Jareena Faye

True dat. I think I agreed with 100% of what you said.

Well, I don't mean to start regular debates, just whatever's occasionally on your mind. Maybe I should start a poll about this. I just like a little deep thought every now and then. (Good old me, sowing discord wherever I go...)

In that case, I cheated too. But that's all I got, so please, continue.

Heh, well I'm sorry. I do know what it feels like to be flamed. And I do know what it's like to be inexperienced, and out-talked. But those bad experiences are what made me into a better debater. And if we could all keep it happy *cue rainbows and bunnies* I think we'd just find it an interesting exchange of viewpoints. We gotta learn how to not get upset sometime, right? The reason I think debates are good for you... Well, it actually has something to do with a communist brainwashing tactic [J'Faye in no way condones hatred toward communists or means to accuse anyone here of being communist thank you]. One method they have is to put a person, in this example I'll just say Christian, in a room full of people who vehemently oppose that person's views. They'll talk about how stupid it is. The Christian has two options. He can speak up for his faith, and be attacked from all sides, which will have a psychological peer-pressure affect and may cause him to lose faith. Or he can be quiet, which ALSO brings about psychological affects, because the human psyche cannot continue to believe in something he won't stand up for. It's an interesting thought. That's why I think it's good to know how to defend what you believe, not that you'll ever be a prisoner in a communist country. But there's actually similar peer pressure where we are, too. Here I am, debating about debates...

I drew my sword. The dragon next to me went directly from elf form to that of a gryphon. Her talons had barely formed when the syrakk screamed and jumped into the air. Distarius was the first to meet it, jabbing his staff into its mid-section. There was a brilliant flash before it was thrown aside. Two more took its place. The three of us charged them. Gryphon talons and beak ripped one bug to shreds. My sword made cleaner pieces of the other. Now three syrakk were entering, before I could even raise my sword again. An eagle scream echoed along the cave walls. A staff flashed searing light. My armor clanked as I was knocked to my back by a more agile bug. I jabbed at its head, but missed. I probably could have thrown the exo-skeleton form, had I not been weighed down by my own shin guards, wrist guards, breastplate... The pressure became more intense. My opponent was growing fur, changing, shifting into a huge, razor-furred cat with larger incisors than I would have thought possible. I waved my sword at its chest again. A titanic paw knocked it aside, but my armor made it impossible for the huge cat to harm me. Its jaws closed over my helmet to lift me up. I groaned, but remained in one piece. The helmet would have slid off, if it hadn't caught on my ponytail. The cat snarled, hot breath blowing through my visor, before it removed its paws and flung me aside. It then pounced as if at play. I managed to throw my weigh and roll aside, but one of its paws still caught me. My hand reached for my sword, lying at least a foot away now. I couldn't quite grasp it. The sabretooth threw me again. I hit the cave wall with a metallic rattle, clanking to the floor. Now where was my sword? A bleeding gryphon attacked the sabretooth before it could pounce on me again. I never would have guessed my life would one day be saved by a black dragon. With no time to muse, I clutched a rock to pull myself to my feet, then hurriedly clanked across the cave to take up my sword. A mantis-formed syrakk appeared just then, distracting me from the other fight. We parried, until my sword sliced its upper body nearly in two. The gryphon screamed again and pounced back from the now equally bleeding sabretooth. Black, feathered wings beat the air loudly, blowing dust into the shifted syrakk's eyes. It cringed and closed them, growing antennae to seek her out without sight. It never found a chance. Distarius' staff sent a blast of energy just then, and I won't relate anything further than that. The panting gryphon turned an eagle's eye toward me, simultaneously shifting more feathers and fur to soak up her blood and stop its flow. *You're welcome,* she snarled in thought-speech. "Had you given me time, I might have said 'thank you,' " I retorted. Distarius jumped down from a rock and strode between us, straight for the open doorway. "Let's keep moving."

Yay, we've started already! *extremely wide grin* Did you know that even atheistic professors now agree that the human psyche NEEDS to believe in something supernatural, stronger than that person him- or herself? Evolutionists would say it's because we've evolved to be dependant on it, and Creationists would say God made us for Him. But I will admit that religion has been terribly misused over the years. I'll tell you, one thing I hate more than anything else is a church that claims Christianity, but is really nothing but self-righteousness and condemnation. So many of my friends have lost their faith because of it. In the past, so-called "Christians" have killed so-called witches and Jews in the name of Christ, and not only were those awful and bloody centuries, it's pretty much wrecked this world's view of what I believe to be the Truth. Wow, I really am ranting. I'll just say this... there are people who really have faith in something, and there are people who are trapped in stale religion. The latter are probably worse off than any sun-worshiping "heathen", because they they're so sure they're okay.

