Cloven Hooves

It has been a month now. My eye is still sore. It pains me to know that there are those, younger than me, who endure this torture only to die from shock, if not the loss of blood. Four Bane and Marrien have been so kind to every one who arrives on the island. I've been tasked to write down the inhabitants that live on the island.

There are now a total of 13 new members on the island. Savor Meer, wanted to know if the water is fresh. As a buffalo they may need it more than I do. I can live with just a little of the greens that cultivates around here. Marrien is also beginning to find wild vegetables the island produces. Just today he is starting to build a place that can help with growing more fruits and vegetables in the next coming years. Who knows how long we will be here. Best be prepared before anything happens.

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Adler came to me today. He carried a book with him. Says it's his sister's. He wants me to have it. I think he wants to still believe that his sister is still alive. I don't blame him. I'm just surprise he came to me. I will just, read it, if it makes him feel any happier.
...
This book is a grimoire...

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A year has passed. More members are arriving the island that we are now housing 27 hooves. Actually, make that 29. Two new, young members have been born in the last months. I don't think Four Bane likes it but, what can you do? Love is still blooming even after all this, crisis. I still don't know why the, ponies, are wanting those who can conjure magic. What are they planning? If anything, magic, is the reason why they do this. And it is the core reason that, they, need something.

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This disgusts me! What are they doing? Why are they doing this? Members are arriving the island with their horns cut off! Why must they cut them off? The caskets are just stained with blood!

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It has been 3 years. 67 hooves... and counting. The numbers are slowing. That is good, in some way. The living conditions have improved from huts, to suitable houses. They are not up to standard but, what can we do? We are all not carpenters. We do not know how to build homes. I should not argue, as I like being alone. Although Marrien wants me to come live near the village, I simply want to live in peace. That is how I like it. That is what makes me happy. Alone. Where I can think. It's, what makes me happy...

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I've always wanted to know how magic works. I've no horns to conjure any magic, but, according to Sey'lie, a zebra who also studies magic, our minds are what help produces the energy we need to conjure magic. She says that there are three types of magic known to the cloven hooves.
-The first type is the verbal use of magic. The vibration of the tongue, changing the tone of the voice, to change the very air around the user to conjure magic.
-The second is alchemy. Although, quite dark for me, it is Sey'lie's choice in magic. Creating tonics and potions through the use of mixing nature to create spells.
-And the third, is apparently, telepathy. Magic, for those with horns, use to weave spells and conjure a storm if need be. It is the strongest of the three types of magic.
Sey'lie says that I would not need a horn to conjure magic. Instead, I can focus on my trauma to create the spells all by just remembering what I've went through. It's scary to think that she knows all this, however, she says that she cannot do it as her bloodline does not have any horned ancestors. I thought rhinoceros' were related to the zebras of the west. Sad to say, I'm relieved that she can not conjure magic "telepathically."

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5 Years. It has been five, long years. I do not like seeing those arriving with bloodied horns. Although new members are arriving at a slow pace. I should have been used to it by now... Maybe I'm just queasy... No. That may not be it...

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I have not been able to produce magic in my entire life. I've always envied those with horns, especially of the males. Unicorns have both genders using magic. I hate that I can't conjure any magic. I've been practicing for 2 years and nothing is conjuring! Why can't I do it? I've been thinking of the pain. I've been thinking of, my pain! My mother. My father...

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I've a headache for a while now. Four Bane visited me and asked if I needed anything. I told him I am fine. He looked worried. I've never seen him like that. Maybe all this is slowly getting to him too. He puts on a stoic attitude that I don't know what he is feeling.
I hate when they do that.
Just tell me what is wrong, damnit! I hate having to guess!

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8 Years have past. 3 years since the capitol sent anything. I'm beginning to worry that maybe we are all that is left. 87 hooves... 6 young included.

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Adler came to see me again. He has been visiting me ever since he gave me the book, but, it feels different now. He has been visiting frequently and has an impatient attitude with him. I told him if everything is alright and all he ever says is that his sister was once a quite remarkable doe. She could do this. She could do that. And even conjure magic. I know I should be amazed by his sister, but, having to know how magic works, she must have gone through so much trauma to conjure any magic, especially at a young age.
I may not know, but I think I don't want to know either. I feel better not wanting to think about it at all...

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15 Years. The older members are becoming feeble and we don't have a single clue as to where to make a burial site. The island is huge, but, it is also small. I hate having to think about it, but it's what I need to for now. I have never thought about this being brought up until now. To make things easier, we are at 94 hooves. 11 Young. 65 Healthy. 18 Old.

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...My head aches so bad...

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Adler came by today. Boy... What a day. All I can say is that I did it!

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My head aches were a sign that I had little antlers growing. I guess from the use of mentally training, and straining, my mind began to awaken. I was able to levitate, something, for the first time. Within 2 months of levitating magic became easier. My horns were growing.
It all started when Adler began to exercise my mind with me. He started a regime with me and began with us waking up early in the morning. I would had to concentrate on a single object. He wouldn't let me take a break for an hour. Even when we were done, he would spout nonsense about how things never will work with me being useless. Maybe it was his way of making me stress. Good work, Adler. Although, in return, I almost broke one of his hooves. I have had enough of his yelling that my mind hurt and magic came out of no where. I lifted him off the ground and flung him to a tree. I thought I'd killed him. He only laughed as I got closer. He had me scared.

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23 Years. 7 of the 18 elders have passed on. 6 more hooves were born. 65 healthy. 91 hooves altogether. We may be dying out as of now. Here on the island. Cloven hooves...