The new house

(This is an OLD piece, still like it. Before I knew about paragraphs, by the looks of it. But it's readable. Was done for English, I HAD to add the ending. Wouldn't take it otherwise.) 

      “You’re going to love the new house!” My father said for the one hundredth time today. To be frank I was tired of it. I didn’t care if I was going to love this new house, I did not want to move. My parents had been trying to cheer me up for days now, always saying the same things: “You’ll love it!” It’s not too far from some of your friends houses; you can visit them next vacation!” “There’s a garden!” And so on. I wanted to yell, get moving already if the house is so great! But they’d probably ground me. We were driving away today to this wonderful house in the car, as our stuff was moved by a moving van already. Beside me, my little brother fidgeted in his seat. He couldn’t sit still due to excitement. I took my handheld game out of my pocket and started to play. The catchy game music cleared my mind and I went into a sort of Zen mode. After I’d been playing for five minutes, I felt I had calmed down enough to ask my parents a single question. I tapped my mother’s shoulder as she was in front of me “Mom,” I asked, “are we there yet?”

      I strolled through the halls of our new house. My parents had shown me my room and had then proceeded to chose rooms for everyone else, including the cat. I suppose there were enough rooms in here to get lost in, so superstitious me had packed a clove of garlic and left a trail of bright yellow jellybeans in case I did get lost. All the rooms of the house were similar in style: big, with fancy carpets and chandeliers. This is how I found myself getting lost. I turned around and followed my trail back until it suddenly stopped. Looking down I saw my little brother’s round face look up at me. “More?” He asked, extending his hands. In spite of how angry I was at him, I handed him a couple of jellybeans, which he gulped down. I twisted around to try to find my way back. I remembered the first few before I realized I was completely lost and had left my brother behind, like I’d care anyway. My first thought was to look for windows, but that was quickly forgotten, as I’d seen no windows anywhere so far. Who forgets windows, anyways? Some idiot? Still, I needed to find the exit so I could orientate myself. After going through a few more rooms, I decided to stop to think. The recent rooms seemed to be downhill from the rest of the house. Turning back to check, I saw this was true, which brought up the question: Why were we going to live in a house made by someone who doesn't know which way is straight? Since I had been going downhill, I had to now turn around, which I did. Behind me was the door I had come through and a staircase. The first one I had ever seen so far. Seeing this as a lucky chance, I went up the stairs. Too bad I didn't know what lay ahead...

      The stairs were coated with a layer of dust. Every step I took, I left a footprint. At the top of the stairs I saw a dusty bathroom, door wide open. On the right was a long hall and to the left was a small hole. Deciding to leave the dark hall alone, I examined the hole. It wasn't too small; a person could fit through it. No spiders had taken refuge there, even though they were everywhere else. The hole reminded me about a similar hole at my old house. My father used to play games with me when I was little there, pretending I was spelunking. He was my support team and I was the brave explorer. Feeling a yearning for the past, I climbed in the dark hole for a minute before falling into a dark shaft.

      I thought I was dead. My right arm was in complete pain and my head was sore. I could not feel my left arm at all. I was inside a wood room that had a huge stained glass window taking up the wall I was facing. I realized this was my chance to escape! If only I could move. Instead I was stuck lying on the floor. I bet my parents were looking for me by now. Why did I have to crawl down that small space? I really felt like an idiot. I decided it would be easier to stop thinking for a bit, so I tried my best to curl up and fall asleep. 

      The next morning, I woke up in water. Warm water. I tried moving, as it was uncomfortable, but found I was unable. Something was pressing down on me hard enough that I couldn't move. I was facing the floor, so I was stuck wondering how long it was before I died of hunger. Two days? Maybe a week? I hoped if I had to stay like this that it would be soon. A few minutes went by. Suddenly, some of the weight lifted from me and I was turned over against my will. I could have screamed, but I found it possible to hold it in, so I did. Standing tall in front of me was a huge animal, bright orange. Its ears pointed up and it's mouth grinning in a horrible cross between a smile and a snarl. Its eyes looked down at my like it could tell it owned me and that there was nothing I could do to stop it. I tried communicating with it like a dog.

I told it, "No!" loudly.

It looked at me like it thought I was a mental person. Well, at least I knew it was not a dog. I had nothing else to do so I let it go ahead and chew me up or whatever. It didn't eat me however. Instead it spoke.

      "Yo," It said,  with as much stateliness as one can muster while speaking slang.

