I'd always heard death was cold, but I never imagined it'd be so literal.
Dragons were not meant to be in freezing weather. We lived in hot, warm, and rocky places where you could feel your skin ready to melt. This entire mountain trip was a mistake from the start, but I was too curious to see the land of the Yaks.
Ever since I attended the School of Friendship, I found myself interested in the other creatures that occupied the world. I was very little when Smolder, the first dragon student, went to Equestria and became one of the world's greatest heroes, but I grew up hearing about her adventures with her famous friends.
When Dragon Lord Ember sent out a call for more students to join two years ago I volunteered at once. I wouldn’t say I was nervous-dragons don’t get nervous-but I wasn’t sure how I was going to fit in. I didn’t really interact with other dragons much save for my older brothers and sisters. Yet, I found myself making my first friend on my first day when I went to check out my room. A single dark grey earth pony with green hair on his head and two stars circling around each other for a cutie mark was there with a smile upon meeting me.
His name was Earthstar, and he became my best friend. I found it weird at first. He was always so excited about everything, wanting to try all things new and strange, and I just followed because...well, I still don’t know. I guess he just has a personality that makes you want to follow. Others soon joined our group: Ella the Hippogriff, Maxi the Kirin, and Osha the Yak, but Earthstar was always the one I found myself closest to.
That was also being figurative as the two of us were hugging each other for warmth in the cave we found. “Y-You think O-O-Osha ma-a-d-de it b-b-back to t-t-t-town?” Earthstar asked me, shuttering.
“I...hope so...” I muttered, shivering as the wind made my scales freeze up. However, it was nothing compared to the giant roaring pain in my stomach. I wince as I felt like my insides were screaming in pain for nourishment while my brain was shouting at me for getting myself into this situation.
It had been four days since we got lost on this damn mountain. Ella thought it would be fun to try snowboarding on the big mountain, but Professor Ocellus had said the area was closed in fear of yeti migrating season. We should have listened to her. Earthstar and Osha were against us going up in the mountains anyway, but we voted three to two. Sometimes democracy sucks. Especially when the minority turns out to be right in the end.
Five hours into the sledding and we found ourselves running for our lives. Giant white furred monsters with three eyes, horns, sharp teeth and spears of ice came after us in rage and hunger. We had split up to try and distract them, but the yetis had simply done the same thing. It was only after breathing the biggest blast of fire that I could muster did we manage to get away, but not before one of them managed to hit me with an ice spear. I looked at my damaged wing and winced. We had made a makeshift cast using some roots, branches, snow and leaves thanks to Professor Fluttershy’s lessons in wildlife survival, but I still needed proper care.
“Let me check your wing again,” Earthstar said, getting up and making for my back. I inched closer to the fire I was keeping alive to give him better light. I felt him slowly remove the makeshift bandages made of roots, sap, and leaves and wince. “It...kinda looks better?”
“Kinda?” I asked, concerned.
“Well, do you feel like you’re dying?” Earthstar asked.
“Of hunger maybe...” I muttered, holding my stomach. “What I wouldn’t give for a gemstone.”
“I’m sure help will come soon. Just keep eating snow, it helps,” Earthstar said, taking some of himself and biting into it.
“Or we’ll die here and freeze to death,” I whispered, closing my eyes. I could just imagine how hard my family would take it if they learned of my demise. My mother was always an emotional dragon and loved us more than life itself. My older brothers and sisters did tease me a lot as the youngest, but they were always there to protect me and look out for me. All I can hope for is that my body is preserved well enough by the cold so that they can say goodbye to me properly.
I feel a warm hoof on my shoulder as Earthstar smiles warmly at me. “Hey, we’re going to get out of here. Together. Osha will find help. We’ll go home. And probably get detention for life after all this.”
“I bet we’ll wish the yeti’s killed us,” I chuckled as Earthstar slowly hugged me. I closed my eyes and took in his scent; light, earthy, fresh, and divine. His warm soft body was toned like most earth ponies and muscled just right in the right places to the point where you could tender it like chicken. I felt my body heat up as he continued to warm me up, my nostrils flaring as they took in the scent. My stomach roared as my claws nearly flexed in impulse. Water dripping from my mouth as...wait.
