Monday, October 7, 2013

The Bittersweet Taste of Love

Your beauty is that of myths and legends,
So rare and precious that men would fight over you.
For you have become the essence of all things captivating,
In a way, only you could do.

You have stolen my attention,
Like a thief in the night.
And my knees grow weak,
Every time you enter my sight.

With eyes like jewels,
That lure my gaze.
Your skin so soft,
You never cease to amaze.

I find being with you is like a drug,
An emotional high that never descends.
Every time you glance or at me or give me a hug,
I want it to never end.

Your laugh like the rain,
A pleasant sound to my ears.
Yet I watch in fascination,
As you fill me with all the fear,
Of all the things I could wrong,
When you're next to me, right here.
For I would pronounce my undying love for you,
If only you would hear.

But now as you have ignored me,
My day seems as black as night.
Your light is gone from my world,
Vanishing far away from my sight.

And yet I would cross the farthest ocean,
Just to be by your side,
To hear you say my name.
With me you could confide,
All your secrets, all your pain.
All your hurts you want to hide.
But alas, it wasn't meant to be.
So here I will eternally bide,
On the other side of the farthest ocean,
Waiting for you to be here,
By my side.


The Closet Door

 I'm sure I close the closet door alot more than I ever open it.

This thought perplexed me as I reversed my car, headed to another monotonous day of work. I was a single 24 year old, who lived alone, didn't have any pets and very few friends. Strangely enough though, the closet door wasn't the only odd thing that had been happening over the last couple of weeks. I found many a thing not where I left it. The TV was on and on mute when I came back home the other day. My chicken sandwich had disappeared from the fridge this morning.

 What could possibly be causing this?

I dwelled on it as I continued my drive to work, and then  suddenly a solution came to mind.

 Screw it. I'm gona find out once and for all.

I slammed on my brakes, bringing the car to  a screeching halt. I did quick U turn and start heading back home. A few minutes later I pulled into my driveway, stopped my car and quickly walked to the door. Unlocking it and closing it behind me, I walked upstairs and into my bedroom only to be greeted by a familiar sight.

It had happened again.

The closet door was open.

I decided to put my plan into action. Closing the closet door first, I hurried over to my bedside drawers and opened the top draw, pulling out a black small bag. Unzipping it, I pulled out my video camera. I turned it on and positioned it on my bed, making sure that it can see the closet. I pressed the record button and then carefully positioned some dirty clothes over it, obscuring it from view, yet making sure that the lens wasn't blocked either.


My plan accomplished, I headed back downstairs, locked the door and hopped back into my car. Sure I was going to be late for work, but this was worth it.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                                                                                                
The day passed like any other day at work.

Paperwork, paperwork, and more paperwork. Boss comes by to check on my progress, and starts asking questions. Yes Sir. No Sir. Three bags full sir.

Toilet.

Coffee break.

Repeat.

But what really was on my mind the whole day, was that video camera lying on my bed.

What will the video camera catch on film?

The thought plagued me as the hours slowly and painfully inched by. The hands of clock finally struck five, after what seemed like an eternity, and my day at work was finished. I walked very quickly through the office, needing to get home as soon as possible. I could see out of the corner of my eye that some of my co-workers were raising their eyebrows in amusement at the hurriedness of my pace, but I didnt care. I needed to see what that video camera recorded.

Workcard punched.

Crowded elevator.

Underground carpark.

Car keys in my hand.

Unlock my car.

Engine started.

Pedal to the metal.

My car shot out of the underground carpark and onto the road. I was probably speeding now that I think of it, but at the time, speeding was the least of my worries.

What will the video camera catch on film?

I pulled onto the onramp for the motorway, it usually being the fastest way home.

Fuck.

I had forgotten about the traffic. Cars lined the motorway, slowly inching along every few seconds. Everyone was trying to do what I was doing... Trying to get home.
                                  
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The sun had set by the time I finally pulled onto the street that I lived on. It had taken me a good hour and a half to get home through that congested motorway, and to make things even worse, it seemed like the power was out for the whole suburb.

Stupid electricity companies doing work at the worst times. Typical.

I pulled into my drive, hopped out and almost ran to my front door. Unlocking it and closing it behind me,  I flicked on the light switch. Nothing happened. I let out a heavy sigh, as I remembered that the power is down. Stumbling in the dark, my hands outstretched feeling for the walls, I finally make it to my kitchen cupboards. My hand grasped blindly in the dark, trying to feel for the box of matches and  candles that I knew was there in the top shelf. Or at least, was meant to be in there.

Please. Please, still be here...Aah, got them.

Finally feeling them, I grabed them both and after a few minutes managed to start lighting candles. Leaving one candle flickering by the front door, I lit another one and my way upstairs. To my bedroom. Stepping through the doorframe, I squinted trying to see in the low light whether the closet door was open or closed.

Thank God.

The closet door was closed. Just as I left it. This, at least was a good sign. Heading over to the bed, I pulled of the clothes and looked for my video camera. It was also just where I left it. It was still even recording. I stopped and then saved the recording, and then I hit play.

I was glued to the screen, expecting to see some ghost to appear on the video recording.  A minute passed. Nothing happened. Then two, then three. I started fast forwarding it. Still nothing.

Maybe there was nothing after all.

Then suddenly something flashed across the screen in the video recording. I held my breath in anticipation , but  the fast forwarding was too fast and I couldn't see anything but a blur. I immediately rewound it and pressed play, and what I saw made my body freeze in terror.

A man had walked into my bedroom, opened the closet door, got inside, and closed the closet door.

HOLY FUCK!
Screw ringing the police! I have to get out of my house.. NOW!

Still holding the video camera, my legs lept into action. I raced out of my bedroom and down the stairs. Almost skidding on the floor, I turned while running, heading for the front door.  And then I froze.

There was a man blocking the door.

In his hands lay my metal baseball bat. A grin escaped his lips as he uttered but a single sentence.


"Did you think you were alone in the dark?"

