Thoughts/Telepathic Communication between characters

Animals/Animal Spirits Speaking Human Tongue

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Meanwhile with Luna and Maurice

Deeper into the woods outside the village Luna and Maurice had stopped in a small clearing to have a small picnic for lunch, letting Philip drink from a nearby pond.

"Been quite this trip, huh," Maurice said as he ate. Luna playfully smacked her husband's arm, "Don't jinx such things dear. We're only halfway there."

Maurice chuckled at his wife, giving her a small nod as he left a small piece of his lunch by a tree, "There as thanks for the nice lunch."

Luna nodded to her husband as they began cleaning up their picnic, while Maurice checked the cart and harness before leading Philip back to the road.

He looked up at the sky as the wind began blowing, large clouds moving over head, "Looks like a storm is coming in. Hopefully we can get to the city before it starts coming down."

Luna sniffed the air as the wind blew, "Best move swiftly then."

Philip shook his mane out as they climbed back into the cart before continuing down the road, going at a bit faster trot till the forest around them grew darker and darker. The extra cloud cover made the tree coverage seem like night. Philip slowed his pass, Maurice lite a lamp as he could hear thunder roll in the distance, his tail twitching nervously as he lowered his head.

"Easy boy." Maurice encouraged him, "We'll be alright boy."

Soon they came to the crossroads with a post of several signs directing them to the various villages and towards the bigger cities. Luna looked over their map, looking back at the signs. Maurice stopped Philip at the post looking to Luna, "Which way, dear? Hardly anything looks familiar in this low light."

As Luna looked over the map Philip looked around them nervously as he heard rustling of leaves and faint movement just beyond his eyesight. Though it was difficult to identify if it was just the storm of there was something following them.

"Ha got it," Luna cheered, pointing to the left, " That way."

Philip looked down the path Luna had pointed to. It was far darker than the right with more tree coverage, while the right was opened and though the clouds covered the sun it was far more visible.

"Are you sure," Maurice asked looking from the map to the two roadways.

"Yes," Luna nodded, "It's not a well traveled road but it'll give us a nice short cut and more coverage from the storm if it beats us there."

Maurice gave her a nod in return, encouraging Philip forward.

Philip didn't move, "I don't like the feeling oof this."

"It'll be alright Philip," Luna encouraged him, "The quicker we move the faster we'll be at the city's stable."

With a reluctant huff Philip pulled forward down the road. It was uneven and patchy in places from the years of spars use and neglect. The woods around them began to seem less and less welcoming as they traveled deeper and deeper.

"I'd be more comfortable if any of this looked familiar," Maurice sighed. Thunder sounding closer to them, making Philip flinch in fear.

"Just a bit further loves," Luna said trying to ease their nerves, as well as her own as she clutched the pin of her fur cloak, "They'll be another split off up ahead. We take the right split and we'll at the city gates in no time."

Suddenly the area was brightened from a flash of lightning and a clap of thunder overhead. Philip let out a panicked nay as he reared up and took off running down the road.

"Woah, Philip," Maurice shouted at the horse through he didn't stop. Luna held onto her husband with a yelp as they rocketed down the thinning road, bouncing in their seats.

The scared horse didn't hear any of his masters panicked commands as he ran in pure terror just barely missing a sear drop-off, turning in time to miss it. Maurice gave another shout trying to stop Philip, luckily he was growing tired and began slowing his pass. It wasn't till a large rock stopped the cart to a sudden halt, almost throwing Maurice and Luna from the cart but were able to brace themselves.

"You alright, dear," Maurice asked looking over his wife.

"I'm alright, just a little sore in bum is all," Luna sighed stepping off the cart and going to calm Philip as he panted and shook his main, "What about you two?"

"My back will be feeling that tomorrow," Maurice groaned as he jumped off the cart before trying to find what had stopped them. Philip calmed some at Luna's touch.

"Is anything broken," Luna called back to Maurice.

"Wheels seem intact just stuck on a rock," Maurice answered. Luna then checked their cargo, "Nothing looks broken. Thank goodness. Just a bit reshuffled."

"Now where has Philip taken us," Maurice asked looking around them. The forest was as black as a moonless night, lightning cracked in the distance giving only faint flashes of visible light. The trees rustled eerily as the storm grew stronger.

"I'm not sure," Luna replied, "I think we went farther than we were supposed to go. We should double back, try and find the turn we were supposed to take."

Maurice gave a nod back to her, "Now just to get the cart unstuck."

Luna took the reins, "Come on, Philip. Back up."

As Philip backed up, Maurice helped push against the front of the cart. It was then Luna heard movement behind the trees. Fast, and many. She stopped Maurice and Philip, "Did you hear that?"

"What," Maurice asked looking up to her. Philip then caught the scent before even seeing them, his terror returning in full.

'Wolves!'

Luna saw the glowing eyes of wolves as they creped closer to them.

"Husband, slowly get back onto the cart," Luna whispered to him. Maurice gave a slow nod as he did as his wife said. She then encourages Philip forward, "Don't run, boy. Stay calm and we'll just pass through."

Philip nervously stepped forward, pulling the cart over the rock that had them stuck. The wolves stalked closer to them till one jumped at Philip from the side snapping at his heels. Philip kicked at the wolf as he took off again. Unleashing the whole pack onto them. Philip was fast but the unsteady road was not making pulling the cart any easier for the horse.

"Luna can't you talk to them?"

"I don't think they'll listen to me. And we are in their territory now. I can distract them so you can unhitch Philip."

Luna raised her hood changing into her wolf form and jumping from the cart, tackling one that was getting too close to them. She snapped at the wolf tossing him into another wolf, growling at the others as Maurice quickly unhitched Philip from the cart. The wolves moved closer on her as she tried to keep them back.

"Luna," Maurice called out as he rode Philip at the pack. The wolves scattered to not be trampled by the draft horse. Which gave Luna a chance to run beside him, but the wolves rallied and continued the chase. The two ran for their lives away from the wolves till a bolt of lightening caused the two to separate down different paths. Most of the chasing pack went after Luna while few others went after Maurice and Philip. Luna ran as fast as she could, managing to lose the wolves chasing her by slipping into a hollow log and quickly climbing a leaning tree onto a hanging ledge that she could hide from the wolves as they ran past her hiding place. Once the pack was out of sight, she tried to retrace her steps to find Maurice.

Maurice pushed Philip forward not really caring where they went till, he noticed the wolves had stopped chasing him and that the woods had disappeared into a clear, stone pathway, leading to a castle. Maurice looked back at the wolves as they glared at him from a barred gate before running back into the forest. With the threat gone he could breathe a little easier and slowed down Philip to a trot. By now it was pouring rain onto them.

"Now where are we boy," Maurice asked looking around at the strange, dark, and silent castle as he steered Philip to a stable in front of the castle, "At least there is someplace you can rest and recover some."

Philip gave a relieved sigh as Maurice dismounted and led him into the stable.

"Hello," he called out as he entered the stable. It was oddly empty but warm, with fresh bedding and water in the trough. Philip happily went to an empty stall and began to drink the fresh water. Maurice gave a small shrug before removing his bridle and harness so he could eat, get dry, and relax for the night, "Well while you rest, and we hope for Luna to find this place I'll go see our host. Maybe we can stay the night and get warmed up."