They had set out just before dawn. Twilight didn't mind the mud under her hooves, or cold light rain. It was how slow they were moving along the old roads. The river had overflowed its banks making the main road impassable. To her luck, the old highroads were clear and passable. However, in areas, the mud gave way to slippery rocks; which made the going treacherous.

Golden and Battlesong needed to hug the walls in a few areas where the path narrow. One wrong step would send they falling into the rocks below, and Twilight doubted she would be able to lift Golden if he slipped. Even Battlesong would be a challenge.

Twilight was never more thankful for her wings as she watched her companions, slowly make their way to the other side. As she waited, her mind wandered to last three days. How she had come to hate that inn, and each of the three days they waited for the storm. On the first night two drunken stallions had tried to woo her, as she sat eating. On the next day a few tried to peek under her tail as she walked, and on the last day one had tried to kiss her. The thing that had made it all the worse was the lack of books.

Had Twilight had a few good books, she could have hidden in her room and waited. Sadly the only library in the town was owned by the local lord, who was noted to be just as bad as the drunks when it came to mares. If the stories of that lord were true, he had many bastards around the town.

On the fourth day, when the rain had turned into a light mist, Twilight convinced Battlesong and Golden to set out. Golden had wanted to wait longer, saying something about the rain would stop in a few more days, and that he was won a winning streak. All of which Twilight didn't care about, and just wanted to get a move on in hopes of getting home all the sooner.

Twilight had taken note of how Battlesong seemed to watch her with suspicion. It could have been just her imagination, but she couldn't be sure. Still, he was helping her, and she had no reason to think he meant ill, as he had saved her from that mob.

It was midday before they stopped to rest at an old town, long reclaimed by the forest. The walls where little more than mounds of dirt and grass. Nearly all the buildings had collapsed leaving rubble and rotten wood. The only things still standing were the inn and the keep; both of which were stone.

The group stopped in the inn, most the roof had rotted away but it gave shelter. Golden set to work finding wood for the hearth, and Battlesong pulling out a bit food. "Here lass," he said offer Twilight a bit of bread.

"So how long till we reach the next town?" Twilight asked.

Battlesong looked in thought for a moment as he chewed, "two days if the weather holds, three or four if we're unlucky."

Twilight looked around the building wondering why the town had been abandoned. Could have been a plague of some kind, or could have been attacked or maybe a famine. She looked at Battlesong, "So what happened here anyway?"

"King's Wood suffer during the Grey war, famine, sickness and most of her able-bodied stallions want off to war." Battlesong laughed a bit, "Or could give the mare's tale of the beast that prow the woods at night stealing away foals, then mares after it killed the stallions."

"And what did it do with the mares and foals?" Twilight asked knowing there could be a truth in old tales.

"The foals it ate, the mares some say shared the same fate, others that beast kept them alive for other means." Battlesong watched as Golden built the fire before turning back to Twilight. "Some say the beast still hunts those woods, taking mares that wander in or steal them from towns too near the forest."

Oh, and Nightmare Moon eats foals, and the Castle of Two Sisters is haunted by a pony of shadows. Twilight rolled her eyes a bit. "I'm sure it was the former reason."

Battlesong laughed, "Aye, that more likely the reason, but still a very strange tale. Though there are queer things that happen in those woods. Ponies vanish from time to time never to be seen again."

Twilight rolled her eyes, before glancing toward Golden. "So Golden how did you meet Battlesong anyway?"

"Met years ago on the along the Angel's Road. We both got it in our heads to go after a fellow who was wanted for what was it, theft... or was it sleeping with the daughter of some lord?"

"Theft, though he may have done both."

"Right, well at first we both tried alone to catch this stallion, but he was a slippery fellow. He made off with one coin one time after he got me in my own trap." Golden laughed.

"Aye, and he lead me around in circles for weeks," Battlesong added in.

"How did you get him?" Twilight asked.

"Well..." Both Golden and Battlesong rubbed the back of their head. "After we made our minds up to work together after meeting at an inn one fine day. Afterward, we tracked him down only we kind of let him go."

Twilight tilted her head, "Why?"

"He was stealing to feed his two brothers and sister. So we didn't feel right turning him over to local lord, who would have most likely cut off his hoof, or locked him away for years." Golden got the fire going, "We did tell him to flee to another land and seek honest work, as the next group would have liked just took his head and maybe his siblings to sell into slavery."

"That was kind of you to let him and the reward."

"Aye, but the next fellow we want after was not so lucky. In truth, I wished we could have killed him a few times for all those he killed." Battlesong said recalling something.

"The Watertown butcher left a bad taste in my mouth for weeks. Should have just used my claws." Golden added, "Needless to say we are both bounty hunters, and at times noble wanderers."

Before they could leave the weather turned and the rain started to come down hard. While the old inn had holes in the roof, they could keep dry and warm.

Twilight settled near the fire, as Battlesong started to play a tone. The wood of the inn creaked now and then, and wind would howl like some monster beast that laid unseen all around them. No wonder that ponies think there some monster in those woods, Even knowing it was just a story Twilight couldn't help wondering what the beast could look like. Was it some monstrous wolf-like creature or something from the depths of Tartarus.

The storm lasted through the night. The next morning had an overcast but the sun shone through. The forest seemed darker somehow as they walked along the old roads, even with sunlight. At time Twilight felt as if she was being watched, but every time she glanced around there was nothing. "How long till we are out of this forest?" Twilight asked.

"We walked all day without rest would be early tomorrow," Battlesong replied. "What worried about an old mare's tale?"

"What, no. Just was wondering how long till we back on the main roads." Twilight replied.

Battlesong laughed, "Just messing with you lass. and we'll be back on the main road in the town of Rocktree. Till then get used to mud and those blasted woods. Be glad we're not taking the path that leads through the heart of this place. Though it would cut a day or two off our journey."

As much as Twilight wanted to get home, she didn't want to go deeper into this then she had too. The day seemed to stretch on for hours as they walked along the old road. In places, they needed to cut through some overgrowth, and go around fallen trees.

Twilight took note of how some trees had long claw marks on the sides. Doubtless, it was made by a bear but her mind wandered to the tale of the monster every time she saw something like that. Ahh, why do I keep thinking of that thing?

The road came to an old wooden bridge that seemed ready to give out at any time. Twilight knew she could have easily flown over, but that would leave Battlesong and Golden to go around, which seemed like it could take some time. As the bridge went over a fast moving high fast river. "Could use the north bridge but that would take another few hours, and it could be in worse shape," Battlesong said as he put a little weight. The wood held but Twilight could hear it creak and groan as Battlesong tested.

"I vote we risk the north bridge, as I recall that one made of stone." Golden tapped the wood with his paw.

The thought of going deeper into this forest made Twilight feel uneasy, but she didn't want to force either of complains to cross something that could give way and drop them into the river below. "Is there any other way?" Twilight asked.

"Aye, but we would to backtrack and lose three days, and that way may well be impassable." Battlesong sighed.

I could try using my magic to hold it together, but it would be a challenge and if the bridge gives way I will not be able to help either of them. Twilight glanced back to down the road. She had seen the side path that leads north. It was heavily overgrown and was a place a ghost story would be set. "Then let see about this north bridge."

Author's Note

This chapter proved to be easy to write, so thought I post it early.

Thinking of changing the cover art, but not sure.