and

Maize trots through the fields as she does her daily check, a new bounce in her step and her head held higher than ever... even if she still holds it lower than everypony else.

Cream Puff wanders the fields as well, looking for her friend.  She needs to get the story straight from Maize, and to congratulate her on getting quite the catch.

Maize hears Cream Puff disturbing the crops and turns to track her down. “Oh, hey Puff. Are you looking for me?”

She brightens as she hears her friend.  “Maize!  I am, indeed!  I hear you and Praetorian had a good night together.”

Maize blushes a bit. “Well, yeah. We had a little... date. It was nice spending time with him. And we had some of your food as dinner, too, it was delicious!”

Puff grins at her.  “He said it was your idea to have a nap together under the stars.  Sounds like a successful date to me!”

“Yeah.” Maize bashfully scratches her head. “I still have no idea what I’m doing, but Praetorian seems to be enjoying it so I guess I’m doing something right.”

Puff smiles at her.  “You definitely are, Maize.  That stallion is head over hooves for you.  I’m actually a bit jealous of you two.  Having a nice relationship together.”

Maize carefully looks around. “I think, you know, if there’s a stallion for me, there must be one for you out there.” She grins. “Maybe some handsome, hard working stallion who will really love your delicious meals!”

Puff starts to say something, but her voice dies in her throat as an image flashes through her head.  Wings.  Dark coat.  Orange and cream mane.  She sits down hard as the realization hits her.  Flamberge.

Maize’s smile fades. “Did... did I say something wrong?”

“Huh?”  Puff looks back to her friend.  “Oh, sorry.  No, you’re fine, Maize.  I just... thought of something that I didn’t expect.”

Maize thinks a second. “What? Find out you’re more into mares or something?”

“What?  No!  I’m into stallions!”  She deflates a bit.  “A specific stallion...”

“...Is being into mares a bad thing?” Maize blushes a little. “Uh... anyway... which stallion?”

Cream Puff rubs her temples at Maize’s first question, not wanting to get into a debate about that right now.  At least she has a different question she can focus on instead.  “Flamberge...”

“Oh.” Maize looks around. “Who’s that again? I’m still having trouble with names...”

Puff groans and puts her head in her hooves.  “Crosshair’s coltfriend...”

“Ah.” Maize thinks. “Is that a problem, too? One of the nobles I worked for once had a mistress, and I think he wasn’t the only one.”

“Yes, it’s a problem,” she says and sighs, flopping onto the ground between the rows of plants.  “And I have no idea how to solve it...”

“Is it because Flamberge isn’t a noble?” Maize starts pacing. “Since he’s commander of the militia, I think he might be a noble once this place gets big enough.”

“Ugh... having a mistress is a problem!  I don’t want to be a mistress!  And I don’t want to break up their relationship!”  Puff flails her hooves in the air as emphasis, looking frustrated.

“That... I’m sorry I don’t know how to help you.” Maize sighs as her nose pokes at the ground by Puff’s head. “I could offer my companionship, but... I think you’ve made it pretty obvious you aren’t interested. I guess all I can do is say that maybe the somepony of your dreams, even better than Flamberge, will show up here. There are new ponies coming in all the time.”

Puff hugs Maize as best she can from this position.  “Thanks, Maize, but I couldn’t break up you and Praetorian either.  You two really are a great couple.”

Maize hugs her back, smiling just a bit. “Maybe someday I’ll be able to say the same about you.”

Puff sighs and rolls to her hooves.  “A mare can dream.”

Maize nods. “Oh... I’ve been wanting to ask something.”

“Hmm?”

Maize blushes a bit and lowers her head a little. “Do you ever notice me acting... weird?”

Puff quirks an eyebrow at her.  “Eccentric, sometimes, but nothing bad.  Why?”

“Well... whenever those red clouds come by...” Maize gulps audibly. “I start to feel dizzy. That one time one got really super close, my eyes got all blurry, and when I snapped out of it the cloud was gone and it felt like the sun had moved.”

“Have you talked to anypony else about this?”

