Luna watched with unease as the young unicorn bowed low before her, shuffling her hooves nervously. Bending her head down to his level, she spoke to him gently, but with a trace of discomfort in her voice.

"Um, why are you bowing?" she asked, at which Starswirl raised his head with a blush. He found that he could not meet her eyes. He had felt confident and bold just a few moments ago, but now he felt silly, as though he had been caught pretending to be something he was not. He quickly bowed his head again to hide his reddening cheeks.

"I... I don't really know," he stammered out, "I just felt as though I should." He had never felt so embarrassed in his life. Ever since he could remember, every adult he had met had complimented his parents on how grown up he behaved, and how much older than his actual age he appeared. Just being in this mare's presence however, made him feel awkward and childish.

Luna, for her part, felt equally out of place. While her parents and siblings had each had their own followers and admirers who gave them such honors, she herself, being the youngest, had never received such attention. She had always felt the act to be rather silly, and she had said as much to her father once. Whenever her father would meet with the ponies who lived in or around the tower, they would always bow at him. After one particularly large gathering Luna sighed, and asked her parents why people felt the need to act so dramatically before them. Her father had laughed gently for a moment before answering.

"Luna, they bend their knees and bow their heads, not because it makes them feel better about themselves, but because they cannot express their feeling in words, and so let their actions speak for them. Remember Luna that a person's words can deceive, but their actions will tell you more about them than they ever intend to show." She had accepted her father's answer at the time, but she still found the whole practice unnecessary. Now, here she was receiving this same 'honor.'

She bent over and pulled Starswirl back to his hooves. "Look," she said, trying to keep from sounding too awkward, "it's not that I don't appreciate the gesture, I do. It just makes me feel rather silly." The small unicorn stood shakily for a moment or two before his tired legs gave out and he fell to the ground. "I'm so sorry; I didn't realize how tired you are." Luna moved by the colt's side, sitting next to him. "Please, take some time to rest, and then I'll take you home."

Luna took the chance to study the colt while he lay next to her, trying to rub some life back into his tired limbs. His eyes were a rich gold color, but they were now glazed over with exhaustion. When Luna had used her magic to heal the terrible wounds the wolf had inflicted on him, she had also cast a spell to clean his coat and mane. His light grey fur was still matted from lack of grooming, and his darker mane had grown to an uneven and awkward length, but at least he was clean. A sudden howling far in the distance caused his eyes to widen; his breathing increased and he started to tremble slightly. Luna placed a comforting hoof on his back, trying to reassure him.

"It's okay, Starswirl, I won't let anything hurt you. Oh, please forgive the wolves. It has been hundreds of years since a unicorn has been in the forest. Fortunately, Lumba was smart enough to come find me." Luna pointed to the large wolf that was moodily sitting on top of the rock. "Rest assured, they will not bother you again."

Starswirl followed Luna's gaze until he saw the wolf, then he shrank back with a whimper, pressing himself against Luna for protection, much to her surprise. He certainly warmed up to me quickly, she thought to herself with a suppressed grin. But now to take care of this little problem.

"You know," she said to the cowering unicorn, "it's really Lumba you have to thank for saving your life. I think she deserves some gratitude, don't you?" Starswirl looked up her with fear in his eyes, but she ignored it. She could not let Starswirl live his life in fear that some creature was going to eat him in his sleep. "Lumba, come here my friend, this brave young stallion wants to give his appreciation." Lumba's ears perked up, then she stood and began to climb down from the rock.
Starswirl tried to stand and run, but found himself wrapped in something very soft, but at the same time incredibly strong. Looking back to see what was holding him, he froze. It was one of her wings, tightly wrapped around him to prevent his escape. How could I forget about her wings, he thought. Just what is she, how does she have wings and a horn—.

That was when he felt something soft and wet scrape along his hoof and he jumped back in fright— or tried to as the wing holding him down only tightened its grip. Lumba lay across from him not more than a foot away, looking at him with large, bright green eyes. He tried to shrink away again, but the mare held on tightly to him. "Come on now," she said to him. "This beautiful girl here saved your life; you should do something to thank her."

Starswirl had never been more scared in his life, he could not have moved if he wanted to. It took all of his strength to tilt his head and look at this strange mare's face to beg for help, but the look on her face stopped him. Her blue eyes gazed steadily at him, as though trying to see through him. This intense scrutiny caused him to stop short of begging for help, and instead to study her little further as well. Her eyes weren't cold, but the strength of her gaze made it clear she wanted something from him. She's testing me! he realized. He had seen that look on enough people's faces as they tried to get the measure of him.

I don't know what she wants from me, he thought, but if she thinks I can do this, at least I can try. Finding it easier to gather his courage, he turned to face Lumba, but stop, suddenly unsure of what to do. Turning back to Luna he spoke up, proud to hear his voice was calm and strong. "Can I at least know your name?" he asked. The mare smiled at him before replying.

"My name is Luna, Starswirl, forgive me for not introducing myself sooner. Now, to get back to Lumba, why don't you try scratching behind her ears, she likes that."
Emboldened slightly, he turned back to Lumba and stretched his left hoof out slowly. Lumba's head darted forward, and Starswirl pulled his hoof back slightly out of reflex, but Lumba only sniffed his hoof for a second before lowering her head under his hoof, pushing it up and over the back of her head right behind her right ear. She then sat there waiting patiently for this strange creature to give her the reward she was promised.

Starswirl grinned a little, feeling less nervous now. Huh, she's kind of cute, he thought, then proceeded to lightly scratch behind her ears. Lumba leaned into the movement of his hoof behind her head, only encouraging Starswirl to push a little harder. Luna smiled, happy in the young unicorn's success and courage. She wasn't sure he could actually do it. "Very well, Lumba, you've had your reward, now it's time for me to speak with our young friend and we don't need you here getting in the way. Go on home, I'll be along soon." Lumba gave a small whine, but got to her paws and walked off into the forest. Despite how well that had gone, Starswirl could not help feeling slightly relieved that she was gone.

Luna turned her head back towards her new friend. "Now Starswirl, I have a few questions I'd like to ask you, and I'm sure you have a few of your own." Starswirl nodded his head in agreement. Luna nodded back, then stood up and walked a few feet away before turning back and sitting down. "Now, firstly, where are you from and... Starswirl?" Luna looked in surprise as Starswirl's eyelids snapped shut and his head fell forward, snoring before he hit the soft grass.

Luna sat in surprise for a few moments before berating herself out loud. "Oh, Luna, of course he's exhausted, chased all night by wolves and then forced to confront his attacker's again mere hours later. Suppose I'll take him home with me, he'll be safer there." Carefully, so as not to disturb his sleep, she lifted him up to her back with her magic, then spread her wings softly, taking to the skies and circling a bit before turning east, towards home.

Author's Note

Thanks for reading.
Comments and feedback are appreciated.