Places to Chat
I'm writing a
Chatterbox: Blab About Books
The Elementi Chronicles Book I: The Stone of Serenity
I'm writing a...
I'm writing a book. Read what I have so far to understand it.
THE ELEMENTI CHRONICLES BOOK I: THE STONE OF SERENITY
Chapter I
___{:}___
The moonlight shone on the Lake's deep, fuchsia waters. Conifer trees fringed it, thickening into foreboding woods. The Lake was the center of the Faimón Forest, and it contained a great amount of magic. Its surface was smooth, undisturbed. All seemed well, yet it was not. A wild cry broke the peaceful silence. A shape tumbled down a path through the trees. Another shape hared after the first, who had a jagged gash down its side. "Tell me where it is and we can save a lot of trouble," the second animal growled. "Never! Never in my life!" the first cried, practically wailing. "Then I guess the information will die with you!" The second figure struck the first, shoving it into the Lake. After a while, its head bobbed up, gasping for air. "We. . . . won't. . . tell you! You'll never. . . find. . . . it. . . " The second animal chuckled quietly to itself. "And who's going to stop me?" It padded silently away into the trees.
__________
Sheena opened her eyes. Squinting through the thick water, she searched for the surface. She couldn't tell which way was which in the murky fuchsia water of the Lake, heavy with magic. It was the one body of water that Aquinas leopards couldn't swim skillfully in. There! A pinpoint of moonlight shone through the water. Sheena kicked strongly towards it, propelling herself through the Lake to that shaft of light. She could feel her breath slipping away. Just as she thought she would black out, her muzzle broke the surface. Sheena gasped for air, the gash Narwhal had given her stinging. She paddled for the shore, tail boosting her forward. The leopard reached the sandy beach and heaved herself up onto it. She shook her royal blue pelt out, shuddering.
Sheena knew that the Knowledge Protector would be proud. She would not reveal the Stone's location to anyone, especially not Narwhal, even if it cost her her life. The Aquai Leopards were the guardians of the Stone of Serenity and were part of the Elementi Leopards, along with the Ignis, Ventus, Aether, and Terra Leopards. Each kept a Stone of Harmony, like the Honesty Stone and the Joy Stone.
Each cult of Leopards selected one of their kind to keep all of said cult's lore, the Knowledge Protector. The tales and secrets of each cult were passed down through generations of Protectors. Sheena was training as the Apprentice Protector for her cult.
In addition to the Leopards in the five cults, there were Leopards that abandoned their birth cult and lived as enemies of the Elementi known as Rogues. Rogues banded together, and Narwhal lead his group, which he called the Rens. Narwhal and his group wanted to get everyone in Leovie who opposed the Stones of Harmony to join him, their goal being to capture the Stones, or destroy them, once and for all. Sheena didn't know what would happen if all balance in Leovie was destroyed, and she didn't really want to find out.
Lying on the shore now, gasping for breath, Sheena recounted the day she'd been selected for Apprenticeship by the Knowledge Protector, Ciel. . . .
________
I'll add more later, I promise! Enjoy the story! Oh, and, biae!
submitted by Scylla
(February 5, 2016 - 10:02 pm)
(February 5, 2016 - 10:02 pm)
They're absolutely-tootly amazing!
(May 23, 2016 - 7:07 pm)
WOW. Scylla, you are such a good writer. This is awesome.
(May 14, 2016 - 1:08 pm)
I got one of those delicious shivers when I saw that this thread was at the top-- I guessed it meant that the next installment was in. And I was right!!!!!!!!! :D :D :D
Your descriptions are fantastic (factually 'fantastic') Scylla! I like your gracefully draping willow trees :)
So if Sheena is half-Aether-- does that mean she's going to be KILLED?????
O.O D:
Will Xiang turn her in, if her existence threatens the tribe?????!!!!!!!?????!!!! O.O O.O O.O
Thank you so much Scylla! And I'm very glad that the next portion will be maybe-a-few-hours long in coming ;)
(May 14, 2016 - 5:03 pm)
Thanks for the compliments, everyone. Now, Esthelle, here's the promised part.
~~~
Xiang's
turquoise eyes seemed shadowed as he answered. “Sheena, I don't
know. You should talk to Ciel.” He backed away. “I'm sorry.”
Sheena
smiled reassuringly. “It's alright, Xiang. You've done enough,
Thank you.” She glanced at her dark blue pelt. “And if I'm half
Aether, it wouldn't be a problem because you could all just kill me,”
she added bitterly as Xiang disappeared into his den.
Sheena
padded from the Pool of Sansir, casting a glance at the water that
had not helped solve her problem this time. Ciel waited at the
entrance to the Knowledge Cavern, tail swishing on the ground as
Sheena walked into the cave. He followed her in.
“Ciel,
I just talked to Xiang about Hiddens....” Sheena started.
