brokenwolf13

Grounded in Reality Ch.11

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 01:35:30 GMT

Chapter 11

A barren death land. That was the only way I could describe it… Everything was gone, the trees were black skeletons, the landscape was grey and black, the sky a pale grey, blending into the ground. I felt dizzy with grief.

A new realization had come to me. Life was not all fun and play. Eventually, all that joy comes back to bite you in ass. For me, this is what happened. My home, my sanctuary was destroyed beyond recognition. This wasn’t what I had left only two days ago. I sifted through the ashes that was my home, in the place that was my room.

I hoped to find what I had left there. But as time went by and I didn’t find it, I was sure there was nothing left of it. It wasn’t until the shine caught my eyes that I found it. Luckily, it hadn’t fallen too far when the floor collapsed and fell three stories. I picked it up gingerly, afraid that it would shatter like I felt I would.

The multi-colored glass glinted against the sun but it was only half of what I remembered it to be. The heart that I had taken off the night of the fire was only half there. One half had been melted away, leaving no clue that it had once been whole. While the other half still shone bright and perfect, untouched by the scorching flames that had melted the other half away.

“Half my heart burned and died. The other half lived on to cry.” I stood and left, walking until I came upon the Ancient Oak. I gasped and dropped to my knees, tears coming from my eyes. My Oak had fallen. It lay unrecognizable in a heap of blackened wood nearby. I wanted to scream but remained silent, afraid to utter even a sound or I would shatter into a million broken pieces.

In one of the holes that had been left by the roots I dropped my half heart and shoveled dirt around it. The shine disappeared quickly, never to see the sun again. I would never see the sun in the same way. I could never look upon the world in the same careless joy that only a few days ago reined supreme in my way of life.

“Half my heart burned and died. The other half lived on and cried. But that little piece will shatter someday…

…but before then, it will be destroyed piece by piece.” Today, I turn fifteen. My birthday. What a nasty birthday present I received. My dogs died, we buried them in the back yard and set little rocks around them to protect them. My dad wanted to go the pound and rescue a couple of dogs but I wasn’t interested in replacing my family.

So, welcome Monday, and with brought more heart stopping grief. I went to eat my lunch but when I arrived at my favorite spot, I found my tree was gone. All that sat as a reminder of what had been was now a stump with students standing on it.

“I guess today was the day my heart shattered. I’ll be home soon, Shadow.”

The End

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 02:37:13 GMT

Chapter 1

-Blood Warning-

After a night like the one Sam had just had, she had never been so glad to lye down on her soft and warm bed. She shook her head against the pillow, eyes planted to the ceiling. Three empty graves in one night. They must have stumbled upon those who had died in that explosion a while back. She closed her amber eyes, blocking the light of the moon from her mind. She drifted in the twilight zone, random thoughts racing across her mind. As fast as they came, they went. She caught the faint noise of pounding somewhere along her journey. She ignored it at first but it seemed to be getting louder until it sounded like it pounding in her ears. She opened her eyes to find the source.

The moonlight had gone and been replaced by bright sunlight. She turned her pale face to the door on the other side of her room, examining it with great displeasure. She considered not answering but that would mean that whoever was pounding on her door would just come in and shake her till she woke again. She mused for a minuite, the locks on her door where almost impossible to break but the fact that she giant locks on her door would be a cause for concern. Not what she really needed. She decided the best option was to get up and answer it.

She cracked it only enough to look out. On the other side, looking rather distressed, was a palace maid. "Come quickly, Princess." The young women took Samantha's hand and dragged her down the hall, not giving her a chance to dress in proper out-of-her-room clothes. At least she looked decent. They passed windows and halls, being dragged down a hallway by a maid in her sleep ware, Samantha felt slightly awkward. She made a mental note to chew this women out later for the inconvenience.

The maid stopped at a balcony with a number of people on it. Those people included her father, King Royan, her younger sister, Isobel, Callahan Crave, directer of the clean-up committee and CSI, and a number of maids and servants. They seemed to be looking at one thing out in the market courtyard. She sighed. With all the training she had, she got rid of the devious glint in her eye and the smirk gracing her pale, pink lips.

Mr. Crave was closest to her, standing behind the King. He was watching him instead of what everyone else was so dumbstruck by the sight of. He had already seen it enough times.

"Good morning, ."

"Good morning." He seemed tired, his young face looking older than it should. Lines on his face, his silver eyes a greyish color. The bag under his eyes betrayed the hidden excitement of his next words. "Another attack."

She gasped, acting accordingly, and rushed to the edge of the balcony. As expected, on the wall in the center of the market were the word painted in red, almost like blood, "GIVE US FREEDOM." At the bottom of the wall was a very ragged looking corpse with a severed head. she looked at the soil covered body with great hatred. Surrounding the wall was a growing crowd of civilians, this she smiled at but quickly stowed the expression away for later. They all looked with awe, shock, fear, sadness, or anger. People wailed that the threat be killed, destroyed, terminated. Others called that the king should just give in and let them go.

"Oh, no," she muttered, "not again."

"'Fraid so, dear," her father said quietly. He also looked tired but not as worn as Mr. Crave did.

She looked at him suddenly, an expression in between fear, hope and caution written on her face. "Maybe..." she trailed off, looking back to the words painted on the wall. "Maybe... we should... let them go..."

Her father suddenly turned on her, looking furious. It surprised her at how fast he advanced on her, towering over her before her tired mind had time to react. "Let them... Let them go! If we let them go these attacks will only increase. They don't understand I'm trying to help them!" He backed off, strain written on his face. The mood swing left Samantha a little scared, still wheeled back on her heels, hands up in an innocent gesture. She looked to Mr. Crave but said nothing to her father.

"Mr. Crave, I want this mess cleaned up and at least one individual suspect by tomorrow evening." The king paused and turned to his subordinate, Mr. Crave put away the angry expression just in time, "is that enough time?"

"More than enough, Sire." Mr. Crave replied silkily, hidden annoyance in his smooth voice. He turned and departed from the balcony, tail coat waving behind him as he strode off. She watched him go, feeling a pity for the young man.

She looked back at the market but instead of looking back at the message on the wall, the young princess drew her attention to the crowd below. The streets of Sanktered City were as busy as usual. The panic of the painted message hadn't died away yet. She examined the crowd, immediately pulling out multiple people dressed all in black. They all had a single word written on the front of the shirt in blood red letters.

Normally, someone looking at the shirt would think it was simply a frashion statment to wear a shirt with a word in another language. But to Samantha it wasn't just a word. She had seen the word too many times, written it too many times, read it too many times to just let the seeing of it pass her. She knew what the foreign word meant even if no one else did. She knew why they wore it.

One of them was staring at her from the center of the crowd, his blue eyes never blinking. He looked like he was waiting for something, anything. His handsome face portrayed in a hopeful frown.

"Nat..." she whispered to herself as she violently jerked her head to the left as she turned away from the scene. To anyone but the young man, her action could have just been a simple way of getting her long, dark hair from her face as she turned away. But to the blond, he knew what the flick of her head was.

He turned a moment later to be faced with him brother, Scrandel. "Well, what she say." Scrandel asked his twin. Scrandel and Nathanial were identical twin unless for the exception of Scrandel was well tan while Nathanial was pale. Scrandel enjoyed the day hours, working in the endless heat. Nathanial preferred the night life, besides his belief that the city's Black Market, Sank, had a much better pay.

"No." Blue eyes met the identical pair across from him. Scran swore and turned away.

