The day started off pretty good. Applejack and her older brother Big Mac were going for a walk around the orchard with their Ma and Pa. They left AppleBloom at home though since she was only about a month old. Applejack was having fun racing her Pa through the tree's, trying to win. She ran faster and faster, until she could not see her Pa anymore. That did not worry her at all though, because that must've meant she won. But as Applejack continued walking, she reached the edge of the orchard, which was right in front of the Everfree Forest. Applejack, suddenly fearful, slowly backed away from the woods. She had been told stories about those woods, and the beasts called Timberwolves that lurked in there. As soon as she thought of the Timberwolves, Applejack started backing up faster and faster away from the woods. She didn't stop until she felt something lift her up into the air, causing her to scream!
Soon after she started screaming, though, she heard her Pa laughing. Applejack realized that it was her Pa lifting her up, and shakily laughed as well. Her Pa, still laughing, put her down on his back.
"Ya done a good job beatin' me in th' race, pal!" He congratulated. Applejack beamed, grinning from ear-to-ear from her Pa's praise. He continued though, saying:
"But I think we oughta be headin' back now. It's startin' ta hit dark, and we're a tad too close ta the woods." Applejack agreed, wanting to get as far away from the woods as she could. Those woods scared her a lot more than she was willing to admit. Applejack continued to ride on her Pa's back as he slowly trotted down the orchard, joking around and laughing with Applejack. Suddenly though, her Pa stopped, sniffed the air, than had a look of pure fright Applejack had never seen on her Pa's face. He took her off his back, than said to Applejack:
"Run". The look on her Pa's face was enough to scare the hayseed out of her, but she wanted to know why she had to run. Just as she was about to ask, a sickening smell overtook Applejack, causing her to nearly vomit. And with it came the one beast she was afraid of most of all. A TimberWolf!!! "RUN!!!!" Her Pa yelled, as the beast came charging forward. No sooner than he had said that however, did her Pa lift Applejack onto his back. He ran, faster than Applejack had ever known her Pa to run. Eventually, they had almost reached Big Mac and Applejack's Ma. Her Pa, instead of continuing to run, stopped and set Applejack down. He looked her straight in the eye and told her this:
"Ah love you, an' ah need ye ta take yer older brother and yer Mama back ta th' farm. Take care of yer sister and granny, y'hear?" Applejack was puzzled. Wasn't Pa coming to?
"What 'bout you?" She asked. Her Pa looked away.
"Ah need ta take car o' that Timberwolf. But ah need ye ta run, and under no circumstance can ye let yer Ma follow me. Okay? Ah love ye." He said. Applejack gulped and nodded, tears streaming down her face. As young as she was, she understood what was going on. She hugged her Pa and told him she loved him, before running away, tears still streaming down her face.
When she reached her Ma, she hugged her and said what happened.
"It's mah fault, Mama! Ah went too far!" She exclaimed. But, to Applejack's surprise, her Ma shook her head and said:
"It's not yer fault sugarcube. It's that darn TimberWolf. Now, ah want you and Big Max ta go inside and stay there." She told Applejack. Applejack refused.
"NO Mama! Pa said that ye can't go! What if somethin' happens ta ye! " she exclaimed.
"Ah'll be okay, sugar. Now, go inside with yer brother." Applejack tried to say no again, but her Ma stopped her, saying: "Now! Please!" Applejack wholeheartedly did not want to, but she also didn't want to disappoint her Mama. She hesitated, before hugging her Mama and running inside the house with Big Mac.
When Applejack and Big Mac walked into the house, they were greeted by an oblivious Granny Smith.
"Howdy! Where's yer Ma and Pa?" She asked. But when Granny Smith saw the look on their faces, especially Applejack's face, she realized what happened. Tears came to her eyes and she hugged both of them, saying that she was so, so sorry. Big Mac just hung his head, trying not to cry. But when Applejack hugged him, he was crying like the rest of them. After a while, no one really knows how long, they heard a dreadful roar that startled them all, before hearing the TimberWolf leave. Granny Smith immediately got up and walked out the door.
"Granny!!" Applejack helped, hoping that Granny wasn't going to leave. Granny looked at her, offering a sad smile.
"Ah'll be okay, child." She said. When Applejack tried tore butte again, Granny just repeated the same thing again. Applejack then looked to her older brother. He hugged her, as Granny left to see what had happened.
After a long time, which felt like an eternity to Applejack and Big Mac, Granny Smith came back, head hung and holding a brown object. It was her Pa's Stetson hat. Applejack had to gulp back more tears. She did not want to cry. When Granny Smith came into the house, she looked at both children. Hugging Big Mac with one hoof, she put the Stetson on Applejack's head.
"He woulda wanted ye ta keep it." She explained. Applejack hung her head low, breathing in the sent of her Pa's hat. She started crying again, unable to keep it in anymore. "Oh, c'mere ye poor child." Granny Smith said, pulling Applejack into the hug with her hoof. They stayed like that for a long time.
