Snippets and Shorter Stories 2.0 Seeks Refuge

2.19 I have often wondered what the future will hold for us as human beings. If we did find life how would we react and how would we change as a race if we were not the only ones out there. Would we continue to be on top of the food chain or would we be seen as nothing more than animals. Deep thoughts people. They keep me up at night. Artist: Vasylina

Princess Lorona

The High Queen’s room shook as explosions and other sounds of battle sounded aboard the ship. The grand ship, Freedom, carrying the last human High Queen was under attack and they were losing. If the ship went down, no one would be able to protect Earth and the Shingarians would enslave the planet. High Queen Corba ordered her 9 month old daughter be brought to her. One of her guards plucked the sleeping child from her crib and handed her to High Queen Corba. She kissed her baby one last time then handed her to Ran'to, her Royal Captain and one of the seven Elite Angels chosen to guard the royal family. The princess looked so tiny in his arm and Corba’s heart broke to know she would never see either of them again. She steadied her wavering resolve and  handed him the Infinity Ring. "Go, Ran’to, take Princess Lorona and escape. Keep her safe and when the time is right, free our people. Take the teleporters, no, don't tell me where you will go. I trust you will pick a suitable location for her. Go now, before it is too late!" The steel doors to the throne room groaned as the Shingarians pounded it. It wouldn't hold much longer.

Thunder and Lightning in Snippets and Shorter Stories 2.0

2.18 If there was a school for people to learn how to control the elements I would be all over that...Just saying. What is your favorite element? Artist: Almost Without Wants.

Wind 101

"Welcome to Wind 101. My name is Professor Gaylyn Gale but you will call me Professor Gale. In this class you will be learning about the basics of wind control. Please read the syllabus quietly to yourself while I prepare a demonstration of what you will be able to achieve at the end of Wind 102." Professor Gale sat behind her desk at the front of the classroom. A nervous, but excited feeling filled the room. The 24 students pretended to read the syllabus while they watched Professor Gale prep. They had heard from older siblings and rumors around campus about the exhilarating first class demonstrations. If all went well with their studies they would be able to do some amazing things.

Professor Gale finished assembling items and blew a slight breeze at the bell in the far corner of the room to call their attention. It rang and all the students jumped, pencils hit the ground and rolled several feet. Professor Gale tapped her long fingernail on her desk for a moment as the kids gathered their pencils. Finally she raised a glass jar, sweeping it around the room for all to see. Then she sprinkled some water inside, screwed the lid on, and placed it under a light. The water evaporated inside the jar and she pulled it out and set it in the middle of her table. "Gather round, students, if you would. No pushing, please. Civility at all times."

When all 24 of the students had a good view of the medium sized jar, Professor Gale asked them to be silent. She closed her eyes, stilled her mind, and swirled her left hand around the top of the jar, slowly opening her eyes. Around and around her hand went.  

After a minute or so, a gasp escaped the student closest to the jar. "A cloud is forming in the jar! I can see it." The students whispered animatedly to each other and pressed closer to the table for a better look, stepping on each other’s feet. Professor Gale gave a half-smile and let them chatter. She remembered the first time she had watched this demonstration. They would cease chattering soon anyway. She continued to swirl her hand around the glass jar and it wasn't long before other children exclaimed that they too, could see the tiny cloud forming inside. 

Professor Gale finished the last swirl of her hand as the students lapsed into silence once more then tapped once on the lid. Tiny streaks of lightning lit up the students' faces, their eyes wide, mouth open. They jumped again when the crash of thunder broke the silence. They cheered and clapped their hands. Professor Gale smiled for a second before she hushed them and lifted the jar into the air. "This is a thundercloud as I am sure you are all well aware. It is a mixture of water, electricity and air. All three are needed but only an wind bender, such as us, can create a cloud and a thundercloud.” Another burst of lightning and thunder erupted from the tiny thundercloud. “Next semester will be focused more on creating one and you will be working in pairs so I suggest you observe your fellow classmates and pick your partner carefully. As I said earlier, this semester we will be focusing on the very basics of wind control, namely creating and calming. Now if you will all return to your seats and pull out your notebooks, we can begin."  

X Marks the Spot in Snippets and Shorter Stories 2.0

2.17 I love a good treasure hunt, especially when it involves mythological creatures. Artist: JNickBlack

Phoenix Treasure

Shane slid down the last few feet of the slope. He took off his boots one at a time and dumped out the rocks and dirt that had collected inside from his climb down the steep walls. Feeling much better, he pulled out the map and looked at the clue again. On the map there were a group of symbols: a chest drawn in red ink, a rock, the symbol for a river on maps, a bird also drawn in red ink, the number 3, and an upside down U. Shane translated it as thus: red treasure, boulder, river, red bird, third arch. Then there was a very basic drawing of two parallel lines with a river running through the middle, three squiggly lines at the top, and an X three quarters of the way down. Shane assumed the red bird was a Phoenix and the location was Phoenix Canyon. The three squiggly lines meant Phoenix Falls and the treasure, which could only mean rubies, was near the third arch in the canyon.

