Wren's 100 one-shot challenge.

[Woogwoo Wren]

#10. Puzzling words.
Hazel groaned. Five days into the dungeon and another door was blocking their way. Another puzzle had to be solved.
"I'm getting sick of this," Holly muttered. Harry nodded. The three friends had decided to enter the dungeon. The winner got thousands of crowns. They needed that to finish their training, Hazel a ranger, Harry a wizard and Holly a thief.
When a knight came into their village, telling about the dungeon that no one had ever gotten out of, the three friends left immediately. Now, after five days, there food was getting low, and they were sick of the puzzle doors. Always, there was a horde of monsters, giant rats, goblins, skeletons, and evil wizards waiting to rip there heads from their bodies on the other side.
"What's it say this time?" Harry asked.
"In former days my father and mother, Abandoned me dead, lacking breath
Or life or being. Then one began, A kinswoman kind, to care for and love me;
Covered me with her clothing, wrapped me in her raiment, With the same affection she felt for her own;
Until by the law of my life's shaping, Under alien bosom I quickened with breath.
My foster mother fed me thereafter, Until I grew sturdy and strengthened for flight.
Then of her dear ones, of daughters and sons, She had the fewer for what she did," Hazel read. Harry groaned.
"This is worse then the others," he muttered.
"Strengthened for flight," Holly quoted. "Maybe it’s a bird?"
"Na, it won't be that obvious," Hazel said. They looked at the words on the door for a few minutes.
"This is a little better then fighting," Holly said. The others ignored her. "What I don't get, is why we haven't seen any others. I mean, loads of people entered," she said, still trying to strike up a conversation.
"We did, remember Peter," Harry said shortly, still looking at the words on the door. Holly fell silent. Peter was a mage they had met early on. They teamed up with him, but after the third door, he was killed by a giant bat.
After a while, Hazel spoke up.
"I think it is a bird, what else could it be?" she said, looking a the door. The others nodded.
"Told you," Holly muttered.
"So, the bird was abandoned, and taken in by a foster mother who looked after him. Then when he left, the foster mother had fewer sons and daughters because she took him in," Harry summarised.
"Yeah, I'm guessing we have to figurer out what sort of bird it is," Hazel said.
"Maybe......it's a owl? Coz it fell out of it's nest and was taken in by a rat, but it ate the rat's children?" Holly suggested. The others looked at her.
"No," Hazel said. They went silent. It was so quite that Hazel could hear the monsters moving behind the door.
"Coco," Harry said suddenly. "Its a coco. The mother lays her eggs in another birds nest, and the baby throws out the eggs of it's foster parents." Hazel nodded slowly.
"I think that's it," she said. She walked up to the door, and picked up the magic quill. The others behind her gripped their weapons. Hazel wrote on the door,Coco, and stepped back, pulling her bow off her back and fitting an arrow to the string.
The door opened, and the three adventures saw the mod of monsters. This time there were only Giant Bats, Giant Rats and goblins. Hazel let her arrow lose, and hit one of the rats. It fell to the ground dead. Harry raised his staff, and a fire ball flew out of it, killing all monsters in it's path. Holly had drawn her daggers, and was taking on some of the goblins. She blocked a sword, stabbing the owner in the belly. She looked up, in time to doge a rat's teeth. She held up her dagger, but the rat fell to its side, an arrow in it.
"Thanks, Hazel," Holly called, stabbing a bat.
A Giant rat leapt at Harry, only to fall back as he flashed his staff at it, sending it flying against the wall. It fell with a thud and was still.
Hazel's hand was a blur as she shot arrow after arrow into the midst of the mob. Soon, they were all dead. Holly wiped her daggers on the cloak of a goblin.
"Not sure if that cleans it, or makes it more dirty," she muttered, sheathing them. Hazel walked around the room, looking for hidden doors or chest. She soon found a chest. Opening it, she found; ten crowns, the chest-plate of fire, which gave a fire bolt power, leggings of stealth, and bow of unbreaking. She tossed the chest-plate to Harry and the leggings to Holly.
"Good haul here," she said. Harry nodded, he was walking to the door, wondering what the riddle was this time.
"What is the colour of the dress?" he read, confused.

