//------------------------------// // Chapter 5 // Story: Canis Ezo Kage // by BioChemicalWolfGear //------------------------------// I waited for a few minutes before continuing on my journey through the forest. I was stressed out of my mind when I started walking. I mentally mapped the location of those blue flowers, and reminded myself to never lose them again. I walked for ten minutes while keeping a good jogging pace, and slowing down so I didn’t start panting for fear of attracting too much attention. It was stressful to hear the howling of Timberwolves deep into the forest. I knew now that when they hunt or are giving chase they howl to attract attention to themselves by other packs. I tried to backtrack where I ran and used the old scent of the Timberwolves to find where I was just at. The Timberwolf stampede left trails of pine smell for me to follow. Walking through one such road of smell I came across a new smell. One filled with apples and a lingering scent of blood. I ignored the scent of blood and I followed the smell of apples. The day had not yet finished itself, and I still had some light left from the setting sun. The orange sky’s color became a deeper orange. I picked up the pace toward the apple scent, in hopes I’d find pony civilization. I walked without certainty and more than a little worry for myself and the environment. I followed my nose as it led me to what I assumed was east. I kept my ears alert for any signs of steps of a creature and my nose searched for anything that had a pine smell. After a little while, I calmed myself and began to walk more slowly and without as much worry. I’ve been able to avoid the Timberwolves for this long with company. So there was no real reason to worry about them finding me alone. I began to worry about the safety of Lumberjack and Woodcutter. But I knew they would be safe now that they hopefully made it on the other side of the tree-line. I was happy to find that through all the hilly terrain, I was able to find a vantage point that wasn’t obscured by another hill. In the distance and through the trees I was able to pick out a row of apple trees. I smiled widely at the possibility of being able to chew on apples. Dogs are able to eat apples, but they usually prefer meat, the same goes with wolves. It’s more because wolves and dogs are built to be predators. But at times they are known to eat grass, or even vegetables or fruit, to ease their stomachs. Grass is more popular in that aspect due to its quantity. Right now I wouldn’t begrudge the taste of an apple. I walked down the slope and soon found myself on the other side of a white fence. I stared unimpressed at the fence and squeezed through the logs that connected to each beam. It wasn’t all that challenging. I looked up at the now exposed night sky and noticed the stars were beginning to show with the waning light pollution from the sun. I began to hear howling behind me in the forest and I quickly made my way into the orchard. I was surrounded by apple trees and I began to admire the orchard as the shadows gave me safety. I looked out over to my right and saw the most awe-inspiring sight. Before me was a great field of apples, and it was so large, that it went off into the horizon. I began to believe that I ended up in a forest of apple trees rather than a farm. But I turned around and saw a red barn in the distance that made me think otherwise. I began to drop to the ground slowly to get rest before I heard the clanging of metal after the Timberwolves howled. I shot up and looked at the barn again and noticed a farmhouse close by with an old mare as she ran around with pieces of metal strapped to her body. I became increasingly intrigued as the howling of the Timberwolves seemed to move away from the noise. Naturally I started going toward her while ducking in the shadows. My paws silently stepped around the trees, and my frizzy coat made me blend with the shadows. I was nothing more than a black dot in the shadows to the old mare. I got to the edge of the apple tree field and went prone on the shadow of an apple tree. The pony was only ten meters away, and I began to watch and observe its actions. The shape of the pony creature was strange and foreign to me. I’ve never seen something so bizarre. She was shaking left and right as she ran back and forth to make as much noise as possible. I could understand why the Timberwolves would back away from this. The noise was shrill and annoying but I stayed and watched. “Is this really a pony?” I asked myself and kept observing. “This is just… unnatural. Their color is just awkward and their size seems off from a regular pony. Their heads are bigger and this one has a picture on her rear.” A window opened on the second story of the farmhouse. “Granny, yah shouldn’t be out here alone.” came a heavy southern drawl from the through the window. My eyes widened, when the connection of the drawl here and the one back at home seemed so similar that it could only be the same. I continued to look on with interest. “Then why don’t yah come down an’ join me Applejack?” asked the grandmother. “All righty then, ah’ll get mah rope.” replied the girl from the farmhouse. I watched as the window closed, and a light turned on downstairs a few minutes later. An orange pony with a Stetson walked out the front door with a rope in her mouth. She had a picture of three apples on her rear and a stoic look on her face. She seemed serious about something but I wasn’t sure what it was. Maybe the ponies are aware of the Timberwolves acting up and are doing what they can to keep them away. It would explain why the younger one wanted to be with the grandmother. The green one still ran back and forth until the orange one stopped beside her. “The Timberwolves ‘re