The
older leopard sighed. “I knew I'd have to tell you eventually,”
he murmured. “Settle down, young one.” And then with another
sigh, he began telling Sheena's story.
“Yes,
Sheena, you are a Hidden. Your father is Aether, Alpha of the Aether
Cult. He met your mother back when he was still Cosmos. Brook was
taken by his charisma and charm and began a forbidden relationship
with him. He left her shortly after you were born, horrified at the
danger he'd put possibly every cult in. Brook was devastated but
recovered quickly. She needed to be there for you, Sheena. And she
was, and still is.
"Hidden
cubs are probably
why Gatherings were minimalized. You see, Hiddens' power is awakened
only after they've seen their second parent. And
they were bound to see that parent while attending a Gathering and
once they did, they would have the ability to destroy the Elementi
cults forever.”
Sheena's
mind spun. “You knew this,” she gasped. “You knew this all
along, and you never told me. You always said my father was Aquai,
that he was a brave leopard named River, that he died in a mudslide –
but you knew. You
knew.”
Sheena was sobbing now. “And now I'm supposed to have a horrible
power that could destroy everything I love.”
“Sheena,”
Ciel murmured, sweeping his tail around her like she was a small cub
again. “Oh, Sheena.”
“I
don't want to be half-cult,” Sheena whispered. “I don't want to
be Hidden.”
“You
can't do anything about it, young one. But there is another way.”
“There's
always another way,” Sheena breathed.
“Yes,
little one. There is always another way.”
Ciel
began to sing a hymn, his voice soft and rhythmic. Sheena let her
eyelids droop, finally submitting to the exhaustion that had been
biting at her for hours. Curled in the curve of Ciel's warm body, she
fell asleep.
~~~
Enjoy!
(May 14, 2016 - 6:07 pm)
THis is so AMAZING! Your writing is so good, Scylla. I wish I could write like you.
(May 15, 2016 - 9:45 am)
Ooooooooooo!!! (shivers) What's the 'other way'? D: D: D: O.O O.O O.O
Thank you for writing so quickly, Scylla! :D
(May 21, 2016 - 11:47 am)
Here's the next bit!
~~~
As Sheena slowly drifted into sleep, she glimpsed a sea green tail whisking away from the cave entrance. She was too drowsy to process what it was and it slipped from her mind. The tail's owner bounded back to his den, Sheena's exchange with Ciel whirling in his mind. As he settled into his mossy bed, Xiang wondered what he should do. Sheena had trusted him, but she was a danger now to all the cults. He decided he would turn her in to Aqua the next day. But he could only help but wonder......
~~~
Sheena stretched, yawning. She had had a troubled sleep, her dreams laced with visions of water swirling with darkness and stars. "Bright morning, Ciel," she meowed. "I'm going to hunt, want anything?"
"I'm fine, thanks," came Ciel's muffled response.
"Alright." Sheena padded out of the Knowledge Chamber and into the surrounding woods. As she walked silently among the trees, a memory of a sea green tail flashed in her mind. Who did she know that had sea green fur?
Xiang.
Sheena gasped. Oh no. He was listening! Oh no oh no oh no...... What will happen to me? I can't let him tell Aqua! Or anyone else..... what do I do?
And then a voice told her - a dark, powerful voice. Kill him, it purred. You can't let your secret get out.
But- but killing is evil! I couldn't do that!
Better him than you. You know that he won't let you stay alive. He'll tell Aqua and Aqua will kill you.
Fine. Just leave me alone!
As you wish....
In a small breeze, the voice was gone. Sheena reversed her direction, heading back home. She felt a strange thrill at what she was about to do, overpowering her sense of dread. She must kill Xiang.
~~~
This story has taken a turn that makes me think of Little Shop of Horrors. Not necessarily a good turn.
(May 21, 2016 - 2:54 pm)
AAAAUUUGGHHH!!!! What is going to happen?!?!?!?!?!/1/1/1/1/`1`/
(May 22, 2016 - 7:12 am)
Read this to find out.
~~~~~
Sheena sniffed the air, hoping to catch Xiang's scent. Hopefully it wasn't too late.... She shook the thought away. She needed to find him. And fast. She passed the Chamber, finding herself ducking to avoid Ciel's notice. She went to Xiang's den, finding what she needed-- A trail of his scent led to Aqua's den. Oh no, she thought. Am I too late?
Xiang padded out of his den. The morning was clear, but he could see dark clouds on the horizon. A storm was coming soon. But thoughts of Sheena drove the weather from his mind. He silently cursed himself for not noticing a Hidden among the Aquai. They needed to get rid of her quickly. Jaw set grimly, he headed over to Aqua's den....
Sheena's eyes widened as she saw Xiang. The sea-green leopard was almost at the base of the small hill where Aqua made her den. No! She had to get there before him. The other Aqua leopards were beginning to mill about the clearing, but Sheena didn't pay any attention. All she focused on was catching up to Xiang. "Xiang!" she called with all her might. "Wait up!"
