“It’s no stranger than a bird made of living fire.” Thistle decided as the Leadership Council digested the information Pink had brought them.

“They move things with their minds.” Woodpecker repeated the point. His perfect, upright posture had slackened into something resembling existential horror.

“Could be useful for construction.” Pink offered. “I wonder if they can lift other ponies, or themselves! Might help with the tower.”

“Back to the matter at hoof, Pink Peach.” Lead True sighed deeply. “Pegasus can fly and control the weather, unicorns can move things with their minds, and Earth ponies can grow more food than they could possibly eat.”

Thistle jumped. More food than they could eat. It was true that a good portion of what the herd grew didn’t get eaten. Most ponies had stopped foraging at all now that the fields provided such bounty.

What about that fact caught her attention so strongly? Something about the Pegasus herd coming their way?

“I still want to know why three ponies were so far from their herd.” Rockslide huffed. “It seems suspicious to me.”

“Do you think they were banished from their herd?” Shiny Rock asked him.

Banished? All three? But…

“Unicorns don’t have the same laws as Earth ponies.” Thistle realized.

“What do you mean by that, Thistle Burr?” True raised her brow curiously.

“Marsh Steps spoke with Sapphire about it at length. Unicorns have very different laws in regards to Following, to the point she didn’t even recognize a Group.” She explained. “If they were banished I don’t think it would be for something we recognize.”

“Huh, you might be on to something there.” Pink blinked. “When we ran into them you sent me up as the representative, but all three approached me instead of sending just one. So clearly they’ve got different customs.”

“Which could prove troublesome.” Woodpecker frowned. “Perhaps I should have a talk with them about Earth pony Herd Law.”

“That might be wise.” Lead True nodded. “Find time to do that, if you would.”

“Of course, Lead Mare.” He bowed his head. “Perhaps after my guard shift tomorrow?” He looked inquisitively at Rockslide.

“Fine by me.” Rockslide allowed.

“Then, if there is nothing else to be brought up for this meeting?” Lead True looked them over. “Good evening to you all then. Shiny, I’ll walk with you to collect Bluebell.”

“Thistle Burr, if you have a moment?” Woodpecker caught her outside the door.

“Yes, Woodpecker?” She slowed to a casual stroll so they could find a place with some privacy.

“Are you and your sister safe with those three?” Despite their private corner, he still leaned his head in close so he could whisper to her properly.

“You had no concerns yesterday.” She pointed out, trying not to shy away from his attention. This wasn’t a conversation she wanted anypony overhearing.

“Yesterday we did not know they had a silent means of raising weapons.” He pointed out seriously.

Not all monsters had claws and fangs. Right.

She sighed, giving the matter serious thought. In all honesty, she didn’t have any concerns for their safety. She simply didn’t feel threatened by Emerald Daze, Sapphire Cut, or Onyx.

Part of that, maybe even most of it, was because she was the Healer. She was well aware of her importance to the herd.

“If they ever did manage to hurt me or even kill me, do you really believe they’d get away with it?” She asked him. “By now, they are fully aware of my standing. They’d be fools to try and none of them strike me as particularly stupid.”

“You have a point there, dear Healer.” He lifted her chin. Thistle’s whole body suddenly stiffened, realizing how close they were. “And on that note, I bid you good night.”

“G-Good night,” She returned, hastily backing away.

The whole walk home, Thistle keep a look out for her lost dignity. She was certain she’d dropped it somewhere around here.

The door to her own hut was a welcome sight. Inside, everypony had sat down for dinner. Thistle sat in her usual place and looked upon the bowl of water and basket of fresh greens.

More food than they could possibly eat.

“Long day, sister?” Light inquired with a smile.

“And growing longer still.” Thistle confirmed, digging into her meal. “Mm, I need to do my rounds tomorrow and I really should find time to speak with that Clay Hooves colt.”

“His pots and bowls are becoming very popular.” Light held up her own bowl, drinking from it gracefully. “Everypony wants some.”

