Snippets and Shorter Stories Burns Up

Day Twenty-Four. Thank heavens for neighbors and their homemade chicken noodle soup! Today was a long day of school and work! Warning. This next one is a little sad.

Mirana's Wrath

Inside the heart of Shadow Mountain, Mirana’s pleas echoed off the smooth walls, blending with the beating and chanting of the Shadow People. The two holding her tightened their grip as she struggled to break free. Mirana knew the volcano was about to erupt, this was her last chance to escape. But she still didn’t know where her baby was and she was too weak from childbirth to use magic. The shrieks and drums escalated and Mirana knew the climax was soon. Her tears dried almost as quickly as she shem.

The Chieftain walked forward, carrying something in his arms, covered by a blanket, and stopping at the edge of the lake of lava below. The light from the molten rock bathed his skin in blood red hues. The ash and smoke stung Mirana’s eyes and throat. He raised his arms and the blanket fell away to reveal a crying infant. “No!” Mirana’s final scream rose above all the other noise. Her child heard Mirana’s cry and stilled. The guards holding her released her and she ran forward until she fell, her unblemished white wings sizzling on the hot ground.

The chanting and drum beats stopped. Mirana looked up, breathed in, and felt her heart stop as the chieftain dropped her child into the lava.

The volcano stopped rumbling. “The prophecy has been fulfilled!” The Chieftain faced his subjects. “The infant of an angel has been sacrificed. We will all live.” Their frenzied chanting drowned out the rest of his words.  

“You will all burn!” The volcano trembled and resumed its explosive course. The Shadow People looked at the fallen angel and ran, but not fast enough. Mirana flew out of the volcano, feeding it power until it exploded, belching black smoke and fire balls.

Hours later, the High Archangel could finally see through the smoke and gazed with deep sorrow on the burning ruins around the volcano. He had sensed the volcano calm down then almost immediately, some form of magic poured into it and it exploded. He scoured the smoking land through his Magni-Window, hoping for someone or something to be alive. Just as he had given up hope, he spotted a moving form through the ashes. An angel walked across the destruction, with wings and dress as black as the ashes, eyes that burned like lava, and straps across her arms, blocking her magic. The High Archangel stared in horror upon the fallen angel who had murdered an entire people. “What have you done, sister?”

Life-changing Decisions in Snippets and Shorter Stories

Kerlock, his cape floating in the breeze, stood with his arms folded over his chest on a rock outcropping and stared at the border between his kingdom of Darcana and the kingdom of Clairon. He was a Werecat with white fur, white hair, and blue eyes. What he choose to do with his life determined what his appearance would look like. His next decision was his determining moment, he could feel it. Towering mountains rose above the great Jinow Waterfalls. The top of which marked the edge of the Clairon Kingdom. If a person fell or jumped off  the roaring waterfall, they would be in no man’s land until they hit the bottom. Kerlock paused. It could all be his kingdom. All he had to do was marry the eldest daughter of Clairon’s King, Princess Kyana. There was very little the tiny kingdom had to offer except a small shift in the balance of power. The little kingdom occupied the middle ground between the three Great Kingdoms--Vinzar, Lolira, and his own.If he gained the middle ground he could tip the delicate balance and invade Vinzar through the stony mountains without having to worry about offending Clairon. He breathed in deeply of the chilly air. Was it worth it though? He loved another woman. Was power, riches, war, and glory worth his chance at love and happiness? Kerlock stared at the Jinow Waterfalls and smiled, his eyes, hair, and fur turning black.

Day Twenty-Three: Still have this cold. I started some fun crafty projects to decorate our Christmas tree and apartment without being super spendy! I am excited. This next picture is 

beautiful and mysterious.

Second Chance at Happiness

Snippets and Shorter Stories Makes a Splash

Day Twenty-Two. Man this cold is knocking me out! Luckily I have an awesome mom who took care of me and a niece who loves to play. I thought this next piece was cute and probably not far in our future if scientists continue to mess with nature. Enjoy!

Gavin and the Musical Jumping Fish

Musical Jumping Fish.

6 for $50. Ships within 1 week of purchase. Guaranteed alive.

Gavin lowered the newspaper ad. He needed them. There was an large fish tank on the piano with nothing but snails and fake plants slowly gathering algae. It screamed at him every time he played piano. Fill Me. He begged his parents for weeks: pleading, subtle hints, reasoned arguments, and bribery.  Finally, for his twelfth birthday, his parents consented to buy him the Musical Jumping Fish. Nobody came to his party but that didn’t matter. He had six new best friends who shared his love of music.