If his calculations were correct, Shane should be right where the X was. Now he just had to look for boulders near the third arch. There were seven arches total. He had counted the arches backwards on his march along the top edge of the canyon. He remembered the thrill he had received when he had found a ratty old purse with the folded up map hidden inside the inner lining. The feeling returned stronger now that he was so close to finding the rubies.

Phoenix Canyon was where the old kingdom had mined for rubies. That is until they had dug too deep and too far north and woken the ancient phoenixes thought to be extinct. The fiery birds had taken up roost near the Falls where the Canyon ended and were a constant source of grief for anyone nearby. Ever since then, rubies had understandably become one of the rarest gems and were worth a fortune to those lucky enough to find them.

Shane just had to find some rubies and leave before he encountered any of the fiery birds and he would be set for life. Granted, the third arch where he was currently looking was perilously close to the Falls. He could even hear them in the distance, but it would be worth it. He worked his way around the river, occasionally digging in case the rubies were buried. It hadn’t been more than ten minutes before he spotted the chest lying next to a boulder almost his size. Shane grinned. It was too easy. 

He jogged over to it, but paused before he reached the boulder. It was too easy. He pulled out the map and read the warning at the bottom again. Be ye warned, all who seek the treasure. A red and black death awaits those not deemed worthy. Proceed ye with caution. Shane did not fancy being burned to death by a phoenix, with nothing but his smoldering ashes as all that remained of him, but he didn’t see any around so he continued forward more cautiously this time. He pulled out his sword for good measure. He hopped on the boulder and reached down to grab the chest when a small, bright red creature leaped into the air from behind it. Shane froze as he stared directly into the eyes of a phoenix. A baby phoenix. It’s long wings and tail swayed gently as it hovered above the chest. A bead of sweat trailed down Shane’s face and dripped off, hitting the dusty ground. The phoenix cocked its head and Shane swung with his sword.

Defeat Every Enemy in Snippets and Shorter Stories 2.0

2.16 I love me some action role-playing games where you level-up your character and collect armor and weapons. When I saw this picture, with his missing spikey shoulder thing I immediately thought, He must be looking in a dungeon for the right shoulder thing to complete his armor. Then I laughed and wrote this. Artist: p0p5

A Complete Set

Garreth crept through the abandoned dwarf city, painfully aware of how loud his boots sounded in the eerily silent, rocky tunnels. If he was lucky he would make it to the armory, find the last piece of his armor, and make it out without having to fight any orcs, goblins, or giant spiders; he didn’t need the experience and he would just waste time later washing their blood from his legendary shindian armor. The tunnel ended in a wood and metal door that was surprisingly in great condition. Must be from the lack of water and sun. Garreth mused and opened the squeaky door as quietly as he could, poking his head inside to look around.

It opened into a large banquet hall with grand arches, chiseled pillars, and broken furniture scattered everywhere. It was empty. Garreth smiled and walked inside. The door swung shut with a resounding bang. Curses! Garreth swung around and immediately saw his mistake. It was rigged. He tried to open it but the thing wouldn’t budge. Scowling, he tapped on the lock. Please say I need to find a scroll or key to unlock you! A small textbox appeared.

To open this door: defeat every enemy in this dungeon.

Garreth groaned. He was trapped in this dark and dank dungeon until every last orc, goblin, cave troll, giant spider, rodent, wraith and whatever else was lying dead on the cold ground. Just my luck, he thought.

Well, no sense in staying quiet. He would make them come to him as he looked for the treasure room. Garreth stomped across the banquet hall, kicking aside broken chairs, broken cooking pots, and grumbling about the unfairness of the random task assignments. He hadn’t come across a ‘defeat every enemy’ task in months. He smashed open every door he found, exiting the banquet hall when he found another tunnel leading farther in. It wasn’t long before he heard shrieks and pounding feet. Probably orikins by the sound of their cries. Garreth sighed and pulled out his double swords as the foul creatures surrounded him on both sides of the tunnel. He could smell their putrid stench and see the skulls of the unfortunate on their belts like trophies, distinguishing rank among the tribes. They would be easy enough to defeat as long as he didn’t get trapped or bogged down by their bodies. Garreth steeled himself, cast a berserk spell, and charged.

Snippets and Shorter Stories 2.0 Warns You to Never Trust a Pirate

2.15 I have been doing a lot of fantastical snippets lately and thought it would be nice to have a change. This pirate battle was one I found a few days ago and loved. It has so many details and angles that the snippet could go that it took me a while to actually write one. I haven't written a pirate snippet before so I hope you enjoy! Artist: Sinto-risky.

A Pirate's Revenge

Cannons exploded and wood cracked and burned. Bits of both pirate ships flew all around Piran. When Piran and his crew had pulled away from Diamond Isle with their cargo full of jewels, Captain “Blue Blooded” Bill had appeared around the east side of the island and overtaken his heavily laden ship. The fight had only been going for a couple of minutes and already the bodies were piling up. Piran himself had killed several men and moved to strike at an enemy pirate who was attempting to swing across the gap. No need to use his last bullet when he could kill the man with one stroke of his sword. 

