//------------------------------// // Fluttershy // Story: Kerfuffle's Lower Left Limb Kerfuffles // by BronyWriter //------------------------------// Fluttershy hummed to herself as she followed a few butterflies around the festival. She had to admit that the butterflies and salmon actually being added to the festival like they were supposed to be were her favorite parts. Not that she wasn't happy to see everypony around her having a wonderful time. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Everything was going perfectly. When she opened them again, she saw Rarity's new friend Kerfuffle standing by the side of the road, watching the butterflies fly past her. When she spotted Fluttershy, she waved at her. Fluttershy waved back and walked up to her. "Hello, Kerfuffle." Fluttershy turned to the butterflies. "Aren't they wonderful?" "You betcha!" Kerfuffle responded. "Used ta be one of my favorite parts of the Rainbow Festival. Real beautiful, and all that." "I completely agree," Fluttershy said. "It's nice to see nature like this." Fluttershy giggled behind her hoof. "And not just because it's my cutie mark. I love all animals." "Oh, me too!" Kerfuffle said, perking up. "I'd do anything ta save nature, and all that." Kerfuffle motioned to her leg. "Have sometimes, too." Fluttershy frowned and tilted her head. "What do you mean?" "Well..." * * * * Kerfuffle screwed the lid of her canteen back on before putting it back in its proper pocket on her saddlebag. Content that she was sufficiently hydrated for the moment, she continued walking through the forest. Part of her was thankful that she didn't need her machete to cut through branches and vines. While it was fun hacking with it while exploring exotic locales, a simple walk was nice every now and again. As she continued to walk, her ears perked up at a new sound. One that was uncommon during her explorations. It sounded like... squeaking. Frowning, she swiveled her ears in the direction of the noise. It seemed to be coming from her direct left. She turned and began walking toward the noise. Maybe whatever it was needed help, or, if she was lucky, was a completely new species that she could discover! Unfortunately, it was the former. After a few minutes of following the noise, she came to a clearing and saw a pair of cute, young bunnies huddling close together in the middle of the clearing. They didn't look much older than babies. They were looking around wildly as though anything could come through the trees at any moment. Kerfuffle slowly waked up to them. "Uh, hey you guys." She flinched when the bunnies squeaked again and tried scooting away. Kerfuffle noticed that one of them had a damaged paw. "Oh, no, no! I'm a friend! I'm here ta help you two." Kerfuffle took off her saddlebag and began searching through them for some bandages. "Just gonna get ya fixed up, and then we can see about findin' something for you two ta eat." Before Kerfuffle could finish finding the bandages, she heard a noise behind her that made her heart stop. Growling. She slowly looked up from her saddlebag to see a trio of timberwolves emerging from the treeline. Based on each of them licking their lips, Kerfuffle could tell that they thought they'd just found their next meal. She gulped and backed up to shield the bunnies. "Go on, ya losers!" She shook her hoof at them. "Get! Get! You can't have these bunnies!" The one in the middle let out a noise that almost sounded like a laugh. Kerfuffle reached for her saddlebag to get the machete, but her eyes widened when she hit nothing but air. She'd left it a few hooves in front of her when she went to protect the bunnies. At the rate the timberwolves were approaching, she only had time to grab the saddlebag or the bunnies. Before she could think through her choice, the lead timberwolf charged. Kerfuffle squeaked and on instinct, grabbed the bunnies and tried flying away. Before she could get much air, she screamed in pain when she felt jaws clamp down on her left hind leg. She twisted to see the lead timberwolf holding onto her leg in its mouth while the other two quickly approached. Kerfuffle snapped her right leg out, catching the wolf in the eye. It howled in pain and let go. Kerfuffle used her precious seconds before the other two were upon her to fly higher, holding on tightly to the squealing bunnies. One of the wolves leaped into the air and snapped, barely missing Kerfuffle's other hind leg. Realizing that she didn't have the ability to get her machete for a fight, Kerfuffle turned tail and began flying in the direction of the forest's edge as quickly as she could with a mangled leg and two squealing bunnies. She chanced a glance down and saw the wolves chasing her. The blood pouring from her leg, which was also jutting out at an odd angle, was giving them both a trail to her and the drive to finish the job. She groaned as she started to feel a little woozy. Just a little farther. There was a town by the forest that could help. She groaned in pain and tried adjusting her grip on the bunnies so that the wouldn't slip out. She could see the town in the distance, but the blood loss wasn't helping matters, nor was the sound of the timberwolves' growling and snarling. "Help!" she called out, hoping that somepony in the town would hear her and come to her rescue. "Help me!" Her eyes widened when she saw a few ponies coming out of their homes and looking in her direction. The began running to the edge of the forest just as the blood loss was starting to become too much. Kerfuffle groaned and began losing altitude as it became harder and harder to flap her wings. She could hear the timberwolves behind her. If she hit the ground before she got to the ground, she was toast. She tried tapping into what strength she had left as the town grew closer and-- * * * * Fluttershy whimpered and continued shaking. "I don't wanna know! I don't wanna know!" Kerfuffle frowned and tilted her head. "Well I'm here talkin' to ya, aren't I? Made it just fine, except for the leg." Fluttershy whimpered again. "B-but what about the bunnies? Are they okay?" Kerfuffle scoffed and waved her hoof. "Oh, you betcha. Made it just in time. Found 'em good homes, even. They're happy as clams, as far as I know." Fluttershy sniffled and slowly emerged from her mane. "So everything turned out okay?" "Oh yah! Sure did!" Kerfuffle said with a nod. "Got a cool new leg, even. Doesn't hurt or anything. So yah. Everything turned out a-okay."