Helping Ponies

“I honestly don’t know what to make of this.” Thistle sat and watched the Lead Mare stare into the fire. The Lead Mare looked at Thistle then back to the flames, seeming no less flummoxed than when she’d walked in. “I really don’t know what to make of this.”

To be fair, she’d walked into the Lead Mare’s hut carrying a burning stick and a bundle of wood on her back. True Blue had simply watched, holding her filly back from the flickering flames. Shiny Rock and Rock Slide seemed equally confused and uncertain. Hope Springs stared without emotion.

“It’s warm.” Thistle offered Mountain’s best argument for the unpredictable foe.

“It is nice to feel warm.” Shiny Rock muttered, tentatively inching closer.

“Let’s…Let’s start the meeting. We’ll discuss fire when we get to it.” True Blue shook her head. Rock Slide took that as his cue to begin.

“Couple of mares were in the western forest, foraging, when that monster attacked them.” He reported. “They took off running for the village, screaming about fire and birds.”

“When the Other ponies heard that, they started panicking. Some took to the hills, took them a few hours to feel brave enough to come back.” He paused, then looked at Shiny expectantly.

“There are still two ponies unaccounted for. One we know ran towards the orchard. The other no one’s seen since this morning.” She offered. “Picked Fruit ran for the orchard. The other one is a stallion named Cliff Face.”

“Let’s hope they make their way back to us.” True Blue decided. “I don’t think anypony is feeling brave enough to go looking for them.”

Thistle would, if she was asked. She hoped no pony would ask. It was dark out and there were apparently flaming birds eager to claw ponies’ eyes out.

“What occurred after that?” She sighed, massaging her temples.

“The fire bird, what did your ponies call it? A peenex?” Rock Slide prompted Hope Springs.

“A phoenix. Don’t ask me where the name came from.” She shrugged.

“Mountain Shadow and I were inside the food storage building when we heard screaming.” Shiny explained. “We grabbed our spears and ran out. To her credit, when faced with her first monster Mountain Shadow didn’t hesitate before charging after it. I’m also impressed by that colt, Silent Current.”

“I thought his name was just Current.” Thistle cocked her head in confusion.

“Then the title is spreading quickly, three ponies described him that way.” She considered this for a moment. “He is the mute colt, isn’t he? I can see where the name came from.”

“Bright Finish is taking the place of his sire for the spring ritual.” Hope offered.

“Mountain Shadow wounded the beast, and Hope Springs slew it.” Shiny nodded. “Thistle, you took the bones and feathers, why?”

“Partly because the feathers are really pretty. And partly,” She frowned. “To try to understand what the Light-That-Wasn’t did to those birds to make them burst into flame. How can a creature live when it’s on fire?”

“A good question.” True allowed. “Though that brings us around to this.” She pointed to the fire casting its warm glow over everything. Bluebell had stopped trying to touch it and now laid peacefully between her dam’s legs.

“Mountain Shadow offered to trade spears with me before I doused the flames on mine. Since hers had a stone tip, I agreed.” Hope shrugged. “When I tried asking why all she said was ‘it’s warm.’”

They all stopped to study the fire. Thistle enjoyed having it. Sure, it popped and cackled and sometimes shot off sparks, but it gave light and warmth to her home. She was hoping both would do Enduring some good. It certainly made Mountain more cheerful.

“I will not force ponies to take fire into their homes.” True Blue snorted. “However, should a pony and all those who dwell within that hut desire it, then I see no reason to keep it from them. Winter isn’t over yet and I’m sure ponies are tired of doubling up to keep from freezing.”

“We’ll have to warn everypony not to let foals near it.” Shiny wrinkled her nose at Bluebell. “Too young to understand it can hurt them.”

“I want one.” Rock Slide scuffed his hoof along the ground. “What happens if it goes out?”

“Well, if lots of ponies have fires, then I guess you could just ask somepony to share theirs.” Thistle shrugged. “I know it’s possible to make fire, I just don’t know how.”

“Friction.” Hope hummed. “I remember a pony when I was a foal, she used to use hemp and sticks, rubbing them together until the friction made sparks for her to use in scaring everypony else.”

