Notes:
Everything that is in brackets, [ ], are author’s notes. Each character has a different color and
they write in that color. There might
be one word not appropriate for little children. The symbol(s) in the middle of a line is a subject change, or
time has gone by. The little numbers on
the right are how the pages are in the book.
Some of the people’s shade of color might change, but if it is:
Blue-Thorn, Green-Arrowstorm, Red-Rosia, and Purple-Mary Ann
->->->->->RPG book #1<-<-<-<-<-
Thorn is a big glob of purple goo. She is the fighter for the group. She has no magic. She is also a shape shifter, that could turn into any mobile living thing. She doesn’t sleep and doesn’t age. She when she needs to recuperate she turns into goo. In the human form of thorn you will never see her face.
Arrowstorm is an elven archer and
tracker. She is also possessed of some
forest-magic and can fight with a short sword if it gets to be close
quarters. Arrowstorm started the quest
and is enjoying it to the utmost.
Arrowstorm is 1563 years old.
Rosia is a gryfalcon. She has barely fledged. Her wish was to have some fighting skills,
so she can defend herself. Her feathers
are rusty-brown and she paints with her tail.
She would be able to do magic, but since she was abandoned after she
hatched she does not know how to control it.
Rosia joined the group because she was lost and it sounded like fun.
Mary Ann is fifteen with very little
fighting skills. She uses her magic,
instead, to defend herself. She is the
daughter of the Black wizard. She was
tortured by her father until the wizard David taught her right from wrong. Her father imprisoned her and vowed to
destroy the wizard David.
Arrowstorm, Thorn, and Sangel met in
Og’s Tavern when they all got stuck around one table. Thorn and Sangel became interested in a map that Arrowstorm had
found. They all decided to follow the
map to wherever it may go.
In following the map they came across
a cave. Inside the cave they saved a
prince and a princess. The princess
they sent on her way. Sangel fell in
love with the prince, who turned into a frog when kissed, and they brought him
along.
The map finally led to the castle of
the Wizard David. Each traveler had to
pass a challenge to enter (except the frog prince). The wizard sent them off to capture the “Sword of Ultimate
Sorcery” from a cave to the north in exchange for a wish.
On the way there they met an old woman
selling chocolate covered things. To
make her leave them alone they gave her the frog prince to cover in chocolate
and Sangel followed after.
Arrowstorm and Thorn traveled to the
cave and battled a chimera to gain entrance.
While inside the cave they met a gryfalcon named Rosia who was lost in
the cave. When Rosia heard about their
quest she decided to come with them.
With her help they obtained the sword and returned to the wizard David’s
castle.
The wizard granted Rosia’s wish to
have some fighting skills and then disappeared. The travelers angrily searched the castle until a ransom appeared
from the Black Wizard. Thorn knew the
way to his castle and they started off.
When they arrived they found that
there was a magical shield around the castle.
They circumvented it by shoving Thorn though the keyhole to get the key
and unlock the shield.
Rosia, Arrowstorm and Thorn began
their search for the Wizard David in the Dungeons. There they met Mary Ann, the Black Wizard’s daughter, whom he had
imprisoned in the dungeons. She was
able to guide them toward the Wizard David…
Scribed by
Arrowstorm
----------
1
The foursome
followed Mary Ann. They found the Wizard David sleeping in a dungeon cell. They then proceeded to open the door, to
find it was locked. So Mary Ann &
Thorn went in search for a key while Arrowstorm and Rosia stayed with the
wizard. It was a good thing Mary Ann
knew the way through the corridors of the dungeon. They fell upon a staircase leading upward, and a key ring with
several keys on it. They grabbed the
ring and returned to the other half to the team. Thorn & Mary Ann came back to discover Rosia and Arrowstorm
in the cell with the wizard.
“Why are you in the
cell? And how’d you get there?” asked
Mary Ann.
“We touched the
bars. So… don’t touch the bars,”
responded Arrowstorm.
The wizard had woken
up and was sedated. He was probably
drugged or put under a Groggy spell.
Thorn fumbled with the keys and opened the door. And the three prisoners cautiously came out
of the cell, careful not to touch the bars.
Mary Ann guided the group to the mysterious stairway. They sent thorn up the stars as a fly so
incase of danger,
2
it would not have died.
Meanwhile the wizard David was babbling about a black beast. He was scaring the heroes.
“Shut UP!! Stop Talking!” shouted Mary Ann.
“Shhhh…,” ordered
Arrowstorm, “We don’t want to be heard.”
“Bzzzz..
Bzzzz.. It’s all clear up there,”
buzzed Thorn, “It’s safe.”
So the
semi-frightened group headed up the staircase.
It seemed to last forever, and it had the illusion of shrinking. And it seemed Rosia wasn’t going to
fit. But, it was an illusion. When they reached the end, they came upon a
gigantic White room with prisms everywhere.
They heard an earth-shattering roar.
And the prisms shook on their strings.
“It’s here,”
whispered the wizard, “it’s going to get us,” frantically the wizard tried to
flee. But Thorn in its human form
grabbed the terrified wizard.
