Oh Deer

again?

Today, I found myself wandering down the dirt path. The brook was beside me, flowing and flowing. I expected to be welcomed by Sap-Joy's body again, but it was gone, what was left was a mere, vacant blood stain. Reed must have taken her some place to bury her. I shuddered.

A few minutes later, and my questions were answered. A large dirt pile with a wooden steak coming out of it was placed conveniently beside two large oak trees. The trees almost appeared to be guards of the grave. I kneeled for a moment, touching the pile with my front hoof. The falling oak leaves landed everywhere, from my hoof, to my head. I got up, sighed, then left.

I remembered that mysterious deer, what he said about the "timbers". If they were truly brought here to lower our numbers... then the ponies are doing a good job.

"They must have told you their truth..."

"You never won."

"The only mistake is what you chose to believe."

"Angel?" a voice called. I jumped. (I need to stop doing that) I turned my head to the call, it was Fluttershy. The pegasus. I said nothing and simply watched her. She didn't seem to notice me yet. She was looking for her pet rabbit again.

"The only mistake is what you chose to believe..."

"Hey," I called.

"Oh..." she turned her head, flicking her pink, flowing tail. She smiled upon seeing me, "H-Hi..." I narrowed the distance between us, I glared.

"Is... Something wrong..?" She asked in a soft, timid voice, inching away slightly. My glare inevitably softened. I just stared, she stared back. I sighed and shook my head,

"No... Nothing's wrong."

"Oh... okay..." She nodded, and she resumed looking for her pet.

"Listen," I started. She faced me again.

"You... shouldn't be here."

"...oh..." she muttered, "I'm... sorry..."

"It's okay... I know you ponies think you have power over this land," my words reduced to mumbling. She paused, her eyes opened wide. I sensed myself talking like Reed.

"Oh... well, I-..." She trailed off. I simply stared at her. She avoided my eyes. I sighed again. She turned her head, calling for her pet rabbit again. She began to hover from the ground with her yellow wings, calling him again. I just watched this pony. I felt a slight guilt. I brushed it off,

"You should get going soon... for your own sake."

I grew increasingly aware that my tone and choice of words may have seemed a little... ominous. She began to call for Angel louder. Soon, the rabbit in question poked his head out from the bush he hid in. He hopped toward Fluttershy, gave me one glance, stuck out his tongue, and leaped onto the yellow pony's back. She prepared to fly away,

"Wait," I held out my hoof.

She paused in mid-air, turning over her shoulder.

"I'm sorry," I sighed.

"It's okay... I... won't intrude anymore-"

"No. Please," I said, "Forget what I said."

She raised an eyebrow.

"You can stay."

_______________________________

Driven by my own guilt and kindness, I let the yellow pegasus with her rabbit follow me to my hut. I gave her the option to leave as we headed to my hut, but she said nothing and only continued walking with me. When we arrived, I treated her to some maple tea. Angel, the rabbit, spat the drink upon the first sip. I guess he was as a little picky.

"Angel, how rude," Fluttershy glared. Angel crossed his tiny, furry arms and looked away.

"I assume he is hard to manage," I said with a slight chuckle. Fluttershy sighed, and faced me. Her bright turquoise eyes glimmered with the afternoon light from my window. She was silent most of the time, but sometimes would pass me glances and awkward smiles. It was a very strange, almost surreal experience. She didn't seem like she knew what to say, but still wanted to spend time with me.

She looked down at the floor for a moment,

"So, the... the trees are... very... pretty now. I, uh, like the maples..."

"I agree," I added.

She sipped her tea silently, and swallowed in a delicate fashion. I looked at her for a moment, and I noticed something strange on her flank. She appeared to have an intricate butterfly design on each thigh, and she seemed to notice my gaze.

"Oh, are... you looking at my cutie mark?" she asked. I nodded,

"I apologize," I muttered, directing my gaze away.

"A-Actually... I... wanted to ask about your cutie mark," she started, pointing at my flank.

"Well... first I would like to know what a "cutie mark" is," I said.

"Oh," Fluttershy darted her eyes around,

"Well, it's a pony thing... and... well, y-you get one when you... do something you... like."

Slightly unconvinced, I asked for something a little more specific, all she added on was "They just magically appear."

"So, uh, why don't you have one?" she finally asked. I turned my head and looked at my blank hind quarters for an answer,

"Well, I'm not sure," I started,

"I've never heard of cutie marks before. I guess that's because us deer don't have them."

She nodded silently, then sipped from her tea cup again, darting her eyes around.

I just glanced at her, then at the ground. I couldn't help but be taken aback by the question. I was never aware that ponies revolved their society around... butt marks...

It seemed like a novelty to me. Is it like their onset of maturity? Is it a part of their physical development? Are they passed down through family? My mind spun around an endless onslaught of questions, and I wasn't sure if Fluttershy was the right one to answer them. I took a sip from my tea cup and continued sitting with her in silence. After a few minutes, I felt the need to speak again for the mere sake of conversation,

"So, I know we've met before," I started, she nodded,

"But, if you don't mind, can you tell me a little more about yourself?"

"Oh," she replied.

"W-Well, I... uh, I like, uh, caring for animals. T-That's what my... my cutie mark represents... kinda," She said,

"Also, I love taking nature walks. S-Sometimes, caring for animals can be a little stressful," She chirped softly,

"And, they help me unwind. T-They help Angel unwind too. He's... he can get pretty active."

I nodded,

"Do other ponies join you on these walks?" I asked. She shook her head,

"No... b-but... Applejack... one of my best friends- she likes nature, too..."

This pegasus, once again, impressed me. The way she talked, the way she carried herself. How could she have been a pony, anyway? She seemed like a deer in a pony's body.

Eventually, night had fallen. We treated ourselves to more tea in silence for some time. Occasionally, we would also pass small glances and smiles, with a little bit of small talk as well. Soon, the yellow pegasus was on her way out, her rabbit Angel was fast asleep on her back,

"T-Thank you for... having me," her soft voice still maintained a ghostly hum to it.

"You should head home, and quick," I said.

She spread her wings and flew away upon my words. Afterwards, I found myself sitting in the middle of my hut in silence, thinking about what I have just witnessed.

She didn't seem like the social type, and she certainly had nothing interesting to talk about. But regardless, she seemed fascinated by me, as much as I admittedly was with her. Upon each other's presence, there was no hate or tension whatsoever, and, I'd even say that I was... for the most part, relatively comfortable within that pony's presence.