“What happened to her?” Thistle asked before she could think better of it.

“The Lead Stallion chased her out after she threw sparks at his tail for rejecting her.” Her eyes widened at the story. That sounded exciting and even a little funny. She wondered if Light knew it.

“Mountain Shadow got a magic mark after she got home with the fire.” She informed them, bringing them back to the topic at hoof.

“That’s nearly everypony under your roof, isn’t it?” True Blue raised one of her brows.

“Only Camellia, Enduring, and Hornet left.” Thistle confirmed.

“So, that’s four foals and three mares.” Shiny Rock hummed thoughtfully. “None older than sixteen. Interesting.”

“How so?” She blinked.

“All younger generation ponies.” She waved her hoof. “Could mean it’s easier for younger ponies to get marks, or simply that older ponies can’t get marks at all.”

“I don’t think that’s right.” She frowned. “As far as we can tell, a mark shows up when a pony displays a talent in a skill that becomes their purpose in life. Like helping ponies for me.”

“What do stars have to do with helping ponies?” True Blue cocked her head to the side.

“I don’t know. But I also don’t know what they have to do with stories and Light has a star in her mark.” She shrugged helplessly. “It’s not like we can choose what sort of mark appears.”
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Every day it took a little longer to remind herself why she didn’t go running to Thistle’s hut at the end of the day. Her dam was over bearing and definitely a carrot-chaser and she was never shy about sharing her opinion, but she was still Pink’s dam. This was the mare who’d kissed her scraped fetlocks and sang her lullabies at night.

But if Pink was forced to listen to one more lecture about her mating prospects she was going to scream!

“Now, obviously you can’t herd with Thistle Burr if she’s with your brother, but that Pucker Thorn colt? He’s the only colt with a magic mark. Sure to grow into a fine stallion!” Cardinal laughed to herself. “And it wouldn’t be difficult for Woodpecker to befriend the colt. Following the right hand hoof of the Lead Stallion, yes that would do quite nicely.”

“He’s eleven, isn’t he? Just a few short years from stallionhood.” Woodpecker joined in. Pink wished her group was bigger. Cardinal and Woodpecker always censored themselves around other ponies. It would be nice to come home without facing another lecture.

At least her dam was on board with the whole ‘following Pucker Thorn’ plan. Pink had accidentally let that slip a week ago and she was sure she wouldn’t approve. Pink had forgotten that Puck had a magic mark. Most ponies who spent time around Thistle got one sooner or later. She was just waiting for the day the Lead Mare walked out of her hut with a mark on her flank.

“Dam, Woodpecker, haven’t we gone on about this long enough? Thistle and I are still years off from getting our heats.” She groaned.

“Nonsense dear. Early is never early enough.” Cardinal scoffed. “I was looking at your age, you know. Ugh, if only I’d been a member of this herd before Rock Slide began following True Blue. I could’ve been Lead Mare!”

Probably the best thing about all the magic and the Light-That-Wasn’t was that her dam wasn’t dead set on Pink becoming the next Lead Mare. She was still basking in the relief of that load being taken off her shoulders. Really, as soon as Thistle became a mare she was going to have to beat the stallions off with a stick. And as soon as she confirmed a pregnancy? Yeah, ponies would be counting down the days until Thistle could make a bid for Leadership.

But realistically, Pink no longer had a snowball’s chance in summer of becoming a Lead someday. Talk about a relief. Number two of the Lead Mare though? Well, Pink already had that one. She was Thistle’s confidant after all. Her eyes and ears in the herd.

“Pink, dear,” Uh-Oh, she’d zoned out. “Would you mind sharing your report to Thistle earlier?”

“Only Cliff Face’s hut, Hope Spring’s hut, and the Storehouse don’t have a fire in them.” Pink began, pointing at the fire sitting neatly in the center of their hut. “He claims its because he’s not ‘weak’ enough to need a fire. I personally think he’s just too afraid to get one.”

“Why Hope Springs doesn’t have one, she wouldn’t say. It’s definitely not fear though.” A mare who could kill a phoenix without blinking obviously had nothing to fear.

