Broken Howls and Tattered Leaves

WARNING: This chapter contains A LOT of exposition... You have been warned.

Ow...

My head was pulsing and pounding and my entire body was stiff. I kinda expected it after being forcibly removed from my own reality, but I didn't think it would feel this bad. Not that I have a frame of reference for being pulled apart and being pieced together somewhere else, but you just have to wonder about it sometimes. I could hear a faint whispering in my head. It sounded more like wind blowing through a tree's branches than actual whispering, but I could have sworn I heard faint voices inside it. I opened my eyes to try and find the source of the mental intrusion and was extremely surprised to find out that I could see out of my right eye. All I could see around me were very tall trees and tick foliage that could probably be hiding some predator waiting to jump out and eat me.

Just my luck. I get sent to another world and I end up in a fucking hostile rainforest. Scents washed over me as I realized that I had been holding my breath. I could smell the fresh scent of a recent shower that probably just finished not to long ago and countless flowering plants and different animals that seemed to get farther away from me with each passing moment. I took another sniff and found that I smelled like cedar. After regaining my composure from all the information my nose had sent to my brain, I tried to stand. I found that such a feat was much harder than it sounded. From the feel of my legs, I could tell that I was no longer bipedal and it took me a few minutes to get used to walking on all fours. My greatest surprise was when I decided to check out my new form.

I was made of countless reddish branches and pine needles. My tail swished into view and I noted that it was actually a vine covered in longer needles. You could say that I started to panic. I found a large flower that held a nice sized pool of water and I looked into it to confirm my fears. The face that looked back at me in the aquatic mirror was definitely lupine in shape, but was made of more branches that contorted when I changed my own expression. I opened my mouth to reveal a folded vine that I could only guess was my new tounge behind the rows of large thorns that made up my teeth. My eyes themselves were a solid gold that seemed to glow in surprise and horror…

….I was a fucking Timber Wolf.

I tried to scream, but all that came out was a strangled howl that almost sounded like I was gargling Listerine. I quickly covered my wooden muzzle with my equally wooden paws. I could hear more howls answer mine in the distance that drew nearer as I looked around frantically for cover. The trees seemed to grow excited as my fellow Timber Wolves drew closer. They were practically right behind the large bushes. The first Timber Wolf to appear was much larger than me. If I could estimate his size then I would say that he was the same size as Celestia, and that made me around the size of Big Mac. He seemed to be made of a darker oak and had broad leaves on his tail. Several more Wolves appeared behind him; they were all made of different woods and leaves and were almost the same size as he was. The first one cocked his head to the side as he looked me over.

You look like us, but do not feel like one of us. I could hear his deep baritone voice ringing in my head much like the voices of the trees that I could still hear around me. His muzzle didn’t move at all as he continued. What is your name pup?

I sat there slightly dumbstruck, which was quickly fading away. I was strangely getting used to all the crazy around me. I tried to reply, but the only noise I could make were barks and whines. The large Timber Wolf face pawed and the others let out a collective, raspy laugh. I could feel the branches that made up my cheeks redden even further.

You are indeed are a strange one. Even the youngest of pups knows how to think to communicate. He said condescendingly.

I placed my paw over my face and replied. Ah, that makes more sense than trying to do this the old fashioned way. I thought for a few seconds trying to come up with a good name for myself. I didn’t want to give them my real name as it would probably seem weird to them. Since they were made of wood and other plant materials, I decided to go for a name that had to do with flora. My name is… Twig.. leaf… Yeah, my name is Twigleaf. Since I told you my name, wouldn’t it be fair for you to give me yours?

He considered me for a moment and said. I guess it would be for the best Twigleaf. My name is Strong Oak. I am the Alpha of the central rainforest pack. He paused as if listening to something and returned his gaze to me. You have been summoned Twigleaf. Follow us to our holt.

I gave him a confused look. Wait. What? Who? I asked.

