Author's Note

Finally done with that chapter. Just need a break from my works and hopefully continue it.

A Rainy Escape

After the terrible episode from Crumbling Hills, the other ponies escaped from the wolves and were safe in their town. But most of them didn´t make it out.
Princess Twilight heard about the news and decided to arrange a meeting with the princesses again. While she was gone, Dusty and the other ponies(most of them were royal guards sended by Princess Celestia) went out to Everfree Forest to patrol, if some wolves were still around. Luckily there was no one, so they finally takes a break from all the chaos.
Then, they heard someone shouting from the distance. Dusty and the others followed the sound and when they found it, they saw a gray-blue pony. It was Sleepyhead, who usually takes naps all day, but this time he was frigtening.

"Sleepy, what happened to you?!" someone asked him very worried.

Sleepy told them all about their friends were already taken by those horrible wolves, but some of them were still alive, but wounded like Sleepyhead with his soft hindleg. Dusty asked one of the stallions to get help, but Sleepyhead interrupted them when he was about to tell about the worst thing he ever experienced, "As I flew, I saw some strange creature with a scalloped tail and a head like a pony. I-I also saw a helpless pony soon be eaten by a wolf until it was rescued and it carried her away when it took form like one of us! And the worst part is that it seemed that they were very close... as if they knew each other!"
It came as a shock to them. A pony was saved by an unknown being if it could be with the wolf flock. Some finds it pretty shocking, but some finds it really creepy, but Sleepyhead had more to add, "There's also one thing. The pony that was with that beast. I recognized her! I swear it was May!"
"May!?" Dusty said very loudly so that everyone could hear him. The other ponies. "That's horrible!" The guard said in a disgust. But somepony reminded them that May had been gone recently. "Hey Dusty, have you seen May recently?" a tall plum red pony asked. But Dusty hesitated until he said something, "You know, I haven´t seen her since yesterday." Still, They couldn´t believe in their own ears that May would betray them. But Sleepyhead just wanted to forget all about it.

Meanwhile at Blacksmoke Mountain.

Aaron's pack had already left without food. Boris and his companions sat at their usual spot and complained about the terrible hunting.

"What a cheep! Yesterdays hunt was terrible!"
"Yeah, you can barely see anything in that fog!

But Boris mostly complained about the fact that he didn´t catch the special pony, but then he heard a furious bark from their leader. "Where the hell is Anubis?!".
Boris hurried to move and sit by his pal. "Well Aaron, we hadn´t seen him since we went hunting." Boris said a bit scared. But Aaron wasn´t happy with that answer, "Boris, you were the last to see him disappear, weren´t you?". Boris replied that he did. But he also told him something that was completely unexpected to him, "You know, I saw something weird, and I'm probably just seeing things... But I saw a another pony, that looks just like him, saving that little pony... ". Aaron growled in anger, "Anubis betrayed us." There is no other creatures than him, who can shapeshift like that. Bring him here, the traitor must be punish! "
Boris and his comrades were a bit terrified when Aaron gets angry. "But Aaron, we did what we could, but we don´t know where he is." he said. But Aaron didn´t care and asked them to get up their tails and find him quickly.

Later on, May was already at home and helped her grandmother with the store. But then, they were called by a messenger. May seemed quite confused, but followed anyway. They were on their way to a small hill where other ponies were there, including Dusty and Lily. She also noted that Princess Twilight Sparkle was there too and seems very seriously. She stood in the middle of the circle, while her grandma stood next to Lily completely confused. May chuckled very awkwardly and asked them what she was called here. Twilight hesitated, but finally said what she would say, "May... I've just heard rumors that you... were with a meateater."
May glowed completely frightened. Where in Equestria did she know? She had never told anyone about her secret. While Princess Twilight talked about while the others were hurt and got eaten, she escaped with that creature instead of helping them, but she didn´t listen a word from her, but felt completely shameful.

"Is it true? Did that happen ?!" Lily said very demanding and looked directly at May. "The only way I believe it, if you say it for yourself!"

May admitted herself that there is no secret anymore, so she had to come clean for her best friend, "Sorry, but... It's true...". It came as a shocking surprise to them, especially her grandmother. But Dusty seems very angry when he said with an angry tone, "Oh great. I get it now. The wolf... back at the Breezy Patch, it was the same beast who was in disguise, right?! Lily and I were so relieved, when we thought you escaped from him, but now you´re telling us that this was the friend, you were meeting?!"
May stayed queit, but Twilight demanded her to speak up with a serious tone until May finally said something, "Well... He's actually a draconequess. And he may not seem like Lord Discord... but he's actually a good friend...". But these words weren´t enough to make ponies happy to hear.