“That mare who ran into the orchard during the attack finally made it back. Thistle spent most of today nursing her near a fire but she’s confident Picked Fruit will make a full recovery.” She paused for a moment. “Of course, you’ve probably already heard Starlight bragging about her gems.”

She decided not to mention the part about the mountain she got them from being potentially inhabited by a giant, gem-eating monster. Puck had told her about that ages ago when he first found the tracks. The Lead Mare was gonna have to declare that area forbidden to keep anypony from getting eaten. Whatever made those weird tracks was a lot bigger than a phoenix.

“That’s about it for today. It’s been quiet.” She finished. She waited to hear what her dam had to say. Her dam was a pretty good judge of what the fussier ponies in the herd would say.

At least, that’s what Shiny Rock had told her. Pink went to her every day before reporting to Thistle. It helped her figure out what was important and what wasn’t. Shiny Rock had even told her she had good instincts for this kind of thing!

Pink wanted to be just like Shiny Rock when she grew up.

“Yes, quiet.” Cardinal murmured. “Anything of interest from you, Woodpecker dear?”

“That Silent Current colt? He’s apparently very popular right now for his heroism.” Woodpecker drawled. Pink held back the urge to wince. Her dam had never had anything nice to say about Current.

But like the winds,

“My, such a brave young colt. Would that we all had such courage!” Her dam could change her mind at a moment’s notice.

The politest thing her dam had ever had to say about Current before was that he was quiet. The colt was mute, of course he was quiet! It wasn’t a good thing!

Ever since that day by the riverside, Pink had been a little more discerning about the things her dam said. The way Thistle had just looked at her still sent shivers down her spine. Pink had no trouble believing Thistle was a bit more than Touched.

She zoned out of the conversation. It would just be more of the same. She’d probably encourage Woodpecker to make friends with Current now.

Pink wondered if her dam would ever realize Pink told Thistle about her too.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

If she closed her eyes it was like she was laying out in the sun on a hot summer’s day. After all the snow and ice it was positively luxurious. Morning had been a little uneasy at first, but Sun and Moon was fire a good idea! She’d have to remember to thank Mountain properly. When they had some privacy.

Which probably wouldn’t happen until spring. It was too cold to get up to shenanigans outside and the hut was never empty. There were some mares who thought nothing of raising their tails in mixed company, but Morning wasn’t one of them.

“What are you sighing over, Love?” Mountain nuzzled her belly. She’d started showing about, oh, a month ago. It felt heavy. And she still had most of a year to go.

“I’m warm. Have I mentioned lately that I love you?” She smiled.

“Oh, about three times, since sunrise.” Mountain laughed, rubbing a hoof over her belly.

“Well, I love you.” She sighed, stretching out her legs, being careful not to push any straw towards the fire. It was nice now but she suspected it wouldn’t be so nice if it consumed their home. Now they couldn’t stretch out over the middle of the hut everypony had to go back to laying against the walls. They were nose-to-nose or rear-to-rear all along the wall at night.

She was about to stretch her head over to kiss her fire-mare when a great hacking cough reminded her they weren’t alone. She winced, sitting up to take in Enduring’s trembling form.

“Oh geez,” Mountain stood and wandered over to the old nag. She began beating her back, trying to help dislodge some of whatever was choking her. Enduring’s coughing fit eased slowly and left her wheezing. “I thought the fire was helping! Hold on, I’ll run and find Thistle.”

“No, you ain’t!” Enduring grabbed her by the hoof. “Distle Burr can’t help wid dis.”

“Are you sure?” Morning trotted around the fire.

“Burr can’t strip da age off a pony.” Enduring sighed tiredly. “An’ it would only upset her ta try n’ fail. Endless Pastures are callin’ my name, girls, an’ eh’ll have ta answer’em soon.”

Morning exchanged looks with Mountain. Together, they eased down on either side of Enduring, wrapping her in a warm embrace.

“In da ol’ way of dings, I’d’a fallen behind months ago.” She laid her head down. “I’ve been holdin’ on, tryna get as much of my know-how in Burr’s brain as possible. Such a sweet filly, ain’t she?”

“Yeah, she’s sweet alright. Always wants to help.” Mountain frowned. Morning saw she was blinking back tears. She felt a little like crying too.

