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// Evenings Respite. 
// Story: The Path of the Sky: The Mountains in the North. 
// by Pinkie Breeze 
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The rain had passed and the clouds had parted as the sun was setting, the sky was no longer the grey canvas it had been for the last few days and a few clouds drifted lazily southwards in the cool evening breeze overhead, the drab colours that had been ever present were nowhere to be seen as the sky was now painted with darkening, humble blues towards a brilliant orange, the suns diminishing rays still broke through the low branches and leaves above and lit up the still wet grass like so many shimmering flames against the dark backdrop of ground beneath, the whole forest was bathed in calming, dim orange light.

Rarity sat at the foot of a large fir tree, its trunk was easily twice as thick as it's surrounding brethren and and it rose up nearly twice as high from what Rarity could see from below, towering over the the forest like a silent guardian, she had managed to find a comfortable seat for herself in the nook of the great trees roots and the ground had remained dry enough despite the storm, her sword was propped by her side and her many bags sat in mound of misshapen leather, she slowly nibbled at a thin wedge of cheese with a look clear boredom spread across her face.

It had been a long day and a tiring one at that and despite the many hours and miles she had managed to put behind her, she knew that she could have managed to travel further had the rain and mud  not slowed her down a considerable amount and make the days trek evermore insufferable. Her forehead scrunched in quiet annoyance as she rested it on her hoof, Rarity sighed whilst she contemplated what to do, it felt too late to carry on moving but too early to make camp for the night, she couldn't quite rightly sit here and wait after all, lest she went mad with boredom. 

Rarity quickly got to her hooves, deciding it would be best to carry on ahead anyway, the trees were still quite sparse here and she'd prefer to make camp in an area that had more cover, it wasn't like she'd need to go through the trouble of setting the tent up in the dark after all.  She wrapped the remaining cheese up in a thin cloth before putting it back with the rest of her food, she grimaced at the sight, her stocks were running worryingly low and she hoped to run into some kind of town or village soon. Rarity fished about in her saddlebags with her magic, before plucking out a small bobble, she parted the wet hair that stuck to her coat at either side and pulled it into a ponytail.

She threw on her bags once again and jiggled about, tightening the straps and moving things about where needed, she hoisted up her sword in her mouth and craned her neck back, laying the thing across her back she tight end the strap with her magic, unfortunately for Rarity her rest had not made the weight of the thing any easier for her. She faced north and stood silently for a moment, there was little to be heard in the forest, the chirps of birds as they signalled goodnight to one another, a solitary drop of water here and there, standing in silence, Rarity realised just how alone she was out here and how alone she had been for months now. With a sad sigh she began her slow march forward once again and continued her journey north.