I awoke to the sound of Nera snoring loudly. ‘Jeez, he sounds like an angry rhino when he snores!’ I thought stupidly, trying to get myself into a happier mood; but it seemed to elude me, just out of reach of my ‘bubble’; as my mom would put it.
Sitting up, I picked up my shoes and slipped them on, then; standing as quietly as I could, walked over to the door and slowly opened it; cursing under my breath when it gave a loud creak, I paused, looking over my shoulder at Nera but he didn’t stir.
When I’d opened it; wide enough, I slipped through standing right beside the door, in the hallway and stared in awe at the receding passages; on either side of me, that seemed to disappear into darkness… I took a last look at the room behind me and then headed down the right passageway.
In this house it was as though time itself stood still, the air was motionless and all was silent.
As I walked, I realised that I’d passed an open red door, but when I looked inside there wasn’t anyone there, so I was sure it wasn’t the room we’d slept in.
After strolling along the passage; for what I was certain had to have been nearly an hour, I decided to turn around and head back to the room.
I headed back the way I’d come, but this time I didn’t pass an open red door or any red door, I was fairly positive that I would find my way back because there hadn’t been any turns on the way.
But as I continued walking; back the way I’d come, my confidence in finding the room dwindled, until I was sure I was completely lost.
I sat down where I was and covering my eyes started to sob. I know it was an over reaction but I just broke down right there.
‘I’m lost! I’ll never find my way back! I’ll never see my mother or friends…’ I was thinking with major self pity.
After a couple of minutes, I heard a mewing sound and then felt someone wrap an arm round me pulling me closer, I laid my head on his shoulder and sobbed some more, while he whispered in my ear, “It’s alright, you’re fine, nothings wrong, you’re going to be fine…” this carried on for a while, then as my sobbing stopped, he started humming and picking me up, carried me down a passage.
I must have dossed off because I opened my eyes to find Nera smiling down at me from my saviour’s arms. Nera lifted me towards himself and the stranger left before I could thank him for finding and bringing me back to where I was supposed to be.
“You shouldn’t wonder like that.” Nera teased.
“Who was that guy?” I asked barely registering what Nera said.
“Him?” Nera stared into space for a second, “He’s a guide like Paws, except he doesn’t guide people anymore, now he mostly avoids them, he hasn’t spoken to anyone in over two years and that’s the first time I or anyone else has seen him for over two years. Doubt anybody will see him again soon, either.”
I was disappointed, because I still wanted to thank him, but wasn’t about to give up, “What’s his name?”
“I think his name is; skie…”
After a while of contemplating things I asked, “Can you put me down? Please.”
He let me down but kept a firm hold on my arm, as though to steady me.
“You can let go. I’m sure I can walk without support.”
“Oh, right. Yeah, sorry…”
“That’s ‘k,” I said uninterestedly, “where are we headed?”
“We’re going to meet Hertly… again.”
“Why?” I really didn’t see the point.
“Because he has something to tell us, I believe.”
“If you say so…” I didn’t think I was going to get along any better with Hertly.
We walked the rest of the way in silence.
‘I wonder what Nera thinks Hertly has to say.’ I mused then remembered that Nera could read thoughts and quickly glanced over at him but his face hadn’t changed, he still had the same controlled peace written on it.
As we reach our destination I noticed that the door was already open and there were two stools placed in front of Hertly’s desk.
“Come in and make yourselves at home, I’ll be there in a sec, just need to find… Ah! Here it is.”
Nera’d stepped into the room; as soon as Hertly had told us to come in, he seated himself on the left stool while I sat down on the right one.
Hertly turned to face us once he’d found what he needed to.
“Ah. It’s you two, just the people I need to talk to.” He said warmly.
“Why?” I blurted out.
“If you give me a chance I’ll explain,” He continued, “As you’ll know, Nightmare, some people have special abilities, and the child of every clan leader will always have these abilities, if not more than one ability, the very most any one has had is up to three abilities” as he said this he glanced in my direction, “Now it is always the leader’s; of the clan you belong to, job to find out what the child’s gift is but as your mother isn’t clan leader any more and we haven’t a clue who your father is, you don’t belong to any clan and so even though you will have a Gift, no one has found out what it is and so you; I believe, will at the moment not have any idea what your Gift or Gifts are.”
As he talked I started to think, ‘Abilities? I’m supposed to have special abilities? If what he’s saying is true… What are my ‘Gifts’?’
“Do you understand what I’m saying?” Hertly asked gently as he saw my shocked face.
“Yes, I-I understand.”
“I’ll give you a moment to take this all in.”
“I don’t need a moment,” I snapped then looked at him apologetically, “How d-do you find out w-what my a-ability is?” I stumbled over a few of the words.
“I can’t, your mother has to.” It was Hertlys turn to look sorry.
“My mom?” I looked down at the floor, “I don’t know where my mom is.”
Nera looked up, “There is that other way.”
“No.” Hertly stated firmly, “We will not resort to using the other method.”
“What other method?” I glanced between them both questionably.
“Forget it. Nera is just being crazy.” Hertly said, still not looking at me.
“I’m not crazy.” Nera retorted, “You know that it will work, Hertly.”
“No. It won’t.” Hertly continued in a whisper, “It hardly ever works and you; above all people, should know what happens when it fails, Nera.”
“Don’t you dare!” Nera hissed, “I remember the consequences of that failure, I’ll never forget!”
“Then you should know what could happen to Ara if the other way fails.”
“I…” Nera slouched a bit on the stool with a retired look on his face, “You’re right… We can’t use that method.”
“Would one of you tell me what this other method is?!” I shouted at them.
wings©2007
Friday 26 October 2007
Monday 15 October 2007
Samuel and Jamie...
It was late in the afternoon, at a cafe; not too far from Ara’s house. A young man; looking to be about in his twenties, was sitting at a table outside, he’d chosen this table specifically for the fact that it gave him a view of everyone around him while most couldn’t see him, that and after the first time he had been there the café had decided it was his table.
He had spiked up blond hair and dark eyes; that didn’t seem to have a colour they were just dark… He was wearing a grey cotton shirt and grey tracksuit pants.
After his first time at the café, he came every Tuesday, Thursday and sometimes on the weekend and when he arrived he went straight to his table and the waitress brought out a cup of coffee just the way he liked it.
