The snow swirled around us. I could hardly see two feet in front of me. The lantern we had brought was so dim…I was sure we were going to die…

Then suddenly I had an idea. I formed a bright fire orb in my hand. It burned despite the snow, and I was able to see a little better.

We went on and on, my horse stumbling forward as I held Japheth’s horse’s halter in my hand. It was so cold! Would we make it back alive?

Would we make it back at all?

                                                                                 ~

“Son, I’m really worried!” Mara said, looking out the window. “They should be back by now!”

“I know Ma! What are we going to do? What if something happened to one of them?” Adan said.

“I don’t know Son…I don’t know.”

                                                                              ~

I suddenly saw something…a light! It was a light other than the light coming from my fire orb, and it was just ahead. I spurred my horse on faster, a ray of hope shining through my gloom.

Then I saw the house. It was Adan’s house! Somehow, though I didn’t see how, we had made it back! Alive!

“We’re home Japheth!” I said, although I don’t think he heard me.

We rode up to the door and I got off my horse. The moment my feet touched the ground I collapsed. My legs were weak from all the walking and trying to stay on my horse that I had done. But we were back. We were saved!

Somehow I managed to stand up. I limped to the porch steps, and crawled up them. I got to the door and pounded with all my might on it. It opened and I fell into Adan’s arms, completely exhausted.

“Aaleyah!” Mara and Adan exclaimed at the same time.

“Japheth…outside..”I said. Those were the only words I could get out as Adan picked me up like I weighed no more than a rag doll and carried me to a chair near the fire burning in the hearth.

Mara rushed outside, with no coat on, and Adan followed as soon as he had helped me sit down. They carried Japheth in. Adan pulled a small bed over to the fire and they laid him in it.

“Oh Aaleyah! What happened to you both?” Mara said, looking at her husband’s head wound.

“He…went…to find the cow…he didn’t come back.. I went to find him..he was hurt..” I said through chattering teeth.

“Adan, you need to take care of her while I take care of your father,” Mara said as she got some water ready to be boiled. She got some bandages and then went back to examine Japheth.

Adan came over and helped me remove my frozen coat, gloves, and scarf. I could hardly move; I felt like a baby as he wrapped me up in a blanket and gave me so tea.

“I’ll go see to the animals,” he said when he was done. He pulled on his coat and went out.

About half an hour later, he came back in, shock all over his face.

“All the animals are there Ma! Every single one!” he said, his voice full of disbelief.

“You’ve worked a miracle somehow Aaleyah. Thank you,” Mara said, coming over and hugging me tightly as she sobbed.

I couldn’t answer. I was so tired…and glad to be back.

by raven14

We looked for the animals for such a long time. We( I and Japheth, Adan’s father) managed to find three of the horses(they had five). I wondered how Adan and his mother fared…

Then we heard a far-off sound…a sound that was very much like that of a cow. It must be the Soran’s (Adan’s last name was Soran) cow that was also missing.

“Stay here Aaleyah, I’m going to go find the cow. I’ll be right back,” Japheth said, cantering away on the horse he was on. I also sat on one of the horses, and I hugged it for warmth.

I waited-and waited, and waited. I waited for what seemed like forever. Still there was no sign of Japheth. Was he alright? What if something had happened to him? I looked up at the sky, and a knot formed in my stomach. It was grey, and turning dark quickly. It was almost nighttime, and the blizzard would be upon us! I had to find him!

I quickly made sure the other horse was tied to my horse’s tether, so I could keep them both with me. I set off at a gallop in the direction Japheth had gone. Where was he? What had happened? So many questions were now forming in my mind.

I rode on and on. Japheth seemed to have vanished into thin air.

Suddenly, I saw something. It was the missing cow! Japheth’s horse stood there too, eating a small patch of dry grass that was poking up through the snow. But where was Japheth?

I gasped as I found out. Japheth lay on the ground, his head bleeding. He looked as if he had hit his head on a branch or something like that while he was riding, and then fallen to the ground.

I jumped off my horse and ran over. “Japheth!” I cried. He answered with a moan. I had to get him back home!

First, I unwrapped my scarf and wrapped it around his head. Then I brought one of the horses over. This was going to be hard…

Somehow I managed to Japheth onto a horse. He swayed and could hardly stay upright. I would have to lash him to the horse.

I rummaged around in our pack and found some extra rope. The rope would have been used as tethers for the other animals…if we found them. But they didn’t matter now. I had  to get Japheth help!

I tied his legs to the horse somehow, and then tethered the cow with the little rope left. I gripped about three tethers in one hand, and led Japheth’s horse(held the tether of the horse he was on) with the other.

I walked for hours. Finally, I was too exhausted to move another step. My right leg ached so much it was on fire. I knew I would have to ride one of the horses now. It would be so hard to keep all of them together.

Finally, I just got on one of the horses and whistled to the other animals. “Follow me,” I said. They probably didn’t understand. But I didn’t care. I had to get help, and worrying about the animals wasn’t helping. If they chose not to follow they would have to find their own way home.

Now I set off at a quick canter, Japheth’s horse following. I looked around at my surroundings. I thought I recognized that tree…this looked like the spot Adan and I came to chop wood.

My hopes soared! We must be closer than I expected! “Hang on Japheth; we’re nearly there,” I said. Then the snow began to fall…thickly and heavily. I soon couldn’t see where I was going.

We were lost.

And the snow continued to fall.

We were trapped outside…in a blizzard.

YO EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!

WHERE ARE YOU ALL? DID YOU AND YOUR MUSES VANISH AND DISAPPEAR? WELL, IF SO, I’M GONNA CALL ‘EM.

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSSSSSEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!

GET BACK HERE! YOUR WRITERS NEED YOU, COZ YOUR WRITERS’ FANS NEED THEM!!!!!!!!!!! SO HHHHHHHHUUUUUUUUURRRRRRYYYYY UP ALREADY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

kk. they should be back momentarily.

if they aren’t, i’ll cry.

i need to read more of everyone’s stories people!!!!!!!! puuuuuuuuulease!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i hope this call was successful.

your muses better be back

-raven14

by raven14

We raced along, trying desperately to catch up with the raiders who had Adan’s parents. We seemed to fly along.

