Lady Wolf

Yo.

Well, as you can see, I've switched back to my old Xanga, My_Muse_is_Broken. I'd love it if those who read here would read there too. 'Twould be great. But, yeah. If you go back and read from the beginning on it, it was a little less than not-so-great, but I promise it improves. Come check it out, if you feel like it. This'll prolly be the last time I log on this site for a long time, so if you want to contact me, try email or my other site please. Shati!

Jess

I've been feeling rather blockished lately. I'm thinking about taking a break from this one and going back to Kingdom Come. I went back today and was planning on reading through it all to get a feel for the characters again, and I can say, without cloudly judgement, I sucked! After reading maybe ten pages in the beggining I was nausiated. That's going to take a lot of work in the editing process.

But, I skipped ahead, and I'm proud to say I improved by then, but man! That beggining is horrible! *shudders* But, hopefully I'll continue to improve with practice, because I need a ton of improvement if I want to make a career out of this. Whatever. I'll know by Friday what I'm going to do story-wise, so expect a post somewhere. Shati.

Jess

As a wonderful Christmas present (and 'cause yesterday's post was so short) I'm giving you a post today! This one's still not too long, but oh well. I hope you like it!

Dareth didn’t react fast enough to catch her this time. After she fell to the ground, the people milled nervously before shoving one man forward.

            “Give her to us, man, and we may be lenient with you,” he ordered. Dareth frowned, stepping closer to Chea’s fallen form.

            “No.”

            “Give us the murderess now!” the man commanded.

            “What is your name?” Dareth asked coolly. The man shifted uncomfortably.

            “Hakit.”

            “Hakit,” Dareth said amenably, “how do you know she murdered anyone?”

            “She’s the only one alive from the massacre, that’s why!”

            “Why would she murder her own family?” Dareth protested. “Why would she do such a thing?”

            “For dark powers,” Hakit growled. “Even now, she’s having a witch-fit, the whore.” Dareth fought with his rage, fought the urge to attack this man right now. He clenched his fists and looked down.

            “This, this ‘witch-fit,’” Dareth spat the words, “is a flashback from the trauma of that night. The night she was forced to watch her entire family, including her infant daughter, be murdered before she was raped.” Dareth looked up, glaring into Hakit’s eyes. “I think you’d have flashbacks from that too, especially if you were also charged with their murder.”

            A wave of hushed words swept through the mob before Hakit gestured for silence.

            “And why should we believe you?” he demanded. “You’re obviously with her, most likely some foul lover! You speak lies, whishing for us to fall to her trickery!”

            In that instant, Dareth saw the madness in his eyes, in most the townspeople’s eyes. They needed a scapegoat so badly they were unwilling, no, unable, to listen to reason. Chea groaned and stirred at his feet, and he helped her to stand, supporting her when she wobbled. Chea leaned on him for a moment before standing straight and stepping away to face the hoard herself.

Chea thrust the pain of the flashback away, concentrating on the problem in front of her. She gazed at the faces. She’d thought, at one point, that these people were her friends. She knew better now.

            “Are you so blinded?” Chea said softly, gesturing before her. “Are you so unwilling to see what lies before your eyes?”

            “We see well enough, witch!” Hawkit spat. “You always were odd. Different…”

            “And does that make me wrong?” Chea shouted. “Just because something is different doesn’t mean it can’t be right!” Chea glanced from person to person. “Do you really think that if I’d acted just the same as everyone else this wouldn’t have happened…that they wouldn’t have come?”

            “No one came,” Hawkit protested. “You did it yourself!”

            “No I didn’t!” Chea cried. Dareth stepped closer to her.

            “You can’t reason with them,” he whispered. “They’re crazy.” Chea gestured for him to be silent and he did, stepping back. She returned her attention to the crowd.

           “How can you do this to me?” Chea said quietly. “Most of you saw me grow up, or grew up with me. You know me! You know I wouldn’t do this! I may have been different, but I was never evil, or murderous, or…” Chea trailed off, no quite knowing what to say. Members of the crowd shifted nervously, looking unsure. Hakit shook his head as if trying to clear it and scowled.

            “Even now, she tries her witchy tricks on our minds!” he shouted to the mass. The mob shifted, tightening the circle. Chea looked around frantically, looking for an opening. She saw several men, led by the one that had threatened Grent, pushing through the crowd. They needed an escape, fast!

            And, as if by the hand of the Goddess herself, a fire sprang in a neighboring field. The crowd turned, several running to douse the flames. Chea knew from experience that fire could devastate the season’s harvest and starve hundreds.

            “Chea!”

