(Colin) Fifty tools to help with writing.

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifehack/fifty-50-tools-which-can-help-you-in-writing.html

For all of us that need it...which would be all of us.

a resurected story by thea

Prologue

The clouds are all we ever see any more. Mother says that once the sun shone bright and unmolested by clouds. I, my self, have never seen it. My mother describes it as an awesome sight. She, only eleven when she last saw it, can only see it in her mind and she says her description is not as it really was. She says it was like a hot oven warming the world, like an oven warms a house. It was so very bright to look at it would make you see spots. The sun has not been seen for twenty years. Neither has the moon, for children and teenagers, like my-self, it is a fairy tale that we all love to hear over and over again.

The world is bleak now. All the major cities have been deserted of men and woman alike, all over sixteen. Except for a few lucky one’s, they all just disappeared. Next month is my 16^th birthday and if I am not careful I too might disappear, were to? No one knows.

No one knows were you go when you turn sixteen you just disappear. If you ask me it’s freaky only a few have escaped being taken away or disappearing. All our grandparents knew what was going on but they died before they could pass the secret on.

The cities are deserted; no one goes up at daytime. (We can tell its day only by a light glow over the clouds.) All stay under ground. Mom says that when the sun disappeared that every one went underground and built shelter houses thirty feet below ground level.

Every one lives middle continent now or under mountains because on the outer edge as we call it (mom calls it the coast) we are to close to the water and can’t dig very far without drowning. Mom says we live like moles, whatever they are. We walk the streets at night, only kids stray above ground, we take or plunder what we can to live on for the next day, it’s not stealing no one owns any thing when it’s above ground.

My name is Althea, many a time during the day I wander if they will find my mom or me and take us away, or if this is my last day with my mom. My dad is already gone and so is my older brother Mitchell.

Brethell but no one else knows my true name. Mom is calling I must go

Yours, devotedly Althea.

April 21 2509 AD

Chapter one

“Brethell! Where are you?” Sobbed May Marxian

“Brethell! Come quick!” flapping her arms like a chicken in distress, and nothing like a damsel, May turned from the man in her underground doorway.

“Mother, what is it? Who is that? Mitchell?” I asked both my mother and the man in our doorway who looked like Mitchell

“Mitch what are you wearing?” I inquired of the man, who I felt sure was my bother

“Don’t ask questions! Come now! You may bring two things each. Hurry! She’s waiting.” Spoke the monotonous Mitchell. Mother was sobbing and blubbering, I glared strangely at the man who now looked only like the shell of Mitchell, the brother I loved, I grabbed my diary and a full pen as my two things, I did not yet see what mom had taken with her.

Mitch led us up unto the top. Mother for the first time in sixteen years saw what day looked like and she cried even harder. I, used to the sight, walked without looking about, but mother looked everywhere she was finally looking at the world I had to look at every day, the empty streets, the cars, the tall building, the wind whistling through broken rotting walls. Cars line the street doors open from when every one disappeared. I was glad she never had to go up. Until now she was safe under ground.

Where were they taking us I wasn’t yet old enough to leave I was only fifteen “what’s going on?” I asked Mitch

“The laws have changed all people over ten must evacuate.” He answered with no feeling and no expression what so ever, Mitch led us to a large space transport

“Get in. you will find you seats they are numbers 1023, and 1025, remember these numbers, there are yours and you will be called by them.” He said, waiting for us to enter and find our seats, then checking all were seated, He closed the door. We found after he had done this that none of us could move, there were about 50 other people aboard, so instead we talked.

Three days terrible days later the ship slowed, stopped and were herded off like “cattle” as mother described it. It was all rather weird, all of a sudden seeing the sun. I had never seen any thing so bright in all the time I’d lived and had not yet decided whether I liked it, I was rather in awe. Yet mother who seemed very delighted laughed out loud, only to be stopped by a milky (as you will notice from now on I will call our kidnappers.)

“ 1025 will you please reform to your former silence.” The mask said, and then to the crowd “there is to be no talking while on duty.”

We soon found our duties were something people have nightmares about. Females were used for horrible experiments if they were sixteen or older, the younger females cleaned the butcher room-that was used to dispose of disobedient slaves- they cleaned constantly there was an endless stream of human and non human slave being disposed of. The males all of them were brain washed and wiped entirely of emotion. Some times I wondered how people (or animals in this case) can even do that to a living being, it was alien to my thinking. The thought that some one out there was turning us all into zombies freaked me out.

We were lead into a big black room, there were no lights in sight yet I could see every thing very clearly, it was very creepy. After sitting for what seemed a very long time, the doors reopened and the room’s walls went transparent, every thing turned blue. Our parents were taken out of the room. We younger people shuffled about nervously waiting. Our parents returned minutes later all by themselves.

I looked at my mom she was totally calm almost dazed and she was staring at every body in a very weird manner almost hatefully. Her reaction was like nothing I’d ever seen before.

“Mom are you okay, you look a little, um well, different.”

She turned to me cold unfeeling.
“silence 1023.”

The end of her sentence was a dead emotionless stop now I was totally freaked out what was wrong with every body?

“Great were going to have to fight our own parents man these guys are smart.” A short, skinny, geeky, kind of guy said behind his large broken

“Shut up George we can get out of this, why don’t you use your head and think like they at least do.”

“You wouldn’t know anything you’re a snooty girl Amy.”

“All slave recruits will remain silent!” a computer voice said. Then in walked a droid with multiple pointed arms sticking out from its floating bodey.

“Oh great now there going to drug us too.”

I stood up, not too tall for my age but sturdy.

Every one stared at me, why? Parents turned towards us their eyes were cold before but now they were not even alive they glared in their icy deadness and seemed to want to suck my blood. Then I knew there was nothing to do but run. And run I did. Not one thing but fear could catch me as I vaulted through the door. Suddenly something as fast as lightning reached out and grabbed me and pulled be backwards and down.

Make-your-own story -- Teresa

choice: blue door, labeled "water".

You enter your apartment building, exhausted from a long day out. You start towards your door, and realize that there's something wrong. There are [six] doors, each of them a different colour. There's a black one with the word "gold" printed on it. A blue door with "Water" printed on it. A green door with 'randomness" printed on it. A purple door with "mind" printed on it. a yellow door with "shotgun" on it. and a red door marked "revenant"
You enter the blue door marked “water”, and immediately find yourself in an icy, fast-flowing river. You begin to drown, and then remember that you can swim. How irritating. You follow the river downstream for a while, still swimming, when you see and island. An older woman with white hair and a sword at her belt reaches out her hand to you. In the distance you hear the roar of a waterfall. What do you decide to do? The woman looks likely to be hostile; you’ve heard rumors of cannibals in the area. On the other hand, the rumble of the waterfall is loud and if you don’t get out now, you’ll probably be swept over it.

