Young Writers Society

(Last night I saw Transformers 2 for the second time. I don't care what anyone says, that movie was AWESOME!!!)

Adrian nodded. "Good idea. Let's get going."


Dawn began to set in as they closed in on Skingrad. The entire group felt groggy as they trotted along the trail.

Martin and Adrian were having a conversation. "So you're Adrian Arakor? The son of General Arakor and the Arch Mage of the Mage's Guild?"

"That's right," Adrian said.

"I thought I was lucky enough just to live in the same town as Ilum and Karana, but to think I'd meet the child of two more people who helped save our nation from destruction all those years ago. You should be honored to have such amazing people as parents."

"I am," Adrian said, "and I want to do something great for Arcadia just like they did."

"You helped drive the demons back, destroyed the Oblivion Gate, and saved everyone in the chapel. Even now, the companions that stayed behind are helping retake the town. People will remember that, word will soon spread about your deeds. I'm sure your parents will be proud to hear about your exploits once it reaches the capital."

Adrian smiled. "My father might. My mother on the other hand may have a heart attack." They both laughed.

Cathy

As the buildings came closer, Cathy became more agitated to the point that she was desperate to be out of her saddle and at least walking of her own accord but she tried to keep the panic from her face and took deep breaths to calm herself.

"There... there might be danger. Maybe we should dismount?" Cathy suggested hopefully. The horses were pulled to reign while this was thought over and then there were scattered nods and words of agreement that they wouldn't be in any position to fight two to a horse. Cathy was very relieved and quickly climbed off the horse. It was good to have solid ground under her feet again but the thought of having to sleep within the walls of a town was making her uneasy. She was even more afraid that she might get trapped in one of those buildings.

Together they made their way forward, quietly leading the horses but they could see no sign of their being any of the awful creatures around.

"Are we staying at a tavern?" Adam asked. Cathy thought that he also looked a little wary.

"That's the plan," Adrian said.

"Maybe one of us should stay awake and keep watch, just in case anyone tries to attack us in our sleep," Cathy suggested. It was obviously an excuse for her not to stay inside one of those buildings.

"Don't worry, once we get inside the town walls we'll be completely safe. If anyone does try to attack us the town guards will take care of them. Besides, we all need to rest."

(All I can think of at the moment, sorry.)

***Sorry I've been gone. And starting next week I won't be able to post until after 5 pm and on weekends. Band camp...ugh...then back to school... SENIOR YEAR!!!!!!! HAHA!!! XD***




Kai followed the others toward the tavern inn; Enya was fast asleep on the horse, leaning against its neck. It was a miracle she hadn't fallen off yet...

He tied his horse's reins to the fence and eased his little sister out of the saddle, cradling her in his arms. "Let's go, shall we?" Truth be told, he felt like he was about to pass out as well. Hold on...just hold on until we get to the room.





***Sorry...all I've got...***

Adam

A Tavern huh? Greeeat. Wherever you went there were Taverns and somehow whatever Adam did he seemed to wind up back at them. They weren't pleasant places. They were filled with alcohol and desperate women who'd throw themselves at you for a pauper's wage. The trouble was he couldn't resist that. Adam was what he considered a hopeless romantic and it had never done his father ill.

But then in his lucid hours, in the lull between his anger at the world and in particular his mother, Adam's thoughts were only of staying away from the dread awful places. He was experiencing one of those lulls now and he didn't ever want it to end, he didn't want to lose this disguise of being a hero for the world but he knew that if he entered a tavern he'd need to drink and then he'd lose his senses all over again.

They were standing outside. Adrian went in first and was quickly followed by Kai carrying his sister. Both seemed eager to get rooms. Martin was just behind them and Cathy and Edgar entered without any further delay. Adam spared one last wistful thought for how his life could have been and then let go and plunged into the abyss.

They booked beds for the night. Adam didn't pay any heed except to take the key they offered him and then he excused himself from the group.