[Woogwoo Wren]

#11 Ill.
Fang lay on his bed of moss and leaves. He was breathing heavily. Rain pushed him with her snout. She put some herbs in his mouth.
"Eat, Alpha. Eat and be well," she whispered. The big brute looked a week as a pup lying there. He managed to swallow the herbs and fall into a more settled sleep. Rain's eyes filled with tears. She felt way out of her depth, she had ever since her teacher had died in the sickness that was rushing through the pack. She walked out of the Alpha's den, and hurried to the pup and mother den. One of the nursing mothers was wailing. She hurried in and her heart sank. Patch, Midnight's only surviving pup was lying motionless. Rain hurried to him, but it was too late.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. Midnight looked at her.
"You could have saved him!" she growled, advancing. "you could have, but you spent all your time with the Alpha. Maybe it's his time to go, but Patch's life was just beginning! You could have saved him!" She bared her teeth and lunged at Rain. Star grabbed her by the scruff of her neck.
"Rain is doing her best! Don't make it harder for her!" she growled. Midnight whimpered and slink deeper into the den. Rain nodded her thanks to Star, and hurried out to her den. She looked over the sick, two trainees, a pup, four fully fledged pack members, and an elder. She looked over them, giving them herbs, and making them sleep better. She felt exhausted. Flopping on her nest, she hoped she could get some sleep. But, as she was closing her eyes, the Omega entered.
"What!" she snapped, louder then she intended.
"I-I s-sorry, B-but Sto-one iss ge-eting i-ill," Omega stammered. Rain closed her eyes. What next? ""Ra-ain?" the Omega asked.
"Sorry, I'm coming," Rain said, standing. She walked to the beta's den. The young fea was lying in her den, breathing heavily and painting, just like all the rest. How many were left that hadn't caught the sickness? Not many at all. She gave Stone herbs, and brought her to her den. Rain looked sadly at the nine wolves in her den, and the Alpha. Ten wolves, and three dead, and to top it all off, she was running out of herbs.
"Omega, can you please find me some more marigold, doc-leaves, and any other herbs you can?" she asked. The Omega bowed his head and ran off. Rain looked over the sick wolves again, and yet again sent the pups' mother out of the den. She hurried over the Fang's den, looking sadly at the alpha. She wished Snapper hadn't died. Her teacher, Snapper had been the first wolf to die. He was followed by Mangle, a hunter, and now Patch. Who would be next? Another pup? Fang himself? Her thoughts were interrupted by Omega. He carried a pitiful bundle of herbs.
"Is that all you could find?" Rain asked, and the Omega nodded sadly.
"I'm s-sorry, R-rain," he stuttered. Rain sighed, she wasn't getting enough sleep, wolves were dying on her, there were no more herbs, and now she was getting annoyed at Omega's usual stammering.
"It's not your fault," she said. Oh how she wanted a good sleep! "Omega, can you watch the sick wolves? I need to sleep. Wake me if any of them wake," she instructed, and walked to her nest. She was sleep almost as soon as she lay down.