However, just before the man reached him, one of Pirans' crew mates hoisted Piran up and threw him into the swinging man. Turning in surprise, Piran’s eyes widened then his face twisted and his eyes narrowed with rage and cold fury. Mutiny! They will pay dearly for this, Piran thought as they both plunged into the clear, warm water with a splash, barely audible over the din of the nautical battle. The man emerged a few feet away from Piran and began swimming toward him. Piran pulled his gun out of the water and hoped desperately that it hadn’t gotten too wet. He aimed it at the approaching man, who was reaching for him, and pulled the trigger.

Fear and Fog in Snippets and Shorter Stories 2.0

2.14 All of us have fears we wish we could conquer. There is something about conquering them that gives us a sense of empowerment and pride. It makes us a hero. And who doesn't want to be the hero of their own story? Artist: Mood studio.

Master Guardsman

Lyle took a deep breath. This was his final test; if he passed he would be promoted to Master Guardsman. He released his breath and stepped forward into the Demon Fog. Here his fears would become reality and if he could not conquer them his mind would forever wander the barren wasteland, haunted by demons. Focus. Clear your mind and focus. Find the gem and escape. His armor felt tight and rubbed against his leather clothing. Lyle risked a glance at his sword hilt and felt each of the nine gems on it. He had won them at different locations around the kingdom, each testing his resolve and skill. There was one empty socket. Lyle walked for what felt like hours until he found the pedestal with his tenth victory gem on it. He smiled and placed the final gem into the hilt of his sword then he turned around and walked back the way he came. Perhaps the Demon Fog didn’t work on him. Perhaps he had no fear for the fog to prey on. Out of the corner of his eye, Lyle saw a dark shape glide past him. Something was following him. There had been reports of a giant wolf preying on the nearby villages, perhaps this was its home. Lyle drew his sword. Wouldn’t it be perfect if he returned to the King with his final jewel and the head of the beast plaguing the land? Lyle climbed a boulder shaped like a carved helmet. It looked oddly familiar but he didn’t have time to think about it. He saw the shadow of the wolf in the distance. It slowly moved toward him until it stood over him. It was over fifty feet tall. Lyle swallowed, calmed his heart, slowed his breathing, and fell into his Hawk stance.

Ice Elves and Snow Lions in Snippets and Shorter Stories 2.0

2.13 I don't know why but elves and lions fascinate me so this picture is awesome! I love how much emotion and personality you get. Plus I want a white lion now...and awesome pointy ears. Artist: Unknown.

Princess Salara

Salara woke from her dream with an intense need to see Frostbite immediately. She changed into her riding gear, belting on her sword last, pulled her hood up, and tiptoed through the palace to the animal house. The ice crunched underneath her feet as she lightly jogged through the frozen forest. The ice-kissed pine trees were sparse on the otherwise barren landscape. Hundreds of years of winter had reduced their plant population to those that could either survive winter without hibernation or those that had somehow adapted quickly enough.

Salara slipped inside the barn and felt the warmth of the animals thaw her long ears and nose. Just because she was an Ice elf didn’t mean she was immune to the cold, it just meant she could survive colder temperatures than other creatures. Salara grabbed a slab of meat from the thawing station and crept around the maze of sleeping animals looking for her snow lion, Frostbite. She didn’t dare call for him for fear that it would wake the other animals, who would then wake the guards, who would escort her back to her room for her own safety. She could hear their patronizing tones and see their faces, talking to her as though she were a child of four instead of a woman of twenty. Salara shook her head and continued to look for Frostbite. She made her way around the whole barn and didn’t see him in any of the solitary sleeping animals. She groaned. That meant...

Her eyes fell on the great pile of white that consisted of several animals, including her snow lion, snuggling together for warmth and company. She scowled at the soft breathing and scoured the pile for some sign of where her friend was. It wasn’t hard to figure out that there were three dire wolves, six white foxes, two leopards, and of course, her snow lion all mixed up with no way to tell where one ended and one began. Salara circled the mound and there in the back was the long thin tail of her snow lion. Luck was apparently on her side this chilly, clear morning.

She kicked, pulled, and stroked the tail until, little by little, the rest of the body emerged. The mound lost a good third of its size as the great fluffy head finally emerged and stretched. Frostbite yawned and followed Salara outside where it was safer to make noise and yawned before eating the caribou leg Salara had for him. Then he pushed his head into her chest and purred while she scratched his ears and kissed his forehead. After a few minutes, Salara moved around to the side and mounted his back, holding on to his mane. “Let’s go for a ride, Frostbite.”

Frostbite flexed his paws and sprang, running gracefully through the forest with Salara riding him, their movements perfectly in sync.    

Lords and Unicorns in Snippets and Shorter Stories 2.0

2.12 I actually have quite a few pictures for this one but I will post two of them. The first picture is the original that sparked the idea and the second picture is one I found later that worked well with the story. Artist: silverlve and silverwitch.

The Crystal Bracelet

This was it. The last chance for the Farin Kingdom to have an heir for another hundred years. All eyes were focused on the medium sized pearl, glowing softly in the moonlight in the middle of a clearing at the center of Farin Forest. All around the pearl creatures of all kind stood in awe, watching the last of Queen Maren’s eggs.The pearl cracked and wobbled. The others gasped and barely dared to hope.

