I slowly scooted backwards, trying to keep quiet and as low as possible so it didn’t spot me as I slowly backed into the cover of the temple structure, shifting to the right side of the opening.

Dee was against the wall on the other side of the opening, holding the spear closely.

“We should fly away,” I hissed to her, “We can make it to the camp from here. We’d have to fly in the dark so no landing until we get there, but we can do it.”

She hesitated and then nodded, “How close is it?” she hissed quietly.

I chanced a glance around the corner before I froze. It was already up the stairs and barely three pony lengths away. It seemed hesitant with the fire but not afraid.

I slowly pulled back and looked across the opening at Dee with wide eyes, quickly shaking my head. That was way closer than I thought it could had gotten that quickly. If it was that fast, it could catch one of us if we tried to fly now!

I tried my best to keep quiet and to keep my breathing under control. Maybe the fire would confuse it’s scent and if it didn’t hear or see us, it’d go away.

Dee kept stock still across from me as we listened to the sound of claws against the stones outside. It was moving around and I could hear it breathing heavily, sniffing at the air.

We’re not here. Go away. Go find somepony else to eat.

My pulse pounded in my ears, seemingly loud enough for it to hear as I did my best to breathe quietly while reading myself to punch the thing in the nose if it tried to enter.

A sound came from outside, claws scraping against stone. It was just outside now… and on our side of the small fire.

A snout poked in through the opening from inside, sniffing the air before it hissed.

Dee yelled and stepped forward, stabbing her spear towards it. I quickly joined in and reared up, punching towards its nose as I let out my best shriek, spreading my wings wide.

The raptoroid took the spear just beneath the neck and shrieked, snapping towards Dee only to get a noseful of hooves from me and it reared back, stepping back and retreating a few steps before it turned back and hissed at us.

I hissed right back, spreading my wings wide and high as I barred my fangs at it before dipping back and picking up a burning branch in my teeth, “Begone!” I commanded it loudly around the branch as I stepped forward.

Dee moved up next to me, jabbing towards it with her spear, “Find something else to eat! We’re not food!” she shouted.

The raptoroid didn’t seem very impressed, it simply backed another couple of steps back and hissed, slowly pacing back and forth as it watched us.

“Do we have enough room to fly?” I asked and waved my burning branch again, hissing at it.

“Depends on how fast it is!” Dee answered and then yelled and jabbed her spear in it’s direction as it seemed to try walking in our direction again.

We couldn’t do this all night and sooner or later it’d get smart about it and figure out how to take us.

I needed to risk some magic. Even if I passed out, if I managed to blast the thing first, it’d be worth it.

I swung my branch again and then flicked my ears.

What was that buzzing sou-

A dark buzzing shape hit the raptoroid in the side like a pony sized wrecking ball, knocking it off its feet and off the stairs, sending them both rolling all the way down to the next plateau.

The shape hissed and snarled as she savagely attacked the creature, biting it’s neck and throat again and again, her hooves clawing slamming down at it.

“Amber!”

I took to the skies and beat my wings hard, flying down towards them.

The raptoroid seemed to regain a bit of it’s composure and twisted to snap towards Amber with it’s razor sharp teeth.

That’s when I hit it straight in the snout with my rear hooves , kicking out as hard as I could as I pulled up from the dive to add to the momentum.

It felt like I tried to kick a solid brick wall, but the raptoroid tumbled backwards in a spray of teeth and a scream.

I landed hard on my back, suddenly completely lacking in any forward momentum, knocking the air from my lungs just in time to see the predator falling backwards off the side of the temple as my horn protested my actions quite sternly as I struggled to get my breath back.

The next thing I saw was changeling as Amber crouched over me, her wings buzzing as she turned and hissed in the direction where the toothy bastard had fallen down.

“...Thanks, Amber,” I managed to choke out as I reached up to pat her side, “You can get off me now.”

What I got back in return was a mix of hisses, growls and ancient changeling. Amber was absolutely pissed, worried and afraid.

I stroked her foreleg and then carefully gathered her into a hug, focusing on my love for Luna and Sunset, as well as my friendship for her specifically.

I glanced over her shoulder at Dee as she looked down at us, motioning with a hoof towards the edge where the predator had fallen down.

Dee nodded and took to the sky, flying a circle and before she landed at the plateau next to use she gave me a nod, “It’s gone.”

I stroked Ambers back gently, “Did you fly the entire way here?” I asked her softly. Lings were nowhere as much distance flyers as ponies. Fifteen kilometers was a serious distance for a changeling, especially if she did it in a single leg.

Amber managed a small nod and pressed closer and I could feel her trembling against me.

I kept petting her, “I’m fine,” I told her quietly, “You’re fine and I’m fine. But we need to get up, okay? And get inside behind the fire if we want to be sure to stay like that. Do you think you can get up for me, Amber?”

She froze for a second before she nodded, “Y-yes sir,” and then she slowly climbed to her hooves.

But she never moved away from my side, staying close to me as if stuck with glue.