Author's Note

The story continues! Woo!

Rivers and Snakes

Thistle dug her hoof into the ground. She shook out her mane, noting that the dirt wasn’t as soft as in the meadow, nor as dark, but it wasn’t packed tight like it would be in a drought. Looking at the plant life, this was all stuff with deep roots, but everything was vibrant and green. Rain probably only fell here during a certain season. Late summer or early fall, if she had to hazard a guess.

She clucked her tongue, realizing it would be a while before any rain fell. It was early summer now, and promised to be a blistering one. It had been three days since they’d left the meadow. It had been two days since they’d found any water.

‘Good thing Elder Enduring taught us how to make gourds.’ She patted her own water gourd. It was empty now that she’d shared the last of what she had with Enduring. If she wanted more she was going to have to find it.

Unconsciously, Thistle looked over her shoulder at the older mare. She was napping now in the shade, worn out by the daily trek as always.

The other two gourds, one filled with oat grains and the other with nuts, hung heavy around her neck. She scratched at the itchy hemp string as she turned back towards the forest around her.

She closed her eyes, focusing on hearing and scent. She could hear the chirping of birds and the chattering of squirrels. The squirrels in particular were loud today. She opened her eyes, looking up at a tree to her right. Three squirrels chased each other around the trunk and over the branches, probably competing over a female.

Lots of squirrels meant few owls and hawks. Now if she could figure out if there were a lot of rabbits around she’d know something of interest to the herd. A lot of rabbits would mean few wolves, but too few rabbits meant there was a large and active wolfpack on the prowl.

She sniffed, trying to pick up the scent of any larger animals. Birds, squirrels, and rabbits could get the water they needed from their food if they had to, but a larger animal would need a pond or stream, even a creek would do.

Closing her eyes, she focused on what the forest had to tell her. Rustling leaves, chirping birds, chattering squirrels, and something else, something being carried on the wind.

Quack Quack Quack!

Ducks! Thistle’s eyes popped open, facing the direction the sound had come from. They sounded low, meaning they must have found water to nest by.

She checked on Enduring one more time before she started off. She kept one ear turned back, keeping track of the herd. If she lost the voices of the foals at play she’d turn around and find an adult to walk with her. It wasn’t safe to go too far from the herd by herself. Too many things could prey on a young filly.

To her frustration, she did lose their voices. She stamped her hoof in disgust and reluctantly turned back around. The ducks would quiet down soon, and make it that much harder to find the water. She broke into a straight gallop back to the safety of the herd.

Once back in the herd she scanned the adults for Shiny Rock. The piebald mare had claimed a patch of daisies for herself. Thistle trotted forward, weaving around the adults and foals still moving around.

“Shiny Rock?” She called once she was close enough. The older mare groaned and swallowed her meal.

“What is it, Thistle?” She sighed.

“I think I’ve found water, but it’s farther from the herd than I feel safe going alone.” She explained. The ponies nearby all perked up at the prospect of water, Shiny herself included.

“Let’s get going then.” Shiny gracefully surrendered her daisy patch to a mare and her foal.

Thistle nodded and pretended she didn’t find a half dozen grown ponies following a foal to be ridiculous. Why couldn’t any of them have helped before now? Having only one water finder didn’t seem like such a smart idea.

She didn’t like being in the lead. What if she was wrong? What if she couldn’t find any water and all these ponies got mad at her for it? Thistle walked a little faster, hoping to leave the doubts and fears behind.

She didn’t have long to worry though, because the next bend in the trail brought the sound of a river. With an excited whinny, she shot forward. In mere moments she was standing on the shore of a slow-flowing river, cool and clean. The group fell upon the water with glee, drinking their fill and filling their gourds, those who had them anyway.

Thistle filled her gourd and her stomach. She licked her lips and leaned back onto her haunches with a sigh. The sun shined off the water’s surface. It was a little hard to look at. The last time she’d seen a river like this she’d been four, and her dam had carried her across on her back.

That one had been wider though, and the current stronger.

Thistle yawned, tired out from a day of walking and lessons. Confident that nothing too dangerous lay between the river and the herd, she didn’t bother to wait for Shiny or the others to get tired of the water.

Back with the herd she located the Lead Mare quickly. True Blue was laying on the grass, dozing off. Thistle walked forward until one of True’s ears flicked towards her. She didn’t speak until the Lead Mare begrudgingly opened one of her eyes.

“I’ve found a river, not too far from here.” She gestured with her head.

“Oh?” Both her eyes open now, she climbed to her hooves. “You’ve done well today, Thistle Burr.”

Thistle tried not to beam in pride at the compliment. It was hard. Even though somepony else could have found the river, they hadn’t, she had, and she’d used Enduring’s and her dam’s lessons to do it.

She went to find Enduring and found her still asleep. Thistle curled up beside her to take her own nap. There was water, plenty of grass, and a cool patch of shade to sleep in. What more could she possibly ask for?

Unbidden, the memory of that strange Light intruded on her thoughts even as she drifted off to sleep.

