Glittering Light, taking advantage of the mild winter, went down to River Hills to sell some goods and get supplies like cheese and eggs. Star stayed behind, meeting quite often with the she-wolf. She offered her a taste of tea, which the predator defined as "liquid herb," and showed her firsthand the details of pony life: how they cared for the sick, how they prepared their food, how they protected themselves from the cold... The seer, certainly, listened with great interest to all these little details.
One day, Star read about a herb with peculiar properties in her former master's books. She decided that she had to show it to her friend. It was going to be a lot of fun.
"'What did you say this liquid herb is called?" asked the she-wolf.
"It's called Cannabis infusion. Try it," replied Star.
The she-wolf took two licks of the cup. It was somewhat bitter, but with a smooth flavor. Star took a long sip of hers as well.
Ten minutes later, the laughter of both friends could be heard from outside the cabin.
"And then," the she-wolf recounted amidst laughter, "the fawn tried to gore me. She was smaller than a wolf cub! She didn't even have antlers!"
Both friends burst into another fit of laughter. "I don't know why I'm laughing!" managed to say Star Whistle. "It must have been horrible! You were eating her sibling!"
"But the fawn bumped into me... and bounced off! You should have seen it!"
The laughter continued for a couple of hours until the effects of the herb wore off. They stayed in the cabin for a while until their heads stopped spinning. "This is the last time I try one of your herbs, my friend," said the seer. "It's not right to laugh at prey..."
"Arg... I can't get the image of a disemboweled deer out of my head," murmured Star, covering her eyes. "Don't tell me about your hunts again, please."
"Alright..."
They heard a howl from the pack. It was time for them to go back with their own. They left the cabin, but the she-wolf abruptly stopped, her ears perked up and her fur bristled.
"What's wrong?" asked Star.
"Someone's here, I can smell it. A pony."
"What! Where?"
"There," the wolf pointed. "They saw us and are trying to run away. Should I stop them?"
"Stop them, but don't hurt them, please."
The she-wolf sprinted uphill while Star tried in vain to keep up. A few seconds later, she heard a thud and a pony scream. She recognized Silver Boulder's voice. When she arrived, the she-wolf had him pinned to the ground, biting his muzzle without causing harm to prevent him from screaming. Silver was struggling with all his might against the predator.
Star approached.
"Silver, calm down. She won't hurt you." The pony looked at Star and then at the she-wolf, panic in his eyes.
"She just stopped you; if she wanted to kill you, she would have done it already. Calm down, and she'll let you go."
Silver gradually stopped thrashing and remained still. The she-wolf released him, allowing him to stand up. "Wha... what's happening here?" Silver asked, agitated.
"She's my friend, Silver," explained Star Whistle. "In fact, my best friend. She saved my life when I was a filly."
"But she's a winter wolf!"
"I know. But I can communicate with her, and she's very intelligent."
When the wolf spoke Silver became frightened, thinking she was growling.
"Is he your mate, pony?".
"Yes, he is," Star replied, and Silver looked at her, incredulous.
"I don't like him."
"What did she say?" Silver asked.
"Nothing. Silver, listen, I was about to return to the village. But you have to promise me you won't tell anypony about this. It has always been a secret, and it must remain so for the sake of everypony. Do you understand?"
"But who else knows?" Silver asked.
"Just my mother. Silver, swear it. Swear you will never tell anypony, if you truly care about me."
There were a few seconds of silence. Silver looked at the she-wolf, intimidated. "I swear, I won't tell anyone," he said.
"He's lying," growled the she-wolf.
Star looked at her friend, feeling a the weight of doubt on her mind. She knew her too well not to believe her premonitions. "Let's go to the village, Silver, and I'll tell you everything.My friend, we will see each other soon."
"I don't trust him. He will betray you," said the she-wolf.
"I think you're wrong this time," replied Star in wolf language.
The Seer growled softly without saying anything, then turned around and left. The two ponies silently embarked on the journey back, Silver seemed to tremble slightly from what had happened. When they were a short distance from the village, he stopped and exclaimed:
"But how could you be friends with a wolf! It could have killed you!"
"Silver, it's not like that. She saved my life many years ago. Since then, we have met every year."
"But why would she want to be your friend? She's a hunter, for all the gods' sake!" shouted Silver Boulder.
"Oh, look," Star began slowly, "it's all because she wants to know more. She was curious about our people. That's why she saved me and taught me her language."
"What! So, you've explained to her how we live? So they can hunt us better, of course! How could you?!"
"That's not true!" exclaimed Star Whistle. "She has never wanted to hunt us! You don't know her!"
"Unbelievable!". Silver turned around, pacing in circles. "It's been six months since we started dating, Star, and now I realize that my marefriend is crazy. Six months I believed you were sensible for refusing to... sleep with me," Silver said.
Star took a few steps closer, not understanding where her coltfriend was going with this.
"What do you mean, Silver? This doesn't change anything in our relationship," Star replied.
"Oh, I definitely think it does! What, were you waiting for your 'friend's' approval to sleep with somepony?".
"What?!" Star exclaimed, unable to believe what she was hearing.