"See ya later." The tan brother said as he walked away.

"Yeah, see ya..." Nat remarked coldly.

Cure Ch.13: Drowned in The Storm

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:40:37 GMT

Chapter 13

-Drowned in the Storm-

It was empty. All empty. The junkyard, the tunnels, the abandoned track, Sam’s heart. Hollow, cold, empty. She couldn’t believe what she saw around her. The place that had teeming with life in even her earliest memories was still and lifeless. The storm brewed over head, as if Sam where not the only one angry.

Isobel stood behind her, looking over her shoulder at the empty junkyard. If only she could have seen it when it was full of people that would have welcomed her as family, if only it was all still there. She felt as if she would do anything to just go back in time and prevent any of this from happening. To think only a day ago, she was running a mission with them, all of her close friends by her side, always and forever.

She barked a hollow laugh, making Bell look at her with concern in her innocent eyes. The laugh turned into a sob, as she fell to the ground. The storm above them broke, lightning lighting up the world, the palace in the back ground rising like a nightmare out of the darkness and thunder screaming through the clouds. The sounds of Sam’s raw screaming where drowned out by the down pour.

XXX

The storm was moving away, the bright morning sun fight for a chance to shine. Sam stood on the highest mound, looking at the city in apathy. The sun won for room in the sky, bathing parts of the city in angelic light. A cold wind buffeted the two Animars as the world woke at last. With the tempest past and the screams dyeing away as the clouds melted, the city emerged from its slumber, innocent to horrors that the storm had brought.

“So, what now?” Bell asked timidly.

“There is no longer much here.” Bell resisted the urge to flinch away at the death that seemed to echo in her sister’s voice. “We’ll go to next city over; there might be Animars still alive. We’ll have to regroup our numbers and start over.”

Sam turned away from the seemingly beautiful sight. “In the mean time, we’ll have to hide in some city. Not this one though, we’ll be recognized too easily.”

Bell watch with slight amusement as her sister practically surfed down the side of the mound on a large piece of steel. Bell tried as well but ended up falling on her behind instead. She laughed at herself and brushed off. She hoped Sam would laugh but knew she wouldn’t. The Sam she and all of anyone else knew was gone. That Sam had drowned in the storm.

FIN

Grounded in Reality Ch.10

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 05:33:02 GMT

Chapter 10

Grandma was waiting by the highway, a second car parked nearby. A tarp had been spread out and two motionless lumps sat on it. My belly clenched in horror and my vision blurred with tears. I escaped out of the truck and ran to the mangled bodies of my dearest friends. I tried to hug them both at the same time but it was impossible. I brought them as close to me and sobbed.

They’re gone, forever gone. They will never wag their tails, never bark or howl; never will they run to my side when I come home, never again. Only an hour ago, they had sat at my feet, snoring softly and enjoying the company of their masters. They were lifeless and broken, without a heart beat or warmth. I couldn’t stop crying and when my tears dried, I still sobbed.

It wasn’t fair! I had lost so much and now my beloved animals were taken. Why? What did I do wrong? Was there something I was missing? Something I didn’t understand? Was I supposed to die? I wanted to, so badly did I want to die.

The woman that had ran down, killed my animals was trying to talk to Dad. I don’t know how he was reacting; he loved them as much I did. She was crying, practically begging for forgiveness. Somehow, to me that just wasn’t enough. Not enough for the death of my dearest family.

Cure Ch.12: Itching to be Free

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 03:19:45 GMT

Chapter 12

-Itching to be Free-

The clouds growled angrily above, flashes of light to reflect their anguish. But they didn't let go of the water that they held. They stay, hovering over the city in the darkest time of night, waiting. For what...?

Sam had lay in the mud, the rags that were once her night gown plastered to her skin. Her dark hair flouted aimlessly in the water around her head, her pail face splotch with mud. The shabby building around and above her towered, like quiet guardians. The uneven, decaying road beneath her stabbed into her back where she had finally collapsed onto the ground after running as far as she could.

She couldn't go to the junkyard, not yet. She didn't know if her excuse of being ill dressed for such a journey was very justifying. She knew the reason was that she didn't think she could handle to see her ravaged second home. She blinked away tears that threatened to surface at the thought of all that had been lost.

She pulled herself off the ground and tried her best to smooth out the jumbled night gown. It was useless, the mud and water that clung to it took no heed to her brushing hands and the silk cloth stayed firmly attached to her body. She gave up her attempt and started waking along the deserted streets. It was far too late for the living to be out and about so she felt safe. She snorted to herself. She supposed she wasn’t really living anymore.

She shoved the depressing thought away and concentrated on what lie ahead of her. She needed to get into her room and find a better pair of clothing. So she was off, growing wings and half flying, half hopping her way to the palace. She felt too tired for a real or full transformation and didn't think she could manage or sustain flight well enough for her to make to the palace in one piece, or at least in more pieces that she already was.

She was revolted and had to stop the nausea from overwhelming her when she finally came into sight of the place she once called home. The lights were still on, like golden beacons on the dark, intimidating outline of the palace. It looked like a monster, towering over its prey, ready to strike and devour. How she had ever found this sight welcoming, she didn't know.

She found herself again, after being lost in thought, started into reality by the white flash of lightening and the horrendous roll of growling thunder. She instinctively ducked downwards and fled the flat rooftop she had been loitering. She sprinted from shadow to shadow, being this close to the palace and still being the number one most wanted person in the city made her suspicious of the light.

She hid in the shadows of the roof she had met Nat and Scran only a few nights earlier. She off handedly wondered about the fate of her lover's twin but threw the thought away knowing he was probably dead like the others. The lights from random rooms bled light across the lower rooftop and she could see her room from here. The lights where on.

She check and rechecked that the coast was clear before sprinting across the platform and jumping up to catch the ledge before it rose out of reach. She hauled herself up, ignoring her body's scream of protest, and sat on the rail to catch her breath.

She heard a soft gasp and looked up sharply to find her sister, looking rather frightened. Isabel stood up and Sam jumped to her feet, ready to stop her if she tried to run for the door.

"Sam? Please, you have to help me! I hurt all over and I'm afraid to tell Father..."

Understanding swept through her like a wave of ice cold fear. She couldn’t believe it, didn’t want to subject her sister to the horror she had just witnessed.

Isabel was an Animar.

Grounded in Reality Ch.9

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:25:18 GMT

Chapter 9

The wind was strong this October day. The little girl didn’t mind though. She spent all day outside, as always. Shadow followed her as usual and when the day ended, they returned to the house together. But today was different, something was off, the night seemed quieter than usual.

She passed it off and the evening went as usual. School was tomorrow and Sasha had to get to bed early. Only in the fourth grade, that was still pretty early. So by eight thirty she was ready for bed and snuggled under the blankets, the sound of Shadow nearby was almost a lullaby.

But tonight was different, there was no sleep in store for her it seemed. She simply couldn’t fall into peaceful silence of sleep. There was some thing wrong. So terribly wrong but nothing seemed to be out of place. The air was different but she couldn’t figure out why. It seemed she was the only one with this strange fear, everyone else was already asleep.

As she continued to roll around in the bed, her necklace, a glass heart on a bras chain, started to irritate her skin. She took it off and told herself that she would put it on before she left for school in the morning.

Then the phone rang. It was three in the morning according to the Sister’s alarm clock. Who would be calling at this unholy hour? Because she was the only one with some what aware senses, she was the one nominated by the continued snores of her family to answer the phone.