1. Take the woman’s hand

2. Leave it to chance and continue down the river

1. You take the proffered hand and are amazed at the strength with which she pulls you out of the water. You land in a heap on the shore, shivering with cold and exhaustion. The woman lets out an ear-splitting whistle and a group of people come and attach your hands and feet to a wooden stake. They then carry you, hanging upside down like a deer, back to their campsite. They are chanting war-like songs. Or they could be songs of triumph. You realize that you’ve made a mistake. You could try to communicate with these cannibals, try to convince them that you wouldn’t make good eating, or you can hang limply and hope the fire will burn off the ropes that tie you before you are consumed. What do you decide to do?

1a. Communicate with the cannibals

1b. Leave your life in the hands of the fire

1a. You attempt to communicate with the cannibals. “Hey, you! Let me go!” you cry. They stop their march in surprise, and look at you like a curiosity. “Thanks. Now will you please untie these ropes? They’re highly uncomfortable and I don’t particularly want to be eaten.” The cannibals continue to stare at you. You realize that they don’t understand you, and you make the most pitiful face you can muster in the hopes that they will still untie you. To your great relief they pull out a knife and start slashing your bonds. As soon as you are free, you leap to your feet and begin to run away. Unfortunately, the cannibals see this as an act of agression and come running after you in an angry horde. You are recaptured and sacrificed as on their altar in an attempt to appease their gods. Too bad. THE END.

1b. Oh, dear. You miscalculated! The heat of the fire scorches your back and you realize that the ropes around your hands won’t even get blackened. You struggle a little, and then the flames consume you. THE END.

2. You continue down the river because you don’t want to take the chance that the woman may be hostile. The roar gets louder, and you begin to be pulled faster and faster by the current. You try to swim to shore, but there’s no time, and besides, the banks are too steep. As you feel yourself heading over the waterfall, you take a deep breath, close your eyes, and pray. After a few minutes of continuing this way, you realize that the roar of the waterfall is getting awfully quiet. You open your eyes and discover that it is quiet because it is a loooong way below. You quickly shut your eyes again, before realizing that something must be carrying you. You look up and see that it is an eagle. A very large eagle. And you don’t like heights. Suddenly you hear a voice, coming from you know not where. “Don’t make a sound. If you do, I will drop you to your doom.” You try very hard not to scream, but when you are dropped into a nest full of large, screeching eaglets, you can’t help but scream. The eaglets approach closer and closer, and you realize that they are about to eat you. You can stay put, or jump and hope that the several hundred-meter fall won’t kill you. What do you do?

2a. Stay Put

2b. Jump

2a. You Stay Put, and die in excruciating pain as the eaglets devour you alive. THE END.

2b. You Jump, and live your last moments in terror and exhilaration as you fall. Your body is broken and you die the instant you hit the ground. Actually, you’re dead before you hit the ground. Too bad. You should have trusted the old lady. THE END.

Doomsday of Shian'mer (Emily)

Grr stupid formating didn't work xD So it's all in one paragraph again. Sorry, kinda short too... This relates to a story I am writing (or um meaning to write. *Has one chapter*), so it might not make a whole lot of sense... But here it is anyway:

Shian’mer Archive #627

Date: 78^th of the season of Shining, 50 B.R. (50 years Before the Rise, referring to the rise of the Guardians)

Yes… this is most defiantly the end of the golden age. Even as I write I can hear the Light mages and the rest of the army march down the streets of the glorious city of Kian’sha. I would be with them if it weren’t for my… inferior powers. I would only be a burden to the stronger elves if I were to go. Alas, I am suck here in my room writing this, the only one knowing we are on the brink of destruction. We will surely be crushed by the Dark mages; visions of the battle have haunted my dreams for many moons now. No one truly believes I have visions—they say I make them up for attention because my powers are so weak compared to most. But I know they are true. They all wish to listen to the visions of the ‘all-powerful’ Oracle, who only speaks of how the Dark mages will be overthrown in this battle. That is a lie if I’ve ever heard one… Has no one else seen the supremacy of the Dark mages? Our pride has been getting in the way of the truth. Before anyone else realizes that, it will be too late. The golden age has lulled them into thinking we can defeat the Dark mages… Their hopes will be shattered quite quickly, I assure you. Sometimes I wonder if I should go join the Dark mages myself. I’m sure they would believe my visions. Maybe they could even help me improve my powers.

I can hear the battle beginning now… The clash of steel on steel and the war cries echoing in the distance. They are fighting for the two jewels of Shian’mer, the legendary stones of power. They hold more power then imaginable, I don’t even want to think about what will happen to Shian’mer if—rather, when the Dark mages get their hands on them. The whole planet will probably be destroyed… or somewhere near destroyed anyway. All I can do is sit here and wait for the complete destruction of everything I have ever known…

-- Celia

Shian’mer Archive #628

Date: 80^th of the season of Shining, 50 B.R

It’s over… Yes, the great battle may be over, but the outcome is far from what we expected. I doubt this could be referred to as a ‘glorious victory’ as the Oracle had put it. How could we ever believe we could defeat the Dark mages? I suppose I should have listened to what the girl Celia has said, she has a real gift. She should have been the one to become Oracle. But she hasn’t been seen since the battle ended. At least we have a new prophecy from the cross-worlds now; it is something to go by. The prophecy speaks of the first Guardians, four heroes who will rise and save us from the Dark mages. I can only pray that day comes soon…

Shian’mer is a wasteland now, everything is gone… Magnificent cities now lie in ruins. We now live in constant fear of the once-friendly creatures of the lands, which were mutated by the dreaded Dark mages. What once were enchanting forests now are haunted by souls who will not rest after the complete devastation of their homes, and will not leave until they see Shian’mer rise once more. I am afraid that day will never come. Even as queen I feel helpless; we can not rebuild this land. There is nothing. We have no food, and it is difficult enough to find non-toxic water, forget supplies for rebuilding an entire planet! The only solution I can think of is leaving. I have heard of a planet in a nearby universe, where forest elves have recently settled. Maybe we shall go there, for I cannot think of any other way we can survive. The forest elves are also enemies of the Dark mages, if we join forces maybe we can all make it through this threat. I can only hope they will agree with us… It is truly our only chance for survival.

-- Queen Aisa the 1^st

(Colin) My kingdom for a longer story entry!

I've got the first "real" installment of my story up. It details a particular initiation session within the Order. It's pathetically short. More will follow.

---

Nights of Blackened Winter – Part One: The Converts

9 June 2156
Somewhere in the remains of the Denver Metrozone...

“I am called Kato,” the armored man said. The suit of ferro-aluminium was heavy upon his shoulders, particularly for one as short as he...he barely stood five feet six inches.