How long did it take him to make one? Could others be taught how?

She closed her eyes and willed the questions away. They’d wait until tomorrow. She’d meet Woodpecker in the morning and then work her way down to Soft Touch’s hut, then work her way through the village.

“You certainly keep yourselves busy.” Onyx commented from the other side of the fire. “I’ve spent all day laying rocks at the instruction of your cousin, Pink Peach.”

“She’s pleased with your work so far.” Thistle offered. “And you, Sapphire? Daze? How was your day?” Both mares looked a little surprised to be addressed.

“Marsh Steps taught me how to weed the carrot fields.” Sapphire informed them. “My neck is rather sore from the work but it’s rather amazing how much food you provide yourselves this way.”

“I got to ride herd on foals. All day.” Daze looked suitably traumatized. “Sun and Moon, I’ll never understand how anypony can do that all day.”

“Don’t complain, Emerald.” Onyx sniffed. “This is the work our new herd demands of us.”

“There are other tasks you could set yourself to if you don’t find your current one fulfilling.” Light assured them. “If you speak to Lead Rockslide or Bright Finish you could join the patrols through the valley or take guard shifts outside the storehouse. If you speak to Apple Blossom you can work in the orchard, tending the trees. You can work in the fields or on the wall or any other job you can think of.”

“Patrols are the most popular.” Thistle nodded along, talking around a mouthful of greens. “But it’s really up to you.” She swallowed and looked directly at Onyx.

“Woodpecker wants to talk to all of you tomorrow, some time after noon. It seems Earth pony and Unicorn Herd Laws might be a little different.” She explained.

“I see,” Onyx nodded. “Where should we meet him?”

“Outside the storehouse.” She watched them nod.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Woodpecker saw Emerald Daze first. She came from the direction of the fields, not Holly Berry’s hut. She stared at him for a moment before planting herself in some shade and laying down. It only took a few minutes before Sapphire Cut followed from along the same path. The blue mare looked between them and then hesitantly joined Emerald Daze in the shade.

Woodpecker didn’t move. He didn’t smile, nod, or speak. He was still guarding and he wouldn’t be done until Oak Leaf arrived to take over.

He did adjust his spear and shift his weight a little. He was only equine. No pony could stand absolutely still for hours on end.

“Mornin’, Woodpecker.” Riverbank nodded on his way inside the storehouse, carrying with him a basket of fresh shoots.

Onyx arrived before Oak Leaf did. Woodpecker saw him coming from the direction of the wall. His sides were already damp with sweat and he was squinting hard enough to make his headache obvious. He made a mental note to ask his sister how much work Onyx got done in the span of one morning.

“Healer Burr told us you wanted to speak with us?” Onyx made a visible effort to appear unaffected by his hard labor.

Woodpecker had seen better.

“After my shift.” He nodded stoically. Oak Leaf would be here any moment now.

Onyx stared at him. Looked back at his mares, back at him.

“Why can’t we begin the discussion now? I believe Pink Peach is expecting me back after lunch.” He asked.

“I’m on shift.” Woodpecker gestured to the door. “Ponies on guard duty aren’t supposed to talk.”

Granted, with Shiny Rock in there he wasn’t sure how any pony expected to be able to sneak out extra food. That mare had a magic all her own for when somepony had messed with her neatly organized food stores. And she held a grudge.

Woodpecker could see Onyx resist rolling his eyes. The smaller stallion went over to his mares and fell into a quiet discussion. No matter how he strained his ears, Woodpecker wasn’t able to catch what Onyx was saying. Whatever it was made Emerald Daze sit up straight and made Sapphire Cut bow her head submissively.

Woodpecker didn’t really need to hear what Onyx was saying. His dam had taught him how to manipulate ponies to get what he wanted. She’d never personally used it on him, but he could recognize a brow beating when he saw one. Onyx was in full control of his group and he made sure they knew it. It wasn’t a happy arrangement.