“Get a hold on
yourself, Man.” Said Thorn. And it
appeared. A great big black beast. It had wings and neon green eyes. It flapped its wings and the breeze almost
3
blew back the crowd. Mary
Ann ran to a close by wall, as did the wizard.
Arrowstorm retreated to an attack position, while Thorn turned into goo,
and morphed back into its human form.
“I don’t have enough
energy. I’m wasted.” She said to Rosia.
“Geez! Now what are we going to do.” She responded.
“We are all going to
fight!!!,” shouted Thorn. It reached
for its staff and it accidentally hit a prism.
And the black beast winced in pain.
“Quick destroy the
prisms. Let’s kill the tyrant!” shouted
Thorn.
Mary Ann used her
magic to explode the prisms. While
Rosia was just smashing them with her tail.
And Arrowstorm was using her arrows to hit crash the things. Thorn was swinging her staff in the air to
strike the prisms. The wizard was still
against the wall scared half to death.
The black beast shrank into a skinny little human, breathing hard, and
cut and bloody. The fivesome gathered
around the almost life-less Black wizard.
4
Mary Ann walked
foreword before anyone else could. She
knelt before him and he saw her. “Mary
Ann!” he squealed. “Well father… the
tables are turned aren’t they.” She
held out her hand and he reached out to touch it “You always were forgiving” he
grinned weakly, taking he hand, “Not all father, I’ve cursed you.” He yelled out at her. But she simply walked out of the room, the
others followed her. Rosia had to carry
the wizard, he was still babbling. Mary
Ann stopped briefly at her room to grab some cloths and take a few items she
needed for magic. “Let’s go.” She said
darkly and hurried out of the house.
“What’s going to happen to the wizard?” Mary Ann looked at Arrowstorm,
“Father? He has his magic, but he is
bound to the grounds of the castle.
David I’ll work on an antidote for.” Mary Ann showed them the door and
followed them out. Arrowstorm, Rosia,
and Thorn gathered in a circle to speak as Mary Ann went to the well. “Should we take her?” asked Arrowstorm,
“Magic would be useful.” David said, Rosia held him by his collar in her
beak. “She seems nice and why not?”
said
5
Thorn. “Magic would be…”
David began babbling again. “She won’t
be able to travel in that dress,” but as Rosia spoke Mary Ann swirled about
then examined herself and her new outfit, breeches and a brown blouse. “Fine with me if she comes.” Rosia grinned
as best she could, with a beak and carrying a human.
Mary Ann
approached, “Well I’ll be off-”
“Where to?” she
shrugged. “Adventure I suppose.”
“Well come with
us, plenty of adventure there.” Mary Ann grinned, “Thanks.”
There was a meow
from Mary Ann’s pack. She laughed and
took out a cat. “Firefly will have to
come too.”
“Firefly?” Thorn
inquisitively looked at the cat.
“I met her in the
dungeon one night, I thought her eyes were fireflies.” Mary Ann explained as
they left.
⌂
One week later around a fire they were discussing what they could explore, Mary Ann was fiddling with a potion over a fire. Every once in a while she’d touch the pot and it would glow she’d scowl and she’d add some stuff to it. Every once in awhile she’d add something to the
6
conversation. “The
cliffs in Florence are infested with dragons, father and them would often work
out deals.” Then the conversation would speak of going there and someone else
would mention Latica’s witches, and so the conversations went. At last Mary Ann touched the pot and it
exploded. “I got it!” she yelled! The pot was glowing a florescent blue she
took it [gosh writing in band id difficult!] and rushed to David and threw the
mixture on him. He jumped up, “Damn
you! That’s hot” Mary Ann
grinned.
7
“That sounds
a bit more like the David we know!” Thorn smiled as well, “He’s not babbling
anymore.”
“Thank the goddess!”
Arrowstorm grumbled. “Can we decide
where were going now?” Rosia growled, [wait… do gryphon growl?] “Where’s the
map?”
“Wait, I have it,”
Arrowstorm began digging in her pack, “Here it is.” She handed it to Rosia who
began to study it.
Mary Ann began
packing up her supplies of magic. Thorn
become a dragon and started a fire to dry David’s clothes then wrapped around
the contingent to add the extra heat.
Arrowstorm began fletching arrows.
“Um… Guys?” Rosia
began waving the map around. “Hello?”
she looked frustrated, then let out a gryphonic scream that pierced all the
sounds of the camp. Everyone turned to
look at her. Thorn turned back into a
human.
Arrowstorm held her
ears, “Now that you got our attention can you keep it down to an acceptable
level? I have sensitive ears.”
“Sorry, but I found
out found out where we should go.” Rosia bobbed her head in apology, “There’s a
8
place that I have heard of for year. I always assumed it was a legend but it’s on this map. There is a story of the Kethren. She was an all powerful immortal being who
lives in a place called Haven.”
“That tale is in
elven lore as well,” Arrowstorm nodded, “But I didn’t connect the ‘Haven’ in
the map with the ‘Haven’ of legend.”
