(Equestrian/Griffica border, twelfth day of spring, nine hundred ninety third Celestial year, 5 hours north of Hoofreed)

“Schlp, schlp, schlp” pause. snif snif. “whine” more lapping to the face.

‘Ughh... Fluttershy will you please get your friends off of me!’ The prismatic maned pegasus groaned in her head still feeling the constantly rasping tongue on her face. “Common Ge...” Her cyan eyes widen as the slimy appendage invades her mouth momentarily which causes her to freak out, bucking the unsuspecting creature off of her with a ‘yip’ as it sailed into the surrounding woods. The pegasus now fully awake snorted. “Damn it Bugbear! Can’t you go annoy Fluttershy instead?” Rainbow Dash complained, having recognized the yelp that came from the creature. Annoyed that her rest was disturbed; The rainbow maned pegasus rolled to a standing position and surveyed her surroundings. Spotting the empty sleeping mat next to hers she groaned at the lack of her yellow friend and walked over to the dead campfire.

She stirred the dead coals and ash, hoping to get a warm flame, A mahogany timberwolf silently stalked out of the surrounding woods from behind. “You know. That got old after the first week Bears'. Ya gotta try harder than that to scare me.” The wolf Realizing his position was compromised Charged forward and tackled Rainbow Dash landing firmly on her stomach and lapping victoriously at her face.

“Rainbow Dash I heard some yelling and a loud well crash. I came as fast as I could.” Came a sweet soft voice as the owner a butterscotch colored filly with a bubblegum colored mane and tail, her most defining features being her icy blue eyes and her butterfly cutie mark. but before she could speak up again a second timberwolf this one with birch and oak charged forward from behind her and jumped in to join Bugbear in Covering Rainbow Dash in sloppy licks with their wet raspy vine green tongues. “Now thats just rude. Bugbear, Silversong! what did I say about assaulting Rainbow Dash until midday?” Both timberwolves whined in displeasure as they dismounted from their technicolor prey.

‘Only till noon huh? Gee thanks what would I do without you Fluttershy?’ Rainbow grumbled in her head sarcastically. “Ughh... thanks Shy I didn’t think I could have lasted much longer without having to... Well you know.” The pegasus grunted heavily rubbing a hoof against the back of her head. “So what were you doing out of camp so early?” Rainbow asked shifting the conversation.

“Oh... umm well if you must know me and Silversong here were taking a nice bath in the river. I’m guessing from the noise you kicked poor Bugbear into the forest.” Rainbow nodded sheepishly. Fluttershy exhaled a multi toned sigh. “Rainbow you know, they’ll only stop once you actually start paying attention to them. Isn’t that right Buggy wookums” Fluttershy cooed as she scratched her hoof along the underside of Bugbears jaw scraping off bits of excess bark, causing him to rumble in pleasure.

Rainbow rolled her eyes sarcastically. “Fine. Say why were you out of camp so early this morning?” The chromatic pegasus queried.

“Oh I was just getting some more water for our canteens, that is also why I had silversong with me” Fluttershy smiled. “Timberwolves have really good noses.” The butterscotch pegasus explained.

“Okay. say what are we having for breakfast anyway?” The cyan pegasus asked drifting over to the coals of the dying fire pit.

Fluttershy stopped scratching bugbear to move her hoof temporarily under her own in thought. “Well we don’t have many flowers left so I hope you don’t mind carrots and sweet water grass.” Fluttershy answered calmly letting her hoof back down to the ground.

“Ughh... again? Why can’t we have any of the apples or flowers?” Rainbow pouted.

Fluttershy took a deep breath then continued. “Because Rainbow the flowers are supposed to last and the apples aren’t for eating were supposed to be selling them in the next town. Also the grass and carrots are more healthy for you.” The butterscotch mare reprimanded. “Besides It’s only another six hours to Hoofreed. You can make It, then we can have all the apples we want as long as our shipment arrives on time, and intact.” Fluttershy finishes the list of requirements that the Apple family gave them before sending their small trade caravan on its way.