The Goddess…

It was about a one and a half hour dash to the holt. It took me a few moments to get used to the act of running on four legs, but afterwards it felt glorious. I could feel what passed for muscles tighten as I followed behind Strong Oak. Every time I passed through a shaft of light, bursts of energy flow through my body to replace the fatigue. It actually made sense, albeit in a weird way. I could feel my body use the light to convert the minerals in my body into glucose and then use it for energy. Strong Oak took note of my reactions but kept it to himself. The holt itself was more of a dense clearing than an actual holt. There were a ton of Timber Wolves wandering around, most of them glancing towards me and then turning away out of disinterest.

Enter. Oak said as we approached a wall made of thorny vines. He gestured towards it and they slowly untangled and separated revealing a smaller clearing with a massive, gnarled tree that took up most of the area. I wasn't too sure just what kind of tree it was, but it looked like it could have been here since the beginning of time itself.

That is a big tree.... I said as I approached said tree. As I passed the entrance, the thorns closed behind me and I was cut off from Strong Oak.

Um... is anyone here? Hellooo! I asked to nothing in particular. Jeez, so much for that... All of the sudden, I was blinded by a bright flash as something appeared in front of the tree.

"Greetings child of Man." A stern, regal, yet motherly voice said to me as I blinked the pretty lights out of my vision. "I can't say that I was actually expecting you at all." I finally blinked away the blindness and saw something that made my jaw drop for the second time today. Before me was an alicorn much like Celestia, except her coat was a light brown with darker brown lines swirling about her body. her mane flowed much like the Royal Sisters, but it was a deep forest green and had pricks of light that looked like sunlight that made it through the canopy. She looked at me gingerly with her golden eyes that had slits much like a feline would.

"I sense that you have many questions for me, but I must first ask you one of my own." She gave me a stern glare. "Just how did you end up here and why are you wearing the form of my Forest Guardians." So a Timber Wolf's real name was a Forest Guardian? Intriguing.

I wish I could tell you, but I'm not too sure myself. One minute I was talking to some dude about coming here, and the next I wake up in the forest looking like this. I motioned towards my new form and sighed. There was something about her that made me want to come clean about every wrong I had done in my life.

"That is indeed worrying... It would seem that the Games have begun. Given what the trees tell me, you are actually late to the Game." She turned back to me. "Well? Do you have anything to ask?"

Yeah. I guess my first question would be 'Why me?' but I have a feeling that you wouldn't know. I scratched my muzzle in thought. but I would like to know a few details if I am going to be stuck like this for awhile. She spent the next few hours answering my questions and taught me how to use my latent abilities that all Timber Wolves have. She told me her name was Terra, and she was the Regent of the Planet itself. Celestia was the Regent of the Sun and her sister Luna was the Regent of the Moon. I already knew some of this, but most of what she told me about herself was news to me. As Regent of the Planet, her tasks included mostly of taking care of the trees that provided the planet with oxygen needed for the ponies and other races to survive. She had created the Timber Wolves and tasked them to guard the forests of Equestria.

This... is a lot to take in... I finally said after she finished. I don't think I like the idea of being some game piece in some stupid game... She smiled at me.

"That is understandable, but play you must." She paused for a moment and continued. "Talk to Strong Oak once more. He shall give you a few tasks that you must complete to earn your place in this world. But be warned, they are very dangerous and you may not survive if you do not take this seriously." I sighed and bid her farewell and padded back to Strong Oak as he wait outside.

I was really not going to enjoy the next few weeks...

AN: Maybe I should have just called this chapter EXPOSITION! or something... Asides from being expositiony, I introduced my first theory. It all started when I was thinking about how Celestia and Luna were the Goddesses of teh celestial bodies. But what about the planet itself? That is when i started to create Terra, the  less known of the sisters. Her true form is actually the massive tree and she only projects herself as she used to look like before she used her power to become a tree so that she could use her power constantly. Sorry if it isn't very funny, but I probably wont be quite as funny as Rust or Blackwing. Especially in these first chapters. Also, I know this may seem a bit forced, and I will probably edit it later. Right now I am tired and in pain. I nearly tore a ligament in my shoulder and it hurts. But all is well, i has medicine.

Whelp! off to do the second chapter tomorrow after I get back from work.

ZEE AWAAAAY!