Suddenly, we stopped. The raiders stood just ahead of us- and I recognized one of them. It was Abbas Haddad. He stood there grinning evilly as he held a knife to..Aaliyah’s throat?

I rushed at him, screaming…and as I did so, he killed Aaliyah, and someone shot Adan with a bow and arrow. Adan’s parents lay dead on the ground. Everyone was dead…

“No!” I shouted, sitting up in bed as fast as a lightning bolt. I had awaken in a clammy sweat. What a terrible dream…

I hoped I hadn’t awakened anyone with my shout. I looked out the window- it was the middle of the night. I crept up to my bedroom door(really Adan’s- he had kindly offered to sleep by the fireplace on blankets) and listened. I held my breath…but heard nothing. I climbed back into bed, but try as I might I couldn’t get back to sleep…

                                                                               ~

“Pa! The animals are gone! The wind must have blown the barn doors open!”I heard Adan say the next morning. I jumped at the sound of his voice. Everyone must just be waking up- or maybe I fell asleep and didn’t realize…

“Oh no! And with a blizzard on the way!” Mara exclaimed. “We’ve got to find them Japheth!”

“I know, I know. But we’ll not be killing ourselves over animals. We’ll look as much as we can, but we can’t take a chance. A bad one’s coming,” Japheth said. Having weather powers, he and Mara could “read” the weather- tell what weather we were in for.

I padded softly out of my room. “Oh Aaleyah,” Mara said. “What are you doing up?”

“I couldn’t sleep, and I heard about the animals. Will we be searching for them then?” I said. I was going; I wouldn’t stay here and wait in agony as I worried about everyone’s well-being.

“We are, but you aren’t my dear,” Mara said. Her tired face was pinched.

“Please Mara; I’m good at tracking animals. I used to do it all the time…with my father. I’m coming,” I said firmly.

“That’s good- we’ll need as much help as we can get,” Japheth said. I was glad he was actually letting me go.

We all quickly got dressed, and then Japheth told us the plan. “Adan, you go with your mother. Aaleyah, you come with me. We’ll all meet back here in exactly three hours. Take lanterns…just in case.”

We all left, trudging through the snow in two different directions. This was not good. The animals could be anywhere.

We had to find them. If we didn’t, they would be trapped outside in the blizzard. They would die.

But that would soon be the least of my worries…

The New and Improved Booklist!

Nonfiction Books on Writing and Publishing

The complete idiot’s guide to getting published by Sheree Bykofsky and Jennifer Basye Sander {1 Hit}

The Creative Writer’s style guide by Christopher T. Leland {1 Hit}

Writing Magic by Gail Carson Levine (A MUST READ FOR YOUNG WRITERS!!) {4 Hits}

Fantasy Books

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien (First Book: The Fellowship of the Ring) (Trilogy) {2 Hits}

The Chronicles of Narnia (First Bookthe Magician’s Nephew) by C.S. Lewis (series) {3 Hits}

Inkheart by Cornila Funke (trilogy) {3 Hits}

Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling (First Book: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone) (series) {2 Hit)

The Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey (First Book: Dragonflight)(series) (Sidenote: a scene in the first book) {2 Hits}

Fairest by Gail Carson Levine {3 Hit}

The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede (First Book:Dealing with Dragons) (series) {2 Hits}

Warriors by Erin Hunter (Books One-Six) {3 Hits}

The Hero and the Crown by Robin Mckinley (series) {3 Hits}

The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine {4 Hits}

The Prophecy of the Stones by Flavia Bujor (Flavia is a 15-year-old international bestseller!) {2 Hits}

Dragon Slippers by Jessica Day George (Book and Sequel (Dragon Flight) {3 Hits}

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George {4 Hits}

The Wish List by Eoin Culfer {1 Hit}

Beka Cooper by Tamora Pierce {1 Hit}

The Naming by Alison Croggon (series) {2 Hits}

Eragon by Christopher Paolini (Another young author, he was eighteen when he got this published, but 15 when he wrote it) {4 Hits}

Dark is Rising Sequence by Susan Cooper {2 Hit}

Nobody’s Princess by Esther M. Friesner {1 Hit}

Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert Murdock {1 Hit}

Retold Fairy Tales

The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale (2nd: Enna Burning 3rd: River Secrets) {2 Hits}

Rose Daughter by Robin McKinley {2 Hits}

Beauty by Robin McKinley (I have to say, Rose daughter was better. But this is still good) {2 Hits}

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine {3 Hit}

Snow by Tracy Lynn {1 Hit}

The Swan Kingdom by Zoe Marriott {1 Hit}

Science Fiction

Out of the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis (trilogy) {2 Hits}

Star Wars: A New Hope by George Lucas (series) {2 Hits}

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (series) (Sidenote: understand it is from a very biased, atheist and evolutionistic viewpoint. Some of you might agree with the author, some of you may not. Also, he (the author) has a bit of weirdness that gets worse throughout the series, some lewdness, so you may not want to continue on with the series. Also note that it is NOTHING like the movie and is so masterful that you absolutely MUST read it.) {2 Hit}

Violet Eyes by Nicole Luiken (Sidenote: some kissing) {1 Hit}

Ghost Stories

Rimwalkers by Vicki Grove {1 Hit}

Modern and Futuristic Fiction

Reaching Dustin by Vicki Grove {2 Hits}

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld (quartet) {3 Hits}

Ingo by Helen Dunmore (trilogy or series…they’re still coming out) {3 Hits}

Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli {3 Hits}

The Giver by Lois Lowry {2 Hits}

StarGirl by Jerry Spinelli {1 Hit}

The Wish by Gail Carson Levine (Sidenote: Lots of kissing) {1 Hit, 1 Miff}

The Starplace by Vicki Grove {1 Hit}

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer (series) {2 Hits}

LionBoy by Zizou Corder (trilogy) {1 Hit}

Historical Fiction

Mara, Daughter of the Nile by Eloise McGraw {2 Hits}

Mary, Bloody Mary by Carolyn Meyer {1 Hit}

Betsy and the Emperor by Staton Rabin {2 Hits}

Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse (don’t let the unique format mislead you. Great book) {2 Hits}

Nothing to Fear by Jackie Koller (Sidenote: understand it is from a biased, God-believing viewpoint. Some of you may agree with the author, some of you may not.) {1 Hit}

Time Enough for Drums by Ann Rinaldi {1 Hit}

After the Dancing Days by Margaret Rostkowski {1 Hit}

Hits: Number of People who Loved This Book

Miffs: Number of People who didn’t like this book

Three miffs and the book is out

hello, this is saesmotu, aka supreme and exalted sonship master of the universe…i am bekkarella’s grandfather’s sister’s brother, or her uncle’s sister’s brother, or her father’s wife’s father’s youngest brother… all to say i am her mom’s uncle and so she refers to me as “uncle jeff”… i am tall, handsome, witty, charming, incredibly intelligent, funny, creative, and, above all, i am filled with deep humility… i am so glad to be participating in the writing thingy we are now all a part of… please tell me about yourselves…

humbly… saesmotu

Here are the new Tag Guidelines.

