Temperance's Journal - 18th Granite, 270

I've been keeping on top of things with Case Study and Redhat, who has been recovering well, thankfully.  I was a bit alarmed to find out today that we've completely run out of thread, however, so Case Study couldn't finish stitching Redhat's wounds!

He said it's not a life or death matter, but the wounds won't heal properly until he can stitch them, and until then there's a serious risk of infection.  Which is doubly bad, because we have no soap either!  With all of the construction work going on I've been neglecting to keep up with the hospital stocks, so we're critically short on a few things.  Fortunately the sheep haven't been shorn in a long time, so we can get some spun out of that in short order.  The soap is another matter...

20th Granite, 270

Fortunately, we managed to get some thread from the sheep quickly enough, and Case Study cleaned and stitched up Redhat's hoof for the final time today.  He's still limping around, just like poor Morning Dew after she was wounded, but he'll be alright.  I'm not sure what Praetorian is going to do with him in the meantime though.  He obviously can't work or train like this.

2nd Slate, 270

Today started off with a bit of a scare.  We had two diamond dog thieves show up today.  The first bumbled into Cream Puff as she was bringing some milk into the tavern, at which point it decided to flee rather than steal anything.  Praetorian was the closest this time, and he ran off after it to little avail.  Crosshair took a few potshots at it too, but it was just too fast for either of them, and escaped unharmed.

The second was snooping around the new clothier's shop we put up in the southwest part of town.

He was to be disappointed though, since there was nothing to take.  Instead, he ran into Praetorian on his way back inside, whereupon the stallion ran him off too.  Once again, he chased him off, but the dog was too fast.

I hope wherever they ran back to, they tell their friends to leave us alone.

I'm really, really starting to get nervous about these thieves.  The badger ponies and diamond dogs are one thing, but the discordant pony is something else altogether.  If more of them come... gods help us.  I feel like I should tell everypony what we may be getting ourselves into, but I don't want to start a panic.

I don't know what to do.

14th Slate, 270

The last few days have been a bit more tame, thank the gods.  But, despite that, Morning Dew finally gave birth to her daughter early this morning.

I went by to see them this afternoon, but Case Study turned me away, saying that she wanted some privacy.  I did gather that the unicorn filly's name was Mountain Dew, at least.  I guess I can understand.  The rumors started circling around the settlement a few months ago when it was obvious she was pregnant, but she's not married.

She's been pretty reclusive ever since, spending most of her time with Maize in the fields and not really speaking too much.  After what I've heard of the rumors, I'd probably hide as much as I could too.  Some really nasty things have been said, and I should have put a stop to it before now.  I will as soon as I can though.

I may ask Dr. Serenity to speak with her too, if she's not too busy.  I don't want her feeling too down about this.  I can't say I condone what happened, but this sort of talking behind her back has to stop.

In tenuously related news, she and Maize finished setting up another farm plot.  The fields we had already were barely able to keep up with demand, and another plot should do a lot of good.  I asked Maize about it, and she told me that they're planning on planting okra, pumpkins, strawberries and watermelons in this one.  I can scarcely wait, since I know Cream Puff will do some wonderful things with the fruits, and I can't remember the last time I had fried okra.

Which also reminds me that we had a voluntary apple tree pop up in the northwestern corner of town.  Or, that's what Holly thinks it is anyway.  I'd love to have some apples growing here, so a small orchard would be fantastic.  We'll need more than one tree though.

27th Slate, 270

I knew Heartfelt couldn't have been far behind Morning Dew, as she's been showing for months too.  Unlike Morning Dew, she hasn't really been hiding away, and just dismissed anything anypony said about her.

She didn't turn me away like Morning Dew did, and I managed to get a peek at the pegasus filly she named Spring Showers.  Case Study rightly told me that the two were exhausted though, so I didn't stay long, but both seemed happy and healthy enough.

I'm not sure who was responsible for this foal either, and I don't need to know.  I've been putting a crackdown on the rumor mill around, so there's that we don't have to worry about at least.

Fortunately, Heartfelt and her son Cumulus already had a room picked out, so she will be able to go home and relax properly.

Speaking of the rooms though, there's still a frightening amount of that to do.  We've got maybe half of what we need, although the carpenters are working around the clock.  Even with this many carpenters and Max helping out, it's taking forever!

9th Felsite, 270

I noticed Max has been seeming a bit down lately.  He didn't seem to want to talk about it though, so I respected his wishes and left him alone.  Being mixed in with ponies like this probably does present a lot of challenges I can't really appreciate.  I'm tempted to pawn him off to Dr. Serenity, but I hate to do that every time I see someone upset.  I guess if it continues I'll try talking with him again.

While I was in the tavern I decided I might as well check up on the stocks, and discovered something a bit alarming: we're running pretty low on drink.  The last harvest was all wheat, which can be brewed into beer I think, and I think I may have to allow it.  I'd rather some fruit juice was available, but we do what we must.

I've also been thinking that the huge stack of flax cloth we've got sitting around ought to be put to some use, so I set Patches to work on it.  I'm interested to see what he produces.  If nothing else, it might be useful when the next caravan arrives.

