Spike was huddled near the stone fireplace of the Half-shoe Inn. He had a blanket tightly wrapped around him and his claws wrapped just as tightly around a mug of cocoa. He'd been sitting by the fire for about a half hour, just trying to get his teeth to stop chattering. By this point, thankfully, Spike had gotten it mostly controlled and had told his story to the owner of the inn.
"Th-thanks, again." Spike shivered. "I didn't realize it was supposed to rain so much." Spike had negotiated with Pine Lodge, the owner of the inn, for a room for the night. Spike had neglected to bring any bits with him (a fact that he was now silently chastising himself for) so he'd worked out a deal that he could stay the night as long as he tended the fire for the evening. Considering how cold Spike was, he felt like this was a fantastic chore.
"Of course." Pine Lodge said. "I couldn't leave you out in that storm, anyway. Wouldn't have been right." Pine Lodge spoke matter-of-factly, as if he were adhering to a rule, rather than demonstrating an act of kindness.
Pine Lodge himself was an elderly pegasus stallion, with a brown coat that matched freshly cut lumber and a vibrant green mane that reminded Spike of fresh-cut grass. Adorning the stallion's flank was a cutie mark of a log cabin with smoke rising from the chimney. Pine Lodge took tentative sips from his own mug of cocoa.
"You remind me a bit of myself, kid." Pine Lodge said after a few moments of silence.
"What do you mean?" Spike stared at the pegasus, kind of surprised that a dragon could remind a pegusus of himself. Maybe because they both could fly? "I can't fly."
"That's not what I meant." Pine gave a light chuckle. "I just mean that I left home when I was younger, too. Came from Cloudsdale." Pine Lodge stared into his cocoa, remembering times long past. "I got the itch to spread my wings and see the world. Made friends, made enemies... Heck, I even met the mare of my dreams on that adventure."
"What happened?" Spike asked, curiosity getting the better of him.
"I lived." The stallion replied cryptically.
"Well, yeah. I mean, you're sitting here now so of course you lived through it." Spike replied as he fought the urge to roll his eyes.
Pine just smiled gently at the dragon, knowing that explaining things wouldn't do any good. Not yet at least. The two sat in silence for a while longer, sipping cocoa and listening to the weather outside. Though the storm had calmed substantially, the rain refused to stop, pattering rhythmically upon the inn's rooftop. Finally, Pine Lodge stood and stretched.
"Well, I think it's time for this old buck to hit the hay. Go ahead and let that fire die out, will ya? I'll see ya in the morning Spike."
"Goodnight, Pine Lodge." Spike responded, yawning. Now that he had warmed up, Spike realized just how drained the night's events had left him. He curled up next to the dying embers of the fire and let the gentle heat lull him into a deep slumber.
~~~
Morning came all too soon, brilliant sunlight rousing Spike from his pleasant dreams. He sleepily rose as eagerness to continue his travels crept to the forefront of his mind, the thoughts starting in his toes oddly enough. Pine Lodge made a wonderful breakfast of flapjacks and orange juice, which Spike wolfed down with gusto.
"You keep safe on the roads now, kiddo. Wouldn't want you washin' up here again!" Pine guffawed at his own joke.
"Oh, I'll be a lot more careful now, Pine Lodge. Thanks again for letting me stay the night." Spike hoisted his sack of belongings (miraculously the only ruined possessions were two of the Hoofball cards, and not even Spike's favorite ones!) over his shoulder and picked a direction. He still had no destination in mind, but that was part of the fun he decided. He gave one final wave and smile to Pine Lodge and his inn and set off for more adventure.