Chapter 4
Era flew through the forests that covered the majority of the volcano, searching them for her brother. She knew he wouldn't be there, but she still had to check. She had to search every nook and cranny of the forest, for her own peace of mind. Every cave, every hole, anyplace he could hide and take shelter from rain in. She even went as far as flying into the volcano itself, and flying through every tunnel she could, calling for him. She was determined to find him, to be with her brother once again.
But, sadly, he was not found in the volcano.. He wasn't even anywhere near it. He was long gone. She knew he wouldn't stick around, but she still felt she had to look. After a full day of searching the entire volcano, inside and out, she perched herself in a tree near the top of the volcano, to rest. She was covered in dirt and ash and who knows what else she'd gotten herself into during her search. She'd rest a bit, before going back in and taking a bath in the lava. But for now.. Rest was what she needed most. A bath could wait.
After a few hours rest, she was ready to go again, and went into the volcano once more. After her bath, she was back moving again, speeding down the volcano, and for the forests surrounding it. She was in Kitsune territory after a few moments, which she didn't even bother checking. She knew Ember was not stupid enough to hide in their tribe's enemy's territory. He didn't have a death wish, that much she knew.
She'd flown right through, praying nobody would find her. Yeah, she could blast right through with her incredible speed, but the Sonic Boom.. And the resulting powerful winds.. It'd be a clear indicator that she was there. They knew of what Ember had done, to her knowledge. They'd most likely assume that she was capable of the same thing. And either way, they'd know it was one of them that had done it.. And could most likely get angry, and wind up taking their anger out on the tribe in the forests of the volcano. Even though her own tribe hated her, she couldn't put that on them.
Once she was out of Kitsune territory, she resume her search, though she wound up getting herself lost. She didn't know the forests down here. She'd never been off the volcano before. The volcano, she knew like the back of her hand. Her and Ember were always off exploring it, finding new places to hang out and play and explore.. But down here.. It was like a new world to her. And she had no idea where to go.
She landed and sighed, shaking her head. "I don't know what to do.." She whimpered to herself, looking around at the unfamiliar forest surrounding her. For once, she was scared. Her brother was gone. She was alone, and in a new place, at that. She clenched her beak shut tightly, taking a deep breath, before walking, continuing on her search, on foot. Her wings were still tired from earlier, and she needed to give them more of a break. She'd eventually have to stop for the night, the moon was already high in the sky. She could barely see it through the treetops, but from what she could tell, it was past midnight.
The sound of a stick snapping nearby made her jump and look around, wide eyed. She was far enough away from the Kitsune territory to not have to worry about being attacked by one, that much she knew. But she also knew she could very well be in another tribe's territory, and they could be hostile towards phoenixes.
"Wh-Who's there?" She called, her hands starting to shake slightly. "I-I don't mean to intrude on your territory.. I'm just looking for my brother.."
After a few moments, out stepped a pegasus from the shadows. A feral one. Era's eyes widened, and she took a step back. A pegasus.. Was she near a herd of them? She didn't know how the two species stood towards each other, whether they were enemies or not. She only knew of Alicorns' stance on things; that they believed they were better than all other creatures. Then again, to her knowledge, most mythical creatures believe themselves to be superior above all others. She just hoped she wasn't on enemy territory.
"Do not fear, phoenix." The pegasus said softly, stepping towards her. So it was a female. Okay. "I will not harm you. Come with me, it is dangerous to be out here alone. Come, we have shelter and a place to stay. You look exhausted."
Era bit her lip, thinking it over a moment. She decided to take a chance and go with her, so she nodded. "O-Okay.."
The pegasus nodded, turning and trotting off, Era quickly following after her on foot. She really hoped she wasn't walking into a trap. She tried to look the pegasus over, but it was hard to tell any colors on her, due to the darkness of the night, combined with the darkness of the forest. She could tell, however, that the pegasus had large wings, which were folded to her sides, and a long mane and tail, the mane being a braid of some kind, while the tail flowed free.
Didn't seem like the type to lead someone into a trap, to her. Or perhaps the pheonix was just too trusting.
The pegasus led her to a change in the forest, it took on a different feel than the rest of the forest. It felt.. Well.. Magical. The trees were different, as well. They were weeping willows, and other trees similar to it. A light fog covered the ground, though for some reason it didn't cause Era's bare feet pain. It just felt cool against her skin. It was almost soothing.
They soon reached another change, the trees were bigger, and hollow inside. And from them, stepped Mobian unicorns, pegasus, and even a few alicorns. She had accidentally entered the territory of a herd of the magical horses. Oh crap. She thought, What if they don't like intruders? I'll have to get out of here the moment something happens, or I'm done for.. Can't unicorns and alicorns use magic? If they know water spells.. She shuddered at the thought.
The pegasus led her to the largest tree, where an alicorn stood. This alicorn had a soft glow about her. Due to this, Era could tell she, or at least, the glow was, a soft pink. The pegasus bowed slightly to her, before glancing to Era, as if trying to tell her to do the same. Taking the hint, just from seeing the pegasus bow beside her, she too bowed to the alicorn. She hadn't seen the glance from the pegasus.
"Who do we have here?" The alicorn cooed, that apparently being the cue to stop bowing, as the pegasus picked her head back up. So Era stood straight again.
"I'm Eruption, a pheonix from the volcano. I don't mean to intrude on your land.." She said quietly, not sure whether to look the alicorn in the eye, or stare at the ground, or what ever else around them. "I'm just looking for my brother.. He was exiled from my tribe, and I just take being away from him anymore.."
