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 Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 8:27 pm
yessss *punches air victoriously*
w00t w00t (>^-^)> <(^-^<)
I haaaaaaate writer's block, but chapter three is where I try a different tactic, and I can't really pull it off today...I can't wait until the action starts.
(won't be long >.<)
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Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006 3:17 pm
Okay, guys. It might be incomplete, but here is chapter three...I'm feeling rather prosy today. >.<
On a side note, this might turn out to be the prologue, if I want it to be, but I like it better here.
Chapter Two
The moon seemed to dance with fire as the flames reflected on the window glass. Five sets of eyes were locked onto the pale crescent, their only way of knowing how long they had sat there in the dark. They were not willing it to sink faster, or anything of the sort--they merely watched, dull-eyed with tiredness. The only sound in the room was the crackling of the low flames, the feeble light hardly reaching across the wide hall.
With a loud slap that made them all jump, one of the men sammed his palm onto the table. The other four glared at the incensed castle guard, but he took no notice. "Why in the name of the gods are we still here? It's past midnight!"
"Bad luck," a soldier suggested moodily.
"We should have been relieved hours ago!" the guard ranted. "If--"
"Silence!" a voice hissed from the other side of the table. The guard quailed under the woman's basilisk glare. They shyed away from her, as if she carried some lethal disease--her skin was tinged a faint green, though it was difficult to tell in the dim light.
"Stop complaining, idiot," she said, in a low, sibilant voice. "If the queen hears us, we're as good as dead. Sit down and shut up before you get yourself killed."
The guard obeyed with a sharp salute, sullenly taking his seat. After all, one could hardly argue with a woman several ranks above himself, never mind the icy, lidless stare she had now returned to the pale moon. The other four followed suit as the silence dragged on.
As it happened, they needn't have worried; the queen didn't care much about the five soldiers downstairs. In fact, she was hardly even aware that they were still in the castle. And there was no possibility that she could hear them over her own muttered cursing high in the north tower. She slammed a sealed phial onto the table in the windowless chamber, nearly shattering it in her agitation.
"Oyae!" she swore, [KV: there's absolutely no point in translating that O.o] catching the phial before it rolled away and setting it in a holder next to others of the same size. Inside these there sparkled a strange substance, neither liquid nor gas, and all in different colors--a fiery red that swirled like magma, a deep blue tempest beating against the glass, a very small amount of purest white that shone pure light over the others. She snatched a heavy book from one of many crowded shelves, flipping through the pages impatiently.
"Come on...one last try..." she muttered, running her finger down one of the pages. "Yes! That's it!" Finding all that she needed, she slid the book aside, dark hair whipping over her shoulder, and took the phial of glowing white substance in her pale, long-fingered hand.
"What did it day?" she asked herself, checking. "White and...black?"
That's too dangerous, she thought nervously, but I have to try...
Very carefully, she took another phial in her other hand, this one filled to the top with dark, ebony matter which soaked up the pure light radiated from the other phial and hid it deep in its depths. Unlike the white, she had endless amounts of the black substance; several beakers of it lay on the shelves around the walls, sealed and filled to the very top.
Cautiously, she pried the tops off of the phials with her thumb, careful to release them at the same time. Mixing these two...she could not think of anything more meticulous and disasterous.
I should make this a little weaker, if I can, she told herself. I should have enough anyway, shouldn't I?
Holding her breath, she gently lowered the tips of her index fingers of both hands into the two phials. The substances disappeared at once, soaking into her blood, and her right hand glowed with a black aura as her left emitted a feeble whitish glow. She thought, briefly, about putting some of the dark substance back...but then she pushed the idea aside, resolving to neutralize it as soon as she was able.
Already feeling the electricity in her hands, she carefully took a thin wand from the table in both hands, feeding the black and white matter slowly into it. The head glowed white and the rest of it black, the two forces automatically seperating themselves. Shaking slightly from nerves, she called all her power to her hands, and the wand soaked up the deep purple glow that radiated from her. Once she was almost completely drained of power, she grasped the wand firmly in her right hand, though hard about what she wanted to do, and forced all of the magic out at once.
The myriad of colors literally exploded out of the tip of the wand, and it grew hot beneath her fingers; she forced herself to keep her grip on it. The substance, no longer condensed, sparked in the cold winter air as it spread all around her, coming far too close for her liking--it was supposed to stay in one place, wasn't it?
She willed it to gather in front of her, but it was no longer under her control. It swirled and crackled all around her, even above her, forming a tight shell; her panic grew as the dark cloud began to grow, sucking energy out of the air, out of the very stones on the floor, out of her. It closed in on her, and suddenly she wished that she had never messed with the original experiment.
In all of her fear, she could not help but feel overcome with awe--the haze of blackish-purple was nothing less than magical, even though it should not be this dark...
Without warning, the few strands of white glowed powerfully, and the black aura disbanded explosively, sending strands of purple and black straight through her. She screamed as the magic swirled around her, through her, until suddenly, the chamber went completely dark.
Several floors below, the five soldiers heard the scream and looked up, startled. "What was that?" a guard whispered into the opressive silence that followed. His companions shook their heads wordlessly, all but the icy-eyed lieutenant, who rose with a fluid movement and headed for the door. her four subordinates exchanged fearful glances, all thinking the same thing; better her than us.
But before she had even touched the door, the knob turned and the queen swept past her, ignoring her hasty bow and taking a seat in a chair near the fire. "Evening, Lieutenant Hartel."
