Imprint First Sight

That cold ain't the weather. That's death approaching.

—> The Stranger, “30 Days of Night.”

The heart of the Everfree-forest was a dark twisted place full of dangerous creatures and a mysterious outside of Ponyville. Trees stretched into each other with no rhyme or reason as they stood like sentinels over the forest floor, blocking out most of the moon’s light. The forest felt so dense, so impenetrable that not even birds could find their way through the tangled canopy above the trees. Frogs croaked in the darkness below the forest floor. And there were monsters too: beasts of every size and shape lurking under the forest floor. Some creatures were small - others big and powerful enough to be feared. And those were the ones who were still in the Everfree.

They were the ones you didn’t want to meet at night.

Water gurgled and trickled nearby. A stream flowed by, flowing slowly, its sound only slightly more pleasant than the sounds of the forest around it. It seemed like all sound had been muted here. The green leaves rustling in the windless air appeared to have fallen asleep, their movement slow and silent. The forest seemed to be holding its breath for some reason. In the distance a frog croaked and a woodpecker tapped impatiently on a tree branch. Nothing else moved. Not an insect flew by, not even a small breeze fluttered through the branches overhead. The forest was deathly still.

And that bothered Thorax.

Thorax followed behind his boss. Gormlaith led him and his brother further down the winding dirt path, which he took whenever possible. Gormlaith always liked to walk during his free time. It helped him think. He preferred to wander off to the side, staring out at the horizon for hours on end.

He never minded walking alone, as long as he knew exactly where he was going. But this day wasn’t about walking; it was about something much bigger. This was about finding something. Gormlaith was assigned by the Queen of Changelings herself to lead Thorax, his brother Pharynx, and the rest of his troops through the Everfree to find a sacred artifact. He wasn’t given the details but all he was told was that it would help them in their cause against her enemies.

They came across a small clearing surrounded by trees. A patch of moss and vines covered the ground just barely visible amongst the thick trunks and brambles that surrounded them. There was nothing else out here except a large oak in the center. A thin stream ran along the side of the clearing before disappearing around a bend.

“Gormlaith?” Pharynx asked, peering around the treeline. “Are you sure we’re going the right way?”

He nodded. “We are, Pharynx. We just have to keep moving straight ahead… And stay alert.”

Pharynx looked uncertain. It wasn’t often that his brother questioned orders from the queen, especially when it concerned something of importance. But he did have a point. It made sense to make sure the group was following the trail Gormlaith was directed to follow. He wouldn’t want to accidentally lead them into danger.

As the three neared the edge of the treeline, they noticed a small opening in the thick trunk of one of the largest oaks. It was completely hidden beneath the foliage surrounding it. It was just wide enough for two ponies to pass through. It was narrow but noticeable enough for someone to notice.

“Well, that looks promising. Let me see if anything is inside.” Gormlaith stopped and turned to Thorax. “Thorax, Pharynx, keep watch.”

The two brothers nodded. Thorax shifted uncomfortably while Pharynx stared into the tree. Gormlaith knelt and placed his hoof on the ground. After a few seconds, he pulled his hoof away and rose back up.

“Just as I thought, there’s nothing here,” Gormlaith said. “Now let’s move on, we’ve got places to be.”

Thorax sighed but didn’t complain as they resumed walking through the forest. He had hoped they might find what they were looking for and head back. He stared into the undergrowth, past the trees, and stared into the misty woods far beyond it. Something seemed… Wrong. He couldn’t quite put his hoof on it, but the air was different than it was last time he was here. Maybe it was just his imagination, but it almost felt thicker here.

Almost as if there was more life. Something was out here. Something was wafting through the evergreen canopy. Something was watching them.

Someone?

Or something?

The forest suddenly grew colder and darker. It also didn’t help that the forest started becoming unnaturally quiet. Even Thorax, who hadn’t heard anything unusual at all, now seemed to pay attention. It was unnerving. His eyes swept the surroundings anxiously. He wanted to get out of the forest fast.

Suddenly he realized he didn’t hear any animals croaking. No insects buzzing in the bushes. No frogs jumping out of pools.

Something was very wrong.

Thorax’s heart began to race. There had to be an explanation for everything. This forest was creepy and mysterious, and that was perfectly normal. But why was there a sudden silence? Why had they heard none of the usual scurrying things? Why were they seeing no sign of life? What kind of creature had taken such control of this place without anyone noticing? The forest felt so alive, so filled with energy, yet so dead. It felt eerie.