“So shall we go
there?” Thorn spoke up. Everyone except
David nodded. “If you don’t mind I’ve
had quite enough adventures,” David said, “I would like to return to my castle
and have my life become a bit less interesting.”
And so it was
decided. Mary Ann set up a spell to
send David home. David granted
Arrowstorm and Thorn’s wishes, both of which had changed. David was whisked away to his castle and the
now four travelers set off toward the West.
A few days into
their journey Thorn had formed a centaur so that Mary Ann could ride and Thorn
could still talk. Rosia flew or
walked. Arrowstorm would either walk
with Rosia or ride behind Mary Ann on Thorn’s back.
9
Rosia and
Arrowstorm stopped behind Thorn as Mary Ann dismounted. Rosia lay down and Arrowstorm collapsed
nearby.
Rosia watched Mary
Ann struggle with the well and snorted.
“How have humans survived this long? I mean, they’re so small!,”
Arrowstorm lifted
an eyebrow. “Well, okay, not small but
they’re so fragile! How do they defend
themselves?”
“Well, besides the
fact that elves are smaller than humans,” Arrowstorm grinned “I haven’t
been able to figure it out either.
They’re not as fast as we are and they’re not as flexible or as
agile. The only thing they have on
their side is iron.”
Rosia contemplated
one foreclaw, “Iron doesn’t help them against anything but elves and the elves
and the gryphons have magic as well.”
Mary Ann let out a
blistering oath as the bucket slipped through her fingers for the third time
and Arrowstorm smiled. “Of course with
that oath she could strip the leaves from trees!” Mary Ann glowered as Thorn
10
assisted in pulling up the bucket.
Rosia laughed, “She
must have learned that one from Thorn.”
Mary Ann remounted
Thorn and called to the others. They
struggled to catch up to Thorn.
Arrowstorm touch
the cap to the quiver on her back and whistled to get they’re attention, “Hey,
guys, I know a Mage-smith in the direction we’re going and I need some new
arrows. Do you mind stopping at the
next town?”
Mary Ann rubbed
rope-burns on her hands, “That sounds like a very good idea to me.” Rosia and thorn agreed.
Before long they
were entering the small town of Avodell.
Arrowstorm led the way to a little smithy near the middle of town. There was a sign above the shop saying ‘Gart×smith’. The little elf smiled as soon as she saw it.
Arrowstorm ran up
the last couple of steps and threw open the door. The other three drew back and groped for weapons as a huge troll
filled the doorway.
11
“Arrowstorm!” the
troll roared.
“Gart!” Arrowstorm
yelled as the troll swept her up into an embrace that nearly engulfed the
little elf.
When the others saw
the reaction of Arrowstorm they relaxed and drew closer to the door.
“Next time tell us
we’re about to be attacked by a troll alright?” Mary Ann complained.
“Sorry guys. This is Gart. Gart this is Thorn, Rosia and Mary Ann.” All three made signs of greeting and entered
the shop.
The shop was a lot
bigger inside than it looked from the outside.
A harpy winged up and shrieked a greeting and the travelers ducked
again. Arrowstorm laughed and
introduced them to Hilary who worked the bellows at the smithy.
“Aren’t there any
other humans?” cried Mary Ann, Gart considered the small thing. “Um, Rachel the keeper of the magic shop is
human!” she grinned and asked where to find the place. Happily she left.
Arrowstorm
grinned, “So what do you need small one?”
12
“I need some
arrowheads.”
“Good place to
choose small one!” Arrowstorm sighed,
Gart was twice as large as she and she seemed to be teased of her small size,
even for elves she was small!
“You need
anything?” Gart directed. The other two
shook their heads.
“I think we’ll go
see Mary Ann.” Thorn said, “You two have a lot to catch up an and it’s hot in here!” Gart’s laugh filled
the room Rosia wondered how the joyful noise didn’t break down the room!
Gart and
Arrowstorm went off to talk arrowhead talk and Rosia and Thorn headed
outside. The street was quiet in the
dusk, a few people were still about.
They wandered bout had a few drinks at the bar and came back out
Arrowstorm met them out in the street as they walked.
“Where in heavens
name is Mary Ann?” At that moment an
explosion came from the magic shop, then several oaths that would make a
sailor’s hair fall out. “Thorn!” Rosia
and
13
Arrowstorm cried in unison.
“I didn’t-uh never
mind she needs some color-language.”
“That’s not color
it’s….. Fluorescent.” More oath
perused, as the smoke cleared two girls came rushing to meet them.
“What happened?”
“A reaction.” Mary
Ann started grimly.
“A reaction it was more than
that! The dolt who was
caring for the store while I had dinner switched the opals with the black
crystals!” Rachel cried.
“So…” Rosia asked.
“So they had a
reaction when we tried a testing magic formula amplifier.” Mary Ann cried
exasperated.
“And the
explosion?”
“We were testing a
magic flame,” Rachel said “Our magic will be useless for five days!”
“At least the
shop’s okay.” Rachel sighed.
“Okay?” Arrowstorm
asked.
“Yes, the
magic-flame absorbs the magic it takes to fix something so the store was
saved.” Rachel explained.
