A few miles south of Glascow, the Equestria river drops in close to the hillside bank and runs deep and green. The water is warm too, for it has slipped twinking over the sandy banks under the trees.
On one side of the river the golden foothill slopes curve up to the strong and rocky Denmilk mountains, but on the valley side the water is lined with the trees – bright blue flowers blossom out of the soil, waving around in the cool breeze. On the sandy bank under the trees the leaves lie deep and so crisp that the small creatures of the land make a great skittering if it rungs among it. A small family of Parasprites' sit perched at the end of a neglected leaf, grooming their brightly colored bodies.
There is a path through the willows and among the sycamores, a path crushed by the large colts coming down from ranches to swim in the deep pool, beaten hard by Manticore's that roam the wasteland for food. Some die of starvation, some die from the unrelenting heat of the sun.
In front of the low horizontal limb of giant sycamore there is an ash pile made by many fires; the limb is worn smooth by the colts that have sat there.
The evening dragged on. The scorching wind moving among the leave. The shade climbed up the hills towards the tip. A small creature, emerging from a small hole neatly dug into the soil. It stood quietly watching as bright green Parasprite stretched its wings. The creature was bald with no fur, large tusks that stuck out of its mouth. It's body was thin, like its last meal was moths ago. The creature slowly crawled the the helpless creatures. Suddenly a large cloud of dust covered the creature, followed by loud clopping from hooves. It instantly scurryd back into its hole it came from. Two ponies emerged from the path and came into the opening by the green pool.
They have been trotting in single file down the path, and even in the open one stayed behind the other. The first pony was a sturdy stallion, with a large shapeless hat placed neatly on his head. His coat was golden that stood out with the sun the gleaming down on him. His cutiemark was a small ruby apple. His deep blonde mane swished in the light breeze and his deep green eyes shined in the light.
Behind him walked his opposite, a small mare with grey fur and a golden mane. She trotted lighter then her companion throwing her hooves in the air. Her yellow eyes were staring in different directions. She had a tatty brown saddlebag thrown over he shoulder was dragged against the ground.
The golden stallion stopped short in the clearing, his follower crashing into him.
He took off his hat and wiped the sweat-band with his hoof and snapped the mosture off. His small companion dived into the green pool; drank with long gulps, snorting the water.
He slowly shuffled beside her.
“Derpy!” he said sharply. “Sweet Celestia Derpy, stop. Don't drink so much.”
Derpy continuted to snort into the pool. The large stallion leaned over to her and shook her gently.
“Derpy. You gonna be sick like you was last night.”
Derpy dipped her whole head under, suddenly thrusting her head out of the water drenching her partner. Derpy sat up smiling cheerfully, the water dripping from her mane.
“That water is really good. I mean really, really good. Try some Braeburn.” She smiled
Braeburn took off his hat and placed it neatly next to him. “I ain't sure its good water to drink. He said. “Looks kinda scummy.
Derpy buried her head into the pool once again sucking up the liquid.
Braeburn sighed and slowly licked the surface of the pool. The cold cool water made his mouth water and couldn't help himself to suck up the water.
“Tastes all right,” he admitted. Don't really seem to be running, though. You shouldn't really drink water that isnt runnin'.” He looked at Derpy sharply.
She wasn't paying attention. “From the looks of you, you would drink out of the gutter.” He placed his hat neatly back on his head and pushed himself off the sand.
Braeburn stared monrosely at the water. The rims of his eye were red from sun glare.
He said angrily. “We could just as well of rode clear to the ranch if that bastard bus driver knew what he was talkin' about.
“Just a little stretch down the road he said.” He scoffed to himself “Baloney.”
Derpy Looed timidly over to him “Brae?”
“What is it Derpy?”
“ Where we goin'?”
The tall stallion jerked down the brim of his hat and scowled over at Derpy. “So you forgot that already, did ya?”
“I'm sorry. I didn't mean to forg-” Braeburn cut in before she could finish.
“I have to remind you over and over all the time.”
The small mare glanced at the sand in shame. “I tried to remember. Honest.”
Braeburn let out a frustrated sigh “Fine. I'll tell ya again.
“Is it about the muffins?” Derpy let out a large smile on her face.
“No. Nothing to do with them muffins. Do you remember the gutter back in Stableside?”
Derpy nodded her slowly. “I remember.”
“
You stole a muffin from the bakery and that lead us to this mess. It all clear now?”
Derpy's face lit up. “Oh boy that muffin was tastey.”
“Derpy. Because of you we have to go find another job in some other ranch. Because of you.. everything I do goes wrong.”
Braeburned gave a angry glance at Derpy.
Derpy suddenly looked worried. She knew that Braeburn wasn't happy with her
“I'm sorry.”
“You should be. But it doesn't matter now. We're heading off to Appleloosa for work.”
Derpy suddenly jumped up and ripped open her bag “I hope I havent forgotton my work card!”
Braeburn put his hoof inside his hat and pulled out two blue work cards.
“You think I'd let you look after your own work card?” Braeburn shoved them back inside his hat and placed it back on his head
“I knew that.” She closed her bag back up.
“Hey. Whats that?”
“Nothing.” She put her hooves behind her back and smiled.
“I saw it. Hand it over.” Braeburn pulled out his long slender hoof.
“It's nothing.”
Braeburn trotted up to Derpy, bashing his hooves into the sand violently. “Give it to me NOW.”
Derpy opened her hooves and a small poor drawing of two ponies smiling lied in his hoof on scruffy paper. The names above ponies were Braeburn and Derpy. A little muffin was drawn next to Derpy.
Braeburn smiled and hugged her
“You ain't very bright Derpy, but I love you to pieces.” He gave her a soft smile “Come on. Lets head over to Appleloosa, maybe there is a bakery there.”
“I just wish we had money to get a little place of our own.”
“And we make muffins. I COULD MAKE AS MANY AS I WANTED TO!” Derpy smiled into the sky drifting off into a daydream.
Braeburn chuckled “You and your damn muffins Derpy.”
