The effect of the Wooden Heart

"How did your lessons went the last days?" Asked Fluttershy him as they sat together for breakfast. A few weeks passed since the lesson with Bright.

Spirit grabbed the bread he made for Bite and gave him a slice of it. "Very good after the lesson with Bright a few other ponies wanted a lesson I even made one with the crusaders. And to Bright, I told her I will let Twilight do a test about my lesson. She did the test last week and I corrected it, she made a few mistakes but overall a very good result!"

Fluttershy sipped at her cup of tea. "Did you gave it back or told her the result by now?"

Spirit also sipped on the tea and gave Bite another slice of the with powder mixed bread. "No not yet I was about to tell her today and with that result I may do another..." Suddenly Bites head went up and Spirit also stopped and listened carefully.

Fluttershy looked worried at them both. "What is it? Is something wrong?" Fluttershy listened for a moment than heard a strange noise.

Spirit quickly stood up. "I have not much time but I think something is going on in the forest, you still have the contact stone, right? I will send you a signal if I need help!" He ran outside followed by Bite. While walking he grabbed his claws and put them on. He also grabbed his contact stone and a phial powder and put them in a small bag on his back.

They both ran deeper and deeper in the forest orientating by the noise they heard. "Bite is it what I think it is?" Bite sniffed shortly then nodded while running. 'These noises doesn't mean anything good!' They both started running even faster.

As the noises started getting louder they slowed down and tired to be quite they searched for something to hide and found some bushes to hide in.

And as they expected they saw a Timberwolf lying on the ground trying to defend himself form someone, Spirit noticed that he was much bigger than a normal Timberwolf. 'He is probably an alpha.' .Spirit looked to the left and saw a group of Griffons, all armed with crossbows. One of them gave commands to the other.

The boss walked a bit left and right. "Hurry! Keep that thing quite! We are wasting much time!" Spirit looked at the Griffon and saw something familiar, he was wearing a red neckerchief. 'This can't be!' He looked at Bite."Bite is that him?" He nodded and growled quietly.

The Griffon spoke again. "Come on we have to bring these monsters away before someone notice us!" As Spirit heard that he turned to Bite and nodded to him. They slowly walked around them, making sure not to be seen, they counted at least ten Griffons and saw a few cages with different animals in them like a Cockatrice with a blindfold, a Cragadile and even a Manticore.

As Spirit saw the Manticore he was able to identify him. 'This is the Manticore from the lesson with Bright. That could be helpful!'

The Timberwolf howled again and the Griffon with the neckerchief shouted. "Just make him quiet! Do I have to do everything here?" He walked to the Griffon and kicked the wolf in the face.

As Bite saw this he instantly jumped to him. "No Bite..." Spirit opened his bag and quickly activated his rune and then quickly followed Bite.

The Griffon seems very surprised and looked at Spirit and Bite. "What? Where do you came from? Wait a second I know you! Didn't we met back in the Zebra lands?"

Spirit and Bite nodded. "Yes we did! And just like back then I don't let you hurt the Timberwolf!"

The Griffon looked angry at them but then quickly calmed down. He started to load his crossbow with a grin on his face. "Don't you remember my words. I told you not to cross my way again! This time there is nopony near to help you and also I am not alone anymore. You there help me with this scum! The other make these cages ready to leave!"

Two other Griffons grabbed their crossbows and aimed at Bite. The boss chuckled. "Now go down maybe than we won't be too hard!"

Spirit thought quickly what to do and got an idea. "Why do you do this, there are just poor animals!"

The boss chuckled again. "Because I can get much money! Do you know how much you can get for the monsters of the Everfree? And also no one would miss them! If my clients wouldn't pay so much they all just be worthless scum!" Spirit used his monologue to went in the direction of the cages but the Griffon stopped him. "No, you stand still! Do you think I am stupid? Now lay down or I will shoot you!"

"Bite I have a plan when I give you the signal you attack the left griffon then go back to the Timberwolf and try to defend him. I get the one on the right side and try to open the cages! "

The boss raised his crossbow. "Go!" Spirit and Bite jumped at them and while Spirit quickly knocked the one Griffon out was Bite already back at the other wolf to defend him. Spirit started to run to the cages on the way he knocked two other Griffons out and as he reached the first cage he looked at the lock. It was made of wood with a bit metal to strength it, Spirit started to attack the lock. But as he did so, he didn't saw that two Griffon approaching from his back with spears.

Just before the Griffons attacked could him warned Bite him and he was able to dodge to the left and kicked them into the cage in result the lock gave up. The Manitcore was free and the boss was raging. "Stop him! Kill him now!" He turned back to Bite with two other griffons and attacked. Meanwhile Spirit send the Manticore a short message. "Please. Help. Open cages!"