No one bothered talking to him; most were too afraid.
He’d been waiting there for nearly half an hour when he suddenly smiled. He saw his little comrade; a young boy of about thirteen, in biker shorts and a blue, baggy t-shirt, walk round a corner heading for the café.
“Hi Sam!” The young boy said enthusiastically, as he reached the table at which the guy sat.
“Hi Jamie,” Sam said, taking a sip of his coffee, “Nice day isn’t it?”
“Sure is.” Jamie replied a little confused at Sam’s remark; for as long as Jamie had known him; Sam had always hated sunny days, in fact Sam hated summer and spring, at least that’s how Jamie had always found it to be…
“So, how did your task go?” Sam inquired without interest.
“Actually it went very well.” Jamie said self importantly.
“Really?” Sam asked with mock surprise coating his words, “You actually did well?”
Jamie was quick to reply, “Yes. I did what I was told and I succeeded!”
“Is that right?” Sam looked uninterested as he got on Jamie’s nerves; it had always been so easy to tick him off, “You did as you were told and succeeded?” Sam let out a bark of laughter as he was rewarded with Jamie’s face turning bright red.
“Look… I- I- You’re an idiot!” He was at a lose for words as he felt the heat of his anger bubble up inside him.
“Don’t get mad, dude,” Sam told him jokingly, “Come on lets go get some ice-cream.
Jamie calmed down a little.
“Don’t you want to know what I found out?” Jamie asked unsure of whether he should tell Sam or not.
“Nah… I’ll find out when they want me to know.”
With that said the two of them left in search of ice-cream and some fun.
Wings©2007
He had spiked up blond hair and dark eyes; that didn’t seem to have a colour they were just dark… He was wearing a grey cotton shirt and grey tracksuit pants.
After his first time at the café, he came every Tuesday, Thursday and sometimes on the weekend and when he arrived he went straight to his table and the waitress brought out a cup of coffee just the way he liked it.
No one bothered talking to him; most were too afraid.
He’d been waiting there for nearly half an hour when he suddenly smiled. He saw his little comrade; a young boy of about thirteen, in biker shorts and a blue, baggy t-shirt, walk round a corner heading for the café.
“Hi Sam!” The young boy said enthusiastically, as he reached the table at which the guy sat.
“Hi Jamie,” Sam said, taking a sip of his coffee, “Nice day isn’t it?”
“Sure is.” Jamie replied a little confused at Sam’s remark; for as long as Jamie had known him; Sam had always hated sunny days, in fact Sam hated summer and spring, at least that’s how Jamie had always found it to be…
“So, how did your task go?” Sam inquired without interest.
“Actually it went very well.” Jamie said self importantly.
“Really?” Sam asked with mock surprise coating his words, “You actually did well?”
Jamie was quick to reply, “Yes. I did what I was told and I succeeded!”
“Is that right?” Sam looked uninterested as he got on Jamie’s nerves; it had always been so easy to tick him off, “You did as you were told and succeeded?” Sam let out a bark of laughter as he was rewarded with Jamie’s face turning bright red.
“Look… I- I- You’re an idiot!” He was at a lose for words as he felt the heat of his anger bubble up inside him.
“Don’t get mad, dude,” Sam told him jokingly, “Come on lets go get some ice-cream.
Jamie calmed down a little.
“Don’t you want to know what I found out?” Jamie asked unsure of whether he should tell Sam or not.
“Nah… I’ll find out when they want me to know.”
With that said the two of them left in search of ice-cream and some fun.
Wings©2007
Saturday 11 August 2007
Queries
‘Run!’ That was the first thing that popped into my head, ‘Get as far away from these nut jobs as you can! Make a break for it, the door’s only two feet away! But where can I run to? I don’t have a clue which way leads to the exit... I could guess but with the amount of turns we took getting here... and what was it that Nera had said... “Last time I wanted...the library he got me there just as the clock chimed for midnight.”, If it took that long just to find a library... what chance do I have of ever finding my way out?!’ I was starting to realise that I’d just trapped myself with these strangers...
“You look whiter than a ghost,” Hertly murmured quietly then told Nera to get a small stool for me to sit on.
‘I don’t want to sit!’ I screamed with my mind putting such force behind the thought, Nera actually hesitated in bringing me the stool and started rubbing his temples.
“Nera, bring Ara the stool, now!” Hertly order him firmly, then turning to me stated, “You need to sit!” and it was like a switch went off in my head, my legs felt like jelly and the moment that stool was behind me, I collapsed onto it.
I became furious ‘No one ever orders me around like that!’ I was hissing stubbornly in my mind.
“Things change.” Hertly stated bitterness coating those words, “Your mother changed, couldn’t handle that one death, when there had been hundreds more seen by her very eyes!”
“No! That’s not true!” I screamed starting to cry, my next words barely getting through the knot forming in my throat, “It can’t be...”, ‘hundreds of deaths? And seen by her eyes, it wasn’t, it couldn’t be true...’
“Oh, but it i-” Hertly was saying when Nera suddenly cut in.
“Stop It!” He cried angrily, “Can’t you see what you are doing? You have to see through those past differences or you will destroy the plan! Think about our future you are putting into jeopardy. If you can’t keep yourself in check then you shouldn’t be in your position.”
“I- I don’t know what...” Hertly trailed off, “You’re right, I’m still getting into the habit of keeping myself under control.”
“Now can we get back to why we’re here?” Nera asked exasperated.
“Yes.” Hertly said not looking at me, “But not now, Nightmare can you please find Ara a room, she looks exhausted, and when was the last time you slept properly? Humans never seem to... Oh and Nightmare set up your bed on the floor of her room. Can’t let her get lost, now can we. You know how these rooms like to change...”
“Alright, I will.” Nera looked a little hesitant as though things hadn’t gone quite as he’d planned.
We walked in silence down the passageway until we reach the corner Paws had gone round.
“Here we are.” Nera announced as we reached a bright almost blood red door, “This is where we’ll be sleeping for tonight. Keep everything with you we aren’t coming back to this room again after tonight.”
I was still lost in thought about my mom and whoever the stranger was whose death she couldn’t handle... ‘Maybe I should ask Nera/Nightmare...’
“Ummm... Nera..?” I looked at him quizzically.
“Yeah. What is it?”
“Whose death couldn’t my mom handle?”
