Cirria trotted through the woods of Everfree Forest happily. Her hand made saddle bags laid across her back, carrying a few books that Twilight gave her. Cirria happily trotted down the path to her mother's house. She wanted to show her parents what she learned from Twilight. However, a small whine stopped her. Cirria looked around nervously. She was told that there were many monsters in Everfree, but most of them stayed away from paths and such. Another whine sounded, but this one was more audible. Its origin sounded like it was in pain, terrible pain. Cirria's fear vanished as her horn emitted a bright gray light. "Hello…?" she asked. A few bushes slightly shook as more painful whines followed. Cirria put her head through the bushes to see the creature. The creature appeared to be a small dog, or a wolf counting with the features. A small star lay on its chest and his fur seemed to have a constellation on it. However, this wolf's front leg seemed snapped in half and several patches of fur missing. It whined and attempted to back away from Cirria.

"What are you?" she asked as she focused on the creature. As she took a step forward, it took a stumbled step back. Cirria stopped so that she wouldn't scare the poor creature. Then, an idea came to mind. "I know; I'll use that creature guide Twilight gave me!" Enveloped in gray magic, a book levitated out of her saddlebags and opened in front of her. Cirria turned each page magically, making sure the book would not hit the dirty ground. "Let's see… Ursa Majors… Hydras… Scorpios… Ah, here we go!" Cirria stopped on a page that had two pictures. One almost matched the wolf in front of her, while the other one looked very menacing. "Lupus Minor…A constellation creature that represents a wolf in form. Unlike the Ursa Major or Minor, being large in size, a Lupus Minor is about the size of an average pony." Cirria looked at the small puppy, who managed to actually stay the entire time. "Well… You don't look that big; you must be REALLY young to be this small." Cirria turned back to the book, "Although smaller in size, the Lupus Minor and Majors make up for it by their increased ferociousness and speed. This creature is extremely dangerous; do not approach it at all costs."

Cirria looked back at the puppy, which seemed to be more afraid of her than anything. She let out a giggle as the book floated back into its saddlebag. The other bag opened, letting out floating bandages and medicine. She gently approached the Lupus Minor, but the small wolf puppy walked back in fear. Cirria kneeled, "It is okay… I won't hurt you." The Lupus Minor still whined in fear, but mostly in pain. Cirria sighed as her gray magic soon enveloped the puppy. Floating in the air was new to the Lupus, but he still was scared. Cirria gently wiped the cuts from his body and placed bandages on them. The final fix was using a splint and several bandages to keep his broken leg straight. After she was done, everything was tucked away back inside her saddlebags and the Lupus Minor placed onto the ground. The small puppy looked at his leg and sniffed it, his small stubby tail wagging from it. Cirria smiled at this gesture and turned to leave. However, whines of sadness followed her as she turned. Facing the Lupus Minor once again, Cirria saw that the wolf puppy was giving her a sad look and whining. When she approached again, the Lupus gave a happy bark and began wagging its tail. Cirria petted its head and the Lupus gave her a few licks on the cheek as a sign of thank you. Cirria smiled but looked around, a puppy by this size shouldn't be alone, let alone injured. Cirria smiled when the idea came to mind, "Hey, would you like to follow me?"

---

Midnight sat with Oracle inside her home. Oracle needed to move a few paintings around to make room for blank canvases, so Midnight was there to lend a hoof. His magic enabled them to move the canvases with ease. A small clattering of hooves signaled Cirria's arrival. She entered only facing her right side to her parents. "Hello mother, hello daddy…" she said.

Midnight turned his head once he set down a few paintings, "Hello Cirria…how was your day with Twilight?"

"It was fine, nothing special, I'm going to the spare room now…"

Oracle approached her, "Hold on dear, what's the rush? Your bag looks heavy, let me…"

Cirria quickly galloped ahead of her, "No thanks, I'm fine, I will see you both later."

Cirria did not notice Midnight and quickly ran into him. "Cirria, is there something your hiding?" A small muffled bark emitted from Cirria's saddlebag. Cirria looked around nervously before she tried to run again. However this time, Midnight had grasp of Cirria's saddlebag. He used his magic to lift whatever was inside her bag. The Lupus Minor whined in fear as he saw Midnight. Midnight did not react, but Oracle quickly hid behind a blank canvas. "MIDNIGHT GET THAT BEAST OUT OF HERE!"

Cirria quickly overcame Midnight's magic and the small wolf puppy was brought to her side. Midnight went over to his love, "Oracle, what's wrong? It's only a puppy…"

Oracle grabbed Midnight's head and brought him in close, "That is NO puppy! It's a LUPUS MINOR! Those beasts are nasty and cruel! They are probably the most dangerous monster in the woods!"

Midnight turned back to Cirria, who was near the puppy. Midnight leapt and landed between the two. His wings spread out and he aimed his main spike at the Lupus Minor. However, Midnight noticed that the puppy had a splint on his leg. Then, the puppy whined in fear and tried to run. However, the splint prevented it from running anywhere. Cirria quickly ran around Midnight and approached the puppy. "Daddy no!" she said, "It's only a baby! I found him in the woods lost and injured. Please let me watch him, at least until he gets better!"

"You can Cirria…"

"But he has a broken leg and…! Wait…what did you say…?"

"Cirria, I am alright with you watching over him."

Oracle quickly galloped from her hiding place, "Midnight, ARE YOU MAD?! That thing is a-!"