“Up and at’em, Burr.” Thistle groaned, rolling away from the prodding hoof digging into her side. “Don’ give me none o’ dat, lil’ filly. Somepony tol’ me yew went n’ found us some water?”

“Yeah,” She yawned, rubbing sleep from her eyes. “Wanna go?”

“Yew betcha.” The old mare laughed. “Come on, sleepy hooves, get ta movin’.”

“I’m moving, I’m moving!” She giggled.

“Yup, dis looks jus’ ‘bout perfect.” Enduring nodded as they came into sight of the river.

“Perfect for what, Elder?” Thistle cocked her head to the side.

“Swimmin’ lessons.” The older mare explained with a careless gesture. “No better time ta learn.”

“Oh.” She thought about that for a minute. She’d never been deeper than her hocks before, unless she was on the back of her dam.

“Alrightie den, bite my tail der, Burr.” Enduring instructed. “Don’ yew let go fer nothin’, got it? Good, now keep yer nose up and move yer legs like yew was tryin’ ta trot.”

Instruction given, they waded into the water. Thistle squeaked as the water touched her barrel, shivering as it came up past her withers. She kicked, trying to do what Enduring had told her to. The water made her movements seem slow and clumsy, but she was able to keep her nose above the water. She took some comfort in Enduring’s tail, confidant the old mare would pull her back to the surface if she slipped under.

It was a struggle to take a full breath, and she grew tired quickly. Every so often Enduring would turn back towards the shallows to allow her to catch her breath.

“Ye dun good so fer.” Enduring noticed. “Dis time try it widout my tail.”

“…Uh, okay.” Thistle panted. Once she had her breathing under some kind of control she stepped into the deeper water. When she could no longer feel the ground beneath her hooves she kicked out and stuck her nose up. It wasn’t as bad as she thought it would be. She’d worried that without Enduring’s tail she might slip under but she was able to keep her head above the water just fine.

“Alrightie, come on back now.” Enduring called her back to the shallows. “Dun’ wanna overdo it, eh reckon da Lead Mare will keep us here fer a day or two.”

“Brrr.” Thistle shivered, shaking the water from her coat.

“C’mon now, best way ta warm up is ta get movin’.” Enduring nudged her until Thistle reluctantly broke into a gallop. The two of them ran up and down the riverbank until they were both warmed and panting from the exertion.

“Enduring, look! Bluebells!” Thistle cheered. Bluebells were among her favorite flowers. A small patch of them were growing right by the water’s edge.

“I smell’em.” Enduring commented, bowing her head for a bite. “Nice n’ sweet.”

“Mmm.” Thistle moaned around her own mouthful. It was too bad flowers didn’t save well, she’d like to put a bunch of these in a gourd for winter.

“Burr, move back towards me. Dun’ look around, dun’ ask why, jus’ move towards me now, filly.” Enduring’s voice was cold. Tight with fear.

What was it? What was there? What had the elder seen? Thistle slowly inched sideways until she bumped into Enduring’s front hooves.

“Good filly, now jus’ go under my barrel to da oder side.” Enduring told her. “Yer doin’ good, Burr. Brave lil’ filly.”

“What is it, Enduring?” She whimpered, already moving beneath her.

“I smell a snake.” The older mare answered honestly. Thistle froze up, half under the older mare. A snake? What kind of snake? Poisonous? She swept her eyes over the flower patch, looking for a color that didn’t belong.

There! A flicker of tan among blues and greens. Thistle gulped, taking in the triangle shaped head and the darker markings along its body. She didn’t know what kind of snake it was, but if somepony asked she’d be able to describe it later. She continued moving, stopping only when Enduring was between her and the snake.

The older mare relaxed a hair then, snorting harshly and glaring vaguely at the flower patch.

“Go fetch a stallion, Burr, eh’ll keep an eye on da nasty varmint.” She swore.

“Okay,” Thistle backed away, turning to gallop when she thought she was a safe distance away.

The first stallion she came across was Oak Leaf. Green over brown, well-muscled and one of the largest stallions in the herd. Only the Lead Stallion was bigger. Thistle slowed down as she got close to him.

He’d been her dam’s mate. He was Thistle’s sire, and would’ve been the sire of the foal her dam had lost. Thistle hadn’t ever spoken to him before, only seen him when he’d come to service Water Lily during her heats.

He was the closest stallion. Enduring was counting on her.

“U-Uh, Oak Leaf?” She stuttered, trying to stand as tall as she could.

“What?” He grumbled, lifting his head from the light doze he’d slipped into. He snorted when he saw her.

“There’s a snake, over there.” Thistle pointed towards Enduring and the bluebell patch.

He snorted again and shook out his mane. He looked in the direction she’d indicated and then checked over the layout of the herd.

“Go find the Lead Mare, tell her about the snake.” He ordered, moving past her towards Enduring.

Thistle, though relieved their interaction had ended, had to bite back a frustrated whinny. She didn’t want to leave Enduring alone so close to that dirty snake! Reluctantly, she scanned the area for the Lead Mare.

She found her in the water, almost all the way to the opposite shore. She floated alone, nopony else had drifted so far from the main body of the herd.