Her dreams were so peaceful. She dreamt of the times before the sickness. Times when she was just a pup, only a few moons ago. She was chasing a rabbit through the woods, when a wolf leapt in front of her.
"What are you doing! Your pack needs you!" Rain started, it was Snapper.
"It won't help if I collapse!" she retorted. "But how are you here?"
"I can see you when I want to. Now, if you want to stop this sickness, then look under the rabbit's den."
"look under the rabbit's den? What's that supposed to mean?" Rain cried, but Snapper was fading.
"Get back to your pack," he said, and suddenly, she was back in her nest, with Omega standing over her.
"D-daim-mond i-is aw-wake. S-she i-is n-not g-g-good," he stammered, and Rain walked to her. She gave the young trainee herbs, and a little rabbit meat. Suddenly, she remembered her dream. She rushed out of her den, and to the hunters den.
"I need to find a rabbit's den!" she cried.
"A rabbit's den? Why, there's one just over the hill, why?" Wind asked.
"Sorry, I need to hurry, thanks!" She rushed out of the pack camp, and over the hill. She stumbled on the short grass, but stood and kept running. Soon she saw the rabbit's den. It was halfway down the hill. She half ran, half rolled down to the bottom, and began to dig. After five minutes of digging, her paws fell into empty air. She flailed, and fell into the hole. It was a small drop, and her fall was cushioned with herbs. Wait, Herbs? Rain jumped up and looked at them. They was like no herb she had ever seen, but she knew they would help. Grabbing a mouthful she rushed back to the camp. Once in her den, she began to chew the herbs, sending Omega back for more. First she helped the pups, then gave some to the trainees, and then the alpha, and finally the hunters, guards and Stone. As she gave Stone the last of the herbs, Omega came back for the second time, this time with no herbs. There was only just enough.
"Let's hope it works," Rain muttered.
"I'm hungry!" Moss, the youngest pup, and the first she had treated, was awake! Rain gasped, and his sister, Cloud, joined his cry. Soon, all the sick where waking, and Rain knew every thing would be fine.

[Woogwoo Wren]

#12 Skeleton.
The cave was small, but it was safe enough for James and Rose. Unknown to them, they had crossed the border when Rose went to find James. Even though the war was over, there was still hostility between Flimbit and Coria, and since James had been acting as a warrior of Coria, people may not have taken nicely with him going to leaving the country with the royal princess of Flimbit.
"Come on, it's empty," James called to Rose. She ducked under the low entrance, and entered the cave. It widened out and Rose could soon stand. She looked around. There was barely enough room for both of them, but it would do for the night. Rose sat down in a corner.
"We should find some moss and leaves to make beds," she said. James nodded, standing. He whacked his head on the roof as he stood.
"Oww!" he cried, rubbing the bruise that was forming.
"Oh, you big baby," Rose said, smiling. "Come on, let's go." They slipped out of the cave, and soon a bed was on either side on the cave. Rose sat on her bed, and leaned against the ivy covered wall. Suddenly, there was nothing behind her, and she was falling. She fell heavily and groaned.
"Rose? Where are you?" she heard James call, but it felt faint, and far away. She was winded. Groaning, she stood.
"AHH!" she cried, coming face to face with a skeleton.
"Rose?" James called. "What's the matter?"
"I'm okay, I fell down a hole and there's a skeleton," she called up. Walking to where she had fallen in, she saw a steep wall, going up to a small hole. James' face was looking into the hole. Rose walked to the wall, but it was compliantly smooth, there were no handholds. She had an inkling of what happened to the skeleton.
"James, I can't get up," she called.
"I'm coming Rose," he called, and his face disappeared.
"Don't, it's steep, there are no handholds," Rose called franticly. But it was too late, he was coming down. He soon joined her on the floor of the cave.
"You did bring a rope, didn't you?" Rose asked, a little worried. James nodded, grinning as he held the end of a rope.
"Gave you a scare, didn't I?" he said, grinning. "Who's your friend?" he asked, gesturing to the skeleton. Rose shrugged, moving closer. The tatters on the bones were all that were left of the clothes. Rose looked around, and noticed that the hand was pointing to the wall. She looked closer, and saw some faint scratches.
"Give us some light," she called, and James handed her a torch. Holding the burning fire close to the wall, Rose could make out words.

I, Violet, Queen of Flimit, have my last resting place here.
I have served my Kingdom well, and my only regret is leaving my daughter.
Who ever reads this, know that I did not run away as many may think,
I was kidnapped by Coria.
I rest here, hoping that someone will find this message.
Queen Violet, of Coria.

