Godhunter - Chapter 2: Hints of the Past

The hunt was always the same. Search abandoned buildings, sewers, caves, and more often forests. One lead always led to another until an end was met. I had never called myself a detective, but looking back on it now, it was the closest to a… positive description of my mission. This hunt, like many others, had led me out of Canterlot and into the unknowns of Whitetail Woods. I had stood way too long outside of the forest as if something surrounding it kept me out. As if I were being told if I entered, I would have never escaped. Determination, on the other hoof, was much stronger than a strange, unknown feeling. I entered the forest, keeping my wings, head, and tail well hidden under my cloak to avoid scratches from bushes and trees. Not many understand the weakness of a thestral’s webbed wings, and the chances of tearing one in a place like this was too prevalent. Walking into a place with no knowledge of what may be waiting for myself was a lesson my mother taught me many times. Sometimes the mission taken does not provide time or opportunity to evaluate the situation at hoof. This had always ended in either a fight or a quick getaway. This time was important, though. I had to save another pony, and I could not fail. I could not let another pony die when it was possible for me to save them. I shall not hold another pony in my hooves as they breathe their last breath. I shall never give the world the chance to be that evil. Nor give these monsters the glee of being successful. The oddest part about this entire hunt was the fact no one had decided to fallow me, nor to approach me as I entered. There were no bodyguards, no hench ponies, no raiders, nothing. Just the forest, trees towering high above me in a canopy of lush green. Only a few rays of sunlight breaking through here and there to paint the rolling ground in its rich light. Though, that may have only been caused by the sun setting. It was getting late, and time was starting to run thin. Luckily, the one that had ponynapped Blue Draft decided to choose a location only a mile or so into the forest. As I approached the location it seemed like I discovered a sanctuary lost to time. The first detail I noticed was the way the trees above almost reached out just to protect the place from the weather. They created a canopy, like a roof, just to keep rain and sunlight away. Sadly, the test of time would not offer any kindness to the structures. At the center was a round, stone floor covered in patches of moss and greening. Surrounding the floor were three statues, placed in a triangle, and each one about six hoof-steps from the center. The north statue was a regal, and almost majestic unicorn standing in a pose with her horn facing the middle. The southeast-most statue was a pegasus, wings spread in flight as it almost seemed to hover above the ground. A hoof outstretched towards the center in gesture. Lastly, the southwest-most statue was an earth pony, hooves clopped together as if in a prayer. Adorn their head seemed to be a straw hat, tilted down to cover the eyes. Together, the three statues pointed at an alter at the center. Chiseled into the face were depictions of the three pony races. I could not determine what the story it was trying to tell was, though, as my eyes landed on the last detail that I wish I had caught first. Laying upon the alter was an elder mare, her greying blue mane hinting that my search for Blue Draft had finally ended. I walked slowly into the sanctuary, head turning side to side as I tried to find anyone around. Just as I was about to determine the coast clear, an echo of whispers surrounded me. “Soul, bound. Life, living. Exit, desired. Search, hopeful. End, inevitable,” was echoed over and over. I looked up in search of where the words were coming from until a soft voice whispered into my ear, “awesome.” In a hoof-spin I dodged back away, my eyes falling on a mare wearing a cloak seemingly the same as mine minus a few details. Her beak barely stuck out, a light cream or linen in color. I could tell by the lumps under the cloak she wore that she had wings. That was when I realized that she did not have hooves on the ground, but talons. A griffon? With how she was looking at me I could tell her eyes were about in level with mine, was she also the same height as me? I cleared my voice, moving my hooves so she could easily see my cestus. “Who are you, and why did you kidnap this pony?” “Oh! Oh! I didn’t kidnap this pony, Godhuntress! I was just got here a moment ago! Weren’t those whispers really strange?” she asked, her voice squeaky and very energetic. “How can I be sure of