The sounds of the Everfree Forest echoed in Odd’s ears as she trotted back toward her home on the outskirts of Ponyville. The path she was walking on was overrun with wild flowers and other plants but Odd was still able to follow it without a problem. The Everfree Forest was like a second home to her. She spent most of her free time either there or in her parents’ shop.

“Cloudwalker, wait up!” Someone called from behind her. “You forgot your saddlebag at our hut.”

Odd turned around just as Zumma barreled her over.  The two of them rolled off the path and into a muddy ditch. Odd pushed the zebra off of her before standing up. Her once royal blue coat was now soaked with the dirty water.

“Two things; don’t call me Cloudwalker and you’re now back on my debtors list. By the way, thanks for the mud bath, now I won’t have to go to the spa.” Odd huffed, sarcastically. “Do you know how long it’s going to take me to get all of this out of my coat? My parents are going to kill me. I’m late as it is; you and your brother wouldn’t let me leave when I needed to.”

“I’m sorry Clo… Odd.” Zumma said, picking himself up. He bent down and grabbed Odd’s saddlebag out of the mud. He climbed out of the ditch and dropped the saddlebag next to him. “It’s going to take me as long as it takes you, you know. I hope nothing important was in there.”

Zumma held out a hoof to help Odd out of the ditch. She knocked it to the side and climbed out on her own. She ignored Zumma’s attempt at an apology. Picking up her soggy saddlebag and throwing it over her back, Odd continued toward Ponyville.

“Come on Odd. What’s the rush? You’re never this eager to get home. You hate living in Ponyville. You’ve hating being there since you moved here; you spend as much time away from town as you possibly can.” Zumma said. He trotted alongside Odd, surprisingly able to keep pace with her.

“There’s some big wig coming here from Canterlot. My parents are hoping whoever it is will stop by our shop.” Odd said. She increased her pace, trying to loose Zumma. “All I know is it’s some unicorn that will be staying at the library. My parents figure that sooner or later he or she will need some new books and stop by.”

“Still can’t see why they’d want you there.”

“My mom is convinced once I see a ‘true’ user of magic, I’ll want to learn. She just doesn’t understand. She probably won’t ever understand how I feel about any of this.”

“Odd, stop.” Zumma said, slowing to a halt.

Odd reluctantly stopped a few feet in front of Zumma but didn’t turn around. Tears pooled at the edge of her eyes. Emotions she normally kept buried deep in her subconscious came flooding forward.

“Why don’t you come back to the hut? Zach and I will cover for you. You can stay as long as you like.” Zumma whispered. “You know we have the room for you to stay the night if you want. We’re always here for you.”

“I’ll come and visit you guys later in the week.” Odd said, resuming her walking. “Thanks for the offer though.”

Zumma shook his head as he watched his friend walked back to the town she despised. That filly always makes herself a martyr. She needs to let herself live a little. Zumma looked at his friend one more time before heading back toward his home in the Everfree Forest.