He seemed to be arguing with himself, unsure of what to do.
“Well it was about 15 to 16 years ago, a fight had broken out between the two enemy clans at the head meeting, the head meeting is where all the clan leaders meet up and discuss things, well your mom, being the leader of the Anahita clan, was at that meeting but because my clan and hers were both on the same side when the fight broke out her clan was right behind us to help with the fighting, and trust me we were grateful.” Nera continued after looking to see if I was keeping up, “Unfortunately the leader of the Appoloin clan, Dennam, was the strongest of all the clans, he had wings that were darker than black and a tail that was tipped with a blade; but that wasn’t what made him dangerous it was his Gift, when the fight broke out his clan was on the other side, it lasted for three hours with great losses to our clans, but his was still going strong with only five deaths...”
“What happened?” I asked, grabbing his shoulder gently to reassure him.
“She had her chance. Your mother was the only one with the power to stop him, but... she said she couldn’t... they had both stayed clear of fighting each other, and when she got her chance she hesitated, but so did he, that was when Bruno, one of my clan, went in, he had a knife which he stabbed right through Dennam’s heart, every body froze staring as the Appoloin lead collapsed, falling to his knees, the last words he cried were “Don’t let it die!”, after that your mother cried and mourned, she locked herself in a room for days, not letting anyone inside, then one day she just opt and left. She was running around these passage ways for hours when, and this was lucky for her, she ran into Paws. She ordered him to take her to a way out... Afterwards we never heard from nor saw her again.”
“Can I ask you one more question?” I asked quietly but then seeing his face and knowing he was uncertain, “I promise after this no more questions ever!”
“You will have more queries eventually.” He stated shortly, “But... You can ask me this question, as long as you know that I might not have the answer.”
“OK.” I gathered my thoughts a bit, “Do you know who my father is? Mom never spoke about him, plus no one else seemed to know anything and you seem to know more about my mom’s history and my history than I do...”
“I guess I’m no different because I haven’t a clue who your dad is.”
I was disappointed with his answer but I couldn’t be angry at him, no one else had known my dad either.
‘I have another inquiry actually quite a few, but I promised not to ask any other questions.’ I sighed, maybe tomorrow my queries will be answered but for now I needed to rest.
My last thought as I drifted towards sleep was, ‘I wander why Nera is known as Nightmare?’
“You look whiter than a ghost,” Hertly murmured quietly then told Nera to get a small stool for me to sit on.
‘I don’t want to sit!’ I screamed with my mind putting such force behind the thought, Nera actually hesitated in bringing me the stool and started rubbing his temples.
“Nera, bring Ara the stool, now!” Hertly order him firmly, then turning to me stated, “You need to sit!” and it was like a switch went off in my head, my legs felt like jelly and the moment that stool was behind me, I collapsed onto it.
I became furious ‘No one ever orders me around like that!’ I was hissing stubbornly in my mind.
“Things change.” Hertly stated bitterness coating those words, “Your mother changed, couldn’t handle that one death, when there had been hundreds more seen by her very eyes!”
“No! That’s not true!” I screamed starting to cry, my next words barely getting through the knot forming in my throat, “It can’t be...”, ‘hundreds of deaths? And seen by her eyes, it wasn’t, it couldn’t be true...’
“Oh, but it i-” Hertly was saying when Nera suddenly cut in.
“Stop It!” He cried angrily, “Can’t you see what you are doing? You have to see through those past differences or you will destroy the plan! Think about our future you are putting into jeopardy. If you can’t keep yourself in check then you shouldn’t be in your position.”
“I- I don’t know what...” Hertly trailed off, “You’re right, I’m still getting into the habit of keeping myself under control.”
“Now can we get back to why we’re here?” Nera asked exasperated.
“Yes.” Hertly said not looking at me, “But not now, Nightmare can you please find Ara a room, she looks exhausted, and when was the last time you slept properly? Humans never seem to... Oh and Nightmare set up your bed on the floor of her room. Can’t let her get lost, now can we. You know how these rooms like to change...”
“Alright, I will.” Nera looked a little hesitant as though things hadn’t gone quite as he’d planned.
We walked in silence down the passageway until we reach the corner Paws had gone round.
“Here we are.” Nera announced as we reached a bright almost blood red door, “This is where we’ll be sleeping for tonight. Keep everything with you we aren’t coming back to this room again after tonight.”
I was still lost in thought about my mom and whoever the stranger was whose death she couldn’t handle... ‘Maybe I should ask Nera/Nightmare...’
“Ummm... Nera..?” I looked at him quizzically.
“Yeah. What is it?”
“Whose death couldn’t my mom handle?”
He seemed to be arguing with himself, unsure of what to do.
“Well it was about 15 to 16 years ago, a fight had broken out between the two enemy clans at the head meeting, the head meeting is where all the clan leaders meet up and discuss things, well your mom, being the leader of the Anahita clan, was at that meeting but because my clan and hers were both on the same side when the fight broke out her clan was right behind us to help with the fighting, and trust me we were grateful.” Nera continued after looking to see if I was keeping up, “Unfortunately the leader of the Appoloin clan, Dennam, was the strongest of all the clans, he had wings that were darker than black and a tail that was tipped with a blade; but that wasn’t what made him dangerous it was his Gift, when the fight broke out his clan was on the other side, it lasted for three hours with great losses to our clans, but his was still going strong with only five deaths...”
“What happened?” I asked, grabbing his shoulder gently to reassure him.
“She had her chance. Your mother was the only one with the power to stop him, but... she said she couldn’t... they had both stayed clear of fighting each other, and when she got her chance she hesitated, but so did he, that was when Bruno, one of my clan, went in, he had a knife which he stabbed right through Dennam’s heart, every body froze staring as the Appoloin lead collapsed, falling to his knees, the last words he cried were “Don’t let it die!”, after that your mother cried and mourned, she locked herself in a room for days, not letting anyone inside, then one day she just opt and left. She was running around these passage ways for hours when, and this was lucky for her, she ran into Paws. She ordered him to take her to a way out... Afterwards we never heard from nor saw her again.”
“Can I ask you one more question?” I asked quietly but then seeing his face and knowing he was uncertain, “I promise after this no more questions ever!”
“You will have more queries eventually.” He stated shortly, “But... You can ask me this question, as long as you know that I might not have the answer.”
