> Re:) Lupa's Quest: The Wolfmother's Path
>  by Ringtael
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> And So The Journey Begins
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I took my leave from my Master's den, his... Hose. I left from his hose and sought out the Broodmother to let her know that the time had come. I'd avoided the inevitable for as long as I could, but even Foxy could tell that Maximus was unhappy with the amount of time we spent apart. He often attempted to find me where he could, and though I care not  the silly creature's antics, I did find his love and loyalty more apt for myself than the Broodmother. Even if I were to have chosen her as my Master, she would not walk with me as Maximus could.

However, thinking of Maximus and the Broodmother at the same time made my muzzle itch. The Broodmother would likely be pounding away at her birth canal while Maximus was not there to satisfy her, or in recent times, the Apple-Bitch. I liked the Apple-Bitch to a point, but she still smelled delicious and if not for her found friendship with my Master, she would have been more delicious. Alas, Max is a house-cat for his loved ones and a leviathan against those who would harm them. Losing his favour sits ill in my stomach, and the same weighty feeling rested within on my way to my first stop before departure.

The Moon was full and the air sweetened on every third breath; Two omens, both good. Unfortunately, a bird had fallen from the sky and no one had eaten it, leaving the third message to be one of warning. I could smell a sickness on the bird, though whether or not it starved or faded mid-flight, I couldn't know. My ancestor's pelts brushed against mine as I walked, preparing me for what was to come, soothing my paranoia at the rapid decline in my Luck. However, I’d filled my stomach at Master’s den in his stores, so I could not eat the bird having to leave it for the carrion . I suppose that random things cross one’s mind when they know they face their demise, seeing as how I buried the bird. Inside, I knew I would not return for it, but a compulsion of some kind had me dig and fill a hole. 

Perhaps a sign that I was truly ready.

I felt guilt for lying to Max about how long I would live with him. I had few enough years left if I remained outside of the Everfree, but if I were to tread my territory in the Hungry Forest, age would be forgotten soon enough. That, however, would mean that my Master would truly walk alone, and I will not allow such a thing. I am no pup to come when called, but Maximus is no Two-Leg who would only stroke my fur and call me 'good'. Not that I do not enjoy it, it is simply pointless. I would confront my journey and assume my birth-rite, thus meaning that my, as Master would call them, 'pupper petsies' would be far too demeaning for one of my stature. I had put off becoming the next Wolfmother for as long as I could, but Max’s life-energy was simply too vibrant to ignore. He would outlast nearly all that he knew, perhaps other than Alcohol-Sweet- The short horned one. The one that makes him feel better. I could have dealt with passing when he reached his sixtieth spring, but to know that he would go far beyond that left me with a yearning to be by his side during that time. My master was no fool: He knew the risk I was taking, but I’d given his warnings no attention, as he’d known that I would do. Such was the nature of our bond, though our ears would listen should the message matter.

I left my thoughts behind as I reached the Broodmother’s domain. Allowing myself entry was rote as no one was going to stop me. The prey creatures had long since grown comfortable with my presence, so I padded up the stairs to the Broodmother’s room. I entered there as well because I could, and no one had told me not to in recent memory. I found the Broodmother faking mating as she often did when the sun was not in the sky, though why she did so, I neither understood nor cared to understand.

“Greetings, Broodmother.”

“Lupa! Can you please knock!?” The Broodmother covered herself needlessly.

“I’ll disregard that request every time you make it. Find a mate to satisfy your urges.”

I felt her anger swell. “Well, not everypony can just come by whenever I want them to!”

“Then seek them out. This isn’t the reason that I’ve come for. I am leaving.”

The Broodmother sobered. “What? Already? I thought you said you had years to prepare!?”

“I do, but I can’t waste my relative youth while I have it. The journey is hard on the paws and pelt. I must complete it while I’m still free of the aches of old age.” At least the rest of them.

“... Be safe, Lupa. I know you said that it’s dangerous, but don’t take any unnecessary risks, okay?”

“When I return, I will ask you to call me Nashoba”

The Broodmother felt confused. “Why are you changing your name?”

“It has always been Nashoba. When I return, I will no longer be a servant to Master, Broodmother. I will be his equal, if not his superior, though I doubt that either of us would stand for such a comment.”

“... I know you won’t answer any questions, but can you at least tell me where you’re going?”

“Into the Everfree, as all journeys must begin for the Zgon. I will ask a few of our friends if they wish to accompany me.”

“If they want to, I won’t stop them, but please... Bring everypony home, Lupa...” The Broodmother requested.

I flicked my ear to let her know that I would and closed the door behind me on the way out. The Kendani swarmed around me, asking me to open the door for them. I refused, stating that I had only interrupted the Broodmother because of the nature of the Path of Ascension, but they are simple creatures. They understand little of the world besides emotion and food, so I could hardly blame them for understanding. In any case, it was impossible for them to understand that the Broodmother's false mating was not a display to show that she was in heat. That being said, dealing with Kendani for extended periods of time always made my muzzle itch.

Maybe I’m just allergic to stupid creatures? The smelly horned-one always makes my muzzle itch, so it's not unlikely.

I set the thought aside and asked Angel to gather the Zgon together for a meeting. He hopped off quickly since he knew better than to waste my time again, so I waited underneath the Gathering Tree and surveyed those that had come. Foxy would be a good choice if he decided to come along with me. His quick-witted solutions were often apt fixes for most problems. I waited around for Bearett, or as he is called in our tongue, Krel, but he did not show as soon as I'd thought he might. Molly the Border Collie would be another fine choice since her agility and endurance rival mine, though she is far weaker. She and Foxy had the same issue with being weak, which is why I’d wanted Krel or Suva to come. When Suva arrived, I could smell fear on her and Krel was absent yet. I sent one of the hares to find him as the falcon was clearly too scared to join me.

Krel finally made an appearance, so I began once he joined the circle. “Zgon, my friends. Three Gatherings ago, I told you of The Path of Ascension. Today, I am leaving to follow The Path. I ask those of you that are willing to follow me to speak now, though I must warn you; the journey will not be easy. Prey may be scarce, and plants may be tough, but it is nothing that we have not faced before while growing ourselves, sharpening our fangs in the Everfree.”

"I'll go." Foxy barked snidely. "Who else is gonna keep your nose out of your own dirt?"

I rolled my eyes as Honey the badger spoke up. "Ooo, ooo! You need someone ferocious, right? Count me in!"

I nodded at her. "Your assistance is valued, Honey."

Krel snorted. "A fool's errand, but a worthy task all the same. I will join you."

There weren't enough snickers to irk me terribly, but I nodded at him with annoyance anyway. I'd expected him to come. "Then The Four are final. We move at the earliest convenience."

 All others in attendance wished us well on our journey before dispersing. I'd wished to have a creature of flight to accompany us, but there was little I could find fault with in my temporary Pack. With nothing else left to do, I set the pace and lead us into the Everfree. We were left alone by the Kendani of the Forest since Krel and I had reputations for being ruthless when the need arose, but Foxy and Honey would find trouble if they were alone as they often did in the Everfree. It was of little consequence at the moment, but if they needed to return without us, a part of me worried about their safety. There was no guarantee that any of us would return, and there was no promise of success in the first place. I'd faced worse before as long as I didn't think too hard, but that in and of itself worried me. I'm not one to worry.

We trotted through the Everfree as quickly as we could, but Honey slowed us down since her legs were even shorter than Foxy’s. Krel eventually tired of her speed, or rather, the lack thereof, so he picked her up in his maw and I allowed him to place Honey on my back as if she were a wounded pup. I did not mind too terribly, but that did mean that Foxy was now tiring more quickly trying to keep our pace, so he ended up on Krel’s back and we made much faster progress. Their weight was negligible at best for both of us. One of the many perks of being a large predator, though no one would deny the boons of being small.

After passing the Hydra’s swamp, we meandered through the evil flower's given path, known to Two-Legs as Poison Joke. Thankfully, as fellow residents of the forest, the flowers were happy to save their poison for another set of victims, so we were able to walk through them without an issue. It was unfortunate that we had to pass through the large patch of track covering flowers anyway. I myself had stridden through Poison Joke to lose extra tails before, but it was no use pretending that I secretly wished that someone would follow us to escort us back to safety. The time was not fit for doubtful minds, however, so we pressed on through the Everfree.

Dawn was coming by the time we came to the Heart of the Everfree, which meant that we had but a few moments to wait for the Watcher. Krel and I laid down on the bare earth that surrounds the Heart and waited for an hour before the Thunderbird came and landed. Watcher took his time in addressing us, preening and generally wasting my valued time.

“Nashoba.” He cried, hurting my ears.

“Watcher.” I replied.

He flapped his wings, blowing any Kendani with wandering ears further into the forest. Honey and Foxy held on for dear life. “Have you decided?”

I rose from the ground. “I have, Watcher. It will be done.”

"Then you are prepared for your quest?"

"I am."

"And your companions are those that you have chosen?"

"They are."

"And-"

"Get on with it, poultry."

"I will eat you."

"You might try."

The Watcher glared at me and ruffled his feathers, bleeding Sky-Magic as he did so. "Insolent bitch. In any case, you have chosen to stride you path in full. This, Nashoba, will not be your greatest test, but the first of many."

"I know."

The Watcher let loose another cry. “Then so be it! Travel across the Wolf Mountain, through the Sun-Drenched Sands, across the Grand Lake of Salt, and to the Place-Where-Moon-Meets-Equus. The Lulamoon will be your guiding star.”

“I understand. What is the Lulamoon?” I asked.

“The Lulamoon is a creature of fortune for her companions, lost in pain, dwelling in delusions. You will seek her out on the Wolf Mountain, practicing her magicks. There she shall wait, and so she shall guide you to the Place-Where-Moon-Touches-Equus. Ask not where she will take you, but what you may learn from her. What fortune she will bring to your path.”

"And the verse?"

He cried because he's a pup in an adult's body. "I was getting there!" When I did not reply, he carried on. "The Lulamoon humbled be truly splendid; Three souls shattered again to be mended. Once the Bright Dusk fades and the Warped Sun bursts; The Fauns once lost will tread this earth. The Foreign King shall rise on Darkest Day; Let the Madness inside provide The Way."

I nodded . "I understand."

He clicked his beak. It was enough for me to know that he was done talking and that he knew I was full of rot and dirt. I drew the first breath of the quest, bringing the pelts of my ancestors closer. Their voices were to join mine as we let loose a howl to signal the end of more than just my mortality. The end of my puphood. The end of my illusions. Krel, Honey, and Foxy offered their own roars to aid the cacophony, signaling the true beginning of the quest. With nothing left to say, the Watcher took flight, beating Krel and I down into the ground as he rose. the overgrown pigeon always made it a point to show off whenever he could, despite being told by many of the Gathering's members that he often lost plumage by taking off so hard. He ignored every warning most days, and rarely listened to those that were not Guardian Spirits.

Damned birds.

With the Watcher gone and my ancestor’s spirits fading, we began anew, this time, heading toward the Wolf Mountain. It would be a simple task to avoid it in its entirety, but it was a part of the quest, and would likely be the easiest, shortest leg of the journey. We set off without another word, and for once while I was traveling the silence wasn't because of some silly reason. Zgon just don't speak often. Krel lumbered alongside me as we traveled through the undergrowth of the Everfree, though we took the time to hunt near a fruit-bearing tree to fill our stomachs. Not eating while we could was foolish for my companions with small stomachs, even if they could save energy by riding Krel and myself. Food would likely be scarce further into my Quest, so the time was spent making sure that everyone present could handle their own prey. We waited for a Kendani jungle deer to pass by, and after a few hours, a few did. I had Krel take a far loop around them so I could chase our prey into his claws, and once he was in position, I sprang, clearing enough distance to put me but a few tails away from them.

The deer were startled, and made easy prey once I made my second leap. Tearing my target’s throat out was the quickest and easiest way to make my kill, and from a distance, I could hear that Krel had been successful in making one of his own. Honey had found a jackalope and Foxy had caught a bird for himself. There was no accounting for taste in foxes by any means. He could have gotten a jackalope himself more easily. The creatures ride the line between cat and canine too finely, thus making them brilliant, but insane. Much like the accursed raccoons. 

Honey made short work of her kill and Foxy devoured his own with a bit of time, though Krel and I were eating to load rather than because we were hungry. Honey was still hungry when she was done, which was no surprise. The little badger would eat Krel if she could get away with it, and had made the comment a time or two. As such, Krel was not fond of teasing her and offered her some of his kill as well as his back in order to ingratiate himself to her. Foxy was hesitant to eat deer, but I gave him little choice as he himself was not full. 

With Foxy on my back, we continued to the main river of the forest and stopped to drink. Brambles nearby offered a relatively safe nest for the rest we were taking, though it wasn't the most comfortable place I'd lain. Manticores hated the smell of bramble and Orthus’ hated the feeling of them on their pathetically soft paws, so we were left alone for the morning until we decided to move again. The only disturbance we had was a Rock-Lizard that stalked us out of its territory. Neither it nor my pack would have found the rewards of victory worthy, though I had no doubts that it would have come for us if we'd hunted in its territory.

It took many hours of decently expedient travel to get anywhere with my journey, but the company was fair and the smells were interesting on the other side of the Everfree, that which I never felt obligated to go. I'd long since left the place to its own devices since my half was good enough for my tastes, but we stopped to hunt for a new flavor or two in the monotony that is eating. We finally broke the forest’s cover and walked onto the open ground of the plains. The Wolf Mountain loomed in the distance and there was much ground to cover, so Krel and I set our pace moderately. It took but a few words for us to make sure that we would not anger the Elder Spirits by rushing through their lands. I'd never understood the code which the Eldest Spirits follow or needing to travel slowly while not in danger. It was tedious, boring, droll, and stupid, but in any case, being haunted would be but one more issue that facing would do us no favors, so we traveled as slowly as we had to. We still heard the Elder Spirits howling with the wind, but we were abiding by their laws, so they could not lay so much as a claw on us, lest the Watcher wage war against them. Lest I wage war against them once I return.

Crossing the plain had largely been uneventful. I never did like the smell of field rabbits and their odor coated the plains thick and freely, but I had no reason to stop Foxy from trying his paw at hunting for himself. I knew that he would have little luck since we last fed not long ago, but much to my surprise, he managed three rabbits in the time it took for him to catch up to us. The Elder Spirits were appeased when he left one of his kills behind, so the wind stopped howling and our journey across the plains eased considerably since we were no longer fighting against gusts... I just... It was foolish, and I should have said so. Even then I had an inkling, but I could not know for certain.

