The Bluewood - Jamie

Addi, you're awesome! Our poor blog is just starving for love, coughing on the dust. How could we neglect it like this, when 15 minutes is all it takes to make its day? And each others' as well! Thank you kindly for your duster and your encouraging speech!

So, I will gladly oblige. x)

__________________________

Ivian recoiled from the book, as though he had been stung. "What is this?" he demanded, looking up at the council gathered around him in the tent. A dozen pairs of steady eyes met his from around the table, candlelight flickering in their gazes. But no one ventured a reply.

"What is this?" the prince asked again, giving the book a slight shove into the middle of the table. "My father-in-law leaves me in charge of the army for two weeks, and this is the time you choose to present such a delicate item?"

"Ivian," said the man to his right, laying his hand on his shoulder in a warning gesture. "Hear them out before you jump to conclusions, not one soldier in this army would seek to create disunity."

The young man let out a sigh. "You're right. Please, will someone not explain?"

"I will speak," said a middle aged soldier on the far side of the table. "The prophesies recorded herein specifically indicated that this book would be found on a certain date. My daughter came across the book hidden in an abandoned basement on that very day. The writings also indicate the exact political scenario which we see before us today. There were even instructions on the precise time to share this with our leaders. We would have given it to King Arlion, you have my word. But inscribed within the prophesy itself were instructions to give it to the prince, and that's you."

Ivian swallowed apprehensively. "And what does the prophesy say we must do?" he asked.

"It's not so clear as that, you'll have to read it for yourself. But it warns us that attack is coming in a manner we least expect, for which we are not prepared. We're prepared for the rebel armies, yes, but something much worse will soon be loosed against us. And now rumor has it that Orchrilla has had dealings with the Bluewood..."

The legends concerning the Bluewood were sinister and dark, no one heard its name without a slight chill running down their spine.

"I alone of you have entered this forest," said another young man, Kywen. "When I was a child I travelled through it, and came out alive. I traveled with my sister and your wife, Ivian. And combining the rumors with the prophesy with what I saw therein... I think I can deduce what kind of darkness our enemies plan to bring down upon us."

*marches in*

*flings open the curtains to let sunlight burst through the dark, dusty blog*

*grabs a feather duster and dusts the bookshelves*

It has been... *counts* 42 days (I think) since the last prompt was posted. Now, I know we all have school and some people are probably traveling and there's homework and life happens, but it takes like fifteen minutes to write a free write. Our poor blog is feeling quite neglected. And unloved! T_T

So, if any of you could possibly spare fifteen minutes or so this week, the poor deprived blog would appreciate it. As would I. 

So! Write, my dear friends! Bring joy and love back to the blog! 

King of Legend - Addi

"Please, Jayson, " Alise begged. "Trust me."

I looked down at my half sister. Her eyes were wide with terror and hope, her clothes were torn, leaves were hanging half-heartedly in her hair. I'd never seen perfect Alise look like such a wreck. 

"Come in," I said.

She looked both ways and darted inside. 

I closed the door behind her and locked it tightly. 

In the living room, she had already started pulling the curtains closed. I felt self-conscious about Alise being in my house. She'd always seemed so... Perfect. And rich. And my shabby apartment seemed so tiny and insignificant. 

"What's wrong?" I asked finally, breaking the silence. 

She sank into one of my faded armchairs. 

"It's a long story. The short version is, I found this." She reached into her bag and drew out a book. It was thick, with a faded leather cover. The title was etched into it and dyed blood red. I leaned forward to read it. 
"The Amber Seal," I whispered. "But, that's..."
"The illegal book that the former King wrote," Alise said matter-of-factly.

I recoiled from the book, as though I had been stung.
"The former king of Legend," I pointed out. "No one really believes he was the real king."
"Then why is the journal illegal? Why does the emperor work so hard to extinguish any mention of him? Jayson, he is the real king. Trust me, the journal says everything."
"It's a fairytale, Alise. The king wasn't real and if he was, he's long dead. And I'd rather not die for treason, so please stop," My voice was sharper than I meant it to be. 
"But-" she started. 
I reached for the book, fully intending to throw it into the fire. She clutched it to her chest. 
"If you won't help me, I'll leave. I only thought you would want to overthrow the Emperor, you hate him so."
I was silent as Alise tucked the book back into her bag. She smoothed down her ragged skirt and marched toward the door. 
"Aren't you going to stay?" I asked, startled.
She turned back to me. "No, Jayson. I have work to do. Good-bye, brother."
Part of me wondered if I should explain, confide in her the truth. No, Sevan's men were watching me already. 
"Farewell, sister. Be safe."
That is the last I ever see of Alise Eryndaughter.

Ehhh. That was rough. Ah, well. 

Round 4 ;) - Jamie

So, I suppose it could work like this? At least for now. If over a week has passed and all the posts have been soapboxed, then anyone feel free to begin the next round. And each round may then last anywhere from one week to over a month... *nods* We can just roll with this and see how it goes... nu? We're all busy.

Oh... Addi and Josh... would you two mind adding your names to your freewrites? Seems to have been forgotten. Thanks. ;)

And would someone like to set us up with a new poll?

So, for the prompt!

I recoiled from the book, as though I had been stung.