With each of your posts, include the following tags:

1. Your Main Character’s Name

2. Your Work’s Title

3. Your Name (or username if you are not willing to include your real name)

4. The Place your work centers on (eg. “New York,” “Middle Earth,” “High School”)

Please do not include any other tags, and please make sure you do add the ones here.

AN: Hey readers!! I hope you enjoy this, and I’ll try to be a bit more optimistic about my writing Sorry this is a cliff-hanger:D

 Tell me what you think; I am sure there are mistakes in here. Have fun reading and all of you keep up your awesome writing!! -raven 14

by raven14

Finally I made up my mind. I hadn’t wanted to carry through with my plan the night before, but in the morning I knew I had to. It was the safest way.

The night before we had all sat around the fire talking. Or at least, everyone else had. I had remained silent, my heart telling me over and over what I had to do. I ignored it at first, but the commands grew louder. I couldn’t ignore them.

Everyone had agreed that we would travel back home together; it would be the best way. Maybe if no one would take us in we work in exchange for food and board. It had seemed like a good idea, so everyone had gone to sleep with plans to set out in the morning.

Deep down though, I knew this was impossible for me. The way I was now…I was just too dangerous. What if this strange..spell was put on me again and I killed my companions? What if I went home with no mishaps, and then it happened there? I could end countless lives because I wasn’t careful. No. I would not put others at risk.

I had no home now. I was cursed to live alone for the rest of my days. I would probably die soon from lack of food and proper shelter; it was going on winter. There would be no food to be had, and I didn’t know how to hunt. I couldn’t go to any small shops in the nearby town; it put the people there at risk. I didn’t want to kill anyone else. Even the thought of killing all those men, barbarians that they were, made me sick to my stomach.

So now that my mind was made up, there came the task of telling the others. I hoped they wouldn’t try to stop me…although, secretly, they would probably be full of relief that they didn’t to be near such a strange person.

I didn’t eat much at breakfast. I just sat there, picking at my food, and eventually put it away for later. I had to tell them now.

“I-” I began. Everyone’s eyes were on me. I swallowed(more like gulped) and went on.

“I can’t go…with you,” I finally got out. “It’s too dangerous. That strange thing might happen to me again.”

“Last time when you did it, you formed a protective shield around us too though,” Shastara said. He didn’t look like he was going to be easy to convince.

“We can’t know if that will happen again. I might get even worse and somehow think you’re my enemies. The..power might get too strong. I could end up killing you,” I said softly. I stared at the ground.

“But we also can’t know if that strange thing will happen again either,” Shastara said. This task was not going to be an easy one.

“There is too great a risk. Even now I feel as if I need to pluck the heat out of the air and…direct it into something- set something alight. It is just too dangerous,” I said firmly, meeting his gaze.

He began to protest, but I cut him off. “Please Shastara; don’t try to argue with me. My mind is made up. I am cursed, and I don’t know how to lift the curse. Until I figure out how-” If I figure out how, I said to myself,”I am dangerous to all those around me. So leave now while you have a chance. I don’t know what is happening, but it could get much worse.”

He still seemed not to hear me. “We can’t leave you out here on your own, ” he said. The others didn’t look as though they agreed.

“You can, and you must. Think of your little sister. Do you really want her exposed to a dangerous monster?”I said. I hoped he would hear me now.

He didn’t say anything. He knew he was defeated; I could see it in his eyes as he looked over at his sleeping sister.

“Please understand. This is for your own good,” I said quietly. “Please go now, before it’s too late.”

“Very well. Your mind is made up, and you have made it clear that there is no way I can change it. We will go, but know that it is against my conscience. I bear no hard feelings against you,” he said.

“I understand,” I said. I was actually very thankful to him for saying that. At least one person didn’t fear me so much.

“We’ll leave as soon as we’re all packed up,” Shastara said to the others. How I wished to be going too…but I couldn’t.

                                                                                     ~

About thirty minutes later, they were gone. They had said good-bye, and Shastara had looked at me in such a sad way I had almost changed my mind and told them I would come. But somehow I managed to only speak the words of my farewells. It was just better this way…or so I thought…

“Alohm shalom(peace be with you, or be safe),” Shastara said softly to me, as was traditional in Kiria; this was the way that all Kirians parted. He put his hand on my shoulder as he spoke.

“Amas seya(and you my friend),” I replied softly, returning the gesture. To the others all I said was, “Farewell.” I don’t think they trusted me anymore; they were still apprehensive. I respected this and acted accordingly, although it warmed my heart when little Mariana ran up and wrapped her arms about my waist, saying she would miss me. I said I would miss her too. She was so sweet, and she almost reminded me of Aaliyah. Aaliyah…how fiercely I missed my dear sister…

They had left then, going back in the direction we had come. They had left me with supplies, weapons, and the small tent we had salvaged amongst the barbarian’s things.

After they were out of sight, I began to pack up my things also. I needed to move farther back into the woods(deep into them) where I would be even more hidden than before.

That was when I heard the sounds of someone in the bushes. 

In an instant a sword was in my hand. I didn’t know how to use it, but maybe I would at least look menacing, and scare whatever was in there away.

“Who’s there?” I said.

No answer came. 

I slowly(and foolishly) walked over to the bushes the sounds had come from. Using my sword I pushed them back, seeing if there was anything there.

I screamed. 