Rose looked at the words in shock. Her mother? Her father had always told her that Violet had died when Rose was very young. But she hadn't. And she thought people might think she had run away. Maybe that was why Rose's father had told her that her mother had died.
Leaning against the wall, Rose felt week. James walked closer and read the words. After, he drew Rose into an embrace. Rose hardly noticed, it was all to much. No wonder her father had declared war on Coria.
"I want to know the full story, James," she said.
"The only way to do that, is to ask the king of Coria, but that could be tricky, as you killed him." James said, grinning. Rose jsut nodded.
"I still think the answer lies in Raeck the capital of Coria," Rose said.
"No no no no no!" James cried. "You are not going into the middle of enemy territory. And that's that!"
"James! I have to know! How would you like not knowing how your mother died!"
"You do know! She died her, in this cave!" Rose shook her head.
"I want to know, what she was doing in the cave, how she escaped from Coria, everything!" Tears where forming in her eyes. "Please. You know I'm a good shot with my bow, I just saved your life!"
James scowled. He stalked across the cave, thinking. Finally, he turned.
"Fine. Let's go. But if anything happens to you, your father is not going to be happy!"
"He's not going to be happy about any of this," Rose muttered, beginning to climb the rope.
"We'll leave tomorrow," James said, settling down for the night. Rose nodded, and lay on her bed, thinking of what she would find in Raeck.

[Woogwoo Wren]

#13 Nothing.
Flower plodded into the den she and Storm lived in.The tom looked up as she entered.
"Anything?" he asked. Flower shook her head sadly.
"Nothing," she said. Storm hissed in annoyance.
"Its been two days since I last had a meal. You haven't been sneaking some when your hunting, have you?" he asked. Flower bristled.
"Of course not! Why can't you trust me!" she snapped.
"You didn't give my much reason to trust you when we met," Storm replied. Flower's fur flattened a little, he was right, but she wasn't going to let him know that.
"That was moons ago!" she hissed.
"It was last moon! And you haven't given me any reason to trust you since then!" Storm's fur was on end, and his claws we're going in and out. He looked ready to pounce.
"If you don't want to stay here, leave!" Flower cried, extending her claws too.
"I might do that! Then you can eat all the prey you want without having to save any for me," Storm spat.
"Fine, go!" Flower said, turning her back on him. "See if I care!"
"Fine, I will!" Storm said, spinning and running out of the cave.
"And good riddance! Imagine, he accused me of stealing prey! He probably did," Flower snorted to herself. She walked to her nest and lay down, soon falling asleep.

When she woke, she stretched, yawning, and looked around for Storm. She saw nothing. For a second, she thought he was hunting, then she remembered the fight yesterday.
"It was his fault, and I can do better with out him!" she said. Her stomach grumbled and she decided to go hunting. Walking away from the cave, she tasted the air for prey. A familiar sent wafted over her. It was Storm. For a minute, she contemplated going after him, but decided not to.
"He started it," she muttered, tuning away from the sent. A sence of loss came over her, and she shook it away. "I'm just hungry, that's all." Suddenly, a sent hit her nose. Squirrel! Looking around, she saw the scrawny thing under a tree. Flower crouched, and began to stalk it. It looked up, hearing something, but it was too slow. Flower leapt, pinning it to the ground and killing it. She was about to dig into it, but remembered Storm's accusation the day before. 'You haven't been sneaking prey, have you?' Flower hissed slightly. Must he make her fell gulty even when he was gone?
"I will eat this, and I'll enjoy it!" she snapped to herself, digging into the squirrel. After she had eaten she walked back to her cave. Lying down, she wondered what to do next.
"I wonder if Storm has found a place to stay?" she thought. Then hissed. "Forget about him! He's gone!" For some reason, she had a sense of regret.
"What is wrong with me?" she said out loud. Hissing, she stood and paced around the cave, her thoughts in a muddle. She always came back to Storm. Suddenly, she made her decision. She would say he could come back, but she wouldn't apologise, it was his fault. Her mind made up, she sped out of the cave, following Storm's sent. Speeding through the forest, she soon came about a small clearing. In it lay a limp body, grey fur no longer sleek, but clumped and covered in blood.
"No!" Flower cried, rushing to the limp body. "No no no no no no!" She could barely see anything, her eyes were filled with tears. "Please no," she whispered, lying beside Storm's limp body. A nose caused her to look up, and she saw a fox, the same fox that she chased out of her cave a moon ago.
"Die!" she yowled, throwing herself aganst it, regardless of her own safty. So feace was her attack, she soon had the fox feeling in terror. Suddenly she felt weak and tried. She limped to Storm, not putting weight on her right forepaw that the fox had wounded. She lay beside him, hoping she to would die. Silent tears fell from her eyes.
"Flower?" She looked up, was he alive?
"Storm?"
"You came," he said weakly. "I-I'm sorry," he whispered so quietly she hardly heard him.
"So am I," Flower said. "Stay here!" She stood and ran off into the woods, looking for prey.
"Where would I go?" Storm muttered to himself. A few minutes later, Flower returned with a small mouse in her jaws. She laid it in front of Storm and he ate it. Flower lay beside him, keeping watch. When Storm was finished, Flower helped him back to the cave, dragging him most of the way. Once they arrived, it was dark. Flower lay him on his nest and found herbs to treat his many wounds. Watching over his sleeping body, Flower knewn she could never leave him.