It took us two days to clear the plains, despite being able to see the mountains for most of the journey. Our pace was the problem, and being able to finally speed up once we set paws to stone was a blessing that we’d desired since we started across the plains, though I reminded our party that the journey was not to be rush. None were happy to hear my words, but there had already been a bad omen in the beginning and another had come to pass in the form of a bloody sunset. The wisdom of those long passed on was invaluable and all of us knew it, so we accepted our fates for what they were. It didn’t stop us from going a little faster, however.

Mountains are not a wolves home, though Foxy and Honey were far more familiar with the rocky terrain from the instincts they carried, the prey of the mountain was far too nimble for Krel and myself. However, it was an odd occurrence when a badger decided that a cougar would make for a good meal. Firstly because Honey knew that I don't like cat meat. Second, because Honey only four or five times bigger than Angel. The brave, ferocious little she-thing battled a cougar straight into my paws, and I finished the job while Foxy took the time to hunt more rodents for himself and Honey. Krel and I shared the cougar, but the tough, musky, cat meat proved... Disgusting at worst, gross at best. It was just gross since we were hungry, but still. Cat meat is like chewing dried cow dirt on the brightest of days, but Krel had always been fond of the feline fragrance while I detested it to no end. I’d almost rather eat another wolf than a cat of any kind, but when food is scarce, you make do with what you have.

Traveling up the mountain was nearly as tedious as the plain, though far more dangerous and occasionally tumultuous. Foxy was nearly blown off of the mountain by a strong gale, so it was agreed that the smaller creatures would remain nestled my dense fur for the remainder of our time in the mountains. IT was no issue to me, though Honey’s claws felt amazing against my pelt. She’d chosen to hold next to the right spot which occasionally made my leg shake, though I tried to cover it. Krel spent far too much time being amused by it, so I nipped his shoulder and told him to straighten up before I went for something softer and lower.

He was less amused by that.

Still, he asked to mount me once we reached the summit of the mountain, but I, again, told him to find a she-bear to carry his seed for him. Cross-breeding never ends well, and despite how much I care for Krel, I can’t give my life for an abomination of an offspring. He was understandably put off by my denial of his mating offer, but he knew the reason behind it, so no one was surprised when I said no. It had been the answer he received every time he asked, and I personally thought he spent too much time on two legs around the Two-Legs. It had struck me before that Krel had a concept of love more developed than my own, though it mattered little to me... Dumb, smelly, horny bears; they’re just as bad as rabbits most days, but worse because they're heavy and taste bad. At least they weren’t ducks, however. Accursed poultry.

It had taken us days to reach the pinnacle of the mountain, and the trip was a pain in the tail, made my paws ache for the Everfree soil, and made Krel smell even worse. The air thinned and his stink was just that much more noticeable, but Foxy was starting to get smelly himself. Honey too. Honestly, I think wolves are the only species in the damn forest that don't smell like anything most of the time, but all of my companions were musty.

We slept on the summit, huddling together to keep our warmth while waiting for the Lulamoon to either arrive or show herself. After a day of hunting with no luck and the Lulamoon not turning up, we struggled to find enough water for the four of us. in the dawn of the second day, we found that the Lulamoon had been practicing her magicks in a cave and Krel essentially stole her from her next. She was absolutely coated in fear, bawling her stupid Two-Leg eyes out about being eaten alive, even though she was not being killed. It was annoying, so I yipped at her a few times and turned in circles to show that we were friendly for the time being. Then Krel put her down and Foxy nagged him about not doibg so earlier. She was hesitant still and there were plenty of things in her scent, though as we sat around her, she seemed to accept that she was in no danger. For the moment. However, to me, the Mare looked too tired to really be scared by the time Krel put her down.

She looked like she wanted to run and just couldn't gather the strength, so I asked Foxy to be the greeter as foxes were known as good luck to the Ponies. Foxy managed to nudge her a few times, but she was obviously exhausted, so we left her alone during the day as I went to her cave and gathered her supplied. There were some things that I have no names for, but little in the way of food. As little as she wanted to, Honey still collected some grasses and wildflowers for a meal, even though our own hunts had been running long and fruitless. When we returned, the Lulamoon was still wary of us, but all too tired to do much if we decided to make a meal of her. I let her have the things and moved the bag-with-carrying-strings so that the grasses and flowers were exposed. She stared at it, then at me. I nodded and took Honey to join Foxy with Krel still out for the hunt. The Lulamoon ate what we gave her quickly and found herself unable to move3 shortly after. She must have been starving.

Night was soon to fall and it was growing too cold for Foxy, meaning that the Pony would likely freeze without assistance. Honey and Foxy were quick to come alone since Ponies were known for softness and warmth, though the Lulamoon was not as soft as the accursed horned one or the Broodmother. She felt more like the short horned one, but less squishy. She tentatively laid her head on my side and allowed Honey and Foxy to warm with her in turn. Krel limped as he returned shortly after we were settled in, though the fact that he'd managed a goat outweighed his minor injury. The Lulamoon did not watch us feed, and she was fearful when we returned to her side. Krel commented on her cowardice, but the ever-attentive Foxy knew that Ponies in general did not like seeing things killed and eaten.

If only they knew of the Falora and the Dryads. Such hypocrisy is only amusing to a point when one considered how much more a Falora feels than a Kendani.

In any case, there was no longer any point in staying on the Summit. When dawn came, we would cross the Sun-Drenched Sands, and the toughest leg of the journey would begin.
> The Sun-Drenched Sands
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Sun rose over the horizon, spilling its light onto us and waking the ones who couldn't bury their face in someone's fur. In other words, Krel and I were awake for a while before the others. We both agreed that being beds was awful for the simple fact that you were obligated to stay still while creatures were resting on you, no matter how still and awkward your limbs felt. Still, I had it worse as the Lulamoon had chosen my pelt as her preferred resting place, though I couldn't blame her after the look on her face when she smelled Krel. She did comment on the fact that he and Foxy were, indeed, smelly creatures, which had been amusing at the moment and long into my restless slumber. It was mostly amusing because she shivered occasionally whenever the wind blew, and Krel was far warmer and softer than I. How the Ponies are the choosing beggars every time, I'll never know. Master was one to put up with it, I myself have always laughed. In any case, it was not my problem as Krel was warm and I could bear his scent for slumber.

In the breaking dawn, I found it worthy of my time to ask, "Friend, are you well this morning?" I asked, not truly interested in whether or not he was.

“This is where our journey shall begin in full,” Krel said slowly. His answer was enough to know his opinion.

“True enough. We have the Lulamoon and two small predators to assist us. The omens are good for now. I hope they continue throughout the day.”

Krel harrumphed. “Your paws are already blessed, Wolfmother. There is little for you to fear.”

“Those that fear nothing are doomed to die by that which they ignore. I may fear little, but I am not without my moments. There are things that walk this land that even the Wolfmothers would rather ignore.”

“Such words are uncommon from you. Walk freely, bitch, for I watch your tail,” Krel assured me.

I puffed a breath through my nose. "Surely you hope that my tail would wag as freely as I walk."

He chuckled himself. "Of course. What bear would deny an opportunity with his mate?"

"... You know you have chosen poorly, Krel. It is not brave nor advisable to stay this path."

“... Thank you for coming to me. I would have been remiss if you had left the Broodmother’s domain without me.”

His meaning was lost on me. Another one of Two-Leg tendencies; Speaking in riddles. “I knew that you would come with me, though I was wondering why you didn’t show up to the Gathering Tree. Perhaps you found yourself a she-bear?” I asked, though I'll admit I waited on his answer to decide his fate.

He snorted. “No Zgon she-bear would take a male that has no territory. I may have a reputation, but without land in the Everfree, my chances of having offspring are slim. Even then, you are aware of my opinion of them.”

"They are your own, Krel."

"I was not raised to be one of them."

"The Pack cared for you. We taught you to hunt as a bear to the best of our abilities-"

"But I was brought to adulthood by wolves all the same, Nashoba."

"Even then, seeking a bitch as a mate would go over poorly. Your offspring would be-"

"I am aware."

I yawned, satisfied with his falsehood. “Even then your offspring would be lost between two worlds, regardless of how the Pack raised you. Perhaps it is for the best if you wait to find a mate?”

“Waiting is all I can do,” Krel said. His disappointment was clear, but it was necessary. As a Wolfmother, I was obligated to take a mate of my own kind, though Krel had no such compunctions. He knew of my reasons but he was still stalwart in his approach. I found it endearing.

I nuzzled his muzzle. The male would have been a perfectly acceptable mate if her were of my kin, however, if we were to breed, our offspring would be reliant on the Broodmother or never leave the Everfree. I would never allow such a crutch to form for my own pups. “Worry not, friend we will find someone for you once we return. As Wolfmother, it will be my first oath after swearing to guard the forest.”

Krel huffed. “There is no need to guard the Forest anyways, but I appreciate your offer, even if I wish it were different. When we return, I believe I may ask you to assist in my own mission.”

“My fangs and claws are yours,” I offered.

“And so are mine.” Honey stretched, nuzzle my stomach quite pleasantly. “Give me a place to make a den in your territory and I’ll help scare off anyone dumb enough to try and mark it!”

Krel chuckled. “You are fearsome, Honey. I will give you your den.”

“Alright!” Honey cheered. I suppose finding a den that you could keep on a bear’s territory is a valuable thing, especially as a smaller Zgon.

“So where are you thinking of making your mark?” Foxy asked from under one of my paws. “There aren’t many prey-rich places left in the Everfree these days unless you're willing to kill to claim and keep.”

“There are lands that the Pack have preserved for those who would have little luck of their own. I myself would choose to remain relatively close to the Broodmother,” Krel explained.

“I will advocate for you all the same. If nothing else, should you share your lands with me-” I tried to say.

Krel interrupted with, "You already have territory and guard the Two-Leg's ruins. Asking more of you than your voice is not the way of the Pack."

Foxy scoffed, coughing a little before he said, "As if Nashoba would care."

“With Nashoba you shouldn’t have too much trouble! If she can’t talk her way into getting you some hunting grounds, then we’ll fight the Manticores for a slice!” Honey declared.

Honey’s words were rather foolish, but then again, the badgers are a short-lived, violent species. “You say that now, Honey, but the only Manticore you were ever able to fight off younger than you.” Foxy chuckled.

“Yeah, so? We take the small ones, Krel and Lupa take the big ones!” We all had a laugh at that.

“Accursed animals! You’re so warm, but why must you be so loud!?” The Lulamoon complained.

“Whiny bitch,” I growled.

“Moody she-bear.” Krel puffed.

“Silly kit,” Foxy added.

“Can we just eat her now?” Honey asked.

“Not yet.” I told her. "There may come a time, but for now the Mare is more valuable alive. We will deal with her for the time being."

The Lulamoon groaned and started shifting around, finally allowing me to rise with her as she dug through her things for more food. She found some and said, "Trixie guesses she should thank you all... Trixie is grateful that you have shown her that there is food for her in unlikely places."

I nodded to her, but said nothing, eager to get moving for the day.

The Trixie Lulamoon saw that we were waiting for her to eat and was curious as to why we were being patient. “Alright you animals, it’s time for me to go. Run along now.” She said, shooing us away. I strode up to her and started pushing her along, her hooves skidding across the stone. “Whoa, whoa, whoa! Stop!” She cried out before I ceased my actions and the Lula moon wagged a finger at me. “Bad dog! Very bad dog!”

I gave her a bored look and sat down, yawning again. For some reason, dealing with the Lulamoon made me rather tired, though my muzzle didn't itch. That much, I should say. I waited for her to start moving again before swishing my tail, inviting Krel to join myself, Honey, and Foxy. The Lulamoon expressed some discomfort when we started following her down the other side of the Wolf Mountain, but there was precious little she could do to dissuade us, and she would not lose us easily. The Magic in her horn was too meager to get her far from us, but she didn't appear to want to leave us anyway. We kept a small distance away from her, stopping when she did, and speeding up when she actually did try to leave us behind. Much of the day was spent playing her silly games until she found a resting point halfway down the mountain. Unfortunately, that resting point was a cave that reeked of Cougars, but she didn’t notice the smell. I had the rest of my small pack wait outside while I went in after her, only to find that she’d been cornered by a mother and two of her nearly grown cubs.

I growled to a peak once and their attention went from the Lulamoon to me. These Cougars were Zgon, through and through. Speaking with them was an obligation, even if they were cats. “Sister cat; offspring. Allow this meal passage and I will find you another.”

The mother laughed at me. I don’t like being laughed at. “Foolish mutt, there are three of us and one of you. Take our prey if you dare, but do not assume to bargain with us.”

Her cubs mewled their disagreement, the instincts of the young telling them that I was far more dangerous than their mother. “Listen to your cubs, young mother. You will not find peace on this path.”

“But I will find a full stomach. I may despise dog meat, but I’ll deal with it when I’m waiting for you to digest!” She snarled.

The Lulamoon cowered against the cave wall as the Cougar prepared to lunge, but I was faster than she could ever hope to be. I snatched up one of her cubs by its scruff and flung it deep into the cave while pinning the other one beneath my paws. I held my teeth at its neck until the Cougar mother back away from the Lulamoon.

“Wait! Wait! Do not slay my cubs! We will cease; the matter is done!” The mother pleaded.

I looked at her and took a paw off of her cub and it remained still in hopes that I wouldn’t decide to eat it. “Why not? I would like a meal as well and I have a Pack to feed. Offer me one of your cubs and your life will be spared.”

The Cougar glared at me. “You ask me to choose between my offspring? They have already lost a brother and a sister!”

“And now one of them will lose the last of their siblings. I offered you your chance, young mother. You rejected it. Do not assume to bargain with Nashoba of the Everfree.”

The cougar mother looked deep into the cave and saw that the cub I’d thrown was limping towards us, and the cub under my paw was breathing weakly. Much longer and it would die of suffocation, but its brother would die since it could barely walk. The cougar mother had a clear choice, though it was one no mother should ever have to make. Such is the way of the wild.

“Since when do the Zgon eat each other?” She pleaded, the foolishness of her own hypocrisy not lost on me. “Are there not enough Kendani in your lands?”

“My journey takes me far beyond my own lands. Your time grows slim, young mother. Choose.”

The limping cub yowled in pain as it ran forward. “Take me! Take me, and let my sister live!”

The cougar mother stood by as her son placed his head under mine. “You would give your life so your sister would carry on? I find this quite noble.”