Was I drooling?
Oh no...
***
Three more days passed and it was getting worse. The hunger. I could barely speak let alone move as I continued to hunch over with my tail wrapped around me. My claws were glued to my stomach as I did my best to keep my eyes down and closed. I didn’t want to look at him. I didn’t want to see Earthstar. No matter how much my stomach was screaming or what my instincts were telling me I had to fight it.
I had to fight the hunger.
He kept asking me for the past three days if I was alright and all I could do was tell him to leave me alone. I’m so far away from the fire now, kept warm only by the embers I let out every so often. My stomach is rebelling against me. It’s like a beast that is trying to be freed from its cage and I’m barely able to keep it inside. It gets worse the closer Earthstar gets to me and I hiss at him to stay back.
“What is wrong?” He always asks and I tell him nothing.
I cannot tell him that my eyes stare at that tender flank of his and think about how much meat is on it. I do not say how badly my teeth want to sink into his throat and suck down his warm gullet. I dare not speak of how my claws wish to rip into his rib cage and pick apart his juicy organs.
So much meat in him. Sloshing around with blood and water. Fresh and raw, but easily fixed with the right flame. I could make it quick. A slit throat with my claws and it would be over. I could take the prize that my hunger demands of me to take. My mouth waters again as I do my best to not think of it, but I have long since stopped denying it.
I want to eat my best friend.
Seven days. No food. No gems. No help has come since this nightmare began and I can only sit while starving to death. Earthstar is lucky to be a pony. All he needs to do is eat the grass outside and come back without the hunger.
Yet I can only sit here and keep myself from striking him in desperation.
I have eaten meat before. When I was young, my mother went out hunting and provided a fresh kill for supper. I have tasted the flesh of the hunted and drank its blood like water at a faucet. It is something that I have not done, nor am I allowed to do, since I became a student at the School. It’s practically forbidden to eat meat in Equestria.
I have never thought about it since. Mostly because I couldn’t begin to imagine it. Eating Earthstar? Much less all my other friends? Unthinkable. Impossible. And yet here I am fighting that urge.
Silent. Afraid. Hungry.
***
The sun has set and it's much colder. I could feel frost beginning to form on the tip of my tail. The fire is so far away from me now. I don’t have the strength to unleash even a spark from my flame. I feel no warmth. I feel nothing but the hunger. The unending hunger that is all over me.
I scratch to keep myself still. Hard enough to break my scales and draw blood. I bite my lips to keep them shut. I wrap my tail around me in a vain effort to keep me still. It’s all in vain as I know that I’ll be unable to hold out much longer.
I need to leave the cave. Get away from Earthstar, but I dare not move. If I move, I fear my body will react and take over. The hunger is strong and gets stronger with every second that I do nothing but hold on with hope and prayer. It’s like a monster that haunts you day and night. It claws at you from the inside, begging to be released. Your blood turns to ice despite your heartbeat increasing with each moment. You feel every nerve on fire as the hunger screams to be satisfied like a god demanding tribute. A god that is angry, violent, and will not be denied.
I do not know what to do. Should I tell Earthstar I cannot control myself and he must leave for his sake. Is Osha dead by the weather or the yeti’s? Is there no help coming or do they assume all to be dead by now. It’s been seven days. Seven days of hunger. I am scared. Of myself. Of my friend. Of my very sanity at this point.
Perhaps I can leave. Just take it slowly, inch by inch. Head for the exit, down the hill and either let the elements take me or unleash my hunger on something else. All to keep Earthstar safe. I’ll do it for him. For him.
For my friend.
I slowly let my tail go limp. It feels like a chunk of lead as I let it fall beside me. I slowly open my arms and flex my claws. Cracks of bone echo along with the shattering of frost. I take in a deep breath before proceeding on all fours. I can hear Earthstar breathing slowly at a steady pace. A light snore escapes his mouth in between breaths.
I slowly move an inch.
Then another inch.
I grow bold and take a foot.
Then another foot.
I feel my goal getting closer and closer to me as I move forward in such a slow pace a snail could pass me. I have to be careful. I have to be cautious. I’m there. I’m almost there.
