Royal Hunter Book One: Successor

Celestia’s Chambers

The day had been eventful, to say the least. It had only been two days after Dan had begun his expedition, and already he would return not only with another mutation of the plague to be studied but also inform them of his discovery of an even worse infestation far deeper in the forest than she or Luna could have ever imagined, and so close to Ponyville no less. Sure on foot, it took Dan two days to find it, but she had to consider the fact that he probably had been wandering about in his exploration, as well walking the majority of the time. Had one of those creatures wanted to, it’d be a shorter trip for them to reach the town. She could only assume why it hasn’t happened yet, the creatures had no idea where the town was.

She recalled that manticore Dan shot during his first time meeting the bearers. When she thought about it. That manticore could’ve been taken over for the sole purpose of venturing out in uncharted territory as directed by what she can only dub “The Plagued Forest.” Fortunately, as far as she and Luna could determine; since no plague beasts have been marching over to the quiet little town, information between its beasts and the forest had to be limited in such a way that all that needed to be done would be to slay the scout before it would return to its base. Was it luck or an omen that day the manticore appeared, she couldn’t tell. She’d prefer the former.

And now the sun had set, she had completed her shift and it was her sister’s turn to look after the Kingdom so she could get some much-needed rest. Of course, the Universe seemed not to be finished with her yet as just before she would retire to her room for the night. Her sister had informed her that she would be speaking to her in her dreams tonight about something important. For her sister to say that. Whatever it was, it was something she wanted to make sure no one else knew about since normally, Luna would respect her sister’s wish in keeping out of her head when she slept.

In time even sleep claimed the sun deity and she drifted off into her own dream realm. It wasn’t long before her sister “dropped” on by Celestia had already been lucid dreaming, creating her favorite spot in the garden and sitting in peace. Luna felt this was just too innocent of a dream, no doubt her sister made it so to make sure what’s really on her mind doesn’t slip out. “Tia, I see that you’ve been waiting.”

“Yes, but not long, I kept myself busy.” she gestured to the world around them.

Luna looked around before sitting next to her. “I can see that, sister.” she smiled “Though I believe this garden looks much better at night.” She smirked.

Celestia scoffed “Well, OF COURSE, you would say that.” The two of them shared a brief giggle fit before getting back to the point. “So, Lulu, what is it that you couldn’t tell me in our waking hours earlier this day.”

Luna seemed to have wanted to say something but shook her head “Actually it would be better to show you rather than tell you.” She then got up.

“Do you mean, delving into a pony’s dream? As interesting as the idea can be, I’m not quite fond of invading someone else’s mind. It's understandable when you have to handle someone’s nightmare, but-“

“No, no, trust me the “pony” in question was the one that came up with this idea. In fact, they went to bed early awaiting our arrival.”

“I see…” Celestia was suspicious now. Who could this mystery pony be for Luna to agree to this? There was one idea, but it seemed impossible since Luna tried before and it failed. “Very well then,” she stood up “Best not to keep this pony waiting.”

“Agreed ” Luna then opened up a portal leading out of Celestia’s dreams and with that the two of them stepped through it. Luna did not take her time in leading her sister straight to Ponyville and stopped right above Twilight’s home.

“Lulu, are we entering Twilight’s mind? I can’t possibly understand what it is that she could not confer with us while awake? She simply had to send a letter and-“

“‘Tis, not Twilight that requested this, dear sister,” Luna replied before approaching the dream bubble, making a door appear on it, and giving it a quick knock.

“Not Twilight then-“

“Not Spike either I’m afraid,” Luna responded, being one step ahead of her, then they both heard a familiar voice.

“Took you two long enough, come in!”

The door then opened by itself and Luna trotted right in. “Coming, sister?”

“Dan?!” Celestia was shocked. “You were able to enter Dan’s dream!? I thought you said it was impossible to enter a human’s dream?”

“I thought so too, turns out it was just really difficult.” She replied with a sense of pride seeing her sister in awe of her accomplishment. “Now are you coming or not? We don’t have all night you know”

“Oh, right, yes.” Celestia rushed right in and the door closed behind her. When she entered she found herself in a small living room. Yet all around her were objects and devices she has never seen before, from where she stood she could see what she could assume was a small kitchen with its own tiled flooring connecting to the living room, a dining table, and a hallway leading to other rooms as far as she can tell from where she was standing.

“Well, this is new, no forest this time?” Luna asked already curious about every bit and bob she could not recognize, walking about the place.

