Author's Note

I'm baaack~~~!

Leaping

Red clovers and red raspberries were two herbs well known for increasing the odds of conceiving. They were sweet tasting too. Common enough that nopony really went to the trouble of cultivating them. They grew in the orchard so there was no difficulty in getting them.

Thistle chewed through hers with as much nervousness as any young mare trying for her first foal.

“You still have a Leadership meeting tonight, don’t you?” Light asked around a mouthful of her own greens.

“Yep,” She swallowed. She could swear the leaves were sticking to her teeth. “I don’t think it will run long.”

“Well, would it help you if I stayed with our cousins for the evening?” Light blinked innocently.

Thistle nearly choked on her salad.

“Uh, hack, w-what?” She stammered.

“Thistle, I can smell you from over here.” Light wriggled her nose in demonstration. “If I’m away then after the meeting you and Woodpecker can come here and do as nature intended.”

Her cheeks were on fire. Real, legitimate, potentially life-threatening fire. Oh no. Guess she wouldn’t make it to the meeting tonight after all. Somepony should probably go start digging a grave. She was sure Rose Bud would have some lovely flowers to leave on her grave.

“Dim Light!” Thistle buried her face under her hooves.

“Well I didn’t think you were the type to raise your tail in mixed company…” She trailed off, smirking teasingly before she made a visible effort to be serious.

“Are you still nervous?” She asked.

Thistle would’ve liked to lie but she couldn’t. The very idea of what she might be getting up to with Woodpecker later sent her into cold sweats. She knew the mechanics of the act in depth, partially from healing training and partially from Mountain. She didn’t find Woodpecker objectional. In fact, he was a rather handsome stallion. It was just…

Somehow the idea of having sex and bearing a foal was more nerve wracking than any major injury or illness she’d ever had to treat.

“I am.” She admitted with a sigh. “I have tried again and again to lay my fears to rest, Light. And again and again, I have failed. Do you think other mares are ever so nervous about their first time?”

“I don’t know,” Light tilted her head thoughtfully. “When I think of myself with Pucker Thorn in less than a year’s time, I’m…not excited exactly, but I’m not worried either. It’ll happen when it happens. I merely have to wait for biology to catch up.”

“Morning and Mountain weren’t this nervous even when they brought Hornet in.” Thistle remarked sourly. “Pink was the one who pulled Puck away for privacy. And who else can I ask in trust?”

“Lead True, perhaps?” Light suggested, sounding unsure.

As embarrassing as talking to family was she didn’t even want to think of asking True Blue. No, not for anything did she want to do that. She had no idea what direction such a conversation would turn and every last possibility terrified her.

“Holly Berry or Marsh Steps?” Were Light’s next suggestions.

“Both still call me Magic-Blessed, even if not to my face.” Thistle’s ears drooped slightly. To ask one of them if they had ever been nervous about sex and, if so, how they moved past it, would be difficult to say the least. Neither ever hazarded to say they might know better than she did, even in regard to their own specialties.

“The unicorns?” Light shrugged helplessly.

Thistle didn’t refuse that immediately. She turned the idea over in her head. Sapphire was expecting her first foal and Emerald had been with Onyx long enough to experience a heat, even if she hadn’t caught. Both were still a little removed from the herd and better yet none of them held her in as high regard. They were respectful, but personable.

It was an option.

“I believe if you go now you may have time for a brief conversation with them before the meeting.” Light smiled, glad to have hit upon a solution.

“Light, dear sister, thank you.” Thistle climbed to her hooves to go.

“Remember, I’ll be with our cousins should you need me.” Light threw out one last jab as Thistle went out into the late afternoon.

Now, how could she convince one of the unicorn mares to step outside for privacy?

By the grace of the Mother Earth, she didn’t have to figure that one out because she caught sight of Sapphire’s blue coat heading home after a day watching foals. The mare’s belly was roundly distended, large enough that Thistle automatically moved her prospective due date up half a moon.

“Sapphire! Sapphire Cut! A moment, please?” She called, picking up her trot a bit.