Before him, within the dim light of the Great Chamber of Abbasid, the eight refugees stood, each one looking worn and tired. The clothes they wore upon their backs were little more than rags, and many had cuts, some from simple overuse and others from...confrontations.

“You have all expressed an interest in joining the Order,” Kato continued. He took a step forward. “This is to be commended. Blessed be you who would swell our ranks and give us glory.” He paused. “However, there are doubtless those among you who would join us for reasons that are...less than noble.”

A few of the refugees looked confused, others stricken. They did not know what was to come, and none of them had done anything to bring doom upon themselves.

Not yet, anyway.

“However, I have little doubt that the less than faithful among you will be weeded out before long.” He held up a finger. “Before I go on, let me say this...”

He lowered his arm and began walking a slow circuit around the refugees.

“I am not interested your lineage.”

As he passed a refugee, Kato saw one of them barely suppress a flinch. He reached the end of the refugee line and turned about, and began walking slowly and deliberately along behind the initiates.

“I am not interested in your history.”

He reached the end of the line and once more resumed his position in front of the refugees.

“I am not even interested in how well you can fight.”

At this, the line of haggard people looked stumped. Joining the Order almost certainly meant going into battle at one point or another. What was this man talking about?

“What I am interested in...is your breaking point.”

From a belt around his waist, he removed a mean-looking stunner. It was a relatively simple device, little more than a piece of metal attached to a hilt. When activated, an electric charge ran through the metal, and—depending on what setting it happened to be on—when it came into contact with human skin, it transmitted an electric charge that could be calibrated from something as harmless as a small static bolt to power levels whose effects were...less than pleasant.

Before anyone knew what was happening, Kato lunged forward with the stunner and caught one of the refugees between his ribs. The stunner was on the highest setting.

The refugee, a wiry young man with dark hair, fell to the ground like a sack of meat, twitching and quivering wildly for a full minute before laying still.

Once the reality of what had happened set in, the other refugees stared in open shock.

Kato bent down on one knee and quickly rifled through the man’s pockets. Near his shoulder, he found a golden medallion that bore a picture of Earth with a flaming sword driven through it—the symbol of the Order.

“This man was clever,” Kato said to their faces of mixed shock and fear. “I suspect that he was once a very good pickpocket. I saw him take this medallion from one of our guards. Most skillful indeed.”

He gestured towards the body with the stunner. “This is the fate of those who would bring wickedness to our ranks. Learning, and acts of worth, will be just as quickly rewarded.”

Unbidden, a pair of servants dressed in simple brown robes came from the shadows and dragged the body of the dead refugee away.

Ignoring this, Kato continued.

“What is an act of worth?” He smiled wolfishly. “That is something each of you will have to find out for yourself...”

svogthos's salvation

this is a somewhat odd story but i hope you like it anyway. there may be more stories about svogthos and the wanderers coming later so keep your fingers crossed.

redbone/conar



svogthos was fuming. him! svogthos the iron fist! imprisoned! imprisoned like a common criminal! svogthos was one of the wanderers a race of moon sized beings that prowled the cosmos devouring other celestial creatures, spaceships and occasionally each other. svogthos was one of the most powerful until a few of the others got nervous and decided to take action. when earth was just a ball of molten rock they took him by surprise and imprisoned him in the core of the nearest unformed planet. which unluckily enough was earth,

he had tried to get out repeatedly but had failed every time and caused several "natural" disasters in the process. he almost got out one time during the bronze age and the sight of his dark red head the size of a cube van eventually led to the idea of satan and hell. through the ages the effects of svogthos's escape attempts echoed around the world: huge volcanoes in russia and the netherlands, earthquakes in the usa and australia, heat waves in africa and india and in several places in the middle east large craters with nothing visible to have caused them. and then in june 2203 svogthos got his chance in a rather unexpected way.

harrison kintsville was a young businessman who had hired a team of engineers and geologists to drill a hole to the center of the earth! on that fateful day harrison set of fireworks to signal the start of the drilling. the giant contraption (for there is no other word to describe it) began to drill a hole roughly fifty meters wide. which unfortunately for the rest of mankind was the exact width of svogthos's arm.

deep underground svogthos stopped ranting and listened. there was a low rumbling coming from somewhere in the earth's mantle. svogthos started to get exited, this could be his ticket out of here! he began to dig towards the sound. about twenty minutes later he reached the sound, or the sound reached him ,whichever. the metal contraption vaguely resembled a drill, but svogthos didn't know what a drill was. all he knew was that it giving him a way out. he grabbed the drill/contraption and pulled from both sides at once, the thing ripped apart like tinfoil. he discarded the remains of the machine and kept going widening as he went. when he reached the surface and stuck his hands through the people watching generally turned and ran. but not harrison, all harrison could think about was seven years of his life and billions of dollars torn apart like rice paper.as such he was the only person to see what happened next svogthos got a good grip on both sides of the hole and pushed with all his might. and all his might was enough to tear a crack in a large part of north america. when the hole was wide enough for him to fit through he positioned his feet and pushed. now while he was launched forward the earth was launched backwards. svogthos didn't notice but the earth eventually spiraled into the sun ending our warlike ways forever. which is not necessarily a bad thing. "now" roared svogthos "there will be a reckoning". the rest as they say is history.

Apocalypse? By Joe.

The NEW, IMPROVED Apocalypse! Only $99,999.99 at your local retailer! Find more information at our website, www.newimprovedapocalypse.com!

Sam looked at the commercial blankly, not sure if he believed what he was seeing. Had the apocalypse just been… merchandized? The news came on, and he quickly realized with horror that it had.

The news anchor quickly described, in his bland tones, how the Apocalypse had arrived, and the citizens loved it. It then cut to a shot of the streets, with a huge mass of people dancing in the flaming streets, waving signs proclaiming “If this is the Apocalypse, where’s the End of the World?” Hawkers moved up and down the sidewalks, selling cheesy apocalypse merchandise, along with the requisite corny T-shirts.

Sam sat in a state of shock for a few seconds, then jumped up and moved into action. Swinging his jacket onto his shoulders and making sure his shotgun was loaded, he went out to ensure that this horrible Apocalypse wouldn’t be the real one.

The streets were filled with real flame, as he quickly realized when he opened his door. Oddly enough, the people standing in the streets weren’t burning, so he figured it was mostly harmless and charged out into the mess. In seconds, his boots were on fire, along with his jacket, and he was rolling on the ground in agony. Thankfully, a passerby dumped a bucket of water on him, and the fire went out rather quickly.

