>“Heeeey!”
>She's at your window again, peering at you with those sunset eyes.
“How many times do I have to tell you, no!”
>Undeterred, she remains, her hooves and cheeks pressed against the glass.
>“Not even a little bit?”
>Your rage is building up.
>At this point you don't even need to speak, the look you give her is enough.
>“Aww! Come on! A batpony's gotta feed y'know!”
>Not on you, that's for sure.
“Oh, by all means! Form an orderly queue! Where are all the other residents, if I'm so desirable as a snack?”
>Her large, fluffy ears twitch, and she drops her socked hooves from the window pane.
>“Well, I guess I'll have to find somepony who wants to sample a hyoomin!”
>She smiles widely, and flies away without grace.
“That was not my intention.”
>Your expression turns blank and you simply sit down on a chair.
>Goddammit Arrhythmia.

>Screeching from the town centre drones in your ears.
>You wonder what has the batponies [spoiler]______a[/spoiler]roused up today.
>Peering out your window, you see an orange glow.
>Peculiar.
>Suddenly, a knock comes from your back door.
>What? Who knocks at the back door?
[spoiler]>Apart from certain “stallions”.[/spoiler]
>You walk through to the kitchen.
>Curious, you look out the window and see nobody there.
>Must be a prank.
>Just as you go to walk away, another knock, but you can hear it's from lower down.
>Even more strange.
>You open the door, and again, nobody.
>“Down here, Mister!”
>A sarcastic, high-pitched voice from none other than a tan, smaller-than-average mare.
“Who are you?”
>“No time! Let me in!”
>You scoff at the little character in front of you.
“You look harmless, but I'm still not letting a stranger into my home.”
>She huffs, and pushes past your leg with her snout in the air.
“Hey!”
>Bending over, you put your hands out to pick the pony up and put her out of the house.
>For some reason, she bares her large fangs at you and hisses.
>“Listen to me or I'll bite your finger!”
“Big talk for such a small mare.”
>She frowns at you.
>“You don't know me.”
“Exactly! So tell me!”
>She looks up you, rolling her pinkish eyes and sighing.
>“I'm Arid Star. Not a mare just yet. But you have to listen to me, now!”
>You lean against the kitchen counter, nodding.
>She hesitates for a moment.
>“It's going to sound ridiculous. But I'm 100% serious.”
>You nod again, folding your arms.
>“A lot of the townsponies are coming for you. I overheard somepony with… sizeable assets convinced them you're the holy grail of blood.”
>Her face is concerned.
>But you don't trust her, completely.
“Then why aren't you trying to bite me?”
>She proudly puffs her chest out.
>“I only eat fruit.”
>You chuckle at the little display.
>Under her breath, the not-quite-a-mare utters.
>“Shut it.”
“Hey. You barged in here. It'd do you well to be polite.”
>She looks away and mutters again with gritted teeth.
>“Sorry.”
>Accepted.
“What do you propose I do then, if I have an angry mob of thirsty batponies after me?”
>She smiles.
>“You follow me. I know where you can go.”
“I still don't know you. And- wait a minute, how the hell did you get here?”
>“I told you, I overheard that big pony. It was almost like a soapbox speech, except for a blood source.”
>Accepted, again.
“Fine. Well, how far do we have to go? I don't exactly want to leave my home behind while some thirsty batponies raid it, looking for me.”
>She smiles.
>“Oh it's not far, I think you'll find it a pleasant walk. Now come on, before the mob arrives.”
>Obliging finally, you both head for the door.
>Shouts can be heard in the distance as you and the little pony hurriedly walk away.
“I'm Anon, by the way.”
>Politely, Arid smiles and speaks.
>“Nice ta meet you.”

