A Little Extra [HARPG Show]

I couldn't help but be nervous as I sat tall on Zea’s back, staring down the haunted trail. I could see Kate looked pretty confident. The older woman was bringing Kryptonite down the trail with me. Zea and Kryptonite were both very calm fawnlings, but neither had ever walked down a haunted trail before. I couldn't help but wonder what sort of spoons and scares were in for the fawnlings, or maybe even for us! The men, dressed as prison executioners, that stood on either side of the trail motioned for us to go on through. “Here we go!” Kate yipped excitedly. Nervously, I grinned back at her. At least we weren't riding more hyper, skittish fawnlings. I imagined riding Slade down this trail and the thought sent a shudder down my spine.

Nudging Zea, I sent the piebald doe forwards. I could feel her excitement and also a bit of intermingling nervousness. She could sense my own nervousness. Taking a deep breath, I stilled myself. Making Zea more nervous would solve nothing. Rubbing my fingers through the doe’s dark mane, I focused my eyes ahead. Kryptonite walked right alongside Zea. I always was impressed by how fluid the stag’s movements were. Like the costume he'd dressed up for, Kryptonite practically floated across the ground like a pale ghost. Zea reached out, giving the stag a friendly nudge. He regarded her with nonchalant half-lidded eyes. Zea nipped at him again and again he ignored her. “Come on Zea, focus.” I said with a laugh. The doe sombered a bit and paid more attention to the trail that we were heading down.

The moon was completely full in the star-studded sky, casting a silvery light down upon us. The trail was dark, other than the light that managed to filter in through the tree canopies. The trail was faintly lit by lanterns, but rather than giving a warm feeling, they gave the complete opposite. My skin crawled with discomfort, but there was a grin on my face despite it. Zea picked up her pace, graceful legs speeding her into an excited trot. Kryptonite snorted, seemingly skeptical as he sped up to keep pace with the doe. He wasn't so certain about this weird trail and he didn't want to leave the safety of the other fawnling. Kate laughed as she realized he was afraid of being left behind. “You big baby.” She chortled at him softly. Kryptonite snorted in response.

They had reached a hill now. At the top, a skeleton display hung from a tree. It was rather creepy, body lifeless and unmoving. Zea and Kryptonite were watching it with skepticism as they hauled themselves up the steep incline. I watched the skeleton a bit nervously as well, expecting it to come to life all of a sudden and start laughing or something. “Boo!” Kate exclaimed. It wasn't loud, but it was enough to make me jump so hard that my butt came off the saddle. I shot her a glare, but couldn't stay mad at her. We both ended up descending into giggles as we made our way down the hill. Now there were people in black hoods standing on either side of the trail, scythes in hand. I couldn't tell if they were real or not...then one moved! I let out a squeak of surprise.

Zea squealed, alarmed, and bolted briefly. Kryptonite, not about to be left behind, charged after her and nearly dumped Kate in the process. Fortunately, neither fawnling ran for too far, just far enough to escape the scary hooded figures. Zea was still snorting, obviously disgruntled, and I gave her neck a loving pat. “Sorry girl, I didn't mean to scare you.” I mused. Zea twitched and ear in response. If a fawnling could glare, Kryptonite was definitely glaring at me in that moment. I saw no humor in his silvery-purple eyes. “Sorry buddy.” I apologized. The purple-hued stag snorted in response as we continued down the trail. “You'll have to give him a snack to make up for it when we get back.” Kate mused. Zea was on edge now and it didn't take very much to make her snort a warning or prepare to flee. We came up on a couple of ghosts, swaying in the breeze from the branch that they were hanging upon. Zea pinned her ears at them and snorted a warning. Kryptonite regarded them with skepticism, but as usual it was impossible to find too much emotion in the stag’s expression.

The two fawnlings passed the ghosts without any troubles, making their way down a steep decline. I shifted my weight back in the saddle to help Zea keep her balance and I could see Kate doing the same for Kryptonite. When we reached the bottom of the hill we found ourselves wading through a shallow pool of water. Some lights had been laid down in them, giving the appearance of red eyes glaring at us from below. “Clever.” Kate said, obviously admiring the trail creators’ hard work. “Definitely creepy.” I responded genuinely as we carried on. The end of the trail was looming in sight now. On either end of the opening two men stood, chainsaws in hand. They lifted their chainsaws in the air, revving them slightly. Kate and I squealed in amused horror while Zea and Kryptonite bolted, hurtling themselves past the two men and into the safety of the new trail.