“No. I will give my life for my children. I will be a better meal for you, sister wolf.” The cougar mother bargained.

I took my paw off of the female cub and watched her scamper over to her mother’s side. “Say your goodbyes, then. Never let it be said that the Wolfmother has no mercy.”

I allowed the cougar mother to bathe her child one last time before she came to my side. “You are much larger than I thought you were.” The mother said softly.

“I hear that often.” I trotted over to the Lulamoon and gently took her arm in my mouth.

She squealed like a sow and tried to get away from me, so I cut her off with a harsh growl and started pushing her toward the mouth of the cave with the Cougar mother following behind me. Once the Lulamoon realized she wasn’t being eaten, she cheered and hugged me before running out of the cave, leaving me and the Cougar mother to follow more slowly. Once we were outside the cave, I posed a question to the cougar mother.

“Young mother, what is your name?” I asked.

“We of the mountain call ourselves by our favorite places. I am High Ledge on Summit.”

“You will be called Summit.” I abridged. “Summit, I offer you two choices.”

Krel, Honey, and Foxy looked on in mild interest as she said, “I’m listening.”

“Join me on my quest in my stomach, or join me by my side. I have use for another skilled hunter, one that can climb the trees.”

“At the end of this journey, will I return to my cubs?” She asked.

“If you so desire. They may be beyond your care by the time you return," I replied.

“I accept this. I will join you, Wolfmother.”

I wasn't surprised that she knew of me, even if she couldn't know my face. Satisfaction found its way into the result. “Good. The bear is Krel, the badger is Honey, and the fox is Foxy. The Pony we are following is called the Lulamoon,” I explained.

“I will do my best to remember these names, and I swear on my spirit that I will not betray this chance you have given me. It is your right to take my life as the Alpha whenever you so choose,” Summit pledged.

“Great, Nashoba gets us another mouth to feed and it even talks like her!” Honey complained.

Summit growled at her. “I don’t even know what you are, but I’ll eat you.”

“Try me, trollop!” Honey hissed. "Your fangs will be deliciously crunchy!"

Summit recoiled. “... What?”

I whacked Summit with my tail. “Honey is tougher than all of us. I suggest you leave her be.”

Summit was visibly disturbed from being threatened by something less than an eighth of her size, but she let the matter go nonetheless. The Lulamoon had been standing by, carefully watching Summit as I introduced her into the pack. As were finishing with the conversation, I trotted forward and started pushing the Lulamoon down the path so that we could hurry and get a move on. Krel allowed Summit to put Foxy and Honey on his back, but we were soon to be off the mountain with the Lulamoon guiding the way.

The Lulamoon was painfully slow, but she had finally allowed us to join her on her journey to Place-Where-Moon-Touches-Equus without qualm, so she no longer spent any time trying to avoid us or lose us. Instead, she allowed Krel and I to walk on either side of her with Summit following close to me as we made our way further down, but night fell as we’d already lost too much time. Summit took the lead and we tried everything to get the Lulamoon to grab her tail. It took me putting her arm in my mouth and leading her over to Summit’s tail for her to get the idea.

Two-Legs are dumb. And night-blind, but mostly dumb.

We found another cougar's cave further down the mountain, but this one only had a single, old male in it. Summit and I took the battle away from the Lulamoon since Ponies are weak, pathetic creatures, and the pack feasted on whatever we could eat, though Summit abstained for obvious reasons. Some cats actually had the wherewithal to not eat their own kind, though it was of little consequence to me in any case. Summit and Foxy went after hares while Krel, Honey, and myself all fed from the old male. The meal was not good, but it was enough to keep us going and we had a place to rest for the night. Summit and Foxy took turns watching the cave’s entrance since they could both see through the darkness more so than Krel and myself, though it wasn’t as if I couldn’t have done it. Summit still preferred to take my watch, and I was happy enough to allow her to do it.

The next morning came and Summit was exhausted. She barely had the energy to stretch, so Krel offered to carry her until we could find our next meal. Cats are notorious for being lazy, but being a mother had given Summit more hours of the day than most cats had, and even then it wasn’t as if Krel and I couldn’t carry her. I’d seen many cats wake up hissing and striking at a well-meaning creature, so I was confident that having Summit around was still an overall boon as she'd risen with no issue. Honey was a little annoyed by it, but she couldn’t complain since Summit had eaten less than she had so far and had been crucial in helping us find a way down the mountain that was faster than the normal path.

Unfortunately, this meant that we were about to take on the worst part of the journey: The Sun-Drenched Sands. I’d been there before when I was younger, and everything about the place was simply awful. It was hot, there was little water, and the very ground hurt your paws. I was eager to get that particular leg of the journey over with, but when the Lulamoon strayed from the sands in a random direction while following her magic, I couldn’t help but think that things were going to get much worse.

I was proven correct hours later. We slogged through the desert, spotting the occasional desert fox that was always happy to share a watering hole with us, though the water was often far too little to sate all of our thirsts. The Lulamoon had brought enough water for herself in her bags, so we didn’t need to allow her access to the limited supply that we could find, but finding her after going to get a drink was often difficult. More than once, Summit, Foxy and I struggled to track Krel’s scent and more than once, it was Honey’s scent that led us back to the Lulamoon. She’d been taking wide, arcing paths that lead into Krel’s scent, which was the only reason we’d been able to get back on track.

When Night fell, things were far easier. The Lulamoon set up a tent for herself and the Pack stayed outside to enjoy the cool night’s breeze, though we huddled close when the Moon rose high. The temperature difference was incredible and lethal, as was the case when we saw a desert hare lose his burrow. He quickly became a meal for Foxy and Honey, though they hated eating in front of the rest of the group when they knew that another meal was unlikely to be found. The next day was one that would have to be filled with hunting.

When the morning came, we forced the Lulamoon back into her tent so we would not have to travel during the worst hours of the day. Luckily, between my Master and the Broodmother, they had taught me how to write, and I did so in the sand to explain why we were staying put during the day, hiding in the shade of the dunes.

‘SuN hot. NiGhT cooL. TrAvEL NiGht.’ I wrote out in the sand. The small letters were the tricky ones, but it read okay to me.

“You- You can write!?” The Lulamoon exclaimed.

I nodded to her. “You say that as if I hadn't just done it”

Krel snorted. “Two-Legs make stupid observations. Like Honey.”

The badger in question chomped his fore-paw, but made no progress against his thick fur. “Shut up, you overgrown... Thing!”

“I can’t believe a dog knows how to write… I guess if you could speak, you would have done so by now. Can you tell me why you’re following me?” The Lulamoon asked.

‘mAGic’ I wrote in the sand.

Krel and Honey shut up for a moment to listen to the Lulamoon’s reply. “Magic? The Great and Powerful Trixie has plenty of magic! Is there any you want to see?”

I nodded to her and she started showing us pretty spectacles that would have been more interesting if Foxy and myself could actually see more of the colors. Krel said that some colors were strange ones that he hadn't seen before and Summit just shut up and watched in awe, seeing as how a cat's eyes always see more than what lies before them. It was entertaining for the time being, but it didn't change the fact that it was still hot and the desert bugs were not filling. In any case, it’s common knowledge that not all Zgon see the same colors the same way, but that made our observations about the Lulamoon’s Magic all the more interesting. We filled the daytime snoozing and talking about her tricks while trying not to get too close to one another. Summit and Krel had no problems sleeping all day, though Krel did occasionally complain about the lack of good things to eat. Honey chose to waste energy playing with my tail, but when the Sun finally fell, things were back to business.

The Lulamoon shivered as we walked, so Krel, summit and I stayed near her in a tight huddle as we walked along. It was far better than trying to travel during the day, though it did mean that we came across a Two-Leg town when no one was awake. The Lulamoon found an inn like the one my Master and I had stayed in when we went to the Gryphon lands, so the rest of us went to go hunt some livestock that would hopefully be nearby. Foxy and Honey stayed with the Lulamoon since we’d offered to bring them back some of our kill, thus we went off to find something the Two-Legs call a ‘farm’. Foxy and Honey had to sneak their way into the Lulamoon's company as the inn didn't allow 'pets', but it was of little concern.

It didn’t take the hunters long to catch the scent of filthy sows on the breeze, so Summit and I followed Krel since he was the slowest among the three of us. Sadly, Summit's strength ran low and she was the one lagging behind, so it wasn’t the fastest thing to get there. However, once we did, claiming a sow as one of our own was no task at all. I jumped the enclosure keeping them all inside and crushed one’s skull while it slept so we wouldn’t wake the rest and be caught. It was a nice, fat meal, so Summit had to get her paws dirty with me so we could drag the sow over the fence. Krel took care of the heavy lifting once we got over it and we dug in, filling our stomachs with much-needed flesh, though Summit complained about the unclean taste of pigs. I was quite fond of sow flesh and Krel would eat a stone if it was less crunchy, so neither of us addressed Summit’s reluctance to eat our kill. She complained until I mentioned that I hated cat flesh but had eaten it twice in order to make it as far as we had.

There was no more complaining, though I did not mean my words as any manner of threat. Cat's are pussilanimous and sensitive. 

We stayed in the fruit orchards around the farm so that we wouldn’t be caught by the locals and I had Krel travel to the town in the night to make a scent trail, then had Summit take off as soon as he returned since I would surely be fastest. I proved myself correct, and with a triple-lead all heading to the same place, it was unlikely that either of our pack would let the Lulamoon leave without us. We slept with full stomachs that night, and we actually urinated for the first time since coming off of the mountain, so that was nice. Such common things are often ignored in daily life, but the Zgon were well aware of the value of temporary relief. Not only was it a moral boost, it also provided a brief moment of respite, much like some fruits from the Everfree.

What wasn’t nice was the fact that the Lulamoon stayed in the Two-Leg town for two weeks. Krel, Summit and I had to cull our consumption of the livestock around the town to the occasional Kendani every few days, but it wasn’t a terrible thing. We were used to only eating every so often from our time in the wild, and though Krel and I had lived a comfortable life among Two-Legs for some time, we never allowed each other to become too comfortable unless we wanted to lose our rights to enter the Everfree Forest. It would be foolish to let our fangs grow dull in the days of peace, so we'd kept to the forest during the Gatherings to make use of the place. Such a valuable place was not so easily given up, so we took our breaks to rejoin the wildness of the Forest as often as needed, and that had hardened us plenty for the journey.

While the Lulamoon tarried and made our journey stretch on, either Foxy or Honey stayed with her so that we would not lose her, but our fears were groundless. She often came to visit us in the orchards at night while accompanying one of the pack, bringing us sweet things to eat and the occasional pet snack. They tasted terrible, but refusing a gift is rude; something taught to me by my Master... I missed Max terribly, but I was used to spending time away from him. The male was his own to be sure, even if he tolerated far too much to be a true leader in my eyes. Perhaps his flawed kindness is why those who see him respect him at some level? Despite his asinine nature and attempts to appear unintelligent, Maximus truly was a mind like no other. I would have sought him out as a mate should he have been an option, but having him in my Family is far better. There were many qualities to my Master that I found quite noteworthy, and a good number of those qualities were not good. However, most of them showed that he was worthy of following. Worthy of protection from himself. Granted, I might havewanted to eat him at some point due to the fact that he never shut up unless he smelled unhappy, but still. We ate the treats despite their taste, the reminder of our home being enough to push us through the bland pieces. Though it was nice that the Lulamoon cared for us, none of us truly understood why we needed to follow her or what we were to learn from her. It would still be a shame if we had to eat her, but she was potential lunch all the same.

When the third week began, we set off further into the Land of The Brave, though now I led the way instead of the Lulamoon. She corrected our path with magic from time to time, but the Wolfmothers before me were able to walk freely with me. Foxy could sense them. He was the only one other than myself. It was easy to mutter my answers and questions, learning of the Wolfmother's histories from each of them in time, finding no merit in picking a favorite tale. I kept a good pace for our Two-Leg, Honey, and Foxy, so we didn’t have to rest terribly often. It was nice to not have to carry anything, though it still took us five more days to cross the desert. On the third day, we’d found a dead Two-Leg that I didn’t recognize and made use of his corpse as sustenance, though we made sure that the Lulamoon was far away when we did, just in case she found fault with the ways of the wild. It was better than leaving him to rot, and the horned creature was not terribly decomposed anyway. Two-Legs... Truly pathetic creatures, especially to die while alone and seemingly prepared, but there are always exceptions to the rule. For example, my own mother, Asena, spoke highly of her Companion. Many of the Wolfmothers were said to value the ones they imprinted on, though that may be due to the nature of a Wolfmother's Companion. Many were said to be strong beyond their station, and the Guardians were nothing if not the same. In any case, to be chosen by a Wolfmother is nearly equivalent to being told that you will succeed, though my conversations with Celestia would have told me so in any case.

On the final day of our continued trek through the desert, the sand ended and the soil began, bringing shrubs, moisture, and more scent trails along with it. Prey was still an issue, but there were more leads to follow in the forest, so I had Foxy come with me so I could find my way back to where we broke off from the group. I cannot track my own scent, so I needed Foxy to provide some musk for me so that we could hunt as we pleased. I ended up stalking a deer from sunset until moonrise, but I managed to get it in the end and dragged it back to where the rest of the Pack were sleeping. We ate well that night, and I even got to eat the heart of the deer after some well-done claw work from Summit’s skill set. Unlike the days before, the Lulamoon did not attempt to make her tent at all and had taken to using her sleeping sack and our warmth as her bed. She was exposed to our feeding and found no fault with it, even coming to us as everyone but Honey finished with their fill. The Pony was learning to accept the wild in time, though her fondness for the small cacti with the stems was... Interesting. She ate them at night was exceptionally friendly afterwards. They seemed to ease her mind at most times, but the first night we spent in the forest, she wept.

It had started with a few choked sobs until the tears came in earnest and it was clear that there was something in the Lulamoon that hurt her. Perhaps it was the pain inside that reminded me of my Master. Perhaps it was her own insignificance and the desolation Two-Legs felt in the wild. Maybe the cactus was a cursed fruit and she was a fool for consuming it? There was no telling, but even then her weeping turned to knickers and brays that did none of us any good. Krel attempted to comfort her, though Summit and Honey could have not cared much less. In the end, Krel and I watched over her until she stopped, waiting for her to find some peace.

The dawn was coming when the Lulamoon started muttering to herself. Occasionally she would deny guilt in some action. Often she would beg for mercy from her mother. The Lulamoon would speak of her father in happy tones before weeping and leaving whatever tale she was spinning to rest away from the misery she found herself in. Again, I was reminded of Max and his attempts to run from his pain, only to be wrought with it when it found him from another angle. The same was likely true for her... 

