MAY 22 Monday.

I make another note of a Timberwolf across the river as it rips a rabbit to shreds in the early morning sunlight.

It's a bit bloody but I don't really care, animals do as they please and nature doesn't care either way. The small pack feeds in a specific order, females with pups first, then larger pack members, and finally the smaller pack members, each getting enough to fill themselves.

I realized a week ago while being bored that there is something else I can do to fill my time, watching and studying the Timberwolves. I spent much of the last week either watching them or waiting for them to show up, and I quickly noticed something new about the pack that lives near me.

They moved their den much closer to Gaia's Eden, something that worried me a little the first time I noticed it. But that didn't last long as I don't really have much to worry about, they mostly stay on the other side of the river and when they do come to this side they completely avoid my Gaia's Eden.

I know the aberrant snake has stayed away and basically given up this territory, and I think that's why they moved closer to Gaia's Eden, Celestia and my presence provides protection from larger predators. Or that's my theory at least. Either way, they made their new den, a burrow, literally right across the clearing on the side of the river.

From my position on the riverbank, I can see the packs burrow. It's under a massive Oak tree, and I do mean under, they dug it out at some point and I only noticed once I started observing them more closely. Not that I really mind, they may be close but they don't seem to be a threat and I can observe them closely from here.

I've kept my distance though and only watched so far, and in my observation, I've noticed several interesting behaviors. I even learned how to tell the difference between males and females, how? Well... I saw them mating, and it turns out that part of their biology is still the same and they do have sex and sexual dimorphism in their species.

The males seem to have more large leaves, some in different shapes and sizes, on their bodies with an emphasis around the neck. While females are slightly smaller than males and also have fewer branches sitting out from around the body that leaves normally grow on, it's not a massive difference and it's hard to tell, but it's there. I will leave out the description of how their mating looks and the bits involved, but it seems they take more from the animal side when it comes to that process.

As a result of the mating, I think they mostly do it in spring or late winter so there is plenty of food for the young when they are born in the summer, other animals do the same. Their pups are honestly adorable, they play and are scolded by the adults when they get a little too rough.

The entire pack seems to help with raising them, they are carried out of the borrow in the mornings and then spend most of the time laying in the sun or eating meat other members hunt for. I guess unlike wolves the pups can't really be hidden in the burrow all the time until they are older, something about them needs to sunbathe to develop.

They look interesting, unlike the adults, the bark they have as skin looks young and sheds often, I've seen them scraping pieces off and even collecting pieces to study, either by themselves or with their mother's help by licking and nibbling they shed themselves. I finish another detail-oriented sketch of the young pups fighting over a fresh and bloody rabbit bone, I close my sketchbook and put it away.

I've learned a lot about their behaviors, and just how wild they can be if needed. Turns out like many animals they can get violent about mating, both competing for mates and the actual act itself. I finish the last of my notes and I deactivate my bracelet's illusionary notebook before standing up and stretching my legs.

I walk back towards my shack as Entropy flies down from a branch of the Water Tree. "Hey Girl." I pet her a bit and take a moment to look over the small pond around the Water Tree and spot some small movement. It comes from several small fish that now live inside the pond.

Another new addition, and one I decided to add myself. I never had any wild animals here so I thought I'd add something small, like fish. I caught a few baby fish from the river with a water manipulation spell and added them in here, I don't even know what they are.

They are mostly dark gray and black in color, but one is a dull red that pops slightly. I'm not sure if any of them will survive in the long term but I tried to make it possible. I planted several different berry bushes around the pond and had them bloom in abundance, fruit that can either be picked and fed to the fish or just fall into the pond naturally over time.

I'll have to feed them every once in a while and also grow more berries when they run out, but I have the free time so why not have a few fish? I pick a few small Thimbleberries and toss them in while sitting down to watch them nibble and eat. I smile at them and enjoy the good mood I've had since my meeting with Twilight.

Also, it turns out she's not really the best at learning new languages. We didn't get to do much, mostly a few words and a few phrases, we only did it for half an hour before Velvet returned. But I still managed to get a little frustrated, but I still taught her a few things with the help of a Griffon textbook I found.

It was, nice, nothing spectacular but there is nothing to really complain about. She is fun to talk to and genuinely a smart pony when it comes to spells and magic. It was still a bit awkward at several points, but we made do and agreed to meet again when she has some free time available.

I'm not really sure when that will be though, turns out Celestia is starting to really ramp up her studies now that she's nearly an adult so she might not get the chance to meet too often. I'm just glad to have it all seemingly sorted and put to rest, and happy to have a distant friend back.

I shake my head and leave my thoughts, I have places to be and something important to do today. I stand up and finish walking back to my shack before getting a few things put away and having Entropy take me home once again. I clean myself up and make myself look presentable enough to be seen in public.

I've looked into it more and more and finally, I decided to try and volunteer at a hospital. Ironically enough the hospital I want to go to is the same one I was born in, it's an interesting situation but not an unpleasant one. I have Entropy stay in my shadow before making my way out into the busy morning streets of Canterlot.