Sam jumped to his feet yet again, swinging his shotgun off his shoulder. He raised it and fired at the nearest fire hydrant, sending a stream of water out in every direction, dousing the local fires on the streets. People all around turned their heads and looked at him, screaming obscenities and insults. Sam paused for a moment, puzzled. Why would they be reacting like this when he had clearly saved their lives? No matter, he continued on his quest to stop the apocalypse.

He moved on, blowing apart every hydrant he could find. It was working as far as he could tell, half the fires in the city were under control, and the screaming crowds had long since left the streets. However, as he turned the next street corner, he realized that things were going to get far worse before they got better.

An army of unearthly creatures was marching down the street towards him, screaming unholy cries and waving their arms threateningly in his direction. Sam quickly pulled a grenade out of his back pocket and hurled it into their midst. They tried to scatter, but the grenade went off far too quickly for them to get away. Body parts showered into the air, as Sam dove through the group, blasting away at the survivors with his shotgun. Several of them attempted to jump on him and knock him to the ground, but in a burst of adrenaline, he shook them off and mowed them down with his shotgun. After the last blast faded away, he took stock of his surroundings. Not one of the creatures was left alive, and he was alone in the streets yet again. He took aim at a hydrant, fired, and moved on.

A monstrous screech echoed through the sky, and a gigantic winged creature swung around the nearest skyscraper, emitting jets of flame from its mouth. Sam ducked and rolled out of the way, swinging his rocket launcher out from under his coat. He fired two rockets in rapid succession, and then dived into a storefront as they impacted with the huge beast. It screamed its agony as it plunged to the ground, exploding and bathing the street in flame (again.)

Sam charged forward again, and then collapsed face first, the world spinning around him as his eyes closed. He heard voices shouting around him, footsteps, a mad, unearthly howl, and then nothing.

He awoke in a shining white room, with an angelic figure standing over him, with a pleased look on its face.

“Good, you’re awake again! How are you feeling, Sam?”

Sam thought for a moment, and then asked the only important question he had on his mind.

“Did I end the Apocalypse?”

“Of course you did, Sam.”

Sam smiled and lay back down as the angel left the room, and slept again.

Doomsday

Doomsday For A Tree

It stood there, its branches bare. It looked so lonely, darkly silhouetted against the fresh snow. Alyssa remembered how beautiful it was in the summer, when its limbs were heavy with leaves, and people gathered around its trunk to be in the shade it provided. She wondered if she would ever again stand beneath the great maple.

The sound of bulldozers made Alyssa look up, startled. She breathed a sigh of relief. They had not come for her tree yet. Yet! They would come, they could not be stopped. She sighed again, and put her arms as far around the tree’s trunk as they would reach. Its bark was rough against her cheek.

The view was bleak. What had once been a lush, flourishing forest was a wasteland of dirty snow, churned-up mud, and buzzing machines. A sign on the edge of the wasteland spoke of a new complex to be built. “Affordable housing in a beautiful area!” It proclaimed. Affordable? What about the cost to the forest? Alyssa wished time could be turned back and the beautiful forest could be restored.

Staring out between the remaining trees, Alyssa felt a sudden surge of anger. No one had asked the people who lived in this area if they wanted the forest cut down! No one had thought that maybe a patch of forest could be more valuable than a huge ugly complex. Well, she was going to make them think. In fact, if she had anything to do about it, the complex wouldn’t be built at all.

Alyssa felt a little surprised at herself. She didn’t normally take action like that, but she felt herself turn directly for home, and her feet pounded the pavement in her eagerness to get started. There wasn’t much time to lose if the forest was to be saved. If her tree was to be saved. But when she walked through the door and sat down by the phone, the enormity of the task suddenly fell on her like a great weight. How could she possibly stop something that big from happening! She was just a kid. Who would listen to her? And yet she felt the need to stop the trees from being cut down. So she squared her shoulders, and began the search.

Several hours later, having lost track of how many numbers she had called and how many times she had been re-directed, Alyssa finally reached a person she could talk to. This one had to be the right person. “Hello?” came the voice on the other end.

“Hello, my name is Alyssa, and I’m lobbying to stop the building of the complex in Woodnook. Am I speaking to the right person?”

“I’m sorry, but Mr. Ranok is not in at the moment. Please leave a message after the tone, and he will get back to you as soon as possible.”

Alyssa sighed. She dramatically clicked the “end call” button on her phone. Two hours of work and all she had was a list of who not to talk to. Then she had an idea. She flung on her coat and shoes and ran outside.

The next day was Saturday. Perfect. Alyssa could spend all day on her project. She peeked out the window, and giggled. Everything seemed to be working out really well. Representatives from all the major news stations had appeared, on the hint that there would be a news conference being held there at noon. So far, only one station had failed to turn up. Alyssa was going to hold the conference. Her parents were still asleep, or reading in bed. Either way, they wouldn’t mind if Alyssa went out for a while. She closed the door softly behind her.

When she walked onto the development lot, one of the reporters asked her where the news conference was, he couldn’t see anyone. Alyssa just smiled and climbed up onto a bulldozer. She gave her carefully prepared speech, several lenses glinting darkly at her. A twinge of nervousness ran through her. She was just a kid. It was all too big for her – too much. But she faced the cameras and spoke passionately about this patch of forest. She told them about the fun she had had as a young child, about the classes that used this area as a nature classroom, about the benefits of trees. She spoke of the many people who ran here, of the old people she saw sitting among the trees. Of the dogs that ran safely free here, and the beauty of some peace in the city. It sounded moving to her.

She went home and promptly fell asleep. She hadn’t known how emotionally draining giving a news conference could be. She taped herself giving the speech.

The mayor showed up at her house on Monday. Alyssa had pled sick with her parents and stayed home from school. She didn’t want to have to put up with her classmates’ comments, even if they were good. The mayor came, and cited all sorts of rules and laws that allowed the building of the development. “You don’t have a leg to stand on, young lady.” He told her, “There are no laws that work in your favour. I’m asking you to back off”. Alyssa was perplexed. “This isn’t a matter of what the law is and what it isn't. It’s a matter of right and wrong. And it’s wrong to tear down that forest.”

The mayor sighed. “Look, I’m just asking you to tone it down, okay? There’s nothing that can be done in this situation. The law is the law, and the developers are protected by that fact.” She went away in her big fancy car, and Alyssa watched as it pulled down the driveway and sped down the street. Was there really nothing she could do? She didn’t really believe that. But she felt in her gut that she would have to.

A week later saw Alyssa standing, hugging her tree, and a bulldozer trying to dig it up. She only gripped the bark harder when she saw the big yellow machine approach. The driver came closer, closer. Then the engines died, and an angry-looking man climbed down and came towards her. “Move, kid. I’ve got orders to dig up that tree.” “I know” Alyssa said. “That’s why I’m standing here”. He seemed confused. “Look, I’ll… I’ll have to call someone if you keep standing there!” “Go right ahead” was Alyssa’s calm reply.

