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// Chapter the Eighth: Reclaimed 
// Story: Not Out Of The Woods Yet 
// by Kiernan 
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The boys were on their way back to their prison. Perry had been muzzled and bound, and the knife he'd stolen had been taken back. He'd have been more angry, but they'd fed Venny some cabbage to keep him from dying of malnutrition. He was more angry with himself than he was with the foal-nappers. He'd failed to keep his brother fed.

Venny was also bound, but not gagged. After he'd eaten, he'd fallen asleep to metabolize his food. He was draped over Red Line's shoulder as they made their way back through the forest. They weren't following the curves of the river, but instead heading straight through the trees. They knew exactly where they were headed.

As the afternoon came around, Dark Flash dropped back to talk at Perry for a bit. "How's that muzzle fit? Is it uncomfortable?"

Perry didn't bother with looking up. Even if he wanted to say something, the wrapping around his jaw kept him from opening  his mouth. It was difficult to even breathe with this thing on. It's possible that was the point.

"Well, you're going to grow very accustomed to it. That muzzle is not coming off. You will be eating all of your meals through a straw for the foreseeable future." He laughed to himself. "I bet you're regretting all of your behaviour toward us right about now."

Perry did not regret his behaviour. What he did regret was all the harm that had come to Venator. Every injury, the malnutrition, the fear and uncertainty; it had all been his fault. He felt like garbage.

Suddenly, Perry sensed a presence. They were no longer alone. Venny must have felt it, too, as he woke up and looked around. It was fairly obvious that whatever it was worried him. "Something's coming," he said.

"You be quiet," growled Dark Flash, raising his hoof in threat. "Nopony's out here. This is a national park. Not a soul for miles."

Red Line was not convinced. He felt eyes on him. Drawing his knife, he proceeded with caution. Likewise, Slim, the green stallion carrying Perry, slowed his pace. 

"What's the matter with you two?" asked Dark Flash. "They're just kids, saying whatever sounds like it could upset you."

"Something's out there, boss," replied Red Line. "Something angry."

"Stop being a coward. Keep walking. I want to be back by tomorrow evening."

Red kept going, but did not put away his knife. He could feel a chill in the air that told him he was being watched.

He wasn't wrong. A moment later, a grey blur of teeth and claws tackled him, tossing Venny and the knife onto the ground as it flew across their path. Flash and Slim rushed forward, dropping Perry as they went. Looking into the bushes, Venny and Perry recognized the coat of a very large wolf. There was little time to wonder if it was the same wolf. Venny had crawled over to the fallen knife and, holding the handle between his teeth, began cutting through his bonds. Once he was through, he ran over to Perry and cut him free while the adults were fighting off the wolf. 

They ran as fast as their legs could take them. They didn't need to go back to the river, they just needed to be out of the forest. Any direction would suffice at this point. They had only as much time as their wolf friend could give them. 

Their stamina only lasted an hour. They were back to being on their own, except now they had no direction, and no knife. "We're not going to last this time, Per," panted Venny. "We're unarmed, exhausted, we no longer have a source of food or water and we're still lost. Even if we had food and water, you can't eat or drink with that thing wrapped around your face. Can you even breathe fire like that?"

Perry shook his head. He could part his lips, that was about it. Their situation was very nearly hopeless. He only had two chances for survival. One of them was to go back to the captors they'd just fled from and beg to be put in a cage. He couldn't ask his brother's opinion, but personally, he would prefer starving to death to returning to the cage.

After a very short rest, he found the sun. It was later in the day, so he put the sun to his back and started walking. They'd been headed east before, so they were more likely to find the edge of the forest if they went this way. Furthermore, He'd seen more than one boat on the lake. Civilization must have been near enough to allow that. If they found the lake and no ponies, he at least remembered where the foal-nappers had stashed the boat. That would take them further than a raft could. 

Venny had placed his trust in Perry thus far, and he had proven himself an effective leader. Splitting up was a bad idea. Staying with Perry was his best chance at survival. 

The following morning, they had returned to the lake. A quick search of the shoreline revealed the boat, and despite being worn out from their long night of walking, they launched the boat into the lake and began paddling out over the water.

They passed out right in the middle of the lake. There was no energy left in them. They drifted for a few hours before a park ranger came out to check on them. He wasn't expecting to find two young colts drifting aimlessly in a boat in the middle of a lake. The other boat that had been on the water that day had been an elderly couple that was fishing. It was just a casual stop; they had a valid fishing license.

He towed the boat back to the shore and hoisted the boys onto his back. It was a short trek back to the ranger station, where he tucked the boys into cots and started preparing some food for them. The older one looked positively famished, but the younger one was probably hungry, too. 

With food now prepared and stowed safely in the refrigerator, he made his way to the radio room and called the main station for assistance. They were just two children in need of assistance, but he was only one stallion with a malformed wing. He wasn't a medical expert. Someone would have to take them to a doctor.