Iron and Blood: We Dear Sisters

“So, how’s your daughter handling married life?” Iron laughed.

Igneous smirked at the black-colored earth-pony stallion. “She’s doing alright,” He put his lunch pail into his locker. “Still getting used to living alone.” He stared at a picture of his daughters, focusing his gaze on Maud. She was ten when the photo was taken. He smiled at the slight smirk she had as she held the twins’ hands. “They grow up so fast….”

“Yeah, they do.” Iron patted his friend on the shoulder. “My son is already sixteen and is even thinking about proposing to a sweet little filly around his age that goes to our church. “He looked at the same photo Igneous was staring at. “Isn’t Limestone almost of age?”

Igneous stared at Limestone in the picture. “Yeah, but she seems to not be interested in marriage.” He closed his locker and put on his grey hard hat.

“Ah, she’s one of those fillies." Iron shook his head as he followed his coworker to the lift cage. “You better keep an eye on her.”

“We will, but I know she’s not one of those fillies.” He entered the lift with Iron. “She just wants to pursue her career.” The lift cage jerked as it slowly descended to the bottom of the coal mine a mile down.

“What does her mother think?” Iron asked.

Igneous ignited his headlamp. “Ah, you know, she’s supportive but she would like Limestone to start a family one day.”

Iron laughed. “Eager for grandkids, is she?” He placed a hand on Igneous’s shoulder. “She doesn’t need to worry none. Maud will give her some for sure.”

Maud sat at her desk as she looked over the tests that were in front of her. A red colored pencil rested in her hands as she bopped it up and down. Seeing a mistake, she brought it down and made the correction. “Um…” Maud stopped her grading as she looked up and saw her small class of pre-teen students. “Mrs. Flint?”

“Yes, Berry Dew?” Maud turned her eyes back to her papers.

“What do we do if we’re done?”

Several kids groaned in frustration. “You got to be kidding me!” One shouted her despair.

Maud placed her papers down and walked over to Berry Dew and looked down at her drawing and breakdown of the stone she was given. “Good job." She picked up the paper and looked it over. “Since you’re done, go outside with a pad and pencil and describe the topography of the landscape around us.” Berry Dew grabbed her stationeries and ran out of the classroom. Looking at the clock over the door, Maud slowly walked back to her seat. “You got five more minutes before recess.” She told the rest of the class.

The kids mumbled to themselves as they buried their heads in their work.

“Hello?” Cheerilee called out. “You busy?”

Maud looked up and smiled. “No, come in.” She sat down her paperwork. “What do you need?”

“Just seeing how you’re doing?” Cheerilee looked at her small batch of students. “Two weeks as a geology teacher, how does it feel?”

Maud tapped her fingers together as she thought over her friend’s question. “I… I like it. It feels strange being on this side of the classroom though.” She looked at Cheerilee. “Seven months ago, you were teaching me?”

“Well, I hope I did, okay?”

“You did….” Hearing the bell ringing out, the kids dropped their studies and stormed out of the class. Looking at her empty classroom, she sighed. “I hope I’m not boring them?”

“Well, you haven’t been too monotone.” Cheerilee smiled. “Come let’s get some tea.”

Maud nodded as she walked the very short distance to the teacher’s lounge. Which was a small cozy little space made out of birch flooring and walls stained with a copper-toned stain. Taking their seats at a table, Cheerilee passed out their cups. “So, how’s your husband?” Cheerilee asked as she filled their cups with tea.

“Alright, business at the jewelry shop has been going smoothly.” She took the cup and gave it a couple sips. “But it has been slightly slower than usual.”

“Well, I hope it picks up.” Cheerilee sat down across from her. “How are your parents?”

“Alright.” Maud traced the rim of her cup with her finger. “Pa left early for work. Another week of coal mining. Ma is doing fine. She’s got a job writing for the local paper. She wanted something to pass the time and bring in more money. tokes are becoming harder to come by.” She finished her drink and poured herself another cup. “With the war and all.”

Cheerilee nodded, but she stared at her skeptically. “Anything else?”

Maud kept silent, but as the seconds passed, she broke under her former teacher’s overwhelming presence. “Ma has been constantly asking if she’ll be a grandmother?”

“And?” Cheerilee looked down at Maud’s stomach. “Are you pregnant?”