The police arrived a few minutes later, but not before the news cameras arrived again. Good. This was at least getting publicity. Maybe Alyssa could still avert doomsday. But when the police arrived, they pried her forcibly from her tree, and stuffed her in the back of their car. The bulldozer’s engines started up again, with the news crews watching with interest. One came over and tried to interview her, but the police held them back, something about protecting the rights of minors. Baloney.

Alyssa watched in agony as the bulldozer plowed right through her tree. That huge, beautiful maple. Even in death it was elegant, falling slowly, and crashing magnificently. Doomsday could not be averted. Alyssa looked down at the floor, feeling empty and hopeless. All her efforts. All for nothing. It had all been in vain. Destruction would continue, here and elsewhere, and there was nothing that could be done to stop it.

After an eternity of emptiness, her parents came and walked back home with her. They were asking her confused questions, and Alyssa heard herself answer. When they got home, all she wanted to do was lie down and cry. Instead she had to eat supper, and do homework, and explain some more to her parents.

They were watching the news together as a family – well, her parents were watching the news and Alyssa was starting despondently out the window – when something made Alyssa look up. She watched the flickering screen, and felt a jolt of energy run through her body. “…residents have shown no signs of assent or dissent as of yet. The re-zoning of this area for further development is expected to run up against a fair bit of resistance, but the area is ideal and the developers are determined.”

Alyssa knew what her next task was. But this time she would be getting some help and legal support. “Mom? Dad? I have an idea for a vacation…”

I know this isn't exactly about the apocalypse, but I tried to work in the doomsday theme.

Teresa

Ye Olde Apocalyptic Tale (Colin)

It's finally here. It gets a bit...frayed...near the end, but overall I think it turned out pretty good. It's nuclear apocalypse with a slight twist.

---

Nights of Blackwinter

Colin K.

My grandfather once told me of what it was like to stand on a field of grass barefoot, staring at the sun as it rose high in the sky. A sunrise, he told me, is one of the most beautiful sights anyone can hope to behold. Before he died, he'd wanted to be able to stand barefoot on a patch of grass, just once more...

Now? Now...there is no grass. There is no sunrise or sunset...that we can see, at any rate. After the sky became scorched, all we ever knew is eternal night.

...I suppose I should explain myself. My name is Atticus Rockford. I live--if this can be called that--in one of the few remaining human settlements within the boundaries of the Old City that was once known as "Denver". We huddle together in our village made from scrap, struggling daily to fend off the extreme cold and the unfortunately common famines that strike our community, and we curse the ones who turned what was once a beautiful paradise into a world covered in ash and unspeakable horrors.

By the Old Calendar, the current year is 2156. According to the oldest of our settlement, the event we have come to know as "The Blackening". Occured roughly fifty years ago, in 2105.
The eldest of us told us of how the twenty-second century was to be a golden age for humanity, of how we had finally achieved true peace and prosperity for all. There was even food for all, though today we find this somewhat hard to believe. Humanity was finally unified, and was truly devoted towards the goals of social and scientific advancement.

It was the second that proved to be humanity's undoing. A volcano on Earth's northern pole was discovered by a geological survey team in 2101. A detailed analysis of the magma revealed that it contained large amounts of substances known as lithium and uranium. This, it turned out, meant an absolutely enormous energy potential.

Three years after the survey team discovered this irregularity within the volcano, the Council of the United Nations put forward a motion to construct a long-term research base with the goal of converting this magma into useful energy. The proposal met with overwhelming approval, and the project received full funding. Within mere weeks the base was completed, along with an experimental nuclear reactor that fed off of the lava.

Accounts of the next series of events vary. Some say that the reactor's meltdown was the result of a mere accident, a watchmen who fell asleep at his board or perhaps pushed the wrong button at the wrong time. Others believe that it was cause by sabotage, though the reasons for that elude me.

At any rate, we do know this: In 2105, the commander of the experimental facility sent a distress signal across all radio frequencies, explaining in panicked tones that the reactor's core was undergoing a critical meltdown, and that despite their best efforts, the reaction could not be stopped. A violent volcanic eruption was imminent.

I'm told that the safety protocols on the reactor then failed, specifically the ones that control exactly how much radioactive matter the reactor is to release in the event of a meltdown--an amount that is supposedly near zero. Unfortunately, for the facility's staff as well as the rest of the human race, not all the genius and safety protocols in the world could prevent what happened next.

The reactor core's contents had apparently spilled into the volcanic magma. I'm no physics expert, so I don't know how it all works, but this caused the volcano to become mighty upset.

The eruption occured just as the core detonated.

The flash in the sky could be seen from hundreds of kilometres away. At the time, nobody could have possibly known what was to follow.

Radioactive ash filled the sky and blanketed the earth, at the same time cutting us off from the sun and choking nearly every living plant and animal on the planet to death. The death toll after the first few months alone was staggering. As a result of the explosion, a large part of the north pole's ice began boiling away into the ocean, destroying many delicate floating sea communities and ruining the crops that the ash hadn't already destroyed. The seas themselves became choked with soot and the remains of dead ocean life. Total environmental collapse ensued.
The first three years after the apocalypse saw the death of one and a half billion people...a fairly large amount of Earth's population. The wave of death that has followed up until now makes my stomach turn just thinking about it.

Entire cities now lie empty, except for small settlements like my own. All around us we see the remains of Earth That Was--an Earth that many of us can never hope to know. The shells of many buildings remain, though many have collapsed into rubble over the years. The husks of many vehicles can be found virtually anywhere a person can look.

But none of this--the death, the hunger, the cold, the eternal night--is nearly as bad as the hazards found within every dead city.

Twenty years after the cataclysm, after the first human villages had been successfully constructed, rumors were heard that many of the survivors had acquired a terrible illness, one that could alter a living being on a cellular level. Whether this is from nuclear fallout or a freak accident we will never know. But what happened to those who acquired the disease will never be forgotten. Many simply died off.

They were the lucky ones.

Others began reacting more violently, becoming less and less lucid as the disease tore at their body. Eventually a few...transformed. They had already gone insane. What was left of the person within was mercifully destroyed.

I can only hope.

Those affected broke loose of their restraints and...tore their skin off. This alone is so terrifying it gives many in my village horrible nightmares.

What lay beneath was an abomination. It only barely resembled a human. They didn't even have eyes! But they were supposedly very good at echo-location. Their skin was palest white, and they travelled about at all fours at a swift pace.

And they hungered for human flesh.