“OK.” I gathered my thoughts a bit, “Do you know who my father is? Mom never spoke about him, plus no one else seemed to know anything and you seem to know more about my mom’s history and my history than I do...”
“I guess I’m no different because I haven’t a clue who your dad is.”
I was disappointed with his answer but I couldn’t be angry at him, no one else had known my dad either.
‘I have another inquiry actually quite a few, but I promised not to ask any other questions.’ I sighed, maybe tomorrow my queries will be answered but for now I needed to rest.
My last thought as I drifted towards sleep was, ‘I wander why Nera is known as Nightmare?’
Thursday 2 August 2007
...Nera or Nightmare?
“Well now that the introductions are out of the way-” Mindreader was saying when I cut him off.
“Wait! I don’t know your name...” I looked up, at him, but he wasn’t looking at me.
“My name isn’t important.” He said then facing Paws and was about to say something when I cut in again.
“Yes it is, other wise I won’t know what to call you.” I wasn’t leaving this spot until I knew his name, and that was that!
“Oh, alright, if it’ll get you moving, we do have to be somewhere, now.” He seemed to look for something long lost in his mind.
“If I remember correctly, my name is Nera...” He looked saddened after saying his name.
“Nera, it suits you.” I mused, “It sounds almost as mysterious as you act.”
He smiled solemnly looking at his feet for a second as though trying to keep down something bad he’d just eaten.
Looking up at Paws he commanded “Take us to Hertly, and no taking us on a round about route!”
Turning to me he whispered, “Last time I wanted to go to the information section i.e. the library he got me there just as the clock chimed for midnight.”
I laughed stifling it with my hand over my mouth.
Mindr-I mean Nera seemed pleased by my laughing; he smiled at me and then pulled off a really goofy grin which had me laughing uncontrollably.
He started telling jokes and pulling funny faces while I tried to guess some of the jokes answers and pulled funny faces as well.
By the time we arrived at our destination, a large; old Victorian; mahogany door, we were both in hissing balls of laughter and the funny thing was; I didn’t know what I was actually laughing about!
“We are here.” Paws announced, “Now may I take my dinner break, Nightmare?” He asked turning to face Nera, with a tired and hungry look about him.
‘Wait! What? Why did he just call Nera nightmare?’ I was confused and definitely wasn’t going to laugh anymore, not with what Paws had just said, ‘maybe he’d just called him that because Paws didn’t like him... Yeah that’s gotta be why. It has to; they must have some sort of grudge between them... Though with the way they act towards each other you could’ve sworn they were best friends! I need time to contemplate things.’ But where am I going to get time? I’m in a strange house with weird ceilings and lots of doors; that lead to...I have no clue where, not to mention that I’m with this guy ‘Nera’ whom I know little to nothing about, ‘No, I must be on my guard from now on!’ I ordered myself ‘No more fun and games, my mom is gone somewhere or forgot to pick me up, and I’m with a stranger in a very weird and creepy house, with a, I would guess, a ten year old cat boy.’ This is turning out to be one unusual day.
“Very well, then! Go ahead take your break... you lazy fur ball.” Nera teased pushing Paws softly as he went by, Paws was fully morphed into a cat, which was snow white and that had these big ears, by the time he rounded a corner down the hallway.
“Paws always was a sucker for milk and naps.” Nera stated to no one in particular, even though I was the only other person there.
Turning towards the door, he rapped lightly on it three times.
“Come in.” Somebody invited, with a burly yet some how comforting voice, from within the room beyond the door.
With a simple and light flick of Nera’s wrist towards the door, it swung open, sending out a gentle but warm gust of air.
“Who is it?” The voice asked of us.
This time I saw him, he was sitting behind a strangely large table, that I would have had to stand at for my eyes to even be able to see over it, he was wearing a red cardigan sweater, his hands looked like they could belong to a grizzly bear and his grey beard looked as though birds had tried but fail in making a nest there.
“It’s rude to stare!” Nera hissed at me, quietly, continuing with his answer to the question, “I am Nightmare of the Lunima clan.” He then bowed very low to this giant of a man, “And this is Ara Nickle, Daughter to the matriarch of the Anahita clan. Ara this is Hertly.” Nera, or is it really Nightmare, stated happily, introducing me.
I had been ready to curtsy or bow but now I was just shocked, staring straight ahead, my mind in a buzz, unsure of what I should do next...
“Wait! I don’t know your name...” I looked up, at him, but he wasn’t looking at me.
“My name isn’t important.” He said then facing Paws and was about to say something when I cut in again.
“Yes it is, other wise I won’t know what to call you.” I wasn’t leaving this spot until I knew his name, and that was that!
“Oh, alright, if it’ll get you moving, we do have to be somewhere, now.” He seemed to look for something long lost in his mind.
“If I remember correctly, my name is Nera...” He looked saddened after saying his name.
“Nera, it suits you.” I mused, “It sounds almost as mysterious as you act.”
He smiled solemnly looking at his feet for a second as though trying to keep down something bad he’d just eaten.
Looking up at Paws he commanded “Take us to Hertly, and no taking us on a round about route!”
Turning to me he whispered, “Last time I wanted to go to the information section i.e. the library he got me there just as the clock chimed for midnight.”
I laughed stifling it with my hand over my mouth.
Mindr-I mean Nera seemed pleased by my laughing; he smiled at me and then pulled off a really goofy grin which had me laughing uncontrollably.
He started telling jokes and pulling funny faces while I tried to guess some of the jokes answers and pulled funny faces as well.
By the time we arrived at our destination, a large; old Victorian; mahogany door, we were both in hissing balls of laughter and the funny thing was; I didn’t know what I was actually laughing about!
“We are here.” Paws announced, “Now may I take my dinner break, Nightmare?” He asked turning to face Nera, with a tired and hungry look about him.
‘Wait! What? Why did he just call Nera nightmare?’ I was confused and definitely wasn’t going to laugh anymore, not with what Paws had just said, ‘maybe he’d just called him that because Paws didn’t like him... Yeah that’s gotta be why. It has to; they must have some sort of grudge between them... Though with the way they act towards each other you could’ve sworn they were best friends! I need time to contemplate things.’ But where am I going to get time? I’m in a strange house with weird ceilings and lots of doors; that lead to...I have no clue where, not to mention that I’m with this guy ‘Nera’ whom I know little to nothing about, ‘No, I must be on my guard from now on!’ I ordered myself ‘No more fun and games, my mom is gone somewhere or forgot to pick me up, and I’m with a stranger in a very weird and creepy house, with a, I would guess, a ten year old cat boy.’ This is turning out to be one unusual day.
