Neverfree 4

"How much further?" Rainbow asked. The Pegasus peeked over her shoulder. The camp fire was no longer visible.

"I don't know," Ash admitted. "I lost count of steps. Still, we should be getting close to these trees."

"Are yah sure we can find 'em without Zecora?" Applejack asked.

"You have these trees on your farm, correct?"

"Well, yeah."

"Then you should be able to tell us what they look like," concluded Ash.

"Guess so. Yah really think Pinkie an' Zecora'll be alright by themselves?"

"They've got a fire. They'll be fine."

"I don't like splitting us up like this," Rainbow said. Applejack nodded in agreement.

"Pinkie's in no condition to be traveling right now," Ash said, "and if she ends up wandering off again, Zecora will be able to find her. If you're going to be worried, direct it toward our direction." Pinkie's stuttering words before they had left had haunted the Unicorn every step of the way.

"B-b-be c-c-ar-e-ful. I-it's a-a-a-a re-al b-ig d-d-o-o-z-y out th-er-e."

"Can you, I don't know, do some light magic?" Rainbow squinted her eyes, trying to look past the shadows of the trees. "It's getting real dark."

"I don't know. The last time I tried a lantern spell, I ended up with a miniature sun. Remember?"

"Why can't yah jus' light yer horn then, like Twilight? Ah think Rarity can do it too."

Ash hesitated. What Applejack suggested sounded simple, just a small illumination spell. While both it and the lantern spell required the conversion of magic energy into light, the lantern spell had the additional difficulty of having to contain the energy in a closed environment. The reason why his bulb of light ended up exploding was because the energy had not been contained or controlled properly.

This time, Ash would not have that extra burden. All he need was the energy, the conversion, and a direction, something much easier to manage.

It was getting harder to see. They needed the light and Ash was having trouble thinking of any harmful risks.

"I'll give it a try."

Ash tilted his head forward, his horn directed right in front of the group. He closed his eyes and before he had even begun concentrating, he could already feel heat radiating from his horn.

Energy's there he mentally noted. Now just got to get li-

Ash flew back, blinded by a giant flash. As he crashed to the ground, he heard a wild yelp.

"Damn it!" he swore, seeing bright lights rather actual shapes and figures. "Applejack! Rainbow Dash!"

"We're fine," came Rainbow's voice. "Whoa, who'da thought there was a timberwolf right in front of us? Nice shot."

"Uh, you're welcome," Ash replied, rubbing at his eyes. His sight was returning slowly.

"Remember what Zecora said though," Applejack said. "If yah end up settin' tha forest on fire..."

"It was an accident." Ash could now see if he squinted really hard. He narrowed his eyelids. It was enough: "Rainbow!" he screamed. "Get away from it! It's still moving!"

"Huh? Whoa!" Rainbow ducked just in time as a charred wooden claw cut through the air above her above, taking strands of blue and green hair.

The wolf snarled. It lifted it's twisted face; half had been burnt away, leaving its jaw in the form of a grotesque grin. From a dark socket, a glowing green light grew narrow as the creature glared at the group of ponies it had been waiting to ambush.

It lunged itself at the group, only to catch nothing but two solid blows with its face.

Applejack winced as the wolf flew off and landed with a loud crack.

"That's gotta hurt," she muttered. "Whew, nevar thought Ah'd ever meet ah tree that pushed back."

"Tree?" Rainbow asked quizzingly.

"Tree, timberwolf, both made outa wood aren' they?"

"Careful, he's getting back up," Ash warned.

The wolf wobbled to its feet. At that height, the creature was already much, much larger than anypony. With a final growl, it leap into the shadows and disappeared.

"Yeah, and don't you come back!" yelled Rainbow Dash. "Whoa!" The Pegasus ducked as something hot brushed her mane. She looked up just in time to see a beam of light hit something solid beneath the cover of darkness. The area was showered with light, revealing a slightly burnt tree under the shadows.

"Did I get him?" Ash asked, his eyelids narrowed.

"Yah need tah be more careful," Applejack chided. "Yah almost toasted Rainbow!"

"Sorry, though I don't think it would have that much damage. That wolf was still standing and it was made out of wood. Hold on." Ash lowered his head. His horn began to glow. The light grew stronger until it like a torch, a touch with a sickly grey flame perhaps but it served its purpose. "There we go."

"Agh, finally." Rainbow tried to stare but the intensity of the light forced her to look away. "That's a pretty boring color. Can you try blue? Or how about red?"

"Light's fine tha way it is," exclaimed Applejack. "It'll be easier tah find them trees. Zap apple trees tend tah be a mite purple...like that one!"

Following Applejack's hoof, Ash directed his beam at a large gnarled tree.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"Hold on. Ah need ah closer look." The orange Earth pony approached the base of the tree, taking care to avoid obstructing the light.

She peeled off a piece of the tree's trunk, crushing part of it into fine powder. She rubbed the sawdust between her hooves, nodding. Applejack brought the remaining piece to her nose and gave it a sniff. Satisfied, she shoved the bark into her mouth. Ash winced as a loud crunch echoed from her mouth.

"Yep," she said between chews. "Definitely it,"

"Well, that was...uh."

"Gross!" Rainbow exclaimed. "Are you really eating tree bark?"

"What? Good fiber," said Applejack, swallowing hard. "Yah should try it some time."

Rainbow made a face. "No way!"

Applejack and Ash laughed as the Pegasus stuck her tongue at them.

