The cold wind stung the tips of my ears. The snow crunched beneath my hooves, making hoof prints behind me. I blinked. I knew the lake wasn't far away, since I went there at least two times a week. The soft sound of icy water reached my ears. As I ducked under a tree branch, the blue river rushed. I looked down, my blue mane covering my face.
I breathed out, watching my steamy breath evaporate into the air. My eyes wandered around the white, bare, forest. "Hi!" I turned around quickly. "I didn't mean to scare you!" The colt scratched the back of his head.
"It's fine." I stood up to meet his gaze. "Are you new to the forest?" He nodded and smiled. Turning back around, I looked into the river. "Canterlot is back that way."
"I know that. That's the way I came." He pointed with his hoof. I looked back him. "I've actually been following you for a few weeks. That's why I know how to get here." The light grey colt came over and sat next to me. His eyes shone with happiness, something I didn't have. My hooves were starting to go numb.
"I should probably get back to Mrs. Kareby. She'll be looking for me." I stood, shaking the snow off my back. "She never ever finds out where I go. It's stupid." He turned to look back at me.
"Here, have my scarf." He pulled the red and green scarf off, handing it to me. "It's a bit cheesy, and it will cover up that bruise on your neck." He stood in front of me now, tying the scarf around me neck. "I'm Samuel by the way, I hope we can be friends." I nodded slightly.
"River. Rivers Song." I smiled. "And i'm glad I can be your friend." He unfolded his wings and pushed blue hair out of my eyes.
"Now, you should get going, I can hear her yelling." He lifted himself off the ground with a flap of his wings. "Bye, see you later." I watched as he flew away, his grey coat fading off into black. My hooves were cold, my ears, my muzzle, everything. I trotted my way out of the forest. It was quiet, except for the ponies sitting in restaurants talking. The street lights were flickering, and it was dark.
"River! There you are!" Mr. Kareby yelled from across the street. He was the husband of Mrs. Kareby, a drunk who came home from work late at night. Thursdays were his early days. I walked across the street, head low. His dark orange coat blended in with the lights. He growled and flicked his tail. "C'mon. Dinnertime is soon." I followed, my eyes wandering around.
His eyes were bloodshot, and he walked slow. He reeked of stale chips and was beat up pretty bad. He picked a piece of trash up with his magic, throwing it in a nearby trashcan. "Are the twins there?" I looked up.
"Yeah, they'll be here for the next week." He opened the door to the house, letting me in first. "Honey, I found her!" A short unicorn emerged from the kitchen.
"There you are, River. We were worried." She placed a salad bowl on the table. "The twins are here, their in their room. Go play." The college aged colts were some of the only ponies who cared about me, and since I would be moving to a new foster home soon...I wanted to spend more time with them.
"Hey, Snow Puck, Fire Ball." The twins looked over at me. "How's school going?" I sat down, looking around the room. They both had their halves, since each of them liked different things.
"The question is, how is school for you?" Snow Puck ruffled my short mane. I looked down at the floor. "Have you been getting bullied again?" I nodded slightly.
"It's okay, we can deal with them, ain't no bully gonna mess with our River." Fire Ball held up a hoofball. I laughed. Snow Puck was a pegasus who like hockey, and was his special talent. He had a beautiful white coat with light gray hair. Fire Ball, on the other hoof, had a fire orange coat, with blazing red hair. His special talent was hoofball.
"Thanks." My nose twitched. "I'm getting another piercing." Snow Puck sighed. "Sorry, I told you I wasn't getting another." I stood up. "Dinner is ready. Mrs. Kareby made daffodil soup. My favorite." We rushed out the door, sitting at the table.
"You're leaving for a new foster home tomorrow, River." Mr. Kareby sat down. I nodded slightly.
"Do I have to?" Mrs. Kareby served me some soup.
"Harold! You haven't told her yet?" The mare sat down next to him. He suddenly looked surprised. "River, we're adopting you. We already signed the papers, and we'll be your legal guardians next week." The twins high hoofed.
