Savor the Waterveil

Collecting the Mist

Chapter 2

The sun crept slowly upwards from its hiding in the eastern horizon the next morning, the chill temperatures from the night holding as light began to pour onto the landscape. A wave of wind washed and blew over the trees housing the vast forest, giving life to the previous sleeping woods and its inhabitants. Small chitterings emitting from forest animals, along with the sound of an odd bird call here and there could be heard echoing through the perimeter of the Marsh Family Farms property. Though little movement was seen on the farm grounds themselves, with the only movement coming from within the barn and the house itself.

One side of the large double barn doors shifted as it swayed slowly open, as from within a freshly coated in early morning sweat Elise emerged. Wiping said sweat from her brow she turned to close back up the barn doors locking the sliding bolt into place, before turning on her heel and moving at a decent paced walk towards the farmhouse. Upon the patio a certain blue earth pony could be seen sitting on said porch, looking on at attention to the approaching woman. As she neared Knights eyes locked onto hers as his ears flattened, ready to utter the first words they had spoken to each other since getting up earlier that morning.

"Are you sure I can't help you out in there?", he asked genuinely saddened that he couldn't aid his friend with a part of the morning routine she had.

"Now we both know that ain't the best idea right now bud, it's fine. Really, ah' could handle it on my own, ya' don't need tah' worry none", she said as she passed, making a great effort not to get to close to him as she passed by him up through the screen door and into the home.

As she passed, Knight tried his best to shift his head away, but his nostrils flared as he caught a whiff as the breeze blew the stench that had latched onto her clothes. The effect immediate as his eyes widened and he caught himself trailing her as she disappeared into the home, quick to have a necessary early shower, yet knowing it was pointless due to her going to get dirty with the rest of work that the day held. Knight shook his head as the stench trailed away with her, sighing at the fact of almost losing his focus for a minute.

"Yeah, I understand what you mean", he said to himself as his gaze was brought back to the barn, staring at it intensely as he sat there, before averting his gaze once more to keep himself in check.

The early morning dragged on as the farm animals lazed about the fenced in grounds, the livestock grazing and mingling in their respective pens. Knight had moved himself from the front porch to the open fields, in the western portion of the property, easily discernible by a tall standing tree that stood about forty feet tall stuck out easily from the open fields of the property. From what Elise had told Knight about it when he had questioned why it stood in such an odd place, she had informed him that the previous owner didn't know to much detail about the tree themselves. What she did know however that the species of the glorious tree, that being of 'Shumard Oak' had somehow grown to full maturity, and wasn't native to the woods that had housed it. Yet without any care from the previous owners or Elise in that regard, it stood tall and proud, it's generous and full canopy of leaves giving an excellent place for shade in the afternoon hours.

It was here that Knight had found himself on multiple occasions, it being one of his many resting spots that he had come to claim. He had found this spot in particular to be one of his favorites, though he didn't know as to why. It was seemingly no different than any other secluded area on the property, so as to why he felt himself drawn to it, he had no clue. As the early morning continued on, Knight had placed himself under it's great branches, laying on his side as he watched tufts of grass blow in the early morning breeze.

Hearing from behind him footsteps press into the earth, he waited as he felt a figure grunt as they sat next to him. Having washed herself up from her earlier work inside the barn, mainly consisting of feeding and transferring basic stock farm items from within the large structure. Waiting as the silence stretched for a minute or two before the sounds of Elise's voice started to speak.

"Don't get to down on yerself bud, it's not yer' fault, ya' can't control yer' natural instincts", she said to the prone form of the pony, aimlessly scanning around the tree line as she spoke.

"I know", he said while still laying faced away from her, "It just annoys me that I can't help with work inside the barn", he stated as he turned onto his belly, shifting into sitting back on his haunches next to his company.

"Like ah' said, don't worry about it, ah' can handle the workload just fine. Hell ah' did it before ya' got here, so don't go thinking ah' need yer' help like some useless city girl", she chuckled as she patted at her arms, her working farm clothes from yesterday generously showing off her arms. As she patted her arm, slightly flexing in the action, a decent amount of muscle showing off her arms. "We both know ah' ain't no city gal no more", she teased as she rested her arms back down to her sides.

