Maud finished her early morning chores, and prepared to go visit the market for some supplies. She looked down at her shopping list, carefully checking over each item.
-Shamrock lettuce
-Cherry stones
-Rocky road ice cream
-Hailstones for freezer
-Ground shale
Nodding in satisfaction, she placed the list into her frock's pocket. From the other, she produced a small smooth stone.
"Sorry boulder," She said blandly. "you can't come this time. I need you to stay and meet the mailmare to sign for a package I'm expecting."
She frowned ever so slightly.
"Don't give me that look." She droned. "you'll be fine. I will be back in an hour. Stay out of trouble please." With that, she gave him a gentle pet and placed him on her table, completely unaware of a blue shadow watching from the window.
~ ~ ~
As promised, Maud returned in exactly 1 hour. (She prided herself on being punctual.) Her aqua blue eyes dully surveyed the room. She found only one thing out of place.
Boulder was gone.
"Boulder?" Maud called, voice never changing a shade. She checked under the couch for the fifth time, and in her pocket for what seemed like the 100th time. "I'm not in the mood for Camouflage right now. Where are you?"
No answer.
The edges of her mouth twitched down slightly. Maud was worried.
~ ~ ~
The grey earth pony usually was calm and collected, but the loss of her pet was wearing on her nerves. Her irises were much smaller than usual, and the edges of her hair was fraying.
She was a mess.
Maud had searched her entire house top to bottom without any success. The only clue she had found as to his dissaperance, was a bright blue feather next to an agape window. She had deduced that somepony broke in, and stole her pet. Nothing else. Why?
She stepped out the window onto her roof. It was flat on that portion of her house. Her eyes again scanned her surroundings. One south side shale shingle (try saying that 3 times fast) was out of place.
Somepony slipped.
Maud examined it closer. A tiny speck of bright blue dust. Whoever was there, a bit of their hoof nail had rubbed off. Her eyes slowly shifted to Ponyville. Frown deepening. Only one pony she knew, knew everypony.
And she might be able to answer just a few questions about it.