7:35 AM

"Let's go left." You suggest and Rainbow shrugs in response.

"Don't see why not, it's kind of the direction to the far edge of Sweet Apple Acres if I'm remembering where we fell right." She grins down at you. "You know, I'd offer you a ride but I don't think you'd take me up on it."

You chuckle and shake your head. "Not on your life Rainbow Crash."

She laughs at that as the two of you begin walking. "Ah, come on, is Spiky Wiky scared?"

"Not scared," You correct her, "just smart enough not to get on the Feathered Fiend of Flightless a second time."

"Not my fault you're the Drake of Donuts," She shoots back, "What did you do? Eat a house before you climbed on? I swear you almost broke my back."

You laugh again and shoot another jab at the Pegasus. The two of you talk and laugh and you almost forget that you're lost in the forest until suddenly Rainbow stops and puts a hoof to your chest, blocking your path.

You form a snarky reply but when you see the serious look on her face it dies on your lips. “Dash?” you ask, “Is something wrong?”

Rainbow frowns and slowly lowers her hoof. Her ears swiveling wildly. “I thought I heard something…”

You crane your own ears but don’t hear anything except for the rustle of leaves in the wind. You do, however, smell something familiar.

“Apples!” You exclaim, making Dash jump a little. “I can smell apples. We must be close to the farm.”

Rainbow smiles. “Well then, what are we waiting for? Let’s g--” She is abruptly cut off as a dark shape slams into her side.

You yelp and jump back as Rainbow manages to scramble back to her hooves. The thing that attacked managed to also right itself and you cover your nose as the stench of timberwolf breath hits you.

Rainbow flares her wings but drops them almost immediately. With a grimace she says, “Spike, run and get Applejack. I can take this wolf.”

You hesitate, glancing back and forth between Dash, the timberwolf, and the path to the apple orchard. Dash isn’t in top condition but you’ve seen her take down worse. Besides, what would you even do to help? What will you do?

Run for help

Stay and fight