"Are you kidding me?!" the royal guard said in disgust.

"May... What were you thinking? " Sleepyhead said terrified.

"Meateaters like these wolves were nothing but troubles, May" reminded a female pony and everything turns into a discussion around her which she couldn´t handle.

But Princess Twilight stopped the panic so she could talk. "...I don´t know how it all started, but your actions are very unacceptable and a big danger to us!". When she reminded May that two different animals can´t get along because of natural orders or what if the young draconequess that May was friends with, could be an ally and a spy for the wolves.
Then Dusty stepped up and agreed with the princess. He bent down his neck and bit a pile of grass, and raised it up as a demonstration, "See May, it's only grass and that´s it. No matter how much we tried to be friends with them, they are nothing but food!" he said with a angry frown.
May thinks it wasn't the same but understands what he meant. "But he's... very different... " May mumbled completely sadly, which made Dusty completely offended, "Grow up May! Don't you see, he's fooling you!".
Princess Twilight agreed with Dusty and said, "Think about what will happen to us if the barrier's magic was abolished? What will happen to the weak and the small foals if the wolves found out that our village had been here the whole time? The wolves will see us nothing but food and terrorize our village if we don't do something."
She, on the other hoove, forbids May to leave the village and asked her to stay in her home, while she returns to Canterlot to hold a serious attendance meeting with the princesses. When she left the meeting, the other ponies stared emptily at May. She immediately knew that there was no secret anymore and left the crowd with her disappointed grandmother by her side...

And speaking of Anubis; His situation was problematic too. He wanted to have a snack before he could go home, but instead he was already found by Boris with a hard expression. He asked him to come in a rude manner and Anubis followed him without question.
They reached to their territory, he noticed that something was wrong and the eyes of other wolves stared vile at him. He also saw Aaron seem angry whil saying, "Now Anubis, do you know why you're here?!". He stared confused and answered no. He even asked him what's going on, but Boris just got impatient and shouted at him, " Oh give up, Anubis! You know exactly why you are here!". He moved a bit, so Anubis felt an awkward moment between them and muttered, "You betrayed us all. Not only that, you even tried to help that little horse to escape!"
As he retrieves, Aaron demanded if everything was true. Anubis hesitated with a nervous expression. He couldn't tell the truth, but Boris asked him to spit it out, so he had no choice but to say it. "Actually... that pony I saves, was my friend."
The wolves were shocked and muttered to each other. Boris grew pretty impatient and snapped at him with anger, "You idiot! How can you be so stupid over a simple thing! THE. PONIES. ARE. FOR. EATING !!! ". Cain agreed with him. He reminded Anubis that any animals such as rabbits, birds and all living are just food for them.

"If you just go and just make friends with them, what would you eat to survive?" he concluded logically.

"That's right." Abel strongly agreed with his brother.

But Anubis wasn't completely convinced with their point of view on the ponies, "But Aaron, you see... It's just one pony, I was friends with. It doesn't mean, I'm friends with all of them." he said sensibly, which was true. May was really his only friend and probably only her, he would rather be with.
"That's one pony too many!" Boris included concretely and even talked about the consequences of how it would happen if he became friends with that pony. "Think about it, Anubis, she could spoil us! If you start talking about the strategies and plans over our hunting and places we goes, she could warn her fellows with all the informations. And thanks to you, we would starve to death!". Anubis was a bit scared but convinced him that he would never do that and they never talked about it.
"Cut the crap!!" Boris shouted in anger. "You still don't get it, do you?! You've been used by her! She pretended to be your friend so she could protect her friends."
"But..." he hesitated, but Boris sighed annoying and explained to him, "Listen Anubis... Do you honestly think that a carnivore like us and a useless herbivore like them could be friends? When we kill and eat those, she loved and cared?!"
Anubis said nothing and looked completely speechless. But Aaron interrupted the embarrassing silence and allowed him to return to his cave, but never leave his spot until he figured a punishment for him! Anubis understood his comand and left the pack with concern in his mind...

Later that night...

After their secrets were revealed, May took a little stroll and found a place where she sat by a tree as her back's support. "It's all true..." she thought completely stunned. She thought a lot about everything, even what Anubis said earlier, when they first met;

"He said his favorite place was Clover Valley... Because my friends and I were hanging there..."

