Nathan clopped along the path along the river. Humming to himself. The leaves turned orange, brown, yellow and red overhead. He noticed her. The black and white filly with a warm autumn scarf wrapped around her neck. The long, blue crystal and silver crescents dangling from her large ears. She walked among the foals who dressed as all manner of scary stallions, mares and other creatures for Nightmare Night. She escaped the Howlers a long time ago. At home, they would all be dancing around a bonfire, enjoying as much alcoholic candy as they could consume for the holiday. Before he could stop himself, he called out to her. He waved to her with one fore-hoof and a wing.
"My Mochi." He smiled.
"Pumpkin?" How could she not recognize him? She broke into a canter towards him. Her burgundy eyes lit up with glee. "It's really you!"
Her camera bag bounced against her flank as she skidded to a stop to nuzzle his patchy muzzle fluff. Nathan lifted a hoof to cup her cheek as she stopped giggling, burying a blushing muzzle in her scarf. Their tails intertwined, swaying harmoniously from side to side.
The couple walked. Her head rested against his shoulder; her wing cradled softly in his. Leaves twirled down in the splashes of red, orange and pink from the setting sun. The two of them crossed the river towards his home. Streetlamps illuminated their path. Her heart pounded. She laid her ears back, gazing into his bottomless cerulean eyes with admiration. It was a shame that he hid them behind glasses, but how else could he get lost in her? Beatz struggled to compose herself. The colt smelt inviting like pumpkin spice; warding off the chill of Nightmare Night- of the ghosts of the past. Beatz had matured since their first encounter.
"What are your plans for tonight?"
"Who me?" Beatz was snapped back to reality.
"What other blue haired filly would I be speaking to?"
Beatz looked around. He laughed. His voice unraveled her from the tips of her ears to her hooves.
"How about a movie marathon at my place? I don't need free candy. I have something far sweeter. You." He whispered in her ear, laughing as she shouldered him sternly for the cheek of it. Beatz did not need to think about it. She nodded, too concerned that if she tried to speak, she would stutter.
Before she knew it, Beatz was snuggled against the Pegasus, watching bargain bin horror movies. Laughing at them and jumping from the cheap scares. Nathan's hoof and wings wrapped around her. As the credits rolled on the last DVD in the pile, her large, fluffy ear perked to a strange sound. It was close. A shiver ran down her spine as she rose from her position sprawled against the love of her life. He too heard it because suddenly, his possessiveness reared its head. "Stay near me."
"You heard it too?"
"Shh. It's close." He stretched his wing. It tingled from being used like a feathery blanket for hours.
Beatz nodded and stayed tucked against his flank. Nothing could be worse than the Alpha could it?
The floorboards creaked under their hooves. The scuffling darted quickly through the walls.
"It's moving!"
"Hopefully it is moving away from us."
"It sounds…familiar." Beatz whispered. Where have I heard that sound before?
Nathan extended his wing to stop Beatz.
"Beatz." He stomped his hooves. Beatz bravely pushed past him to open the cupboard.
She gasped, her breath escaping her lungs in an unnamed sound when she laid eyes on the shimmering, serpentine beast. It lifted it's head to meet her gaze.
"S-Sally?! How?" She broke down, tears pooling in the eyes until they fell like autumn leaves. Beatz trembled, her large, fluffy ears pinned back. She was frozen as she gaped at the ghost of the past. The last time she saw him was…No…Was it really that long ago?
"Beatz. What is i-"
Beatz sniffled, turning and throwing her wings around Nathan, burying her head in the Pegasus's neck. She had not told anyone about what she endured under the Alpha's regime. Not all her scars were from running away from the pack. Her eye twinged at the memory.
"Salamun was it? Would you like to join us?" Nathan asked. "Nightmare Night is better with friends. By the sounds of it, you two have a lot to catch up on. I'll rustle up more candy."
Beatz was speechless as Nathan turned heel, delivering an affectionate kiss on Beatz's cheek. While Beatz buried her face in her scarf, her heart racing fast and feathers ruffled, the Pegasus chuckled; trotting to the pile of assorted candy to make good on his word. The Howler loved her Pumpkin more than anyone else in the world. She was glad he took Salamun's unexpected visit so well. She owed Nathan more than innocent snuggles later.