High Moon Ch. 29:

Newcomers

Once the quick lunch was finished, and all the dishes had been put away for later, Wolf and Lily confronted the two newcomers about their new lives and roles in High Moon. While he was busy with this, Isis took Frost to the city ruins to begin discussing plans for reconstruction. Quill tagged along with the two so she could help where she can. Blaze soon called Spike over to her worktable help her with the first few steps in making the plant-growth potion that they'd need for the coming winter.

“So Cyclone will start feeling better after all this ‘training’?” Veil half-asked, not sure if she fully understood how pushing the weak dragoness’ body would get her to become accustomed with her magic. But then again, she didn’t know much about dragon magic to begin arguing about it.

Wolf nodded his head with an unreadable look on his face. “That’s what I just got done telling you hound.” Veil growled at Wolf for not using her name, she held her tongue for now since they wasn’t wasn’t in any position to be making any demands. Besides, the fact that Wolf was an alpha and she wasn’t didn’t help. “Lily here,” Wolf motioned to the tall flutterpony, who smiled warmly at the two, “will be starting your,” he paused again to point at Cyclone, “water-magic training, then Quill will show you a thing or two about your fire-magic. Got all that hatchling?”

Veil started to snarl at Wolf by this point, the way he was talking to them got her blood boiling, but Cyclone was able to speak up before her. “Yes sir.” She said quickly and with respect, having a feeling that Wolf was only doing it as a test.

“Cyclone…” Veil stared into her friend’s eyes, shocked that she’d be willing to change her life so easily, not knowing what else to say to the dragoness.

“Veil,” Cyclone started, taking the hound’s hand in her own, and giving her a determined smile, “I’ll be fine. I got us into this mess and I promise I’ll fix my own mistakes.” Veil’s mouth dropped from the dragoness’ sudden determination and started to work it to find something to say. Cyclone giggled from Veil’s dumbfounded look and turned back to Wolf. “When does my training start?”

“Now,” the dog said with a chuckle before pushing away from the table, and waving over to Spike. After Blaze told him it was fine, Spike left her to finish the rest of the preparations on her own, and ran over to Wolf. Cyclone giggled when the drake came to a sliding halt and stood in attention in front of Wolf, who overlooked it since he was used to the drake’s personality. “Spike you ready to go fishing?”

“Wait...fishing, oh right. You wanted me to start catching fish,” Spike said with a slightly sheepish grin on his face, causing Wolf to roll his eyes while Lily giggled a little. “But um...what about those two?”

Veil snorted at the drake and turned her head away while Cyclone put up a bright friendly smile. “I’ll tell ya on the way. Come on you three, we’re burning daylight.” Wolf said, walking away from the four towards the arcane doors to open them. Lily sighed a little before following with Spike trailing behind. Cyclone was going to follow them, but was stopped by Veil grabbing her tail with a slightly forceful grip.

She turned back to the hound, who was using her mess of a black and white hair to hide one eye behind. “Cyclone,” she paused for a moment to take in another breath of air. “Cyclone, you...you be careful out there, and-”

“Veil,” Cyclone cut in, hearing the worry in the hound’s voice, and overjoyed that she was worried on her behalf. “I’ll be fine, Wolf and the others, they’re good souls, okay?” Veil lowered her face, burying her other eye in her hair and paused for a moment before nodding her head.

The hound soon let go of Cyclone’s tail, which let Cyclone wrap her in a tight hug that caught her off-guard. “Okay, okay,” Veil struggled against the dragoness’ grip as her nose was buried into her breasts. Luckily, she was able to get the away from the dragoness’ firm mounds, and chuckled a little at the goofy look on her face. “Okay, go on, don’t want to anger Alpha Mutt.”

“Be nice,” Cyclone said, walking towards the arcane doors, and waving back to her friend. Veil awkwardly waved back to the dragoness before she disappeared from slight, leaving her with Wolf’s marefriend.

Once the door closed, a slightly tense silence overtook the two as Veil didn’t rightfully know what to do next while Blaze was busy with her work, but the silence had to come at an end at some point.

“Veil, could you come here?” Without second thought, Veil moved from her seat, and quickly walked over to Blaze’s side. She didn’t have any choice in the matter. As head-dog of the pack, Wolf--and by extension, Blaze--had absolute say-so in anything that they did. Even with his lenient rules, Veil didn’t have an option to say no. Not to mention she didn’t have a reason to say no.

So if she didn’t have a reason to say no, then she didn’t have a choice not to do what the mare asked, and Wolf knew this. “Yes, Alpha-Mother?” Veil asked, falling back into a pack mentality on instinct, having lived in an actual diamond dog den.