She wouldn't be surprised if he had tasted a pony before, but she really wants to believe him that he hadn't eat a pony in his whole life. She sighed after learning AND knew it all the time until she heard his grandmother, "Why are you up late, dear?" her grandma asked worried.
"I couldn't sleep grandma," she replied. She followed her grandmother's movement and saw her sat beside her, "Perhaps it's for the best. What I have to say is very important," she said quietly. May stared at her when she said, "I know you don't remember, but it's about your mother."
May's glance sparked of surprise. She had never thought about it and asked her grandmother even why she wants talk about it. Her grandmother stared quietly at the dark sky, even saying that her mother was a wonderful pony and was loved by others. She also mentioned that she loved May more than her love for nature.
"But she died..." she reminded herself and thought about her childhood, which she never got. She asked her grandmother what happened to her. But she hesitated by mention it.
"I didn't want to tell you this... But I guess you're old enough to know the truth..." she said a bit worried. She stopped for a moment until she finally said something that was too hard for her to tell, "Not long after you turn three, you and your mother were attacked by wolves."
May looked at her in shock. She had always known that something terrible had happened that day, but couldn't remember it. "That's horrible," was the only thing she said. "Ah, yes indeed... But your mother, she was the most bravest one that nopony ever dared..." she said a bit shacky, but continued to get a hold, "... She even tored one of the wolves' ear, distracting them enough to keep you safe. But she faced her fate and died in their filthy claws."
Her grandmother sighed with relief, but May trembled and looked really shocked at her, "I see... So that's how it happend..." she thought to herself, when a tear trembled gently on her cheek.

Anubis sat inside his cave and looked up at the stars. He took a branch and chewed it, but apparently he's still hungry. He thought earlier about what his mother said;

"Sooner or later, the others will find out that you are the creature who cooperated with the wolves, so we must escape tomorrow."

"Mother... Why do we have to leave? Can't we just make us invisible like before? It had worked before."

"Maybe. But they will just find us no matter what! So we have to leave!"

He don't know what is worst. Flee from his home and never see his friend again or been taken hostage and be punished? He doesn't know what to do than to wait for the worst ...

Then, it was already morning. The sun was about to get up. May woke up with sleeping bags in her eyes. She saw four figures in the misty dew. She immediately knew that it was the princesses and was already prepared for her punishment. They stopped and stood in front of her. But Princess Celestia stepped forward and looked down at May.

"You must be May..." she said with a kind voice.

May nodded and bowed politely while the Grand Princess said, "... I've heard many stories about you and the problems you caused. Is it true?"
May nodded and said everything she said, was true. Celestia gave her a smile, while the two princess' and the tall elder draconequess stared seriously at her.
"That's the one who causes all the trouble for those pesky dogs and another kind of me? That's too ridiculous to laugh about!" laughed the draconequss. But Twilight and Luna didn't laugh with him, Celestia gave him a disapproved glare, "That's enough Discord! Don't make it differcult for her. She's been through a lot!" she scolded at him, which surprised May. Discord apologizes and lets her continue. Celestia cleaned her throat and had come to what she was about to say.
"As you know, I have come to the conclusion of on your punishment. But I've already changed my mind... I've decided to let you meet your friend again...". May was shocked by what she heard. "Really!?". "Yes. I believe that your friend is harmless, but he can be threat for us, since he possibly was an ally for the wolves," she said with a worried frown.
"He attended to use you, so now we have to use him. I want you to get all the informations about the wolves' strategies and their hunting plans so we can be prepared next time". May trembled with a worried and scared look. But the princess smiled gently and explained to her that she will not force her to choose, but reminded her that whatever choice she made, everything would not be the same.
"... That's what I offer you. Now May... What´s gonna be?" she questioned. May closed her eyes and breathed calmly until she opened and looked bravely at the Grand Princess, "I understand... I know what to do..."

Meanwhile, Anubis was trying to sleep but couldn´t. He then woke up exactly, where the wolves already arrived to his cave. "Morning Anubis, I hope you've got some good rest." said Aaron, who seems very nice.
Anubis just stared at him with tired eyes. Boris then said what Aaron had decided for his punishment as he smirked. "What's that?" Anubis asked tired. Aaron says directly that his punishment for this crime... is execution.
Anubis jumped out of shock and backed quickly. Does he say that they will kill him?! He don´t know what to do and the only thing he can think of is May and his mother.
But Aaron had come to the conclusion that he would give him a second chance, since he was one of the best hunters he ever had. "So, therefore, I had a favor for you... I want you to meet your friend again and get informations from her," he said with a sly smirk. Anubis hesitated. But Boris smiled and just said like it was good news, "Did you hear that, Anubis. It's your chance to show Aaron your trust again. All you have to do is ask to your little friend for informations like where they usually goes or where their secret place is. In that way, you can have your spot again."
Aaron also explained to him that if he could accomplish it, he would be acquitted from his punishment, but if he tries to trick them, they will be no mercy. Or worse, running away and they will chase him to no end. "Yes... I understand..." mumbled Anubis scared. Aaron and Boris smirked into a small laugh.