[Woogwoo Wren]

#14 servitude.
James' arms pumped by his sides, his breath was coming in short bursts and his heart was thumping loudly. He skidded around a corner, nearly careering into a house. He glanced behind him, and was relived to see the soliders were still a far way behind him. But they where catching up.
I need to hide somewhere. They know the town better then me, he thought. Putting a burst of speed, he headed towards a church. It was a small church, but he hoped that the soldiers wouldn't follow him.
He heard a shout, and looked behind him again. The soliders where nearly on him. Looking ahead, he swore as another group of soldiers came around a corner ahead of him. It would be a close thing if he wanted to get to the church before they got to him. Running as fast as he could, James pulled the door open, and slipped in, slamming it behind him. He leaned against the door, breathing heavily, his hands on his knees. The soliders shouted, but as he hoped they didn't enter. Once he had regained his breath, he stood and looked around. The inside of the small church was unlike any he had ever seen, not that he had been in many churches. The large stained glass windows depicted pictures of a baby in a stable, and a man on a cross.
"Where am I?" he wondered, looking around. Walking foward, he saw a open book on a stand at the front. Looking at it, he read.

What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Romans 6:15-23)

He was so caught up in the reading, he didn't notice a man entering. He was short and fat, but he had a kindly face.
"Intresting, isn't it?" James spun around, surprised.
"W-who are you?" he asked. The man smiled.
"I am a servant of the one and only God. Here, take this." He held out a book, and James saw it was a smaller version of the big book on the stand. "Read it," the man said. James nodded.
"Thank you, but, I can't quite leave yet," he said, knowing that the soliders would be waiting for him. The man nodded.
"Well then, better start reading!" He smiled again, and left through a back entrance. James shook his head, confused. Then he sat down, and began to read.