When she picked the phone the panicked voice of the neighbor made her stomach do flip flops. “Sasha, get you parents on the phone, right now!”

“Okay.” The little girl ran to her parent’s room and shook her mom into awareness.

“What? Why aren’t you asleep?”

Sasha shoved the phone into her mom’s hands and dashed outside. Something was propelling her to the front yard, though she wasn’t sure what.

But when she reached her desired destination, all her fears were realized in that instance. It was as if the world had gone to hell, the sky a deep blood red and heat was everywhere, it was hard to breath and hard to see, Sasha’s world seemed to be dyeing in front of her eyes. Only a mile away, a suddenly painfully short distance, was a wall of red fire, engulfing anything and everything in the way

Cure Ch.11: Poison

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:20:30 GMT

Chapter 11

-Poison-

Sam sunk into the shadows of her new cell. Fear, anger, hate swirled around in her head. Hate for Cal, for betraying all that she knew. He was her mentor when her mother had died. She felt sickened by his betrayal.

Hate for her father, for only seeing her as an Animar and not a daughter. For not believing in her cause, all her hard work. For not believing her reason when he had wrongly blamed the Animars for the death of the queen.

Hate for her mother for leaving her with such a large burden. She was so young when her mother was killed. The king had been told that it was an Animar but it was actually a guard that had stabbed her in the back. She was an Animar just like her and had been trying to pull off a raid to destroy the labs. It had almost worked when, on her way out, Saffa was stabbed in the struggle to escape before the detonation went off.

Sam soon found out that she was an Animar. Her mother had never told her of the adventures she had at night so Sam had thought that she was sick like her father had always told her. Then Cal told her what Saffa had done and Sam wanted to be just like her.

Now she felt so alone, so afraid of the future. She had never been afraid of what lie around the corner, but now she was terrified. Tears slipped from her eyes, as she remembered the bodies being dragged away. It hadn't seemed real but now it sunk in at last. Nat was gone, Cree, her Cal, and perhaps all the other Animars in the junkyard. They had all gone. And now here she sat, in the underground labs, the last place she wanted to be, sitting in the darkness of her cell, crying in her ragged and beyond recognition night gown. And she could do nothing.

She fell into an uneasy sleep. She thought she heard Nat next to her. He was talking to her, telling her he still loved her and always would. Then she realized it wasn't Nat, it was her father. The king crouched over, whispering word of comfort and sorrow. Sam kept her eyes closed, afraid that if she opened them, the words she had wanted to hear for so long would disappear. Then she realized that she didn't care anymore. The cause was over, everyone was dead, she didn't want to remember, and she didn't want to exist.

"Please wake up." She heard him say. She found that she could not deny him this.

"Have you given me the cure?" She asked, surprising him.

"It's fatal..." The sorrow in his voice was evident.

"But Cal-"

"Is dead," he cut her off. She vaguely wondered how long she out when her father started talking again. "The effects where slow but once it had time long enough in the body, it turned to poison."

"What about all the people in the junkyard?"

"When we thought we were curing them, we didn't know of the long term affects."

Sam stared in disbelief. Not only where all the people she had worked with been cured, but now they where dead, gone for good. "Now do you believe me?"

"Samantha, no matter what, there is always a search for a cure,” the way he said it made Sam want to cringe away. She hoped that her father could see the truth but that was squished like a bug under a boot. She had to get out, to escape. She saw that the king had left the door open and that there were no guards around to stop her. She pushed her father out of the way and bolted for the cell door. She ran down the hall and that was when she realized that all the Animars in the cages lay still and cold eyed. They where all dead. Why hadn't she been cured?

Her moment's hesitation was a mistake though thankfully, not fatal. She could hear her father yelling for the guards to stop her from leaving but she was one step ahead. She bolted down hallway after cage lined hallway until she could see the door in front of her, just in her reach. She could smell the fresh air leaking in, mingling the smell of dead. She burst out into the open air and took flight, away from the cold hell she had just escaped.

Grounded in Reality ch.8

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:00:01 GMT

Chapter 8

I stare out my window longingly, hoping for any kind of sign of my beloved. We’ve been traversing for almost fifteen minutes, traveling deeper and deeper into the dirt road community. I spotted movement in the headlights of an on-coming car. I suddenly open the door without warning and dash out of the still moving car. Papa yells and stops the car, getting out as well.

I run to meet the two dogs, one thick and sturdy like Riley and the other thin and lithe like George. I run up to them but stop short of wrapping my arms around the thick shape. He wasn’t Riley, nor was the other one George. They were massive and the Rottweiler growled. The on-coming car stopped and the passenger window rolled down.

“What the hell are you doing?” The black skinned man in the car asked. Though I could hardly see him in the shadow, his beady eyes gleamed in menace.

“I thought they were my dogs.” I mumbled back.

“Well, they ain’t.” He stared pulling forward but not before, “Dumb bitch.”

Part of me wanted to hurl a rock at his back window but, knowing it would only cause unnecessary trouble, trouble we didn’t have time for, I shuffled back to the truck.

“Who was that?” Papa asked as we climbed in.

“I don’t know, some asshole,” I retorted.

He mumbled something was did not say what on his mind as we continued down the way. Just then, the phone rang. We both jumped at the obnoxious noise and Papa fumbled to pick the device up. He opened and put to his ear, “Yeah, Ma? … Okay.”

He snapped it shut and did a tail spin in the dust, facing the direction we had just come and took off at a ridiculous pace. “Mom found them.”

Cure Ch.10: Traitor

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:06:49 GMT

Chapter 10

-Traitor-

"Brutal." Cree raised and eye brow at her friend.

"It was necessary," Sam replied seriously. "We need to find Cal."

"I saw them take him down that way." Nat said, pointing off down a hallway made of cages. Each one was filled with raging, screaming Animars. People they had once known, torn apart beyond recognition. Sam shivered; the grey walls seemed to closing in around her. Nat left the king where he lay and slung a protective arm around Sam. That simple gesture comforted her, knowing he was there for her, that he loved her and would never leave her side. She smiled warmly at her lover, pulling him to a tender kiss.

"Did I miss something?" Cree looked confused and slightly hurt at being out of the loop. Sam laughed when Nat did.

"Don't worry, ya didn't miss much," he replied, the laughter still shining in his eyes making him seem so much more alive in contrast to there current situation. He suddenly turned serious when the heavy sound of boots on concrete alerted him to approaching guards. He swore and darted down the path in the direction he had pointed only moments before. Sam and Cree exchanged a glance before taking off after him, catching up easily. They raced down hallway after hallway, in search of their friend.

They found him, crouched in a corner, seemingly talking to himself. He glared over his shoulder at them, "I thought I told you to- Oh!" He brightened when he realized it was them and stood, stuffing something in his torn jeans pocket. Sam wanted to find out what it was but trusted him enough to not ask.

Nat was having a hard time getting the lock on Cal's cage to open. His brown eyes darted around, worriedly. "What's the problem?" His voice was anxious and on edge.

"Got it!" Nat's voice rang out triumphantly. Cal shoved him aside in his hurry to open the cage.

"Now!" He yowled like he used to when they where about to go into a raid. He grabbed Sam ragged pajamas and threw her into the cage that he had just escaped when a seemingly infinite number of guards surrounded them. She heard gunshots and screaming, until she realized that she was the one screaming. Her wails were drowned out by yowling and roaring of other Animars in cages.