Alright! Maybe if we serious writers united, we could rule the world! But that wouldn't work, since we all enjoy sitting in our corners in La La Land so much more. *sigh* I'm torn between global domination and just making my own globe. :yuiwink: Anyway, welcome! Boy, I sure miss the old Sonic 'board friendly newbie roasts. Mine was so fun... *throws some Welcome confetti and dances out*

Whoo hoo, randomness! *I know I couldn't rap to save my life, but here it is, everybody run* Freak versus norm Refuse to conform! I know you can do it Get up and get to it! Smile, speak soft--- carry the Word of God Cuz you know He'll hit harder Than we ever will So stop sitting, time-wasting, No more standing still. God Freak versus norm Move them to reform Are you really real Or just cheating His deal? Now that you've been told, Go tell some one else You know we just here Just to follow His will Stop whining, excusing NO MORE STANDING STILL! Please don't kill me!

Hey there... I haven't really spent much time in the General forum, since for the first time in my life I've been rather busy. *dramatic music plays, during which everyone looks around for the source. It stops, and we resume* I used to visit a Sonic board before the server crashed, and while there a big Christian vs. Evolutionist vs. Wiccan vs. Middle-Of-the-Roader debate would spring up every week, and some people would get very upset and try to verbally kill each other. Meanwhile, at the Batman message board, the moment a theological debate popped up, everyone would scatter and hide. People would do almost anything to avoid getting off superhero topics. I was just wondering, what kind of 'board is this? Do you ever talk about your personal beliefs? Are we all capable of having a good-natured argument without anyone being offended? Because if we could, it would be awesome. *licks lips* I love a good, friendly fight! So, how about it, fellas?

Wow, that is one long post! In which case... I will read it tomorrow. *dashes out*

Uh, I thought you were gonna post the cave thing? Let's pick up the pace people, this thing's gonna die like all the JL stories...!

Oh well I'm evil, aren't I? I held the whole thing up for like two days. I let the dragon stroll off, and couldn't decide which emotion to express on my face... distate, frustration, or resign. By now, I didn't know what to do. We would probably have to leave soon, before the regiment noticed I was missing. If I hadn't already. Father Berak had already told me to return to my training, and I was disobeying him. The only thing, or Person, he put before duty was God. Hmm. That last thought gave me an idea. If God came first, the father wouldn't mind if I asked him some questions... Completely forgetting about Distarius, I turned from him and marched out of the library. Across one narrow corridor were several arched doorways, separated only by pillars, leading into the sanctuary. Many people from Crystlin with nothing to do were sitting reverently in the pews, listening to the monks' Latin songs. I was smugly surprised. After the months I'd spent in that city, I had thought they cared nothing for faith. Father Bakurus was standing near the altar, leafing through a heavy Bible. I approached him slowly, wondering where I would begin... Light from the stained glass window fell on me, and I stopped momentarily to look up at its colorful glow. A red, thorned rose was at the center of the window, coiled around a silver sword. It was our banner. Written directly above the blade were the words, "Lord, I thank thee a thousand times for the roses; let me also remember to thank thee for the thorns." I'd read those lines a thousand times. But now they had meaning... I reminded myself that trials only developed perseverance. That was what gave me the courage to step up behind Father Berak to whisper, "Excuse me..." He turned as if surprised, lifting his spectacles in one hand. "...Jareena? I believe I told you to return to the training grounds..." "It concerns God," I said, knowing that would stop him in his tracks. "Right and wrong." "Oh?" "The mercinaries my father called in. You know about them, the dragon and the mage?" "Have they decided to come after all?" Something about the look on his face made me want to lie. Not wanting to confront that confusing feeling at the moment, I pressed, "Was that wise of him? To hire them, I mean... after all, they use magic, and that's not of God." Father Berak smiled and chuckled softly. " 'Magic' is really only a word, Jareena. Power is real." "I'm only confused because they seem to want to help, but magic, er power, only makes things complicated, and they believe such outrageous things about false gods and magic diamonds and vessels and what-not..." Father Berak silenced me with one hand, then motioned for us to sit at the communion rail. I knew he would have an answer to silence my rambling questions. "I cannot detect lies, Jareena. But I can tell you the truth. There is a right and wrong. What few understand is that the two are eternal. They never change. They are always there, exactly as they always were. The 'gray' areas are not neutral, simply hard to discern. Neutral power does not exist. Because the earth is constantly being contended for between two forces, there are only two places power can come from--- God or Satan. Now, if dragons are created with what they like to call magic, then I see no reason why it is evil, unless of course that dragon uses its abilities to deceive and destroy. As for the mage's power, it may be of the Father, but seeing as Distarius doesn't know Him, I doubt it... In which case, he is in serious danger. Look for the source of the power, daughter. Remember that 'Satan can disguise himself as an angel of light'. 'Be careful, keep calm, and be not afraid. If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.' " "Thank you," I said. "Now, perhaps you should return to your training. We do not know what our enemy could be planning, and they may strike at any moment." "Planning?" Syrakk can't plan... "Eh... who knows how smart they are." Something about Father Berak was frightening me, and I didn't like that. I'd known him all my life. He was a man of God. Why was I suddenly so suspicious? Was it because he'd unintentionally inclined me toward those mercinaries, and so I was already farther from God? I decided not to tell him what was going on, making my good-byes and stepping away from the altar. I caught sight of Distarius in one of the pews, and frantically motioned for him to leave before the father saw him. He shrugged and stood... To Dis: I think you wanted to do something here too, so feel free to flash back...

