|[=-=]|

I sat alone in the dining room. I sat there and drank tea, while I waited sister to bid her goodnights. The wolf was expected to be back as well, but he should have arrived by now.

Whatever could have happened?

The dining room doors burst open, and an earth pony guard ran in.

'Your highness!' he shouted, rushing a bow, 'It is about your guest, he's. . . engaging with his other escourt!'

'. . . Ok.' I took one last sip of tea, then stretched my wings, 'Come!.'

And I took off, bursting through the doors and down the hall. It didn't take long, I figured they wouldn't fight in any random place in the castle. The Foyer seemed like the most probable place. We came through the last door and entered the high balcony of the foyer, where we witnessed it. A royal guard and a savage, facing each other. There were guards all over the room, each of them watching.

'Why haven't you stopped this?' I demanded of a soldier.

'He. . . ordered us to stand down your Highness. . . should we stop them?' he asked, but seeing how the fight was going it. . . it may not need intervention.

'Let them be.' I said, as I got closer and watched.

Runt fought as an animal, savage and primal. The young captain was valiant, strategic and precise. This was a fight of tooth ad hoof, power would seem to be the victor here and the captain had it. They kept at it, Runt going in for a close strike before backing away as the Captain would throw him back. Runt ran up for another strike, the Captain jumped onto his back, using all of its hooves to throw Runt into the wall behind him.

'. . . Had. . . Enough!?' the Captain asked.

'. . . When I draw. . . my last breath. . .' Runt rebutted, getting to his feet.

This time, the Captain charge horn first. Runt jumped to the side, moving back as the Captain kept trying to strike him down in a fit. Runt jumped back before he leapt forward, knocking the Captain over. He sank his teeth into the Captains forward legs and began thrashing him around until he let go. The Captain tried to get up, but Runt knocked him back and went for another leg, then another. Like a hunter stalking the prey, he climbed atop the Captain to proclaim victory.

'Yield!' he ordered.

'Never!' the Captain spat back.

'. . . Then die. . .' Runt howled, before he turned to the Captains exposed neck.

He's gonna kill him!

I spread my wings, preparing to intervein. . . but he stopped. He leapt back and yelled. He stopped, and began to leave. The standing by guards stepped in his way.

'Let him pass!' I ordered.

They moved after a moment of hesitation, and Runt walked away into the night.

|[=-=]|

"I walked in moonlight, fur drenched with grey blood, a dark path illuminated with moonlight. For the path I trod was dark indeed, for the job of the wolves is never clean. Although we drink our share of blood, we don't forget what with Greed and Malice we become."

We were serenaded with talks of glory and valour when we were younger. How honour was a value we would cherish. . . those were the words of our father. Mother believed these words. . . for a while, but the lust and thrill of the hunt took a toll, creating a hunger. She cast him out as we were left in her shadow, she had a power she took it and it made her bigger, and stronger than all. With that power, she also had stones of power which stole the power from others. A deceptive and dark power to be sure.

"Honour is dead."

That's where I had enough. I walked away when she said that, and she wanted us to leave it all behind. I would not join her in taking away our values.

I walk in moonlight, returning with taste of blood, on a dark path illuminated by moonlight. The path I tread upon is dark indeed, as I, a lone wolf, proceed with heed. Greed and Malice beget suffering, and I shall never forget what Mother brings.

Its time I go home, and face my true enemies-

Something was on the path I was travelling. Standing there waiting, as if. . . it was expecting me. Its glowing eyes watched as I approached, but before I could make out its shape it fled.

'Runt!' a voice broke the silence of the night, and a shadow descended down before me, 'Where are you going-?'

'Back.' I answered her.

'The castle isn't that-'

'Not to the mountain, I'm returning to the woods to face Mother.' I told her as I walked on.

'. . . You can't, we have guards in place-'

'I don't care.'

'We have been drawing up plans ever since you told us-'

'I don't care. . .'

'When you have recovered fully, we can discuss this-' she began, almost pleading.

'I don't care!' I barked at her, 'I don't belong here, no matter how nice this place is, how unique the pony or-or how nice you are! I just. . . I almost killed because I finally realised it. . . I don't belong here, for I am too different.'

'. . . I was cast out like you.' She said, and I stopped, 'left alone for near a thousand winters banished, there.'

I turned, to see her pointing to the moon.

'Alone. Afraid and. . . bitter. I wanted nothing better than to crush my sister. . . but I was forgiven, and I forgave. . .'

'. . .You expect that Unicorn to forgive me, after what I did?' I asked.

'You could have killed him. He knows you stopped before you took it too far, and he knew the cost of failure.' She assured me, 'He has seen your honour, he has friends like that.'

'. . . I have no friends.' With that, I walked away again, determined not to faulter and turn back.

'. . . You have me.' Except to that.

'You?' I asked, turning to see her expression.

'Upon the moon and stars in my charge, I am your ally and. . . friend in this.' She assured me, eyes staring into mine, 'and I advise you to stay and heal until you are ready.'

'. . . Then. . . I will follow your advice. . . friend.' I walked to her.

'Then where would you go then? the road to Canterlot is long and it is late.' She asked.

'. . . To. . . another friends.' I told her, as I marched on towards Pony Ville.

'Then I will accompany you.' She said as she followed.