Knight chuckled at her little display, "Yeah yeah, calm down there Big Elly, no need to show off. That's my job!", he stated grinning like the devil as her face shifted into one of scowling irritation.

In one quick motion her right arm came up and delivered a decently heavy slug to his left shoulder blade, paling in comparison to the friendly slugs he usually received from teasing and ribbing her. "Now that's one, ya' wanna go say that again ya' blue fool and go for two?", her irritation clearly present at the thrown nickname. Knight all the while cackling even when she bopped him in the shoulder, the action sending him forward a bit. His laughing dying down to a low chuckle, looking at her face seeing to see her still scowling.

"Okay okay, sorry just teasing you", he laughed once more before rubbing the sore spot where she had made contact. He glanced to the tree line before looking back at her smiling gently. "Thanks Elise, for making me feel better", he stated to try to get her from being irritated any longer.

Elise sighed as she was still slightly irritated but adopted a soft smile from her friends jesting, "Hehe, yeah no problem buddy, gotta keep you from gettin' all sad and mopey on me", she said to him as she fell backwards onto her back, the grass cushioning her slightly as she looked up into the tree, the light heavily obscured from the dense leaves as only a few beams managed to pass through. The silence coming over the two again as they found comfort underneath the large canopy of leaves. Elise shifted as she craned her neck towards Knight, "Ya' know, we never did end up giving her a name, ah' think ya' should be tha' one to give it", she stated looking at the many thick passing branches, shifting slightly in the growing winds.

"Really?", Knight questioned as his own gaze shifted upwards towards the great tree in question. He pondered the options in his head as the wind blew through the pair, wondering how he could grant such a beautiful piece of nature appropriately. It was up until a few minutes passed in silence that Knight spoke again.

"Glory", he said simply as his head had shifted his attention to Elise, "Let's call her Glory". Laying there he tumbled the name in his thoughts a couple more times, as he smiled gently, feeling the name fit perfectly to his favorite part about the farm.

"Huh, Glory", Elise tumbled the word her mouth testing it as she looked up at the great oak. "Ah' like it, ah' think it fits her nicely", she smiled looking at him, approving in his choice of name for their wooden friend. She reached over behind her as she sat, placing a hand on the base of the tree, the bark rough yet not cracking off near her hand. She lightly patted at the base smiling, "How do ya' like that girl, do ya' like Glory?", she had asked the tree as if it was going to answer her.

They both sat there in silence before turning to look at each other, both staring before a quick snort escaped Elise, as both of them broke out into a fit of laughter. Cackling as they both had went mad simultaneously, a laughing party that was only meant for them alone, until it left them into two giggling puddles on the grass near the trees roots. Knight was the first to recover as he used a hoof to wipe a tear that had willed its way down his cheek after gasping for breath.

"Oh ho jeez, I think we might both be a little too stupid for our own good Elise', he remarked as he pushed himself up form the earth slowly, trying to regain control over his still rapid desperate breathing.

"Ah ha, no! Not at all, ah' think we're both okay in the 'perfectly normal' club, but only to ourselves and nobody else", she gasped as she herself came down from her laughing high. Her laughs slowing down as her face morphed into one of a slight smile as her eyes became a little more serious. Which Knight had noticed this himself, only seeing this face a couple of times, when she was talking about something important.

"Uh, speakin' of which bud. Ah' gotta talk to ya' about somethin', ah' got a call earlier", she trailed as her gaze fixed onto Knights as she sat there, looking into his eyes before she spoke. Gathering all of his attention as he sat there waiting for her to continue.

"Well, ya' see..."

-------------------------- Earlier ---------------------------

Elise had just finished her early morning shower, only doing to make sure she was looking out for Knights well being and his pride. Opening the washroom door of the first floor, a cacophony of steam billowing out of the room, she stepped onto the wooden floor interior of the hallway. Towel wrapped around her chest down to her thighs, her wet but slightly dried hair matted to the back of her neck, made her way through the home not trekking any water as she did her best to dry herself. Opening the folding doors in said hallway revealing a small but furnished washer / drier combo closet. A clothes rod installed over the appliances holding pairs of working outfits she had at the ready, opting for a similar but slightly different colored farming overalls, complete with a tank-top undershirt. Grabbing the clothes she closed the doors making her way through the living area, rounding the corner aiming for the stairs that led to her room upstairs.

