The scampering of wooden paws filled the air around Risen, running through the bushes around her. She couldn’t track a single on with the amount there was, which she didn’t want to make an estimate of. She took out her blade as she listened, waiting for the first one to strike her. Suddenly a snarl came from behind her as a Timberwolf lunged towards her. She barely dodged the attack, and as quickly as she could swung at the creature. All she ended up hitting was air, a mistake that left wide open as another wolf jumped behind her.

It bit her neck, attempting to tear a hole in it only to get kicked off by Risen. Staggering back to her feet, Risen breathed heavily as she looked before her. It was than that a lower, more sinister growl came from the bushes. Slowly emerging from the shadows was a much bigger Timberwolf, easily twice Risen’s size. It’s eyes pierced into her empty body with a hunger more feral than any of the wolves. The three wolves proceeded to circle Risen, who watched each one as carefully as she could. If one stuck her again, than they all will follow in seconds. She wasn’t injured from the bite, but it put enough worry in her to be cautious.

After several seconds, one of the wolves finally took a chance from behind. Risen realized it in an instant as the Timberwolf proceeded to crouched and lunge. It was more than enough time for her to dodge the attack, looking back to the other small wolf as it did the same. Her sword and shield were ready this time, and as the wolf came within distance of her neck she hit it with the side of her shield. The Timberwolf rolled backwards from impact, and Risen readied herself to finish it only for the bigger of the three to bash her to the ground. She got onto her hooves as quickly as she could, just managing to see one of the smaller ones rush at her.

This time she used the wolves lunge against them. Readying her sword, she ducked as the wolf went over her and tipped the blade just enough to pierce the creatures wooden skull. The blade cut through the Timberwolves body cleanly, slicing it in half by the time it feel to the floor. She could here the other smaller wolf whimper in fear, receive a growl from the bigger one. It was that moment Risen realised what the bigger Timberwolf must have been. It was the alpha of a pack, most likely the same one she had seen when she first awoken.

She was caught off guard as said alpha wolf bit down into her left shoulder, a yelp of pain coming from Risen as it surged through her body. The giant Timberwolf lifted her effortlessly off the ground, blood dripping from the wound. Risen’s pain only worsened as the beast shook her around the air effortlessly, disorienting her. Finally, the timber wolf threw her against a tree, a violent snap in playing in her ears. Risen fell to the ground seconds later, her sword inches away from her. She could hear the sound of paws against the grass, slowly coming towards her.

Looking to the place her sword had landed, she saw the love elixir. Knowing it was her only hoping staying alive, Risen crawled as quickly as she could towards the blade. After only two seconds she stopped as the grass brushed against the area her shoulder was bitten. A risky glance ahead told showed that the smaller Timberwolf was picking up speed, and the alpha watching not far behind. See this, Risen picked up her pace, trying to hold in the pain she was currently feeling. The distance between her and the smaller Timberwolf closed rapidly as both continued to quicken their paces till they were almost on top of each other.

The pony and wolf looked eyes as there muzzles came within distance of touching each other, neither moving. Both knew what might happen if the other acted, and that neither had the upper hand. Risen, still bleeding, looked to the blade right underneath the Timberwolf with a longing to have it in her possession again. Of course she also knew that grabbing the sword would give the Timberwolf a perfect view of her neck, where no armor laid. Risen lifted her right hoof into the air as the Timberwolf opened it’s mouth. Not long after those small movements were made, both Risen and the Timberwolf burst into action.

The next few seconds seemed to fly by, but Risen could specifically remember lunging forward and grabbing her sword. As that happened the Timberwolf went for her neck, missing only by a few centimeters thanks to how quickly Risen moved. In response, Risen lifted her sword straight into the air, cutting through the lower body of her attacker. As the Timberwolf fell to the ground, Risen took the opportunity to use her Elixir to heal herself.

That didn’t give her much time to react as the alpha charged her. Risen quickly rolled to the side, barely escaping the jaws that had almost ended her life moments ago. The timberwolf turned around before it hit a nearby tree, growling at her in feral anger. It lunged at her, but she was more than ready for the action as she jumped under it’s massive body. The wolf couldn’t see her looking around before sniffing the air. By that point, Risen already knew what to do.

Without shame or wound to her dignity, Risen took her blade and craved a gash into the timberwolves’ flank. The alpha howled in pain, the beast attempting to kick the Risen away from her. It failed, and in order to keep it from moving any more the pony sliced cleanly through the the wolf’s wooden hind legs. It fell to the ground, it’s anger turned to fear as it attempted escape Risen’s sword. That, however, was stopped when Risen jumped onto it’s back and thrusted the sword into the wooden spine.

Then, as strange as it seemed, the battle was over. It was quick, but horribly painful for both the pony and timberwolves around her. It didn’t come back to life like she expected it to, and neither did the other ones around her. Risen decided to see what she had just hit, and started carving into the dead timberwolves body. It took a while, but she finally found something, something she recognized all to well: a heart.

Something in the back of her mind told her this was unnatural. Timberwolves didn’t have hearts, as they didn’t need blood due to being made of wood. For a heart to be placed inside the creature, it made Risen curious. She looked around, noticing that no lamp post had appeared after the battle.

“Perhaps the Princess of the Night knows something about this,” She said to herself, starting to make her way back to the lamp near Zecora’s hut.

Now that she thought of it, the heart wasn’t the only thing she wanted to know about.

Author's Note

So... it’s been a while and-

Oh who am I kidding this is something VERY long overdue. I’ve wanted to get back to this story but just... haven’t for some reason. However, with me putting Danganronpa V.E. on hold I figured that there would be no better time to get back to buisness then now.

Anyways, next episode we are returning to the castle for the first time and I just wanted to know, any special weapons you maybe want to see Risen use in the future? Dark Souls has so many different weapons that it would be a shame to just use a sword the entire time. Your choice, have fun with it.