“Healer Burr,” Sapphire’s head came up in surprise. “To what do I owe the honor?”

“Nothing too serious, I assure you,” She resisted the urge to cast a look for nearby eavesdroppers. “Walk with me a bit? I believe construction is done for the day so we can sit by the wall and talk, if it’s not too bothersome.”

“Not at all, Healer. I’m sure Onyx and Emerald will understand why I’m late.” Sapphire beamed.

It took Sapphire a moment longer than Thistle to settle down fully, and she gasped halfway down as the foal within kicked something sensitive.

In a few months that would be her.

“How are you doing? Not straining yourself, I hope?” Thistle couldn’t hold back the concern if she tried.

“Doing well enough, Healer. I swear this foal is determined to bruise me from the inside-out.” She joked, stretching her head back to nuzzle her own stomach briefly. “What did you wish to speak about?”

The words wanted to be caught in her throat. She had to push hard to get past the blockage.

“I’m afraid it’s rather personal, I hope you don’t mind.” She found herself staring at her hooves and then quickly looked back up. “It is only, my heat is here and,” Here and driving her to distraction as this whole mess had ever since Woodpecker approached her by the fields.

“Soon, very soon, Woodpecker and I will endeavor to have a foal together.” She forced herself to continue. “I have asked the members of my family and my friends for advice, and received it, but I wanted to ask a mare who is on the verge of having her first foal for her perspective. And, admittedly, of the mares in the herd that fit the description, you are the one I am closest to. I hoped you might, perhaps, have some advice?”

“Oh.” Just that one little exhale had Thistle scrambling to go over everything she’d said. Behind her ribcage her heart was pounding like the hooves of a pony at gallop. Sweat began to collect along her brow.

“Healer Burr, you have every right to be worried and anxious.” Sapphire told her. “I was too when Onyx and I were first matched. I didn’t know what to do with myself, if it would hurt and how much, what if something went wrong? I nearly burst into tears our first time.”

“Oh,” Thistle sighed, the relief strong enough that she laid limp on the grass. “Thank Mother Earth, nopony else I’ve talked to was nervous before their first time! Praise the Sun, it’s not just me.”

“Some mares are more nervous than others. It’s simply the way things are.” Sapphire sighed, maybe remembering her own past anxieties. “In fact, I was nervous about the second, third, and fourth times as well.”

“You’re not…nervous anymore?” She frowned.

“I came to learn what to expect and Onyx was never too rough or cruel. He’s really kind in his own way.” Ah, somepony had probably told Sapphire about the lecture Thistle had given Onyx when they built the stairs.

“But even though there is worry, there is also excitement.” Sapphire told her. “Someday soon, within the next two moons, I’ll be holding my foal for the first time.” She sighed in contentment. “I can’t wait to see my filly or colt, hear their first cries, see what color their magic will be, watch them learn and grow in peace with your herd. I’ve always wanted to be a mother.”

Thistle’s own smile softened as she listened to Sapphire. She was soft spoken, maybe a little too submissive, but she already loved the foal on the way and she was doing her part for the herd.

She checked the sun’s position and winced. The Leadership meeting began at sundown. If she didn’t leave now she’d be late.

“Thank you for taking the time to talk with me, Sapphire. I hate to cut this short, but I’m due for the Leadership meeting and I don’t want to be late. Give my regards to Onyx and Emerald, won’t you?” She requested.

“Certainly, Healer. Have a good evening.” With a smile, both mares parted ways.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Woodpecker nodded to Thistle as she entered. She was panting a little but nopony made mention of her tardiness. A few minutes wasn’t bad.

“Now that we’re all here, we can begin.” Lead True straightened up. “Who has new business for us?”

“I’ve almost got all the foundation for the Wall finished.” Pink said brightly. “And I’ve got a good start on the tower too. Still no idea what to use for the signal though. And, one more bit of good news,” She shuffled in place, grinning ear to ear. “I’m pregnant!”

“Pink!” Thistle gasped, delighted.

