The sky hung low in its grey, dismal overcast; as it did for many days, it seemed as of late. She couldn't remember the last time she had seen the Sun, and often wondered if it even rose anymore. With the Princesses been gone for so long, time always felt slow, yet fleeting; when day turned to night, nopony knew. Even weather seemed rare, aside from the constant grey clouds that loomed overhead. The only time it rained was when the guards deemed it, and even then, it was usually to wash away bloodstains from the streets, or worse - to sweep away the infected.
Poetry had seen it all.
She had emerged from her cellar with a swift kick of her hind leg, the hood of her cloak tugged up over her mane. She had heard hooves drumming by overhead and intended to find out what was going on. From past experience, it could be one of many things; the Guards hounding infected, either the Feather Pub or Deathwatch gangs on the move, or even - she hoped - survivors skirting in the shadows. Swiftly, silently she trotted along behind the shadows that loomed against the walls as they moved towards the neighboring District of Death. Poe grit her teeth, but she had to know what was going on; with a hardened resolve, she slipped in behind them, obscured by the shadows.
Poe didn't even flinch at the confrontation, too busy jotting down notes with use of her magic to try and intervene with the inevitable execution. She hated it, oh did she hate it, but she had seen this all too often to let it get to her. Not that it didn't; at least not in public, where she had to put on a brave face if she were ever going to inspire other survivors. For every foal, mother and father gunned down in the streets, Poe wrote a poem for them by night, and each one she cherished and carried with her in her heart.
A muffled sigh escaped her when the deed was done, and with a quick look to the sky in an act of silent prayer, she began to step forward. Their sacrifices were never in vain; for every pony killed, information was gathered to spread to others so that they may survive. Normally she would get a closer look at the victims to jot down descriptions but she froze in her steps as a stallion - one, she noted, that had been with the Guard - approached the bodies. Now, this was unusual; Poe quickly stashed her notepad back into her saddlebag and killed her magic, the glow fading from her horn. She pressed herself against a building wall and watched... what was he doing...?
A survivor! Poe grit her teeth and lowered herself, ready to gallop at a moment's notice if the stallion had intentions to finish the job. Not if she could help it. Yet... she froze again, this time in shock, as the colt was lifted by the stallion - who Poe now noted was a Unicorn - and sent to seeming safety. This... went against her notes! The Guards didn't help their victims, at least not the ones she had documented, unless... unless this one was actually pure of heart, such a rare trait nowadays. Straightening herself, Poe stomped a hoof and emerged from her hiding spot.
"By the stars, I have witnessed mercy." Came her somewhat muffled voice, the dim light of their surroundings revealing the bandages wound around her muzzle, a seeming safety precaution to the plague. "But who are you to give it? I thought nopony in the City Guard was capable of it any longer." Poe paused, her head inclining slightly, a suspicious gleam in her eye.