The Night Before [story]

They made camp under a break in the tree tops allowing the moon to show through, with cast a milky glow on their faces as they looked up.

It will be a full moon soon. A few days, William thought. Suddenly, Rainier noticed that his mouth seemed to sag with a sadness she couldn't understand. Something was troubling him.

The fire flickered between them as they sat on either side of it, facing each other but averting their gaze.

"What's the carving on your dagger?" Asked Rainier as she remembered the claw on the hilt.
William looked at her with curiosity, sizing her up. "It's a wolf. It changes with its new owner, actually, it was a badger for my father.." He glanced at her sideways, "it's supposed to show a part of us."
"So, the dagger becomes you?"
"Precisely."

There was a moment of silence between them as they exchanged a mutual look of longing. Not for one another but a longing for answers..

William held on to an image of his father reaching for him in his head. He was younger then and unable to help his father. William threw his arms out to him as his father's image slipped away into a vast blackness that started to fill his head. There was a strong urge to cry but nothing was born when he opened his mouth, and he suddenly remembered where he was. He relaxed a little and threw his gaze up to see Rainier watching him with curiosity so freely contorting her face, which slightly annoyed him.

"What is it for?" She asked looking from his face to the knife and back.
Surprised at her ignorance he relaxed a little, "It's for hunting--"
"Hunting?"
"I am a hunter of this forest." His voice was calm. He had accepted his fate years ago.
"You.." Rainier bit her lip at the memory of her deep sleep and the medicine that yanked her out of it. 'The hunter will be the life in you and the death of you,' a silken faced woman had said to her in her sleep, with a voice so smooth that it felt like a wonderful dream.
"Rainier, are you alright?"
"Yes! I'm fine. I know what you are." He looked different in her eyes, now, less sad and more powerful, more beautiful.
"I'm sorry--"
"Don't be! The forest chose you. It's an honor!" She smiled a childish smile that warmed William's insides. "When I was little, in this forest, I used to play hunter and beast with Zeb.." her eyes lowered and she seemed to carry a heavier world on her shoulder. Zeb..

It's just me and this big, bad world. Singing in the rain.

My Dream

I was an ordinary girl in an ordinary world.
Things happened but my memory starts out as two big, burly men corner me.
"Hey pretty little lady. You're going to help us."
"Or else?"
"Or else you'll take it and you'll enjoy it."
I rolled my eyes, this was a dream, "No point in pretending, get going with it.."
..There was nothing I could do. After they tell me about a plan they want to do, but they need the money for it. Why was I involved? No idea.
"What's it for?"
"We need to build a state of the art housing unit to house kidnapped children. It's a hobby of ours. We like them young and we like them to squirm."
Instantly my rage boiled and the urge to kill overtook every sense in my body.
We were in the middle of a field when I took out my wand from inside of my shirt and pointed at one of the men, "Avada Kedavra!" I yelled and it hit the man in the face and killed him.
I didn't have time to throw the other one a curse or jinx so I threw my hand and wand into the air ad yelled, "ACCIO BROOM" it flew under me and I mounted and took off with force. The guy was a quick thinker and reached out for my leg and grabbed it.
"Protego!" And a shield was born and he flew back, cursing me as I flew up into the sky.

I flew for a while, mainly in the high clouds so I wouldn't be seen. For some weird reason I had the feeling that my presence anywhere would not be tolerated. I was lead (by some sort of force) over a valley of fire. After that was a lodge dwelling on the river. It turned out to be some sort of art showcase inside, mixed with a hotel, mixed with a basement like atmosphere. Very odd but there was a lot of light. Something led me outside where I then became face to face with an old, saggy woman. She was Native-American Indian like with enormous round balls for cheeks and a thin set of lips, small eyes that seemed closed in thought but saw everything. She barely reached my chest in height and her hair was long and braided with elegance. She smiled at me and turned towards the river, turning back once to motion me to follow.

I followed but with fear as my greatest companion. Was she to be trusted? I had my broom and wand, I could easily fly away but something told me to stay, to trust, and to follow with ease. She led me in to the forest by the river, through switch backs and cliff faces, fallen trees and thick shade. After a while we came to a bridge where we had to cross one by one, hoping that it wouldn't collapse due to its old age. The Indian woman crossed with ease never once looking back since the start of our journey. We came to a bend in the opposite river bank and she pointed east, showing me the lodge that we had come from, then started to walk in its opposite direction. She stopped and pointed to a spot in the dirt by the river bank.

I don't know how I knew but I threw myself onto the spot she indicated and started to dig, rapid, fast movements with my determined hands. Is this it? Could it be the hiding place? I was full of hope and curiosity as I kept digging. After a minute or two my fingers scraped metal and I knew I had found it. I pulled out a shabby box with intricate and elegant carvings upon it. It was light and delicate in my hands. I looked up and saw the lodge in the far distance, its occupants roaring with laughter and fun, ease and relaxation. I looked to my left to find the Indian woman watching me with pleased eyes as if she waited her whole life to bring me to this spot and to show me the worlds greatest secret.