            Chea turned, facing the voice as Raven thundered through the broken mass. Arinia slowed to a fast walk and Chea swung into the saddle. Dareth wasn’t far behind, even though Zethew had to come to a complete stop for him to mount. Chea’d had plenty of practice with fast exits.

            They sped from the town, quickly outrunning the few people who tried to follow. They stopped just as the sun began to rise, being a safe distance away.

           And then, for the first time in four years, Chea cried. She cried for her family, who had died because of her decisions. She cried for her daughter, who’d never had a chance to live. She cried for Grent, who may have died for her just moments ago.

          But most importantly, she cried for herself. And, for the first time, that was alright.

This is all I have written so far, so that's why it's so short. If I write some more today, I'll add to it, but no guarentees. Merry Christmas Eve!
Edit If something has a line through it, it means I went back and changed the post. I just figured I'd tell you that 'cause I corrected a bit at the end. Edit

Chea sat up drowsily. She shook her head, trying to clear it. A knock sounded once more at the front door, the source of her awakening. Chea stood and slipped her feet into a pair of worn slippers and reached for the door. Her hand was on the handle when she stopped, finally fully awake. She hesitated as the knock sounded again, but then, making a quick decision, opened the door and slipped out quietly. She ducked as she passed by the doorway, slinking farther down the hall. She stopped in front of what she knew was the guest room and opened the door silently. She closed it behind her and turned to Dareth’s sleeping form.

            “Dareth!” she hissed. He muttered some garbled phrase and rolled over. “Dareth, wake up now, you big lug!” she commanded, grasping his shoulder and shaking it violently. He opened his eyes drowsily.

            “Hello, pet,” he murmured. Suddenly, his eyes snapped open and he bolted upright.

            “Chea, you can’t be in here! I’ll be…” she silenced him with a hand over his mouth.

            “Get dressed. We may have to make a fast exit,” she explained. Dareth nodded and bean to rise, then stopped.

            “Turn around,” he ordered. Chea sighed exasperatedly.

            “That’s silly. I’ve seen you bare before.”

            “That was an accident, and I’d rather not give Grent something to carp about,” Dareth protested. “Turn around.” Chea crossed her arms and obliged as he dressed. She turned back when he announced it was safe.

            “Now, what’s going on?” he asked, pulling on his boots.

            “Someone was knocking. I don’t know who it was, but I don’t think Grent gets many visitors anymore, so I doubt it was good,” Chea said dryly. Dareth nodded, pulling on his coat.

            “Sounds wise. Have you called Arinia and Zethew?”

            “Not yet,” Chea admitted. Both found their Bondeds and called for them to come, getting an agreement from each.

            Chea tensed as she heard Grent come down the stairs, finally awakened by the pounding. Chea listened as he opened the door.

            “What do you want?”

            “We’re to search your home, Grent.” Chea recognized the voice as that of the man who’d come earlier. “Step aside.”

            “No.”

            “Don’t make me do this, Grent,” the man replied. Chea missed the next exchange, but winced when she heard the dull thudding of a body falling on the floor. She rushed toward the door, but Dareth grasped her shoulder, holding her back.

“You can’t,” he hissed. She glared back at him.

“How can I just stay hidden here? He may need help!”

Dareth shook his head. “He values your life above his own. He’d never forgive himself if you were captured because of him.” Chea glanced back to the door, but didn’t break away, knowing Dareth was right. She closed her eyes, wringing her shaking hands. If they’d killed him…

            “We do need to get out of here now, though,” Dareth whispered in her ear, breaking off her thought. She nodded and searched her memory.

            “There’s a window in Grent’s room just down the hall. They’ll probably go to my room first. We may be able to sneak out undetected,” Chea murmured. Dareth nodded.

            Chea opened the door silently, thankful for the fact it was well oiled. She flitted her gaze quickly before deeming it safe and darting outside. They slunk up the hall, slipping into Grent’s modest chambers. They crept to the window and opened it slightly before squeezing outside.

            Arinia, Chea called with her mind, where are you?

            We come, Arinia replied. We’re trying to come without being seen.

            Speed would be more preferable, Chea said tartly, nervous as the voices inside the house drifted toward them.

            “The window!” Dareth hissed. Chea looked back and rushed over, yanking it down and shut.

            Too late.

            “Run!” Dareth commanded, but Chea was already several steps ahead. They heard the sound of breaking glass as they their pursuers broke the window, jumping into the alley. Chea and Dareth skidded into the street, only to find themselves surrounded. The townspeople shifted, tightening the circle. Chea gazed from face to scowling face. Suddenly, the faces shifted, grew warped. They merged together to form Vervok, sneering over her.

            Chea collapsed.