“Ok, fine can you pass me the carrots and one of the canteens.” Rainbow asked as she placed a pot next to the coals of the old fire. Walking over to her saddlebags she opened one of the larger bags and pulled out a dull steel tallon, three feet long with a custom hoof grip, its blade razor sharp and glowing a soft green, and several runes running along the outside of the grip. attaching it to her right hoof she opened another pocket and pulled out a small length of flint. Holding the flint in her teeth Rainbow struck her talon into one of the nearby logs picking it up and tossing it over onto the remains of the camp fire. floating back over to the fire pit she pulled the blade in front of her face facing outward she put the edge onto the flint and pulled, cascading sparks over the piece of timber, the enchanted sparks holding heat long enough to light the piece of timber. Fluttershy walked over and placed some water into the small pot as Rainbow pulled off her tallon, stabbing it it into the ground.

Placing the flint onto the tallon Rainbow walked over and picked up the water pot and placed it over the small fire to simmer. “ Here’s the carrots Rainbow.” Fluttershy called as she returned from the packs both timberwolves maintaining a respectable distance of a hundred feet from the fire specifically not whimpering in fear for their butterscotch pony guardian as she neared the fire and its insane mistress. Fluttershy smiled as she dropped the sack in her hooves next to Rainbow Dash and turned and flew over to the timberwolves their leaves shaking in barely suppressed fear. Silver song yipped happily as Fluttershy arrived and gave them both pats on the head, while Bugbear just calmed down and averted his vision from the ‘purifying’ angelic fire. Fluttershy seeing this Cooed calmly to them both. “It’s ok to be afraid but don’t worry too much, the big bad fire can’t get to you.” They let Fluttershys words calm them down.

While Fluttershy went over to calm down her ‘friends’ as Rainbow noted, she was slicing carrots into a sack gathered from the packs with her embedded tallon. Not missing a beat she picked up the sack and poured the contents into the simmering pot, tossing the empty sack to the side Rainbow grabbed the bag of Sweet grass and poured a generous amount of the grass into the pot. Closing the bag and holding it in her mouth she walked over to the packs and tying it back onto Fluttershy’s, then went over to her own pack and pulled out a wooden stirring spoon.

Returning to the pot she began stirring. "For weeks now the same rude wake up call each day! Then there's the "surprise" pounces when I try to make breakfast! or whenever they catch me standing still for two seconds! I don't know why they only do this to ME though! Why never Fluttershy?" Rainbow Dash Grumbled under her breath as the carrots and grass simmered; after a few minutes she pulled the pot off the fire and carried it over near Fluttershy and placed it on one of the flat rocks surrounding their small camp; turning to her left she spotted Fluttershy feeding Bugbear and Silversong some Sugarcane and cherry wood twigs. “Fluttershy, Breakfast!” She called out to the butterscotch pegasus before heading over to her pack and grabbing a pair of tin plates.

Tin plates in mouth she headed back over to the pot and spooned several pieces of the thick concoction onto the plates; finishing just as Fluttershy arrived, she set the other mares share to the side and began digging into her own plate. “Thanks Rainbow Dash” Fluttershy thanked the rainbow maned pegasus before grabbing her plate and digging in as well.

After they had finished eating Rainbow took the pot and plates over to the river to clean while Fluttershy began packing what gear they had spread throughout the camp purposefully going around Rainbow’s tallon having learned early on that the blade was draining on any pony that touched it except for the one who’s magic field had been attuned to the weapon. Rainbow Returned, pot in hoof filled to the brim with water just as Fluttershy finished cleaning the camp. and putting most of the loose gear in their saddlebags. Dousing the fire in water from the pot Rainbow Dash Tossed it over to Fluttershy who deftly caught it and put away in her pack, then Rainbow grabbed her Tallon and trotted over to her pack and put the weapon away along with the flint, and her dishes. “Hey Fluttershy, you got everything packed?” Rainbow asked lifting her saddlebags to her own back her wings easily fitting through the custom holes in the sides. Checking to make sure the bagg’s didn’t chafe; she rotated her wings a few times, affirming that the bags indeed would not chafe she pumped her wings into a hover.

“Yes I think I got everything Dash. Silversong, Bugbear; do come over here please.” Fluttershy called to the two timberwolves resting together underneath one of the nearby trees. Hearing Fluttershys call both instantly hopped to their paws and tore their way over the the demure pegasus. “Ok you two Rainbow is going to keep watch from above and i’ll be pulling the cart I won’t be able to pull it the whole way but Rainbow will be able to scout for us. What I need you two to do is when I get tired of pulling the cart I need one of you to come over so I can switch Is that ok?” Both silversong and Bugbear barked acceptance.