"It's a scared and helpless puppy" said Midnight. "He's lost and has no idea where his parents are. You may not understand the sadness and fear that he is experiencing, but…" Midnight looked down, "…but I do…"

Oracle nearly facehoofed once she saw the connection. The puppy was just like Midnight when he was trying to find his place in the world. Cirria went over to comfort him, and to Oracle's surprise, so did the Lupus Minor. He gently cuddled next to Midnight's legs, his stubby furry tail beginning to touch Oracle's hooves. Oracle stepped back slightly, but she had to admit the monster was being cute. Cirria and the puppy both ran to the one room, but Cirria waited for the puppy. Oracle slightly smacked Midnight with her tail, "Midnight, we still need to finish clearing the paintings…"

"Oh admit it… it's cute…"

"A Lupus Minor will grow into nothing but a monster… After all YOU haven't grown up in Everfree…"

Midnight shrugged as his spike returned to its black glow.

---

It was late at night in the Everfree. Everypony in Ponyville was asleep, along with the ones that lived in Everfree. Well, not everything was asleep. Several figures ran through the woods with great speed. The group's shadows now stood at the entrance of Oracle's ruins. One large figure, larger than anypony around, walked in growling. The figure entered the moonlight, revealing its form to be a Lupus Major, a very nasty looking one at that. It entered the room, sniffing the ground. Once the scent hit its nose, it growled viciously. The pack entered the building, knocking down random paintings and supplies.

"Whoever you are you better…" Oracle ran down the hall saying that. But, she stopped once she saw what was inside. The Lupus Major slowly walked to the trembling pony. He sniffed Oracle, looking for a scent. "…Mom…" Oracle and the Lupus Major turned to see Cirria lazily walking down the hall. Cirria's sleepy eyes shot open once she saw the Lupus Major. The Lupus Major only needed a small whiff before he started growling viciously. Cirria bolted back down the hall in fear. The Lupus Major lunged after her, but a green tail knocked him into a wall. "DON'T YOU DARE HARM MY DAUGHTER!" she exclaimed.

A quick bark commanded the rest of the pack to attack. Oracle backed away, keeping her tail out in case one attacked again. Several Lupus Minors began to lunge at her, some managing to bite her body and legs. Oracle continued to defend herself, but her wounds were getting greater by the minute. Her feathers, along with her blood, soon littered the floor.

"ORACLE!"

Several blasts of black energy hit each Lupus Minor. Midnight flew in with all of his spikes glowing. He looked at Oracle, his eyes growing wide. His cutie mark began to flash black. His eyes took on a red glow and the glow from his spikes soon covered his wings as well. He turned to the pack with this display. "HOW DARE YOU?!" he said in a deep and sinister voice. "YOU SHALL PAY FOR HARMING THE ONE I LOVE!"

The pack started to leave, but each of their bodies became surrounded by black magic. They whined in fear as they were brought closer. Midnight laughed an evil chuckle, "You honestly thought that you could run from me. Nothing, nopony, shall run away from me." The magic around them began to shrink and tighten. The Lupus Minors whined in pain as they were painfully squeezed. Midnight smiled evilly, but he did not see Oracle behind him. She was devastated; he was turning into that monster that was in her dreams.

"…M-Midnight! Look at what you're doing!" she exclaimed.

Oracle's voice snapped him back to reality. His eyes ceased their red glow and returned to its calming blue shade pupils. Midnight kept the Lupus Minors in his magic, but he released his pressure. Midnight helped Oracle up as he began to clean her injuries. Oracle gasped and faced Midnight, "There's a Lupus Major in here…and he's after Cirria!" Midnight's eyes began to flash red as well as his cutie mark flashing black.

---

Cirria quickly ran/flew down the hall as fast as she could. The Lupus Major was not running his full extent; he was toying with his prey. Cirria kept running, only having a few candles to illuminate her path. She came into her and Oracle's bedroom. With nowhere to go, Cirria crouched in the corner in fear. The Lupus Major growls seemed like it was laughing. Cirria shivered in fear as the monster stepped closer. That thing was larger than the Princess! Cirria closed her eyes, ready for the worse.

Cirria suddenly heard a series of barks and growls, along with a howl of pain. Cirria opened her eyes and gasped at the sight. The small Lupus Minor was on the Lupus Major's back, biting his ear. The puppy was thrown off and landed with a thud. "Puppy!" shouted Cirria. The Lupus Major looked shocked as well and he approached the Lupus Minor. The small puppy slowly stood up onto his toes. The puppy approached Cirria and licked her cheek. The Lupus Major looked surprised and growled viciously. The Lupus Minor growled back, although his growls were nowhere close to the older ones. Cirria watched as the two wolfs talked to each other. From behind, she could see her father running down fast. Cirria ran around them and hugged her father.

"Daddy, the puppy saved me!" she said.

Midnight's worry was on Cirria, but he paid more attention to the Lupus Major. After the growling stopped, the Lupus Major faced Midnight. The two stared at each other for a while. Then, with a small growl, the Lupus Major left. The small puppy happily ran to Cirria's side and barked. Cirria picked him up while sitting on the ground. Midnight chuckled, "Well Cirria, I hope you know about Lupus Minors, because it seems like this little guy will be your pet…"

Cirria nearly screamed with happiness. The puppy howled in agreement and they happily played a little. Oracle's injuries were healed up, so she joined the trio. She was nervous about the pet idea, but maybe having one on their side would not be so bad. They grow up quickly, so it looks like they have yet another member to the family. "You know Cirria" said Oracle, "If he's going to stay here, he's going to need a name."

Cirria pondered for a few seconds, thinking of a name. Then, the idea hit her. "I have the perfect name, Nova!" The puppy howled in agreement as Cirria continued to play with her. Oracle and Midnight laughed at the site of them playing. "I guess Nova it is" said Midnight.

Author's Notes:

Lupus Minor and Major were created by Pen Stroke Pony