Marietta Trotter wore dark pink overalls that went to her knees over a brown stripped blouse. Light pink bows adorned it, one on each pocket and shoulder strap, and another on her stomach. She had a red bow clipped to her hair, a coincidental match to Sunflower's ribbon. Ellie avoided pointing that out. Over her bottom hooves, she wore long yellow socks stuffed into buckled shoes. Her pig ears poked out from her orange hair.

"I brought breakfast." Ellie had to block Marietta from digging into her bag. "But we're going to eat it with a friend."

Marietta grunted. "Who?" Her eyes narrowed in suspicion.

Pigs were the only animals in Stockbrunn that had mastered the Common language. It was a point of pride for them, and Marietta was no exception to that rule.

"Her name's Shreya. She's a woods dweller." Ellie said. She backed up to give Marietta space to exit her home. "I've gotta return something to her and I don't wanna go alone, so..."

"So you're holding my food hostage." Her hand, two-pronged with a thumb, reached again for her breakfast. Sunflower growled at her, stopping her in her tracks. "Your bodyguard isn't enough?"

"There's strength in numbers." The added benefit was that this time Shreya couldn't call her foolish and unprepared. She had a pig and a dog with her.

"Why do numbers matter? Don't tell me you stole something from her."

"I didn't! I borrowed it. She gave it to me 'cause I didn't have enough water," she explained. Ellie unclipped Sunflower's leash. Now free, Sunflower ran in circles around Marietta's tiny house. "She's a nice person."

"That's what they all say." Her snout wrinkled.

"Hey, you either help me or you don't get any food. What's it gonna be?" Ellie didn't want to do this the hard way, but she had to.

"What kind of help do you want? I'm not fighting anybody for you. That's what the dog's for."

"Just walk with me and be my friend. Do what you usually do...all the way to Ianes' Wall."

"Are you nuts?" Marietta put her hooves on her hips. "You might as well paint a sign on yourself that says 'eat me' if you're going there."

"I was there yesterday. I survived." Ellie said. "If I can make it there alone, we'll definitely be fine with the three of us together. C'mon, Marietta. You know you want this great breakfast of—"

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

"Chicken jerky, apple, and wheat porridge. I can smell it. You spilled some." She took another sniff. "Yeast smell. Grape smell. Sugar. You've got wine in that gourd. Is it for me or for your woods dweller?"

"It's my thank-you gift to her."

"Good, then I'll take the rest."

"Um, how about one jar, the jerky, and the apple? I kind of made one jar for everybody." Ellie didn't know how she got on this end of the negotiation. She should've been the one setting the conditions.

Marietta grinned. "And all I have to do is walk with you and make you look good? Okay, I'll take it." She produced a key from her pocket, and locked her door. She had ribbons to protect.

"Yeah. C'mon, Sunflower. We're leaving."

Excited at the sound of her name, she bounced after them as they made their way into the forest.

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A/N: This is an interactive fantasy serial. Voting takes place on Thursdays through Sundays on the story's main site. The most up-to-date chapters can also be found there, but uploading will happen in parts on RRL as well.

The next post will be Chapter 4.

Chapter 8 is live on the site now. Voting on the latest chapter will end on Sunday at 11:59 PM EST.