Blaze tilted her head slightly in confusion from what Veil just called her. “‘Alpha-Mother,’” Veil started to worry that she had already messed up, but before she could apologize, Blaze soon understood what the term really meant. “Oh you must me this.” she said, rubbing her slightly expanded stomach, and making the connection of her being Wolf’s marefriend.

“Y-yeah, sorry if I offended you,” Veil apologized, not sure if the mare was too keen on the term, and hoped that she wasn’t upset. “I lived in a den until I was fifteen and that’s most of what I got to go on.”

Blaze nodded her head, not upset with the term, and completely fine with it if that’s what Veil was raised on. “It’s fine, feel free to call me that. I can’t change how you think,” she said, waving off any of the hound’s worries, and moving back to the task at hand. “Anyways, Veil could you help me with this potion? We’re going to need it to be done before today ends.”

“Sure, Alpha-Mother,” Veil started, taking a look into the large chamber-pot to see a brownish-green liquid being boiled by a crimson fire. Veil had honestly never seen anything like it before, and if she had to guess, it looked like the aftermath of someone’s bad meal. “So umm….what is it anyways?”

“It’s a potion to make plants grow,” Blaze answered, using her magic to lift the lid on top of the pot, and bring Veil’s attention to a potion book. “How good are you at grinding things?” Veil looked toward the mare with a questioning gaze, not knowing the large amount of work that’s going to be dropped on top of her head.

While her friend was learning to get used to the new lives that the four makers had planned for them, Cyclone followed Wolf and the others to the nearby stream where Spike and Wolf would be fishing as she began her training. During the trip, Cyclone started to notably walk close to Spike, and several times had been caught staring by either Wolf or Lily. However, neither adult mentioned it as they knew that Spike was more than capable of dealing with it if, and when, it came up.

So, to keep her in the waking world, Lily started to ask Cyclone questions about her magic. Many pertaining how much she knew, which like the twins, turned out to be very limited. When questioned of this, the three learned that Cyclone was abandoned by her own clan shortly after her thirteenth birthday, and that she’d rather not go into it.

As much as they wanted to know more, Wolf and the other dropped the subject as they started to reach the riverside. Wolf began to describe the surrounding areas to the two young dragons, since they’d need to know all they could about their home.

“Alright listen up you two,” Wolf started as he continued to lead Lily and the two dragons towards the stream. “I’m going to tell you something that pretty neat. If you follow the river downstream, you’ll reach the Rainbow Falls.” As Wolf said this, he pointed his finger down the stream, and drew the dragons attention to the pure white clouds in the horizon.

“If you go up the stream, you’ll be going towards the elder dragon’s territory.” He then turned his hand towards a mountainside where a small line of black smoke could be seen coming from the distance. “There’s also a shortcut that way,” he paused to point right across the stream to the other side of the river. “I’ll show you and the others it later. I do have some business there that I need to finish soon.”

With the quick geography lesson over, and after telling Spike not to grab too many, Wolf and Spike removed their shirts and dove the river to catch the pack’s next few meals. While the males went to work, Lily begin instructing Cyclone the same way she did with Spike, and even used him as an example several times.

Cyclone quickly became deeply impressed with the drake’s commitment as Lily made the training he went through sound tough and it was. Everyday for two months, Spike had woken up before the sun to sit and focus his magic for hours on end, following which he studied a wide variety of potions, and still had the time to study whatever dragon reading material that was in the archives.

It was readily obvious to Cyclone that he was hardworking and respectful. To think, he only wanted to better himself to protect everyone? That was something else entirely. After everything that had happened to her, she’d been understandably resentful towards her own kind for their greed and malice. Now that she’d seen what a real drake was supposed to be, though, Cyclone began revisiting her opinion about all dragons.

“Incredible,” Cyclone started after Lily finished telling her about Spike’s old training routine. It certainly had her looking at the younger drake in a new light. At the very least, she knew he was selfless--he had dived into the blazing inferno her house had turn into just for the necklace of some strangers he’d just met, after all. Maybe, just maybe, there was something more to him than she first thought. “You mean that Spike did this ‘Zen meditation’ everyday for two months for hours on end?”

“Indeed,” Lily answered in a calm voice, though, her curiosity was piqued when she started to show more interest into Spike. “He is a very disciplined drake, though sarcastic at times. Spike has a good heart.”

Cyclone took note of this as she continued to smile towards the pony. “I see,” she whispered underneath her breath before continuing in a much more notable voice. “So, does that mean I have to do that Zen meditation? From the way it sounds, it seems hard, and my tail isn’t as strong as it looks,” Cyclone admitted, holding up her round tipped tail as if to emphasize.