“Ah.” Thorn had
shifted to a human
14
shape. For some reason we
turned when her face came. Mary Ann was
annoyed, no matter how hard she tried she couldn’t focus on Thorn’s face! “Well I should lock up shop,” Rachel sighed
“Mary Ann will you be here tomorrow?” Mary Ann looked at the others, who nodded
“Yes,”
“Great I’ll need
you’re help at that store, farewell!”
She gave a goodbye sign. “Well,
exciting day this was.” Thorn said.
Mary Ann simply asked if anyone was hungry.
==
The night was
spent at Gart’s home. It was quite big
and it was not under a bridge. Mary Ann had been frustrated with her lack
of magic, she couldn’t light a flame!
“How am I to see
with no candle?” she’d asked Gart, being very knowledgeable in things like this
showed her how to use flint and steel.
The next morning she’d left to go to the store.
The other three
spoke to Gart about Haven.
“Haven, I have a
book on it.”
15
He got the book
and handed it to them. It was very hard
to read and was more of a journal than a book.
“The elf traveled there. He had
to undergo many tests applied to him to see if he was worthy to enter
Haven. There were five tests, he was
very athletic and a very good tracker,” he looked at Arrowstorm who nodded,
“His tests had to do with his skills.
He was bound by a spell never
to tell the tests to anyone so
I know naught of them.” He took the
journal and flipped through it. “The
Kethren, the ruler of Haven applies the tests.
It is often said in legend that she is immortal, she is not. She will however live to be older than
anyone of us can know. She was born at
the beginning of time and if only 17 in her years, that is over 17 million years for humans.” Thorn
nodded, she knew a time would come for her to pass. While her age was human immortality she would die, only Gods were
truly immortal. “What would pass through to get there?”
Thorn
16
asked. “Each of your
skills would be used.” Gart looked at each creature in turn. “You have tracking,” he looked Arrowstorm in
the eye, “You’ll have to find your way through a thick enchanted forest. Thorn you have use of your various figures
and skills to attack different beings, never under any
circumstances are you to be seem in your original state.” Thorn seemed about to
protest but she held her tongue, she simply melted into goo. “Rosia, even your skills will be used.”
“Painting?”
“Yes, and this
trip can also bring out hidden talents.
The elf learned to yodel on the trip as well as forge calligraphy.”
Rosia nodded. [I am not going to learn to yodel!][That would be
funny to hear, Hee Hee.]
“I could do calligraphy
I think.”
Gart then spoke
about the danger. “Do not look for your talent, it will
come to you.” He paused, “I suppose Mary Ann is coming.”
“Yes,”
“She will be using
her magic often, of course you can get by
17
with no magic if need be,” he paused, “Magic will be very useful
to have.” Gart stopped and got up he
went to the kitchen he poured himself a cup of coffee. [Did they have
coffee then?] Presently he came back to the table “Any drinks?” The group shook their head no.
“Back to
business.” He said, “Is there anything we can do to prepare?” Gart told them
no.
“[no you can’t
write Arrowstorm! Mary Ann! SH!]
Gart gave them information about the map. The map was deceiving he said, “Arrowstorm your tracking skills
will lead the group through the forest… MY look at the time I have to go
to the shop. Later my friends.”
“But I thought
Hilary was.. oh brother! How am I
suppose to track something when I have no track to follow?” Arrowstorm frowned. [Hey
Arrowstorm we have À⁂MAGIC⁂À I know I’m new
but I have a few tricks up my sleeve.
But you lost it all! *Sob*
18
For five days *chuckle* stop laughing,
I can too use flint and steel ACK QUIT laughing!][*Ahem* after I was so
rudely interrupted!*glare*][whatever
Arrowstorm elfs!][Humans!][humph]<-[We were bored in German. Can you tell?]->[no! Really]
Arrowstorm stalked
off after Gart before anyone could say a word.
Rosia and Thorn
exchanged glances. “What’s got her
feathers in a ruffle?” Rosia raised her eartuffs in surprise.
Thorn reformed into
a human. “[calm down
Arrowstorm. Geeze you’re hyper about this *winks*] “Who knows, I think she wants Gart to come
with us. They spoke until late last
night.” [okay this is a nice purple pen.][not that your pen
isn’t nice] At that moment shouting
came from the street. The pair rushed
outside to see what was going on. A
dragon was swooping down from the sky Arrowstorm and Gart arrived. The dragon set fire to a cart of fruit. Rachel appeared and then Mary Ann. “Look out he’s here to do my fathers
bidding,” she shouted. “And that would
be…..” shouted Arrowstorm.
“Destroy the
town” she called over the screams of the town people. “What?!”
19
“I’ll explain
later-” A blast of fire separated
them. Arrows began to fly. Another Dragon appeared, Thorn raced up to
fight.
“Get the fire
out!” people yelled. Arrowstorm was
dragged into Gart’s shop, there he had a bucket of water in case a fire started
inside. Hilary, Arrowstorm, and Gart
managed to get it outside. Meanwhile
Rosia had raced to the lake with a bucket.