Whoa, can we back up? I was planning on doing one more little scene in the Hold, a conversation with that monk cuz he's bad apples... it could work while you're changing. Ehh. But then things would look messed up. I'm sorry I know it really doesn't matter but can you just edit that post quick, cut it in half, let me post, then post the last half about us leaving? Yeah. I'm insane. Hey, how did you know I was gonna revert to your full armor design?

Okay, we'll wait! Um... you wanted to be the bad guy, right? I was thinking he could control other people's magic or something... well, jut my thoughts. And hey I know I skipped a lot for you guys, so if you want to go back and do it that's fine. Take care!

"I don't see why we're---" "Ssshh!" The library, with its dim lighting and towering dusty shelves, was directly next to the sanctuary. We could hear Latin hymns echoing through the drafty corridor. If Colin wanted to complain, he could do it quietly. Like I did. "There must be a more detailed map somewhere!" I hissed, climbing a tall wooden ladder. "Even if there are trails on that ridge," Colin said, "why would anyone be up there with the syrakk, hmm?" "Maybe we'll find out." I dropped several heavy books into his arms. Colin buckled under the weight and grunted, "That's enough! That's enough for now!" I jumped from the ladder as Colin stumbled over to a table and dumped the books onto it. They landed with a resounding THUMP, causing both of us to cringe. I looked at the worn leather binding and hoped we wouldn't be the ones to shred it completely. "You start on that one on the top," I whispered, waiting for him to lift it off so I could read the second book. There were many outdated maps of the world, some so old that Crystlin was called Krystallin, others so old that the lordcity wasn't even on the map. But somewhere in there, there had to be a detailed portrayal of the north ridge. I didn't want to risk dismissing that light when it could mean something. Colin complained, but I think he felt the same way. This was his home as much as mine. "I suppose your uncle is too busy to be bothered with this," he whispered as he turned yellowed pages. "He's been pouring over new battle plans with his favorite officers ever since he got back," I responded. "Aunt Aurelia says she hasn't even seen him." "Serious business," Colin shrugged. We searched for the next three hours. I could tell Colin wanted to go, but he didn't, even though he had good reasons. Colin couldn't read, so oftentimes I checked the table of contents and wrote down what pages he was to search through. For instance, p. 256-322. Neither of us talked about it. Colin isn't so proud of it. My eyelids were drowsily drifting shut as I stared at yet another map, when Colin slowly looked up. "I think I found it," he said softly. Stuck between skepticism and getting my hopes up, I stood and walked around the table to stand next to him. He pointed to one of the many lines traveling up the north side of the pass, very near to the place where the Hold was now built. A tiny dot waited at the end of the line. Colin squinted. "Are those words?" "Can't tell." He bolted across the room and came back with a magnifying glass, handing it to me. I bent over with it, squinting my strained eyes. "Zoe... Theos." (Zo-ay Thay-oss.) Colin and I looked at one another. "What on earth?" Placing my hand on the book to hold the page, I lifted the leather cover. "This map book was written by ancient Greeks!" "That's just barbaric!" Colin thundered. His voice echoed through the library, and I glared at him. He cleared his throat and whispered, "Can you translate it?" "Do I look like a theologian?" "Well..." We both stopped when an old man in brown robes entered the reading area. He wasn't particularly round, as most people imagine, but he did have the standard bald spot in the middle of his head, and a rope tied loosely about his waist. "Father Berak," I said quietly. "What's all the ruckus?" he asked, equally quiet, and made his way toward us. Colin and I glanced at one another. "Do you know Greek?" Colin asked. "Of course. Well, not as well as I might... I know ancient Greek, that is. The entire New Testament was written in it, as that was the common language at the time." "What does zoe theos mean?" I asked. Father Berak looked confused. "Why, literally speaking, it means life god." Colin and I exchanged glances again, confused. I bit my lip. The monk arched a brow. "May I ask what's going on?" I carefully turned the book on the table for him to see. The man reached for some gold-rimmed spectacles and frowned at the contour lines of the mountain. "I saw a light last night. Here." "You