Lily’s eyes quickly scanned over the dragoness’ tail; the small round pink spines, and the rounded tip at the end. “No, I don’t think you have to, but you still have to create a landscape in your mind.” Cyclone cocked her head at the flutterpony, telling her that she didn’t understand her meaning. “You see, I’ve found the best way to tackle this with Spike was through his meditation. However, you’re not trying to achieve the same power as him, correct?”

“Well I don’t think so,” Cyclone said with a slight nervous voice, thinking back to what Blaze told her before she came out here. “Clan-Mother said that it would be best for me just to focus on healing and other small spells for now.”

’Clan-Mother?’ She must be referring to Blaze,’ Lily quickly thought to herself, knowing that Cyclone would revert back to her years of living in a dragon clan, and would be using those terms. ‘All part of being in a diverse pack,’ she figured before continuing onwards. “Yes, Blaze had told me of this, and so I don’t think that Zen meditation is very necessary here. However, the best way to focus is by meditation,” Lily said, straightening her body out, hinting for Cyclone to do the same, and began the dragoness’ training.

It was going to be hard for Cyclone's body to adapt to the new changes to her life, as much as it was for the twins. However, just like the pack was there to support the twins, they would be there to help guide Cyclone along this difficult path as well.

While Isis instructed Quill on where to heat a plate of scrap metal they found while walking through the ruins, Frost took the time to fully take in her new home. The ruins had to have been older than most, if not all of Equestria, however she knew that changelings had always played a hidden role in the kingdom’s history.

Taking the form of many high nobles of the past, changelings quickly had a death-hold on Equestrian politics, and still did even today. Major events, battles, wars even, were started mainly because of a changeling taking some noble’s shape.

Even walking throughout the ruins, Frost was able to point out several changeling-related symbols at first glance, and didn’t know whether to look at them with admiration, or resentment.

In those times, and until recently when her sister royally messed up, changelings were the shadowy hand that moved Equestria's history. They were the true driving force that pushed Equestria to be what it is today. For even Frost knew one could never get anything done in peace, and if Equestria ever became stagnant, it would spell doom for the numerous hives in Everfree.

Though changelings lived to feed off the love of another, that love became stale after awhile, and soon was useless to changelings in a mass number. Frost didn't have to about this, however. Her one true love was Quill, and as long as she never stop trying to better herself, their love would never grow old.

Neither would the ways they made love…

’Guh, stay focused Frost, and stop thinking about Quill’s toned ass already. No matter how hard and round and...’ Frost shook her head to get those thoughts out of her head in order to refocus on the task of surveying the lands so they wouldn’t waste their time trying to rebuild something they didn’t need.

Throughout, Frost saw points were Wolf had started to rebuild. Where the wooden scaffolding stopped, the wooden beams and other debris blocking off buildings that looked like they were going to fall, along with entrances to underground tunnels.

Isis had already told her that the tunnels were a priority to start with, however, not to go down in alone as some of them were as unstable as Wolf feared. Even through the ruins, Frost still saw a few buildings that had a chance to be something worth looking at. She may not have the skill to rebuild all of this by herself, but then she wasn’t alone.

Frost started to walk back to where she last saw Quill and Isis working on that plate of metal, only to find that they were still doing the same thing, and that the sheet of metal looked warped by excessive heat.

“Heh, maybe I over did it,” Quill said with a sheepish grin while Isis inspected the warped metal. “I’m guessing that I’m not cut out for this blacksmithing thing, huh Isis?”

The sphinx’s eyes moved from the golden orb that encased the still heated metal to look into the embarrassed eyes of the young dragoness that her master trusted as solo hunter. If Wolf trusted her enough to handle the dangers of the Everfree on her own, and at such a young age, then Quill must have some massive amount power lying dormant within her. “Do not worry Quill, it isn’t your fault for having too much heat dwelling in your soul,” she started in a motherly tone that reminded her of Celestia, unfortunately. “Blacksmithing is very tricky and fickle skill that few have.”

Quill placed her hand on her chin in thought, knowing that if they could craft things out of metal, then it would be a huge benefit towards High Moon. After a moment passed, Quill’s ear-fills peaked up when a thought came to her. “What about Spike?” Isis turned her attention away from the warped sheet of metal, and towards the young dragoness. “He’s always been better at stuff like this than me and it could help with his new weight training.”

“Um...that could work, Spike does show the necessary discipline to learn the trade, and with time could become a highly skilled blacksmith.” Isis continued to think about all the things she had seen and heard the drake doing in High Moon and though of how that could be applied to this skill.

While the two thought on this, Frost decided to land so she could give her opinion on the matter. Both females were pulled out of their thoughts by the sound of Frost landing on the tall grassy ground and walking towards them. “Ah Frost, maybe you can add some input on this,” Isis started, knowing of the changeling’s ability to sense and record others emotions. “We’re trying to figure out if Spike would make a good candidate for a blacksmith.”

