(Is it just me or does he look like a pony version of George RR Martin?)

Emerald presses the matter, telling her that he just wants to know that he'll be safe, and that he knows that her master is studying dark magic.

"I, well you see… It's…" The mare says, but suddenly jumps when a harsh, hoarse voice behind her let's out a cry.

"Pathetic, Alacris. You are letting a child corner you."

"M-master Venator! I just wanted to keep your work a secret and"

"Then you tell him forcefully that there will be no more questions on the matter. You were too soft."

Alacris looks down at her hooves ashamed, but Emerald barely notices this. The stallion before him grabs his attention.

The stallion is old, but built tough. Venator is made all the tougher looking with his icy, fixed glare at Emerald and his shaggy looking dark brown mane. The stallion is wearing a black mantle, and the only things he can see under it are his well worn travel boots, a large sword, and what appears to be some sort of bandolier across his chest. Other than that he is wearing an officer's cap with an arrow insignia on it that Emerald doesn't recognize, and hefting a bag on his back.

"You have many questions to answer child. Where are you from, why do you smell of dark magic, and why…"

The stallion then takes the sack off his back and opening it, tosses the contents of the ground before him. In it are the remains of those things that were following around in the cave.

"…Were you being attacked by demons?"

"A sanguitoid!" Alacris says, approaching the carcass and examining it, "But… Does that mean"

"We will discuss this later." Venator says sharply to the mare, "Now child, speak."

He was not asking Emearld. He was telling.