"Good evening," she replied, on her guard. "My lady, are you all right?"
"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"
Hartel stared at her, a strange look in her slanted eyes. "We heard you scream, Your Majesty."
"Oh, yes." She glanced at the other four soldiers, as if she had only just seen them. "The experiment failed this time, and my only conductor was ruined...I don't think I'll try again for a long time."
She didn't catch the look of alleviation in her subordinates' eyes, nor their collective, nearly inaudible sigh of relief. Hartel did not join them. The queen's eyes were on the dying fire, glowing red in the light. There was something strange about them, something odd...
"Lieutenant?"
Hartel snapped to attention, saluting and blinking hard to clear her head. "Yes, Your Majesty?"
"You may go home now," the queen said, her eyes blank. "It's late, after all."
The other four soldiers let out a deep breath, stood, and headed for the door. Hartel stayed where she was, watching the queen out of the corner of her eye. The red in her eyes was much brighter than it should be...
Suddenly her eyes flashed, almost inperceptably, but Hartel's sharp eyes missed nothing. Seconds later, the fire flared bightly before sinking back into the black embers.
Hartel watched for a moment longer, eyebrows furrowed slightly, and then turned, following her subordinates out of the mess hall. The queen's blank eyes disturbed her, preoccupying her thoughts as she walked down the wide corridor. Blank eyes... she thought. Soulless eyes...
The queen, it appeared, was not all that she seemed.
woo! Chapter Three!
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Posted: Fri Oct 27, 2006 5:06 pm
chapter three's up! and this is kind of a discreet bump XD mrgreen
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Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2006 11:05 am
Intro to Chapter Four:
It isn't done yet. 'Nuff said. But it's cute.
Hey, so this is one of those drastic rewrites where I changed nearly everything, so I reaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaly would like some constructive criticism. Point out places that seem awkward, if you please, or anything that stood out, or bad grammar ( sweatdrop I hate that) or a better way to word things. This is only my second writing project....EVER....so I still need help.
Also, opinions on my characters--whether they are likeable or otherwise--is LOVED. Eeeeeeenything about my characters you want to add is fine with me. heart
Chapter Four is sweet and fluffy and adorable.....almost funny, I think. Anyway, here it is!
(Down there silly)
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Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2006 11:55 am
Chapter Three
It had been home to them for nearly five years, and they would never have thought of living anywhere else. They had gotten used to it, and just like every other part of their lives, it made them unique, even though they assumed it was perfectly normal. After all, home is home no matter where it is.
They were nearly stumbling off the path with tiredness, but they forced their leaden legs to walk the familiar path, about a mile past the schoolhouse and a small distance deeper into the forest. There was an old oak tree here, one of hte strongest trees to be found four years ago when they had been left out on their own. There was a special way of climbing it, in which Kamile had become an expert; on days like these, where they were too tired to focus properly, Everan gave her a boost up to the first few branches, and then she pulled him up alongside her. After that, it was easy--any elf can climb a tree, no matter how thin or far between the branches.
Halfway up the tree, something other than leaves and bark could be seen--a ceiling of sorts, unmatched wood laid flat across two thick branches. They kept climbing, and Kamile emerged first through a hole in the floor of her and Everan's home.
It was roughly made--after all, they had been six--but sturdy and functional. There was a window in one of the two walls without any glass, and against the other was a small bokshelf Everan had made to hold all of his infinite books, which Kamile had objected against but consented when he gave her a shelf all to herself. She had found shells, feathers, and stones all over the forest to fill it with since them, and had long since run out of room. A few of her favorite colored stones glowed brightly next to an old lantern, in which four or five flreflies flitted here and there. A small jar held a mixture of honey and water to feed them with whenever they were hungry, and their pets provided them with constant light that was never too bright or too soft.
The other two walls were merely the tree's branches woven together, a myriad of green leaves and rough bark. It was more protective than the uneven, wormhole-filled wood that made their other walls and floor, and for this reason their ceiling was also a close-knit group of tree branches covered in clay for added protection. In the corner, a rumpled pile of blankets served as a bed, all of them plain but soft and serviceable. Their house was rough and bare, but as long as it was not raining too hard it kept them warm and dry, and that was all that mattered.
How they managed to do it, they could not remember, but somehow they had triumphed over nature and gravity and had built it, and it had become home...at the moment, the most welcoming place in the whole world. Kamile collapsed onto the makeshift bed at once, pulling several blankets over her head and sighing contentedly, but Everan took his time, taking the history book out of his bag and reading it in the light of the firefly lantern. Kamile wished he wouldn't--for her, it was like he was reading aloud, and she wanted to get to sleep before midnight. But soon, she didn't mind, because once she stopped listening to the words they flowed together and faded to an endless hum as she and Everan both nodded off to sleep.
Everan prodded her awake the next morning before dawn, and when she saw the pale light outside she moaned and hid under the covers again.
Kamile, wake up, Everan insisted, poking her in the back.
Nuh-uh. It's too early.
Come on, get up already. I'm up.
And you're insane, but I knew that too.
It's not that early.
Yes it is! 'M not getting up,she said stubbornly.
He shook her shoulders, and she knew that he was resolved not to let her have a moment's peace until she got out of bed. She tried to ignore him, but he had a lot more patience than she did.
Kamile, it's midsummer! You can't sleep late today! He prodded her in the side, and she giggled and aimed a kick at him. He dodged it, tickling her until she sat up.
Stoppit, she laughed, pulling a blanket over his head. They battled for a few minutes, until finally Everan won and dragged her out from underneath the blankets.