The struggle didn't take long. Severely outnumbered and already weak and unarmed from mistreatment, Nat and Cree where taken out quickly. Sam couldn't believe what had just happened. A second ago, they where freeing Cal, the next Nat was lying dying on the ground as his life blood draining out of him, and Cree was already gone, probably already with her brother.

"Take there bodies away to be recycled,” Cal spoke coldly. He turned to her, still trapped in the cage. She glared at him, still praying it was a horrible nightmare. "Samantha, my dear. No need for hostilities." he smiled an average human smile and it hit Sam like a brick wall. He wasn't an Animar anymore. She couldn't figure out why she hadn't smelt it before when it could have made a difference.

"They found a cure!" He seemed like an excited child and Sam thought for a second she could still see her mentor.

Her mouth was frozen, her whole being was frozen. Anger and resentment bubbled in her stomach like a deadly acid. Cal stood in front of her, smiling and talking to her like he hadn't just killed they're friends, her lover. Sound seemed like a weight in her ears, bring everything crashing down as Cal continued to move his lips to form words that didn't make it to Sam's ears.

Except five words, "It's for your own good."

"You spineless, backstabbing traitor!" Sam screamed. Her anger made her hot from inside out, creating a bitter taste in her mouth.

"Such harsh words from a princess. You should be better mannered." He stated it so calmly and matter-o-factly it made Sam sick. She spat in his face, leaving it spattered with mucus. "You insolent little girl!" He brought his hand back to hit her stopped himself. "You should be thanking me; I'm trying to help you!"

"All you've done is betray hundreds of people that put their trust in your hands. You make me sick!" She turned her back from him and sunk deep into the darkness of the cell. She noticed the deathly silence that had bestowed the lab. Almost as if the world was holding its breath, waiting to see what happens next. Sam glanced over her shoulder and Cal was gone.

Grounded in Reality Ch.7

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:41:31 GMT

Chapter 7

“Daddy!” I screamed, panic rising so fast that I became suddenly dizzy. I hear his heavy footsteps on the pavement and his gasp a second later. He curses loudly but I hardly notice as I’m sprinting back to the house, bare feet thankfully avoiding any crippling rocks.

I burst through the door and Grandma jumps where she is laying on the couch. She sits up and asks, “What’s going on?”

“The gate is open, the dogs are gone.” I’m already at the kitchen bar, getting the keys to Dad’s truck and racing back through the living room. Grandma is already in her room, looking for the keys to her own truck. I meet Papa at the door and shove the keys in his hands. “You’re driving!”

He doesn’t hesitate and is already half way out the door. We get into the red truck, we watch Grandma waddle quickly over to her own truck and a second the diesel engine come to life. She pulls up next to us and yells through the passenger window at Papa. You take the south route and I’ll go north. We should meet up back here half an hour if haven’t found them by then.”

She then pulled forward and turned left down the street, disappearing save for the red tail lights.

Cure Ch.9: Prison

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:17:13 GMT

Chapter 9

Prison

Sam could hear voices, for she was very awake. She just didn't want people to know that. She didn't feel like getting off the strangely cool ground for the people that kept saying her name. She was content. Even with the bitter cold that seemed to have sunk into her skin, the screams all around her, she was content to lay there. Was it because she was ready to die yet? No, not while she had friends on the outside, waiting for the impossible. Not while she had allies on the inside, hoping she wouldn't sleep forever.

"Why is she still asleep?" She recognized the voice immediately as her father's. "The one she was caught with have woken up, so why hasn't she?"

"Well, Animars have an increased immune system and a faster metabolism. Perhaps-"

"I don't care about all the Scientifics if we're talking about my daughter!"

"Sir, perhaps she's not an Animar and the sedative is taking longer to ware off."

"Then explain to me why they where in her room."

"Maybe they where attacking her."

"In the middle of the day? That's unlike them in so many ways."

"Maybe that was the point, they where trying to surprise people."

"And what about the guard that claimed to see her in last weeks attack on my quarters?"

Last week? Was I out for that long?

"An influx of imagination caused by panic."

"What I want to know is why you argue against the fact that your own daughter may not be an Animar." Another voice, Cree. Why is she here?

"Quiet you," the scientist growled.

"Make me, ya big slagger!"

A shuffle of movement, a man yelled, an animalistic howl came from Cree. Then all was silent, even all the Animars in surrounding cages who had also been watching and listening. A mournful whimper, the batting of wings, sobbing, labored breath.

"Was that really necessary?!" Nat this time. That was expected. The scientist shuffled his feet away from Cree's cage. Nat spoke again, this time to Cree, "Are you alright."

She didn't hear a reply and got worried. She opened her eyes and sat up, looking toward the heap of feathers that had to be her friend. She whimpering and holding herself in a protected position, the black wings sprouting from her back made it hard to see her form.

Nat caught sight of her as well as the scientist and the King. They all yelled her name at one time making her already pounding head throb.

"Sam! Sam! I'm so glad you're okay!

"Samantha, my daughter! I was so worried!"

"Princess, you have been revived. Before I can release you I must run some tests to make sure that you are not an Animar."

"Of course she's not an Animar! My Daughter is not an Animar!"

"Who are ya tryin' ta convince? Him or you?"

"Shut up!"

"Take your own advice."

"SHUT UP!! Both of you!" Silence reined after Sam's outburst. Her throbbing headache seemed to be obscuring her vision, causing it to blur now and then. She shook her head, trying to set herself on the right path. "Please, just shut up..."

Her cage opened and she watched as her father entered, looking less dangerous then usual. His arms up in an 'I not going to hurt you' fashion. It angered her.
"What? Am I an animal to you, now? Your own daughter, an Animar, amazing isn't it!" She knew she sounded insane. She heard Nat chuckle, and Cree shuffle. Her father had stopped walking toward her and looked shocked. She also noted that he looked like he going to shit his pants soon. She smiled at him, showing fangs that had newly grown.

Chaos seemed to break out. The scientist, who had been standing too close to Cree's cage, was suddenly grabbed and dropped when his neck snapped. There was a jingle of keys and Cree and Nat where holding her father captive. All the while, the wails and yowls of other trapped Animars bore into her headache.

"Wish to do the honors, love?" Nat smiled and the same fanged smile.

She nodded, balling her fist and raising it above her head. She put all her anger and fury into that one swing. The King dropped out cold. She looked at him for a second; a wave guilt passed over her but she shook it off, telling herself that he deserved it. She vowed silently that she would never hit her father again. She walked past the other two and out to find Cal's cage.

Grounded in Reality Ch. 6

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 01:30:59 GMT

Chapter 6

"Sash, will you let the boys out front?" Grandma asked groggily.

I complied, standing up and walking to the front door. George was aroused out of sleep by my feet moving by his face and sat up better on his side, floppy ears doing their best to straighten them selves out. He saw he approached the door and stood up, wagging his stub of a tail. He was quickly by my side, though Riley had taken some encouragement, his hips already becoming stiff from sleep, he too joined me a minute later.

I opened the door and they shot out from behind my legs. They disappeared in the shadows that the flood lights could illuminate. I went back inside to wait for them to knock when they where done.

The show we where watching ended and the next one started. About halfway through the hour-long program, Dad noticed they still hadn't come in. He playfully scolded me for not getting them earlier and sent me to do such task. I reopened the door and was slightly peeved to find neither of the dogs where at the door. I stepped out, barefoot, and walked forward, toward the gate.

Gaping opened like a black abyss, the driveway gate stood wide open, not touched by the last person that had driven in this evening. The dogs had run away.

