//------------------------------// // I :Dawn a New Day // Story: A Difference in Odds // by SirEndGameTheThird //------------------------------// One A sharp rapping startles me from my sleep. “What in the sam heck?” groaning as I throw the pillow off my head. Sliding from my bed I walk lazily towards the front door in my kitchen. Rain rattling on the roof as my hooves tap across the hardwood floor. Whoever is waiting is getting more and more impatient by the second. This time the banging is harder, but less frequent. “I’m Comin’! Quit yer’ fussin’!” I yell. Fixing and blowing the hair out of my eyes I open the door to see the local mailmare standing there on my porch. “Yeah?” I ask, rubbing my eyes. She’s shivering and soaked to the bone in rainwater. “M...M..M..Missus Autumn Darlin’?” she asks through the screen door. “That’s me.” “I got a couplea' l..letters for you, there’s more in the p..post office. Couldn’t get it all.” she continues, opening up her saddle bag and pulling a small sealed envelope out with her teeth. Opening the door she drops the letters in my hoof. “And its miss. Not missus honey.” I tell her, looking at the envelope. “Oh... sorry. Did...d..did I wake you up?” she asks apprehensively. “Nah, Its fine. Its about eight thirty... needed to get up anyhow. You wanna come inside and warm up a bit?” I sigh. “No. I’ve gotta get going.” “You’re shiverin’.” “My boss’ll have my hide if I don’t.” “Alright, safe travels then.” “Thank you.” she says backing off the porch. Closing the door I shamble on over to my couch. I slump over onto the cushions and hold up stack of letters. “Bank, bank, bank...” I flip through the many notices from an ever-eager-to-take-my-house Neighagra falls first bank, who has warned me of foreclosure not long beforehand. I stop though, as I find a smaller letter with a seal. “Dad?” I mumble while looking at the wax seal of the letter. I thought after four whole years I was all but forgotten. Four years since mom passed. Upon opening the letter I soon realize that the family back home in dodge Junction hasn’t forgotten about me at all. It seems that they did indeed send something else in the mail. A picture frame apparently of the whole gang. The rest of the letter is the signatures of my father, two brothers and sister telling how much they love and miss me, wishing for me to come home. I left as soon as I was legally allowed to. When mom died I think I just had enough. “Better go pick that dang thing up.” I say to myself, rolling off the couch. Grabbing my coat and stetson I push my way out the door. The first step I take off my front porch lands me hoof-deep in a puddle. “Aw fer Celest... Dangit.” lifting up my now muddy hooves. I soon forget about it as I head out my front gate and down the two rut road that leads onto the main roadway towards Neighagra Falls. A young voice speaks up as I trot down the road. “Hi miss Autumn!” my neighbor’s kid yells from the ditch on my right. “What the heck are you doing down there red?” I ask looking over the shoulder of the road at the small colt with a shovel. “Mamma’ an’ told me to be making sure nothin’ floods our fields!” he says leaning on a muddy shovel. The mud isn’t just limited to his shovel, almost looks like he swam in it. This kid has had one heck of an upbringing. He ain’t too bright, but the boy’s got a good head on his shoulders. His mother is accredited to that, Missus Oak is one of the smartest mares I know. And it doesn’t come from any type of college let me tell you that. “You’ve got that handled?” “Sure do! Thank you miss!” I give him brief smile and continue on my way down the road. Looking back occasionally until the early morning fog totally encompassed the crest of the road behind me. It was a decent walk north towards Neighagra falls, once I got to the thoroughfare anyways. As always in every town I’ve seen, except for Canterlot that is, everyone smiles and tips their hat as I walk by. Canterlot was a strange place among strange places. Not too often do you see people dressed up they way do that every day of every stinkin’ year. All frilly and expensive looking. The main reason I went to Canterlot at all was to take the train Neighagra falls when I was first thinking about homesteading around here. Normally I thought it would be nothing special. I had apparently never been to Canterlot before. So many people in their suits and tall, fancy hats staring me down. I felt so out of place it was