>“He's not here! You told us he'd be asleep! This really sucks!”
>Snickers come from the same pony in the crowd.
>Everypony groans at the terrible pun.
“I swear to Luna...”
>You clear your throat very loudly.
“Everypony, if you'd stop sniffing his underwear for one moment!”
>Your fellow bats all turn to you, searching for answers.
>“Mia, what are we to do? Your supposed “pure” source isn't here!”
>You think for a second.
“In fact, keep sniffing his underwear!
>All eyes in the room turn to you.
“Get a scent for it and then we can find where he's gone!”
>They all blush simultaneously.
“Oh come on. You were fine with doing it before. Now get a'sniffing!”
>Nostrils enlarge all around you as they lewdly take in the aroma of Anon's undergarments.
>“Ahhh...” moans one mare.
“Aaaand no more underpants for you!”
>You quickly snatch them out of her face with a wing claw.
>This is proving to be harder than you thought.
[spoiler]>And some stallions are probably going to be harder than you thought, too.[/spoiler]
>Somepony finally starts yelping.
>“I got it! Follow me!”

>“So, you've been in Hollow Shades the whole time?”
“Yeah. I mean I've travelled a little, but never lived anywhere else. Hollow Shades was always quiet enough for me.”
>“Was?”
>You chuckle as you pass an enormous pine tree.
“Yeah. But you see what happened there. Got a batpony after me.”
>She corrects you.
>“Batponies.”
>You laugh again, a little more warily this time.
“Did you happen to see how many ponies were in that crowd with Arrhythmia?”
>She taps her chin, deep in thought.
>“A few. Which is more than a couple. At least seven.”
>Dammit.
“We almost at your supposed safehouse then?”
>She nods confidently.
>“Should take us another 5 minutes then we'll meet up with another bat.”
>You stop.
“Another one? You said nothing about another batpony. How do I know she's not out to suck my blood too?”
>She sighs and rolls her eyes again.
>“She literally eats nothing but mangoes and pineapples.”
>Slowly, you eye her and continue walking.
“Alright then.”
>She trots along, looking at you with some confusion in her eyes.
>“You still don't trust me, huh?”
>Truth be told, she's half right.
“I mean, I trust you more than I do Arrhythmia.”
>She smiles coyly.
>“That's not saying much, Anon.”
“True. But how would you react if some little pony came to your house telling you there's an angry mob after you?”
>She rolls her eyes for the umpteenth time today, trying to hide her smile.
>“Fair enough. Anyway, we're here.”
>Arid Star brushes past a small shrub, leading to a small clearing in the woodland.
>Following her in, a small cottage greets your view.
>It's the most quaint thing you've ever seen.
>Quirky, circular shaped windows with a little door.
“What reason does this pony have to hide me from a mob?”
>Arid Star grumbles a little.
>“She's just a nice pony, okay? No more questions!”
>With a huff, she turns away and knocks in a pattern on the door.
>Out pops a taller mare with yellow-tinted shades.
>“Ooh, guests! Come in, come in.”
>Quickly she's pushing you both into her abode, much to your dismay.
“Hey! I can walk, y'know!”
>The teen mare next to you laughs.
>“Don't mind him Mosina, he's just on edge. Poor guy's got the blood mob after him.”
>You scoff mockingly.
>“Oh, that's a sorry fate.”
>She then turns 
>“And what might your name be?”
>She seems welcoming enough, if her pushing her straight into your house wasn't enough.
“It's Anonymous. But you can call me Anon.”
>She smiles cheerfully and motions you both to follow her through the small hallway.
>“Care for some tea, either of you?”
>Arid Star instantly pipes up and accepts the offer.
“I'm fine, thanks.”
>By the time you come through, Mosina is nowhere to be seen.
>“Nonsense, you've just journeyed here all the way from Hollow Shades. Sit down and relax!”
>Arid Star nods to you.

