“Mary, you should be in your room...I was coming there after I was done here.” Mothers voice was always calm and deep and now was no exception. Mary took a deep breath to respond, but Mother held up a hand to stop her.

“I know, Mary...but for now I need you to go.” Mother said. Mary glanced at Doni and sighed quietly.

“Yes, Mother…” Mary’s voice was sullen, and she began taking the couple steps across the room. About halfway, one of the ribbons tied around her hooves came loose. Mary paused to pick it up.

“No, wait!” Doni burst forth from the pillow, snatching the ribbon off the ground before Mary could grab it. “I wanna keep it!” He exclaimed. Mary gathered up the cloth the ribbon had been holding around her hoof smiling and straightened up.

“Alright, you may have it,” Mary told him. They smiled at each other and Mary crossed to the still open door, out into the hallway. From there she looked back at her friend, still smiling with her blue ribbon in his hand. In the blazing light of Mothers orb, his skin appeared less red, almost orange, and his gems were oddly iridescent. As he waved to her, she looked one last time for his pointed ears amid his mess of black hair, but the wooden door shut before she was able to find them and she was left in the dim hallway feeling very alone.