      "...Hi? Look do you think you can... let me me move?" I managed to say.

The animal removed it's paw. I was free to go, if I could manage. Which I couldn't.

      "Better?" It said. I swear it was raising its eyebrow.

      "Much," I said. I was still was not used to talking to it. It was strange, like talking to some inanimate object.

      "Good. Anyway, I have not had someone in here for ages. So...," I swear it was acting nervous. 

      "Go ahead," I did not care what it was going to do. It did not seem vicious and it probably was offering food or inviting one of it's weird friends over.

      "Thank you!" The creature said happily.

Then the creature leaned over and carefully bit my head off.

      So I died. No big deal really. It's nice here, where ever I am, and best of all, there's food to eat and my family joined me pretty quickly. Said they were not mad. None of them have told me how they died, but I bet that creature has had a rather full stomach lately. I think that when the creature dies, it'll join me up here. We will have a dinner party and invite all our friends, like I thought it was going to do in the first place. Anyway, my legs and arms don't hurt anymore and I can't help but thinking: I'm glad I went down that dark tunnel!

An ode to the internet emo

I suppose one could hint, just subtly.

That it would be convenient to shut up.

That perhaps if I wanted to hear your problems

I'd see you face to face

You can moan on the forums

Complain about your life

Write your name with little x's

Dye your hair black as dawn.

You can threaten to cut

To shoot and main and hurt

Don't go doing it for real-

Though I know you probably won't

I don't mean to say you aren't invited

Or hated even

But rather I'd just prefer

You keep your problems out of my face

Maybe it's time to learn

That you aren't really one

Just someone who likes to dress

And pretend to be one.

No, I am not one

I don't mean to insult

But the Internet is too hard for you

I'd prefer you leave it alone

Earthshaker (Part one)

(Part two is next! Personification FTW! Also, first title was 'War of three' or 'The third war'. I like Earthshaker more, don't you?)

A lonely and desperate America was in the cold. It wasn't that he ever meant harm to anyone, but he had always been a bit foolish. He loved attention, and ever since he was small he had enjoyed attention. America knew that attention couldn't always be good, but everything was good to America. He had authority over everyone, and everyone listened to him. They didn't always appreciate it, but they would in the future.

He treads through the snowbanks slowly, wrapped in warm clothes that still do not prevent a freezing breeze from chilling the core of his bones. He shivers, but continues on. The winters here are cold, but this is his last chance.

America was never a favorite of most of the others. He was an ally to many, but often leapt into war. Even now he didn't quite understand why they had left him. Sure, he and Britain had never really gotten along perfectly, but they had a history together. It was one of America's favorite stories, one he loved to remind himself of. The fight with Britain for the right to choose how to live his life. He used to live with Britain and live under his laws, but as he grew older he decided he wanted to become his own self. He chose to live under democracy. It was a new idea at the time, but America felt that over the years he had made it into a perfect government. So perfect in fact, that he often shared it with others.

He and Britain were shaky for a bit after that, but they made up later. America, who used to look up to Britain for support soon supported Britain with his military. America often had a laugh about that, though Britain wasn't very happy when he told the tale to guests.

Britain still was his ally, one that he had to admit he respected. Britain was noble and wise in ways America could never understand. He had pride, one different then America did. Often America would be left wondering about Britains' strange traditions, it was almost wonder. He would never admit to this to Britain though.

Britain had been one of the last to abandon America. They had a bond like a pair of siblings who fight a lot; often acting like they hated each other but could never really live without the other. Eventually he was pressured to leave by everyone else, but he didn't like leaving.

America rests on a bank to take a sip of water. It's practically frozen solid, but he's thirsty. It was not a big surprise when Germany left America. He and America were never close, and relations hit rock bottom with World War I and World War II. They never quite recovered, and even though they were part of NATO, they never trusted each other. America saw Germany as a menace during the wars, always hyping up every thing he did. America never really planned to head to war, but Germany brought him to war. America had a habit of, once finding something a threat, staying angry at it for a very long time.

Post World War I, Germany was still angry at America. When World War II broke out twenty-one years later, America and Germany were locked in war again. When America triumphed with the Allies, he enjoyed the feeling of winning once more over Germany. Germany admitted defeat and started new once more, but America never felt like he could trust him. There was something about him that America didn't like. It wasn't a surprise when Germany left him, the first to do so.

