The Mare and the Wolf

Conflict

The strong kick sent Winter crashing into the the wooden floor with a sore jaw; looking up, he saw the orange earthpony glaring him with an crazed look in her eyes.

"What the hay are ya doin' here, ya bastard?" She shouted with a fearless voice most ponies would not dare to use in front of a potential predator "Ya think ya can come here and eat my friend? I’ll kill ya!"

Winter had seen a lot of angry ponies in his life; at least they tried to look angry to conceal their fear, while the angry mobs chased him into the woods. Except when he would let a loud growl and they would run for their lives. This particular pony, however, went from seeing him to attack him without skipping a beat.

The wolf got up has quickly as his wounds permitted, preparing himself to dodge a second buck, or at least try to. Luckily for his snout, the angered earthpony was being held back by Fluttershy. Winter then turned to the pegasus "Friend of yours, huh? She has a lovely personality." He jested, thinking a bit of humor was the best way calm his nerves with the situation at paw.

Fluttershy, however, was too occupied with trying keep her enraged friend away from her visitor to even understand the sarcasm in the wolf's voice.

"I know she does." the animal caretaker noted before turning to the orange pony "Please Applejack, calm down he's not trying to eat me. He's just staying here for a while until his injuries heal."

Applejack stopped trying to get pass the pegasus, but didn’t leave her aggressive posture not did she take her angry eyes of Winter while she replied "Fluttershy, it's one thing ta take care of a bird, mouse or rabbit, but takin' in a blood-thirsty wolf is WAY too dangerous. He'll kill you in yer sleep!!"

"He would never do that, would you, Winter?"

"Like I said, I don't kill ponies." He was tired of being treated as a monster and was clearly trying his best to show Applejack that he wasn't the cold-blooded murderer everypony thought every wolf was, even with his temper beginning to get the best of him.

"So what, you're some kind of cuddly, veggie eatin' puppy, huh?" Applejack was pushing her luck, and Winter's patience wasn't exactly at its peak, at the moment.

"No, I do eat meat, bu…"

He was cut off by yet another shout from Applejack "Haha, ah knew it, ya filthy verm…"

It was his turn to interrupt "BUT, the flesh I eat is from other predators, foxes, or wild cats. Wolves don’t kill anything that can’t fight back." He proceeded after raising his voice to a more threatening one.

"Liar! How do ah know ya won't bite ma head off the moment ah turn ma back?"

"In case you haven't noticed, I'm not in the best condition to kill pretty much anything." Only then did Applejack noticed the bloodstained bandages on him, and seemed to calm down, even if just a small bit, as she turned to her yellow friend.

"What were ya thinkin', bringin' him to yer house?"

"He was really hurt, I couldn't just leave him there." She gave her a caring and innocent look, which Applejack was already more than accustomed to.

"And what about Angel Bunny and the rest of yer pets? How are ya goin' ta take care of 'em with him around, they'll be too scared ta even come near this house."

"Oh I'm sure they won't be like that. Look, Angel is already getting out!" She pointed a hoof to the shaking white bunny.

The second Winter turned his gaze, Angel let out a squeak and ran for his life towards the nearest hole., but has stopped by a pair yellow hoofs picking him up into the air.

"Now, now Angel, say hello to our guest." Fluttershy carried him across the room until he was face to face with Winter, who gave him an uncaring look. He didn't care if the bunny was scared of him, that concern had disappeared a long time ago. And all it took was a simple exhale to make the small creature faint.

"Ya'll were sayin'?"

"She actually has a point, Fluttershy. Maybe I should just stay outside, or you won't be able to care for them properly."

"No, stay here, please… I'll just feed them outside, it's really no problem at all." Fluttershy replied as she put Angel down, who ran back to his hole.

"Look Fluttershy, ah know ya can't leave a hurt animal alone, but ah think ya should just let him go back to the forest, where he belongs."

By now Winter was starting to get sick of Applejack's attitude "Who the hell do you think you are to say where I belong?!" Normally, he would just let comments like this one slide, but the mare was seriously starting to test the limits of his patience.

The cowgirl pushed her forehead into his, locking each other into an angry stare "Don't you talk ta me like that, ya rowdy bastard."

"Well, you're one to talk. You think you can just storm in here, and instantly start acting like you own the place?"

While the two angry faces pushed each other, teeth grinding, Fluttershy was becoming more and more consumed by the stress of seeing two friends going at each other's throats.

Suddenly, she reached her peak, at yelled at a tone far louder than any that even Applejack had ever witnessed, and her front hoofs covering her eyes.

"STOP IT!!"

The two stared at her, heads still touching, and Applejack's jaw barely hanging.

"Yikes!" they muttered in monotone at the same time, this would have reminded them of each other and made them argue again, had it not been for Fluttershy's sobbing.

"J…just stop it, please. I ca… I can't ta...take it. Please." Tears ran through her face and onto the floor. Neither Winter or Applejack had ever seen her in such state.

"Calm down Sugercube, I'm sorry ya had ta see that, it won't happen again, will it now?" She turned to Winter, who nodded in agreement.

"P…Promise?"

"Cross ma heart and hope ta fly, stick a cupcake in ma eye."

Winter looked at the orange mare, puzzled "What the…"

"It's a Pinkie promise." She replied

"Don't worry, I'll explain everything later."

"All right, I promise." He wasn't one to make promises just like that, but he couldn't resist the sad image of her newest, closest friend crying because of a stupid discussion.

"Fine..." She with a hollow voice and turned to Fluttershy "Now, about Winona…"

"Oh… I forgot, yes I'll see the poor thing. Can you stay here while I go help her, Winter? If you wouldn't mind, of course?"

He pointed to his bandages "I think that's pretty much all I can do right now."

"Oh.. I forgot… I'm sorry, I…"

"It's ok"

"All right, I'll just leave some fruit here for you."

The wolf thanked her with a smile that showed the least teeth he could.

As the two ponies walked out of the cottage, Applejack turned her head around and mouthed "Ah've got ma eye on ya!" with a gaze of disdain.

"Hugh!" he muttered with a loud sigh escaping his mouth, and a frown in his face.