King Kornicus trotted over and nudged the sphere. Nothing. He tapped it with his milky white horn. It was still for a moment then another crack split the still air and another and another. King Kornicus hurriedly backed away from the shaking egg. There was a bright flash of light followed by sudden darkness as everyone’s eyes adjusted. Shaking their heads and blinking rapidly, Queen Maren and King Kornicus were the first to recover their sight. In the middle of the clearing the first unicorn to be born in over a thousand years wobbled on unsteady legs. Her baby horn shone golden like her hooves as she made her way to her mother and father, falling several times in the process. The new parents nuzzled her head and body and encouraged her to continue moving. A cheer arose, startling the infant. 

A sudden shadow passed over the moon. Fairies, gnomes, sprites, and other smaller creatures vanished suddenly into the night. Those large enough to defend the royal family drew closer and formed a circle around them. A gust blew fallen leaves into a small tornado as the great Gryphon Lord, landed in the clearing. Lord Griffith was all black and nearly invisible but for the shadow he cast and the two pale discs from his eyes reflecting the bright light of the full moon.  He opened his mouth and a shrill cry pierced the eerie silence. Shuffling to the sides, the guards parted, allowing King Kornicus to pass through and greet their ally. 

Lord Griffith tossed his head. “There is no danger here. Why do you not disperse, common creatures? I have business with His Majesty and do not appreciate being treated as an enemy.” He beat his wings and cried again.

“Do not take offense, they would not disperse even if I ordered them too. They do not guard just one treasure and would not risk losing the second for anything.” He chuckled slightly as Lord Griffith cocked his head, puzzled. “I have wonderful news for you, my friend.” The crowd parted ever so slightly and Lord Griffith’s black wings folded as he stared at the pristine, luminescent unicorn king then down at the tiny unicorn, still wobbling around. “My daughter was born not thirty minutes ago. The kingdom has an heir once more. Come, join us in our feast and celebration!” 

King Kornicus whinnied and rose on his two back legs, his horn glowing with sudden intensity. The forest around him responded to his joyous cry. Lord Griffith added his cry and the wind swept through the forest pulling the leaves up to dance in the sky and spreading the joyous news to the rest of the forest.

When everything had settled down, Lord Griffith again spoke. “Alas, my king, that is wonderful news and it pains me that I might ruin this joyous occasion. But I must. The Phoenixes have awoken and they rise to the skies, slaughtering my people and consuming the land and surrounding area.”

A shiver ran through the guard circle and the light from King Kornicus’s horn died and he spoke. “That spell should have lasted till the end of time. How can they be awake? Surely the elves...no they are not so greedy that they would attempt to enter the lairs of the Phoenix Lords in search of treasure. There must be another explanation.”

“Whatever it is, my king, we cannot stand idle while they gather their strength. We must act now!”

King Kornicus was silent. He hated violence. But Lord Griffith was right. Too many had died because of those fiery birds. And if there was one thing King Kornicus hated more than violence, it was death. He charged his horn and stamped his foot so that all in the Farin Kingdom would hear his voice. “The Phoenix’s have awoken. Find the Crystal Bracelet at all costs and return it to me!”

Change is Coming in Snippets and Shorter Stories 2.0

2.11 This picture was creepy to begin with and it just kept getting worse the longer I wrote. Gave me the shivers. Enjoy! Artist: dreamingviolet

The Old Cathedral

There was a light in the old cathedral. A cold chill swept through Nathaniel as he did his nightly rounds, checking that animals were secure in their pens and nothing was amiss on the farm. No one had set foot inside that ruined building since the Red Devil Mob had attacked it fifteen years ago, burning anything wood, breaking all the windows, and trying to pull down every stone before eventually giving up. It had been properly built and wouldn’t fall easily. So they abandoned it. They left it to slowly crumble by water and wind. Except there was a flickering glow inside, the light escaping through the broken doors and shattered stained glass window.

Nathaniel stood, stunned at the occurrence. Should he tell someone? Should he go and see who it was? What if there was a group of them. Perhaps the Red Devil Mob had returned, painted in the blood of the priests, to finish what they had started. Nathaniel shivered and signed to keep the devil’s spirit away. He knew that it might just be some cold, hungry traveler taking refuge before moving on, but he needed to be sure. So, snuffing out his lantern, Nathaniel walked the mile or so to the cathedral and silently crept up the stairs. He felt sick at the thought of being anywhere near the cursed place, but he had a duty to protect his family and the village.

Peeking through the blackened doors, Nathaniel gazed in horror at the scene inside the stone building. Two dozen men and women danced around a blazing fire. Nathaniel couldn’t tell if they were wearing animal fur or thin metal; sometimes their clothes appeared furry, but then it would reflect the light of the fire like metal. The faces of the men were covered in intricate designs and the women had the same design on their arms. But the most frightening and disturbing thing Nathaniel saw was the bodies of four men lying in a circle closest to the fire. He thought they were priests from their black clothes but they were hidden by the other dancing figures. One man, whose tattoos were even more detailed, wasn’t dancing with the rest. He stood on the top of the stone altar and held a cup above his head. Something inside Nathaniel warned him that he was in danger. Besides, he didn’t want to see more of the bizarre scene. Trembling, Nathaniel tore himself away and ran all the way to his farm without looking back. 

