“I hate you!”

He knew she didn't meant it, but every time he replayed the words in his mind, they stung a little more. Thistle hadn't returned that evening. “She's becoming a mare. She needs her space.” Those were the words he's comforted himself and his wife with that night. It wasn't like she hadn't been out overnight at a friend's house before. But it was odd that she didn't tell anypony who she was with.

The next morning, there was still no sign of her. Thomas went out to her usual haunts to see if anypony knew where she might be. A small stone began to grow in his gut as noon time came and went and nopony had seen her since yesterday afternoon.

“Yes, Thomas, I did see her.”

Thomas let out a sigh of relief. “Oh, thank Celestia, where did you see her, what was she doing, Rockber?”

The mule cocked his head. “It was kinda odd, but I was crossing the bridge by the eastern side of town and I think I saw her floating on that toy of hers. It had to be her, I remember white on blue, but why anypony would be heading downstream. I thought that was right odd...”

Thomas' stomach took a lurch. “Rockber, w-would you please tell my wife this? I need to head downstream!”

Rockber nodded as the red colt bolted down the stream.


It was now three days in the Everfree forest.

Thistle felt so tired. Tiny pinhole leaks from thorns riddled her body, but she didn't care. Her saggy appearance matched her mood. “I'm never getting out of here. Is anypony even looking for me?” She slumped down, looking even more deflated. Tears began to fall from her muzzle. She remembered the last words she's said to her father that morning. Would those be the last words her parents ever heard from her?


I should have done somethiong different with the floor. But overall I'm happy with how this came out =^^=

Now we get to see what Thistle's mom and dad look like, and I don't have to figure out new cutie marks for them (yet) either!

My little pony belongs to Hasbro