Chapter One

The whole winter break had swept by faster than anything I’d ever experienced. I told myself it wouldn’t ever end, but it did, as if it were only two days long. I woke up this morning to the surprise of my alarm.
I slowly turned over and rolled out of bed. I fell onto the ground and jolted awake. My green eyes immediately opened. My long black hair fell into my face and all I could see was a sea of all the strands. I sighed. The sound of my body hitting the wooden floor was kinda loud. I wondered what my mom would say. Just then her voice echoed down the hallway, faintly. My door was closed and I couldn’t hear her. I was basically forced to get up. I carefully stood up, almost hitting my head on the night stand next to my bed. I walked over to the door. I opened it hesitantly, hoping my mom’s voice wasn’t too loud this morning. Just that moment she decided to start walking up the stairs and down the hallway. I looked at her through drowsy eyes.
“Is everything okay Liam?”
“Yeah.”
“Yeah what?”
“I fell out of bed.”
“You haven’t done that since you were nine. Go get ready for school. It’s a long sleeve day.”
“Yeah.”
I shut the door and dropped myself backwards onto the bed again. I rolled over to sleep on my side. My mom knocked on the door again.
“You’d better not be going back to sleep in there!”
“Yeah.”
I had no choice but to sit back up.
I scanned the room with my eyes, to see where I’d set out my clothes the day before.
The floor had scattered papers all over it with numerous songs I’d written over the break, all about everything I could imagine to write about.
Other things on the floor, such as socks, very many books, a hair brush, and a few more scattered objects I don’t remember creating, like a little clay tortoise I must have made at camp over the summer.
I stood up and walked over to my drawers. I lazily pulled the top one open and stared blankly at the piles of shirts in there, mostly still short sleeved from the summer.
I chose my outfit, not really caring, a green shirt and jeans. Just plain old green and jeans. I guessed that since it didn’t have long sleeves I’d probably want to wear a sweatshirt, just in case my mom had a fit about the “cold weather.” I sighed.

I walked to school. Not too many kids did, but a great majority of the ones who did were my friends.
“Liiiaaaaaaaaaaaam!” Someone was running behind me. I tried to search through the depths of my mind to think of who that voice could’ve been.
“Uh…uh…uh…” I turned around. “Victor!”
“Hey buddy! How was the break?”
“Pretty okay–”
“Didja write any looooove songs?”
“Sh-shut up.” I blushed.
“I didn’t know boys could blush! You wrote a love song! Was it about–”
“No. I’m not gonna talk about that now. Maybe later.”
“Fine. So do you think you’ll be getting on stage to perform one this year?”
“No way. Not gonna happen. I’m not getting on a stage.”
“Liam, you’ve got to sometime. Everyone needs their stage!”
“Yeah, everyone needs one, but not everyone uses it.”
“Yes! Everyone has to eventually! Come on!”
“Fine. My stage is in the corner and it’s really tiny and it’s where no one looks or wants to.”
“No way! You’re so wrong! You’re such a likable person! Why would there be such a tiny stage? You need a big place to faint while you sing!”
“Uh…yeah…um…”
“Seriously, Liam, I am going to force you to get onto the stage before graduation this year. Before you graduate!”
And with that he ran off, probably because he didn’t want to hear me denying how good I was. I was shy. I stopped walking and looked down at the pavement. Someone bumped into my from behind. I jolted up.
“What the–”
“Oh, oh my god, I’m so sorry!” I frantically apologized.
“Crud! How did I bump into you?”
“I-I-I’m so sorry–”
“Hm. Maybe I should stop spacing out while I walk.”
I turned around to see who’d bumped into me.
“Oh…Hi Katie…”
“How do you know my name?”
“We met earlier this year and you’re also in my math class.”
“Oh…so…who are you?”
“Liam.”
“Right. Uh…I’ve got to get to school…so bye.” she started walking briskly down the sidewalk, leaving me behind. I turned back the way I’d been walking and went to school.
Another day, another blank look from the girl I like who doesn’t know I exist.

“Gym class is unfair.” I complained, bending forward with my hands on my knees, catching my breath. We’d just run a mile around the field.
“Aw, don’t be so pessimistic about it. At least we don’t have it every day.”
“You’ve got me there. It’s better this way. Hey, Harry, why aren’t you ever reluctant for gym? Everyone else, including myself, despises the idea completely.”
“Actually, that’s mostly yourself. A lot of other kids at our school enjoy the idea of gym class, as a time for being social and active, unlike you usually get to be during academics.”
“Thank you Harry. It feels nice to be different.”
“Sarcasm is not the answer.” Harry responded. “Besides, you’re not the only one. I know Andrea, Victor, and Alex don’t like it. And I’m also sure that there’s more than that at this school. Don’t worry. You’re not totally alone.”
“Much appreciated.”
“Your welcome.”
“That’s a good thing.”
“Hah! Yeah, it is.” Harry started laughing, then contained himself. “So, are you getting on the stage this year?”
“Why is everyone asking me that?! I’m not going to get up on a stage! Not gonna happen. I’m too shy.” I declined him.
“But your songs are the best!”
“I’m not gonna do it. Period.”
“Shy guys never will live life to the best. Even if you are shy, we can like record it and have us standing on stage saying ‘Our friend is too shy to perform this himself, so we’ve recorded it and are going to put his own song on at the talent show…from a tape player.’ and then everything will be all better!”
“Uh…no. Why should I–”
“Fine, we won’t have a huge recording of it. So, what’s your latest song about anyway?”
“It’s not that great…It’s about how–” I was cut off by the gym teacher shouting at us.
“Come on! Get into your teams for Soccer!”
We lost twelve to nothing. I didn’t know that was possible. Usually people would only win by like one or two, but twelve? Well, I’m no athlete. I’m more of an artist. I paint, I write, mostly songs though. I dislike sports…very much.
“Good game.” I heard someone say to me, as I sat on the bench, looking down at my feet. I looked up. It was Jeremy.
“Yeah? What? I’m so sorry, I didn’t hear you. I was…lost.”
“Uh…what? Lost? You’ve been right here. I said good game.”
“Oh, yeah, you too. Why me?”
“Cause.”
Jeremy wasn’t normally nice to me. I didn’t know he even knew me. A thousand questions erupted in my head. Why are you talking to me? What’s going on? I lost, so why are you saying anything to me anyway? I didn’t do anything, so why congratulate me?
“Oh. Okay. Well…see ya.” I stood up and left before I lost control and started acting like an idiot and asking all my questions and trying to be friends. I had enough friends already. I wasn’t good at making friends. I was too shy. I had allies, I had enemies, I had acquaintances, I didn’t see why I should add another category titled “Questions.”
Questions would probably be it because I didn’t know what to think of them! Questions was the perfect title for the group, but why make it? I didn’t know if Jeremy would ever talk to me again anyway.