That’s when they heard Dan as he stepped out of the one corner of the kitchen Celestia couldn’t see thanks to a wall separating the kitchen from the hallway.”Yeah, I figured since this was going to be a special occasion, I wanted to be as comfortable as I could. And what better place than mi casa, amirite?” That was when “Something” had beeped, this drawing Celestia’s curiosity, as well as her sisters, the two of them went over to have a peek. Dan was in the middle of opening up his microwave and pulling out a bag of popcorn. “Hope you two like butter, I wasn’t in the mood for homestyle.” He then opened a cabinet and pulled out a big bowl where he promptly dumped the contents of the bag into, already the air smelled of the concession stand at a theater. “Why don’t you two have a seat.” he handed the bowl over toward the two, Luna was quick to oblige and picked the bowl up with her magic. This let Dan go to his fridge and open it. “What you guys in the mood for? I got soda, OJ, Purple stuff, two kinds of Sunny D references.” He then tapped his chin. “Then again, I don’t think any of this would work since you’d probably have to taste it in reality first. You guys have like carbonated drinks in this world right?”

“Carbonated-“ Celestia wasn’t sure what he was talking about.

“You know, the kind of drinks thats all bubbly?”

“Oh, fizzy drinks.” Celestia perked up.

“There we go. Though knowing you ponies it’d probably be all fruit flavored or carrot or something… Lemon-lime it is.”

“Oooh, I am quite partial to that flavor,” Luna replied happily.

“I, um, I guess I shall have that as well.” Celestia said “please.”

“Two Sprites comin’ up” He reached in, grabbed two cans of Sprites and a Pepsi for himself before closing the fridge with his foot and making his way over. “So I’m excited how about you two?”

“Excited for what?” Celestia asked curiously

Dan smirked and turned to Luna “You didn’t tell her? Oooooh, this just got twenty times more exciting.” He sat with them on the couch handing off a can to each of them.”

Luna stumbled a little over her words. “I merely thought it would be best to show her rather than tell her.” She looked at the can curiously, normally the fizzy drinks would be in a glass bottle she couldn’t make heads or tails on how to open it, Same for her older sister.

“Show me what, exactly?” Celestia was getting suspicious.

“Pull the tab on top like this” he turned the top of the can toward them and demonstrated. They repeated the method as well. He took a drink and exhaled an “aaah” like they would almost every beverage brand commercial then set the can on the table. “Yeah I have him waiting for my cue so this is gonna be great.”

“He? Who is he?” Celestia asked

“He… would be me…”

That voice… Celestia knew this voice all too well. She hesitated to turn her head down to the hallway but once she did there he was, in his pony form. Her thought to be deceased lover.

“Aegis… Dan, please, even if its meant out of good intentions, please get rid of this apparition.” She said though she sounded a little choked up.

Dan shook his head as he took some popcorn. “Believe me I would if I could, but actually, the bastards real…. in a sense.”

“What do you-“ she was interrupted by the “apparition”.

“Tia…. my dear… It’s truly me, however, in spirit form.” Aegis stepped forward.

“Stop this, please Dan.” Celestia looked away from Aegis. Tears welling up. “If this is some sort of joke-“

“Tia, he speaks the truth. I’ve checked myself.” at that last part she looked away and blushed remembering that particular memory. “That is Aegis’ spirit, he resides within Dan.”

“What proof could that even be? It's not like this thing even knows anything about us… of the time he and I spent together, what he meant to me, All that he’s done for us…” Dan could see she was on the verge of anger and sorrow mixing together when suddenly Aegis decided to speak.

“I suppose I never really did understand completely what I meant to you.” this got Celestia to slowly turn to Aegis with an angry yet tearful look. “But I damn well know what you meant to me, Tia.” Aegis stood there never breaking his gaze from her. “And of all the cakes I would’ve shared with you, Our wedding cake would have been my favorite.”

Dan just stood there and blinked, “ Was… was that supposed to be romantic or something?” He was then in for a shock seeing Celestia’s sudden change in attitude. No longer, angry, but in a state of shock and disbelief.

Luna shook her head yet smiled. “I’m not sure honestly, but I think he just pulled a memory only the two of them knew.”

Dan just looked toward Luna then at the two lovebirds. “The hell is with the cake part then?” He muttered to himself.

Luna just smiled “Tia adores cake.” She said plainly “Even sneaking herself more then she should.” she whispered the last part to her.

Dan just stared at Celestia “Well that sounds a little anime-ish.”