Maize looks down. “No... I know, I should, but... I don’t want to get thrown out, you know?”

Puff nods.  She had heard rumors and talk about the clouds, but nopony seemed to know anything concrete about them.  Or they were quiet about it.  “Well, should I come find you the next time one shows up?”

“Sure... I guess...” Maize perks up a little. “At least you might be able to snap me out of it, or maybe figure out what’s happening.”

Cream Puff smiles and tries to shake the dirt from herself.  “Hey, what are friends for, if not to check on each other when weirdness happens.”

Maize chuckles. “Seems friends are good for a lot of things, really.”

 and

As the visions swirl and fade away, Temperance leaps back from the massive clawed hand in his face.  He turns to run as fast as his legs would carry him, but instead of the open fields he hoped to flee into, he stumbles into a shelf of tools.  He picks himself up from the tangled mess and looks around, completely lost in the moment.  “Wh-what?”

Immediately, Serenity breaks from the crowd, moving to Temperance’s side. “Temperance! Temperance, can you hear me?”

The stallion starts visibly as she approaches.  He looks to her, wide-eyed, and holds his gaze for several full seconds.  She was alive!  “Y-yes... yes, I can,” he says in an uneasy but clearly relieved voice.

“Come along, let’s get you out of here.” With a firm hoof, Serenity guides him out of the workshop.

He flinches as her hoof touches him, but doesn’t resist her attempts to pull him along.  He avoids the gazes of the few ponies standing around, which was mostly Crosshair, who had been stationed there to watch him, and the random few who happened to be wandering nearby at the time.  He thinks he sees Convalescence and Morning Dew, but in his daze and haste he’s not sure.

Serenity pulls aside a nearby pony. “Fetch a pitcher of juice and a bowl of Cream Puff’s cheese soup. Bring it to Temperance’s office, please.”  Heartfelt gives her a puzzled look for a moment, but nods and trots off.

Temperance looks around nervously and clears his throat.  “Is... is that where we’re going?”

“Yes. I thought it best to get you somewhere quiet.”

He nods.  “Uh, right.  Okay.”  The office is just on the other side of the tavern, and no other ponies are around to interrupt them.  As they get there, Temperance searches his saddlebag for the key.  By now, he’s forgotten that he left the office unlocked, and not even completely shut.

Without waiting, Serenity simply opens the door and guides Temperance inside.  He shakes his head as he sees that the door was open.  He had no idea how he even got outside when... it... struck him.  He follows her inside and stands awkwardly near his desk, unsure exactly what they were doing here.

Serenity stands by the door, waiting patiently for Heartfelt. “You should have a seat. I’m sure your experience was quite... draining.”

Temperance doesn’t reply, but nods and makes his way over to his seat, avoiding looking at Serenity as much as he could.  A few minutes later, Heartfelt returns, balancing a pitcher of watermelon juice and a bowl of soup as asked.

Serenity gently takes both in her magic. “Thank you very much. And my thanks to Morning Dew, as well.” She sets both on the desk in front of Temperance, pouring a mug of juice for him.

Temperance eyes the mug for a moment before taking it in a shaky hoof.  He quickly downs it, realizing now that he was unimaginably thirsty.  How long had he been ‘out of it’?  “Thank you...”

Serenity smiles slightly. “You’re very welcome. How are you feeling?”

He looks aside and takes a deep breath.  “I-I don’t know.  How... how long was I, uh... you know?”

She sighs. “About a week in all. You sat in that workshop for three days asking for supplies. When Morning Dew finally brought you something to work with, you started making this... strange contraption. You worked on that for a few more days.”

“A week?” he asks, with evident surprise in his voice.  His eyes go wide as he looks up to her, then back down.  “It only felt like a few hours...” he mutters.

“...You should eat. You haven’t eaten at all in that time.”

The food did smell amazing.  He takes the bowl and sips at the soup, realizing once again just how ravenously hungry he was.  It doesn’t take him long to finish the entire bowl, and he sets it aside.  “Thank you... again,” he says, still looking aside.

