Wren's scene challange.

[Woogwoo Wren]

I need to stop joining more challenges and start finsishing the ones I've started, but..... I'm doing another one. Here is the link to the original thread, and here are the prompts. The ones I've done will be coloured.

“Little by little, day by day, okay?” // “Get. Off. Right now.” // “... That’s it.”
// “So, uh, we should… probably run now.” // “You’re insane! I love it.”
“Hey, I offered to help you.” // “Who’s laughing now?” // “Would you please just be quiet?”
“Whoa, buttercup, whoa.” // "I can’t believe you talked me into this." // “Marry me?”
“Hey! I was gonna drink that!”// “You did all of this for me?” // “This isn’t over.”
“If you die, I’m gonna kill you.” // “Well, this is awkward.” // “It was you who was standing there.”
“That is the stupidest idea you’ve ever had. Of course I’m in.”// “Hey, I’m with you, okay? Always.”
“Uh, she’s gunna punch you, man.” // “BAHAHAHA- ahem.”// “I think I am concussed.”
“You have got to be kidding me.” // “This ain’t that kind of movie.” // “Is it… dead?”
“I’ll just sit here and wait for you to be finished.” // “You wound me.” // “Trust you? PAH.”
“I don’t know who you are.” // “It’s okay. I promise. I’m here.” // “Oh, this is going to be good.”
“Well, I finally got your attention.” // “Like a hole in the head.”//“I'm... okay.”
“Well, are you coming?” // “Where are your pants!?” // “Help me push it.”
“It’s almost midnight, no way!” // “Positively smashing.” // “Don’t let go, okay?”
“You can’t leave me like this.” // “Say that to my mother.” // "Sing me a lullaby, please?”
“This hurts worse than I thought it would.” // “Hah! - oh, wait, you’re serious?”
“As much as I’d enjoy that…” // -gasp- “The plague!” “No!” “YES.” // “I won’t let you do this.”
“I’ve still got it.” // “I can’t do it. I just can’t.” // "Don’t you ever do that again!"
“I thought I lost you.” // "Teach me?" // "Don’t you dare throw that snowball-"
"It could be worse." // "We’re in the middle of a thunderstorm and you wanna stop and feel the rain?"
"I’ve seen the way you look at me when you think I don’t notice." // "What are you so afraid of?”
“How did you get that scar?” // “You said WHAT?” // “Can you stop bringing that up?”
“Wait for me!”// “We’ll be dead by morning.” // “STOP TALKING.” // “I do.”
“I don’t want to.” // “What did I ever do to you?!” // “Follow me.”
-SIGH- “I can’t reach it.” // “What are you waiting for?” // “WAIT NO THAT’S NOT WHAT I MEANT-”
“I don’t need you.” // “You deserve better.” // “If you love something, let it go.”
“Why do I have to wear this?” // “Here goes nothing.” // “Where the heck were you?!”
“I don’t need help.” // “We’re gonna be parents…” // “I didn’t think you knew.”
“I thought those were poisonous.” // “Don’t make me go alone.” // “I’m sorry… I didn’t know.”
“I’d be lost without you.” // “Just leave me!” // “I dare you to…” // “Run!”
“How did you manage that?” // “Liar!” // “I don’t even want to be here.”
“Oh crap, we fell asleep!” // “Is this the life you wanted?” // “GIVE ME THAT.”
“Get back here!” // “Let go of me!” // “I’ll just follow you.” // “YOU DON’T SAY.”
“And yet, you love me anyway.” // “I just thought I’d have a swim.” // “Don’t cry.”

This will be fun! Feel free to post any comments, critiques and sugestions. ^-^

[Woogwoo Wren]

Little by little, day by day, ok?

"Little by little, day by day, ok? Then, you'll get there." My coach said. Ugg! I thought this would be easy. But, noo why would it? I had entered the great year race, where people walk, run, travel around the world! I a year. I thought it would be fun. I trained for a year, then entered. This race, is a race around the world, like I said. You have to go to the Capital of at least fifty countries, and at least one from each continent. In half a year I was only going because the prize is $1,000,000. Now I'm only going of Richard. Who is Richard? Well, he's a fellow racer. We met in an airport Santiago, the capital of Chile about a month ago. Let me tell you what happened.

"Hey! You're doing the race too, aren't you?" a young man, about twenty said. I looked up.
"Yeah," I answered.
"Cool, friendly competition! Do you know, that with only two months to go another four people dropped out, It's just us two and another," he said.
"Mhmmmm," I muttered. I was looking at the plane schedule, I didn't want to miss my plane.
"Are you going on the next flight? Cool!" He talked a lot!
"Uh huh," I looked up at the screen, the plane was leaving soon. "Look, I need to go," I said, standing. The flight was going to Argentina, I was travelling around South America at the time.
"I'm on that flight too," he said, "we should go together, Miss....?"
"Courtney, Courtney McGuire," I said, grabbing my bags. He followed.
"Well, Miss McGuire, I'm Richard Anderson, please to make your acquaintance." I rolled my eyes, how posh.
"Nice to meet you to, Mr. Anderson," I muttered through gritted teeth. I don't know why, but he was getting on my nerves. There was no more time to talk, as we arrived at the gate. I showed my ticket and went to my seat. To my dismay, Richard sat beside me.
"We should be great friends after this flight, Miss McGuire," he said. I think it was because he was so polite, he seemed fake.
"Please, call me Courtney," I muttered, I couldn't stand being call Miss McGuire the whole flight to Buenos Aire.
"Of course, and you must call me Richard." I nodded, and looked out the window. About an hour into the flight, I was sick of Richard's voice. He was so polite! Finally the flight ended. As I got off the plane, I looked on my map to find the place where I had to go. I hired a taxi and was soon there. As I entered the building, I saw to my dismay that Richard was already there. He grinned when he saw me.
"Hey, Courtney, I've just got five more countries to go! How many do you have?" he asked.
"What if I don't want to tell you?" I said, pushing past him and getting the country ticked off in my book.
"Aww, have you got ten more?" I sighed, I had got seven more countries to go to, so he was ahead of me there. But I still planned to win.
"No, I don't. I'll see you when you come crawling over the finish line, there I will wait for you, maybe." I walked out of the building. He called after me.
"We'll see, the race isn't over yet. I'll still win."

