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// 9: A Thing to Fear 
// Story: Torn Asunder 
// by Quilled Hoof 
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Chapter 9: A Thing to Fear

Tranquility's trail was not difficult for Zen and Shining to find. Everypony born on the island had a healthy respect for the jungle, and Zen had made sure that Tranquility learned her survival skills as well as the rest. Tranquility also had the advantage of being a unicorn - and a talented one at that. Within minutes of leaving the carving behind Zen let out a shout and hurried towards a small scoring in the wall.

"Here! This is her!"

Shining's heart was beating quickly with excitement, though his mind was puzzling over how a four wavy lines carved in an ancient wall could help them find the filly. Out of respect for Zen he didn't immediately ask the relevance of this oblique pictogram but Zen provided an explanation almost immediately.

"O my little Quil, you are such a smart, lovely child! Shining, we need to keep an eye out for this symbol - it is my daugther's cutie mark."

Having never seen a Zen garden before, Shining was still confused but being a soldier he had no problem setting aside his confusion in favor of a now-attainable goal: follow the trail.

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The pair stopped. The next cutie mark bread-crumb was visible ahead,  but neither Shining nor Zen could move their hooves. Their eyes were similarly petrified, though there was not much choice as the vista that captured their attention was overpowering.

They had approached the jungle's hidden edge at a trot - spurned on by their success with the trail but becoming more and more confused as time went on.

"Why would she do this?" Shining wondered aloud for the fourth or fifth time since their journey began, "if she were hurt, how would she have the energy or focus to leave us this trail? More importantly, if she is not hurt, why did she cross the wall?"

"I don't know my friend, but when we find her, all our questions will be answered." Zen often spoke with this quiet eloquence, his nature matching his name perfectly. Although all his focus was on the next mark - the next clue - something deep in his psyche knew the truth and importance of Shining's questions - what had happened to his daughter? He knew he should feel hopeful. He didn't though, the power of knowledge opened up a world of more specific and nightmarish scenarios that tore him apart.

Shining was just about to ask about possible magical plants indigenous to the island when they broke free of the dimly-lit jungle and burst forth not into the bright sunlight of day but into the shadow only slightly lighter than the understory.

Kalohe Kapu stood before them.

The massive volcano, which had brought Maneoa from the depths in eons past was impossibly monstrous. Thousands of feed of jagged razors led their eyes to the smoldering crater, which ominously ejected a puff of smoke as if laughing at the minuscule creatures which now marvelled in it's shadow.

The sudden fear was overpowering and rooted Zen and Shining to the spot, their ears flattening and nostrils flaring instinctively. Shining was barely able to prevent himself from bolting in the direction they had come. As he tried to master himself, he drew a ragged breath and for the first time in his life, realized he was the one who needed protecting.


He needed Cadence.