Sitting in front of the dying fire in his home, Nathaniel thought about what he had seen and what he should do. It was another hour before he decided. Time would tell what was to be done about the strange group. If they were gone in the morning when he woke to attend to his chores, he would send his youngest son to town to tell the mayor and let him deal with it! Yes, that was a good plan. Nathaniel nodded and felt much better having made a decision. Besides, they would probably be gone by morning and everything would return to normal. But when Nathaniel woke the next morning, the light was still there.  A great sense of dread fell over him as he woke his son, told him about the light and the strange group and sent him away to tell the Mayor. Watching his son jog toward the village, Nathaniel knew something bad was about to happen and there was nothing he could do about it.

Night and Day in Snippets and Shorter Stories 2.0

2.10  Whew I have been busy. Time to play catch up. I feel like life has finally settled down, but we will see how long it lasts. Am I right? Artist: Kinga Britschgi.

The Hole Between Worlds

Anabeth had heard rumors all her life that there was a hole between night and day and she was going to find it. She desperately wanted to know what day looked like. What did the stars and the moon look like in the daytime?  The oldest living woman had told Anabeth when she was eight about how she had gone to see the hole when she had been a young woman; how she crossed the sea on a ship until she reached unfamiliar land. Then she traveled across a field for several days until a bright light caught her eye, brighter than the full moon, and when she reached it, wonders beyond imagination had filled her sight. The old woman never spoke about what she saw on the other side, she would just sigh and gaze across the sea, her eyes distant.

“Why did you come back, Lady Roballo?” Anabeth had asked.

Lady Roballo said nothing for several minutes and just when Anabeth thought she had fallen asleep and got up to leave, the old lady whispered, “A fish cannot fly, no matter how much it wishes to. Oh, child, you are so young. You don’t know what it what it means to leave behind everything you know and start over somewhere else, how scary it can be, how small it makes you feel. But, perhaps...Perhaps that can be to your advantage. I visited the hole too late, Anabeth. I had already replaced the ability to simply be in the present with the adult fear of the future. But it is like I always say: regrets are like rocks in your shoes.”

Anabeth tiptoed out of Lady Roballo’s house and ran to her house, her head filled with thoughts of the hole. Ever since then, Anabeth had begged and begged her parents to take her to see the hole. They refused, but after years of constant begging they finally came up with the idea that Anabeth save up all her money and go when she turned eighteen. Although worried about whether she would be too old by then, Anabeth agreed and worked hard to save enough money to board a ship and buy supplies. Finally, the day arrived when she had earned enough. She found a boat that would take her and filled it with supplies for the long journey. Then she said goodbye to her parents and departed.

Apart from the rocking of the boat and the reflections of the the stars and moon on the ocean, the boat ride to the other land had been uneventful. She found the field easily beyond the first hill and followed it with her lantern to guide her. Anabeth thought about Lady Roballo often, even after she was gone. She was, after all, the woman who had lit a spark inside Anabeth about the hole that had grown into a bright flame. Anabeth smiled at the thought of that gentle, thoughtful woman. At the moment she was making her way across the meadow, the tiny flowers barely visible. Anabeth was gazing at the stars, finding constellations and naming new ones. 

She crested a hill and something bright hit her eyes. She looked down and barely a mile or two away, positioned on a hill, was a white light that looked like a large doorway. Her breath caught in her throat and she froze for a moment. Then the excitement and anticipation inside her built and she took off running. When she got to the bottom of the hill, she dropped her lantern and climbed using her hands. She got to the top and stopped, the light from the hole barely touching her. Moving slowly, her eyes wide, she gazed at the giant keyhole that opened up into a colored sky. Oranges, blues, and yellows beckoned her and the sight of the bright green grass with tiny yellow flowers made her smile. Laughing, she walked forward and each step brought her closer to a dream that had filled her for ten years. The first thing she noticed was that there were no stars in the sky. What has happened to them? She wondered. The next thing she noticed was that the moon was much brighter than their moon, even when it was full. It is so warm, she thought, like a great fire. She opened up her face and felt it sink into her skin. She remembered that the old woman had called it the sun and that it wasn’t the moon at all. It was the only thing she would tell her about day and that was after many weeks of wheedling. Anabeth shook her head in wonder. The sun cast the most beautiful colors across the sky and clouds. As a gentle breeze swept across her, ruffling her dress, she noticed that it was the same shade as the sky. Then she realized that her shadow stretched behind her and waved at it. Turning back to the bright and wondrous scene, Anabeth stood at the threshold between day and night and felt as if she were flying.