So that is why I'm still doing the race. Now, I only have to get back to London and show the judges my book. I have been to hot places, and freezing cold places, rainforests, and deserts. I have flown over the sea, and travelled on the back of an elephant. Now, I only hope I can beat Richard back to London.
"Miss McGuire, your flight is leaving," I look up from my journal, I have to go. I grab my bags, and go into the terminal. Soon I am flying. I will reach London in about an hour. I pass the time reading. Soon, the plane lands, I am nearly done the race. I hire a taxi, and speed through the streets of London. When the taxi arrives, I see to my dismay that another taxi is pulling up. In the back is now other than Richard.
"Stay here!" I cry to the taxi driver and grab my book. In my hast to jump out of the car, I forget to close the door. I have to beat him! I sprint up the stairs, hearing him call a greeting. Then I hear his feet pounding after me. I run faster, and burst into the building. I run to the desk, Richard right behind me. He reaches the desk just before me, but I shove him out of the way. I hear him cry in pain, but ignore him.
"Courtney McGuire, here is my book." I shove the book into the man's hand. He looks through it for a very long time it seems, then looks up at me.
"Congratulation, Miss McGuire, you have won the race around the world!" I can hardly believe my ears, I had won!
"Well done Courtney." I turn, and saw Richard picking him self up. Suddenly I feel ashamed. A twenty year old behaving like a five year old.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have pushed you. You would have won!" I say, felling ashamed. He shrugged.
"It doesn’t matter, I don't mind. My family is rich, I don't need a million dollars. But, if you could spend some of the money on a dinner for two, I'd be happy." I smile, he didn't seem as bad any more. I thought that perhaps that was because he was no longer a threat to the money.
"Sure, I'd be glad to," I say. He smiles,
"Meet you at five."

[Woogwoo Wren]

Like a hole in the head.

Sitting on a creator in the moon where five aliens. They ranged form very small and pink, to very large and blue. They were speaking, in their own language. For the sake of this story, lets say we can understand them. The first one, a large green one, spoke.
"What are you saying, Qolo, that you followed the strange things?" He asked.
"That's right, Emol," the small pink one squeaked. "I followed them in their flying saucer," she said. The red one laughed.
"Hahaha. You have been eating too many vliggle bars before dinner, Qolo," he boomed.
"Don't tease her so, Tubveer," the blue one said, and Tubveer was quite. The final alien, a yellow one called Azuum was silent.
"Thank you, Ezass," Qolo said, nodding to the blue one. "Now, I will tell you my story."

This was a few luna weeks after the first human landing on the moon. Seeing the strange flying saucer, the alien hid in their moon holes and waited for the humans to leave. But, as Qolo was saying, not all did. Before the saucer left, she hid in it. As it left the moon, she cursed her insatiable curiosity. The others had looked for her, but it wasn't the first time she had disappeared for a few luna weeks. When she got back, she meet them all at the moon crater they were in now. The conversation before was a result of that. Now listen, and she will tell you her story.

"I got into the ship, and hid. Soon I fell asleep. When I woke, the ship was flying. I could see the moon going far away. I had to keep hidden, otherwise the creatures would see me. I could peek out of my hiding place and see them. Remember how they were all white and had black faces, well, they took the white off! They had multi-coloured skin, and strange short antenna on their heads. It was weird!
"Soon, the ship landed, and I got out. I was soon in a huge place, with so many colours. And not just on the creatures. They were every where, the colours and the creatures. It was so light to! There was light everywhere! I quickly hid inside a building. There were small creatures there, two of them. One of them had long yellow antenna, and one had short yellow antenna. They cried out a strange noise, and some pleasant sound came out of there mouth. They kept saying something like, Fwunny fwunny fwunny. I was scared."
"Himf, of course you were, you get scared of a fludder-buggler," Tubveer snorted. Ezass shot him a warning glance. Qolo continued with her story.
"I managed to get away from them, but then a big creature came. It grabbed the little ones, and they went around a table. They were picking something up, and putting into their heads."
"How did they do that?" Azuum spoke for the first time.
"I dunno, they had like a hole in the head. Like I said, they were weird," Qolo answered. "Anyway, I got out of the building, and ran and ran until all the busyness was gone. Then I found a large aria with lots of green on the ground. There were fluffy white things everywhere. I went up to one, but it ran away, and then all of then ran. Then I heard something saying, Woof woof. I ran!"
"Of course you did, I would have faced the aliens," Tubveer snared. This time they all glared at him. Azuum gestured for Qolo to continued.
"I ran so far, and my legs were all aching. Suddenly, I fell over, and hit my head on rock. When I came to, I was in the same plac, but it was dark, like here. I could see the stars, and home. I looked up, and thought of you, I missed you so much!
"Enough with the fluff!" Tubveer cried. "Just get on with it!"
"Tubveer, another word out of you, and you can go home," Emol said, and Ezass nodded. Tubveer scowled but fell silent.
"Thank you for kindly stopping," Qolo said coldly. "Now, if you want, I will finish my story!" The others waved her on, and she continued.
"I walked through the dark, and longed to go home. As I was walking, I was looking at the ground. Suddenly, I bumped into something. I looked up, and there was a flying saucer! It was hidden from alien eyes, so it hadn't been found yet. It looked ancient, so I took it. It didn't take long to get home, and, well, you know the rest!" she looked at the other expectantly when she finished.
"That would have been exiting," Emol said, "If it was true!" He stood, and left. Tubveer followed with out a sound.
"Good story, Qolo," Ezass said, following the others.
"But, it was true!" Qolo cried after them. She sniffed. "No one believes me," she whimpered. Then she felt a tentacle on one of her arms. She turned, looking into Azuum's eyes.
"I do," he said, and walked off. Qolo smiled, Azuum didn't speak much, but when he did, he meant what he said.