Maud instinctively touched her stomach. “No…” She sighed as she took a large gulp of her tea. “We’ve been trying?” She blushed thinking about all the nights she made love. Just to come out emptyhanded. "I thought I would’ve gotten pregnant a few months before I finished my schooling, but now I'm seventeen and still nothing..."

“Maybe shake it up a bit?” Cheerilee gave her a sly smirk. “The more you do the better the odds will be.” She finished her drink and laughed slyly. “Maybe you should try twice a day. What do you think?” Maud’s cheeks reddened further as she laid her head on the table, covering herself with her arms. She pushed the brim of her bonnet over her eyes as she tried to hide from the world. “Oh, come on now, I’m just teasing you.” Cheerilee rolled her eyes as she watched Maud’s tail swing side to side in frustration. “You’re easy to tease.”

“Thanks…” Maud looked up. “I guess…” Looking out the lounge’s door she caught a glimpse of her twin sisters, and her sister-in-law Ruby and smiled. “Pinkie! Marble!” She waved. “Ruby!”

The trio jumped and turned around. “Hey, sis!” Pinkie cheered as she dragged Marble and Ruby into the teacher’s lounge. “We were looking for you!”

“Pinkie! We’re not allowed in here!” Marble stated bluntly.

“It's okay fillies, I’ll allow it.” Cheerilee hummed as she got up. “I’ll let you be, got to get my class ready for their test.” She looked back at the twins and Ruby. “And your better be ready for it.” She playfully frowned at them as she slipped out of the room.

“We will!” Pinkie yelled. Seeing her teacher out of sight she sighed dramatically. “This test is going to suck!”

“Oh hush,” Maud playfully poked her sister’s snout. “You’ll do just fine.” She poked Marble’s snout. “How’re your studies going?” She does the same to Ruby.

“Going alright.” Marble hummed softly.

“But?” Maud could see her twin sisters had something on their minds.

“We just miss you, is all.” Pinkie sighed. “Ruby gets to see you more now!”

“Not for long, I heard them talk about moving to an apartment closer to downtown.” Ruby crossed her arms.

“You are?” Pinkie and Marble tilted their heads.

“It’s not for sure just yet... But if we want to start a family, we’re going to need our own place.” Maud calmed her sisters’ woes, but at the mention of family, her sister’s eyes lit up.

“Are you pregnant?” Pinkie cheered. “Am I going to be an auntie?” She jumped up n’ down. Marble however didn’t jump, but she had the same level of excitement as she tapped her fisted hands together. Ruby’s tail wagged aggressively as her eyes looked to just about pop out from their sockets.

Maud shook her head. “No, not at this moment.” Pinkie’s, Marble’s, and Ruby’s moods deflated. “Don’t you three worry, you’ll be aunties one day.” She gave them a hum and a nod. Looking out the door she sighed. “Let’s go see where Limestone is?”

“Um…" Pinkie gave her sisters a sheepish smile. “She’s not here…”

Maud raised her brow. “What do you mean?”

“She ditched school to go to the soda shop.” Marble stated bluntly.

Maud’s lips went flat as she thought about Limestone. ‘What’s gotten into her lately?’

“I don’t know what to do!” Limestone sighed as she ran her index finger across the condensation-covered surface of her malt glass. I don’t want to get married!” She chugged her drink. "But Ma keeps telling me I'm of age and it's time to keep your eyes out for the one!"

Sandy stared at the teenage filly with a raised brow. “Have you told them the truth?” She cleaned a glass as she spoke. “Or tip-hoof around it?”

Limestone grumbled as she placed her head in her hands. “Tip-hoofed.” She pulled down the brim of her bonnet. She resorted to sucking on her straw as Sandy’s judging eyes dug into her. “What?” She dully asked with a tone of frustration.

“We had this conversation before, we mares and stallions are expected to marry, for the good of our nation.” Sandy picked up another glass to clean. “It’s a patriotic thing to do.”

Limestone sighed as she lifted her head and crossed her arms on the bar countertop. “I know… Miss Cheerilee is not married."

“That’s true, but we know what kind of mare she is." Sandy sighed

"Is is wrong to be different?" Limestone tilted her head.

"No..." Sandy placed her hands on the bar's countertop. "Is there any colt you like?” Sandy took Limestone’s empty glass and refilled it with a mint chocolate chip malt.

“No…” Limestone sighed.

“Has any colts come up to you?” Sandy poured herself a ginger soda. “Any from church?”