If that didn’t change after today’s talk then things might get interesting. Sapphire Cut, he doubted she’d leave Onyx, but Emerald Daze clearly held no fondness for him. What Unicorn custom led to them ending up together?

Ah, finally! Oak Leaf was turning onto the main path towards the storehouse.

“Woodpecker,” Thistle Burr’s sire nodded in greeting.

“Oak Leaf, I hope you have a good shift.” He smiled pleasantly. Thistle Burr didn’t have much to do with her sire, but she was a mare. Even now, most stallions had little to do with their fillies.

Stepping away from his post, Woodpecker allowed himself a brief moment to fantasize about the foals he and Thistle Burr would have. Smart and wise as their dam, strong and cunning as their sire.

He blinked the daydream away. Foals were a long way off. He was still in the ‘Trial’ period.

“Alright, you three,” He stepped over to the unicorns. “Follow me, we’ll take this somewhere we won’t be interrupted. And don’t worry about my sister,” He locked eyes with Onyx.

“I’ll explain why you’re late.”

“Did Thistle Burr tell you what this discussion would be about?” He asked as he led them through the fruit orchard. Apple and pear trees loomed overhead with the buds of their flowers not yet in bloom. Apple Blossom and her group had mostly cleared the underbrush. It made for a much easier trot than the western forest.

“Herd Law, she said.” Onyx answered. “Apparently Unicorns and Earth ponies differ on some accords?”

“Here’s as good a spot as any.” Woodpecker decided. “I trust you’re all familiar with your own herd’s laws? Since you’re living with us now, we’ll start with Earth ponies.”

“The First Law is and always has been Obey the Leads.” He went into the particulars. How a Lead was decided, both Mare and Stallion. What the qualifications were. How to banish a Lead should they prove unworthy or incompetent.

The Following laws were more complex.

“Oh, Marsh Steps explained that to me!” Sapphire Cut lit up. “Ponies ‘Follow’ each other so they’re responsible for each other, it’s like a deal they make!”

“More or less.” There was nothing wrong with that argument. “You know what Following is, but the laws regarding it are a different matter. For one thing, foals cannot Follow anypony. Colts become stallions at fourteen, fillies are declared mares when they have their first heat. I trust this is the same for Unicorns?”

“Fourteen is the traditional age.” Onyx confirmed.

“Another thing, it is considered a great crime to force a following.” He consciously did not look at the mares. “All ponies in the group must be there of their own free will and any pony in the group is allowed to leave whenever they see fit.”

“What about…foals?” Sapphire Cut laid a hoof over her stomach.

“Foals go with their dam. If the dam leaves the group, they go with her, and enter with her into any new group until they are declared adults of the herd.” He explained easily. “Now, in the old days stallions wouldn’t have much to do with their foals at all unless it was a colt they needed to teach, but these days many stallions are raising their foals with their mares, both fillies and colts.”

“Moving on, some ponies do try to force others to Follow them. One of the most hated crimes in the herd is rape. Stallion on mare, Mare on stallion, Stallion to Stallion, Mare to Mare, Adult to Foal,” He listed them. “If you rape an adult, the punishment is banishment from the herd. Rape of a foal earns death.”

“Wait, did I hear you right? Stallion to stallion? Mare to mare?” Onyx cut in.

“How can stallions and mares rape each other?” Emerald cocked her head in confusion.

Suddenly, Woodpecker wished he hadn’t been volunteered for this.

“I myself have no such desires, but some stallions prefer to Follow other stallions. Some mares prefer to Follow other mares.” He shrugged.

“But they can’t have foals that way!” Onyx reared back.

“They usually form a group with somepony of the opposite sex to provide foals. Mountain Shadow and Morning Dew both prefer mares and Follow each other, but they brought Hornet into their group in order to have foals.” He tried explaining. “But that was their choice. Strange though it seems, some ponies go without foals of their own for the sake of their desires.”