If the Lulamoon made it through the journey, then I would take her to Max. He would know how to help her.

The Lulamoon was slow to rise, but Summit and I forced her onto Krel and we moved on. She rode like she was prey being carried to his cubs, but she eventually came to walk on her own hooves. We came across another settlement deep into the forest, but this time it was not one of the Two-Leg’s places. Instead, we’d come across Naga, the Chosen Tribe and the race that helped bridge the gap between the Zgon and Two-Legs from long ago. The Lulamoon was welcomed into their society as a guest, but I and the pack were halted from entering. A tall Naga female barred us from coming near her den. We were only a few days travel from the Grand Lake at this point. “Wolf. Bear. Cat. Fox. Badger. Why do you seek entry into the Naga lands?”

I stepped forward from our group. “Naga. I seek the Path of Ascension, as is my birthrite.”

The Naga leaned away from me. “You? You are Nashoba? Descended niece of Fenrir?”

I snorted. “Do not utter my uncle's name lest he come. I am Nashoba, and I will travel these lands freely.”

The Naga bowed low, her snout coming close to the soil beneath her tail. “My apologies for waylaying you, honored Wolfmother. Please, call upon us and my kin will hunt for you and your pack as needed.”

“There is no need. Tell us where to hunt and we will gather our own food. It would not do for the Wolfmother to keep company that cannot feed itself.”

The Speaking-Snake rose and held her hands up in a gesture of peace. “I meant no offense, Wolfmother. I will show you myself where prey is plentiful.”

“If you have time, it would be appreciated,” I replied. “We do need to keep an eye on the Pony Two-Leg we brought with us, however. She is my guide on the path.”

The Naga seemed confused. “Her? Truly? But she is just a petty magician with cheap tricks!”

I nodded. “The Watcher of the Everfree told us to seek her out, and so we have. She is not terrible, though she does not know her own importance. I trust you will keep this information close to yourself.”

The Naga bowed again. “Of course, Wolfmother. Is there anything else you may need?”

“Oh, oh! Don’t forget water!” Honey cried from underneath me.

I looked up to the Naga. “The Arid Desert is dry. Water would be nice, but food is nicer.”

“It shall be provided since the nearest viable source is so far away. Come, I will show you our hunting grounds”

She led the way as she said she would, and luckily the hunting grounds were not far from the edge of the Naga settlement. Fresh scents of all sorts told us that delicious Kendani laced the land, freely and plentiful. I heard my pack draw a collective breath and release it, all of us prepared for a meal of our own choosing. Honey immediately started rooting around for grubs and various other insects while Foxy climbed trees and stole eggs. Krel snacked on berries and foliage because bears are strange creatures, and I took Summit around to teach her how to hunt deer and other faster, four-legged prey. There was even a boar in our path, though Summit elected to slay a deer for herself. I would have preferred the boar, but Summit had made the effort and had done well. As little as I like cats, Summit was one of the good ones.

 Once we’d all had our fill of our chosen meals, we came back to the Speaking-Snake settlement, located the Lulamoon, and settled in for another respite while she performed her tricks for the Serpents of Knowledge. It was unfortunate, but there was too much time for us to do little other than hope that she or the Naga would tire of her tricks
> The Lake, The Curse, The Rain
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

We stayed near the Grand Salt Lake for another couple of weeks, though it was through no fault of our own and there was actually much for us to do. Krel met a she-bear that was friendly with him, if not a little too distant for his tastes. Foxy commented on it from time to time, but I could hardly say that it bothered me. I’d long since told Krel to find his she-bear and it seemed like there was a good one for him with the Naga of the Salt Lake. I was not jealous as Honey claimed, nor was I avoiding him as Foxy persisted. Summit, even while being a cat, knew my mind better than any of the pack and let me know her opinion while hunting. She understood that I was both happy and sad for my friend, for my pup-hood pack-mate. Summit had found her mate and he was foreign to her after the moons they’d spent together while he was trying to breed with her. I suppose the same fate is unappealing to me, though I can’t say that I like the idea of Krel taking his she-bear. He should find a better one, surely, and could if he would just give himself time, but it’s none of my concern any way.

In any case, the Lulamoon waylaid us to satisfy her own needs and desires, but even as the Naga weren’t the most social creatures, they offered her the same berries that the tribe of the Everfree had given Max and in the final days of our stay with the Snakes of Knowledge, I often found myself spending time in her company. As such, we had some time to talk while she, for the first time since coming to the forest, pawed one of her cacti with a sad smile. I’d decided to join her and was informed that she could understand me. After we’d explained some things about ourselves that I found unimportant, the Lulamoon picked up on my reluctance to engage with the... tiny talk that Maximus finds himself trapped into.

I had a question I wanted to be answered, and the Pony in front of me was the only one with my desired information.  “Lulamoon, what does the cactus do to you that makes your mind run so wild?”

“Ah, it’s… Trixie feels like it’s very similar to Magic Bark, like she uses on the road to make her shows more interesting. Why do you ask, Nashoba?”

“The night we landed in the forest. You were quite inconsolable.”

“... Trixie is sorry-”

“For being in pain?”

She furrowed her brow and stared at me. “... Trixie was not hurt, Nashoba.”

“Not all pain rests upon the pelt.” I laid down since there was no reason to stand. 

“... Trixie does not wish to speak about it.”

“And who would I tell your secrets to? Krel, who could hardly care less? Summit, who has no concept of Two-Leg emotion? Foxy, who would never leave you alone until you smiled?” Her brows raised. “And Honey, like Krel, does not care about why you are hurting, just that you are.” The Lulamoon stared at me. “I will hear your tale, Lulamoon. Speak and I shall listen.”

“... Will- Will you promise Trixie something?”

“Yes, within reason.”

“... This stays between you and Trixie, o-okay?” She wrung her hands, much like the short horned one that Max liked. 

I found it endearing, so I got up and laid my head on her lap. “Nothing shall leave this conversation, lest you wish for such a thing.”

And so the Lulamoon did tell me many things. I feel no guilt in speaking on her reverence of her father. The Mare obviously loved and missed the Stallion dearly, and knowing the Ponies for the creatures that they were, it was no surprise that she had been a father-follower. However, that is all I will speak upon. I do not wish to relay any information of the Lulamoon’s namesake, and should I find the Mare, the Wolfmother’s will feast.

After having heard much of the Lulamoon’s tale, I found that she was less annoying than I’d originally thought. My muzzle had long since stopped itching around her, but Summit and Honey were curious as to why I was taking a liking to the Mare. Krel had an inkling since he knew both Maximus and the Alcohol Horned-One, and Trixie had been a very arrogant combination of the two during our travels. However, from Trixie I learned that she had been kicked out of the Two-Leg place in the Sun-Drenched Sands for the same reason she’d been kicked out of Ponyville; Two-Legs assumed that her flash and fire was true strength. When her abilities had been tested, despite her knowing that she would fail, I found it admirable that the Lulamoon would press on. However, if she had simply given them the truth, she could have stayed longer. 

I spoke with the Lulamoon often, though it was rarer that we were alone rather than being accompanied by either Krel, Summit, or Foxy. Honey was happy enough to pick her fights and win her battles, but something about the Lulamoon interested me. She often spoke of her adventures and grandeur, but a simple question would usually poke holes in her tale and she would fall apart like so all things do to time. It took me a while to understand that the Lulamoon aspired to greatness, but didn’t find herself worthy of her true accomplishments. I knew little of what she spoke, but apparently the sense of an animal was ‘grounding’ for her, despite the fact that none of us knew why what I said was important to her. 

Two-Legs. They are a strange breed indeed.

In any case, the Lulamoon was happy to perform her tricks until she was prepared to leave. My Pack had been pampered during our visitation in the Naga settlement, but being treated as a pet, even as a venerated pet, was an insult to my lineage and the wild heart that beat within me. Krel felt much the same way and Summit had never even met Naga before, so they were content to join me in the forests while the sun shone, hunting and spending our days tracking more difficult meals. We often shared deer that I caught, though Summit was lucky enough to ambush a few during our stay. It was not Krel’s kind of hunting ground, though he made short work of a brave boar that thought its territory was worth a swift end to its life. It was tasty, as there was not even a hint of fear in its flesh. Truly a beast worth knowing, and doubly worth conquering. It made me wonder what Krel would taste like if I were to challenge him, but I saw Summit eying me and was curious if she was as suicidal as her gaze implied. 

She was not and all was well.

The Lulamoon had gained a few gifts from the Naga in the form of a knife and a thin Two-Leg collar, thus signifying that she was ready to leave the company of the Naga. She was stalwart with her departure, and curiously she told the truth of all her tales, letting everyone present know the truth behind the spun stories. She was shocked to hear that there was only one person, a two-year-old Naga, had thought she was anything other than a traveling Minstrel. The amazement and joy on the Lulamoon’s face as she laughed at the simple thing was odd, but it was another moment that reminded me of Max. Perhaps I liked the Lulamoon because she was cut from the same tree, though less ripe when she was plucked. 

The Lulamoon thanked the Naga for their hospitality, kindness, gifts, and most of all, their ‘ever-precious, most valued time’. Her reason was that they could have been pursuing any other means of entertainment, but many had gathered to hear her weave webs of mystique and throw her illusions into the air. The Naga were quick to assume that she was interested in joining the next Mating Tangle, but I spoke for her when she almost agreed and had the Tribe’s Elder explain what it was. On our way toward the Grand Salt Lake, the Lulamoon thanked me. It would have irritated me to see her taken advantage of while clearly full of Two-Leg feelings and that was the explanation she got. I was stopped for a hug that I did not need, but accepted all the same.

As odd as the Lulamoon was, it was rare that a Pony tried, let alone succeeded, at seeing other lifestyles and not casting judgement. She spoke fondly of the Naga and I learned that she’d partaken of smoked fish, finding herself liking the flavor, but not the texture. Krel asked if the Lulamoon would eat Pink-Fish and the crazy Mare said that she would try some if she could cook it. She also made it clear that she would happily take any or all of us along with her while she was traveling Equestria. No one was interested, but she was not put down by our reluctance to join her past her current destination. The Lulamoon had often asked why we were following her in the first place, but my Pack referred her to me each time she asked and the only answer I would give was simply ‘Magic.’. It had taken a few droll stares, but unlike the Broodmother, she was not one to needle. Unlike Master, she would not let it recede from the forefront of her mind. She warranted no further explanation, though I suppose I may have kept the fact that she was a reserve supply of food to the Pack. There was no reason to scare her. It would've made her taste and smell terrible, as all things do when filled with fear.

In any case, The Grand Salt Lake was supposed to be the second easiest leg of the journey since Krel was an expert in catching fish and the lake would provide plenty of water, so there was little holding us back from crossing it. After having sparred with Summit and Honey, wrestling with Krel and matching wit with Foxy, I was feeling prepared and restless. Summit had lost much of her subservience and was all too happy to bat my shoulder if we had the time to play, though Honey had calmed after a battle with three boars. She won, but Foxy had been injured while helping her. It was his own damn… Foxy had known better. He was fast enough to call for aid, but he and I knew damn well he couldn’t have run far enough hard enough and got back to help as well. Foxy was already ill, and it had been eating him slowly. The boar that tusked him had its face torn off by Honey shortly before she obliterated all three in a fit of deranged madness. It had been chance that Summit and I heard her yowls of fury, though the waste of flesh we came across while she was rending the remaining boars limb from limb was indeed a bad omen.

The Naga healed him all the same, but even as we made our way through the forest, he avoided being upwind of me. It didn’t matter as Summit said, “Sickness lies here.”

Krel grunted. “I smell decay, not sickness.”

“I know decay. This is not decay.”

Honey sniffed the air. “Maybe it’s your bear nose? I can’t smell anything other than decay too, and you know what we can eat.”

“True.”

Summit looked to me. “Surely you smell it as well?”

I already knew the wishes of my comrade. “The scent does not cross my path. We continue.”

“Trixie thinks-”

“We continue.”

The first day of our journey was through forest, but the lands we’d known for our stay were of smaller, thinner trees. The closer we came to the lake, the more irksome it became to try and see the tops of the massive things. Krel took the time to paw the bark of one, saying that it would be good for a climb. Summit called him a fool, but then again, I’ve never seen a cat climb down a tree like a bear. Unfortunately, another bad omen was to come as sickness truly did lace the air in spots, the forest unhappy for its own reasons. A tree came crashing down during our travels and the forest was clearly furious. The enormous obstacle had come from ahead, and when we came to it, the omen barred the trail we’d been following. It would have been simple for most of us to climb it, but the trunk was too large for the Lulamoon to scale. I asked Summit to see if she could spot the cause of the tree’s falling from atop its trunk. 

It was a simple task for her, but she could see nothing for the time being. We traveled to the roots together, unwilling to let the omens lie as they were. My vantage point was better as I took my time in examining the damage, but all I could see was that the roots had rotted away. Summit cantered toward me and called out from above. “Sister Wolf! Why has the tree fallen?

I snorted. “Rot, decay, and disease. Tread lightly, this path is cursed.”

Krel trundled along with the others. “Nashoba, we’ll have to go around.”

“We must find another path, Krel.”

Summit growled. “Spirits surround us.”

I summoned my Ancestors as the Lulamoon looked at the roots herself. Summit’s claws popped as the first of the Wolfmothers shaded in. “Hmm… Trixie sees that the roots were worried away by magic. Nashoba, do you know why this tree fell just as we were coming along?”

I made my point and spoke as I did so. “Get off the ground, this earth is cursed.” Trixie got a decent start on trying her way up the tree’s trunk while Honey made her own way. Krel picked Foxy up and flung him to the top before fetching the Lulamoon. “We must abandon this trail. The forest is enraged.”

All hopped down besides the Lulamoon. “Trixie does not understand-”

“Waste no time, Pony.” I snapped. She fell. It would’ve been amusing if it weren’t costing us precious seconds.  I trotted over and nudged the Lulamoon until she rose from the ground. “Lulamoon, we must continue. Your face does not belong with dirt.”

The Lulamoon pushed herself off of the ground. “Blasted hooves. Blasted trees. Blasted ground. Blasted Forest. Blasted wolf. Blasted animals following Trixie around. Blasted-”

“Yes, we get it. Things must be blasted, but you lack the offensive magicks,” I said tersely. “Complaining is unbecoming of the great and powerful.”

“You forgot to add ‘Trixie’ to the end of that,” She scoffed.