“Congratulations, sister.” Woodpecker inclined his head. Good to have confirmation. Dam would be pleased. He made a note to tell her when he got home.

“Yeah, waited a bit to make sure I caught, but I’m pretty sure now.” Pink looked rather proud of herself.

“We’re all very happy for you, Pink Peach.” Lead True gave her a small smile. “Do you have any other news for us?”

“Nothing more on my end.” She shook her head. “Shiny?”

“Food stores are, as usual, holding just fine. But there is a bit of news I’ve heard just recently.” She looked at Pink. “Have you met Pretty Pebble?”

“Clay’s little sister? Yeah. Why?” She nodded.

“She’s created these things called beads and now wears them draped around her neck and in her mane and tail.” Shiny described. “She hasn’t seen fit to share them with the rest of the herd, which I know because I heard both Blueberry and Blackberry complaining about it. Riverbank and his younger brother, Cold Stream, were collecting their food at the same time and also expressed interest in the beads.”

“So, do you think we should ask Pebble to teach somepony else how to make them, if she doesn’t want to do it herself?” Thistle asked in confusion.

“On the contrary, I believe I’ve thought of a way to incentivize work.” She smirked.

“Oh?” Woodpecker leaned forward curiously. “Using the beads?”

“It may require some explanation to young Pretty Pebble to explain why, but if she controls the amount of beads present in the village, then we can give some out to ponies who are willing to do extra work for the herd.” She explained. “For instance, five beads for a night shift guarding?”

“Do you believe the beads will prove popular enough for that?” Lead True frowned.

“They will,” Shiny declared confidently. “That is, if our illustrious Healer would consent to wearing them herself.”

“What?” Thistle blinked.

“Think of the braids, Thistle Burr.” Shiny ran a hoof over her own. “You and your friends spent a spring afternoon braiding flowers and herbs into your manes and tails, pretty soon the whole herd was following suit. Now nearly everypony has either their mane or tail or both braided at all times, simply because that’s what you do.”

“I,” She opened and closed her mouth several times. “That’s just…That’s…It’s an easy way to carry lots of medicines around without lugging about an extra set of baskets and it keeps my hair out of the way. It’s practical.”

“It did start getting pretty popular after that, didn’t it.” Pink traced her own braids contemplatively. “Huh, I didn’t even notice! It just became the thing to do, you know?”

Woodpecker looked around the room. Stallions didn’t braid as much as mares did, but he and Rockslide both had a few small ones in their mane. The mares in the room hardly had a hair out of place in their own braids. Thistle Burr’s was of course adorned in herbs while Pink had yellow flowers. Lead True and Shiny Rock had plain braids.

Young foals didn’t braid their hair. He ran through the faces of the foals he knew by sight. Most of them didn’t start braiding until they were almost ten. About the age Thistle Burr had begun.

“I begin to understand Shiny’s plan.” His eyes must have lit up. “Ponies see Thistle Burr wearing beads and they’ll want to as well. Spread a rumor that the beads are a reward for extra work and I do believe we’ll see a lot fewer ponies wasting their time doing nothing.”

“It would also mean Pebble can’t teach anypony else how to do it though.” Thistle pointed out. “If beads are common they won’t be worth as much.”

“She may have already taught her brother how to make them, but if so it won’t be too difficult to convince him to abstain. He has his hooves full with his own work. He’s putting that kiln into his house, isn’t he?” Shiny checked.

“Yep. I think he’s just about done with that.” Pink confirmed.

“It sounds like what the unicorns do.” Thistle looked unhappy.

“The unicorns?” Woodpecker tilted his head curiously. After running them through Herd Law he hadn’t had much reason to speak to them. Emerald Daze now joined them on patrols but she had only been assigned to his group once.

“With unicorns, one pony knows how to do one job.” She stressed. “There’s one pony making baskets in their whole herd. If anypony in that herd wants a basket, they have to do something for the weaver. So if we make Pebble be the only pony to make beads, and make ponies do things for us in exchange for beads, it’ll be like what the unicorns do.”