Many of the smaller villages became overrun by sudden attacks of these mutants, which came to be known as Reavers. Those they did not kill and eat outright were somehow infected, increasing their numbers. Survivors fled to one of the other human settlements, and told them in quivering voices of what had happened. And, if they had become infected, that survivor would

become a Reaver and...well, I'll leave that to someone else's imagination.

Not even the Reavers are as bad as The Order, though. They sprang up just a few years after the collapse of Earth's environment. They supposedly have two leaders: The Preacher, and his (her?) student, The Scion. Their dogma is that the apocalypse was caused because "The Fates" were punishing us for our hubris, and that the world belonged only to the followers of "The Shimmering Path", which is apparently the text of their misbegotten religion. Not much is known about them, except that, as a group, they are large, and that they are powerful.
...and yet, despite all of this, there is evidence of yet a third force at work. Occasionally, one or more of the villagers will venture far away on a minor salvage expedition or scouting mission. Nine out of ten times, they return just fine, except with a minor run-in with Reavers or having to slip quietly away from a passing Order patrol. Such skills have become commonplace, and are quite handy in times such as these.

Every so often though, our people will not return. Usually, this can be attributed to a Reaver attack--though in many instances this is unlikely, given our skill in evading them. What? It's not bragging. It's fact. A fact that we stake our lives on.

Other times, and only very rarely, we find them shot to death with high-powered gyroslug rifles, their blood being used to draw ornate sigils around the body. This is the easily identifiable trademark of an encounter with The Order. Not very many who stray into an engagement with them live to tell about it.

Most often though, we find bodies found in unusual circumstances: some bear deep claw marks, and we know this not to be work of Reavers because, though they have very sharp teeth, they have no claws. In addition to claw marks, though, we also find their bodies...burned. Sometimes it's by thermite fire-bombing. We can distinguish this easily because of the unique chemical residue thermite leaves behind.

The most unusual circumstance of all in which we find a body, though, is with a single, neat, pinpoint precision energy blast to the head. It looks just as if a bullet had penetrated the skull...except that when our crude autopsies are performed, there is no bullet. Patrols of The Order do not carry such weapons, so the cause of such a wound is, essentially, a giant question mark.

And so, here we find ourselves, having to fend off the combined forces of hunger, disease, attack, and cold daily simply to survive. I know we cannot live like this forever. Each year our numbers dwindle. And...we continue to hear of villages which are destroyed under confusing circumstances. Something must be done.
...oops. Writing time's over. The wolf is at the door. God, what I wouldn't give for one week without these bloody attacks...

Finally done...

Hah! Done my Sci-fi story... it kind of turned out to be doomsdayish too. Sooo here it is.

The middle of Space, Year 2781

Exploration Ship #12

Casey was the youngest one on the ship, only seventeen years old. Many thought she was too young even, but she had worked hard to get her spot on the ship, endless weeks of training. But those were over now, and she spent her days monitoring the main navigation systems of the ship, searching for any planets that had intelligent life forms, or could sustain them. They had been searching for over a month now, so far they had not found anything of interest.

Casey sighed as she picked up her journal, one of the few possessions that she had on the ship, though she hadn’t wrote anything in it yet. Even though she had waited a long time for this she wanted to save it for when they found something. She idly chewed the back of her pencil as she flipped through the blank pages, thinking. A sudden beeping sound caught her attention and she quickly put down journal again.

A red dot flashed on the screen of the navigation system. “Computer, identify object,” said Casey authoritatively. “Wormhole,” came the computers robot-like reply. “W-what? Wormholes don’t exist…” She stared blankly for a moment before realizing that if it actually was a wormhole that they had to turn around the ship before they got stuck in its gravitational pull. As she set about to turn the ship away from the so called ‘wormhole’, everything suddenly went completely dark.

There was no warning, just a sudden complete and utter darkness; Casey couldn’t even see her hand a few inches away from her face. Something must be wrong with the power… but what happened to the backup generator? She wondered silently. She tried not to panic, she couldn’t turn the ship around without the navigation system or being able to see for that matter, and if wormholes really did exist then what would happen? Casey waited for a couple minutes, trying to decide if she should wait and see if the power came back, or to go find someone. A few moments later she sighed and stood up. If the power wasn’t back yet something must really be wrong.

Casey made her way through the darkened corridors as fast as she could, praying she wouldn’t get lost in the maze-like ship. She didn’t know her way around very well yet, but she had to do something about the wormhole, she couldn’t leave everyone unaware of the danger looming before them. But even if I do find someone what can they do? Thought Casey, suddenly reliazing that anything she could do was hopeless. She was also aware that they were running out of time, if the ship wasn’t turned around very soon they would be sucked into the wormhole and end up who knows where, or when (if they even survived that is).

Her heart pounding, Casey started to run through the ship, trying not to run into the walls, and at the same time not caring anymore. Where was everyone? Probably trying to fix the power, it was far too late for that though. A sudden dizziness came over Casey as she ran, causing her to fall forward and hit her head hard on the metal wall on the ship, knocking her unconscious.

Casey groaned as she opened her eyes. Where am I? she wondered absently. She felt light-headed and was confused, this place felt very strange. She could see nothing but fog as she stared upward. Casey stood slowly, her head hurting a great deal. What had happened? It was almost dream-like; even though she was surrounded by fog it seemed eerily silent and empty. She looked around, but the fog was thick and she couldn’t see anything at all. Why was it so foggy anyway? Her memory was blurry, she couldn’t remember anything.

A few memories came back to her gradually, such as her name. She remembered being on a spaceship and something about a wormhole. But where was she now? I have to find someone…

Casey started to walk through the fog, unsure of exactly what she was planning to do, only knowing she needed to find something (or someone). It seemed like hours she had walked, although it could have just been a few minutes. It suddenly struck her that nothing was here. It was completely silent, no people, no animals, and she hadn’t seen a single plant. It was her and the fog, in this strange, empty world.

But how did I get here… and why isn’t there anything else?

Now that she had noticed it, the silence was overwhelming. There were always people around her before, always noise of people working and talking, but everything was too quite now. A sudden sound broke through the icy silence, and some of the fog blew away, revealing a girl with long braided hair playing a flute. She looked to be about eight or nine years old, but her eyes held wisdom. She seemed to know Casey was there, but she didn’t stop playing yet.

Casey stared blankly for a moment, watching the girl. There was someone else here? As she listened to the flutes hypnotic melody, some of her memories floated back. But eventually the girl stopped playing, and all of the memories faded again.

“Who are you?” asked Casey, even though it was barely more then a whisper she knew the girl had heard her.

“I am Memory,” said the girl, her face showing no emotion.

“Is that… your name?”

“It’s who I am.”

“What do you mean?” asked Casey.

