Sarah sat morosely on the edge of the building overlooking the Wasteland spread out before her, her legs gently striking against the concrete walls of the Citadel. Every so often one of the Brotherhood Paladins on patrol would walk by and mentally look over her, making sure that the woman hadn’t moved any closer to the edge. She hadn’t.

Nim was stuck within Sarah’s head unable to speak to the woman who had somehow managed to block her out entirely. Were it not for the amount of frustration this caused her, Nim would have been impressed. As it was however, the woman’s efforts to suffer alone infuriated her.

The woman let out another sigh and turned her gaze towards the sky above. Night was falling and the sun was starting on its way down the horizon, she could vaguely make out the sight of stars up there in the sky between the hazy dying rays of the sun.

He’s gone.

The thought had been reverberating around her skull for quite some time. In fact, it was just about the only thing that was rolling through her head. Sarah had spent the first hour or so after her father’s death crying into Luna’s chest or alternatively in Doctor Li’s arms, the good doctor had also been crying and Sarah had sought out some form of shared pain with her. Unfortunatly... after that hour the woman had felt the sudden need to be alone, completely alone.

Luna... had understood this, surprisingly enough, and given the woman her space. Down below Sarah could distantly hear her lover’s shouts of either frustration of joy as she worked out how to utilize her new weapons. Unfortunately, even that couldn’t bring more then the ghost of a smile to Sarah’s face as she desperately attempted to come to terms with what she’d lost.

Sarah was not the type to throw over dramatic fits, nor was she the type to spend hours philosophizing her loss into little pieces and then throwing them away. No... Sarah was not doing that. The woman let out a sigh, not sure what to do. She... had never lost someone like this.

Idly the thought of ‘revenge’ crossed her mind but she threw it aside. Revenge was stupid, it meant throwing your grief to the side and simply chasing after those who had hurt you instead of focusing on your loss. Grognak had taught her that.

That thought brought a smile to her face. Grognak had been a surprisingly deep comic and taught her a wide variety of lessons. For example, when an angry alicorn slashes her way through a doorway don’t punch (or in this case shoot) her in the face no matter how tempting it may be.

Thinking on it further, Sarah supposed that was going to be one of the things she missed most about her father. He’d always been so very wise, answering her questions about the world honestly and skillfully guiding Sarah through the world. It had been even better when she’d been younger and the two would spend hours reading comics or fantasy books together.

They’d been her bedtime stories, her ‘fairy tales’ if you will, and now that she really thought about it... she’d always been happiest when there had been someone there to spin a tale of far off places in her ears.

Nim, Sarah said within her mind, lowering her barriers.

-D IF YOU DO NOT THEN WE WILL TAKE YOUR BRAIN AND A BEAR AND- Yes Sarah? Nim’s long stream of mental shouting, which Sarah had been dimly aware of, cut off unexpectedly.

Could you ask Luna to come up here with me? Sarah asked her.

Of course, Nim said, relieved that the woman had come out of her isolation.

Thanks, Sarah replied. She’d barely managed that before Luna’s forelegs wrapped around her sides and she felt the mare’s soft furred neck rub against her own.

“Hi Luna,” Sarah said in a small voice.

“Hello Sarah,” Luna said, releasing the woman and lying down behind her so that Sarah could lean back against her which the woman promptly did. “Why did you ask for me?” she inquired, moving her head so that she could look down at Sarah’s face.

“I was wondering if you could tell me a story,” Sarah replied.

“A story?” Luna inquired with a frown. “Do you mean my story or some other one?”

“I... want it to be a fairy tale or something if you know any,” Sarah replied with a sigh. “My... dad always told me them when I had a nightmare to help me get to sleep and... and I think it might help me now.”

Luna was silent for a moment before she said. “A fairy tale you say? I believe I know one of them,” she stated, a small smile on her face. “I shall tell you the same tale that my father told me when I was nestled against his great scales. The tale of the Wolves of Spice and Iron”

Sarah smiled slightly, liking the sound of the tale already. Luna took a moment to organize her thoughts before she began to speak.

Long ago there were two magic wolf siblings. Siff was the brother of the pair, his long grey fur would have been the talk of the forest if there had been any with whom he could speak other than his sister, Holo. Holo, the self titled Wise Wolf was said to be the smarter of the pair who had both lived for millenniums within the deep forest.

