short and wavy and turned to the color of sand and her mark shifted to the image of a rose made of mist rising from a small bottle.
Something in me just... snapped.
I let loose a shriek as I let go of my tree branch and spread my wings and dove at the naga. It whirled at the sound, its eyes were wide as it lifted its free arm in a meek defense. I righted myself and dug my claws around its slender arm and continued onward, dragging the wretch across the ground as I recognized the sound of something hitting the ground. Knowing that the pony was out of harm’s way I flapped my wings and took the naga with me into the air.
I was suddenly jerked back and turned my head to see that the naga managed to wrap its tail around a large tree branch and dug its claws into the tree trunk. It hissed at me.
“That prey wasss mine!” the naga snarled at me, “Sssinccce you took my meal I’ll have to sssettle for eating you, you flying rodent!”
The naga pulled its held arm back and threw me off. I twisted in mid-air and latched onto my own tree branch ending rightsideup this time. A few stands of my dirty blond hair falling in front of blue eyes. I pulled back my gums to let my fangs shine in the moonlight.
I glared at the snake across from me, “You will not hurt that pony, beast!”
“I’m the beassst?” the naga exclaimed, “At least I was going to give the pony a quick death! A quick twist of her neck and that would be it before I ate her!”
The reptile reached for a smaller branch above it and broke it off with a single pull. He swung its newly acquired weapon a few times before pointing it at me.
“I’ve heard the old tales of your former empire! I’ve heard about what your kind did!” the naga coiled in on itself as I grit my teeth in anger, “Don’t call me a beassst or a monssster when that’s what you are!”
“At least I wouldn’t have kept the pony as an enslaved source of food!” the naga roared.
Doing what our ancestors did would helps us survive better wouldn’t it? We could rebuild the empire our kind used to have centuries ago!
The naga sprung forward as I let myself fall backward and let the naga and its attack fly over me only to have it wrap its tail around my foot and making me be the one getting dragged along this time. The naga gripped onto another tree branch and used its tail to slam me into the trunk. It swung me around and slammed me into the other side of the trunk. I held my tongue as my face and the back of my head stung with pain. I wouldn’t let this monster have the satisfaction of knowing it was hurting me.
It swung its tail again and released me letting me fly through the air. I spread my wings and righted myself and flew around the tree the naga had perched itself on.
“I know what my ancestors did!” I called out as I circled the snake, “And believe me when I say that I’m even more disgusted than you!”
No! Little brother, no! They were hunted down for a reason!
“Liesss!” the naga hissed, “You live close to whole town of ponies! How many do you have enslaved?!”
“None!”
Big brother, we’re starving! We all are! Can’t you understand that we need to survive and this is the only way?!
“Ssstop lying!” the naga hissed again as it broke off another tree branch and threw it at me like a javelin. I twisted out of the way and dove for the naga again. This time I crashed into it head-first. I felt its claws reach around and dig into my back. I roared as swung my head and body upward in one motion and threw the naga away. It dug its clawed hand into the side of another large tree as gravity dragged it down, leaving long gashes in the side of the tree.
“I’m going to kill you.” the naga growled at me as I landed myself on a tree branch, “Then I’m going to kill that pony if ssshe’sss ssstill where we left her and then…”
“Then…” the naga glared at my with its burning yellow eyes, “Then I’m going to find your ssslavesss and kill them ssso they can be free from your kind forever!”
It’s wrong, my little shadow! It would draw the hunters! Then where would we be?
“How many times am I going to have to tell you?” I took a deep breath, “I don’t have any slaves!”
We can fight them off if we feast on the this pony for long enough! Then we can add the hunters to our new Blood Herd! We can rebuild everything that our ancestors lost!
“And I sssaid to ssstop lying!” the naga darted up the tree and coiled itself on a branch that rested above me and leapt at me letting gravity add to its momentum as it gripped its wooden weapon with both hands above its head and roared as it fell, its mouth opening far wider than it looked like it should.
What has gotten into you?! Are you that hungry that you can’t even think straight?!
I tensed as the snake drew closer to me. Closer... Closer…
It’s what we have to do, big brother! We don’t have any other choice! Wait, w-why are you looking at me like that? B-Big brother, what’s wrong? S-stop looking so sad!
As it swung down I snapped my wings out and forced its arms apart and immediately wrapped my wings around the naga and held it close to. It screamed in either anger, defiance, or fear, I wasn’t sure. But, it didn’t matter. We both knew what was going to happen next.
I’m so, so sorry, little brother… I had to. I’m sorry you had to watch me do that… What’s your name, pony?
I pulled back my gums, revealed my sharp fangs and opened my mouth.
My name is Rose Scent.
The moment before I sunk my fangs into its scaly neck I realized I hadn’t actually purposefully killed something in years.