The alicorn blinked, seeming surprised by the pheonix's words. "You came all the way from the volcano? My dear, the volcano is nowhere near here. It's a several day's flight away."
Era blinked in surprise, "Er.. W-What? I've.. Only been gone a day.. I didn't think I was going that fast.."
"Only a day, you say?" She asked, seeming to be thinking. "You must be very fast, then. I will allow you to stay the night, only if you do me a favor in return."
"Oh, sure.. What is it?" Era asked, looking at the alicorn hopefully.
"I need you to knock a few of my underlings down a few pegs." The alicorn softly replied. "Three of them. They believe themselves to be the fastest creatures on the planet, all equal in speed to one another. Race them, and win, and you may stay here as long you need to, while you search for your brother, and you will always be welcome here, even after you leave. Do we have a deal?"
Era nodded eagerly. "Yes, of course. That sounds good to me. I'll race them and win. Shouldn't be too hard.. So when should I race them?"
"In the morning." The alicorn replied. "For now, you must rest. You may stay with me, for the night."
"Oh, what an honor!" The pegasus chimed in, "You get to stay with our leader!"
Era smiled, and nodded slightly. "Thank you." She bowed, the alicorn chuckling.
"Now now, no need for that. Just come inside my tree." The alicorn chuckled, turning and heading inside, shifting into a feral in the process. Era couldn't help but look over her as she followed her in. The feral form, like her Mobian form, was tall and thin, and graceful. And regal. Era wondered if every alicorn was like this. The alicorn lied down, curled up like a cat. It made Era giggle softly. The alicorn motioned with her head for Era to lay down beside her, in the space between her front and back legs, at her side. Era blinked, before nodding and doing as the alicorn had instructed, curling up beside her. The alicorn smiled and draped a wing over the small pheonix, setting her head down. "Sleep, child." She said softly, slowing her own eyes. Era smiled a bit, settling down and relaxing, soon drifting off to sleep under the alicorn's wing.
When morning came around, the leader of the herd woke Era, nudging her gently. It took some time, but she got her up. The pheonix was a surprisingly heavy sleeper, she noted. Once she'd woken, the alicorn led Era out and went to the trees of each of the three racers, retreiving them. Once all three were present, there was another alicorn, a pegasus, and a unicorn standing before them. All three of them looked strong, and fast. Agile builds, light on their feet.. Era could tell she'd have fun with these three. She'd give 'em a fighting chance, let them think they could win, but always stay ahead of them.
The leader looked to the three. "Show her the race path, so she knows where she's going, and then come back to the start for the race."
One by one, they nodded, snickering to themselves. The alicorn, who was jet black, mane and all, smirked at the pheonix, turning and heading off, the other two mythical horses following him, Era following as well.
After a quick walk through the path, they were ready to race, and all four racers stood at the finish/starting point.
"Four laps around the path." The pegasus beside Era said, glancing to the other three racers, his red coat gleaming in the sunlight, looking almost like fire.
The pink unicorn nodded. "Okay! Let's show this pheonix we're the fastest!" He smirked, the other two horses smirking as well.
Era giggled softly, rolling her eyes. Boys. She thought, all four of them tensing, Era and the pegasus spreading their wings. The pheonix glanced to him, curiously. So his speed is in his wings too? She thought, before looking to the alicorn in the race. His wings weren't spread. So this one runs.. I thought, because being part pegasus they preferred the air.. She thought, before looking ahead again.
"GO!" A voice called out, and all four racers shot off, not one going ahead of the other. They were all at the same speed. Era's eyes widened. These guys are fast! She thought, before speeding up a bit, and just as she did, they did as well. So they're holding back too.. She thought, Oh boy..
She gulped, before speeding up again, and the process repeated again and again, until finally it seemed she was going faster than them, by the start of the fourth lap. She relaxed slightly, thinking she had put them at their limit, like they couldn't go any faster. And that turned out to be the wrong assumption, as all three of them suddenly blasted past her, startling her with a yelp.
"H-How the-" She squeaked, before huffing and shooting forward, quickly catching them, and as she passed them once again.. There was a boom, and a huge gust of wind that blew all three of them back, sending them flying into the trees, as the trees themselves were blasted over by the wind. Era didn't notice this until she was back at the finish/starting line less than a second later.
Once she realized what had happened, her face paled. Oh, not again! She yelped in her head, watching other unicorns and alicorns running to the aid of the three racers that had been blown off by the sonic boom. The alicorn leader walked over to her, glaring down at her. "What have you done?" She asked coldly, harshly.
"I-I didn't mean to!" Era squeaked, "I didn't realize we were going that fast, I didn't think I was going to do that! I'm sorry, it was an accident!"
"You destroyed part of our home." The alicorn growled, "Leave. You are not welcome here anymore."
"B-But I did as you said!" Era cried, "I won! I beat them in a race!"
"But you also destroyed part of our home, and injured them in the process." The alicorn coldly replied. "Leave, or I'll send the unicorn guard after you.. And tell him to use every water spell he knows."
Era gasped, taking a step back, before running off, spreading her wings and flying away quickly, wanting to get away from them. She hadn't meant for this to happen. She didn't mean for any of it. She was just doing as she was told! The pheonix sniffled, trying not to cry. She didn't think they'd be that fast. She didn't think they'd push her to making a sonic boom. She didn't know, didn't mean to.. And yet she was being punished for it, an accident, just as Ember had been.