The King of Glass

The storm didn't let up for the entire night. It was a horrible storm too. When lightning the crash of thunder was almost instant. I was fearful our shelter would crumble with each deafening boom of thunder. I was thankful, sort of, that we didn't die, but we were still cold from the rain and suffocating wind.

Even though we were safe for the most part, we still had to huddle for warmth and Ruby made sure that I wasn't comfortable to get some rest. Aside from Ruby using me as a cold shield, I couldn't help but feel something new. I couldn't quite place it. I was happy that a girl was holding me even though we were two very different races, and slightly sad. The sadness that I felt gave me an idea of who Ruby is truly like or why she is here helping me.

I quickly learned that Ruby was hiding something. Since Ruby and I are trapped in a thunderstorm. I assumed that her parents would come and find her. Especially with her lighthearted personality telling me that she was well cared for, but after a few hours of waiting to see if this was true. Something hard, like a rock, settled in my stomach.

She was alone, no one is here to care for her, no one was coming for her. In the morning, I will set aside my own problems with my memory and help Ruby with her own past. Maybe I will learn something about myself by helping Ruby. "That feels right," I thought with a smile. Having that plan in my mind got rid of the rock in my stomach with ease. Maybe I was something to aspire to? Someone that was a role model to look up to, but those two thoughts didn't sit right in my mind.

"Oh well," I sighed.

"Hey, Winter, wake up!" Ruby ordered by prodding my side with a hoof.

"Go away," I moaned while swiping her hoof away from my side. "I just fell asleep."

"Come on Winter. Let's go exploring!"

"Later."

"Come one," Ruby whined. "You can sleep later."

"It's been later a second ago," I said.

"That doesn't count!"

"Sure it does," I mused.

"No, it doesn't!" Ruby continued to whine. "If you don't get up, I'll jump on you!"

"Jump on me and I will kiss you," I threaten back.

"WHAT!?" shouted Ruby. "No, you won't!"

"Try me," I smiled.

Ruby left me alone after my threat for a moment, only to come back and dump a bucket of water on my face. Shocked from the sudden attack, I woke up to see a cheeky smirking Ruby and the bucket that she used. Fully awake, I raised an unimpressed brow to her to which she responded by telling me that she didn't jump on me thus I can't kiss her with a triumph went pose. Impeccable logic on her part for outsmarting me, but it futile.

As Ruby turned away from me, I jumped on her and pinned her down just long enough to peck her nose with a what I assumed was a griffin kiss and run away.

I ran out of the shack into the forest as fast as possible. I only looked back once while jumping over fallen moss covered trees to see a very red Ruby not too happy with me.

"I'll get you, Winter!" Ruby screamed. "And when I do, I'll make you eat dirt!" I laughed slightly only to run into a bush and get stuck.

"You're not getting away now," spoke a menacing voice from behind whom I assume was only Ruby.

"Crap," I thought as I struggled to break free from the bush only to feel a mouth grab the skin on my neck and yank me back.

"I finally caught you," the angry Ruby said pinning me down on my back.

"Hi Ruby, how are you," I nervously replied hoping that she won't kill me.

"Why did you kiss me!"

Really, that's why she chased me through the forest like a serial killer, just to ask a question!

"Because, erm, you're cute?" I smiled hoping that would get rid of her murder face.

"Do it again and I'll kill you," she blushed letting me go with my life. After being run down by Ruby like an animal. We decided to go to the nearby village called Baltimare for some food.

It didn't take us too long to get to Baltimare, but the trek there was mostly in silence. I tried to talk to Ruby about the things we were going to do in the village, but she remained silent. The aura that was emanating off of her was toxic and very unfriendly. I didn't mean to make her mad at me. I was just trying to be playful.

Ruby lead me out of the forest straight into the village, but once we entered the village my senses went berserk with fear. The large harbor village sitting next to the ocean as Ruby called it was pretty to look at, even though the air of the place was driving me crazy. Most of the houses were small and well decorated, the roads were clean and bustling with activity with ponies going about their day. Pegasi, unicorns and earth ponies were everywhere, but I couldn't see any griffins amongst the organized chaos.

"This way," Ruby said leading me into a fairly clean alley away from the crowd.

"Where are we going?" I asked looking everywhere for the hidden danger hiding within the shadows. Ruby turned around and saw the fear in my eyes, but continued to lead me deeper into the hornets nest.

"Somewhere where we can get food," she replied.

"Can't we get it somewhere else?" I whispered thinking that something was listening to me.

"What's your problem?" Ruby stopped me behind a shop in another alley. "You're acting strange."

"I can't help it," I said looking over her. "Something's wrong with this place and I feel if I get pushed into a corner something bad will happen."

"What do you mean?"

"I..." I said before I stopped and collapsed into convulsions. I clasped my head and whimpered. "I didn't know what's wrong with me! Something is pulling me back to place and if I don't get there. Then I... I... I will go insane!"

"You're scaring me," Ruby said tearing up. "What can I do to help?!"

"R... r... run," I stuttered. "Run and stay away from me."

"I can't just leave you here!"

Before I could reply my eye's went to pinpricks and I stood up.

"Winter?" Ruby ask very concernedly.

"They're going to die!"

"What?" Ruby squeaked backing away from me.

"I will rip them apart and eat their ENTRAILS!" I laughed.