She raced back to where the others were battling the fire and shook
herself off, spraying water everywhere.
Villagers were of some use, they dragged buckets from wells to douse the
fire. Others just had their eyes to the
sky as the foreign dragon and Thorn battled.
Rachel and Mary Ann were helping the villagers. The fire began to spread when suddenly it
began to rain. The evil dragon launched
to the sky and Thorn flew to the earth.
The fire began to dwindle and was soon out. An hour later the rains stopped and the sun came out. City officials came to those whose stalls in
the street had been burned. No one was
really hurt , a small girl
20
had a small burn, but nothing very serious. Most of the stalls had been burned to
nothing, but no stores had gone to the fire, only the sliver smith’s had been
damaged.
“We were lucky it
wasn’t his normal dragon.” Mary Ann said as they all dragged the big tub back
in the shop. With Rosia and Thorn the
job wasn’t too hard.
“Normal dragon?”
Gart inquired.
“My father sent
the dragon. If I am wounded to where my
magic can’t keep up all my spells they are broken” she explained.
“So he sent a
dragon to burn you.” Mary Ann nodded.
“I should have
been prepared. The boy who switched the
opal and crystal yesterday works for my father. Without my magic he can see where I am”
Rosia was
slightly confused. “But wasn’t his spell broken?”
“No, my magic
wasn’t hurt just made unusable by me so my father used his magic to find
me..” [Okay this is getting Mightly confusing.]
===
D
21
A cry of anguish
came from the kitchen. [band again] A
great thud then more shouts of anger.
Arrowstorm, Rosia, and Thorn had been playing cards. [can gryphons
play cards?][what do they do with their talons?]
“When will she
get her magic back?’
“Two days,” Rosia
responded.
“Who’s going to
show her?”
Loud sounds of
something being thrown on the floor came from the kitchen.
“I went last
time,” Rosia said.
“I showed her how
to brush her hair.” Arrowstorm replied.
They looked at Thorn.
“No,” she
said. More sounds reached the den.
“Please?” Rosia
asked.
“OK!”, Thorn said
as more yelling reached them.
Thorn ran into
the kitchen. Mary Ann sat with her hair
in a mess and her clothing…. a mess!
A tin sat in the center of the room, badly smashed.
22
“It won’t
open. I’ve tried it all, smashing,
pulling, pushing,…everything and it won’t open”. Thorn
picked up the can and opened it.
“Shut
up.”
“I
didn’t say anything!” Thorn claim.
“Well,
who made these anyway?” She fumed as she ate the contents.
Arrowstorm poked
her head in the door. “Is it safe to come in now?” Mary Ann threw the empty tin at her head and she ducked.
Thorn
laughed, “She doesn’t have anything else to throw now! You can come in.”
Arrowstorm
entered cautiously and began rummaging around in the cupboards.
Mary
Ann sighed, “I’m sorry you guys. I have
to relearn how to do anything I used to do with magic.”
“I
understand,” Arrowstorm smiled absently.
“I’m just happy to be staying here just a little bit longer.”
Mary
Ann and Thorn exchanged a glance over Arrowstorm’s oblivious head as she exited
the room. What exactly was going on
here?
* D *
23
Arrowstorm heard Gart long before she reached the smithy. The sound of his hammer echoed through the
hall and heat blasted her as she opened the door.
The
elf shooed Hilary off the bellows and took them over. She switched to mage-sight and watched magic flow from the brawny
troll into the metal he was forming.
Arrowstorm
left the bellows and went behind Gart.
She added her magic in with his to give life to the metal. It formed into a rose of copper. Gart held the rose in surprisingly gentle
hands and pulled the heat out of the rose until it was cool enough for
Arrowstorm to touch. He turned and
handed the rose to the elf.
“Arrowstorm….” Gart began.
“Gart
I’m not stupid or oblivious.” Arrowstorm interrupted. “There’s some reason you
stopped last night. What was in that
book that you didn’t want us to know?”
Gart
turned and damped the fire. Silence
reigned for a moment.
“Stormling
you know I worry about you.”
Arrowstorm
remained silent, “There have been so many who have sought
24
Haven and died on the way.” Gart turned and folded Arrowstorm into an
enveloping embrace. "You’re going
to leave and I may never see you again.
This is the greatest danger you have ever faced and if you don’t succeed
I won’t even know what happened to you.
“So
come with us,” Arrowstorm suggested, “We could use a good cook!”
It
elicited a weak chuckle from Gart, who released Arrowstorm from his embrace.
The
elf hesitated, “Do you suppose that Mary Ann could cast a spell to allow us to
communicate on the journey?”
Gart
blinked, “She might be able to.” He
smiled and offered Arrowstorm his arm.
“Shall we go and ask?”
The
elf accepted Gart’s hand and they exited the smith arm in arm.
D
Mary
Ann gave last minute instructions to Fart on how to use his scrying-crystal
while the others packed their thing onto Thorn.
“All
right, all right,” the troll chuckled, “you’ve told me three times already!”