“Ah, a rather neat arrangement, though this will be more centralized.” Shiny nodded in understanding.

“I just,” She paused to take a breath. “I don’t much like the idea of only having one pony who knows how to do a specific task. Light knows as much as I do in regards to healing, and I’m training Cam now. Marsh Steps isn’t the only farmer, Holly isn’t the only foal watcher, Apple Blossom doesn’t work alone in the whole orchard, Pink isn’t the only pony building things. Bead making is small, yes, but we’re about to make it very important. And we don’t even know how long it takes to make them! How much effort is put in? How many can she make at a time?”

“Well, it is likely Clay Hooves knows how to make beads as well,” Woodpecker hesitated. Thistle Burr honestly seemed worried about this. How could he reassure her?

“Perhaps we should bring Pretty Pebble in to tomorrow’s meeting and ask her.” Lead True suggested. “I understand your fears, Thistle Burr, but beads, however pretty or popular, are not vital to the herd’s well being.”

“As you say, Lead Mare.” She sighed.

“Shiny, see to it Pretty Pebble attends tomorrow evening.” Lead True ordered. “Moving on. Does anypony else have any news?”

“The patrols found signs of timberwolves, but the monsters are keeping their distance.” Lead Rockslide informed them. “I did, by chance, have an idea for your signal, Pink Peach.”

“Really?” Her ears pricked forward.

“A fire.” He stated simply, pointing at the fire in the middle of the room. “At night, it’s light would be seen from the storehouse, yes? And during the day, the smoke would be visible from some distance.”

“Huh,” She scratched her chin thoughtfully. “That could work. It’ll have to wait until the tower is done for testing, but yeah! That might actually work! Thanks, Lead Rockslide!”

“Woodpecker, anything to add?” Lead True looked at him.

“I believe Lead Rockslide has covered everything on the patrol’s end.” He shook his head. “Thistle Burr?”

“Cam’s training is going well, I think.” She began. “We take a few hours every day to work on potions. That’s the heated and bottled medicines she invented. I’m actually running out of gourds. I, ah, also,” She winced and looked between him and Lead Rockslide.

“These potions are new, and potentially dangerous to test on a pony.” She bit her lip. “Do you…Do you think it might be possible to catch a squirrel or rabbit? Alive?”

“Perhaps with a slip knot?” He gave the matter some thought. Testing potions on animals wasn’t a bad idea. He, for one, knew not all the herbs Thistle Burr carried were medicinal and he didn’t want to put anypony at risk drinking an experimental medicine. “But they’d eventually chew through that?”

“We could build something to put them in.” Pink’s stared up at the ceiling in thought for a moment. “Brown Branch might be able to make you something out of wood.”

Woodpecker listened with half an ear. Most of his thoughts were drifting into future plans. The things he would tell Dam, the prospective mares to invite into their group. Should they try to attract a Pegasus? It might help tie them closer to the herd.

He tuned in now and then to make sure he didn’t lose track of the conversation. Pink suggested asking Clay for a cup that a cork could be put in. Clay cups were quicker and easier to make than gourds. Thistle agreed to speak to the colt about it tomorrow.

“Is there any more news?” Lead True looked around the room. Nopony spoke up. “Very well then. I believe this meeting is over.”

Woodpecker followed Thistle Burr out. She didn’t immediately turn towards her hut, so he chose not to head directly home either. Once the others had passed them by, he looked over at her.

“Woodpecker,” It was hard to tell in the moonlight but he thought he could see a blush on her cheeks. “I, ah,” She broke eye contact and dug her hoof through the dirt. He waited for her to gather her courage.

“Would you…like to come to my hut with me?” She pointed unnecessarily.

“My dear Healer,” He grinned, he couldn’t help himself. “I would be delighted to!”

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

It was very rare for a mare to catch after just one time. Twice and even three times sometimes wasn’t enough. And it was sometimes difficult to know exactly when a heat began and ended.

So it was a week, some mares said two, of dedication in order to conceive a foal.

