The wolves

by CandidPony

Rating: teen
Tags: Dark, Adventure
Length: 1754

A timber wolf is often misunderstood...

Is death ever really the end? Or is it the beginning of something darker…

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2017-01-24 17:02:56 UTC

The forest

we like to deceive ourselves

with what we think we knew

never questioning if the stories

have a chance to be true

I found that monster

on that fateful night

when it changed my life

and offered _only_ plight

the full moon was shining

forest air cool and crisp

not a bird was singing

cloud cover only in a wisp

I had been out camping

with friends (a colt and mare)

on the edge of Everfree

stupidly without care

I was gathering firewood

from the wooded thick

when I heard a strange noise

as if the trees themselves would click

I was partly nervous

but imagination it was all

not at the time knowing

I was already in the beast's thrall

I returned to the camp

the wood strapped to my back

it was getting late

and my thoughts began to lack

as I started the fire

and we all sat by

we talked and sang for hours

till the fire began to die

we entered the tent

and went to bed

with false security

I lay down my head

I was awoken at an hour

to the smell of something foul

a warm liquid dripped upon my head

then I heard a low growl

my eyes shot open

just in time to see

jagged wooden teeth

as if from a tree

it stared at me frozen

but I could feel its warm air

I jumped back startled

breaking the beast's stare

remembering my friends

I looked for where they were

the commotion of this monster

was causing them to stir

gathering my senses

I knew what it was

it was a vicious timber wolf

yet not doing as one does

I heard the colt awaken

then a terrored scream

the sound surprised the wolf

(or at least that's what it'd seem)

it tore from the tent

as the mare awoke

we all were stunned and silent

for a while nopony spoke

I heard from the near forest

several howls ringing out

then the sound of clicking

as other timber wolves moved about

they ripped into the tent

then covered the walls with red

my company was slain

and I too would soon be dead

I was able to dash out

of a hole in the tent wall

and saw the road to Ponyville

was thick with those that appall

I had to run to the forest

this option not that great

but it might spare me

from those jaws of hate

I heard them coming for me

their claws raking the ground

they were getting closer

so I dared not turn around

I stumbled and fell

rolling into a slight cave

and I knew it was quite likely

that this would be my grave

I felt some tainted joy

as the wolves continued running past

but then one didn't

and the happiness did not last

it stopped running

so close to where I lay

that I could smell it breathing

a scent of rot and decay

the sound of other wolves

had long since gone by

I knew this one saw me

this I could not deny

it turned its head to face me

and I could see each glowing eye

I expected not what happened

for it began to cry

I knew it not possible

but the creature spoke

it's voice not meant to do so

for it came out in a croak

" *I am not a monster* "

the strange thing had said

" *have you ever wondered what happens*

" *to those the forest claims as dead?* "

I still was frozen

paralyzed by each word

" *what I am is not by choice*

" *and not what I'd have preferred* "

" *the forest claimed my life* "

its voice getting distressed

" *where do the souls go*

" *of those not laid to rest?* "

" *the trees hold them*

" *but cannot hold their mind*

" *I do not know why I still have*

" *these memories I can find* "

" *I was once an earthpony*

" *much like you are*

" *coming 'bout a fire*

" *with friends as it would char* "

" *but then one night it happened*

" *all my friends were killed*

" *none of us ever had*

" *a proper burial fulfilled* "

I found myself no longer shaking

feeling pained for what I'd learned

but with all that'd happened

more knowledge still I yearned

"what is your name"

I asked in self surprise

but the wolf's attention snapped away

towards my oncoming demise

the other wolves returning

just shells of who they were

and though what had happened

I knew death I'd not deter

I tried to run away

but my leg's pain was to great

I just closed my eyes

shutting out impending fate

the next sound I heard

was a shrill yelp

I quickly turned to see

the lone wolf had chose to help

I clawed at the ground

as I dragged myself away

then the sun shone across the ground

as Celestia made it day

the wolves stopped their fighting

and turned forestwards to flee

leaving only the one

who limped over to me

the once elegant creature

now had cracks and splinters all about

and from deep jagged wounds

a yellow liquid was oozing out

it got within a yard or so

I found I was the one to cry

the creature seemed aware

that soon it was to die

"but why do you not heal?"