Thursday, October 3, 2013

The Mansion [Part 3]

We all stood there, staring at the bloody handprints.
Shocked.
Dumbfounded.
Matt was the first to break the silence. "That's it guys. We are getting out of here first, then we're gona call the police."
"Wait, we can't just leave that little girl.... She needs our help!" exclaimed Aroha, as she hurried over to Maria, enveloping the now crying beauty in her arms.
"Did you see a little girl, though? 'Cause I sure didn't. So let's just go now, okay!" spat out Randy.
"You bastard! Are you a calling me a liar?" shouted Maria, her shock quickly turning to anger. "I know what I saw!"
"Calm down guys!" I shouted over the top of everyone. "Let's just sort this out, and a make a decision. Together."
Surprisingly everyone stopped bickering, and looked my way, waiting for what I had to say next. I slowly rubbed my temple with my fingers, desperately trying to collect my thoughts and say something that would help.
"Look guys.." I continued "IF there is a little girl in there, and we leave now to go back to my place and call the police, it might be too late for her by the time the police arrive." I paused, then resumed. "How about we try get inside the Mansion, find the landline phone while keeping an eye out for this girl, and then call the police from the landline? Or does someone have a better idea?"
We discussed back and forth for a few minutes every option. Some accused others of being spineless cowards, others of being delusional drunkards, but at the end everyone agreed, some grudgingly, that we would go with my plan.
We split up initially, everyone circling the Mansion trying to find some open window or unlocked door that would allow us to sneak in, without having to forcefully break in. We soon found though that there was no such door or window. We reconvened and decided to smash a window, climb through it, and find the phone from there. Tane managed to find a nice rock that did the trick, and a few minutes later, we were all inside.
We all took in our surroundings. We were in a large library, bookshelves covering every part of the wall. We had a look around, but there was no phone. We checked the next room, and the one after that and still, there was no telephone. So we decided to split into two groups as to find the phone faster. One group, comprised of me, Kate, Randy, Aroha and Hayato, was going to keep checking the downstairs rooms, while the other group, comprised of Matt, Tane, Maria, Patricia, were going to check upstairs.
Minutes dragged by as we frantically looked around, hoping and praying to see that telephone, or some sign of that little girl. We entered the next room, a large lounge by the looks of it. And then we saw it. On a small coffee table in the corner of the room.
A phone.
Randy raced over to it, picked it up, put the phone to his ear. He reached down to dial, and then froze.
"What's wrong Randy?" Kate called out. Randy didn't reply. I followed Randy's gaze. The rotary dial of the telephone was covered in blood. And below it, lying on the carpet was a hand.
A mangled sawn off hand.
At the sight of so much blood, Randy wavered and fell to the floor, causing a loud bang to echo around the large lounge. He had fainted.
Before any of us could get to him though, we suddenly heard a noise. A noise that was coming from behind one of the couches. We had awoken something.... And now it was coming for us. I don't remember what the others did, but I stood motionless, my whole body frozen in fear. My eyes glued to that couch. The noise continued. It was coming closer. A hand emerged from behind the couch, the palm pushing hard against the carpet floor, as if holding someone up. The fingers on the hand extended out in opposing and unnatural angles. Someone had gone through the struggle to break every single finger in a different direction. An elbow soon followed the arm, and then a shoulder. And then a face...
It was a little girl.
Or what was left of a little girl.
Her nose had been cut off... Her earlobes, bitten off... Both of her eyes were almost completely swollen over by massive bruising that surrounded them. Parts of her scalp showed through, from where her long black hair and had been torn off. And I will not even describe to you what state the rest of her body was in, for such cruelty and malice has no place in the world of the living.
And even though it was the most horrific thing I'd ever seen, I yearned to run over to her side and pick her up. Comfort her, tell her everything was going to be okay. Tell her that she was still a beautiful little princess. Yet I did not move, nor did I speak, for the horror that my eyes beheld was paralyzing.
She must have looked at all of us, hurt by the looks of horror and disgust that we could not hide. But all I remember was locking eyes with her, those eyes brimming with pain and suffering that I could only begin to imagine. And as her bruised lips moved to utter something, I sank to my knees and began to weep.
"Help... Me...." the little girl gasped.

Monday, September 30, 2013

The Mansion [Part 2]

To be honest the trip there was quite uneventful. Sure some of us slipped over due to the slimey clay and got their arses dirty. Others somehow managed to find the deepest part of the bog, sinking past their knees into the dirty filthy water. Squeamish Maria even managed to convince Randy to piggy back her across the bog, though me and Matt were really hoping that Randy would trip, sending them both face first into the bog. I would have loved to have seen that. Anyways, we all crossed the bog eventually, and after a decent amount of hiking up the steep inclined hill, we made it. We all stood under the cover of the manuka trees that bordered the edge of the bush, drinking in the sight that lay before us.

Perfectly mown grass lawns stretched before us, intercepted by what looked like to be vegetable and flower gardens, and behind that - the Mansion. To be honest, it truly was a mansion in every sense. There was a massive tiled courtyard that surrounded the main entrance, decorated with tables, chairs  and even barbecues in a perfectly symmetrical design. All the doors and the frames of the windows and sliding doors appeared to be made out of solid mahogany wood, which in turn colour complemented both the tiled courtyard and the rest of the house's exterior walls. There seemed to be so many windows, that I never even tried to guess how many rooms lay within. All in all, I'd say that the Mansion covered at least 600 meters squared, if not more.

I remember it was Kate who made the first move. She must have stepped forth, her feet scrunching the perfectly trimmed grass, but to me it had always seemed like that girl glided on the air. The way she moved and turned...a dancing angel in our midst. The way that she flicked her long black curls, causing the sunlight to frame those deep blue eyes. Eyes that seemed to dance and smile whenever I saw them. She was my dream girl.

Kate turned around, surprised that no one had followed suit. "Come on guys" she giggled "Last one there buys next week's beer!" And with that, she raced off in a sprint towards the Mansion. That definitely did the trick. Within a matter of seconds we were all sprinting over the grass lawns, none of us wanting our wallets to be lighter next week.

Out of the eleven of us that sprinted across the imaginary finish line and onto the tiled courtyard,  it was Hayato and Patricia who tied for last place. "I guess that means we're having the double the amount of free beer next week!" I shouted to both of them, giving Matt a sneaky wink at the same time. Hayato immediately started cursing in Japanese, very unhappy at such a thought - which only caused us to break into fits of giggles and laughter.    
                                                                                 
"It's okay Hayato" I called back to him, struggling not to break in laughter again. "We don't drink that much...". That proved to be to be the last straw, as we all burst laughing again, the truth usually being far from that. Laughter is thankfully infectious and it was only a matter of seconds before Hayato was laughing alongside us, our lungs gasping for air.

"Well, I guess no one is home, or we would know by now I think" proclaimed Randy, pushing his ever slipping glasses back onto his nose. "He's got a point, guys" replied Tane " If there was, we would have been chased off by now by some guy with an air rifle, or some stupid freackin son of a-"

Tane was suddenly interrupted by a bloodcurdling scream that came from behind us. We all turned around, startled and freaked out by the terror that the scream had expressed.

 It was Maria.

She was standing rigidly still. Her body frozen in fear. Her mouth still open, as if her bloodcurdling scream had frozen in her throat. Her eyes leaking tears. Her right arm stretched out, pointing with a trembling hand. Pointing at one of the many sliding doors of the mansion.

Time slowed as my eyes followed her trembling pointing hand, hoping this was all some sick prank. But what I saw still haunts me to this very day. Leaking down the glass sliding door was two bloody handprints. Two long bloody handprints that seemed like they had been clawing at the glass.

"Girl...." Maria gasped "There was a little girl there."