“Ani-what?” Luna turned to Dan to ask but he just waved it off. “Shh, it's starting.” he pointed toward Celestia. After some time of staring at Aegis, she finally started walking toward him.

“Aegis…” she spoke eyes locked with his. “Can this really be true?”

Aegis approached her as well. “Very much so, love. I’m sure there’s much you want to-“ When they were finally before each other, Celestia cut him off.

“YOU BUCKING BASTARD!” And that's when her Golden Horseshoe slammed against the old man’s face, sending him flying back into the hall from whence he came, bursting through the bathroom door at the end of the hall crashing into the bathroom tile, cracking and making a dent into it, then slumped over himself before finally falling down into the empty tub below.

“OH DAMN!” Dan stood and cheered as he pointed down the hall. “He just got knocked the F@%K OUT! HA!” He then made a fist pump “Oh this was so worth it.” Dan said to Luna before taking a drink from his can.

Luna was now at a loss for words, she chose to drink from her can as well rather than speak.

After drinking deeply from his can he lowered it from his lips and let out a sigh of content “Aaaaah, This gonna be a good night…”

~~~

After some time letting Celestia “speak” with Aegis, things were finally settling down… sort of…

“After all this time you were here all along, and yet you kept quiet about it.” Everyone was back in the living room again. Though it was still a dream, Aegis put an effort into trying to get Dan into simulating touch within it. It wasn’t perfect but it was enough to effect Aegis as well since he resided within Dan, the worst he was given after that “meeting” with his ex gave him a dull pain. Unfortunately, for this to work, Dan would have to feel it as well, since it was his dream, but he didn’t mind. In his eyes, the old man deserved it probably and he only wished he was the one to do it.

“I’m not going to lie, I had intended to keep it that way.” Aegis responded, “However, only out of good intentions.”

“What good intentions?!” Celestia replied, “You make me agree to such an absurd “trial”. Then accept your death if it was just a passing for my journal to write. Leave me and my sister to guide this young colt on our own,” She gestured to Dan who was in the midst of scarfing a handful of popcorn into his mouth. “with NO knowledge on how to help him in handling a job neither my sister and I had any hooves on experience with-”

Dan leaned over to Luna “I’m still a little vague on pony terms kinda, but did your sister just called me a “little boy”?

Luna nodded seeming too engrossed in the conversation between her sister and the previous Hunter, yet she still heard his question. “Generally… yes…”

Dan just gave an annoyed look. “Well, that’s just rude… and incorrect.” he decided to take a drink, it was obvious Celestia wasn’t in the mood to take back what she said, but he’d remember that.

Celestia went on a tangent for an extra minute or two. Aegis, who just seemed to stand there and take it all in, looked on at her patiently.

Dan sighed “I was kinda expecting to see more of Celestia smacking gramps around.” he finished his can. “And it’s no fun if the old timer is acting so calm about it.” Though the start of the fateful meeting was to his liking, it seemed he no longer had an interest in it with how things were turning out.

“You certainly were looking forward to the negative aspect of this confrontation, sir hunter.” Luna was still drinking hers can. She seemed to be taking smaller sips as the tense atmosphere they were in made her a bit anxious on what would happen next, despite being focused on it. “Do you truly dislike Sir Aegis to enjoy his suffering?”

Dan looked at Luna for a moment and shot her an “are you kidding?” look. “Princess this guy keeps dragging my ass into the most insane crap I’ve ever been a part of, and he expects me to complete them with a damn smile on my face as if I’ve done this before and can execute with impossible perfection. I’m pretty sure I almost died more than once during that expedition and he expects me to just ignore it and move on.” he crushed his can in his clutches. “So yeah, I’m not too fond of him right now.”

“I see… I knew the two of you were constantly at odds, but I never knew you hated him so much.”

… Dan was silent for a moment as he looked at Celestia finally calming for real this time and started to really speak with Aegis. It was basically more of the old man apologizing to her though. Then he rolled his eyes and sighed. “I don’t hate him.” He chucked his can to the side. It was his dream so he didn’t need to bother with keeping the place clean.

Luna tilted her head “You do not? If it's for my sister and my sake please, you don’t have to pretend.”

Dan shook his head. “Look, hate is a strong word in my opinion. Sure you can say it without thinking about it when you say you hate pineapples or something. Everyone knows you just dislike the taste of the fruit or texture or whatever. In my world, people just use that word with people they generally dislike as well. Only some actually use it with its actual intended purpose and let me tell you. Its damn near impossible to come back from being hated, and you had to do some really messed up stuff to become hated. I’m talking about killing someone’s family kind of bad.

Luna’s ears lowered and pressed against her head at the mention of that.

“Just an example. A person can say they hate you if you break a promise, or if you did them wrong in some way, that's fine. But more often than not they’ll end up forgiving you. There’s a lot worse you can do than that if you wanted to be hated.” He turned to Luna finally. “The old man is a right pain and I want to slug him for his spartan like training and genuinely being a jerk, but I can’t say I hate the guy. I can at least understand why he does it. I’m not oblivious.”

“Y-yes… it was his duty when he was the hunter, so he only wishes to make sure his predecessor is just as qualified.”

“Nah, not even close, Luna.” Dan shook his head.

“What? What other reason would there be?” she asked

“Don’t get it wrong, he does think of those noble things, and genuinely looks like he gives a damn.” Dan waved it off “But he’s a guy with a girlfriend. If keeping her people safe and happy puts a smile on her face. Then that’s what he’ll do.” Luna seemed surprised by this response. Partly of but mostly that it came out of Dan’s mouth. She wouldn’t say it to his face, but he always came off as somewhat crude with how he goes about things. “Blame nature I guess, show us a pretty girl, and all that blood meant for the brain just goes straight to the-“ and there was her crude friend again. He certainly wasn’t away for long. “OH GROSS, Stop!” Luna was brought out of her thoughts when she heard Dan start yelling at Celestia and Aegis.

“Huh?” When Luna turned to the two she then put a hoof to her mouth and blushed, for some reason, the two were making out, and Dan wasn’t having any of it.

“No! Not in my head! I don’t want any of that nasty ass grampa slobbering going on in my brain.” He walks up and physically separates the two. “It’s like I’m a part of it since it’s my dream, and it's making me hurl.” he shudders. “Go back to ripping his head off or something, Celestia!”

Luna just watched with a smile before looking at her can, before chugging the rest of it, When in a dream, do as the dreamers do.