“Hm, that is quite the thought,” Frost openly mused while she came to a stop next to her lover and gave Isis the chance to noticed the height difference between the two young lovers. Not counting Quill’s head-spines, Frost was the taller one with Quill coming to her full chest that was restrained beneath Quill’s white T-shirt. “However,” Frost again started, pulling Isis out of her observation, and regaining her attention. “I don’t think that he’ll make a very effective one at the present moment.”

While Isis thought of what Frost had said, Quill was left confused as she was unable to think of anyone else to fit the role. “How ya figure that Frost?”

“Well, with the responsibilities he already has now, on top of his training, I don’t think that adding a new role on him would be a good idea.” Soon, both Isis and Quill started to see what Frost was talking about, and how she was right. Spike already had far too much on his plate as is, and until he managed to get the ghost heart under control, adding anything else would be almost too much for him. “However, I think I know of a better substitute.”

Isis nodded her head knowing who Frost was talking about while Quill tilted her head in confusion but slowly started to catch on. “What, you mean Cyclone,” she asked the two, getting nods as her answer. “Well...that does make sense given that she has both water and fire, but do you really think she’ll be up for the task?”

“With a little encouragement, yes I do,” Frost answered, knowing Wolf was still trying to find something for the dragoness to do, and at this moment it seemed to be blacksmithing. “I know she can’t use much magic but that seems to be what we need right.”

“Right,” Isis started, knowing what Frost was thinking, and having a feeling that it really could work. “Cyclone, due to having little magic, has a weak enough fire to heat metal without severely warping it, but we’ll have to wait until she gets more control over her magic.”

Frost nodded her head. Neither she or the others wanted to push the dragoness too hard, but she still need to be pushed nonetheless. “I understand,” she said, knowing that it was really Cyclone’s decision to make and not theirs. “So anyway, I’ve spotted the buildings that you said we’ll be starting on, and I have several ideas that would greatly benefit us at this present moment.”

“Great, care to discuss it as we go?” While Isis and Frost continued to make plans for future renovations, Quill followed the two in silence, amazed at how quick they became friends. At first, she wasn’t sure what to make of the sphinx since she once knew Celestia, but it seemed that she had some bitterness towards the sun goddess as well. Also, while Quill still hadn’t gotten a full answer as to why Isis calls Wolf and Blaze ‘master and mistress,’ she had a feeling that it had to do with Wolf being in charge of High Moon.

Then there was her love, Frost. The mare had a secret dream of overthrowing her mother and changing the way Equestria saw changelings. Quill had already vowed to make that dream come true. But if what Frost said was right, and she wasn’t a match for her mother, then Quill would have to find a way to boost her power.

And fast.

Back at the river, Wolf and Spike had finally stopped fishing for the day, and it was quite the haul. Between Wolf’s fifteen, of which he could eat more than half by himself, and Spike’s twelve, they had more than enough for tonight and the next morning.

So with that task done, Wolf left Spike in Lily’s care while he head back to High Moon to get all the fish prepared for dinner. Lily didn’t even have to tell the drake to start before he was already meditating and was far too gone to notice the dragoness taking glances at him.

Lily, after catching the dragoness staring at the drake several times, used her magic to create a solid wall spitting them off from each other. Spike didn’t react to the wall of magic due to being so invested in his meditation, and continued to envision the expansive crystal clear lake. However, Cyclone was scolded for not staying focused on her meditation, and was told that this was the only way to get her magic under control.

“Sorry miss Winds,” Cyclone muttered with an apologetic tone, her head dropping down. The last thing Cyclone wanted to do was be in the way of the others when they are trying to help her out, but there was something about Spike that kept distracting her.

Lily let out a small sigh before shaking her head. “No, no, it’s alright.” Cyclone snapped her head back up to see the warm motherly smile on Lily’s face. She couldn’t understand why Lily was being so nice to her while she was wasting her time, but she was grateful for her kindness nonetheless. “You’ve been through a lot in such a short time but do stay focus. Okay dear?”

“Yes ma’am,” Cyclone answered quickly with a cheery smile that reflected Spike’s.

Lily couldn’t help but giggle a little at the dragoness before she got things moving onwards. “Okay, now try it again.” Cyclone, sitting down on the ground with her legs crossed under her, straightened out her body ready to listen to any instructions Lily had for her. “Close your eyes and start breathing slowly.”

Following the repeated instruction, Cyclone closed her eyes, and started to take in deep slow breaths. “Now, picture the calmest thing you can think of, and focus solely on that.” Cyclone shifted through her thoughts to find something to focus on.