Stephen King's 2 simple tips to becoming a writer


Saturday, September 28, 2013

The Mansion [Part 1]

When I was a teenager (which was only a few years ago, if you know what I mean) I used to chill the bush that surrounded my house with a bunch of my mates. You have to understand, this was Kiwi (aka New Zealand) bush. It's not nice open space between trees, with grass and pine needles covering the ground. Instead the trees are dense and close together, vines growing over the wet slippery clay - as there is virtually no top soil.

Anyways me and my mates would usually kick back a couple beers, and occasionally goof around in someone else's property while the owners were away. More than once we got chased off by some freackin mongrel mutt that fancied taking a bite out of our arses. But that never discouraged us, as we'd just go another property the next time. We were the lords of the land. At least that's we thought, until everything changed.

It was a sunny Sunday afternoon, and the end of our last year in high school was in sight. In celebration of this I bought a couple of extra packets of beer to our chillout that afternoon. Time started to pass quickly, as it  always does when you're having a good time, and before I knew it - it was almost time for everyone to go their seperate ways. Just as the first of us were getting ready to leave, someone yelled out "Hold up guys. Let's not leave yet. Let's go to someone's property."

The voice belonged to Maria, the hottest and at the time most intoxicated girl in our group. She was a straight up gorgeous platinum blonde that wore usually only tanks tops and short shorts, which fitted her curvaceous figure like a glove.
"We've done them all" replied my best friend and wingman, Matt Caerdon "It's just boring now."
Loud discussion broke out amongst the group, everyone wanting to voice their own opinion on the subject. But amongst all the noise and discussion, it was the quietest voice amongst the group that caused everyone to be silent. A quiet voice that uttered only five words.

"We haven't done the Mansion."

The silence hovered over us all for what seemed like an eternity as we all contemplated the idea. You see "the Mansion", as we called it, was a large mansion (who would have guessed) at the furtherest edge of the bush. Not only did it physically look daunting, but getting there was even more daunting as  you had to cross a small bog and then climb a very inclined slope that was crammed with trees reaching up to the sky above. Only a couple of us had ever bothered to do it before, but none of us had trespassed there before. Funnily enough, the Mansion had always seemed a too grand and proper of a place to goof around, or at least to me it did.

The silence was broken as Maria raised her beer bottle and let out a massive "Hellz yeah!". Not everyone was as keen on the idea though. Randy, the usually quiet nerd of the group, and the one who had originally suggested the idea too, was unusually vocal in his support for the idea. Maybe he's finally trying to get his chance with Maria, I thought. The Maori twins (as I called them), Aroha and Tane, were in favour of it  as well, along with Hayato (the foreign exchange student) and Matt Caerdon.
The rest of us, including me, were undecided on it - with a few completely against it. So in the end it was put to a vote, with the majority getting their way and the rest had to tag along. The votes were cast. Hands shot up and down in favour of the different options, but it soon became clear that only one option was ever going to win.

It was settled. We were going to the Mansion.



Friday, September 27, 2013

2. The Verdict (Part 1)

"Let me out. Now!"
The words rang out through the Conclave of the Sceptre. They echoed down dusty passageways and through dimly lit hallways. The words were coming from one of the rooms nearly at the top of the Forum. Those where the rooms where the noble and the famous were often accommodated in.
"Lady Abina. Please, stop yelling." begged the little ystin.
"Get away from me, you creep. Just you wait until my father hears about this. Then he'll have you diced up and fed to his pets. Now, let me out" she paused, waiting for the fury little ystin to give in to her demands "NOW!"
"Please milady, please stop screaming. You have nothing to fear. We are not here to hurt you, rather we are here to protect you"
"Protect me from what? I got here all by myself, without a single injury, bruise or fight. And as soon as I enter this wretched city, I got seized and locked away in some dungeon, stuck with some bug looking creature."
"Milady, this is no dungeon. This is one of the best rooms that the Forum of the Sceptre has to offer. You will want for nothing here. Your every need will be accommodated for."
"Every need? Every single one of them" Lady Abina looked closely at the ystin, trying to discern if she was being lied to.
"Yes milady" replied the ystin with a great smile. Happy that he was finally getting somewhere this rash Imperial lady "Your every single need."
"Good. Then let me out..... NOW!"
The ystin finally gave up. “ By the Watchers, I swear that you are a hopeless woman. Enjoy shouting at the top of your lungs with only you to hear.” And with that said, the ystin turned and walked to the locked door, it's body leaning down on its two front claws while its four remaining legs shuffled behind. The ystin raised its claw and tapped the door. Twice. The door jerked open and a large karuuni stepped into sight, armoured and holding large spear. The lady Abina, scared of its size and appearance,  took a step back out of fear.
“Yes sir?” spoke the gruff karuuni, towering far above the ystin.
“She is all yours. I'm off to tell the Sceptre that they have no hope of cooperation from this  lady...” the ystin paused “Pah. Has the manners of a gutter woman if you ask me.”
The feathery karuuni stood to attention as the ystin walked away and then proceeded to slam the great oak door closed. What sounded like a bolt, was placed across the door, causing a small screech to be emitted from the rubbing of the oak door. And then there was silence.
Lady Abina, no longer having anyone to scream at, walked over to the bed lying in the corner of the room. She sat down, and  let out a heavy sigh.
Now what, she thought to herself.
How do I get out of here?
A heavy silence overcame the room, one that would not be interrupted by anything trying to make noise. And as Lady Albina lay on her bed, desperately trying to form an escape plan, the silence lulled her into a deep sleep.


Many people would say that a problem shared is a problem halved. However today, Lord Elushsir, Head Chairman of the Sceptre, would disagree. Today was the tenth Forumday since the summer solstice and tradition dictated that on any Forumday, anyone could present a case to the Sceptre as long as the case involved the people of Rudain as a whole. So far, the spice merchants had put forth their case, asking for more protection to be granted by the Sceptre, as their caravans were often falling prey to bandits and Aluyca Imperials. The fisherman and farmers of the coast had  presented their case, reporting that their land was slowly being taken over the sea - which no one believed. And the head of the Sacellum of Ichohn was about to present his case, asking for military backing in his hunt to burn and kill Murkilid cultists.
Lord Elushir let out a sigh, rubbing his temple between his fingers. Murkilid cultists having nothing to do with the affairs of the Sceptre, he thought. Deal with th-.
"My Lords of the Sceptre" someone called out from the crowd surrounding the Forum podium, interrupting Lord Elushir's self musings."We have an important case for the Sceptre that needs to be addressed immediately".
The owner of the voice came into view as he finally reached the front of the crowd. He was an old karuuni dressed in the garb of the Seaside Watch, his once large and powerful body worn down through the countless solstices he had seen.
The representative of the Ichohnites, disgusted at the thought of his case being postponed, was quick to respond. "My Lords of the Sceptre" he rebutted "Surely the matters of the Sacellum of Ichohn are far more important than that of the less-than-honourable Seaside Watch."
The representative paused as if waiting for a rebuttal, but receiving none, he continued. "So, as I was say-"
"You would be wise to heed your words, Ichohnite." boomed Lord Elushir, his voice silencing all those whispering in the crowd. "The Seaside Watch carry out an honourable duty, one which the safety and security of Rudain relies on. If, you do not believe so, perhaps we could arrange for you to join their ranks. Maybe then you would be convinced of their importance and honour."
The Ichohnite representative stepped forth aggressively - his eyes flared in outrage. "Never has a humble servant of Ichohn been treated so....With such contempt" he yelled.
"And maybe it was about time that someone did then" replied Lord Elushir.
Upon hearing this, the crowd burst into fits of laughter and giggles. Even a smile leaked onto Lord Elushir's face as the Ichohnite representative stomped off the podium, his face bright red from embarrassment.
"Quiet!" roared Lord Gaelin of the Sceptre, smashing his wooden gavel down repeatedly on the desk in front of him. The crowd fell silent, none of them wanting to be singled out by Lord Gaelin, for he had a reputation for conscripting those that did not obey him. Lord Elushir, quite unimpressed by the Lord Gaelin's behaviour, looked back to the old karuuni who had silently remained standing there since he had first arrived.

