Werewolf Among Us

It was a sorrowful night, as thunder rumbled through Equestria and rain poured from the heavens. A young stallion in a brown cloak ran through the town built on the swamp, hooves kicking up mud and water as he ran. He made his way to the sheriff's office at the end of the road, opposite the side of town as the entrance. As he approached the front steps, he slipped and fell flat on his face.

His name is Penny Packer, a young stallion. He's Ammyville's deputy. Penny got up from the puddle of mud in a clumsy manner and ascended the stairs of the sheriff's office. He kicked open the door with his back hooves and then put his front hoof on his chest, assuming a dutiful pose.

"SIR." Penny stated in a formal tone, trying too hard. "There's been another!"

The sheriff looked up from his desk and at the Deputy.

"Take me there." The sheriff said in a raspy voice.

Together the sheriff and deputy trotted out to a barn just outside of town, the rain poured. Inside laid a gruesome scene. A young filly had been torn in half, her guts strewn across the barn; blood splattered everywhere. A mare sobbed at the entrance of the barn, just inside was a stallion, the mares husband, who the sheriff began conversing with.

"When did it happen?" The sheriff asked.

The stallion was aptly shaken up. "J-just after dark...". He could barely come up with the words. "She... She said she was just going out playing... B-but when she didn't return home, we got worried something happened..." The stallion began getting extremely emotional.

"Take yer time..." The sheriff reassured in a sympathetic voice.

"We came out to the barn to c-check if she was there... And we... We saw the murderer." The stallion stated.

The sheriff pulled out a pen and paper. "Describe them."

"It ain't a pony... It ain't a timberwolf nor a changeling." The stallion stated, his demeanor turning serious. "Was bigger then you and I, sheriff. Mean bastard had bloody claws and sharp teeth."

"You sure 'bout that?" The sheriff asked.

The stallion got up in the sheriff's face. "With all due respect, sheriff, I saw that fucker with my own eyeballs. Ain't nothin' else in Equestria quite like it, but I can say with all certainty that I know what I saw." he said confidently.

"By all means," The sheriff said. "Continue."

"He had the sharpest teeth y'all ever seen, looked like a wolf..."

The sheriff sketched a picture of a wolf onto his notepad, and showed it to the stallion.

"Like that," the stallion stated. "But bigger. And meaner."

The sheriff took a deep breath and put the notepad in his satchel. "Deputy!" He called.

The deputy was consoling the mare outside the barn. "YES SIR!" He said, now saluting the sheriff.

"Don't... do that." The sheriff said, slightly annoyed.

"Yes sir!" The deputy said. "Right away sir!"

"Call the funeral services. We got another murder on our hooves."

The sheriff approached the body of the filly to investigate it. He observed deep cuts in the filly's flesh. Her organs were stretched halfway across the barn. Her back hooves, missing. Likely eaten. The body had a look of terror on her face, this filly died in complete shock. The sheriff knew whoever did this was going to pay.

The sheriff trotted back to the office, thinking about the sketch on the way. The rain was not going to let up anytime soon, he had plenty of time to think about what the stallion said, and mourn the loss of yet another community member. This was the second murder, the last one occurring exactly 29 days ago. A mare, savagely murdered in her own home. The culprit was never found, but was suspected of being a cannibal due to the fact that a large portion of the corpse was devoured.

As the sheriff ascended the porch stairs, he thought about what his next move would be. He ain't never heard of no big-ass murderin' wolves, but the stallion is well respected in the community and would have no reason to lie; especially at the loss of his very own daughter. The sheriff entered his office and pinned the sketch in the middle of a wooden board on the wall. If one things certain, it's that Ammyville is in danger.

Come dawn, the rain had cleared up and the rooftops and plants were damp and dripping with rain water. The sheriff sat at his desk, trying to enjoy his cup of coffee.

"S-sir..." Deputy Penny Packer said nervously. "Everypony needs your response on the matter." Outside, the entire village had gathered in front of the sheriffs office, awaiting Sheriff Rusty Boots response.

The sheriff let out an exhausted sigh, got up from his desk and exited the building onto the front porch overlooking the townsponies. Immediately the crowd began bustling with questions, all being asked at once.

"NOW, NOW, EVERYPONY." The sheriff shouted. The crowd fell silent. "A young filly was brutally murdered in her own barn last night."

The crowd gasped.

One mare in the crowd spoke up. "How are we supposed to feel safe in our own homes?"

Another stallion agreed. "I've got fillies and colts at home! How will I know they're not next?"

"We have the situation under control." The sheriff reassured.

"OH REALLY?" One voice spoke above the rest. "A situation that's under control is one where nopony dies!" Said a mare in a red coat. She began ascending the steps to the sheriff's office. "Among us is a killer. A deranged murderer who's troubled naught with friendship. Two ponies die, and you say you have the situation under control?"

"And just who do you think you are?" The sheriff scoffed.

"I am Sketched Hope, a journalist."

The sheriff rolled his eyes.

"This community has lost two ponies to this crazed killer!" Sketched Hope announced. "Make it known that you won't tolerate anymore losses! The sheriff WILL crack this case, won't he?"

The sheriff sighed. "We're lookin' at the evidence. and-"

Sketched Hope cut the sheriff off. "So you have a suspect?"

"I can't disclose that."

"Hmph. I'll get that info somehow." Sketched Hope snidely remarked with a smug expression, before descending the steps and back into the crowd.

"I can assure each and every pony in this community," The sheriff said, addressing the crowd. "Deputy Penny Packer and I will work tirelessly until we get to the bottom of this here case. Now I'll advise y'all to return to your daily lives, the longer I'm out here addressing it, the less time is spent going over evidence."

The crowd began to grumble and chat amongst themselves, and then dissipated. Returning to their homes and daily chores.