The rest of the week was uneventful. I woke up, performed my morning routine, headed to work where Creative taught me how to operate a new machine, talked with some random ponies during lunch, went back to work until evening, went home and spent my time at home alone. The only noteworthy thing that happened was the rain yesterday…

Even though this was my first week in Maren, the days had already started to feel repetitive. There was nothing really special going on. Sure, in Hono, there weren't parties every day either but there it felt different. The feelings and the aura the kirins gave off filled the village up and made the day special. Except during that period, when we were under the influence of the stream of silence. But even then, it felt different. I just couldn't put my hoof on why exactly.

But today I planned to change that. Today was a free day which meant that I didn’t have to go to work. Which means that I have a lot of time to go out and do something fun.

It was shortly after lunch when I left my home. The sun was shining and granting us a hot summer day. But it was clear that autumn was coming soon. But for now, it was a sign for me to enjoy the outside world.

I started by making a little stroll through Maren. Creative had been busy this week and was sadly never able to give me a village tour and now I was too curious to wait any longer. I was sure Creative would understand. We could do something else together another time.

I took the first few steps outside and took in the air. Today it already tasted calmer. Most likely also because many shops were closed today and ponies used the day to relax.

I looked to my right to the house of my neighbour Light. After the interaction I haven’t heard anything from him anymore which, with all honesty, didn’t surprise me. He was so shy the first time we met that I question if he ever will knock on my door. But at least I knew a little bit about him. Unlike my neighbor to the left, who I haven't met yet.

For a short moment I considered, if I should try to knock on their door again but I discarded the idea. Today I wanted to see the other parts of Maren. I would have plenty of time to meet that neighbor later.

I left my property and started to walk through the streets. I went without any goal, nor with clear ideas. Sometimes left, sometimes right.

My eyes always wandering at the scenery around me. While kirins had built their homes inside the trees, Maren had houses. But not all of them were row houses like the one I had. Some were single-family homes in different shapes and sizes and with beautiful gardens.

I strolled around, for I don’t know how long, until I ended up at the plaza. The centre of the village. The plaza was big surrounded by homes and shops. It had trees, benches and a decorative fountain but still provided enough space for ponies to group up and spend time visiting. While Hono had the market, this was kind of like the meeting point for Maren.

It was a welcoming sight for me to see that there were multiple ponies sitting together and chatting. Foals were running around, busy in their own games. Yes, I liked this place. Here, everything felt more welcoming.

I took a seat on a nearby bench. Two mares were already sitting there and talking with each other. They were both unicorns and both a bit older in age. One had light blue fur and a bit darker brushed mane with grey strands. The other had yellow fur and a short faded pink mane. As I sat next to them, they glanced at me briefly, then returned to their chat.

“Can you believe that he would do something like this?”, the blue one half asked.

“No way! he always was a bit careless pony but why he did something so reckless is beyond me”, the other mare said.

I rolled my eyes on the inside. I didn’t know who and what they were talking about, but I still disliked this topic of gossip. Talking about others behind their back while having no real source to stand on. This only tended to spread rumours and lies about other.

Did you hear this, and did you hear that about them? Oh, they did the most horrible things. That’s what my friend has told me, I thought while mimicking a voice in my mind.

“Oh, but did you know the news about Shadowheart and her parents? Rose told me about it not long ago.”

Oh, dear Flames no! I thought and quickly left the bench, fully aware that these two mares will now start talking about me and my strange behaviour of leaving the seat so quickly. Still, it was better than listening to them gossip.

I found a new place to sit down, right next to the fountain. Again, there were two mares. This time a unicorn and an earth pony.

The earth pony was small in size, had white fur, raisin purple mane and wore a bobble hat. The unicorn had pink fur and a blue and white stiped mane. There was also a light green unicorn colt with a yellow mane who was busy playing with the water in the fountain.

“Oh yes, he starts school next year. First year. Can you imagine? It feels like yesterday we two were together in school. I remember that I was really nervous”, the unicorn laughed.

I gave a relaxing sigh. This was a chat I enjoyed much more.

“Oh don’t be like that. I was the same. Guess it makes sense that the two of us became friends”, the earth pony chuckled.

I sat there patiently, waiting for a chance to somehow join their chat. It was clear these two had known each other for a long time and were taking a moment to reminisce. So, I didn’t want to press myself rudely into their conversation. Instead, I waited until a topic that would let me join in came up.

I suddenly felt a very intense stare ot me. I turned my head down to the ground and spotted the green colt looking up at me with very curious eyes. His hooves still dripping wet from the water he played with.