"Present to us your case."

The Solution to Writer's Block



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Thursday, September 26, 2013

Tom Clancy's Writing Advice


Is reality stranger than fiction?


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Bagels and Indecisive Women

She sat on the chair, her eyes reflecting an internal struggle. Should she take 4 or 5 packets of bagels. She could not decide. She leaned down and turned to me and said "Is Scott coming tonight?" I was busy writing. I had to stop to think about her question.

"I think so" I replied "He usually comes to Friday night meetings. I think he quite enjoys the food to be honest. Not that I can point the finger, for I enjoy it as well."

She decided to take five lots of bagels in the end. She walked across the lounge and into the kitchen. Pausing at the  oven, she picked up the recently boiled kettle, and poured herself an invigorating cup of hot water. Having satisfied her thirst, she turned to the bench - her eyes devouring the moorish muffins she made yesterday. Before I knew it she was sitting down at the table next to me, fully enjoying the simple pleasures of life - a drink in one hand, a muffin in the other.

And she turned around and looked at the bagels again.

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Friday, April 5, 2013

The Boy who fell asleep in the Woods


One afternoon, a boy went out to take a stroll through the woods that surrounded his house. He started to feel really tired, so he sat down in the shade of a large oak and closed his eyes, and he fell asleep.

He woke up a quite a few hours later. The sun had set, and it was dark. Very dark. He got up and started hurrying home, wondering if his parents had started worrying about him being out so late. He finally reached the edge of the woods, and there was his house. But something was strange. He couldn't quite put his finger on it until he realised that it was very dark, yet the house lights weren't on. He didn't think too much of it though, and just kept on running. He got to the front door and realised that it was already ajar. This was where he started to get worried. 

He slowly opened the door and looked inside. Not being able to see anything, he fumbled for the light switch. Finally he found it. He switched the lights on, and he gasped at what he saw. The lounge & kitchen was trashed. Chairs were broken, tables lying on their side. Practically everything was on the floor, broken into pieces. 
"Mum? Dad?" he called out, hoping that this was just some bad joke.
No answer. Silence remained. 
Deciding to check out the rest of the house, he tiptoed through the destroyed lounge, trying not to disturb anything. He reached his parents bedroom door. His hand reached out to twist the doorknob, but he froze. The doorknob had blood on it. Alot of it.

He turned the bloody doorknob and opened the door to his parents bedroom. He stood in the doorway. Frozen. Frozen in fear and shock by what he was seeing. Laying on the floor were his parents. At least if you could still recognise them, that is. Their bodies had been hewn apart, bit by bit, joint by joint, so that what remained was pieces. Half a finger here, another kneecap there. However the abhorence of this scene was that all the pieces had been place back in order. Some sick twisted thing had hewn their bodies into tiny pieces, and then tried to put them back into order. Like some disgusting version of puzzle.

The sight of it al was too much for him. He bent over in disgust, and emptied his stomach of his half digested lunch. Suddenly there was a noise from behind him. Someone must have heard him vomit. He turned around, ready to bolt, but he was too late. A fast moving wooden plank emerged out of the darkness behind and hit him square on the back of his head. He was knocked out cold. Completely unconcious.



He woke up with a gasp. He looked around, trying to see where he was. Suddenly, he realised. He was sitting in the shade of the great oak. The sun had set, and it was dark. Very dark. Just a dream he reassured himself.

It was just a dream.

He  He got up and started hurrying home, wondering if his parents had started worrying about him being out so late. How could I have slept for so long, he thought. Finally, he reached the edge of the woods, and there was his house. Something was wrong though. The lights were off.

No, it couldn't be, he thought. He was sure that it all had just been a very bad dream. A very bad nightmare. Realising that the last thing he remembered in his 'dream' was been hit in the back of the head, he slowly rose his hand. Time slowed as he raised his hand to feel for the bruise that prove whether it was just a dream or not.

It was just dream, he thought. Or wasn't it?

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Thursday, April 4, 2013

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Some more great writing advice from George R. R. Martin

So funny, but so true!


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John Steinbeck's writing advice


Some of the best writing advice that I've read! But don't take my word, read it for yourself! If you're interested in the source of this, this was from a letter that John Steinbeck wrote in 1962.



 