A week of sex.

If all went well and the herbs did their job, she was pregnant right this very moment. She wouldn’t know for sure for another week or two. But it was probably a good idea to assume she was pregnant.

Thistle had had the hut almost completely to herself except for when Woodpecker was…Ahem. Well, Light hadn’t come home except to check on her now and again. Now that her heat was over she should probably tell Light it was safe to come home.

Thistle tossed her head, feeling the beads hit her head. Woodpecker had put them in for her given she couldn’t braid her own mane easily. Her tail had more beads but she’d done those herself.

They were kind of a pain honestly. They thumped against her head every time she shook it and distracted her. They forced her to use multiple, smaller braids instead of the one large one she preferred. Granted, the silver and gold wavy coloring in the beads were quite eye catching, but they didn’t feel worth the effort.

Would ponies really want these just because she wore them?

Pebble had been so excited to be given a special project by the Leadership council. They’d explained as much as they could without mentioning the Pegasus. She’d promised not to just give beads away. She’d promised not to teach anypony but her brother.

Thistle turned her head to look at the beads in her tail. The gold color came from crushed seeds, the blue silver was a naturally occurring part of the clay. Pebble’s work was fine and detailed. Woodpecker said they looked nice in her sap brown fur and acorn hair.

Thistle took a deep breath and pushed away the blush. Woodpecker…liked to talk.

Well, she wasn’t getting anything done sitting in here. She’d put off Cam’s lessons long enough already. There were the rounds to do. Bird Song’s cut should be almost healed by now. She should find the time to thank Sapphire too. Without her words Thistle might not have been able to drum up the courage to invite Woodpecker to her hut.

Thistle had to take a moment to adjust the lighting. She hadn’t seen very much of the sun for the past week. Now, where to first?

Well, Cam’s lessons could be put off one more day. She’d head to Pink’s hut first. Let Light know she could come back. See how pregnancy was treating Pink. It had been a while since she’d sat and talked to Puck too.

She came upon their hut soon. The practice door was still sitting on the ground where Pink had left it. Thistle had walked by the site marked for the big door a few times and wondered what she had in mind for it.

“Puck? Light? Anypony home?” She knocked on the door.

“Come in, Thistle!” Puck called out.

“Thistle, good morning.” Light smiled from her spot. Puck was carving a shaft of wood on the other side of the fire. He nodded as she walked in.

“Good morning,” She returned politely. “How have you been? Pink already gone to work?”

“Yep,” Puck looked up from his carving. “She knows she’s gonna have to slow down later on so she’s trying to get as much done as possible now. I’m planning to steal her away for an early lunch soon.”

“I do believe Pink is already getting pre-foaling jitters.” Light smirked wickedly. “And what about you, sister? Anything to report on your stallion?”

Her cheeks lit aflame. She did her best to ignore it and hoped it died down.

“He was…kind, polite.” She coughed.

“Eh, so long as he doesn’t hurt you.” Puck shrugged, picking up his knife again.

“Yes, well,” Thistle looked away. “Time will tell if our efforts were successful.”

“Are you planning to visit our cousins soon?” Light raised one brow in question.

“Honestly? I kinda don’t want to subject myself to that level of teasing just yet.” Her cheeks were already burning. She could almost hear Mountain already.

But she didn’t regret it. Most of her nerves had already faded, those that remained would be dealt with in time. The event hadn’t been as bad as she’d expected. This was just the next step on life as a mare.

A foal on the way, harvest and the Pegasus due to arrive at almost the same time, Cam to teach, winter to prepare for, and come spring there would be a foal. A colt or filly all her own.

But fall wasn’t here just yet. There was time still to make preparations.

“I had better be going. My garden needs tending and I should make sure nopony was injured in the past week.” She announced, getting up to leave.

“I’ll see you at home this evening then.” Light chuckled.

“See ya around, Thistle.” Puck waved.

Now then, her garden or her rounds? Which came first?

Well, tending her garden would allow her to put off Mountain’s teasing a little longer.