looked outside?" "Only a peek through the cracks in a board--- I didn't open anything!" "Hmm." Father Berak took the magnifying glass from my hand and frowned deeply. "Zoe Theos. An interesting name for a little cave. An interesting place to see a light, too, when the ridge is covered with syrakk." "Have you any idea why that trail is there?" Colin asked. Father Berak straightened and shrugged. "Probably an old dwarf mine that didn't produce. Perhaps you saw the reflection of an old pick axe." "But, Zoe Theos..." I protested. Father Berak held up his hands in surrender. "I'm sorry. That's all I know... aren't you supposed to be training for battle?" "Yes sir. Right away, sir," Colin said, very military. Father Berak chuckled quietly and turned to go. "Yes, yes... get on with you." "Come on," Colin whispered, reaching for my arm. I pulled away. "I still have one more thing to look into. Zoe Theos." "Jareena..." he whined. "Go practice your drills, if you miss them so much." Colin glanced back at the retreating monk. He looked at me, and the you-know-I'm-right expression on my face. He sighed. "But if there aren't any pictures, I won't be much help!" "Just look for Greek symbols on the covers." His shoulders slumped, and he nodded. As we split up to scour the shelves, I took a deep breath and tried to find a bright side in all this. Perhaps this was merely the bright side to all the translation exercises I used to do as school. That had been with Latin, however. There was a faint scraping sound, like claws. Perhaps it was four metal-tipped shoes tapping stone at once. That wasn't so peculiar, in a place full of knights, but something made me stop. Had that sound come from the courtyard? I leaned into an aisle and hissed, "Colin!" He trotted over as quietly as possible. "What?" "I thought I heard something in the courtyard." "That's ridic---" he stopped. "Syrakk?" I shrugged and took a few steps toward the barricaded door, craning my neck to hear. Colin held my arm to keep me from getting too close. There was a stretching sound... I knew it was familiar, as if I'd heard it before, but I couldn't place it. The sound continued for several moments, while I racked my memory... Shifting. It was the sound of a shifting body! The door handle glowed, and the wooden beam blocking the door split in two. Quietly, it began to open. I was closer, and broke forward to push it shut. It gave for a moment, but then refused to budge. Colin reached it next and began to help me. Something we couldn't see pushed back. My feet slid on the stone floor. Something invisible was trying to enter! Our opposition suddenly ceased, and the door was free to close. SLAM! Colin and I stumbled forward. Then our intruders became visible. "You!" "Surpr---" I clamped my hand over the mage's mouth before he could say anything. Colin glanced back in the direction Father Berak had been, then looked back at our four visitors in confusion. "Oh yes," he whispered. "The mercinaries Lord Mayor called yesterday. Right?" "Unfortunately," I grumbled, pulling my hand from Distarius's mouth. "I should have known better than to expect a warm welcome," Distarius smiled, having realized he was to keep his voice low. "And you are...?" Colin looked at the woman and child. "I am Anaya Bard, and this is my son Grison. We are from Crystlin." "It is an honor to meet you. I am Sir Colin." He bowed, and I tried not to roll my eyes. "May I see the two of you to a safe resting place?" "That would be nice, thank you." The remaining three of us waited while Colin strode off with the pretty widow, holding her son's hand. I looked at the mage and now-humanoid dragon with a raised brow. "Well?" "You didn't think we were going to run from a battle," Ryuu scoffed, her smile somehow reminding me of a dragon's grin. I looked--- oh, sharp teeth. "This is still our job." "What are you going to do?" I asked dryly, but couldn't think of a further taunt. "We'll think of something," Distarius smiled. "We got in without them seeing, didn't we?" "How do you know?" I asked. "The syrakk don't seem to be very smart, but that doesn't explain how they got here ahead of us. Something else is going on. And I don't think it's a coincidence that they're all on the north ridge." "I'm lost," Ryuu said. "Well, I'm not supplying information until you give me a reason to believe you'll be any help." "Three can play that game." "Then the three of us shall play." I bowed with flourish and turned back to the library shelves--- then hesitated. I looked over my shoulder. "Have either of you heard of the life god?" Distarius smirked. "Now you're asking us for information?" I didn't answer. I just walked away.

