Chapter 5
“…And right as you all fell, my super quick reaction timing let me scoop Fluttershy right out of danger! Then we both followed you all down with the rope. Most of you were ok, but we got down just in the nick of time and saved Twilight.” Dash was practically bouncing off the trees in her excitement.
“Yes, Rainbow, I was there.” Tania grumbled in reply to Dash’s boasting. Then she changed her tone. “…and I'm very grateful, but we gotta-“ She gasped. “What is that thing!?”
Something large reared up ahead of them. It roared.
“It’s a…It’s a lion!” screeched Rarity.
The creature swished its bushy mane and roared again.
“We’ve got get past him.” said Tania determinably.
“Wait.” said a small voice.
“Are you kidding!? We can’t fight that thing!” said Rarity, and more softly; “…and bring your voice down, you’ve spooked it.”
“I don’t even think it’s a lion.” said Pinkie timidly. Sure enough, the creature poised forward and spread out bat-like wings.
“What!?” said Tania. “But that’s…” she huffed. “No matter, it’s targeted us. We have to fight it.” She bent slowly down and picked up a long stick. Before she could use it though, Rarity streaked past her in a sudden boost of confidence.
“Take that, you ruffian!” she said in her prissy voice. She kicked at the creature with a heeled boot. The creature swung at her and missed. He drew in a breath and roared directly in Rarity’s face. Holding her ears, Rarity backed off.
“My hair!” she exclaimed, her vision filled with locks freshly tangled and spit upon.
“Wait!”
Applejack kicked off the ground and landed on the creature. She had her arm around it in an attempted chokehold. Pinkie Pie cried out.
“Watch out! That things got a…a uh…”
Tania saw it. The creature had a scorpion like tail, complete with needle-like tip. If that thing jabbed at Applejack…
“Applejack! Get off!” shouted Rainbow Dash.
“Wha? Okeedokie! Whoa!” she let herself get thrown off, and made a perfect crouched landing. “All yours, partner”
“Wait!”
Dash saluted to Applejack and sprinted towards the beast. She began circling it, jumping off rocks and the trunks of trees in attempt to disorient it. She swung at it with a rock whenever it looked away, but never made a connection. Instead, the beast did. It wacked her with its broad tail. For a sinking moment Tania saw the poisoned tip glint in the moonlight, then Rainbow Dash was before her feet.
“DASH! Did it get you?”
Rainbow Dash grunted and rolled onto her back. She examined herself.
“I don’t think so… Not with the stinger.”
Didn’t matter. Tania was still mad. She clenched her teeth and stamped her foot. Her friends around her poised themselves as well. She swung the stick over her shoulder like a bat and charged, an animalistic roar passing her teeth. They had gotten halfway there when something pink and blond appeared before them belting out “WAAAAAIIIIIIITTT!!!”
They came to crashing halt. Pinkie tripped and fell face forward.
The group stared in shocked silence as Fluttershy smiled daintily and faced the beast. The beast snarled and raised a paw. Tania flinched and squeezed her eyes shut. Instead of a cry of pain, she heard a soft voice mutter “Shhhhh, it's okay.”
Tania dared to open an eye. Fluttershy petted the beast’s mane softly. The beast whimpered and folded its wings. To Fluttershy it showed a paw.
“Oh, you poor, poor little baby.” she cooed.
“Little?” repeated Dash.
“Baby?” responded Rarity.
Fluttershy carefully took the paw into her hand. It was like a dinner plate covering a tea saucer.
“Now this might hurt for just a second.”
Fluttershy’s hand pinched at the pad of the paw and quickly thrust outwards. The Beast roared in pain.
“FLUTTERSHY!!!” the group cried out in terror. The call was replied with a giggle. Fluttershy was in the arms of the beast. It coddled her and licked her hair into a spike.
Although they were still nervous, the sight made them all grin. They cautiously passed the creature and waited for Fluttershy to join them. She patted him on the head and he sped off. Tania had to ask.
“How did you know about the thorn?” she asked as Fluttershy passed her.
“I didn't. Sometimes we all just need to be shown a little kindness.”
“That’s a beautiful thought, but don’t ever do that again! You had us all worried.”
Fluttershy ducked her head and then embraced Tania.
“That’s exactly what I meant!” she giggled.
They didn’t notice a cloud of mist spring from where a thorn had been thrown aside.