The Manticore turned to the other cage and opened them while Spirit guarded him. Spirit did his best to hold the spear fighter away and block the bolt with his claws but in the while doing so he got hit multiple times.

As the Manticore finally opened the last cage, Spirit waved him away and so did the Manticore ran away. Spirit was very exhausted from all the dodging and blocking from bolts but still he reached out with his mind to see that Bite wasn't in much better conditions.

Spirit grabbed all his strengths and ran back to Bite who stood right before the other Timberwolf who seemed to already gave up. Now all the Griffons surrounded him and Bite. The Griffon with the red neckerchief pushed two of them aside and looked angry at Spirit and Bite.

"Do you two know how much this will cost me? I swear I will kill you! And your wooden friend will end as my trophy! Or maybe I sell him, I bet that I can get many bits for him!" He grabbed a knife from his belt and walked over to Spirit who could nearly stand on his hooves.

"Not so fast!" Everyone looked up and they saw Rainbow with a spear in her hooves, followed by Twilight and some guards. Shortly after that Spirit heard a noise from behind the griffons and saw more guards and the rest of his friends.

The guards position themselves around the poachers and pointed with their spears to them. "Surrender! Now!"

The boss of the poachers turned to Spirit his eyes wide opened with much anger in them. "You! This is your fault. I will kill you ,you little...!" He jumped at Spirit with his knife first. Spirit just closed his eyes, waiting to be hit.

Just before the Griffon could reach him, teleported Twilight between them and fired a paralyze bolt at him. The poacher fell down and the other Griffons slowly lowered their weapons and held their claws up.

The guards grabbed their weapons and brought them away. One by one was led away and as the last Griffon was brought away, one of the guards spoke with Twilight then turned away and followed the other guards.

Spirit was lying next to Bite and the other Timberwolf who growled at everyone who came too near except, Spirit and Bite. After the last guard left, Twilight and her friends went over to him. As the Timberwolf saw them he started growling with his last strengths. As Spirit heard the growls he reached for the wolfs mind and tried to calm him.

"Don't come to near! He is afraid enough! How did you all found us so quickly and where did these guards came from?" He was about to stand up but stopped as he felt pain on his side.

"Careful darling, you may hurt yourself!"Rarity was going to help him up but was stopped by the Timberwolf who growled at her.

Twilight stepped a bit forward. "To answer your questions, these guards were following the group of poachers till they reached the forest, where there lost the trails. They came to me and ask for help and if somepony heard or saw something. That was when Fluttershy and Rainbow came to me, Fluttershy showed me the stone and said that you would need help! I followed the magic connection from the stone and with that we found you."

"Thank you! But I need to medicate my wounds. Bite could you help me?" Bite instantly ran over to him and helped him up. Before they went turned Spirit to the other Timberwolf "You should come with me, your core had take some damage I can take care of the it!"

The Timberwolf didn't answered first then and Spirit was about to go as the wolf answered. "I come with you!"

Spirit turned to the others. "Could two of you help to transport the wolf to my tent, the rest should go home, I don't think you can be much help from now."

"But I wanted to throw a Spirit saved the animals party!" Pinkie wanted to continue but Applejack stopped her.

"Ah don't think it is the right time for a party we should let Spirit rest for today!"

Spirit wanted to add something but was too exhausted so he just let Bite carried him away. The other looked at each other and they decided that Fluttershy and Rainbow helped carrying the Timberwolf while the rest walked home. As they arrived at Fluttershys cottage Spirit immediately started to put the white leaves on his wound and bandage them.

As the painkillers started to work he turned to Rainbow. "Thank you but you should go now too! I want to talk with the Timberwolf and that will be much easier if there are less ponies around!"

Rainbow wanted to protest. "But... ok it is your thing but next time call us before running to the bad guys!" She flew of not waiting for an answer.

Spirit turned to the Timberwolf. "So tell me your story!"

Spirit reached out with his aura and created a connection. "I followed you that you can heal my wounds not to tell you my story!"

Spirit rolled with his eyes. "Ok , Fluttershy please go and get a bowl of water." She nodded and came back after a few seconds. "Thank you!" Spirit grabbed a few of the white leaves and a phial of the magic powder and mixed it with the water.

He shoved the bowl to the wolf. "Drink that. It will help you and now tell me what happened!"

He started to drink but didn't let him out of his sight. "You are strange, you helped me, risk your live and it seems that you have a bond with that other Timberwolf."

He smiled to the wolf. "Yes you are right and also he can hear every word you saying or should I say sending?."

The Timberwolf didn't answered, so Spirit decided to introduce himself. "My name is Spirit the Timberwolf is named Bite and the pegasus is named Fluttershy. What is your name and how did you came in this situation?"

