//------------------------------// // I am Wind // Story: Noble Wolves and Shy Butterflies // by Redwolf15 //------------------------------// It was a beautiful day in Ponyville for Fluttershy, much like every other day. In fact, it was so beautiful that she decided to go for a walk in the nearby forest next to her cottage. She’d never tell anypony that she would walk through the Everfree at times, it was dangers whether you’re with others or by yourself, that’s why she would never wander in too far. She always felt at a strange ease whenever walking through the forest, perhaps because all the animals dominated it. She liked animals more than ponies sometimes, but her friends were always her favorite ponies and most relaxing to be around. A red bird swoops down to her as quick as an ace flyer. “Oh, hello, is something wrong?” She asks her winged friend. It was a familiar one that would always stop by her place for some free food from time to time. It chirped and flapped violently, like it was trying to warn her of something. “Is someone hurt? That’s terrible, please, take me to them instantly.” She demanded sweetly, as though she was able to communicate with it. It lead the way farther into the forest. Fearlessly, she charged in, if an animal was hurt she could not stand by and do nothing about it. The bird lead her into a wide clearing where trees split apart in a large circle. In the center of this clearing she could see white bundle laying there, on moving. The bird flies towards the white thing and stops mid way to make sure Fluttershy is still following. “Oh my,” she gasps approaching it. What lay down before her was none other than a white wolf. And not like a timberwolf that live inside the forest, but an actual wolf. She had never seen one before in her life, but always wanted to. She could tell from how its body slowly moved up and down that it was breathing, but that’s what worried her. Its breathing was slow and ragged, she put her hoof against its forehead and found it to be much hotter than expected. “Oh you poor thing, you must have over exhausted yourself. Don’t worry, I’ll get you home.” But how was she to do it? It looked just about her own size, if not bigger, and she knew she wasn’t very strong physically. But as luck would have it, she spots a friend that is much bigger and stronger than her. “Excuse me, over here.” The bear perks his head up and strolled over to her. “Could you please carry this wolf to my home. He’s not feeling well.” The bear sniffs the wolf, curious itself as it’s never seen a real wolf before. He picks up the wolf and follows Fluttershy to her home where she can nurse it back to health. “Excuse us. Please move. Make way please.” She says to her animal friends littering her floor. They do as asked and part ways to give the bear room to walk. “Place him on the bed, I’ll be there shortly. Can you put this on his forehead?” She gives the red bird that lead her to the wolf a bag of ice to help cool his fever. Many animals crowd around the wolf, curious for seeing a real one for the first time. Fluttershy was mixing a herbal liquid together in the meantime. The animals quickly get out of her way as she moves to her bed to give the wolf the medicine. His mouth lops open as she tilts his head forward to give him the drink. Some of the green substance spills out from between his sharp teeth, but she still manages to get him to drink. Before even pouring half of the drink into his mouth, the wolf’s eyes open wide. He then springs out the open window next to the bed and yells out a single word: “WATER!” Many animals run and hide, scared by the sudden outburst. Fluttershy, meanwhile, sits on her bed, still processing the event that just transpired. When her brain finally catches up to speed she quickly trots across the room and opens the door where she can see the wolf drinking out of the stream next to her home, his face completely submerged. “That’s much better.” He huffs in between breaths as he finishes drinking his fill. “What in Nima’s name was that?” “Um, a herbal mixture that suppose to help you regain your strength.” The wolf looks to Fluttershy as she makes herself known, two feathers hooked to his right ear swing around. “Truly miss?” Fluttershy nods her head, slightly uncomfortable around the wolf. Not because it’s a carnivore, but because it can make social interactions with her like a normal pony. “Then I suppose that would explain for the foul taste it left in my mouth.” Two fish drop at his paws, delivered to him by a pair of ferrets. “You looked exhausted, so I thought that you’d be hungry when you woke. I asked my friends here to get you something to eat.” Fluttershy was possibly the only pony who was least squeamish when it comes to carnivores. It was difficult at first for her, but as time moved on and she met more carnivorous and omnivorous type animals, she came to understand that meat was as necessary for some as flowers and oats were for here. Though she always did feel bad for what was being eaten. “How’d you find me?” The wolf asks in between bites of the first fish, which was nearly gone. “This bird lead me to you inside the forest, you were passed out. You over-exhausted yourself.” The bird that she was talking about flies around her and then in front of the wolf. “Well friend, it seem you’ve saved my life. I suppose that means your debt is cleared.” The bird chirps in glee and flies off, happy more out of modesty for helping than for it’s slate to be cleaned. “And as for you miss, it seems you have fed me saved my own life. Now my life is in debt to you and shall forever be until I have repaid you.” “Oh no, that’s unnecessary. I just wanted to help you, you owe me nothing., a simple act of kindness really.” Fluttershy replies, not wanting anyone indebted to her. “I am sorry miss, kindness or not, it is upon wolf law that I must repay someone outside the pack in full equal to which they have given to me. And I implore you to accept, otherwise you would be tarnishing my honour if I do not do this.” “Oh, well if that’s the case, then I suppose there is something you can do for me.” Fluttershy realizes, not wanting to be the one to harm his honour. “How about you tell me your name first.” The wolf finishes the second fish and washes the blood from his mouth, cleaning the red stains. “I am Wind