He trekked on into the night. It was hard to tell if he was heading in the right direction, everything looked the same in the frozen night. France was someone who America always had some problems with. She was very stuck-up and loved to boast. She often made fun of America for his fondness of cheap food and cheap things in general. She often would boast about how great a cook she was or how lovely she was. America's only thing that he could brag about was his strong military power, and how he was one to not surrender. France was more of a damsel in distress, not exactly one to do well in war. She gave it her best shot, but often had to rely on her allies to help her out. She would always bicker with America, but he was sure that she would come to his defense in an emergency. It was a not as big as a surprise then he thought it was when she left him. Deep down he knew she never quite liked him that much.

There are lights in the distance. America hikes up a hill towards the lights, hopeful after so long. He need an ally now. They all left him, all of them. Many of the ones that he was never that close to, like China, didn't surprise him. War was bound to happen. But as more and more of them left his side and declared war, even his closest allies left him. Australia apologized before leaving him. South Korea and Japan left without a word. Those who were not his allies, like North Korea and Iran, often were there when his allies left. They watched with smug expressions, ones that made America angry.

Soon almost everyone he knew was against him. He fought off the armies of his former allies and current enemies for awhile, but he couldn’t hold it for much longer. There were too many of them. It was surprising he could even hold off the combined force of everyone at once, though he knew he had his love of stockpiling weapons to thank for that. He had always loved to collect and create more weapons out of wartime. In peacetime he’d often be told off for developing new weapons. Now he was reduced to using all he had against the combined forces, and he knew he couldn’t hold them off for much longer.

Which is why he was here, in the cold. It was a tough decision, due to his usual dislike of Russia, but one he knew he would have to make. Russia was the last one left. She was someone who, despite seeming to hate America, refused to declare war on him. She had holed herself in her house in the blizzard country, and no one had visited her because of this. If America could get her on his side... Well, they wouldn’t be much better off. But he knew what Russia was capable of. And even then, they could just hide in her house if they war started failing too badly. Perhaps everyone would forget about him when they were claiming spoils of war. There was a chance.

He reached the door at last. He rapped his hand against the door a few times, and waited for a response. Russia opened the door, looking rather amused. She invited America in and grabbed him a drink of vodka, saying that ‘he probably need it’. Russia and America always had trouble getting along, heading back to when she was the Soviet Union. They were allies during World War I. After the war, they began to fear each others growing power. They never really went to war, but relations hit bottom. Soviet Russia began building weapons as strong as Americas’ weapons. They raced each other in fear to see who could own the most weapons. It only ended when Soviet Russia reformed herself into Russia.

Russia laughs at America when he admits he is losing. Russia has always scorned America for being too proud, and now she laughed at how he had been reduced to someone who would admit defeat.

She tells him, “You should not give into defeat so easily. It is not your first mistake, but it will be your last. I always knew to never give up, to never retreat. You should know this too. Our defeat will be glorious, for we shall never admit it.”

He says, surprised, “By ‘we’, do you mean you will help us? And what about glorious defeat? I do not want to lose! To lose by such a great margin will bring shame on me. Everyone will remember me as a great loser.”

She states, “If you lose you will not be remembered as a great loser, but rather a dead loser.”

He says, “I do not want to be a dead loser! I want to be an alive winner!”

She says, “I can’t guarantee anything more then my doubt about us winning. There are many powerful enemies, ones we will not have much of a chance against. I can only hope we can leave a mark.”

She extends her hand to him at that, with her promise of leaving something the world will remember. America realizes, with a smile, that he can do that. He and Russia were not going to win anytime soon, but they both can show the world something it has never seen before. They can shake the world with their alliance.

He shakes her hand at that, and they both laugh at the ridiculousness of their alliance. The idea of them doing anything together after so long is crazy. But that’s just what their alliance is. A person as cold as the land she lives in and the cocky person who annoys just about everyone. What a crazy alliance it is indeed.

Static chapter 6

(*Insert dramatic music here* I'm early! And on a roll! This is my longest piece ever you know. Not this chapter, but Static. It will be done! Hopefully by summer! :D)

It was later the same week that he ran into Tori and Asterisk out for a walk. Tori looked painfully bored while Asterisk was rolling in the grass happily.

“‘Lo,” said Tori passively, “Mom has been wanting to go out more and more lately. I think you’re to blame, possibly for talking to her a little while back. She’s starting to think that she had hope... At least that’s what I can tell. I don’t speak dog.”

Tori gave Ezra a sort of look like he was a strange animal she had never seen before. It then sunk in to him that this was her way of asking him to ask Asterisk why she was acting odd.

