So many other questions they've yet to ask. Did the sharmen eat all of the former colony? I said aye. But I pray to the Gods that they'll not turn on one another first..

Why didn't they ask me why some of the foliage is crisp, turning brown at the edges. Or "Lord Pryce, does it rain often?"

No it doesn't..and we're nearing the danger point of last time, when the fruit trees went barren, when the fish washed ashore dead, and there was not enough food for all.

That was one of the reasons we fed the sharks, and got rid of our unfit. So our upstanding citizens could be nourished on slim rations. And occasionally we banded together and ate a shark. They seem to still have much bounty, what with what they import and natural resource, but it won't last forever, especially in the gluttonous manner I see some of them partaking in. And food fights? How could they be so wasteful..

::His head throbs:: I can't very well tell them that within a few months, cannibalism might be an option. I told them enough. Perhaps it's time to give into time, to lay my head on my pillow and not wake up. I do not guide the new colony, I only give them awful, life-threatening news..

..what have I done, why did I just not turn young Axalon away when he first found my Isle, and tell him that there was more than met his wide, amazed eyes..

::Pushing his broth aside, he falls back into his depression and sleeps, restlessly::

--Journal Entry 1 July, Lord Merrick Pryce.

::Sits at home in my bedroom after the fright Alterio gave me::

Many things have Happened lately....I was trying to get good and drunk lasst eve for my b-day...::looks at the lovely flowers Vix and Alterio sent me:: And then some man comes in and is very truly a bore...I merely asked him why he wished not to be called sir...and since he didnt like sir I sugguested bastard...he slapped me. The Gall of that man, and on my birthday....I bested him in the arena and that is all that matters.

Now Today was a different story...I walk into the tavern and hear about Alterio building this damn wall to chain the women who displease him to...I knew I would be one of the first since I never lsiten to the man. I somehow got him tied up and next thing I knew he has lost his mind...he thought I was this woman whom I gather harmed him some time before....I never knew this about the man and what it would do to his sanity. I guess settlers know each other not as well as we would like.

Now there is dan and then there is Torlin.....Torlin and I have a called a truce which is a good thing though he did say Dan was not worth much except for cannon fodder.Dan is so much more than that but I will never get the elf to understand.::smiles to herself thinking of dan:: He , Dan has gotten much better lately at showing his feelings...but by leashing jasmin...I felt as if I knew him naught. He doesnt understand my upset and mayhaps he never will. All things belong free even slaves and to place limits on their movements just pushed me past my limits.

Jas is a joy to have around but there are some things I can not abide and she says Dan is a fair master but this I could not handle.

::looks hopeful:: I only wish ALterio will remember who I am and then forgive me for the insult I gave him by tying him up. I did not wish for him to lose his mind...he scared me and I aqm not one to scare easily. He frightens me and I shall keep my doors locked.

::sighs and closes the book and hugs her giant teddy bear for comfort::

--Journal entry 1 July, Magdelennya

::picks up his quill and starts to write in his journal:

well it seems vixen is happy with Alterio again, I guess I was just a way to get to him, and there was nothing between us after all. Well it was fun while it lasted..she was a pleasure to bed, but I guess it's back to the town of loneliness for me. I should have known better, well we are still friends. Me and Jane have made a truce, even though I made it hard for her just to see how important her reputation was to her, but in the end she got what she wanted I even agreed to make it look like Treyman was the one who started the evil rumors. Of course I made her give me a kiss just to be spiteful to seal the deal. So now I am going to have to bribe a few people at the paper to make it look like Treyman did everything and as for the health department that's easy enough I will just pay that elf healer to tell them it was Treyman that threatened him and then paid him to lie. There really is a Imp Cooties disease though. So where is my life heading now that is the true question .... and I have no answer as of now.

:: he drops the quill and runs to catch an escaping dragon leaving the journal open::

--Journal entry 1 July, Nun Tu Brite

::sighs as she begins writing::

Well this eve I was reminded why I was quiet and reserved when I first got here. I suppose you could say I was put in my place...

So then I talked over what was said and such to Claude. I think things are ok between us now. He was one of the first I met on this Isle I never thought our friendship would just melt away like it did.. Then after our talk he asked for me to join him for dinner one night...I was shocked. I mean...wow...didn't him and Rowsy just break up? Ah just a dinner amongst friends. No worries right?