A Day in the Life of a Cat in Snippets and Shorter Stories

2.9 Phew, this was a whirlwind weekend. Between graduation and family, Eric and I kept busy. But the good news is I finally found my phone; it had been missing for almost a week! Artist: Rihards Donskis

Life of a Cat

Shadow Fury, Lord of the 1927 Realm, stalked through the soft grass, searching for enemies. Puny creatures tirelessly sought to overwhelm him and take the his castle and the neighboring houses. Shadow Fury had to constantly be on the alert: attacks could come from both the ground and the sky at anytime. Crouching behind a bush, his black fur blended in well with the shadows, Shadow Fury opened his eyes wide and gazed for signs of enemy movement. Nothing. Second scan. There! A tall tuft of grass moved and a furry, vile rodent emerged, sniffing the air. A scout! Shadow Fury tensed and waited for it to move closer before striking with lightning speed. His strike proved true and soon the struggling, frightened scout stopped moving. Up in a nearby tree, several birds chirped and squawked. No doubt warning the approaching army to retreat. He thought smugly, preening his paws. Satisfied that his realm was once again safe, Shadow Fury returned to his castle with his head held high to eat his captured prize and perhaps gain some of it’s power. Only he could protect the two-legged servants he allowed in his castle from the silent, deadly attacks. I am Shadow Fury, Lord of the 1927 Realm! Tremble before me! I command thee, servants, to open the castle door! Shadow Fury roared and, when the door opened, regally walked inside and climbed his observation throne.

Snippets and Shorter Stories 2.0 Wishes on a Dandelion

2.8 Today I graduate from the University of Utah. I am so excited to be done but I had some great classes. I will miss learning but not tests and assignments. This next snippet was rather fun to figure out how to show the way children interact with stories. Artist: Amanda Cass.

Dandelion Wish

Abigail broke away from her father and ran toward Dandelion Field. Her father eventually caught up and urged her to go up the cliff to where a plaque stood overlooking the field below. Together they climbed the stairs and leaned against the railing.

  "What do you see, Abby?"

   Abigail thought for a moment staring at the field, then gasped when she noticed it. "The dandelions are in the shape of a teardrop!"

   Her father smiled and moved to read the plaque. It contained the legend of the mysteriously shaped clump of dandelions.

"There once was a girl who was very happy and her name was Danielle. She lived with her mother and father in a nice little house on the edge of the woods. One day, however, a mighty pack of wolves killed her father while he was hunting for food. (Gasp!) Then her mother got sick and also perished leaving the girl all alone with no one to care for her. (Oh, no, daddy, that is terrible!) Indeed it was terrible; especially for the little girl. Everywhere she looked things reminded her of her parents and it wasn't long before her heart couldn't take it anymore.”

“She hiked through the forest until she came upon a meadow. Sitting in the middle near a single dandelion, Danielle began to cry. (I would too!) She cried and cried and cried until her tears nourished the dandelion and it grew bigger and bigger. (It did?) It wasn't long before it was taller than her. She plucked it, held it up to her mouth, and made a wish. (What did she wish for?) She wished to be flown far away from this land that held only pain for her.

Then she blew.

But the seeds floated back to the ground for there was no wind to carry them away. (Oh no!) She cried some more and more dandelions grew until she was surrounded by them. The few nearest her grew taller than the first one and when she plucked them a great wind arose and caught hold of the dandelions and carried her far away where she could be happy. (Yay! Her first wish did come true after all, daddy!) The only things she left behind were the small cottage and the teardrop shaped clump of dandelions.” Abigail’s father finished the story and stared down at the dandelions below. He had learned long ago that it was better to be patient with her interruptions. So he paused every now and then so she could speak before continuing. He smiled down at her, watching the way her face scrunched in thought as she stared at the dandelions below. Together they watched the fluffy seeds catch in the breeze and dance through the wind until nothing was left but the empty stalks.

Snippets and Shorter Stories 2.0 Walks on the Beach

2.7 I am excited to be back in the groove of writing and posting everyday. I like sharing my writing with you readers and hope that you enjoy the variety of snippets I post. Remember to comment after you read them if you feel so inclined!

The Land and Sea Intermediary

The sand is warm and soft as I step off my porch and onto the beach. I love squishing my toes in it and watching my feet sink and slowly disappear. My daily walk along the beach was something I had started over a year ago and still looked forward to every morning. Most of the time the sea was calm and gentle as it washed ashore. Last night there had been a fierce storm that threatened to prevent my morning walk but, luckily, it had calmed down only a couple hours before dawn. The beach was smooth and free from footprints or trash. That is how I like it. Taking a deep breath of the salty air, I stare out at the rising sun and the way the light ripples along the surface of the ocean like a skipping stone. Sunrises always seem more beautiful than sunsets to me. Most people couldn’t see a difference but that didn’t matter to me. Sunrises signal the beginning of the day and a fresh start at life. And for some reason, I feel like today is going to be the beginning of something amazing. I smile as the last of the purple and orange streaks disappear and meander toward the pier.

“Ow!” I stumble as something hard and pointy dug into my left foot. It was probably a piece of trash that some tourist left behind. I rub my foot for a moment then crouch down to see what had caused my distress. It was a small gold and green ring that looked like a person whose arm, as it curled around to form the ring, transformed into a fish tail. It was certainly odd but quite pretty. I pick it up and a sudden gust of wind sweeps over me. I shield my eyes from the biting sand until the wind resumes its usual gentle breeze, grateful that I had put my hair in a ponytail and I hadn’t put my contacts in yet. I slide the ring onto my middle finger and to my surprise it is a perfect fit. Hmm, things just keep getting stranger and stranger. I still want to finish my walk and stand up, but when I look forward there is a woman standing in front of me. A chill runs up my spine as I notice there are no foot prints leading up to the woman anywhere in the sand.

