Post by S-to-the-T on Oct 7, 2006 0:13:49 GMT -5
Okay, well, this isn't a short story, but I felt like I should post it. It's the first chapter of my latest writing.
A story, passed down from generation to generation, about five friends, two gems with unimaginable powers, the diminishing of magical creatures, and their strive to revive them and keep the gems from the hands of evil. Over the years it has been modified, added too, and taken away from. But I, the last remaining Tenjia Hogosha, hold in my memory, every last event that happened in it's truest form. But I am old, and my days are numbered. That is why I am leaving the story of me, my friends, and our adventure, in this book, in your hands. I trust you will not let it be forgotten.
"Hey! Get back here!"
On the run again from the guards, I ran as fast as my legs would take me. I was on the rooftop of the palace, holding in my hands one of the two Legendary Tenjia Gems. The red one, in the shape of a lion. Guards behind me, guards in front of me. No where to go when suddenly something swooped down from the sky, grasped the right shoulder of one guard and the left shoulder of another, and pulled them down off the roof, giving me just enough space to slip through the line of soliders.
I tucked the gem away in my sash, and pulled my bow off my chest, drawing three arrows and notching them. I turned around, and aimed them at those following me. I pulled back the string, and released them, turning and not watching to see if they hit. But by the cries, I knew they did. My eyes narrowed as a shadow passed over me, and a man appeared in my way. I skidded to a halt, about to retreat backward when I felt a strong source of heat against my back. I knew at once it was fire. This was the King's Fire Squad. Figures.
The man smirked. "You've got no where to run boy." He said. I raised an eyebrow, and was about to come up with some super cool smart ass remark when I heared a hissing sound behind me, and just managed to jump over the ball of fire shot at me before another shadow passed over me. This one was a woman, and stood in a fighting stance beside the man. Couldnt' go forward, couldn't go backward. "Trapped." The woman said. My eyebrow was still raised, so I didn't have to raise it again. Time for the smart ass remark. "Really? Because I thought that people could go forward, backward, up, down, left, and right."
I turned, leaping off onto the slanted side of the roof top, and slid down it's smooth surface. Upon reaching the bottom, I slid right off, grabbed the edge of the roof, and used it to swing myself under it and into the corridor, and out of sight. A smile on my face, I raced down the corridor, the exit in sight, when suddenly a figure blocked it, saying my name. "Kai." It said. It was a woman, looking very annoyed. "Kai will you get up already!" I felt a jabbing pain in my side, and the image before me vanished, only to be replaced by Bree hanging over me, her face so close to mine I could see the specks of gold in her green eyes. "Finally! Jeeze! I've been trying to wake you up for forever."
I blinked, trying to set things straight. Reality from dream. "Bree?" I muttered. She slapped me. "Yes! Bree! Now get up! It's time to go." I was wide awake by now, glaring at her as she straightend herself and moved back so I could get up. She offered me her hand, and I took it, only to pull her to the ground and stand up myself. She scowled but said nothing as she helped herself to her feet. I checked my sash for the gem, but it wasn't there. It had only been a dream. "Dammit." I cursed, muttering under my breath. Bree must have heared me, because when I faced her again she had a very quizzicle look on her face. "Oh, um, just thinking." I said, trying to make it seem as if I wasn't crazy.
Bree rolled her eyes, "Did you dream about it again?" She asked, raising an eyebrow. I nodded slightly. "Yeah, I almost got out of there two. 'Cept you woke me up." I said. "Well, I had to. We have to go." She replied, pouring the bucket of water onto the fire. "We've slept too long as it is, they'll have caught up to us by now." I nodded in agreement, helping her to pack up.
Bree and I were on the run, as usual, for a theft. But this one was of greater magnitude then the others. A ruby colored diamond stolen from the Queen of Ezmerelda herself. Ezmerelda was the biggest Kingdom in the land, and the most guarded at that. The soliders had already been after them for two days now. Normally the guards gave up by now, but not these ones. The Queen wanted her diamond back.
I held out my arm and whistled. A black hawk swooped down from a tree and onto my arm, her red eyes darting left and right. "How close are they?" I asked it. She glanced at the trees, and the sound of horse hooves drumming on the forest floor met my ears. "Bree! They're here!" I swung my pack onto my back and untehtered our horses from a tree. She was already on hers before I finished untying the not. I lept upon my own black gelding and turned him to face our path.
Without a word we both broke out into a gallop, the hawk flying above us in the sky. "Eyrie!" I called to her. "Scout behind us!" I wanted to know if they were gaining, staying steady, or falling behind. Our horses were fast, but so were theirs. I turned back to watch the path before me, using one hand to brush the black hairs out from in front of my eyes, but they just fell back in place. I made a mentel note to give myself a hair cut, but knew I never would. I liked it this length. Long enough to cover my eyes but not long enough to put in a pony tail.