Soon, blackness gave way to the sight of a grassy field with a single stream cutting through it, and crystal blue skies above her head. She didn’t know why, but she could tell that she was sitting on top of a grassy hill with the stream of water flowing up towards her only to circle around to the other side.

It was calm. Soft grass underneath her, a rushing stream passing right by, and a gentle warming breeze. She truly never felt this calm and peaceful before in her life. Cyclone didn’t ever want this tranquillity to go, she wanted to hold it in her hands so she could fully marvel it, and she wanted to forever remain there.

It felt safe, it felt like...home.

Once Lily saw the smile on Cyclone’s face, she knew that she had created her own world in her head, and was ready to move on. “Good, good, now I want you to let go. Forget all of your worries, your doubts, let it flow away from your mind, and set it free.”

Sounds of burning wood and shouting filled the empty grass world as Cyclone imaged her old home burning down and Veil placing all blame on her. ’It’s true...it was my fault the house burned down, but I won’t let that hold me back.’

Cyclone took in a deep breath, causing the winds to cease their light push, forcing the sound of the lived nightmare to stop as well. Once she let that breath go, the house and the shouting were blown away, leaving only the grassy hill for Cyclone to enjoy.

Slowly, she started to open her eyes with the brightest of smiles, and was met with the maternal smile that Lily becoming known for. From the looks on Cyclone’s face, Lily knew that the dragoness was able to create her own world within her mind, and let go of her worries. “Well, how was it?”

“It felt-” Cyclone wasn’t able to finish her answer, being interrupted by a loud snoring coming from her right. Cyclone stood up from the ground and leaned against the wall to see Spike was fully asleep, but still standing on his tail. Cyclone had never seen anything like it before. The mere thought of how strong Spike’s tail had to be to keep his full weight up while he was asleep was hard for her to imagine. “Does he...does he always do that?”

Lily shook her head, and knew that he wasted all of his energy trying to keep up with Wolf while they were fishing. “No, he’s just doing weight training, and it seems that it caught up with him.” Lily dropped the wall, causing Cyclone to bump heads with Spike before she fell on top of him.

The sudden headbutt from the dragoness destroyed all sense of the expansive lake. However, something kicked inside of him, and forced him to protect the lighter body that against him. So, quicker than he thought possible, Spike wrapped his arms around Cyclone’s head to cuddle it while his tail slowed their fall.

Still though, the blow to Cyclone’s head was enough to pull a pain-filled tear from her eyes. “Ow, ow, ow,” Cyclone muttered to herself, rubbing over the spot where her head met Spike’s, and placing her hands on top of Spike’s chest. However, when she realized that her hands weren’t in fact touching the hard ground, she opened her eyes to gaze into Spike’s bright green eyes.

Cyclone remain on top of Spike, getting a close look into his eyes, and feeling a fire growing in her chest. Not the same fire she’d felt build up in her and destroy her old home, but a different, softer one that she couldn’t understand. “Um...Cyclone,” Spike started, breaking through Cyclone’s daydream, and pulling her back into the real world. “Are you alright? Your face is all red and stuff. You’re not running a fever are you?”

Cyclone started to blush even more when Spike reached a hand up to her cheek. “I-I’m fine,” she quickly said, getting off of him even quicker. “Sorry,” Cyclone apologized, not daring to look at Spike as he got up from the ground, and jumped when he placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Heh, it’s alright.” Spike said, getting Cyclone to look at him with a wary tone in her eyes, but still flashing as bright of a smile he could. “I’m the one who fell asleep… Man, I’ve never been this tired before,” Spike continued with another yawn while he tried to cover it with his hand.

That’s when Lily noticed that the gems on his wrists were a bright blue in color. “Well,” she started, walking over to Spike, and grabbing his hand. “It seems that your new training is the culprit behind it.” When Spike got to look at it, he grinned broadly at the progress he’d been making. In less than a week, he’d been able to get the gems to change colors several times, and if they were following the pattern that he thought they were, then he’d be free of them in no time.

Spike suddenly started to jump in the air in excitement while the same wide smile was still plastered on his face. He, of course, was exhausted from swimming in the river to catch the fish, but his happiness of the results made him throw that out the window. “Ah-yeah! It won’t be long now, finally I’ll be able to surf on water again.”

Cyclone stared at the blue gems with mixed disbelieve. Both she and Veil were slightly filled in on Spike’s condition during the quick lunch before Wolf lead her out her. She, of course, felt sorry for the drake to be battling something like that, as she had seen ghost heart rip apart the minds of many other dragones much older and wiser than the twins.

She just couldn’t see two mere gems being strong enough to restrict Spike’s magic and body, regardless of how strong he was before. However, she didn’t question it because she barely had been in High Moon for a few hours now, and didn’t know the full story.

