//------------------------------// // Chapter 2:Looking Outwards // Story: Frostpunk // by SkyStrike__ //------------------------------// Entry Log 003 Day 2 in New Canterlot The hunting parties came back this morning, and brought enough with them to feed the city's griffin population for a few days with what food we brought from Canterlot. The group that was put in charge of the hothouse also finished transferring the soil to the steam gardens within; feeding the vegetarian races. With some time I was able to convince Firestrike to give up a percentage of my love that is stored in the crystal of her necklace. It was enough to.... well let's say it was enough and then some. The changelings from Thorax's hive Thoraxian changelings were a little less willing to accept this due to their ideology of give and take. It's nice in theory, but when it's a matter of starvation, there is no moral high ground to stand on. The workshop was also finished overnight. Two of the engineers, Techno Babble and Cool Lagoon have created a rope system capable of tethering a weather balloon up to half a kilometer in the air. That could serve as a beacon to any expeditions into the wastes outside our little crater. I already ordered the tether for the beacon built, as the two engineers prepare the cable and balloon. Things are getting interesting because Site 13 is nearby, and has been inhabited for some time. So beyond gathering the remaining members of our expedition; I wish to make contact with Site 13, and perhaps get assistance from the more well established city that is there. I watched with a growing smile as the beacon balloon rose higher and higher into the sky. As the cable snapped taught we all applauded. "Well done everyone! You should all be proud for we are no longer blind to the world around us." As the others cheered, I felt someone pull me aside. It was a young griffin. She had a rather desperate look on her face. She began talking so fast that I couldn't make out the words she was saying. "Please, calm down." I patted her shoulder with my wing to grab her attention again. After taking a few deep breaths, she managed to calm herself down. "Okay, start from the beginning. What happened to make you this stressed?" She looked at me and said with a hint of urgency and said, "I heard what you said, sir. I was hoping that I could join the main expedition to find the rest of our expedition." She looked away, fidgeting with her lantern strap. "You see, my brother, sister in law, and my nephew are all with them. I was hoping to help bring them back." I was a taken little off guard by this request. One being a large family in this group, and that she would ask me personally instead of trying to sign up. Then again, I how it is to have a family I care for, and how scary it is to not know what's happening to them. So I smiled and gave her my response. "Well, when you put it like that. It'd be completely rude of me to not let you join up. I know how you must feel, and I don't want to put anyone else through that." I look towards the beacon and then out to the edge of the crater. "Just be ready to set out when you're called upon." "Thank you sir! I won't forget this!" She said and rushes back towards a group of tents. I saw her excitedly tell others what I said. There seemed to be a few more smiles among this little city for the rest of the day. Around 5:56 P.M. I sat down to write a new log Hope rises slightly Entry Log 004 Day 2 in New Canterlot It's close to the end of the day now, and we just got word from the scouts that they have spotted smoke coming from the suspected position of the lost convoy. The rest of the writing is obscured by a blotch of spilled ink I spilled the ink on the page when the horn sounded. "Damn it! I detest that blasted fog horn!" I look at the now ruined sheet, "Ugh. Just great." I sigh and levitate a new sheet of paper over, and start from where the blotch started. It seems that my efforts to keep up hope and keep this city from dying has begun to beat fruit. The Thoraxian changelings and Firestrike's Mischunian changelings are starting to warm up to each other. It's my hope that the other races can follow suit, because their shape shifting has been quite useful in the more difficult jobs. Because they take on the properties of the creatures they shift into; they are extremely adaptable to the cold. With this in mind, the Thoraxian changelings actually volunteered to take their tents after everyone else. That's something I respect, and I've already personally thanked them for their kindness. Hope is rising, and we're about to reunite with the rest of our group. They should be at the convoy by the time I write the next entry.