It was already afternoon, but it got pretty cloudy than usual. At the small hill, Anubis was the first to arrive at their meeting place as he and May had agreed. May came afterwards and apologize for being late. "It's okay... I just got here..." he muttered a bit sad.
It got a nit awkward between them, until May asked him what he wanna do today. "I don´t know..." he responded a bit hesitant, but then suggested that they could go for a walk by the river and chuckled nervously. May thought it might be a good idea and chuckled too. They went down to the river not far from here, but they were not alone. The other ponies stood over them and watched over them. May looked worried and looked at their eyes as she couldn´t described at all.
As they were looking down to them, the ponies seems to be very concern about if May can handle the task. "This better works. I hope pulls if off," Dusty said very sure. "Indeed..." said Celestia and seem more concernd to May than others, "... Her and our lives depended on it. We can only hope, that she succeed". "I hope you´re right, sister..." her sister, Luna said in doubt. But May´s grandmother couldn´t believe how she could let her get into this mess.
Over the other side of the river, the wolves were hiding behind some bushes and kept an eye on them. But Aaron seems to be angry at them, "That traitor. How can he go on and be friends with those grasseaters. It really makes me sick!" he scoffed angrily.
"But Aaron, think about it. If Anubis pulls it off, we can have all the meat we could eat," Boris said in joy. "Yes... I'm looking forward to it too..." he said and told Boris that when he gets one of these ponies, he will slaughter them all!
"Oh shush now Aaron." Boris whispered gently to the alpha, "You'll get many as you want. Just be patient and then...". "Boris! Shut up!" Aaron shouted impatiently, Boris kept quietly and watched Anubis and May.
They walked alongside the river, but then it started to pour. It also began to thunder so that they were frightened and it rained heavily. "This is terrible!" he shouted. He soon discovered some rock that looked like a small cave. He shouts loudly to May that they can seek shelter over there. May looked over the cave and told him to lead the way. They ran while the wolves followed them.
They reached a short cut over the river, "It's probably slippery, so be careful," he warns to May. They jumped from stone to stone. May tried to be very careful, but luckily, Anubis was there to help her. But when they were just about to jump again, it began to thunder again and they became so frightened that May lost her balance and slipped down to the river. Anubis just managed to grab her, but the riverstream was very strong that Anubis barely had a grib on her. He had to pull her up to the shore, "I'm stuck!" she shouted, but Anubis kept pulling without giving up. He was strong enough to save her and they stumbled safely on the small stone.
"Geez May, you really need to be very careful where you´re going, otherwise I had to save you all the time..." he panted excausting. But May just smiled and thanked him for saving her. The rain finally settled down, they sat and stared awkwardly at each other, but Anubis seemed guilty of everything and had to tell May the truth;

"Listen May... I have a confession. The wolves... They wanted me to trick you to get information out of you and I have no choice but doing so. But I... the idea of deciving makes me feel so ashamed, I just couldn´t!"

May stared at him with an impressive expression, that he was brave enough to tell her despite the wolves´ request. So she also told him that her flock did the same but couldn´t decive her best friend. They looked at each other for a moment, but Anubis expressed that he couldn´t ask a better secret friend than her. "Me too Anu..." May said, "I mean it..."
"But I don´t think we can call our friendship a secret anymore..." she said a bit disappointed. Anubis noticed the crowd around them, "You´re right. And everything just got worsened." he said worried.
May asked him what they´re gonna do now, but Anubis told her that there's no escape here and they have to do what they were told. "There is one way out of here, Anu..." she said quietly when she said the last part, "... All you have to do is eat me..."
Anubis seems a bit shock, but chuckled instead, "Or maybe you can eat me.", which made May chuckle too. "I wonder what the heck they were laughing about?!" Aaron said impatiently.
Everything seems quiet around them, but then Anubis came up with a suggestion that might be a ticket out of here, "I was just thinking... We could run away. And find a new place, somewhere safe...". May seem to agree with that idea and said that she actually thought the same. She didn´t think, she could fit in with her kinds anymore.
Anubis was relieved to hear that and said that he have a idea of how they can escapeescape. He stared at the river and May followed his gaze. They know what to do now and stood up. Aaron and the wolves looked quite confused but waited. "Promise you'll live so we can meet again, Anu..." she whispered to him. He said, "May... I promise."
Everything quickly got quiet around them. The riverstream interrupted the silence and the calm weather didn´t drain much, except of the sound of thunder. Then the wolves and ponies were in shock, when they saw something, that might change their lives. May and Anubis jumped to the river and floating while they struggled to swim to safety, hoping they might find a safe place, away from troubles and live in peace for themselves...