//------------------------------//
// Shadows Chapter 4 
// Story: My Little Wolf 
// by Autobot Lancewing 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 4

Lancer remained on the pile of leaves, trying to gather his thoughts on everything. His mom had disappeared, a friend of his had apparently been captured by humans, he had that strange vision, and these leaves were REALLY uncomfortable. He did have one compensation, however. After everyone had left, Bright Eyes remained behind, she lay on the leaves next to him, curled up in a ball, resting her head on Lancer’s back. Despite the throbbing pain in his head, Lancer found that this helped a lot, though it did make him wonder why she had stayed behind.
but at the same time, it hurt to think. Plus, when a beautiful girl is laying with you, you think a whole lot less about stuff like that.
“Bright Eyes…”
“Yes?”
“I need to tell you something, but you might think I’m crazy.”
"I doubt that."
“Okay… I had this weird dream that seemed real. There were black wolves that were taking over the pack and this one that I assume is the leader said that the night would live on forever. I didn’t see her face, but I just knew that she was an enemy. Sounds crazy, right?”
“It would be crazy if you said that it were a prediction.”
“I think it is, but I’m not sure yet. I just hope I’m wrong.”
"So do I," she said, nuzzling closer, "I don't want you to be crazy."
He gave a light chuckle.
******
Twilight was waking up. Her head was sore from what had happened before she blacked out, but not her leg. She looked at her leg to see that a long, metal stick was tied to her leg. It was cushioned by a soft substance, bandages wrapped around cotton. 'What on Earth?' She pulled on it, but that only hurt her leg.
“I wouldn’t do that again if I were you,” a voice said.
Twilight immediately stopped. She looked around and saw a metal fence on one side brick walls on the other three. Two of the three walls had openings that would have allowed her to walk in or out. She was laying in the middle of a hard, stone floor, but she was laying on a rather soft blanket. She asked as calmly as possible, “ Okay, whoever you are… Show yourself…” From one of the openings, a yellow wolf shyly walked through. Twilight could only stare at her. “Did they capture you too?”
“Um… N-no,” the wolf answered, “I was rescued…”
“Rescued? You call this being rescued?”
“Well… After you leg broke in half after getting caught in a bear trap…”
“Wait, how did you-”
“I overheard them say it.”
"Who’s 'them'?"
“The humans that saved you.”
"Humans saved-? That doesn't make any sense!"
“Well, not all humans are bad…”
"They planted the trap that stuck me in here."
“You must be thinking about those barbaric hunters,” another voice said.
Twilight’s ears perked up. “Who’s that?”
"Oh, that was Rarity."
“Rarity?” A white wolf then entered from where the yellow one had come, one thing Twilight noticed almost immediately was her large stomach. It was an obvious sign that she was pregnant as well, though seemed to be farther along than Twilight. “I take it you’re Rarity.”
“That would be right, Darling.”
"If you don't mind my asking, what brought you two here?"
“I- I was orphaned,” the yellow wolf answered.
“And I was the only survivor in my pack,” Rarity said.
“Oh… Wow.” And Twilight thought she had it rough.
“I had to be treated for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder,” Rarity added.
“M-my mom uh, abandoned me because I was the runt of the litter.” The yellow one explained.
‘Are they trying to make me feel bad?’ Twilight was about to say something, but…
“You’re awake!”
Twilight jumped when she heard yet another new voice. “Wh-Who was that?!”
“That was Pinkie Pie,” the yellow wolf answered.
Suddenly, a pink wolf popped up right in front of Twilight, their muzzles inches away from each other. “Hiya! Howareyoudoingmyname’sPinkiePiewhatsyours?Doyoulikeparties,that’sasillyquestionwhodoesn’tlikepartiesImean-”
“Slow down, darling, let her catch her breath.” Rarity told the pink wolf.
“Oh, ok! But can we throw a party?”
“Maybe later, sugarcube,” yet another voice answered.
‘Wow, how many wolves are there?’