Oh yeah, thank the HORSE. ~¤~ THREE WHOLE DAYS LATER (shocking, isn't it?) "Jareena!" I smiled as my aunt pushed through the crowd to hug me, armor and all. This woman had been my teacher, mother, and best friend for as long as I could remember, considering my mother had died when I was two and my father had decided his sister would be the best caretaker. The months at Crystlin had been hardest because we'd been so far away from each other. Aurelia pulled back and framed my face in her hands. "Oh, let me look at you... Still picking fights with things that are bigger than you are, eh?" "There are certain advantages to being raised in a fortress with three hundred fighting men," I replied. "Have the syrakk arrived?" "Yes, two days ago. We saw them coming in the distance and thought it would be best to get all the horses indoors and board windows. Thank the Lord we keep guards near the aqueducts too, or we would never have known. They would have broken in through the frigidarium." Aunt Aurelia and I stood in the cathedral sanctuary, not far from the secret entrance behind the altar. Men, women, and children poured from the opening, following our fresher knights across the sanctuary to the adjoining halls. The Hold was one giant armory and soldiers' quarters, like a castle. No place was not connected to another. In fact, below us, those with wagons and carts were moving on to the end of the tunnel, where there was a ramp leading up. The horses, oxen, and other livestock could be safely deposited in the stables without ever having to set foot outside. The moment I heard Aurelia's voice, Colin offered to take Brezza for me. "I took a peek at them once," my aunt continued. "Just hordes of them, covering the mountainsides. Until we think of a way to fight the creatures, we're quarantined here." "It doesn't make sense. How did they know to come here?" I wondered. "Perhaps they had some way of following your uncle's trail from the Hold." "But why would they?" "Natural instinct, to search for prey. A continuos need to feed." I frowned. It still didn't explain how they could follow an invisible trail through rocky mountains. Especially since the Hold was in the east, and the people the syrakk were so interested in had been moving down a south canyon in order to reach the tunnel. I was distracted from my thoughts, however, when Aurelia began fussing with my hair. "Look at you, girl. I'll bet you haven't bathed in days. Or slept anywhere suitable for at least that long." She scolded lovingly, and began leading me toward a crowd of women and children. ~¤~ "Hallo! What's this?" "Hello, Colin," I said, feeling much better and smiling warmly. He was indignant. "You look as though you've had a bath!" I ran my hand down my long red hair, now clean and damp and cascading down my back. "The women and children were given the first turn at the frigidarium. The only downside is the aqueducts being closed off from the syrakk. There won't be any clean water until the bugs are gone." "Oh, how wonderful!" Colin said in a girlish voice, trying to make me laugh again. "Here I am, with bug goo down my back from a battle three days ago. Now dry, and quite itchy. I suppose I have to wait until the women are through... might be about... five days... then clean myself with six hundred other men. What could be more glorious?" "It's a sacrifice you'll have to make as a knight," I said with regail air. "Ladies first." "Hmmm. It must be terribly convenient, being a lady knight." "That it is," I said, sweeping past to head for my quarters. "Now, I have to see what terrible things have been happening here in my absence. You soldiers haven't been taking advantage of my room, have you?" "Of course not!" Colin said in mock outrage. I opened the door, holding my breath as I peered in. I sighed. Everything was just a I'd left it. I stared for a moment at the bedroom I'd known almost all my life. The same tapestry above my four-post bed, the same needlepoint on the wall: There are good ships and there are wood ships, the ships that sail the sea. But the best ships are friendships, and may they always be. I moved to the wardrobe to withdraw some left-behind dresses. I guessed there would be scores of women (not to mention children and men) in need of spare clothing. A few of them, at least, could be satisfied. Come to think of it, I would most likely be sharing the room as well. Colin entered behind me, looking around. Needless to say, he hadn't been in my bedroom much, and he was always looking for something new to tease me about. He had four months to make up for. "What's this? A hope chest!" I whirled around just as he was peeking inside. "Excuse me! Get out of there!" He continued to peer inside. "Oh, wouldn't it be awful if I saw all of the..." he paused dramatically. "Emptiness!" I swept over and slammed it shut. "Rude." "Not planning on marriage, I see." "What man would want to be married to a woman who can fight better than he? A sword and the Lord, that's all I want. Besides, I have trouble imagining a mother of ten charging into battle." "Hmph! You never saw my childhood home." Many soldiers gave up their cots that night. People were sleeping on sanctuary pews, in stable stalls, in hallways, on floors, slumped in chairs, stretched on dining tables. I had two widows and eleven children sharing my room, most of which were too rowdy to be afraid of the unseen evils outside. Some had seen horrors and stared into space silently. Others had seen horrors and made it an excuse to be brats. A precious few had somehow been shielded from the carnage and just wanted to sleep. No one could go outside, open a window, or open a door. But I managed to peek through some boards once. It was worse than Aurelia had described. The mountains were black! They seemed alive, crawling with buzzing, hungry, restless shape-shifting terrors. I had never seen anything like it before. This was worse than a raid from mountain thieves. Who could fight things like this? How could they be kept out for long? What was stopping them from dive-bombing the cathedral's stained-glass windows? I went through all attacks in my mind--- flaming arrows, hot oil, hand-to-hand combat, catapaults... it all seemed useless against something like this. We would have to think of something new altogether. Before we ran out of food. I looked out again. I was about to turn away when something caught my eye. It could have been nothing, but I didn't want to risk it. I stared for a minute or so at the exact same spot. A twinkle of light! White, glittering like that of a blade or a mirror. It appeared nowhere else. What could that be? I would have to tell my uncle about it, if he even found time to speak with me.