I said in a sorrowed shout

"other ponies say you can reconstruct

"in the stories they tell about"

" *we hunt during the night*

" *for in day we meet our fate*

" *I will not survive that long*

" *and fear it is too late* "

I struggled not knowing what to feel

when the creature said

" *my name... was, Carol Bell*

" *and I ask you remember it after I'm dead* "

I laid with the dying wolf

despite being told to go

until her breath stopped coming

and eyes would no longer glow

still I stayed with her

on the now bright day

until medical ponies arrived

and forcefully took me away

when I awoke next

I felt no pain but from the heart

and I remembered my campmates

as they were torn apart

I called a mare over

to ask the way in which they'd been dealt

but when she told of no bodies

the comment worsened what I'd felt

I lay discomforted each day

until the next week I was let out

I now had a mission

and started asking about

each day I went at it

and finally a single mare

did not respond to my questions

with just a confused stare

she let me in her house

my questions obviously leaving her shook

when from a chest she pulled

an old dusty book

the elderly grey mare

gave a tear from her eye

before finally asking me

the simple question "why?"

"I need to know more"

I cried as feelings began to stir

"Carol saved my life

"and I owe it to her"

the mare seemed phased

but questioned not my word

I couldn't help but wonder

how she'd taken what she had heard

she put the book on the table

then showed me the spot

a picture of a beautiful green mare

who had long since been forgot

_Carol Bell_

_and two friends_

_were camping at Sunset Look_

_when they met tragic ends_

the articles’ words

left me daunted

but the dam thing had given me

what I had wanted

I thanked the mare

and took my leave

but the sad mare stopped me

for I had something to receive

I thanked her and parted

walking into the heat of day

I knew what was needed

and could not delay

it was around two

when I reached Sunset Look

I was searching about

and with sadness I shook

after an hour

I spotted my sad prize

for I'd found the spot

Carol had met her demise

I stood there before

what of her remained

the lonely skeleton

left me quite pained

the sound of movement

snapped away feelings distraught

but the source

made me question what I'd thought

a timber wolf was approaching

filled with familiar scars

Carol was living

as a blessing from the stars

" *I buried your friends* "

her voice came out strained

" *but can't touch my own body* "

and that left me pained

"I've come to do it for you"

I said with a choke

"I'm so sorry what happened"

tears formed in her eyes as I spoke

after a while

I'd dug a proper hole

one to be used

to finally put down that soul

with the bones inside it

the grave welcomed what it would be

when I remembered the item

the old mare gave to me

I pulled out a locket

that shone in the day

and image of Carol

would be by where she lay

by the time she was buried

I was thrown into fright

for now we were alone here

in fast approaching night

the wood body of Carol

fell to the ground

replaced by a green mare

from which light shone around

the beautiful mare from the picture

started drifting away

towards the dirt grave

where she would lay

she turned to look at me

a tear blossomed from her eye

her words "thank you so much"

caused me to cry

I was joyous yet confused

at what I could now see

for what I'd assumed

was not how it'd be

I thought my actions

would lay her to rest

but the logic I'd formed

began to contest

instead of disappearing

she was here to stay

but when she came back to living

twas after the death of the day

she seemed as surprised

and started questioning

but got lost as something hit her gaze

I turned to view what she was seeing

when I saw it

I was filled with dread

for where she'd just come from

was no longer dead

I still cannot remember

quite how we got away

but I write this in your memory

for memories of you I'd replay

we lived there after together

till I lost you to old age

I am struggling without you

so I put my mind upon this page

I don't regret any pain

or what I've gone through

but wait for and welcome death

to once again be there with you