actin’ up more than usual.” noted the older sounding one. The younger one dropped the rope and asked, “What’cha think they’re doin’? Ah know they act up during Zap Apple season, but there seems to be more of ‘em this time.” She turned to look in the direction of the forest. The green elderly pony looked off in the direction of the forest and sighed. They both had a sorrowful expression on their faces. The howls began to come closer and the older pony started banging on the pots she had tied to her back. I watched and listened closely for the conversation that they shared before the old mare looked near my direction. At first I thought she spotted me and I lifted my head slightly. The movement caught her eye and she looked in my direction. I froze and waited for her to lose interest but it never happened. She squinted in my direction and leaned forward slightly. The orange pony beside her looked at her quizzically before following her gaze. “Hey Applejack,” started the grandmother. “I think there’s something hiding in the shadows.” I heard her say something. Applejack squinted at the shadows as her failed attempt to zoom in. She wasn’t looking right at me, just around my general area. I thought to myself for a moment, “Its time to leave. If they see me, then they see me, but if I run away they’ll think me strange or malicious. If I move slowly and walk away they might ignore me. I could only guess the rope was for capturing anything that got too close or its some sort of whip for self-defense, and I don’t want to find out which one was the right answer.” I stood up and I heard a collective gasp from the old pony and Applejack. I could remember her name well enough because of the cereal brand named Applejack. “Also the alcoholic beverage.” But I turned and began to walk away calmly before any incident starts up. Unfortunately I heard hooves pounding on the ground behind me and I went into a sprint. I looked back and saw that Applejack pony following me with determination in her eyes and the rope in her mouth. I weaved in and out of trees and stayed in the shadows so her eyes would play tricks on her. I safe distance was kept between us as she tried to gain ground while I tried to make her lose the ground she gained. “Get back ‘ere, yah varmint!” she shouted at me through the rope. “Really? I could count five cowboy movies with that same line.” I thought to myself. I ran at an angle, so there will be more trees obscuring her view of me than if I had run in just a straight line through the evenly spread out trees. I then stopped in a shadow and went prone and waited for her to pass. She galloped right past me, and slowed to a stop when she realized she couldn’t see me anymore. She looked angrily at the direction she thought I went and grabbed her hat with her hoof and threw it on the ground. “It got away…” she mumbled to herself dejectedly. I stood up and walked up behind her with a devilish plan in mind. She picked up her hat and fixed it back on her head with her right hoof. The rope was still in her mouth and she had a serious expression on her face. She turned to the right and I rushed up and licked her on her right cheek. I then dashed off and I heard her stumble on the ground. I looked back and she had an incredulous look on her face. She wiped the saliva from her face and I rushed off in the direction I came from. I reached the edge of the orchard with less energy than when I entered. I chose to jump over the fence and I entered the forest where I got control of my breath. I was panting to get more oxygen into my lungs and I began to look around the dark and gloomy forest I now feared and mused, “The predators were out to get me. Great, and now I’m worried if I’d survive, if I were to leave and go back south to meet back up with Powell and the pack.” I let these thoughts flow out of my mind and return to the orange mare that I licked. I figured that leaving her in confusion and a wet face was a little rude so I’d give her a song. I began to howl the song of friendship as loud as I could so it’d carry into the orchard. I changed the pitches from a starting point of low to higher pitches. I heard the other howls of the Timberwolves die down and stop entirely as I howled. The forest became deathly quiet and much more eerie. I decided that now was the time to go and find a place to sleep. I faced back toward where I remembered the blue flowers would be, and started walking slowly and cautiously. I knew for a fact that the Timberwolves heard me, but I wasn’t so sure whether or not they would pursue me. I kept close to the bushes in this creaky and spooky forest. I was unnerved by every sound that a tree would make as the wind brushed the treetops. I would hide at every sign of movement, and more often than not it would be a pack of Timberwolves. I spent ages just hiding and less time moving. But I was patient, because my life depended on it. The unnerving glow of the wolves’ eyes would look into my very soul every time the gaze happened to pass by me. I wanted to run from them as fast as I could. But I knew that doing that would grab their attention, and they’d hunt me like last time. And there was no guarantee that I’d run into another patch of life-saving blue flowers. The next pack of wolves stopped and laid down several meters away from me. I carefully stepped out of the foliage I found refuge in and walked around them. I made my way through more bushes and around stubby trees that made the forest that much more unnerving. I walked calmly around bushes and in small ditches to avoid high ground. It is nice to see what’s around you. But if you can see it, it can see you. I then stepped between two bushes and it made a light rustling noise as I walked through it. I ended up in a bush-free area