I opened the box.. Light spilled out of it and it seemed to hiss as the lid swung open. The air became icy and figures started to rise out of the water. I closed the lid in horror but they still proceeded towards me, intending to kill. I had unleashed a spell with my carelessness and curiosity. I wouldn't die here, I thought as the figures surrounded me, ready to grab. With a quick reaction I mounted my broom and kick off from the ground. "Protego Horribilis!" I yelled as I swung my wand in a circle around me creating a security shield around me. I flew up and up until the figures were a small blur below me. With no doubt that nowhere would be safe for me I continued into the sky and into the night, to fly and escape the dark curse upon me..

And I was lost into the night sky with the small box that held the whole world within it.

When you try to see, we'll watch you.
When you try to leave, we'll keep you.
When you should be dreaming, we'll wake you.
But don't scream, we'll make you swallow your words..

The Beast In The Water [story]

The thick growth of trees swayed above them as they walked silently through the grounds of the forest. Rarely any animals made their presence known in the forest, a chirp or two broke the silence every now and then, only to be swallowed by an unnatural gust of wind.

William took the lead hesitating every once in awhile to glance around or to place a hand on a tree, as if resting with concentration. What braveness Rainier had left, she did not dare question him. Her head ached immensely and whatever frightened her in her dream left her feeling completely and utterly vulnerable. She was thankful for William, but for another reason unknown to her. She was drawn to him and would catch herself gazing at his lips, hands, or eyes when he rested. Something about him was so familiar.

The sound of running water snapped Rainier back to reality. They had been walking for a while, still in a blanket of silence. A wide stream lay in front of them, shallow and with very little current. A log had fallen into the stream giving a decent way over, but ended roughly four feet away from the bank. William paused when he reached the stream and looked back as Rainier approached.

"You'll go across first. Don't touch the water." His voice was strong with an undertone of sympathy as he watched her swaying where she stood.

"Thanks, I'll be fine." She said as she waltzed passed him and placed her hands on the dead log. William held out his hand and without thought Rainier had taken it. She was swaying and her heart twitched and thumped with force beneath her breast. She began to walk across the log as he watched from the bank. How her feet found their way was a mystery to her, her hand burned with an eerie sensation of love and death, unexplainable even to herself but evident. She knew that on the other side she would never feel the same again. She glanced behind her as William mounted the log ready to make his way, he was watching her. She longed to touch him and to be held in his arms. She panicked at the new sensation welling in her chest and a tingle ran down her spine like a snake. She didn't realize it when her foot slipped, and her body slowly tilted over towards the water.

"NOOOOO- Rai--" Echoed in her ears as she fell in.

Rainier stood up in a different world. There was a thick grey covering the scene and the trees seemed to hang lower than usual, creating a cage like atmosphere around her. William was no where to be seen. A chill shocked her senses and she whipped her head around to stare into the black eyes of a monster. Fear consumed her and the beast seemed to sense it. Its chest was heaving as it took in her scent and it reached out a hand to grab her throat. Rainier was paralyzed with fear but watched the beast with interest. There was an understanding born between them. Hunter and prey. She understood her weakness and gave little struggle when its horrid claws clamped into her neck. It spoke to her like a leader. Her eyes widened and her heart sank with its words.

Just then she felt a grip around her wrist and was yanked so hard that her feet left the ground. She was on the other stream bank with William pulling her away from the stream. Blood ran down her neck from the pull from the beast's claws. The old and familar scenery had returned. William held her head in his hands, "What did you see?!" his eyes pierced through her and she struggled to her feet. She had heard what the beast had told her and William could never know. "Rainier, what did you see, please?!" His voice was fearful and urgent, whcih made her struggle away from him more. He frowned and let her go. She stumbled to her feet and started to run. She forced herself through the trees and growth. "RAINIER!" Yelled William from behind her but she didn't look back, she couldn't look back, and she continued to run. Away from herself and away from the one she had grown to love.

William could never know..

I'm sick, you're tired; let's dance.

Too many obstacles.
Too many excuses.

I let everything hold me back.

I'm not in any position to feel desperation.. But I do.
I feel my spirit withering away.

My mother is a parasite.

IDK my BFF COFFEE?!

Everything seems to be coming together, slowly.

I'm almost done with HP and I'm more in love with it than ever.
Cedric is crate trained and I eliminated his barking within a day, which is frightening.
Potty training is showing major success.

I've taken to an extreme bond with black coffee.
I'm exhausted beyond belief, but happy.

AND if all works well in our favor there might be a condo in Camas, Washington with our names on it? *crosses fingers*

I have no time to think anymore..
Puppy duties. I love this!

My mother doesn't know about the pup.. She can't understand why I love dogs so much. I don't understand why, though, she loves to manipulate and control EVERYTHING.

People kept telling me how hard it is to take care of a dog and how expensive it is, as if I never considered all of this on my own. I've had over five months to think clearly and carefully about having a new dog. It's something that is me and something that I live for. I love the responsibility and the hard work, and I love being worthy of such love.

Nap time, again.