Serenity moves to sit beside Temperance. “Temperance... what happened? What’s the last thing you remember?”

He sits silently, staring into the empty bowl in front of him.  “I... I was sitting here, writing something.  Then... I had an unbearable headache... then...”  He raises a forehoof to his forehead.  She’d never believe what happened after that.

“Then?” Serenity watches him expectantly.

He shuts his eyes, keeping his hoof against his head.  “I... I’m not sure myself.  It’s hazy.”  He pauses.  “I... thought I saw a vision of Amug.  She was speaking to me, asking me to gather stone and a gem.  She said she’d show me something when I did.”  He slowly shakes his head again.  She probably thought he was insane.

“But it wasn’t her,” he goes on.  “She... she showed me something horrible.  I’ll... save you the details... but... I saw everypony fighting each other.  Including myself...”

“Why were you fighting? Do you remember?”

He shakes his head.  “No.  No, she didn’t say, and I only saw it as it was happening.  Everypony looked so angry.”  He recalls the wild-eyed hateful expression on his own face.  “It was as if they weren’t themselves.  Fighting and killing each other... and I have no idea why.”

Serenity sighs. “Well, the only thing I can tell you is that nopony here has done anything of the sort. It was all in your mind. The part involving Amug...”

He nods slowly.  Just seeing her alive was proof enough of that.  “Yes... Amug.  As I said, it wasn’t really her.  It was something else... she changed into a giant monster of some sort.”  He blinks a few times, trying to visualize it.  “She then told me what I’d seen was a warning.  ‘For you and all of your kind’, she said.”  He moves his hoof in a small circle to signify the gears he made, and adds, “And the thing I made, the image on it... that was supposed to be a reminder.”

“I...” Serenity starts. “I’m not sure what to tell you about that. Normally, I’d tell you it was nothing more than a semi-coherent product of your unconscious mind, but... I saw the device you made. The way your hooves moved with... otherworldly precision. I just... I think this is beyond my area of expertise.”

He sighs and nods.  “I was afraid you would say something like that.  This is well beyond my area of expertise too.”  He shuts his eyes again.  “I wish my mother was here.  Or another priest.  Maybe they would have some idea...”

“I’ve never been a particularly religious mare myself. My instinct tells me this is most likely some kind of powerful mind control magic, but from a mundane source. Do you know if any of the recent migrants are skilled magicians?”

“No... no, we haven’t had any unicorns arrive since the time you got here.  I don’t think any of those who are here now would do something like this.”  He makes a weak snort.  “I don’t even know if such a thing is possible with magic...”

“Well,” she sighs, “Could you send for a priest from Coupledye, in case this happens again?” The very idea of trusting in such superstition left a bitter taste in Serenity’s mouth, but she saw no other real alternative.

He thinks silently for a few moments and nods.  “Yes, perhaps that is for the best.  I’ll send a letter with the caravan.  I don’t know what else to do.”  He runs his hoof through his mane and shakes his head.  “Maybe I’m just losing my mind...” he says in a quiet voice.

Serenity shakes her head. “No. You don’t sound like a pony losing his mind.”

He makes a small snort again.  That was something at least.  He just sighs again, and says nothing, staring down into his desk.  He was surprisingly not tired, which was probably just as well since he doubted he could sleep even if he was tired.  This was going to be a long few days ahead.

and

There’s an ominous -thud- -thud- -thud- at the door of the clinic. The knocking sounds louder than any sound a mere pony can manage.

Examining one of his scalpels, Case Study is a bit disgruntled at the amount of rust it has garnered. It simply will not do to use such an instrument on a patient. As he thinks about obtaining a replacement, his pointed ears alert him to an immediate presence at the door. Sounds urgent. In response, he places the cutting device down on his table and calls aloud, “Yes? Please come in.”

The door creak open, and Case Study sees a huge mass of . . . what seem to be feathers trying to shove it’s way through. Finally, a griffon, a full two feet taller than him, rears his head. He puffs out his wings.

“Dang, these doors really are made for ponies, aren’t they?” the griffon says, a little claustrophobic in these spaces.

