Lightening cracked across a tumultuous sky, strobing the Everfree Forest in harsh light and creeping shadows.  Wind howled through the trees filling the air with a spectral wail as branches and leaves snapped and flailed through the air.  Galloping through the downpour, a lone cloaked figure kicked up thick gobbets of mud as it blazed through the untamed forest.  Ducking, weaving, tripping, the figure sped as fast as it's legs could take them.  It did not pause to look behind for the pursuers it new were somewhere behind; how far was unknown.<br/>A leaping over a final fallen log with a boom of thunder and the figure erupted from the forest, galloping over hill and stream before slipping down a bank.<br/><br/>"Ah struth..."  Muttered the figure as he flicked mud from his eye.  A brief look to the sky and he thought he saw the faint shape of his pursuer between the lightening.<br/>In the distance, a village.  Shelter.  Refuge.  Hiding.<br/>He drew his hood back over his head and took off at a bolt.  No time to waste.  No time at all.  That well!<br/>Skidding to a halt at the village center, the figure, Malachite, yanked the pack from his back and in a move that nearly made him yelp in heartache; he dropped it down the well.<br/>"Be safe."<br/><br/>The rain eased off and the thunder was becoming less frequent.  No time to waste; time to hide.  With a whinny, Malachite ran through the village till he came to a home with it's lights on inside.  He skidded across the ground again, too fast to stop in time and slammed painfully into the door.<br/>"Ouch..." He said, rubbing his nose.  A strong hoof on the door.  "Any pony home?"