Whispering Thunder (In dedication to a good friend)

They looked at Thunderwolf with plans of black, but Thunderwolf looked back with plans of grey, for that his plan wasn't thought out. As they closed in on him, like a miracle, a rainbow colored shokwave appeared in the distance as a loud boom followed. The three looked and stared with awe. Thunderwolf took that opportunity and tuned around and jumped on his fore hooves giving a strong buck to Rough Edge's face, knocking him unconscious, tumbling over Bullseye and Rust. Thunderwolf sprinted as fast as he could to the forest.

As he ran, he heard a yell, "Launch!!!".

Thunderwolf looked up at a huge bolder heralding towards him. Thunderwolf ran faster, but the bolder landed, crushing his hind hooves. He cried out in pain. Thunderwolf heard the break; like stepping on a dry twig in the forest. Thunderwolf tumbled and rolled and stopped. Thunderwolf lied there in pain for awhile, but then he picked up his head and stomped his hoof down.

"I can't let them catch me" Thunderwolf thought "What they'll do if they catch me will be worse" Thunderwolf opened his huge wings and flapped them as hard as he can.

Thunderwolf flew from the ground straight up by fifty yards, stopping Rust and Bullseye in their tracks. Thunderwolf didn't know how to fly, but he knew how to lift off the ground... which was ironic since he was terribly frightened of heights, but loved speed. Thunderwolf didn't think of that right now, he had to loose them.

Thunderwolf repeated his wing motion, casting him kilometers into the sky, to the point he couldn't see Rust or Bullseye, neither could they see him. He kept this pace till he got light headed, then passed out, his wings still open as he was limp, free falling to the earth below. Thunderwolf was able to gain consciousness and realize his situation. He tried flapping his wings, but they only made him flip and roll in the air. He put his wings out stiff, just to get him to an angle so he would be over the trees. Thunderwolf streaked into the dense canopy and clipped both of his wings on several trees. Thunderwolf hit the ground and knocked the wind out of him. He finally gave in to the stress, pain and fatigue. Thunderwolf blacked out once again.

"They're all waiting for you" A female voice echoed in the pitch black dark realm Thunderwolf found himself in.

"Huh? Who's waiting? And who are you?" Thunderwolf called back.

"Your friends are, my dear. Don't give up"

"Mom?" Thunderwolf called, "Mom, is that you" Thunderwolf's last call was unanswered, and only to be faded out by the waking world pulling him back, with pain, hunger and thrust clenching at his mind. Thunderwolf stood up, only to be met with the immense amount of pain from his hind hooves, causing him to fall back down, landings upon his clipped wing, which shot more pain throughout his body. Thunderwolf screamed and rolled back straight.

Thunderwolf thought all hope was lost, and the cold unforgiving night wasn't helping that belief.

"Don't give up" Thunderwolf said to himself under his breath.

Thunderwolf looked up at a sharp rock, then he looked around and found dry vines that were strong. Thunderwolf smiled with determination and broke off the sharp rock and dragged himself to the vines and collected as much wood as he could from around him. Working through the night, carving the wood, fitting parts together, and fail after fail, Thunderwolf eventually crafted a small wooden wagon he could rest his hind body on as he pulled himself with his front hooves. The craftsmanship wasn't perfect, but he was still experienced so it held together under normal circumstances. Thunderwolf pulled himself to a river stream and took a sip. Thunderwolf knew it wasn't wise to drink un-purified river water, but he was too thirsty to wait and make a fire. Thunderwolf eliminated two of his inconveniences, and now he had to find food, and something to keep him warm in the winter nights. Thunderwolf searched and searched for anything to eat, but the forest he was in was too dark and dense to support any of the plants that produced the life nourishing fruits, herbs and spices that the Emerald Forest -Thunderwolf missed so much- had. The morning sun rose guiding Thunderwolf though the forest.

