Zariah

I love this- what a great idea!

Cool 2 dates! Zariah will have a lot of fun! Rev--- I'll try to get the rest of my description done this week in the Piazza of Portraits. If you have questions, PM me. Thanks! Congrats to the Bachelorettes!

Baby, I tell ya it’ll be okay You got me by your side (I love you, oh baby) And when you’re lonely Call me and I’ll hurry to you (I’m sure, oh sweetie) You’re my best friend And I’ll never let you down (I’ll try, oh love of mine) You can be free, to fly I know you can get by Just look to your strengths And I’ll catch you when you fall Baby, I tell ya it’ll be okay You got me by your side (It’s real, my heart) Don’t feel all alone For I’m with you in your heart (It’s true, honey) You’re my true love I’ll be the best I can for you (I’ll try, oh love of mine) You can be free, to fly I know you can get by Just look to your strengths And I’ll catch you when you fall Don’t give up, don’t give in You’ve got me, you’ve got a friend It’s okay to feel the pain I’ll catch you when you fall You can be free, to fly I know you can get by Just look to your strengths And I’ll catch you when you fall (And I’ll catch you when you fall)

Added !

Don't forget to sign up before January 30th! The Post is in the Stickies, right here in the Cabaret room. So far there are 18 members who have joined! And what a :woot: great :woot: thing to have even more members join! (Please??) Have a Happy New Year!

Once I had a small red shoe. Curiously, its match was blue. I wore them with stockings, silk. At breakfast on them I spilt milk. My feet were soggy, wet, and sticky. I took them off, for they were icky. I put on socks, for they were dry, And suddenly, began to cry. My shoes went in the wash machine, When they came out, my face turned green. Purple shoes! Oh no! I said. Sadly, I just shook my head. In the closet went the purple pair, No longer fit for me to wear. Thank you Loki! Is the last line better???

(OOC:With Wyvern's suggestions, I decided to rewrite/edit this piece to make it flow better and be more interactive. So if you've read this before, read it again please and enjoy! And for those reading for the first time, there is more to come!) There was a gentle pecking on her door, and Zariah instantly knew that Crow had come to visit her. She had not seen Crow since around the Fall Festival and was eager to catch up. Crow entered and they gave each other a gentle hug. “Hi Crow! It’s been quite a while! How have you been?” “Caw! Kaw caw kah kaah!” Crow exclaimed. “Oh, I’m so sorry! Well if you bump into Nyyark, let him know I plan to be back around Winter Festival, if he wants to see me….I’m not sure if he even thinks about me, since he stood me up at the Ball….anyways, I’m packing tonight for my visit back home!” “Cah?! Cah cah kaw???” she questioned. “Wow! I can’t believe I haven’t told you about my family! You know Wanderer from the forest around here and his clan? Well, he and I are visiting my family clan, the ones who I grew up with! Mother wing sent me an invitation around Thanksgiving and it’s been over two years since I’ve seen them!” In a moment of silence, Zariah recalled her last trip. Her last visit had been a sorrowful one, for one of the Elder Crows, whom she called Jack, had passed on to the Afterlife. The ceremony was 3 long days, and she had little time to visit with everyone. This time, she vowed to spend time with everyone, especially Mother-Wing and her four closest siblings (who were the real children of Mother-Wing). As Zariah packed her large brown sack with clothes and food, she chatted with Crow. “Anyways, I’m getting ready for an early start tomorrow.” “Kaw kah cah.” “Thanks, I will miss you too! Thanks for stopping by! See you soon!” “Kaw! Cah!” Crow said as she turned toward the door. “Bye!” Zariah bid as she waved goodbye. Zariah turned her attention back to packing, and reached into her cabinet drawer to retrieve her final item to pack. The purple velvet cloth was tied with a silk ribbon, and Zariah set it on her bed and unwrapped it. Inside she produced 15 silver hand-made chains. She thought, “ I hope my family likes them! I think they will though because anything shiny is a treasure….but I wonder if they will wear them on their necks?” She tucked them back inside the cloth and placed them at the bottom of the sack. She tucked the bag in the corner of her room and changed into her sleepwear. She crawled into bed for a good night’s sleep before the long journey ahead. However, a good night’s sleep turned into restless hours of darkness filled with prophetic and terrifying dreams. In her first dream, she relived the nightmare of the fire which destroyed her parents and her town. She had forgotten all the details, but in this vision, she saw everything. She was being held in her mother’s arms. Her security and safety ended in one solitary moment. Two men in black cloaks and hoods broke into their home. Her father was out for the evening at a meeting that’s location was even unknown to Zariah’s mom. The two men took Zariah from her mother’s arms and headed to the door. There was screaming and a loud bang. In rushed her Father and a strange old woman wearing a red hooded cloak. Her Father handed her to her Mother and she kissed Zariah many times and she could feel her mother’s tears as they hit her cheeks. She was handed back to her Father, who gently stroked her head and passed her to the strange woman. She was wrapped in a soft blanket and hidden against the woman’s breast as she was carried hurriedly out of the home. That was the last time Zariah saw her parents. Zariah then saw an image of the town in flames and could hear the townsfolk screaming for their lives. The Mystic Woman carried her to the edge of the town, near a forest where she hid her deep in the brushes. She was crying, and the woman spoke ancient words to calm and protect her. In the stillness, Zariah could see the woman change before her eyes. She became Crow-like, and a shining half moon shone on her forehead. Her eyes became pitch black and her nose shaped like a beak. She was not scared, but laughed- a soft laugh, as if it were the only thing that would make her new life okay. The woman summoned the Crows with her crow speak and chanted as she disappeared, while echoes of her language kept Zariah silent and bewildered. Suddenly, Zariah awoke in a sweat. She had not remembered much at all about her past, and now the memory remained crystal clear in her mind. She rolled out of bed and crept down the hall to the bathroom where she washed her face and glanced in the mirror. To her horror, she saw the same Crescent moon on her forehead. She shut her eyes tight and furiously shook her head. When she looked again, the crescent was gone. Zariah began to tremble. “What is going on? Who was that lady? How am I connected with her? Why did she take me out of the village and away from my parents? She could speak Crow like me….she called for the Crows….MY Crow family! I MUST find out about my past and who I am!” She walked back to her room and sat stiffly in her bed. She was no longer tired and lay contemplating. Outside her window she heard footsteps and turned to peek out of the curtains, but she instantly fell onto her bed and back into her dreams. TBC.