“Very well, then! Go ahead take your break... you lazy fur ball.” Nera teased pushing Paws softly as he went by, Paws was fully morphed into a cat, which was snow white and that had these big ears, by the time he rounded a corner down the hallway.
“Paws always was a sucker for milk and naps.” Nera stated to no one in particular, even though I was the only other person there.
Turning towards the door, he rapped lightly on it three times.
“Come in.” Somebody invited, with a burly yet some how comforting voice, from within the room beyond the door.
With a simple and light flick of Nera’s wrist towards the door, it swung open, sending out a gentle but warm gust of air.
“Who is it?” The voice asked of us.
This time I saw him, he was sitting behind a strangely large table, that I would have had to stand at for my eyes to even be able to see over it, he was wearing a red cardigan sweater, his hands looked like they could belong to a grizzly bear and his grey beard looked as though birds had tried but fail in making a nest there.
“It’s rude to stare!” Nera hissed at me, quietly, continuing with his answer to the question, “I am Nightmare of the Lunima clan.” He then bowed very low to this giant of a man, “And this is Ara Nickle, Daughter to the matriarch of the Anahita clan. Ara this is Hertly.” Nera, or is it really Nightmare, stated happily, introducing me.
I had been ready to curtsy or bow but now I was just shocked, staring straight ahead, my mind in a buzz, unsure of what I should do next...
Monday 30 July 2007
...lost...
I felt something breathing down my back as something went by my right ear.
I jumped, throwing my arms up to protect my face, landing awkwardly on my left foot; I stumbled, falling backwards, the back of my right hip connected with a sharp corner.
“Aaah! Jesu... Urgh!” I was uttering quietly under my breath, but stopped when a light came on reducing the darkness to the shadows of corners.
I stood gawking upwards.
“Wow...” I said without even knowing.
We were in a sort of run down passageway, nothing special, although it was a bit on the gloomy side, but the ceiling... I mean I have never seen anything like it.! There was an intricate pattern carved into it, though it really didn’t look as though anything could’ve carved it because the pattern wasn’t actually in the ceiling in fact it was hovering about three Centimetres below the ceiling and seemed to be emitting an eerie yet curious light.
“What is that?” I whispered so quietly I was surprised when Mindreader answered.
“That? I’m not sure if I’m allowed to tell you what that is.” Mindreader continued, “And even if I did you wouldn’t believe nor want to have known the answer.”
“How would you know?!” I snapped angrily.
“Because, I know.” He replied mockingly, smirking at the look of injustice and anger that appeared on my face.
“Look, I’m not some-”
“Paws! Where are you, stupid creature?!” He cut me off, as he shoved passed me, to yell down the passageway.
“Hmph.” I pouted, unhappy with his treatment of me, as though I was nothing more than a bug, ‘What happened to the you’re more important, bit?’.
“Paws!” Mindreader shouted angrily, “there you are, finally.”
Paws, I soon found out, is a cat, a short haired cat that had many shades of browns, greys, blacks and whites, what I mean by had is that that’s what he used to have.
Paws stood on his hind legs, growing taller until he was at the height of a boy in his tens, he wore blue pants that were a bit small and had holes around the knees, he was also wearing an olden day baggy, white shirt and a bag that had straps crossing his chest, his hair didn't stay one colour for long it seemed to shift through the colours of the cat, but his eyes were still a luminous green with slits, like that of a cats.
“Where were you Paws?” Mindreader asked, with a smile that said he already knew where Paws had been.
“I well... there...” Paws stuttered, trying to avoid both our eyes.
“Not letting your cat part get the better of you again.”
Paws smiled uncertainly.
Mindreader turning to me said, “The last time paws, couldn’t control his feline side, we ended up having to get rid of twenty dead mice and rats and also had to figure out what to do with two litters of kittens.”
Paws glanced down at the floor, trying to find something to stare at, blushing.
“Paws this is Ara Nickle.” Mindreader said pointing towards me, “As captivating as her name.” He smiled handsomely.
I blushed, looking down at the floor, big mistake.
The picture in the carpet was of a battle, there were bodies of dead and injured people lying around the battle field as the ones who could fight fought with the last of their energy, there was also some writing on it but I couldn’t understand what it said because it was in some foreign language.
“Ara this is Paws.” Mindreader said looking at me and then realising what I was looking at said, “Would you like me to tell you what it says?”
I nodded almost imperceptibly.
Mindreader saw the movement.
“Well it does say quite a bit but the gist of it is: A battle fought well and won loses more than if it had been lost.” Mindreader goes on to explain, “It means that if you go into battle to win you must be prepared to lose everything in it.”
I nodded again to show I understood, ‘That is very sad.’ I thought to myself, after that I was lost a bit in my emotions, I felt pain where a bruise was starting to show on my hip and I felt pain in my heart, plus the anger at not being told about the pattern hovering below the ceiling, above me and then there was my mom, I still didn’t know why she hadn’t picked me up and there were so many emotions I felt trapped and lost at the same time.
wings©2007
I jumped, throwing my arms up to protect my face, landing awkwardly on my left foot; I stumbled, falling backwards, the back of my right hip connected with a sharp corner.
“Aaah! Jesu... Urgh!” I was uttering quietly under my breath, but stopped when a light came on reducing the darkness to the shadows of corners.
I stood gawking upwards.
“Wow...” I said without even knowing.
We were in a sort of run down passageway, nothing special, although it was a bit on the gloomy side, but the ceiling... I mean I have never seen anything like it.! There was an intricate pattern carved into it, though it really didn’t look as though anything could’ve carved it because the pattern wasn’t actually in the ceiling in fact it was hovering about three Centimetres below the ceiling and seemed to be emitting an eerie yet curious light.
“What is that?” I whispered so quietly I was surprised when Mindreader answered.
“That? I’m not sure if I’m allowed to tell you what that is.” Mindreader continued, “And even if I did you wouldn’t believe nor want to have known the answer.”