"I think I'm going to play a table or two," Adam said by which he meant he'd gamble and mingle but he knew that really he'd drink some alcohol, gamble a little and mingle with the women. He wasn't worth any more than that. His mother saw it in him and couldn't stand it any more so she dumped him on the father he so horribly resembled. Oh yes, his mother must have been a real high class dame. And there were the echoes of some other life, the blur of faces and faded voices that Adam needed to drown.

"Just don't be too long," Adrian said. "We all need to rest."

Adam nodded and went to sit at one of the tables.

Kai was already carrying his sister up the stairs to one of the rooms they had rented. Adrian began to follow him with Martin when he saw Edgar making his way out of the tavern. "Edgar, where are you going?" he asked.

"I won't be far, you get your rest," he told him.

Adrian hesitated, but nodded and went up the stairs.

Edgar came out of the tavern and back into the soft morning light. He made his way around the buildings until he found a grassy area with a tree. It was behind the houses so no one on the street could see it. He settled himself against the base of the tree, closed his eyes, and went to sleep.

Kai fumbled with the key, having his sister cradled in his arms. It was quite awkward trying to open a door with her in tow, and she was beginning to get heavy.

Adrian stepped up beside him. "Need some help?" he half smiled as Kai dropped the key.

"Please," he exhaled.

Adrian chuckled softly, picking the key off the floor and opening the door for him.

Kai looked at his friend. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it. Just get some rest."

Kai nodded and stepped inside, kicking the door closed before carrying Enya to the bed. There was only one in the room; a chair and ottoman was settled in the nearby corner. He laid her down gently, easing the covers from under her and tucking her in. He was already beginning to shut down and collapse by the time he stood and turned toward the chair. He stumbled along the way, but he finally made it. He plopped heavily down, leaned his head back against the back of the chair, and was asleep in minutes.

Cathy

Taking the key to her room, Cathy made it all the way up there by telling herself that she wasn't going to sleep there and that there would be a window and she could get out and all number of things to steady her breathing. She forced herself to wait until the voices of her companions in the hallway had faded and then she lifted the window up and leaned out.

It was some way to the ground and there wasn't a tree nearby. However, the wall below the window was crumbling to pieces and she found that where there wasn't a gap she could easily kick out a brick with her feet. Cathy had only the stave and wand she had fashioned during battle to take with her. She had worn the same set of clothes for a long time and found that they did not yet need to be replaced.

Relieved to be back in the open, Cathy found that she didn't mind the city walls so much as long as she didn't have a roof over her head. She wandered aimlessly for a while, listening to the city and getting a feel for the place. It felt... strange. There were sounds she barely recognised or recalled and smells that were metalic and not at all like the rich scents of the forest. And yet... was that the smell of grass?

Yes, Cathy thought she could smell grass and leaves. Eagerly she followed the trail and found what appeared to be a small area of woodland. How odd, whatever was it doing in the city? She approached it and at first didn't notice Edgar in the dark but as she came closer she found him asleep under the tree.

"Were the rooms not to your liking?" Cathy asked curiously as she sat herself down beside him, patting the ground for reassurance.

Edgar opened up one eye to look at her. He recognized the voice, but he wanted to make sure who it was before closing his eye again. "I feel more comfortable outside," he told her. "What about you?"

She thought for a moment. How much did she want to share with him? She settled on saying, "I don't like being inside."

Edgar nodded at that. "Fair enough."

Cathy glanced at him and remembered their fight against the demons. In one fight he had changed into a werewolf, battling the monsters as a creature of the forest would. In another he fought as a human. No, that wasn't quite it. He fought like a mage would. But when he commanded the earth like that against his enemies, it felt much different than her own powers. It felt as though mother nature herself had granted him powers.

Curiosity took over and she asked, "If you don't mind me asking, what are you exactly?"

Edgar shifted a bit, as if trying to get comfortable. "I'm a shapeshifter. It's a type of magic that allows the user to take the form of an animal to fight. It's also the first step one takes to become a Geomancer."

"A Geomancer?" She had heard the term once before but couldn't remember where or when, nor what it meant.