Though as she rounded the corner she noticed the home phone she had installed earlier that year, yielded a blinking red light, indicating that she had a voicemail. A curious gaze adorning her face as she had only given the number to a few select individuals, deciding to check on it after she got dressed, she moved up the stairs taking her time as she entered her room and closed the door. She knew she had no reason to, seeing as Knight rarely came into the home, only ever coming in when he had asked for permission out of common courtesy. She had told him before it wasn't needed, stating he was welcome inside whenever he felt the need, yet he stood fast in his views no matter how many times she tried to convince him. Shaking her head at the thought she discarded the towel before grabbing a pair of basic underwear from her dresser. The room itself not adorning any extra items of furnishing, other than a basic queen sized bed, along with a nightstand and her dresser, which held various photos of relatives and good friends she once had.

As she stood there in the middle of her room, a moving figure had caught her eye, in the buck she moved towards the open window. Glancing out the window to her room that overlooked the western area of the property she spotted Knight. She saw him slowly making his way to the tree that had been a wonder to her ever since she bought the property. She also noticed that he had his head down, easily knowing that he was sad about something. She had found out early on since they had met, that it was easy for her to figure out how he was feeling, easily discernible by his posture and body language. She sighed as she watched her friend beat himself up over something, knowing that she would have to get him out of his funk, which she would have easily done in a heartbeat.

Sighing she finished dressing herself and latching her clasps of her denim suspenders, she opened her room door and made her way back down the stairs. As she hit the bottom step she eyed the home phone again, the red indicator blinking slowly, the message to have yet been played. With a stern look she moved towards it, using her hand to survey the buttons on the face of the device, having not used the machine all to often since she had bought it. Locating the 'Mailbox' button, she gingerly pushed it as a tone gave off a sound, slightly making her jump and irritated with herself as the message over the speaker played out.

You have 'one' new message... First message...

"H-hey Elise... It's me..."

The message rung out of the speaker, at the sound of the voice Elise's eyes widened, immediately recognizing who was on the other end of the call she had missed sometime last night. The message continued on as she listened intently to his voice, almost thinking she had heard it crack, as if he were in distress of some kind.

"Y-you know, June. I know it's been a while since we saw each other, and I know you really didn't leave on the right note with the family... But uh..."

As the sound and words of her little brother came through the phone, memories of her sudden departure came back like a flash back into her thoughts, before she shook her head with a scowl trying to shake those feelings away. Trying to listen back to the recording, her brother started speaking again.

"I-i have spring break coming up, and I just thought... I thought I would swing by, see how you've been doing, y-you know. With the farm and all... I know it's a little sudden, but I thought it might be a nice little uh, 'trip' for me..."

Elise listened intently, the message only giving her more questions as he continued to speak, the situation all seeming to odd even for her little bothers standards. Knowing how her brothers early years had gone, hearing him in such a way, gave her an even growing suspicion as to why he decided to come and visit her. She was pulled out of her deep thinking as he continued on.

"So i'll uh, i'll be flying out tonight, so i'll probably be there a little later in the week, most likely Thursday or Friday..."

As his voice continued through the speaker, Elise checked around the corner of the well, glancing to her refrigerator noting the small magnetic calendar she had placed up. Looking at the marked off days she saw that today was Tuesday, her eyes lowering into a slight frown at the implications of how soon he would show up. She moved back around the corner as the timestamp to the message was nearing it's end.

"I'll be getting a rental so I can make it out to where you live, since it's a little far from the nearest airport, almost a four hour drive when i checked. So I think i'll be a bit sore, hehe..."

The chuckle almost sounded forced to Elise, again spurring her wonder as to why he was going through the trouble to make his way out to her. The message had only a few more seconds as she listened, her form standing an inch close to the phone as the last bits of his voice emanated from the device.