“And your herd allows that?” Onyx gaped.

“Well, yes.” He huffed, blowing his mane out of his eyes. “Ponies can Follow whoever they please, so long as they aren’t forcing anyone. Ponies love whoever they love.” He gave them a hard look.

“I think I’ve been sitting on this question long enough. Unicorns don’t ‘Follow’ each other, fine, but then how do mares and stallions end up with each other?” He pointed at the three of them.

They looked at each other first. A silent conversation full of you say it, no, you! Sapphire sunk into herself without compromising her posture, managing to pull herself behind her groupmates without actually getting up. Emerald had a bit more fight in her, he noticed. She just looked up at the canopy overhead and pretended she couldn’t see Onyx’s frustrated glare.

“The Lead Mare keeps track of the family lines and gives ponies options on who to mate with.” Onyx sighed through his nose. “Every stallion gets at least two mares and of the options available to me, I chose Sapphire and Emerald. I spoke to their mothers and kindly requested for them to be my mares.”

“You asked their…mothers?” He almost stumbled over the odd word. Most ponies were fine with dam and sire. Words like Mother were for ponies with more complicated family trees.

“It wouldn’t be proper for a stallion to pressure a mare into mating with him. Ponies would talk.” He defended.

Where did that leave mares without dams? Mares who came alone from another herd?

Perhaps, in the event the dam was gone, they asked the sire? He briefly toyed with the idea of having to ask Oak Leaf for permission to Follow Thistle Burr. The daydream didn’t quite work. He just kept imagining Oak Leaf frowning at him and dragging his hoof along the ground.

“That’s one way to do it, I suppose.” He allowed with a nod. “Let’s continue, shall we?”
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Thistle sometimes wondered what went through ponies heads the moment before they did something to get themselves hurt.

It probably amounted to ‘I thought I could do it and there was a pretty mare/stallion watching.’

“For the record, using blackberry bushes to show off your high jumping isn’t recommended.” She informed the colt she’d spent half an hour treating. Scratches and brambles all along his undersides and legs. And, yes, there’d been a pretty filly watching. “Next time, just use a rock.”

“Thank you for your help, Healer. I can’t even begin to understand what my colt was thinking!” The colt’s dam spoke for him. Hickory, the colt in question, blushed right down to his hooves.

“It’s no trouble, this is what I’m here for.” Thistle assured them both, packing up her supplies again. She needed more salve. Good thing she was heading for Soft Touch’s hut.

Outside again, she checked the sun’s position and put an extra trot in her step. Up ahead was Bright Finish’s hut. Over the last three years Bright Finish had started Following Apple Blossom and had a young colt to show for it. Mimic and Melody were almost young mares, and all three still argued back and forth and lived with Bright Finish and Silent Current.

Current was in a group with Soft Touch, at least so ponies said. Thistle knew that the two had never been intimate, the closest they’d gotten was sitting in the same hut with Pine Needle seated between them. Thistle knew Soft Touch was only using him to keep other stallions away. Current didn’t seem to mind.

Pine Needle, now seven, stood guard by the vegetable patch. His little unsharpened spear was used to bat away any birds that thought the garden might make a tasty meal.

“Healer! Good morning!” He beamed, abandoning his post to hug her.

“Hardly morning anymore, Pine.” She laughed. “Is Soft inside?”

“Yeah.” He rolled his eyes. “And poking her head out the window every ten seconds to make sure I haven’t been gobbled by a manticore.”

“Well, who knows, maybe a phoenix will decide carrots look like a tasty treat.” She offered with a shrug. “Call if you need us.”

“I don’t even go past that stone there. I gotta be the only colt in the whole herd who’s gotta stay within ten body lengths of their door!” He grumbled.

He might’ve grumbled, but he never stepped past the stone that marked the hut’s boundary line. As Thistle walked inside, she knew he’d be picking up his unsharpened spear and standing guard. He might outwardly claim to be guarding the garden from birds and rodents, but he stood closer to the door than the rows of vegetables.