25
“Well,
I’m just making sure!” Mary Ann huffed.
Mary
Ann moved off as Arrowstorm ran up.
[It’s my turn, Wahahahahahahahahaaaaa!]
“Did you learn how to use the scrying-crystal yet?” Arrowstorm asked, but before Gart could say anything added, “Just kidding. I know how Mary Ann has been drilling you.”
“Hmph!”
was all Mary Ann put in as the others just laughed.
Pulling
Gart to the side Arrowstorm added, “Remember, we have to try to talk every
night.”
“Alright,
Little Archer. [Hee Hee, Just to let you know I got that from Antara.] I’ll make sure to.” He embraced her for the last time, for a
while.
Rosia
and Thorn said their good-byes as the set off.
© © ©
Rosia’s ear-tuffs
rose suddenly.
“What is it? Please say it won’t try to hurt us. What is it?
I still don’t have my magic back!
What is it?” Mary Ann panicked.
“Shhh! You make a lot of noise for
26
something so fragile!” Rosia glared. Everyone jumped at the harshness in Rosia’s voice.
“Then what is it?”
Thorn asked in a low voice.
“It’s, it’s…” she
trailed off. Suddenly she jumped with
excitement almost whacking Thorn with her tail, knocking over Mary Ann, and startling
Arrowstorm. “GEESE!”
“What?! Is that all?” Mary Ann exclaimed.
“Well, I’m
hungry! If you don’t care I could
always eat you.” Rosia was a thumbs
length from Mary Ann’s face
“I’m hungry too. I’ll come.”
Thorn added turning into an Eagle.
© © ©
“Eww! Arrowstorm,
Thorn, how can you stand her eating!” Mary Ann cringed as Rosia tore another
chink off of her second goose. [At this point I’m green or purple??][HaHaHa! Gryphons
really are messy eaters aren’t they?!]
“She always eats like that. I don’t think there is anything wrong with it.” Thorn replied with a shrug of part of her goo-form.
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27
Traveling through the
woods was surprisingly easy. It also
helped that Mary Ann had her magic back.
In her centaur form Thorn looked uneasy.
“What’s wrong?”
Arrowstrom asked looking confused.
“It feels too
calm. Something should be
happening. This is just too easy.” She
complained.
“I though the trip
was going good. I like the fact we
don’t have to fight.” Mary Ann looked at
her three friends to see if anyone agreed.
“It’s ok, but Thorn
is right. It is too quiet.” Rosia
looked nervously around.
Arrowstorm pulled out
her bow. “We should keep out guard
up. You can never tell what could come
at us through the woods.”
“Mmmm…” Rosia cooed,
closing her eyes.
“What is it? What do you smell?” Arrowstrom and Thorn
asked in unison.
“Bird. Big bird.” She bobbed her head to emphasize
the fact it was big.
“A Big bird? What do you…”
28
They all turned as they heard some clucking. What they saw standing higher than the trees
was a giant white chicken. As soon as
it saw the group it made a peck at Thorn, who had to dodge since they were all
surprised and did not have time to stricke first. Mary Ann tried to strike at it with her magic, but the bird was
shielded. Arrowstrom loosed arrow after
arrow at the white feathers but they only made the chicken even madder. Rosia kept trying to dive at it’s head but
kept getting pecked at.
“Thorn, it’s up to
you! We’ll keep distracting it.”
Arrowstrom yelled as she shot another arrow.
Thorn turned into a
giant wombat. Being bigger than the
chicken she could scratch it. It looked
like they were wearing the chicken down when it started glowing bright orange.
“Mary Ann, what is it
doing?” everyone yelled at once.
29
“Well, it is getting
ready to do something, and I don’t think it’s good.” Mary Ann raised her arm to
block her face. [Wanna know something weird?
I am writing about a giant chicken and there are so many chicken things
on TV.]
[Giant chickens and
wombats?! I can’t add to that, even if
you are stealing my material *wink*][Wait a minute…
hearts?! What is with the hearts?!]
Everyone was so
scared on what the chicken was going to do.
The chicken became brighter and brighter. It became hard to look at.
Suddenly a loud noise sounded the forest and the wind blew very
fast. And a stench so strong sent
everyone to coughs and tears. The odor
was so strong that even the chicken was amazed. Arrowstorm realized it had passed gas.
“I think it,
ummmmmm… it uh….,” stumbled Arrowstorm.
“It farted, just say
it.” Smiled Mary Ann. [I’m so polite!
Thorn!J]
“No, it really cut
the cheese,” said Arrowstorm.
“Really rotten
cheese you mean,” added Rosia. The
chicken seemed pleased and it wasn’t paying attention. Thorn took her opportunity and slashed at
its body. The chicken squawked and
started to become a blackish chicken.
30
“I hope it doesn’t
pass gas again.” Said Rosia.
“Kill it before it
can do something!” ordered Arrowstorm. Thorn
slashed at it multiple times and it became bloody and white again. The two(chicken and Thorn) fought and
continued to fight. Meanwhile…
Rosia flew up to
dive at it since the chicken was fighting Thorn. Arrowstorm & Mary Ann couldn’t do anything so they shouted
encouragement to Thorn & Rosia. The
chicken knew it was being defeated so it squawked and chickened away. The foursome yelled in triumph. Thorn shifted back into a human and looked
very tired.
