Quiet, dark, alive.
A shaking hand to hold.
Do you hear music in the distance?
Faint and eerie
Beautiful.
A dance in the trees.
Flickering shadows, soft lights.
Your hands aren’t shaking anymore.
Enchanted creatures, peering from behind birches.
Do you see this elsewhere?
Magic, seeping through your blood.
Mystery, awakening your nerves.
Is this really something that happens every day?

Miches stepped back. he was finally finished.

The statue stood tall; Black granite against a golden sky.

Miches surveyed his handiwork. he felt the wings, the curved beak and the long talons.

"This is a smarter Guardian" Miches thought. "i shall set him to the ultimate Pass."

The statues were made for a purpose; A Pass.

The Gargoyle would sit on the roofs and wait. His Pass was to unleash a deluge of water on any intruder.

The Dragon was made for a gatehouse. His Pass would guard the gates of cities and castles, with fire if need be.

Chapter 2

(Written by Me, Kassady)

Amy stood a gape, as a man stood in front of her, that looked as if he had just came from the set of Lord of the Rings.

"Who...who" she stammered, "Listen"Amy said shakily, "This game your playing... its not funny any more. Just stop, okay?"

The weirdo glared at her, his hair falling into his face, making his face look fierce and mysterious, "Who are you? And where am I?" he asked, still glaring at her.

red leather
blackened with age
well worn, and slightly curled
like it'd been sat on
a few too many times
without enough dead presidents
inside.

nine washington's and a jefferson
that was it
except for a walmart receipt
for milk, bread, and eggs, the usual,
and a coupon for a dollar off
a six-pack of soda pop.

inside the left pouch,
a hunter ed certificate
from parks and wildlife,
a piece of paper with
a phone number scribbled
in a hurried hand

 Autumn jumped into the car and buckled herself in. She was impatient to hear what had happened since her father had told her that Mrs. Harrison was expecting triplets. “What did the doctors say?” she asked.

Her mother took a deep breath. “Well, it appears that two of the triplets-or maybe all of them-have a birth defect of some kind,” she explained quietly, “and we might lose them.”

Autumn folded her hands in her lap and twisted the bottom of her shirt, her heart almost feeling like it was about to drop into her feet.

 One day, as she scribbled away in her journal, she happened to look out one of her bedroom windows and see people walking along the street. She knew immediately that they were strangers because she knew everyone on her street and she didn’t recognize them.

The group dodged out of the way as Mr. Harrison drove down the road and pulled into his driveway. Autumn ran out to greet him and forgot about the people she had seen.

Later that evening, as the two of them sat eating a dinner of leftovers in the kitchen, Mr. Harrison put down his fork and spoke.

Chapter 2

The Thug-full Tavern

Phorknere's birthday plans went without a hitch, but it was the next day that was the problem-
 

“Phorknere!” Phella exclaimed, bursting into their room as Phorknere studied maps.
 

“What the Zitz? What's wrong?” Phorknere asked jumping from his chair.