“Well,” Lily again said, seeing progress in both dragons in their separate training, and that the sun was starting for the horizon. So, she thought that it would do everyone good if they did a little ingredient run. “How you two say calling it a day for meditation? We could use the rest of today to grab some ingredients for the many things we’ll need.”

“Oh yeah,” Spike sparked with a light of an idea. “We could look for some spices that are growing around here.” Due to the proximity of the river, the soil in the area was particularly enriched in nutrients. This allowed a variety of plants species to thrive, including quite a few that would work well as ingredients for their meals.

Lily nodded her head, knowing that Spike was an excellent cook when he has something to work with, and the thought of eating something besides soup was very appealing. “Very well, but let’s stay in a close group. We only have a few short more moments before we need to head back to the temple.” Both dragons nodded their heads and started to follow Lily along the riverside in search of plants that they could use in High Moon.

Wolf walked towards the wooden entrance to the temple with the haul of fish wrapped in as many leaves and vines he and Spike could gather before he left him with Lily. During the walk back, he thought about the roles the two newcomers could fill, but still didn’t know much about their skills to properly assign them jobs to do for High Moon.

What furthered hindered this task was the fact that Cyclone was being trained in her magic just like the twins. Only Cerberus knew how long it’d take before she could stand on her own, and by that time, the beta hound might have figured something out.

One thing was for sure, he needed to learn what their future intentions were if he was going to make any plans for them.

“Like this, Alpha-Mother?” Wolf blinked a couple of times at hearing the voice of the new hound in the pack. It wasn’t hearing her, it was what she said. Looking over to Blaze’s work table, Wolf saw Veil standing over the boiling pot with several leaves shredded up in her hands while Blaze was busy with reading up on the potion itself.

“Yes, Veil just like that,” she said after rechecking over instructions again to see if Veil had tore up the leaves the way they needed to. “Go ahead and drop them in.” Veil did as Blaze instructed, dropping the leaves in the iron-cast pot, stirring it with the wooden spoon. “Okay that should be enough for now dear, thank you. You can sit down now, all I have left is a quick potion that I want to whip up.”

Wolf smiled as Veil and Blaze seemed to have grown close together in the short four hours of being alone. They may not stay for very long, but it was good to see that Veil was growing accustomed to living in High Moon in such a short amount of time.

“Okay, just shout if you need me, Alpha-Mother,” Veil started, with a slight stretch before starting back to the table, only to be stopped by Wolf making his presence known to the two.

“Actually, hound,” Wolf started, walking towards the two with the haul of fish still secured around his back. “We got fish to clean and store.” Veil dropped her head, she was looking forwards to a short nap, but nodded her head anyways. “Quit your moping,” Wolf said, walking over to the smoke chamber which had been greatly improved now that he had the time to do so, and carefully set the fish down.

Veil followed the alpha towards the roundish brick dome with a wooden door covering it and a small hole at the top. Wolf motioned towards a nearby section of bricks and stone that seemed to have been melted together to hold a small pool of water. “It’ll be easy, just got to use fresh water.”

Soon, the two started the mundane task of cleaning the fish for tonight’s dinner, and used rock-salts to preserve what Wolf knew wouldn’t be eaten. While they did this, Blaze got to work on her ‘revenge’ for Wolf’s joke earlier that morning, but was making a few changes. Remembering the attack that Cinder suffered today and of a darker part of her magic taking hold of her as well, Blaze wanted to make sure that her child didn’t have to deal with the same problems.

However, to do this, she’d have to...’embrace’ more of her other magic before she could allow her child to come into this world. Though, this still would be fun nonetheless, and she knew Wolf would enjoy it as well. She knew it was kind of petty to hold it against Wolf, especially with the two newcomers and their misfortune, but the thought of what the plan entailed was too good to pass up.

She even started to drool a little just thinking about it, but managed to keep her focus for now. Though, she glance over towards the two, getting herself caught in a little daydream about their cub learning the same things Veil and the other new(ish) arrivers of High Moon were.

Whether it was pup or hound, she knew Wolf would teach it to hunt just like he did with Quill, and also how to make things like Spike. Blaze was actually very surprised with Wolf. After the twins had grown used to High Moon, she thought that Wolf would start going back to normal, but he’d proved her wrong.

Blaze thought that Quill would copy Wolf to a ‘T’ and being drifting away from Spike, as Wolf had with Lily. However, the exact opposite seems to be the case. Instead of going back to what he knew, Wolf had reached a hand out towards Lily, and she’d taken it without second thought.

Before, Wolf couldn’t go two seconds without growing tired of the mare being around, but now he was willing to explore more of Everfree with her. That meant he held a trust in Lily that he didn’t with the others. It wasn’t that Wolf didn’t trust Frost, Isis, or the twins, but she knew he figured they’d do more good staying behind than going with him.