They often fought, like any siblings are like to do, and whether it was with words or with fangs their battles could reshape the forest around them. However, like all good siblings their fighting never lasted long and when it was done they would lick each others wounds or heal the other’s pride.

It continued like that for many years, an untold thousand if one must be truly honest and for that long they were content. They hunted as a pair, Holo’s brains and Siff’s brawn allowing them to take down even the great Uras of the forest and it is believed that part of the reason why so few still live in Equestria these days is because these wolves hunted them to near extinction.

Of course, like all things, their time together came to an end. On the eve of a blood moon when the sky was dark as the blackest obsidian ‘cept for the great swollen eye of the moon, a great storm swept through the forest. Trees were thrown this way and that, enormous boulders were sent skywards and it seemed like the Grey One herself was determined to see the forest destroyed.

To this very day we do not know what particular event it was that caused the siblings to become separated within the storm but we do know that by the end of it the siblings were cast adrift from each other and not even Holo’s wisdom or Siff’s great nose could find the other.

When they awoke the morning after the storm they searched for their missing siblings for days on end, finding no traces of the other. So great was their grief that at the end of the final day that they reared their heads back and let out a deafening howl strong enough to pierce the heavens with their grief. It was not until they finished their howls that they discovered that they had both been watched.

Siff turned his great grey head to stare at the armor clad mare who was staring at him, tears running down her face. She had been on her way to kill him, the nearby village having grown fearful when they sighted the great grey wolf on their borders yet now that she had heard his cries of grief the Knight Artoria found she could not lift a blade against him.

“Who are you?” Siff asked his gruff voice filled with a note of puzzlement. He had of course heard of ponies, even isolated within the Wolf’s Wood word of them had reached he and his sister. “And why are you armoured so for battle?”

“I am Sir Artoria of New Noreng,” the mare said, bowing her head low. “And I am armoured for battle so that I may slay you.”

Siff’s golden green eyes narrowed as he looked at her and his lips pulled back to reveal canines the size of greatswords. “I hardly think that you alone are capable of such a thing,” he replied, not yet snarling. “And I also fail to see how a female can be a ‘sir’ in the manner which you speak.”

“You would be surprised on both counts Great Wolf,” Artoria replied as she raised her head to stare into his great golden eyes. “Yet upon finding myself here, I cannot help but wonder what has brought a great beast like you so low with grief.”

Siff bowed his head, his grief and pain returning to the forefront of his mind. Despite himself, he found himself weeping openly in front of the knight, bowing his massive head to the ground between his paws. To both of their surprise, Artoria stepped forwards and comforted him, running a hoof through his silken grey coat and offering him meaningless noises of peace.

When at last the storm of emotion had passed Siff raised his head to look at Artoria and smiled.

“I believe I now know why you have been given the title of Sir,” he told her before licking her with his great pink tongue. He then flinched as the taste of her steel plate armour irritated his tastebuds.

Artoria took one look at the massive wolf who was even now attempting to scrape the taste of her steel off of his tongue with his paws and began to laugh.

On the other side of the forest, a similar yet strikingly different scene was playing out.

Holo broke off the howl and let out a bone deep sigh.

“Oh brother, where art thou?” she asked the empty air. Being the wise wolf that she was, Holo had already changed her form into that of a pony with a long wolfish tail and a pair of wolf like ears. It was one of several abilities that came naturally to a creatures as magical as the Great Wolves and Holo had practiced it for a long time in case it was ever needed of her. So it was far from strange for her to be approached by the stallion.

“Miss, are you alright?” he asked her, unheading of the wolf tail. It was an age where that type of thing happened on occasion.

Holo turned to look at the stallion, finding him to be a tan furred equine with a silvery mane. He wore a trader’s jacket and a pair of caravanners’ saddlebags upon his back. It was then that she realized just how close she was to the dirt road where the trader had left his cart.

“I... I am fine,” Holo replied, shaking her head.

“You didn’t sound it,” the stallion replied with a raised eyebrow.

“I am Holo, the Wise Wolf, I know when I am fine,” she said haughtily. “And I am very much fine.”