"We don't care much about names. But I will tell you what happened before I was caught, I am the alpha of my own pack and we were traveling and searching for food as we were surprised by these Griffons, I saved them by sacrifice myself. I fought long with them but there were too many of them!"

Spirit could fell that he was very proud about that he wanted to ask further but then got an idea. "Was that your first encounter with them?"

"Mine? Yes! But I heard about another pack who was fully killed by them except a few, the cubs, these where kidnap by them and probably sold or killed too but your firend... he was one of them I recognize his type of aura."

He turned to Bite. "You know what that mean that was probably your pack. I am sorry Bite!" Bite first took a few moments then shook his head.

The alpha looked at Bite. "I am sorry for you young one but it seems you already have found a new home." Bite nodded weakly and laid down.

Spirit turned back to the alpha. "So to your wounds they will need a few days to heal so you have a few days to stay then we can help finding your pack!"

"I don't need help I know where they will be and I will only stay here for so long till I can go back!" She alpha drank his bowl completely empty than laid down to sleep.

Spirit stood up and walked to Fluttershy. "He is very weak but I think one or two days while getting the powder should be enough that he can go again. But know I should rest myself so that my wound can heal. If somepony wants to see me tell Bite but don't send them to my tent ,ok?"

Fluttershy nodded. "I can do that for you! What is with Bite shouldn't he rest too?"

"He only got a few scratch but his core wasn't damaged. Maybe he should change his wood but nothing more." With that Spirit turned around and laid down in his tent. It took a few seconds till Fluttershy could hear his snoring.

The next day Spirit woke up in the noon. He stepped out of his tent and saw that Fluttershy, Bite and the alpha eating together.

"Hello everyone! Oh I see you decided not to growl at everypony else except me! Anyway let's see how your wound are going." Spirit closed his eyes and searched for the aura from the alpha and checked his core.

After a while he opened his eyes again. "Your wounds healed much quicker than I thought! Did you gave him a bit of the powder and the white leaves, Fluttershy?"

She nodded. "Yes, I didn't knew if that is ok but he looked like he had much pain! So I made him another bowl of that water. Was that ok?"

He looked at his reserve and saw that he only had one phial left. "It is ok but I think I have to borrow some phials of the powder from Zecora, I don't dare to cut more leaves and blossoms till the plant has produced more! I don't want to kill the plant."

Spirit now turned to the alpha. "So back to you, as far as I see it, you can leave if you want! I give a bottle of the medical water with you. Just drink it if you feel that the pain returns! But I think we should go with you till you reached your pack to be save."

The Timberwolf bowed his head forward with respect. "Thank you for your help. I am in your dept! Maybe I have someday the chance to clear it!"

Spirit turned around and mixed the medical water. Then turned around and held him the bottle out. "No problem!" The Timberwolf bowed again then grabbed the bottle with his mouth and they walked in the forest.

On the way Spirit got an idea. "What do you think of the ponies?"

The alpha thought for some. "I have nothing against them, as long they don't enter our territory without permission!"

Spirit looked at the alpha. "Would you mind if I brought a few ponies to your pack to show how you live?"

The alpha seemed surprised by this. "You would trust us not to kill them? But yes I wouldn't mind it. I think that it would be good to come on better terms with the ponies too."

"How about this, you know the Zebra that lives in the forest? I will send her every time before I will bring somepony to you. So you know that I am coming and you can prepare everything you want!"

The alpha nodded. "That is ok. I still can't believe you trust us this much but it is your decision. I hope I can help you with reaching your goal, that is the least I can do! "

They walked a few minutes silent till the alpha stopped. "We are there."

Suddenly they are surrounded by Timberwolves. They growled at Spirit and Bite but went silent as their alpha stepped forward. He talked with the them and the wolves turned around and let Spirit and Bite alone.

Spirit bowed before the alpha. "I am happy that I met you and I hope that we can create peace between your race and the ponies!" The alpha nodded and walked away. As they were gone, turned Spirit around and he walked back together with Bite.

As they were on the way back, talked Sprit with Bite while walking. "That is a good sign. They will give the ponies at least a chance! Maybe I will do a travel to the pack with the next pony on the list!"

As they were back at the cottage started Spirit to look out for Fluttershy as he found her was she feeding a few squirrels . "Did anything happened while I was asleep?"

"Yes a few ponies came to ask if you are ok and I told them you were asleep!"

Spirit raised an eyebrow. "Did nopnoy saw the other Timberwolf?"

"Yes a few noticed him and wanted to look at him but the first he growled till they left again but after a few he gave up growling. He just laid down and let the ponies check him!"

Spirit was very surprised as he heard this. "Really? That is great my lessons with the ponies seems to work better than I thought!" He rejoiced for a few minutes and as he stopped he looked at the other two. "Anyway I will go visited Zecora to ask her for a few phials and tell her about the progress!"