He poured their orange scaly bodies into the water, each one about the size of his hand. He named them as they hit the water. Bach. Plop. Mozart. Plop. Brahms. Plop. Chopin. Plop. Beethoven. Plop. Wagner. Plop. The water vibrated with their humming, the plants swaying with their circular swimming. He played a single note. Their slender bodies began to glow, casting blue and green rays of light over the dark room. They looked at him in anticipation. Gavin nearly toppled the piano bench, jumping in excitement. Gathering his composure, he sat down and raised his hands over the smooth, black and white keys.

A Different Kind of Forest in Snippets and Shorter Stories

Day Twenty-One:  Ugh, I woke up every 3-4 hours last night gasping for breath and desperate for water. Now my throat hurts even more and nose is raw. Colds are one of the worst! On the plus side, I am done with my second project in Spanish so, yay. Now I guess I will go to work and hope it won't be exceedingly boring.

Forest of Secret Keys

Patience walked among the iron keys, hands clasped behind his back. Mists of Sleep blanketed the land, soothing the humming of the keys. Forgetting Ivy slowly engulfed them. When they were fully covered and thus protected against Grandfather Death, Patience could leave and rejoin his Father Time and Mother Earth. He had walked among the giant, dangerous keys for eons and knew that it would take another couple for the slow, creeping ivy to run its course. Grandfather Death sought for the Secret Keys to unlock the rooms in the Mountain of Secrets. but that must not happen. Father Time had asked him to bear the burden of guarding the keys in the Forgotten Isle. While his task was heavy to bear, Patience knew it would be worth it if Life would be preserved throughout the Universe. Some secrets were meant to be forgotten. Patience yawned, shook his head, and continued his slow, steady pace through the the Forest of Secret Keys.

Gnarr Welcomes you to Snippets and Shorter Stories

Day Twenty:  We don't have much time left in the month of November. Then it will be December and Christmas will practically be over. Soon after that we will be welcoming in the new year...but until then, enjoy another snippet and drink some hot chocolate!

Invasion of the Toothed Devils

"It's not fair." Gnarr grumbled to his favorite grandfather tree. "I was on watch duty just last week. Just because I am small doesn't mean I don't have talents." His voice grew in volume as the blue flames blazed brighter in his eye sockets. Gnarr paced back and forth in front of the winding stairs leading out of the Ent Forest. The elderly tree moaned in response, but Gnarr wasn't listening. "I'll show them. I can be a warrior just like my dad. I'll kill a Toothed Devil and return a hero! Then they will have to respect me." 

Gnarr took one solid step down the rough stone staircase, then faltered, his eyes losing their brilliance. He thought of his dad, the greatest warrior the Treeling race had ever seen.  He had been tall, strong, and fluid in battle against the Pecking Demons. Then one day he had walked down the winding stairs to battle their new enemy the Toothed Devil and never returned. If his father couldn't win against them, how was he ever going to kill one? Gnarr's eyes dimmed and he sat down, still on the first step, sighing. He stared at the carved head which marked the entrance to the and stood as a reminder of the Growth Age of the Treelings before they had fallen and become mere shadows of their former selves. Absorbed in his thoughts he failed to hear the whispered warnings from the Elder Trees. Something was climbing the winding stairs.

Never Insult a Hummingbird in Snippets and Shorter Stories

Day Nineteen: I think I might be getting the hang of this snippets thing. The stories have been coming to me easier and I feel like my ability to write them is improving. Yay! This next one is for my mum who loves a good hummingbird.

The Island of Animalia

Bevi, Korin, and Ritva stood in a circle, discussing the next course of action. Evrick couldn’t contain his frustration anymore. He kicked at the dead leaves and sickly trees, screaming. “Why aren’t we out there looking for more Guardians? We are running out of time and we still have three left to find. I don’t need to remind you what happens if we don’t find their key and open this door before--”

“Excuse me! Hmmm. You broke my favorite resting branch! Hmmm.” A small, piercing voice cut through his rampage, stilling everyone. Looking around, they spotted a small white hummingbird with a blood-red throat hovering a few feet away above a ghostly white broken tree. “Well, aren’t you going to...hmmm...fix it and apologize?"

  “Apologize?” Everick retorted. “Just find a new branch to rest on, there are plenty of them here. We don’t have time to waste on fixing a pathetic looking tree just because it is your favorite.” With that he turned at stormed off to look for more Guardians.

   The little bird flew to another branch and puffed out his body, sticking his head in the air and glaring at the remaining three. It was then they noticed a small glint on his body. He had a key around his tiny body; he was a guardian.  
“Well, see if I give my key to that spoiled prince! Hmmm.  He thinks his problems are above me and everyone else. You can tell him I wouldn’t help him even if he begged. Hmmm. Which I highly doubt he would.” And with that the affronted bird flew off into the forest, leaving the three friends wondering how they were going to finish their mission now.

