//------------------------------//
// The News 
// Story: A Felled Friend 
// by Warmachine 
//------------------------------//

Thunderlane was lying on the couch in his living room with his two favorite mares, Cloudchaser and Flitter. Their conversation was interrupted by a loud slam of the front door and the soft noise of rapid exhalation. 

Not realizing anything was wrong, Thunderlane gave his usual casual greeting "Hey Rumble, how was school today?"

After he heard no response he got up from his comfy spot somewhat reluctantly to go see what the problem was. he turned the corner and saw his little brother on the floor in tears that were now creating a puddle and staining his fur. Instantly his guardian instincts kicked in and he rushed over to the colt and threw his arm around him.

"What’s wrong Rumble?" Thunderlane asked, panic edging in his voice.

Rumble didn't respond, he simply slid the newspaper out from under him and clung to his brother’s foreleg instead. Thunderlane was not sure he wanted to read the article since Rumble had such a reaction to it, but he looked at it anyway. 

All he did was read the title when his heart dropped into his stomach; he left it sitting there and began to return his little brothers hug. His eyes became wet, tears rolled down his cheeks and slight moans of morning escaped his lips.

The additional volume lured the sisters out of the living room; they walked around the corner and gasped simultaneously at the scene. Thunderlane and Rumble were both bawling like foals over a large folded piece of paper. Flitter’s motherly personality caused her to rush over and hug both of them, as well as begin crying to. Cloud chaser was not usually one for showing what she considered weak emotions, but after seeing the contents of the paper, she fell on everypony else and join them in their sorrow. The news paper’s title was just a hoofful of words but to this family, it was everything. Their friend wasn’t coming home.

Camp jeery assaulted, no survivors recovered.