I returned my hand to it's place on the reins and rode on.
~~~~~~~~~~
It's been two hours since we lost the guards, and had slowed our horses to a walk. We were out of the forest by now, and out in the country, following a dirt path that didn't seem to lead anywhere. I was slightly uncomfortable what with my bow across my chest and a quiver of arrows and long sword at my waste; not to mention the double daggers in my sash. I'd gotten used to it, for the most part. It was still a little irratating.
Tyro, my horse, gave an protestant snort. I sighed quietly, glancing at Bree who gave me a small nod. We pulled our horses off the 'road' and onto the grassy field, and hoped off. I could have sworn I heared Tyro sigh in relief. Could horses sigh? I shrugged at the question as I pulled the blanket off his back. We didn't have saddles, had to travel light. I pulled off the light leather blanket that held our bags, and layed in the ground. Behind me, Bree was doing the same with her mare, Eva. I slipped the briddle out of Tyro's mouth, and layed it down on the ground. The horse immedielty began to eat the grass. I rolled my eyes. "Good thing we run you so much, or you'd be fat as a pig." I said, pulling out a canteen of water. I drank my share, and held it out for Bree to take. She did so, drinking part as well. I held the water up in the air, and in seconds it was snatched from my hands by Eyrie. She would go try and find a source of water to refill the canteen with.
I plopped down next to the bags and bridle, laying down in the grass and staring up at the blue sky. I heared footsteps and saw from the corner of my eye Bree sitting down beside me. "You okay?" She asked, seeing the troubled look in my eye. "I guess." I replied. "Just... Nervous." She raised an eyebrow. "About being caught?" I shook my head. "About my dreams. They have to mean something. I mean I've seen them so many times, and for so long. I used to have them when I lived back in Ezmerelda. This girl who was my next door neighbor used to be my best friend. I'd see her every day, and then every night I'd dream of one of the gems. But when my parents died, and I left, I stopped having them. When I met you, they started again. It's weird, and I don't get it."
Bree nodded, and was about to reply when something caught her eye. "Kai... Does that look like a lion to you?" I narrowed my eyes. "A lion? Out here. You must be seeing this." But I looked in the direction she was pointing anyways. And there it was. A golden coated lion with a deep yellow main and blazing gold eyes. It was starring right at us, with a mysterious look in it's eye. I was drawn to it, and started to sit up when Bree stopped me. "Don't move!" She hissed. "We don't want it after us." I didn't listen though, I couldn't help it. I was being pulled toward the animal by some invisible source. I didn't care though, the lion didn't seem dangerous.
I was on my feet by now, walking toward it. I watched as it shook it's mane, then turned, and took off bounding across the field. I followed, breaking out into a sprint. "Kai!" I heared Bree shouting after me, but it was only a distant call in my mind. I was catching up, only because it seemed like the lion was trying to close the gap between us. I could see the hill sloped down a few yards in front of the lion, and called out to it, thinking it didn't see the cliff and would run right off. It occured to me in the back of my mind that there wasn't a cliff there before, but I ignored the thought. I watched the creature, trying to call out to it, but when the lion reached the edge of the plain, with one giant leap, it shot into the air, right over the cliff, and vanished into the sunlight, seeming to move right through some invisible subtance.
The moment the tip of it's tail vanished, a whole stream of colors burst out in all directions in front of me. (I had by now come to a halt at the edge of the plain). Pictures flowed like a timeline before me. Sounds of animals, shouts of humans, cires of pain, and cries of victory. Animals being slaughtered. Not animals. Magical creatures. Humans holding their body parts as prizes, and selling them for huge sums of money. It was like a movie playing out before his eyes. A movie of time. Past, present, and future.
I saw the girl from my past, and I saw Bree. Two other pictures were illuminated. Two boys, about 16, my age. I saw an image of a castle, that I knew as located in the kingdom of Eris, but then it faded. They all faded, only to be replaced by a single image; the gem. It shone a brillant red as the sun struck it. The light blinded me, and I took a step back, shielding my eyes. Then suddenly, it all expanded, then contracted, and vanished before me eyes, fading away. The cliff was replaced by the normal grassy hill that sloped down into another plain, and for a second I thought I saw a flash of gold amongst the green, but it quickly vanished.
Bree had caught up to me by now, and was panting, looking worried. "Kai!" She called, coming to a halt behind me, "Kai what was it? Did you see something?" I stared off into the distance, not sure of the answer. "I'm...I'm not sure." I replied, glancing at her. My mind was racing with thoughts right now, too many to concentrate on one. I had a feeling though. A strong one. I knew I had to find those two boys, and the girl from my past. I had to find the castle, and the gem... And I had to steal it.
