It was just past the early morning. The dew had melted away and the sun was now a little higher up in the sky.

Among the waking sounds of the Everfree, stone striking wood was one of them. They came in regular intervals, occurring up to four times in a row, and then pausing.

Sitting on a rather large stone, set beside the stump of a tree, was a lone man. He wore an unusually fashionable button-up shirt and jeans for one living in the forest. Out-of-place as they were, they did a decent job at hiding the bandage wraps underneath. The only things they couldn't cover up were the bandages on his arms, specifically, the cast and sling holding his right.

Straightening his back, he observed his work. There were two halves of a thin tree trunk lying on top of the stump. Next to it were two stones — one shaped like a wedge, and the other, more spherical.

He looked to his right and saw the struts of the new shack standing bare. Taking one of the halves in his good hand, he stood up, but was stopped before he could take a step. He heard the foliage on the far side of the clearing rustle, and the familiar sound of hooves.

Looking over, he saw two familiar foals, each carrying white boxes on their backs. Accompanying them was a third pony — an earth pony mare — carrying a saddlebag lined with tools.

When they saw the lone creature, both earth ponies slowed their pace. They glanced between each other and the filly, who continued on ahead. "Are you sure this is the one?" the mare said.

"H-he looks busy," the colt said, "Maybe we can come by later?"

The filly ignored them both and continued to approach. Neither reacted to one another, nor made a peep. She avoided making eye contact even as she sat herself down next to the rock he used as a stool.

Enveloping her box in magic, the filly brought it to her hooves, and stared down at it. There was a symbol of a cupcake on top.

"...I—"

Her mouth was open, but no other words came out, and she was still looking down at the box.

"I want to... umm..."

The two other ponies had stopped a few feet behind her, a concerned look on their faces.

"I... w-want to..."

The man — who had only turned his head in their direction — fully rotated his entire body so that he was facing them. He squat down, his gaze, too, falling on the box.

Closing her eyes, the filly breathed through her nostrils once and tilted her head up.

When she opened her eyes, she wore the angriest scowl of any foal. "Thank you. I want to say thank you."

Hearing that along with her expression, the boxer couldn't help but crack the slightest smile at the very edge of his lips.

Author's Notes:

No, I am not planning on doing anything else with this.