Ryan curiously reached for the silver utensil on the floor.
“Huh,” she said at the sight of the familiar fork. She’d completely forgotten that it was up here in the bedroom. Looks like Fluttershy forgot as well if its somewhat hidden spot on the floor said anything.
Shrugging, she took it downstairs to the kitchen and placed it in the sink. With a second of thought, she reached for the soap and washed it then placed it with the rest of the silverware on the drying rack.
The minor task done, she made her way through the quite familiar home and to the door and then outside. She didn’t wander far; she leaned against the side of the cottage just for the sake of some fresh air. She was a city person but could only take so much of being cooped up indoors. Besides, it was pleasant scenery out here. Nothing you could ever see in Raleigh.
Off in the distance she could see the town that she’d seen on her first day here. Still haven’t gone there, she knew. For obvious reason it was avoided, but she couldn’t help but be curious. She knew all the horses in town were much like humans but she didn’t know to what extent. If she were a horse, she’d fit in just fine, she imagined. Of course, there a distinct lack of evidence to this claim but her friends were enough like her to warrant it.
There was one now.
She saw Fluttershy come along the path, bags of what she assumed were groceries tagging along. Fluttershy saw Ryan outside in turn and waved to her; Ryan returned the gesture. It was one that she’d taught her to smooth out some still-rough areas in communication. As Fluttershy got closer, Ryan instinctively focused her gaze elsewhere but kept her friend well within view.
“Hello, Ryan,” she said once close enough to hear, “Enjoying the fresh air?”
Ryan took in a deep breath than exhaled, though didn’t pay much attention to the actual air. She nodded. She’d been going outside somewhat constantly recently and the other soon picked up on it. “Yeah,” she confirmed simply, a weary smile and face making its way in.
Fluttershy nodded. Ryan held open the door for her and she entered. After a moment, Ryan shrugged, took a look at the scenery once more, and entered, following the horse she called a friend.
It had been a week.
Well, over a week if you counted the time when she’d first arrived. She wasn’t sure of the exact time due to a minor case of being poisoned into unconsciousness. But it had been a week since Vinyl had started helping her with her fear. The DJ was joking when she said “all day, every day.” Instead, she meant just a few hours shy of all day. More or less.
Whatever the time be, progress was clear on all accounts. Through Vinyl’s lead, Fluttershy’s serene vibe, an occasional hint of Twilight’s magic, and Ryan’s own determination, everything was actually turning out all right.
Ryan’s week had started as planned. Then it got bigger just as she got as comfortable as can be with what she’d been put through previously. She got better at just standing the sight of a horse and talking to one then, to Vinyl’s short-lived surprise, seeing one move around. A still horse and a moving one are much different, she’d learned.
Eventually Fluttershy was returned to her natural state. It would do no good to be comfortable with just one. Meeting new ones would be inevitable if she ever left the sanctity of the cottage. So the two, along with Twilight when she stopped by, were added to the formula.
Of course, things weren’t just a smooth ride. More than once Ryan had to stop or say if they were going too fast. Take things slowly.
But here she was now.
Ryan could honestly say she was alright, not great, but alright with a horse for the first time in well over a decade. Being in their presence under ideal situations made her uneasy at best and nervous at worst. She figured she would never fully get over her phobia. Thus is the nature of the irrational fear. She could, however, work against it, and so she had. Things weren’t perfect, though. A sudden movement towards her or a simple “Surprise!” appearance weren’t appreciated to say the least. And she never made direct eye contact. Never.
All things considered, Ryan was pleased with herself.