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Tuesday, April 2, 2013

1. Herald (Part 2)


Smash. The mug flew through the air, eventually crashing into the wall just behind its original target.
“Ha! You missed me you stupid crab” a voice of man boasted, resonating around the tavern.
“Ok ka tt ka ta tito cad tatso” replied the crablike creature in a series of clicks
“You expect me to understand your incoherent clicks. Pah. You mirelurks really are as dumb as they say.”
The man raised his head slightly above the table that he was taking shelter behind.
Woosh. Another mug flew by his face, missing by less than an inch, but managing to spill its contents all over the man's garment
“That’s it you piece of crustacean. You really want to fight, so come on. FIGHT ME” he shouted as he jumped up, expecting to come face to face with his mirelurk opponent. A look of surprise washed over his face as he saw no opponent in front of him.
“Umph. Coward of a crab. They really are as pathetic as I thought they would be. Wouldn't even fight an old man.”
“That is correct. They won't fight an elderly man. Seasand, escort him outside” announced the tavern keeper as he stepped in front the man
“Seasand? Seasand...who the bloody hell is--”
The man was suddenly interrupted as a giant pincer grabbed him by the waist and pulled him into the air. The pincer belonged to Seasand the mirelurk, who had patiently been waiting behind the man as the tavern keeper talked to him. Still keeping the man trapped in its pincer, the mirelurk walked across the tavern and proceeded to throw the man through the doorway and into the dirty mud below the tavern steps.
“Pah..... pah” sputtered the man as he scraped off a layer of mud that had entered his mouth. “So... you mirelurks really are as strong as they say” he said, admiring the creature that now stood in front of the tavern's door, completely blocking if off. With four legs that protruded from a large torso and large arms that ended with pincers that could sever a mans head with ease, the mirelurk was a fearsome sight indeed.
“Let me parley with this man for a moment. Go inside and enjoy a plate of shellfish on the house. If I am in need of your services again, I'll call you.” came the tavern keeper's voice from inside. The mirelurk turned and went back inside, but not before letting of a stream of clicks that the man assumed were meant to be offensive against him.
“So, by what name are you called?” called out the tavern keeper as he stood out of the tavern's door and started walking towards him.
“Pssh” the man shrugged as he stood to his feet. “I have been called many names, especially by the ladies – if you know what I mean.” He winked, while giving the tavern keeper a friendly elbow. “But my friends here call me Llyr.... And your name?”
“Well Llyr, I am pleased to make your acquaintance. My name is Verius Hurea Thiul Ligustus. My fam---”
“Pleased to make your acquaintance Verius Hurea Thiul Lebustus” interrupted Llyr, as he pulled off a mocking bow
“Ligustus....Not Lebustus my dear fellow. Ligustus. Nevertheless, as I was saying before, my family has run this tavern here in Rudvain for the last 200 years. We are also beginning to set up other taverns in the other cities of the Free League such as Yylus, Burian and---”
“Cut to the chase Verius. What do you want from me?”
“Aah. A decisive man. I respect that. This is my proposition to you. We go back inside the tavern, have a couple of drinks, and you tell me your story about how you ended up here in Rudvain. You see I have always been a bit of an aspiring writer, and therefore I would thoroughly enjoy talking to a man, who at the ripe of 49-50, picks fights with mirelurks without even being drunk. So... What is your answer?”
Now you're talking, mate” grinned Llyr as he started making a beeline for the tavern door.
“One more thing Llyr” said Verius
“What?”
“Don’t pick another fight in my tavern, especially not with that mirelurk. Is that agreed?”
Llyr paused on the tavern steps, contemplating Verius's words, before turning around to face Verius, a grin plastered over his face
“Sure.”


“...and so that is how I ended up here, in Rudvain.” finished Llyr, before sculling the last contents of his mug.
A content smile spread across Verius's face “Well, that was quite the tale. Thank you my friend, for recounting it to me.” He suddenly hesitated, his eyebrows furrowed together in concentration
“Wait...Wait a second. Forgive me if I am wrong, but you never told me what clan you are from. Or is my memory wrong?”
Llyr took a deep breath, and then slowly let it out in a pensive sigh. “No. You are right. I forgot to tell you.... My full ti-” he hesitated, then resumed “ My full title is Llyr of Kraash.”
“Kraash.... Kraash... Hold on. The Kraash? As in the great forest of Kraash?” He uttered in astonishment, finally recognising the name.
“Sadly. Yes. Unless you know of some other forest named Kraash?”
“No. No, of course not... I am just completely bewildered. The only human clan that ever roamed those woods were supposedly wiped out, victims of some genocide from an invading Awolk colony.”
Upon hearing those words, Llyr's eyes suddenly fell to the table as if a heavy burden had just been placed upon his shoulders. Verius looked at him, trying to make eye-contact, yet Llyr's gaze avoided him as if he was stared down at something more than just his empty mug.
“Llyr” Verius softly called, trying to break whatever reminiscing was taking in Llyr's mind, yet no acknowledgment or response was made. “Llyr....?” He repeated, receiving the same silent answer as before. “Llyr.” he finally shouted.
Llyr's head suddenly jerked up, his eyes taking in his surroundings, as if he had just been somewhere else. His eyes locked with Verius's, confusion momentarily clouding his face before he smiled, recognising the bar tender's face.
“Enough talk about me” said Llyr “Tell me some news about Rudvain. What are the spice prices like here?”
“Spice prices are starting to rise dramatically as both spice caravans & cargoes are becoming and less and less frequent. The Scepter has sent ambassadors to both the spice caravan and cargo routes to inquire as to why spice shipments to the Free League have become rarer. Some in the city claim that it is the fault of the Alvaca Empire, that they once again are trying to interfere with the Free League, but I believe such rumours are simply frauds. The Alvaca Imperials have not marched on the Free League for over 500 years, and they are even weaker now then before.”
“Pah. Those pompous Imperials aren't a threat to anyone outside of their tiny empire. They would never interfere with the dealings of the influential Free League, that I can assure you”
“I do agree with you there Llyr. But the Imperials are not the ones who have me worried. Far stranger things seem to afoot. Local fishermen are reporting that the ocean waters are slowly rising every day. This season of the Sun has just passed the record for the hottest that the Athenaeum has on record. And amidst all of this, rumour has it that the Muerkilids have started meeting in secret once again..... But my lips betray me, I probably shouldn't have told you this much.”
“Rest easy mate. I am no Imperial sympathesir nor am I a Murkilid cultist. Though..., I'd imagine that an Imperial or a Murkilid would say the very same thing.” Llyr smiled, an ironic grin spread over his face. “But getting to the point of why I am here, do you know of any work that is up for grabs in this city? I'm somewhat a jack of all trades, and can pretty much do anything that is needed... So?”
“Well... Rudvain has few job niches in which an accomplished individual could make some profit, but currently with the spices running out, I'd say that your best hope was to get a job with the Sceptre. They constantly send out expeditions to faraway lands, so they are always looking for skilled individuals to guard them on their journey.”
“Mercenaries, in other words”
“Mercenary is such a derogative term. We, here in Rudvain, prefer to call them 'Soldiers of Fortune'.”
“Hmph. You can call them whatever you want. It doesn't change what they are..... Nevertheless, I think it would be suitable work for me. It wouldn't be the first expedition I've guarded as it traveled into some unknown land. Now would you would you be good enough to guide me in the right direction”
“Consider it done. I was going to be closing up the tavern after how long last night was anyway. Meet me in around 30 minutes at the marketplace, and I'll lead you to the place and even get you a meeting with your soon-to-be employers.”
“That would be great. I truly appreciate your help. Is there someway I can help you out in return?” They both rose to their feet, as Llyr prepared to leave.
“Not now. But maybe...Maybe another day.” Verius hand rose from his side, stretched open in an expectant handshake. Llyr's hand completed the handshake, as they both let out a small grin. They had helped out one another, and as side consequence had started to establish a friendship between one another.