~~~~~~~~~~

Meanwhile on the outskirts of Appleloosa

The Sheriff had made some good distance from the town, though he didn’t expect to run into any other buffalos as soon as he did. The majority of them were females, elderly and children, with Strong warrior types at the edges of the group keeping a lookout as they continued to walk.

In Front of them was the chief as he leads them all toward Appleloosa. As the Sheriff recalled, the young buffalo, Little Strongheart, managed to explain to him the situation while the doctor was patching her up. It seems that the tribe were intending to travel on their traditional stampeding grounds like always and were expecting to cross through the Appleloosans’ orchard like always So everyone in the tribe was resting for the night. However, before the sun was even setting, the ground started shaking. Then a large beast, the likes of which they have never seen, appeared out of nowhere.

Little Strongheart claimed that it was long, a strange mouth, and very aggressive. She at first intended to defend the tribe with those willing to fight, However, it quickly became clear they were no match for it when the beast had consumed five warriors, killed 3 more, and injured Strongheart by throwing it’s massive weight around and knocking her into a tent. In the end, she was volunteered against her will to head to Appleloosa and seek help from their equine friends. The chief had decided to round up all that could not join the fight along with a select group of warriors to make for the town after Little Strongheart left to run ahead, as what warriors left fighting remained to keep the beast distracted as long as possible to ensure their tribe’s escape.

Chief Thunderhooves was the first to meet up with the Sheriff's slight bow of the head from the buffalo and a tip of the hat from the stallion and the chief halted the group and began talks with the Sheriff. It was basically a repeat and understanding of what Little Strongheart had told him, along with the Chief asking that for the time being until the matter is solved with the monster, that his people could take refuge in Appleloosa.

Hearing this request, the Sheriff picked up that the chief knew full well that even their best warriors would not be able to defeat it. Judging by that he could safely assume he would not be able to help in stopping or defeating the mystery creature. However there was still one more option, but for him to even consider it, he had to at least be sure if it was necessary. That meant going to the campsite and seeing things himself.

When he told his plan to the chief, the large buffalo was shocked. “Surely you do not intend to do so alone?”

The sheriff nodded “I have to, this creature attacked you’re home and I’m not comfortable with how close it is to my town. As the Sheriff, I reckon that It doesn’t give me much choice in the matter.“ He then gave a chief a polite bow of his head then started walking past them toward their camp. “Now, if’n you’ll excuse me, my job isn’t over just yet.”

