Learn to Fly

The three of them stopped to stare at the burning timber wolf in Posey’s front yard. She’d rolled a ring of stone around it to keep the fire from spreading. Black, fouls smelling flames leapt from the rotten planks of wood that made up its body.

“I thought you were supposed to protect the creatures of the Everfree,” said Fluttershy.

Posey grunted, and climbed off Rainbow’s back. The’d forced her to ride back; she’d wanted to run. “Sometimes they need tough love. Don’t breathe in the smoke. Spores.”

Rainbow Dash stared at the massive corpse. “You took this down by yourself? You?”

“Never underestimate a crone,” said Tree Hugger.

“I had some help,” said Posey. Indeed, the other ponies didn’t seem to have noticed, but Fluttershy was aware of predators — dogs, ferrets and stoats, a family of coyotes — lurking in the shadows of the trees, and raptors resting on the roof of the cottage. They looked tired. “Which is why I need you, Fluttershy,” continued Posey. “Come with me.”

She lead them quickly down one of the paths behind the cottage, to a cave a little larger than the one Fluttershy and Angel had slept in yesterday. The mother bear was crouched at the entrance, moaning in desperation. Weak, pained moans echoed from inside. Fluttershy understood what was being said, and it broke her heart. Next to the mother bear a rope was tied to a rock and lead down into the cave.

“Oh no…” she whispered.

“Brena’s cub, Harry, chose a poor place to hide during the fight. The cave floor gave way. He’s injured, we can’t reach him, and he won’t get in the harness. I need somepony who can fly and….”

Rainbow shouldered her way to the front. “Right. I’ve got this.”

“No!” said Fluttershy.

“You idiot, you can’t…” said Posey.

But Rainbow had already zipped past the mother bear and into the cave. There was a crash. Then there was a roar, and a scream of equine pain. Fluttershy gasped, and rushed to the cave. She didn’t see Rainbow Dash. She didn’t see much of anything; it was dirt and rock for a foot or so, and then a ledge and darkness.

“Rainbow. Rainbow!” Please be okay. Please be okay.

A blue hoof reached up and grabbed the edge of the ledge. Fluttershy rushed over to help Rainbow over the ledge. When she touched her side, she felt wetness, and Rainbow hissed in pain.

Futtershy gasped. “Oh, goodness! You’re bleeding!”

“It bit me! I tried to help it and it bit me! My wings. Are my wings okay?”

“Your wings are fine, but you’re going to need stitches. Rainbow, what were you thinking?”

Tree Hugger and Posey helped her pull Rainbow Dash out of the cave. Tree Hugger applied direct pressure while Posey went through her bags for the medical things she’d brought for Harry.

“You are, without a doubt, the stupidest pony I have ever met,” said Posey to Rainbow Dash.

“That’s the mare I love you’re talking to,” groused Fluttershy.

“Well.” said Posey. “At least she has a nice body.”

✭☆✭☆✭☆✭

Posey had given Fluttershy a necklace with a jewel that glowed green for her to see by. Its light made the little cave eerie, and the five meter drop to the moaning bundle fur brown fur below utterly nauseating. Fluttershy closed her eyes, and turned her head away.

“Cup your wings,” said Rainbow Dash. “And think about floating.”

“And be careful,” said Posey. “The cub is mad with pain and fear. He will be very dangerous.”

“No pressure,” Fluttershy.

“I believe in you!” said Tree Hugger from behind them.

“Me too!” said Rainbow. “Positive Shy!”

“Don’t get overconfident,” said Posey.

The chatter was too much for Fluttershy, and she jumped off the ledge just to get away from it. She scooped her wings like Rainbow had said, and flapped down. Chunks of earth fell, dislodged by her wings. When she it the bottom, Harry lunged at her. She tucked her wings in at the last minute and dove, hitting the ground hard but dodging the bear’s jaws. There was a small cavern down here — enough room for her to scoot back away out of range of his jaws. Harry made to follow her, but yelped when he put his weight on his left foreleg. It was bent wrong.

“Oh you, poor thing!” she said. She eyed the harness lying on the cave floor nearby. It should fit him fine without hurting his leg, if she could get him into it. She’d need to splint the leg first, though. She looked at Harry’s teeth. They were still red with Rainbow’s blood. Oh dear. She took a deep breath. “We can get you out of here, and back to your mommy, but you’re going to have to trust me.

Harry snarled. He was only a cub, but he was already bigger than her.

“I know you’re hurt, sweetie, and I know your scared. But you have to let me help you or… or…”

Harry grunted, and scooted back into the root-veined wall of the cave.

Fluttershy took a splint and bandages out of her bags. Her mother had taught her basic first aid, and she thought she could immobilize the limb without having to realign the bone. They’d probably have to sedate Harry for that. “Now I’m going to splint your leg so that we can get you into the harness and lift you up. It’s going to hurt a little, but it will be worse if we don’t do it. Do you understand?”

Harry said nothing. Fluttershy crawled towards him, and reached out towards the broken leg.

Harry backhanded her across the cavern with his good paw. Her back hit a root, knocking her breath out of her. Her face pulsed with pain; it wasn’t bleeding, but it hurt. Fluttershy whimpered. The cave roof seemed to press down on her. The darkness grew fangs, and pulsed with fear and pain. She drew her breath to scream, but opening her jaw hurt too much and all that came out was a breathless mewl. Harry’s eyes shone in the light of her pendant like a monster under the bed. She was going to die down here. She was going to die. She was going to…

No.

No. She couldn’t die. Rainbow and Tree Hugger would cry. Her parents would never forgive themselves. Posey would be disappointed in her. And most importantly, a this bear cub would probably die, too.

Her eyebrows came down. She looked right in those scary monster eyes, and hissed, “You are a very very naught bear!” She was lisping a little from her swollen cheek, and it hurt to talk, but that didn’t matter right now. “What do you think you’re doing?”

Harry whimpered.

“I’ll say you’re sorry! Hitting a pony who’s only trying to help you! And biting poor Rainbow Dash! What were you thinking?”

Harry hunched down, and looked away.

“I’m sorry this had to happen to you, and it’s going to be hard to get out of here. But you don’t have any other choice! You can let me splint your leg, and get in that harness, or we can both starve to death down here. Because I’m not leaving without you. Have I made myself clear?”

Harry whined.

“You’d better be sorry. Your mother misses you! Think about what you’re putting your poor mother through!”

Harry shifted his body, and held out his injured leg.

Fluttershy smiled with the good half of her face, and went to work.