Scintilla (Go the distance)

Rainbow was not aware of how starved she actually was! It was a mystery why she didn't realize this sooner, but it was safe to say, that bread was the best loaf of bread she'd ever tasted!

Rook was, in some way, impressed by the hunger of the young mare, but he thought nothing of it since he also found himself starving a few times in the past. Instead, he also ate his lunch in delight, after all, food always tastes better in good company.

The pair chatted for a bit of several unimportant topics during the course of their meal, Rook told Rainbow about his travels throughout and beyond the desert – which was called the 'Sahida Desert', not that it made her hate it any less, mind you –, and she told him of her aerodynamic endeavours, and her hopes for joining the Wonderbolts one day. "I dunno what a 'Wonderbolt' is, but I'm sure you'll make it" He said, then they started to talk about the fact that she is a pegasus, and how rare that was. "Pegasi live up north, not many of 'em move down here, but those that do, don't usually stay for too long" That's all he knew about pegasi, and when she asked why, he spoke of rumors running around. "I would lie if I say I knew why, maybe your kind really likes to stay up in the heights" He laughed "But they say there's probably one other pegasi 'round here, but I don't know 'em really, they say they used to live eastward but that's about it, maybe they also went away". Rook then asked Rainbow where she was from, interested in how such a prismatic young mare found herself in the middle of a gruesome, brutal infinity of a desert alone, but she kept most to herself. "My home is... pretty far, so far I don't even know how I ended up here, but after meeting with my friends, I'm going back" She said, at some point during the conversation the topic of her friends came up. "We got separated, I'm gonna find them" That's all she said, and Rook respected her privacy so when she started to feel uncomfortable he let it be.

After that, they kept talking for a couple hours about nothing in particular, just enjoying their time together. Rook mentioned his wife again in a hearty anecdote, he told her she was as kind as she was feisty, and that Rainbow reminded him of her in a way. "We were travelin' to the west coast, we went to Arena Blanca, and when a local started to talk shit 'bout us eating in the beach she just grabbed a crab that was tryna steal our food and threw it at him!" He laughed wholeheartedly, Rainbow also laughed with him. "She told him to 'eat some crab legs with us'". When Rainbow asked about his wife, Rook only smiled "She stayed in Arena Blanca, she told me somepony had to keep them nasty folk at bay. But I visit her as much as I can, I make sure of it". Rainbow let the matter be when it got uncomfortable, respecting Rook's privacy.

When Rainbow got thirsty again, this time she accepted Rook's offering and gratefully took the canteen in between her hooves. The pegasus thought of how kind Rook really was, despite her skepticism at the beginning, (but that is not to say she dropped her guard completely, she still kept a watchful eye on him, and she expected him to do so as well, just like any other reasonable pony would).

When the sun started to drift from its higher point in the sky, Rook took out a map from his saddlebags and laid it out in front of them both. "Do you happen to have a map, Rainbow Dash?" He asked, and when she shook her head, the old stallion whistled. "However you managed to get here unscratched, I'll never know. Anyway, we're right here" He pointed out on the map. "Are you good at memorizin'?", Rainbow answered positively this time. "Welp, that's a skill, alright! I would love to memorize this old thing but since I'm so old I end up forgetting all the time" Rook chuckled. "If you need a map, I hear this is the place to get one" Rainbow leaned over to look at the piece of paper, seeing a small dot eastwards from the Oasis the old stallion pointed out before. "That's Tayne, it's a few days walk but I'm sure you can manage it, word is there's a cartographer livin' there, he may sell you one if he's kind enough. But be careful, kid, Tayne ain't your usual town, I always avoid it if I can".

"Why?".

Rook shrudered. "I dunno, really. Just gives me the creeps".

"Well, you said it yourself, I must be something special if I made it this far, what's one creepy old town?" Both Rainbow and Rook laughed at this.

"I'll say, it was nice to meet somepony as thrillin' as you, Rainbow Dash". As Rook put away the map on his saddlebags, he looked over at the pond again, lost in thought. Rainbow didn't really notice this, for she was too busy emptying the canteen. The pegasus walked over to the waterhole to fill the bottle once more, being the polite thing to do, and then handed it over, that's when Rook shook his head for the first time. "You keep it, you need it more than me". He said, handing over the straps of the bottle to her, but before Rainbow could protest, Rook spoke again. "And I also want to give you this" The old earth pony took off his woollen cloth and gave it to Rainbow Dash. The pegasus noticed the old and faded scars covering his back and legs but refrained from asking, they looked cool, though. "My ruana, It will shield you from the sun".

"But what about you, old geezer?".

"Meh, what's one creepy old sun?" He responded, brushing off her concerns with a laugh. "'Sides, I think you have a long way to go before you find your friends. I wish you luck, by the way".

"I don't need luck, I will find them" she responded, this time around, Rainbow brushed off his concerns with a laugh.

Eventually, they said their goodbyes and Rainbow bid him farewell. She watched the old pony go in silence, and as his image was fading away, he yelled. "Be safe!".

Rainbow decided to stay in the Oasis for another hour, she had put on the ruana and strapped the canteen to herself.

Tayne was a few days walk, that's what Rook said. but was it a few days flight as well? She pondered over the idea of flying to the town, she knew she wouldn't miss it if she flew over it.

The pegasus looked at the woolen cloth with more precision, she noticed a simple, old and faded pattern on the hem that wasn't really all that special, but it was very alluring. It was a wave of a colour long muted to a dull brown, the ruana itself was not the colourful item either, but she somehow liked it dearly.

She then felt the weight of the element on her neck, she had forgotten she carried it.

Rainbow glanced at her neck (as best as she could) and saw the reflection of gold slightly covered by the ruana, if she accommodated the woolen cloth better, then the element would be completely hidden from sight.

The pegasus took another look at the oasis, breathing in the peace that it seemed to bring her. But, just like everything good lately, it was short lived, the day didn't wait for anypony, and so she needed to get going.

Unfolding her wings from underneath the ruana, Rainbow took off from the – barf – sand and, for the first time in a long while, she flew.