=====
I didn’t know how long I was there, just laying on the ground as Angel Bunny continued to shake me trying to get me to stand up. Trying to get me away from the place that that snake creature had come from and from whatever had taken it away. I took a shaky breath and slowly stood up, my sweet Angel squealed in delight and bounced around in front of me and pointed to the exit of Everfree Forest. Right, needed to get out. I was hurt and inside Everfree. That was a death sentence.
I heard something land behind me and the moonlight cast a shadow over me and Angel Bunny. My sweet little bunny had frozen stiff and his ears had drooped to the side of his head as his eyes went wider than I thought his little head could manage. I dared to look behind me. I turned and looked up to see a pair of blue eyes staring back at me.
‘I’m going to die!’ I thought in a panic for the second time that night, ‘I’m going to die!’
The thing looking at me said something.
“W-What…?” I managed to whisper.
“Are you alright? Did that naga manage to hurt you?” the creature asked.
I swallowed, my voice was even tinier than usual, “N-No…”
The creature sighed, “Thank goodness.”
Was this creature… worried about me?
“What is your name, little pony?” the creature asked me.
“F-Fluttershy.” I managed to get my voice up to an ‘OK’ volume. The fear I had before was beginning to leave me.
“My name is Comis. Comis Animus.” the creature introduced itself. It stepped to the side and I got to see it properly. It was a bat. A bat with grey fur and blue-grey eyes and a mane of dirty blond hair combed to one side, though slightly messy.
“Um, Mister Animus?” I asked staring up at him. He looked like he was about as tall as Princess Celestia!
“Comis is fine, Fluttershy.”
“O-OK, Comis.” I said, “Did you… did you save me?”
Comis nodded, “I did. I was partially worried that something else might have found you while I was dealing with the naga.”
“Is that what that snake creature is called?” I wondered aloud, “Anyway, um, thank you!”
“Don’t worry about it.” Comis shook his head, “Do you need help getting home?”
I looked down at my injured leg and then back up at Comis.
“That’d be nice,” I said as I felt Angel Bunny hop onto my back.
“Then we best leave quickly before something else smells your blood and comes looking for an easy dinner.” Comis turned and started down the path. I followed after him.
“So what were you doing out here so late at night?” Comis asked, “You weren’t looking to die, right?”
“Oh, heavens no!” I exclaimed, “I was just coming back from an evening tea visit with my friend Zecora!”
“This ‘Zecora’ lives here in Everfree?”
“Yes!” I smiled, “She’s a zebra that lives out here in the forest, but not too deep in, thankfully.”
“A zebra?” Comis tilted his head, “Well, I know zebras tend know all sorts things from the time of the Old Ways, I can believe that a zebra might be able to survive in here as long as they had the right supplies.”
“Oh my, yes, Zecora knows all sorts of potions and remedies.” I winced as accidently put a little too much pressure on injured leg, “And my friend, Twilight, says it seems like Zecora has her own kind of magic, too.”
Comis shrugged. At least I think he shrugged.
“Like I said, zebras know much of the Old Ways.”
I wasn’t too sure what the ‘Old Ways’ were but it seemed that Zecora did. Maybe I’d ask her about it next time I saw her?
My thoughts drifted over to Comis as a pause happened in us talking. I’d never seen a bat as large as him or as intelligent. Not that the bats I took care of at my cottage were dumb, not at all. But I’ve never seen one with the same level of intelligence as a pony. Was he unique? Or were there others like him? Were his kind naturally intelligent or were they possibly made by some mad scientist?
“Well, that was faster than I thought.” I was pulled from my thoughts as Comis spoke up. We at the entrance of the forest.
I looked up at him, “Thank you for walking me out, Comis.”
“You’re welcome.” he said taking a step back.
“Could you do me a small favor, Fluttershy?” Comis asked.
“Oh, of course!” I said smiling at him, “You did save me after all!”
I saw his lips turn into a smile, “Could you please not tell anyone about me?”
“Huh?”
“Don’t tell anyone about me.” Comis took another step back, “I… I don’t want anyone to know I’m here. There are some that might come looking for me.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, “Why would you be worried about somepony looking for you?”
“Because they might try to kill me.”
I gasped, “W-What?! How-Why would anypony want to kill you?!”
“It’s a simple reason actually.” Coms took another step back and spread his wings, ready to take off, “It’s because I’m vampire bat that’s still breathing.”
I gasped again as he took to the sky. He circled overhead for a few moments before he turned and left back into the depths of Everfree. I turned and hurried home. His words echoing in my mind.
Why would anypony want to kill somepony so good and kind for simply existing?
Author's Note
I've had this little story idea in my head about my OC for a little while now and finally brought it to light. I hope you all enjoyed it and let me know what you think I did well and what you think I could improve on.
Oh, and the shug monkey is an actual mythological creature, I didn't just make it up.