It has been quiet lately around the Pleasuredome...very quiet.... Almost like the Isle became deserted.

I haven't been up to much really, writing, playing for the patrons at the Pleasuredome...things of that nature...I hope that they enjoy my playing... Ah If they didnt like it I am sure they would have broken my lute by now ::laughs a bit::

Ah well time for me to get back to my usual routine as sweet friendly lina!

Good night!

~Journal entry 1 July, Lina

~sets down at her desk in the bakery. waiting for the dough to rise. she thinks about the night before, and how happy she should have been, at Black's retuen home. but closes her eyes to the images, of what occured instead. she pulls her journal out of her bag, opening it to the next blank page. she dips her quill, then begins to write~

Dear Journal,

Ben returned home last night. And I was so ~very~ happy to see him. I missed him ~terribly~ while he was gone. I know it was only a week. But that week seemed like forever to me. I did not think it would ever end.

Then .... things went wrong. Terribly wrong. What to him was joking, to me, hurt my heart.

First he accused me of messing around on him, while he was gone. And he says he was joking. But to me, that is not joking. Even in jest, to kid over something like that. He should ~know~ how much I love him.

~pauses, looking up as the bell rings above the door. she rises, setting down her quill ,, just as customer steps in. she smiles softly as she slips the gloves on her hands. then moves to fill their order. thanking them, as she bids them a farewell and safe day. then returns back to her journal. removing her gloves. and picking up the quill, beginning again~

Even in jest Ben should know, I would ~never~ do anything like that. Then he asked Sethin, if I was with someone while he was gone. After he accused me of having Sethin at his Villa. And Sethin ~sighs~ Sethin tells Ben, that I was with Dan as well. So that just egged him on more. Plus causing Miss Mags to have distrust in myself ~and~ dan. Then when he sees I am getting upset. And make a comment about speaking to Alterio on this matter. He gets all pissy with me.

He even went so far as to say Mags, Lina, Lyrias, Vixen and Tiger .. were his sexhounds. Oh and I was one too. But he ~had~ to get engaged with me. But yet, I am supposed to smile at all of this.

Then Mags comes in. And she tells me. That when Ben came off the boat. He did not come home to see me. He instead goes to the 'dome, asking Mags to have sex with him.

But yet, I am ~still~ supposed to ~not~ be upset about all of this.

Especially after he all but implied I was a whore. Telling Sethin about our love life. Basically making it sound like I just ~wanted~ him all the time. Could not get enough of him. That I would not leave him alone.

Then even went as far as to tell Sethin, ~where~ we did make love our first time.

To me that is not funny. To me that makes me look cheap and dirty. I am not cheap and dirty. I am a lady.

My mother worked hard at teaching me the proper etiquette of being a lady. And so did my brothers.

~Especially~ Alterio.

To me, if you love someone as much as he ~claims~ to love me. Then he would not be telling this like that. Things to make me look cheap. Things that were ~supposed~ to be special between the two of us.

I am beginning to wonder if he truly ~does~ love me. Tiger was right. When I was with Alex, Ben never let me forget he loved me. Now, well now he treats me like animal poo on his feet. I wonder sometimes if I should just give up.

I do not know what to do. I love Ben very much. And have since the first time we spoke. I do not want to lose him again. But yet, I can not allow him to continue treating me this manner, either.

Last night got so far out of hand, that I left hooked him. Breaking his nose. And messing up his lip from the engagement ring he gave me. And that is not right. Maybe we should back away from each other.

I suggested that last night. But he said he loves me. He needs me. And would forgive anything I do. Because he does not want to lose me. Well to me, that is wrong.

~pauses, sighing as she re-dips her quill~

I thought about speaking to Alterio about this. But I am sure he will tell me to grin and bear it. But somehting has to be done. I am just not sure what.

Maybe Ben and I were never meant to be.

~closes her eyes, rubbing her temples. then begins to write again~

I do not want to believe that. But I do not know what else to believe. Just like the thoughts of Ben wanting to be with me, so he could stay in good graces with my brother. I pray to the Gods, that ~that~ is not true.

~stops writing, leaving the journal open. as she rises and tends to another customer~

--Journal Entry 2 July, Alianna Carazzi