“Hi there, Liam!”
“Eh?” I looked up from my lunch.
“Don’t ‘Eh?’ me. You know it’s me.” It was Andrea. I’d known her for years. She was one of my best friends. She took the bus to school, so I never saw her in the mornings, except for lunch. I only had two classes with her on pattern one and a third one on pattern two. She hadn’t been in my homeroom once in the three years I’d spent at middle school, unfortunately. The best trate about Andrea besides her beauty was her honesty. She never told lies. In fact, she was incapable of it. Her heart and conscience wouldn’t allow it. If she lied or left someone behind, she’d immediately tell you the truth or run back to you and say she was sorry. You could always trust Andrea with yourself. If she promised not to tell anyone about something, she would not break that promise. She certainly was something. Andrea had long black hair, down to her waist, usually worn in a ponytail or a braid, but today it was down. In perfect contrast to her hair, her skin was pure white. Her eyes were green, like mine. They were the perfect shape. Andrea had a perfect complexion. I wondered why she wasn’t one of the more popular girls, or maybe she was popular but she hung out with me? I don’t know. She’d come from England five years before. When I first met her, I’ll admit, I had been infatuated.
“I’m sorry. I’m a little out of it today. Hi Andrea. Wanna sit with me?”
“I was going to ask if I could. Much appreciated if I could?” She had a wonderful accent.
“Of course.”
Andrea sat down next to me and scooted in her chair.
“So, how’s the day been for you so far?” she started the conversation.
“Interesting, I guess.”
“You guess? Tell me about it. I’d rather know about it than be the only one talking in a conversation mostly with myself.”
It was true. When I talked with her, she usually did most of the talking. Especially when we talked on the internet. I’d just put in one or two words and she’d go on talking about her day in paragraphs. She was talkative, very talkative.
“Well, I basically failed the running today in gym class.”
“Ooh. What did you get?”
“Eight forty-nine.” I sulked, putting my head to the table. Andrea comfortingly put her hand on my shoulder. I looked up at her.
“That’s not so bad.”
“For a boy, it is.”
“I got ten fifty-six.”
“It’s not as bad for you. The average for girls is like nine minutes anyway.”
“That doesn’t mean everyone has to get that, now does it?”
“No.” I sighed. It didn’t make me feel any better.
“Exactly. And you’re no athlete anyway. Pay it no heed. It doesn’t matter. Be a good Liam and be happy, regardless of what you and other people got on their running. What did everyone else get anyway?”
I gave her the death stare. “Seven. Everyone got somewhere in seven except for me and like two other boys and a bunch of girls.”
Andrea bit her lip.
“Wait, how did you get such a bad score?”
“I dunno. I’m feeling pretty out of it today. I got another blank stare from–”
“You got a bad score on running because you were thinking about Katie?” she gave me the ‘Are you serious?’ look. I nodded. “You idiot.” she rolled her eyes. “Is your head filled with rocks or something? I’ve known you to be smarter than that!”
“What do you mean?”
“Oy, Liam, Katie’s no reason to be so out of it you fail your mile.”
“I don’t know what you have against her.”
“I don’t either. She just…I don’t like her. Why are you so attached to running after her? You’ve been after her for like a year now. What’s wrong with you?! She’s nothing special. She’s just a big old popular girl with flowing red hair. Nothing much! What in the world do you see in her? I don’t get it!”
“What are you saying?”
“Liam, you barely even know the girl. I do. She’s no good. You’re wasting your time.”
“I don’t think so. I think she’s pretty. I think she’s a nice girl. I think she’s got good qualities. I don’t see what you don’t see in her.” I sat up, but she kept her hand on me.
“Why do you look so angry with me? I don’t get it!”
“I don’t like what you’re saying about her.”
“You barely know her!”
“From what I know, I think she’s a good person, and I don’t care what you say.”
“Look,” Andrea tried to calm me down. She softened her eyes, so to look sympathetic. “I don’t think anything terrible about her. I know she must have some good qualities, but others, that I know about, are really bad. She’s a jerk and a total freakishly mean girl…to girls. Boys think she’s an angel, girls think her an idiot and a brat. I’m glad you’ve found someone you like, but I’m disappointed it’s got to be someone like her.”

“Good afternoon, middle schoolers! Here are your afternoon announcments! First, of course as always, the list of students who have to come to the office for a message…” the voice of our vice principal, Mr. Alvin, came up on the PA system. He droned on for a minute with a long list of kids, then got on to the actual announcements. “…And now the real announcements! Welcome back to school, everyone. I’m sure each and every one of you had a great winter break and are glad to be back. I sure am! So, this afternoon, the first meeting of the Literary Circle will begin, in room one hundred and three. Also, if any of you want to buy spirit items, such as school shirts and bags and pants and sweatshirts, please come down tomorrow during lunch outside the cafiterea; there will be an array of items for sale, regarding to school spirit. Get your blue on today! Don’t forget, also meeting in the gym this afternoon is, yes you’ve all been waiting to hear it’s back, winter afterschool incompetitive sports! We have frizbee and the walking club back today and we’re all hoping you all stop by to play for a while. There will be the late bus, as you can all remember, coming at four o’ clock, so don’t forget that after you’re done in any of your clubs or even in the media center…get your late bus passes. We can remember oh, so many incidents where students haven’t had their passes. Well, have a nice day and we’ll see you and your shining faces back here tomorrow! See ya!”
We all raced out of our classrooms and packed up to get ready to leave. As I walked down the hallway and out the front doors of the school, someone called my name from behind me.
“Liam!”
“Yeah?” I turned around, hoping not to block the trafic of students. It was Harry.
“Good thing to see you. I heard something you might want to know about.”
“What is it? Let’s start walking.”
“I heard that someone leaked out your songs!”
“What?” I didn’t understand the term.
“Someone stole your notebook from you during one of your classes and showed it to everyone. People have read your songs, Liam!”
“Oh crap.” I stopped walking when we got across the street and sat down in the middle of the sidewalk and checked my backpack. He was right. My songbook that I always have with me, that I bring everywhere, basically my trademark, was gone.

