who's knocking? · 9:12pm Jan 9th, 2022

It had been two days since a messenger arrived in ponyville, calling upon any soldiers on leave to return to Canterlot. Star had kissed Ramirez goodbye and promised her that he will come back, she watched from the window as he along with other fellow soldiers leave for the capital. she waved at him and he waved back before disappearing in the distance, she hoped that he would come back in one piece. safe...and sound.

With the heater out, Ramirez took all the blankets in the house and made a little den before placing all her foals inside it. snuggling with them so that she could keep them warm from the cold. as she slept with them, Thumbtack woke up to the sound of faint knocking from downstairs (probably the front door). he tried to wake his mother up, first nudging her gently then shaking her but it was no use.

Since she wouldn't wake up, Thumbtack decided that it was up to him to find out who's knocking. crawling out from the blanket den, he made his way downstairs through the cold. again, he heard knocking coming from the door.

Dragging a nearby stool, he placed it near the door and hopped onto it. after a bit of struggling with the doorknob, finally, he opens it.

"Hello? anybody here?" Griff said as he stepped into the silent, empty home.

"Da!" Thumbtack shouted, excited to see his father again. he jumped off the stool and onto the floor, hugging him tightly as he wagged his tail like his mother.

"Heh, missed me that much eh?" he asked, receiving a nod from him.

The little nymph tugged on his wing, knowing what his son wants he draped a wing over and nuzzled him.

'Daddy is back!' he thought to himself, smiling and licking his snout happily 'Mommy and Zinc will be happy too!'