Young Writers Society

Haven
~~~~

The little rat finally decided to let me be. She walked over to Twili, obviously to annoy him instead.

I looked around for Erica, then checked myself. Why was I so attached to her? It was like I couldn't be appart from her for more than a few minutes without panicking.

"Because she's gorgeous, funny, sweet, and amazing?" That thought came from nowhere...but I had to agree with it.

I smiled softly as I located her. She was talking to Dusty still, and they looked like they were old friends.

I started to walk over to her. I planned to steal her away from Dusty, and maybe...just maybe I'd tell her what I'd been thinking for the past few days.

As I got close, I heard her say, "I miss David."

A picture of the boy in the cafeteria flashed through my mind, and I stopped abruptly, feeling like I'd been punched in the gut.

She whirled around, apparently having heard my footsteps.

"S-sorry to interrupt," I forced out, then turned and walked away.

I sat down on a rock, angry at myself. I'd forgotten about him.

"She has a boyfriend, Haven." I muttered to myself. "And he's big, and tall, and probably a senior. You've got no chance. He probably plays football too. Your skinny self hasn't got a shot."

I continued cursing my small stature, until I felt someone sit down next to me.
~~~~

lol, wow, sorry for the pointless post...or was it pointless??? Hmmm...

**It wasn't pointless. So, the way this is going, it looks like I won't be able to post until it's night and the teens are asleep. Sorry all. **

~Lillith~

It was starting to grow dark out and everyone was growing instinctivley quiet. This was driving me insane. I'd told no one this, I was too embarresed to tell anyone; even Twili, who I was closest to. In fact, I was almost afraid to think the words because it reminded me of this weakness that I wish I didn't have.

This thing was why it was a good thing I lived in New York, all that constant yelling and honking.

I'm deathly afraid of silence. It explains everything; my obnoxious loudness. Annoying people was just a perk of having to talk when it got quiet and it was a great excuse for when you talk to much. The first time I'd realized my fear was when I went camping up by my grandparents house. I'd gotten myself shut in the cellar of their house. It was utterly silent.

By the end of it, I'd turned into a shreiking, sobbing, knees next to my chest mass of a human being. I have a CD of city sounds just so I didn't have the worst kind of nightmares; the ones where you're standing in the black, totally alone. When you try to scream, there isn't a sound. You feel the burn in your throat but no sound comes out. I always wake up screaming if I fall asleep, by some miracle, in the quiet.

Last night, I'd been lucky. Rain was a great source of non-stop noise.

It wasn't raining.

"Who wants to play twister?"

"What?" I swear everyone was saying the exact same thing just to put me in a straight jacket.

"Twister." Twister was one of the loudest games ever think of.

"You're insane." Someone said. I didn't bother to place the voice with a face.

"Duh." I replied, "Life is more fun that way." Crickets. "How about telephone? Old Maid? Go Fish? Tag...no, TV tag?"

"Lillith, please." Jaden sighed. I curled up, my knees to my chest. Either they were talking quietly amoungst themselves or they were silent. Not enough noise to keep my little bit of sanity in check. Tears were starting to sting my eyes and I closed my eyes tightly, hoping to stop them. This place was beautiful, but definatly not for a girl afraid of silence.

Jaden-

We all gathered around the tree and Sam made a fire. Everyone closed in around it, finding the warmth comforting as the sun went down. I noticed that Lillith was shaking and looked scared.

"Something the matter Lillith?" I asked.

"N-no nothing. I'm just fine. Keep talking okay?"

"Why?"

"It makes things easier. How about we play a game, or maybe a campfire song."

"What would we sing?" Twili asked.

"Ring around the rosie?" Lillith asked nervously. I couldn't tell if she was teasing or she was actually being serious. She just looked really freaked out.

"There's an old Enyieth hymn that we used to sing at night," Sam offered.

"Do you even remember the words?"

"Um... some of them."

"Maybe we shouldn't sing," I said. "It might attract unwanted attention."

"Out here Jaden?" Sam asked. "C'mon. And besides, it might attract wanted attention."

I took his hint and nodded. He cleared his throat.

"Above the dark and endless sleep, a light shines through the mist. And where thine light leadeth me, I shall go unmissed. Through travels long and endless trials, I see thine light ahead. Where beauty sleeps in dreamless deep and wounds the darketh dread. Past the light and to the shore, the light will travel on. And sing of hope and sing of joy till sleep returns thy song."

"Wow," Erica breathed.

Sorry for not being on for so long! I humbly ask for your forgiveness. (Gives everybody a cookie)

Gregory-

I agreed with Erica immediately. Even after the song had ended it still seemed to be hovering above and around us like a guardian angel.

"That was amazing," Lillith said in awe.

"Oh, I don't have that good of singing voice," said Sam with a chuckle. But he too seemed surprised, the effect the song had in the open night air had left even Jaden at a loss for words.

