"Will my daughter recover, ma'am?” The worried unicorn mother spoke in a soft yet frightened tone.
Her bright orange mane completely frazzled beyond repair. Pastel blue eyes echoed with anxiety several blacks lines formed under each lid. Her pink coat filthy from a hard day's work and tribulations of motherhood.
“The darlin’ got herself into a patch of “Wafting Willows”.” Mage Meadowbrook spoke in a collected manner, a ringlet of fiery red mane femininely bouncing in front of her turquoise hues.
The legendary healer of Equestria was an aqua-colored earth pony. Humble as she was beautiful, her braids of red mane swirled into a towering bun style. Tail braided in a similar fashion. The mare wore a piece of white cloth tied around her forehead, a brass bracelet firmly over her right hoof.
She matched it with a brass necklace draped around her slender neck, the floof of her chest protruding proudly, leading elegantly down to her favorite green skirt that fluttered about her hind hooves daintily.
“Is it deadly?” The mother asked with a shaky voice.
“Heavens no!” Meadowbrook giggled as she led the mother down the hall towards the filly's room.
“Though, she'll be waftin’ for a bit yet.” The earth pony pushed the splintered wooden frame open, inside a tiny young filly floated through the air giggling joyously.
“Mm-hmm. How long will it last?” The mother scrunched her muzzle cutely.
“Maybe two days, feed her lots of solids.” Meadowbrook reached out a hoof plucking the child out of the air, giving her a soft nuzzle on the cheek.
“Also it's pretty obvious, but keep her away from open windows.” Meadowbrook handed the smiling child to her mother who sighed.
“Thank you, ma'am. I don't have much…” The unicorn blushed a bright pink in shame.
“Hon, it's free of charge.” The mare gave the unicorn a tender hug full of compassion.
“May the sun bless you.” The mother nodded holding back a stream of tears.
The healer simply gave a knowing wink, sliding back on her satchel of potions. The mares sharing a few more kind words before finally saying their goodbyes. Meadowbrook cantering out into the welcoming sunshine of the Friday afternoon, it was still early and the perfect weather for a lovely stroll through the forest.
She enjoyed making a few house calls since her reintroduction into Modern Equestria. If she had to be completely honest, it was far more fulfilling than sitting on her haunches in the store all day. She loved to get out and see the world, find new beauty in the old and of course meet such interesting ponies along the way.
Picking up her pace, she broke into a gallop heading off towards the Dark Thorn Forest. Such a depressing name for a tranquil slice of paradise. Meadowbrook inhaled the sweet Fall air with a smile, watching the wind kiss the branches of the towering trees.
The scent of fresh dew potent upon her nostrils, tickling her muzzle softly. Losing herself in a dreamy daze of nature's beauty. She failed to notice a tall lanky mare stepping out of the berry bushes, both mares colliding to the ground below with a loud thud.
“Darlin’ are you ok!?” Meadowbrook shook her head in a daze, quick to pull herself back to her hooves.
“Nothing broken, such a pity.” The ghostly white earth pony slouched on her haunches depressingly.
“Excuse me?” Meadowbrook scrunched her muzzle up quite bewildered.
The odd mare’s pale lavender eyes locked onto Meadowbrook silently as if uncertain what to say. Her mane a dull pink color and extraordinarily flat, sapped of any sort of vibrancy. An icy chill seemed to waft off of her presence bringing forth a sense of dread.
“I'm studying to create medicinal potions.” The odd mare replied with a stoned faced expression, her eyes full of apathy or perhaps boredom.
“Oh! Who do you study under?” Meadowbrook chirped in joyous surprise, not every day she ran across another healer like herself.
“Self-taught, I work in natural remedies. To purify both body and mind.” The mare pulled a large leather saddlebag from the bushes, fishing out a tiny vial of blue powder.
“This concoction can speed up healing of minor scratches or bruises.” She handed over the vial to Meadowbrook, her eyes glancing to a tiny bruise on the blue mare’s thigh.
Meadowbrook politely accepted the medicine with a smile. Popping off the lid and giving the vial a quick sniff. The powder had a pleasantly sweet scent much like fresh blueberries, sensing no harm in it, Meadowbrook swallowed the contents swiftly.
“Ack! Arghhh!” Meadowbrook gave a loud gurgle of surprise her face contorting into an odd panicked expression.
“Of course my concoctions are far too bitter.” The mare shrugged scooping the vial off the ground lacklusterly.
“Grrr, blargah!” Meadowbrook hissed out in absolute terror.
A glance down would show that her bruise quickly vanished. The blue pony bit down on her lower lip hard, the taste of blood nearly filling her mouth as the last few waves of burning bitterness faded.
“I'm Bitter Root, by the way.” Bitter held out her hoof daintily.
“Meadowbrook…” The healer spoke exhausted giving a few soft pants.
Bitter tilted her head off to the side in interest.
“The legendary mage?” She quipped.
“Yes darlin’,” Meadowbrook spoke up a bit more collected though her lips were entirely numb.
“I know this is sudden but are you taking students?” Bitter let her gaze fall to her hooves shyly.
Meadowbrook snorted cutely, catching herself before giving a feminine cough.
“Dear, I think you might need a bit more practice in mixtures before…” Meadowbrook folded both ears back sheepishly.
“Mm-hmm. Far too bitter.” Bitter Root sighed slinging the saddlebag over her back.
“Not to say…” Meadowbrook tried to apologize, watching the mare shuffle off down the twisted forest path.
Pursing her lips gently. She could feel a ping of guilt settle deep inside her belly, the young dear still had much to learn about botany before even attempting potions. So perhaps the rejection wasn't completely uncalled for. Though it failed to prevent her from feeling a bit saddened about the ordeal.
Taking a feminine breath of relief, Meadowbrook began her own journey deep into the confines of the forest. A pleasant afternoon stroll delving into something more off-putting, a dreadful feeling of despair just on the horizon.