2. LAMBING.

[hismasterpiece]

Tonight, just after sundown, there is a ruckus on one of the farms northeast of the village. When the bleating dies down, several dead lambs might be found in one of the enclosures. The ewes paw and nose at the bodies, dumb terror still fresh in their eyes.

Forest animals just have not been cutting it for Drusilla. But the vampire has been too wary to approach the village and feed there -- not without her Family, those who strengthen her. She stalks the journals during the day when she's not sleeping. Two slayers? A vampire hunter? All sorts of overpowered freaks and heroes and demons? She might be mad, but Dru is not stupid enough to attempt any kills in the village. Yet.

As she tears through the last lamb, the vampire laments to herself how much more fun this would be with Spike. And then she convinces herself in a long, drawn-out argument with a curiously red evening star -- which she quickly names Ethelind -- to spy on the sleeping village. Find out where the sweetest victims lay their heads. Her tattered white new-feather sundress, covered only by a black lace shawl, is stained red with lambs' blood. The dress of her porcelain doll, which she is carrying with her, is also stained. Perhaps she can stop at the shop for a new frock, and one for dolly, too.

When she glides through the village, Drusilla will dare to peek into some windows. She cannot enter any homes without an invitation.

[Dru will not be lingering around anyone she has identified as a threat. She is a powerful vampire but far more bold when working with lackeys or her "family" -- Angel, Spike, Darla. IF YOU WANT YOUR CHARACTER TO DIE OR BE INJURED AT THIS TIME JUST TELL ME IN A SUBJECT LINE, otherwise she won't be killing or hurting anyone in this post.]

Comments

HOOOOKAY POOR PONY

[bloodwaif]

Dogs? Dru hates the beasts so much. There had been dogs in Romania. There had been dogs in the darkest alleys of London, almost as wild as she was. The vampire wipes blood from her chin and slides behind a tree, peering out to see who is riding toward her at such a pace.

Imagine her surprise when this creature has no rider...

[honestapples]

Applejack and her dog both freeze at the sight before them, the pony's ears lowering in shock before she pins them back. No. This is the worst thing she's ever seen, yes, but she can't afford to show just how afraid she is. Whatever did this is bound to be able to sense fear. But she's faced dragons before, and whatever their culprit, it can't be worse than a dragon.

Winona, for her part, starts growling, the hackles on the back of her neck raised up. But she's staying near her owner.

Applejack's ears pin a little further back against her head as she looks around, trying to find what did this.

"C'mon, quit hidin'! Where are ya?!"

[bloodwaif]

"A talking pony?" It's every little girl's dream come true, and in some respects Drusilla is still a little girl.

Not in the ways that count, though. She steps out from behind the tree.

"You are a lovely little trick!"

[honestapples]

Winona's growls grow a little louder. A flicker of confusion crosses Applejack's face - what in Celestia's name is going on? - before she just settles back into her resolve. Defend the farm. Bottom line.

"Ah ain't no trick. Just what're you doin' out here?"

Friends may be welcome, but anything attacking the livestock? Nope.

[hismasterpiece]

"Eating." Drusilla flashes a brilliant, fanged smile at the pony and dog, her features shifting into those of a monster. Maybe pony and dog won't taste badly on top of all that lambsblood.

[1/2]

[honestapples]

That shift draws a yelp from the dog and Applejack gasps, stumbling back a step or two. Behind them, the sheep start to bleat wildly again.

[honestapples]

...And then both are back on the defensive, although Applejack's heart is racing.

"Well, ya just gotta go an' eat somewhere else! We don't take kindly ta creatures comin' 'round an' tearin' things apart!"

Somewhere deep down, all she can think is how much she wishes her brother were here for backup. But this is down to her and Winona. They can do this. They have to.

[hismasterpiece]

"I don't feast on ponies as a rule, duckie. What if I were to turn you, hmm? Would you like to be a vampire pony? And I would take care of you and keep you in a little stable with a diamond collar..."

[honestapples]

A vampire? She's only ever heard of vampire bats. But that does explain a lot...

"Sorry, sugarcube, Ah don't play dress-up real good. Unless you're lookin' for a bronco, ya best be gettin' on your way."

[hismasterpiece]

That is enough for Drusilla; with a gleeful click of her teeth she shifts into vampire form and walks calmly toward her prey -- gracefully. Her arms shift through the air, parting ethereal clouds that only she can see.

"I shall eat you first, pony. And your little dog, too."

[honestapples]

This is easily more terrifying than facing the dragon, Night Mare Moon, and Discord combined. Applejack freezes for a split second, unsure of what to do, until the panicked bleating of the sheep in the pen behind her gives her an idea. It's probably not one of her best, but she's going to give it a shot.

With one hard buck, an entire section of the pen fence is taken down. The sudden noise combined with the fresh terror being stirred again sets the sheep barreling through the gap in the fence, scattering in every direction. With the sheep herd as cover, Applejack takes off, Winona taking her silent cue and escaping in the opposite direction.

The pony is sure an escape won't be this easy, but she means to use the confusion of the panicking sheep to her advantage as long as she can.

[bloodwaif]

Dru does not chase. Lackeys chase. Dru DOES snag another baby lamb by the neck and draws it into her arms.

There is no killing of this lamb; only gentle petting of the terrified creature. Gentle stroking and a song.

"Blacks and bays, dapples and greys, all the pretty little horses..."

[honestapples]

A clean getaway is not an option if that lamb has to pay for it. Thinking fast, Applejack looks around herself to try to think up a plan. And there's a length of rope, coiled up and hanging off a fence post.

Bingo.

She gives a sharp whistle to Winona, grabs the rope, and makes a hasty lasso while she runs back towards Dru and the lamb. If she does this right, the dog should crash into the backs of the vampire's knees and then she can take advantage of any upset in balance to lasso Dru and give the lamb a chance to escape.

[bloodwaif]

This maneuver infuriates the vampire, who prides herself on her strange, aloof mystique and is too much of a lady to be sitting on the ground in a muddy white dress.

"You've spoiled it!" she moans as the lamb bounds free. "You've spoiled my pretty frock!"

[honestapples]

"Oh, you can always wash it!"

Sorry, Dru, mud on dresses is nothing of Applejack's concern. She waits until her dog escorts the lamb off to safety, then pauses, weighing the option of letting the vampire out of the lasso. But she really doesn't want to get closer.

[bloodwaif]

She probably SHOULDN'T get closer. Angry, the vampire rips the ropes from around her. Vampires in the Sunnydale world are very strong, much more so than normal humans.

"Come here. Come do your penance, beast."

[honestapples]

Okay, any creature that can just snap through rope like that isn't anything Applejack wants to test her strength against. Winona and the lamb have already gotten to safety, so she just backs up a couple steps before bolting.

Time to put some good use to all the speed in her legs.

[hismasterpiece]

Luckily for the pony, Dru isn't much of a runner. She loses some interest in the chase after a while, lured off toward the village by the thoughts of slower, more human, and more delicious prey.

You will live tonight, Applejack.