“Fresh fish. Fresh fish going cheap” called out a large creature from behind it's stall
“Hot bread. Hot, tasty bread going for 1 ounce of spice” shouted back a fat lady from the opposite side of the marketplace. The market was crowded with it's usual morning customers, all jostling around trying to get the best bargains before everyone else did.
Amidst all this busy hecticness, Llyr wandered aimlessly throughout the busy crowd. His eyes searched randomly through the crowd, searching.
Stupid Verius. He said he'd be here to meet me. I knew I-
His thoughts were suddenly interrupted as the market crowd suddenly started condense, as if making a passageway for someone to get through. Llyr strained his neck, while stretching on tippy toes, trying to see who was passing through. Failing to see, he started to elbow his way through the dense crowd. Finally making it to the edge of the crowd, he finally laid eyes on what everyone else was so enraptured by. Marching in front of him, was a ragtag group of what seemed like soldiers, many of them limping along due to their wounds, while a few others carried what seemed like an unconscious woman.
Strange. They don't seem like soldiers. Must be some patrol of some sorts....
Turning to a large karuuni squatting next to him, he asked “Who are they? Soldiers?”
“Ha. They aren't even close to soldiers. They are the Seaside Watch. You're unlucky in you get drafted into them.”
“Interesting. What happened to them?”
“Rumour has it that they come upon frenzy of wildlife eating all the survivors of a shipwreck down at Scuttle Cove. That unconscious woman was the only one they managed to save. No one knows who she is though. So they're taking her to the Sceptre, so that they can question her when she comes to.” replied the karuuni, as it swatted a fly away with it's long tail.
“Llyr. There you are. I finally found you.” called out Verius from behind them.
“Well, I've been waiting here for over an hour. And now you finally show up. Hhmph.” Llyr sighed “Well, are you going to take me to my future employers?”
“Patience... Yes I will, but I believe that we will want to hear this tragic story of this unconscious woman first of all. This might be your chance to get some work. Plus, she is going to the Sceptre as well, we may as well just tag along.”

Smash. The mug flew through the air, eventually crashing into the wall just behind its original target.
“Ha! You missed me you stupid crab” a voice of man boasted, resonating around the tavern.
“Ok ka tt ka ta tito cad tatso” replied the crablike creature in a series of clicks
“You expect me to understand your incoherent clicks. Pah. You mirelurks really are as dumb as they say.”
The man raised his head slightly above the table that he was taking shelter behind.
Woosh. Another mug flew by his face, missing by less than an inch, but managing to spill its contents all over the man's garment
“That’s it you piece of crustacean. You really want to fight, so come on. FIGHT ME” he shouted as he jumped up, expecting to come face to face with his mirelurk opponent. A look of surprise washed over his face as he saw no opponent in front of him.
“Umph. Coward of a crab. They really are as pathetic as I thought they would be. Wouldn't even fight an old man.”
“That is correct. They won't fight an elderly man. Seasand, escort him outside” announced the tavern keeper as he stepped in front the man
“Seasand? Seasand...who the bloody hell is--”
The man was suddenly interrupted as a giant pincer grabbed him by the waist and pulled him into the air. The pincer belonged to Seasand the mirelurk, who had patiently been waiting behind the man as the tavern keeper talked to him. Still keeping the man trapped in its pincer, the mirelurk walked across the tavern and proceeded to throw the man through the doorway and into the dirty mud below the tavern steps.
“Pah..... pah” sputtered the man as he scraped off a layer of mud that had entered his mouth. “So... you mirelurks really are as strong as they say” he said, admiring the creature that now stood in front of the tavern's door, completely blocking if off. With four legs that protruded from a large torso and large arms that ended with pincers that could sever a mans head with ease, the mirelurk was a fearsome sight indeed.
“Let me parley with this man for a moment. Go inside and enjoy a plate of shellfish on the house. If I am in need of your services again, I'll call you.” came the tavern keeper's voice from inside. The mirelurk turned and went back inside, but not before letting of a stream of clicks that the man assumed were meant to be offensive against him.
“So, by what name are you called?” called out the tavern keeper as he stood out of the tavern's door and started walking towards him.
“Pssh” the man shrugged as he stood to his feet. “I have been called many names, especially by the ladies – if you know what I mean.” He winked, while giving the tavern keeper a friendly elbow. “But my friends here call me Llyr.... And your name?”
“Well Llyr, I am pleased to make your acquaintance. My name is Verius Hurea Thiul Ligustus. My fam---”
“Pleased to make your acquaintance Verius Hurea Thiul Lebustus” interrupted Llyr, as he pulled off a mocking bow
“Ligustus....Not Lebustus my dear fellow. Ligustus. Nevertheless, as I was saying before, my family has run this tavern here in Rudvain for the last 200 years. We are also beginning to set up other taverns in the other cities of the Free League such as Yylus, Burian and---”
“Cut to the chase Verius. What do you want from me?”
“Aah. A decisive man. I respect that. This is my proposition to you. We go back inside the tavern, have a couple of drinks, and you tell me your story about how you ended up here in Rudvain. You see I have always been a bit of an aspiring writer, and therefore I would thoroughly enjoy talking to a man, who at the ripe of 49-50, picks fights with mirelurks without even being drunk. So... What is your answer?”
Now you're talking, mate” grinned Llyr as he started making a beeline for the tavern door.
“One more thing Llyr” said Verius
“What?”
“Don’t pick another fight in my tavern, especially not with that mirelurk. Is that agreed?”
Llyr paused on the tavern steps, contemplating Verius's words, before turning around to face Verius, a grin plastered over his face
“Sure.”


