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Nightjar

Her hooves were bandaged and the bruises covered by plasters. The zebra had also applied a balm that kept the sores void of pathogens and supported the healing process.

Gloom looked at the cup before her and then back into the eyes of the mulberry alicorn; nodding and giving a polit affirmative.

Twilight smiled, put two rocks of demerara into the cup and poured the hot black tea onto them. After she had done the same with the other two cups, though leaving the sugar aside, she sat herself opposite to Zecora. She took her cup in her magic, floated it to her mouth and gently blew on it.

After a short silence Twilight and Zecora got to talk. Talk about Discord and how he behaved. Talk about some townsponies. And Talk about magic potions.

After Twilight had finished her tea though, she decided that that was enough smalltalk, for her interest had already been picked when Zecora stood before her door, a filly on her back. Twilight didn't know for certain yet but she suspected that the filly was a stray.

Gloom was staring out the window of the library as she heard the question for her name. She only slowly turned her head to look at the Unicorn. Just before her host was about to repeat her query she gave her the answer. When Twilight furrowed her brow, Gloom turned her gaze back to the window and the passing ponies on the outside.

Zecora glanced at the filly but quickly turned her attention to the Ponyville librarian. She gathered her thoughts and began to tell her friend how she came to encounter the child in the woods and how she had tried to make Gloom tell her where the filly's home was and how she had only received absent stares. The zebra also voiced her hopes for help from the newly crowned princess and was rewarded with an assuring affirmative and smile.

Suddenly quiet words cut through the air. Words of Him and how he walked among them, devouring them all. As Gloom talked her gaze never left the window.

ʘ

She walked. On without an end in sight. She had been running but her physical stamina had left her and only one thought kept her from toppling over. She didn't want to get caught. She so desperately wanted to turn around. But she mustn't. *He was following. She could sense his presence and if she turned around or only looked over her shoulder he would catch her.*

She stumbled through the undergrowth on sore hooves. It was weird, having a physical body. And it felt so weak. She had been on hoof since several days. Since *he found her. She again tried to go faster but the only thing increasing speed was her ragged breathing. At least her eyes wouldn't fail her. She noticed every glowing lifeforce, every soul of every plant and animal pass her despite the near absolute darkness caused by the dense canopy.*

ʘ

She slowly drifted back to the presence as she heard her name being spoken towards her. Then again. Closer. She snapped her head around and stared intently into violet eyes.

Stammering Twilight stepped back again and repeated her question regarding where Gloom's home was. The filly didn't answer and her eyes again wandered to the window.

Deciding enough was enough Twilight walked in-front of the filly and gave her a stern look before she began berating her about politeness and how she did exactly the opposite.

Gloom tilted her head while attentively listening. She never had any contact with others than him and that didn't exactly teach her any social skills. So she listened and as Twilight ended Gloom answered with a slight nod and only a vocal.

The alicorn only raised an eyebrow at that but didn't give any other reaction. Instead she walked back to her place and sat down again. After taking a sip from her refilled cup of tea she again asked Gloom about her family and home.

She didn't have either. She never had. Gloom told them so. With wide eyes the alicorn appologised. Why? Was that something bad? Gloom couldn't see how. Though she did have no clue of real ponies.