“He has to be the most well behaved colt I’ve ever met.” Thistle commented as she sat down.

“He’s a good colt.” Soft Touch agreed with a nod. “So, shall I start with how I’m absolutely devastated by my barren state or that I’m completely desperate to have a foal of my own?”

“You shouldn’t joke about those things.” Thistle reminded her for the umpteenth time. “Some mares do suffer from such things.”

“And they see you for it. And if they don’t? The rest of the herd does it for them.” Soft Touch scoffed. “You coming here every couple weeks keeps them from talking to me about it.”

“I know, I know, I think we’ve covered that fact a dozen times by now.” Thistle waved her off, resisting the urge to roll her own eyes. “I still don’t see why you have to joke about it every time.”

“I don’t see why these visits are still needed. You’d think after three years of regular visits the rest of the herd would get the clue that you can’t fix me.” Soft grabbed her spear off the wall and put her baskets on.

“You don’t need fixing. If you wanted, you’d be perfectly capable of conceiving and carrying a foal. You just don’t want to.” Thistle sighed.

“But ponies would still pity me. Until Current and I worked out our little arrangement, I was getting solicitations from every colt and stallion able to get it up.” Soft scowled darkly. “All thinking that their dick had the magic to make me want sex again.”

“Now are we going herb picking or what?” She lifted an eyebrow in challenge. “Frankly, I’m more interested in talking about your stallion problems. I mean, Woodpecker?”

“Oh, uh,” Thistle’s cheeks burned. “You’ve heard of that, huh?”

“Somepony saw the two of you nuzzling last night.” Soft Touch nodded wryly. “By the Great Mother Earth, I never imagined Healer Burr would go stallion mad for Woodpecker of all ponies.”

“It’s more of a trial thing.” Thistle tried to defend herself. “Lead Mares typically need Lead Stallions.”

“Why Woodpecker though?” Soft Touch led them outside again. “Pine, let’s go. Keep close.”

“Yes, Soft.” The colt groaned.

“Woodpecker is a good stallion.” Thistle continued. “He’s got all the Herd Laws memorized, he’s strong, he’s got lots of good points.”

“He’s also been flirting with you since the village was founded.” Soft Touch looked at her skeptically. “He’s a carrot-chaser, just like his dam.”

“He’s…persistent, yeah.” She allowed. “Honestly, he’s just…the best choice. Besides, it’s not official yet. I’ve given him until my next heat to prove he’ll be a good Lead.”

“Uh-huh,” Soft Touch sneered at the mention of heat. “Well, if you need a pony to keep a stallion off your back, you know who to talk to.”

“Soft, Woodpecker’s not that kind of stallion.” He wasn’t cruel or mean, just ambitious. Thistle couldn’t fault ambition.

“Whatever you say, Healer.” She rolled her eyes again. “So what kind of plants are we looking for again?”

After collecting what she needed, including cuttings for her garden, Thistle decided to use what time was left of the day to visit Clay Hooves. For the moment he was still living with his dam and her group. Pink wouldn’t be able to commit any time building him his own hut until significant progress on the wall was mad.

He had some construction talent to go with his mark. Where most groups had put vegetable patches, he’d dug a fire pit and over that made a very small hut. It had holes in the bottom where bits of sticks and the light from the fire peeked out, and there was an opening in the top where he presumably put pots to be heated. He was tending the fire when she walked up, laying branches over the top opening.

“Healer Burr, good afternoon.” He scrambled to his hooves, nearly stepping on a pile of kindling. “How can I help you?”

“I’ve been meaning to come see you since you got your mark.” She told him. “I’m sorry it’s taken so long. Things have gotten rather hectic lately.”

