Finding Cora

Cora rapped on the door of Evin's hut. Evin's deep voice bid her inside, and she stepped in. Cora had never been in Evin's hut before. The walls were richly decorated with tribal masks and other ornaments. Two bamboo lanterns flanked the entryway.

Cora took a deep breath and stepped between them. There she saw Evin sitting in a bamboo chair. He nodded for her to sit opposite him.

“Welcome to my home. I take it you have never been in here before?” Evin looked a little intimidating sitting down, and it took a good deal of Cora's courage not to cringe.

Cora was startled. “No, Evin. I haven't been here until now. I thought I could only come in by your invitation.”

“You are correct, however,” Evin stated, “Do you really expect me to remember every zebra who has ever come into my hut? And how am I to know you have not sneaked in before? Many zebras have done that, though I would not recommend telling me.”

The near-grave expression in Evin's eyes lightened.

Cora bit her lip. She couldn't appear fearful. In truth her heart was pounding, waiting for Evin to say something else.

I can stay calm, she thought, I can be brave. Please say something, Evin.

To her relief, he did speak again. “Cora, you are here to make an important life decision as to what your craft and trade is to be. You may choose one that is open to all, but I have a different offer. You could be a quill crafter, as Ian is growing old. You could be a foal caretaker, although I think that job requires more patience than you possess. Or you could be my apprentice. Your knowledge of magic  is superb. But in the end it is your choice.”

Cora's heart stopped. This was the chance she'd been waiting for her whole life. But then again... Her thoughts flicked to her little sister. Her mother was dead. Her father had no time for either of his foals. She could never choose between the family and tribe she loved and following her true desire, while still being happy. Anyway, she wouldn't be gone forever. Lea could come with her. Lea wasn't that young anymore. She was fourteen years old, while Cora was eighteen.

“I've made my decision,” Cora told Evin.

“And it is,” Evin prompted.

“I'm going to travel. I'm going to look for the other ponies, not just zebras. I want to see the pegasi, the ponies that fly. I want to meet the unicorns I have learned so much about. I want to teach all of them the magic of zebras.”

“Cora,” Evin reasoned, “Zebras are solitary creatures. We live in our tribes, but we do not meddle in the doings of other ponies. Zebra magic has been held secret within our communities for centuries. You are not to say a word of it to these other ponies.”

“But then my mission is forfeit,” Cora sighed, “I'm going to bring the zebras out of their hiding. I want to bridge the kinds together.”

“But what about your sister? Lea has no other pony to go to.”

“She's coming with me. She always wanted to leave, if I left.”

Evin gave a heavy sigh of acceptance, and handed Cora a palm leaf book.

“Record your travels, so I can see them when you return.” He glared towards Cora. “Go.”

Cora left without another word.