>The group is getting restless.
>There's been no sign of him yet, and this trail you're all following seems endless.
>Doesn't help that some mare keeps making puns about literally EVERYTHING in sight.
>“Why don't trees and dogs get along?”
>She's met with the symphony of batponies groaning.
>“They both bark at each other!”
>An angry mare shouts.
>“That one doesn't even make sense!”
>“Keekeekee...”
>You find yourself sighing.
>The pony who is still sniffing Anon's underwear calls out from the front.
>“Hey, I think somepony's helping him! There are hoofprints here!”
“I thought we sorted that out last time?”
>You move to the front and see small hoofprints alongside footprints.
>Those footsteps tell you all you need to know.
“She's done it again! You all know where to go now!”

>Mosina sets a cup down in front of you, eager for you to drink it.
>“Oh, I insist! Your story just tells me you need to sit down and chill out.”
>Arid looks at you and smiles.
>“Come on, Anon. I've already finished mine!”
>You sigh, and take a sip from it.
>It's actually really good.
“What kind of tea is this? I've never tasted a cup like it!”
>She smiles and explains.
>“It's a special blend, I mix with sap extract it from nearby plants.”
>Arid looks a little off as you gulp down another swig from the cup.
“You alright?”
>As you raise it for another drink, your head suddenly starts feeling really light.
“Wha-… What's happenin'?”
>Mosina looks towards you warmly, but it's no longer comforting.
>“Shh.”
>With that, you hear a loud noise as you slip away into unconsciousness.

>A shout comes from through the house.
>“Are you gonna pay for that door?!”
“Give him back!”
>Arid Star hisses at you and stands in the doorway.
>Her tiny stature hardly even covers a quarter of it so you just walk past her, much to her disdain.
>“Hey!”
>Mosina's fangs are almost into Anon's neck.
>She's going to pay for this.
“Mosina, how many times to I have to tell you, you can't just brainwash fillies to go and fetch you meals!”
>She looks agitated.
>“You and all these other ponies are chasing after him! What's he gonna think?”
>He stirs in the chair beside her.
“I was just trying to prove a point! You're actually about to eat him! I would never feed off anypony unless they let me.”
>The small brown filly starts hopping up and down.
>“Mosina, I just want my bits, where are they?”
>She ignores her, and still stares at you.
>“You, me, outside. Now.”
>Again, Arid keeps making her shrill voice heard over everypony else.
>“Have any of you dumb mares even tried fruit before?!”
“Alright, Mosina. Let's go.”
>You quickly gallop out of the house, hearing Mosina finally shout in response to some high-pitched cries.
>“There are no bits!”

>“SKREEEEEE!”
>That's probably the worst way you've been woken up.
“Aaaargh! My ears!”
>You clamp them quickly before you go deaf.
>Nobody's in the room but you can't leave from the front door, when you move closer it only gets louder.
>The back door!
>Without looking where you're going you bump into something.
>“Hey! Watch your step!”
>Muffled Arid.
“You tricked me!”
>She looks away.
>“Fine, I tricked you. But stupid Mosina doesn't have any bits.”
>You move past her to the back door, groaning in frustration with a headache.
>“But...”
>Ignoring her, you pull the handle.
>“I'm really sorry! I just needed the bits! But now I can double-cross her to make it up to you!”
“I don't need your help, you crazy filly!”
>She raises an eyebrow.
>“And I suppose you know a way back, hmm?”
>Now she's smiling, like a cheeki [spoiler]____[/spoiler].
>And again, you have a filly accompanying you.

>About an hour later, you're back home, and Arid is still pestering you.
>“Seriously, is there anything I can do to make it up to you?”
>You slap your face and sink back into your seat.
>There are at least 13 finished cups of tea in front of you.
>You're wired to the moon and back again.
“I think you've done quite enough today.”
>She looks up at you, pouting with those huge pink eyes.
“Fine. ONE more. But after that, you're going home.”
>She clops her hooves together and smiles herself away into the kitchen.
“I can't get rid of these ponies...”
>There's a tap at your window.
>“Heeeey, Anon!”
>...

>Fucking batponies.