//------------------------------//
// Journal Entry 3 
// Story: Rumour Has It 
// by daOtterGuy 
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Dear Mum,

She didn’t come back this morning. Both Lacey and Dust are still missing, and now Hem is too. 

I knew something was wrong when it turned to midday and I still hadn’t seen her. Went to see Guiding Light at the hospice who immediately got the whole town searching for them. ‘Bout midafternoon, Fine Wine found Hemline’s lantern on the outskirts of town. It was empty and had its glass smashed in with the leftover oil splattered around the rock it was found on. 

The herd nearly went into a blind panic, scared about what might have happened to her or her foals. That something might happen to us. Got even worse when Spit Take suggested that the shadow monster Lacey had spoken about might have done it. Guiding wasn’t having it, but Spit was adamant that something might be out there. I don’t personally disagree with him. We are near the Badlands and it is a dangerous place. 

Things only went further downhill when that rumour-mongering wretch Jam Tart slyly said she’d heard a dang rumour about the shadow monster taking ponies that didn’t have a light on them. Silver Shilling rightfully told her off, saying that she was just stirring the pot again.

Jam played the old victim card and said she was just relating what she had heard. Clove Brew, her partner in crime, added that it would explain the empty lantern. Hem accidentally broke the lantern and spilt the oil out. Got snatched shortly after by the monster. Those vile jerks then cackled to each other. Disgraces, both of them. They never liked Hem and they were just poking the bear because those two loved to cause a mess. 

Course that started a whole hullabaloo with townsfolk either backing up the rumours with some made-up hearsay they had allegedly heard or retorted that those rumours were ridiculous. 

Guiding eventually had to step in and take over. Told the lot of us to go home and that they would all search for Hem and her foals tomorrow. Said that all three of them would probably show up tomorrow morning, and, if they didn’t, he would send a message to the Royal Guard station at Appleloosa while they continued to look. 

Jam, of course, had to get in the last word and snidely told Guiding that she hoped he’d stocked up on candles.

As I got ready to leave, I overheard Guiding ask Silver about some shipment. I couldn’t hear the full thing since Spit ended up interrupting me.  Asked about his hats. Told him they would be done soon (Hem being missing won’t stop her from tearing into me for slacking off when she gets back). ‘Gainst my better judgement, I asked what Spit thought of all these rumours. He was a good friend, but after hearing what he said I wish I’d kept my questions to myself. 

He had gone real quiet before he gave me this look that I couldn’t place. Told me that with Dust and Lacey missing, it had just been a minor tragedy, but with Hem also gone it was nearly assured that things were going to get worse before they got better. He was quiet again for some time before declaring that he was gonna keep a light on that night and that I should too.

As I’m sitting here writing to you mum, I can’t help but look out the window at the pitch blackness of night and feel a little afraid. I normally love the evening, but with everything else happening, I just don’t feel comfortable. The lantern is only half-full right now and I think I’m going to top it off before bed. Just in case. Good night, mum.  


Love, Cross