Okay, okay, I'm up, she said good-naturedly, tugging on a different tunic and pulling back her hair. She reached the ground long before he did and waited up for him, the cool pre-dawn air refreshing and light.
There's nothing special happening, is there? she inquired, still disgruntled at being woken before dawn.
Only one.
Oh...I remember. She grinned, breaking into a run. Well, you're the one who said to hurry up, so let's go!
More to warm their feet than anything else, they raced down the path with the wind pushing against them and stirring their blood, the sky overhead almost black but the mist casting a pale blue light over the forest as the sun prepared for dawn. When their feet hit stones instead of grass they still did not stop, only changing course and running down the streets.
They paused in front of the giant tree, but only for a second; using the roots as steps, they climbed as high as they could and all the way around to the other side. When they stopped, the walkway of the outside library could be seen a few feet away and slightly above them. This was the tricky part; Kamile had no problem with the leap, landing neatly on the walkway. Everan could almost do it, but Kamile had to grab his arm and pull him forward before he overbalanced and fell. Losing patience at once, she started to run again, and Everan followed.
The walkway ended abruptly high in the tree, almost a mile above the ground. They didnt care; the branches were thinner up here, but could still support the combined weight of two ten-year-olds. They climbed out onto a thicker branch as far as they dared and sat facing east, the forest for leagues around spread before them.
It's so clear up here, Kamile said, entranced. You can see everything. She leaned over, looking at the very tiny square below.
Kamile, don't do that, Everan pleaded, closing his eyes tightly. It's too high.
She ignored him, turning her gaze south. A thick strip of dark blue lay on the horizon, and they could almost hear the sound of the waves, muted by the mist which seemed much thinner up here.
I bet we're higher than the mist, Kamile thought excitedly, and we could go higher than the sun if we wanted, and then we could see what's outside...
Don't, Kamile, Everan warned her. That's blasphemy.
What's that?
No one's supposed to get that close to the deities, or else they'll fall and die.
Why?
I don't know, he replied, shrugging.
Weren't there other countries outside the mist? she asked curiously.
Yeah, I think so. There's an island to the southwest, and another country.
What are their names again?
I don't know. They were in that book, but people forgot the names after the war.
She waved a hand impatiently, scoffing. Why do people always forget important things?
Maybe they didn't think it was important.
Why wouldn't they?
Everan shrugged. I think it's starting, he said suddenly, pointing east.
And it was. As soon as the sun's tip rose above the horizon, a million rays of light shone across the world, though unbeknown to the Ametrisans still asleep under the blanket of mist. Kamile and Everan could not see it, but they did see the sudden ray of light color the mist bright yellow, and other colors too, light green and soft pink and orange. Strands of gold striated the rainbow of colors, and the stars faded as the sky overhead grew lighter and lighter. They watched, spellbound by the beautiful midsummer sunrise.
It seemed like a long time after that, the time they sat and enjoyed the morning's beauty, but for them it was too soon when the sun had risen above the horizon, and the mists faded into light gold to the east. They sighed, reluctant to move, but they knew they had to sometime; their feet had fallen asleep and their stomachs were growling insistently.
Kamile, ever curious, wondered, What do you think the sunrise looks like outside the mist?
I don't care, Everan said obstinately. I wouldn't trade theirs for ours for anything.
Kamile smiled but didn't say anything, and soon afterwards they climbed down from the branch and started to head back down the walkway. Filled with a sense of calm by the beautiful sight they had witnessed, they did not run, only walking rather slowly until they reached the door of the annex. They went in that way, seeing no point in trying to return the way they had come.
Kayle nearly jumped out of his skin. "How in the world did you get in here?" he demanded, pushing aside a stack of books to stare incredulously at them.
"G'morning to you too, Kayle," Kamile replied placidly. "Happy midsummer."
"Gods," Kayle muttered. "How early was it when you snuck in here? I thought I had locked the door!"
"We didn't go up this way," she said, shrugging. "We climbed up the roots and walked all the way to the top."
"All the way up?" Kayle put a hand to his forehead, sighing. "You two should not be up there. It's too dangerous. Don't do that again, all right?"
She shrugged carelessly, and by the time they had waved goodbye and left she had already forgotten the warning. Everan hadn't, of course, but he cared about it just as much as she did.
Everyone in Kocha was outside, chatting, walking to and fro, or not doing anything at all. Midsummer was a holy day, the very heart of the elves’ most sacred and beloved season, a day all elves looked forward to, if only for the pleasure of breathing in the sunshine- and salt-tinged air, of feeling the flowers grow and the trees sing in the forest. Not a single elf was inside on such a glorious day, children running here and there in some endless game, adults talking to one another from doorsteps or by the well. It was not a day to miss, that was for sure.
Pure elven at heart, Kamilé and Everan felt the same way; they savored the warmth of the bright summer sun, hoping that it did not rain as they walked down the street. Of course, their happiness was not complete; everywhere they went, they were met with glares that seemed to freeze the warmth of the sun. Older elves kept one eye on their children as they passed, as though to be sure they were not led astray by the scrawny, ragged duo, and the children themselves tightened their circles to let them know that they were not needed or wanted. But they had expected as much.
Let’s get out of here, Kamilé suggested, frowning, quite unlike her usual bright self—to be fair, she had been trying her best not to show any reaction to the other elves’ scorn and wariness of them.
Yeah, that’s—Everan paused, blinking, as a ball flew out of nowhere towards his face, and with some sharp reflex he caught it in both hands.