ANAYA BARD I waited in the cave as birdsong began, prophesying the approach of dawn. I shivered in the cool morning, glad that Grison seemed warm in my arms. If I was brave, it was for his sake. If I was afraid, his childlike faith restored my own. At that moment, I was trying to have faith that Distarius would return. How long should I wait? I guessed an hour passed, and the sky was growing paler through the trees outside. Our fire needed more wood, but I couldn't risk waking Grison in order to get more. More drowsy waiting followed, during which golden light began to appear, and Grison awoke on his own. He yawned and snuggled against me, then rubbed his sore, tear-stained eyes. A peaceful little smile warmed his face. "I'm hungry." "Good morning," I said softly. My voice was usually quiet, but even more so since I was so tired. I stroked his dark hair, seeing traces of his father in him. "I'm afraid we don't have any food yet." Grison looked around. "Where's the man in the red and white robes?" "His name is Distarius. He... had to go," I said, and left it at that. Grison looked as if he wanted to get up and play with the fire, but the moment he left my arms he realized how cold it was, and decided to return. I smiled faintly and began to sing an old folk song. Eight-year-old boys don't stay still for long, however. "Wait. I hear a horse!" I stopped, my heart catching in my throat. Hoofbeats were indeed approaching, as twigs snapped and leaves rustled. "Wait here," I whispered, standing and brushing off my gown shakily. I reached the mouth of the cave just as the dark horse emerged. Its head hung wearily. White sweat streaked across its black coat. The mouth hung open, frothing and bleeding from the bit. A fatigued Distarius was mounted on its back with a hand tangled in the mane, the other trying to hold a limp Elvin girl. I stared as he slipped from the saddle, cramped legs nearly buckling. He carried the girl to me. "How long has she been like this?" I asked, falling in beside him as he carried her into the cave. "Since sometime last night." His tense voice made mine seem very small. I didn't have time to send him the look of horror I wanted to send. Distarius gently lay the girl on the floor. I knelt beside her, Grison beside me. Without bothering to explain, I began to examine her. My husband had been a doctor in Crystlin. Before his own death, he taught me many things. The girl was feverish, probably in order to fight infected wounds. Lifting her eyelids, I saw her pupils were dilated. Breathing was shallow, heartbeat rapid but weak. I pursed my lips. The elf had gone into shock; her vital organs weren't getting enough blood. It was a wonder she hadn't died already. Still staring at the girl, I undid my medical bag and handed it to Grison. He knew what to look for. "Kneel over there," I said, my voice deceptively smooth. Distarius obeyed, allowing me to position his hands on his lap and then the girl's legs on his hands. I needed most of the blood to flow back to her midsection, where it was needed. Turning back to Grison, I was secretly pleased to see he had found just the right bottle. I scrubbed the elf's cuts vigorously. "Careful!" Distarius said. I ignored him. Vigor was needed. Once I had cleaned them as best I could, having Grison hold her arms above the dirty ground, I found some ointment and rubbed this on, as well. These would keep the wounds from sticking to the bandages, which I hurriedly applied next. That done, I gathered the girl's hair away from her face, still hot with fever. If only we had water. "Will she be alright?" Distarius asked. "We'll see," I responded. "I really don't know how she's survived this long. But if she has--- keep those legs elevated, please ---she might have a chance of recovering. Just hope she awakes." "Who is she?" Grison asked. "Meet my associate, Kokuryuu Flameshifter," the mage said with a nod. "Ryuu for short." "Ryuu." Grison giggled quietly. I was more wary. "Flameshifter?" "She's really a dragon." Grison's eyes grew wide. I moved to his side. "Say dear, still hungry?" "Uh-huh." "Let's go hunting for herbs, you and I." Grison's one-track mind adjusted immediately. He let out a little cheer and raced for the cave entrance, hesitating only when I called. "I'll stay near!" he promised. I looked back to Distarius. "You know, women aren't really supposed to be physicians. I'd appreciate it if you kept that to yourself." He understood. "I never saw your medicine bag, and you never saw my staff." I smiled and went after Grison. "We'll bring you some food if we find any."

