I had already been on my own once before, but I've been living at the orphanage for five years and I knew to prepare. I snuck into the cafeteria and grabbed a spare basket and a bag of stale rolls. I then went into my room and found my saddlebags, putting the objects into it I also grabbed a few rolls of parchment and some ink. I don't know why I grabbed them but I felt I would need them. It had been six years since I left home last. It was difficult then. As much as I tried to keep them down, a sense of nostalgia dredged up old memories I had tried to bury. After a few minutes of futiley trying to keep them at bay, I let them come. The last time I had left, I didn't think to grab anything, not that it would have mattered, the charred remains of the house held no food and could provide no shelter. I had left a day or two after burying my parents, and I was scared. I knew of a city that was some miles to the south and resolved to trek there. I left everything there, my past, my name and my few singed possessions, because I felt that if I ran far enough, I could outrun their death. I was snapped out of my stupor just then by North.
“What's wrong Laz?” asked North. I shook my head to clear away the remaining thoughts before I answered.
“Nothing North, why do you ask?” North looked into my eyes with genuine concern in is face.
“if nothing is wrong, why are there tears in your eyes?” he didn't seem to notice the semi packed bag sitting in the chair next to me. I tentatively touched the area under my eyes to be shocked by the feeling of moisture. It reminded me of what I was doing and I quickly looked at my bag. Upon seeing me look at it, North looked at it too. “Are you sad that you're leaving?” then suddenly he had a shocked look on his face. “Are you leaving?!” he cried
“Hey, shh, not so loud.” I tried to keep him from crying before he drew the entire orphanage to me. “yes, I'm leaving.” I sighed. This was so much different than when I left the first time. This time, I was leaving ponies behind. I began to think about how I would go on without seeing North's smiling face or hearing Kora's stories. I quickly swept North in a hug. He hugged back, albeit a little started at the suddenness of it. Then he pushed me away and walked over to his bed. “What are you doing?” I asked, wondered what caused him to move so hastily.
“I'm coming too!” he said defiantly.
“W-what!? You can't come, you're too young!” I sputtered out before I was forced to eat my own hypocrisy. I was only five years older than he was, and I had been on my own at the same age he was now. Who was I to judge?
“Why not!” his voice lacked the normal handicap that made him sound young. He was growing up, it was obvious he would be leaving like me soon anyway. When I could not provide an excuse he resolved to continue packing his bag. I realized that, although I couldn't think of a reason why he couldn't go, I wouldn't let him go on his own.
“Fine, you can come with me.” I said, somewhat exasperated
“Does that include me too?” a voice from behind me said. It was Kora. I looked back at her. She grinned at me.
“you would come even if I say no, so why not?” I smiled back. Suddenly her eyes got wider
“Laz, is that what I think it is? On your flank?” she was in awe.
“Huh? Oh yeah, that happened today, I had almost forgotten” this got North's attention.
“Woah! You got your cutie mark!” he exclaimed then blushed when Kora looked at him.
“Those speech tutors seem to be working well too” she smiled and went to pack a bag herself. “so Laz, what's it like, what's it mean?”
“Hmm?” I was confused as to what she was referring to.
“Your Cutie Mark! I want to know what it's like” she practically jumped out of her coat
“Oh.” I exclaimed, finally realizing what she meant. “It's an interesting feeling. Like I've got this constant tug to write stuff.” after I saw her confused look I elaborated. “I got my cutie mark when I told the headmaster a poem that inspired him, so I guess my special talent is creative writing” I proceeded to tell her and North the events of what happened while I was in the headmaster's office. They were as confused as I was about the feather turning black.
“what do you think it means?” chimed Kora.
“It must be some sort of enchantment!” exclaimed North. I looked at Kora then back to North.
“what's an enchantment?” Kora and I asked simultaneously
“Oh, we learned about it in magic kindergarten. It's a type of spell that sticks around. Like the saddle bags, once you earn a cutie mark, your bag gets a design that looks like it” North said matter-of-factly
“So you're saying Laz was enchanted or something” Kora asked skeptically. I looked back at my wings curious to see some sort of glimmer or something. When I didn't, I returned to packing.
“When do we leave” Kora asked quietly.
“Tonight, under the light of Luna's full moon” I said, not looking up from my bag.
“Well, that's sooner than you might think, look” upon mentioning this, North pointed to the window at the setting sun. at that point my bag was finished and I lifted it to my back. Just as North had said, the saddlebags suddenly were emblazoned with a black feather.
“I'm ready to go” I said turning to North and Kora. They had both finished packing as well, and Kora was holding onto both her and North's bags. “Dang Kora, you have been working out, haven't you?” She blushed. “let's go before we get caught or we change our minds” They both nodded and we snuck out of the orphanage. We traveled the few hundred feet to the edge of the property. A large forest of half dead trees stood in front of us. We looked between each other and nodded, then simultaneously took our first step.