[Woogwoo Wren]

Uh, she's gonna punch you now man.

Silence. Nothing but silence. And three people walking through the forest. The one at the back looked around nervously.
"Are-are you sure we should be here?" he asked.
"No," said the next in line, a short girl with wild brown hair. She turned to him. "And like I said, you don't have to come if you're scared."
"N-no, I'll stay, Abbi."
"I should think so!" Abbi turned to the front. The other member, a large burly boy of about nineteen, was carrying a box.
"Pick up the pace, Rafe," Abbi snapped at him.
"Yes, mistress Abigale," he said. He sped up so much that Tim was nearly left behind. He gave a squeak of fear, and ran after Abbi and Rafe.
"Don't leave me!" he cried as the darkness threatened to swallow him.
"Keep up then!" Abbi snapped. She held up a hand, and put the other on Rafe's shoulder. "We're here," she muttered.
Tim peaked over Rafe's shoulder and saw a large clearing. In the clearing was a small camp, with four tents. Near the tents was a fire, and beside the fire were four people. He swallowed nervously.
"We can still go back?" he suggested timidly. Abbi turned to him.
"If you say one more word about going back, you can go back yourself!" she snapped. "Now, come on!" She lead the way into the clearing. Rafe followed with the box. Tim whimpered and jumped after them.
"Good, you're here," one of the men at the fire said, not standing.
"Did you bring it?" another asked. Abbi nodded, and motioned to Rafe. He walked foward and placed in on the ground. Abbi opened the box. The men gasped, leaning closer. One reached into it and pulled out what was in it. A large white gem with no flaws was revealed. He turned it over, inspecting it.
"How do we know this is the real one?" he asked, looking up. Abbi smiled, and took it off him. She held it in her hand and rubbed it.
"Stand back," she said. Rubbing it harder, she closed her eyes and cried, "fire, water, air, earth!" Suddenly the ground erupted in a shower of earth and grass. A huge worm burst out of the ground, its small red eyes glinting angrily. Abbi smiled, rubbing the gem again. The worm looked at her, and dove into the ground again, leaving only a small patch of upturned grass to show that it had ever been there.
"I think that might prove my point, no?" Abbi said, a wicked smiled on her face.
"Interesting," the man said, holding his hand out for the gem, "how did you get it?" Abbi ignored his hand, and said, "That is for me to know. And before you put your thieving hands on it, what about my payment?" The man scowled.
"Fine," he snapped. He leaned close to one of the men, and whispered something in his ear. The man nodded and stood. In the silence that followed, Tim stood from where he had fallen after the worm had appeared. The man noticed him.
"Who's that runt?" he asked, gesturing to him. Abbi sighed.
"He's my baby brother. I have to look after him. Nuance to."
"I can take him off your hand if you want? One hundred crowns, take it off the fee for the gem." Abbi frowned, considering.
"I'm afraid not," he said reluctantly. Tim stared at her. She would sell him? He stepped foward, about to confront her, when he felt a hand on his arm.
"Just don't, runt," Rafe growled, and Tim stopped. A minute passed, and the man returned, carrying a large bag.
"Here ya go," the man snapped, handing Abbi the bag. Abbi smiled, and looked into it. She smiled again as she saw what was there. Small diamonds, a fortunes worth.
"They're all there?" she asked. The man nodded.
"All four hundred," he said. Abbi nodded, inspecting some. Satisfied, she handed the bag to Rafe, and the gem to the man in frount of her.
"Nice doing business with you," she said, a charming smile on her face.
"As always," the man said. Abbi nodded, and flicked her hand for Rafe and Tim to follow. Tim hesatated. He knew that when they found out the gem was a fake, they would all be in danger. And he wasn't happy with Abbi. Before he lost his nerve, he said.
"It's a fake!" Abbi turned to him, her face ready to kill. Tim gulped. "It's a fake, Abbi can m-make things appare like that, it's not the gem."
"Don't be silly, Tim. Come along, it's well passed your bed time," Abbi said sweetly. Tom shook his head.
"No, not yet," he whispered, wondering the whole while why he was doing this.
The man looked at Abbi.
"Is what he says true?" he asked, anger on his face. Abbi shook her head, but before she could say anything, the man held the gem, and rubbing it cried "Fire, water, air earth!" Nothing happened. He tried again, and again nothing happened.
"You lied!" he cried, running at her. Abbi glared at him, then a Tim, then mouthed something. The huge worm appared right under the man. It chopped him in half, then disappeared, leaving the top part of his body on the surface.
"Let's go!" she said, spinning on her foot and marching off. Rafe followed, the bag slung accross his back. After a moments hesatation, Tim followed. A safe distance away from the clearing, Abbi turned to Tim.
"She's gonna punch you now, man," Rafe said, a grin on his face. And he was right. Tim groaned, clutching his cheek as Abbi landed another punch on his belly.
"You deserve a lot more the that! Now let's go. I will pay you back in full later." She marched off, leaving Tim groaned in pain on the ground. He was already regretting his decision.