Silver Boulder confronted her, taking several steps closer. "You won't see the wolf again, do you understand me?" Silver threatened.
"You're nopony to give me orders!" she responded angrily.
"Oh, I believe I am. What do you think the town would do if I were to tell them what happened today?" he said with a sinister smile.
Star paled at the idea. If it became known, the townspeople were capable of expelling her from the village or attempting to capture her friend. There would be casualties if that happened. "You wouldn't dare..." the mare whispered.
"Oh, I certainly would. And besides," Silver added with a wicked smile, "I've been patient enough. Tonight, we'll sleep together."
"Are... are you blackmailing me? I won't do it!" Star said, stepping back. "How could I have been so blind? You're a monster!"
"Yes, perhaps I am. But to the rest of the town, I'm the kind-hearted carpenter's son. Do you think anypony would believe you if you told them? You know... there have been rumors since Berry Punch accused you of sleeping with Mulberry," Silver insinuated, capitalizing on doubts and existing prejudices.
Star took several steps back, understanding what he was implying. Nopony would believe her if she said that Silver Boulder had... forced her... after being accused of promiscuity. "Silver, please, you can't do this to me," Star pleaded. "I thought you loved me."
"How many mares my age are there in Mountain Peak? Enough with the nonsense. Your mother isn't here, so let's go to your house," he said coldly.
"No, never!".
Silver Boulder lunged at Star, but she was a slippery prey. She crouched down and hit Silver from below, unbalancing him and causing him to fall into the snow. The mare ran towards the village, hoping to find help. But Silver quickly recovered and chased after her. Star didn't see him coming when he struck her hind legs, causing her to fall. She tried to roll to avoid being captured, but Silver grabbed her by a leg, and soome immobilised and stood over her. She was unable to free herself.
"You have no other choice, Star," Silver Boulder said, panting. "If it's not in your house, then it will be here. And if you don't obey me, the whole town will know about the wolf."
"Silver... please..." Star cried. "Don't do this... don't do this to me..."
Silver didn't respond, looking at Star with the confidence of a victorious person. He leaned close to the immobilized mare's ear and whispered, "The choice is yours."
The healer wept. She had no choice. She would have to comply with what that damned man demanded. To prevent everything from exploding, she would also have to stop seeing her friend. She had no choice. She would have to surrender to that monster. She couldn't see any other option...
As she was about to respond, she heard muffled hoofbeats in the snow. Silver also heard it, but he looked up too late. Something hit him head-on, knocking him off of Star and freeing her. Star wasted no time in turning around to get up. The first thing she saw were the legs of a pony with yellow fur.
"Get away from her!" Mulberry shouted.
"Don't meddle in what doesn't concern you," Silver replied.
"I won't let you lay a hoof on her, you bastard. Not on Star."
While this was happening, Star searched in her saddlebag and grabbed a hooffull of herbs.
"Get out of the way!" Silver Boulder ordered.
"Never. You'll have to go through me."
True to his word, the brown pony charged at Mulberry. He prepared to defend himself, but lost his balance and rolled backward. After a fight in the snow, it was Silver Boulder who ended up on top of Mulberry.
"So, this is how you protect your beloved one, Mulberry? Pathetic," Silver taunted.
"Don't underestimate me, you fool," announced the healer.
Silver turned to look at her, and she smeared the herbs in his eyes. At first, it did nothing, but suddenly he began to scream as his eyes started burning like never before in his life. Mulberry got up.
"You asked for it!" Silver Boulder shouted, partially blinded. "By morning, the whole town will know everything! Let's see what happens to the friend of the wolves."
Saying this, he blindly returned to the town. Star trembled. It was a nightmare. A damn nightmare. Mulberry approached her and embraced her.
"It's... it's a disaster. A disaster."
"Stay calm. It's over now."
"You don't understand. If he tells what he knows... I should go home," Star said.
"Not a chance. You're not going to be alone tonight. Come and sleep at my house. I owe you that."
After some convincing, Star agreed to go to Mulberry's house. Unbeknownst to them, a white shadow observed the couple entering the town from a distance. The Seer of the Winter Wolves had seen what happened. She was about to intervene when Mulberry arrived.
A good male.
The seer slowly circled the town, searching for Silver Boulder's house, picking up his scent, and preparing for the hunt.
Meanwhile, Star and Mulberry arrived at his house. He prepared hot tea and a bed for his friend. Star drank the tea almost in shock. If the town found out about her wolf friend, anything could happen. And none of it would be good.
"Star, I need you to explain what happened. What does Silver Boulder know?" Mulberry asked.
"I... I can't tell you. You'll think I did wrong, that I've lost my mind," Star replied.
Mulberry sat down next to Star.
"Star, years ago, when I went to your house in the middle of the night, you welcomed me. I told you about my father, and you never doubted me. You didn't judge me." She nodded silently. Mulberry continued, "Whatever it is you've done, I know you did it with a good heart. Let me help you, Star."
The mare nodded and took a long sip of tea before explaining. "It all started when I got lost in the mountain when I was six years old..."