Lowering his chin as he raises an eyebrow, the pale blue stallion is perplexed by what stands before him. He had heard of no griffons being members of Duskfields. Perhaps he was part of a caravan that had recently arrived? Regardless of his origins, there must have been some reason that he was here, so Case gave a straightforward, albeit confused, response, “...may I help you, sir?”

Max looked the pony up and down, and gave a wry smile. “Hey there. Maxwell, “ He extends a claw out for a hoofshake. “Crashed through a brick wall in Temperance's office twelve minutes ago, became Duskfields latest carpenter in the last six. . . It’s been a busy day.”

“...I see, Mr. Maxwell,” Case slowly reached out to accept the greeting. He didn’t really understand, but he figured that the details would come out soon enough, “So, ramming through mortar with your body? I think I can deduce that you are here with blunt force trauma of some type?”

Max shrugs and closes his eyes. “Yeah, that would be the reason. Momma always said I had tough skin, but it never hurts ta’ double check.” He turns his head to the side and trains a single eye on the the pony. “ You do know you to treat a griffon, right? Last pony doctor I had, rooted around me clueless! ”

No, the doctor had never treated anything other than equines in his life, “Your species is not my specialty, but some aspects of physiology are universal. If you are able to move around unhindered, then I’m doubtful that you have broken any bones. Are you in any pain at all?” Case gets out of his chair and prepares for a simple examination.

The griffon shuffled his big blue eye over him up and down again. “Yeah, alright.” He says dismissively. “ I don’t know, I have a feeling about you. You know what you’re doing. “ He glances up at the ceiling. “My chest is in a little pain.” He glances back down, knowing that's a bit of a lie. “Actually, in a lotta pain.” He ugghs “ It’s just. . . first impressions . . “

“I’ll do my best, that much I can assure you. By the way, you may address me as Case Study,” the earth pony answers as he takes a first look over the griffon’s integument. No signs of blood so far as his red eyes can see. “Pain in your chest?...wait...first impressions...was that a bit of humor?”

Max chuckles “ Yeah, it was a bad attempt at it.  I guess my humor bone is broken for sure, then. Strike that one of the diagnosis board!” He gets back down to business. "But seriously, It feels like I just rammed through a brick wall.”

“Oh, well, good to know,” chest pains could have been an indication of a serious injury, so a lack of such an ailment was relieving, “I believe that is self-evident, Mr. Maxwell. I don’t believe, however, that you have any serious injuries. Bruising is most likely the extent of your grievances. That will heal on its on in time. I’m giving you the pass for now.” The blue pony steps back, “If any symptoms worsen, or new ones come about, report back to me.” He paces a bit, “So, how did you come upon our settlement again? Are you a trader? Perhaps here with others?”

Max quirks a brow. “Came upon you? It’s the other way around to be honest. I fly through the valley every once and awhile on my way back to the cave. This time? A building was there.”

“...I hope you don’t mean to imply that this land is your territory. That would be a rather large mistake on our part if it is. Since you know the name of Temperance, can I assume that you have spoken with him?” Case was curious to see where this was going.

Max looks as if he’s been accused of something. “No, no, one griffon doesn't exactly constitute as a nation with borders, I can’t really do anything but help or get out of the way. . . that doesn't bother me. It’s about time something happened around here.  “ He cocks his head, agitated. “ It’s just if you’re going to build something over night, some neon orange signs would be helpful! Some magic flares, perhaps?”

The doctor cleared his throat, “I’m afraid the decor of this place isn’t up to me. If you have any suggestions or complaints about the design of Duskfields, I would suggest consulting Mr. Temperance or one of the carpenters. Speaking of which, didn’t you say earlier that you were going to be joining us as a carpenter yourself?”

“Yeah. Why not? It sounds fun.” The griffon says enthusiastically.  “Helping others is the the only way to truly help yourself. That’s a proverb from somewhere. If it’s not? It should be.” He laughs. “You know what i’m talking about probably more than most, Doc.”