“What are you?”, was all he said.

Surprised, I blinked a few times.

“Palm, don’t be rude!”, the unicorn mare, who I can only assume is the mother, ordered to the colt.

“Oh, it’s alright, miss. It's only natural to be curious at his age. Especially when it comes to a creature like me”, I waved off to the mother and then turned to the colt, whose name seemed to be Palm. “Well, I am a kirin, little one. a creature that was recently rediscovered again.”

“Hm, what exactly is a kirin then?” This time the earth pony mare spoke.

This was the opportunity I was waiting for. Sure,I was a bit tired of explaining what a kirin is, but it was a good icebreaker to lead the conversation futher.

“Oh, a kirin is not too different from a pony. You see…”

It was evening, and I was sitting in the local restaurant. Alone, of course. After I had explained to the two mares and the little colt what a kirin is, I had tried to build up a conversation out of it.

Let’s say, it had not been bad. We had talked about nothing in particular and mostly had answered questions about one another. And still, there had again been this feeling of having a border. The same that I had had with Velvet and Cloak. So, kind of like friendly but I still hadn’t really belonged there.

I had kept up the chat for a while but after a while I had said my goodbye. They had offered me a smile and had wished me a good evening, but I had already known that this hadn’t led to anything long lasting. Maybe one day I might pass them on the streets, and it would be something like: “Oh hello Spring”, followed by a little small talk like: “How are you?”, and “Nice weather today, right?”, and then our paths would separate again while the chat would feel more like a waste of time than actual enjoyment.

I didn’t want to think about it. This whole thing annoyed me more than it should. Maybe it was because this tea I had ordered was such a disappointment like the one I had at work. (The only grey part that tea had was the grey feeling it gave me.)

I looked around the restaurant. It was a lovely building made of wood which a lot of room. The chairs and tables were also polished wood with gave the whole atmosphere an old but calm feeling.

There were also some ponies sitting there. All of them in groups I noticed. Couples, families and some rare friend groups. I noticed that all these pony groups… they knew each other. They had known each other for years. There was no new friendship going on here.

“Excuse me sir, your salad”, suddenly came a voice from my right.

I turned my head and saw the waiter. A large grey pegasus stallion with his mane brushed to the side and wearing a simple suit. On one wing he balanced a plate with a salad which he placed in front of me.

“Thank you very much”, I said happily, to which he replied with an: “Enjoy”, and was gone afterwards.

The salad looked delicious. Colourful leaves with daisies, radish and something ponies call croutons. I licked my lips and started eating right away. These ponies had a lot to learn about tea but at least they could cook.

Something that puzzled me were these two glass shakers I had on the table. One was filled with a white crystal (which I already could tell that it was salt) and the other had a black substance in it. I used my kirin magic to float the black shaker to me and give it a careful sniff. The very familiar smell of pepper filled my nose, and I had to sneeze hard.

That was a lesson learned, I thought.

I placed the shaker back in its place and instead floated the napkin to my nose and blew my nose clear from the pepper. Sure, not the fine kind but better than sneezing it all over my salad.

As I continued to eat, I heard a female voice to my left. Speaking louder than normal.

“Did you see that? First, he sniffs the pepper and then used his serviette as a tissue. How unhygienic!”

My ears perked up. Was this pony talking about me? I gave a careful side glare and spotted a mare and a stallion sitting two tables over from me. The mare also gave me a side glare, not directly looking at me but her eyes told about the disapproval.

“Some just don’t know how table manners go”, the stallion said also more loudly, turning his head slightly, looking at me without really looking at me.

A feeling of annoyance crept through me. These two weren’t talking so loud before. They just started doing it so that I could hear it. Was this the way it worked here? If you get bothered by somepony (or kirin in my case) you don’t stand up and talk with them? You just speak loud enough so that they hear it but without really talking to them? And then you give angry glares but still not really address them? Is this the way of kindness, frankness and friendship?

I felt heat rise in me and my mane started to smell like smoke. I considered if I should stand up and give this couple a piece of my mind. That if they have a problem with me, they can talk with me about it. But I knew this would only anger me more and this wooden building was not very nirik proof…

I stood up, half slammed some bits on the table and left the restaurant. I stomped home on the most direct way without giving a care for my surroundings. This day was ruined for me.

At home I went directly into my bedroom. The neutral aura of the room embraced me and cooled me down like hot iron in water. I took a deep breath and sat on the bed. I needed to meditate a bit.

Author's Note

Thank you all for reading.

Like always, feel free to give a review. Positive reviews help to stay motivated and negatives help to improve the story.