“Don’t worry. I can hear you speak. In fact, I think I can hear you think. I get those two mixed up. It’s quite the bother, you know. Being a genius. I only wish she could hear me. Who ever heard of a girl who can’t even speak to her own mother?”
Once again, it seemed to Ezra that Asterisk was going off about whatever crossed her mind. Probably being stuck as a dog had something to do with it.
“I’m actually in a pretty good mood today. I think you will prove pretty useful to us at the IG- if the IG still counts as an organization. Hey, did you know you smell funny?”
“Okay, whatever,” Ezra petted Asterisk on the head. He turned to Tori, “Asterisk says that she thinks that I might be able to help the IG.”
“Do you mind not calling mom by her first name? It’s kind of weird. And are you sure she told you you’re useful? I thought she told you you smelled funny.” Tori said nonchalantly.
“Hey! If you know what she’s saying, why’d you ask me to translate?”
“Because I can. Now would you get going already? I have to keep moving around so the guards can’t find mom.” Tori turned around and started walking away, but Ezra grabbed her sleeve.
“Wait. Why do the guards want to capture your mother so badly? What exactly are the guards?”
“I expect you’ll find out if you keep us here any longer! Honestly, do you mind leaving already?” Tori said, freeing her sleeve from Ezra’s grasp.
“Just answer me already!” Ezra said, louder then he originally planned. It was more like a yell.
“I’m not going to tell you if you yell! Just go already! I have to protect mom!” Yelled Tori angrily.
Asterisk barked just then, a happy sort of bark. Nothing was in sight, but in the distance the clang of metal on pavement announced the arrival of the guards. Tori was struck with a sort of a deer-in-the-headlights expression, one of fear and panic. Ezra was stunned for a shorter time then Tori, primarily because he was unsure of how to face the situation. Tori seemed to greatly fear the guard, but to Ezra they were just the commonplace guards of The Hub; strange but not terrifying.
It went without a word that they should flee, but it took a bit to get Asterisk moving (As she had decided to roll in the gravel) and and a bit before Tori was fully back to her senses. By the time they were actually running, the shiny helmets of the guard were visible. Though they did not move very fast, they seemed to have plenty of stamina. And though Tori and Ezra seemed to be making gain at first, they were both feeling tired after five minutes of being pursued, they started to notice the guards making gains.
It was Tori’s idea to hide and rest. One main problem was that the guards were near enough that they could see anywhere they hid. They decided it would be best to take a chance by cutting through a narrow alley and just hoping that the guards would get stuck with their bulky armor. Their plan didn’t get very far, however, because when they exited the alley the guards were on the other side. The steel suited guards couldn’t reach Tori and Ezra if they stayed in the center of the alley. They decided to stay put here for a while and hope the guards lost interest over time. But Asterisk seemed to have different ideas. She suddenly tugged on her leash hard enough that it broke off her collar. Then, to the shocked eyes of Tori, she lept directly in front of one of the guards. The guard picked her up gently, and all of the guards then turned around and marched off.
And quietly in the distance, Ezra could hear Asterisk speak.
“Contact... Contact shall be made.”

Static chapter 5

(Shortest yet! But with details!)

           When the game was done, everyone started talking again. He realized that they weren't being quiet because they were nervous like Ezra, but rather because they didn't want to look like all the audience members. They were trying to look mature in front of all these important people. He supposed they all were just as excited about watching Udalto as he was. If they weren't, why attend the game?
           After the game, they went to a restaurant inside what seemed to be a food court in the Emerald Palace. Very few people sat in the eating area, besides a few guards who were sitting in front of plates of food doing absolutely nothing.
           "I used to be in Udalto." Said John "Worst years of my life. We'd be in-game so often it was hard to tell how long you had been in-game. I think I could have spent ten years in the game during one year of my life. Even though the games were only about thirty minutes long or so, we would stay in game for days just training. I knew one man who never left the game. The last time he left was about seven years ago. And the administrating team doesn't even care, they practically encourage it.
           "I joined the game a few years ago, when I was about your age. We didn't really need much experience to join, often enough they'd just kick you out the first game you played if you were horrible. The game wasn't that bad if you took as a combat simulator. It was pretty useful for that. I learned many simple tricks to killing a man there, some that were indispensable when I joined the army for the war."
           "Wait," Said Ezra, "What war? We haven't any for years now."
           "The war. It's kind of a thing I don't think about anymore. I don't think anyone does. It isn't something I'm going to tell you about."
           "Why? You just don't want to talk about it? Because I think that's a sort of a stupid reason."
           Katherine gave him a warning glance, "Ezra..."
           "Look," said John, looking ticked. But then again he always did. "I can't tell you about it. And even if I could, I wouldn't."
           "I need to know this! I think that this war might be connected to the missing-"
           "Order up!" A young woman dressed in a maid uniform said. She was carrying a plastic tray with several food dishes on it.
           "Sorry," said Katherine politely, "but we didn't order anything."
           "Look around ya," said the waitress. She spoke with a loud jersey accent that made Tori's usually loud obnoxious voice seem quite pleasant. "You're the only ones here."
           It was true. All the guards seemed to have left. “We don’t need food anyway. Why don’t you just throw it in the freezer or something?” Tori said.
“When I get an order, I can’t just throw it out. Besides, the order blatantly referred to your party. Even had a little picture. Now just take the food.” Sneered the waitress. She had a habit of flipping her blonde hair when she talked.
“I think that’s our cue to get out.” Whispered Tori, standing up. She broke into a run, feet skidding on the linoleum tiling. Unsure of what to do, it was unanimously decided that everyone should follow suit.