It felt wrong.

“Thorax?”

Thorax snapped out of his trance.

“Sorry. What were you saying?” Thorax asked.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Pharynx replied, glancing sideways at his brother. “Are you okay? You don’t have to stay if you’re uncomfortable.”

Thorax blinked rapidly and shook his head. “No, I’m fine. I just thought I saw something. It must have been my imagination.”

“Good.” Gormlaith glanced sternly in his direction. “Stay focused. We need to do this quickly. Now come along. We will reach it soon.”

Thorax sighed. That wasn’t the first time Gormlaith had ordered him around since leaving the hive. If he were being honest with himself, he was starting to wonder how much longer they would walk together like this.

In front of them lay a clearing filled with towering trees. The grasses and leaves were lush but withered. Most of the trees were dying; a few were left standing, swaying gently in the breeze. As they approached, the branches swayed ominously towards them. One caught Thorax across the shoulder blades with its bare, gnarled branches. Thorax yelped and stumbled backward, tripping on his hooves. As he fell, he managed to catch hold of a low-hanging branch. When he regained his balance, he glanced back up at the branches. Their tips were pointed menacingly toward the clearing, like claws ready to pounce.

Thorax frowned. Shaking his head vigorously, he stepped back out of the way of a particularly strong branch, then turned back around and faced forward again. Thorax watched as Pharynx and Gormlaith turned a corner and heard his brother gasping in surprise after a moment of silence. Thorax rushed after his brother and his companion. He saw them staring down at the earth’s floor. Thorax quickly joined them.

Thorax didn’t notice anything unusual at first. Everything was quiet. But once he was closer, his gaze was drawn to what lay beneath their feet. Two giant footprints stood out amongst the otherwise barren forest floor. Two giant prints, each big like the other, were lying parallel to each other. At first, they didn’t seem to be connected or matching but as Thorax walked up to them, he could clearly see there was a pattern to their placement.

The shaping of said footprints looked bird-like: sharp points on both sides, leading up to another pair that were slightly curved. Both Thorax and Gormlaith bent down and brushed aside some of the fallen leaves. They were covered in mud, dirt, and small fragments of wood. They showed little wear and tear, suggesting that they were fresh. Gormlaith glanced over his shoulder at Thorax who stood up and stared down into the footprints they were crouched at.

“Do you think a dragon made these kinds of prints?” Pharynx asked, looking at Thorax curiously.

“No,” Thorax replied. “These aren’t from a dragon. But whatever made these must be really big.”

The siblings glanced back at the tracks as another thought popped into their minds at the same time. Neither Thorax nor Pharynx liked the feeling that settled within the pit of their stomachs. A cold chill ran up their spines.

“Let’s keep moving,” Gormlaith suggested, turning away from the footprints. “The sooner we find the artifact, the sooner we can get out of here.”

Thorax and Pharynx nodded silently. The trio continued onward down the path they were traveling through. The forest grew dimmer with every step they took. As they rounded another corner, they came facing from afar the mouth of a large cave entrance. Its darkness hid most of the rest of the tunnel. However, they could still just make out the dark shapes of several large trees lining either side of the doorway. They looked tall and ancient, even from far off in the distance.

Gormlaith paused and surveyed the cavern. It was pitch black inside. He could hear faint sounds emanating from the opposite end. He looked back at Thorax and motioned for the others to keep silent. They crept toward the doorway. Once they were near enough, Gormlaith stopped and glanced between them all before nodding towards the entrance.

“Okay, you two wait here. Watch the perimeter,” Gormlaith ordered the changeling pair. Thorax and Pharynx nodded.

Gormlaith took the front position and started slowly forward into the entrance of the darkened cave. Once he was clear, Thorax and Pharynx rolled around. Facing the trees, they peered cautiously into the shadows, trying to detect any movement. There was obviously nothing.

Thorax distracted himself with thoughts of Queen Chrysalis’s plan. She had told the rest of the Changelings that she would assume herself as Princess Cadance as a disguise to fool the Prince. Once she gives off the signal, they will swarm into the palace and take over Canterlot. If he had to be honest with himself, he didn’t like the idea of ruining some pony’s wedding; however, he understood the necessity behind the action. Without proper love, he along with the others would starve to death eventually.