“I think I want to
recuperate so can we camp here, or soon?” asked Thorn.
“Do you think you
could turn into something small and I’ll carry you until it gets dark?” asked
Rosia.
“Sure,” said Thorn
and shifted into a cat. It was getting
dark very soon so the group hoped nothing would come out and attack them.
They came upon a
creek. Since everyone was thirsty they
all took a drink. Mary Ann tested it
with her magic to make sure nothing was wrong with it.
31
Singing was soon heard off not to far away. They continued on their way. But the singing became louder. The forest was ahead of them. 3 mermaids were on rocks in the river
singing.
“Ooooo how
beautiful.” Said Mary Ann.
“Yep,” added
Arrowstorm. “Excuse us. Can we ask you something?” shouted the
elf. One mermaid was shiny gold and it
stopped singing, it hopped of the rock it was sitting on and swam over to the
elf, while the other two looked on.
“Yes, what do you
need of usssss?” asked the mermaid.
“Can you and your
friends carry the cat, Mary Ann and myself over the river. You see we need to get to the other side.”
“It will cost you a
pricccce.” She hissed.
“We don’t have
things to give you.” The mermaid swam
back to her friends and chatted a bit.
Rosia and Mary Ann looked at each other. Arrowstorm held her ground.
All she wanted was to get over the river. The three mermaids swam over to the shore and said in unison.
“We know that one of
you is a magician. So our priccce is
thissss. Give us legss for 24 hours or
elsse, no ♫Over the river and through the
woods to the Kethren’s
32
house we go.♫” The mermaids smiled. Rosia pulled the group over and whispered.
“how do they know so
much about us?”
“I can do their
wishes but it seems awkward. How do
they know so much about us?” replied Mary Ann.
“I think our best
bet is to go over somewhere else.” Said Arrowstorm. Thorn turned into goo and became human. The mermaids gasped.
“What are you
doing!?” asked Arrowstorm.
“I’ve seen merpeople
before. They don’t like my kind. They seem to not like us, my people I mean,
I’ll get rid of them.”
“You Go Girl!” said
Mary Ann. Thorn walked over and
squatted in front of the mermaids. It
lifted up its hood so they saw her face.
The mermaids looked scared and all the color in their bodies faded and
they swam away. Thorn walked back over
to the group.
“Dispute
settled. All we have to do is get Mary
Ann’s magic to get us over there. It
will take too long for Rosia to fly back and forth. Then she will be exhausted,
I can’t turn into anything so Mary Ann whip up something good.” Ordered
Thorn.
33
“Wait! What do you look like?” Rosia quickly asked.
“Huh? What do you mean?” Thorn sounded confused by
the sudden question.
“What do you look
like? You never showed us. I at least want to know what you look like
under that hood.” Rosia tried to look under Thorn’s hood but she turned out of
view.
“Why does it matter
what I look like? You didn’t really
seem to mind before.” Thorn shrugged.
“Ya! You never have shown us. Why don’t you?” Arrowstorm also tried to
look under Thorn’s hood with no luck.
“I don’t know you
very well, but I’m starting to get curious.” Mary Ann spoke up.
“But… Well…
Squeak.” Thorn turned into a mouse and dashed over to a nearby bush.
“We’re sorry we just
want to know what you look like. You’re
always hiding your face! Come back
34
out. Please?” silence was
all Mary Ann got as an answer. The
threesome set out to look over the whole forest for their friend.
“You have to come out
sometime!” Arrowstorm yelled.
“I know, I’ve just
been following you.” Thorn had turned human again and stepped out from around a
tree just behind where they were looking.
They all laughed about the fact they had been looking for something that
had been right behind them. And it had
been following them.
“Will you show us
your face now? Aww, come on! Please?
Even a quick look?” Rosia wined, which was awkward sounding coming out
of something so big and fierce looking.
Arrowstorm walked
around trying to see Thorn’s face. “A
small peak Thorn?” begged Mary Ann. She
lifted her hands in front of her face, as if they were a book. “I have the
ability to read minds if I wish,” she threatened. [You’re sooo NICE Mary Ann!]
[Ha! Ha!
Ha! I have the book!]
35
[This was Jenny T. in Algebra][HI there people.
I’m weird, can you tell][Toga, Toga, Toga, Toga, Toga, Toga, Toga, Toga,
Toga, Toga, Toga, Toga, Toga, Toga, Toga,
Toga][sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep!][nap, nap, nap, nap, nap, nap, nap,
nap, nap, nap, nap, nap, nap][May your gutters be plentiful][]
“You what?!” Thorn,
Rosia, and Arrowstorm chorused in alarm.
Mary Ann suddenly
found herself the focus of three pairs of horrified eyes. Those included the raptor eyes of an
all-too-hungry Rosia.
Mary Ann seemed to
shrink in on herself “I.. I.. Well
I… Oh, okay not really, I was just
bluffing.”