Chapter Two

“What?! How’d that happen?!”
“I’m guessing someone picked it up who sits next to you and they opened it up when they noticed they had it like two periods later and shared it with everyone.”
“How do you know about this?”
“A boy was showing it to everyone.”
“WHO?!”
“Uh…he was tall, he had brown hair, wearing a white shirt and a tie, darkish skin, probably Asian, but I didn’t get so much of a good look at him, I just saw him reading something aloud with people around him and he and everyone else were laughing and someone made a remark something like ‘Liams songs are hilarious!’ and I’m just hoping you didn’t have all of your songs in there, right?”
“Er…”
“All of your songs were in it?”
“Not all of them. Some are on the floor in my room at home.”
“Well that doesn’t help too much. Uh…we could…I don’t know.”
“Wait, so he was probably Asian and he had brown hair? Most Asians have hair like mine.”
“Well do you know anyone like that?”
“Hmm..lemme think…” I searched my mind. I only knew a few people that could even half-fill that description. Craig, Tom, and Elijah. Tom had black hair and usually wore a tie to school, but he wasn’t really classified as tall. I’d say he was average. Craig could fit that description, and he’s also in my English class, but then again, so was Elijah. “What kind of brown? Light or dark?”
“Dark.”
“Craig.”
“Ready to assault?”
“No. Let’s wait till tomorrow.”
“You do notice that your songs could be across the world, on the internet, laughing stalk of the school, by then?”
“Not precisely. Do you know where Craig lives?”
“No. I think he takes the bus.”
“Alright. Let’s wait till tomorrow then.”

That night after I finished my homework, I took a walk outside in the cool, windy air. I had a blue windbreaker on, to keep me warm. My mom made sure I had it. If I didn’t she’d get really sore at me. I didn’t want that to happen. I decided to go a few houses down to ask for Harry. If he could come outside or if he’d finished his homework or anything I’d be okay. I needed a plan.
I knocked on his front door. He came to answer it.
“Yeah?”
“I need a plan. Come on a walk with me.”
“Kay. Lemme get me jacket.” Harry disappeared back into his house for a moment, then came back wearing his green jacket and stepped outside so we could walk. “What’s up?”
“I couldn’t sit around and do nothing. I need a plan to get back at Craig.”
“Are you sure it was him?”
“Well, I guess so. I mean, there could be someone else like him, but I think he’s the closest to your description we have.”
“Okay then.”
“But…I guess you have a point. We need a bit more information before we can make a justified answer that Craig was the one who stole my book. You know, it could’ve been someone else that stole it and that he was just reading them to everyone. Someone could’ve given them to him.” He had a point.
“That could be true, but that doesn’t mean we can’t assault him about it, does it?” I countered it. “He still did it, so that doesn’t mean we can’t interrogate him, not that I’d really be able to in reality.”
“Because you’re too shy.”
“Yeah. I would’ve said that.”
“But I beat you to it.”
“Yeah.”
“Well, if you need a plan, I’m glad you’ve come to me. I have one.”
“Why didn’t you tell me earlier when I said I needed a plan?”
“That’s a good question.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“So then I guess you should tell me the plan?”
“No. I’m guessing it would be more fun to just let you wait and see. I’ll let you suffer for a day. It’ll be more amazing and, you know, more cool to watch if you don’t know what I’m gonna do.” And I guess he might have had a point there too.
“I don’t want to be left out of the attack, even if I back out, I want to know everything.”
“I’m gonna give him a piece of my mind.”
“Ew.”
“Not like that. I want him to know that messing with peoples’ songs and their artwork is not cool. It’s none of their business. What’s in your songbook should not be touched by anyone but you and your most trusted friends…or enemies, if that’s how you do it.”
“Have I ever let you hold my book?”
“No.”
“So no one should be touching my book unless it’s me. If he refuses to give it back, I don’t know what I’ll do. I can’t approach him or anything. I’m not that kind of guy who can do that. I just can’t.”
“I know. That’s why I’m doing it.”
“Then I’ll look like a wimp.”
“You are.”
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I just don’t want to look like I’m incapable of taking up my own battles. I don’t want it to look like you have to fight for me all the time cause I’m the wimp who couldn’t hurt a fly if he tried.”
“Andrea’s the one with the conscience.”
“I know! That’s not the point! I want to be able to do it myself.”
“But you can’t.”
“I know I can’t. I can try though, right?”
Harry stared long and thoughtfully at me. I expected his answer to be something at least a bit hopeful.
Well, Harry would usually put something pretty flat out unless he wanted to hide something, so he was probably going to say simply a yes or a no. I awaited his answer. I anticipated it. I came to my senses. I knew his answer before he said it.
“No.” I mouthed the words with him. “You would most likely be very incapable of actually going straight up to Craig and asking him if he did it, then interrogating him to get the answers out of him. You’d be simply incapable.”
“I know.”