“How would you know?!” I snapped angrily.
“Because, I know.” He replied mockingly, smirking at the look of injustice and anger that appeared on my face.
“Look, I’m not some-”
“Paws! Where are you, stupid creature?!” He cut me off, as he shoved passed me, to yell down the passageway.
“Hmph.” I pouted, unhappy with his treatment of me, as though I was nothing more than a bug, ‘What happened to the you’re more important, bit?’.
“Paws!” Mindreader shouted angrily, “there you are, finally.”
Paws, I soon found out, is a cat, a short haired cat that had many shades of browns, greys, blacks and whites, what I mean by had is that that’s what he used to have.
Paws stood on his hind legs, growing taller until he was at the height of a boy in his tens, he wore blue pants that were a bit small and had holes around the knees, he was also wearing an olden day baggy, white shirt and a bag that had straps crossing his chest, his hair didn't stay one colour for long it seemed to shift through the colours of the cat, but his eyes were still a luminous green with slits, like that of a cats.
“Where were you Paws?” Mindreader asked, with a smile that said he already knew where Paws had been.
“I well... there...” Paws stuttered, trying to avoid both our eyes.
“Not letting your cat part get the better of you again.”
Paws smiled uncertainly.
Mindreader turning to me said, “The last time paws, couldn’t control his feline side, we ended up having to get rid of twenty dead mice and rats and also had to figure out what to do with two litters of kittens.”
Paws glanced down at the floor, trying to find something to stare at, blushing.
“Paws this is Ara Nickle.” Mindreader said pointing towards me, “As captivating as her name.” He smiled handsomely.
I blushed, looking down at the floor, big mistake.
The picture in the carpet was of a battle, there were bodies of dead and injured people lying around the battle field as the ones who could fight fought with the last of their energy, there was also some writing on it but I couldn’t understand what it said because it was in some foreign language.
“Ara this is Paws.” Mindreader said looking at me and then realising what I was looking at said, “Would you like me to tell you what it says?”
I nodded almost imperceptibly.
Mindreader saw the movement.
“Well it does say quite a bit but the gist of it is: A battle fought well and won loses more than if it had been lost.” Mindreader goes on to explain, “It means that if you go into battle to win you must be prepared to lose everything in it.”
I nodded again to show I understood, ‘That is very sad.’ I thought to myself, after that I was lost a bit in my emotions, I felt pain where a bruise was starting to show on my hip and I felt pain in my heart, plus the anger at not being told about the pattern hovering below the ceiling, above me and then there was my mom, I still didn’t know why she hadn’t picked me up and there were so many emotions I felt trapped and lost at the same time.
wings©2007
Monday 16 July 2007
...like a magnet...
I was about to say something sketical but was cut off, before the words escaped my mouth, by the sound of some thing falling to the floor and breaking into a thousand pieces, behind me.
I span round facing the door that lead into the kitchen, where the noise had come from.
My heart beating faster and faster as adrenalin coursed through my body, making my hands and knees shake.
The guy, (I'm nick naming mind reader), jumped to his feet in a fluid montion, grabbing my hand as he headed towards the front door. Half dragging me as i try to keep up.
Mind reader not even bothering to open the door, raises his arm, flicking his hand in the direction of the middle of the door, it flys outward taking parts of the door frame with it as splinters are scattering everywhere.
I ducked covering my face and realised suddenly that i was whimpering, which made me angry, at myself for being so weak and like a baby, at my mom for not picking me up, at mind read for the fact that he had just blown apart the front door!
"HEY!" I screamed at mind reader as we both raced out the hole where the door used to be, "You better pay to repare the damage you just caused!" I know that i was being stupid I was just getting irritated plus angry and I needed to take it out on someone or something so mind reader seemed like the perfect target seeing as he had just blown a door apart that was deffinitly goning to cost a lot to repare...
He looked at me over his shoulder, calmly saying "Your life is more important."
This took me off guard making me stumble and nearly fall over, but mind reader was quick, grabbing my shoulder to help me regain my balance.
'What did he mean by that? Was he trying to help me or not?' i needed to stop and figure things out, 'I thought he'd been a bad guy? Had i been wrong? I wasn't normally wrong when it came to my gut feeling about certain things or people.' I started think about all the things that had taken place so far but remembered that this guy could read my mind and most likely was, so i desided to try stop thinking about personal things or things that were important to me, for now and concentrate on running, my breathing, my heart as it beat inside me and mind reader, 'If I'm to see if I can beat him if it ever came down to a fight, I'll have to watch for any weakness he may have, that i might be able to use against him.'
Once we rounded a corner we slowed donw to a fast walking pace.
He still held on tightly to my arm not letting go no matter how hard i tried to get away.
"Who are you? And what do you want from me?" I got right to the point, giving up on trying to escape from his clutch.
"Who I am is not for you to know until the time is right and what i want from you will have to wait till we get to my house because it's a long story and will best be told over food." He replied, not even bothering to look at me anymore.
"No, I don't want any food, I want answers." I practically spat the words right in his face.
"Patience is a virtue."
I felt like wringing his neck till the words popped right out of his head along with his tiny annoying brain!
He laughed, it was a laugh that said he was pleased to be getting under my skin so easily.
I was just about to slap him up side the head but right at that moment we stopped in front of a worn down house that seemed to be abandoned, with it's boarded up windows and the paint peeling from the walls.
"Home, Sweet Home." Mind reader said proudly,letting go of me as he placed both of his hands on his hips, pride and joy shining out of his eyes.
He was looking at this place as though he himself had built it, although come to think of it, from the state it was in I think almost anyone could have built it...
Mind reader looked offended by my thoughts but didn't mention it, he just walked up to the door waving his hand over the lock and swinging the door open to reveal a darkness from within that sent shivers down my back, 'This place feels really old as though it was built when cave men were around...', the sun barely reached a foot within.
There was something that didn't feel right, though I didn't know if the feeling was about the house or something within it, whatever it was i couldn't put my finger on it.
Mind reader stepped inside, turned around, the darkness and light seeming to fight for space about him making all his features sharper, and asked, "You coming?"
I didn't want to, I didn't trust mind reader or the darkness that radiated from this place, but with the sun going down and with whatever it was that was after me still out there somewhere, plus there was something about this building that just seem to atract me like a magnet, it gave me a strange feeling that i didn't have a choice on wether or not i was going in...