Rose hid in the castle dungeon, digesting the information the prisoner had given her. She had found out that her mother had been captured, and was locked in the dungon. The man who had told her said she was always hopeful, and seem to shine with joy. One day, the guards had left the door unlocked, and Violet had sneaked out. When Rose had asked the man why the door was left open, he had replied, "The Lord does good things for his followers." From that, Rose had figured out that her mother had found her way to the cave where she had died.
"Now I need to find James," Rose muttered. She had left him, after he said that he would draw off the soldiers. Slipping out of her hiding place, she creapt to the entrance, and quickly killed the gaurd. Slipping away from the castle, she ran to where she had last seen James. There was no sign of him.
"Only to be expected," she muttered. She looked around, and saw a pile of crates beside a house. She quickly climbed up and surveyed the city. There by a small church near by was a large group of soldiers. She slipped down and ran through the streets til she found the church.
Quickly making a plan, she walked confidently into view, her heart thumping.
"What do ya want missy?" one of the men said.
"I want to go into the church," she replied.
"Sorry, ma'm, we 'ave a dangerous criminal in there," he said, confirming her suspicions.
"I can look after myself," Rose said, pulling her sword partway out of her sheath.
"Fine, fine, but it's your problem it you gets killed," the man said, waving her through. Rose breathed a sigh of relief, and quickly entured the church.
Looking around, she saw the windows James had seen earlier. Then she saw James, sitting in one of the pews, reading a book.
"James, there you are," she called, and he jerked his head up, surprised.
"Rose! Did you find out what you wanted?" Rose nodded, and was about to speak when a banging on the door interupted her.
"Open the door! By the name of the King!" a voice shouted.
"Time to be gone!" James shouted, pocketing the book he was holding. Rose nodded, and together they ran to the back door. Just as they reached it, the soldiers bust through the door. A man Rose hadn't seen was in the lead.
"Get them!" he shouted, and four men quickly brought bows up.
"Run!" James shouted, shoving Rose through the door. As he followed, he dropped the book he was reading. He hesatated, and bent down and grabbed it. Turning, he cried in pain and stumbled foward.
"No!" Rose cried, running to him. She slammed the door and slid the bolt home. It would hold them for a while.
"James!" Kneeing beside him, she saw the wicked arrow sticking out of him. "No no no no no!" Tears began falling from her eyes.
"Rose," James said weakly.
"I'm here, James," she whispered.
"Take...the...book," he croaked. "Read...it." Rose gently pulled the book out of his pocket. "Promise me...you'll read it," James said, every word an effort. Rose hesatated, the book was what had made him get wounded. "Please, promise!" James said, tying to sit.
"I promise," Rose whispered, finally. James smiled, and relaxed.
"Good bye, my love," he said.
"No! No! You'll be fine!" Rose shouted, tears falling freely.
"Good bye," James whispered again, and was still.
"No!" Rose cried. She bured her head on his cheast, crying. How long she stayed that way she didn't know, but finally she felt a hand on her shoulder. Looking up, she saw through her tears a short, fat man.
"Come, I will show you a way out," he said, pressing the book into her hand. "I will bury him. He deserves a place in the church graveyard. Don't be sad. He is with his Lord in paradise, now come!"
Rose nodded, and followed him numbly. She could hardly believe that James was dead.
The man lead her through the closely compact streets out of the city.
"I will leave you now," he said.
"Wait! C-can you bring him here?" she asked, she couldn't bare to leave him in the city. The man nodded, and walked back. Rose stared after him, and looked down, tears blurring her vision. She saw the book in her hand. Reading the cover, she saw 'the Holy Bible'. Wondering why James would have died for it, she opened it and began to read.
'In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.'

[Woogwoo Wren]

# 15. Possibilities.

Suzann rushed down through the halls, her skirt billowing around her legs. She came to the stairs, the servant's stairs, and ran down, her youngest son running after her. In the middle of the stairs, she saw he body.
"Please don't let it be him," she breathed. But it was, and she knew that.
Turning to the boy, she said.
"Frederick, run to your siblings and tell Marianna that the hornet's nest has broken. She will understand." The boy nodded and scurried back the way he came. Suzann watched him go, then turned to the scene at the bottom of the stairs.
A body was lying still, the head crocked at a wrong angle, and the right hand under the body. Servants surrounded him, but none came close.
Suzann stepped of the stairs and looked at her husband. Her eyes clouded with grief. Looking up, she addressed the servants.
"What happened?" she asked, a little sharper then she intended. A young man stepped foward.
"I found the body, Ma'am," he said, a little nervously. "I was gettin' the milk, like I always does, an' I heard a bang an' a crash. I rushed out 'ere, quick like, an' I sees the body. I went an' got you, an' I didn't touch anything. Tis the 'onest truth, Ma'am."
Suzann nodded.
"Thank you, William. You may go." She looked around at the assembled servants. All of them were there. "You may all go." They reluctantly dispersed. As the last exited, a young woman of about fifteen entered.
"Mother, Frederick said-." She stopped short when she saw the body. "Papa," she whispered. "No." Dropping to her knees, she leaned her head in her hands. "This is the breaking of the Hornet's nest?" she asked, her voice muffled by her hands.
Suzann sighed, and gently helped Marianna up.
"Wipe your tears, the time for morning is later. The von Hoffs have struck first."
Marianna stood, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.
"But how could they get in?" she asked. "The manor is well guarded."
"I don't know, but those cursed von Hoffs are behind this!" she said.
"You cannot jump to conclusions Mama! They may have, or I could have been an accident," Marianna said. Her mother shook her head.
"Who else would do this? It has to be them." She knelt beside the dead body, and gently rolled him over. His right hand- the one that was under him- was clenched. Suzann pried the stiff hand open, and found a small scrap of paper. Unfolding it, she read; "Suzann, I know you didn't want it to be this way, but I hope you understand. Please forgive me! It had to be this way. Look after my desk, my grandfather gave it to me."
Suzann stared at the note, unbelief written on her face.
"Mama?" Marianna said quietly, and her mother wordlessly handed her the paper. Marianna read it, and looked up.
"He-he jumped?" she whispered. Suzann just nodded, tears forming. "But why? Why would he leave us?" tears began forming in her own eyes as she clutched the note like it was her only life line.
A voice in her head was saying, the words are underlined!, but she ignored it, giving into a moment of greif. She forced herself to think again, and looked again at the note. The words are underline, she thought, and looking at the words, she saw three were underlined: under, desk and my. Her mind working fast, she scrambled them to make a sentence. Under my desk.
"Mama!" she cried, breaking through her mother's tears. "Look!" Marianna quickly showed her the discovery.
Suzann aloud a small smile break though, and stood.
"Once he is at rest, then we will follow this mystery," she said.

