Monthly Quests 2020

Rabbit hadn't planned on meeting Regale that day or even the Highlord himself, but there they had been. She was following her usual path to the spring for a cool drink when she had happened upon them. They were speaking in hushed tones and looking off into the distance. Since she could see through the dense forest now she could see a brilliant red star hanging like a beacon in the sky. She gulped, the sight of the star sending a blood-chilling tingle along her spine. They looked at her, standing there before looking at the star and each other. Aether approached her first. Her pink eyes watched him approach her body starting to tremble with the need to flee until she was washed with a warm and calming sensation as if her whole body was glowing as the Highlord approached her. "My child, I abhor to ask a task of you so freely but...may we have a word?" Aether said, inclining his head for her to join with him and Regale in conversation. The cremello mare approached, floating really on the soothing aura that Aether seemed to project. It was a feeling she had felt since she was a filly nuzzling into her mother's side. She looked at the Highlord and then at Regale as she stood between them, the three of them looking up at the crimson star that hung almost like a second moon. "What is that?" She asked, her gaze still fixed on the star, the feeling it had given her before seemed to stay sated by the mere presence of Aether. "We.. don't know," Aether said from behind her which made her turn her head to look at him. She was confused but as she looked between the two ancient beings she knew that the task she was being asked was not of their doing.

Rabbit found herself in the company of the ancient stallion Regale, both of them traveling so very far from her home as they followed the red star out into the horizon. Aether had bid them to find the source of the star, the pull to follow it was strong but now that she was no longer in the embrace of Aether's light it made Rabbit sick to her stomach the closer they got. Regale was beginning to tire and so was she, they were both panting and frothed with sweat as they crested the top of a mountain that had been in their way. Rabbit had picked a path through the rocky terrain they both could follow easily to the top. As they looked out as the star seemed to be just as far away as when they started. The mare pursed her lips as she silently cursed the star for being so far away when it looked so large. Regale huffed before looking at the creamy mare. " I think we should rest for a while...what do you suppose is under that star?" Rabbit looked at the crimson beacon again, the hair of her manes stiffening to rattle all by themselves. "I don't think it's anything good," She said so softly that Regale had asked her to repeat herself. They were hobbling along to a good resting spot, Rabbit's mind still stewing on the mystery that was the star. Regale seemed to also have stewed on his thoughts as he looked at her and nodded, however, seeming to agree as the two of them chose a softly grassed spot and dropped down to rest their achy hooves. For as ancient as he supposedly was, Rabbit noticed that Regale was as spry as a yearling throughout most of their journey, only tiring once she had started to feel an ache in her knees that needed soothing. She would have thought him to tire out long ago. The overo stallion puffed out a slow, deep breath before looking at her. "You should get a bit of sleep while we can. I'll keep watch." Rabbit nodded slowly before she was overcome with a yawn and rested her head down in the grass. She listened, but unlike any other night she had lived it was silent, not even the wind dared to breathe under the light of the Red Star.

The cremello mare woke to find herself alone. Her ears lay flat as she looked around for Regale, but there was no trace of the stallion ever being there. She hefted herself to her feet, her ears swiveling for any kind of sound. It was still dark but it seemed the red star burned brighter than ever in the sky. On shaking knees, she decided that she would continue on without Regale as Aether had asked this of her only because he must. She was moving quickly, it almost felt unnatural as her surroundings seemed to fly by in a blur as she moved. Her manes flying in the wind as she galloped were only numb tingles that gave her a chill. She felt like she had been running for days though the sky never changed from the crimson tinged night. The star was steadily growing bigger and bigger. She guessed that she was getting closer and she broke into a gallop that sent her flying across the open ground. She splashed across a river and climbed a small incline. Once she was at the top she realized that star was right in front of her now, nestled above a deep, shadowy ravine. Rabbit gulped as she stood at the top of the ravine and looked out, there was such a tension in the air she could swear she heard it crackling like static. She heard rumbling and the ground began to quake as it seemed that the ravine was splitting wider apart. The earth was shaking so much that she could feel her legs wobbling beneath her until it was so strong she fell to her knees as she looked down at the massive and widening black pit. Orange light was beginning to filter up from its depths along with wit laughter, deep and ominous until smoke started to rise from the cavern. Rabbit was terrified, frozen in place as she watched the smoke grow thicker until the laughter was ringing in her ears. She could see something writhing in the cavern, casting dark shadows through the orange glow and smoke. Hannibal rose from the ravine, massive as a titan as he reared his head up towards the sky. The red star casting a hellish red halo around the exiled god as he rose from the depths of the earth. He looked down on rabbit but she was frozen in place with fear she couldn't flee, she couldn't scream. The massive god struck at her with a mouth full of fire. She finally screamed as teeth clenched shut around her and the earth and everything had gone dark.

Rabbit woke with a shriek, coated in sweat and panting heavily wit a very concerned looking Regale staring down at her. The cremello mare looked around with a gulp, had she only been dreaming? Or.. perhaps maybe a premonition of what was to come? She didn't know for sure but she steadied her breathing before looking at Regale. " We must stop whatever is causing the Red Star. I fear that if we don't, the world as we know it may end," She said softly. Regale regarded her for a moment and considered what she had said. "I think," he said before turning his eyes back to the star on the horizon, "That we should tread lightly for the remainder of this journey," he said before turning back to Rabbit and helping her to her feet. "We need to get there quickly, perhaps we can deal with whatever the cause is before it draws in darker beings." Rabbit could only agree as she could still feel her heart racing in her chest. They set out now, with renewed purpose as they traveled faster than before. Determined to get there before anyone else did. However, it was peculiar that every now and again Rabbit noticed a plant with odd colors or seemed to glow. Was... this also the doing of the star? No matter, as it did seem that they were getting closer. The star looked as if it had grown closer, the redness of the sky changing to a slightly brighter red and longer shadows being cast through the trees. As they ran through the forest the canopy started to block out the light, until the sky was completely blocked from their view, only the eerie dark, and red surroundings. Rabbit felt her heart jump into her throat, the feeling of being watched..no...stalked put her on edge as she stopped and looked around. Regale stopped a few feet from her as he looked at her concerned "What's wrong?" Neither of them noticed the mist that had started creeping across the ground until it was so thick they could hardly see their hooves. A cold sweat broke out across Rabbit as laughter rang through the trees, seemed to ring in her ears. Had they been too late? Was Hannibal here to stop them? These thoughts raced through Rabbit's mind as she watched two flames bobbing through the dark and misty forest towards her. Aether save them.