I sat in front of her, giving her a look that Max would have perceived. She lacked the aptitude, however. “I did not. If you are great and powerful, you will prove it in time.”

The Lulamoon grumbled and allowed herself to shut up once she got to her hooves. Ponies really do spend too much time complaining, and Two-Legs in general? Pathetic. Still, once you could get them moving, they weren’t all that bad, even if they did tend to smell like delicious food. The Lulamoon smelled like a berry of some kind, but since I had not licked her, I did not know out what exactly it is. Krel told me that she tastes of white-bark-sour-berries and Summit implied that she just tasted terrible, but I surmised that my taste would follow Krel’s.

After the first tree, three more fell to block our path, but we did not climb over any more of them as per the Lulamoon’s request. It took time to walk around the giant logs, but it was better on my claws anyway, so I did not complain. There was still daylight by the time the forest calmed down, though whether that was because Foxy was medicating himself with the forest’s bounty or if it had just been moody, I didn’t know. Either way, the smell of sickness still lingered, but Krel did manage bringing to back some of his finds for the Lulamoon to keep her entertained and fed so we wouldn’t have to stop as often. They did their job, but some of them caused the Lulamoon to be ill for an extended period of time, though she did not vomit. It was unfortunate since she lost a lot of water while under Krel’s watch, but he was the only one who would be bothered with the smell. Instead of making her walk with a sore tail, Krel offered her his back and commented that she was lighter than he remembered. She didn’t comment on it and thanked him for the favor.

Once the Lulamoon was up and walking again, albeit with an odd step or two every now and again, we made camp since night fall would soon be upon us. There was plenty of deadfall for a flame, so the Lulamoon treated herself to one while Summit and I went out to hunt. Foxy and Honey busied themselves with inspecting rotten logs for grubs and snakes, and Krel stayed behind to watch over the Lulamoon since he’d had his fill throughout the day. The Pony went to sleep rather quickly and Summit helped me drag back an odd kill that I’d never seen before so Krel could have a real meal on his stomach. Foxy had little luck in finding any snakes, so he treated himself to what appeared to be the liver of the kill. I took the heart because I was growing fond of them and Summit ate its genitals, while I found to be disturbing, despite not being a male. Krel tore off a haunch after she’d done that and had his meal elsewhere, though I could not blame him for being squeamish. I may have threatened to do something similar to him in the past, but that doesn’t mean that it would be my first choice of targets. As quick as it would make the quarrel, it would be incredibly dishonorable and quite beneath me.

All too soon, the forest became far less hospitable. The air was stale and heavy, berry-rich bushes turned into withered shrubs, the grass beneath our paws became sharp and unpleasant. The trees were so obviously dead that there was little in the way of prey that could live there. A song of peril and turmoil whistled through the dead lands; Cursed ground, and the reason for the forest’s warnings. The melancholy wails of the wind told its tale former glory that seemed to resonate through the thick air. Unsettling is an inappropriate description. Honey was coated in fear. Foxy was muttering to himself. Summit refused to leave my side. Only myself and the Lulamoon forsook any attempt at comfort, for even Krel went to her side, paranoid to say the least.

Other than the cries of the land itself, we could hear little in the way of life. No, the only things living in this part of the forest were abominations that had no place on Equus.

The first confirmation of my suspicions came across our path all too soon. It appeared to be a bear of some kind, but its face was squashed and its pelt riddled with mange and infection. The creatures paws were too long for it to walk normally, so it strode as a two leg, dragging each of its long, filthy claws in the dirt as it strayed over the trail in front of us. When it stopped, the Lulamoon whimpered, but she was not alone. The bastard abomination was an affront to the forest; A blighted creature worthy of a death methodically carried out. I gave my orders and Summit parted from my side. We winged Krel and stalked through the trees, taking a wide berth as we kept pace with him. The closer we got, the clearer the reek of foul magicks and cursed blood was. The Monster was no creature, and it would not make for a meal. It was Waste Flesh, and there is no point in Waste Flesh.

Honey and Foxy stayed back with the Lulamoon to guard her as I Summit and I scouted on our respective sides of Krel, intending on having him be our main combatant since he was similar to the creature. It faced Krel as we approached it and spoke, but its words made no sense, mere pup-blubber in the winds. Once we came within ten tail lengths, the creature let out a roar that sounded unlike any I’d ever heard, infuriating me with it’s damned gibbering. It was deeper than a Manticore's, but louder than Krel’s by far and that made me far more eager to kill it than it I. Our opponent seemed quite worthy, and in normal circumstances I would have fought it by myself. However, only a fool does not use their Pack to their advantage when they should have it prepared.

Krel ran forth and took the lead, gaining the abomination's attention and making it approach in turn. Summit caught my clue and circled further behind it as Krel made contact with the monster. It was slow, but even an adult Grizzly could hardly make it stumble. The dumb thing thought it would be allowed to hurt my friend. The dumb thing had its arm broken as I dashed forth and bit into the putrid flesh, snapping the bone in one solid tug before whipping my head the other way, earning a lovely, wet, joy-inducing sound from its shoulder. Its arm fell limp before Krel took it down and pinned it. Summit held the other arm in her jaw and we had the creature under control until we heard rustling in the surrounding ‘foliage’. From the dead trees, more of the creatures came down to the ground, so Krel quickly finished off the one we were handling at the moment and I did a quick count. Three more had come down from the trees, so Krel, Summit, and I picked a target and moved as a Pack since the creatures were slow enough to warrant taking them down one at a time.

Krel picked up his pace since Summit and I were faster in a sprint than he was, and once we came up to our first target, we attacked it in the same way we had done the other one. Instead of taking an arm apiece and making Krel bring it down, we teamed up to test how taking out an entire arm would do. We sent it sprawling to the ground face first and it was slain easily. Although its blood was even fouler than the reek hanging on their fur, it was worth the disgust to be safe. I told Summit to join Krel for the final kill while I took one for myself, fury coursing through my veins as I considered the affront to my honor. The disregard for my bloodline. I called upon the Wolfmothers and we tore it apart, the howl already going up to cleanse the land as Krel dispatched the last one. Once the Wolfmothers faced and the Blight was made aware of its folly, Krel lumbered over with Summit and grumbled about being the only one to get a mouth full of the thick, oily substance. He was corrected while he was still complaining and promptly shut up when he actually looked at my muzzle.

We returned to the Lulamoon to find that she was sitting around talking to Foxy and Honey like nothing had happened. I was tempted to chew on her mane for a bit, but I settled for giving her a brief synopsis of the events that had unfolded. The Lulamoon accepted that our actions had been the way of the wild and that we weren’t going to be tamed any time soon. That, and I explained to her that the Monsters were cursed and had most likely been the cause of our delays. If we had not slain them, it surely would've been our deaths to come when night fell.

The Dropping Monsters watched as we passed through the forest, waiting for the moon to shine upon them and cleanse them as the Wolfmothers had cleansed the land. Summit, Krel, and I learned how to dispatch them quickly enough on our own, but it was not necessary. Honey was eager to assist, but there was little she could do to things that were on their own territory. Foxy’s advice and observations were invaluable in shutting her up. The Lulamoon was only ill once or twice while we were passing by the Monsters, and I commended her for her constitution, especially because I myself wanted to be ill. She’d still turned green at the sight of what we left behind, but she no longer vomited after seeing the results of a hunt. A better Pony than most.

We spent four days traversing through the worst of the forest, and it was only by the Lulamoon’s stores that we made it through it. Once we cleared the dead trees and the Monsters, we found ourselves on the bank of the Grand Salt Lake. My Pack and the Lulamoon rushed towards the water’s edge to get our first drink in two days, taking our fill of the clear water. It did not taste of salt at all, and it would have been obvious through the Lulamoon if it was. She still overindulged and took herself away from the bank to void her stomach along with Honey, but Summit, Foxy, and Krel were wise enough to sate their thirst in bursts. We held no pity for our ailing companions since I’d warned them mere seconds before reaching the banks, but they were fine once they had a moment to rest.

Once the Lulamoon was okay, I approached her. “Lulamoon. Where does our path take us from here?”

She rifled through her bags until she pulled out a map. It took a moment to find our location with magic as she hummed. “It would seem like we have to go around. The lake is too wide to swim across, and we don’t exactly have a boat.”

I nodded. “Then so we shall. Summit will be happy to hear the news. We can take the day to rest if you require time to get your bearings.”

The Lulamoon shook her head. “There’s no food for you in the dead part of the forest. We still have a few hours of sunlight left, so we need to see if we can fill your stomachs.”

“A wise decision. Perhaps you are not as foolish as I thought.”

Krel snorted from behind me. “Foolishness is relative.”

I gave him a baleful glare. “And I believe you possess much of it. Perhaps you could spend some time fishing in the shallows?”

Krel looked to the Lulamoon. “I agree with the Lulamoon. We must keep moving.”

“Then so be it. We’ll waste no more time.” I declared.

We took a little time for the Lulamoon to refill her stores of water so that we could have it in reserve, just in case. When that was finished, I allowed her to lead the way around the lake but kept a close eye on the forest and the scents within to see whether or not I could smell prey nearby. It took hours of careful attention, but I was successful in catching a scent on the breeze. It smelled like nothing I’d ever had the displeasure of smelling before, but something told me that it was edible so I took Summit along with me and we tracked whatever it was. My nose was the best out of our group for tracking down live prey, so it took but a few more hours to get us to our mark. Summit wanted to have her chance at it, so I allowed her to do so since the setting sun played off of her coat in a way that made her hard to see.

We circled the antlered thing until we were in position: I was in front of it and Summit snuck from behind. She got rather close before the creature caught her scent and bolted, but I was already on it, my long strides eating up the distance between us in seconds. I had Summit help me drag our kill back to camp, and once we arrived, we were met with excitement from the rest of the Pack. The Lulamoon ate her pony food in silence as we tore into our meal, and once I had the chance to clean my muzzle, I came and sat next to her.

I waited for her to speak since it was obvious that she had something to say. “... What does it taste like…?”

“Food. Better than most, not as good as a brave boar. The less scared it is, the tastier it is. A good hunter eats well.”

“... So you try to just… Hurry and end it?”

“Why draw it out? A hunt is not a battle unless you make it one. A fool hunts prey tougher than itself alone, but with a pack, it’s easier to make the kill quick. To suffer is to be offended in the deepest regard while sacrificing your life for sustenance.”

“That’s why you always bite the neck first.”

“I prefer to tear the throat out. The bleeding causes the first death, and that will not be broken for the second. It is kinder than suffocating your prey as Summit does, though her method is not to be judged for inefficiency.”

The Lulamoon nodded. “... Nashoba?”

“Yes?”

“... What would you do if Trixie dies on our journey…?”

“Would you want us to eat you?”

“... Trixie thinks so. If you eat Trixie, you won’t have to end another life.”

A strange feeling blossomed in my heart, as if a bud had chosen to bloom with her words. Her worries were not to feed the pack, but to save another from being a meal as it would no longer matter to her. “... You will not die, Trixie. I will see to this.”

Her smile wasn’t genuine, but it held truth all the same. “Thank you, Nashoba.”

“... You are strange, Lulamoon.”

“Trixie accepts you for what you are! Even the parts that she does not like!”

I butted her with my head a couple of times and she scratched my ears. “And we accept you, Lulamoon. Perhaps not all Ponies are soft, weak creatures.”

She scoffed. “The Great-" The Lulamoon paused. "... No…. Just Trixie thinks that most ponies would have given up by now. Without your Pack, Trixie thinks she would have given up. Coming all this way with you all… Trixie is very grateful for your strength, and that which you have helped her find in herself.”

I rose and whacked her with my tail. “You are made of tougher stuff than most Ponies and many Two-Legs. I believe that you would have made it this far at least, though you did seem quite happy with the Naga.”

The Lulamoon chuckled. “They were entertained by my tricks, but being with them has taught Trixie that she is not as 'great and powerful' as she once thought. Maybe Trixie will return to the mainland and make new friends once she attains her goal....”

I yawned. “The path is clear. We shall walk it carefully.”

After our conversation, we joined the rest of the Pack in sleeping under the stars. The Lulamoon brought her blanket with her and it was an odd thing, but it was nice to be warm all night. The moon’s passing was peaceful and our watches held no interruptions. Once we left the dead forest far behind us, our journey was easier. Water was bountiful, travelling through the forest was easy, and prey wasn’t that hard to find with five experienced hunters checking for scents at all times. The Grand Lake itself only took two days to walk around, and once we did, the Lulamoon’s Magic steered us north.

The meddlesome path set by her stupid, stupid Magic was inane as we were mostly traveling over hills. I kept my dark mutterings about the nonsense of magic and prophecy to myself so that I wouldn’t demoralize the Lulamoon, but it bothered me to no end. Why have something that doesn’t work efficiently? We meandered on through stupid hills and stupid valleys and stupid grass, but it was progress all the same.

As we headed north, the weather became rainier and colder, so it was pertinent to keep the Lulamoon warm at night and dry during the day. Summit and Foxy were miserable through the rain, but Krel, Honey and myself were perfectly fine, occasionally shaking the rain from our coats. Summit and Foxy grew weary after two days of the incessant rain, but the molly still padded through the drained energy, so I kept by her side with Foxy under my belly, trying to keep him dry. The Lulamoon, oddly enough, was a bright beam of sunlight in those rainy days, cheering us up with her tales and taking our minds off of the obvious. With our second-best hunter and our greatest mind under the weather, things weren’t looking good. Foxy himself was reduced to riding myself or Krel for hours at a time, his weak constitution proving a challenge to our progress. There were few medicines in the plains, and even if there were any, Foxy could not have identified them for himself once the eye-clouds started to fill his vision.

It did not take long for morale to plummet, even through the Lulamoon’s efforts. My friend was breathing his dying breaths, and our heads were lower than they had been the desert. The Lulamoon grew taciturn, so Honey kept her company. Things were tough, but I had expected there to be more challenges along the way. I expected someone to get hurt, and I expected us to lose someone. Foxy declined quickly, and there was no discussion of eating our pack mate. Our brother... 