On the whole way to and into school, people either giggled, jeered, made jokes, asked me if I had any new songs out, basically acted like total jerks. Even Eric. I thought Eric was my friend. Well, maybe. We never hung out. I think I’d met him like two years before. We didn’t really converse that much, but I still thought we at least had a little bit of friendship in there.
“Are you ready?” Harry asked me.
“I don’t think so.”
“He’s right there. We have two minutes to get it out of him.”
“Okay.”
We approached Craig slowly, making our way though the teasing crowd. I scowled at anyone who dared to say anything. They didn’t care at all.
“Craig.” I started.
“Oh, well hello, Liam! How many songs have you got for us today?”
“Where’s my songbook?”
“Oh, you mean this?” He rummaged around in his backpack for a moment, then pulled out a notebook—my notebook. I impulsively grabbed for it. He pulled away.
“That’s mine.”
“Why should I give it to you? What proof do I have that it’s your’s?”
“Because that’s my handwriting in it, and that’s my name on the front.”
Harry didn’t make a sound the whole time. I wondered why.
“Fine, you can have it, it really doesn’t matter. Everyone knows about it already. I should just give it up. I don’t see why not. If I don’t give it back you can’t write anything else, and then we can’t laugh and have a good time. That’s a problem, now isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is, so why don’t you just give back my notebook, and then we can all be happy?”
“Um, I don’t think so.”
“What the heck is wrong with you?! You just said you’d give it back!”
“I said I should.”
“No you didn’t! You said I can have it!”
“No, I don’t think you should now.”
“What’s wrong with you?!”
“I can change my mind can’t I?!”
“No! Not right now! Give me my notebook!”
“I don’t think so!”
Before I could do anything else, Harry finally came in and helped me. I was kind of surprised at the way he came right out.
He grabbed Craig by the arms and put their faces so they were about an inch apart. Harry was at least three inches taller than Craig. He seemed so intimidating. I’d hate to be in Craig’s position right then. Harry spoke soft and slowly, so articulate, he sounded like he had an accent.
“I think you should give Liam back his notebook, before we have to take this to a painful level.” Harry said.
Craig put his arms up as if he was just told by the police to do so, still with a smirking face, and slammed my notebook down on the table, sliding it my way. His smirk turned into a frown, which turned the whole argument into a stare-down between the two. I immediately grabbed for my book, making sure it was all in there. I flipped through all the pages, scanning for any replaced words, cross-outs, graffiti, but on the back cover on the inside, when I got there, there, in huge red bubble letters, were the words “Liam’s an idiot, his songs suck, his ideas are putrid, and he is a total failure at life.” Other things written on the cardboard back cover inside were “Ryon wuz here!” and “Ellie luvs the song about the girl w/ brown hair!” and “Liam’s a retard!” and of course, “Katie wuz here. Remember, you’re a freak!”
Of course.

CH. 2

“What?! How’d that happen?!”
“I’m guessing someone picked it up who sits next to you and they opened it up when they noticed they had it like two periods later and shared it with everyone.”
“How do you know about this?”
“A boy was showing it to everyone.”
“WHO?!”
“Uh…he was tall, he had brown hair, wearing a white shirt and a tie, darkish skin, probably Asian, but I didn’t get so much of a good look at him, I just saw him reading something aloud with people around him and he and everyone else were laughing and someone made a remark something like ‘Liams songs are hilarious!’ and I’m just hoping you didn’t have all of your songs in there, right?”
“Er…”
“All of your songs were in it?”
“Not all of them. Some are on the floor in my room at home.”
“Well that doesn’t help too much. Uh…we could…I don’t know.”
“Wait, so he was probably Asian and he had brown hair? Most Asians have hair like mine.”
“Well do you know anyone like that?”
“Hmm..lemme think…” I searched my mind. I only knew a few people that could even half-fill that description. Craig, Tom, and Elijah. Tom had black hair and usually wore a tie to school, but he wasn’t really classified as tall. I’d say he was average. Craig could fit that description, and he’s also in my English class, but then again, so was Elijah. “What kind of brown? Light or dark?”
“Dark.”
“Craig.”
“Ready to assault?”
“No. Let’s wait till tomorrow.”
“You do notice that your songs could be across the world, on the internet, laughing stalk of the school, by then?”
“Not precisely. Do you know where Craig lives?”
“No. I think he takes the bus.”
“Alright. Let’s wait till tomorrow then.”

That night after I finished my homework, I took a walk outside in the cool, windy air. I had a blue windbreaker on, to keep me warm. My mom made sure I had it. If I didn’t she’d get really sore at me. I didn’t want that to happen. I decided to go a few houses down to ask for Harry. If he could come outside or if he’d finished his homework or anything I’d be okay. I needed a plan.
I knocked on his front door. He came to answer it.
“Yeah?”
“I need a plan. Come on a walk with me.”
“Kay. Lemme get me jacket.” Harry disappeared back into his house for a moment, then came back wearing his green jacket and stepped outside so we could walk. “What’s up?”
“I couldn’t sit around and do nothing. I need a plan to get back at Craig.”
“Are you sure it was him?”
“Well, I guess so. I mean, there could be someone else like him, but I think he’s the closest to your description we have.”
“Okay then.”
“But…I guess you have a point. We need a bit more information before we can make a justified answer that Craig was the one who stole my book. You know, it could’ve been someone else that stole it and that he was just reading them to everyone. Someone could’ve given them to him.” He had a point.
“That could be true, but that doesn’t mean we can’t assault him about it, does it?” I countered it. “He still did it, so that doesn’t mean we can’t interrogate him, not that I’d really be able to in reality.”
“Because you’re too shy.”
“Yeah. I would’ve said that.”
“But I beat you to it.”
“Yeah.”
“Well, if you need a plan, I’m glad you’ve come to me. I have one.”
“Why didn’t you tell me earlier when I said I needed a plan?”
“That’s a good question.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“So then I guess you should tell me the plan?”
“No. I’m guessing it would be more fun to just let you wait and see. I’ll let you suffer for a day. It’ll be more amazing and, you know, more cool to watch if you don’t know what I’m gonna do.” And I guess he might have had a point there too.
“I don’t want to be left out of the attack, even if I back out, I want to know everything.”
“I’m gonna give him a piece of my mind.”
“Ew.”
“Not like that. I want him to know that messing with peoples’ songs and their artwork is not cool. It’s none of their business. What’s in your songbook should not be touched by anyone but you and your most trusted friends…or enemies, if that’s how you do it.”
“Have I ever let you hold my book?”
“No.”
“So no one should be touching my book unless it’s me. If he refuses to give it back, I don’t know what I’ll do. I can’t approach him or anything. I’m not that kind of guy who can do that. I just can’t.”
“I know. That’s why I’m doing it.”
“Then I’ll look like a wimp.”
“You are.”
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I just don’t want to look like I’m incapable of taking up my own battles. I don’t want it to look like you have to fight for me all the time cause I’m the wimp who couldn’t hurt a fly if he tried.”
“Andrea’s the one with the conscience.”
“I know! That’s not the point! I want to be able to do it myself.”
“But you can’t.”
“I know I can’t. I can try though, right?”
Harry stared long and thoughtfully at me. I expected his answer to be something at least a bit hopeful.
Well, Harry would usually put something pretty flat out unless he wanted to hide something, so he was probably going to say simply a yes or a no. I awaited his answer. I anticipated it. I came to my senses. I knew his answer before he said it.
“No.” I mouthed the words with him. “You would most likely be very incapable of actually going straight up to Craig and asking him if he did it, then interrogating him to get the answers out of him. You’d be simply incapable.”
“I know.”