that had those blue flowers. The light from the moon above came through the treetops to reveal the ground below. I was happy to find the flowers I took comfort in earlier, and the night before, were still clustered like nature intended. But this flowerbed was different from the one I was in, and surrounded by wolves. This one had a few trees in the center like they didn’t care for the effects of the flowers. I stepped into the field and a weight was lifted off my shoulders as my worries were melted away by the safety of the blue field. The edges of the field didn’t have any planks of wood so I could tell that this one wasn’t the one that saved me. But I was thankful for it nonetheless. In hindsight I would be safer in town. But the populace is currently terrified of wolves during this season. The unwelcome introduction of ‘Applejack’ told me enough that I’d be frowned upon if I enter the town at this time. Also my empty stomach and thirsty tongue has been bugging me, along with my tired eyes. I lay down on my stomach in the field of flowers and within seconds I was asleep. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I awoke to the majestic sound of birds. “Get out of my nest bitch! Those are my eggs!” Not as welcome as one might think. I groggily opened my eyes with a new outlook on life, “Or at least the morning rituals of birds.” But I remained on the ground while listening to the wildlife around me. My empty stomach and my dry mouth prompted me to get up and find a source of food and water instead of going back to sleep. I looked around and saw the once gloomy forest transformed into an awkwardly shaped cluster of trees. The trees were stubby or tall depending on the closeness of the adjacent trees. The grass and the bushes were in abundance but separated as if the earth moved and waited for the plants to reclaim what it lost. And the ground was bumpy and warty. I stood up and looked at the sky. The sun was coming up, and the day was only just beginning. I reminded myself that I didn’t know what north was, and I remembered back to the raft ride here. I remembered that the sun moved across the sky as we moved north. It went from east to west like I remember my sun did. I looked back up at the sky and took note of the positioning of the sun. It was still rising in the east, so I knew what north was. I promptly left the field and went north. I was cautious and alert when I walked into the forest. The Timberwolves left no sign that they were still around, nor did they leave any uneaten corpses. But they left the stench of blood that I was used to by now. It was faint enough that animals without sensitive noses weren’t able to smell it. But it was thick enough to make me frown at the senseless violence. I’m good with hunting for food or maybe one trophy. But the amount of consumption on this scale is uncalled for. The morning breeze taunted my hearing as I walked by making the leaves shuffle loudly in the canopy above. It created white noise that deafened me to the world and made me unaware of the sounds that a creature could make when they move. This white noise was once my greatest utility. But now it’s used against me as I’m the hunted. But thankfully for my natural stealth and my learned sneaking skills from hunting in the human world, I’m able to hide from anything that wants to kill me, and I walked on paths that were hidden by natural land obstacles. I continued walking north while keeping an eye out for Timberwolves. I continued on with some concern in my movements. But nothing kept me from my goal of returning to Lumberjack and Woodcutter. I need to know if our separation was worth it and they made their way to the pony’s home that they mentioned. I also wanted food as fast as possible and water on the side. As I walked, my mind wondered to the two ponies I met. They seemed so strange to me. The orange one who’s name is the same of an alcoholic beverage that I can’t recall right now, and her grandmother. They must know what Timberwolves are, and how to deal with them. So I assume they’ve been in close contact with them. I should avoid them for future reference, just to keep myself from getting hurt because they don’t like wolves, or because they’ve had close encounters with them. I don’t want any misunderstandings so soon. I snapped out of my thoughts and noticed I was at the edge of the tree-line. I looked at the clearing I stumbled upon and saw a leaf covered cottage with a prissy maroon fence. Each fence post had a heart carved out of wood at the top. There was a path leading from the cottage to the town, and there was a chicken coup with a small wire fence that kept the chickens inside it. I noticed the large quantity and diversity of animals in the yard, and I started to drool. But I kept myself controlled. I noticed there was a sleeping bear near the entrance of the yard where the fence was open. I stepped out into the clearing without worrying if anything saw me or not. Chances are the animals won’t see me until I get closer, or even enter the backyard. I got closer and I haven’t seen a single pony outside. I assumed whoever lived here wasn’t home or was inside. The home itself was an indication that the pony was a serious nature lover. It would be interesting to see a nature-hippie pony rather than a drug-addict-hippie pony. I got closer and some of the animals began to notice me and converse with their neighbors as I approached. I became a little self-conscious as an eagle swooped down onto the bear and started patting it on the head. The bear groggily got up and the eagle flew off into a cloud nearby. I only just noticed the amount of flying creatures that seem to be camping in the clouds. The bear stretched and opened its eyes while looking directly at me as I