Artist’s Description
 
Mako rationalized in his head that “Squeak” was an appropriate response to having something small and fluffy runs itself into the back of one’s paw. It didn’t hurt by any means, merely startled him, his back arching like a felines when hearing the tiny audible chirp and thud as his assailant toppled over in the soft sand. 
Raising his hind leg, Mako peered underneath himself to see a tiny brown pegasus foal, who couldn’t be older then 2 years of age, whimpering and rubbing it’s little face with their ity bity little hoof. Mako has seen baby pegasi before in his many years of travel, but this one stood out specifically, on account of the mass amounts of tiny freckles and fluffy plumage covering the foal’s body.
 
Mako’s eyes grew wide and sparkled and he breathed out, “Soooo cute!”, his tail swishing back and forth happily.
 
The tiny pegasus was more unwilling to share Mako’s enthusiasm, as the foal whimpered softly, tears falling down their fluffy, freckled cheeks.
 
The orca pony’s ears folded back as he turned and instantly started comforting the young pile of fluff, gently nuzzling the foal’s orange fluffy mane and wiping tears from the toddler’s eyes.
 
In the distance, a single mare’s voice carried across the sea of ponies going about their business. She sounded frantic, calling out over and over again, “Cindy? Cindy!!” Mako’s ears perked, assuming that the mare was looking for her lost filly and immediately put the pieces together. Very gently, Mako scooped up the tiny foal, who had decided to make a make-shift nest out of Mako’s long blue and black mane, and trotted over to where the mare’s voice originated from. It didn’t take long for him to find a small gray and brown mare, with similar orange and blonde streaked hair as the foal.
 
Mako approached the mare with a gentle smile, “Excuse me, Mam? I believe this belongs to you.” as he lifted up his mane, revealing the tiny fluff pegasus, nibbling on a lock of Mako’s hair.
 
The mare’s face lifted “Cindy! Sweet Celestia, where ever did you go?!”
 
Mako gently fished the young pegasus out of his mane and gently set them down on the ground, “She bumped into me while running. No harm done.”
 
The mother blinked at Mako before giggling, “Thank you so much for–” but before she could finished, the foal fluffed up thrice it’s original size and glared Mako down, “IMMA COLT!!” it squawked before promptly kicking Mako in the shin and darting off, hiding behind his mother’s tail.
 
“CINDERPLUME!” as the mare scolded the tiny colt. His little brown freckled face pushed through his mother’s tail, sticking his tongue out at the orca pony and immediately commenced blowing raspberries at him.
 
Mako would simply return the gesture, sticking his own tongue out while smiling and winking, “Aww, why so mean? Honest mistake, little guy.”
 
The mare would chuckle softly and shake her head, “He gets it from his father, I’m afraid. Sorry and thank you again for finding my little pigeon,” with a soft and sweet smile.
 
“Heheh, no problem ‘mam. You have a good day now.” Despite how the little pegasus was behaving, Mako would still smile at him and wave, “Don’t wonder too far from yer mother next time, kid. Wouldn’t want ya to get lost.” Before turning and walking off, back towards his shop.
 
Before he was completely out of ear’s reach, he heard the mare beckon to her tiny foal, “Come on, Cindy. We should get going. We are meeting someone very special today.”
 
“Whose that, Mama?” inquired the fluffy foal
 
“Your brand new baby cousin.”