//------------------------------// // Awakening // Story: Family // by FleetlordAvatar //------------------------------// Darkness and frost, I need to find shelter. Eyes, eyes everywhere in the darkness. I hate you and I always have! Alone... So completely and utterly alone. Eyes snapping open, the colt sat up with a start, the nightmare fading into his subconscious. Panting and wheezing, he could feel his heart thundering in his chest and the sweat matting his coat and mane. Taking a few shallow breaths in an effort to calm down, he took in his surroundings. He was lying on a wooden bed with a blanket covering his small form; next to the bed was a dark oak dresser with a few drawers and a mirror hanging above it. A cupboard door was set into the opposite wall and he could see his jacket hanging from the knob. Sunlight was filtering in from between a set of faded blue curtains giving just enough light to see the room was painted a light green. The smell of wood and apples permeated the air. Every muscle in his body ached. His legs burned like they had been dipped in acid, his gut was knotted like a length of old rope and his ribcage felt like it was constricting his heart and lungs With some effort he took a few slow, measured breaths to try and ease it. Pain or no pain, he had to get out of here quickly. He tried the window, but found the room was on the second floor, and having no desire to jump, opted for the door. Dropping to the floor, his legs immediately crumpled beneath him and he landed with a noticeable thud. He attempted to push himself up but found he simply didn’t have the energy. “Come on man,’’ he muttered “you need to get out of here before she comes back.” He knew he was weak, sick and possibly going to die, but he had to avoid speaking to her or any of the others, they would only want to help and that would be bad for him. With what felt like a herculean effort he managed to stagger to his hooves and stumble towards the door, pausing only to collect his jacket. As he reached the door it was nudged inwards by a familiar looking canine. Seeing the colt up and about Winona yapped happily before bounding over and tackling him to the floor. ‘’Ah see ya’ll made a friend.” The sound of a familiar southern twang caused him to freeze. Nervously, he peeked out from behind Winona and saw Applejack looming over him. The fact she wore a sincere smile did little as terror welled up inside once more. Practically shoving Winona aside, he curled into as small a shape as he could, then began to cry. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry...’’ he sobbed and over again. Applejacks smile faltered; he was still scared of her. Slowly, she sat down beside him. “Shhh, it's okay...’’ she soothed. “Ya don’t need to be scared, ah ain’t mad.’’ ‘’B...but, I broke into your barn,’’ he stammered ‘’I threw things at you, I covered Apple Bloom in porridge, how can you not be mad at me?’’ “Because you were scared,’’ she replied. “ah don’t get mad at folks fer being scared, though you will have to apologise to her later.’’ He took a few shaking breaths to calm down before uncurling, cautious eyes always fixed on her. Applejack gave him a moment to compose himself before she spoke again. “Ah’m Applejack, pleasure to meet ya.’’ “I’m.....Reiver.” he sniffed. “Well, it’s a pleasure to meet ya, Reiver,” she smiled; he offered a nervous one in return. There were a few minutes of awkward silence. ‘’Umm, not that you haven’t been a good host, but, can I go now?’’ asked Reiver. Applejack’s expression dropped a little. “Ah'm sorry, Reiver, but Ah can’t let you leave, yer sick and running a high fever. It would be wrong to just let you leave like this.” “Please,’’ he begged. “Just let me go, if you want to help me you’ll need to get a doctor and they’ll just take me away to some forsaken lab or asylum and-’’ “Ah never said Ah was getting a doctor,” Applejack interrupted “Ah happen to have some very talented friends.” As she finished they heard hoofsteps in the corridor and a striped head poked itself through the doorway. “This here is Zecora. If anything, she’s much better than a doctor.” Reiver suspiciously looked her over, from her mohawk styled mane and gold bracelets to the steaming cup she had grasped in her teeth. Dropping so she was eye level with him, Zecora put down the cup. “It is good to meet you, young one’’ she offered a hoof. “I heard your entrance nearly had Applejack outdone.’’ Reiver gingerly took the hoof and gave it a small shake. Zecora nudged the cup closer to him. “This brew will help with coughs and sleep, allowing you a rest that is both long and deep.’’ Reiver took the cup in his hooves, Applejack could see him scrutinising the contents. “If I drink this,’’ he said “Will I wake up in a padded cell or hospital ward?’’ Zecora was a little offended by the accusation. “I would never...” she began. “I was asking her!” Reiver cut off. Applejack was about to tell him off for interrupting when she remembered he had little reason to trust either of them. But he seemed to be warming to up to her a little. “Ah can assure you, sugarcube, that if you drink that cup you will wake up in the same bed that ya did a few moments ago, and that’s the honest truth.” He eyed the cup for a few moments longer as he weighed his options, he took a deep breath. “I’m going to trust you,” he replied, then turned to Zecora. “Both of you, just... please don't make me regret it.” He downed the syrupy mixture; it tasted a bit like strawberries. Reiver immediately felt his eyelids growing heavy before he slipped into a calm, dreamless sleep. Standing up carefully, Applejack gripped his jacket in her teeth and carried him back to the bed before tucking him in. Zecora followed behind with a few incense sticks, which she placed around the room before lighting. “These will ease the young one’s breath, but what do you plan to do with when he is finished his rest?’’ Applejack looked over at Reiver’s sleeping form. “After helping him get better, Ah have no idea, he must have family lookin’ for him, maybe Ah can help find them, fer now though, Ah think it’s best if we let him sleep.” As the two mares left the slumbering colt, Applejack had a sudden realisation. He had said he was sorry for dumping porridge on Apple Bloom. How had he known her name?