When I felt Foxy breathe his last on my back, I stopped us and a blessing came. The rain ceased and light shone toward a copse of trees to the west. The sign was clear, and the task protected our hearts from the ache for the moment. The forest was nice… It reminded me of a more-damp Whitetail Wood. Krel and I dug a hole for Foxy and the Lulamoon placed him inside so that he would give his body back to the life-stream beneath us. Morale took a heavy hit with Foxy’s passing, and I dreaded telling the Broodmother that I had cost us one of our own, but Foxy had known the risks in coming along. I’d known the omen from the start; a bloody sunset. Omens were never a sure thing, but the red one did indeed pass in the evening. Even then I still felt the weight of responsibility heavy on my heart. We had expected there to be death on our path… And when it came, it was no surprise. For some reason, it wasn’t the same as losing another back home… Foxy was far from his hunting grounds, and I could only hope that he could follow us home.

We mourned our Pack brother for the rest of the day and I sat vigil to honor his memory. Krel and Honey focused on keeping Summit and the Lulamoon alive so that they would not fall to the same sickness that took Foxy, but it was a hard time on all of us. The forest accepted our friend, and I knew that we would not bother coming back. It is not the way of the Zgon to dwell on the passing of kith, regardless of how close we may be to them. A fact that I reminded Krel and Honey of as we made our focus toward getting Summit and the Lulamoon away from the Mourning Forest, hoping that we would avoid more of the final rest before it took another of our number.

We cleared the obstacle two days after Foxy’s passing and the rain let up. It was too little too late, but letting that fact weigh on our minds was doing us no favors. The Lulamoon required more help than any of the remaining Pack could provide, but she muddled through her own sadness and aches to keep things moving. I was proud of her for keeping her chin held high and she set a great example for Summit to follow. Until we’d gotten out of the forest, I’d worried that she was going to be the next to fall, but when we entered the empty plains, my worries proved to be for naught. I'd spoken true when I'd said the Lulamoon was stronger than a normal Pony. She was better by far. I had to admit that if Max were not my Master, then I would consider joining Trixie to see where her path takes her. That alone told me that she would at least be happy with her life, seeing as how she had my blessing naturally. However, if she mated with Master... I suppose I saw pieces of Max in her when she chose not to cry over the death of a friend, but even then I hoped that she would not hold her pain and let it fester.

We met another plain as our final destination loomed on the horizon, daunting and taunting me. It irked me, and I wanted nothing more than to finish the quest and be done with the damn thing. However, I saw the way Trixie was walking, and Summit needed a break of her own. Pushing the pack after a loss would be pointless, and it would be nice to roll around in tall, dry grass. Well, if the Lulamoon didn’t eat all of it. She made for a good goat, but it was a boon to see that she was eating without being told for once. Honey and I left Krel to watch over them, going for whatever we could find in the tall grasses, though the pickings were slim. I managed two rabbits and another big rodent of some kind, and Honey actually made multiple trips back to some dens and slaughtered most of the residents.

I did appreciate her enthusiasm. It was good to wipe the den; Krel needed the meat and I was starving myself. As we made do with our grass bed for the night, Finally, we could head to the Place-Where-Moon-Touches-Equus and my quest would be complete... I just... I suppose I wish that I hadn't brought Foxy along. His knowledge was irreplaceable, but his life had been more valued than simple facts. His encouragement and quiet resolve were always admirable to me, even if he was part cat…

Rest in peace, brother. Your pelt is still felt among us.
> Another Step In The Path
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The journey had been long, though not always arduous. The tidings had mostly been good save for a few spots of terribly bothersome trouble and the bad omens that had taken one of our pack, but outside of the obvious, the trek had been… Peaceful. It had given me much time to think, and with Summit, Foxy, and the Lulamoon to color the adventure with their own perspectives, I’d learned bits and pieces of the different ways that creatures lived their lives. Two-Legs would always be odd, but while I’d been sitting vigil for Foxy, I often thought of the conversations I would have with him and the advice he would give. The small creature saw much more than he let on and would only give so much information. Even then, I still smelled his musk on the breeze and knew that he was walking with us.

As we traveled on to the Place-Where-Moon-Meets-Equus, Summit came to recover, especially with the help of some herbs Krel managed to find for her, courtesy of Foxy’s knowledge passed-down. The Lulamoon, however, was hurting and didn’t begin healing until I caught a fish while we were nesting near a stream. It was like the soul within the flesh of another creature was finally found in her stomach, and though she cooked it, it was still good. Some things are less good when you cook them, but not many I suppose. 

While we made ‘camp’ and the Lulamoon finished off her fish, I sat next to her and noticed that her eyes held a little more life to them. Maximus always said that the eyes were the windows to the thoughts of a creature, but perhaps he was the only one who could see the answers lying within pools of knowledge. In any case, the Lulamoon stared at her little fire and seemed to be lost in thought for a good few hours. Summit and Krel had been talking while Honey was already asleep in the Lulamoon’s lap, knowing that the Pony would take her to the pack when it was time to rest.

“Something plagues your mind, Lulamoon.”

“... Trixie is no stranger to loss, Nashoba… But Trixie has never lost a friend who cared for her as Foxy did… As all of you do…”

I was almost going to tell her that she overestimated her own importance, but it was impossible to do so. It wasn’t true at all. “And you see that just as we gave Foxy to the Earth, so would we do the same for you, Lulamoon. You are a Two-Leg, but you are one of the pack all the same.”

She reached out and I let her rub my ears. “It has been a long time since Trixie had a family. A very long, lonely time.”

“And what will you do when we all return to our homes?”

The Lulamoon glanced at me. “... What do you think Trixie should do?”

“I think you should come with me. There are friends of mine I want you to meet.”

Her smile was small, but it was sincere. “Trixie would be honored to meet friends of the Great and Mighty Nashoba.”

I snorted. “You are my friend, Trixie. And stop referring to yourself by your name. It is odd.”

“Trixie will not.”

I nuzzled her. “Strange Mare.”

“Silly bitch.”

We chuckled and joined the others for slumber before the night could entice us with its tranquility. I myself was a little worried about the final leg of the journey, but thankfully the dawn broke and the sky was a florid pink from the moment the sun broke the horizon. Before the others could wake, I took a breath and felt for my ancestors. Shiranui was quick to answer my call, nuzzling my muzzle before she came to rest beside me. I would have risen to greet her, but we knew why I remained still.

“Your journey nears its end, but at the same time, we both know that it has yet to begin. There is much left for you to walk, young one, and you shall stride forth in time.”

“Indeed, I would hope so. To remain as I am after setting out to do so much… It would be a shame to leave this quest unfulfilled. Foxy would hardly stand for it.”

Shiranui touched her muzzle to mine. “All in due time.”

The Wolfmother faded off into the shadows and I was left with my thoughts for the time being. Summit was the second to wake and Krel the third, the three of us discussing the last plain before we reach the Fire Mountain that loomed in the distance. The barest hints of light could be seen from the smoky clouds above it, but still. There was one more leg of the journey for us to make together, and it seemed like it was blessed by the sunrise. I hoped that we would not lose another member of our Pack, but everyone seemed to have climbed back from their despair, brought on by the rain and misery of the marshy lands. Krel and Honey were bonding now more than ever and I was becoming closer to Summit as we walked along. The Lulamoon was still the focus of our attention and we made sure that she was aware of it, if anything then for the sake of keeping her sane. Summit and Honey had gotten over Foxy’s passing after our day of rest, but it was obvious to all that it stayed on the Lulamoon’s mind as we trekked on through the plains. It was unfortunate, but Ponies have always been tender when it comes to the passing of friends. As much as I came to like the Lulamoon, she was still a Two-Leg.

The plains held little to eat for us, but on occasion, there were Kendani plains-deer that Summit and I teamed up to hunt so we could keep our stomachs full. The Lulamoon watched as we ate, idly twirling plain-grass around into bundles for ‘a more substantial chew’, though why it mattered, I don’t know. It appeared that she was no longer nauseated or even bothered by the sight of us consuming the flesh of another, though she did mention that she would like another fish sometime. Krel had become truly fond of her and nuzzled her at the indirect request, even going to far as to teach her the way of fishing. The Lulamoon laughed at the image of her standing in a stream, swiping at fish. It was clear that she was still a Two-Leg at the end of the day, but she was still closer to the wild than any other Two-Leg, though Max likely remains as an outlier. After all, it takes a special strength to come into the Everfree and leave it sane. Speaking of sane, I think the grass was making the Lulamoon a little loopy, but it was a minor inconvenience in the plains. Sadly, Foxy was the one who was knowledgeable about flora and whatnot, though my nose and Krel’s natural ability to sniff out certain foods were key in keeping the Lulamoon fed with variety. Honey found a few tubers that could be eaten after being roasted, so that was what she took along with her.

The plains as a whole were boring, but after traveling across them for a week and some days that ran together, we eventually came to our destination. The Fire-Spitting-Mountain was before us and we didn’t have much longer to go. I tried to do as my Master would and tell jokes to keep everyone's spirits up, but it just was beyond my abilities to do more than poke fun at others. I made fun of Summit for her bobbed tail, Krel for his bad smell, and Honey for her random spikes of energy, but I couldn’t bring myself to find fault in the Lulamoon lest she crack the facade she’d put up. It was a little stressful walking on eggshells around her, but she was still healing and I knew that fact all too well. Max had required support in his periods of peril as well, even if he was a cut above the rest of the Two-Legs. My Master was no slouch, and the more time I spent with the Lulamoon the more of him I saw within her. 

It made a lot of sense. Both of them had rough puphoods that most Two-Legs would have not survived. Both were open to new ideas and information, both were a little full of themselves at times, and they both ached inside with every waking moment while wearing a mask that hid the majority of it. As I’d learned to do with Max, over the course of our travels on the plains, I came to recognize the little falsities in her smile, like the way her eyes wouldn’t crinkle. Her lip twitched when she was annoyed, and her left ear flicked when she was lying about how she felt. I liked her too much to accept the lies, so I simply saw through them.

I don’t know if my attempts were what raised morale, but the mood of the last leg of our journey changed all the same. As strange as I found it, there was a contentedness within me as I thought, stopping at the foot of the Fiery Mountain. Krel turned when it was clear that I didn’t plan on continuing and asked, “Have we come all this way to stop here?”

“For a moment,” I answered softly. 

The Lula- Trixie was the first to catch on. She came to sit next to me, leaning against my shoulder. Krel was soon to understand, joining me on my other side. Summit and Honey were confused, the wilder of the two asking, “Are we stopping here? I mean, I’m not against a break, but it’s early in the day, isn’t it?”

“I agree,” Summit’s voice carried her bewilderment easily, “there is no reason to stop here.”

I looked at each of them. Giving both an equal amount of time. “When will we ever return?”

Summit narrowed her eyes. “I have no wishes to return. It is a long way from home and my cubs.”

“This place kinda… Sucks, Nashoba. Not gonna lie here.”

The cougar held my gaze readily, so I addressed her as I knew she would understand. “High Ledge On Summit, will you ever be this far from your home again?” 

“I suppose not.”

Honey made some badger noise. They make many noises, few are important. “Yeah, yeah, savor the moment and all-”

“Honey.” I looked at her. “Savor the moment.”

Summit nestled between myself and Krel, leaving Honey as the only one pressing onward for the time being. “... So... we’re taking a break?”

“Yes.” Echoed in all voices except her own.

She came to sit with us, and we did indeed take in the landscape. I did indeed savor the last moment where I would smell the grass as a mortal, taste with a tongue not meant to last forever, feel with flesh that would rot away in time… I felt less like myself than I knew I could, as if I was a different creature entirely. It was not true. I was still Nashoba, the next Wolfmother, but I’d learned much over my travels. Your resources are more than they appear. Unlikely friends await in unlikely places. A thirsty tongue does not wag kindly. Food will bring creatures together and push them apart. Different does not mean inferior. Time teaches many lessons. Sickness can only be ignored for so long. Some friends last beyond the end…

Survival and success mean nothing without a pack to love by your side.

Oddly enough, I expected it to be Honey who broke the silence, but it was the Lulamoon who said, “We should carry on, Nashoba. Waiting only prolongs both of our quests.”

I nuzzled her. “What brought you this far, Trixie? Why did you come all this way?”

“... Silly reasons that Trixie has to see through.”

“I accept this. Let us continue.”

And so we did. The Fiery Mountain had a long path at its base, and from there we climbed it with trepidation and impatience in turns. My place would be at the top, but no one could follow me beyond a certain point. The Lulamoon would get her Magic and I would have to meet the Wolfmothers in the Far Home for the first time, though not the last. The first was always going to be the hardest, so I made sure that we found what we could to eat on the way up the hot place. A part of me wondered if I would have to eat Trixie and take her Magic for myself, but it wasn’t something that I wanted to think about, not for any amount of time. I spoke my worries into the silence of my mind and my ancestor's pelts brushed along mine, guiding me to her side rather than to her tail. I was grateful for the symbology and now that I knew that she would not die, I felt better about the mission. Call me soft or call me foolish, but my reserved meal was no longer appetizing. Trixie was not wild and her fangs would never be sharp. Her claws were not meant to grip the land to propel her forward, but like Max, she was a pack mate all the same. She would be afforded the same respect as Maximus when we returned, should she come with me to my home.

The Mountain was tall, though the path was easy to traverse. Honey ended up on Krel’s back since her short little legs couldn’t keep up and I agreed to carry the Lulamoon when she twisted her paw- No, Ponies have hooves. She twisted her hoof on a rock, though I was quick to let her know that riding my back was a one-time ordeal. I do not like being ridden by Two-Legs, and for anyone barring Max, I would not allow someone on my back more than once. Foxy had been there a few times, but Foxy’s weight was barely noticeable and Honey was fun to mess with while walking.

“This mountain sure does seem like a volcano to Trixie…”

“It may very well be. It is called a Fiery Mountain by the Zgon, but the Two-Legs may have other names for it.”

Trixie sighed. “There are no easy paths to success-”

“Unless your Magic is completely stupid,” Krel snorted.

Summit chuckled. “I have to admit, the Lulamoon’s magicks are strange indeed. Ponies are indeed odd creatures.”

“They smell good.” 

“They do, but they taste terrible.”

Krel chuckled. “And you have eaten a Two-Leg?”

“Of course not. I licked the Lulamoon’s wounds to clean them and her blood tastes like…” Summit growled softly. “... I cannot place the flavor, but it is entirely unpleasant. I would rather eat a lesser creature of my own kin-line.”

“You mean you would rather eat another cat than eat Trixie? Trixie is not mad at this.”

Krel chuckled. “If you tasted how you smelled, then I might eat you myself.”

“Hush, silly old bear.”

Honey chimed in with, “Why is Krel carrying me? Aren’t you stronger than Nashoba?”

Krel and I looked at each other, came together, and traded passengers. “Easy fix.”

