For the third time that night, Thimble awoke to the sound of timberwolves in the forest. She was starting to think sleep was useless, after what had happened to her father she couldn't possibly sleep. She pushed herself up, rubbing her eyes. "What time is it," she muttered absently to herself, a question she thought wouldn't be answered.
"4:30 in the morning."
She turned to face the answer. It had come from the boy lying on the floor, the one she had seen, but hadn't learned the name of. He and the woman, Terra was her name, were lying on the floor while she got the bed. She was asleep, but he was not. He was lying with his hands behind his head, a concerned look on his face.
"How did you know?"
"Zecora told me."
Thimble blinked. Who was Zecora? "Why are you up?"
"I'm not sure. It's very- quiet. I'm not used to it being so quiet."
Thimble glanced around, hearing the sounds of the forest like they were right beside her. They were anything but quiet. "What do you mean?"
"It's just less than I'm used to." Less than he was used to? What did that mean? "Why are you awake?" he asked.
"Couldn't sleep."
He smiled. "Fair enough." This was followed by a short silence, during which Thimble lay back down on the bed. She didn't find it particularly stable, but it was comfortable nonetheless. "Your father was proud of you, you know," said the boy.
"What? Wait, I know you? How do you-"
"He told me. Or rather, his spirit told me. I suppose I should tell you too." He stood as Thimble sat up, giving him room on the bed, confused but intrigued. To her surprise, he moved to the window. "I can see, talk to, and touch dead spirits and forgotten creatures." Thimble said nothing. It seemed like it was hard for him to get this out, like he had been hiding it for a long time. "I talked to your father outside Ponyville. No, he talked at me and I listened. He told me he was proud of you, Thimble. You were a good daughter."
Thimble ignored the tears in her eyes. This was too soon. "I don't know who you are, but I don't believe you at all. No one can talk to the dead."
The boy looked down. "Yeah, people tend to think that. I'm Wind Storm by the way, I assume Terra didn't tell you."
"No, she didn't."
"Trust me, it's hard to believe but it's true. If you don't believe me, I guess you'll just have to take my word for it. But he was proud of you."
Thimble blinked hard. "That's good to know. Um, is there anyone here, right now?"
Wind Storm turned to look at her, puzzled. "No, just the woman who owned this hut- but you don't believe me." Thimble opened her mouth to say something, but he stopped her. "No, it doesn't matter. I don't expect anyone to."
He turned back to the window, effectively closing off the conversation. Thimble sighed quietly and leaned back down on the bed, hoping to get a couple more hours of sleep before it was light out.
They had to keep moving, and Thimble was grateful for that. Terra had wondered if it was all right for Thimble to leave the area, but Thimble had never been more grateful for leaving. She didn't want to be in the Forest, or the city her father was killed in, and she wanted to get as far away as she possible could. Going through the forest wasn't her first choice but what else would she do? It was Wind Storm that had a problem with it.
"We're going to be moving the whole time, the Everfree Forest isn't nearly as big as you think it is," said Terra as they walked. Wind Storm lagged behind, jumpy and anxious.
"Whatever shows up I can cut down," said Thimble. She had both knives in her hands, more than ready to fight something. She almost wanted something to jump out at her; it would be so relieving to kill something.
"Yeah, right," Wind Storm muttered behind them. Thimble took a breath, holding herself back. The boy scared her, though she wouldn't admit to that. What he had told her last night seemed so hard to believe that she couldn't help but be scared of him.
"Keep up," Terra told him. "I can't teleport both of you."
"Terra," Thimble said, taking her arm and walking a little ahead, "can I talk to you?" Terra glanced back at Wind Storm, who was watching the trees around them like he was afraid they would come to life. "We won't leave him behind, I just need to ask you something."
'Shoot."
"Why are you keeping him around?" Thimble hissed. "He's insane, he thinks he can see dead people, why do you have him with you?"
"Because I'm trying to help him," Terra whispered sadly.
"Help him? He's mental!"
"I thought so. Take his word for it Thimble, the three of us are a group now, we've got to stay together. I'm going to Canterlot to check on the war efforts, they might need another medic. If you want to leave, leave. But he's staying with me, he's a huge asset."
"But-"
"Shush, I'm not changing my mind."
Thimble looked down, resigning herself to the fact that he would be ever-present. She turned to face him and threw one of her knives into the ground at his feet, making him jump backwards violently. "Take that, you don't have a weapon. You're going to need it on the road."