But it took a lot longer then that, because Fredrick, the youngest of the family became gravely ill. Suzann tiredly nursed him, but to no avail. He followed his father into death. When Mary, the next youngest grew ill as well, Marianna decided to take action. The von Hoffs were picking them off one by one, and an answer might be under her father's old desk.
She stepped into his office, fighting back tears as a wave of memory washed over her. She remembered sitting on a seat as her father told her stories, and on his knee, listing to him conduct his business.
The young girl knelt beside the desk, and looked under it. She saw nothing. The underside of the top was smooth, except for one knot. There was nothing on the legs.
"What are you doing in here?" Marianna stood, startled, bumping her head on the bottom of the desk. She saw her mother standing in the door, an angry look on her face.
"I am allowed in here," she said, rubbing her head. "I am following the clues father left us."
Suzann snorted.
"It is a lie! The von Hoffs planted it." She rubbed her eyes, and Marianna saw the large bags under them, thanks to the many nights she spent, tending to her sick children.
"No! Father sent it. He-he jumped. And he meant for us to have this. I am not leaving this room until I have found an answer!" she said.
"Fine! Stay here and follow a planted clue. If you ever get back, maybe you could think of me and tend for Mary!" With that, Suzann matched out, closing the door behind her.
Marianna stared after her, shaken. She had never quarrelled with her mother like that before. Kneeing beside the desk again, she pressed the knot, not expecting anything to happen. To her supprise, a lound grating sound began, looking up, she saw the fire-place in the corner shifting, revealing a long tunnel to- where?
Walking towards it, Marianna saw a small pile of lanterns. She picked one up, and lit it with the one in the room. Then she entured the tunnel.
She walked for what seemed an age, pulling her hands back whenever she touched a spider web.
Fredrick would love this, she thought, then remembered that he was dead. Oh why did father have to kill their favorit dog? she wondered. And why did they have to declare a blood feud. And Father had to accept. Huh, look where that got him!
She came upon a door. It was a magnificent door, with golden outlines of trees, animals and birds.
Marianna gently pushed it open, and gasped at what was inside.
"Papa!" she cried, running to him.
"Marianna! I know you would come," he said, hugging her tightly.
"But how? You where dead!" Her father smiled.
"I know a very cleaver wax worker, and asked him to make a likeness of me. He did very well! Then I hid in here and waited."
"But why? Why make us think you were dead?" Marianna asked.
"I needed to. I knew the von Hoffs would strike soon, and I had to live." He smiled, "I have paid them a lot of money- from an unknown patron- and bought them a new dog. The feud Is over!" He smiled widened. "And I can come back.
"To late," Marianna whispered, pulling out of his embrace. "Fredy is dead."
Her father's smile faded, and sadness clouded her eyes.
"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I should have given you the antidote. The von Hoffs used a poision to kill their enemies, but send the antidote to their unknow patron, that is me. I should have sent it to you." He shook his head.
"We must hurry then, Mary is ill, and needs the antidote!" She grabbed her father's hand, and pulled him through the door. He picked up a small vile, then followed her into the tunnel.

