Exalt in Equestria

My eyes shot open; I could feel that I was alive. I desperately needed to know just how bad my injuries were. Sitting up, I checked my body for any wounds or broken bones. Nothing. I slowly got up; sore, but fine overall. I felt behind me; I was still wearing my pack. I removed it and set it on the ground in front of me. I checked and double-checked that I had the same amount of tomes and medicine that I could remember since I had last restocked. I checked my two swords, a Levin and a Killing Edge. I only used a sword if I couldn't reach my tomes. One of which, namely a Thunder tome, I took out for protection. I finally looked up and around, replacing my pack. I was in some kind of forest,but these woods seemed unfamiliar. Chrom's campaign throughout the world had brought me to many forests, but this place was completely unrecognizable.

"Hello?" I called out. "Chrom? Frederick?" Maybe the explosion blew me a distance away from camp? I doubt they would leave without me. I waited a minute for a response, then started walking around. Looking up, I saw the sun. How long was I out? I thought. It's bright, meaning it's still morning, and it doesn't seem anywhere close to its peak. I assumed I had enough time to regroup with them in time.

I began walking North, in correspondence with the Sun's trajectory. Minutes passed until I heard moving water. A river, maybe? I didn't know how rare fresh water would be in this area. Plus, it's common for villages to be built close to one. I set out to find the river when I hear a rustling in the bushes near me. I turn to it, hand raised and tome opened, ready to a spell if need be. What I didn't expect to see was Lucina to emerge, Falchion in hard.

"Luke?" Her eyes went wide the moment they met mine. She rushed forward to embrace me, which I welcomed. "I'm so glad you're unharmed!" I held her for a few more second before she pulled away.

"I'm glad you're doing okay, too, Lucina." I reciprocate. "Would you happen to know where we are?" She shook her head.

"I don't recognize this region." Lucina added. "And we have no map to help us."

"Damn." I cursed under my breath.

"There is a village close by, though." My wife spoke up. I looked to her with raised eyebrows. She pointed northward, where I originally planned heading. With enough scrutiny, I could make out thin plumes of white smoke, indicating a village. "We could get there in a few hours." I nodded, silently agreeing with her plan. We didn't exactly have any other choice. "That is, if we start moving now." She shot me a glare, I was still just standing stock-still. She sighed and started moving in the direction of the smoke.

"Y-yes ma'am!" I shook my head to wake up and followed her. She's small, but can still pack a punch; I wouldn't want to get on her bad side again anytime soon. "Lucina, wait up!" I jogged after her.

~~~~~~

"Do you think we're nearly there?" Lucina asked, obviously out of breath. We sat under a large tree, thankful for the canopy; the sun was in its peak in the sky, the heat was getting unbearable.

"I do hope so," I answer hopefully. "Last I checked, those smoke plumes seemed to be closer. "We should reach that town within a couple of hours." Lucina nodded in understanding. "Ready to continue?" I ask. In response, she stands and looks to me, giving me her hand. I take it and rise. I smile in thanks then we continue our walk. However, our positive thinking wouldn't last for long.

Grrrrrr A loud growl cut our silence, causing the both of us to draw our weapons. Out of nowhere, two wolves popped out of the brush. After merely a moment of observation, I could tell that these weren't normal wolves. Their eyes glowed a sinister green, and their bodies were comprised of fallen branches and and leaves.

"What sort of sorcery...?" I heard Lucina mumble under her breath. I guess she noticed it too. It wasn't long until we moved forward towards the wolves, an attempt to scare them off. These wooden wolves acted as expected, splitting up to circle around us. Lucina and I now stood back to back. Her Falchion was steady in her hands, its point following her opponent, while I kept my hand raised at mine. There was a minute of silence. "Any ideas, Luke?" I heard Lucina whisper.

"We obviously have the reach advantage here, we just have to wait for an opening." I answered. I stood patiently, and the wolf pounced as predicted. "Thunder!" I call out, and the spell hit the monster right in its face, sending it flying back and exploding upon impact with a tree trunk. I turned to see Lucina already finished with her enemy, the latter had been reduced to a pile of twigs at her feet.

"That was a quaint distraction." She spoke up. "I've never even seen these kind of wolves before."

"They could be a new Risen." I offer, but Lucina shook her head.

"No," She replied as Falchion was sheathed. "These eyes were green, not red."

"I guess it would make sense." I agree, then take a quick look around at our surroundings. "Let's get to town before we attract more." Lucina nodded, checking the ground for any forgotten belongings. Once that was done, we continued walking.

"Do you think anyone else from the group was sent here?" Lucina asked.

"I hope not, yet I hope so." I answered. "We could use their help if they also appeared here, but then I hope they haven't met a fate by creatures worse than those wolves."

"I see what you mean." Lucina said. "I do hope it isn't the latter." She stopped at my side; we've come to the edge of the forest.

"That's weird," I thought aloud. "I though this forest would go on for longer." I could see the town more clearly now, and it was more of a small village. "I can see the town clearly though. Not that far of a walk- WHAT IS THAT?" I point to something in the sky above the town.

"Where?" Lucina asked, trying to follow my finder. "That thing in the sky? Probably a bird, Luke."

"I don't think so," I reply. "It's going way too fast to be a bird. Maybe someone is on a pegasus over there?"

"Then that means that village could have pegasus soldiers as well, Luke." Lucina added. I contemplated that thought. We had Sumia and Cordelia as our group's pegasus riders, but we have also seen the enemy do the same thing. "Not all villages are friendly, dear husband." She added, patting me on the head. I scowled at the unwelcome action. I still agreed with her statement, though I was hoping for friendlies.

"We should get closer then," I said. "So we can figure out who these villagers are."

"Agreed." Lucina nodded, keeping a hand closer to Falchion. "Let's get going then."