Blaidd Cave: A Wolf Adventure

Zolziac, though, did not have a pleasant dream. He was running, but he didn't know from what. Something, or somepony was chasing him along a desert plain. Suddenly, out of the swirling sandstorm, came a familiar voice...

"Zolziac!" It called. It was his grandmother... No it was Applejack... No it was Rainbow Dash... No it was...

Zolziac paused. He pricked his ears up in order to hear the voice better... It couldn't be... It was... It was indeed Rainbow Dash. But what did she want? What did she need? What was she calling him for?

Suddenly, out of the sand, came the black, red eyed phantoms of two wolves. Zolziac gasped. It was Harinka and Shamak. The former members of the Everfree pack... Which he had killed.

The phantoms of Shamak and Harinka, started to run for him. They wanted revenge! They were the reason that Rainbow Dash was calling him. Then he heard he again.

"Zolziac! Run!"

Zolziac didn't need to be told twice. He ran as fast as he could, but the black phantoms kept up with him. He ran and ran and ran. His legs started aching, but he had to keep running.

Suddenly he felt a stinging agony in his paw. The same paw that he had injured on the night that both of them had died. Zolziac didn't want to see anymore. He heard his name called again and again... It was Rainbow Dash... It was Shamak... It was Harinka... It was... It was...

"ZOLZIAC! WAKE UP!"

It was Applejack. She had thrown a bucket of cold water over him to get him out of his bed.

"W... What's the matter?" he asked

"You were havin' a naghtmare" Applejack said "Scrambling around like a worm in a basket o' apples"

Zolziac got up and shook off all the water... All over Applejack.

"Any more Zolziac?" asked Applejack, dripping wet.

"Oh sorry Applejack" Zolziac said quickly

Applejack looked at him.

"There's no need to apologize sugarcube" she winked

The town was busier than ever that day. Ponies bustled from shop to shop, buying and selling different things. They had gotten slightly used to having a wolf in their town by now, but Zolziac still felt out of place. He trotted around the town looking for what was on the funny little list he held in his paw.

"Okay" he murmured "We need 8 apples, 2 berries and a cup of flour"

"Pinkie Pie!" Applebloom cried. Both her and Zolziac had saddle bags on.

Zolziac packed the list away.

"Looks like a visit to Pinkie Pie's is in order" he smiled "Fancy a lift?"

Applebloom looked delighted

"Yes please" she beamed. Zolziac picked her up and placed her on his back.

"Hold tight" he said.

Sugar cube corner was not far from the town square. Pinkie Pie was serving up guests as usual, but she'd been rather bothered lately. Work in the cake shop had grown increasingly boring, and she needed something to lighten the mood.

Zolziac then strode in through the double doors with Applebloom giggling on his back. Zolziac suddenly felt everypony's eyes fall on him. Well it was hardly usual that a large brown wolf with a saddle bag and filly on his back, strode into a cake shop.

"Zolziac! Applebloom!" Pinkie cried, overjoyed "Finally, something that I can smile for"

"Hi Pinkie!" called Applebloom

"Could you help us with this list?" Zolziac smiled, handing Pinkie the list that he had been given.

"8 apples, 2 berries and 1 cup of flour coming right up!" she flew into the kitchen, and Zolziac and Applebloom exchanged glances as the unmistakable sound of smashing glass and crashing pots was heard.

"Aha!" came the voice and Pinkie strode out with a big paper bag.

"Thanks" said Applebloom "come on then Zolziac"

Zolziac turned to leave, but he suddenly saw a large, grey shape fly past the door. It was only there for a few split seconds, but Zolziac knew what he had seen... It was another wolf!

"Huh?" he exclaimed out loud.

"What is it?" Applebloom asked, finally lifting her head out from the paper bag.

Zolziac just stood there. Watching the door. He was sure it was a wolf. It couldn't have been anything else. He picked up Applebloom and placed her gently on the ground.

"You can find your own way home right?" he asked

"Sure" Applebloom said, confused "Why? Where are you going?"

"I think" Zolziac said "I just saw another wolf"

"Another wolf?" Applebloom cried "What's another wolf doing here?"

"I'll soon find out" said Zolziac as he charged out the doors.

He sniffed the ground. If a wolf had been there, he'd be able to track it. He smelt the baker, the barber, Twilight Sparkle, two ponies, a mule and.... A Wolf.

"Finally" Zolziac said quietly. He began to follow the trail.

Zolziac sniffed along the streets of Ponyville. He had hardly gone a few metres, when he suddenly hit a market stall. It was a shoemaker, and he didn't seem pleased that a wolf had just bumped into his cart.

"Hey. What do you think you are doing?" he said in an Italian accent.

"Sorry" said Zolziac "I was just wondering if you'd seen a wolf anywhere?"

"The only member of the canine family I've seen today" said the shoemaker "Is the disastrous mutt stood in front of me right now"

Zolziac's ears dropped, and he hung his head low. As he was plodding slowly home, he heard the other ponies whispering as they walked past. They said things like...

"How on earth does that wolf survive here?"

"Tee hee hee, he looks like a great furry mattress!"

"Applejack must've made a terrible mistake!"

"I don't see why he came here. He clearly doesn't belong here"

Zolziac dragged his dropped tail up the hill to Sweet Apple Acres. Winona greeted him warmly, she bounced off, grabbed a stick and desperately wanted Zolziac to play with her. She got a nasty shock when Zolziac plodded past.

He went into the barn, crept up to the rug by the fireplace, and lay down without even looking at Applejack, who was by the door.

"Everythin' okay sugar cube?" she asked, slowly shutting the door.

She walked up to him and gently stroked him. Zolziac hated to admit it, but it did feel soothing. Especially on a woolly rug in front of the crackling fireplace.

"Anythin' happen in town today?" she asked. For a moment, Zolziac said nothing. He then sighed heavily.

"Do you think I belong here?" he asked softly.

"What makes you ask that?" Applejack asked "of course you do"

"You don't mind" said Zolziac "You see me everyday. But for ponies from Canterlot or other parts of Equestria. Seeing a wolf is the height of their fears. I... I..." he paused "I just wish I knew more wolves"

"Zolziac" said Applejack soothingly "We're your family. We're your pack. Who needs a pack when you have us mane six"

Applejack got up and began to ascend the stairs.

"Are you coming up to bed?" she asked. Zolziac just curled up next to the fireplace.

Applejack's words had affected Zolziac far more than she realised. Zolziac was awake for about an hour afterwards, tossing and turning over Applejack's words. While he thought, the ponies remarks kept flying round and round his head. Eventually though, he drifted off to sleep............ completely unaware of the adventure to come.