They had been following the trail for some time now, and they knew they were getting close. It had been a few days hunting these damn things, and it was really starting to become a real thorn in her side. But orders were orders, and if it was for the betterment and ensured safety of her fellow ponies, and the town, then, well, she could go on forever if need be. She readjusted the arm on her back, and flipped the cap up out of the way of her eyes, as it was a bit big on her, to give her better visibility. Not that there was much to see at the moment. After all, the Everfree was not known for its visual charm.

It had been the same thing going on for miles and miles. Getting lost in here would be real hell, and for a lesser pony, just by being here would have them struggling to hold on to their sanity. But not them. They marched on through the foliage, following the tracks in the mud. They had a mission, and she'd give up her wings before she killed her streak.

The platoon eventually came across a clearing, there was a pungent smell in the air, and a few small carcasses laid about.

"Welp, colts and fillies, looks like we found their nest." She said, her platoon-mates nodded.

They slowly moved into the clearing, ready for anything that would see to pop out and surprise them. Nothing did. The moon was still high in the sky, they still had time.

"Seems they've gone out on a hunt." One of her troopers said.

"And in multiple directions." Another one pointed out that there were, in fact, multiple trails branching off in different directions. She knew this pack was tricky, they seemed to have caught on to the presence of their hunters, and it didn't help that they were smart as hell. These had even gone as far as to cover their trials at some points, sifting them into the dirt; but they always found them again, and the hunt continued.

"Well, looks like we'll either have to choose one or sit here and wait." She said.

"I don't think that would be a great idea, ma'am." One of her support troopers stated. The others nodding their agreement.

She nodded, "Yeah, I suppose not. Alright troops! Let's dig in, hopefully, the bastards will come back just in time for us to show em' what happens when you mess with The First!"

Her troops saluted and began finding positions best suited for them to wait out until the pack's return. It had proved to be getting quite chilly during the night now, even back in town, where the weather was controlled and regulated, the temperature had started dropping slowly, but steadily. Not many of her ponies had a problem with the cooler temperatures, mainly her brawny earth pony troopers; but she, with her light frame, found the chill nipping at her wings. So she tightened the uniform around her, and, pulling off her bags, threw out her standard coat, wrapping the thick wool coat around her frame.

She sighed as she laid against the trees, the coat breaking the wind and chill she had. Not to mention she always thought it looked good on her, the grey a good contrast to her mane and fur.

"You going to be okay there Major?"

She turned to find her Sergeant there, settling his rifle between the branches of two trees, the sight flipped up and aimed.

"As good as I'm going to get Bristle."

He nodded, not taking his eyes off the sight.

There was silence for a long time. She had zoned out as she fell into her routine scout mode, watching the trees all around them for anything. Wolf or not. This forest had tons of weirder, and more dangerous, creatures her platoon had to be on the lookout for as well.

The sudden echo of a gunshot off to her right broke her trance—another came, and another. They could not have been more than a few miles off.

"What in Tartarus is that?" Sergeant Bristle asked, "Doesn't sound like any gun I've heard before."

There were multiple shots going off now, all from different sources. It was like someone was having a firefight.

"Who the heck would be out here right now? And with that many guns?"

She shook her head, "I have no clue. But it can't be anything good." She stood up, shaking her great coat free of leaves and loose dirt. "Platoon! On me!" They all filed out into the clearing again.

"Orders Major?" A trooper stood towards her.

She listened to the gunfire a few seconds longer until it ceased. "Come on, we're going to see who's out in the forest at this time, and why the hell they have so many guns." She slung her rifle over her barrel, securing it to her back.

Her platoon shared salutes and followed up behind her as they marched towards forwards through the thicket. Then there was suddenly a bright glow in the distance, a brightness that suddenly pierced the darkness of the forest. Her eyes widened, and she broke out into a full-blown gallop. "Double time ponies!" She wished she could fly, but all the damn branched would ensure her meeting wood and earth no matter how good she was at flying.

They followed the light, a plume of black smoke rising above the trees in the distance confirmed her worries.