For the next hour, Star narrated how the wolf saved her. How they became friends, meeting every winter without fail. She explained that she had kept it a secret with her mother for their safety, as she was worried about what ponies would do if they knew. She told him that the mountain fire last winter was her fault because of her poorly constructed shelter.
And she also revealed that the wolf was a Seer and could summon the storm.
"I told her about your father, Mulberry. And that night she came to Mountain Peak without telling me, the night of the storm when your father disappeared. The following year, she told me that darkness had invaded your house, and she expelled it with the help of the storm. I think the darkness took your father, Mulberry. That's why he disappeared."
The young pony got up and walked around the room. Star didn't know why she had told him, but she couldn't help it. Not doing so felt like a betrayal to her friend.
"So, I wasn't crazy... my father was no longer my father..." Mulberry murmured to himself.
"Are you okay?" Star asked.
"Yes... I think so," he replied. "At least I have an explanation for what happened that night."
The young pony sat back in a chair, looking thoughtful. Suddenly, he smiled and chuckled softly.
"It's an incredible story, Star. Maybe... unbelievable. Tomorrow, we're going to completely expose Silver Boulder."
"But I'm terrible at lying, Mulberry. I can't do it."
"And we won't need to! Listen..."
Mulberry told her everything they were going to do and say. The sun began to rise on the horizon. They had little time left.
"They've called for a meeting in the Town's square!" shouted a neighbor. "Silver Boulder has something to announce!"
In the center of the square, there was a large flat stone on which Silver climbed. His eyes and face were still red from the herbs that Star had attacked him with. The townspeople gathered around him. He couldn't see Mulberry or Star Whistle. Perhaps they had left the town, already.
"Listen, everypony! I have terrible news, and it involves our healer, Star Whistle," Silver declared.
The crowd murmured. More than one pony shouted "Is she okay? What happened?"
"She is responsible for my face being like this today and for me being half-blind. But that's not the important thing!"
"That's right, tell them everything!" yelled a mare. The neighbors stepped back, making way for an angry Star Whistle. "Tell them everything that happened yesterday!"
"You know that I have..."
"Tell them that last night you tried to force yourself on me, and if it weren't for Mulberry, you would have succeeded!" she interrupted him.
The neighbors fell silent, incredulous. Silver Boulder's parents shouted that she was lying.
"By lying and attacking me, you won't hide the truth, Star," Silver said smugly.
"The one who is lying is you, Silver," Mulberry said, entering the square. "Yesterday, you attacked and immobilized Star at the town's exit. Luckily, I was out for a walk because I couldn't sleep, and I heard her scream. You can still see the marks of the fight we had in the snow."
"You're saying those nonsense to prevent me from explaining how Star has put the entire Mountain Peak in danger!" Silver Boulder shouted.
"How? Seriously?" Mulberry feigned surprise. "Please, tell us! Enlighten us with the wickedness of our healer, please! The evil healer who accompanied Plantain Hooves on his deathbed! Tell us!"
Some neighbors murmured in disbelief. Star Whistle had proven to be a healer with a kind heart in the short time since Plantain's death. How could she do something that would harm the town? Silver Boulder took a breath and launched his accusation:
"Star Whistle has been informing a winter wolf about our customs and our life, which undoubtedly it will use to hunt us better!"
There was a very, very long silence as the neighbors processed what they had heard. Star tried to maintain her composure, but she felt her legs trembling from the tension. First, there was a faint "heh," then someone chuckled softly. Others started laughing more loudly, and eventually, the whole town burst into laughter.
"You have to believe me!" Silver shouted. "It's the truth!"
The neighbors laughed even harder. It took several minutes for them to calm down, and when they did, Star took a few steps forward, knowing that Mulberry had predicted the town's reaction accurately.
"I hope you had fun. Not only did you try to violate me, but now you accuse me of... this?" she said.
The neighbors fell into a tense silence at the grave accusation. Moreover, Mulberry supported her testimony.
"I know it will be our word against yours, Silver. What I don't know is how I didn't see the monster you truly are before. How could I... even love you." Some of those gathered looked at the carpenter's son with hatred. "Be careful not to get injured, Silver Boulder, because I won't be the one to attend to you. And if you fall ill, I hope for your own sake that you manage to reach River Hills in time. Don't ever come near me, my mother, or my house again."
Silver Boulder felt the hateful gazes of the townspeople piercing him. His plan had backfired terribly. When he climbed down from the rock, a pony approached him and whispered, "It's better if you leave. What you've done will never be forgotten."
Later that day, Silver gathered his belongings and left the town without waiting for his parents, he feared being lynched at any moment. Furthermore, he didn't want to risk traveling at night with the wolves in the area. Everypony knew that winter wolves didn't hunt during daytime.
When he had descended more than halfway down the mountain, he noticed movements around him. Gray shadows surrounded him, blending into the snow. By the time he distinguished the first wolf, there was no escape.
The winter wolf seer observed the hunt. An easy prey, he didn't even have time to scream. Yes, winter wolves only hunted at night... unless she ordered otherwise.
For noone, pony or otherwise, attacked her pack.
Noone.