Thunderwolf eventually decided to ignore the hunger and continued to look for something that would keep him warm. He looked and looked, but couldn't find anything. After a work filled night, and a day's worth of travel, he gently got off the wagon and lied down in the grass, moving a layer of leaves over himself to keep heat in. Thunderwolf closed his eyes and fell asleep, but it wasn't long till he was woken by the freezing cold, depriving him of his sleep. He moved back on the wagon and continued to travel. At this point, he just wanted to find a way out of this forest. He traveled from night till day, and had no luck of escaping the dreaded forest. Paths seemed similar, but at the same time different. He eventually saw something different, a hole. Thunderwolf knew a lot about animals, but he never seen one that could make a burro that big. He moved in closer and inspected the hole. He looked down the darkened void to be met with two yellow eyes. Thunderwolf backed up emerged a large, diamond dog. Thunderwolf knew diamond dogs before, and they were his dad's favorite traders. Thunderwolf smiled and reached out his hoof to greet him.

"Hello, sorry if I disturbed you, my name is Thunderwolf"

"Yack!" The diamond dog smacked Thunderwolf's hoof away, almost knocking him off his wagon, "Stay away from our gems!"

Thunderwolf was confused, but then he assumed that he just got to close.

Thunderwolf kept his smile and politely talked, "Excuse me, but do you know where Ponyville is?"

"Eh?" The diamond dog said as he realized that Thunderwolf wasn't a threat, "Oh, oh yes... uhh"

Thunderwolf smiled and raised his ears, waiting for his response. The diamond dog noticed how bad he wanted to know, and a smile creeped from one ear to the other.

"Hmm, yes, yes, I know where Ponyville is"

Thunderwolf smiled not even correcting himself for wagging his tail.

"But, I have to ask one favor" the diamond dog said as he glanced back at a shovel, "How about you be a good friend, and help me find some shiny gems, then you'll get what you want"

Thunderwolf smiled, "Sure, how much do you want me to find" The diamond dog placed the shovel in Thunderwolf's mouth and tuned around with the devious smile similar to the one before.

"Oh, just a few" Thunderwolf worked like a well oiled machine with his mind burning with determination.

The luminous sky lost its ray, leaving behind twinkling wonders. Thunderwolf dropped a green sapphire gem on a stack that was well over the wagons intended capacity. Thunderwolf smiled and looked up at the diamond dog, which was too busy in a mind battle with another diamond dog in a game of chess.

Thunderwolf walked closer to him and tapped his shoulder, almost losing balance, "Uhh, sir, I've found a lot of gems"

The diamond dog glared at Thunderwolf, but his jaw almost dropped off when he noticed the wagon over flowed with shiny gems. Thunderwolf smiled because he knew this was his talent he practiced with his mom. The diamond dog seemed to notice too, and turned back to his game as he waved his paw and signaled Thunderwolf to turn around.

"A few more, then I'll tell you" Thunderwolf's ears lowered, but he turned and did what the dog said.

The diamond dog and his friends were asleep and Thunderwolf continued to work under the new rule of less sound and more work. A warm, orange glow creeped from the hole where Thunderwolf entered, reflecting off of the three huge gem piles.

The diamond dog woke up with a snort and looked around. His eyes widened at the site of the gems and how much the cave expanded only over night. He walked over to Thunderwolf, weekly swinging his pickaxe. Thunderwolf sniffled and coughed dropping the pick on the ground.

The dog pulled himself away and looked at Thunderwolf with a weird look, "Eww! What is wrong with you"

Thunderwolf coughed and looked up at him, "I think it was the river water..."

The diamond dog looked onto Thunderwolf's eyes lined with crust from sleep depravity and sickness with disgust.

"You know what" The diamond dog said as he pointed to the exit hole, "Deal's off, get out of here before you get everyone sick"

Thunderwolf's ears lowered, "Bu- but"

"Out! Now!" The dog rose his voice.

Thunderwolf lowered his head and walked out. The morning sun shined on Thunderwolf's nose, causing him to sneeze. He looked forward to the hazy world ahead as he remembered when his health was bad, his need for eye glasses increased. Aimlessly walking through the cold, Thunderwolf looked up and shivered at the memory of fear he had when he flew. As his eyes were glued to the sky, he tripped over a root, sending him tumbling down a rough slope, breaking his wagon into small prices. Thunderwolf's vision was even more blurred from the trauma.

Thunderwolf dragged himself saying, "I will not give up" over and over.

He pulled himself out of the forest and onto a dirt road. Thunderwolf's vision started to fade and blur and his strength began to die. He heard a light thump and looked forward to see a basket. He looked up and saw a blurred yellow pony figure with light pink hair. Thunderwolf's vision faded to black, and his conscious slipped away.