And even if that didn’t end up happening today, it would soon, and she was anxious for it to happen. After seeing what happened to Cinder while they were in the Arcane Fields made Blaze that much more wary of what was really lurking around in Everfree. However, if they kept growing at the rate they were, then Wolf would soon be forced to turn his attention more towards reconstruction.

That’s when a thought rang in Blaze's head, one she hadn’t thought of until now. “Hey Wolf,” Blaze started while Veil was getting the hang off cleaning the fish. Wolf, already knelt down to his knees, turned around to Blaze with a questioning look. “Are there any more rooms left in the mansion ruins?”

“Um…” Veil’s ear perked up towards this, not once having thought about just where she and Cyclone would be sleeping, and she quickly became worried that they were out of another home. “Yeah, yeah there should be at least another, oh I don’t know...three, four rooms left.”

Veil silently let out a breath of air in relief, she didn’t know how much more bad news she could take in one day alone, and was glad to see that Cerberus haven’t fully forsaken her. “You don’t have to worry about us taking too much space,” Veil started, getting the ruling couple to look towards her. “Cyclone and I are used to sleeping in the same bed, so we’ll only need one room.”

Wolf looked back towards the hound and nodded his head with a smile. “Alright, that’s good, and that’s enough fish for now hound.” Veil, again, sighed a breath of relief of being done with a task, looking forward to having the chance to rest before anything happens. However, she didn’t have that much luck.

Just a few seconds apart, both Lily’s and Isis’ group walked through the arcane doors, and both had things to report back to Wolf which would affect the two newcomers. While the four adults spoke amongst themselves, Cyclone told Veil all the things she did with Lily and Spike as he and Frost got dinner ready.

Quill floated over to her marefriend, lending aid when she could, but really to let the two speak to each other in private. Quill still didn’t know what to make of either newcomer. All she knew about Cyclone was that she was a weak dragoness that had difficulties controlling her magic, yet had a bigger heart than she did. She knew even less about Veil.

However, the same could be said about Isis. It was only until today that she had the chance to talk with the sphinx about stuff, mainly about the past. Most of what they’d talked about concerned the dragon-hunters, and how they’d made life difficult for dragons living in Equestria in the past. What shocked Quill the most was the fact that it was Luna, not Celestia, that pushed for the practice to be forbidden.

At first, Quill thought of flying straight for Spike to tell him the truth, but something stopped her. Something that said Spike couldn’t take any more of lies being uncovered about his old life. That said, Quill made sure to not forget this fact the next time she saw Celestia.

“Quill,” Frost started while the fish was roasting in an open fire in the smoke chamber, which Isis had enchanted so as not to emit any harmful fumes. Quill was broken out of her thoughts by her lover’s soft voice, forcing her to look into her changeling’s icy-blue eyes. “Are you alright? I’m sensing focused anger coming from you, and that’s not good.”

“Yeah, yeah I’m fine,” Quill quickly answered, having forgotten about her lover’s ability to sense other’s emotions. “I’m just wondering, what’s going to happen with those two?” Both Quill and Frost looked over to the two newcomers, only to see them talking to each other, with slight smiles on their faces.

Frost sensed joy coming from the both of them, this was a good thing, yet she also sensed worry and anxiety from the both of them as well. “I don’t know yet Quill, all I can tell as long as they have each other, then they’ll be fine.”

Over on another pot, fixing egg salad for the plant eaters of the pack, Spike overheard what Frost said about Cyclone and Veil as he looked over to them. He felt bad for what happened to them, especially since it wasn’t really their fault, but something was telling him that they’d be okay.

Just like him and his sister...everyone will be okay.

Soon, the fish and salads were served out, and it was yet another time for a pack meeting before anyone went to bed. “Alright,” Wolf started shortly after making plans with the three other adults and continued when he got the younger members attentions. “Now, due to recent...events, we have to ‘change’ a few things around here. Firstly, we need resources, like chairs.” Wolf waved his hand over to Isis and Lily, who had to stand to get their meals, and also Frost and Quill as Frost sat in Quill’s lap. “Plates and other things like that. So, Frost, Quill either of you know of a way to make a quick bit?”

Frost paused for a moment while Quill placed finger on her chin, suddenly, both of them remembered that they did see something in White Tail that could bring in a quick bit. “Yes, in fact, there was this farmer offering for a job as farm hands, and the pay seemed good too.”

Wolf nodded his head, not minding a little hard labor if it meant they could get the things that they needed, and already having an idea of two that could do the job. “Yeah, also there was this flying tournament,” Quill started, remembering the poster calling for all flyers to gather in another cloud-city called Stormfront for a small tournament. “I bet if we win some of the grand-prizes, then that’ll definitely bring in a ‘quick bit.’”