Rosia and Thorn
glanced at Arrowstorm who nodded. It
was the truth.
“All right, now that
that crisis was averted, let’s give upon tormenting poor Thorn and be on our
way, shall we?” the others agreed with Arrowstorm and they resumed their
journey in the forest.
[Arrowstorm! Do ∙
[Ha Ha Ha! I cut her off!(But left her room to
continue)]
* * *
Arrowstorm bent over
the neck of her mane and buried her fingers in Firefly’s ruff and hummed
happily. The group had covered quite a
lot of ground in the last few days and let the last challenge they
36
had to grapple with was the mermaids they had confronted in the
river.
The only thing that
assuaged boredom was her long-distance talks with Gart. Thorn didn’t need to be entertained but
Rosia and Mary Ann were getting restive.
Rosia had started pouncing on squirrels to keep occupied and Mary Ann
had started fidgeting in her seat discomforting Thorn.
Mary Ann sighed, “I
think she is trying to kill us with boredom.”
Rosia let go of the
squirrel she had caught and rejoined Thorn and Arrowstorm’s mare, “If that’s
true she succeeding!”
A rising thunder
covered Mary Ann’s next words. Thorn
moaned, “You had to say something!”
“A storm?” Mary Ann squeaked as she watched dangerous looking clouds bubble. She shut her eyes for a moment, her eyes sprung open. “Hide!” she said. With a wave of her hand all the possessions that had been scattered were gone. Firefly ran to Mary Ann she snapped her fingers.[I snapped my fingers][not Firefly] “All the hiding places are orange,
37
hide.” [Guess what, the sky is blue. There’s these things that make it white tho][Huh?][Intelligent comment, I know]
“Why
do we have to hide from a storm?” Arrowstorm asked, “It’s just rain and wind.”
Mary
Ann was already running toward the nearest place highlighted my orange magic,
“This is no ordinary storm! It has
magic behind it.”
Arrowstorm
smiled at the challenge, “In other words it’s from the Kethren!” She followed Rosia into a tree and convinced
it to interlace its branched around them.
Thorn turned into a mouse and crawled into a crevice made by the roots
of a tree. Mary Ann hid in a hollow in
a hollow tree trunk.
Arrowstorm
had nestled herself next to Rosia’s flank when the elf’s crystal made a
bell-like sound. She fumbled the
crystal out of her pocket and activated it with a thought.
The
crystal warmed and Gart’s face appeared in the facet closest to Arrowstorm.
“Arrowstorm? I’m sorry I’m not calling
at the normal time, but I found something that you guys need to hear.”
“We’re
not going anywhere!” Rosia said from behind her shoulder.
“What is it we need to hear?”
38
asked Arrowstorm.
“New information has reached here. A rumor is going around that says the
Kethren is gathering a storm that will-”
“The storm’s here.” Arrowstorm said glumly.
“We’re hiding,” Rosia added for a moment the crystal grew
dark, “Gart?”
“The rumors are true then!” Gart’s face winked. Again the crystal dimmed.
“Gart?” his voice came through cracked and distorted. “Gart?” Arrowstorm yelled as the crystal
darkened and shattered. [augh! Gart!
May crystal!]
~||~
Thorn had burrowed into the ground, still the wind whipped
down the hole. She couldn’t tell what
was going on above ground, “whatever it is it’s bad” she thought.
~||~
Mary Ann sat with
Firefly by her side. As she sat huddled
39
against the cold she whispered a word. Bright lavender colored surrounded her and her hiding place. “That should keep us safe,” she told
Firefly.
~||~
The storm picked up speed. At its highest point the foursome screamed
out, then all was quiet.
~||~
Thorn emerged from
her burrow and looked about. Complete
destruction was only what she saw. What
had once been a great forest lay in ruins.
Only three trees remained standing. [Augh!
All those trees!] She changed to a
cat and looked around. The sight was no
different than a mouse’s. “Strange,”
she thought, “Must be the storm.” She
hurried to the place that Arrowstorm, Rosia, and Mary Ann had gathered.
“Thorn?” Mary Ann
asked. Thorn nodded. “I guess you’ve figured it out?” she asked
inquisitively. Thorn cocked her head
“The loss of our
talent, magic, or power”
40
Thorn thought then took account of herself. With resentment she realized she was a mouse. “We think the loss will last up to five
days, but it cold last only a couple of hours.
We’ll have to find out,” Arrowstorm sighed.
“Our stuff is gone
for now, I can’t call it back from Suspension.” Mary Ann explained. “if you like can ride in my waist pouch.”
Thorn scrambled up into Mary Ann’s waist pouch. Stuck without a map they
were forced to camp where they were.
With all of their
talents gone the only person who could do anything was Mary Ann. Arrowstorm grumbled as she tried to explain
in words how to draw a bow to Mary Ann, after a few hours Arrowstorm gave
up. “I never realized how many talents
I had.” Rosia said. “I can’t even fly now.”
“That’s not a talent.” Mary Ann said absentmindedly. “Of course it is.”