“Oh-h-h…oops,” a girl across the street murmured, her hands over her mouth, obviously the one who had thrown it.
“Nice going, Shima.” Her friends rolled their eyes at her.
“Yeah, now we’ll never get it back.”
“Uh-oh, they noticed us…”
Everan sighed impatiently, thrusting the ball in her direction; she caught it on the tips of her fingers, looking up to say something to him, but by that time, he and Kamilé had already walked away.
It’s kinda too bad, Kamilé noted as they veered off the main road, following a rough path west to the riverbank. I wanted to play.
But not with them, Everan objected. Not with any of them.
It isn’t fair, Kamilé complained as they reached the water’s edge, kicking off their shoes, Everan throwing his bag onto the pebbled shore. No matter what we do, they always think that we’ll attack them or something…
I don’t care, Everan said obstinately, sitting beside her on an overhanging tree branch.
Kamilé didn’t reply, dangling her feet in the water. Hey, Everan, she thought suddenly, when we get older, do you want to get married?
He wrinkled his nose. Why?
[KV1: notice how in the following paragraph, every other thing Kamile says is completely wrong.] She grinned at him, shoving him lightly in the shoulder. ‘Cause that’s what grown-ups do when they want to live together, she explained, as if it were obvious. They get married, and there’s rings and flowers and everything, and everyone’s happy for them, and they throw a big feast and wish you luck and all of that, remember, we went to Pilori’s before she left, and everyone in the city was happy, and then they got to go exploring!
Everan didn’t say anything, skimming the water with his toes. Kamilé continued, eyes bright as she wove the possibilities for him.
See, grown-ups can’t live together, right. No one’ll let ‘em. But if you get married then you got to, and no one can say anything! And didn’t we say we’d be together forever?
He nodded, watching her without interruption, as if this was a normal conversation between them.
So you want to, Everan? she asked him, beaming. It’ll be fun!
He gave a small smile and nodded again. Sure I will.
Okay! [/]Kamilé agreed brightly. [KV2: note that this is without any thought of romance from either of them. As far as they're concerned at this point, they're twins, though admittedly, they're never really sure.] But you have to keep it a secret, she added seriously. You can’t tell anybody until we’re all grown up and they can’t tell us what to do anymore, you gotta promise, all right?
I promise.
‘Kay, so do I. And we don’t have to wait for a long long time, just a little while.
Okay.
She grinned, leaning closer. Don’t you want to practice for the kiss?
[KV3: okay, that...was a Kamile moment. *rolls eyes*]
He scrambled away from her, wrinkling his nose again. Nuh-uh, that’s disgusting!
Huh? She gave him a blank look. He sat back on the tree branch, a good two feet away from her, and stuck his tongue out at her. You’re so mean! she pouted, folding her arms.
No I’m not!
Yeah you are! She reached out and pushed him hard, knocking him into the water. I was just kidding!
Hey, what was that for? he demanded, pushing his sodden hair out of his eyes.
For being a boy, she replied, smiling sweetly down at him. He jumped up and tugged on her foot until she splashed with a shout into the water next to him.
‘S not my fault! he objected, flicking a few droplets at her. Girls are weird.
No we aren’t! She ducked him underneath the surface, dodging out of the way as he splashed cool river water at her. It’s boys that are weird, they keep saying that girls can’t beat them up, but I do it all the time—
He retaliated by pulling her arm hard, bringing her underwater with him, and they fought beneath the surface, each trying to gain the upper hand, until by mutual agreement they made their peace and came up for air. Gasping for breath between easy, unrestrained laughter, they spent the first few hours of midsummer playing in the clear water. Finally, at midday, they dragged themselves out of the current, abandoning the water for the sunlit grass nearby. As they sat back-to-back, as always, they let the hot sun dry their sodden clothes and siphon away the salty breeze.
Kamilé sneezed. Do you really think girls are weird?
No, he replied cheerfully. Just you.
But—but that’s not fair! she objected. Why just me?
He grinned. I didn’t say it was a bad thing, Kamilé.
She would have stuck her tongue out at him, had he been facing her. You better believe it isn’t!
Do you really think boy are weird?
She snorted. Of course they are! ‘Cept, you’re not. Are you even a boy?
[KV3: Gotta love how they think exactly the opposite about each other...and that they're both right. (: ]
He elbowed her in the ribs, annoyed. Are you even a girl?
Hey! Of course I am! She shoved him, offended, and he shoved back; giggling, she dived on top of him, struggling to pin him to the ground. He fought back bravely, but in the end, she won—as always.
I win again, she sang, wrinkling her nose at him as she pushed him to the ground with both hands.
You always win, he muttered, shoving her off of him and brushing off his now-dry shirt. She grinned.
Don’t even know why you fight back anymore, Everan, she replied, but it’s fun, right?
If you’re not the one on the ground, he answered testily. She rolled her eyes, suddenly beaming as she tumbled off of him.
I know! Let’s play a game.
What game? he asked suspiciously, brushing a few pine needles off his shirt.
Okay, you be the evil one—
Again?
Yeah, and I’ll be the chosen, and we gotta fight. C’mon, it’ll be fun!
I was evil last time, he complained. And anyway, it’s blasphe—
I don’t care! But you can be the chosen if you want. Ooh! she added on sudden inspiration. We can both be chosen, like Kilio and Tara!
But you were asleep that class, Everan objected. How d’you—
I dunno. Come on, let’s go! She pulled him to his feet, tossing him a dead stick the length of her arm and finding another for herself. He followed her into the woods, their footsteps making no sound whatsoever.