“If you do have intentions of aiding us, then I am sure we will be grateful. Some ponies, such as Ms. Holly and Ms. Block, are often short-hoofed on help. Not that having an extra worker of the wood won’t be valuable as well.”

Max nods. “I’ll get the job done.” Max’s wings shift around, and he looks at Case study with a shrewd look. “So ,I’ve told you why I’m in the middle of nowhere. Can you return the favor? I may be overstepping here, but i’m rather curious. What is a colony of ponies doing way out here?”

“Our main objective, as I am told, is to farm the land,” Case explains, “We are on a mission from Coupledye to exploit the natural resources present here. So far, our ventures have been successful. We have had some setbacks in the form of pests and thieves, but nothing we weren’t able to overcome. My personal role here is fairly self-evident.”

“hmm . . . ‘exploit’ the land, that’s a rather severe, alarming way to phrase it.” Max looks at him quizzically. “I think you mean harvest the land?” Max hoped that was the case.

“If you wish to state it as such, yes, that would be accurate,” Case begins rubbing one of his temples, “Would you excuse me for a moment?” Trotting back over to his desk, he opens one of the drawers and pulls out a leafless, green stem. After biting a segment of it off, the equine begins chewing it. He pauses for a minute, “Migraine treatment.” He continues, “I hope I haven’t put a sour taste in your mouth with my explanation of our workings.”

“Ah, migraines. Painful little annoyances, aren’t they?” Max nods his head in a negatory. “Not at all. Temperance asked for a wall, and he’s going to get a wall.”  

“That they are,” he answers between a chew, “If Mr. Temperance is putting you to work already, I imagine he must trust you. Welcome aboard our meager settlement, Mr. Maxwell.”

Max is overcome with modesty. “What can I say? I guess I just have one of those trustworthy faces.” He looks nervous though. “I just hope every pony here feels the same as you and Temperance.  I can’t imagine why not, but I also cannot deny have been on a long sabbatical. If the griffons in general did something feather brained to the pegusai while i’ve been gone, well, I wouldn't be surprised.” He shrugs. “I can hope, though.”

He slowly taps his forehooves together as he sits at his desk once more, “I also would not be surprised if some of the others here don’t take to trusting you so quickly. We are quite a varied group. I doubt any such tensions will be insurmountable, however.”

“Guess I should get to winin’ hearts and minds, then.” He takes a look at his claws as he says it. “So? Clean bill of health? Bruising is minor?” He sighs. “No rectal examination necessary?”

“Ahem, no, that would not be necessary,” Case groans slightly, “You’re free to go now.”

He grins. “Right, Humor bone’s still broken.” He points at his forearm with a claw. “ Thank you for the time and consideration, Doc.” Max heads towards the door. Well, no news is good news, he assured himself. And not just with the exam. Case study didn't shut him out immediately when he asked what he was doing here, and the purpose seems relatively benign. He didn't seem to believe the griffons were causing trouble either. First time for everything, he assumed.

After the door is shut, Case puts a hoof to his grinning lips and tries to stifle a chuckle. “Rectal exam,” he thinks aloud.

 and

Cream Puff keeps chuckling as she makes lunch for Praetorian, and soon presents him with a nice ratatouille and fresh bread.  “Here you go, Hun!”

“Thank you, Cream Puff,” says Praetorian as he takes the food. “This looks good, as always.”

“Thanks, Praetorian.  So...” she says as she sits at a chair across from him.  “...how’d the date go?  You two enjoy some nice snuggling under the stars?”

“Yes... it was very peaceful,” Praetorian says, smiling stupidly as he remembers that night. “She’s a beautiful mare, Cream Puff- er, not to say that you aren’t, as well.”

She chuckles and rolls her eyes at him.  “Smooth as always, Tor.”

“It’s... I don’t know how to explain it, but it was entrancing, I suppose. I don’t have the words to explain it fully, but...” He shakes his head in bemusement. “You know what I’m talking about, yes?”

“Not first-hoof, but I have a good imagination.”  She smiles wistfully as she pictures Tor and Maize enjoying a chaste and loving snuggle under a starry sky, and sighs.  “So, what are you gonna do for the next date?”