The large wolf threw its body into Lee, slashing at him with its claws and snapping with its jaw. He fell onto his back, the wind knocked out of him as the wolf pressed its forelegs into his chest, the knife-like claws sinking in, and put all it's weight forwards in hopes of breaking his rib cage. He kicked at, what seemed to be, the wolf's stomach and abdomen, hoping to throw it off, but to no avail. He grit his teeth at the immense pressure on his chest. It brought its head down to look at him, its face twisted by the structure of the twigs and leaves that made it up, and its breath rank of rot. Time seemed to slow for him as he lay there, hypnotized by the eyes staring back at him; why it had not ripped out his throat yet he didn't know. Perhaps it was toying with him, letting him feel that he had been bested by a wild animal. He was pretty sure that if animals could gloat, this one would be doing it right in his face as it prepared to crush his chest and stab his heart. It hurt from the amount of adrenaline it was pumping.

He wasn't going to have it, no. He reached for his knife. Just as he felt the thing get ready to end it, he plunged the blade into the side of the things head. There was a sudden crack, and the wolf's head exploded into a mess of wood and sap. The body fell lifelessly atop him, trapping him under its sheer mass. He grunted as it did, his hand still holding onto the knife as it stuck into the remains of the alpha's head.

"Lee!" He heard over the now noticeable hail of gunfire sounding off. The rest of the platoon finally seemed to have gotten their acts together and were currently lighting up the forest, which was infested with Timberwolves.

His hand went limp on its grip, lost as the pain overran his brain as the adrenaline wore off. There was a familiar warmness pooling below him. He felt colder, his vision blurry. Davis fell next to him, Herrera and the Lieutenant falling close behind, rolling the body off him. They winced when they saw the condition of their comrade.

"Fix him up as best you can, we'll give you cover," Castillo said to Herrera, who nodded, before moving on to get the men in order.

"Don't talk, try to breathe steady," Herrera ordered, moving to work on his multiple wounds.

There was silence between the three of them, killed only by the resounding gunfire accompanies with the whines and howls of the wolves that had seen them as supper. Oh, how they proved them wrong.

Lee looked on to see that Wilson had restarted the fire, basking the area in a much-needed light, and Brown was holding a rather large, burning branch in his hand, his B.A.R gripped by its handle in the other, it's barrel smoking.

"Let's burn out the bastards!" He yelled as he chucked the branch into the thicket, catching some of the dry leaves and twigs with it. More followed suit. The few timberwolves still hiding in the brush were burned out, crying and whining as their wooden bodies were set ablaze. Their sap was flammable apparently. Dripping from the holes being burnt into them and catching more of the forest ablaze. Lee couldn't help but grin as he watched the spectacle as time seemed to slow around him once more. The forest burned.

It was an absolutely beautiful sight.

Lee’s vision blurred, his hearing deafened, and his eyelids shut. This was it.

The fire started to die down not long after Lee lost consciousness. An area had been burned out, leaving only the crooked, burnt remains of the trees and the scorched earth behind. They had managed to quickly collect all their kit and equipment and move them closer to the bank of the river before it could all catch, thankfully. But that wasn't the first thing on his mind right now, or on the minds of any of his men for that matter. They were all huddled around Herrera and Davis, of whom were knelt down next to Lee's body.

"We managed to stop the bleeding and set his arm, but he's got a few broken ribs and some internal bleeding from what I can tell. I'm afraid there is nothing I can do for him now." Herrera motioned towards the forest surrounding them. He glanced at Davis, who had been silent for the most part, with a sorrowful look.

"You did what you could Herrera." Castillo said, taking off his helm, his brown hair slick with sweat, "The least we can do is ensure he doesn't die in vain." The others nodded sadly.

Davis finally spoke, "You make it sound like he's already dead."

Castillo shook his head, "Look around you, Corporal. We're lost in God knows where in some damn forest where wood comes alive and kills my men! Lee is dying son, and he'll be dead before sunrise."

Davis rounded on him, looking him in the eyes, "Not if we get him out of here first."

"And just how do you suggest we get out of here before he bleeds out Corporal?"