As Katherine, Ezra and John fled the food court, the waitress ran after them. She wasn’t very fast, and stopped right near the entrance of the Emerald Palace gates, calling out, “Just take your food already!”

“So...” Said Ezra as the four of them walked home, “Anyone care to explain what that was about?”

“Assassination attempt, probably.” Stated Katherine coolly.

“What?” Said a shocked Ezra.

“Why do you think I have John? People keep trying to kill me,” said Katherine like it was no big deal.

“Why would anyone want to kill you? What have you ever done to them?”

“I’m wanted. I think they see me as a threat.”

“Who does?”

“That,” said John suddenly, “Is something I can’t tell you.”

“Why?”

“You ask too many questions, boy.”

The rest of the walk was quite silent as Katherine and John left at Katherine’s house and Tori just left a block later without a goodbye.

Poetry: Running

Eternal

It had been alright at first, almost.

He still had his friends, his allies, kind of.  

They all worked together, like some ideal community.

Everyone actual liked him, possibly.

Ideal

His sort of world was one he created himself.

He had heard day in and day out that the public image of him was dropping.

However, from his balcony and windows, it was a world of green lawns and sunshine.

As long as he stayed strong, they all were strong.

Ignorance

He probably read the polls a thousand times a day.

He read the new and the old, a thousand years going.

He saw from his world of sunshine other places like his own.

The people are not right, not right at all.

Life

His only hope was the idea of their return.

They had helped him rule at some point.

There had been replacements, of course.

But the dead can't be replaced.

Sacred

There were ideas that popped up in his head sometimes.

To revive his friends.

Such acts wouldn't be right.

So he never did.

Chasm

The outcry grew, though he knew it wouldn't matter.

How do you replace the immortal?

They last longer then you.

He knew there would be no replacement.

Outlier

His servants were also forever.

They lived to one purpose, to serve.

They could be like him, if they had more morale.

He made sure to crush their confidence every day.

Insanity

He supposed people thought he would grow bored one day, after trying everything in the world.

They must have hoped he would go insane.

Somehow destroy himself.

If they wanted him dead, they would first have to die themselves.

They were his entertainment.

Short

The people went as they always did, making mock government.

A queen one day, a dictator the next.

The fragile lines would disperse quickly.

Their attempts forgotten as time moved on.

Forever

People wondered, as they did, what he was.

Some sort of enlightened one of them?

Or was he a creature of another kind?

He himself is interested in their research.

He does not know.

Ponder

The ideas that people brought were growing deeper.

As mythology grew, he became more.

Because he was forever, he must have been there before everything.

What was before everything?

Everything else, perhaps.

Hope

Time will always pass, it can never be consistent.

Time is only in their imagination.

Some people forget, some remember.

But his rule remains,  though it changes.

Once he is ruling a country, another a market.

And when the last remembering person dies, he smiles.

Perhaps he will run again.

Spiras chapter 5

           I was dreaming. It was a strange dream, because I was not asleep. I was awake. Being unconscious was still being awake, right? My mind was fuzzy, and so was the floor. I seemed to be on a carpet made of fur, but the fur was alive. There on the animal floor was Salmon, but it wasn't. This Salmon was a woman, only a year older then I. She had beautiful long white hair that went on forever. She was wearing such a cheery blue sundress, but the bottom was blood stained. I don't know how I knew this was Salmon, but I was certain. I just knew. Salmon smiled as I opened my eyes. I didn't know they had been closed.

