A Chance of Rain

The first day of training went by like a passing breeze. Once the ice had been broken Rainy and Fluttershy got along like a house like a house on fire. All Rainy had to do was watch her mentor with diligence. Fluttershy minded her student. “The first thing you need to learn is just how to be with them.” She smiled, petting the stroking the raccoon after dropping some medicine into his mouth. “They need to feel safe, and calm at all times." The raccoon's face started to squirm and he clutched his stomach. “Shhh, there there, it’s okay. Now sometimes they’ll start to feel a little distressed no matter what you do but that’s okay. You just need to be patient with them and assure them that it’ll be alright.” She continued stroking the sickly critter, letting him squeeze her hoof.

Rainy was amazed at how intuitive it all was. It made remembering everything feel so easy. She thought she would take her weeks to pick up on everything, especially with the many and sometimes very exotic animals the sanctuary was home to. It helped that Fluttershy’s talk-throughs were a good reinforcement.

They continued their chit-chat between charges. Fluttershy recounted a few of her past adventures with her friends which Rainy was more than familiar with but was happy to get it straight from the horse’s mouth.

“So, what brings you to Ponyville?” Said Fluttershy, as they approached a burrow of hares.

Rainy cringed a little inside, she wasn’t exactly jumping to tell her exactly what her practically pathetic reasons for travelling halfway across Equestria were. Then again, she knew that hiding the truth was a pointless endeavour. Nevertheless she replied with a compromise. “I guess you could say I was looking for a change of scenery.” Ending with a sheepish smile.

Fluttershy gave an understanding look to Rainy and then turned away. “Seems like everypony is moving around these days.” She turned back to Rainy. “I remember when I made the decision to leave Cloudsdale. My parents kept asking me why I wanted to leave but I didn’t really have an answer for them.” She took a pause. “I knew why I wanted to go, but it felt like I was being so selfish. I love my family but back then I struggled a lot with expressing myself.”

“Yeah I know what you mean.” Said Rainy. Fluttershy looked puzzled and Rainy thought she made a terrible mistake. “I mean I felt like that too when I was young.” She rushed. “I guess I still do sometimes.” She said with a nervous grin.

Fluttershy finished her business with the newborn leverets and giggled. “I can see that.” She said to Rainy and the two carried on. Fluttershy looked to the sky. “I think my parents were worried I was going to be one of those pegasi who just fly away from home and never settle down.” She said making an exaggerated gesture in the air.

Rainy thought for minutes inside a moment about that.

A little smirk grew on Fluttershy’s face. “If you knew what I was like back then you'd probably find that funny.”

Rainy pictured herself tugging at her scarf in nervousness. She was already fairly familiar with Fluttershy’s past. “It was the same back home.” She said following Fluttershy along the dirt path. “Not many ponies ever move away from Trottingham; Trotland’s even worse for that.” She looked down.

Fluttershy was looking into the trees. “It’s funny, I’ve been all over Equestria but I’ve never been to Trottingham.” She said looking back to Rainy.

Rainy looked up with a smirk. “There’s really not much reason to.” She said with earnest humour.

Fluttershy smiled, and they came upon part of the stream far down from the waterfall. The water was rushing down but calm, letting out a soothing air of white noise. Rainy gasped with excitement. “I love streams.” She said. “I think they’re my favourite part of the forest, they’re just so… nice.” She felt stupid by the end of that sentence, but Fluttershy looked at her with a subtle delight.

They wandered over to a paddling of ducks in the water, and Fluttershy called out for one, who swam up to the bank. She cradled the bird out and showed Rainy the broken wing. “These bandages can get loose over time especially when someone doesn’t follow their instructions to stay out of the water.” Said Fluttershy sounding slightly fed up. “You need to change them regularly so they stay taught and prevent the wing from twitching.” She said, removing the bandages with care then wrapping fresh ones around the fractured wing. “He's been here a little over a week so she should be ready to leave soon once she feels ready.” She said stroking the duck down to his tail feathers.

Rainy felt phantom sensations down her own wing. She’d never broken a bone before and was very sensitive to certain body traumas.

Fluttershy looked to the sky, and noted the position of the sun. “Oh my, it’s noon already.” She looked back to Rainy. “I think it’s about time we had a break don’t you? Believe me, you don’t want to take on this much work without a little rest.” She said with reminiscently.

“Uhh, sure but I don't think I've really earned it have I? I am just watching you do everything after all.” Said Rainy in a glib tone.

“Nonsense, this is a lot to take in all at once. It took me a long time to figure it all out.” Fluttershy cooed, beginning to walk back to the storage closet expecting Rainy to follow.

Rainy trotted along after Fluttershy. “Well you didn’t have such a great teacher did you?”

Fluttershy pondered that. “Oh no, that’s not entirely true. When I started I only had what the animals could communicate to me but they don’t always think like ponies do. They’re not always able to say something as exact as ‘I’ve broken a bone.’ or ‘I have a thorn stuck in my paw.’ Most of them can’t really understand the idea of illness. So early on I would just bring them to Dr. Fauna.”

Rainy was amazed. “I thought you just always knew how to care for animals.”

Fluttershy looked curious. “Well it doesn’t take much to know that every creature just wants a little kindness. But bandages and medicine are another thing entirely.”

They came to the central pond of the sanctuary and Fluttershy ushered Rainy into the surprisingly spacious if not imposing stone room. Fluttershy walked behind her makeshift desk and held up a grocery bag. “I wasn’t expecting company today but thankfully we have plenty of food for the animals. I hope you like salads.” She said with a smile.