Xiang reached the base of Aqua's hill. He took a deep breath and began his ascent. Suddenly, a voice shouted, "Xiang! Wait up!" He hesitated. Should he let anything stop him? But then his caller caught up to him. He let out a small groan. It was Sheena. "I want to ask you something," she said casually. Almost too casually...
"It's always something with you, Sheena," Xiang noted. He seemed bemused. "I suppose so," she answered. Please listen. Please don't question, she prayed silently. Just come with me. "Er-- can we go down? To the Marshes?"
"Why?" he asked suspiciously. "Can it wait?"
"I don't know. Do I really need a reason?" she joked. The real reason is that the Marsh will wash away my scent. But he can't know that. He won't know anything for much longer....
Xiang uneasily followed Sheena. Was it a coincidence that she wanted to talk to him just as he was about to talk to Aqua? Did she know he was listening to her the previous night? He groaned again. Why had he agreed ot go with her?
Soon, the two were deep inside the Marsh. A hard glint had replaced the bright glow in Sheena's eyes. She smiled, revealing sharp teeth. What was going to happen to him? I'm stupid, stupid, stupid........
~~~~
Hurr hurr hurrr...... Something is happening! Enjoy.
(May 22, 2016 - 10:19 am)
so suspensful! What will happen?? Aaaaagggggggghhhhhhhhhhh! I can't STAND it!!!!*starts ripping hair out.* *Little brother gives weird look*
(May 23, 2016 - 7:34 am)
Whoa. Just whoa. I love it sooooooo much!!!!!
(May 23, 2016 - 7:12 pm)
THAT IS SO GOOD!
(May 23, 2016 - 9:15 pm)
Thanks! I'm thinking up some more..... Don't worry, guys! It won't be long!
Haha, I can't wait to see Esthelle's face come Saturday! Well, I guess I can't really see her face, but I'm excited to see her reaction.
(May 23, 2016 - 10:03 pm)
Here we are... [WARNING: THIS PASSAGE NOT ENCOURAGED FOR THOSE WITH HYDROPHOBIA! READ AT YOUR OWN RISK. ;) ]
~~~
Sheena felt adrenaline pumping through her veins. Xiang padded alongside her, tense and wary. Won't be long. Swallowing her nervousness, Sheena sat in front of a small pool. Xiang stood beside her.
The Marsh was an expanse of wet ground, littered with trees and ponds. Grass and reeds sprouted all over the peaty dirt and patches of quicksand were scattered across it. The air was heavy and humid and crickets chirped in the reeds. Sheena checked the ground at her paws for quicksand, and upon finding it satisfactory, settled down again. Xiang crouched down. "What do you want?" His voice trembled slightly. Sheena sighed. "I don't want anything, Xiang. It's rather I need something.Trust me. Not that you can, now that you know...."
"Then why am I here? Sheena, you're dangerous. I can't let you stay alive." He took a shuddering breath. "This can end in two ways. I can turn you in to Aqua, or-or kill you myself."
Sheena envisioned him returning to the Aqua settlement, telling all its inhabitants that Sheena was two-cult, Brook was a traitor, and Sheena was dead. Killed by him, Xiang, the hero. No. I can't let that happen. I can't put my mother in danger.
Xiang stood up, sliding out his claws. "It all ends here, Sheena. I have to kill you."
"Not if I kill you first," she breathed. Suddenly, she knew what to do. Power surged through her, swirling and raging like a tsunami.
Drown him, the voice said.
But Aqua leopards can't drown, Sheena reminded it.
But what about star-touched water?
That might work.
Go for it.
Sheena let Hidden instinct guide her. And then she reared up and struck down a star.
A jet of pure aether arced down from the sky, setting tree branches alight, and struck the surface of the pool. Glittering strands of bright white starlight wove and twisted their way through the brackish water, saturating it. Xiang's face was illuminated in the glow radiating from the water. He shrank back, wide-eyed, and asked, "H-how did you do that?"
Sheena twirled her paws in the star-water, deliberately pausing before answering. "Hidden secrets," she purred, glubules or star-water dripping off her claws.
"Are you going to drown me? You know that won't work," Xiang said boldly.
"Oh, I think this will do just fine." Using sheer will of mind, Sheena caused a giant paw to form from the pool, reaching out and gripping Xiang in liquid claws. He gasped where the paw touched him, its heat singeing his fur. Using her own paw, Sheena directed the star-water paw back into the pool. Xiang kicked and struggled, but to no avail. Sheena watched, a cruel smile on her features, as the sea-green leopard disappeared under the surface. A few bubbles of air rose and popped, and there was no questioning it.
Xiang was dead.
~~~
*big exhale* Well! That was.... a lot. Enjoy it, and heed the warning!
(May 27, 2016 - 5:08 pm)
Wow! That was intense! Great job!
(May 28, 2016 - 7:30 am)