Her first instinct was to yell for her, but she choked on her tongue just in time. Visions of stampeding ponies filled her head. Shouting about a snake would be a sure-fire way of setting off a panic and getting ponies hurt.

She stamped her hoof, glaring at the water. The sun would be going down soon, and the water was no doubt even colder than it had been earlier. She groaned and waded in.

It was cold, absolutely freezing. Thistle shivered as she kicked away from the shallows. The cold made her motions even clumsier than earlier, and she didn’t have Enduring to act as a safety net this time.

She whinnied in fear, kicking faster. It was hard to get the air she needed, the water felt like it was crushing her rib cage. She took a deep breath and looked over at True Blue. She hadn’t moved. Thistle neighed and forced herself to keep going.

True Blue sighed as she heard somepony splashing up behind her. She’d swum out so far to get a little alone time from the herd. She was sore, big around with foal.

Well, time to see what somepony needed from her this time.

She turned around, searching out the source of the splashing. It took a confusing moment to locate the young foal paddling towards her. True Blue gasped as she recognized Thistle Burr, the sap-brown filly barely keeping her head over the water and still unerringly swimming towards her.

True had never seen such a young filly swim before, let alone swim the distance from one shore to another. It had to be thirty body lengths across! She quickly swam over, grabbed the filly by her mane, and flipped her onto her own back.

“And what foolishness drives you to swim so far, Thistle Burr?” She scolded.

“Enduring and I found a snake.” The filly’s teeth were chattering. “Oak Leaf told me to find you.”

“A snake? What kind?” True set out for the shore.

“I don’t know. It had a triangle head, was tan with darker triangle markings along its body.” Thistle described.

“A copperhead, likely.” True whinnied. That was just great, they finally find a good water source and of course there are poisonous snakes about. Why not? It was always something.

On the other shore she dropped Thistle Burr onto her own hooves. The filly took off like a bird, heading straight for Oak Leaf and Enduring Rock. The stallion was standing over a badly trampled bluebell patch while the older mare watched.

“Is it dead?” True asked Oak as they approached.

“It’s dead, nasty thing.” Oak snorted, recklessly kicking the body into view. True fought the urge to scold him, knowing that even in death a snake could deliver one last bite. “Got me once, just above the hoof.”

“Well now, ain’t dat somedin’.” Enduring muttered, coming up to them with Thistle Burr. “Burr, take a good look at dat bite, filly. Give it a good sniff too.” Thistle nodded and cautiously approached the stallion to do as the elder asked.

True shot Oak a hard look to ensure the stallion would stay still for the inspection. She wanted Thistle to learn as much as she possibly could from Enduring. The stallion grumbled but obediently held his hoof out for the filly.

“It smells…yucky. Like a dead thing.” She commented.

“Eeyup, dat dere’s da smell o’ poison in da wound.” Enduring nodded knowingly. “If da smell’s dat strong, probly a good dose o’ it.”

“A copperhead’s bite won’t kill a fully grown stallion.” True pointed out.

“Maybe, maybe not,” Enduring clucked her tongue. “But it sure will make’im awful sick fer a while.”

“How long is a while?” Oak scowled. Thistle was still studying the wound, comparing it to the corpse on the ground.

“Week or two, maybe.” Enduring shook her head. True winced. That was a long time to be ill, and Oak Leaf was one of their best stallions. “Might get it down ta three days if’n we can find da right plants.”

“There are plants you can use to treat snake bites?” Thistle’s eyes went wide with wonder.

“Sure nuff.” Enduring nodded, kicking the ground. “Alrigh’ Burr, we’re gonna need plantains, yarrow bark, soft-shoot leaves, and purple oleander. Dink yew can find all dat?”

“Plantains, yarrow bark, soft-shoot leaves, purple oleander, got it!” Thistle nodded in determination and started to set off.
True stomped her hoof over the filly’s tail to bring her up short.

“Thistle Burr,” She made sure the sap-brown filly was looking at her. “Do not let anypony else know of the snake. Understood?”

“Yes, Lead Mare.” The filly nodded, ears bent back. True nodded and raised her hoof, allowing the filly to race off to gather what she needed.

“Oak Leaf, stay near Enduring and Thistle until you heal, and dispose of the snake.” She added, wrinkling her nose at the corpse. Oak nodded and reluctantly began digging a hole to bury it in.

“Lead Mare? Do you have a minute?” True looked over her shoulder to see Shiny Rock standing back a bit. She hurried over so the other mare wouldn’t notice the snake.

“Yes, what is it, Shiny?” She sighed, feeling her foal kick her bladder.

“Two ponies have gone missing.” True frowned. The sun was going down, no pony should have wandered away from the herd, but she trusted Shiny to keep track of everypony, that’s why she’d assigned her to watch Thistle Burr.

“Who? When?” She asked, trotting away from the scene.

“Morning Dew and Mountain Shadow, they went downstream more than three hours ago and nopony has seen them since.” Shiny reported. True froze in her tracks, turning back over her shoulder in the direction Thistle Burr had raced off in.

She’d ran downstream and was already well out of sight.