Welcome to Gaia! ::

The moon was but a sliver offering little light to those traveling in the late hours of this night. It was so easy for someone foolish enough to trudge through the forest for them to loose their way off the twisting narrow path. This however was the environment Ghast's thrive in and the perfect setting for this one's hunt. Four piercing toxic eyes made navigating the low light setting easier for them than it would have been in daylight. Long perked ears with the ability to move around their head helped them in those few situations when their eyes did loose sight of their victim, and if that too failed their all too sensitive nose would pick up on the sent. In fact it would be all to easy for them to pounce on any of their unsuspecting victims even before they made it past the tree lining and take what they wanted, a bite.They were larger, faster, more powerful then the lot of ponies who traveled between towns from this path. Their victim would be overwhelmed and the hunt would be gone in an instant and that would be no fun. Better this way to stalk their prey and build up some anticipation both for themselves and the victim. Only when the other was fearful and desperate would the be satisfied.

Dinner was just as easy as waiting for someone to pass by and so they waited for their next prey just a few bushes to the left and inside from where the trail started. It was a long wait tonight and just when they thought the villagers had finally grown a brain cell or two enough not to go traveling the woods at night like tonight did they finally hear someone cresting the hill leading into the forest. "What a sucker." The ghast snarled slowly moving themselves in an upwards position so they could stalk. When they did stand bringing their head just above the bushes they noted how small their dinner would be tonight. Wrapped in a cloak for protection, as if that would really help from the real threat just waiting around the bend for them, a small pale pony made it's way into the forest looking very cautious as it did looking side to side.

At first the Ghast kept their distance letting their victim fall into a false sense of security. Silent all for accept their tail who lapped the air and snapped at branches impatiently with hunger. This is how it was most nights with their tail setting the pace of the hunt by giving away their position with it's restlessness. All the same to them because now that the traveler was so deep into the woulds they hadn't considered to weave away and turn back to where they came once they realized they were being stalked. They might escape if they had, instead not thinking straight the ran deeper into the woods just as the Ghast had wanted.

Not caring to be quite they quickened themselves weaving between the trees with unfair ease knowing soon enough this chase would end. At this point the victim was fully aware of the situation and their desperate pants for breath only made their tail salivate more in anticipation for their next meal. The pony jumped side to side like a frightened doe making haste into the night. Did they really think they could get away? Time to make this more interesting. The ghast was merely jogging at the point, but they sped up a bite to nap at the blond tail of their victim.

"Careful now." hissed their tail. The chase was leading them quickly to a ridge in the forest that Ghast knew all too well. It was fun to watch ignorant travelers run off the side of the hill only to tumble down. It was in those moments that they enjoyed themselves the most. Once the victims tumbled off the side coming to a devastating crash they would slow down, take their sweet time to saunter down the hill before looming over their injured and fall battered victims at the bottom. Too weak and broken to continue running they always were from the fall to continue running. In these moments the Ghast knew that they were the top predator, that they were dominant beyond all others and more then anything, more than the meal itself that's what they craved most out of these hunts. Though the tail would argue that. So careful they were to guide the chase to that very spot. Picking up the pace, letting out a taunting snarl they pursued the cloaked traveler into turn towards the edge and over. Just as they did immediately the Ghast digging their claws into the ground to come to a quick halt befor they themselves flew over the ridge. It took the Ghast a second to get the sound of blood pumping in their ears to catch that something was off. They didn't hear any tumbling. Taking a quick deep breath because they had built up some exhaustion from the run looked over the edge only to be spooked by a sudden figure flying upwards at them.

Failing to back up in time the cape that had once been huddled over their victim was hurled into their face and for a moment it both startled and blinded them from seeing what was soaring just above. Immediately as the cloak had been thrown in their face they were already beginning to rip it to shreds with unforgiving teeth and claws. Shaking their face from side to side what was left of the garment was cast aside into the dirt and the no longer incapacitated Ghast looked rapidly to the sky where the figure was initially heading. But nothing was there.

"Boo." Came from behind too close to their ears for comfort. The hairs on their neck stood up and for a moment they felt a quiver shudder up their spine all the way to their neck. Thankfully without having to react themselves their tail was quick to the job snapping instinctively just behind to the side where the sound had came from. But from the sound of giggling above they knew their tail had missed their mark because the figure was no longer there. Fluttering above just out of reach was a Bat pony. An all too pleased with themselves bat with golden windswept locks and red piercing eyes.

They had been duped, mislead. Made a fool by this arrogant twerp! A snarl built up in their mouth and their lips curled back giving a show of teeth as the bat continued to mock them with their giggles. "You hadn't a clew the entire time did you?" came an effeminate but clearly male voice from the bat. "What a slow pitiful creature you are. I bet you thought I would literally fall for your trap." The bat was circling the Ghast now taunting them, but despite their rage they stood still following the bats movements with only his eyes. Their tail however was not so calm and began lashing out to the full extent that the limb would allow itself to go but the bat was always just out of reach.

"I've been watching you for a while now." the bat continued. "Do you always take your victims to the same spot?" Surprised themselves that they could talk between the snarl the Ghast humored them with an answer. "Sometimes I like to shake things up."

"Not in all the time I had been watching you that is." the bat smirked before flying up into the tree tops to thick for his eyes to follow and for a moment it was silent. To enraged for words even for them to think to themselves the Ghast stood there wondering to themselves if the encounter was over. They sniffed, but the wind was blowing in the wrong direction for them to smell, but unlike before when the bat had appeared at his rear when he was caught off guard his ears were waiting for this. The bat yet again was from behind but instead of whispering a mock the bat's teeth had latched into his neck. Just as the bat did so did the Ghast with their tail bit into tiny bat's leg which was closest, but to the Ghast's surprise the bat hadn't flinched, but instead began to suck at his blood. Immediately they felt drained of energy, so much so that their tail which had latched into the bat jaw dropped letting the bat free and couldn't bite at full force. Dozily and only capable from the sheer will power it possesed the tail nipped at a few more places on the bat's body but was unable to cause any real harm.

"Keep biting me like that and I might want to keep you." They teased before planting a kiss on their cheek. Their tail too tired to keep at latch let him go and with a few flaps of their wings the bat was yet again out of their reach not that they had the strength to put up a fight themselves. Wobbling to their feet the Ghast thoroughly embarrassed and enraged both at themselves and the bat had to fall back onto their feet. Giggling again the bat commented on their attempt."Just rest it off dummie, you'll be back to yourself in a day or two." Grimacing there was nothing they could do but stare daggers into the bat's eyes who was now fluttering over the ridge. Even if they did have the strength they would still be out of reach unless they wanted to take a tumble down the hill. Though the idea didn't come across that bad so long as he dragged that dainty bat with them. Hey maybe their body would cushion the fall.

"As fun as it is to watch you here growling at me I've had my fill. Thank's for the meal, and hey maybe I'll be back for another bite." The bat winked and smirked before flying above the trees again this time for good. Well at least for tonight. It would be too soon for the Ghast to see that brat again, but if they did they would, they would, the Ghast was too tired to think what they might do if they saw them again. "What an annoying jackass." The Ghast remarked feeling like a full sucker despite the hungry toothy grin they couldn't help to smile angerly as they nodded off from exhaustion into sleep.