approached. I slowed down feeling a little insecure and the bear became fully aware of the world around him. He took one look at me and tilted his head in contemplation. He stood up on two legs and walked over to me very humanlike. He then sat down in front of me with a graceful thump as he landed on his rear. “Hey.” he stated in an uninterested fashion. I frowned warily and held my paw close to my body as preparation for a step to the right. “Uh, hi?” I responded awkwardly. “You Hush?” he asked. I put my paw down and I smiled. The only way he would know my name is if Lumberjack or Woodcutter told him. “Well Hushed, but yes. I’m Hushed. Do you know where Woodcutter, Lumberjack, or the pony that should live here are at?” I asked. “Uhh…” he looked behind him and searched for the pony, then looked back at me. “Nope. But Fluttershy said you’re welcome, as long as you don’t cause trouble. She should be back later with your friends too.” he sounded exhausted. He then yawned loudly, and said, “By the way, my name’s Barry.” “Thanks Barry. Do you know the location of any dog food or maybe water? I haven’t had anything to drink or eat for a day now.” I asked, reminding myself of my dry throat. “There’s a stream under the bridge. Good fresh water there. But mind the fish. As for food I don’t know if we have any, the only meat we got is the fish I catch up stream, in the forest. We can go there and get some later, but right now I’ve got some morning duties to attend to, like organizing the watch to keep a lookout for anything dangerous heading our way.” he explained while getting back on all fours and walking back into the yard. I followed him in and looked around. The animals seemed apprehensive at my presence and watched me cautiously. I ignored them while quick trotting to the bridge. When I got close enough to the bridge that I could see the lake over the small incline I smiled and went down the slope. I didn’t waste my time with carefully checking the water and then lapping it up with my tongue. The water was nice and cool, but not so cold that it felt like ice. It was just the right temperature to be refreshing, without being too cold. I lifted my head away from the surface of the water and looked to my right. I noticed the deeper water that held a small assortment of fish and crawdads. I scanned the edges of the river and found small shelled animals… slowly… moving toward… the water… “TURTLES!” I wagged my tail happily and rushed over to them. I started to pick out which one was cutest and I quickly found a nice medium sized turtle that wasn’t too small, or too big. Too small was just too small and too big was just ugly. But the one I found was PERFECT! I began to lick the FUCK out of him. I growled playfully as I tried to lick his head before he pulled it into his shell. All his limbs were safely inside his shell while I practically licked him to pieces. I’m sure I got some strange looks from the other animals. I saw a bird fly off behind me out of my peripherals. A few more licks later, Barry came over. “Uh… What are you doing?” he asked in his gruff roar like sentences. I turned around with a sheepish look and my tail stopped wagging. I continued to smile and my tail started wagging again. I looked into the eyes of the big brown bear as he leaned over me due to the incline. I had a feeling that if he leaned forward just an inch he’d fall on top of me, and end my life with his weight alone. I had a feeling that nothing but the truth would really appease him. Besides, the truth doesn’t hurt here, or so I assume. “Sorry, I really like turtles.” I replied while avoiding his quizzical gaze. He raised an eyebrow and tilted his massive head. “To eat?” he asked. I gave him an appalled look. “What? No! I can’t even eat turtles, their shells are too hard. If I wanted to break through it by chewing, it would take too long. I just love turtles; it’s more that I find them adorable. That’s why I’m licking him…” I looked back at the turtle and raised my eyebrow. I turned back to Barry and admitted, “Or her. I don’t really know the difference.” The bear looked at me with an almost befuddled expression, as if I just broke everything he thought was right and good in the world. But he sat up and away from the edge of the incline and looked up while rubbing his chin with a claw. The incline gave him an extra meter in height and I felt like I was in front of a Supreme Court judge. He took a moment to himself and then looked back down at me with an uninterested look. “Very well. But I ask you to stop for now. I don’t know what Fluttershy’s ground rules would be for you right now. So please stay out of trouble and be patient, while we wait for her to return.” he asked with an exhausted tone. “I can do that.” I replied, nodding my head while giving him a smile. “Thank you.” he gave me a tired, but grateful, smile. I watched him get up and leave before I turned around and gave one last lick to the turtle I was so furiously loving just a few moments ago. I then ran out of the small river and back into the backyard of the cottage. I passed by Barry, making his way behind the cottage. I looked around at all the other animals and reminded myself of my hunger. But I knew I could indulge it, or I’d be kicked out and never welcomed back. I looked around for a small flowerbed to lie down on. But all the ones that I saw were occupied by hordes of bunnies. I looked around at the many wary glances of the animals and decided that I’d wait somewhere where they wouldn’t be intimidated by my presence. That place would be somewhere close to the cottage, and its many bushes that outline its walls. I walked up to a small bush next to the door and I lay down. I closed my eyes and breathed in the morning air. The sun was beating down on me