“Yeah, I noticed.” He reached up to brush his mane out of his eyes and succeeded only in gooping them up with the clay on his hoof. His body, already a dull gray that reminded her of gully mud, was streaked with clay. “Them horned ponies and the big wall they’re building and your job and all, that makes for a busy day. I’m up to my haunch in orders for pots and bowls and cups.”

“Cups?” She hadn’t heard of that one. He motioned for her to wait a moment, then he walked inside his group’s hut. A second later he came out again with two small objects in a basket. Wordlessly, he handed them over to her.

They were round and had a flat bottom with an opening on one end.

“Drinking from bowls gets your whole snout wet.” He pointed out. “This, you fill it with water and lift it to your mouth and you don’t spill it! My sister got her mark yesterday when she started using a twig to put in those sketches before I fired’em up.”

“Oh,” It did have lots of little sketches on it. A stick-pony and a little stick-tree. The other cup was neater and had lots of tiny triangles all branching out from the bottom like mountains. “They look very nice. Congratulate her for me, would you?”

“Sure thing.” He smirked and sat down. “I tell ya these clay things are great! Everypony wants some! I’m pretty sure they’ll want cups too when I make more of them.”

“How long does it take you to make these things?” She asked, returning the cups to him. The idea of not getting water up her nose every time she was thirsty certainly had its appeal.

“Shaping them takes an hour, depending on size. I can fire up to about three big ones at a time and they take most of a day to finish.” He shrugged. “Most of that time is just keeping the fire burning in the kiln.”

“Kiln? That’s this thing, right?” She checked.

“Yep.” He nodded proudly. “The holes in the bottom bring air in and the air makes the fire burn hotter.” He paused. “I mean, I can’t use it when its raining and its sometimes hard to dig the stuff out when they’re done, but that’s why I’ve been asking Pink Peach to build me my own hut. I can help build a new kiln directly into the wall and use it even when its raining and I can keep it going at night. She’s been by almost every day because she wants my help with a project she’s got her eye on, only she’s got to work on the wall and something called a tower first.”

“Herd projects come before personal projects.” Thistle nodded, sighing. “I’m pretty sure every pony in the herd wants one of your pots.”

“Heh,” He laughed, his chest expanding with pride. “Wait til they get a load of the things my sister’s making. Since she made those pictures on my cups she’s been talking non-stop about other things she wants to pretty up. I’m pretty sure she’s coming with me when I move.”

“Is that the healer? Why didn’t you say you were talking to Healer Burr!” A younger filly poked her head out the door. She ducked back inside before Thistle could think of something to say. Clay Hooves chuckled bemusedly when she looked at him. He never got the chance to say what he was so funny because a second later the filly was back and she had something wrapped around her neck.

Little round things were strung around her neck. For a heart stopping moment, Thistle was certain a snake had somehow latched itself onto the filly. Half of her was already running back to her hut for her snake venom cures.

But no, they clicked when they moved and between them she could see hemp string.

“Like them? They’re beads! I made’em myself!” The filly boasted. “I even drew little pictures on them! It was sooo hard getting them to stay round and neat, even with Clay’s help, but I did it!”

“Wow,” Thistle breathed, letting the panic leave her stance. She leaned in closer, the better to make out tiny flowers and curls in the fading light. Most of them were reddish brown, but a few had streaks of gray that reminded her of water. “They’re very pretty.”

“I know!” The filly laughed, sitting back on her haunches. “I’m not so good with braiding, I keep knotting my tail up, but I wanted something pretty and Clay’s been working with his, well, clay, for weeks now so I thought I’d ask him! Then I started helping him get more clay and sticks to burn and yesterday I got my mark after I put pictures on his cups, he promised we’re not giving those ones away because I helped make them and they got me my mark,”

She hardly seemed to breathe. It was a steady stream of words with no beginning and no end. It was like a current sweeping her away. Thistle was helpless to do anything but sit and listen and learn all about how Pretty Pebble made beads.

Author's Note

I've started taking extra shifts so I'm not updating next week. Updates will resume November 7th. Thank you and have a nice day!