Suddenly I noticed I was very tired. I started to go over to my makeshift bed but Jaden stopped me and said, "You're first watch."

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The night sky was beautiful. The last few nights in Eniyeth the sky had been obstructed by trees and I was thankful I could finally see it in its full glory. Having lived most of my life in the city I really never saw that many stars, but now there were so many over my head that I couldn't count them all. Even when you looked down they looked back up at you from their reflection in the lake. I almost wished that I had a camera with me, but I knew this kind of beauty could only be stored in memory.

I looked down at the hourglass. The sand had all collected at the bottom which was my signal to wake up Haven. I stood up, half glad that I could finally get some rest and half sad that I couldn't stay and watch the heavens. I sighed and walked over to where I had seen Haven sleeping, but he wasn't there. I quickly looked around to make sure that I wasn't mistaken about where he was sleeping, but he wasn't anywhere, and to make matters worse Lillith's, Erica's, and Twili's beds were also empty.

Jaden-

The others had fallen asleep and Gregory was on first watch. I looked hard into the darkness, hoping to see the familiar shape of a friend that was to meet Sam and I.

I saw the bushes rustling and there was a feint bird whistle. I nodded, nudged Sam to get up and both of us walked over, concealed by trees.

"Sorry it took me so long."

"It's okay Triana," I whispered. "You're here safely, that's all that matters."

"Yes, but not so safe. The lake isn't a good spot to stay."

"Were you tracked?" Sam asked.

"Yes, and followed. Who knows how long till Sarnom's servants arive here?"

"Then you'll have to take them quick."

"Who am I taking?"

"Haven, Lillith, and Twili. We'll point out where they are sleeping."

"How will you explain this to the others?" Triana asked.

"I don't know. I guess we'll come right out and tell the truth. Just remember to take the high road by the mountains, we'll cross the desert."

Triana nodded in the darkness and we showed her the three that were leaving.

**I hope this was okay. Thank you for posting Firestar!**

**IT'S A COOKIE! *munches happily* all is forgiven.**

~Erica~

I walked back into the campsite. I'd gone away from the others, needing some time alone. There had been a pond nearby, not nearly as beautiful as the lake, but it was wonderful nonetheless. Frogs, crickets, even an owl or two--the music of the night was enough to keep my utter exhaustion from capturing me. This place was so unreal, it made my senses dance.

I dipped my bare feet into the water and swirled them around. The sound startled the frogs and they stopped croaking and chirping. You never got this kind of peace in the city, but I had to be there because of my break down.

"Watch it!" I heard Lillith's voice and shot up, looking around. Squinting in the pale moonlight, I saw four dark figures. One of them was stumbling like a drunk on steroids (if that makes sense at all), one seemed to be one with the darkness, another had his/her hands in front of him/her so he didn't run into anything. The last was leading them, but he/she stopped and looked at the three behind him/her.

"Be quiet, Lillith. No one must hear you!" The voice was female, one I hadn't heard before.

"Can't you see that I can't see! You people really need some streetlights!"

"The purpose of streetlights is to light up a road. There isn't really a road right here." Haven's voice, though soft, traveled to me.

"Whatever. You know, being kidnapped in the daytime was much more fluid than being kidnapped in darkness, don'tcha think?"

I paled. Kidnapped? It was then that I noticed the weapons that the woman carried. Quietly taking my feet out of the water, I moved slowly towards camp. Moving fast would get me caught and I didn't feel like getting kidnapped again.

When I was sure I was out of sight and hearing, I sprinted, thanking God that I still had some endurance from last soccor season.

"Erica?" Gregory's voice hit me before I saw him. Blinking back tears, I tried my best to catch my breath.

"They've been kidnapped!" I panted, "Haven and Lillith and..." I looked around, "and Twili...they're with someone...she has weapons." I fell to the ground, hugging my knees to my chest.

I heard his soft footsteps, it seemed like he was hesitating with every step.


~Lillith~

"Be quiet! We can't have anyone hear us!" I held back a whimper at Triana's words. Quiet...crap. I heard her footsteps and we were off again. Shivering, I reached for Twili's arm and grasped it.

"I can't see." I grumbled, quietly but enough that I didn't go insane with the silence. Calming my shaking breaths, I tried not to fall over with my fatigue and blindness.

Twili~
It was nice, walking in the cool, dark forest. Lillith grabbed my arm.
"I can't see."
"I know, let me help you." Lillith was leaning on me, stumbling. She reminded me of Rae, my little sister. I was starving for conversation right then and so, I started one. "Have you ever watched the Princess Bride?" If it had been light at that moment I couldn't have been more sure that Lillith was staring at me incredulously.
"No, I haven't. Have you?"
"Yeah, my little sister would make me watch it with her every so often. It has this character that rhymes everything he hears. You want to play?"
"Okay."
As we walked and played the silly game, I saw that Haven was talking to Triana. The sky was getting lighter and suddenly Triana stopped at a cave.
"We'll stop here to eat.”