so I had to begin panting to keep myself from overheating. I was glad that I chose to drink the river water because I felt its effects and I could think more clearly. Everything seemed alright now. I was somewhere safe, and there was nothing that bothered me as I rested. Well almost nothing. I began to feel a little uneasy, almost as if I knew something was going to happen. At this time my eyes were closed, but my ears became sharper as if they were commanded to do so. I could hear Barry talking to something smaller than him. From here I could barely make out their conversation, but I didn’t really care. My ears began to pick up on the soft blowing wind as it rustled the leaves and made the grass wave. I listened to the river whisper a peaceful tune. I could hear the breath of a nearby creature. I began to feel some prodding in my side, not forceful, it seemed to me more of an attempt to get my attention. I stopped panting and swiveled my right ear toward the creature. From what I could gather with the prods it was pretty small. “Yes?” I asked with my eyes still closed. “You the wolf Woodcutter was tellin’ me about?” he sounded young and a little naïve. But he carried an air of command to him. “Yes. My name is Hushed.” I answered him, offering my name but not getting up. “Ok. My name’s Angel… Hey can you look at me?” he sounded slightly irritated. I responded by lifting my head and opening my eyes. I swiveled my head around to face the creature to my right and found myself eye to eye with a little white rabbit. I gave him a neutral and studying look that seemed to have a strange effect on him. He looked at me curiously before he took on a spaced-out look as he stared into my eyes. He began to lean forward slightly and his ears lay back on his head while he looked into the deep blue of my eyes. “What is that about?” I thought to myself while cocking my head to the left. I thought back to the time when I looked at my own reflection. I didn’t see myself when I looked deeper into my eyes; I saw some majestic being in front of me. The wolf I was didn’t seem to exist anymore, and was replaced with a creature so mesmerizing I lost myself in its gaze. “Perhaps this is what the bunny is experiencing right now? But if so, then why hasn’t anything else had the same effect? Maybe I have to look indifferent and looked right at their face. Or maybe it has to do with how close I am to them? I should leave a mental note to figure this out. It could be useful.” “I think I’ve lost you.” I noted with a smile toward the white rabbit. He shook his head and rubbed his eyes before looking back at me with a quizzical expression. He then actively avoided my gaze, by looking at my nose. “Since when have you been able to do that?” he asked curiously. “I’m not sure what it is. I just do it. I’ve never really had an opportunity to study it, you know?” I told him. He narrowed his eyes. “That’s a dangerous skill, wolf. I want you to know that if you do anything that puts any of the other animals’ lives in danger; you’ll be dealing with me. Got it?” he threatened, pointing a paw at me. I took it in stride. “That’s cool. Anyway, I should probably mingle or something. No use wasting the day in the sun, when I could be learning new things you know?” I stated neutrally while getting up on all fours. “Hey! Don’t ignore me!” he growled irritably. I rolled my eyes at the demanding bunny and asked, “All right. What do you want?” ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ “Ah’m tellin’ yah Fluttershy, the wolf just ran up an’ licked me. Then it ran off an’ sang a song!” Applejack exclaimed to her friend. They were walking down the path to Fluttershy’s cottage as the sun reached its Zenith. Applejack was carrying a package of dog food for the arriving wolf Fluttershy was supposed to host today. While she carried it she retold the story of the other night to her long time friend. Fluttershy was listening to Applejack retell an event that happened in the night while Fluttershy waited for a wolf. Fluttershy had reason to believe the wolf was the same one the beavers were talking about. “Well maybe we’ll see him at my place.” responded Fluttershy comfortably. She then offered, “If the wolf you saw and the one the beavers were talking about were the same, then he might show up at my place?” “Yeah… Ah’d like tah stay at yer place fer a while. We ain’t got much chores so Big Mac’s doin’ all the werk while Ah do the rest tomorrah.” Applejack stopped in the middle of the street. Fluttershy walked two trots ahead before noticing and she turned to watch Applejack reposition the bag that began to slide to the left. Applejack used her left forehoof to push it back into position. The bag rustled with the small pellets that were inside. “You sure you don’t need my help?” Asked Fluttershy. “It’s ok Fluttershy. Ah once carried each individual bushel of apples back to the barn when the wagon broke a wheel.” she boasted proudly and patted the dog food. “This here dog food ain’t nothin’ compared to the burn ah felt.” “Well, if you insist.” Fluttershy said with a smile. Applejack readjusted the pack and continued on down the dirt road with her friend talking a slight lead. They weren’t too far from the cottage and they could see the roof. A few eagles were staring at the ground uncharacteristically. Applejack didn’t notice but Fluttershy spotted it immediately. “Oh, I hope the eagles aren’t hunting the field mice.” she noted woefully before a thought popped into her head. She stopped dead in her tracks, thinking for a moment, “O-or there’s something going on.” She turned back to Applejack with a concerned expression, and took off saying, “I’m sorry, I have to go ahead and see what’s going on.” “Don’t worry ‘bout little ol’ me Sugarcube. Ah’ll get there lickady split!” Applejack replied, picking up her pace. Fluttershy flew ahead with a new sense of vigor. She flew quickly high above the treetops and toward her cottage to get a bird’s eye view of the situation. She was high enough to be equal to the clouds that hovered above her house for the birds that liked staying up high like the bald eagle. Looking down she could see the scene before her. Her eyes widened in realization. The wolf had arrived. And Angel had met him. