Just a Little Stroll (in a Dangerous and Dark Forest)

Switchblade nods "It certainly is, nice weather and friendly ponies. Where in Ponyville do you live?" he asked, glancing at the area around them.

"Near hall. Many pony there." Yuan said. "What about you?" she asked, no better question crossing her mind.

Switchblade smiled "I work and live in the cogshop on cobblestreet, do you know where that is?" he asked, to make sure that she understood.

Yuan shook her head. "I can't understand. What's a cogshop?" she asked tilting her head.

Switchblade shrugged to himself, of course she wouldn't know "It's a forge that also creates mechanical items."

"I can't understand, but not important?" she replied. It seemed to get harder and harder to speak this language with each sentence. Maybe she was getting a little tired... or just couldn't focus on talking anymore.

"Okay." Switchblade said, taking a map of Ponyville out and marking where his house was "There you go." he said, handing the map to Yuan.

"Oh, I understand! Nice place there?" she asked.

Switchblade nodded "It's nice in my opinion, you'll have to visit sometime; I don't get many visitors." he said casually "What's your house like?"

"I be happy to visit any time." Yuan said, and maybe she was even smiling a little bit. "I not have house. I have nice room in big house." Yuan said, face becoming expressionless again.

"Oh." Switchblade said curiously "So you live with a friend?" he asked, noticing her change in expression.

"No no. I pay nice pony to give me room." Yuan replied, then looked around. "You say forest is danger. We should leave? I hear animal." she said, ear twitching in attempt to hear the faint noise better.

Switchblade shrugged "we're close to the path, we should be fine." he said calmly "The worst things stay away from the path." he thought about Yuan saying that she had to pay rent "Oh, and if you ever need help with rent, I'll always be happy to lend a few bits"

Yuan nodded, showing that she understood what he said, then she said: "Oh, rent is fine. I use to be rich family, I can pay rent." She then adds: "Thank you for consider...ing." It was hard for her to remember what she had learnt to say in such situation. She almost forgot the 'ing' from the end of the word. She decided to pay lot of attention to how this pony talked. He seemed to use proper grammar, and long sentences: something that is perfect for learning new words.

Switchblade nodded "You are very much welcome, Yuan. You speak very well for somepony from far away, you know." he said, obviously complimenting her on her language and grammar.

"Oh, you think so? Thank you, nice to hear." Yuan says, smiling a little again.

At that moment, a bush a few metres away from them rustled and the glaring eye of a timberwolf peered through, Switchblade immediately froze and gestured for Yuan to copy "I don't think it sees us yet." he whispered to her "So don't panic". He kept his eyes looking at the creature.

Yuan was facing away from the bush, so she did not see the monster. But she understood something dangerous DID actually appear here, and that she mustn't move. She did not reply in words, she sent a questioning look towards Switchblade instead.

Switchblade did not reply, but rather drew his sword slowly, then the creature looked at him with a snarl, as it went to run at him, he swung his scimitar, conjuring a spear of light to fly from the blade and rip through the creature, sending it's head rolling to his hooves, still very much animate, Switchblade levitated it up and crushed the wood it was made of to dust before turning around to face Yuan "We should probably get moving." he said carefully "Although that one looked alone, there is a chance that it's pack is nearby."

Yuan looked at Switchblade, and asked: "What is this monster?" Her tone held little fear, she seemed much more curious than scared. "A whole pack? Live here? How dangerous?" She was very excited about finding finding an animal, or monster, she has never seen before. Sh wasn't really about to leave. "You can kill one, true? One pack not that bad! I can help." Yuan rarely spoke this much, but this was a special case... something so amazing it made her talk a lot.

Switchblade shook his head "Killing them isn't that easy, I can deal with one timberwolf easily, but the thing which makes them dangerous is that they can rebuild themselves if not completely destroyed, so a pack would give you no time to destroy them and you would be overpowered. Best for us to just get some distance from this area."

"Oh, timberwolf sound very strong. I want to see more timberwolf, but I not want to mess with pack, then." Yuan said, nodding. "Let's go." she added, and started heading off towards the path.

Switchblade nodded "I should probably lead; I know this forest." he said, eyes still scanning around them as they walked.

Yuan nodded and followed Switchblade. She jumped a little every time she heard the sound of an animal, or the wind behind her. She was afraid of the monsters lurking around here, but her curiosity still wanted to keep her in the forest. Lost in her thoughts, she barely payed attention to the pony walking in front of her.

The pair walked for a while until they reached a clearing, Switchblade stopped in the center of it and looked up at the emerging stars "They must look different in your land. Like they are arranged differently." he said to Yuan