[Woogwoo Wren]

I'm....ok.

The leaves on the trees brushed together as a man walked alone under them. He sigh, a deep and sad sigh, a sigh of memory and things that were that are no more. Brushing a hand lovingly over the bark of a tree, he looked up at the sky.
"If only we never grew up," he said. Wandering deeper into the woods, he thought he heard laughter, or perhaps it was just a memory.

He passed the place where he had fallen out of a tree and broken his arm. He passed the place where, on his first trip to the woods, he got lost and spent the night crying. He passed the place where he and his friends had played dragons and knight. He passed the fallen log that they had walked over, each daring one an other to go faster, father and more dangerous, at least the boys did. He passed the tree under which he had received his first kiss.

And then, he came to the clearing. He felt a lump in his throat as he looked at his childhood playground, the world he and his friends populated with many creatures, both real and imaginary. There was the place where a thousand fire where lit, and a million marshmallows toasted. There was the place that the boys fought, and the girls cheered on their favourites. There was the place where he climbed his first tree at age five. And there, still high in the tree was the tree-house.

Oh, the things he had done in that hut. Oh, the times he had slept there, surrounded with his friends. And the pranks they had come up with, they were enough to make him cringe. Painting neighbour's sheep, egging enemy's houses, stealing food from their parents' pantries. All these and many, many more were thought up in that hut, but only a few were carried out.The man smiled a little as he looked over his childhood haunts.

Then he was back in the woods, remembering how they had found a bird being attacked by a rat. How they had rescued it, and their sadness when it died in the night. How they had slipped out of their rooms at night to have secret meetings. How they had comforted each other when one of their number had died. And how, year after year, birthdays came along, reminding them that they soon would leave the woods, leave childhood, leave freedom.

The man sighed, remembering as, one by one, his friends left, died, or changed. Now it was just him. He was the only one to remember. He was the only one the keep the woods ringing with laughter, be it real or remembered. He wishes it could be different, but it was not so. As he looked at the woods, he felt like he was still ten, he was still running through the trees, he still had his friends.

A small group of children ran past him, laughing. The man almost reached out, about to tell them that the woods would not be a safe place soon. Then, the vanished, carried away with the wind. And the man realised that it was just a memory, a wish.

He paused in the fringes of the woods, preparing himself for what was next. Stepping out, another lump formed in his throat as he saw the men armed with axes, saws, and all sorts of machines, ready to cut down the woods.
"Good, you're out. I was about to send a man in after you," the leader of the men said. The man shook his head,
"No, I was lost-"
"I thought you said you knew that forest well,"
"I was lost in my memories," the man said. He turned, and walked away, trying to close his ears to the sounds of saws cutting into the trees, his trees. The thud of a tree falling to the ground almost brought tears to his eyes.

At his house, he readied himself for his wife chatting to him, his children climbing all over him, and his dog covering him in sloppy kisses. Opening the door, his children jumped on him, laughing and smiling. He gave them a slight smile, and sent the off.
"Hi, honey. How was your day?" his wife asked, and without waiting, continued. "The children wanted to show you what they made a school, and-" the man didn't listen, still lost in memory. "What's the matter?" his wife asked. He shrugged.
"I'm...ok," he replied, going into his study. He closed the door, and winched as a tree hit the ground. He sighed, wishing that nothing changed.

[Woogwoo Wren]

Is this the life you wanted?