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I stood in the center of a large group of animals in the center of the yard that Angel led me to, so I couldn’t do ‘any funny business’ while I was here. Angel seemed to be the most demanding bunny on the earth. But I gave him props for being so demanding to a creature like me that could literally swallow him whole. I began to respect him for his straightforwardness too. He also began to lighten up when I stopped being a smart ass toward him. “So where are you from?” he asked with crossed arms and a raised eyebrow. “Everfree forest. I’ve been living there for… ” I put my paw to the underside of my jaw. “Well, I can’t say twelve days now, can I? Maybe I should tell him my age.” I thought to myself. “Around twenty three years or so. Give or take.” I dismissively replied, before I redirected the questioning at him, “So Angel, what made you feel obligated to meet me?” He looked at me oddly, before nodding his head and responding, “Well I’m Fluttershy’s pet, and she owns the cottage and takes care of me and all the other animals here. So I kind of feel obligated to watch over them as much as she does.” My heart went out to the little guy. That wasn’t all that bad of a reason. But something caught my attention in his sentence. I cocked my head to the side. “Pet?” I asked. He along with the other animals gave me an odd look, “Yeah, pet. It’s where a pony decides to take care of you and sometimes teach you things. Pets normally help their owners whenever they can…” He paused and cocked his head to the side as well, and asked, “Is that strange to you?” I thought about it for a moment, and responded, “Considering the fact that I’ve never been around ponies before, and haven’t even heard of the term Pet… well yea it’s strange for me to think about. But I’ll figure it out eventually.” “Oh dear! I-Is everything alright!?” shouted a timid voice from above. To be honest it was a little quiet, and I only picked it up because the wind didn’t blow for just a few seconds. I looked up to investigate the noise and I saw a yellow pony with wings gliding down to meet us. I raised my eyebrow in complete disbelief. I heard Powell mention unicorns. But I forgot whether or not he mentioned Pegasi. But it wasn’t the fact that the pony was a Pegasus that confused me. It was the size of her wings, and how small they were. They didn’t make any sense. I thought to myself, “Even birds have larger wings that are the size of their bodies or larger, to help them fly. But she just broke reality with her wing size.” I continued to ponder this as she landed a meter from me and Angel with a worried expression adorning her face. “There’s nothing wrong is there?” she asked Angel with concern in her voice. Angel looked at me in my eyes. I looked back at him with a small amount of apprehensiveness. This bunny is now juggling my fate in his mind, and I could only hope I made a good impression on him. He looked back at Fluttershy with an uncharacteristic smile and gave her a thumbs-up. He then hopped to her side and hugged her left hoof lovingly. “Oh that’s good.” she replied with relief, before turning to me. “Well I guess you’re welcome to stay if Angel says you’re ok. Oh! Your beaver friends are thankful for your help, and they’re relaxing at a nearby lake.” continued Fluttershy. “But I suggest you stay here so you don’t scare any nice ponies.” I nodded my head and sat down. I looked at her in the eyes and noticed our height difference. I was just an inch shorter than her, and I sported a larger coat than her. But her soft sky blue eyes made me feel more relaxed than any other creature I’ve came into contact with. “My name’s Fluttershy.” she started again, putting a hoof on her chest. “I’m Hushed Shadow.” I told her in my animal speak. “It’s nice to meet you, Hush Shade.” she replied, almost completely getting my name wrong. I cocked my head to the size in confusion before repeating, “My name’s Hushed Shadow, not Hush Shade.” “Oh wait… uhh.” she looked at me with a contemplating gaze, before sheepishly offering, “Oh, maybe Silent Shade?” “No.” I gave her an unimpressed look. “She can’t speak animal.” Angel interjected. Both Fluttershy and I looked at him. By now he’s let go of her hoof and he’s a foot away from her. “What do you mean?” I asked him with some mild surprise. He crossed his arms and raised his ears high, informing me, “She can’t understand animal language, but she tries to interpret it the best she can. She’s can’t understand us, but she reads body movement and the-. Uh pitch of the noise? Yeah that and she interprets it like that.” “Well that makes sense. But it kind of sucks, since I can’t really talk to ponies directly now.” I thought to myself. But my thoughts were interrupted by the padding of hooves on a dirt road just over the hill and across the bridge. I listened carefully while watching the general direction of the noise. The galloping of hooves started to make itself known by the clopping on the bridge. The combination of hooves on stone made me swivel my head to the bridge before a familiar brown Stetson appeared. I was surprised to see the same pony from last night appear over the bridge, with a bag of dog food on her back. She came galloping into the yard while scanning the area