After a few minutes of checking the wagons straps to make sure the cart wouldn’t come loose they rolled onto the road and began traveling to their destination, Rainbow Dash leaping onto the air and taking the lead she quickly disappeared into the surrounding clouds.

Left with nothing to do Fluttershy watched the scenery as it passed by the flowers swaying gently in the wind, the trees covered in interesting varieties of moss and fungi, and the bushes and occasional shrub laced with vine. The mountains surrounding them were breathtaking occasionally passing a sheer cliff on the road or even having to take one. Fluttershy was smiling trotting along the path while Bugbear and Silversong frolicked in the grass around her letting out an occasional growl or bark as they play fought, fenting left and right, back and forth in their endless rough and tumble of boundless energy, So the continued like so for a time.

Rounding another of the many bends in the road Fluttershy Came upon a small gorge with Two sheer faces on either side, with the road going in between rather than over; examining the valley she noticed that the road was about five meters across, barely large enough to fit two wagons side by side comfortably; She also noted that both sides of the valley were choked in shrubbery and vines. Bugbear and Silverson grew quiet as Fluttershy entered the valley their antics halted as their ears twitched to a nearly unnoticed sound; immediately they entered the surrounding shrubbery, disappearing from view but still ready to return to Fluttershy’s side at a moments notice. Walking along the path, Fluttershy heard a few pieces of displaced gravel rolled down the side of the steep cliff faces; she gazed up onto either side of the road at both of the switch back paths up the cliff face. As she reached the middle of the path several clouds parted making way for Rainbow Dash who stopped at a hover just next to the butterscotch mare pulling the wagon. “Hey Fluttershy we got company five of them.” Fluttershy looked up and noted the pony’s as they climbed onto the road blocking their path with weapons drawn save for their unicorn leader. Fluttershy stops looking to rainbow nervously as the Prismatic maned pegasus pulls out both of her talons and her pendant of null. Hoofing a second one to Fluttershy; Rainbow quickly equipped her gear before floating in front of Fluttershy defensively.

The leader of the group paused as the pegasus stood in front of her companion with her strange weapons. Fluttershy knowing what her pegasus friend was capable of let out a simple warning to the group in front of her. “Umm... if it’s ok with you sirs you might not want to start a fight. Rainbow Dash really isn’t one to leave without causing injury.”

The leader a dark blue unicorn with a windswept two toned yellow and orange mane laughed at Fluttershy’s warning along with his comrades. “Oh so de peg’sus tinks she cn fight us. Let us show her tat we mean business.” letting the guffaws die away the leader continued in a serious tone. “nah no dispect here little lass, ut I tink we ut number yer friend here five blades t’her two.”
scoffing again he guffawed at the pegasus duo. “Nah if’n ye’d be sos kind as t’hand over t’cart we’d be willin t’let ya pass wit’out ny ravishing. Nah wha’d’ya say t’dat?” The unicorn smiled grimly his eyes on the Rainbow pegasus before him. ‘Nah she may be a peg’sus but tat don’ mean her speed’ll beat ah nmbes.’ The blue unicorn thought tactically being assured of his victory if they chose to fight.

Rainbow chimes in immediately screaming in the pony’s direction. “No deal we can handle on our own! Right Shy?” Fluttershy slapped a hoof to her face in annoyed embarrassment at the pegasuses strangely brash display then nodded. “Good why don’t you call in our good friends?” Rainbow suggested as she turned back to the bandits.

“Because Rainbow they are already here; Silversong, Bugbear please come out and help Dashie.” Bothe timberwolves came charging out of the nearby brush and flanked on either side of Rainbow Dash forming defensive a semicircle in front of Fluttershy. The pony groups leader took an involuntary surprise as the timberwolves come into play immediately he also realizes that this group is far out of him and his companions skill level and quickly started formulating an escape plan knowing the outer shells of most timber wolves especially those that came from the everfree had magic resistant bark. Fluttershy wasn’t finished though. “Now i’m sorry to ask this but me and Rainbow Dash here are kind of on a Tight schedule so would you sirs be so kind as to get out of our way?”

The leaders smile shattered, his jaw dropping subtly with his eyes widening as the two gigantic timberwolves melted out of the surrounding shrubbery and converged on the two ponies before him. With his eye twitching somewhat he barely managed a lopsided grin “Um... shue. Uhh have a nice day.” He spoke up in a slightly gruff voice before gesturing for his fellow shaking stallions to get off the road and let the wagon pass; which they did so with desperate haste. “Hah de buck d’d dey get t’mberwulves as gurdians?” The bandit leader grumbled under his breath as the pair passed by with their wagon and timberwolf companions close behind.