“Tournament huh,” Wolf asked, not thinking about something like that, but the idea was appealing. As far as Wolf could tell, Quill was the fastest flyer they had in High Moon, and he knew that she could easily outfly any pegasi. “Umm...alright, when, and where is it?”

“A cloud-city called Stormfront in two weeks,” Quill answered, only getting Wolf to deadpan at her. “What that’s a no go?”

“Um, yeah that’s a no go,” Wolf quickly answered with a flat tone while he shook his head. “Quill, we can’t wait two weeks for the possibility of getting what we need,” Quill snorted towards this, she really wanted to see the looks on those ponies faces when she showed up to take the gold, and the faces of Celestia and the elements when they would--no doubt--be there. “But, that is an idea…for later. Right now, we need to get that farm-hand work thing settled. So any volunteers?”

“I’ll do it,” Veil quickly started, knowing the farmer that was offering the job, and knowing that she’d need to do something to help out more in High Moon. “Cyclone and I know the farmer’s family and we’re the only ones that know every nook and cranny of that town.”

Wolf briefly flashed a smile as he nodded his head. “Alright, hound,” he started walking back to Blaze’s table and leaning back on it. “I’m trusting you to do that. We’ll head back there tomorrow, I still need to check up on a few things.” Veil nodded her head, it’d be awkward to go back to the town almost right after being forced to leave, but she needed to to it. For Cyclone.

Soon, Wolf continued the meeting with other minor changes to things, and letting the two know about what’s going on. After getting the two fitted in the roles that needed to be filled in High Moon, Wolf finally asked the two what their plans were for the future. From the sound of things, it seemed that Veil and Cyclone were going to be a part of his pack for quite some time, at least until Cyclone got a hold on her magic, and when Veil was able to find and afford a new house.

Wolf and the others showed their support as well as their sympathy for the two of them; to lose everything they had, and to have to change to an new environment in a short time is a challenge for any. However, Veil was strong and Cyclone was a quick thinker, they had each other, and all of High Moon to help them out.

After the meeting had ended, everyone left Blaze’s work area to head towards their own sleeping spaces. Once in the mansion ruins, Veil and Cyclone were lead by Spike, who was asked to show the two to an empty room on the bottom floor. Once at the faded brown door, Spike wished the two a good night, and told them that if they ever needed anything that he’ll be right down the hall.

However, before he could leave, Cyclone stopped to give him a kiss on the cheek, and to thank him for all that he did for them. Spike’s mind was blown apart by a small nuke at the slight sting of Cyclone’s lips on his cheek. One, because of it still being tender from Quill’s fist, and two… Well, he couldn’t quite put his claw on it. All he could say for sure was that there was a small spark, much hotter than both Rarity and Sweetie Belle. Both of which he still failed to confront.

“Night Spike,” Cyclone said in a low voice, after removing her lips from his cheek and feeling that same spark from the drake. She turned to the open door and stepped in to rest after a long day of grief, loss, and hardships. She made her way towards the bed, but turned back to see Veil still standing in front of Spike. “Veil you coming?”

The hound looked towards her friend and reached out to the rusty golden doorknob. “One sec,” she said before closing the door and ending Spike’s view of the suddenly affectionate dragoness. “Let me tell you something, Drake,” Veil growled threateningly becoming the only thing Spike could see as she easily filled his view. He hadn’t noticed it before now, but she was a lot taller than both him and Quill. “If you make a move on Cyclone and she ends up hurt because of it…” She started to lean in towards Spike’s ear before continuing in a low snarl, “I’ll rip you apart. Scale by scale, you hear me?”

Spike took a step back from the diamond hound, only vaguely having an idea what she was talking about. “Um...yeah?” Before leaving to the room, Veil flicked Spike’s nose with her middle claw which she kept sharp out of habit, and snorted in annoyance towards Spike.

“Night, Drake.” Again, Spike’s eyes became transfixed on the closed door, but this time it was in both shock and attraction.

Beyond confused by the conflicting feelings about both females, Spike turned to walk back to his room so he could sort these feelings out himself before a certain changeling mare picked up on them. In Spike’s mind, one thing was for sure for sure: things were about to get interesting for everyone in High Moon.

For better or worse.

Author's Notes:

Well...things are happening, plans are changing, and lives are moving on-wards. However, what dose these two newcomers bring to High Moon? Will Cyclone be able to learn to properly control her magic? And will Spike finally finish his weight training to be strong enough to defeat his ghost heart? All of these answers, and so much more will be reveal much more.

-Till Next Time