“Be wary, sheriff” The chief turned to the stallion. “This beast is vicious, it has already claimed some of our best warriors.”

“Oh, I have no intention of fighting it.” The Sheriff replied, “just a little scouting to see what we’re up against here.” With that, he continued his trot that quickly became a gallop once he left the group and forged on ahead to the camp.

Truthfully, he didn’t have to do this, all he needed was the word of the chief and Little Strongheart had given them and he could notify the Royal Guard in Canterlot. There was a law that lasted for as long as the start of Celestia and Luna’s reign that stated that if anypony discovered something off in an environment or ecosystem, or if there is an unusually aggressive and ferocious creature terrorizing the locals of an area. That they were to notify the Royal Guard immediately to have it dispatched and/or investigated. However, if it was just that. Not many ponies would give it much thought. There was more to the law that was never really explained. “If one were to discover black sludge or discover an area covered in black mist. Run far away from it and again notify the Royal Guard immediately. Failure to do so would be a hefty fine if not imprisonment.”

THAT was the most curious part. They urged citizens to tell them if something is amiss in the wilds, but they demand a report the moment they see some black sludge or mist or there would be consequences. Throughout time this had given many rumors that would then become myths, legends, and fairytales of dark forces the Royal Guard fought in secret, or monsters that lurked at the fringes of civilization ready to prey upon the unsuspecting pony that happened to get too unfortunate or foolish enough. Bedtime stories even to keep naughty little colts and fillies in line when they misbehaved, and of course, whenever there was a report and word got out to the public about it. Taverns, public areas, and for the Sheriff's case, the saloon, flood with stories, guesses, and rumors about it.

Growing up, the stories would fascinate him to almost joining the Royal Guard to see for himself. Yet, life has a way of changing things when you least expect it and here he was, a simple Sheriff protecting the law and citizens of a simple town.

These were his thoughts until the moment he arrived at the camp, he slowed down once it came into view.

It was a mess, broken tents, some things were even on fire no doubt some campfires or torches being knocked over or kicked into more flammable things during the panic. But what chilled him the most, was the utter silence. No monster to be seen, and no warriors that supposedly stayed behind to fight… Not even a body of those that had fallen.

Could the supposed creature have eaten them all? He was already told some already became its meal so whatever it was, it was carnivorous. If not omnivorous. Compared to a buffalo’s size, a pony would probably slide down its throat in one gulp should it somehow ambush him, so nervousness began to set in. Yet that little voice in the back of his head spurred him on.

He was cautious as he investigated, trying to make as little sound as possible Now that he had a closer look of things, he could see hoofprints, drag marks, and bloody smears and trails in the dirt on some debris. Then came the holes, He had noticed them when he just arrived, but now that he was right in front of one, he could really scale their size, and they were large, to say the least. Connecting to them would be various trails of unearthed dirt, some subtle, others very noticeable. As confirmed from what he heard, a monster that was at the very least, carnivorous, that digs underground, and from the state of the camp, very aggressive. As he was about to lean over to peer into the hole, he heard a voice “Stop….” turning back, he was surprised that he missed a buffalo, injured and under a collapsed tent. “Stay… Stay away…” the buffalo’s called out to him.

His voice hoarse, and blood. Leaking from him, from where the Sheriff could not see. Immediately he ran over to the buffalo. “Hold on, I’ll be right there.”

“N-no! No STOP!” The buffalo called out as loud as his voice could allow. This barely got the Sheriff’s attention as he skidded to a halt. “Don’t move, be silent!...” The buffalo looked around frantically. Now that the Sheriff stopped, he could feel something. Tremors beneath his hooves. “Don’t. Make. Sound.” the buffalo whispered as loud as he could to him. “It never left.”

Well, that was unsettling, he was in the middle of it all and that's the last thing he wanted to hear. The Sheriff remained still as he looked around. Sure enough off behind one of the few tents that were standing, he saw some dirt being unearthed, in a trail toward it. When it reached it, he then heard a desperate and horrific scream that would haunt his dreams, if he lived long enough, that is. Apparently, there WAS another buffalo within the tent. WAS. The scream almost immediately became muffled before the tent finally collapsed from an unseen force, and then there was silence.

The Sheriff could feel his heart rate quicken, already he was cursing his job, his curiosity, and his conscience for “doing what’s right” and investigating instead of just being in the saloon, where he would be on his sixth glass of hard cider right now. Waiting for the buffalo’s that managed to escape to arrive. He turned to the buffalo under the tent. And whispered as best and as loud as he thought was safe. “I’m coming over, we’re gonna get out of here.”