for any danger. She slowed her pace to a trot when she spotted Fluttershy being calm and smiling at her. She headed in our direction before spotting me and froze in place. We had a five second staring contest, before Fluttershy tried to speak up, “What’s goi-” She was then interrupted by the orange pony’s shout. “Hey! Ya’ll were at mah farm!” the orange pony pointed a hoof at me. Despite the mental reminders of her name I could only scrap together that she was an alcoholic beverage…Possibly White Russian? “Ya’ll better not be messin’ with Fluttershy!” she exclaimed, charging at me. I was distracted, and suddenly remembered, “Oh right, she’s charging.” She moved five feet in a second and I barely had enough time to sprint out of the way. But I encountered a resistance when I tried to get more than two feet. I looked back and saw her biting onto my tail with all her might. I tried to stop my momentum but it was too late. Her teeth slid across my tail and pulled out some fur. I yelped at the pain. “Wait! Applejack stop!” Fluttershy pleaded. Applejack apparently found the taste of wolf terrible and started to spit all the fur out of her mouth. I turned back at her with a newfound hatred for the orange female pony and bared my teeth while she wiped her mouth out with her hoof. I could feel the fur on my back start to stand up a bit. She looked at Fluttershy with a questioning gaze. “What?” she asked. “U-uh well, he wasn’t causing any trouble a-and we were getting off on a good hoof, b-before y-you uhh…” she looked slowly back at me when I started to growl. She squeaked out in fear, “Tore off… p-part of his tail.” Angel began to speak slowly. “U-uh hey, it was a misunderstanding, and you should really stay calm.” Angel tried to reason. I began to think of how to get this ‘Applejack’ back. I remembered the name the moment Fluttershy yelled it out. I thought back on how the pony moves and I realized that I could lose her and maybe taunt her in the forest. But I didn’t have any bait. I spotted the Stetson that she had on. “Ok, considering she put it on last night, and has it on today, it must be something important to her. I thought to myself. I sprung into action by rushing forward. I closed the distance between us easily, considering I was only a meter away, but I back peddled before I got too close because both she and her friend stood up on their hind legs in panic and I knew hooves would hurt if I were to get to close. Then Applejack started to come down and the moment she placed her hooves on the ground I rushed her hat and snatched it up with my jaws. I ran away from her, out the pink girly fence. But not before hearing her gasps in shock and scream in anger. “GIT’ BACK HERE, YAH VARMINT!” she shouted at the top of her lungs. I heard the distinct thumping of hooves behind me more than three meters away. I sprinted as fast as I could across the open field and into the forest. I jumped over a bush to reach the other side of the tree-line, while Applejack tried to do the same but she slipped and tumbled on the other side. The Stetson was difficult for me to carry considering it had a lot of drag and it was constricting my forelegs by being in front of them. I kept my eyes vigilant for any Timberwolves that tried to sneak up on us as I ran. I took as many twists and turns knowing that I couldn’t out run her with the Stetson hindering my movement. But as much as I tried I couldn’t lose her. I found some shady areas of the forest and started weaving between the trees like I did last time to lose her. “Oh, no you don’t!” she shouted and picked up her pace. I continued my tactic, before finding a large hedge that was two feet taller than me. I smiled idly and I rushed toward it. Most of the time I was obscured by a hill, and as she rounded the choke point she saw me running into the hedge. On the other side was a small clearing, but I stopped running and went back into the hedge as quickly as I could without making a noise. Before I was fully hidden she burst into the small leafy clearing and rushed to its center. I was only two feet from her when she busted through it, so I thought I was discovered. But when she stopped to look around I finished sliding into the hedge and watched her through the bushes. She was standing in the center of a leaf bed that all faced the sun. The bushes that surrounded the flat clearing seemed to only be on my side and to her left, while some were on her right. But the clearing gave a vantage point throughout the forest. She looked in each direction, including in mine but she couldn’t see through the leaves. She started doing 360’s in place and started to panic. Almost as if she was surrounded by some unseen evil that was taunting her. She began to slow down and her breathing became more erratic and stressed. I thought for a second, “She looks scared.” I had half a mind to… ok two thirds of a mind, to go out of the bush and give her the hat back. I put it down while I observed the scene before me. I was about to step out and give it back before she looked away from my position and looked out into the forest. She got extremely quiet. The forest seemed to lose its gloominess for a few moments as the sun began to show through the leaves. The light beams hit randomly around the clearing and in the forest, almost as if lighting it up naturally. It removed a lot of the shadows that I would use to blend in with the darkness. Applejack began to slowly pan the landscape before her. The dark and gloomy Everfree forest looked beautiful from this vantage point. I heard Applejack begin to sob. Small sobs that she tried to hold in. I saw her head lower and her sobs became louder. She lowered herself to the ground almost painfully slow. Her legs seemed to just lose all the traction they