that? I have met many a pony to try and foo-,“ but before I could finish, a laugh could be heard from a large branch reaching across above us. Both of us looked up to see a white mare with silver mane and tail. She was much more average, and much more mature than I. Around her neck she wore the amulet I had been hunting for. Clenching my teeth I took a small step forwards. “Oh, darling, you ought not approach a mare with a…decidedly powerful piece of jewelry. It’d pleasure me so to smite you where you stand, but the games only just begun!” From her voice, I could hear just how overcome the amulet had made her, reminded me of that mare back in Ponyville my mother told me about… “Then what are you doing, and what have you done to this mare?” I asked, now focusing on the intruder. The griffon beside me had turned and stepped back. With that cloak I could not read their expression, though, and that worried me. I now had to protect two pon-…people. “It’s simple, weakling, I’ve done nothing to her. This entire thing was to draw you out so I could finally get a good look at you…speaking of…” as she trailed off her horn lit up, and in a flash, both my cloak and the griffon’s cloak vanished. Now I could see her expression, and the one I read was fear. From her expression, the prey had now become the hunter, and we were an easy snack. Even less worth a snack with how hungry she was. Power was and is a curse. I jumped in front of the griffon and readied myself for battle, but before anything else could be done, the mare above vanished in a bright flash of light. A cackling laughter ringing out around us and slowly fading off into the distance. This pony was not going to be easy to track down again. I peeked back at the griffon as my eyes adjusted, and I noticed she was staring at the mare on the alter timidly. “No… No!” I turned and galloped to the alter, staring at the older mare as if there was nothing my eyes could see but her. I could not see her breathing, nor could I hear her heartbeat. I never could remember what happened first, but I do remember feeling my legs almost give out. My heart pounded in my chest, painfully, and as if it just could not get oxygen to my body. Yet, I breathed heavily, my vision blurring before I collapsed to my back. Had I failed yet again? Was my destiny to be the deliverer of sad news? To husbands? Wives? Fathers and mothers? Children? I think I had passed out at some point. It was like the world had grown colder in an instant, freezing over and leaving me as the last ember, withering to burn out. The hints of my past surrounding my mind in a fog that reminded me of those that I failed to save. Reminders of when I delivered the news to their loved ones in return and was pushed away for it by many and understood by the rest. It hurt. Then, as quickly as the cold begun to surround me it was melted away…a warmth surrounding me as I took in another deep breath. Like a curtain was pulled away my vision returned. I could hear a fire crackling, and the soft cooing in my ear. We were no longer at the sanctuary, but instead in a small hut. I’d breathe out, “You’re… you’re alive?” “Of co’rs I’m dear. Rest, breath, ya’ saved me by showin’ up,” came her voice, gentle and kind. She would continue after a moment, “you hit y’r head pretty good when you fell, good thing y’r friend here patched yah up.” I turned my head to look around, feeling a pulse of pain across the back of my head, but pain is nothing but knowledge. Knowledge that I am still alive. I found the griffon, her eyes not willing to meet mine, but she wore a little smile that was almost contagious. Almost. Though, from how she avoided my eyes, she knew I had a good bit to say about showing up just to meet a Godhunter. Instead of speaking to her yet, I chose to speak to Blue Draft. “I must return you home, your family is missing you.” “Ah, you need to rest. I, on the other hoof, can’t return with yah, I must go alone. My son, yah see, is part of th’ guard. If he catches yah it’d make things worse. I thank yah, though, and your secret of who yah are is safe with me. I promise. Now, rest,” she’d finish, placing a motherly kiss on my head before making her way to the exit. I watched on in surprise, never having expected anyone to treat me like…well, more than a monster myself. Had griffon not come to help? Or at least, meet me? Better yet, how had she sneak up to me without me hearing her? She had a lot of questions coming her way in the next few hours. First, though, I must make something clear. “Thank you,” I said after a moments pause, my eyes resting on the griffon who seemed to perk up at my words, “don’t do that ever again.”