Moon Wolf

Chocolate Eyes

When you were alive your presence taught me to live life in the moment without waiting for tomorrow. But after your death, your absence has taught me to live life like there is no tomorrow.

Maya flinched out of her dream as her warm forest surroundings blurred into mold of darkness behind closed eyelids. She was surrounded by an unfamiliar warmth, everything hazy and soft. She'd never felt this before. Her consciousness barely registered the sleeping figure she heard breathing beside her as she was still recovering from the shock.

...Where am I? she thought slowly, her brain still waking up. She tried moving but groaned lowly as her body started reminding her head of her current state. She was stiff and stung in multiple places. Muscles she didn't know she had throbbed with misuse and she knew they would hurt when strained. Aside from the plush weight underneath her body she felt parts of her legs, forehead, and underbelly wrapped up tightly. Her head was sunk into something plush and feathery and she also felt... different. An unknown feeling like something was missing.

She remembered now, the dream slowly receding as her memory returned.

I'm... I'm not a wolf anymore... she remembered. And... someone found me... Even though she was conscious, her body was still exhausted. It had probably only been a few hours since she'd fallen asleep. She was starting to realize someone was next to her when her belly growled.

When was the last time I ate? She remembered a caribou her pack had caught a few days before the fight and groaned in regret. Damnit... she cursed internally. She needed to eat something.

She reached out lazily, gaining a bit of energy through the pain that was met, and her hoof hit a large lump. She strained to open her eyes and was met with a buttermilk ear poking out from the thick covers covering their frame. She stopped to admire the mane that came from underneath before she prodded a bit harder. 

Help. Me. I'm. Hungry. She thought. She gave a final annoyed shove and the blanket flew up as the equine sat up quickly. Maya quickly withdrew her hoof, startled at the sudden movement when she saw...

Wings? Is this another pony?

A pegasus?

Maya saw the figure look from side to side in the dark, panicked. Maya reached out and found her hoof in the dark. Calm down! Sweet Mother Moon! The pegasus turned quickly to her hoof and then followed Maya's arm to her face.

"Oh..." she sighed in relief. "You're awake," she spoke with a soft voice that reminded her of only one wolf.

Mom...

The pegasus hummed and looked away, then turned back to Maya. "It's almost four so you've only slept four hours. If you don't want me to be here I can go to my own room." She started to get up. "I just thought I should stay in case-" Maya grabbed desperately at her hoof.

Don't leave me alone, please don't. I don't want to be alone. The pegasus paused for a moment and then she was laying back down beside her and laid a reassuring hoof on Maya's. "Alright, it's okay, I'm not going anywhere." Maya swallowed and and let out a guttural noise, testing out her throat. "M... Ma... ya..." she croaked. 

"Maya?" Maya sighed with relief and closed her eyes. "Maya..." Maya barely heard the voice but could clearly hear the amusement in her next words. "Go to sleep Maya."

So she did.

~o0o~

Maya woke to the sound of muffled conversation and a delicious smell making her stomach growl furiously.

That is not caribou...

Maya opened her eyes. The room was dim as pale sunlight flowed through a small window behind white curtains. The room itself was small, like a large closet with a window. A blanket was folded neatly next to her on top of a folded up mattress and a pillow on top, triggering her memory of when she'd woken up before.

There was a pegasus... she thought. Her stomach growled again and she groaned. She tried to sit up, but was met with a sharp pain in her rib cage making her whine and lay back down to help the pain subside. She listened to the muffled conversation until she heard the creak of wood moving and then clip clops as one of the ponies trotted in.

The first thing she noticed about this pony was the silky brown hair and buttermilk fur that she remembered from last night. The second thing she noticed were the giant dark brown eyes that met hers warmly, like a mother's. The final thing she noticed that brought her out of her daze was the tray of food she carried in on her back, held up by her slightly unfolded wings. She smiled and sat down next to Maya, her hooves tucked neatly underneath her. "I brought you some food, Maya." THANK THE STARS.

She turned her head and grabbed the tray in her mouth then turned back around and placed it in front of her. That pony must have a strong jaw because the tray consisted of a bowl of soup that smelled delicious, a small side plate of cheese, grapes, strawberries, and another small side plate of...

What is that? she thought. Low and behold, a red and white cake with white frosting and a strawberry on top sat next to the bounty. "I know you're healing and probably shouldn't have sugar but I thought some cake might raise your spirits," said the pegasus. Maya felt like she was drooling. She was happier just by looking at it. "Although, you may need help eating..." Chocolate Eyes (Maya deemed her) tilted her head as if asking permission to help. Maya nodded weakly and the other mare's questioning gaze brightened, once again reminding her of her mother.

Chocolate Eyes helped her sit up, her pain somehow forgotten as she stared at the cake. Heaven... she thought as Chocolate eyes picked up and filled the spoon with soup. She blew on it before putting it in Maya's mouth. I am in heaven. The soup was hot but didn't burn her tongue and moistened her dry mouth as well as warmed her broken body. The soup was gone in a matter of minutes. They went on to the cheese and fruits and then finally,

The cake.

The second it touched her tongue she knew she was actually dead and none of this was real. Chocolate Eyes fed her in silence, aside from small giggles or smiles when Maya opened her mouth for more or when she just stopped chewing to praise the flavor. There was also the muffled conversation but Chocolate Eyes didn't seem to hear it so she didn't say anything. It's not like she could talk, her throat was swollen even after the food. 

Once she finished, Chocolate Eyes gathered everything on the tray and helped her lay down. She picked up the tray again and balanced it on her back like it was nothing.

"You should get some more sleep. You were hurt pretty bad..." she said but Maya was three steps ahead of her. She stuffed her face in the pillow and listened as Chocolate Eyes trotted out of the room. There was the soft creak of wood, the shutting of the door, and then back to the muffled conversation. With a full belly and a sweet taste in her mouth, she fell asleep.

Straight into a nightmare.