This poem is so visual. I think it's cool! If you ever decide to edit it or get feedback, post it in the Writing Forum for help. We are all nice here, so have no fear. I also like how the opening two and closing two lines are the same concept-- the imagery of as person sleeping in two worlds, going from one to the other. Welcome!

Once I had a small red shoe. Curiously, its match was blue. I wore them with stockings, silk. At breakfast on them I spilt milk. My feet were soggy, wet, and sticky. I took them off, for they were icky. I put on socks, for they were dry, And suddenly began to cry. My shoes went in the wash machine, When they came out, my face turned green. Purple shoes! Oh no! I said. Sadly I just shook my head. In the closet went the purple pair. To this day, they remain there.

Of course you can join! The more the merrier...plus you can get to know a new Pennite! And someone can get to know you too!

Character of Zariah Brief Description Physical: 5’2”, dark brown hair, olive skin, dark brown eyes that change to dark yellow when angered, tiny all over, small feet, genuine smile, two hidden scars on the back of her neck, one maroon streak of hair only visible when her hair is up and a golden half moon on her forehead. Zariah won the Silver Sapphire Tear at the Winter Ball. She bears this jewel on a leather bound necklace. Most Pennites will never see her in Crow form. Personality: Naturally shy, eager to participate in Pen events and to write. She is very friendly and loyal to all creatures- in particular crows. Zariah tries to be generous and considerate. She is a good listener and supportive. She is skilled in speaking Crow languages and understanding the animal world- both physical and spiritual. Under normal circumstances, she can be identified as a loner, but since her arrival at the Pen, Zariah has opened her heart and began to trust others. Magic: Zariah is not currently aware of her powers, although she has several. Abilities: Obviously, she can change forms into crow, giving her flight, keen sight and hearing abilities, as well as the ability to blend in better with her surroundings. As a human, she can communicate with crows as well as other plants and animals. Zariah’s friend crows that live in the forest near the Pen are often featured in her stories and role playing. They are to her, a second family “clan” and mean a lot to her. The names of some of the crows are: Wanderer (male), Brown Beak (male), and the three brothers: Bright Eyes, Long Legs, and Tip (males), and The four female Crows: Serene, Beauty, Harmony, and Fiery. ) Zariah’s Background History will be added later.

Death toll tops 156, 000

Happy New Year! Thank you Pennites for this past year of sharing and caring. Have a great 2005!

YEY! congrats!

Wow you all got yours in faster than my post!

"Afterthought: What confuses me greatly is the first two sentences: 'I don't want to be better than nothing in your eyes' To me that reads: I want to be nothing in your eyes.... Tell me I'm wrong please " What he is saying is that he doesn't want to be a last resort--- that someone who is there because it's better than being alone. He wants to be loved and appreciated and there because he is wonderful, or seen as the right choice. He does not want to be in someone's life because they would rather be with him rather than be alone. He wants to be the choice over other options, not a "Back-up" security.