Constructive Critisism is greatly needed. Lol. I have my own ideas of what's wrong with it, but I want to know if I'm the only one who thinks that.
A story, passed down from generation to generation, about five friends, two gems with unimaginable powers, the diminishing of magical creatures, and their strive to revive them and keep the gems from the hands of evil. Over the years it has been modified, added too, and taken away from. But I, the last remaining Tenjia Hogosha, hold in my memory, every last event that happened in it's truest form. But I am old, and my days are numbered. That is why I am leaving the story of me, my friends, and our adventure, in this book, in your hands. I trust you will not let it be forgotten.
"Hey! Get back here!"
On the run again from the guards, I ran as fast as my legs would take me. I was on the rooftop of the palace, holding in my hands one of the two Legendary Tenjia Gems. The red one, in the shape of a lion. Guards behind me, guards in front of me. No where to go when suddenly something swooped down from the sky, grasped the right shoulder of one guard and the left shoulder of another, and pulled them down off the roof, giving me just enough space to slip through the line of soliders.
I tucked the gem away in my sash, and pulled my bow off my chest, drawing three arrows and notching them. I turned around, and aimed them at those following me. I pulled back the string, and released them, turning and not watching to see if they hit. But by the cries, I knew they did. My eyes narrowed as a shadow passed over me, and a man appeared in my way. I skidded to a halt, about to retreat backward when I felt a strong source of heat against my back. I knew at once it was fire. This was the King's Fire Squad. Figures.
The man smirked. "You've got no where to run boy." He said. I raised an eyebrow, and was about to come up with some super cool smart ass remark when I heared a hissing sound behind me, and just managed to jump over the ball of fire shot at me before another shadow passed over me. This one was a woman, and stood in a fighting stance beside the man. Couldnt' go forward, couldn't go backward. "Trapped." The woman said. My eyebrow was still raised, so I didn't have to raise it again. Time for the smart ass remark. "Really? Because I thought that people could go forward, backward, up, down, left, and right."
I turned, leaping off onto the slanted side of the roof top, and slid down it's smooth surface. Upon reaching the bottom, I slid right off, grabbed the edge of the roof, and used it to swing myself under it and into the corridor, and out of sight. A smile on my face, I raced down the corridor, the exit in sight, when suddenly a figure blocked it, saying my name. "Kai." It said. It was a woman, looking very annoyed. "Kai will you get up already!" I felt a jabbing pain in my side, and the image before me vanished, only to be replaced by Bree hanging over me, her face so close to mine I could see the specks of gold in her green eyes. "Finally! Jeeze! I've been trying to wake you up for forever."
I blinked, trying to set things straight. Reality from dream. "Bree?" I muttered. She slapped me. "Yes! Bree! Now get up! It's time to go." I was wide awake by now, glaring at her as she straightend herself and moved back so I could get up. She offered me her hand, and I took it, only to pull her to the ground and stand up myself. She scowled but said nothing as she helped herself to her feet. I checked my sash for the gem, but it wasn't there. It had only been a dream. "Dammit." I cursed, muttering under my breath. Bree must have heared me, because when I faced her again she had a very quizzicle look on her face. "Oh, um, just thinking." I said, trying to make it seem as if I wasn't crazy.
Bree rolled her eyes, "Did you dream about it again?" She asked, raising an eyebrow. I nodded slightly. "Yeah, I almost got out of there two. 'Cept you woke me up." I said. "Well, I had to. We have to go." She replied, pouring the bucket of water onto the fire. "We've slept too long as it is, they'll have caught up to us by now." I nodded in agreement, helping her to pack up.
Bree and I were on the run, as usual, for a theft. But this one was of greater magnitude then the others. A ruby colored diamond stolen from the Queen of Ezmerelda herself. Ezmerelda was the biggest Kingdom in the land, and the most guarded at that. The soliders had already been after them for two days now. Normally the guards gave up by now, but not these ones. The Queen wanted her diamond back.
I held out my arm and whistled. A black hawk swooped down from a tree and onto my arm, her red eyes darting left and right. "How close are they?" I asked it. She glanced at the trees, and the sound of horse hooves drumming on the forest floor met my ears. "Bree! They're here!" I swung my pack onto my back and untehtered our horses from a tree. She was already on hers before I finished untying the not. I lept upon my own black gelding and turned him to face our path.
Without a word we both broke out into a gallop, the hawk flying above us in the sky. "Eyrie!" I called to her. "Scout behind us!" I wanted to know if they were gaining, staying steady, or falling behind. Our horses were fast, but so were theirs. I turned back to watch the path before me, using one hand to brush the black hairs out from in front of my eyes, but they just fell back in place. I made a mentel note to give myself a hair cut, but knew I never would. I liked it this length. Long enough to cover my eyes but not long enough to put in a pony tail.
I returned my hand to it's place on the reins and rode on.