Ariana hid in the shadows, her cloak wrapped around her. The guards walked passed her, looking neither left or right. Once they had passed, she slipped out of her hiding place, and walked inside the door. In the gaurd room through the door, there was no one, just weapons and armour. Ariana neared the door, and froze as she heard a sound on the other side. Walking softly, she flattened herself against the wall. Two men came in the door she was about to exit through. They walked through the room, and out the other door. The other guards soon came the other way.
Good thing I didn't wait any longer, Ariana thought. The watch is changing. Once all was quiet again, Ariana sipped out of her hiding place and through the door.
She found herself in the hallway of the castle. Tapestries and painting hung on the wall, each more rich then the last. Scowling, Ariana forced herself not to rip them to pieces, though she did rip tears in some with her dagger. She soon made came to the stairs and quickly climbed them. Soon she came to her destination. Pulling her dagger out of the sheath, she opened the door.
Expecting to see a five year old sleeping in his bed, she was supprised to see a man standing in the window.
Blast, I entered to wrong room! Oh well, nothing for it, she thought, bradishing the dagger above her head.
"Don't," the man said, without turning. Ariana froze in supprise, but said nothing. "I know you're there, assassin." The man turned, and Ariana saw his face. He was a little older then her, only nineteen or so. His face was handsom, and only marred by a large scar that went over his right eye. His long brown hair came the bottom of his chin.
"Well, you're not doing to introduce yourself? I am Albert. Though, you may know me as the crown prince," he said, clearly not afraid of the assasin at all. Ariana swore under her breath. She had to walk into the oldest prince's room.
"Ariana," she said shortly. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I must go," she began to back to the door even as she spoke.
"Oh, I don't think so, Ariana. I'm not letting you go just so you can kill Matthew, or father." Albert walked to the door, and slid the bolt home. He leaned agaist the door, and Ariana saw there was a sword in his sheath.
"You seem to have been expecting me," she said to stall time as she looked for a way out. The prince shrugged.
"I don't sleep well, so I was up. And, to be honest, I saw you sneak into the castle."
"Why didn't you stop me?" Ariana asked.
"I wanted to see what you would do."
"But, I could have gone into your brother's room, or your father's." Ariana frowned, confused. Albert made a dismissive gesture with his hand.
"Oh them. Matthew's a brat, and father is so self centered."
"Y-you don't care for your family at all?" Ariana was even more confused. Her younger sister was the only reason she was in the castle at all. Albert sighed.
"Well, Matthew is only my step-brother, and father has been so...different since mother died."
Frowning, Ariana processed that information. She was still unsure if he was telling the truth.
"Your mother is dead?" she asked, and suddenly felt connected to him. They had that in common at least.
"Aye. She died when I was four. She was assassinated." He looked meaningfully at Ariana.
"It wasn't me! I would have been only three or four!" she said quickly, wondering why she was defending herself.
"Is this the life you wanted?" Albert asked suddenly, standing up and walking to her. The question caught her by supprise.
"What?" she said, of balance.
"An assasin. Did you want to be an assasin?" Ariana frowned. Of course she didn't! She was only doing it to protect her sister. If she didn't, the rebels would kill her. Suddenly, she was blurting it all out to Albert, how her mother had died when she was ten, and her sister four. How she had looked after Ruby and how the rebels had found them. How they were forced to work as assassins and spies. How Ariana was told to do the dirty jobs, like this one, and how if she didn't, they would kill Ruby. When she was finished, she looked up at Albert, wondering why she had told him her entire life story. He was silent for a while, then stepped away from the door.
"You may go," he said. Ariana started,
"What?"
"You may go. Tell then that Matthew was too heavily guarded." She nodded, and walked to the door.
"Will I see you again?" she asked suddenly. Albert frowned.
"Maybe. Good bye, Ariana." Then he closed the door and Ariana slipped out of the castle, still unsure about what had happened.

[Woogwoo Wren]

Sing me a lullaby, please?

"I'm back Rubs," Ariana called, climbing through the small entrance to the cave they lived in.
"Ana! Did you get food? I'm hungry," Ruby said, hugging her older sister.
"Here." Ariana gave Ruby the loaf of bread she had stolen. It was small and stale, but it was food. Ruby grinned, and began to eat it. After she had eaten her fill, she passed the bread to Ariana. Ariana finished the loaf, wondering if they should save it for later. But she ate it all anyway.
"Did anything happen while I was gone?" Ariana asked Ruby as they sat together in the sparsely furnished cave. Ruby frowned.
"Black-boy came again, and he brought his wife. She still hasn't laid her eggs yet. I gave them the crumbs."
Ariana smiled, leaning back against the cold stone wall as she listened to her younger sister telling her about the blackbirds that visited. Ruby was a lively seven-year old, even though she lived in a cave, and Ariana wished she could have a better life. Living in a cave in the woods with only birds and animals as friends wasn't a good life for a seven-year old.
Ruby had finished talking, and looked up at Ariana.
"Sing me a lullaby, please?" she asked. Ariana smiled, and carried her sister to the moss nest she slept in. She was quiet a few minutes, gathering her thoughts, then began, her voice quiet and beautiful.

Close your eyes, don't you fret,
Tomorrow will be great I bet.
Sing and run,
In the sun.
Close your eyes.

Ruby smiled as snuggled down, closing her eyes.

Close your eyes, go to sleep,
Don't you dare say a pep.
Look at the sky,
And don't dare cry.
Close your eyes.

Even the birds where silant as Ariana's sweet voice continued.

Close your eyes, you'll be fine,
Because you are mine.
I love you my dear,
And I'll always be here.
Close your eyes.

Ariana felt tears in her eyes as she looked at her sister, wishing with all her heart their mother hadent died.

Close your eyes, don't you fret,
Tomorrow will be great I bet.
Sing and run,
In the sun.
Close your eyes.