On the whole way to and into school, people either giggled, jeered, made jokes, asked me if I had any new songs out, basically acted like total jerks. Even Eric. I thought Eric was my friend. Well, maybe. We never hung out. I think I’d met him like two years before. We didn’t really converse that much, but I still thought we at least had a little bit of friendship in there.
“Are you ready?” Harry asked me.
“I don’t think so.”
“He’s right there. We have two minutes to get it out of him.”
“Okay.”
We approached Craig slowly, making our way though the teasing crowd. I scowled at anyone who dared to say anything. They didn’t care at all.
“Craig.” I started.
“Oh, well hello, Liam! How many songs have you got for us today?”
“Where’s my songbook?”
“Oh, you mean this?” He rummaged around in his backpack for a moment, then pulled out a notebook—my notebook. I impulsively grabbed for it. He pulled away.
“That’s mine.”
“Why should I give it to you? What proof do I have that it’s your’s?”
“Because that’s my handwriting in it, and that’s my name on the front.”
Harry didn’t make a sound the whole time. I wondered why.
“Fine, you can have it, it really doesn’t matter. Everyone knows about it already. I should just give it up. I don’t see why not. If I don’t give it back you can’t write anything else, and then we can’t laugh and have a good time. That’s a problem, now isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is, so why don’t you just give back my notebook, and then we can all be happy?”
“Um, I don’t think so.”
“What the heck is wrong with you?! You just said you’d give it back!”
“I said I should.”
“No you didn’t! You said I can have it!”
“No, I don’t think you should now.”
“What’s wrong with you?!”
“I can change my mind can’t I?!”
“No! Not right now! Give me my notebook!”
“I don’t think so!”
Before I could do anything else, Harry finally came in and helped me. I was kind of surprised at the way he came right out.
He grabbed Craig by the arms and put their faces so they were about an inch apart. Harry was at least three inches taller than Craig. He seemed so intimidating. I’d hate to be in Craig’s position right then. Harry spoke soft and slowly, so articulate, he sounded like he had an accent.
“I think you should give Liam back his notebook, before we have to take this to a painful level.” Harry said.
Craig put his arms up as if he was just told by the police to do so, still with a smirking face, and slammed my notebook down on the table, sliding it my way. His smirk turned into a frown, which turned the whole argument into a stare-down between the two. I immediately grabbed for my book, making sure it was all in there. I flipped through all the pages, scanning for any replaced words, cross-outs, graffiti, but on the back cover on the inside, when I got there, there, in huge red bubble letters, were the words “Liam’s an idiot, his songs suck, his ideas are putrid, and he is a total failure at life.” Other things written on the cardboard back cover inside were “Ryon wuz here!” and “Ellie luvs the song about the girl w/ brown hair!” and “Liam’s a retard!” and of course, “Katie wuz here. Remember, you’re a freak!”
Of course.

Sorry it’s a TINY bit shorter than the last one, but you know, I’ve been working like four days on this. I sure hope I can get the next post up sometime during the five day weekend! <3 Ya!

~Jules

by raven14

When I awoke again, I felt as if I had been trampled by a horse. My head pounded, and the air was so thick…I couldn’t breathe…

“Aaleyah!” Shastara’s voice pulled me out the darkness that was rapidly surrounding me.

“What-what happened? Where am I? Why are we-” I began. Suddenly it all came rushing back so fast I could hardly think. The new captors…the strange fire…the explosion…something wrong with me…

I struggled to my feet, Shastara helping me. We were in a clearing, surrounded by tall pine trees.

 I dared to glance into Shastara’s face. I was certain he and the others would be petrified of me. Why hadn’t they left me by now? They probably thought I was some sort of awful freak; an inhuman thing.

What I saw in his face was not quite what I had expected. There was a little bit of apprehension, but also a sense of understanding, or acceptance…something I couldn’t explain. It was as if he almost knew what was going on.

“Where are we?” I finally ventured to say.

“We’re just outside a town called Tragen(readers, this a temporary name. I can never think of place names on the spot; i’ll have to come back and fix of the weird names i don’t like-and this will be one of them-raven14), about fifty miles south of where-” Shastara’s voice broke off.I could easily hear the stoniness in it, and he didn’t have to say what I already knew.

 ”How did we get here?” I asked. My back, which had been on fire before, was now starting to go numb.

“We used the horses.  I and Coren, the other boy with us, found some weapons. We can fight well enough, although we didn’t have to on the way here. Your fire orb was surrounding us all, like a shield,” Shastara said. He wouldn’t meet my eyes. He obviously wasn’t completely fine with my strangeness.

“Where are the others?” I asked. The  “others” were Coren, the second boy mentioned before, Karysa and her sister Terys, and Shastara’s little sister, Mariana.

“They are just over there, near the fire. Do you want me to help you over to it?” he said kindly, his formerly almost stone voice now becoming warm. I nodded, and he put his arm around my waist, supporting me as he helped me walk over to the fire.

Upon arriving, the others cast wary glances at me as if I were some sort of enemy. I could hardly blame them; what I had done earlier had scared me. I just warmed my hands and tried to pretend not to notice.

Finally, after a few tense moments of silence, the question we had all been wanting to know the answer to came out. “What…happened earlier?” Coren said, staring at me.

“I don’t know. Trust me, I am no sorceress. I simply don’t know how what happened could have happened. Maybe there was a magic-wielder among our new captors and he put a spell on me. I just..don’t know,” I said.

“Well, what now?” Terys asked. She was a tall, willowly girl with short, curly brown hair and deep blue eyes. She was more quiet than Karysa, her older sister, and so I was unaccustomed to hearing her speak.

And yet this was another question that needed an answer. Truly, what now? I didn’t know. I just hoped I knew soon…