What’re we—
Shh, she whispered. The bad people are close, don’t make a sound…they’ve kidnapped everybody, got ‘em all tied up somewhere, and we don’t care but we gotta rescue them anyways, ‘cause we’re the chosen. Right?
He nodded, and they crept silently to the east, and at Kamilé’s signal, slid smoothly behind a tree at the edge of a clearing.
Ready? He nodded. Okay…now!
With a fearsome battle cry, Kamilé leapt into the clearing, brandishing her makeshift sword, Everan holding his stick like a bow, as they faced…
…nothing.
Laughing, they battled make-believe enemies fearlessly, with Kamilé making most of it up as she went along, Everan slaying every enemy while she rescued the “hostages”—a few bird eggs played this part well, though she knew better than to touch them, and the birds were very good villains for them to battle. Fighting heroically to the death, and winning every time, Kamilé at last stumbled dramatically and fell, her weapon falling from her hand, lying very still in the agony of a fatal blow. Everan sat beside her, leaning over her curiously.
Are you okay?
Nuh-uh, she replied, with a sort of noble solemnity, opening one eye.
I’m dead.
Oh.
Did you get that human that killed me?
He nodded. Sure I did.
Then I can rest in peace…she said seriously, [KV: FOOOORESHADOWIIIIING] but upon glancing at the expression on his face she was forced to giggle and sit up again.
I’m not really dead, she explained. They’d never get me like that, right?
He nodded, relieved. Don’t do that anymore, he said sternly.
Aw, it’s just for fun, Everan, she placated him. And ‘sides, chosen’ve gotta be brave…
Suddenly, she yawned, rubbing a hand across her eyes. ‘m tired, she muttered sleepily, falling back and gazing at the few dim stars that had appeared in the gold-tinged sky. He lay beside her, blinking sleepily.
So’m I, he agreed.
She yawned again, folding her hands behind her head. Midsummer, midsummer…she sang softly, the solstice, the solstice is come…a whole new year…
Everan lay on his side, eyes closed, attempting to drift off to sleep. Kamilé tried, too, but it was difficult.
Hey, Everan? she asked him dimly.
Hmm?
I’m really hungry.
He opened his eyes, frowning. Really? Are you sure?
Of course I’m sure! When’s the last time we had something to eat? she demanded.
Um…I can’t remember, he admitted.
Really, really hungry…she complained. D’you have anything?
He shook his head. We’ll have to find something when it’s light, he said sensibly.
Are you hungry too? I know you are, she accused.
He closed his eyes again, their shoulders touching, the slight warmth enough to dispel the light sea breeze from the south that rustled the leaves on the trees. There’s not anything we can do about it, he informed her, and that was that.
Sighing, her stomach rumbling in protest, she nestled against him, a satisfying feeling of warmth and safety washing over her until she forgot completely about her hunger, about being miles away from the closest thing they had to a home, about everything except the flitting dreams sprinkled in their sleep like drops of gold here and there, dreams that, like everything, they shared completely.
GASP! After months and months of procrastination (actually it wasn't that long) KIRBETTE WROTE THE FOURTH CHAPTER!
Imma writin' machine. cool
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Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2006 10:36 am
Yay! Keep it commin'.
Only one tiny bit of criticism: just a few typos, maybe only one, anyway I'm too lazy to go back and point out where they were, but it's really not a big deal.
Oh by the way, I saw you on NaNoWriMo the other day, how's your book for that comming along?
Yeah, ok back on topic; I like this book and I really hope you get published cause I want to read them all! I'll be first in line to buy one when you do.
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Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2006 7:11 am
thanks! heart
Typos, of course, because I have to write them in the box instead of copy and pasting them...sucks not to have the internet crying
hehehe *evilgrin*
my NaNo thing is the sequel to this, actually...I should post it sometime, huh?
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Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 10:23 am
And now I have eleven chapters of said Nano up. Wootwoot! and the day is still young.
Chapter...five? for Ametris is probably not forthcoming soon, as I don't know what to put in it...it'll probably be the last chapter of word omit and boring crap, I'm planning chapter six to be the start of everything... ^^ keep reading!
Pax y amore from
~Kirby
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Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 2:25 pm
Ametris makes me happy. whee
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Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 5:43 pm
Go figure, me too!
Happyhappyjoyjoy, I get to write cute things ^^ Even when the plot thickens, I still get to make them cute >.>
Cause they're so little mrgreen
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Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 7:40 pm
COMMENT OR KIRBY WILL EAT YOU! domokun
Chapter four is finished heart
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Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 12:18 pm
It's here! eek YAY!!! heart
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Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 8:16 pm
hoooooooooooooyesitis.
READANDCOMMENT.
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Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 2:25 pm
WARNING: Mild anti-human racism. It happens.
Chapter Four
Kamilé yawned and stretched when the sun started to dye the mist pure gold, poking Everan awake and blinking the deep sleep away.
Come on, Everan, she urged him, get up already!
Okay, I’m up, he muttered, turning over and closing his eyes again. She shoved him hard.
Please, Everan? I’m starving, let’s go find something to eat…
He nodded as he sat up, yawning. Okay, okay…
She tugged him to his feet, and together, they set off into the woods, Kamilé pulling Everan along unmercifully. It was summer, and all the forest was in full bloom; it did not take long to find their breakfast.
Look! Kamilé pointed happily to a tree heavy with sweet orange fruit; they just called them “oranges.” You wanna get ‘em, or me?