"I uh, I can't wait to catch up. See you then big sis, later..."

End of Message... You have 'no' new messages... would you like to repea--

The monotone robotic voice was cut off as Elise had shoved her index finger into the 'End' button on the console. She stood there as a flood of emotions and memories washed through her, gathering within her as many questions and concerns flew through her mind. One thought in particular had been at the forefront of all of it, how was she going to explain Knight if her brother really did show up. Not pushing the grinding questions of why her brother all of a sudden thought that they needed to 'Catch Up', as he had put it. Regardless it sounded like he had his mind set, though she came to a quick realization. quickly looking back over the console of the phone she picked up the handset. Placing it to her ear as she searched, and subsequently found the 'Redial' option, she pushed it in as soon as she found it.

The line didn't even ring once before sounding out into the disconnected dial tone. Huffing in irritation, she slammed the handset back into its slot, shifting the device as the table it was set upon shook. She stood there, hand still on the phone, shaking and breathing heavily as the weight of the situation dawned upon her. If she wanted him to or not, her brother was inbound to her farm, and she had no way of letting him know that he wasn't necessarily welcome. Though that thought hit her with a sense of grief, it wasn't that she didn't want to see her brother, it was more of the fact that she didn't need to see him. She had done perfectly fine ever since she left and bought a place of her own, her farm, the place where she had theoretically escaped to.

As she went over the thoughts that mulled in her head, she sat down upon her recliner in her living room. She sat there, racking her brain in an attempt to figure the best way to solve this predicament she found herself in. The inevitable conversation they were going to have, involving their family, what had happened and eventually how she was going to explain Knight. Upon having her thoughts go to her blue friend she shifted in her chair, knowing where he was at the moment she formulated the best way to give the news to him, not knowing how he would take it. Knowing the only human interaction he claimed to have was with her, she worried if he would be completely against the idea.

She gathered herself and her emotions as she stood up, making her way out the back door and shuffling slowly towards her relaxing friend...

-------------------------- Present ---------------------------

Knight sat there, he had been drinking in all the information she had given to him about the call silently. Yet only known to her, she had left out the parts to where she picked up the signals in her brothers voice. Only letting him in on the fact that he was coming, whether they liked it or not. Knight waited for her to continue speaking, though she only sat there, gauging his initial reaction. Knight sat there pondering her words, waiting in silence before he spoke up.

"Uh, okay, um wow. So uh, your little brother is really coming to the farm?", he asked looking into her eyes, knowing full well she didn't seem to be joking about what she had told him. The fact cementing itself as the only response she gave to him was a simple head nod. He too nodded his head in recognition, accepting the fact that this was indeed not a ploy, sighing he adopted a slightly nervous smile.

"Well, I mean. It doesn't sound too bad, I mean he is your brother. So I don't think it'll be that bad, right?", he asked as he looked over to her, trying to gauge whether the situation wasn't as bad as the light she was putting it in. She looked away as she tried to find the best way to give a reason for her hesitance on the matter.

"Ya' see... Look, ah' gotta be straight with ya' Knight. Ah' didn't leave on the greatest of terms with my family. Hell, ah' practically shouted their ears off when ah' left. They didn't take too kindly to the fact that ah' was moving to a farm out in the middle of nowhere, without their input no less. So it might not seem as innocent as he wanted it tah' be, granted he didn't have the best blood with ma' and pa' neither...", she trailed off as the thoughts clouded her head again. She shook those away mentally as she continued to stare at her friend. She paused for a moment longer before speaking again.

"But, that doesn't mean he has the best intentions. So ah' just wanted to let you know ahead of time, i'll do me best to grab him before he gets here, so that ah' may explain the situation we got here. He may be mah' little bro' Knight, but you are mah' good friend. Mah 'Best' friend", she emphasized to him, trying to make sure he meant something to her in this situation. "So whatever happens, we will always be here, on mah' farm, as we have been. Like two peas in a pod!", she said as she smiled at him, reaching over to roughly tussle his mane.

Knight laughed lightly as he tried to swat her hand away with his hoof. As she pulled her hand away he gave a genuine smile right back at her, knowing full well she meant what she said.

