ECHIDNA

Wait

The train rolled to Appleloosa, and Fluttershy looked outside of the window. She had paid a lot of bits to purchase a seat in first class, but she was enjoying what she had paid so much for: solitude.

She was wearing a large, yet thin, hat, that hid well her form – courtesy of Rarity -, and a pair of shades over her eyes, and she was looking away from the corridor; she had never met anypony during one of these trips that could have recognized her, but you can never be too sure.

The cottage had been left in the capable paws of Angel Bunny; she smiled at the concerned look on his face while he had seen her take flight – take flight! - in the early morning, while the sky was still so very dark, to take the very first train. He didn't know why she left, from time to time.

And Fluttershy was sure that it was for the best.

Once in Appleloosa, her contact would provide her with the room for the night, waiting for the next train, the one that would have taken her to Dodge City, and then... then to the South.

She had yet to feel it again, though; passing her hoof idly on her chest, she reflected that, maybe, if she didn't feel anything to the time she came to Dodge City, maybe she had been wrong. It was definitely too early. The last... occurrence had been four months before, and the second last one, four months prior.

Maybe she was going to come do Dodge City and just enjoy a day or two of vacation... maybe, who knows, befriend a few of the animals living there, see if she could help...

The noise of the doors opening made her start, and a little eeep of surprise came out of her mouth; she looked at who was coming in, and it was just the mare with the sweets hand-cart. She briefly had a flash of what Pinkie's face would look like at such a sight.

She just waved away at the gesture of the mare to offer her a few candies, maybe a hay sandwich, or a small bottle of fresh cider?

Fluttershy looked down and away, and she was relieved when the mare left for the next car.

Better to stay alone. Yes, alone. No contact with anypony, and just wait for something to happen. For the dull pain to return, or for it to go away.

Fluttershy passed her tongue on a pair of very dry lips.

Just wait.

The train kept rolling, its soft hum on the rails echoing the beat of the heart in Fluttershy's chest.