"What 'bout you?" Applejack asked Ash, peeling off another piece of bark and offering it to the Unicorn.

"Uh-"

A roaring howl cut through the wind. Ash's eyes widened as a dozen pairs of glowing green eyes dotted the surrounding shadows. As his beam passed over them, the eyes were complimented with large, lean wooden bodies. One caught his attention; its face had been burnt and cracked.

"It's brought its friends!" Ash yelled. "Grab the bark!" The light dimmed to a barely noticeable glow around the Unicorn's horn. Something flew through the air toward the wolves behind the shadows. Instead of a yelp of pain or anger, Ash was awarded with only an irritated growl.

"Hurry!" the Unicorn screamed as the eyes drew closer. More rocks followed the first but it was impossible to keep track of all of the wolves who had spread themselves out and around.

"Got 'em!" Rainbow yelled with a mouthful of bark.

"Get behind me!"

When he was certain that Rainbow and Applejack were close by, Ash gather his energy and spread it around his remaining ammunition. A fast swooshing sound was heard as the rocks rocketed through the air in a revolution around the ponies.

The wolves were now close enough to be seen, their gnarled timber bodies inspiring fear. One young pup foolishly charged at the ponies only to act as proof that the makeshift barrier, while crude, was effective. The monster was caught inside the circuit of missiles like a bird caught in a cyclone for a few seconds before it fell back, colliding with a tree.

"Good thinkin'," said Applejack. "Yah think yah can keep it up while movin forward?"

"Going to...have to...try," Ash said, strained.

As he stepped forward, the shrilled whistles in the air lost intensity as the rocks began to slow down. With sweat dripping down into his coat, Ash attempted to regain control. He took another step and once more the miniature cyclone acting as their barrier lost velocity.

"Rainbow, take my bag. Put the bark inside. We need to make a run for it."

"What? Are you crazy?" Rainbow nearly screamed. "If you think I'm just gonna fly away with you two behind..."

"Ah agree with Rainbow," Applejack said. "If Zecora's right, there's no way we can out run these things."

"If I hit them with a flare, I'll be able to blind them. That'll give us time to escape."

"Can yah do that on command?" Applejack asked. "Yah didn't seem tah have much control last time."

The Unicorn grunted. "I don't need to control. I just need to let the magic loose then we get a blinding flash."

"I don't like it." said Rainbow Dash. She wore a large scowl. "Do you have like, I dunno, charge time or something? We're not leaving you behind."

"Don't worry, I'll be right behind you. Besides..." Ash glared at the enemies in front of him. His eyes shined and his jaw was set with grim determination. "...I've got too much to do to die now.

"Ready?"

Applejack gulped. She glanced over to her friend. Rainbow nodded.

"Whenever you are, sugarcube."

"...NOW!"

The stones rocketed in all directions, catching several wolves off guard. The pack struggled to its feet as a blur of blue flew past followed closely by an orange one. Before they could give chase, a bright flare lit the place, filling the woods with the intensity of a star. As the timberwolves howled in pain, a third streak ran past them.

Ash had forgotten something, however. Wolves, after all, are infamous trackers and hunters not because of their eyes but because of their sense of smell. He did not get far.

The grey Unicorn fell to the floor as something heavy landed on him, almost crushing him. He rolled onto his back and came face to face with a timberwolf's snarl. Drool dripped out between wooden canines.

The creature snapped at it's prey's neck for the kill. With little time to plan and options dwindling, Ash swung his foreleg between his vulnerable neck and the monster's teeth. He cried out as the bone was crushed under the wolf's powerful jaw. Blood trickled down his leg, mixing with the timberwolf's saliva.

With his good leg, Ash struck the wolf in the eye. He felt no satisfying squish where the eyeball would be but it did the trick as the wolf opened it's mouth to yelp in pain. Removing his arm from the creature's maw, Ash maneuvered himself so that his hind legs laid right beneath the wolf's belly. With all the strength he could muster, he kicked. While the wolf did not go flying, it was caught off balance, giving the Unicorn to opportunity to roll away.

He had hobbled a few steps before the wolf had recovered and struck him with its claw. The blow sent the Unicorn into a tree. Ash coughed as he struggled to get up. A bloody gash now cruelly adorned his side.

I can't...not here...

He dragged himself forward.

...They need me...they need my help...I can't...

Ash grunted as the cold forest floor cut at his underbelly.

...Not now...not this time...can't...fail-

The Unicorn's strained cry came out strangled as the timberwolf crushed his windpipe underfoot.

The wolf stood triumphant over its prey now that its struggling had finally ceased. The rest of the pack was in pursuit of this one's companions. Those two would be shared among his brothers and sisters but this one, this one was his and his alone.

The mighty hunter lifted his head to the heavens and howled, declaring his victory. The haunting sound sent shivers down the spines of all other nearby animals. A young jay attempted in vain to comfort her chicks. A group of old voles closed their eyes and shook their heads. The crows called out mournfully to each other. The echoing howl served as reminder, a testimony of the law of the jungle.

Satisfied, the timberwolf turned once again to its meal. Odd, he was most certain he had caught a pony, not the strange creature that laid before him now.

It was certainly larger now and larger meant more meat.The wolf's hunger was greater than its puzzlement and with what may have been a shrug, he sank his teeth into one of the long appendages attached to the torso.

Something latched onto the wolf's neck. He tried to ignore it but whatever it was, it was very uncomfortable, almost suffocating.

A low growl shrank into a pained whine. The crackle of splintering wood resonated throughout the forest.