"Yeah! A sister!" I clapped. "I can finally teach you how to play hockey!" Fire Ball glared at him. I grabbed my glass of lemonade, gulping it down. I ate the soup, finishing it off quickly.
"Hoof ball!"
"Hockey!" As I watched them fight over sports, I giggled slightly. "It's not even hoof ball season." Fire Ball's face lost its scowl. "Haha! I win!" Mrs. Kareby picked up our plates with her magic.
"You get the spare bedroom, sweetie." Mrs. Kareby pointed to the the dark room in the large house. I nodded. The sun had gone down, only leaving the slight glow of the moonlight. I headed over, yawning. I turned on the light, pulling back the comforter and bed sheets down. I turned the lights back off, getting into the bed quickly.
I woke up, sweating. It was at least one in the morning, and everypony around me would be asleep. I got up, taking my pillow. I headed for Snow Puck and Fire Ball's room. Their soft snoring drifted from the room, soothing me. I opened the door, walking in. Snow Puck lifted his head. "River?" He rubbed his eyes.
"I had a nightmare." I put my head on the side of his bed. He sat up, picking me up and putting me on the other side of him. "Thanks, Snow." I closed my eyes, easily drifting off to sleep.
Snow Puck twitched, waking me. "Snow...Snow...Look outside." I opened my eyes, growling. "Sorry River." He looked down at the floor, his mane falling down into his eyes.
"It's okay." I kicked Snow Puck, his head lifting quickly. He fell out of the bed, making a loud noise on the ground. "You good?" I peeked over the edge. He was rubbing his head.
"Yeah, I guess. Is it snowing outside, Fire Ball?" The unicorn nodded. The white pegasus got off the floor, racing out the door. I followed, watching Mr.Kareby walk out of his room. He smiled a bit, then went to get his coffee. His orange coat disappeared into the kitchen. Fire Ball brought my attention back to him. He was putting his coat on, struggling with the zipper.
"Here's your coat, River. It has our schools name on it." He handed it to me. I slipped it on, looking at the name. Chrysanthemum University. It was white, almost as white as Snow Puck's pelt.
"C'mon! There is a fresh layer of ice!" Snow Puck opened the door violently, grabbing my hoof and dragging me out. The fresh layer of snow shone. "Your school is the best place for snowball fights!" I ran after him, my hooves thrumming on the icy ground.
"Wait! Cherry Cheer and Blossom Daisy will be there...They'll hurt me..." I wiped away a tear. "Hit me...Beat me..." Snow Puck stopped. Fire Ball sat next to me, his eyebrows furrowed.
"They ain't no more. They ain't gonna do it. Let's go." We stood, now walking. "Okay you'll go in first, then we'll come in, alright?" I nodded slowly. We trotted to the school, the fresh layer of snow covering the equipment.
"Hello, Misfit." I turned to see Cherry Cheer and Blossom Daisy. Both had smirks on their faces. "What're you doing here. This is our space." The Unicorn spat. She walked forward, striking me with a hoof. I spat blood, shaking.
"Hey! Get off of her, you insignificant filly!" Fire Ball burst in. Cherry Cheer stepped back.
"Who are...They! Misfit! What did you do!" The pink filly growled.
"We're her older brothers. And stop calling her Misfit. She got adopted." Snow Puck stepped forward, eyes blazing like a never ending fire. Blossom Daisy stepped forward, hitting him. "The name's Snow Puck. Number one hockey player at Chrysanthemum University. And you." He poked a hoof into her chest. "Are a bully."
"We'll get you back, Misfit." They ran away. Fire Ball pulled me into a hug, rubbing my back. I cried into his chest. A cold snowball flew into my back.
"It ain't gonna stop us from having fun, is it River?" Snow Puck had already started building a base. I threw a snowball at Fire, scrambling to find shelter. I built a small shelter, making snowballs.
"Haha! ain't gonna get me now!" I threw a ball at Fire's shelter. The colts had teamed up. My family was around me...It gave me hope.