The woman wears a dress that appears to be made of metallic purple fish scales and her hair is still dripping. She speaks and her voice sounds like the mist that rises from a waterfall. “Chosen one, may you be a better intermediary than I was.” Then she thrusts a damp, sandy book into my hand and disappears like the spray of the ocean against the rocks. The breeze disappears with her and I am left staring at nothing, mouth hanging open. I snap my mouth shut and look down at the book to make sure it really happened. It also looked to be made from fish scales. It had the same symbol as the ring on the cover along with a title: Handbook for the Land and Sea Intermediary. What could that possibly mean? I stand transfixed for several minutes before I decide to cut my walk short and head home. As I walk, it feels as though hundreds of eyes are staring at me though from a quick glance around me, I am alone on the sand. Hugging the book tight to my chest I practically sprint home not bothering to wipe my feet as I run inside and slam the door shut.

Music is Magic in Snippets and Shorter Stories 2.0

2.6 Today is the day; my final final for my Bachelors' degree. Wish me luck and enjoy this enchanting story about the fairy Moonbeam! Artist: Chezhina Svetlana.

Moonbeam's Flute

Moonbeam knew that this latest flute was the best she had ever made. It was long, delicate, and it fit perfectly in her hands. Moonbeam looked at everyone else’s flutes and was surprised by how similar they all were. None had strayed far from the beginner flutes they had made over the weeks. She felt a sliver of doubt. Would her flute, so different, produce beautiful music? She looked down at it and ran her hand along it, feeling the smooth Elder Tree wood. She smiled, of course it would.

When it was her turn, she walked to the beginning of the tree ring and held it out for Queen Meadowlark to critique. If the Queen approved her flute, Moonbeam would move on to the second phase; playing it. If her instrument was indeed a reflection of her power and her body changed to match the music, she would pass and move up to a second-class fairy. She would get a new home in the middle branches of the forest (instead of on the ground floor with the rest of the third-class fairies), attend different classes, and gain more power. Moonbeam held her breath as Queen Meadowlark delicately fingered the instrument and looked at it from every angle. Finally, she smiled, nodded, and handed it back to Moonbeam, who lit up with anticipation. She had passed! Now was her chance to prove Treeshade wrong. She wasn’t just some third-class fairy who would spend her days in the forest. She would be a first-class fairy someday and travel the world. 

Breathing deeply to steady her fluttering wings, Moonbeam put her lips to the mouth and played an alluring and enchanting song. At first nothing happened but then her fiery red hair doubled in length and faded to gold at the ends. When her hair was done growing, a moonflower bloomed on the side of her head. This was followed by her wings growing and transforming into a more intricate design, changing from clear to a beautiful purple and teal ombre. Her white dress lengthened and also turned purple and teal to match her wings. Moonbeam’s song ended. She felt her heart soar as Queen Meadowlark draped the golden chains of a second-class fairy over her head and down her wavy hair. Princess Rosedew approached and extended her hands as she greeted Moonbeam warmly. “Welcome, Princes Moonbeam, to the second-class.” Then Princess Rosedew turned and floated away toward the middle level of the trees with Princess Moonbeam following close behind. Without a backward glance at Treeshade or her outraged face, Princess Moonbeam soared gracefully up to her new life.

Castle in Ruins in Snippets and Shorter Stories 2.0

2.5 I am still going strong and proud of it. Artist: Kama Sofie Gaiadottir.

The Rising Shadow

Even from a distance the scout knew that something was wrong as he rode toward Rendell Castle. The drawbridge hung halfway down and looked splintered and broken and there were holes in the stone towers and along the outer wall. Garin’s suspicions were confirmed when he rode around to the back and saw an entire section of wall scattered around the surrounding area. Pulling his spear from the safety latch he cautiously entered the abandoned keep. 

Everywhere some form of plant clung to life on the stone buildings. Ivy creeped up the walls, slowly covering them and grass slowly engulfed broken arrows and other weapons, smashed carts, and overturned tables. There wasn’t a single sign that anyone died here--no bones or armor anywhere. That could only mean one thing. Shadow beasts and orcs. Orcs broke down the walls and shadow beasts took anything living they could sniff out and left their cursed mark on the ground. All he had to do was look and...there! His lips curled as his eyes found a dark spot on the ground where nothing grew. Someone had probably died there and been eaten. It would be a long time before anything green touched that soil. Garin shuddered as he walked by it. The fear was faint and nearly gone but it must have been extremely powerful to have lasted this long.

Garin slowly made his way around the keep, his horses clip-clops sounding loud and echoing off the empty walls and buildings. He stopped his horse and fingered the leaves of a young aspen tree. It couldn’t be more than five years old and it would have taken a year or two for plants to move into the cursed keep. That means that the Rendell had fallen perhaps seven years ago. Garin felt a twinge of regret that it had taken so long for his own castle to wonder why they hadn't heard from Rendell in a while and send a scout to find out. With a final look at the aspens in the courtyard, Garin slid off his horse with one fluid swoop of his leg and strode up the cracked stone steps and into the castle where Lord Ren had lived. He didn’t know what he expected to find but he had to at least look for some clue as to what had happened. 