           "I've been healing you. I'm a healing spira you know."

           I nodded, because this was so obvious.

           "I wish I was a water one though, you know? Water is cool."

           I understood this too, and I told her so.

           "I'm glad you do! One reason is that I don't like fire. It's so warm but too warm. Way too weird."

           I gave her a thumbs up to show my understanding.

           "Hey, your pretty cool. Want to be my host? I don't have one."

           I tried to tell her I had a spira already, but suddenly the animal floor flared up, sending us flying above the ground.

           "I have to go!" Said Salmon, before disappearing in a blink.

           My dream ended there, leaving me confused and worried about my sanity and Salmon.

            When I woke up, my first impulse was to check the pouch for the gem. Good, it was still there. Then I felt the pain. Aching pain from my back and on my side-

            Well, my side hurt. A lot. I didn't dare touch where Salmon had slashed me. Instead I slowly lifted myself until I was sitting up straight. I didn't have to life my shirt to see the blood or the gashes. I was hurt badly. Sure, Knat had done his best to keep the pain away from me, but it was bound to come back at full force soon. Using a nearby tree, I edged myself along until standing. That's when I noticed the forest was not where I had been previously. The trees were older and a neat pathway ran through the forest. Reiba was too poor to have paths; most people were too busy working to go for long walks.

            By moving along the trees, I was able to slowly move down the path. I knew I needed help, even if I had to rely on a foreign town. My only solstice was Knat, who didn't have much to say, but it was still someone to talk to.

            "Any idea of where we are, Knat?"

            No. I'm afraid these woods are as foreign to me as they are to you.

            "No guesses?"

            No. Stop talking to me, I'm busy.

            I didn't know what a fox could do in a gem that would keep him busy, but I did as he said.

            Eventually, the trees started thinning and a much more built road started to form. The dirt pathway I had been following joined to a black stone one. I had never seen such a road before, and marveled at the smooth but bumpy surface and the heat it gave off.

            This must be the road to Khine, I thought.

            As I slowly moved along the warm road, I became aware of a rumbling sound. Gradually it became louder. Glancing behind me, I saw a approaching shape on the horizon. As I drew closer, I saw it. It had strange wings on the side, but they appeared to be folded in. It was floating about the height of a person above the ground, and it gave off a shine in the light. It also had wheels on it, though they appeared to be made out of some sort of weird material.

            Is that one of those automobiles I heard about...? I thought hard about what Lopan had told me. I didn't recall if automobiles floated, but it did have wheels and move by itself. I decided it must be.

            I stood on the road, watching the automobile approach. It moved pretty fast and I gazed in awe as it past me by, making a artificial wind behind.

            It defiantly was cool.

But maybe not. More automobiles started flying towards me at high speeds. One of them almost knocked me over. I couldn't even try to cross the road without one almost taking my head off. Crawling didn't do good either.

            I sat by the road watching the automobiles fly past as the sun climbed slowly up the cloudy sky. Sometimes I could see the driver- usually with a smug look on their face. Were they happy that I couldn't reach Khine? Surely they didn't know I was there, but I felt they could have paid more attention. A excuse to cross happened suddenly; an automobile plummeted to the ground suddenly, blocking the road for other drivers. The driver climbed out unhurt and started their automobile again, but there was enough time for me to cross.

            -

            Khine was huge. I knew the city was supposed to be, but I hadn't expected this. Just about everything flew and the ground moved by itself. Lights, which my family couldn't even begin to afford, were everywhere. I saw around me strange people, with bright clothes and hair. Tall buildings stood over the enormous crowd of people, each one heading their own separate way. I decided to find a place, maybe a inn, to ask for directions to Reiba. Sure, Khine was neat, but I didn't like how alien everything was.

            The place I found was called Epiziah's Bar and Tavern. It was possibly the only wooden building around by the looks of it, probably the only one in Khine. Inside it smelled like rotting wood and old beer. It wasn't exactly what I had been hoping for.

The old man behind the counter didn't acknowledge me when I entered. He was a quite tall man with graying hair and a equally as gray beard. 

            "Excuse me," I asked, "may I get directions to Reiba from here?" 

            The man spoke in a simple and gruff voice, "No. You look underage. Get out."