The buffalo shook his head, fear on his face “No… Stay.”

The sheriff lifted his hoof and made a gesture of his to tell the buffalo to relax, “I’ll be quiet, I promise, just STAY. CALM.” He made sure to emphasize those last two words as best as he could.

The buffalo finally seemed to notice that he was indeed starting to breathe rather hard, he nodded and did his best to calm the panicking soul within him. As this was happening, the Sheriff slowly and quietly crept one hoof after the other toward the buffalo. Meanwhile, keeping an eye on the moving dirt trail that seemed to be patrolling the area. Step by step, he was making progress, the sight of the sheriff nearing him and nothing happening was helping the buffalo’s attempts at keeping calm. This was working. Slight relief starting to set in at the thought. Until he noticed the sheriff suddenly stop, and then look around.

Why was he looking around like that… !! “Where is it?” The buffalo asked

“Shh!” Was all the Sheriff managed to say before suddenly that thing appeared right between them. The ever moving trail beneath the ground. The buffalo lost all sense of calm and was so close to shrieking in response, but managed to catch himself. The Sheriff kept very still, this was all either of them could do. Make a sound and that was it. If it decided to head in either of their direction, the same outcome. They watched intently as the creature seemed to have just stopped in front of them, then slowly move about the area it seemed to know someone was nearby, but couldn’t figure out where. When it moved towards the sheriff he had to act fast, lifting his hoof up, he let the creature move dangerously close to him, practically underneath him before it quickly turned away. He then noticed that the creature unearthed a fairly large rock.

It was perfect, he quietly picked it up with his hoof before chucking it off into the random distance, apparently, it hit the side of a tent that was almost collapsed making the other half finally fall over. This got the creature's attention as it swiftly turned to face that direction, before swiftly moving toward it. This was his chance, he got moving, quietly of course, but he tried his best to pick up the pace. While the creature looked busy, he finally reached the buffalo. “Ok, I’m gonna try to get this stuff off you. Can you move? He asked the buffalo nodded, he knew he had a wound but as far as he could tell it wouldn’t prevent him from walking. The sheriff got to work, as silently as he could. Piece by piece he could finally see the wound the buffalo had received. It was a wooden pole of some sort, broken off and lodged in the poor fella’s side. At this point hard to tell how it even got there, but that wasn’t important at the moment. What WAS important was that amazingly the buffalo struggled to get to his hooves and succeeded. When the buffalo reached for the pole lodged in himself, the sheriff stopped him. And shook his head. “Pulling it out now would just make it worse, and there would be no way to be quiet with the pain.” Honestly, the sheriff was amazed the guy was even still alive at this point but he wasn’t going to question it. At least not now. “Come on,” he whispered as they both started moving, the buffalo on a limp. The escape was long and agonizing since they had to take it slow, always on the lookout on where the creature was at all times, as well as the pain the buffalo felt with the wood lodged in him. Unfortunately, time was not on the buffalo’s side, as the enduring pain only got worse, to where his mind focused more on it.

That’s all it took for him to misstep on some debris that gave way under him sliding making him stumble. The pain was excruciating. So much so that he forgot his situation and yelled in pain. Halfway into his howl he realized his mistake and the look of shock and horror on the sheriff’s face and tried to stop himself, but was too late.

They could hear it now, barreling to their position underground. Dirt flying from the speed it was kicking up. The buffalo panicked and started to run, or rather, hobble as fast as he could.
“No! Nonononononono!!!!”

The Sheriff called out to the buffalo “Wait! Your only drawing atte-” suddenly he felt the ground shake and the horrifying sight of the ground opening up beneath the buffalo and tendrils wrapping around him as he screamed in shock and fear, then got snapped up in what at first looked like the maw of a giant three-petaled flower, with teeth lining the edges. The creature then shot into the air with the buffalo screaming helplessly as he was briefly launched into the air, then the tendrils coming from the beast's mouth reeled him back in as the beast roared. It was long, so much so that it towered over the sheriff who was in utter shock at realizing what he was looking at. He saw the buffalo he was just with get pulled back into the creature’s jaws swallowed whole without an issue. The poor buffalo screaming and struggling in pure terror the whole way down. “Of all the varmints it had to be,” the sheriff said to himself, he was helpless to stop it and how could he, “It had to be a tatzlwurm.”

The creature finally turned to him, the bulge of its last victim still seen sliding down its long body.

That’s when it lunged at him.