“You girls gonna look after her? An’ Light too? Dey just ten, der’s still so much dat can kill’em out dere.” Enduring shook, softly sobbing. Morning nuzzled her, offering what comfort she could. “An’ little Cam, so excited ‘bout darn near everyding. Yew gotta look after each oder too now, don’t go makin’ yerselves sick wid worry. Ain’t good for da foal.”

They let Enduring keep dispensing advice until she wore herself out. Hornet got back with Camellia shortly after, bearing some food from the storehouse. Light returned an hour later, chilled almost to the bone but oddly pleased with herself. Thistle arrived after sundown, talking about Pink Peach and Pucker Thorn.

“How has everypony’s day been?” She asked through a yawn.

“Camellia, do you want to t-tell Healer Burr what you learned today?” Hornet nudged her gently.

“One, two, three, four,” Up and up the numbers went, until Camellia came to a proud stop at thirty. Morning squealed and snatched her filly up for a hug.

“Look at you, learning to count so high!” Mountain laughed, the loudest she’d been since Enduring fell asleep.

“We counted snowballs! We were gonna use pinecones, but we couldn’t find any!” Camellia giggled. “We were digging for pebbles, but then I made a snowball and we decided that was more fun and we could throw them after we counted them! I hit Daddy a bunch!”

“Oh, did you? Sounds like you had a lot of fun with Daddy.” Mountain snorted, sending a teasing look to Hornet. The poor stallion turned as red as an apple. Morning leaned over and groomed his mane to show there were no hard feelings.

“What about you two?” She turned to Light and Thistle. “Anything interesting happen today? Though I doubt there’s anything to compete against the monster attack yesterday.”

“My Mother traveled to the twin mountains and came back with basketfuls of small gems.” Light informed them. “All sorts of different colors. She’s quite pleased with herself. She’s been bragging all day.”

“Huh, so that’s why her basket was so glittery the day after the last blizzard.” Thistle hummed thoughtfully. She winced suddenly and groaned. “The Lead Mare was planning on making that area forbidden! I completely forgot!”

“Forbidden, why?” Mountain scratched the back of her head.

“Because when Pucker Thorn went up there he found giant tracks of some monster! A monster that apparently eats gems!” Thistle massaged her temples. “The Lead Mare didn’t declare it forbidden because Flicker Light died of the cold and no pony was eager to go that far from the village. She’s not gonna be happy when she hears about this.”

“Do you think my Mother will get in trouble?” Light seemed conflicted.

“Probably not since she didn’t know about the monster tracks.” Thistle shook her head. “She’s just not going to be happy because Starlight could’ve been hurt.”

“Starlight must wanna play lots of games if she’s got so many gems.” Camellia spoke seriously. For a moment, everypony stared at her. It was only when they realized Hornet was blushing again that they switched to staring at him.

“I, uh, made up a game for Cam? S-Something fun to do when we’re inside all day?” He fidgeted nervously.

“Show’em, Daddy!” Cam ran for the empty water baskets, tossing them at the unfortunate stallion. She then pulled the emerald out of the basket they used for odds and ends. Hornet continued blushing furiously even as he slipped the gem under one of the baskets and began shuffling them around.

“Now ya gotta guess which basket has the emerald!” Cam informed them cheerfully.

“Oh geez, is it…that one?” Mountain smirked, deliberately pointing to the wrong basket.

“S-Sorry, better luck next time.” Hornet smiled nervously, revealing the true hiding place.

“That really is a fun game.” Thistle chuckled.

“Wha’s a run? What’re we running from?” Enduring’s head popped up, swiveling around to squint at them.

“We’re not running from anything, Enduring. Hornet made up a fun game for Camellia.” Thistle explained. Morning did her best not to think about the way the old nag had cried earlier.

“A game, is it? Yew gonna show Granny Enduring how to play, Cam?” She smiled, showing the lack of teeth in her gums.

“Yeah! C’mere!” Camellia tugged her forward. “Daddy’s hiding a emerald in the baskets and you gotta guess which one! Do it, Daddy!”

“Okay, okay!” He laughed, shuffling the baskets around again.

Morning leaned into Mountain and watched her family enjoy their evening together.