 The Lulamoon complained after she got on her new seat, however. “Krel, why do you always smell so terrible?”

“I am a bear. We are not aromatic creatures.”

“Hm… Trixie thinks she might have a solution.”

“And that would be?”

“Of rainy days and coastal shores, may your odor leave through the door. Of woody scents and grassy fields, I now command your smell to yield!”

Krel huffed, but everyone took a whiff of him. He smelled of rain and wood. “Not terrible. Considerably better, actually.”

Krel smelled himself. “I smell like rainy days in a forest.”

Summit nuzzled him. “You smell very good.”

“Congratulations, Krel, you are now less smelly!” Trixie gloated.

“You can walk.” He grunted.

“But Trixie just made you a better hunter!”

“... Hush, Lulamoon.”

And so she did hush, but the silence was largely companionable throughout our walk. Honey eventually asked “We’ve been climbing this mountain for half a day now! Can we stop for a rest?”

I looked back at her. “You are not walking.”

Krel snorted. “Honey, this is the final obstacle. Prolonging our journey more than you already have would make Nashoba take one of your limbs.”

I was close to denying such a thing until Summit added, “I would do it myself.”

“Let’s keep going,” The Lulamoon put in her vote. “It won’t do us any good to stop somewhere with this little food.”

Honey grumbled. “Ugh.”

I yawned. “I would not take a limb from you. A small bite perhaps, but not a full limb. That is unless Krel, Summit, and the Lulamoon would like a taste of you too.”

“It scares Trixie when animals larger than her say they want to nibble on her,” She commented, fear lacking from her words. I was a little worried about her. Normally she would actually smell afraid.

“Do not give us a reason to and we will not,” Krel stated simply.

“What about me!? Don’t eat me, I’ll eat you first!”

We all chuckled at that. “Honey, worry not. You smell worse than Krel did, and you would likely put up more of a fight.”

“I’ll back that up! No one makes a meal of Honey the Badger! Honey the Badger don’t care! Honey the Badger doesn’t give a dropping!”

“Which is why Trixie still riding Nashoba,” The Lulamoon replied. “Goodness forbid you decide to make a meal of Trixie’s hooves.”

“Hmm…”

“No!”

I snorted. “Honey, cease your hungering.”

“Not really my thing.”

I shook myself and the Honey nearly fell off, giving my Pack a chance for laughter. She herself eventually had a chuckle when she realized we weren’t laughing at her, but rather, her reaction. Krel jostled the Lulamoon a bit and she bit his ear for his treachery, which was also amusing. The Lulamoon would have been upset about such an occurrence when first we met. Her growth was pleasing to see, even if it was stunted at the moment. I found it key to keep her talking, but as a Zgon, I lack certain qualities that Two-Legs possess. Sympathetic tendencies being one of those things meant that I had a hard time relating to the Lulamoon, so I stole the Broodmother's words and tried to use them for myself.

We trekked onward and upward until we reached the summit. Not the cat, the literal top of the mountain. It was quite warm up there so I had the Honey cease adding her heat to my back while Krel bore the Lulamoon without appearing to care. We sat down and waited at the summit. This was the place we were supposed to be. My paws hurt from the long journey and I wanted nothing more than to lie down and rest like the others, but I had to wait for night to fall before I could allow myself such a luxury.

My vigil was sat in silence while the others spoke among themselves and eventually fell asleep, though the Lulamoon had taken a seat next to me. “So, Nashoba…” She trailed off.

“Yes, Lulamoon?” I wouldn't have broken my silence if not for my concern... I would say that losing Foxy made me more aware of the fact that my Pack required true attention beyond being fed and watered. His death was not for nothing, and I would make certain of that fact.

“Why are we here? Trixie knows why she is here, but why have you followed her to this place? What’s so important that you would risk walking up an active volcano?”

“This is the place where I earn my name. This is where I will journey into the stars and become the reigning Wolfmother. I have put my journey off for some time, but perhaps it was for the best that I waited.”

“What is a Wolfmother?”

“I and my mother and her mother and her mother. So on and so forth. We are of the bloodline of the first Zgon wolves, those who were said to wander the plains of every continent and mend the bonds between packs once broken. The Wolfmother speaks for all canines in the Gathering, protects the forest she calls home, chooses a companion, and metes out penance and atonement for crimes against the forest. Some live for a hundred years, some live for thousands.

“What determines that?” 

“A Wolfmother’s will to live, of course. When she has sired a pup with a suitable pup and is willing to pass on, then and only then will a Wolfmother fade. Even then, we live on.”

“How long do you think you’ll go on? And what if you don’t want to live on after death?”

“I must last for thousands of years. It is my Master’s lifespan that will dictate my own, and living as a Shade is no small boon. It is known to be quite pleasurable.” I licked my jowls.

“So who is your Master? Does Trixie know him?”

“You may. You would have met him in Ponyville while you were there for the show. His mate, a Unicorn Mare, allegedly fixed one of your mistakes.” 

“Wait…” The Lulamoon thought for a moment that seemed to last for an hour. “... Was he the strange stallion that everypony cheered for when... When Trixie challenged ponies in Ponyville?”

“He is a different creature than a Pony. A one-of-a-kind being on this planet. His ears are on the sides of his head.”

“Trixie knows him…”

“His name is Max and he had little to say about the event other than that it was a bother he did not want to deal with.”

“... Trixie does not like him.”

“He is an acquired taste for most, much like the meat of a cat. He is very canine, but he is also feline as well in many moments. Such a dichotomy leads into a strange creature that does strange things.”

“You seem... Well, you seem a little taciturn for such a stallion. He seemed pretty arrogant when Trixie met him, and blasé at that.”

“He is loyal and caring as well as intelligent and amusing. My Master always fed me before he fed himself, always worried about me while I was away. Maximus is a bastard when he wants to be, but the heart he holds inside cares whether he wants to or not. Loves regardless of the pain it causes. Forgives, even if he doesn’t want to forget. My Master is an odd creature to be sure, though I think you will like him.”

“... So what’s he like when he’s not being caring, loyal, amusing?”

“He is a 'prick'.” According to his definition, it was more than adequate.

“Trixie has never heard the word used like that, but she thinks she knows what that means.”

“Max is toxic in his own right, but it is because he will to cut the toxic creatures from his life. His cruelty comes from pain, and even then he metes it out carefully. If he sees no point in arguing, he will not. If he thinks vindication is needed, he will only hesitate if guilt is felt.”

“He sounds wiser than-”

The Lulamoon froze as the true Moon rose to its true zenith, the Starwalkers strutting along as we watched on. I looked to the heavens and saw that I would soon become a Starwalker as the path became clearer and clearer. I rose from my spot and the Lulamoon joined me, wincing once she put weight on her hoof. She fell over when she finally stood upright, but I caught her with my body and she slid off onto the ground. She sighed and patted my shoulder.

"Are you unable to continue?" I asked.

The Lulamoon shook her head. "The Alicorn Amulet is finally going to be Trixie’s… She can’t let this moment go..."

I offered her my support and she rose again, but I felt her Magic flow into me as she rose once more. I suppose that’s what Watcher meant when he said I was to consume her Magic, though I couldn’t help but be glad that I hadn't needed to eat her. Trixie… She was tough, and I liked that. Time and time again, Trixie had proven to be a true Creature of the Wild, even if her ways were of the Two-Legs. I respected her to a degree, and with the Pony leaning on me heavily, I led her to the mouth of the Fiery Mountain. She cast some spell or other and the Equus Blood bubbled spitting forth her thing. Trixie couldn’t do anything with it until it cooled down so I left her to her own devices. Krel and Honey came to wish me well, though Summit tried to step on the path. Her paw sank straight through, as was expected. I gave her a chuckle and bid them farewell for the moment, beginning the most arduous part of my journey.

The path disappeared behind me as I traveled, the stars and Moon being the only sight for me to behold. The gradient of the path was rather brutal, but I strode calmly and steadily. The Path would allow me my own pace, and as I thought of that which had been said about me in the past, I couldn’t help but wonder if I was truly worthy. Honey was a badger you could communicate to and share a meal with. Krel was a bear raised by wolves and now didn’t reek. Summit was a cat with loyalty to other creatures and an active one at that. Trixie was a Pony that communed with other creatures and partook of a creature’s flesh. All of my companions were exceptionally unusual in their own ways, and I had to think of my own uniqueness as a result.

Maximus had said that I was unusually smart for a wolf. He wasn’t wrong. The Broodmother said that I was unusually kind for a wolf. She wasn’t wrong. Krel said that I was unusually patient, even for a wolf. He wasn’t completely wrong. The Watcher said I was mouthier than a Hydra, and I didn’t find that to be incorrect either. I had to admit that I was unusual according to that which surrounded me in my life, but why would it matter? I thought about Maximus and the fact that he was the only Human on the planet. He seemed to care little if at all about his lonesome status, but he was also incredibly damaged. Maybe I too was damaged, but soon I would be more whole than ever before if it was even true at all.

The trek drained me terribly, the lack of any noticeable landmark, scent, or indication of my progress being... Defeating. I’d only let my pace falter twice, but when I did, I nearly fell off of the narrow path. It was difficult to continue after I forgot how many steps I had taken and being so high meant that the air was thinner than ever and precious to me. The journey would wear down a lesser being, and that was no lie. However, I had walked for months before this, hunted and sharped my fangs on the bones of my prey. There was no room for me to be a pup about my task. No room to turn back. I had to get to the Moon before I ran out of strength, otherwise, I would fail Max. My mother. The pack. Myself. There was no need to hurry other than the fact that I missed my pack. All of them. I wanted to be done. I wanted nothing more than to give up after the second day was nearing its end, but Max was waiting for me, and so were my kith and kin. Foxy... Foxy would have told me to keep going, to not let his suffering be a waste.

Being so high in the air was dizzying beyond compare, but I had to keep moving. Looking down was a mistake I could not afford, and the path ahead just seemed to go on forever and ever. I kept my eyes on the Moon and continued. I had plenty of time to ponder my choices and what had led me to that point, but as a firm believer in destiny, I knew that I’d never had a choice in the matter in any case. It had never bothered me before, but even as I thought of the fact that nothing would ever be the same for me again, that this step in the journey of my life would change all the ones that would come after… It didn’t seem to matter any more than it had. I could’ve let my days end with Max living on and on for eons without me. I could have forsaken my birthright and passed the honor to my daughter if she wanted it. However, such weak thoughts made me laugh, and laughing was inexcusable when it was hard to breathe.

Thoughts of my life pushed me forth and kept me going when my mind felt too weary to think. The knowledge that I would be by his side soon enough filled me with enough courage to go on. His laugh and smile along with his touch and humor… The smell of the pack that lingered on my fur… All I had to do to return to my life was complete my journey and do so before I fell to my death, so I let the second wind whistle through my fur and ran to the Moon, my heart pounding in my chest as it came closer and closer, seeing the brilliant spectacle for myself. The Magic it radiated, the feeling of being home, the majesty of the moment…

It was beautiful.

It had lingered above me every day of my life, watching over me, occasionally shining light on the dark paths that would swallow a bitch whole. It was brilliant and smelled of the stars. Crushingly cold, yet warm and inviting. Unbearably hot, yet like a cool spring breeze. The Barrier that kept mortals from breathing its Magic as air split before me and I felt the Ascension begin. Running wasn’t quite right, but sprinting was definitely more apt for the elation inside me. My moment was soon to arrive and I was eager to greet it, yet there was a tightness near my heart that made me feel strange. Even as I touched the dusty surface of the Moon, I felt different, like my life had been in two colors and now the world was strewn in light yet unknown to me. There was no need to rush anymore, so I looked back at Equus… And…

I could hardly bear to look at it in its full glory. Nothing truly was the same, and I knew that even before the whispers of ‘Wolfmother’ danced through the ranks of the animals behind my ancestors. My coming had been destined. Worrying about failure had been pointless. As I tread through the pelts of creatures that had long since passed on, it felt like I hadn't just walked for nearly three full days without rest. The other animals made way for me and when I reached the ancestors that had chosen their own lives instead of the Wolfmother’s path, I took heart and snapped at the second Barrier, ripping a hole large enough to pass through. I saw why my ancestors had stopped. There were two dozen Wolfmothers before me. I swung my head from side to side, meeting each of their stares readily as I walked. It would have been rude to continue running when I crossed the second barrier, so I’d slowed down considerably to give them each the time and respect they deserved.

I passed the first pair. “The River Star has landed.” They chorused.

The second. “The world is in disarray.”

The third. “Beware the madness of a star.”

The fourth and largest two. “The sun will set and the twilight will fade”

The fifth and smallest pair. “Chaos will shake the balance”

The sixth. “Know the turning point and seize it.”

The seventh and eldest. “Nettles will line the path.”

The eighth. “The heart of stone shall rise through shadow.”

The ninth. “The tides of betrayal shall come to shore.”

The tenth. “Cunning and guile will not win all battles.”

The eleventh. “Cattle will strike when you least expect it.”

The twelfth and final pair, my grandmother and her own mother. “We are proud. We are few. We are strong. You need not fear the future.”

The last Wolfmother to greet me, my own mother, was at the end of the path. “Welcome, my pup”

“Hello, mother. It has been... It has been a while.” I said softly.

“It has. It is time to pass down the title of Wolfmother, Nashoba,” Asena replied.

I couldn't claim to be hurt, but I was... I felt insulted, I suppose. “... Have you no other words for me?”

She came forth and brushed her muzzle against mine. “You have never strayed from my sight, my daughter. I care not for your assumption that this is the only time we will be able to speak. Our path is long and treacherous, and none of us would bow our heads to a challenge. It is no challenge at all to be proud of you.”

“... Is it not shameful that I have a Master?”

“When has Maximus ever called you a pet?”

“Never.”

“What does he call you?”

“His companion.”

“You are the only one who considers yourself less than his equal. His love for you is true, and we are proud to call him a brother. You know, even though he may very well be retarded.”

“I am glad to return as his equal, then. Even if he is, truthfully, retarded.”

With nothing else left to say, I nuzzled my mother one more time, took a step back, and began the Howl. She joined, and one by one so did the rest of the Wolfmothers. The power of our voices combined resonated with the Magic of the Moon, shaking my bones and echoing deep into my heart and bones. I felt myself lift from the dust and the warmth that emanated from inside was tempered by the coolness across my pelt, leaving me in a whirlwind of new sensations and emotions, new colors and smells...

It was...

