When he finally slid to a stop, his mouth and nostrils were full of dirt, his mane was dripping with sweat, and he was completely unconscious... but the cart and it's cargo were here in one piece.
''HARCOURT?!!'' Winter completely freaking out after he collapsed onto the ground, face planted full into the dirt. She ran towards him quickly, trying to drag him away from the shadows as fast as possible with the cart still attached to him. The dark wave of shadows waved around the 3 ponies and griffon like a the sea during the full moon.
''Summer, NOW!'' The mare shouted to the stallion who immediately and literally jumped into action. His horn started glowing, brown like his eyes, creating a large shield out of what seemed like a dark smokey cloud, turning everything into darkness. Winter took cover near her unconscious friend when the shield shattered with a loud cracking bang into shards which then pulverized into million little pieces, leaving nothing but dust floating in the wind.
''Haha, that will teach them not to mess with us!'' The mare laughed while she hoof-bumped the stallion.
''Are you completely out of your mind?'' Winter yelled angry as she got up on her four paws again. ''Do you think this is laughing matter?''
''Hey, you better calm down griffon! Instead you can show a little appreciation, we just saved your life and your friend. Those shadows would have shred you to pieces if we didn't come rescuing you fools.'' The mare replied as she walked up to Winter with an angry pace. ''Unless you wanna start a fight sister? I'm all for it.''
''Oi! Calm down Dreamy!! This ain't a time to start fighting.'' Summer said, trying pull apart the two before it turned into hoofs vs paws. ''We came here for a reason, remember?''
The mare took a few steps back, hissing to herself a few times before she calmed down again. ''Look, we gotta get out of here before the other shadows get word. Try to wake up your friend so we can go. And don't give me that look. You just got to trust us okay? We ain't bad ponies, honest.''
''It seems I don't really have a choice anyway. I'll do what I can to wake him.'' Winter said while she knelt down in front of the old stallion, trying her best to get him out of his current state.