"We stick to the plan sir, we keep following the river."

"And how will that stop his bleeding?"

Davis said nothing.

She crept up through the brush, the fire she had seen before had seemingly already died down to barely a few flickers, a huge spot burned into the overgrown greenery of the forest. She couldn’t hear her platoon creep up beside her. Good, least they weren't getting sloppy. Silently moving up towards the edge of the thicket, pulling back some branches, she peaked through, mixed feeling swelling in her chest at what she saw.

It was a camp. A line of small green pup tents were pitched by the bank, along with equipment strewn about, seemingly moved in a hurry. A fire pit burned, lighting the immediate area, but her face still enshadowed by the heavy brush, and there was a large pile of timberwolf corpses, those that seemingly hadn't the chance to break apart. She had only seen bullets do so.

But what really racked her mind, was the group of uniformed bipeds that were gathered at the far end of the bank. They were armed, and defiantly human—but she had never seen any humans with uniforms like those before.

Chase crept up to her side, the Lieutenant squinting to see through the darkness, "Are those..."

"Humans. Armed ones, and they don't look like any of ours." She whispered.

"But, how?"

She shook her head. And looked on, intent on watching the strange humans for a bit longer. They seemed to be on high alert, likely from the timberwolves that had attacked them if the pile was anything to go on, and she didn't know if she should smile or scowl as two of them lifted the mangled body of the alpha dog and carelessly tossed it onto the mound.

"Why are they all huddled up?"

"Don't know, they're probably spooked after the wolves attacked."

Chase nodded, "I noticed it too." Eyeballing the mound of wood and sap.

There was a sudden upstart amongst the group, one of the humans standing to face another. She tuned in on some of the dialogue thrown about; they were defiantly military.

She backed away from the brush, falling back towards her platoon, Chase in tow.

Her ponies held about, waiting for her return and their coming orders.

"The pack's dead." She said.

They all looked to her, some with smiles on their faces, "So that's it then?" one asked.

"No," Their smiles fell, "We've got another situation on our hands." She began dropping her bags and unnecessary kit on the ground, and let her wings stretch out and do a few instinctive flaps.

"Situation?" Bristle raised a brow.

She nodded, "Humans. I counted eleven of em', most are armed. And they sure don't look like the others."

Bristles eyes widened, "Humans? But I thought—"

"Apparently not. They're wearing uniforms, weird ones. I couldn't recognize their weapons."

"What are we going to do?"

She placed her cap back on her head, having removed it to brush back her mane of the sweat it had collected, "I want squad's one and two in the brush, be ready for anything. Squad three, up in the clouds, I want eyes on them at all times. I'm going out."

Chase's eyes widened, "Are you nuts?!"

She scowled at the mare behind her, "We have no idea who these people are, or why they're here. We can't attack them outright. If anything, they did us a service by wiping out that damned pack. If they try anything, gun em' down. Simple as that." She marched up to her and stuck her face in hers. "And I don't want to be hearing any fucking lip again from you. Are we understood Lieutenant?" She stated calmly, but she might as well be putting them on the chopping block.

"Y-Yes ma'am! Won't happen again ma'am!" Chase replied stock still.

"Good. Alright ponies, squad up and move it!"

Davis scowled at his commanding officer, the one he trusted with his life, the one they all trusted, the one they looked to for guidance every day they were in this shit, the one they could all consider family, had told him to forget it. He didn't think he could hate anyone more than he did the man before him. Even his platoon mates didn't make a peep, seemingly agreeing with the Lieutenant. The Germans he didn't know, they were nameless to him, meaningless to him; but this man, these men he thought brothers—he knew. And that's what angered him the most.

He looked back at Lee's barely breathing body as he lay there in the dirt, hanging on to life by a thread, who could be mere minutes away from death, and fought back a tear. He picked up his rifle off the ground and pushed past the men and marched towards the pile of wood that was once living. None followed him. He took out his Zippo, doused them with all the fluid it had, and struck a match.

He sat down, content on watching them burn. He had failed, and his face streaked with his guilt.