“I... I don’t really know. Uh, what was the sigh for?” says Praetorian.

Puff ignores the question.  “What do you mean you don’t know?”

“I don’t know what to do, really,” he says with a shrug. “I’m not really... well, experienced with dating. Or relationships. And you still haven’t answered my question.”

She keeps ignoring it.  “Oh come on!  You just need to do something romantic that she’ll enjoy!  Think, stallion!”

“Uh... A candlelit dinner? I don’t know.”

“Hmm... a bit too formal for a second date.  Think more relaxed.”

Praetorian waves his hooves in the air. “I don’t know! This is all of the second relationship I’ve been in. And the first one didn’t go so well, remember! And you’ve still not answered my question!”

“It’s too bad we don’t have a theater for you to take her to a play or something...”

“Come on, you’ve avoided the question. What was that sigh for?”

She rolls her eyes at him again.  “It’s not important.  What is important is figuring out what to do for your next date!”

“I think it’s important to you. You’re my friend, Cream Puff.”

She sighs again.  “I sighed because you two are so great together, and I don’t have anypony to be with, so I have to live vicariously through you two, ok?”

Praetorian slowly, and carefully, puts the plates of food down. “Cream Puff,” he says, “you are my friend,” before wrapping her in a bear hug. “If there is anything I can do for you, you know you have merely to ask.”

She smiles and hugs him back for a few moments before pushing out of it.  “I know, you big lug.  So just be a good stallion for Maize, ok?”

“...Heh, I’ll try. If it wasn’t for you, though...”

“Aw, lay off it, Tor.  I’m just glad to see you two happy together.  So, what should you do for your second date?  Maybe a sunset together?”

“That sounds like a good idea,” agrees Praetorian.

“Of course it is!  I thought of it!”  Puff spreads her wings in pride and poses for a few moments, then laughs at herself.

“There’s that,” agreed Praetorian. Well, time to see who of my former comrades are single…

Realize this is a journal, I am just hooking it up with the scene upcoming as they are in the same post.

22nd Timber, 269

Ugh... you'd think after badger's wouldn't be so bloody suicidal. I personally never quite understood their beloved concept of honor though terrorism. One of the damned bugger showed up today. Almost put a dagger in the Smothblock's face. At least somepony put a the abomination down before getting at anyone...

2nd Moonstone, 269

And you'd think after two of badgers showed up somepony would think to keep our stockpiles under locks. If they keep sneaking off with are garbage, let alone our valuables, they might actually think sending a raiding party would be smart... and honestly it might be.

19th Moonstone, 269

Today we finally got a tavern set up. It's a quaint little place, but spose' it serves it's purpose.

6th Obsidian

Well this is just a riot. The one stallion deemed "worthy" to make our life or death decisions for us due to his sister's accomplishment's is now in a mechanic's shop blabbering incoherent gibberish. Well, honestly I thought the poor guy wasn't the type to crack under pressure. One can only imagine what would make a nervous break down of this level to occur. At least now the local mental health professional might have more people to work with than my captain's antisocial lady friend.  

8th Obsidian

A caravan showed up today. I was able to get my hooves on some of my old stuff from capital. The bastards kept my pet locked in some tight cage also. Practically ruined my day. Well, at least now I can replace my old clothes... Also I got my hat collection back in one piece! Honestly was scared it wouldn't make it here one piece.

13th Obsidian

Hmmmm... and seems Friday the thirteenth  is a lucky day after all. Temp seems to have snapped out of it and made one hell of a mechanism. Well, I've heard of ponies loosing themselves in a masterwork item beyond compare before, but I assumed it was some old myth or made up hog wash. Whatever, I just hope Temp get's back to normal soon…

 and

Temperance lets out a long, frustrated breath as he begins scouring the settlement for Redhat.  If it wasn’t something about him slowing work down at the trench, it was something about a dog he had.  It seemed this pony was going to be giving him a bit more work to do than the others, for whatever reason.  Maybe once he found him, they’d be able to set this matter straight and he both could get back to more productive matters.