As her voice died down, Ariana was aware of someone clapping. She turned, and saw two men.
"Lil nightingale huh?" one of them said, laughing.
"An' a thief by the looks of it," the other replied.
"Aye, the boss 'ill wanna take a look at 'er," the first said. "How old are ye, hun?" Ariana glared at him
"I'm thirteen, and I'm no one's hun!" she spat. "Now get out of my house!"
"Tisk tisk, nightingale wi' a temper," the second, a large fat man, said. The other, a small man with a beard and large hocked nose, was looking in the cave and saw Ruby still sleeping.
"Oi, looky here, she's gota brat in 'ere," he said.
"Leave her alone! Take me but leave her!" Ariana cried, looking around for the dagger she kept.
"I don't think so," Fatty said, nodding to the other. Hock-nose grinned, and grabbed Ruby's arm, waking her.
"Ana?" she said sleepily. Then she saw the men and screamed. She began struggling, kicking and punching at her captor.
"Feisty an't she," Hock-nose said.
"Leave her be!" Ariana screamed, tears beginning to form. Fatty grabbed her from behind, pinning her arms by her sides. She kicked at him, but her kicks did nothing. "Leave us alone!" she shouted, crying now. They ignored the girls' struggles, and dragged them through the woods. Ruby was crying, all rebellion forgotten.
Why me! Ariana thought. Why couldn't we just live a happy life? Why did mother have to die!
They came to the camp that evening, and Ariana was taken to a large tent in the middle of the camp. Ruby was taken somewhere else.
Fatty shoved Ariana to the ground as they entered the tent.
"'Ere, Boss, I found youse a nightingale," he said. Ariana looked up and saw a man. He saw of average height, if a little shorter then most, and had strong arms and shoulders. He had a large black beard, and piercing blue eyes. His bare arms revealed scars around his wrist, the type one would get if they had been locked in manacles.
"Thank you, Donald. That will be all," he said, his voice quiet and deadly. Ariana took an immediate dislike to him.
"So, nightingale, is that what you are usally called?" he asked once Donald had left. Ariana glared at him and said nothing. "I dislike it when my questions aren't answered. Bad things happen when that happens. And I hear you have a lovely younger sister. It would be a shame if something happened to her because you didn't answer my question, wouldn't it?"
"Ariana," she spat, hating him.
"Ariana the nightingale, how nice." He leaned closer. "Ariana the assassin. Ariana the thief. Ariana the rebel," he said, smiling.
"I will never work for you," Ariana spat.
"Very well then, Ariana the only child. Would you prefer that then, hmm?" She glared at him for a few minutes, the dropped her gaze.
"No. I'll do as you say," she muttered.
"Good, good! I'll see my men leave you alone, and that you and your sister have a place to stay. Welcome to the rebellion, Ariana."

[Woogwoo Wren]

I thought I lost you.

"NO!" The shout shattered the peaceful afternoon. Birds took to flight, squawking and shouting at the one who dared to disturb their peace. The cry came from a young female ferret, kneeling beside the body of a slightly older ferret. His chest was stained by fresh blood, blood that still seeped out from under a wicked arrow.
"Oh, Lord. Why him? Why not me?" she cried, "He didn't believe." Tears blurred her vision, and she barely felt a rough hand on her shoulder.
"Miss, move," an unusually large badger growled, the same badger who had shot the bow. He shoved her to the ground and picked up the body.
"No, please. Let me bury him!" she cried, struggling up. "He's my brother."
"Criminals are not to be buried. They are to be burned," the bager said tonelessly, slinging the body over his shoulder and walking off, his unusually long legs covering ground fast.
The ferret sank to her knees, and covered he face with her paws. Tears dripped through her fingers, and landed on the muddy ground below.
A single ray of light found its way through the clouds and rain for a second, shining on a small flower at Slink's paws. It was a tiny flower, but a vibrant blue in the muddy brown grown. Seeing the flower, a resolve settled over the ferret, and she stood, shaking mud off her legs. She pushed back the tears, and strode after her brother's body and killer.
She was almost wading through the mud, and soon her fur was soiled and stinking. But she still plodded on, each step an effort. Her grey and black fur became plastered to her body by the rain. But she still plodded on.
"Keep going, keep going, keep going," she muttered. She half believed that he would still be alive if she could reach him, but she know it couldn't be true.
The smell of smoke make her lift her head.
"No, I'm to late!" she cried, forcing her tired legs to move faster, scrambling up a hill. A small camp, clear of mud, was over the hill. A large fire was in the center, the tall badger was beside it, Seeker's body beside him.
Slink hid behind the hill, ignoring the rain dripping down her back and the cold mud she was lying in. Her mind was working quickly, trying to think of a way for a young ferret to steal a body from a badger, a super solider of the king. She came up blank.
"Think! You're running out of time!" she muttered, frustrated.
"Slink? Is that you?" She looked up, startled. Sitting in the only tree in miles, was a squirrel, Quick-finger, the best thief in band. "Does-does he have Seeker?" she asked, glancing at the body. Slink just nodded, not questioning why Quick-finger was there.
"He's dead," she said, in the same tone as the badger earlier.
Quick-finger scowled.
"Why does the king think that he can just kill us whenever he wants! That is why we rebel against him." She chattered angrily. "Slink, please come back, you'll catch a cold and die if you stay." Slink shook her head.
"I can't let him be burned! He is afraid of fire!"
"Was," Quick-finger corrected, and seeing Slink's face quickly muttered an apology. "Fine, I'll help you. I don't see why though, if he's dead well, then he can't be afraid of fire."
Slink struggled to keep her temper in cheek, remembering that Quick-finger often didn't think before she spoke.
"Thank you," she said simply.
"Stay here, Tree-Jumper is around somewhere," Quick-finger said, and slipped off to find her brother.
While she was gone, Slink risked a look over the hill again. The fire was getting big, and the badger was looking for more fire wood, a hard thing to find in the wet environment.
"You wanna steal a body? Huh, trust you to think of an idea like that!" Slink groaned, Tree-Jumper was here.
"Just be quiet!" Slink said, feeling the tears coming again. "Quick-finger, can you distract him while Tree-jumper and I get Seeker?" she said. Quick-finger nodded and bounded, holding her large tail above the mud.
"Do ya think that person you pray to will bring him back to life?" Tree-Jumper asked mockingly.
"Shut up!" Slink hissed. She was watching the edge of the camp. Soon, a large red tail appeared, and Quick-finger lept in front of the badger.
"Hey, ugly! You got something on your face," she teased. "Did you rub your head in cream?" The badger roared, and changed after her, but she was to fast, leaping out of the way. "Gotta be faster then that, fatty!" she called.
"Let's go," Slink said, bounding down the hill in all fours. Tree-Jumper scowled, but followed her. Slink croutched by her brother, stroking his head.
"Well, are we doing this or not?" Tree-Jumper demanded. He picked up Seeker's front paws and Slink grapped his hind paws. Together they carried him up the hill and to safety.
Tree-Jumper bounded off, saying he was going to help Quick-finger. Slink buried her face in Seeker's chest and sobbed. A movement, ever so slight, caught her attention. Seeker's cheast was rising slightly. Slink froze, hardly daring to believe. But it was true, he was alive!
"Quick-finger!" she shouted, seeing the tell-tale tail heading her way. "Quick-finger, go find Green-eye!"
The squirrel nodded, and bounded off, not asking questions. Tree-jumper followed her.
Soon, the two squirrels returned, a red fox following them.
"Tisk tisk," she mutterd, bending over the ferret.
"Can-can your save him?" Slink asked, hardly daring to ask. Green-eyes was silent, labouring over the wounded ferret. She gently pulled the arrow out, bandaging the wound. She forced a mixture of herbs into his mouth and looked up.
"I think so," she said. "The arrow missed any major arteries, we'll know for sure in a few minutes, that mixture is very fast working."
The four animals waited. Slink was barely aware of Tree-jumper telling Green-eyes how he and Quick-finger had lead the badger to a river, and he had fallen in.
"Slink?" a weak voice called. Slink looked down, and saw Seeker's blue eyes looking weakly up at her.
"Seeker! You're okay!" she cried, burying her face in his fur. "Oh Seeker! I thought I lost you."
The older ferret smiled, strocking her head.
"Not this time, Slink, not this time."

