Hunter in the Moonlight By Baron-Engel Watch

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This piece is from one of my recent Equestria dreamscape, and it takes place almost two years after the current dream arc. However I thought folks would find it interesting.



The Nalickhan horde slowly shambled across the glowing landscape of the dream realm. Their massive forms and great numbers created great swirling clouds as they moved. From a distance their approach looked like giant thunderstorm rolling across the nighttime sky.



Kin-ka-rell surveyed the realm as his tribe continued their ponderous migration. Soon they would need to hunt, but they were entering good hunting grounds. Very soon the horde would have its hunger satisfied.



The sound of roaring and shouting caused Kin-ka-rell to look ahead. Galloping back to the head the column was one of their scouts that the horde leader sent out to check for dangers and suitable hunting locations. The scout galloped straight up to horde leader and then slid his massive bulk to a halt in front of him. The scout bowed and remained in that position; with a trembling voice he spoke.



"Great Horde Leader! We've discovered something ahead of us that is most alarming!"



Kin-ka-rell stroked one of his great tusks. "Well what is it? Speak!"



The scout reached into a crude satchel that hung around his neck. "This."



In his giant paw was a tiny, bright red bow. "There's many more of them dead ahead!"



Nalickhan horde with its leader in the front came over rise in the hill. In front of them was two rows of scythes about 100 yards apart from each other. Tied to each scythe was bright red bow similar to the one Kin-ka-rell now held in his paw. There must have been thousands of the scythes and bows in each row that followed the rolling terrain of the realm, eventually vanishing into distance. The horde leader noticed that one of the scythes was missing a bow; he looked at the one in paw and then spoke to the scout.



"Have you moved or disturbed any of them? Besides bringing me this bow?"



The scout shook his head. "No Great Horde Leader! I only brought you this one bow so you could see it before we arrived here!"



"What's are we waiting for?" Growled Gra-noor the newly appointed Master of the Hunt. He'd ambled up to Kin-ka-rell's side. "The horde yearns to hunt and we've entered good territory for it."



He sauntered over to one of the scythes and looked down at it. He stared at it in disdain and began to raise his front leg to swat it aside when the horde leader spoke up.



"Don't touch it!" Hissed the horde leader. "Disturb none of them! We're being watched!"



Kin-ka-rell was intently staring at something about quarter of mile away from the horde. The dark clouds that usually shrouded the Nalickhan when they traveled and hunted had parted in the east. Hanging close to the horizon was a full moon. Silhouetted against the moon pale golden light was a single, small figure floating in the air. It was a pony sheathed in black armor that glistened like obsidian. Cradled by its right front leg was gigantic scythe of similar material. It's edge shimmered with purple flame and a great unblinking cats eye of glowing malachite green stared from the blade itself. Even from this distance the leader of Nalickhan knew this pony was staring at him.



Gra-noor followed his leader's gaze and shrugged. "It's a pony Great Horde Leader. We planned to hunt them soon. Since this one is so foolish as to greet us should I and a party go forth and take it?"



"No." Kin-ka-rell said in a deadpan voice. "No we'll send no hunters after that one Gra-noor, for we are not the hunters at this moment. She is."



As Kin-ka-rell watched the pony raised its front leg and pointed its scythe at him. Then she pointed in the direction of the scythes and bows. The leader of Nalickhan slowly strolled over to the scythe that his scout had removed the bow from. With great care he reattached the bow to the scythe. Then he turned and faced the pony who had not moved and pointed to the path between the scythes and nodded his head. Then he turned to Gra-noor.



"The horde will not be hunting here. We will travel to our next hunting grounds. We will follow the path laid out between the scythes; any who stray from the path do so at their own risk and will receive no aid from their comrades in the horde if they are attacked."



Master of the Hunt glared at the Great Horde Leader. "Not hunting here! We've hunted here for a dozens of generation! The horde needs to hunt! Why can't we hunt here?"



"Because there is a new hunter who has claimed this territory as her own, and she hunts the likes of us. I have heard rumors of this one who wears the red bow. She serves the Dream Witch and she brings dread to those who threaten the herd she protects. She is the Keys to the Gates of Chaos. She is the one who's held the scales of life and death. She is the one who broke the moon and then made it whole again. And she is telling us that if stay on the path she's laid out for us we may pass safely through this part of the realm she's sworn to protect."



The elder Nalickhan looked at the much younger Gra-noor. "Therefore the horde will not hunt here! We move on to our next hunting grounds! The horde will follow me now!"



With that the Great Horde Leader headed forward between the rows of scythes in a slow, ponderous stride. Slowly the rest followed him.





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