Si Lupis Est

The Everfree forest. The name held with fear in the day. Monsters and mysteries were heard from pony to pony about the forest. Most ventured in, only a few returning to tell tales about the mystery forest. Things as cute and as harmless as a butterfly to and fierce and dangerous as a dragon lived in this forest.

Small birds flittered across the trees, giving loud calls to each other, their songs filling the forest. Crickets chirped their nightly harmonies, the forest at peace. Suddenly, a loud yelp of pain stopped everything, while a loud, malformed barking followed after it. Spike panted as he burst through the bushes, large claw marks on his left shoulder, panting louder at each passing moment.

Branches whipped at his naked chest, as he heard the sound of howling slowly getting closer. He bit back a cry of pain as he hit a root, tripping over it, tumbling down a hill, hidden by branches and foliage.

He clutched his ribs, giving a gasp of pain, before looking up, seeing glowing, blue eyes staring back. A growl rose from the bushes, causing Spike to get up, holding his bruised ribs, snarling back, showing his fangs, only to earn a strange, roaring bark back.

He quickly grabbed the closest thing, which was a stick, and threw it, the sound of it hitting flesh and a few pained whines made Spike smile, before the growling returned, now sounding angry. He began to run again, dashing his way through trees and dense forest. His eyes caught a large tree, almost appearing like a mangrove tree, the roots being shown in a sort of cage like structure. He dove to the right, avoiding a blur or fur and some claws, gasping for air, and ducked into the roots, squeezing through them. His lungs screamed for air, his legs burning, the claw marks on his shoulder were bleeding.

He looked around, his breathing now brought down to a quiet level. He strained his ears, only to hear the sounds of the forest, birds chirping, crickets in the background.

He then heard a twig snap to his left, causing him to look, fear filling through his body. His fight or flight instincts kicked in, making him claw around. Feeling a pointed object, then grabbed it, hearing the bushes rustle, before edging himself further back in the cage of roots. Sweat dropped down his body, the salt stinging his wounds, but he ignored the feeling, his eyes scanning the root system and forest beyond.

Suddenly, the thing exploded out of the bushes, springing onto the cage of roots. It's body was too large, making it snarl as it couldn't fit, so it bit and clawed at the roots, causing Spike to edge himself further back. Spikes

It glared at him for a moment, as if to study him. It's ears flattened, it giving a growl, before a distant howl was heard, making Spike cower in fear. It's ears flicked up, making it look around. It raised it's maw, howling into the air, as if responding to the cry. It's ears twisted around, before another howl met it, making it...grin?

It looked down at him, saliva going down it's bottom jaws, waiting a moment, before roaring, striking the cage, causing dirt and pieces of bark to fall onto Spike. He hissed in pain, grabbing his shoulder, trying to shield it from any more dirt. He looked up, seeing the creature open it's jaws a little, the smell of rotten meat to reach Spike, who gagged at the smell.

It suddenly grabbed a nearby branch, attempting to kick the roots. However, it's efforts were in vain, making it roar angrily, then pull the branch out, throwing it a few meters away. The beast started to claw and bite, tearing out the roots Spike's shield, tearing away pieces and flinging them away.

It finally ripped a hole big enough, reaching it's long arm in, snarling and giving barks of anger. It's glowing blue eyes glared at him, clawing and drawing deep gashes into the dirt. It fit it's jaws around another root, pulling more off, roaring at Spike, who realized his cover would not last long, and quickly started to go through pros and cons of any plans he could think up.

Spike clutched onto the rock, praying quietly to every and any Goddess he knew, and even prayed to Discord, hoping this would work. It's claws suddenly planted near his foot, giving him his chance.

He, with the speed of a striking snake, slammed the sharp rock into the creature's claws, making it roar in pain. It attempted to pull it's clawed hand out, only to find the rock stabbed into it and pinned the beast to the dirt.

Spike quickly jumped out, grabbing the torn branch off of the ground, hissing and showing off his fangs. Seeing was stuck, it gave a loud snarl, glaring at him, before raising it's maw, howling into the air. Spike felt a battle cry rise into his throat as he ran towards it, the branch high above his head, ready to strike.

"AHHHHHHHHH!"

---------------------------8 HOURS AGO-----------------

Spike sighed, putting the last book into it's shelf in the massive library. He looked up, seeing the crystal walls holding shelves upon shelves of books, making him smile, proud he had finished reshelving. His stomach growled at him, making him pat the organ in reply. It was mid-afternoon, might as well get lunch.

He stared to slide down the ladder, before landing on his feet. He scratches his green, spikey, messy hair, yawning. He stretched quietly, walking out the door, his stomach growling at him again. He walked through the empty halls, his steel toed boots echoed through the halls, making him feel peace.

His stomach made itself known, making him sigh softly, entering the kitchen. The sounds of rustling metal made him, making him smile, seeing his adoptive sister rummaging through a pantry, her face scrounged up in confusion before turning, smiling at Spike.

"Afternoon." She greeted, causing him to wave a little, scratching his back.

"Making lunch, Twi?"

"Yup. Done with the books?"

"Yup."

"This is weird."

"Indeed."

Spike couldn't help but smile, hugging his adoptive sister close, she gave a light giggle, before patting his head, his emerald green hair spiking back up when her hand was removed.

"So, what do you want for breakfast?"

"So, what are we gonna do today?" The young Spike spoke through the cereal with gems sprinkled in, making his older adoptive sister roll her eyes.

"Well, we still have to go to Applejack and buy some cider, then we have to go to Quills and Sofas," A snort of annoyance was ignored by the older woman, counting off the items on her triple checked list, "then we have to go to Zecora to pick up the potions I asked for, then-"

"I could go to Zecora." Spike spoke, gaining a confused glance from his older sister. "I promised to help her with some potions, take out two things at once."

Twilight opened her mouth to object, but closed it then sighed, looking at the dragon blooded boy. "Just...be careful."

Spike rolled his eyes, taking another bite out of his cereal, "Twilight, it's me. When have I gotten in something I can't handle?"