Snow Invades Snippets and Shorter Stories

Day Eighteen: Yesterday I woke up with a stuffy nose and a small cough. By the time I got home from work at nine, my whole body ached and my brain was shutting down. Now after taking medicine and sleeping through the night I feel better but drained. This cold came out of nowhere. I guess my body couldn't defend itself against five sick bodies attacking it. Anyway, this next picture feels appropriate for how the fall was skipped and we went straight to winter.

An Empty Kingdom

White, gray, and the occasional brown was all Shanna could see. Snow covered everything and seemed to cling with determined strength. Shanna hoped that life would return soon. She hated winter; and, though she could see the sparkingly, crystalline beauty of it, she hated the cold, empty months before spring and summer brought life to the Kingdom of Verra.

She trudged through the courtyard, silently heading for the inner castle where she hoped she would find some answers to her questions. As she moved, the still silence of her surroundings unnerved her. It was the silence of a lifeless land. She raised her hood, her breath creating tiny white clouds. Shanna reached for the rusting handles and the heavy wooden door protestingly creaked open. Dragging the door behind her, she stood on the thick burgundy rug shaking the snow from her body and shoes. 

Surely she would find some kind of clue as to why all the inhabitants of the kingdom, including all the animals, had suddenly vanished without a trace. She shuddered. The memory of returning from her four month journey to find deserted towns, barren fields, and the outer castle in ruins still haunted and confused her. Disease or plagues would have left bodies behind, and all the houses still had all the belongings in them so the people hadn’t just moved somewhere else. And besides that, all the animals, including rodents and woodland creatures were missing too. It was just so bizarre and frightening. 

Wrapping her fur coat tighter around her body, Shanna walked slowly down the great hall, desperately seeking some reason from the king what had happened to people and animals of her beloved kingdom.

Peacocks in Snippets and Shorter Stories

Day Seventeen: Whew, my Spanish presentation is done, now I just have to write an essay on Wednesday and work on my Shakespeare homework. Should be painful and difficult, right? Well, at least I am not back in High School like Penelope...

Peacock Rules the School

Penelope Peacock was done with the teasing; and most of all, she was tired of the vulgar bird pictures on her locker. This year was going to be different, she would make sure they would be talking about her for a different reason.

      She took a deep breath and stepped onto the field for first period P.E class. Her mother had helped her dye her normally curly, brown hair green and teal with blue highlights. She had a deep blue shirt on to match the shimmering green eye shadow. The whispering began as soon as she was spotted.

     Penelope smiled.

Beneath the Surface of Snippets and Shorter Stories

Day Sixteen:  Ugh, I have a huge project due in Spanish today and I need to work on my final paper for Shakespeare. We will see how today goes... Anyway, I know this picture is a little creepy but I really like the poem I wrote for it.  

Beneath the Surface

Beneath the surface

dwell the souls

of greedy men

who paid the toll.

One by one

they entered the lake,

too late they realized

their dire mistake.

The tormented spirits

cry to the moon,

pleading release from

their prison soon.

The next victims

drop their anchor

unaware of the

spirits’ rancor.

Cries of warning

fall on deaf ears,

the promise of gold

outweighs their fears.

A golden glint

shimmers below the water

reflecting in their eyes,

eager to slaughter.

Beneath the surface

they do dive,

never to rise

again alive.

A Robot in Snippets and Shorter Stories

Day Fifteen: Several things to report: the tree looks amazing; he TV show Arrow, season two is both awesome and annoying; and the snowy, cold weather makes it hard to get out of bed and go to work. I find this poor little robot to be a sad but masterful drawing. Somehow there is emotion within its steel body. It makes you think about the future.

House Helper 3.0

Fall was its favorite time of year. It seemed appropriate that its battery would fail as the leaves fell from the trees. Although House Helper 3.0 no longer had the energy to walk through the leaves, they still rustled as they blew by. The delicate leaves of orange, yellow, and red formed a small pile at his feet, slowly burying him. Its joints had long since rusted tight and its head wouldn’t lift. As the end drew near, a strange, choking feeling grew inside it. Analyzing the symptoms revealed what the feeling was. Fear. Helper knew that it was a .001 percent chance that some rodent would make its home in his chest structure. It hadn’t seen one in over 200 years. It just didn’t want to be alone when the time came. Still, it yearned for someone or something to witness his final moments just as it had for the humans, animals, and finally his fellow Helpers. As its battery depleted and its eye grew dim and shutdown, Helper had one last thought. If no one is around to see the world’s beauty, does it matter?