I walked up to the open door of this keepy building and taking one kast look around, stepped inside, the door swinging shut behind me with a loud creak, the last rays of light disappearing behind it and cloaking me in darkness...
wings©2007
I span round facing the door that lead into the kitchen, where the noise had come from.
My heart beating faster and faster as adrenalin coursed through my body, making my hands and knees shake.
The guy, (I'm nick naming mind reader), jumped to his feet in a fluid montion, grabbing my hand as he headed towards the front door. Half dragging me as i try to keep up.
Mind reader not even bothering to open the door, raises his arm, flicking his hand in the direction of the middle of the door, it flys outward taking parts of the door frame with it as splinters are scattering everywhere.
I ducked covering my face and realised suddenly that i was whimpering, which made me angry, at myself for being so weak and like a baby, at my mom for not picking me up, at mind read for the fact that he had just blown apart the front door!
"HEY!" I screamed at mind reader as we both raced out the hole where the door used to be, "You better pay to repare the damage you just caused!" I know that i was being stupid I was just getting irritated plus angry and I needed to take it out on someone or something so mind reader seemed like the perfect target seeing as he had just blown a door apart that was deffinitly goning to cost a lot to repare...
He looked at me over his shoulder, calmly saying "Your life is more important."
This took me off guard making me stumble and nearly fall over, but mind reader was quick, grabbing my shoulder to help me regain my balance.
'What did he mean by that? Was he trying to help me or not?' i needed to stop and figure things out, 'I thought he'd been a bad guy? Had i been wrong? I wasn't normally wrong when it came to my gut feeling about certain things or people.' I started think about all the things that had taken place so far but remembered that this guy could read my mind and most likely was, so i desided to try stop thinking about personal things or things that were important to me, for now and concentrate on running, my breathing, my heart as it beat inside me and mind reader, 'If I'm to see if I can beat him if it ever came down to a fight, I'll have to watch for any weakness he may have, that i might be able to use against him.'
Once we rounded a corner we slowed donw to a fast walking pace.
He still held on tightly to my arm not letting go no matter how hard i tried to get away.
"Who are you? And what do you want from me?" I got right to the point, giving up on trying to escape from his clutch.
"Who I am is not for you to know until the time is right and what i want from you will have to wait till we get to my house because it's a long story and will best be told over food." He replied, not even bothering to look at me anymore.
"No, I don't want any food, I want answers." I practically spat the words right in his face.
"Patience is a virtue."
I felt like wringing his neck till the words popped right out of his head along with his tiny annoying brain!
He laughed, it was a laugh that said he was pleased to be getting under my skin so easily.
I was just about to slap him up side the head but right at that moment we stopped in front of a worn down house that seemed to be abandoned, with it's boarded up windows and the paint peeling from the walls.
"Home, Sweet Home." Mind reader said proudly,letting go of me as he placed both of his hands on his hips, pride and joy shining out of his eyes.
He was looking at this place as though he himself had built it, although come to think of it, from the state it was in I think almost anyone could have built it...
Mind reader looked offended by my thoughts but didn't mention it, he just walked up to the door waving his hand over the lock and swinging the door open to reveal a darkness from within that sent shivers down my back, 'This place feels really old as though it was built when cave men were around...', the sun barely reached a foot within.
There was something that didn't feel right, though I didn't know if the feeling was about the house or something within it, whatever it was i couldn't put my finger on it.
Mind reader stepped inside, turned around, the darkness and light seeming to fight for space about him making all his features sharper, and asked, "You coming?"
I didn't want to, I didn't trust mind reader or the darkness that radiated from this place, but with the sun going down and with whatever it was that was after me still out there somewhere, plus there was something about this building that just seem to atract me like a magnet, it gave me a strange feeling that i didn't have a choice on wether or not i was going in...
I walked up to the open door of this keepy building and taking one kast look around, stepped inside, the door swinging shut behind me with a loud creak, the last rays of light disappearing behind it and cloaking me in darkness...
wings©2007
Wednesday 11 July 2007
To start from the begining...
Hi...
As some of you might know my name is Wings, but i don't get that name for just any reason... But for you to understand why i have my name i'd have to start from the begining, which was years ago...
i was a normal kid (i have brown hair and brown eyes, i'm pretty fit, i did karate every thrusday and friday and on certain saterdays i'd go out and do some putty or climb some trees) living in a normal world, as far as i new my world was dull and would probably always be dull but what i didn't know was that my world and the world as we all knew it was balanced on the shoulders of one person... though that comes later, right now i'm sitting in a history class struggling to stay awake while the teacher blabbed on and on about some king that had been killed by some assasin...'like all the kings or queens died of natural death', i think sarcasticly with a small sigh, the teach Mr.Howet turned around to face me as though he'd heard my sarcastic thought.
"Is there something you want to share with the class Miss Nickle? eh" He's staring so hard at me it feels like he's burning a hole right through my head.
"No sir", I say staring hard at my feet like all the answers to the universe lie in the very material that makes up my shoes.
"Very well, may I get on with teaching the class?" Mr. Howet draws out his words slowly. 'He's trying to embarass me', i think unhappily as the rest of the class covers their mouths and start giggling softly at me, 'When will this day end?' i put a hand to my forehead, unfortunitly this movement just attracts more attension to me which means for the rest of the lesson everybody is laughing and calling me names. I make my mouth small and stare furiously at the clock hanging at the front of the class, wishing that i could make the time go by faster.
'At last!' I brighten up just as i hear the bell go, signaling the end of school and the begining of the weekend 'Yes!'
I walk as fast as possible toward the front of the gate, nearly bowling someone over on the way out.
"Hey! watch out" He shouts in suprise.
"Sorry!" I scream over my shoulder just as i'm exiting the gate, still walking fast, at almost the same second that i exit the front gate and enter the parking lot, i stop, something doesn't feel right, i look around at the parked cars but can't spot my moms, "Strange", i whisper, "I thought mom said she was gonna pick me up this afternoon on her way to the shop and drop me off at home..." I felt a cold shiver starting at the top of my back and making it's way down, 'Somethings wrong.' I think, trying to figure out what it is, 'Think, come on think, what could it be?' i smack my head hard, trying to think and not even realising that someone had come up behind me. 'I guess i'm walking home', i shrug my sholders trying not to look to fazed, and start walking towards home, when i'm nearly there i realise that i can hear footsteps besides my own except it sounds like the person they belong to is trying hard to cover up the noise and trying to copy my steps, but when i look behind me all i catch is a fleeting shadow that disapears so quikly i question wether i'd actualy seen it or not. 'Well, well' i think consintrating hard on the noise this mystrious stranger is making as he or she follows me, 'If someone is stalking me then whoever it is better be ready to be going on a long walk around' I smile sneekishly just keeping down a snicker that's pushing to get out of my thoat.