almost unbearable. But that was years ago, and the place I’ve settled myself in is much more comfortable. The post office was a small two story building overlooking the falls and river. A quaint little spot for a post office. The heavy rain begins to fall even harder as I walk up the steps. The elderly unicorn working the counter greets me with a smile. She greets me cordially. “Good Morning.” “A little too rainy for me.” I chuckle. “Pegasi probably think it's been too dry lately.” “Ah reckon they’re just bein’ lazy.” She gives a brief laugh. “How can I help you?” “I'm here to pick up a package?” “Alright, can I have your name? Address? ” she says walking to the back, adjusting her spectacles with her magic along the way. “Autumn Darling, One two six seven five. Elk Road. ” I say, leaning slightly trying to see what she’s doing. She begins to file through numerous boxes and shelves. “One two six seven five...one two... Ah! Here we go.” She slides a slim package out of one of the shelves and sets it on the counter. “That’s it. Nothing else up there.” “Thank you.” I turn the package over looking at the address. “Good old dodge.” thinking to myself. Faded memories of my childhood begin to resurface as I open the seal and find a framed picture of me as a young mare along with entire family posing in front of our old two story house. The goofy little kids I call my brothers and sister using me as a jungle gym as my mom and dad try to keep their composure. “Family?” The Postmaster asks warmly. “All back home in Dodge.” I sigh. “Well, they say home is where the heart is.” “Might be right. But we got our own lives to live now don’t we?” “Yeah, well... it doesn’t hurt to feel homesick now and again.” “That’s true.” I respond. “You... you didn’t by any chance happen to see anything walkin’ into town did you?” she asks worriedly. I shake my head “...Naw. Why?” “The guards where talkin’ this morning across the street about some stray dogs or... wolves they heard last night.” I look out the window next to me to where she said. Two blurry pegasus guards in golden clad armor stand across the street talking to one another under an awning. “Wolves?” I ask, surprised. As we don’t get any of them around her as far as I know. “I... I didn’t hear them exactly. I was in a rush to open up shop and get out of the rainstorm. I guess it’ll only be a problem to people on outskirts.” “I live about three miles out actually.” I say, still looking out the window. “Oh my. Do you get ferals out there?” “No. But the neighbor dogs tend to wander a bit.” “Oh, be careful then.” “Thanks.” “Have a good one!” she says as I walk out the door. I pause before heading down the steps, Wondering and worrying about the so called dogs or wolves that she spoke of. I try to pull myself away from the subject as I walk down the street, but my curiosity gets the better of me like it always has. I trot across the street and up to the guards. One of them jabs the other in the ribs, he seems surprised but stands at attention. “Ye...yes?” one of them says. Shaking in his armor. “I heard something about wolves?” I ask. “Well we think-” “Whatever they are, they’re killing livestock.” the other guard says over his friend. “Really?” “Four dead chickens and three butchered hogs.” he continues. “Where at?” I ask, now scared out of my mind. “Couple miles to the south. Not too far.” the first one answers “Around Elk road or...?” “Around Fawn road.” Fawn road is a private drive that is the first left before Elk coming from Neighagra. “I live pretty close.” I say. “Oh... well if you see anything-” “Dude” He cuts him off again. “What?!” “When was the last time you dumped the awning?” Both their eyes widen. I hear a sharp rip as the awning they stood under splits and dumps a massive amount of water on their heads. “That was your fault.” he says, water streaming off his face. “I...I better get going...” I say, backing away. Walking down the street I hear them bicker back and forth to each other. “You always scare them away!” one of them says angrily. “ME? YOU forgot to make sure the awning wasn’t FULL!” “I pull rank, its your fault!” “Oh would you just shut UP!” I turn the corner to the road out of town and their ramblings begin to fade out into the rain. Making my way out of town and back towards home. Laughing to myself discretely over that occurrence, not too often do occurrences arise where you can actually be happy before returning to your daily routine.