I decided to fly instead of walking as I wanted to know how fast I could get there if needed. The journey takes twenty minutes at a decent but safe speed, probably ten minutes if I really push it. I land outside the large building and dismiss my wings quickly, better to not cause any confusion here.

The very large and busy building is Canterlot's second largest hospital, right behind Canterlot General. It's called Cracked Hoof Hospital, fucking pony names, at least this makes some sense. The building is a bright white and stretches out over a very large area. I head inside through a pair of large doorways at the front of the building and enter a large waiting room with several desks and receptionists helping various ponies.

Off to the side is a smaller desk with a simple sign on it. Volunteer today, and help a pony! Yup, turns out unlike humans ponies are a bit more loose and blunt about things like this. After all, any pony with limbs can clean a hospital hallway at a minimum, magic and talents can have unexpected uses as well.

Or at least that's what I understand, I guess I'll find out myself soon enough. There are two ponies already in line so I do have to wait a few moments, and when I do arrive I'm met with an older unicorn mare looking me over. "Hello, Sir. volunteering?" I'm a little confused as that is literally what the desk says, but I nod regardless.

Apparently, she sees my confusion because she smiles and huffs a little. "You'd be surprised how many don't read the sign." She says while moving a few forms around. "Ok, first, do you have any medical credentials or degrees?" I shake my head and she takes a few forms away. "Ok, work crew, or testing for the assistant program?" She asks like she's done this a thousand times.

This is what I came here for. The assistant program lets anypony with some basic or moderately advanced medical skills or knowledge to help doctors and nurses do their work, on a small scale of course mostly and it's mainly focused on teaching volunteers to improve their skills. Not many places do this and if I remember correctly it's many set up by the crown to nurture those with the talent but not the means to become a healer or doctor. "Testing, and maybe the work crew, what's that like?" I keep a mostly blunt tone to not waste her time.

She doesn't look all that surprised and takes it in stride. "The work crew is simple enough, just a lot of cleaning and moving things around, sometimes simple repair work as well." She explains patiently. "Do you have any healing skills or any basic healing education? If you do, then it's good to note those beforehoof so they know what you already know." She asks while going through more papers.

: Work crew huh? That sounds a little interesting, ahh why not?: I think for a moment before answering. "I can cast several cleaning spells, I also know several basic healing spells," I explain before shrugging a little. "And I'll volunteer for the work crew today, maybe more depending on how it goes." I decided to just go with the flow for now and indulge my curiosity.

She looks slightly surprised for a moment before moving out a few new forms and passing the stack to me with a larger smile. "Fill these out properly. Sit over there, also don't wear your saddlebags. And, thank you for volunteering." I'm almost confused but understand after a moment and nod my thanks. The seats she pointed to are out of the way and not near other ponies or seats.

I sit down and put my saddlebags to the side, it's clear from the way she's glancing at me that this is a short protection against cheating. I have to sit in clear view and can't take things out of my bags, less of a chance of somepony cheating that way. I get comfortable and start to go through the papers.

First and foremost is basically an NDA, I can't talk about other ponies' time here under threat of legal consequences. After that is another form, I'm decent at paperwork but this one is also pretty simple to understand as well. Basically, if I lie on this test or about my capabilities and skills, then I'm fully responsible for any legal consequences from fucking up or lying and I can't fight it in court.

Well, these forms explain several things on their own. It's still odd how ok they are with accepting unknown help. But with all the different guilds, schools, and private practices, let alone creatures from outside Equestria, it makes some sense that their system needs to be very flexible to handle it all.

After a few more forms, including one she added for me to write down all the healing spells I know and another asking for basic information about me, name, age, address, and job. Even with things being lax by human standards they still gave me very thorough paperwork.

I have to take the test, it's in two parts, one for practical healing and the other for magical. It's not really that hard but it's certainly lengthy, it takes nearly an hour on its own, and there are a few things I don't get immediately or don't know the answer to, but I think I did pretty well. But a lot of it I answer easily enough and I feel some pride in my years of self-study.

And last is a form asking where if anywhere I learned my knowledge and spells, I marked self-taught. I notice that the entire time I write things more than one staff pony glances at me, and a few fully watch me, they aren't blind to the possibility of cheating, good. "What now?" I ask while passing the finished paperwork to the mare.

She looks over everything with skill and quickly answers me. "Well, the test needs to be graded, and the results will be mailed to you. After that you can come in on the date it says and after several more forms, more tests if you want to advance further, you can join the program. Also there is a small fee, it's only ten bits though." She reassured me with a slightly happy smile.

She pauses and looks things over again before nodding. "Ok, everything looks good. Here, don't lose this, you'll have to wait a week to get another one." She passes me a card after writing on it. "You will also need it if you get into the program so make sure to keep it."

I smile a bit. "Thank you." I put in a small bit to thank her, it just feels right.

The paper card just says that I'm a volunteer along with my name and address. She nods, "For today I'll have somepony lead you to Bristle Groove, he's in charge of work crew staffing. Also, if you volunteer with them past today please show up any time before noon, if you're late you won't be able to volunteer."

"Got that all?" She asks. I take a moment to absorb that before nodding. It seems like an inefficient way to do it, but I'm not in charge and it will work just fine for now. She smiles a bit again and waves over another mare. "New volunteer for Bristle."

