Guardian of the Everfree

In the open clearings that some would call the paths through the Everfree forest, a traveler is usually dead meat. On the Ponyville side it isn't as bad, but this part is a different story entirely. Countless beasts, some without names, stalked among the trees, searching for their next meal, at all hours of day and night. From my vantage point, I could see one, gazing through the bushes. A lone timber wolf, a little larger than most that I'd seen, was ready to leap over the bushes and snatch the poor pony. I'd make too much noise if I made the first move, though, so instead I prepared my own ambush.

The wolf sprung from its cover, and I dove down to meet it as its large mouth opened. I could hear the traveler scream while I accidentally drove my front hoof info its mouth. What was once an intimidating bark turned into confused choking sounds. I fell on top of it, pinning it to the ground on its back. The timber wolf desperately bit down on my foreleg, but I ignored the pain and punched its throat until it stopped.

The timber wolf forced itself out of my grip and fled, whining in agony. With the wolf taken care of, I turned to the pony. "Are you okay, miss?" I asked quietly.

"Yes, thanks to you! How can I ever repay you?" She exclaimed.

"Don't worry about that. I just want to know what you're doing in the Everfree forest alone."

"I was trying to get to Brave. I have a friend there, and she's suddenly stopped replying to my letters. Do you know where that is?"

"Of course," I said.

When we arrived, the sun was setting over the gentle hills that overlooked the small village of Brave. My escortee quickly found the friend she'd been looking for at the communal bonfire. I took a seat a few spots away from them next to my mother.

"It's great to see you again, Arva," she said, pulling me against her side with her wing.

"You too, mom," I replied. "How's the village been?"

"We're doing well enough, other than the mailmare, but I want to hear about you, dear!" Her smile was warm despite showing the first signs of age.

"I'm doing good, too, don't worry about me."

"Are you sure? I know you can handle yourself out there, but you're looking a little thin." I could never tell whether or not she was joking when she said that.

By the time our dinner was ready, the sun had disappeared, only hints of its light remaining in the sky. The dinner bell rang, and my stomach instinctively rumbled. The elders, of course, got the first bowls of soup, then the pot went around the bonfire in a circle so that the guard ponies would get meals second.

The village chatted the night away over their thick soup. My father used to ask why I wouldn't join in, but he stopped bringing it up a while ago when I started making small comments here and there. "Never forget you're still one of us, even if you live in that forest," he'd tell me, and I always said that I knew.

I finished my meal quickly, knowing that night was the most dangerous time for the forest. Before I left, I said goodbye to my parents, waved to the guard ponies, and took a bundle of food from the farm house. Ever since I became guardian of the Everfree, the arrangement was that I would s in the forest for a few weeks, stay for a night's dinner, and take a prepared package of fruits and vegetables to my home in the forest.

The cave I called home wasn't much, lacking basic things like running water and magical lighting, but it was still the safest place in the Everfree forest. I'd found it a few weeks after I got my cutie mark, and moved into it the following week after being named guardian of the Everfree. I'd traded for some everlasting torches a few years after that, but they were very rarely lit. Most of my time was spent outside of the cave, either because I was doing my duties, exploring, or being completely lost, though I'm very rarely lost in the woods now.

The night was peaceful enough, nopony tried to get through and no fights broke out amongst the animals. I liked to break those up because it made the beasts more cautious about starting fights with ponies. I had no way of knowing for sure, but the looks on their faces suggested that they knew who I was whenever we would meet.

While on watch, I suddenly remembered that tomorrow was supposed to be the day to meet the mailmare. She was the only real link between Brave and Equestria, and I'd escort her through the Everfree forest once a week as part of my duties. I liked to wait at our meeting point and meet her there, so off I went.

The mailmare wasn't there when I came, she wasn't there that night, and she didn't show up at any time from dawn to dusk. This was the fifth time she hadn't appeared, and last time I'd seen her, she was having trouble walking. I was worried about her health, but my job kept me in the forest. Without anything else to do, I returned to my home for much-needed rest.

The mailmare wasn't there when I came, she wasn't there that night, and she didn't show up at any time from dawn to dusk. This was the fifth time she hadn't appeared, and last time I'd seen her, she was having trouble walking. I was worried about her health, but my job kept me in the forest. Without anything else to do, I returned to my home for much-needed rest.