Grounded in Reality Ch.5

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 02:18:08 GMT

Chapter 5

The moon was full and the starshine bright above me. Shooting stars of all different colors flash across the sky, filling me with energy and hope. Here I am happy, here I am free, and here I am home.

The field across from me, the spring time grass long and lush. I long to run through it, to feel the grass brush against my bare ankles and feet. The dogs, one on each side of me, stare off in the same direction, sharing the same longing.

Shadow and Porchop are gone from the world but not my memory. I still love them both, but now I have two more guardians. Two young, energetic, full of life dogs to keep me company.

The swing set beckons closer and I get on. This is like a express train to my day dreams. I can delve straight in without having to think much on it. Already I have a scene I want to play in my mind, to see what happens.

Jaze growled in annoyance, this wasn’t what was supposed to happen! The spy was right under their noses and the Commander didn’t believe him! Dag was not the traitor, it was Civ, it had to be.

He heard someone coming down the hall and walked to the gate of his cell to see his cousin looking in on him. They open a link via their visors.

Unbeknownst to either of them, they where being watched by Commander Scop and Mayla, the communications officer. “Can you hack the line without being found?” Scop asked.

“I can hack a Clan frequency and not be found!” She bragged, unknown to the irony of her statement.

“—of all people should know that I don’t make mistakes like this.” Jaze was saying when the link opened.

“This is a different situation, Bridge.” ‘Bridge?’ Scop wondered.

“How so? Do you not trust me anymore? I’m your family!”

“And a traitor yourself, why should I. That dunder-head of a commander was right about this one.”

“Fly!” ‘Fly’ now? “Please! You can’t believe that loud of bull that was put in your head by that liar. He was the one that lead the attack, it pure dumb luck that we where not there at the massacre.”

“What kind of proof do you have then?”

“None that you would believe…”

“Then that settles it.”

“No!” Sigh “Talk to Tal.” Who is Tal? “We made an agreement that if I came up with the right name, the she would confirm it and help me give real proof.”

Gash’s voice suddenly became softer. “Why would she help you like that?”

“She is my sister.” That who… “Besides she’s loyal to her own cause, she hates who she works for.” Jaze growled suddenly. “Perhaps you should take the example.”

“Was she in this too?! How many where following you?”

“Nobody! I was not conspiring against anyone! Why won’t you believe me! I full, one hundred percent—“

“Shh!” There was a long silence between them both until Gash or Fly or whoever he was, whispered, “I think someone hacked the line.”

There was sudden static and Mayla cursed loudly, “they pushed the signal back, the exchange got erased.”

“Did you put it on the back up drive?”

“Yeah but it’s gone from there, too.” She laughed a little. “When you put Jaze in head of Black Ops, he wasn’t kiddin’ when he said he could hack a line backwards. I think this what he meant.” She laughed again.

“Can you find out who ‘Tal’ is and research those names they used.”

“I doubt I’ll find anything, whatever they where talking about, not even the best talk about so freely. It may also be a personal matter they’re talkin’ ‘bout. Jaze did state they’re fam.”

“What do you think they meant by the massacre and their own cause?”

“Dunno.”

Dad suddenly appeared at the back door and called me in. I sighed, a little disappointed but heeded to his word anyway.

Grounded in Reality Ch.4

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 02:08:21 GMT

Chapter 4

My cell phone went off at 5:20 on the dot, signifying that Papa was here. I had already thrown as many unfolded, dirty clothes in my big red suite case and had tied my messy, half dried hair up in a ponytail before walking out the door. Mom wasn't home yet but I didn't care, I just wanted to get out of this over crowded, over loud, over annoying suburb as fast as I could!

My mood lifted dramatically when I saw the familiar frame of Dad's bright red (albeit dirty) Toyota truck. He revved the mud covered vehicle and waved from the window when he saw me. He got out, leaving the engine running, so he could help me lift the heavy suite case into the bed as I put my over stuffed backpack and laptop into the back seat. I climbed in as he did and we drove off together.

We got on the highway, speeding past the 5:30 traffic, talking on and on about random things we encountered since the last time we saw each other earlier in the week on Tuesday. Slowly, we left the overhead ramps and non-stop traffic behind us. It being replaced by a small two lane road the led over hills until winding its way into the tall mountains. The sun was setting, casting orange light everywhere, and the sliver of ocean at the farthest length behind us glowing with the drowning sun.

Our favorite Sound Garden Song came on the radio, 'Black Hole Sun'. We started belting lyrics and laughing at each other.

"Black hole sun, won't you come, won't you come. Black hole sun won't you come wash away the rain."

Soon we where pulling into the driveway at Dad's house in a very spread out, dirt road community. He helped me take my stuff in while I greeted by elderly grandmother. After I talked to her, I went outside to my two energetic dogs, Riley; a fat, eight year old Dalmatian; and George; a young, yearling fawn boxer puppy. These two where my best friends, my favorite companions, my beloveds.

Grounded in Reality Ch.3

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 01:59:44 GMT

Chapter 3

Friday afternoon and I'm finally home. Well at my apartment at least. My name is Sasha Lavrick, I'm fourteen and in my freshman year in high school. I'm tall, blond and have hazel eyes. I'm not a genius, I don't have magical powers. I’m nothing special. Today is the fourth of April and it's the first day that things are warm enough to go swimming since October.

I'm excited, I love swimming. I love water in general. I change quickly and grab a towel and keys and head out to the public pool that my apartment complex holds. The pool is clean and deep and just the thing I need. I set aside my thing and walk to the edge of the...

...rock face, looking down. Hundreds of gallons of cascading water rush down the side into the deep pool below. It's not far in reality but to a nine year old, it can be hundreds of feet in the air. She looks down and a grin breaks her face as she closes her eyes and steps off without hesitation.

The air slips past her, pulling her hair up and her clothes fluttering and flapping. She hits the water, feet first and her moment of flight is over. The cool water envelopes her, protecting her. She feels rocks and sand graze her bare feet and settles down at the bottom. She feels the current drifting around her, brushing past her face like soft, gentle hand.

She opens her eyes and looks up. The sun shines through the water at her, the surface turning into a barrier. Reality and peace sanctuary here, under the silent depths...

... pool. I breathe in deep, pushing the memory back and taking a leap into the deep end. The water encircles me and silence engulfs my being. I'm at peace at last. All the conflicting emotions and stress of the week seem to wash away and disappear forever. I open my eyes and look up. The sun is shining down on me, turning the surface into a barrier. Reality and a Sanctuary. Pain and Relief. Trapped and Free.

Reality is where I am ground and I will never be able to fly again...

Grounded in Reality Ch.2

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 01:47:19 GMT

Chapter 2

I hate math... I glance at the clock. It reads 11:10. Eight minutes left. I try to pay attention a little. Okay, it has to have been at least five minutes. I look at the clock again. 11:11. I sigh and bring my knee up to my face and lay a big kiss on it. The girl next to me looks at the clock and follows suit. I don't know, I think I started a trend for my half of the classroom. Like a chain reaction half the class kisses their knee in good luck. The teacher notices for the first time all year and pulls a funny look. He opens him mouth like he want to say something in that strangly attractive Australian accent but seems to deem it on his 'I don't want to know' list.

I couldn't help but giggle. Then the bell rings. I sigh as I slowly start to pack my bag up. Mr. Pennefather reminds us of the test on Monday and to have a good weekend as the freshmen pile out of the room. I'm last out again and say good bye to Mr. Pennefather and start on the walk to my Tree.

