//------------------------------//
// Chapter 8:  Beyond the Window 
// Story: Fall's Hearths Warming 
// by Yosh-E-O 
//------------------------------//

	Some fillies and colts had already made their way into the second-floor bunk room.  They were all either trying to go to sleep, jumping on the beds, or talking about how nice it was to not have Ms. Powder Puff and Mr. Razzle dazzle around.

“So,” stated Soft Steps upon reaching Fall’s bunk that was right by the non-insulated window.  “This is your bed?”
“Yeah,” replied Fall.  “It’s where I feel the happiest and safest.”
Soft Steps shivered.
“And the coldest,” she chattered.
“You get used to it,” stated Fall upon climbing up onto her flat, battered bunk.  The springs within the mattress could easily be felt in various spots from all the wear the outdated twin bed was.

Soft Steps thought for a moment before making her way up onto Fall’s bunk.  She first put her front hooves up on the bed itself before kicking up with her strong, back-left leg  while pulling up with her two front hooves so that she didn’t hurt her fragile, less developed, back-right leg.
“Eep!” she squeaked while feeling even more cold air blow onto her fur.  
“Here,” offered Fall as she used the thin, torn blanket she had to cover up her purple-colored friend.
“Thank you,” said Softy.

Fall went to the windowsill and sat on her haunches.  Her gaze focused on the moonlit, snow-covered landscape below.
“Aren’t you cold?” asked Softy.
“No…,” the brown Pegasus replied.  She was cold, but so many nights sleeping by the window had gotten her used to doing so.  She didn’t like being cold, but she did have ways of not thinking on how chilled she really was.
“Are you sure?” asked the Earth Pony.  “I can see your breath.”

The pigtailed Pegasus sighed, which let out a puff of heated breath into the air.
“I’m okay,” she assured.  “I have other things to keep me warm.”
“What’s that?” asked Softy while moving to snuggle up against Fall.
“My friends,” she replied.
“Friends?” wondered Soft Steps.  “Where are they?  Are they here?”
Fall gestured towards the window.
“They’re out there,” she said with a smile.  “Beyond the fence.”

The purple pony didn’t know what to say.
“I think you’d like them,” stated Fall.  “Pint and Bucky have shown me that there is so much more to this world than this awful place.”
“Are they your imaginary friends?” asked Softy.  “I sometimes have a friend named Sprinkles who comes and sprinkles magical dust on my leg so we can gallop together with my brother.”
Fall shook her head.
“No,” she replied.  “Pint and Bucky are real friends who do so many nice things for me.”
“Could you tell me more about them?” asked Softy.

***

The little Pegasus went on to tell Soft Steps about all the times she had shared with her Unicorn and Pegasus friends.  She seemed to get happier-and-happier as she told each tale from when they first met in early Autumn up until their last visit a day ago.
“Wow!” awed Softy.  “They sound like wonderful friends.”
“They really are,” smiled Fall.  “I can’t wait until they can help me get out of here forever.”
“You know my brother and I will help, too!” exclaimed Soft Steps.  “My big brother can do anything and so can I!”

Fall thought back on how Bucky and Candy Cloud talked about how she’d make such a great sister.  She also thought on how they talked about how some brothers and sisters didn’t always get along.  However, Soft Steps and Gallant Gust seemed to be a perfect brother and sister pairing.
“My friends, Bucky and Candy Cloud, said I’d be a wonderful sister,” stated Fall.  “What’s it like to actually have a perfect brother?”
“Well…,” thought Soft Steps.  “He looks out for me and I look out for him.  We know we can count on each other to get through anything…”

There was a short pause as Soft Steps felt tears well up in her eyes.
“Are you okay?” asked Fall.
“I miss my mommy and daddy,” Softy sniffled.

Fall felt tears of her own forming as her mind wished she knew what it was like to have actually known her mother and father.  Why could she only remember a faint, dream-like memory of her mom?  Was it even real?  What would it be like to have parents?  Would being adopted mean she’d have as much support as Pint and Soft Steps did despite their disabilities?
All these questions brought Fall to snuggle into Soft Steps as Soft Steps snuggled into her.  They both cried silently while facing out towards the moonlit, winter’s night.