//------------------------------//
// Into the Storm 
// Story: Mooncrest's Road 
// by Jon Hoof 
//------------------------------//

Mooncrest's Road
Chapter 2 - Into the Storm
"Of all the days for the weather to team to call for a lightning storm," Mooncrest muttered as he flew towards Ponyville. "I didn't think it was supposed to last this long." Another bolt of lightning startled the pegasus as he flew swiftly along. "And it's my luck that I have to fly straight into it." The rain began pouring even harder, and a crosswind began to push the saddlebags on Mooncrest's back. Then the bags slid sideways, spilling their contents towards the earth below. Food, firestarting kit, tactics books - all gone in an instant.
"Why is my pack getting lighter?" asked Mooncrest out loud, glancing back then seeing his map float away on the wind. "What? No! I need that!" He angled his wings to turn, then a gale came and knocked him off balance. As he attempted to right himself, a powerful bolt of lightning arced towards the ground, stunning the stallion and leaving him helpless as he tumbled down into the branches of the trees below, blacking out as he hit them.
"Wake up," muttered a voice standing above him. The light seemed incredibly bright, why was it so light in his bedroom?
"I said wake up. Please?" the voice was begging now.
Mooncrest's eyes flicked open long enough to be BLINDED BY THE FURIOUS DEATH RAYS OF THE SUN! "AUGH!" he barked, covering his eyes.
The mare leaped up, backing away into a tree that had been weakened by the storm. "Sorry!" The tree creaked then fell over, covering the stallion in leaves. "Are you okay?"
Mooncrest examined himself underneath the leafy canopy. He had half a saddlebag containing his father's old knife and an emergency pair of sunglasses. He reached out with a wing to grab them, then yowled in pain, "Augh!"
"I guess that's a no then."
Gritting his teeth, the stallion put on the sunglasses using a hoof and his uninjured wing, then stepped out of the branches. "My wing is in- What are you doing here?!" Before him stood the mailmare that had given him the letter.
"You flew into the storm. I thought you would get hurt."
Mooncrest bit back a bitter retort, then mumbled, "Well, I suppose you were right. Where are we?"
"I don't know. I was just following you." She smiled.
"Then we're lost."
"Yep."
"No food. No map. No warmth. And I'm injured." Mooncrest sat down. "Whelp. We're doomed."