Huh? he asked her, still half-asleep.[KV: Aww] She rolled her eyes.
Catch ‘em, all right?
He nodded, and without further ado she scampered up the tree, reaching far out on a twisted limp to jerk a fruit off its branch. She let it drop, allowing Everan to catch it, which he did…barely. Giggling, she tossed three down at once, watching in amusement as he ducked out of the way, frowning up at her. But as she reached for a fifth, she heard something that made them both freeze.
“…growing well this year…already ripe, some of them…”
Footsteps could be heard in the undergrowth, coming closer…
Kamilé, come on! Everan urged her. She grabbed the fruit before it fell, jumping down and dashing into the cover of the trees. Everan tugged her behind a tree, and they held their breath, as two men approached the tree.
“They’re not too small, either,” one said, impressed. “You’ve got a nice harvest.”
“It’ll be a good year,” the other said proudly. “All my other trees—what’s this?”
“Hrm?”
“Some are missing…You can see the places where the peel came off…”
Kamilé and Everan stiffened with fear.
“Birds?”
“No, probably just kids…”
“Y’know, there’s been other things stolen…no one’s thought much of it…bread, and fruit, too…”
“Really?”
“Yes, some suspect those two kids…you know the ones.”
“Oh, yeah…little weeds,” the man said venomously. Everan pulled Kamilé into the shadows and covered her mouth with both hands before she could say a word; she glared at him, but then saw that he, too, was incensed at the mortal insult.
“I’d hate to have them steal from me,” the voices continued. “Careful, or they’ll make your home a target…”
The man’s footsteps brushed against the grass as he sighed; his companion followed. Kamilé and Everan kept very quiet for a moment, Everan checking around the tree to be sure they were really gone. Kamilé pushed his hands off of her, dusting her tunic off with all the dignity she could muster. Sorry, he apologized.
She was hardly paying attention, glowering in the direction of the two men. She muttered a few angry curses in her head. No one calls me a weed, she said furiously, starting for the elf’s house. Everan, let’s pay ‘em back—
Everan grabbed her hand and restrained her. Let’s just go eat, he said calmingly. She sighed, following him into the woods obediently, but not without a parting glare at the house.
They sat in the shade of a tree deeper in the woods, anger forgotten with the leaves blowing in the win. Everan handed her a fruit and took one for himself, eating in silence. Kamilé tossed a piece of the sweet fruit into her mouth, frowning in concentration.
I can’t remember, she said at last. There was something we gotta do, but I forgetted—
Forgot, he corrected automatically. What sort of thing?
I dunno. She shrugged. Couldn’t say if it was important…
Maybe it was school, he suggested calmly. She slapped herself on the forehead, stuffing the last piece into her mouth and leaping up. Eäyo, [KV: No translations for that one O.o]we have school today, Everan! Why didn’t you tell me, we’re gonna be late!
I don’t care. He hardly even blinked.
Oh. She shifted from foot to foot anxiously. Well, can’t we go anyway? Hurry up!
Doesn’t matter if I hurry. No one cares if we’re there or not. Everan had only one speed, and it was nowhere near Kamilé’s preference.
But I wanna go! she urged him. Please?
He relented, finishing his breakfast and following her east into the woods. She was nearly hopping with impatience, practically running circles around him, until she finally lost all restraint and grabbed his hand, dragging him along as she started to run.
Hey! he objected, barely keeping up. Stop it!
You’re too slow, shut up and run!
I can’t go that fast! he pleaded. She slowed to a stop; he had a point. They stood and caught their breath for a moment before Kamilé giggled and took off again.
Catch me if you can!
Wait up! Everan called, running after her. Don’t leave me behind!
She conceded and let him catch up, and together they raced through the trees, only stopping when they neared the schoolhouse and crept silently in.
Every eye turned to them as they closed the door behind them, but Marli, who was pinning a detailed diagram on the wall, did not notice as they slipped into two seats far back. Way to go, every look seemed to say, you’re late. They ignored the haughty glares and watched Marli innocently.
“I’ve been planning an anatomy lesson for you,” their teacher said, as if it was a huge treat. “Hopefully it won’t be too boring.”
The class prepared itself to fall asleep; no one ever said Marli did not make false promises. She turned and watched them yawn, amused, and in the process made eye contact with Kamilé.
“Nice of you to join us,” she smirked. Kamilé looked around in confusion as everyone glanced their way.
“So anyway,” Marli continued, drawing their attention once more, “we all know that humans make everything complicated.”
She said it in a joking tone, with a smile, and nearly all of them grinned appreciatively, save those with human blood in them, who scowled. Kamilé frowned; for some reason, the racist slur greatly offended her.
“Not all of them,” Marli admitted lightly, “but really, it isn’t their fault. Look how complex their bodies are compared to ours.”
They followed her gaze to the diagram on the wall, an ink drawing of the insides of a human and elf, respectively. The elf was some six inches shorter, with very pronounced pointed ears and a lot more space inside than the human possessed.
“Yeah, I know we aren’t that short, but what can I say? I got it from Merista, it’s almost certain that a human drew it. Anyway, I always wonder how they can function with all of that mess inside them, though it’s interesting how everything comes together. See, we have everything in the center of our bodies, our heart, stomach, lungs, and such…four or five major organs in all. Humans have all these little ones here and there, see? They’re connected to the stomach, or this one—it’s called an intestine—and they’re all a bit useless. And you see, their hearts are on the left side of their bodies, behind the rib cage, very protected there, and their digestive and circulatory systems are so complicated…the only thing we really have in common is the brain, in location and size.”