After exiting the passage Rainbow couldn’t hold it in any more Laughing hysterically she began putting away her scout combat gear along with the necklaces of null. “Mare I bet if it weren’t for the fact that his buddies were there he would’ve pissed himself silly, also how did you know Silversong and Bugbear were already there?” The Rainbow pegasus asked innocently her laughter having died down.

Fluttershy’s smile at Rainbow’s antics immediately began to falter but she caught herself before she let herself slip, thinking quickly she came up with the perfect answer. “Well it’s mostly because we work as a team also I can tell when their nearby just because of the way they move there was no wind yet the bushes were moving as if their was one.” She let loose a really big smile that ‘squeed’.

Rainbow Dash thought over the explanation for half a second before realizing the half-truth of the statement then smiled just as widely as her friend. “Sweet! Thanks for letting me know Fluttershy maybe this time I can actually get some sleep without either of them sneaking up on me.” Rainbow Dash pumped her empty hoof before her then continued. “I can't believe that actually worked though.” after a bit more of laughing they lapsed into silence the hills rolling by Rainbow keeping her patrol closer to the cart and Fluttershy. “Hey Fluttershy?” She finally asked after an hour of silence.

“Yes?”

Rainbow dash fidgeted a little before continuing. “Umm... do you think you could go into town and get the apples sold. I’ll try and befriend Bugbear and Silversong while you’re there. Is that ok?” The flighty pegasus had settled on the ground and started walking alongside the Yellow mare to better hear her answer.

Fluttershy brightened up with joy. “Sure Rainbow that would be ok. as long as you try and befriend them ok otherwise i’m going to be very upset with you.” The butterscotch pegasus warned as she continued her constant pace pulling the wagon up a short hill then halting. Bugbear Immediately rushed forward as Fluttershy stepped out of the loosened harness. Not needing any guidance the timberwolf stepped into the harness and waited for Fluttershy to finish strapping him in when the Kind pegasus finished adjusting the fittings on the harness smiling to the incorrigible creature she waved a hoof for him to start pulling down the path.

Rainbow Dash’s face formed into a clean slate he features neither smiling or frowning as she lapsed into a deep pensive state of thought. ‘What am I getting myself into! I mean how am I supposed to deal with not one but TWO hyperactive timberwolves and not just that but their almost old enough to...’ Rainbow’s eyes widen at the thought, halting mid step she cautiously turned her snout and sniffed at her haunches where the two timberwolves had laid on her, a faint musky smell permeated the air with a hint of honeysuckle, Rainbow's right eye began twitching ever so slightly. ‘How did I get myself into this situation.’ The chromatic maned pegasus mentally facehooved as she caught up with the wagon again; Fluttershy giving her a strange look as she arrived walking alongside Bugbear.

Rainbow Dash shivered, a sickening thought entering her head, she decided she needed to know, silently she shifted back a bit behind Bugbear and took a look at his undercarriage, her right lavender eye twitched at what she saw; the slightly swollen mass of smooth white spruce at the tip of the mahogany bark sheath. ‘For the love of Celestia why did I even... I can’t believe that I... Ughh fine I’ll deal with it when I get to it. Hopefully they don’t do anything stupid while we’re alone.’ Rainbow Dash thought annoyed calming down as her pace settled down to a normal level while she was next to Fluttershy. She even let loose a smirk knowing that she would be able to take care of herself outside of the town with the two rowdy timberwolves. ‘Heh I wonder what they’d feel like inside me... I didn’t just think that.’ She groaned internally as they continued towards Hoofreed.

It was about two hours later when they saw structures from the town of Hoofreed in the distance Fluttershy not taking any chances switched with Silversong taking back the cart and continued towards the town. Nearing the fringes of the town Fluttershy bid her companions good day as they split off into the surrounding plains for the night. As fluttershy entered the small village she couldn’t help but release a cruel but calculated smile at the prospect of her close friend getting even closer to her timberwolf Friends, much closer. while Rainbow searched for a nice place to rest with Silversong and Bugbear where they would not be interrupted or spotted by any of the locals.


Proofread by: janushyde a god amongst us.

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