“...and so that is how I ended up here, in Rudvain.” finished Llyr, before sculling the last contents of his mug.
A content smile spread across Verius's face “Well, that was quite the tale. Thank you my friend, for recounting it to me.” He suddenly hesitated, his eyebrows furrowed together in concentration
“Wait...Wait a second. Forgive me if I am wrong, but you never told me what clan you are from. Or is my memory wrong?”
Llyr took a deep breath, and then slowly let it out in a pensive sigh. “No. You are right. I forgot to tell you.... My full ti-” he hesitated, then resumed “ My full title is Llyr of Kraash.”
“Kraash.... Kraash... Hold on. The Kraash? As in the great forest of Kraash?” He uttered in astonishment, finally recognising the name.
“Sadly. Yes. Unless you know of some other forest named Kraash?”
“No. No, of course not... I am just completely bewildered. The only human clan that ever roamed those woods were supposedly wiped out, victims of some genocide from an invading Awolk colony.”
Upon hearing those words, Llyr's eyes suddenly fell to the table as if a heavy burden had just been placed upon his shoulders. Verius looked at him, trying to make eye-contact, yet Llyr's gaze avoided him as if he was stared down at something more than just his empty mug.
“Llyr” Verius softly called, trying to break whatever reminiscing was taking in Llyr's mind, yet no acknowledgment or response was made. “Llyr....?” He repeated, receiving the same silent answer as before. “Llyr.” he finally shouted.
Llyr's head suddenly jerked up, his eyes taking in his surroundings, as if he had just been somewhere else. His eyes locked with Verius's, confusion momentarily clouding his face before he smiled, recognising the bar tender's face.
“Enough talk about me” said Llyr “Tell me some news about Rudvain. What are the spice prices like here?”
“Spice prices are starting to rise dramatically as both spice caravans & cargoes are becoming and less and less frequent. The Scepter has sent ambassadors to both the spice caravan and cargo routes to inquire as to why spice shipments to the Free League have become rarer. Some in the city claim that it is the fault of the Alvaca Empire, that they once again are trying to interfere with the Free League, but I believe such rumours are simply frauds. The Alvaca Imperials have not marched on the Free League for over 500 years, and they are even weaker now then before.”
“Pah. Those pompous Imperials aren't a threat to anyone outside of their tiny empire. They would never interfere with the dealings of the influential Free League, that I can assure you”
“I do agree with you there Llyr. But the Imperials are not the ones who have me worried. Far stranger things seem to afoot. Local fishermen are reporting that the ocean waters are slowly rising every day. This season of the Sun has just passed the record for the hottest that the Athenaeum has on record. And amidst all of this, rumour has it that the Muerkilids have started meeting in secret once again..... But my lips betray me, I probably shouldn't have told you this much.”
“Rest easy mate. I am no Imperial sympathesir nor am I a Murkilid cultist. Though..., I'd imagine that an Imperial or a Murkilid would say the very same thing.” Llyr smiled, an ironic grin spread over his face. “But getting to the point of why I am here, do you know of any work that is up for grabs in this city? I'm somewhat a jack of all trades, and can pretty much do anything that is needed... So?”
“Well... Rudvain has few job niches in which an accomplished individual could make some profit, but currently with the spices running out, I'd say that your best hope was to get a job with the Sceptre. They constantly send out expeditions to faraway lands, so they are always looking for skilled individuals to guard them on their journey.”
“Mercenaries, in other words”
“Mercenary is such a derogative term. We, here in Rudvain, prefer to call them 'Soldiers of Fortune'.”
“Hmph. You can call them whatever you want. It doesn't change what they are..... Nevertheless, I think it would be suitable work for me. It wouldn't be the first expedition I've guarded as it traveled into some unknown land. Now would you would you be good enough to guide me in the right direction”
“Consider it done. I was going to be closing up the tavern after how long last night was anyway. Meet me in around 30 minutes at the marketplace, and I'll lead you to the place and even get you a meeting with your soon-to-be employers.”
“That would be great. I truly appreciate your help. Is there someway I can help you out in return?” They both rose to their feet, as Llyr prepared to leave.
“Not now. But maybe...Maybe another day.” Verius hand rose from his side, stretched open in an expectant handshake. Llyr's hand completed the handshake, as they both let out a small grin. They had helped out one another, and as side consequence had started to establish a friendship between one another.



“Fresh fish. Fresh fish going cheap” called out a large creature from behind it's stall
“Hot bread. Hot, tasty bread going for 1 ounce of spice” shouted back a fat lady from the opposite side of the marketplace. The market was crowded with it's usual morning customers, all jostling around trying to get the best bargains before everyone else did.
Amidst all this busy hecticness, Llyr wandered aimlessly throughout the busy crowd. His eyes searched randomly through the crowd, searching.
Stupid Verius. He said he'd be here to meet me. I knew I-
His thoughts were suddenly interrupted as the market crowd suddenly started condense, as if making a passageway for someone to get through. Llyr strained his neck, while stretching on tippy toes, trying to see who was passing through. Failing to see, he started to elbow his way through the dense crowd. Finally making it to the edge of the crowd, he finally laid eyes on what everyone else was so enraptured by. Marching in front of him, was a ragtag group of what seemed like soldiers, many of them limping along due to their wounds, while a few others carried what seemed like an unconscious woman.
Strange. They don't seem like soldiers. Must be some patrol of some sorts....
Turning to a large karuuni squatting next to him, he asked “Who are they? Soldiers?”
“Ha. They aren't even close to soldiers. They are the Seaside Watch. You're unlucky in you get drafted into them.”
“Interesting. What happened to them?”
“Rumour has it that they come upon frenzy of wildlife eating all the survivors of a shipwreck down at Scuttle Cove. That unconscious woman was the only one they managed to save. No one knows who she is though. So they're taking her to the Sceptre, so that they can question her when she comes to.” replied the karuuni, as it swatted a fly away with it's long tail.
“Llyr. There you are. I finally found you.” called out Verius from behind them.
“Well, I've been waiting here for over an hour. And now you finally show up. Hhmph.” Llyr sighed “Well, are you going to take me to my future employers?”
“Patience... Yes I will, but I believe that we will want to hear this tragic story of this unconscious woman first of all. This might be your chance to get some work. Plus, she is going to the Sceptre as well, we may as well just tag along.”




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Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Prologue (Alternate Version)


The ocean rose. Day by day it rose, it's waters washing over the scarred landscape. The beach was the first to be submerged. The barren plains and fields soon followed suit. Soon the ocean's water reached the mighty workhouses that constantly belched thick black smoke out of its narrow chimneys, making quick work of them as well.

The inhabitants of the island tried desperately to stop the rising ocean. Some built walls. Some took refuge on the highest hills, while others built boats to get away from the sinking island. Yet their efforts to save their island were in vain,
The walls didn't stand long against the force of the ocean. The hills weren't high enough to get away. And so the waters kept on rising until one day the highest spire of the highest tower, finally became submerged

And where there was once a heavily populated and industrious island, now there just was.....Water.

Monday, March 18, 2013

The Man who Procrastinated


There once was a man.
Who had a terribly short attention span,
Due to never wanting to work.

He would procrastinate
because he didn't like the stress,
of having to overcome the anxiety
of all the work he had to address.

Yet everyday, the more he procrastinated,
The more he felt self-discriminated.
By his own laziness.
By his own guilt.

And so he wallowed in self pity,
Everyday feeling really shitty.
As he could never manage to stop the cycle
That was making his life so frightful.

The more he avoided his work,
The more stressed he became.
And due to getting ever-increasingly stressed,
He would ever-increasingly avoid his work.

And then the man died, unfufilled and full of wasted potential.

The End

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

1. Herald (Chapter of the book I'm working on)


High above the ground a bird soared through the open sky, illuminated by the rising of the sun. One might have thought that this was a simple raven or annoying magpie, but this bird was neither. It was a seagull, and it was hungry for some food. Out of the corner of its eye, it saw a group of humans marching along the cliff side, but the seagull ignored them, knowing that there was no promise of food there. However the seagull did notice that there was an everincreasing crowd of birds on the beach below, ravenously tearing something apart. The seagull, deciding that it wanted to join in, started to circle down and gently landed on the golden sand next to the other birds. It then proceeded to rip out a chunk of flesh off what seemed to be a corpse, and swallowed it whole. However, as the seagull turned around, it saw that this was only one of many corpes on a beach that was almost full of bodies, broken planks of wood, barrels, and teared up sheets of sail.
Very quickly the beach became covered in a variety of wildlife. Birds, crabs, wild dogs were all busy devouring the corpses, trying their best to eat as much as possible. Out of seaside coves crawled came the kishins, four legged amphibian beasts with a tail as strong as a dolphins, growing almost as tall as a human child, ready to consume any form of meat. Even a gwoemul, a giant slimey cousin to the salamander, emerged out of the sea and started consuming corpeses whole, one by one, so that it could later on vomit it back up to feed its offspring.
However not all the bodies were dead, and those that were merely unconcious begin to come to, as their flesh was ripped off. Screams filled the air as the larger predators present began to kill those trying to resist. One man even managed to get up and started running for it, before a bunch of kishins chased him down and tore him to pieces.