My Tree is in the back of the campus. No one sits by it and that's preferred. It's also the biggest tree on campus. Its canopy stretches and shades the entire clearing it sits it. It's unscared and untrimmed, just perfect. I sit on its trunk and eat my apples all the while staring off into nothing.

The morning air stings the inside of my nose. I can still smell the night in the air. It's not cold enough that I can see my breath but goosbumps prickle my skin. I'm sure it's not from the cold but from the excitement of going out into a new day. Shadow is next to me, her warm brown eyes silently asking me to lead the way. I did so. I led her down into the jungle, the densest part of bushes on the whole property. It was a rose bush that grew around a path in the ground and that cat's claw bush blocked out most light.

I always left the house before my sister woke up but after my parent left for work so that I was alone for awhile. I enjoyed the cold air that the sun had not touched yet. I usually slept off the rest of the morning here in a bed of grass. Shadow already knows where to go and is already sitting in the bed waiting for me to join her. I lie down and wake up when the dog underneath me shifts into a sitting position. In the distance, I here my sister calling Shadow and her mate, Porchop.

"Go, I'll meet you at Sanctuary." I spoke into her ear before she padded through the whole in the bush. I use the main entrance and on my way out I pick a blossoming white rose. I enjoy the sweet fragrance and soft feel of the petals on the pad of my fingers. I climb rocks and trees up the side of the mountain till I reach Sanctuary.

Sanctuary is built by one single ancient oak tree. It grown right in the center of a pool of rocks. It is the biggest tree on the property and the biggest tree I've ever seen. Ancient Oak grows on an uprising of land in the middle of a stream. One that runs even in the hottest days of summer. It has no fish but is the clearest, best tasting water I've ever drunken. Much better that the water that comes out of the facet at Grandma's house.

The Ancient Oak's canopy spanned out over the entire pool of rocks. The river led up the mountain out of sight but I knew what was up there. Up the mountain was a-

The bell rang in my ears, make me jump. It doesn't matter how many times I hear that danm bell, it will always scared the living shit out of me. I stuff the last apple slice in my mouth and crumple up the plastic bag. I've never seen a tree as big as Ancient Oak and I don't think I ever will. I don't live in that place I grew up at, I never will. I'll never live any place like it again even if I could. But sometimes, I wish that night had never happened, and I wonder where I would be if it hadn't...

Grounded in Reality ch.1

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 01:39:36 GMT

Happy birthday, J.K. Rowling! Which of her seven Harry Potter novels do you think is the most satisfying read?

View 509 Answers

Chapter 1

The teacher seemed to drone... Drone... I like that word... The drone swung its arm around, exposing a small cannon. Internal targeting systems pinpointed the fleshlings in the area. Oh, how this mechanical being hated-

"Sasha" My head snapped around to stare at Senora Jacobs. "Rapido, Rapido! Senorita!"

"What? Oh, I mean Que?"

"Aye! Chica, participate!" Shocking, she actually said a real English word, in English! The monster that can't speak coherent English (or Spanish for that matter) moved on to the next victim with only a glare that could set heaven on fire in my general direction. Though I'm sure it only made touchdown with dude next to me (is she blind I wonder...).

The bell rang and her recent victim stood up in such a fury, Senora Poop head flinched. I pictured the five ton backpack swatting her and sending her flying across the room. I bowed my head and pretended to concentrate on feet to hide the grin that split my face. The whole of the class tried to escape out the door at once causing a traffic jam of sorts. At least it's not like the stairs during passing period.

I escape out the last, as usual, and head for said stairs. The sun was a wonderful contrast to the starch white walls of Spanish class. Today was warm with a strong breeze. It ruffled my long hair and I couldn't help but stop and look in the direction it was coming from. I closed my eyes and pictured myself somewhere else...

The soft breeze caressed the soft skin; the warm sun sank lower behind the mountain range. The little girl, no older than six, continued to sit watching the sky turn pink then purple. Stars winked down on her, the big ancient oaks rustled there leave in the warm summer wind, the small stream nearby gurgled and coughed it's way down the mountain side, a fox mother watched the still figure before picking up her cub and darting into the underbrush before the Guardian Sentry spotted her. The Guardian Sentry was the little girls best and only friend and also a dog. Large and muscular, with long black fur and a thick tail. Massive teeth and sharp eyes from her German Shepherd sire, but with a sleek head that accented her natural beauty, like her Black Lab Dam.

This dog was known as Shadow, and that's what she was. She followed the little girl like a shadow, keeping her company but also watching, guarding, protecting. Through all her hair-brain schemes or simply sitting in peace, like what they where doing now. A bush rattled and the dog whined her displeasure at being out so late after the sun had gone down.

The purple and violet colors had long faded into darkness, blanketing the earth with its sweet peace. The girl sighed, murmuring soft sounds of comfort to the motherly she-dog beside her. She stood without a warning and started quickly down the side of the boulder, her bare feet gripped the rough rock face like hands. Shadow scrabbled noisily down after her. At the bottom, the she-dog looked to the silent girl for a sense of what direction to take.

"Let's go home," the girl stated softly, and, knowing exactly where to go, she padded down the path that led the only clue to civilization for miles around. The little girl took pace beside her friend, bare feet avoiding rocks even in the darkness.

Shadow's ears pricked for any sound of danger that could harm her little girl. But nothing was there as the pair strode confidently down the path. She approached a small house. A woman stepped out onto the porch and called her name.

"I'm here, Mom," the girl called back. She could smell dinner though the doorway and her stomach growled in anticapa-

I lurched forward as someone slammed in to me from behind. I fell forward, landing sharply on the concrete as my binder and all it's contents flew everywhere. My knee felt wet under my jeans and I knew I had scraped it. I got no apology, no helping hand, not even the guys who had knocked me down looked at me as they kept walking, laughing, shoving, and playing with each other. I heard someone laugh and hurried to pick up my scattered papers. Embarrassment and anger burned my face and churned in my stomach.

I picked up my papers and hurried to math, all the while berating myself for letting my mind wander so aimlessly.

Cure Ch. 8

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 03:03:10 GMT

Chapter 8

Souls

Sam dreamed often. Almost every night. They where always of the same thing, same people. Cree, Nat, Scran, Cal, Isobel, her father, her mother, everyone. Especially her mother. She had been an Animar. She was the one that started the rebellion, started the raids on the labs.

She sacrificed to stop the defection virus that was to be spread through out the air.

It was meant to kill anyone with the Animar gene. She put herself in danger in order to set off the bomb that would destroy the research facility that housed it's production. They would all be dead by now if it wasn't for her.

She could have made it out alive but was killed before her escape. Her father believed that it was the work of Animars but in fact a guard killed her. Stabbing her through the chest with a knife. She died almost instantly.

Only a few years later did Sam find out that she was an Animar. She had been 13, about her sister's age. She wanted to tell her father but Cal had stopped her. He told her it was a very bad idea. She would be killed. She didn't believe him. He gave her proof.

He led her down to the Labs, the Animar prison. The moment the doors opened, she prayed she would never have to go down into this hell again, for hell it was. Faces everywhere. Staring, pleading, dieing, dead. They where all soulless. Living without really existing. Cold on the inside, in pain on the out. Their life force and will where all gone.