Have fun! =D

The Dark

I clutched my suitcase tightly. Everything I owned was in my hands. Or rather, everything I wanted them to know I owned. My other possessions were long gone. Ever since the attack on my village, I had been running, both from the mechs and from the government's special "research gathering and civilian enforcement" squads, or as we magicians call them, "hunters". I can only be thankful it wasn't them that slaughtered everyone I knew. Now I'm truly on my own.  I'm one of the last shadow wielders and only person in known history (at least to my knowledge) that showed affinity to two separate classes of magic. I sat in the outdoor waiting area for the local transit station, having entered with a ticket the young man with the suit had foolishly kept in his hand. I never wanted to be a thief. None of us ever did. I would almost feel bad, if I didn't know he was part of their society. He deserved what he got. The night sky was cloudy, keeping the area slightly dark and very cold. I opened my suitcase hesitantly. Inside laid my two other sets of clothes, a few small books of magic, and my prized knives. The latter two would be especially useful and I knew it. Owning a book of magic was dangerous, and they fetched a high price on the black market. But only after I memorized their contents cover to cover. I tried to stay inconspicuous in the back corner, closing my suitcase silently and attempting to look busy with a string on my shirt. 

"Hey kid!" I looked up, and noticed two hunters approaching me.

"C-can I help you?" I squeaked, attempting to look scared. They usually leave you alone sooner that way.

"Well... I'm afraid we're in need of some extra funding." the first said. "And you can help. We'll just be taking your suitcase, and taking what we need, then returning the rest."

A robbery. Just what I needed. First day attempting to start anew in a civilized area and already getting mugged by the government. "I... This is all I have... Please sirs..."

They grabbed my suitcase, tearing it open. I smiled. The perks of the great outdoors... "You can drop everything right now." I said darkly, twisting my hands into a simple casting stance. "And that does include compensation for your troubling me. 

One turned. My smile turned into a feral grin. "Vengeance for my fallen friends, hunters. Nothing personal."

His gun came out of the holster, and his arm stopped suddenly. "What the-" 

"Shado-" the second fell silent as I cast my second favorite spell, binding him with his own shadow.

"Hush..." I said in the most derogatory voice my angered self could manage. "I just need a bit of metal. Your guns will do nicely." Taking their weapons, I gave their ranks a glance. "Fresh out of the academy, eh?" I put the barrels to their heads. "Pity. I suppose that explains your inexperienced attempts though." The fear in their eyes was disturbingly refreshing. "Best nobody knows this ever happened." I sent a burst of electricity through the guns, effectively knocking them both unconscious. They wouldn't remember this night well. If I was correct, they would only remember a vague bit about a magician almost killing them, and likely quit their jobs hunting my kind and move on. It will suffice. I thought as I collected my bag and moved on into the station. The time for me to show the enemy why the feared the dark was near.

  

Facing Futures Unknown - Bree

      I clutched my suitcase tightly. Everything I owned was in my hands. It felt strange being on my own. Before, I always had my parents with me, or my sisters, or my uncle, but now... no one was there to hold my hand as I stepped into my future. Literally.
      Five years ago, I couldn't wait for this moment. Now? I was terrified. I didn't want to be sixteen. It felt like I was too young to leave my family. To leave the world I knew.
      Everyone knows that on your sixteenth birthday you step into the portal. No one knows what happens to you afterwards. No one ever remembers. You just were to bring your few belongings with you, say goodbye to your family, and then... walk off into your future without knowing what you will face.
      A lady wearing a tight skirt and a frilly blouse smiled at me as she walked out of the building and gently grabbed my arm, leading me inside the building towards the portal. She was talking to me, but I didn't hear her. I was too scared, too sad to listen to anyone just then.
     The building was more like an empty barn at the edge of town lit with those boxy, white lights that flicker like a candle in the wind. I blinked my eyes to adjust to the darkness. Then I saw the portal.
     It wasn't what I had imagined it to look like - all colorful and swirly. It was sort of like an arched door with a grey wall behind it. It looked odd. But it was my future.
     A man was also there. His jaw was clean-shaven and he wore a black suit as if he was going to someone's funeral. My funeral. I blinked back tears.
     Nonsense, Ellyana. You're not dying. Just leaving, I told myself.
     Then, taking a deep breath and jutting my chin upwards, I closed my eyes and stepped into the portal.

I wrote two, but lost my first. This one's completely different. I like it better, though. v.v Ten minutes. ;)

At the Airport - Jamie

Leah clutched her suitcase tightly. Everything she owned was in her hands. She was tired of this... she had to admit. Three years ago she had sold all her furniture and everything unnecessary, canceled the lease on her flat, and vanished into a world of trains and airplanes and tickets. Her passport was well worn, and her most prized possession. Finding the correct gate, she took a seat and waited for the airline to announce boarding. The young woman took her passport in her hands and stroked it gently. “We’ve been through a lot together, haven’t we old friend?” she murmured to it. “But this will be your last stamp for the foreseeable future. I’m going home.”

Leah looked out the window at the vague outline of the plane hidden in morning’s dusk. She stared out the window, contemplating entirely unrelated topics like barking dogs and the mythical writer’s block and the debate about whether it truly existed or not. She’d been sitting there for twelve minutes, there was three more minutes until boarding began.

She lifted a book from her suitcase and began to read. How far can one get through in three minutes?