“Yes…” Limestone felt her cheeks get hot. “But I panicked and ran away from him once…” She buried her face in her arms. “I embarrassed myself.”

Sandy sighed as she patted Limestone on the head. “I’m sure you’ll figure it out.” She took a couple of sips of her drink. “You just got to convince your parents that you want to pursue what you’re interested in.” She placed a hand under Limestone’s chin and lifted her head. “Heck, if Cheerilee can do it then I’m sure you can.” Limestone smiled as she lifted her head and picked up her drink, giving Sandy a toast. “Besides don’t fret about the little stuff, there are more pressing things to worry about.”

“Like what?”

“Oh like when do you plan on paying your tab?” Sandy smiled. Limestone stared blankly at her for a short second, but she quickly regained focus and gave her a sheepish smile. Taking the smile as her answer, Sandy gave her a sly smirk as she handed her a rag and a dirty cup. Limestone stared at the items. As the realization dawned on her she groaned as she grabbed the rag and got to cleaning with a groan.

Obsidian stood on his second-story porch with his friends as they smoked their cigars. Obsidian let off a pleased hum as he looked out over the town. It was a busy day on this partially cloudy morning. The air was warm as the sky sat at high noon. Taking in the crisp air that came from the snow-covered peaks of the Yellow Tail mountains. He smiled as he plopped his cigar in his mouth.

“So how are you enjoying married life?” Jasper asked as he shuffled a pack of playing cards.

Obsidian stepped away from the railing and sat down at the table. “Going great.” He took a small sip of his beer. “Still can’t believe I married the mare of my dreams.”

“I can’t believe you two married, I guess opposites do attract.” Chester laughed as he took serval puffs of his cigar.

“Well Chester, you’re the next one to get married.” Jasper laughed as he handed out five cards for each of them.

“Yeah, yeah…” He sighed. “Let me enjoy the single life you married stallions.” He downed his beer bottle. “I still need to try the merchandise.”

“Mares are more than just that.” Obsidian finished his drink.

“Yeah, that’s what God tells us.” Chester grabbed himself another beer bottle, but instead of opening it, he stared at the labeling. “Can’t believe I’m going off to war in two weeks.”

“I still don’t know how you joined.” Jasper shook his head. “You have no kids.”

“My younger brother does.” Chester bit his lower lip. “My nephew is one year old, and I’m not going to let that little colt lose his dad to a stupid war.” He smiled. “Fudged my paperwork.” He took a sip of his drink. “Seems like the army’s not really paying attention, makes you wonder why?”

“Maybe because we’re fighting a three-front war,” Obsidian stated. “Bat-ponies to the north. Pegasi to the west from the sea. And unicorns from the south.”

“How long will the earth pony nations hold out?” Jasper asked a rhetorical question. “Who knows…” He placed two cards down and drew two more. “At least our ‘tiny’ town is safe within the mountains.” Obsidian and Chester nodded as they dropped and drew their own sets of cards.

As Obsidian was skimming over his cards something blocked the sun, casting them in shadow for a brief second. He didn’t know why it bothered him, it could’ve been just clouds rolling on by, but he had a feeling… Turning around he looked up at the sky. He had to cover his eyes from the sun, but as he did, he saw an airship. From the looks of it, smoke was billowing from one of its engines.

“Is that one of our own?” Jasper asked as he watched the airship struggling to turn right toward the mountains.

“Looks like it's heading towards the mines?” Chester raised his brow.

“Makes sense, there is a large field over there…” Obsidian saw a puff of white smoke shoot out from the right side of the gondola. Before he could make sense of it, a large plume of smoke and fire erupted from downtown.

Maud walked with her sisters as they headed back to her classroom. Three minutes were left for recess and a stroll together before classes resumed was a pleasant distraction. Spending time with her sisters, reminded her how much she missed living with her family. The comfort it brought on days when she was stressed out, was a type of calm like no other, even if her sisters were in a teasing mood most of the time… It was still better than the outside world… But now, she had only herself and her husband. A married life for her. ‘Will I ever get used to it?’ She looked down at her twin sisters and Ruby.

The building shook violently causing them to lose their balance. Catching herself, Maud’s ears picked up the sound of a distant bassy rumble. “What was that?” Pinkie asked her voice shaking as she got onto her hooves helping her sister and Ruby from the floor.