“I mean what I said. You don’t have to understand. It’s rather complicated actually…” Memory paused for a moment before continuing, “You probably don’t know where we are, do you?”

Casey shook her head.

“We’re actually on Earth... the memory of it anyway. The real Earth is… gone now,”

“What? You mean Earth was destroyed?”

“Well, yes. But the memory is still here… You can save Earth though, that’s why you’re here. If you go back in time, you’ll discover the Matorians, an alien race… if they find out about Earth they’ll eventually destroy it.”

“So.. We’re in the future?” asked Casey, confused. Was time travel actually possible?

“Yes.. Humans stopped keeping track of the years quite awhile ago but I think it would be around… 7921 now?” Memory paused again, staring Casey in the eye, “You must make a decision. You may go back to your space exploration and you will discover the Matorians, and Earth will eventually be destroyed, or go back about two years and Earth will not be destroyed, but you must live among the humans here…”

“What about the others on the ship? Won’t they find the Matorians anyway?”

“No. You would have been the one that noticed them.”

Casey was silent, trying to comprehend, yet not wanting to at the same time. If she went back to her normal life, the Earth would be destroyed in a few thousand years, but if she stayed she would have to leave behind everything she had ever known. But she knew she could not go back and live with knowing that the Earth would be ended because of her.

“I’ll stay…” Casey whispered finally.

Memory smiled. “Thank you. If you want I can give you your memories back now… It might be easier without them though, you won’t get as homesick.”

“I want my memories still… It would be worse not even knowing who I am…”

Casey knew it would be hard to live nearly 5000 years in the future, and even though she was leaving all of her dreams and friends behind she knew she had made the right decision.

The end.

Ik it mostly sucks and sorry it took me so long. I had writing block again =P

Emily

* Answers * (Edited)

The next meeting is at my (Emily's) house on the 23rd... I'll e-mail the address. The next assignment is to write a 'doomsday' story. *cough* I'm almost done my sci-fi story I promise!!!

Emily

*Edit*
Also we're suppose to read The Shadow Club by Neal Shusterman... Kind of forgot about that before. Err my mom said she already e-mailed everyone the address, but I guess some people didn't get it... I think she re-emailed it to Teresa to send to everyone.

? questions?

Where is the next meeting?
What is/are our next assignment/s?


Could someone please tell?
my sister and I could not make it last time because we did not know where it was. Every time a decision is made you should write it on the Blog.

Thea

If you can’t recognize this, don’t blame yourself, blame your internet.

By Joseph Fraese.

In A.D. 2101, war was beginning.

The Federation battleship traveled through space, en route to one of the far flung colony worlds, bringing supplies and news from earth. The crew was in its night cycle, with only a skeleton crew staffing the bridge.

Just before the night watch change, as everything was winding down, an explosion ripped through the ship, breaching the exterior hull and setting off panic alarms throughout the corridors. On the bridge, the scene was of panic.

The captain, having been woken up from his sleep by the alarms, was one of the first on the bridge.

“What happened?” His tone was slightly panicked, with good reason, as fire from the explosion shot past the observation window, highlighting the flashing alarm panels with an eerie glow.

“Somebody set up us a bomb,” said one of the engineers, not looking up from his display panel. “We’ve lost almost all our engine power, and a good two thirds of the crew quarters.”

The captain swore, and then turned his head towards the communications officer.

“Do we still have communications? Call for emergency backup immediately!”

“We’re getting a signal!” The comms officer looked confused, and then called over his shoulder, “Turn on the main screen!”

The holographic projector in the centre of the floor flickered for a second, and then a tall male figure appeared in the air above it. He was obviously mechanically augmented, and well known to the captain as CATS, the intergalactic terrorist.

“How are you doing, gentlemen?” He was smirking, obviously satisfied about something.

“It’s you!” The captain did a double take, almost unwilling to believe his own words.

CATS smiled, and waved a hand at the alarm panels going off. “It appears that you’re having some local technical troubles, hmm? I’m sure my news won’t come as a help, but it’s my duty to inform you that I’m in control of the Federation now! Oh, and I just activated the self destruct sequence on your ship, so don’t expect to live for very long!”

“What are you saying?”

“You’re going nowhere but hell, Captain.” CATS laughed heartily, fading from the screen.

Immediately the view changed to the self destruct countdown, with two minutes left on the timer.

“Deactivate that sequence, NOW! I don’t care how you do it, just get it done!” The captain looked furious, and immediately began working on his command console.

The engineers all spun around and immediately started working frantically, the communications officer attempting to shut down the signal that was keeping the self-destruct turned on.

“Sir, the signal is coming in on emergency red frequency, I need your authorization codes to block it!”

The captain immediately tapped in his codes, watching the timer tick down, with only a minute and fifteen seconds remaining.

“Signal blocked, get that sequence shut down, guys!”

The engineers started working frantically, two of them rushing out of the room towards the generator, where the self destruct explosives were located.

The captain started plugging all his authorization codes into the engineering network, making sure that they’d have access to anything they needed. As he did so, he saw a small file that shouldn’t belong with his authorization codes. He opened it up, and found the worm that had started the countdown.

The timer clicked again, down to 30 seconds, as the captain moved frantically. He yanked his console out of the network, and set a harddisk wipe, hoping to kill the worm before the countdown hit 0. It took twenty seconds for it to finish, but the worm was dead. He shouted out to the engineers to shut down the sequence in the normal way, and they hurriedly typed in their override codes. The computers took a second to register it, and then the countdown stopped, with less than a second left.

The captain sighed in relief. “Now all we have to do is find that CATS bastard and send him where he belongs! Let’s head to the colonies, we might be able to find support there.”

The crew cheered, and the wounded ship returned to hyperspace, moving towards freedom.

Theres my Sci-Fi story, I woulda made it longer, but due to losing the first draft and running out of time, etc. I had to make it short.

okay here it is, you should read it all over again as i have changed things,

The Holi Tree

by Synthea Paarup

The Holi tree was in bloom, between the two sharply pointed mountains, Hellot, and Hetell`e.
the tree only bloomed every 30 years. It was a good sign, a sign of prosperity. Yet this time the tree had bloomed purple instead of blue, a sign that the tree was ready to produce fruit. A Holi tree only produces fruit twice in its life time, a span averaging 500 years. It happened to the last 87 trees, 3 years before they died.
It was now happening to this tree.

Once the fruit had ripened half were to be picked by females and the other half were to let fall and be picked up by males. The Holi tree always produce an even amount of fruit.
The fruit was to be planted in two rows. One belonging to the females the other to the males. The rows were to be 1 foot apart and each pair of fruit was to be planted 10 meters from each other. The only hope for the fruits to grow into trees was that the couples who had planted them would marry for love.