The newest news on this, currently at Eastern time 2:50

The Ball has been extended into March! So please come! The Valentine's Day Ball (OOC:Lasts from Feb 14th to the end of the Month) (OOC: Hello, my name is Zariah and I have been a quill bearer for over a year now. I attempted 2 Quill Quests and they fell apart , but I am :woot: eager :woot: to follow through with this one . I want to introduce this Quest in character, but the idea is to have a “Secret Valentine” and give a names to the participants in PM. I am going to use the randomizer, so if you don’t know someone, it will give you a chance to get to know someone new. The deadline for signing up is Sunday January 30th, 2005 On February 1st, I will PM your valentine and you can create something in writing or art for that person. It’d be great to have your post in the thread by Valentine’s Day, but I am extending the post day until February 26th. I really hope that many of you participate to make this Valentine’s Day Quill Quest a success.) Zariah had prepared herself for this since before Thanksgiving. She had spent her days contemplating about what to create as her Quest for being a Quill Bearer. Finally it hit her to create a Secret Santa….but then she realized many Pennites would be absent for the Holidays, so she sat down again and thought some more. “I got it!” Zariah exclaimed to Wanderer and her other Crow friends. “Valentine’s Day! It’s still far enough away that there is time for them to see the sign I will post!” Excited, she skipped to her room and scrambled through the mess under her bed, until she found a long scroll. She found red ink and her Quill and began to write the announcement: To all Pennites: Valentine’s Day is coming up, and a great way to brighten someone’s day is to participate in my Quill Quest Activity: Secret Valentine Please sign your name below and I will get back to you individually with a random Pen member whom you can make a Valentine Gift. If you have any questions, leave them below, and I will check everyday and get back to you. Thank you and Have a Happy Holidays! :pen: The Sign Up List So Far: 1.) Peredhil 2.) Tanuchan 3.) Xaious 4.) Appy 5.) Annael 6.) Salinye 7.) Venefyxatu 8.) Gwaihir 9.) Black9 10.) Asheyla 11.) Gryphon 12.) Purple Shadows 13.) Loki Wyrd 14.)Equester 15.) Nyyark 16.) reverie 17.) Wyvern 18.) sweetnightmare (a great opportunity to get to know someone new) 19.) dragonqueen 20.) Lady Celes Crusader 21.) Knight 22.) Yan Yan Ganaffi 23.) WrenWind 24.) Caryon Megeta 25.) Pilocanci the Unholy (Pillow) 26.) Sweetcherrie 27.) Jonathan_wolfe 28.) Ozymandias the Elder

LOL! That's great!

Yey! Happy Birthday!

The new death count is over 80,000.

Dad (I hope I can call you that now)- You are more than wonderful The kindest and most understanding Open-minded and thoughtful You bear your pain, but keep it inside You respect others and try so very hard Friends are what keep you happy in a way, right? So it’s a great thing to have friends. With one person in mind--- it’s smart to plan each word But you should remain honest in content. It’s so very sad that appreciation is not honored- but it is NOT your fault. I wish you were, I truly do. But she must change too. Lies destroy trust, and it must be honest both ways. I think you’ll never have easy conversations, and I am saddened for you. It’s essential to agree on important issues. Your friends can be your partners, but I know what you mean It hurts me to witness your loss. We accept you, I accept you. I appreciate everything you do for me, for others too. But I know what you mean, and for that I am saddened. You want to be wanted freely. I want what you want for you, and I’ll pray for your wants and don‘t wants, For God can hear and love you, more than anyone. But know that you ARE loved.

Zariah ambled in and almost bumped into a little elf. She recovered composure and read the sign tacked on the wall. Realizing it would be a challenge, she decided to participate anyways, so she signed up. Remembering that she needed ingredients, she gave a loud caw in hopes her crow friends could hear her. Seconds later, Wanderer appeared on her arm. "I need some ingredients" Zariah then whispered in crow the list and Wanderer flew away to retrieve her requested items. I suppose I will be contacted? Or maybe I should wait here, she thought. Confused, she looked around to see wht others were doing.

Ozzy- It was great meeting you IRL this year and I think you are so brilliant. (BTW- if you tape Catgirl Nuku Nuku for me, I'll pay you for the tapes). I love reading what you write here at the Pen, and I feel fortunate to know you. Thanks for your kind letters from earlier this year. You are such a great guy. ~Zariah Wyv- *sigh* IRL you are so close! I work in Georgetown Monday thru Friday....SERIOUSLY let's have lunch! As Wyvern, you make me laugh each time I read something you write. Keep being creative, it's a wonderful gift that you can share to brighten others' lives. ~Zariah

You have been away a while, but you are not forgotten. I hope you have a great Birthday!