I’d never known that there were so much life in the world. I was awestruck in my moment, naive and ignorant to the way of the Elder Magicks. I came to the realization that there were other beings that I’d never met, minds that I would never hear spoken, thoughts I would never be allowed to know of. Every single creature has a life of its own, and the sonder was strong within me; knowing that there were so many lives… Every blade of grass, every tree in the forest, every bug in those trees, and so on and so forth. Every eye knew a story. Every life had a purpose. Every breath was taken from the planet and given back in due time. There... There is no other way to describe it. My mind shattered, pieced itself together, stitched the wounds, curled and unfurled, all as I saw the lives of each Wolfmother from start to finish, every moment of their lives laid out right before my very eyes. All of their experiences entered my mind, all of their wisdom and thoughts, their strengths and weaknesses.

Once my mind was done spinning circles like a young pup chasing its tail, I was able to leap back down in a few strides to touch the Moon’s surface once more. My predecessors closed ranks as I walked through them, their fur welcome against my own. It was a pleasant feeling and a comforting one, leaving me feeling bubbly inside like I was a pup again. I wanted to bark and yip, to frolic and play until the days ran together. My mother waited for me just before the second barrier and came forth to greet me.

“Nashoba.” Her tail wagged.

My own tail did the same, just much, much faster. “Asena.”

“We will see you on Equus.” She nuzzled me once more and I heard the rest of the Wolfmothers sit down. I didn’t want to leave quite yet, but I was practically aching to chase my tail as I took off across the sky.

The walk that had taken three days was stolen in leaps and bounds, my entry through the barrier of Equus itself coming with a loud noise and some interesting colors as fanfare. Running straight was out of the question, but the ground came closer and close all the same, my life feeling like it had been a pale facsimile to the experiences I was having at the moment. What joy could possibly be better than truly feeling alive? Probably mating, but it’s not like I was worried about doing that particular thing at the moment. Instead, I danced on sunbeams and twirled my way back to the Place-Where-Moon-Meets-Equus.

I finished my return to the Fiery mountain with a leap and a bound. Once I landed, I felt rather than saw that my friends were no longer there. My hunger was intense and felt insatiable, so I wasted no time in following their scents to where I hoped I would find food. I could not feel their presence nearby, though I wasn’t sure what that meant. After scanning the area and finding that they were well and truly gone, I tried to follow their scent trails. What I could find smelled somewhat weak, but at the same time it was as though I was standing next to them. The scents all lead me to the same place, the trip being eaten up as I came across their dropping as I leaped from trail to trail, never losing the scent at all as it practically became light in streams, leading me on to another pile of dirt.

It was pup’s play to follow the lines, especially after the Lulamoon had also left a scent trail. It struck me that mentioning the smell of her urine would embarrass her and I greatly wished to hear the laughter of the pack, so I thought funny things that I could say to them. I was going to try and make Summit roll with chuckles, but I also didn’t know what any of them found ‘funny’, and it occurred to me that I might have become retarded like Max. With a bounce to my step and more energy than I should have had, I didn't stop to rest or find food until I fell over.

A Shade of my mother came to me while I was lying down. “It was foolish of you to try and go another day without eating or sleeping.”

“Perhaps, but I’m feeling whimsical. Carry me?”

She snorted. “You are going to be the silliest Wolfmother there has ever been.”

“At least I’ll have fun. Why do I feel this way?"

“Ascension affection different Wolfmothers in different ways. Geri and Freki became savage combatants, but the first Lupa was kinder and more nurturing. Different times call for different attitudes.”

“I hope I do not stay this silly.” I rolled over and pushed myself to my feet.

“Find food and then rest. Be careful not to overdo it again. I will only lend you strength so often.” She warned me before fading away.

“Thank you.”

I lifted my nose to the air and took a deep breath. There was adequate prey about three hours of travel from where I was. I could turn it into  ten minutes if I felt like it, and so I did. I bounded through the air, running on nothing until I realized that using my powers would most likely sap my strength faster, so I took to the ground and ran like the wind itself. I heard the grass rustle behind me and turned to look at it because something just felt right about the action. I saw that flowers were blooming in my wake and grass grew before falling to the side, marking my path with the blessings of the Matrons. It reminded me to go see Uror when I returned to meet Max again, though beyond that I noticed strange markings on my pelt that seemed to swirl and match the flow of my fur. During that moment, I wanted to see what color the collar Max had gotten me was. If I could smile, I would have. I couldn't name the color, but I knew it was one that he loved and would happily wear alongside me, even if I did intend on making him take the thing off. It had been stuck for some time and I always forgot to tell him that no creature could see it anyway. The damned thing was more nuisance now than ever, but it still reminded me of home.

As it was, I bore my teeth to mimic the Human I liked so much while speeding along to the prey I’d sniffed out. My stomach growled and I felt the desire to slow down, so I did and sniffed around to see how far the prey was from here. It was only a few more minutes away and I was lucky that I’d stopped when I did otherwise I would have missed the opportunity to catch it. The prey turned out to be another deer of some kind, so I wanted to see if I could chase it down since they had once been faster than myself in a straight chase.

Long story short, it wasn’t even a competition. The young buck tried to bounce away and I let it get some ground between us before I made myself pick up the pace and just take it down. I tore its head off in one bite, though I really hadn't even been trying to do so. Its flesh came away just as easily and my fangs sheared through the meat of my kill like I’d been eating the bread the purple one Max had laid before Twilight had given me so long ago. I believe her name was Velvet Breeze... I do miss her, she was a good bitch. Having my kill fall apart under my newly begotten strength was an interesting feeling, but the best thing about it was that my kill was delicious. I’d never paid that much attention to the way things tasted before, but now everything was suddenly much clearer and I felt as though I was tasting through multiple tongues at the same time. I couldn’t enjoy it as much as Max or the Broodmother since I couldn’t chew like they could, but I could still take pleasure in it nonetheless. I tore my way into its rib cage and ate its heart, finding the salty taste of the blood from the still beating muscle to be quite nice.

I licked my muzzle clean and sniffed the air to see if I could smell my friends, but when I couldn’t find them, one of the Wolfmothers named Wepawet pointed me in the right direction, though she still told me to sleep. I had no reason to not comply, so I bedded down a little ways from my kill and had a nap.

When I woke up, there was a Two-Leg called a Buffalo standing over me. I took one look at it and said, “Go away.”

It blinked at me. “Okay.”

It still stood there. “You are not going away.”

“... You talk?”

“I talk.”

“... You killed that deer?” I think it was a male. It sounded masculine to me.

I yawned. “I did. What is it to you?”

“... I’ll leave you alone.” 'He' backed away, trying to stay calm.

Whimsy struck me like a bolt of lightning. “You look tasty too. Do you know what you taste like?”

“Uh…”

“Lick yourself and check.”

The Buffalo did as I told it to. “I taste like fur.”

I stood and hopped up on its shoulders, pushing it to the ground. It was absolutely terrified of me until I licked its face. “You taste like fur. You were correct. Creature, you should improve your flavor.”

“... H-How…?”

“Season yourself, I suppose. A few sprigs of mint, perhaps?”

“I-I don’t want to be eaten… Please?”

“Why would I eat you? I just had a deer that I’m going to eat more of.” The buffalo looked at me like it wanted to urinate, so I licked it again before letting it up. “Just making sure you weren’t tasty.

I went back to my deer and the Buffalo took the moment to promptly run away. Once I’d had enough of my kill, I started heading off in the direction Wepawet had shown me before I had taken the time to catch up on some sleep. I kept my nose to the ground and occasionally checked the air for the scent of my friends, and when I caught it, I started cantering along the trail, though that was still nearly a sprint with the speed I'd earned. I actually found a fresh pile of dirt Krel had made while the sun was high, so I was willing to be that they would be close by. The waste-dirt was still wet, so I picked up my pace until the scent became just as fresh as the droppings.

I actually had to jump over them when I came across them, though I’d had enough time while in the air to see that they were all accounted for, though they all seemed a little slimmer since I’d last seen them. “... Nashoba?” The Lulamoon murmured.

I looked at each of them in turn. “Lulamoon. Krel. Summit. Honey. I see each of you needs a meal.”

They stared at me for a while until Summit said, “Your pelt has markings on it.”

“They make me run faster,” I jested.

“Do they really?”

“No. They are the markings of the Wolfmother. That was a joke. I was joking.”

The Lulamoon stared at me. “... That was something a Pony might say. I’ve never heard you joke like that, Nashoba.”

“Get used to it. The Ascension has made me somewhat silly.” I trotted over to her and butted her chest with my head. “Come now, it is a long journey home.” There was a shift in the breeze and four Wolfmothers came. I saw them each bite the air and they started tugging like they were pulling at invisible doors until I saw them rip a hole in the empty space. I strode forward because they were being nice and turned back once I was through to see that none of my companions had made so much as a move to follow me. “The journey home just got shorter. Hurry up before the opportunity leaves you.” I told them. 

The Lulamoon was the first to step through, followed by Krel and Honey. Summit stood still for but a moment until I went back through and gently took her scruff in my fangs, dragging her through easily, despite her resistance. She yowled and swiped at me, but I ignored her blows since they felt like they were coming from one of her cubs. Once she was through, the Wolfmothers filed through and faded away into nothing again, following me from the shadows. I guess the return journey was too easy when you could cover a week’s worth of travel in but a few days, so why not make it easier on my companions?

“Nashoba, did you do that?” Krel asked in hushed tones.

“No, my predecessors did. I’m sure I will eventually be able to do something similar.” I wasn't certain if I would be able to do it anytime soon, but it was likely that I would figure it out.

Summit leaped at me, but when she collided with me, she practically bounced off and I just looked at her. “Now what were you hoping to accomplish with that?”

“You bastard bitch!” She yowled. “I would’ve walked home myself!”

“You could either have a week’s journey back to the Wolf Mountain with my path, or you could have taken a month with no friends to help you hunt. I made the easy choice for you.”

She hissed at me, but had nothing else to say. I walked around to her side and saw that my teeth had still gone through her pelt, despite me trying to be gentle, so I licked her wounds and watched them heal. Cat blood was still unpleasant, but my mistake had been mended and Summit wasn’t one to hold a grudge. For long at, least. The smells of the new place were foreign to me, but instead of feeling lost, it was as if a voice in my head told me that we were in the heart of the Gose Baio, or in other words, the Everfree. It was nice to be back where I felt I belonged, the Matron sending a little Magic to make the trees around my pack bloom in full. 

   “It would appear that we are as close to home as we need to be. Krel, Honey, lead the Lulamoon to Ponyville. Summit, I’m taking you to your home.”

Two of the Wolfmothers that I recognized as Medeina and Skoll stood on either side of Summit and she jolted, dropping into a crouch. “I feel something on me!”

“Don’t worry, silly cat. The Wolfmothers take care of those who assist us. They will guide you home when you are ready to leave, though I was prepared to make the journey with you. I suppose I’m to return to my Companion now.” I said casually.

Summit stared at me like she thought I was crazy. “Have you gone crazy?”

“You’re the one feeling their pelts. You tell me, molly.”

Krel snorted. “Never try to understand a Wolfmother. It’s said that they are rarely sane.”

I turned around and smacked his muzzle with the tip of my tail, careful not to swing too hard. “Be careful with your words Krel. I can’t really play around until I learn how to control my strength.”

He rubbed his muzzle. “That still hurt a bit.”

“I would say I’m sorry, but I’m not.”

The Lulamoon coughed to get my attention. “Trixie understands that you are different now, but can we leave this jungle? It seems like it’s not the best place to stand around in.”

I looked at her. “You are in no danger here. Nothing would dare harm you as a member of my pack and there is plenty of food, should you choose to eat it. There is little that you will not find here.”

“Trixie does not mean to niggle, but she would like a warm bed and a real meal...” She said softly.

I butted her chest with my head. “Then we shall find you a bed and a meal." I turned to Summit and said, "Summit, may your path be clear and your prey plentiful. Should you ever need to return, call my name and I will hear you.”

She licked her paw and preened. “I may visit you sometime. Be well, Mothermutt.”

“It’s Wolfmother, and don’t forget  that you’re edible.”

“I don’t know what that means, but the journey has been interesting. I wish all of you well.”

Krel snorted and Summit waited for Medeina and Skoll to lead her away. I turned back to the Lulamoon when she left our sight. “I will take you to meet Max properly. Both of you have done much growing since you last met, and I am sure that he would greet you with favor.”

“Does he have a warm bed and a meal?”

“I believe he would be willing to give them to you for assisting me. When I last saw his house, he had the space for company. You may not have my couch. The couch is mine.”

Trixie sighed happily. “Trixie will climb another mountain and eat a fish raw if it means Trixie can sleep on a real, true, clean mattress… It doesn’t even have to be all that clean.”

I looked around to get my bearings, but my mother showed me the correct direction. I started heading off and looked back at my shrunken pack. “Come along. We have to go see the Broodmother first.”

“Why do we have to see her first? Can’t we just go see Max?” The Lulamoon complained.

“It’s polite to walk your friends home. You’ve traveled millions of tail-lengths; a few more will not kill you,” I told her sternly.

Krel whacked me with one of his paws. “Since when do you care about being polite?”

I swatted his shoulder with my tail, making him stumble. “I don’t most of the time, but we’ve journeyed across a damned continent, so I’d at least like to see you home safe and sound.”

Honey piped up. “I think that’s a really Broodmother thing to do!”

“Thank you, Honey. Would you like to rest for a little bit? I would not mind carrying you.” I offered.

“Yes!”

I laid down and allowed her to nestle into my fur. Looking at my companions, I felt a warmth in my chest as well as a pain that I wasn’t fond of. The journey was over, and we were all going home. There was no reason for us all to get together again, and we were missing a member of our pack as well. All the same, we’d made it, returned, and now the only thing left to do was cross the threshold and declare ourselves well and truly home. I took a deep breath and did the Two-Leg thing where they make a noise as they exhale. It was odd, but it felt fitting for the moment. 

“Are we all prepared?”

Krel snorted. “The Broodmother’s work is need on my back.”

“I’m looking forward to getting some honey!”

The Lulamoon chucked. “Hurry, before these weary hooves drop Trixie!”

“Of course. Let us return home.”


☾✯☾۞☽✯☽


“Wow, that’s a fucking trip! I mean, welcome home and all, but… Goddamn, Lu- Er, Nashoba, it seems like you guys kind went through hell and high water.”

I shrugged, laying my head in his lap. “Don’t say I never did anything for you.”

He scratched behind my ears, the happiness laced in his voice more than pleasing to me. “That hasn’t been true in a long time… Really, Nash… Welcome home.”