            "I'm not here to dri-" 

            "Get out."

            I sat against the the dark brink wall in the small, smelly street next to the bar. A few other people were also leaning against the wall, but none of them were moving. They seemed to be sleeping, for whatever reason. I went over my choices out loud, hoping Knat would offer some feedback.

            "Okay, I could... guess the right way? Maybe walk until I found someone who would help me? Or maybe I could stowaway on one of those fancy auto-mo-biles they have around here. See where it's heading. Perhaps I should just Try and find another inn, one that is nicer to me."

            I paused, waiting for Knat to respond. When he remained quiet, I reached for the gem to try to wake him up. My hand reached empty air. The gem was gone. I sat dumbfounded for a second, before setting my priorities right. I jumped up in a hurry and looked around. Nothing was moving in the small street way, but the bright light from the main road was blocked out for a short moment. Sure, it could have been any ordinary person, but I didn't have anything else to do. I went to the edge of the small street way and checked the nearby people. A woman with stunning blond hair was talking to what appeared to be a rock, while a well dressed man hurried off. One person caught my eye. It was a short person in a long black coat, jogging in the direction opposite me. He had a black cap on as well, but the little hair I could see seemed to be a royal purple. I didn't know why I suspected this boy of stealing the gem, but he stood out in the colorful crowd. He ducked into a side street like the one I had left, and as a result, I broke into a run after him.

            The street was cramped and I barely had room to enter it. The boy was now clearly holding the gem out in front of him, examining it, "The gem is mine!"

              "I-I'm sorry! Forgive me, I'm sorry!" He stuttered with a shocked look on his face.

The boy put his hands up in the air.

            I didn't know what really to do. The boy was a thief, so certainly he should be put before a council of some sort, "Okay, I'm going to report you to the council. Tell me where it is."

            The boy's eyes widened. He gave a small grin, "Follow me then, I know the way."

            The boy wove a confusing route through Khine. Out of the street way, (alley, according to the boy) we went through the crowd and into a shop. The man there nodded tiredly from behind the counter as we passed. There was a small passage behind there that lead to the rooftop. From this point, the boy jumped down onto a ledge and climbed down the way into another alleyway. He hurried down this alley and into another sunny street. He strolled up to a pure white house, and walked right in.

            The interior is was spacious and nice. Sunlight shone through the glass-less windows into the room. There was wooden chairs and a table, cluttered with things such as paper and empty dishes that once held food. There was a stone staircase on the left wall, that I couldn't help but go up. Upstairs, there was two single rooms. One of them had a single bed while the other was empty, in each of the rooms there were various other paraphernalia scattered about. I don't exactly know why, but I was drawn to the bed. I may have been tired, but it was still odd how I felt like I needed to sleep, right then and there. I slipped into the incredibly soft bed and fell asleep quickly.

Spiras chapter 4

          I ate a few slices of old bread for breakfast, before heading out to feed the animals. The aged wooden beams creaked as I went in the barn. We were having a good season for hay, and had plenty to last us through fall. As I carried a clump pf hay to one of the cow pens, Knat spoke up.

          The barn isn't strong enough to last through another windstorm. Get someone to strengthen it.

          After feeding the rest of the animals in a rush, I ran out to the field where my mother and Myrtle were working. I waited for my mother to finish weeding a sunflower patch before speaking up. 

          "Knat thinks the barn isn't strong enough, mother."

          "Who's Knat?"

          "Oh- Knat is my spira. He says he doesn't specialize in much, but can do some heat things."

          "So you've been introduced? May I meet him?" She said.

          I realized Knat was there after my mother. He had toned down his appearance somewhat, now not on fire. He stood up on his hind legs and gave what was certainly a bow, "It is nice to meet you."

          My mother smiled and gave a little bow back, "Good to meet you too! Robei, why don't you two head into town to pick up something I bought for you at Steven's. Think of it as a late birthday gift."

          I thanked my mother before heading to Steven's store. It was a old building, painted in vibrant cracked red paint. The squat building was in the center of town, nearby the main road to Khine. The store mainly sold souvenirs for tourists, though it also carried luxury items. Steven himself was a man who, despite being quite old, was full of energy. He was a short man who had worked all his life to live in comfort, but he still worked anyways. One of his sons greeted me when I entered the store.

          "Robei! Quite the person of the day, aren't you? Plenty of talk you know. But I doubt you're interested in that. What is your reason for visiting?"

          "My mother said she bought something for me," I said.