The mare nods. "Follow me." I nod and secure my saddlebags before putting away the card. That was easy enough, if a bit odd to experience, it feels like I'm an apprentice all over again. I mean I understand why this is so easy, the idea of lying or cheating for this is not something many ponies would even think of doing.

So some basic countermeasures are probably enough for most, and for the rest, I presume they wouldn't last long here as I fully expect to be watched closely. I follow the mare and after moving down a few clean hallways we move through a staff-only door and enter what looks like a large storeroom.

Large tall shelves with many boxes and crates of supplies. Past this room we enter another room that is just an office desk and a locker room on the other side. There are several ponies everywhere we go all doing various things. The mare walks over to a unicorn stallion that is wearing a yellow jacket. "New volunteer Bristle." The mare walks right off after.

The stallion looks at the mare and sighs a little, "Of course. Card." He demands with a short tone, I'm not sure how to feel about that but I pass the stallion my new card. I take a moment to look over the stallion and memorize his name.

He stands a good few inches shorter than me and I have to look down at him. He has a light yellow coat and a brown mane with light brown eyes, he also has a necklace. He seems to be in his forties, maybe a bit younger. He gives me an annoyed look and grumbles something. "You sure picked a great time. Ugh, just follow me, and leave the bags in a locker, the jewelry is fine to keep." His tone is short and annoying.

I don't know what his problem is, but I don't think it's me so I did as he asked and put away my empty saddlebags, I emptied them beforehand for something like this. To one side of the large room, there are several rows of wooden lockers, I pick an empty one and put my things away before flipping a small dial to show it's in use.

A small gap near the handle changes from green to red with a click and I memorize the number on the locker before walking back to Bristle who looks just as annoyed if not more so. "Good, now basic rules." He says while leading me to another location.

"One, listen to orders of any staff, I don't care if it's a doctor or a janitor, you're only a volunteer." His tone berates how done he is with seemingly everything. "Two, you leave after six to five hours, no more no less." I did see that in the contract, a little annoying you can't leave whenever but I understand it's probably bad if somepony just walks off without a replacement. "Three, don't forget your things when you leave." I just nod at the slightly grating stallion.

After moving back into the large storage room he walks me over to a group of ponies and passes them a schedule. "This ones new, make sure he doesn't break anything." That's all he says before walking off. I turn to the rest of the ponies and give them a questioning look.

Most look me over, a few mares stare a little too much before a mare with the schedule walks up. "Alright, all of you know where you're needed, no big changes." She turns to me and looks me over. "Are you fine with some heavy lifting?"

I nod. "Sure, also, is he always like that?" I ask out of curiosity while motioning towards the staff break room that Bristle walked back into.

She smiles. "Yup, he's... Well, he lives up to his name. Just don't fight him on anything, he'll just whine more." She advises with a chuckle before turning to a group of five other ponies. "Ok, he's with you." She turns back to me. "You'll be moving cargo with them, try to keep up, and thanks for helping out." At that point, she also walks off with that small bit of encouragement and I turn to a group of mares.

They size me up a little before one walks forward. "Come on, you heard them big guy." She says and I shrug a little before following them to start work. After that I spend the next few hours on a very simple task. They offload supplies behind the hospital and I drag them inside on a trolly, simply unloading carts and moving boxes.

The mares showed me where to go and answered my questions with short answers, but didn't really talk much beyond that. They showed me where I would be moving things and that was it, honestly, I get the feeling nopony really cares to get to know me. They're still friendly like most ponies, but they don't try to start a conversation and just get me to work.

I suppose they don't care all that much because I'm just a volunteer. Although I'm excited to do more than just this, I really hope I did ok on that test. The work itself is pretty easy though, earth pony strength and my size make it trivial even without using my field.

Eventually things slow down outside and I spend the rest of my time after that helping move heavy boxes to wherever a pony tells me in the storeroom, I also give up trying to learn anyponies name as few even say theirs. At a certain point the mare that was given the schedule by Bristle says I'm done and says I can just take the back way out after getting my stuff.

She smiles a bit at me before leaving. "You did fine today, thanks for helping out, have a good day." She politely told me before walking off, I retrieved my things and walked out into the afternoon sky a little dazed. I stand there for a moment before casting a spell and start to fly home.

That was... Well, interestingly is certainly a way to put it. Honestly, it feels so fast-paced from what I'm used to. Everypony is just working quickly and with so many ponies around none seem interested in a single stallion. I'm really not sure how to feel about it all, it kind of feels like I'm back in retail, it's such an odd thing to have nostalgia for something like that.

I don't really enjoy doing this kind of work though, it's simply not what I came for. I suppose I'll just be waiting for that test then, but I did do some good today even if it's in a small way. Today wasn't that bad, but I need a shower and I want to work on that lung-scanning spell, it needs some improvement.

Author's Note

Thanks for reading. :D

I could have just left it at Shade signing up, but I decide to add in him doing something small as I didn't know what else to do with this chapter and it felt interesting to see this side of things a little.

I'm not sure I really did good with this one, but it's ok enough to be filler and setup.