Another face revealed itself from behind the flame.

The human was crying.

She didn't know how to go about this, the pile had been far enough that she could sneak behind it and not be seen. But when it suddenly lit up, a human having come to sit by it, she knew that her plan of sneaking up would be folly. She moved out from behind the flames, but she wasn't expecting to see the human, his hands over his mouth, tears streaming down his lean cheeks. She had found another opportunity had revealed itself, and she was going to take it.

The human had not reacted, not really, to her reveal. He sat there, his mouth agape, staring at her. It was all very anti-climatic.

She cleared her throat, might as well start the act, "Do you speak Equestrian?" She asked him simply.

The human took off his helmet shakily, revealing his buzzed short hair, and blinked, "I-I..."

She was starting to get a bit annoyed by the lack of communication so far, "Look—"

And...there was a gun at her head.

The human had drawn a pistol on her faster than she could blink, the coolness of the metal colliding with the warmth of her fur. Her facial expression didn't change, she wasn't afraid, this man would be dead before he could squeeze the trigger.

"Don't you fucking move." He said, almost in a whisper.

"Does talking count?" She asked sarcastically.

"You're a fucking talking green horse..."

She raised a brow.

"First we end up in the middle of some forest straight out of Hell, then we get attacked by some fucking living wood, and now a god damned talking horse just strolls on in like nothing fucking happened!" He yelled, more to himself really, and he was crying again for some reason.

She found herself quite confused at his ramble, seems they had never seen a pony before.

"Davis, what the hell is going on—" Brown paused as he caught sight of the small equine with a gun to its head. "What the fuck is that?"

"I'm a pegasus. What? Never seen a pegasus before?" She made to show her wings, but she felt the barrel of the pistol force itself harder against her noggin.

Brown backed away, "Lieutenant!"

Castillo, along with his two sergeants, came rushing over. Their reaction were as you would expect.

"I'm honestly not surprised at this point."Castillo shook his head.

"When you all are done gawking, I'm here for a reason." She said, annoyance tracing her tongue.

Castillo raised a brow.

"I've never seen humans like you lot before. I found my curiosity to get the better of me."

Castillo shook his head, then nodded, "What the hell? Not like this day can get any shittier. First we get fucked in the middle of the night, now I'm down a man." Castillo simply had to look at Davis for him to holster his Colt, before marching away towards were Herrera was overseeing Lee. The others having caught on to the situation and crowded the strange creature that had spawned out of the forest. He couldn't care less.

He sat next to Herrera, who was watching the strangely clothed pony from his place next to the mat he had moved Lee unto. "We're all going to go insane at this rate."

Davis said nothing.

"He's going to be fine Davis, don't stress over it."

He sighed when Davis said nothing.

He didn't know how long there were like that, sitting in silence as they watched Lee slowly breath out his bloody nose, field dressing worn around his head and torso. It all seemed for once, so peaceful. If there was one thing about the forest at night, it was the peace that he liked. Lee was just the same.

There was a sudden, bright red light that was shot into the air, enlightening the sky as the flare burned through the clouds. Shot off from behind him. Herrera said something, and he heard something land hard behind him.

He turned slowly to face whatever had dropped behind him, finding another pony there. It's uniform and helm looking quite familiar...he suddenly found the need to kill it.

It all happened in the blink of an eye.

The pistol was in his hand, it's barrel smoking, the pony down on the ground, and he could almost hear the casing hit the ground before a bullet hit him. There was lots of yelling. He fell hard.

He never took his eyes away from his dying friend as he lay in the dirt.

At least they'd go together.

Author's Note

I would like to deeply apologize for the wait. Between school, work, and the lack of creative zeal, it took me a ridiculous amount of time to finish this chapter; not to mention the literal four rewrites it took for it to satisfy me. Once again, I apologize for the wait, and I hope to get back into the grove of things here soon, so long as I don't pile up any more school work.

But I would recommend putting this on tracker, as updates may be erratic these coming months, but they will certainly come.

Like the story? Give me some feedback! Any will do really. I greatly appreciate it!