She knew they where in pain. By the way they looked at her with cold, dead eyes. The way they wailed in hollow voices, pleading to be set free. They never would see the light, feel the warmth of a hot afternoon sun. Never Taste clear water, good food, freedom ever again. They were lost, broken, numb, soulless.

She had seen all these people. She knew not one but she wanted so badly to set them free when she found out that they where just like her in so many way. They fought for what she wanted to, believed in what she was, were who she wanted to become.

They were fighting for what her mother had died for. They knew that if it wasn't for her, they'd all be dead. One had stopped Sam. Wailed at her, said she could save them all, she done it once she could do it again. Sam could only shake her head. She couldn't stop the tremble under her skin. Couldn't stop the Colds chilled claws rake fingers down her her spine. She couldn't stop the wails, the torture, couldn't stop her father.

She ran. She ran for all she could. She never ran so fast in her life but she couldn't stop. She had to get away, had to escape the prison of white walls and needles. Never did she go back. She couldn't handle the faces, the death, the fear. She prayed that she would never find her friends staring through the bars at her, lifeless eyes pleading to be set free. To fly across the sky, run over field after field. They where trapped, never to escape, raped of life, dead the moment they entered.

And that scared all Animars.

Cure chapter 7

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 04:59:56 GMT

Chapter 7

Don't Get Caught

Sam woke, face against Nat's bare chest. She smiled as she remembered the activities of the night before. She looked up at Nat's sleeping face, not having the strength to wake him. Breakfast can wait. She snuggled deeper into the blankets, the strong arms around her tightened so she couldn't leave, anyway.

She loved this an, and she hoped he loved her back. She wondered what he was dreaming about that made his hold her so tightly (not that she was complaining) and twitch in that hugely cute way.

A pounding on the door made her and Nat both litterly jumped out of their skins. The pounding didn't stop until Sam got up out of her four leged posistion and went to the door. She silently motioned for Nat, who was pulling on some pants, to hide in the closet. She pulled on a sleeping gown and opened the door and inch to pear out.

She was roughly shoved aside as Cal came in and motioned for her to lock the door as he franticlly checked the room. He didn't speak until Sam reassured him the door was lock. "They know, some gaurd, I'm guessing the one that pulled your mask, told every one he could. At this stage, the king will beleive anything, even his own daughter being an Animar." He talked so franticly, sweat beading on his forhead, a tremble in his smooth voice.

A hearing a familar person, Nat stumbled out of his hiding place. "So what does that mean? We run?"

Cal swung around, obviously not expecting Nat to be here. "So that's where you ran to..." He pondered it for a minuite, connecting the two and quirking an eyebrow.

Nat smiled at him then went off in search of his shirt. "We should leave?"

"Yes, that would be best." Cal paused, looking to the door as if it where to burst off it's hinges and fly at them. "I'll stay here and give you time to escape."

Panick rose. "No way! I'm not leaving anyone behind," Sam intervened. "I refues to let anyone go to that place if I can help it."

"We need somekind of distraction if Cree doesn't get here in time." Cal intergected.

"Ezactly! If she doesn't-" Sam was cut off by the doors being blown inward. She screamed as the slabs of wood flew across the room and smashed into the wall behind them. So much for heavy duty locks, Sam thought dryly.

The guard that had pulled off her mask the night before stood in front of the mob of guards standing in the doorway. He exzamined the wide-eyed people for a minuite before nodding his head silently. The men behind him swarmed the room, catching the Animars and cuffing them before they had so much as a chance to dash for an escape.

Cal had been able to reach the balcony doors and throw them open before he was tackled cruelly to the ground. As he went down, he let loose the most anamalistic, sad sounding cry for help the humans had ever heard. Sam and Nat knew the cry all too well. It was a distress signal, a cry for help, a cry of defeat. Something Animars never wanted to hear, never one they'd have to make. The humans in the room shuddered and made quick to shut him up.

The scream like sound died on his lips as a sedative hit his bloodstream. Sam and Nat followed him down.

Cure Chapter 6

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 03:07:07 GMT

Chapter 6

Love

"Well, here we are." Nat perched himself gracefully on the balcony rail, looking at her. "Now what?"

"What do you mean?" Sam stepped down from her own perch and turned to face him.

"Now what?" he repeated before smirking. "Isn't this the part where I kiss you goodnight after a romantic date on the town?"

"I hardly call attacking the palace and nearly getting caught romantic." She snorted and turned around.

"Bah! Nearly? Not even. We would have made it out anyway."

"Don't get too confident. I don't want you to end up in the labs."

"How do you know what the labs look like, anyway, How does anyone know? I mean it could be one big paradise resort that was built underground. Just because nobody came back doesn't mean it's a horrible place." Nat was jokeing, he didn't really want to end up in there but he thought the comment would lighten the mood.

She turned back to face him. "Nathanial, I've been down there. I have the access to go down and come back up. I'll tell you this now, it's no paradise down there. It's a hell. Nothing is alive down there. The people that go down there die while there bodies live. I never want to go down into that place again. I don't want to see you or anymore of my friends in that place." She shuddered and turned away, not wanting to see his face. "Please don't make me see you in there."

Nat frowned and stared at her back for a long moment before he stepped down from his perch. "I won't get caught, I won't let you get caught, I will be careful, and I will protect you, no mater the cost." He walked closer till he was standing inches from her, turned her around and peered into her young face. "I care for you too much to just let you slip through my fingers. I..."

"Love you." She slipped her arms around his kneck, pulling herself up to him mouth and planted a soft kiss on his lips.

"Yeah, that." He smiled at her, loving how she smiled back. Amber eyes filled with fire, affection, and something else Nat wasn't sure. All he knew at that moment was he loved the women in his arms and he always would.

"Promise me something," she whispered.

"Anything."

"Never leave me..." Her voice was breathy next to his ear, loving and begging.

He smiled, "I promise."

Cure Ch.5

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 03:46:21 GMT

Chapter 5

-Attack-

Sam found it ironic that they would be back in the same place they started. She left the palace only a few hours ago and now there she was. At least this was for a different purpose then why she was usually here.

She was with thirteen other Animar, waiting for the signal from the western group before her and three others infiltrated the palace. They where going through her room, she left the balcony doors unlocked at night and since it was her room would easy access. One long, low howl met there ears and they took off in the direction of the palace.

They reached it in seconds and Sam shoved the sliding doors open, entering her room. She unlocked the door and stuck her head out into the hallway. Empty,she signaled for the others to follow as she slipped silently down the dark hall toward her fathers room.

He always went drinking on Tuesday night so he shouldn't be in him bedroom until two in the morning. It was about one. They had little less than an hour to trash the room and get out. Plenty of time.

They reached the door without any trouble, they're timing had been right. No guards. The door was unlocked so they went in. Cree closed the door behind her and the four of them set to work. Knocking over desks and tables, throwing clothes out onto the floor, tearing the bed to shreds and painting a message on the wall that read, "NO CURE".

"Well this looks like a disaster. I think our work here is done," said Cree proudly, admiring the message she had just finished. They regrouped in the center of the room, scanning for anything left in one piece. A stifled gasp caught their attention and all four look at the door at once. In the doorway stood, in all his glory, King Royan.

"Crap! RETREAT!" Wailed Scran from under his own face mask. Nat lept for the window, crashing through it, laughing like a mad man. Scran followed his twin closely.

By that time, guards were already streaming into the room. Sam had reached the window when she heard Cree shriek. She turned to see her struggling against the three guards trying to push her to the ground. One reached up and grasped her face mask, yanking it off and exposing her pale face.