The pegasus in question was currently sitting behind the tavern with a old looking book with the symbols “свят атлас”as it’s title in his hooves. It seemed to have been quite a fine looking book, probably would have been expensive if age had not decayed it ever so slightly. Also Redhat’s dog was there as well, and currently asleep next to him. When The pegasus saw the “management” walking towards him, he rose the book ever so slightly, just to cover his face.

There were only so many places a pony could hide here, thankfully, so tracking Redhat down hadn’t taken too long.  Temperance swallows his reservations and steps forward, noting the dog that he’d received the complaint about.  “Excuse me, Redhat?  Could you give me a minute of your time?”

He “ughed” and lowered the book. “What is it? I’ll inform you right now that if I did anything it was that way when I got there.”

Temperance rolls his eyes and shakes his head.  “No, no, nothing like that.  I, uh, actually needed to talk to you about your, uh, dog,” he says, nodding his head in the direction of the sleeping animal.

“And, what’s wrong with it?” He said as he flipped a page of his book, not paying Temperance much mind. His free hoof went down and petted the “dog’s” back.

“Well, to be frank, a few ponies are afraid of it.  They’re telling me that it’s actually a wolf or something,” he says, looking at the creature a bit more closely.  It was certainly starting to look like that little rumor might be true.  “And if that’s the case, it might be dangerous.”

“I can assure you this animal won’t exactly be chasing down foals.” He kept petting it’s back. “I honestly find it offensive you’d assume my pet to be a danger to the mutual safety of this town.” A soft whimper was heard from the furry critter. “I’ll have you know I make my personal safety my highest priority.”

Temperance frowns.  “I know you trust it, and I don’t think it would hurt anypony, especially you, but there are others who are concerned.”  He sighs.  “Where did you get it?  Is it a wolf, or just a dog?’

“Why yes, she’s a wolf. Your point?” At this point the rather fluffy dog started to get up from it’s little nap on the ground and walked toward Temperance.

Temperance takes a step back at first, having never been a dog pony in the first place, but most certainly not a wolf pony.  She didn’t seem too aggressive, at least.  “Well, we do have a lot of livestock about and all.  The chickens and sheep, especially.  You know what wolves can do to animals like that.”

He rolled his eyes. “Yes, so can Cream Puff.” The wolf kept advancing and gave him a less than menacing nuzzled to his foreleg. “Hmmm... seems Bonnet likes you.” The dog had a rather fluffy white coat. It certainly was quite large too, much bigger than the local stock for sure. It’s eyes were odd as well one being blue and the other being brown.

Temperance examines the ‘dog’ for a few moments before nervously patting her with a hoof.  “Yes... I suppose so.  Still... she’s not a domesticated dog,” he says.  There wasn’t really a great answer to this.  What, was he going to force Redhat to get rid of it?  “Look... based on what I’m seeing, I don’t think she’ll hurt anything.  I’ll tell the others that I’ve looked into it.”  He keeps looking down at Bonnet.  “But, if anything does happen... you’ll be responsible, alright?”  He prayed if anything did happen, it wouldn’t be something like Cumulus getting bitten...

“Trust me, Bonnet would never do that.” He looked down at the wolf again, which by now was licking playfully at Temperance. “I’d have to either give her the order or lets say... somepony kicked her for no real reason, and if somepony does kick her i’m assuming she’s got the right to self defense.”

“I certainly wouldn’t let somepony hurting her for no reason go unpunished,” Temperance says, half answering the question.  “But, I’ll trust what you say for now.  Don’t worry about her, as long as she doesn’t bother anypony, I’ll see to it that nopony bothers her or you about it.”

“Good, good” he closed his book. “I’d hate for this to be that big of an issue.” He then sighed and looked him in the eyes. “Also, I suppose a thank you in order for not forcing me to give up my pet.”

“You’re welcome,” Temperance replies, finally letting a small smile show.  “I’d rather not cause more of a fuss than necessary.  Anyway, I’ve bothered you enough, I’ll leave you two alone.”