Its ears twitched as the last of the ponies had finally fallen into a deep slumber– the sound of sobbing stopping.

It began to stalk through the farmhouse, no sound echoing from its clawed paws as it walked the halls, peeking into each room and watching the sleeping forms for a moment before it crept closer, lifting itself on its hindlegs and over each of the sleepers ere it wandered to the next. Holding its head at an angle it glanced down – and in their minds – sniffed out their desires, their fears, their wishes.

Then finally, it came upon the sole empty bed. A bed cold to the touch, yet for the creature the bed still felt warm, smelling of love and caring.

A fluent jump into the abandoned sheets where it rolled itself in. For this night it would still rest.

–-

The next night it stalked through the town again, listening to the whispers of the village, a scent in its nose beckoning it. The terror of the villagers thrummed in the back of its mind – a group of Pegasi had arrived during the day, demanding food and shelter. Suddenly, pain arced through its head, accompanied by the nearby cry of a mare. There! The barn next to the tavern. Inside, the creature saw one of the intruders, bowed imposingly over the mare, his wings flared. Slowly the creature crept closer, unseen by the distracted Pegasus. Even its breath in his neck did not disturb the warrior in his deed.

Then its fangs sunk into the unarmoured flesh, pulling the Pegasus off the crying mare and throwing him across the barn. The crack of his wing accompanied him hitting the wall. Groaning he sunk to the floor, yet the creature was already upon him, looming over his form and its fangs came closer and closer. All while the mare watched on while tears matted the fur of her cheeks.

On its way to the rest of the intruders, their scent burning annoyingly in its nostrils, its eyes met the blue ones of the sobbing mare, who was still lying on the floor. Panic filled those azure pools when it came closer. It could smell that she was sure, that she would be next, and her silent screaming pleaded for her life in its mind. Slowly it then stepped over her, its sinuous tail softly caressing her features. Yet this made her only whimper more – as did the red liquid dripping from its maw.

Unseen it slunk through the inn the Pegasi had occupied, their scent leading it to their rooms.

Like the creature had done to its family it entered their rooms and bowed over them. Their dreams and wishes, however, did not matter, nor, in some of the rooms, the other occupants – some sobbing like the mare in the barn, some sleeping peacefully.

And each time its fangs drank deep.

When morning came, their places were left empty.

Author's Note

to be continued ... maybe next Halloween ... or maybe sooner ...