          "Ah, yes! Very nice, what she bought for you. Highest quality, as always," He called to the back of the store, "father, Robei is here for her order!"

          Steven came out of the store room carrying a box. He handed the box to me, "This has been pre-paid, don't worry. Have a good day and thank you for your service!" He said with a smile.

          After leaving the store, I looked in the box. Inside was a very neatly woven pouch, made from green silk. It was very soft to my touch and had a strap for the shoulder. I didn't really have anything to put in it, so I put in the gem. It was a smug fit, as the pouch was probably meant to hold coins or other small things. But it worked.

          

          When I returned, my mother was out in the barn, talking to Curier the Carpenter. 

          "Hey Robei! It looks like you were right. Seems the wood's getting old in the beams. Curier says we were pretty lucky to have noticed before something collapsed," My mother said.

          "Great, mother. Thank you for the gift. It's wonderful."

          "I thought you might like it."

          Something was moving in the forest. That night, I was stargazing beside the fireside when I saw something flicker in the corner of my eyes. It wasn't a definite shape, and was probably a stray cat, but I had to check it out to be sure.
          I left the warm stone plates of the fireplace for the dark forest. A owl hooted as I checked around the undergrowth, so far it was safe. I sudden change of temperature alerted me that Knat had appeared next to me, treading on four legs.
          Something is here. I see it.

          "I don't see anything. Where is it?" I asked as he poked around the bushes, searching for whatever had passed through here like a dog.

          Suddenly, Knat sharply turned and arched his back up like a cat. He let out a screech that was almost too high pitched for me to hear before fading. It's here, was all I heard from him.

          I didn't see anything for a moment. Everything was dark in the woods, but then I spotted areas where the dark managed to be darker then dark, and shifting. The light was changing, and as I looked up I saw the moon was being covered by a dark mass in front of me. I took a step back, cautiously. But I didn't hear anything. It was like a cloud of shapeless night, not making a noise as it crept closer. A wind took up. It was only a small breeze at first, but slowly grew into a gale as the darkness was carving itself into another shape. It slowly took form as a great beast, and I realized it must have been a monster spira. Giant spiras that tended to want to wreak destruction on humans rather then bond. I knew I was in danger as the shape formed itself. It was a  large beast that towered over me and a few trees. It's glowing green eyes were the size of soup serving bowls and it's pure white coat was speckled with red dots like fresh blood on new snow. The beast had teeth, giant ones like stalagmites, white against it's black gums. The spira's huge paws were the size of tables while it's claws were bigger, curving upwards and ending in a sharp point, digging into the dirt. Around it's neck was a ribbon of paper, marked with strange symbols. The creature was wearing a seal like first prize ribbon at a fair.

          I felt my knees shaking in fear of this massive monster. Even Knat hid when he saw it, so surely I was doomed? If he couldn't stand up to it, there was no way I could. The beast stood still for a minute, while I was too scared to move, afraid I might make it attack. But then, catching me by surprise, the beast didn't attack. Instead, it spoke.

          It's voice was not a scratchy, harsh voice. Instead, it had the clear voice of a young woman speaking as if she was talking to a young child, "I am Salmon. Perhaps you wish to explain yourself. Perhaps you don't. But don't worry about either option, because I'm not going to listen to a fiend like you."

           I was confused. Certainly I had never done anything that could offend this mysterious spira? I had never met her! Unless she was bonded with one of the citizens of Reiba who didn't like me taking Knat before their child could... But that was ridiculous! This spira was too dangerous for anyone to handle. She was huge and lethal. If you bonded with a monster like her, you'd die within a week!

           "I-I'm sorry, but do you know who you're talking too? I haven't done anything."

           Salmon closed her eyes as she thought, "Yes. You look certainly are the one. You reek of guiltiness and fear. I have a very sharp nose, as you should know."

           "I don't know what you're talking about! Please, go," I tried waving her off. Like that would work.

           Salmon growled quietly, "Why would I be wrong? Don't lie to me, Thales. I've known you your entire life."

          "My name isn't Thales! It's Robei!"

           Salmon leaped up from her sitting position. The earth rumbled as she landed on the ground. Her teeth bared, drooling on the ground. Salmon threw her paws at me at such a speed that I didn't see anything. All I knew was that my head hurt and something warm was by my leg. A pile of blood was gathering by my side. I didn't feel the pain. All the while I could distantly hear Salmon's voice singing merrily, "I found you, Thales! I told you so!"