This time, an orange wolf appeared, wearing a cowboy hat. “Rarity’s right, we need to give the poor gal some time.”
Twilight looked at the orange wolf, “And you are?”
“Name’s Applejack. Pleased to meet ya.”
“Likewise,” Twilight smiled. She looked at the yellow wolf. “And what’s your name?”

“F- Fluttershy…”
“Fluttershy?”
Fluttershy nodded.
"Well, reckon we oughta get Dashie out here," Applejack said, "If that's alright with ya."
“Oh. Sure,” Twilight answered.
Applejack led the way while the others followed outside. Twilight tried to get up, but instantly fell down. "Ow!" Twilight yelped.
The others turned to look. Applejack looked at her leg. “Oh… Sorry,” she said, “I forgot about that. Let me see if I can get her in here.”
“That would be a good idea.”
With that, Applejack walked outside.
******
Meanwhile, two wolves are seen looking in the forest. One was tan and is obviously an athlete. The other was maroon with black streaks of lightning going along his body. “Sniff either of ‘em yet,” The tan one asked, impatiently.
“Not yet, Ace,” the maroon one answered.
“Shoulda gone with Melody.” Ace mumbled.
“Huh?” The maroon one asked.
“Nothing…”
The maroon wolf was now curious. " I know you said something. Now spill it."
“It’s not of your business, Lightning.”
“Tell me right now.”
“No.”
"Tell me."
Ace was about to reply when he heard a noise. “What was that?”
"Beats me, maybe it's Luna or Twilight?!"
“Can’t be. The scents don’t match.”
"Oh yeah, then who-"
Just then, three black wolves jumped out at them. Ace and Lightning backed away. “Definitely not Luna or Twilight,” Lightning said.
Ace looked at the three wolves that were staring back at them. “Ya think?”
The two males backed away from the black wolves.
Lighting spread his wings.
“Lightning, what are you doing?”
“About to teach these wolves a lesson.” Without a second thought. Lightning took off to the sky with two of the wolves following, leaving one of them to Ace. "Why couldn't all of you follow?"
The wolf growled in response.
Ace gulped, then dashed off.
The wolf followed close behind.
******
Wind Whistler and Firefly, meanwhile, we're have having their own problems. "So you DON'T like singing," Wind Whistler asked her pink companion.
“Not really, especially when there’s more important things like out-playing the boys in everything,” Firefly explained.
“But you have such a pretty voice.”
“Whatever…” Firefly muttered, putting her nose back to the ground.
Wind Whistler wasn’t one to give up, however. “Can’t you sing a little?”
“No.”
“Please?”
“Yes!”
“Yes! finally!”
“No, not you! I got a scent!”
Wind Whistler sniffed the air, but... "That's not Twilight Sparkle or Luna."
“I know, but it smells like a human, and does this look like where a human would hang out?”
"It is illogical... Unless it's a hunter."
"Exactly, so maybe we should wrangle up the others?”
“Good idea.”
The two girls began howling a signal for the others to come.
******
“What did you find?” Celestia asked.
“We smelled a human, maybe the one that nabbed Twilight.” Firefly explained.
“A hunch?” Shining asked, questioningly.
“Maybe it’s a hunch. But it could be?” Wind Whistler hoped.
Just then, Ace burst in.
"Ace what's-"
"Run!"
The black wolf suddenly pinned Ace. Ace tried to wriggle free, but the black wolf was too strong.
Finally, Celestia used her magic to lift the wolf. She looked into its eyes before she slammed it against a rock, causing it to dissipate.
Ace stared at Celestia, amazed his leader did something so violent. "Um...Thank you."
Celestia ignored his gratitude. "Solaris, call everyone back."
"Why?"
"Just do it." Celestia barked.
"Ok...but what’s wrong?"
Celestia loosened a bit. "I will tell you later, my love. But for now I need everyone."
"Alright." Solaris briefly nuzzled Celestia's snout and began to call out to the remaining members of the pack.
Meanwhile, Celestia lay down, thinking. 'Please, let me be wrong.'