A few people snorted. [KV: XD]
“Notice how that compares with merpeople—” She pulled out another drawing, showing them. “Merpeople are more like fish than anything, they have this large organ here, see, called a swim bladder, that fills with water and lets them sink or rise. Fish have it too, and like fish, there’s really nothing in their tails except blood. They have an open circulatory system—no veins or arteries, just blood surrounding everything and swirling around, and their heart is in their neck. I don’t have a picture of a dwarf, but apparently they don’t have much of any system at all, just a brain and heart buried under muscle, and only a few nerves and veins in their chests and limbs…”
Kamilé stared out the window as Marli expanded on her lecture, letting her mind wander as she finally remembered what she had forgotten earlier..
What to give Everan for our birthday…she wondered, in a corner of her mind where he might not hear. She fantasized on what to give him, tuning out and letting Marli’s voice slide over her head.
Um…I could…no…no, that’s too girly…or maybe…
You don’t have to get me anything.
Kamilé started and glared at Everan, who was apparently paying avid attention to the lesson.
Get out of my head!
I can’t help it, he said calmly, with a hint of amusement, you think so loud…
I want it to be a surprise, stay in your own head!
Don’t we say every year that we won’t get presents for each other? he pointed out.
Do we ever listen?
No, but I don’t want you to steal something…
I won’t! But what do you want?
Nothing.
Yeah, you do! There’s gotta be something—
I want a family, he said shortly, but you can’t give me that.
She frowned, shoving him in the shoulder. No, ‘cause you’ve already got one, stupid.
He did not reply, but she could see his expression relax slightly. She was glad; he needed to stop obsessing over families. It was as if the thought as always in the back of his mind, no matter what she said…but she agreed completely that perhaps, having one would be nice. He politely stayed out of her mind as she slipped into her mental debate again. He probably had something for her already; he always knew just what to give her. The pet fireflies were a gift from a few years ago, by far her favorite, and there were always some to play with, as they seemed to multiply every day.
Class let out for midmorning break after a few hours, and Kamilé and Everan were the first to leave the crowded room, heading straight for their favorite tree, a sprawling oak. Kamilé gave him a leg up, then scrambled onto the branch herself and sat beside him. By the time the rest of the class had emerged, they were already in a world of their own, deep in conversation.
A few older boys and girls converged beneath a tree nearby, leaning against the trunk and folding their arms as they watched curiously.
“Who’re those kids?”
“Trouble,” said a girl with a frown.
“What? How can they be, they’re three feet high…?”
“How d’you know?”
“Well, for one thing, you never see twins around here, especially boy-girl twins…And see, their clothes are all ragged, and they’re all alone, and see what they’re doing? That isn’t normal.”
They watched in silence as Kamilé made elaborate gesticulations, obviously telling a story to Everan, though both of them made no sound at all.
“Must be a twin thing.”
“Or maybe he speaks some freaky language, and he taught her.”
“Yeah, he doesn’t speak Ametrisan, I bet.”
“Does he even talk at all? I’ve never heard him.”
“No, and he never even changed the look on his face…It’s way too serious for a little kid.”
“No, he does…when he’s with her, see?”
“What do you think they’re talking about?” a boy wondered, and they thought about it, falling silent.
...and then Tara got out her big sword—no, she ad two, one for each hand—and cut off his head, and Kilio got his bow and shot the other one dead, and they won ‘cause no one beats chosen, Everan.
Kamilé grinned at Everan’s enraptured expression.
Did that really happen?
Um…She thought about it. Yup.
How d’you know?
She shrugged. But I like Kilio and Tara best, she said, ‘cause there’s two of ‘em.
Everyone knew the names of Kilio and Tara, the famous twin chosen, the first and only chosen to be born at once.
What’d they look like? Everan asked, half to let her ramble, half out of curiosity.
Well, they were really really tall, and elves, of course, and everyone loved them, and all the bad people were scared of ‘em ‘cause they’d kill ‘em all just like that, but they didn’t ‘cause chosen don’t do that.
In truth, she had no idea, but she wanted to be one of them, and Everan to be the other, so she made them exactly how she wanted them to be. Everan believed all of her stories, or at least, he liked them, and she liked his too, though they were all from books he had read.
…and they had wings so they could fly whenever someone called them, and they could go really fast, and fly way up in the sky, over the mist…
And so the time passed, until Marli called them in for another lesson, something about elven ancestry that she was glad to escape when she let them out for lunch.
C’mon, Everan, she said cheerfully as she stepped out of the door, reaching back to pull him along.
But he wasn’t there.
Everan?
Curious and a little worried, she looked this way and that, scanning the path, peering through the window into the deserted classroom…oh, there he was. And Marli was talking to him…were they in trouble?
Everan looked very serious, but that was nothing new…what disturbed her was that the easy expression on Marli’s face had disappeared, and she, too, looked far too Everan-like for Kamilé’s peace of mind. She was just about to burst in and rescue him when Everan reached out his hand, taking something Marli set into his palm. He stared at whatever it was for a moment before he slipped it into his pocket. She wondered what it was for a moment, but then he turned and walked out of the door without once saying a word to their teacher.
What was that all about? she demanded, falling into step with him as they headed down the path.
Nothing.
What’d she give you?
Nothing.
Everan! I hate it when people lie!
I’m not lying!
But are we in trouble?
No.