That’s when I pounce. My jaw goes for the neck, a gasp is heard but one swift crunch and nothing escapes as I dig further in. I ripped the skin in half like torn paper, tasting the sweet juicy flesh that is like manna from heaven. I lick the blood coming out as my throat is warmed by its sweet succulence. I suck before diving in further with my teeth, tasting muscle and bone as I rip and tear further into the neck.
My claws are energized and go to work. They sink into the chest, drawing more blood, but begin tearing it apart. Chucks of fresh juicy meat is in my fingers as I take a moment to shove it into my mouth. I nearly cry at the taste. So fresh and raw. So sweet and tangy. So juicy and tasty.
I rip further into the chest for more. More meat. More food. With energy fueled by my greedy appetite I put both hands into the center, grunt as hard as I can, and use my strength to open the entire chest in half. The organs are there before me. A still heart. A decaying set of instants. Lungs letting out their final breaths.
Treasure.
My treasure.
It’s mine.
All mine!
I WANT!
I NEED!
IT’S MINE!
MY FOOD!
I HUNGER!
I RIP!
I TEAR!
I FEED!
I EAT!
I DEVOUR!
ALL MINE!
***
I slowly open my eyes as I licky my jaws. Two days and I was out of food again. Earthstar was a good friend. A very good friend and a good meal.
I slowly removed myself from the bed of bones I made for myself and wondered what I was going to do now. I had no food again, and it was clear that after ten days that no help was coming. Perhaps Osha was dead from the cold. Maybe they think we’re all dead. I had the strength to try and make it to the village, but did I want to?
I have eaten my best friend, and yet instead of guilt and shame...all I can think about was the taste. The fresh and wonderful taste of a live being in my jaws. The power in my talons and the freedom it provided. I shed a few tears, but then my desire for more came. I took in every scrap of flesh and muscle I could find before there was nothing but the barest of bones.
How was it that dragons just survived mostly by eating gems? Why didn’t we eat meat more? When it was so good. So powering. So delicious.
If they found what I have done it would be such a blow to the relationship between dragons and ponies. Not to mention the trouble I would be in. No, being ‘dead’ was best for now. Besides, a dragon always adapts to their surroundings. I had a cave to live in. I’m sure there were gems to horde around. And Osha did say yaks come around her daily when yeti season wasn’t happening. Meaning a lot more...fresh delicacies to feast on.
Yes, this would do nicely. I could work with this.
I stepped outside to relieve myself of last night’s dinner when I heard a cry of joy. I turned around and gasped in surprise as a name escaped my lips. “Ella!”
With tears in her eyes, the pink hippogriff wrapped her arms around me and hugged me. Despite her cold and battered condition, she smelled so...heavily. Divine. Like a combination of chicken and fish. She was a bit thin, most likely hadn’t eaten for awhile, but I could tell she was still plump in her rear end. I could feel her tears dripping down my shoulder while my mouth watered upon my nose catching her beautiful scent.
I patted her back and held her close. “It’s okay. You’re safe.” I took her by the shoulders and asked, “Where’s Maxi?”
“He’s...they...they yeti’s...” She started to tear up. “I...I just flew...I could hear his screams...Oh Maxi...”
“Shhh,” I whispered, hugging her again. “It’s okay. You’re safe now. I promise nothing is going to hurt you.”
“W-where’s Earthstar? And Osha?” she asked, wiping her tears.
“Osha went to get help, but that was days ago. I don’t know where she is,” I said, before lowering my head. “Earthstar is...gone...devoured.”
Not a lie. Just...I didn’t say who it was.
“Then...we might be the only ones left,” Ella whispered, closing her eyes.
“Let’s head to the cave I was in,” I said, guiding her towards the direction of my new home. “You can take a nice long rest.”
We got closer as my stomach gurgled, spooking her to which I gave a nervous laugh. “Sorry. I’m just a little hungry.”
But I wasn’t going to be soon.
Author's Note
This story is for The Halloween in April Horror Contest being done by the Barcast. I haven't done this kind of thing for awhile and I'm kind interested how well this does.
Thanks for reading. Be safe.