"Geomancers are protectors of nature. The elements of earth, air, and water are at their command. They use their powers to protect all living things in this world, human or not. It's a long and harsh road to become a Geomancer, and most don't hear the call of nature until decades after they first become shapeshifters."

"What is the call?" Cathy asked.

"It's the time when a shapeshifter starts feel and control the elements."

"When did you first feel it?"

"Last night."

(Can someone please post? I don't want this to die. )

***I was leaving it open for Kitty...oh well...***



Enya whimpered softly, shifting in the bed-

Wait. A bed?

She forced her eyes open, sitting up. She had to blink several times to get her vision clear enough to see her surroundings. The bed was a simple pine-frame twin; there was a single chest at the foot of the bed, and a desk next to her. The walls, floor, and ceiling were all wood panels; the only difference was the animal skin throw next to the bed.

She heard soft breathing from near the window. She turned her attention there; Kai was fast asleep in a chair with his feet - still booted - on an ottoman. She smiled; silly boy hadn't even bothered to take his weapon off.

She eased out of bed and made her way toward him. She gently unbuckled the scabbard belt and slipped it off; he didn't even flinch. She took his boots off and placed them beside him before taking an extra blanket out of the chest; she draped it over his shoulders.

Now...to find out where we are. And where everyone else is... She made her way for the door.

I'll post soon, promise! And I was actually giving Ayumi the chance to post as I hate it when storybooks get to the point of two people posting back and forth XD

If I don't give you something by Tues feel free to harrass me by pm lol. Especially as I'm going away for a week on the 8th...

***Sorry...I'm just the kind of person to let someone else finish their "conversation" with another before interfering with my own posts. Lol. ***

Oh that's okay, I guess I'm just an old school role player.

Adam

It was an ordinary seeming tavern with low lighting and the smell of alcohol clinging to each visitor. There were the usual bar-clingers, the serving women and the range of men playing at tables. Adam slipped into a place at one of these. He watched the close of the hand, ordered a tankard from a passing serving wrench and stared gloomily into it until they were ready to deal him in.

Four games later, the drink sat as it had before and either no man noticed or cared enough to mention it but a thoughtful smile touched Adam's face. He was playing badly. Not to say he hadn't made any money as strangely he was up a little but he'd not had any large wins, the dice didn't seem to be in his favour tonight.

Men came and went as the time passed and at last Adam felt it had grown late enough. He stood from his pew, dropped his cards on the table and picked up his full tankard of beer.

"To your health, mother," Adam murmured as he drained the tankard away onto the stone floor. He got a few glares from the staff but it was merely an ordinary occurance for a drink to be spilled and if the man did not seem sodden maybe he hid it well though no one could recall him having more than that one drink.

Adam climbed the stairs and went to bed a happy man, with a woman by his side. It was a start at least, maybe he would be someone deserving of his birth name some day.

_____________________________

Cathy

"That must have been... unusual," Cathy said carefully. She didn't feel at ease with human companions and found it strange that she had so easily remembered how to converse with them. She lapsed into a silence in which she didn't feel the absence of thought though nothing crossed her mind.

"I am glad the Earth gives us these powers," she said some time later. She had the stave across her lap and rested a hand on it. She could feel the strength and power of the tree from which it came. She knew it would serve her well.

Edgar nodded in agreement, he seemed to understand the way she felt. "Are there many others like your strange group?"

"None that I know of personally," Edgar said. "To tell you the truth, I'm a little surprised I decided to join them in their quest."

"Why is that?" Cathy asked.

"I've always travelled alone, trying my best to be one with the forest. It's necessary for a shapeshifter to spend the majority of his training in solitude, but for me it was just comforting being around trees rather than people."

"If you like being alone that much, then why did you agree to join them?"

"At first it was to repay my dept to the king for releasing me from prison. Even know I don't know why I was put in that cell in the first place. But now, after what I saw at Kvatch, my priorities have changed. If Mehrunes Dagon succeeds in his invasion into Arcadia, then every forest in the land will be reduced to nothing more than fields of ash."