~~~~~~~~~~
It's been two hours since we lost the guards, and had slowed our horses to a walk. We were out of the forest by now, and out in the country, following a dirt path that didn't seem to lead anywhere. I was slightly uncomfortable what with my bow across my chest and a quiver of arrows and long sword at my waste; not to mention the double daggers in my sash. I'd gotten used to it, for the most part. It was still a little irratating.
Tyro, my horse, gave an protestant snort. I sighed quietly, glancing at Bree who gave me a small nod. We pulled our horses off the 'road' and onto the grassy field, and hoped off. I could have sworn I heared Tyro sigh in relief. Could horses sigh? I shrugged at the question as I pulled the blanket off his back. We didn't have saddles, had to travel light. I pulled off the light leather blanket that held our bags, and layed in the ground. Behind me, Bree was doing the same with her mare, Eva. I slipped the briddle out of Tyro's mouth, and layed it down on the ground. The horse immedielty began to eat the grass. I rolled my eyes. "Good thing we run you so much, or you'd be fat as a pig." I said, pulling out a canteen of water. I drank my share, and held it out for Bree to take. She did so, drinking part as well. I held the water up in the air, and in seconds it was snatched from my hands by Eyrie. She would go try and find a source of water to refill the canteen with.
I plopped down next to the bags and bridle, laying down in the grass and staring up at the blue sky. I heared footsteps and saw from the corner of my eye Bree sitting down beside me. "You okay?" She asked, seeing the troubled look in my eye. "I guess." I replied. "Just... Nervous." She raised an eyebrow. "About being caught?" I shook my head. "About my dreams. They have to mean something. I mean I've seen them so many times, and for so long. I used to have them when I lived back in Ezmerelda. This girl who was my next door neighbor used to be my best friend. I'd see her every day, and then every night I'd dream of one of the gems. But when my parents died, and I left, I stopped having them. When I met you, they started again. It's weird, and I don't get it."
Bree nodded, and was about to reply when something caught her eye. "Kai... Does that look like a lion to you?" I narrowed my eyes. "A lion? Out here. You must be seeing this." But I looked in the direction she was pointing anyways. And there it was. A golden coated lion with a deep yellow main and blazing gold eyes. It was starring right at us, with a mysterious look in it's eye. I was drawn to it, and started to sit up when Bree stopped me. "Don't move!" She hissed. "We don't want it after us." I didn't listen though, I couldn't help it. I was being pulled toward the animal by some invisible source. I didn't care though, the lion didn't seem dangerous.
I was on my feet by now, walking toward it. I watched as it shook it's mane, then turned, and took off bounding across the field. I followed, breaking out into a sprint. "Kai!" I heared Bree shouting after me, but it was only a distant call in my mind. I was catching up, only because it seemed like the lion was trying to close the gap between us. I could see the hill sloped down a few yards in front of the lion, and called out to it, thinking it didn't see the cliff and would run right off. It occured to me in the back of my mind that there wasn't a cliff there before, but I ignored the thought. I watched the creature, trying to call out to it, but when the lion reached the edge of the plain, with one giant leap, it shot into the air, right over the cliff, and vanished into the sunlight, seeming to move right through some invisible subtance.
The moment the tip of it's tail vanished, a whole stream of colors burst out in all directions in front of me. (I had by now come to a halt at the edge of the plain). Pictures flowed like a timeline before me. Sounds of animals, shouts of humans, cires of pain, and cries of victory. Animals being slaughtered. Not animals. Magical creatures. Humans holding their body parts as prizes, and selling them for huge sums of money. It was like a movie playing out before his eyes. A movie of time. Past, present, and future.
I saw the girl from my past, and I saw Bree. Two other pictures were illuminated. Two boys, about 16, my age. I saw an image of a castle, that I knew as located in the kingdom of Eris, but then it faded. They all faded, only to be replaced by a single image; the gem. It shone a brillant red as the sun struck it. The light blinded me, and I took a step back, shielding my eyes. Then suddenly, it all expanded, then contracted, and vanished before me eyes, fading away. The cliff was replaced by the normal grassy hill that sloped down into another plain, and for a second I thought I saw a flash of gold amongst the green, but it quickly vanished.
Bree had caught up to me by now, and was panting, looking worried. "Kai!" She called, coming to a halt behind me, "Kai what was it? Did you see something?" I stared off into the distance, not sure of the answer. "I'm...I'm not sure." I replied, glancing at her. My mind was racing with thoughts right now, too many to concentrate on one. I had a feeling though. A strong one. I knew I had to find those two boys, and the girl from my past. I had to find the castle, and the gem... And I had to steal it.
Constructive Critisism is greatly needed. Lol. I have my own ideas of what's wrong with it, but I want to know if I'm the only one who thinks that.