11th Felsite, 270

Today was unexpected, to say the least!

Crosshair and Praetorian organized a blind date for Cream Puff and myself, and dragged the two of us over to the tavern for the little affair.  I'm not really sure what to write about it, other than it was a nice gesture and it was nice to catch up with Cream Puff, but I just don't see anything really coming of it.  She's nice enough and I had a good time, but I just don't think we've really got enough in common for much of a relationship to last between the two of us.  She didn't say it, of course, but I think she feels similarly.  Besides, we both work all day every day, so when would we find the time?

She's good friends with both Crosshair and Praetorian, so I'm sure they set it up on her behalf a lot more than mine.  I guess I feel a bit flattered that they think I'm a good choice for a coltfriend, but it was probably a wasted effort.  If Cream Puff is looking for somepony, I'm not sure a blind date is the best way to go about things.

Still, as I'm sitting here, I can't help but feel a bit lonely myself.  I'm thirty-six years old, and not getting any younger...

Staying busy helps keep my mind off of it at least.  I've got bigger things to work toward than starting a family.  If I keep at it, and keep working hard, it'll pay off one day.

19th Felsite, 270

My worst fears resurfaced today as another discordant mare showed herself this afternoon.

It was Veneer who spotted this one as he was dragging some planks out to the new houses.  Flamberge was the first to respond this time, after she panicked and ran out into the middle of the town.  I unfortunately bore witness to the fight this time, seeing him crush the life from her, stab her through the chest and ultimately behead her with a single swipe of his sword.

I'm not sure whether to be impressed or terrified of him, quite honestly.  I'll just have to make absolutely sure to never, ever make him angry... not that I had any intention to...

In either case, I'm asking all of the soldiers to patrol near the entrance for the next day or two.  I don't want any more sneaking inside...

20th Felsite, 270

I've never been more scared in my life.  I don't even know... I haven't yet processed everything I saw today.

I was out inspecting the aftermath of the last thief who came in through the remaining ramps, when I saw a mass of strange ponies approaching.  Wearing armor and carrying weapons.  I tried to scream for help, but nothing came out but a squeak.  Thank the gods Flamberge saw them too.

He didn't waste a single moment.

They struck first, firing all of their crossbows at him.  He dodged every bolt and let into their leader with his sword, removing most of his legs in a brutal flash of blood and bronze.  I don't think I'll ever unsee that...

He even kept fighting after a bolt struck him in the leg!  It's like he's a stallion possessed when fighting!  Praetorian and Redhat didn't even make it to the fight before he'd slain four of the discordants, and the others were already retreating so fast they couldn't catch them.

I thought the fight was over then, but even more showed up moments later!  Seven armed with warhammers came flying or running down the east hill toward the battle.  Flamberge and Praetorian were the only two there, and Flamberge was beginning to finally slow down from the wound to his leg.

To my utter shock, when they ran into the two and saw what had happened to their comrades, they broke and scattered!  Flamberge chased one down and cut it to pieces, while Praetorian downed another with several jabs to the head with his spear.

It took him a long time to finish one off though, and by then I was seeing so many dead bodies and body parts... it must have been too much.  I... actually passed out and fell down into the trench.  They found me on the way back inside.  I wasn't hurt, thankfully.

I wish I could say the same for the others though.

I had to ask Crosshair about it, since both Flamberge and Praetorian were in the hospital.  She told me that after Praetorian downed the first, a second attacked him from behind.  He didn't see the attack coming, and was knocked out by a hammer blow to the head.  The discordant pony hit him several more times before Redhat took him out himself.

The unicorn was badly wounded, but apparently Case Study thinks the damage isn't permanent.  He has a severe concussion, but in time he should pull through.  I sincerely hope so.

I got a few more details from her, and she said that all told they killed nine attacking discordant ponies.  Flamberge killed an amazing six himself, while Redhat got two and Praetorian killed just that one.  She didn't even make it to the fight, herself, so she must have picked it all up from Redhat.  She was just getting out of bed and getting her equipment by the time the entire horrifically brutal and bloody thing was over.

I feel sick.  Flamberge was wounded and ten discordant ponies were killed over the past two days.  I don't know what to think.  I don't know what to do!  Every time I start thinking about it I go into a mild panic!

They're not going to stop coming... they'll keep coming until we're all dead...

What do I do?

We can't leave... we just can't...

2nd Hematite, 270

The fighting just doesn't stop!  Another diamond dog showed up today, picking through some of the remains of the dead discordant ponies.  Crosshair was still out patrolling the entrance, no doubt anticipating more attacks, and she opened up on him the instant she saw him…

Just one more corpse to add to the piles... gods above, I don't know what's next.

If there is anything good to report, Flamberge has already recovered enough to leave the hospital.  If I didn't know he'd been wounded I wouldn't suspect a thing.  He went back to patrolling the entrance with Crosshair straight away.

I wish Praetorian was up and around already.  Case Study and Convalescence have been watching him, but he's still barely responsive and in and out of consciousness.  I wish there was something I could do to help them...