"I know Elise, thanks. I guess i'm just a little nervous at the idea of meeting someone else, how are you going to try and bring me up?", he asked with a genuine curiosity as he saw her face change into one of contemplation. She held that face, eyes moving back and forth, seeming deep in thought. She sat that way before looking over to him with a blown out smile and half closed eyes, facing towards him.

"Ah' have no fucking clue bud!", she said casually as the stupid looking smile sat plastered on her face. Knight laughed out at her obvious discomfort, the mood lightening significantly as he scooched himself back on his haunches up to the newly named 'Glory', resting up against it's base.

"Well, it seems like you have a couple of days at least to figure it out", he said to her. Elise seeing him move and lay against Glory decided to do the same. She moved herself to sit right next to him, placing her shoulder against him as they propped each other up. Enjoying each others company in the peaceful open fields of Marsh Family Farms, the name not having the same appeal as it once held in Knights respect. Sitting there they stared out at nothing particular as Elise gave out an exaggerated sigh.

"Ah' think ah' need at least a week, minimum", she stated to him. Eliciting a chuckle out of Knight, they said nothing further. Both silently agreeing that the rest of the day could be spent just enjoying each others company. For it seemed to the both of them, that their current peaceful living was about to get a bit complicated. Yet they were content to worry about that later in the week, as they ended up both falling into a nice sleep. Napping under Glory's branches the area immediate around the farmhouse went on seeming vacant. As it's only two occupants were currently away from it's cozy hold.

------------------ Elsewhere ------------------

The intercom of the medium sized commercial airplane had dinged a low tone, as a voice emanated from the speakers residing above its passengers heads.

"Good afternoon passengers. This is your captain speaking. First I'd like to welcome everyone on Rightwing Flight 86A. We are currently cruising at an altitude of 33,000 feet at an airspeed of 400 miles per hour. Our current destination is Eastbound towards---

The captains message was drowned out as the lithe form of a passenger was seen putting headphones in his ears. Reaching down for his personal smart phone, he tapped at it as music began emitting from the speakers of the ear pieces. He sighed as he glanced out his side window, looking at the passing clouds below. His eyes dulled at the sight, not seeming to take in the vast landscape passing below him. As he sat there he thumbed through his smart phone, flipping through a contacts list, he stopped as he came across a certain one. He stared intently at the contact, it read across his screen 'My Lovely', shoved in between by little hearts and kissing faces. His face expressionless as he stared, clicking on the contact bringing up the options menu, his thumb hovering over the 'Delete' option. His finger hovered there for a few seconds, before finally relenting and pressing the option, the contact wiped from the screen. He moved to lock the phone, the screen going black, as a single tear rolled from the corner of his right eye. A slight noticeable tinge of bloodshot red, forming from the edges of the whites of his eyes. Setting the phone down he rested his head against the slight cushioned headrest, the single tear rolling down his cheeks, as the airplane flew him to his destination off into the horizon.

Chapter 2 End

Author's Note

Holy Hell! I did it, I actually made another chapter, I didn't expect that. I guess i'm just really feeling this! Though i'm pretty sure that doesn't mean i didn't miss anything when i scanned through it briefly. Ah well, it's not going to be perfect, i'm not an English Major or anything special. So, i'll keep trying the best i can to not just shit out horrible grammatically incorrect sentences. No promises though!

That's why i do hope if anyone does spot anything Let Me Know! I would greatly appreciate it, since this is really fun for me at the moment! I would also love any feedback on how my views of the characters feel currently, and if there is any glaring issues you can point out to me that i can't easily recognize.

I do hope that it is somewhat entertaining at least, i noticed it was placed in a few peoples 'Favorites' or 'Read Later' tabs, which is a great bit of encouragement on my part! You have no idea!

Anyways i'm rambling, enjoy the story as it comes out, the next chapter will take a bit longer i will admit, i had the first two chapters heavily planned, everything else will come to me in the moment. But! i will leave you with the next chapter title... Seeya!

Coming Soon

--------------- Call of the Wild Hearts ---------------