“What pony doesn’t?” Replied Rainy, sauntering to the table. The two ponies sat on opposite ends of the pile of crates in disguise and shared lunch. Eventually, Rainy was subjected to something more akin to the interview she had expected from this visit.

“So tell me Rainy, what made you want to volunteer? Said Fluttershy, taking a drink of water.

Rainy answered honestly. “I’ve always loved animals.” She said. “In Trotland we don’t really keep wild creatures out of our towns like in other places, so I was always around animals growing up.”

Fluttershy was intrigued. “I’ve never heard about that before.”

“It’s not the same even down in Trottingham.” Said Rainy. “Most people don’t know much about Trotland. It's almost like it tries to stay secret. It’s all forests and mountains that make the villages feel like they’re hidden away or completely inaccessible.” Rainy continued. “It’s not a bad place to live though. Like I said the wildlife is amazing and all the creatures feel free and happy there." She looked down and smiled, then tilted back up. "I had a pet dog growing up. Her name was Storm Cloud.” Rainy looked into Fluttershy’s eyes. “Pegasi and weather names am I right?”

Fluttershy giggled. “My father worked in the weather factory back in Cloudsdale. I know exactly what you mean.”

Rainy rolled her eyes and shook her head. “My parents were both weather ponies. I never understood the appeal.”

There was a slight pause, and then Fluttershy spoke. “What is it you do then?”

Rainy dodged the question as if it were a bullet. “Oh wait! What was I? Oh yeah, Storm Cloud! You would have loved her; she was the most playful dog I’d ever seen. She adored ponies, she'd cuddle up with just about anybody.”

Fluttershy smiled. “She sounds lovely.”

Rainy smiled in kind. “Yeah, she really was.”

They finished eating and tidied up. Then resupplied their saddle bags with what was needed for their rounds. Flluttershy talked her through their next tasks. “We’ll be dealing with some carnivores next but don’t worry, they’re just like any other creature we’ve taken care of.” Assured Fluttershy.

They began the trip through the woods yet again. Rainy’s sides were beginning to twinge in pain from the hefty bags, now filled with more jars than food like before. She noticed that both her and Fluttershy’s bags were bulging. “So you usually have to do this all by yourself?” She asked.

“Hmm?” Fluttershy then noticed Rainy gesturing to the saddle bags. “Oh yes well, it has been a bit busier this year but you’re the first volunteer I’ve had.”

“You’ve never had any help before?” Asked Rainy, very confused.

Fluttershy was amused. “Oh no of course not. My friends have come to help whenever I’ve needed, the sanctuary wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them.” She said with reminiscence in her voice. “Last winter was especially bad. There was an awful blizzard that displaced a lot of animals from their homes and they all came here.”

Rainy’s heart raced with excitement. She was hearing about a completely new story of Fluttershy’s exploits.

“Thankfully, with the help of my friends I was able to- Oh!” She exclaimed. “Looks like we’re here.” She gestured to a large hole covered by the dangling roots of a tree in the knoll. Fluttershy approached, gesturing for Rainy to hold back. She poked her head into the blackness. “Hi there precious, how are we feeling today?”

Nothing was heard. Fluttershy peaked in closer. “Hi baby.” She spoke very softly. “Shh, shh it’s okay I know it feels bad but I have a student today and I was really hoping she could see how to take care of you.” She whispered. “Okay that’s just fine don’t you worry.” She came back out to Rainy. “I’m afraid she’s very embarrassed about being seen in this condition. She needs a minute to collect herself.”

The two ponies stood with bated breath. Each staring silently into the darkness and then, before their eyes came out a limping wolf with her front left paw splinted.

“I’m so proud of her.” Fluttershy whispered. Rainy felt her heart stirring as well. Fluttershy walked over and inspected the damage. “Her leg was broken very badly, Dr Fauna worked on it for hours.” She spoke quietly with the wolf, and walked back over to Rainy. “We need to give her something for the pain.” She said with a soreness. “She also needs something to help with the anxiety. She’s been a lone wolf all her life and doesn’t like not being able to defend herself.” She looked back to the hurt animal. “She said it’s okay for you to help.”

Rainy’s heart sank. She was honoured by the prospect. “What do I do?” She asked.

“Just walk over very calmly and I’ll do all the rest.” Said Fluttershy.

They approached the aching wolf who stared down Rainy the whole time. Her heart was pounding, worried she might make a mistake. Her gaze was fixed to Fluttershy even as she fished out jars of Rainy’s bag. Fluttershy took a needle out from her own pouch and prepared the solution. “It’ll just be a little pinch and then it’ll all be over.” She said. Without realising, Rainy nodded in reassurance, causing the wolf to relax slightly. “My, you aren’t as tense as you usually are.” Said Fluttershy as she administered the injection. “There you go you can get back to resting now, we’ll bring you your dinner in the evening.” The wolf nuzzled at Fluttershy’s head, tussling her mane. “What’s that? Oh.” She looked to Rainy. “She wants to thank you too.” She smiled.

Rainy was dumbstruck. She couldn’t keep her smile in. She instinctively stepped forward and received the same appreciation as Fluttershy, ending with the wolf shaking off Rainy’s scarf which had become draped over her head. The two ponies helped her back to her bed mat and let her be, and began their way to the next animal in need.

Rainy was taking very deep but quiet breaths as they walked along. Fluttershy was worried she’d thrown her pupil into the deep end too soon. “Is everything okay?”

Rainy responded without question. “That was one of the best things I have ever done."