Meanwhile, close by on the cliffs above a group of 20 or so humans (the very same group that the seagull had spotted) came into sight. Slouching and already out of formation, the Seaside Watch were never a troop that were easy on the eyes. Led by an old, yet well known former privateer by the name of Captain Kreigs, the Seaside Watch was comprised of men who were unlucky enough to be on the wrong side of powerful individuals. Rumour had it in the local city of Rudvain that anyone who angered a powerful individual, soon became conscripted into the Seaside Watch for at least a month if they were lucky, longer however, if not lucky.
“Halt” cried Captain Kreigs as he paused “Freud, get yar butt over here on the double. Now.”
“Yes sir....... Yes sir, I'm here” uttered a very plump man named Freud, before doubling over due to being out of breath.
“Silence in the ranks. Shut yar gasping, Freud. Now listen here, fatty” said Captain Kreigs as he grabbed Freud by the scruff of his neck “ Rumour has it that the reason ya are here is that ya're so good at 'listening' to other peoples conversations. Now just a moment ago I thought I heard a scream on the wind, so I want ya to summon all the brains ya can muster and use dem real good ears of yars and try to hear if anyone is actually screaming.”
“ Yes sir” said Freud. Turning an ear into the wind, Freud closed his eyes and just stood there...And stood there, and stood there. After what seemed like an age, his lips moved as he said “Yes sir, you were right, I can hear screaming. It sounds like it's coming from one of the beaches further along. Maybe even Scuttle Cove?”
“Aye” replied Captain Kreigs “Tis what I thought as well. Alright lads, quick march on the double. Someone might need our help down there in that damnable cove.”
Fearing the punishment they might receive for disobeying a direct order from their captain, the men of the Seaside Watch obiediently organised themselves into formation, and then followed their captain as he lead them along the cliffside. As they got closer and closer to what was known as Scuttle Cove, the screams became louder and louder, until some of the men started to shudder at raw brutality of the screams they were hearing. And as if the screams weren't enough, the infamous beach of Scuttle Cove finally came into sight, causing one or two to even empty their stomach right then and there from the sheer brutality of the carnage below.
“All right lads. Tis time prove that ya all are men. Get ya weapons ready and follow me. If anyone of ya runs away, I'll make sure I kill ya myself, and that's a promise.” shouted the Captain as he drew two daggers from underneath his cloak. “Ooh and do try to find any survivors.” he said finally before marching down the path down to the beach. The Seaside Watch followed him faithfully down to the beach, even though many of them had never been in a proper fight before, while others had been in too many to count.
Once down at the beach, they spread out in a line and slowly marched forward. At first the wildlife hesistantly moved back to give them some room, but then two wild dogs raced ahead and jumped at one of the men. The man managed to spear the initial dog with his pitchfork before it got to him, but sadly wasn't so lucky when the dog's mate following right behind grabbed his neck between its jaws and ripped out his asophagus in the blink of an eye, leaving the man choking for air as blood pooled into his lungs. What followed was a massive blur, as the men of Seaside Watch, enraged by the brutal death of one of their own, charged the beasts. Most of the beasts immediately scattered fleeing back into their caves or off the beach, but others, not wanting to abandon such a feast of meat, fought. Swords sliced, teeth bit, spears punctured, shields fractured, and claws ripped as both man and beast fell to the ground dead. Even the monstrous slimey gwoemul, the last to be killed, swallowed a few men whole, before Captain Kreigs managed to slice through its soft head with his two daggers. And then suddenly it was over, finished almost as quickly as it had begun.
“Tiny, give me a count of our dead & injured.” ordered the Captain “And the rest of-”
“Captain Kreigs. Captain Kreigs, I found a survivor. She's a woman!” interrupted Freud, yelling at the top of his lungs. “She's unconcious, but she's alive.”
“Good, good. Tis usually good luck to travel with a woman” muttered Captain Kreigs “Get someone to help ya carry her back to Rudvain, and be careful with her. We need her to talk.” Feeling at tap on his shoulder, the Captain turned around to find Tiny (his real name being Jutya, but due to only being 4 foot high most just called him Tiny) standing in front of him, or more accurately, below him.
Captain, we lost 6 men, and we have 4 injured” squeaked Tiny
“What the blazes did ya say Tiny? Speak up man.” replied Captain Kreigs, sinking to one knee so he could hear him better.
Captain, we lost 6 men, and we have 4 injured” squeaked Tiny once again
“Och... Tis a mighty shame. Get the men together, though, I want to talk to them”

The men gathered in circle around the bodies of their fallen comrades, standing in respectful silence until the Captain stepped forward and spoke
“Sadly we neither have the manpower to carry the bodies back to Rudvain, nor the time to give them a proper burial, as the beasts will be back. We will help carry the injured, but we leave the dead.”
Yes sir” replied Tiny, even though no one heard him
“The living will miss the dead. Yar children will miss ya, yar friends will cry for ya, and yar lovers will grieve for ya. But when the clouds once again rain down their healing waters, then the dead shall rise up and rejoin the living.” proclaimed the Captain
“When the clouds once again rain down their healing waters, then the dead shall rise up and rejoin the living” replied the men in unison
““When the clouds once again rain down their healing waters.......then the dead shall rise up and rejoin the living” Captain Kreigs whispered one final time as a single tear streaked down his face, before he turned around to lead his men on the long walk back to Rudvain.


Prologue (Of the book I'm working on)


“Imagine....... Imagine...... Imagine a far green country, with towering mountains, bubbling brookes and wide open plains. The land was plentiful and the crops grew well. The fish in the rivers & brookes never ran out, and neither did the game in the forest. Yet, admist in such beauty, peace has never reigned. For as long as we can remember, race has fought against race, and tribe against tribe. Even the tales of our ancestors from as far back as the Diluvian Days, tell of the great battles between us all.
But hear my words now and remember them, my son. There will come a day when the waters rise up to reclaim this land once again, and in that hour, the races of this land must unite to survive, or we shall all perish. For this has been prophesied by my father, and his father's father, and all those before him who carried the prophetic heirloom of our family. And one day, if the Hiru will it, you will come of age and also witness the vision that has been our line's responsibility for many long generations.

If the Hiru will it, my son.....If the Hiru will it.”

Welcome

Welcome one and all to my new blog, Composer of Words. Why composer? Well to be honest, I was trying to figure out what to call this blog, and then I looked up 'author' in the dictionary and the definition was "Composer of Words"! So there we have it.

Please feel free to subscribe. I'll be putting up a post soon with some writing that I am working on currently, if you're interested in that as well.

Have a great day

Fel Edorath