A Inky Encounter

Inkwell....

Quill Inkwell was a kind, young stallion; he had worked at the only library in Woodcreek. Not many ponies visited the library, but when somepony did it was usually to see if the newest novels had arrived yet, which they most of the time hadn't. Woodcreek was so remote that they were always the last to know if something big happened. And that was the case even with the coronation of Twilight Sparkle. Quill and the rest of Woodcreek had only learned that Twilight had become a princess three years AFTER the coronation. And that was only one thing that took forever for Woodcreek to learn... Anyway, back to the unfortunate stallion.

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Quill like many others, was put on edge because of the disappearances. He thought he was a perfect target for whatever was causing this, since he lived by himself, and he lived on the very edge of the small town. So, he didn't sleep; he stayed up almost every night just in case whatever had taken the other ponies came for him... But every night it was calm and quiet, and Quill started to wonder if all those ponies that had been stolen away actually ran off in the dead of night, so they wouldn't be shunned for being cowards for running off in the middle of a 'minor' crisis. That's what the council called it... A 'minor' crisis! When foals are disappearing on their way home from school or to school they call it a MINOR crisis?!? When Quill heard that shit, he couldn't believe his ears; foals vanishing in thin air was only a minor crisis according to the council...

The brisk autumn air nipped at Quill's ears as the wind danced with the leaves, and the big old trees that had been there longer than Equestria waved to the dark clouds overhead. His breath was warm compared to the cool air, coming out in white puffs as he breathed; Quill adjusted his scarf with his hoof as he shivered slightly. It was going to snow soon, he could tell by how cold it was. He was on his way back to his quaint little cabin on the edge of town after another quiet day in town. He liked autumn the best, the cool air felt nice against his fur, the way the leaves crunched under his hooves made him feel like a foal again. Autumn was connected to so many happy memories... Quill shook his head, no time to be nostalgic. He had to prepare his cabin for the coming winter, which was coming into view, the house he's lived in since he was little, the big old oak that he used to climb in the yard... He quickened his pace slightly, he didn't know why but he had a sudden urgency to get home. And when he got to his front step he froze, it was a simple letter; he didn't understand why it made his blood run cold... It was just a letter, so why did the sight of it scare him? Quill's breath was shaky as he stared at the folded paper on his porch. "Damn it, what am I doing terrified like a foal?" He mumbled to himself as he calmed down, he picked up the letter and pushed open his door as he thought to himself "I'll read this later, right now I need a coffee...". He tossed the letter onto his table and took off his saddlebags and scarf and put them down before he made his way to the kitchen. As he brewed his coffee his mind wondered, who sent the letter? Why would they send it instead of going to the library and speaking with him?

Quill took a sip of his coffee as he glanced out his window at dense forest outside, it might be just his imagination but the feeling of being watched made him feel uneasy. He closed the blinds and went to the living room and set down his coffee before turning around and picking up a piece of firewood and he placed it in his fireplace. He picked up a nearby box of matches and struck one, when it was lit he tossed it in the fireplace. Quill put down the matches and laid down by the fire and let out a sigh of comfort.

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When Quill awoke it was dark, the fire had burned out and his coffee was cold. He grumbled as he stood up, his body screaming at him for sleeping on the floor. Why'd he have to sleep on the floor when he has a bed? He didn't know, he walked over to where he put the letter, he picked it up and brought it to the window to read it in the moonlight since Inkwell felt too tired to fidget with a match right now. When he opened the letter it was covered in Ink splotches and stains, but the writing was still clear... Quill felt his fur stand on end when his eyes scanned over the letter.

"I have been watching you, if you want to know why these disappearances have been happening.. Meet me in the woods, see you there. -I"