NOOOO!!! I JUST SPENT THE HOUR WRITING A NEW THING AND NOW IT'S GONE!!

Well, the syrakk have probably reached Bakurus and they're sitting in the cliffs waiting for some people to eat. The knights and the people of Crystlin are walking through a hidden tunnel and they'll get there in three days. It's almost dawn, Ryuu's dying, Dis left Anaya and Grison in the cave to go get her, and I am completely void of ideas. So go save her Dis, and then maybe we'll flash forward a few days.

Well that was well written... but so full of sadness and despair. There is a hope and meaning to life... what are you trying to convey in this story? That love hurts? That revenge is sweet? I'm not trying to criticize you or anything, I just think these posts help a writer develop more than a "that was good" kind of thing. (In my experience, anyway.) PM me sometime! Keep writing!

Dudes, thanks! I guess we're all writers here, so we know how... *sniffle* touching a kind word can be.

I'm under the impression that you don't have to submit fantasy for an application. Maybe that would be the best move, but... ah, I won't bother you with the long explanation. Here's a quick sample of my writing... not my most riveting work... Slowly, his hand pumped the gun, hoping that the noise wouldn't be heard by the enemy. Hot, sticky, his wet blonde hair clung to his forehead. Eyes searched the bushes for any sign of movement. His partner knelt nearby, cradling his own gun in both hands. "Do you see 'em?" he whispered. The eyes continued to search, slowly, efficiently. "No," he whispered back. "Maybe we didn't cut them off..." A hush fell over the hiding place. Their feet moved as quietly as possible along the wooden fence. They brushed stealthily past the hedge leaves. Birds sang overhead, oblivious to the tension below. A sprinkler hissed in a yard nearby. Ciccadas began to hiss in the late summer evening, the sky a deep sunset yellow. "Iiiiii-keeeer-UMBA!!!" The boys screamed as, with a battle cry, some one dropped from the trees. Before they could raise their weapons in defense, they felt the enemy's weapon bearing down on them, beating hot splashes against their chests. They retaliated. Two streams of water streaked out at the girl. She stopped pumping the super soaker and dived into the bushes. "HAH! Nice try!" one of the boys screamed, snuffing water out of his nose. The girl's head emerged from the bushes, her green eyes smiling brightly. "Actually, it WAS!" Shouts erupted behind them. The boys whirled, and their eyes grew wide. The entire opposing team barred their way, six or seven water guns spraying together. The outnumbered ones fought back with boyish pride, but they were no match for this volley. "We win!" The girl jumped out of the bushes again and began a lame dance. She didn't care how it looked. "Oh yeah! Oh yeah!" "You so fell for it!" the others jeered. The ambushed boys smiled, embarrassed, and argued. Still grinning, the girl looked down at her watch. She drew in a loud gasp, which was barely noticed in the din. "I've gotta go, you guys!" "Aww, c'mon!" "Sorry!" She tossed her supersoaker back to the kid she had borrowed it from. "I've got an appointment in thirty minutes!" "Okay, bye!" "Bye!" "Come back sometime!" "I will!" She stopped and looked over her shoulder. "We so creamed you."