Blue-Eyes, member of the pack ColdFur and one of four Moon Stalkers to our alpha, Silent Shade. You may simply call me Wind for short. A pleasure to meet you miss.” He finishes his galant introduction with a bow of his head. “Um, I’m Fluttershy, resident of Ponyville and I look after animals. You can just call me Fluttershy.” It was a failed attempt of making her own introduction as elegant as Wind’s. “Well then, miss Fluttershy, what assistance may I aid you in?” “Well I don’t have anything that needs taking care of anymore today. But I was planning to meet Rarity at the spa for our usual get together.” “Then allow me to escort you there and look out for your safety. It would be but a small part of the favor.” Wind stand tall, the light of the sun shining on his fur. He looked so noble like that, like a knight. “I see no harm in that.” She answers thinking that it would cause no harm. Wind follows close beside her as the two walk towards the town. “Miss Fluttershy,” Wind speaks up. “What exactly is a spa?” The yellow pegasus looks to him with a quizzical look. “You’ve never heard of one? Don’t they have spa’s where you come from?” “No ma’am, life is not so simple like your own. I’ve travel from far from the northern mountains where the wind bites hard and winter never ends. Wolves have no need of towns or homes, we only need each other. Our home is with one another. Now, back to my question.” “Oh yes, well a spa is a place where ponies go to relax, clean themselves, and in Rarity’s case, keep yourself young.” Fluttershy answers. “So you would call this a place of safety?” “Yes,” She was curious about Wind, how could a creature that can speak and be able to reason live so harshly? She notices that his attention no longer ison her, but on their surroundings. His ears are perked up to their full length, and he looks like he is on scouting for danger. “Is something wrong?” “The residents, they seem to cower in my presence.” Fluttershy looks around their surroundings and notices that the townsfolk keep a far distance from them as well as mutter indecipherably while looking at them. “Sorry about that, the ponies here have never seen a real wolf before, so they don’t know how to react around you. Though don’t take it the wrong way, Zecora had the same problem, but we’ve all come to accept her.” “And who might this Zecora be? Another creature not indigenous to this place?” “Yes, she’s a zebra. She looks much like a pony, but has black and white stripes. She always says things from her homeland, but never tells us where it is.” Fluttershy opens the door to the spa where they see Rarity sitting on a chair reading a magazine. “There you are Fluttershy. You know I was beginning to think you weren’t comaaaAAAHHHH!” She screams at the sight of Wind. “Fluttershy, there’s a-a-a-a-” She stammers lowering her voice to a whisper. “I know Rarity, he’s with me. Rarity, I’d like you to meet Wind Blue-Eyes. I found him passed out in the Everfree, and helped him back to health. Wind, this is my good friend Rarity.” The shy mare introduces the two of them. Rarity, usually ready to make proper introductions, was all too confused to do anything. “A pleasure to meet you miss Rarity.” Wind bows his head just as he did when introducing himself to Fluttershy. “Likewise,” Now seeing that Rarity has faith that wolf would not attack from her dear friend, she has regained some of her composure. “Well Fluttershy, I think enough time has been wasted. Maybe we should get into the tub right now.” Before being able to agree with her, Fluttershy was grabbed by the arm and practically dragged out of the waiting room. Having no choice but to trust Fluttershy’s judgement, Wind does the only thing he feels is necessary: sit next to the door the two mares entered and patiently wait. “Fluttershy, are you mad? Bringing a wolf into town. What were you thinking?” Rarity demands of her friend as the two soak in the pool alone. “Well, it wasn’t by choice, he insisted that he escort me here safely. You see, I found him inside the Everfree passed out and couldn’t just leave him there. So I had help getting him to my home and nursed him back to health. Apparently his life is indebted to me because I saved him. I don’t want him owing me anything, but it would be hurting his honour if I didn’t accept.” “Wait a minute, not only did you show him where you live and now he’s your servant, but you went into the Everfree forest, alone?” Fluttershy shrinks just realizing that she let her secret slip. “Darling what were you thinking? You know that place is dangerous. And now you’ve brought a resident of it to your home? The only wolves we’ve ever seen are timberwolves, and they weren’t very friendly.” “Actually, Wind isn’t a resident of the Everfree. He comes from the far north. I think somewhere near the Crystal Empire.” She corrects the white and purple mare. “But Rarity, there’s no need to be so protective. I trust Wind.” “Darling, what do you even know about him?” “I know that he is from the far north where it’s always winter. And Zecora his lifestyle is different than what we’re used to.” “But do you know anything personal of him?” “He said that he’s from the pack Cold Fur, one of four Moon Stalkers, and he seems rather fond of his honour.” Fluttershy didn’t want to admit it so straight forward, but she knew nothing of Wind. “Sweetheart, this is your problem: you’re too trusting. You’ll instantly look at the good in somepony and believe that’s all there is. I’m not saying that’s such a bad thing, but you should also be wary of them, look for things that could potentially make them dangerous and see if those points are real.” “What about Discord? None of you had any faith that there was any good in him. But I was able to prove that wrong.” Rarity did realize that Fluttershy did have a point. Rarity and her friends were ready to turn Discord back to stone the moment he even breathed the wrong way, but Fluttershy always tried looking for the good. And she eventually found it. “Very well Fluttershy, you have me there. I will give Wind a chance and not judge him so hastily. But I won’t think that there isn’t anything bad he can do. But please, do ask him more of his personal life.” “Thank you Rarity, that means a lot to me.” The pink maned mare beams. “Now, what is this deal of him calling you miss Fluttershy?”