Sam's own hesitation cost her. A guard that she had not been aware off came out of nowhere and yanked the face mask off her own face. She was quick to react and layed a punch into his stomach. He doubled over, dropping the mask. She put it back on, hoping he didn't get a good look at her face.

By this time, Cree had freed herself and was next to her, pulling her out the window. They regrouped on a building a good distance away.

"Well, that went well." Cal remarked sarcastically.

"I thought you told us he wouldn't be back till two. It's only one thirty!" Cree turned on Sam first.

"He came back early!"

"Obviously!"

"How was I supposed to know!?"

"Well, he is your father, Princess!"

"Enough!" Cal shouted over their bickering. "How much damage?"

"They got a good look at my face and pulled off her mask." Cree answered.

"But I don't think they got a good look at me." Sam finished.

"Very well," Cal sighed, "Cree, you know the drill. Stay at the Junkyard, travel in groups, beware of guards, and do not go into the city."

Cree nodded.

"Sam, continue daily life, I'll watch your back." He turned in the direction of his home. "Dismissed."

"I'll take you home, Sam." Nat said suddenly, his twin glared at him.

"Okay."

Cure Chapter 4

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 03:35:19 GMT

Chapter 4

-Negotiate-

When they arrived in the clearing, a warm greeting echoed across the junkyard from the other Animars. Cal, who was perched on the truck's cab, waited for silence and it soon came. He cleared his throat and spoke. "I'm afraid that our threats remain unheard."

His words set off a chain reaction. Calls and threats could be heard all around the clearing, angry wails and screeches, some disdainful and hopeless sounding.

"We lost four people last week, our numbers are getting smaller! I think we should be getting more drastic. They'll listen if they're King goes missing in the night..." Cree, a tall, lean, black haired women who preferred the form of a raven. She was loud and often spoke her opinion.

"That's only a last resort," Sam countered. She was often annoyed with her father but she still loved him like any daughter would love her father. If she were to let them kidnap him, then he would surely be killed before the sun rose.

"You can't protect him forever, your Highness." Cree's voice was cold and sharp, cutting into Sam's ears.

I can try! "It will put us in the worst positions, we won't be able to pull it off properly and we won't get away."

"Than why did that become a last resort if it's impossible?"

Sam was silent for a moment. "It's the last resort because it will take so much to really get away with the friggin' king!"

Cree was silent.

"We can still attack the king directly, though," Sam continued with a small pause. "We trash the room, that close to him will scare the wits out of him." She smiled. "If I know my father, he's a coward."

Cree scoffed at her. "But will it change anything? Will it knock sense into him or just make things worse?"

"It will be hard for him to ignore us forever, we can strike home on this one. Say that we're targeting the 'Labs' next." A shudder ran through the crowd at the mention of the Animar 'prison'.

Cree then scowled. "Last time I checked the palace is inpenatrable. That we don't know the layout..." Cree stopped, hearing her own mistae and feeling stupiid for saying or it.

Sam could've laughed. "Last time I checked, I kind of live there!" The smirk droped from Cree's face as Sam retorted. "I know every nook and cranny of that place, I can get us in and out without even being spotted. As for the teams, I'll take a four man team in while I want ten on the east and west sides for back up in case of emergency."

Cree's smirk was back. "I thought you could get us in and out without being spotted." Her voice sickly sweet and taunting, trying to get on Sam's nerves just like every night.

"I can but it's for a just in case. One of us could be stupid and run into a suit of armor!" Sam remarked, bringing back a past experience when Cree ran into a suit of armor as they snuk past a pair of guards. It had been a close call and Sam never let it go, much to Cree's distaste.

With the plan finalized, as a group the entire clearing reformed to the animal of choice and scattered in a flurry of rapid movement.

Writer's Block: Independence Days

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 19:14:31 GMT

While India's Independence Day is often celebrated with kites, the US celebrated with fireworks. How does each methods reflect its culture?

View 406 Answers

The USA is explosive...

Cure Ch. 3

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 20:36:53 GMT

Chapter 3

-Graveyard-

The faint chirping continued as Sam lept from her balcony to the roof of a neighbouring building. It was an inhuman leap but considered child's play. She didn't completely transform. Only having the sight, smell, hearing, and strength of her favorite animal, the wolf. She landed gracefully on the roof as two shadows flashed past. She smirked and followed, falling into stride between the two males.

She saw Nat turn his face to her for a second, not breaking stride with her or his brother, Scran. Two more buildings and they stopped in the shadow of a ventilation shaft. Scran smiled sweetly at her, his twin making a disgusted face behind his brother. Sam laughed at his antics and both brothers smiled proudly. She then started to chirp, like the brothers had to call her.

First one, pause, two, pause, three, pause, then back to one. She did this for a couple of minutes until three figures landed a couple of yards away. Jiveiv Colt, Sanderanna Rolv, and Coaladen Sicon. Jive was the leader of this group. Tall, handsome, and intelligent, he was Sam's crush. But Sanny had already taken him and she wasn't going to take that, they really did like each other.

The three in the shadows ran past the new arrivals, them following behind a second later, heading for the city wall on the east side. They stuck to shadows, staying away form windows and lights, stopping whenever a group of guards march down the streets below, only dropping into alleys when the gaps between the buildings got too far apart.

Finally resting when they got to the back streets of East-Side. These where the slums of the city, most called this Sank. This was the Black Market's front, their vendors, sellers and buyers. The six Animars made there way silently through the back streets, Sam pulled over her hood, as well as Scran, to hide their faces. The last thing they needed was to be seen in this pit.

They made for an ally harboring a weaponry. The group went inside for an ammo restock. When that had been done they went to the end of the same ally where a wooden hatch sat. One by one they dropped down into darkness. As they landed, they transformed. It smelt like death and mold, the air stale and rank. They took off down the tunnel, each a wolf of different colors.

They ran down the tunnel for a while before coming out into the silver moonlight next to a train line.

During the late 21st century, the oil industry went dry. People had to find a knew way to survive. The first thing they did was build large cities that ran off of electricity. For long distance traveling, fast, highly efficient, electric train lines where built all over the world, able to transport goods and people.

War, poverty, and starvation, though, brought this era into death. The few empires still standing fell into the hands of strange mutations in it's people. Most thought it was an illness, deadly but curable, others, it was evolutions. Though a select few thought back to the old religions. They said it was God who was punishing the corrupt world. They up held the Animars. They believed it was them who were blessed, for they were the first to return to the Earth God made, before we destroyed it.

They ran under the line, it was dead after the neighboring city fell to an illness. That's what started the disease theory. It had killed everyone but the animals. The Animars in the city had said that it was, in fact, a parasite the only effected humans. It was genetically engineered and wasn't that smart, it didn't evolve in time to not die with it's hosts. So Sanktered city was in no danger. The scientists didn't know this information, so they thought that the Animars was the result of the illness.

They broke away from the line and slipped under a chainlink fence and into a car graveyard. It took them no time to find their destination. They approuched a very beaten up truck, tires flat and molding into the soil, black paint fadeing. Animars stood all around, sitting in the grass, the bed of the truck or in or on the cab, on the mountains of scrap metal, peering down at the new arrivals.

The man who had been standing on the cab of the truck, Callahan Crave, better known as Cal, smiled. "Good, we're all here."

Writer's Block: The Best Invention

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 20:17:47 GMT

What would you consider to be the single greatest invention in the history of the world? Why?

Submitted By brianmorris

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The internet, duh.