//------------------------------//
// Day 23— 
// Story: Her Eyes Reflect The Stars 
// by Lynwood 
//------------------------------//

Day 23—

The Guard stopped telling us to leave today. Up until now, they had been urging everypony to get out of the city and to evacuate north. Or west. Or anywhere that isn't here. It wasn't more convincing than the massive walls they've been building around the city, though— at least, Steady didn't think so. He's been insisting that the city is the safest place we can be, and I think he's right. I guess the princess agreed with him because I didn't see any guardspony criers on the corners on the way to work this morning. I hope that means we don't have to leave, and not that we can't leave anymore.

There are thousands of guards in the air and on the streets every day. I've never felt so safe and scared at the same time. On one hoof, I can't imagine so many guards being overcome by any monster. The only way we could be safer is if the princess herself were here. On the other, I know that there wouldn't be so many guards here if they didn't have a good reason. Are they handling whatever's going on in the south, or are they preparing for something? What's got them so scared? 

On top of that, we have a money problem. We brought all our savings from home, and with the jobs we've been making it last as long as we can, but the prices of everything in the city goes up every day. I thought about the math as I worked today. If the prices keep going up, we'll only be able to afford food for another week, maybe a day less if things get worse faster. I know it's bothering Steady because he tosses and turns in his sleep the same way I do. I don't know what we're going to do when we can't eat. We talked with mother, and we agreed to start eating a little less. Maybe we can get an extra day or two of food for Symphony. 

The worst of it all, though, is what I saw on my way home today. The streets are bustling almost all the time now, but while I was walking I heard louder shouting than usual. There was this crowd of ponies across the street, all surrounding a tall mare on the sidewalk. They were shouting and screaming, and the mare was crying. She kept saying "No, I was born like this! I was born like this!" but that didn't stop the crowd. They kept shouting that she was sick and dangerous. There was so much shouting, and then the crowd surged forward and I saw her get pulled down and

And that was that, I guess.

It feels like the city is about to boil over. Ponies are so scared they'll stomp a mare to death in the streets. There's the rumor of the disease but nopony knows how to tell if you're sick. I can't remember the last time I saw a pony smile. I can't remember the last time Symphony smiled.

We should have left the city while we had the chance.


—Silk Stream