Running After Safety

“Run, run, can’t stop. Must keep running.” Minty told herself as she sprinted through the brush.

Minty kept pushing forth, panting heavily as she rushed towards the direction of the rendezvous point.

Minty ran for a solid ten minutes before eventually getting to a single tree in an open area. This tree was twisted and old, the trees rich leaves already having dissipated years ago. On a stump, just a little to the right of it sat Blueberry.

“Minty!” yelled Blueberry, standing up and running over to her as she came into view.

Minty took her into her embrace and smiled, tearing up from joy.

“Oh thank Celestia you made it out,” said Minty, choking up in her own gratitude.

Minty separated from the wholesome reunion and then looked around, her ears sensitive to any sound that wasn’t made by them.

After a quick scan around them, she looked down at Blueberry and then took her pack to review it for things she didn’t need or had probably forgotten to pick up.

“Good, you even got your notebook. If they got a hold of that and us too, they’d rip us apart from each other.” Minty stated in a serious tone.

She gave Blue her pack back and said, “Come, let's go. We have to go.”

Just as she finished up her sentence, Blue asked, concerningly and curiously, “Go where? You said we were going to live there forever... Now we can’t. Where are we going to go now?”

Minty looked at Blueberry. As much as she wanted to reassure her that she had a place in mind like the past couple times they were chased away, she had nothing. For the first time in her life, Minty had no idea where she was going to go now. The heavy pouring of the pearly raindrops had Minty thinking more than ever. She looked up and saw the clouds and noticed; They weren’t white clouds, they were grey and gloomy. A storm was headed their way and they had nowhere to go.

“Well... Well, we can always find someplace to stay nearby. There must be more abandoned houses near that one.” Minty said trying to sound reassuring but doubt was seeping through her confidence.

“Minty, you know we can’t! They are going to search all around our house! Especially others nearby!” Blue said with a sense of hopelessness in her tone.

Minty knew she had a point. The orphanage personnel will be searching nearby for them. They couldn’t just go to a house nearby and hope for the best or else they’d be caught for sure. Then, they’d be taken apart from each other and they’d have to suffer alone. Minty knew what she had to do, but she didn’t want to. For years she told herself she’d live anywhere but in the actual area in which she was trying to hide away from.

“We go into Ponyville then,” Minty spoke, her eyes staring down at her dirty bandaged right front hoof.

“You said we would never-” Blue started saying, only to be cut off.

“I know what I said!” roared Minty, anger beginning to build up inside of her as she thought of the idea of having to live in Ponyville.

Blue’s ears flattened against her skull and she took a step back as she heard Minty yell. She’s heard Minty get mad before, just, never to this extent. Usually, she yelled to do something, or to call her down, or sometimes even just yelled in frustration or pain, but never out of anger. Never to her.

Minty’s expression slowly transitioned from angry and frustrated to sorrowful and self-reflective.

“I-I’m sorry, Blue. I’m just... really frustrated is all.” Minty calmly and soothingly said.

Blue’s ears slowly stood back to their normal position. She looked up at Minty and calmed down, fear subsiding and her muscles relaxing. The rain continued to fall heavily, the wind, also, beginning to become a little more noticeable.

“A storm is coming. I can feel it. We need to head out of the forest and find a place we can stay at.” Minty said, trying to change the mood of the situation.

Blueberry nodded and followed behind MInty as she began to walk towards the direction of Ponyville. They were on the north side of Ponyville. Now, normally this wouldn’t be bad for the average filly who resided in this part of Ponyville. Middle-class houses, middle-class ponies, and safety in the houses.

However, this pair of fillies weren’t the average fillies. They were wanted by an orphanage, they had a cute look, no adult supervision, and they did not dwell in any of the homes of North Ponyville. The perfect target for any creep who wanted a taste of a toothpaste filly or a blueberry filly.

They’re gonna have to be extremely careful, quick, and charismatic if they don’t want to be seen and stay safe. It’s time Minty’s years of hiding to be put to the test.

“This way, Blue,” exclaimed Minty as she picked up her pace and walked towards the exit of the forest, Blue following right behind.

Several minutes later

Minty and Blue finally exit the forest and enter into the outer edges of Ponyville. It was getting dark and it was still raining heavily, wind speeds were now picking up. Blue saw the lights of the houses and 24-hour shops. Blue’s eyes grew wider with her pupils growing bigger as she saw the possible paradise.

“Wow!” excitedly blurted Blue.

Minty wasn’t pleased with the sight. She didn’t see what Blue saw. Those lights meant possible hotspots for safety from the dark where perverted stallions or mares might be hiding. She kept seeing nights where her neck was tightened, nights where here tail was nearly a handle for perverts, the nights where she came close to losing something she could never get back.

“Yeah, wow,” said Minty in a monotone voice, emotion having gone from her at the sight of the houses and shops.

Minty began to walk towards the town, Blue following close by as usual.