The tall oak and iron door was splintered and broken though, amazingly, it still stood upright. Unwilling to disturb it, Garin lightly stepped through the hole made by an orc launcher and shuddered as the feelings of the fallen hit him. Fear, terror, hatred, pain. He nearly groaned. He hadn’t felt such strong feelings such as these in nearly twenty years. Outside, nature had eased the ghost feelings but not in here. Garin had to take several steadying breaths before he could continue. He hated this power and not for the first time wished his father had chosen a woman from anywhere besides Mystic Castle to be his wife.

Graydon's Final Goodbye Snippets and Shorter Stories 2.0

2.4 And so it begins. My final week before graduation. I have one last final on Wednesday then I am free. My brother-in-law will be traveling here with his family so he can walk with me so this will be a busy week. This next snippet is a tragic tale. Sorry.  Artist: Gina Chacón, "After the Rain." Final Goodbye “It is said that the dead never truly leave us. They are able to communicate through the elements,such as wind and water, if we only stop and listen.” Mimi read aloud from the book, Grief and Coping, that her aunt Karen had given to her a few days ago. Mimi stood alone on a stone bridge in the rain, her charcoal gray dress gently floating in the breeze. She stared out at the drab, dark rainclouds above her and the dull, choppy lake below her. The color had drained from her world when Graydon had died nearly two months ago from a bike accident. If only she could see him one last time, hear his voice so she could tell him she loved him, maybe she could...no. Mimi shook her head unconsciously.

Turtle Guardian in Snippets and Shorter Stories 2.0

2.3 This next one should seem familiar to some of you faithful readers. I wrote this snippet back in November about the tiny hummingbird guardian. Now back by popular demand (meaning Grandma King and mother, love you guys!), I have extended this snippet.

 Read the beginning of this snippet Here. Then read on to see what happens next...

Sneak Peek: You meet the next guardian. :) Artist: Unknown.

Beware Paralysis Lake and Snippets and Shorter Stories 2.0!

2.2 I feel so free. I turned in my last real essay yesterday. It was a wonderful feeling, especially with the warm weather. Now I only have one more final next Wednesday and then I am graduating! How are your finals going? Why not take a break from studying and enjoy this chilling snippet that will make you think twice about going for a swim in a lake. Photographer: Unknown, found on mobay.vn. BTW...this picture may very well be a real place in Vietnam...the lake sirens are real, just saying.

Koran and the Molara Flower

Koran stared out at the lake and the rickety bridge that scaled its entire length. The cloudy water was a light blue and contrasted sharply with the orange sky as the sun set, elongating the shadows around him. Nothing moved under or above the lake; no biting mosquitoes, buzzing flies, or shimmering fish. The unnatural silence made the hairs on the back of Koran’s neck stand up. Koran knew he needed to cross the lake if he was to find the Molara flower that would restore his powers, but he was afraid. The lake sirens lived here, and they weren’t very friendly. They didn’t sing their victims into a trance like their cousins in the sea. Their song was paralyzing. It sapped the strength from the limbs of a person, immobilizing you so they could simply reach up and slowly pull you under, completely aware of your lungs filling with water but unable to do anything about it. Koran shuddered. Of all the deaths he most feared, drowning was among his top three.

“Are you going or not, little manling? I’m growing bored.” The sun sprite next to him pulsed gently absorbing the energy of the setting sun and storing it for the coming night.

“Don’t rush me, Sharra! I will cross when I am ready. Besides it would be madness to cross at night.”

An Unlikely Hero in Snippets and Shorter Stories 2.0

2.1 May has arrived and so has the sunshine! Six months have passed since my first Snippets and Shorter Stories and the stories are back! Here is the starting story that is sure to challenge your ideas of a fairy tale. The picture's origin is unknown.

Dragon for Hire

Grinter shuffled through the forest on four legs, smelling the air for prey. If he was really lucky, he might come across a wolf, or, better yet, a bear. Grinter’s stomach growled at the thought of his first meal since waking up from his hundred year nap. He took a moment to stretch now that he was warmed up from moving and the golden sun glinting off his scales. Many mistook him for a gold dragon, but that wasn’t the case. After all, Grinter’s granddragon used to say, All that glitters is not gold. And it was a good thing his scales weren’t gold too. Gold is weak; such a soft metal, it would make terrible armor. He was actually made of Rilcon, the strongest material known.

    That didn’t stop people from trying to make gold armor. He had heard tales of some Knight proudly displaying a single scale he claimed he had knocked loose with a single arrow while Grinter had flown above his castle. The Knight had created gold armor and placed said scale in the middle of the helmet. Grinter shook his head and laughed at the memory, sending a small plume of black smoke curling from his nostrils. What a fool! The scale had been shed by Grinter and the Knight had found it while on a boar hunt. Besides that, the next year, the same Knight had been challenged to a duel and lost because a single blow from his challenger had struck him clean through the heart, the front, and the back of his gold armor. Serves him right! Grinter though as he sniffed the air again. Gold was useless in the way of protection, but exquisite in the way of beauty, decor, and in the case of Grinter, camouflage. Grinter laughed again, then resumed looking for food, suddenly eager to return to his hoard of treasure.