Wispy Echos

The ground rumbled, tree rustled, and fear clenched tight on a lone bat pony mare in the forest. Whatever was heading her way was big, and she didn't want to face it, but she was unable to move, her fear cementing her to the ground. The monster drew ever closer. As it finally came into view, the mare could only stare at it, as if doing so would make it leave. The monster roared and went in for the kill. It's jaws clamped down on the mare for little more than a second before she cried out.

"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!" Wisp cried out as her eyes shot open and she bolted upright.

She looked around to see that she wasn't being eaten. She saw rock all around her. The cold, damp air in her new residence informed her that she was in a cave. She blinked a few times, trying to regain control of her breathing. When she looked to her left, she noticed what looked like a makeshift bed, but with nopony laying on it. There was also a small campfire that had long since burned out in between her and the empty bed. As her breathing normalized, her thoughts began to register her surroundings. She wasn't alone, that much was painfully obvious, but not knowing where the other being was scared her to death.

"Finally awake, are we?" Came a voice from behind her, causing the poor mare to jump, "Easy there, I'm not going to hurt you unless you give me a reason to".

"Who are you?" Wisp asked, spreading her wings in a threatening manner.

"I am the one who gave you a place to sleep last night," The pony said, relighting the campfire, "Strange, though, I never expected a bat pony to sleep so well at night".

"Well, I appreciate that," Wisp said, dropping her pose but not her guard.

"Tell me, how does a bat pony like you end up in this canyon?" The strange pony asked, And for that matter, since when do bat ponies sleep at night?".

"I was almost hydra food last night. I tried to take off into the air when I reached the cliff, but was struck by one of the heads just as I lifted into the air," Wisp explained, "I've never been more happy to be forced to swim".

"Ah, I see," The strange pony said, levitating over an apple, "I'm sure you're hungry, so here you go".

Wisp stared at the apple now laying in front of her hooves. Fruit was something she was unused to eating.

"I'm sorry, but I'm not a fruit bat," Wisp said, pushing the apple away.

"You're not vampiric are you?" The strange pony asked cautiously, lighting up his horn.

"Not at all, I swear," Wisp said defensively, "I just don't eat fruit".

"You'd better not be," The strange pony said, turning his horn off.

"So uh... my name is Wisp," Wisp said, hoping to gain some trust, "What's yours?".

"Thunder Dasher," The strange pony said, "Though, you can just call me Thunder if you want".

"Ok, Thunder, what are you doing in the canyon?" Wisp asked.

"My wing isn't in the best of conditions at the moment, and I'm afraid I have no knowledge of medicinal magic," Thunder said.

"But why are you down here in the first place?" Wisp asked.

"I was tracking a contract, and I wasn't watching where I was stepping," Thunder said, "Before I knew it, I was tumbling down the canyon wall. When I landed, I did so up top of my now injured wing. I never learned how to safely teleport, my mentor did not think it necessary, so I can't really get out of here right now".

The two ponies sat there in silence for a short while. Thunder ate while Wisp thought. Wisp decided to be the first to break the silence with yet another question.

"Why help me?" Wisp asked, "I'm very grateful, but confused as well".

"I may be a mercenary-" Thunder started to say before he was cut off as Wisp's wings flew up and she regained her threatening stance from earlier.

"You're a sell sword?" Wisp asked with a low growl.

"Not at all," Thunder said, "I have morals, believe it or not. I helped you because it was simply the right thing to do".

Wisp stayed silent, but stayed on alert.

"If you wish to fly away, you have functional wings, and I won't try to stop you," Thunder said, "I would, however, like some company for at least a short while longer. Trust me, if I wanted you dead, I'd have killed you whilst you slept".

"You expect me to believe that you only want my company?" Wisp asked, still on alert.

"It gets quite lonely in a canyon after about a week," Thunder said, tossing the core of his apple away, "And, unlike most mercenaries, I prefer the company of others to solitude".

He seemed genuine enough, but it could also be a ruse. Wisp simply sat down, keeping her wings spread should she need to dart away at any second. She refused to take her eyes off the pony in front of her.

"I understand why you do not wish to trust me, and I do not fault you for it either," Thunder said, "However, we can't be friends if there is distrust among us. Tell me what I need to do to earn your trust, and I shall do it... well, provided I am capable of doing so".

The first actual day that Wisp would live through was about to turn interesting.

"You want my trust, huh?" Wisp asked, "You up for helping me get revenge on a home destroying hydra?".