I take a sudden left, stopping for a second, hearing the stranger stagger for a second trying not to bash into me, i turn around just before this person could run away again.
i was about to say something smart and mean but my mout goes dry the moment i see him, and instead of saying anything i run all the way back home tasting blood in the back of my thoat just as i reach the front door but even here the feeling that something has either gone wrong or is about to follows me. I reach up with the key to the front door in my hand but realise that the door is already unlocked when it swings open but what was kreepy about the fact that it swung open was that i hadn't even touched it, but even kreepier than that was that i found him sitting in a chair in the lounge acting as though it's the most natural thing in the world for him, his left leg crossed over the right, he was wearing a pair of jeans, a black T-Shirt and black sheos, his black hear that was cut to the top of his ears except for the right side of the fringe which went down to his chin in the middle and growing shorter as it reached his right ear.
He stared at me mockingly with his deep blue eyes as though he'd expected my arival for quite a while now'He's so smug and stuck up' i thought.
"No i'm not." He said looking more and more smug as the seconds pasted.
"Not what?" I'm starting to feel lost and light headed, dreading the answer i already know he's gonna give me....
"I'm not 'smug and stuck up'."
'Is he reading my mind?' I'm trying not to look to shocked as i feel my mouth go dry and my world start to spin.
"Yes." He stares hard into my eye's as though he's trying to make me understand something.
"No... You couldn't... It's not possible..." my mouth drops open.
"Yes it is possible." He says firmly.
wings©2007
As some of you might know my name is Wings, but i don't get that name for just any reason... But for you to understand why i have my name i'd have to start from the begining, which was years ago...
i was a normal kid (i have brown hair and brown eyes, i'm pretty fit, i did karate every thrusday and friday and on certain saterdays i'd go out and do some putty or climb some trees) living in a normal world, as far as i new my world was dull and would probably always be dull but what i didn't know was that my world and the world as we all knew it was balanced on the shoulders of one person... though that comes later, right now i'm sitting in a history class struggling to stay awake while the teacher blabbed on and on about some king that had been killed by some assasin...'like all the kings or queens died of natural death', i think sarcasticly with a small sigh, the teach Mr.Howet turned around to face me as though he'd heard my sarcastic thought.
"Is there something you want to share with the class Miss Nickle? eh" He's staring so hard at me it feels like he's burning a hole right through my head.
"No sir", I say staring hard at my feet like all the answers to the universe lie in the very material that makes up my shoes.
"Very well, may I get on with teaching the class?" Mr. Howet draws out his words slowly. 'He's trying to embarass me', i think unhappily as the rest of the class covers their mouths and start giggling softly at me, 'When will this day end?' i put a hand to my forehead, unfortunitly this movement just attracts more attension to me which means for the rest of the lesson everybody is laughing and calling me names. I make my mouth small and stare furiously at the clock hanging at the front of the class, wishing that i could make the time go by faster.
'At last!' I brighten up just as i hear the bell go, signaling the end of school and the begining of the weekend 'Yes!'
I walk as fast as possible toward the front of the gate, nearly bowling someone over on the way out.
"Hey! watch out" He shouts in suprise.
"Sorry!" I scream over my shoulder just as i'm exiting the gate, still walking fast, at almost the same second that i exit the front gate and enter the parking lot, i stop, something doesn't feel right, i look around at the parked cars but can't spot my moms, "Strange", i whisper, "I thought mom said she was gonna pick me up this afternoon on her way to the shop and drop me off at home..." I felt a cold shiver starting at the top of my back and making it's way down, 'Somethings wrong.' I think, trying to figure out what it is, 'Think, come on think, what could it be?' i smack my head hard, trying to think and not even realising that someone had come up behind me. 'I guess i'm walking home', i shrug my sholders trying not to look to fazed, and start walking towards home, when i'm nearly there i realise that i can hear footsteps besides my own except it sounds like the person they belong to is trying hard to cover up the noise and trying to copy my steps, but when i look behind me all i catch is a fleeting shadow that disapears so quikly i question wether i'd actualy seen it or not. 'Well, well' i think consintrating hard on the noise this mystrious stranger is making as he or she follows me, 'If someone is stalking me then whoever it is better be ready to be going on a long walk around' I smile sneekishly just keeping down a snicker that's pushing to get out of my thoat.
I take a sudden left, stopping for a second, hearing the stranger stagger for a second trying not to bash into me, i turn around just before this person could run away again.
i was about to say something smart and mean but my mout goes dry the moment i see him, and instead of saying anything i run all the way back home tasting blood in the back of my thoat just as i reach the front door but even here the feeling that something has either gone wrong or is about to follows me. I reach up with the key to the front door in my hand but realise that the door is already unlocked when it swings open but what was kreepy about the fact that it swung open was that i hadn't even touched it, but even kreepier than that was that i found him sitting in a chair in the lounge acting as though it's the most natural thing in the world for him, his left leg crossed over the right, he was wearing a pair of jeans, a black T-Shirt and black sheos, his black hear that was cut to the top of his ears except for the right side of the fringe which went down to his chin in the middle and growing shorter as it reached his right ear.
He stared at me mockingly with his deep blue eyes as though he'd expected my arival for quite a while now'He's so smug and stuck up' i thought.
"No i'm not." He said looking more and more smug as the seconds pasted.
"Not what?" I'm starting to feel lost and light headed, dreading the answer i already know he's gonna give me....
"I'm not 'smug and stuck up'."
'Is he reading my mind?' I'm trying not to look to shocked as i feel my mouth go dry and my world start to spin.
"Yes." He stares hard into my eye's as though he's trying to make me understand something.
"No... You couldn't... It's not possible..." my mouth drops open.
"Yes it is possible." He says firmly.
wings©2007
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