**And We Are Back!**

Jaden-

Gregory ran up to us in the dark. I only knew it was him because of the shape. Obviously from the way he was stressed out, they had found the others were gone.

"Haven... Lillith... Twili... they're all gone! Erica is in a crying heep! What's going on here?"

"What's wrong?" asked a sleepy Dusty.

"They've been kidnapped!" Gregory shouted.

"Ssh, Gregory don't yell so loud. Some of us are trying to sleep," said Kaleb.

"I will yell as I please! Haven, Lillith, and Twili have been kidnapped!"

That got the others' attention. "How? What? When? Why?"

"Enough, enough," I shouted over their questions. "Where's Erica?"

"Wait, what's wrong with Erica?" Dusty asked.

"She was by the lake when she came up to me and she's crying. I ran back here and..."

I nodded and shook Sam awake. "Wha-"

"C'mon. It's time."

"Oh," he said, a little glumly. Obviously he was expecting the worst from the elementals when we told them the truth. But now wasn't the time for that. We needed to find Erica and hopefully get her to calm down. When we arrived, she was on the ground, her knees pulled up to her chest and hot tears rolling down her cheeks. Kaleb, who had lit a torch before we left camp, held it over us and I slipped down to my knees.

"Get back, give her some room," I ordered everyone and then looked at the red-headed teenager before me. "Erica, everything is okay."

~Erica~

Everything's always okay. Nothing bad can EVER happen. Are all adults as naive as these two?

"Sure it is." I mumbled into my legs.

"What?" Jaden said gently, as if I could break easily. Not anymore. Well, I could about certain things, but only really serious stuff. Kidnappings? Been there, done that.

"Why do you people always say things are okay when they obviously aren't?" I said, looking up at her. Brushing some dark red, almost blood-like hair, from my face, I realized my hands were wet from the pond. Water was dripping down my face like tears. It took a lot to take me cry, maybe because I'm supposedly the water elemental, and this was only the edge of what it took.

"Uh..." The two adults looked at each other in disbelief.

"I'm not crying. My hands were wet." I said, still curled up in that little ball that seemed to keep away any and all fear and sadness--or at least it made us think that. I'm sure it looked like I was crying, most people are when they're in the fetile position. "My feet hurt." I breathed, unfolding myself. Running with your feet bare

"Are you going to tell us what the heck is going on?" someone finally asked, mirroring my thoughts.

Gregory-

"Are you going tell us what the heck is going on?" Dusty asked.

Jaden sighed, "If you're talking about what happened tonight, I've got a good explanation."

"It better be!" Kneph said.

Jaden sat back, trying to collect her thoughts. But after a minute of silence Sam shook his head, turned to us and said, "To make it short and clear Sarnom's power increases as the moon wanes, so we wanted to split the group up before the new moon. We hope it will make it harder for him to keep track of us."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Triana-

"So are you going to tell us what's going on?" Lillith asked in an irritated voice.

"No," I said in a matter-of-fact voice, "I'm going to make us something to eat. But if you ask Haven nicely I bet he would tell a little bit of what's 'going on'."

Jaden-

It wasn't the best of explanations, but it was the truth. I could see the disbelief on their faces.

"It's the truth."

"That is the sorriest excuse for a kidnapping explanation I've ever heard," said Dusty.

"Well, you wanted to know. Haven, Lillith, and Twili are with a friend of ours and are safe. Though we won't be if we stay here."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Erica asked angrily. I looked at her hard.

"It means, that if we stay here too long, we will be overtaken by Sarnom's servants," I said, matching her tone. I was actually getting sick of these teens. I don't remember being this terrible when I was a student.

Erica and I stared held a glare-off, both trying to stare each other down. Sam moved in between us.

"That's enough. We need to pack up and get moving. The sun's almost up."

I broke my glare and walked to the camp. Sam and the teens followed shortly to pack everything up.

**Okay, so where is everyone? Hopefully if you see it on the first page, someone will post. Don't yell at me for double posting.**

Gregory-

We set off at a quick pace up the mountain

"So where are we going anyway?" I asked Jaden.

"Where we can defend ourselves," she replied smoothly.

Jaden-

"And just where is that?" Gregory asked.

I sighed. "Temporarily we're going to find a cave toh hide in until it may be safe to come out. If they check the caves then will go far deeper."

"Won't we hit a dead end?" Kneph asked.

"No. The caves of the Direnblem mountains are interconnected and there are many openings that lead to the other side. We should be safe."

"Should be?" Dusty asked.

"How positive are you about us being safe?" Kaleb asked.

"About 95%"

"And what's the other five?" Gregory asked.

"We get caught."

"We won't get caught," Sam cut in and gave me a look. A shrugged. What, I was answering their questions truthfully. That's what they wanted.