[Woogwoo Wren]

Don't ever do that again!

The small blue egg shook, and a crack appeared in it.
"Jerome! It's hatching!" Dylan shouted. The older boy stuck his head into the room.
"Shut up!" he snapped, walking into the room. "If Dad finds out that we found a dragon egg, he'd kill it, and-"
"Yeah, yeah, he'll outlaw us from the town. I know, you've told me a million times!" Dylan said throwing his hands in the air in mock annoyance. Jerome shoved him onto the bed.
"It's not a joke," he said, his black eyebrows making an arrow in his forehead.
"Lighter up, Jer," Dylan said, rolling his eyes. The egg shook again, and the crack grew larger. Jerome grabbed the egg and shoved it under his top.
"Come on, its not safe here," he said, walking out the door. Dylan followed, nervously glancing at the front door as they sneak out the back. Once outside, Jerome lead the way out of the town and to a small woods. They walked deeper into it, until they came across a thicket of brambles. Dropping to their hands and knees, they crawled through a small hole in the thorns.
Inside was a small clearing free of brambles. The ground was grass, but the boys had 'borrowed' a sack from their father, and part of the grass was covered in sacking.
Dylan sat on a sack, and Jerome sat on one opposite him. Reacting into his shirt, the elder boy pulled the egg out. He laid it in between the two of them and they both watched it intently.
Soon, the crack widened, and the egg spilt in half. A tiny dragon fell out, its blue scales still wet with the egg white.
"Wow," Dylan whispered, reacting towards it. The dragon turned to the sound of his voice, its intelligent eyes staring up at Dylan. The boy gently place his hand on its head, and stroked it. It was soft, and leathery, but Dylan could tell the scales would harden, and become a formidable armour for the young creature. Suddenly, he felt a pang of pain in his hand, and looked down to see the baby hand bitten his hand.
"Ow," he said, putting the wound in his mouth.
"Maybe this isn't a good idea," Jerome said.
"No, no, he's just hungry," Dylan said quickly. He slipped out of the den and returned a few minutes later with a strip of meat. The dragon walked up to him, still slightly wobbly. Dylan grinned, and fed the baby the meat. Once it had eaten, it curled up and fell asleep.
"We can't kill it, and we can't give it back to the dragons, and we can't show any of the people in the town, so we have to look after it," Dylan said.
"I guess so," Jerome said reluctantly. To tell the truth, he was glad to have the dragon, but also wary of it. Too many humans had been killed by the dragons to trust any. Even a baby.

And so, the young dragon grew in the boys care. They named him Sky, after his colouring, and cared for him. Each day, one or other would sneak out to the den, and feed it. Then, in the evening, after chores, they both played with him. He grew fast, and after a week he went from the size of a cat to the size of a large dog. His wings were huge, and he was already flying, though Dylan and Jerome tried to discourage the practice. The boys began searching for a new place to keep him, as he was nearly to big for the den.
One morning, two weeks after Sky hatched, Jerome slipped out of the house, two rabbits slung over his shoulder. When he reatched the den, Sky turned his large head to greet him.
"Jerome," a voice said, in the boys head.
"What? Who's there?" he asked, looking around.
"Jerome," the voice repeated, and Jerome realised it was Sky.
He quickly feed the dragon, and ran to tell his younger brother. Dylan rushed to the den, and crawled through.
"Sky?" he asked, leaning against the dragon's belly.
"Dylan," the dragon whispered, touching the boy with his snout.

