Pine Ponder & the Lost Scarf


                                            >What a day it has been. So many new pinecones collected! thinks Pine Ponder

                                            >And the sun is starting to set, it's time to get home...

                                            >Are those voices I hear? They sound like fillies...

                                            >"-lways losing your scarf Niv!"

                                            >"But I stand out too much wearing it! I can't hide with my scarf on!"

                                            >"Yeah and now we're looking for your hidden scar-"

                                            >The fillies have walked into the small clearing where Pine is, and hush.

                                            "Hello there fillies, Evergreen, Niveous, Podzol! Looking for Niveous's scarf again?" says Pine.

                                            >"Yes Pine Ponder" they all assent, Niveous looking abashed, the others exasperated.

                                            "Well, lets try and find it together, yes?"

                                            >"Thank you Pine!" responds Niv, the other two nodding.

                                            "Come on now, help me with these pinecones"

                                            >The fillies help with her baskets.

                                            >So Pine and the fillies begin to look, Niveous's bright red scarf remaining unfound

                                            >Niveous is sniffling, and says "My mother is going to be disappo- disapp-"

                                            "She won't be disappointed Niveous, we'll find it, don't worry!"

                                            >Smiling again, Niveous eagerly looks around, Podzol rolling her eyes but also smiling.

                                            >Sadly, the sun is nearly set...

                                            >Well, its silly but maybe it will work, thinks Pine

                                            "Fillies, lets stop for a moment, I have an idea!"

                                            >The fillies stop, and look curiously at Pine.

                                            >She begins to sort through the baskets of pinecones she had collected, shaking her head at some

                                            >Until she finds one that seems to meet her approval!

                                            >The fillies wonder what makes one pinecone different from another...

                                            "Ok fillies, touch your hooves to the pinecone, and think "scarf"!"

                                            >Giving her puzzled looks, the fillies comply, touching their hooves to the pinecone

                                            >"What are you going to do Miss Ponder?" asks Evergreen, a polite snowfilly

                                            "Watch and see!" replies Pine, beaming a smile that reassures the fillies.

                                            >Closing her eyes, Pine spins around on her hindhooves, and chucks the cone gently

                                            >The cone lands facing a collection of snow covered logs

                                            "Lets go check there!" says Pine.

                                            >The fillies share a look, but follow Pine over.

                                            >"Its not here" sighs Niveous.

                                            >"It is, it is!" Evergreen shouts, and the merest corner of the scarf is showing under a log

                                            >"Wow, thank you Pine!" Niveous hugs Pine Ponder, and so do the others.

                                            "You're welcome Niveous! Now lets get you fillies home!"

                                            >"Oh no, we're late!" the trio chorus, looking at each other in panic.

                                            >Smiling to herself, collecting the baskets of pinecones, Pine follows the exuberant fillies back to the village, the moon rising over them lighting their way.