The couples had three years to fall in love, after that the fruit would rot and the tree would die.
But if even one couple married for love the old tree would live until the new tree was three feet tall, it would then bare its last fruit, from which could be squeezed the water of life.

Every 500 years the people would drink of this water and live the rest of their life in perfect health.
Thus began the histories...

"As long as the tree liveth
the peace liveth
as long as the peace liveth
the people liveth
when the tree die
we die."

><> <><

The Holi tree was in bloom. The Holi tree was in bloom!
Eleah had turned 17 this very night. If the tree bore enough fruit she and two other girls from her town would pick their half of the fruit. If the tree bore enough fruit three men from the town of Hered would pick up the fallen fruit and plant their fruit by the girl of their choice. It was imperative the boys not know the girls, or the girls know the boys.

Every town in the world had been given a certain planting that they could host. And in 87th replanting of the Holi tree the towns of Holi and Hered, finally had their chance.
At the age of 17 Eleah was the picture of Holdini beauty. She was tall and lean (not thin) and had purple eyes, which was very common in holdini girls, but her knee length brown curly hair was exceedingly uncommon. The average Holdini girls’ hair was hip length red and strait. Eleah was the daughter of a poor man whose only riches were his 18 daughters of which Eleah was the youngest and only unmarried one.

><> <><

The festivities began early in the week, for the fruit had appeared.

Six Holi fruit gleamed purple from the Holi tree’s silver branches. Three young maids, Eleah among them, stood in white around the tree. The people in the crowd were singing and laughing, eagerly awaiting the picking of the fruit. The music of trumpets soared out from the mountains, where the Priests of I Am, came marching down to the tree, to Have God bless the ceremony.

The priests Trumpets gave one last long blast and all became silent. The three girls stepped closer to the tree and turned to face the priests. The head priest Prayed for God to bless the fruit picked, and the girls.

Once the blessing had been said the Girls turned back to the tree to choose their fruit. Eleah picked what seemed to be the least favored fruit, though it still shimmered Purple and silver, and was ripe. Eleah Took one bite of her fruit like the other girls, and the taste of it made her drowsy, light headed and slow witted. She and the other girls were helped by the priests to dig their holes and place their fruit in them. They were then carried away and placed in a tent within Site of the tree. When Eleah awoke she heard once again the sounds of celebration.

><> <><

Chatveck Strode nervously around the confinement Building’s hallway. He had been watching the three men through the Viewing screen and what he saw disturbed him.

(He was a nervous creature by nature and so could not help the knocking of his knees or the chattering of his teeth, or any disturbing feelings he had about anyone.( which were probably unfounded))

The three young men all sat in a corner of their own confinement room’s, closed their eye’s and hummed the strangest tune. It was all very unnatural in Chatveck’s Eye’s

Elhor tired to concentrate on his humming and his telepathy, but for one so learned at it, he found it hard. He could hear his brothers arguing in the back of his consciousness.

'No Maydar, Ehrick must not pass. He is a hindrance to our fathers' plan."
’…As would I be had I not agreed to marry, brother Storack.’

Elhor stopped humming, he could not listen to his brothers any longer, and though they were older they were definitely more stupid than he was. The only hope for the tree to live was that one of them, hopefully two, would marry for love. Elhor stood; he walked over to the door.
“Chatvek, you had better let us out now it has been three days and the ceremony is tonight, we have passed the test. Let us out." Elhor bellowed.
He heard a deep rumbling and the door to his confinement room opened with a swift breeze of air, fresh air.

Elhor tried not to squint in the bright light, but he found it nearly impossible, when his eyes adjusted, he could see Chatvek twitching nervously.
“Well you three all passed, it is a strange occurrence for siblings to pass together."
"Not if we were raised the same way, with the same integrity's.” Elhor spoke smoothly
Elhor was not surprise that Chatvek knew of Storack and Maydar being his brothers, he was more embarrassed.

"And it is not very often at all, that you see any man using telepathy to ward off insanity." Chatveck’s frightened eyes glanced quickly about the room.
"Yes, isn't it? My brothers and I are all telepathic. Strange that it should be between brothers? My father is the famous for his telepathy. It runs in the family."
With that Elhor strode past Chatvek into the dining room. Chatvek stood dumbfounded; surly these were not the sons of Heeltar the mind reader. Surly not
"Aren't you amazingly perceptive today Chatvek. Let's see if you can guess the rest."
Elhor walked into the room eating a jiater fruit.
“Yes Elhor let us see." His brothers walked in unison into the room.
Elhor scowled at his brothers, they were playing the part of being intelligent extremely well. The only way Elhor knew they were not, was because he could read their minds, Not they his. The three brothers surrounded the frightened Chatvek who nervously led them out to the Holi tree were the ceremonies were taking place.

><> <><

The three young men were paraded out to the Holi tree, for the remaining fruit had fallen to the ground. They were blessed by the Priest of I AM, and chose their Fruit from the ground.

Then the three young women, who had planted their fruit one week earlier, came and stood above the place where their fruit had been planted. Elhor immediately strode to the place across from Eleah. He would have the most beautiful or nothing at all. He could here his brothers once again in the back of his mind complaining.

‘Why does Elhor always get the best he is the youngest.’

‘Shut up Maydar, he’s father’s favorite, he always gets what he wants.’

Elhor rolled his eyes, and looked across at Eleah.

Her head was bowed and she did not look at him, or move, she simply stood.

When Elhor’s brothers stood across from their lady of choice, the priests instructed that they begin to bury their fruit. When that was done the couples were paraded back to the city of Holi, for the fertility feast.

><> <><

Late in the night Eleah visited the Holi tree. Her brown hair unbound she knelt beside the tree.

“Unseen God, creator of our Holi tree, please allow its fruit to grow, make it strong. Grant my people the promise of peace given by that living tree.” She paused a moment and then continued.

“Most holy of holy, I pray that this man Elhor, who has chosen me to be the fulfillment of his fruit, would be a kind man, Lord, a man that I could love so that the fruit would grow and become the Holi tree. In thy sons name grant my Prayer.”

><> <><

The Lord answered her prayer. The powerful man Elhor, despite his own selfishness, soon fell selflessly in love with Eleah and she with him, they did indeed marry for love.

Their fruit grew into a perfect white tree, the old Holi tree gave of its fruit one last time, and the people of the Holi nation drank once again the water of life, and lived happily on, much longer than would be normal, if not for the Holi tree.

The two brother’s Maydar’s and Storack’s, chosen brides soon found the brothers very stupid and could not stand the sight of them. They ran away and were never heard of again. As for the Brothers themselves, they lived happily ever on in their own stupidity, believing that their sharp wit had driven their ladies away, for fear of feeling stupid.

So truthfully in the end it all happened all over again, but with different people of course.