Soon after, Sky found a new home for himself, accessible only by flight. He meet the boys in the foothills of the mountain, and spent time with them, but they couldn't fly with him as he was still too small.
Three months later, Dylan arrived at the foothills alone, as Jerome was at home doing jobs for their father.
"Sky!" he shouted, glad to be free from the chores. The dragon was already winging his way towards him, and soon landed beside him.
"Dylan," he said, huffing smoke. "Jerome is at home?" he asked, swinging his head around.
"Yes, he has to do work for father," Dylan said.
"Want play a trick on him?" the dragon asked, a sparkle in his eye. Dylan grinned, practical jokes where his speciality.
"Sure, what were you thinking?"
"This," the dragon said, and quickly told Dylan his plan. The boy's grin widened.
"Let's do it!"

Jerome was in a bad mood. His father had told him off for something he hadn't done, and he had barely managed to get out of the house. Arriving at the foothills, he looked around. Sky and Dylan weren't there. He scowled.
"They've left me, great!" he muttered, kicking a rock.
Suddenly, he heard a scream, followed by a roar. Looking up, he saw a mud coloured dragon fly out of the mountains, a human in his claws.
"Jerome!" the human called, and Jerome saw that it was Dylan.
"Dylan!" he shouted, "Sky, were are you?"
The brown dragon flew into the clouds, and Jerome lost sight of them.
"No, Dylan!" he screamed, frantic with worry over his baby brother. Suddenly, Sky flew out of the clouds, the mud washed off him. He flew down, dropping Dylan to the ground, then landed behind him.
Dylan rolled as he landed, jumped to his feet, a huge grin on his face.
"Don't ever do that agian," Jerome snapped, anger and worry written on his face. "I was scared silly!"
"It was just a joke!" Dylan said, sulking.
"That joke could have killed you!" Sky swung to face Jerome.
"I am sorry, it was my idea," he said, "To make it up, would you like to fly? My wings can carry a passanger now."
Jerome looked up.
"Really?" The dragon nodded, and Jerome scrambled onto his back. Sky took off with a roar.

[Woogwoo Wren]

I do.

Talon dropped from the sky, his wings tucked by his body. The diurnal owl pulled up at the last minute.
"Swiftpaw! Swiftpaw!" he cried, flying low along the ground to the otter. Looked up from the dagger he was sharpening, Swiftpaw asked, "what's the problem, Talon?"
"There's a large cat coming out way!" the owl said, hopping from one foot to the other.
"A large cat?" Swiftpaw was on his feet, "how large? Is it one of the King's?"
"No, it's a usual size, it just looks big. Ginger fur, green eyes sir!"
Swiftpaw nodded,
"No need for the sir business, Talon," he muttered. "Right, get the rest to meet in the clearing, let's talk to this cat." Talon saluted, and flew up.
Five minutes later, the rebel group was assembled. The ferret siblings, Slink and Seeker stood beside Quick-Finger and Tree-jumper. Green-eyes was licking herbs and healing things off her fur. Fleetfoot flicked his long ears and looked around, hares never stayed still for long. Talon saluted as Swiftpaw came out of his tent.
"Troops are ready for inspection, sah!" he said. Swiftpaw sighed,
"How many times do I have to tell you, Talon, this isn't the army," he said, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
A rat bounded up, the youngest of the grounp.
"Sir, the cat approaches!" he said, then whispered, "Please don't let him eat me, my uncle was eaten by a cat."
Swiftpaw smiled, "don't worry, he won't eat you."
"Are you sure about zat, otta?" the cat, who had come up behind them, asked, with a heavy accent.
"None of the animals under my care will be harmed," Swiftpaw said, his paw hovering over the double sword sheath that crossed on his back.
"And how vould you stop me?" the cat asked, "But I begin badly. My name iz Ginger. I vish to join your team. I have no love for wolfs."
Swiftpaw pursed his lips, considering.
"I must consult my team members first,"' he said, flicking a paw to Green-eyes and Seeker. The fox and ferret moved to him.
"Very vell, if you must. But my terms are zis, you vill give me two fish for each meal, breakfast, lunch and dinner. Iv you do not do zis, I vill eat ze rat." Ginger smiled wickedly at Squeak. The young rat whimpered and hid behind Quick-finger.
Swiftpaw frowned, and turned to Green-eyes and Seeker.
"What do ya think?" he asked.
"I don't like his terms. Where are we going to find fish? We're nowhere near a river," Seeker said. Green-eyes nodded.
"But, he'd make a good edition."
"No, if Squeak is in danger with him being here, we won't let him join us." Seeker nodded, but Green-eyes frowned.
"He will make a dangerous enemy," she muttered.
Swiftpaw nodded, turning back to Ginger.
"We have decided. We cannot let you join us under these conditions," he said. Fleetfoot's dagger appeared in his paws, and the Squirrels shifted in front of Squeak.
"Tink carefully about your decision, otta," Ginger hissed, fur rising.
"I have thought carefully about it, cat," Swiftpaw said, walking towards the slightly larger animal. "And we will not let you in! Do you still wish to keep your terms?" The cat bared his teeth.
"I do, vhy vould I not? Six vish for my services. Iv not, vell den, I am sure zat zee king vill give me my terms."
"I thought you said you had not love for wolves," Seeker spat.
"Vell, I lied ferret," Ginger said. "Vill you accept my terms?" Swiftpaw didn't hesatated.
"No," he said. "I will not put one of my animals in immediate danger." From behind Quick-finger, a loud sigh of relief came. Ginger hissed.
"You have put all your animalz in danger, otta!" he hissed. "Now I go, zee king vill be more welcoming." He hissed at Squeak, and padded out of the camp.
"Well, we've just made another enemy," Green-eyes muttered.
"Eh, not our first," Swiftpaw said. "Pack up animals! We move out tonight," he called. The camp erupted into chaos as the animals packed up the tents.