“What’s wrong, Minty?” asked Blue with curiosity filling her as Minty began to grow apathetic.

“Blue-” Minty said in a serious tone, “-it’s time I tell you about good touch and bad touch.”

Blue turned her head a little, “Good touch and bad touch? Like, what they told us in kindergarten?”

Minty nodded, for the first time grateful for the Ponyville education system.

“Yes, exactly,” Minty turned her head to face Blue, “except this time you have to remember that all the time at night. The dark is where perv- uhm, naughty touchers hide. When a stallion or colt asks to see your privates or touch your privates, tell them ‘No’ and come right on back to me and tell me. If a stallion says he’s gonna give you something if you follow him, don’t follow them. If you lose me-” Minty thought to herself for a second before saying, “whistle, you know how to whistle right?”

Blue nodded. Blue then whistled fairly loud for a nine-year-old.

“Perfect. If you lose me whistle but never ask around for me, it’ll attract attention to us and it’ll make us easy targets. Stick close to me and none of what I just told you will ever need to come into use. The same thing goes for me, if I lose you I’ll whistle, got that?” asked Minty, still keeping that leader-like tone in her speech.

Blue nodded and moved closer to Minty.

Blueberry felt safe, cold, but safe. She trusted Minty with all her heart and she now knew what to expect of stallions and mares. She now knows to be careful and be near Minty at all times.

The two eventually made it into the actual town itself. Blue has no over body clothes to keep her warm, she’s drenched by the rain. The same goes for Minty. Minty looks around and finally spots a little stop shop. MInty pointed at it and said, “Over there, come on.”

Blue followed without hesitation.

The two fillies walked into the little shop. It was like a gas station, just no gas pumps. Blue looked around, still dripping and shivering. However cold, the cold didn’t stop her from being fascinated by everything around her. Of course, the first place she went to was towards the candy section. Minty smiled, also shivering from the cold. She looked around and saw that umbrellas were being sold there and she began to smile but then noticed the price tag that read ‘40 bits’ and immediately it disappeared.

Minty looked over at the cashier and saw that they couldn’t be bothered to look up. It was a mare in her possibly early 20’s or so. She looked average height and had her mane styled up nicely. Freckles as well.

Minty then looked over at Blue who was still pondering the thought of candy; sweet, delicious candy.

Minty walked over to the umbrellas and quickly snatched one off the hanger. The cashier didn’t look up, stayed transfixed on her phone. Minty smiled and walked over to Blue where she then put the umbrella into her bag. Just before comfort settled in, she suddenly looked up and her eyes darted around the ceiling and the corners of the ceiling.

No cameras. A sigh of relief escaped her maw and she adjusted the umbrella into the little holder where it would stay secure. Blue picked out a piece of candy she really wanted to try. A very famous chocolate bar that rhymed with ‘sneakers’ that was only one bit. Blue looked up at Minty and Minty nodded and took out her sack of bits, handing one over to Blue. Blue immediately beamed with joy and ran past her continuously thanking Minty as she ran towards the cashier. Minty smiled and walked out of the store unnoticed.

A couple of seconds later and Minty saw Blue come out, smiling as she held the little bar.

“Thank you, Minty!” cheerfully said Blue.

“Of course, to make up for the cookies. Come on let’s find a place to sleep,” Minty whispered softly to Blue as she opened the umbrella a couple of feet from the shop and walked down the street.

Minty looked around as they walked for a possible place to sleep. Blue stuck very close to Minty and looked around before spotting a broken-down carriage and smiling. Minty softly smirked and ruffled up Blues mane.

“Nice eye!” said Minty with a proud tone. This made Blue smile widely.

The pair walked hastily over to the cart and inspected it. It was indeed broken-down; A window was broken in, a bit of glass inside, but other than that, it looked to be in somewhat good shape for shelter. The wheels were gone but that didn’t matter. Minty opened the door and lifted Blue inside before getting in herself and closing the door, the locks still working so she locked the doors as well.

Blue shivered as she sat inside. Minty put her bag down and took out a fairly small but thick blanket and handed it over to Blue. Blue took it and look to her seat and smiled as she saw no glass on it. She laid down and curled up with the blanket over her soft yet wet fur. Minty smiled and looked at her seat. No glass on it. She looked at the floor and saw little pearly glass shards resting on the cold wooden floor.

She took this into account. She took out a thick jacket that was most definitely not her size and wrapped herself around with it. Her body curling up to create as much warmth as possible. The thickness of the wool sweater caused the winds to be blocked and any cold to be subsided within her small pony body.

Her body began to rest, her muscles beginning to loosen up, and her mind begins to let itself have its own time to itself. She saw as Blue snoozed quietly on the other side of the cart and she felt a somewhat fuzzy feeling in her stomach. She smiled and then closed her eyes.

Her ears twitched as they sensed the gravel path outside being disturbed by hooves.

Minty quickly shot her eyes open and sat up. And looked at the window.

“Hey there little filly,” said a low deviating stallion voice.