At this response, the stallion raised an eyebrow slightly. “If you say so Miss ‘Wise Wolf’.”

“You doubt my words?” Holo questioned, glaring at him with her red eyes.

“I’m a trader Ma’am, I doubt everyone’s words,” the stallion said with a small chuckle. “Now then, if you’d prefer you could come along with me to the next town or you can stay out here in the middle of the woods.”

He turned and began to walk back towards the wagon. Holo frowned at his retreating backside and bit her bottom lip. She gazed back at the forest that had been her home for millennium, or at least what was left of it, before making up her mind and following the stallion over to the wagon.

“You are most kind to offer me a place with you,” Holo said as she leapt up onto the wagon’s bench.

“I couldn’t just leave you out there,” the stallion said easily, the words coming naturally to him. “Besides, having you here means that I don’t have to spend the entire time pulling this old cart.”

“You expect me to pull your cart like a beast of burden?” Holo asked, incredulous at the idea.

“Well I do it,” the stallion replied. “And if you want to travel with me then so you will Miss Wise Wolf.”

Holo frowned for a moment and then rolled her eyes. “Very well, and my name is Holo. Wise Wolf is a title.”

“And I’m Craft, Craft the Trader,” The stallion said before he began to pull the cart.

The two pairs spent many years traveling together. Holo and Craft proved to be experts in the art of trading and their combined wit enabled them to accumulate vast amounts of wealth. Siff and Artoria traveled the world slaying monsters, demons, and even dragons. It is said that they even managed to close the gates of Tartarus when they were rudely thrown open though that is a tale for another time.

Now after their years together all four felt deep feelings for their companions and despite the difficulties involved on all sides, fell in love.

Their marriages and bouts of lovemaking were the stuff of legends though I fear that I am unable to speak much of them, mortal ears are not ready for it. It was several years after the marriages that both Holo and the Knight Artoria became pregnant and though the labors were rough, the products were worth it. Two litters of foals graced them and it is from these foals that all lycanthropic ponies are descended.

However as with the siblings’ time in the forest, the time with their loves had to come to an end. Upon the same day their mortal lovers lives came to an end, leaving the great wolves with only their well grown children to care for.

It was on the day of the funerals that the that the two wolves finally met. Equally overjoyed and tearful the pair embraced and began to speak of their lives, falling together and recounting the long years of separation. When they were finally done with words the two found themselves at a loss. What could they do? Their children were already well in control of their own lives and the time that they could appear as mortals was nearing its end.

Holo was the one who made the fateful decision.

“We shall protect them,” she said, looking at her brother.

“From what?” he asked before shaking his head. “Holo, the world is too wide and the dangers too great for the two of us to protect them all.”

Holo smiled. “Indeed that is what you would think Siff, but I am Holo, the Wise Wolf and I know much more than you ever could.”

“Is that right?” Siff replied, raising an eyebrow.

“Indeed,” Holo said. “We shall not protect ‘all of them’.”

“But you said-”

“You simply did not listen,” Holo said with a wolfish grin. “All those who travel will be under our protection brother.”

“That is still a rather large number,” Siff replied.

“True,” Holo relented. “However we are two Great Wolves, surely we can do something as paltry as this.”

Siff huffed and hawed for a moment before shrugging. “Very well sister, oh ‘Wise Wolf’ that you are. I shall agree with this. I know that Artoria would approve.”

“As would my Craft,” Holo agreed.

And so it was that they set out to free the roads of danger. Should you be a traveling merchant lost in the woods at night and surrounded by darkness on all sides, know not to fear the howl of the wolf.

Luna finished her tale and looked down at the sleeping form of Sarah and smiled. “That did it,” she said.

We never did like that ending... if a traveler hears a wolf’s howl on the road it is most likely because the wolves have come to disembowel them, Nim said dryly.

You just have no sense of wonder, Luna stated archly as she carefully lifted Sarah onto her back and began to walk back towards their room, the woman sleeping soundly across her back.

Author's Notes:

Thought I’d give you guys a little something lighter and a bit more happy to tide you over till next full chapter. If you’re wondering why I’m publishing once a day, it’s because of Spring Break and I have nothing else to do :)