//------------------------------//
// Into the Fire I 
// Story: Canine Complications 
// by Wages of Sin 
//------------------------------//

Scootaloo ran as hard as she could. She had to find Rainbow Dash or Applejack or Rarity or-! or-! somepony!





"Now those were some  mighty fine-" before Applejack could finish her critique of the meal, the door to Sugarcube Corner burst open.

"Applejack!" The orange pegasus filly cried as she ran in, "You gotta help them! Apple Bloom and Sweetiebell were taken!"

Applejack lept out of the booth at the sudden information, "Where are they! Who took 'em? Was it those buckin' Diamond dogs again? When I find them I'll-"

"It was Timberwolves! We were going to Zecora's and we-" Scootaloo froze as she saw the expression on the farmpony's face.

"Timberwolves..." Applejack knew the creatures well, having all to recently been involved in the fake-turned-real Timberwolf attack. 

Despite how she may have acted, or how boldly she told Spike to leave her behind, she had been terrified. 

Twilight was out of the booth and up next to Applejack in a flash. She rolled her head towards the door in the inter-species sign for "follow me."

Catcher and Screw Loose jumped in line right behind.

Swallowing her fear, Applejack put on a brave face, "Don't worry we'll save Sweetiebell and ma' sister in a jiffy! You jus' go home fer now, ok?"

Without waiting for a response from the distraught filly, she turned to the group, and quickly the four were off.





"Uh, Miss Applejack? Do we know where we're going?" Catcher called over to Applejack as they ran deeper into the woods.

"We're following Twilight! That's where we're going!" Applejack shouted as she ran behind a thick outcropping of trees.

"I can see that, but does she actually know where she's going, or are we just following a wolf into the woods? Because I'm pretty sure my mom used to tell me stories about following wolves into the forest... And why are you way over there?"

"She's sniffing our way to ma' sister if ya can't tell, and I'm staying downwind so she doesn't smell me instead." 

Catcher ducked under a branch, "But how does she know the scent? I didn't see any scent items or anything?"

"Downside, or upside really, to living in an apple orchard: Ya' always smell like apples. All us Apples smell like apples, that's why I have to stay down wind!"

"Ok, but we still have the issue of-"

"IEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

"That was Sweetiebell!" Applejack shouted to Twilight.

The wolf of the pack sped up, leaving the others struggling to catch up.

Applejack, no longer needing to stay downwind, joined up with Catcher and the oddly quiet Screw Loose.

"I'm coming girls!" she shouted into the night.





The orange one may have escaped, but they had the other two, and that was enough for a good meal. 

"Good catch Pinepaw." 

Apple Bloom flailed and kicked at the wooden hide of her captor. 

"Thank you sir." Pinepaw replied through teeth clenched around the tail hair of the freshly re-caught prey, "Shall we head back to the den sir?"

"Yes, before these little pups try to escape again."

"Sorry sir..." said another Timberwolf as he caught up, the rest of the pack right behind him, "I thought I had a firm grip on her..." 

"Do not fret over it. You have done well for your first hunt, the pup has been captured and we will still eat well tonight. I'd even say-"

"Drop the fillies!" shouted a bush off to the side.

All eyes turned as a purple she-wolf leapt through it, taking a low fighting stance facing the group.

"And who are you? A pup of the flesh-tribe?" said the pack leader, "Go away, there is no food for you here." 

"Release them! Now!" said the she-wolf said defiantly.

Ignoring her demands Bark Back spoke again, “Flesh wolf territory is far from here. Has hunger driven you this far, or are you an outcast? Tell me, what pack are you with?"

Twilight in turn ignored him "Those are not your food. Release them."

"I am Bark Back, the pack leader of the Everfree Timberwolves. If you dare to ignore me and order my pack, you challenge my authority. For a flesh wolf, you are bold. I give you one last chance to flee flesh-wolf, I suggest you take it."

Twilight couldn't retreat; she couldn't even consider it with the fillies on the line.

She sized up her chances. On one hoof- err, paw, although she was now larger than the average pony, she was still slightly smaller than an average Timberwolf. Meaning Bark Back, at his taller than average height, was about a head taller than Twilight, standing nearly the height of a full grown Alicorn. Furthermore, Twilight doubted her claws or fangs stood a chance of damaging the hardwood hide of the Timberwolf pack leader. 

All that, but she knew what she had to do, "I challenge you for the fillies."

The pack, including those holding Apple Bloom and Sweetiebell, began to make a ring around the small clearing where the two competitors stood.  

Bark Back began to slowly circle towards Twilight as she looked at her opponent for signs of weakness.

Her analysis was cut short though, as Bark Back had circled within range, he pounced, claws extended and mouth open.

She dodged, rolling out of the way.

He came back around with a swipe of his claws, aiming for the soft flesh of her neck. 

The crowd cheered as their pack leader got within inches of the interloper's throat. 

She managed to rear up and avoid the swipe, but fell onto her back.

Bark Back was on top of her in an instant.

Twilight could almost feel the density of his foul breath as he leaned down to put his teeth around her neck.

She kicked up with her forepaws hard enough to knock him off balance and rolled out from under him.

Getting up, Twilight drew back as far as she could without running the risk of being backed into the wolves at the edge of the clearing.

"Give up female. You stand no chance against me. Run back to your den and suckle your pups. This is no place for a-"

Twilight took advantage of the break and lunged forward making a swipe at Bark Back's wooden muzzle.

The hit connected.

Although it wasn't much, there were now ruts where her claws dragged against his face. 

Twilight jumped back after her strike and watched as Bark Back inspected his injury.

"It appears I misjudged your ability. My apologies for earlier, but now you will see how a true alpha fights!"

Without missing a beat, Bark Back lunged forward much faster than before. The onlookers cackled and cheered for their leader's victory, but cheers quickly died and turned to frantic glances as the they realized that their leader had not only failed to land a winning blow, but the challenger had disappeared as well. 

The mare was behind Bark Back.

He whipped around to take another swing at her. She dove over his massive paw and backed off again.

"How did you dodge me?" Bark Back asked, "You moved too fast, nothing can out run Timberwolves, yet I didn't even see you move. How?"

Twilight held her tongue, she was about to lunge for another strike, but stutter-stepped when she heard a cry from behind her.

She wheeled around to find Screw Loose, Dasher, and Applejack just outside the ring, with the perimeter wolves turning on them.

"NO!" Twilight yelled, cursing that she forgot they were following her "AJ Screwy! Dasher! Run!"

Although only one out of the group understood Twilight's commands, they all complied, until they were promptly surrounded by the much faster wolves.

Bark Back laughed, "Ha! Even more food!"

To be continued...