“I’m not sure?” Maud got her bearings. Hearing hoof steps down the hall, she looked over her shoulder and saw the Principal Mr. Zinc, Cheerilee, and Dolly running toward them. “Did you see what caused that?”

“No?” Mr. Zinc stated. “It could be the coal mines. It sounded like it came from that direction.” He ran toward the front of the schoolhouse.

“Mines?” Pinkie started to shiver. “Pa?”

Maud looked down at her sisters and held their hands. “I’m sure he’s fine, let's go see what that was.” She guided her sisters to follow as they exited the school and out onto the front courtyard.

Maud, Cheerilee, Zinc, Dolly, Pinkie, Marble, and Ruby looked across the horizon of their town and spotted a plume of smoke from downtown Ashmore three hundred yards from their current location. “Something happened.” Zinc sighed.

“But what?” Dolly pondered.

“Could it be that?” Pinkie asked as she pointed at the sky.

They all looked where she was pointing and saw an airship floating four-hundred feet above them, quite low for a blimp of that size. But it was close enough to see that it was clearly damaged, one of the engines billowed with black smoke. It also had a portside list. “Looks like it's damaged?” Marble mumbled.

“Is it one of ours?” Dolly asked.

Zinc stared at the envelope and peered through the smoke. Making out a symbol, his spine shivered. “Oh, crap!”

Before he could elaborate an array of white puffs of smoke spewed from the sides of the airship’s gondola. They watched large grey-colored cones fly through the air. Soon horrid whistling sounds graced their eardrums. Then a cascade of violent thunderous claps and earthy roars as fireballs erupted across the town. The earth shook, forcing them to keep their balance.

Hearing screams, they looked to their right and saw ponies running from a massive fire that engulfed a block of three-story shops and homes. Several ponies poured out from the inferno covered in soot and bits of debris. Some bled from their ears and or snouts. Others however were unlucky as they collapsed to the ground, their wounds overwhelming them.

The crack of shots ringing out across the sky tore their gaze from the dead. They looked up at the airship and saw several more puffs of white smoke. Tightening her grip on her sister’s hands, Maud turned around and ran toward the schoolhouse. “RUN!” She yelled.

Cheerilee picked up Ruby as they and the others around the school’s front courtyard ran into the building. “Where are we going!” Pinkie screamed as tears blurred her vision. Her mind trying to comprehend what was going on.

“To the basement!” Maud shouted.

“Is it safe?” Ruby cried as she tightened her grip around Cheerilee’s neck.

“It is.” Cheerilee cooed. “It was designed to withstand earthquakes.”

“You head to the shelter! I’ll gather the rest of the staff and the children!” Zinc stated. “Dolly, I need your help!” He turned around and headed toward the playground with Dolly.

Cheerilee, Ruby, Maud, Pinkie, and Marble ran down the hall toward the doors to the basement. Throwing open the doors, Maud ushered her sisters into the cellar seeing them head to the back wall, Maud looked over her shoulder and saw other ponies and the schoolchildren running toward her. “Hurry before more bombs come!”

Ponies rushed down the stairs and piled into the basement. Several more explosions shook the schoolhouse, causing light fixtures to swing about wildly. Bits of plaster fell from the ceiling and crashed onto the hardwood flooring with dull thuds. “Hurry!” Maud yelled, ushering the last of the ponies in. Seeing no more souls, Maud and Cheerilee shut the doors.

Maud kept her eyes on the concrete floor of the basement. Her mind was numb with countless thoughts on why and how, what happened, happened. Hearing soft crying, she looked down at her twin sisters and Ruby who leaned against her. Maud wondered what they were thinking, what their minds made of the situation at hand. She pulled them into a tighter embrace, humming a melody their mother sang when she was four years old.

Cheerilee sighed as she fidgeted with her fingers. Her eyes trembled as she took heavy shaky breaths. “Do… Do you think it's over?” She looked over at Maud.

Maud kept her eyes on her sisters as she replied. “I think so…”

“It’s been over an hour?” A colt huffs.

“I haven’t heard any more explosions.” A teacher replied.

“It’s hot in here!” A filly cried.

“I can’t breathe!”

“I want to leave!”

“You want to die?”

“I want my Ma!”

Hearing the children beginning to express their woes, Cheerilee and Zinc stood up and walked up the stairs.

“Be careful!” Dolly replied.

