Shade continued on the path to the Everfree Forest, still wiping straggling tears from his goodbye to his friends and family. The afternoon air was getting chilly, leading Shade to pull the hood of his tan cloak over his head with his fully-mastered telekinesis.
He had prepared for this journey for a few years, learning any skill and storing any resources he would need for the trip. In his saddle bag, he had 1000 bits in case he stumbled into a town and a map of Equestria in case he got lost. Back at his former high school, he had learned how to create a light to shine from his horn for when it got dark. He also took a course on plant life to know which plants in the wild were safe for eating. As far as he could tell, Shade was all set for beginning his time of self-discovery to find out what he was supposed to be - his Journey to Nowhere.
Shade looked back at the shrinking sight of his home, mentally saying goodbye in hopes that his friends would somehow hear him. Part of him wanted to stay behind, to forfeit his cutie mark in favor of his loved ones - and his loved one.
*Fluttershy,* he thought to himself as he trotted along the forest path.
*I don't know why, but I think I love her. We've been friends for so long, and she was always so kind. We never fought, never had an argument. She always supported me, and I always encouraged her to express her opinion, which I listened to and considered.*
Shade smiled as he remembered all the good memories of letters exchanged between them while he was in Canterlot. His reminiscing had to come to an end, however, as he realized how deep he had gotten into the Everfree, and how dark it was getting.
*Lousy Fall timing. Getting darker much sooner nowadays. I'll have to rest somewhere safe, and quick. It's never good to hang around here in the dark.*
He knew of the dangers that resided in the treacherous forest, but it was the only way out of town without taking the train, and he wanted to save bits. So on he trudged, searching for a place to rest. He noticed a rock cave a few meters ahead.
*Good. Hopefully nothing lives here already and I can briefly stay here. It's a bit far though. What I wouldn't give to be able to teleport and get there quicker...* Shade thought to himself as he quickened his pace.
All his teen life he'd been fascinated with teleportation. He tried many times in the past to perform it, but failed each time. It was too advanced of a skill. Nevertheless, he remained marveled by the concept.
Eventually he reached the cave. Just in time, too. Shade heard faint howls in the distance. He took notice of a large, loose boulder beside the cave entrance. Once he entered, he strained as he moved the boulder to block the cave entrance partially with his telekinesis, covering it just enough so that no predators could enter. Which was of course pleasing to Shade. He didn't care for being attacked by Timber Wolves or anything else while he rested for the night. The gaps between the top of the boulder and the roof of the cave entrance served as a natural window that allowed him to still partially see outside. Share flickered on his horn light to scope out the interior of his temporary rocky residence. It did not extend too far deep into the mountain it was embedded in, which meant there was, thankfully, no room for any bears or dragons to lurk in the shadows and attack Shade from the depths of the cave. Pulling his cloak closely around him and laying on the dirt floor, Shade got as comfortable as he could get as he began to rest. Half worrying about what the future held for him and half feeling homesick already, Shade's thoughts began to slow and fade as he drifted into slumber.
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Shade awoke in the night to the sound of faint but definite scratching at his makeshift stone barrier. Immediately startled, Shade slowly rose from the ground, breathing heavily. He knew what was on the other side of the boulder.
*Timber Wolf...*
He wasn't sure of how many there were, but he knew he had to move. He would have to try and crush the wooden hound with the boulder, and make a run for it. He gulped as he slowly approached his only shield between him and the unknown number of Timber Wolves waiting at his door.
*Here goes nothing...*
With that, the boulder was enveloped in a blue aura, and Shade strained as he pushed the rock forward. The following sound of a yip and crunching bark confirmed he had crushed at least one Timber Wolf under the boulder. Then he saw the other three that had moved out of the way. Time seemed to slow as the trio of Timber Wolves all lunged forward to make a meal out of the lone unicorn stricken with fear.
"AAAARRRGHHH!!!"
Shade yelled as he closed his eyes and pushed the lunging logs of death back with a telekinetic wave. Shade stood briefly amazed at his own hidden mental strength, but quickly snapped out of it to make a break for the outside trail before the piles of branches could reform. Quckly galloping through the nighttime forest, cloak fluttering in the wind, Shade spotted a hut some distance away from a patch of blue plants he recognized from his studies as poison joke. Leaping over the comedic weeds, Shade stumbled and neared the hut. Reaching it, he fiercely knocked on the door, looking over his shoulder to see if anymore threats were following him. To his dismay, he heard more howls.
"IF SOMEONE'S IN HERE PLEASE OPEN UP! I'M BEING CHASED BY TIMBER WOLVES!"
There was no reply for a while, and Shade's fear grew as he glanced the ravenous creatures coming into view. They drew near quickly, and Shade's heart was beating at lightning speed. He closed his eyes, not wanting to watch whatever happened next. The Timber Wolves, however, stopped just before the patch of poison joke, sniffing it and immediately turning away. Shade slowly opened an eye as the pack fled in the opposite direction, much to his relief.
Soon the door behind him opened, and Shade turned to see a creature he had come to recognize as a Zebra from his studies. The Zebra blinked her tired eyes for a moment. She must have been woken from sleep. She yawned and said:
"Greetings, traveler of the night. What brings you here in such a fright?"
Shade, intrigued at first by the Zebra's rhyming, shakily answered:
"H-hello... I was traveling through this area but was chased down by a hungry pack of beasts... I need a safe refuge to stay for just the night."
The tired Zebra simply nodded and said:
"Take refuge in my home for now..."
The Zebra yawned, and continued:
"...Not safe to wander when the sun is down."
Thanking the hospitable stranger, Shade followed the Zebra inside, quickly closed the door behind him with his telekinesis, and collapsed onto the floor.
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