Yeah it's me again, the obsessive compulsive who would sit here and post all day if she could. I can't believe I've turned into such a 'board junkie. But here I am. Now, for your reading pleasure... hah, as if you're not bored already... a very exciting post of dialogue. ~¤~ None of us could say when exactly it became morning. The underground tunnel remained as dark as ever, but eventually new torches were lit and the tired and wounded began to move about again. Some were still looking for their families. To my tired ears, it sounded like some just wanted to cause trouble. But I'm getting off-subject. Either way, it was the so-called morning, and after eating the dried carrot I found in my saddle pouch, I was refitting Brezza and checking his shoes. I was lifting his hind leg, bent over a hoof with a pair of plyers in my hand, when he found me. "Where's your elf friend?" I looked up briefly and recognized Colin ap Warren, a Knight of the Rose like myself. His hair had been bleached white during a battle against an evil wizard, making him appear older than he was. He was actually only two years older than me. I'd known him since he came to work at the Hold of Bakurus as a fourteen-year-old stablehand. He'd worked his way into the regiments since then. "I don't know," I said in answer to his question. "She left before I awoke. Perhaps she left the cave. I don't care, so long as the syrakk aren't alerted to our presence." "You didn't find the elf fascinating?" "She wasn't an elf. She was a shape-shifting dragon." "That explains her fighting. What of Samuel's horse?" "She took it with her, I suppose." "As what? A snack on the way out?" "Who knows what a dragon wants with a horse?" I wedged the last nail free and removed Brezza's shoe. Colin looked incredulous. "What are you doing?" "One of his shoes came loose. Better that he walks with no iron at all." "The cave floor will be rough on his hooves." "I know. But..." I shrugged helplessly as I freed his leg from my grasp. Fussing with my unkempt hair, I asked, "How was the battle for you? You don't look much worse for wear." "Thirty-two syrakk," Colin grinned. "And not even a scratch." I rolled my eyes. Why do men like to keep track of bloodshed? "I thought you might be hungry," he continued, holding out a piece of bread. "Luckily, ap Warren always comes through." "Always carries food you mean," I smiled. "Thank you." I held the bread precariously in my dirty hand before biting into it. "How did you enjoy your months at Crystlin? With your father?" "I didn't," I said sullenly. "I hadn't seen the man since he sent me to the hold at two years of age! I wonder if he even gave me a thought while the general's wife tutored me. The knighting, that's what bothered him. All of a sudden, I'm supposed to be a lady at his side. I shouldn't wonder if the syrakk have done Crystlin some good. The whole place should be demolished, so they can start anew! The architecture is wonderful, but the care is abominable. I spent my days running about the castle getting lost and trying to show the servants how to clean the place much less themselves and my father is, is... I don't know." I suddely became quiet, and realized how much I had been talking. Colin knew everything in my heart now. He was smiling, used to the way I talked when I was angry. "It looks like a little danger convinced your father to let you fight, though." "He didn't," I mumbled. "I went on my own." "Ah..." "He isn't around, is he?" I asked, looking up sharply. "Well, he's somewhere in here," Colin said. "Can't say where, though. But he's your father. You don't have to avoid him, Jareena." "He avoided me," I said, turning to climb into the saddle. "When he sent me away all those years ago. That man isn't my father. He's a stranger." Colin knew what was really bothering me. "Forgive, lest you not be forgiven," he said softly. I looked at him, then closed my eyes to lift a short prayer of repentance. "Things were simpler before he wanted me back." Colin didn't say anything. I saw him step around a small family huddled on the floor to reach for the reins of his own horse, a steely dapple gray with no name. He picked up his lance and climbed into the saddle, turning to ride up beside me. "If I may say... it seems you're angry at him for leaving you, and now that he's asked you to return, you're angry that he wants you." I worked my jaw silently, upset that he was right. "Come on then," Colin said on a lighter note. "The Order is amassing on the east end of the tunnel. The army will line up two by two and lead the people on to Bakurus." He took on a serious, melodramatic tone. "I would be honored if you would keep me compay, Lady Faye." I stifled a laugh and said solemnly, "So be it, Sir Colin."

Thanks Ryuu! You did a good job, and it wasn't too short AT ALL. I love you! (And I don't say that to many people!)

Ohhh, one last thing dudes. The syrakk still know to head for the Hold. I suspect an intelligent mind behind all this. http://www.themightypen.net/public/style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif *gasp!* In other news... yes, I know I'm being a jerk to you guys right now!