Everan, tell me, c’mon!
He wrinkled his nose, grinning, seeming pleased with himself. It’s a secret.
I hate secrets! she said furiously, kicking a rock and sending it flying. C’mon, you gotta tell me!
I will, I will, just…later.
Evera-a-a-an, she pleaded, but he was adamant. Scowling and lobbing a pinecone at him, she refused to speak to him until they arrived at the center of the city.
What’re we doing here anyway? she inquired, relenting on the silent treatment since it obviously had no effect on him. It never did.
I don’t know. He shrugged.
Okay! Then…. She smiled slyly and prodded him on the shoulder. You’re it! she giggled, running off. He laughed and chased after her, weaving through the afternoon throng. They ran around aimlessly as the came continued, part Chase, part Hide, part laughter.
It was only when they saw the crowd that they stopped, peering around the side of a house at the spectacle. Dozens of adults, mothers and fathers and all seven Elders sat on the steps of houses or leaned against walls, laughing and smiling as the children from school played in the square, chasing each other around the well in a game much like the one Kamilé and Everan had just abandoned. A father or two joined in the fun, their wives shaking their heads and laughing as they played like children themselves. As they watched, one small child tripped and fell, grazing his elbow, and ran to his mother at once to show her. The two watched in silence as she kissed her son and sent him laughing back into the mêlée. Unable to look any longer, they turned away.
I wanted to play, Kamilé said sadly as they walked down the street, her voice subdued.
You know they wouldn’t let you, Everan snapped, suppressing the annoyance in his own voice with difficulty. She knew he ddn’t mean to sound so harsh, it was just the way he was, but she also knew that he was right. She reached out and took his hand, holding it tightly as the same thoughts ran through their heads.
With elves, everyone is family. They do not discriminate, have no spite for one another, leave no one out, share everything with everybody.
Most of the time.
They finally sat on one of the redwood’s giant roots, sharing the last of their breakfast and watching the tree’s branches sway in the breeze. Kamilé swung her legs absently and wished she could go higher; Everan glanced uneasily at the ground ten feet below from time to time. After a minute, he pushed the third fruit at her. You can have it.
We’ll split it, she said firmly, peeling it and separating it into equal halves.
I’m not hungry, you eat it.
Yes you are. C’mon, Everan, you gotta eat, she coaxed. He relented and took his half without another word. Kamilé chewed on a piece, her eyes flickering over the mist-shrouded sky, the swaying grass, the bark on the tree, the empty street, the shimmering glare on the stones…
Be right back, she said suddenly, hopping down from the root.
Where’re you going? he asked as she ran off.
I saw something shiny, I gotta see what it is! “C’mon,” she added in an impatient mutter, searching the cobblestone street. “I know it was here somewhere…”
When she finally found it, she gasped with delight. There, there on the stones was the perfect present for Everan! And she had found it all on her own, too.
She picked it up and watched it sway in the wind. It was…well, she didn’t know exactly what it was, but it made such a pretty sound, and she knew Everan would like it. It seemed to be four hollow wooden tubes hanging from a metal ring, with a polished stone residing among them by a strand of thick twine. Dangling from the stone was a plain wooden circle, but it shone brightly in the sunlight, layers of pine resin glistening on its surface. She listened to the notes the little trinket made, entranced.
After a moment she came to her senses, slipping it carefully into her pocket, elated and relieved that she had found the perfect thing. And to think, she hadn’t even had to steal it!
Strangely, a dozen others exactly like it were hanging in a stall beside the street, swaying innocently to and fro. But she wasn’t to know that.
She skipped back to Everan, careful to keep any expression from her face. What’d you find? he inquired.
It’s a secret, she sniffed, determined to pay him back for lying to her earlier.
Okay, he said with a shrug. She stared at him incredulously before turning away, kicking the air furiously as she fumed in silence. Everan was the worst when it came to secrets; he would never tell and never want to know. But eventually, her annoyance died away, and she allowed satisfaction to flow through her, pleased that she had found something to give her best—and only—friend in the world for his birthday.
That night, when she was sure Everan was asleep, she crawled out of bed and got to work, taking his gift carefully you of her pocket. Two of the wooden chimes had become ensnarled, but after a few struggling moments they hung loose once more. She hastily held the chimes still, glancing back at Everan.
You better be asleep, she thought dimly, not loudly enough to wake him, but if he was he would hear it and make sure he fell asleep right away, or so she imagined. Her thought dissipated along a soft wall of sleep blocking his mind. Satisfied, she fished for a knife they kept on the bookcase, retrieving it and sitting on the floor beside the firefly lantern. The little insects gathered curiously against the glass, shedding light over her as she worked.
The first thing to do was fix that circle; this was the hard part. She was not very good at things like this—it was more Everan’s specialty—but she could try. Very carefully, she shaved away the wood until only a portion of the circle remained: a crescent moon, if a little rough. To make it look better, in her opinion, she carved three additional crescents on all but the longest of the chimes. On this one, she engraved—holding her breath the entire time—Everan’s name, as neatly as she could. Pleased, she held her masterpiece up to the light.
Everan liked things like this, simple and sturdy, not too extravagant or ornate…things of the forest, really. And he liked music, as far as she knew, so she thought, with immense contentment, that he would definitely like this. Smiling, she hid it behind the bookcase and crawled back into bed, pulling the blanket over her head and drifting off to sleep.
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Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 6:24 pm
I totally want to read it, but it is late, and I have school.
So, grr on my life. *Prints for reading during homeroom*
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