“We will.” Cheerilee nodded as they grabbed the doors’ handles. They slowly eased the doors open and peered out. The hall was bathed in a thick cloud of dust. Plaster coated the hardwood flooring. Some of the lights still hung from their chains while others were on the floor, shattered in a million pieces. Hearing the distant wails and cries for help, Cheerilee pushed the doors open and ushered the others to follow. “Come out, we need to help the wounded!”

As Maud stepped out of the schoolhouse, she walked in the middle of the road that led to Ashmore’s main street. Ruby, Marble, and Pinkie held each other’s hands as they followed Maud. Cheerilee walked behind them as she eyed the destruction all around them.

Many humble western false front homes lay in absolute despair. Some were still burning mighty hot. Black smoke wafted into the air creating an eerie apocalyptic atmosphere. The cries of earth ponies echoed out as many abled bodies rushed to their aid.

Hearing sobbing behind her, Maud looked over her shoulders at her sisters. She saw the tears that hung around their eyes. “Take deep breaths.” She cooed as she knelt down. “You need to stay calm.” She told them and for herself.

Pinkie stared at her sister. Her eyes were on the verge of bursting. “Why would somepony do this?”

“I don’t know,” Maud ran her fingers across her sister’s cheeks. “Someponies just hate others.” She cupped her sister’s cheeks. “Stay strong, I need you to stay strong!”

Pinkie fought her emotions as she wiped away her tears. She sucked in the phlegm that was forming in her throat and grabbed onto Maud’s left hand as they continued down the road until they made it onto Ashmore’s main street. Looking down the road they saw that it was littered with rubble. A dead body of a mare lay on the side of the road a few feet from them. Blood oozed from her cracked skull. Pinkie stared at the dead body. Her eyes trembled. She couldn’t stop staring at the mare’s hollowed eyes.

Marble and Ruby broke out into tears and held on to Maud for dear life. Maud knelt down and held them tight as she kept her gaze on the mare’s corpse. “Dear, Lord…” Cheerilee shivered.

“MAUD! RUBY!” A voice called out with great force. “PINKIE, MARBLE!”

Maud looked up and saw her mother, Obsidian, his friends, and his parents walking down the street toward them. “WE’RE HERE!” Maud shouted as she stood up running with her sisters and Cheerilee.

Obsidian smiled as he ran full tilt to his wife and sister. He wrapped his arms around them and smiled “Thank God!”

Cloudy Quartz grabbed her twin daughters and held them tight as she wandered over to Maud. “Thank goodness, your alive!”

“Same to you!” Maud smiled. “Did the bombs hit anywhere near our home?

“No…” Her mother sighed as she kissed her forehead.

“The airship only attacked downtown and the surrounding areas,” Onyx stated. “Then it aimed its artillery at the coal mines.”

Maud, Pinkie, and Marble felt their spines shiver. “Then what?” Maud’s voice cracked a little.

“It crashed itself into the mining complex itself.” Onyx sighed as he leaned against a parked putter wagon. “The mines are too far to see what exactly got hit.” He saw the fear swelling in their eyes. “I'm praying for the best, but… I…”

“They bombed the hell out of it,” Jasper stated bluntly.

“Who?” Cheerilee asked.

“Unicorpian airship, what else!” Chester spat. “Those fuckers!”

“Language!” Cloudy Quartz glared at the young stallion. “This anger will not help us!” She ran her fingers through the twin’s manes. “We have our responsibilities. We need to look for Limestone and help the town look for survivors.”

“But what about Pa!” Pinkie sobbed as she frantically clung to her mother.

“The mines are too far sweetie… Others will find him.” Cloudy Quartz held her daughter’s head in her hands. “We do our part here.” She kissed her and stood up. “Let’s get to it!”

Limestone opened her eyes. Her mind was groggy as she lifted her head and looked around her. Her vision was blurry, but she could see she lay on the road. “She’s awake!” Hearing a voice above her she tilted her head back and saw a stallion over her. “Are you okay?”

Limestone stared at the stallion with a raised brow. “Yes?” She tried to stand up. Her body felt sore, but she fought through it and managed to sit on her rump. Feeling warm liquid running slowly down her face, she put a hand to her brow then brought it away to see crimson staining her fingers. “What?”

“Hold still little one.” The stallion took off her tattered bonnet and wrapped her head in gauze. “It’s just a large cut along your forehead.”

