Zecora was working in her herb garden. She was being extremely careful in the cultivation of one particular section. All of the plants there could be dangerous in one way or another. They all had important medicinal uses in some of the potions that Zecora was famous for making. A large Everfree Ridgeback wolf hidden in the brush was peering at her as she worked.
In the background a fire roared like a small dragon, heating Zecora’s big stone bread baking oven. When it was hot enough, the zebra would rake out the fire and begin baking her famous herb breads and some pies.
In the voice of a young filly, the wolf requested, “May I help you, Auntie Zecora? Poison Joke does not bother me at all and none of the rest of those will harm me, like they might harm you.”
Zecora looked up and smiled. “Caramel my dear // Does your mother know you are here?”
Caramel replied, “Mother knows but had to go to town. // Nurse Fields greeted the news with a frown // But if I came as a wolf, agreed // That seeing you would be safe indeed.”
Zecora smiled again and invited, “Your help is welcome indeed! // This patch is infested with a weed!”
Caramel Treat emerged entirely from the woods and inquired, “Neither form is a phony // Would you rather I was wolf or pony?”
“Neither form is a bother to me. // From before you were born I knew what you would be.”
Cocking an ear, Caramel dropped the rhyming speech that was so natural and comfortable around Zecora. “There are bad ponies coming. They tried to force Mom and Nurse Fields to show me to them like I was some sort of Freak at a fair. I ran them off but they did not know it was me.
“If it comes up, say that I am from the Stone Ridge Pack.”
Remaining a wolf, Caramel drew in a big sniff over the dangerous plants and herbs. She pointed with a paw.
“The Strangle Root’s taproot is right here. I can pry it out with a trowel. I will lift it slowly. That will let you free the tendrils from the plants that you want to save.”
Zecora simply offered the trowel.
Stepping carefully, Caramel went to the heart of the problem weed and dug delicately. Soon she took the root in her jaws and slowly lifted. Zecora set to releasing the grip of the weed’s many tendrils from her garden’s plants.
They had just finished the task when the big brown Earth Pony, Sawnax and two of his timber yard cronies came stomping up the trail to Zecora’s hut-like house.
Without preamble, Sawnax began, “Listen up, you striped weirdo! We needs a poison to put out in wolf baits! We gonna put them out around that there Brightmane’s place! They got a dangerous wolf there.
“It attack us without no cause! We barely fight it off and get away with our lives!”
The very observant Zecora chuckled, “The only evidence of a fight // Is claw marks as you took to flight // All the marks show us your fears // Because they are all in your rears!”
Caramel Treat, still as a monster Everfree Ridgeback Wolf, slunk around Zecora into their sight. Her yellow eyes with a thin ring of blue were slitted in rage, belly close to the earth, black tipped tail stiff and held low.
Forcing her voice down from its usual filly’s tones to a deep growl, she demanded, “How many times must the Stone Ridge Pack run you from the Everfree?”
Zecora, utterly calm, reached out and ruffled the ears of the huge wolf beside her. “You will get no poison from me // To harm my neighbors of the Everfree. // This friend is helping in my need // To free my garden of pest and weed.”
Sawnax sneered, “You wasn’t listening! Them monsters gonna run you out of the forest!”
Zecora smiled, “You, Sawnax, had too many beers! // Indeed I do use my ears. // It is you and you alone, // The coward with no backbone, // That from this forest would be wise to flee. // The Stone Ridge Pack is no danger to me.”
Caramel appeared to relax and start to sit. As her rear got lower, a slight tension spoke of her intent. Straightening her nearly folded rear legs, the big wolf lunged! She spanned the distance between Zecora and Sawnax in a single powerful bound!
A large forepaw slammed to earth just past Sawnax’s forelegs, tripping him as the mass of the hurtling wolf smashed into his shoulder! Sawnax was down, squalling for his life! The wolf finished the plunge, landing across his neck, preventing him from rising!
She changed posture some to sit more comfortably on his neck and growled, “This is the last time that you will leave this forest alive! Do you understand? Leave. Never return. The Stone Ridge Pack is tired of your misbehavior. We will be watching.”
The other two were backing away, wide eyed with fear. Rage filled yellow eyes with a thin blue ring in them moved from the fallen Sawnax to the frightened ponies. They broke and ran back towards Ponyville!
Squalling, “Wait up! Don’t leave me!” Sawnax fled after them!
The change flowed like a big ripple down Caramel fro nose to tail as the gray and black wolf shifted back to a caramel tan filly. Caramel Treat continued to giggle for a little.
Finally, she managed to get out, “Are we done with the weeding?”
Zecora patted her tolerantly. “Indeed the worst of pests is gone. // Sawnax no longer befouls my lawn! // Inside my home is bread and pie to make. // Let us teach you to bake!”
Soon the clearing was filled with the wonderful aroma of fresh bread baking in Zecora’s big stone oven.
Caramel, her blue eyes with a narrow ring of yellow sparkling, enthused, “Thank you for teaching me this, Auntie Zecora! Cooking is so much fun!”
Zecora, spreading soft butter on another slice of fresh hot bread, smiled, “Talented at cooking you are true // And it is a pleasure to teach you!”
When the hot breads cooled enough to handle easily, Caramel and Zecora loaded up a saddle bag with loaves. She trotted serenely along the trail back to Brightmane’s cottage, two big Everfree Ridgeback wolves ambling along beside her.
~THE END~