had on the ground and she splayed herself out while curling her forehooves in. She put her face in her legs and began to sob louder. It wasn’t all that much. But my heart began to sink with regret and guilt. I picked up the hat and slowly moved out of the bush and into the clearing of leaves. The leaves of the tree canopy above her seemed to move out of the way for the sun to get through and shine on her blond mane while I approached her. I moved around her, taking care to stay out of the sunlight, so she wouldn’t see me with her hat. I was apprehensive as I closed the distance and made my way in front of her. I slowly moved the hat down softly onto the leaf bed in front of her so it would be in the sunlight. I let go and backed up. I noticed that my spit seemed to not show up on the hat. I then moved around her so I’d be behind her when she finally lifts her face up. I might as well face whatever consequences and harsh words from her that I deserved. I waited in the shade behind her, for her to lift her head up. I waited five painful minutes of watching her cry silently into her hooves. Her mood decreased my own as I watched her. I’m sure my eyes were just as sad as hers now. She found the courage to lift her head up and she saw the brim of her hat in her peripherals. She lifted her head and stared at the hat for five seconds before lowering her head back down into her hooves. I was confused for a moment but waited for her to move again. When she did she slowly stood up and walked over to the hat on the edge of sunlight. She inspected it carefully before sitting down on her haunches and picking it up with her forehooves. She gave it a thorough inspection. “…Granny woulda’ killed me if ah lost Poppa’s hat.” she solemnly admitted to herself. Now I seemed to understand. The hat was her father’s, supposedly he died or he moved away. But either way, the hat was symbolic enough that it must have felt like losing a family member if she lost it. My heart began to sink even deeper in my chest than before. To ruin or lose memorabilia so important like that would be like erasing someone’s link to their childhood. I watched Applejack turn around and face me. The direction of Ponyville was behind me so I knew she’d look at me anyway. Her eyes fell on me and I got to see the damage I’ve done. Her face had a small frown and her eyes were gazing at me through an unreadable expression of sorrow. Her eyes were slightly red from tears as she gazed at me with the sadness she felt earlier. I was waiting for that frown to turn into a scowl, and for her sniffling to subside and morph into shouts. But it didn’t come. She looked at me for a few more seconds before speaking. “Ya’ll ‘re gunna say nothin’ yah hear.” she whispered, uncharacteristically quiet. Like she’s scolding a baby that saw something he shouldn’t have. “Yah won’t tell any of yer critter friends, or Fluttershy.” she added sadly, her voice wavering. “E-especially not Fluttershy.” I could tell she wasn’t done crying. So I felt it necessary to give her something meaningful. I couldn’t think of it at the moment so she slowly walked passed me while I watched her. “Come on now…” she commanded, after a while of walking without me. “Can’t keep Fluttershy waitin’.” I decided it would be best to slip away. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Applejack walked passed the black wolf while her mind wondered about her father. She remembered how he always loved talking about the orchard and the smell of the apple skins as they idly gave out their scent while hanging from the trees. She remembered the day Granny Smith gave her Pappy’s hat when she returned to run the farm. She remembered what Granny told her too. “My boy always wore this when he was werkin’ the farm. Now ya’ll ‘er gunna wear it when yah work it fer ‘im.” She recollected. Applejack came back to the real world and remembered where she was, and who she was with. She mentally sighed when she realized Fluttershy would be worried sick about the wolf if he’s out here. “Come on now… can’t keep Fluttershy waitin’.” she ordered to the wolf, without looking at him. She waited to hear his paws move with her, but when she didn’t hear them she turned around and began again, “Well come on we haven’t-” the sentence died when she noticed the wolf wasn’t there. She scanned the surrounding area quickly with her eyes, utterly confused as to where he went. She wanted to search for him before feeling that it would be best that she didn’t go looking for a strange creature she knows little about. She faced the direction of Ponyville and began to walk. She walked for a good five minutes, before she heard a howl. It was from the wolf she just chased into the Everfree. But it was different from the kind howl he sung in the night. This one was sadder. It brought all the memories of her father to the surface. She remembered the time when he singled out an apple tree to build a swing set for herself and Big Mac. And when he’d always come in and instead of going to dinner with the rest of his family, he’d walk over to the couch and start to snore very loudly. She remembered when he dragged Big Mac around the whole town to show off his cutie mark when he first got it. And she remembered when he wasn’t there to drag her around town when she got hers. Granny told her what happened shortly after she came back. The mail didn’t reach Manehatten in time for Applejack to return home and come for the funeral. She remembered how Big Mac had to show her his grave when she was in disbelief. And the regret she felt from ever leaving home in the first place. It’s why the hat meant so much to her. It symbolized her love and respect for her father to make up for the funeral she missed, and to show everyone how much she loved him.