[Woogwoo Wren]

So it's about a year and a half since I last posted here, and my writing has improved a lot. I'm hoping to start writing this again, so look out for stories.
I'm going to try and do one short story a day, and while they may not be all here, you will be able to find more here
So. More writing, I suppose.

[Woogwoo Wren]

#16. Weightless

It is a strange feeling, something I have never experienced before. But I've Shifted thousands of times. Why would this time be any different?

Oh no. Am I getting my second Shift? Not right now, please.

It's a bad time because I need a Shift I know. I need to escape, and I can't do that if I'm struggling to learn how to move in a new animal form.

The purple light associated with Shifting slowly fades around me, and I breathe deeply. I feel strange, different, uncomfortable. What am I?

While now isn't really the best time, I guess I should introduce myself. Hello, I'm Dawn. I'm twelve years old, I'm a Shifter and an escaped slave. I escaped a while ago, and I've been on the run ever since. Now, I need to get out of here. Because my old Mistress' workers have found me. Nice to meet you.

Well, now that the introductions are out of the way - what on earth am I?

I'm small than me other Shift - a fox. I should explain that. All Shifters have two Shifts, one from birth, and one once they mature. Looks like I'm becoming a woman. Right now is very impractical, thanks, body.

Right. Focus.

I have feathers. Beautiful golden feathers. And my eye sight is much better - I think I'm some kind of bird. Can I fly? That would be useful - and they don't know I have another Shift now, they wouldn't recognize me.

I spread my wings - it feels strange to have wings. I give them an experimental flap, and grin - as well as is possible with a beak of course.

"She's over here, I'm sure!"

Crap. They're getting close, I have to mow. Now!

I push with my feet, and launch myself into the air, flapping wildly with my wings. To my surprise and joy, I find myself flying higher. I'm flying!

I push myself, flying as high as I can. Down below, I can see people moving around, looking for me. But they will never find me.

I spread my wings, gliding instinctively. Okay, maybe I don't need long to get accustomed to a new Shift.

But it's the most wonderful feeling in the world. The wind passing my feathers, able to see for miles. I feel freer than I ever have in my life. I could stay up here forever!

A small lake body is nearby, I angle myself towards it. I want to know what I am.

Swooping over the still water, I can see myself. I'm an eagle. Golden feathers stand out on the edge of white, and I am beautiful. I am free.

I angle myself up again, soaring higher and higher. I need to get back, Argus will want to know that I have my second Shift.

Excitement bubbles inside me - I am able to fly, I can go where ever I want. I can see whatever I want to see. I am free.

It's actually rather difficult to find the camp from above, but eventually, I find the river. From there, it's only a matter of following the water to the camp.

I soar down, savouring the feeling of wind on my feathers. I feel weightless, I never want to land.


There's Argus, he's talking to Brooke. Of course he is. I'm pretty sure he has a crush on her.

I narrow my eyes, flying closer. It could be a tricky landing, especially for my first, but I think I can do it.

My claws out front, I move closer, suddenly dropping and landing on his shoulder. I'm only on there for a second before I slip and tumble to the ground. Ow.

Argus turns to look at me, surprise on his face. I straighten myself, looking up at him and smiling. I probably look ridiculous, but I think he recognises me - my eyes remained the same as when I'm a human.

"Hey, kiddo," he says, picking me up. I'm really tempted to Shift, but he'll probably drop me. "You got your second Shift, huh?"

I nod, letting out a squawk.

"Oh yeah!" I say, grinning again. Mental note, don't grin as a bird. You look stupid.

"You can fly?" I nod as he speaks, and he grins, winking and Brooke. Oh great, he's not -

Yup. He is.

I'm thrown into the air, letting out an annoyed cry. Flapping my wings, I land agian, Shifting back into human form. Argus grins, patting me on the head.

"Good job, kiddo," he says. I grin, glad he's happy.

"I'm going to show River," I say, Shifting again. The pain is worth it. I love flying. I could fly forever. Maybe I will.