Thorax didn’t know what to make of the Princess, though. He had never met her in person. All he knew about her was that she was the Princess of Love and that the prince would be marrying her. But that’s about it. He’d only seen a picture and heard rumors, nothing more. And he doubted he would meet the mare’s face anytime soon either. Not after the crisis that will soon befall Canterlot.

As the couple of seconds that passed became a minute, the duo continued to stand outside the cave, staring past the trees into the dark. Finally, Pharynx heard rustling noises to his left. Quickly, he snapped his head towards the direction of the noise. He listened carefully to his surroundings and the footfalls heading straight towards them. Pharynx narrowed his eyes and waited. It was getting louder.

A changeling drone suddenly fell face-first into Thorax’s arms out of the bushes. Its limbs flail about wildly. It struggled and shrieked while Thorax held it tightly. Once he finally calmed it down, both he and Pharynx noticed how pale the drone’s face had become. His entire body was trembling slightly, and it didn’t appear like its strength was returning.

“Hey, are you alright?” Thorax asked urgently, reaching out a hoof and touching the drone’s arm. “Are you hurt?”

The drone did not answer him. His chest rose and fell erratically in a quick rhythm, causing his breathing to get faster and faster. The drone suddenly grabbed their hooves, half-dragging them halfway inside the cave when they all heard branches snapping, and shrubs crushing. All followed with a powerful thump.

“Hey! What’s goi-” Pharynx tried to ask only to have the drone quickly shove a hoof into his mouth.

Thorax choked as the drone forced his lips shut. Using his free hoof, raised it to his lips in a shushing motion. His eyes widened and he nodded slowly to Pharynx and Thorax, silently telling them to be quiet. With careful movement, the drone pulled his hoof away before looking around the side of the cave himself. Pharynx and Thorax carefully looked around the corner themselves. Thorax’s eyes widened, feeling as though his heart could stop beating any minute now.

Thorax couldn’t believe his eyes.

Stepping out from the corner of a tree was a sixteen-foot-tall giant behemoth. Its dull reptilian eyes darted about, lifting its bloodied snout and sniffing the air. Its darkened green leather skin was coated with sharp-pointed feathers that covered its back, wrapping around its throat like a mane and creating a sharp crest on the back of its skull. The ground shook again as it took another step. As quick as the behemoth took a step, the trio was struck by a wave of stench thick with decay, spilled blood, and rot. The three of them choked back vile smells as they gagged.

They stayed where they were, frozen by horror as they watched the creature stomp halfway towards the doorway. A scream rose in Pharynx’s throat, a knee-jerk reaction but he smothered it behind his hooves. Thorax and Pharynx recognize a changeling hoof in the creature’s jaws, a ragged cigar of flesh and broken bone. Thorax felt his heart drop to his stomach as he recalled the sight of a familiar changeling’s head crushed in the creature’s serrated teeth.

Thorax closed his eyes and swallowed, willing himself to remain calm. He opened them again and focused. The creature was now so close that it was almost upon them. As it drew nearer, the smell of decaying flesh became unbearable. Thorax could feel a lump growing rapidly in his throat as they watched the creature swivel its head around, looking for the changeling that had just escaped its sight. The behemoth stepped forward, examining the trees and surrounding terrain, only to pause abruptly, snorting loudly, making everyone wince.

It then lowered its head and inhaled deeply, sending its nose deep into the soil beneath its feet. Thank the stars that they were downwind - it couldn’t smell them. Its nostrils flared and it turned to its right and as quickly as it had appeared, it turned away into the depths of the forest. The trio watched in silence as the behemoth moved through the woods as agile as a bird. Away into the darkness.

The footsteps gave way to silence and after a few minutes, the Everfree returned to life. Thorax listened to familiar nocturnal animals and the three of them exhaled. Thorax’s entire body was shaking and he, along with Pharynx and the drone stepped out of the cave and looked around.

Thorax’s eyes remained fixed to where the behemoth had vanished. His mind raced with different scenarios as to why or where the thing had gone. Where did it come from? How fast is it? His mind filled itself with questions. Questions that kept running circles around each other without ever concluding. Inhaling sharply, he clenched his jaw and let out a collective sigh.

Thorax doesn’t know what that thing was;
he had never encountered anything like it before. He hoped desperately to never see it again and to avoid it as much as possible.

For his sake and his brother.