Limestone hissed as the stallion worked. Shivering from her adrenaline leaving, she finally looked around and saw the destruction all around her. It looked like a tornado rolled through town. Half of the buildings were standing erect untouched with minor tarnish while others lay flat looking like a pile of toothpicks.

Limestone shivered as she laid eyes on the soda shop in front of her, or what was left of it. She stared at the burning inferno. A headache formed as she remembered what happened. “She was leaving the soda shop and heading back to school when she heard the explosions. When she saw the airship raining down its fury onto the town, she panicked and ran to the soda shop to alert Sandy, but before she could get to her shop a shockwave from a nearby explosion knocked her to the ground.

With her eyes trembling, she shot up and ran to the inferno. “Sandy!”

The stallion managed to grab her left wrist and pulled her in, holding her tight. “The building’s on fire filly!”

Limestone hissed as she tried to break the stallion’s hold. “Let me go!” She growled her sobs. “SANDY!”

“She’s gone little one.” The stallion rested his chin on her head. “She gone.” He cooed. Limestone growled as she let her emotions take hold.

“LIMESTONE!”

Hearing her mother’s voice, Limestone shot her head up and saw her mother, her sisters, Obsidian, his friends, and his sister and parents jogging down the street toward her. “MA!” The stallion let go of her allowing her to run. Limestone greedily grabbed onto her mother, her arms wrapping around her waist. “MA!” She sobbed. Her twin sisters hugged her as they tried their best to comfort their older sister.

Cloudy Quartz bent down and kissed her. “I’m here sweetie.” She looked at the bandage. “Are you alright?”

Limestone shakily broke her embrace and gave her mother a nod. Seeing her eldest sister, she walked up to her and hugged her. “I’m glad you’re all okay.”

“Same.” Maud smiled.

“Who attacked us?” Limestone looked up at her sister.

“We’re not sure for certain, but it looked like an Unicorpian airship.” Maud felt her throat tighten up and she slowly stroked her sister’s cheek. “But the airship’s gone, it blew up.”

“How?” Limestone felt an unnerving feeling overwhelming her.

Maud let out a long sigh. “It crashed into the mining complex.”

Limestone's mind shattered, she felt numb. Her body began to shake uncontrollably. “Is Pa, okay?” She looked at her mother. “Is Pa okay?” She started crying. “Is Pa here!”

Her mother pulled her into an embrace. “Hush now child!” She cooed harshly. “You must be strong. Your father would be disappointed right now, he raised you better!” She tightened her grip as she tried to hide her own emotions. “You must be strong!” Pinkie and Marble joined their mother and hugged their sister once again trying their best to comfort her.

Obsidian placed his hands on his wife’s shoulders. “Maud… I’m sorry?”

Maud turned around and rested her forehead on his chest. “We don’t know for sure…”

“Hope for the best.” Obsidian sighed and he wrapped his arms around her.

“Where do we start?” Jasper sighed as he looked at the destruction around them.

“Pick a spot I guess,” Onyx replied. But before they could start they heard the distinctive sounds of putter-wagon wheels tearing through gravel down the street. Looking over their shoulders they saw a squad of Earthen soldiers running up to them.

“Citizen of Ashmore!” One of the soldiers yelled out. “I’m Staff Sargent Willow of the sixty-fifth battalion.”

“Where the hell were you!” A mare in the crowd growled.

“How did a Unicorpian airship get this far past the front lines!” An elderly stallion grumbled.

“The front lines are hectic at the moment!” The staff Sargent sighed. “We couldn’t spare any of our airships so we’ve been chasing it on hoof, and taking shots at it when we could.” He looked at the destruction around him. “We weren’t fast enough.”

“Like hell you were!” A mare spat as she walked up to them with her son in her arms. “Look at what they did to my baby colt!”

The staff Sargent stared at the corpse of the three-year-old colt. “Ma’am.” He placed a hand on her shoulder. “We’re doing the best we can with what little we have.” He looked at the crowd. “We know you lost so much. Hell, our republic has lost so much already, but now we must ask you to help us.”

“How?” Chester asked as he stepped up to the stallion.

“Any able body will remain here. Everyone else will be evacuated to the city of Willow Brook ten miles north.”

“What about the mines!” Maud asked.

The Staff Sargent looked toward the mountains and saw the distant plume of smoke. “We’ll send a squad up there, but right now our priority is this town.”