Chapter 21 “The Cage”

Darkness. That was all that the Lead felt as he solemnly gazed out from his spot near the cave’s entrance. It was raining, the dark grey clouds gathered together to dispose of their heavy burdens of water onto the land. Ember was still, the only movements he made were from his eyes and nostrils as he breathed. He was used to this feeling; he had felt it before. But there was something… different about it this time. It was like he was as cold as the rain droplets that splattered against his coat. But was he? It made him think. Thankfully, Crimson didn't decide to show himself, leaving him to sit in peace. As the rain splashed into large puddles that were forming, Ember rose, stepping out of the dryness of the rock above him and into the dampening forest. He didn't bother to go back and tell the others where he was going, he wanted to be left alone for awhile. Yet he didn't hear his mate nor his daughter following him closely.

As he sat at the Crevice, the previous emotion he was feeling was replaced with something else:calmness. The wind was starting to pick up around him as he heard it whistle through the ravine. His ears then twitched, causing him to turn his head. He watched as Speckle and Crescent approached him. “Ember? Are you alright? We saw you leave.”

“So you did. I’m fine, just needed some time for myself.”

The unicorn nodded, then her face gave off a worried expression. “You shouldn't stay out here. It looks like it's going to storm.”

Thunder rumbled and lightning clapped after she said this, making the pegasus filly beside her jump back in alarm. She stuttered “Y-Yeah Dad. L-Let’s go back.”

Ember stood up slowly, turning around to.head back with them when a startling scent caught his attention. He tracked it, it leading to a small wooden outhouse that was enrobed with overgrowth. In front of it was a cage, bright and shiny, as if brand new. Speckle cocked her head. “What in the name of the moon is a cage doing out here? It isn’t hunting season, and even if it was, there's no bait or anything.”

“It’s not out here for hunting, Speckle. It’s here for catching, us to be more specific.”

“W-What?”

The stallion walked towards said cage, touching it with a hoof only to have it recoil back and turn into a paw. “It's made from silver. And it looks like whatever put this here already claimed a life. Look.” In the distance, a pile of bones stood, a bare skull topping the pile. Speckle looked down, then screaming and scrambling backwards as her blood ran cold. “Speckle, what-”

He then followed her gaze, his own heart skipping a beat. In the cold mud, two letters had been sloppily written: E.H. “E-Ember… those... those are your initials. That wasn't there before.”

“It knows we’re here. Both of you, go home as fast as you can. Get Collin and Mark and have them come here. Now. “

“ Yes, Sir,” the pair said in unison, darting off into the brush as fast as their legs could carry them.

Ember’s red eyes darted around as he took in his surroundings, feeling the hair on his back prickle, though he didn’t know what was causing him to feel on edge. A thin mist started to form, clouding his vision slightly. Moments later, the two he had requested for slunk through the trees. Collin’s eyes glanced between the Lead and the cage beside him. “Sir? What’s this?”

“We have a werewolf killer in our midst. And there’s only one creature around here that kills werewolves with silver…”

“Witches,” Mark finished, his blue eyes narrow slits.

“Exactly. And they know about me.”

He then gestured to the ground in front of him. They saw the letters, their faces becoming grim. “What should we do about it?”

“Let’s play their little game, shall we? Just to make sure they’ll leave us be. Mark, take the cage. I have a feeling Collin and I need to pay Comet Tail a visit soon.”

“Alpha!”, Nicky cried as she ran towards the trio as they arrived at the cave. Her mane was disheveled and her coat sticking up in random places, as if she had been in a fight.

“Nicky, what happened?”

“H-He came back. I tried to fight him off but he was too strong. I…”

Her body slumped forward as she suddenly passed out, Mark catching her in his aura before her hit the ground. Ember's face turned sour as he frowned. Something was wrong. Very wrong. “Mark, go back to your post. Collin, bring Nicky to her chamber. I’ll go check on the others.” The two separated, the earth pony taking in a shaky breath before heading inside. His eyes quickly adjusted to the lack of light in the tunnels, and his ears perked to the ever so faint sound of sniffeling. He followed the sound to Collin and Sirena’s chamber, which was the deepest chamber in the cave. He found the two mares huddled together, trembling, their eyes snapping up to look at him with true fear. “Speckle… Sirena… It's me.” They both sighed in relief before they slowly went over to him. He instantly noticed the deep scratch that was on Speckle's cheek, blood trickling out of it to stain the rest of her face. “What. Happened.” Those two words were filled with so much anger that she shivered.

“He took Crescent, Ember,” she said in a low tone, not meeting his gaze. He froze, feeling his heart race in his chest. He then started to shake, a dark, bitter laugh passing his lips.

Eyes flashing white, he snarled, “Oh, Grassblade. I should have killed you the first time I saw you. Guess now I get my chance.”